Less is More (2015-09-20)

SUNDAY 20 September 2015, 25^th Sunday, Year B

• Wisdom 2:12, 17-20  • Psalm  53  • James 3:16-4:3  • Mark 9:30-37•

[__01__]    We read this Sunday the Gospel encounter of Jesus with a child. Jesus praises the attitude and simplicity of a child.

We might compare this, for example, to the encounter of our Savior with Nathaniel (also known as Bartholomew) of whom it  is said, “Here is in Israelite in whom there is no guile .” (John 1:47)

Jesus is inclined to praise simplicity.

[__02__]    We, ourselves, make the philosophical or aesthetic statement that LESS IS MORE.

LESS IS MORE.

We speak/act this way to praise simplicity over complexity.

We also accept – and observe – that we can at times accumulate more than what we need of a good thing or of good things, even if they are affordable, available.

LESS IS MORE.

[__03__]    Even a very beautiful object in our home …or even a very beautiful color of paint on a wall could lose its appeal if it were to become too dominant, too large, too overwhelming in some way.

LESS IS MORE.

Do not nurses / doctors / physicians /medical professionals advise us that LESS IS MORE in the area of health, exercise, nutrition?

Often, gradual changes and small changes along a gently sloping curve – or  learning curve – are better for health than the attempt to climb Mount Everest with drastic change and lots of heavy equipment.

LESS IS MORE.

[__04__]    In the Gospel this Sunday, we read about the discussion (talk … find synonym for talk that will connect up/anticipate the word “debate” below) of the apostles about the magnitude of their achievements, the number of their accomplishments, and the value of their contributions to Jesus’ ministry.

What prompted this “debate”? Was FoxNews or ABCNews interviewing them, putting  them on the air,  on stage, in the spotlight?

Is this an ancient New Hampshire primary with a Quinnipiac University poll and margin of error of PLUS-or-MINUS 2 percent?  (+ 2 %)

As they might have been asked by ABCNews moderator Jake Tapper of, the disciples/apostles are asked, “what were you arguing about [backstage]…what were you arguing about on the way?”  (Mark 9:33)

We read, “They had been discussing  amongst themselves who was the greatest.” (Mark 9:34)

Sound familiar?

[ *** PAUSE *** ]

[__05__]    LESS IS MORE.

As grown-ups and adults, and as young adults, we are aware of our history, our past, both our successes and our faults before God …and we are aware of how these successes and faults may have affected another person, or a member of  our family.

Yet, as  our Blessed Mother, Mary, Our Lady of Lourdes, would profess, we are not called to magnify these successes, these faults but to magnify God’s presence, God’s word to others.

Yes, we repent of our faults, our sins, we confess our sins, but this is not to enlarge  them but simply to recognize them for what they are.

Also, with our successes, we are called to recognize our talents,  our gifts, give thanks for them, but also recognize as  John the Baptist does the grace and presence of Christ  in his life, saying….”I must decrease, he must increase.” (John 3:30)

LESS IS MORE.

[__06__]   Why does Jesus invite a child “on stage” at this time?

The child reminds his disciples and us that the little one, the elderly one, the marginalized one, the one person whom we might regard young or old or fragile or remains precious in God’s eyes.

Also, this is to remind us that neither AGE  nor YOUTH nor INFIRMITY nor FRAGILITY makes us us less worthy of love and affection by God and by others.

LESS IS MORE.

[__07__]   This also an important aspect of our Faith Formation / Religious Education program at Our Lady of Lourdes, that all of  us are called to grow, to learn our faith, to study and to recognize that we are tested, examined.

Sometimes, in the testing of our faith,  of  our virtue, of our honest, we may not feel PRODUCTIVE, we may not feel that we have ACHIEVED anything noticeable.

This may not be a test with a test a test with paper and pen and standardized scores, but – to practice our  Catholic faith – we are presented  with multiple choices and True/False responses.

[__08__]  This Sunday is also Catechetical Sunday in the United States and we recall and pray for all of our catechists, aides, teachers through whom our Catholic faith is shared and  taught to both young people and adults.

For example, not  only do we prepare elementary and middle and high school students for the Sacrament of First Communion and Confirmation, but we also meet and share our faith – for education and spiritual formation – with adults who may be receiving  these sacraments for the first time or for those who are becoming Catholic.

[__09__] And, all of us are called to learn, to grow, to study.

We are encouraged to read the Bilbe, to know our Savior by both his words and actions.

In this endeavor of our own study, we are also called remember  that LESS IS MORE…. Perhaps, just to bein with 5-10 minutes of daily silent prayer, with reading a few passages or verses of the Bible or Gospel, to help us grow closer to God.

[__10__]       Our study is not simply an exercise to gather information but simply to gather ourselves, gather our thoughts, to recollect ourselves before God and be in his presence.

LESS IS MORE .

[__11__]    What I think we all struggle with in our lives are not only COMPLEX problems but also the need to take simple fundamental steps or the FIRST step, to follow our conscience, to ask a simple question, or to ask ourselves a question before we act.

Jesus’ message to his disciples reminds them – and us – that salvation depends not on the greatness of what we ACHIEVE, but the grace that we RECEIVE.

LESS IS MORE.    [__fin__]