First Sunday of Lent, cycle A

MATTHEW 4:1-11

IN THE FIRST READING WE HEARD THAT ANCIENT STORY OF WHEN OUR FIRST PARENTS WERE TEMPTED. WHAT WAS THEIR TEMPTATION? TO BE LIKE GOD. THOSE WERE THE WORDS OF THE SERPENT – IF YOU EAT OF THE FRUIT OF THAT TREE, YOU WILL BE LIKE GOD – THAT'S WHAT GOD IS AFRAID OF. AND WE KNOW THE REST – BEFORE THEY ATE THE FRUIT, IT SAYS THEY WERE NAKED AND NOT ASHAMED; BUT AFTERWARD, THEY COULDN'T WAIT TO COVER THEMSELVES UP. THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS ORIGINAL SIN DOES TO US; IT CLOSES US OFF FROM EACH OTHER; EVEN FOR A HUSBAND AND WIFE IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO BE FULLY OPEN TO EACH OTHER. IN THE GOSPEL, PERHAPS THE TEMPTATION IS THE OPPOSITE. AT HIS BAPTISM AND PROBABLY LONG BEFORE, JESUS KNEW HE WAS THE SON OF GOD. AND NOW THE DEVIL COMES ALONG AND TEMPTS HIM; CAN YOU REALLY BE FULLY HUMAN? BECAUSE ONLY IF YOU ARE FULLY HUMAN AND SUFFER AND DIE CAN YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR ALL THESE PEOPLE WHO STILL SUFFER FROM THE SIN OF THE FIRST PARENTS.

SOMETIMES WE HAVE A HARD TIME BELIEVING THAT JESUS COULD EVER BE TEMPTED. AFTER ALL, HE IS GOD. BUT HE WAS HUMAN AS WELL, AND TO BE HUMAN MEANS THAT WE CAN BE TEMPTED. IT IS ROOTED IN HUMAN NATURE; BEING MADE OF FLESH AND BLOOD, WE ARE ALWAYS INCOMPLETE IN THIS LIFE; THERE ARE ALWAYS THINGS WE DESIRE, NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE ALREADY HAVE. IT MAY NOT BE MATERIAL THINGS; IT MIGHT BE POWER OR KNOWLEDGE OR LOVE; SOME OF US WOULD LIKE TO HAVE OUR YOUTH BACK; OTHERS WOULD ASK FOR GOOD HEALTH. BUT BEING HUMAN MEANS WE ARE NEVER QUITE WHERE WE WANT TO BE, AND IT IS IN THIS TENSION THAT TEMPTATION COMES.

40 DAYS BEFORE THIS GOSPEL PASSAGE, JESUS HAD BEEN BAPTIZED AND HAD HEARD THE FATHER'S VOICE, PROCLAIMING THAT HE WAS BELOVED. NOW, AT THE END OF HIS FAST, HE IS IN THE DESERT, HUNGRY AND TIRED; HE IS ABOUT TO BEGIN HIS MISSION. AND ITS INTERESTING THAT THE TEMPTATIONS OF SATAN ARE TO DO THINGS WHICH ARE VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT JESUS WOULD DO DURING HIS PUBLIC MINISTRY. CAN HE TURN STONES INTO BREAD, AS SATAN TELLS HIM TO? WELL, HE MULTIPLIED BREAD, NOT TOO DIFFERENT. CAN HE LEAP OFF A TOWER AND LET GOD RESCUE HIM FROM CERTAIN DEATH? CAN HE DEMONSTRATE HIS DIVINITY BY DOING SPECTACULAR ACTS OF POWER? WELL, HE STILLED THE SEA, CURSED THE FIG TREE, RAISED DEAD PEOPLE – A LOT OF PUBLIC DEEDS WHICH CONVINCED PEOPLE WHO SAW THEM. AND HE NOT ONLY DEFIED DEATH, HE CONQUERED IT ON THE CROSS. AND WHAT ABOUT HAVING ALL THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH SUBJECTED TO HIM? THAT PROCESS IS STILL GOING ON, BUT CERTAINLY THE REACH OF CHRISTIANITY IS WORLD – WIDE AND HAS GIVEN RISE NOT ONLY TO WESTERN CIVILIZATION BUT HAS AFFECTED MOST OTHER CIVILIZATIONS AS WELL.

SO IF JESUS EVENTUALLY DOES ALL THE THINGS HE WAS TEMPTED TO DO – EVEN MORE – WHAT WERE THE TEMPTATIONS? AND HOW DOES IT RELATE TO YOU AND I.

MOST OF US HAVE HAD MOMENTS WHEN WE REALLY, REALLY WANTED GOD TO DO SOMETHING FOR US. SOMETHING WAS GOING TO HAPPEN THAT WAS TOTALLY OUT OF OUR CONTROL. SURELY, IF WE ARE “BELOVED” GOD WILL ANSWER OUR PRAYER. BUT JESUS WAS BELOVED, AND COULD HAVE CALLED ON HIS FATHER AT ANY TIME TO EASE HIS HUNGER. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN OVER IN A SECOND, AND CERTAINLY TO TURN STONES INTO BREAD AND THEN FINALLY EAT WOULDN'T EVEN HAVE BEEN SINFUL. BUT JESUS KNOWS THAT THE PURPOSE OF PRAYER IS NOT TO GET WHAT YOU WANT, BUT FIRST OF ALL, TO DEVELOP YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. FOR HIM, AND IT SHOULD BE FOR US, THERE ARE MORE IMPORTANT REASONS TO COMMUNICATE WITH GOD THAN ASKING HIM FOR STUFF. OUR PRAYER SHOULD ALWAYS TAKE INTO ACCOUNT JESUS' OWN WORDS: SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN AND ALL THE REST WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU.

AND I THINK WE'VE ALL HAD MOMENTS WHEN WE HAD A DIFFICULT TASK AHEAD, AND WOULD HAVE LIKED A SHORT CUT TO GET IT DONE. WE ALL HAVE THOSE MOMENTS WHEN WE DREAM OF BEING SUPERMAN OR WONDER WOMAN, WHERE WE OVERCOME THE LIMITATIONS OF OUR BODIES AND MINDS. I HAVE INTERESTING FANTASIES WHENEVER WE HAVE A MASSIVE SNOW STORM. MAYBE I SHOULD PUT HEATING COILS IN THE DRIVEWAY. MAYBE I SHOULD GO OUT AND BUY ONE OF THOSE HUGE SNOWBLOWERS THAT CAN THROW THE SNOW SO FAR THAT IT NEVER FALLS BACK ON THE DRIVEWAY. MAYBE MY GRANDCHILDREN WILL COME OVER AND DO THE WORK FOR ME; AFTER ALL, THEY ARE YOUNG AND HEALTHY AND I AM OLD. BUT SOMEHOW I ALWAYS END UP OUT THERE CLEARING MY DRIVEWAY WITH MY SHOVEL AND BUDGET SNOW BLOWER. IF JESUS HAD JUMPED OFF THE TEMPLE AND BEEN CAUGHT BY ANGELS, ESPECIALLY RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BUSY DAY, HE WOULD NEVER HAVE TO ROUND UP TWELVE PEASANTS FROM GALILEE WHO NEVER QUITE SEEMED TO UNDERSTAND HIS MESSAGE. IF THE CITIZENS OF JERUSALEM HAD WATCHED THAT KIND OF MIRACLE, HE'D HAVE A TREMENDOUS JUMP START ON CONVERTING THE WORLD. BUT HE TEACHES US THAT THE ONLY WAY TO GO ABOUT CHANGING THE WORLD SO THAT GOD'S REIGN COMES IS BY WORKING WITH ONE PERSON AT A TIME.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN DRIVING DOWN LONGMEADOW STREET DURING RUSH HOUR, CREEPING ALONG AT TWO OR THREE MILES AN HOUR? DON'T YOU WISH THERE WAS SOME LAW THAT KEPT OTHER PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS WHEN YOU WERE IN A HURRY? I'VE WISHED THAT. OR DON'T YOU SOMETIMES WISH YOU COULD BE IN CHARGE OF THIS COUNTRY OR OUR CHURCH FOR A WHILE, JUST YOU, SO THAT YOU COULD APPLY COMMON SENSE TO OUR PROBLEMS AND GET THEM ALL FIXED? I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT MUST FEEL THAT WAY BECAUSE THEY ARE ALWAYS TELLING ME WHAT SHOULD BE DONE. IF ONLY THEY COULD TELL THE PRESIDENT OR THE BISHOP THEIR IDEAS …

BUT JESUS DOESN'T GO FOR THAT SHORT CUT EITHER. THE KINGDOM OF GOD HAS TO COME ON ITS' OWN TERMS AND IN ITS' OWN TIME. AND WE KNOW THE WAY IT HAS TO COME; EACH OF US HAS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE KINGDOM IS REALIZED IN OURSELVES AND IN WHAT WE CAN CONTROL, WHICH IS VERY LITTLE. REMEMBER THE MAN WHO WENT AWAY SADDENED BECAUSE HE WAS VERY RICH AND HAD MANY POSSESSIONS? THAT WAS JESUS' CHALLENGE TO HIM – IF YOU'VE REALLY KEPT THE COMMANDMENTS, THEN YOU ARE IN THE KINGDOM, AND SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM CHOOSING BETWEEN JESUS AND YOUR POSSESSIONS.

