Fourth Sunday of Advent, cycle C

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT, CYCLE C

LUKE 1:39-45

WHEN I WAS IN PRACTICE, I HAD A PATIENT WITH CANCER WHO WAS PARALYZED FROM THE WASTE DOWN, AND BLIND AS WELL, FROM HIS DISEASE. HE WAS SERIOUSLY DEPRESSED. ANOTHER PATIENT, A VERY SWEET LADY WHO HAD HER TREATMENTS AT THE SAME TIME HE DID, WOULD ASK TO BE PUT IN THE CHAIR NEXT TO HIM, AND JUST QUIETLY TALK TO HIM ABOUT WHATEVER WAS ON HER MIND. TO OUR SURPRISE AFTER A WHILE HIS DEPRESSION BEGAN TO LIFT AND THE ONE-WAY CONVERSATION BEGAN TO GO BOTH WAYS. SHE TOOK A TURN FOR THE WORSE, AND IT BECAME HIS TURN TO REACH OUT TO HER IN HER DESPAIR. THEY LIFTED EACH OTHER'S BURDENS.

THIS GOSPEL SEEMS TO DESCRIBE A JOYFUL MOMENT, WHEN MARY AND ELIZABETH MEET. AND IT IS JOYFUL; ELIZABETH IS PROMPTED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT TO RECOGNIZE THAT GOD HAS ENTERED THE WORLD, THAT THE BABY IN MARY'S WOMB IS THE LONG-AWAITED MESSIAH. AND IF YOU REMEMBER, SHORTLY AFTER THIS WE HEAR MARY'S MAGNIFICAT, HER GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING.

BUT MARY AND ELIZABETH HAVE THIS IN COMMON; THEY ARE BOTH CARRYING GREAT BURDENS, AND I AM NOT JUST REFERRING TO THE BABIES. MARY IS PREGNANT AND UNMARRIED. IN LUKE'S STORY, WE LEARN THAT SHE IS ENGAGED TO JOSEPH, STILL A VIRGIN, AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ANGELIC ANNOUNCEMENT, SHE GOES TO ELIZABETH. IF WE PUT MATTHEW'S AND LUKE'S STORY TOGETHER, JOSEPH PROBABLY LEARNED OF HER PREGNANCY WHEN SHE RETURNED FROM HER VISIT TO ELIZABETH; BY THEN IT WAS PROBABLY OBVIOUS. BUT ALL THAT IS IN THE FUTURE. RIGHT NOW MARY IS PREGNANT AND ALONE, AND PROBABLY HAS NO IDEA OF WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS; AND WHEN YOU ARE BEARING AN AWFUL SECRET AND HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT THE FUTURE, YOU WORRY, AND PROBABLY MARY WORRIED, EVEN THOUGH SHE TRUSTED IN GOD.

ELIZABETH'S BURDEN IS DIFFERENT; SHE IS TOO OLD. SHE FINDS HERSELF PREGNANT WHEN ALL HER FRIENDS ARE GRANDMOTHERS. IN THOSE DAYS WHEN THE AVERAGE LIFE EXPECTANCY WAS QUITE A BIT LESS THAN NOW ELIZABETH MUST HAVE WONDERED IF SHE WOULD LIVE LONG ENOUGH TO RAISE A CHILD; AND HER OLD HUSBAND ZACHARY COULDN'T TALK ANYMORE – PROBABLY THE FIRST OF MANY AILMENTS THAT WOULD EAT AWAY AT HIM BEFORE HE DIED; AND ELIZABETH COULD SEE THAT SHE WOULD SPEND HER OWN DECLINING YEARS TAKING CARE OF A BABY AND AN AILING HUSBAND.

MARY AND ELIZABETH ARE EACH OTHER'S REFUGE. ELIZABETH OFFERS MARY A SAFE HAVEN, AWAY FROM PRYING EYES, FROM GOSSIP, FROM PEOPLE DEMANDING EXPLANATIONS. MARY GREETS ELIZABETH, AND ELIZABETH REVEALS THAT SHE KNOWS ABOUT THE PREGNANCY, AND ALSO KNOWS OF ITS SIGNIFICANCE. WHAT A LOAD OFF OF MARY'S MIND! AT LAST, SOMEONE TO SHARE THE NEWS WITH, SOMEONE WHO ACCEPTED HER UNCONDITIONALLY, SOMEONE WHO HAD ALSO BEEN TOUCHED BY GOD. AND ELIZABETH, SIX MONTHS PREGNANT, HAVING HAD TO ASSUME ZACHARY'S BURDENS AS WELL AS HER OWN; HAVING NO ONE WHO WOULD LEND A SYMPATHETIC EAR OR OFFER A LITTLE HELP, NOW LOOKS FORWARD TO THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, THE MONTHS THAT WOULD BE THE MOST DIFFICULT OF HER PREGNANCY, WITH SOME SORT OF RELIEF, BECAUSE MARY WILL BE THERE TO HELP.

MARY AND ELIZABETH CONFIRM THE REALITY OF THEIR EXPERIENCES. AN ANGEL HAD COME TO MARY. I THINK IF AN ANGEL CAME TO ONE OF US, EVEN THOUGH WE BELIEVE IN ANGELS, WE MIGHT VERY WELL DOUBT OUR EXPERIENCE. PEOPLE IN THOSE DAYS WEREN'T DIFFERENT. IF YOU WENT AROUND TELLING PEOPLE YOU HAD SEEN AN ANGEL, PEOPLE WOULD REACT IN ONE OF THREE WAYS – THEY WOULD CALL YOU ARE A LIAR; THEY WOULD THINK YOU WERE CRAZY, OR PERHAPS THEY MIGHT BELIEVE YOU HAD SEEN AN EVIL SPIRIT. WE THINK THE SAME WAY NOW AS THEN; WE WOULD PROBABLY GIVE MORE WEIGHT TO DELUSION AND LESS TO AN EVIL SPIRIT, BUT THE POINT IS, MARY DID NOT DARE TO TELL ANYONE ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE BECAUSE WHO WOULD BELIEVE A TEENAGER? ELIZABETH EXPERIENCES THE HOLY SPIRIT IN MARY'S PRESENCE, AND THE KNOWLEDGE THAT HER SON AND MARY'S SON HAD BOTH BEEN SELECTED BY GOD FOR A SPECIAL MISSIONS. WHEN MARY HEARS ELIZABETH, IT MUST HAVE BEEN A RELIEF. WHEN ELIZABETH HEARS MARY'S STORY, SHE REALIZED HER OWN PREGNANCY WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT, NOT A HORRIBLE JOKE PLAYED ON HER BY FATE, BUT ORDAINED BY GOD TO FURTHER HIS PURPOSES IN THE WORLD.

MARY AND ELIZABETH STRENGTHEN EACH OTHERS FAITH. ELIZABETH PRAISES GOD IN HER GREETING TO MARY, AND MARY, IN TURN, GOES ON TO PRAISE GOD IN THE PRAYER SHE WILL SAY AFTER THIS GOSPEL STORY IT IS TRUE THAT BOTH WERE WOMEN OF FAITH. BUT EVEN AMONG THE MOST FAITHFUL OUR FAITH GETS STRONGER WHEN WE SPEAK ABOUT IT TO EACH OTHER. LATER WE WILL SEE ELIZABETH'S FAITH WHEN THEY ARE ABOUT TO NAME THE BABY. WE HEAR THAT THEY WANT TO CALL HIM AFTER HIS FATHER'S NAME, BUT ELIZABETH SPEAKS UP AND SAYS, “NO, HIS NAME SHALL BE JOHN”. WHAT WOMAN WOULD DARE PRESUME TO NAME HER SON IN THOSE DAYS? BUT SHE HAS FAITH, AND ZACHARY CONFIRMS THIS IN WRITING AND IS GIVEN HIS VOICE BACK. AND MARY RETURNS TO JOSEPH STRENGTHENED BY HER INTERACTION WITH ELIZABETH, AND CONFRONTS JOSEPH WITH THE NEWS THAT HER PREGNANCY IS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND JOSEPH WILL JUST HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT.

SOME PEOPLE SEE IN THE STORY OF MARY AND ELIZABETH THE END OF THE OLD DISPENSATION AND THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW; ELIZABETH REPRESENTS ISRAEL, OLD, WORN OUT, HER BEST DAYS BEHIND HER, GIVING RISE MIRACULOUSLY TO ONE LAST PROPHET, THE ONE JESUS SAYS IS THE GREATEST BORN OF WOMAN UNTIL NOW; AND MARY, YOUNG, VIRGINAL, BRINGING FORTH A NEW CREATION, CONCEIVED BY GOD, SUCH THAT EVERYONE WHO IS OF THE KINGDOM HE WILL ESTABLISH IS, AS JESUS SAYS, GREATER THAN JOHN. AND OTHERS SEE MARY AS THE NEW ARK OF THE COVENANT, COMING DOWN FROM THE HILL COUNTRY BEARING THE PRESENCE OF GOD, JUST AS THE FIRST ARK WAS BROUGHT DOWN TO JERUSALEM BY KING DAVID. ALL THAT MAY BE TRUE; BUT I THINK WE CAN SEE IN MARY AND ELIZABETH, IN THIS MOMENT PORTRAYED IN THE GOSPELS, HOW TWO PEOPLE OF FAITH, TROUBLED BY CIRCUMSTANCES OVER WHICH THEY HAVE NO CONTROL, WITH THE HELP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN STRENGTHEN EACH OTHER AND HELP EACH OTHER AS THEY CONFRONT OVERWHELMING ODDS. AND THAT WAS TRUE THEN, AND IT IS TRUE NOW.

ON THIS FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT LET US RESOLVE TO SHARE OUR BURDENS AND OUR JOYS WITH EACH OTHER, KNOWING THAT JESUS IS PRESENT WHERE TWO OR THREE ARE GATHERED IN HIS NAME. LET US ALSO REMEMBER THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVES EACH OF US GIFTS SO THAT WE CAN BE OF SERVICE TO EACH OTHER, AND IT'S VERY SAD WHEN WE HAVE A GIFT SOMEONE NEEDS, AND WE DON'T USE IT.

AND LET US ALSO REMEMBER THAT JESUS IS PRESENT IN US, WHO ARE HIS BODY, JUST AS HE WAS PRESENT IN A TEENAGE GIRL MEETING HER OLD COUSIN SO LONG AGO IN THE HILL COUNTRY OF JUDEA.

Third Sunday of Advent, Cycle C

LUKE 3:10-18

TO ME THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING GOSPEL PASSAGES. BUT YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT IT IN CONTEXT. I THINK MOST OF US HAVE A PICTURE OF JOHN THE BAPTIST. IN FACT, HE IS THE ONLY CHARACTER IN THE NEW TESTAMENT THAT HAS HIS CLOTHING DESCRIBED – HE WORE A GARMENT MADE OF CAMEL'S HAIR AND A LEATHER BELT. WE ALSO KNOW WHAT HE ATE. LOCUSTS AND WILD HONEY. AND EVEN THOUGH HE WAS RELATED TO JESUS, IN THOSE DAYS THEY PROBABLY HAD ALMOST NOTHING TO DO WITH EACH OTHER – JESUS, AFTER ALL, GREW UP IN NAZARETH, AND JOHN IN THE HILL COUNTRY OF JUDEA. THAT'S A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 100 MILES, AND NOT EASY TO DO WHEN YOU HAD TO WALK. SCHOLARS THINK THAT JOHN MAY HAVE JOINED ONE OF THOSE SECTS THAT LIVED OUT IN THE DESERT – THEY WERE CALLED “ESSENES” – AND THEY BELIEVED THAT THE WORLD WAS GOING TO END VERY SOON AND THAT THE BEST THING YOU COULD DO TO PREPARE WAS TO GO OUT IN THE DESERT AND CONCENTRATE ON LIVING A LIFE OF PRAYER, RIGOROUSLY KEEPING THE LAW OF MOSES, AND STAYING AWAY FROM CONTAMINATION BY THE GENERAL CULTURE. THEY RESEMBLED A MONASTIC ORDER.

SO JOHN CAME OUT OF THE DESERT, WE WERE TOLD LAST WEEK, BECAUSE THE WORD OF GOD CAME TO HIM. AND WHEN WE READ ABOUT JOHN, HE WAS NO SHRINKING VIOLET. HE TOLD THE PEOPLE THAT THEY WERE A BROOD OF VIPERS, AND THAT IF GOD WANTED TO HE COULD MAKE CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM OUT OF ROCKS. WE KNOW THAT JOHN WASN'T AFRAID OF ANYONE. HE DARED TO TELL THE KING THAT HE WAS LIVING IN SIN, HAVING MARRIED HIS BROTHER'S WIFE. JOHN WAS A TROUBLE MAKER; HE WAS DRAWING CROWDS TO THE SHORE OF THE JORDAN RIVER AND BAPTIZING THE ONES WHO WANTED TO SIGNIFY THEIR REPENTANCE – AND JOHN HAD NO AUTHORITY – HE WASN'T A PRIEST OR A RABBI.

SO TODAY YOU HEAR A FEW BRAVE SOULS; THEY'VE BEEN LISTENING TO JOHN PREACHING. THEY SAY, “WHAT SHOULD WE DO?” PROBABLY EXPECTING JOHN WILL TELL THEM TO GIVE UP THEIR JOBS AND GO OUT INTO THE DESERT. JOHN'S ADVICE IS VERY MILD – IF YOU HAVE TWO COATS AND YOUR NEIGHBOR HAS NONE, GIVE HIM ONE OF YOURS. SURELY THE TAX COLLECTORS EXPECTED TO BE TOLD TO GIVE UP THEIR PROFESSION. A TAX COLLECTOR WAS ABOUT AS LOW AS YOU COULD GET. THE WAY IT WORKED WAS THAT THE ROMANS APPOINTED SOMEONE IN A VILLAGE WHOSE JOB IT WAS TO COLLECT TAXES. HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR HANDING OVER THE SUM THE ROMANS DECIDED WAS FAIR. HE WOULD THEN GO AROUND,. ACCOMPANIED BY A FEW SOLDIERS, AND TELL PEOPLE WHAT THEY OWED. HE WAS ENTITLED TO A COMMISSION. YOU CAN SEE THAT THEIR WAS A LITTLE ROOM FOR ABUSE HERE. BUT JOHN DOESN'T ORDER THEM TO STOP WORKING – HE TELLS THEM TO TAKE ONLY WHAT THEY ARE ENTITLED TO. THE SOLDIERS WERE ONLY SLIGHTLY ABOVE THE TAX COLLECTORS ON THE SOCIAL SCALE. THEY WOULD USE THEIR POSITIONS TO THREATEN PEOPLE – “THAT'S A NICE SHOP YOU HAVE THERE”, THEY WOULD SAY. “IT WOULD BE TOO BAD IF IT BURNED TO THE GROUND SOME NIGHT. FORTUNATELY, FOR A SLIGHT FEE WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.” AND JOHN TELLS THEM, “BE CONTENT WITH YOUR PAY.”

JOHN HAS BEEN CALLING THE PEOPLE TO REPENTANCE. THAT WORD IS A TRANSLATION OF THE GREEK WORD METANOIA, WHICH DOESN'T QUITE MEAN WHAT REPENTANCE MEANS. METANOIA MEANS “OUT OF THE MIND” OR PERHAPS, “CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK”. EACH OF THE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTION, “WHAT SHOULD WE DO” ARE BASICALLY THE SAME ANSWER – WHEN YOU ARE DEALING WITH ANOTHER PERSON, LOOK TO HIS OR HER WELFARE FIRST, BEFORE YOUR OWN. SEE OTHER PEOPLE AS PERSONS, NOT AS OBJECTS TO BE EXPLOITED.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT THIS GOSPEL IS THAT THE ADVICE COMING FROM JOHN JUST DOESN'T SEEM TO GO ALONG WITH WHAT A WILD MAN FROM THE DESERT SHOULD BE TELLING PEOPLE. AND INDEED, IN THE NEXT BREATH JOHN IS BACK TO HIS OLD SELF, TELLING THE CROWDS THAT IF YOU THINK HE, JOHN, IS BAD NEWS, WAIT TILL THE ONE JOHN IS PREPARING FOR COMES. JOHN IS NOTHING COMPARED TO THAT ONE, WHO WILL SEPARATE THE WHEAT FROM THE CHAFF, AND BURN THE CHAFF IN FIRE THAT NEVER GOES OUT.

