We are inclined to define ordinary as being something routine or unexceptional. For this reason, you may think that ordinary time is called that because there is nothing special about this season. Actually, this time is called ordinary for a different reason; this is when the Church “orders” us to do our mission in life, to organize our thoughts and commitments toward the mission that Christ has given us.
And what might that be? Recall that last line from Isaiah, “I will make you a light to the nations that my salvation may reach the ends of the earth.” You might think this line is describing Jesus, but in fact God is speaking to you personally, “You are my servant, through whom I show my glory.” Isaiah’s message, intended for all believers, conveys the very purpose of our baptism. Paul puts the same expectation differently when he tells the people at Corinth, “you have been called to be holy.”
By virtue of our baptism, we are called on to, shall I say, join the club along with Isaiah, Paul, John the Baptist and those whom they first preached to. We are called, not only to see ourselves as being numbered amongst God’s holy people, but entrusted with the mission of calling others to holiness as well.
Now, you might be thinking, “That mission belongs to Father or Deacon Bob,” but imagine where you would be if those who influenced you the most had not done their bit to evangelize you and the world around them. Imagine what shape our society would still be in today if others had shied away from calling us to holiness.
The world is a very different place because they weren’t afraid to proclaim their convictions, recognizing Jesus as the Lamb of God, the one who has come to take away the sins of the world; they also knew that Jesus was counting on them to do their part to rid the world of sin as well.
This weekend, our nation recalls the legacy of Martin Luther King. Eloquently and peacefully, he confronted the sin of racism; doing what he did to uphold the dignity of all peoples. I will never forget how he shared his dream on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial that one day his children would be judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. Admittedly, we have miles to go before the sin of bigotry is completely wiped out, but thanks to Dr. King and others who cared, we have come a long ways toward erasing the shame of segregation in our midst.
We must not ignore the tragedy of abortion, a sin made legal by the Supreme Court 35 years ago, a sin that continues to challenge the fabric of our society in numerous ways, including our politics, just as slavery once did. While the rate of abortions has dropped significantly in recent years, the numbers still remain high with more than 1.2 million done in 2005. Mother Teresa once offered this insight, worth reflecting upon, “We are here to be witnesses of love and to celebrate life because life has been created in the image of God. Life is to love and be loved. That is why we all have to take a strong stand so that no child, boy or girl, will be rejected or unloved. Every child is a sign of God’s love that has been extended over all the earth.”
At the other end of the spectrum of life, the voters of this state may find themselves once again wrestling with the issue of euthanasia. A similar initiative was rejected in 1991; hopefully we will do our part once again to be a light for the terminally ill as well as the conscience of our state, helping others to know that suicide is not a step toward holiness.
Few of us knew about our mission in life when we were baptized. Our parents and godparents spoke on our behalf, testifying that they would raise us in the Catholic faith. If they have done their homework, the one lesson they instilled in us is that being a follower of Jesus Christ also means being a doer. God is counting on us to give voice to our Christian convictions and bring them to life. I hope today’s response speaks for you, “Here I am, Lord, I come to do your will.”
Have you ever heard of Steve Whitimore? As a youngster growing up in Atlanta, he became fascinated with puppets. At age 19, he began working on the Muppet Show, doing the background voices and characters. When the show’s founder, Jim Henson, unexpectedly died in 1990, his widow and son asked Steve to take over as Kermit. “I remember feeling very scared,” he said in an interview, “but I looked Kermit in the eyes, and it was almost as though he was saying, ‘Come on, I need a voice.’”
Likewise, Jesus needs a voice. Like John the Baptist, we are being called to give voice to the presence of the Lamb of God in our midst. The work of the gospel, namely, justice, compassion, and reconciliation, does not belong only to the Mother Teresas or Martin Luther Kings of the world who have followed Christ. In every act of humble compassion and generosity, the Lamb of God is given the chance to walk in our midst.
All of us, parents and teachers, doctors and gardeners, builders and plumbers, accountants and cooks, and yes, priests and politicians, have been called to declare to our contemporaries that Christ is in our midst. John the Baptist declared his witness to Christ in preaching. Our witness as Christians can be done quietly yet just as effectively in our unfailing compassion for others, in our uncompromising moral and ethical convictions, in our efforts to celebrate the art of forgiveness with others, and in our daily sense of joy and purpose. That to me is what holiness is all about. And one could also say that serving the Lord is ordinary thing a Christian is expected to do.