Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time, cycle C

JOHN 13: 31-33, 34-35

IN THE COUNTRY OF NIGERIA, A YOUNG MAN FROM THE BUSH APPEARED AT THE DOOR OF A MISSIONARY FROM THE UNITED STATES. HE WANTED WORK, AND SHE HIRED HIM. THREE MONTHS WENT BY, AND HE PROVED TO BE AN EXCELLENT EMPLOYEE. THEN HE TOLD HER HE WAS GIVING NOTICE. SHE OFFERED TO RAISE HIS PAY, ADJUST HIS HOURS, ANYTHING TO KEEP HIM THERE. HE REFUSED, AND TOLD HER THAT NOW HE INTENDED TO WORK FOR A MUSLIM. BECAUSE, HE SAID, I AM TRYING TO DECIDE WHICH RELIGION TO CHOOSE – CHRISTIANITY OR ISLAM. AND NOW I'VE SEEN HOW CHRISTIANS LIVE. NOW I WILL STUDY MUSLIMS AND THEN MAKE MY CHOICE. THE CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY REPLIED, “I WISH YOU HAD TOLD ME THIS WHEN YOU STARTED TO WORK FOR ME!”

TODAY JESUS GIVES US A NEW COMMANDMENT. IS IT NEW BECAUSE OF THE COMMANDMENT TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER? I THINK THAT IS NOT A PARTICULARLY NEW IDEA, EVEN IN JESUS' TIME. JEWISH LEADERS FOR AGES HAD TAUGHT THAT YOU NOT ONLY LOOKED AFTER YOUR OWN PEOPLE, BUT EVEN THE STRANGERS AMONG YOU. THE STORY OF TOBIT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT IS A STORY ABOUT LOVING ONE ANOTHER. JESUS COMMANDMENT IS NEW, HOWEVER, BECAUSE HE SAYS, “LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU.” IF YOU READ THE GOSPELS YOU CAN SEE HOW JESUS LOVED. HIS PREACHING, HIS HEALING, AND EVEN THE TIMES HE SCOLDED THE PHARISEES OR HIS OWN DISCIPLES WERE ALL DONE OUT OF LOVE. JESUS WAS NEVER AFRAID TO DEMONSTRATE HIS LOVE TO ANYONE WHO CAME TO HIM. AND OF COURSE HIS FINAL SUPREME ACT OF LOVE WAS TO GIVE HIS LIFE FOR US. AS HE DIED ON THE CROSS, HE DID NOT EVEN GET THANKED; HIS GIFT TO US WAS COMPLETELY SELFLESS.

I THINK ALL OF US IN THIS CHURCH ARE PEOPLE WHO LOVE. WE LOVE OUR FAMILIES, OUR FRIENDS; WE EVEN LOVE SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HARD TO LOVE, AT LEAST INSOFAR AS WE DON'T WISH THEM HARM. SOME OF US EVEN PRAY FOR OUR ENEMIES AS WELL AS OUR FRIENDS. BUT IF WE HAD A YOUNG MAN FROM THE BACK-COUNTRY OF AFRICA WATCHING US TO DECIDE WHETHER TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN OR GO LOOK FOR SOMETHING ELSE, HOW WOULD WE MEASURE UP?

PROBABLY NOT TOO WELL. THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THIS COUNTRY IS NOT DOING WELL. WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS TO BE PROUD OF, NO QUESTION; AND WE CAN TAKE PRIDE IN OUR NEW POPE, IN SOME OF THE THINGS THE CHURCH IS DOING FOR THE POOR AND THE ALIENATED. BUT THE FACT REMAINS THAT CHURCHES ARE CLOSING, THAT MASS ATTENDANCE IS FALLING OFF, THAT MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WHO GREW UP IN CATHOLIC FAMILIES ARE LEAVING THE CHURCH, JOINING OTHER CHURCHES, OR PERHAPS THEY HAVE REACHED THE POINT WHERE THEY HAVE BECOME MEMBERS OF THE “NONES” – PEOPLE WHO DENY ANY RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION. THEY HAVE OBSERVED CATHOLICS AND SEEN NOTHING THAT MAKES THEM EAGER TO BECOME PART OF THE CHURCH.

HOW DO WE LOVE EACH OTHER AS JESUS LOVED US? THAT KIND OF LOVE DOES NOT INVOLVE CHARITABLE GIVING – THAT'S GOOD, BUT NOT PARTICULARLY CHRISTIAN. IT DOESN'T MEAN GETTING INVOLVED IN GOOD WORKS OR JOINING CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS. THAT'S GOOD TOO, AND ALL OF US SHOULD BE DOING IT, BUT IT'S NOT THE ANSWER. AFTER ALL, CHARITABLE GIVING AND JOINING ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO GOOD WORKS ARE NOT PARTICULARLY CHRISTIAN THINGS EITHER.

THE WAY WE LOVE AS JESUS DID BOILS DOWN TO A PARTICULAR ATTITUDE THAT WE HAVE, AND THAT GOVERNS HOW WE DEAL WITH OTHER PEOPLE. DO YOU REMEMBER THE STORY OF WHEN JESUS WAS URGED BY THE YOUNG SYNAGOGUE RULER TO COME AND HEAL HIS DAUGHTER? JESUS SET OUT TO DO JUST THAT, BUT WAS INTERRUPTED BY A WOMAN WHO WASN'T EVEN JEWISH. HE STOPPED AND GAVE HER HIS FULL ATTENTION, OFFERED HIS HEALING GRACE, AS WELL AS A HUMAN CONNECTION, AND THEN WENT ON. TO ME THAT IS HOW JESUS LOVED. IF YOU CAME TO HIM, HE GAVE YOU HIS FULL ATTENTION; IF YOU HAD A NEED, HE TRIED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE A NEED, HE MADE YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF, AND REMINDED YOU THAT YOU WERE LOVED. AND IF YOU NEEDED TO BE TOLD SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULDN'T FIND TOO PLEASANT, WELL, HE DID THAT TOO, NOT ALWAYS SOFTY AND TENDERLY, I MIGHT ADD. I'M SURE THAT THOSE TIMES HE TOLD THE PHARISEES THAT THEY WERE WRONG, OR WHEN HE CORRECTED SIMON FOR GETTING UPSET WITH THE WOMAN WHO WASHED HIS FEET WITH HER HAIR, OR WHEN HE DROVE THE MONEY CHANGERS OUT OF THE TEMPLE, HE MUST HAVE TOUCHED A NERVE, AND MAYBE SOME OF THEM RESPONDED BY CHANGING THEIR LIVES A BIT.

IN SHORT, LOVING AS JESUS LOVES MEANS BRINGING JESUS TO THE PEOPLE WE MEET, WHETHER FAMILY OR FRIENDS OR TOTAL STRANGERS, 24-7, WITHOUT EXCEPTION, WITHOUT LET-UP. IT ISN'T IMPOSSIBLE; WE'VE PROBABLY ALL MET PEOPLE LIKE THAT.

JESUS., UNLIKE OTHER FOUNDERS OF RELIGIONS, DOES NOT GIVE US A SET OF RULES TO LIVE BY, AS MOSES DID, AS MOHAMMED DID. HE DOES NOT TEACH US TO TEND TO OUR OWN SOULS FIRST, AND ONLY IN PASSING HELP OTHERS, AS THE BUDDHA DID. JESUS TELLS US TO LOVE UNRESERVEDLY, TO HOLD NOTHING BACK, TO LOSE OURSELVES IN SERVICE TO OTHERS.

AS I SAID, IT ISN'T IMPOSSIBLE, BUT IT IS FRIGHTENING – NOT BECAUSE WE CAN'T DO IT, BUT BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO. AFTER ALL, THAT WAS THE WHOLE POINT OF ORIGINAL SIN. ADAM AND EVE BOTH CHOSE TO FOLLOW THE VOICE OF THE SERPENT RATHER THAN THAT OF GOD, BECAUSE THE SERPENT TOLD THEM THAT THEY WERE THE YARDSTICK THAT MEASURED EVERYTHING, NOT GOD. IT'S ALSO FRIGHTENING BECAUSE ONCE WE BEGIN LIVING THIS WAY, THERE ISN'T ANY GOING BACK. YOU CAN'T LOVE AS JESUS DOES MOST OF THE DAY, THEN LET YOUR HAIR DOWN AND RELAX WHEN YOU GET HOME. THOSE CLOSEST TO YOU ARE YOUR MAJOR RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAKING JESUS REAL TO THEM.

