13th Sunday of Ordinary Time [A]

 

13th SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME [A]


Why should you practice a spirit of compassion? Well, if for no other reason, it will bring you a reward. You will get something in return. If you give water to somebody who is thirsty, or if you open your door to somebody who is seeking shelter, you will be rewarded for your efforts (see Matt. 10:42). You will be like the barren woman featured in the Second Book of Kings chapter four: she extends a measure of kindness to the prophet Elisha and in return she now has been blessed with the ability to conceive. So there might be something in it for you, if you make the decision to help a needy person. 


Meanwhile, what about the decision to receive baptism? Paul discusses the subject of baptism in Romans chapter six. Why should you go through with the process of being baptized? What’s in it for you? If anything, it sounds like you are setting yourself up for a significant dose of grief and sorrow. According to Paul, you’re being baptized, not just into the person of Christ, but also into his path. That path includes the events of Holy Week—particularly Palm Sunday and Good Friday. This would seem to represent a disincentive: a reason not to be baptized. 


Of course, there is more to this path than just pain and sorrow. We have to be careful not to overemphasize the notion of pain and suffering. The path of Jesus also includes a considerable level of glory and triumph. In fact, the glory would have to be described as overriding. Yes, it’s true that our Lord will be swallowed up by the darkness of the grave. But then he will emerge, victorious, rising from the dead. He will appear in his risen form over the course of a forty day period. And this is to be followed by the miracle of the Ascension and by Pentecost. 


Still, having said this, we likewise have to be careful not to overemphasize the concept of glory. It’s dangerous when you rotate from one extreme to another. If you become overly obsessed with the pain & sorrow aspect, you’re being too much of an Eeyore (an A.A. Milne character, known for his pessimistic nature). Similarly, if you become overly obsessed with the glory and  majesty aspect, you’re being too much of a Pollyanna (an Eleanor Porter character, well known for her prevailing sense of optimism). Extremes will lead you into a state of crisis. The healthiest approach is to seek a sense of balance. 


In truth, the path of Jesus needs to be understood as a blend: a combination of glory and also sorrow. It’s not one or the other; it’s both. It’s not either/or but rather both/and. So, circling back, should you or should you not submit to the sacrament of baptism? Paul would recommend that you go through with it. As was noted earlier, for Jesus the glory will be revealed as an overriding glory. The sorrow is real. But so is the glory. In the end, it adds up to a question of proportion. In proportional terms, the glory outweighs the sorrow. Therefore, we can say that you WILL be getting something in return—more than enough to make it worth your while. 

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