Pentecost, 2015

JOHN 7:37-39
    SEVERAL MONTHS AGO I WAS WALKING DOWN THE HALLS OF A NURSING HOME TO SEE A PATIENT.  I PASSED A ROOM AND  THE LADY INSIDE CAUGHT MY EYE AND I FELT THE URGE TO GO TALK TO HER, SO I INTRODUCED MYSELF AND E BEGAN TO TALK.  AFTER  TELLING HER I WAS A CATHOLIC  DEACON, I ASKED HER IF SHE BELONGED TO A CHURCH.  SHE TOLD ME SHE WAS CATHOLIC, BUT “NOT A VERY GOOD ONE.”  SHE HADN'T GONE TO COMMUNION IN 30 YEARS.  SHE HAD GONE TO SUNDAY MASS USUALLY EVERY WEEK, BUT SHE WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION SHE WAS EXCOMMUNICATED BECAUSE SHE HAD GOTTEN A DIVORCE.  AFTER I SET HER STRAIGHT, SHE MADE HER RECONCILIATION AND RECEIVED COMMUNION, SOMETHING SHE HAD TRULY MISSED.  WAS THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT ACTING THROUGH ME?  PROBABLY.
TODAY WE CELEBRATE THE COMING OF THE SPIRIT UPON THE APOSTLES AND THE BIRTH OF THE CHURCH.  IT'S A GOOD TIME TO ASK, WHY IS THERE A CHURCH AND WHAT IS MY ROLE IN IT?  OBVIOUSLY IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE SPIRIT.  IT WAS ONLY IN THE YEARS AFTER JESUS THAT THEOLOGIANS AND PHILOSOPHERS CAME TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE SPIRIT IS THE THIRD PERSON OF THE TRINITY.  BUT WE HAVE INTIMATIONS OF THE SPIRIT RIGHT FROM THE FIRST BOOK IN THE BIBLE, WHEN IN GENESIS IT SAYS THAT IN THE BEGINNING, THE SPIRIT OF GOD HOVERED OVER THE WATERS.  WE MEET THE SPIRIT IN EZECHIEL'S VISION, WHEN THE DRY BONES ARE BROUGHT TOGETHER AND GIVEN LIFE.  BUT WE REALLY MEET THE SPIRIT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.  IN FACT THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES HAS BEEN CALLED “THE GOSPEL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.”
SO WHAT IS THIS SPIRIT, GOD HIMSELF AND AT THE SAME TIME POSSESSED BY EACH BAPTIZED CHRISTIAN?  WE HAVE A HINT WHEN WE HEAR THE ANGEL'S MESSAGE TO MARY, “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD WILL OVERSHADOW YOU.”  GOD BECAME MAN BY THE ACTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE BODY OF MARY.  LATER WE HEAR JESUS BREATHING ON HIS APOSTLES, GIVING THEM HIS SPIRIT, THE SAME SPIRIT THAT IN COOPERATION WITH MARY GAVE GOD A HUMAN NATURE.  AND WE SEE THE EARLY CHRISTIANS TURNING TO THE SPIRIT FOR THEIR DECISIONS; WE SEE SAINT STEPHEN SEEING A VISION OF HEAVEN AS A RESULT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT; AND ON AND ON.  WHEN WE READ ABOUT THOSE EARLY DAYS, IT SEEMS FANTASTIC; WHY DON'T WE SEE THAT HAPPENING IN THIS DAY AND AGE?  WHERE IS THE SPIRIT?  WHERE IS THIS ONE WHO CAN CONCEIVE CHRIST IN MARY, AND IN US AS WELL?  PERHAPS WE DON'T SEE MUCH OF THE SPIRIT BECAUSE WE AREN'T LOOKING AND WE AREN'T LETTING THE SPIRIT WORK IN US.
AS FOR LOOKING, THE PLACE TO BEGIN TO LOOK IS IN THE PAST.  I SUSPECT  THAT EVERYONE HERE CAN POINT TO ONE OR MORE TURNING POINTS IN HIS OR HER LIFE, WHICH WEREN'T NOTICED AT THE TIME, BUT IN RETROSPECT IT WAS CLEARLY GOD AT WORK IN OUR LIFE.   IF WE CAN START BY RECOGNIZING THE BIG MOMENTS, IT BECOMES EASIER TO SEE THE SMALL ONES.  AND WHEN WE GET USED TO SEEING THE SPIRIT AT WORK IN OUR LIVES IN THE PAST, WE START TO NOTICE HIM WORKING IN OUR PRESENT.  I THINK ABOUT THE GREATEST TURNING POINT IN MY LIFE, THE GREATEST BLESSING, WHICH WAS TO MEET MY FUTURE WIFE.  HOW IMPROBABLE ALL OF THIS WAS, THAT GOD WOULD SOMEHOW BRING US TOGETHER; ME, BORN AND RAISED IN MONTANA, HER IN MARYLAND.  AND AS I GET OLD, I BEGIN TO SEE HIM WORKING IN MY LIFE RIGHT NOW; NOW AND THEN I'LL MEET SOMEONE WHERE IT IS OBVIOUS THAT GOD BROUGHT US TOGETHER FOR SOME REASON.  WHEN YOU LEARN TO TRAIN YOUR SIGHT TO SEE THE HOLY SPIRIT, YOU WILL.
