John 20:1-9
I WONDER HOW JESUS REALLY FELT ON THAT HOLY THURSDAY, THE END OF HIS LAST FULL DAY ON EARTH? JESUS KNEW WHAT WAS COMING, WE SEE THAT ALL THROUGH THE GOSPELS; BUT YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO BE GOD TO KNOW YOU WERE IN TROUBLE. HE HAD OFFENDED THE JEWISH AUTHORITIES WHEN HE RAISED LAZARUS; HE HAD OFFENDED THE ROMAN AUTHORITIES WHEN HE ENTERED JERUSALEM IN A TRIUMPHAL PROCESSION WHICH NOT ONLY STIRRED THE CROWDS INTO A NEAR RIOT, BUT WAS ALSO A SORT OF MOCKERY OF A ROMAN TRIUMPHAL PROCESSION; ONLY THE ROMAN GENERAL WOULD BE ON A MAJESTIC HORSE OR PULLED IN A WAR CHARIOT, NOT RIDING ON THE BACK OF A DONKEY. AND HE HAD NEARLY CAUSED A RIOT WHEN HE CLEANSED THE TEMPLE – AND THAT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGH HOLY DAYS, RIGHT WHEN THE CITY WAS FULL OF PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE ROMAN EMPIRE, CELEBRATING THEIR LIBERATION FROM SOMEONE ELSE WHO HAD ENSLAVED THEM, THE PHARAOH OF EGYPT.
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A GOOD TIME TO GO INTO HIDING. BUT JESUS CELEBRATES THE PASSOVER WITH HIS DISCIPLES.
HOW LONELY HE MUST HAVE FELT. NONE OF THEM REALLY BELIEVED WHAT WAS TO COME; AND INDEED SO FAR THE AUTHORITIES HAD BEEN CURIOUSLY QUIET. HE LOOKED OVER THESE PEASANTS WHO WERE HIS CLOSEST DISCIPLES, THESE MEN WHO TIME AND TIME AGAIN HAD NOT SEEMED TO GET IT. HIS TIME WAS NEARLY OVER, AND THEY WERE GOING TO CARRY ON? BUT IT WAS PASSOVER, AND A TIME FOR BEING JOYFUL. THE WINE WAS FLOWING, AND THERE WAS MEAT ON THE TABLE, AND HIS FRIENDS WERE TALKING AND LAUGHING AS THEY CELEBRATED.
AND THEN JESUS DOES A STRANGE THING. HE STRIPS OFF HIS OUTER GARMENT, THROWS A TOWEL OVER HIS SHOULDER, AND STOOPS TO WASH THEIR FEET.
WE SEE THIS RITUAL EVERY HOLY THURSDAY. WE PICK A FEW PEOPLE FROM THE CONGREGATION, AND FATHER POURS WATER OVER FEET WHICH HAVE PROBABLY BEEN RECENTLY WASHED. BUT THINK ABOUT THE ACTUAL EVENT. FIRST, WASHING FEET WAS ALMOST A NECESSITY. PEOPLE THREW THEIR TRASH, INCLUDING HUMAN WASTE, IN THE STREETS. THERE WEREN'T TRASH COLLECTORS AND GARBAGE DISPOSALS. OTHER PEOPLE AND ANIMALS WALKED OVER THE REFUSE – AND THE ANIMALS CONTRIBUTED MORE TO THE GENERAL STINK AND FILTH. AND MOST PEOPLE EITHER RAN AROUND BAREFOOT OR WORE SANDALS, WHICH WERE LITTLE MORE THAN A PIECE OF LEATHER HELD ONTO THE FOOT WITH A FEW LACES. YOU CAN BELIEVE THAT FEET GOT FILTHY FAST.
SO AT A BIG DINNER PARTY, SOMEONE HAD TO WASH THE FEET. AND THAT SOMEONE WAS USUALLY A SLAVE, OR A POOR GENTILE HIRED FOR THAT PURPOSE. BECAUSE YOU BECAME RITUALLY UNCLEAN COMING INTO CONTACT WITH ALL THAT FILTH. AND WASHING THE FEET WAS REALLY WASHING, NOT A SYMBOLIC STREAM OF WARM WATER.
AND WHY DOES JESUS DO THIS? HE TELLS US THAT HE WANTS TO GIVE US AN EXAMPLE. BUT ON A DEEPER LEVEL, JESUS DOES THIS BECAUSE HE IS JESUS. HE CAME TO SERVE, HE STOOPED TO BECOME ONE OF US, HE EMPTIED HIMSELF OUT FOR US. IT IS JUST WHAT JESUS DOES – HE BECOMES A SLAVE TO US, AS ST. PAUL TELLS US IN HIS EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS.
HOLY THURSDAY IS THE DAY JESUS INSTITUTED THE EUCHARIST. IT IS THE DAY WHEN THE APOSTLES BECAME THE FIRST PRIESTS. WE HEAR A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THESE TWO MAJOR EVENTS IN THE EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL, BUT NOTHING IN THE GOSPEL. JUST THIS STRANGE STORY OF JESUS WASHING THE FILTH OFF THE FEET OF PETER, WHO WOULD DENY HE EVER KNEW HIM, OF JUDAS, WHO WOULD SELL HIM OUT FOR A FEW COINS; AND ALL THE REST, WHO WOULD LEAVE HIM ALONE ON THE CROSS, MOCKED BY THE SAME PEOPLE WHO ONLY A SHORT TIME AGO WERE WELCOMING HIM INTO JERUSALEM WITH PALM BRANCHES AND CRIES OF “HOSANNA, SON OF DAVID!”
TOMORROW WE WILL REMEMBER THE TERRIBLE DEATH JESUS ENDURED. ON SATURDAY, WE WILL THINK ABOUT HOW DEATH AND EVIL ALMOST WON THE BATTLE. AND ON SUNDAY, WE WILL CELEBRATE HIS RESURRECTION, WHEN HE PROVED ONCE AND FOR ALL THAT HIS RAISING OF LAZARUS WAS NO FLUKE; HE CONQUERED DEATH, FOREVER.
AND IN THAT GREAT SET OF EVENTS, WE MAY BE TEMPTED TO THINK THAT IT ALL CAME DOWN TO THIS, THIS GREAT PASSAGE FROM SUFFERING TO DEATH TO RESURRECTION, AND WE MAY FORGET THAT JESUS LIVED TO SERVE, THAT HE WASHED THE FILTH FROM THE FEET OF HIS FRIENDS, AND STILL SEEKS TO DO THAT FOR YOU AND I. AND IN HIS EXAMPLE TO US, HE SHOWS US THAT FOR MOST OF US, IT WILL NOT BE A MARTYR'S TRIUMPHANT DEATH AND ENTRY INTO HEAVEN; IT WILL NOT BE SOME GLORIOUS WORK LIKE FOUNDING A RELIGIOUS ORDER OR CONVERTING A NATION OF PAGANS, OR WRITING A DEATHLESS MASTERPIECE OF THEOLOGY OR DEVOTION.
NO, FOR MOST OF US, IT WILL BE WASHING EACH OTHER'S FEET, PUTTING UP WITH THE FILTH THAT CONTAMINATES ALL OF US, EACH IN DIFFERENT WAYS; RECOGNIZING THAT I AM THE WORST OF SINNERS AND AM LUCKY TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM A HUMBLE SERVICE FOR MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS; THAT I IMITATE JESUS MOST CLOSELY WHEN I FORGET MYSELF, AND SERVE MY NEIGHBOR IN THE WAY HE NEEDS ME TO SERVE HIM, RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW.
AND AFTER JESUS WASHED THEIR FEET, ALTHOUGH WE DON'T HEAR ABOUT IT IN JOHN'S GOSPEL, THE OTHER THREE GOSPELS TELL US THAT HE TOOK BREAD, AND BROKE IT, AND GAVE IT AWAY, AND SAID “EAT THIS, IT IS MY BODY”, AND HE TOOK THE CUP, AND BLESSED IT AND SAID, “DRINK THIS, IT IS MY BLOOD” AND HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT IN THE EATING OF HIS BODY AND THE DRINKING OF HIS BLOOD, THERE IS A NEW AGREEMENT BETWEEN GOD AND MAN, ONE THAT WILL LAST FOREVER; AND THAT AGREEMENT IS THAT WHEN WE EAT HIS BODY AND DRINK HIS BLOOD, HE WILL LIVE IN US, AND CHANGE US, IF WE LET HIM, AND THROUGH US CONTINUE TO BUILD UP HIS KINGDOM. BUT IT IS NOT A KINGDOM OF TRIUMPH AND GLORY, WHERE ALL HIS ENEMIES WILL BE CAST DOWN AND ALL HIS FRIENDS WILL ENJOY THAT HEAVENLY FEAST – AT LEAST NOT YET. IT IS A KINGDOM WHERE THE GREATEST WILL WASH THE FILTH OFF OF THE FEET OF THE LEAST, AND THE LEAST WILL DO THE SAME FOR THE GREATEST, AND IF YOU WANT TO SEE JESUS IN ACTION, LOOK FOR PEOPLE WASHING THE FEET OF THEIR NEIGHBOR. AND IF YOU WANT TO BE PART OF THE KINGDOM, LOOK FOR SOMEONE'S FEET TO WASH.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Palm Sunday, 2008
THE PASSION OF MATTHEW
THIS IS THE SUNDAY I USED TO DREAD WHEN I WAS A LITTLE KID. IT WAS THE SUNDAY WHEN THEY READ THE PASSION. FOR SOME REASON, IT WAS A LOT HARDER TO SIT THROUGH THE SUNDAY READING THAN THE GOOD FRIDAY READING. ON GOOD FRIDAY, YOU HAD THE OPTION OF NOT BEING THERE. SUNDAY YOUR HAD TO BE THERE.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT? IT HASN'T GOTTEN ANY SHORTER SINCE I WAS A LITTLE KID. BUT I DO LISTEN MORE ATTENTIVELY. I TRY TO GET INTO IT, I TRY TO SEE THE EVENTS AS THEY UNFOLD. BECAUSE IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T HURT ANY OF US ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR TO REMEMBER THAT JESUS WAS A REAL HUMAN BEING, THAT HE WAS BETRAYED BY A FRIEND, THAT HE WAS DESERTED BY OTHER FRIENDS, THAT HE WAS BEATEN, SCOURGED, HUMILIATED, AND PUT TO DEATH. THIS REALLY HAPPENED; IT ISN'T A LEGEND.
BUT I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THE BEGINNING OF THIS STORY FOR A MINUTE. AFTER THE SUPPER, JESUS, PETER, JAMES, AND JOHN GO TO THE GARDEN OF GESTHEMENE. THERE JESUS POURS OUT HIS HEART IN PRAYER TO THE FATHER. THERE IS A FAMOUS PICTURE OF JESUS PRAYING IN THE GARDEN, THAT MOST OF US HAVE SEEN. IN IT HE IS KNEELING, LEANING ON A ROCK, LOOKING UP TO HEAVEN, AND THERE IS A LIGHT SHINING DOWN ON HIM. VERY DIGNIFIED, VERY SERENE. AND IT DIDN'T HAPPEN LIKE THAT AT ALL. JESUS SAYS THAT HIS HEART IS NEARLY BROKEN WITH SORROW. I'VE BEEN THERE, AND SO HAVE YOU. YOU LEARN THAT SOMEONE YOU LOVE HAS TERMINAL CANCER. YOU GET THE NEWS THAT YOUR SON IS GETTING DIVORCED AFTER TEN YEARS OF MARRIAGE. YOU LOSE YOUR JOB AND IN THIS ECONOMY, YOU HAVEN'T MUCH CHANCE OF GETTING ANOTHER, AND IF YOU DO, IT WON'T PAY NEARLY AS WELL. YOU ARE CONFRONTED BY THE IRS WITH A HUGE BACK TAXES BILL; AND SO ON, AND SO FORTH.
I THINK OF ELIOT SPITZER, THE GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK, THIS PAST WEEK. GRANTED, HE BROUGHT IT ALL ON HIMSELF, AND I NEVER PARTICULARLY THOUGHT MUCH OF HIM, BUT I FELT HIS AGONY WHEN HE HAD TO STAND UP IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE COUNTRY AND HIS WIFE, AND ADMIT HIS GUILT AND RESIGN FROM THE OFFICE THAT HE HAD SPENT MUCH OF HIS LIFE TRYING TO WIN-- NOT ONLY THAT, BUT HE HAD TO GIVE UP THE CAREER THAT HE HAD SINGLEMINDEDLY PURSUED. IN A FEW YEARS, HE MIGHT HAVE HAD A REAL SHOT AT THE PRESIDENCY. BUT NOW ITS ALL ASHES.
WHEN OUR HEARTS ARE BROKEN WITH SORROW, FOR WHATEVER REASON, WE DON'T THINK STRAIGHT. THE ADRENALIN RUSHES AROUND IN OUR BODIES; WE SWEAT, OUR HEARTS RACE, WE'D RATHER BE ANYWHERE BUT WHERE WE ARE. AND YOU CAN BE SURE JESUS FELT THE SAME; HE KNEW WHAT WAS COMING, AND HE KNEW THERE WAS NO GETTING OUT OF IT. LIKE ALL OF US IN THIS SORT OF SITUATION, WE LONG FOR SOMEONE TO HELP US BEAR OUR BURDEN. JESUS DID ALSO, BUT WHEN HE WENT TO HIS THREE BEST FRIENDS, THEY WERE ASLEEP.
