Do you excel in being a faithful remnant?

Good News Reflection
Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent
December 15, 2009

Today's Readings:
Zeph 3:1-2, 9-13
Ps 34:2-3, 6-7, 17-18, 19, 23
Matt 21:28-32
http://www.usccb.org/nab/121509.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_12_15.mp3

Do you excel in being a faithful remnant?

Do you feel like you're a remnant, as described in today's first reading? A small minority? You're surrounded by family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, and church members who claim to be Christian but who, when tested in the fire of the world's temptations and hardships, give in to the ways of sin instead of persisting in the ways of Christ?

In today's Gospel passage, Jesus shows us what it means to be a humble, lowly remnant who remains faithful to the Lord. Do we say "yes" to God and then follow through only half-heartedly and eventually lose interest, or do we persevere whole-heartedly? A "yes" that becomes "no" is not holy; to be holy we first take time in prayer to discern if we should say "yes" and then, if God wants us to say "no", we say "no" before we start. And if God tells us to say "yes", our yes really should fully mean yes.

Are we mediocre in our work, or do we give God our best and strive for excellence? Faithfulness requires whole-hearted excellence.

Think about the ministries in which you've dabbled. The bad habits you know you really should conquer. The person you feel a compassionate desire to reach out to but you just can't seem to find the time to help. The book you felt inspired to buy but is still sitting on the table unread. The charity you were going to give to generously but now you're spending the money on yourself.

Okay (gulp), we have all said "yes" and then "no", like the elder son in today's Gospel. But we're also like the second son.

How many times have we resisted doing what God calls us to do, and then we plunge into the pool of obedience, learning to swim our way to the goal that God has set before us? The water in the pool is the Holy Spirit who keeps us afloat and saves us from drowning. Without Christ's Spirit in us, we would always sink. But with his Spirit, we can reach any goal for any "yes" that the Lord beckons us to do.

Take a few moments to thank God for this, and give him permission to help you avoid the lazy detours of mediocrity and wishy-washy yeses. A firmly embraced "yes" is the path to joy. It doesn't have to be a perfect "yes". God only asks for sincerity, determination, and a desire to strive for excellence.

This road of joyful yeses is filled with casualties. People who quit become obstacles that slow the progress of the faithful remnant. There is much more that God wants to do on this earth, but because he does it through you and me and every baptized Christian, those who say "no" – especially those who say "yes" and then "no" – are handicapping him.

If you're one of the faithful remnant, to get past the frustration of tripping over lazy and mediocre Christians, whole-heartedly seek companions who work hard on their spiritual growth. Joy and successful progress are found by surrounding ourselves with those who strive for excellence in the kingdom of God.

© 2009 by Terry A. Modica
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