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.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
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.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle B
JOHN 6:1-15
I WOULD GUESS THAT I GET AN EMAIL FROM ONE OF MY FRIENDS OR RELATIVES AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK PROMISING THAT IF I WILL FORWARD THE CONTENTS OF THE EMAIL TO TEN OF MY FRIENDS, SOMETHING GOOD WILL HAPPEN; AND SOMETIMES I LEARN THAT IF I DON'T, SOMETHING BAD WILL HAPPEN TO ME. YOU WILL SEE OCCASIONAL ADS IN THE NEWSPAPER PROMISING THAT IF WE SAY A PARTICULAR PRAYER IT WILL BE ANSWERED. AND NOW AND THEN YOU WILL FIND A BROCHURE IN THE CHURCH, STATING THAT A PARTICULAR PRAYER HAS NEVER BEEN KNOWN TO FAIL.
THERE ARE A LOT OF OUR FELLOW CHRISTIANS WHO BELIEVE THERE ARE WAYS TO GET GOD TO DO SOMETHING THEY WANT. UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS A TENDENCY IN EVERY HUMAN BEING, NOT JUST CHRISTIANS. SOMETIMES IT IS TO SAY A CERTAIN PRAYER, OR TO PERFORM A CERTAIN RITUAL. WE MIGHT LAUGH AT SOME OF THE PRACTICES OF PRIMITIVE PEOPLE, BUT THERE MAY NOT BE THAT MUCH DIFFERENCE. BUT SOMETIMES IT IS MORE SUBTLE. WE BELIEVE THAT IF WE LIVE A CERTAIN WAY, SAY OUR PRAYERS, GET TO MASS ON SUNDAY, WE WILL GET GOD TO TAKE CARE OF US, AND AT LEAST GET US INTO HEAVEN.
THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MIRACLES AND MAGIC. MAGIC IS WHEN WE SAY OR DO SOMETHING SO THAT GOD WILL DO SOMETHING. MAGIC JUST DOESN'T WORK. GOD CAN'T BE MANIPULATED, BY DEFINITION. HE CAN'T BE COERCED OR FLATTERED OR OTHERWISE PERSUADED TO DO SOMETHING CONTRARY TO HIS WILL; AND AT THE SAME TIME, HIS WILL ALWAYS WILL BE DONE, SOONER OR LATER; WE CAN'T CHANGE THAT.
BUT A MIRACLE IS A DIFFERENT ANIMAL. A MIRACLE BEGINS WITH SOMEONE TAKING A STEP IN TRUST, AND GOD CHOOSING TO RESPOND TO A NEED IN HIS OWN WAY. LETS SEE HOW THAT WORKS IN THE STORY OF THE FEEDING OF THE FIVE THOUSAND.
JESUS IS AWARE OF A NEED, A CROWD OF PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T EATEN IN A WHILE. THEY AREN'T STARVING TO DEATH; THEY ARE MERELY HUNGRY. I'LL BET THERE WASN'T A SINGLE PERSON IN THAT CROWD WHO ACTUALLY EXPECTED TO GET FED. BUT JESUS WANTS TO FEED THEM. AND THAT'S NOT SURPRISING; JESUS IS THE PERFECT REFLECTION OF THE FATHER, AND THE FATHER WANTS TO FULFILL HIS CHILDREN'S NEEDS. AND JESUS TURNS TO HIS APOSTLES AND SAYS, “WHERE CAN WE BUY ENOUGH FOOD FOR THEM TO EAT?” NOW JOHN, THE AUTHOR OF THIS GOSPEL, DOESN'T WANT ANY OF US TO FORGET THAT JESUS IS TRULY GOD. SO HE TELLS US THAT JESUS SAID THIS TO TEST THEM, BECAUSE HE ALREADY KNEW WHAT HE WAS GOING TO DO. I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE SO, MAYBE NOT. PHILIP SAYS “IT CAN'T BE DONE.” HAD THE STORY STOPPED THERE, IT WOULD HAVE NEVER MADE IT INTO THE GOSPEL. GOD WANTED TO FEED HIS PEOPLE, BUT NO ONE WAS STEPPING FORWARD IN TRUST TO DO WHAT HE OR SHE KNEW GOD WANTED DONE. BUT ANDREW STEPS FORWARD AND SAYS, “HERE IS SOME BREAD AND SOME FISH, NOT ANYWHERE NEAR WHAT WE NEED, BUT ITS A BEGINNING.” AND ANDREW HAS TAKEN A STEP IN TRUST, AND GOD NOW CHOOSES TO RESPOND. ANDREW, YOU WILL NOTICE, DID NOT SAY, “WELL LORD, JUST DO A MIRACLE.” BUT HE DID WHAT HE COULD TO DEAL WITH WHAT JESUS HAD IDENTIFIED AS HIS DESIRE – TO FEED THESE PEOPLE. AND THEN THE MIRACLE TOOK PLACE.
ANOTHER THING ABOUT A MIRACLE IS THAT IT HAPPENS THE WAY GOD WANTS IT TO, NOT THE WAY WE WOULD LIKE IT TO HAPPEN. JESUS DID NOT SET OUT A SMORGASBOARD OF FINE FOODS AND RICH WINES, ALTHOUGH WE ALL WOULD AGREE THAT HE COULD HAVE. NO, EVERYONE GOT SOME COARSE PEASANT BREAD; NO BUTTER OR JAM; AND SOME DRIED FISH, NO TARTAR SAUCE. IT WAS WHAT THEY ALL NEEDED; A SOURCE OF PROTEIN AND CARBOHYDRATE; SOMETHING TO TIDE THEM OVER. IT WAS ADEQUATE AND FILLED THEM UP. THE MIRACLE WAS WHAT JESUS WANTED, NOT WHAT THE PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE WANTED IF THEY HAD BEEN ASKED.
AND FINALLY, I AM CONVINCED THAT A REAL MIRACLE IS NOT JUST GOD MEETING A PERCEIVED NEED OF HIS PEOPLE; A REAL MIRACLE ENLIGHTENS; IT SHOWS US SOMETHING WE DID NOT KNOW. AND THIS MIRACLE IS NO EXCEPTION. IT OF COURSE SHOWS THE PEOPLE THAT JESUS IS NOT JUST A WANDERING PREACHER, OR EVEN A WONDER-WORKER. WHY WAS THERE SO MUCH LEFT OVER, MUCH MORE THAN THEY HAD EVEN STARTED WITH? THAT IS THE REVELATION. GOD FREELY MEETS THE NEEDS OF HIS PEOPLE, BUT IN DOING SO, PROVIDES THEM WITH THE MEANS TO DO EVEN MORE. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THOSE BASKETS OF LEFT-OVERS, BUT THEY MUST HAVE BEEN USED FOR SOMETHING, SINCE JESUS HAD THEM GATHERED UP SO THAT THEY WOULD NOT GO TO WASTE. MAYBE THEY WENT TO THE POOR, OR MAYBE THEY MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR THE APOSTLES TO EAT FOR A FEW DAYS, WHO KNOWS.