SO JESUS SHOWS US HOW WE ARE TO RESPOND WHEN OUR HEARTS ARE NEARLY BROKEN WITH SORROW. CERTAINLY WE CAN PRAY THAT OUR SITUATION BE RELIEVED AS HE DID -- OUR PROBLEM REDUCED, OUR TRAGEDY AVERTED. AND SOMETIMES GOD ANSWERS OUR PRAYER THE WAY WE WANT HIM TO. BUT THE REAL KEY IS IN THE WORDS OF JESUS, “MY FATHER, IF THIS CANNOT PASS BY ME WITHOUT MY DRINKING IT, YOUR WILL BE DONE.” BECAUSE WHEN OUR HEARTS ARE NEARLY BROKEN WITH SORROW, HOWEVER WE GOT THERE, OUR FAULT, SOMEONE ELSE'S FAULT, NO ONE'S FAULT, IF WE MUST PASS THROUGH THE SORROW, LET US PRAY THAT GOD'S WILL BE DONE, THAT IN SOME WAY OUR TRAGEDY WILL LEAD TO SOMETHING GOOD, THAT THIS SORROW THAT LOOKS SO MALIGNANT AND MEANINGLESS WILL IN SOME WAY UNITE US TO THE CROSS OF CHRIST, AND IN THAT WE CAN FIND JOY.
SO PRAY ON THIS PALM SUNDAY THAT WHEN YOU HAVE TO FACE THAT NEXT TRAGEDY IN LIFE, THAT MOMENT WHEN YOUR HEART ALMOST BREAKS WITH SORROW, YOU WILL REMEMBER THE PRAYER OF JESUS, AND PRAY IT AS HE DID.
THIS IS THE SUNDAY I USED TO DREAD WHEN I WAS A LITTLE KID. IT WAS THE SUNDAY WHEN THEY READ THE PASSION. FOR SOME REASON, IT WAS A LOT HARDER TO SIT THROUGH THE SUNDAY READING THAN THE GOOD FRIDAY READING. ON GOOD FRIDAY, YOU HAD THE OPTION OF NOT BEING THERE. SUNDAY YOUR HAD TO BE THERE.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT? IT HASN'T GOTTEN ANY SHORTER SINCE I WAS A LITTLE KID. BUT I DO LISTEN MORE ATTENTIVELY. I TRY TO GET INTO IT, I TRY TO SEE THE EVENTS AS THEY UNFOLD. BECAUSE IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T HURT ANY OF US ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR TO REMEMBER THAT JESUS WAS A REAL HUMAN BEING, THAT HE WAS BETRAYED BY A FRIEND, THAT HE WAS DESERTED BY OTHER FRIENDS, THAT HE WAS BEATEN, SCOURGED, HUMILIATED, AND PUT TO DEATH. THIS REALLY HAPPENED; IT ISN'T A LEGEND.
BUT I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THE BEGINNING OF THIS STORY FOR A MINUTE. AFTER THE SUPPER, JESUS, PETER, JAMES, AND JOHN GO TO THE GARDEN OF GESTHEMENE. THERE JESUS POURS OUT HIS HEART IN PRAYER TO THE FATHER. THERE IS A FAMOUS PICTURE OF JESUS PRAYING IN THE GARDEN, THAT MOST OF US HAVE SEEN. IN IT HE IS KNEELING, LEANING ON A ROCK, LOOKING UP TO HEAVEN, AND THERE IS A LIGHT SHINING DOWN ON HIM. VERY DIGNIFIED, VERY SERENE. AND IT DIDN'T HAPPEN LIKE THAT AT ALL. JESUS SAYS THAT HIS HEART IS NEARLY BROKEN WITH SORROW. I'VE BEEN THERE, AND SO HAVE YOU. YOU LEARN THAT SOMEONE YOU LOVE HAS TERMINAL CANCER. YOU GET THE NEWS THAT YOUR SON IS GETTING DIVORCED AFTER TEN YEARS OF MARRIAGE. YOU LOSE YOUR JOB AND IN THIS ECONOMY, YOU HAVEN'T MUCH CHANCE OF GETTING ANOTHER, AND IF YOU DO, IT WON'T PAY NEARLY AS WELL. YOU ARE CONFRONTED BY THE IRS WITH A HUGE BACK TAXES BILL; AND SO ON, AND SO FORTH.
I THINK OF ELIOT SPITZER, THE GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK, THIS PAST WEEK. GRANTED, HE BROUGHT IT ALL ON HIMSELF, AND I NEVER PARTICULARLY THOUGHT MUCH OF HIM, BUT I FELT HIS AGONY WHEN HE HAD TO STAND UP IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE COUNTRY AND HIS WIFE, AND ADMIT HIS GUILT AND RESIGN FROM THE OFFICE THAT HE HAD SPENT MUCH OF HIS LIFE TRYING TO WIN-- NOT ONLY THAT, BUT HE HAD TO GIVE UP THE CAREER THAT HE HAD SINGLEMINDEDLY PURSUED. IN A FEW YEARS, HE MIGHT HAVE HAD A REAL SHOT AT THE PRESIDENCY. BUT NOW ITS ALL ASHES.
WHEN OUR HEARTS ARE BROKEN WITH SORROW, FOR WHATEVER REASON, WE DON'T THINK STRAIGHT. THE ADRENALIN RUSHES AROUND IN OUR BODIES; WE SWEAT, OUR HEARTS RACE, WE'D RATHER BE ANYWHERE BUT WHERE WE ARE. AND YOU CAN BE SURE JESUS FELT THE SAME; HE KNEW WHAT WAS COMING, AND HE KNEW THERE WAS NO GETTING OUT OF IT. LIKE ALL OF US IN THIS SORT OF SITUATION, WE LONG FOR SOMEONE TO HELP US BEAR OUR BURDEN. JESUS DID ALSO, BUT WHEN HE WENT TO HIS THREE BEST FRIENDS, THEY WERE ASLEEP.
SO JESUS SHOWS US HOW WE ARE TO RESPOND WHEN OUR HEARTS ARE NEARLY BROKEN WITH SORROW. CERTAINLY WE CAN PRAY THAT OUR SITUATION BE RELIEVED AS HE DID -- OUR PROBLEM REDUCED, OUR TRAGEDY AVERTED. AND SOMETIMES GOD ANSWERS OUR PRAYER THE WAY WE WANT HIM TO. BUT THE REAL KEY IS IN THE WORDS OF JESUS, “MY FATHER, IF THIS CANNOT PASS BY ME WITHOUT MY DRINKING IT, YOUR WILL BE DONE.” BECAUSE WHEN OUR HEARTS ARE NEARLY BROKEN WITH SORROW, HOWEVER WE GOT THERE, OUR FAULT, SOMEONE ELSE'S FAULT, NO ONE'S FAULT, IF WE MUST PASS THROUGH THE SORROW, LET US PRAY THAT GOD'S WILL BE DONE, THAT IN SOME WAY OUR TRAGEDY WILL LEAD TO SOMETHING GOOD, THAT THIS SORROW THAT LOOKS SO MALIGNANT AND MEANINGLESS WILL IN SOME WAY UNITE US TO THE CROSS OF CHRIST, AND IN THAT WE CAN FIND JOY.
SO PRAY ON THIS PALM SUNDAY THAT WHEN YOU HAVE TO FACE THAT NEXT TRAGEDY IN LIFE, THAT MOMENT WHEN YOUR HEART ALMOST BREAKS WITH SORROW, YOU WILL REMEMBER THE PRAYER OF JESUS, AND PRAY IT AS HE DID.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Fifth Sunday of Lent, cycle A
JOHN 11:1-45
THREE MEN WERE DISCUSSING WHAT THEY WANTED TO BE REMEMBERED FOR. ONE SAID, “WHEN PEOPLE LOOK DOWN ON ME IN MY COFFIN, I WANT THEM TO SAY WHAT A SUCCESSFUL PERSON I WAS.” THE SECOND SAID, “WHEN THEY LOOK DOWN ON ME IN MY COFFIN, I WANT THEM TO SAY HOW KIND AND GENEROUS I WAS.” THE THIRD THOUGHT A MINUTE AND SAID, “WHEN THEY LOOK DOWN ON ME IN MY COFFIN, I WANT THEM TO SAY, HEY, ISN'T HIS LEG MOVING?” SO WHAT DO YOU WANT THEM TO SAY WHEN THEY LOOK DOWN INTO YOUR COFFIN?
TODAY WE HEARD THE STORY OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR MIRACLE JESUS WORKED. JOHN MAKES SURE HIS READERS KNOW HOW INCREDIBLE THIS WAS. JESUS DOES NOT ARRIVE UNTIL FOUR DAYS AFTER LAZARUS HAD DIED. IT WAS COMMONLY BELIEVED THAT THE SOUL STAYED IN THE AREA OF THE BODY FOR THREE DAYS, BUT AFTER THAT, WENT TO “SHEOL” WHERE, AT LEAST AMONG THE JEWS, IT WAS THOUGHT THAT THE SOUL AWAITED THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD. ONCE YOU WERE IN SHEOL, THERE WAS NO RETURN. THE SECOND POINT, IF WE DIDN'T GET THE FIRST, IS THAT MARTHA MAKES HER COMMENT, “LORD, IT HAS BEEN FOUR DAYS NOW, SURELY THERE WILL BE A STENCH!” OR, AS SHE SAYS IN THE OLD BIBLE I GREW UP WITH, “LORD, BY THIS TIME HE STINKETH,” RESURRECTING A DECAYING CORPSE WHEN THE SOUL IS IMPRISONED IN SHEOL IS BEYOND THE CAPACITY OF ANY GREAT MAGICIAN OR PROPHET OR HOLY MAN. NO ONE BUT GOD COULD DO WHAT WAS DONE THIS DAY.
BUT, SPECTACULAR AS THIS MIRACLE IS, WE ARE UNFORTUNATE IN THAT WE DON'T SEE THE LARGER PICTURE FROM HEARING JUST THIS SEGMENT OF THE GOSPEL. HERE ARE SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER.
FIRST, JESUS HAD BEEN LIVING AND TEACHING IN GALILEE. IT WAS ABOUT AS FAR FROM JERUSALEM AS WORCESTER IS FROM SPRINGFIELD. WHICH IS A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE IF YOU HAVE TO WALK. HE WAS RELATIVELY SAFE THERE; HE WAS BEYOND THE REACH OF THE PEOPLE IN JERUSALEM WHO HATED HIM. JESUS AND HIS APOSTLES ALL APPRECIATED HOW DANGEROUS IT WOULD BE TO GO DOWN TO JERUSALEM. THAT IS WHY WE HEAR THOMAS SAYING “LET US GO DOWN AND DIE WITH HIM.” THE LITTLE TOWN OF BETHANY WHERE THE MIRACLE TAKES PLACE WAS ONLY TWO MILES FROM THE CITY OF JERUSALEM. IN ORDER TO RAISE LAZARUS FROM THE DEAD, JESUS PUT HIS OWN LIFE IN DANGER; IN FACT, GIVEN THAT HE WAS GOD AS WELL AS MAN, HE KNEW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF HE TRAVELED TO JERUSALEM.
SECOND, IF WE WERE TO READ FURTHER, WE WOULD SEE THAT NOT ONLY DID JESUS PUT HIS OWN LIFE IN DANGER BY COMING SO CLOSE TO JERUSALEM, BUT BY RAISING LAZARUS IN THIS BIG PUBLIC EVENT, HE GREATLY ANGERED THE AUTHORITIES. IF THERE HAD BEEN ANY PHARISEES OR MEMBERS OF THE PRIESTLY CLASS WHO HAD BEEN SITTING ON THE FENCE, WHEN HE RAISED LAZARUS, AND MANY CAME TO BELIEVE IN HIM, THEY NO LONGER DID SO. THEY WERE ALL VERY CLEAR ON THE IDEA THAT JESUS HAD TO DIE, OR THEY MIGHT VERY WELL LOSE THEIR POWER OVER THE PEOPLE. OF COURSE THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT ROME MIGHT DO, AND TO BE FAIR, MANY THOUGHT THAT JESUS WAS LEADING THE PEOPLE INTO HERESY. TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE, IN FACT, WE HEAR THAT THE ENEMIES OF JESUS PLOTTED TO KILL LAZARUS AS WELL, SINCE HE WAS LIVING PROOF OF JESUS' POWER.
AND THEN, AFTER THESE EVENTS, JESUS ENTERS THE CITY OF JERUSALEM IN STYLE, RIDING ON A DONKEY, BEING JOYOUSLY GREETED BY THE PEOPLE, AND THEN GOING ON TO STAND JUDGMENT, BE CRUCIFIED, AND DIE.
THE POINT, OF COURSE, IS NOT SO MUCH THAT JESUS PROVED THAT HE WAS GOD BY THE MIRACLE HE PERFORMED, BUT RATHER, THAT HE WAS WILLING TO GIVE UP HIS OWN LIFE SO THAT LAZARUS COULD LIVE. AND THE IMPLICATION IS THAT JESUS' LOVE IS SUCH THAT HE WILLINGLY TRADES HIS OWN LIFE FOR YOURS, FOR MINE, FOR ANY WHO ARE HIS FRIENDS, WHO STAND CONDEMNED TO DIE AS WE ALL DO.
LAZARUS WAS LIKE YOU AND I, HE WAS PROBABLY A GOOD, ORDINARY PERSON, TOOK CARE OF HIS SISTERS, PROBABLY WORKED WITH HIS HANDS AS MOST DID IN THOSE DAYS. BUT LIKE YOU AND I HE WAS NOT ALWAYS FAITHFUL, HE NEVER GOT THROUGH A DAY WITHOUT DOING SOMETHING OR FAILING TO DO SOMETHING WHICH IF HE THOUGHT ABOUT IT, HE WOULD REGRET. AS THE YEARS WENT BY HE CONTINUED TO FAIL IN LIVING A LIFE THAT WAS COMPLETELY PLEASING TO GOD. LITTLE THINGS, LITTLE SINS, BUT SINS AGAINST AN INFINITELY GOOD GOD. AND LAZARUS WAS LIKE YOU AND I, TRYING TO STAY OUT OF TROUBLE, GETTING UP EACH MORNING AND RESOLVING TO DO BETTER, AND GOING TO BED AT NIGHT HOPING FOR FORGIVENESS FOR HIS FAILURE TO DO SO. AND LAZARUS, LIKE YOU AND I, HAD NO CLAIM ON ETERNAL LIFE, OR EVEN TEMPORAL LIFE; NOTHING WE HAVE, NOTHING WE COULD HAVE, IS OUR OWN, IT IS ALL A GIFT THAT WE DON'T DESERVE.
