“Identity”
Rick Stevens, Fiat Ventures
12th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Have you ever been behind someone at a red light that has the entire back of their car plastered with bumper stickers? If it’s a long enough light, you can really find out a lot about this perfect stranger by their bumper stickers.
Maybe they have an honor student at Derek Jeter Middle School or a pet dachshund. Maybe they’re voting for Mickey Mouse in the 2016 election. Maybe they’re a Jets fan, would rather be skiing, or have a desire for world peace.
For some people, logos on the clothes they wear hint at their likes or dislikes. I used to tease a friend of mine that she wasn’t a real Yankees fan, she just liked the logo. For others, it might be a strategically placed tattoo with a symbol or saying.
Whatever the means of display, we all use some type of symbolism to reveal a sense of who we are and the people, places and things with which we identify.
In today’s second reading and again in the Gospel, the theme of identity is central to the message. In the Gospel, Jesus wants to be sure that the disciples understand his own identity. This is a major event in Mark’s Gospel since, prior to this point, only demons recognize Jesus as the Son of God.
In his letter to the Galatians, Paul reminds us that our background, ethnicity and the people, places and things with which we identify are the things that matter least. We are first and foremost children of God and members of the Body of Christ, and that is what matters most.
St. Paul uses the term “clothed in Christ.” Being clothed in Christ means living the qualities and virtues that Jesus himself taught and exemplified. Thinking of others first, showing true compassion, giving of our time, talent and treasure. These are all examples of showing our truest and most important identity. Being clothed in Christ means forming good habits guided by our conscience that will turn into virtues.
We can still see ourselves as Italian-American, hockey fans, or dog owners, but these identities should never get in the way of our most important identity, being a son or daughter of God the Father and brother or sister of Jesus Christ. And this true identity needs to translate into how we live our lives. People will know we are Christians, then, by our love, not by our bumper stickers, t-shirts or tattoos.
