Sixth Sunday in Easter, cycle B

JOHN 15:9-17

IN THE MIDDLE AGES SOME PEASANTS WERE GRADUALLY DIGGING A HOLE, LOADING THE DIRT INTO BASKETS AND HAULING IT OUT. THIS WAS HARD WORK AND NOT TERRIBLY INTERESTING, AND DIDN'T EVEN PAY VERY WELL – JUST ONE MEAL A DAY IN EXCHANGE FOR WORKING FROM DAWN TILL DUSK. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE PEASANTS REFLECTED THIS IN THEIR MANNER; THEY LOOKED UNHAPPY AND DEPRESSED, AND MOVED SLOWLY, EVEN AS THEIR OVERSEERS SHOUTED AND CRACKED WHIPS. BUT ONE MAN MOVED QUICKLY, HELD HIS HEAD UP, AND SEEMED TO BE BURSTING WITH GOOD SPIRITS. ONE OF THE PEASANTS ASKED HIM, HOW CAN YOU BE SO HAPPY DIGGING A HOLE? HE REPLIED, “YOU MAY BE DIGGING A HOLE, BUT I'M BUILDING A CATHEDRAL!”

WE ALL KNOW GOD LOVES EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US, WHETHER WE ARE SAINTS OR SINNERS, WHETHER WE ARE CATHOLICS OR MUSLIMS, WHETHER WE ARE WOMEN OR MEN. AND HE LOVES US AS MUCH AS HE CAN LOVE, THERE IS NO HOLDING BACK. IT'S SAD THAT WE BASK IN THIS OVERWHELMING LOVE AND HARDLY ARE AWARE OF IT. BUT THAT'S THE WAY IT IS.

BUT JESUS TODAY OFFERS US HIS FRIENDSHIP. FRIENDSHIP IS NOT THE SAME AS LOVE, NOR IS FRIENDSHIP WITH JESUS THE SAME AS LOVE FROM GOD. FRIENDSHIP FOR EVERYONE, GOD INCLUDED, IS CONDITIONAL. I CAN KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE, EVEN HAVE AFFECTION FOR THEM, BUT A REAL FRIEND IS SOMEONE WHO MEETS SOME DEEP NEED IN ME, AS I DO IN HIM OR HER. IF ONE OF US MEETS AN EXISTENTIAL NEED IN THE OTHER, BUT IT'S NOT RECIPROCATED, THEN THAT IS A RELATIONSHIP OF EXPLOITATION. FRIENDSHIP ONLY WORKS IF IT GOES BOTH WAYS.

SO WHAT ARE THESE DEEP NEEDS, THESE EXISTENTIAL NEEDS? DIFFERENT AUTHORS COUNT THEM DIFFERENTLY, BUT THEY HAVE TO DO WITH FIVE LEVELS – PHYSICAL NEEDS LIKE AIR AND FOOD; NEEDS HAVING TO DO WITH SECURITY AND SAFETY; NEEDS HAVING TO DO WITH LOVE AND BELONGING; NEEDS HAVING TO DO WITH OUR SENSE OF SELF-WORTH; AND NEEDS HAVING TO DO WITH SELF-ACTUALIZATION, USING OUR TALENTS TO THE FULLEST. IF YOU DON'T GET YOUR PHYSICAL NEEDS MET, YOU DON'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT SECURITY; IF YOU DON'T GET SECURITY AND SAFETY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT LOVE AND BELONGING. IN OTHER WORDS, TO MEET THE NEEDS ON A GIVEN LEVEL REQUIRES THAT THEY HAVE BEEN MET, AT LEAST TO SOME DEGREE, ON THE PREVIOUS LEVEL. IF SOMEONE DOES NOT HAVE HIS NEEDS OF SELF-WORTH MET, HE ISN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO USE HIS TALENTS TO THE FULLEST. IF SOMEONE ISN'T LOVED, NO ONE CAN HELP HIS NEED FOR A SENSE OF SELF-WORTH.

JESUS HAS DONE ALL HE CAN TO MEET OUR EXISTENTIAL NEEDS. THROUGH HIS SACRIFICE, HE'S TAKEN AWAY THE THREAT OF DEATH. THROUGH HIS SACRAMENTS HE'S DEMONSTRATED HIS LOVE FOR US AND HIS BRINGING US INTO HIS OWN MYSTICAL BODY. THROUGH HIS UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, HE'S SHOWN US THAT WE ARE WORTH HIS VERY LIFE; AND THROUGH HIS PROMISE OF GRACE, HE'S DEMONSTRATED THAT HE WILL GIVE US ALL WE NEED TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT GOD WANTS FOR US, WHICH IS REAL SELF-ACTUALIZATION. OF COURSE, SINCE THROUGH HIM ALL THINGS WERE CREATED, OUR VERY EXISTENCE IS SOMETHING JESUS MEETS IN US.

BUT FRIENDSHIP IS RECIPROCAL. IF WE ACCEPT ALL THAT JESUS DOES TO MEET OUR NEEDS, BUT DO NOTHING TO MEET HIS, THEN WE AREN'T HIS FRIENDS. WE ARE MORE LIKE LITTLE CHILDREN OR PETS. NOW THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH CHILDREN OR PETS, OR EVEN PEOPLE WHO SIMPLY ACCEPT WHAT JESUS HAS GIVEN THEM. WE CAN BASK IN HIS LOVE AND YET NEVER RESPOND TO HIS OWN NEEDS, THAT'S OUR CHOICE.

BUT, YOU SAY, WHAT POSSIBLE NEEDS DOES JESUS HAVE? HOW COULD GOD HAVE NEEDS? WELL, THAT IS A MYSTERY, BUT WE SEE A LOT OF HINTS IN SCRIPTURE; SAINT PAUL TELLS US THAT “THOUGH HE WAS IN THE FORM OF GOD, HE DID NOT REGARD EQUALITY WITH GOD SOMETHING TO BE GRASPED. RATHER, HE EMPTIED HIMSELF,

TAKING THE FORM OF A SLAVE, COMING IN HUMAN LIKENESS; AND FOUND HUMAN IN APPEARANCE, HE HUMBLED HIMSELF, BECOMING OBEDIENT TO DEATH, EVEN DEATH ON A CROSS.” WHEN JESUS EMPTIED HIMSELF, HE NOW HAS NEEDS. HE SAYS “COME TO ME ALL YOU WHO LABOR, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.” HE SAYS, “MY MEAT AND DRINK IS TO DO THE WILL OF THE FATHER.” HE SAYS, “JERUSALEM, YOU WHO KILL THE PROPHETS AND STONE THOSE SENT TO YOU, HOW OFTEN I HAVE LONGED TO GATHER YOUR CHILDREN TOGETHER, AS A HEN GATHERS HER CHICKS UNDER HER WINGS, AND YOU WERE NOT WILLING.” AND THE BOTTOM LINE, I GUESS, IS THAT JESUS CAME TO THE EARTH TO LIVE WITH US, PRECISELY SO THAT THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN COULD COME INTO EXISTENCE. BUT THAT IS OUR JOB, THAT IS WHERE WE COME IN. JESUS TELLS HIS DISCIPLES THAT HE HAS TOLD THEM EVERYTHING HE HAS HEARD FROM THE FATHER. AND YOU AND I HAVE HEARD ALL THAT AS WELL. EACH OF US KNOWS WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO USHER IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. WE'VE EACH BEEN GIVEN A SPECIAL GIFT, OR CHARISM, FOR THAT PURPOSE. BUT NOT MANY OF US DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. THOSE WHO DO, THOSE WHO SET OUT TO MAKE THE KINGDOM REAL, THOSE ARE THE ONES WHO ARE FRIENDS OF JESUS, THE ONES WHO BEAR MUCH FRUIT.

IT SEEMS THAT AFTER JESUS ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN, AN ANGEL APPROACHED HIM AND ASKED HOW THE WORK OF BUILDING THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN WAS COMING ALONG. JESUS SAID, WELL, I TOLD SOME FISHERMEN AND A TAX COLLECTOR AND A FEW WOMEN WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO, AND TOLD THEM TO TELL OTHERS, AND HOW TO COUNT ON THE HOLY SPIRIT TO HELP THEM, AND I'M HOPING IT WILL WORK. THE ANGEL REPLIED, “BUT SURELY YOU MUST HAVE A BACK-UP PLAN, BECAUSE BUILDING THE KINGDOM IS SO IMPORTANT.” JESUS REPLIED, “NO BACKUP PLAN.”

