Reflection for Monday, November 30, 1998: St. Andrew, Apostle (34th week in Ordinary Time).
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Authors
Purcell, Tom
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1998-11-30
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Essay
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en_US
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Abstract
This isn't easy, this reflecting out loud on the readings for the day. You should try it sometime. I mean, many of us Christians, and perhaps especially the Catholic ones, have all our lives been little better than sponges, reading the scripture (sometimes in advance but usually for the first time in church) and then listening to the homilist tell us what it means. We nod our heads sagely, perhaps drowsily, many times tuning out the explication because the gospel stories and scripture reading repeat over the years almost like an extended litany. It is much safer to have someone else tell us what the words mean and why. So to sit down and actually try to understand what the readings are saying to me at this time, to not have a translator who can clear up doubt, and to then share and take the risk is in itself, I think, an act of faith.|"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring [the] good news!" Paul seems to state the obvious - you won't be saved unless you call on the Lord, but you can't call on Him unless you believe, and you can't believe unless you hear, and you can't hear unless someone preaches, and someone won't preach unless they are sent. He leaves out an obvious fact - to be sent one first must be called. But who is the preacher?? Could it be me? I don't have training, I don't know all the meanings of the scripture, I only have my experiences, my life, my knowledge, from which to speak and share. Is that enough for me to be this preacher? Have I been sent to share the good news?|I love the psalms because I love to sing, and so many of these song poems have been incorporated into our modern liturgical songs. I can feel the exuberance and reverence of the psalm author who avers the heavens and the earth all proclaim the glory of God, and continue that song of praise as day pours into day and night imparts knowledge to night, with a resounding voice throughout the earth. And so the heavens and the earth and day and night constantly tell us, preach to us, the wonder of God, the glory of God's handiwork.|I have tried but failed to fully realize the faith it must have taken for the first disciples to drop everything and follow Jesus. His charisma must have been breathtaking for those disposed to accept Him. His call was simple and their response was immediate. They were called, and eventually sent, because of the good news.|It seems to me that if the heavens and earth resound with the glory of God, and that day flows into day and night into night imparting knowledge of God, then the call of Jesus can certainly reach across the ages to us individually. And if we are each called individually, then we each must make a unique response to His call. We can share what is special about us with others as witnesses (preachers) of the good news that Jesus makes a difference in our lives. We can join the song of the heavens and earth and the day and night proclaiming the greatness and glory of God throughout all the earth. And we don't need special training, we don't need insightful knowledge, we don't need great oratorical skills, we don't need a beautiful voice, we just need to be willing to make that act of faith that says "I believe" and mean it and act upon it in our own way as we feel the call.
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University Ministry, Creighton University.
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These reflections may not be sold or used commercially without permission. Personal or parish use is permitted.
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Lectionary number: 684