JESUS PROVES BY HIS RESPONSES TO SATAN AND BY HIS REFUSAL TO TAKE SHORT CUTS THAT HE IS FULLY HUMAN; NOT JUST A GOD WEARING A MEAT COSTUME. AND HE PROVES THAT HE CAN OVERCOME TEMPTATION, THAT HE CAN WIN HIS STRUGGLES WITH EVIL. AND IF HE CAN DO IT, SO CAN WE.

Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle A

MATTHEW 6:24-34

ONE OF MY FAVORITE COMICS IS BABY BLUES, WHICH APPEARS IN THE REPUBLICAN EVERY DAY. IT'S ABOUT A FAMILY WITH THREE CHILDREN, AND I THINK I LIKE IT BECAUSE THE OLDEST CHILD, A VERY PRECOCIOUS LITTLE GIRL, AND THE MIDDLE CHILD, A BOY WHO IS ALWAYS GETTING IN TROUBLE AND BEING MANIPULATED BY HIS SISTER, REMIND ME OF MY TWO YOUNGEST CHILDREN WHEN THEY WERE THAT AGE. LAST WEEK THERE WAS A CARTOON FOCUSED ON THE PARENTS, THOUGH. THE HUSBAND IS WAKING UP AND NOTICES HIS WIFE SITTING UPRIGHT IN BED WITH A FROWN ON HER FACE. “HOW COME YOU'RE STILL AWAKE?” HE ASKS. SHE REPLIES, “I'M PAYING MY WORRY DUES. IF I WORRY ENOUGH ABOUT SOMETHING BAD, THEN IT TENDS NOT TO HAPPEN. BUT IF I DON'T, THEN IT DOES.” THE HUSBAND SUGGESTS THAT SHE WORRY MORE ABOUT GOING OFF HER ROCKER.

WE'VE ALL KNOWN PEOPLE WHO WORRY TOO MUCH. SOMETIMES PEOPLE WORRY SO MUCH THAT THEY GET SICK – PHYSICALLY, BUT ALSO MENTALLY. THERE ARE PEOPLE IN MENTAL HOSPITALS THAT JUST GO OVER THE SAME OBSESSIVE THOUGHTS ALL DAY LONG. AND IF IT WEREN'T FOR WORRYING, PROZAC WOULD BE OUT OF BUSINESS. I THINK WE WOULD ALL AGREE THAT TOO MUCH WORRYING IS NOT A GOOD THING. BUT WE'D PROBABLY DECIDE THAT NOT WORRYING AT ALL, AS JESUS TELLS US, IS IMPOSSIBLE AS WELL AS IMPRACTICAL, AND JESUS WAS JUST BEING HIS USUAL SELF, EXAGGERATING SOMETHING TO MAKE A POINT. AFTER ALL, WHO HAS EVER TAKEN HIM UP ON HIS SUGGESTION THAT IF YOUR EYE CAUSES YOU TO SIN, PLUCK IT OUT?

DO YOU REMEMBER THE STORY OF THE ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER? WHEN WE FIRST MEET THEM, THE GRASSHOPPER ISN'T WORRYING. HE'S HAVING A GREAT TIME. THE ANT IS BUSY, PACKING AWAY FOOD FOR THE WINTER. WHEN WINTER COMES, THE GRASSHOPPER TRIES TO TALK THE ANT INTO FEEDING AND SHELTERING HIM FOR THE WINTER, AND OF COURSE, THE ANT DOESN'T. IS JESUS TALKING ABOUT THE GRASSHOPPER OR THE ANT? BECAUSE I SUSPECT THAT AFTER THE ANT HAS CLOSED THE DOOR ON THE GRASSHOPPER, ONE OF THEM IS NOW REALLY WORRYING.

JESUS IS A GOOD PSYCHOLOGIST; HE KNOWS THAT WORRYING ISN'T GOOD FOR YOU AND I. BUT SOME PEOPLE MIGHT POINT TO OTHER PARABLES THAT SEEM TO MAKE A POINT JUST THE OPPOSITE OF THE POINT IN THIS SERMON OF HIS. REMEMBER THE FIVE WISE AND FIVE FOOLISH YOUNG LADIES WHO WERE WAITING FOR THE BRIDEGROOM? THE SMART ONES HAD PACKED ENOUGH OIL TO GET THROUGH THE EVENT, AND THEY WERE THE ONES WHO GOT TO GO IN TO THE WEDDING FEAST. I THINK, THOUGH, THAT THIS TELLS US THAT WORRYING IS NOT THE SAME THING AS BEING PREPARED.

I THINK JESUS DOESN'T WANT HIS FOLLOWERS TO WORRY BECAUSE IT TAKES THEM AWAY FROM GOD. AFTER ALL, IF YOU WORRY, YOU ARE IN A SENSE LIVING IN THE FUTURE, HOPING TO REDUCE UNCERTAINTY BY THINKING THROUGH ALL THE POSSIBLE BAD THINGS THAT COULD HAPPEN; OR MAYBE LIVING IN THE PAST, GOING OVER ALL THE THINGS YOU COULD HAVE SAID OR COULD HAVE DONE, THAT WOULD HAVE CHANGED THAT MOMENT THAT YOU WISH HAD NEVER HAPPENED. BUT GOD IS ONLY IN THE PRESENT, WHICH IS WHERE WE SHOULD BE AS WELL. SO WORRYING TAKES US AWAY FROM GOD. AND WORRYING ALSO GOES AGAINST THE WORDS THAT GOD HAS SPOKEN TO US ALL THROUGH THE SCRIPTURES; HE WANTS US TO PUT OUR FAITH IN HIM; HE WANTS US TO FULLY TRUST HIM. WORRYING, EVEN A LITTLE WORRYING, IS A BETRAYAL OF THIS TRUST. WE HEAR THE PSALMIST SAY: “THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, THERE IS NOTHING I SHALL WANT.” WE HEAR JESUS TELLING HIS APOSTLES, “PEACE BE WITH YOU.” AND “FEAR NOT, LITTLE FLOCK, FOR IT IS THE FATHER'S GOOD PLEASURE TO GIVE YOU THE KINGDOM.” WE SEE MARY'S EXAMPLE OF JOY AND TRUST WHEN SHE TELLS THE ANGEL, “LET IT BE DONE TO ME ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD.” WORRYING, EVEN A LITTLE WORRYING, IS WHAT THE PAGANS DO; IT'S NOT SOMETHING THE CHILDREN OF GOD SHOULD DO.

JESUS IS NOT TELLING US NOT TO PREPARE, NOT TO THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE AND BE PROACTIVE. IN FACT, THAT'S THE QUESTION WE SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE IN OUR MINDS. IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO PREPARE FOR POSSIBILITIES IN THE FUTURE? AND IF THERE IS, THEN WE SHOULD PREPARE. BUT AFTER WE'VE DONE WHAT IS REASONABLE, WE'VE DONE WHAT WE CAN DO, THEN WE PUT THAT ASIDE AND GO ON TO WHAT IS NEXT. AS JESUS ADVISES US, “SUFFICIENT FOR TODAY IS ITS OWN EVIL”. IF WE ARE LOSING SLEEP BECAUSE OF WORRY, WE KNOW WE NEED TO CHANGE.

