Fourth Sunday of Easter, Cycle A

JOHN 10:1-10

I HAD A PRETTY GOOD MOTHER.  I KNOW WE'RE SUPPOSED TO SAY THAT OUR MOTHERS WERE THE BEST MOTHERS IN THE WORLD, AND CERTAINLY WHEN I WAS A KID I THOUGHT THAT. AND WHEN I MAKE THE SIGN OF THE CROSS, I AM DOING SOMETHING MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME WHEN I WAS ABOUT THREE OR FOUR. BUT I LOOK BACK AND IT'S OBVIOUS THAT SHE COULD HAVE DONE SOME THINGS BETTER, AND MY TWO SISTERS AND I STILL BEAR A FEW SCARS. BUT I WOULD BET THAT ALL OF YOU COULD SAY THE SAME THING. AFTER ALL, MOTHERS ARE HUMAN BEINGS, AND THEY AREN'T PERFECT, AND THEY CARRY BAGGAGE FROM THEIR OWN UPBRINGING. MY WIFE IS A WONDERFUL MOTHER. I THINK SHE'S DONE A BETTER JOB OF BEING A MOTHER THAN MY OWN MOTHER DID. I'M PROUD OF MY CHILDREN, AND I SEE BITS OF HER REFLECTED IN THEM. AND CERTAINLY SHE HAD A LOT MORE TO DO WITH RAISING THEM THAN I DID. I'D GO OFF TO WORK IN THE MORNING AND COME HOME IN THE EVENING, AND SHE'D TAKE CARE OF ALL THE IN BETWEEN PARTS.

MY DAUGHTERS ARE GOOD MOTHERS AS WELL. I LOOK AT MY GRANDCHILDREN AND SEE THAT THEY HAVE BEEN SHAPED BY THEIR MOTHERS AND FATHERS, AND THEY'VE DONE A GOOD JOB AND CONTINUE TO DO SO. SO I DON'T HAVE ANY COMPLAINTS.

BUT YOU CAN GO ON YOU-TUBE AND WATCH A MOTHER HAVING AN ABORTION. SHE BECAME PREGNANT AND DECIDED THAT FOR HER IT WASN'T THE RIGHT TIME TO HAVE A CHILD. SHE WORKED FOR PLANNED PARENTHOOD AND DECIDED THAT SHE WOULD RECORD THE WHOLE EVENT AND PUT IT ON LINE SO THAT WOMEN WHO HAD MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT ABORTION WOULD BE COMFORTED BY SEEING HOW EASY IT WAS. I WONDER HOW THE CHILD'S GRANDPARENTS FELT. I'M GLAD NONE OF MY GRANDCHILDREN WERE ABORTED.

JESUS GIVES US THREE IMAGES. THE FIRST IS THAT OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD. HE IS CLEARLY THINKING ABOUT THE PSALM WHICH STARTS OUT, “THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD...” AND TALKS ABOUT STILL WATERS AND GREEN PASTURES. THE GOOD SHEPHERD LEAVES 99 SHEEP AND GOES AFTER THE ONE WHICH HAS WANDERED OFF. WHEN HE FINDS HIM, HE PUTS HIM ON HIS SHOULDERS AND BRINGS HIM BACK TO THE FLOCK. THAT'S WHAT WE SEE IN THOSE HOLY CARDS, IN THOSE PICTURES. JESUS AS THE GOOD SHEPHERD.

BUT TODAY HE GIVES US TWO MORE IMAGES. THE SHEPHERD IS THE ONE THAT THE GATEKEEPER ALLOWS INTO THE SHEEPFOLD. ONCE THE SHEPHERD IS IN THE SHEEPFOLD, HE CAN SPEAK TO HIS SHEEP AND LEAD THEM OUT. THEY KNOW HIS VOICE AND FOLLOW HIM; HE KNOWS HIS SHEEP AND THEY KNOW HIM.

AND THE OTHER IMAGE IS THAT OF THE GATE TO THE SHEEPFOLD. IN THE DAYS OF JESUS, SHEPHERDS WOULD BRING THEIR SHEEP INTO A COMMON ENCLOSURE, A SHEEPFOLD. THERE WAS ONLY ONE ENTRANCE AND THE SHEEP HAD TO GO OUT SINGLE FILE. AT NIGHT THE SHEPHERDS WOULD TAKE TURNS SLEEPING IN THE ENTRANCE WAY. IF YOU WANTED TO GET INTO THE SHEEPFOLD, YOU'D HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SHEPHERD.

BUT WE HEAR STILL ANOTHER INTERESTING IMAGE IN TODAY'S GOSPEL. THE SHEPHERD DRIVES HIS SHEEP OUT OF THE SHEEPFOLD. THAT'S THE SAME GREEK WORD THAT IS USED WHEN JESUS DRIVES THE MONEY CHANGERS OUT OF THE TEMPLE. IT'S THE SAME WORD THAT IS USED WHEN HE DRIVES THE DEMONS OUT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE POSSESSED. IT'S NOT A GENTLE WORD.

I THINK MOTHERS ARE VERY MUCH LIKE SHEPHERDS, AS JESUS DESCRIBED THEM. THEY FIRST OF ALL DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO MAKE SURE THEIR CHILDREN ARE FED AND CLOTHED AND PROTECTED. MOTHERS WHO LIVE IN PLACES WHERE THERE ISN'T ENOUGH FOOD MAKE SURE THEIR CHILDREN ARE FED BEFORE THEY EAT THEMSELVES. AND MOTHERS HAVE A UNIQUE RELATIONSHIP TO THEIR CHILDREN; WHEN A CHILD IS YOUNG ONLY THE MOTHER CAN COMFORT HIM OR HER. ONLY THE MOTHER CAN GIVE THE CHILD A SENSE OF SECURITY, OF BEING LOVED, OF BELONGING. OF COURSE FATHERS HAVE A ROLE AS WELL, BUT WHEN THE CHILD GETS UPSET, THE FATHER HANDS THE CHILD BACK TO HIS MOTHER. EVEN AN INFANT KNOWS HER MOTHER'S VOICE. SHE HAS A SIGN ON HER DESK THAT SAYS, “THE BUCK STOPS HERE”.

AND MOTHERS ARE FIERCELY PROTECTIVE. SHEPHERDS IN JESUS' TIME WOULD BATTLE WILD ANIMALS AND THIEVES TO DEFEND THEIR SHEEP, AND SOMETIMES WOULD LOSE THEIR LIVES. EVERY TEACHER AND COACH HAS PROBABLY FELT THE WRATH OF A MOTHER WHO FELT THAT HER CHILD NEEDED DEFENDING. AND MOTHERS, AT LEAST GOOD MOTHERS, ARE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT WHO THEIR CHILDREN ASSOCIATE WITH, AND WHAT THEY READ AND WATCH ON TELEVISION, AND WHAT THEY EAT. MOTHERS ARE GATEKEEPERS.

AND GOOD MOTHERS DRIVE THEIR CHILDREN; THEY PUSH THEM OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONE. WHEN I WAS A KID I LOVED TO READ COMIC BOOKS. BUT IF IT WAS A NICE DAY OUTSIDE, THE COMIC BOOK WOULD BE SNATCHED FROM MY HAND AND I WOULD BE USHERED TO THE DOOR AND TOLD TO GO OUTSIDE AND GET SOME EXERCISE. JESUS TALKS ABOUT THE SHEPHERD WHO DRIVES HIS SHEEP OUT OF THE COMFORT OF THE SHEEPFOLD. FOR A SHEEP TO FULFILL ITS ROLE, IT NEEDED EXERCISE, IT NEEDED TO FIND FRESH GRASS TO GRAZE; TO STAY IN THE SHEEPFOLD MIGHT BE COMFORTABLE, BUT IN THE LONG RUN WAS NOT IN THE SHEEP'S BEST INTEREST. A GOOD MOTHERS KEEP PUSHING HER CHILD BECAUSE SHE SEES HIS POTENTIAL EVEN WHEN HE DOESN'T. OF COURSE THE PUSHING DIES DOWN AS THE CHILD AGES, BUT AS ALL OF US KNOW, EVEN WHEN WE ARE FULL GROWN AND OUT ON OUR OWN, WE WILL GET LITTLE PUSHES FROM OUR MOTHERS. WHEN MY MOTHER WAS 90 AND HAD ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, SHE TOLD ME I WAS WORKING TOO HARD AND NEEDED TO TAKE MORE TIME FOR MYSELF. A MOTHER STOPS BEING A MOTHER ON THE DAY SHE DIES. JESUS ALSO SEES THE POTENTIAL IN EACH OF US, AND WANTS NOTHING MORE FOR US THAN TO REALIZE THAT POTENTIAL, TO BE THE BEST VERSION OF OURSELVES THAT WE CAN BE. HE NEVER STOPS PUSHING US TO THAT GOAL.

