Sifting Wheat from Chaff

 

Seeing how death can clarify our priorities

10/14/2025

Luke 11:37-41 After Jesus had spoken, a Pharisee invited him to dine at his home. He entered and reclined at table to eat. The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal. The Lord said to him, "Oh you Pharisees! Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil. You fools! Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside? But as to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you."

You have probably heard the old adage, “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” That means keep your heart and your head preoccupied with important and truly urgent matters rather than drown in the noise of daily details. But how can you tell the difference between the big stuff and the small stuff?

They often look similar, and sometimes, the small stuff looks even bigger. One way to distinguish the significant from the small is to reflect on what we want people to remember us for after we die. Death has a way of sifting the wheat from the chaff. This past Saturday I presided at a funeral for Dr. Jim Post, who was 101 years old.

His grandchildren delivered eloquent eulogies about how he attended their recitals, taught them about flowers and vegetables in his garden, how he saved children’s lives as a pediatrician, and what a devout Catholic he was. For example, there were four priests present for his funeral.

Even though Jim Post did a lot of things in over a century of life, he did not let the small stuff get bigger than the big stuff, namely, faith, family, and flowers. Last night at dinner Pat Nolte mentioned the difference in how we remember the Roman Emperors and the early Christians, remarking: “We name our sons Peter and Paul, and we name our dogs Nero and Caesar.” No offense to dogs! Peter and Paul didn't sweat the small stuff, but Nero and Caesar did.

In the gospel today, Jesus tries to teach a Pharisee how not to sweat the small stuff. When Jesus ignores the dietary details of washing before the meal, the Pharisee is shocked and scandalized. But Jesus reprimands him: “You cleanse the outside of the cup and dish [but] inside you are filled with plunder and evil.” Jesus is warning him in effect: “If you don’t differentiate between the what truly significant and what’s merely small, people will name their dogs for you and not their sons.

Today we celebrate the Optional Memorial of Pope St. Callistus I, martyr. Before he became pope he cared for a cemetery on the famous Appian Way, which stretches from Rome to the southern tip of Italy. Hence, he is the patron saint of cemetery workers.

He served as pope from 217 to 222, and was the 16th pope, like Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president. He was martyred in 222 during a popular uprising by being thrown down a well.

Pope Callistus is another example of not sweating the small stuff. Perhaps by caring for the cemetery and reflecting on the lives of the dead he learned that people remember us for the significant matters in life. His life motto changed from, “Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die,” to “Pray, sacrifice, and love your neighbor for tomorrow we die.” Only after death will we be able to accurately appraise what was significant from what was small.’

My friends, take a minute to reflect on your own life. Are you sweating the small stuff? Another way to ask that questions is: “How will people remember you after you die?” One way to do that is follow the example of Pope St. Callistus I: meditate on the lives of loved ones who have passed and see what they are remembered for, like Dr. Jim Post’s legacy of faith, family and flowers.

Every October, my father reminds me to pray for our deceased family members. Do not forget the dead. At the beginning of November, on Nov 2nd, we commemorate All Souls Day. We pray for our beloved dead that they will soon complete purgatory and enter Paradise. And by the way, why are our family and friends in purgatory in the first place? I’ll give you one guess.

They were sweating the small stuff instead of focusing on the significant stuff. Like Jesus said: “But as to what is within, give alms, and behold everything will be made clean” that is, pure, purged, purgatory. In other words, our priority should be the poor. When we care for the needy on earth, they will be the ones who open the doors of heaven for us. Death has a way of sifting the wheat from the chaff.

Praised be Jesus Christ!