Third Sunday in Lent, cycle B

JOHN 2:13-25

THE OLD TESTAMENT IS FULL OF PROPHETS WHO PERFORM PROPHETIC ACTIONS. UNDER THE INSPIRATION OF GOD THEY WOULD ACT OUT A MESSAGE. EVENTUALLY PEOPLE WOULD ASK, WHAT IS ALL THAT ABOUT? AND THEY WOULD THEN GIVE THE ANSWER. JEREMIAH WAS TOLD TO TAKE AN EARTHEN POT AND BREAK IT IN FRONT OF EVERYONE. WHEN ASKED, HE SAID THAT THIS WAS WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN TO ISRAEL, BECAUSE OF THEIR UNFAITHFULNESS. EZECHIEL WAS THE MASTER OF PROPHETIC ACTIONS. HE WAS TOLD BY GOD TO LAY ON HIS SIDE FOR 300 DAYS, SO HE DID. WHEN ASKED, HE TOLD THE PEOPLE THAT THIS WAS HOW LONG THEIR EXILE WAS GOING TO LAST. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, HIS WIFE DIED. HE DID NOT MOURN PUBLICLY, AS EVERYONE EXPECTED HIM TO. THE LESSON WAS THAT ALL THE EXILED ISRAELITES MIGHT AS WELL SETTLE DOWN AND QUIT MOURNING THEIR LOST TEMPLE AND HOMELAND, BECAUSE THEY WERE GOING TO BE GONE A LONG TIME. WELL, YOU GET THE IDEA.

I THINK THAT'S HOW WE SHOULD LOOK AT TODAY'S GOSPEL. JESUS WAS PERFORMING A PROPHETIC ACTION.

IF YOU WERE A JEW, THE TEMPLE WAS THE VERY CENTER OF YOUR RELIGION. THANKS TO CYRUS, THE RULER OF PERSIA, THE JEWS HAD BEEN ALLOWED TO REBUILD THE TEMPLE THAT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN DESTROYED. THE GREEKS, AND LATER THE ROMANS, ALLOWED THE JEWS TO WORSHIP THEIR OWN GOD IN THEIR OWN TEMPLE, A PRIVILEGE NOT EXTENDED TO ANY OTHER PEOPLE. FOR THE JEWS, THE TEMPLE WAS GOD'S DWELLING ON EARTH. THE TEMPLE WAS LAID OUT LIKE A RECTANGLE; AT ONE END WAS THE HOLY OF HOLIES, A ROOM WHICH COULD ONLY BE ENTERED BY THE HIGH PRIEST AND ONLY ONCE A YEAR. THE NEXT ROOM WAS THE COURT OF PRIESTS, THEN THE COURT IN WHICH JEWISH MEN IN GOOD STANDING COULD ENTER. BEHIND THAT COURT WAS THE COURT OF WOMEN. AND FINALLY, BEHIND THAT WAS THE COURT OF THE GENTILES. THESE WERE SPECIAL GENTILES – PEOPLE WHO WORSHIPED THE JEWISH GOD BUT HADN'T CONVERTED. SURROUNDING THE TEMPLE WAS A COURTYARD, AND THEN A LARGE WALL, FENCING OFF THE TEMPLE AND ITS GROUNDS FROM THE REST OF THE WORLD. IN THE COURTYARD, MONEY CHANGERS AND PEOPLE SELLING ANIMALS PLIED THEIR TRADE. FOR THE JEWS, THIS WAS ACTUALLY A GOOD AND IMPORTANT THING; IF YOU WANTED TO OFFER A SACRIFICE, ONLY A PERFECT ANIMAL WOULD DO, AND THE ANIMALS BEING SOLD IN THE COURTYARD HAD BEEN CERTIFIED ACCEPTABLE. BUT IF YOU WANTED TO BUY AN ANIMAL FOR SACRIFICE, YOU DIDN'T WANT TO USE ORDINARY MONEY, SO YOU CHANGED YOUR MONEY FOR TEMPLE MONEY. THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WEREN'T ALLOWED ON THE TEMPLE GROUNDS. LEPERS, PEOPLE WITH DEFORMITIES, PEOPLE WHO DID BUSINESS WITH OR FOR THE ROMANS; SAMARITANS, PEOPLE WHO WERE KNOWN TO BE SINNERS, AND OF COURSE SHEPHERDS AND TANNERS AND OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAD TRADES WHERE THEY COULDN'T HELP BUT BE UNCLEAN. WOMEN WHO HAD RECENTLY HAD A BABY COULDN'T GET IN EITHER; NOR COULD MOST GENTILES.

IN THE BOOK OF ISAIAH, GOD SAYS, “MY HOUSE WILL BE A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL PEOPLE”. BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE WERE VERY FEW PEOPLE WHO COULD PRAY IN THE TEMPLE.

THE OTHER THING ABOUT THE TEMPLE WAS THAT IT HAD INDEED BECOME A PLACE WHERE YOU HAD TO BUY ACCESS TO GOD. OF COURSE THAT HAD GONE ON FOR A LONG TIME, NOT ONLY AMONG THE JEWS BUT ALL THROUGH THE WORLD. BUT THE PRINCIPLE WAY YOU WORSHIPED GOD WAS BY SACRIFICE, AND SACRIFICES COST MONEY. AND THAT AUTOMATICALLY SEPARATED PEOPLE. YOU REMEMBER HOW JOSEPH AND MARY COULD NOT AFFORD A LAMB, SO THEY OFFERED TWO PIGEONS AT THE PRESENTATION OF JESUS. THAT SEPARATED POOR PEOPLE FROM RICH PEOPLE.

TEMPLE JUDAISM HAD GOTTEN MORE AND MORE RESTRICTIVE, MORE AND MORE EXCLUSIVE. BEFORE YOU COULD EVEN GO INTO THE TEMPLE, YOU HAD TO KNOW YOUR STATUS, YOUR PLACE. THAT'S WHY THE PHARISEE STOOD IN THE FRONT OF THE MEN'S COURT, AND THE TAX COLLECTOR IN THE FAR BACK.

WHEN THE JEWS ASKED JESUS WHY HE WAS DOING THIS, WHY HE WAS DRIVING OUT ALL THE MERCHANTS AND MONEY CHANGERS, THEY RECOGNIZED THAT HE WAS DOING A PROPHETIC ACTION. INSTEAD OF ARRESTING HIM FOR DISORDERLY CONDUCT, THEY WANTED HIM TO EXPLAIN WHAT IT MEANT. AND JESUS TELLS THEM “DESTROY THIS TEMPLE AND IN THREE DAYS I WILL RAISE IT UP.”

JOHN WRITES THAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT HIS BODY AND THE RESURRECTION HE WOULD UNDERGO, AND THAT'S CERTAINLY TRUE. BUT JESUS IS ALSO TALKING ABOUT THE VISION OF ISAIAH, IN WHICH ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD WOULD STREAM TO THE HEAVENLY TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM. ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD WOULD COME TO THE TEMPLE PROPHESIED BY EZECHIEL, FROM WHICH STREAMS OF LIVING WATER WOULD FLOW.

JESUS IS THE NEW TEMPLE. JESUS IS WHERE YOU AND I GO TO FIND GOD. JESUS, BEING MAN AND THEREFORE OUR BROTHER, IS GOD AS WELL. THE ONLY WAY WE CAN ENTER THE TEMPLE IS TO GET TO KNOW JESUS. AND JESUS PUTS NO RESTRICTIONS ON PEOPLE. ANYONE CAN APPROACH HIM, ANYONE CAN BE HIS BROTHER OR SISTER. HE WAITS FOR US TO COME TO HIM.

THE OLD TEMPLE HAD BECOME JUST THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT GOD WANTED. IT WAS RESTRICTIVE, IT DIVIDED PEOPLE FROM EACH OTHER. IT EXCLUDED PEOPLE AND REMINDED THOSE WHO WERE INCLUDED THAT SOME WERE BETTER THAN OTHERS. IT SAID THAT HOLINESS HAD TO DO WITH HOLY MONEY AND PERFECT SACRIFICES, AND KEEPING OUT THE WORLD. THE NEW TEMPLE SAID THAT ALL WERE INVITED, THAT THOSE WHO WERE IN THE TEMPLE REACHED OUT TO THOSE WHO WEREN'T. IT SAID THAT THE WHOLE WORLD WAS HOLY, NOT JUST A SMALL SPACE.

