LUKE 23:35-43
THERE IS A MOTHER WHO SEES HER SON, THE ONE SHE NURSED AND RAISED AND ONE DAY SAID GOODBYE TO HIM AS HE WENT OUT INTO THE WORLD.
ONE OF HIS BEST FRIENDS SEES HIS HERO, HIS TEACHER, HIS COMPANION FOR THREE YEARS OF WALKING THE DUSTY ROADS OF PALESTINE.
A ROMAN SOLDIER NODS IN SATISFACTION; HE SEES A CRIMINAL, A THREAT TO THE STATE, GETTING WHAT HE DESERVES AND SERVING AS AN EXAMPLE TO THE REST OF THE PEOPLE.
SOME TOURISTS PASS AND SEE THE MAN THE HIGH PRIEST AND THE PHARISEES CALLED A HERETIC, A BLASPHEMER, AND SOMEONE IN LEAGUE WITH THE DEVIL; AND THEY NOD AND THINK THEY MUST HAVE BEEN RIGHT, LOOK AT HIM NOW.
AND THERE ARE A FEW PEOPLE, TAX COLLECTORS, SHEPHERDS, SAMARITANS, WIDOWS, ORPHANS, WHO SEE SOMEONE WHO SEEMED TO BE THEIR HOPE – BUT LIKE ALWAYS, THEIR HOPE SEEMED TO BE IN VAIN, AND THEY SADLY FACE THE TASK OF LOOKING FOR ANOTHER ONE IN WHICH TO PLACE THEIR HOPES. .
THERE IS ONLY ONE MAN WHO SEES THE TRUTH – A MAN WHO HAS NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE EXCEPT AN HOUR OR TWO OF INCREASINGLY PAINFUL LIFE, A MAN WHO HAS HAD ALL HIS ILLUSIONS STRIPPED AWAY-- AND IN DESPERATION, HE SEES THAT THE MAN ON THE CROSS NEXT TO HIM IS A KING – AND HE CRIES OUT, “LORD, REMEMBER ME WHEN YOU COME INTO YOUR KINGDOM.”
THE GOOD THIEF IS THE ONLY ONE WHO KNOWS HE NEEDS A KING – HE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO KNOWS HE NEEDS A SAVIOR. HIS LIFE HAS COME DOWN TO THIS – NAKED AND IMPRISONED ON A CROSS, EVERYTHING TAKEN AWAY FROM HIM, INCLUDING HIS LIFE.
WHAT IS A KING? WE DON'T HAVE THE SLIGHTEST IDEA OF THE IDEAL KING – IT'S AN ALIEN CONCEPT TO US IN THE UNITED STATES, AND EVEN IN COUNTRIES THAT STILL HAVE KINGS AND QUEENS, THEY ARE EITHER FIGUREHEADS, OR THEY ARE DESPOTS, AND PERHAPS THERE REALLY HASN'T BEEN AN IDEAL KING IN HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF YEARS.
BUT THE JEWS HAD LEGENDS OF NEARLY IDEAL KINGS – DAVID, SOLOMON – AND THEY KNEW ABOUT KINGS. AN IDEAL KING WAS FIRST OF ALL, A PROTECTOR. HE SAW TO IT THAT HIS PEOPLE WERE SAFE. HE SAW THAT HIS ARMY WAS WELL ARMED AND WELL TRAINED; HE SAW THAT THE WALLS AROUND HIS CITIES WERE WELL MAINTAINED. HE SAW THAT JUSTICE WAS FAIR, AND THAT THE LAWS WERE ENFORCED, SO THAT THE RICH COULD NOT PREY UPON THE POOR, OR THE STRONG ON THE WEAK.
AN IDEAL KING WORKED TO MAKE HIS PEOPLE PROSPEROUS; HE WANTED THEM TO BE FULFILLED AND RICH. HE DEVELOPED TRADE WITH OTHER KINGDOMS; HE ENCOURAGED FARMERS AND ARTISANS AND THE PEOPLE WHO MADE THINGS AND SOLD THINGS. HE MADE PROVISION FOR THOSE WHO COULD NOT WORK, FOR THE POOR AND THE SICK AND THE MENTALLY ILL.
A KING LEAD HIS PEOPLE BY TEACHING THEM THROUGH WORD AND EXAMPLE. HE TRIES TO FORM THEM INTO A NATION, A PEOPLE, SO THAT THEY WOULD BE PROUD OF THEMSELVES AND THEIR COUNTRY; SO THAT THEY WOULD CARRY OUT HIS IDEALS, AND PROTECT AND SERVE EACH OTHER. THIS WAS THE REASON FOR THE POMP AND CEREMONY, THE ROYAL VISITATIONS, THE PATRIOTIC HOLIDAYS, THE FLAG.
AND AN IDEAL KING WOULD DIE FOR HIS PEOPLE IF IT CAME TO THAT.
THE GOOD THIEF WHO HAS LOST EVERYTHING, AND WOULD SOON LOSE EVEN HIS LIFE, SEES THAT JESUS ON THE CROSS IS THE IDEAL KING HE HAS WAITED FOR ALL HIS LIFE.
AND YOU AND I NEED TO LOOK INTO OUR OWN HEARTS AND SEE THAT WE AREN'T THAT DIFFERENT FROM THE GOOD THIEF. WE THINK WE ARE DIFFERENT; AFTER ALL, WE AREN'T BEING PUT TO DEATH. BUT WE ARE ALL LIKE THE GOOD THIEF. WE ONLY HAVE A FEW MORE WEEKS OR MONTHS OR YEARS TO LIVE. WE REALLY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING; WE COULD LOSE ALL OUR STUFF IN A FIRE OR AN ACT OF ROBBERY, OR A BANKRUPTCY, OR A MAJOR DEPRESSION. BUT EVEN IF WE DON'T, WE WILL LOSE ALL OUR STUFF WHEN WE DIE.
YES, DEATH IS OUR BIG ENEMY, BUT JESUS CONQUERED DEATH, AND DID IT FOR US. DYING, HE DESTROYED OUR DEATH, AND RISING HE RESTORED US TO LIFE, ST. PAUL SAYS.
AND YOU AND I ARE POOR, WE HAVE NOTHING. BUT JESUS GIVES US A SHARE IN HIS DIVINITY – AND THAT MEANS THAT THROUGH HIM WE HAVE EVERYTHING; WE CELEBRATE THIS IN THE HUMBLE CEREMONY WHERE WE ADD A DROP OF WATER TO THE WINE. WE, THE WATER, BECOME PART OF THE WINE WHICH BECOMES TRANSFORMED INTO JESUS. IN HIM, ST PAUL SAYS, WE HAVE EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING IN THE HEAVENS.
AND YOU AND I LONG TO BE A PEOPLE, IN SOLIDARITY WITH EACH OTHER. WE ARE ALL FUNDAMENTALLY ALONE, EVEN THOSE OF US WHO LIVE IN FAMILIES. WE CAN FORGET WE ARE ALONE FOR A WHILE, BUT IF WE THINK ABOUT IT, NO ONE ELSE REALLY KNOWS WHAT GOES ON IN MY MIND; NO ONE ELSE CAN REALLY SHARE IN MY SUFFERING. BUT JESUS OUR KING FEEDS US HIS BODY AND BLOOD, AND SINCE HIS BODY AND BLOOD CANNOT BE SEPARATED, BROKEN DOWN, SPLIT UP, WHEN WE EAT THIS BREAD AND DRINK THIS BLOOD, WE BECOME ONE WITH EACH OTHER, WITH THE SAINTS IN HEAVEN AND THE SOULS IN PURGATORY. IT IS LEFT FOR US TO COOPERATE WITH THIS GRACE AND MAKE THIS ONENESS A VISIBLE REALITY. JESUS MAKES US A PEOPLE SET APART.
AND IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT JESUS DIED FOR US HIS PEOPLE. HE MET THE ULTIMATE CHALLENGE OF THE GOOD KING; HE EMPTIED HIMSELF OUT, HE GAVE HIMSELF UP.
THE GOOD THIEF LOOKED AT THE MAN ON THE CROSS NEXT TO HIM. HIS EYES SAW A MAN COVERED WITH BLOOD, WRITHING IN PAIN, HIS ARMS AND LEGS NAILED TO THE WOOD, A CROWN OF THORNS SADISTICALLY DRIVEN INTO HIS HEAD, WELTS ON HIS BODY FROM THE TORTURE THAT HE ENDURED BEFORE HIS CRUCIFIXION. BUT HIS MIND SAW A KING, THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT'S POWER.
AND LET US LOOK UPON THE CROSS AND PRAY THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL REVEAL TO US HOW MUCH WE NEED A KING, AND ALSO HOW, THROUGH THE WONDERFUL FAVOR THE FATHER HAS SHOWN US, WE HAVE THAT KING.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Sunday, November 18, 2007
33rd Sunday in Ordinary time, cycle C
LUKE 21:5-19
LAST SUNDAY WE WERE OUT ON THE WILBUR CROSS PARKWAY IN CONNECTICUT ON OUR WAY TO VISIT MY DAUGHTER. THE TRAFFIC CAME TO A STANDSTILL AND I COULD SEE FLASHING LIGHTS AHEAD, INSIDE A TUNNEL. AS WE INCHED FORWARD, THE THOUGHT CAME TO MY MIND THAT MAYBE THIS WAS A TERRORIST PLOT, AND OUR ENEMIES WERE TRYING TO PARALYZE THE COUNTRY BY BLOCKING MAJOR ROADS. I IMAGINED WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF A FEW TUNNELS OR BRIDGES WERE BLOWN UP.
I WORRY MORE THAN I SHOULD. I WORRY ABOUT THE RISING PRICE OF GASOLINE AND WHAT THAT WILL MEAN TO THE FUTURE I'VE TRIED TO PREPARE FOR. I WORRY ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I GOT REALLY SICK AND COULDN'T WORK ANYMORE. I WORRY ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING; WHEN THE SEAS RISE TWENTY FEET OR SO, WILL WE BE UP TO OUR NECKS IN BOSTONIANS FLEEING THE FLOODS? WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE RED SOX THEN? I WORRY ABOUT HOW LIFE HAS CHANGED AND CONTINUES TO CHANGE, SEEMINGLY FOR THE WORST, SINCE 9/11. AND I FIND MYSELF MISSING THE “GOOD OLD DAYS” WHEN THE FUTURE SEEMED SO PREDICTABLE, EVEN THOUGH IN TRUTH I WAS PROBABLY WORRYING ABOUT THE COMMUNIST MENACE THEN.
JESUS LIVED IN A TIME WHEN THINGS SEEMED VERY STABLE. GRANTED, SOME THINGS WERE NOT PARTICULARLY DESIRABLE, LIKE THE DOMINATION OF THE ROMANS; BUT EVEN THAT SEEMED BETTER THAN SOME OF THE TYRANTS WHO USED TO RULE THE JEWISH TERRITORIES. THERE WAS PEACE OF SORTS, PEOPLE COULD PLAN, THE LAW WAS THE LAW AND THE ROMANS ENFORCED IT. AND THE JEWS HAD JUST RECENTLY BUILT THE MAGNIFICENT TEMPLE. LIFE SEEMED SAFE, PREDICTABLE, AND UNCHANGING.
AND JESUS OVERHEARS SOME TOURISTS TALKING ABOUT HOW GREAT THE TEMPLE IS, AND TELLS THEM ITS GOING TO BE RAZED TO THE GROUND; IT IS NO MORE PERMANENT THAN A FLOWER THAT BLOOMS AND DIES.
JESUS TELLS US THREE THINGS.
FIRST, THERE IS NO REAL STABILITY. IF YOU THINK SO YOU ARE SADLY MISTAKEN. THE TEMPLE WILL BE A PILE OF RUBBLE; THERE WILL BE WARS, LIKE IN IRAQ OR AFGHANISTAN, AND MAYBE SOON TO COME, IRAN OR PAKISTAN OR VENEZUELA, WHO KNOWS? THERE WILL BE NATURAL AND MAN-MADE DISASTERS, LIKE THE GULF HURRICANE, LIKE GLOBAL WARMING, LIKE AN OIL TRANSPORT SHIP BLEEDING ITS CONTENTS INTO THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY. AND IT'S ALL UNPREDICTABLE, AND FOR SOME PEOPLE, AT LEAST, LIFE WILL BE COMPLETELY CHANGED, AND ALWAYS FOR THE WORSE. AND EVEN IN OUR OWN LITTLE LIVES, A CAR ACCIDENT, A LUMP IN A BREAST, A SPOT ON THE LUNG, AND EVERYTHING CHANGES.
SECOND, JESUS TELLS US THAT BEING A CHRISTIAN DOES NOT MEAN EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE WONDERFUL FROM THERE ON OUT. JUST THE OPPOSITE, BY BEING CHRISTIANS, WE INVITE PERSECUTION – IN FACT, WE SHOULD PROBABLY ASK WHETHER REAL CHRISTIANS CAN EVEN GET THROUGH LIFE WITHOUT SOME SORT OF PERSECUTION. IF WE'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED A CONDESCENDING STATEMENT ABOUT OUR FAITH, IF WE'VE NEVER FELT SLIGHTLY OUT OF TOUCH BECAUSE OUR BELIEFS SET US APART FROM THOSE AROUND US, IF WE'VE NEVER FELT A TWINGE OF SADNESS WHEN WE HEAR OF ANOTHER PRIEST SCANDAL, THEN MAYBE WE AREN'T REALLY CHRISTIANS. JESUS SAYS WE WILL BE PERSECUTED, AND SOME OF US WILL BE PERSECUTED BY OUR OWN FAMILIES AND FRIENDS, AND IN SOME PARTS OF THE WORLD, SOME OF US ARE STILL BEING PUT TO DEATH, ALL BECAUSE OF BELIEF IN CHRIST, ALL BECAUSE OF THE DESIRE TO FOLLOW CHRIST.
