In the movie Spiderman, the grandfather of Spiderman gives him some advice just before his death: “With power, comes great responsibility.”
In reflecting on the readings for this Sunday and of the past week, this line came to mind in the following form: “With vocation, comes great responsibility.” Throughout the week, the readings speak of being called, invited, and chosen. Yet, it comes with great responsibility: the kingdom of God. The glory of God’s kingdom is great, but I think a lot of that glory is only possible if we build the kingdom of God here on earth.
First of all, the Sunday readings remind us that God’s kingdom includes many. In the first reading from Isaiah we read, “…I come to gather nations of every language…” Reminding us that God’s kingdom indeed is vast. The word “nations” is used three other times in this short reading. These nations are not all followers, one may call them Gentiles, but God will prevail so that, even “some of these [God] will take as priests and Levites…” Not only is God’s kingdom vast, but there is hope for all.
The second reading is also a sign of hope. One may think how can all this talk of discipline, used five times in 6 verses, give hope. The letter to the Hebrews includes lines like, “Endure you trials as ‘discipline’…all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain…” However, it is the end of the reading that gives hope: “So strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees. Make straight paths for your feet, that what is lame may not be disjointed but healed.” We are all broken, yet with courage and “discipline” come “peaceful fruits of righteousness…”
Today, it is commonly heard “no pain, no game.” What will we do for the kingdom of God? What will we do today to follow the path towards the Kingdom?
Earlier in the week, we heard the reading where the young man goes away sad for he had many possessions, but in a later reading Jesus reminds us “And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred time more, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”
Sunday’s gospel ends the same way, “For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” I believe this is Jesus inviting us to build his Father’s kingdom here on earth. As De La Salle Christian Brothers, we have the great responsibility for the salvation of souls, of bringing others to the Kingdom. Therefore, we need the “discipline” and the faith to accomplish such a task. Our own Founder reminds us “not to look upon anything but with the eyes of faith…” This faith is what will give us the daily courage to go about building the Kingdom of God here on earth.
De La Salle’s reflection on St. Bartholomew calls on us to tear off our own skin, “which St. Paul call the old man, in order to be clothed with the spirit of Jesus Christ, which is according to the same Apostle, the new man.” How else can we do this but with the eyes of faith? I agree with Br. Richard that the novitiate can in some ways be God calling us to put on this new skin and in fact, throughout our lives we must work on putting on the new skin in a responsive love to God. This response is to God’s invitation to build his kingdom, for as the psalm verse reminds us, we are called to “Go out to all the world and tell the good news.”
Our vocation does come with great responsibility, but also with hope, faith, and love.