GOD ASSURES US, IN THE FIRST READING, THAT EVEN IF A MOTHER FORGETS HER CHILD, HE WILL NOT FORGET US. EVERY TIME I HEAR THAT READING, MY MIND GOES BACK ABOUT 30 YEARS. WE LIVED IN BUFFALO, HALF A BLOCK FROM OUR PARISH CHURCH. ON SUNDAYS WE WOULD RUSH AROUND TRYING TO GET FIVE DAUGHTERS AND OUR YOUNGEST, OUR SON, READY FOR MASS. ON GOOD DAYS WE WOULD WALK TO CHURCH. ONE SUNDAY WHEN OUR SON WAS ABOUT FOUR, AS WE FILED INTO THE PEW, WE NOTICED THAT HE WAS NOT WITH US. I QUICKLY WENT BACK TO THE HOUSE, AND THERE ON THE LIVING ROOM CARPET HE SAT, UNCONCERNED, PLAYING WITH HIS TOYS. I PICKED HIM UP AND GOT BACK TO MASS JUST IN TIME TO HEAR THE READING, “CAN A MOTHER FORGET HER CHILD?” I'M SURE EVERYONE WONDERED WHY ALL THE HIGBY FAMILY STARTED SNICKERING.

BUT WE LEARN A WONDERFUL LESSON FROM LITTLE CHILDREN. MY SON TRUSTED. HE FIGURED THAT SOMEONE WOULD NOTICE HE WASN'T AROUND AND WOULD COME TO GET HIM. HE DID WHAT HE COULD, SAT DOWN AND BEGAN PLAYING WITH HIS TOYS, A TASK FOUR YEAR OLD BOYS CAN DO QUITE WELL. HE LIVED IN THE PRESENT, WHERE GOD IS. AND WHEN I PICKED HIM UP AND BROUGHT HIM TO CHURCH, HE DIDN'T BOTTLE UP A LOT OF RESENTMENT AT HAVING BEEN FORGOTTEN; HE FORGAVE US, AND FORGOT ABOUT IT.

TRUST GOD, LIVE IN THE PRESENT, FORGIVE AND FORGET. THEN THERE'S ROOM IN YOUR LIFE FOR GOD. WHEN YOU WORRY, EVEN A LITTLE BIT, YOU MAKE LESS ROOM FOR GOD.

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle A

MATTHEW 5:38-48

MARK TWAIN SAID THAT HIS PROBLEM WITH THE BIBLE WAS NOT THAT IT CONTAINED THINGS THAT HE COULD NOT UNDERSTAND, BUT THAT IT CONTAINED THINGS HE UNDERSTOOD TOO WELL. TODAY'S GOSPEL READING WOULD PROBABLY QUALIFY. IF YOU WERE LISTENING SERIOUSLY YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN ASKING YOURSELF, WHY DID JESUS ASK THE IMPOSSIBLE? DID HE WANT US TO BE DOORMATS, TO JUST TAKE WHATEVER A BULLY DISHED OUT? AND WHO REALLY BELIEVES THAT HE COULD BE PERFECT AS GOD HIMSELF IS PERFECT? DOESN'T THAT SEEM A BIT PRESUMPTUOUS, ESPECIALLY WHEN SO MANY OF OUR PRAYERS IMPLY THAT WE ARE ALWAYS IN NEED OF FORGIVENESS, WHICH WOULDN'T BE THE CASE IF WE WERE PERFECT, AS JESUS TOLD US TO BE.

IT'S INTERESTING TO READ COMMENTARIES ON THIS PASSAGE. ONE AUTHOR SAYS THAT JESUS MADE THIS PREPOSTEROUS STATEMENT BECAUSE HE KNEW THAT ANYONE WHO TRIED TO TAKE HIM LITERALLY WOULD FAIL, AND THEN THEY WOULD REALIZE HOW DEPENDENT THEY WERE ON JESUS, HOW MUCH THEY NEEDED UNDESERVED GRACE.

ANOTHER WRITER IS THAT JESUS WANTS HIS FOLLOWERS TO SPEND THEIR LIVES TRYING TO IMPROVE. HE KNOWS THAT WE WON'T EVER ACHIEVE THE GOALS HE SETS OUT FOR US, BUT BY KNOWING WHAT THESE GOALS ARE – TURNING THE OTHER CHEEK, WALKING AN EXTRA MILE, BEING PERFECT – WE WILL BE SPURRED ON AND WE'LL NEVER REST ON OUR LAURELS.

STILL ANOTHER IDEA IS THIS: SCRIPTURE CALLS ABRAHAM AND NOAH PERFECT, BUT ANYONE WHO READS ABOUT THEM MIGHT SEE THAT BOTH HAD FLAWS. NOAH, AFTER ALL, INVENTED BEING DRUNK, AND ABRAHAM, DESPITE HIS CLOSENESS TO GOD, HAD A SON BY A SLAVE GIRL. THAT'S NOT ONLY ADULTERY BUT ITS ALSO RAPE, SINCE THE SLAVE GIRL WAS HIS PROPERTY AND ABRAHAM KNEW SHE COULDN'T RESIST. SO WHERE DID THEIR PERFECTION COME FROM? THEY WERE PERFECT IN OBEDIENCE, NEVER BALKING WHEN GOD TOLD THEM TO DO SOMETHING.

BUT WE KNOW JESUS ALWAYS MEANS WHAT HE SAYS. IF HE WANTS US TO FIGURE SOMETHING OUT FOR OURSELVES, HE'D TELL US A PARABLE, RIGHT?

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SEPARATES HUMAN BEINGS FROM ANIMALS IS THE FACT THAT WE HAVE FREE WILL, WE ARE FREE TO MAKE CHOICES. BUT WE ALL KNOW THAT OUR FREE WILL IS OFTEN LIMITED. EXTERNALLY, IT IS LIMITED BY WHETHER WE HAVE ENOUGH MONEY OR TIME. IT'S LIMITED BY OUR BODIES. PHYSICAL STRENGTH IS NEVER INFINITE, WE CAN'T BE IN TWO PLACES AT ONCE, SOME THINGS WE MIGHT CHOOSE CAN LEAD TO OUR BEING CRIPPLED OR EVEN DYING. OUR FREEDOM IS LIMITED BY OUR INTELLECTS. EVEN PEOPLE WITH VERY HIGH IQ'S CAN HAVE A DISTORTED PICTURE OF REALITY, AND WE NEVER HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO BE REALLY CERTAIN OF ANYTHING. SO WE HAVE FREE WILL, WE HAVE FREEDOM, BUT IT SEEMS NOT VERY MUCH.

EXTERNAL LIMITATIONS TO OUR FREEDOM OFTEN BE OVERCOME. I'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO FLAP MY ARMS AND FLY. I'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE MYSTERY OF THE TRINITY, BECAUSE MY BRAIN CAN'T MANAGE THAT. BUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, EXTERNAL FREEDOM ISN'T WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT ANYWAY. WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS WHETHER MY INTERIOR FREEDOM IS BEING LIMITED, BECAUSE THERE I HAVE CONTROL. THE BUDDHISTS SAY THAT TRUE HAPPINESS COMES WHEN WE ARE FINALLY ABLE TO RID OURSELVES OF DESIRE. IF I DON'T DESIRE A JUICY STEAK DINNER, I WON'T FEEL BAD IF I DON'T GET IT. IF I DON'T DESIRE TO BE A FRIEND WITH SOMEONE, I WON'T BE TROUBLED WHEN THAT PERSON DOESN'T RETURN MY FRIENDSHIP. AND IF I DON'T DESIRE LIFE ITSELF, I WON'T BE UNHAPPY IF I DIE. BUDDHISTS SPEND THEIR LIVES TRYING TO RID THEMSELVES OF DESIRE, BECAUSE THEY HAVE LEARNED THAT TRYING TO FULFILL ONE'S DESIRES ONLY LEADS TO WANT MORE, AND SINCE YOU CAN NEVER GET EVERYTHING YOU WANT, YOU JUST GET MORE AND MORE UNHAPPY.

I'M NOT SAYING JESUS WAS A BUDDHIST, BUT THERE IS SOMETHING SIMILAR GOING ON HERE. IF SOMEONE STRIKES ME, I HAVE BECOME AN OBJECT TO THAT PERSON; MY INTERIOR FREEDOM HAS BEEN COMPROMISED. IF I OFFER THE OTHER CHEEK TO BE STRUCK, I HAVE REGAINED CONTROL; I AM MAKING THE CHOICE, NOT MY ENEMY, NOT CIRCUMSTANCES. IF SOMEONE MAKES ME CARRY HIS BURDEN FOR A MILE, I REGAIN MY FREEDOM BY CHOOSING TO CARRY IT ANOTHER MILE. AND IF I RETURN HATE WITH MORE HATE, I AM LOSING MY FREEDOM. BUDDY HACKET, THE COMEDIAN, SAID THAT HE NEVER CARRIED A GRUDGE, BECAUSE EVENTUALLY HE WOULD BE CARRYING THE GRUDGE AND THE PERSON HE WAS MAD AT WOULD BE DANCING. IF I RETURN HATE WITH LOVE, I HOLD ONTO MY INTERIOR FREEDOM BECAUSE I DON'T LET HATE MOVE ME.

