Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

LUKE 17:5-10

WHEN I WAS PRACTICING MEDICINE, I MORE THAN ONCE TOOK CARE OF PEOPLE WHO REALLY BELIEVED IN MIRACLES. I REMEMBER ONE COUPLE VERY WELL. HE HAD CANCER, AND FROM THE STANDPOINT OF WHAT WE KNEW ABOUT HIS SITUATION, HE WAS INCURABLE AND WOULD PROBABLY PASS AWAY IN A FEW MONTHS. HIS WIFE KEPT TELLING HIM TO HAVE FAITH, AND THEY PRAYED FOR A MIRACLE. THEY WENT ON A PILGRIMAGE TO A SHRINE KNOWN FOR MIRACLES, AND CAME BACK GLOWING WITH OPTIMISM BECAUSE THEY KNEW THAT GOD HAD CURED HIM. UNFORTUNATELY, THE DISEASE RAN ITS COURSE AND HE DIED, ABOUT WHEN WE EXPECTED HIM TO, A FEW MONTHS AFTER HIS DIAGNOSIS. I MET HIS WIFE SEVERAL WEEKS LATER AND IN THE COURSE OF OUR CONVERSATION, SHE BECAME TEARFUL AND SAD, AND SAID TO ME, “I GUESS WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH FAITH.”

I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE APOSTLES HAD IN MIND – THEY HAD BEEN WATCHING JESUS DO WONDROUS THINGS, AND THEY THEMSELVES HAD EVERY NOW AND THEN DONE SOMETHING MIRACULOUS. AND IT WAS ONLY NATURAL FOR THEM TO SAY, “INCREASE OUR FAITH”. BECAUSE IF WE ONLY HAD MORE FAITH, WE COULD CURE THE SICK, GIVE SIGHT TO THE BLIND, MAYBE EVEN RAISE THE DEAD. AND IF YOU WERE LAYING IN A HOSPITAL BED FACING A MAJOR SURGICAL PROCEDURE, WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT TO HAVE ENOUGH FAITH SO THAT YOUR BODY WOULD GET BETTER ON IT'S OWN? THERE SEEM TO BE A LOT OF ADVANTAGES TO HAVING FAITH, AND THE MORE THE BETTER.

AND JESUS SEEMS TO SUPPORT THIS IDEA – IF YOU HAD THE FAITH THE SIZE OF A MUSTARD SEED, YOU WOULD SAY TO THIS MULBERRY TREE, “BE UPROOTED AND PLANTED IN THE SEA,” AND IT WOULD OBEY YOU. AND THEN JESUS SEEMS TO COMPLETELY CHANGE THE SUBJECT.

BUT I'M BOTHERED BY THAT STATEMENT. THERE HAVE BEEN CANONIZED SAINTS WHO NEVER WORKED A MIRACLE DURING THEIR LIVES – AND I'M SURE THEY HAD TIMES THEY WISHED TO DO SO. AND THEY HAD LOTS OF FAITH. AND THE MARTYRS – THEY HAD ENOUGH FAITH TO ACCEPT DEATH, BUT THERE DON'T SEEM TO BE ANY EXAMPLES OF THE MARTYRDOM BEING CALLED OFF, EVEN THOUGH I'M SURE THEY PRAYED, AS JESUS DID, THAT MAYBE THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO DRINK OF THIS CUP. SO I THINK THAT WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT THE MULBERRY TREE, HE WAS BEING A LITTLE SARCASTIC. HE WAS SAYING “IF YOU HAD EVEN A LITTLE OF THE KIND OF FAITH YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT, YOU WOULD PROBABLY DO SOMETHING STUPID OR POINTLESS WITH IT.” AND IF JESUS IS MAKING THAT KIND OF STATEMENT, THEN THE LITTLE STORY THAT FOLLOWS MAKES A LOT MORE SENSE. BECAUSE HE GOES ON TO TELL THEM SOMETHING ABOUT REAL FAITH.

WHEN YOU AND I WERE LITTLE CHILDREN WE WERE TAUGHT, ALMOST FROM THE TIME WE COULD UNDERSTAND LANGUAGE, THAT IF WE LEARNED TO GO WITHOUT DIAPERS, WE WOULD BE REWARDED. IF WE COULD EAT WITH A SPOON INSTEAD OF OUR FINGERS, WE WOULD BE GIVEN APPROVAL. AND AS WE HIT THE MILESTONES WE WERE SUPPOSED TO HIT, OUR LOVING PARENTS WOULD MAKE A BIG DEAL ABOUT IT, AND PRAISE US AND REWARD US. AND BY THE TIME WE HAVE BECOME ADULTS, THERE IS STILL A LITTLE BIT OF THAT IN US – WE SHOULD BE REWARDED FOR OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS; IF WE DO OUR JOB REALLY WELL, WE SHOULD GET NOT ONLY OUR PAY, BUT A BONUS. WE GRADUALLY LEARN THAT THE WORLD DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY, BUT THE LITTLE CHILD IN US CONTINUES TO BELIEVE THAT IT DOES. AND SO, WHEN IT COMES TO GOD, OUR FATHER, THE LITTLE CHILD COMES OUT AGAIN; IF WE DO SOMETHING FOR GOD, SHOULDN'T WE BE REWARDED? IF WE SAY CERTAIN PRAYERS, IF WE HELP OUT IN THE FAITH FORMATION PROGRAM OR THE FOOD FOR THE SOULS PROGRAM, OR THE SOUP KITCHEN, ISN'T GOD GOING TO BLESS US?

JESUS IS SAYING, IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY. GOD DOES NOT WAIT ON HIS CREATURES, GOD IS NOT A VENDING MACHINE IN THE SKY. YOU AND I, IF WE TRULY WANT TO FULFILL OUR HUMAN NATURE, IF WE WANT TO BE COMPLETE AND JOYFUL PEOPLE, WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE SERVANTS, WE ARE SLAVES OF THE FATHER, AND DOING WHAT HE WANTS IS WHAT WE SHOULD WANT. WE DO GOD'S WILL BECAUSE HE IS GOD AND WE AREN'T, NOT BECAUSE WE EXPECT A REWARD.

FAITH IS NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN DIAL UP OR DOWN. IT DOES NOT PRECEDE ACTION. ACTION, THE DOING OF GOD'S WILL, LEADS TO FAITH. AND FAITH IS NOT A MYSTICAL FEELING OR A FEELING OF DEEP UNION WITH GOD. IF YOU HAVE THAT, IT'S GREAT, BUT IT'S NOT FAITH. MOTHER THERESA OF CALCUTTA, ACCORDING TO PRIVATE LETTERS SHE WROTE TO HER CONFESSOR, SPENT A HUGE PART OF HER LIFE FEELING NOTHING, FEELING AS THOUGH GOD HAD ABANDONED HER – OR MAYBE THAT GOD DIDN'T EXIST AT ALL. BUT DESPITE ALL THAT, SHE CONTINUED TO KEEP ON DOING WHAT SHE UNDERSTOOD GOD TO WANT WITH HER LIFE – NOT JUST WORKING FOR THE POOR AND DYING, BUT PRAYING, PRAYING IN FRONT OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT FOR AN HOUR EACH DAY, ATTENDING DAILY MASS, SAYING THE ROSARY AND THE LITURGY OF THE HOURS. SHE HAD FAITH, BUT DID NOT HAVE A FEELING. AND FAITH IS NOT AN INTELLECTUAL THING EITHER. QUITE A FEW CANONIZED SAINTS COULDN'T EXPLAIN THINGS LIKE THE TRINITY OR HOW JESUS COULD BE BOTH GOD AND MAN. DOING GOD'S WILL BECAUSE IT IS GOD'S WILL IS FAITH; AND THE SERVANTS IN JESUS' STORY DID THE MASTER'S WILL NOT BECAUSE THEY EXPECTED A REWARD, BUT BECAUSE THEY KNEW THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE FOR.

