Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle A

MATTHEW 21:33-43

WHEN WE LISTEN TO THIS GOSPEL PASSAGE, WE MIGHT WONDER WHETHER THOSE TENANTS RUNNING THE VINEYARD FOR AN ABSENTEE LANDOWNER ARE PLAYING WITH A FULL DECK. SURELY, IF THEY HAD THE NERVE TO BEAT AND STONE AND EVEN KILL THE MESSENGERS OF THE LANDLORD, THEY MIGHT HAVE EXPECTED THE NEXT VISIT WOULD BE FROM HIS HIRED GOONS, NOT MORE SERVANTS. APPARENTLY WHAT HAPPENED HERE WASN'T UNHEARD OF, THOUGH. THE TENANTS IN ORDER TO LEASE THE VINYARD, HAD TO PROMISE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF THE PRODUCE TO THE LANDLORD – NOT A PERCENTAGE, BUT A CERTAIN AMOUNT. THERE WOULD ALSO BE TAXES, AND THEY HAD TO MAKE ENOUGH FROM THEIR SHARE OF THE CROP TO FEED THEIR FAMILY. GIVEN THIS ARRANGEMENT, A BAD CROP COULD RUIN THEM. AND IF THEY KNEW THE LANDLORD WAS ALONG WAY AWAY, THEY MIGHT HOPE THAT BEFORE HE PERSONALLY CAME BACK LEADING AN ARMY, THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO WALK OFF WITH AS MUCH OF THE CROP AS THEY COULD HANDLE. THE LANDOWNER, AFTER ALL, HAD PROBABLY NOT HIRED THE TENANTS PERSONALLY; THAT WAS DONE THROUGH HIS STEWARD. AND WITHOUT SECURITY CAMERAS, DRIVERS LICENSES, AND SKILLED DETECTIVE WORK, IT MIGHT BE QUITE DIFFICULT TO LOCATE THOSE TENANTS SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER THE EVENT. SO THE WAY THEY TREATED THE FIRST DELEGATION MIGHT NOT BE SO UNUSUAL. BUT WHEN THEY TREATED THE SECOND DELEGATION THAT WAY, IT WAS LIKE POKING A STICK IN A HORNET'S NEST. AND TO KILL THE SON – THAT WAS REALLY LOOKING FOR TROUBLE. NO WONDER JESUS' LISTENERS ROUNDLY CONDEMNED THE TENANT FARMERS.

BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE SOMEONE EVEN MORE FOOLISH HERE. THE LANDOWNER. AFTER ALL, SOME OF THOSE SERVANTS WHO WERE SENT FIRST MUST HAVE GONE BACK AND TOLD HIM WHAT HAD HAPPENED. AND HE STILL SENT OUT MORE SERVANTS. AND SOME OF THOSE SURVIVED TO TELL THE TALE. AND STILL THE LANDOWNER DIDN'T DO WHAT ANY REASONABLE HUMAN BEING WOULD HAVE DONE – IF HE COULDN'T TAKE BACK HIS VINEYARD AND PRODUCE BY FORCE, SURELY HE WOULD NOT HAVE SENT HIS SON. AND HOW COULD HE BELIEVE THAT THESE TENANTS WOULD TREAT HIS SON ANY DIFFERENTLY THAN HIS SERVANTS?

BUT MAYBE THAT IS PART OF THE POINT JESUS IS MAKING. THE LANDOWNER WANTS TO FORM A TRUSTING AND EVEN LOVING RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS TENANTS, EVEN TO THE POINT OF DOING EVERYTHING HE CAN. JESUS IS DRAWING AN ANALOGY HERE, TELLING US WHAT GOD THE FATHER IS LIKE. HE IS NOT A GOD OF WRATH, A GOD WHO ACTS LIKE A POWERFUL LANDOWNER MIGHT BE EXPECTED TO ACT. HE IS INSTEAD A GOD WHO DOES ALL HE POSSIBLY CAN TO FORM A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS PEOPLE. AND YOU WILL NOTICE THAT JESUS DOESN'T AGREE WITH THOSE WHO SAY THAT THE LANDOWNER WILL SEND TROOPS AND BRING THOSE THIEVING MURDERING TENANTS TO JUSTICE – THAT'S A HUMAN CONCLUSION, AND IT DOESN'T FIT GOD.

BUT REMEMBER, THE FATHER WILL DO EVERYTHING HE POSSIBLY CAN, EVEN TO THE SENDING OF HIS ONLY SON, IN ORDER TO BRING US INTO HIS OWN LOVE AND LIFE. BUT GOD HAS TIED HIS OWN HANDS; HE CANNOT OVERRIDE OUR FREE WILL, BECAUSE THEN OUR WILL WOULD NOT BE FREE, THE GIFT HE GAVE US WOULD BE A SHAM, AND THE CHOICE TO LOVE HIM OR NOT WOULD NOT BE A CHOICE AT ALL.

WHAT GOD DOES, THOUGH, JESUS DESCRIBES. WHEN HE'S DONE ALL HE CAN DO, HE LOOKS AROUND FOR

SOMEONE ELSE TO LOVE, SOMEONE ELSE WHO MIGHT RECIPROCATE HIS OWN LOVE.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE FIRST READING AND THE SECOND, WE UNDERSTAND THIS PASSAGE TO HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS; WITH THE IDEA THAT THE COVENANT WITH THE JEWS WAS BROKEN, AND NOW A COVENANT HAS BEEN MADE WITH THE GENTILES. BUT VATICAN II TELLS US THAT THE FIRST COVENANT WASN'T BROKEN, AT LEAST ON GOD'S PART, BECAUSE GOD WOULD NOT GO BACK ON HIS WORD. WE CAN BE SURE THAT GOD STILL LOVES THE JEWISH PEOPLE, HIS FIRST LOVE.

BUT THIS SCRIPTURE APPLIES TO EACH INDIVIDUAL'S LIFE AS WELL. WE ARE GIVEN LIFE, WE ARE GIVEN A FREE WILL, AND WE ARE GIVEN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME IN WHICH WE HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER TO RESPOND TO THE OVERTURES OF GOD OR NOT. AND HE MAKES OVERTURES ALL THE TIME. HE CALLS US THROUGH OUR CONSCIENCES; HE CALLS US THROUGH OUR RELATIONSHIPS. FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH BEING BORN OR BEING RECEIVED INTO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, HE CALLS US THROUGH HIS WORD, OUR SCRIPTURES; AND HE CALLS US THROUGH OUR CHURCH, WHICH CONTINUALLY APPLIES THE SCRIPTURES TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF TODAY, AND RESOLVES ISSUES WHICH HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF CAUSING DISUNION, OR LEADING SOME OF US ASTRAY. AND HE CALLS US THROUGH THE SACRAMENTS, EACH ONE OF WHICH IS A MANIFESTATION OF GOD'S MERCY AND LOVE FOR US. PEOPLE WHO AREN'T CATHOLIC, PEOPLE WHO AREN'T CHRISTIAN – WE HE CALLS THEM AS WELL, BUT IT ISN'T FOR US TO SAY HOW HE DOES IT. AGAIN, VATICAN II TEACHES THAT WHATEVER IS GOOD AND TRUE COMES FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT, SO EVERY PERSON IS EXPOSED AT SOME POINT TO THE SPIRIT.

BUT FINALLY, LIKE THE TENANTS IN THE VINEYARD, WE ALWAYS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEND HIS MESSENGERS AWAY. AND A DAY COMES WHEN THERE ARE NO MORE CHANCES, AND HE TAKES HIS KINGDOM FROM US AND GIVES IT TO ANOTHER, HOPING THAT THIS ONE WILL BEAR FRUIT.

TO ME, AS I GET OLDER, THOSE LAST WORDS OF THIS GOSPEL ARE THE MOST FRIGHTENING. HAVE I BORN FRUIT? HAVE I BORN THE FRUIT I WAS SUPPOSED TO? I KNOW I'VE MISSED A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES TO BEAR FRUIT. I KNOW, IF I AM HONEST, THAT I HAVE BORN SOME GOOD FRUIT. AND I ONLY HAVE A LITTLE TIME LEFT BEFORE THE DAY WILL COME WHEN HE WILL LOOK AT MY LIFE AND DECIDE WHETHER TO LET ME HAVE THE KINGDOM, OR TAKE IT AWAY AND GIVE IT TO ANOTHER.