DURING ADVENT WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT JOHN THE BAPTIST. JESUS CALLS HIM THE GREATEST BORN OF WOMAN UP TO THAT POINT IN HISTORY, AND JOHN IS TO PREPARE THE WAY FOR INCARNATION. NOW JESUS IS ALREADY AROUND – HE IS ALREADY GOD INCARNATE, GOD IN THE FLESH. BUT GOD IS NOT THROUGH BREAKING INTO OUR WORLD; HE CONTINUES TO DO SO EVEN TODAY. GOD IS CONSTANTLY PUTTING ON OUR FLESH AND BONES, AND A CONSEQUENCE OF INCARNATION IS TO DRAW US TOGETHER, TO OVERCOME THE BARRIERS THAT WE CREATE BETWEEN OURSELVES. WHEN THOSE BARRIERS ARE DOWN, GOD DWELLS IN US. AND THOSE BARRIERS COME DOWN WHEN WE FOLLOW JOHN'S COMMANDS AND SEE EACH OTHER AS PERSONS, WORTH EVERY BIT AS MUCH AS WE ARE, DESERVING OF EVERYTHING WE DESERVE, BEING RESPECTED AS MUCH AS WE DESIRE RESPECT. WHEN WE TREAT EACH OTHER AS PERSONS, GOD IS THERE, WEARING MY FLESH, WEARING YOURS.

RIGHT AFTER JOHN THREATENS THE PEOPLE WITH UNQUENCHABLE FIRE IF THEY DON'T GET WITH THE PROGRAM, THE GOSPEL PASSAGE ENDS WITH THE CURIOUS STATEMENT, “IN THIS AND MANY OTHER WAYS JOHN PREACHED THE GOOD NEWS TO THE PEOPLE.” GOOD NEWS? UNQUENCHABLE FIRE? HMM.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO OUT INTO THE DESERT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GIVE UP YOUR JOB OR WEAR CLOTHES MADE OUT OF CAMEL'S HAIR OR EAT LOCUSTS AND HONEY. OUR CHRISTIAN HISTORY IS FILLED WITH THE STORIES OF SPIRITUAL ATHLETES WHO SHAME US ALL WITH THEIR FASTING, THEIR GOOD WORKS, THEIR EXEMPLARY LIVES, AND THAT IS A GOOD THING, BECAUSE THEY REMIND US THAT WE COULD ALWAYS DO BETTER, WE COULD ALWAYS DO MORE. BUT THE ESSENTIALS ARE AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE – YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A A SPIRITUAL ATHLETE OR A ROCKET SCIENTIST. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO TO BE PART OF THE MYSTERY OF INCARNATION, TO BE PART OF GOD BREAKING INTO THE WORLD, IS TO LIVE THE FACT THAT GOD IS ALREADY IN YOU AND AND IN YOUR NEIGHBOR. WHEN YOU DO THIS, THAT'S THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, THAT IS WHAT JOHN FORETOLD, WHAT JESUS CAME TO BUILD, AND THAT IS ALREADY IN OUR MIDST.

Second Sunday of Advent, cycle C

LUKE 3:1-6

THIS WEEK THE NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER CAME OUT WITH AN EDITORIAL THAT SAID THAT IT WAS TIME FOR WOMEN PRIESTS. THE REASONS GIVEN WERE MANY, BUT ONE WAS THAT “NO ONE” COULD SAY WHETHER A PERSON HAD RECEIVED A CALL TO THE PRIESTHOOD, AND TO SAY THAT ANATOMY WAS SOMEHOW A BARRIER WAS TO LIMIT THE POWER OF GOD. THE EDITORIAL WENT ON TO SAY THAT “THE MAJORITY” OF THE FAITHFUL SUPPORT THE ORDINATION OF WOMEN.

IN 1996, 27% OF THE POPULATION FELT THAT SAME SEX MARRIAGE SHOULD BE LEGALIZED. IN 2012, 49% FELT THAT WAY.

RECENTLY WHEN THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION INSISTED THAT HEALTH INSURANCE COVER ARTIFICIAL BIRTH CONTROL AND THE MORNING AFTER PILL, WHICH IS BASICALLY ABORTION, 39% OF CATHOLICS AGREED WITH THAT POSITION; 56% AGREED WITH THE BISHOPS, WHO CAME OUT STRONGLY AGAINST THIS PROVISION. ABOUT 33% OF PEOPLE WHO CALL THEMSELVES CATHOLIC FEEL THAT ABORTION IS MORALLY ACCEPTABLE IN SOME SITUATIONS. AND IN ANOTHER POLL, 55% OF PEOPLE IDENTIFYING THEMSELVES AS CATHOLICS FELT THAT THERE WERE CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN ASSISTED SUICIDE WAS OK.

WE AMERICANS PRIDE OURSELVES ON OUR INDEPENDENCE, AND WE AREN'T ABOUT TO LET ANYONE TELL US WHAT TO BELIEVE – CATHOLICS INCLUDED, APPARENTLY. NOW I AM A HARD-CORE CATHOLIC, AND EVEN I HAVE SYMPATHY FOR THE POSITIONS ON THESE ISSUES WHICH GO AGAINST THE CLEAR TEACHING OF THE CHURCH. THAT DOESN'T MEAN I AGREE WITH THEM, BUT I CAN SEE WHERE THE CHURCH'S POSITION CAN CAUSE SOME PEOPLE PAIN.

IN TODAY'S GOSPEL, YOU MIGHT BE STRUCK BY THE BEGINNING; “IN THE FIFTEENTH YEAR OF THE REIGN OF TIBERIUS CAESAR....” WHY DID LUKE GO TO SO MUCH TROUBLE TO PIN DOWN THE TIME? DOES IT ADD ANYTHING TO THE STATEMENT ABOUT TIBERIUS TO THROW IN ALL THAT OTHER STUFF ABOUT TETRARCHS AND GOVERNORS AND KINGS AND HIGH PRIESTS? IF YOU KNOW WHEN TIBERIUS RULED, YOU HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION YOU NEED, DON'T YOU?

BUT I THINK LUKE IS NOT JUST TELLING US WHEN THIS ALL HAPPENED; HE IS SAYING THAT DESPITE ALL THESE PEOPLE IN POWERFUL POSITIONS, BOTH CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS, THE WORD OF GOD DID NOT GO TO THEM; INSTEAD, IT WENT TO THE WILDERNESS AND SOUGHT OUT JOHN THE BAPTIST. AND IN THE SCRIPTURES WE READ ABOUT VAST CROWDS THAT FOLLOWED JOHN. THERE MAY HAVE BEEN CROWDS OUT THERE LISTENING TO HIM, BUT IF IT'S ANYTHING LIKE TODAY, MOST PEOPLE JUST WENT ON ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS. THE SAME WAS TRUE OF JESUS; CROWDS FOLLOWED HIM, BUT AS WE CAN SEE FROM THE STORY OF THE CRUCIFIXION, CROWDS OPPOSED HIM AS WELL.

WE MAY PRIDE OURSELVES ON OUR INDEPENDENCE OF THOUGHT, BUT THE STATISTICS ARE CLEAR; CATHOLICS THINK LIKE EVERYONE ELSE IN OUR SOCIETY. THEY ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO AGREE WITH BARACK OBAMA OR JOE BIDEN THAN WITH CARDINAL DOLAN. AND YOUNG CATHOLICS ESPECIALLY, IF THEY STILL HAVE ANY ATTACHMENT AT ALL TO THE CHURCH, ARE LIKELY TO EXPLAIN THEIR SO-CALLED ENLIGHTENED ATTITUDES ABOUT SAME SEX MARRIAGE, ABORTION, ASSISTED SUICIDE, ORDINATION OF WOMEN – ATTITUDES WHICH ARE DIAMETRICALLY APPOSED TO WHAT THE CHURCH TEACHES – BY SAYING THAT JESUS WOULD AGREE WITH THEIR POSITION. WHY? BECAUSE HE HAS A SOFT HEART; HE HAS SYMPATHY FOR PEOPLE GOING THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES; HE WOULD NEVER AGREE WITH A CHURCH THAT TAUGHT THINGS THAT MIGHT CAUSE ANYONE PAIN. JESUS WAS ALL ABOUT FORGIVENESS, FINDING THE LOST SHEEP, EATING WITH SINNERS, TAKING SIDES AGAINST AUTHORITIES, BEING INCLUSIVE.

BUT IS THAT THE REAL JESUS? IT'S PART OF HIM,THAT'S FOR SURE. BUT HE IS ALSO THE ONE WHO SAID, “LISTEN TO THE PHARISEES AND THE SCRIBES, BECAUSE THEY SIT ON THE SEAT OF MOSES; BUT DO NOT DO WHAT THEY DO.” AND HE SAID, “FOR TRULY I SAY TO YOU, UNTIL HEAVEN AND EARTH PASS AWAY, NOT THE SMALLEST LETTER OR STROKE SHALL PASS FROM THE LAW UNTIL ALL IS ACCOMPLISHED.” AND HE SAID, “UPON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH, AND THE GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT.” AND HE SAID, “WHATSOEVER YOU BIND ON EARTH SHALL BE BOUND IN HEAVEN, AND WHAT YOU LOOSE ON EARTH SHALL BE LOOSED IN HEAVEN.”