IF WE DO ALL THAT WE ARE EXPECTED TO DO, WE SHOULDN'T EXPECT A REWARD. BUT WE BEGIN TO BE WORTHWHILE SERVANTS WHEN WE GO BEYOND THE BARE MINIMUM. BUT IF WE AREN'T EXPECTING A REWARD, WHY SHOULD WE GO BEYOND WHAT IS EXPECTED OF US? T.S. ELIOT, THE POET, SAID THAT DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR THE WRONG REASON WAS THE LAST TEMPTATION. IF WE GO BEYOND THE MINIMUM BECAUSE WE FEEL SORRY FOR THE PEOPLE WE SERVE; IF WE GO BEYOND THE MINIMUM BECAUSE IT MAKES US FEEL GOOD; IF WE GO BEYOND THE MINIMUM BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT A CHRISTIAN SHOULD DO – ALL THESE ARE THE WRONG REASONS FOR DOING THE RIGHT THING. THE ONLY REASON THAT MAKES US HOLY, THAT MAKES US WILLING TO GIVE OURSELVES UP FOR EACH OTHER, THAT MAKES US GET OUT OF OUR COMFORT ZONE TO SERVE THE NEEDY AND VISIT THE SICK AND LONELY AND ALL THOSE THINGS WE KNOW JESUS WOULD LIKE US TO DO, BEYOND THE BARE MINIMUM, IS GRATITUDE. AND IF YOU AND I CAN'T THINK OF SOMETHING FOR WHICH WE ARE GRATEFUL TO GOD, WE'VE DEFINITELY GOT LAZY MINDS.

I MET A LADY WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RECENTLY AND HAD A LONG CHAT WITH HER. THERE ARE HOLES IN HER MEMORY, WORDS SHE CAN'T FIND, FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES THAT SHE'S FORGOTTEN – BUT ALL THROUGH OUR CONVERSATION, AND PROBABLY THE REASON I STAYED WITH HER FOR A WHILE, SHE KEPT RETURNING TO THE IDEA THAT SHE HAD HAD A WONDERFUL LIFE, AND THAT SHE WAS SO GRATEFUL TO GOD FOR THAT.

I THINK JESUS IS CALLING US TO LOOK VERY CAREFULLY AT HOW WE RELATE TO GOD OUR FATHER. ARE WE DOING WHAT HE WANTS US TO DO BECAUSE HE IS GOD AND WE ARE CREATURES? ARE WE DOING MORE THAN THE BARE MINIMUM NOT BECAUSE WE EXPECT A REWARD, BUT BECAUSE WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO HIM THAT TO DO NOTHING IS ALMOST AN INSULT? WILL THE LAST MEMORY IN OUR MINDS BE TO BE GRATEFUL FOR ALL GOD HAS GIVEN US, TOTALLY UNDESERVED? I HOPE IT WILL BE YOURS AND MINE.

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

LUKE 16:19-31

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE POOR? WE THINK ABOUT THE PICTURES IN THE NEWS OF STARVING CHILDREN IN HAITI – RED HAIR AND BLOATED BELLIES FROM VITAMIN DEFICIENCIES, ARMS AND LEGS LIKE STICKS AND SKELETAL FACES BECAUSE OF LACK OF CALORIES. I THINK MOST OF US WOULD GLADLY SHELL OUT A FEW DOLLARS TO HELP ONE OF THESE. THEN THERE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO AREN'T STARVING, BUT THEY HAVE TO WORK SIXTEEN HOURS A DAY TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE – HARD, BRUTAL WORK – AND THEY LIVE IN ONE-ROOM SHACKS OR LARGE CARDBOARD BOXES – AND MANY OF US WOULD LIKE TO HELP THEM AS WELL, BUT WE BEGIN TO ASK, WHY? COULDN'T THEY DO BETTER IF THEY JUST PUT THEIR MINDS TO IT? AND WE CAN WORK OUR WAY UP THE LADDER UNTIL THE FACT OF POVERTY BECOMES INVISIBLE TO US. BUT WHAT DO ALL POOR PEOPLE HAVE IN COMMON?

MY GRANDFATHER WAS POOR – HE CAME FROM A FARMING FAMILY, HAD A FOURTH GRADE EDUCATION, LEFT HOME AT FOURTEEN. HE WAS A RANCH HAND UNTIL THE AGE OF 30, WHEN HE MOVED TO THE CITY. HE NEVER HAD A NEW CAR, NEVER OWNED A HOUSE; HE AND MY GRANDMOTHER ALWAYS RENTED WHERE THEY LIVED. HE SOLD HOUSEWARES IN THE MONTGOMERY WARD STORE, AND LATER IN LIFE BECAME A BARTENDER. I THINK THE MOST MONEY HE EVER MADE WAS WHEN HE BEGAN TO COLLECT SOCIAL SECURITY, AND GOT A LITTLE HELP FROM MY DAD AND MOM. HE NEVER HAD ANY MONEY. HE HAD A LOT OF DREAMS, BUT COULDN'T FULFILL THEM – MONEY GIVES YOU POWER. HE WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE GONE HOME TO VISIT HIS SISTERS AND THE PEOPLE HE GREW UP WITH, BUT COULDN'T – MONEY GIVES YOU FREEDOM. HE WOULD HAVE LIKED TO TAKE A VACATION NOW AND THEN, MAYBE SPENT SOME TIME ACQUIRING A NEW SKILL SO HE COULD HAVE A BETTER JOB, BUT HE NEEDED TO WORK EVERY CHANCE HE HAD – MONEY BRINGS YOU SECURITY. AND I'M SURE HE WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE PROVIDED MY GRANDMOTHER WITH A HOME OF HER OWN, AND MY DAD AND HIS SISTER WITH AN EDUCATION – MONEY ALLOWS YOU TO HELP THOSE YOU LOVE. BEING POOR MEANS THAT YOU HAVE VERY LITTLE CONTROL OVER YOUR OWN LIFE.

LAZARUS IS THE ULTIMATE POOR MAN, SO POOR HE CANNOT MOVE, SO POOR HE CANNOT EAT, SO POOR HE HAS NO ONE EXCEPT A FEW DOGS; AND EVEN HIS DREAMS ARE TINY AND SAD – HE WANTS TO EAT SOME FOOD THAT WAS THROWN TO THE DOGS.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE RICH? I KNOW PEOPLE WHO HAVE A LOT OF MONEY, BUT THEY LIVE FRUGALLY. AND THEN THERE ARE THOSE WHO ARE LIKE THIS RICH MAN – THEY HAVE EVERY TOY THAT COMES ON THE MARKET; THEY GET A NEW CAR EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS, THEY'VE GOT A BOAT AND A TIME SHARE – AND I THINK WE ALL SENSE THAT THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE, BUT WE CAN'T QUITE PUT OUR FINGER ON IT. CERTAINLY BEING RICH AND LIVING LIKE THIS DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A DEADLY SIN; AFTER ALL, IF YOU GOT YOUR FORTUNE HONESTLY THROUGH HARD WORK OR MAYBE BECAUSE YOU INHERITED WEALTH OR MARRIED WEALTH, WELL, DON'T WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO USE WHAT IS OURS AS WE WISH? AFTER ALL, THAT'S A PREMISE ENSHRINED IN OUR CONSTITUTION AND ENDORSED BY OUR POPES – WITH THE ADMONITION THAT WE SHOULD BE GENEROUS WITH OUR WEALTH, WE SHOULD GIVE SOME OF IT AWAY TO THOSE LESS FORTUNATE THAN WE ARE.

BUT THE REAL PROBLEM WITH WEALTH IS THAT IT IS SEDUCTIVE. IT REALLY DOES MEAN POWER – THE ABILITY TO DO WHAT YOU WANT; AND IT MEANS FREEDOM – THE ABILITY TO GO WHERE YOU WANT TO GO. AND IT MEANS SECURITY – AT LEAST AS MUCH SECURITY AS WE CAN HAVE ON THIS EARTH; AND IT MEANS THE ABILITY TO HELP THOSE YOU LOVE – HOW MANY OF US HAVE PUT A KID OR TWO THROUGH COLLEGE, OR THROWN A DAUGHTER A WEDDING TO REMEMBER?

WHETHER WE LIVE A SIMPLE OR LAVISH LIFE STYLE, THE REAL PROBLEM WITH WEALTH IS THAT IT ISOLATES US. MOST OF US LIVE IN LONGMEADOW. IT'S A NICE PEACEFUL COMMUNITY, BUT RIGHT OVER THERE ACROSS FOREST PARK IS A CITY WHICH HAS A PRETTY HIGH CRIME RATE, INCLUDING THE OCCASIONAL SHOOTING AND HAS THE DUBIOUS DISTINCTION OF BEING THE 38^TH MOST DANGEROUS CITY IN THE UNITED STATES. NOT REALLY OUR PROBLEM. WE KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF POOR PEOPLE IN SPRINGFIELD – SOME OF US PASS STREET PEOPLE EVERY DAY AS WE GO INTO OUR OFFICES. HOW MANY POOR PEOPLE CAN YOU COUNT AMONG YOUR FRIENDS? IF YOU ARE LIKE ME, THE ANSWER IS PRETTY CLOSE TO ZERO. AND WHEN YOU DON'T COME INTO CONTACT WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE POOR, WHEN YOU DON'T INTERACT WITH THEM AS HUMAN TO HUMAN, YOU ARE KIND OF LIKE THE RICH MAN IN JESUS' STORY. DAY AFTER DAY YOU BUILD A GULF BETWEEN YOU AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF HUMANITY – BECAUSE, LET'S FACE IT, MOST OF HUMANITY ARE POOR COMPARED TO US. AND EVENTUALLY THAT GULF BECOMES SO LARGE THAT IT CAN'T BE CROSSED, AND WE SUDDENLY FIND THAT WE ARE ETERNALLY SEPARATED FROM OUR BROTHERS – JUST THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT JESUS WANTED, WHO CAME INTO THE WORLD TO MAKE US ONE PEOPLE, ONE BODY.

