Gospel Reflections for September 23 2018
Looking for success
I know students who will graduate from college next year but are already practicing for job interviews. They are learning how to make their case to an employer that they will add value to the company. I hope they succeed.
Looking for a job was completely different at the time of Jesus! In those days, you would simply look around town for a rich patron, promise obedience, loyalty, and always constant praise, and in return, receive a good position in your village. How easy is that! However, your job would have nothing to do with your talents or abilities! As long as you were loyal and praised your boss, you would get a great position and job security.
Jesus realized that His own disciples were also looking upward to powerful people on whom they could align themselves. They even looked at Jesus as a powerful patron who could provide an easy life for them. Then Jesus does something they never expected!
He places a child in front of them. Jesus knew that children then had the lowest social status and that no one ever looked up to them, so He tells them …not to look up to powerful officials …but down at this child…and to think first how you can help the lowly, the poor, and those in need. Jesus reverses everything they thought about work and success.
That is a whole new way of looking at your life. The legacy of that teaching about service to those in need has been a long and wonderful history of our Catholic Church that for centuries has founded countless hospitals, shelters, orphanages, schools …and even created the very first universities. Helping those in need hardly seems new today but was revolutionary then.
Today, Our Lord still invites you to help those in need, either personally, or with your financial help for institutions and parishes that can on a larger scale.
Jesus knew that helping people in need created a deeper sense of strength and security than aligning ourselves with some powerful patron for selfish needs. People who help others actually feel themselves more empowered and meaningful.
Jesus affirms that you already have a great job; and it is to follow Our Lord and His example of service. It is great advice for a new college graduate …and for all of us as well. Check out your parish bulletin for places where you can serve.
God Bless!
F. Dave
Being a member of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is a very direct way to help the needy. In our parish the Society operates a food pantry. Parishioners donate non-perishable food. Workers at the pantry dispense food to the needy who come in. Check it out.
The St. Vincent de Paul Society is a great example of Catholics helping the poor in very practical ways.
I loved your insight. Made me think of weather I am doing enough. It is important to stop being focused on me only but to just look around and be available and thee for another. It would be great just to hear at the end of life from Our Lord a “Well Done my faithful friend”…
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There is no better message that we can hear from Our Lord than “Well done, good and faithful servant!”
Dear Father Dave,
Yes, Jesus did turn the world on it’s toes. The effect is staggering.
As always, thank you for this insight.
God bless you.
Kathleen
You are welcome!