AND JESUS TRADES HIS LIFE FOR LAZARUS; HE TRADES HIS LIFE FOR YOURS AND MINE.
WHEN PEOPLE SEE ME IN MY COFFIN, WHICH WILL BE SOMETIME BETWEEN NOW AND ABOUT 20 YEARS FROM NOW, I DON'T CARE IF THEY SAY THAT I WAS SUCCESSFUL, OR THAT I WAS KIND AND GENEROUS, OR AS MY WIFE WOULD PROBABLY SAY, THAT I WAS AN OLD GROUCH. I DO HOPE PEOPLE WILL SAY THAT I WAS A FRIEND OF JESUS. BECAUSE WHEN I AM HELPLESS, WHEN I HAVE LOST THE BREATH OF LIFE, WHEN I CAN NO LONGER MOVE OR SEE OR HEAR OR TOUCH, I PRAY THAT I WILL HEAR A VOICE SAYING, “DONALD, COME OUT OF THERE!” AND I WILL GET TO MY FEET AND GO TO MEET MY BEST FRIEND, WHO HAS ALREADY TRADED HIS LIFE FOR MINE.
AND PERHAPS THAT IS WHAT WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT THIS FIFTH WEEK IN LENT. IF WE ARE FRIENDS OF JESUS, THE GRAVE IS NOT A PROBLEM. IF WE ARE FRIENDS OF JESUS, WE CAN BE CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL HEAR HIS COMMAND TO “COME OUT OF THERE”. IN THE STORY OF THE RAISING OF LAZARUS, WE ARE ASSURED THAT JESUS KEEPS THE PROMISE THAT GOD MADE TO EZECHIEL SO LONG AGO: “I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT INTO YOU THAT YOU MAY LIVE...I HAVE PROMISED, AND I WILL DO IT”.
THREE MEN WERE DISCUSSING WHAT THEY WANTED TO BE REMEMBERED FOR. ONE SAID, “WHEN PEOPLE LOOK DOWN ON ME IN MY COFFIN, I WANT THEM TO SAY WHAT A SUCCESSFUL PERSON I WAS.” THE SECOND SAID, “WHEN THEY LOOK DOWN ON ME IN MY COFFIN, I WANT THEM TO SAY HOW KIND AND GENEROUS I WAS.” THE THIRD THOUGHT A MINUTE AND SAID, “WHEN THEY LOOK DOWN ON ME IN MY COFFIN, I WANT THEM TO SAY, HEY, ISN'T HIS LEG MOVING?” SO WHAT DO YOU WANT THEM TO SAY WHEN THEY LOOK DOWN INTO YOUR COFFIN?
TODAY WE HEARD THE STORY OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR MIRACLE JESUS WORKED. JOHN MAKES SURE HIS READERS KNOW HOW INCREDIBLE THIS WAS. JESUS DOES NOT ARRIVE UNTIL FOUR DAYS AFTER LAZARUS HAD DIED. IT WAS COMMONLY BELIEVED THAT THE SOUL STAYED IN THE AREA OF THE BODY FOR THREE DAYS, BUT AFTER THAT, WENT TO “SHEOL” WHERE, AT LEAST AMONG THE JEWS, IT WAS THOUGHT THAT THE SOUL AWAITED THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD. ONCE YOU WERE IN SHEOL, THERE WAS NO RETURN. THE SECOND POINT, IF WE DIDN'T GET THE FIRST, IS THAT MARTHA MAKES HER COMMENT, “LORD, IT HAS BEEN FOUR DAYS NOW, SURELY THERE WILL BE A STENCH!” OR, AS SHE SAYS IN THE OLD BIBLE I GREW UP WITH, “LORD, BY THIS TIME HE STINKETH,” RESURRECTING A DECAYING CORPSE WHEN THE SOUL IS IMPRISONED IN SHEOL IS BEYOND THE CAPACITY OF ANY GREAT MAGICIAN OR PROPHET OR HOLY MAN. NO ONE BUT GOD COULD DO WHAT WAS DONE THIS DAY.
BUT, SPECTACULAR AS THIS MIRACLE IS, WE ARE UNFORTUNATE IN THAT WE DON'T SEE THE LARGER PICTURE FROM HEARING JUST THIS SEGMENT OF THE GOSPEL. HERE ARE SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER.
FIRST, JESUS HAD BEEN LIVING AND TEACHING IN GALILEE. IT WAS ABOUT AS FAR FROM JERUSALEM AS WORCESTER IS FROM SPRINGFIELD. WHICH IS A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE IF YOU HAVE TO WALK. HE WAS RELATIVELY SAFE THERE; HE WAS BEYOND THE REACH OF THE PEOPLE IN JERUSALEM WHO HATED HIM. JESUS AND HIS APOSTLES ALL APPRECIATED HOW DANGEROUS IT WOULD BE TO GO DOWN TO JERUSALEM. THAT IS WHY WE HEAR THOMAS SAYING “LET US GO DOWN AND DIE WITH HIM.” THE LITTLE TOWN OF BETHANY WHERE THE MIRACLE TAKES PLACE WAS ONLY TWO MILES FROM THE CITY OF JERUSALEM. IN ORDER TO RAISE LAZARUS FROM THE DEAD, JESUS PUT HIS OWN LIFE IN DANGER; IN FACT, GIVEN THAT HE WAS GOD AS WELL AS MAN, HE KNEW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF HE TRAVELED TO JERUSALEM.
SECOND, IF WE WERE TO READ FURTHER, WE WOULD SEE THAT NOT ONLY DID JESUS PUT HIS OWN LIFE IN DANGER BY COMING SO CLOSE TO JERUSALEM, BUT BY RAISING LAZARUS IN THIS BIG PUBLIC EVENT, HE GREATLY ANGERED THE AUTHORITIES. IF THERE HAD BEEN ANY PHARISEES OR MEMBERS OF THE PRIESTLY CLASS WHO HAD BEEN SITTING ON THE FENCE, WHEN HE RAISED LAZARUS, AND MANY CAME TO BELIEVE IN HIM, THEY NO LONGER DID SO. THEY WERE ALL VERY CLEAR ON THE IDEA THAT JESUS HAD TO DIE, OR THEY MIGHT VERY WELL LOSE THEIR POWER OVER THE PEOPLE. OF COURSE THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT ROME MIGHT DO, AND TO BE FAIR, MANY THOUGHT THAT JESUS WAS LEADING THE PEOPLE INTO HERESY. TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE, IN FACT, WE HEAR THAT THE ENEMIES OF JESUS PLOTTED TO KILL LAZARUS AS WELL, SINCE HE WAS LIVING PROOF OF JESUS' POWER.
AND THEN, AFTER THESE EVENTS, JESUS ENTERS THE CITY OF JERUSALEM IN STYLE, RIDING ON A DONKEY, BEING JOYOUSLY GREETED BY THE PEOPLE, AND THEN GOING ON TO STAND JUDGMENT, BE CRUCIFIED, AND DIE.
THE POINT, OF COURSE, IS NOT SO MUCH THAT JESUS PROVED THAT HE WAS GOD BY THE MIRACLE HE PERFORMED, BUT RATHER, THAT HE WAS WILLING TO GIVE UP HIS OWN LIFE SO THAT LAZARUS COULD LIVE. AND THE IMPLICATION IS THAT JESUS' LOVE IS SUCH THAT HE WILLINGLY TRADES HIS OWN LIFE FOR YOURS, FOR MINE, FOR ANY WHO ARE HIS FRIENDS, WHO STAND CONDEMNED TO DIE AS WE ALL DO.
LAZARUS WAS LIKE YOU AND I, HE WAS PROBABLY A GOOD, ORDINARY PERSON, TOOK CARE OF HIS SISTERS, PROBABLY WORKED WITH HIS HANDS AS MOST DID IN THOSE DAYS. BUT LIKE YOU AND I HE WAS NOT ALWAYS FAITHFUL, HE NEVER GOT THROUGH A DAY WITHOUT DOING SOMETHING OR FAILING TO DO SOMETHING WHICH IF HE THOUGHT ABOUT IT, HE WOULD REGRET. AS THE YEARS WENT BY HE CONTINUED TO FAIL IN LIVING A LIFE THAT WAS COMPLETELY PLEASING TO GOD. LITTLE THINGS, LITTLE SINS, BUT SINS AGAINST AN INFINITELY GOOD GOD. AND LAZARUS WAS LIKE YOU AND I, TRYING TO STAY OUT OF TROUBLE, GETTING UP EACH MORNING AND RESOLVING TO DO BETTER, AND GOING TO BED AT NIGHT HOPING FOR FORGIVENESS FOR HIS FAILURE TO DO SO. AND LAZARUS, LIKE YOU AND I, HAD NO CLAIM ON ETERNAL LIFE, OR EVEN TEMPORAL LIFE; NOTHING WE HAVE, NOTHING WE COULD HAVE, IS OUR OWN, IT IS ALL A GIFT THAT WE DON'T DESERVE.
AND JESUS TRADES HIS LIFE FOR LAZARUS; HE TRADES HIS LIFE FOR YOURS AND MINE.
WHEN PEOPLE SEE ME IN MY COFFIN, WHICH WILL BE SOMETIME BETWEEN NOW AND ABOUT 20 YEARS FROM NOW, I DON'T CARE IF THEY SAY THAT I WAS SUCCESSFUL, OR THAT I WAS KIND AND GENEROUS, OR AS MY WIFE WOULD PROBABLY SAY, THAT I WAS AN OLD GROUCH. I DO HOPE PEOPLE WILL SAY THAT I WAS A FRIEND OF JESUS. BECAUSE WHEN I AM HELPLESS, WHEN I HAVE LOST THE BREATH OF LIFE, WHEN I CAN NO LONGER MOVE OR SEE OR HEAR OR TOUCH, I PRAY THAT I WILL HEAR A VOICE SAYING, “DONALD, COME OUT OF THERE!” AND I WILL GET TO MY FEET AND GO TO MEET MY BEST FRIEND, WHO HAS ALREADY TRADED HIS LIFE FOR MINE.
AND PERHAPS THAT IS WHAT WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT THIS FIFTH WEEK IN LENT. IF WE ARE FRIENDS OF JESUS, THE GRAVE IS NOT A PROBLEM. IF WE ARE FRIENDS OF JESUS, WE CAN BE CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL HEAR HIS COMMAND TO “COME OUT OF THERE”. IN THE STORY OF THE RAISING OF LAZARUS, WE ARE ASSURED THAT JESUS KEEPS THE PROMISE THAT GOD MADE TO EZECHIEL SO LONG AGO: “I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT INTO YOU THAT YOU MAY LIVE...I HAVE PROMISED, AND I WILL DO IT”.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Fourth Sunday of Lent, cycle A
JOHN 9:1-41
THE MORE YOU STUDY THE GOSPELS, THE MORE INTERESTING THEY ARE. JOHN PUTS TOGETHER HIS STORIES OF JESUS SO THAT ANYONE WHO READS THEM CAN FIND SOMETHING OF HIMSELF OR HERSELF IN THEM. TODAY'S GOSPEL IS NO EXCEPTION. IT IS A WONDERFUL STUDY ON WHAT PASSES FOR RELIGION, AND WHEN YOU GO THROUGH IT AND MEET THE PEOPLE WHO REACT TO THE BLIND MAN, YOU CAN'T HELP BUT SEE SOMETHING OF YOURSELF SOMEWHERE.
FIRST, WE MEET THE APOSTLES. THEY SEE THE BLIND MAN, AND IMMEDIATELY ASK JESUS WHAT THIS MEANS? THEY ARE THEOLOGIANS. THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN THE PROBLEMS OF THE WORLD TO THE PEOPLE TO WHOM THEY WILL BE SENT. THAT'S A GOOD THING OF COURSE. BUT TO THEM, THE BLIND MAN IS SOMETHING TO BE STUDIED AND EXPLAINED, NO MORE. “WAS IT HIS SIN OR THAT OF HIS PARENTS THAT CAUSED HIM TO BE BORN BLIND?” THERE ARE PEOPLE IN OUR CHURCH WHO ARE VERY GOOD AT EXPLAINING WHAT THE CHURCH TEACHES, RELATING CHURCH DOCTRINE TO THE BIBLE; IN FACT, THERE IS A WHOLE INDUSTRY OUT THERE THAT DOES APOLOGETICS. YOU CAN HIRE PROFESSIONAL APOLOGISTS WHO WILL COME TO YOUR PARISH; IN SOME PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, THESE PROFESSIONAL APOLOGISTS INVITE PROTESTANT COUNTERPARTS TO DEBATE WITH THEM. THERE ARE MAGAZINES LIKE “THIS ROCK” THAT ARE VERY WELL DONE.
BUT THEOLOGY AND APOLOGETICS, IMPORTANT AS THEY ARE, DO NOT REPRESENT THE ESSENCE OF FOLLOWING CHRIST. I HAVE ONLY TO REMEMBER THOSE LONG EVENINGS IN COLLEGE WHEN WE WOULD GO OUT AND DRINK BEER AND TALK ABOUT RELIGION, AND THAT WOULD MAKE US FEEL HOLY.