DOES JESUS WANT US ALL TO HAVE JUST WHAT WE NEED AND NO MORE? IS HE A SOCIALIST WHO WANTS THE STATE TO TAKE FROM THE RICH AND GIVE TO THE POOR UNTIL EVERYONE IS EQUAL? OR IS HE A CAPITALIST WHO ADVOCATES THAT EXCEPT FOR A MINIMUM SAFETY NET TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM STARVING ON THE STREET, IT'S EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF?

I THINK NEITHER IS TRUE. JESUS LOVES THE POOR, AND WANTS THEM NOT JUST TO HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT AND A PLACE TO GET OUT OF THE COLD. HE WANTS THEM TO HAVE THE POSSIBILITY OF BECOMING MORE FULLY HUMAN, OF ACHIEVING THEIR POTENTIAL AS HUMAN BEINGS. HE WANTS HIS BROTHERS AND SISTERS TO HAVE POWER, FREEDOM, SECURITY, AND THE ABILITY TO DO THINGS FOR THOSE WE LOVE. BUT JESUS LOVES THE RICH AS WELL, AND WANTS THEM TO TEAR DOWN THE WALL THEY ARE BUILDING, SO THAT THE GULF DOES NOT BECOME UNCROSSABLE.

AND THAT'S THE WORLD IN WHICH WE ARE PLACED, A WORLD WHERE UNDER IDEAL CIRCUMSTANCES THE RICH HELP THE POOR TO REACH THEIR POTENTIAL, AND THE POOR HELP THE RICH TO STAY CONNECTED TO THE HUMAN RACE.

MOST OF US IN LONGMEADOW ARE RICH, COMPARED TO THE REST OF HUMANITY. AND MOST OF US DON'T HAVE ANY REAL FRIENDS AMONG THE POOR. SOMETIMES WE ARE GENEROUS, WE GIVE THEM MONEY, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, BUT THEY REMAIN AN ABSTRACTION, AND WE DON'T SEE THEM AS BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

I WONDER WHAT MIGHT HAVE BECOME OF MY GRANDFATHER IF SOMEONE WITH WEALTH HAD TAKEN AN INTEREST IN HIM WHEN HE WAS A TEENAGER OR A YOUNG MAN JUST STARTING OUT? HE MIGHT HAVE DONE A LOT BETTER IN LIFE, AND IN TURN MAY HAVE HELPED SOMEONE ELSE, AND THE WORLD WOULD BE A BETTER PLACE.

I GUESS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS THAT THE TRAGEDY OF POVERTY IS THAT SO MANY FAIL TO REACH THEIR POTENTIAL, SO THAT THEY COULD BE A BLESSING RATHER THAN A BURDEN TO THEIR FELLOW MEN. AND THE TRAGEDY OF BEING WEALTHY IS THAT WE ARE IN DANGER OF NOT BEING A BLESSING TO OUR FELLOW MAN.

FOR THE RICH MAN IN THE PARABLE, IT'S TOO LATE. FOR YOU AND I, NOT YET. HOW ARE YOU PERSONALLY GOING TO CHANGE YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO YOUR OWN WEALTH? BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY AT YOUR LAZARUS, YOU WILL SEE THAT HIS FACE IS THE FACE OF JESUS.

Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

LUKE 16:1-13

THIS IS SURE A CONFUSING PARABLE. IS JESUS TELLING US THAT WHAT THE DISHONEST STEWARD DID WAS WORTHY OF PRAISE? IS HE TELLING US TO MAKE FRIENDS WITH WORLDLY WEALTH IF WE HOPE TO BE WELCOMED INTO OUR ETERNAL HOMES? HE SEEMS TO BE TELLING US THAT THE WORLDLY ARE SMARTER THAN THE CHILDREN OF THE LIGHT – I THINK, I HOPE HE MEANS YOU AND I WHEN HE TALKS ABOUT THE CHILDREN OF LIGHT.

IF YOU ARE CONFUSED BY THIS PARABLE, YOU AREN'T ALONE. BIBLICAL SCHOLARS, THEOLOGIANS AND PREACHERS HAVE COME TO DIFFERENT CONCLUSIONS. ONE FAMOUS SCHOLAR COMMENTED THAT WITH RESPECT TO THIS PARABLE, IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND IT, DON'T EVEN TRY TO FIGURE IT OUT, BECAUSE PARABLES ARE MEANT TO BE UNDERSTOOD. I GUESS HE WAS SAYING THAT EVEN JESUS CAN'T HIT THE NAIL EVERY TIME.

SO YOU CAN PICK AND CHOOSE HOW YOU UNDERSTAND THIS PARABLE. BUT I'M GOING TO JUST GO INTO A A LITTLE HISTORY AND A LITTLE LANGUAGE LESSON FOR A MINUTE, SO BEAR WITH ME.

FIRST, WE ARE READING A TRANSLATION FROM THE GREEK THAT WAS SPOKEN AND WRITTEN IN JESUS' TIME. THOSE WRITERS OF COURSE WERE TRANSLATING FROM ARAMAIC, THE LANGUAGE JESUS ACTUALLY SPOKE. A TRANSLATOR ALWAYS HAS TO DECIDE WHICH WORD TO USE, IF A GIVEN WORD CAN BE TRANSLATED IN DIFFERENT WAYS. “DISHONEST” FOR EXAMPLE, CAN BE TRANSLATED AS “UNJUST” OR “UNRIGHTEOUS”. “SHREWD” CAN BE TRANSLATED AS “WISE”. IN THE TEXT IT SAYS “HIS MASTER COMMENDED HIM” BUT IN THE GREEK TEXT, THE WORD FOR MASTER AND THE WORD FOR LORD ARE THE SAME, AND THERE IS NO “HIS” IN THE GREEK. THE GREEK OF JESUS' DAY DIDN'T USE CAPITALS AND SMALL LETTERS, PERIODS OR COMMAS, AND SPACES BETWEEN WORDS. THAT'S WHY THERE WERE SCRIBES ALL OVER THE MEDITERRANEAN, AND ONLY A FEW PEOPLE WERE LITERATE. IT TOOK TRAINING AND HARD WORK TO TAKE WHAT WAS WRITTEN AND TURN IT BACK INTO HUMAN SPEECH, AND THE PROFESSION OF SCRIBE WAS AN IMPORTANT ONE, REGARDLESS OF THE LANGUAGE.

THE SECOND THING IS THAT JESUS IS SPEAKING TO THE PHARISEES, AND THE VERY NEXT LINE AFTER THIS PARABLE WHICH DOES NOT APPEAR IN THE READING IS THAT THE PHARISEES, WHO IT IS SAID WERE LOVERS OF MONEY, BECAME ANGRY WITH HIM. IN JEWISH LAW, YOU COULDN'T CHARGE INTEREST ON A LOAN; BUT IT WAS COMMON PRACTICE FOR PHARISEES TO GET AROUND THIS RULE; AND ONE WAY WAS TO LOAN THE MONEY AT NO INTEREST, UNDER THE CONDITION THAT WHEN IT WAS RETURNED, MONEY WOULD BE GIVEN TO THE MANAGER OR STEWARD. THE BOSS, IN OTHER WORDS, GOT THOSE WHO OWED HIM MONEY TO PAY HIS HELP.

SO WE HAVE A STEWARD THAT WAS INVOLVED IN HIS MASTER'S DISHONESTY. HE MUST HAVE DONE SOMETHING THAT MADE THE MASTER DECIDE TO FIRE HIM, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT. HE THEN TAKES WHAT WOULD BE COMING TO HIM FROM THE LOANS, AND FORGIVES THAT PART OF THE LOAN – 50 PERCENT FOR OLIVE OIL, 20 PERCENT FOR GRAIN. THOSE NUMBERS, BY THE WAY, WERE TYPICAL OF THE TIMES. AND THE LORD COMMENDS THE UNJUST STEWARD FOR USING HIS WEALTH FOR HIS FUTURE WELL BEING.

