My wife, Anna, likes to watch fashion shows on TV. She doesn’t spend a great deal of money on clothes but she loves to look smart and have a polished finish when we go out or go to Church.
One of the things she likes to do on Saturday mornings is a particular fashion show. We will watch it together. She will point things out in a garment and critique it, such as color or style. She will notice if the plaids don’t match or if the color is in her size or not. I have learned what smocking is. I will watch out of respect and will sometimes offer an opinion. Her comment might be “you are too critical”.
In our first reading today from 1 Corinthians 4 Saint Paul speaks The Lord alone is our judge. I am guilty of sometimes being too critical of others. I am also guilty of being too critical of myself.
Why don’t they or I do it this way?
Myself, I beat myself up for things, that I have said in the past that might have hurt others. Yes, I have been forgiven but we are sometimes our own worst critic. People must think of us as Christ’s servants, stewards entrusted with the mysteries of God. What is expected of stewards is that each one should be found worth of his trust. This is a gift.
Am I a servant of Christ?
In our Gospel passage Luke writes The Pharisees who thought they were servants of God and the scribes said, John’s disciples are always fasting and saying prayer, and the disciples of the Pharisees too, but yours go on eating and drinking” Jesus replied Surely you cannot make the bridegroom’ attendants fast while the bridegroom is still with them?
The Pharisees were being critical. As servants of Christ our time for fasting and praying has come today. The past is gone and today is a day we should be striving to be worthy of the trust given to us at our Baptism. Through God’s grace we have been entrusted with a gift that must be shared with the world.
Going back to fashion. No one tears a piece from a new cloak to put it on an old cloak. Saint Paul writes further, There must new wine skins because the grape needs time to mature in the new skin.
Today, we need to mature just like the wine as servants of Christ.
We are not Christians because we look good in church or because it sounds good to our family or fellow church members.
Because we our children of the Light that is Jesus Christ, Saint Paul writes there must be no passing of premature judgement. Leave that until the Lord come; he will light up all that is hidden in the dark and reveal the secret intentions of men’s hearts. Then will be the time for each one to have whatever praise he deserves from God.
So make a new fashion statement as a servant of Christ. It is a humble process but it is the way we can improve as servants.
God Loves You Always
Bob Burford
