“We have all received from God a divine spark. Our response can fan it to the flame of Christian love.”[1]
I find easy to get frustrated. I look at what passes for news these days and I do not see a society that is progressing toward godliness. On my worst days, just like Habakkuk, I want to ask, “How long Lord? How long? Today in our readings, we are called to change the world for the better, to go beyond simply fulfilling God’s commands, but to work to fill the world with the love of Christ.
Carrying the Weight of an Ungodly World
Unlike Habakkuk, we have the benefit of Jesus, and I think we understand God a little better. We understand that the ability to freely choose is such an ingrained part of love that God allows us the latitude to sin. We for our part must honor that. That is why we propose Christ, but we do not impose Christ. We know that we, as Christians, have answered that proposal. We have chosen Christ. We choose to live as Christians with all that involves.
We also know that not everyone makes the same choice, and that is where Habukkuk’s words of comfort come it. “[T]he vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment…it will surely come”.[2] These words also give us confidence. Perhaps they even give us the confidence to help bring this about. This is key. God asks us to spread his word. He asks us to spread the vision that we read about this morning. And he equips us to do just that!
Fanning the Gift of God Into Flame
We just have to pay attention and like St. Paul said, stir the gift that God gives us into flame. This is a gift we already have. For those of us who have been confirmed we have this character imprinted on our soul. We have the grace to “go and proclaim the gospel of the Lord”.[3]
How many of us forget this? We have been strengthened by God to share the faith with others in our lives. It is as simple as living joyfully and giving witness to what God has done in our lives. If you remember nothing else from our readings today, remember this – You have been given a spirit of power and a spirit of love. None of us have any reason for shame in giving testimony to the Lord. Now, some will undoubtedly say that religion should be private. They are completely wrong. We as Christians have the right to live out faith just the same as they do.
When we live joyfully in a world with so little joy, when we show love and forgiveness in a world filled with intolerance and retribution, we show the love of Christ. We show the love of Christ to a world that badly needs it. We are challenged by today’s society who sees itself as sovereign to the point of rejecting God. They don’t see the need, but there is something attractive about the joy that living a Christ-filled life brings. Catholics leading life that recognizes the fullness of the truth will attract many to follow.
Throughout history, Catholics who have fully lived their faith, especially when living the fullness of the faith is unpopular or persecuted, have made the world a much better place.
True Discipleship – Going Beyond the Commandments
Finally, we need to talk about going the extra mile. If we only do as we are asked, that sets the bar pretty low. We are then the unprofitably servants that Jesus talks about. We are called for more.
We are called to rely on more than our own energy, our own intellect. We are called to rely on Jesus. With even the smallest amount of faith we can do great things. We can proclaim the love of Christ to the world. We can help the Kingdom of God, where God’s will is done here on earth as it is in heaven, become more and more a part of our lives. We can propose Christ to our family, friends, and neighbors. Some will embrace Christ fully. Many will live a little bit better lives having seen our example. None will see our example and lead worse lives. It is all upside. Remember the God who calls you to do this has already given you the gifts you need.
What we cannot do is simply sit on the sidelines. We cannot become that lazy servant who won’t do the master’s will at all. Or worse yet, we cannot become the one who says, “Sure, I’ll follow,” but does nothing. We are all made for so much more, and this is important work.
The vision of the Kingdom will not disappoint, and we each have a role in making it happen. We have been given the gift of Christ, our savior. Everyone here this morning is called to go the extra mile to make the gift of God’s Kingdom a reality in our own time.
It just takes a little faith.
“Let’s go the extra mile to help make the gift of God’s Kingdom a reality in our own time – in our own home.”1
[1] Fr. James Mallon in his book, Divine Renovation: Bringing your parish from maintenance to mission makes the case for focusing the subject of a homily to one “tweetable” sentence (p. 127). The summary that appears at the beginning and the exhortation at the end are my attempts.
[2] Hab2:3.
[3] Rite of dismissal.