WHAT A WONDERFUL THING IT WOULD BE IF EVEN A FEW MORE CHRISTIANS WOULD DECIDE TO BE FRIENDS WITH JESUS, TO LOOK AROUND AND SEE HOW THEY COULD MAKE THE KINGDOM MORE REAL IN THEIR OWN LIVES AND CIRCUMSTANCES. HOW WONDERFUL IT WOULD BE IF WE COULD SEE THAT ALL THOSE THINGS WE DO EVERY DAY CAN BE MORE THAN JUST DIGGING A HOLE, BUT CAN BECOME PART OF BUILDING A GREAT CATHEDRAL.

WE WISH ALL THE MOTHERS OF SAINT MARY'S A HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY. LISTEN TO THE BLESSING THE CHURCH GIVES A MOTHER WHEN HER CHILD IS BAPTIZED: “GOD THE FATHER, THROUGH HIS SON, THE VIRGIN MARY'S CHILD, HAS BROUGHT JOY TO ALL CHRISTIAN MOTHERS, AS THEY SEE THE HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE SHINE ON THEIR CHILDREN. MAY HE BLESS THE MOTHER OF THIS CHILD. SHE NOW THANKS GOD FOR THE GIFT OF HER CHILD. MAY SHE BE ONE WITH HIM (HER) IN THANKING HIM FOR EVER IN HEAVEN, IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.” WHAT A TRULY MARVELOUS VOCATION IT IS TO BE A MOTHER.  

Fifth Sunday in Easter, cycle B

JOHN 15:1-8
WHO WAS THE MOST INFLUENTIAL SAINT IN HISTORY?  A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD SAY IT WAS SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI.  TODAY THERE ARE NUMEROUS ORDERS IN THE CHURCH WHICH TRACE THEIR FOUNDING BACK TO HIM; BUT AFTER HE APPEARED ON THE SCENE THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF RELIGIOUS ORDERS IN THE CHURCH CHANGED.  BEFORE FRANCIS THERE WERE MONKS AND MONASTERIES; AFTER FRANCIS THERE WERE THE JESUITS AND THE SERVITES AND THE SULPICIANS AND THE DISCALCED CARMELITES AND THE MARYKNOLLS AND EVEN THE MISSIONARIES OF CHARITY.  THE FLOWERING OF CATHOLIC RELIGIOUS ORDERS DEDICATED TO A PARTICULAR MINISTRY IN THE CHURCH HAPPENED IN IMITATION OF THE FRANCISCANS.  THESE WERE GROUPS OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO DID NOT STAY IN ONE PLACE AS DID THE MONKS, BUT SAW THEIR MISSION AS ONE OF GOING OUT TO THE WORLD.  AND THERE ARE EPISCOPALIAN AND LUTHERAN FRANCISCANS AND EVEN FRANCISCANS IN THE EASTERN RITES OF THE CHURCH.  AND FRANCIS IS ADMIRED BY MUSLIMS AND HINDUS AND BUDDHISTS AS WELL.
SO WHO WAS THIS FRANCIS?  ONE THING WE COULD SAY ABOUT HIM IS THAT HE WAS KIND OF A FAILURE.  HE STARTED OUT WANTING TO BE A SOLDIER, BUT PROMPTLY GOT CAPTURED AND HELD FOR RANSOM.  AFTER HIS FATHER PAID THE RANSOM, FRANCIS STOLE SOME OF HIS FATHER'S CLOTH TO SELL SO THAT HE COULD HELP SOME POOR PEOPLE.  MOTIVE WAS GOOD, STEALING WAS BAD.  WHEN HIS FATHER GOT JUSTIFIABLY UPSET, FRANCIS DISOWNED HIM AND REFUSED TO RECOGNIZE HIM AS HIS FATHER.  PROBABLY NOT THE BEST WAY TO KEEP THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT.  AND FRANCIS HAD A VISION TELLING HIM TO REPAIR THE CHURCH, WHICH HE INITIALLY TOOK TO MEAN THAT HE SHOULD GO AROUND AND REPAIR CHURCHES FALLING INTO RUINS.  HE COULDN'T EVEN GET MESSAGES FROM HEAVEN STRAIGHT.  AFTER HIS ORDER WAS FOUNDED FRANCIS DECIDED TO GO TO THE MIDDLE EAST AND CONVERT MUSLIMS.  THAT MISSION WAS BASICALLY A FAILURE, ALTHOUGH THE FACT THAT HE RETURNED WITH HIS HEAD ATTACHED TO HIS NECK WAS A GOOD THING.  LATER IN HIS LIFE SOME OF FRANCIS' ASSOCIATES GENTLY EASED HIM OUT OF BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ORDER, SO THAT HE WAS MORE A FIGUREHEAD THAN AN ACTIVE LEADER.  AND AFTER FRANCIS DIED THE ORDER SPLIT INTO A GROUP WHO CLAIMED TO BE FOLLOWING FRANCIS EXACTLY, WANDERING AROUND BEGGING AND HAVING NO PLACE TO CALL HOME, AND A GROUP WHO WERE IMITATING THE DOMINICANS AND AUGUSTINIANS AND CARMELITES, WHO AT LEAST HAD PLACES TO LIVE AND A REGULAR DIET.  THE POPE CONDEMNED THE FIRST GROUP WHO WRE MAKING NUISANCES OF THEMSELVES.
BUT STILL, FRANCIS IS PROBABLY THE GREATEST SAINT AFTER SAINT PAUL FOR HIS INFLUENCE ON THE CHURCH.  AND WE MIGHT ASK, WHY?  THE ANSWER IS CLEARLY THAT WHEN PEOPLE MET FRANCIS, THEY REALIZED THEY WERE IN THE PRESENCE OF JESUS.  FRANCIS WAS SO TRANSPARENT THAT HE WAS GIVEN THE STIGMATA, WOUNDS IN HIS HANDS AND FEET AND SIDE LIKE THOSE OF CHRIST CRUCIFIED; WHEN YOU LOOKED AT HIM, YOU SAW JESUS.
TODAY WE HEAR JESUS TELLING HIS DISCIPLES THAT HE IS THE VINE AND THEY ARE THE BRANCHES; HE URGES THEM TO REMAIN IN HIM, OR ABIDE IN HIM, AS OTHER TRANSLATIONS SAY.  FRANCIS HEARD THAT AND DID THAT.  AND JESUS TELLS HIS DISCIPLES THAT IF THEY ABIDE IN HIM, HE WILL ABIDE IN THEM.  FRANCIS WAS ONE PLACE WHERE JESUS ABIDED FULLY.  AND JESUS TELLS HIS FOLLOWERS TO ABIDE IN HIM FIVE TIMES IN THIS BRIEF PASSAGE, AND PROMISES THAT THOSE WHO ABIDE IN HIM WILL BEAR MUCH FRUIT.  FRANCIS IS STILL BEARING FRUIT ALMOST 1000 YEARS AFTER HE LIVED ON THIS EARTH.
SO HOW DO WE ABIDE IN JESUS?  THIS SEEMS TO BE VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.  JESUS GIVES US PART OF THE ANSWER; HE SAYS THAT WE ARE TO ALLOW HIS WORDS TO ABIDE IN US.  FRANCIS DID THAT.  NOT ONLY DID HE KNOW THE GOSPELS, HE TRIED TO LIVE THEM..  NOT ONLY DID HE LIVE THEM, HE INVENTED THE CRECHE, TO SHOW GRAPHICALLY THAT GOD WAS INCARNATED AS A HUMAN BEING; AND HE INVENTED THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS, SO THAT EVEN THE MOST ILLITERATE HUMAN BEING COULD UNDERSTAND CHRIST'S PASSION AND DEATH.  AND AT EVERY TURN FRANCIS TURNED TO THE LIFE OF CHRIST AND THE WORDS OF CHRIST FOR GUIDANCE.
FRANCIS WAS GIVEN GIFTS BY GOD, OR CHARISMS AS WE CALL THEM, TO BUILD UP THE CHURCH.  BUT HIS GIFTS WERE NOT ADMINISTRATION, OR EVANGELIZATION, OR EVEN THE ABILITY TO PUT BROKEN DOWN CHURCHES BACK TOGETHER.  FRANCIS WAS NOT GIVEN THE GIFT OF WISDOM OR UNDERSTANDING.  BUT HE WAS GIVEN THE GIFT OF SHOWING THE PERSON OF JESUS TO THOSE AROUND HIM.
YOU AND I ARE LIKE FRANCIS.  WE ARE GIVEN GIFTS FOR THE GOOD OF THE CHURCH.  IF WE WANT TO REALLY SERVE JESUS WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT THOSE GIFTS ARE AND BOLDLY EXERCISE THEM.  SAINT PAUL NAMES ABOUT 24 GIFTS.  THERE ARE PROBABLY MORE.  SOME GIFTS ARE MEANT TO BE USED ONLY ONCE.  WE HEAR ABOUT THE EARLY CHRISTIAN ANANIAS, WHO FOUND PAUL AND CONVERTED HIM.  MAYBE THAT'S ALL THAT GOD EVER WANTED FROM ANANIAS, AND YET HIS COOPERATING WITH GOD'S GRACE WAS CRUCIAL TO THE FUTURE OF CHRISTIANITY.  OTHERS HAVE GIFTS THAT CAN BE EXERCISED OVER AND OVER.  PADRE PIO HAD SEVERAL GIFTS – YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO CONFESS YOUR SINS WHEN YOU WENT TO PADRE PIO; HE WOULD TELL YOU WHAT THEY WERE.  AND THERE ARE PLENTIFUL MIRACLES OF HEALING AND DISCERNMENT THAT OCCURRED DURING HIS LIFETIME.  BUT WE ALL HAVE A GIFT FOR THE BUILDING UP OF THE CHURCH.
WHEN JESUS TELLS US THAT WE WILL BEAR MUCH FRUIT SHOWING OURSELVES TO BE HIS DISCIPLES, I THINK HE IS TALKING ABOUT US USING OUR GIFTS IN UNION WITH THE CHURCH AND EACH OTHER.  BECAUSE WHEN WE USE THOSE GIFTS AND ASSUMING WE ARE GRAFTED ONTO THE VINE, JESUS WORKS IN US AND THROUGH US, JUST AS HE DID WITH FRANCIS.  OUR JOB IS TO ABIDE IN HIM, TO KNOW HIM, TO LOVE HIM, AND TO ALLOW HIM TO LEAD US.  THIS MEANS  THAT WE HAVE TO KNOW HIS MIND.  WE LEARN THIS THROUGH THE SCRIPTURES, THE TEACHINGS OF THE CHURCH, AND THROUGH OUR OWN PRAYER LIFE.  AND WE HAVE TO LET HIM LIVE IN US AS WELL.  THIS MEANS THAT WE HAVE TO BECOME SMALL, GIVE UP OUR AMBITIONS AND DESIRE TO CONTROL EVERYTHING, AND ALLOW HIM TO USE US.  THIS ISN'T EASY BUT IT'S POSSIBLE, AS SAINT FRANCIS SHOWED US.
SO TODAY THE QUESTION IS, ARE WE ALLOWING JESUS TO ABIDE IN US, AND ARE WE DOING EVERYTHING TO ABIDE IN JESUS?  AND ARE WE BEARING FRUIT?

