Pastor's Spiritual Reflections

By Fr. Leo Schneider (9/9/2007)

Dear People of Holy Name,

Paul’s letter to Philemon makes me think of the song by John Foley, SJ., “One Bread, One Body.” The lyrics drawn from other writings by Paul remind us that “we, though many, through-out the earth, we are one body in this one Lord.” Verse one continues, “Gentile or Jew, servant or free, woman or man no more.” In Christ we are one, not greater or lesser, but each having unique gifts we bring to the community of faith.

Today Paul is sending Onesimus back to his community and asking that he be received, not as a slave, but as a partner in the Lord. Paul’s conversion not only ran counter to Judaism, but also to the social customs of the day. Paul, a man of authority as a Jew, gave it all up to become a brother in the Lord and preached that all are brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ.

This same countercultural move is seen in our Gospel today. A true follower of Christ must renounce all his possessions and attachments, so different than the preaching of our contemporary materialistic culture. Today we may see monks and nuns giving it all up, but for us who live in the world it is a constant tension of choosing what will bring real happiness. How do we find freedom from possessions or the need to possess, and still have what we need to live a reasonably comfortable life?

Paying bills, keeping a house and car up, running a household all requires income which requires work, and for many the challenge is earning enough money to make ends meet, even for a simple life. If we could lower the walls the individualistic mindset of materialism raises between us, perhaps there would be more equity and genuine equal opportunity for everyone to live a better life. As it is, it seems its’ everyone for him or her self.

On the other end of the spectrum there are those people who do seem to “get it all.” There are the stories of the people who make it big in sports, or film, or on the concert stage, but end up on drugs and become incredibly unhappy, or the story of the pearl, where the family that was once happy almost lost it all in their pursuit of the pearl. It makes one re-evaluate what it is that makes us happy.

I don’t think true happiness comes from outside of us. Happiness is something that comes from within, and that is precisely what Jesus was all about and what spirituality is made up of. What matters is who we are in our own eyes and the eyes of God, not the money we have or don’t have. And who are we in God’s eyes? We are his dearly beloved. Thus our view of our self should be a joyful one, filled with gratitude and hope for all that has and will come.

If we stop to consider how blessed we are to have the gift of faith, we will realize how rich we already are and will see that our happiness flows out of the lives we share with others, regardless of our status or income. Ask any grandparent what makes them happy and you’ll know what really matters.

It is worth it to give up the pursuit of things for the pursuit of God. That is the message of our scriptures this weekend, and to the extent we can renounce what isn’t really important, the happier we will be and the more our personal sharing with others will make happiness more of a reality for them as well.

Let us pray that our greatest desire may be being in the presence of God, and that we may pursue that with our greatest passion.

In God’s peace, Fr. Leo