Corpus Christi 2014 (Sammy's First Communion)

JOHN 6:51-58

WELL, SAMMY, YOU ARE SEVEN YEARS OLD AND ARE READY TO RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNION. I'M SURE YOU DON'T REMEMBER, BUT I BAPTIZED YOU IN THIS CHURCH SHORTLY AFTER YOU WERE BORN. YOU WERE NAMED AFTER THE PROPHET SAMUEL. WHEN SAMUEL HEARD THE VOICE OF GOD, HE SAID, “SPEAK, LORD, FOR YOUR SERVANT IS LISTENING”. WHEN YOU WERE BAPTIZED, GOD GAVE YOU SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL – THE GIFT OF BEING ABLE TO LISTEN TO HIM SPEAK IN YOUR HEART. AND NOW YOU ARE READY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP. YOU HAVE LISTENED TO YOUR TEACHERS, YOUR PARENTS, YOUR PRIEST, YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, AND GOD HAS GIVEN YOU THE SPECIAL GRACE TO KNOW THAT THE LITTLE BIT OF BREAD YOU WILL RECEIVE IS NOT REALLY BREAD, BUT JESUS. AND THAT IS A MIRACLE EVEN GREATER THAN THE MIRACLE THAT TOOK PLACE AT YOUR BAPTISM WHEN YOU BECAME A BROTHER OF JESUS AND A SON OF GOD.

SAMMY, I KNOW YOU KNOW ABOUT CATS. YOUR MOTHER AND HER SISTERS AND BROTHER ALWAYS HAD A CAT AROUND WHEN THEY WERE GROWING UP, AND I KNOW YOU HAVE ONE AS WELL. CATS HAVE BEEN HANGING AROUND HUMAN BEINGS FOR AT LEAST 5000 YEARS. THEY KNOW THAT HUMAN BEINGS WILL FEED THEM, AND IT'S A LOT EASIER TO GET FOOD FROM A HUMAN THAN TO GO OUT AND CATCH MICE OR BIRDS. WE HAD ONE CAT THAT WE ADOPTED WHEN HE WAS SORT OF HALF-GROWN. HE NEVER DID LIKE US VERY MUCH. BUT WHEN HE GOT HUNGRY, HE WOULD COME FROM WHEREVER HE HAD BEEN HIDING AND PURR, AND RUB AGAINST OUR LEGS, AND REALLY PUT ON A SHOW. AND THEN WHEN WE FED HIM, HE WOULD DISAPPEAR AGAIN. ACTUALLY, THAT'S KIND OF LIKE WHEN YOUR MOTHER AND HER SISTERS AND BROTHER WERE TEENAGERS.

WE GET HUNGRY, WE LOOK FOR FOOD; WE EAT IT, AND THEN WE STOP BEING HUNGRY FOR A WHILE. BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT HOLY COMMUNION IS DIFFERENT. WHEN YOU EAT THE BODY AND DRINK THE BLOOD OF JESUS, YOU SHOULD GET HUNGRY. IF YOU DON'T, SOMETHING IS WRONG. SAINT THOMAS WAS ASKED BY ONE OF HIS STUDENTS, “IF A SMALL PIECE OF THE CONSECRATED HOST FELL ON THE FLOOR AND WAS EATEN BY A MOUSE, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN?” THOMAS ANSWERED, NOTHING. BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH THE CONSECRATED HOST IS THE BODY AND BLOOD, SOUL AND DIVINITY, OF JESUS HIMSELF, THE MOUSE CANNOT KNOW THIS, CANNOT FEEL THIS, CANNOT IN ANY WAY APPRECIATE THIS. FOR THE MOUSE, IT'S JUST BREAD. BUT IF YOU HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED AND YOU KNOW THAT THE BREAD YOU ARE ABOUT TO RECEIVE IS REALLY JESUS, IT SHOULD MAKE YOU HUNGRY.

YOU SHOULD BE HUNGRY FOR WHAT JESUS WANTED – FIRST, THAT EVERYONE IN THE WHOLE WORLD, ESPECIALLY YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY, KNOW ABOUT GOD AND HOW GOOD HE IS. SO MANY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT. BUT WHEN WE SAY THE OUR FATHER, WE SAY, “HALLOWED BE THY NAME”. IF WE ARE CHILDREN OF SO WONDERFUL A FATHER, SHOULDN'T WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP THE PEOPLE WE LOVE KNOW HIM, SO THAT THEY CAN BE HIS CHILDREN AS WELL? SHOULDN'T WE BE WILLING TO TELL THEM HOW GOD SENT HIS SON TO US SO THAT WE COULD GO TO HEAVEN?

YOU SHOULD BE HUNGRY FOR THE KINGDOM THAT JESUS TALKED ABOUT. IT'S GREAT TO COME TO CHURCH AND PRAY. BUT THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT, WHO DON'T HAVE A BED TO SLEEP IN; THERE ARE CHILDREN WHO HAVE NO PARENTS, AND OTHER CHILDREN WHOSE PARENTS DO TERRIBLE THINGS TO THEM. IN THE KINGDOM JESUS WANTS, NONE OF THOSE THINGS WOULD HAPPEN. AND HE WANTS YOU AND I AND ALL HIS CHILDREN TO MAKE HIS KINGDOM REAL – AND THAT MEANS WE HAVE TO GET UP EVERY MORNING AND LOOK AROUND AND SEE WHAT IS WRONG AND TRY TO MAKE IT RIGHT. A SEVEN YEAR OLD CAN'T DO TOO MUCH, BUT YOU CAN KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR LITTLE SISTER WHEN YOUR MOTHER IS BUSY; AND YOU CAN KEEP FROM FIGHTING WITH YOUR BIG SISTER WHEN SHE PICKS ON YOU. THERE IS A LOT YOU CAN DO TO MAKE THE KINGDOM HAPPEN, AND AS YOU GET OLDER, IF YOU ARE HUNGRY FOR THE KINGDOM, JESUS WILL GIVE YOU MANY CHANCES TO HELP HIM BRING HIS KINGDOM INTO YOUR LIFE. HE GIVES EVERYONE MANY CHANCES EVERY DAY, AND MOST OF THE TIME WE DON'T TAKE THEM. YOU DON'T WANT TO BE LIKE THAT.

YOU SHOULD BE HUNGRY FOR PEOPLE TO COME TOGETHER. ALL OVER THE WORLD, PEOPLE ARE RECEIVING JESUS IN HOLY COMMUNION. BUT YOU CAN'T TAKE JESUS AND CUT HIM UP INTO LITTLE PIECES. HE DIED AND ROSE AGAIN, AND THERE IS ONLY ONE JESUS. WHEN I MADE MY FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 66 YEARS AGO, I RECEIVED THE SAME JESUS YOU ARE ABOUT TO RECEIVE. AND SO DID SAINT FRANCIS, AND SAINT THERESA, AND ON AND ON. IF WE ALL RECEIVE THE SAME JESUS, THEN IN A WAY WE ARE ALL PART OF EACH OTHER. AND WHEN JESUS IS IN ME AND JESUS IS IN YOU, THEN WE HAVE SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT TO SHARE. IF JESUS WANTS YOU TO BE PART OF HIS BODY AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO RECEIVES HIM TO BE PART OF HIS BODY, THEN HOW DO WE DO THAT? SAINT PAUL TOLD US THAT EACH OF US ARE GIVEN GIFTS SO THAT WE CAN HELP EACH OTHER; SO WE NEED TO FIND OUR GIFT, AND WE NEED TO USE IT TO HELP EACH OTHER BECOME MORE LIKE JESUS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR GIFT WILL BE, BUT I DO KEEP HEARING STORIES ABOUT HOW YOU GET YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS TO DO THINGS THEY SHOULDN'T, SO IF WE CAN JUST HARNESS ALL THAT LEADERSHIP INTO SOMETHING GOOD, MAYBE THAT'S YOUR GIFT.

HOLY COMMUNION SHOULD MAKE YOU HUNGRY. JESUS GAVE US HIS BODY AND BLOOD FOR FOOD AND DRINK BECAUSE HE WANTS US TO BE LIKE HIM. WHEN YOU EAT REGULAR FOOD, IT TURNS INTO YOU. BUT WHEN YOU EAT THE BODY AND DRINK THE BLOOD OF JESUS, YOU CAN BECOME MORE AND MORE LIKE HIM. AND JESUS WAS ALWAYS HUNGRY – HE LOOKED AROUND AT THE WORLD AND SAW HOW IT WAS; AND BECAUSE HE IS GOD, HE SAW HOW IT SHOULD BE. AND HE WANTED WITH ALL HIS HEART FOR THE WORLD TO BE THE WAY GOD WANTED IT TO BE. AND HE SPENT HIS WHOLE LIFE TRYING TO CHANGE THE WORLD. IF HE MET SOMEONE WHO COULDN'T WALK, HE WOULD SAY, “THAT'S NOT HOW IT SHOULD BE!” AND HE WOULD HELP THAT PERSON WALK. AND WHEN HE MET PEOPLE WHO THOUGHT GOD ONLY CARED ABOUT YOU WHEN YOU WERE PERFECT, HE WOULD LAUGH AND TELL THEM THAT GOD LOVES YOU EVEN IF YOU ARE A SINNER. AND WHEN THE FATHER ASKED HIM TO GIVE UP HIS LIFE SO THAT IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE FOR ALL OF GOD'S CHILDREN TO LIVE WITH GOD IN HEAVEN, JESUS SAID, “OF COURSE I'LL DO THAT.” BECAUSE JESUS WAS ALWAYS HUNGRY – HUNGRY FOR SOULS.

SO WHEN YOU RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNION TODAY, AND ALL THE OTHER TIMES IN YOUR LIFE, YOU SHOULD FEEL HUNGRY, AND WHEN YOU FEEL HUNGRY, YOU SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. BECAUSE CHILDREN OF GOD WILL FEEL HUNGRY. BUT IF YOU DON'T FEEL HUNGRY, MAYBE YOU ARE JUST A MOUSE.

TODAY IS THE FEAST OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF JESUS – WE CALL IT CORPUS CHRISTI. NEVER FORGET THAT TODAY YOU BECOME IN A SPECIAL WAY, PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST.   

Seventh Sunday of Easter, Cycle A

JOHN 17:1-11

THE SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER IS SORT OF AN IN BETWEEN TIME. IT RECALLS THOSE NINE DAYS BETWEEN THE ASCENSION OF JESUS INTO HEAVEN, AND THE COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. IT'S INTERESTING THAT OUR FIRST READING TODAY DESCRIBES THE EARLY CHURCH, MADE UP OF THE APOSTLES, SOME WOMEN, MARY THE MOTHER OF JESUS, AND HIS BROTHERS. I WONDER WHAT THAT WAS LIKE? PETER, WHO HAD BETRAYED JESUS, AND MARY, WHO STOOD AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS WHILE HE DIED. I WONDER IF PETER COULD LOOK MARY IN THE EYE? I SUSPECT MARY HAD LONG SINCE FORGIVEN HIM. AND SO THE SMALL BAND OF JESUS' FOLLOWERS ARE GATHERED IN PRAYER, WAITING.

BEING A CHRISTIAN IS ALWAYS ABOUT WAITING. I DON'T LIKE TO WAIT, AND I SUSPECT NO ONE REALLY DOES. IN SITUATIONS WHERE I KNOW I AM GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT, I ALWAYS BRING SOMETHING TO OCCUPY MY TIME – MY COMPUTER, A BOOK, MY CELL PHONE. TO SIMPLY WAIT SEEMS TO BE BEYOND MY ABILITIES.

BUT THE EARLY CHURCH BEGINS IN A WAITING STATE. JESUS HAS LEFT THEM, GONE TO HIS FATHER; AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE ADVOCATE HE PROMISED, HAS NOT YET COME.

WE ARE TURNED LOOSE INTO THE WORLD AS CHRISTIANS WITH OUR BAPTISM. I JUST FINISHED PARTICIPATING IN THE RCIA PROGRAM. THE PEOPLE WHO CAME INTO THE CHURCH HAD SPENT AN HOUR OR SO EVERY SUNDAY THINKING ABOUT THE FAITH; THEY HAD ATTENDED THE 9:30 MASS AND BEEN SURROUNDED BY THE REST OF US. ON HOLY SATURDAY THEY BRIEFLY MOVED TO THE CENTER OF ATTENTION, WHEN BAPTISM AND CONFIRMATION AND FIRST EUCHARIST TOOK PLACE. AND NOW THEY HAVE JOINED US IN WAITING.

WHAT IS IT WE ARE WAITING FOR? WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME UPON THE EARLY CHRISTIANS, IT MIGHT SEEM THAT THEIR WAIT WAS OVER. BUT IT WASN'T; WE ALL KNOW THAT THEY EXPECTED JESUS TO COME AGAIN SOON. IF WE GO BY WAY OF THE HISTORY OF THE SCRIPTURES, THE EARLIEST CHRISTIANS EXPECTED JESUS TO RETURN VERY SOON; LATER, AS THEY BEGAN TO DIE OF OLD AGE, SICKNESS, PERSECUTION AND ACCIDENTS, ST PAUL HAD TO REASSURE HIS FOLLOWERS THAT WHEN JESUS CAME AGAIN, NOT ONLY WOULD THOSE OF US WHO ARE ALIVE BE TAKEN UP, BUT SO WOULD THOSE WHO HAD FALLEN ASLEEP. EVEN LATER, THE CHURCH SEEMS TO HAVE SETTLED DOWN TO CHRONIC WAITING; JESUS WOULD COME AGAIN, BUT IT SEEMED MORE AND MORE LIKELY THAT IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN WHILE ANY OF US ARE ALIVE. THE LAST BOOK OF THE BIBLE, THE BOOK OF REVELATION, PUTS THE END OF TIME OFF IN THE DISTANT FUTURE SOMEWHERE.

DID YOU EVER HEAR THE LEGEND OF PRESTER JOHN? JESUS HAD SAID TO PETER, IN REFERENCE TO THE “BELOVED DISCIPLE”, SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT “WHAT IS IT TO YOU IF HE REMAINS UNTIL I COME AGAIN?” SO SOME PEOPLE TOOK THAT TO MEAN THAT JOHN, WHO MANY BELIEVED WAS THE BELOVED DISCIPLE, WOULD WANDER THE EARTH UNTIL THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS. PRESTER JOHN WAS THAT PERSON, KIND OF LIKE THE ANCIENT MARINER, CONDEMNED TO WALK THE EARTH UNTIL THE SECOND COMING. I DON'T THINK JESUS WOULD DO THAT TO ONE OF HIS APOSTLES, DO YOU?