SO FAR, JESUS DOES NOT SOUND LIKE HE'S MUCH FUN.
BUT FINALLY, JESUS TELLS US THAT THERE IS SOMETHING IN OUR LIVES WHICH WE CAN COUNT ON, WHICH WILL NEVER CHANGE, WHICH CAN RESIST WARS AND NATURAL DISASTERS AND PERSECUTION – THAT IS FAITHFULNESS, PERSERVERANCE. IF WE ARE FAITHFUL, WE ARE SAFE – AND WE WILL LIVE, EVEN IF WE DIE. IF WE ARE FAITHFUL, WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY – AS LONG AS WE ARE BEARING WITNESS WITH OUR LIVES AND OUR WORDS – BECAUSE JESUS PROMISED THAT HE WILL GIVE US THE WISDOM TO BE AN EXAMPLE TO THE WORLD THAT CANNOT FAIL. IF WE ARE FAITHFUL, AND PERSEVERE IN FAITHFULNESS, WORRY SHOULD BE THE LAST THING IN OUR MINDS.
IN THE EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH, THERE WERE PEOPLE RUNNING AROUND PROCLAIMING THAT THE WORLD WAS GOING TO END, THAT JESUS WAS COMING AGAIN, AND THIS TIME HE WAS REALLY MAD. AND RIGHT DOWN TO THE PRESENT THEIR DESCENDANTS CONTINUE TO BOTHER THEIR FELLOW CHRISTIANS WITH WARNINGS ABOUT THE FUTURE. AND TO THEM WISE OLD PAUL SAYS, “WORK QUIETLY, AND EAT YOUR OWN FOOD.”
SOMEONE ONCE ASKED ST FRANCIS WHAT HE WOULD DO IF HE FOUND OUT THAT THE WORLD WAS GOING TO END IN 15 MINUTES. HER REPLIED THAT HE WOULD KEEP WORKING IN HIS GARDEN.
SO I, AT LEAST, HAD BETTER ASK MYSELF, WHY DO I WORRY? WORRY MEANS THAT I AM AFRAID THINGS WILL CHANGE AND ALL MY PLANS WILL BE FOR NOTHING. BUT THINGS WILL CHANGE, AND I CAN'T DO A THING ABOUT IT. WORRY MEANS THAT I AM AFRAID OF HOW OTHER PEOPLE MIGHT RESTRICT MY FREEDOM, MIGHT MAKE DEMANDS ON ME, MIGHT IN FACT PERSECUTE ME IN SOME WAY OR ANOTHER. BUT JESUS SAYS I CAN'T DO A THING ABOUT IT. IF I AM HIS FOLLOWER, I BETTER EXPECT JUST THAT.
AND FINALLY, JESUS PROMISES THAT IF I AM FAITHFUL, I'LL COME THROUGH AT THE END, I'LL HAVE REAL LIFE, WONDERFUL PERMANENCE, AND NO UNCERTAINTY; I'LL NEVER HAVE REASON TO WORRY AGAIN. AND THAT FOR ME IS A GREAT PROMISE.
TODAY TAKE STOCK OF YOUR WORRIES IN THE LIGHT OF THIS GOSPEL. AND AS YOU THINK ABOUT THE THINGS THAT MAKE YOU FRET THE MOST, MAYBE YOU WILL REALIZE THAT WORRY IS THE OPPOSITE OF FAITHFULNESS; AND FAITHFULNESS, THE PERSEVERANCE JESUS TALKED ABOUT, IS WHAT WE MUST HAVE TO CLAIM HIS PROMISE, THAT NOT A HAIR ON OUR HEADS WILL BE DESTROYED, THAT THROUGH FAITHFULNESS WE WILL SECURE OUR LIVES, BUT NEVER THROUGH WORRY.
LAST SUNDAY WE WERE OUT ON THE WILBUR CROSS PARKWAY IN CONNECTICUT ON OUR WAY TO VISIT MY DAUGHTER. THE TRAFFIC CAME TO A STANDSTILL AND I COULD SEE FLASHING LIGHTS AHEAD, INSIDE A TUNNEL. AS WE INCHED FORWARD, THE THOUGHT CAME TO MY MIND THAT MAYBE THIS WAS A TERRORIST PLOT, AND OUR ENEMIES WERE TRYING TO PARALYZE THE COUNTRY BY BLOCKING MAJOR ROADS. I IMAGINED WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF A FEW TUNNELS OR BRIDGES WERE BLOWN UP.
I WORRY MORE THAN I SHOULD. I WORRY ABOUT THE RISING PRICE OF GASOLINE AND WHAT THAT WILL MEAN TO THE FUTURE I'VE TRIED TO PREPARE FOR. I WORRY ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I GOT REALLY SICK AND COULDN'T WORK ANYMORE. I WORRY ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING; WHEN THE SEAS RISE TWENTY FEET OR SO, WILL WE BE UP TO OUR NECKS IN BOSTONIANS FLEEING THE FLOODS? WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE RED SOX THEN? I WORRY ABOUT HOW LIFE HAS CHANGED AND CONTINUES TO CHANGE, SEEMINGLY FOR THE WORST, SINCE 9/11. AND I FIND MYSELF MISSING THE “GOOD OLD DAYS” WHEN THE FUTURE SEEMED SO PREDICTABLE, EVEN THOUGH IN TRUTH I WAS PROBABLY WORRYING ABOUT THE COMMUNIST MENACE THEN.
JESUS LIVED IN A TIME WHEN THINGS SEEMED VERY STABLE. GRANTED, SOME THINGS WERE NOT PARTICULARLY DESIRABLE, LIKE THE DOMINATION OF THE ROMANS; BUT EVEN THAT SEEMED BETTER THAN SOME OF THE TYRANTS WHO USED TO RULE THE JEWISH TERRITORIES. THERE WAS PEACE OF SORTS, PEOPLE COULD PLAN, THE LAW WAS THE LAW AND THE ROMANS ENFORCED IT. AND THE JEWS HAD JUST RECENTLY BUILT THE MAGNIFICENT TEMPLE. LIFE SEEMED SAFE, PREDICTABLE, AND UNCHANGING.
AND JESUS OVERHEARS SOME TOURISTS TALKING ABOUT HOW GREAT THE TEMPLE IS, AND TELLS THEM ITS GOING TO BE RAZED TO THE GROUND; IT IS NO MORE PERMANENT THAN A FLOWER THAT BLOOMS AND DIES.
JESUS TELLS US THREE THINGS.
FIRST, THERE IS NO REAL STABILITY. IF YOU THINK SO YOU ARE SADLY MISTAKEN. THE TEMPLE WILL BE A PILE OF RUBBLE; THERE WILL BE WARS, LIKE IN IRAQ OR AFGHANISTAN, AND MAYBE SOON TO COME, IRAN OR PAKISTAN OR VENEZUELA, WHO KNOWS? THERE WILL BE NATURAL AND MAN-MADE DISASTERS, LIKE THE GULF HURRICANE, LIKE GLOBAL WARMING, LIKE AN OIL TRANSPORT SHIP BLEEDING ITS CONTENTS INTO THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY. AND IT'S ALL UNPREDICTABLE, AND FOR SOME PEOPLE, AT LEAST, LIFE WILL BE COMPLETELY CHANGED, AND ALWAYS FOR THE WORSE. AND EVEN IN OUR OWN LITTLE LIVES, A CAR ACCIDENT, A LUMP IN A BREAST, A SPOT ON THE LUNG, AND EVERYTHING CHANGES.
SECOND, JESUS TELLS US THAT BEING A CHRISTIAN DOES NOT MEAN EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE WONDERFUL FROM THERE ON OUT. JUST THE OPPOSITE, BY BEING CHRISTIANS, WE INVITE PERSECUTION – IN FACT, WE SHOULD PROBABLY ASK WHETHER REAL CHRISTIANS CAN EVEN GET THROUGH LIFE WITHOUT SOME SORT OF PERSECUTION. IF WE'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED A CONDESCENDING STATEMENT ABOUT OUR FAITH, IF WE'VE NEVER FELT SLIGHTLY OUT OF TOUCH BECAUSE OUR BELIEFS SET US APART FROM THOSE AROUND US, IF WE'VE NEVER FELT A TWINGE OF SADNESS WHEN WE HEAR OF ANOTHER PRIEST SCANDAL, THEN MAYBE WE AREN'T REALLY CHRISTIANS. JESUS SAYS WE WILL BE PERSECUTED, AND SOME OF US WILL BE PERSECUTED BY OUR OWN FAMILIES AND FRIENDS, AND IN SOME PARTS OF THE WORLD, SOME OF US ARE STILL BEING PUT TO DEATH, ALL BECAUSE OF BELIEF IN CHRIST, ALL BECAUSE OF THE DESIRE TO FOLLOW CHRIST.
SO FAR, JESUS DOES NOT SOUND LIKE HE'S MUCH FUN.
BUT FINALLY, JESUS TELLS US THAT THERE IS SOMETHING IN OUR LIVES WHICH WE CAN COUNT ON, WHICH WILL NEVER CHANGE, WHICH CAN RESIST WARS AND NATURAL DISASTERS AND PERSECUTION – THAT IS FAITHFULNESS, PERSERVERANCE. IF WE ARE FAITHFUL, WE ARE SAFE – AND WE WILL LIVE, EVEN IF WE DIE. IF WE ARE FAITHFUL, WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY – AS LONG AS WE ARE BEARING WITNESS WITH OUR LIVES AND OUR WORDS – BECAUSE JESUS PROMISED THAT HE WILL GIVE US THE WISDOM TO BE AN EXAMPLE TO THE WORLD THAT CANNOT FAIL. IF WE ARE FAITHFUL, AND PERSEVERE IN FAITHFULNESS, WORRY SHOULD BE THE LAST THING IN OUR MINDS.
IN THE EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH, THERE WERE PEOPLE RUNNING AROUND PROCLAIMING THAT THE WORLD WAS GOING TO END, THAT JESUS WAS COMING AGAIN, AND THIS TIME HE WAS REALLY MAD. AND RIGHT DOWN TO THE PRESENT THEIR DESCENDANTS CONTINUE TO BOTHER THEIR FELLOW CHRISTIANS WITH WARNINGS ABOUT THE FUTURE. AND TO THEM WISE OLD PAUL SAYS, “WORK QUIETLY, AND EAT YOUR OWN FOOD.”
SOMEONE ONCE ASKED ST FRANCIS WHAT HE WOULD DO IF HE FOUND OUT THAT THE WORLD WAS GOING TO END IN 15 MINUTES. HER REPLIED THAT HE WOULD KEEP WORKING IN HIS GARDEN.
SO I, AT LEAST, HAD BETTER ASK MYSELF, WHY DO I WORRY? WORRY MEANS THAT I AM AFRAID THINGS WILL CHANGE AND ALL MY PLANS WILL BE FOR NOTHING. BUT THINGS WILL CHANGE, AND I CAN'T DO A THING ABOUT IT. WORRY MEANS THAT I AM AFRAID OF HOW OTHER PEOPLE MIGHT RESTRICT MY FREEDOM, MIGHT MAKE DEMANDS ON ME, MIGHT IN FACT PERSECUTE ME IN SOME WAY OR ANOTHER. BUT JESUS SAYS I CAN'T DO A THING ABOUT IT. IF I AM HIS FOLLOWER, I BETTER EXPECT JUST THAT.
AND FINALLY, JESUS PROMISES THAT IF I AM FAITHFUL, I'LL COME THROUGH AT THE END, I'LL HAVE REAL LIFE, WONDERFUL PERMANENCE, AND NO UNCERTAINTY; I'LL NEVER HAVE REASON TO WORRY AGAIN. AND THAT FOR ME IS A GREAT PROMISE.
TODAY TAKE STOCK OF YOUR WORRIES IN THE LIGHT OF THIS GOSPEL. AND AS YOU THINK ABOUT THE THINGS THAT MAKE YOU FRET THE MOST, MAYBE YOU WILL REALIZE THAT WORRY IS THE OPPOSITE OF FAITHFULNESS; AND FAITHFULNESS, THE PERSEVERANCE JESUS TALKED ABOUT, IS WHAT WE MUST HAVE TO CLAIM HIS PROMISE, THAT NOT A HAIR ON OUR HEADS WILL BE DESTROYED, THAT THROUGH FAITHFULNESS WE WILL SECURE OUR LIVES, BUT NEVER THROUGH WORRY.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle C
LUKE 20:27-38
AN ELDERLY COUPLE CELEBRATED THEIR FIFTIETH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY WITH A TRIP TO THE HOLY LAND. WHILE THEY WERE THERE, THE WIFE DIED. THE UNDERTAKER TOLD THE HUSBAND THAT HE COULD EITHER HAVE HER BURIED THERE OR BRING HER BACK TO THE UNITED STATES, WHICH WOULD COST A LOT MORE. HE SAID HE WOULD BRING HER BACK. “I CAN SEE YOUR POINT,” SAID THE UNDERTAKER. YOU WANT HER TO BE NEAR YOU WHEN YOU GO.” “ITS NOT THAT,” SAID THE OLD MAN. “ITS JUST THAT I HEARD ABOUT SOMEONE WHO WAS BURIED OVER HERE AND THREE DAYS LATER ROSE FROM THE DEAD, AND I JUST CAN’T TAKE THAT CHANCE.”
