I read an interesting quote in a new book last night from Bishop Javier Echevarría Rodrígueze in which he was asked “Father, how can I do all of this, considering that I am very busy with my profession?” His answer to the inquiry was: “Let us invert this. The question should be: ‘How can I do my work, after doing all of this for God?'” To me that speaks precisely of the first reading for today in which we are reminded that our lives are one of continually living out the cross in ourselves. There are so many things in this world, pulling us in other directions. Between eating right, working out, going to Mass, praying, working, spending time with family, watching our favorite shows, playing video games, keeping up with social media, and all the other things we do these days; it can be tough to remember that life must be a life of piety. Prayer comes first. Jesus comes first. That’s what it means to always carry “about in the Body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body.” We put our wants, desires, and needs aside and instead do what we ought to do.
Now, some would accuse that of being a legalistic way of looking at life. As a practicing Catholic, I am well aware of the demands of our faith. To the outsider, it can seem like a lot of rules. If we look at all the things we ought to do, the things we are suggested to do as well, our faith does indeed insist there are things we must be doing. All of these things, though are worthless if we don’t approach it with the right attitude.
First and foremost, the attitude of the first paragraph in that these are things God wants us to do. Secondly, with the approach spoken alluded to in the Gospel for today. In that Gospel, Jesus reminds us that the rules and guides of our faith life should never be external only. We must keep in mind that they are there to change us. Not just not committing adultery, but not even looking at someone in lust. Not only not murdering someone, but not being “angry enough to kill them either.” Once we begin to see all of these things as killing the flesh, the desires that don’t lead us to God, and bringing to life Jesus in us, those good qualities that do indeed lead us to God; it begins to make sense why the Church lays it out for us.
There is a danger though of just going through motions is the next objection that I have used in the past. There is a beautiful song out there about that: “I don’t want to go through the motions, I don’t wanna spend one more day, without your all-consuming, passion inside of me.” I get it. Those are beautiful lyrics. Sometimes we get dry spells though. When we don’t “feel it.” I read another memorable quote last night that helped me tremendously to see this with some fresh eyes, and I hope it helps you too:
“If the thought ever passes through our minds, in the face of effort or dryness that we are ‘play-acting,’ our reaction should be to think that the wonderful moment has come to perform a human play for a divine spectator. God is the spectator: the Father, the Son, and the Holy-Spirit: the blessed Trinity. And together with God our Lord, the Mother of God, and the angels and saints will also be watching us.
We cannot abandon our life of piety, our life of sacrifice and love. When we act out a play for God, for love of Him, trying to please Him; when we “go against the grain”; when we feel we are playing the role of a jester; let us think that we are Jesters of God.” St. Josemaría Escrivá
It is sometimes precisely in going through the motions that we put those desires for ‘feelings’ to death that God can continue to live in us. Dryness is part of life. Do it anyway. Mass isn’t about us. It’s about Him, what He did for us. So when you hear those words “Holy day of obligation,” or the phrase “You have to go to Mass every Sunday,” try to see them as opportunities to put your flesh to death once again and bring Jesus to life inside you. Encounter Him in the Sacraments as frequently as you can. I promise you it can and will change your life. Be a Jester for God, and you’ll be no one’s fool for eternity.
A reflection on the readings for June 14, 2019: Friday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1