Note: Readings for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time can be found by clicking here.
We geeks come from all sorts of backgrounds, lands, fandoms, and realms. We tend to be a truly catholic (small “c”) representation of our culture with our epic quests, fantastic duels, rousing space battles, and debates about everything from time-travelling Time Lords to the requirements for a proper second breakfast (which is a real thing by the way – just go to Austria and ask). With this wonderful variety, however, can we be Catholic (big “C”) as well?
Of course we can! You wouldn’t be here if that weren’t possible, right?
Scripture reminds us that whatever is true, honorable, and lovely can rightly give glory to God.[1] Some people may think it strange to think of our geeky pursuits as true, honorable, and lovely, but they’ve obviously never read Tolkien’s description of the Fellowship’s entrance into Caras Galadhon or heard The Doctor’s speech at the Rings of Akhaten. God’s glory and beauty is expressed in a myriad of ways through human creativity, and we are both partakers in and beneficiaries of these creative pursuits.
Jesus reminds us in today’s Gospel, somewhat forcefully, that we must never lose sight of the goal, however: our pursuits must always be used for His glory. When we work in the Lord’s vineyard, no matter what our vocation or avocation, we must remember that the kingdom of God will be “given to a people that will produce its fruit.”[2] In other words, we may have different ways of going about the vineyard, and our fruit may vary from others, but all the fruit we produce, whether in our daily careers or in the cosplay conventions on the weekends can be, and needs to be, done out of love and glory for God. While we may hail from different fandoms, as Catholics, Jesus Christ remains our cornerstone above all else, and God has chosen us from the world to go and bear fruit that will remain,[3] even if we happen to do it while wearing a Starfleet uniform.
Footnotes:
[1] Cf. Phil. 4.9
[2] Matthew 21.42-43
[3] Cf. John 15.16
