Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle B

MARK 9:30-37

BEFORE I START, DO WE HAVE ANY VISITORS HERE TODAY? ANYONE WHO ISN'T A REGULAR AT SAINT MARY'S?

ISN'T IT REMARKABLY HUMAN TO SAY OR DO SOMETHING TO PUT YOURSELF IN THE BEST LIGHT? SOMETIMES IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS. I REMEMBER WALKING IN ON A TEENAGE DAUGHTER AND A YOUNG MAN SHE HAD JUST MET. THEY WERE HAVING A CONVERSATION. HE WAS TELLING HER ALL ABOUT HIMSELF, AND SHE WAS GIGGLING UNCONTROLLABLY, I GUESS BECAUSE SOMEONE WAS PAYING ATTENTION TO HER. MEN TEND TO DO THAT. JUST LISTEN TO MEN CONVERSE AMONG THEMSELVES WHEN THEY ARE RELAXING OVER A BEER. IF NOTHING ELSE, THEY EACH ARE TRYING TO SHOW THE OTHERS THAT THEY KNOW MORE – ABOUT THE RED SOX, ABOUT POLITICS, YOU NAME IT. WOMEN, AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, DON'T TALK LIKE MEN DO WHEN THEY ARE ONLY WITH OTHER WOMEN. BUT THEY DO OTHER THINGS; THEY MAKE SURE THEIR HAIR IS COMBED AND THEIR LIPSTICK IS ON STRAIGHT; THEY ARE MUCH MORE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE WEARING THAN MEN TEND TO BE. AND THEY DON'T LIKE TO BE WEARING SOMETHING EXACTLY LIKE ANOTHER WOMAN IS WEARING.

I THINK ALMOST EVERYONE IS SORT OF UNCONSCIOUSLY TRYING TO PUT HIMSELF OR HERSELF IN THE BEST LIGHT. EVEN IF YOU THINK YOU ARE REALLY HUMBLE, AND NONE OF THIS APPLIES TO YOU, CONSIDER HOW YOU REACT WHEN SOMEONE CUTS IN FRONT OF YOU IN THE GROCERY STORE LINE, OR NEARLY CLIPS YOUR CAR RUNNING A RED LIGHT. ANGER FLARES UP, AND YOU MAY NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, BUT THAT IS YOUR HUMANITY TALKING. SOME PEOPLE ARE SO SENSITIVE TO BEING “DISSED” THAT THEY FEEL THEY HAVE TO GET REVENGE.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE APOSTLES WERE DOING. THEY WEREN'T FIGHTING, THEY WERE JUST WALKING ALONG MAKING CONVERSATION. PETER SAID, “I WAS THE ONE WHO RECOGNIZED OUR MASTER AS THE MESSIAH!” ANDREW SAID, “THAT MAY BE SO, BUT I'M THE FIRST ONE HE MADE AN APOSTLE.” JAMES CHIMED IN, “WELL, HE'S MY COUSIN!” AND JUDAS SAID, “YES, BUT LOOK WHO HE TRUSTS WITH THE MONEY!”

WHEN YOU ARE OLD ENOUGH TO THINK, YOU THINK YOU ARE SPECIAL. WHEN YOU ARE FULL OF YEARS, YOU THINK YOU ARE SPECIAL. MY GRANDPARENTS WERE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT THE GOOD OLD DAYS, OR HOW MUCH BETTER IT WAS WHERE THEY USED TO LIVE. THEY HAD SECRET KNOWLEDGE THAT THEIR GRANDSON DIDN'T SHARE. THAT MADE THEM SPECIAL IN THEIR OWN EYES.

DON'T GET ME WRONG. I THINK I'M SPECIAL; I ALWAYS HAVE. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH A HEALTHY EGO; AND INDEED IN GOD'S EYES WE ARE ALL UNIQUE, WE ARE ALL SPECIAL. THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO CONFESS OUR SINS ONCE IN A WHILE, TO FAST, TO BEND OUR WILLS NOW AND THEN TO ACCEPTING WHAT WE MAY NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND OR MAY NOT COMPLETELY AGREE WITH; FOR MANY OF US, IT IS THE RECOGNITION THAT THE CHURCH IS OUR MOTHER AND OUR TEACHER, AND WHEN WE DISAGREE WITH THE CHURCH, MAYBE WE ARE WRONG.

JESUS KNEW WHAT HIS APOSTLES WERE TALKING ABOUT; AFTER ALL, HE PROBABLY HAD BEEN WALKING A LITTLE AHEAD OF THE GROUP AND HEARD EVERY WORD. AND HE COULD HAVE SAID, “YOU ARE ALL SPECIAL, YOU ARE ALL MY FAVORITES.” WHAT CHILD IN A FAMILY OF SEVERAL CHILDREN HASN'T HEARD THAT ONE?” OR HE COULD HAVE SAID, “PETER IS THE GREATEST. I'M GOING TO MAKE HIM POPE.” AND THAT WOULD HAVE ENDED THINGS RIGHT THERE. BUT WHAT HE DID WAS TO TAKE A LITTLE CHILD WHO WAS WALKING ALONG WITH THE CROWD THAT WAS FOLLOWING JESUS AND HIS FRIENDS. AND THE POINT HE MADE WAS THAT THEY WERE TO ACCEPT EVEN A LITTLE CHILD – SOMEONE WHO WAS AT THE FRINGE OF SOCIETY, SOMEONE FULL OF POTENTIAL, PERHAPS, BUT RIGHT NOW, DEPENDENT, NEEDING A DIAPER CHANGE, NEEDING FOOD, NEEDING, NEEDING.

BECAUSE HAVING A HEALTHY EGO IS OK, BUT IT SHOULD GO ALONG WITH KNOWING, DEEP IN OUR HEARTS, THAT EVERYONE HAS A HEALTHY EGO, AND INSTEAD OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE ARE UNIQUE, HOW WE MAY BE SUPERIOR IN AT LEAST SOMETHING, WE SHOULD BE INVITING OTHER PEOPLE INTO OUR CIRCLE, NOT DRAWING DISTINCTIONS, IF ONLY IN OUR OWN MIND. EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE RECOGNIZED; WE HUMAN BEINGS THRIVE WHEN WE ARE REMINDED THAT WE ARE IMPORTANT TO SOMEONE ELSE. MY FATHER IN LAW HAD THAT GIFT. HE WAS A VERY SMART MAN, VERY ACCOMPLISHED. HE AVIDLY FOLLOWED HIS BELOVED SPORTS TEAMS AND POLITICS. WHEN YOU ASKED HIM A A QUESTION, HE COULD USUALLY ANSWER IT, BUT HE MUCH PREFERRED TO LISTEN TO YOU – WHETHER YOU WERE A SON-IN-LAW OR A SMALL GRANDCHILD. AND THIS WAS GENUINE, BECAUSE WHEN HE WAS DOING THIS, HE HAD A BIG SMILE ON HIS FACE. HE ACCEPTED YOU, WARTS AND ALL.

ONE OF THE CRITICISMS OF MANY CHRISTIAN CONGREGATIONS, THIS ONE INCLUDED, IS THAT WE ARE NOT WELCOMING. PART OF THE REASON WE AREN'T WELCOMING IS BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO BE VULNERABLE. THERE'S NOTHING LIKE GREETING A STRANGER AND HAVING THAT PERSON GIVE US A COLD SILENT STARE. THERE'S NOTHING LIKE SAYING HELLO TO SOMEONE WHO LOOKS AT US BLANKLY AND THEN TURNS TO SOMEONE ELSE. IF WE ARE REALLY WELCOMING PEOPLE, WE CAN EXPECT TO BE DISRESPECTED. SO IT'S EASIER NOT TO PUT OURSELVES OUT.

JESUS HOLDS UP A LITTLE CHILD AND SAYS, THIS IS THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION YOU ARE ASKING – WHO IS THE GREATEST. THE ONE WHO RECEIVES THIS LITTLE CHILD WELCOMES ME. THE ONE WHO TURNS THE HUMAN NEED TO BE SPECIAL ON IT'S HEAD, AND INSTEAD OPERATES IN A WAY THAT MAKES OTHER PEOPLE FEEL SPECIAL, THAT IS THE ONE WHO IS THE GREATEST. THAT, AFTER ALL IS WHAT GOD DOES AS HE DEALS WITH EACH OF US, POURING OUT HIS LOVE FOR US, LISTENING TO US, HOLDING US CLOSE – AND NEVER SAYING TO YOU AND I THAT WE SHOULD BE THE ONES RECOGNIZING HIS GREATNESS, WE SHOULD BE THE ONES BOWING TO HIM; HE POURS OUT HIS LOVE ON THE JUST AND UNJUST ALIKE.

LOOK AROUND YOU TODAY. IS THERE SOMEONE YOU DON'T RECOGNIZE, OR PERHAPS SOMEONE YOU HAVE SEEN IN CHURCH EVERY WEEKEND FOR THE LAST YEAR BUT NEVER REALLY SPOKEN TO? MAKE IT A POINT TODAY TO FOLLOW JESUS' EXAMPLE AND WELCOME THAT PERSON. DON'T JUST NOD AND WAVE; BE GENUINELY INTERESTED IN WHO THEY ARE, WHAT THEY DO. AND IF THEY ARE JUST VISITING ST. MARY'S TELL THEM THEY ARE ALWAYS WELCOME TO COME BACK. AND IF THEY ARE PEOPLE YOU'VE SEEN BEFORE BUT NEVER TALKED TO, MAKE YOURSELF VULNERABLE, OPEN YOURSELF UP. AND MAKE IT A HABIT TO DO THIS EVERY WEEKEND WHEN YOU COME TO MASS.

BECAUSE WHO RECEIVES ONE SUCH AS THIS CHILD, RECEIVES JESUS, AND IN FACT, THE ONE WHO SENT JESUS TO US.

Twenty fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle B

MARK 8:27-35

I ONCE MET A YOUNG MAN – SLIGHTLY OVERWEIGHT, VERY SOFT-SPOKEN – WHO WAS IN A MIDDLE MANAGEMENT POSITION IN THE INSTITUTION WHERE I WORKED. I WAS LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO OCCUPY A SIMILAR POSITION IN THE AREA OF MY RESPONSIBILITY, AND HE HAD APPLIED. I ASKED HIM A STANDARD QUESTION: WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN TEN YEARS? I WAS SHOCKED AT THE ANSWER.

HE REPLIED, I WOULD LIKE TO BE THAT PERSON OVER IN THE CORNER THAT NO ONE PAYS MUCH ATTENTION TO, JUST DOING MY JOB, EARNING MY SALARY, GOING HOME IN THE EVENING TO MY FAMILY. I DON'T WANT TO BE A LEADER, I DON'T WANT TO MAKE A FORTUNE, I DON'T WANT TO BE FAMOUS.

I HAD NEVER HEARD ANYTHING LIKE THIS. USUALLY THAT QUESTION GETS ANSWERS RANGING FROM FLYING TO THE MOON OR BECOMING THE PRESIDENT, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

TODAY JESUS TELLS HIS DISCIPLES THAT YOU HAVE TO BE A FOLLOWER.

IN OUR WORLD, IT'S NOT A GOOD THING TO BE A FOLLOWER. WE ARE ENCOURAGED TO SHOW INITIATIVE; TO STEP IN AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. WHAT PARENT WANTS TO HEAR THAT LITTLE SUZY IS A VERY GOOD FOLLOWER? WHAT EMPLOYEE WANTS HIS EVALUATION TO SAY THAT HE IS A GOOD COMPANY MAN, BUT NEEDS EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP? WE EQUATE BEING A FOLLOWER WITH BEING MEDIOCRE, NOT MEETING OUR POTENTIAL.

BUT HERE WE HAVE JESUS TELLING US THAT IF WE WANT TO BE DISCIPLES, WE NEED TO TAKE UP OUR CROSS AND FOLLOW HIM.

THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES AND PROBABLY EVERYWHERE ELSE, IS THAT THERE AREN'T ENOUGH PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE FOLLOWERS. IF WE ARE FOLLOWERS, WE TRY TO IMITATE WHAT WE FOLLOW, WE LISTEN TO WHOM WE FOLLOW, WE EXAMINE OUR OWN BEHAVIOR TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE DO IS IN CONFORMITY TO THE ONE WE FOLLOW. THERE IS NO PLACE FOR A FOLLOWER TO DEVIATE FROM THE RULES OF THE ONE WHO LEADS; THERE IS LITTLE ROOM FOR INITIATIVE. BUT WE DON'T SEE IT THAT WAY. WE ARE AMERICANS, WE DON'T LET ANYONE TELL US WHAT TO DO. WE BELIEVE IN RADICAL EQUALITY, AND WE ARE ALWAYS WILLING TO TEAR DOWN PRESIDENTS OR BISHOPS OR ANYONE WHO IS IN AUTHORITY.

JESUS SAID, “IF ANY ONE WISHES TO BE MY DISCIPLE, HE MUST TAKE UP HIS CROSS AND FOLLOW ME.” SO NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE TO BECOME A FOLLOWER, NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE TO SUBMIT OUR WILL FOR THE WILL OF JESUS AS EXPRESSED THROUGH HIS BRIDE, THE CHURCH, BUT WE HAVE TO TAKE UP HIS CROSS. SOME OF US ARE JUST WAITING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE IT IN US TO ACCEPT MARTYRDOM. IF OUR END WAS A GLORIOUS END, AND THE NEXT THING WE KNEW WE WERE IN HEAVEN, WE COULD HANDLE THAT. I SUSPECT THE OLDER WE ARE, THE MORE LIKELY WE WOULDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM DYING FOR CHRIST. SOME OF US ON THE OTHER HAND DON'T EVEN WANT TO THINK ABOUT TAKING UP A CROSS. WE LIKE OUR LIVES, WE ENJOY THE GOOD THINGS GOD HAS GIVEN US. AND WITH SHAME, WE ADMIT TO OURSELVES THAT WE WOULD PROBABLY DO ANYTHING TO STAY ALIVE, TO CONTINUE TO ENJOY OUR LIVES.

BUT TAKING UP THE CROSS OF JESUS – THE WAY MOST OF US ARE CALLED TO DO IT IS BIT BY BIT. WE GET MARRIED AND FIND THAT WE HAVE TO ACCOMMODATE SOMEONE ELSE AS WE MAKE DECISIONS. WE HAVE CHILDREN AND FIND THAT MUCH OF OUR TIME IS GIVEN TO MAKING THEIR LIVES BETTER; WE SAVE FOR THEIR COLLEGE EDUCATION, WE WORRY ABOUT THEM; WHEN WE ARE GRANDPARENTS WE GET CALLED UP TO BABY SIT AT THE LAST MINUTE. WE SIT AT THE BEDSIDE OF A PARENT WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. WE HELP OUT AT A SOUP KITCHEN OR PICKET AN ABORTION CENTER. WE PUT ASIDE SOME OF OUR INCOME EVERY MONTH SO THAT A CATHOLIC MISSION SOMEWHERE CAN KEEP GOING. SOME OF US MAKE A BIG SACRIFICE IN THAT WE SEND OUR CHILDREN TO CATHOLIC SCHOOLS. WE TAKE UP THE CROSS A LITTLE AT A TIME, ALL THROUGH OUR LIVES.

EACH TIME WE TAKE UP THE CROSS WE LOSE A LITTLE OF OURSELVES, AND REPLACE THAT BIT WITH OUR CROSS. ON CALVARY JESUS LOST HIMSELF COMPLETELY TO THE CROSS. THAT'S THE OBJECT OF OUR LIVES AS WELL, WHETHER IT HAPPENS ALL AT ONCE OR IN LITTLE BITS DOWN THROUGH THE YEARS.

THAT'S THE MYSTERY THAT PETER DIDN'T UNDERSTAND. LIKE US, HE KNEW IN HIS MIND THAT JESUS WAS THE MESSIAH. BUT HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANT – OR MORE ACCURATELY, HE KNEW WHAT IT MEANT BUT HE WAS DEAD WRONG. HE THOUGHT THE MESSIAH WOULD COME BLAZING INTO THE WORLD CONQUERING ALL THOSE WHO WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MISERY OF THE EARTH. AND THOSE WHO WERE HIS FRIENDS WOULD HELP HIM RULE OVER A NEW ORDER. BUT THAT WAS NOT THINKING AS GOD THINKS, AND WHEN YOU HAVE PETER'S MIND-SET ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE MESSIAH, YOU ARE INDEED IN THE HANDS OF SATAN. IF I CAN TAKE OR LEAVE JESUS, IF I CAN PICK OR CHOOSE WHAT I WANT TO BELIEVE AND WHAT I DON'T; IF I THINK THE CHURCH HAS A GOOD SOCIAL GOSPEL BUT IS ALL WET ABOUT SEX; OR SHOULD BE MORE IN TUNE WITH THE TIMES AND NOT STUCK IN THE MIDDLE AGES; OR SHOULDN'T KEEP INSISTING THAT IT HAD THE FULLNESS OF TRUTH – I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO BE MESSIAH, AND I CERTAINLY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A DISCIPLE.