I THINK JESUS IS SAYING THAT WE CAN BE PERFECT IN ONE RESPECT; IF WE HAVE COMPLETE INTERIOR FREEDOM. IF OUR ONLY DESIRE IS TO DO GOD'S WILL, IF NOTHING MATTERS TO US EXCEPT LIVING THE WAY GOD WANTS US TO LIVE, THEN NOTHING CAN REALLY DISTURB OUR FREEDOM. SOMEONE ONCE SAID THAT BEING A SAINT REQUIRED THAT YOU DO THE ONE THING – THAT YOU ALLOW NOTHING TO DISTRACT YOU FROM THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS IN THE END.

AND THAT'S HOW WE BECOME CHILDREN OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER. GOD IS BY DEFINITION, UNCONSTRAINED, COMPLETELY FREE. WHILE WE LIVE ON THIS EARTH, WE CAN'T BE LIKE THAT, EXCEPT IN OUR INTERIOR LIFE. THE SAINTS, ESPECIALLY THE MARTYRS, LEARNED THAT LESSON. LISTEN TO THE LAST SERMON GIVEN BY SAINT PAUL MIKI, SPEAKING FROM THE CROSS ON WHICH HE WAS HUNG OUTSIDE THE CITY OF NAGASAKI, AWAITING THE THRUST OF A LANCE INTO HIS HEART.

HIS LAST WORDS WERE RECORDED BY A BYSTANDER. HE SAID, “HAVING ARRIVED AT THIS MOMENT OF MY EXISTENCE, I BELIEVE THAT NONE OF YOU THINKS I WANT TO HIDE THE TRUTH. THAT IS WHY I DECLARE TO YOU THAT THERE IS NO OTHER WAY OF SALVATION THAN THE CHRISTIAN WAY. SINCE THIS WAY TEACHES ME TO FORGIVE MY ENEMIES AND ALL WHO HAVE OFFENDED ME, I WILLINGLY FORGIVE THE EMPEROR AND ALL THOSE WHO HAVE DESIRED MY DEATH. AND I PRAY THAT THEY WILL OBTAIN THE DESIRE OF CHRISTIAN BAPTISM.” HE WENT ON TO SAY, “LIKE MY MASTER I SHALL DIE UPON THE CROSS. LIKE HIM, A LANCE WILL PIERCE MY HEART SO THAT MY BLOOD AND MY LOVE CAN FLOW OUT UPON THIS LAND AND SANCTIFY IT TO HIS NAME.”

BOUND TO A CROSS, UNABLE TO MOVE, ABOUT TO DIE, BUT FREE, BECAUSE HE HAS NOT SUCCUMBED TO RESENTMENT, HATE, REGRET; AND HE HAS COMPLETELY EMBRACED LOVE AND FORGIVENESS. HE TRULY LEARNED FROM JESUS, HIS MASTER. AND SO MUST WE.

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle A

MATTHEW 5:17-37

DID ANY OF YOU BREAK A COMMANDMENT THIS WEEK? DID YOU TAKE THE LORD'S NAME IN VAIN, OR WORSHIP A FALSE GOD? HOW ABOUT FAILING TO HONOR YOUR MOTHER OR FATHER? HOW ABOUT STEALING, OR COVETING? I THINK MOST OF US HARDLY EVER THINK ABOUT THE COMMANDMENTS, AND WE KNOW THAT MANY CATHOLICS CAN'T EVEN NAME ALL OF THEM. BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, WHEN YOU GO DOWN THE LIST, IF YOU ARE LIKE ME, YOU CAN'T SEE ANY THAT YOU'VE REALLY BROKEN. OF COURSE YOUR OPINION OF WHAT MIGHT BREAK A COMMANDMENT ENTERS IN. WHAT, PRECISELY, DO YOU HAVE TO DO IN ORDER TO BREAK “REMEMBER TO KEEP THE LORD'S DAY HOLY?” OR WHAT CONSTITUTES COVETING MY NEIGHBOR'S GOODS? IF I SAY, “I'D SURE LIKE TO HAVE A PORSCHE LIKE MY NEIGHBOR” DOES THAT BREAK THE COMMANDMENT?

DURING JESUS' TIME AND FOR A WHILE AFTER, JEWISH AUTHORITIES, AND THIS INCLUDED THE SCRIBES AND THE PHARISEES, REASONED AS FOLLOWS: GOD HIMSELF GAVE THE COMMANDMENTS TO US. THIS MEANS THAT THEY ARE SO IMPORTANT THAT THEY HAVE TO DO WITH ALL OF HUMAN LIFE. AND THERE IS MORE TO THE COMMANDMENT THAN JUST THE STATEMENT. SO WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE COMMANDMENTS, MEDITATE ON THEM, AND SEE HOW TO APPLY THEM TO EVERY PART OF OUR LIVES.

AND THEY DID. TAKE THE COMMANDMENT, “REMEMBER TO KEEP THE LORD'S DAY HOLY.” THE SCHOLARS KNEW THAT GOD HIMSELF HAD RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY ACCORDING TO GENESIS, SO THEY DECIDED THAT REST HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH KEEPING THE DAY HOLY. REST OF COURSE MEANT THE OPPOSITE OF WORK. SO YOU HAD TO NOT WORK. AND THEN, WHAT CONSTITUTED WORK? AND THEY GAVE MANY ANSWERS. FINALLY THEY MORE OR LESS AGREED ON THE IDEA THAT YOU SHOULDN'T PREPARE YOUR MEALS ON THE SABBATH, BECAUSE LIGHTING A FIRE AND CHOPPING AND COOKING WERE ALL WORK – GET READY THE DAY BEFORE. AND THERE WAS A LIMIT TO HOW FAR YOU COULD WALK. AND YOU COULDN'T GO OUT ON YOUR HORSE OR BE PULLED IN A CARRIAGE, BECAUSE THE COMMANDMENT SAID THAT EVEN YOUR BEASTS WERE NOT TO WORK ON THE SABBATH.

AND ANOTHER COMMANDMENT – YOU SHALL NOT TAKE THE NAME OF THE LORD IN VAIN. THAT DIDN'T JUST MEAN SWEARING AND CURSING. THE RABBIS DECIDED THAT YOU BROKE THIS COMMANDMENT IF YOU PRAYED TO GOD TO CHANGE WHAT HAD ALREADY HAPPENED. ONE EXAMPLE: IF YOU WERE ON A HILLTOP AND SAW A FIRE RISING FROM YOUR VILLAGE, YOU COULD NOT PRAY THAT THIS WAS NOT YOUR HOUSE. FIRST, THAT IMPLIED THAT YOU WERE PRAYING THAT IT WAS SOMEONE ELSE'S HOUSE, WHICH WAS NO WAY TO TREAT A NEIGHBOR; AND SECOND, THE FIRE HAD ALREADY HAPPENED, SO IN SOME SENSE IT WAS GOD'S WILL. ANOTHER EXAMPLE: IF YOU ARE A WOMAN AND FIND THAT YOU ARE PREGNANT, IT'S TOO LATE TO PRAY THAT THE CHILD WILL BE A BOY, OR A GIRL. THE SEX HAS ALREADY BEEN DETERMINED. GOD HAS MADE HIS DECISION. TO PRAY THAT HE CHANGE HIS MIND IS TO SEE HIM AS YOUR SERVANT, RATHER THAN YOUR GOD. AND TO DO THAT IS TO TAKE HIS NAME IN VAIN.

IN TODAY'S GOSPEL, JESUS TELLS US TO BE MORE RIGHTEOUS THAN THE SCRIBES AND THE PHARISEES. AND THEN HE GIVES SEVERAL EXAMPLES OF HOW WE DO THIS. AND JESUS IS DOING JUST WHAT THE RABBIS ARE DOING AND WILL BE DOING FOR THE NEXT TWO OR THREE CENTURIES. HE IS DELVING INTO THE DEEPER MEANING OF THE COMMANDMENTS, AND SHOWING BY HIS EXAMPLES THAT THESE WORDS THAT CAME DIRECTLY FROM GOD ARE OF WORLD-SHATTERING IMPORTANCE. THEY DON'T JUST TELL US THE OUTER LIMITS OF ETHICAL AND MORAL BEHAVIOR, BUT THEY POINT US IN THE DIRECTION OF BECOMING SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF GOD; THEY TELL US THAT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BREAKING A COMMANDMENT AND KEEPING A COMMANDMENT.

