Homily 25th Sunday Ordinary Time Year B - Called to be selfless

Homily (Sermon) - Called to be selfless

The Readings for Sunday 23rd September 2012  or the twenty-fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time Year B:
Wisdom 2:12, 17-20
Psalm 53:3-6, 8
James 3:16-4:3
Mark 9:30-37
[These readings can be found at www.universalis.com for the next few weeks.]

There is a lot of conflict in this world. I don't just mean wars, terrorism or violence although they often seem the worst and most extreme conflicts. I also include the daily conflicts we are part of at work, school, in our families and even in this Church. Small arguments, little disagreements, frustrations that other people don't quite see the world as we see it. Tiny fights we need to win each day to succeed in our work, play and faith.

There is something about being human that drives us to succeed, to want to achieve things. For some people they target greatness, look at our Olympic and paralypic athletes, for others maybe the ambition is smaller, getting the kids to eat breakfast and get to school on time is challenge enough.

Ambition, drive, success and winning are the themes of today. And our teaching from Christ today seems contradictory, "If anyone wants to be first, they must make themselves last of all." The message doesn't fit with the way we see the world work.

We are told that the disciples had been arguing over who was the greatest. I had to smile and see myself reflected in that line. I remember bad team meetings at work that dissolved into boasting of successes and putting down of others. Sometimes I took part, others I sat back and thought to myself, this is stupid why can't they see this gets us nowhere, I am a much better manager because I am not taking part. On reflection I see how wrong I was on both occasions, and the disciples knew they were wrong also, they were ashamed to tell Jesus what they had been arguing over.

Our society tells us that being right, being first, being the best is all important. But society is wrong. There is nothing good or important about being first, however there is only one thing bad about being right, or first or best, and that one thing is doing something just to be right or just to be the best or just to be the first.

So what are we supposed to do?

We are called to be gentle and are called to endure. We are called to bring peace to conflict. As James tells us the seeds of the peace maker will bear fruit in holiness. Jesus tells us to be the servant of all.

It's in our nature to put ourselves first. Christ tells us not to, he tells us to put others first. He shows us a small child as an example. Put them first, serve them and you are serving Him.

There is a huge difference between doing your best and being best. Being the best student, the best driver, the best mum, the best doctor, the best anything you can be is good, it's holy and it will bear fruit. Being better than anyone else is point less and will only lead to conflict.

Use your skills for others, welcome their needs, their vulnerabilities. Help them as you would help a child. Welcome them with open arms, you will be welcoming Christ.

Following our lord is not easy. He never promised it would be. Selflessness is not in our nature, pride and greed are. If you are to be a follower of Christ you needs put your human nature last to enable you to put your spiritual nature first. Work hard, but always for others, strive to do your best, but resist the urge just to be the best, if you are the best thank God that you are able to serve so well.

This week please reflect on the today's teaching. It's a hard one, a call to be selfless. It's one we will all find difficult, and without prayer and a relationship with a loving God we may find impossible. But we have a loving God, one who is selfless, who died for us, who forgives us, and is ready to help us if just ask in prayer for help. Please pray about conflicts in your life, pray for help in bringing peace, pray that you maybe be a seed of the peacemakers and bring all huge harvest of holiness.

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About the Author - Deacon John Scanlon
Homily Index

New Awakenings - Just look at our Prayer Cross

I just love the prayer cross that has been travelling around our community of parishes. Daily it's been filling up and now front, back and sides it's almost full of our prayers for each other and the world we live in. It's a beautiful thing just take a look at small video below.

Dad's Perfect Time

Dad’s Perfect Time

Lord, grant me the gift of patience,

The willingness to wait on you,

Understanding to know your purpose,

To say in the simplicity of faith,

Father, your will not mine be done,

Thank you for your perfect timing,

The joy that comes with obedience,

The blessings you so freely give,

As every situation works for good,

Drawing us nearer to our God.

Patrick R
November 2010

Advertising Standards Bans Healing Prayer Claims

I have just watched a local news program featuring a story about a how Christian group have been banned by advertising standards from claiming that God and prayer can heal people. They then asked the viewers to email and tweet their thoughts, from a quick look through the twitter comments I guess 3 out of 5 people were strongly against prayer for healing, describing it as irresponsible, misleading and unfounded. 1 out of 5 were neutral and the last 1 out of 5 were Christian supporting or quoting examples.

I am worried about the majority view, I don't see myself as irresponsible and I would hate to mislead anyone, but I do believe that prayer can heal. Many or all of the major world faiths believe in Devine healing. Christian scripture gives us many examples of healing by the prophets, Christ himself and the apostles and believers who came after Him.

I think what worries me is the assumptions other people are making about my faith. There was an assumption that prayer should be used instead of modern medical care. I find that assumption quite ridiculous and therefore agree with several of the tweets of people who are against healing prayer. It would be irresponsible to stop someone seeking medical attention with a claim that prayer could heal them instead.

I believe in God and his son Christ as my saviour. I am also fascinated by science and our our desire to understand the world arounds us. I see no conflict between the two. A doctor can cut out a cancer and drugs can stop an infection. Let's use these wonders to save lives.

But if you have a faith, and if you are open to it, prayer can also help. I can't prove this, I don't want to even try. My faith is just that, it's not built on proofs, it has developed from love, from smiles, from relationships with Christian friends and is getting stronger as I spend more time with God. I can't see or touch or hear Him, but I have built a relationship with Him and I trust him to guide me in my life here on earth.

When my dad got cancer I prayed for him, I prayed for him to be cured. I also was very glad he got the best possible care from the medical profession. He died three years later, a horrible and painful death, he wasn't cured miraculously. Does this mean medicine doesn't work, no it means we don't know enough yet to cure all cancers. Does this mean prayer doesn't work, no all it means is that my prayers weren't answered as I wanted. I do know that I was supported through out his illness, and I think in some ways my dad was as well.

Prayer being sold as a guaranteed miracle cure is wrong. Prayer is a conversation with God, if you want to start that conversation it can and will take you to many wonderful places, healing could be one of them but that is not guaranteed. I know personally that I couldn't be without prayer and God in my life.

I am really sorry some people are worried by the Christian faith, to me it makes sense. Its not about magic, miracle cures and the moral high ground, it's about love and caring and that shouldn't worry anyone.