THE HOLY EUCHARIST MEANS SOMETHING SPECIAL TO CATHOLICS. WE UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN WE RECEIVE WHAT APPEARS TO BE BREAD AND WINE WE ARE RECEIVING JESUS HIMSELF AS OUR FOOD. ORDINARY FOOD IS CONVERTED INTO OUR OWN BLOOD AND TISSUES; THE EUCHARIST CONVERTS US INTO JESUS, IF WE LET IT. WHEN JESUS TOLD US TO LOVE EACH OTHER AS HE LOVED US, HE GAVE US THE MEANS TO DO SO – TO BECOME OTHER CHRISTS THROUGH THE BLESSED SACRAMENT.

SO THIS WEEK ASK YOURSELF, “HOW AM I OBEYING THE COMMANDMENT OF JESUS – THE NEW COMMANDMENT, THE MARK OF A CHRISTIAN. AND ASK YOURSELF, IF SOMEONE LIVED WITH ME FOR A FEW MONTHS, WOULD THEY DECIDE CHRISTIANITY WAS FOR THEM? OR WOULD THEY GO AND LOOK FOR SOMETHING ELSE?

Fourth Sunday of Easter, Cycle C

JOHN 10:27-30

ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. MY MOTHER HAD IT. SHE HAD AT LEAST ONE BROTHER AND SISTER WHO HAD IT AS WELL, IN SPADES. PROBABLY SOME OF THE OTHERS DID – BUT I CAN'T SAY FOR SURE. IT'S A PRETTY SCARY DISEASE. WHEN YOU HAVE CANCER, OR HEART TROUBLE, OR DIABETES, YOU ARE STILL YOU – BUT WITH ALZHEIMER'S, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE YOU GRADUALLY FADES AWAY. IN THIS COUNTRY AMONG PEOPLE 65-74, 16 OUT OF A THOUSAND WILL HAVE IT. 75 TO 84, 19 OUT OF A HUNDRED; AND OVER 85, ALMOST HALF WILL HAVE SOME DEGREE OF THIS. WHEN THE DISEASE IS VERY ADVANCED, PATIENTS REQUIRE CONSTANT CARE.

POPE JOHN PAUL II WORKED OUT SOMETHING WE CALL “THEOLOGY OF THE BODY”. HIS FUNDAMENTAL IDEA WAS THAT THE HUMAN PERSON IS UNDERSTOOD THROUGH HIS OR HER BODY, AND IN TURN ACTS SOLELY THROUGH THE BODY. WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER MEANS OF EXPRESSING OUR PERSONHOOD. BUT NOTICE THAT JOHN PAUL DOES NOT SAY THAT THE PERSON IS THE BODY; NO, THE BODY IS THE SIGN OF THE PERSON, THE SACRAMENT OF THE PERSON. I THINK WE ALL RECOGNIZE THIS ON A DEEP LEVEL – THAT'S WHY WE BURY AND CREMATE OUR DEAD, THAT'S WHY WE HAVE FUNERALS AND CEMETERIES AND HEADSTONES, EVEN THOUGH WE WOULD ALL AGREE THAT THE DEAD BODY IS NOT THE PERSON WE WANT TO HONOR.

THE THEOLOGY OF THE BODY IS AN EXTRAORDINARILY RICH SET OF IDEAS. JOHN PAUL APPLIED IT EXTENSIVELY TO MARRIAGE. WE CAN LEARN A LOT ABOUT THIS FUNDAMENTAL RELATIONSHIP BY STUDYING BODIES; WE CAN NOTE THAT MALE AND FEMALE ARE COMPLEMENTARY, AND EVEN DEDUCE THAT THE SEXUAL DIFFERENCE IS AT THE LEVEL OF THE PERSON, NOT JUST THE BODY. OUR PERSONS HAVE GENDER. WHEN WE STUDY THE BODY, WE ARE OF COURSE ALSO STUDYING THE MIND, THE EMOTIONS, AND ALL THAT MAKES UP THE BODY. WE CAN SEE IN MALE AND FEMALE THAT EVEN AT THESE LEVELS THEY ARE COMPLEMENTARY. MEN AND WOMEN BOTH ARE CAPABLE OF LOVE, BUT THE WAY A MAN LOVES IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM HOW A WOMAN LOVES, JOHN PAUL SAYS.

AND EVEN THOUGH WE CAN LEARN A GREAT DEAL ABOUT HOW PERSONS INTERACT AND LOVE FROM STUDYING BODIES, WE ALSO LEARN SOMETHING THAT IS A LITTLE DISTURBING; EVEN THE CLOSEST COUPLE CANNOT REALLY KNOW EACH OTHER TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY LONG TO. EVEN A LIFETIME OF LIVING WITH SOMEONE DOES NOT COMPLETELY REVEAL ONE PERSON TO THE OTHER PERSON. EVEN A MOTHER CAN NEVER FULLY KNOW THE PERSON SHE GAVE BIRTH TO. EVERY PERSON IS A MYSTERY, AND THE BODY ONLY GIVES GLIMPSES OF IT.

SO WHY DOES THAT MATTER? JOHN PAUL POINTS OUT THAT THERE IS A LONGING IN ALL OF US TO KNOW THE REAL PERSON; AND A LONGING TO BE KNOWN. WHEN A MAN AND WOMAN MARRY, THEY ARE DRAWN TOGETHER BECAUSE THEY WANT TO KNOW EACH OTHER MORE COMPLETELY. WHEN THEY QUARREL, ASSUMING THAT THEY REALLY DO LOVE EACH OTHER, THE PAIN THAT THEY FEEL IS MUCH GREATER THAN THAT WHICH HAPPENS TO TWO RANDOM PEOPLE WHO HAVE AN ARGUMENT, BECAUSE OF THE REALIZATION THAT AT A FUNDAMENTAL LEVEL, THEY DO NOT REALLY KNOW EACH OTHER. THESE STATEMENTS ARE HEARD IN DIVORCE COURTS AND BY MARRIAGE COUNSELORS ALL THE TIME – HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND ME; I JUST DON'T KNOW HER ANYMORE; HE'S NOT THE PERSON I THOUGHT HE WAS. WE'VE BECOME STRANGERS TO EACH OTHER.

WE SPEND OUR LIVES SEEKING TO BE UNDERSTOOD. WE WANT THAT OTHER PERSON TO KNOW US AS A PERSON, NOT VEILED BEHIND THE BODY. AND WE DISTRACT OURSELVES WITH ALL KINDS OF THINGS BECAUSE WE ARE FUNDAMENTALLY LONELY; WE MAY HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP NOW, BUT EVEN IN THE GREATEST RELATIONSHIPS MOMENTS COME WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT THERE ARE THINGS ABOUT THAT OTHER PERSON WHICH WILL ALWAYS BE HIDDEN FROM YOU, AND THAT THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE MOST IN THE WORLD WILL NEVER REALLY KNOW YOU IN A FUNDAMENTAL WAY.

AND THAT'S THE PROMISE THAT WE HEAR IN TODAY'S GOSPEL. JESUS DESCRIBES A RELATIONSHIP UNLIKE ANY OTHER RELATIONSHIP WE MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED; A RELATIONSHIP IN WHICH IT IS POSSIBLE TO KNOW COMPLETELY AND BE COMPLETELY KNOWN. WE HEAR HIS VOICE, WE FOLLOW HIM, AND WE WILL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE, WE WILL NEVER PERISH. WE WILL LIVE IN THE HEART OF THE TRINITY WHERE THE THREE PERSONS KNOW EACH OTHER DIRECTLY AND COMPLETELY, AND WE WILL PARTAKE OF THAT.