IN A MIRACLE, A CREATURE, THAT'S YOU AND I, DOES SOMETHING TO MEET A NEED THAT WE KNOW GOD DESIRES TO BE MET; AND WE KNOW GOD WANTS AN END TO HUNGER, POVERTY, SADNESS, OPPRESSION, SICKNESS – YOU AND I KNOW WHAT GOD WANTS FOR HIS PEOPLE. WE DO SOMETHING EVEN IF WE KNOW THAT WE CAN'T POSSIBLY MAKE THAT MUCH DIFFERENCE. BUT WE'VE DONE SOMETHING. AND GOD MAY CHOOSE TO TAKE WHAT LITTLE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO, AND WHAT HAPPENS WILL BE BEYOND OUR WILDEST DREAMS. A NUN FEELS THAT GOD HAS CALLED HER TO CARE FOR THE DYING ON THE STREETS OF CALCUTTA, AND SHE SETS OUT, DOING WHAT SHE CAN. AND GOD WORKS A MIRACLE AND THE WORK SHE STARTED GOES ON ALL OVER THE WORLD. A SIMPLE ITALIAN PARTY BOY HEARS GOD CALL HIM TO REBUILD HIS CHURCH, AND GOES OUT TO ACTUALLY REBUILD CHURCHES – AND THE FRANCISCAN MOVEMENT IS PERHAPS THE MOST REVOLUTIONARY EVENT IN THE HISTORY OF CHRISTENDOM. AND A FATHER BRINGS HIS DAUGHTER AT GREAT EXPENSE TO EXPERTS TO HEAL HER HEART, EVEN THOUGH SHE HAS A FATAL DISEASE; AND MANY YEARS LATER, SHE IS WELL.
THE MIRACLE OF THE LOAVES AND THE FISHES SHOWS US THAT IF WE TAKE THOSE FIRST HALTING STEPS TOWARDS MEETING A NEED THAT WE SEE AROUND US, IF IT IS PART OF GOD'S PLAN WE MAY WITNESS GOD BREAKING IN TO OUR WORLD ONCE AGAIN.
AND EVERY TIME WE CELEBRATE MASS WE ARE REMINDED OF THIS; WE BRING A LITTLE BREAD AND A LITTLE WINE, AND OFFER IT TO GOD, AND GOD RESPONDS BY GIVING US HIS SON, NOT OVER AND OVER AGAIN, BUT ONCE, ONCE FOR ALL ETERNITY, TO FEED OUR HUNGRY SPIRITS.
I WOULD GUESS THAT I GET AN EMAIL FROM ONE OF MY FRIENDS OR RELATIVES AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK PROMISING THAT IF I WILL FORWARD THE CONTENTS OF THE EMAIL TO TEN OF MY FRIENDS, SOMETHING GOOD WILL HAPPEN; AND SOMETIMES I LEARN THAT IF I DON'T, SOMETHING BAD WILL HAPPEN TO ME. YOU WILL SEE OCCASIONAL ADS IN THE NEWSPAPER PROMISING THAT IF WE SAY A PARTICULAR PRAYER IT WILL BE ANSWERED. AND NOW AND THEN YOU WILL FIND A BROCHURE IN THE CHURCH, STATING THAT A PARTICULAR PRAYER HAS NEVER BEEN KNOWN TO FAIL.
THERE ARE A LOT OF OUR FELLOW CHRISTIANS WHO BELIEVE THERE ARE WAYS TO GET GOD TO DO SOMETHING THEY WANT. UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS A TENDENCY IN EVERY HUMAN BEING, NOT JUST CHRISTIANS. SOMETIMES IT IS TO SAY A CERTAIN PRAYER, OR TO PERFORM A CERTAIN RITUAL. WE MIGHT LAUGH AT SOME OF THE PRACTICES OF PRIMITIVE PEOPLE, BUT THERE MAY NOT BE THAT MUCH DIFFERENCE. BUT SOMETIMES IT IS MORE SUBTLE. WE BELIEVE THAT IF WE LIVE A CERTAIN WAY, SAY OUR PRAYERS, GET TO MASS ON SUNDAY, WE WILL GET GOD TO TAKE CARE OF US, AND AT LEAST GET US INTO HEAVEN.
THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MIRACLES AND MAGIC. MAGIC IS WHEN WE SAY OR DO SOMETHING SO THAT GOD WILL DO SOMETHING. MAGIC JUST DOESN'T WORK. GOD CAN'T BE MANIPULATED, BY DEFINITION. HE CAN'T BE COERCED OR FLATTERED OR OTHERWISE PERSUADED TO DO SOMETHING CONTRARY TO HIS WILL; AND AT THE SAME TIME, HIS WILL ALWAYS WILL BE DONE, SOONER OR LATER; WE CAN'T CHANGE THAT.
BUT A MIRACLE IS A DIFFERENT ANIMAL. A MIRACLE BEGINS WITH SOMEONE TAKING A STEP IN TRUST, AND GOD CHOOSING TO RESPOND TO A NEED IN HIS OWN WAY. LETS SEE HOW THAT WORKS IN THE STORY OF THE FEEDING OF THE FIVE THOUSAND.
JESUS IS AWARE OF A NEED, A CROWD OF PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T EATEN IN A WHILE. THEY AREN'T STARVING TO DEATH; THEY ARE MERELY HUNGRY. I'LL BET THERE WASN'T A SINGLE PERSON IN THAT CROWD WHO ACTUALLY EXPECTED TO GET FED. BUT JESUS WANTS TO FEED THEM. AND THAT'S NOT SURPRISING; JESUS IS THE PERFECT REFLECTION OF THE FATHER, AND THE FATHER WANTS TO FULFILL HIS CHILDREN'S NEEDS. AND JESUS TURNS TO HIS APOSTLES AND SAYS, “WHERE CAN WE BUY ENOUGH FOOD FOR THEM TO EAT?” NOW JOHN, THE AUTHOR OF THIS GOSPEL, DOESN'T WANT ANY OF US TO FORGET THAT JESUS IS TRULY GOD. SO HE TELLS US THAT JESUS SAID THIS TO TEST THEM, BECAUSE HE ALREADY KNEW WHAT HE WAS GOING TO DO. I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE SO, MAYBE NOT. PHILIP SAYS “IT CAN'T BE DONE.” HAD THE STORY STOPPED THERE, IT WOULD HAVE NEVER MADE IT INTO THE GOSPEL. GOD WANTED TO FEED HIS PEOPLE, BUT NO ONE WAS STEPPING FORWARD IN TRUST TO DO WHAT HE OR SHE KNEW GOD WANTED DONE. BUT ANDREW STEPS FORWARD AND SAYS, “HERE IS SOME BREAD AND SOME FISH, NOT ANYWHERE NEAR WHAT WE NEED, BUT ITS A BEGINNING.” AND ANDREW HAS TAKEN A STEP IN TRUST, AND GOD NOW CHOOSES TO RESPOND. ANDREW, YOU WILL NOTICE, DID NOT SAY, “WELL LORD, JUST DO A MIRACLE.” BUT HE DID WHAT HE COULD TO DEAL WITH WHAT JESUS HAD IDENTIFIED AS HIS DESIRE – TO FEED THESE PEOPLE. AND THEN THE MIRACLE TOOK PLACE.