TO BE A DISCIPLE IS TO TAKE UP THE CROSS; TO TAKE UP THE CROSS MEANS THAT WE LOSE OURSELVES SO THAT WE GAIN ETERNAL LIFE. WE CAN DO IT ALL AT ONCE OR GRADUALLY OVER OUR LIFETIME, HOWEVER LONG. IF WE ARE GOING TO TAKE UP THE CROSS, WE HAVE TO RESIGN OURSELVES TO BE FOLLOWERS, NO MATTER HOW WE MIGHT BE LEADERS IN OTHER THINGS. BEING A FOLLOWER REQUIRES HUMILITY, PATIENCE, AND ADMITTING THAT WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS, THAT WE ARE SINNERS, THAT WE ARE IN NEED OF FORGIVENESS; AND IT REQUIRES THAT WE GET SERIOUS ABOUT BEING CATHOLICS, AND ALL THAT THAT MEANS.

THE YOUNG MAN I MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING – I WAS SO IMPRESSED THAT I DID HIRE HIM. HE WAS A PERFECT MIDDLE MANAGER; HE TOOK MY ORDERS AND HE SAW THAT THEY WERE CARRIED OUT. HE TOLD ME WHEN MY IDEAS NEEDED REVISION. HE WAS LOYAL. A COUPLE OF YEARS WENT BY AND HE WAS INVITED TO MOVE UP IN THE CORPORATE HEIRARCHY, TO MANAGE NOT ONLY MY DEPARTMENT BUT FOUR RELATED DEPARTMENTS. I STRONGLY ENCOURAGED HIM TO TAKE THE JOB, AND IN FACT I HAD SUGGESTED TO MY SUPERIORS THAT HE BE OFFERED THE JOB. HE REFUSED, AND IN A SHORT TIME HE HAD APPLIED AND GOTTEN ANOTHER JOB IN ANOTHER DEPARTMENT DOING PRETTY MUCH WHAT HE DID IN MINE. HE WAS A GREAT FOLLOWER. LET US WORK AT BECOMING GREAT FOLLOWERS.

Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

MARK 7:31 – 37

WHEN I WAS A KID ONE OF MY CLASSMATES WAS PRETTY DEAF, FROM ONE OF THOSE CHILDHOOD ILLNESSES. ALTHOUGH HE HAD BEEN FITTED WITH HEARING AIDS, THEY WERE BIG AND CLUMSY, AND USED TO SQUEAL DURING CLASS. SOME OF US SUSPECTED HE MADE THEM DO THAT ON PURPOSE, BUT WHAT COULD THE TEACHER DO ABOUT IT? HE HATED THE HEARING AIDS, AND WOULD CONVENIENTLY FORGET THEM WHEN HE CAME IN FROM RECESS. WE USED TO THINK HE TURNED THEM OFF AS WELL, BECAUSE THE TEACHER COULD YELL AT HIM AND HE DIDN'T SEEM TO NOTICE. IN ANY EVENT, SINCE HE COULDN'T HEAR HIMSELF VERY WELL, OR OTHER PEOPLE EITHER, HE HAD A VERY NOTICEABLE WAY OF SPEAKING, KIND OF HIGH PITCHED WITH DIFFICULTY MAKING CERTAIN SOUNDS.

THE GOSPEL OF MARK IS THE OLDEST GOSPEL, PROBABLY WRITTEN IN IT'S CURRENT FORM ABOUT 60 TO 70 YEARS AFTER CHRIST. IN MARK THERE IS NO STORY OF THE BIRTH OF JESUS, AND AT THE END OF THE STORY, THERE IS NOT MUCH ABOUT THE RESURRECTION. IN FACT, SOME SCHOLARS BELIEVE THAT THE ORIGINAL STORY ENDED WITH THE WOMEN WHO WITNESSED JESUS' RESURRECTION BEING AFRAID TO TELL ANYONE ABOUT IT. IN OTHER WORDS, THE WHOLE THEME OF MARK, EVEN TO IT'S ORIGINAL END, IS TO ASK THE READER, “GIVEN THE EVIDENCE, WHO DO YOU SAY JESUS IS?

ONE OF THE OTHER WAYS THAT MARK IS DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHER GOSPELS IS HOW IT PORTRAYS JESUS WORKING MIRACLES. HE DOESN'T WORK MIRACLES WITH A COMMAND, OR A WAVE OF THE HAND. THERE IS SOME SORT OF CONTACT BETWEEN JESUS AND THE PERSON WHO IS HEALED. IN TODAY'S GOSPEL. HE SPITS, AND PUTS SOME OF THE SPIT ON THE MAN'S TONGUE; HE GROANS – A SIGN OF GREAT EFFORT. I'M SURE YOU REMEMBER THE OTHER TIME JESUS USED SPIT, WHEN HE TOOK A BLIND MAN OUT OF TOWN AND GAVE HIM BACK HIS SIGHT. IT TOOK TWO TRIES TO GET IT RIGHT. THE JESUS OF MARK REMINDS US OF THE MIRACLES OF THE OLD TESTAMENT PROPHETS, LIKE ELIJAH, WHO RAISED A DEAD CHILD BY LAYING ON TOP OF HIM, OR ELISHA,WHO PARTED THE WATERS BY STRIKING THEM WITH ELIJAH'S CLOAK.

MY DEAF SCHOOLMATE HAD A DISTORTED WAY OF SPEAKING BECAUSE HE COULD NOT HEAR HIMSELF SPEAK VERY WELL. MOST OF US LEARN OUR LANGUAGE FROM OUR PARENTS AND OTHER RELATIVES. WE HEAR OUR OWN WORDS AND MODIFY THEIR PRONUNCIATION SO IT MATCHES THOSE WHO WE FIRST HEAR. I WAS RECENTLY IN MONTANA, AND WHENEVER I GO BACK THERE I BECOME AWARE OF THE “MONTANA ACCENT” IN WHICH THE WORD YOU PRONOUNCE AS “JUST” IS PRONOUNCED “JIST” AND “CREEK” BECOMES “CRICK”. THE MAN JESUS CURED IN TODAY'S GOSPEL PROBABLY HAD PERFECTLY NORMAL SPEAKING MACHINERY – HIS TONGUE, HIS VOCAL CORDS, THE NERVES REGULATING THESE WERE AS NORMAL AS YOURS AND MINE. BUT HE COULD NOT HEAR HIMSELF VERY WELL, AND THAT DISTORTED THE WAY HE SPOKE.

WHEN MY FRIEND WAS IN GRADE SCHOOL, HE WAS NOT A BRILLIANT PERFORMER. AS I MENTIONED, HE DIDN'T PAY MUCH ATTENTION BECAUSE HE REALLY COULDN'T. IN THOSE DAYS OUR POOR TEACHERS, WHO USUALLY HAD SIXTY KIDS IN A CLASS WITH NO TEACHER'S AIDES, GROUPED PEOPLE ACCORDING TO THEIR ABILITIES, AND MY FRIEND WAS IN THE LOWEST RANK IN ALMOST EVERY SUBJECT. BUT HE EVENTUALLY GOT FITTED WITH MUCH BETTER HEARING AIDES, AND DEVELOPED AN IMPROVED ATTITUDE TOWARDS LEARNING, AND HIS ABILITY TO SPEAK CLEARLY IMPROVED. HE WENT ON TO GET A DEGREE IN BUSINESS AND ANOTHER IN ACCOUNTING.

I BRING THIS UP BECAUSE I THINK WE LEARN SOMETHING IN THIS MIRACLE, AND IN THE STORY OF MY FRIEND. YOU CAN'T SPEAK CLEARLY UNTIL YOU HEAR CLEARLY. AND SO MANY OF US CATHOLICS ARE HEARING IMPAIRED. WE DON'T READ THE BIBLE, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT OUR CHURCH TEACHES, WE ARE UNAWARE OF SO MUCH OF WHAT GOD WANTS US TO HEAR. AND YET WE SPEAK, OFTEN IN WAYS THAT ARE INACCURATE. BECAUSE WE DON'T HEAR WHAT WE SHOULD, WE ARE POOR WITNESSES TO OUR CHILDREN AND OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS. SOMETIMES WE DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD. BECAUSE MOST OF US DON'T KNOW OR CARE ABOUT OUR CHURCH'S TEACHINGS, WE CATHOLICS ELECT POLITICIANS WHO PROMOTE ABORTION. WE WILL PROBABLY HELP MASSACHUSETTS BECOME THE THIRD STATE TO PERMIT ASSISTED SUICIDE WHEN THE INITIATIVE COMES UP IN NOVEMBER.