WHEN MY WIFE AND I WERE NEWLY MARRIED AND MADLY IN LOVE I REMEMBER HEARING THIS GOSPEL AND FEELING SAD THAT THERE WOULD BE NO MARRIAGE IN HEAVEN. IT DIDN’T SEEM RIGHT; I WANTED TO BE WITH HER NOT ONLY DURING MY LIFE, BUT ON INTO ETERNITY. IT SEEMED UNFAIR THAT PRIESTS WERE PRIESTS FOREVER, BUT WE MARRIED PEOPLE WERE NO LONGER MARRIED IN HEAVEN, WHERE THERE IS NEITHER MARRIAGE NOR BEING GIVEN IN MARRIAGE.
I STILL WANT TO BE WITH MY WIFE IN HEAVEN. BUT DURING MY LIFETIME OF BEING MARRIED, I THINK I UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT WHAT MARRIAGE IS IN RELATION TO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
THE FIRST THING IS THAT ALTHOUGH GOD DOES NOT KEEP US FROM ENTERING HEAVEN, WE HAVE TO MEET CERTAIN CONDITIONS. NO, THESE AREN’T MORAL CONDITIONS. GREAT SINNERS CAN ACCEPT FORGIVENESS AND ENTER HEAVEN; PEOPLE OF OUTSTANDING MORAL CHARACTER CAN REJECT WHAT GOD OFFERS AND FAIL TO ENTER HEAVEN. THE REAL CONDITION FOR ENTERING HEAVEN IS, NO MATTER HOW WE ACHIEVE IT, TO BECOME ONE WITH CHRIST. JESUS MUST DWELL WITHIN US.
IF JESUS IS TO DWELL WITHIN US, WE MUST MAKE ROOM. TO DO SO, WE HAVE TO EMPTY OURSELVES OUT, WE HAVE TO LET GO OF EVERYTHING TO WHICH WE ARE ATTACHED. AND OFTEN, IT ISN’T THE SUV OR THE HOUSE OR EVEN THOSE WE LOVE WHICH HOLD US BACK, IT IS SOME LITTLE THING, SOMETHING THAT WE CANNOT SEE OURSELVES LIVING WITHOUT. IT IS THE HABIT WHICH WE CAN’T BREAK, THE PATTERN OF BEHAVIOR THAT DOESN’T SEEM SO BAD, BUT WHICH WE CAN’T IMAGINE OURSELVES LIVING IN ANY OTHER WAY. IT IS THE PUTTING OFF OF WHAT WE KNOW WE NEED – AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE, FOR EXAMPLE. ALL OF THESE THINGS WHICH WE KNOW WE SHOULDN’T DO BUT WE STILL DO ANYWAY, OR WE KNOW WE SHOULD DO BUT WE DON’T DO ANYWAY, ARE FAILURES OF CONVERSION, AND CONVERSION IS THE FIRST STEP TO EMPTYING OURSELVES.
FORTY TWO YEARS OF A VERY HAPPY MARRIAGE HAS TAUGHT ME THAT THIS STATE OF LIFE IS A WONDERFUL PREPARATION FOR HEAVEN – BECAUSE YOU CAN’T HAVE A GOOD MARRIAGE WITHOUT EMPTYING YOURSELF OUT, WITHOUT DETACHING YOURSELF FROM THOSE THINGS THAT DEFINE YOU. IN MARRIAGE, WE ARE CALLED TO GIVE OURSELVES UP FOR THE PEOPLE WE LOVE, OUR SPOUSES, OUR CHILDREN, AND EVENTUALLY OUR GRANDCHILDREN AND IN-LAWS, ALL TO SOME DEGREE OR ANOTHER. IF WE DO IT RIGHT, AND I HAVEN’T YET, THE DAY WILL COME WHEN WE WILL BE EMPTIED OUT, AND FILLED WITH CHRIST – IT WILL NO LONGER BE ME, BUT CHRIST LIVING WITHIN ME.
SO GOD, I THINK, INVENTED MARRIAGE TO BE A TRAINING GROUND FOR MOST OF US SO THAT WE CAN GET TO HEAVEN. OBVIOUSLY WE CAN BLOW THE OPPORTUNITY. MANY MARRIAGES BREAK UP, AND IN MANY MORE, ONE OF THE SPOUSES TREATS THE OTHER LIKE A SLAVE, OR SEES MARRIAGE AS A STATE IN WHICH YOU GET RATHER THAN GIVE. UNHAPPY AND UNSUCCESSFUL MARRIAGES ALWAYS STEM FROM THE FACT THAT ONE OR BOTH SPOUSES DO NOT WANT TO EMPTY THEMSELVES OUT, BUT RATHER, FILL THEMSELVES UP.
SO WHAT WILL IT BE LIKE WHEN WE RISE FROM THE DEAD AND ENTER THAT STATE WE CALL HEAVEN? IT WILL BE SOMETHING LIKE A GOOD MARRIAGE, SOMETHING LIKE THE BEST PARTS OF A LIFETIME WITH SOMEONE YOU LOVE. IT WILL BE THE COURTSHIP AND THE HONEYMOON AND WATCHING THE CHILDREN GROW UP AND HOLDING YOUR GRANDCHILDREN AND SPENDING TIME JUST BEING TOGETHER OVER A GLASS OF WINE WATCHING THE SUN SET. IT WILL BE SEEING THE INNER BEAUTY OF THE OTHER PERSON EVEN THOUGH AGE AND TIME HAVE HIDDEN THAT BEAUTY FROM THE REST OF THE WORLD. AND IT WILL BE THE SENSE THAT THE OTHER PERSON IS STILL PART OF YOU EVEN AFTER YOU ARE SEPARATED BY DEATH. IT WILL BE ALL THAT ROLLED INTO ONE ETERNAL MOMENT, AND IT WILL NOT ONLY BE WITH THE SPOUSE YOU LIVED WITH THROUGHOUT LIFE, BUT WITH EVERYONE IN HEAVEN. AND FOR MOST OF US MARRIAGE WILL BE THE WAY WE GET THERE.
SO MARRIAGE SHOULD END AT DEATH; IT IS JUST A SMALL FORETASTE OF HEAVEN; IT TRAINS US AND SHAPES US AND FINALLY RELEASES US FOR THAT ETERNAL MARRIAGE TO OUR HEAVENLY SPOUSE.
IF YOU ARE MARRIED, LOOK AT YOUR MARRIAGE WITH NEW EYES, AND ASK WHETHER IT IS HELPING YOU EMPTY YOURSELF OUT, OR WHETHER YOU ARE RESENTFUL BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO BE TAKING PARTS OF YOU AWAY THAT YOU DON’T WANT TO LET GO OF. PRAY THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE GIFT OF MARRIAGE TO BECOME A SAINT. AND IF YOU AREN’T MARRIED PRAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE, SO THAT THEY WILL REFLECT THE ETERNAL MARRIAGE BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH.
AN ELDERLY COUPLE CELEBRATED THEIR FIFTIETH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY WITH A TRIP TO THE HOLY LAND. WHILE THEY WERE THERE, THE WIFE DIED. THE UNDERTAKER TOLD THE HUSBAND THAT HE COULD EITHER HAVE HER BURIED THERE OR BRING HER BACK TO THE UNITED STATES, WHICH WOULD COST A LOT MORE. HE SAID HE WOULD BRING HER BACK. “I CAN SEE YOUR POINT,” SAID THE UNDERTAKER. YOU WANT HER TO BE NEAR YOU WHEN YOU GO.” “ITS NOT THAT,” SAID THE OLD MAN. “ITS JUST THAT I HEARD ABOUT SOMEONE WHO WAS BURIED OVER HERE AND THREE DAYS LATER ROSE FROM THE DEAD, AND I JUST CAN’T TAKE THAT CHANCE.”
WHEN MY WIFE AND I WERE NEWLY MARRIED AND MADLY IN LOVE I REMEMBER HEARING THIS GOSPEL AND FEELING SAD THAT THERE WOULD BE NO MARRIAGE IN HEAVEN. IT DIDN’T SEEM RIGHT; I WANTED TO BE WITH HER NOT ONLY DURING MY LIFE, BUT ON INTO ETERNITY. IT SEEMED UNFAIR THAT PRIESTS WERE PRIESTS FOREVER, BUT WE MARRIED PEOPLE WERE NO LONGER MARRIED IN HEAVEN, WHERE THERE IS NEITHER MARRIAGE NOR BEING GIVEN IN MARRIAGE.
I STILL WANT TO BE WITH MY WIFE IN HEAVEN. BUT DURING MY LIFETIME OF BEING MARRIED, I THINK I UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT WHAT MARRIAGE IS IN RELATION TO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
THE FIRST THING IS THAT ALTHOUGH GOD DOES NOT KEEP US FROM ENTERING HEAVEN, WE HAVE TO MEET CERTAIN CONDITIONS. NO, THESE AREN’T MORAL CONDITIONS. GREAT SINNERS CAN ACCEPT FORGIVENESS AND ENTER HEAVEN; PEOPLE OF OUTSTANDING MORAL CHARACTER CAN REJECT WHAT GOD OFFERS AND FAIL TO ENTER HEAVEN. THE REAL CONDITION FOR ENTERING HEAVEN IS, NO MATTER HOW WE ACHIEVE IT, TO BECOME ONE WITH CHRIST. JESUS MUST DWELL WITHIN US.
IF JESUS IS TO DWELL WITHIN US, WE MUST MAKE ROOM. TO DO SO, WE HAVE TO EMPTY OURSELVES OUT, WE HAVE TO LET GO OF EVERYTHING TO WHICH WE ARE ATTACHED. AND OFTEN, IT ISN’T THE SUV OR THE HOUSE OR EVEN THOSE WE LOVE WHICH HOLD US BACK, IT IS SOME LITTLE THING, SOMETHING THAT WE CANNOT SEE OURSELVES LIVING WITHOUT. IT IS THE HABIT WHICH WE CAN’T BREAK, THE PATTERN OF BEHAVIOR THAT DOESN’T SEEM SO BAD, BUT WHICH WE CAN’T IMAGINE OURSELVES LIVING IN ANY OTHER WAY. IT IS THE PUTTING OFF OF WHAT WE KNOW WE NEED – AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE, FOR EXAMPLE. ALL OF THESE THINGS WHICH WE KNOW WE SHOULDN’T DO BUT WE STILL DO ANYWAY, OR WE KNOW WE SHOULD DO BUT WE DON’T DO ANYWAY, ARE FAILURES OF CONVERSION, AND CONVERSION IS THE FIRST STEP TO EMPTYING OURSELVES.
FORTY TWO YEARS OF A VERY HAPPY MARRIAGE HAS TAUGHT ME THAT THIS STATE OF LIFE IS A WONDERFUL PREPARATION FOR HEAVEN – BECAUSE YOU CAN’T HAVE A GOOD MARRIAGE WITHOUT EMPTYING YOURSELF OUT, WITHOUT DETACHING YOURSELF FROM THOSE THINGS THAT DEFINE YOU. IN MARRIAGE, WE ARE CALLED TO GIVE OURSELVES UP FOR THE PEOPLE WE LOVE, OUR SPOUSES, OUR CHILDREN, AND EVENTUALLY OUR GRANDCHILDREN AND IN-LAWS, ALL TO SOME DEGREE OR ANOTHER. IF WE DO IT RIGHT, AND I HAVEN’T YET, THE DAY WILL COME WHEN WE WILL BE EMPTIED OUT, AND FILLED WITH CHRIST – IT WILL NO LONGER BE ME, BUT CHRIST LIVING WITHIN ME.
SO GOD, I THINK, INVENTED MARRIAGE TO BE A TRAINING GROUND FOR MOST OF US SO THAT WE CAN GET TO HEAVEN. OBVIOUSLY WE CAN BLOW THE OPPORTUNITY. MANY MARRIAGES BREAK UP, AND IN MANY MORE, ONE OF THE SPOUSES TREATS THE OTHER LIKE A SLAVE, OR SEES MARRIAGE AS A STATE IN WHICH YOU GET RATHER THAN GIVE. UNHAPPY AND UNSUCCESSFUL MARRIAGES ALWAYS STEM FROM THE FACT THAT ONE OR BOTH SPOUSES DO NOT WANT TO EMPTY THEMSELVES OUT, BUT RATHER, FILL THEMSELVES UP.
