MARK 9:30-37
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A FAN OF WINSTON CHURCHILL, AT LEAST HIS WAY WITH WORDS. ONCE AT A PARTY SOMEONE COMMENTED THAT COMPARED TO GOD HUMAN BEINGS WERE WORMS. HE REPLIED, “THAT MAY BE TRUE, BUT I THINK OF MYSELF AS A GLOW-WORM.” IT SAYS IN THE SCRIPTURE TODAY THAT THE APOSTLES WERE ARGUING AMONG THEMSELVES WHO WAS THE GREATEST. ANY TIME YOU GET SEVERAL MEN TOGETHER IN CASUAL CONVERSATION, YOU ARE LIKELY TO HEAR A VARIATION ON THIS THEME. WHICH ONE HAS CAUGHT THE BIGGEST FISH; WHO HAS SEEN THE MOST AMAZING FOOTBALL PLAY; WHO HAS MET THE GREATEST CELEBRITY; IT IS EVEN INSTITUTIONALIZED IN MY FIELD OF MEDICINE, WHERE WE HAVE CASE DISCUSSIONS; EACH OF US TRIES TO OUTDO THE OTHER AS WE TELL HOW WE FIGURED OUT THE DISEASE OF A PARTICULARLY CONFUSING PATIENT.
I SUSPECT THE DISCIPLES, WHO FULLY EXPECTED THAT THIS JESUS WHOM THEY WERE FOLLOWING, THIS MAN WHO ADMITTED HE WAS THE MESSIAH AND PROVED IT BY SOME PRETTY IMPRESSIVE MIRACLES, WOULD SOON TAKE HIS RIGHTFUL PLACE AS THE GREAT PROPHET, PRIEST, AND KING OF ISRAEL, AND HE WOULD NEED ASSISTANTS. AND PETER POINTED OUT THAT HE WAS A SHOE IN FOR CHIEF OF STAFF, BECAUSE HE HAD RUN A FISHING COMPANY; AND MATTHEW KNEW HE WOULD BE A GREAT SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY, BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN A TAX COLLECTOR; PHILIP COULD SPEAK GREEK, SO HE WOULD BE THE SECRETARY OF STATE; AND JAMES INSISTED HE WOULD HAVE A VERY HIGH PLACE BECAUSE AFTER ALL, HE AND JESUS WERE RELATED.
I THINK THIS BEHAVIOR IS NATURAL FOR MEN. I DON'T KNOW IF IT HAPPENS WHEN WOMEN GET TOGETHER BY THEMSELVES. BUT I THINK WHETHER YOU ARE A MAN OR A WOMAN, SOMETHING IN EVERY HUMAN BEING LIKES TO THINK OF HIMSELF OR HERSELF AS A GLOW-WORM, A WORM, SURE, BUT SPECIAL.
AND THE WAY WE SEE OURSELVES NECESSARILY REFLECTS ON THE WAY WE SEE GOD; IF WE ARE THE CENTER, GOD IS THERE FOR US, GOD'S ROLE IS TO TAKE CARE OF OUR NEEDS, TO PROTECT US, TO BE ON HAND TO ANSWER OUR PRAYERS.
LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE A PRIVILEGED ROLE IN OUR SOCIETY. WE VIEW THEM AS INNOCENT, DESERVING OF PROTECTION; WE TAX OURSELVES TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THE BEST EDUCATION WE CAN AFFORD; WE SEE CHILDHOOD AS A SPECIAL TIME AND ARE SHOCKED WHEN A CHILD SUFFERS OR IS ABUSED.
IN JESUS' TIME CHILDREN WERE LOVED AS THEY ARE TODAY; BUT EVERYONE KNEW THAT 50% OF NORMAL CHILDREN WOULD NEVER MAKE IT TO ADULTHOOD. A CASE OF PNEUMONIA, FOOD POISONING, A SNAKE BITE, AND DEATH WAS THE USUAL RESULT. WHEN FAMINE HAPPENED, CHILDREN DIED FIRST; IF YOU CUT YOUR BARE FOOT ON A STONE IN THE STREET, YOU MIGHT DIE OF TETANUS. AND IF YOU WERE BORN WITH A PROBLEM LIKE DIABETES, THERE WAS NO HOPE FOR YOU.
AND CHILDREN HAD NO REAL RIGHTS. A WIDOW OR A SINGLE WOMAN, EVEN A SLAVE, COULD OWN PROPERTY UNDER THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES; A CHILD COULD NOT. EDUCATION WAS ENTIRELY ARBITRARY, AND A CHILD HAD TO BECOME USEFUL TO HIS FAMILY AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE. CHILD LABOR WAS THE RULE, NOT THE EXCEPTION. TODAY WE VIEW CHILDHOOD WITH NOSTALGIA; IN THOSE DAYS, WHAT ANY PARENT WANTED FOR HIS CHILD WAS THAT HE MAKE IT TO ADULTHOOD AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. BEING A CHILD WAS AS LOW AND HELPLESS AND POWERLESS AS YOU COULD GET.
AND SO JESUS ILLUSTRATES HIS STATEMENT “IF ANYONE WISHES TO BE FIRST, HE SHALL BE LAST OF ALL AND SERVANT OF ALL.” BY GETTING DOWN ON HIS KNEES AND HOLDING HIS ARMS OUT TO A TODDLER, WHO SQUEALED AND RAN INTO HIS ARMS. THAT PICTURE, BY THE WAY, IS BASED ON THE GREEK WORD WHICH WE TRANSLATE AS “RECEIVE”. IT IS THE WORD THAT DESCRIBES HOW A PARENT OR GRANDPARENT TAKES A CHILD IN HIS ARMS.
THE CHILD IS THE LAST OF ALL, AND JESUS RECEIVES THE CHILD, JESUS GIVES US THE EXAMPLE OF HOW WE ARE TO TREAT THOSE WHO ARE LOWLY, WHO ARE AT THE MARGINS OF SOCIETY – WE ARE TO GET DOWN ON OUR KNEES AND HOLD OUT OUR ARMS TO THEM.
JESUS IS ALWAYS MAKING IT HARD. WE ALL LIKE TO THINK OF OURSELVES AS THE CENTER AND GOD AND OTHER PEOPLE AS ORBITING AROUND US. BUT THE REALITY IS THERE IS NO POSSIBILITY THAT WE CAN REALLY BE THE CENTER; GOD IS ALWAYS THAT. BUT WE CAN STILL BE GREAT, WE CAN STILL BE GLOW-WORMS, BECAUSE IN JESUS' WORLD, THE CONTEST IS NOT TO SEE WHO HAS THE BEST JOB, WHO CAUGHT THE BIGGEST FISH; THE REAL CONTEST IS TO OUTDO EACH OTHER IN SERVICE, ESPECIALLY TO THOSE WHO ARE SO EASILY OVERLOOKED, LIKE THE LITTLE CHILDREN WERE IN JESUS' DAY.
BUT THERE IS ONE MORE THING. GOD IS AT THE CENTER. BUT THE ONE WHO IS FIRST, THE ONE WHO IS SERVANT OF ALL, IS JESUS HIMSELF. AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE TO RECEIVE THE LOWEST OF THE LOW IN JESUS' NAME. BECAUSE THE THING THAT MAKES CHRISTIANITY DIFFERENT FROM EVERY OTHER RELIGION IS THAT WE BELIEVE THAT GOD BECAME A HUMAN BEING. SINCE JESUS IS TRULY A HUMAN BEING AND TRULY GOD, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR US TO DO THINGS IN HIS NAME, TO PRAY IN HIS NAME, AND TO COME INTO GOD'S PRESENCE IN HIS NAME. SO BY BECOMING THE SERVANT OF ALL, AND SERVING OTHERS IN JESUS' NAME, WE BECOME IDENTIFIED WITH JESUS; AND MIRACLE OF MIRACLES, THE ONE WE RECEIVE IN JESUS' NAME IS JESUS FOR US, AND WHEN WE RECEIVE JESUS, WE RECEIVE GOD ALMIGHTY.
THAT IS TODAY'S GOSPEL. IT IS DEEP THEOLOGY, AND YET IT IS SO SIMPLE, SO PRACTICAL. AND THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO BECOME ONE WITH GOD, NO OTHER WAY TO BE THE GREATEST. IN HUMAN SITUATIONS, THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE WHO IS THE GREATEST – THE GREATEST FOOTBALL PLAYER, THE GREATEST LEADER, THE GREATEST PIANIST; BUT IN GOD'S WORLD, EVERYONE CAN BE THE GREATEST, BECAUSE EVERYONE CAN SERVE OTHERS IN JESUS' NAME, ON BEHALF OF JESUS.
TODAY IS THE DAY EACH OF US CAN BEGIN THE PROCESS OF BECOMING THE GREATEST OF ALL.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle B
MARK 8:27-35
PETER GETS THE RIGHT ANSWER. INSPIRED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, HE RECOGNIZES THAT JESUS IS SOMEONE SPECIAL, THE MESSIAH, THE ANOINTED ONE OF GOD. AND THEN JESUS TELLS HIS DISCIPLES ABOUT HIS FUTURE – THAT HE WILL BE HANDED OVER, TORTURED, AND PUT TO DEATH, TO ARISE IN THREE DAYS. AND PETER PULLS HIM ASIDE AND POINTS OUT THAT THIS IS NOT AT ALL WHAT WAS EXPECTED OF THE MESSIAH, AND WHERE WAS HE GETTING ALL THIS CRAZY TALK?.
AND THEN JESUS SAYS THOSE WORDS – GET BEHIND ME, SATAN! THAT MUST HAVE REALLY STUNG! IT SEEMS SO UNLIKE THE JESUS WE IMAGINE. TO CALL THE MAN WHO WOULD BE THE LEADER OF HIS CHURCH SATAN FOR DOING NOTHING MORE THAN REMINDING HIM IN PRIVATE THAT THE MESSIAH WHO WAS TO COME WOULD START A NEW AGE, RULE OVER A PERFECT KINGDOM AND BECOME THE ULTIMATE HIGH PRIEST. YOU COULDN'T DO ALL THAT AND BE REJECTED, TORTURED, AND KILLED BY THE LEADERS OF THE PEOPLE YOU HAD COME TO SAVE.
AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR PETER TO GET BEHIND HIM? DOES IT MEAN “GET OUT OF MY WAY?” THAT'S WHAT I ALWAYS THOUGHT. MAYBE IT MEANS “DON'T INTERFERE WITH MY PLANS!” THAT WOULD FIT THE CONTEXT A LITTLE BETTER.
THE LANGUAGE JESUS SPOKE WAS A SIMPLE ONE. ARAMAIC HAD FAR FEWER WORDS THAN ENGLISH OR GREEK. IT WAS SIMPLE AND DIRECT. NO MODERN POLITICIAN COULD EVER SURVIVE WITH A LANGUAGE LIKE THAT. BUT SOMETIMES WHEN WE READ SOMETHING THAT WAS TRANSLATED INTO GREEK BY AN EYEWITNESS, AND THEN INTO ENGLISH FROM THE GREEK BY SOMEONE ELSE AT SOME TIME, IT'S NICE TO GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL TO TRY TO FIND OUT THE SENSE OF WHAT JESUS WAS SAYING. I CAN'T READ ARAMAIC, BUT FORTUNATELY THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO CAN.
THE FIRST THING IS THAT IN ARAMAIC, THE WORD SATAN, WHICH WE ASSOCIATE WITH THE DEVIL, CAN MEAN “ACCUSER”, “OPPONENT” OR ADVERSARY. THE JEWS OF JESUS TIME BELIEVED IN EVIL SPIRITS, BUT MOST DIDN'T BELIEVE IN A HELL WHERE SOULS WERE TORTURED, AND IN FACT MANY DID NOT BELIEVE IN A HEAVEN EITHER. ON THE OTHER HAND, THEY DID BELIEVE THAT ONE OF GOD'S ANGELS, AND A VERY SMART ONE AT THAT, WAS IN CHARGE OF ARGUING AGAINST WHATEVER GOD HAD PLANNED TO DO. THE RABBIS WHO COMMENTED ON THIS BELIEF SAID IT WAS SO THAT IN THE COURSE OF THE ARGUMENT, THOSE IN HEAVEN WOULD HEAR ALL THE OBJECTIONS TO GOD'S PLAN, AND GOD WOULD ANSWER THOSE OBJECTIONS, AND WHEN THEY SAW HOW BRILLIANT AND BEAUTIFUL HIS PLAN WAS, THEY WOULD HONOR GOD EVEN MORE THAN BEFORE. THE ADVERSARY FILLED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE HEAVENLY COURT.
SO IN THIS STATEMENT OF JESUS, MAYBE HE MEANT ADVERSARY WITH A SMALL A. HE IS NOT REALLY CALLING PETER THE HEAD OF THE DEMONS, BUT RATHER, HE IS CALLING PETER HIS ADVERSARY, BECAUSE PETER IS TRYING TO POINT OUT THE REASONS HE SHOULD NOT GO DOWN TO JERUSALEM AND BE PUT TO DEATH.
AND WHAT HE SAYS TO PETER NEXT IS “GET BEHIND ME”. AND WHAT HE MEANS IS FOR PETER TO GET WITH THE PROGRAM, TO SUPPORT JESUS IN THIS DIFFICULT THING HE HAS TO DO. AND HE GOES ON TO SAY THAT ANYONE WHO WISHES TO FOLLOW HIM – AND HE USES ALMOST THE SAME WORDS THAT HE USED WITH PETER – IF ANYONE WISHES TO GET BEHIND HIM, HE WILL HAVE TO BEAR A CROSS, EVEN TO THE POINT OF LOSING HIS LIFE, JUST AS JESUS WILL DO.
IF YOU READ THE SCRIPTURE IN THIS WAY, IT SEEMS TO FIT TOGETHER BETTER. PETER RECOGNIZES THAT JESUS IS THE MESSIAH, JESUS TELLS HIS DISCIPLES WHAT THAT MEANS. PETER PULLS JESUS ASIDE AND ACTS AS AND ADVERSARY, TRIES TO CORRECT HIM. JESUS COMMANDS PETER TO GET BEHIND HIM, AND THAT ANYONE WHO WANTS TO GET BEHIND HIM AND FOLLOW HIM IS GOING TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SAME THINGS JESUS WILL GO THROUGH.
WELL, THAT'S ALL INTERESTING, AT LEAST TO ME. BUT WHAT ABOUT THIS TAKING UP ONE'S CROSS?
WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER, I KNEW A PRIEST WHO WAS A PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS AT OUR LOCAL CATHOLIC COLLEGE. HE WAS A GOOD FRIEND OF MY PARENTS, AND NOW AND THEN HE'D COME TO OUR HOUSE FOR SUPPER. I WENT OFF TO COLLEGE AND MEDICAL SCHOOL AND GOT MARRIED AND BROUGHT MY BRIDE HOME ONE SUMMER AND MY MOTHER TOLD ME THAT FATHER M WAS IN THE HOSPITAL AND I SHOULD GO VISIT. SO I DID, TAKING ALONG JOAN. FATHER M HAD JUST HAD HIS LEG AMPUTATED; HE WAS GOING BLIND, AND HE HAD A HEART CONDITION. HE WASN'T AT ALL THE PERSON I USED TO KNOW; IN FACT, I WOULD SAY HE WAS PRETTY DEPRESSED. BUT WHEN I TRIED TO OFFER MY SYMPATHIES, HE TOLD ME THAT ALL HIS LIFE HE HAD WONDERED WHAT IT MEANT TO TAKE UP YOUR CROSS, AND NOW HE WAS BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND. HE FELT AS THOUGH HE WAS BOUND TO A CROSS, FLOATING DOWN A RIVER, AND ALL HE COULD DO WAS JUST LET GO.
