Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time January 30, 2005

Zephaniah: 2:3; 3:12-13 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 Matthew 5: 1-12

We have just heard one of the most familiar and favorite passages of the gospels, the “Beatitudes.” It is found at an early stage in the account St. Matthew gives of Jesus’ ministry. In some sense, it might be regarded as a type of inaugural address by Jesus as it sets the tone of his ministry. He describes those whom he will address, those who will be willing to respond to the message that he will proclaim. The fact of the matter is that he does not expect that those who are the leaders, the authorities, the power-brokers in the Jewish community of that time will be interested in him. Rather, he speaks of the ordinary people, the ones who have gone through so many of the various aspects of daily life with its difficulties and challenges. He reminds them that in these sometimes painful experiences they can recognize the goodness and love of God. For that reason they are called the “blessed” or the “happy” - as another translation describes them. In many respects, he calls them to be that “remnant’ that the prophet Zephaniah speaks about in the first reading. They are those who are faithful to God, live their lives in relationship to God, to the best of their abilities in the circumstances of their lives.

In many respect, this is what we can consider a parish to be, and especially what we might consider ourselves to be, we gather week after week in prayer and worship of God. We are a faithful “remnant” who share in the sacramental presence of God in the Eucharist we celebrate. Perhaps we feel that we can pat ourselves on our respective backs and commend ourselves on how well we are doing.

I would, however, like to suggest that we consider this rehearing of the Gospel of Matthew, and this call of Jesus at the beginning of this ministry, as a challenge. In line with what I mentioned last week, we can consider this opportunity as an encouragement given to us collectively and individually to review and renew what it is, indeed, that we do when we gather here for the celebration of the Eucharist.

This is particularly appropriate as our Holy Father has declared this year, 2005, as the “Year of the Eucharist.” He is calling us to reaffirm our understanding, appreciation and love of this great gift given to us - the presence of Jesus Christ with us in the Eucharist. In the coming weeks, during the seasons of Lent and Easter, we will hear and read more of this. Included with the weekly bulletins during that time will be a series of reflections by Bishop Pilla on this central mystery, action, of our Faith.

While the thoughts of the Bishop will address a more theological appreciation of the celebration of the Eucharist, I would like to focus on a more practical or concrete vision of ourselves as a parish, as a “remnant” who gather week after week in celebration of the Eucharist.

When we come together, we should be able to recognized as a true praying and worshiping community. It should be evident that the value and the importance of the Eucharist which we celebrate is seen not simply in our presence, but also in our action. What we are as a praying and worshiping community ought to be clear in how we worship, how we pray, how we truly join together in this action.

To do this is rather simple, but it also means overcoming some habits which may have developed over many years. To do this is also to realize that everyone of us here is a part of this action of worship. None of us is a spectator. The active participation of each of us is important.

I offer three examples. First, there are various times in this act of worship, the Mass, when we are called upon to speak together or to sing together. This is not a role for just a few. I have frequently stated that what we do here is prayer, not entertainment. We are not to hold back and let others do the job. It might be argued that “I can’t sing.” That really makes no difference. The minimal effort would be to take up a hymnal and prayer along with the words of the hymn. Even if it is difficult to carry a tune, the overall blending of the voices of everyone creates a prayerful sound. More frequently, I suspect, the response would be “I don’t want to sing” for any variety of reasons. The response to that comment is the challenge that this act of worship is a common effort, we all need to go out of ourselves and support one another in the expression of our faith that our worship is to be. It is genuinely disconcerting to me to look out at a congregation and see many persons simply staring out into space. All of us need each one of us in this act of praising God.

A second concern has to do with the spoken responses which are made by all of us during the course of the celebration of the Mass. The manner in which everyone engages in this spoken prayer is part of what takes place. Attending Mass is not private prayer, it is a public action. Private prayer is an important part of our individual spirituality. That is for another time. The public action of the liturgy is what we are part of when we are together here at Mass. One of the oddest experiences for me is the minimal or mumbled response of “Amen” at the end of some prayers. “Amen” is a conformation, an agreement with what is said, what is asked of God in the prayer. It should firmly and convincingly stated.

A third matter I would like to mention is presence. We all do this by the simple fact that we are here. That we are here is important. Many time we might recognize the same people here week after week. It is almost a part of the comfort of being here. We share a bond with one another which is valuable to our Faith or should be. It is something which we should begin together and end together. It is a respect that we show to one another by not being late or leaving early. At times we may be late - other factors might occasionally cause that to happen. Leaving early - that is a decision which is purposely made.

I ask your consideration of these examples.

We are, indeed, in many respects, a faithful remnant. We can recognize in one another how blessed we are. How we worship together ought to be a sign, especially to those who are periodic visitors to our church, or our worshiping community that we are a blessed people who realize and celebrate the presence of God. We, hopefully, can be see as a people with whom to gather, because in our midst is witnessed the effect of the love of God.