HE SAYS, “YOU HAVE HEARD IT SAID, “YOU SHALL NOT KILL” BUT I SAY TO YOU, YOU SHALL NOT EVEN INSULT YOUR BROTHER.” TO INSULT YOUR BROTHER IS IN SOME WAY AN OFFENSE AGAINST THE COMMANDMENT, “YOU SHALL NOT KILL”. THEN HE GOES ON TO SAY, “IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH YOUR BROTHER, GO AND FIX IT BEFORE YOU APPROACH THE ALTAR.” DO YOU SEE WHAT JESUS IS DOING? HE TAKES THE COMMANDMENT, KICKS IT UP A NOTCH, THEN KICKS IT UP ANOTHER NOTCH. THAT'S WHAT HE EXPECTS US TO DO. AFTER ALL, THESE ARE WORDS OF GOD, AND AS SUCH WE SHOULD BE PREOCCUPIED WITH NOT JUST WHETHER WE BREAK THEM OR NOT, BUT WHETHER WE ARE KEEPING THEM; WHETHER WE ARE LIVING IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE ARE AS FAR FROM BREAKING THE COMMANDMENT AS WE CAN BE.

THE FIRST EIGHT COMMANDMENTS TELL US HOW WE ARE TO BEHAVE. THE LAST TWO TELL US WHAT TO THINK. WE ARE NOT TO “COVET” – THE SPOUSE OF OUR NEIGHBOR, OR THE PROPERTY OF OUR NEIGHBOR. GOD GAVE US THE COMMANDMENTS NOT ONLY TO SHOW US HOW TO LIVE IN RELATIONSHIP TO GOD AND OUR NEIGHBOR BUT ALSO HOW TO BECOME THE PEOPLE GOD WANTS US TO BE. GOD'S PEOPLE WOULD NEVER SCHEME TO TAKE A NEIGHBOR'S PROPERTY, EVEN IF WE ARE WILLING TO PAY FOR IT. IT SEEMS STRANGE, BUT THE POINT IS THAT WE ARE TO STRIVE FOR PERFECTION, TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT GETTING SOMETHING THAT BELONGS TO OUR NEIGHBOR. IF OUR NEIGHBOR COMES TO US AND WISHES TO GIVE US OR SELL US HIS PROPERTY, THAT'S DIFFERENT.

WHEN JESUS TELLS US “YOU HAVE HEARD IT SAID … BUT I SAY...” HE IS NOT GIVING US NEW COMMANDMENTS. RATHER, HE IS GIVING US A METHOD TO MAKE THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD PART OF THE VERY FABRIC OF OUR LIVES. HE'S DOING WHAT THE SCRIBES AND THE PHARISEES HAVE BEEN DOING, BUT TELLING US THAT WE MUST GO EVEN FURTHER. THE COMMANDMENTS ARE NOT THERE TO SHOW US THE OUTER LIMITS OF ETHICAL BEHAVIOR. THEY AREN'T THERE SO THAT WE WILL KNOW JUST HOW FAR WE CAN GO WITHOUT OFFENDING GOD. THEY

ARE THERE TO HELP US SHAPE OUR LIVES SO THAT WE WILL BE MORE AND MORE GOD'S SONS AND DAUGHTERS. THEY ARE THE LOVING GUIDELINES OF OUR FATHER.

THIS WEEK THINK ABOUT HOW YOU CAN FOLLOW JESUS' ADVICE. CAN YOU MAKE THE LORD'S DAY MORE HOLY THAN YOU USUALLY DO? KEEPING IT HOLY MEANS NOT ONLY AVOIDING THE WORK WE DO THE OTHER SIX DAYS OF THE WEEK, BUT DOING SOMETHING POSITIVE TO CONCENTRATE ON WHAT IS ETERNAL. THE SABBATH IS MEANT TO BE CELEBRATED. CAN YOU FIND THE POSITIVE IN THE COMMANDMENT, “YOU SHALL NOT STEAL?” OR “YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY” OR “YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS”? IF YOU HAVE MORE THAN YOU NEED, YOU ARE IN A WAY TAKING FROM SOMEONE WHO HAS LESS THAN HE NEEDS. IF YOU ENJOY READING THE SPORTS ILLUSTRATED SWIMSUIT EDITION OR READING ROMANCE NOVELS, MAYBE YOU COULD DO A BETTER JOB KEEPING THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT. IF YOU DON'T SPEAK UP WHEN SOMEONE MAKES SLANDEROUS COMMENTS ABOUT THE POPE OR THE PRESIDENT, MAYBE YOU NEED TO WORK ON THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT.

LET US WORRY ABOUT BREAKING THE COMMANDMENTS, OF COURSE, BUT LET'S CONCENTRATE ON HOW TO KEEP THEM BETTER. THAT'S WHAT JESUS IS TELLING US TODAY.

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle A

MATTHEW 5:13-16

CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT THOSE DISCIPLES MUST HAVE THOUGHT WHEN JESUS CALLED THEM THE SALT OF THE EARTH AND THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD? THEY WERE PRETTY ORDINARY – FISHERMEN, TAX COLLECTORS, A FEW WOMEN, ONE OF WHOM AT LEAST YOU DIDN'T WANT TO BE SEEN WITH IN POLITE COMPANY. AND THEY WERE THE SALT OF THE EARTH?

I WAS THINKING ABOUT CHIPPY THE BARBER, WHOM MANY OF US KNEW, WHO PASSED AWAY RECENTLY. WHEN I FIRST CAME TO LONGMEADOW, I STARTED GOING TO CHIPPY FOR MY HAIR CUTS. IN THOSE DAYS YOU WOULD OFTEN SEE HIM AT THE SEVEN OCLOCK MASS HERE AT ST. MARY'S. YOU GOT THE FEELING THAT WHEN HE WAS PRAYING HE WAS UNAWARE OF ANYTHING ELSE; HE WAS TOTALLY WRAPPED UP IN WHAT WAS GOING ON ON THE ALTAR.

ONE THING ABOUT CHIPPY WAS THAT HE TREASURED WHAT HE HAD. HE DELIGHTED IN HIS FAMILY, ESPECIALLY THE GRANDCHILDREN. THE HIGH POINT OF HIS YEAR WAS A TRIP TO THE BEACH IN RHODE ISLAND, WHERE HE AND HIS WIFE HAD SPENT THEIR HONEYMOON. HE TOLD ME ONCE THAT EXCEPT FOR THAT ANNUAL TRIP AND HIS TIME IN THE MILITARY, HE'D NEVER BEEN OUTSIDE OF THE GREATER SPRINGFIELD AREA. I THINK ANYONE WHO KNEW CHIPPY WOULD PROBABLY AGREE THAT HE WAS THE SALT OF THE EARTH.

AND MARGARET JENKINS, WHO ALSO PASSED AWAY RECENTLY, WAS THE SALT OF THE EARTH. BETWEEN BRINGING COMMUNION TO SHUT-INS, SERVING FUNERALS, SHUTTLING PEOPLE TO CHURCH AND DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS AND THE GROCERY STORE, SHE SEEMED NEVER TO THINK OF HERSELF; AND WHEN SHE GAVE YOU ONE OF HER SMILES, YOU KNEW SHE MEANT IT.

WHEN WE HEAR JESUS' WORDS TODAY, MAYBE WE IMAGINE THAT HE IS CALLING ON HIS FOLLOWERS TO GO OUT AND PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL; OR TO BECOME GOOD EXAMPLES TO THE REST OF THE WORLD. BUT NOTICE THAT HE DOES NOT SAY, “BECOME THE SALT OF THE EARTH”. AND WHO IS HE TALKING TO? WE CAN BE PRETTY SURE THEY WERE ILLITERATE; SOME WERE FISHERMEN, SOME WERE FARMERS, TRADESMEN – THE PEOPLE YOU FIND IN VILLAGES AROUND THE SEA OF GALILEE. WHAT DID JESUS LIKE ABOUT THESE PEOPLE, WHOM HE CALLED “SALT OF THE EARTH” AND “LIGHT OF THE WORLD”?