BECAUSE THE POINT OF LIFE IS NOT PRIMARILY TO BE A PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS OR EVEN TO BE A PRIEST; THE POINT OF LIFE TO TO BECOME ONE WITH JESUS. AND IN ORDER TO DO THIS WE HAVE TO TEAR DOWN WHAT SEPARATES US FROM HIM. WE ALL KNOW WHAT THOSE THINGS ARE – THEY ARE THE THINGS WE CLING TO, THE THINGS BY WHICH WE DEFINE OURSELVES, THE THINGS THAT WE JUST CAN'T DO WITHOUT. AND IF WE GET RID OF ALL THOSE THINGS, IF WE BREAK DOWN ALL THE BARRIERS, THERE IS STILL THE ONE THING REMAINING – OUR CROSS. OUR CROSS IS NOT JUST THAT LAST PART OF OUR LIVES WHEN WE ARE LAYING THEM DOWN; IT IS MADE UP OF EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS TO US THAT WE WOULD MUCH RATHER NOT HAVE HAPPEN. AND JESUS SAYS THAT IF WE WILLINGLY ACCEPT THESE THINGS, -- ILLNESS, HAVING TO CARE FOR SOMEONE WHO IS AN INVALID, HAVING TO BE CARED FOR BY SOMEONE WHEN YOU ARE AN INVALID; HAVING TO GO THROUGH PAIN, PHYSICAL AND MENTAL; OUR ATTITUDE SHOULD BE THAT IF GOD SENDS THIS, WE ACCEPT IT, BECAUSE THAT IS THE WAY HE CHOOSES TO TRANSFORM US INTO CHRIST. AND HERE IS A SECRET THAT YOU AND I SHOULD PUT IN THE BACK OF OUR MINDS FOR THAT DAY WHEN OUR CROSS BECOMES VERY BURDENSOME – WE CAN FIND JOY THERE, JOY BECAUSE IN CARRYING OUR CROSS, WE ARE MORE CLOSELY UNITED TO JESUS THAN AT ANY OTHER TIME. JESUS' MAIN PURPOSE IN LIFE WAS NOT TO WORK MIRACLES, NOT TO TEACH THE DISCIPLES OR THE CROWDS; HIS PURPOSE WAS TO SUFFER AND DIE IN OUR PLACE, AND IN BEARING OUR CROSS TO THE VERY END, WE KNOW THAT WE WILL RISE WITH HIM TO ETERNAL JOY.
PETER GETS THE RIGHT ANSWER. INSPIRED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, HE RECOGNIZES THAT JESUS IS SOMEONE SPECIAL, THE MESSIAH, THE ANOINTED ONE OF GOD. AND THEN JESUS TELLS HIS DISCIPLES ABOUT HIS FUTURE – THAT HE WILL BE HANDED OVER, TORTURED, AND PUT TO DEATH, TO ARISE IN THREE DAYS. AND PETER PULLS HIM ASIDE AND POINTS OUT THAT THIS IS NOT AT ALL WHAT WAS EXPECTED OF THE MESSIAH, AND WHERE WAS HE GETTING ALL THIS CRAZY TALK?.
AND THEN JESUS SAYS THOSE WORDS – GET BEHIND ME, SATAN! THAT MUST HAVE REALLY STUNG! IT SEEMS SO UNLIKE THE JESUS WE IMAGINE. TO CALL THE MAN WHO WOULD BE THE LEADER OF HIS CHURCH SATAN FOR DOING NOTHING MORE THAN REMINDING HIM IN PRIVATE THAT THE MESSIAH WHO WAS TO COME WOULD START A NEW AGE, RULE OVER A PERFECT KINGDOM AND BECOME THE ULTIMATE HIGH PRIEST. YOU COULDN'T DO ALL THAT AND BE REJECTED, TORTURED, AND KILLED BY THE LEADERS OF THE PEOPLE YOU HAD COME TO SAVE.
AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR PETER TO GET BEHIND HIM? DOES IT MEAN “GET OUT OF MY WAY?” THAT'S WHAT I ALWAYS THOUGHT. MAYBE IT MEANS “DON'T INTERFERE WITH MY PLANS!” THAT WOULD FIT THE CONTEXT A LITTLE BETTER.
THE LANGUAGE JESUS SPOKE WAS A SIMPLE ONE. ARAMAIC HAD FAR FEWER WORDS THAN ENGLISH OR GREEK. IT WAS SIMPLE AND DIRECT. NO MODERN POLITICIAN COULD EVER SURVIVE WITH A LANGUAGE LIKE THAT. BUT SOMETIMES WHEN WE READ SOMETHING THAT WAS TRANSLATED INTO GREEK BY AN EYEWITNESS, AND THEN INTO ENGLISH FROM THE GREEK BY SOMEONE ELSE AT SOME TIME, IT'S NICE TO GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL TO TRY TO FIND OUT THE SENSE OF WHAT JESUS WAS SAYING. I CAN'T READ ARAMAIC, BUT FORTUNATELY THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO CAN.
THE FIRST THING IS THAT IN ARAMAIC, THE WORD SATAN, WHICH WE ASSOCIATE WITH THE DEVIL, CAN MEAN “ACCUSER”, “OPPONENT” OR ADVERSARY. THE JEWS OF JESUS TIME BELIEVED IN EVIL SPIRITS, BUT MOST DIDN'T BELIEVE IN A HELL WHERE SOULS WERE TORTURED, AND IN FACT MANY DID NOT BELIEVE IN A HEAVEN EITHER. ON THE OTHER HAND, THEY DID BELIEVE THAT ONE OF GOD'S ANGELS, AND A VERY SMART ONE AT THAT, WAS IN CHARGE OF ARGUING AGAINST WHATEVER GOD HAD PLANNED TO DO. THE RABBIS WHO COMMENTED ON THIS BELIEF SAID IT WAS SO THAT IN THE COURSE OF THE ARGUMENT, THOSE IN HEAVEN WOULD HEAR ALL THE OBJECTIONS TO GOD'S PLAN, AND GOD WOULD ANSWER THOSE OBJECTIONS, AND WHEN THEY SAW HOW BRILLIANT AND BEAUTIFUL HIS PLAN WAS, THEY WOULD HONOR GOD EVEN MORE THAN BEFORE. THE ADVERSARY FILLED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE HEAVENLY COURT.
SO IN THIS STATEMENT OF JESUS, MAYBE HE MEANT ADVERSARY WITH A SMALL A. HE IS NOT REALLY CALLING PETER THE HEAD OF THE DEMONS, BUT RATHER, HE IS CALLING PETER HIS ADVERSARY, BECAUSE PETER IS TRYING TO POINT OUT THE REASONS HE SHOULD NOT GO DOWN TO JERUSALEM AND BE PUT TO DEATH.
AND WHAT HE SAYS TO PETER NEXT IS “GET BEHIND ME”. AND WHAT HE MEANS IS FOR PETER TO GET WITH THE PROGRAM, TO SUPPORT JESUS IN THIS DIFFICULT THING HE HAS TO DO. AND HE GOES ON TO SAY THAT ANYONE WHO WISHES TO FOLLOW HIM – AND HE USES ALMOST THE SAME WORDS THAT HE USED WITH PETER – IF ANYONE WISHES TO GET BEHIND HIM, HE WILL HAVE TO BEAR A CROSS, EVEN TO THE POINT OF LOSING HIS LIFE, JUST AS JESUS WILL DO.
IF YOU READ THE SCRIPTURE IN THIS WAY, IT SEEMS TO FIT TOGETHER BETTER. PETER RECOGNIZES THAT JESUS IS THE MESSIAH, JESUS TELLS HIS DISCIPLES WHAT THAT MEANS. PETER PULLS JESUS ASIDE AND ACTS AS AND ADVERSARY, TRIES TO CORRECT HIM. JESUS COMMANDS PETER TO GET BEHIND HIM, AND THAT ANYONE WHO WANTS TO GET BEHIND HIM AND FOLLOW HIM IS GOING TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SAME THINGS JESUS WILL GO THROUGH.
WELL, THAT'S ALL INTERESTING, AT LEAST TO ME. BUT WHAT ABOUT THIS TAKING UP ONE'S CROSS?
WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER, I KNEW A PRIEST WHO WAS A PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS AT OUR LOCAL CATHOLIC COLLEGE. HE WAS A GOOD FRIEND OF MY PARENTS, AND NOW AND THEN HE'D COME TO OUR HOUSE FOR SUPPER. I WENT OFF TO COLLEGE AND MEDICAL SCHOOL AND GOT MARRIED AND BROUGHT MY BRIDE HOME ONE SUMMER AND MY MOTHER TOLD ME THAT FATHER M WAS IN THE HOSPITAL AND I SHOULD GO VISIT. SO I DID, TAKING ALONG JOAN. FATHER M HAD JUST HAD HIS LEG AMPUTATED; HE WAS GOING BLIND, AND HE HAD A HEART CONDITION. HE WASN'T AT ALL THE PERSON I USED TO KNOW; IN FACT, I WOULD SAY HE WAS PRETTY DEPRESSED. BUT WHEN I TRIED TO OFFER MY SYMPATHIES, HE TOLD ME THAT ALL HIS LIFE HE HAD WONDERED WHAT IT MEANT TO TAKE UP YOUR CROSS, AND NOW HE WAS BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND. HE FELT AS THOUGH HE WAS BOUND TO A CROSS, FLOATING DOWN A RIVER, AND ALL HE COULD DO WAS JUST LET GO.
BECAUSE THE POINT OF LIFE IS NOT PRIMARILY TO BE A PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS OR EVEN TO BE A PRIEST; THE POINT OF LIFE TO TO BECOME ONE WITH JESUS. AND IN ORDER TO DO THIS WE HAVE TO TEAR DOWN WHAT SEPARATES US FROM HIM. WE ALL KNOW WHAT THOSE THINGS ARE – THEY ARE THE THINGS WE CLING TO, THE THINGS BY WHICH WE DEFINE OURSELVES, THE THINGS THAT WE JUST CAN'T DO WITHOUT. AND IF WE GET RID OF ALL THOSE THINGS, IF WE BREAK DOWN ALL THE BARRIERS, THERE IS STILL THE ONE THING REMAINING – OUR CROSS. OUR CROSS IS NOT JUST THAT LAST PART OF OUR LIVES WHEN WE ARE LAYING THEM DOWN; IT IS MADE UP OF EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS TO US THAT WE WOULD MUCH RATHER NOT HAVE HAPPEN. AND JESUS SAYS THAT IF WE WILLINGLY ACCEPT THESE THINGS, -- ILLNESS, HAVING TO CARE FOR SOMEONE WHO IS AN INVALID, HAVING TO BE CARED FOR BY SOMEONE WHEN YOU ARE AN INVALID; HAVING TO GO THROUGH PAIN, PHYSICAL AND MENTAL; OUR ATTITUDE SHOULD BE THAT IF GOD SENDS THIS, WE ACCEPT IT, BECAUSE THAT IS THE WAY HE CHOOSES TO TRANSFORM US INTO CHRIST. AND HERE IS A SECRET THAT YOU AND I SHOULD PUT IN THE BACK OF OUR MINDS FOR THAT DAY WHEN OUR CROSS BECOMES VERY BURDENSOME – WE CAN FIND JOY THERE, JOY BECAUSE IN CARRYING OUR CROSS, WE ARE MORE CLOSELY UNITED TO JESUS THAN AT ANY OTHER TIME. JESUS' MAIN PURPOSE IN LIFE WAS NOT TO WORK MIRACLES, NOT TO TEACH THE DISCIPLES OR THE CROWDS; HIS PURPOSE WAS TO SUFFER AND DIE IN OUR PLACE, AND IN BEARING OUR CROSS TO THE VERY END, WE KNOW THAT WE WILL RISE WITH HIM TO ETERNAL JOY.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle B
MARK 7:31-37
HAVE YOU EVER WATCHED A LITTLE BABY? SOMETIMES FOR NO OBVIOUS REASON SHE WILL CLOSE HER EYES AND SMILE, AND MAKE GURGLING NOISES. SHE LOOKS LIKE SHE HAS JUST WITNESSED SOMETHING WONDERFUL. THERE IS AN OLD LEGEND – AFTER ADAM AND EVE WERE DRIVEN OUT OF PARADISE, THEY AND THEIR CHILDREN WERE VERY SAD BECAUSE THEY FELT THAT GOD NO LONGER LOVED THEM. AND GOD TOLD HIS GUARDIAN ANGELS THAT THEIR MAIN JOB WOULD BE TO TELL THOSE THEY GUARDED THAT GOD LOVED THEM – OVER AND OVER, ALL THROUGH THEIR LIVES. AND THAT IS THE REASON BABIES LOOK DELIGHTED SOMETIMES; THEY HAVE HEARD THEIR ANGEL WHISPER THIS AWESOME TRUTH – GOD LOVES YOU, GOD LOVES YOU, ESPECIALLY!
BUT WE GROW OLDER, AND OTHER VOICES COMPETE WITH THE VOICE OF OUR ANGEL. OTHER PEOPLE; TRAFFIC IN THE STREET, PEOPLE DEMANDING THINGS, TELEVISION, THE INTERNET – IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG AND SOON WE STOP HEARING OUR ANGEL. WE BECOME DEAF TO GOD'S ASSURANCE TO US, AND WE BECOME SAD.
TODAY WE HEARD ANOTHER OF JESUS' MIRACLES; THE HEALING OF A MAN WHO WAS DEAF AND HAD A SPEECH IMPEDIMENT. WE USED TO CALL THAT CONDITION “DUMB” AND THAT'S THE WAY IT WAS ORIGINALLY TRANSLATED. BUT ITS NOT POLITICALLY CORRECT ANYMORE. AND HE HADN'T HEARD A SOUND IN WHO KNOWS HOW LONG – MAYBE YEARS, MAYBE NEVER, MAYBE JUST RECENTLY – BUT YOU CAN BE SURE HE MISSED THE ABILITY TO HEAR. I AM GETTING DEAF MYSELF. IT IS AMAZING HOW FRUSTRATING IT IS TO HEAR VOICES AND NOT QUITE CATCH SOME OF THE WORDS. AND FRUSTRATING IT IS FOR SOMEONE TO TRY TO COMMUNICATE WITH ME, WHEN I KEEP SAYING, “WHAT?” WHEN I GOT HEARING AIDS LAST JANUARY, WHAT A DIFFERENCE IT MADE!
BUT THE DEAF MAN SUDDENLY HEARS, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE FIRST THING HE HEARS IS THE VOICE OF JESUS. IT'S LIKE BEING BORN AGAIN, AND HEARING YOUR ANGEL TELLING YOU, “GOD LOVES YOU, GOD LOVES YOU IN A SPECIAL WAY.”