SO THIS GOSPEL PASSAGE IS ULTIMATELY ABOUT YOU AND I, NOT ABOUT THE JEWS AND THE GENTILES. IT IS ABOUT OUR PARISH, NOT ABOUT THE PHARISEES AND THE EARLY CHRISTIANS. IT IS ABOUT OUR COUNTRY, NOT ABOUT ANCIENT ISRAEL AND ANCIENT ROME. AND ALWAYS, IT IS ABOUT BEARING FRUIT, AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF FAILING TO DO SO. IN THE TIME WE HAVE LEFT, LET US ASK OURSELVES HOW WE CAN BEAR MORE FRUIT; HOW OUR PARISH AND OUR CITY AND OUR NATION CAN BEAR MORE FRUIT. BECAUSE THE KINGDOM CAN BE TAKEN AWAY; IT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE.  

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle A

MATTHEW 21:28-32

MY WIFE USES HER COMPUTER A LOT. SHE DOES EMAIL, ORDERS THINGS, EDITS PHOTOGRAPHS, AND READS THE NEWS. BUT SHE REALLY HATES IT. SHE IS NOT TOO FOND OF ANY TECHNOLOGY MORE RECENT THAN ROTARY PHONES. SHE ALSO HAS AN ADVERSE RELATIONSHIP WITH ELECTRONICS, AND FREQUENTLY SOMETHING HAPPENS TO HER COMPUTER. I HAVE BECOME A PRETTY GOOD INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIST AS I AM CALLED TO FIX WHATEVER IS WRONG. NOW AND THEN I HAVE A PROBLEM I CAN'T FIX, SO I GO ON LINE AND CHAT WITH A SPECIALIST. FOR SOME REASON THE SPECIALISTS I REACH HAVE NAMES LIKE “RAVI” OR “SHARVAZ” OR “TATANIA”. ONE CHARACTERISTIC THAT TIES THEM ALL TOGETHER IS HOW UNFAILINGLY POLITE THEY ARE ON LINE. “I AM DELIGHTED TO BE OF HELP TO YOU, SIR!” THEY EXCLAIM. “WITH YOUR PERMISSION, I AM GOING TO REVIEW YOUR PROBLEM. PLEASE WAIT.” THEY TELL ME. “I AM EXTREMELY SORRY FOR THE DELAY,” THEY TELL ME AS THEY COME BACK ON LINE. AND AT THE END OF THE CHAT SESSION THEY COMPLIMENT ME PROFUSELY BECAUSE I HAVE FOLLOWED THEIR DIRECTIONS AND THE PROBLEM IS RESOLVED. WHEN I THANK THEM, THEY TELL ME THAT THEY COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT ME. WE CAN BE SURE THAT NONE OF THE CHAT SPECIALISTS ARE AMERICAN.

IT'S INTERESTING THAT IN THE MIDDLE EAST, IF YOU GO AND READ THIS GOSPEL PASSAGE TO SIMPLE FOLK WHO HAVEN'T HEARD IT BEFORE, AND ASK THE QUESTION, “WHICH SON DID THE WILL OF HIS FATHER?” THEY TEND TO FAVOR THE ONE WHO SAID HE WOULD BUT DIDN'T. THAT IS BECAUSE THEY HEAR “WHICH SON HONORED HIS FATHER?” AND IN THEIR SOCIETY, TO TELL YOUR FATHER YOU AREN'T GOING TO OBEY HIM IN PUBLIC IS LIKE A SLAP IN THE FACE. AND THAT IN FACT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE SON'S MOTIVE, THE ONE WHO DIDN'T DO WHAT HIS FATHER ASKED. HE HAD NO INTENTION OF CARRYING OUT THE TASK, BUT DID NOT WANT HIS FATHER TO LOSE FACE.

BUT THE QUESTION JESUS ASKS IS “WHICH SON DID THE WILL OF HIS FATHER?” AND HE GOES ON TO SAY THAT PROSTITUTES AND TAX COLLECTORS ARE ENTERING THE KINGDOM BEFORE YOU – THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND ELDER BECAUSE WHEN THEY HEARD JOHN, THEY CHANGED THEIR MINDS, THEY CHANGED THEIR BEHAVIOR; BUT YOU CHIEF PRIESTS AND ELDERS HEARD HIM YOU DID NOT CHANGE YOUR MINDS. THE WILL OF THE FATHER ALWAYS BEGINS WITH CHANGING OUR MINDS.

NOW WE MIGHT ASK OURSELVES, WHICH SON ARE WE LIKE? DO WE SAY WE ARE GOING TO DO THINGS AND NOT DO THEM, OR DO WE REFUSE TO DO THINGS AND THEN GO AHEAD AND DO THEM? AS I'VE GOTTEN OLDER, I'VE GOTTEN TO BE MORE LIKE THE SON WHO TELLS HIS FATHER HE WON'T OBEY. I KEEP QUIET WHEN I MIGHT HAVE VOLUNTEERED. I DON'T JOIN ORGANIZATIONS EVEN WHEN I'M INVITED TO. AND I CERTAINLY AM VERY CAREFUL ABOUT TAKING ON NEW TASKS – BECAUSE I HAVE A LIFETIME OF EXPERIENCE WHERE I HAVE VOLUNTEERED, WHERE I HAVE TAKEN ON NEW TASKS, WHERE I HAVE JOINED ORGANIZATIONS – ALL WITH THE HOPE THAT THINGS WOULD CHANGE FOR THE BETTER BECAUSE OF ME – AND I'VE ALWAYS BEEN DISAPPOINTED WITH THE OUTCOME. IN THE PAST, I WAS LIKE THE OTHER SON. IF SOMETHING CAME UP I WAS ALWAYS FIRST IN LINE. THEN I'D DISCOVER THAT I HAD TAKEN ON TOO MUCH, OR THE TASK AT HAND WAS NOT POSSIBLE GIVEN MY RESOURCES, OR THE ORGANIZATION THAT I JOINED DID NOT REALLY EXIST TO MAKE THE WORLD BETTER – IT USUALLY TURNED OUT TO BE A DEBATING SOCIETY.

SO I'VE BEEN BOTH SONS, AND BEING EITHER ONE IS NOTHING TO BE PROUD ABOUT. I MAY KNOW THAT GOD WANTS ME TO DO SOMETHING, AND I MAY EVENTUALLY DO IT, BUT MY INITIAL REACTION IS “LEAVE ME ALONE, FIND SOMEONE ELSE!” I DISRESPECT MY FATHER. OR I MAY KNOW THAT GOD WANTS ME TO DO SOMETHING, AND I SAY YES, BUT I DON'T GET AROUND TO IT, AND AFTER A WHILE, I'VE BURIED IT SO DEEP THAT IT DISAPPEARS FROM MY CONSCIOUSNESS.

THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND ELDERS ARE SO SURE THAT THEY SPEAK FOR GOD THAT THEY NO LONGER LISTEN TO HIS PROPHETS. AND THEY ARE THE ONES WHO LAY HEAVY BURDENS ON THOSE OVER WHOM THEY HAVE AUTHORITY. THEY MEAN WELL, BUT THEY HAVE NOT CHANGED THEIR MINDS, THEY HAVE NOT REPENTED, AND AS A RESULT, THEY NO LONGER HEAR GOD. AND THE TAX COLLECTORS AND PROSTITUTES HAVE LISTENED, AND MANY HAVE CHANGED THEIR MINDS AND EMBARKED UPON A NEW WAY OF LIFE, EVEN THOUGH THIS MEANT HAVING TO FIND ANOTHER LIVELIHOOD, SINCE THERE WAS NO UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE IN THOSE DAYS. AND THE OTHER LIVELIHOOD USUALLY MEANT SOME SORT OF BACKBREAKING LABOR.

WHEN JESUS TELLS THIS STORY, HE USES THE WORDS “CHANGE YOUR MIND”. THE GREEK WORD, “METANOIA” CAN ALSO BE TRANSLATED AS “REPENT” OR “BE CONVERTED”. IN FACT, THAT WORD IS VERY COMMON IN THE NEW TESTAMENT AND WE IGNORE IT AT OUR OWN RISK. “METANOIA” IS SIMPLY THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO DISCERN GOD'S WILL FOR OURSELVES. AND IT IS SOMETHING WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING FROM NOW ON UNTIL OUR NATURAL DEATH. AND ITS SUCH A TRAGEDY THAT SO FEW CHRISTIANS MAKE AN EFFORT TO DO THIS. HOW DO WE GO ABOUT IT? IT IS ALWAYS A STRUGGLE, AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE A SENSE THAT YOU ARE STRUGGLING, YOU AREN 'T CHANGING YOUR MIND. IF YOU AREN'T WRESTLING WITH SCRIPTURE OR THE TEACHINGS OF THE CHURCH, YOU AREN'T CHANGING YOUR MIND. IF YOU HARBOR RESENTMENT OR HATRED FOR SOMEONE, PAST OR PRESENT, YOU AREN'T CHANGING YOUR MIND. IF YOU KEEP CONFESSING THE SAME SINS AND FAULTS THAT YOU CONFESSED LAST YEAR, YOU AREN'T CHANGING YOUR MIND.