Fourth Sunday of Easter, cycle B

JOHN 10:11-18
JOAN AND I JUST GOT BACK FROM SEVERAL DAYS WITH FIVE TEENAGE GRANDCHILDREN IN THE COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG AREA OF VIRGINIA.  DURING THE DAY WE WOULD GO OUT AND ENJOY THE HISTORICAL SITES OR ONE DAY RIDE BICYCLES ON A BIKE PATH BY THE OCEAN.  DURING THE EVENING AFTER SUPPER AND SWIMMING IN THE HOTEL POOL, WE WOULD GO INTO DOWNTIME MODE.  WHEN I WAS YOUNG DOWN TIME ON A VACATION WITH MY COUSINS CONSISTED OF PLAYING BOARD GAMES OR CHARADES.  WE DID A LOT OF TALKING.  SINCE WE USUALLY HADN'T SEEN EACH OTHER FOR AT LEAST SEVERAL MONTHS, THERE WAS A LOT TO CATCH UP ON.  IT'S STILL THAT WAY WHEN I MEET UP WITH A COUSIN.
MY TEENAGE GRANDCHILDREN, THOUGH, PULLED OUT COMPUTERS AND IPODS AND SOON IT WAS DEATHLY QUIET AS ONE PLAYED A GAME, TWO LISTENED TO MUSIC, AND TWO WATCHED A SHOW ON NETFLIX.  A PERIOD OF A QUIET IS GREAT FOR OLD PEOPLE LIKE MY WIFE AND I, BUT I COULDN'T HELP BUT FEEL THE KIDS WERE MISSING SOMETHING.
THE PHILOSOPHER MARTIN BUBER SAID THAT HUMAN BEINGS EXIST IN RELATIONSHIP.  WE ARE IN FACT DEFINED BY RELATIONSHIPS WE HAVE.  THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF RELATIONSHIP.  ONE IS WHEN YOU RELATE TO SOMEONE OR SOMETHING BECAUSE THE OTHER DOES SOMETHING FOR YOU OR SATISFIES YOUR DESIRES IN SOME WAY.  BUBER CALLED THIS AN I-IT RELATIONSHIP.  IT CAN HAPPEN WITH YOUR CAR OR YOUR DOCTOR.  THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP, EVEN IF THE “IT” IS A HUMAN BEING.  THE OTHER KIND OF RELATIONSHIP IS WHEN TWO PEOPLE MUTUALLY OPEN THEMSELVES UP TO THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING AFFECTED BY THE OTHER PERSON.  THIS RELATIONSHIP IS UNCONDITIONAL AND TAKES A LOT OF WORK.  IT IS FRIGHTENING AS WELL, BECAUSE WHEN YOU OPEN YOURSELF UP UNCONDITIONALLY, YOU RISK BEING HURT AS WELL AS BEING ENHANCED.  MOST PEOPLE HAVE FEW IF ANY I-THOU RELATIONSHIPS.  WE DON'T LIKE TO SURRENDER OURSELVES, WE DON'T LIKE TO RISK PAIN, WE DON'T LIKE TO ALLOW SOMEONE ELSE'S WILL TO AFFECT OUR OWN DECISIONS.  IN A TRUE I-THOU RELATIONSHIP, THERE IS A BLURRING OF THE BOUNDARIES BETWEEN YOU AND THE OTHER.  THAT'S FRIGHTENING AS WELL.  WHERE DO WE FIND I-THOU RELATIONSHIPS?  MAYBE IN A FEW MARRIAGES.  BUT EVEN GOOD MARRIAGES CAN EXIST AT THE I-IT LEVEL, WHERE EACH PARTNER PROVIDES SOMETHING TO THE OTHER, BUT THERE IS LITTLE IF ANY OF THAT DEEP MUTUAL INTERACTION THAT EXISTS IN AN I-THOU RELATIONSHIP.  MAYBE SOME FRIENDSHIPS ARE I-THOU RELATIONSHIPS.
CHRISTIANITY IS ALL ABOUT LEADING A HUMAN BEING INTO THE ULTIMATE I-THOU RELATIONSHIP, BECAUSE GOD IS THE ETERNAL THOU.  JESUS HIMSELF WAS ALWAYS FORMING THESE KINDS OF RELATIONSHIPS.  MARY MAGDALEN, THE APOSTLES, MARTHA AND MARY, THE SAMARITAN WOMAN – WE FIND HIM INVITING PEOPLE INTO THAT SPECIAL INTIMACY.  AND WE FIND SOME WHO REJECT THE INVITATION, LIKE THE RICH YOUNG MAN WHO WENT AWAY BECAUSE HE HAD MANY POSSESSIONS; LIKE JUDAS, WHO ULTIMATELY REJECTED THE INVITATION.
UNFORTUNATELY MANY CHRISTIANS HAVE AN I-IT RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS.  FOR THEM JESUS IS THE ONE WHO ANSWERS PRAYERS, WHO FORGIVES SINS, WHO CONSOLES, WHO OFFERS ETERNAL SALVATION.  CERTAINLY JESUS DOES ALL THESE THINGS.  BUT IN TODAY'S GOSPEL, HE POINTS TO A MUCH RICHER POSSIBILITY, AN I-THOU RELATIONSHIP WITH HIMSELF.  HE COMPARES HIMSELF TO A SHEPHERD AND HIS FOLLOWERS TO SHEEP.  AND THE CHARACTER OF THIS RELATIONSHIP IS MUTUAL KNOWING.  I KNOW MY SHEEP AND MY SHEEP KNOW ME.  FROM OUR MODERN PERSPECTIVE WE SOMETIMES GET CAUGHT UP IN THE IDEA THAT JESUS IS THE MASTER AND WE ARE HIS PETS, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT JESUS MEANT.  IN HIS TIME SHEPHERDS LIVED WITH THEIR SHEEP, KNEW EVERYTHING ABOUT EACH ONE, GAVE EACH ONE A DISTINCT NAME; THE SHEEP KNEW THE SHEPHERD AS WELL, AND TRUSTED HIM WITH THEIR WELFARE.  CERTAINLY ONE WAS A HUMAN BEING AND THE OTHER AN ANIMAL, BUT JESUS SAW IN THIS RELATIONSHIP SOMETHING OF THE RELATIONSHIP HE WANTED WITH HIS FOLLOWERS.  HE COULD HAVE CHOSEN A PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP, OR THAT BETWEEN A KING AND HIS SUBJECTS, OR PERHAPS THAT BETWEEN A TEACHER AND HIS PUPILS.  BUT PERHAPS HE CHOSE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A SHEPHERD AND HIS SHEEP BECAUSE HE WANTED TO EMPHASIZE THAT IN THIS RELATIONSHIP, THE SHEPHERD WAS PREPARED TO LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR THE SHEEP, AND THE SHEEP IN NO WAY DESERVED THAT.  IN FACT, WHILE A SHEPHERD MIGHT OCCASIONALLY BE KILLED WHILE DEFENDING HIS FLOCK FROM WILD ANIMALS OR ROBBERS, I DOUBT A REAL SHEPHERD WOULD HAVE WILLINGLY DIED FOR HIS SHEEP.
JESUS COMPARES THAT RELATIONSHIP TO THE ONE HE HAS WITH THE FATHER.  IT TOO IS A RELATIONSHIP OF KNOWING – KNOWING EVERYTHING ABOUT EACH OTHER, WHICH IN TURN LEADS TO LOVE AND LOVE LEADS TO OBEDIENCE, EVEN TO THE POINT OF LAYING DOWN ONE'S LIFE.  JUST AS JESUS LAYS DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS SHEEP, HE DOES SO AS WELL AS AN OBEDIENT RESPONSE TO HIS FATHER.
WHEN JESUS INVITES US INTO THE I-THOU RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM, HE PROMISES TO DO ALL THE HEAVY LIFTING.  HE WILL DO EVERYTHING, EVEN UP TO DYING FOR US.  BUT IF WE WANT TO BE IN THIS RELATIONSHIP, IT IS OUR JOB TO KNOW HIM, WHICH MEANS TO DO MORE THAN COME TO MASS ON THE WEEKEND.  WE KNOW HIM BY KNOWING HIS STORY; BY LEARNING FROM OTHERS WHO ARE IN THAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.  WE KNOW HIM BY SHARING OUR FAITH WITH OTHER PEOPLE, BECAUSE IN DOING SO WE ALLOW HIS SPIRIT TO GROW WITHIN US.  WE KNOW HIM BY LEARNING FROM THE SAINTS.  BUT MOST OF ALL WE KNOW HIM IN PROPORTION TO OUR WILLINGNESS TO SURRENDER OURSELVES TO HIM, TO LET HIM GUIDE OUR LIVES.
THE RELATIONSHIP JESUS WANTS WITH US IS THAT OF AN INTIMATE FRIEND, OR A SPOUSE IN A GOOD MARRIAGE.  LIKE ANY I-THOU RELATIONSHIP, IT IS FRIGHTENING AND TAKES WORK BUT IT IS WORTH IT.
AND I THINK THAT THE MORE WE ENTER INTO I-THOU RELATIONSHIPS WITH HUMAN BEINGS, THE MORE WE UNDERSTAND THE RELATIONSHIP JESUS WANTS WITH US, AND THE LESS FEARFUL WE ARE OF IT.
MY TEENAGE GRANDCHILDREN, I THINK, ARE MISSING SOMETHING IN THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH EACH OTHER.  AND I WONDER IF IT WILL BE HARDER FOR THEM TO DEVELOP THE DEEP HEART TO HEART RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LIVING LORD.  BUT LIKE ALL GRANDPARENTS I WILL HAVE TO TRUST IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Third Sunday of Easter, cycle B