AS FOR ALLOWING THE SPIRIT TO WORK IN US, IN ONE OF THE READINGS THIS WEEKEND, WE HEAR SAINT PAUL SAYING “THERE ARE DIFFERENT KINDS OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS, BUT THE SAME SPIRIT.”  AND LATER HE SAYS, “TO EACH INDIVIDUAL THE MANIFESTATION OF THE SPIRIT IS GIVEN FOR SOME BENEFIT”.  ISN'T THAT AMAZING?  PAUL IS SAYING EACH OF US HAS ONE OR MORE GIFTS GIVEN BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CHURCH, NOT FOR OURSELVES.  DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR GIFT IS?  WE AREN'T TALKING ABOUT THE SO-CALLED GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT – WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING, COUNCEL, KNOWLEDGE, FORTITUDE, PIETY AND FEAR OF THE LORD – THOSE ARE GIVEN FOR MY PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT, SO THAT I CAN BECOME A DISCIPLE.  EVERYONE GETS  THOSE GIFTS INSOFAR AS THEY ARE NEEDED IN THAT PERSON'S LIFE.  THE GIFTS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ARE ALSO CALLED CHARISMS.
THEY ARE NOT THE SAME AS TALENTS.  HOPEFULLY WE ALL HAVE SOME TALENT.  BUT A TALENT CAN BE USED FOR SELFISH PURPOSES, AND EVEN IF YOU HAVE A TALENT, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO PRODUCE ANYTHING.  YOU CAN BE A GREAT MUSICIAN BUT ONLY PLAY YOUR INSTRUMENT IN A SOUND-PROOF ROOM.  BUT CHARISMS CAN ONLY BE EXERCISED IN THE SETTING WHERE THEY ARE BENEFITING THE CHURCH IN SOME WAY.  ACCORDING TO PEOPLE WHO STUDY THESE THINGS, WHEN YOU ARE EXERCISING A CHARISM, TWO THINGS SHOULD BE OBVIOUS; FIRST, YOU SHOULD BE ENERGIZED BY EXERCISING IT; AFTER ALL, IT COMES FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHO IS LIFE ITSELF.  TO EXERCISE A CHARISM IS BEING IN A GROOVE.  SECOND, YOU SHOULD SEE RESULTS.  IF YOU HAVE A CHARISM FOR TEACHING, PEOPLE YOU TEACH SHOULD LEARN.
NOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT PEOPLE CAN DO WHAT A CHARISM DOES WITHOUT HAVING THE CHARISM.  THERE ARE MANY PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS WHO DON'T HAVE THE CHARISM OF TEACHING.  THEY MIGHT HAVE A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE AND A LOT OF DESIRE TO COMMUNICATE THAT KNOWLEDGE, SO THAT THEY GO TO GREAT LENGTHS TO BE EFFECTIVE TEACHERS; BUT THAT ISN'T THE SAME THING AS HAVING A GOD-GIVEN GIFT OF TEACHING.
THE CHARISMS ARE ACTUALLY GIVEN TO PEOPLE SO THAT GOD CAN LOVE OTHER PEOPLE THROUGH THEM.  IF OUR WORLD WAS THE WAY IT SHOULD BE EACH OF US WOULD BE LOVING EACH OTHER THROUGH THE EXERCISE OF OUR CHARISMS.
SO THINGS AREN'T THAT DIFFERENT FROM THE EARLY DAYS OF THE CHURCH.  THE SPIRIT STILL WORKS AMONG HIS PEOPLE.  BUT ONCE WE RECOGNIZE THE SPIRIT IN OUR OWN LIVES AND ONCE WE KNOW THE GIFTS HE HAS GIVEN US FOR THE GOOD OF THE CHURCH AND INDEED ALL OF GOD'S PEOPLE, WE CAN OPEN UP  THE WAY FOR THE SPIRIT TO RUSH UPON US LIKE A MIGHTY WIND, TO INFLAME US WITH DIVINE LOVE, AND TO DO THINGS THROUGH US THAT ARE BEYOND OUR ABILITIES AS HUMAN BEINGS.  AND IF WE LEARN TO DO THAT, THE CHURCH BECOMES WHAT JESUS MEANT IT TO BE – THE PLACE WHERE GOD LOVES HIS PEOPLE.

