May Jesus Christ be praised and may his holy Mother pray for us.
Last Sunday we began reading through the letter of Saint James in our second reading. We heard about the gifts of God that we have received and we heard about the gift of God that each of us is called to be. We reflected on the virtue of humility. We begged the Lord for grace to live in the midst of the world, the Amen that we speak in the Church. Last week the Letter of James counseled us about the consequences of our worship as we are sent out to proclaim the good news of the redemption of the world. Today in the Letter of James, we hear the counsel of this early follower of the Lord and pastor of the early Church regarding how we are to conduct ourselves when we gather to worship.
“Show no partiality as you adhere to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.” James instructs the early Christians and he speaks down through the ages to you and to me, that when the Church gathers for worship, we are to leave behind the distinctions of earth so as to enter the banquet of heaven. James reminds us that we are not to show distinctions between the rich and the poor. When we gather as the assembly of the baptized, as the first fruits of all creation, whatever distinctions exist among us are at the service of the communion of the Church. The roles of service, as St Paul refers to them, are given and appointed for the building up of the faithful. Those who exercise the roles of service were called from among the baptized, set apart by the will of Christ through the prayer of the Church, and then sent to live as living sacrifices for the care of his people and for the greater glory of God. What that means, brothers and sisters, is that all ministry and service in the Church is rooted in the Sacrament of Baptism. The white garment that the clergy wear is a symbolic reminder of the white garment given in baptism. Every office and ministry builds upon the baptismal dignity. I am able to be your father in God only because I am first a child of God. The stole that I wear around my neck symbolizes the yoke of Christ and the authority to preach the word, to offer sacrifice, and to shepherd the flock. The chasuble, which is the outer garment of the priest, signifies the charity of Christ which covers all things. Notice, dear brothers and sisters, that the symbol of authority is covered by the symbol of charity. What that means is that all authority, while necessary, is always subject to love. The life and the authority of the shepherd are always subject to the love of Christ. So too, the life of the Christian is always subject to the law of love.
When we gather as the people of God, we are particularly subject to the law of love. We are invited to leave behind us all that may divide us. We are called to lift up our hearts in union with Christ Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit to praise the glory of the Father. We are called, in fact brothers and sisters we are bound, to welcome all persons as an expression of the compassionate and merciful love of God. We are called to see, in face of every baptized child of God, an image of the face of Jesus Christ. Last week we asked the Lord to transform our voices so that we could speak our sacred Amen in spirit and in truth. This week we ask the Lord to transform our eyes so that we can recognize Him in each other. We ask to see with the eyes of Christ so that we can love with the heart of Christ.
As we celebrate this Eucharist today, we ask for the grace to welcome each person to our worship as we wish to welcome Christ into our hearts. We pray today that Christ the Lord would raise up from among his flock more shepherds after his own heart. And we ask the Lord to transform our eyes so that we can see Him face to face.
Preached at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Monroe, NC
