by Rev. Herbert Nichols

Today's liturgy presents a call an invitation to recognition -- to take notice of who and whose we are. In the gospel we find the conclusion of St. Matthew's teaching on formation of disciples or as we might say: disciple discipline -- the priorities and degrees of selflessness that are required for recognition as a disciple of Christ.

In the second Reading , St. Paul urges the Romans to recognize that by Baptism we share the new resurrected life that Christ has won for us. This recognition has repercussions, namely living righteously and not sinfully, lovingly and not selfishly

Our own life experience however may seem to tell us that we are the same after Baptism as before; that although we profess Christian discipleship we in fact live no different from pagans who do not know Him.

Jesus tells us in today's gospel that recognition comes from loving our neighbor which does not merely mean doing nice or kind things for others -- it means caring about their welfare; even more importantly caring about their salvation.

Helping people to come to know and recognize Jesus Christ as the Savior means to experience the power of the cross. There are those who will challenge and reject us. Jesus warns that: if you are not willing to take up your cross and follow me; you are not worthy of me.

But we find in today's reading yet another side where the gospel tells us that whoever welcomes a prophet receives a reward accordingly. as exemplified in the story of Elisha and the elderly but wealthy Sheunemite couple who had all of the trappings of success and "blessedness" except they had no posterity, no one to leave it to.

Yet they did not presume to ask Elisha, the man of God, to intercede or pray on their behalf. They simply offered to him what they would offer to God all the Semitic hospitality and gratitude they could muster. Their un-requested prayers did not go unrecognized.

There are many ways that a prophet can speak for God. Some are very dramatic as Elisha promised the woman she would bear a child. More often however they may be less recognizable to the eyes of the world but are never so in the eyes of God.

The prophet who speaks for God must always do so with authenticity and compassion remembering that we are all sinners. that Christ has come to save any of us who will recognize and accept Him. And that conversion is an ongoing process.

About 20 years ago a young parishioner came back from the University of Steubenville Youth Conference and asked for an appointment. He came to the rectory, got his foot in the door and said: Father, I'm going to introduce you to Jesus Christ.

He did. And for twenty years we have been the best of friends. About three years ago we lost contact with one another.