14th Sunday: Discipleship and Success

A little more into the secret lives of Priests; when we visit other parishes we will almost instinctively look for the bulletin. What we will turn to and search for…the Sunday collection amounts. We will compare ours to theirs. When we get together our questions about RCIA, Confirmation, First Communion, Baptisms are generally: “How many?” Again, we compare with each other.  We assess each other (judge) based on those quantities. We measure success on income and persons attending mass and celebrating sacraments.

How do we measure success in our own lives? Bank statements and Portfolio? State of our home or homes? The school our kids attend? Our salary, how many times a year we go to Disneyland?

There is nothing wrong with any of these. In fact, at least for the parish, they provide metrics on the life of the parish. Same thing for general life…metrics give us input and information. If our financial advisors keep on having negative returns whereas the rest of the world is flourishing, something is wrong. If the health department gives a restaurant an “F” we are less inclined to eat there.

Yet, we know there is something more qualitative that needs to be present that says “Success”. The wealthiest family can also be the most dysfunctional. The most gorgeous of parishes…dead.

Several years ago on a podcast, an advisor/counselor who worked at Stanford University was discussing success. She had noted that after years of working with young adults in this very prestigious school, two broad groups were discernible. One group, who were very focussed on achieving the best grades, getting the best internships, and working to achieve the highest paying jobs, were depressed, despirited and some almost suicidal. When any “Failure” happened such as a bad grade, or not getting that position they wanted, they utterly panicked. They could not process it. The other group was more balanced and was involved in the greater community and on relationships. They were more satisfied and found more joy in their lives. “Failures” did not have such a negative effect, rather became a way to learn and grow.

Jesus gives the disciples a task: build up the kingdom. He really does not set them up well (or does he?); don’t take anything extra; not too much money, clothes, shoes, and stay put. He also warns them this will not be easy. So they go out and do this work.

We are not told how long this took, but clearly they were successful. They measured their success because of the amount of people cured and the subject demons. Jesus too rejoices with them. Then, this is crucial, he teaches them the true measure of success.  Qualitatively they have made a difference in the lives of others. Qualitatively they have done what God wills: they have brought good into the world, they have expelled evil in the world. They have brought glory to God. They participated in the great plan of heaven.

The culmination of every mass, every Eucharist is that Doxology: “Through him, with him and in him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, for ever and ever. “ To which the assembly proclaims with joy and love and in song the great AMEN.

The culmination of our lives and also the mission of the church, to fulfill God’s will. We ground ourselves in the work of God.  We do not do this merely for our own merit, our own success, our own ego: We do this to build up God’s kingdom here on earth.  

Jesus did this! He gave of himself for the good of this world and creation, even to the point of dying on the cross. God raised him to show success and life.  Jesus dying on the cross was the metric of utter failure, in the view of the world around him, both Jewish and Gentile. He failed according to their measure of success.

God provided the true measure of success. This was St. Pauls’ point.  We will be more fulfilled as persons, as people as we follow Jesus’ way.

Success in our parish: it is people inspired to work and volunteer to help others, whether at Catholic Charities, the Eddy House, Casa de Vida, at our Food Distribution, at VBS, with Religious Ed, et al.  Success in our parish was when our youth opened up and felt safe enough to share their lives and journeys with the team.  Success happens when people find a warm welcome and a place to grow in their faith.  Success happens on the playground at school when kids help each other.  Success is in reconciliation when a person finds that they are loved no matter what and that God only wants healing.  Success is when a young person celebrating Confirmation grows deeper into their commitment to the faith and building up the kingdom.  Success is that husband and wife going through a difficult phase, and come out more loving and generous with each other.

The disciple of Jesus works for this qualitative success. The disciple of Jesus works to build goodness in this world, not build up an ego. The disciple of Christ humbly heals, welcomes, forgives, and comforts.

Seems the world needs more disciples of Christ.