JESUS TELLS US TO MAKE FRIENDS WITH WORLDLY WEALTH SO THAT WHEN IT IS GONE WE WILL BE WELCOMED INTO ETERNAL HOMES. WHO CAN WELCOME US BUT GOD? THE UNJUST STEWARD, WHEN FACED WITH A CRISIS, USED HIS OWN WEALTH TO MAKE THE DEBTORS OF HIS MASTER MORE LIKELY TO WELCOME HIM INTO THEIR HOMES. WE ARE FACED WITH THIS KIND OF DECISION EVERY DAY – HOW DO WE USE OUR WEALTH?

JESUS TELLS US THAT IF WE ARE FAITHFUL IN SMALL MATTERS, WE WILL BE FAITHFUL IN LARGE, AND IF WE ARE DISHONEST IN SMALL MATTERS, WE WILL BE DISHONEST IN LARGE. THAT SOUNDS LOGICAL, BUT A LOT OF THE TIME, WE ARE DISHONEST IN SMALL MATTERS, AND STILL EXPECT THAT WHEN A REAL CRISIS COMES WE WILL BE FAITHFUL. HOW ARE WE DISHONEST IN SMALL MATTERS? WE MAKE PROMISES TO GOD AND TO EACH OTHER THAT WE HAVE NO INTENTION OF KEEPING. WE TELL OUR SPOUSE THAT WE ARE GOING TO QUIT SPENDING SUNDAYS WATCHING FOOTBALL ALL DAY. WE PROMISE TO PUT GAS IN THE CAR WHEN IT IS RUNNING ON EMPTY AND WE DON'T. TRIVIAL THINGS, OF COURSE, BUT DISHONEST IN SMALL MATTERS. AND WE MAKE PROMISES TO GOD ABOUT OUR SPIRITUAL LIVES, AND FORGET THEM UNTIL THE NEXT TIME WE MAKE THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE. MOST OF US ARE NOT GOING TO BE MARTYRED FOR OUR FAITH THIS WEEK. BUT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE MANY OCCASIONS WHERE WE ARE CALLED TO DO LITTLE THINGS, AND FIND THAT IT IS EASY TO NOT DO THEM, OR DO THEM POORLY. A FAITHFUL PERSON, LIKE MARY OUR MOTHER, DOES EVERYTHING TO THE BEST OF HIS OR HER ABILITY.

JESUS TELLS US THAT WE CAN'T SERVE TWO MASTERS. MAYBE THE UNJUST STEWARD, WHO HAD BEEN PARTICIPATING IN HIS MASTER'S DISHONESTY, HAS NOW IN THE FACE OF HIS CRISIS, TRANSFERRED HIS LOYALTY TO GOD'S LAW. MAYBE. I THINK ALL OF US HERE WANT TO FOLLOW GOD'S LAW. BUT IF YOU ARE LIKE ME, YOU WANT TO DO THIS ON YOUR OWN TERMS. WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE, I OFTEN HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN WHAT I WANT AND WHAT I AM PRETTY SURE GOD WANTS – AND MUCH OF THE TIME I END UP CHOOSING WHAT I WANT. IT ISN'T THAT I WANT SOMETHING EVIL OR WRONG; BUT OFTEN IT'S A CHOICE BETWEEN DOING SOMETHING I NEED TO DO AS A FATHER, A HUSBAND, A DEACON A CITIZEN; AND CHOOSING INSTEAD TO WATCH A LITTLE TV, OR SURF THE INTERNET, OR DOING SOMETHING ELSE THAT ENTERTAINS ME. THOSE THINGS AREN'T WRONG, BUT THEY DO TAKE ENERGY AND TIME, AND WE ALWAYS HAVE TO ASK WHETHER WE ARE SERVING GOD OR MAMMON.

SO I THINK THIS PARABLE MAKES A LITTLE MORE SENSE WHEN YOU SEE IT THIS WAY. JESUS, NOT THE MASTER, COMMENDS THE STEWARD, WHO WAS UNJUST – BECAUSE HE WENT ALONG WITH HIS MASTER'S VIOLATION OF THE LAW AGAINST USURY, JUST AS THE PHARISEES DID. AFTER ALL A LOAN RATE OF 20% OR 50% IS PRETTY UNJUST, EVEN FOR CREDIT CARD DEBT TODAY. AND WHEN HE HAD TO, HE DECIDED TO USE HIS OWN WEALTH INTELLIGENTLY, TO SAFEGUARD HIS FUTURE. AND JESUS REMINDS US OF THE FACT THAT THERE WILL COME A TIME WHEN OUR EARTHLY WEALTH WILL BE NO MORE – WILL WE HAVE USED IT TO GUARANTEE AN ETERNAL HOME? WILL WE USE WHAT IS OURS FAITHFULLY OR DISHONESTLY? WILL WE WHOLEHEARTEDLY GIVE OURSELVES TO GOD, OR HOLD BACK, BECAUSE LEARNING TO LIVE IN HIS WILL INSTEAD OF OUR OWN IS VERY SCARY AND EVEN GREAT SAINTS STRUGGLED WITH THIS TO THE ENDS OF THEIR LIVES.

NEVERTHELESS, WE CAN TAKE HOPE FROM THE PARABLE OF THE UNJUST STEWARD. IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO CHANGE OUR WAYS.

Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle C

LUKE 15:1-32

PEOPLE DOWN THROUGH THE AGES HAVE PUZZLED OVER GOD. DOES HE EXIST? IF HE EXISTS, WHAT CAN WE SAY ABOUT HIM? WE OFTEN SAY HE IS ALL-POWERFUL, HE IS ALL-WISE, HE IS ALL-GOOD, HE IS COMPLETELY FULFILLED, COMPLETELY HAPPY, IN HIMSELF AND NEEDS NOTHING ELSE. BUT THEN WE COME TO THE LOGICAL CONCLUSION THAT GOD IS UNCHANGEABLE, BECAUSE ANY CHANGE WOULD MEAN THAT THERE WAS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOW GOD WAS BEFORE THE CHANGE AND AFTER THE CHANGE, AND AT LEAST ONE OF THOSE THINGS WE SAID ABOUT HIM WOULD NOT BE TRUE. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY IDEAS TOSSED AROUND ABOUT HOW GOD CAN HAVE ALL THESE ATTRIBUTES AND YET HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE UNIVERSE. PEOPLE DON'T CREATE THINGS UNLESS THEY FEEL A NEED FOR THEM – AND GOD BY DEFINITION HAS ALL THAT HE NEEDS IN HIMSELF.

SO PEOPLE HAVE COME UP WITH DIFFERENT IDEAS – THERE ARE MANY GODS AND EACH OF THEM IS NOT PERFECT, POWERFUL, AND SO ON. THERE ARE TWO BEINGS, A GOOD GOD AND AN EVIL BEING WHO FIGHTS WITH THE GOOD GOD. THIS HAS BEEN SO FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE UNIVERSE, AND WE CAN'T KNOW MORE THAN THAT. OR GOD IS “BIPOLAR” – IN HIMSELF HE IS ALL THOSE THINGS WE SAID, BUT SINCE WE ARE IN TIME AND GOD IS NOT, TO US IT SEEMS AS THOUGH GOD HAS LIMITATIONS, THAT HE CHANGES, THAT HE RESPONDS TO EVENTS. EVEN THE IDEA OF GOD AS TRINITY, OUR CHRISTIAN BELIEF, IS A WAY OF RESPONDING TO THIS PROBLEM OUR HUMAN MINDS CAN'T FIGURE OUT – WHAT CAN WE SAY ABOUT GOD THAT IS TRUE?

TODAY JESUS GIVES US THREE PARABLES, WHICH DESCRIBE GOD. AND WE LEARN AT LEAST THAT HE IS NOT LIKE HUMAN BEINGS.

FIRST, HE IS LIKE A SHEPHERD – HE LOOKS AFTER HIS SHEEP, HE GUIDES THEM AND FEEDS THEM AND PROTECTS THEM. BUT UNLIKE A HUMAN SHEPHERD, HE DOES SOMETHING VERY STRANGE – HE LEAVES HIS FLOCK IN SEARCH OF A STRAY. AND WHEN HE FINDS THE SHEEP, HE REJOICES, AND CALLS THE OTHER SHEPHERDS TO HAVE A PARTY. CERTAINLY THAT ISN'T THE WAY A HUMAN BEING BEHAVES. WE WOULDN'T GO HUNTING A LOST SHEEP IF IT PUT THE REST OF THE FLOCK IN DANGER; WE'D FIND SOME WAY TO PROTECT THAT FLOCK, OR IF WE COULDN'T WE'D GIVE THE SHEEP UP FOR LOSS. BETTER TO LOSE ONE SHEEP THAN THE WHOLE FLOCK, RIGHT?

