Homily: Feast of Peter Damian

Feast of Peter Damian (Mk 9:30-37) “Take the Lowest Place”

We have several predictions of the passion in the Gospel of Mark. Jesus predicts his own death. But he also reminds his disciples that following him is not something that will lead to worldly success. Jesus said, to put it in contemporary language, “When you join my team you are probably going to join a team that will have more losses than wins, but ultimately you will gain more than you lose.”

Another thing that Jesus told his disciples was that they were going to have to be servants. The last will be the first in the community that he was leading. Once again, he said this several times, but it just never seemed to register with the Apostles.

The community of believers was much like any organization we belong to. We might reflect on the careers we have. Who gets ahead in the typical company? The old maxim is too often true. “It is not what you know, but who you know.”

The other thing that is also true is that we all like to be close to the person who is in charge. We see individuals who might not care for their boss, but who are always complimenting them and telling them what they want to hear. Some authority figures like this kind of subordinate. Wise leaders see through sycophants and value people that tell them the truth.

I don’t think Jesus liked disciples who tried to get close to him and be his close friends because they wanted influence and power. Jesus liked disciples who spoke the truth to him, people who were honest about their shortcomings. Jesus was more comfortable around the repentant sinner than he was around the self-proclaimed saint.

We would like the church to be free of politics and it should be, but too often it is not. We always need to keep in mind that our task is to take up our cross and follow Jesus. We are meant to serve not to be self- serving.

Reflection Questions:

1.     Do I see politics being played at my place of work or in the organizations I belong to? How does this make me feel?

2.    What is the key to being authentic? Do I try to speak the truth even if it means losing popularity?

 Dear Parishioners,

           Tomorrow, we begin the Lenten Season. This is a day of fast and abstinence. We don’t eat between meals, nor do we eat meat. It is a day of penance. It is not a holy day of obligation.

          This might surprise many people. More people come to Mass on Ash Wednesday than on many Sundays of the year. Why is that the case? People seem to want to receive the Ashes. Again, we could ask why that is the case.

          Could it be that at some level we have the need to say we are sinners and to remind ourselves that God is constantly extending mercy to us? It seems that this is the case. What else can explain the popularity of Ash Wednesday services? God is good and God is forgiving. We need to be reminded of that as often as possible.

          May Our Lady pray for us.

Fr. Mark