Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B
Pastoral Visit to Saint Theresa Parish in Edmonton
Homily
[Numbers 11:25-29; Psalm 19; James 5:1-6; Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48]
I am delighted and blessed to be with you this weekend on a pastoral visit. These days together give me the opportunity to learn from you of the good works undertaken by so many people in support of the life of the parish. And there are many! Throughout the weekend I am hearing from a number of groups involved in various ministries, and I must say I am very edified by all that I am witnessing here. Thank you for your participation in the mission of the Church here in this parish.
Now, as you know, this Archdiocese has just launched new pastoral priorities that we shall pursue together over the next three years. They arise out of our participation in the synodal process, from which I heard one consistent plea for formation in the faith. I want to emphasize that this request was made for the sake of being better witnesses to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The fact that this was a common plea tells me – tells us all – that the people of God in this Archdiocese are deeply aware that the circumstances of our day are calling us urgently to witness. By this I mean drawing people by our words and our lives to the truth of the Gospel. We are seeing all around us serious challenges to which only Jesus is the answer: deep moral confusion; widespread loss of meaning; societal and geopolitical fracture; global insecurity; wars among nations. Urgent is the need for clear and convincing witness – to point our world to Jesus Christ as the one and only light in our darkness, the unique hope of all people.
It is precisely with respect to this need to be witnesses that Jesus gives two important teachings in the passage we hear this morning from the Gospel of Saint Mark.
First, he insists that everyone needs to be on board. The disciples are sent out to give witness by the unique power given to them to cast out demons. They get upset because they see someone, not of their number, able to do the same. There is beginning to creep into their minds and hearts an exclusivist interpretation of their mission – only they are the ones to carry it out. But Jesus challenges them to see things differently. It is of the greatest importance that the whole world come to know the saving power of God, so they should rejoice whenever anyone gives this witness. Everyone needs to be on board.
Who in the parish, who in our families, is not yet on board with the Church’s mission? Who has drifted away and how do we invite them back? What are the ecumenical opportunities, working with other Christians, to give collective witness to Christ and thus move toward greater unity? The need for authentic witness is urgent, and that urgency is what must drive us toward overcoming all division and apathy.
Jesus then goes on to warn us against that which undermines the credibility of our witness, namely, sin. Sin is a turning away from God, a refusal of his love and direction, and a consequent turning in on ourselves and deciding to do things “my own way”. Separation from God by sin divides us from one another and compromises our ability to give the witness that the world so urgently needs.
Here we see why Jesus speaks very strongly against sin with arresting hyperbole. If you scandalize the innocent, better for you to be drowned in the sea. If your eye causes you to sin, tear it out, if your hand, cut it off, and so on. This is not to be taken literally, of course, but the urgency must not be missed. Have nothing to do with sin! Jesus drives home the point by teaching very clearly that how we live on earth has eternal consequences. The decision in this life to follow God leads to everlasting life; the decision to reject God leads instead to eternal damnation.
What we have in this Gospel text are very strong words from the Lord. They are an urgent summons to act and a clear warning against the sin which prevents our action. Yet let’s not forget that every word that comes from Jesus is one of love. Just as parents will at times speak stern words to their children for the sake of their good, so does Jesus with us. He loves us beyond measure and wants us with him forever.
That love is poured out in a wondrous way every time we celebrate mass and are given the gift of communion with the love of the Lord by offering and receiving the Eucharist. May the grace flowing from our communion with Jesus today strengthen our zeal to give witness and invite all to get on board, and keep us from the sin that undermines the mission to which we are urgently called.
✠ Most Reverend Richard W. Smith
Saint Theresa Parish
September 28-29, 2024