Written by Sr. Rosemary Finnegan, O.P.
Readings from: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/052521.cfm
This past Sunday, 6 adults who have been in the RCIA process, were confirmed and welcomed into the Catholic Church. It was a moving and meaningful experience for them. For many of them, the Catholic liturgy is such a new experience. Before getting involved in the RCIA process, some admit that they had been attending Mass…often from the back seat. The beauty of the rituals, the music, and the participation drew them in.
Many times, and this is a thank you to you, I hear how someone in the Congregation noticed them, talked to them, and made them feel welcome. They then had enough courage to pick up the phone, or write an email, and ask about being Catholic.
I’m convinced our liturgies here are so meaningful because they’re more than just external actions; people’s hearts are in the right places. We care about the liturgy in church because we care about others in the world, and we bring that spirit to our worship.
Bringing liturgy and charity and justice together is what the first reading from the Book of Sirach is all about. This book was actually used extensively in the early church to teach their catechumens about liturgy, morality and other aspects of religious life.
Sirach himself was a teacher in Jerusalem who thoroughly loved the law, the priesthood, the temple and divine worship. The Book of Sirach comments on friendship, education, poverty and wealth. In everything Sirach expresses overwhelming gratitude to God.
The lesson for us today is as relevant now as it was in Sirach’s day. He reminds us that even in the midst of our beautiful rituals, that we should never forget the poor. And that is what Jesus teaches: service to our sisters and brothers in need is to worship God present in each person. That’s what Sirach means when he says to give alms is the same as making a thanks offering to God.
At our moments of communal prayer, when we are closest to God, we must be most mindful of the poor as well. Only when we see the pain and poverty in our neighbors will we be one worshipping community.