ANOTHER THING ABOUT A MIRACLE IS THAT IT HAPPENS THE WAY GOD WANTS IT TO, NOT THE WAY WE WOULD LIKE IT TO HAPPEN. JESUS DID NOT SET OUT A SMORGASBOARD OF FINE FOODS AND RICH WINES, ALTHOUGH WE ALL WOULD AGREE THAT HE COULD HAVE. NO, EVERYONE GOT SOME COARSE PEASANT BREAD; NO BUTTER OR JAM; AND SOME DRIED FISH, NO TARTAR SAUCE. IT WAS WHAT THEY ALL NEEDED; A SOURCE OF PROTEIN AND CARBOHYDRATE; SOMETHING TO TIDE THEM OVER. IT WAS ADEQUATE AND FILLED THEM UP. THE MIRACLE WAS WHAT JESUS WANTED, NOT WHAT THE PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE WANTED IF THEY HAD BEEN ASKED.
AND FINALLY, I AM CONVINCED THAT A REAL MIRACLE IS NOT JUST GOD MEETING A PERCEIVED NEED OF HIS PEOPLE; A REAL MIRACLE ENLIGHTENS; IT SHOWS US SOMETHING WE DID NOT KNOW. AND THIS MIRACLE IS NO EXCEPTION. IT OF COURSE SHOWS THE PEOPLE THAT JESUS IS NOT JUST A WANDERING PREACHER, OR EVEN A WONDER-WORKER. WHY WAS THERE SO MUCH LEFT OVER, MUCH MORE THAN THEY HAD EVEN STARTED WITH? THAT IS THE REVELATION. GOD FREELY MEETS THE NEEDS OF HIS PEOPLE, BUT IN DOING SO, PROVIDES THEM WITH THE MEANS TO DO EVEN MORE. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THOSE BASKETS OF LEFT-OVERS, BUT THEY MUST HAVE BEEN USED FOR SOMETHING, SINCE JESUS HAD THEM GATHERED UP SO THAT THEY WOULD NOT GO TO WASTE. MAYBE THEY WENT TO THE POOR, OR MAYBE THEY MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR THE APOSTLES TO EAT FOR A FEW DAYS, WHO KNOWS.
IN A MIRACLE, A CREATURE, THAT'S YOU AND I, DOES SOMETHING TO MEET A NEED THAT WE KNOW GOD DESIRES TO BE MET; AND WE KNOW GOD WANTS AN END TO HUNGER, POVERTY, SADNESS, OPPRESSION, SICKNESS – YOU AND I KNOW WHAT GOD WANTS FOR HIS PEOPLE. WE DO SOMETHING EVEN IF WE KNOW THAT WE CAN'T POSSIBLY MAKE THAT MUCH DIFFERENCE. BUT WE'VE DONE SOMETHING. AND GOD MAY CHOOSE TO TAKE WHAT LITTLE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO, AND WHAT HAPPENS WILL BE BEYOND OUR WILDEST DREAMS. A NUN FEELS THAT GOD HAS CALLED HER TO CARE FOR THE DYING ON THE STREETS OF CALCUTTA, AND SHE SETS OUT, DOING WHAT SHE CAN. AND GOD WORKS A MIRACLE AND THE WORK SHE STARTED GOES ON ALL OVER THE WORLD. A SIMPLE ITALIAN PARTY BOY HEARS GOD CALL HIM TO REBUILD HIS CHURCH, AND GOES OUT TO ACTUALLY REBUILD CHURCHES – AND THE FRANCISCAN MOVEMENT IS PERHAPS THE MOST REVOLUTIONARY EVENT IN THE HISTORY OF CHRISTENDOM. AND A FATHER BRINGS HIS DAUGHTER AT GREAT EXPENSE TO EXPERTS TO HEAL HER HEART, EVEN THOUGH SHE HAS A FATAL DISEASE; AND MANY YEARS LATER, SHE IS WELL.
THE MIRACLE OF THE LOAVES AND THE FISHES SHOWS US THAT IF WE TAKE THOSE FIRST HALTING STEPS TOWARDS MEETING A NEED THAT WE SEE AROUND US, IF IT IS PART OF GOD'S PLAN WE MAY WITNESS GOD BREAKING IN TO OUR WORLD ONCE AGAIN.
AND EVERY TIME WE CELEBRATE MASS WE ARE REMINDED OF THIS; WE BRING A LITTLE BREAD AND A LITTLE WINE, AND OFFER IT TO GOD, AND GOD RESPONDS BY GIVING US HIS SON, NOT OVER AND OVER AGAIN, BUT ONCE, ONCE FOR ALL ETERNITY, TO FEED OUR HUNGRY SPIRITS.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle B
MARK 6:30-34
SAINT BENEDICT LIVED IN THE THIRD CENTURY AND FOUNDED WESTERN MONASTACISM. THE BENEDICTINE MONKS, OF COURSE, TRACE THEIR EXISTENCE TO HIM; BUT SO DO THE CARTHUSIANS, THE TRAPPISTS, THE CISTERIANS, AND INDEED THE MAJORITY OF MONASTIC ORDERS IN THE WEST. AND THEY HAVE IN COMMON THAT THEY FOLLOW THE RULE OF ST. BENEDICT, THE ONLY DOCUMENT WE HAVE WHICH WAS AUTHORED BY HIM. THE RULE OF ST. BENEDICT IS SURPRISING IN ITS MODERATION. PRIOR TO BENEDICT, THOSE WHO LIVED MONASTIC LIVES, OR LIVED AS HERMITS, INFLICTED THEMSELVES WITH GREAT MORTIFICATIONS, STARVED THEIR BODIES, SPENT WHOLE WEEKS WITHOUT SLEEP; LIVED ON PILLARS, AND IN GENERAL, SPENT THEIR LIVES TRYING TO OUTDO EACH OTHER IN THESE SO CALLED HEROIC ACTS OF HOLINESS. BENEDICT WOULD HAVE NONE OF THAT. THE PURPOSE OF HIS RULE WAS TO HELP THOSE LIVING IN MONASTIC COMMUNITIES TO DRAW CLOSER TO JESUS CHRIST AND LIVE PRODUCTIVE CHRISTIAN LIVES. AND THE RULE IS CHARACTERIZED BY BALANCE. THE MONKS LIVE SIMPLE LIVES, BUT THEY ARE TO EAT AND DRINK NOT JUST TO KEEP BODY AND SOUL TOGETHER, BUT TO HAVE HEALTHY BODIES. THE DIET IS SEMI-VEGETARIAN, WITH MEAT EATEN ON SPECIAL DAYS IN SOME OF THE ORDERS. ALCOHOL IS USED IN MODERATION, AGAIN, RESERVED FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS. MONKS ARE TO GET A DECENT NIGHT'S REST. HAIR SHIRTS AND OTHER PHYSICAL PENANCES ARE LOOKED UPON WITH SUSPICION, AND ARE ONLY TO BE UNDERTAKEN WITH THE PERMISSION OF ONE'S SUPERIOR, AND THEN ONLY FOR A LIMITED TIME.