JESUS WORKED MANY HEALING MIRACLES. BUT AFTER HIS THREE YEARS WANDERING THE ROADS OF PALESTINE, THERE WERE ALMOST AS MANY DEAF PEOPLE IN THE WORLD AS THERE WERE BEFORE HE CAME; HE DIDN'T MAKE MUCH OF A DENT IN THE POPULATION WHO WERE BLIND OR LAME EITHER. AND WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THOSE WHO RECEIVED HIS MIRACLES, EXCEPT FOR LAZARUS, WE DON'T KNOW ANY OF THEIR NAMES; THERE IS NOTHING LEFT FOR US TO REMEMBER THEM BY. WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE WHO WITNESSED THESE MIRACLES HAD VARIOUS REACTIONS. THE PEOPLE WHO SAW THIS ONE SAID, “HE DOES ALL THINGS WELL”. SOMETIMES THE PHARISEES GNASHED THEIR TEETH AND WENT OFF TO PLOT AGAINST HIM. WHEN I HEAR THAT SOMEONE HAS WORKED A MIRACLE, I USUALLY HAVE ALMOST NO REACTION TO THE NEWS – I DON'T BELIEVE IT OR DISBELIEVE IT, I AM INDIFFERENT, I HEAR THE NEWS AND IT GOES COMPLETELY OUT OF MY MIND. AND I SUSPECT THAT PEOPLE WHO HEARD ABOUT JESUS SOMETIMES REACTED THIS WAY AS WELL, IF THEY WEREN'T EYE WITNESSES. BUT JESUS WORKED THOSE MIRACLES TO SHOW THE WORLD – TO KIND OF GIVE A PREVIEW OF COMING ATTRACTIONS – THAT WHAT OUR ANGELS ARE SAYING TO US ARE NOT JUST EMPTY WORDS – GOD LOVES YOU. GOD LOVES YOU IN A SPECIAL WAY. A DEAF MAN WHO COULDN'T MAKE HIMSELF UNDERSTOOD – A MAN WHO WAS AT THE MARGINS OF HIS SOCIETY, A MAN WHO ALMOST CERTAINLY WAS POOR, LIVING HAND TO MOUTH, A NO-ACCOUNT, A NOTHING. AND JESUS SHOWS THIS MAN THAT GOD LOVES HIM.
IF WE COULD HEAR THE WORDS, WE MIGHT HEAR,
GOD LOVES YOU, AND PROVES IT BY FORGIVING YOUR SINS.
GOD LOVES YOU, AND HE IS WITH YOU EVEN WHEN YOU ARE IN PAIN.
GOD LOVES YOU, AND HE LOVES YOUR CHILD, WHO IS DISAPPOINTING YOU, AND KEEPS GETTING INTO TROUBLE.
GOD LOVES YOU, AND IF YOU ARE SICK OR DYING, HE IS THERE, SUFFERING WITH YOU, TAKING YOUR HAND AND GUIDING YOU TO RESURRECTION.
GOD LOVES YOU AND GIVES YOU FORGIVENESS OF SIN SO THAT YOU WILL FORGIVE THOSE WHO OFFENDED YOU.
GOD LOVES YOU AND HOLDS OUT HIS ARMS WAITING FOR YOU TO LOVE HIM BACK.
GOD LOVES YOU AND HE PROMISES NEVER TO LEAVE YOUR SIDE.
GOD LOVES YOU AND WANTS YOU TO KNOW THAT THIS LIFE IS JUST THE FRONT PORCH OF THE MANSION WHICH HE HAS PREPARED FOR US TO SPEND OUR ETERNITY WITH HIM.
ONE TIME AN OLD AMERICAN INDIAN WAS VISITING NEW YORK FOR THE FIRST TIME. AS HE WAS WALKING DOWN BROADWAY WITH HIS HOST, HE STOPPED AND SAID, “LISTEN, I HEAR A CRICKET!” HIS HOST SAID, “HOW CAN THAT BE? TAXIS ARE HONKING THEIR HORNS, PEOPLE ARE SHOUTING, BRAKES ARE SQUEALING, AND WE HAVE TO YELL AT EACH OTHER TO BE HEARD.” THE OLD INDIAN WENT OVER TO A SMALL GREEN PLANT AND RAISED A LEAF, AND THERE WAS A CRICKET. “YOU CAN ALWAYS HEAR WHAT YOU ARE LISTENING FOR.” AND HE TOOK OUT A HANDFUL OF COINS FROM HIS POCKET AND DROPPED THEM. ALL THE PEOPLE WITHIN 50 FEET SUDDENLY STOPPED TALKING AND TURNED TO THE SOUND FOR WHICH THEY WERE LISTENING.
MOST OF US ARE DEAF, OR AT LEAST HARD OF HEARING. EVEN SO, WE CAN HEAR WHAT WE LISTEN FOR. HOW WE NEED TO HEAR THOSE WORDS OF OUR ANGEL, “GOD LOVES YOU. GOD LOVES YOU ESPECIALLY.” IF WE REALLY AND TRULY HEAR THOSE WORDS, THEY WILL COMPLETELY CHANGE OUR LIVES. THOSE WERE THE WORDS THAT MADE FRANCIS A GREAT SAINT. THOSE WORDS COMFORTED ST. LAWRENCE AND ST. THOMAS MORE AS THEY DIED FOR THEIR FAITH. THOSE WORDS GAVE ST. JOHN VIANNEY THE STRENGTH TO TIRELESSLY STRIVE TO TURN HIS INDIFFERENT PARISH INTO ONE THAT WAS TRANSFORMED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. AND WHEN WE HEAR THOSE WORDS IN OUR OWN HEARTS, WHEN WE REALLY HEAR THEM, WE WILL BE CHANGED AS WELL, FOR IF WE THINK ABOUT WHAT IT REALLY MEANS THAT GOD LOVES US, THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN HOLD US BACK.
TODAY LET US ASK JESUS TO OPEN OUR EARS, SO THAT WE CAN HEAR OUR ANGEL AGAIN, WHO WHISPERS “GOD LOVES YOU, GOD LOVES YOU IN A SPECIAL WAY” INTO THE EARS OF OUR SOULS. AND LET US ASK JESUS TO TOUCH OUR TONGUES SO THAT WE CAN TELL THE TRUTH TO EVERYONE WE MEET - “GOD LOVES YOU.”
HAVE YOU EVER WATCHED A LITTLE BABY? SOMETIMES FOR NO OBVIOUS REASON SHE WILL CLOSE HER EYES AND SMILE, AND MAKE GURGLING NOISES. SHE LOOKS LIKE SHE HAS JUST WITNESSED SOMETHING WONDERFUL. THERE IS AN OLD LEGEND – AFTER ADAM AND EVE WERE DRIVEN OUT OF PARADISE, THEY AND THEIR CHILDREN WERE VERY SAD BECAUSE THEY FELT THAT GOD NO LONGER LOVED THEM. AND GOD TOLD HIS GUARDIAN ANGELS THAT THEIR MAIN JOB WOULD BE TO TELL THOSE THEY GUARDED THAT GOD LOVED THEM – OVER AND OVER, ALL THROUGH THEIR LIVES. AND THAT IS THE REASON BABIES LOOK DELIGHTED SOMETIMES; THEY HAVE HEARD THEIR ANGEL WHISPER THIS AWESOME TRUTH – GOD LOVES YOU, GOD LOVES YOU, ESPECIALLY!
BUT WE GROW OLDER, AND OTHER VOICES COMPETE WITH THE VOICE OF OUR ANGEL. OTHER PEOPLE; TRAFFIC IN THE STREET, PEOPLE DEMANDING THINGS, TELEVISION, THE INTERNET – IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG AND SOON WE STOP HEARING OUR ANGEL. WE BECOME DEAF TO GOD'S ASSURANCE TO US, AND WE BECOME SAD.
TODAY WE HEARD ANOTHER OF JESUS' MIRACLES; THE HEALING OF A MAN WHO WAS DEAF AND HAD A SPEECH IMPEDIMENT. WE USED TO CALL THAT CONDITION “DUMB” AND THAT'S THE WAY IT WAS ORIGINALLY TRANSLATED. BUT ITS NOT POLITICALLY CORRECT ANYMORE. AND HE HADN'T HEARD A SOUND IN WHO KNOWS HOW LONG – MAYBE YEARS, MAYBE NEVER, MAYBE JUST RECENTLY – BUT YOU CAN BE SURE HE MISSED THE ABILITY TO HEAR. I AM GETTING DEAF MYSELF. IT IS AMAZING HOW FRUSTRATING IT IS TO HEAR VOICES AND NOT QUITE CATCH SOME OF THE WORDS. AND FRUSTRATING IT IS FOR SOMEONE TO TRY TO COMMUNICATE WITH ME, WHEN I KEEP SAYING, “WHAT?” WHEN I GOT HEARING AIDS LAST JANUARY, WHAT A DIFFERENCE IT MADE!
BUT THE DEAF MAN SUDDENLY HEARS, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE FIRST THING HE HEARS IS THE VOICE OF JESUS. IT'S LIKE BEING BORN AGAIN, AND HEARING YOUR ANGEL TELLING YOU, “GOD LOVES YOU, GOD LOVES YOU IN A SPECIAL WAY.”
JESUS WORKED MANY HEALING MIRACLES. BUT AFTER HIS THREE YEARS WANDERING THE ROADS OF PALESTINE, THERE WERE ALMOST AS MANY DEAF PEOPLE IN THE WORLD AS THERE WERE BEFORE HE CAME; HE DIDN'T MAKE MUCH OF A DENT IN THE POPULATION WHO WERE BLIND OR LAME EITHER. AND WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THOSE WHO RECEIVED HIS MIRACLES, EXCEPT FOR LAZARUS, WE DON'T KNOW ANY OF THEIR NAMES; THERE IS NOTHING LEFT FOR US TO REMEMBER THEM BY. WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE WHO WITNESSED THESE MIRACLES HAD VARIOUS REACTIONS. THE PEOPLE WHO SAW THIS ONE SAID, “HE DOES ALL THINGS WELL”. SOMETIMES THE PHARISEES GNASHED THEIR TEETH AND WENT OFF TO PLOT AGAINST HIM. WHEN I HEAR THAT SOMEONE HAS WORKED A MIRACLE, I USUALLY HAVE ALMOST NO REACTION TO THE NEWS – I DON'T BELIEVE IT OR DISBELIEVE IT, I AM INDIFFERENT, I HEAR THE NEWS AND IT GOES COMPLETELY OUT OF MY MIND. AND I SUSPECT THAT PEOPLE WHO HEARD ABOUT JESUS SOMETIMES REACTED THIS WAY AS WELL, IF THEY WEREN'T EYE WITNESSES. BUT JESUS WORKED THOSE MIRACLES TO SHOW THE WORLD – TO KIND OF GIVE A PREVIEW OF COMING ATTRACTIONS – THAT WHAT OUR ANGELS ARE SAYING TO US ARE NOT JUST EMPTY WORDS – GOD LOVES YOU. GOD LOVES YOU IN A SPECIAL WAY. A DEAF MAN WHO COULDN'T MAKE HIMSELF UNDERSTOOD – A MAN WHO WAS AT THE MARGINS OF HIS SOCIETY, A MAN WHO ALMOST CERTAINLY WAS POOR, LIVING HAND TO MOUTH, A NO-ACCOUNT, A NOTHING. AND JESUS SHOWS THIS MAN THAT GOD LOVES HIM.
IF WE COULD HEAR THE WORDS, WE MIGHT HEAR,
GOD LOVES YOU, AND PROVES IT BY FORGIVING YOUR SINS.
GOD LOVES YOU, AND HE IS WITH YOU EVEN WHEN YOU ARE IN PAIN.
GOD LOVES YOU, AND HE LOVES YOUR CHILD, WHO IS DISAPPOINTING YOU, AND KEEPS GETTING INTO TROUBLE.
GOD LOVES YOU, AND IF YOU ARE SICK OR DYING, HE IS THERE, SUFFERING WITH YOU, TAKING YOUR HAND AND GUIDING YOU TO RESURRECTION.
GOD LOVES YOU AND GIVES YOU FORGIVENESS OF SIN SO THAT YOU WILL FORGIVE THOSE WHO OFFENDED YOU.
GOD LOVES YOU AND HOLDS OUT HIS ARMS WAITING FOR YOU TO LOVE HIM BACK.
GOD LOVES YOU AND HE PROMISES NEVER TO LEAVE YOUR SIDE.
GOD LOVES YOU AND WANTS YOU TO KNOW THAT THIS LIFE IS JUST THE FRONT PORCH OF THE MANSION WHICH HE HAS PREPARED FOR US TO SPEND OUR ETERNITY WITH HIM.
ONE TIME AN OLD AMERICAN INDIAN WAS VISITING NEW YORK FOR THE FIRST TIME. AS HE WAS WALKING DOWN BROADWAY WITH HIS HOST, HE STOPPED AND SAID, “LISTEN, I HEAR A CRICKET!” HIS HOST SAID, “HOW CAN THAT BE? TAXIS ARE HONKING THEIR HORNS, PEOPLE ARE SHOUTING, BRAKES ARE SQUEALING, AND WE HAVE TO YELL AT EACH OTHER TO BE HEARD.” THE OLD INDIAN WENT OVER TO A SMALL GREEN PLANT AND RAISED A LEAF, AND THERE WAS A CRICKET. “YOU CAN ALWAYS HEAR WHAT YOU ARE LISTENING FOR.” AND HE TOOK OUT A HANDFUL OF COINS FROM HIS POCKET AND DROPPED THEM. ALL THE PEOPLE WITHIN 50 FEET SUDDENLY STOPPED TALKING AND TURNED TO THE SOUND FOR WHICH THEY WERE LISTENING.
MOST OF US ARE DEAF, OR AT LEAST HARD OF HEARING. EVEN SO, WE CAN HEAR WHAT WE LISTEN FOR. HOW WE NEED TO HEAR THOSE WORDS OF OUR ANGEL, “GOD LOVES YOU. GOD LOVES YOU ESPECIALLY.” IF WE REALLY AND TRULY HEAR THOSE WORDS, THEY WILL COMPLETELY CHANGE OUR LIVES. THOSE WERE THE WORDS THAT MADE FRANCIS A GREAT SAINT. THOSE WORDS COMFORTED ST. LAWRENCE AND ST. THOMAS MORE AS THEY DIED FOR THEIR FAITH. THOSE WORDS GAVE ST. JOHN VIANNEY THE STRENGTH TO TIRELESSLY STRIVE TO TURN HIS INDIFFERENT PARISH INTO ONE THAT WAS TRANSFORMED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. AND WHEN WE HEAR THOSE WORDS IN OUR OWN HEARTS, WHEN WE REALLY HEAR THEM, WE WILL BE CHANGED AS WELL, FOR IF WE THINK ABOUT WHAT IT REALLY MEANS THAT GOD LOVES US, THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN HOLD US BACK.
TODAY LET US ASK JESUS TO OPEN OUR EARS, SO THAT WE CAN HEAR OUR ANGEL AGAIN, WHO WHISPERS “GOD LOVES YOU, GOD LOVES YOU IN A SPECIAL WAY” INTO THE EARS OF OUR SOULS. AND LET US ASK JESUS TO TOUCH OUR TONGUES SO THAT WE CAN TELL THE TRUTH TO EVERYONE WE MEET - “GOD LOVES YOU.”