SECOND, HE IS LIKE A WOMAN WHO HAS LOST ONE OF TEN COINS. SHE SWEEPS THE FLOOR UNTIL SHE FINDS IT AND THEN THROWS A PARTY. THIS PARABLE IS A LITTLE HARDER TO UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE MONEY DOES NOT MEAN THE SAME THING TO US AS IT DID TO THE PEOPLE IN JESUS' TIME. IN THOSE DAYS, PEOPLE ESPECIALLY POOR PEOPLE, WOULD GO YEARS WITHOUT HANDLING MONEY. THEY TRADED THINGS, THEY TRADED LABOR, THEY GREW THEIR OWN FOOD – AND IF YOU GOT MONEY, YOU WOULD PROBABLY BURY IT IN THE GROUND AGAINST A TIME YOU WOULD NEED IT, LIKE THE SERVANT JESUS TALKS ABOUT. SO OUR WOMAN HAS TEN COINS AND LOSES ONE. SHE DROPS EVERYTHING TO FIND IT. AND WHEN SHE DOES, SHE REJOICES. JESUS DOESN'T ASSIGN A VALUE TO THE COIN. IN OTHER PLACES IN THE GOSPEL PARABLES, HE DOES – AND IT IS A WOMAN WHO IS THE CENTRAL CHARACTER, SO THESE COINS WERE PROBABLY OF LITTLE VALUE. AND YET THE CELEBRATING SEEMS OUT OF PROPORTION – I IMAGINE THE COIN THAT WAS LOST WAS NOT WORTH THE PARTY THAT WAS THROWN.

AND FINALLY JESUS TELLS US THAT FAMOUS STORY OF THE PRODIGAL SON, AND AGAIN, THE FATHER DOES NOT ACT LIKE A HUMAN. FIRST, HE GIVES THE YOUNGER SON HIS INHERITANCE – HE DIDN'T HAVE TO AND MOST FATHERS IN THOSE DAYS WOULDN'T HAVE DONE THIS. AFTER ALL THE INHERITANCE WAS TO BE INHERITED AT THE FATHER'S DEATH. MOST FATHERS WOULD HAVE LAUGHED AT THE YOUNGER SON AND TOLD HIM TO GET BACK TO WORK. AND AFTER THE YOUNGER SON RUNS OFF WITH HIS LOOT, THE FATHER, WE SEE, GOES TO A CERTAIN PLACE EVERY DAY TO WATCH AND WAIT FOR THE SON TO RETURN. AND FINALLY, WHEN THE SON DOES RETURN, THE FATHER THROWS A PARTY. HE DOESN'T WEIGH OUT THE CONSEQUENCES, DEAL OUT PUNISHMENT – ALL HE DOES IS THROW A HUGE PARTY IN THE YOUNGER SON'S HONOR. MOST OF US SYMPATHIZE WITH THE OLDER BROTHER, I THINK.

I THINK THE MESSAGE JESUS WANTS US TO HEAR IS THAT GOD LOVE US UNCONDITIONALLY, WHETHER WE ARE A LOST SHEEP OR A PRODIGAL SON; AND GOD IS WILLING TO MOVE HEAVEN AND EARTH TO BRING US BACK TO HIM, EVEN IF WE AREN'T SURE WE WANT TO GO. IN THESE THREE STORIES AND IN MANY OTHER TEACHINGS OF JESUS WE LEARN THAT GOD IS AN EXTRAVAGANT LOVER. THESE ARE WONDERFUL THOUGHTS. BUT HOW ABOUT REALITY? HOW ABOUT THE OBVIOUS POVERTY AND PREJUDICE AND DISEASE AND JUST PLAIN UNFAIRNESS OF LIFE? THE PEOPLE OF JESUS TIME WERE MORE AWARE OF THIS CONTRAST THAN WE ARE. AFTER ALL, THERE WEREN'T ANY LONGMEADOWS IN FIRST CENTURY PALESTINE. IT HELPS TO REMEMBER THAT THE GOSPELS WERE WRITTEN BETWEEN SIXTY AND 100 YEARS AFTER JESUS DIED. THE CHURCH HAD BEEN AROUND FOR ALL THAT TIME AND THE EVANGELISTS WERE WRITING FROM WITHIN AN EXISTING CHURCH. HOW COULD THEY BELIEVE THAT GOD WAS ALL THAT JESUS SAID HE WAS, WHEN THEY HAD SEEN CHRISTIANS MARTYRED, AND IF NOT MARTYRED, MARGINALIZED IN SOCIETY? HOW COULD THEY BELIEVE THAT GOD WAS AN EXTRAVAGANT LOVER SHOWERING GIFTS ON HIS PEOPLE, WHEN THEY THEMSELVES WERE PERSECUTED, IMPRISONED, AND THEIR LAND AND POSSESSIONS CONFISCATED? TODAY WE LOOK AT THESE PARABLES AND MAYBE WE THINK THEY ARE ALL ABOUT THE NEXT LIFE; BUT THOSE FIRST CHRISTIANS COULD HAVE SPARED THEMSELVES A LOT OF GRIEF BY JUST THROWING A LITTLE INCENSE ON THE STATUES OF THE EMPEROR INSTEAD OF BEING MARTYRED. WHAT EXPLAINS THE DIFFERENCE?

THEY, FAR MORE THAN WE, HAD BEEN TOUCHED BY THE RESURRECTION. IF YOU HADN'T PERSONALLY WITNESSED THAT JESUS HAD BEEN RAISED FROM THE DEAD, SOMEONE YOU KNEW AND TRUSTED INSISTED THAT THIS WAS TRUE. AND SINCE THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAD MET THE RISEN JESUS, IT WAS HARD NOT TO BELIEVE IT. AND THE POINT IS THAT IN THE RESURRECTION THE GENEROSITY OF GOD, THE EXTRAVAGANCE OF GOD, THE FACT THAT GOD NEVER GIVES UP, IS SHOWN. AND NOW THE PARABLES MAKE SENSE; THEY ARE NOT JUST VAGUE PROMISES ABOUT A FUTURE IN THE NEXT LIFE, BUT THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN FULFILLED IN THE PASSION, DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS. AND HE PROMISED THAT HIS SERVANTS WOULD BE WHERE HE WAS; HE PROMISED THAT HE WOULD PREPARE A DWELLING PLACE FOR THEM IN HEAVEN; HE PROMISED THAT EVEN THOUGH THEY MIGHT DIE, THEY WOULD LIVE.

WOULD YOU AND I HAVE ACCEPTED THOSE PROMISES, ENOUGH TO GO OFF TO A PAINFUL DEATH SINGING HYMNS? I THINK MOST OF US MIGHT HAVE THROWN A LITTLE INCENSE INTO THE FIRE BURNING BEFORE AN IMAGE OF THE EMPEROR. WE WOULD THINK TO OURSELVES, “THIS IS KIND OF LIKE SALUTING THE FLAG”. BUT THE EARLY CHRISTIANS COULD NOT DO THAT, NOT IN THE FACE OF THE REALITY OF THE RESURRECTION.

SO TODAY JESUS TELLS US SOMETHING ABOUT GOD, AND THAT IS A GOOD THING. BUT WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU AND I? DO WE BELIEVE JESUS ENOUGH TO TRUST HIM, AS DID THOSE FIRST CHRISTIANS? DO WE BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION ENOUGH TO CHANGE OUR LIVES, TO REPENT, TO HELP USHER IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN ON THIS EARTH?

Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

LUKE 14:25-33

SAINT LOUIS OF FRANCE WAS A GREAT KING. HE CONTROLLED FRANCE AND OWNED CASTLES. DURING HIS LIFETIME, HE ACCUMULATED MORE AND MORE FOR THE MONARCHY, AND AT HIS DEATH IT PASSED TO HIS SON. IN FACT THERE WERE MANY KINGS AND QUEENS WHO BECAME SAINTS. MOST OF THEM HAD MANY POSSESSIONS. SAINT THERESA OF LISEAUX WAS VERY CLOSE TO HER FATHER, WHO HAS BEEN BEATIFIED. AFTER HER MOTHER'S DEATH, HE AND ONE OF HER OLDER SISTERS PRACTICALLY RAISED HER, AND SHE NEVER FORGOT IT. SAINT BENEDICT AND HIS SISTER, SAINT SCHOLASTICA, WERE SO CLOSE THAT WHEN SCHOLASTICA WAS DYING, BENEDICT BROKE HIS OWN RULES SO THAT HE COULD LEAVE THE MONASTERY AND BE WITH HER. AND SAINT AUGUSTINE NEVER TURNED HIS BACK ON HIS MOTHER, SAINT MONICA.

