Rita and I recently reviewed the movie Fellowship of the Ring from the fantasy by J.R.R. Tolkien.  The story focuses on Frodo Baggins, a Hobbit from the Shire, who is responsible for delivering an evil ring to those who will take care of it.  This adventure is all about urgency, as Frodo leaves the Shire, sheltered from the goings-on in the rest of Middle-earth.  From the beginning Frodo is overwhelmed by the evil that hunts him down, and often regrets his responsibility to carry this ring.  But as the story progresses Frodo realizes that this evil is affecting his companions, his beloved Shire, and all of Middle-earth.  In this he realizes that he alone must be the ring barrier and… the one responsible for destroying the ring.

I am sure if Frodo was introduced to our reality, he would be equally overwhelmed by the evil in our world.  He would feel haunted by the senseless loss of life (over 39 mass shootings this year), the poverty of our times (the homeless and hungry out on our streets), the total disregard for Truth (the blame game), and the preservation of Self over all others (not my problem).  Frodo would be urgently looking for those who would be responsible for bringing flavor to our lives and helping to illumine our spirits.  We hear that Jesus, too, is looking for such people, such disciples.

We are aware that salt improves the flavor of our food.  A bit of light is also helpful for seeing our way.  Both enhance our senses of taste and sight, but Jesus is talking about enhancing our spirit – to awaken and to encourage our responsibility to do good deeds for others.  Jesus emphasizes that we will only make a difference in this world if we use the spiritual gifts that we have received.  Otherwise, our gifts will be as useless as salt that has lost it taste and light that is hidden away.  As St Elizabeth Seton said, “We are children of eternity, but our lives don’t have the flavor or brilliance of eternal life unless we use our gifts.”

Frodo was comforted by the Fellowship of the Ring.  By the members who stepped forward to encourage him, to defend him, to help him on his perilous journey.  We too have a Fellowship in Christ, and together as his disciples, we are encouraged to offer our good deeds for the sake of others.  As St Elizabeth reminds us, “Our crown awaits us, and the best of Fathers waits there to reward our duty and love.  But first, we may indeed sow here in tears, but we may be sure there to reap in joy.”  So, we must in great urgency be attentive to our discipleship: “To do the will of God; to do it in the manner he wills; and to do it because it is his will.”

I believe Jesus would agree with this bit of wisdom from Gandalf from The Return of the King, “Yet, it is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succor of those years wherein we are set, uprooting evil in the fields that we know, so that those who live after may have a clean earth to till.”

We are children of eternity, but at this moment, there is a great urgency: to be Christ’s disciples; to fulfill God’s will; and to glorify our heavenly Father, while we are here on this Earth.  This is not Middle-earth, this is reality, and… there is a crown that awaits us for those who let their light shine before others.

What an honor and pleasure it was to have Cardinal Cupich come to Saint Andrew.  The students enjoyed his stories and sense of humor. Please check out our social media for some photos! Saint Andrew Facebook or  Saint Andrew Instagram

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