BENEDICT IS SURPRISINGLY PRACTICAL. IF MONKS CANNOT SLEEP ONE TO A ROOM, THEY MUST SLEEP AT LEAST THREE TO A ROOM, AND AT LEAST ONE OF THE THREE MUST BE ELDERLY. “SPECIAL FRIENDSHIPS” ARE NOT ALLOWED, AND DURING THE EVENING RECREATION, MONKS WERE TO SPEND TIME CONVERSING WITH A DIFFERENT MONK EACH EVENING.
BUT PERHAPS ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING RULES, ONE WHICH COULD APPLY TO EVERYONE, NOT JUST MONKS, IS THAT THE RULE PUTS A LIMIT ON HOW LONG A MONK CAN WORK, OUT ON THE FARM, IN THE KITCHEN, IN THE COPYING ROOM, IN THE LAUNDRY – A MONK HAD TO STOP EVERYTHING, AND GO TO THE SCHEDULED PRAYERS, OR TO THE COMMON MEALS, OR TO THE RECREATION. THIS MEANT THAT THE LONGEST THE MONK SPENT DOING ANY SINGLE ACTIVITY WAS NO MORE THAN THREE HOURS AT A TIME.
CONTRAST THAT WITH OUR LIVES. WE AMERICANS, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF US WHO ARE SUCCESSFUL, TEND TO BE WORKAHOLICS. IT BECOMES PART OF OUR INDOCTRINATION. WHEN I WAS TRAINING AS A PHYSICIAN, THERE WAS AN EXPECTATION THAT WE WOULD ARRIVE EARLY AND STAY LATE; PEOPLE WHO PUT IN EIGHT HOURS AND WENT HOME WERE CONSIDERED TO BE LAZY. AND IF WE TOOK A BREAK, IT WAS VERY SHORT; WE HAD TO GET BACK TO WORK. AND WE WOULD FINISH ONE TASK, NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TOOK, BEFORE TAKING ON ANOTHER. I THOUGHT WE PHYSICIANS WERE A PECULIAR LOT, BUT LATER I LEARNED THAT IN MOST PROFESSIONS THIS KIND OF WORK ETHIC REARS ITS HEAD. WHEN MY DAUGHTER WORKED FOR A LAW FIRM AS A YOUNG LAWYER, IT WAS THE SAME THING; IT DIDN'T COUNT TO JUST DO YOUR JOB; YOU HAD TO KEEP EXCEEDING YOURSELF IF YOU WANTED TO GET AHEAD.
AFTER THE APOSTLES HAD GONE OUT TO PREACH REPENTANCE AND DRIVE OUT DEMONS AND HEAL THE SICK – THE GOSPEL WE HEARD LAST WEEK, THEY CAME BACK TO JESUS, PROBABLY ALL EXCITED AND READY TO GET OUT THERE AND DO MORE; AND JESUS TELLS THEM, AND I'M QUOTING THE NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NOT THE READING WE JUST HEARD, “COME AWAY WITH ME BY YOURSELVES TO A QUIET PLACE AND REST FOR A WHILE.” MAYBE THAT'S WHERE ST. BENEDICT GOT HIS IDEA. WE CANNOT LEAD AN EFFECTIVE CHRISTIAN LIFE IF WE DO NOT MAKE ROOM IN OUR LIVES TO DO JUST THIS.
JESUS SAYS, “COME AWAY” -- WE HAVE TO GET PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY AWAY FROM OUR TASKS.
JESUS SAYS, “WITH ME.” -- WE HAVE TO PUT OURSELVES IN HIS PRESENCE, AND PAY ATTENTION ONLY TO HIM.
JESUS SAYS, "BY YOURSELVES." -- WE HAVE TO CUT OURSELVES OFF FROM THE PHONE, THE INTERNET, AND OTHER PEOPLE.
JESUS SAYS, "TO A QUIET PLACE" – WE HUMAN BEINGS NEED QUIET IF WE ARE TO MEDITATE AND CONTEMPLATE, AND DO ANY KIND OF SELF-EXAMINATION, OR SERIOUS PRAYER.
JESUS SAYS, "AND REST FOR A WHILE." -- EVEN THOUGH THE KIND OF RETREAT THAT JESUS ASKS OF US, HIS DISCIPLES, IS NECESSARY, IT IS JUST AS NECESSARY, AFTER CATCHING OUR BREATH, TO GO BACK TO THE BATTLE.
SO SAY THOSE WORDS OVER AND OVER TO YOURSELVES; HEAR JESUS SAYING THEM TO YOU. "COME AWAY WITH ME BY YOURSELF TO A QUIET PLACE AND REST FOR A WHILE." AND IF WE ARE NOT DOING THIS AT LEAST ONCE A DAY, WE ARE BEING FOOLS; AND IF WE ARE DOING THIS TWO OR THREE TIMES A DAY, THEN MAYBE WE ARE MAKING SPIRITUAL PROGRESS AS WELL AS BECOMING MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE IN THE TASKS GOD HAS FOR US.
IF YOU WANT TO FIND SURPRISINGLY HAPPY PEOPLE LIVING LIVES OF GREAT SIMPLICITY, AND SERVING AS EXAMPLES OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE FOR THE REST OF US TO FOLLOW, TAKE A LOOK AT HOW MONKS ACTUALLY LIVE AND WORK; AND YOU MIGHT DECIDE TO ADOPT A LITTLE OF THIS LIFE STYLE FOR YOURSELF. BENEDICT'S RULE HAS BEEN FOLLOWED FOR 16 CENTURIES AND THE MONASTIC MOVEMENTS ARE STILL GOING STRONG, EVEN WHILE OTHER ORDERS ARE SEEING THEIR NUMBERS DROP. SO HE MUST HAVE HAD A POINT; AND JESUS HIMSELF GIVES US THE SAME ADVICE TODAY – WITHDRAW, RETREAT, EMBRACE SILENCE, CONSCIOUSLY SEEK HIS PRESENCE, EVEN FOR A FEW MINUTES IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR BUSY DAY, AND YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF BECOMING MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, MORE HUMAN.
