Word: Obeying God’s word purifies us, giving honor to Him.
Order: “Be doers of the word & not hearers only …” (Jas 1:22)
Reflection:
It seems that Jesus himself had not been exempt from facing difficulties in forming His team. His popularity plunged, and many of his followers left him when he declared himself to be “the Bread from Heaven”, and that they had to “eat His body and drink His blood” in order to have life in them.
The disciples were expecting an earthly kingdom, and were obviously disappointed at Jesus’ style of leadership. It crushed their dreams of lording it over, and frustrated their hopes of holding positions of power and authority. Jesus did eventually succeed in getting them to accept His way of “Servanthood”, but jealousy, selfish ambition, pettiness and envy continued to simmer beneath the surface in his small band of followers.
This sinful, though very human inclination is still prevalent among us to this day. Even church leaders, are not totally spared from aspiring to and jockeying for positions. Materialism, arrogance, pride, the thirst for power, and hunger for recognition continue to motivate much of human action and service. More than ever before, we are today exposed to moral issues that tend to erode our spiritual foundation and threaten our relationship with God and our fellowmen. Hence, there is greater need to be vigilant, and to witness to one’s faith by truly living it. Let us be always be aware of God’s special relationship with us because he loves us very much and wants us to honor Him with all our hearts and minds.
The Community Word for the month of September, – “Obeying God’s word purifies us, giving honor to Him” – is confirmed in most of our readings this month, the theme of which is following Jesus in our work, and making Jesus’ way our own. We are exhorted to take God’s word seriously as the foundation of our moral life, and the observance of His commandments, as the pattern for directing and guiding our life’s journey.
The themes and promises of each week in September demonstrate how our faith can grow as we practice and put to life God’s word. They emphasize obedience to God’s Word in the way we serve Him in and out of community and the greater church.
Our theme for the first week is: We obey God’s word when we keep ourselves unstained by the world.
From the 2nd reading comes the Order for the month: “Be doers of the word and not hearers only …” (James 1:22). St. James emphasizes to his audience the need to witness to one’s faith by living it out in concrete actions of charity. Here, the gospel warns against the danger of following worldly ways and fads over God’s will. We need to cling to God’s word, commandments and teachings, as well as the example of Christ himself. We are reminded that certain traditions have genuine value, which should be preserved, while others become heavy chains that prevent the vital thrust toward genuine ways of relating to God and others.
Our theme for the 2nd week states: We obey God’s word when we practice the gift of healing in and out of Community. In the gospel, we are told that Jesus can perform even greater miracles of healing, through us, if only we approach Him with humility and faith, and the readiness to obey Him. This is a gift He’s willing to share with disciples who hear God’s word clearly in their hearts and those who are moved to respond to the call of the needy among their neighbors. We are also warned against discriminating against the poor, because God chooses them to be rich in faith and heirs of His Kingdom.
The 3rd week’s theme is: We obey God’s word when we deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him. In the readings, Jesus foretells of His forthcoming death and resurrection, and proclaims the demands of real discipleship. In the gospel, Peter, proclaims Jesus as Messiah but rejects the idea that He has to suffer and die. Jesus forcefully reminds Peter that God’s ways are not human ways, and that God’s ways include the demand for self-renunciation: “You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” (Mk 8:33). We must learn to accept God’s mysterious ways and find peace in accepting and doing His will. The mystery of Jesus’ Resurrection encompasses the mystery of dying to self in our everyday lives.
The theme for the 4th week declares: We obey God’s word when we practice servanthood within and outside of the Community. The readings narrate Jesus’ response to some of His disciples craving for power in the kingdom they expected him to establish. He teaches them the true meaning of “Servant Leadership”, telling them that in God’s Kingdom, those in authority are expected to be servants of all, in imitation of Him. Christian service is actually for those who aspire to be great in the Kingdom of God. For Jesus, authority is service: “. . . If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and servant of all.”(Mk 9:35)
And finally, our 5th week theme tell us: We obey God’s word when we help those who are in need. The 1st reading and Gospel challenge everyone to be broad-minded and generous towards others, especially to the poor and the needy. The 2nd reading contains a series of indictments against the rich who have shown no sensitivity toward the needs of the poor: “Behold, the wages you withheld from the workers who harvested your fields are crying aloud; and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts,” (Jas 5:4).
The ECSL’s inspired Order for the month states: “Be doers of the word and not hearers only”. It is a timely reminder of the FIRE Revival Conference being conducted by the Community that exhorts us to be more passionate in offering ourselves to serve in the BLD mission fields. What we need these days are empowered members who are resolved to find ways to serve the Lord better. BLD needs highly motivated members who bring ‘fire’ and enthusiasm in bringing others to Jesus Christ through concrete actions, using all the knowledge and teachings we have accumulated all these years, to make our community more responsive to its vision and mission.