JESUS IS THE NEW TEMPLE. DURING THIS LENT MAY WE LOOK AT OURSELVES AND FIND OUT WHETHER WE WORSHIP IN THE OLD TEMPLE OR THE NEW TEMPLE. THANK GOD.

Second Sunday in Lent, Cycle B

SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT, CYCLE B
MARK 9:2-10
A FEW YEARS AGO SOME CIRCUMSTANCES FELL INTO PLACE ALLOWING MY WIFE AND I TO SPEND SOME TIME IN BOULDER, COLORADO.  ONE DAY WE DROVE INTO THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK AND PARKED IN ONE OF THE PARKING AREAS.  WE DECIDED TO FOLLOW A TRAIL FOR A LITTLE WHILE, BUT THE LITTLE WHILE TURNED INTO ABOUT THREE HOURS.  AS WE ASCENDED THE LANDSCAPE GRADUALLY CHANGED.  ALL THE WAY WE HIKED ALONG A RUSHING STREAM INSTERSPERCED BY BEAUTIFUL LAKES, EACH DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHER..  FINALLY WE REACHED THE END OF THE TRAIL AND SAT BESIDE THE HIGHEST LAKE, IN A BASIN WITH ALMOST VERTICAL GRANITE SIDES, STRETCHING UP TO MOUNTAIN PEAKS WHICH WERE IMPOSSIBLY HIGH.  WE SIMPLY SAT AND LOOKED, AND FORGOT EVERYTHING FOR A FEW MINUTES, AS WE JUST TOOK IN THE MAJESTY AND SHEER BEAUTY OF WHAT WAS BEFORE US.  AND WE EXPERIENCED SOME REGRET AS WE TURNED OUR BACKS AND STARTED DOWN THE MOUNTAIN.  WE KNEW THAT EVEN IF WE CAME BACK TO THAT SAME SPOT, IT WOULDN'T BE THE SAME.  AND WE WONDERED WHEN WE WOULD EVER HAVE ANOTHER EXPERIENCE LIKE THAT ONE.
YOU MIGHT CALL THAT A MOUNTAINTOP EXPERIENCE.  MAYBE THAT'S WHY JESUS TOOK HIS THREE FAVORITE DISCIPLES UP A HIGH MOUNTAIN.  MAYBE HE KNEW THAT THEY COULD ONLY EXPERIENCE THE VISION OF JESUS AS HE REALLY WAS IF THEY HAD LITERALLY LEFT EVERYTHING BEHIND AND ALLOWED THE MOUNTAIN TO QUIET THEIR MINDS AND OPEN UP THEIR SENSES.  MY WIFE AND I STILL VIVIDLY REMEMBER OUR MOUNTAINTOP EXPERIENCE, AND I'M SURE THE APOSTLES DID AS WELL.  THE EVENT IS RECORDED IN THREE OF THE FOUR GOSPELS, AND ALLUDED TO IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN AND THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PETER.  IN FACT, SINCE THE GOSPEL OF JOHN IS ALL ABOUT JESUS REVEALING HIS GLORY, MAYBE IT'S ALSO ALL ABOUT THE TRANSFIGURATION.  BUT WHAT WAS THE IMPACT OF THE TRANSFIGURATION ON THE APOSTLES?  WHAT MADE THE EVENT BURN INTO THEIR MEMORIES AND NOT BE DISMISSED AS A BAD DREAM OR HALLUCINATION?
THINK OF WHAT THEY LEARNED IN THAT MOMENT.  FIRST, THAT THE REAL JESUS WAS  HIDDEN IN THE JESUS THEY KNEW.  THE REAL JESUS WAS GLORIOUS, SO BRILLIANT IN APPEARANCE THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND THE WORDS.  AND IT WASN'T JUST THE  WAY HE LOOKED, EITHER.  WHEN HE WAS TRANSFIGURED, THEY WERE DUMBFOUNDED; NOT JUST THEIR VISION BUT THEIR VERY SOULS WERE BEING IMPACTED.  AND DESPITE WHAT YOU MAY THINK, THEY WEREN'T BEING GIVEN A GLIMPSE OF HIS DIVINITY; SCRIPTURE TELLS US YOU CANNOT  LOOK UPON THE FACE OF GOD AND LIVE.  THEY WERE ACTUALLY SEEING JESUS AS THE FATHER SEES HIM.
SECOND, THEY LEARN THAT THE GREATEST LEADER AND LAWGIVER AND THE  GREATEST PROPHET IN ISRAEL'S HISTORY ARE BOTH STILL LIVING. THEY SEE THEM CONVERSING WITH JESUS.  TIME AND SPACE MEAN NOTHING TO JESUS, WHO CAN ENTER INTO A RELATIONSHIP WITH ANY HUMAN BEING ANY TIME.  AND IN THAT RELATIONSHIP AS MOSES AND ELIJAH DEMONSTRATE, IS ETERNAL LIFE.  PERHAPS PETER SENSED THIS WHEN HE PROPOSED THAT THEY BUILD THREE TENTS FOR THEM; THE MOUNTAINTOP HAD BECOME HOLY GROUND AND THIS WAS A WAY OF BRINGING ETERNITY INTO A BIT OF OUR WORLD.
THIRD, THEY HEAR THE COMMAND OF THE FATHER:  THIS IS MY BELOVED SON, LISTEN TO HIM!  IT WAS A MOMENT IN WHICH THEY KNEW WITH CERTAINTY THAT JESUS SPOKE FOR THE FATHER, THAT THE FATHER SAW JESUS AS HIS OWN BELOVED SON.
AND FINALLY, IN A FLASH IT IIS ALL OVER AND THERE IS JESUS, FAMILIAR BROWN ROBE AND DUSTY SANDALS, A LITTLE SWEAT ON HIS FOREHEAD, LOOKING LIKE HE ALWAYS DID.  AND THAT WAS THE MOST AWESOME REVELATION OF THEM ALL.  AN ORDINARY MAN CONTAINED WITHIN HIMSELF ALL THAT MYSTERY.
WHEN JOAN AND I WERE ON THE MOUNTAINTOP, WE COULD SENSE A LITTLE OF THIS BECAUSE OUR SENSES WERE HEIGHTENED.  WE COULD SENSE THE NEARNESS OF GOD TO HIS CREATION; THE BEAUTY AND THE MAJESTY OF WHAT LAY BEFORE US CERTAINLY POINTED TO GOD, AND WE KNEW THAT WHAT WE SAW HAD BEEN THERE BEFORE HUMAN BEINGS WALKED  THE EARTH AND WOULD REMAIN FOR EONS MORE, AND THIS POINTED TO ETERNITY.  AND WE REALIZED AS WE TURNED OUR BACKS AND WENT DOWN THE MOUNTAIN THAT WE WERE TAKING WITH US SOMETHING OF WHAT WE EXPERIENCED THAT WOULD BE WITH US TILL WE MET THE GOD WHO WAS BEHIND IT ALL.
WE ALL HAVE MOUNTAINTOP EXPERIENCES, BUT THEY SEEM TO COME FEW AND FAR BETWEEN.  AND YET I THINK THEY ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF  OUR SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT.  WE SEE ABRAHAM ENCOUNTERING GOD ON A  MOUNTAIN WHEN HE WENT TO SACRIFICE HIS SON.  WE WILL SEE MOSES ENCOUNTER GOD ON MOUNT SINAI AND ELIJAH ON ANOTHER MOUNTAIN WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED GOD NOT IN THE WHIRLWIND BUT IN THE STILL SMALL VOICE.
LENT IS A TIME FOR SUCH AN ENCOUNTER.  MAYBE WE CAN'T CLIMB A  MOUNTAIN, BUT WE CAN STILL SEEK THAT EXPERIENCE.  IT CAN'T BE HAD IN THE MIDDLE OF NOISE AND BUSYNESS.  WE NEED SILENCE, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO BE AWARE OF GOD BREAKING THROUGH THAT SILENCE, DRAWING OUR ATTENTION, COMMUNICATING WITH US.  THERE IS A WONDERFUL BIT OF PROSE THAT I RAN ACROSS, BY A WRITER NAMED MARYLIN MCDONALD.  IT GOES SOMETHING LIKE THIS:
I WHISPERED, “GOD, SPEAK TO ME” AND A ROBIN SANG.  BUT I DID NOT HEAR.  I YELLED, “GOD, SPEAK TO ME!” AND THE THUNDER ROLLED ACROSS THE SKY.  BUT I DID NOT LISTEN.  I LOOKED AROUND AND SAID, “GOD, LET ME SEE YOU!” AND A STAR SHONE BRIGHTLY, BUT I DID NOT NOTICE.  I SHOUTED, “GOD, SHOW ME A MIRACLE!” AND A BABY WAS BORN, BUT I DID NOT KNOW.  SO I CRIED OUT IN DESPAIR, “TOUCH ME GOD, AND LET ME KNOW YOU ARE HERE.”  WHEREUPON GOD REACHED DOWN AND TOUCHED ME, BUT I BRUSHED THE BUTTERFLY OFF MY SHOULDER AND WALKED AWAY.
MAY WE SEE THAT WE ARE ON THE MOUNTAINTOP ALL THE TIME.  AND MAY THE VISION OF THE TRANSFIGURED JESUS REMIND US THAT THAT IS HOW YOU AND I LOOK WHENEVER THE FATHER GAZES UPON US.