JOHN PAUL TALKS ABOUT HOW MARRIAGE IS A FORESHADOWING OF THIS ULTIMATE RELATIONSHIP OF PERSONS; THE BODIES OF THE SPOUSES AND THEIR MUTUAL COMING TOGETHER TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER AND BUILD A FAMILY REFLECT WHAT IS GOING ON FOR ALL ETERNITY IN THE TRINITY. BUT BODIES ARE ONLY SIGNS OF PERSONS, AND MARRIAGE IS ONLY A SIGN OF THAT RELATIONSHIP TO WHICH WE ARE ALL CALLED. SIGNS ARE GOOD, BUT NOT THE REAL THING. AND PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE TO LIVE LIVES OF CELIBACY FOR THE SAKE OF THE KINGDOM, THEY ARE A SIGN AS WELL, A SIGN WHICH REMINDS US THAT THE RELATIONSHIP WHICH WILL TRULY SATISFY US WILL NOT BE FOUND IN THIS WORLD. ONLY WHEN THE SIGN OF MARRIAGE AND THE SIGN OF CELIBACY ARE SEEN TOGETHER DO WE BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THE DESTINY OF THE PERSON.

I WONDER ABOUT WHETHER I AM GOING TO HAVE ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. EVERY NOW AND THEN SOMEONE FROM MY PAST WILL REMIND ME OF SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED MANY YEARS AGO. WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, I COULD USUALLY SEARCH AROUND IN MY BRAIN AND FIND THE MEMORY. NOW I CAN'T DO THAT; IT IS AS THOUGH THE OTHER PERSON IS MAKING SOMETHING UP. AND WHO CAN REMEMBER EVERYTHING ABOUT THEIR CHILDHOOD, OR EVEN SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR? WE HUMAN BEINGS ARE DESIGNED TO FORGET THINGS.

BUT GOD DOES NOT FORGET; IN GOD'S MIND, EVERYTHING ABOUT US IS THERE, NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN. EVEN IF MY MIND COMPLETELY GOES, I WILL ALWAYS BE COMPLETE AND WHOLE IN THE MIND OF GOD, MY PERSON MORE REAL THAN IT CAN EVER BE IN THIS BODY.

THE THEOLOGY OF THE BODY TELLS US THAT THAT PERSON WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE IS STILL A PERSON; THAT SOMEONE BEING KEPT ALIVE WITH A RESPIRATOR IS STILL A PERSON; THAT A CHILD IN THE WOMB FROM THE FIRST MOMENT OF CONCEPTION IS STILL A PERSON, AND THAT IN ALL THESE CASES, THE BODY IS A SIGN OF THE UNDERLYING REALITY. AS GOD TOLD THE PROPHET JEREMIAH, “BEFORE I FORMED YOU IN THE WOMB, I KNEW YOU.”

NO ONE CAN TAKE ME OUT OF HIS HAND. NO ONE CAN TAKE ME OUT OF THE FATHER'S HAND. IF I LISTEN TO HIS VOICE AND FOLLOW HIM, I HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.

Third Sunday of Easter, cycle C

JOHN 21:1-19

MY GRANDFATHER AND GRANDMOTHER NEVER HAD MUCH MONEY. THEY NEVER OWNED A HOUSE, ALWAYS RENTED; AND NEVER HAD A NEW CAR. PART OF THE PROBLEM WAS THAT MY GRANDFATHER HAD ONLY GOTTEN THROUGH THE FOURTH GRADE, AND YET WAS VERY INSISTENT THAT MY GRANDMOTHER NEVER WORK OUTSIDE THE HOME. SO THEY WENT THROUGH LIFE, RAISING TWO CHILDREN, LIVING FROM PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK, AND WERE VERY HAPPY WHEN THEY WERE FINALLY ELIGIBLE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY, WHICH AMOUNTED TO MORE THAN MY GRANDFATHER HAD EVER MADE WORKING. THAT, OF COURSE WAS A LONG TIME AGO.

ONE THING I REMEMBER ABOUT MY GRANDFATHER IS THAT HE SEEMED TO HAVE HAD MANY OPPORTUNITIES. HE WOULD POINT OUT THE LOCAL DRIVE IN RESTAURANT, WHICH WAS A THRIVING BUSINESS, AND TELL US THE OWNER HAD WANTED HIM TO BE A PARTNER WHEN HE STARTED OUT. THERE WAS A CAR DEALERSHIP – SAME THING. HE COULD HAVE GOTTEN IN ON THE GROUND FLOOR. AND THERE WERE MANY OTHER MISSED OPPORTUNITIES HE WOULD POINT OUT TO US. I THINK THE THING WAS THAT HE HAD BEEN EXTREMELY POOR GROWING UP; HE HAD GONE THROUGH THE GREAT DEPRESSION BARELY ABLE TO KEEP HIS FAMILY FED, AND HE VALUED SECURITY MORE THAN ANYTHING. WHO KNOWS WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD HE STEPPED OUT AND TAKEN A CHANCE?

THE APOSTLES WERE TOLD BY JESUS TO MEET HIM IN GALILEE, AND THEY ARE WAITING THERE. APPARENTLY TIME HAS PASSED AND NOTHING HAS HAPPENED. AT THAT POINT, PETER DECIDES TO DO WHAT HE DOES BEST, GO FISHING. HAS HE FORGOTTEN THAT JESUS HAD TOLD HIM THAT HE WAS THE ROCK ON WHICH HIS CHURCH WOULD BE BUILT? HAS HE FORGOTTEN THAT JESUS HAD SAID, “AS THE FATHER HAS SENT ME, SO I SEND YOU?” NOT REALLY, I'M SURE. BUT PETER DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. AND UNLIKE MY GRANDFATHER, PETER STEPPED OUT.

DO YOU REMEMBER THE STORY OF SAINT FRANCIS? JESUS APPEARED TO HIM IN A DREAM AND TOLD HIM TO REBUILD HIS CHURCH. SAINT FRANCIS STEPPED OUT, AND BEGAN REBUILDING THE OLD RUINED CHURCH AT THE EDGE OF TOWN. AND I APPRECIATE THE STORY OF THERESA OF AVILLA, WHO WHEN SHE WAS A LITTLE GIRL, TALKED HER BROTHER RODRIGO INTO RUNNING OFF WITH HER TO THE CRUSADES, SO THAT THEY COULD BE MARTYRS AND GO TO HEAVEN. SHE DIDN'T GET VERY FAR, BUT SHE DID STEP OUT.

PETER STEPPED OUT AND FISHED. HE DIDN'T ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING. HE FISHED ALL NIGHT AND CAUGHT NOTHING. BUT WHEN HE HAD DONE HIS UTMOST, WHEN THE NIGHT WAS OVER AND HE WAS EXHAUSTED, JESUS TOLD HIM TO THROW HIS NET TO THE OTHER SIDE. AND JOHN, ALSO A FISHERMAN, TELLS US THAT THEY CAUGHT 153 LARGE FISH – REMARKABLE IN ITSELF, BUT EVEN MORE REMARKABLE TO JOHN WAS THAT THE NET DID NOT BREAK.

IT IS AT THAT POINT THAT JESUS SITS DOWN WITH PETER. “DO YOU LOVE ME MORE THAN THESE,” HE SAYS. PETER, WHO IS STILL SMARTING FROM HAVING DENIED JESUS AFTER SWEARING HE NEVER WOULD DO SUCH A THING, HAS LEARNED HUMILITY. “YOU KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU,” HE REPLIES, NOT WISHING TO COMPARE HIS LOVE TO THE LOVE OF THE OTHER APOSTLES. A SECOND TIME, AND A THIRD TIME, JESUS ASKS, AND PETER REPLIES. AND EACH TIME, JESUS SAYS IN EFFECT, TAKE CARE OF MY FLOCK, FEED THEM, WATCH OUT FOR THEM, PAY ATTENTION TO THE LITTLE ONES AS WELL AS THE BIG ONES. BECAUSE IF YOU LOVE ME, YOU WILL ACCEPT THIS CHARGE.

