2 Corinthians 1:8-11, Luke 5:27-32
I saw that movie again last night. You know which one I’m talking about. You’ve seen it or its many sequels, or maybe you’ve read the book. I’m not sure how many times I’ve seen it but it’s staggering whatever it is.
You know, it’s that story where some initial incident sparks the need for a hero to rise up and save the day. Throughout the course of the story various setbacks spring up which makes the main character doubt him or herself. Although the self-esteem of this character is thrown into question and threatened throughout the story, the protagonist eventually comes to believe in him/herself more and discovers that in fact they are good enough, strong enough, tough enough, whatever the case is to save the day. They can do it! All they have to do is believe in themselves!
Honestly, it sounds like a pretty lame story line. And it is. It never really satisfies for long. I think deep down inside it doesn’t really resonate with us because we know that it essentially isn’t true. We have all come up against obstacles which no amount of believing in ourselves will overcome. At the end of the day we are just not capable of everything we put our minds to. It’s just not true.
This story line is not a new phenomenon. It sounds a lot like Nietzsche’s Superman, the idyllic human being who throws off all that is holding him back in order to accomplish great things under his own steam, in his own way with only himself to be accountable to. This is the narrative of the modern world. We are taught that nothing is impossible for those who try their hardest or believe fully in themselves. The only limitations we have are those to our own self-esteems.
St. Paul tells a different story in our epistle reading today:
“For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.” (2 Cor 8-9)
St. Paul’s message is at once more interesting and more believable. We can’t do it on our own. We are not the supermen and superwomen our society claims that we are, or that we should be. We are weak, imperfect sinners who are in need of saving. The Christian message relies on weakness and that is why it is so powerful! Thank God the Church is bigger than me, because I just couldn’t do it on my own steam. I am so happy that I follow the crucified and victorious God-Man because He can and does do it, and I need Him. This is the gospel – the “good news” of our life in Christ.
Speaking of the Gospel, we see this lived out not only in St. Paul’s letter this week, but also in the Gospel reading from Luke. Levi (another name for Matthew), is called by the Lord, and realizes that he needs Christ enough to follow him immediately and completely. Back then tax-collectors were loved even less than they are today because they would typically get rich off blackmailing those from whom they were collecting taxes. Often their pockets would be lined with extra money taken not for Caesar but for themselves. Matthew is leaving behind a very affluent position. One which guaranteed security both financially and politically.
Although this world, especially immersed here in our comfortable North American lives, makes it much more difficult to admit that we really need the Lord, the truth of the matter is we do desperately need Him. We must respond to Him the way the Levi does, dropping everything and coming after Him – right away. This is the same way that Peter and the other fishermen followed the Lord if you will recall. They dropped their nets and immediately followed the Lord. It is the exact opposite of the response of the Pharisees, who relied on false righteousness and appearances. Our Lord responds to them in a very telling way, stating that He has only come for the sick. The Pharisees are dreadfully ill, but don’t know it. We need to know that we are ill brothers and sisters. We need to know that we need the Lord. He did not come for the self-righteous. This is what repentance is all about, and at the end of the day it is more important than the pursuit of virtue (which is also important, don’t get me wrong).
If we respond to Christ the way that Levi did, what will that mean for us?
Firstly, we will be set free. It is an incredibly exhausting exercise trying to run the world in your mind. Believe me, I have tried and it doesn’t go over well. I have a friend, Phil, who practices humility by waking up every morning and looking in the mirror, pretending that he is having a conversation with God, who looks back at him out of the mirror and says “It’s ok Phil, I got this one too. I’ll be in charge of the universe today.” I think he’s on to something there. If we let God be God it gives us permission to be ourselves, and that sets us free.
Secondly, we will be real. Anything which is truthful makes us more real, and it is the truth that we are imperfect and sinful and that we need the Lord. We will no longer need to spend our time trying to nurture our self-esteems and keep our chins up and make believe that we can go it alone. We can’t, and this realization will remind us of the real us and help introduce us to the real God.
Finally, and most importantly, we will be invincible. Any and all setbacks relate us back to God. Sure, things can get bad. St. Paul said that the members of the Church had even begun to despair of life itself, but even here that pain was used to get even closer to God! Our Lord told us as much when He said that “In this life we will have hardships, but fear not [He] has overcome the world!” When we are honest about ourselves and our limitations and our place in the universe, we can get out of the way and let God be the victor in our lives. He is the superhero in the ultimate story, and we are invincible through Him! Instead of the continual failed attempt at struggling to believe in ourselves more we can say with St. Paul “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me!”
Brothers and Sisters, don’t settle for the lie that we can and should “go it alone.” Respond truthfully, honestly and generously to the Lord – only then will we join in the truth, His strength and His victory!
Glory be to Jesus Christ!