SO WHAT WILL IT BE LIKE WHEN WE RISE FROM THE DEAD AND ENTER THAT STATE WE CALL HEAVEN? IT WILL BE SOMETHING LIKE A GOOD MARRIAGE, SOMETHING LIKE THE BEST PARTS OF A LIFETIME WITH SOMEONE YOU LOVE. IT WILL BE THE COURTSHIP AND THE HONEYMOON AND WATCHING THE CHILDREN GROW UP AND HOLDING YOUR GRANDCHILDREN AND SPENDING TIME JUST BEING TOGETHER OVER A GLASS OF WINE WATCHING THE SUN SET. IT WILL BE SEEING THE INNER BEAUTY OF THE OTHER PERSON EVEN THOUGH AGE AND TIME HAVE HIDDEN THAT BEAUTY FROM THE REST OF THE WORLD. AND IT WILL BE THE SENSE THAT THE OTHER PERSON IS STILL PART OF YOU EVEN AFTER YOU ARE SEPARATED BY DEATH. IT WILL BE ALL THAT ROLLED INTO ONE ETERNAL MOMENT, AND IT WILL NOT ONLY BE WITH THE SPOUSE YOU LIVED WITH THROUGHOUT LIFE, BUT WITH EVERYONE IN HEAVEN. AND FOR MOST OF US MARRIAGE WILL BE THE WAY WE GET THERE.
SO MARRIAGE SHOULD END AT DEATH; IT IS JUST A SMALL FORETASTE OF HEAVEN; IT TRAINS US AND SHAPES US AND FINALLY RELEASES US FOR THAT ETERNAL MARRIAGE TO OUR HEAVENLY SPOUSE.
IF YOU ARE MARRIED, LOOK AT YOUR MARRIAGE WITH NEW EYES, AND ASK WHETHER IT IS HELPING YOU EMPTY YOURSELF OUT, OR WHETHER YOU ARE RESENTFUL BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO BE TAKING PARTS OF YOU AWAY THAT YOU DON’T WANT TO LET GO OF. PRAY THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE GIFT OF MARRIAGE TO BECOME A SAINT. AND IF YOU AREN’T MARRIED PRAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE, SO THAT THEY WILL REFLECT THE ETERNAL MARRIAGE BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH.
Monday, October 29, 2007
30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle C
LUKE 18:9-14
AN OLD FAMILIAR STORY, THIS GOSPEL. THE PHARISEE SEEMS PROUD, DISDAINFUL OF HIS FELLOW MAN, AND THINKS HE HAS IT MADE. THE TAX COLLECTOR, WHO RECOGNIZES THAT HE IS SINFUL, IS JUSTIFIED. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A LESSON HERE FOR US ALL.
BUT MAYBE THE LESSON ISN'T SO OBVIOUS. BECAUSE WHEN WE LOOK AT THE STORY CAREFULLY, THE PHARISEE IS SPEAKING TO GOD. AND WHAT HE IS SAYING IS “I'VE GONE OUT OF MY WAY TO FOLLOW YOUR LAW, AND I THANK YOU THAT YOU'VE GIVEN ME THE GRACE NOT TO BE A SINNER, NOT TO BE LIKE THAT TAX COLLECTOR OVER THERE.” WHAT IS WRONG WITH HIS PRAYER?
AND TAX COLLECTORS IN JESUS' TIME WERE NOTORIOUS; THEY WERE CONSIDERED SINNERS BECAUSE THEY WORKED FOR THE ROMANS, AND THEY FREQUENTLY MADE THEIR LIVES A LITTLE MORE COMFORTABLE BY TAKING MORE THAN THEY WERE ENTITLED TO FROM WHAT THEY COLLECTED. A LOT OF THEM WERE THIEVES. SO WHEN THE TAX COLLECTOR SAYS, “HAVE MERCY ON ME, A SINNER,” THAT IS ALL WELL AND GOOD, BUT TOTALLY APPROPRIATE. WE CAN SEE WHY HE IS JUSTIFIED, BECAUSE GOD IS MERCIFUL AND FORGIVES SINS. BUT SHOULDN'T GOD BE EVEN MORE MERCIFUL TO THE PHARISEE, WHO SPENDS HIS WAKING HOURS TRYING TO LIVE ACCORDING TO GOD'S LAW?
PERHAPS WE NEED TO SEE WHERE GOD IS IN THIS PICTURE.
WHAT DOES GOD WANT? OUR HAPPINESS. THAT'S IT, HE DOESN'T NEED ANYTHING FROM US, REALLY. IN ONE PLACE HE SAYS, I DESIRE MERCY, NOT SACRIFICE. BUT HE ONLY WANTS MERCY BECAUSE IF WE ARE MERCIFUL TO EACH OTHER, THOSE GIVING AND RECEIVING MERCY WILL BE HAPPIER. AND THE PHARISEE IS NOT HAPPY. HE MAY BE PROUD, HE MAY BE SATISFIED, HE MAY TAKE SOME PLEASURE IN HIS METICULOUS CARE TO FOLLOW THE LAW, BUT THINK OF HOW IT MUST BE FOR HIM. EVERY WAKING MOMENT HE IS ON GUARD. WHAT IF HE DRINKS FROM A CUP THAT A SINNER HANDLED? WHAT IF HIS WIFE ACCIDENTALLY GETS THE MEAT PLATES MIXED UP WITH THE MILK PLATES? WHAT IF ON THE SABBATH HE WALKS MORE THAN THE PRESCRIBED DISTANCE, AND THUS DOES “WORK” IN THE NARROW TECHNICAL DEFINITION. IT WAS HARD BEING A PHARISEE, AND IT IS HARD FOR SOME OF US TO BE WHAT WE THINK WE MUST BE. BECAUSE THE PROBLEM THE PHARISEE HAD, AND THE PROBLEM MANY OF US HAVE, IS THAT WE THINK WE CAN SAVE OURSELVES. AND WE CAN'T. WE CAN'T SAVE OURSELVES BY GIVING EVERYTHING WE HAVE TO THE POOR, BY ENTERING A MONASTERY AND SPENDING OUR LIVES IN PRAYER; WE CAN'T EVEN SAVE OURSELVES BY NEVER COMMITTING SIN. SO THE PHARISEE, WHOM GOD WANTS TO BE HAPPY, IS NOT ALLOWING GOD TO GIVE HIM THAT HAPPINESS THAT COMES FROM LETTING GO, THAT COMES FROM RECOGNIZING THAT GOD HAS ALREADY SAVED US, THAT COMES FROM KNOWING THAT WE ARE UNCONDITIONALLY LOVED.
THE TAX COLLECTOR, ON THE OTHER HAND, RECOGNIZES THAT HE IS EMPTY. HE IS A SINNER. SIN IS THE ABSENCE OF GOOD, AND BEING A SINNER MEANS HAVING A GAPING HOLE IN OUR BEINGS, BECAUSE WE ARE MADE FOR GOOD, WE ARE MADE TO BE FILLED UP BY GOD. THE FIRST STEP IN ACHIEVING TRUE HAPPINESS, IS TO RECOGNIZE THIS FACT ABOUT OURSELVES. THINK ABOUT IT. WHEN WE HEAR SOMEONE LIKE MOTHER THERESA OR POPE BENEDICT SAY THEY ARE SINNERS, WE THINK THEY ARE BEING HUMBLE. AFTER ALL, THEY DO SO MUCH MORE, THEY PRAY SO MUCH MORE, THEY HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES TO GOD. BUT THE FACT IS THAT ALL MEN AND WOMEN ARE SINNERS, ALL MEN AND WOMEN IN THEIR NATURAL FALLEN STATE CAN'T REALLY BE OR DO GOOD. ST. PAUL EXPRESSED HIS FRUSTRATION THAT EVEN WHEN HE WANTED TO DO GOOD HE ENDED UP DOING WHAT HE DID NOT WANT TO. AFTER RECOGNIZING HIS EMPTINESS, THE TAX COLLECTOR ASKS FOR MERCY. PART OF THAT PETITION IS EXACTLY WHAT WE THINK OF IT – A PLEA NOT TO HAVE WHAT WE REALLY DESERVE FOR OUR SINS; BUT PART OF IT HAS TO DO WITH THE GOODNESS WE CAN ONLY RECEIVE FROM GOD. THE TAX COLLECTOR SAYS, IN EFFECT, I AM EMPTY, FILL ME UP WITH YOURSELF, YOU WHO ARE THE COMPLETE GOOD, YOU WHO ARE THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN FILL MY EMPTINESS. THE TAX COLLECTOR RECOGNIZES THAT HE CAN'T SAVE HIMSELF, THAT HE CAN'T EVEN PLAN THE NEXT HOUR OF HIS LIFE. AND THAT FREES HIM.
THE WONDERFUL FREEDOM OF THE CHILDREN OF GOD IS THE FREEDOM OF KNOWING THAT GOD HAS DONE ALL THE WORK. IN JESUS AND THROUGH HIS BLOOD WE ARE REDEEMED, OUR SINS FORGIVEN, AS ST. PAUL PROCLAIMS IN HIS LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS. ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS ALLOW GOD TO WORK IN US.
SO THE REAL STORY HERE IS NOT THAT THE PHARISEE IS PROUD AND THE TAX COLLECTOR HUMBLE. THERE HAVE BEEN PROUD, STUCK UP SAINTS. IT IS NOT THAT THE PHARISEE DOESN'T KNOW HE IS IMPERFECT AND NEEDS GOD; AFTER ALL, THAT'S WHY HE DOES WHAT HE DOES, BECAUSE HE IS TRYING TO GET GOD TO LOVE HIM.
THE REAL STORY IS THAT GOD LOVES THE PHARISEE AS MUCH AS GOD CAN, BUT THE PHARISEE WON'T ALLOW GOD TO WORK IN HIS LIFE; WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE, DESPITE HIS LIFE OF ATTEMPTING TO PLEASE GOD, HE PUTS HIMSELF IN THE CENTER OF HIS LIFE, AND GOD IS JUST ANOTHER FACTOR TO BE CONSIDERED. AND GOD LOVES THE TAX COLLECTOR AS MUCH AS GOD CAN, AND THE TAX COLLECTOR STEPS ASIDE AND ALLOWS GOD TO BE THE CENTER OF HIS LIFE. AND HE IS JUSTIFIED, HE IS THE ONE GOD CAN BEGIN TO TRANSFORM, TO WORK THROUGH.
IN THIS SHORT STORY, THE PHARISEE COMES OFF AS A BAD PERSON. BUT THERE IS SOME PHARISEE IN EACH OF US. IT'S IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT WHETHER GOD IS FIRST IN OUR LIVES, OR WE ARE; IT IS IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT WHETHER WE CAN STAND BEFORE GOD AND TRULY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE ARE SINNERS, AND ASK THAT HE FILL US UP WITH HIMSELF.
AN OLD FAMILIAR STORY, THIS GOSPEL. THE PHARISEE SEEMS PROUD, DISDAINFUL OF HIS FELLOW MAN, AND THINKS HE HAS IT MADE. THE TAX COLLECTOR, WHO RECOGNIZES THAT HE IS SINFUL, IS JUSTIFIED. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A LESSON HERE FOR US ALL.
BUT MAYBE THE LESSON ISN'T SO OBVIOUS. BECAUSE WHEN WE LOOK AT THE STORY CAREFULLY, THE PHARISEE IS SPEAKING TO GOD. AND WHAT HE IS SAYING IS “I'VE GONE OUT OF MY WAY TO FOLLOW YOUR LAW, AND I THANK YOU THAT YOU'VE GIVEN ME THE GRACE NOT TO BE A SINNER, NOT TO BE LIKE THAT TAX COLLECTOR OVER THERE.” WHAT IS WRONG WITH HIS PRAYER?
AND TAX COLLECTORS IN JESUS' TIME WERE NOTORIOUS; THEY WERE CONSIDERED SINNERS BECAUSE THEY WORKED FOR THE ROMANS, AND THEY FREQUENTLY MADE THEIR LIVES A LITTLE MORE COMFORTABLE BY TAKING MORE THAN THEY WERE ENTITLED TO FROM WHAT THEY COLLECTED. A LOT OF THEM WERE THIEVES. SO WHEN THE TAX COLLECTOR SAYS, “HAVE MERCY ON ME, A SINNER,” THAT IS ALL WELL AND GOOD, BUT TOTALLY APPROPRIATE. WE CAN SEE WHY HE IS JUSTIFIED, BECAUSE GOD IS MERCIFUL AND FORGIVES SINS. BUT SHOULDN'T GOD BE EVEN MORE MERCIFUL TO THE PHARISEE, WHO SPENDS HIS WAKING HOURS TRYING TO LIVE ACCORDING TO GOD'S LAW?
PERHAPS WE NEED TO SEE WHERE GOD IS IN THIS PICTURE.