BECAUSE THAT IS ALL GOD WANTS FOR US, TO BE FULLY AND COMPLETELY HUMAN, THE WAY HE DESIGNED US IN THE BEGINNING.
SAINT BENEDICT LIVED IN THE THIRD CENTURY AND FOUNDED WESTERN MONASTACISM. THE BENEDICTINE MONKS, OF COURSE, TRACE THEIR EXISTENCE TO HIM; BUT SO DO THE CARTHUSIANS, THE TRAPPISTS, THE CISTERIANS, AND INDEED THE MAJORITY OF MONASTIC ORDERS IN THE WEST. AND THEY HAVE IN COMMON THAT THEY FOLLOW THE RULE OF ST. BENEDICT, THE ONLY DOCUMENT WE HAVE WHICH WAS AUTHORED BY HIM. THE RULE OF ST. BENEDICT IS SURPRISING IN ITS MODERATION. PRIOR TO BENEDICT, THOSE WHO LIVED MONASTIC LIVES, OR LIVED AS HERMITS, INFLICTED THEMSELVES WITH GREAT MORTIFICATIONS, STARVED THEIR BODIES, SPENT WHOLE WEEKS WITHOUT SLEEP; LIVED ON PILLARS, AND IN GENERAL, SPENT THEIR LIVES TRYING TO OUTDO EACH OTHER IN THESE SO CALLED HEROIC ACTS OF HOLINESS. BENEDICT WOULD HAVE NONE OF THAT. THE PURPOSE OF HIS RULE WAS TO HELP THOSE LIVING IN MONASTIC COMMUNITIES TO DRAW CLOSER TO JESUS CHRIST AND LIVE PRODUCTIVE CHRISTIAN LIVES. AND THE RULE IS CHARACTERIZED BY BALANCE. THE MONKS LIVE SIMPLE LIVES, BUT THEY ARE TO EAT AND DRINK NOT JUST TO KEEP BODY AND SOUL TOGETHER, BUT TO HAVE HEALTHY BODIES. THE DIET IS SEMI-VEGETARIAN, WITH MEAT EATEN ON SPECIAL DAYS IN SOME OF THE ORDERS. ALCOHOL IS USED IN MODERATION, AGAIN, RESERVED FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS. MONKS ARE TO GET A DECENT NIGHT'S REST. HAIR SHIRTS AND OTHER PHYSICAL PENANCES ARE LOOKED UPON WITH SUSPICION, AND ARE ONLY TO BE UNDERTAKEN WITH THE PERMISSION OF ONE'S SUPERIOR, AND THEN ONLY FOR A LIMITED TIME.
BENEDICT IS SURPRISINGLY PRACTICAL. IF MONKS CANNOT SLEEP ONE TO A ROOM, THEY MUST SLEEP AT LEAST THREE TO A ROOM, AND AT LEAST ONE OF THE THREE MUST BE ELDERLY. “SPECIAL FRIENDSHIPS” ARE NOT ALLOWED, AND DURING THE EVENING RECREATION, MONKS WERE TO SPEND TIME CONVERSING WITH A DIFFERENT MONK EACH EVENING.
BUT PERHAPS ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING RULES, ONE WHICH COULD APPLY TO EVERYONE, NOT JUST MONKS, IS THAT THE RULE PUTS A LIMIT ON HOW LONG A MONK CAN WORK, OUT ON THE FARM, IN THE KITCHEN, IN THE COPYING ROOM, IN THE LAUNDRY – A MONK HAD TO STOP EVERYTHING, AND GO TO THE SCHEDULED PRAYERS, OR TO THE COMMON MEALS, OR TO THE RECREATION. THIS MEANT THAT THE LONGEST THE MONK SPENT DOING ANY SINGLE ACTIVITY WAS NO MORE THAN THREE HOURS AT A TIME.
CONTRAST THAT WITH OUR LIVES. WE AMERICANS, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF US WHO ARE SUCCESSFUL, TEND TO BE WORKAHOLICS. IT BECOMES PART OF OUR INDOCTRINATION. WHEN I WAS TRAINING AS A PHYSICIAN, THERE WAS AN EXPECTATION THAT WE WOULD ARRIVE EARLY AND STAY LATE; PEOPLE WHO PUT IN EIGHT HOURS AND WENT HOME WERE CONSIDERED TO BE LAZY. AND IF WE TOOK A BREAK, IT WAS VERY SHORT; WE HAD TO GET BACK TO WORK. AND WE WOULD FINISH ONE TASK, NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TOOK, BEFORE TAKING ON ANOTHER. I THOUGHT WE PHYSICIANS WERE A PECULIAR LOT, BUT LATER I LEARNED THAT IN MOST PROFESSIONS THIS KIND OF WORK ETHIC REARS ITS HEAD. WHEN MY DAUGHTER WORKED FOR A LAW FIRM AS A YOUNG LAWYER, IT WAS THE SAME THING; IT DIDN'T COUNT TO JUST DO YOUR JOB; YOU HAD TO KEEP EXCEEDING YOURSELF IF YOU WANTED TO GET AHEAD.
AFTER THE APOSTLES HAD GONE OUT TO PREACH REPENTANCE AND DRIVE OUT DEMONS AND HEAL THE SICK – THE GOSPEL WE HEARD LAST WEEK, THEY CAME BACK TO JESUS, PROBABLY ALL EXCITED AND READY TO GET OUT THERE AND DO MORE; AND JESUS TELLS THEM, AND I'M QUOTING THE NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NOT THE READING WE JUST HEARD, “COME AWAY WITH ME BY YOURSELVES TO A QUIET PLACE AND REST FOR A WHILE.” MAYBE THAT'S WHERE ST. BENEDICT GOT HIS IDEA. WE CANNOT LEAD AN EFFECTIVE CHRISTIAN LIFE IF WE DO NOT MAKE ROOM IN OUR LIVES TO DO JUST THIS.
JESUS SAYS, “COME AWAY” -- WE HAVE TO GET PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY AWAY FROM OUR TASKS.
JESUS SAYS, “WITH ME.” -- WE HAVE TO PUT OURSELVES IN HIS PRESENCE, AND PAY ATTENTION ONLY TO HIM.
JESUS SAYS, "BY YOURSELVES." -- WE HAVE TO CUT OURSELVES OFF FROM THE PHONE, THE INTERNET, AND OTHER PEOPLE.
