By Fr. Glenn Jones:

Ever wonder what dogs must think these days. You’re out walking them and talking on your phone, jabbering away, and they have no idea why. Imagine a chance meeting:

Cowdog: “I see your boss is talking to himself again.” Shep (rolling his eyes): “Yeah; he does that … a lot!” Cowdog: “You know, as we say in Texas, ‘that boy ain’t quite ‘right’” Shep: “Thanks for the tip, Sherlock.”

Or, what animals think when they see us working in the heat of day in summer while they lounge in the shade. “Boy, I’m glad the Lord didn’t make ME human. They’re dumber’n a bucket of rocks, not getting out of the sun.”

But what the dogs and animals don’t know, though, is that there are good reasons for what we’re doing at such times. The phoner may be talking to his boss, employees or family; the workers in the sun harvesting crops, fixing a roof or road, or doing some essential pressing work. What’s missing from those animals is understanding.

In the Catholic Mass reading for this Sunday (Oct. 2), stress is on fidelity and steadfastness in faith, even (especially) in times of difficulty, trial and even when perplexed at why something hard that is happening IS happening. Often, like with animals, we either don’t or cannot understand the reasons for this or that. And yet, like a little child doesn’t understand why his mother takes him to painful experiences at the dentist or doctor, he trusts that his mom has his best interests at heart. The faithful understand this of God as well—that all trials can lead to greater faith, if we let them.

Now, one thing which dissuades many from faith is desire to have favorable opinion from others—even of those whose approval or disapproval matters little or none. But what does it really matter whether people with whom we are unfamiliar think well of us? After all, how feeble of courage are we if we abandon a friend because someone else doesn’t like him. Would a child abandon his family simply because someone doesn’t like them? In fact, does the child not often find as he matures that almost all actions of good parents are in some way for the benefit of the child? … to feed, clothe, secure, etc.?

Is it not rather weakness than strength, cowardice than courage, to maneuver simply for good opinion of others, especially if we do wrong to do so? Politicians often do so, ‘til their flip-flops could stock a shoe store. If we go in and out of religion simply for others’ approval, do we really have a belief or goal other than our own immediate impulse edification … our “feelings”?

But to be ever inconstant in one’s adherence to truth and faith simply for others’ approval is to succumb to the fault in the Gospel: “… many even of the authorities believed in [Jesus], but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it … for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God,”  (John 12: 42-43) and Jesus’ parable: “… for what was sown on rocky ground, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away …” (Matthew 12:20-21). Should not the true disciple stand courageously like the apostles: “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge … We must obey God rather than men!” (Acts 4:19, 5:29).

Now, some of our peers don’t understand faith; if people were easy to convince, the whole world would believe by now. So the resistant may point to the Gospel: “… no one knows the Father except the Son, and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” (Matthew 11:27), and then inquire as did the Romans: “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist His will?” (Romans 9:19).

But we point out: “… those who seek me diligently find me” (Proverbs 8:17), and Jesus’ word: “I tell you, ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you,” (Luke 11:9), and “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” (John 14:21)

Can we, then, be prideful in personal steadfast adherence to faith? No; there is joy in good service, certainly, but we should ever serve humbly, remembering: “What have you that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if it were not a gift?” (1 Corinthians 4:7), and Jesus’ admonition: “When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.'” (Luke 17:10). That is our part in duty and rightful obligation, for we are but dust and ashes, yet gifted with immortality in our spiritual being, and given the assurance of “… those who have done good, to the resurrection of life …” (John 5:29).

But for God’s part, we remember Jesus’ assurance: “Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes; truly, I say to you, he will gird himself and have them sit at table, and he will come and serve THEM.” (Luke 12:37)

We know that “the road is narrow and the way hard that leads to life” (Matthew 7:14), and so fidelity requires courage, determination, self-control and—most of all—trust in God and His plan, regardless of trial. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [of angels and saints] … let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, …” (Hebrews 12:1), so that, in those last breaths, our last conscious thought might be confidently: “I go to my Father, in whose mighty company I shall not now feel ashamed.” (cf., Théoden, “Lord of the Rings”)

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“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (Matthew 16:24-25)

Editor’s note: Rev. Glenn Jones is the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and former pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Los Alamos.