Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
When the phone rings in the “bull-pen”, the relief pitcher knows exactly what he has to do. He has to go out to the mound, pitch like there’s no tomorrow. His career depends upon getting and the batter out. That’s not easy to do; to be warming up one moment and being on the mound the next, putting everything... your heart, your strength, your passion into every pitch. It's an essential part of being a major league relief pitcher. Today St. Paul reminds Christians of their primary responsibility to put ourselves entirely into the game of life...extolling Christ's disciples to, “…live in a manner worthy of the call we have received…” which he then expresses as living lives in a spirit of “…humility and gentleness and patience”. In our efforts to follow Christ’s teachings we must make a serious effort to, “bear with one another though love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit". Unlike relief pitchers though, conscientious disciples are always on the mound. We are always in the game of life and in everything we do, we must perform as best we can... in our thoughts, words and deeds. We who claim to be Christian must strive to live each day mindful of the calling we have received. It is no wonder St. Paul compares himself to the good athlete who has, “competed well, finished the race; kept the faith.” 2 Tim 4:7-8.
It’s so easy to say, “I’m not worthy” of this call (and that’s so very true). None of us are worthy! We know that we are damaged goods. We are fragile, broken, sinful people who often lack humility, gentleness, compassion, and patience. No argument there, right? What makes us worthy is the One who makes the call. Like the manager who picks up the phone and dials the “bull-pen”, Jesus has deemed us “worthy” to share in his love and mission for our world with us.
A good relief picture doesn’t get to the Major League without a lot of practice. It is the same for being a Christian. We live in a world shatter and divided along so many lines while St. Paul reminds us today the truth that we are of "one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all". Like dedicated athletes Christians today need to be faithful witnesses to the teachings of Jesus; we need to practice humility; we need to practice gentleness and patience; we need to practice being generous, forgiving, long-suffering and --- here is a big one--- forgiving. There are many virtues that we need to practice. And the more we practice, the better we become at deepening our relationship with Christ and with one another to form “the one body and one spirit”, that seeks to live lives “worthy of the call” we have received.
Enjoy the day!
Deacon Tom
Please Visit www.deaconspod.com and listen in as the three deacons engage in a contemporary conversation exploring the treasures our Catholic faith has to offer to those thinking of coming into or walking away from the Church.
OTHER RESOURCE
Recommended Reading: Doing the Truth in Love: Conversations about God, Relationships and Service by Fr Michael Himes. An engaging theology of God/human relationships and service to assist readers in reflecting more faithfully and more theologically on their own lives as they engage in pastoral ministry or service projects. †
Recommended YouTube Video: Finding God in All Things with Fr. Michael Himes. Fr. Himes was a priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, New York and served as a theologian at Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. He served as professor and academic dean of the Seminary of Immaculate Conception on Long Island, New York, and as associate professor of theology at the University of Notre Dame. He was a well-known author and lecturer.
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