DO YOU EVER HAVE MOMENTS WHEN YOU WISH YOU COULD DO MORE FOR YOUR LORD? I BELIEVE THAT WE ALL HAVE THOSE MOMENTS. I BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE AFTER ALL, THAT'S WHAT THE GRACE OF CONFIRMATION IS ALL ABOUT. THIS IS THE GRACE THAT CALLS US TO STEP OUT, TO BE STRONG, TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR CHURCH. IF WE HAVE RECEIVED THAT GRACE, IT OPERATES IN US. BUT MOST OF US CHOOSE TO IGNORE IT, AND BECAUSE OF THAT WE NEVER ENTER INTO THE WONDERFUL ADVENTURE THAT GOD HAS IN STORE FOR US. WHEN YOU READ THE LIVES OF THE SAINTS, YOU READ ABOUT MARTYRS, HERMITS, PEOPLE WHO SAT ON PILLARS ALL THEIR LIVES – NOT ALWAYS VERY ATTRACTIVE; BUT YOU ALSO READ ABOUT PEOPLE WHO WERE CAUGHT UP IN THE ADVENTURE THAT GOD CHOSE FOR THEM. THOMAS MORE COULD JOKE WITH THE MAN WHO WAS ABOUT TO CUT OFF HIS HEAD; HE KNEW HIS ADVENTURE WOULD CONTINUE, AND DEATH COULDN'T STOP IT. FRANCIS XAVIER LEFT HOME AND FRIENDS AND WAS REWARDED BY GREAT SUCCESS IN HIS MISSION TO INDIA AND LATER, JAPAN; THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE BECAME CHRISTIAN. AND THAT IS WHAT IS HAPPENING TO PETER. HE HAS STEPPED OUT, HE HAS BEEN SHOWN THAT NOTHING CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED WITHOUT JESUS; AND NOW HE IS BEING PUT IN CHARGE OF JESUS' CHURCH – ALL BECAUSE HE MADE THAT FIRST TENTATIVE MOVE.

I THINK THAT'S THE WAY GOD WORKS IN OUR LIVES. WE CAN PRAY AND WISH, AND WAIT FOR ENLIGHTENMENT; WE CAN PUT OFF OUR COMMITMENT UNTIL THE TIME FINALLY IS RIGHT – AFTER THE KIDS GET THROUGH SCHOOL, AFTER I GET MY PROMOTION, AFTER WE GET THE MORTGAGE PAID OFF – BUT JESUS WILL WAIT PATIENTLY UNTIL WE STEP OUT. IF WE ARE GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION, HE WILL TURN US IN THE RIGHT ONE, AS HE DID FOR SAINT FRANCIS. IF WE START WITH SOMETHING SMALL, HE WILL MAKE IT BIGGER AND BIGGER, AS HE DID WITH SAINT PETER AND SAINT FRANCIS XAVIER. AND AS WE BEGIN GIVING A LITTLE BIT, AND ALLOWING HIM TO WORK IN US, WE WILL FIND THAT WE ARE RIGHT WHERE WE SHOULD BE, SO THAT LIKE THOMAS MORE, EVEN DEATH WON'T BOTHER US.

JESUS DIDN'T PROMISE PETER POWER OR FAME OR WEALTH OR PLEASURE. IN FACT, HE PROMISED PETER THAT IN THE END, SOMEONE ELSE WOULD LEAD HIM WHERE HE DID NOT WANT TO GO. AND THAT WILL HAPPEN TO ALL OF US, SOONER OR LATER. JUST VISIT A NURSING HOME ONE OF THESE DAYS. BUT EVEN THAT'S PART OF THE ADVENTURE, BECAUSE WHAT JESUS WANTS FOR US IS TO SHARE IN HIS LIFE – NOT HIS EARTHLY LIFE, BUT HIS LIFE AFTER RESURRECTION, HIS ETERNAL LIFE IN THE HEART OF THE TRINITY. AND TO GET THERE, IN SOME WAY OR ANOTHER, WE HAVE TO EXPERIENCE HELPLESSNESS, WE HAVE TO BE CRUCIFIED, WE HAVE TO BE EMPTIED OUT, SO THAT CHRIST CAN FILL US UP.

SO WHAT DOES OUR GOSPEL TELL US TODAY? JESUS STEPS IN WHEN WE STEP OUT. JESUS MAGNIFIES OUR EFFORTS WHEN WE OBEY HIM. WHEN WE GIVE A LITTLE FOR JESUS, HE OFFERS US THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO MORE – AND IN THE END, NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS IN OUR LIVES, HE PROMISES US THAT ALL WILL BE WELL, AS LONG AS WE PAY ATTENTION TO THOSE LAST WORDS WE HEAR IN TODAY'S GOSPEL – FOLLOW ME!

Second Sunday of Easter, cycle C

JOHN 20:19-31

SOME OF US OLD FOLKS REMEMBER WHEN MAHATMA GHANDI WAS MAKING THE NEWS. HE WAS A HINDU HOLY MAN WHO LED INDIA TO INDEPENDENCE IN A PEACEFUL REVOLUTION. AS A YOUNG MAN HE STUDIED LAW IN ENGLAND, WHERE HE EXPERIENCED DISCRIMINATION. AS A YOUNG MAN HE HAD LIVED IN SOUTH AFRICA, WHERE HE SPENT TWENTY YEARS FIGHTING FOR INDIAN RIGHTS IN SOUTH AFRICA, BEING JAILED AND BEATEN ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, AND ONCE BEING SENTENCED TO A FORCED LABOR CAMP. HE THEN WENT BACK TO INDIA AND SPENT THE REST OF HIS LIFE WORKING FOR INDIAN INDEPENDENCE. HE REFUSED TO CONDONE VIOLENCE ON THE PART OF HIS FOLLOWERS. GHANDI PROVED TO THE WORLD THAT NON-VIOLENT RESISTANCE COULD CHANGE THINGS THAT SEEMED UNCHANGEABLE, A LESSON LEARNED AND APPLIED BY PEOPLE LIKE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., AND LECH WALENSKA OF POLAND. GHANDI WROTE THAT AS A YOUNG MAN STUDYING LAW IN ENGLAND, HE HAD READ THE BIBLE, AND HIS IDEAS ABOUT NON-VIOLENT RESISTANCE CAME FROM THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS CHRIST. BUT IT WAS NOT LOST ON HIM THAT THE OPPRESSORS OF HIS PEOPLE WERE CHRISTIANS. HE WAS ONCE ASKED WHAT HE THOUGHT OF CHRISTIANITY. HE REPLIED, “I LIKE YOUR CHRIST, I DO NOT LIKE YOUR CHRISTIANS. YOUR CHRISTIANS ARE SO UNLIKE YOUR CHRIST.” GHANDI HAD LEARNED ABOUT CHRISTIANITY FROM CHRISTIANS, AND DECIDED THAT WASN'T FOR HIM.

WHEN JESUS FIRST APPEARED TO THE APOSTLES, YOU WILL NOTICE THAT THEY WERE IN A LOCKED ROOM, FOR FEAR OF THE JEWS. THAT WAS WHEN JESUS GAVE THEM HIS PEACE, AND TOLD THEM HE WAS GOING TO SEND THEM FORTH AND THAT THEY HAD THE POWER TO FORGIVE SINS. PRETTY EXCITING, RIGHT? THE TEACHER WHO HAD BEEN CRUCIFIED HAD COME TO LIFE, AND NOT ONLY THAT BUT HAD GIVEN THEM THE POWER TO CARRY ON HIS WORK.