LUKE 24:35-48

FROM THE EARLIEST DAYS CHRISTIANS HAVE UNDERSTOOD THAT THE DEATH OF JESUS SOMEHOW CHANGED THE RELATIONSHIP OF HUMAN BEINGS TO GOD. MANY THEORIES HAVE BEEN ADVANCED AS TO HOW THIS HAPPENED. THE MOST COMMON ONE IS THE IDEA OF SUBSTITUTIONARY PUNISHMENT. THIS IDEA GOES BACK TO SOME SCRIPTURE PASSAGES, AND IS COLORED BY THE WHOLE HISTORY OF SACRIFICES IN THE OLD TESTAMENT. THE IDEA IS THAT ORIGINAL SIN, HOWEVER YOU UNDERSTAND IT, IS AN INHERITED CONDITION, AND AFFECTS EVERY HUMAN BEING., AND IT GIVES US THE INCLINATION TO SIN. AND BECAUSE OF THIS GOD TAKES OFFENSE AT US, AND THERE ISN'T ANYTHING WE CAN DO ON OUR OWN TO MAKE UP FOR THIS. SO JESUS CHOSE TO TAKE ON THE PUNISHMENT THAT HUMANITY DESERVED, AND BECAUSE OF THAT GOD NOW IS SATISFIED.

THERE ARE MANY THINGS WRONG WITH THIS THEORY. FIRST, IF GOD HAS TO BE SATISFIED BECAUSE OF OUR SINS AND THOSE OF OUR ANCESTORS, THEN GOD ANSWERS TO A HIGHER POWER – NAMELY, JUSTICE. AND IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, WE DON'T SEE GOD BEHAVING AS THOUGH HE HAS TO FOLLOW SOME RULE. HE FORGIVES DAVID FOR ADULTERY, AND CONDEMNS SAUL FOR NOT FOLLOWING AN ORDER TO KILL EVERY LAST TRACE OF AN ENEMY DEFEATED IN BATTLE. HE ACCEPTS THE SACRIFICE OF ABEL AND REFUSES THAT OF CAIN, BUT THERE IS NO REASON GIVEN FOR THIS. HE FAVORS THE SNEAKY JACOB AGAINST HIS INNOCENT BROTHER ESAU, WHO WAS THE RIGHTFUL INHERITOR OF THE BLESSING OF ISAAC. COMPARED TO HUMANS, GOD SEEMS ARBITRARY AND ANSWERS TO NO ONE.

AND GOD TAKING OFFENSE AT US, HATING HUMAN BEINGS BEFORE JESUS CAME ALONG? THAT'S DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE. ABRAHAM, MOSES AND DAVID ALL WERE FRIENDS OF GOD AND THERE WERE A LOT OF OTHERS IN THE HEBREW BIBLE. AND WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THEM IS THAT THEY WERE VERY HUMAN, LIKE YOU AND I. AND WE KNOW THAT WE LOVE THAT BROTHER WHO NEVER SEEMS ABLE TO DO ANYTHING RIGHT, OR THAT SISTER WHO HAS A PROBLEM WITH ALCOHOL. WE LOVE PEOPLE DESPITE THEIR IMPERFECTIONS, AND SURELY GOD MUST LOVE US EVEN MORE.

AND JESUS, WE KNOW, IS GOD, JUST AS THE FATHER IS. IT IS HARD TO UNDERSTAND WHY GOD WOULD CONDEMN US AND THEN TURN AROUND AND SAVE US. AND JESUS IN THE PARABLE OF THE PRODIGAL SON GIVES US HIS IDEA OF GOD THE FATHER: LIKE A HUMAN FATHER WHO WAITS ANXIOUSLY FOR HIS LOST SON TO RETURN, AND THEN BEFORE HE CAN EVEN ASK FOR FORGIVENESS, FORGIVES HIM. AND THIS PARABLE JESUS TOLD BEFORE HE SUFFERED AND DIED. ONE THING THAT WE CAN SAFELY ASSUME IS THAT GOD NEVER HATED US, GOD ALWAYS LOVED US.