CERTAINLY JESUS WAS SPEAKING TO HIS APOSTLES WHO WERE THERE AMONG THE CROWD. WE DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE APOSTLES, BUT THE ONE APOSTLE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT WHOSE PERSONALITY COMES ACROSS MOST STRONGLY IS PETER, AND WE KNOW PETER WASN'T PERFECT. HE MADE PROMISES HE COULDN'T KEEP, HE SOMETIMES SEEMED TO BE A BLOCKHEAD; AFTER JESUS REVEALED TO HIM THAT HE COULD EAT LOBSTERS AND PORK AND ALL THOSE NON-KOSHER THINGS, PETER STILL WENT BACK TO EATING WITH JEWS WHO DIDN'T EAT WITH GENTILES. THAT GOT HIM A LECTURE BY PAUL. AND I LOVE THE SCENE WHERE PETER, FINDING HIMSELF THE LEADER OF THE EARLY CHURCH, HAVING BEEN COMMISSIONED BY CHRIST, HAVING SEEN CHRIST AFTER HIS RESURRECTION, HAVING RECEIVED THE SPIRIT AND THE POWER TO FORGIVE SINS – DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO NEXT. SO HE TELLS HIS FRIENDS, “I AM GOING FISHING”. NOTHING LIKE HARD WORK AND FRESH AIR TO CLEAR YOUR HEAD.

MAYBE BEING THE SALT OF THE EARTH IS TO BE YOURSELF, WARTS AND ALL. IT'S TO RECOGNIZE YOUR STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES, IT'S WHEN THE WAY YOU APPEAR TO OTHER PEOPLE IS EXACTLY THE WAY YOU ARE. IT'S THE ABILITY TO SAY YOU ARE SORRY WHEN YOU'VE HURT SOMEONE, AS PETER DID. IT'S BEING ABLE TO FALL AND GET UP AGAIN WITHOUT LOOKING BACK. IT'S THE WILLINGNESS TO SAY WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND, EVEN IF OTHER PEOPLE WILL LAUGH OR TAKE OFFENSE. IT'S THE ABILITY TO LIVE WITH THE IDEA THAT YOU AREN'T ESSENTIAL AND YOU AREN'T GOING TO CHANGE THE WORLD. ONE OF PETER'S SUCCESSORS, POPE JOHN XXIII, WHO WILL BE CANONIZED THIS YEAR, SAID THAT WHEN HE WENT TO BED, HE WOULD PRAY, “LORD, I'VE TAKEN CARE OF YOUR CHURCH FOR ANOTHER DAY. I'M GOING TO SLEEP NOW SO YOU TAKE CARE OF IT UNTIL TOMORROW.” HE KNEW WHO REALLY RAN THE CHURCH AND IT WASN'T HIM. HE WAS THE SALT OF THE EARTH.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? JESUS LOOK AT THESE PEOPLE, AT LEPERS AND THE BLIND AND LAME, WOMEN AT THE MARGINS OF SOCIETY, AND ESPECIALLY LITTLE CHILDREN, WITH GREAT LOVE, BECAUSE IN ORDER TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHAT JESUS WAS OFFERING, YOU HAD TO START BY BEING GENUINE, BY BEING SALT OF THE EARTH. IN YOUR AND MY JOURNEY TO BE SAINTS, WE HAVE TO GET RID OF ANY IDEA THAT WE CAN GET THERE ON OUR OWN. WE HAVE TO REMOVE THE MASKS WE WEAR, WHICH WE EVENTUALLY COME TO BELIEVE IS WHO WE REALLY ARE. WE HAVE TO BECOME, AS JESUS SAID, LIKE LITTLE CHILDREN IF WE ARE TO POSSESS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. AND THERE ISN'T ANYONE MORE GENUINE THAN A LITTLE CHILD. A LITTLE CHILD KNOWS SOMETHING THAT MOST OF US FORGET – NONE OF US REALLY HAS ANY CONTROL OVER THE FUTURE. JESUS SAID WE COULDN'T ADD AN HOUR TO OUR LIFE BY WORRYING ABOUT IT.

BEING THE SALT OF THE EARTH ISN'T EVERYTHING, OF COURSE, BUT IT IS THE FIRST STEP, AND IT'S A VERY HARD STEP TO TAKE. JESUS PRAISES THOSE WHO HAVE TAKEN THIS STEP.

I THINK WE ALL KNOW PEOPLE WHO ARE GENUINE, WHO ARE WHAT THEY APPEAR TO BE, PEOPLE LIKE CHIPPY THE BARBER, MARGARET JENKINS, SAINT PETER, JOHN XXIII … THE LIST GOES ON. AND WE KNOW WHO ISN'T GENUINE – THE PERSON WHO GETS UPSET IF YOU ADDRESS HIM BY HIS FIRST NAME INSTEAD OF HIS TITLE. THE PERSON WHO IS QUICK TO CRITICIZE OTHER PEOPLE; THE PERSON WHO TALKS ABOUT HIMSELF AND HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS ALL THE TIME; THE PERSON WHO NEEDS THE LATEST CAR OR COMPUTER OR VIDEO GAME SYSTEM IN ORDER TO BE HAPPY – EVEN THOUGH THAT KIND OF HAPPINESS IS SHALLOW AND TEMPORARY.

WHEN SOMEONE IS GENUINE, THERE IS A CERTAIN BEAUTY ABOUT THEM; THEY ARE TRANSPARENT, THEY HIDE NOTHING, THEY HAVE NO SECRETS, THEY ATTRACT. AND JESUS KNOWS THAT HIS CHURCH WILL GROW ONLY THROUGH THAT KIND OF ATTRACTION; ALL THE PREACHING IN THE WORLD WILL NOT WIN A SOUL. CHRISTIANS WHO LIVE LIVES THAT MAKE OTHER PEOPLE SAY, “I WANT TO KNOW THAT PERSON BETTER; THERE IS SOMETHING THERE THAT I NEED IN MY OWN LIFE” – THOSE ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD, THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO WILL GROW THE CHURCH, ONE PERSON AT A TIME.

TODAY JESUS INVITES US TO ASK, ARE WE SALT? ARE WE LIGHT? OR DO WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO?

Presentation of the Lord, 2014

LUKE 2:22-40

EVERY FRIDAY I SPEND A FEW HOURS VISITING PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY OLD. I'M GETTING OLD, OF COURSE, BUT WE ARE TALKING THE HIGH EIGHTY'S TO THE EARLY 100'S. A LOT OF THE PEOPLE I VISIT SUFFER FROM LOSS – LOSS OF CONTROL OF MOVEMENTS; LOSS OF STRENGTH; LOSS OF THE ABILITY TO FEED ONESELF; AND EVEN LOSS OF THE ABILITY TO THINK, TO RECOGNIZE; AND IT'S SAD TO SEE. I THINK A LOT OF THEM SUFFER FROM DEPRESSION. SOME OF THEM SLEEP ALL THE TIME, WAKING ONLY TO EAT OR BE CARED FOR BY THE NURSE'S AIDS. OTHERS HAVE THE TELEVISION GOING FROM MORNING TO EVENING, SITTING LIKE STONES WHILE GAME SHOWS AND SOAP OPERAS AND TALKING HEADS SUBSTITUTE FOR REAL HUMAN CONTACT. MANY OF THEM WORRY. THEY WORRY MOSTLY ABOUT THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS – THEY DON'T WANT TO BE A BURDEN; THEY WISH A SON OR DAUGHTER WOULD VISIT, BUT THEY KNOW HOW BUSY THEY ARE. SOME OF THEM HAVE BROKEN A HIP OR TAKEN YET ANOTHER FALL, AND AFTER A PERIOD OF REHABILITATION, WILL GO HOME, BACK TO A LONELY APARTMENT, KNOWING THAT SOONER OR LATER, THEY WILL BE BACK.

AND I FIND MYSELF WONDERING, IS THAT MY FUTURE? AND I CAN'T HELP BUT ANSWER, PROBABLY.