JESUS SAYS, "TO A QUIET PLACE" – WE HUMAN BEINGS NEED QUIET IF WE ARE TO MEDITATE AND CONTEMPLATE, AND DO ANY KIND OF SELF-EXAMINATION, OR SERIOUS PRAYER.
JESUS SAYS, "AND REST FOR A WHILE." -- EVEN THOUGH THE KIND OF RETREAT THAT JESUS ASKS OF US, HIS DISCIPLES, IS NECESSARY, IT IS JUST AS NECESSARY, AFTER CATCHING OUR BREATH, TO GO BACK TO THE BATTLE.
SO SAY THOSE WORDS OVER AND OVER TO YOURSELVES; HEAR JESUS SAYING THEM TO YOU. "COME AWAY WITH ME BY YOURSELF TO A QUIET PLACE AND REST FOR A WHILE." AND IF WE ARE NOT DOING THIS AT LEAST ONCE A DAY, WE ARE BEING FOOLS; AND IF WE ARE DOING THIS TWO OR THREE TIMES A DAY, THEN MAYBE WE ARE MAKING SPIRITUAL PROGRESS AS WELL AS BECOMING MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE IN THE TASKS GOD HAS FOR US.
IF YOU WANT TO FIND SURPRISINGLY HAPPY PEOPLE LIVING LIVES OF GREAT SIMPLICITY, AND SERVING AS EXAMPLES OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE FOR THE REST OF US TO FOLLOW, TAKE A LOOK AT HOW MONKS ACTUALLY LIVE AND WORK; AND YOU MIGHT DECIDE TO ADOPT A LITTLE OF THIS LIFE STYLE FOR YOURSELF. BENEDICT'S RULE HAS BEEN FOLLOWED FOR 16 CENTURIES AND THE MONASTIC MOVEMENTS ARE STILL GOING STRONG, EVEN WHILE OTHER ORDERS ARE SEEING THEIR NUMBERS DROP. SO HE MUST HAVE HAD A POINT; AND JESUS HIMSELF GIVES US THE SAME ADVICE TODAY – WITHDRAW, RETREAT, EMBRACE SILENCE, CONSCIOUSLY SEEK HIS PRESENCE, EVEN FOR A FEW MINUTES IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR BUSY DAY, AND YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF BECOMING MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, MORE HUMAN.
BECAUSE THAT IS ALL GOD WANTS FOR US, TO BE FULLY AND COMPLETELY HUMAN, THE WAY HE DESIGNED US IN THE BEGINNING.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle B
MARK 6:7-13
SOME OF YOU HAVE HEARD ABOUT RICK WARREN, THE SENIOR PASTOR OF SADDLEBACK CHURCH IN CALIFORNIA, AND THE AUTHOR OF THE BEST-SELLER “THE PURPOSE DRIVEN CHURCH”. HE WRITES ABOUT THE PHILOSOPHY OF HIS EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL NON-DENOMINATIONAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH. HE SAYS, “WE NEVER ENCOURAGE PEOPLE WHO BELONG TO OTHER CHURCHES TO TRANSFER THEIR MEMBERSHIP TO OURS. SADDLEBACK HAS AS ITS PRIMARY PURPOSE BRINGING PEOPLE TO CHRIST WHO ARE UNCHURCHED. IF SOMEONE WANTS TO TRANSFER MEMBERSHIP TO OUR CHURCH, YOU ARE WELCOME ONLY IF YOU ARE WILLING TO MINISTER AND SERVE. IF ALL YOU INTEND TO DO IS ATTEND SERVICES, WE WOULD RATHER SAVE YOUR SEAT FOR SOMEONE WHO IS AN UNBELIEVER. THERE ARE PLENTY OF GOOD BIBLE TEACHING CHURCHES AROUND HERE WE COULD RECOMMEND TO YOU.” PASTOR WARREN HAS BUILT AN EXTREMELY DYNAMIC, RAPIDLY GROWING ORGANIZATION PRECISELY BECAUSE HE AND HIS CONGREGATION ARE FOCUSED LIKE A LASER ON THIS IDEA, THIS PURPOSE, OF BRINGING THE GOSPEL TO PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T HEARD IT.
EARLY IN JESUS' PUBLIC CAREER, WHEN THIS GOSPEL EPISODE TAKES PLACE, HE KNEW THAT IF THE KINGDOM OF GOD WERE TO BE REALIZED, HIS MESSAGE HAD TO BE HEARD BY AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE, AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. AND HE SENT OUT HIS DISCIPLES, WHO HAD ONLY BEEN WITH HIM FOR A SHORT TIME, TO SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS. AS THEY WERE GROWING IN THE NEW FAITH, THEY HAD TO RECRUIT OTHERS; THERE WAS NOT A TIME TO LISTEN AND LEARN AND ANOTHER TIME TO GO FORTH AND TEACH; BOTH HAD TO BE DONE AT THE SAME TIME.
WHAT EXCUSES TO WE HAVE FOR NOT EVANGELIZING? I'M JUST A HOUSEWIFE. I DON'T KNOW VERY MUCH ABOUT MY FAITH. WHO WOULD LISTEN TO A PLUMBER, A MECHANIC, AN INSURANCE AGENT, OR YOU FILL IN THE BLANK. I DON'T REALLY KNOW IF I BELIEVE THAT STRONGLY. THESE ARE ALL EXCUSES, BUT THERE ARE TWO THAT WE PROBABLY REALLY MEAN IN OUR HEARTS – I AM AFRAID; AND I AM NOT PREPARED.
DURING THE FRONTIER DAYS IN THIS COUNTRY, AS IMMIGRANTS SPREAD OUT THROUGH THIS LAND, THERE WERE TWO DENOMINATIONS WHICH SET OUT TO BRING ORDER TO THE WILD WEST. ONE WAS THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, WHICH HAD CEDED NEW ENGLAND AND INDEED MUCH OF THE EAST TO THE CONGREGATIONALISTS, WHO HAD GROWN OUT OF THE SAME MOVEMENT IN EUROPE. THE OTHER WAS A SMALL OFFSHOOT OF THE EPISCOPALIAN CHURCH, WHICH HAD DRAWN ITS MEMBERSHIP FROM THE LOWER CLASSES IN THE BIG CITIES IN ENGLAND. THE PRESBYTERIAN MISSIONARIES WERE SEMINARY GRADUATES, LEARNED IN THEOLOGY AND BIBLICAL STUDIES, AND NEEDED RAILROADS AND STAGE COACHES, BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT SEE HOW THEY COULD BE MISSIONARIES WITHOUT THEIR BOOKS, ESPECIALLY THE HUGE THEOLOGICAL TREATISE BY THEIR FOUNDER, JOHN CALVIN. THE METHODIST MISSIONARIES, ON THE OTHER HAND, WERE POORLY EDUCATED, BUT NEEDED ONLY A BIBLE AND A HORSE. GUESS WHICH DENOMINATION GOT THERE FIRST AND ESTABLISHED THE MOST CHURCHES?