MAYBE THESE TWO SENTENCES HELP US GET A BETTER IDEA. “CHRIST HAD TO SUFFER AND RISE FROM THE DEAD”, AND “REPENTANCE FOR SINS MUST BE PREACHED IN HIS NAME...” WHAT ARE SINS? THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH SAYS: SIN IS FAILURE IN GENUINE LOVE FOR GOD AND NEIGHBOR CAUSED BY A PERVERSE ATTACHMENT TO CERTAIN GOODS. WE WERE MEANT TO LOVE EACH OTHER AND LOVE GOD; IN THIS WAY WE REFLECT THE TRINITY. IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN, THE SYMBOL IS THAT GOD WALKS AND TALKS WITH THE FIRST COUPLE, WHO ARE NAKED BUT NOT ASHAMED. ONCE SIN HAPPENS, THEY CAN NO LONGER BE NAKED WITH EACH OTHER, AND THEY HIDE FROM GOD. THEY TURN INWARD AND PUT THEMSELVES FIRST.

THE CROSS SHOWS US THE CONSEQUENCES OF TURNING INWARDS, SELF-CENTEREDNESS, PERVERSE ATTACHMENT TO CERTAIN GOODS. THE WHOLE STORY OF THE PASSION IS A STORY OF PEOPLE DOING THIS; THE APOSTLES ABANDON JESUS; JUDAS BETRAYS HIM FOR MONEY; THE PRIESTLY CROWD IS JEALOUS OF IT'S PREROGATIVES; PILATE IS AFRAID OF ACTING ON HIS KNOWLEDGE THAT JESUS IS INNOCENT; AND THE CROWD DEMANDING HIS DEATH HAVE SUSPENDED THEIR HUMANITY TO BE PART OF A MOB. THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN ARE SUFFERING AND DEATH OF THE INNOCENT ONE. BUT GOD, WHO ALWAYS LOVES, WILL NOT ALLOW THIS TO BE THE END OF THE STORY. HE TAKES THIS GREATEST OF TRAGEDIES AND CHANGES IT INTO A TRIUMPH. AND IN THAT HE GUARANTEES HIS UNENDING LOVE AND MERCY.

BUT THAT'S WHY REPENTANCE IN HIS NAME MUST BE PREACHED. REPENTANCE IS NOT “FEELING SORRY” FOR OUR SINS. IT IS CHANGING THE WAY WE SEE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND WITH EACH OTHER. IT HAS TO BE PREACHED, SO THAT WE KNOW IT IS POSSIBLE. AND WHEN WE HEAR ABOUT IT, SOME OF US WILL ASK, LIKE THOSE PEOPLE WHO HEARD PETER PREACH, “BROTHERS, WHAT MUST WE DO?” AND THAT'S PART OF PREACHING REPENTANCE AS WELL. IT IS TO DESCRIBE THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, WHERE THINGS ARE THE WAY THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE – ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN. IT IS A WORLD AT PEACE, WHERE EVERYONE HAS AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD; WHERE EVERYONE RETURNS HIS LOVE. AND IT IS A WORLD WHERE THROUGH LOVE WE STRUGGLE TO ELIMINATE ALL THOSE THINGS THAT INJURE AND MAR OUR HUMANITY – SICKNESS, PREJUDICE, PERSECUTION, AND EVEN DEATH. AND IT IS A WORLD WHERE EVERYONE SEEKS TO BE THE BEST THEY CAN BE, AND CAN COUNT ON HIS NEIGHBOR TO HELP HIM GET THERE.

I HAVE A FRIEND IN BUFFALO WHO LEFT A GOOD JOB TO WORK IN THE INNER CITY WITH THE HOMELESS AND OTHER PEOPLE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PIT. HE BEGAN WITH ONE OTHER PERSON, DOING WHATEVER THEY COULD AND BEGGING LEFT OVER FOOD FROM RESTAURANTS AND GROCERY STORES. HE MANAGED TO TALK THE OWNER OF AN ABANDONED BUILDING TO ALLOW HIM TO PUT TOGETHER A SHELTER. HE FOUND PEOPLE TO DONATE USED CLOTHING. GRADUALLY THIS MINISTRY EXPANDED AND GAINED A LOT OF SUPPORT. IT NOW OCCUPIES THE BUILDINGS OF A PARISH THAT CLOSED, AND IT'S IMPACT CONTINUES TO EXPAND. THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS BEING REALIZED IN ONE SMALL PART OF THE CITY OF BUFFALO.

 THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, BUT THE RESURRECTION IS A GUARANTEE THAT IT WILL HAPPEN, AND HAS BEEN THE INSPIRATION FOR SAINTS AND MARTYRS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF CHRISTIANITY. AND ONCE IN A WHILE SOMEONE RESPONDS TO THE PREACHING, AND BEGINS TO CREATE THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN AROUND HIMSELF. AND THAT BRINGS THE KINGDOM A LITTLE CLOSER TO ALL OF US.

Second Sunday of Easter, cycle B

JOHN 20:19-31

WHEN I WAS A STUDENT AT CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY IN WASHINGTON, D.C., WE ALL HAD TO TAKE COURSES IN RELIGION. YOU COULD SAY THAT NO MATTER WHETHER YOUR WERE AN ENGLISH MAJOR OR WORKING TOWARDS AN ENGINEERING DEGREE YOU MINORED IN RELIGION. NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT RELIGION. I'M NOT SURE IT WAS PRODUCTIVE, BUT IT DID HELP US ALL TO CLARIFY OUR THINKING AND EXPAND OUR HORIZONS. SINCE THEN, THOSE KINDS OF CONVERSATIONS SEEM TO BE EXTREMELY RARE, AND I MISS THEM. SOME OF OUR PROTESTANT BROTHERS AND SISTERS DO A LOT MORE OF THIS; THEY GATHER AFTER SUNDAY SERVICES OVER COFFEE AND DONUTS AND DISCUSS THE SERMON; THEY MEET ONCE A WEEK IN BIBLE STUDY AND THAT LEADS TO CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THEIR FAITH. AND THOSE ARE GOOD THINGS; WE ARE A COMMUNITY AND WE ARE SUPPOSED TO HELP EACH OTHER REACH HEAVEN, AND ONE WAY TO DO THIS IS TO CONVERSE ABOUT OUR FAITH JOURNEY, OUR DOUBTS, AND OUR MOMENTS OF JOY.

WE ALL THINK DOUBTING WAS THOMAS' FIRST NAME, AND WHEN WE READ THIS GOSPEL, IT'S VERY FAMILIAR. THOMAS REFUSES TO BELIEVE UNLESS HE CAN ACTUALLY TOUCH THE BODY OF JESUS. THOMAS IS OBVIOUSLY A SCIENTIST, AND WILL ONLY BELIEVE WHAT HE CAN PERSONALLY VERIFY. AND MAYBE THAT'S HIS PROBLEM, MORE THAN DOUBT. BECAUSE THOMAS HAS KNOWN THESE TEN MEN FOR AT LEAST THREE YEARS; HE KNOWS THAT PETER HAS A GOOD HEART, BUT ISN'T THE BRAVEST GUY IN TOWN; HE KNOWS THAT JOHN WAS A PARTICULAR FAVORITE OF JESUS AND HE AND HIS OLDER BROTHER JAMES WERE PART OF THE INNER CIRCLE; HE HAS LISTENED AND TALKED TO THESE MEN AND KNOWS THEM WELL ENOUGH SO THAT HE WOULD KNOW IF THEY WERE LYING. AND YET, INSTEAD OF REJOICING WITH THEM, HE DEMANDS HIS OWN PROOF.

WE ARE ALL KIND OF LIKE THOMAS, AND IT IS A FUNCTION OF THE AGE WE LIVE IN. WE HAVE BEEN TRAINED IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND BY OUR MEDIA THAT THERE IS OBJECTIVE TRUTH, WHICH CAN ONLY COME FROM SCIENCE, AND SUBJECTIVE TRUTH, WHICH ISN'T TRUTH AT ALL, BUT WHICH HAS TO DO WITH WHAT AN INDIVIDUAL BELIEVES. AND WE HAVE LEARNED NOT TO VALUE SUBJECTIVE TRUTH.

