Reflection for Sunday – September 15, 2024

Deirdre McKiernan HetzlerSunday Readings Homilies

Readings: Isaiah 50:5-9; James 2:14-18; Mark 8:27-35 
Preacher: Deirdre McKiernan Hetzler

“Who do you say that I am?” Jesus asks the disciples. And us! “Who do you say that I am?”  That question has always touched my heart. When I think of the unconditional love of our God. A love for each and every person. A love for our world. Demonstrated in the life and death of Jesus. As the hymn says, “I scarce can take it in.” My heart is touched, but also challenged.

Peter, our beloved impulsive Peter, gets it partly right. But, as is true of all of us at times, his vision is distorted. Mark has situated this story between two stories of Jesus’ healing of blind men. As if to challenge the blindness of disciples. Including us. Folks, like the disciples, sometimes have a vision of Jesus that doesn’t quite fit his mold. So, Mark says, “He began to teach.” To teach what it means to be a disciple.

Actually, all of today’s readings concern discipleship. James, in his letter, minces no words. Last week, he told his community that showing preference to the rich, over the poor, was a sin. This week, he goes further.  “What good is it,” he says, to say, in effect, “good luck with your needs.”  “If you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that?”  Faith, without works, then, is dead. Pretty strong words, right? But isn’t faith really our response in love to God’s love? God’s love for us, and the world we live in?

Which brings us back to Jesus’ question. “Who do you say that I am?”  Answering that poses the challenge. The way we live our lives reveals our response. We are created in the image of God. That is our deepest identity. How can we/do we live out of that reality?  Doesn’t that call us to understand, to integrate and to live out of the values and priorities of Jesus? To witness to them in our lives? Every day. One choice at a time. Spoiler alert: that often carries a cost. A self-denial of some sort.

Perhaps it’s as simple as going out of our way to bring someone to church, the doctor, the grocery store. Or bringing a meal to a sick neighbor (especially one we don’t like!). Maybe it’s harder. Like standing up for someone being taunted   Or trying to save the planet, one compost bin and education program at a time. Making proposals for justice and peace in the public arena. Working for public policies that are life-affirming, but unpopular. (Think Matthew 25, often called the “judgment of the nations.”)

Years ago, a man in Arizona was actually arrested for giving water to migrants, thirsty from their desert crossing. This year, Texas is trying to shut down a long-standing center for legally vetted migrants. Even immigration officials bring people there!

Pope Francis insists that we all have a responsibility to engage in politics. Building a better world. He calls for all parties to act on issues that matter most. And on all of us to vote! While we can disagree on particular solutions, we are all called to respond, as Catholic Christians, to issues like climate change, poverty, housing, violence, renewable energy, integration of migrants. And more. We are called to become the compassionate, healing, and forgiving presence of Jesus, the Christ, in our world today. What, then, is the call of each of us, in our particular circumstances?

We cannot do this alone.  Even every church and charity in our country, together, would not be able.  Which is why we need government to help us act corporately. Life-affirming policies are essential. How we vote matters!

Ours is a lifelong growth process. One, that, as Jesus says in today’s gospel, involves the cross.  And the cross is a hard sell.  At the time the gospel was written, Christians were literally taking up crosses and losing their lives. Does being willing to die for Christ sometimes seem easier than living for Him? Because we are called to pay the cost of discipleship one quarter at a time.

If you or I were to be arrested for being a Christian, is our life a powerful enough witness to the loving example of Christ’s life to merit a conviction?

Deirdre McKiernan Hetzler
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