SO TODAY WE CELEBRATE GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY, AND MOTHER'S DAY. GOOD SHEPHERDS AND GOOD MOTHERS HAVE A LOT IN COMMON, AND IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT WE HONOR THOSE WONDERFUL WOMEN WHO WERE OUR FIRST SHEPHERDS, WHO STOOD IN FOR OUR GOOD SHEPHERD WHEN WE WERE SMALL AND HELPLESS.

Third Sunday of Easter, Cycle A

LUKE 24:13-35

AFTER HIS RESURRECTION, EVERY APPEARANCE OF JESUS WHICH IS RECORDED IN THE GOSPELS IS EITHER TO HIS APOSTLES OR TO A FEW OF THE FAITHFUL WOMEN – EXCEPT THIS ONE. WHO IS CLEOPAS AND WHO IS THE OTHER DISCIPLE? THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF SPECULATION. THE STORY I LIKE BEST IS THAT THIS CLEOPAS IS THE SAME PERSON REFERRED TO IN ANOTHER GOSPEL AS CLOPAS, THE HUSBAND OF A WOMAN NAMED MARY, WHO IS THE MOTHER OF JAMES AND JOSES, WHO WERE COUSINS OF JESUS. SOME SCHOLARS HAVE CLAIMED THAT CLOPAS IS ALSO CALLED “ALTHEUS” AND THAT HE AND JOSEPH, THE FOSTER FATHER OF OUR LORD, WERE BROTHERS. SO MAYBE JESUS' UNCLE AND AUNT WERE THE TWO DISCIPLES WHO WERE ON THE ROAD TO EMMAUS. WELL, WE'LL NEVER KNOW, AND IT DOESN'T MATTER, REALLY, BECAUSE LUKE TELLS US THIS STORY NOT BECAUSE HE IS TRYING TO RECORD HISTORY, BUT BECAUSE IT HAS SOMETHING TO TELL US, HIS READERS.

IN THE DAYS OF JESUS EMMAUS WAS A PLACE YOU WENT TO GET AWAY FROM IT ALL. IT WAS KIND OF LIKE A SPA, AND THE NAME OF THE TOWN MEANS “WARM SPRINGS”. WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER REFERENCES TO THIS TOWN IN THE BIBLE, AND ODDLY ENOUGH, THERE ARE FOUR PLACES AROUND JERUSALEM THAT CLAIM TO BE THE ORIGINAL EMMAUS. BUT THAT'S NOT IMPORTANT EITHER. THE TWO DISCIPLES HAVE BEEN DEVASTATED BY WHAT HAS GONE ONE IN JERUSALEM OVER THAT PASSOVER, AND THEY ARE LEAVING THE PLACE IN WHICH THEY HAD HOPED THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN WOULD BE USHERED IN, AND GOING TO A PLACE OF REFUGE. THEY'VE PRETTY MUCH GIVEN UP ON GOD'S PROMISES.

YOU AND I FACE THAT DANGER, OVER AND OVER AGAIN. WE ARE FAITHFUL, WE GO TO CHURCH, WE TRY TO KEEP OUT OF TROUBLE AND SAY OUR PRAYERS, BUT DAYS COME WHEN WE ARE DISCOURAGED, WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS THAT MAKES IT SEEM AS THOUGH GOD ISN'T PAYING ATTENTION. IT'S EASY TO GIVE UP. THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE LOSE OUR FAITH, BUT IT MAY MEAN THAT WE EXPECT VERY LITTLE FROM OUR FATHER; AND EXPECTING LITTLE, WE OFFER LITTLE. LIVING OUR FAITH IS A BATTLE, AND SOMETIMES WE ARE TEMPTED TO RETREAT, JUST AS THE TWO DISCIPLES WERE.

IT'S INTERESTING THAT AFTER THE DISCIPLES EXPLAIN WHY THEY ARE DISCOURAGED, THE FIRST WORDS JESUS SAYS TO THEM ARE “WHAT LITTLE SENSE YOU HAVE! HOW SLOW YOU ARE TO BELIEVE WHAT THE PROPHETS ANNOUNCED!” IF OUR FAITH HAS LOST ITS EDGE, IF OUR CHRISTIANITY HAS BECOME TASTELESS AND GRAY, JESUS TELLS US THAT OUR INDIFFERENCE IS NOT BECAUSE OF THE FAITH OR BECAUSE OF GOD; IT'S REALLY BECAUSE OF OURSELVES. AND HE GOES ON TO TELL US WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT.

THERE WAS A RECENT ARTICLE ABOUT A PASTOR WHOSE CONGREGATION WAS DIMINISHING. HE AND HIS PARISH COUNCIL TRIED EVERYTHING – BAKE SALES, OUTREACH PROGRAMS, OUTSIDE SPEAKERS – YOU NAME IT, THEY DID IT. THE VERY FAITHFUL OF COURSE SHOWED UP FOR EVERYTHING; BUT THE REST DIDN'T AND THE CHURCH CONTINUED TO WITHER AWAY. FINALLY THE PASTOR STARTED A BIBLE STUDY GROUP. THE FIRST GROUP HAD SIX INDIVIDUALS. OVER TIME, HOWEVER, MEMBERS BROUGHT OTHERS, AND SOME STARTED OTHER GROUPS, AND AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS, THERE WERE ABOUT 80 PEOPLE WHO WERE ACTIVELY STUDYING SCRIPTURE. AND THIS MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE. BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE WERE ON FIRE, AND THEY WERE THE ONES WHO BEGAN TO BUILD UP THE CHURCH AGAIN. JESUS TURNS THE DISCOURAGED DISCIPLES ATTENTION TO SCRIPTURE, AND THEIR HEARTS BEGIN TO BURN WITHIN THEM. SAINT JEROME RIGHTLY SAID, “IGNORANCE OF SCRIPTURE IS IGNORANCE OF CHRIST.” AND JESUS HIMSELF SAID THAT WHERE TWO OR THREE ARE GATHERED TOGETHER, HE WOULD BE THERE. WHAT BETTER WAY TO MEET JESUS THAN TO STUDY SCRIPTURE TOGETHER!

WHEN THEY ARE READY FOR THE EVENING MEAL, THE DISCIPLES INVITE THE STRANGER TO SHARE SUPPER WITH THEM. IT IS THERE THAT JESUS REVEALS HIMSELF – BUT HE DOES SO IN THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD. THAT'S KIND OF A MYSTERIOUS PHRASE. LUKE'S READERS WOULD HAVE SEEN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THAT AND THE EUCHARIST THAT THEY CELEBRATED EVERY SUNDAY. BUT EVEN TODAY, WE LEAVE OUR TROUBLED WORLD OUTSIDE THE DOOR, COME IN TO HEAR THE SCRIPTURES, AND THEN JESUS AGAIN REVEALS HIMSELF TO US IN THE BREAD AND THE WINE. BEING A CHRISTIAN, SOMEONE SAID, IS LIKE BEING IN LOVE WITH SOMEONE WHO IS FAR AWAY. YOU GET A LETTER; YOU HEAR THE VOICE OVER THE PHONE; YOU FIND LITTLE THINGS AROUND YOUR HOUSE THAT REMIND YOU OF THE PERSON. ALL OF THESE ARE WONDERFUL OF COURSE, BUT THEY REALLY BUILD UP IN YOU A LONGING TO BE WITH THAT PERSON. WHEN JESUS REVEALS HIMSELF TO US IN WORD AND SACRAMENT, THAT'S KIND OF A FORETASTE OF HOW IT WILL BE WHEN WE ARE UNITED WITH HIM IN PERSON. IF WE DON'T LEAVE MASS WITH A SENSE OF LONGING WE ARE MISSING SOMETHING.