CHRISTIAN LIFE IS SUPPOSED TO BE ALL ABOUT GROWTH, ABOUT CHANGE. IT BEGINS WITH RECOGNIZING THAT THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT ME THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE, AND THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS THAT CHANGE IS TO CHANGE MY MIND.   

Twenty Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle A

MATTHEW 20:1-16

IT MAY NOT BE TRUE IN OTHER PROFESSIONS, BUT IN MY CAREER AS A DOCTOR INVOLVED IN TEACHING AND RESEARCH, IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT MOST OF US WERE ALWAYS COMPARING OURSELVES TO OTHERS. EVEN THOSE PHYSICIANS WHO WERE AT THE TOP OF THEIR GAME – PROFESSORS IN IVY LEAGUE SCHOOLS, DIRECTORS OF CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE, PEOPLE WHO RAN DEPARTMENTS – THEY ALSO WERE ALWAYS LOOKING OVER THEIR SHOULDERS, FEARING THAT SOMEONE YOUNGER OR SMARTER OR MORE ENERGETIC WOULD SOONER OR LATER PASS THEM UP. MANY SO CALLED ACADEMIC PHYSICIANS LEAVE TO GO INTO PRIVATE PRACTICE BECAUSE THIS RAT RACE EVENTUALLY BECOMES TIRESOME. I THINK A LOT OF PROFESSIONALS, LAWYERS, DOCTORS, ACCOUNTANTS, MILITARY OFFICERS, EVEN CLERGY – LIKE TO PRACTICE IN ISOLATION BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE TO COMPARE THEMSELVES TO ANYONE ELSE – ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS ATTRACT ENOUGH CLIENTS OR PATIENTS OR CONGREGANTS SO THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE PRACTICING THEIR PROFESSION.

WHY DO INTELLIGENT PEOPLE HAVE RAT RACES? IT HAS TO DO WITH HAPPINESS. THERE ARE FOUR LEVELS OF HAPPINESS. THE FIRST COMES WITH SIMPLE BODILY PLEASURE. HOWEVER, AS SOON AS THE EXPERIENCE IS OVER, THE HAPPINESS IS GONE. THE SECOND HAS TO DO WITH PSYCHIC GRATIFICATION. THAT'S WHAT THE RAT RACE IS ALL ABOUT. IF WE CAN SEE OURSELVES AS BETTER THAN OUR PEERS, THERE IS A SORT OF HAPPINESS, BUT IT IS DIMMED BY THE POSSIBILITY THAT THERE ARE THOSE WHO ARE BETTER THAN US AT OUR PROFESSION. WE KEEP TRYING TO IMPROVE AND RISE IN THE RANKS SO THAT WE WILL BE HAPPY – BUT PSYCHIC HAPPINESS ALWAYS ENDS SOONER OR LATER.

THE THIRD LEVEL OF HAPPINESS HAS TO DO WITH ALTRUISM. WE FIND SATISFACTION IN EASING THE SUFFERING OF OTHERS, OR MEETING THEIR NEEDS IN SOME WAY. THIS IS A MORE LASTING HAPPINESS, BUT PEOPLE WHO FIND HAPPINESS IN A LIFE OF ALTRUISM ARE IN DANGER OF BEING DISCOURAGED – TOO MANY PEOPLE WHO DON'T SAY THANK YOU, TOO MANY PEOPLE WHO SEEM NOT TO APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS; OR TOO MANY FAILURES ON YOUR PART – THE DEDICATED DOCTOR WHO HAS A RUN OF UNSUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS; THE ALTRUISTIC LAWYER WHO KEEPS LOSING CASES, THE CLERGYMAN WHO LABORS OVER HIS CONGREGATION AND AFTER YEARS SEES NO REAL CHANGE.

THE FOURTH LEVEL IS ALTRUISM, BUT NOT FOR THE SAKE OF THE PEOPLE BEING SERVED, BUT BECAUSE OF A CONNECTION WITH THE GENEROSITY OF GOD HIMSELF. THIS HAPPINESS IS LASTING, AND THE PERSON WHO SEEKS HIS HAPPINESS IN THIS AREA KNOWS THAT WHETHER HE IS SUCCESSFUL OR NOT, WHAT IS BEING DONE FOR GOD IS NEVER LOST.

THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO INTERPRET THIS PARABLE, AS IS TRUE FOR SO MANY OF THE PARABLES OF JESUS. I CAN'T HELP BUT FEEL SOME SYMPATHY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO BORE THE DAY'S BURDEN AND THE HEAT. THEY MUST HAVE FELT DEVALUED, DISRESPECTED. THERE WERE TWO WAYS TO MAKE THEM FEEL BETTER; EITHER GIVE THEM LOTS MORE MONEY THAN A DAY'S WAGE, OR GIVE THOSE WHO STARTED WORKING LATE IN THE DAY A LOT LESS MONEY. EITHER WAY WOULD HAVE MADE THOSE WHO BORE THE BRUNT OF THE DAY FEEL BETTER. AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO BEGAN WORK LATE IN THE DAY – DID THEY FEEL A LITTLE SHAME? I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE. I WOULD HAVE KEPT THE MONEY BUT MY SENSE OF FAIRNESS WOULD HAVE BEEN SHOCKED. AND MAYBE THAT'S WHAT JESUS IS AFTER; HE WANTS EVERYONE TO PUT HIMSELF OR HERSELF IN THIS PARABLE – HOW DO YOU REACT TO THE GENEROSITY OF THE OWNER OF THE VINEYARD?

IN THE MOVIE “PHILOMENA”, A WOMAN OF THAT NAME GIVES BIRTH TO A CHILD CONCEIVED OUT OF WEDLOCK. THIS TAKES PLACE IN A CONVENT WHERE THE NUNS ARRANGE FOR THESE CHILDREN TO BE ADOPTED. THE MOVIE IS ABOUT THE WOMAN'S SEARCH FOR HER CHILD MANY YEARS LATER, WITH THE HELP OF A REPORTER. BUT THERE IS ONE SCENE THAT STAYED WITH ME. WHEN THE WOMAN VISITS THE CONVENT SHE MEETS SISTER HILDEGARDE, AN ELDERLY NUN WHO HAD BEEN THERE WHEN THE BABY HAD BEEN TAKEN FROM HIS MOTHER AND GIVEN TO ADOPTED PARENTS. AT THE TIME OF THE FIRST VISIT, SISTER HIDEGARDE SAYS THAT ALL THE RECORDS OF THOSE ADOPTIONS HAVE BEEN LOST. LATER, PHILOMENA AND THE REPORTER DISCOVER THAT HER SON HAD RETURNED TO THE CONVENT SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE, LOOKING FOR HIS MOTHER. WHEN THE REPORTER CONFRONTS SISTER HILDEGARDE AND ACCUSES HER OF COVERING UP, SHE REPLIES THAT PHILOMENA DOES NOT DESERVE TO KNOW HER SON BECAUSE SHE HAD GIVEN IN TO CARNAL DESIRES – WHEREAS SISTER HILDEGARDE HAD GIVEN UP EVERYTHING – A FAMILY, POSSESSIONS, EARTHLY PLEASURES, SO THAT SHE COULD GO TO HEAVEN. IN THE SCENE, THE SISTER COMES ACROSS AS A BITTER OLD WOMAN BEING EATEN UP BY ENVY. SHE COULD WELL HAVE SAID, “I HAVE BORN THE DAY'S BURDEN AND THE HEAT” AND HOW CAN YOU ALLOW THIS WOMAN WHO HAS GIVEN UP NOTHING, TO BE REWARDED? SISTER HILDEGARDE, DESPITE HER VOCATION AND HER LIFE OF WORKING WITH UNWED MOTHERS AND THEIR CHILDREN, IS STUCK IN THE SECOND LEVEL, AND HER HAPPINESS SUCH AS IT IS, IS RELATED TO HER LIFE OF SELF-DENIAL, NOT HER ALTRUISM.