BUT THEY DIDN'T RUSH OUT AND START PREACHING AND CONVERTING AND CARRYING OUT JESUS WORK. A WEEK LATER, THOMAS WAS WITH THEM, AND THEY WERE STILL IN THE LOCKED ROOM. AND THOMAS DIDN'T BELIEVE. WHERE HAD HE BEEN BEFORE? DO YOU REMEMBER THE OTHER TIMES WE HEARD FROM THOMAS? ONCE WAS WHEN JESUS WAS TALKING ABOUT HIS FUTURE, THOMAS SPOKE UP AND ASKED, “LORD, WE DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING; HOW CAN WE KNOW THE WAY?” AND ANOTHER TIME, WHEN JESUS WAS INSISTING THAT THEY GO TO JERUSALEM WHERE HE WAS A WANTED MAN, THOMAS TOLD THE OTHER APOSTLES, “LET US GO DOWN WITH HIM AND DIE WITH HIM.” AND OF COURSE TODAY WE HEAR THE STATEMENT WHICH WE REMEMBER BEST OF THOMAS, AND IT ALSO IS BOLD, IN KEEPING WITH HIS OTHER STATEMENTS, “UNLESS I PUT MY FINGERS IN THE NAIL-HOLES IN HIS HANDS, AND MY HAND INTO HIS SIDE, I WILL NOT BELIEVE.” I THINK THOMAS, UNLIKE THE OTHER APOSTLES, HAD NOT BEEN AFRAID; HE HAD BEEN OUT AND ABOUT, IN THE STREETS OF JERUSALEM. IF HE WAS GOING TO BE PUT TO DEATH BECAUSE HE WAS A FOLLOWER OF JESUS, SO BE IT. AFTER ALL, HE WAS THE ONE WHO HAD SHORED UP THE COURAGE AMONG THE OTHER APOSTLES SO THAT THEY WOULD GO WITH HIM TO JERUSALEM.

WHY SHOULD THOMAS BELIEVE? BECAUSE THE APOSTLES SAID THAT JESUS HAD APPEARED TO THEM? WELL, IT DIDN'T SEEM TO MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE; THEY WERE STILL COWERING IN THE LOCKED ROOM, FEARING THE KNOCK ON THE DOOR WHICH WOULD SIGNAL THAT THE ROMAN SOLDIERS HAD ARRIVED TO TAKE THEM AWAY. THEY HAD TOLD THOMAS THAT THEY HAD SEEN THE LORD, AND THAT HE HAD GIVEN THEM HIS PEACE, AND HE HAD SENT THEM FORTH INTO THE WORLD TO PREACH HIS GOSPEL, AND HE HAD GIVEN THEM THE GIFT OF FORGIVING SINS – BUT THEY WERE STILL SITTING IN THE LOCKED ROOM. THOMAS LOOKED AT HIS COMPANIONS AND TOLD HIMSELF, IF WHAT THEY WITNESSED WAS ANYTHING OTHER THAN A HALLUCINATION, THEY WOULDN'T BE SITTING HERE FULL OF FEAR.

AND THAT'S A BIG PROBLEM WITH OUR MODERN CHURCH. WE MAY TELL OTHER PEOPLE ABOUT JESUS, WE MAY INSIST THAT WE BELIEVE HE IS LORD, WE MAY CLAIM THAT OUR WHOLE LIVES HAVE BEEN CHANGED BECAUSE OF HIM – BUT WHY ON EARTH SHOULD OUR FRIENDS BELIEVE US? BECAUSE WE GO TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY? BECAUSE WE DROP A LITTLE MONEY IN THE COLLECTION PLATE? DO OUR LIVES REALLY SHOW THAT JESUS HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE?

“WE HAVE SEEN THE LORD!” WE PROCLAIM. BUT WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR THE LEAST OF OUR BRETHREN? ARE THERE HUNGRY PEOPLE THAT WE HAVEN'T FED? SICK PEOPLE THAT WE HAVEN'T VISITED? WHEN PEOPLE SEE US, DO THEY SEE JESUS CHRIST? OR DO WE LIVE PRETTY MUCH LIKE EVERYONE ELSE – NOT TOO CONCERNED ABOUT THE FACT THAT 25-50% OF ALL PREGNANCIES END IN ABORTION; THAT THERE IS A GROWING MOVEMENT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE WHO ARE SICK, OR OLD, OR HANDICAPPED TO SUBMIT TO PHYSICIAN ASSISTED SUICIDE; AND WE AREN'T TOO UPSET ABOUT THE FACT THAT OUR SOCIETY HAS DEVALUED MARRIAGE SO MUCH THAT THE DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO SAME SEX COUPLES, AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO BOTHER TO GET MARRIED BEFORE LIVING TOGETHER OR HAVING CHILDREN HAS DECLINED REMARKABLY. AND WE VOTE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE – WE CATHOLICS ARE THE DECIDING VOTE IN ELECTING PEOPLE WHO PROMISE US THAT THEY WILL OPPOSE WHAT OUR CHURCH TEACHES.

AND WHEN JESUS SHOWS HIMSELF TO THOMAS, THOMAS ANSWERS WITH “MY LORD AND MY GOD!” HE COMMITS HIMSELF COMPLETELY TO JESUS' LEADERSHIP – HE SAYS “MY LORD”. FROM NOW ON WHAT YOU ASK OF ME I WILL DO; I WILL LIVE TO CARRY OUT YOUR WILL. AND WHEN HE SAYS “MY GOD”, HE IS THE FIRST TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE GOD WHO HAS BEEN WORSHIPED BY THE JEWS AND BY THEIR ANCESTORS, ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB, IS THE GOD WHO IS THIS MAN STANDING THERE, AND THAT HE IS WORTHY OF WORSHIP. IN THIS PROFOUND ACT OF FAITH, THOMAS PROVES HIMSELF THE FIRST TO TOTALLY COMMIT. AND INDEED JESUS COMMENDS THOSE WHO HAVE NOT SEEN BUT BELIEVE – BUT I DON'T THINK THAT IS AN INSULT TO THOMAS. RATHER IT IS A RECOGNITION THAT BELIEF IS NOT JUST WORDS LIKE “WE HAVE SEEN THE LORD!” TRUE BELIEF IS THE ABILITY TO HONESTLY SAY, FROM THE DEPTH OF MY BEING, “MY LORD AND MY GOD!” BECAUSE IF YOU SAY THOSE WORDS AND BELIEVE WHAT YOU SAY, YOUR WHOLE LIFE HAS TO CHANGE.

IN TODAY'S GOSPEL I THINK WE SEE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FAITH IN THE HEAD AND FAITH IN THE HEART. FAITH IN THE HEAD HAS NO TROUBLE BELIEVING IN THE RESURRECTION, IN THE HOLY EUCHARIST, IN THE TEACHINGS OF THE CHURCH. SURE, I BELIEVE, THOSE THINGS ARE TRUE. BUT FAITH IN THE HEART IS FAITH THAT COMMITS, FAITH THAT IS WILLING TO GO DOWN TO JERUSALEM AND DIE WITH HIM, FAITH THAT WILL LEAD THOMAS TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH, TO BRING THE GOSPEL TO INDIA, TO DIE A MARTYR FOR DOING THAT.

SO LET US THIS SUNDAY REMEMBER THOMAS NOT AS THE DOUBTER, BUT AS THE ONE WHO, UNLIKE THE OTHER APOSTLES, WHEN CONFRONTED WITH PROOF OF THE RESURRECTION, COMMITS. AND LET US ASK SAINT THOMAS TO HELP US BE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMPLETELY CHANGED BY THE RESURRECTION, PEOPLE WHO TURN OUR OWN LIVES OVER TO OUR LORD – PEOPLE WHO WILL CONVINCE OTHER GHANDI'S THAT CHRISTIANS ARE LIKE CHRIST.

Easter Sunday, 2013

LUKE 24:1-12

IN A BOOK OF SERMONS BY TOM LONG, THERE IS THIS STORY. “IN A LITTLE TOWN THE EDITOR OF THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER USED TO PUBLISH SUMMARIES OF HIS PASTOR'S SERMONS ON THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE PASTOR WAS FREQUENTLY BOTHERED BECAUSE THE SUMMARIES OFTEN SEEMED TO TOTALLY MISS THE POINT, BUT THE EDITOR DROPPED A LOT OF MONEY IN THE COLLECTION PLATE AND WAS OTHERWISE HARMLESS, SO REVEREND TIDWELL DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING. BUT ONE DAY HE OPENED THE PAPER TO READ THE STATEMENT “PASTOR TIDWELL CLAIMS THAT JESUS CHRIST ROSE FROM THE DEAD.” HE COULD FEEL EMBARRASSMENT AND ANGER. SURE, HE'D SAID THAT, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU SAY ON EASTER SUNDAY, RIGHT? IT WASN'T LIKE SAYING SOMEONE YOU BURIED LAST WEEK HAD RISEN FROM THE DEAD. THAT WOULD BE CRAZY!”