First Sunday of Lent, cycle B

MARK 1:12-15
ONE DAY A BABY CAMEL ASKED HIS MOTHER, “WHY DO WE HAVE THESE HUGE THREE-TOED FEET?”  THE MOTHER REPLIED, “SO THAT WE CAN WALK ACROSS THE DESERT WITHOUT SINKING INTO THE SAND.”  THE BABY THOUGHT A MINUTE AND SAID, “WHAT ABOUT THESE LONG THICK EYELASHES?”  THE MOTHER REPLIED, “SO THAT WE WON'T GET SAND IN OUR EYES IF WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH A SANDSTORM.”  A FEW MINUTES LATER THE BABY ASKED, “MOM, WHY DO WE HAVE HUMPS?”  THE MOTHER REPLIED, “THEY ARE TO STORE WATER SO THAT WE CAN GO LONG DISTANCES WITHOUT DRINKING.”  “MOM,” SAID THE BABY, “I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION.”  “WHAT IS IT NOW?” SAID THE MOTHER.  “WHAT ARE WE DOING IN THE BRONX ZOO?”
THE GOSPEL TODAY IS VERY SHORT.  YOU PROBABLY REMEMBER MATTHEW'S VERSION WHERE THE DETAILS OF THE TEMPTATIONS ARE LAID OUT AND WE HEAR A DIALOGUE BETWEEN SATAN AND JESUS.  BUT MARK SHOOTS RIGHT PAST THAT, AND WE ARE LEFT WITH THE QUESTION, “WHY”.  WHY DID THE SPIRIT DRIVE JESUS INTO THE DESERT?  WHAT WAS THE POINT?  JESUS HAD JUST BEEN BAPTIZED; HE HAD HEARD THE VOICE OF THE FATHER CLAIMING HIM AS HIS BELOVED SON.  AND WHEN THE DESERT EXPERIENCE WAS OVER, HE WENT ABOUT PREACHING REPENTANCE AND THE GOOD NEWS OF THE GOSPEL.  JESUS, LIKE OUR CAMELS, HAD TO GO INTO THE DESERT TO FIND OUT WHO HE TRULY WAS.  HE HAD TO EXPERIENCE TEMPTATION; HE HAD TO CONFRONT THE WILD BEASTS; AND HE HAD TO RECOGNIZE THE REALITY OF GOD'S LOVE FOR HIM THROUGH THE ANGELS SENT TO MINISTER TO HIM.  AND ONLY THEN COULD HE TAKE UP HIS MINISTRY.
TO EXPERIENCE TEMPTATION IS NOT THE SAME THING AS COMMITTING SIN.  WE KNOW THAT GOD NEVER ALLOWS US TO BE TEMPTED BEYOND OUR ABILITY TO RESIST.  IF WE LOOK AT OURSELVES CRITICALLY, WE HAVE TO ADMIT THAT WE ARE TEMPTED ALL THROUGH THE DAY.  I'M OFTEN TEMPTED TO STAY IN BED FOR A WHILE IN THE MORNING INSTEAD OF GETTING UP AT MY USUAL HOUR.   AND I'M RETIRED, I COULD EASILY SPEND ANOTHER HOUR SLEEPING.  AND IF I DID SLEEP, I WOULDN'T BE COMMITTING A SIN.  BUT IF THE FIRST THING I DO UPON WAKING IS TO YIELD TO MY ANIMAL NATURE, WHAT WILL THE REST OF MY DAY BRING?  I HAVE A LITTLE WEIGHT PROBLEM, AND I'M OFTEN TEMPTED TO HAVE A SECOND HELPING, AND SOMETIMES I GIVE IN TO THIS.  WHEN I HAVE A PROJECT THAT I DON'T REALLY WANT TO DO, I AM TEMPTED TO CUT CORNERS – WHO WOULD NOTICE?  I'M TEMPTED TO MAKE SARCASTIC REMARKS SOMETIMES WHEN SOMEONE SAYS SOMETHING I THINK IS STUPID; I'M TEMPTED TO LET MYSELF GIVE IN TO ANGER WHEN ANOTHER DRIVER CUTS ME OFF OR NEARLY HITS ME.  AND SO IT GOES, ALL DAY LONG.  WHENEVER I HAVE A DECISION TO MAKE, BETWEEN WHAT MY ANIMAL NATURE TELLS ME TO DO AND WHAT MY GODLY NATURE SAYS, THAT IS A TEMPTATION.  MY ANIMAL NATURE WANTS COMFORT, PLEASURE, RESPECT, A FULL BELLY; MY GODLY NATURE WANTS TO IMITATE JESUS –  TO PLEASE THE FATHER, SERVE HIS CHILDREN, AND MAKE THE BEST USE OF THE TALENTS I'VE BEEN GIVEN AND THE TIME I HAVE LEFT IN MY LIFE.  WITHOUT TEMPTATION, I WON'T KNOW MYSELF, I WON'T KNOW WHAT I'M HERE FOR.  JESUS HAD TO CONFRONT TEMPTATION, JUST AS YOU AND I DO.
TO BE AMONG WILD BEASTS IS TO LEARN THE ROOT OF OUR SINS, SO THAT WE CAN WORK TO ELIMINATE THEM.  SAINT JEROME IN ONE OF HIS DIARIES RECOGNIZED THAT HE HAD A TENDENCY TO LOOK DOWN ON PEOPLE WHO WERE SUPERSTITIOUS OR OVERLY SENTIMENTAL; HE RECOGNIZED THAT HE WAS RULED BY THE DEADLY SIN OF PRIDE.  HIS REMEDY WAS TO ROLL IN THORNS WHEN HE FELT PRIDE COMING ON – A LITTLE EXTREME, BUT JEROME RECOGNIZED THAT HIS PRIDE WAS THE GREATEST DANGER TO HIS IMMORTAL SOUL.  ALL OF US COULD FIND ONE OF THE DEADLY SINS, AND MAYBE TWO OR THREE, THAT LIE AT THE ROOT OF OUR OWN SINFULNESS.  THE DEADLY SINS, IN CASE YOU'VE FORGOTTEN, ARE NOT ACTUAL SINS, BUT TENDENCIES TO SIN.  THEY ARE PRIDE, COVETOUSNESS (OR DESIRING SOMETHING BELONGING TO SOMEONE ELSE), LUST, ANGER, GLUTTONY, ENVY (DESIRING THAT SOMEONE LOSE A GOOD THING OR HIS GOOD FORTUNE), AND SLOTH.  SLOTH WAS CONSIDERED BY THOMAS AQUINAS TO BE THE WORST OF THE DEADLY SINS, BECAUSE SINS ARISING FROM THIS TENDENCY DON'T FEEL LIKE SINS.  SLOTH IS NOT THE SAME THING AS LAZINESS; ONE DEFINITION OF SLOTH IS NOT CARING ENOUGH ABOUT SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.  IT CAN BE SO BAD THAT I CAN CONVINCE MYSELF THAT SOMETHING IMPORTANT IS NOT IMPORTANT, SO I CAN NOT CARE ABOUT IT.  AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE SLOTH COMES IN MANY GUISES; I MAY PUSH PEOPLE AWAY BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH THEM.  I MIGHT NEGLECT MY PRAYER LIFE OR THE SACRAMENTS BECAUSE I'VE TOLD MYSELF I DON'T REALLY NEED THEM, I'M A GOOD PERSON.
FINALLY, THE ANGELS MINISTERED TO JESUS.  WHEN WE ARE TEMPTED GOD'S ANGELS ARE THERE OFFERING GRACE IF WE CLAIM IT.  IF WE HAVE A DEADLY SIN TO OVERCOME, THEY ARE THERE TO SHOW US HOW.  AND THEY ARE ALWAYS THERE TO REMIND US, AS THEY REMIND JESUS, THAT WE ARE BELOVED, AND THAT THE FATHER IS  PLEASED .  WITH US – NOT BECAUSE OF ANYTHING WE DO, BUT SIMPLY BECAUSE WE ARE.
WE NEED TO SEE LENT AS OUR DESERT.  WE GO OUT TO CONFRONT OUR TEMPTATIONS AND RE-COMMIT OURSELVES TO WORKING ON OUR GODLY NATURE.  WE WANT TO REMIND OURSELVES THAT WE WERE MADE IN GOD'S IMAGE AND LIKENESS AND IT'S TIME TO ALLOW GOD TO  TOUCH US UP A LITTLE.  WE WANT TO BE MORE LIKE JESUS, WHO LIVED TO PLEASE  THE FATHER, WHO  SERVED THOSE WHO CAME TO HIM IN NEED, WHO SAID, “MY FOOD  AND DRINK IS  TO DO THE WILL OF THE FATHER.”  WE GO OUT TO CONFRONT OUR WILD  BEASTS, THOSE TENDENCIES WHICH LEAD US TO  CERTAIN KINDS OF  SINS – AND IF I RECOGNIZE THAT MY WILD BEAST IS PRIDE, OR LUST, OR JEALOUSY OR WHATEVER, THE BEAST CAN'T HARM ME BECAUSE I'LL BE ON GUARD FOR SINS WHICH COME FROM THAT DEADLY SIN.  AND MOST OF ALL WE HAVE TO BE AWARE THAT GOD'S ANGELS ARE MINISTERING TO US ALL THE TIME, HELPING US USE HIS GRACE TO BUILD UP HIS IMAGE AND LIKENESS IN US.
WHATEVER ELSE YOU DO FOR LENT, CONSIDER MAKING THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS ON FRIDAYS AT 7:00 PM FOLLOWED BY MASS AT 7:30.  CONSIDER JOINING US ON TUESDAYS AT 2:30 FOR THE ROSARY, OR 3:00 FOR THE CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY AND BENEDICTION – OR BOTH.  AN HOUR OUT OF YOUR WEEK ISN'T GOING TO KILL YOU.  MAY GOD GRANT ALL OF US A WONDERFUL AND GRACE-FILLED LENT.

