What’s On Your Résumé?
29th Sunday In Ordinary Time, B
2009-10-18
Mk 10:35-45WANTED: SAVIOR OF ALL MANKIND. MUST BE FREE FROM SIN AND PERFECT IN EVERY WAY. WILLINGNESS TO SUFFER AND DIE FOR ALL IS ESSENTIAL. ETERNAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED. SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR PUBLIC RIDICULE, SCORN, MOCKERY, PERSECUTION AND EVENTUALLY DEATH. MUST LOVE TRAVEL. MUST BE A HIGH PRIEST IN THE LINEAGE OF DAVID. IMPORTANT TO DEMONSTRATE UNLIMITED MERCY, FORGIVENESS AND LOVE FOR ALL. WILL BE REQUIRED TO TURN THE OTHER CHEEK. SUFFERING AND HUMILITY A NECESSITY. MUST BE A SERVANT. MUST BE THE SON OF GOD. SALARY IS NON-NEGOTIABLE…ZERO. ONLY SERIOUS CANDIDATES NEED APPLY.
OK. I don’t think you would have ever seen this particular want ad in the Jerusalem Times 2000 years ago. But, even if you had, do you think there would have been many applicants? Any applicants?
Well, I can tell you that there would have been just one. Because, in all of human history, there was only one Man who was qualified to fulfill all of the requirements of this ad. Only one MAN – the God-Man Jesus Christ – had the necessary résumé.
In fact, we can see part of that résumé in today’s readings from Sacred Scripture…
The Prophet Isaiah foretells of the Suffering Servant who will bear the guilt of many.
The Psalmist tells us that the Lord is trustworthy, that He loves justice and right, that He is our help and our shield.
In the Letter to the Hebrews, we find out that Jesus is a high priest, the Son of God and human like us except without sin.
And, in the Gospel of St. Mark, we hear that Jesus came not to be served, but to serve – to willingly suffer and give His life as a ransom for many.
These are key and essential highlights from the “résumé” of the Son of God.
Thanks be to God that He loved us so much that He sent His only Son to die for us, for our sinfulness. Thanks be for Jesus.
But, I wonder…could someone else have done this? Was there anyone else qualified?
To determine that, we need to take a look at our own résumés.
“Yes sir. Thank you for answering our ad. Did you bring your resume? Oh, good. Let’s take a look shall we? Hmm. Lot’s of experience here. Greed. Jealously. A little bigotry. Some scattered experience in hatred. Cheating. Lust. Oh, I see you’re well versed in offensive language. But, you appear to be missing a few of the items we specifically required…willingness to suffer, to be a servant, unlimited mercy, forgiveness and love. Oh, and the whole “Son of God” thing is completely missing. I’m sorry; it appears that you aren’t qualified. But, thanks for applying.”
Let’s face it. No one else could have done this. No one. Not one of us was, is or ever will be qualified to do what Jesus did. We mustn’t kid ourselves. We can’t do it on our own. We need Jesus.
The Eternal Salvation available to each one of us is solely due to the saving action of Jesus being born of the Virgin Mary, suffering under Pontius Pilot, being crucified, dying, then, rising again to ascend into Heaven and ruling in Glory at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty.
You have to admit. Jesus had an incredible résumé. He was, is and always will be perfect and eminently qualified to save the world. But, there’s a problem.
You see, our résumés pale in comparison. We are imperfect and eminently unqualified to the save ourselves let alone the world.
Yet, we are constantly reminded of the need to be Christ-like. By definition, that’s what it means to be a Christian. We are called to do what Jesus did; to be what Jesus was, to take on His characteristics, to live by His ideals.
Mind you, we won’t be asked to suffer and die on a cross for the sins of all of humanity. No, Jesus already did that, once and for all. But we are called to participate in that holy, saving action, to carry our own crosses and share in the burden of the crosses of others. We are called to die to ourselves, and our needs, so that the needs of others may be answered. We must unite ourselves to the suffering of Jesus.
How do we do that?
Well, the great thing is, we have Jesus’ résumé – His words and His deeds as told in Sacred Scripture and preserved and proclaimed through the authority of His Church – as a guide for our lives. He is the perfect model for our actions.
In fact, look again at today’s readings. How many of the qualities of Christ mentioned today could we strive to attain our lives? Suffering. Justice. Trustworthiness. Sympathy. Sinlessness. Mercy. Slave and Servant. All words from today’s readings, and all basic foundations of living a Christ-filled life.
We need to take this opportunity – today – to take a look at our own résumé. What’s on it?
It’s better to know now than later. This is what we each will be individually judged upon. There’s no interview, no discussion, no trial. No, that’s what our time on earth is.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us when we die, we will receive an immediate Judgment from the Just Judge, and our soul will forever enter one of two places, the eternal paradise of Heaven, or the eternal misery of Hell. Our relationship to Jesus and how we spend our time on earth will determine where we will spend eternity.
So, when you get home today – maybe before you turn on the football game, or work in the yard, or start cooking Sunday dinner – you should open the file drawer in your soul that contains your “life’s résumé.”
Blow the dust off it. Check it out. See where you might spruce it up, update it, improve upon it, and add some more “good” experience to it.
Do it today. For tomorrow, any or all of us may be seated in front of St. Peter as he says, “Thanks for applying to Heaven. Did you bring your résumé? Oh, good. Let’s take a look at it shall we?”