Seventh Sunday in Easter, cycle B

JOHN 17:11-19

TODAY WE HEAR PART OF JESUS' HIGH PRIESTLY PRAYER FOR HIS FOLLOWERS. DOES IT SOUND CONFUSING? ON FIRST READING, IT DID TO ME. JESUS PRAYS THAT WE ALL BECOME ONE. HE PRAYS THAT WE SHARE HIS JOY. HE TELLS US TWICE THAT WE DO NOT BELONG IN THE WORLD ANY MORE THAN HE DOES. BUT THEN HE TELLS US HE IS NOT ASKING THAT WE BE TAKEN OUT OF THE WORLD, AND AT THE END OF THE PRAYER HE SENDS US INTO THE WORLD. WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

IN THE FIRST READING WE MEET THE EARLY CHURCH. ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY PEOPLE. THAT'S THE SIZE OF A SMALL CULT, AND PROBABLY THE JEWISH PEOPLE THOUGHT IT WAS A CULT. BUT CULTS EXIST, USUALLY, TO WITHDRAW FROM THE WORLD IN SOME WAY. CULTS LIKE TO CONTROL WHAT THEIR MEMBERS SEE AND HEAR AND THEY USE SOCIAL PRESSURE TO ACHIEVE CONFORMITY. IN CONTRAST, WHAT IS THE EARLY CHURCH DOING? THEY ARE FOCUSED OUTWARD; THE TWELVE MEN THAT JESUS SENT INTO THE WORLD ARE NO LONGER TWELVE, BUT THE APOSTLES WORK OUT A SUCCESSION PLAN; THEY PRAY, THEY SELECT TWO MEN WHO HAVE WITNESSED THE LIFE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS, AND THEY LEAVE THE FINAL SELECTION IN GOD'S HANDS. THE POINT IS THAT THEY REALIZE THAT IF THEY ARE GOING TO CHANGE THE WORLD, THEY NEED A WAY OF CREATING OTHER APOSTLES.

CULTS DON'T REALLY WANT TO CHANGE THE WORLD; SOME WANT TO MAKE THE WORLD OVER TO BE LIKE THEMSELVES, AND OTHERS WANT TO HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE WORLD. BUT FROM THE BEGINNING THE CHURCH IS FOCUSED ON BRINGING THE MESSAGE OF JESUS TO THE WHOLE WORLD. AND IN ORDER TO DO THIS, JESUS MIGHT HAVE GIVEN FOUR BULLET POINTS IN HIS PRAYER.

FIRST, YOU'VE GOT TO BE ONE. YOU'VE GOT TO AGREE ON THE IMPORTANT THINGS. THE WORLD IS A WONDERFUL PLACE BECAUSE OF THE VARIETY AND DIVERSITY, AND THAT'S A WONDERFUL THING ABOUT PEOPLE AS WELL. EVEN WITHIN THE CHURCH THERE ARE THOSE WHO LIKE GUITAR MASSES AND THOSE WHO LOVE THE ORGAN; AND THEN THERE ARE THOSE WHO LIKE TO START OFF THEIR GOLFING WITH AN EARLY MORNING QUICK MASS. WE HAVE SOME WHO LOVE THE TRADITIONAL LATIN MASS AND OTHERS WHO LIVE IN GRATITUDE THAT THE MASS IS FINALLY IN THE LANGUAGES OF THE PEOPLE. AND WE HAVE RITES; BESIDES THE ROMAN RITE, THERE ARE 32 OTHER WAYS OF CELEBRATING THE SACRAMENTS WITHIN OUR CHURCH. BUT A BIG PROBLEM WITHIN CATHOLICISM AND WITHIN CHRISTIANITY IN GENERAL IS THAT WE LET A LOT OF THINGS DIVIDE US WHICH ARE NOT THE IMPORTANT THINGS.

SECOND, YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE JOY. JESUS MORE THAN ONCE REFERS TO COMPLETE JOY, AND LINKS IT WITH HIS GOING TO THE FATHER. THE CAUSE OF OUR JOY IS THAT HE HAS GIVEN US THE WORDS SPOKEN TO HIM BY THE FATHER. THE CAUSE OF OUR JOY IS THAT HE IS WITH THE FATHER INTERCEDING FOR US RIGHT NOW, THIS MINUTE. THE CAUSE OF OUR JOY IS THAT NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US FROM HIS LOVE. ALL OF US SHOULD GET UP EVERY MORNING AND REMIND OURSELVES WHY WE SHOULD BE JOYFUL. POPE FRANCIS RADIATES JOY AND SO SHOULD WE. JOY IS THE MARK OF A CHRISTIAN AND A JOYFUL CHRISTIAN IS THE BEST EVANGELIST.