ONE LADY I SPEAK WITH SPENT MUCH OF HER LIFE AS AN OFFICER IN THE SALVATION ARMY. IN HER ROOM WERE PICTURES OF HERSELF IN HER OFFICER'S UNIFORM. SHE HAD WON SOME AWARDS FOR SERVICE, AND PUT IN HOURS RINGING BELLS AROUND CHRISTMAS, WORKING WITH ALCOHOLICS AND HOMELESS PEOPLE, OVERSEEING THE THRIFT SHOP WHERE SECOND HAND GOODS WERE RECYCLED. SHE HAD DRAWN TREMENDOUS SATISFACTION FROM THIS, BUT NOW BECAUSE OF PARKINSON’S DISEASE, BLINDNESS, AND COMPLICATIONS OF DIABETES, SHE IS TOTALLY HELPLESS. AND HER BIGGEST COMPLAINT IS THAT SHE IS USELESS, SHE HAS NO PURPOSE IN LIFE. ANOTHER VERY ELDERLY MAN WHOSE MEMORY IS LIMITED TO THOSE THINGS THAT HAPPENED LONG AGO ALWAYS REMINDS ME THAT HE USED TO LEAD THE DAILY PRAYERS IN THE SYNAGOGUE WHEN THE RABBI COULDN'T BE THERE. AND HE GETS A FAR-AWAY LOOK IN HIS EYES AND SIGHS.

TODAY WE MEET A VERY OLD MAN AND A VERY OLD WOMAN IN OUR GOSPEL PASSAGE. IT DOESN'T SAY HOW OLD SIMEON IS, BUT LUKE IMPLIES THAT HE'S OLD AND LIVED A LONG LIFE. AND SIMEON MORE OR LESS CONFIRMS THIS WHEN HE SAYS, “NOW, MASTER, LET YOUR SERVANT DEPART IN PEACE...” HE HAD BEEN LIVING FOR ONLY ONE THING, TO SEE THE MESSIAH, AND NOW THAT THAT HAD TAKEN PLACE, THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT. AND LUKE TELLS US THAT ANNA WAS 84 YEARS OLD, AND SPENT ALL HER TIME IN THE TEMPLE, EVER SINCE SHE HAD BECOME A WIDOW AFTER ONLY SEVEN YEARS OF MARRIAGE. WE DON'T KNOW IF SHE HAD CHILDREN; BUT IN A FEW WORDS LUKE SUGGESTS THAT SHE, TOO, IS ALL ALONE.

THE TEMPLE WAS A BUSY, BUSTLING PLACE. WE KNOW THAT IN THE OUTER COURTYARD, MERCHANTS WERE SELLING ANIMALS TO BE SACRIFICED. IF YOU WANTED TO OFFER A SACRIFICE IT HAD TO BE A PERFECT SPECIMEN OR THE PRIEST WOULDN'T TOUCH IT. THE BEST WAY TO ASSURE THAT WAS TO BUY FROM THE MERCHANT. AND SINCE ORDINARY MONEY COULDN'T BE BROUGHT INTO THE TEMPLE PRECINCTS, YOU HAD TO CHANGE YOUR MONEY FOR TEMPLE MONEY. ALL THIS COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY ALONG WITH THE NOISE OF THE ANIMALS, MADE THE OUTER COURT MORE LIKE A SHOPPING MALL. AND WHEN YOU GOT INTO THE INNER COURT, THE ACTUAL SACRIFICES WERE GOING ON. THAT WAS NOISY AND BLOODY AS WELL. AND FURTHER IN PEOPLE WENT TO PRAY, BUT AS WE LEARNED FROM THE STORY OF THE PHARISEE AND THE TAX COLLECTOR THEY DID NOT PRAY SILENTLY – SO EVEN IN THE HOLIEST PART OF THE TEMPLE, THERE WAS A LOT OF NOISE. ALL OF THIS AND CROWDS AS WELL BECAUSE JEWS FROM ALL OVER THE ROMAN EMPIRE MADE PILGRIMAGES BACK TO THE TEMPLE, BECAUSE FOR THEM THE TEMPLE WAS THE PLACE WHERE GOD LIVED IN A SPECIAL WAY.

AND SIMEON AND ANNA MADE THEIR WAY UP THE STEPS AND THROUGH THE CROWDS TO PRAY EVERY DAY, AND ON ONE DAY THEY SAW A POOR YOUNG COUPLE WITH A LITTLE BOY. THEY KNEW THEY WERE POOR BECAUSE ALL THEY HAD TO OFFER WERE TWO PIGEONS. AND THEY SAW THAT THEY WERE FROM A LONG WAY AWAY BECAUSE OF THE TRAVELER'S CLOTHING THEY WORE. AND THE LITTLE BOY WAS NO DIFFERENT FROM ANY OF THE OTHER LITTLE BOYS WHO WERE BEING REDEEMED BY A SACRIFICE ACCORDING TO THE JEWISH LAW; THERE WAS NO HALO, NO MYSTERIOUS GLOW. AND IN ALL THE CROWDS OF PEOPLE, WITH PRIESTS AND LEVITES AND PHARISEES ALL AROUND, THE HOLY SPIRIT REVEALED TO THEM AND TO THEM ALONE THAT THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD HAD FINALLY ARRIVED.

AND SIMEON AND ANNA BORE WITNESS – THE OLD MAN WHO WAS ALWAYS TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT HOW GOD HAD PROMISED HIM THAT HE WOULD SEE THE SAVIOR BEFORE HE DIED, AND THE WEIRD OLD WOMAN THAT SPENT ALL HER TIME IN THE TEMPLE, PRAYING AND FASTING. AND WE HEAR SIMEON'S JOYFUL PRAYER – “NOW YOU MAY DISMISS YOUR SERVANT, O LORD...”, AND HIS OMINOUS PROPHECY THAT MARY'S HEART WOULD BE PIERCED; AND WE READ THAT ANNA WAS TELLING EVERYONE IN EARSHOT ABOUT WHAT HAD JUST BEEN REVEALED TO HER.

BUT I SUSPECT LIKE MOST REALLY OLD PEOPLE, LIKE THE PEOPLE I VISIT EACH WEEK, THEY WERE IGNORED. SOME PEOPLE TURNED THEIR BACKS, OTHERS LAUGHED AT THEM. AND A FEW WHO THOUGHT THEY WERE BEING KIND PRETENDED TO LISTEN, HUMORING THEM.

A LOT OF THE PEOPLE I VISIT TALK ABOUT THE OLDEN DAYS; SOMETIMES THEY SAY “IN MY DAY” AS THOUGH TO TELL ME THAT THEIR DAYS LAY FAR IN THE PAST, AND THEY WERE STRANGERS IN THIS DAY WE LIVE IN. BUT ISN'T IT INTERESTING THAT GOD CHOSE TO REVEAL HIS SON TO TWO VERY OLD, ALMOST FORGOTTEN PEOPLE, A MAN AND A WOMAN WHO KNEW THAT THEY WOULD NEVER LIVE TO SEE THE PROMISE OF ISRAEL COME TO FULLNESS. A FRAIL OLD MAN AND AN ECCENTRIC OLD LADY WHO HAD WAITED AND WAITED, AND PRAYED AND PRAYED, AND BEFORE JOHN THE BAPTIST, BEFORE THE APOSTLES, BEFORE THE FIRST CHRISTIANS, WERE CALLED UPON BY THE FATHER TO ANNOUNCE TO THE WORLD THAT THE MESSIAH HAD COME, EVEN THOUGH NO ONE EXCEPT JOSEPH AND MARY BELIEVED THEM. BUT THEY DIDN'T CARE, THEY HAD DONE THEIR PART.

NO ONE IS USELESS, NO ONE IS WITHOUT PROMISE, AND GOD WHO ALLOWED THE UNBORN JOHN TO LEAP IN HIS MOTHER'S WOMB TO ANNOUNCE JESUS ALLOWED THE VERY OLD TO DO SO AS WELL. HUMAN LIFE IS SACRED AND GOD IS WITH US FROM THE MOMENT OF CONCEPTION TO THE MOMENT OF NATURAL DEATH, USING US FOR HIS OWN PURPOSES, AS HE USED HIS FRIENDS SIMEON AND ANNA.

