Let Jesus Have His Way

(The following is a homily given at St. Michael Catholic Church, Goltry OK and St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church, Enid OK on the fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time -- 7/12/15)

In the book of her private writings entitled “Mother Teresa: Come be My Light”, the editor speaks of “the mystery of God’s greatness and [Mother Teresa’s] nothingness [that] had become recurrent in her writing.  Her smallness, an essential element of the way she related to God and to others, had shaped her way of praying and acting, her very life”[1]

This struck me as I was preparing to speak to you today. As we journey through the Scriptures in order to prepare ourselves for the Sacred Mystery of the Eucharist, maybe it will be helpful to consider our own smallness, and God’s greatness.

Our first reading (Am. 1:12-15) does a wonderful job setting us up for this way of thinking.  It is of the book from the Prophet Amos – his call to ministry, in fact. Yet what we hear initially is equivalent to a formal decree of banishment from the priest Amaziah, to whom Amos is conversing.  You see, Amos was a no-body; an outsider.  In fact, Amos tells us very clearly:

“I was no prophet, nor have I belonged to a company of prophets; I was a shepherd and a dresser of sycamores.” (Am 7:14). 

Amos is small, and yet God has great plans for him.  Amos goes on to say that “The LORD took me from following the flock, and said to me, Go, prophesy to my people.” (Am. 7:15)

Our Responsorial Psalm (Ps. 85) today continues this theme of God’s greatness, especially within the lives of those who “hear what he proclaims” and “fear him” (Ps. 85).  By doing so, they remove themselves from the picture, so to speak, and allow God to do all the work.  He works his wonders, finally reuniting justice and peace in the Truth of His power and love.  Because the psalmist recognizes humanity’s smallness, he is able to unfold to us the greatness of God’s kindness and the limitless measure of His salvation.

It is in our second reading (Eph. 1:3-10) that we begin to see the importance of our own participation in God’s Greatness.  Yes, we are small; yes we are nothing.  And yet God has ordained that he come to us, be among us, take upon himself our own weakness and frailty, so that we can be lifted above it ourselves.  St. Paul tells us that God chose us – “before the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:4); that he adopted us “through Jesus Christ,” (Eph. 1:5) that he redeemed us and forgave us our transgressions (see Eph. 1:7) – not because we deserved it, or because he was obligated, but simply because he willed it.  Another translation of this text puts it another way:

“such was His will and pleasure, that all might praise the glorious favor he has bestowed on us in his beloved” (Eph. 1:5-6, from the Breviary).

Our God loves us!  And he is willing to become small himself to make us great, thereby using us to bring the Good News to the world.

Our Gospel (Mk. 6:7-13) gives us a glimpse of just how God wishes to use us.  Here we see our Lord send the twelve apostles out to preach repentance; to drive out demons; and to cure the sick.  But Jesus doesn’t just tell them to do it; he gives them the authority – his authority – to do all these things (Mk 6:7).  Without his authority, Jesus’ apostles could do nothing.  They were just ordinary men; sinful and weak.  It is the authority Jesus gave them that made them into the pillars of Faith that our Church has relied upon to 2000 years.  It was the strength given to them by the Cornerstone that united their teaching and preaching and healing with the ultimate authority of our Lord. 

Moreover, they themselves had to learn to trust in God’s providence in order to bring the Gospel to the World.  “Take nothing for the journey but a walking stick” our Lord tells them; “– no food, no sack, no money.” (Mk. 6:8) They must trust in God’s greatness to overcome their smallness in these matters.  And when they do, God’s abundance is overflowing.

My brothers and sisters, our readings from Sacred Scripture today show us that when we follow God’s Will in our lives, we have nothing to fear.  Our smallness cannot get in the way of God’s greatness.  But we must trust in God’s love for us.  It is the only way to overcome the fears and anxieties of this world.  It is in trusting our Lord that we come to truly understand ourselves and our God, so that we may willingly unite everything we have and are to Him.

Going back to Mother Teresa, she said something in her writings that speaks to a true understanding of who we are and Who we serve in Christ Jesus:

“I wonder [she says] at His great humility and my smallness – nothingness.  I believe – this is where Jesus and I meet.  – He is everything to me – and I – His own little one – so helpless – so empty – so small – I let him have his way – I accept everything.”[2]

With the words of this saintly woman echoing in our hearts, shall we try to accept what God’s has ordained for us?  Can we let go of the fears and the sins that we hold so dear because they insulate us and protect us from the unknown?  Are we brave enough to “take nothing with us for the journey” to heaven except our trust in God?  If so, than may we receive the mighty power of Christ Jesus, promised to us by our baptism.  May we be strengthened to prophesy to God’s people; to hear what God proclaims, and accept our adoption as Sons and daughters of the Most High.  

Let Jesus have his way in our lives.  Let us accept everything He gives us and allows for us.  In doing so, we will be accepting our own salvation.  Amen.

---

[1] Kolodiejchuk, Brian. Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light: The Private Writings of the "Saint of Calcutta" New York: Doubleday, 2007. Pg. 272

 

[2] Kolodiejchuk, pg. 272