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Twenty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle B
MARK 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
THERE IS A TENSION IN EVERY RELIGION – THERE ARE TRUTHS TO BE BELIEVED, AND A SET OF BEHAVIORS TO BE FOLLOWED OR AVOIDED. WE READ EVERY DAY ABOUT THE STRUGGLES IN EUROPE WHERE THE MUSLIM MINORITY INSISTS THAT THEIR WOMEN WEAR HEAD COVERINGS AND SOMETIMES TOTAL BODY COVERINGS IN PUBLIC; AND IN FRANCE, AT LEAST, THIS IS AGAINST THE LAW, CONSIDERED AN OFFENSE AGAINST THE WHOLE IDEA OF DEMOCRACY. WE CHRISTIANS HAVE LONG BEEN OF THE OPINION, AND WE CAN SUPPORT IT BY OUR NEW TESTAMENT WRITINGS, THAT IF YOU ARE AN ORTHODOX JEW, YOU ARE MIRED IN LAW, EVERY WHERE YOU TURN, THERE IS A LAW THAT YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW; AND JESUS CAME TO OVERTHROW THAT LAW. BUT THEN OUR PROTESTANT NEIGHBORS LOOK AT US CATHOLICS AND SEE THE SAME THING, AT LEAST IN TERMS OF OFFICIAL TEACHINGS; THEY SEE OUR CHURCH AS A CHURCH OF LAW, WHILE THEIRS IS ALL ABOUT FAITH.
AND AT THE SAME TIME, THERE ARE MANY BOTH IN AND OUT OF OUR CHURCH, WHO FEEL THAT WHAT YOU BELIEVE ISN'T NEARLY AS IMPORTANT AS WHAT YOU DO, AND ALONG WITH THIS GOES THE NOTION THAT IF YOUR BEHAVIOR DOESN'T HURT ANYONE, DOESN'T SCANDALIZE ANYONE, THEN IT CAN'T BE SINFUL; IN OTHER WORDS, THERE IS NO REAL LAW TO FOLLOW. FAITH IS WHAT MATTERS, DEEDS ARE MEANINGLESS.
AND I SAY THAT THIS IS A TENSION, AND EVERY RELIGION HAS TO ADDRESS IT. IS IT WHAT WE THINK? OR IS IT WHAT WE DO? AND TODAY'S READINGS HIGHLIGHT THIS TENSION AGAIN. IN THE FIRST READING, MOSES PROUDLY POINTS TO THE STATUTES AND DECREES THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO THE PEOPLE AS A SIGN OF THEIR GREATNESS, OF THEIR CLOSENESS TO GOD. IN THE PSALM IT IS ABOUT DOING JUSTICE, ABOUT AVOIDING HARM TO ONE'S FELLOW MAN. IN THE EPISTLE, WE ARE TOLD THAT RELIGION IS TO CARE FOR ORPHANS AND WIDOWS, AND TO KEEP ONESELF UNSTAINED BY THE WORLD. AND IN THE GOSPEL, JESUS CONDEMNS THE PHARISEES BECAUSE THEY HAVE IMPLIED THAT IT IS ONE'S BEHAVIOR THAT MATTERS, WHILE JESUS SAYS IT IS ONE'S INNER DISPOSITION, FROM WHICH BEHAVIOR FLOWS.
A FEW YEARS AGO I WAS APPROACHED BY A PARISHIONER WHO WANTED ME TO TELL A YOUNG MAN THAT HE SHOULD REMOVE HIS HAT IN CHURCH. I HAD SEEN THIS YOUNG MAN IN CHURCH EVERY SUNDAY, WEARING SHORTS, TENNIS SHOES, A SLEEVELESS T-SHIRT, AND YES, A BASEBALL CAP TURNED AROUND WITH THE BRIM ON THE BACK. MY REACTION HAD NOT BEEN THAT HE WAS INAPPROPRIATELY DRESSED; I WAS HAPPY TO SEE SOMEONE OF HIS AGE WHO TOOK HIS SUNDAY OBLIGATION SERIOUSLY ENOUGH TO COME, UNLIKE THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR TEENAGE CATHOLICS. BUT I DID APPROACH HIM AND VERY QUIETLY AND DISCRETELY SUGGESTED THAT HE SHOULD TAKE HIS CAP OFF IN MASS. I NEVER SAW HIM AGAIN. I HOPE HE CONTINUED TO GO TO MASS SOMEWHERE ELSE, PERHAPS WHERE THE PARISHIONERS ARE MORE ACCEPTING, AND THE DEACON HAD THOUGHT MORE SERIOUSLY ABOUT TODAY'S GOSPEL.
SO WHAT IS IT? WHAT WE DO, OR WHAT WE BELIEVE? IS IT FAITH OR IS IT THE LAW? DO RULES AND RITUALS AND CUSTOMS MATTER? OR IS ALL THAT IS IMPORTANT IS HOW WE ACT?
I THINK THERE IS AN ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION. IN MY LIFE, IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO USE THE LAWS WE ARE GIVEN BY OUR FAITH TO FORM MY INMOST SELF, SO THAT WHAT COMES OUT OF ME, WHAT ACTIONS I PERFORM, ARE CONSISTENT WITH THOSE RULES; AND AT THE SAME TIME, TO EXAMINE MY ACTIONS, SO THAT I CAN MORE PERFECTLY FORM THE CONSCIENCE BEHIND THE ACTIONS. I CAN BE THE GREATEST THEOLOGIAN IN THE WORLD, BUT IF IT REMAINS IN MY HEAD, I'M IN BIG TROUBLE. I CAN SPEND MY LIFE SERVING THE POOREST OF THE POOR, BUT IF THIS SERVICE IS NOT GROUNDED IN LOVE OF GOD AND LOVE OF NEIGHBOR, IN OTHER WORDS, IN THE COMMANDMENTS, I MIGHT AS WELL NOT BOTHER. THE IDEA IS TO MOVE FROM ACTION TO CONTEMPLATION, FROM CONTEMPLATION TO REVELATION, AND THEN BACK TO ACTION. AND IF WE MANAGE TO MAKE THIS A HABIT, WE HAVE RESOLVED IN OURSELVES THE TENSION IN OUR RELIGION.
THERE IS ANOTHER PART TO ALL OF THIS. THE PHARISEES WE MEET TODAY PERHAPS CAN BE GIVEN THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT. TO THEM, THE HOLIER YOU ARE, THE BETTER YOU KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS. HERE IS JESUS PREACHING A MESSAGE IN WHICH HE IS CALLING PEOPLE TO HOLINESS, AND YET, THOSE CLOSEST TO HIM ARE NOT DEMONSTRATING HOLINESS. TO THE PHARISEES, AND TO MODERN ORTHODOX JEWS, KEEPING THE COMMANDMENTS, ALL 613 OF THEM, IS A SIGN OF YOUR INWARD DISPOSITION, OF YOUR DESIRE TO PLEASE GOD. AND THAT WAS THE POINT OF THE QUESTION OF THE PHARISEES. AND YOU AND I ARE LIKE THAT. WE ARE ALWAYS JUDGING, AND THE ONLY WAY WE CAN JUDGE IS BY LOOKING AT THE BEHAVIOR OF ANOTHER PERSON. WE DON'T KNOW THE MOTIVES BEHIND THE BEHAVIOR; WE DON'T SEE OUR NEIGHBOR'S HEART. BUT WE STILL JUDGE, WE STILL DECIDE THAT THERE IS SOMETHING IRREVERENT ABOUT A YOUNG MAN WEARING A HAT IN CHURCH. BUT LOOK AT THE EVILS THAT JESUS LISTS THAT COME FROM WITHIN AND DEFILE. IF YOU WERE TO MEET SOMEONE TODAY, EVEN SOMEONE SITTING NEXT TO YOU IN CHURCH, YOU WOULD HAVE NO WAY OF TELLING WHETHER THAT PERSON WAS GUILTY OF ANY OF THESE EVILS. IF HE OR SHE IS WELL DRESSED, APPEARS PIOUS AND ATTENTIVE, YOU WILL PROBABLY FORM THE JUDGMENT THAT THIS IS A GOOD PERSON. AND HOW WRONG YOU WOULD BE. I THINK THAT IS PART OF JESUS' MESSAGE TODAY – WHEN WE FORM JUDGMENTS, WHETHER GOOD OR BAD, ABOUT ANOTHER PERSON, WE ARE USUALLY WRONG, AND EVEN IF WE ARE RIGHT, WE ARE NOT QUITE RIGHT. AND YET, ONCE WE FORM A JUDGMENT THAT CRYSTALLIZES OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THAT PERSON. WE NO LONGER TRY TO KNOW THE REAL PERSON, BUT WE STOP SHORT OF FORMING AN AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIP BECAUSE WE HAVE JUDGED AND DRAWN OUR CONCLUSIONS. A MARRIED COUPLE WHO REMAIN MARRIED FOR 50 YEARS KNOWS THAT THE JUDGMENTS FORMED BACK WHEN THEY FIRST MET ARE ENTIRELY WRONG, AND MUST BE GOTTEN OUT OF THE WAY TO FORM AN AUTHENTIC LOVING RELATIONSHIP. HOW TRUE THAT MUST BE FOR ALL RELATIONSHIPS. AND THAT IS WHY THE PHARISEES ARE HYPOCRITES. THEY HAVE JUDGED, THEY HAVE OBJECTIFIED, THEY HAVE THROWN UP A BARRIER SO THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE TO KNOW, REALLY KNOW, A PERSON.
SO MAYBE TODAY'S READINGS CAN BE SUMMED UP BY CALLING TO MIND A SAYING OF JESUS. “BEFORE YOU REMOVE THE SPLINTER FROM YOUR NEIGHBOR'S EYE, GET THE TWO-BY-FOUR OUT OF YOUR OWN EYE.” OUR GOAL IS TO FORM OURSELVES INTO CHRISTIANS, INTO CHRIST-LIKE PEOPLE, AND TO PUT NO BARRIERS IN FRONT OF OTHERS.
THERE IS A TENSION IN EVERY RELIGION – THERE ARE TRUTHS TO BE BELIEVED, AND A SET OF BEHAVIORS TO BE FOLLOWED OR AVOIDED. WE READ EVERY DAY ABOUT THE STRUGGLES IN EUROPE WHERE THE MUSLIM MINORITY INSISTS THAT THEIR WOMEN WEAR HEAD COVERINGS AND SOMETIMES TOTAL BODY COVERINGS IN PUBLIC; AND IN FRANCE, AT LEAST, THIS IS AGAINST THE LAW, CONSIDERED AN OFFENSE AGAINST THE WHOLE IDEA OF DEMOCRACY. WE CHRISTIANS HAVE LONG BEEN OF THE OPINION, AND WE CAN SUPPORT IT BY OUR NEW TESTAMENT WRITINGS, THAT IF YOU ARE AN ORTHODOX JEW, YOU ARE MIRED IN LAW, EVERY WHERE YOU TURN, THERE IS A LAW THAT YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW; AND JESUS CAME TO OVERTHROW THAT LAW. BUT THEN OUR PROTESTANT NEIGHBORS LOOK AT US CATHOLICS AND SEE THE SAME THING, AT LEAST IN TERMS OF OFFICIAL TEACHINGS; THEY SEE OUR CHURCH AS A CHURCH OF LAW, WHILE THEIRS IS ALL ABOUT FAITH.
AND AT THE SAME TIME, THERE ARE MANY BOTH IN AND OUT OF OUR CHURCH, WHO FEEL THAT WHAT YOU BELIEVE ISN'T NEARLY AS IMPORTANT AS WHAT YOU DO, AND ALONG WITH THIS GOES THE NOTION THAT IF YOUR BEHAVIOR DOESN'T HURT ANYONE, DOESN'T SCANDALIZE ANYONE, THEN IT CAN'T BE SINFUL; IN OTHER WORDS, THERE IS NO REAL LAW TO FOLLOW. FAITH IS WHAT MATTERS, DEEDS ARE MEANINGLESS.
AND I SAY THAT THIS IS A TENSION, AND EVERY RELIGION HAS TO ADDRESS IT. IS IT WHAT WE THINK? OR IS IT WHAT WE DO? AND TODAY'S READINGS HIGHLIGHT THIS TENSION AGAIN. IN THE FIRST READING, MOSES PROUDLY POINTS TO THE STATUTES AND DECREES THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO THE PEOPLE AS A SIGN OF THEIR GREATNESS, OF THEIR CLOSENESS TO GOD. IN THE PSALM IT IS ABOUT DOING JUSTICE, ABOUT AVOIDING HARM TO ONE'S FELLOW MAN. IN THE EPISTLE, WE ARE TOLD THAT RELIGION IS TO CARE FOR ORPHANS AND WIDOWS, AND TO KEEP ONESELF UNSTAINED BY THE WORLD. AND IN THE GOSPEL, JESUS CONDEMNS THE PHARISEES BECAUSE THEY HAVE IMPLIED THAT IT IS ONE'S BEHAVIOR THAT MATTERS, WHILE JESUS SAYS IT IS ONE'S INNER DISPOSITION, FROM WHICH BEHAVIOR FLOWS.
A FEW YEARS AGO I WAS APPROACHED BY A PARISHIONER WHO WANTED ME TO TELL A YOUNG MAN THAT HE SHOULD REMOVE HIS HAT IN CHURCH. I HAD SEEN THIS YOUNG MAN IN CHURCH EVERY SUNDAY, WEARING SHORTS, TENNIS SHOES, A SLEEVELESS T-SHIRT, AND YES, A BASEBALL CAP TURNED AROUND WITH THE BRIM ON THE BACK. MY REACTION HAD NOT BEEN THAT HE WAS INAPPROPRIATELY DRESSED; I WAS HAPPY TO SEE SOMEONE OF HIS AGE WHO TOOK HIS SUNDAY OBLIGATION SERIOUSLY ENOUGH TO COME, UNLIKE THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR TEENAGE CATHOLICS. BUT I DID APPROACH HIM AND VERY QUIETLY AND DISCRETELY SUGGESTED THAT HE SHOULD TAKE HIS CAP OFF IN MASS. I NEVER SAW HIM AGAIN. I HOPE HE CONTINUED TO GO TO MASS SOMEWHERE ELSE, PERHAPS WHERE THE PARISHIONERS ARE MORE ACCEPTING, AND THE DEACON HAD THOUGHT MORE SERIOUSLY ABOUT TODAY'S GOSPEL.
SO WHAT IS IT? WHAT WE DO, OR WHAT WE BELIEVE? IS IT FAITH OR IS IT THE LAW? DO RULES AND RITUALS AND CUSTOMS MATTER? OR IS ALL THAT IS IMPORTANT IS HOW WE ACT?