THERE WAS AN INTERESTING ANSWER TO THE EDITORIAL OF THE NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER. THE WRITER SAID, “IF WOMEN WHO WANT TO BE PRIESTS BELIEVE THAT THE CHURCH IS WRONG IN ITS REASONED POSITION WHICH IT HAS HELD FOR 2000 YEARS, THEN WHY DESIRE TO BECOME CATHOLIC PRIESTS? IF THE CHURCH IS WRONG ABOUT THIS, IT'S PROBABLY WRONG ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS, AND MAYBE IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR THOSE WOMEN TO FIND A CHURCH THAT DOES ORDAIN WOMEN TO THE PRIESTHOOD, OR THE MINISTRY. AFTER ALL, THERE ARE SEVERAL, INCLUDING THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH. BUT IF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS THE TRUE CHURCH FOUNDED BY CHRIST AND PROTECTED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, THEN WHAT THE CHURCH TEACHES IS THE TEACHING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND IF THAT'S THE CASE, IF YOU WANT TO BE A CATHOLIC, GET ON BOARD.

THE PEOPLE WHO LISTENED TO JOHN THE BAPTIST WERE THE REAL INDEPENDENT THINKERS. WHEN THEY LISTENED TO HIM, THEY KNEW IN THEIR HEARTS THAT HE HAD THE WORD OF GOD. SOMETIMES THE WORD WAS DIFFICULT TO HEAR – JOHN CONDEMNED HEROD FOR MARRYING HIS BROTHER'S WIFE, WHICH LED TO HIS EXECUTION. A MODERN CATHOLIC WOULD SAY, “WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? THE BROTHER HAD DIED. SO WHAT IF GOD'S LAW SAID OTHERWISE? WHY SHOULD HEROD AND HERODIAS HAVE TO SUFFER BECAUSE OF A LAW?” JOHN INSISTED ON OBEDIENCE TO THE LAW. HE TOLD SOLDIERS TO BE CONTENT WITH THEIR PAY, TAX COLLECTORS TO ONLY COLLECT WHAT THEY WERE ENTITLED TO – THESE WERE RULES HE WAS LAYING DOWN. WE MODERN PEOPLE HAVE AN IDEA THAT THE EARLY CHRISTIANS, INDEED, EARLY CHRISTIANITY, OVERTHREW THE LAW. BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO READ MUCH OF THE NEW TESTAMENT BEFORE YOU REALIZE THAT THE ESSENCE OF THE LAW WAS STILL BEING PREACHED BY PETER, PAUL, AND THE OTHER EARLY LEADERS.

JEWISH LAW HAD ITS ABUSES, BUT IF ANYTHING THE REAL ABUSE WAS USUALLY TO TAKE THE WORD OF GOD AND THINK THROUGH HOW IT COULD BE APPLIED TO EVERY SITUATION IMAGINABLE; AND SOMETIMES THAT SOUNDED SILLY. THE FIRST CHRISTIANS DID NOT THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATHWATER, BUT INSTEAD, SAW THAT THERE WAS A CERTAIN CORE OF MORAL BEHAVIOR THAT EXISTED IN JEWISH LAW. THIS THEY KEPT.

IF YOU ARE A MODERN CATHOLIC AND YOU THINK THAT THE TEACHINGS OF THE CHURCH ARE JUST THE RAMBLINGS OF OLD MEN IN LONG ROBES TRYING TO MAKE LIFE DIFFICULT, THE MOST LIKELY THING IS THAT YOU HAVEN'T TAKEN THE TIME TO LEARN WHY THE CHURCH TEACHES WHAT IT TEACHES. IN THE YEAR OF THE FAITH PROCLAIMED BY OUR HOLY FATHER, IT IS AN EXCELLENT TIME TO STUDY THESE ISSUES. YOUR CHOICE IS TO BECOME AN INDEPENDENT THINKER AND BEGIN WITH THE WORD OF GOD, OR TO GO ALONG WITH WHATEVER THE PREVAILING OPINION IS.

GOD DOES NOT CHANGE, AND HIS TEACHINGS DON'T CHANGE.

First Sunday of Advent, cycle C

LUKE 21:25-28, 34-36

WHEN I WAS A LITTLE KID, IT WAS ALWAYS EXCITING ON CHRISTMAS MORNING WHEN MY GRANDPARENTS WOULD COME TO OUR HOUSE WITH ARMLOADS OF GIFTS. MY GRANDMOTHER'S FAVORITE HOLIDAY WAS CHRISTMAS, AND EVEN THOUGH SHE AND GRANDPA DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY, THEY REALLY SPLURGED ON CHRISTMAS. MY PARENTS WOULD ALWAYS GET US ONE THING WE HAD ASKED FOR, TOGETHER WITH A LOT OF SOCKS AND UNDERWEAR. BUT MY GRANDPARENTS WOULD BRING SURPRISES, THINGS WE HADN'T EVEN KNOWN WE WANTED. I STILL REMEMBER THOSE MORNINGS.

TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF THE CHURCH'S CALENDAR, AND YOU WILL NOTICE THAT THE READINGS TELL US ABOUT THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS. THERE SEEM TO BE TWO UNHEALTHY WAYS OF DEALING WITH THE SECOND COMING. ONE IS TO OBSESS ABOUT IT, LOOK FOR HIDDEN CODES, READ THE EVENTS DESCRIBED IN SCRIPTURE INTO WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW – AND MAYBE SIT ON TOP OF A MOUNTAIN IN THE HOLY LAND ON A CERTAIN DAY, WAITING FOR JESUS TO COME OUT OF THE SKY LEADING A TROOP OF ANGELS. THE SEVENTH DAY ADVENTISTS AND THE JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES WERE FOUNDED BY PEOPLE WHO HAD FIGURED OUT WHEN JESUS WOULD COME AGAIN. PEOPLE HAVE DONE THAT, AND THEY KEEP DOING IT. IN THE YEAR ONE THOUSAND THERE WAS ACTUALLY A SORT OF DEPRESSION IN EUROPE, SINCE SO MANY PEOPLE BELIEVED THE WORLD WOULD END THAT THEY STOPPED WORKING. AND IN THE YEAR 2000, IT WASN'T QUITE AS BAD, BUT STILL THERE WERE THOSE WHO JUST KNEW THAT THIS WOULD BE THE DATE WHEN THINGS WOULD CHANGE FOREVER.

AND YET EVEN JESUS TOLD US THAT HE DIDN'T KNOW WHEN THESE THINGS WOULD HAPPEN, ONLY THE FATHER.

THE OTHER UNHEALTHY WAY TO DEAL WITH THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS IS TO IGNORE IT. AFTER ALL, IF WE DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WILL BE, WHAT POSSIBLE RELEVANCE DOES IT HAVE TO OUR DAILY LIFE? OR PERHAPS WE IGNORE THIS BECAUSE IT IS FRIGHTENING AND THREATENS OUR COMFORTABLE PRESENT. IT'S EASY TO PUT OUT OF OUR MIND.

BUT I DON'T THINK JESUS MEANT US TO BE FRIGHTENED BY HIS SECOND COMING. I THINK HE WANTS US TO REMEMBER THAT NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, NO MATTER WHAT CATASTROPHES TAKE PLACE, IN THE END GOD'S PLAN WILL BE FULFILLED, AND WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART OF THAT PLAN.

ADVENT IS A REMINDER THAT WE LIVE IN AN IN-BETWEEN TIME.

