Homily: 23rd Sun, YR C
“Put Christ First”
Sept. 5, 2004
By Fr. William Holtzinger

Today we are being reminded of our limitations. The reading from Wisdom reminds us that we can never know God’s plans totally. The problem is, we all claim, to some degree, to know what is or is not God’s will. Remember from last week that humility is a grace for which we all need to pray. So, as I offer today’s homily, I beg your patience and serious reflection as well as mercy for me. Every time a priest gives a homily, we are attempting to communicate God’s will for us in our present situation. And we will always fall somewhere short. But we must try.

In the Gospel, Jesus tells us to put nothing in front of God. He even goes so far to say, “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” This is almost too much to hear. Yet, doesn’t it also make you listen more? Doesn’t such a radical statement shake any sense of lethargy or laziness from you? If not, then you may very well be lost and nothing I say will change that.

This weekend we celebrate Labor Day. It is a century-old holiday that is intended to celebrate the working class. Today, it is more likely seen as the last day of summer before school begins. In the context of today’s Gospel, it also offers the Church a moment to remind us of the dignity of workers and the justice issues present in our modern economy. The world judges an economy on how much money companies are making. The Church, however, does not use this as a measuring stick for success. Indeed, the desire for money may very well be that which is in our way to foster a relationship with Jesus. Instead, we are being called to measure our success as a nation by how we care for the poor. We must ask the question, are companies offering just wages? What are the working conditions for their employees? As a manager, owner, or CEO, the ability to respond to these questions are very important. But, most of us are not in that position. So how can we respond? We are currently in a political season where we are being called to remember this factor when we vote. It is not how well the rich or middle class are doing. The Church claims a preferential option for the poor. So we must ask how the poor are doing in our economy or how our political structures effect the poor. That is the focus of the Church. Christ is present in all believers, but has a particular presence in the poor (Matt. 25: 34-40). Christ must be first and nothing before him.

So, let’s get closer to home... Think about what is most important to you. (wait) Think about your car, your clothes, your spouse, your children, your friends, your work. How important are these to you? What are you willing to do in order to secure these things? Again, think about your country, your favorite sports team, your favorite TV show, your beloved stereo system, your favorite toy, your favorite food... wait... just think about food! (grin) How important are these things to you? How important is your family? Is there anything in the world you would want before your family? And while we are talking about it, let’s think about those things that we don’t like... those things we might even hate. How about a few pounds around your waist? How about that drug habit or drinking problem, your financial problems, your marital problems, your health problems. Think about your boss, your fellow employees, your children, your wife, the list of repairs to be done, the bills to be paid, the insurance you don’t have, your own unemployment, your inability to communicate with those whom you love.

Jesus makes it simple. We must put nothing before God. Nothing! God must be first if we are to call ourselves disciples of Christ. But, the reality is that we all have idols in our lives. We all struggle to not let our possessions possess us. Think about those things I just mentioned that are so important to you. Are any of them more important that your relationship with Jesus? Think about the amount of time you spend with those things/persons and compare them to your time spent with Jesus. (wait) We are all guilty in some way. In the Mediterranean world of Jesus, the idea of putting anything before family would be blasphemous and stupid. Without one’s family, one’s existence would be in jeopardy. Work depended on it. Future marriage depended on it. One’s status depended on it. Any sense of wealth depended on it. So, Jesus’ claim about rejecting family, while speaking in hyperbole, was scandalous to even think about. Today, that would be akin to asking parents and their children to put their own education in the faith as a priority over anything else. It is a challenge to move our faith in Jesus into the number one spot instead of mearly an afterthought. “What?” you might ask. “Nobody really has that problem do they?” I would propose we do it all too often.

Every year at this time this very conflict is tested in the family. If I said, give up that sport, sell that luxury item, or reserve Sunday or Wednesday nights in order to give your children a chance to come to know the Jesus, I would receive reproof from many parents: “But my kids have (fill in the blank) practice or a game at that time.” Such sensibilities might be akin to Jesus’ challenge today. What do we do to set up our kids so that other things come before Jesus in their lives? To what extent are you willing to show that your faith is important? How many trips to Church are you willing to make, and compare that to how many trips you make for football practice, scrimmages, and games. Parents as well as the Church have too often abdicated our responsibility to put our faith first. Instead, we have put it third, fourth, or last in or priorities. Parents have too long abdicated our faith by making church optional. Amazing! What else do we make optional?

From the parent’s perspective, they might scratch their heads and offer the poignant reflection, “But the Church doesn’t offer a compelling argument or presentation of our faith.” Our kids might comment, “It’s boring.” Herein lies our challenge. It is a good one indeed. Our faith is vibrant and essential, but we have bored our young people with our own lukewarm behavior, or uninspiring liturgy, or irrelevant youth ministry, or dumbed down religious education. These challenges are well received. We here at St. Anthony’s are striving to meet the needs of our young people. We must offer our young as well as old people the Gospel and it’s most compelling message.

Here at St. Anthony’s people are giving their time and talent, being stewards, and making personal investments into our Church. We are deciding to be active and show how much we care by lifting up those who are our future so that they may catch on, like a fire, the Spirit that lives in our Church. Many people are putting their actions where their faith is. If you have been wondering how you can help, it begins right here. Do you come to Mass to help participate in the celebration or not? It can be so simple. Be kind to those around you in the pew. Reach out to someone at our coffee and donuts time after Mass. But I tell you now, judging and being critical in mind and action will not only kill the Spirit living in you, but will thwart the whole community as well.

In order to be serious about our faith, we must make hard choices. We might have to give up something. We might have to be less comfortable. We might have to deal with the hassle the comes with driving back and forth from Church for ourselves and our kids. This is not too much of a cross to bear is it? It’s just gas money and time. It’s means rearranging our priorities.

Christ’s challenge today is not bad news, but good news. If we put Christ first, then those things that keep us preoccupied and unattentive to our faith relationship will lose their power over us. The suffering you will endure will be manageable and meaningful. Christ’s yoke is easy and his burden light” (Matt. 11:30).

Remember the first reading. The ways of God are far beyond us. The mysteries I wish to convey, I don’t pretend to master myself. But, by simply putting our lives in the right order and putting Christ first, our lives will never be the same.