WHAT DOES GOD WANT? OUR HAPPINESS. THAT'S IT, HE DOESN'T NEED ANYTHING FROM US, REALLY. IN ONE PLACE HE SAYS, I DESIRE MERCY, NOT SACRIFICE. BUT HE ONLY WANTS MERCY BECAUSE IF WE ARE MERCIFUL TO EACH OTHER, THOSE GIVING AND RECEIVING MERCY WILL BE HAPPIER. AND THE PHARISEE IS NOT HAPPY. HE MAY BE PROUD, HE MAY BE SATISFIED, HE MAY TAKE SOME PLEASURE IN HIS METICULOUS CARE TO FOLLOW THE LAW, BUT THINK OF HOW IT MUST BE FOR HIM. EVERY WAKING MOMENT HE IS ON GUARD. WHAT IF HE DRINKS FROM A CUP THAT A SINNER HANDLED? WHAT IF HIS WIFE ACCIDENTALLY GETS THE MEAT PLATES MIXED UP WITH THE MILK PLATES? WHAT IF ON THE SABBATH HE WALKS MORE THAN THE PRESCRIBED DISTANCE, AND THUS DOES “WORK” IN THE NARROW TECHNICAL DEFINITION. IT WAS HARD BEING A PHARISEE, AND IT IS HARD FOR SOME OF US TO BE WHAT WE THINK WE MUST BE. BECAUSE THE PROBLEM THE PHARISEE HAD, AND THE PROBLEM MANY OF US HAVE, IS THAT WE THINK WE CAN SAVE OURSELVES. AND WE CAN'T. WE CAN'T SAVE OURSELVES BY GIVING EVERYTHING WE HAVE TO THE POOR, BY ENTERING A MONASTERY AND SPENDING OUR LIVES IN PRAYER; WE CAN'T EVEN SAVE OURSELVES BY NEVER COMMITTING SIN. SO THE PHARISEE, WHOM GOD WANTS TO BE HAPPY, IS NOT ALLOWING GOD TO GIVE HIM THAT HAPPINESS THAT COMES FROM LETTING GO, THAT COMES FROM RECOGNIZING THAT GOD HAS ALREADY SAVED US, THAT COMES FROM KNOWING THAT WE ARE UNCONDITIONALLY LOVED.
THE TAX COLLECTOR, ON THE OTHER HAND, RECOGNIZES THAT HE IS EMPTY. HE IS A SINNER. SIN IS THE ABSENCE OF GOOD, AND BEING A SINNER MEANS HAVING A GAPING HOLE IN OUR BEINGS, BECAUSE WE ARE MADE FOR GOOD, WE ARE MADE TO BE FILLED UP BY GOD. THE FIRST STEP IN ACHIEVING TRUE HAPPINESS, IS TO RECOGNIZE THIS FACT ABOUT OURSELVES. THINK ABOUT IT. WHEN WE HEAR SOMEONE LIKE MOTHER THERESA OR POPE BENEDICT SAY THEY ARE SINNERS, WE THINK THEY ARE BEING HUMBLE. AFTER ALL, THEY DO SO MUCH MORE, THEY PRAY SO MUCH MORE, THEY HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES TO GOD. BUT THE FACT IS THAT ALL MEN AND WOMEN ARE SINNERS, ALL MEN AND WOMEN IN THEIR NATURAL FALLEN STATE CAN'T REALLY BE OR DO GOOD. ST. PAUL EXPRESSED HIS FRUSTRATION THAT EVEN WHEN HE WANTED TO DO GOOD HE ENDED UP DOING WHAT HE DID NOT WANT TO. AFTER RECOGNIZING HIS EMPTINESS, THE TAX COLLECTOR ASKS FOR MERCY. PART OF THAT PETITION IS EXACTLY WHAT WE THINK OF IT – A PLEA NOT TO HAVE WHAT WE REALLY DESERVE FOR OUR SINS; BUT PART OF IT HAS TO DO WITH THE GOODNESS WE CAN ONLY RECEIVE FROM GOD. THE TAX COLLECTOR SAYS, IN EFFECT, I AM EMPTY, FILL ME UP WITH YOURSELF, YOU WHO ARE THE COMPLETE GOOD, YOU WHO ARE THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN FILL MY EMPTINESS. THE TAX COLLECTOR RECOGNIZES THAT HE CAN'T SAVE HIMSELF, THAT HE CAN'T EVEN PLAN THE NEXT HOUR OF HIS LIFE. AND THAT FREES HIM.
THE WONDERFUL FREEDOM OF THE CHILDREN OF GOD IS THE FREEDOM OF KNOWING THAT GOD HAS DONE ALL THE WORK. IN JESUS AND THROUGH HIS BLOOD WE ARE REDEEMED, OUR SINS FORGIVEN, AS ST. PAUL PROCLAIMS IN HIS LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS. ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS ALLOW GOD TO WORK IN US.
SO THE REAL STORY HERE IS NOT THAT THE PHARISEE IS PROUD AND THE TAX COLLECTOR HUMBLE. THERE HAVE BEEN PROUD, STUCK UP SAINTS. IT IS NOT THAT THE PHARISEE DOESN'T KNOW HE IS IMPERFECT AND NEEDS GOD; AFTER ALL, THAT'S WHY HE DOES WHAT HE DOES, BECAUSE HE IS TRYING TO GET GOD TO LOVE HIM.
THE REAL STORY IS THAT GOD LOVES THE PHARISEE AS MUCH AS GOD CAN, BUT THE PHARISEE WON'T ALLOW GOD TO WORK IN HIS LIFE; WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE, DESPITE HIS LIFE OF ATTEMPTING TO PLEASE GOD, HE PUTS HIMSELF IN THE CENTER OF HIS LIFE, AND GOD IS JUST ANOTHER FACTOR TO BE CONSIDERED. AND GOD LOVES THE TAX COLLECTOR AS MUCH AS GOD CAN, AND THE TAX COLLECTOR STEPS ASIDE AND ALLOWS GOD TO BE THE CENTER OF HIS LIFE. AND HE IS JUSTIFIED, HE IS THE ONE GOD CAN BEGIN TO TRANSFORM, TO WORK THROUGH.
IN THIS SHORT STORY, THE PHARISEE COMES OFF AS A BAD PERSON. BUT THERE IS SOME PHARISEE IN EACH OF US. IT'S IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT WHETHER GOD IS FIRST IN OUR LIVES, OR WE ARE; IT IS IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT WHETHER WE CAN STAND BEFORE GOD AND TRULY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE ARE SINNERS, AND ASK THAT HE FILL US UP WITH HIMSELF.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
28TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME CYCLE C
LUKE 17:11-19
WHEN I WAS GROWING UP I ATTENDED ST. HELENA GRADE SCHOOL IN HELENA MONTANA – NO LONGER IN EXISTENCE. I WAS TAUGHT BY THE SISTERS OF CHARITY OF LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS, AND FOR MOST OF MY GROWING UP I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT ANY OTHER RELIGIOUS SISTERS. I REMEMBER ONCE IN RELIGION CLASS WE HAD GONE THROUGH THE FOUR TYPES OF PRAYER – ADORATION, THANKSGIVING, PETITION, AND PENANCE – YOU MAY REMEMBER THOSE – WHEN, AS AN EXERCISE, SISTER MARY LORENTIA TOLD US TO GO THROUGH THE PRAYERS OF THE MASS AND IDENTIFY WHICH ONES BELONGED TO WHICH CATEGORY. AND WHAT I FOUND IS STILL TRUE TODAY. THE ONLY PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING IS THE PREFACE, THE PRAYER JUST BEFORE THE EUCHARISTIC PRAYER.
EVEN IN THE MASS, THANKSGIVING MAKES UP ONLY A SMALL PART OF OUR DIALOG WITH GOD. THE WORD “EUCHARIST” COMES FROM THE GREEK WORD MEANING THANKSGIVING, AND YET WE ARE MOSTLY ASKING FOR THINGS, REPENTING OF OUR SINS, OR PRAISING GOD.
TODAY WE HEAR THE STORY OF THE TEN LEPERS. ONLY THE SAMARITAN RETURNS TO THANK JESUS FOR GETTING HIS LIFE BACK. I CAN SYMPATHIZE. I TAKE CARE OF CANCER PATIENTS, AND WHILE MY ULTIMATE SUCCESS RATE IS NOT AS HIGH AS I'D LIKE, THERE ARE PATIENTS WHO WOULD NOT BE ALIVE IF IT WEREN'T FOR MY ATTENTIONS, AT LEAST IN PART. AND YET, BEING THANKED IS A RELATIVELY RARE THING FOR ME AS A PHYSICIAN, JUST AS IT SEEMED TO BE FOR JESUS WHEN HE WAS HEALING. WHAT GOES THROUGH THE MINDS OF PEOPLE WHO RECEIVE A GREAT GIFT AND DO NOT THANK THE GIVER? WHAT WERE THOSE OTHER NINE LEPERS THINKING? MAYBE ONE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE CURE WOULD LAST. MAYBE ONE PLANNED TO GO BACK LATER AND THANK JESUS, BUT HAD MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO – AFTER ALL HE HADN'T SEEN HIS FAMILY IN SEVERAL YEARS. MAYBE ANOTHER THOUGHT THAT HIS LEPROSY HAD BEEN GETTING BETTER BY ITSELF. SOMETIMES WHEN SOMEONE RECEIVES A GREAT GIFT, LIKE A HEALING, THEY RESENT THE HEALER; IT HAPPENS, AND I DON'T KNOW WHY. BUT I IMAGINE THAT IF YOU WERE TO ASK ANY OF THEM, THEY WOULD HAVE SAID THEY WERE GRATEFUL – IT JUST DIDN'T OCCUR TO THEM TO PHYSICALLY THANK JESUS.
GIVING THANKS, EITHER TO OTHER PEOPLE OR TO GOD HIMSELF, IS THE ONLY THING THAT WE CAN GIVE THAT DIDN'T COME TO US FIRST. EVEN GOD CAN NOT MAKE US THANK HIM, BECAUSE THANKSGIVING WELLS UP FROM THE FREEDOM WHICH IS AT THE CENTER OF OUR NATURE AS HUMAN BEINGS.
SOMEONE ONCE STUDIED MEN IN PRISON AND DISCOVERED THAT THOSE WHO SAID “THANK YOU” WHEN SOMETHING WAS DONE FOR THEM HAD A MUCH HIGHER CHANCE OF GOING STRAIGHT ONCE THEY GOT OUT. THE ONES WHO DID NOT OR COULD NOT OFFER THANKS ENDED UP BACK IN JAIL. MAYBE ONLY PEOPLE WHO ARE TRULY FREE IN THEIR HEARTS CAN REALLY GIVE THANKS.
WHAT DID THE SAMARITAN GET FROM THANKING JESUS? HE ALREADY HAD HIS HEALING, AS HAD THE OTHER NINE. I'M SURE HE WASN'T ACTUALLY LOOKING FOR SOMETHING. WHEN WE THANK SOMEONE SINCERELY, WE AREN'T CONSCIOUSLY TRYING TO GET SOMETHING MORE. BUT WHEN WE SAY THANKS, WE ARE ACKNOWLEDGING AND DEEPENING A RELATIONSHIP WHICH BEGAN WHEN THE OTHER PERSON GAVE SOMETHING TO US. TO FREELY GIVE A GIFT TO SOMEONE DOES NOT REALLY PUT THAT PERSON IN THE DEBT OF THE GIVER – IT MAY FEEL LIKE THAT, BUT REMEMBER, IT IS A GIFT, NOT A LOAN. A FREELY GIVEN GIFT IS ALWAYS AN ACT OF LOVE. AND WHEN WE THANK SOMEONE WHO HAS GIVEN US A GIFT, WE ARE ACCEPTING THEIR LOVE AS WELL AS THEIR GIFT. AND TO ACCEPT LOVE DOES MAKE US VULNERABLE, BECAUSE IT BINDS US TO THE ONE WHO LOVES US.
I FIND IT HARD TO SAY THANKS – NOT HARD, I GUESS, BUT I DON'T REMEMBER TO THANK PEOPLE FOR THE LITTLE THINGS. I SHOULD THANK MY WIFE A LOT MORE OFTEN FOR EVERYTHING SHE DOES FOR ME. I SHOULD THANK MY CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN JUST FOR BEING THE GOOD PEOPLE THEY ARE. I SHOULD THANK FATHER REILLY FOR HIS SUPPORT AND PATIENCE AND HIS DEVOTION TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS PARISH. I CAN THINK OF MANY PEOPLE I SHOULD THANK, AND DON'T. AND IF YOU ARE HUMAN, YOU CAN AS WELL.
WHEN YOU EXCHANGE THE SIGN OF PEACE TODAY, OFFER YOUR THANKS. I'M SURE YOU CAN THINK OF SOME REASON TO THANK THOSE PERSONS. IF YOU CAN'T THINK OF ANY OTHER REASONS, THANK HIM OR HER FOR BEING AT MASS, FOR BEING A MEMBER OF SAINT MARY'S.
AND WHEN YOU RECEIVE THE EUCHARIST, REMEMBER THAT THERE IS ONLY ONE PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING IN THE MASS, AND YOU'VE ALREADY SAID IT. AND NOW YOU HAVE RECEIVED THE GREATEST GIFT THAT GOD COULD GIVE YOU, HIS SON, IN THE FORM OF BREAD AND WINE, AND MAYBE THE REASON FOR THERE ONLY BEING ONE PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING IN THE MASS IS BECAUSE GOD HOPES THAT YOU WILL CHOOSE TO THANK HIM FROM THE FREEDOM HE GAVE YOU, AND WILL LINGER A FEW MOMENTS AFTER MASS TO OFFER YOUR GRATITUDE. WHERE ARE THE NINE? WERE THEY NOT HEALED AS WELL? MAY YOU AND I NO LONGER BE AMONG THOSE NINE, BECAUSE TRUE WORSHIP IS ONE LEPER RETURNING TO THANK JESUS.
