Psalm Reflection: The Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle B

“I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.” - Psalms 116

St. Christopher is the patron Saint of travelers and surfers, but why? We only have records of a few hundred miles of travel, and he never surfed a day in his life.

He lived in the 3rd century, and according to legends and ancient records he was a Canaanite who was very tall (some accounts say as tall as seven and a half feet), and had a fearsome appearance. He served the king of Canaan, but wanted to serve "the greatest king there was.” 

He traveled to serve a king who had the reputation of being the greatest, but one day he saw the king make the sign of the cross at the mention of the devil. Christopher learned that the king feared the devil, so he went to look for the devil. He came across a band of marauders, one of whom declared himself to be the devil, so Christopher decided to serve him. However, when he saw his new master avoid a cross on the edge of the road and found out that the devil feared Christ, he left him and enquired from people where to find Christ. 

Christopher met a hermit who instructed him in the Christian faith. Christopher asked him how he could serve Christ. When the hermit suggested fasting and prayer, Christopher replied that he was unable to perform that service. The hermit then suggested that because of his size and strength Christopher could serve Christ by assisting people to cross a dangerous river, where many had perished attempting to cross. The hermit promised that this service would be pleasing to Christ.

After Christopher had performed this service for some time, a little child asked him to take him across the river. During the crossing, the river became swollen and the child seemed as heavy as lead, so much that Christopher could scarcely carry him and found himself in great difficulty. When he finally reached the other side, he said to the child: "You have put me in the greatest danger. I do not think the whole world could have been as heavy on my shoulders as you were." The child replied: "You had on your shoulders not only the whole world but Him who made it. I am Christ your king, whom you are serving by this work." The child then vanished.

The name Christopher means, “Christ bearer,” and because of his assistance to those traveling, and that he helped them through water, he became the patron of surfers and travelers. You will often see Catholics adorn their cars with medals of St. Christopher to ask him to intercede for safe travels.

How is this relevant for us as we reflect on the Psalm this week? The Psalmist points out that we walk before the Lord in the land of the living. Every day, we walk in the midst of Christ who is present is every single person we see and interact with.

Every person you encounter is Christ. 

Christopher was able to recognize that in His service to others when Christ made his presence known. His story is a reminder to us that Christ is present in every single person around us. We have an opportunity to serve Him through our love and kindness, or deny Christ through our rejection, gossip, and judgment.

How would your life look different if you treated every person you met as Christ in disguise?

How would your attitude, habits and behaviors toward others need to change?

I shared these quotes in last week’s podcast episode, but they are worth repeating:

"If you are angry at your neighbor, you are angry at God... Honor your neighbor and you have honored God." - St. Ephrem the Syrian

"The soul cannot live without love. We can never love our neighbor too much.” - St. Francis de Sales

"Next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses.” - C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory

What more convincing do we need? We have an opportunity in every person we meet to encounter Christ or to deny Him. To love Him or to reject Him. It is a harrowing and convicting responsibility, but one that is also rich with opportunity to experience His presence and grace in new ways.

Go find Christ in everyone you meet this week.

I am praying for you, please pray for me, and I will see you in the Eucharist.

Matt

This reflection is based on the Responsorial Psalm for this Sunday, September 15th, 2024, which is the Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle B: Psalms 116:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9.