DOES THIS MEAN WE SHOULD KEEP OUR MOUTHS SHUT? I'VE ACTUALLY MET CATHOLICS WHO STATE THAT THEY REALLY DON'T KNOW VERY MUCH ABOUT WHAT THE CHURCH TEACHES SO THEY JUST KEEP QUIET. AND THESE ARE OFTEN PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY GOOD CATHOLICS BY ALL CRITERIA; THEY LIVE GOOD LIVES, THEY LOVE THE EUCHARIST, THEY WITNESS IN MANY PRACTICAL WAYS. BUT HOW MUCH BETTER IT WOULD BE IF THEY KNEW WHAT THE CHURCH TAUGHT AND EVEN MORE IMPORTANT, WHY. WHAT A SOCIAL FORCE WE WOULD BE IF WE MADE THAT KNOWLEDGE SECOND NATURE. IT'S INTERESTING THAT IN THE MORMON RELIGION, EVERY SUNDAY THEY HAVE A WORSHIP SERVICE THAT LASTS ABOUT AN HOUR; THEN THE GROUP BREAKS UP INTO SMALLER GROUPS, AND SPENDS AN HOUR STUDYING SOME PASSAGE FROM THEIR SCRIPTURES; AND THEN THEY FORM GROUPS BASED ON COMMON INTERESTS, GENDER, AGE, AND SPEND ANOTHER HOUR TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW THE SCRIPTURES APPLY TO THE WAY THEY LIVE THEIR LIVES. THREE HOURS ON A SUNDAY! CAN YOU IMAGINE? AND THE ADULT MEN, WHO ALL TAKE SERIOUSLY THEIR PRIESTHOOD, MEET ON WEDNESDAYS TO PRAY TOGETHER, ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER, AND STRENGTHEN THEIR FAITH, WHILE THE WOMEN MEET TOGETHER TO SEE THAT THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE MET – AND PRAY TOGETHER, AND STRENGTHEN THEIR FAITH AS WELL.

YOU NEED TO HEAR CLEARLY BEFORE YOU CAN SPEAK CLEARLY. JESUS WANTED HIS FOLLOWERS TO BE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD, THE SALT OF THE EARTH. THROUGH HIS WORDS AND ACTIONS, HE GAVE HIS DISCIPLES THE TRUTH, AND ENTRUSTED THEM TO PASS IT ON DOWN THROUGH THE GENERATIONS. THIS PROCESS WAS TO BE GUARANTEED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND BY THE CONTINUED PRESENCE OF JESUS WHO PROMISED THAT HE WOULD BE WITH US, EVEN TO THE END OF THE WORLD.

MY FRIEND PASSED AWAY IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR. UNFORTUNATELY HE EVENTUALLY LOST ALL HIS HEARING, BUT BY THEN HAD PREPARED HIMSELF SO THAT HE WAS ABLE TO LEAD A PRODUCTIVE AND SUCCESSFUL LIFE; HE MARRIED AND RAISED THREE CHILDREN, AND WORKED TO MAKE LIFE EASIER FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED. HE HAD ONLY A SMALL WINDOW OF TIME WHEN HIS HEARING WAS SUFFICIENT FOR HIM TO LEARN TO SPEAK CLEARLY.

POPE BENEDICT HAS BEGGED THE CATHOLIC PEOPLE TO DEVOTE THIS YEAR TO LEARNING THEIR FAITH WELL, NOT JUST SO WE CAN GET A PASSING GRADE ON SOME TEST, BUT SO THAT WE CAN FULFILL WHAT WE WERE CREATED FOR, WHICH IS TO GIVE WITNESS TO THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS THROUGH HIS CHURCH, IN A WAY THAT IS CONVINCING TO OUR FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS. LET US PRAY TODAY TO HEAR CLEARLY, SO THAT WE CAN SPEAK CLEARLY AND CONVINCINGLY. LET US PRAY THAT WE CAN HEAR CLEARLY SO THAT WE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD.

Twenty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

MARK 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

IT HELPS TO THINK ABOUT THE BACKGROUND IN THIS GOSPEL. WHEN MOSES GAVE THE JEWISH PEOPLE THE LAW, THERE WERE MANY THINGS WHICH WERE UNCLEAN. UNCLEAN MEANT THAT IF YOU CAME IN CONTACT WITH THEM, YOU COULD NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE SACRIFICES UNTIL YOU HAD BEEN RITUALLY CLEANED BY WASHING IN WATER. BY THE TIME JESUS CAME ALONG, THOUGH, CERTAIN JEWS HAD CARRIED THIS TO AN EXTREME. IF A PIG WAS UNCLEAN, THEN SO WAS SOMETHING THE PIG MAY HAVE TOUCHED, SO YOU NEEDED TO WASH THAT AS WELL. AND IF YOU TOUCHED SOMETHING THAT HAD TOUCHED SOMETHING UNCLEAN, YOU NEEDED TO WASH, BECAUSE UNCLEANNESS WAS TRANSMITTED, I GUESS. THIS WAS PART OF THE PHARISAICAL TRADITION OF BUILDING A FENCE AROUND THE LAW. IF SOMETHING WAS WRONG, THEN NOT ONLY DID YOU AVOID THAT, BUT YOU AVOIDED ANYTHING THAT HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT. IF YOU WERE TO KEEP HOLY THE SABBATH BY NOT WORKING, YOU COULD NOT EVEN PREPARE FOOD ON THAT DAY, OR RESCUE AN ANIMAL THAT HAD FALLEN IN A HOLE, OR WALK MORE THAN A CERTAIN NUMBER OF PACES FROM YOUR HOUSE. PHARISEES SPENT MUCH OF THEIR TIME FIGURING OUT JUST HOW FAR YOU COULD GO BEFORE YOU WOULD BE IN DANGER OF VIOLATING A LAW.

ONE TIME I ATTENDED A MASS ON A RETREAT. THE PRIEST, WHO WAS NOT IMPAIRED IN ANY WAY, SAID MASS SITTING DOWN IN FRONT OF A COFFEE TABLE, AND HAD US SIT IN ARMCHAIRS AND ON A SOFT SOFA. ONE CANDLE WAS LIT. THE HOST WAS ON A SAUCER, AND THE WINE IN A GLASS WINE GOBLET. WHEN IT CAME TIME FOR THE SERMON, HE INTRODUCE A NUN WHO WE HAD LEARNED EARLIER LONGED TO BE A PRIEST, AND WAS HOPING THE CHURCH WOULD CHANGE IT'S MIND BEFORE IT WAS TOO LATE FOR HER. HER SERMON WAS FORGETTABLE, BUT I VAGUELY RECALL IT DEALT WITH THE UNFAIRNESS OF THE HEIRARCHY. AT COMMUNION TIME, THE PRIEST PASSED EACH OF US A HOST AND THEN PRONOUNCED THE WORDS, “THIS IS JESUS, THE LAMB OF GOD WHO TAKES AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD, HAPPY ARE THOSE WHO ARE CALLED TO HIS SUPPER.” THEN WE SERVED OURSELVES COMMUNION. DURING THE MASS THERE WERE LOTS OF EXTRA WORDS, ASIDES, AND COMMENTS. WHEN THE MASS WAS OVER, I WASN'T SURE I'D FULFILLED MY SUNDAY OBLIGATION.

THE CHURCH MAKES A BIG DEAL ABOUT EXACTLY HOW MASS SHOULD BE SAID. IT HAS LOOSENED UP A LITTLE BIT SINCE THE OLDEN DAYS, WHEN PROSPECTIVE PRIESTS HAD TO MEMORIZE THE VERY GESTURES THEY USED, ALONG WITH THE LATIN, AND PASS A PRACTICAL EXAM BEFORE GOING ON TO ORDINATION. BUT THE POINT IS THAT THERE IS A RIGHT WAY AND MANY WRONG WAYS TO SAY MASS.

IS THAT WRONG? ARE WE BEING LIKE THOSE PHARISEES, WHO WASHED THEIR HANDS AND POTS AND PANS AND FOOD, NOT JUST TO CLEAN THINGS, BUT IN CONCERN THAT SOMETHING, SOMEWHERE TOUCHED SOMETHING UNCLEAN, AND THE UNCLEANNESS MIGHT BE PASSED ON TO THEM?

I ONCE ATTENDED A WONDERFUL, UPLIFTING MASS WITH INCREDIBLE MUSIC, A GREAT SERMON, AND ATTENTIVE ALTAR SERVERS. AFTERWARD, ONE MEMBER OF THE CONGREGATION PULLED ME ASIDE AND POINTED TO A YOUNG MAN WHO HAD PARTICIPATED IN THE MASS WITH A BASEBALL CAP ON HIS HEAD. HE WAS FURIOUS, AND OPINED THAT SOMEONE NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT PEOPLE LIKE THAT. WAS HE RIGHT? AFTER ALL, IN OUR CULTURE MEN DON'T WEAR HATS IN CHURCH.