JESUS AFTER REVEALING HIMSELF VANISHES. IS HE STILL WITH THEM? THEY CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN CHANGED, AND NOW THEY RUSH BACK TO THE CITY WHERE ALL THEIR HOPES WERE DESTROYED. WHEN YOU AND I PARTICIPATE IN THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD, WE ARE CHANGED, IF WE ALLOW THE LORD TO CHANGE US. JESUS BECOMES PART OF US, AND WE, PART OF HIM. WE ARE HIS BODY, AND LIKE THE TWO DISCIPLES, WE SHOULD BE REFRESHED, READY TO CONFRONT OUR JERUSALEM, OUR WORLD WHERE IT SEEMS AS THOUGH GOD HAS FORGOTTEN. BECAUSE GOD HAS NOT FORGOTTEN. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF TRANSFORMING THE WORLD. AFTER THE TWO DISCIPLES ENCOUNTER JESUS, THEY CAN'T WAIT TO GO OUT AND SPREAD THE NEWS THAT JESUS IS ALIVE, THAT JESUS IS IN THEIR MIDST. AND WHEN THEY MEET THE APOSTLES THEY FIND THAT THEY HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED THE RISEN CHRIST, AND THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY IS BORN. YOU AND I ARE MEANT TO BE THE PRESENCE OF JESUS; YOU AND I ARE REALLY THE HOPE OF THE WORLD. NO ONE ELSE.

SO THE STORY OF EMMAUS IS OUR STORY, AND TODAY WE SHOULD ASK, ARE OUR HEARTS BURNING WITHIN US? HAVE WE ENCOUNTERED THE LIVING, RISEN CHRIST? AND IF NOT, MAYBE WE MIGHT HEAR THOSE WORDS OF JESUS: “WHAT LITTLE SENSE YOU HAVE! HOW SLOW YOU ARE TO BELIEVE WHAT THE PROPHETS ANNOUNCED!” AND WE WILL TAKE THE REMEDY JESUS HIMSELF OFFERS – TO STUDY THE SCRIPTURES, WHERE WE WILL LEARN ABOUT CHRIST, AND TO DO SO WITH EACH OTHER, BECAUSE THEN JESUS WILL BE THERE; AND AFTER ENCOUNTERING HIM IN THE WORD AND THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD, ALLOWING HIM TO TRANSFORM US AND MAKE US WHAT WE TRULY WERE MEANT TO BE.

Second Sunday of Easter, cycle A

JOHN 20:19-31

AS YOU KNOW I GREW UP IN MONTANA, WHERE I ATTENDED CATHOLIC SCHOOLS. RELIGION WAS ONE OF THE SUBJECTS THAT WE HAD TO PASS IN ORDER TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT GRADE. TO US KIDS, IT WAS ANOTHER SUBJECT, AND MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE REST, BECAUSE IT TAUGHT US HOW TO APPROACH LIFE IN GENERAL. RELIGION TOLD US WHY WE SHOULDN'T CHEAT ON MATH TESTS; IT TOLD US WHY WE SHOULD BE KIND TO THE ODD KID IN THE CLASS WHO WASN'T VERY POPULAR. IT TOLD US WHY WE SHOULD RESPECT OUR TEACHERS AND OUR PARENTS. HISTORY WAS TAUGHT FROM A CATHOLIC STANDPOINT; IN ENGLISH WE WERE SHOWN HOW AN AUTHOR'S RELIGION INFLUENCED WHAT HE OR SHE WROTE. EVEN OUR SCIENCE COURSES TOOK FOR GRANTED THAT GOD WAS BEHIND THE NATURAL WORD. I LOOK BACK ON MY EDUCATION AND, YES, THERE WERE SOME FOOLISH THINGS SAID, AND I'VE CHANGED MY MIND ABOUT SOME THINGS; BUT ALL IN ALL, I'M SURE THAT TWELVE YEARS OF BEING FORMED THAT WAY, PLUS HAVING PARENTS WHO TOOK THEIR FAITH VERY SERIOUSLY, HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH WHY I'M STILL IN THE CHURCH.

IT DIDN'T TURN OUT THAT WAY FOR A LOT OF MY CONTEMPORARIES. THERE WAS RICKY, A CHILDHOOD FRIEND WHOSE MOTHER WAS CATHOLIC AND FATHER WAS NOTHING. HE STOPPED GOING TO CHURCH AS SOON AS HE COULD, AND AS FAR AS I KNOW, STILL ISN'T GOING. THERE WAS BILL, WHOSE PARENTS SPLIT UP ABOUT THE EIGHTH GRADE; HE TRANSFERRED TO THE PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL, AND LAST I HEARD, HE WAS NOT PRACTICING ANY FAITH. AND I COULD GO ON. THE POINT IS, PEOPLE DON'T AUTOMATICALLY STAY IN THE CHURCH JUST BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN BAPTIZED, OR MADE THEIR FIRST COMMUNION, OR BEEN CONFIRMED; IN FACT, ABOUT 70% DROP OUT – HOPEFULLY NOT FOREVER, BUT THOSE ARE JUST THE STATISTICS.

TODAY'S GOSPEL IS FROM THE GOSPEL OF JOHN. IF WE HAD BEEN READING THE GOSPEL OF LUKE, WE WOULD HAVE HEARD THAT WHEN JESUS APPEARED IN THEIR MIDST, THEY WERE FRIGHTENED, THINKING THAT HE WAS A GHOST. BUT AS WE READ TODAY, HE GIVES THEM HIS PEACE, AND THEY BECOME GLAD. TODAY'S GOSPEL PASSAGE SEEMS TO FOCUS ON THOMAS, WHO FOR TWO THOUSAND YEARS HAS BEEN NICKNAMED “DOUBTING” THOMAS. THAT'S PROBABLY NOT FAIR, BUT I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THAT TODAY. INSTEAD, THINK ABOUT WHAT WE'VE JUST HEARD. JESUS APPEARS TO THE APOSTLES. WHEN THEY TELL THOMAS WHAT THEY HAVE SEEN AND HEARD, HE REFUSES TO BELIEVE THEM. WHY? THE OTHER APOSTLES TELL ABOUT HOW JESUS GAVE THEM THE HOLY SPIRIT, TOLD THEM HE WAS SENDING THEM OUT TO DO WHAT HE HAD DONE – TO BRING THE GOOD NEWS TO THE WORLD. THEY TOLD THOMAS THEY HAD BEEN GIVEN THE POWER TO FORGIVE SINS. THEY TOLD HIM THEY HAD BEEN GIVEN PEACE, NOT JUST ANY PEACE, BUT THE PEACE OF JESUS HIMSELF. AND THOMAS MUST HAVE WONDERED, IF THAT'S ALL TRUE, WHY ARE YOU STILL UP HERE IN THIS LOCKED ROOM, HIDING FROM EVERYONE? IF YOU'VE REALLY EXPERIENCED THE LORD IN THE FLESH AFTER HE WAS PUT TO DEATH AND WAS BURIED, WHY AREN'T YOU OUT SHOUTING IT TO THE WORLD? YOUR ACTIONS ARE JUST NOT IN KEEPING WITH WHAT YOU ARE SAYING.

AND THOMAS GOES ON ABOUT HOW HE ISN'T GOING TO BELIEVE HEARSAY; HE WILL WANT PROOF; HE WILL WANT TO SEE, HEAR, AND EVEN TOUCH JESUS, AND THEN HE MIGHT BELIEVE.

BUT NOTICE THAT WHEN JESUS DOES APPEAR TO THEM, THOMAS DOES NOT TAKE UP JESUS ON HIS INVITATION TO PUT HIS FINGERS INTO THE WOUNDS OF HIS HANDS, AND HIS HAND INTO THE WOUND IN HIS SIDE. NO, THOMAS FALLS TO THE FLOOR AND DECLARES, “MY LORD AND MY GOD”. THOMAS HAS BEEN READY TO BELIEVE; HE WANTED TO BELIEVE. BUT HE DID NOT EXPERIENCE THE LORD'S PRESENCE IN THE OTHER DISCIPLES; HE SAW NOTHING ABOUT THEM THAT SAID THEY REALLY BELIEVED IN THE RESURRECTION THAT THEY PROCLAIMED. JESUS IN HIS MERCY, OFFERED HIM PROOF, AND HE BELIEVED. BUT JESUS WAS NOT JUST BEING MERCIFUL TO THOMAS, HE WAS BEING MERCIFUL TO THE OTHER APOSTLES AS WELL, THE ONES WHO SAID THEY BELIEVED BUT DID NOT ACT IN A WAY THAT WOULD CONVINCE ANYONE THAT THEY WERE BELIEVERS.

AND MAYBE THAT'S ONE OF THE LESSONS OF THIS GOSPEL. YOU AND I CLAIM TO BE CHRISTIAN, WE CLAIM TO BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST SUFFERED FOR US, DIED, AND ROSE FROM THE DEAD. AND THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING A FAIR NUMBER OF FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS, MAYBE SOME OF OUR OWN CHILDREN, WHO LOOK AT US AND ARE NOT CONVINCED; THEY DO NOT SEE IN US EVIDENCE THAT WE BELIEVE CHRIST ROSE FROM THE DEAD. THEY DON'T SEE THAT WE HAVE BECOME BOLD AND EAGER TO ANNOUNCE THE GOOD NEWS TO EVERYONE. THEY DON'T SEE THAT WE KNOW HOW TO FORGIVE THOSE WHO OFFEND US; THEY DON'T SEE THAT WE HAVE A LOVE FOR THE POOR AS JESUS DID. THEY DON'T SEE THAT WE LEAD LIVES OF JOY, PRECISELY BECAUSE WE ARE SO GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE A FATHER WHO FORGIVES US AND CONSTANTLY SEEKS TO DRAW US TO HIMSELF. THEY DON'T SEE THAT WE ARE LAYING UP TREASURES IN HEAVEN, WHERE IT REALLY COUNTS.

I WONDER IF THE APOSTLES EVER REFLECTED ON THIS? CERTAINLY WE FIND THEM BOLDLY PROCLAIMING JESUS AFTER THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES TO THEM ON PENTECOST. THEY ARE NO LONGER AFRAID, THEY NO LONGER HIDE IN A LOCKED ROOM. AND BECAUSE THEY ARE NOW LIVING AS THOUGH THEY BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION, THEY CONVERT 3000 PEOPLE THAT FIRST DAY THEY BEGAN TO PREACH. BUT THERE IN THE LOCKED ROOM, THEY WERE STILL AFRAID, BELIEVING, PERHAPS, WITH THEIR MINDS, BUT CERTAINLY NOT WITH THEIR BEHAVIOR.

JESUS OUR LORD AND GOD IS MERCIFUL. IF THOMAS NEEDS SOMETHING SPECIAL TO BELIEVE, JESUS IS WILLING TO PROVIDE IT. AND HE IS MERCIFUL TO US EVEN NOW DESPITE OUR SINS, DESPITE OUR FAILURES, DESPITE ALL THE DISTRACTIONS THAT KEEP US FROM LOVING HIM AS WE SHOULD. BUT I WONDER WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THOMAS HAD VISITED HIS BROTHER APOSTLES AND INSTEAD OF FINDING THEM IN THE LOCKED ROOM HAD DISCOVERED THEM BOLDLY PREACHING ON THE GROUNDS OF THE TEMPLE, GIVING NO THOUGHT TO WHO MIGHT BE OFFENDED, WHOSE FEELINGS MIGHT BE HURT. WOULD HE HAVE THEN DOUBTED? OR WOULD HE HAVE JOYFULLY JOINED THEM, HAVING BEEN CONVINCED BY THEIR ACTIONS THAT WHAT THEY SAID THEY SAW HAD REALLY HAPPENED.

LET US PRAY THAT OUR BELIEF IN THE RESURRECTION WILL SHOW; LET US PRAY THAT GOD WILL GIVE US HOLY BOLDNESS SO THAT WE CAN BE INSTRUMENTS TO WIN SOULS FOR HIM. AND LET US ASK HIM FOR MERCY FOR ALL THE TIMES WE COULD HAVE ACTED BUT DIDN'T. FOR ALL THE TIMES WHEN SOMETHING WE MIGHT HAVE SAID OR DONE MIGHT HAVE AWAKENED FAITH IN SOMEONE WE KNOW, SOMEONE WE LOVE. AND LET US PRAY THAT HE WILL MAKE UP FOR OUR FEAR AND TIMIDITY SO THAT NO ONE WILL BE LOST BECAUSE WE WERE AFRAID TO SHOW THAT WE BELIEVE JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD.

Easter 2014

JOHN 20:1-9

WHEN I WAS YOUNG, EASTER SUNDAY WAS SPECIAL. WE WOULD GO TO MASS, WHERE OF COURSE THERE WOULD BE FLOWERS EVERYWHERE AND THE CHOIR WOULD BE IN ITS BEST VOICE; AFTERWARD WE WOULD HAVE BREAKFAST WITH MY GRANDPARENTS, AND THEN WE WOULD ALL GO TO THE HELENA NURSERY AND GREENHOUSE, WHICH OPENED ITS DOORS FOR THE SEASON ON EASTER SUNDAY. THERE WAS A PORTABLE ORGAN PIPING OUT EASTER MUSIC. THERE WERE PEOPLE DRESSED UP LIKE THE EASTER BUNNY HANDING OUT TREATS TO THE KIDS. WE WOULD WANDER DOWN THE AISLES LOOKING AT ALL THE FLOWERS AND BREATHING IN THEIR FRAGRANCE. AND OF COURSE EVERYONE WOULD BE DRESSED UP IN THEIR EASTER BEST. IT WAS A MAGICAL TIME, A PROMISE OF NEW BEGINNINGS, OF THE FACT THAT THERE WERE ONLY A FEW MORE WEEKS OF SCHOOL AND THEN WOULD COME THE SUMMER OF FREEDOM AND FUN.

WHAT WOULD IT BE LIKE IF WE REALLY BELIEVED IN THE RESURRECTION? I THINK WE BELIEVE WITH OUR MINDS, BUT NOT WITH OUR WHOLE BEINGS. IF THERE WAS NO RESURRECTION, THEN OUR LIVES WOULD BE OVER WHEN WE DIE. AND HOW WOULD THAT AFFECT US? WE HAVE TWO WAYS TO FACE THAT; ONE IS TO TRY AND CRAM AS MUCH “LIFE” INTO OUR SHORT LIFE SPAN AS WE CAN; TO MAKE OUR BUCKET LIST AND GET TO WORK ON IT. AND THERE ARE MANY OF US WHO LIVE LIKE THIS, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE BLESSED WITH GOOD HEALTH AND ADEQUATE INCOME. AND THE OPPOSITE EXTREME IS TO SAY, “IT DOESN'T MATTER.” BECAUSE IF WE REALLY BELIEVE THAT THIS LIFE IS ALL WE HAVE, THEN THERE IS NOTHING TRANSCENDENT, NOTHING THAT MATTERS MUCH. GLOBAL WARMING? I WON'T BE AROUND. POVERTY, DISEASE, CORRUPT GOVERNMENT, PAIN AND SUFFERING – WHAT DOES IT MATTER? I CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, CERTAINLY NOTHING SUBSTANTIAL. AND EVEN IF I COULD, IN THE LONG RUN WE'LL ALL BE DEAD.

AND YOU KNOW, THOSE TWO WAYS OF SEEING THINGS ARE NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE.

BUT THAT'S WHERE THE RESURRECTION COMES IN. YOU PROBABLY KNOW THAT IN ALL FOUR GOSPELS, THE RESURRECTION STORY DOES NOT START WITH JESUS TRIUMPHANTLY WALKING OUT OF THE TOMB; IT STARTS WITH SOME WOMEN FINDING THAT THE TOMB IS EMPTY. LATER IN THE GOSPEL STORIES, JESUS APPEARS TO HIS FOLLOWERS, NOT EVERYBODY. AND EVEN HIS FOLLOWERS DON'T RECOGNIZE HIM IMMEDIATELY; MARY MAGDALENE THINKS HE'S THE GARDENER; THE APOSTLES THINK HE'S A GHOST. AND THE DISCIPLES ON THE ROAD TO EMMAUS DON'T RECOGNIZE HIM UNTIL THEY'VE BEEN WITH HIM FOR A LONG TIME. JESUS DOES NOT COMPEL US TO BELIEVE, AND DID NOT COMPEL THOSE FIRST DISCIPLES TO BELIEVE EITHER. BECAUSE WHEN WE ARE CONFRONTED WITH THE EMPTY TOMB, IT IS ALWAYS A CHOICE – DO WE TAKE HIM UP ON HIS INVITATION, OR DO WE THINK SOMEONE STOLE THE BODY, OR WHAT PEOPLE HAVE SEEN IS JUST A MASS HALLUCINATION. THERE WAS ONE ELABORATE THEORY THAT WHEN JESUS WAS TAKEN DOWN FROM THE CROSS, HE WASN'T QUITE DEAD AND HIS DISCIPLES NURSED HIM BACK TO HEALTH.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE EMPTY TOMB WITH THE EYES OF FAITH, YOU SEE THREE THINGS.

FIRST, JESUS IS TRULY ALIVE. HE IS NOT A GHOST, A HALLUCINATION; HE CAN EAT AND DRINK AND COMMUNICATE WITH HIS FOLLOWERS; AND YET HE IS NOT LIMITED; HE CAN APPEAR IN A LOCKED ROOM, HE CAN DISAPPEAR FROM THE TABLE IN EMMAUS WHEN THE DISCIPLES RECOGNIZE HIM. HE CAN ASCEND INTO HEAVEN IN THE PRESENCE OF HIS DISCIPLES. AND IF JESUS IS TRULY ALIVE, HE HAS KEPT HIS PROMISE TO US, THAT HE WILL RISE AGAIN. AND THAT MEANS HE WILL KEEP HIS OTHER PROMISES, ESPECIALLY THE PROMISE THAT DEATH NO LONGER HAS POWER OVER US. AND OF COURSE HE WILL KEEP HIS PROMISE TO BE WITH US, EVEN TO THE END OF THE WORLD, FIRST AND FOREMOST IN THE HOLY EUCHARIST.

SECOND, IT MEANS WE ARE FORGIVEN. THE EMPTY TOMB IS A NEW BEGINNING. OUR CHRISTIAN BELIEF IS THAT SOMEWHERE IN THE VERY ORIGINS OF HUMAN NATURE, WE ARE DISPOSED TO CHOOSE TO ACT PRIMARILY FOR OUR OWN ADVANTAGE, AND TO ACT AGAINST WHAT GOD WILLS FOR US. THAT'S THE STORY OF ADAM AND EVE, AND YOU AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS WHERE ALL OUR SINS COME FROM. WE BELIEVE FURTHER THAT JESUS, WHO IS GOD AND MAN, CHOSE TO RELIEVE US OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR SINS, OUT OF NOTHING OTHER THAN LOVE. AND HE DID THIS BY SUFFERING AND DYING FOR US ON THE CROSS. HAD JESUS NOT RISEN FROM THE DEAD, ALL OF THIS WOULD BE USELESS – HE WOULD JUST BE ANOTHER VICTIM OF OUR SINS. BUT IN RISING FROM THE DEAD, HE CONQUERS SIN AND DEATH, AND THAT IS WHAT HE OFFERS TO US. I MIGHT ADD, PARENTHETICALLY, THAT NEXT SUNDAY IS DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY, AND THE CHURCH HAS PROMISED THAT THOSE WHO RECEIVE THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION DURING THIS SEASON WILL BE GIVEN WONDERFUL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS.

THIRD, THE OPEN TOMB MEANS THAT EVERYTHING WILL BE OK. OR ANOTHER WAY TO PUT IT IS THAT THE OPEN TOMB IS GOD'S PROMISE THAT NOTHING IS SO BAD THAT HE CANNOT MAKE GOOD COME FROM IT. AFTER ALL, IN ALL OF HISTORY THERE WAS NOTHING AS EVIL AS WHAT THE HUMAN RACE DID TO JESUS, THE SON OF GOD. AND YET, GOD NOT ONLY RAISES JESUS FROM THE DEAD, BUT JESUS BECOMES WHAT WE ARE MEANT TO BE, PEOPLE WHO ARE GLORIFIED, WHO HAVE NO LIMITATIONS, WHO ARE DESTINED TO LIVE FOREVER. SOME OF US HAVE UNDERGONE CRUCIFIXIONS; ALL OF US WILL, SOONER OR LATER. THE EMPTY TOMB IS PROOF THAT GOD WILL BRING RESURRECTION OUT OF THESE CRUCIFIXIONS.

WHEN YOU AND I LOOK ON THE EMPTY TOMB, IT IS NOT JUST EVIDENCE THAT PROVES THAT JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD. AS I SAID BEFORE, THERE ARE OTHER EXPLANATIONS, IF WE CHOOSE NOT TO BELIEVE. BUT TO THOSE OF US WHO BELIEVE, IT IS AN INVITATION – AN INVITATION TO LIVE IN A NEW WAY, A WAY THAT INSISTS THAT DEATH IS NOT THE END. IF WE HAVE ALL ETERNITY, WHAT'S THE RUSH IN CRAMMING EVERY POSSIBLE EXPERIENCE INTO OUR LIVES? WHAT'S THE POINT OF GETTING MORE AND MORE STUFF, OF MAKING A BUCKET LIST AND FRANTICALLY TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING ON IT? AND, IF WE HAVE ALL ETERNITY, THEN SURE, IT MAY NOT LOOK LIKE WE CAN MAKE MUCH OF A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER IN OUR LIFETIMES, BUT WE CAN BEGIN, KNOWING THAT WHAT WE START, GOD WILL FINISH, BECAUSE HE BRINGS RESURRECTION OUT OF CRUCIFIXION. THE EMPTY TOMB SAYS THAT THE GOOD THAT WE DO WILL ECHO IN ETERNITY.

FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE TODAY, THE TOMB IS WHERE EVERYONE ENDS UP, AND ONCE YOU ARE THERE, THAT'S IT. BUT FOR THE CHRISTIAN, THE TOMB IS JUST A STOP ALONG THE WAY TO A FUTURE SO GLORIOUS THAT WE CAN'T IMAGINE IT. AND THAT'S THE INVITATION OF EASTER – JESUS CHRIST HAS CONQUERED SIN AND DEATH FOR YOU AND I. LET US NO LONGER LIVE AS THOUGH THE GRAVE IS THE END OF EVERYTHING.

Holy Thursday, 2014

JOHN 13:1-15

DID YOU EVER WONDER WHERE WE GOT THE TERM “FIRST CLASS?” IN THE OLDEN DAYS, PEOPLE TRAVELED LONG DISTANCES BY STAGE COACH. ROADS WEREN'T VERY GOOD AND WERE SUBJECT TO FALLEN TREES, MUD SLIDES, WASH OUTS, AND OTHER HAZARDS. IF YOU WANTED TO RIDE A STAGE COACH, YOU COULD BUY A FIRST CLASS, A SECOND CLASS, OR THIRD CLASS TICKET. IF THE STAGE COACH MET SOME OBSTACLE, FIRST CLASS PASSENGERS COULD REMAIN IN THEIR SEATS, CONTINUING WHATEVER THEY WERE DOING. SECOND CLASS PASSENGERS HAD TO GET OUT AND WALK AROUND THE BARRIER TO LIGHTEN THE LOAD THAT THE HORSES HAD TO PULL. THIRD CLASS PASSENGERS, THOUGH, HAD TO GET OUT AND HELP THE STAGE COACH DRIVER GET THE COACH PAST THE BARRIER. THAT MEANT PUSHING AND LIFTING – THEY HAD TO GET “DOWN AND DIRTY”. THAT'S WHERE WE GET THAT EXPRESSION AS WELL. NOW YOU'VE HAD YOUR LANGUAGE LESSON.

IN THE DAYS OF JESUS, IF YOU WERE RICH, YOU HAD A SLAVE WHO WOULD WASH YOUR FEET. SINCE PEOPLE WORE SANDALS, AND THE STREETS WERE NOT ONLY DIRTY BUT WERE OFTEN THE PLACE WHERE TRASH WAS THROWN AND SEWAGE WAS SPILLED, IT WAS A NECESSITY TO WASH OFF YOUR FEET ONCE IN A WHILE, CERTAINLY BEFORE SITTING DOWN TO A MEAL. IF YOU WEREN'T RICH, YOU'D WASH YOUR OWN FEET, OR PERHAPS TAKE TURNS WASHING EACH OTHER'S FEET. IF YOU WERE A DISCIPLE OF A TEACHER, THE DISCIPLE ALWAYS WASHED HIS TEACHER'S FEET. TONIGHT JESUS, WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN FIRST CLASS, DESCENDS TO THIRD CLASS. HE IS THE ONE WHO GETS DOWN AND DIRTY.

ON HOLY THURSDAY WE CELEBRATE THE INSTITUTION OF THE SACRAMENTAL PRIESTHOOD, WHICH JESUS GAVE US SO THAT HE WOULD BE WITH US AS PRIEST, AS PROPHET AND AS RULER. OUR PRIESTS ARE PRIESTS BECAUSE THEY STAND IN FOR CHRIST, DOING WHAT HE DID – OFFERING HIS BODY AND BLOOD TO THE FATHER. THEY ACT AS PROPHETS WHEN THEY PREACH AND WHEN THEY SPEAK TO US IN THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION; A PROPHET IS SOMEONE WHO POINTS US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THEY ACT AS RULER BECAUSE THEY GATHER US INTO A COMMUNITY SO THAT WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE OF SERVICE TO EACH OTHER AND TO THE WORLD – MORE THAN WE COULD HAVE IF WE EACH ACTED ON OUR OWN.

