Joys and sorrows of community mold us into saints

Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011
Fr. Joseph Eddy, O. de M.
Gospel: John 6:37-40 “I have come… not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.”

Full homily text: There is a Latin saying that I have heard over and over again since I was a postulant “Vita communis est mea maxima penitentia.” Life in community is my greatest penance. Only recently I found out that it is attributed to St. John Berchmans, a Jesuit seminarian who achieved great sanctity at a very young age. He died on August the 13th of that year 1621, at the age of 22.

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There is certainly some truth to this saying. Living with our flesh and blood can be hard enough, but to have to live with people who were raised in different families or even cultures with different personalities can be very challenging. Yet, at the same time a religious will find some of their most joyous times to be in community; laughing, joking, sharing our sorrows and our joys. Thus, it is the paradox of life where sin and grace are always present with us.

As we see from St. Paul in the first reading, the early Church at times experienced great joy from community.  St. Paul can’t help but greet everyone he can think of in the Community of Rome. Greet this one and that one! And make sure that you “greet one another with a holy kiss.” “All the churches of Christ greet you.” It is almost sickening to listen to this litany, but it came from the heart of a man in love with his brothers and sisters. They were his strength through all the threats, beatings, and torment that he endured.

The strength of community

We are reminded of Psalm 133:1-3: “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron”s beard, down upon the collar of his robes. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.” When we work together as Christians, united in the Sacrament of the Eucharist, a great peace and joy can come upon us. This is why the Church approves vowed religious to live in community. They need the support of a healthy Christian community to faithfully live their vows. God works through the community to give the individual the grace to live the life of Jesus: poor, chaste, and obedient.

The same is true of the married life. It needs the support of the community. The individual spouses united by the Sacraments. The children obedient to their parents and united with them in prayer. The parish community and individual Catholics, who support one another with their presence, words, and prayers. This is the way in which Christ often chooses to give the actual grace that we need to respond to our vocations.

Nagging difficulty

Yet with all these blessings, what a cross it can be to live with others! The brother or sister or spouse who nags or whose habits can be so annoying. Let’s be honest, these can be so difficult to bear. They can wear away our patience until we have no more. Just to keep from speaking to another harshly can feel like we are facing our angry accusers, like St. Paul. This is “white martyrdom,” which can be more painful than the “red.” At least with the “red martyrdom” we can see the end of the tunnel. Living with others’ bad habits and sins can feel like Chinese torture. Each day we wake up having to endure it again. Face that person with a smile, kind words and gestures. The words of today’s Gospel speak to us, “the person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones.” Once again if we are open, God speaks to us in the ordinary moment. Like a soldier, he is preparing us for greater things. The habits of faith, hope, love, justice, courage, prudence, and temperance are molded in the fire of the everyday experience.

The grace to endure

How many times do we make the mistake in the spiritual life of overlooking the grace present in the ordinary? We look to the heroic saints and martyrs wondering how they ever achieved such heights. However, we miss the point. They didn’t achieve anything! They allowed God to mold them in the everyday experiences of their lives. They saw in community a grace to help them live their call. This grace came through the joys, but also through the penance. The community or family became a means of strengthening their character like a muscle to handle the more difficult tasks.

So how do we live the heroic lives of the saints? How could we say yes to martyrdom? These questions are answered each day in our lives, living with others. They support us and teach us the virtues. Would that we would me more docile the grace that surrounds us!   Then, God would prepare us for the future and make us holy.