THERE WAS ONCE A GOOD MAN WHO SPENT HIS WHOLE LIFE AND FORTUNE DOING GOOD. WHEN HE DIED, GOD SHOWED HIM A BEAUTIFUL MANSION IN HEAVEN – IT'S ALL YOURS, SAID GOD. AND ANYTHING YOU NEED TO MAKE YOU HAPPY, YOU'LL FIND IT IN THAT MANSION. THAT'S YOUR REWARD FOR ALL THE GOOD YOU DID ON EARTH. THE MAN WAS OVERJOYED. A FEW DAYS LATER HE SAW GOD SHOWING AN IDENTICAL MANSION TO ONE OF HIS NEIGHBORS, WHO WAS KNOWN TO DRINK TOO MUCH, WHO CHEATED IN HIS BUSINESS, WHOSE CHILDREN WOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH HIM BECAUSE HE'D BEEN SUCH A LOUSY FATHER. THE MAN ASKED GOD HOW COME THAT MAN WAS GETTING A MANSION THAT HAD EVERYTHING IN IT TO MAKE HIM HAPPY? GOD REPLIED, “WELL, ONCE HE DROPPED SOME CHANGE IN THE CUP OF A BLIND BEGGAR. AND THERE WAS A TIME WHEN HE GAVE SOME OLD CLOTHES TO THE SALVATION ARMY. AND THERE WERE A FEW OTHER THINGS, I THINK...” THE GOOD MAN SMILED AND SAID, “HOW WONDERFUL!”

IF YOU SYMPATHIZE WITH THE MEN WHO BORE THE DAY'S BURDEN AND THE HEAT, AS I DO, YOU AND I AND SISTER HILDEGARDE HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON. BUT IF YOU CAN SAY, AND I'M TRYING TO SAY, ABOUT THE MEN WHO ONLY WORKED AN HOUR, “HOW WONDERFUL THAT YOU ALSO RECEIVED A DAYS WAGE!” THEN YOU BEGIN TO KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.  

Exaltation of the Cross

JOHN3:13-17

LAST MONTH JOAN AND I TOOK THREE GRANDSONS TO MONTANA. THEY RANGE FROM A LITTLE UNDER ELEVEN TO A LITTLE OVER ELEVEN. IT'S A GOOD THING THAT GOD GIVES US OLD PEOPLE CUNNING TO MAKE UP FOR THEIR GRADUAL LOSS OF STAMINA. OUR GRANDSONS LEARNED THAT IF YOU WANTED SOMETHING THAT REQUIRED MONEY, IT WAS BEST TO DO THE BIDDING OF YOUR GRANDPARENTS.

AROUND THE BEGINNING OF THE 20TH CENTURY, A 31 YEAR OLD IRISH EMIGRANT CAME TO MONTANA IN SEARCH OF GOLD. HE LABORED FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS, AND FINALLY STRUCK IT RICH. HE SOLD HIS MINE TO A LARGE CORPORATION, WITH THE CONDITION THAT HE RECEIVE 30% OF THE PROFITS MADE. AT THE AGE OF 50 HE PROPOSED TO A 20 YEAR OLD WOMAN, MARGARET CARTER, WHO, AFTER EXAMINING HIS NET WORTH, ACCEPTED. TEN MONTHS AFTER THEIR LAVISH WEDDING, SHE GAVE BIRTH TO A DAUGHTER, AND DIED OF COMPLICATIONS 12 DAYS LATER. CRUSE RAISED HIS DAUGHTER, WHO ACCOMPANIED HIM ON MANY TRIPS, INCLUDING TRIPS TO EUROPE.

CRUSE DID MANY INTERESTING THINGS WITH HIS MONEY, BUT WHEN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH DECIDED TO SET UP A DIOCESE IN MONTANA, HE OFFERED TO BUILD THE CATHEDRAL IF THEY LOCATED THE DIOCESAN SEAT IN THE CITY OF HELENA. AFTER EXAMINING HIS NET WORTH, THEY ACCEPTED. IN WHAT MUST HAVE BEEN AN AWESOME COINCIDENCE, WE TOOK OUR GRANDCHILDREN TO THE MAGNIFICENT CATHEDRAL OF SAINT HELENA ON THE FEAST DAY OF SAINT HELENA. EXPECTING A BRIEF 7:00 WEEKDAY MASS, THE BOYS WERE UNHAPPILY SURPRISED TO FIND MUSIC AND THREE READINGS RATHER THAN THE USUAL TWO, AND A PRIEST WHO GAVE A FAIRLY LONG SERMON. BUT THEY LEARNED ABOUT SAINT HELENA.

ONE OF THE HUGE STAINED GLASS WINDOWS IN THE CATHEDRAL SHOWS SAINT HELENA STANDING OVER A DYING WOMAN. LEGEND HAS IT THAT SAINT HELENA, THE MOTHER OF THE ROMAN EMPEROR CONSTANTINE, HAD GONE TO THE HOLY LAND IN SEARCH OF THE TRUE CROSS. SHE DISCOVERED THREE CROSSES WHICH HAD BEEN BURIED, AND WHEN THE DYING WOMAN TOUCHED ONE OF THEM SHE WAS INSTANTLY CURED, PROVING THAT THE CROSS WAS THE TRUE CROSS. THE EASTERN CHURCHES BEGAN TO CELEBRATE THAT DISCOVERY, AND THE WESTERN CHURCH ADDED THE FEAST OF THE EXALTATION OF THE CROSS TO THE CALENDAR IN ABOUT THE SEVENTH CENTURY.

IN THE FIRST READING MOSES PRAYS FOR THE RELIEF OF HIS PEOPLE FROM A PLAGUE OF SERPENTS. GOD TELLS HIM TO MAKE A SERPENT OUT OF BRONZE AND MOUNT IT ON A POLE. IF SOMEONE WHO WAS BITTEN LOOKED AT THE SERPENT, HE WOULD BE CURED. WHY DID GOD MAKE THINGS SO COMPLICATED? WHY NOT JUST CURE THE PEOPLE INSTEAD OF HAVING MOSES GO TO ALL THIS TROUBLE? IN THE GOSPEL READING JESUS COMPARES HIMSELF TO THAT SERPENT. “SO MUST THE SON OF MAN BE LIFTED UP, SO THAT EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM MIGHT NOT PERISH BUT MIGHT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.” IF YOU WERE BITTEN BY A SERPENT AND WANTED TO BE CURED, YOU HAD TO LOOK AT THE SERPENT ON THE POLE. YOU HAD A CHOICE. I'M PRETTY SURE NO ONE DECIDED OUT OF STUBBORNNESS NOT TO LOOK AT THE SERPENT. JESUS ALSO GIVES A CONDITION; HE MUST BE LIFTED UP SO THAT IF YOU BELIEVE IN HIM, YOU WILL NOT PERISH BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BELIEVE IN HIM, ALTHOUGH TO CHOOSE NOT TO IS EVEN MORE STUPID THAN ONE OF THOSE SNAKE-BITTEN HEBREWS WHO CHOOSES NOT TO LOOK AT THE BRAZEN SERPENT.

BUT DO WE ALL BELIEVE IN HIM? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE INTELLECTUALLY ACCEPT THAT JESUS IS OUR SAVIOR, KIND OF LIKE BELIEVING THAT TWO AND TWO ARE FOUR, OR WATER IS WET. ISN'T THERE MORE TO IT THAN THAT?

THE WRITERS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT HAD A DIFFERENT IDEA ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BELIEVE IN JESUS. FIRST, IT MEANT THAT YOU HAD TO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU NEEDED A SAVIOR. I THINK THAT'S DIFFICULT, ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO DO THE RIGHT THING, WHO ARE FAITHFUL CHURCH GOERS, WHO TRY TO LIVE GOOD LIVES. BUT THE FACT REMAINS, NO ONE, EVEN THE BLESSED MOTHER, CAN DO WITHOUT A SAVIOR. HUMAN BEINGS ARE FALLEN AND CAN'T GET UP BY THEMSELVES. MARY WAS SAVED BEFORE SHE WAS CONCEIVED, BUT STILL NEEDED TO BE SAVED. SECOND, IT MEANS THAT WE TRUST IN THE ASSURANCE WE HAVE FROM SCRIPTURE AND THE CHURCH THAT GOD CHOOSES TO SEND HIS SON TO OFFER US SALVATION THROUGH HIS SUFFERING, DEATH AND RESURRECTION. IN SOME MYSTERIOUS WAY, AND IT IS MYSTERIOUS, THIS PROCESS CONQUERS DEATH AND BEGINS THE PROCESS OF RESTORING OUR HUMAN NATURE TO WHAT IT WAS MEANT TO BE. IF WE DON'T ACCEPT HIS HELP AND WORK TOWARDS BECOMING WHAT GOD WANTS US TO BE, WE ARE NOT “BELIEVING IN HIM”. IN OTHER WORDS, TO BELIEVE IN HIM IS TO RECOGNIZE THAT I NEED IMPROVEMENT, I NEED REPENTANCE, I NEED TO TURN MY BACK ON MY SINS AND GET RID OF MY FAULTS – ALL WITH GOD'S HELP, OF COURSE, BUT I AM SUPPOSED TO INITIATE THIS. BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO – YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOOK AT THE SERPENT, EVEN IF YOU ARE DYING OF SNAKE BITE.