OUR CHURCH HAS PROCLAIMED THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE IN HEAVEN, AND THEREFORE THEY WERE DISCIPLES OF JESUS WHILE ON EARTH. AND YET, WE HEAR JESUS' OWN WORDS TODAY – UNLESS YOU HATE FATHER AND MOTHER....YOU CAN NOT BE MY DISCIPLE. UNLESS YOU RENOUNCE ALL YOUR POSSESSIONS, YOU CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE. AND JESUS TELLS US THAT UNLESS YOU TAKE UP YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW HIM, YOU CANNOT BE HIS DISCIPLE. UNLESS YOU HATE YOUR VERY LIFE, YOU CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE. WHAT SHOULD WE MAKE OF ALL THOSE STATEMENTS? DOES JESUS MEAN WHAT HE SAYS? OR IS HE JUST EXAGGERATING FOR RHETORICAL EFFECT?

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT THIS WHOLE PASSAGE FROM THE GOSPEL OF LUKE. IN THE MIDDLE, JESUS GIVES TWO EXAMPLES – A PERSON WHO SETS OUT TO BUILD A TOWER, BUT ISN'T ABLE TO COMPLETE IT BECAUSE HE DIDN'T THINK IT THROUGH, DIDN'T GET THE NECESSARY CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND LABORERS. AND PEOPLE LAUGH AT HIM FOR BEING SUCH A DUNCE. AND THE KING WHO IS BEING BESIEGED BY ANOTHER KING. HE CAREFULLY CALCULATES WHETHER HE HAS WHAT HE NEEDS TO KEEP THE ATTACKING ARMY FROM OVERWHELMING HIS OWN KINGDOM – AND IF HE DECIDES HE DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH TROOPS, HE SENDS A MESSENGER TO FIND OUT THE TERMS OF SURRENDER.

AND REMEMBER, THIS IS ADDRESSED TO THE CROWDS THAT FOLLOW JESUS.

I DON'T THINK JESUS MEANS FOR US TO LITERALLY HATE THOSE WHO OUR HUMAN NATURE TELLS US TO LOVE. I DON'T THINK JESUS MEANS FOR US TO GIVE UP EVERYTHING AND GO LIVE UNDER A BRIDGE SOMEWHERE. I THINK JESUS IS TELLING US SOMETHING DIFFERENT, SOMETHING MORE PROFOUND.

IF YOU WANT TO BECOME A DISCIPLE OF JESUS, IT IS HARD WORK. YOU'VE GOT TO WORK AT IT A LITTLE EVERY DAY. HE WILL GIVE YOU WHAT YOU NEED, BUT HE EXPECTS YOU TO EXAMINE YOUR CONSCIENCE, LEARN WHAT HE WANTS OF YOU, AND ASK PARDON FOR YOUR SINS. HE EXPECTS YOU TO DEVELOP VIRTUES, WHICH ARE HABITS THAT LEAD TO GRACE. HE EXPECTS YOU TO LISTEN TO HIS WORD, CONVEYED THROUGH THE BIBLE AND THROUGH THE CHURCH. YOU CAN'T BE A DISCIPLE BECAUSE YOU PRAY, YOU LIVE A GOOD LIFE, YOU AVOID SERIOUS SIN. AND JESUS TELLS US THE THREE GREAT BARRIERS TO BECOMING A DISCIPLE. THEY ARE:

FAMILY AND FRIENDS. IN ANY FAMILY, YOU WILL FIND DIFFERENT LEVELS OF SPIRITUAL PROGRESS – AND AT THE SAME TIME, CONFLICTS OVER THAT. LITTLE JIMMY WANTS TO BE A PRIEST. DAD AND MOM THINK HE SHOULD USE HIS TALENTS TO BE A DOCTOR, OR A LAWYER. EVENTUALLY HE GOES ALONG WITH THEM. MOM IS ALWAYS DOING SOMETHING FOR THE CHURCH. DAD GETS TO MASS ON SUNDAY, LITTLE ELSE. WHEN MOM IS ABOUT TO GO OFF TO TEACH IN THE FAITH FORMATION PROGRAM, HE ALWAYS CRITICIZES HER FOR NEGLECTING HER FAMILY. EVENTUALLY SHE RESIGNS. THE MEMBERS OF OUR FAMILIES HAVE TREMENDOUS INFLUENCE OVER US, AND CAN COME BETWEEN JESUS AND OURSELVES. AND SOMETIMES, YOU HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE.

POSSESSIONS. EVEN A FRANCISCAN NEEDS POSSESSIONS. GOT TO HAVE A ROBE, SANDALS – AND LIVE IN A COMMUNITY WHICH COLLECTIVELY POSSESSES THE MINIMAL AMOUNT OF WHAT IS NECESSARY FOR LIFE. AND POSSESSIONS HELP US CARRY OUT OUR MINISTRY. IN TODAY'S WORLD, A PARISH PRIEST WITHOUT A CAR WOULD HAVE PROBLEMS CARRYING OUT HIS DUTIES. POSSESSIONS, OF COURSE, INCLUDE THINGS LIKE TAKING VACATIONS, GOING GOLFING OR FISHING; BECAUSE WE BASICALLY TRADE A POSSESSION, MONEY, FOR AN EXPERIENCE. BUT SOMETIMES WE FACE CHOICES – SOME PEOPLE AQUIRE ALMOST AS A MATTER OF ADDICTION; OTHERS SPEND A LOT OF TIME WORRYING ABOUT WHAT THEY HAVE AND HOW TO KEEP IT. AND OF COURSE, SOME OF US WOULD RATHER SPEND OUR SURPLUS INCOME ON A BETTER CAR OR A GREAT VACATION, THAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE WELFARE OF OTHERS – FORGETTING THAT ANCIENT COMMANDMENT TO GIVE 10% – TO TITHE. POSSESSIONS OFTEN COME BETWEEN US AND JESUS.

AND OUR CROSSES. WE ALL HAVE THEM, SOME LARGE, SOME SMALL. CROSSES HOLD US DOWN; OUR TENDENCY IS TO TURN INWARD WHEN WE ARE SICK OR IN PAIN. IF WE ARE IN A BAD MARRIAGE, OR RAISING A CHILD WITHOUT A SPOUSE, OR HAVE JUST LOST OUR JOB, WE FEEL THAT IT IS ALL WE CAN DO TO COPE WITH OUR CROSS. AND YET, JESUS TELLS US TO PICK UP OUR CROSS AND FOLLOW HIM. OUR CROSSES CAN GET BETWEEN US AND JESUS.

TODAY JESUS TELLS US THAT IF WE REALLY WANT TO BE HIS DISCIPLE, WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED FOR BARRIERS THAT WILL GET IN THE WAY. IF WE AREN'T PREPARED TO CHOOSE HIM RATHER THAN A FAMILY MEMBER, IF WE AREN'T PREPARED TO CHOOSE HIM RATHER THAN A POSSESSION, IF WE AREN'T PREPARED TO CHOOSE HIM RATHER THAN LET OUR CROSS HOLD US BACK, THEN WE SHOULDN'T EVEN START. BUT HOW DO WE PREPARE? THERE ARE THREE TOOLS WE HAVE. ONE IS PRAYER – IT HELPS US KNOW AND LOVE GOD, AND BECAUSE OUR LOVE IS STRENGTHENED, WE ARE READY TO CHOOSE HIM OVER ALL OUR OTHER LOVES. A SECOND IS FASTING. WHEN WE DEPRIVE OURSELVES OF SOMETHING, WE GROW STRONGER, SO THAT WHEN A TIME COMES WHEN WE HAVE TO CARRY OUR CROSS TO FOLLOW HIM, WE ARE STRONG ENOUGH TO DO SO. AND ONE IS ALMSGIVING OR GIVING AWAY SOME OF OUR RICHES. WHEN WE DO THIS, WE DETACH OURSELVES FROM WHAT WE HAVE, SO THAT IF WE EVER HAVE TO CHOOSE GOD OVER OUR POSSESSIONS, WE HAVE THE STRENGTH.

SO THAT IS THE LESSON OF THIS GOSPEL. BE PREPARED SO THAT WE ARE UP TO THE TASK BEFORE US – TO TAKE POSSESSION OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.

Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

LUKE 14:1, 7-14

THIS GOSPEL SEEMS TO BE ABOUT PRACTICING HUMILITY, ON THE SURFACE. BUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, JESUS SEEMS TO BE TELLING US THAT IF WE REALLY WANT TO BE EXALTED, WELL, ACT IN A HUMBLE WAY. HE ALL BUT PROMISES THAT IF WE ACT HUMBLY, WE WILL BE ESTEEMED. THAT SEEMS TO BE A FUNNY REASON FOR BEING HUMBLE, AND WHEN YOU ACT IN A HUMBLE WAY IN ORDER TO BE PUT ON A PEDESTAL, YOU AREN'T VERY HUMBLE AT ALL. BUT THAT'S THE PROBLEM WHEN WE TAKE A SENTENCE OR TWO OUT OF THE GOSPELS. IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE CONTEXT.