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle B

MARK 1:40-45
IN THE GOSPEL OF MARK, JESUS OFTEN TELLS PEOPLE TO KEEP QUIET ABOUT WHAT HE HAS DONE.  THIS IS CALLED “THE MESSIANIC SECRET” AND SCHOLARS HAVE GIVEN DIFFERENT REASONS FOR ITS PURPOSE.  IT'S INTERESTING THAT THIS DOESN'T COME UP IN THE OTHER GOSPELS, INCLUDING THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW,  IN WHICH 90% OF MARK IS CONTAINED.  IT DIDN'T SERVE MATTHEW'S PURPOSE TO KEEP THIS STRANGE COMMAND OF JESUS – MATTHEW HAD A DIFFERENT SET OF REASONS FOR WRITING HIS GOSPEL.
IF WE LOOK AT THE TIMES JESUS TELLS THOSE HE CURES NOT TO TELL ANYONE ABOUT WHAT JUST HAPPENED, THOUGH, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH OUR OWN EXPLANATION FOR THE MESSIANIC SECRET, AND MAYBE THERE IS EVEN SOMETHING THAT WE CAN APPLY TO OUR OWN LIVES.
THIS GOSPEL IS AN EXAMPLE OF THIS.  JESUS ENCOUNTERS A LEPER – AND YOU'VE HEARD WHAT MOSES SAID TO DO WITH LEPERS.  IN JESUS' TIME ANYONE WITH A PERSISTENT SKIN PROBLEM WAS A LEPER UNTIL PROVEN OTHERWISE, AND THAT MEANT THAT YOU STAYED AWAY FROM TOWNS AND OTHER PEOPLE; YOU HAD TO DRESS IN A CERTAIN WAY SO THAT  PEOPLE COULD AVOID YOU; AND YOU COULDN'T GET A  JOB.  WHENEVER SOMEONE LOOKED AS THOUGH THEY WERE GOING TO CROSS YOUR PATH, YOU WERE TO SHOUT “UNCLEAN, UNCLEAN”.  SOMEONE WHO EVEN TOUCHED A LEPER WAS CONSIDERED UNCLEAN FOR SEVEN DAYS.  LEPERS SURVIVED THROUGH THE KINDNESS OF THEIR RELATIVES, OR SOMETIMES STRANGERS.  IF YOU WERE UNCLEAN, YOU COULDN'T TAKE PART IN WORSHIP – OBVIOUSLY GOD MUST BE PUNISHING YOU FOR SOMETHING.  NATURALLY, SOME LEPERS, BEING DESPERATE, WOULD COMMIT DESPERATE ACTS LIKE ROBBERY.  IT WAS A TOUGH LIFE.
THE LEPER, DEFYING CONVENTION, CALLS OUT TO JESUS AND BEGS HIM:  “IF YOU WANT TO YOU CAN MAKE ME CLEAN!”  AND JESUS REACHES OUT AND TOUCHES HIM, DEFYING CONVENTION HIMSELF, AND SAYS, “I DO WANT TO, SO BE CLEAN!”  THE LEPER IS MADE CLEAN, AND JESUS TAKES ON THE STATUS OF “UNCLEAN”.  JESUS GIVES HIM TWO COMMANDS – ONE IS TO GO SHOW HIMSELF TO THE PRIEST, BECAUSE THE PRIEST COULD THEN DECLARE HIM CLEAN AND HE COULD COME BACK INTO SOCIETY.  WE DON'T KNOW IF THE LEPER ACTUALLY DID THAT.  THE OTHER IS “TELL NO ONE”.  AND OF COURSE, OUR LEPER DOESN'T DO THIS – IN FACT, HE DOES JUST THE OPPOSITE.  AND WE SEE THE CONSEQUENCES; JESUS CAN'T GO ANYWHERE WITHOUT ATTRACTING A NEEDY, DEMANDING CROWD.
THINKING IN HUMAN TERMS, IT MUST HAVE REALLY BEEN HARD ON JESUS, WHO SAW HIS MISSION AS ONE OF PREACHING THE KINGDOM OF GOD TO EVERYONE WHO WOULD LISTEN.  AND NOW IRONICALLY, HE HAS TO AVOID PLACES WHERE THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE.
HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO US?  I THINK A LOT OF US BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF PRAYER.  WE PRAY FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN, OR SOMETHING NOT TO HAPPEN; WE PRAY FOR SICK FRIENDS AND DEAD RELATIVES; WE PRAY KNOWING THAT NOT EVERY PRAYER IS ANSWERED THE WAY WE WANT IT TO BE, BUT NEVERTHELESS, HOPING THAT MAYBE THIS TIME OUR PRAYER WILL BE  ANSWERED IN THE WAY WE WANT IT TO BE.  AND OBVIOUSLY SOMETIMES THEY ARE.
BUT ALTHOUGH JESUS HEALS THE LEPER, WHAT DOES HE REALLY WANT?  IF WE GO BY OTHER MOMENTS IN HIS LIFE, HE WANTS CONVERSION, HE WANTS THIS LEPER TO GIVE HIMSELF TO GOD, TO REPENT HIS SINS AND SEEK GOD'S MERCY; AFTER HEALING HIS BODY HE WANTS TO HEAL HIS SOUL, BUT THAT REQUIRES THAT THE FORMER LEPER SPEND SOME TIME LEARNING FROM JESUS.
BUT THE LEPER MISSES ALL OF THIS AND GOES OUT TELLING EVERYONE WHAT HAPPENED AND WHO DID IT.  AND IN SO DOING HE LOSES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR COMPLETE HEALING, AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR JESUS TO REACH OTHERS WITH HIS MESSAGE.  THE LEPER FAILS TO OBEY THE PLAIN COMMAND OF JESUS.
HERE WE ARE IN CHURCH; WE ARE HERE BECAUSE WE KNOW SOMETHING SPECIAL TAKES PLACE; WE KNOW THAT JESUS BECOMES PRESENT IN BREAD AND WINE, IN THE WORD AND IN EACH OTHER.  WE KNOW HEALING GRACES ARE AVAILABLE, BOTH FOR BODY AND SOUL.  WE HAVE A LIST OF THINGS WE WANT TO BRING TO JESUS' ATTENTION – SOME OF THEM AS A PEOPLE WHEN WE PRAY THE INTERCESSIONS AFTER THE CREED AND WHEN WE PRAY THE EUCHARISTIC PRAYER; AND SOME WHICH WE BRING TO THE MASS IN OUR HEARTS TO  SPEAK THEM PRIVATELY.  AND AFTER OUR ENCOUNTER WITH CHRIST, WE ARE GIVEN A COMMAND – IT MAY BE, “GO, LIVE THE GOSPEL” OR “THE MASS IS ENDED, GO IN PEACE” OR VARIOUS OTHER FORMULATIONS.  THEY ALL BOIL DOWN TO THE SAME THING, THOUGH.  WE ARE SUPPOSED TO LEAVE MASS AND IN OUR CASE, BRING WHAT WE'VE RECEIVED INTO THE WORLD WHICH SO DESPERATELY NEEDS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN.
THE LEPER WASN'T READY TO BE SENT FORTH; HE NEEDED TO LEARN FROM JESUS AND BE FORMED BY HIM.  YOU AND I HAVE BEEN EQUIPPED TO GO FORTH; WE HAVE EATEN AND DRUNK JESUS CHRIST; WE'VE RENEWED OUR BAPTISM, WE'VE STIRRED UP THE HOLY SPIRIT IN US; WE'VE BEEN INSTRUCTED  THROUGH THE WORD AND SOMETIMES THE SERMON IF THE HOLY SPIRIT MAKES UP FOR THE DEFICIENCIES OF THE PREACHER.  WHAT MORE DO WE NEED TO GO FORTH AND BRING CHRIST'S MESSAGE TO  THE WORLD?  AND YET, PROBABLY MUCH OF THE TIME WE AREN'T EVEN THINKING ABOUT THIS ONCE WE HIT THE PARKING LOT.
TODAY BEFORE WE LEAVE THIS MASS LET US THINK OF ONE PERSON WITH WHOM WE WILL SHARE THE GOSPEL THIS WEEK.  WE DON'T HAVE TO WHIP OPEN A BIBLE OR OFFER TO PRAY WITH SOMEONE.  THE GOSPEL IS THE GOOD NEWS THAT JESUS BROUGHT TO OUR WORLD, THE NEWS THAT WE HAVE IT IN OUR POWER TO TOUCH EACH OTHER'S LIVES.  AND WHEN WE TOUCH EACH OTHER, THE RESULT CAN BE GOOD OR IT CAN BE BAD.  A COMPLEMENT INSTEAD OF A CRITICISM.  WELCOMING INSTEAD OF IGNORING.  GIVING THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT RATHER THAN BLAMING.  OUR BAPTISMAL GRACES ARE ALWAYS THERE TO TELL US WHAT WE SHOULD DO; ALL WE NEED TO DO IS LISTEN.