I THINK THERE IS AN ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION. IN MY LIFE, IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO USE THE LAWS WE ARE GIVEN BY OUR FAITH TO FORM MY INMOST SELF, SO THAT WHAT COMES OUT OF ME, WHAT ACTIONS I PERFORM, ARE CONSISTENT WITH THOSE RULES; AND AT THE SAME TIME, TO EXAMINE MY ACTIONS, SO THAT I CAN MORE PERFECTLY FORM THE CONSCIENCE BEHIND THE ACTIONS. I CAN BE THE GREATEST THEOLOGIAN IN THE WORLD, BUT IF IT REMAINS IN MY HEAD, I'M IN BIG TROUBLE. I CAN SPEND MY LIFE SERVING THE POOREST OF THE POOR, BUT IF THIS SERVICE IS NOT GROUNDED IN LOVE OF GOD AND LOVE OF NEIGHBOR, IN OTHER WORDS, IN THE COMMANDMENTS, I MIGHT AS WELL NOT BOTHER. THE IDEA IS TO MOVE FROM ACTION TO CONTEMPLATION, FROM CONTEMPLATION TO REVELATION, AND THEN BACK TO ACTION. AND IF WE MANAGE TO MAKE THIS A HABIT, WE HAVE RESOLVED IN OURSELVES THE TENSION IN OUR RELIGION.
THERE IS ANOTHER PART TO ALL OF THIS. THE PHARISEES WE MEET TODAY PERHAPS CAN BE GIVEN THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT. TO THEM, THE HOLIER YOU ARE, THE BETTER YOU KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS. HERE IS JESUS PREACHING A MESSAGE IN WHICH HE IS CALLING PEOPLE TO HOLINESS, AND YET, THOSE CLOSEST TO HIM ARE NOT DEMONSTRATING HOLINESS. TO THE PHARISEES, AND TO MODERN ORTHODOX JEWS, KEEPING THE COMMANDMENTS, ALL 613 OF THEM, IS A SIGN OF YOUR INWARD DISPOSITION, OF YOUR DESIRE TO PLEASE GOD. AND THAT WAS THE POINT OF THE QUESTION OF THE PHARISEES. AND YOU AND I ARE LIKE THAT. WE ARE ALWAYS JUDGING, AND THE ONLY WAY WE CAN JUDGE IS BY LOOKING AT THE BEHAVIOR OF ANOTHER PERSON. WE DON'T KNOW THE MOTIVES BEHIND THE BEHAVIOR; WE DON'T SEE OUR NEIGHBOR'S HEART. BUT WE STILL JUDGE, WE STILL DECIDE THAT THERE IS SOMETHING IRREVERENT ABOUT A YOUNG MAN WEARING A HAT IN CHURCH. BUT LOOK AT THE EVILS THAT JESUS LISTS THAT COME FROM WITHIN AND DEFILE. IF YOU WERE TO MEET SOMEONE TODAY, EVEN SOMEONE SITTING NEXT TO YOU IN CHURCH, YOU WOULD HAVE NO WAY OF TELLING WHETHER THAT PERSON WAS GUILTY OF ANY OF THESE EVILS. IF HE OR SHE IS WELL DRESSED, APPEARS PIOUS AND ATTENTIVE, YOU WILL PROBABLY FORM THE JUDGMENT THAT THIS IS A GOOD PERSON. AND HOW WRONG YOU WOULD BE. I THINK THAT IS PART OF JESUS' MESSAGE TODAY – WHEN WE FORM JUDGMENTS, WHETHER GOOD OR BAD, ABOUT ANOTHER PERSON, WE ARE USUALLY WRONG, AND EVEN IF WE ARE RIGHT, WE ARE NOT QUITE RIGHT. AND YET, ONCE WE FORM A JUDGMENT THAT CRYSTALLIZES OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THAT PERSON. WE NO LONGER TRY TO KNOW THE REAL PERSON, BUT WE STOP SHORT OF FORMING AN AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIP BECAUSE WE HAVE JUDGED AND DRAWN OUR CONCLUSIONS. A MARRIED COUPLE WHO REMAIN MARRIED FOR 50 YEARS KNOWS THAT THE JUDGMENTS FORMED BACK WHEN THEY FIRST MET ARE ENTIRELY WRONG, AND MUST BE GOTTEN OUT OF THE WAY TO FORM AN AUTHENTIC LOVING RELATIONSHIP. HOW TRUE THAT MUST BE FOR ALL RELATIONSHIPS. AND THAT IS WHY THE PHARISEES ARE HYPOCRITES. THEY HAVE JUDGED, THEY HAVE OBJECTIFIED, THEY HAVE THROWN UP A BARRIER SO THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE TO KNOW, REALLY KNOW, A PERSON.
SO MAYBE TODAY'S READINGS CAN BE SUMMED UP BY CALLING TO MIND A SAYING OF JESUS. “BEFORE YOU REMOVE THE SPLINTER FROM YOUR NEIGHBOR'S EYE, GET THE TWO-BY-FOUR OUT OF YOUR OWN EYE.” OUR GOAL IS TO FORM OURSELVES INTO CHRISTIANS, INTO CHRIST-LIKE PEOPLE, AND TO PUT NO BARRIERS IN FRONT OF OTHERS.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle B
EPHESIANS 5:21-32
IN THE GOSPEL READING, THE PEOPLE WHO LEAVE JESUS SAY, “THIS IS A HARD SAYING, WHO CAN ACCEPT IT?” BUT YOU AND I, CONDITIONED BY A LIFETIME OF HEARING THAT THE EUCHARIST IS THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST, DON'T SEE THE PROBLEM. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE REAL HARD SAYING FOR US TODAY IS FROM THE EPISTLE, WHEN PAUL TELLS HIS FOLLOWERS THAT WIVES SHOULD BE SUBORDINATE TO THEIR HUSBANDS IN EVERYTHING. EVEN OUR CHURCH IS SQUEAMISH ABOUT THIS; WE ARE GIVEN THE OPTION OF READING THE EPISTLE IN THE “SHORT FORM” WHICH LEAVES OUT TWO SENTENCES THAT MIGHT CONCEIVABLY BE SEEN AS SEXIST OR ANTI-FEMINIST.
BUT THIS IS THE WORD OF GOD AND WE OWE IT TO OURSELVES TO READ CAREFULLY WHAT PAUL IS SAYING. PEOPLE HAVE SAID THAT PAUL WAS CONDITIONED BY HIS TIME – AND SO HE WAS. SOME SAY THAT PAUL'S OVERALL MESSAGE IS A LOT MORE ENLIGHTENED THAN OTHER ATTITUDES TOWARDS WOMEN IN THOSE DAYS – AND IT PROBABLY WAS – HE DID, AFTER ALL, SAY THAT IN CHRIST JESUS THERE IS NO MALE OR FEMALE. BUT THE PASSAGE CANNOT BE SEEN AS A RELIC OF THE DISTANT PAST, NO LONGER RELEVANT TO MODERN CHRISTIANS.
THE WAY TO UNDERSTAND THIS PASSAGE, I THINK, IS TO BEGIN BY THINKING ABOUT MATRIMONY – THE SACRAMENT. OUR CHURCH RECOGNIZES THAT MARRIAGE HAS EXISTED A LONG TIME BEFORE THERE WAS EVER A CHURCH, AND THAT MARRIAGE BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN, REGARDLESS OF THEIR BELIEFS, IS A GOOD THING, A BLESSED THING; BUT IF THE TWO ARE NOT BAPTIZED CHRISTIANS, IT IS NOT A SACRAMENT. A SACRAMENT, OF COURSE, IS A SIGN INSTITUTED BY CHRIST, WHICH CAUSES WHAT IT SIGNIFIES. AND THIS PASSAGE FROM THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS EXPLICITLY MENTIONS WHAT THE SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE IS A SIGN OF – THE LOVE BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH.
PAUL BEGINS BY SAYING, IF YOU READ THE GREEK WORDS, SOMETHING LIKE “PUT YOURSELVES IN SUBMISSION TO ONE ANOTHER.” THE REST OF THE PASSAGE ELABORATES ON THIS THEME – WIVES SUBMIT THEMSELVES TO THEIR HUSBANDS VOLUNTARILY – IT IS NOT SOMETHING THEY HAVE TO DO, IT IS NOT SOMETHING THE HUSBAND CAN DEMAND OF HIS WIFE; IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT EVEN SOCIETY OR THE CHURCH CAN DEMAND; IT IS AN ACT THAT REQUIRES THE FREEDOM TO DO SO; ONLY A FREE PERSON CAN SUBMIT HIMSELF OR HERSELF TO ANOTHER PERSON. AND THAT VOLUNTARY SUBMISSION IS A SIGN OF HOW THE CHURCH MUST SUBMIT HERSELF TO CHRIST. BUT PAUL GOES ON TO SAY THAT THE HUSBAND MUST LOVE HIS WIFE, EVEN AS CHRIST LOVED THE CHURCH AND HANDED HIMSELF OVER FOR HER – SO THAT SHE MIGHT BE HOLY AND WITHOUT BLEMISH. THE HUSBAND'S LOVE FOR HIS WIFE HAS TO BE SELF SACRIFICING, HAS TO BE EMPOWERING, HAS TO PUT HER NEEDS BEFORE HIS OWN. THAT IS HOW CHRIST LOVES HIS CHURCH, AFTER ALL. AND PAUL INSISTS – THE TWO ARE ONE FLESH. AND THAT MEANS THAT IN THE IDEAL MARRIAGE, IN THE SACRAMENT, BEHIND THE SUBMISSION AND THE SELF-SACRIFICING LOVE IS A SENSE OF MUTUAL PURPOSE; THE HUSBAND AND WIFE, WITH RESPECT TO THEIR RELATIONSHIP, ARE OF ONE MIND, ONE PURPOSE. THEY DO NOT LOSE THEIR IDENTITIES; THEY BOTH HAVE LIVES. BUT WHEN THEY LIVE THEIR RELATIONSHIP, THEY LIVE FOR EACH OTHER.
WHEN A BAPTIZED MAN AND WOMAN MARRY, THEY DESIRE THE SAME THINGS THAT AN UNBAPTIZED COUPLE WANT – SUMMED UP IN A LOVING LIFE-LONG RELATIONSHIP, AND THE CREATION OF A FAMILY. BUT THE SACRAMENT PART IS EXCLUSIVE FOR THE BAPTIZED – THEY HAVE THE ADDITIONAL MISSION OF LIVING SO THAT THEIR MARRIAGE SHOWS THE WORLD THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH. WE NEVER QUITE REACH THIS GOAL ENTIRELY, OF COURSE. AND AS TIMES CHANGE, AS OUR SOCIETY CHANGES, OUR MARRIAGE IS SUPPOSED TO SHOW THIS RELATIONSHIP IN CONTEMPORARY TERMS. IF WE SEE THAT THIS IS THE SACRAMENTAL PART OF OUR RELATIONSHIP, WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO SHOW HOW CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH ARE RELATED. DOES SUBMISSION MEAN THAT THE HUSBAND MAKES THE RULES AND THE WIFE FOLLOWS THEM? NO. DOES IT MEAN THAT EVERY CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE LOOKS LIKE EVERY OTHER ONE? NO. IN FACT, EVERY CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE SHOULD BE UNIQUE; THE LOVE BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH CANNOT BE REFLECTED IN ONLY ONE CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE; IT REQUIRES THEM ALL. BOTH MUST SUBMIT THEMSELVES, BOTH MUST LOVE THE OTHER WITH CHRIST-LIKE LOVE. BUT PAUL RECOGNIZES SOMETHING ABOUT MEN IN GENERAL AND WOMEN IN GENERAL; HE RECOGNIZES THAT MEN, ALL FULL OF TESTOSTERONE AND CONDITIONED BY AGE-OLD GENDER ROLES, WANT TO BE THE BOSS, THEY WANT TO DOMINATE; AND HE RECOGNIZES THAT WOMEN, ALSO CONDITIONED BY HORMONES AND GENDER ROLES, DO NOT REALLY WANT TO PUT THEMSELVES IN SUBMISSION TO THEIR HUSBANDS, ESPECIALLY, PERHAPS, AFTER SHE LEARNS THAT HER HUSBAND IS NOT THE KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR THAT SHE THOUGHT HE WAS. BUT WHEN THE SPOUSES LIVE THE SIGN THAT THEY ARE MEANT TO BE TO THE WORLD, THIS IS THE KEY TO HAPPINESS WHICH WILL OUTLAST YOUTH, AND BEAUTY, AND WILL LAST THROUGH THE AGES.
THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY IS A GREAT CALLING. IT IS A LIFE-LONG ATTEMPT BY THE CHRISTIAN COUPLE TO LIVE THEIR LIVES SO THAT PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THEIR CHILDREN, WILL SEE HOW THE CHURCH SUBMITS HERSELF TO HER HEAD; AND HOW CHRIST GIVES HIMSELF UP FOR HIS BRIDE. AND IF THE WOMAN SAYS, “I DO NOT WANT TO PUT MYSELF IN SUBMISSION TO MY HUSBAND” OR THE HUSBAND SAYS, “I DON'T WANT TO GIVE MYSELF UP FOR MY WIFE,” THEY ARE MISSING THE POINT. PAUL IS NOT DEMANDING SUCH BEHAVIOR OF MARRIED CHRISTIANS; HE IS DESCRIBING A CALLING WE MARRIED CHRISTIANS HAVE, BUT NEVER QUITE LIVE UP TO.
BUT IT STILL RANKLES US. PAUL SAYS IN ONE PLACE THAT IN CHRIST THERE IS NO MALE OR FEMALE; BUT IN CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE, THERE SEEMS TO BE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR CALLING. BUT TO PAUL, A WOMAN IS NOT A SLAVE; A MAN IS NOT A MASTER; AND IF BOTH SUBMIT THEMSELVES TO EACH OTHER, IF A WOMAN TRIES TO SHOW HOW THE CHURCH SHOULD BE TO CHRIST; IF A MAN SHOWS HOW CHRIST IS TO HIS CHURCH, THEN THAT MARRIAGE IS TRULY MATRIMONY, THE SACRAMENT. AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THESE CALLINGS ARE THE SAME; THEY HAVE TO DO WITH MUTUAL SELF-GIVING; MUTUAL EMPTYING OUT FOR THE OTHER.
MARTIN LUTHER SAID THAT A WIFE SHOULD TREAT HER HUSBAND SO THAT HE IS ALWAYS GLAD TO COME HOME IN THE EVENING; AND THE HUSBAND SHOULD TREAT HIS WIFE SO THAT SHE IS SORRY TO SEE HIM GO IN THE MORNING. THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD FIRST STEP TOWARDS THE HOLY VOCATION OF MATRIMONY. MANY OF US WHO HAVE BEEN MARRIED A LONG TIME HAVE SLIPPED INTO RUTS. WE ARE NOT UNHAPPY, BUT THE DAYS PASS WITHOUT MUCH CHANGE. TODAY FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE MARRIED, LET US LOOK AT OUR RELATIONSHIP ONCE AGAIN, AND THINK ABOUT THE GREAT SACRAMENT WHICH WE HAVE RECEIVED AND WHICH IS OUR CALLING – TO REFLECT THE ETERNAL RELATIONSHIP JESUS HAS WITH HIS CHURCH.