ANYWAY, WE ARE WAITING. THERE IS A BRANCH OF THEOLOGY CALLED “ESCHATOLOGY”. WE STUDY WHAT THE SCRIPTURES TELL US ABOUT THE END OF TIME, ABOUT THE SECOND COMING. WE READ ABOUT THE NEW JERUSALEM, WHICH WILL REPLACE ALL HUMAN HABITATIONS. WE READ ABOUT HOW THE KINGDOM WILL BE AT THE END OF TIME WHERE THE POWERFUL WILL BE PULLED DOWN AND THE POOR ELEVATED, WHERE THE RICH WILL BE HUNGRY AND THE LOWLY WILL BE SATISFIED. ESCHATOLOGY LOOKS FOR SIGNS OF THIS GLORIOUS FUTURE IN OUR PRESENT. AND OUR CHURCH, THAT IS, YOU AND I, ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THE EMBODIMENT OF ESCHATOLOGY, THE EVIDENCE OF THE PRESENCE OF THE KINGDOM EVEN NOW. JESUS SAID THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS WITHIN YOU .. AND YET IT ISN'T REALLY, IT ISN'T COMPLETE.

THAT'S THE POINT OF CHRISTIAN WAITING. BETWEEN BAPTISM AND DEATH, WE WAIT; WE WAIT FOR JESUS TO RETURN; WE WAIT FOR THE KINGDOM TO BE REALIZED IN OUR MIDST; WE WAIT FOR THE PEACE HE PROMISED, THE HOUSE WITH MANY MANSIONS THAT HE WENT TO PREPARE FOR US. BUT WE ALSO TURN INWARD BECAUSE HE HAS PROMISED THAT WHAT WE WAIT FOR IS ALREADY IN US. AND WE CERTAINLY HAVE THE EXAMPLE OF THE SAINTS WHO DISCOVERED THIS IN THEMSELVES, AND BEGAN TO BRING ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IN THE WORK THEY DID. SOME DID GREAT WORKS OF CHARITY; SOME FOUNDED RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS TO MAKE REAL WHAT THEY SAW IN THEMSELVES; SOME LIVED AS HUSBANDS AND WIVES, TOGETHER CREATING THE KINGDOM IN THEIR FAMILIES, TRULY A SUBLIME ACT OF LOVE, TO RAISE YOUR CHILDREN IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. AND THERE WERE THE MARTYRS, WHO WENT TO THEIR DEATHS WITH SONGS ON THEIR LIPS – THEIR WAITING WAS OVER! THEY TRUSTED IN THE LORD WHO HAD HEARD THE DYING THIEF ON THE CROSS GIVE WITNESS TO HIM, AND PROMISED THAT THAT DAY HE WOULD BE IN PARADISE WITH HIM.

OUR WAITING SHOULD NOT BE FILLED WITH DISTRACTIONS. IT'S SO EASY TO FORGET THAT WE ARE WAITING; THERE'S TELEVISION, SPORTS, WORK, HOBBIES, ALL THE DAY TO DAY THINGS THAT MAKE US FORGET WE ARE WAITING. AT THE SAME TIME, WAITING SHOULD NOT BE EMPTY; WE CAN'T JUST SIT AROUND TWIDDLING OUR THUMBS. WAITING, TO BE PRODUCTIVE, SHOULD BE OCCUPIED WITH BRINGING THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN INTO BEING AT LEAST FOR OURSELVES AND OUR LOVED ONES.

THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN,OR THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS MENTIONED ABOUT 100 TIMES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. IT SEEMS COMPLICATED; BUT IT ISN'T. IT'S LEARNING TO LOVE UNCONDITIONALLY; IT'S LEARNING TO COMMIT TO MAKING DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS; IT'S LEARNING TO DIE TO SELF AND LIVE FOR OTHERS. IT ISN'T COMPLICATED, BUT IT'S NOT EASY, EITHER. IT IS BASICALLY THE PROCESS OF BECOMING ANOTHER CHRIST.

JESUS TALKS A LOT ABOUT GLORY IN TODAY'S GOSPEL. WHAT IS GLORY? THE HEBREW WORD, KABOD, MEANS HEAVINESS, WEIGHT; THE GREEK WORD, DOXO, MEANS BRILLIANT LIGHT. WHEN WE HEAR JESUS SPEAK ABOUT GLORY, WE MIGHT DEFINE IT AS MAKING SOMEONE'S PRESENCE FELT. HEAVINESS CONVEYS SOMETHING SUBSTANTIAL, ENDURING; AND BRILLIANT LIGHT FOCUSES US TO TAKE NOTICE. IF WE GLORIFY JESUS IN OUR LIVES, WE MAKE HIS PRESENCE FELT BY US AND BY THOSE AROUND US. JESUS GLORIFIED THE FATHER, AND THE RESULT WAS THAT THE FATHER WAS MADE KNOWN TO THE DISCIPLES AND THEIR FOLLOWERS, YOU AND I. AND THE WAY FOR EACH OF US TO SPEND OUR WAITING TIME IS TO GLORIFY JESUS BY BRINGING ABOUT HIS KINGDOM. HE HAS PROMISED THAT WHERE TWO OR THREE ARE GATHERED, HE WILL BE THERE. LET US RESOLVE DURING THIS TIME OF WAITING TO MAKE HIS PRESENCE FELT, TO GLORIFY HIM. 

Trinity Sunday, 2014

JOHN 3:16-18

ONCE A TEACHER ASKED HER KINDERGARTENERS TO DRAW PICTURES OF ANYTHING THEY WANTED TO. ONE LITTLE GIRL PROUDLY ANNOUNCED THAT SHE WAS GOING TO DRAW A PICTURE OF GOD. “BUT NO ONE KNOWS WHAT GOD LOOKS LIKE,” SAID THE TEACHER. “THEY WILL WHEN I GET THROUGH WITH MY PICTURE,” SHE SAID.

TODAY CHRISTIANS OF EVERY DENOMINATION CELEBRATE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN A GLIMPSE OF WHAT GOD LOOKS LIKE. IT IS A MYSTERY SO PROFOUND THAT I SUSPECT MOST OF US NEVER GIVE IT A THOUGHT IN OUR DAILY LIVES. WHEN WE PRAY, WE MAY PRAY TO GOD, OR JESUS. WE DON'T OFTEN PRAY TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, UNLESS WE ARE CHARISMATIC CHRISTIANS, THEN WE MIGHT PAY HIM MORE ATTENTION. BUT WE ALL AGREE, I THINK, THAT WHEN WE SIT DOWN AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW GOD CAN BE ONE, COMPLETELY SIMPLE, WITHOUT PARTS, WITHOUT CHANGE; ALL POWERFUL, ALL LOVING, ALL WISE, ALL MERCIFUL; AND HOW THERE ARE THREE PERSONS EACH OF WHOM IS COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY GOD, DIFFERING FROM EACH OTHER ONLY IN RELATIONSHIP, IT'S EASIER TO GO READ ABOUT STRING THEORY OR NUCLEAR PHYSICS.

BUT THE TRINITY IS A MYSTERY REVEALED BY GOD. IF IT WASN'T IMPORTANT TO US, WHY WOULD GOD HAVE BOTHERED?

IF I SAY THAT THE TRINITY IS SOMETHING LIKE THE FACT THAT I AM A FATHER, A HUSBAND, AND A DEACON, THERE IS A LITTLE TRUTH IN THAT, BUT IT IS MORE WRONG THAN RIGHT; IT SUGGESTS THAT GOD TAKES ON ROLES, SO THAT THE FATHER, SON AND SPIRIT ARE JUST MASKS HE PUTS ON.

SAINT PATRICK REPORTEDLY SAID THAT THE TRINITY WAS LIKE A SHAMROCK; THREE LEAVES, ONE PLANT. BUT THAT'S NOT RIGHT EITHER; EACH LEAF IS PART OF THE SHAMROCK; BUT EACH PERSON IN THE TRINITY IS COMPLETELY GOD.

