Who would like to be judged on the basis of a single incident in our lives? Unfortunately that happens, not only when we relate to people or businesses but also to God. Some times we write some people or God off because of an unfriendly encounter or a bad experience with them. We don’t give them a second chance, much less a third or forth one.
When we are tuned into God, our lives can be transformed. Being responsive to God at times requires that we be counter-cultural to the world around us. When someone stands out from the crowd because of a certain uniqueness or eccentricity, we say that person is marching to the beat of a different drummer. When someone stands out because he or she is listening to the whispers of God, that person is said to be a committed believer. Each of the readings today offers us an example of such committed believers.
When the high priest demanded that Peter and the apostles listen to him and obey his orders, Peter boldly defended his stance, saying, “Better for us to obey God then men!” He is so right. God’s message of love has remained unchanged. Imbedded in that message is God’s blueprint on how to live our lives as committed believers.
Through the ages, many Christians have taken those words to heart and have at times paid a heavy price for their fidelity. I am mindful of Archbishop Oscar Romero who was martyred while celebrating Mass. Nelson Mandela who was imprisoned for years because of his struggle against apartheid in South Africa. Dorothy Day who spoke out courageously against war and for workers’ rights. Even as old woman, she was arrested for her efforts. Like Peter, they dared to speak up in the name of Jesus and the Good News. They all broke the law because they knew and responded fearlessly to a greater law, God’s law of love.
Not all people who obey God rather than human authority are so famous. Think of the ordinary families who hid Jews during the Holocaust in Nazi Germany, who risked their own freedom and lives because they obeyed God’s law of love imprinted on their hearts. In our country, we can recall the men and women who hid slaves in the underground railroad. Listening to the basic message of the Gospel, they knew that God’s law is for us to love others as ourselves. They broke the law because they knew of a greater law in their hearts because they listened to the beat of a different drum.
In the passage from Revelation, John shared his vision of angels, living creatures and elders, too numerous to count, praising God, “To the one seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, be praise and honor, glory and might, forever and ever!” To which the living creatures acclaimed, “Amen!” This ancient Hebrew word means, “I believe! I agree!” In effect, they were saying that Jesus is the one to be honored. So have those Christians who defied unjust man-made laws. Do we say the same? Like Peter and the apostles, do we live our faith with zealous conviction as they did?
What compelled Peter to be so bold? He knew that Jesus had forgiven him for denying him on the eve of the passion. Jesus hadn’t written him off; to the contrary, Jesus was giving him another chance. In the Gospel passage, the risen Lord offered provocative advice to them. By listening and following his directives, they were rewarded with a great catch of fish. Their continued listening required that they march to the beat of a different drummer, not that of the Jewish authorities nor the Romans, but Christ himself.
Two thousand years later, the divine drummer continues to tap out the message of salvation that can best be summed up in the question that Jesus posed to Peter three times, “Do you love me?” As with Peter, it’s easy for us to say, “Yes, Lord, I love you. You know that I love you.” But that love has to be shown. Jesus told Peter, “Feed my lambs…tend my sheep…feed my sheep.” I hear Jesus asking us to prove our love with acts that demonstrate compassion, forgiveness, mercy, responding to the beat of our heavenly drummer, just as countless Christians have done through the centuries.
In our individual lives, in our parish, in our archdiocese, we continue the work of Christ in countless ways, directly as volunteers or indirectly through financially and prayerfully supporting the Church in its ministry.
One significant way we can play an active role is by supporting the Annual Catholic Appeal. Support of its many programs enables us to feed the hungry, find housing for the homeless, counsel for the troubled, provide faith formation for all who believe, training for those who will minister in our parishes. Your donation helps us to feed our lambs and tend our sheep. Your contribution to the Annual Catholic Appeal is one way you can say to Jesus, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you. I am tending your flock.”
This past week, if you are registered in a parish, you should have received a letter from Archbishop Etienne along with a prayer card and pledge envelope, asking for your support. As he said in his letter, the light of Christ is everywhere! What we cannot do alone, we can do together. This year, the goal set for our parish is $41,700. As you know, any amount over that is returned to the parish. Last year our rebate exceeded $7200. I thank those who listened to the tune of a different drummer and generously supported the Annual Catholic Appeal in the past and hope that together we can be Christ to others.