IN THE GOSPEL READING, THE PEOPLE WHO LEAVE JESUS SAY, “THIS IS A HARD SAYING, WHO CAN ACCEPT IT?” BUT YOU AND I, CONDITIONED BY A LIFETIME OF HEARING THAT THE EUCHARIST IS THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST, DON'T SEE THE PROBLEM. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE REAL HARD SAYING FOR US TODAY IS FROM THE EPISTLE, WHEN PAUL TELLS HIS FOLLOWERS THAT WIVES SHOULD BE SUBORDINATE TO THEIR HUSBANDS IN EVERYTHING. EVEN OUR CHURCH IS SQUEAMISH ABOUT THIS; WE ARE GIVEN THE OPTION OF READING THE EPISTLE IN THE “SHORT FORM” WHICH LEAVES OUT TWO SENTENCES THAT MIGHT CONCEIVABLY BE SEEN AS SEXIST OR ANTI-FEMINIST.
BUT THIS IS THE WORD OF GOD AND WE OWE IT TO OURSELVES TO READ CAREFULLY WHAT PAUL IS SAYING. PEOPLE HAVE SAID THAT PAUL WAS CONDITIONED BY HIS TIME – AND SO HE WAS. SOME SAY THAT PAUL'S OVERALL MESSAGE IS A LOT MORE ENLIGHTENED THAN OTHER ATTITUDES TOWARDS WOMEN IN THOSE DAYS – AND IT PROBABLY WAS – HE DID, AFTER ALL, SAY THAT IN CHRIST JESUS THERE IS NO MALE OR FEMALE. BUT THE PASSAGE CANNOT BE SEEN AS A RELIC OF THE DISTANT PAST, NO LONGER RELEVANT TO MODERN CHRISTIANS.
THE WAY TO UNDERSTAND THIS PASSAGE, I THINK, IS TO BEGIN BY THINKING ABOUT MATRIMONY – THE SACRAMENT. OUR CHURCH RECOGNIZES THAT MARRIAGE HAS EXISTED A LONG TIME BEFORE THERE WAS EVER A CHURCH, AND THAT MARRIAGE BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN, REGARDLESS OF THEIR BELIEFS, IS A GOOD THING, A BLESSED THING; BUT IF THE TWO ARE NOT BAPTIZED CHRISTIANS, IT IS NOT A SACRAMENT. A SACRAMENT, OF COURSE, IS A SIGN INSTITUTED BY CHRIST, WHICH CAUSES WHAT IT SIGNIFIES. AND THIS PASSAGE FROM THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS EXPLICITLY MENTIONS WHAT THE SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE IS A SIGN OF – THE LOVE BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH.
PAUL BEGINS BY SAYING, IF YOU READ THE GREEK WORDS, SOMETHING LIKE “PUT YOURSELVES IN SUBMISSION TO ONE ANOTHER.” THE REST OF THE PASSAGE ELABORATES ON THIS THEME – WIVES SUBMIT THEMSELVES TO THEIR HUSBANDS VOLUNTARILY – IT IS NOT SOMETHING THEY HAVE TO DO, IT IS NOT SOMETHING THE HUSBAND CAN DEMAND OF HIS WIFE; IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT EVEN SOCIETY OR THE CHURCH CAN DEMAND; IT IS AN ACT THAT REQUIRES THE FREEDOM TO DO SO; ONLY A FREE PERSON CAN SUBMIT HIMSELF OR HERSELF TO ANOTHER PERSON. AND THAT VOLUNTARY SUBMISSION IS A SIGN OF HOW THE CHURCH MUST SUBMIT HERSELF TO CHRIST. BUT PAUL GOES ON TO SAY THAT THE HUSBAND MUST LOVE HIS WIFE, EVEN AS CHRIST LOVED THE CHURCH AND HANDED HIMSELF OVER FOR HER – SO THAT SHE MIGHT BE HOLY AND WITHOUT BLEMISH. THE HUSBAND'S LOVE FOR HIS WIFE HAS TO BE SELF SACRIFICING, HAS TO BE EMPOWERING, HAS TO PUT HER NEEDS BEFORE HIS OWN. THAT IS HOW CHRIST LOVES HIS CHURCH, AFTER ALL. AND PAUL INSISTS – THE TWO ARE ONE FLESH. AND THAT MEANS THAT IN THE IDEAL MARRIAGE, IN THE SACRAMENT, BEHIND THE SUBMISSION AND THE SELF-SACRIFICING LOVE IS A SENSE OF MUTUAL PURPOSE; THE HUSBAND AND WIFE, WITH RESPECT TO THEIR RELATIONSHIP, ARE OF ONE MIND, ONE PURPOSE. THEY DO NOT LOSE THEIR IDENTITIES; THEY BOTH HAVE LIVES. BUT WHEN THEY LIVE THEIR RELATIONSHIP, THEY LIVE FOR EACH OTHER.
WHEN A BAPTIZED MAN AND WOMAN MARRY, THEY DESIRE THE SAME THINGS THAT AN UNBAPTIZED COUPLE WANT – SUMMED UP IN A LOVING LIFE-LONG RELATIONSHIP, AND THE CREATION OF A FAMILY. BUT THE SACRAMENT PART IS EXCLUSIVE FOR THE BAPTIZED – THEY HAVE THE ADDITIONAL MISSION OF LIVING SO THAT THEIR MARRIAGE SHOWS THE WORLD THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH. WE NEVER QUITE REACH THIS GOAL ENTIRELY, OF COURSE. AND AS TIMES CHANGE, AS OUR SOCIETY CHANGES, OUR MARRIAGE IS SUPPOSED TO SHOW THIS RELATIONSHIP IN CONTEMPORARY TERMS. IF WE SEE THAT THIS IS THE SACRAMENTAL PART OF OUR RELATIONSHIP, WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO SHOW HOW CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH ARE RELATED. DOES SUBMISSION MEAN THAT THE HUSBAND MAKES THE RULES AND THE WIFE FOLLOWS THEM? NO. DOES IT MEAN THAT EVERY CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE LOOKS LIKE EVERY OTHER ONE? NO. IN FACT, EVERY CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE SHOULD BE UNIQUE; THE LOVE BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH CANNOT BE REFLECTED IN ONLY ONE CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE; IT REQUIRES THEM ALL. BOTH MUST SUBMIT THEMSELVES, BOTH MUST LOVE THE OTHER WITH CHRIST-LIKE LOVE. BUT PAUL RECOGNIZES SOMETHING ABOUT MEN IN GENERAL AND WOMEN IN GENERAL; HE RECOGNIZES THAT MEN, ALL FULL OF TESTOSTERONE AND CONDITIONED BY AGE-OLD GENDER ROLES, WANT TO BE THE BOSS, THEY WANT TO DOMINATE; AND HE RECOGNIZES THAT WOMEN, ALSO CONDITIONED BY HORMONES AND GENDER ROLES, DO NOT REALLY WANT TO PUT THEMSELVES IN SUBMISSION TO THEIR HUSBANDS, ESPECIALLY, PERHAPS, AFTER SHE LEARNS THAT HER HUSBAND IS NOT THE KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR THAT SHE THOUGHT HE WAS. BUT WHEN THE SPOUSES LIVE THE SIGN THAT THEY ARE MEANT TO BE TO THE WORLD, THIS IS THE KEY TO HAPPINESS WHICH WILL OUTLAST YOUTH, AND BEAUTY, AND WILL LAST THROUGH THE AGES.
THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY IS A GREAT CALLING. IT IS A LIFE-LONG ATTEMPT BY THE CHRISTIAN COUPLE TO LIVE THEIR LIVES SO THAT PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THEIR CHILDREN, WILL SEE HOW THE CHURCH SUBMITS HERSELF TO HER HEAD; AND HOW CHRIST GIVES HIMSELF UP FOR HIS BRIDE. AND IF THE WOMAN SAYS, “I DO NOT WANT TO PUT MYSELF IN SUBMISSION TO MY HUSBAND” OR THE HUSBAND SAYS, “I DON'T WANT TO GIVE MYSELF UP FOR MY WIFE,” THEY ARE MISSING THE POINT. PAUL IS NOT DEMANDING SUCH BEHAVIOR OF MARRIED CHRISTIANS; HE IS DESCRIBING A CALLING WE MARRIED CHRISTIANS HAVE, BUT NEVER QUITE LIVE UP TO.
BUT IT STILL RANKLES US. PAUL SAYS IN ONE PLACE THAT IN CHRIST THERE IS NO MALE OR FEMALE; BUT IN CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE, THERE SEEMS TO BE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR CALLING. BUT TO PAUL, A WOMAN IS NOT A SLAVE; A MAN IS NOT A MASTER; AND IF BOTH SUBMIT THEMSELVES TO EACH OTHER, IF A WOMAN TRIES TO SHOW HOW THE CHURCH SHOULD BE TO CHRIST; IF A MAN SHOWS HOW CHRIST IS TO HIS CHURCH, THEN THAT MARRIAGE IS TRULY MATRIMONY, THE SACRAMENT. AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THESE CALLINGS ARE THE SAME; THEY HAVE TO DO WITH MUTUAL SELF-GIVING; MUTUAL EMPTYING OUT FOR THE OTHER.
MARTIN LUTHER SAID THAT A WIFE SHOULD TREAT HER HUSBAND SO THAT HE IS ALWAYS GLAD TO COME HOME IN THE EVENING; AND THE HUSBAND SHOULD TREAT HIS WIFE SO THAT SHE IS SORRY TO SEE HIM GO IN THE MORNING. THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD FIRST STEP TOWARDS THE HOLY VOCATION OF MATRIMONY. MANY OF US WHO HAVE BEEN MARRIED A LONG TIME HAVE SLIPPED INTO RUTS. WE ARE NOT UNHAPPY, BUT THE DAYS PASS WITHOUT MUCH CHANGE. TODAY FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE MARRIED, LET US LOOK AT OUR RELATIONSHIP ONCE AGAIN, AND THINK ABOUT THE GREAT SACRAMENT WHICH WE HAVE RECEIVED AND WHICH IS OUR CALLING – TO REFLECT THE ETERNAL RELATIONSHIP JESUS HAS WITH HIS CHURCH.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle B
JOHN 6:51-58
RECENTLY I MET A FRIEND AT A PARTY. WE HAD A MUTUAL ACQUAINTANCE WHOM WE BOTH LOVED AND RESPECTED. MY FRIEND REMARKED THAT THIS PERSON WAS THE BEST CHRISTIAN HE HAD EVER MET. THE PERSON WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WAS VERY GENEROUS WITH HER TIME AND MONEY. SHE HAD AN ACTIVE AND FERVENT PRAYER LIFE. SHE LIVED SIMPLY, AND ALTHOUGH SHE COULD AFFORD MUCH BETTER THINGS, SHE DROVE AN OLD CAR AND LIVED IN A SMALL HOUSE AND SELDOM BOUGHT NEW CLOTHES. IN HER OCCUPATION SHE GAVE 110%. SHE FELT UNCOMFORTABLE WHEN PEOPLE WOULD PRAISE HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS, WHICH WERE MANY; SHE HAD TRUE HUMILITY.
DOES THAT SOUND LIKE A CHRISTIAN TO YOU? IF IT DOES, MAYBE WE ARE MISSING THE POINT. BECAUSE YOU COULD DESCRIBE A BUDDHIST, AN HINDU, A MUSLIM, A JEW – EVEN AN ATHEIST – IF YOU SUBSTITUTE MEDITATION FOR PRAYER – WITH THE SAME STATEMENTS. THERE IS A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A REALLY GOOD PERSON AND A CHRISTIAN.
OF COURSE WE HOPE CHRISTIANS ARE REALLY GOOD PERSONS. BUT FOR A CHRISTIAN, THE LIFE HE OR SHE LEADS IS A CONSEQUENCE OF BEING A CHRISTIAN, NOT A PREREQUISITE. AND MAKE NO MISTAKE, YOU CAN FIND REALLY GOOD PEOPLE IN EVERY RELIGION, AND EVEN AMONG THE NON-RELIGIOUS.
BEING A CHRISTIAN IS DIFFERENT. BEING A CHRISTIAN HAS TO DO WITH EATING AND DRINKING THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST.
WE CATHOLICS, ALONG WITH THE ORTHODOX AND A FEW OTHER BRANCHES OF CHRISTIANITY, BELIEVE THAT WHEN WE CONSUME THE BREAD AND WINE WHICH ARE CONSECRATED BY THE PRIEST IN HOLY MASS WE EAT HIS BODY AND DRINK HIS BLOOD. WE HAVE BEEN LISTENING OVER THE PAST FEW SUNDAYS, TO JESUS AS HE INSISTS THAT THE BREAD THAT HE GIVES IS HIS BODY, AND THE WINE THAT HE OFFERS US IS HIS BLOOD, AND UNLESS WE EAT HIS FLESH AND DRINK HIS BLOOD, WE WILL NOT HAVE LIFE WITHIN, WE WILL NEVER SEE THE FATHER, WHOM ONLY THE SON CAN SEE. AND NEXT WEEK WE WILL HEAR HIS FOLLOWERS SAYING, SORROWFULLY, “THIS IS A HARD SAYING; WHO CAN BELIEVE IT?” AND THEY WILL WALK AWAY.
IT ISN'T HARD FOR ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE BREAD AND WINE BECOME THE BODY AND BLOOD OF OUR SAVIOUR. IF I BELIEVE HE IS GOD, WHY NOT? GOD CAN DO ANYTHING. BUT PERHAPS IT IS MUCH HARDER FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND WHY – WHY DOES HE INSIST WE EAT HIS FLESH AND DRINK HIS BLOOD, THE FLESH THAT IS FOOD INDEED, THE BLOOD THAT IS DRINK INDEED?
IT IS TRUE THAT JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD, SUFFERED AND DIED, FOR YOU AND I. BUT JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD PRIMARILY TO ESTABLISH THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, THE KINGDOM IN WHICH GOD WOULD RULE FOR ALL ETERNITY. IN A PERFECT KINGDOM, IT IS NECESSARY TO HAVE PERFECT SUBJECTS; AND THE ONLY PERFECT SUBJECT OF THE FATHER IS THE SON. SO THROUGH THE MIRACLE OF THE EUCHARIST, JESUS MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR YOU AND I TO BECOME TRUE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF THE FATHER. WHEN WE EAT AND DRINK HIS FLESH AND BLOOD, WE BECOME PART OF HIM, WE LITERALLY BECOME PART OF HIS BODY, BLOOD, SOUL, AND DIVINITY; WE HAVE HIS LIFE WITHIN US, WE BECOME EMPOWERED TO SEE THE FATHER, WE BECOME MINISTERS OF THE KINGDOM. AND YES, WHEN WE EAT HIS BODY AND DRINK HIS BLOOD, WE BECOME MORE LIKE JESUS, IF WE ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN; AND IN DOING SO, WE ARE SEEN TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD AS “GOOD PERSONS”.