POPE BENEDICT WROTE THAT THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS BELONGS TO AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT ORDER OF REALITY THAN ANY OTHER EVENT IN HISTORY. AND I THINK IT'S WORTH THINKING ABOUT THAT TODAY. AFTER ALL, THE BIBLE DESCRIBES MANY RESURRECTIONS. JESUS HIMSELF RAISED LAZARUS, THE SON OF A WIDOW, AND THE DAUGHTER OF A TEMPLE OFFICIAL – AND THOSE ARE JUST THE ONES THAT MADE IT INTO THE BIBLE. AFTER JESUS ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN, WE HEAR ABOUT PETER RAISING A WOMAN NAMED DORCAS, AND PAUL A YOUNG MAN NAMED EUTYCHUS.

NOW YOU MAY SAY THAT THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT JESUS RAISED HIMSELF, WHICH IS TRUE. BUT THE DIFFERENCE GOES FAR DEEPER THAN THIS.

FIRST, YOU KNOW THAT JESUS MADE IT CLEAR THAT WHAT WAS RAISED WAS HIS REAL BODY. IT HAD THE NAIL HOLES, AND THE SPEAR WOUND. HE WAS ABLE TO EAT, AND SPEAK, AND TOUCH. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THE BODY WAS DIFFERENT. HE COULD APPEAR AND DISAPPEAR, AND WAS NOT LIMITED BY LOCKED DOORS, OR TIME OR DISTANCE.

BUT THE THING WE SHOULD REALLY CONCENTRATE ON IS THAT IN THE APPEARANCES AFTER THE RESURRECTION, JESUS REVEALED HIMSELF. MARY MAGDALENE THOUGHT HE WAS A GARDENER, UNTIL HE SAID HER NAME; THE APOSTLES THOUGHT THEY WERE SEEING A GHOST, UNTIL HE SAID, “PEACE BE WITH YOU.” THE TWO PEOPLE ON THE WAY TO EMMAUS DID NOT KNOW WHO HE WAS UNTIL HE BROKE THE BREAD. AND THOMAS REFUSED TO BELIEVE UNTIL HE WAS SHOWN THE WOUNDS OF THE CRUCIFIXION. THE APOSTLE PAUL TELLS US THAT ABOUT 500 PEOPLE SAW JESUS AFTER HIS RESURRECTION. AND I THINK THE ODD THING IS NOT THAT JESUS APPEARED TO VARIOUS PEOPLE, BUT THAT HE APPEARED TO SO FEW. AFTER ALL, BEFORE THE RESURRECTION HE ATTRACTED A VAST FOLLOWING, SO LARGE THAT IT FRIGHTENED THE LEADERS OF THE JEWS AND THE ROMAN GOVERNMENT, AND WE HEAR THAT HE FED CROWDS NUMBERING IN THE THOUSANDS.

AFTER HIS RESURRECTION, JESUS CONTROLS WHO EXPERIENCES HIS PRESENCE. AND HE STILL DOES, AND PERHAPS THAT'S THE MESSAGE HERE. AND MAYBE THAT'S WHY THE STORIES IN THE SCRIPTURES DIFFER A BIT, ONE FROM ANOTHER. SOMETIMES I ENVY THE PEOPLE THAT HEARD JESUS PREACH OR WITNESSED HIS MIRACLES. BUT WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE RESURRECTION? WHERE WERE THESE CROWDS, WHEN THE NEW CHURCH CONSISTED OF ABOUT 120 INDIVIDUALS? PEOPLE WERE NO DIFFERENT THEN THAN THEY ARE NOW. SOMEONE COMES ALONG AND ATTRACTS HUGE CROWDS, AND THE MOVEMENT DIES OUT WHEN THE PERSON DIES. WHERE IS THE MOVEMENT STARTED BY LENIN AND STALIN? BACK THIRTY YEARS AGO A MAN NAMED ORAL ROBERTS HAD A NATIONAL TELEVISION PROGRAM AND RAKED IN HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY FROM HIS FOLLOWERS, ENOUGH TO BUILD A UNIVERSITY FROM SCRATCH. WHERE IS THAT MOVEMENT? AND IF CHRISTIANITY DEPENDED ON THE PEOPLE JESUS REACHED BEFORE HE DIED, I THINK THAT MOVEMENT WOULD HAVE DIED OUT AS WELL.

AFTER THE RESURRECTION, THEN AS NOW, JESUS REVEALS HIMSELF TO THE ONES HE CHOOSES, AND WHEN HE DOES SO, THEY BECOME SO CHANGED BY THE CERTAIN KNOWLEDGE THAT HE IS ALIVE, HE IS RISEN, THAT THEY HAVE TO BRING THE GOOD NEWS TO THEIR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS. HE REVEALED HIMSELF TO THE APOSTLES, BUT LONG AFTERWARD, TO SAINT PAUL. HE REVEALED HIMSELF TO MARY MAGDALENE, BUT ALSO TO THERESA OF AVILA, FRANCIS, AND COUNTLESS OTHER SAINTS.

EVERY YEAR WE CHRISTIANS CELEBRATE THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS. WE CELEBRATE IT AS AN HISTORIC EVENT, SOMETHING THAT TOOK PLACE A LONG TIME AGO. BUT AS POPE BENEDICT SAID, THE RESURRECTION BELONGS TO A WHOLE DIFFERENT ORDER OF REALITY – IT IS ONGOING, IT IS OUTSIDE TIME AND SPACE, IT IS AN ETERNAL EVENT; BECAUSE JESUS DIED, BUT CHRIST AROSE. AND CHRIST GOES ABOUT HIS ETERNAL MISSION, BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS, BARRIERS BETWEEN GOD AND MAN, BARRIERS BETWEEN DEATH AND LIFE, HEAVEN AND EARTH; BARRIERS BETWEEN OUR HEARTS AND HIS HEART. AND CHRISTIANS EVERYWHERE CELEBRATE THIS WHEN THEY CELEBRATE HOLY COMMUNION, WHICH SPEAKS ABOUT YOU AND I BECOMING ONE WITH CHRIST. AS SAINT PAUL SAID, “I LIVE, NOT I, BUT CHRIST IN ME”.

THE RESURRECTION INDEED CHANGED EVERYTHING, BUT IT CONTINUES TO DO SO. AND IT IS NEVER ENOUGH TO MERELY BELIEVE THAT JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD. IF THE RESURRECTION IS TO MEAN ANYTHING, WE HAVE TO PRACTICE THE RESURRECTION. WE AFFIRM THE RESURRECTION WHEN WE GIVE A HELPING HAND TO SOMEONE WHO IS IN TROUBLE. WE PRACTICE THE RESURRECTION WHEN WE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE PERSON WHO IS SLEEPING UNDER A BRIDGE IN THE COLD WINTER. WE PRACTICE RESURRECTION WHEN WE REACH OUT IN LOVE TO A LONELY PERSON. IN SHORT, WE PRACTICE RESURRECTION WHEN WE DO WHAT JESUS DID, BECAUSE CHRIST HAS REVEALED HIMSELF TO US, BECAUSE CHRIST LIVES ON IN US. LET US PRAY FOR THE FAITH TO RECOGNIZE HIS LIVING, RISEN PRESENCE AMONG US, IN OUR HEARTS, AND IN EACH OTHER.

Good Friday, 2013

JOHN 18:1-19:42

SOME OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE DEVOTION HAVING TO DO WITH THE SEVEN LAST WORDS OF JESUS. THESE ARE STATEMENTS MADE BY JESUS ON THE CROSS, RECORDED BY THE WRITERS OF THE GOSPELS. JOHN, WHO WROTE THE GOSPEL YOU JUST HEARD, RECORDED THREE OF THEM.