I SUSPECT ALL OF US WERE LITTLE KIDS ONCE. AND MOST OF US ARE NOW ADULTS. WHAT A DIFFERENCE THERE IS BETWEEN BEING A LITTLE KID AND BEING AN ADULT DURING THE TIME FROM THANKSGIVING TO CHRISTMAS. FOR AN ADULT, ESPECIALLY A PARENT, THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS TO OCCUPY YOUR TIME. YOU'VE GOT TO BUY GIFTS, OF COURSE; YOU'VE GOT TO DRAG OUT THE ORNAMENTS AND GET A TREE AND DECORATE THE HOUSE. YOU'VE PROBABLY GOT A FEW PARTIES TO GO TO. YOU PROBABLY HAVE A HAND IN PREPARING A GREAT FEAST FOR CHRISTMAS. IF YOU WORK IN AN OFFICE, THERE ARE PROBABLY PARTIES THERE, AND GIFTS TO BE EXCHANGED, AND IF YOU ARE A BOSS, YOU KNOW YOU WON'T GET AS MUCH WORK OUT OF YOUR EMPLOYEES DURING THIS TIME OF YEAR AS DURING THE REST – MEANING YOU WILL HAVE EVEN MORE TO DO IN RUNNING YOUR ORGANIZATION. BUT FOR A LITTLE KID, IT'S COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. THERE ARE REMINDERS OF CHRISTMAS EVERYWHERE – THE DECORATIONS, THE ADVERTISEMENTS IN THE NEWSPAPERS, THE VARIOUS SPECIAL PROGRAMS ON TELEVISION. AND BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT INVOLVED IN GETTING READY, YOU LIVE IN A HAPPY ANTICIPATION – NOT JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR GIFTS, BUT BECAUSE EVERYTHING WILL BE DIFFERENT; YOU WILL SEE RELATIVES YOU DON'T SEE VERY OFTEN AND EAT THINGS YOU DON'T USUALLY EAT. BUT YOU WILL ALSO NOTICE THAT THE BEHAVIOR OF THE ADULTS IN YOUR LIFE CHANGES, ESPECIALLY ON CHRISTMAS DAY. IT IS THE SAME WORLD, BUT IN SOME SENSE, DIFFERENT. THE WAITING IS A TIME TO BE SAVORED, THE DAYS TO BE COUNTED DOWN, THE NIGHTS TO BE OCCUPIED BY DREAMING HAPPY DREAMS.

I THINK JESUS WANTS US TO LIVE LIKE CHILDREN IN THIS IN-BETWEEN TIME. I THINK THAT'S WHY HE SAYS FOR US TO STAND TALL AND RAISE OUR HEADS; WHY HE TELLS US TO BE ALERT AND DON'T GET TRAPPED IN THE ENDLESS ROUTINE OF DAILY LIFE. BECAUSE THAT IS THE GREATEST OF DANGERS – TO LIVE AS THOUGH THERE ARE ENDLESS TOMORROWS AND TO WAKE UP ONE DAY REALIZING THAT YOU AREN'T IN THE LEAST READY FOR THE END; IT'S THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS AND YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE PRESENTS AND YOU HAVEN'T DECORATED THE TREE AND YOU DON'T HAVE A THING READY FOR CHRISTMAS DINNER.

ADVENT IS MEANT TO WAKE US UP, TO HELP US BECOME LIKE LITTLE CHILDREN ONCE AGAIN. AND JESUS TELLS US TO PRAY THAT WE WILL ESCAPE THE FATE OF THOSE WHO AREN'T PREPARED, BECAUSE IT'S EASY TO SLIP INTO A ROUTINE, TO TELL OURSELVES THAT THERE IS ALWAYS TOMORROW.

BECAUSE WHEN WE STAND BEFORE THE SON OF MAN, IF WE ESCAPE THOSE TRIBULATIONS, IT WILL BE LIKE CHRISTMAS MORNING WITH GRANDPARENTS WALKING DOWN THE SIDEWALK TO OUR FRONT DOOR, CARRYING WITH THEM ARMFULS OF SURPRISES.

IT IS A SAD THING TO SPEND TIME TRYING TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHEN JESUS WILL COME AGAIN, AND WHAT THAT MIGHT BE LIKE. IT IS EVEN SADDER TO GET LOST IN THE DAILY ROUTINE, JUST GOING FROM ONE MEAL TO ANOTHER, FROM THE JOB TO THE HOME AND BACK TO THE JOB; FROM GETTING OUT OF BED IN THE MORNING TO FALLING BACK INTO BED IN THE EVENING.

THOSE ARE SAD THINGS BECAUSE THEY ARE SO WASTEFUL OF THE IN-BETWEEN TIME WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN, THE TIME WHEN WE CAN GET READY, AS MUCH AS ANYONE CAN GET READY, FOR THE SURPRISE IN STORE FOR US WHEN THE SON OF MAN COMES TO HIS PEOPLE IN A CLOUD OF GLORY.

Feast of Christ the King, cycle B

JOHN 18:33-37

FOR MOST OF THE HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY, EVERYONE KNEW ABOUT KINGS. THERE WERE GOOD ONES AND BAD ONES, AND THE VAST MAJORITY WERE PROBABLY AVERAGE. KINGS OFTEN OBTAINED THEIR POWER BY FORCE OR SOMETIMES BY DECEPTION; AND DESPITE EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE YOUR KINGDOM WAS PASSED ON TO YOUR HEIRS, THAT PLAN WAS OFTEN RUINED BECAUSE YOUR CHILDREN FOUGHT AND KILLED EACH OTHER OVER THE KINGDOM. IN THE MIDDLE AGES, THERE WAS A MOVEMENT IN EUROPE WHICH CHRISTIANIZED THE IDEA OF KINGSHIP. FOR A TIME KINGS TRIED TO OUTDO EACH OTHER IN HOW WELL THEY MATCHED THIS IDEAL OF A CHRISTIAN KING; AND FROM THAT TIME WE HAVE A LOT OF SAINTS – STEPHEN, LOUIS, HENRY, DAVID, AND OF COURSE WENSESLAUS COME TO MIND. AND THERE WERE QUEENS AS WELL – MARGARET, OLGA, KINGA, TO NAME A FEW.

POSSIBLY BECAUSE THESE INDIVIDUALS WERE SO DEVOTED TO DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR THEIR PEOPLE, THERE AROSE THE IDEA OF THE “DIVINE RIGHT OF KINGS” WHICH HELD THAT THE KING RECEIVED HIS RIGHT TO RULE FROM GOD HIMSELF, AND TO REBEL WAS A SLAP IN GOD'S FACE. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE GLORIOUS AGE OF SAINTLY KINGS AND QUEENS RAPIDLY DIED OUT, TO BE REPLACED BY TYRANTS AND BULLIES WHO FOUGHT WARS TO GATHER MORE WEALTH FOR THEMSELVES. AND TODAY THE INSTITUTION OF KING HAS ALMOST DIED OUT IN WESTERN SOCIETY.

SO I THINK THAT WHEN WE CELEBRATE THE FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING, WE HAVE A VAGUE IDEA THAT WE ARE CELEBRATING MAYBE A PERMANENT PRESIDENT OR GOVERNOR; TO US THE WORD “KING” DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING LIKE WHAT IT MEANT WHEN THE FEAST WAS FIRST CELEBRATED.

SO WHAT DO WE TRULY CELEBRATE ON THIS FEAST DAY? CERTAINLY JESUS IN NO WAY RESEMBLED A KING; OUR GOSPEL HAS HIM STANDING HELPLESS BEFORE PILATE, A PRISONER. BUT JESUS TALKS ABOUT HIS KINGDOM BEING NOT OF THIS WORLD.

WE CHRISTIANS LIVE IN TWO WORLDS. WE ARE FULLY ENGAGED WITH THIS WORLD; MOST OF US MARRY, RAISE CHILDREN, HOLD DOWN JOBS, PAY OUR BILLS – AND UNFORTUNATELY WE FAIL AT TIMES TO ACCOMPLISH THE WORLDLY TASKS THAT WE HAVE TO DO. ALTHOUGH THERE ARE SOME AMONG US WHO FORGO MARRIAGE, OR WHO LEAVE THE WORLD TO LIVE IN A CLOISTER OR A MONASTERY, MOST OF US CHRISTIANS ARE CALLED TO BE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.

BUT WE ALSO LIVE IN THE WORLD TO COME. THIS IS THE WORLD JESUS AND THE PROPHETS TALKED ABOUT; A WORLD WHERE GOD'S PLAN HAS BEEN COMPLETED; A WORLD IN WHICH THERE IS NO MORE WAR, DISEASE, HUNGER, OR DEATH. THIS WORLD IS WHERE THE ETERNAL BANQUET TAKES PLACE, THE WEDDING PARTY TO WHICH WE WERE INVITED WHEN AT BAPTISM WE WERE GIVEN A WHITE GARMENT. IF WE ARE CHRISTIANS, WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT WORLD, AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS WORLD WILL FADE AWAY AND THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN WILL BE FULLY REALIZED, FOREVER.

WE CHRISTIANS ARE A NATION OF PRIESTS. PRIESTS ARE BRIDGE-BUILDERS, AND WE ARE CALLED TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN THE WORLD WE LIVE IN AND THE WORLD TO COME. HOW WE LIVE AND WHAT WE DO SHOULD BE BRINGING THE KINGDOM CLOSER. WHEN THE HUNGRY ARE FED, WHEN THE SICK ARE HEALED, WHEN WE BRING PEACE TO ENEMIES, WHEN FIGHT AGAINST DEATH, OPPOSING ABORTION, SO-CALLED “ASSISTED SUICIDE”, WE ARE BRINGING THE KINGDOM A LITTLE CLOSER.