SO WHAT DOES JESUS MEAN BY HUMILITY? HUMILITY REALLY HAS TO DO WITH THE ACCEPTANCE OF TRUTH NOT JUST IN THE MIND, BUT AT THE LEVEL OF THE WHOLE PERSON. AND THE FIRST STEP IN ACCEPTING TRUTH IS TO RECOGNIZE IT. PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN WAS A HUMBLE MAN. AFTER HIS DEATH, 3500 LETTERS WERE FOUND WHICH HE HAD WRITTEN DURING HIS PRESIDENCY. HE MADE IT A POINT TO PERSONALLY ANSWER LETTERS FROM ORDINARY CITIZENS, INCLUDING CHILDREN. HE KNEW A TRUTH – THAT DESPITE HIS ACHIEVEMENTS, HE WAS AT THE CENTER OF HIS BEING JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN ALWAYS COMES TO MIND AS A PERSON WHO WAS HUMBLE. ONE TIME HE WAS VISITING A WARD FULL OF INJURED SOLDIERS, AND CAME TO A YOUNG MAN WHO WAS BLIND. THE YOUNG MAN DIDN'T RECOGNIZE HIM, AND ASKED HIM IF HE WOULD BE SO KIND AS TO WRITE A LETTER TO THE YOUNG MAN'S FAMILY, INFORMING THEM OF HIS SITUATION. LINCOLN SAT DOWN, TOOK OUT A PEN AND PAPER, AND DID EXACTLY THAT. HE KNEW A TRUTH – THAT OUR STATUS IN LIFE IS NOT A REASON TO REFUSE TO HELP SOMEONE WHEN YOU CAN.

DOROTHY DAY WAS A HUMBLE PERSON. SHE BECAME FAMOUS LATER IN HER LIFE BECAUSE OF HER WORK IN THE SLUMS OF NEW YORK AND HER PROTESTS AGAINST THE VIETNAM WAR. ONE DAY A REPORTER WHO HAD BEEN ASSIGNED TO WRITE A STORY ABOUT HER WAS SHOWN TO A ROOM WHERE SHE WAS CONVERSING WITH A WOMAN WHO WAS OBVIOUSLY A STREET PERSON, DIRTY, DISHEVELED, AND MENTALLY ILL. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, DOROTHY LOOKED UP AND SAID, “DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK WITH ONE OF US?” SHE KNEW A TRUTH: HER DIGNITY AND HER VALUE TO SOCIETY WAS NO DIFFERENT THAN THE WOMAN WITH WHOM SHE WAS TALKING.

MAYBE YOU SEE WHERE I AM GOING WITH THIS. AFTER JESUS TELLS THE GUESTS AT THE PARTY THAT IT WOULD BE BETTER TO FIND A SPOT AT THE WRONG END OF THE TABLE AND BE ASKED TO MOVE CLOSER, HE TELLS THE HOST THAT HE SHOULD HAVE A DINNER PARTY WHERE HE INVITES PEOPLE WHO CAN'T PAY HIM BACK, PEOPLE WHO ARE POOR, CRIPPLED, LAME OR BLIND. AND I THINK JESUS' POINT IS THAT UNTIL WE CAN DO THAT, WE AREN'T REALLY CAPABLE OF HUMILITY.

HUMILITY IS ACCEPTING THE TRUTH IN THE CORE OF OUR BEING. AND THE TRUTH IS THAT EVERY HUMAN BEING IS FIRST OF ALL, A SINNER. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT KIND OF SIN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. EVEN THE MOST SAINTLY AMONG US STILL DOESN'T TRUST GOD COMPLETELY, STILL WORRIES ABOUT TOMORROW, STILL HAS MOMENTS OF DOUBT – THAT'S BECAUSE WE ARE HUMAN. MOTHER THERESA BECAME A SAINT NOT BECAUSE SHE HAD SOME MYSTICAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, BUT PRECISELY BECAUSE SHE SPENT HER LIFE DOING GOD'S WORK EVEN THOUGH TO HER DISMAY SHE DID NOT EXPERIENCE THAT SENSE OF UNION, OF CONSOLATION, THAT SHE LONGED FOR. THE SECOND TRUTH IS THAT JESUS DIED FOR EACH ONE OF US. THE THIRD IS THAT WE ALL HAVE THE SAME FATHER. THOSE THREE THINGS MAKE EACH HUMAN BEING MORE LIKE THE NEXT ONE THAN DIFFERENT.

WE SPEND OUR LIVES IN A CIRCLE OF FRIENDS AND RELATIVES WITH WHOM WE ARE COMFORTABLE. THAT'S NORMAL; IN THAT, WE DON'T DIFFER A LOT FROM OTHER SOCIAL ANIMALS. A BAND OF ELEPHANTS WON'T ADOPT AN ORPHAN ELEPHANT BABY; THEY WILL USUALLY CHASE IT AWAY. WHEN TWO BANDS OF BABOONS MEET EACH OTHER, THEY FIGHT UNTIL ONE GROUP IS DRIVEN OFF. AND WHEN SOMEONE SHOWS UP IN A COLLECTION OF PEOPLE WHO HAS A STRONG ACCENT, OR A DIFFERENT SKIN COLOR, OR IS A MEMBER OF AN UNFAMILIAR RELIGION, HE OR SHE WILL AT THE BEST BE WATCHED CLOSELY, AS THE FRIENDS OF THE PHARISEE WERE WATCHING JESUS.

BUT A CHARACTERISTIC OF A HUMBLE PERSON IS THAT SHE HAS NO PROBLEMS ACCEPTING PEOPLE WHO ARE OTHERWISE AT THE MARGINS OF SOCIETY. LIKE DOROTHY DAY, SHE DOESN'T SEE A DIFFERENCE BIG ENOUGH TO MAKE A FUSS ABOUT. LIKE ABRAHAM LINCOLN, HE HAS NO SENSE OF ENTITLEMENT, OF SELF-WORTH, THAT WOULD STAND IN THE WAY OF DOING SOMETHING FOR ANOTHER PERSON IF ASKED. LIKE RONALD REAGAN, HE CONSIDERS NO ONE BENEATH HIS ATTENTION.

THAT'S WHY JESUS URGES HIS HOST TO INVITE THE POOR, THE LAME, THE CRIPPLED, THE BLIND TO HIS BANQUET. HUMILITY IS NOT BELIEVING I AM WORTH LESS THAN I MAY REALLY BE. IT IS NOT DOING SOMETHING SO THAT PEOPLE WILL PRAISE ME FOR MY HUMILITY. TO REALLY DEVELOP THE VIRTUE OF HUMILITY, WE HAVE TO PRACTICE IT, AND THAT COMES BY FORGETTING SELF, BY CEASING TO DRAW DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN YOURSELF AND OTHERS. AND IN ORDER TO DO THIS, YOU HAVE TO ACTUALLY GO OUT AND DRAW PEOPLE INTO YOUR OWN CIRCLE WHOM YOU WOULD NORMALLY HAVE VERY LITTLE TO DO WITH.

I BET ALL OF US KNOW OF A PERSON WE'D RATHER NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH. I BET ALL OF US KNOW OF SOMEONE WHO IS MENTALLY CHALLENGED AND BECAUSE OF THAT VERY DIFFICULT TO TALK TO. I BET WE ALL COULD THINK OF SOMEONE WHO IS SOCIALLY INEPT, AND HAS HABITS AND MANNERISMS THAT TURN PEOPLE AWAY. IF YOU WANT HUMILITY, IF YOU WANT TO BE EXALTED, YOU AND I NEED TO INVITE THEM TO OUR BANQUET, TO GENUINELY TREAT THEM AS WE WOULD TREAT PEOPLE WITHIN OUR OWN SOCIAL CIRCLE, OUR OWN FAMILY. TO THE EXTENT WE DO THIS, WE BECOME HUMBLE – BUT THE MORE WE DO THIS, THE LESS WE THINK OF OURSELVES, AND BEGAN TO SEE THE BROTHERHOOD THAT EXISTS BETWEEN ALL PEOPLE. IT'S WORTH THE TROUBLE.

