| Homily
for the 29th Sunday of Ordinary Time: October 22,
2006
Given by the Most
Reverend Stephen E. Blaire at the Cathedral of the Annunciation
in Stockton.
The Venerable Cardinal John Henry Newman (who
died in 1890 and after whom college campus ministry centers
are named) wrote: “God has created me to do some definite
service.” He is saying that there is a purpose to our
human existence. We are not some kind of accident in this
world. In providence, God has placed us in a particular moment
and in a particular place for a purpose.
Many people of the world are very astute in
getting ahead, making money, becoming influential, acquiring
possessions and so on. James and John wanted the first places
in glory. The other disciples were indignant and jealous,
probably because they wanted to be in first place.
The message of Jesus is very clear and direct:
“The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Jesus offered
His life to God for the human race. We are called to live
in the same way. We say that the death of Jesus was a perfect
sacrifice to the Father on our behalf. SACRIFICE does not
so much mean giving up something but rather living for a purpose.
The word sacrifice comes from two Latin words: SACER meaning
holy and FACERE to make. To sacrifice your life to God means
to make your life holy by living for God and doing some definite
service in this world for others. St. Paul wrote to the Galatians
this message: “Christ is living in me. I still live
my human life, but it is a life of faith in the Son of God.”
He lived his life for a purpose and spent himself in service
for others.
When I speak here of service, I am not talking
about what we might call ‘Christian Service’:
collecting food for the poor; visiting the elderly; wrapping
Christmas gifts for needy families etc. These are good and
wonderful acts of kindness, works of charity. Such actions
free us from our sins and make us pleasing to God. But I am
talking more about our whole purpose of life, that is, to
live for God and to do some definitive service with my life.
This past Wednesday on the feast of St. Luke,
the patron of physicians, we celebrated what we call the WHITE
MASS for medical professionals. I would like to repeat what
I said to them in the homily because it can be adapted to
all of us in whatever our responsibilities are in life. “As
members of the medical profession you have an apostolate in
the world. You are sent to bring the healing ministry of Jesus
to those whom you take care of. Your profession of healing
is a ministry of healing. Do not be overwhelmed by all the
difficulties you face in today’s world. The paper work
is demanding, the regulations are many, the controls are often
excessively restrictive, but do not lose heart. You have been
sent forth. Trust in God. Attacks on life abound from all
sides. Persevere conscientiously. Have faith and confidence
in God.”
You might say “that’s all well and
good for highly professional people, but I am only a waitress
in a restaurant.” I would say back that the other night
I was in a restaurant where the hostess made us feel so welcome.
She was carrying out her responsibility in a most respectful
and helpful way. That’s definitive service in accord
with what one is doing at this moment in life. Indeed God
may be calling one to something else. We must listen not only
with our minds but in our hearts.
God has created us to do some definite
service in this world. We need to be as astute about the purpose
of our lives as worldly people are in gaining possessions.
“The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve.”
Last Update October 23, 2006
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