11th Week in Ordinary Time 2026 - Wednesday - The prayer, fasting, and almsgiving of God's priestly people

 

At Sunday Mass, this last weekend, we read from the book of Exodus how God has formed his people into a kingdom of priests—a royal priesthood. Being the people God made us to be involves a priestly dimension. All of us, all of the baptized have priestly duties.

In his recent catechesis on the documents of Vatican II, Pope Leo talks about this priestly dimension of our lives—he says, “we exercise our royal priesthood through prayer, asceticism and active charity, and by doing so, we bear witness to a life renewed by God’s grace.” Those three priestly activities should sound familiar, they are the three Lenten practices—prayer, fasting, and almsgiving—which we all strive to engage in more perfectly during the Lent season.

In our Gospel reading today, we read of Jesus teaching about these three priestly duties—a Gospel which we read on the first day of Lent every year—on Ash Wednesday. He says, “when you pray”, “when you fast”, “when you give alms”. His disciples are expected to engage in these activities not just during the season of Lent, but always. They are part of the ordinary priestly duties of the baptized.

The Lord doesn’t just tell explain THAT we are to engage in these duties, but HOW we are to engage in them: “when you pray, when you fast, when you give alms” don’t do so that others may see you, or to win the praise of others. Our intention for our priestly duties mustn’t be for worldly attention, rather, as Pope Leo explained, echoing the sentiments of Our Blessed Lord, “we exercise our royal priesthood through prayer, asceticism and active charity, and by doing so, we bear witness to a life renewed by God’s grace.”

Our intention must be to bear witness to God, to show others that the relationship with God transforms human life, renews us. Prayer directed to God, renews us, it is a sipping of the fountain of eternal life. Fasting renews us, for it is restraining the bodily appetites in order to focus on what truly matters—for man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. And almsgiving, charitable work, renews us, because it is a participation in the life of God who is love—and that participation transforms us like gold in a furnace.

The priestly dimension of our Christian life is not simply a sacrifice to detracts from us—giving of our time and effort in order to pray, in order to fast, in order to give alms enables us to share in the very life of God.

May we engage in them more fervently, more seriously, but also in great joy, bearing witness to God for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

 

As God’s royal priesthood, we intercede for the needs of the world and the needs of the Church.

For Pope Leo, our bishops, priests, and deacons: that their ministry may strengthen the faithful to live their baptismal dignity with renewed fervor and joy.

For all Christians: that we may pray not for human praise, but from a sincere desire for communion with God.

That through fasting and asceticism, we may discover the freedom of living by the word of God.

For the poor, the lonely, the sick, and all who depend upon the charity of others: that the almsgiving and active love of Christians may reveal to them the tenderness of God. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our young people on summer vacation and those attending our Vacation Bible School this week: that they may be blessed with faith-filled homes, and protected from all physical and spiritual harm.

For the faithful departed: that, purified of every sin, they may share forever in the life and love of God.

Heavenly Father, you have made us your holy people through Baptism and called us to bear witness to your grace in the world. Hear the prayers we offer today, and strengthen us to live our priestly calling with sincerity, humility, and joy. Through Christ our Lord.

May 3 2024 - Sts. Philip and James - Calloused Knees

 As Apostles, both Philip and James were both called by the Lord. They were witnesses of the Lord’s ministry—his teaching and miracles—his passion and death. Both were witnesses of the Lord’s resurrection. Both received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Both continued to preach the Gospel—Andrew in in Greece, Phrygia, and Syria—and James in Jerusalem. And both were martyred for the Lord.

I’d like to consider this morning a passage I found from the 4th century bishop Eusebius regarding the Apostle James. Again, James remained in Jerusalem. The Acts of the Apostles relates that it was James, as the head of the Jerusalem Church, who oversaw the First Council of Jerusalem.

But Eusebius relates some powerful details about James spirituality and role. Eusebius records how James spent long hours in the Temple of Jerusalem: “…he was in the habit of entering alone into the temple, and was frequently found upon his knees begging forgiveness for the people, so that his knees became hard like those of a camel.” 

How very priestly, no? Falling to one’s knees and begging forgiveness and behalf of others, especially those who reject Jesus and continue in sin and unbelief. Priests pray--they intercede--on behalf of others.

James, known as "James the Just" due to his exceptional virtue and righteousness, embodied a life of priestly prayer and intercession for his people. Not just ordained priests, but all of the baptized are priestly people. James' witness challenges us to consider our own commitment to prayer, especially for those who are lost or have turned away from God.

As Christians, we are called to be a priestly people, following the example of Christ, the great High Priest, and his apostles like James. This means not just praying for our own needs, but continually lifting up to God the needs of the whole world, even those who persecute and reject the Gospel. Like James, we must be willing to spend long hours on our knees, interceding with love and fervor.

James' devotion was so great that his knees became calloused like a camel's from his many hours of prayer in the Temple. What a striking image of persistence and self-sacrifice! It reminds us that prayer is not always easy or comfortable. True intercession requires spiritual endurance— willingness to push through dryness, distractions and discouragement—in order to plead for God's mercy.

And James prayed not in some hidden place, but in the Temple itself, at the very heart of Jewish religious life. In the same way, our prayer must be not a withdrawal from the world, but a priestly entrustment of the world to God. We pray from within the "temples" of our daily circumstances, lifting our families, our communities, our places of work, and our society to God's throne of grace.

Finally, James' martyrdom reminds us that our prayer and baptismal priesthood is to be configured to the Cross. Eusebius also wrote about James’ martyrdom, that “…he was thrown from the pinnacle of the temple, and was beaten to death with a club.” His place of prayer was the place where he was configured to Christ in his loving intercession, in his redemptive suffering, and in his glorious martyrdom. 

As we honor the Apostles we heed their examples that we may participate more fully in Christ's ongoing work of redeeming the world, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

May we join the Holy Apostles in our prayer for the world and the Church.

As the Apostles witnessed to the Resurrection of the Lord, may we be his witnesses to the farthest corners of the world.

For the bishops, the successors of the apostles: That they may be courageous in stirring up the flame of faith and defending the Church from error.

For blessings upon all the former parishioners of old Saint Philip and James here in Cleveland, especially those who have made their home here at St. Ignatius.

For all of the sick and suffering, especially victims of natural disaster, poverty, and addiction, may they be comforted and supported by God’s healing love. 

For all who long to see the face of the Father, for all our departed loved ones and all of the souls in purgatory, and for N. for whom this Mass is offered. 

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord