Fourth Sunday in Lent, cycle A

JOHN 9:1-41

JOHN'S GOSPEL WAS WRITTEN ABOUT 80 YEARS AFTER THE DEATH OF JESUS, WE ARE TOLD. THAT MEANS THAT THERE WERE THRIVING CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE ROMAN EMPIRE AND IN MANY OTHER AREAS. IN FACT ONE RELIABLE ESTIMATE IS THAT BY 100 AD ONE IN EVERY 100 PEOPLE IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE WERE CHRISTIAN – THAT MAKES ABOUT 1 MILLION. WHEN JOHN WROTE HIS GOSPEL, HE WASN'T TRYING TO DO YET ANOTHER BIOGRAPHY IF JESUS – HE WAS USING EVENTS FROM JESUS' LIFE TO DEVELOP A THEOLOGY. AND THIS STORY IS NO EXCEPTION. I'M SURE YOU REMEMBER THE STORY IN MARK WHERE JESUS HEALED A BLIND MAN BY PUTTING HIS SALIVA ON THE MAN'S EYES. IN MARK, THE MAN CAN SEE, BUT NOT VERY WELL, SO JESUS REPEATS THE PROCESS, AND HE CAN SEE PERFECTLY. THIS IS PROBABLY THE SAME STORY, BUT NOW JOHN, A BISHOP IN SOUTHERN TURKEY, IS TEACHING US SOMETHING.

FIRST OF ALL, HE IS SHOWING US THAT THERE ARE MANY KINDS OF BLINDNESS – THE APOSTLES SHOW THE BLINDNESS OF PREJUDICE. IF SOMEONE IS SUFFERING A MISFORTUNE, SOME PEOPLE ASK, WHAT DID YOU DO TO CAUSE THIS? IN FACT, SOME PEOPLE EVEN BLAME THEMSELVES WHEN TRAGEDY STRIKES. IT'S AS THOUGH GOD IS JUST WAITING FOR US TO SCREW UP. AND YOU CAN'T BLAME THE JEWISH PEOPLE FOR THIS ATTITUDE – GOD TOLD MOSES THAT THE SINS OF THE PARENTS WOULD AFFECT EVEN THE THIRD AND FOURTH GENERATION – LATER, OF COURSE, EZECHIEL POINTED OUT THAT PUNISHMENT FOR SIN WOULD ONLY HAPPEN TO THE SINNER; BUT STILL, SOMEBODY MUST HAVE DONE SOMETHING WRONG IF THIS MAN WAS BORN BLIND, RIGHT?

THEN THERE WERE THE PEOPLE IN THE TOWN. THEIR BLINDNESS WAS DENIAL. WHEN THEY SAW THE MAN WHO HAD BEEN BLIND AND NOW WASN'T, ONE EXPLANATION WAS THAT IT WASN'T THE SAME MAN. I THINK WE HAVE THIS KIND OF BLINDNESS WHEN WE ARE CALLED TO FORGIVE – WE CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THE PERSON WE ARE SUPPOSED TO FORGIVE HAS REALLY CHANGED; OUR FIRST REACTION IS THAT THEY ARE FAKING IT.

THE PHARISEES HAVE A PARTICULARLY BAD KIND OF BLINDNESS – MAYBE WE COULD CALL IT “RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION”. THE MAN WAS HEALED ON THE SABBATH! HE DOESN'T HAVE ANY CREDENTIALS TO PERFORM HEALING!AND IF THE MAN REALLY WAS HEALED, WELL, DON'T GIVE CREDIT TO JESUS, GIVE IT TO GOD. I THINK ALL OF US ARE GUILTY, AT LEAST A LITTLE BIT, OF THIS KIND OF BLINDNESS. WE TEND TO SEE EVERYTHING AS “US” AND “THEM”. WE ARE ALWAYS DRAWING LINES. ONE EXAMPLE: WE CATHOLICS BELIEVE THAT OUR CHURCH CONTAINS ALL THAT IS NECESSARY FOR US TO ACHIEVE SALVATION; WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT WHAT THE CHURCH TEACHES IS TRUE. THAT MEANS OF COURSE, THAT PEOPLE WHO BELONG TO OTHER RELIGIONS, OTHER DENOMINATIONS, AUTOMATICALLY LACK SOMETHING, RIGHT? BUT THAT'S THE FALLACY – WE CAN BELIEVE WHAT WE HAVE IS TRUE AND GOOD AND GIVEN BY GOD, BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO MAKE ANY JUDGMENT ABOUT ANOTHER RELIGION – ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS LIVE OUR OWN FAITH AS WELL AS POSSIBLE. EVEN THE POPE CAN'T TELL THE HOLY SPIRIT WHERE TO GO AND WHERE NOT TO GO. HAD THE PHARISEES NOT BEEN BLIND, THEY WOULD HAVE REJOICED THAT GOD WAS MANIFESTING HIMSELF IN THEIR MIDST.