WHEN I WAS GROWING UP I ATTENDED ST. HELENA GRADE SCHOOL IN HELENA MONTANA – NO LONGER IN EXISTENCE. I WAS TAUGHT BY THE SISTERS OF CHARITY OF LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS, AND FOR MOST OF MY GROWING UP I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT ANY OTHER RELIGIOUS SISTERS. I REMEMBER ONCE IN RELIGION CLASS WE HAD GONE THROUGH THE FOUR TYPES OF PRAYER – ADORATION, THANKSGIVING, PETITION, AND PENANCE – YOU MAY REMEMBER THOSE – WHEN, AS AN EXERCISE, SISTER MARY LORENTIA TOLD US TO GO THROUGH THE PRAYERS OF THE MASS AND IDENTIFY WHICH ONES BELONGED TO WHICH CATEGORY. AND WHAT I FOUND IS STILL TRUE TODAY. THE ONLY PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING IS THE PREFACE, THE PRAYER JUST BEFORE THE EUCHARISTIC PRAYER.
EVEN IN THE MASS, THANKSGIVING MAKES UP ONLY A SMALL PART OF OUR DIALOG WITH GOD. THE WORD “EUCHARIST” COMES FROM THE GREEK WORD MEANING THANKSGIVING, AND YET WE ARE MOSTLY ASKING FOR THINGS, REPENTING OF OUR SINS, OR PRAISING GOD.
TODAY WE HEAR THE STORY OF THE TEN LEPERS. ONLY THE SAMARITAN RETURNS TO THANK JESUS FOR GETTING HIS LIFE BACK. I CAN SYMPATHIZE. I TAKE CARE OF CANCER PATIENTS, AND WHILE MY ULTIMATE SUCCESS RATE IS NOT AS HIGH AS I'D LIKE, THERE ARE PATIENTS WHO WOULD NOT BE ALIVE IF IT WEREN'T FOR MY ATTENTIONS, AT LEAST IN PART. AND YET, BEING THANKED IS A RELATIVELY RARE THING FOR ME AS A PHYSICIAN, JUST AS IT SEEMED TO BE FOR JESUS WHEN HE WAS HEALING. WHAT GOES THROUGH THE MINDS OF PEOPLE WHO RECEIVE A GREAT GIFT AND DO NOT THANK THE GIVER? WHAT WERE THOSE OTHER NINE LEPERS THINKING? MAYBE ONE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE CURE WOULD LAST. MAYBE ONE PLANNED TO GO BACK LATER AND THANK JESUS, BUT HAD MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO – AFTER ALL HE HADN'T SEEN HIS FAMILY IN SEVERAL YEARS. MAYBE ANOTHER THOUGHT THAT HIS LEPROSY HAD BEEN GETTING BETTER BY ITSELF. SOMETIMES WHEN SOMEONE RECEIVES A GREAT GIFT, LIKE A HEALING, THEY RESENT THE HEALER; IT HAPPENS, AND I DON'T KNOW WHY. BUT I IMAGINE THAT IF YOU WERE TO ASK ANY OF THEM, THEY WOULD HAVE SAID THEY WERE GRATEFUL – IT JUST DIDN'T OCCUR TO THEM TO PHYSICALLY THANK JESUS.
GIVING THANKS, EITHER TO OTHER PEOPLE OR TO GOD HIMSELF, IS THE ONLY THING THAT WE CAN GIVE THAT DIDN'T COME TO US FIRST. EVEN GOD CAN NOT MAKE US THANK HIM, BECAUSE THANKSGIVING WELLS UP FROM THE FREEDOM WHICH IS AT THE CENTER OF OUR NATURE AS HUMAN BEINGS.
SOMEONE ONCE STUDIED MEN IN PRISON AND DISCOVERED THAT THOSE WHO SAID “THANK YOU” WHEN SOMETHING WAS DONE FOR THEM HAD A MUCH HIGHER CHANCE OF GOING STRAIGHT ONCE THEY GOT OUT. THE ONES WHO DID NOT OR COULD NOT OFFER THANKS ENDED UP BACK IN JAIL. MAYBE ONLY PEOPLE WHO ARE TRULY FREE IN THEIR HEARTS CAN REALLY GIVE THANKS.
WHAT DID THE SAMARITAN GET FROM THANKING JESUS? HE ALREADY HAD HIS HEALING, AS HAD THE OTHER NINE. I'M SURE HE WASN'T ACTUALLY LOOKING FOR SOMETHING. WHEN WE THANK SOMEONE SINCERELY, WE AREN'T CONSCIOUSLY TRYING TO GET SOMETHING MORE. BUT WHEN WE SAY THANKS, WE ARE ACKNOWLEDGING AND DEEPENING A RELATIONSHIP WHICH BEGAN WHEN THE OTHER PERSON GAVE SOMETHING TO US. TO FREELY GIVE A GIFT TO SOMEONE DOES NOT REALLY PUT THAT PERSON IN THE DEBT OF THE GIVER – IT MAY FEEL LIKE THAT, BUT REMEMBER, IT IS A GIFT, NOT A LOAN. A FREELY GIVEN GIFT IS ALWAYS AN ACT OF LOVE. AND WHEN WE THANK SOMEONE WHO HAS GIVEN US A GIFT, WE ARE ACCEPTING THEIR LOVE AS WELL AS THEIR GIFT. AND TO ACCEPT LOVE DOES MAKE US VULNERABLE, BECAUSE IT BINDS US TO THE ONE WHO LOVES US.
I FIND IT HARD TO SAY THANKS – NOT HARD, I GUESS, BUT I DON'T REMEMBER TO THANK PEOPLE FOR THE LITTLE THINGS. I SHOULD THANK MY WIFE A LOT MORE OFTEN FOR EVERYTHING SHE DOES FOR ME. I SHOULD THANK MY CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN JUST FOR BEING THE GOOD PEOPLE THEY ARE. I SHOULD THANK FATHER REILLY FOR HIS SUPPORT AND PATIENCE AND HIS DEVOTION TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS PARISH. I CAN THINK OF MANY PEOPLE I SHOULD THANK, AND DON'T. AND IF YOU ARE HUMAN, YOU CAN AS WELL.
WHEN YOU EXCHANGE THE SIGN OF PEACE TODAY, OFFER YOUR THANKS. I'M SURE YOU CAN THINK OF SOME REASON TO THANK THOSE PERSONS. IF YOU CAN'T THINK OF ANY OTHER REASONS, THANK HIM OR HER FOR BEING AT MASS, FOR BEING A MEMBER OF SAINT MARY'S.
AND WHEN YOU RECEIVE THE EUCHARIST, REMEMBER THAT THERE IS ONLY ONE PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING IN THE MASS, AND YOU'VE ALREADY SAID IT. AND NOW YOU HAVE RECEIVED THE GREATEST GIFT THAT GOD COULD GIVE YOU, HIS SON, IN THE FORM OF BREAD AND WINE, AND MAYBE THE REASON FOR THERE ONLY BEING ONE PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING IN THE MASS IS BECAUSE GOD HOPES THAT YOU WILL CHOOSE TO THANK HIM FROM THE FREEDOM HE GAVE YOU, AND WILL LINGER A FEW MOMENTS AFTER MASS TO OFFER YOUR GRATITUDE. WHERE ARE THE NINE? WERE THEY NOT HEALED AS WELL? MAY YOU AND I NO LONGER BE AMONG THOSE NINE, BECAUSE TRUE WORSHIP IS ONE LEPER RETURNING TO THANK JESUS.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle C
LUKE 17:5-10
SO WHY DO THE APOSTLES SAY, “LORD, INCREASE OUR FAITH?” WHAT DO THEY EXPECT TO GET OUT OF IT? THEY'VE BEEN WITH JESUS FOR A WHILE. THEY'VE SEEN HIS MIRACLES. THEY'VE LISTENED TO HIS TEACHING, AND OFTEN PUZZLED OVER WHAT HE COULD POSSIBLY MEAN. MAYBE THAT IS WHAT THEY MEAN. MAYBE THEY WANT TO DO MIRACLES, MAYBE THEY WANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW YOU CAN FORGIVE SOMEONE SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN, WHICH IS WHAT JESUS JUST FINISHED TELLING THEM.
BUT HE GIVES A STRANGE ANSWER. IF YOU HAD FAITH THE SIZE OF A MUSTARD SEED, YOU COULD SAY TO THIS MULBERRY TREE, “BE UPROOTED AND PLANTED IN THE SEA”, AND IT WOULD OBEY YOU.
A MUSTARD SEED, TO THE PEOPLE OF THAT TIME, WAS THE SMALLEST SEED AROUND. AND A MULBERRY TREE ONCE FULLY GROWN, COULD NOT BE TRANSPLANTED ANYWHERE-- THE ROOTS WERE SO EXTENSIVE THAT ANY ATTEMPT TO MOVE THE TREE KILLED IT. MAYBE JESUS IS SAYING, “FAITH IS NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE INCREASED OR DECREASED; YOU EITHER HAVE IT OR YOU DON'T.”
JESUS GOES ON TO TELL THEM A STORY THAT SEEMS TO HAVE LITTLE TO DO WITH THEIR QUESTION, BUT IT REALLY HAS A LOT. HE SAYS, “PRETEND LIKE YOU HAD A SERVANT. WOULD YOU WAIT ON THAT MAN WHEN HE CAME HOME FROM WORK? OR WOULD YOU CONTINUE TO TREAT HIM LIKE A SERVANT?” THE APOSTLES KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT ONE. AND THEN JESUS SAYS, THAT IS THE SAME WITH YOU – EVEN WHEN YOU DO EVERYTHING YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO, SAY TO YOURSELVES, WE ARE UNPROFITABLE, WE HAVE ONLY DONE OUR DUTY.
I DON'T REALLY LIKE TO REPHRASE THE GOSPEL AFTER YOU'VE JUST HEARD IT, BUT THIS ONE IS DIFFICULT. JESUS KNOWS WHAT THE APOSTLES WANT – THEY WANT POWER, ENLIGHTENEMENT – THEY WANT A FAITH THAT SERVES THEM. JESUS TELLS THEM THAT THE FAITH THEY SHOULD BE SEEKING IS THE FAITH OF A SERVANT WHO DOES HIS DUTY – A FAITH WHICH MIGHT BETTER BE TERMED “FAITHFULNESS”.
I SUSPECT MOST OF US HAVE FAITH, IN THE SENSE THAT WE BELIEVE IN GOD, IN JESUS, IN THE MASS; BUT PROBABLY ALL OF US COULD BE MORE FAITHFUL. WE COULD PRAY MORE; WE COULD BE MORE CHARITABLE; WE COULD LIVE AS THOUGH WE REALLY CARED ABOUT OUR NEIGHBOR, ABOUT THE POOR AMONG US. SOME OF US ARE PROBABLY MORE FAITHFUL THAN OTHERS; BUT NONE OF US ARE THERE YET, NONE OF US CAN SAY “WE HAVE BEEN AS FAITHFUL AS WE COULD BE.” BUT WE CAN SAY, IF WE ARE LIVING OUR LIVES THE WAY JESUS ASKS US TO, THAT WE ARE MORE FAITHFUL THAN WE WERE YESTERDAY, OR LAST YEAR.
THAT IS WHAT HABAKKUK IS TALKING ABOUT. TO HIM AND HIS COUNTRYMEN, EVERYTHING IS FALLING APART, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH GOD HAS DESERTED THEM; WE KNOW THAT DURING OR SHORTLY AFTER HABAKKUK WROTE HIS PROPHECY, THE BABYLONIANS CONQUERED JERUSALEM AND SENT ALL ITS INHABITANTS INTO EXILE. GOD'S ANSWER TO HABAKKUK IS NOT WHAT HE WOULD LIKE. GOD SAYS, IN EFFECT, “THERE WILL BE AN END TO ALL OF THIS, BUT YOUR JOB, IF YOU ARE A JUST ONE, IS TO BE FAITHFUL – AND THEN YOU WILL LIVE.” THE HEBREW WORD THAT IS TRANSLATED “FAITH” HERE REALLY MEANS “FAITHFUL” -- AND IN THIS CONTEXT, MEANS TO ADHERE TO THE LAW THAT GOD HAS GIVEN THEM.
IF WE WANT TO BE MORE FAITHFUL, AND WE SHOULD, IT HAS TO START WITH US. GOD HAS GIVEN US FAITH; ONLY WE CAN COOPERATE WITH HIS GRACE. OCTOBER, SOME OF YOU MAY REMEMBER, IS THE MONTH OF THE HOLY ROSARY, AND TOMORROW IS THE FEAST OF THE HOLY ROSARY. A WONDERFUL WAY TO BEGIN TO BE MORE FAITHFUL IS TO MAKE THE ROSARY A DAILY PRAYER. WHY? BECAUSE IT IS A MEDITATION ON THE LIVES OF JESUS AND MARY. WHY? BECAUSE WE SPEAK THE WORDS OF JESUS TO HIS FATHER, AND THE WORDS OF THE ANGEL TO MARY. WHY? BECAUSE WHEN WE SAY THE ROSARY EVERY DAY, ALL THAT WE HAVE DONE THAT DAY CAN BE MEASURED AGAINST THE WORDS THAT WE PRAY, THE SCENES THAT WE IMAGINE. WHY? BECAUSE IF YOU KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO SPEND 15 MINUTES SAYING THE ROSARY THOUGHTFULLY AND PRAYERFULLY, REFLECTING ON YOUR DAY, YOU BEGIN TO BE MORE FAITHFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO, NOT JUST IN YOUR PRAYER.