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle B

MARK 1:29-39
JOAN AND I WORK WITH OTHER MARRIED COUPLES IN PRE-CANA PROGRAMS, WHICH IS PART OF THE CHURCH'S MINISTRY TO ENGAGED COUPLES.  WE WERE TALKING WITH ONE OF THESE COUPLES ABOUT HOW THEY MET AND WHAT PROBLEMS THEY HAD TO OVERCOME IN THE EARLY PART OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP.  THE HUSBAND IS THE BREADWINNER AND THE WIFE HOME SCHOOLS THE SIX KIDS AND MANAGES TO RUN AN EFFICIENT AND COST-EFFECTIVE HOUSEHOLD.  THEY ARE BOTH DEVOTED TO THE CHURCH AND THEIR LIVES REFLECT THAT.  IN THE COURSE OF THE CONVERSATION SHE SAID SOMETHING TO THIS EFFECT:  “I WANT TO SAVE MY SOUL AND BE THE BEST WIFE AND MOTHER I CAN BE”.  IT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING SHE PROBABLY REMINDED HERSELF OF EVERY DAY.  IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN HER MISSION STATEMENT.
YOU MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS A MISSION STATEMENT.  WHEN I WORKED AT BAYSTATE MEDICAL CENTER AND IT WAS BEGINNING TO TRANSFORM ITSELF, MANY OF US SPENT A LOT OF TIME HELPING DEVELOP A MISSION STATEMENT FOR THAT HUGE INSTITUTION.  AFTER ABOUT SIX MONTHS, THIS WAS THE STATEMENT:  TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES EVERY DAY WITH QUALITY AND COMPASSION.  I AND A LOT OF MY FRIENDS THOUGHT “THAT TOOK SIX MONTHS AND MANY MEETINGS AND A LOT OF VALUABLE TIME?”  BUT OVER TIME, I BEGAN TO SEE THE VALUE OF A MISSION STATEMENT.  IT'S WHAT YOU CONSULT EVERY TIME YOU HAVE A DECISION TO MAKE.  AND I SAW THE LEADERS OF BAYSTATE DO THIS.  I SAW SOME GREAT IDEAS TURNED DOWN BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T FIT THE MISSION.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS SOUTHWEST AIRLINES.  THEIR STATEMENT IS:  “TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO WHAT'S IMPORTANT IN THEIR LIVES THROUGH FRIENDLY, RELIABLE, AND LOW-COST AIR TRAVEL.”  ONCE SOMEONE PROPOSED THAT SOUTHWEST CONTRACT WITH CATERING COMPANIES, SO THAT A PASSENGER COULD ORDER A MEAL THAT WOULD BE SERVED WHEN HE OR SHE GOT ON THE PLANE – NOT FREE, OF COURSE.  THE IDEA WAS DOABLE AND WOULD PROBABLY HAVE GENERATED A LITTLE EXTRA REVENUE, BUT IT WOULD REQUIRE THAT ON THE PLANES WITH THIS POLICY, YOU'D EITHER NEED AN EXTRA STEWARD, AND THAT WOULD DETRACT FROM THE “LOW-COST” PART OF THE MISSION; OR YOU'D NEED THE STEWARDS TO SPEND TIME DISTRIBUTING MEALS AND PICKING UP AFTER, WHICH WOULD DETRACT FROM THE FRIENDLY PART.  THAT'S WHY YOU DON'T GET ANYTHING BUT PEANUTS AND PRETZELS ON SOUTHWEST.
AS YOU MAY IMAGINE, THERE ARE MISSION STATEMENTS THAT TAKE SEVERAL PARAGRAPHS; THERE ARE STATEMENTS THAT ARE VERY NICE, BUT ARE NEVER USED TO GIVE DIRECTION, AND THERE ARE ORGANIZATIONS WHICH DON'T HAVE MISSION STATEMENTS, AND THEY OFTEN GET IN TROUBLE.  JESUS HAD A MISSION STATEMENT, AND TODAY'S GOSPEL SHOWS HIM USING IT TO SHAPE HIS DECISIONS.  I THINK YOU MAY REMEMBER IT, “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE HAS ANOINTED ME TO PROCLAIM GOOD NEWS TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY TO THE CAPTIVES AND RECOVERING OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET AT LIBERTY THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, TO PROCLAIM THE YEAR OF THE LORD’S FAVOR."
JESUS SEEMS ALWAYS TO ATTRACT A CROWD.  PEOPLE ARE BRINGING HIM THE SICK, THE LAME, THE DEMON-POSSESSED, AND ASKING HIM TO HEAL THEM.  AND HE DOES.  AND YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT IF YOU COULD HEAL PEOPLE BY TOUCHING THEM AND PRAYING OVER THEM (AND BY THE WAY, SOME OF YOU CAN, BECAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE CHARISMS GOD GIVES SOME PEOPLE IN HIS CHURCH) YOU WOULD PROBABLY RESPOND LIKE JESUS.  AND MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WOULD COME TO BE HEALED.  AND THEN YOU WOULD THINK, “I'M DOING A LOT OF GOOD HERE, WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT?”  AND YOU MIGHT SET UP A LITTLE SHOP AND CHARGE ENOUGH TO LIVE ON, AND GO INTO THE HEALING BUSINESS.  BUT JESUS ALWAYS REMEMBERS HIS MISSION STATEMENT, THE FIRST PART OF WHICH IS TO PROCLAIM THE GOOD NEWS TO THE POOR.  AND WHEN SIMON TELLS HIM EVERYONE IS LOOKING FOR HIM, JESUS SAYS, “LET US GO TO NEARBY VILLAGES SO THAT I MAY PREACH TO THEM, FOR THAT IS WHY I HAVE COME.”
IMAGINE A BOWL.  YOU FILL IT WITH MARBLES.  IS IT FULL?  WELL, YOU CAN PUT A LOT OF SALT IN THERE.  BUT IF YOU START WITH THE SALT, YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO PUT A SINGLE MARBLE IN THERE.
EVERY DAY, EVERY WEEK, EVERY YEAR, YOU AND I NEED TO REMIND OURSELVES WHAT IS TRULY IMPORTANT, AND WHAT IS JUST “BEING BUSY”.  WE NEED TO REVIEW EVERY DAY WHETHER WE'VE FILLED OUR DAY WITH MARBLES OR SALT.  AND IF WE HAVE A CHOICE, THE MARBLES ARE WAY MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE SALT.
JESUS HAD A MISSION STATEMENT THAT KEPT HIM FOCUSED AND MADE SURE HE DIDN'T GET DISTRACTED.  SPENDING HIS WAKING HOURS HEALING PEOPLE WAS JUST SALT; PROCLAIMING THE GOOD NEWS WAS MARBLES.  THERE WAS ROOM FOR BOTH, BUT ONLY IF HE TOOK CARE OF THE MARBLES FIRST, AND HE ALWAYS DID.
OUR PARISH HAS A MISSION STATEMENT.  IT'S ON THE BULLETIN.  BECAUSE YOU AND I ARE MEMBERS OF THIS PARISH, WE SHOULD TAKE TO HEART THAT WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR GUIDING THE PARISH ACCORDING TO THAT STATEMENT, AND TO EXAMINE WHETHER OUR PARTICIPATION IN THE PARISH OR IN THE MANY ACTIVITIES WE HAVE IN THIS PARISH FIT IN WITH THE MISSION STATEMENT.  MARBLES OR SALT?
YOU AND I NEED MISSION STATEMENTS FOR OUR LIVES AS WELL, SIMPLE ONES THAT KEEP US FOCUSED, NAME OUR PRIORITIES, AND GIVE OUR LIVES MEANING, LIKE THE ONE YOU HEARD FROM MY FRIEND.  HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT YOURS IS?  IT WON'T BE TOO LONG BEFORE WE BEGIN LENT.  THAT MIGHT BE AN EXCELLENT WAY TO USE THOSE SIX WEEKS – TO THINK ABOUT MY MISSION, WHY GOD HAS PUT ME HERE; TO WRITE OUT IN A SINGLE SENTENCE MY PERSONAL MISSION STATEMENT, AND THEN TO READ IT EVERY MORNING AS I PLAN MY DAY, AND REVIEW IT EVERY EVENING BEFORE I GO TO BED.  I'M PRETTY SURE THAT WHEN EASTER COMES AROUND, THERE WOULD BE A LOT MORE MARBLES AND A BIT LESS SALT IN OUR LIVES.

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle B

MARK 1:21-28

DO YOU BELIEVE IN THE DEVIL? I THINK MANY CHRISTIANS WOULD PROBABLY SAY, NOT REALLY. THE IDEA OF A DEVIL SEEMS TO BRING UP ALL KINDS OF IMAGES, ALL OF WHICH SEEM A LITTLE SILLY, OR SOMETIMES, REMIND US OF HORROR MOVIES. BUT JESUS BELIEVED IN SATAN, UNCLEAN SPIRITS, DEMONS … SO AT LEAST WE SHOULD KEEP AN OPEN MIND.

I READ AN INTERESTING THEORY ABOUT PRAYER THE OTHER DAY. THE QUESTION ALWAYS IS, IF WE CAN GET GOD TO CHANGE HIS MIND, THEN HE ISN'T REALLY GOD, BECAUSE BY DEFINITION, GOD CANNOT CHANGE. SO WHY PRAY? THE USUAL ANSWER IS THAT PRAYER MAKES US MORE ACCEPTING OF GOD'S WILL. AND THAT'S TRUE, BUT NOT VERY SATISFYING. BUT THE OTHER ANSWER IS THAT GOD CHOOSES TO ALLOW US TO PARTICIPATE IN HIS OVERALL PLAN, AND WHEN WE PRAY, WE MAKE HIS PLAN FOR US MORE APPARENT, MORE MANIFEST IN THE WORLD. IF I PRAY FOR HEALING, I MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN HEALED ANYWAY, BUT WHEN I PRAY FOR IT, THEN I AND ALL THOSE AROUND ME SEE GOD IN ACTION. AND CERTAINLY THERE ARE EXAMPLES OF THIS AROUND US ALL THE TIME. JUST THE OTHER DAY AN ELDERLY LADY TOLD ME ABOUT HER STRUGGLE TO GIVE UP SMOKING. HER FUTURE HUSBAND HAD TOLD HER HE DIDN'T LIKE IT, SO SHE QUIT, BUT AFTER A FEW WEEKS, STARTED UP AGAIN. HE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING MORE. SHE THEN REALIZED THAT IF SHE QUIT, AND SHE GOT MAD AT HIM, SHE WOULD START SMOKING AGAIN TO “PUNISH” HIM. SO SHE PRAYED ABOUT IT, AND HAD NO MORE CRAVING FROM THAT MOMENT TO NOW – SIXTY NINE YEARS. WAS THAT A MIRACLE?