AND FINALLY, THE PARENTS. THEY ARE BLIND BECAUSE OF COWARDICE, OF SELFISHNESS. IF MY CHILD HAD BEEN BLIND FROM BIRTH, AND WAS SUDDENLY HEALED, I WOULD BE ECSTATIC. BUT THESE PARENTS ARE AFRAID THEY WILL BE KICKED OUT OF THE SYNAGOGUE. THE MOST THEY CAN MUSTER IS THAT THE MAN IS THEIR SON AND, YES, HE WAS BLIND FROM BIRTH – BUT GO ASK HIM, LEAVE US ALONE. WHEN WE MEET PEOPLE WHO SNEER AT OUR CHURCH OR ACCUSE OUR PRIESTS AND BISHOPS OF TERRIBLE THINGS, DO WE TRY TO LAY LOW SO THAT WE ARE NOT KICKED OUT OF THE GROUP? ARE WE PROUD OF OUR CATHOLICISM, OR WOULD WE RATHER THAT NO ONE NOTICES? HOW MANY PEOPLE GO HOME AFTER RECEIVING ASHES ON ASH WEDNESDAY AND WASH THEIR FACES BEFORE GOING OUT INTO THE WORLD?

JOHN WANTS THE BLIND MAN TO TEACH US A LESSON AS WELL. FIRST, THE BLINDNESS CANNOT BE CURED BYH ANYTHING PEOPLE CAN DO – THIS REQUIRES GOD'S TOUCH. IT'S LIKE WHEN WE ARE BAPTIZED – IT MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO BEGIN THE JOURNEY TO GOD. THAT ISN'T TO SAY THAT GOD DOESN'T HAVE OTHER WAYS TO HELP PEOPLE BEGIN THIS JOURNEY, BUT THE INITIATIVE IS GOD'S, NOT OUR OWN. AT THIS STAGE, THE MAN BORN BLIND IS ONLY AWARE THAT HIS SIGHT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO HIM, AND A MAN NAMED JESUS DID IT.

THE MAN IS FORCED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED BY THE PHARISEES – IF THIS HAPPENED WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY? HE REPLIES, “HE IS A PROPHET”.

THE PHARISEES ARGUE WITH HIM AGAIN. THE MAN STICKS TO WHAT HE KNOWS TO BE TRUE – HE WAS BLIND BUT NOW CAN SEE; AND GOD WOULDN'T WORK A MIRACLE FOR SOMEONE STEEPED IN SIN. THE ONLY CONCLUSION THE BLIND MAN CAN REACH IS THAT THIS JESUS IS FROM GOD. NOTICE THAT THE BLIND MAN KEEPS GOING BACK TO THE FACTS – IN LIGHT OF REALITY, HE CAN'T BE PREJUDICED; HE CAN'T BE IN DENIAL; HE CAN'T FALL BACK ON RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION; AND HE REFUSES TO BE INTIMIDATED INTO DENYING ANY PART OF WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM. AND HE IS EXPELLED FROM THE SYNAGOGUE, WHICH IS A PRETTY BAD THING IF YOU LIVE IN A SMALL TOWN WHERE THE SYNAGOGUE IS THE CENTER OF VILLAGE LIFE.

THERE IS ONE FURTHER STEP, IN THE SPIRITUAL GROWTH OF THIS MAN. GOD STARTS THE PROCESS, AND THE MAN RECOGNIZES THAT JESUS DID IT; AND AS HE THINKS ABOUT IT, HE CONCLUDES JESUS IS A PROPHET, AND THEN THAT HE WAS SENT FROM GOD. BUT THE LAST STEP, THE RECOGNITION THAT JESUS IS WORTHY OF WORSHIP, AND THEREFORE THAT HE IS GOD, IS A GIFT FROM JESUS – A GIFT THE BLIND MAN ACCEPTS AND ACTS UPON – HE FALLS DOWN AND WORSHIPS. JOHN IS TELLING US THAT IN THE BEGINNING GOD INITIATES OUR JOURNEY TO BECOME ONE WITH HIM; AND IF WE ARE FAITHFUL, IF WE CLING TO THE TRUTH, THAT JESUS CAME INTO THIS WORLD TO SUFFER AND DIE FOR US, AND TO RISE AGAIN SO THAT WE WOULD HAVE ETERNAL LIFE, JESUS HIMSELF WILL BRING US TO THAT FINAL STEP, WHEN WE SEE HIM CLEARLY AS LORD, SAVIOR AND MESSIAH. THAT'S WHAT IS MEANT BY CLINGING TO ONE'S FAITH.

SO ON THIS FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT, LET US LOOK AT HOW WE ARE BLIND – BECAUSE WE ARE. AND LET US ASK JESUS TO HEAL OUR BLINDNESS AND LEAD US TO THAT POINT WHERE WE REALIZE, NOT JUST WITH WORDS, BUT WITH OUR WHOLE BEING, THAT HE IS GOD AND HE IS THE ONLY REALITY THAT MATTERS.

Third Sunday in Lent, Cycle A

JOHN 4:5-42

THE GOSPEL STORY WE'VE JUST HEARD IS AT THE SAME TIME VERY FAMILIAR AND VERY STRANGE. IT'S STRANGE BECAUSE WE CAN'T HEAR IT THE WAY IT WAS FIRST HEARD. WE AREN'T SHOCKED AS THOSE HEARERS WERE – AND AS THE APOSTLES AND THE PEOPLE IN THE TOWN WERE. WE AREN'T FAMILIAR WITH SOME OF THE CONVENTIONS PEOPLE PUT IN STORIES IN THOSE DAYS. IF YOU GO TO A MOVIE AND SOME TEENAGERS ARE WALKING THROUGH THE WOODS AT NIGHT, AND ONE OF THEM GETS SEPARATED FROM THE REST, YOU KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. OR IF A MOVIE HAS A WESTERN BAR AND OUR HERO IS SITTING AND HAVING A DRINK, AND SOMEONE IN A BLACK HAT WALKS THROUGH THE SWINGING DOORS, YOU KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT. THE STORY OF THE WOMAN AT THE WELL BEGINS WITH A CONVENTION – JESUS MEETS HER AT A WELL.

THERE WERE OTHER SUCH MEETINGS. ABRAHAM'S SERVANT MET REBECCA, WHO WOULD BE ISAAC'S WIFE, AT A WELL. JACOB MET HIS FUTURE WIFE RACHEL, AT A WELL. MOSES MET HIS WIFE ZIPPORAH, AT A WELL. SAUL MET SOME WOMEN AT A WELL BUT SINCE HE DID NOT FIND A WIFE, THIS WAS A STERILE MEETING, JUST AS HIS KINGSHIP WOULD BE STERILE – NO SON OF HIS WOULD INHERIT HIS KINGDOM. AND NOW, JESUS MEETS A WOMAN AT A WELL

YOUR FIRST REACTION, IF YOU WERE LISTENING TO THIS STORY AND WERE FAMILIAR WITH THE SCRIPTURES AND THE MEANING OF MEETING AT A WELL, WOULD BE TO SUSPECT THAT JESUS WAS ABOUT TO MEET HIS FUTURE WIFE. BUT THEN WE LEARN THAT THIS WOMAN IS THE OPPOSITE OF THE KIND OF WIFE YOU WOULD WANT IF YOU WERE A GOOD JEW. SHE WAS FIRST OF ALL, NOT JEWISH – A MEMBER OF A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO WERE CONSIDERED WORSE THAN GENTILES, BECAUSE THEY PRACTICED A DISTORTED FORM OF JUDAISM, AND BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT OF PURE BLOOD. SECOND, YOU LEARN THAT SHE HAS BEEN MARRIED MULTIPLE TIMES, AND IS CURRENTLY LIVING WITH SOMEONE WHO IS NOT HER HUSBAND. AND THIS ALL TAKES PLACE AT NOON, THE WRITER MAKES SURE TO TELL US, BECAUSE NO SELF-RESPECTING WOMAN WOULD DRAW WATER AT NOON. THIS WAS DONE EARLY IN THE MORNING AND THE WOMEN WOULD CATCH UP WITH EACH OTHER ON THE NEWS AND GOSSIP. YOU CAME AT NOON, WHEN IT WAS HOT AND UNCOMFORTABLE, ONLY IF YOU WERE TRYING TO AVOID MEETING OTHER PEOPLE.

THE WOMAN IS REALLY UNDESIRABLE – AS A WIFE, AS A FRIEND, EVEN AS AN ACQUAINTANCE, BECAUSE, AS THE WRITER TELLS US, JEWS DID NOT ASSOCIATE WITH SAMARITANS, JEWISH MEN DID NOT TALK TO STRANGE WOMEN. ANY OTHER GOOD JEW WOULD NOT EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE HER EXISTENCE.

BUT JESUS DOES SOMETHING UNPRECEDENTED: HE ASKS HER FOR SOME WATER.

OUR WORLD IS IN DESPERATE NEED OF CONVERSION. AND YET, IF WE DON'T DO IT, IT WON'T GET DONE. AND WE KNOW IT HAS TO BE ONE ON ONE; WE AREN'T GOING TO CONVERT PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO BE CONVERTED UNLESS WE MEET THEM ONE ON ONE. JESUS BEGINS THEIR CONVERSATION BY MAKING HIMSELF DEPENDENT ON HER. HE ASKS FOR WATER.

THEY BEGIN TO DIALOGUE. WHEN WE HAVE A DIALOGUE WITH SOMEONE WHO BELIEVES DIFFERENTLY THAN WE DO, WE HAVE TO AVOID TWO THINGS. THE FIRST IS TO PAPER OVER OUR DISAGREEMENTS AND SAY THOSE AWFUL WORDS, “IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU BELIEVE, JUST SO YOU ARE SINCERE AND A GOOD PERSON.” THE SECOND IS TO SAY THAT BECAUSE I AM RIGHT, YOU ARE WRONG. THE ANCIENT LIBRARY OF ALEXANDRIA, WHICH CONTAINED PRICELESS MANUSCRIPTS, WAS BURNED TO THE GROUND BY MOSLEM TROOPS BECAUSE, AS THE CALIPH SAID, IF ANY OF THOSE BOOKS CONTAINED ANYTHING CONTRARY TO THE KORAN, THEY SHOULD BE BURNED, AND IF THEY SAID WHAT WAS IN THE KORAN, IT DIDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO KEEP THEM AROUND BECAUSE THEY WERE REDUNDANT. IT'S A HUMAN TENDENCY TO SAY, I'M RIGHT AND YOU ARE WRONG. NOTICE, THOUGH THAT JESUS DOES NOT CONDEMN OR BELITTLE THE WOMAN'S RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCES; HE DOES SAY THAT “SALVATION IS FROM THE JEWS”, BUT THAT WOULD NOT BE A SURPRISE TO A SAMARITAN; AFTER ALL, THEY CLAIMED THE SAME ANCESTORS AS THE JEWS. JESUS POINTS TO A FUTURE WHEN GOD HIMSELF WILL TRANSCEND THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PEOPLE AND DRAW OUT THE “TRUE WORSHIPPERS”.

THE RESULT OF THIS CONVERSATION IS THAT THE WOMAN BECOMES THE FIRST MISSIONARY; SHE CONVINCES OTHERS OF HER VILLAGE TO COME AND LISTEN, AND WHEN THEY DO, THEY BELIEVE OF THEMSELVES RATHER THAN BECAUSE WHAT SHE HAS TOLD THEM.

AND THAT'S A GOOD RECIPE FOR US. HOW DO WE BEGIN OUR DIALOGUE? FIRST, WE RECOGNIZE, AS JESUS DID, THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE A DEEP HUNGER FOR THE TRUTH. WE CAN'T IGNORE THEM. SECOND, WE THEN HAVE TO SEEK WHAT WE HAVE IN COMMON; WE HAVE TO PLACE OURSELVES ON AN EQUAL LEVEL WITH THE OTHER PERSON.

REAL DIALOGUE REQUIRES THAT WE SEE EACH OTHER AS PEERS. IF YOU SEE YOURSELF AS SUPERIOR YOU CAN TELL SOMEONE SOMETHING, BUT PROBABLY NOT CONVINCE THEM. IF YOU SEE YOURSELF AS INFERIOR, YOU WON'T BE LISTENED TO. JESUS IN ASKING FOR THE WATER AND PRESUMABLY DRINKING IT, MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR THE WOMAN TO ENTER INTO DIALOGUE WITH HIM.

THIRD, WE NEED TO BE DEEPLY ROOTED IN WHAT WE KNOW TO BE TRUE, BUT WE NEED TO HAVE THE HUMILITY TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE CAN LEARN SOMETHING FROM ANYBODY – EVEN PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE DIFFERENTLY THAN WE DO. I HAVE NO TROUBLE AGREEING THAT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH HAS THE FULLNESS OF TRUTH; THAT IT TEACHES EVERYTHING NECESSARY FOR OUR SALVATION. BUT WE HAVE THAT TENDENCY TO THINK IN DUALISTIC TERMS – IF MY CHURCH IS RIGHT, THEN YOURS MUST BE WRONG. A LUTHERAN PASTOR COINED THE TERM “HOLY ENVY” TO DESCRIBE A DIFFERENT ATTITUDE. WHEN I MEET SOMEONE WHO BELIEVES DIFFERENTLY THAN I DO, I SHOULD LOOK AT WHAT HE BELIEVES AND TRY TO FIND WHAT IS ATTRACTIVE AND BEAUTIFUL IN THAT TRADITION. AND IT'S NOT WRONG TO WISH THAT OUR OWN TRADITION MIGHT HAVE A LITTLE MORE OF THAT. I GREW UP AROUND MORMONS. THEIR RELIGION EMPHASIZES FORMING A COMMUNITY AND THEIR TRADITIONS ALL WORK TO STRENGTHEN THEIR COMMUNITIES. I ENVY THAT. AND THE SEVENTH DAY ADVENTISTS – THEY DON'T BELIEVE IN “BODIES AND SOULS” LIKE WE DO. AND BECAUSE OF THAT IT IS A RELIGIOUS OBLIGATION TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY, WHICH WILL SLEEP AFTER DEATH AND BE RAISED UP AGAIN AT THE END OF TIME. I ENVY THAT FOCUS ON RESURRECTION. WE BELIEVE IN RESURRECTION OF THE BODY, BUT MOST OF US, I THINK, ARE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT OUR SOULS.

HOLY ENVY REQUIRES THAT WE UNDERSTAND AND TREASURE WHAT WE HAVE, BUT APPRECIATE WHAT OTHERS HAVE. FROM THIS STANDPOINT, WE ARE BETTER WITNESSES AND MORE LIKELY TO DO REAL EVANGELIZATION.

THE SAMARITAN WOMAN AND THROUGH HER, HER WHOLE VILLAGE, BECOME CHRISTIANS; PERHAPS THIS IS A SIGN OF THE CHURCH TO COME AFTER JESUS RESURRECTION. AND IF SO, THEN THE MEETING BETWEEN JESUS AND THE SAMARITAN WOMAN IS KIND OF LIKE THOSE OTHER MEETINGS, BECAUSE THE CHURCH IS HIS BRIDE.

Second Sunday in Lent, cycle A

MATTHEW 17:1-9

I'M SURE YOU ALL REMEMBER THE STORY OF CINDERELLA. WHAT DID THE FAIRY GODMOTHER REALLY DO HERE? SURE, A BEAUTIFUL GOWN, GLASS SLIPPERS, AN ELEGANT CARRIAGE MADE OUT OF PUMPKINS; BEAUTIFUL HORSES TRANSFORMED FROM MICE. BUT IT WAS STILL CINDERELLA – BUT PLACED IN A SETTING SO THAT PEOPLE LOOKED AT HER IN A NEW WAY.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE LOOK AT ANOTHER PERSON? THINK ABOUT POPE FRANCIS; WHEN HE WAS FIRST RAISED TO THE PAPACY, HE QUICKLY BECAME A MEDIA HERO. LIBERALS THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO BRING WORLD-SHATTERING CHANGES TO THE CHURCH. CONSERVATIVES WERE AFRAID THAT WHEN HE GOT THROUGH, CATHOLICISM WOULD NO LONGER BE RECOGNIZABLE. NOW, ALMOST A YEAR LATER, WE ALL BEGIN TO SEE A MORE REALISTIC PICTURE – A MAN WHO IS DEVOTED TO THE POOR BUT FAITHFUL TO THE CHURCH; A MAN WHO LIVES WHAT HE PREACHES, AND SEEMS TO BE TOUGH ENOUGH TO MAKE SOME CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN DESPERATELY NEEDED.

OR CONSIDER OUR PRESIDENT. WHEN HE WAS ELECTED THERE WERE PEOPLE THAT ACTED AS THOUGH HE WAS THE SECOND MESSIAH. AND OF COURSE THERE CONTINUE TO BE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DECIDED THAT HE IS THE REINCARNATION OF KARL MARX OR JOSEPH STALIN. BUT MOST PEOPLE HAVE MOVED TO THE MIDDLE AND SEE A FLAWED HUMAN BEING WHO IS TRYING TO DO A JOB THAT PERHAPS NO ONE COULD DO WELL.

ALL OF US GO THROUGH LIVES WITH TWO SELVES. THERE IS THE SELF THAT EVERYONE SEES AND THAT LIVES IN OUR HEARTS AS WELL. DEPENDING ON WHO IS LOOKING AT IT, IT IS DIFFERENT. TO SOMEONE ELSE THAT SELF MIGHT BE A FOOL OR SOMEONE WORTH IMITATING AND LEARNING FROM. TO MYSELF, THE SELF IS THE IMAGE I HAVE OF WHO I AM – A DOCTOR OR A LAWYER; A HUSBAND, A FATHER, SOMEONE WITH A SENSE OF HUMOR, SOMEONE WHO IS REACTING TO TRAGEDY. PROBABLY THE SELF THAT I SEE IS EVEN MORE DISTORTED THAN THE SELF OTHER PEOPLE SEE.

BUT REGARDLESS, FOR ALL OF US THERE IS A FALSE SELF. AND PART OF THE JOURNEY OF A CHRISTIAN IS TO DISCARD THE SELF THAT IS FALSE AND FIND THE SELF THAT IS TRUE, THE GENUINE SELF. AND WHEN THIS HAPPENS, WE DISCOVER WE DON'T EVEN MISS THE FALSE SELF.

TODAY, JESUS TELLS US SOMETHING ABOUT HIS TRUE SELF. HE IS TRANSFIGURED, HE APPEARS SPOTLESS AND BEAUTIFUL AND GLORIOUS, AND THE DISCIPLES CAN BARELY LOOK AT HIM. HE TRANSCENDS TIME AND SPACE, AND SPEAKS WITH THE GREATEST OF LAWGIVERS AND THE GREATEST OF PROPHETS; TIME AND SPACE DO NOT LIMIT HIM. AND HIS TRUE SELF IS RECOGNIZED BY GOD THE FATHER WHO PROCLAIMS HIM “BELOVED” AND TELLS ALL OF US TO LISTEN TO HIM. JESUS FROM NOW ON WILL SPEAK FOR THE FATHER, WHO NO LONGER SPEAKS TO US DIRECTLY. THE FATHER HAS SPOKEN HIS LAST WORDS WHEN HE SPEAKS THE SON, THE WORD MADE FLESH.

JESUS WILL CONQUER SIN AND DEATH, AND WHEN HE RISES FROM THE DEAD HIS APOSTLES WILL AGAIN SEE HIS TRUE SELF, THE SELF THAT HAS NO LIMITATIONS, THE SELF THAT CAN GIVE THE SPIRIT, THE SELF THAT PROMISES TO LIVE IN HIS CHURCH AND TO PREPARE A DWELLING PLACE IN HIS FATHER'S HOUSE FOR HIS FRIENDS.

AND HERE'S THE THING. AT THE TRANSFIGURATION, I THINK JESUS REVEALS NOT ONLY HIS TRUE SELF, BUT YOURS AND MINE. SOMETIMES WE ARE SO AWARE OF OUR SINS AND OUR LIMITATIONS THAT WE START TO THINK WE AREN'T WORTH VERY MUCH. SOME OF OUR THEOLOGY SEEMS TO SAY THAT WE ARE INSIGNIFICANT, WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING RIGHT, WE DESERVE HELL, AND FOR REASONS THAT TOTALLY ESCAPE US, GOD HAS CHOSEN TO PULL US OUT OF THE MUD AND GIVE US ETERNAL LIFE AND ETERNAL HAPPINESS. BUT THINK ABOUT IT. JESUS WAS HUMAN LIKE YOU AND I, AND HE WAS HUMAN ON THE MOUNTAIN AS WELL. YOU CAN'T SEPARATE JESUS INTO A DIVINE PART AND A HUMAN PART; HE IS DIVINE AND HUMAN AT THE SAME TIME. THE APOSTLES DIDN'T GET A GLIMPSE OF THE SON OF GOD, THE SECOND PERSON OF THE TRINITY; THEY SAW THE HUMAN BEING JESUS AS HE REALLY WAS, THEY SAW HIS TRUE SELF. AND THAT TRUE SELF ISN'T VERY DIFFERENT FROM YOURS AND MINE.

WHEN SAINT FRANCIS KISSED THE LEPER, WHEN MOTHER THERESA CLEANED THE SORES AND COMFORTED THE DYING STREET PERSONS IN CALCUTTA; WHEN ST KATHERINE DREXEL SPENT HER FAMILY FORTUNE IN THE SERVICE OF FORMER SLAVES AND SUBJUGATED INDIANS – THEY SAW THE REAL SELVES OF THE PEOPLE THEY WERE SERVING. THAT'S A GIFT GOD GIVES HIS SAINTS. AND THEY SAW THE LEPER, THE BEGGARS, THE OPPRESSED PEOPLES AS THEY REALLY ARE – BELOVED OF GOD, SHINING WITH AN INNER LIGHT, HAVING WITHIN THEM SOMETHING WONDERFULLY LOVEABLE, SO MUCH SO THAT GOD IS MADLY IN LOVE WITH THEM. AND THE MORE YOU AND I BECOME OUR TRUE SELVES, THE MORE WE ARE TRANSFIGURED TO OUR OWN VISION, THE MORE WE SEE THE TRUE SELVES OF THOSE AROUND US.

THAT'S THE REAL REASON THE CHURCH OPPOSES ABORTION AND EUTHANASIA – WHAT IS BEING KILLED IS BELOVED OF GOD DESTINED FOR ETERNAL LIFE. THAT'S WHY THERE IS SOMETHING OF INFINITE VALUE IN THE PERSON WHO IS BEING CRIPPLED BY ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE OR THE CHILD BORN WITH SEVERE MENTAL RETARDATION. YOU MY NOT SEE IT, BUT ASK THE LOVING SON OF THE MOTHER WITH ALZHEIMERS, OR THE PARENTS THAT GAVE BIRTH TO THE CHILD, BECAUSE THEY HAVE GLIMPSED THE TRUE SELF.

OUR GOAL IS TO GROW OUT OF OUR FALSE SELVES AND BECOME THE SELVES THAT WE REALLY ARE, THE SELF THAT GOD SEES, THE SELF THAT IS VISIBLE TO THE SAINT. ON THE MOUNTAIN JESUS GAVE HIS APOSTLES A VISION OF THAT TRUE SELF. HE WANTS HIS FOLLOWERS TO HAVE A PICTURE, SO THAT THEY CAN WORK TOWARDS SEEING THEMSELVES AS THEY REALLY ARE – REFLECTIONS OF GOD HIMSELF. AND ODDLY ENOUGH, THE BEST WAY TO DO THIS IS TO SEE OTHERS AS THEY REALLY ARE. IT DOESN'T COME EASILY; WE SEE THE OTHERS FALSE SELF THROUGH OUR OWN FALSE VISION. WE COMPARE, WE MEASURE, WE ACCUSE, WE ARE UNFORGIVING, OR WORST OF ALL, WE IGNORE. BUT IF WE BEGIN BY LOOKING AT THE OTHER PERSON AS AN ENCOUNTER WITH CHRIST, GRADUALLY WE BEGIN TO SEE HIS BEAUTY, HER GLORY – WE SEE THE OTHER PERSON AS TRANSFIGURED, AND WE HEAR GOD CALLING OUT, “THIS IS MY BELOVED”. AND WHEN WE TRULY RECOGNIZE THAT OUR NEIGHBOR IS GOD'S BELOVED, WE START TO SEE THAT WE ARE AS WELL. AND OUR FALSE SELF BEGINS TO WITHER AWAY – IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW SMART OR RICH OR ATHLETIC I AM. IT DOESN'T EVEN MATTER WHETHER I PRAY MORE OR LIVE A BLAMELESS LIFE, BECAUSE THOSE ARE REACTIONS TO GOD'S LOVE, NOT THE CAUSE OF HIS LOVE. AND WHEN OUR FALSE SELF WITHERS AWAY OUR TRUE SELF WILL SHINE FORTH. IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION THE AUTHOR DESCRIBES THOSE WHO HAVE WITHSTOOD THE TEST; THEIR GARMENTS WILL BE WASHED IN THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB AND MADE WHITE AS SNOW. MAY WE LOOK AT EACH OTHER AND BE BLINDED BY OUR TRUE SELVES.

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.