THE FIRST THING HE SAYS, IS “WOMAN, BEHOLD YOUR SON,” TO HIS MOTHER, AND THEN “BEHOLD YOUR MOTHER” TO HIS DISCIPLE JOHN. WE ARE TOLD THAT JOHN, FROM THAT DAY FORWARD, TOOK CARE OF MARY. JESUS HANGING ON THE CROSS NEAR THE POINT OF DEATH DOESN'T LOOK LIKE HE CAN DO MUCH FOR ANYONE, AND YET, HE TAKES CARE OF HIS MOTHER. AND DURING HIS LIFETIME, HE ONCE SAID, “WHOEVER DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER IN HEAVEN IS MY MOTHER AND MY SISTER AND MY BROTHER.” JESUS SPENT HIS EARTHLY LIFE TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE; HEALING THE SICK, RAISING THE DEAD, DRIVING OUT DEMONS, AND MOST OF ALL, GIVING US A PATTERN OF LIFE THROUGH HIS WORDS AND ACTIONS, SO THAT WE COULD KNOW THE WILL OF THE FATHER. AND HE LEFT US THAT FRIGHTENING STATEMENT THAT IS VERY HARD TO HEAR; “WHATSOEVER YOU DO NOT DO FOR THE LEAST OF MY BROTHERS, YOU DO NOT DO FOR ME.” AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF THE LEAST OF OUR BROTHERS OUT THERE, IN THE COLD, IN THE STREETS. THERE ARE PLENTY OF THEM IN THE NURSING HOMES, IN TENEMENT HOUSING; THERE ARE PLENTY OF THEM WHO WILL GROW UP IN POVERTY, DEPRIVED OF EDUCATION AND MORAL TRAINING, WHOSE ROLE MODELS ARE THIEVES AND DRUG ADDICTS. AND THEY WILL CONTINUE THIS VICIOUS CYCLE. WE KNOW THAT. AND I'VE ONLY MENTIONED WHAT WE COULD FIND HERE IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS. I'M SURE SOME OF YOU SAW THE MOVIE, “SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE”. I'M TOLD THAT THAT IS A VERY REALISTIC PORTRAYAL OF WHAT IT IS LIKE TO LIVE IN THE SLUMS OF INDIA.

GOD GAVE THE HUMAN RACE A BEAUTIFUL, FERTILE, PRODUCTIVE PLANET. EVERYTHING WE NEED TO BE HEALTHY AND HAPPY IS HERE. HE GAVE US OUR INTELLIGENCE AND OUR INGENUITY TO BUILD A WORLD WHERE WE DON'T HAVE TO STRUGGLE FROM MORNING TO EVENING TRYING TO GET SOMETHING TO EAT; WE ARE SO FORTUNATE IN THIS COUNTRY THAT IT'S ALMOST CRIMINAL!

AND THAT IS THE FIRST WORD FROM THE CROSS – TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER. SHOW MY CARE, AND MY FATHER'S CARE, TO THOSE AROUND YOU. THAT IS THE WAY I, JESUS, WILL TAKE CARE OF MY PEOPLE. TO BE THE BROTHER AND SISTER AND MOTHER OF JESUS, WE MUST DO THE WILL OF HIS FATHER AND OUR FATHER; AND IT REALLY BEGINS WITH TAKING CARE OF EACH OTHER IN A SUBSTANTIAL WAY.

THE SECOND WORD IS “I THIRST.” AS A PHYSICIAN, I'VE BEEN AT THE BEDSIDE OF MANY PEOPLE WHO WERE DYING, AND THIRST IS NOT AT ALL UNCOMMON. BUT I THINK THERE IS A DEEPER MEANING HERE. GOD, BEING LOVE ITSELF, WANTS TO BRING ALL HIS CREATION, ESPECIALLY WE HUMAN BEINGS, INTO HIS GREAT LOVE, INTO THE HEART OF THE TRINITY. AND JESUS, THE VERY IMAGE OF GOD, TAKES TO HIMSELF THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR SINS SO THAT WE CAN DO THIS; BECAUSE SIN BY DEFINITION IS A FOCUS OF ATTENTION ON OURSELVES, AND WE HAVE TO CHANGE OUR FOCUS TO GOD IN ORDER TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HIS OFFER. JESUS LONGS FOR UNION WITH US, AND THERE ON THE CROSS, HE SEES YOU AND I AND ALL MANKIND, AND HE SEES THAT DESPITE HAVING GIVEN EVERYTHING GOD COULD POSSIBLY GIVE TO US, MANY WILL CHOOSE TO IGNORE HIS SACRIFICE, MANY WILL CHOOSE HELL RATHER THAN ACCEPT HIS MERCIFUL ACT. AND MANY MORE OF US PERHAPS, WILL NEVER LET GO OF OUR EGOS; WE WILL NEVER ALLOW GOD TO DWELL IN OUR CENTER, AND BECAUSE OF THAT WE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO GRASP ALL THAT GOD WANTS FOR US. THAT IS THE GREAT THIRST OF JESUS, THE LONGING OF A HUSBAND FOR THE WIFE THAT HE LOVES, WHO LOVES SOMEONE ELSE; THE LONGING OF A PARENT FOR A CHILD WHO MOVES TO ANOTHER CITY AND CUTS OFF ALL COMMUNICATION. THE PAIN OF THE NAILS, THE WHIP, AND THE CROWN OF THORNS IS NOTHING COMPARED TO THE PAIN OF LOSING THE ONES YOU LOVE FOREVER; AND JESUS LOVES EACH OF US MORE THAN ANY LOVER EVER COULD.

THE THIRD WORD IS “IT IS FINISHED”. JOHN WROTE HIS GOSPEL IN GREEK, AND THE WORD USED IS “TETELESTAI”. TO OUR EARS, “IT IS FINISHED” SOUND STIFF AND FORMAL. BUT IN THE TIME OF JESUS, WHEN A SERVANT FINISHED A TASK GIVEN TO HIM, HE WOULD SAY TO HIS MASTER, “TETELESTAI”. WHEN A CHILD COMPLETED A LESSON, HE WOULD SAY, “TETELESTAI”. WHEN A MERCHANT HAD BEEN PAID FOR WHAT HE HAD SOLD, HE WOULD SAY, “TETELESTAI”. TO THE PEOPLE OF JESUS' TIME, THE WORD MEANT MORE. JESUS HAS FINISHED HIS TASK ON EARTH; THERE IS NOTHING MORE TO ADD; IT IS COMPLETE.

AND WHAT IS COMPLETE IS RECONCILIATION. IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN OFFENDED BY SOMEONE, YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THAT PERSON CHANGES; YOU FEEL AWKWARD WHEN YOU ARE AROUND HER; THE EASY BACK AND FORTH OF CONVERSATION IS NO LONGER POSSIBLE. AND IF YOU HAVE A BIG HEART, YOU MAY REACH OUT TO THAT PERSON EVEN THOUGH YOU WERE THE ONE OFFENDED; BUT FOR THE RELATIONSHIP TO BE RESTORED, THERE HAS TO BE SOME REACHING OUT FROM THAT PERSON AS WELL. AND JESUS IS THE REACHING OUT OF GOD THE FATHER, AND JESUS IS THE RESPONSE OF THE HUMAN RACE, AND IN THAT MOMENT, WHEN RECONCILIATION WAS COMPLETE, THE ORIGINAL FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN GOD AND MAN, THE FRIENDSHIP THAT WAS APPARENT WHEN GOD WALKED IN THE GARDEN WITH OUR FIRST PARENTS, WHEN GOD GAVE MAN DOMINION OVER ALL THE EARTH – THAT FRIENDSHIP IS THERE AGAIN, FOR THE TAKING, IF WE ACCEPT IT.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CROSS, WHEN YOU VENERATE THE CROSS, MAY TEARS COME TO YOUR EYES – NOT TEARS OF SHAME, BUT TEARS OF LOVE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHY THEY CALL IT GOOD FRIDAY – JESUS HAS GIVEN HIS ALL, NOT BECAUSE THE FATHER IS A CRUEL TYRANT WHO DEMANDS THE DEATH OF HIS SON IN EXCHANGE FOR LETTING US GO; NOT BECAUSE THE FATHER IS A SADISTIC RULER WHO ALLOWS US INTO HIS KINGDOM IF HIS SON DIES FOR US; NOT BECAUSE JESUS GOES TO HIS DEATH KNOWING FULL WELL THAT HE WILL WAKE UP RESURRECTED SO IT ISN'T THAT BIG A DEAL – JESUS WAS REALLY DEAD, AS DEAD AS YOU AND I WILL BE. NO, JESUS HAS GIVEN HIS ALL BECAUSE THE ONLY WAY WE CREATURES, MADE IN GOD'S IMAGE AND LIKENESS, WITH A FREE WILL, COULD EVER BE RECONCILED WITH THE FATHER; ONE OF US, THE SINLESS ONE, HAD TO SUBMIT HIMSELF COMPLETELY TO THE WILL OF GOD. HOW MUCH DOES GOD LOVE YOU? THAT MUCH.