AND THEN THERE'S THE ONE THAT COMPARES THE FATHER TO THE SUN UP IN THE SKY; THE SON TO THE SUNBEAM THAT TRAVELS TO THE EARTH; AND THE HOLY SPIRIT TO THE LIGHT AND HEAT. THAT DOESN'T WORK EITHER. THE SUNBEAM AND THE HEAT AND LIGHT ARE SUBORDINATE, INFERIOR, DEPENDENT UPON THE SUN. IN THE TRINITY ALL PERSONS ARE CO-EQUAL, NONE ARE DEPENDENT.

BUT STILL, WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT THE TRINITY. FIRST, THE TRINITY TELLS US SOMETHING ABOUT COMMUNITY. SOME OF THE FATHERS OF THE CHURCH USED A WORD, “PERICHORESIS” WHICH IS GREEK FOR “DANCING AROUND”. EACH PERSON IS IN THE OTHER, BRINGING ABOUT GOD'S PLANS AND PURPOSES. JESUS TELLS HIS DISCIPLES THAT THE SPIRIT WILL TAKE WHAT HE HAS AND GIVE IT TO THE DISCIPLES. BUT WHAT JESUS HAS COMES FROM THE FATHER; AND THE SPIRIT BRINGS EVERYTHING BACK TO THE FATHER. LIKEWISE AT THE BAPTISM OF JESUS, JESUS DOES THE FATHER'S WILL; THE FATHER EXPRESSES HIS LOVE, AND THE SPIRIT ANOINTS JESUS TO CARRY OUT THE FATHER'S MISSION. EACH MEMBER BUILDS ON WHAT THE OTHER DOES. AND IT WORKS THE OTHER WAY AS WELL. IN THE EARLY CHURCH, THE SPIRIT INSPIRES THE APOSTLES TO PREACH THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT JESUS, WHO IS THE FATHER'S GIFT SENT TO REDEEM THE WORLD. THIS COOPERATION, THIS BUILDING ON WHAT THE OTHER ACCOMPLISHES, THIS UNITY IN COMMON WORK IS THE MODEL FOR OUR OWN COMMUNITY.

SECOND, THE TRINITY TELLS US ABOUT OUR MISSION. JESUS SAID, “AS THE FATHER SENT ME, SO I SEND YOU.” WHY DID THE FATHER SEND THE SON? TO BRING SALVATION. BUT THAT IS MUCH MORE THAN GETTING TO HEAVEN. JESUS TELLS US IN THE LORD'S PRAYER WHAT IT MEANS – “THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE, ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.” HOW IS IT IN HEAVEN? EVERYTHING IS RIGHT; THERE IS PEACE, THERE IS NO STRIFE. THE FATHER SENT THE SON TO BRING THIS PEACE. AND THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE ONE WHO EQUIPS THE SON TO CARRY OUT THIS MISSION. THE SON SENDS HIS DISCIPLES TO DO THE SAME THING, AND THE FATHER AND SON SEND THE SPIRIT TO EQUIP US TO MAKE THE KINGDOM REAL. TO MAKE THE KINGDOM REAL, WE HAVE TO HAVE A CLEAR VISION OF WHAT THAT MEANS. IT IS THE FATHER'S VISION, CONVEYED BY THE PREACHING, LIFE, DEATH, AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS, AND WORKED OUT IN US BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.

THE TRINITY IS NOT SOMETHING WE CAN IMAGINE; WE DON'T HAVE THE TOOLS FOR THAT. BUT WE CAN IMAGINE A GOD WHO IS A UNITY. SUCH A GOD HAS NO REASON TO CREATE, NO REASON TO REDEEM, NO REASON TO MAKE HOLY. BECAUSE SUCH A GOD CANNOT BE ABOUT LOVE. LOVE ALWAYS REQUIRES AN OBJECT TO LOVE, AND A GOD WHO IS SINGULAR, ALL KNOWING, ALL POWERFUL, UNCHANGEABLE – PERFECT BY EVERY DEFINITION; CANNOT BRING A UNIVERSE INTO EXISTENCE. BUT A TRINITY IN WHICH EACH PERSON IS RELATED TO THE OTHER SO THAT IT CAN TRULY BE SAID THAT GOD IS LOVE – THAT GOD MUST CREATE, MUST REDEEM, MUST MAKE HOLY.

AND IT'S SOMETHING ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN IN LOVE CAN RELATE TO. WHEN YOU ARE DEEPLY IN LOVE, YOU WANT TO GIVE THINGS TO THE ONE YOU LOVE; IF YOUR LOVE IS STRONG ENOUGH, YOU WANT TO GIVE YOURSELF TO THE BELOVED. SO THE VERY NATURE OF GOD IS LOVE.

THE TRINITY IS KIND OF LIKE A HAPPY FAMILY. EACH MEMBER IS ALWAYS LOOKING OUT FOR THE OTHER. BUT WHEN MOM'S FRIEND'S HUSBAND IS LAID UP AFTER SURGERY, DAD AND MOM AND LITTLE BILLY ALL RUSH TO HELP OUT. OR WHEN DAD'S BROTHER LOSES HIS JOB AND CAN'T PAY THE RENT, HE IS WELCOMED INTO THEIR HOME UNTIL HE GETS OVER HIS ROUGH SPOT. OR WHEN LITTLE BILLY FINDS A STRAY KITTEN, THE KITTEN IS FED AND CLEANED UP AND GIVEN A HOME BY THE FAMILY. A CHARACTERISTIC OF A HAPPY LOVING FAMILY IS THAT THEIR LOVE GETS MULTIPLIED; THEIR LOVE IS EXTENDED TO ALL WHO NEED IT. THE TRINITY IS NOT MERELY A HAPPY FAMILY OF COURSE. BUT A HAPPY FAMILY IN SOME WAY ECHOES WHY THE THREE PERSONS WHO TOGETHER ARE LOVE, EXTEND LOVE TO ALL CREATION.

AND THAT BRINGS US TO FATHER'S DAY. WE DON'T HONOR FATHERS BECAUSE OF BIOLOGY; WE HONOR THEM BECAUSE OF THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO GOOD FAMILIES. BUT A FATHER CAN'T DO IT ALONE. THERE'S THAT OLD SAYING, “IF MOMMA AIN'T HAPPY, AIN'T NO ONE HAPPY”. SO A FATHER HAS TO MAKE SURE THE MOTHER IS HAPPY. BUT THAT'S NOT ENOUGH, BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THAT CHILDREN WHO GROW UP ESTRANGED FROM ONE OR BOTH OF THEIR PARENTS HAVE A DISADVANTAGE COMPARED TO CHILDREN FROM INTACT FAMILIES. SO THE FATHER HAS TO MAKE SURE THE CHILDREN ARE HAPPY. AND IF YOU WANT A HAPPY FAMILY, THE FATHER HAS TO BE HAPPY, SO THE MOTHER AND THE CHILDREN NEED TO MAKE SURE THE FATHER IS HAPPY. AND WE COULD SUBSTITUTE OTHER WORDS FOR HAPPY – SECURE, WELL FED, SHELTERED, CLOTHED, EDUCATED, DISCIPLINED – BUT IN THE END, ALL ARE SIMPLY WAYS OF SAYING “LOVED”. AND IN THE END, THE FATHER WHO GIVES THE MOST, WHO LOVES THE MOST, WHO GIVES HIMSELF AWAY TO HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN, THAT IS THE FATHER WHO MOST RESEMBLES THE FATHER IN THE TRINITY, WHO GENERATES THE SON BY EMPTYING HIMSELF OUT.  

Pentecost 2014

JOHN 20:19-23

I KNOW A MAN WHO MET HIS WIFE IN GRADUATE SCHOOL. HIS STORY IS NOT UNUSUAL. HE SAW HER IN THE PARKING LOT A FEW TIMES, AND FELT AN ATTRACTION. HE SAID THAT BEFORE HE EVER SPOKE TO HER, BEFORE HE EVER TOOK HER ON A DATE, HE KNEW SHE WAS THE WOMAN HE WOULD MARRY. AND OF COURSE, WHEN HE KNEW THIS, HE DID SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I KNOW A YOUNG WOMAN WHO GOT TO KNOW A GUY WHO WAS A RELATIVE OF ONE OF HER FRIENDS. THEY WENT OUT ON A COUPLE OF CASUAL DATES, AND SHE DECIDED AT SOME POINT THAT HE WAS THE GUY FOR HER. FOR A GIRL TO LAND A GUY, YOU HAVE TO BE MORE SUBTLE, AND MAKE THE GUY THINK HE IS DOING ALL THE DECIDING. THIS YOUNG LADY WAS VERY SMART AND DETERMINED, AND SURE ENOUGH, THE GUY THOUGHT HE HAD BEEN PURSUING HER AND FINALLY WON HER HEART, EXACTLY AS PLANNED. BOTH COUPLES ARE HAPPILY MARRIED.

COURTSHIP IS AN INTERESTING PHENOMENON. ONE PERSON TAKES THE LEAD IN WINNING THE AFFECTIONS OF THE OTHER. IF COURTSHIP IS SUCCESSFUL, THEN THE OTHER WILL EVENTUALLY RECIPROCATE THOSE AFFECTIONS. THE GOAL OF COURTSHIP IS UNION – FOR TWO TO BECOME ONE FLESH.

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS, AMONG OTHER THINGS, GOD COURTING THE HUMAN SOUL. GOD LONGS TO BE ONE WITH HIS CREATION, WITH YOU AND I. LIKE ANYONE DESIRING TO AWAKEN LOVE IN THE BELOVED, HE COMES BEARING GIFTS. THERE ARE THE TRADITIONAL GIFTS – WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING, KNOWLEDGE, COUNSEL, FORTITUDE, PIETY. AND FEAR OF THE LORD. WHEN SOMEONE IS COURTING HIS OR HER LOVER, ONE OF THE THINGS YOU SEE IS THAT EACH WANTS TO SHOW THE OTHER SOMETHING HE OR SHE LOVES. “YOU'VE NEVER SEEN STAR WARS? WE'LL WATCH IT TOGETHER!” YOU'VE NEVER HIKED UP MOUNT TOM? YOU'VE GOT TO GO WITH ME. THE VIEW FROM THE TOP IS WORTH THE TRIP.” THE TRADITIONAL SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT HELP US TO SEE THE WORLD MORE CLEARLY, TO SEE IT AS GOD SEES IT. THE FIRST FOUR ARE GIFTS TO OUR MINDS, HELPING US TO BETTER KNOW OURSELVES, OUR NEIGHBORS AND OUR GOD. THE LAST THREE ARE GIFTS THAT TRAIN OUR SPIRITS; STRENGTH TO PERSIST, THE VISION OF OUR RELATIONSHIP TO GOD, AND THE INNER SENSE THAT TELLS US WHEN GOD IS PRESENT. OUR LOVER, THE HOLY SPIRIT, WANTS TO AWAKEN IN US THE DESIRE FOR UNION WITH HIM.

WHEN WE'VE BEGUN TO RESPOND TO HIS ADVANCES, WE BEGIN TO NOTICE WHAT ARE CALLED THE TWELVE FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. THESE ARE CHARITY, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, GENEROSITY, GENTLENESS, FAITHFULNESS, MODESTY, SELF-CONTROL, CHASTITY. SOONER OR LATER AMONG HUMAN LOVERS, THERE IS A POINT WHERE THE QUESTION ARISES: IS THIS RELATIONSHIP MAKING ME BETTER OR WORSE? AND WE ALL KNOW OF TRAGIC SITUATIONS WHERE A MAN AND A WOMAN FALL IN LOVE AND EVENTUALLY IT TURNS OUT THAT ONE OR BOTH ARE FAR WORSE OFF THAN IF THEY'D NEVER MET. IDEALLY, THERE SHOULD BE SOME SIGNAL EARLY ON IN THE RELATIONSHIP THAT CONTINUING ALONG THE PATH WILL MAKE THEM BOTH BETTER PEOPLE. AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS AS THE HOLY SPIRIT COURTS OUR SOULS; WE BEGIN TO NOTICE THAT WE ARE TAKING ON SOME OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF JESUS; WE ARE DEVELOPING GOD-LIKE VIRTUES. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT BRINGS ABOUT IN US – TO MAKE US MORE LIKE GOD, OR TO BE MORE PRECISE, LIKE GOD IN THE FLESH, JESUS.

BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS NOT THROUGH WITH US! WHEN A MAN AND A WOMAN FALL IN LOVE, THEY HAVE TO MAKE THE TRANSITION FROM FALLING IN LOVE TO BEING IN LOVE. BEING IN LOVE TAKES WORK, WORK THAT HAS TO BE DONE EVERY DAY. WE HAVE TO WAKE UP WITH THE INTENTION THAT TODAY I AM GOING TO LOVE MY SPOUSE, EVEN IF SHE ISN'T VERY LOVEABLE BEFORE SHE'S HAD HER COFFEE, EVEN IF HE COMES HOME FROM WORK GROUCHY AND IRRITABLE. AND LET'S FACE IT, WE DON'T ALWAYS SUCCEED IN BEING IN LOVE; SOMETIMES WE BECOME ANGRY WITH OUR SPOUSE, SOMETIMES WE FEEL VERY HURT; SOMETIMES WE FAIL TO RECOGNIZE WHAT HE OR SHE WANTS FROM US, BECAUSE WE ARE TOO INVOLVED WITH THE TELEVISION OR THE COMPUTER OR WORK THAT WE'VE BROUGHT HOME. SO BEING IN LOVE REQUIRES FREQUENT FORGIVENESS. WHEN WE WAKE UP WITH THE INTENTION THAT WE ARE GOING TO LOVE OUR SPOUSE TODAY, WE NEED TO HAVE THE INTENTION TO FORGIVE HIM OR HER AS WELL. THE HOLY SPIRIT BEING GOD, IS NOT A NEGLECTFUL LOVER. BUT WE CAN BE, AND WE CAN ALSO MISUNDERSTAND WHAT THE SPIRIT IS TELLING US; WE GET SICK, WE HAVE A TRAGEDY IN OUR LIVES; MAYBE SOMEDAY WE WILL SEE HOW ALL THIS WORKS OUT IN GOD'S GOOD TIME, BUT RIGHT NOW WE ARE ANGRY WITH GOD. TODAY JESUS GIVES THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS TO HIS APOSTLES. WE UNDERSTAND THAT, OF COURSE, AS THE MOMENT WHEN THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION IS GIVEN TO THE CHURCH. BUT WE ALL HAVE THE POWER TO FORGIVE, AND WE NEED TO EXERCISE IT. FORGIVENESS DOES NOT IMPLY THAT THE PERSON WE ARE FORGIVING DID ANYTHING WRONG – ANY HUSBAND AND WIFE WHO ARE HONEST WITH THEMSELVES KNOW THAT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN ONE BECAME OFFENDED BY THE OTHER THROUGH A MISUNDERSTANDING OR MISINTERPRETATION OF AN ACTION. FORGIVENESS OF THE OTHER ALWAYS MEANS THAT I AM PUTTING THE BARRIER THAT AROSE BEHIND ME SO THAT I CAN CONTINUE TO BE IN LOVE. THE HOLY SPIRIT CONSTANTLY FORGIVES US, AND WE NEED TO FORGIVE GOD SOMETIMES, WHICH MEANS THAT WE NEED TO GET ANGRY WITH GOD ONCE IN A WHILE. SPOUSES WHO ARE MATURE IN THEIR LOVE KNOW THAT SOMETIMES IT'S IMPORTANT TO CLEAR THE AIR, BECAUSE AFTERWARD LOVE GROWS.