WHAT IS EASY ABOUT RELIGION IS TO CREATE FENCES AROUND THINGS, SO WE KNOW WHAT WE CANNOT DO, WHAT OUR LIMITS ARE. I REMEMBER THE OLDEN DAYS, WHEN WE FASTED FROM MIDNIGHT IF WE WERE GOING TO RECEIVE COMMUNION THE NEXT DAY. ONE PRIEST TOLD US THAT TECHNICALLY YOU COULD EAT UNTIL 12:20. I DON'T REMEMBER WHY. WE WERE TOLD THAT YOU COULDN'T DO PHYSICAL WORK ON SUNDAY. BUT YOU COULD DO UP TO AN HOUR'S WORTH BEFORE YOU COMMITTED A MORTAL SIN. MY MOTHER INVOKED THAT RULE WHEN SOMETHING NEEDED DOING AND HER SON WAS SITTING AROUND DOING NOTHING. AS TEENAGERS, WE ALL KNEW HOW MUCH PHYSICAL AFFECTION YOU COULD SHOW TO YOUR GIRL FRIEND BEFORE HITTING THAT INVISIBLE BARRIER BETWEEN “NECKING” WHICH WAS SORT OF OK, AND “PETTING” WHICH WAS REALLY RISKY TO YOUR SOUL.

BUT THERE IS ANOTHER PART TO ALL THIS. IT'S GOOD TO KNOW RULES AND LIMITS, BUT IN A SENSE THAT GIVES US THE MINIMUM. WE ALSO NEED TO STRIVE FOR THE MAXIMUM. A MASS CAN BE SAID ACCORDING TO ALL THE RULES IN THE BOOK, BUT CAN BE DONE WITHOUT REVERENCE, IN A WAY THAT DOES NOT INVITE PEOPLE INTO THE MYSTERY. BUT THE CELEBRANT AND MINISTERS OF THE MASS CAN NEVER FIND A POINT WHERE THEY CAN SAY, “WE DID THIS AS WELL AS IT COULD BE DONE.” IF A YOUNG MAN WEARS A BASEBALL CAP TO CHURCH, WELL, AT LEAST HE'S GOING TO CHURCH. MAYBE HE SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED AND CONGRATULATED, SO THAT HE WILL KEEP COMING BACK. AFTER ALL, ALL THE PRESSURE FROM HIS PEERS IS FOR HIM TO QUIT COMING.

INSTEAD OF WONDERING HOW MUCH WORK I CAN DO ON A SUNDAY, PERHAPS I SHOULD BE ASKING THE REAL QUESTION, HOW CAN I MAKE THIS DAY HOLY? THAT AFTER ALL IS THE COMMANDMENT. AND RATHER THAN THINK ABOUT HOW FAR I CAN GO WITH MY GIRL FRIEND MAYBE SHE AND I SHOULD BE LEARNING ABOUT THE VIRTUE OF CHASTITY, WHICH WILL SERVE US BOTH IN GOOD STEAD AS WE GO THROUGH LIFE, ESPECIALLY IF WE GET MARRIED SOME DAY.

JESUS IS NOT AGAINST PEOPLE PERFORMING ACTIONS WHICH HAVE TO DO WITH RITUAL PURITY. FAR FROM IT. HE IS NOT AGAINST A PEOPLE WHO HONOR GOD WITH THEIR LIPS. THOSE ARE ALL GOOD THINGS. THAT IS ONE SIDE OF THE EQUATION, THAT IS THE MINIMUM. BUT THE OTHER SIDE HAS NO MAXIMUM, AND THAT IS THE PART WE SHOULD BE STRIVING FOR. NOT TO BE JUST RITUALLY CLEAN, BUT TO BE REALLY CLEAN; NOT JUST TO HONOR GOD WITH OUR LIPS AND OUR PRAYERS AND OUR RITUALS, BUT TO HONOR GOD WITH THE WAY WE LIVE OUR LIVES.

ROBERT SPITZER, A JESUIT PRIEST AND PHILOSOPHER, MADE AN ATTEMPT TO DESCRIBE GOD. HE SAID, “YOU CANNOT SAY WHAT GOD IS NOT. BY DEFINITION, GOD HAS NO LIMITS. YOU CAN'T EVEN SAY THAT GOD IS ONE OR THAT GOD IS THREE, BECAUSE HE IS BOTH; YOU CAN'T SAY THAT GOD IS IMMATERIAL, BECAUSE HE IS MATERIAL AS WELL; YOU CAN'T SAY THAT GOD IS TIMELESS, BECAUSE HE IS ALSO IN TIME. AND IN A SENSE, THAT'S THE POINT OF THE GOSPEL TODAY. BY ALL MEANS, PUT FENCES AROUND WHAT IS HOLY; FOLLOW A MORAL CODE; TREAT SACRED THINGS WITH GREAT RESPECT. BUT ALWAYS LOOK FOR HOW YOU CAN GO BEYOND THOSE LIMITS. ON ONE SIDE IS A FENCE THAT YOU CAN'T CROSS. ON THE OTHER SIDE IS AN INFINITE EXPANSE THAT ALLOWS YOU TO GO AS FAR AS YOU WANT TOWARDS GOD. KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE HORIZON, NOT ON THE FENCE.

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

JOHN 6:60-69

THE POET, GERALD MANLEY HOPKINS, BEGAN ONE OF HIS MOST FAMOUS WORKS WITH THE WORDS, “THE WORLD IS CHARGED WITH THE GRANDEUR OF GOD.” KARL RAHNER, A FAMOUS THEOLOGIAN, DESCRIBED A MYSTICAL EXPERIENCE HE ONCE HAD, IN WHICH HE FELT HIMSELF LIFTED OFF THE EARTH, BEYOND THE SOLAR SYSTEM, FAR OUT PAST THE MILKY WAY, UNTIL HE COULD SEE THE WHOLE UNIVERSE – AND WHAT HE SAW WAS THE FACE OF CHRIST. TEILARD DE CHARDIN, A PALEONTOLOGIST AND JESUIT PRIEST, PROPOSED THAT MATTER, EVEN THE SMALLEST ATOM, WAS IN A CONSTANT STATE OF SEEKING COMPLEXITY; EVOLUTION, WHETHER ORGANIC OR INORGANIC, WAS DRIVEN INTERNALLY TO BECOME THE NOOSPHERE, WHERE ALL THAT EXISTED BECAME ONE.

IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN, YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE IDEA OF THE EUCHARIST. AFTER ALL, THE GOSPELS ALL TALK ABOUT IT, AND WE HAVE JUST BEEN THROUGH THE PASSAGE FROM JOHN STARTING WITH THE MIRACLE OF THE LOAVES AND FISHES, AND ENDING WITH THE READING TODAY, IN WHICH, BECAUSE THIS WAS A HARD THING TO BELIEVE, MANY OF HIS DISCIPLES LEFT HIM. JESUS NEVERTHELESS LEFT HIS DISCIPLES WITH EXPLICIT INSTRUCTIONS TO TAKE BREAD AND SAY, “THIS IS MY BODY” AND TO TAKE WINE AND SAY, “THIS IS MY BLOOD”; AND TO EAT AND DRINK THIS SACRAMENT TOGETHER. AND WE KNOW THAT OUR CHURCH TEACHES THE DOCTRINE OF TRANSUBSTANTIATION, WHICH MEANS THAT WHAT WAS BREAD IS NOW JESUS UNDER THE APPEARANCE OF BREAD, AND THE SAME FOR THE WINE. OTHER CHRISTIAN BODIES TEACH THAT JESUS IS REALLY PRESENT, BUT SO IS THE BREAD, OR THAT THE ACTION IS MERELY A SYMBOL. AND NOW AND THEN SOMEONE DECIDES YOU DON'T EVEN NEED BREAD AND WINE, YOU DON'T EVEN NEED TO CARRY OUT JESUS' INSTRUCTIONS, EXCEPT IN HOW YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE.

IN OUR EUCHARISTIC PRAYERS, THERE IS THE MOMENT CALLED THE “EPICLYSIS” IN WHICH THE PRIEST CALLS UPON THE HOLY SPIRIT TO TRANSFORM THE BREAD AND WINE. ONE OF THE PRAYERS ADDS THE PHRASE, “LIKE THE DEW FALL”. WHEN I FIRST HEARD THIS, I DIDN'T SEE THE POINT. AFTER ALL, I DON'T THINK ABOUT DEW AND DEW FALL MORE THAN ONCE A YEAR, I'M SURE, AND I CERTAINLY HAD NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT THE ACTIONS OF THE SPIRIT IN THOSE TERMS; USUALLY HIS APPEARANCE IS ACCOMPANIED BY FIRE, OR WIND, OR EVEN EARTHQUAKES. SUBTLE HE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE.