Third Sunday of Ordinary Time, cycle A

MATTHEW 24:12-23

WHEN I WAS GROWING UP I WENT TO CATHOLIC SCHOOLS. OFTEN THE SUBJECT OF “VOCATION” CAME UP. WE ALL KNEW WHAT THAT MEANT; IF YOU WERE A BOY, WAS GOD CALLING YOU TO BE A PRIEST; IF YOU WERE A GIRL, WAS HE CALLING YOU TO BE A “BRIDE OF CHRIST”, A NUN OR SISTER. WE KNEW THERE WERE MEN WHO HAD VOCATIONS WHO WEREN'T PRIESTS, BUT IN MONTANA WE DIDN'T KNOW ANY MONKS OR BROTHERS, AND IT SEEMED AS THOUGH THEY WERE BASICALLY MALE NUNS, AND WHO WOULD WANT TO BE ONE OF THOSE? MISSING IN OUR DISCUSSIONS, AND LATER CORRECTED BY VATICAN II, WAS THE IDEA THAT WE ALL HAD VOCATIONS. AND SO NOW WE TALK ABOUT VOCATIONS TO MARRIAGE, VOCATIONS TO SINGLE LIFE, AND SO ON. AND WE'VE DILUTED THE CONCEPT EVEN FURTHER; WE HAVE VOCATIONS TO BE PHYSICIANS, LAWYERS, PROFESSORS, TEACHERS, AUTO MECHANICS, PLUMBERS … IN A SENSE THIS IS GOOD, BECAUSE IT REMINDS US THAT GOD'S CALL TO US DOES NOT JUST MEAN A STATE IN LIFE, BUT IT EXTENDS TO EVERYTHING WE DO, INCLUDING HOW WE WORK; AND IT IS A REMINDER THAT THE WORK WE DO HAS DIGNITY, AND OUR WORK IS MEANT TO FURTHER OUR SPIRITUAL JOURNEY AS WELL AS SERVE OUR FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS. SAINT PAUL TELLS US THAT WE ALL HAVE GOD-GIVEN GIFTS THAT WE ARE TO SHARE WITH EACH OTHER.

TODAY WE HEAR ABOUT THE CALLING OF PETER AND ANDREW, AND JAMES AND JOHN. THEY WERE FISHERMEN, AND IN THE GOSPEL, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THEY THREW ASIDE THEIR VOCATIONS AS FISHERMEN AND IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED JESUS. BUT MAYBE IT'S NOT QUITE SO ABRUPT OR SO COMPLETE. WE KNOW FROM THE STORY OF PETER'S MOTHER IN LAW THAT JESUS AND PETER HAD BEEN ACQUAINTED; AND WE KNOW THAT PETER DOES NOT GIVE UP FISHING; JESUS BORROWED HIS BOAT WHEN HE PREACHED TO THE CROWDS ON THE SEASHORE, AND AFTERWARD THERE WAS THAT MIRACULOUS CATCH OF FISH. AND WE KNOW PETER SAID, AFTER THE RESURRECTION, “I AM GOING FISHING” AND WENT BACK TO HIS TRADE UNTIL JESUS APPEARED ONCE MORE. THE CALL TO THE DISCIPLES DID NOT INVOLVE THEM COMPLETELY GIVING UP THEIR TRADES; IN FACT, SCHOLARS THINK THAT IT WAS MORE LIKELY THAT THEY CONTINUED IN SOME WAY TO DO WHAT THEY HAD ALWAYS DONE; SAINT PAUL EVEN IN THE MIDST OF HIS PREACHING MISSION STILL REPAIRED TENTS FOR A LIVING.

JESUS TELLS HIS DISCIPLES THAT HE WILL MAKE THEM FISHERS OF MEN. HE DOESN'T SAY “APOSTLES” OR “BISHOPS” OR “PRIESTS”. AND I THINK HE IS TELLING ALL HIS FOLLOWERS, EVEN YOU AND I, THAT WE CAN BE FISHERS OF MEN AND WOMEN. IT IS AFTER ALL EMBEDDED IN THE MEANING OF BEING A CHRISTIAN THAT WE ARE TO MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS, THAT WE ARE COMMISSIONED TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE. BEING A FISHER OF MEN MUST BE SOMETHING EVERY CHRISTIAN REGARDLESS OF EDUCATION, PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS, MENTAL ABILITIES, OR AGE, MUST BE CAPABLE OF DOING. AND WHEN WE ASK WHAT EVERY HUMAN BEING CAN DO TO SOME DEGREE, IT IS THAT WE CAN ENTER INTO RELATIONSHIPS. A MOTHER ENTERS INTO A RELATIONSHIP WITH HER UNBORN CHILD; A PARENT WITH ADVANCED ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE REMAINS IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS OR HER LOVED ONES; AND BY DEFINITION, A CHRISTIAN IS IN SOME SORT OF RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST.

TO BE A FISHER OF MEN AND WOMEN THROUGH OUR RELATIONSHIPS IS NOT THE SAME THING AS BEING A PLUMBER OF MEN, OR A DOCTOR OF MEN, OR A HOMEMAKER OF MEN. FISHING IS UNIQUE, BECAUSE IT IS PASSIVE; THE FISHERMAN WAITS FOR THE FISH TO TAKE THE BAIT; OR THE FISHERMAN PULLS A NET THROUGH THE WATER, HOPING IT WILL ENCOUNTER A FISH. AND THAT'S HOW WE ARE TO BE FISHERS OF MEN.

HERE ARE THE STEPS. FIRST, WE EXAMINE OUR RELATIONSHIPS. SOME ARE VERY CLOSE, LIKE HUSBAND AND WIFE, LIKE PARENT AND CHILD. OTHERS ARE MORE DISTANT, LIKE CO-WORKERS. SOME ARE NEGATIVE; PEOPLE WITH WHOM WE HAVE A TROUBLED RELATIONSHIP. SOME RELATIONSHIPS SEEM ONE-SIDED; I MAY ADMIRE SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T KNOW I EXIST. BUT EVEN HERE THERE IS A RELATIONSHIP.

THE SECOND STEP IN BEING A FISHER IS TO CONSIDER HOW EACH RELATIONSHIP CAN BE ENHANCED. COMMON SENSE TELLS US THAT OUR RELATIONSHIPS PROSPER WHEN WE SPEND MORE TIME ON THEM. JUST BEING PRESENT TO SOMEONE HELPS THE RELATIONSHIP. BUT THERE ARE OTHER THINGS AS WELL; LEARNING THE INTERESTS OF THE OTHER PERSON; FORGIVING THE OTHER PERSON, FINDING SOMETHING THE OTHER PERSON NEEDS AND FULFILLING THAT NEED IF WE CAN, BEING A FRIEND IN OTHER WORDS. WE CAN'T IMPROVE OUR RELATIONSHIPS TO EVERYONE IN OUR CIRCLE ALL AT ONCE, BUT WE CAN CONCENTRATE ON A FEW AT A TIME.

THE THIRD STEP IS TO ALLOW GOD TO WORK THROUGH THE RELATIONSHIP TO BRING THE OTHER PERSON CLOSER TO HIM. WE MAY NOT BE AWARE OF MUCH HAPPENING, BUT BECAUSE WE ARE IN RELATIONSHIP TO CHRIST, AND BECAUSE WE ARE IN RELATIONSHIP WITH ANOTHER PERSON, WE CAN BE “ANOTHER CHRIST” FOR THAT PERSON. WE CAN BE ANOTHER CHRIST IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS IF THROUGH OUR LIVES WE SHOW THAT CHRIST MEANS SOMETHING TO US AND WE ARE ACTIVELY TRYING TO BE GUIDED BY HIM IN HOW WE LIVE OUR LIVES. WE CAN BE ANOTHER CHRIST IF WE MAKE IT A PRACTICE TO DELIBERATELY PRAY FOR THAT PERSON JUST AS JESUS PRAYED FOR HIS APOSTLES, AND PAUL PRAYED FOR THE PEOPLE HE HAD BROUGHT TO CHRIST.

THE STORIES OF THE SAINTS ARE FULL OF SITUATIONS WHERE PEOPLE CAME INTO RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD BECAUSE OF ENCOUNTERING SOMEONE WHO ALREADY HAD SUCH A RELATIONSHIP. THINK OF THE GROWTH OF THE FRANCISCAN MOVEMENT – ALL BECAUSE PEOPLE SAW SOMETHING OF JESUS IN FRANCIS, AND SOMETHING OF FRANCIS IN HIS FOLLOWERS. SAINT AUGUSTINE, ONE OF THE GREATEST THINKERS IN CHRISTIANITY, WAS BROUGHT INTO THE CHURCH THROUGH HIS RELATIONSHIPS WITH ST. AMBROSE AND WITH HIS OWN MOTHER.

AND IN THE GOSPEL STORY, WE SEE THAT THE FISHERMEN IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED JESUS – NOT BECAUSE HE WAS A STRANGER PASSING BY, BUT BECAUSE THEY KNEW HIM WELL ENOUGH SO THAT THEY WERE WILLING TO CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF THEIR LIVES AT HIS CALL.

SO PRAY FOR THE GRACE TO BE FISHER OF MEN, AND THEN WORK AT IT. YOU ARE THE BAIT, AND JESUS IS THE REAL FISHERMAN.