THEN WE MEET THE PHARISEES. UPON HEARING ABOUT THE MIRACLE, THEIR REACTION IS NOT TO PRAISE AND THANK GOD, BUT TO IMMEDIATELY POINT OUT THAT SINCE JESUS DID THIS ON THE SABBATH, IT CAN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH GOD. THEY ARE THE RULE-FOLLOWERS. NOW RULES ARE VERY IMPORTANT, AND IN OUR CHURCH, WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF PROBLEMS BECAUSE CATHOLICS, LAY AND CLERICAL ALIKE, DECIDE THAT THEY AREN'T GOING TO FOLLOW THE RULES. CATHOLICS IGNORE THE CHURCH'S TEACHING ON ANY NUMBER OF THINGS, FROM CONTRACEPTION TO ABORTION TO THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES AS VOTING CITIZENS. THEY IGNORE THE CHURCH'S TEACHINGS ON PARTICIPATION IN MASS AND THE SACRAMENTS; SOME OF OUR PRIESTS FEEL THAT THEY CAN SPICE UP THE MASS WITH A FEW WELL CHOSEN WORDS OF THEIR OWN, AND SO IT GOES. AND ANYONE WHO CARES ABOUT THE CHURCH CAN SEE THAT IT IS IN TROUBLE. BUT SOME OF US ARE TOO MUCH INTO THE RULES. FOLLOWING THE RULES SOMETIMES CAN CAUSE US TO SIN AGAINST CHARITY. IF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH SOME OF THE VERY RIGHT WING CATHOLIC PAPERS AND WEB SITES, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE OBSESSION WITH RULES CAN HAVE THE EFFECT OF MAKING PEOPLE TURN AWAY FROM THEIR FAITH.
THEN WE MEET THE MAN'S PARENTS. THE PARENTS REFUSE TO TAKE A STAND. “ASK HIM YOURSELF,” THEY SAY, “HE IS OF AGE.” AND JOHN TELLS US THAT THEY FEARED BEING EXPELLED FROM THE SYNAGOGUE. WE CAN ASSUME THEY WERE RELIGIOUS PEOPLE, AND BEING MEMBERS OF THE SYNAGOGUE WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO THEM. BUT THEY PROBABLY THOUGHT THAT RELIGION SHOULD BE A PRIVATE AFFAIR, THAT THE BEST THING AS TO LET EVERYONE DO THEIR OWN THING, AND THE IMPORTANT THING WAS TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR OWN SOUL AND LET EVERYONE ELSE GO THEIR OWN WAY. THE PARENTS ARE THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD NEVER ROCK THE BOAT, WHO WOULD NEVER DELIBERATELY TROUBLE SOMEONE ELSE'S CONSCIENCE. THEY BELIEVED THAT YOU COULD BELIEVE ANYTHING, BECAUSE WHAT WAS IMPORTANT WAS THAT YOU WERE SINCERE.
I LIKE THE NEXT PART. THE MAN BORN BLIND ARGUES WITH THE AUTHORITIES IN THE SYNAGOGUE, MAKING POINTS THAT THEY CANNOT REFUTE; AND THEIR REACTION ULTIMATELY IS TO THROW HIM OUT PHYSICALLY. FOR THEM RELIGION IS A GUARANTEE THAT THEY ARE RIGHT, AND THAT PEOPLE WHO DISAGREE WITH THEM ARE WRONG. SOUNDS A LITTLE LIKE THE TALIBAN, OR SOME PROTESTANT GROUPS, OR INDEED, SOME OF OUR CATHOLIC BROTHERS AND SISTERS. IF YOU DON'T AGREE WITH US, WE'LL SEPARATE FROM YOU AND HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU. AND IF YOU TRY TO REACH ACROSS THAT GAP, WE'LL THROW YOU OUT, WE'LL SEVER ALL TIES. AS LONG AS WE ONLY ASSOCIATE WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE RIGHT 100% OF THE TIME, WE'LL AVOID CONTAMINATION AND BE HOLY.
AND OF COURSE WE MUSTN'T FORGET THE REACTION OF JESUS TO THE EVENT OF THE BLIND MAN. HE HEALS HIM. HE DOESN'T ASK ANY QUESTIONS, DOESN'T GIVE HIM A FAITH TEST, SIMPLY MAKES SOME MUD AND PUTS IT IN HIS EYES AND THE MAN CAN SEE. I CAN'T RESIST POINTING OUT SOMETHING HERE. DO YOU REMEMBER THAT ADAM WAS CREATED BY GOD FROM MUD? JESUS CREATES THE EYES, OR THE EYESIGHT, OF THE MAN BORN BLIND OUT OF MUD. I THINK JOHN WANTS US TO NOTICE THIS.
SO WHAT IS TRUE RELIGION? IS IT THEOLOGY? FOLLOWING THE RULES? BEING QUIET AND AVOIDING CONTROVERSY? SEEING THE WORLD AS AN EVER SMALLER “US” WHO ARE RIGHT, AND “THEM” WHO ARE WRONG? OR IS IT MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE PERSON GOD PUTS IN OUR PATH?
IT IS SAID THAT MOTHER THERESA WAS INVITED TO ADDRESS A GATHERING OF VARIOUS DIGNITARIES AND HEADS OF CHARITABLE AGENCIES IN INDIA, WHO WERE HAVING A CONFERENCE ON HOW TO END HUNGER. AS THEY WERE ALL ENTERING THE LECTURE HALL, THEY STEPPED AROUND A BEGGAR STATIONED NEAR THE FRONT DOOR. MOTHER THERESA AND HER COMPANION COULD NOT DO THAT. THEY HELPED THE BEGGAR TO HIS FEET, AND WALKED WITH HIM, SUPPORTING HIM BECAUSE HE WAS SO WEAK, TO ONE OF THEIR HOSPICES LOCATED NOT TOO FAR AWAY, WHERE THEY SAW THAT HE WAS FED AND CLEANED UP, AND GIVEN SOME CLOTHING. AND WHEN THEY GOT BACK TO THE LECTURE HALL, IT WAS TOO LATE. MOTHER THERESA NEVER HAD A CHANCE TO TELL ALL THOSE PEOPLE HOW TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF HUNGER.
SO TODAY ON THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT, WISE OLD JOHN THE EVANGELIST INVITES US TO LOOK INTO HIS GOSPEL STORY, AND SEE OURSELVES. WHAT DOES RELIGION MEAN TO US? AND PLEASE, REALLY LOOK AT YOURSELVES HONESTLY. BECAUSE ALL THESE PEOPLE WHOM WE MEET IN THIS STORY OF THE BLIND MAN ARE YOU AND I.
THE MORE YOU STUDY THE GOSPELS, THE MORE INTERESTING THEY ARE. JOHN PUTS TOGETHER HIS STORIES OF JESUS SO THAT ANYONE WHO READS THEM CAN FIND SOMETHING OF HIMSELF OR HERSELF IN THEM. TODAY'S GOSPEL IS NO EXCEPTION. IT IS A WONDERFUL STUDY ON WHAT PASSES FOR RELIGION, AND WHEN YOU GO THROUGH IT AND MEET THE PEOPLE WHO REACT TO THE BLIND MAN, YOU CAN'T HELP BUT SEE SOMETHING OF YOURSELF SOMEWHERE.
FIRST, WE MEET THE APOSTLES. THEY SEE THE BLIND MAN, AND IMMEDIATELY ASK JESUS WHAT THIS MEANS? THEY ARE THEOLOGIANS. THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN THE PROBLEMS OF THE WORLD TO THE PEOPLE TO WHOM THEY WILL BE SENT. THAT'S A GOOD THING OF COURSE. BUT TO THEM, THE BLIND MAN IS SOMETHING TO BE STUDIED AND EXPLAINED, NO MORE. “WAS IT HIS SIN OR THAT OF HIS PARENTS THAT CAUSED HIM TO BE BORN BLIND?” THERE ARE PEOPLE IN OUR CHURCH WHO ARE VERY GOOD AT EXPLAINING WHAT THE CHURCH TEACHES, RELATING CHURCH DOCTRINE TO THE BIBLE; IN FACT, THERE IS A WHOLE INDUSTRY OUT THERE THAT DOES APOLOGETICS. YOU CAN HIRE PROFESSIONAL APOLOGISTS WHO WILL COME TO YOUR PARISH; IN SOME PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, THESE PROFESSIONAL APOLOGISTS INVITE PROTESTANT COUNTERPARTS TO DEBATE WITH THEM. THERE ARE MAGAZINES LIKE “THIS ROCK” THAT ARE VERY WELL DONE.
BUT THEOLOGY AND APOLOGETICS, IMPORTANT AS THEY ARE, DO NOT REPRESENT THE ESSENCE OF FOLLOWING CHRIST. I HAVE ONLY TO REMEMBER THOSE LONG EVENINGS IN COLLEGE WHEN WE WOULD GO OUT AND DRINK BEER AND TALK ABOUT RELIGION, AND THAT WOULD MAKE US FEEL HOLY.
THEN WE MEET THE PHARISEES. UPON HEARING ABOUT THE MIRACLE, THEIR REACTION IS NOT TO PRAISE AND THANK GOD, BUT TO IMMEDIATELY POINT OUT THAT SINCE JESUS DID THIS ON THE SABBATH, IT CAN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH GOD. THEY ARE THE RULE-FOLLOWERS. NOW RULES ARE VERY IMPORTANT, AND IN OUR CHURCH, WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF PROBLEMS BECAUSE CATHOLICS, LAY AND CLERICAL ALIKE, DECIDE THAT THEY AREN'T GOING TO FOLLOW THE RULES. CATHOLICS IGNORE THE CHURCH'S TEACHING ON ANY NUMBER OF THINGS, FROM CONTRACEPTION TO ABORTION TO THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES AS VOTING CITIZENS. THEY IGNORE THE CHURCH'S TEACHINGS ON PARTICIPATION IN MASS AND THE SACRAMENTS; SOME OF OUR PRIESTS FEEL THAT THEY CAN SPICE UP THE MASS WITH A FEW WELL CHOSEN WORDS OF THEIR OWN, AND SO IT GOES. AND ANYONE WHO CARES ABOUT THE CHURCH CAN SEE THAT IT IS IN TROUBLE. BUT SOME OF US ARE TOO MUCH INTO THE RULES. FOLLOWING THE RULES SOMETIMES CAN CAUSE US TO SIN AGAINST CHARITY. IF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH SOME OF THE VERY RIGHT WING CATHOLIC PAPERS AND WEB SITES, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE OBSESSION WITH RULES CAN HAVE THE EFFECT OF MAKING PEOPLE TURN AWAY FROM THEIR FAITH.
THEN WE MEET THE MAN'S PARENTS. THE PARENTS REFUSE TO TAKE A STAND. “ASK HIM YOURSELF,” THEY SAY, “HE IS OF AGE.” AND JOHN TELLS US THAT THEY FEARED BEING EXPELLED FROM THE SYNAGOGUE. WE CAN ASSUME THEY WERE RELIGIOUS PEOPLE, AND BEING MEMBERS OF THE SYNAGOGUE WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO THEM. BUT THEY PROBABLY THOUGHT THAT RELIGION SHOULD BE A PRIVATE AFFAIR, THAT THE BEST THING AS TO LET EVERYONE DO THEIR OWN THING, AND THE IMPORTANT THING WAS TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR OWN SOUL AND LET EVERYONE ELSE GO THEIR OWN WAY. THE PARENTS ARE THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD NEVER ROCK THE BOAT, WHO WOULD NEVER DELIBERATELY TROUBLE SOMEONE ELSE'S CONSCIENCE. THEY BELIEVED THAT YOU COULD BELIEVE ANYTHING, BECAUSE WHAT WAS IMPORTANT WAS THAT YOU WERE SINCERE.
I LIKE THE NEXT PART. THE MAN BORN BLIND ARGUES WITH THE AUTHORITIES IN THE SYNAGOGUE, MAKING POINTS THAT THEY CANNOT REFUTE; AND THEIR REACTION ULTIMATELY IS TO THROW HIM OUT PHYSICALLY. FOR THEM RELIGION IS A GUARANTEE THAT THEY ARE RIGHT, AND THAT PEOPLE WHO DISAGREE WITH THEM ARE WRONG. SOUNDS A LITTLE LIKE THE TALIBAN, OR SOME PROTESTANT GROUPS, OR INDEED, SOME OF OUR CATHOLIC BROTHERS AND SISTERS. IF YOU DON'T AGREE WITH US, WE'LL SEPARATE FROM YOU AND HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU. AND IF YOU TRY TO REACH ACROSS THAT GAP, WE'LL THROW YOU OUT, WE'LL SEVER ALL TIES. AS LONG AS WE ONLY ASSOCIATE WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE RIGHT 100% OF THE TIME, WE'LL AVOID CONTAMINATION AND BE HOLY.
AND OF COURSE WE MUSTN'T FORGET THE REACTION OF JESUS TO THE EVENT OF THE BLIND MAN. HE HEALS HIM. HE DOESN'T ASK ANY QUESTIONS, DOESN'T GIVE HIM A FAITH TEST, SIMPLY MAKES SOME MUD AND PUTS IT IN HIS EYES AND THE MAN CAN SEE. I CAN'T RESIST POINTING OUT SOMETHING HERE. DO YOU REMEMBER THAT ADAM WAS CREATED BY GOD FROM MUD? JESUS CREATES THE EYES, OR THE EYESIGHT, OF THE MAN BORN BLIND OUT OF MUD. I THINK JOHN WANTS US TO NOTICE THIS.
SO WHAT IS TRUE RELIGION? IS IT THEOLOGY? FOLLOWING THE RULES? BEING QUIET AND AVOIDING CONTROVERSY? SEEING THE WORLD AS AN EVER SMALLER “US” WHO ARE RIGHT, AND “THEM” WHO ARE WRONG? OR IS IT MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE PERSON GOD PUTS IN OUR PATH?
IT IS SAID THAT MOTHER THERESA WAS INVITED TO ADDRESS A GATHERING OF VARIOUS DIGNITARIES AND HEADS OF CHARITABLE AGENCIES IN INDIA, WHO WERE HAVING A CONFERENCE ON HOW TO END HUNGER. AS THEY WERE ALL ENTERING THE LECTURE HALL, THEY STEPPED AROUND A BEGGAR STATIONED NEAR THE FRONT DOOR. MOTHER THERESA AND HER COMPANION COULD NOT DO THAT. THEY HELPED THE BEGGAR TO HIS FEET, AND WALKED WITH HIM, SUPPORTING HIM BECAUSE HE WAS SO WEAK, TO ONE OF THEIR HOSPICES LOCATED NOT TOO FAR AWAY, WHERE THEY SAW THAT HE WAS FED AND CLEANED UP, AND GIVEN SOME CLOTHING. AND WHEN THEY GOT BACK TO THE LECTURE HALL, IT WAS TOO LATE. MOTHER THERESA NEVER HAD A CHANCE TO TELL ALL THOSE PEOPLE HOW TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF HUNGER.
SO TODAY ON THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT, WISE OLD JOHN THE EVANGELIST INVITES US TO LOOK INTO HIS GOSPEL STORY, AND SEE OURSELVES. WHAT DOES RELIGION MEAN TO US? AND PLEASE, REALLY LOOK AT YOURSELVES HONESTLY. BECAUSE ALL THESE PEOPLE WHOM WE MEET IN THIS STORY OF THE BLIND MAN ARE YOU AND I.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Third Sunday of Lent, cycle A
JOHN 4:5-42
THERE WAS A BRIDE WHO REQUESTED THAT HER WEDDING CAKE BE DECORATED WITH THE WORDS FROM THE FIRST EPISTLE OF JOHN, CHAPTER 4, VERSE 18: “THERE IS NO FEAR IN LOVE, BUT PERFECT LOVE CASTS OUT ALL FEAR.” THE BAKER WAS NOT OVERLY FAMILIAR WITH SCRIPTURE, AND ACTUALLY PUT THE WORDS FROM THE GOSPEL OF JOHN, CHAPTER 4, VERSE 18 ON THE CAKE: “YOU HAVE HAD FIVE HUSBANDS, AND THE MAN YOU ARE WITH NOW IS NOT YOUR HUSBAND.”
THE STORY WHICH WE HAVE JUST HEARD IS ALWAYS TOLD ON THE THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT. IT IS A STORY WHICH CAN BE LOOKED AT FROM MANY DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS; AND I ONCE ATTENDED A RETREAT IN WHICH THIS GOSPEL STORY WAS THE ONLY THEME. WE SEE, FOR EXAMPLE, HOW THE SAMARITAN WOMAN GOES FROM CALLING JESUS A JEW (AN INSULT FOR A SAMARITAN) TO THE RESPECTFUL “SIR”, TO THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT HE IS A PROPHET, TO REFERRING TO HIM AS MESSIAH, CHRIST. CERTAINLY WE COULD TALK ABOUT HOW THIS SAME SEQUENCE OF EVENTS, THIS SAME UNFOLDING RECOGNITION, NEEDS TO BE WALKED BY EVERY ONE WHO TRIES TO FOLLOW CHRIST.
THERE IS OF COURSE THE SYMBOLISM OF THE LIVING WATER; THE TERM WAS USED BY THE PEOPLE OF THAT TIME TO REFER TO WATER THAT WAS FLOWING IN STREAMS AND RIVERS, AS OPPOSED TO WATER IN WELLS, OR IN PONDS OR LAKES. WE KNOW TODAY THAT FLOWING WATER IS FILLED WITH OXYGEN, AND USUALLY HAS LESS MINERAL CONTENT THAN STILL WATER. THIS COMES ACROSS IN THE TASTE OF THE WATER, AND OF COURSE THE HEALTHIEST PLANTS SEEM TO GROW BY FLOWING WATER. AND LIVING WATER MAKES US THINK OF LIFE, OF GROWTH, OF BEING MADE CLEAN, OF BAPTISM.
BUT TODAY I'D LIKE TO REFLECT ON THIS STORY FROM ANOTHER STANDPOINT.
THE SAMARITAN WOMAN MEETS JESUS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY, AT A WELL THAT, ARCHEOLOGISTS TELL US, WAS ABOUT A MILE FROM THE TOWN, AND YOU HAVE TO LOWER YOUR BUCKET ABOUT 100 FEET TO GET TO THE WATER. THIS WELL WAS ALMOST ABANDONED, BECAUSE THE TOWN ITSELF HAS A WELL, WHERE THE WATER WAS MUCH EASIER TO GET. SHE HAS GONE TO ALL THIS TROUBLE BECAUSE SHE WAS AN OUTCAST, AND COULDN'T GO OUT IN THE EARLY MORNING WITH THE OTHER WOMEN, BECAUSE THEY WOULD CURSE HER AND DRIVE HER AWAY FROM THEM. AS WE LEARN, SHE HAS A WELL-DESERVED BAD REPUTATION; A WOMAN WITH FIVE HUSBANDS AND NOW LIVING WITH SOMEONE OUT OF WEDLOCK WOULD HAVE A BAD REPUTATION EVEN IN OUR SOCIETY, EXCEPT PERHAPS IN HOLLYWOOD. BUT SHE IS SMART; SHE KNOWS QUITE A BIT ABOUT THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SAMARITANS AND JEWS, AND SHE IS BOLD, BECAUSE SHE READILY JOINS INTO THE CONVERSATION TO WHICH JESUS INVITES HER -- AGAIN, NOT A WOMANLY THING TO DO IN THOSE DAYS.
JESUS, AFTER REVEALING THAT HE KNOWS ABOUT HER PAST, DOES SOMETHING UNUSUAL, HE CALLS HER “WOMAN” BUT THE GREEK WORD IS “GYNAI” WHICH MEANS “HONORED LADY” OR “SPECIAL LADY”. IT IS THE SAME WORD HE USES TO ADDRESS HIS MOTHER IN THE STORY OF THE WEDDING FEAST AT CANA. IN OTHER WORDS, ALTHOUGH SHE IS A SAMARITAN, A WOMAN, AN ADULTRESS, AND AN OUTCAST, JESUS SPEAKS TO THE GOOD THAT IS IN HER, AND DOES NOT TURN AWAY FROM HER. THERE IS NO SIN SO EVIL, NO STATE OF LIFE SO LOW, THAT JESUS WILL LOSE SIGHT OF THE ESSENTIAL GOOD THAT IS IN EACH PERSON; HE SEES THAT EACH OF US POSSESSES ONE THING THAT IS PURE GOODNESS – THE LOVE OF THE FATHER.
THE RESULT OF ALL OF THIS IS CLEAR; THE WOMAN BECOMES AN APOSTLE, DESPITE BEING A SINNER; BECAUSE JESUS LOVES HER, SHE FORGETS THAT SHE IS THE OUTCAST, SHE FORGETS HER FEAR OF THE TOWNSPEOPLE, AND IN FACT INTRODUCES JESUS TO THEM. PERHAPS THE SAMARITAN WOMAN IS THE MOST OBVIOUS EXAMPLE OF HOW JESUS' ACCEPTING, FORGIVING LOVE TRANSFORMS PEOPLE; BUT THERE ARE OTHERS; CERTAINLY WE SEE THIS WITH PETER, WHOM JESUS ACCEPTS EVEN AFTER PETER BETRAYS HIM. WE SEE IT WITH PAUL, WHO PERSECUTED JESUS' FOLLOWERS. WE SEE LITTLE EXAMPLES WITH LEVI THE TAX COLLECTOR, WITH THE WOMAN WHO WASHES HIS FEET WITH HER TEARS. AND WE SEE TIMES WHEN THIS FORGIVING LOVE DOES NOT TRANSFORM; THE RICH YOUNG MAN, JUDAS, PONTIUS PILATE.
IF WE ARE CONSCIOUS OF JESUS' LOVE, THAN WE ARE CONSCIOUS OF HIS DESIRE TO TRANSFORM US. IN ADDITION TO CHANGING OUR LIVES, PART AND PARCEL OF THIS TRANSFORMATION IS TO BECOME APOSTLES. AND THE SAMARITAN WOMAN TEACHES US WHAT IS FUNDAMENTAL ABOUT AN APOSTLE. THE APOSTLE DRAWS FROM THE WELLSPRING OF JESUS LOVE, NOT FROM HIS OR HER OWN INNER RESOURCES – BECAUSE NONE OF US HAVE THAT MUCH THAT WE CAN CALL OUR OWN. THE APOSTLE FORGETS HIS OWN CIRCUMSTANCES, HIS OWN INADEQUACIES, AND PROCLAIMS TO ANYONE WHO WILL LISTEN THAT JESUS IS MESSIAH; THE APOSTLE SPEAKS FROM HIS OWN EXPERIENCE WITH JESUS, BECAUSE THAT IS THE ONLY AUTHENTIC BASIS ON WHICH TO BE AN APOSTLE. AND THE APOSTLE'S JOB IS TO GET PEOPLE TO LISTEN TO JESUS, NOT CONVINCE THEM BY HIS OR HER OWN ELOQUENCE -- SOME BELIEVED BECAUSE OF HER TESTIMONY, BUT MANY MORE BECAUSE THEY HEARD THE WORDS OF JESUS – SHE JUST GOT THEM TO COME AND LISTEN.
IN THE ORTHODOX CHURCH THE SAMARITAN WOMAN IS HONORED AS SAINT PHOTINA, WHO LEGEND HAS IT BECAME AN EARLY MISSIONARY, PREACHED IN CARTHAGE, AND EVENTUALLY WAS PUT TO DEATH IN ROME. PHOTINA MEANS “ENLIGHTENED ONE”. HER FEAST DAY IS FEBRUARY 26TH.
JESUS OFFERS ALL OF US THE LIVING WATER, WHICH, IF WE CHOOSE TO DRINK OF IT, WILL FILL US UP SO THAT WE ARE NEVER AGAIN THIRSTY. IF WE CHOOSE TO DRINK OF IT, WE CAN OVERCOME ALL THE FEARS, ALL THE SELF DOUBT, ALL THE LACK OF COURAGE THAT KEEPS US FROM PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL; AND IF WE CHOOSE TO DRINK OF IT, EVEN IF WE ARE SICK OR DYING, OR IN PRISON, WE WILL STILL HAVE ABUNDANT JOY, BECAUSE THE KNOWLEDGE THAT JESUS IS THE MESSIAH, THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD, CAN NEVER BE TAKEN FROM US AND WE KNOW HIS LOVE WILL NEVER FAIL.
THE LIVING WATER THAT JESUS OFFERS MAKES US APOSTLES, BECAUSE IF WE, LIKE THE SAMARITAN WOMAN, EXPERIENCE IT, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO KEEP FROM TELLING OTHERS. THE LIVING WATER IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE ONCE WE TASTE IT, WE CAN NEVER GO BACK TO BEING OUR OLD SELVES. OUR CHOICE IS TO EITHER ACCEPT IT, WITH ALL THE JOY AND GO WHEREVER CHRIST LEADS US, EVEN TO MARTYRDOM; OR TO REJECT IT, AND GO BACK INTO OUR COMFORT ZONE.
THE SAMARITAN WOMAN MADE HER CHOICE; WHAT WILL BE OURS?
THERE WAS A BRIDE WHO REQUESTED THAT HER WEDDING CAKE BE DECORATED WITH THE WORDS FROM THE FIRST EPISTLE OF JOHN, CHAPTER 4, VERSE 18: “THERE IS NO FEAR IN LOVE, BUT PERFECT LOVE CASTS OUT ALL FEAR.” THE BAKER WAS NOT OVERLY FAMILIAR WITH SCRIPTURE, AND ACTUALLY PUT THE WORDS FROM THE GOSPEL OF JOHN, CHAPTER 4, VERSE 18 ON THE CAKE: “YOU HAVE HAD FIVE HUSBANDS, AND THE MAN YOU ARE WITH NOW IS NOT YOUR HUSBAND.”
THE STORY WHICH WE HAVE JUST HEARD IS ALWAYS TOLD ON THE THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT. IT IS A STORY WHICH CAN BE LOOKED AT FROM MANY DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS; AND I ONCE ATTENDED A RETREAT IN WHICH THIS GOSPEL STORY WAS THE ONLY THEME. WE SEE, FOR EXAMPLE, HOW THE SAMARITAN WOMAN GOES FROM CALLING JESUS A JEW (AN INSULT FOR A SAMARITAN) TO THE RESPECTFUL “SIR”, TO THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT HE IS A PROPHET, TO REFERRING TO HIM AS MESSIAH, CHRIST. CERTAINLY WE COULD TALK ABOUT HOW THIS SAME SEQUENCE OF EVENTS, THIS SAME UNFOLDING RECOGNITION, NEEDS TO BE WALKED BY EVERY ONE WHO TRIES TO FOLLOW CHRIST.
THERE IS OF COURSE THE SYMBOLISM OF THE LIVING WATER; THE TERM WAS USED BY THE PEOPLE OF THAT TIME TO REFER TO WATER THAT WAS FLOWING IN STREAMS AND RIVERS, AS OPPOSED TO WATER IN WELLS, OR IN PONDS OR LAKES. WE KNOW TODAY THAT FLOWING WATER IS FILLED WITH OXYGEN, AND USUALLY HAS LESS MINERAL CONTENT THAN STILL WATER. THIS COMES ACROSS IN THE TASTE OF THE WATER, AND OF COURSE THE HEALTHIEST PLANTS SEEM TO GROW BY FLOWING WATER. AND LIVING WATER MAKES US THINK OF LIFE, OF GROWTH, OF BEING MADE CLEAN, OF BAPTISM.
BUT TODAY I'D LIKE TO REFLECT ON THIS STORY FROM ANOTHER STANDPOINT.
THE SAMARITAN WOMAN MEETS JESUS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY, AT A WELL THAT, ARCHEOLOGISTS TELL US, WAS ABOUT A MILE FROM THE TOWN, AND YOU HAVE TO LOWER YOUR BUCKET ABOUT 100 FEET TO GET TO THE WATER. THIS WELL WAS ALMOST ABANDONED, BECAUSE THE TOWN ITSELF HAS A WELL, WHERE THE WATER WAS MUCH EASIER TO GET. SHE HAS GONE TO ALL THIS TROUBLE BECAUSE SHE WAS AN OUTCAST, AND COULDN'T GO OUT IN THE EARLY MORNING WITH THE OTHER WOMEN, BECAUSE THEY WOULD CURSE HER AND DRIVE HER AWAY FROM THEM. AS WE LEARN, SHE HAS A WELL-DESERVED BAD REPUTATION; A WOMAN WITH FIVE HUSBANDS AND NOW LIVING WITH SOMEONE OUT OF WEDLOCK WOULD HAVE A BAD REPUTATION EVEN IN OUR SOCIETY, EXCEPT PERHAPS IN HOLLYWOOD. BUT SHE IS SMART; SHE KNOWS QUITE A BIT ABOUT THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SAMARITANS AND JEWS, AND SHE IS BOLD, BECAUSE SHE READILY JOINS INTO THE CONVERSATION TO WHICH JESUS INVITES HER -- AGAIN, NOT A WOMANLY THING TO DO IN THOSE DAYS.
JESUS, AFTER REVEALING THAT HE KNOWS ABOUT HER PAST, DOES SOMETHING UNUSUAL, HE CALLS HER “WOMAN” BUT THE GREEK WORD IS “GYNAI” WHICH MEANS “HONORED LADY” OR “SPECIAL LADY”. IT IS THE SAME WORD HE USES TO ADDRESS HIS MOTHER IN THE STORY OF THE WEDDING FEAST AT CANA. IN OTHER WORDS, ALTHOUGH SHE IS A SAMARITAN, A WOMAN, AN ADULTRESS, AND AN OUTCAST, JESUS SPEAKS TO THE GOOD THAT IS IN HER, AND DOES NOT TURN AWAY FROM HER. THERE IS NO SIN SO EVIL, NO STATE OF LIFE SO LOW, THAT JESUS WILL LOSE SIGHT OF THE ESSENTIAL GOOD THAT IS IN EACH PERSON; HE SEES THAT EACH OF US POSSESSES ONE THING THAT IS PURE GOODNESS – THE LOVE OF THE FATHER.
THE RESULT OF ALL OF THIS IS CLEAR; THE WOMAN BECOMES AN APOSTLE, DESPITE BEING A SINNER; BECAUSE JESUS LOVES HER, SHE FORGETS THAT SHE IS THE OUTCAST, SHE FORGETS HER FEAR OF THE TOWNSPEOPLE, AND IN FACT INTRODUCES JESUS TO THEM. PERHAPS THE SAMARITAN WOMAN IS THE MOST OBVIOUS EXAMPLE OF HOW JESUS' ACCEPTING, FORGIVING LOVE TRANSFORMS PEOPLE; BUT THERE ARE OTHERS; CERTAINLY WE SEE THIS WITH PETER, WHOM JESUS ACCEPTS EVEN AFTER PETER BETRAYS HIM. WE SEE IT WITH PAUL, WHO PERSECUTED JESUS' FOLLOWERS. WE SEE LITTLE EXAMPLES WITH LEVI THE TAX COLLECTOR, WITH THE WOMAN WHO WASHES HIS FEET WITH HER TEARS. AND WE SEE TIMES WHEN THIS FORGIVING LOVE DOES NOT TRANSFORM; THE RICH YOUNG MAN, JUDAS, PONTIUS PILATE.
IF WE ARE CONSCIOUS OF JESUS' LOVE, THAN WE ARE CONSCIOUS OF HIS DESIRE TO TRANSFORM US. IN ADDITION TO CHANGING OUR LIVES, PART AND PARCEL OF THIS TRANSFORMATION IS TO BECOME APOSTLES. AND THE SAMARITAN WOMAN TEACHES US WHAT IS FUNDAMENTAL ABOUT AN APOSTLE. THE APOSTLE DRAWS FROM THE WELLSPRING OF JESUS LOVE, NOT FROM HIS OR HER OWN INNER RESOURCES – BECAUSE NONE OF US HAVE THAT MUCH THAT WE CAN CALL OUR OWN. THE APOSTLE FORGETS HIS OWN CIRCUMSTANCES, HIS OWN INADEQUACIES, AND PROCLAIMS TO ANYONE WHO WILL LISTEN THAT JESUS IS MESSIAH; THE APOSTLE SPEAKS FROM HIS OWN EXPERIENCE WITH JESUS, BECAUSE THAT IS THE ONLY AUTHENTIC BASIS ON WHICH TO BE AN APOSTLE. AND THE APOSTLE'S JOB IS TO GET PEOPLE TO LISTEN TO JESUS, NOT CONVINCE THEM BY HIS OR HER OWN ELOQUENCE -- SOME BELIEVED BECAUSE OF HER TESTIMONY, BUT MANY MORE BECAUSE THEY HEARD THE WORDS OF JESUS – SHE JUST GOT THEM TO COME AND LISTEN.
IN THE ORTHODOX CHURCH THE SAMARITAN WOMAN IS HONORED AS SAINT PHOTINA, WHO LEGEND HAS IT BECAME AN EARLY MISSIONARY, PREACHED IN CARTHAGE, AND EVENTUALLY WAS PUT TO DEATH IN ROME. PHOTINA MEANS “ENLIGHTENED ONE”. HER FEAST DAY IS FEBRUARY 26TH.
JESUS OFFERS ALL OF US THE LIVING WATER, WHICH, IF WE CHOOSE TO DRINK OF IT, WILL FILL US UP SO THAT WE ARE NEVER AGAIN THIRSTY. IF WE CHOOSE TO DRINK OF IT, WE CAN OVERCOME ALL THE FEARS, ALL THE SELF DOUBT, ALL THE LACK OF COURAGE THAT KEEPS US FROM PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL; AND IF WE CHOOSE TO DRINK OF IT, EVEN IF WE ARE SICK OR DYING, OR IN PRISON, WE WILL STILL HAVE ABUNDANT JOY, BECAUSE THE KNOWLEDGE THAT JESUS IS THE MESSIAH, THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD, CAN NEVER BE TAKEN FROM US AND WE KNOW HIS LOVE WILL NEVER FAIL.
THE LIVING WATER THAT JESUS OFFERS MAKES US APOSTLES, BECAUSE IF WE, LIKE THE SAMARITAN WOMAN, EXPERIENCE IT, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO KEEP FROM TELLING OTHERS. THE LIVING WATER IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE ONCE WE TASTE IT, WE CAN NEVER GO BACK TO BEING OUR OLD SELVES. OUR CHOICE IS TO EITHER ACCEPT IT, WITH ALL THE JOY AND GO WHEREVER CHRIST LEADS US, EVEN TO MARTYRDOM; OR TO REJECT IT, AND GO BACK INTO OUR COMFORT ZONE.
THE SAMARITAN WOMAN MADE HER CHOICE; WHAT WILL BE OURS?
Sunday, February 10, 2008
First Sunday of Lent, cycle A
MATTHEW 4:1-11
WHEN THE ISRAELITES WANDERED IN THE DESERT FOR FORTY YEARS, THEY REBELLED AGAINST GOD WHEN THEY GOT HUNGRY, AND GOD GAVE THEM BREAD. WHEN JESUS WAS IN THE DESERT FOR FORTY DAYS, DESPITE HIS HUNGER, HE RESISTED THE TEMPTATION TO REBEL, AND TO USE GOD'S POWER TO TURN STONES INTO BREAD THAT HE COULD EAT.
WHEN THE ISRAELITES RELUCTANTLY FOLLOWED MOSES INTO THE DESERT, THEY LOST HEART AND WERE READY TO ABANDON HIM WHEN THE EGYPTIANS PURSUED THEM IN CHARIOTS, UNTIL GOD DEMONSTRATED HIS POWER IN A SPECTACULAR WAY, BY DIVIDING THE SEA AND THEN DESTROYING THE EGYPTIAN ARMY. WHEN JESUS WAS INVITED TO LEAP FROM THE TEMPLE TOWER INTO THE WAITING ARMS OF ANGELS, WHICH WOULD HAVE DEFINITELY IMPRESSED THE PEOPLE WHO WATCHED FROM BELOW, HE TURNED AWAY FROM THE SPECTACULAR.
WHEN MOSES WENT UP THE MOUNTAIN TO RECIEVE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, THE ISRAELITES IMMEDIATELY MADE A GOLDEN CALF AND BEGAN TO WORSHIP IT. WHEN SATAN OFFERED JESUS THE WORLD IN RETURN FOR HIS WORSHIP, HE REFUSED.
SO MATTHEW SHOWS US THAT THE OLD ISRAEL FAILED IN THE DESERT, BUT JESUS, THE NEW ISRAEL, SUCCEEDED. HE DRIVES THE POINT HOME EVEN MORE BECAUSE HE HAS JESUS QUOTING THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY, WHICH CONTAINS THE LAWS BY WHICH THE ISRAELITES WERE SUPPOSED TO LIVE. BUT JESUS IS CLEARLY LIVING THOSE LAWS, WHEN THE ISRAELITES HAD NOT.
SO THE STORY OF THE TEMPTATIONS OF JESUS IS NOT COMPLETE WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE SIMILAR TEMPTATIONS WHICH THE WANDERING ISRAELITES FACED. AND AT THE BEGINNING OF LENT WE NEED TO CLEARLY SEE THIS CONTRAST.
THERE IS A NATURAL SORT OF RELIGION. WE SEE IT IN ITS MOST PRIMITIVE FORM IN MAGIC, AND IN THE RELIGIONS OF PEOPLE WE CONSIDER “PRIMITIVE”. BUT WE ALSO SEE IT IN MODERN RELIGIONS SUCH AS ISLAM AND BUDDHISM, AND IN FACT IN SCIENTOLOGY AND, YES, THE MORMON RELIGION. FUNDAMENTALLY, THESE RELIGIONS ALL PROMISE THAT YOU WILL BE SAVED IF YOU DO CERTAIN THINGS, IF YOU FULFILL YOUR PART OF A BARGAIN WITH GOD. AND LEST WE LOOK DOWN ON THESE OTHERS, I THINK MOST OF US CHRISTIANS AND CERTAINLY MOST OF US CATHOLICS PERIODICALLY FALL INTO THAT SAME MIND SET. WE GO TO MASS ON SUNDAY, WE CONTRIBUTE TO THE SUPPORT OF THE CHURCH, WE SAY GRACE BEFORE MEALS, WE GET TO CONFESSION ONCE IN A WHILE, AND WE TRY TO AVOID REALLY SERIOUS SINS. AND IF WE DO OUR PART, GOD WILL DO HIS. IF WE KEEP OUR NOSES CLEAN, WE WILL STAY OUT OF TROUBLE.
BUT THE RELIGION THAT JESUS CHRIST BRINGS INTO THE WORLD IS NOT AT ALL LIKE A “NATURAL” RELIGION. GOD STOOPED TO BARGAIN WITH THE ISRAELITES, AND PROMISED THEM THAT HE WOULD BE THEIR GOD AND THEY WOULD BE HIS PEOPLE, PROVIDED THAT THEY KEPT THE COVENANT WITH HIM. AND THEY COULDN'T AND THEY DIDN'T, PROVING ONCE AND FOR ALL THAT YOU AND I DO NOT HAVE ANY WAY TO CONTROL GOD; WE HAVE NO WAY TO SALVATION EXCEPT THE WAY THAT CHRIST LAYS OUT, THE WAY THAT WE WILL SEE UNFOLD IN THE GOSPEL STORIES WE HEAR DURING THIS SEASON OF LENT.
NOT ON BREAD, NOT ON OUR POSSESSIONS, NOT ON OUR PLACE IN THE WORLD ARE WE TO FIND OUR LIFE, BUT RATHER, IN THE WORDS THAT GOD SPEAKS TO US. WE ARE TOLD NOT TO PUT GOD TO THE TEST, NOT TO TRY TO BARGAIN WITH HIM AS THOUGH HE WERE THERE TO SERVE US, RATHER THAN THE OPPOSITE. AND WE ARE TOLD THAT ONLY GOD IS DESERVING OF OUR ADORATION, NOT OUR LOVED ONES, NOT OUR CAREER, NOT ANYTHING THAT CONSUMES US AND GRABS OUR ATTENTION AND DEVOTION. AND GOD WILL KEEP TELLING US HIS WAY, HIS WAY WHICH STARTS IN THE DESERT PROCEEDS TO CRUCIFIXION AND DEATH, AND ENDS AND BEGINS, WITH RESURRECTION.
THE RELIGION OF JESUS CAN NEVER BE MAN WORKING OUT HIS SALVATION. THE RELIGION OF JESUS IS GOD BREAKING INTO OUR WORLD AND TURNING EVERYTHING UPSIDE DOWN. IT IS A WORLD WHERE THE MEEK INHERIT THE EARTH, WHERE THE SORROWING ARE COMFORTED, WHERE THE PEACEMAKERS WILL FINALLY FIND PEACE, AND WHERE THE PERSECUTED WITH ULTIMATELY BE CONQUERERS. THE RELIGION OF JESUS DOES NOT TELL US THAT WE CAN WIN OUR SALVATION, THAT WE CAN GET TO HEAVEN. IT TELLS US THAT HEAVEN HAS COME TO US, AND OUR JOB IS TO MEASURE OUR LIVES AGAINST WHAT GOD SHOWS US, AND THEN CHANGE SO THAT WE COME INTO COMPLETE CONFORMITY WITH WHAT HE SHOWS US – THEN WE WILL BE IN HEAVEN. OUR RELIGION IS NOT ABOUT MAN BECOMING GOD, BUT GOD BECOMING MAN.
I WISH FOR YOU, AND FOR MYSELF, THAT WE WILL ALL SEE HOW WONDERFUL, HOW STRANGE, HOW DIFFERENT THIS SEASON OF LENT REALLY IS; IT IS TRULY A MYSTERY THAT NEVER BECOMES EXHAUSTED. IT IS AN INVITATION TO WALK WITH JESUS THROUGH THOSE YEARS OF HIS MINISTRY, AND ESPECIALLY THROUGH THOSE LAST MOMENTS WHEN THE WORLD THOUGHT IT HAD FINALLY CONQUERED HIM, BUT IT TURNED OUT THAT HE HAD CONQUERED THE WORLD, HE HAD CONQUERED DEATH. I HOPE YOU WILL MAKE AN ATTEMPT TO COME TO THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS EVERY FRIDAY EVENING AND SPEND THAT HALF-HOUR WALKING THE STREETS OF JERUSALEM WITH JESUS CARRYING HIS CROSS. I HOPE YOU WILL STAND THERE AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS WITH HIS MOTHER AS HE GIVES UP HIS LIFE FOR YOU, AND BE THERE WHEN HIS BODY IS TAKEN DOWN AND PUT IN HER ARMS. I HOPE THIS BECAUSE WE MUST ACCEPT OUR CRUCIFIXION IF WE ARE TO ACCEPT RESURRECTION, AND THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS VIVIDLY REMIND US OF THAT FACT.
PLEASE MAKE THIS LENT SPECIAL. LET US ACCEPT THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REPENT OF OUR SINS, TO CHANGE OUR HEARTS, AND TO BELIEVE IN THE GOSPEL.
WHEN THE ISRAELITES WANDERED IN THE DESERT FOR FORTY YEARS, THEY REBELLED AGAINST GOD WHEN THEY GOT HUNGRY, AND GOD GAVE THEM BREAD. WHEN JESUS WAS IN THE DESERT FOR FORTY DAYS, DESPITE HIS HUNGER, HE RESISTED THE TEMPTATION TO REBEL, AND TO USE GOD'S POWER TO TURN STONES INTO BREAD THAT HE COULD EAT.
WHEN THE ISRAELITES RELUCTANTLY FOLLOWED MOSES INTO THE DESERT, THEY LOST HEART AND WERE READY TO ABANDON HIM WHEN THE EGYPTIANS PURSUED THEM IN CHARIOTS, UNTIL GOD DEMONSTRATED HIS POWER IN A SPECTACULAR WAY, BY DIVIDING THE SEA AND THEN DESTROYING THE EGYPTIAN ARMY. WHEN JESUS WAS INVITED TO LEAP FROM THE TEMPLE TOWER INTO THE WAITING ARMS OF ANGELS, WHICH WOULD HAVE DEFINITELY IMPRESSED THE PEOPLE WHO WATCHED FROM BELOW, HE TURNED AWAY FROM THE SPECTACULAR.
WHEN MOSES WENT UP THE MOUNTAIN TO RECIEVE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, THE ISRAELITES IMMEDIATELY MADE A GOLDEN CALF AND BEGAN TO WORSHIP IT. WHEN SATAN OFFERED JESUS THE WORLD IN RETURN FOR HIS WORSHIP, HE REFUSED.
SO MATTHEW SHOWS US THAT THE OLD ISRAEL FAILED IN THE DESERT, BUT JESUS, THE NEW ISRAEL, SUCCEEDED. HE DRIVES THE POINT HOME EVEN MORE BECAUSE HE HAS JESUS QUOTING THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY, WHICH CONTAINS THE LAWS BY WHICH THE ISRAELITES WERE SUPPOSED TO LIVE. BUT JESUS IS CLEARLY LIVING THOSE LAWS, WHEN THE ISRAELITES HAD NOT.
SO THE STORY OF THE TEMPTATIONS OF JESUS IS NOT COMPLETE WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE SIMILAR TEMPTATIONS WHICH THE WANDERING ISRAELITES FACED. AND AT THE BEGINNING OF LENT WE NEED TO CLEARLY SEE THIS CONTRAST.
THERE IS A NATURAL SORT OF RELIGION. WE SEE IT IN ITS MOST PRIMITIVE FORM IN MAGIC, AND IN THE RELIGIONS OF PEOPLE WE CONSIDER “PRIMITIVE”. BUT WE ALSO SEE IT IN MODERN RELIGIONS SUCH AS ISLAM AND BUDDHISM, AND IN FACT IN SCIENTOLOGY AND, YES, THE MORMON RELIGION. FUNDAMENTALLY, THESE RELIGIONS ALL PROMISE THAT YOU WILL BE SAVED IF YOU DO CERTAIN THINGS, IF YOU FULFILL YOUR PART OF A BARGAIN WITH GOD. AND LEST WE LOOK DOWN ON THESE OTHERS, I THINK MOST OF US CHRISTIANS AND CERTAINLY MOST OF US CATHOLICS PERIODICALLY FALL INTO THAT SAME MIND SET. WE GO TO MASS ON SUNDAY, WE CONTRIBUTE TO THE SUPPORT OF THE CHURCH, WE SAY GRACE BEFORE MEALS, WE GET TO CONFESSION ONCE IN A WHILE, AND WE TRY TO AVOID REALLY SERIOUS SINS. AND IF WE DO OUR PART, GOD WILL DO HIS. IF WE KEEP OUR NOSES CLEAN, WE WILL STAY OUT OF TROUBLE.
BUT THE RELIGION THAT JESUS CHRIST BRINGS INTO THE WORLD IS NOT AT ALL LIKE A “NATURAL” RELIGION. GOD STOOPED TO BARGAIN WITH THE ISRAELITES, AND PROMISED THEM THAT HE WOULD BE THEIR GOD AND THEY WOULD BE HIS PEOPLE, PROVIDED THAT THEY KEPT THE COVENANT WITH HIM. AND THEY COULDN'T AND THEY DIDN'T, PROVING ONCE AND FOR ALL THAT YOU AND I DO NOT HAVE ANY WAY TO CONTROL GOD; WE HAVE NO WAY TO SALVATION EXCEPT THE WAY THAT CHRIST LAYS OUT, THE WAY THAT WE WILL SEE UNFOLD IN THE GOSPEL STORIES WE HEAR DURING THIS SEASON OF LENT.
NOT ON BREAD, NOT ON OUR POSSESSIONS, NOT ON OUR PLACE IN THE WORLD ARE WE TO FIND OUR LIFE, BUT RATHER, IN THE WORDS THAT GOD SPEAKS TO US. WE ARE TOLD NOT TO PUT GOD TO THE TEST, NOT TO TRY TO BARGAIN WITH HIM AS THOUGH HE WERE THERE TO SERVE US, RATHER THAN THE OPPOSITE. AND WE ARE TOLD THAT ONLY GOD IS DESERVING OF OUR ADORATION, NOT OUR LOVED ONES, NOT OUR CAREER, NOT ANYTHING THAT CONSUMES US AND GRABS OUR ATTENTION AND DEVOTION. AND GOD WILL KEEP TELLING US HIS WAY, HIS WAY WHICH STARTS IN THE DESERT PROCEEDS TO CRUCIFIXION AND DEATH, AND ENDS AND BEGINS, WITH RESURRECTION.
THE RELIGION OF JESUS CAN NEVER BE MAN WORKING OUT HIS SALVATION. THE RELIGION OF JESUS IS GOD BREAKING INTO OUR WORLD AND TURNING EVERYTHING UPSIDE DOWN. IT IS A WORLD WHERE THE MEEK INHERIT THE EARTH, WHERE THE SORROWING ARE COMFORTED, WHERE THE PEACEMAKERS WILL FINALLY FIND PEACE, AND WHERE THE PERSECUTED WITH ULTIMATELY BE CONQUERERS. THE RELIGION OF JESUS DOES NOT TELL US THAT WE CAN WIN OUR SALVATION, THAT WE CAN GET TO HEAVEN. IT TELLS US THAT HEAVEN HAS COME TO US, AND OUR JOB IS TO MEASURE OUR LIVES AGAINST WHAT GOD SHOWS US, AND THEN CHANGE SO THAT WE COME INTO COMPLETE CONFORMITY WITH WHAT HE SHOWS US – THEN WE WILL BE IN HEAVEN. OUR RELIGION IS NOT ABOUT MAN BECOMING GOD, BUT GOD BECOMING MAN.
I WISH FOR YOU, AND FOR MYSELF, THAT WE WILL ALL SEE HOW WONDERFUL, HOW STRANGE, HOW DIFFERENT THIS SEASON OF LENT REALLY IS; IT IS TRULY A MYSTERY THAT NEVER BECOMES EXHAUSTED. IT IS AN INVITATION TO WALK WITH JESUS THROUGH THOSE YEARS OF HIS MINISTRY, AND ESPECIALLY THROUGH THOSE LAST MOMENTS WHEN THE WORLD THOUGHT IT HAD FINALLY CONQUERED HIM, BUT IT TURNED OUT THAT HE HAD CONQUERED THE WORLD, HE HAD CONQUERED DEATH. I HOPE YOU WILL MAKE AN ATTEMPT TO COME TO THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS EVERY FRIDAY EVENING AND SPEND THAT HALF-HOUR WALKING THE STREETS OF JERUSALEM WITH JESUS CARRYING HIS CROSS. I HOPE YOU WILL STAND THERE AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS WITH HIS MOTHER AS HE GIVES UP HIS LIFE FOR YOU, AND BE THERE WHEN HIS BODY IS TAKEN DOWN AND PUT IN HER ARMS. I HOPE THIS BECAUSE WE MUST ACCEPT OUR CRUCIFIXION IF WE ARE TO ACCEPT RESURRECTION, AND THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS VIVIDLY REMIND US OF THAT FACT.
PLEASE MAKE THIS LENT SPECIAL. LET US ACCEPT THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REPENT OF OUR SINS, TO CHANGE OUR HEARTS, AND TO BELIEVE IN THE GOSPEL.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time, cycle A
MATTHEW 5:1-12
ONCE THERE WAS A GREAT KING WHO LIVED IN LUXURY AND WAS SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE WHO ATTENDED TO HIS EVERY NEED. WHEN HE WAS OLD, SOMEONE ASKED HIM IF HE HAD EVER BEEN UNHAPPY. “UNHAPPY?” HE REPLIED. “DURING MY ENTIRE LIFE, I WAS TRULY HAPPY ONLY ONCE ON A TUESDAY AFTERNOON WHEN I WAS TWENTY-FOUR.”.
WE SOMETIMES FORGET THAT JESUS WAS ALL ABOUT HAPPINESS, HAPPINESS IN THE NEXT LIFE OF COURSE, BUT HAPPINESS IN THIS WORLD AS WELL. JESUS SPENDS A LOT OF TIME TEACHING HIS DISCIPLES AND US HOW TO BE HAPPY. AND WE ARE LIKE THE DISCIPLES, WE DON'T GET IT, WE MISS THE POINT.
THE BEATITUDES WE HEAR TODAY ARE A CASE IN POINT. THE WORDS “BLESSED” OR “HOW BLEST” COULD JUST AS EASILY BE TRANSLATED “HAPPY”, OR EVEN “DELIGHTED”. AND SO IF JESUS TELLS US THAT WE WILL BE DELIGHTED IF WE ARE POOR IN SPIRIT, IF WE HUNGER AND THIRST FOR JUSTICE, IF WE MOURN, IF WE ARE PERSECUTED, WE SHOULD LISTEN. BECAUSE MOST OF US ARE NOT AS HAPPY AS WE WOULD LIKE TO BE. THINGS THAT WE THINK ARE GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO US GENERALLY FALL SHORT. WE PURSUE HAPPINESS, THAT IS OUR RIGHT; BUT IF WE ARE ADULTS, WE PROBABLY HAVE RESIGNED OURSELVES TO THE VERY REAL POSSIBILITY THAT THIS IS AS GOOD AS ITS GOING TO GET.
GOD WANTS US TO BE HAPPY, NOT JUST IN HEAVEN, BUT RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW. GOD WANTS US TO BE SO HAPPY THAT THERE WILL BE NO ROOM FOR SADNESS. HE IS, AFTER ALL, OUR FATHER, AND WHAT FATHER DOES NOT WANT HIS CHILDREN TO BE HAPPY?
YOU AND I CAN EASILY REMEMBER WHEN WE WEREN'T HAPPY. WE MIGHT HAVE BEEN CHEATED; WE MIGHT HAVE DISCOVERED THAT A FRIEND BETRAYED US. WE MIGHT HAVE COMPARED OURSELVES TO SOMEONE WE ENVIED AND FELT SAD THAT WE COULD NOT BE WHAT THAT PERSON WAS. SOMETIMES WE FIND OURSELVES RUMINATING ABOUT HOW OUR LIFE HAS TURNED OUT SO POORLY, COMPARED TO WHAT WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.
IF WE THINK ABOUT THOSE TIMES WE HAVE BEEN UNHAPPY, THE COMMON DENOMINATOR IS THAT WE WERE THINKING ABOUT OURSELVES. IN FACT, THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY WE CAN BE UNHAPPY, AND THAT IS WHEN OUR ATTENTION TURNS IN ON OURSELVES.
BUT WHEN WE ARE FOCUSING ON OTHER PEOPLE OR ON GOD, THEN WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF BEING HAPPY. AND THAT IS WHAT JESUS IS POINTING OUT WHEN HE GIVES US THE BEATITUDES.
BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT – HAPPY ARE THOSE WHO PAY NO ATTENTION TO POSSESSIONS, TO TITLES, TO HONORS – BECAUSE THEY ARE OPEN TO ALL THE GIFTS WHICH GOD HAS IN STORE FOR THEM.
BLESSED ARE THE SORROWING – HAPPY ARE THOSE WHO TRULY ARE ABLE TO MOURN – BECAUSE MOURNING, SORROWING, IS OUR RECOGNITION OF OUR HELPLESSNESS, OUR WORTHLESSNESS. MOST OF THE TIME WE MOURN, OR WE ARE SORROWFUL, BECAUSE SOMETHING COMES ALONG THAT DIMINISHES US, OR CAUSES PAIN. THAT IS NOT WHAT JESUS IS TALKING ABOUT. TRUE MOURNING COMES FROM KNOWING HOW BADLY WE HAVE FAILED IN WHAT GOD EXPECTS OF US. AND UNTIL WE REACH THIS REALIZATION, GOD WILL NOT MOVE INTO OUR LIVES AND COMFORT US WITH HIS TRANSFORMING POWER.
BLESSED ARE THE MEEK, THE LOWLY – HAPPY ARE THOSE WHO REALIZE THAT THERE IS NOTHING IN THEIR LIVES THAT THEY DESERVE, THAT EVERY BLESSING IS A GIFT. MOST OF US REGARD THINGS AS “OURS” AND ARE NEVER HAPPY BECAUSE WHEN WE LOSE SOMETHING WE SEE THAT IT DIMINISHES US; BUT JESUS SAYS THAT HAPPINESS IS WHEN WE SEE THAT EVERYTHING IS AN UNDESERVED GIFT,EVEN THE BREATH OF AIR THAT WE BREATH, AND IF WE SEE THAT WE ARE CONSTANTLY BEING SHOWERED WITH GIFTS, HOW CAN WE NOT BE HAPPY.
AND WHEN YOU READ THROUGH EACH OF THE BEATITUDES, THE SAME THEME COMES THROUGH; IF WE LOSE OURSELVES IN A CAUSE, IF WE IDENTIFY WITH SOMETHING BIGGER THAN US, IF WE MOVE OUT OF OURSELVES AND QUITE WORRYING ABOUT OUR OWN PRIDE, OUR OWN POSSESSIONS, IF WE QUIT PAYING ATTENTION TO MY THINGS, MY FEELINGS, A STRANGE THING WILL HAPPEN. IF WE QUIT LOOKING FOR OUR HAPPINESS, AND TRY TO MAKE OTHER PEOPLE HAPPY BY REMOVING THE BARRIERS TO THEIR HAPPINESS, WHY THEN WE BECOME TRULY HAPPY.
AND THE MOST AMAZING THING OF ALL IS THAT EVEN IF WE ARE PERSECUTED AND PUT TO DEATH BECAUSE WE ARE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS, WE KNOW THAT WE WILL SPEND ETERNITY IN GOD'S PRESENCE, SO EVEN IF WE ARE IN GREAT PHYSICAL PAIN, HAPPINESS CANNOT BE TAKEN FROM US.
AND THAT IS THE SECRET THAT JESUS IMPARTS TO THOSE WHO WOULD LISTEN. IF YOU WANT TO BE HAPPY, DO SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE ELSE. IF YOU WANT TO BE UNHAPPY, DO SOMETHING FOR YOURSELF. IF YOU SPEND YOUR LIFE DOING THINGS FOR YOURSELF, YOU WILL NEVER BE HAPPY. IF YOU SPEND YOUR LIFE WORRYING ABOUT HOW PEOPLE TREAT YOU, BEING CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER YOU ARE GIVEN THE HONOR TO WHICH YOU ARE DUE, ALWAYS ON GUARD AGAINST BEING DISRESPECTED, WHY THEN, YOU WILL ALWAYS BE UNHAPPY.
ARE YOU AND I AS HAPPY AS WE COULD BE? I DOUBT IT. I'M CERTAINLY NOT. DO YOU AND I HAVE THE COURAGE TO LISTEN AND FOLLOW THE SIMPLE TEACHING OF JESUS? I FEAR THAT I HAVE A WAY TO GO. HOPEFULLY, YOU HAVE LESS THAN I. BUT HAPPINESS IS EASY. AND IF WE ARE NOT HAPPY, WE HAVE ONLY OURSELVES TO BLAME. AND I HAVE A FEELING THAT WE HAVE TO LEARN THIS LESSON COMPLETELY WHILE ON EARTH OR IN PURGATORY IF WE ARE EVER TO ENJOY HEAVEN – WE HAVE TO LEARN THAT HAPPINESS CANNOT BE FOUND BY PLEASING OURSELVES, ONLY BY TURNING OUR ATTENTION TO THOSE AROUND US.
SO THIS WEEK AS WE PREPARE FOR LENT, LET US THINK ABOUT THE BEATITUDES, JESUS' GUIDE TO HAPPINESS, AND WHETHER WE COULD LIFE THEM A LITTLE BETTER THAN WE ARE DOING. BECAUSE JESUS HAS GIVEN US HIS WORD THAT WE WILL TRULY FIND HAPPINESS, ABUNDANT LIFE, IF WE JUST FOLLOW HIS DIRECTIONS.
ONCE THERE WAS A GREAT KING WHO LIVED IN LUXURY AND WAS SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE WHO ATTENDED TO HIS EVERY NEED. WHEN HE WAS OLD, SOMEONE ASKED HIM IF HE HAD EVER BEEN UNHAPPY. “UNHAPPY?” HE REPLIED. “DURING MY ENTIRE LIFE, I WAS TRULY HAPPY ONLY ONCE ON A TUESDAY AFTERNOON WHEN I WAS TWENTY-FOUR.”.
WE SOMETIMES FORGET THAT JESUS WAS ALL ABOUT HAPPINESS, HAPPINESS IN THE NEXT LIFE OF COURSE, BUT HAPPINESS IN THIS WORLD AS WELL. JESUS SPENDS A LOT OF TIME TEACHING HIS DISCIPLES AND US HOW TO BE HAPPY. AND WE ARE LIKE THE DISCIPLES, WE DON'T GET IT, WE MISS THE POINT.
THE BEATITUDES WE HEAR TODAY ARE A CASE IN POINT. THE WORDS “BLESSED” OR “HOW BLEST” COULD JUST AS EASILY BE TRANSLATED “HAPPY”, OR EVEN “DELIGHTED”. AND SO IF JESUS TELLS US THAT WE WILL BE DELIGHTED IF WE ARE POOR IN SPIRIT, IF WE HUNGER AND THIRST FOR JUSTICE, IF WE MOURN, IF WE ARE PERSECUTED, WE SHOULD LISTEN. BECAUSE MOST OF US ARE NOT AS HAPPY AS WE WOULD LIKE TO BE. THINGS THAT WE THINK ARE GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO US GENERALLY FALL SHORT. WE PURSUE HAPPINESS, THAT IS OUR RIGHT; BUT IF WE ARE ADULTS, WE PROBABLY HAVE RESIGNED OURSELVES TO THE VERY REAL POSSIBILITY THAT THIS IS AS GOOD AS ITS GOING TO GET.
GOD WANTS US TO BE HAPPY, NOT JUST IN HEAVEN, BUT RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW. GOD WANTS US TO BE SO HAPPY THAT THERE WILL BE NO ROOM FOR SADNESS. HE IS, AFTER ALL, OUR FATHER, AND WHAT FATHER DOES NOT WANT HIS CHILDREN TO BE HAPPY?
YOU AND I CAN EASILY REMEMBER WHEN WE WEREN'T HAPPY. WE MIGHT HAVE BEEN CHEATED; WE MIGHT HAVE DISCOVERED THAT A FRIEND BETRAYED US. WE MIGHT HAVE COMPARED OURSELVES TO SOMEONE WE ENVIED AND FELT SAD THAT WE COULD NOT BE WHAT THAT PERSON WAS. SOMETIMES WE FIND OURSELVES RUMINATING ABOUT HOW OUR LIFE HAS TURNED OUT SO POORLY, COMPARED TO WHAT WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.
IF WE THINK ABOUT THOSE TIMES WE HAVE BEEN UNHAPPY, THE COMMON DENOMINATOR IS THAT WE WERE THINKING ABOUT OURSELVES. IN FACT, THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY WE CAN BE UNHAPPY, AND THAT IS WHEN OUR ATTENTION TURNS IN ON OURSELVES.
BUT WHEN WE ARE FOCUSING ON OTHER PEOPLE OR ON GOD, THEN WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF BEING HAPPY. AND THAT IS WHAT JESUS IS POINTING OUT WHEN HE GIVES US THE BEATITUDES.
BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT – HAPPY ARE THOSE WHO PAY NO ATTENTION TO POSSESSIONS, TO TITLES, TO HONORS – BECAUSE THEY ARE OPEN TO ALL THE GIFTS WHICH GOD HAS IN STORE FOR THEM.
BLESSED ARE THE SORROWING – HAPPY ARE THOSE WHO TRULY ARE ABLE TO MOURN – BECAUSE MOURNING, SORROWING, IS OUR RECOGNITION OF OUR HELPLESSNESS, OUR WORTHLESSNESS. MOST OF THE TIME WE MOURN, OR WE ARE SORROWFUL, BECAUSE SOMETHING COMES ALONG THAT DIMINISHES US, OR CAUSES PAIN. THAT IS NOT WHAT JESUS IS TALKING ABOUT. TRUE MOURNING COMES FROM KNOWING HOW BADLY WE HAVE FAILED IN WHAT GOD EXPECTS OF US. AND UNTIL WE REACH THIS REALIZATION, GOD WILL NOT MOVE INTO OUR LIVES AND COMFORT US WITH HIS TRANSFORMING POWER.
BLESSED ARE THE MEEK, THE LOWLY – HAPPY ARE THOSE WHO REALIZE THAT THERE IS NOTHING IN THEIR LIVES THAT THEY DESERVE, THAT EVERY BLESSING IS A GIFT. MOST OF US REGARD THINGS AS “OURS” AND ARE NEVER HAPPY BECAUSE WHEN WE LOSE SOMETHING WE SEE THAT IT DIMINISHES US; BUT JESUS SAYS THAT HAPPINESS IS WHEN WE SEE THAT EVERYTHING IS AN UNDESERVED GIFT,EVEN THE BREATH OF AIR THAT WE BREATH, AND IF WE SEE THAT WE ARE CONSTANTLY BEING SHOWERED WITH GIFTS, HOW CAN WE NOT BE HAPPY.
AND WHEN YOU READ THROUGH EACH OF THE BEATITUDES, THE SAME THEME COMES THROUGH; IF WE LOSE OURSELVES IN A CAUSE, IF WE IDENTIFY WITH SOMETHING BIGGER THAN US, IF WE MOVE OUT OF OURSELVES AND QUITE WORRYING ABOUT OUR OWN PRIDE, OUR OWN POSSESSIONS, IF WE QUIT PAYING ATTENTION TO MY THINGS, MY FEELINGS, A STRANGE THING WILL HAPPEN. IF WE QUIT LOOKING FOR OUR HAPPINESS, AND TRY TO MAKE OTHER PEOPLE HAPPY BY REMOVING THE BARRIERS TO THEIR HAPPINESS, WHY THEN WE BECOME TRULY HAPPY.
AND THE MOST AMAZING THING OF ALL IS THAT EVEN IF WE ARE PERSECUTED AND PUT TO DEATH BECAUSE WE ARE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS, WE KNOW THAT WE WILL SPEND ETERNITY IN GOD'S PRESENCE, SO EVEN IF WE ARE IN GREAT PHYSICAL PAIN, HAPPINESS CANNOT BE TAKEN FROM US.
AND THAT IS THE SECRET THAT JESUS IMPARTS TO THOSE WHO WOULD LISTEN. IF YOU WANT TO BE HAPPY, DO SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE ELSE. IF YOU WANT TO BE UNHAPPY, DO SOMETHING FOR YOURSELF. IF YOU SPEND YOUR LIFE DOING THINGS FOR YOURSELF, YOU WILL NEVER BE HAPPY. IF YOU SPEND YOUR LIFE WORRYING ABOUT HOW PEOPLE TREAT YOU, BEING CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER YOU ARE GIVEN THE HONOR TO WHICH YOU ARE DUE, ALWAYS ON GUARD AGAINST BEING DISRESPECTED, WHY THEN, YOU WILL ALWAYS BE UNHAPPY.
ARE YOU AND I AS HAPPY AS WE COULD BE? I DOUBT IT. I'M CERTAINLY NOT. DO YOU AND I HAVE THE COURAGE TO LISTEN AND FOLLOW THE SIMPLE TEACHING OF JESUS? I FEAR THAT I HAVE A WAY TO GO. HOPEFULLY, YOU HAVE LESS THAN I. BUT HAPPINESS IS EASY. AND IF WE ARE NOT HAPPY, WE HAVE ONLY OURSELVES TO BLAME. AND I HAVE A FEELING THAT WE HAVE TO LEARN THIS LESSON COMPLETELY WHILE ON EARTH OR IN PURGATORY IF WE ARE EVER TO ENJOY HEAVEN – WE HAVE TO LEARN THAT HAPPINESS CANNOT BE FOUND BY PLEASING OURSELVES, ONLY BY TURNING OUR ATTENTION TO THOSE AROUND US.
SO THIS WEEK AS WE PREPARE FOR LENT, LET US THINK ABOUT THE BEATITUDES, JESUS' GUIDE TO HAPPINESS, AND WHETHER WE COULD LIFE THEM A LITTLE BETTER THAN WE ARE DOING. BECAUSE JESUS HAS GIVEN US HIS WORD THAT WE WILL TRULY FIND HAPPINESS, ABUNDANT LIFE, IF WE JUST FOLLOW HIS DIRECTIONS.
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