WHY NOT “LIKE THE SNOWFALL?” THAT MIGHT MEAN MORE TO US UP HERE IN THE NORTH. BUT SNOW MERELY COVERS THINGS UP. IF SNOW FALLS ON MY CAR, IT'S STILL A CAR. AND ONCE THE SNOW MELTS, EVEN THOUGH WE'VE EXERTED A GREAT DEAL OF ENERGY MOVING IT AROUND, IT'S AS THOUGH IT WAS NEVER THERE.

BUT MAYBE “LIKE THE RAINFALL” WOULD BE BETTER. RAIN REALLY SOAKS. IT CAN CHANGE A DRY BROWN LAWN TO A HEALTHY GREEN ONE. AND IF IT FALLS ON MY NEWSPAPER, IT BECOMES MUSH, AND CAN'T BE READ ANYMORE. RAIN CAN GIVE LIFE AND CAN DESTROY AS WELL. THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD IMAGE FOR THE SPIRIT. AND ONE OF THE PSALMS ASKS GOD TO SEND FORTH HIS SPIRIT, AND THEY SHALL BE CREATED; AND THE PSALM GOES ON TO SAY, TAKE AWAY YOUR SPIRIT, AND THEY ARE DESTROYED. SO THAT IS A GOOD ANALOGY FOR THE ACTIONS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. BUT NOT WHERE THE EUCHARIST IS CONCERNED. THE BREAD IS NOT DESTROYED, NOR IS IT ENLIVENED. IT SIMPLY CEASES TO EXIST AND JESUS IS PRESENT.

IF YOU GO OUT IN THE EARLY MORNING AND THE CONDITIONS ARE RIGHT, YOU MIGHT NOTICE DEW. FROM A SCIENTIFIC STANDPOINT, DEW REQUIRES THE PRESENCE OF A LIVING PLANT, AS WELL AS ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS THAT PREVENT THE MOISTURE THAT IS ALWAYS COMING OUT OF THE PLANT FROM VAPORIZING INTO THE AIR. IN OTHER WORDS, DEW EMERGES; IT IS NOT IMPOSED, IT DOES NOT COVER UP.

WE CHRISTIANS BELIEVE IN INCARNATION. GOD EMERGES INTO OUR WORLD, HE PENETRATES, HE DIVINIZES, HE TRANSFORMS. THE HOLY SPIRIT CAUSED GOD TO ENTER MATTER, TO TAKE ON FLESH IN THE WOMB OF MARY, AND BECOME A MAN. THE WORDS USED BY THE ANGEL ARE INTERESTING; THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL “OVERSHADOW” YOU, HE SAYS. HIS PRESENCE CAUSES GOD TO BE DRAWN INTO MATTER. KIND OF LIKE THE IDEA OF DEW FALL, THE MOISTURE BEING DRAWN FROM WITHIN THE LIVING PLANT.

INCARNATION IS NOT A ONE-TIME EVENT. THE OLD TESTAMENT IS THE STORY OF GOD JOINING HIMSELF TO HIS CREATION, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, SHAPING HIS CREATION TO ACCEPT HIS PRESENCE. THE NEW TESTAMENT BEGINS WITH GOD TAKING ON FLESH, MAKING MATTER INTO HIS BODY, GLORIFYING FOREVER THE MATERIAL WORLD.

HAVING DONE THIS, HE TAKES MARY TO HIMSELF, BODY AND SOUL, FOR ALL ETERNITY; MATTER BECOMES IMMORTAL. AND HIS INTENTION IS TO BRING HIS WHOLE CREATION TO THE CENTER OF HIS BEING; NOTHING HE MADE WILL BE WASTED. INCARNATION IS ALWAYS GOING ON.

THE ACTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ON THE BREAD AND WINE IS A HINT AT WHAT IS IN STORE FOR OUR UNIVERSE. THROUGH HIS ACTION, GOD WILL EMERGE, AND IS ALREADY EMERGING. WHEN WE HAVE EYES TO SEE, WE SEE HIS TRACES IN NATURE – FROM A SNOWFLAKE TO THE STARS IN THE SKY, FROM A BUG TO A BUFFALO. GOD IS PRESENT, EMERGING FROM HIS CREATION AND IN SO DOING, TRANSFORMING ALL OF NATURE, ALL OF MANKIND. AND THAT IS WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT DOES – DRAWS GOD FORTH. AND THAT IS WHAT HE DOES IN THE EUCHARIST. THE BREAD AND WINE BECOME GOD, THE SON, THE INCARNATED ONE, ACHIEVING THE DESTINY OF ALL MATTER, TO BE TRANSFORMED SO THAT IN THE END THERE IS ONLY GOD. HOPKINS, RAHNER, AND DECHARDIN ALL SAW THIS IDEA, THIS MYSTICAL VISION.

LIKE THE DEW FALL. NOT LIKE A SNOWFALL, NOT LIKE A RAINFALL. BUT TRANSFORMATION FROM WITHIN, TRANSFORMATION WHICH IN A MIRACULOUS WAY, DOES NOT DESTROY, BUT CHANGES. TRANSFORMATION WHICH LEAVES THOSE WONDERFUL THINGS LIKE TASTE AND SMELL AND TEXTURE AND COLOR, BUT NOW JESUS IS THERE. TRANSFORMATION WHICH TELLS US SOMETHING ABOUT HOW IT WILL BE FOR YOU AND I, WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES UPON US LIKE HE DID UPON MARY, LIKE THE DEW FALL, AND CHANGES US FOREVER.

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cyce B

JOHN 6:51-58

WHEN I WAS GROWING UP IN THE DAYS BEFORE VATICAN II, I WAS AN ALTAR SERVER. BEFORE WE COULD SERVE WE HAD TO MEMORIZE A LOT OF LATIN, AND BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN WHAT IT MEANT. SERVING MASS WAS MUCH MORE COMPLICATED IN THOSE DAYS, AND THE ALTAR BOYS MOVED AROUND A LOT FROM ONE POSITION TO ANOTHER. WE HAD TO WATCH AND LISTEN TO THE PRIEST FOR CLUES ABOUT WHEN WE CHANGED THE GOSPEL BOOK FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER; WHEN WE LIFTED THE CHASUBLE AT THE END OF THE EUCHARISTIC PRAYER. AFTER GOING THROUGH ALL THAT TRAINING, WE WERE ALLOWED TO SERVE WITH A SENIOR ALTAR SERVER, UNTIL WE GOT GOOD ENOUGH TO BE ON OUR OWN. I STILL REMEMBER MY FIRST TIME, AND MY COACH, A FIFTH GRADER, PRETTY MUCH KEPT ME OUT OF TROUBLE.

BUT WHAT WAS DRUMMED INTO US WAS THE REAL PRESENCE. WE COULDN'T BE ALTAR SERVERS UNLESS WE UNDERSTOOD THAT JESUS WAS REALLY PRESENT IN THE EUCHARIST. THERE WERE LOTS OF REMINDERS. THE SANCTUARY WHERE MASS WAS SAID WAS A SACRED PLACE; IT WAS FENCED OFF BY THE ALTAR RAIL. THE ALTAR WAS ELEVATED ABOVE THE FLOOR OF THE CHURCH. AT OUR CATHEDRAL CHURCH THE SANCTUARY WAS TWO STEPS UP FROM THE FLOOR, AND THE ALTAR WAS THREE MORE. ALTHOUGH WE WEREN'T FLUENT IN LATIN, WE DID APPRECIATE THAT THE MASS WAS IN LATIN BECAUSE ORDINARY ENGLISH WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH FOR SO SOLEMN AN OCCASION. WE ALTAR SERVERS HELD A SPECIAL PATEN UNDER THE CHINS OF THE COMMUNICANTS, IN CASE THE PRIEST DROPPED THE HOST. AND AFTER MASS, NO ONE TOUCHED THE CHALICE AND THE PATEN EXCEPT THE PRIEST.

I REMEMBER THAT THE ONLY SOUNDS YOU WOULD HEAR IN THE CHURCH WOULD BE A CRYING BABY, OR A COUGH; EVEN WHEN MASS WASN'T GOING ON COMMUNICATION WAS IN HUSHED WHISPERS. EVERYTHING REMINDED US, THIS WAS SACRED SPACE, THIS WAS THE HOUSE OF THE LORD, HERE WAS THE REAL PRESENCE.

THERE WAS AN OLD CUSTOM CALLED A “VISIT”. SOME PEOPLE STILL DO THAT, I KNOW, BUT WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, EVEN WE KIDS WOULD MAKE VISITS, SOMETIMES BY OURSELVES, BEFORE A TEST, OR AFTER SCHOOL WHILE WAITING FOR OUR PARENTS TO PICK US UP. IT WAS NATURAL; JESUS WAS REAL TO US, REALLY PRESENT, AND WHO WOULD NOT WANT TO BE WITH JESUS WHEN YOU COULD BE?

