Florida Catholic | Sunday Word

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Living in friendship with Christ

September 28, 2008 :: Ez 18:25-28; Ps 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14; Phil 2:1-11; Mt 21:28-32

FATHER DAVID SCOTCHIE | SPECIAL TO THE FLORIDA CATHOLIC

After Mass one Sunday morning, I was greeting people as they came out of the church. A child knee-high to my robes came to me, looked up and asked, “Are you Jesus?” I answered, “No, I’m Father David.” He said “Oh,” and went for the doughnuts in the parish hall. My response, while true, wasn’t the answer he wanted.

The next Sunday, a different child came up to me. She looked up and asked, “Are you Jesus?” This time I was ready. I answered, “No, but I’m a friend of Jesus.” She smiled, said, “OK!” and went for the doughnuts in the parish hall.

Only I wasn’t smiling. It was true that I was Father David. I just wasn’t so sure that I was really a friend of Jesus.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not an enemy of Jesus. I’m not like the second son in the story Jesus told where a father had two sons. The father went to the first son and said, “Son, go out in the vineyard and work.” The first son said no, but later changed his mind and went. The second son said yes, but did not go. Jesus made the point that deeds speak louder than words. Do the will of the Father, not just say you will (Mt 21:28-32).

As a follower of Jesus, we know to do the Father’s will. We keep the commandments, we follow church teaching, we come to church on Sunday. We give money and help to clothe the naked, give drink to the thirsty, bury the dead and shelter the homeless. We know the will of God and we do it.

A little boy did not get along especially well with other children. On the bright side, Jacob could read. So his mom sent him to preschool with an index card with instructions. Jacob’s teacher knew to ask him, “Jacob, what does the card say today?” He would whip out his cue card and read, “I will share my toys.” The next day, “I will not push.” With his social cue cards, Jacob knew his mother’s will. Sometimes he even did it.

We know the will of God the Father. Sometimes we even do it. When we don’t, we repent. We say we are sorry and try again.

Jesus said that keeping the rules is fine if you are a child. But if you want to be his friend, believe.

St. Paul in his Letter to the Philippians tells us the good news. Christ Jesus, the Son of God, became one with us so that we might be one with him. He suffered on the cross, died and was buried (Phil 2:1-11).

God most high became most low so that we might be raised up with him. He came to restore us to friendship with God. St. Thomas Aquinas said, “God became man so that man might become god.”

The good news changes everything. Our life in Christ is not so much about keeping the rules of God, but living in friendship with Christ.

To take to prayer: Spend some time with the Lord as a friend.

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