23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time – A Reflection by Fr. Leo
Years ago I attended a Sunday Mass at the Basilica of Saint Mary downtown here in Minneapolis. It’s a big space and there is a sense of drama with their liturgies. I sat and took it all in; the space, the acoustics, and the people. One thing that struck me was the diversity of people present in the assembly. One lector was dressed in a three piece suit and another wore her colorful African garb. In the pews were rich and poor. Sheltered and unsheltered. All one and equal in the eyes of God.
On the outside it appeared that James’ words in our second reading were fulfilled, “My brothers and sisters, show no partiality as you adhere to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.” My hope was that what I witnessed was lived out when people went forth from the liturgy back into the ‘world’.
If we are honest, I think we can admit that there is still more than enough partiality to go around. Here is why it is good to ponder another sentence from James’ text today, “Did not God choose those who were poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?
Before you read that as an attack on the rich, let me explain what I think James means in this verse. To understand this text it will be helpful to think of ourselves as having a true self and a false self. The false self isn’t necessarily bad, it just isn’t our full self. Our false self is even necessary, especially in the first half of our lives. We become people with skills and are identified by our skills. Some may be wood carvers, others cement workers and others teachers, doctors or any of a combination of thousands of other skills. This becomes our identity and we begin to define ourselves with these professional identities.
We have many other identities as well. We are male and female, young and old, rich or poor, assertive, passive, or aggressive. The list goes on. All these are good until we think that they are our only identity or our central identity. When we have to prop up our ‘false” or incomplete identity we develop an ego to do so and we become protective and defensive of our identities.
I remember checking into a hotel once and the woman before had some issue with the attendant and felt compelled to let him know she was a Doctor. Not a medical doctor but, a doctor who should be respected. This was her “false self’ speaking for two reasons. One, her need to be respected was demanded in a way that was dis-respectful to the attendant and all of us around her.
Secondly, while not recognizing the inherent identity of the attendant, she also was not in touch with her own basic identity as daughter of God. Her ego was in the way and could not see God in herself or in the one who was trying to help her. This is why the poor, those without ego can be rich in the kingdom of God. They know that we are all created in love and are called to live in love with all peoples.
When this is understood the Ego fades and our skills serve as expressions of God’s love. The surgeon who isn’t consumed with his title and with his own gain can communicate from the heart with his patients and celebrate the wonderful unity we all share in God. The surgeon and patient both need each other to bring good into the world. When this kind of relationship exists it is proven to lead to faster healing for the patient. I’m sure it was a blessing to the doctor as well.
Our task, especially in the latter half of our lives is to let go of our attachment to our false selves and live in the mystery of our true selves. Contemplative prayer and union with God comes from living out of our true God-center, making us one with all creation, especially the people with whom we share this planet. Letting go of our false selves is a death that leads to the resurrection of our true self and a sharing in the fullness of life. Let us be poor then in ego and strong in the love and presence of the Holy Spirit, who is the ground of our being and the being of all creation. For this let us pray.