3rd Sunday after Easter 25 April 2010 Sermon

3rd Sunday after Easter 25.4.10 In the world but not of it

An old saying, ‘In the world but not of it’ is suggested by today’s readings.

There are two distinct meanings of ‘world’ in our spiritual vocabulary.

In one sense we see the world as the object of evangelisation; as when Our Lord commissions us to go out and baptize all nations.

We recall that Our Lord came to save the world; or more precisely that He wants the Church to fill the world; everyone in the world to belong to His body. (The Church is not just a dry institution, as often perceived, but a living family in union with Christ.)

The other sense sees the ‘world’ in a more hostile light. As in the phrase ‘the world, the flesh and the devil’, meaning those things which endanger our salvation.

And we speak of the danger of being too ‘worldly’, looking for pleasure, money, comfort etc and not looking for heaven. As Our Lord put it: what use is it to gain the whole world and lose one’s own soul?

So to look more closely at these two meanings of ‘world’:

1) In the first sense we engage the world, by way of trying to convert it. We obey the law, pay our taxes, we become involved in the community according to time and talent (and God’s will). We do whatever is good and useful; but without ever becoming too engrossed in worldly things, as can easily happen.

The law of God is always paramount. Whatever we do in the world must be pleasing to Him, and always referable back to Him.

I cannot set my own ambitions, eg to be Prime Minister, without asking God first.

We recognize autonomy for the world in areas such as government, law, and the economy, but maintain that all areas are subject to God’s oversight.

If we were to take our faith seriously enough we would override worldly practices eg working on Sunday. Catholics should exert a greater political clout on the surrounding society. If we had more committed members we would achieve this. Thus a Catholic would never take part in abortions, or any immoral activity, nor support any such activity.

If we had more real disciples we would change the world. As it is the world changes us.

Catholics generally will follow the world and thus we get tangled up. We have the numbers, but not the commitment. (Just think Catholics make up about one in six of the whole world; that should give us a lot of clout.)

From now on, we are going to be strong.

2) ‘World’ as source of temptation. The world essentially runs on false principles or no principles. Systems emerge which enable mutual self-interest to be satisfied, eg economic practices which encourage dishonesty and greed; morality based on convenience rather than God’s will. A dog eat dog world where the strong trample the weak.

We have to rise above this, to let our light shine. This may be an evil age but by your lives you should redeem it. (Ephesians 5,16)
We don’t just sit back and be passive and take what the world offers. We don’t watch their television, go to their parades - we give them our parades and our television!

We ‘impose our view’ because it is God’s view. It just needs more assurance and clarity on our part.

Christ is going away (Gospel) not abandoning us but hoping we will catch on and prepare a kingdom for Him. If we took our instructions carefully enough we would be ready for Him (cf parable of talents - we multiply what He has entrusted to us).

In the world but not of it: we do not hide away from the world but neither do we succumb to its false ways. With the light of Christ we win the world for Him.