LONG BEFORE THERE WAS A BIBLE, THE CHURCH BELIEVED IN THE REAL PRESENCE. WE HAVE WRITINGS FROM THE FIRST CENTURY ATTESTING TO THIS. AND TODAY YOU HAVE JUST LISTENED TO THE SHOCKING WORDS OF JESUS, ON WHICH OUR BELIEF IS BASED, WORDS WHICH MANY OF HIS FOLLOWERS, THEN AS WELL AS NOW, COULD NOT ACCEPT. HOW CAN THIS MAN GIVE US HIS FLESH TO EAT? MANY CHRISTIANS, IN AND OUT OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, HAVE DECIDED THAT THIS MAN CAN'T DO THIS. SOME GO AWAY, SADDENED. SOME DECIDE THAT THESE UNEQUIVOCAL WORDS OF JESUS, THE BELIEF OF THE EARLY CHURCH, THE TESTIMONY OF THE GOSPELS – ARE ALL RELICS OF A MORE PRIMITIVE TIME WHEN PEOPLE ACTUALLY BELIEVED SUCH THINGS, AND CERTAINLY YOU DON'T NEED THAT TO BE A CHRISTIAN. AND FOR MANY OF OUR CHRISTIAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO CONTINUE TO CARRY OUT A COMMUNION SERVICE AS A MEMORIAL TO JESUS, PER HIS COMMAND, IT'S JUST A RITUAL. I WAS READING AN ARTICLE BY A MINISTER ABOUT HOW IN HIS CHURCH HE WOULD USE DIFFERENT THINGS DURING THEIR COMMUNION SERVICE – TORTILLAS ONE TIME, BECAUSE THAT WAS THE BREAD OF MEXICO. ANOTHER TIME HE BROUGHT IN PITAS, BECAUSE THAT WAS THE BREAD OF THE MIDDLE EAST. ONCE HE EVEN SERVED LITTLE PAPER CUPS OF RICE, BECAUSE RICE IS THE BREAD OF HALF THE HUMAN RACE. AND HE STATED, HALF JOKINGLY, THAT ONE DAY HE MIGHT SERVE CROISSANTS OR IRISH SODA BREAD. IF THERE IS NO REAL PRESENCE, IT DOESN'T MUCH MATTER WHAT YOU USE.

THE REAL PRESENCE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CHALLENGE TO CHRISTIANS. IT'S BEEN AN INTELLECTUAL CHALLENGE. THEOLOGIANS HAVE ASKED, HOW CAN THIS BE, AND TRIED TO EXPLAIN IT. THOMAS AQUINAS WAS THE ONE WHO FORMULATED THE EXPLANATION WHICH THE CHURCH ADOPTED AS “OFFICIAL”. IT IS BASED ON ARISTOTELIAN PHILOSOPHY, WHICH HELD THAT EVERYTHING COULD BE DIVIDED INTO SUBSTANCE AND ACCIDENTS. SUBSTANCE WAS WHAT MADE A THING TO BE WHAT IT IS; AND ACCIDENTS WERE ATTRIBUTES LIKE COLOR, TASTE, SMELL, AND SO ON, THAT DIDN'T REALLY NEED TO BE THERE FOR A THING TO BE WHAT IT IS. THOMAS SAID THAT THE SUBSTANCE OF BREAD AND WINE BECAME THE SUBSTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST, WHILE THE ACCIDENTS OF BREAD REMAINED. THE ORTHODOX CHURCHES, WHICH ALSO HAVE THE REAL PRESENCE IN THEIR EUCHARIST, DON'T HAVE AN “OFFICIAL” EXPLANATION.

BESIDES THE INTELLECTUAL CHALLENGE, THERE IS THE MORAL CHALLENGE. IF JESUS IS REALLY PRESENT IN THE EUCHARIST, WHAT IS OUR RESPONSE? MOST OF US WOULD SAY THAT WE BELIEVE. BUT I THINK THERE IS A GOOD ANALOGY. TWO YEARS AGO ONE OF MY FAVORITE PROFESSORS CAME TO TOWN AT MY INVITATION TO GIVE A TALK ON HIS RESEARCH. I SAT IN THE AUDIENCE WITH A HUNDRED OTHER PEOPLE, LISTENING ATTENTIVELY. THAT WAS GOOD, THAT WAS WHY HE CAME, THAT WAS LIKE THE HOLY MASS. BUT I TREASURED THE PART LATER, WHEN I DROVE HIM BACK TO THE AIRPORT, AND WE HAD A CHANCE TO CATCH UP ON THINGS, TO COMPARE NOTES, TO JUST ENJOY EACH OTHER'S PRESENCE. THAT IS LIKE A VISIT TO THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. IF JESUS IS REALLY PRESENT IN THE BLESSED SACRAMENT, OUR RESPONSE SHOULD BE TO VISIT HIM. IF WE BELIEVE THAT THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HIS PRESENCE THERE AND HIS PRESENCE ANYWHERE ELSE, THEN WHY BOTHER MAKING TIME TO COME INTO THE CHURCH FOR A VISIT?

A VISIT TO THE BLESSED SACRAMENT HAS MANY BENEFITS. IT IS CALMING AND HEALING; WE LEAVE OUR LIVES FOR A FEW MINUTES AND REST. IT ALLOWS US TO REFLECT ON HOW OUR LIVES ARE GOING, IN THE PRESENCE OF JESUS, WHO CALLS US TO BE BETTER VERSIONS OF OURSELVES. IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DEEP PRAYER, FOR OURSELVES, FOR OTHERS, FOR SPECIAL INTENTIONS. IT'S A GREAT WAY TO MAKE IMPORTANT DECISIONS. AND IT STRENGTHENS OUR FAITH. IF WE GO A LITTLE OUT OF OUR WAY SO THAT WE CAN BE IN THE SPECIAL COMPANY OF JESUS, JUST AS THE APOSTLES WERE, WE REINFORCE OUR BELIEF IN THE REAL PRESENCE. AND AS THIS BELIEF GETS STRONGER, WE BEGIN TO REALIZE THAT GOD IS INDEED WITH US, THAT THERE IS SUCH A THING AS INCARNATION, THAT GOD IS ALWAYS BREAKING IN TO THE WORLD AROUND US, AND THAT WE ARE PART OF GOD'S PLAN FOR THE WORLD.

BECAUSE JESUS IS GOD, MANY OF THE THINGS HE SAID, WHICH WE MIGHT AT FIRST GLANCE THINK OF AS FIGURES OF SPEECH, ARE INDEED REAL AND CONCRETE. HE SAID, “THIS IS MY BODY” AND “THIS IS MY BLOOD.” HE ALSO SAID, “I AM WITH YOU ALL DAYS, EVEN TO THE END OF THE WORLD.” AND “MY FATHER AND I WILL DWELL WITH HIM.” THE EUCHARIST, HIS REAL PRESENCE, IS THE SOURCE OF OUR CHRISTIAN LIFE, WHERE IT BEGINS; AND IT IS THE SUMMIT, WHAT WE ARE DRAWN TO, THE GOAL OF OUR LIFE.

PLEASE CONSIDER WORKING IN A VISIT TO THE BLESSED SACRAMENT THIS WEEK.

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

JOHN 6:41-51

WHEN I WAS A LITTLE KID, I WAS ALWAYS GETTING BANGED UP. I'VE GOT SOME GRANDCHILDREN WHO ARE AS AGILE AS MONKEYS, AND OTHERS WHO BANG INTO WALLS AND FALL DOWN STAIRS AND HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING THROUGH A DAY WITHOUT BREAKING SOMETHING OR OTHER. THIS DOESN'T SEEM TO BE GENDER RELATED, EITHER; I HAVE A GRANDDAUGHTER WHO IS LIKE THAT. I WAS LIKE THAT; MY MOTHER BEING OF GERMAN ANCESTRY, USED WORDS LIKE KLUTZ AND TOIFELKOPF, WHICH I THINK MEANT POTATO HEAD, WHEN REFERRING TO MY LACK OF GRACE, BUT USUALLY IN A NICE WAY. IN ANY EVENT, ANY INJURY THAT SET ME TO CRYING BACK WHEN I WAS FOUR COULD USUALLY BE REMEDIED BY MY MOTHER KISSING THE INJURED PART. OBVIOUSLY, YOU GROW UP. BUT I REMEMBER MY WIFE JOAN KISSING AWAY INJURIES IN OUR OWN CHILDREN, AND I SEE MY DAUGHTERS DOING THE SAME FOR MY GRANDCHILDREN AS WELL. WHAT IS THIS INSTINCT, THAT SEEMS TO BE PART OF OUR VERY HUMANITY? MOTHERS OF EVERY NATION AND RACE, AND SOMETIMES FATHERS, KNOW THAT KISSING A CHILD IS VERY POWERFUL. AND A KISS DOESN'T JUST BRING ABOUT HEALING, ONE ON THE FOREHEAD AT BEDTIME DISPELS THE DEMONS THAT KEEP YOU AWAKE AT NIGHT WHEN YOU ARE FOUR. A KISS FROM YOUR MOTHER IS A SIGN THAT YOU ARE FORGIVEN FOR SOMETHING TERRIBLE THAT YOU DID, LIKE BREAK A LAMP OR ACCIDENTALLY RIDE YOUR TRICYCLE INTO A FLOWER BED.