Annunciation, 3/25/13

TODAY, AT THE BEGINNING OF HOLY WEEK, WE HAVE AN UNUSUAL JUXTAPOSITION; THIS DAY IS ALSO THE FEAST OF THE ANNUNCIATION. IN THIS CENTURY THE FEAST OF THE ANNUNCIATION WILL FALL ON MONDAY OF HOLY WEEK FOUR TIMES. THE NEXT TIME IT HAPPENS WILL BE IN 2024, AND THEN, NOT UNTIL 2086.

I HAVE A GRANDDAUGHTER WHO IS GOING ON 12. SHE IS LOSING HER TOMBOYISHNESS, HER WILLINGNESS TO MIX IT UP WITH HER BROTHERS, HER EXCITEMENT AT GOING BIKING WITH HER OLD GRANDFATHER. AND SHE LIKES TO PUT ON ELEGANT CLOTHING, AND HELP HER MOTHER OUT WITH THE LITTLE BROTHER. SOMETIMES SHE REVERTS, BUT MOSTLY, NOWADAYS, SHE IS TRYING ON AND GETTING MORE COMFORTABLE IN THE ROLE OF WOMAN, AS OPPOSED TO GIRL. AND I'M NOT ALL THAT HAPPY ABOUT IT, YOU CAN BE SURE.
MARY WAS LIKE THAT. PROBABLY 12 OR 13, IN THAT TRANSITION PERIOD. LIKE MY GRANDDAUGHTER SHE PROBABLY WAS CHANGING INTO A WOMAN. IN ANY EVENT, LIKE OTHER 12-14 YEAR OLD GIRLS, SHE WAS ALREADY ENGAGED. IT WAS JUST PART OF LIFE; HER PARENTS HAD ARRANGED WITH HIS PARENTS THE BRIDAL PRICE, AND THE YOUNG MAN JOSEPH WOULD BE HER HUSBAND, UNLESS SHE REFUSED. AND SHE HADN'T.

IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, THERE ARE MANY ENCOUNTERS BETWEEN THE HEROES AND HEROINES AND GOD HIMSELF. AND THE USUAL REACTION IS, “WHY ME?” OR “YOU DON'T MEAN ME, DO YOU?” OR “BUT I'M NOT ABLE TO DO THIS”. THINK OF JONAH, WHO TRIED TO GET AS FAR AWAY FROM GOD AS HE POSSIBLY COULD. THINK OF MOSES, WHO TOLD GOD THAT HE WAS NOT THE ONE TO LEAD THE HEBREWS, BECAUSE HE HAD A SPEECH PROBLEM. THINK OF SARAH, WHO LAUGHED WHEN GOD PROMISED HER A CHILD. BUT IN THE END, THE HEROES AND HEROINES CARRIED OUT WHAT GOD ASKED THEM TO DO. ABRAHAM LEFT THE COMFORT OF HOME TO BECOME A WANDERER; HOSIAH AT GOD'S COMMAND DID MARRY A PROSTITUTE; AND MOSES DID LEAD THE ISRAELITES OUT OF EGYPT.

BUT MARY IS DIFFERENT. I THINK OF MY GRANDDAUGHTER. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF AN ANGEL APPEARED TO HER AND ASKED HER TO BE THE MOTHER OF THE SON OF GOD? WOULD SHE THINK ABOUT THE EFFECT ON HER PARENTS, HER TEACHERS, HER PARISH PRIEST? WHO WOULD BELIEVE HER? OR WOULD SHE IN THAT IDEALISM THAT SEEMS TO SHINE IN THOSE ON THE VERGE OF ENTERING THEIR TEEN YEARS, HAVE UNHESITATINGLY SAID YES, AND CONSIDERED THE CONSEQUENCES LATER?

MARY DID CONSIDER THE CONSEQUENCES. “HOW CAN THIS BE,” SHE SAID, “SEEING THAT I DO NOT KNOW A MAN?” AND THEN, KNOWING FULL WELL THE POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES, SHE SAYS YES. AND AFTERWARD HER LIFE WAS COMPLETELY CHANGED. FROM TWENTY CENTURIES AWAY, WE PERHAPS IMAGINE MARY IN HER OLDER YEARS, CARED FOR BY JOHN, TELLING HER STORY TO LUKE, AND BEING REVERED BY THE EARLY CHRISTIANS AS THE MOTHER OF THE SAVIOR. AND MAYBE THAT WAS THE WAY THINGS WENT, I HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING. BUT THOSE FIRST YEARS – GIVING BIRTH IN A STABLE, WITH JOSEPH AS THE MIDWIFE? CROSSING THE DESERT INTO EGYPT TO ESCAPE HEROD? LOSING JESUS FOR THREE DAYS WHEN HE WAS ONLY TWELVE? TRYING TO LIVE IN NAZARETH AS A WIDOW, WHEN THE TOWNSPEOPLE HAD DECIDED THAT JESUS WAS NO LONGER WELCOME? AND WATCHING HIM DIE LIKE A COMMON CRIMINAL. AND WE FORGET, SOMETIMES THAT THERE WERE RUMORS GOING AROUND WHEN THE EARLY CHRISTIANS INSISTED THE JESUS HAD RISEN FROM THE DEAD, RUMORS THAT JESUS WAS THE ILLEGITIMATE SON OF A ROMAN SOLDIER. AND THOSE RUMORS MIGHT VERY WELL HAVE STARTED BACK IN NAZARETH. MARY'S LIFE WAS NEVER EASY; DID SHE EVER ASK, WITH SAINT THERESA OF AVILLA, “GOD, IF THIS IS THE WAY YOU TREAT YOUR FRIENDS, NO WONDER YOU HAVE SO FEW OF THEM.”

WHEN MARY SAID YES, SHE BECOMES A PATRONESS TO YOUNG PEOPLE, WHO ARE NOT BOUND DOWN BY COMMITMENTS AND JOBS AND MORTGAGES AND CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE WHO CAN SAY “OK” WHEN GOD COMES CRASHING INTO THEIR LIVES.

WHEN MARY SAYS YES, SHE IS THE EXAMPLE FOR ALL THOSE WHO ANSWER GOD'S CALL AND GET LAUGHED AT, GET PERSECUTED, FIND OUT WHO THEIR REAL FRIENDS ARE. SHE IS THE EXAMPLE THOSE WHO ARE EMBARRASSMENTS TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY. SHE IS THERE FOR THOSE WHO FIND THAT WHEN YOU SAY YES TO GOD LIFE DOESN'T SUDDENLY BECOME SAFE AND ORDERLY AND PEACEFUL. IN FACT, SAYING YES TO GOD, MARY SHOWS US, USUALLY MEANS THINGS ARE GOING TO GET WORSE BEFORE THEY GET BETTER.

WHEN MARY SAYS YES, WHEN SHE WITHOUT HESITATION TAKES ON THE AWESOME CHARGE TO BECOME THE MOTHER OF GOD'S SON, SHE FORESHADOWS HIS OWN YES, THE YES THAT LEADS TO THE CROSS, THE YES THAT WILL FIND HIM RIDICULED AND LAUGHED AT AND DESERTED BY HIS FRIENDS AND HIS PEOPLE.

WHEN MARY SAYS YES, SHE ENCOURAGES US NOT ONLY TO SAY YES TO GOD, BUT TO SAY YES WITH ABANDONMENT, ACCEPTING WHATEVER CONSEQUENCES COME TO US BECAUSE OF THIS YES. BECAUSE THROWING YOURSELF INTO GOD'S ARMS IS ALWAYS SO MUCH BETTER THAN TRYING TO MAKE IT ON YOUR OWN.