WE ALSO CELEBRATE THE INSTITUTION OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST. IN EVERY MASS WE HEAR THOSE WORDS – HE TOOK BREAD, GAVE THANKS, BROKE IT, AND GAVE IT TO HIS DISCIPLES.... NOTICE THOSE WORDS. WHAT JESUS DID WE ARE INVITED TO DO WITH EVERY EUCHARIST. WE TAKE OR RECEIVE NOURISHMENT FROM OUR GOD. THE ULTIMATE NOURISHMENT IS HIS BODY AND BLOOD, BUT THERE ARE COUNTLESS OTHER WAYS WE RECEIVE WHAT GOD PUTS OUT THERE FOR US; WE NOURISH OUR BODIES WITH FOOD AND DRINK; WE NOURISH OUR MINDS IN OUR LEARNING, IN OUR ENTERTAINMENT; WE NOURISH OUR SOCIAL SELVES THROUGH OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE PEOPLE GOD GIVES US; AND WE NOURISH OUR SPIRITUAL SELVES THROUGH OUR PRAYERS, OUR FASTING, OUR CHARITABLE GIVING. OUT OF GOD'S ABUNDANCE HE INVITES US TO TAKE.

WE GIVE THANKS. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT WHEN I WAS YOUNG I DIDN'T THINK MUCH ABOUT GIVING THANKS. OH, I PRAYED, BUT IT WAS USUALLY ASKING GOD FOR SOMETHING. NOW THAT I'M OLD, I FIND MYSELF PRAYING MORE PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING. IF I ASK “WHAT SHOULD I BE THANKFUL FOR TODAY?” I NEVER HAVE TO THINK FOR VERY LONG. THE LIST IS ENDLESS. AND IT SEEMS SO MUCH MORE APPROPRIATE TO BEGIN MY PRAYERS BY GIVING THANKS RATHER THAN ASKING FOR MORE.

OUT OF THIS GRATITUDE, WE BREAK OR DIVIDE UP SOME OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN GIVEN, AND WE GIVE IT AWAY. MOST OF US HAVEN'T GOT A BIG PROBLEM WITH TAKING AND GIVING THANKS, BUT PERHAPS THE BREAKING AND THE GIVING AWAY COULD USE A LITTLE WORK.

WHY DID THE CHURCH SELECTED THIS READING ABOUT FOOT WASHING TO CELEBRATE THE DAY WHEN JESUS GAVE US THIS SACRAMENT, THIS INCREDIBLE MIRACLE BY WHICH HE CHOOSES TO FULFILL HIS PROMISE TO BE WITH US ALL DAYS EVEN TO THE END OF THE WORLD? WE COULD HAVE USED ANY OTHER OF THE FOUR GOSPELS, BECAUSE MARK, MATTHEW AND LUKE ALL CONTAIN A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THAT LAST SUPPER. IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN, THOUGH, WE HAVE NO SUCH DESCRIPTION; INSTEAD WE HAVE THIS PORTRAIT OF JESUS GIVING HIMSELF TO HIS FRIENDS IN SERVICE.

THE OTHER GOSPEL WRITERS REMIND US THAT JESUS GAVE US HIS BODY AND BLOOD IN WHAT LOOKED LIKE BREAD AND WINE. THAT'S APPROPRIATE, BECAUSE WE NEED TO BE REMINDED OF THAT AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE. WE NEED TO LET THOSE FACTS IMPACT ON US SO THAT WE BECOME WHAT GOD WANTS US TO BE. THE EUCHARIST, VATICAN II TELLS US, IS THE SOURCE AND SUMMIT OF OUR LIVES AS CHRISTIANS. IT'S THE MAIN WAY GOD BECOMES ONE WITH US, AND FROM THIS FLOWS EVERYTHING ELSE ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.

BUT JOHN, THE WRITER OF THIS GOSPEL, REMINDS US THAT OUR EUCHARIST, OUR BECOMING ONE WITH CHRIST, ONLY BEGINS WHEN WE RECEIVE HIM IN HOLY COMMUNION. IT ISN'T UNTIL WE LEAVE OUR GATHERING, FILLED WITH GRATEFUL HEARTS FOR ALL GOD HAS GIVEN US, AND DETERMINED TO GO OUT AND BE OF SERVICE TO THOSE GOD CALLS US TO SERVE – IT ISN'T UNTIL WE WASH EACH OTHER'S FEET THAT OUR EUCHARIST IS COMPLETE.

IN A FEW MOMENTS FATHER WILL PERFORM A PROPHETIC ACTION. PRIESTS ARE, YOU KNOW, SUPPOSED TO BE PROPHETS, AND PROPHETS DO THINGS TO TEACH US IN A MORE PROFOUND WAY THAN CAN BE DONE WITH MERE WORDS. AS HE PERFORMS THIS ACT OF LOVING SERVICE, THIS ACT IN WHICH HE AS OUR LEADER AND TEACHER HUMBLES HIMSELF TO DO THE WORK OF A SLAVE, LET US REMEMBER THAT JESUS TURNED EVERYTHING UPSIDE DOWN, AND SHOWED US THAT FOR A CHRISTIAN, THIRD CLASS IS THE REAL FIRST CLASS. AND WHILE FATHER IS WASHING FEET, LET US MEDITATE ON HOW WE CAN BE OF SERVICE, HOW WE CAN IMITATE OUR MASTER AND WASH THE FEET OF SOMEONE. THE WORD “EUCHARIST” MEANS “TO GIVE THANKS”. AND WE GIVE THANKS BEST WHEN WE GO OUT IN THE PERSON OF CHRIST AND SERVE OTHERS.

I RAN ACROSS A LITTLE POEM BY BARBARA GIBSON; I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE GOOD TO HEAR ON HOLY THURSDAY. IT'S CALLED,

JESUS AND THE DIRTY FEET

AS THEY SETTLE DOWN TO EAT

JESUS SEES THEIR DIRTY FEET.

JOHN, YOUR FEET ARE SOFT AND DUSTY.

PETER, YOURS ARE MIGHTY MUSTY.

ANDREW, YOURS ARE ROUGH AND CRUSTY.

IF IT TICKLES, DO NOT HOWL,

I WILL WIPE THEM WITH A TOWEL.

THOUGH THEY CRINGE TO SEE ME BOW,

I WILL WASH THEM ANYHOW.

FATHER SENT ME FROM ABOVE,

CALLING THEM TO SERVE AND LOVE.

Palm Sunday, Cycle A

MATTHEW 21:1-11

WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, BEFORE VATICAN II, BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE REVISED COMMON LECTIONARY WHICH IS USED FOR THE MOST PART BY THE CATHOLIC AND MANY PROTESTANT CHURCHES, WE CELEBRATED PASSION SUNDAY ON THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT, AND PALM SUNDAY ON THE SIXTH. IN 1970 THE TWO SUNDAYS WERE COMBINED. BEFORE THAT, PASSION SUNDAY MARKED THE BEGINNING OF THE “PASSIONTIDE” SEASON – NOT QUITE LENT, BUT MAYBE A MORE INTENSE VERSION. EVEN THE WEEKDAY READINGS HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE PASSION OF CHRIST, OR PREDICTIONS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT OF HIS SUFFERING. IT WAS ON PASSION SUNDAY THAT THE STATUES AND PICTURES AND CRUCIFIXES WERE DRAPED IN PURPLE, TO BE COVERED FOR A FULL TWO WEEKS. THEN ON PALM SUNDAY WE HAD A LITURGY MUCH LIKE TODAY'S. THE FIRST READING WAS THE GOSPEL TALKING ABOUT JESUS' TRIUMPHANT ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM; AND THEN DURING THE MASS ITSELF, THE PASSION OF MATTHEW WAS READ.

THE EMPHASIS DURING THOSE TWO WEEKS, UP UNTIL EASTER SUNDAY, WAS ON THE SUFFERING AND DEATH OF JESUS. WE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO FORGET THAT JESUS DIED FOR OUR SINS. AND I HAD A POWERFUL IMAGINATION. I KNEW MY SINS. I TEASED MY SISTER UNMERCIFULLY. THERE WERE TIMES WHEN I DIDN'T DO WHAT MY MOTHER TOLD ME TO DO. WHEN I WOULD GO TO CONFESSION, I WOULD CAREFULLY LIST ALL THE TIMES I HAD DONE SOMETHING THAT I CONSIDERED A SIN, KNOWING THAT IF I FORGOT ONE OF THEM, I WOULD HAVE MADE A BAD CONFESSION, WHICH IN ITSELF WAS A SERIOUS SIN. AND GOD STOOD THERE LOOKING AT ME WITH HIS ARMS FOLDED, WAITING FOR ME TO SLIP UP, AND REMINDING ME THAT THE TERRIBLE SUFFERINGS JESUS WAS UNDERGOING WERE MY FAULT, ALL MY FAULT.

BUT WE MAKE A MISTAKE WHEN WE IMAGINE GOD AS A BIGGER, MORE POWERFUL, SMARTER VERSION OF OURSELVES; SOMEONE WHO WOULD SADISTICALLY TORTURE US IN HELL IF HIS SON DIDN'T OFFER TO TAKE THE PUNISHMENT ON HIS OWN SHOULDERS. THE WORST OF US MIGHT DO THAT; THE WORST OF US MIGHT DEMAND THAT SOMEONE WHO OFFENDED US BE MADE TO PAY THE LAST PENNY. THE WORST OF US MIGHT TAKE DELIGHT IN THE SUFFERINGS OF SOMEONE SO THAT NOT ONLY DO WE GET EVEN, WE GET EVEN MORE EVEN. BUT THAT IS NOT WHO GOD IS.

WE OFTEN FORGET, IT IS NOT GOD WHO IS UP THERE IN HEAVEN SCOWLING DOWN ON US, WATCHING JESUS BREATH HIS LAST BREATH. NO, IT IS GOD WHO IS HANGING ON THE CROSS. THERE IS GOD, WHO KNOWS YOUR SINS AND MINE; HE KNOWS ABOUT ALL MY SINS, LITTLE ONES, MIDDLE ONES, REALLY BIG ONES. HE KNOWS THAT I AM NOT AS SORRY AS I COULD BE FOR COMMITTING THEM; AFTER ALL, IF THEY ARE SINS, I HAD TO DO THEM KNOWINGLY, AND AT THE TIME I DID THEM, THERE WAS SOMETHING AWFULLY ATTRACTIVE ABOUT WHAT I WAS ABOUT TO DO. AND MAYBE EVEN LONG AFTER RECEIVING THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION, LONG AFTER I'VE GOTTEN OLDER AND WISER, I CAN LOOK BACK ON THAT SIN AND STILL SEE THAT THERE IS SOMETHING THERE THAT I WANTED, AND I'M NOT SURE THAT IF THE CIRCUMSTANCES WERE THE SAME, I WOULDN'T FALL AGAIN? I'M SUPPOSED TO HAVE A FIRM PURPOSE OF AMENDMENT, THE INTENTION TO NOT DO THAT SIN I CONFESSED. BUT WE ALL KNOW THAT THE SAME THINGS KEEP POPPING UP IN THE CONFESSIONAL. AND JESUS KNOWS THAT.

JESUS KNOWS THAT IF I HAD BEEN THERE DURING THE PASSION, I MIGHT WELL HAVE DENIED HIM, LIKE PETER; I MIGHT WELL HAVE TURNED MY BACK AND IGNORED THE WHOLE THING, LIKE MANY IN THE CROWD. I MIGHT HAVE BEEN ONE OF THOSE YELLING FOR HIS BLOOD, OR LAUGHING AT HIS NAKEDNESS AS HE HUNG ON THE CROSS. AFTER ALL, THOSE WERE ORDINARY PEOPLE, NOT REALLY DIFFERENT THAN YOU AND I. MANY WERE CONVINCED THAT HE WAS A CRIMINAL – AFTER ALL, THE ROMANS AND THE JEWISH LEADERS SAID SO -- AND HE DID NOT DESERVE TO LIVE.

IT IS GOD WHO HANGS ON THE CROSS, GOD WHO JUDGES EACH OF US, GOD WHO WITH PERFECT JUSTICE ASSIGNS THE PENANCE WE DESERVE FOR OUR SINS – AND THEN FORGIVES US, TOTALLY, COMPLETELY, SO MUCH SO THAT HE DIES, CARRYING WITH HIM INTO DEATH MY SINS AND THE PUNISHMENT THOSE SINS DESERVE. THAT IS THE MYSTERY OF THE CROSS. IT IS ABOUT A GOD WHO BECAME ONE OF US, WHO EMPTIED HIMSELF OUT SO THAT HE COULD TAKE OUR SINS UPON HIMSELF, SO THAT HE COULD EVEN GO INTO THE GRAVE WITH US, BECAUSE HIS LOVE EXTENDS EVEN THERE. GRACE IS NOT BEING DISPENSED FROM ABOVE LIKE ZEUS WITH LIGHTNING BOLTS; GRACE IS COMING FROM THE BROKEN FRAGILE WORLD WE LIVE IN, WHICH IS THE SAME WORLD THAT JESUS ENTERS IN TO.

THE PALMS WE HOLD REMIND US THAT EACH OF US HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WELCOMING JESUS INTO JERUSALEM, DANCING, SINGING, THROWING OUR CLOAKS ON THE GROUND, WAVING PALMS IN THE AIR. AND THEY REMIND US THAT BEFORE THE PALMS HAVE EVEN STARTED TO TURN BROWN AND STIFF, WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE IN THE CROWD THAT CALLS FOR HIS DEATH, FOR HIS CRUCIFIXION – THAT SHOUT, “AWAY WITH HIM!”. AND IF WE TAKE OUR PALM HOME AND PLACE IT BEHIND A CRUCIFIX, WHICH IS WHAT WE DID WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, WE ARE ALWAYS REMINDED THAT WE CAN GO EITHER WAY – WELCOMING JESUS INTO OUR LIVES OR SHOUTING “AWAY WITH HIM!” MAY THE PALM ALSO BE A REMINDER FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR THAT WHEN WE THINK ABOUT GOD, WE THINK ABOUT THE CROSS – BECAUSE THAT IS GOD ON THE CROSS, GOD WHO SAYS, “FATHER, FORGIVE THEM, FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO.”

Fifth Sunday of Lent, Cycle A

JOHN 11:1-45

THERE IS A DELIGHTFUL LADY IN THE JEWISH NURSING HOME WHO IS ABOUT 91. I MET HER MORE THAN A YEAR AGO; SHE COULD WALK WITH A WALKER, BUT PREFERRED A WHEEL CHAIR. SHE LIKED TO SIT IN THE DAY ROOM WITH ANOTHER LADY. THEY WOULD REMINISCE AND TALK ABOUT THE OTHER PEOPLE THERE. LIKE EVERYONE WHO IS IN A PLACE SHE DOESN'T WANT TO BE, MY FRIEND WOULD COMPLAIN GENTLY ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO TOOK CARE OF HER. THEY DIDN'T COME QUICKLY ENOUGH WHEN SHE RANG HER BELL – BUT SHE KNEW THEY WERE BUSY. SOMETIMES IT WAS HARD TO SLEEP AT NIGHT BECAUSE THERE WERE OTHER PATIENTS ON THE FLOOR WHO WOULD SLIP INTO DEMENTIA WHEN THE LIGHTS WENT OUT AND THEY LOST THEIR BEARINGS. THE FOOD WAS NOT WHAT SHE WOULD LIKE, AND EITHER SHE WAS HUNGRY AND THERE WAS NO FOOD, OR THEY BROUGHT HER HER MEALS WHEN SHE WASN'T HUNGRY AT ALL. OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR SHE HAS DETERIORATED. SHE IS BEDRIDDEN, NEEDS OXYGEN, AND HER HEART IS GIVING OUT. SHE RECEIVED THE SACRAMENT OF THE SICK AND THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION. I BRING HER COMMUNION WHEN I VISIT. SHE WAS APPROACHED BY THE STAFF AND IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT SHE SIGN ON TO HOSPICE. MY FRIEND KNOWS SHE IS DYING, BUT DOESN'T WANT TO GIVE UP. SHE BELIEVES IN LIFE AFTER DEATH BUT WOULD RATHER HAVE HER PAINFUL HELPLESS LIFE A LITTLE LONGER.

