If you asked an athlete what their goal was in their field or their sport, what would it be? Likely to win. How about an artist- what is their goal in creating some great work of art? Likely, they want to succeed and to make something truly great! How about a composer? Likely, they want to write something memorable. They want to create something that will last a lifetime, and will be recalled to memory time and time again.
Imagine our shock, though, if we asked and we got something less than sheer excellence. If we asked the athlete and we got an answer: just to be present. The artist? Perhaps just to make something. The composer? Just to write another sheet of music. Likely, there would be some degree of scandal in our perception of them, because here we expect something and someone who is going to strive for something that is truly amazing- and something truly incredible- and yet they settle for something mediocre. Wouldn’t that be a shame and an absolute travesty?
In our eyes and our estimation, likely we would be extremely disappointed in them! There would seem to be something wrong with whatever they are doing- because they could seek to excel! They should be trying to do their very best- at least it seems so, doesn’t it?
In matters of religion, often, this same mediocrity can creep in and seem to take over at times, can’t it? Now, it may not be something innately at the front of our mind- and yet, so often, one can settle for the bare minimum when it comes to living out our faith. In moments when things are going okay, that can likely seem fine, but what about the moments when trial comes to us? What about the moments whenever we just lack that spark that makes faith easy to live out? Perhaps in those moments- the challenge to exceed mere mediocrity is present in a much more powerful way that thought before. There has to be more to this life, isn’t there?
When we consider this question, we are invited to first consider the work of the prophet Zephaniah, where we encounter him in the first reading. He starts off with a simple encouragement: “Seek the Lord, all you humble of the earth, who have observed his law!” Seek justice; Seek humility; perhaps you may be sheltered on the day of the Lord’s anger.” There is a tone of encouragement, but also a sort of foreboding tone as well- a reminder that there is a need to repent- and to return to the Lord! This actually tells us something powerful about what is going on right now. The address goes specifically to the house of Israel, and tells how the people are going through times of infidelity and times where they are not following the Lord as closely as they should be. So, this is a very clear address to the Israelites, since they are having so much trouble in following the Lord their God. He is giving this very shrill warning to them!
Yet, notice the tenderness of God in this moment- He speaks of something new- something small, and something humble, but something that is regenerated even in this moment where they are struggling most. So, there is this remnant- but how are we to know who they are or what they are doing? What defines who they are in the midst of everyone else? It is this- they are the humble and lowly people. They do no wrong, they speak no lies, they are not filled with deceit. These are their characteristics- and eventually we are told the result of belonging to this people- they will have none to disturb them- at least in time.
The second reading again comes from Saint Paul and his First Letter to the Corinthians. As we have followed them, they have been greeted, and they have been told to remove themselves from a sort of tribalism as they follow the Lord- so what are they to do now? Quite simply, they are to now commit themselves to following the Lord in a humble way. They are not to be wise, they are not to be powerful, and they may not be of a noble birth either. This seems like a rather harsh reality, but think about what Paul is really saying here. Sure, you may not be wise, you may not be powerful, you may not be all that well known- but does any of that truly matter? The answer that Paul is giving is that- no- it doesn’t truly matter that none of these things apply to them. They are now following the one who is all of these things- and that is the Lord God Himself. He is the one who is supereminently fulfills all of these things. It isn’t about the Israelites fulfilling these things by themselves, but they are to fill them by the Lord and His own power. Yet, notice this deliberate choice of the word- chosen. These people didn’t just happen to accidentally wander into a relationship with God. God CHOSE them to be in relationship with Him. It didn’t matter that they weren’t wise. It didn’t matter that they weren’t powerful. It didn’t even matter that they weren’t of noble birth. They are chosen- and that is all that matters.
Finally, we reach the Gospel of Matthew, and we are given this image- Jesus sees the crowds, he goes up the mountain, and after he had sat down- the disciples come, and he begins to teach them. What does He teach them? He teaches them nothing other than the eight beatitudes. Now, notice these teachings- they are all about the reality of heaven- and not the realities of earth. Each of these are specifically designed to fill the deepest longings and desires of the human heart. This isn’t done in a way to satisfy these in terms of the earth and what they may promise, but it is rather designed to fulfill them in regards to something more powerful- the promises of heaven. Blessed are the poor in spirit- those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst… all of those that seem on the down and out by the standards of the world. What do each of these things yield to? Reward in heaven.
Yet, think about these in a deeper and more profound way- what are they trying to get us to aspire towards? The reality is, my brothers and sisters, that they are trying to get us to aspire to more- not to mediocrity, or to living out the bare minimum when it comes to our spiritual lives. We aren’t to simply seek out what is going to help us to scrape by, or to get the minimum done in this life- but it is all about what is going to lead us past this life, and towards the life of the blessed in the Kingdom of Heaven. So, the first thing that we should take away from this week: we are not made for mediocrity. We are made to strive for greatness.
The second point though, is a reminder: without God, none of this is truly possible. When it comes to us and our own ability and power- we are likely heavily aware of the fact that we tend to fall infinitely short of what is being asked. When we are asked to be wise, we are reduced to silence. When we feel that we need strength, we are beset by weakness. When we feel we should be noble, we are reminded of the humility of who we are. None of these beatitudes are meant to be accomplished by us alone however, but we are actually meant to be a people that are given a relationship with our God to not only give us the benefit of that friendship, but to give us the chance of actually accomplishing what the beatitudes afford to us- to be like Christ in these eight specific ways that are given to us to encourage us on that goal.
Yet, finally, there is a powerful reminder of the remnant. If we look around today, we likely recognize that we aren’t quite in the same circumstances as the Israelites were at that time. Things look altogether different, and even our relationship with God likely seems a bit different since Jesus has entered into our reality and we are now entered into that privileged relationship with Him as well. Yet, there is that word “remnant” that is still a part of our reality. We may not have to look very far into this world to encounter mediocrity. We may very quickly find ourselves faced with a people that don’t seem to want to do all that well in this world- and instead are settling for mediocrity. They don’t want to be bothered with faith, let alone to improve it by any stride or measure. Yet, that is not up to us to determine- but we ourselves have to turn back to being a part of that remnant. It is a reminder that we have to make the choice for God- and we have to return to Him and to be faithful to Him- as He remains faithful to each and every one of us. This is that reminder to each of us- we are called to a way of life that is for the elect- and for the chosen. We are not forced into this- but we have to chose this ourselves.
Brothers and sisters- the reality of this life is that we are not called to live out mediocrity. We know that athletes, artists, and even composers strive for nothing less than perfection and excellence. We too, should do that in our lives and our faith today. Perhaps each of us should seek that specific way that God wants us to follow Him in a new and powerful way.
We are not made for mediocrity, brothers and sisters. We aren’t just meant to follow the Commandments and call it good. Rather, what we should be is a people that are seeking after God in a powerful way- seeking the life of the blessed- and the life of those who now possess the Kingdom of Heaven- our greatest treasure, and greatest goal.