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD LOVING US, AND HE WILL NEVER GIVE UP ON US. HE GIVES US EVERYTHING WE NEED TO RETURN HIS LOVE, AND HAS EVEN GIVEN US A FREE WILL SO THAT WE CAN GROW IN LOVE. IF WE WEREN'T FREE TO CHOOSE, WE COULD NEVER CHOOSE TO SURRENDER TO THE LOVER OF OUR SOULS. A MAN AND WOMAN WHO HAVE LIVED LIFE TOGETHER, WHO HAVE WORKED AT BEING IN LOVE, WHO HAVE BECOME BETTER PERSONS BECAUSE OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP, WHO HAVE LEARNED TO FORGIVE – EVENTUALLY GROW TOGETHER. THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW THEM WELL MIGHT NOT GET THIS, BUT THE PEOPLE WHO DO, THE CHILDREN, THE GRANDCHILDREN, CANNOT CONCEIVE OF MOM WITHOUT DAD OR VICE-VERSA, AND IN THOSE SAD SITUATIONS WHERE A LOVING COUPLE HAS BEEN BROKEN UP BY DEATH, THOSE WHO KNOW THEM WELL WILL ALWAYS NOTICE SOMETHING INCOMPLETE IN THE ONE WHO REMAINS. WHEN WE SURRENDER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, WE GROW TOGETHER WITH GOD, AND BEGIN TO RESEMBLE JESUS CHRIST, WHO WAS CONCEIVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT IN MARY, AND WHO IS CONCEIVED IN OUR SOULS BY THE SPIRIT AS WELL. HUMAN LOVERS CANNOT LIVE IN LOVE FOR ALL TIME; WE HAVE A FINITE AMOUNT OF TIME TO LOVE AND GROW IN LOVE WITH ANOTHER PERSON. BUT THE LOVE OFFERED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, IF WE ACCEPT IT, WILL NEVER END, BUT ONLY GROW AND GROW UNTIL WE ARE ONE WITH OUR BELOVED FOR ALL ETERNITY.  

Sixth Sunday of Easter, cycle A

JOHN 14:15-21

A MAN IN A WHEELCHAIR ROLLED INTO A DINER AND ORDERED A CUP OF COFFEE. HE LOOKED AROUND AND SAID TO THE WAITRESS, “ISN'T THAT JESUS OVER THERE? BRING HIM A CUP OF COFFEE ON ME.” THEN ANOTHER MAN HOBBLED IN ON CRUTCHES. HE ORDERED SOME TOAST, LOOKED AROUND, AND SAID TO THE WAITRESS, “ISN'T THAT THE SON OF GOD OVER THERE? BRING HIM SOME TOAST, ON ME.” THEN A MAN WALKED IN WITH HIS ARM IN A CAST. HE ORDERED SOME ORANGE JUICE AND SAID TO THE WAITER, “I THINK THAT LOOKS LIKE GOD'S BOY OVER THERE. BRING HIM A GLASS OF ORANGE JUICE, ON ME.”. AFTER JESUS FINISHED BREAKFAST, HE CAME TO THE MAN IN THE WHEELCHAIR AND TOUCHED HIM AND SAID, “THANKS FOR THE COFFEE. GET UP AND WALK. YOU ARE CURED.” THEN HE TOUCHED THE MAN WITH THE CRUTCHES. “THAT TOAST JUST HIT THE SPOT. YOU ARE CURED, SO THROW AWAY THE CRUTCHES.” THEN HE TURNED TO THE MAN IN THE CAST, WHO BACKED AWAY. “DON'T TOUCH ME, LORD! I'M GETTING DISABILITY!” SOME PEOPLE DON'T WANT THINGS TO CHANGE.

TODAY JESUS CONTINUES HIS FAREWELL DISCOURSE TO HIS DISCIPLES. HE MAKES IT CLEAR THAT IF YOU LOVE HIM, YOU WILL KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS. YOU WILL KEEP THEM BECAUSE YOU WILL HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT IN YOU. AND IF YOU KEEP THEM, JESUS WILL DWELL WITHIN YOU.

WHEN WE HEAR THIS PASSAGE, WE NATURALLY THINK OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. WE BEGIN TO COUNT OFF: NO STRANGE GODS, CHECK. HONOR MOM AND DAD, CHECK. NO ADULTERY OR MURDER, CHECK. HAVEN'T COVETED THIS WEEK; I'M DOING OK. AND THEN WE GO ON TO OTHER THINGS.

BUT NOTICE, JESUS IS TALKING ABOUT HIS COMMANDMENTS. AND PERHAPS WE HAVE TO ASK WHETHER WE ARE DOING THOSE. THEY AREN'T QUITE THE SAME AS THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, WHICH ARE OF COURSE, CRUCIALLY IMPORTANT. THEY ALSO AREN'T THE SAME AS THE COMMANDMENT TO LOVE GOD WITH HEART MIND AND SOUL, AND LOVE NEIGHBOR AS MYSELF. THAT, AS JESUS SAID, IS A SUMMARY OF THE WHOLE LAW AND THE PROPHETS, AND ISN'T UNIQUE TO JESUS. BUT JESUS IS SAYING THAT IF WE WANT THAT INTIMATE UNION WITH THE FATHER AND WITH THE SPIRIT AND WITH JESUS HIMSELF, WE NEED TO KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS.

IF YOU ASK GOOGLE ABOUT THE COMMANDMENTS OF JESUS, ONE WEB SITE NAMES 50. MOST CAN FIND BETWEEN 10 AND 35. HOWEVER, MOST OF THESE AREN'T REALLY COMMANDMENTS WHICH APPLY TO EVERYONE, OR THEY ARE ADVICE RATHER THAN COMMANDMENTS, OR THEY ARE VARIATIONS ON THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.

JESUS GAVE US TWO ORIGINAL COMMANDMENTS. ONE HE PREFACES BY THE WORDS, “A NEW COMMANDMENT I GIVE YOU”. THIS COMMANDMENT IS “LOVE ONE ANOTHER”. BUT SO FAR, THAT ISN'T ORIGINAL. THEN JESUS GOES ON TO CLARIFY: “AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, LOVE ONE ANOTHER.” THAT IS A NEW COMMANDMENT. BECAUSE JESUS LOVES US SO MUCH THAT HE CHOSE TO DIE FOR US. HIS COMMANDMENT TO HIS FOLLOWERS IS THAT WE PRACTICE THAT KIND OF LOVE – LOVE SO STRONG THAT WE ARE WILLING TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO BRING ABOUT WHAT IS GOOD FOR EACH OTHER. AND WE HAVE TO ALWAYS KEEP IN MIND THAT THE ULTIMATE GOOD IS TO BE UNITED WITH GOD IN HEAVEN. THIS KIND OF LOVE GETS YOU INTO TROUBLE; IT ALMOST ALWAYS GETS YOU PERSECUTED. WHEN YOU STAND UP FOR TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE, YOU ARE LOOKED UPON AS BACKWARD. WHEN YOU WALK IN THE PICKET LINE PROTESTING ABORTION, THEY THINK YOU ARE A KOOK. WHEN YOU TRY TO GET YOUR CATHOLIC NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR TO COME BACK TO CHURCH, HE MIGHT TELL YOU TO GO MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS, OR WORSE YET, CALL YOU A RELIGIOUS FANATIC. IF WE LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR AS JESUS LOVED US, WE WILL PROBABLY END UP ON A CROSS. SO MOST OF US DON'T FOLLOW THAT COMMANDMENT.

THE OTHER COMMANDMENT JESUS GAVE AS HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN: GO MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS. TO BE A DISCIPLE MEANS TO ALLOW SOMEONE TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE. WE SEE THAT WHEN WE WATCH JESUS GOING ABOUT GALILEE WITH HIS FIRST DISCIPLES. THROUGH WORDS AND ACTIONS, JESUS GAVE THEM A PATTERN OF HOW TO LIVE: IF YOU MEET A STRANGER IN TROUBLE, HELP HIM LIKE THE GOOD SAMARITAN. IF SOMEONE IS STARVING ON YOUR DOORSTEP, DON'T LET THAT HAPPEN, LIKE THE RICH MAN DID WITH LAZARUS. TO BE A DISCIPLE MEANS TO HAVE A MASTER, SOMEONE WHO CAN HELP YOU LOOK AT WHERE YOU ARE SPIRITUALLY, AND WHERE YOU ARE GOING. TO MAKE DISCIPLES, WE HAVE TO BE DISCIPLES.

BUT JESUS ALSO TELLS US TO MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS. HE DOESN'T MEAN JUST THE PEOPLE WHO GO TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY, OR PARTICIPATE IN PARISH MINISTRIES. HE MEANS THE PEOPLE WHO FOR WHATEVER REASON,, HAVE STOPPED GOING TO CHURCH. HE MEANS THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DECIDED THAT RELIGION HAS NOTHING TO SAY TO THEM, NOTHING TO OFFER THEM. JESUS MODELED THIS WITH HIS LIFE; HE APPROACHED SAMARITANS AND TAX COLLECTORS AND PROSTITUTES AND LEPERS AND ROMAN SOLDIERS – HE DIDN'T WAIT FOR THEM TO COME TO HIM – HE WENT TO THEM AND MET THEM WHERE THEY WERE. HE MET WITH FAILURE NOW AND THEN – WHEN THE RICH YOUNG MAN DECIDED NOT TO FOLLOW HIM; WHEN THE PHARISEES TWISTED HIS WORDS AND CONSPIRED TO KILL HIM; WHEN HIS BEST FRIEND PETER BETRAYED HIM; BUT JESUS DIDN'T GIVE UP, HE KEPT PUTTING HIMSELF ON THE LINE TO BRING BACK THE LOST. MAKING DISCIPLES STARTS WITH MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE, AND LOVING THEM AS FELLOW TRAVELERS LOOKING FOR GOD.

JESUS, AS I SAID, MADE A LOT OF OTHER STATEMENTS THAT COULD BE “COMMANDMENTS”, LIKE “IF YOU ARE GOING TO OFFER SACRIFICE AND REALIZE YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH YOUR BROTHER, LEAVE THE SACRIFICE AT THE ALTAR AND GO AND RECONCILE”; “IF YOU ARE INVITED TO A BANQUET, TAKE TO LOWEST PLACE...”; “JUST AS I HAVE WASHED YOU FEET, SO YOU SHOULD WASH EACH OTHER'S FEET”; “I TELL YOU, FORGIVE YOUR NEIGHBOR SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN.” JESUS ALSO PROMISED THAT WHEN WE WERE PUT ON THE SPOT, WE DON'T NEED TO WORRY – WE WILL BE GIVEN THE WORDS WE NEED. AND HE TOLD US THAT “WHOEVER ACKNOWLEDGES ME BEFORE OTHERS I WILL ACKNOWLEDGE BEFORE MY FATHER.”

THE TWO COMMANDMENTS OF JESUS. TO LOVE EACH OTHER AS HE LOVED US; AND TO MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS. AND JESUS TELLS US THAT KEEPING THESE COMMANDMENTS IS A CONDITION FOR THAT BLESSED UNION WITH THE FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT. JESUS EVEN PROMISES THAT WE'LL GET DIVINE HELP; THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL SPEAK FOR US, AND THE FATHER AND THE SON WILL DWELL IN US. HOW CAN WE GO WRONG?

SO TODAY IT'S TIME TO ASK OURSELVES, HOW WELL ARE WE KEEPING THE COMMANDMENTS JESUS GAVE US? AND IF WE AREN'T WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO START?

Fifth Sunday of Easter cycle A

JOHN 14:1-12

AT THE GATE OF HEAVEN, SAINT PETER ASKS MOTHER THERESA WHY SHE SHOULD BE ADMITTED TO HEAVEN. SHE REPLIES, “I FOUNDED A RELIGIOUS ORDER; I SPENT MY LIFE CARING FOR PEOPLE NO ONE ELSE CARED FOR. I WITNESSED THE GOSPEL EVERY CHANCE I GOT.” SAINT PETER SAYS, “NOT GOOD ENOUGH. GO TO THE END OF THE LINE. THEN JOHN PAUL II COMES UP. “I TRAVELED ALL OVER THE WORLD PREACHING THE GOSPEL. I TRANSFORMED THE CHURCH FOR THE BETTER. I LIVED A HOLY LIFE AND HELPED FREE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE FROM THE SLAVERY OF COMMUNISM.” AND PETER SAYS, “NOT GOOD ENOUGH, GO TO THE END OF THE LINE.” THEN THE BLESSED MOTERH COMES UP. “I AM NOTHING,” SHE SAYS. “MY SOUL REFLECTS THE LORD, MY SPIRIT REJOICES ONLY IN GOD MY SAVIOR.” “COME RIGHT IN,” SAYS PETER. “THAT'S ENOUGH.”.

RICHARD ROHR, A FRANCISCAN PRIEST AND SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR, SAYS THAT WE SPEND THE FIRST HALF OF OUR LIVES DEFINING OURSELVES. WE BECOME WHO WE ARE. I BECOME A HUSBAND, FATHER, PHYSICIAN, DEACON, AND ALL THE NUMEROUS OTHER THINGS THAT MAKE ME A UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL. HE GOES ON TO SAY THAT DURING THE SECOND HALF OF OUR LIVES THE REAL WORK IS TO SHED ALL OF THESE THINGS. IN THE MOST ANCIENT FORM OF BUDDHISM THEY SEEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT. MEN SOMEWHERE IN THE LATER PART OF THEIR LIVES GIVE UP FAMILY, OCCUPATION, SOCIAL ATTACHMENTS, AND ENTER A MONASTERY. THERE THEY WORK ON SHEDDING THEMSELVES OF DESIRE, HOPING TO ESCAPE THE WHEEL OF REINCARNATION. BUT ROHR SAYS THAT THE DANGER IN WESTERN SOCIETY IS THAT WE TEND TO KEEP ALL THOSE THINGS THAT IDENTIFY US; WE TEND TO HANG ON TO TITLES AND RELATIONSHIPS SO THAT WE NEVER BECOME OUR REAL SELVES. TODAY WE HEAR JESUS PROCLAIMING TO PHILIP THAT IF YOU HAVE SEEN ME, YOU HAVE SEEN THE FATHER; AND WE HEAR HIM SAY, I AM IN THE FATHER AND HE IS IN ME.