JESUS HIMSELF MADE THIS CLEAR. HE SAID THAT WE CAN'T BE DISCIPLES UNLESS WE TAKE UP OUR CROSS AND FOLLOW HIM. HE SAID “MY FATHER IS GLORIFIED IN THIS, THAT YOU BEAR MUCH FRUIT AND BECOME MY DISCIPLES.” HE SAID “BY THIS EVERYONE WILL KNOW YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES, IF YOU HAVE LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER.” HE SAID “SO THEREFORE, ANY ONE OF YOU WHO DOES NOT RENOUNCE ALL THAT HE HAS CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE.”

BELIEVING IN JESUS IS NOT AN ACT OF THE MIND. IT IS AN ACT OF THE HEART, IT IS THE DECISION TO BECOME A DISCIPLE, TO BEAR FRUIT, TO LET GO OF THE WORLD, TO ACCEPT THE CROSS; AND THAT MEANS THAT WE NEED TO SET GOALS FOR OURSELVES AND WORK TOWARDS THOSE GOALS. JESUS TOLD US TO PRAY ALWAYS. ARE WE DOING THAT? IF NOT, HOW DO WE GET THERE? JESUS TOLD US TO FORGIVE “SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN”. ARE WE THERE YET? JESUS TOLD US TO WASH EACH OTHER'S FEET. WE ALL KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS. ARE WE DOING MORE OF IT THIS YEAR THAN LAST YEAR?

THE CROSS REMINDS US THAT WE ARE NO DIFFERENT THAN THE SOLDIERS WHO CRUCIFIED HIM, THE PEOPLE WHO CRIED OUT FOR HIS CRUCIFIXION, OR THE PEOPLE WHO STOOD BY SILENTLY WHILE THIS, THE GREATEST INJUSTICE OF ALL TIME, WAS CARRIED OUT. THE CROSS REMINDS US THAT GOD LOVES US SO MUCH THAT HE SENT HIS SON TO BECOME ONE OF US AND DIE FOR US, SO THAT WE COULD LIVE FOREVER WITH GOD. AND THE CROSS REMINDS US THAT GOD CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH. AS LONG AS WE HAVE THE GIFT OF FREE WILL, WE CAN CHOOSE NOT TO BECOME DISCIPLES, WE CAN CHOOSE NOT TO BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST, WE CAN CHOOSE NOT TO LOOK UPON THE BRONZE SERPENT.

AND JESUS ANTICIPATED THAT SOME OF US WOULD CHOOSE THIS. NOT EVERYONE, HE TELLS US, WHO CRIES “LORD, LORD”, WILL ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.  

Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle A

TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, CYCLE A
MATTHEW 18:15-20
TODAY'S GOSPEL SEEMS TO ADDRESS THREE SEPARATE TOPICS –  WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR BROTHER OR SISTER OFFENDS YOU; BINDING AND LOOSING; AND THE POWER OF PRAYER.  BUT I THINK JESUS IS REALLY TALKING ABOUT ONE THING – THE CHURCH.
MORE THAN ONE FIFTH OF AMERICANS DESCRIBE THEMSELVES AS “SPIRITUAL BUT NOT RELIGIOUS.”  MY GRANDFATHER WAS LIKE THAT.  HE HAD BEEN BORN INTO A MORMON FAMILY, AND WHILE HIS SISTERS REMAINED IN THAT FAITH, HE LEFT IT BEHIND WHEN HE LEFT HOME AT FOURTEEN.  EVENTUALLY HE MARRIED MY GRANDMOTHER, WHO WAS CATHOLIC, BUT HE NEVER SHOWED MUCH INTEREST IN JOINING ANY RELIGIOUS GROUP.  HIS ATTITUDE WAS “I CAN PRAY ANYWHERE I WANT.  I FEEL CLOSE TO GOD WHEN I AM OUT FISHING OR HIKING IN THE WOODS.  I DON'T NEED A CHURCH TO SPEAK TO GOD.  HE MIGHT HAVE GONE ON AND SAID THAT HE DIDN'T NEED A PRIEST TO FORGIVE HIM HIS SINS, GOD COULD DO THAT DIRECTLY.  NOW 20% OF AMERICANS MAY DESCRIBE THEMSELVES AS “SPIRITUAL BUT NOT RELIGIOUS” – OR FOR SHORT, SBNR'S – BUT I BET A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO BELONG TO DENOMINATIONS SUBSCRIBE TO THE SAME PHILOSOPHY .  I KNOW SEVERAL CHURCH-GOING CATHOLICS WHO ARE SBNR'S, AND YOU PROBABLY DO AS WELL; THEY GO TO CHURCH, BUT WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE, THEY DON'T FEEL THAT THEY REALLY NEED IT.  I REALLY DO HOPE TO MEET UP WITH MY GRANDFATHER IN THE NEXT LIFE – HE WAS AN HONORABLE AND GENTLE MAN AND I LOVED HIM DEARLY – BUT I THINK TODAY'S GOSPEL MORE OR LESS REFUTES THE ATTITUDE THAT HE  SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THESE DAYS.
TWO SUNDAYS AGO, WE HEARD JESUS PROMISING TO BUILD HIS CHURCH ON THE ROCK WHO IS SIMON PETER.  TODAY, HE EXPLICITLY POINTS OUT THAT WE IN THE CHURCH ARE BROTHERS AND SISTERS, AND IN SOME WAY DIFFERENT FROM THOSE WHO AREN'T IN THE CHURCH.  HE ALSO ADDRESSES THE IDEA THAT THE CHURCH LEADERS HAVE AUTHORITY, IN THE FIRST PLACE, TO JUDGE BETWEEN MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH WHO CAN'T RESOLVE THEIR DIFFERENCES OTHERWISE; AND IF THE OFFENDING PERSON DOES NOT ACCEPT THAT JUDGMENT, HE IS OUT OF THE CHURCH.  THE SECOND POINT IS THAT HE GIVES THE POWER OF THE KEYS TO THE CHURCH. THIS SOUNDS A LOT LIKE THE PASSAGE FROM TWO WEEKS AGO ADDRESSED TO PETER, “I WILL GIVE YOU THE KEYS TO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN; WHAT YOU BIND ON EARTH SHALL BE BOUND IN HEAVEN, AND WHAT YOU LOOSE ON EARTH SHALL BE LOOSED IN HEAVEN.  IN OTHER WORDS, THE CHURCH IS NOT JUST A COLLECTION OF INDIVIDUALS; IT HAS SOMETHING DIVINE ABOUT IT; GOD BINDS HIMSELF TO WHAT HIS CHURCH DECIDES.  FINALLY, JESUS TELLS US THE CONDITIONS IN WHICH THE FATHER WILL ANSWER OUR PRAYERS –  NAMELY, THAT THE CHURCH OFFER THE PRAYER.  HE DOES NOT TELL US THAT GOD WILL ANSWER MY PRAYER OR YOUR PRAYER; BUT HE ASSURES US THAT IF WE ARE PRAYING WITH THE CHURCH – IMPLIED BY “WHERE TWO OR THREE ARE GATHERED IN MY NAME” AND EQUALLY IMPORTANT, “THERE I AM IN THE MIDST OF THEM” IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE, GOD WILL ANSWER OUR PRAYER.
