Closer to Christ

Working to bring people closer to Christ

05/01/2018

John 14:27-31A Jesus said to his disciples: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. You heard me tell you, 'I am going away and I will come back to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe. I will no longer speak much with you, for the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over me, but the world must know that I love the Father and that I do just as the Father has commanded me."

There’s an old saying in the church business that goes: “Working for the church doesn’t pay much, but the retirement plan is out of this world.” I think that’s how I was suckered into becoming a priest, and it’s also how I have snookered a few people into working for me. But when I arrived at I.C. almost five years ago, I figured I better come up with a better sales pitch than that. In other words, why do people work for the church, where they are paid with peanuts, the hours are long and you work weekends, your boss is a cranky, celibate priest, and your customers want everything for free?

I told the staff: “Your real job is to bring people closer to Christ.” Whether you are the pastor or the custodian or the sacristan or the youth director or the bookkeeper, there’s only one reason to get out of bed and drive to work (or ride your bike if you’re Ed). You bring people closer to Jesus. Sometimes we do that simply by a smile or a warm hello or a handshake or a hug. Far beyond counting the collection or cleaning the church or even preaching from the pulpit, the most important job we do is bring people closer to Christ. If you are not interested in doing that, please don’t work for the Church, or at least not for Immaculate Conception Church.

May 1st is the Memorial of St. Joseph the Worker. What was his job? Well, we all know he was a carpenter who lived in Nazareth. But was that his real job, or his most important occupation? Hardly. I would submit to you that his real job, above and beyond carpentry, was bringing people closer to Christ. How did he fulfill that job description? He raised Jesus to be a hardworking, honest and humble Jew. Before Jesus ever donned the mantle of the Messiah, he strapped on the tool belt of a carpenter. Later Jesus would use parables and examples drawn from the world of work to teach people about the Kingdom of God: the workers in the vineyard, the sower and the seed, the ten talents, and even the ten wise and foolish virgins. Each parable illustrates like the many colors of the rainbow how each honest job ultimately leads to the pot of gold that is the Kingdom of God. St. Joseph’s occupation of carpenter and foster-father brought people closer to Christ. Or maybe it would be more accurate to say he helped bring Christ closer to the people, which is the same difference.

Ladies, maybe you have wondered yourself why should someone belong to the Ladies Auxiliary of Immaculate Conception Church? Maybe you bought that line about the retirement plan being out of this world – and that’s actually true! But there’s another reason and a better reward for being part of this elite women’s organization. You, too, bring people closer to Christ. Maybe you sew in the group that makes the baptismal gowns, or you help with the funeral meals to comfort grieving families, or you raise your voice in song in the Dead Choir, or your donations help buy new vestments for priests or new appliances for the rectory. But through all that, your real occupation and vocation is to bring people closer to Christ. And, by the way, when the priest is a little less cranky because he slept well on his new mattress that you bought, you are like St. Joseph and bring Christ (“in persona Christi” in the priest) a little closer to the people!

And even when you can’t do all these wonderful tasks, even when age and physical limitations keep you at home or in bed, even then you can bring people closer to Christ by your prayers and offering up your suffering. Maybe someday you will read “Sonnet 19” by the great British poet, John Milton. Did you know that toward the end of his life he was struck blind and doubts of faith clouded his usually clear sight? He felt useless and so he offered his uselessness to God and wrote: “They also serve who only stand and wait.” Even when we can only stand and wait, or maybe we can only sit and wait, we can bring people closer to Christ.

To bring people closer to Christ is ultimately the purpose of every human being who has ever walked upon the face of the earth.

Praised be Jesus Christ!