TODAY'S GOSPEL SOUNDS VERY COMPLICATED. BUT IF YOU STAND BACK AND JUST LISTEN, IT'S SIMPLE. JESUS TALKS ABOUT HIS PURPOSE IN COMING INTO THE WORLD. PEOPLE WHO SEEK GOD, WHO LISTEN TO GOD SPEAK TO THEM, WILL COME TO JESUS. AND JESUS WILL GIVE THEM HIS FLESH TO EAT SO THAT THEY WILL NEVER DIE, SO THAT THEY WILL HAVE LIFE.

MANY PROTESTANTS HEAR THESE SAME WORDS AND CONCLUDE THAT JESUS WAS SPEAKING METAPHORICALLY. WHEN HE SAYS, YOU HAVE TO EAT HIS FLESH AND DRINK HIS BLOOD, HE MEANS THAT YOU HAVE TO PUT YOUR FAITH IN HIM AND FOLLOW HIS TEACHINGS. AFTER ALL, JESUS' FIRST LISTENERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM: HOW CAN THIS MAN GIVE US HIS FLESH TO EAT? AND MAYBE YOU AND I WOULD ADD, WHY? AFTER ALL, GOD COULD HAVE SAVED US IN SO MANY WAYS.

THE FIRST POINT IS THAT THE PROTESTANTS ARE RIGHT. WELL, NOT QUITE RIGHT, BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO AGREE THAT JESUS WAS SPEAKING SYMBOLICALLY. WE WOULD HAVE TO AGREE THAT TO BE SAVED WE HAVE TO PUT OUR FAITH IN HIM AND FOLLOW HIS TEACHINGS. SAINT THOMAS WAS ONCE ASKED WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO A MOUSE THAT ATE A CRUMB OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST THAT HAD FALLEN ON THE FLOOR? HIS ANSWER WAS, “NOTHING”. THOMAS BELIEVED THAT THE CRUMB WAS THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST. THE MOUSE WAS RECEIVING HOLY COMMUNION. BUT THE MOUSE WAS INCAPABLE OF RESPONDING TO THE SYMBOL. HE IS THE SAME BEFORE AND AFTER TAKING THE EUCHARISTIC CRUMB. UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK MANY OF US ARE LIKE THE MOUSE. WE RECEIVE THE EUCHARIST OUT OF HABIT, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU GO TO MASS. MAYBE WE HAVE A WARM FEELING, OR MAYBE WE OFFER A SILENT PRAYER OR TWO, BUT WHEN WE GO OUT TO OUR CARS, THE MOMENT IS FORGOTTEN AND WE GO ON WITH LIFE AS THOUGH THIS ENCOUNTER WITH THE LIVING GOD NEVER HAPPENED. OUR FAITH IS UNCHANGED, OR RESOLVE TO FOLLOW HIS TEACHINGS IS UNCHANGED. WE ARE LIKE THOMAS AQUINAS' MOUSE.

SALVATION DOES NOT COME FROM RECEIVING THE EUCHARIST, FROM THE PHYSICAL ACT OF EATING THIS BREAD WHICH IS REALLY THE BODY OF JESUS, OR DRINKING THIS WINE WHICH IS HIS BLOOD. SALVATION REQUIRES THAT WE BELIEVE, AND THAT THE BELIEF CHANGES US, AND THAT WE BECOME CHRIST, WE PUT ON THE MIND OF CHRIST, WE REJECT FAME, POWER, RICHES, AND PLEASURE, AND EMBRACE THE CROSS, ON WHICH NONE OF THESE EXIST. AND THAT IS MORE THAN THE LONGEST LIFETIME'S WORK. THANK GOD JESUS HAS DONE THE WORK FOR US AND SQUARED THINGS FOR US WITH GOD ALMIGHTY, HIS FATHER. HE MAKES UP FOR EVERYTHING LACKING IN US, AND OUR EFFORTS, PUNY AND WEAK AS THEY ARE, ALWAYS PAY OFF IN ETERNITY.

AND GOD SENDS JESUS TO US OUT OF SHEER LOVE.

SO WHY DO WE REALLY EAT THE BODY AND DRINK THE BLOOD OF JESUS? WHAT IS GOING ON IN THIS SCENARIO, WHICH WE CATHOLICS INSIST IS NOT SYMBOLIC, IT IS BOTH SYMBOLIC AND REAL? THE EUCHARIST IS JESUS IN THE FLESH AND BLOOD, BUT OUR CONSUMING THE EUCHARIST IS A SYMBOL OF OUR DESIRE AND INTENTION T BECOME ONE WITH JESUS.

WHEN A MOTHER KISSES AWAY THE PAIN OF A SCRATCHED KNEE OR A BRUISED FOREHEAD, THE PHYSICAL CONTACT HAS TO BE THERE FOR HER LOVE TO WORK IT'S MAGIC. WERE SHE TO STAND OFF AND SAY, “I LOVE YOU, AND I HOPE YOUR PAIN GOES AWAY,” IT WOULDN'T BE THE SAME. THE KISS MUST BE THERE.

GOD KNOWS YOU AND I ARE PHYSICAL BEINGS. OUR BODIES ARE THE SACRAMENTS OF WHO WE ARE. WE ALL KNOW WE AREN'T “JUST A BODY” BUT EVERYTHING WE KNOW, EVERYTHING WE FEEL, MUST COME TO US THROUGH THE BODY. WHEN A MOTHER KISSES HER CHILD, IT IS A SACRAMENT OF LOVING CONCERN, AND THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE, NO WORDS, NO GESTURES, NO TOY OR TREAT WHICH CONVEYS THIS LOVING CONCERN BETTER THAN A KISS.

AND THAT IS THE REASON THE EUCHARIST IS REALLY THE BODY AND BLOOD OF JESUS. IT IS GOD'S UNIQUE WAY OF SPEAKING TO US THROUGH OUR BODIES, OF TELLING US OF HIS LOVING CONCERN, OF HIS FORGIVENESS, OF HIS PROMISE TO BE WITH US ALWAYS, OR HIS GUARANTEE THAT DEATH WILL NOT BE THE END. JESUS SPOKE IN SYMBOLS WHEN HE COMPARED HIMSELF TO BREAD COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN. BUT AT THE LAST SUPPER, HE CREATED A REALITY THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR 2000 YEARS AND WILL CONTINUE TILL THE END OF TIME.

A MOTHER'S KISS IS INTIMATE, THE KISS BETWEEN LOVERS IS MORE SO. BUT THE EUCHARIST, THE KISS OF GOD THE FATHER IN GIVING US THE BODY AND BLOOD OF HIS SON FOR OUR FOOD AND DRINK, IS THE MOST INTIMATE OF ACTS OF LOVE, LOVE NOT JUST FOR OUR SOULS, BUT FOR EVERYTHING ABOUT US.

A MOTHER DISPENSES HER KISSES WITHOUT EXPECTING ANYTHING IN RETURN. A KISS THAT HEALS, A KISS THAT DISPELS NIGHT MONSTERS, A KISS THAT FORGIVES, A KISS THAT REWARDS – FREELY AND ABUNDANTLY GIVEN. AND THE KISS BEING GIVEN AND RECEIVED, THE CHILD DIVES BACK INTO LIFE, HAVING QUICKLY FORGOTTEN THE MOMENT THAT WILL STAY IN THE MOTHER'S HEART FOREVER. BUT NEW AND THEN, THE CHILD TURNS AND BRINGS A KISS TO HER MOTHER. SHE DOESN'T NEED A KISS, BUT WHAT JOY IT BRINGS HER!

AND WE CHILDREN OF GOD THE FATHER, WHO RECEIVE HIS INTIMATE KISSES SUNDAY AFTER SUNDAY IN THE EUCHARIST, A PHYSICAL SIGN OF HIS DESIRE TO HEAL US, TO FORGIVE US, TO ENCOURAGE US, TO GIVE US LIFE – HOW WILL WE KISS HIM BACK?