BUT THERE IS TRUTH BEYOND SCIENCE AND IT ISN'T SUBJECTIVE. IT IS ARRIVED AT IN A DIFFERENT WAY. IF, FOR EXAMPLE, I TELL YOU THAT I LOVE MY WIFE, YOU ARE INCLINED TO BELIEVE THAT I HAVE MADE A TRUTHFUL STATEMENT, ASSUMING YOU HAVE NOT SEEN EVIDENCE TO THE CONTRARY. YOU ALSO HAVE KNOWN LOVE FOR ANOTHER HUMAN BEING, SO YOU KNOW IT'S POSSIBLE, AND YOU TAKE MY WORD. I MAY TELL YOU THAT I REALLY ENJOY CLASSICAL MUSIC, AND YOU ACCEPT THAT AS A TRUE STATEMENT AS WELL, BECAUSE YOU LIKE COUNTRY AND WESTERN MUSIC, SO YOU KNOW THAT IT'S POSSIBLE TO LIKE A STYLE OF MUSIC. IF I MAKE STATEMENTS ABOUT MY INNER LIFE, ABOUT MY EMOTIONS, MY EXPERIENCES – THINGS YOU CANNOT EXPERIENCE EXCEPT BY ANALOGY – YOU BELIEVE ME. YOU ACCEPT THEM AS TRUE.

BUT IF I TELL YOU THAT I WAS ABDUCTED BY PEOPLE IN A FLYING SAUCER YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T BELIEVE ME, UNLESS YOU HAVE HAD A LONG HISTORY OF KNOWING THAT I ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH, AND THEN YOU MIGHT.

JESUS TELLS THOMAS, “BLESSED ARE THEY WHO HAVE NOT SEEN, BUT BELIEVED”. AND HE LEAVES HIS FOLLOWERS AT THE TIME OF THE ASCENSION, TO PROCLAIM THE RESURRECTION, FIRST BY THE PEOPLE WHO WITNESSED IT THEMSELVES, AND THEN BY PEOPLE WHO TRUSTED THOSE WITNESSES, AND DOWN THROUGH THE AGES. BUT WHEN SOMEONE PROCLAIMS THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS, THERE ARE TWO POSSIBILITIES, EVEN TODAY. ONE IS THAT THEY HAVE MADE A DECISION TO ACCEPT AS TRUTH THE STORIES IN THE GOSPEL OR THE AUTHORITY OF THEIR CHURCH; THE SECOND IS THAT THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED THE PRESENCE OF THE LIVING JESUS. AS THE OLD HYMN GOES, “I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVETH”.

THE TEN APOSTLES HAD EXPERIENCED THE PRESENCE OF THE LIVING JESUS, AND THEN THOMAS DID AS WELL, AND WE KNOW THAT THOMAS WAS CHANGED, AND WENT FORTH TO BRING THE MESSAGE OF JESUS TO COMMUNITIES ON THE SHORES OF THE RED SEA AND INTO INDIA. AND THE MESSAGE WAS NOT “JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD” BUT RATHER, YOU CAN KNOW THAT JESUS IS ALIVE, FIRST-HAND, YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE MY WORD FOR IT.” WHEN SOMEONE KNOWS FIRSTHAND THAT JESUS IS ALIVE, HE CAN'T HELP BUT BE A CHRISTIAN. BECAUSE A RISEN JESUS MEANS THAT EVERYTHING HE PROMISED IS REAL, IS CERTAIN.

NOW SOME OF YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED THE RISEN JESUS. SOME OF YOU HAVE NO DOUBT THAT HE LIVES AND THAT HE MOVES AMONG US, PRESENT IN EACH OTHER, PRESENT IN THE SCRIPTURES, PRESENT IN THE EUCHARIST, BUT PRESENT, AND PRESENT SO THAT YOU CAN SPEAK TO HIM AND HEAR HIM SPEAK TO YOU. IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU ARE CAUGHT UP IN MYSTICISM OR SOME KIND OF ECSTASY. IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU ARE WEIRD OR PSYCHOTIC. IT SIMPLY MEANS THAT YOU HAVE LEARNED TO TALK TO JESUS AND LISTEN TO HIM, AND BECAUSE YOU KNOW HE LIVES, YOUR LIFE IS AFFECTED. BECAUSE YOU KNOW HE IS ALIVE, YOU MAKE AN EFFORT TO IMITATE HIM IN HOW YOU RELATE TO OTHER PEOPLE. BECAUSE HE IS ALIVE, YOU DO THE BEST YOU CAN IN YOUR WORK; BECAUSE HE LIVES, YOU SPEAK TO HIM IN PRAYER, MAYBE ALL THROUGH THE DAY. BECAUSE HE IS ALIVE, YOU KNOW THAT EVEN THE THINGS THAT SEEM HOPELESS AREN'T REALLY, BECAUSE GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD AND THAT IS A PROMISE TO ALL OF US THAT NO SITUATION IS BEYOND REDEMPTION.

AND IF YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED THAT THE LORD HAS RISEN FROM THE DEAD NO ONE COULD CONVINCE YOU OTHERWISE. IT IS A TRUTH. AND IF YOU HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE, YOU NEED TO TELL PEOPLE WHO TRUST YOU, PEOPLE WHO KNOW YOU WOULD NOT LIE TO THEM. BECAUSE THEY NEED TO KNOW THE GOOD NEWS AS WELL. MAYBE THEY WILL REJECT IT, MAYBE THEY WILL LAUGH AT YOU, BUT IF THEY KNOW YOU HAVE NEVER LIED TO THEM, THEY WILL HAVE TO LEAVE A LITTLE ROOM FOR THE POSSIBILITY THAT YOU ARE TELLING THE TRUTH, THAT IT IS AN OBJECTIVE TRUTH; AND THAT IS ALL THAT JESUS NEEDS TO SHOW YOUR FRIEND OR RELATIVE THAT HE IS ALIVE AND THAT HE LOVES THEM, AND INVITES THEM TO JOIN HIM IN ETERNAL LIFE. SO IF YOU ARE NOT INVOLVED IN SOME SORT OF FAITH SHARING GATHERING – AND EVEN REGULAR DISCUSSIONS AMONG FAMILY MEMBERS WILL DO – FIND A WAY TO TALK ABOUT YOUR FAITH WITH OTHER PEOPLE. AND THEN YOU AND THE PEOPLE YOU SHARE YOUR FAITH WITH WILL BE BLESSED, BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE NOT SEEN, YOU HAVE BELIEVED.

Easter, 2015

JOHN 20:1-9

EACH OF THE FOUR GOSPELS TELLS THE STORY OF THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS. BUT THEY ARE ALL A LITTLE DIFFERENT. SOME PEOPLE USE THAT AS AN EXCUSE FOR DOUBTING THE RESURRECTION – AFTER ALL, THEY SAY, IF THIS WERE A REAL EVENT, WOULDN'T THE WITNESSES ALL TELL THE SAME STORY? BUT THEY FORGET TWO THINGS; ONE IS THAT EACH OF THE GOSPELS WAS WRITTEN LONG AFTER JESUS DIED – MARK ABOUT 30 YEARS LATER, MATTHEW AND LUKE 45 YEARS, AND JOHN, ABOUT 60 YEARS. IN AN AGE WITHOUT TELEVISION AND WIDESPREAD ILLITERACY, THE STORY OF THE RESURRECTION WAS CARRIED BY THOUSANDS OF CHRISTIANS THROUGHOUT THE ROMAN EMPIRE AND EVEN AS FAR AWAY AS INDIA AND PERSIA BEFORE THE FIRST GOSPEL WRITER WROTE IT DOWN. THE GOSPEL WRITERS DIDN'T WRITE DOWN THEIR STORIES BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO GIVE AN ACCURATE HISTORY. IN THOSE DAYS PEOPLE WERE MUCH MORE INTERESTED IN WHAT AN EVENT MEANT, AND SO EACH WRITER WOULD TAKE THE BASIC STORY AND TELL IT IN A WAY THAT GOT ACROSS THE MEANING HE SAW IN IT. UP UNTIL THE MODERN ERA, THAT DIDN'T BOTHER PEOPLE. BUT IF WE TRY TO LOOK INTO THE GOSPEL STORIES, WE CAN PIECE TOGETHER THE STORY THAT WAS BEING CARRIED BY TRAVELING PREACHERS AND MIGRANTS DURING THAT TIME.

