Twenty-Sixth Sunday In Ordinary Time--Complacency

The homily at Mass frequently focuses on the Gospel reading of the day.  I was not preaching today, but when I heard the second reading proclaimed this morning my attention was captured.  St. Paul's letter to Timothy hit me right between the eyes.

But you, man of God, pursue righteousness,
devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.
Compete well for the faith.

My initial reaction when I heard these words was one of sorrow.  I know I fall far short in pursuing righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.  Do I compete well for the faith, or am I simply going with the flow in a lackluster manner?  The words from Revelation 3: 15-16 hit home once again.  Am I hot, cold, or lukewarm?

When I arrived home after Mass this morning, I pulled out the Scripture readings to read  them again.  I saw something immediately that I did not hear at Mass.  The very first line of the first reading reinforced what did capture my attention in the second reading.

Thus says the LORD the God of hosts:
 Woe to the complacent in Zion!

Thankfully, God's grace and mercy always calls us deeper into relationship.  We are not doing this pilgrimage on our own.  We can experience great consolation in the celebration of the sacraments, and these outward signs instituted by Christ open up for us magnificent avenues of grace.  Knowing this should fill us with renewed hope and fervor.

There was plenty to reflect upon in today's Gospel as well.  However, I personally needed the message in the first two readings to give me that nudge out of complacency.  Whether you call it apathy, indifference, complacency, or simply stuck in a rut, today's readings reminded us to seek the Lord  with zeal and fervor.  "Compete well for the faith."