WE CHRISTIANS ARE A HOLY PEOPLE. WE MAY NOT LOOK HOLY, AND WE MAY NOT EVEN THINK WE ARE PARTICULARLY HOLY, BUT AGAIN, BY VIRTUE OF OUR BAPTISM, WE HAVE BEEN SET APART FOR GOD'S PURPOSES, WHICH IS THE MEANING OF THE TERM “HOLY”. AND GOD'S PURPOSE IS TO GATHER THE NATIONS TO HIMSELF. WHEN WE WORK TOWARDS THE UNITY OF PEOPLE – OF DIFFERENT RELIGIONS, DIFFERENT RACES, DIFFERENT ETHNIC GROUPS, EVEN THE PEOPLE IN OUR WORK PLACE OR OUR HOME – WE ARE EXERCISING OUR COMMISSION AS HOLY PEOPLE.

BUT BECAUSE WE CHRISTIANS LIVE IN TWO WORLDS, THAT UNFORTUNATELY PUTS US IN A SORT OF TENSION. IT IS EASY TO BE TOO MUCH OF THIS WORLD – WHERE OUR RELIGION COMES TO THE SURFACE ON SUNDAY MORNINGS, AND THE REST OF THE TIME, WE ARE BUSY DOING ALL THE THINGS EVERYBODY DOES. IT IS EASY AS WELL TO LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND, AND LIVE IN A GHETTO OF OUR OWN MAKING. THE AMISH PEOPLE IN PENNSYLVANIA ARE SORT OF LIKE THIS. THE WORLD CONTAMINATES, THE WORLD DISTRACTS AND CARRIES WITH IT CONSTANT TEMPTATION, SO IT IS BETTER TO TURN YOUR BACK ON THE WORLD. WE HAVE MOVEMENTS IN OUR OWN CHURCH LIKE THIS. SOME GROUPS CONTINUE TO RESENT THE CHANGES IN THE CHURCH BROUGHT ABOUT BY VATICAN II – CHANGES WHICH STEMMED DIRECTLY FROM POPE JOHN XXIII EXPRESSED DESIRE FOR THE CHURCH TO RE-ENGAGE THE WORLD.

EACH OF US NEEDS TO CONSTANTLY SEEK THE RIGHT BALANCE BETWEEN THE TWO WORLDS WE LIVE IN.

THE FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING HAS AN INTERESTING HISTORY. UP UNTIL 1925, IT WAS SORT OF AN UNOFFICIAL FEAST; SOME PLACES CELEBRATED IT AND OTHERS DID NOT. IN 1925, THE POPE PROCLAIMED THIS FEAST. HE DID NOT JUST COME UP WITH THE IDEA ONE DAY; HE PLACED THE FEAST ON THE SUNDAY THE PROTESTANTS CALL “REFORMATION SUNDAY” WHICH CELEBRATES MARTIN LUTHER'S SEPARATION FROM THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. HE DID THIS, I GUESS, TO CONTRAST THE RULERSHIP OF CHRIST OVER THE FAITHFUL, AS OPPOSED TO THE PERCEIVED REBELLION OF MARTIN LUTHER . THAT FEAST, BY THE WAY, IS IN OCTOBER. AFTER VATICAN II, THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, IN ORDER TO GIVE THE FAITHFUL A MORE COMPLETE EXPOSURE TO THE BIBLE, CREATED THE CURRENT LECTIONARY – THE SCRIPTURES WHICH ARE READ ON SUNDAY AND AT THE WEEKDAY MASSES, THE SO-CALLED THREE YEAR CYCLE. THIS WAS DONE IN 1969. AFTER THAT, CATHOLICS AND SOME OF THE OLDER PROTESTANT DENOMINATIONS BEGAN TO WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE A COMMON LECTIONARY. THIS REVISED COMMON LECTIONARY, BASED CLOSELY ON THE CATHOLIC LECTIONARY, WAS ADOPTED BY MANY PROTESTANT DENOMINATIONS IN THE US AND CANADA, AND NOW IS USED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

WITH THE REVISED COMMON LECTIONARY AND THE REVISED CATHOLIC LECTIONARY, PROTESTANTS AND CATHOLICS NOW CELEBRATE THE FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING ON THE LAST SUNDAY BEFORE ADVENT. ALTHOUGH WE SHARE OTHER FEAST DAYS, SUCH AS CHRISTMAS AND EASTER, THE FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING IS THE ONLY FEAST DAY WE HAVE IN COMMON WHICH CAME INTO BEING AFTER THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION.

ALL CHRISTIANS HAVE A FOOT IN THIS WORLD AND THE OTHER IN THE WORLD TO COME. THIS IS A GREAT DAY TO REMIND OURSELVES AND OUR CHRISTIAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF OUR DUAL CITIZENSHIP, AND TO REFLECT ON WHETHER WE ARE LIVING WHERE WE SHOULD BE – BALANCED BETWEEN THE TWO WORLDS.

Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle B

MARK 14:24-32

WHENEVER WE CELEBRATE MASS TOGETHER WE MAKE CHRIST PRESENT. FIRST, HE IS PRESENT IN OUR ASSEMBLY; WHEREVER TWO OR THREE ARE GATHERED TOGETHER IN MY NAME, HE SAID, THERE I AM. SECOND, HE IS PRESENT IN THE WORD. WE BELIEVE THAT GOD IS PRESENT IN THE SCRIPTURES, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ARE PROCLAIMED. THE WORDS IN THE BIBLE ARE JUST WORDS UNTIL THEY ARE HEARD; JESUS BECOMES PRESENT IN THE WORD WHEN IT IS HEARD; WHEN WE INTERACT WITH IT. AND JESUS IS PRESENT IN THE BREAD AND WINE, OR MORE ACCURATELY, HE IS PRESENT UNDER THE APPEARANCE OF BREAD AND WINE, WHICH NO LONGER EXISTS WHEN OUR PRIEST PRONOUNCES THE WORDS OF CONSECRATION. JESUS IN HIS INFINITE LOVE FOR US, FOUND A WAY TO BE WITH US NOT IN SOME METAPHORICAL SENSE BUT PHYSICALLY PRESENT, COMPLETELY PRESENT, BODY AND SOUL PRESENT. AND FINALLY JESUS IS PRESENT IN EACH ONE OF US AS WE LEAVE THIS CELEBRATION, BECAUSE OUR INTERACTION WITH JESUS IN THE ASSEMBLY, IN THE WORD, AND IN THE EUCHARIST, TOGETHER WITH OUR BAPTISM, MAKES US OTHER CHRISTS, AND WE GO FORTH TO CARRY OUT HIS WORK IN THE WORLD, TO BUILD UP HIS KINGDOM. THAT'S WHY GOD MADE US – AS THE OLD CATECHISM SAID, HE MADE US TO KNOW, LOVE, AND SERVE HIM IN THIS WORLD, AND TO BE HAPPY WITH HIM IN THE NEXT. THAT'S WHAT JESUS DID, AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE CALLED TO DO.

IT'S NO WONDER WE CALL OUR WEEKLY EUCHARIST A CELEBRATION. WE MAY NOT FEEL LIKE WE ARE CELEBRATING, BUT WHAT COULD BE A GREATER EVENT THAN BEING IN HE PRESENCE OF THE SON OF GOD?

BUT TODAY OUR GOSPEL READINGS REMIND US OF SOMETHING ELSE; THE SON OF MAN HAS NOT YET COME TO US IN HIS GREAT TRIUMPH. BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN.

OUR ASSEMBLY IS NEVER COMPLETE. WE GO TO DIFFERENT MASSES; MANY OF OUR PARISHIONERS DON'T JOIN US AT ALL, AND OTHERS HAVE MOVED TO OTHER PARISHES. MANY PEOPLE WE LOVE, PARENTS, CHILDREN, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, DEAR FRIENDS, CANNOT BE IN OUR ASSEMBLY BECAUSE OF DISTANCE, ILLNESS, OR BECAUSE THEY HAVE REJECTED OUR COMMON FAITH.

AND WHILE IT IS TRUE THAT WE HEAR THE WORD, WE ONLY HEAR A LITTLE, JUST ENOUGH HOPEFULLY TO WHET OUR APPETITES. WE HEAR WHAT GOD MEANS TO TELL US, BUT ONLY A LITTLE BIT. AFTER WE HAVE HEARD THE WORD, THERE IS STILL A GREAT GAP BETWEEN WHAT WE KNOW AND WHAT WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT GOD'S PLAN FOR US.

