No one said it was easy
No one said it was easy.
Homily for 26th Sunday in Ordinary time
Ez. 18:25-28, Ps.25, Phi. 2:1-11, Mat. 21:28-32
No one said it was easy. If only discipleship and following Jesus was as easy as getting fatter. I speak from experience. My grandkids are starting to call me Santa Mark instead of papa Mark. It isn’t just the curly bead and handle bar mustache. It’s my belly. Yikes. How did that happen? I have such great intentions of being healthy. I keep saying I’ll live healthier, but the evidence is showing in my beltline. Is it the same with how I’m following Jesus? How about you? Sound familiar?
This weekend's Gospel speaks of two sons' words to their father about working in the vineyard. Oh how that sounds like my internal words about my health and humbly my success at forming disciples much less being a disciple. Our church endlessly speaks of being a disciple or forming disciples. How is that working out for us? If we are honest we are getting exactly what we are deciding to make important and a priority. Are our actions following our words? How much longer are we going to keep lying to ourselves in church about this? The time is near. Just like with a good regimen of diet, exercise, and fasting for our physical health, we could use that same pep talk about our spiritual health. The exact same principles apply.
A great friend and brother in Christ used to ask me often if and when our church would shift its one by one campaign from fundraising to soul raising? I believe more than ever, now is the time. Praying with the Gospel of Matthew 21:28-32, are we ready to comply with the Fathers will. We honestly need to get on the scale and measure how many missionary disciples we have made. How many future leaders of the church are we mentoring? Not future followers. We have enough followers. WE NEED LEADERS. Jesus did not say, “sit there and watch me or sit there and listen to me”, He implicitly said, “get into that vineyard and work” and He did not mean in word and intentions alone.
If I can promise one thing, you will hear me ask you, yes you, to work, not follow. I appreciate followers. It builds my ego. What I pray for are leaders to rise up from the followers. This church will multiply exponentially. It will. It will be the moment followers become leaders in action and not in word alone.
Getting thinner is possible. Being a missionary disciple is possible. Get off the pew (couch) and into the vineyard (gym) and work (exercise). Eat only what is holy and good for you. It isn’t easy but it has good perks.