Insides and Outsides

HOMILY NOTES

FR. TERRY RYAN, CSP

MATTHEW 20: 1-16

SEPTEMBER 18, 2011

When people come to the altar to receive Holy Communion at Mass, all I see is the outside appearance of each person, such as what they wear and how they approach to receive. I know nothing about their interior spiritual life. I don't ask questions. All receive communion. But some of the people who receive work very hard on their spiritual life, the interior part of themselves that I cannot see when they come to communion. These people may read the bible, take time for prayer, help out in the community, help out in the parish, are kind and caring to family, work associates, and neighbors. Other people who come to communion may be nasty, unkind, gossipy, judgmental, self-centered, have no real prayer life and come to church only occasionally as it suits them. Everyone receives the same Holy Communion.

Jesus comes to us in communion, not because we have earned it but because he loves us. It is his choice. Cannot we practice this behavior with people who don't really earn or merit by their actions, our love, kindness and caring?

The overhead fan in my room looks very good on the underside of each fan blade that I can see. But the topside is ignored and becomes quite dirty. It is the side no one sees. Our life can be somewhat like the fan blade. We can work and worry about how we look on the outside. Is this not the cross of adolescence? How do I look? Do I appear so as to fit in? But how much time, effort or worry do we put into the interior life that cannot be seen?

All of us receive the same Holy Communion at mass. Those who work at the interior life, cleaning it, if you will, can benefit so much more from the gift of Christ's Body and Blood, than can someone whose interior life is all cluttered up with neglect.