Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. Luke 11:23
In today’s gospel when Jesus says, “Whoever is not with me is against me,” he’s telling us he wants no lackadaisical followers. As Pope Leo recently said, there should be no “unengaged bystanders.”
But it’s important for us to take this as an invitation, not as a threat to act holy or else.
Church history is full of saints who won their halos by going to extremes that are impossible for the rest of us. I think for example of gory pictures used in pre-Vatican II saint quizzes of like that of Saint Sebastian being martyred with arrows. That was a class favorite! Then there were saints who sat on pillars or fasted for days etc. I am pretty sure Jesus would disagree with the implication that ordinary people could not really be holy.
In a history of the Jesuits, John O’Malley S.J. notes that when Saint Ignatius of Loyola founded the Society in the 15th century, many considered them lax because he prescribed a healthy lifestyle so they could serve others. That’s good advice for all of us.
Ignatius’ Spanish contemporary, Saint Teresa of Avila, shared the view that holiness and ordinary life are compatible, even joyful. In Maria Shriver’s book, I’ve Been Thinking, I discovered her wonderful prayer:
“May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received
and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing that you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones
and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise, and love.
It is there for each and every one of us.”
The line about using our gifts and passing on the love we’ve been given always makes me reflect on how to use my own gifts and to admire what others are doing with their different gifts. The possibilities are endless and accessible.
Special seasonal kudos to you gardeners who are feeding the hungry by doing something I loathe! After you’ve washed your hands and I’ve finished writing something for my parish Feed the Hungry committee, let’s go “sing, dance, praise and love.”
Eileen Wirth
I’m a retired Creighton journalism professor, active in St. John’s parish and a CLC member. In retirement, I write books about state and local history, including a history of the parish, and do volunteer PR consulting for groups like Habitat for Humanities, refugees etc. I love to read, work out, spend time with family and friends including those who can no longer get out much.
Writing reflections has deepened my faith by requiring me to engage deeply with Jesus through the Scriptures. In the many years I have been doing this, I’ve also formed friendships with regular readers nationally, most of whom I have never met. Hearing from readers and what I learn by writing make the hours I spend on each reflection well worth the effort.