SO MAYBE THAT'S HOW SATAN AND OTHER EVIL SPIRITS USUALLY OPERATE. THEY CAN'T BRING ABOUT EVIL DIRECTLY, BUT THEY CAN MAKE THEMSELVES MORE OBVIOUS, AND CONVINCE US THAT WE CAN'T CHANGE, THAT WE CAN'T GIVE UP A BAD HABIT OR A DESTRUCTIVE PERSONALITY TRAIT. AND THEY CAN BECOME MORE INFLUENTIAL AND FRIGHTENING, BY HORRIFYING US THROUGH NATURAL EVILS. ISN'T THERE SOMETHING SATANIC ABOUT THE ISLAMIC STATE BEHEADING INNOCENT PEOPLE? OR BOKU HARAM CAPTURING AND ENSLAVING LITTLE GIRLS? OR FOR THAT MATTER, ABORTION. IN FACT THERE ARE 5211 ABORTIONS A DAY IN THE UNITED STATES. WE DON'T BELIEVE SIEZURES AND DEFORMITIES AND ILLNESSES ARE CAUSED BY DEMONS ANYMORE, BUT MAYBE WE ARE WRONG. WHEN I SEE PEOPLE WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, THERE IS SOMETHING DIABOLIC ABOUT THAT.

IN THE BIBLE THERE ARE TWO COMMON TERMS FOR THE SPIRIT OF EVIL. ONE IS SATAN, FROM “SATANUS” – THE ACCUSER; AND THE OTHER IS DEVIL, FROM DIABOLOS, THE DIVIDER. WE KNOW ONE WAY EVIL SPIRITS CAUSE TROUBLE IS TO DIVIDE PEOPLE, TO PUT BARRIERS BETWEEN THEM. PARANOIA, JEALOUSY, THE SENSE OF BEING WRONGED, BITTERNESS – THESE KIND OF EMOTIONS ARE AT THE ROOT OF MOST DIVISIONS BETWEEN PEOPLE, AND BETWEEN A PERSON AND GOD. THE DEVIL IS A DIVIDER. BUT SATAN WORKS THROUGH THESE EMOTIONS AS WELL BUT BY A KIND OF SICK IMITATION OF COMMUNITY. SATAN IS BEHIND MOB VIOLENCE, PROBLEMS BETWEEN RACES AND RELIGIONS AND NATIONS; BUT ALSO THOUGHTLESS ENTHUSIASM – THE ADULATION OF A MOVIE STAR OR POLITICIAN. IF YOU CAN GET A CROWD TO AGREE ON SOMETHING, YOU HAVE A GREAT TOOL TO CAUSE MISCHIEF, EVEN CRUCIFIXION. THERE IS SOMETHING SATANIC ABOUT HOW WE'VE GONE FROM BEING AGAINST SAME SEX “MARRIAGE” TO PRETTY MUCH TOLERATING IT IN TEN YEARS. NO ONE LISTENS TO PRINCIPLED LOGICAL REASONS WHY THIS IS A BAD THING, FOR THE PEOPLE INVOLVED, FOR THE COUNTRY, AND FOR MARRIAGE IN GENERAL. WE ARE INTO GROUP THINK. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE THOUGHT OF AS BIGOTED, YOU SHOULD NOT PUBLICALLY SAY YOU ARE AGAINST SAME SEX MARRIAGE. SATAN, THE ACCUSER, IS AT WORK HERE.

IN THE GOSPELS WE SEE JESUS OPPOSING THE DEVIL, OPPOSING SATAN. HE DOES THIS BY BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER. EVEN WHEN HE CASTS OUT UNCLEAN SPIRITS, HE IS BRINGING THAT MAN BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY. EVEN WHEN HE DEBATES WITH THE PHARISEES, HE INVITES THEM BY HIS QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS TO LOOK AT THEMSELVES, AND SEE HOW THE PATH THEY ARE ON DIVIDES THEM FROM OTHER PEOPLE. ONCE JESUS TOLD HIS FOLLOWERS THEY HAD A FALLING OUT WITH THEIR NEIGHBOR, THEY SHOULD DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO HEAL THAT WOUND, EVEN INVOLVING THE AUTHORITIES OF THE CHURCH. AND IF NOTHING WORKED, ONLY THEN SHOULD THEY TREAT THAT PERSON LIKE A GENTILE – NOT ACTUALLY HOSTILE, BUT JUST AVOIDING HIM. AND JESUS IS DISTRUSTFUL OF ANYTHING HAVING TO DO WITH “GROUP THINK” MARK BRINGS THIS OUT WHENEVER HE MENTIONS THE “MESSIANIC SECRET” WHICH IS WHEN JESUS TELLS SOMEONE HE'S JUST CURED NOT TO TELL ANYONE. JESUS DOESN'T WANT PEOPLE TO FOLLOW HIM BECAUSE OF MIRACLES; THEY HAVE TO KNOW HIM AS HE IS AND MAKE A CONSCIOUS, INDIVIDUAL CHOICE TO FOLLOW HIM. DIVISIONS BETWEEN PEOPLE, AS WELL AS GROUP-THINK AND MOB VIOLENCE AND RACIAL PREJUDICE ARE ALL SOURCES OF PSYCHIC ENERGY. JESUS GOT HIS ENERGY FROM A DIFFERENT SOURCE. WE SEE THIS IN THE GOSPELS, WHEN HE WITHDRAWS FROM THE CROWDS TO PRAY. HE ONCE SAID, “MY MEAT AND DRINK IS TO DO THE WILL OF MY FATHER.” WE CHRISTIANS NEED TO LEARN TO GET OUR ENERGY FROM THAT SOURCE AS WELL, AND TURN OUR BACKS ON DEMONIC FORCES, WHICH STILL INFEST OUR WORLD.

NOW JUST A WORD ABOUT THE READING FROM PAUL. IT SEEMS THAT HE IS A ADVISING US NOT TO GET MARRIED. BUT IF YOU RE-READ THIS IN VIEW OF WHAT WE'VE JUST BEEN TALKING ABOUT, YOU WILL SEE THAT HE ISN'T AGAINST MARRIAGE; HE IS CONCERNED THAT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE MARRIED, THERE IS THE VERY REAL POSSIBILITY THAT THEY WILL BE TORN BETWEEN SERVING GOD AND SERVING THEIR SPOUSE. DIVISION BETWEEN PEOPLE AND BETWEEN A PERSON AND GOD IS “DIABOLICAL” – THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT JESUS TEACHES. JESUS SAYS MARRIAGE IS WHEN A MAN AND A WOMAN BECOME ONE FLESH. IF I AM ONE WITH MY SPOUSE, THEN OUR RELATIONSHIP IS NOT ABOUT PLEASING OR SERVING EACH OTHER, IT'S ABOUT SERVING AND PLEASING GOD TOGETHER. AND IF WE WORK TOWARDS THAT GOAL IN OUR MARRIAGE, WE ARE TRULY LIVING THE SACRAMENT AS IT WAS MEANT TO BE LIVED.