THIRD, WE NEED TO REMEMBER WE ARE NOT OF THIS WORLD. OF COURSE I DON'T MEAN THAT WE SHOULDN'T FULLY PARTICIPATE IN OUR WORLD; WE SHOULD BE WORKING FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE; WE SHOULD BE ENJOYING THE GOOD THINGS GOD HAS GIVEN US. WE SHOULD RIGHT NOW BE ENJOYING THE FLOWERING DOGWOODS AND THE ODOR OF THE LILAC BUSHES. ALL OF NATURE REMINDS US OF THE GARDEN OUR FIRST PARENTS WERE GIVEN TO TEND, AND NOW AND THEN GOD LETS US FEEL HOW THAT WAS BEFORE THE FALL. BUT WE ARE NOT OF THIS WORLD AND WE SHOULD REMIND OURSELVES OF THAT AS WELL. OUR CITIZENSHIP IS IN HEAVEN AND WE DON'T WANT TO FORGET THAT.

FOURTH JESUS SENDS US INTO THE WORLD. HE PRAYS THAT WE WILL BE PROTECTED FROM THE EVIL ONE, BUT HE STILL SENDS US OUT INTO A WORLD WHICH IS HOSTILE, WHICH BELIEVES THINGS WE DON'T, WHICH LAUGHS AT HIS TEACHINGS AND IGNORES HIS SACRIFICE. AND THE REASON IS SIMPLE, HE WANTS EACH OF HIS FOLLOWERS TO BRING GOD INTO EVERY THING THEY DO. SAINT JOHN TELLS US THAT WHERE LOVE IS, GOD IS. AND IF WE LOVE, GOD IS THERE. HE GOES SO FAR AS TO SAY, GOD IS LOVE. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRINITY, THE BOND BETWEEN THE THREE PERSONS IS LOVE BEYOND ALL TELLING. AND JESUS CAME TO INVITE US INTO THIS RELATIONSHIP. ONLY LOVE WILL TRANSFORM THE WORLD, ONLY LOVE WILL BRING ABOUT THE NEW JERUSALEM. AND MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT, GOD LOVES THE WORLD – BUT HE WANTS TO PERFECT IT, TO TRANSFORM IT, TO MAKE IT THE KIND OF PLACE IN WHICH THE FATHER WANTS HIS CHILDREN TO LIVE. AND AS HE SHARES HIS TRINITARIAN LIFE WITH US, WE CAN TAP INTO THE LOVE AT THE HEART OF THE TRINITY, WHICH IS INEXHAUSTIBLE.

SO THE EARLY CHURCH GOT THE MESSAGE. THERE WERE ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY IN THE DAYS JUST AFTER JESUS' DEATH. DESPITE PERSECUTION AND SECOND CLASS CITIZENSHIP, BY THE TIME CONSTANTINE LEGALIZED CHRISTIANITY, ABOUT ONE IN EVERY TEN CITIZENS OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE WAS A CHRISTIAN. CONSTANTINE MAY HAVE BEEN A CHRISTIAN HIMSELF, BUT I THINK ANY SENSIBLE EMPEROR WOULD HAVE SEEN THE WRITING ON THE WALL.

TODAY WE LIVE IN AN AGE WHERE WE ARE CONSTANTLY BEING INTIMIDATED. WE ARE TOLD NOT TO BRING OUR RELIGION INTO THE PUBLIC SQUARE; WE ARE ACCUSED OF BIGOTRY IF WE DON'T WANT OUR COUNTRY TO LEGALIZE SAME SEX MARRIAGE. WE ARE ACCUSED OF HATING WOMEN BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE WOMAN PRIESTS AND WE ARE AGAINST ABORTION. IT'S EASY TO WITHDRAW INTO OUR OWN WORLD AND HANG OUT WITH PEOPLE WHO THINK LIKE WE DO.

BUT JESUS TELLS US, JUST AS HE TOLD THOSE FIRST FOLLOWERS, TO GO INTO THE WORLD AND BRING THEM LOVE, AND MAKE LOVE GROW, AND WHEN LOVE IS EVERYWHERE, ALL WILL BE ONE, WE WILL BE IN GOD AND GOD IN US, AND THE GREAT WORK JESUS STARTED WILL HAVE BEEN FINALLY BROUGHT TO COMPLETION.

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.