WHEN WE EAT HIS BODY AND DRINK HIS BLOOD, WE ARE NOT FILLED UP, OUR THIRST IS NOT QUENCHED. IT HAS ONLY BEEN A TASTE. AND WHEN WE LEAVE THE ASSEMBLY TO DO CHRIST'S DEEDS AND SPEAK HIS WORDS IN THE WORLD, DISTRACTIONS IMMEDIATELY DRAW OUR ATTENTION AWAY FROM THESE THINGS. MOST OF US WILL BE COMPLETELY “BACK TO NORMAL” THIRTY MINUTES AFTER WE LEAVE THIS SOUL-CHANGING EVENT.

OUR WEEKLY EUCHARIST IS A CELEBRATION, BUT IT IS ALSO A TIME OF MOURNING, BECAUSE WE LONG FOR JESUS TO COME AGAIN. IF WE ARE REALLY CHRISTIANS, THERE IS SOMETHING IN US THAT KNOWS THAT WE WILL NEVER BE COMPLETE, NEVER BE HAPPY, NEVER FULFILL OUR DESTINY, UNTIL HE COMES IN TRIUMPH TO ESTABLISH HIS KINGDOM, THE NEW JERUSALEM, WHERE HE WILL BE THE LIGHT THAT NEVER GOES DARK, WHERE LIVING WATER WILL FLOW FROM THE TEMPLE.

BUT TODAY JESUS ALSO REMINDS US THAT CHRISTIANS MUST BE READY; WE MUST BE ALERT; WE MUST LOOK AROUND US FOR SIGNS OF HIS PRESENCE, SIGNS THAT HE IS WORKING IN OUR WORLD.

OUR WEEKLY MASS IS A TIME FOR REJOICING AND A TIME FOR MOURNING. BUT THE REST OF THE WEEK SHOULD BE FOR NEITHER. WHEN WE LEAVE OUR ASSEMBLY WE GO ABOUT THE DAILY TASK OF DOING CHRISTIANITY. I LIKE TO TAKE A LONG RIDE ON MY BICYCLE EVERY NOW AND THEN. IT ISN'T BECAUSE I WANT TO GO SOMEWHERE; IN FACT, I ALWAYS END UP BACK AT HOME. BUT WHEN I'M ON THE BIKE, I AM FOCUSED ON THE MOMENT. YOU'VE GOT TO WATCH OUT FOR CARS AND TRUCKS. IF YOU ARE ON A BIKE, YOU HAVE TO BE A LITTLE PARANOID, BECAUSE THERE IS ONLY ONE WINNER WHEN YOU AND A CAR TRY TO OCCUPY THE SAME SPACE. AND YOU HAVE TO LOOK OUT FOR POTHOLES AND OTHER IRREGULARITIES IN THE ROAD. SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD BARELY FEEL IN A CAR JARS YOUR BONES ON A BIKE, AND CAN KNOCK YOU FOR A LOOP. BUT YOU ARE REWARDED BY SIGHTS AND SMELLS AND SOUNDS THAT YOU ENCOUNTER ON YOUR RIDE. YOU EXPERIENCE THE BEAUTY THAT SOMEONE HAS CREATED IN HIS FRONT YARD WITH LOVING ATTENTION TO DETAIL; YOU SMELL PINE TREES, AND CHIMNEY SMOKE, AND ONCE IN A WHILE YOU MIGHT GET A WHIFF OF PIZZA AS YOU ROLL PAST A PIZZA PARLOR.

IF YOU WANT TO BE A CHRISTIAN, IT'S SORT OF THE SAME THING. YOU NEED TO FOCUS. YOU NEED TO BE ALERT TO THOSE TEMPTATIONS WHICH CAN THROW YOU OFF STRIDE, THOSE MOMENTS WHEN YOU REACT WITH ANGER; THOSE TRAPS OF SELFISHNESS, THOSE TIMES WHEN WE KNOW WE SHOULD BE DOING SOMETHING BUT WE ARE TOO LAZY TO DO IT. LIVING IN THE WORLD IS FULL OF POTHOLES AND TRAFFIC. BEING A CHRISTIAN MEANS THAT WE CULTIVATE A SENSITIVITY TO WHAT KEEPS US FROM DOING WHAT GOD WANTS US TO DO – WE HAVE TO BECOME A LITTLE PARANOID, WE HAVE TO KNOW THAT THE WORLD, THE FLESH, AND DEVIL CONSPIRE TO KEEP US FROM WHAT GOD WANTS OF US.

AND THERE ARE REWARDS. IT'S FUNNY, BUT WHEN YOU BEGIN TO LIVE AS A CHRISTIAN, YOU FIND JOY. WHEN YOU OFFER A COMPLEMENT TO SOMEONE WHO HAS DONE YOU A SERVICE, YOU ARE REWARDED. WHEN YOU EXTEND YOURSELF FOR AN ELDERLY FRIEND OR RELATIVE WHO CAN'T GET AROUND ANY MORE, YOU FIND JOY AS YOU GIVE JOY. AND WHEN YOU DO YOUR TASKS AS WELL AS YOU CAN BECAUSE YOU ARE ANOTHER CHRIST, AND ONLY YOUR BEST IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR GOD, YOU FIND JOY IN EVERYTHING YOU DO, FROM YOUR OCCUPATION, TO EVEN THE MOST MENIAL TASKS; NOTHING A HUMAN BEING CAN DO IS TOO SMALL, TOO INSIGNIFICANT, TO BE TAKEN UP INTO GOD'S PLAN. FINDING JOY IN BEING A CHRISTIAN SHOULD BE NO SURPRISE. JESUS TOLD US THAT HIS JOY WOULD BE IN US, AND OUR JOY WOULD BE COMPLETE.

BEING A CHRISTIAN TAKES PLACE IN THE VAST EMPTINESS BETWEEN THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS AND THE MOMENT WHEN HE COMES AGAIN. IT TAKES PLACE NOT WHEN WE CELEBRATE THE PRESENCE OF JESUS, OR WHEN WE MOURN THAT HIS KINGDOM IS STILL FAR FROM NOW. IT TAKES PLACE BETWEEN OUR WEEKLY CELEBRATION AS WE GO ABOUT OUR ORDINARY LIVES.

TODAY LET US REMIND OURSELVES THAT TO BE CHRISTIAN IS AN IDENTITY, YES, BUT ALSO A PROCESS, A WAY OF LIFE, AND REQUIRES CONSCIOUS EFFORT ON OUR PARTS. OUR MASS WHERE WE ENCOUNTER CHRIST IS WHAT GETS US FROM ONE WEEKEND TO THE NEXT IN THIS LONG JOURNEY.

Thirty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle B

Mark 12:38-44

A YOUNG LADY GAVE A PICTURE OF HERSELF TO HER BOYFRIEND. ON THE BACK SHE WROTE, “DEAR JOHNNIE; I LOVE YOU COMPLETELY AND I AM YOURS FOREVER. WITH THIS PICTURE I GIVE YOU MY WHOLE HEART. SIGNED, JANIE. PS. IF WE EVER BREAK UP, I WANT THIS PICTURE BACK.”

UNLIKE THE YOUNG LADY IN THE STORY, THE FIRST READING AND THE GOSPEL TELL US ABOUT TWO WIDOWS WHO WERE TOTALLY COMMITTED AND PUT ALL THEIR TRUST IN GOD. THE FIRST WIDOW WAS REWARDED WITH A MIRACULOUS SOURCE OF FLOUR AND OIL. WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE SECOND. BUT VERY OFTEN PEOPLE INTERPRET THIS GOSPEL TO MEAN THAT GOD DOESN'T REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT WE GIVE UNLESS IT HURTS. WE CALL IT “SACRIFICIAL GIVING”, AND THAT HAS BECOME ENSHRINED IN OUR VOCABULARY.

I THINK ALL OF US FEEL A LITTLE GUILTY WHEN WE REALIZE THAT WE WOULD PROBABLY NEVER GIVE WHAT WE HAD TO LIVE ON; NONE OF US ARE WILLING TO PUT COMPLETE TRUST IN GOD'S PROVIDENCE. DURING THE EARLY DAYS OF THE FRANCISCAN ORDER, CHURCH AUTHORITIES BECAME ALARMED OVER THE PRESENCE OF WANDERING FRANCISCAN BEGGARS WHO WERE LITERALLY PUTTING ALL THEIR TRUST IN GOD. SOME OF THEM WERE DYING OF STARVATION AND OTHERS WERE OBVIOUSLY APPROACHING THAT POINT, AND ROME ISSUED AN EDICT THAT FRANCISCANS, LIKE OTHER ORDERS, HAD TO LIVE COMMUNALLY AND SUPPORT THEMSELVES. AND THEY DO, TO THIS DAY.