FOR CENTURIES CHRISTIANS HAVE INTERPRETED THIS AS THE SCRIPTURAL BASIS FOR THE TRINITY, AND IT IS. BUT IT IS ALSO A MESSAGE FOR US.

JESUS IS THE PERFECT HUMAN BEING. THAT MEANS, AS SAINT LUKE TELLS US, THAT HE GREW IN GRACE AND PERFECTION. JESUS DID THE WORK ALL PEOPLE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO, AND HE DID IT PERFECTLY. HE WENT THROUGH THAT TIME OF FORMING HIS IDENTITY; HE BECAME SON, CARPENTER, FRIEND, HEALER, PREACHER; HE BECAME PROPHET, AND MIRACLE WORKER. HE WAS FAMOUS THROUGHOUT PALESTINE. BUT THEN AT THE TIME OF HIS TRANSFIGURATION, HE BEGAN THE PROCESS OF SHEDDING ALL THESE THINGS THAT DEFINE HIM. THE APOSTLES HAD A MOMENTARY GLIMPSE OF JESUS' TRUE SELF, THE SELF THAT THE FATHER DECLARED “BELOVED”. AND THEN THEY WENT DOWN TO JERUSALEM, WHERE JESUS WOULD SHED EVERYTHING, HIS FAME, BECAUSE HE WAS REVILED AND HUMILIATED; HIS POWER, BECAUSE HE WAS MADE HELPLESS ON THE CROSS; HIS POSSESSIONS, BECAUSE EVEN HIS GARMENTS WERE DIVIDED AND GIVEN AWAY; AND HIS PLEASURE, BECAUSE HE WAS MADE TO UNDERGO AN AGONIZING DEATH. IN TODAY'S GOSPEL HE IS TELLING US THAT IF YOU LOOK BENEATH ALL THESE THINGS THAT DEFINE WHO JESUS IS, YOU WILL MEET THE FATHER, WHO IS ONE WITH THE SON.

YOU AND I, IF WE ARE TO BELIEVE RICHARD ROHR, ARE CALLED TO DO THE SAME THING, ONCE WE HAVE BECOME WHO WE ARE, ONCE WE HAVE DEFINED OURSELVES, WE HAVE REACHED A POINT WHERE WE ARE “TOGETHER” ENOUGH TO SEARCH FOR THAT DEEPER SELF, THE SELF THAT THE FATHER CALLS “BELOVED”. FOR US TO BECOME THAT SELF, WE NEED TO IDENTIFY IT, TO FIND IT, AND THEN TO LEAVE BEHIND FAME, POWER, POSSESSIONS AND PLEASURE. FOR SOME THIS PROCESS BEGINS EARLY, AND FOR OTHERS, VERY LATE IN LIFE; FOR SOME IT IS RELATIVELY SUDDEN, FOR OTHERS, VERY GRADUAL. I AM PRIVILEGED TO WORK WITH PEOPLE AT THE FAR END OF THEIR LIVES, AND I SEE THIS. THERE ARE SOME WHO GRACIOUSLY LET GO OF EVERYTHING, WHILE OTHERS HANG ON WITH ALL THEIR MIGHT TO THEIR RELATIONSHIPS, THEIR PLACE IN SOCIETY, THEIR PLEASURES AND THEIR POWERS. THERE IS SOMETHING ADMIRABLE ABOUT BOTH; THOSE WHO CLING TO WHAT MAKES THEM UNIQUE ARE NOT GOING GENTLY INTO THAT GOOD NIGHT; THEY ARE FIGHTING TO HANG ON TO THEMSELVES. BUT THAT IS A FUTILE FIGHT THAT CAN'T BE WON. THOSE WHO ARE LETTING GO OF EVERYTHING, EVEN SOMETIMES THEIR IDENTITIES, ARE HOPEFULLY FINDING THEIR DEEPER SELF, EVEN IF WE WHO WATCH DON'T KNOW IT.

THAT PROCESS WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH, THAT PROCESS OF TRUE DETACHMENT, DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE SHOULD ALL GIVE UP EVERYTHING AND ENTER MONASTERIES. BUT IT IS A WORK, IT ISN'T SOMETHING THAT IS GIVEN TO US; AND IT HAS TO BE DONE IF WE ARE TO ENTER INTO UNION WITH GOD FOR ALL ETERNITY. OUR CHURCH SHOWS US THE WAY. THROUGH THE SACRAMENTS, ESPECIALLY THE EUCHARIST, WE UNITE BODY AND SOUL WITH JESUS. THROUGH THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION WE EXAMINE AND CAST OFF THOSE THINGS WHICH PUT BARRIERS BETWEEN US AND OUR TRUE SELVES. AND THROUGH PRAYER, FASTING, AND WORKS OF CHARITY WE BEGIN TO DETACH OURSELVES FROM POSSESSIONS, FROM FAME, FROM POWER, FROM PLEASURE. AND BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT MANY OF US WON'T COMPLETE THIS WORK ON THIS SIDE OF THE GRAVE, AND BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT GOD IS ALL MERCIFUL, WE BELIEVE THAT EXCEPT FOR THOSE WHO COMPLETELY REJECT THE POSSIBILITY OF BECOMING ONE WITH THE FATHER, WE WILL CONTINUE THIS WORK IN PURGATORY, UNTIL WE BECOME WHAT WE ARE MEANT TO BE.

WHEN JESUS SAYS, “I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE,” HE IS TELLING US TO GO WHERE HE IS GOING, WHERE HE WILL GO. HE IS TELLING US THAT WE ALSO, BECAUSE HE HAS PAVED THE WAY, CAN BECOME ONE WITH THE FATHER. WE ONLY NEED TO FOLLOW HIS LEAD. SAINT AUGUSTINE BACK IN THE FOURTH CENTURY KNEW THIS. HERE IS WHAT HE SAID.

LATE HAVE I LOVED YOU, O BEAUTY EVER ANCIENT, EVER NEW, LATE HAVE I LOVED YOU! YOU WERE WITHIN ME, BUT I WAS OUTSIDE, AIND IT WAS THERE THAT I SEARCHED FOR YOU. IN MY UNLOVELINESS I PLUNGED INTO THE LOVELY THINGS WHICH YOU CREATED. YOU WERE WITH ME, BUT I WAS NOT WITH YOU. CREATED THINGS KEPT ME FROM YOU; YET IF THEY HAD NOT BEEN IN YOU THEY WOULD HAVE NOT BEEN AT ALL. YOU CALLED, YOU SHOUTED, AND YOU BROKE THROUGH MY DEAFNESS. YOU FLASHED, YOU SHONE, AND YOU DISPELLED MY BLINDNESS. YOU BREATHED YOUR FRAGRANCE ON ME; I DREW IN BREATH AND NOW I PANT FOR YOU. I HAVE TASTED YOU, NOW I HUNGER AND THIRST FOR MORE. YOU TOUCHED ME, AND I BURNED FOR YOUR PEACE.

THE FATHER IS WITHIN US, TOGETHER WITH THE SON AND THE SPIRIT. WE HAVE TO STRIP AWAY EVERYTHING THAT DEFINES US, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, SEPARATES US, FROM WHO WAITS LOVINGLY AND PATIENTLY FOR US AT THE VERY CENTER OF OUR BEING.

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.