Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

If today were not a Sunday, we would be celebrating the Memorial of my patron saint: St. Augustine, a man and saint recognized by the fire inside of him. You know, when after trying all the world had to offer he realized that he could not be happy ignoring the fire within and seeking happiness in the material possessions of the world, so he wrote, our hearts are made for you O God, and cannot rest until they rest in you. On this Sunday let us remember unite to the life and works of St. Augustine the words of the Lord that we just heard in the gospel: what profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life. My brother, my sister we, as disciples of Jesus, have within us the burning fire of the Lord which impels, invites, commands us to transform the world.

Spirituality is what we do with the fire that is within us. Spirituality is the discipline and habits that we live by that lead us to a greater integration of our bodies, minds and souls. All discipline takes effort. And like the lump of clay that became the beautiful vessel, the effort has a cost. But the result is wonderful: we become one in the Lord.

In last Sunday’s Gospel Peter had proclaimed that Jesus was the Messiah and Son of God. In today’s Gospel, Jesus reproves Peter. Peter tried to dissuade his master from carrying out the Father’s plan. That’s why Jesus called him a devil, someone who is fighting against the will of God. Peter was not at peace. Peter had a long way to go before he could look at a cross prepared for him and peacefully accept a new service of God through his martyrdom. But, eventually, Peter was able to put his life in God’s hands and peacefully accept the ending of this life and the beginning of the next.

All of us have met men or women who are truly spiritual. How did we recognize them? Well, it is not because we heard them say pious prayers. We didn’t feel drawn to them because they irradiate some special light. Instead we recognized the serenity with which they reflected the presence of the Lord within them. The truly spiritual are people who are at peace with themselves, with others, and even with a world that might oppose them. St. Maximilian Kolbe could sit in a cell in a Nazi concentration camp at peace with himself and with God. He could throw the fire of God’s love upon the earth. He was spiritual. Perhaps your husband or wife, your mother or father, grandmother have passed away in peace knowing that they were being transformed from one life to another. They were spiritual. Blessed John Paul II and Blessed Mother Theresa both irradiated a peace within themselves. They were spiritual. We also can be spiritual. We can focus on the center of life, God within us, when we come to the parish Sunday after Sunday. And you know, our parish is not an agency of spiritual service, it is not a business to sell the sky. The parish, and all those who work here strive to realize, is a place where you and God meet.

My brother, my sister, if you come to the parish looking to be entertained, you're in the wrong place. If you come to the parish to fill your time with philanthropic activities you're wrong again. Even if you are looking just a place to feel at peace, wrong again. The parish is a meeting place between you and your God. A place to worship the most blessed Trinity.

Let's ask the Lord together this morning for the same fire that San Augustine has in his heart. Let's ask God to lit our hearts. If we want, God will help us to get serious about our spiritual life. Do we need to win the world or much money or fame or prestige if we are not taking care of our soul? The parish is the place where we meet God.

Let's pray for our parish. Let's pray for our Archdiocese. Let's pray for our priests. Let's ask God for a restless heart who always seek His love.