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

LUKE 13:22-30

DURING THIS LAST WEEK WE CELEBRATED THE FEAST OF THE QUEENSHIP OF MARY. TODAY WE HEAR JESUS ANSWER THE QUESTION, “LORD, WILL ONLY A FEW PEOPLE BE SAVED?” AND JESUS NEVER GIVES A YES OR NO ANSWER. INSTEAD, HE TELLS HIS LISTENERS TO STRIVE TO ENTER THROUGH THE NARROW GATE. SO WHAT IS HE TALKING ABOUT? WHERE IS THE NARROW GATE? JESUS POINTS OUT THAT THOSE WHO ATE AND DRANK WITH HIM AND THOSE WHO HEARD HIM PREACH HAVE NO SPECIAL CLAIM ON BEING SAVED. AND JESUS IMPLIES THAT PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER, NOT JUST JEWS, WOULD ENTER THE KINGDOM. SO IN A SENSE JESUS IS ADDRESSING THE COMMON NOTION HELD AT THAT TIME THAT A JEWISH PERSON HAD A SPECIAL CLAIM ON GOD BY VIRTUE OF THE FACT THAT HE WAS A JEW. NOT AT ALL, JESUS SAYS. EVERYONE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY.

WILL ONLY A FEW PEOPLE BE SAVED? EVERY NOW AND THEN A POLL IS TAKEN, AND USUALLY ABOUT 90% OF PEOPLE WHO CONSIDER THEMSELVES RELIGIOUS BELIEVE THEY ARE GOING TO BE SAVED. THE OTHER TEN PERCENT AREN'T SURE. PEOPLE WHO ARE RELIGIOUS ALMOST NEVER BELIEVE THEY ARE GOING TO HELL. WE RELIGIOUS CHRISTIANS HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED, WE GO TO CHURCH, IF WE DID SOMETHING TERRIBLE WE'VE RECEIVED THE ASSURANCE IN THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE THAT WE'VE BEEN FORGIVEN. SOME OF US RELIGIOUS PEOPLE VOLUNTEER AND SOME SUPPORT A CHARITY OR TWO; AND MOST OF US RELIGIOUS PEOPLE TRY TO TREAT OTHER PEOPLE WITH KINDNESS AND NOT COMMIT ADULTERY OR MURDER OR ROBBERY. AND YOU KNOW, IT ISN'T HARD TO LIVE THAT WAY. IN FACT IT'S PROBABLY EASIER TO STAY OUT OF TROUBLE THAN TO GET INTO TROUBLE. SO WHAT IS JESUS TALKING ABOUT WHEN HE SAYS, “STRIVE TO ENTER THE NARROW GATE?” – WHEN HE IMPLIES THAT MANY WILL ATTEMPT TO ENTER BUT NOT BE STRONG ENOUGH. MOST OF US RELIGIOUS PEOPLE WOULD HAVE A HARD TIME DESCRIBING WHAT WE ARE DOING AS STRIVING, AS REQUIRING STRENGTH.

THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS WHERE GOD'S WILL IS DONE. WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE WE ARE CONSTANTLY TRYING TO DO OUR OWN WILL. AND THAT'S NOT A BAD THING – NOTHING WOULD EVER GET DONE IF WE DID NOT FIRST WILL IT TO BE DONE. SOME PEOPLE WOULD DESPAIR OF EVER KNOWING GOD'S WILL; OTHERS SEEM TO THINK THAT DOING GOD'S WILL MEANS NOT DOING YOUR OWN WILL. BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THAT THIS IS PRECISELY WHERE THE STRIVING COMES IN – WE HAVE TO SHAPE OUR OWN WILL SO THAT WE WANT WHAT GOD WANTS. AFTER ALL, THAT IS PRECISELY WHAT JESUS SHOWED US IN HIS OWN LIFE – “MY FOOD IS TO DO THE WILL OF MY FATHER.”

AND THAT OF COURSE IS WHERE THE QUEENSHIP OF MARY COMES IN. WE ALL KNOW WHAT GOD WANTS IN GENERAL – HE WANTS A WORLD WHERE THERE IS NO POVERTY, WHERE THERE IS NO SICKNESS, WHERE THERE PEOPLE ARE FREE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT. HE WANTS WARS TO END, ABORTION TO STOP; HE IS AGAINST RACIAL AND RELIGIOUS PREJUDICE – WE COULD MAKE A LONG LIST. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A ROCKET SCIENTIST TO KNOW WHAT GOD WANTS. SO DOES GOD WANT YOU TO BE ANOTHER MOTHER THERESA? ANOTHER FRANCIS XAVIER, WHO PLANTED CHRISTIANITY ALL OVER THE COAST OF SOUTHERN ASIA? NOT REALLY. THERE WERE SAINTS WHO ACCOMPLISHED THINGS WHICH SEEM ALMOST MIRACULOUS; SAINTS WHO LABORED TIRELESSLY TO MAKE THE WORLD A LITTLE MORE LIKE THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS SUPPOSED TO BE. BUT THE GREATEST SAINT OF ALL, THE BLESSED MOTHER, GAVE BIRTH TO A CHILD, AND SPENT HER LIFE TAKING CARE OF HIM AND SAINT JOSEPH, COOKING AND CLEANING AND COMFORTING AND CARING – AND NO ONE WOULD KNOW SHE HAD EVEN EXISTED WERE IT NOT FOR HER SON. AND FACE IT, WHAT MARY DID WITH HER LIFE IS NO DIFFERENT THAN WHAT BILLIONS OF WOMEN DOWN THROUGH THE AGES HAVE DONE; AND THE SAME COULD BE SAID OF SAINT JOSEPH AND OF BILLIONS OF MEN.

BUT THE DIFFERENCE, THE REASON MARY IS QUEEN OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, IS PRECISELY BECAUSE SHE ENTERED THROUGH THE NARROW GATE. HER WHOLE LIFE WAS SUMMED UP IN HER REPLY TO THE ANGEL, “BE IT DONE TO ME ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD!” AND WE HAVE HER GIVING A WORD OF ADVICE TO A FEW SERVANTS AT A WEDDING, ADVICE THAT WE COULD USE OURSELVES – DO WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU TO DO.” AND SHE SPEAKS TWO MORE TIMES FOR WHICH WE HAVE RECORDS – SHE SINGS “MY SOUL MAGNIFIES THE LORD.” SHE REJOICES BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING STANDING BETWEEN HER AND HER CREATOR. AND SHE SAYS, “SON, WHY DID YOU TREAT US THIS WAY? YOUR FATHER AND I HAVE BEEN BESIDE OURSELVES WITH ANXIETY.” – SINCE ALL SHE WANTED WAS TO DO THE WILL OF GOD FOR HER, WHICH WAS TO CARE FOR THIS SON WITH LOVE.

SAINT THERESE' OF LISEAUX SPENT MUCH OF HER SHORT LIFE IN A CLOISTERED CONVENT. SHE REALIZED THAT SHE DIDN'T HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A MISSIONARY, AND SHE WASN'T EDUCATED ENOUGH TO BE A GREAT TEACHER; AND IT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE SHE WAS GOING TO GET TO BE A MARTYR ANY TIME SOON. BUT SHE KNEW WHAT GOD WANTED FOR HER – AND WANTS FOR EVERY ONE OF HIS PEOPLE – TO DO EVERY LITTLE THING WITH LOVE. AND THAT IS HOW WE STRIVE TO ENTER THROUGH THE NARROW GATE – WE EAT WITH LOVE, WE WORK WITH LOVE, WE GO TO BED AT NIGHT WITH LOVE, WE OPEN THE MAIL WITH LOVE – WE ARE CONSCIOUS THAT EVERY MOMENT OF OUR LIVES CAN EITHER BE WITH LOVE OR NOT WITH LOVE. AND MAYBE GOD WILL DECIDE TO USE THIS ONE FOR SOME GREAT WORK, OR THAT ONE FOR SOME GREAT SACRIFICE; MAYBE GOD WILL CALL ONE OF US TO BE A GREAT LEADER OF HIS PEOPLE. REMEMBER THE WORDS OF THE MASTER IN JESUS' PARABLE, “WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT; YOU HAVE BEEN FAITHFUL OVER A LITTLE, I WILL SET YOU OVER MUCH; ENTER INTO THE JOY OF YOUR MASTER.”

STRIVING TO ENTER THROUGH THE NARROW GATE IS A CONSTANT STRUGGLE. BUT IT IS SO WORTH THE EFFORT. WHEN WE DO EVERYTHING WITH LOVE, WE TRANSFORM WHAT SEEMS TO HAVE NO VALUE INTO SOMETHING THAT HAS INFINITE VALUE. WHEN WE DO EVERYTHING WITH LOVE, GOD HIMSELF WORKS IN US, BECAUSE GOD, AS SAINT JOHN TELLS US, IS LOVE.