NONE OF THE GOSPEL WRITERS DESCRIBE ANYONE WHO ACTUALLY SAW JESUS' BECOME ALIVE AFTER BEING DEAD. ALL OF THEM START WITH AN EMPTY TOMB. THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY OTHER EXPLANATIONS FOR AN EMPTY TOMB; MAYBE THE BODY WAS STOLEN; MATTHEW IN FACT SAYS THAT SOME OF THE PEOPLE OF HIS TIME STILL SAID THAT. MAYBE JESUS DIDN'T REALLY DIE, DESPITE HAVING A SPEAR IN HIS CHEST AND HANGING ON THE CROSS FOR THREE HOURS. MAYBE HE WENT INTO A COMA AND WOKE UP LATER AND MANAGED TO SOMEHOW CRAWL OUT OF THE TOMB AND HIDE. OR, MAYBE AS THE MUSLIMS SAY, IT WASN'T JESUS ON THE CROSS AT ALL, INSTEAD, A SUBSTITUTE WHO LOOKED LIKE HIM. THE EMPTY TOMB IN A WAY CHALLENGES OUR FAITH AND EACH WRITER HAS ONE OR MORE WITNESSES IN OR AROUND THE TOMB TO EXPLAIN THAT JESUS HAS REALLY RISEN FROM THE DEAD.

ANOTHER PECULIAR THING ABOUT THE ACOUNTS OF THE RESURRECTION IS THAT THE FIRST WITNESSES OF THE EMPTY TOMB ARE WOMEN, IN THE CASE OF JOHN'S GOSPEL, A WOMAN, MARY MAGDALENE. NOW IN FIRST CENTURY PALESTINE, THE TESTIMONY OF A WOMAN DIDN'T COUNT FOR MUCH. IF YOU WERE MAKING UP A STORY, IT'S UNLIKELY THAT YOU WOULD HAVE USED WOMEN AS WITNESSES. JESUS ALSO SHOWS HIMSELF TO WOMEN BEFORE HE APPEARS TO HIS OWN APOSTLES, EXCEPT IN THE STORY OF LUKE, WHERE SIMON PETER MAY HAVE BEEN THE FIRST TO WITNESS HIM IN THE FLESH – BUT EVEN HERE, IT MAY HAVE BEEN THOSE TWO DISCIPLES ON THE ROAD TO EMMAEUS.

ONE THING THE GOSPEL WRITERS ARE ALL AGREED UPON IS THAT JESUS' RESURRECTION IS NOT MERELY A RESUCITATION; HIS RESURRECTED BODY SHOWS A CONNECTION WITH THE BODY THAT WAS CRUCIFIED – HE HAS NAIL MARKS IN HIS HANDS AND FEET, AND A WOUND IN HIS SIDE WHICH CAN BE TOUCHED, AND HE CAN EAT – BUT AT THE SAME TIME, HE CAN APPEAR IN A LOCKED ROOM, HE CAN APPEAR ON THE SHORES OF A LAKE, HE CAN SUDDENLY BE WITH TWO DISCIPLES WALKING ALONG A COUNTRY ROAD. HE ALSO IS NOT RECOGNIZED UNTIL HE ALLOWS HIMSELF TO BE RECOGNIZED. MARY MAGDALENE THINKS HE IS THE GARDENER AT FIRST. THE APOSTLES THINK HE IS A GHOST. THE DISCIPLES HEADING FOR EMMAEUS THINK HE IS A FELLOW TRAVELER. IN JEWISH AND PAGAN LITERATURE THERE WERE STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE COMING BACK FROM THE DEAD. USUALLY THEY WERE QUITE NORMAL AND EVENTUALLY WENT ON TO DIE OF OLD AGE. IN SOME CASES, LIKE THAT OF SAMUEL WHO APPEARED TO SAUL, THEY WERE GHOSTLY BEINGS. THE WAY JESUS WAS WHEN HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT.

AND THAT'S WHY THE RESURRECTION IS SUCH AN INCREDIBLE MYSTERY. THERE'S NEVER BEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT BEFORE OR SINCE.

THE MESSAGE OF THE RESURRECTION IS THAT THIS PRESENT WORLD MATTERS; THAT ITS PROBLEMS AND PAINS MATTER, AND THAT GOD HAS PLUNGED INTO THIS WORLD WITH HEALING AND ALL POWERFUL LOVE. ALL THE EVILS, INJUSTICES, AND PAINS IN THE WORLD CAN NOW BE SEEN AS HAVING LOST; HEALING, JUSTICE AND LOVE HAVE WON. THAT'S THE ANSWER TO OUR PRAYER, “THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.”

EASTER IS NOT SIMPLY ABOUT BELIEVING THAT GOD HAS A COMFORTABLE AFTERLIFE FOR SOME OF US. CHIRSTIANITY IS NOT A PIE-IN-THE-SKY IN THE SKY RELIGION. EASTER FAITH IS NOT ABOUT BELIEVING THAT JESUS ROSE IN SOME SPIRITUAL SENSE; CHIRSTIANITY IS NOT A LET -THE – WORLD – STEW – IN – ITS – OWN - JUICE RELIGION. EASTER FAITH IS NOT JUST ABOUT ME AND YOU FINDING A NEW DIMENSION IN OUR LIVES THAT WE CALL SPIRITUAL OR MYSTICAL; CHRISTIANITY IS NOT A WARMTH – IN – THE - HEART RELIGION.

IF JESUS CHRIST IS TRULY RISEN FROM THE DEAD, CHRISTIANITY BECOMES WHAT THE NEW TESTAMENT INSISTS THAT IT IS: GOOD NEWS FOR THE WHOLE WORLD, NEWS THAT WARMS OUR HEARTS PRECISELY BECAUSE IT ISN'T JUST ABOUT WARMING HEARTS. THE LIVING GOD HAS IN PRINCIPLE DEALT WITH EVIL ONCE AND FOR ALL, AND IS NOW AT WORK, BY HIS OWN SPIRIT, TO DO FOR US AND THE WHOLE WORLD WHAT HE DID FOR JESUS ON THAT FIRST EASTER DAY. CHRISTIANITY IS AN ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN RELIGION.

THAT IS WHY WE CELEBRATE EASTER WITH MATERIAL THINGS: WATER IN BAPTISM AND BREAD AND WINE AT THE LORD'S SUPPER. EASTER IS ABOUT THE LIVING GOD CLAIMING THE WORLD OF SPACE, TIME, AND MATTER AS HIS OWN. THAT IS WHY WE CELEBRATE IT WITH CANDLES AND FLOWERS AND INCENSE AND PROCESSIONS AND BANNERS AND, ABOVE ALL, MUSIC: THE WORLD OF CREATION HAS BEEN RECLAIMED BY THE LIVING AND HEALING GOD. THE REASON FOR LENT, AND HOLY WEEK AND EASTER IS NOT TO SET ASIDE A TIME IN WHICH TO STEP OUT OF OUR ROUTINE WITH A FAST AND UNIQUE LITURGIES AND CELEBRATION, AND THEN RETURN TO HOW EVERYTHING WAS BEFORE. NO, THE LIVING GOD WHO HAS BROKEN INTO OUR WORLD IS STILL THERE; JESUS IS STILL WORKING THROUGH IS SPIRIT TO GATHER EVERYTHING UP AND BRING IT BACK TO THE FATHER. AND WHEN WE WAKE UP MONDAY MORNING MAY YOU AND I STILL BE EASTER PEOPLE, KNOWING THAT WE ARE PART OF THIS GREAT MYSTERY.  

