A popular radio preacher argued against the practice of approaching Mary and the saints for help. He said that he sees no point in using “middle men,” when he can go directly to God. Of course we can go directly to God. The fact is, however, that as members of the Body of Christ we can also go to God through one another. Did the preacher realize that by speaking on the radio, he was one of God’s “middle men?” If people can go directly to God, why bother listening to preachers or going to pastors for help? His profession was being a “middle man” for God.
Today we celebrate the feast day of one of God’s favorite “middle women”—Therese of Lisieux. Thousands have received blessings through her intercession. We are reminded today that our connection with saints in the Body of Christ, however, goes beyond seeking favors from them. When we relate to holy people on this earth, we start becoming like them; time spent with them leads us into the kind of relationship with God that they have. So with the holy people in heaven; relating to them helps us to become like they are.
Today’s reading from Zechariah (8:20-23), coincidentally, talks about God’s “middle men.” The prophet talked about a time when people from every nation would journey to Jerusalem to seek God’s favor.
“There shall yet come peoples, the inhabitants of many cities…(they shall) say, ‘Come! Let us go to implore the favor of the Lord.’…Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem…”
Peoples would realize that there was a special presence of God in Jerusalem that they did not have in their own lands. They wanted to experience the loving presence of God the way the Jews did.
“In those days ten men of every nationality, speaking different tongues, shall take hold, yes, take hold of every Jew by the edge of his garment and say, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”
“Every” Jew would be recognized throughout the world as God’s “middle man.” People would grab their coats and insist that they take them to Jerusalem, so they, too, could get a “piece of the pie” that God was serving.
Even in the gospel passage we read about two of God’s “middle men” (Luke 9:51-56). Jesus was making his last trip to Jerusalem and a Samaritan village refused to let him and his disciples stay there.
“When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, ‘Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?’”
They had already tasted of Jesus’ authority on their mission trips. They wanted to be Jesus’ instruments in dealing with the Samaritans. Jesus rebuked them. That was not the kind of work he expected of his “middle men.”
Do we realize that as members of Christ’s Body each of us is supposed to be “middle man or woman” for Jesus? God wants us to beam so brightly with the light of Christ that people will “grab our coats” and say, “Let us go with you.” Show us how to find Jesus the way you’ve found him.
St. Therese and others tell us: “Look to us not just for favors; be inspired to be like us so that people will find Jesus in you and through you.” The power of God’s grace is such that each of us can become like them.
“Glorious things are said of you, O city of God!” (Ps 87:3).