WHY DO WE HAVE TO DIE? SCIENTISTS AND SAINTS HAVE GIVEN ANSWERS TO THIS QUESTION, BUT WHEN YOU ARE THE ONE DYING, I SUPPOSE NONE OF THOSE ANSWERS SATISFY. AND HOW MANY PRAYERS FOR DYING LOVED ONES SEEM TO GO UNANSWERED? WHEN I HEARD THAT MY 90 YEAR OLD MOTHER SUFFERING FROM ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, WAS DYING, I PRAYED THAT HER DEATH WOULD BE PAINLESS AND SHE WOULD BE SWIFTLY BROUGHT TO HEAVEN. AND I FELT GUILTY. WHAT KIND OF SON AM I TO WANT MY MOTHER TO DIE?

IN THE STORY TODAY, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH JESUS WORKS A MIRACLE TO RAISE HIS FRIEND LAZARUS FROM THE DEAD. BUT THAT'S NOT THE POINT. WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON HERE IS A DEMONSTRATION BY JESUS OF HOW GOD ANSWERS OUR PRAYERS; IT'S TELLING US SOMETHING ABOUT “THE WILL OF GOD”. A LOT OF CHRISTIANS WORRY ABOUT DOING THE WILL OF GOD. IT'S LIKE YOU HAVE A QUESTION WITH SEVERAL POSSIBLE ANSWERS. ONE OF THEM IS THE WILL OF GOD; THE REST ARE NOT, AND IF YOU CHOOSE WRONG, BOY ARE YOU IN TROUBLE.

SEE WHAT HAPPENS. JESUS DOESN'T DO ANYTHING AT FIRST; THEN A COUPLE DAYS LATER, HE AND HIS DISCIPLES GO DOWN TO BETHANY, AND ON THE WAY HE TELLS THEM THAT LAZARUS IS ALREADY DEAD. AND THE QUESTION COMES UP, AS IT DOES IN OUR OWN LIVES, “IF YOU REALLY LOVED HIM, JESUS, WHY DID YOU LET THIS HAPPEN?” AND YOU MIGHT ASK, AS WELL, “WHERE IS GOD WHEN YOU NEED HIM?” AND MAYBE WHEN YOUR PRAYERS AREN'T ANSWERED YOU MAY BE FORGIVEN FOR THINKING THAT ALL THIS TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH GOD LOVES US IS JUST THAT – TALK.

JOHN, THE GOSPEL WRITER, TELLS US THAT JESUS BECAME PERTURBED, BECAME TROUBLED. WAS HE BREATHING HARD, TRYING TO HOLD BACK TEARS? AND THEN JESUS WEPT. HE WASN'T TROUBLED, HE DIDN'T WEEP JUST SO THAT HE COULD DEMONSTRATE SOMETHING TO THE CROWD. AFTER ALL, HE HAD JUST ASSURED MARTHA THAT LAZARUS WOULD RISE AGAIN. NO, JESUS WAS TROUBLED, JESUS FELT DEEP EMOTION, JESUS WEPT – BECAUSE THAT IS EXACTLY HOW GOD WORKS. GOD ENTERS INTO OUR PAIN AND SUFFERING, HE TAKES IT TO HIMSELF. GOD GAVE US A PRICELESS GIFT – FREE WILL. BUT FREE WILL IS REAL ONLY IF OUR CHOICES HAVE CONSEQUENCES. IN THE STORY OF OUR FIRST PARENTS, WE KNOW THAT DEATH AND SUFFERING WERE BROUGHT INTO THE WORLD BY THEIR CHOICE; BUT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT WE ARE NO DIFFERENT; EVEN THE HOLIEST AMONG US MAKES CHOICES WHICH GO AGAINST GOD'S WILL. WE ARE NOT INNOCENT, AND DEATH AND SUFFERING STILL COME ABOUT BECAUSE WE HAVE FREE WILL.

SO JESUS DOES WHAT GOD DOES; HE ENTERS INTO THE PAIN AND SUFFERING OF THE TWO SISTERS WHO HAVE LOST THEIR DEAR BROTHER. ON THE ROAD TO BETHANY HE SHOWED NO GRIEF, BUT NOW HE TAKES ON THEIR GRIEF.

HOW OUR FREE WILL LEADS TO SIN AND DEATH IS A MYSTERY, ONLY HINTED AT BY THE STORY OF ADAM AND EVE. AND LAZARUS' DEATH IS NO DIFFERENT. ALTHOUGH MARTHA AND MARY BELIEVE THAT JESUS COULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING IF HE HAD GOTTEN THERE ON TIME, THEY HAVE NO EXPECTATION THAT ANYTHING COULD SOFTEN THIS TERRIBLE TRAGEDY. PERHAPS THEY KNOW THAT JESUS RAISED OTHER PEOPLE FROM THE DEAD; BUT THEY ALSO KNEW THAT THAT WAS POSSIBLE; AFTER ALL, IT WAS COMMON KNOWLEDGE THAT THE SOUL STAYED NEAR THE BODY FOR THREE DAYS. BUT LAZARUS HAD BEEN DEAD FOR FOUR DAYS, AND AS MARTHA POINTS OUT, HE IS DECOMPOSING – THE SOUL LONG AGO WENT TO THE REALM OF THE DEAD AND CAN'T BE CALLED BACK.

JESUS, WHO HAS ENTERED INTO THEIR SUFFERING, CALLS LAZARUS FROM THE TOMB, AND HE COMES OUT, RESTORED TO LIFE. BUT IN A SENSE JESUS HASN'T WORKED A MIRACLE; HE HASN'T DONE ANYTHING DIFFERENT FROM WHAT GOD ALWAYS DOES; HE HAS MERELY ENTERED INTO TRAGEDY AND SUFFERING, AND BROUGHT GOOD OUT OF THE SITUATION. BECAUSE GOD INTENDS FOR ALL OF US TO RISE AGAIN. LAZARUS ROSE AGAIN SOONER THAN WE WILL TO PROVE THAT RESURRECTION OF THE BODY IS INTENDED FOR EVERY HUMAN BEING.

MY FRIEND IN THE NURSING HOME HAS A GOOD MIND AND SHE IS NO DUMMY. SHE KNOWS THAT AT 90 SHE HAS LIVED ABOUT AS LONG AS ANYONE WOULD WANT TO. SHE KNOWS THAT HER BODY IS FAILING; SHE LOOKS BACK ON HER LIFE AND ADMITS THAT SHE WAS HIGHLY FAVORED – A LONG AND HAPPY MARRIAGE, THREE KIDS OF WHOM SHE IS PROUD; GRANDCHILDREN AND GREAT GRANDCHILDREN; MAYBE SHE HEARS A LITTLE VOICE IN HER HEAD – WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT? CERTAINLY THAT'S THE VOICE OF HER CAREGIVERS WHO TRY TO TELL HER THAT DEATH IS NATURAL, THAT SHE SHOULD JUST LET GO; THAT THEY CAN KEEP HER FROM PAIN AND GIVE HER SOME MEDICATION TO COUNTERACT THE UNPLEASANT SYMPTOMS SHE IS HAVING. BUT HER FAMILY AND HER WELL-MEANING CAREGIVERS ARE WRONG. SHE DOESN'T WANT TO DIE, AND GOD DOESN'T WANT HER TO DIE EITHER.

AND GOD, WHO HAS ENTERED INTO HER SUFFERING, AS HE DOES WITH EACH OF HIS CHILDREN WHEN THEY SUFFER, WILL DO WHAT ONLY GOD CAN DO, AND DOES DO; HE WILL BRING RESURRECTION OUT OF DEATH, JOY OUT OF SUFFERING, GOOD OUT OF EVIL. WE HAVE FREE WILL. THERE HAVE TO BE CONSEQUENCES TO OUR CHOICES. AMONG THOSE CONSEQUENCES ARE THAT WE WILL SUFFER, WE WILL DIE.

AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT GOD'S WILL, THAT IS WHAT WE REALLY MEAN. GOD'S WILL, AND HIS WILL IS NEVER BLOCKED, IS TO TAKE WHAT HE IS GIVEN AND BRING GOOD OUT OF IT. AND HE IS WITH MY FRIEND, SUFFERING WITH HER, AND WAITING FOR THAT MOMENT WHEN SHE SURRENDERS TO DEATH. AND HE WILL SAY, “THAT IS THE MOST TERRIBLE THING THAT CAN HAPPEN TO ONE OF MY CHILDREN. BUT I CAN WORK WITH THAT, I CAN BRING GOOD OUT OF IT.” AND HE WILL SMILE AND SAY TO MY FRIEND, “DAUGHTER, COME OUT!”