Palm Sunday cycle B

MARK 11:1-10
THERE ARE FOUR STORIES OF THE PASSION OF CHRIST.  WE'VE JUST HEARD MARK'S VERSION, AND WE WILL HEAR JOHN'S VERSION ON GOOD FRIDAY.  THEY ARE ALL ARE DIFFERENT AND EMPHASIZE DIFFERENT THINGS.  BUT WHICHEVER VERSION WE HEAR, WE HAVE THE QUESTION, “WHY DID JESUS HAVE TO DIE, AND WHY SUCH A HORRIBLE DEATH?”  SOME OF US HAVE WATCHED THAT MOVIE, “THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST”.  SOME CRITICS FELT THAT THE BLOOD AND GORE WERE OVER THE TOP, AND MEL GIBSON WAS JUST TRYING TO SHOCK THE VIEWERS.  BUT WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT CRUCIFIXION IN THOSE DAYS IS PROBABLY MORE CONSISTENT WITH GIBSON'S VISION THAN SO MANY IMAGES WE HAVE OF THE CROSS, WHERE THE SUFFERING OF JESUS ISN'T SO APPARENT.  BUT THE PURPOSE OF CRUCIFIXION WAS NOT PRIMARILY TO PUT SOMEONE TO DEATH; IT WAS TO FRIGHTEN PEOPLE SO THAT THEY WOULD THINK TWICE BEFORE DOING WHAT THE CONDEMNED PERSON HAD DONE.  THE MORE SCREAMING, THE MORE BLOOD, THE MORE WEEPING OF THE RELATIVES – THE MORE THE BETTER.  AND EVEN AFTER THE PERSON DIED, SOMETIMES AFTER SEVERAL DAYS, THE BODY WAS LEFT ON THE CROSS AS A REMINDER THAT NO ONE TRIFLED WITH THE ROMAN EMPIRE.  CRUCIFIXION THEN AS NOW WAS AN ACT OF TERRORISM.
JESUS HIMSELF TOLD HIS FOLLOWERS THAT THE HAD TO DIE; THAT WAS HIS DESTINY.  BUT THEOLOGIANS HAVE WONDERED WHY?  THERE ARE SEVERAL THEORIES.  ONE IS THAT WHEN GOD THE FATHER SEES JESUS DYING, HE HAS PITY ON JESUS' BROTHERS AND SISTERS.  THAT'S THE THEORY OF ATONEMENT – JESUS' DEATH COVERS OVER OUR SINS. ANOTHER THEORY IS THAT AFTER THE FALL OF ADAM, WE BECAME ENSLAVED TO SATAN.  JESUS TRADED HIS OWN LIFE FOR OUR LIVES, AND GAVE HIMSELF OVER TO SATAN; BUT BEING GOD, HE ROSE AGAIN, ESCAPING FROM SATAN'S CLUTCHES.  THAT'S THE THEORY OF RANSOM.  AND THEN THERE IS THE THEORY OF SUBSTITUTION.  MAN SINNED, AND GOD WAS OFFENDED, SO HE DEMANDED THAT MAN BE PUNISHED.  JESUS ACCEPTED PUNISHMENT ON OUR BEHALF, SATISFYING THE FATHER'S NEED TO HAVE A VICTIM.
I DON'T LIKE ANY OF THESE IDEAS.  JESUS HIMSELF TAUGHT THAT GOD WAS NOT VENGEFUL, LIKE A MEDEVIAL TYRANT; GOD IS LIKE THE LOVING FATHER IN THE STORY OF THE PRODIGAL SON, WHO EVEN THOUGH HIS SON SINS AGAINST HIM, WAITS ANXIOUSLY AND WHEN THE SON RETURNS, REJOICES AND DEMANDS NOTHING FROM THE SON.  WOULD THAT KIND OF GOD BE ANYTHING LIKE THE GOD IN THE THEORIES WE JUST MENTIONED?  WOULD GOD WHO SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON DEMAND THE DEATH OF THAT BELOVED SON TO MAKE UP FOR THE SINS OF HIS OTHER CHILDREN, YOU AND I?  WOULD A  LOVING GOD STAND BY AND LET HIS CHILDREN BE ENSLAVED BY SATAN?  I ACCEPT THAT JESUS HAD TO DIE FOR US, BUT THERE MUST BE ANOTHER WAY TO SEE THIS, A WAY THAT DOESN'T MAKE THE FATHER INTO A VILLAIN.
I THINK THE STORY OF THE PASSION MAY GIVE US A HINT.  DID YOU NOTICE THAT AFTER JESUS WAS HUNG ON THE CROSS, HE WAS  OFFERED A MIXTURE OF VINEGAR AND MYRRH, OR IN MATTHEW'S STORY, VINEGAR AND GALL?  IN THOSE DAYS THE FAMILIES OF THE CRUCIFIED PERSON WOULD DO WHAT THEY COULD TO HELP THE PAIN  – THEY MIGHT OFFER A SLEEPING POTION, OR A DOSE OF OPIUM, OR SOME OTHER PREPARATION THAT WOULD DULL THE SENSES, MAYBE PUT THE VICTIM TO SLEEP.  AND JESUS REFUSES TO TAKE ANYTHING THAT WOULD LESSEN HIS SUFFERING.  AND THEN LATER, SHORTLY BEFORE HE DIES, JESUS IS OFFERED WINE ON A SPONGE.  IT IS OFFERED BECAUSE THE CROWD WANTS TO SEE IF ELIJAH WILL COME AND FREE HIM.  AND THIS TIME HE DOES DRINK IT.  AS HE FELT HIS LIFE LEAVING HIM, HE TOOK THE WINE; A LITTLE WINE ENERGIZES, AND JESUS ACCEPTED IT FOR THAT REASON.  JESUS SUFFERED AS MUCH AS HE WAS ABLE TO SUFFER; AND BEING GOD, HIS SUFFERING WAS GREATER THAN THE SUFFERING OF ANY HUMAN BEING BEFORE OR AFTER HIM, FOREVER.  JESUS IS NOT A MASOCHIST.  HE DID, AFTER ALL, PRAY THAT THIS CUP WOULD BE TAKEN AWAY.  BUT WHEN IT IS OBVIOUS THAT HIS PRAYER WON'T BE ANSWERED, HIS RESPONSE IS TO ENTER INTO THE FATHER'S PLAN FULLY.  IN REFUSING THE DRUG AND TAKING THE STIMULATING WINE, HE SAYING, “YOUR WILL IS MY WILL”.
WE CAN'T FORGET THAT JESUS' SUFFERING WAS ONLY PART OF HIS WHOLE LIFE.  HE BEGAN AS AN EMBRYO, LIKE ALL OF US.  HE PASSED THROUGH INFANCY, CHILDHOOD, THE TEEN YEARS, AND ADULTHOOD.  HE WORKED WITH HIS HANDS, HE STUDIED, HE FORMED FRIENDSHIPS AND HE KNEW JOY AND SORROW.  AND THEN HE SUFFERED.  GOD CHOSE TO BECOME HUMAN, AND LIVE THE LIFE OF EVERY HUMAN BEING.  AND IN LIVING MY LIFE AND YOUR LIFE, HE ACCOMPANIES US IN OUR OWN LIVES.  HE IS ALWAYS ONE STEP AHEAD; HE'S BEEN WHERE WE ARE GOING; AND NO MATTER HOW GREAT OUR SUFFERING MAY BE, HE WILL BE THERE WITH US, SINCE HE'S EXPERIENCED THAT.  HE SUFFERED AS PART OF HIS PLAN TO LIVE YOUR LIFE AND MY LIFE SO THAT WHEN THE FATHER RAISES HIM FROM THE DEAD, HE IS STILL GOING AHEAD OF US MAKING RESURRECTION AND ETERNAL LIFE  POSSIBLE FOR THOSE WHOM HE HAS ACCOMPANIED.
PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS WONDERED WHY INNOCENT PEOPLE SUFFER, WHY THERE IS EVIL IN THE WORLD, WHY EVERYONE WHO IS BORN MUST DIE WHEN A GOOD GOD WOULD NOT WISH ANY OF THIS ON HIS CHILDREN.  THE CHRISTIAN ANSWER, WHICH WE DEDUCE FROM THE STORY OF ADAM AND EVE, AND FROM OUR OWN EXPERIENCE AS WELL, IS THAT THE EVIL IN THE WORLD IS THE RESULT OF THE  FACT THAT  GOD MADE US CREATURES LIKE HIMSELF WHO ARE FREE TO MAKE AND CARRY OUT CHOICES.  GOD KNOWS THAT BECAUSE HE MADE US FREE, WE WILL MAKE BAD CHOICES, WHICH WILL BRING SUFFERING ON OURSELVES AND ON OTHERS.  AT THE SAME TIME, GOD KNOWS THAT ONLY FREE CREATURES CAN FORM RELATIONSHIPS, ESPECIALLY WITH GOD HIMSELF.  FOR THERE TO BE LOVE, THERE HAS TO BE FREEDOM.  SO GIVEN THOSE CONDITIONS, ALL GOD CAN DO IS WHAT HE DID DO, WHICH IS TO BECOME HUMAN SO WE CAN BECOME SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF GOD..