BUT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE. A GOOD PERSON ALWAYS TRIES TO DO WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE BETTER COURSE OF ACTION; A GOOD PERSON DEVELOPS A REFINED CONSCIENCE, BY READING, BY FORMING GOOD HABITS, BY THINKING ABOUT THINGS; AND THEN THROUGH HIS WILL POWER LIVES IN THAT WAY. BUT A SUBJECT OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN FIRST OF ALL LISTENS – LISTENS TO THE VOICE OF GOD WITHIN, WAITS FOR THE BREATH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AND SOMETIMES THIS RESULTS IN ACTIONS WHICH MIGHT BE DIFFERENT FROM THOSE CHOSEN BY A GOOD PERSON. THERE ARE SEVERAL EXAMPLES FROM THE LIVES OF THE SAINTS. ONE OF MY FAVORITES HAS TO DO WITH MARGARET OF SCOTLAND. FROM A VERY YOUNG AGE, SHE DESIRED TO BE A CLOISTERED SISTER, AND DEVOTE HER LIFE TO PRAYER AND SACRIFICE. SHE FOUND HERSELF AND HER COMPANIONS BEING HELD BY THE KING OF SCOTLAND, WHO KEPT FINDING EXCUSES AS TO WHY THEY COULD NOT CONTINUE ON THEIR JOURNEY. FINALLY HER CONFESSOR TOLD HER THAT THE KING WAS IN LOVE WITH HER, AND PERHAPS SHE WAS CALLED TO MARRY HIM. AFTER A GREAT DEAL OF PRAYER AND SOUL SEARCHING, SHE CONSENTED, AND BECAME A GREAT SAINT LIVING AS A WIFE, A MOTHER, AND A QUEEN. AND JESUS LIVED STRONGLY IN ST. THERESE OF LISEAUX; SHE DESCRIBES A TIME WHEN SHE WAS SITTING WITH ANOTHER SISTER, AND THE MOTHER SUPERIOR INVITED ONE OF THEM TO GO TO TOWN TO HELP WITH THE SHOPPING. THERESE' FIRST INSTINCT WAS TO LET THE OTHER SISTER VOLUNTEER; THIS WOULD BE A GOOD DECISION, IN KEEPING WITH HUMILITY. BUT INSTEAD, SHE JUMPED UP AND CRIED OUT, “LET ME GO!” AND THE MOTHER SUPERIOR REPRIMANDED HER FOR UNSEEMLY BEHAVIOR, AND INVITED THE OTHER SISTER TO GO. THERESE CHOSE AN ACTION WHICH ACCOMPLISHED HER FIRST PURPOSE, BUT ALSO LEFT NO POSSIBILITY THAT SHE MIGHT BE ADMIRED FOR WHAT SHE DID.
JESUS GAVE US HIS REAL BODY AND BLOOD FOR OUR FOOD AND DRINK. THIS SACRAMENT IS TO CHANGE US INTO JESUS SO THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO BRING ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF GOD. A REAL CHRISTIAN FEEDS ON THE BODY AND BLOOD OF JESUS; AND COOPERATES WITH HIS GRACE; AND GRADUALLY BECOMES JESUS. AND THE REASON FOR THIS IS SO THAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD WILL BE BROUGHT ABOUT ON THIS EARTH. JUST AS JESUS LIVED EVERY MOMENT TO CARRY OUT THE WILL OF THE FATHER, THAT IS OUR CHARGE AS WELL, MADE POSSIBLE BY BEING TRANSFORMED INTO JESUS THROUGH THIS SACRAMENT.
THANK GOD THAT THERE ARE MILLIONS OF NICE PERSONS ON THE EARTH; BUT PRAISE GOD BECAUSE HE MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR THERE TO BE CHRISTIANS; PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE WAY TO BE TRANSFORMED INTO JESUS THROUGH FEEDING ON HIS BODY AND BLOOD; AND IN THE PROCESS OF BECOMING JESUS, THEY INCREASINGLY SEEK TO BRING ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
RECENTLY I MET A FRIEND AT A PARTY. WE HAD A MUTUAL ACQUAINTANCE WHOM WE BOTH LOVED AND RESPECTED. MY FRIEND REMARKED THAT THIS PERSON WAS THE BEST CHRISTIAN HE HAD EVER MET. THE PERSON WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WAS VERY GENEROUS WITH HER TIME AND MONEY. SHE HAD AN ACTIVE AND FERVENT PRAYER LIFE. SHE LIVED SIMPLY, AND ALTHOUGH SHE COULD AFFORD MUCH BETTER THINGS, SHE DROVE AN OLD CAR AND LIVED IN A SMALL HOUSE AND SELDOM BOUGHT NEW CLOTHES. IN HER OCCUPATION SHE GAVE 110%. SHE FELT UNCOMFORTABLE WHEN PEOPLE WOULD PRAISE HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS, WHICH WERE MANY; SHE HAD TRUE HUMILITY.
DOES THAT SOUND LIKE A CHRISTIAN TO YOU? IF IT DOES, MAYBE WE ARE MISSING THE POINT. BECAUSE YOU COULD DESCRIBE A BUDDHIST, AN HINDU, A MUSLIM, A JEW – EVEN AN ATHEIST – IF YOU SUBSTITUTE MEDITATION FOR PRAYER – WITH THE SAME STATEMENTS. THERE IS A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A REALLY GOOD PERSON AND A CHRISTIAN.
OF COURSE WE HOPE CHRISTIANS ARE REALLY GOOD PERSONS. BUT FOR A CHRISTIAN, THE LIFE HE OR SHE LEADS IS A CONSEQUENCE OF BEING A CHRISTIAN, NOT A PREREQUISITE. AND MAKE NO MISTAKE, YOU CAN FIND REALLY GOOD PEOPLE IN EVERY RELIGION, AND EVEN AMONG THE NON-RELIGIOUS.
BEING A CHRISTIAN IS DIFFERENT. BEING A CHRISTIAN HAS TO DO WITH EATING AND DRINKING THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST.
WE CATHOLICS, ALONG WITH THE ORTHODOX AND A FEW OTHER BRANCHES OF CHRISTIANITY, BELIEVE THAT WHEN WE CONSUME THE BREAD AND WINE WHICH ARE CONSECRATED BY THE PRIEST IN HOLY MASS WE EAT HIS BODY AND DRINK HIS BLOOD. WE HAVE BEEN LISTENING OVER THE PAST FEW SUNDAYS, TO JESUS AS HE INSISTS THAT THE BREAD THAT HE GIVES IS HIS BODY, AND THE WINE THAT HE OFFERS US IS HIS BLOOD, AND UNLESS WE EAT HIS FLESH AND DRINK HIS BLOOD, WE WILL NOT HAVE LIFE WITHIN, WE WILL NEVER SEE THE FATHER, WHOM ONLY THE SON CAN SEE. AND NEXT WEEK WE WILL HEAR HIS FOLLOWERS SAYING, SORROWFULLY, “THIS IS A HARD SAYING; WHO CAN BELIEVE IT?” AND THEY WILL WALK AWAY.
IT ISN'T HARD FOR ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE BREAD AND WINE BECOME THE BODY AND BLOOD OF OUR SAVIOUR. IF I BELIEVE HE IS GOD, WHY NOT? GOD CAN DO ANYTHING. BUT PERHAPS IT IS MUCH HARDER FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND WHY – WHY DOES HE INSIST WE EAT HIS FLESH AND DRINK HIS BLOOD, THE FLESH THAT IS FOOD INDEED, THE BLOOD THAT IS DRINK INDEED?
IT IS TRUE THAT JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD, SUFFERED AND DIED, FOR YOU AND I. BUT JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD PRIMARILY TO ESTABLISH THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, THE KINGDOM IN WHICH GOD WOULD RULE FOR ALL ETERNITY. IN A PERFECT KINGDOM, IT IS NECESSARY TO HAVE PERFECT SUBJECTS; AND THE ONLY PERFECT SUBJECT OF THE FATHER IS THE SON. SO THROUGH THE MIRACLE OF THE EUCHARIST, JESUS MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR YOU AND I TO BECOME TRUE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF THE FATHER. WHEN WE EAT AND DRINK HIS FLESH AND BLOOD, WE BECOME PART OF HIM, WE LITERALLY BECOME PART OF HIS BODY, BLOOD, SOUL, AND DIVINITY; WE HAVE HIS LIFE WITHIN US, WE BECOME EMPOWERED TO SEE THE FATHER, WE BECOME MINISTERS OF THE KINGDOM. AND YES, WHEN WE EAT HIS BODY AND DRINK HIS BLOOD, WE BECOME MORE LIKE JESUS, IF WE ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN; AND IN DOING SO, WE ARE SEEN TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD AS “GOOD PERSONS”.
BUT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE. A GOOD PERSON ALWAYS TRIES TO DO WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE BETTER COURSE OF ACTION; A GOOD PERSON DEVELOPS A REFINED CONSCIENCE, BY READING, BY FORMING GOOD HABITS, BY THINKING ABOUT THINGS; AND THEN THROUGH HIS WILL POWER LIVES IN THAT WAY. BUT A SUBJECT OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN FIRST OF ALL LISTENS – LISTENS TO THE VOICE OF GOD WITHIN, WAITS FOR THE BREATH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AND SOMETIMES THIS RESULTS IN ACTIONS WHICH MIGHT BE DIFFERENT FROM THOSE CHOSEN BY A GOOD PERSON. THERE ARE SEVERAL EXAMPLES FROM THE LIVES OF THE SAINTS. ONE OF MY FAVORITES HAS TO DO WITH MARGARET OF SCOTLAND. FROM A VERY YOUNG AGE, SHE DESIRED TO BE A CLOISTERED SISTER, AND DEVOTE HER LIFE TO PRAYER AND SACRIFICE. SHE FOUND HERSELF AND HER COMPANIONS BEING HELD BY THE KING OF SCOTLAND, WHO KEPT FINDING EXCUSES AS TO WHY THEY COULD NOT CONTINUE ON THEIR JOURNEY. FINALLY HER CONFESSOR TOLD HER THAT THE KING WAS IN LOVE WITH HER, AND PERHAPS SHE WAS CALLED TO MARRY HIM. AFTER A GREAT DEAL OF PRAYER AND SOUL SEARCHING, SHE CONSENTED, AND BECAME A GREAT SAINT LIVING AS A WIFE, A MOTHER, AND A QUEEN. AND JESUS LIVED STRONGLY IN ST. THERESE OF LISEAUX; SHE DESCRIBES A TIME WHEN SHE WAS SITTING WITH ANOTHER SISTER, AND THE MOTHER SUPERIOR INVITED ONE OF THEM TO GO TO TOWN TO HELP WITH THE SHOPPING. THERESE' FIRST INSTINCT WAS TO LET THE OTHER SISTER VOLUNTEER; THIS WOULD BE A GOOD DECISION, IN KEEPING WITH HUMILITY. BUT INSTEAD, SHE JUMPED UP AND CRIED OUT, “LET ME GO!” AND THE MOTHER SUPERIOR REPRIMANDED HER FOR UNSEEMLY BEHAVIOR, AND INVITED THE OTHER SISTER TO GO. THERESE CHOSE AN ACTION WHICH ACCOMPLISHED HER FIRST PURPOSE, BUT ALSO LEFT NO POSSIBILITY THAT SHE MIGHT BE ADMIRED FOR WHAT SHE DID.
JESUS GAVE US HIS REAL BODY AND BLOOD FOR OUR FOOD AND DRINK. THIS SACRAMENT IS TO CHANGE US INTO JESUS SO THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO BRING ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF GOD. A REAL CHRISTIAN FEEDS ON THE BODY AND BLOOD OF JESUS; AND COOPERATES WITH HIS GRACE; AND GRADUALLY BECOMES JESUS. AND THE REASON FOR THIS IS SO THAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD WILL BE BROUGHT ABOUT ON THIS EARTH. JUST AS JESUS LIVED EVERY MOMENT TO CARRY OUT THE WILL OF THE FATHER, THAT IS OUR CHARGE AS WELL, MADE POSSIBLE BY BEING TRANSFORMED INTO JESUS THROUGH THIS SACRAMENT.
THANK GOD THAT THERE ARE MILLIONS OF NICE PERSONS ON THE EARTH; BUT PRAISE GOD BECAUSE HE MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR THERE TO BE CHRISTIANS; PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE WAY TO BE TRANSFORMED INTO JESUS THROUGH FEEDING ON HIS BODY AND BLOOD; AND IN THE PROCESS OF BECOMING JESUS, THEY INCREASINGLY SEEK TO BRING ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle B
JOHN 6:24-35
HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT HOW PECULIAR OUR CATHOLIC CHURCH IS? HOW STRANGE WE MUST LOOK TO SOMEONE OF ANOTHER RELIGION – OR EVEN TO MANY OTHER CHRISTIANS? AND ITS BECAUSE WE INSIST THAT THROUGH THE POWER GOD GIVES OUR PRIESTS, BREAD BECOMES THE BODY OF CHRIST, AND WINE BECOMES HIS BLOOD. WELL, I GUESS WE DON'T ALL BELIEVE IT. THEY DID A POLL AND THOSE WHO CALL THEMSELVES PRACTICING CATHOLICS WERE ABOUT EVENLY DIVIDED AS TO WHETHER THEY BELIEVED THIS CENTRAL TEACHING, OR WHETHER THEY CONSIDERED THE WHOLE THING JUST A SYMBOL. AND IT APPEARS THAT DESPITE THE EFFORTS OF OUR FAITH FORMATION PROGRAMS, THE YOUNGER GENERATION OF CATHOLICS CONSIDER THE EUCHARIST MERELY A SYMBOL IN A RATIO OF ABOUT 3 TO 1. AND I WOULD SUSPECT THAT EVEN AMONG THOSE WHO SAY THAT THEY BELIEVE THE EUCHARIST IS THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST, NOT JUST A SYMBOL, FOR MANY IT'S JUST LIP SERVICE. BEGINNING WITH LAST SUNDAY, WE ARE HEARING EXERPTS FROM THE GOSPEL OF JOHN, IN WHICH JESUS LAYS OUT VERY CLEARLY THAT HE IS THE BREAD COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN, THAT UNLESS WE EAT HIS BODY AND DRINK HIS BLOOD, WE CANNOT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE; AND HE IS SO INSISTENT ON THIS THAT WHEN HIS FOLLOWERS BEGIN TO DESERT HIM, BECAUSE THIS IS SUCH A HARD THING TO BELIEVE, HE INVITES HIS APOSTLES TO LEAVE AS WELL, IF THEY CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT HE IS SAYING. AND THEY REPLY, “LORD, TO WHOM SHALL WE GO? YOU HAVE THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE.” AND THEY BELIEVE, AND THEY LEARN AT THE LAST SUPPER WHAT THEY HAVE BELIEVED IN FAITH, AGAINST ALL LOGIC AND EXPERIENCE; THEY LEARN THAT JESUS CREATES A SACRAMENT, AND LEAVES HIS CHURCH WITH THE POWER TO CALL HIM INTO ITS MIDST WHENEVER IT CHOOSES TO DO SO.
JESUS TOLD HIS DISCIPLES THAT HE WOULD BE WITH THEM ALL DAYS, EVEN TO THE END OF THE WORLD; AND HE DIDN'T MEAN AS A GHOSTLY PRESENCE, AS A SET OF RULES TO FOLLOW, AS A WARM FUZZY FEELING IN ONE'S HEART; HE MEANT THAT HE WOULD BE WITH US, BODY AND BLOOD, SOUL AND DIVINITY, FIRST OF ALL, IN THE BREAD AND WINE, THEN IN THE WORD, AND FINALLY, IN HIS PEOPLE. BUT FIRST OF ALL, IN THE BREAD AND WINE.
IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN IN LOVE, YOU KNOW THAT ITS VERY HARD TO CULTIVATE A LOVING RELATIONSHIP OVER THE PHONE OR THE INTERNET; YOU LONG TO BE IN THE PRESENCE OF THE ONE YOU LOVE. IF YOU KNOW THE PAIN OF HAVING A SON OR DAUGHTER LEAVE HOME AND GO OFF ON THEIR OWN, YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THE PHYSICAL PRESENCE OF A LOVED ONE MEANS. AND THAT IS WHY JESUS WANTS TO BE WITH US, BODY AND BLOOD, SOUL AND DIVINITY; BECAUSE THE RELATIONSHIP HE WANTS WITH US IS A RELATIONSHIP OF DEEPENING LOVE, A RELATIONSHIP OF TWO BECOMING ONE. FOR JESUS THE MAN WHO LOVED US SO MUCH HE DIED FOR US, HE NEEDS TO BE PRESENT TO US TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR OUR LOVE TO GROW; FOR JESUS THE GOD, HE CAN DO THIS THROUGH HIS PRESENCE UNDER THE APPEARANCE OF BREAD AND WINE.
BUT JESUS COMES INTO OUR MIDST; HE IS PRESENT HERE, JUST LIKE HE WAS AT THAT LAST SUPPER, JUST LIKE HE WAS WHEN HE WALKED WITH HIS APOSTLES. HE IS REALLY HERE; AND IF HE IS NOT, IF THIS IS JUST A SYMBOL, THEN WE ARE ALL FOOLS. THOSE OF US WHO BELIEVE WOULD BE FOOLS BECAUSE WE BELIEVE SOMETHING THAT ISN'T TRUE; AND THOSE OF US WHO DON'T BELIEVE ARE FOOLS BECAUSE IF SERMONS AND MUSIC ARE ALL THERE IS, THEN YOU COULD BE SOMEWHERE WHERE THESE TAKE PRIORITY INSTEAD OF SPENDING SO MUCH TIME AROUND A PIECE OF BREAD AND A CUP OF WINE. HE IS REALLY HERE, BECAUSE WE HAVE A RECORD OF HIS WORDS, AND WE HAVE THE PEOPLE OF THE EARLY CHURCH WHO BELIEVED THIS AND WROTE ABOUT IT. LISTEN TO WHAT ST AUGUSTINE SAID IN THE THIRD CENTURY: “YOUR ONLY SON HAS REDEEMED ME WITH HIS BLOOD; LET NOT THE PROUD LOOK DOWN ON ME, FOR I AM MINDFUL OF MY RANSOM. I EAT IT, I DRINK IT, I DISPENSE IT TO OTHERS, AND AS A POOR MAN I LONG TO BE FILLED WITH IT AMONG THOSE WHO ARE FED AND FEASTED.” I DON'T THINK HE WAS TALKING ABOUT A SYMBOL, DO YOU?
JESUS WANTS US TO LOVE HIM LIKE HE LOVES US; HE WANTS US TO COME INTO HIS PRESENCE, BECAUSE FOR HUMAN BEINGS, PHYSICAL PRESENCE IS WHERE LOVE GROWS. IN THE OLDEN DAYS, WE CALLED IT “CULTIVATING A DEVOTION TO THE EUCHARIST”. BUT THERE IS NOTHING MAGIC ABOUT THIS, NOTHING SECRET OR HIDDEN; IT IS JUST A MATTER OF ACTING OUT WHAT WE SAY WE BELIEVE. JESUS IS HERE, IN THE BREAD AND THE WINE; AND HE REMAINS HERE, IN THE TABERNACLE, EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR EXCEPT GOOD FRIDAY – YOU KNOW WHERE TO FIND HIM. AND IF YOU DRIVE PAST THE CHURCH, SAY, “HELLO, JESUS, HOW ARE YOU?” AND IF YOU HAVE A FEW MINUTES BEFORE OR AFTER MASS, SPEAK TO HIM; HE'S WAITING. AND IF YOU REALLY LOVE HIM, MAKE A LITTLE TIME FOR HIM, AND COME MAKE A VISIT, MAYBE WHILE YOU ARE OUT WALKING, OR ON THE WAY TO THE GROCERY STORE. AND IF YOU REALLY WANT TO BUILD UP YOUR LOVE, COME AND SIT IN HIS PRESENCE WHEN THE EUCHARIST IS EXPOSED ON TUESDAY OR ON FIRST FRIDAY, AND SPEAK TO HIM ABOUT WHATEVER IS ON YOUR MIND, AND HE WILL SPEAK TO YOU AS WELL.
CAN YOU IMAGINE, BACK WHEN YOU WERE MADLY IN LOVE WITH YOUR SPOUSE, SAYING “I'D RATHER NOT SPEND TIME WITH YOU, BECAUSE I HAVE OTHER THINGS I'D RATHER DO.” I GUESS IF YOU HAD SAID THAT, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN MARRIED. CAN YOU IMAGINE YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER CALLING AND SAYING, “I'D LIKE TO COME FOR A VISIT,” AND YOU REPLY, “I'D RATHER YOU DIDN'T, BECAUSE I'D RATHER NOT SEE YOU.” IT ISN'T ANY DIFFERENT WITH JESUS, OUR LORD, OUR GOD, OUR BROTHER, THE ONE WHO SAID THAT EVERYONE WHO DOES THE WILL OF THE FATHER IS A MEMBER OF HIS FAMILY. HE IS THE BREAD COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN; HE IS THE GREATEST LOVER WE COULD HAVE. AND HE WAITS IN THE TABERNACLE, IN THE LONELY CHURCH, FOR A FEW MOMENTS ALONE WITH YOU.
WE CATHOLICS HAVE A PECULIAR RELIGION; WE CLAIM THAT WHAT LOOKS LIKE BREAD IS THE REAL PRESENCE OF THE MAN WHO FOUNDED OUR CHURCH, THE MAN WHO IS GOD. TO A NON-CATHOLIC, THAT SOUNDS CRAZY. BUT IF YOU ARE NOT A CATHOLIC, YOU ARE QUICKLY REASSURED; BECAUSE MOST OF US DON'T ACT LIKE WE BELIEVE IT.
HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT HOW PECULIAR OUR CATHOLIC CHURCH IS? HOW STRANGE WE MUST LOOK TO SOMEONE OF ANOTHER RELIGION – OR EVEN TO MANY OTHER CHRISTIANS? AND ITS BECAUSE WE INSIST THAT THROUGH THE POWER GOD GIVES OUR PRIESTS, BREAD BECOMES THE BODY OF CHRIST, AND WINE BECOMES HIS BLOOD. WELL, I GUESS WE DON'T ALL BELIEVE IT. THEY DID A POLL AND THOSE WHO CALL THEMSELVES PRACTICING CATHOLICS WERE ABOUT EVENLY DIVIDED AS TO WHETHER THEY BELIEVED THIS CENTRAL TEACHING, OR WHETHER THEY CONSIDERED THE WHOLE THING JUST A SYMBOL. AND IT APPEARS THAT DESPITE THE EFFORTS OF OUR FAITH FORMATION PROGRAMS, THE YOUNGER GENERATION OF CATHOLICS CONSIDER THE EUCHARIST MERELY A SYMBOL IN A RATIO OF ABOUT 3 TO 1. AND I WOULD SUSPECT THAT EVEN AMONG THOSE WHO SAY THAT THEY BELIEVE THE EUCHARIST IS THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST, NOT JUST A SYMBOL, FOR MANY IT'S JUST LIP SERVICE. BEGINNING WITH LAST SUNDAY, WE ARE HEARING EXERPTS FROM THE GOSPEL OF JOHN, IN WHICH JESUS LAYS OUT VERY CLEARLY THAT HE IS THE BREAD COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN, THAT UNLESS WE EAT HIS BODY AND DRINK HIS BLOOD, WE CANNOT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE; AND HE IS SO INSISTENT ON THIS THAT WHEN HIS FOLLOWERS BEGIN TO DESERT HIM, BECAUSE THIS IS SUCH A HARD THING TO BELIEVE, HE INVITES HIS APOSTLES TO LEAVE AS WELL, IF THEY CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT HE IS SAYING. AND THEY REPLY, “LORD, TO WHOM SHALL WE GO? YOU HAVE THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE.” AND THEY BELIEVE, AND THEY LEARN AT THE LAST SUPPER WHAT THEY HAVE BELIEVED IN FAITH, AGAINST ALL LOGIC AND EXPERIENCE; THEY LEARN THAT JESUS CREATES A SACRAMENT, AND LEAVES HIS CHURCH WITH THE POWER TO CALL HIM INTO ITS MIDST WHENEVER IT CHOOSES TO DO SO.
JESUS TOLD HIS DISCIPLES THAT HE WOULD BE WITH THEM ALL DAYS, EVEN TO THE END OF THE WORLD; AND HE DIDN'T MEAN AS A GHOSTLY PRESENCE, AS A SET OF RULES TO FOLLOW, AS A WARM FUZZY FEELING IN ONE'S HEART; HE MEANT THAT HE WOULD BE WITH US, BODY AND BLOOD, SOUL AND DIVINITY, FIRST OF ALL, IN THE BREAD AND WINE, THEN IN THE WORD, AND FINALLY, IN HIS PEOPLE. BUT FIRST OF ALL, IN THE BREAD AND WINE.
IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN IN LOVE, YOU KNOW THAT ITS VERY HARD TO CULTIVATE A LOVING RELATIONSHIP OVER THE PHONE OR THE INTERNET; YOU LONG TO BE IN THE PRESENCE OF THE ONE YOU LOVE. IF YOU KNOW THE PAIN OF HAVING A SON OR DAUGHTER LEAVE HOME AND GO OFF ON THEIR OWN, YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THE PHYSICAL PRESENCE OF A LOVED ONE MEANS. AND THAT IS WHY JESUS WANTS TO BE WITH US, BODY AND BLOOD, SOUL AND DIVINITY; BECAUSE THE RELATIONSHIP HE WANTS WITH US IS A RELATIONSHIP OF DEEPENING LOVE, A RELATIONSHIP OF TWO BECOMING ONE. FOR JESUS THE MAN WHO LOVED US SO MUCH HE DIED FOR US, HE NEEDS TO BE PRESENT TO US TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR OUR LOVE TO GROW; FOR JESUS THE GOD, HE CAN DO THIS THROUGH HIS PRESENCE UNDER THE APPEARANCE OF BREAD AND WINE.
BUT JESUS COMES INTO OUR MIDST; HE IS PRESENT HERE, JUST LIKE HE WAS AT THAT LAST SUPPER, JUST LIKE HE WAS WHEN HE WALKED WITH HIS APOSTLES. HE IS REALLY HERE; AND IF HE IS NOT, IF THIS IS JUST A SYMBOL, THEN WE ARE ALL FOOLS. THOSE OF US WHO BELIEVE WOULD BE FOOLS BECAUSE WE BELIEVE SOMETHING THAT ISN'T TRUE; AND THOSE OF US WHO DON'T BELIEVE ARE FOOLS BECAUSE IF SERMONS AND MUSIC ARE ALL THERE IS, THEN YOU COULD BE SOMEWHERE WHERE THESE TAKE PRIORITY INSTEAD OF SPENDING SO MUCH TIME AROUND A PIECE OF BREAD AND A CUP OF WINE. HE IS REALLY HERE, BECAUSE WE HAVE A RECORD OF HIS WORDS, AND WE HAVE THE PEOPLE OF THE EARLY CHURCH WHO BELIEVED THIS AND WROTE ABOUT IT. LISTEN TO WHAT ST AUGUSTINE SAID IN THE THIRD CENTURY: “YOUR ONLY SON HAS REDEEMED ME WITH HIS BLOOD; LET NOT THE PROUD LOOK DOWN ON ME, FOR I AM MINDFUL OF MY RANSOM. I EAT IT, I DRINK IT, I DISPENSE IT TO OTHERS, AND AS A POOR MAN I LONG TO BE FILLED WITH IT AMONG THOSE WHO ARE FED AND FEASTED.” I DON'T THINK HE WAS TALKING ABOUT A SYMBOL, DO YOU?
JESUS WANTS US TO LOVE HIM LIKE HE LOVES US; HE WANTS US TO COME INTO HIS PRESENCE, BECAUSE FOR HUMAN BEINGS, PHYSICAL PRESENCE IS WHERE LOVE GROWS. IN THE OLDEN DAYS, WE CALLED IT “CULTIVATING A DEVOTION TO THE EUCHARIST”. BUT THERE IS NOTHING MAGIC ABOUT THIS, NOTHING SECRET OR HIDDEN; IT IS JUST A MATTER OF ACTING OUT WHAT WE SAY WE BELIEVE. JESUS IS HERE, IN THE BREAD AND THE WINE; AND HE REMAINS HERE, IN THE TABERNACLE, EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR EXCEPT GOOD FRIDAY – YOU KNOW WHERE TO FIND HIM. AND IF YOU DRIVE PAST THE CHURCH, SAY, “HELLO, JESUS, HOW ARE YOU?” AND IF YOU HAVE A FEW MINUTES BEFORE OR AFTER MASS, SPEAK TO HIM; HE'S WAITING. AND IF YOU REALLY LOVE HIM, MAKE A LITTLE TIME FOR HIM, AND COME MAKE A VISIT, MAYBE WHILE YOU ARE OUT WALKING, OR ON THE WAY TO THE GROCERY STORE. AND IF YOU REALLY WANT TO BUILD UP YOUR LOVE, COME AND SIT IN HIS PRESENCE WHEN THE EUCHARIST IS EXPOSED ON TUESDAY OR ON FIRST FRIDAY, AND SPEAK TO HIM ABOUT WHATEVER IS ON YOUR MIND, AND HE WILL SPEAK TO YOU AS WELL.
CAN YOU IMAGINE, BACK WHEN YOU WERE MADLY IN LOVE WITH YOUR SPOUSE, SAYING “I'D RATHER NOT SPEND TIME WITH YOU, BECAUSE I HAVE OTHER THINGS I'D RATHER DO.” I GUESS IF YOU HAD SAID THAT, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN MARRIED. CAN YOU IMAGINE YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER CALLING AND SAYING, “I'D LIKE TO COME FOR A VISIT,” AND YOU REPLY, “I'D RATHER YOU DIDN'T, BECAUSE I'D RATHER NOT SEE YOU.” IT ISN'T ANY DIFFERENT WITH JESUS, OUR LORD, OUR GOD, OUR BROTHER, THE ONE WHO SAID THAT EVERYONE WHO DOES THE WILL OF THE FATHER IS A MEMBER OF HIS FAMILY. HE IS THE BREAD COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN; HE IS THE GREATEST LOVER WE COULD HAVE. AND HE WAITS IN THE TABERNACLE, IN THE LONELY CHURCH, FOR A FEW MOMENTS ALONE WITH YOU.
WE CATHOLICS HAVE A PECULIAR RELIGION; WE CLAIM THAT WHAT LOOKS LIKE BREAD IS THE REAL PRESENCE OF THE MAN WHO FOUNDED OUR CHURCH, THE MAN WHO IS GOD. TO A NON-CATHOLIC, THAT SOUNDS CRAZY. BUT IF YOU ARE NOT A CATHOLIC, YOU ARE QUICKLY REASSURED; BECAUSE MOST OF US DON'T ACT LIKE WE BELIEVE IT.
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