The associated reading for this reflection can be found in your Every Sacred Sunday Mass journal or online here.
Today’s Gospel begins with a reminder to “show no partiality” in our adherence to the faith and in our love for one another—that a life’s value is not contingent on its prestige or usefulness.
I don’t think usefulness was ever meant to describe humans.
We were created to love and be loved by God. That’s it. Anything we say or do in service to God and neighbor should overflow from a confidence in that deepest vocation, not from a panic to attain it. Salvation is not a limited resource that we have to clamor for; it is a gift, infinite and free. And as Christians, our engagement with the world should echo Heaven’s welcome. Saying “sit here, please” to others means welcoming them in their entirety- not requiring them to cast a part of themselves aside to be worthy of belonging with you or with God.
And this includes how we treat ourselves. If we foster a cadence of unwelcome self-talk, set internal conditions on our own worth and constantly move the bar of what we must achieve to attain love, forgiveness, and joy, we are disqualifying ourselves from a make-believe race. We are telling God that in His infinite wisdom, He is wrong to want us as we are. And it is no surprise that this approach to ourselves informs our approach to others.
My mom used to interrupt me in high school when I would get frustrated with my academic performance, my personality, or with how I felt out of place or less than those around me. She would cut me off in the middle of my rant and say, “Stop being mean to my Hannah.” It was such a mom thing to say. But I also imagine Jesus saying it to me now when I fall into questioning my own goodness.
I think there’s a deep humility in showing no partiality towards ourselves and others in how worthy we are of Heaven’s kiss. We may have habits to break, ways to grow, and virtues to strengthen, but recognizing ourselves and others as sacred regardless of the “details” is so deeply a part of Christ's love for us. I pray we all come to believe it.
Hannah Kelley is a national security researcher in Washington, D.C.. She likes the idea of being a runner more than the reality and has a constant mixtape playing in her head. In her free time, Hannah enjoys visiting her family (especially her niece, Jane) and working towards a society where it’s easier for people to choose the good. Come say hi on Instagram!