DURING JESUS' TIME, THERE WERE OTHER WANDERING MISSIONARIES FOR VARIOUS RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS. YOU COULD SPOT THEM ON THE ROAD BECAUSE THEY CARRIED BAGS FULL OF THEIR POSSESSIONS; THEY TOOK PRIDE IN HAVING EVERYTHING THEY NEEDED SO THAT THEY COULD BE COMPLETELY SELF-SUFFICIENT. JESUS, IN CONTRAST, DEMANDS THAT HIS DISCIPLES BRING NOTHING WITH THEM, AND ACCEPT THE CHARITY OF STRANGERS. IN THIS WAY THEY ARE COMPLETELY DEPENDENT, AND IT IS ONLY WHEN THEY ARE COMPLETELY DEPENDENT THAT GOD WORKS THROUGH THEM, THAT MIRACLES OF HEALING HAPPEN, THAT DEMONS ARE DRIVEN OUT, THAT THEIR HILLBILLY ACCENTS AND ILLITERATE SPEECHES WIN CONVERTS.
JESUS TELLS THEM THAT IF PEOPLE DON'T LISTEN, THEY SHOULDN'T INVEST ANY MORE TIME IN THAT LOCALITY; THOSE PEOPLE HAVE HAD THEIR CHANCE, AND IT WOULD BE TIME TO MOVE ON.
JESUS TELLS THEM THEY MUST GO IN PAIRS, AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS CLEAR; THE TWO WILL REMEMBER BETTER THAN ONE WHAT JESUS TAUGHT; EACH WILL BE A REMINDER TO THE OTHER THAT THEY ARE MESSENGERS, AND NOT THE MESSAGE; AND MOST IMPORTANT, THERE HAD TO BE TWO, BECAUSE JESUS SAID THAT WHERE TWO OR THREE ARE GATHERED TOGETHER HE WOULD BE THERE ALSO.
THE DISCIPLES WERE FISHERMEN, TAX COLLECTORS, ROUGH AND ILLITERATE PEOPLE. THE PEOPLE WHO SPREAD CHRISTIANITY THROUGHOUT THE ROMAN EMPIRE AND INDEED, THE KNOWN WORLD IN THOSE FIRST TWO CENTURIES WERE MOSTLY FROM THE LOWEST CLASSES, FROM THOSE WHO LIVED ON THE FRINGES OF SOCIETY. AS THE MOVEMENT GREW, THEY WERE PERSECUTED. YES, SOME WERE THROWN TO LIONS, CRUCIFIED, DECAPITATED, BEATEN TO DEATH; BUT MANY, MANY MORE WERE KICKED OUT OF THEIR SYNAGOGUES, DENIED GOOD JOBS, ENSLAVED, AND SHUNNED BY THE GOOD PEOPLE OF THAT TIME. AND FAMILIES WERE BROKEN UP AS WELL WHEN A MEMBER BECAME A CHRISTIAN. IN THOSE DAYS, THE COST OF BEING A CHRISTIAN WAS VERY HIGH; AND DESPITE THAT, THE MOVEMENT GREW LIKE WILDFIRE.
WHAT DOES THIS GOSPEL MEAN TO US TODAY? THE PROCLAMATION OF THE KINGDOM IS STILL URGENT; THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ON EARTH HAVE NOT YET HEARD THE MESSAGE OF JESUS, AND MANY OF THOSE WHO HAVE HEARD IT HAVE REJECTED IT. THOSE OF US WHO HAVE HEARD AND BELIEVED HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO PREACH THE GOSPEL; AND WE HAVE TO REALIZE, LIKE THOSE FIRST DISCIPLES, THAT WE HAVE NO EXCUSE; AND LIKE THOSE FIRST DISCIPLES, WE WILL BE SUCCESSFUL TO THE EXTENT THAT WE THROW OURSELVES ON GOD, THAT WE ALLOW GOD TO WORK THROUGH US, AND TO DO THAT, WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE HOW DEPENDENT WE ARE ON GOD.
IT IS AN AMAZING THING, ISN'T IT, THAT ALMIGHTY GOD, WHO CREATED THE UNIVERSE, WHO CAN DO ANYTHING HE WILLS, HAS CHOSEN YOU AND I TO BRING THE KINGDOM OF GOD TO OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS. AND ITS A SCARY THING TO REALIZE THAT IF WE DON'T DO IT, WHO WILL?
SOME OF YOU HAVE HEARD ABOUT RICK WARREN, THE SENIOR PASTOR OF SADDLEBACK CHURCH IN CALIFORNIA, AND THE AUTHOR OF THE BEST-SELLER “THE PURPOSE DRIVEN CHURCH”. HE WRITES ABOUT THE PHILOSOPHY OF HIS EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL NON-DENOMINATIONAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH. HE SAYS, “WE NEVER ENCOURAGE PEOPLE WHO BELONG TO OTHER CHURCHES TO TRANSFER THEIR MEMBERSHIP TO OURS. SADDLEBACK HAS AS ITS PRIMARY PURPOSE BRINGING PEOPLE TO CHRIST WHO ARE UNCHURCHED. IF SOMEONE WANTS TO TRANSFER MEMBERSHIP TO OUR CHURCH, YOU ARE WELCOME ONLY IF YOU ARE WILLING TO MINISTER AND SERVE. IF ALL YOU INTEND TO DO IS ATTEND SERVICES, WE WOULD RATHER SAVE YOUR SEAT FOR SOMEONE WHO IS AN UNBELIEVER. THERE ARE PLENTY OF GOOD BIBLE TEACHING CHURCHES AROUND HERE WE COULD RECOMMEND TO YOU.” PASTOR WARREN HAS BUILT AN EXTREMELY DYNAMIC, RAPIDLY GROWING ORGANIZATION PRECISELY BECAUSE HE AND HIS CONGREGATION ARE FOCUSED LIKE A LASER ON THIS IDEA, THIS PURPOSE, OF BRINGING THE GOSPEL TO PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T HEARD IT.
EARLY IN JESUS' PUBLIC CAREER, WHEN THIS GOSPEL EPISODE TAKES PLACE, HE KNEW THAT IF THE KINGDOM OF GOD WERE TO BE REALIZED, HIS MESSAGE HAD TO BE HEARD BY AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE, AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. AND HE SENT OUT HIS DISCIPLES, WHO HAD ONLY BEEN WITH HIM FOR A SHORT TIME, TO SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS. AS THEY WERE GROWING IN THE NEW FAITH, THEY HAD TO RECRUIT OTHERS; THERE WAS NOT A TIME TO LISTEN AND LEARN AND ANOTHER TIME TO GO FORTH AND TEACH; BOTH HAD TO BE DONE AT THE SAME TIME.