OUR MOTHER MARY THROUGH HER SAINTS HAS GIVEN MANY WONDERFUL PROMISES TO THOSE WHO SAY THE ROSARY. ST. DOMINIC WAS CHARGED BY MARY TO PREACH THE ROSARY, AND WAS GIVEN THESE PROMISES, AMONG OTHERS:THE ROSARY WILL MAKE VIRTUE AND GOOD WORKS FLOURISH, AND WILL OBTAIN FOR SOULS THE MOST ABUNDANT DIVINE MERCIES. IT WILL DRAW THE HEARTS OF MEN FROM THE LOVE OF THE WORLD AND ITS VANITIES, AND WILL LIFT THEM TO THE DESIRE OF ETERNAL THINGS.
THOSE WHO TRUST THEMSELVES TO ME THROUGH THE ROSARY WILL NOT PERISH.
THOSE WHO FAITHFULLY RECITE MY ROSARY SHALL HAVE DURING THEIR LIFE AND AT THEIR DEATH THE LIGHT OF
GOD AND THE FULLNESS OF HIS GRACES AND WILL SHARE IN THE MERITS OF THE BLESSED.
THOSE WHO RECITE MY ROSARY FAITHFULLY ARE MY BELOVED CHILDREN, THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF JESUS CHRIST.
THERE WERE ACTUALLY FIFTEEN PROMISES MADE TO DOMINIC, NOT TO MENTION SEVERAL OTHERS DOWN THROUGH THE AGES.
SO HOW DO WE BECOME MORE FAITHFUL? A GOOD WAY IS TO START SAYING THE ROSARY EVERY DAY. AND A GOOD TIME TO START IS DURING THE MONTH OF THE HOLY ROSARY. AND A GOOD DAY TO START IS ON THE FEAST OF THE HOLY ROSARY.
SO WHY DO THE APOSTLES SAY, “LORD, INCREASE OUR FAITH?” WHAT DO THEY EXPECT TO GET OUT OF IT? THEY'VE BEEN WITH JESUS FOR A WHILE. THEY'VE SEEN HIS MIRACLES. THEY'VE LISTENED TO HIS TEACHING, AND OFTEN PUZZLED OVER WHAT HE COULD POSSIBLY MEAN. MAYBE THAT IS WHAT THEY MEAN. MAYBE THEY WANT TO DO MIRACLES, MAYBE THEY WANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW YOU CAN FORGIVE SOMEONE SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN, WHICH IS WHAT JESUS JUST FINISHED TELLING THEM.
BUT HE GIVES A STRANGE ANSWER. IF YOU HAD FAITH THE SIZE OF A MUSTARD SEED, YOU COULD SAY TO THIS MULBERRY TREE, “BE UPROOTED AND PLANTED IN THE SEA”, AND IT WOULD OBEY YOU.
A MUSTARD SEED, TO THE PEOPLE OF THAT TIME, WAS THE SMALLEST SEED AROUND. AND A MULBERRY TREE ONCE FULLY GROWN, COULD NOT BE TRANSPLANTED ANYWHERE-- THE ROOTS WERE SO EXTENSIVE THAT ANY ATTEMPT TO MOVE THE TREE KILLED IT. MAYBE JESUS IS SAYING, “FAITH IS NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE INCREASED OR DECREASED; YOU EITHER HAVE IT OR YOU DON'T.”
JESUS GOES ON TO TELL THEM A STORY THAT SEEMS TO HAVE LITTLE TO DO WITH THEIR QUESTION, BUT IT REALLY HAS A LOT. HE SAYS, “PRETEND LIKE YOU HAD A SERVANT. WOULD YOU WAIT ON THAT MAN WHEN HE CAME HOME FROM WORK? OR WOULD YOU CONTINUE TO TREAT HIM LIKE A SERVANT?” THE APOSTLES KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT ONE. AND THEN JESUS SAYS, THAT IS THE SAME WITH YOU – EVEN WHEN YOU DO EVERYTHING YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO, SAY TO YOURSELVES, WE ARE UNPROFITABLE, WE HAVE ONLY DONE OUR DUTY.
I DON'T REALLY LIKE TO REPHRASE THE GOSPEL AFTER YOU'VE JUST HEARD IT, BUT THIS ONE IS DIFFICULT. JESUS KNOWS WHAT THE APOSTLES WANT – THEY WANT POWER, ENLIGHTENEMENT – THEY WANT A FAITH THAT SERVES THEM. JESUS TELLS THEM THAT THE FAITH THEY SHOULD BE SEEKING IS THE FAITH OF A SERVANT WHO DOES HIS DUTY – A FAITH WHICH MIGHT BETTER BE TERMED “FAITHFULNESS”.
I SUSPECT MOST OF US HAVE FAITH, IN THE SENSE THAT WE BELIEVE IN GOD, IN JESUS, IN THE MASS; BUT PROBABLY ALL OF US COULD BE MORE FAITHFUL. WE COULD PRAY MORE; WE COULD BE MORE CHARITABLE; WE COULD LIVE AS THOUGH WE REALLY CARED ABOUT OUR NEIGHBOR, ABOUT THE POOR AMONG US. SOME OF US ARE PROBABLY MORE FAITHFUL THAN OTHERS; BUT NONE OF US ARE THERE YET, NONE OF US CAN SAY “WE HAVE BEEN AS FAITHFUL AS WE COULD BE.” BUT WE CAN SAY, IF WE ARE LIVING OUR LIVES THE WAY JESUS ASKS US TO, THAT WE ARE MORE FAITHFUL THAN WE WERE YESTERDAY, OR LAST YEAR.
THAT IS WHAT HABAKKUK IS TALKING ABOUT. TO HIM AND HIS COUNTRYMEN, EVERYTHING IS FALLING APART, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH GOD HAS DESERTED THEM; WE KNOW THAT DURING OR SHORTLY AFTER HABAKKUK WROTE HIS PROPHECY, THE BABYLONIANS CONQUERED JERUSALEM AND SENT ALL ITS INHABITANTS INTO EXILE. GOD'S ANSWER TO HABAKKUK IS NOT WHAT HE WOULD LIKE. GOD SAYS, IN EFFECT, “THERE WILL BE AN END TO ALL OF THIS, BUT YOUR JOB, IF YOU ARE A JUST ONE, IS TO BE FAITHFUL – AND THEN YOU WILL LIVE.” THE HEBREW WORD THAT IS TRANSLATED “FAITH” HERE REALLY MEANS “FAITHFUL” -- AND IN THIS CONTEXT, MEANS TO ADHERE TO THE LAW THAT GOD HAS GIVEN THEM.
IF WE WANT TO BE MORE FAITHFUL, AND WE SHOULD, IT HAS TO START WITH US. GOD HAS GIVEN US FAITH; ONLY WE CAN COOPERATE WITH HIS GRACE. OCTOBER, SOME OF YOU MAY REMEMBER, IS THE MONTH OF THE HOLY ROSARY, AND TOMORROW IS THE FEAST OF THE HOLY ROSARY. A WONDERFUL WAY TO BEGIN TO BE MORE FAITHFUL IS TO MAKE THE ROSARY A DAILY PRAYER. WHY? BECAUSE IT IS A MEDITATION ON THE LIVES OF JESUS AND MARY. WHY? BECAUSE WE SPEAK THE WORDS OF JESUS TO HIS FATHER, AND THE WORDS OF THE ANGEL TO MARY. WHY? BECAUSE WHEN WE SAY THE ROSARY EVERY DAY, ALL THAT WE HAVE DONE THAT DAY CAN BE MEASURED AGAINST THE WORDS THAT WE PRAY, THE SCENES THAT WE IMAGINE. WHY? BECAUSE IF YOU KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO SPEND 15 MINUTES SAYING THE ROSARY THOUGHTFULLY AND PRAYERFULLY, REFLECTING ON YOUR DAY, YOU BEGIN TO BE MORE FAITHFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO, NOT JUST IN YOUR PRAYER.
OUR MOTHER MARY THROUGH HER SAINTS HAS GIVEN MANY WONDERFUL PROMISES TO THOSE WHO SAY THE ROSARY. ST. DOMINIC WAS CHARGED BY MARY TO PREACH THE ROSARY, AND WAS GIVEN THESE PROMISES, AMONG OTHERS:THE ROSARY WILL MAKE VIRTUE AND GOOD WORKS FLOURISH, AND WILL OBTAIN FOR SOULS THE MOST ABUNDANT DIVINE MERCIES. IT WILL DRAW THE HEARTS OF MEN FROM THE LOVE OF THE WORLD AND ITS VANITIES, AND WILL LIFT THEM TO THE DESIRE OF ETERNAL THINGS.
THOSE WHO TRUST THEMSELVES TO ME THROUGH THE ROSARY WILL NOT PERISH.
THOSE WHO FAITHFULLY RECITE MY ROSARY SHALL HAVE DURING THEIR LIFE AND AT THEIR DEATH THE LIGHT OF
GOD AND THE FULLNESS OF HIS GRACES AND WILL SHARE IN THE MERITS OF THE BLESSED.
THOSE WHO RECITE MY ROSARY FAITHFULLY ARE MY BELOVED CHILDREN, THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF JESUS CHRIST.
THERE WERE ACTUALLY FIFTEEN PROMISES MADE TO DOMINIC, NOT TO MENTION SEVERAL OTHERS DOWN THROUGH THE AGES.
SO HOW DO WE BECOME MORE FAITHFUL? A GOOD WAY IS TO START SAYING THE ROSARY EVERY DAY. AND A GOOD TIME TO START IS DURING THE MONTH OF THE HOLY ROSARY. AND A GOOD DAY TO START IS ON THE FEAST OF THE HOLY ROSARY.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle C
LUKE 16:19-31
THE STORY OF THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS HAS BEEN TROTTED OUT TO SUPPORT THE IDEA OF HELL AS A PLACE OF FIRE AND TORMENT; IT HAS BEEN USED TO MAKE THOSE WHO HAVE THINGS FEEL GUILTY ABOUT ENJOYING WHAT THEY POSSESS. SOME PEOPLE THINK IT IS A TRUE STORY. BUT MAYBE WE NEED TO HEAR IT AS THOSE WHO LISTENED TO JESUS MIGHT HAVE HEARD IT. IT IS A MARVELOUS STORY, AND JESUS IN A FEW WORDS MANAGES TO PAINT COMPLEX AND MANY-LAYERED PICTURES.
A RICH MAN, CLOTHED IN PURPLE AND LINEN. WHY PURPLE, WHY LINEN? ONLY THOSE OF ROYAL BLOOD COULD WEAR PURPLE. AND ONLY PRIESTS CUSTOMARILY WORE LINEN, WHICH WAS EXPENSIVE AND DIFFICULT TO MAKE. SO THE RICH MAN IS BOTH ROYAL AND PRIESTLY – HE IS PART OF A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD. SAINT PETER TELLS US, “YOU ARE A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE SET APART BY GOD TO DECLARE THE PRAISES OF HIM WHO CALLED YOU OUT OF DARKNESS.” THE RICH MAN HAS BEEN GIVEN GREAT GIFTS AND GREAT RESPONSIBILITIES.
THEN THERE IS THE BEGGAR, LAZARUS. THE NAME MEANS “GOD IS MY HELP”, BUT HE IS HELPLESS, HE IS LYING AT THE DOOR OF THE RICH MAN'S HOUSE.
IN JESUS' TIME, YOU ATE WITH YOUR HANDS, AND WIPED THEM ON PIECES OF FLAT BREAD. IF YOU WERE POOR, YOU ATE THE BREAD, AND IF YOU WERE RICH, YOU WADDED UP THE BREAD AND THREW IT TO THE DOGS. REMEMBER THE WOMAN WHO SAID TO JESUS, “EVEN THE DOGS GET TO EAT THE BREAD THAT FALLS FROM THE CHILDREN'S TABLE”. LAZARUS WOULD HAVE GLADLY TRADED PLACES WITH THE DOGS. THE PRODIGAL SON WOULD HAVE GLADLY TRADED PLACE WITH THE PIGS THAT HE FED. ISN'T IT A TERRIBLE THING WHEN A HUMAN BEING, A CHILD OF GOD, IS IN SUCH TERRIBLE STRAITS THAT HE WOULD TRADE PLACES WITH AN ANIMAL?
THE PEOPLE OF JESUS' TIME DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF DOGS. THEY WERE TOLERATED, BECAUSE THEY WOULD CHASE AWAY WILD ANIMALS, AND THEY COULD HERD SHEEP. BUT THEY ATE ANYTHING, AND ROLLED IN THE DIRT, AND HAD NO SENSE OF SHAME. IN FACT, IF YOU WANTED TO REALLY INSULT SOMEONE, YOU CALLED THEM A DOG. AND JEWS REFERRED TO GENTILES, ESPECIALLY SAMARITANS, AS DOGS. AND VICE VERSA.
EVERYONE KNEW ONE GOOD THING ABOUT DOGS. WHEN THEY LICKED AN OPEN WOUND, IT SEEMED TO HEAL FASTER. IN FACT IN SOME PARTS OF THE ANCIENT WORLD, DOGS WERE KEPT FOR THAT PURPOSE. LAZARUS HAD OPEN SORES, AND THE RICH MAN STEPPED OVER HIM, BUT THE DOGS, ONLY SLIGHTLY MORE HONORABLE THEN PIGS, DID SOMETHING FOR HIM. THEY TRIED TO HEAL HIS SORES.
