Up until midway through high school, I had a fairly rough life. Oh, my parents were good people and providers, and I was happy there. But at school, I was often picked on, teased, and bullied. I didn’t have many friends, and – for many years – my fondest schoolyard dream was just to be left alone . . . which didn’t happen as often as I would have liked.
One thing that got me through those rougher parts of my life was trying to realize how short those school years actually were. In the grand scheme of my life, 13 years of primary education were a minority sliver of my lifespan, destined to get smaller with each passing year. If I could make it through those years, none of the jerks I knew in elementary, middle, and high school would matter; I’d almost certainly never see them again. (And, indeed, that belief ended up being entirely correct; once I left school, I never again crossed paths with any of those childhood bullies.)
I was reminded of this part of my childhood today as I reflected on today’s readings. There’s something rare in this Gospel selection, which I don’t recall offhand seeing again elsewhere (although I’d be happy to have other examples pointed out to me). In the Gospel passage from John, Jesus says, “. . . they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world.” Then, two verses later, he repeats those words: “They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world.”
Repetition is a rhetorical device used when you really want what you say to stick with your audience. In this case, it seems that Jesus really wanted his disciples in that case to remember, “They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world.” Why is that so important?
Much of Jesus’ teachings about life in the mortal realm are similar to my childhood anecdote. In the same way that the 13 years of my childhood were wisps of memory flitting away as the decades pass, so, too, are the troubles of the mortal realm the tiniest grain of time compared to the eternity of afterlife – either an idyllic existence in Heaven, or the permanent detachment from God that comes with Hell.
So, then, must we always frame our mortal lives with that long-term perspective, that we do not belong to this world. And the temptations and trials of the world are real and ever-present. Paul, speaking today in the reading from Acts, acknowledges this: “I know that after my departure savage wolves will come among you, and they will not spare the flock.” He continues, “And from your own group, men will come forward perverting the truth to draw the disciples away after them.”
What, in this world, attempts to tear you apart? What, in this world, perverts the truth and tries to draw you away from God?
I personally believe that Christ’s promises are open and fulfilled even if we do participate in the world; I can’t believe that Heaven is only open to those who become hermits and cut themselves off from all human contact, since that goes against Jesus’ command to, “go and make disciples of all nations . . . teaching them to observe all that I commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20). But in the ways that we are part of the world, we should do everything in our power to ensure we do not let it sway us from our ultimate goal – that is, Heaven.
If we are fans of a local sports team, we should make sure our enjoyment doesn’t veer into idolatrous territory of prioritizing a team over our faith, or lead us to rage or irrational animus toward others. If we are avid readers, we should ensure we do not allow un-Christian ideas to take root in our fertile minds. If we enjoy food or cooking, we must beware gluttony. And so on.
Obviously, many activities of the world are totally outside Catholic ideals, and there can be no moderation there. But, in many cases, we can do the Lord’s work while being part of humanity. If we are knowledgeable about sports, we can use that camaraderie to bridge gaps with nonbelievers, finding common ground that may let the Spirit touch them. If we love to cook, perhaps we can cook for the larger church community and bring those in the parish closer together.
Still, in all cases, we must remember that the temptations of this world loom large; they seek to tear us apart like wolves, or pervert the truth and draw us away. How can the world sell us contentment or satisfaction, when Christians – by definition – should seek to derive that from Jesus, for free? It’s much easier for the outside world to pull you away from Christ, and convince you to futilely fill a spiritual void you may feel with material goods. The emotions of rage, fear, and lust are easy for outsiders to harness, bottle, and market; you can’t sell to someone who needs nothing.
If you do participate in this world, try to do so with a Christ-like heart, using this world as another tool to bring about God’s Kingdom here on Earth. And in those realms where you know you will be tempted too strongly, do not participate. Regardless, in all ways, know that the time we spend on Earth is the blink of an eye in comparison to our ultimate goal. We do not belong to this world any more than Christ belonged to this world.
Today’s Readings for Mass: Acts 20:28-38; Ps 68:29-30, 33-35A, 35BC-36AB; Jn 17:11B-19