BUT THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT THIS GOSPEL THAT WE SORT OF GLIDE OVER. AT THE BEGINNING, JESUS TELLS HIS DISCIPLES TO “BEWARE OF THE SCRIBES”. HE CONDEMNS THEM FOR THEIR PRIDE, BUT ALSO BECAUSE THEY “DEVOUR THE HOUSES OF WIDOWS AND AS A PRETEXT, RECITE LENGTHY PRAYERS.” SCRIBES WERE THE PEOPLE WHO COPIED THE SACRED WRITINGS OF THE JEWS. BECAUSE THEY KNEW THE SCRIPTURES, USUALLY BETTER THAN THE PHARISEES OR THE PRIESTS, THEY BECAME UNOFFICIAL TEACHERS, AND WHEN PEOPLE WANTED TO KNOW HOW JEWISH LAW APPLIED TO A PARTICULAR SITUATION, THEY WOULD OFTEN GO TO THE SCRIBE. SCRIBES HAD AN ELABORATE SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COPY WAS IDENTICAL TO THE ORIGINAL; AFTER A DAY'S WORK COPYING, THE TEXT WAS STUDIED BY TWO OTHER SCRIBES. IF THERE WERE ANY AMBIGUITIES, THE WHOLE EFFORT WAS DESTROYED AND THE SCRIBE HAD TO START OVER AGAIN. SO SCRIBES WERE TRUSTED MORE THAN PRIESTS AND PHARISEES AS WELL, AND FUNCTIONED AS LAWYERS, JUDGES, AND TEACHERS.

WIDOWS IN JESUS' TIME WERE AT THE VERY LOW END OF THE SOCIAL SPECTRUM. THE HEBREW WORD FOR WIDOW MEANS “SILENT ONE”. BECAUSE THEY WERE WOMEN, THEY HAD NO VOICE; AND BECAUSE THEY WERE WIDOWS, THEY HAD NO ONE TO SPEAK FOR THEM. THEY COULD TURN TO THEIR CHILDREN OR TO RELATIVES FOR HELP, BUT THERE WERE MANY WHO HAD NO RESOURCES. THE TEMPLE WAS THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM. A WIDOW WAS ENTITLED TO RECEIVE ENOUGH TO LIVE ON FROM THE TEMPLE TREASURY. HOWEVER, SOME WIDOWS WHO HAD NO CHILDREN OR RELATIVES, MIGHT VERY WELL BE LEFT OWNING A HOME, USUALLY A ONE ROOMED BUILDING WITH A DIRT FLOOR. THESE WERE THE ONES PREYED UPON BY SOME OF THE SCRIBES AND OTHER RELIGIOUS LEADERS. YOU CAN IMAGINE THE ARGUMENT: “THE TEMPLE TREASURY IS MEANT TO SUPPORT THE POOR; YOU HAVE A HOME, SO YOU AREN'T POOR. YOU NEED TO SELL IT FIRST, AND DONATE THE MONEY TO THE TEMPLE. THEN YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR CHARITY. AND THINK OF THE ADDED BENEFIT! YOU WILL HAVE OUR PRAYERS FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!” IF YOU ARE ILLITERATE, ALL ALONE IN THE WORLD, AND YOU FEEL LIKE GOD REALLY HAS IT IN FOR YOU, THIS SOUNDS LIKE A PRETTY GOOD DEAL.

SO THAT IS THE CONTEXT IN WHICH WE READ JESUS' STORY OF THE WIDOW. NOTICE HE DOESN'T PRAISE HER, HE MERELY OBSERVES. “LOOK AT THAT POOR WIDOW,” HE SAYS. “SHE IS GIVING AWAY ALL SHE HAS TO LIVE ON BECAUSE OF HOW SHE'S BEEN BRAINWASHED BY THE SCRIBES.”

A LOT OF US IDENTIFY WITH THE WIDOW, AND FEEL THAT WE ARE COMING UP SHORT. WE GIVE FROM OUR ABUNDANCE, NOT FROM OUR NEED. BUT DO WE EVER IDENTIFY WITH THE SCRIBES? HOW ABOUT THAT GREAT PHRASE, “LET THE BUYER BEWARE!” WE ARE CONSTANTLY BOMBARDED IN OUR NATION BY LESS-THAN-TRUE MESSAGES. ORGANIC COFFEE WHICH ISN'T REALLY; HIDDEN FEES WHEN WE BUY PRACTICALLY ANYTHING; POLITICAL ADDS THAT ACCUSE THE OTHER GUY OF EVEN MURDER, LET ALONE ALL THE OTHER KINDS OF VENALITY YOU CAN IMAGINE. OR POLITICAL ADDS THAT MAKE PROMISES NO ONE EXPECTS WILL BE KEPT, INCLUDING THE CANDIDATE. OR MEASUREMENT OF THE SUCCESS OF A FAITH FORMATION PROGRAM BY THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS ENROLLED, RATHER THAN BY HOW MANY NEW CHURCH-GOING CHURCH-PARTICIPATING YOUNG PEOPLE ARE TURNED OUT. WE LIE TO EACH OTHER, AND WE LIE TO OURSELVES ALL THE TIME.
I REMEMBER MANY YEARS AGO MY FAMILY AND I WERE CAMPING IN THE PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH COUNTRY. AS WE DROVE DOWN A COUNTRY ROAD, THERE WAS A YOUNG MAN WHO WAS OBVIOUSLY AMISH, BY HIS DRESS, SELLING FRESH CORN. I GOT OUT TO BUY SOME. “WAS THAT JUST PICKED THIS MORNING?” I ASKED. HE LOOKED AT ME FOR A MOMENT. “NO, WE PICKED IT YESTERDAY IN THE AFTERNOON.” HE REPLIED. HE NEVER HAD TO SAY THAT; HE COULD HAVE NODDED HIS HEAD TO MY QUESTION OR PRETENDED HE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND. I WASN'T REALLY THAT INTERESTED IN THE ANSWER, ANYWAY. BUT HIS WAY OF LIFE WAS TO BE SCRUPULOUSLY HONEST, EVEN IF IT MEANT THAT HE MIGHT LOSE A SALE.

WE CHRISTIANS ARE LIKE OTHER PEOPLE; IF THERE IS A BARGAIN, WE TAKE IT; AND IF THERE IS A CHANCE TO MAKE A LITTLE EXTRA MONEY HONESTLY, WE AREN'T AGAINST THAT. BUT WE ARE LIKE OTHER PEOPLE IN ANOTHER WAY AS WELL; WE CAN CONVINCE OURSELVES THAT WE ARE BLAMELESS; WE ALL BELIEVE OUR OWN LIES. THE SCRIBES WHO DEVOURED THE HOUSES OF THE WIDOWS DID NOT BELIEVE THEY WERE DOING ANYTHING WRONG, AND IN FACT EVERYTHING THEY DID WAS PERFECTLY LEGAL. BUT JESUS CALLS HIS PEOPLE TO A HIGHER STANDARD. AND IT IS OUR DUTY, EVERY NOW AND THEN, TO ASK WHETHER WE, IN ANY SENSE, ARE “DEVOURING THE HOUSES OF WIDOWS” IN OUR DEALINGS WITH OTHER PEOPLE? OR ARE WE CONSTANTLY STRIVING TO BE COMPLETELY HONEST AND OPEN--IN FACT, AS WE DEAL WITH OTHER PEOPLE, ARE WE LOOKING OUT FOR THEIR WELFARE WITH AS MUCH ATTENTION AS WE LOOK OUT FOR OUR OWN?

GENEROSITY IS A WONDERFUL THING, AND WE COULDN'T SURVIVE AS A CHURCH WITHOUT THE GENEROSITY OF OUR PEOPLE. AND THERE ARE MANY PASSAGES IN SCRIPTURE WHICH SUPPORT A GENEROUS SPIRIT. BUT MAYBE THE STORY OF THE WIDOW WHO GIVES EVERYTHING SHE HAS TO THE TEMPLE TREASURY IS REALLY A CAUTIONARY TALE ABOUT PEOPLE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OTHER PEOPLE. AND THEY WILL RECEIVE A VERY SEVERE CONDEMNATION.