WHEN THEY DIED, LAZARUS FOUND HIMSELF IN THE BOSOM OF ABRAHAM. IN JESUS' TIME, WHEN PEOPLE HAD A BANQUET, THEY WOULD LIE DOWN ON THEIR SIDES AND REST THEIR HEADS ON THEIR LEFT HAND, AND EAT WITH THEIR RIGHT HAND. THE HONORED GUEST, THE ONE WHO RECLINED NEXT TO THE HOST, WAS SAID TO BE IN THE BOSOM OF THE HOST. LAZARUS IS THE HONORED GUEST OF ABRAHAM. AND THE RICH MAN IS IN TORMENT. THE GREEK WORD, THOUGH, DOES NOT MEAN WHAT WE THINK IT MEANS. THE WORD REFERS TO THE PROCESS OF USING A CERTAIN STONE TO TEST THE STRENGTH OF METAL. WHEN SOMEONE SOLD YOU A BRONZE VASE, YOU WOULD TAP IT GENTLY WITH A CERTAIN STONE, AND SEE IF THE METAL BECAME DENTED; IF SO, IT WAS FLAWED AND YOU WOULDN'T BUY IT. THE RICH MAN HAD BEEN TESTED, AND FAILED THE TEST. THE GREAT CHASM AND THE FLAME ARE OF HIS OWN DOING, OR LACK OF DOING. THAT IS WHY NO ONE CAN CROSS OVER. THE RICH MAN HAS CREATED A BARRIER HE CAN NOT UNCREATE; AND NO ONE ELSE CAN BREAK THROUGH EITHER.
WAY TOO LATE HE BEGINS TO THINK OF OTHERS-- NOT LAZARUS, WHO HE STILL SEES AS A THING, AS AT BEST A SERVANT. SEND HIM TO ME WITH A DROP OF WATER; SEND HIM TO MY BROTHERS. BUT THE BROTHERS, AND YOU WILL NOTE THAT THERE ARE FIVE BROTHERS – BECAUSE THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH, THE REMNANT OF THE JEWISH NATION, CONSIDERED THEMSELVES DESCENDED FROM JUDAH, ONE OF THE SONS OF JACOB, WHO HIMSELF HAD FIVE SONS. JESUS MEANT THE FIVE SONS TO MEAN ALL THE JEWISH PEOPLE, WHO HAD EVERYTHING THEY NEEDED TO AVOID THE FATE OF THE RICH MAN.
“THEY HAVE MOSES AND THE PROPHETS,” ABRAHAM SAYS.
THE PEOPLE WHO HEARD JESUS TELL THIS STORY KNEW WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT. THE RICH MAN WASN'T EVIL, AND LAZARUS WASN'T GOOD. THE RICH MAN WAS THE JEWISH LEADERSHIP, CHARGED NOT ONLY WITH DISPENSING THE GIFTS OF GOD TO THE PEOPLE, BUT ALSO, IF WE READ THE PROPHETS, CHARGED WITH SPREADING THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD TO THE GENTILES – REPRESENTED BY LAZARUS, THE MAN WHO HAD NOTHING, THE MAN WHOSE ONLY HOPE WAS GOD. AND THEY FAILED, AND THEY WOULD NEVER AGAIN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED; THEY HAD BECOME USELESS, IRRELEVANT. AND THE PEOPLE OF JUDAH WERE WARNED.
WE ARE NOW THE ROYAL PRIESTHOOD. OUR MISSION IS TO BRING THE LIGHT OF CHRIST INTO THE WORLD. WE HAVE THIS ONE CHANCE, THIS ONE LIFETIME. AS WE ALL KNOW, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN IN GREAT PAIN, OR WHO HAVE BEEN DISABLED, PHYSICAL THINGS LIKE FIRE, LIKE THE PICTURE WE HAVE IN OUR MIND OF HELL, CAN ONLY HURT US FOR SO LONG. PEOPLE CAN GET USED TO ANYTHING. BUT REAL PAIN, ETERNAL PAIN, IS TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE FAILED IN WHAT WE WERE MEANT TO DO, AND THAT WE WILL NOT HAVE A SECOND CHANCE. AND JESUS GIVES US FAIR WARNING – THIS LIFETIME IS OUR CHANCE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, TO PROMOTE THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, TO BE INSTRUMENTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN RE-CHRISTIANIZING THE WORLD – STARTING WITH OURSELVES, MOVING TO OUR NEIGHBOR, AND THEN OUT TO THE WORLD. IF WE ARE GIVEN SO MANY GIFTS AS CATHOLIC CHRISTIANS, AND WE IGNORE THE SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL NEEDS OF OUR NEIGHBOR – IF WE ARE EVEN LESS HELPFUL THAN THE DOGS OF THIS WORLD, WE WILL HAVE FAILED THE TEST.
THE STORY OF THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS HAS BEEN TROTTED OUT TO SUPPORT THE IDEA OF HELL AS A PLACE OF FIRE AND TORMENT; IT HAS BEEN USED TO MAKE THOSE WHO HAVE THINGS FEEL GUILTY ABOUT ENJOYING WHAT THEY POSSESS. SOME PEOPLE THINK IT IS A TRUE STORY. BUT MAYBE WE NEED TO HEAR IT AS THOSE WHO LISTENED TO JESUS MIGHT HAVE HEARD IT. IT IS A MARVELOUS STORY, AND JESUS IN A FEW WORDS MANAGES TO PAINT COMPLEX AND MANY-LAYERED PICTURES.
A RICH MAN, CLOTHED IN PURPLE AND LINEN. WHY PURPLE, WHY LINEN? ONLY THOSE OF ROYAL BLOOD COULD WEAR PURPLE. AND ONLY PRIESTS CUSTOMARILY WORE LINEN, WHICH WAS EXPENSIVE AND DIFFICULT TO MAKE. SO THE RICH MAN IS BOTH ROYAL AND PRIESTLY – HE IS PART OF A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD. SAINT PETER TELLS US, “YOU ARE A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE SET APART BY GOD TO DECLARE THE PRAISES OF HIM WHO CALLED YOU OUT OF DARKNESS.” THE RICH MAN HAS BEEN GIVEN GREAT GIFTS AND GREAT RESPONSIBILITIES.
THEN THERE IS THE BEGGAR, LAZARUS. THE NAME MEANS “GOD IS MY HELP”, BUT HE IS HELPLESS, HE IS LYING AT THE DOOR OF THE RICH MAN'S HOUSE.
IN JESUS' TIME, YOU ATE WITH YOUR HANDS, AND WIPED THEM ON PIECES OF FLAT BREAD. IF YOU WERE POOR, YOU ATE THE BREAD, AND IF YOU WERE RICH, YOU WADDED UP THE BREAD AND THREW IT TO THE DOGS. REMEMBER THE WOMAN WHO SAID TO JESUS, “EVEN THE DOGS GET TO EAT THE BREAD THAT FALLS FROM THE CHILDREN'S TABLE”. LAZARUS WOULD HAVE GLADLY TRADED PLACES WITH THE DOGS. THE PRODIGAL SON WOULD HAVE GLADLY TRADED PLACE WITH THE PIGS THAT HE FED. ISN'T IT A TERRIBLE THING WHEN A HUMAN BEING, A CHILD OF GOD, IS IN SUCH TERRIBLE STRAITS THAT HE WOULD TRADE PLACES WITH AN ANIMAL?
THE PEOPLE OF JESUS' TIME DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF DOGS. THEY WERE TOLERATED, BECAUSE THEY WOULD CHASE AWAY WILD ANIMALS, AND THEY COULD HERD SHEEP. BUT THEY ATE ANYTHING, AND ROLLED IN THE DIRT, AND HAD NO SENSE OF SHAME. IN FACT, IF YOU WANTED TO REALLY INSULT SOMEONE, YOU CALLED THEM A DOG. AND JEWS REFERRED TO GENTILES, ESPECIALLY SAMARITANS, AS DOGS. AND VICE VERSA.
EVERYONE KNEW ONE GOOD THING ABOUT DOGS. WHEN THEY LICKED AN OPEN WOUND, IT SEEMED TO HEAL FASTER. IN FACT IN SOME PARTS OF THE ANCIENT WORLD, DOGS WERE KEPT FOR THAT PURPOSE. LAZARUS HAD OPEN SORES, AND THE RICH MAN STEPPED OVER HIM, BUT THE DOGS, ONLY SLIGHTLY MORE HONORABLE THEN PIGS, DID SOMETHING FOR HIM. THEY TRIED TO HEAL HIS SORES.
WHEN THEY DIED, LAZARUS FOUND HIMSELF IN THE BOSOM OF ABRAHAM. IN JESUS' TIME, WHEN PEOPLE HAD A BANQUET, THEY WOULD LIE DOWN ON THEIR SIDES AND REST THEIR HEADS ON THEIR LEFT HAND, AND EAT WITH THEIR RIGHT HAND. THE HONORED GUEST, THE ONE WHO RECLINED NEXT TO THE HOST, WAS SAID TO BE IN THE BOSOM OF THE HOST. LAZARUS IS THE HONORED GUEST OF ABRAHAM. AND THE RICH MAN IS IN TORMENT. THE GREEK WORD, THOUGH, DOES NOT MEAN WHAT WE THINK IT MEANS. THE WORD REFERS TO THE PROCESS OF USING A CERTAIN STONE TO TEST THE STRENGTH OF METAL. WHEN SOMEONE SOLD YOU A BRONZE VASE, YOU WOULD TAP IT GENTLY WITH A CERTAIN STONE, AND SEE IF THE METAL BECAME DENTED; IF SO, IT WAS FLAWED AND YOU WOULDN'T BUY IT. THE RICH MAN HAD BEEN TESTED, AND FAILED THE TEST. THE GREAT CHASM AND THE FLAME ARE OF HIS OWN DOING, OR LACK OF DOING. THAT IS WHY NO ONE CAN CROSS OVER. THE RICH MAN HAS CREATED A BARRIER HE CAN NOT UNCREATE; AND NO ONE ELSE CAN BREAK THROUGH EITHER.
WAY TOO LATE HE BEGINS TO THINK OF OTHERS-- NOT LAZARUS, WHO HE STILL SEES AS A THING, AS AT BEST A SERVANT. SEND HIM TO ME WITH A DROP OF WATER; SEND HIM TO MY BROTHERS. BUT THE BROTHERS, AND YOU WILL NOTE THAT THERE ARE FIVE BROTHERS – BECAUSE THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH, THE REMNANT OF THE JEWISH NATION, CONSIDERED THEMSELVES DESCENDED FROM JUDAH, ONE OF THE SONS OF JACOB, WHO HIMSELF HAD FIVE SONS. JESUS MEANT THE FIVE SONS TO MEAN ALL THE JEWISH PEOPLE, WHO HAD EVERYTHING THEY NEEDED TO AVOID THE FATE OF THE RICH MAN.
“THEY HAVE MOSES AND THE PROPHETS,” ABRAHAM SAYS.
THE PEOPLE WHO HEARD JESUS TELL THIS STORY KNEW WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT. THE RICH MAN WASN'T EVIL, AND LAZARUS WASN'T GOOD. THE RICH MAN WAS THE JEWISH LEADERSHIP, CHARGED NOT ONLY WITH DISPENSING THE GIFTS OF GOD TO THE PEOPLE, BUT ALSO, IF WE READ THE PROPHETS, CHARGED WITH SPREADING THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD TO THE GENTILES – REPRESENTED BY LAZARUS, THE MAN WHO HAD NOTHING, THE MAN WHOSE ONLY HOPE WAS GOD. AND THEY FAILED, AND THEY WOULD NEVER AGAIN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED; THEY HAD BECOME USELESS, IRRELEVANT. AND THE PEOPLE OF JUDAH WERE WARNED.
WE ARE NOW THE ROYAL PRIESTHOOD. OUR MISSION IS TO BRING THE LIGHT OF CHRIST INTO THE WORLD. WE HAVE THIS ONE CHANCE, THIS ONE LIFETIME. AS WE ALL KNOW, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN IN GREAT PAIN, OR WHO HAVE BEEN DISABLED, PHYSICAL THINGS LIKE FIRE, LIKE THE PICTURE WE HAVE IN OUR MIND OF HELL, CAN ONLY HURT US FOR SO LONG. PEOPLE CAN GET USED TO ANYTHING. BUT REAL PAIN, ETERNAL PAIN, IS TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE FAILED IN WHAT WE WERE MEANT TO DO, AND THAT WE WILL NOT HAVE A SECOND CHANCE. AND JESUS GIVES US FAIR WARNING – THIS LIFETIME IS OUR CHANCE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, TO PROMOTE THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, TO BE INSTRUMENTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN RE-CHRISTIANIZING THE WORLD – STARTING WITH OURSELVES, MOVING TO OUR NEIGHBOR, AND THEN OUT TO THE WORLD. IF WE ARE GIVEN SO MANY GIFTS AS CATHOLIC CHRISTIANS, AND WE IGNORE THE SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL NEEDS OF OUR NEIGHBOR – IF WE ARE EVEN LESS HELPFUL THAN THE DOGS OF THIS WORLD, WE WILL HAVE FAILED THE TEST.
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