WHAT EXCUSES TO WE HAVE FOR NOT EVANGELIZING? I'M JUST A HOUSEWIFE. I DON'T KNOW VERY MUCH ABOUT MY FAITH. WHO WOULD LISTEN TO A PLUMBER, A MECHANIC, AN INSURANCE AGENT, OR YOU FILL IN THE BLANK. I DON'T REALLY KNOW IF I BELIEVE THAT STRONGLY. THESE ARE ALL EXCUSES, BUT THERE ARE TWO THAT WE PROBABLY REALLY MEAN IN OUR HEARTS – I AM AFRAID; AND I AM NOT PREPARED.
DURING THE FRONTIER DAYS IN THIS COUNTRY, AS IMMIGRANTS SPREAD OUT THROUGH THIS LAND, THERE WERE TWO DENOMINATIONS WHICH SET OUT TO BRING ORDER TO THE WILD WEST. ONE WAS THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, WHICH HAD CEDED NEW ENGLAND AND INDEED MUCH OF THE EAST TO THE CONGREGATIONALISTS, WHO HAD GROWN OUT OF THE SAME MOVEMENT IN EUROPE. THE OTHER WAS A SMALL OFFSHOOT OF THE EPISCOPALIAN CHURCH, WHICH HAD DRAWN ITS MEMBERSHIP FROM THE LOWER CLASSES IN THE BIG CITIES IN ENGLAND. THE PRESBYTERIAN MISSIONARIES WERE SEMINARY GRADUATES, LEARNED IN THEOLOGY AND BIBLICAL STUDIES, AND NEEDED RAILROADS AND STAGE COACHES, BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT SEE HOW THEY COULD BE MISSIONARIES WITHOUT THEIR BOOKS, ESPECIALLY THE HUGE THEOLOGICAL TREATISE BY THEIR FOUNDER, JOHN CALVIN. THE METHODIST MISSIONARIES, ON THE OTHER HAND, WERE POORLY EDUCATED, BUT NEEDED ONLY A BIBLE AND A HORSE. GUESS WHICH DENOMINATION GOT THERE FIRST AND ESTABLISHED THE MOST CHURCHES?
DURING JESUS' TIME, THERE WERE OTHER WANDERING MISSIONARIES FOR VARIOUS RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS. YOU COULD SPOT THEM ON THE ROAD BECAUSE THEY CARRIED BAGS FULL OF THEIR POSSESSIONS; THEY TOOK PRIDE IN HAVING EVERYTHING THEY NEEDED SO THAT THEY COULD BE COMPLETELY SELF-SUFFICIENT. JESUS, IN CONTRAST, DEMANDS THAT HIS DISCIPLES BRING NOTHING WITH THEM, AND ACCEPT THE CHARITY OF STRANGERS. IN THIS WAY THEY ARE COMPLETELY DEPENDENT, AND IT IS ONLY WHEN THEY ARE COMPLETELY DEPENDENT THAT GOD WORKS THROUGH THEM, THAT MIRACLES OF HEALING HAPPEN, THAT DEMONS ARE DRIVEN OUT, THAT THEIR HILLBILLY ACCENTS AND ILLITERATE SPEECHES WIN CONVERTS.
JESUS TELLS THEM THAT IF PEOPLE DON'T LISTEN, THEY SHOULDN'T INVEST ANY MORE TIME IN THAT LOCALITY; THOSE PEOPLE HAVE HAD THEIR CHANCE, AND IT WOULD BE TIME TO MOVE ON.
JESUS TELLS THEM THEY MUST GO IN PAIRS, AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS CLEAR; THE TWO WILL REMEMBER BETTER THAN ONE WHAT JESUS TAUGHT; EACH WILL BE A REMINDER TO THE OTHER THAT THEY ARE MESSENGERS, AND NOT THE MESSAGE; AND MOST IMPORTANT, THERE HAD TO BE TWO, BECAUSE JESUS SAID THAT WHERE TWO OR THREE ARE GATHERED TOGETHER HE WOULD BE THERE ALSO.
THE DISCIPLES WERE FISHERMEN, TAX COLLECTORS, ROUGH AND ILLITERATE PEOPLE. THE PEOPLE WHO SPREAD CHRISTIANITY THROUGHOUT THE ROMAN EMPIRE AND INDEED, THE KNOWN WORLD IN THOSE FIRST TWO CENTURIES WERE MOSTLY FROM THE LOWEST CLASSES, FROM THOSE WHO LIVED ON THE FRINGES OF SOCIETY. AS THE MOVEMENT GREW, THEY WERE PERSECUTED. YES, SOME WERE THROWN TO LIONS, CRUCIFIED, DECAPITATED, BEATEN TO DEATH; BUT MANY, MANY MORE WERE KICKED OUT OF THEIR SYNAGOGUES, DENIED GOOD JOBS, ENSLAVED, AND SHUNNED BY THE GOOD PEOPLE OF THAT TIME. AND FAMILIES WERE BROKEN UP AS WELL WHEN A MEMBER BECAME A CHRISTIAN. IN THOSE DAYS, THE COST OF BEING A CHRISTIAN WAS VERY HIGH; AND DESPITE THAT, THE MOVEMENT GREW LIKE WILDFIRE.
WHAT DOES THIS GOSPEL MEAN TO US TODAY? THE PROCLAMATION OF THE KINGDOM IS STILL URGENT; THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ON EARTH HAVE NOT YET HEARD THE MESSAGE OF JESUS, AND MANY OF THOSE WHO HAVE HEARD IT HAVE REJECTED IT. THOSE OF US WHO HAVE HEARD AND BELIEVED HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO PREACH THE GOSPEL; AND WE HAVE TO REALIZE, LIKE THOSE FIRST DISCIPLES, THAT WE HAVE NO EXCUSE; AND LIKE THOSE FIRST DISCIPLES, WE WILL BE SUCCESSFUL TO THE EXTENT THAT WE THROW OURSELVES ON GOD, THAT WE ALLOW GOD TO WORK THROUGH US, AND TO DO THAT, WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE HOW DEPENDENT WE ARE ON GOD.
IT IS AN AMAZING THING, ISN'T IT, THAT ALMIGHTY GOD, WHO CREATED THE UNIVERSE, WHO CAN DO ANYTHING HE WILLS, HAS CHOSEN YOU AND I TO BRING THE KINGDOM OF GOD TO OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS. AND ITS A SCARY THING TO REALIZE THAT IF WE DON'T DO IT, WHO WILL?
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