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle B

MARK 1:14-20
IN TODAY'S GOSPEL FROM MARK WE HAVE THE STORY OF JESUS CALLING FOUR DISCIPLES, PETER AND ANDREW, AND JAMES AND JOHN.  IN BOTH CASES, THEY WERE INVOLVED IN THEIR TRADE, FISHING, AND WHEN HE CALLED THEM THEY FOLLOWED HIM.  BUT WHAT ABOUT LAST WEEK?  THAT WAS FROM THE GOSPEL OF JOHN, AND IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT STORY.  JOHN THE BAPTIST POINTS TO JESUS AND SAYS, “THERE GOES THE LAMB OF GOD” AND ANDREW AND ANOTHER DISCIPLE OF JOHN'S START WALKING BEHIND JESUS, WHO SAYS, “WHAT DO YOU WANT?” AND THEY ANSWER, “WE WANT TO SEE WHERE YOU LIVE”.  AND JESUS SAYS, “COME AND SEE”.  THEN ANDREW GOES AND BRINGS PETER TO JESUS, SAYING, “WE HAVE FOUND THE MESSIAH.”
SO WHAT'S GOING ON?  WHICH STORY IS TRUE?  THEY CAN'T BOTH BE, CAN THEY?  I THINK THEY CAN BE, AND IF WE LOOK AT THEM A LITTLE DEEPER WE WILL SEE HOW THE TWO STORIES MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH OUR OWN LIVES.
SOMEWHERE DURING HIS HIDDEN YEARS, JESUS MOVED FROM NAZARETH TO CAPARNUM.  MAYBE IT WAS AFTER ST JOSEPH DIED; MAYBE HE BROUGHT HIS MOTHER.  WE DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS, BUT THERE IS LOTS OF EVIDENCE FOR THIS IN THE GOSPELS.  THIS IS THE AREA IN WHICH PETER AND ANDREW LIVED AS WELL.  IN THE GOSPEL FROM LAST WEEK, ANDREW AND PETER ARE CURIOUS; THEY WANT TO GET TO KNOW THIS MAN THAT JOHN CALLS THE LAMB OF GOD; THEY WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT WHAT MAKES HIM TICK.  I SUSPECT THAT OVER TIME THEY FORMED A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM, AND THE SAME MIGHT BE SAID FOR JAMES AND JOHN.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS.  IN ANY HUMAN RELATIONSHIP, GOOD OR BAD, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TWO PERSONS WHO HAVE AN EFFECT ON EACH OTHER'S LIFE.  IT MAY BE THE RELATIONSHIP OF ACQUAINTANCES, WHERE YOU SAY “HELLO” WHEN YOU SEE THE OTHER PERSON.  OR IT MIGHT BE FRIENDSHIP, WHERE YOU HAVE REGARD FOR THE OTHER PERSON, KNOW THEM PRETTY WELL, ACCEPT THEM AS THEY ARE, EVEN WHEN THEY DON'T THINK THE WAY YOU DO.  IT MAY BE A RELATIONSHIP BASED ON LOVE, AS IN THE CASE OF A HUSBAND AND WIFE, OR A PARENT AND A CHILD.   JESUS LOVES EACH OF US MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE EVER COULD; WE MAY IN FACT RECIPROCATE THIS LOVE TO SOME DEGREE OR ANOTHER, AND THAT WOULD BE A RELATIONSHIP.  IN OUR PARISH WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO COME TO CHURCH ON CHRISTMAS AND EASTER, AND SOME WHO ARE HERE DAILY.  WHETHER  ALL YOU KNOW IS THAT JESUS EXISTS, OR IF YOU ARE MADLY IN LOVE WITH HIM, YOU HAVE A RELATIONSHIP.
IN THE FIRST STORY, PETER DEVELOPS A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS BECAUSE HE KNOWS AND TRUSTS ANDREW, AT LEAST ENOUGH TO AROUSE HIS OWN CURIOSITY.  YOU AND I NEED TO REMEMBER THAT WE ARE BRIDGES TO JESUS AS WELL; PEOPLE WHO HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH US ARE THOSE THAT WE CAN HOPE WILL DEVELOP A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS.  
THE SECOND STORY IS VERY DIFFERENT.  I BELIEVE PETER, ANDREW JAMES AND JOHN HAVE KNOWN JESUS FOR A WHILE.  THEY'VE HEARD HIM PREACH, THEY'VE SEEN A MIRACLE OR TWO, AND THEY PROBABLY CONSIDER HIM A FRIEND.  IT'S AT THIS POINT THAT JESUS SAYS, “COME FOLLOW ME” AND ADDS THE PROMISE, “I WILL MAKE YOU FISHERS OF MEN.”  IT IS THEN THAT PETER AND ANDREW DROP THEIR NETS, JAMES AND JOHN LEAVE THEIR FATHER AND THE HIRED MEN – AND MARK SAYS THIS HAPPENS “IMMEDIATELY”.  THIS IS THE POINT AT WHICH THE FOUR APOSTLES COMMIT TO ACTUALLY BECOMING DISCIPLES.  NOTICE THAT BEING A DISCIPLE IS MUCH MORE THAN BEING IN A RELATIONSHIP.  YOU HAVE TO BE IN A RELATIONSHIP TO BE A DISCIPLE, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO FOLLOW THE MASTER.  THAT MEANS YOU'VE RESOLVED TO LEARN ALL YOU CAN FROM HIM, AND IMITATE HIM IN HOW YOU LIVE YOUR OWN LIFE.  BEING A DISCIPLE IS GOING TO BE PAINFUL.  YOU HAVE TO CHANGE YOURSELF, YOU HAVE TO LET SOMEONE ELSE TELL YOU WHAT YOU SHOULD DO;  AND THE MORE YOU WORK ON DISCIPLESHIP, THE MORE YOUR FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES ARE GOING TO BE DISTURBED.   BEING A DISCIPLE IS GOING TO HAVE ITS SHARE OF LONELINESS, OF BEING MISUNDERSTOOD.
BUT WHY BE A DISCIPLE?  JESUS ANSWERS THAT AS WELL – SO THAT YOU CAN BE A FISHER OF MEN.  BEING A DISCIPLE ISN'T ABOUT GETTING TO HEAVEN, IT'S ABOUT BRINGING HEAVEN TO EARTH, BRINGING THE KINGDOM OF GOD TO OTHER PEOPLE.  AND THAT ISN'T EASY EITHER, BUT IT IS CERTAINLY REWARDING, IT CERTAINLY BRINGS JOY.  SOMEONE WHO IS A DISCIPLE HAS SET OUT ON THE ONE PATH THAT WILL SATISFY HIS DEEPEST LONGINGS – BECAUSE WE WERE MADE IN GOD'S IMAGE AND LIKENESS, TO CARRY OUT GOD'S PLAN, AND WHEN WE DON'T DO THIS, WE MISS THE POINT OF BEING ALIVE, BEING HUMAN.
DO YOU REMEMBER THE STORY OF THE RICH YOUNG MAN?  WHEN HE TOLD JESUS THAT HE HAD FOLLOWED THE COMMANDMENTS FROM HIS YOUTH, IT SAYS JESUS LOOKED AT HIM AND LOVED HIM.  THERE WAS A RELATIONSHIP THERE.  BUT WHEN JESUS INVITED HIM TO BE A DISCIPLE, HE WENT AWAY SAD, BECAUSE HE HAD MANY POSSESSIONS; UNLIKE PETER AND ANDREW, HE WAS AFRAID TO DROP HIS NETS.
SO WE HAVE TWO STORIES THAT AT FIRST SEEM CONTRADICTORY; BUT IN ONE, THE DISCIPLES WANT TO FORM A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS; THEY WANT TO SEE WHERE HE LIVES, WHY HE DOES WHAT HE DOES, WHY JOHN CALLS HIM THE LAMB OF GOD.  OVER TIME, WE MIGHT ASSUME, THEY BECOME HIS FRIENDS, AND HE, THEIRS.  AND THEN ONE DAY, HE INVITES THEM TO BE HIS DISCIPLES, AND THEY MUST MAKE A LIFE-CHANGING DECISION, NOT KNOWING WHAT WILL HAPPEN, BUT TRUSTING THIS PERSON, THIS FRIEND THIS MAN WHO THEY HAVE COME TO KNOW.  AND THEY MAKE THE DECISION, THEY DROP THEIR NETS AND FOLLOW HIM.
A DISCIPLE IS SOMEONE WHO CONSCIOUSLY TRIES TO LEARN WHAT JESUS HAS TO TEACH, AND TRIES TO CHANGE HIS OR HER LIFE SO THAT THOSE TEACHINGS ARE PUT INTO PRACTICE; AND PART OF FOLLOWING JESUS AS A DISCIPLE IS TO DO WHAT HE DID, WHICH IS TO SERVE, TO HEAL, TO BRING ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.  SOMEONE WHO GOES AROUND AND TALKS ABOUT DISCIPLESHIP ALWAYS ASKS THE PASTORS SHE MEETS WHAT FRACTION OF HIS PARISH HE ESTIMATES TO BE REAL DISCIPLES?  THE USUAL ANSWER IS ABOUT 5%.  JESUS CALLS THOSE OF US WHO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM TO DISCIPLESHIP.  TODAY WE SHOULD ASK OURSELVES WHETHER WE HAVE DROPPED OUR NETS AND FOLLOWED HIM, OR GONE AWAY SAD BECAUSE WE DON'T REALLY WANT TO MAKE THE COMMITMENT.