NOW JUST A WORD ABOUT THAT.  I'M SURE YOU AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED TIMES WHEN OUR PRAYER WAS NOT ANSWERED EVEN WHEN WE WERE UNITED IN PRAYER WITH OTHER PEOPLE.  BUT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT FOR OUR PRAYERS TO BE ANSWERED WE HAVE TO BE PRAYING WITH CHRIST, AND JESUS' PRAYER IS ALWAYS “IF IT IS POSSIBLE … BUT THY WILL BE DONE!”  IS THIS A COP-OUT?  IS THIS AN EXCUSE FOR GOD?  NOT REALLY.  THERE ARE TWO REASONS.  GOD IS ONLY IN THE PRESENT, NOT THE FUTURE OR THE PAST.  GOD DOES NOT GO BACK IN TIME AND CHANGE THINGS THAT HAPPENED BECAUSE TIME IS AN IMPERFECTION OF MATTER AND ENERGY, AND GOD IS OUTSIDE OF TIME.  AND MANY OF THE THINGS WE PRAY ABOUT WERE SET IN MOTION LONG BEFORE WE BEGAN TO PRAY – IF I PRAY THAT GOD HEAL MY HEART DISEASE, WELL, THAT STARTED A LONG TIME BEFORE I PRAYED, AND WHILE WE CAN HOPE FOR A MIRACLE, AS WE LEARN MORE AND MORE ABOUT THE WORLD, ABOUT HOW EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED, ABOUT HOW GENES AND DIETS AND EXERCISE ALL HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH HEART PROBLEMS, WE RECOGNIZE HOW IMMERSED IN THE WORLD WE ARE, AND HOW THE KIND OF INTERVENTION WE ACTUALLY WANT MAY VERY WELL NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH GOD'S PLAN, GOD'S WILL.
SECOND, WHEN WE USE THE WORD “PRAYER” WE PROBABLY MISUSE IT.  IF I FIND YOU UNCONSCIOUS, I SHOULD PRAY, OF COURSE, BUT  MAYBE FIRST I SHOULD CALL AN AMBULANCE.  IF I DON'T DO THAT, I OBVIOUSLY DON'T REALLY MEAN MY PRAYER.  WE ALWAYS PRAY FOR PEACE IN THE WORLD, BUT WHO WORKS FOR PEACE?  WE PRAY THAT WE BE GIVEN OUR DAILY BREAD, WHICH MEANS ALL THAT WE NEED TO HAVE TRULY HUMAN LIVES.  BUT DO WE DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS WHEN WE LEAVE CHURCH, TO ASSURE THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING IN CIRCUMSTANCES WORSE THAN ANIMALS ARE LIVING TRULY HUMAN LIVES?  TO THE EXTENT THAT WE DO, THAT'S WHERE THE PRAYER ACTUALLY MEANS SOMETHING. JESUS EVEN POINTS THIS OUT; IN THE PRAYER HE GAVE US, IF WE PRAY FOR FORGIVENESS, THE CONDITION TO RECEIVE IT IS THAT WE BE FORGIVING OF OTHERS.
SO TODAY'S GOSPEL PASSAGE TELLS US SOMETHING ABOUT THE CHURCH, BUT ALSO ABOUT GOD'S INTENTIONS.  GOD HAS GIVEN THE CHURCH SPIRITUAL POWER, THE POWER TO RECONCILE US WITH EACH OTHER, THE POWER TO FORGIVE SINS, THAT IS,  TO RECONCILE US WITH GOD, AND THE POWER TO PRAY WITH JESUS, WHOSE PRAYER IS ALWAYS HEARD.  BUT IT'S ALWAYS US, NEVER ME.  ALWAYS WITH THE CHURCH, NOT BY MYSELF.  EVEN IF I PRAY BY MYSELF, I PRAY AS PART OF THE CHURCH; BAPTISM MEANS THAT GOD PROMISES TO HEAR ME.
SO YOU AND I HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN BRINGING PEOPLE WHO ARE SBNR'S INTO THE CHURCH.  THE MORE WE PRAY AND ACT TOGETHER, THE MORE GOD'S KINGDOM WILL BE AMONG US.  AND WHEN WE BRING THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN INTO OUR OWN FAMILIES, OUR CITIES, OUR COUNTRY, OUR WORLD, THEN WE WILL HAVE WHAT WE PRAY FOR – PEACE AND BROTHERHOOD, HEALING AND FORGIVENESS, AND INDEED, THINGS THAT SEEM TO US NOW TO BE MIRACULOUS.  I THINK THAT'S WHY JESUS PRAYED FOR UNITY AMONG HIS FOLLOWERS – BECAUSE IF WE  ARE TO DO THE THINGS HE DID, AND HE PROMISED THAT WE WOULD – WE HAVE TO DO THEM FULLY UNITED TO THE CHURCH.
SO DID GOD HEAR MY GRANDFATHER'S PRAYERS?  TO THE EXTENT THAT HE PRAYED WITH THE CHURCH.  DID GOD FORGIVE HIS SINS?  TO THE EXTENT THAT THAT FORGIVENESS CAME FROM THE CHURCH.  IS MY GRANDFATHER IN HEAVEN?  TO THE EXTENT THAT HE ARRIVED THERE THROUGH THE CHURCH.  WAS HE CONNECTED IN SOME WAY TO THE CHURCH? IS THIS EVEN POSSIBLE?  WELL, HE WAS A FALLEN AWAY MORMON, SO HE HAD BEEN EXPOSED TO THE GOSPEL, EVEN IF A BIT DISTORTED.  AND HE WAS MARRIED TO A CATHOLIC, AND HE HAD CATHOLIC CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN, WHO PRAY FOR HIM WITH THE CHURCH, WHERE PRAYERS ARE ALWAYS ANSWERED.  SO IN SOME WAY I BELIEVE, I HOPE, THAT HE HAD A CONNECTION TO THE CHURCH, ENOUGH SO THAT AT SOME FINAL POINT HE WAS ABLE TO SAY, “LORD, REMEMBER ME WHEN YOU COME INTO YOUR KINGDOM.”

Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle A

MATTHEW 16:21-28
WHENEVER YOU SEE A PICTURE OF SAINT PETER, HE'S USUALLY BALD.  SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT IS THE CASE BECAUSE PETER SEEMS TO BE OLD, RELATIVE TO THE OTHER APOSTLES.  AFTER ALL, HE'S MARRIED, HAS A MOTHER IN LAW, OWNS A BUSINESS, AND HAS A YOUNGER BROTHER WORKING WITH HIM.  BUT ANOTHER THEORY IS THAT HE'S BALD BECAUSE JESUS IS ALWAYS SAYING THINGS THAT MAKE HIM PULL HIS HAIR OUT.  LIKE “UNLESS YOU EAT MY FLESH AND DRINK MY BLOOD YOU SHALL NOT HAVE LIFE IN YOU.”  OR “THE FIRST SHALL BE LAST, AND THE LAST FIRST”.  OR “BEFORE THE COCK CROWS YOU WILL DENY ME THREE TIMES.”  AND TODAY IS NO EXCEPTION.  REMEMBER LAST WEEK?  JESUS WAS COMMENDING PETER BECAUSE HE HAD RECOGNIZED THAT JESUS WAS THE MESSIAH.  NOW HE SEEMS TO BE CONDEMNING HIM, BECAUSE PETER IS SAYING “GOD FORBID THAT THIS HAPPEN TO YOU!”.
FROM 2000 YEARS DISTANCE, WE CAN SMILE AT THIS SCENE – OF COURSE JESUS HAD TO SUFFER AND DIE, THAT'S THE CENTRAL THEME OF CHRISTIANITY. SILLY OLD PETER FOR NOT GETTING IT!  BUT IT'S ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA TO PUT OURSELVES IN PETER'S SHOES, AND MAYBE THEN WE'LL LEARN HOW THE SCRIPTURE APPLIES TO US.
IF YOU READ THE OLD TESTAMENT PASSAGES THAT PREDICT THE COMING OF THE MESSIAH, YOU WOULD BE LIKE PETER AND THE OTHER JEWS OF JESUS' TIME.  YOU MIGHT ARGUE THAT THE MESSIAH WOULD BE A GREAT KING IN DAVID'S IMAGE, OR A GREAT HIGH PRIEST LIKE AARON, MOSES' BROTHER; OR MAYBE A PROPHET LIKE ELIJAH.  OR ALL THREE.  AND WHATEVER YOU BELIEVED ABOUT WHAT THE MESSIAH WOULD BE, HE WOULD USHER IN A NEW AGE, WHEN PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD WOULD COME TO LEARN GOD'S LAW FROM THE JEWISH PEOPLE; WHERE THERE WOULD BE A NEW JERUSALEM, GLORIOUS, THE GREATEST CITY ON EARTH – JUST READ THE DESCRIPTION GIVEN BY THE PROPHET EZECHIEL.  PETER HAS BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO THE MESSIAH ALL HIS LIFE, AND NOW HE STANDS IN THE PRESENCE OF THE MESSIAH, REVEALED TO HIM BY GOD, AND JESUS IS TALKING CRAZY TALK.  THE MESSIAH HAS TO UNDERGO PERSECUTION, SUFFER, AND BE KILLED?  BY THE HOLIEST JEWS OF ALL, THE ELDERS, THE SCRIBES AND THE CHIEF PRIESTS?  PETER MAY HAVE GLOSSED OVER THE PART ABOUT RISING AGAIN, JUST LIKE MARTHA DID – MOST JEWS BELIEVED THAT THE DEAD WOULD RISE AGAIN – SOME DAY, BUT IT DIDN'T HAVE MUCH TO DO WITH TODAY AND NOW.  PETER IS SAYING, IN EFFECT, “BUT IF YOU ARE THE MESSIAH, THEN WHAT YOU ARE SAYING DOESN'T MAKE SENSE!”
THIS IS ONE OF THE MANY MOMENTS IN THE LIFE OF SAINT PETER WHERE HE IS BEING “DISCIPLED”.  WE DON'T THINK ABOUT THAT TOO MUCH, BUT THAT'S WHAT THE CHURCH IS FOR, TO DISCIPLE US.  DISCIPLING IS NOT THE SAME AS DISCIPLINE.  DISCIPLING MEANS THAT WE ARE HELPED TO STEP OUT OF THE WAY WE LOOK AT THE WORLD AND LOOK AT IT IN A NEW WAY – AND ONLY IF WE SET OUT ON THIS PATH WITH HUMILITY WILL WE EVER BECOME DISCIPLES.  BECAUSE THE ENEMY OF DISCIPLESHIP IS BELIEVING WE HAVE NOTHING TO LEARN, OR WORSE, BELIEVING THAT THE CHURCH HAS NOTHING TO TEACH US.  OVER AND OVER PETER HAS TO RE-ADJUST HIS THINKING IN RESPONSE TO WHAT JESUS SAYS.  AND TO HIS CREDIT, HE ALWAYS DOES, EVEN IF HE'S A LITTLE LATE SOMETIMES, EVEN IF HE STRAYS OFF THE RESERVATION NOW AND THEN.  WHY? BECAUSE WHEN HE RECOGNIZED THAT JESUS WAS THE MESSIAH, HE COMMITTED HIMSELF TO BE A DISCIPLE.  AFTER ALL, AS HE SAYS IN ANOTHER PLACE, “TO WHOM SHALL WE GO?  YOU HAVE THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE.”  THE STORY OF PETER IS THE STORY OF ANY SAINT.
WHEN YOU READ THE GOSPELS, JESUS IS ALWAYS MAKING STATEMENTS THAT REQUIRE A CHANGE IN ONE'S LIFE, A NEW WORLD VIEW.  I THINK MOST OF US IGNORE THE PARADOXES AND MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW AS DISCIPLES.  JESUS EVEN SEEMED TO BE AWARE OF THIS.  HE EXPLAINED HIS PARABLES TO THE APOSTLES, BUT DIDN'T EXPLAIN THEM TO THE CROWDS TO WHOM HE PREACHED. IF SOMEONE IN THE CROWD WAS A POTENTIAL DISCIPLE, HE OR SHE WOULD WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT JESUS WAS SAYING EVEN IF IT WAS A STRUGGLE – THE POTENTIAL DISCIPLE WOULD HAVING ALREADY DECIDED THAT JESUS WAS THE ONE WHO WAS WORTH FOLLOWING.  THE REST WOULD LISTEN TO JESUS AND DRAW THE OBVIOUS CONCLUSIONS, WHICH WOULD NEVER APPLY TO THEM, AND THUS PUSH THEM TO CHANGE.  AND WE ARE IN THE SAME BOAT, EVEN WHEN JESUS EXPLAINS PARABLES.  IF HIS WORDS DON'T PUSH US TO CHANGE, WE ARE NOT DISCIPLES.
“UNLESS YOU BECOME AS LITTLE CHILDREN YOU WILL NOT ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN,” HE TELLS US.  "IF ANYONE COMES TO ME, AND DOES NOT HATE HIS OWN FATHER AND MOTHER AND WIFE AND CHILDREN AND BROTHERS AND SISTERS, YES, AND EVEN HIS OWN LIFE, HE CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE” HE SAYS.  AND TODAY, “WHOEVER WISHES TO COME AFTER ME MUST DENY HIMSELF, TAKE UP HIS CROSS, AND FOLLOW ME.”
IF WE RECOGNIZE THAT JESUS IS THE MESSIAH, THEN THESE KINDS OF STATEMENTS, AND THERE ARE MANY MORE, SHOULD MAKE US REFLECT THAT JESUS IS SPEAKING TO US, AND IN A WAY, GIVING US A CHALLENGE TO CHANGE HOW WE THINK, HOW WE SEE THE WORLD, HOW WE VALUE PEOPLE AND THINGS.  AND WHEN WE ASK, “WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO ME?” AND WHEN WE PRAY, “LORD, I BELIEVE, HELP MY UNBELIEF.” AND WHEN WE DECIDE THAT WE ARE NOT LIKE THE REST OF THE CROWD WHO HEAR BUT DO NOT UNDERSTAND,  THEN WE BEGIN TO BE DISCIPLES OF THE LORD.
IT'S TRUE THAT JESUS HAS DONE EVERYTHING NECESSARY FOR OUR SALVATION.  HE SUFFERED AND DIED IN OUR PLACE; THEN HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD TO OVERCOME OUR OWN DEATHS.  OUR ONLY PART IN THIS DRAMA IS TO TEAR DOWN BARRIERS BETWEEN US AND JESUS, BARRIERS WHICH IN FACT HE WILL TEAR DOWN IF WE ALLOW IT TO HAPPEN.  THAT'S WHAT BEING DISCIPLED MEANS, THAT'S WHAT WE LEARN FROM ST. PETER, AS WE FOLLOW HIM THROUGH THE SCRIPTURES.  EVEN AFTER JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD, PETER WAS STILL NOT FINISHED BEING DISCIPLED.  REMEMBER WHEN HE HAD THE VISION OF FORBIDDEN FOODS AND WAS TOLD TO EAT?  AND THAT WAS THE MOMENT THAT HE RECOGNIZED THE GOSPEL WAS FOR ALL PEOPLE.
THEY SAY THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF PEOPLE WHO GO TO CHURCH.  THERE ARE THE ONES WHO ARE CONSUMERS; THEY COME FOR THE MUSIC, OR THE SERMON, OR THE HOLY EUCHARIST, OR OUT OF HABIT; BUT YEARS GO BY AND NOTHING CHANGES; OR THERE ARE THE DISCIPLES, WHO WITH GOD'S HELP WORK TO LOSE THEIR LIFE SO THAT IT WILL BE SAVED.  THE DISCIPLES ARE THE ONES WHO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU CAN HAVE THE WHOLE WORLD BUT IF YOU LOSE YOUR SOUL, WHAT GOOD IS THAT?

Twenty first Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle A

MATTHEW 16:13-20

RECENTLY THERE WAS A SURVEY TAKEN BY THE PEW ORGANIZATION ON THE STATE OF RELIGION IN THE UNITED STATES. IT SHOWED A LOT OF INTERESTING THINGS, MOST OF WHICH WERE DEPRESSING; THE LARGEST DENOMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES IS EX-CATHOLICS. ONLY 30 % OF PEOPLE CALLING THEMSELVES CATHOLIC ATTEND MASS MORE THAN ONCE A MONTH. EX-CATHOLICS MAKE UP A LARGE FRACTION OF THE MEMBERSHIP OF PENTECOSTAL AND EVANGELICAL CHURCHES, LIKE THE ASSEMBLY OF GOD. BUT I'M NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT TODAY.

AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE WHO DON'T CONSIDER THEMSELVES AFFILIATED WITH ANY RELIGION – THE SO-CALLED “NONES” – ABOUT A THIRD CLAIM TO BE ATHEISTS OR AGNOSTICS; A THIRD CONSIDER THEMSELVES “CHRISTIAN” BUT DON'T BELONG TO ANY CHURCH; AND A THIRD CONSIDER THEMSELVES “SPIRITUAL, BUT NOT RELIGIOUS”. THIS LAST GROUP IS GROWING A LOT FASTER THAN THE OTHER GROUPS,

ABOUT FIFTY YEARS AGO, “SPIRITUAL” AND “RELIGIOUS” WERE SYNONYMS. THEY MEANT THE SAME THING. BUT TODAY, THEY SEEM TO DESIGNATE DIFFERENT THINGS TO PEOPLE. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE SPIRITUAL?

AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE, THE TERM MEANS DIFFERENT THINGS TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE. A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO CONSIDER THEMSELVES “SPIRITUAL” ARE INVOLVED IN SO-CALLED “NEW AGE” SPIRITUALITY, WHICH MEANS PICKING VARIOUS PRACTICES FROM HERE AND THERE – YOGA, MEDITATION, USING CRYSTALS TO FOCUS SPIRITUAL FORCES, PRAYING TO ANGELS, – YOU NAME IT. AND SOME OF THOSE WHO CALL THEMSELVES SPIRITUAL BUT NOT RELIGIOUS SEE THIS AS THE ROOT OF THEIR ETHICAL BEHAVIOR; IT'S THE REASON THEY FOLLOW THE GOLDEN RULE, DON'T DO DRUGS, ARE FAITHFUL TO THEIR SPOUSES, AND SO ON. THEY REJECT A TOTALLY MATERIALIST ETHIC WHICH WOULD LOGICALLY MEAN THAT LIFE WAS ALL ABOUT MAXIMIZING PLEASURE AND MINIMIZING PAIN. THE COMMON DENOMINATOR OF THOSE WHO ARE “SPIRITUAL BUT NOT RELIGIOUS” IS THAT THEY BELIEVE THERE IS SOMETHING BEYOND THE MATERIAL WORLD, AND THAT HUMAN BEINGS CAN HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THAT SOMETHING, AND THAT IS ALL A GOOD THING. SPIRITUAL BUT NOT RELIGIOUS PEOPLE REJECT ORGANIZED RELIGION, REJECTING RITUAL AND SACRAMENTS AND SUCH, AND OPPOSING THE IDEA THAT AN ORGANIZED RELIGION HAS ANYTHING USEFUL TO SAY ABOUT LIFE, MORALS, OR MAN'S ULTIMATE DESTINY.

TODAY JESUS HAS SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THIS TOPIC. HE SAYS TO PETER, “UPON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH.” A CHURCH IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT IMPLIES PEOPLE GETTING TOGETHER AROUND A PARTICULAR PERSON AND/OR A SET OF BELIEFS. IN FACT THE GREEK WORD USED IN THE SCRIPTURES IS MORE LIKE “ASSEMBLY”. JESUS COULD HAVE USED THE WORD FOR SYNAGOGUE, WHICH MEANS “TO LEARN TOGETHER” BUT INSTEAD HE USED A WORD WHICH REFERRED TO PEOPLE IN A VILLAGE OR A CITY WHO GATHER TOGETHER TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR COMMUNITY.

AND MAYBE THAT'S THE ISSUE. IF WE ARE SPIRITUAL, BUT NOT RELIGIOUS, WE TRY TO FORM A RELATIONSHIP WITH SOMETHING OR SOMEONE THAT IS MORE THAN MATERIAL; PERHAPS THROUGH BEAUTIFUL MUSIC, OR ART, OR NATURE; PERHAPS THROUGH TRYING TO LIVE A LIFE THAT HELPS OTHER PEOPLE, THAT RESPECTS THE HUMANITY OF OTHER PEOPLE. THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO BE “SPIRITUAL”. BUT THE BIG THING LACKING ABOUT JUST BEING SPIRITUAL IS THAT WE CUT OURSELVES OFF FROM HUMAN EXPERIENCE. AND THAT'S THE ROLE OF RELIGION.

THINK ABOUT IT. IF YOU WANT TO BE A BIOLOGIST, YOU DON'T START FROM SCRATCH; YOU READ PAPERS AND BOOKS WRITTEN BY BIOLOGISTS. IF YOU ARE REALLY SERIOUS YOU EVEN READ ABOUT THE IDEAS IN THE PAST THAT HAVE BEEN PROVEN WRONG. YOU DO THIS SO THAT YOU CAN BUILD ON WHAT OTHERS HAVE ALREADY LEARNED.

SCIENCE, OF COURSE, IS OBJECTIVE; THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD ALLOWS US TO JUDGE WHAT IS TRUE AND WHAT ISN'T.

BUT IN A SENSE, RELIGION HAS AN ELEMENT OF OBJECTIVITY AS WELL. IT HAS TO DO WITH SEVERAL THINGS. ALL RELIGIONS ARE BASICALLY LANGUAGES OF THE SPIRITUAL DIMENSION. TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY HELP THEIR ADHERENTS BECOME MORE SPIRITUAL, THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL. HOW CAN WE TELL THIS? WE CAN'T, REALLY, BUT WE CAN LOOK AT PEOPLE WHO HAVE BELONGED TO THAT RELIGION OR DENOMINATION AND ASK WHETHER THEY APPEAR TO HAVE DEVELOPED A RELATIONSHIP WITH WHAT IS TRANSCENDENT, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU CALL THAT “GOD” OR “A HIGHER POWER” OR WHATEVER. HUMAN BEINGS NATURALLY PROGRESS FROM BEING INFANTS, TOTALLY FIXED ON ONE'S OWN PLEASURE AND PAIN, TO CHILDREN, WHO BEGAN TO SEE THAT THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE LIKE THEMSELVES, WHO ALSO HAVE FEELINGS; AND EVENTUALLY WE NATURALLY COME TO A POINT WHERE THERE ARE ONE OR TWO PEOPLE WHO WE LOVE, WHO WE WOULD PUT OURSELVES OUT FOR. WHAT IS BEYOND THIS? THE TRAJECTORY OF LIFE SUGGESTS THAT MATURE SPIRITUALITY HAS TO DO WITH LESSER ATTENTION TO OUR OWN NEEDS AND DESIRES, AND GREATER ATTENTION TO THE NEEDS AND DESIRES OF OTHER PEOPLE. CHRISTIANITY USES THE IMAGE OF “DYING TO SELF”, BUDDHISM TALKS ABOUT OVERCOMING ALL DESIRE. ISLAM USES THE IMAGE OF SUBMISSION TO GOD. ALL THE RELIGIONS WHICH HAVE LASTED HAVE AT THEIR CORE A PATHWAY TO HIGHER STATES OF SPIRITUALITY, WORKED OUT THROUGH CENTURIES OF TRIAL AND ERROR. NOTICE THAT I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT REVELATION, OR WHICH RELIGION IS “RIGHT”.

IN SUMMARY, SOMEONE WHO IS ACTUALLY SPIRITUAL DESIRES TO FORM A RELATIONSHIP WITH SOMETHING THAT IS GREATER THAN THE MATERIAL WORLD. LOGICALLY, THAT RELATIONSHIP SHOULD CHANGE THE PERSON, SHOULD HELP THE PERSON MATURE ALONG THE PATH THAT BEGINS IN INFANCY; IF WE DON'T COME OUT OF OUR INFANT SELVES, WE WILL NEVER HAVE REAL HAPPINESS, WHICH IS WHEN WE BECOME FOCUSED OUTWARD RATHER THAN INWARD; WHERE WE DISCOVER SOMETHING THAT MATTERS MORE TO US THAN PLEASURE AND PAIN. WHEN WE LOOK AT PRACTITIONERS OF RELIGION WE FIND SOME INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE ACHIEVED THAT TO A POINT OF BEING MORE THAN HUMAN. AND AT SOME POINT THE PERSON WHO IS SPIRITUAL MUST ASK, DOES THE “TRANSCENDENT” WANT TO DEVELOP A RELATIONSHIP WITH ME? AND IF SO, HAS HE/SHE/IT REACHED OUT IN SOME WAY? BUT THAT DISCUSSION IS FOR ANOTHER TIME AND PLACE.

A SPIRITUAL PERSON WHO IS NOT RELIGIOUS IS LIKE SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO LEARN BIOLOGY, BUT DO IT THROUGH TRIAL AND ERROR, NEVER LEARNING WHAT OTHERS HAVE ALREADY DISCOVERED. TO BE SPIRITUAL AND RELIGIOUS IS TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS A VAST AMOUNT OF HUMAN EXPERIENCE THAT WE CAN BUILD ON, SO THAT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE TRANSCENDENT CAN BE DEVELOPED MORE RAPIDLY AND MORE DEEPLY. AND JESUS TELLS US TODAY IN CLEAR TERMS THAT HE INTENDS TO BUILD AN ASSEMBLY AROUND HIMSELF. HE TELLS US IN OTHER PLACES THAT “WHERE TWO OR THREE ARE GATHERED TOGETHER, THERE I AM”. HE TELLS US THAT IF WE HAVE A QUARREL WITH OUR BROTHER AND CAN'T RESOLVE IT BY DISCUSSING IT WITH HIM, WE SHOULD TAKE THE MATTER TO THE CHURCH. JESUS KNOWS THAT FOR PEOPLE TO REALLY PROGRESS SPIRITUALLY, THEY NEED A COMMUNITY.

IF A PERSON WANTS TO PROGRESS SPIRITUALLY, IT IS FAR BETTER TO BE SPIRITUAL AND RELIGIOUS THAN SPIRITUAL AND NOT RELIGIOUS.