Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle B

MARK 10:17-31

THERE WAS AN ARTICLE IN THE PAPER THIS WEEK ABOUT RINGO STARR, THE DRUMMER FOR THE BEATLES. HE IS NOW SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS OLD. UNLIKE THE OTHER BEATLES, HE IS STILL MARRIED TO HIS FIRST WIFE AND STILL ALIVE. IN THE COURSE OF THE INTERVIEW, WHICH LARGELY HAD TO DO WITH A TOUR THAT IS COMING UP, HE TALKED ABOUT A CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION HE AND HIS WIFE HAD SET UP. MUCH OF WHAT HE EARNED FROM HIS LIFETIME ROYALTIES AND TOURING AND INVESTMENTS WENT INTO THE CHARITY, AND THE TWO OF THEM TRIED TO FIND WORTH-WHILE PROJECTS TO SUPPORT THAT THEY THEMSELVES WERE INTERESTED IN. AND OF COURSE WE KNOW OF OTHERS LIKE THIS – WARREN BUFFET, BILL GATES, THE FOUNDER OF MICROSOFT, AND OF COURSE MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE MADE IT BIG AND HAVE SET UP A WAY TO GIVE SOME OF THEIR BLESSINGS BACK.

TODAY WE MEET THE RICH YOUNG MAN ONCE AGAIN. I ALWAYS FEEL A LITTLE GUILTY WHEN I HEAR THE STORY, BECAUSE I CERTAINLY HAVEN'T GIVEN UP EVERYTHING TO FOLLOW JESUS. BUT I THINK WHEN WE LOOK A LITTLE DEEPER, THAT ISN'T WHAT HE IS ASKING OF YOU AND I, NECESSARILY.

THE FIRST HINT IS THAT WHEN THE YOUNG MAN ASKS WHAT HE CAN DO TO HAVE ETERNAL LIFE, JESUS GIVES HIM AN ANSWER – KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS. PERHAPS THE YOUNG MAN SHOULD HAVE STOPPED RIGHT THERE. HE KNEW HE'D DONE THAT, AND MAYBE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER TO HAVE KEPT QUIET. DID JESUS EVER ASK ANYONE ELSE TO GIVE UP EVERYTHING AND FOLLOW HIM? I CAN'T THINK OF ANYONE. HE NEVER ASKED PETER TO SELL HIS BOAT AND HIS HOME; HE NEVER ASKED ZACCHEUS THE TAX COLLECTOR TO GIVE UP HIS RICHES TO FOLLOW JESUS. IT'S TRUE, AS PETER LATER SAYS, THAT PEOPLE THEN AND NOW HAVE GIVE UP EVERYTHING TO FOLLOW JESUS; BUT THERE HAVE BEEN GREAT SAINTS WHO REALLY NEVER DID.

SO WHAT IS JESUS REALLY DOING HERE? THE YOUNG MAN HAS FOLLOWED THE COMMANDMENTS AND WE HAVE NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT HE IS NOT A DEVOUT PERSON. BUT JESUS CALLS HIS ATTENTION TO HIS GIFTS – HIS WEALTH. AND JESUS ESSENTIALLY TELLS HIM, “TAKE YOUR GIFT AND PUT IT INTO THE SERVICE OF YOUR FELLOW MAN, AND THEN YOU WILL BE REALLY RICH.” DO YOU KNOW WE ALL HAVE GIFTS? THE WORD WE CAN USE FOR THESE GOD-GIVEN GIFTS WHICH ARE MEANT TO BE USED TO SERVE EACH OTHER, TO SERVE THE CHURCH (WHICH OF COURSE IS “EACH OTHER”) IS “CHARISM”. ONE OF THE RICH YOUNG MAN'S CHARISMS, AND PROBABLY ONE OF THOSE POSSESSED BY RINGO STARR AND WARREN BUFFET AND BILL GATES, IS AN ABUNDANCE OF THE GOODS OF THIS WORLD. SOME PEOPLE GET THESE GIFTS THROUGH INHERITANCE; OTHERS THROUGH HARD WORK. BUT THERE IS ALWAYS AN ELEMENT OF LUCK; HOW MANY TALENTED DRUMMERS AT THE AGE OF 75 ARE SO WEALTHY THAT THEY SET UP A CHARITABLE FOUNDATION? NAME TWO. THE POINT IS, PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY WEALTHY ARE ALWAYS LUCKY BECAUSE YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND PEOPLE JUST AS SMART, JUST AS TALENTED, JUST AS DRIVEN WHO DIDN'T MAKE IT. AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, IT ISN'T LUCK, IT'S GRACE. AND THE CHARISM OF WEALTH IS GIVEN TO THE PERSON TO USE TO SERVE OTHERS – THROUGH CHARITY, THROUGH THE CHURCH.

THIS IS THE REAL FAILURE OF THE RICH MAN – THAT GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY, HE FAILED TO USE HIS CHARISM. AND WE ALL CAN BE GUILTY OF THAT. EACH OF US HAS AT LEAST ONE GIFT THAT GOD GIVES US TO BUILD UP THE CHURCH. YOU MAY ALREADY KNOW YOURS, BUT IF YOU DON'T IT ISN'T HARD TO FIND OUT. AND THE WONDERFUL THING IS THAT PEOPLE WHO USE THEIR CHARISMS AS GOD INTENDS THEM TO BE USED ARE GIVEN AN INNER JOY, BECAUSE THEY ARE DOING EXACTLY WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN CREATED FOR. THAT'S WHAT JESUS MEANS HE PROMISES THAT THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN UP EVERYTHING WILL RECEIVE SUCH AN ABUNDANCE – BECAUSE GOD WILL NOT BE OUTDONE IN GENEROSITY.

OUR PROBLEMS ARE LIKE THOSE OF THE RICH YOUNG MAN; DID HE REALLY WALK AWAY SADDENED BECAUSE HE WANTED TO GO BACK HOME AND FONDLE ALL HIS POSSESSIONS? I DON'T THINK SO. I THINK HE WAS RICH NOT BECAUSE HE WAS SHREWD OR CLEVER OR TALENTED, BUT BECAUSE HE HAD INHERITED HIS FATHER'S TRADE OR BUSINESS – PERHAPS HE EMPLOYED PEOPLE; PERHAPS HE KNEW THAT IF HE SOLD ALL HE HAD AND FOLLOWED JESUS, IT WOULD DEVASTATE HIS COMMUNITY – AFTER ALL, WE DO SEE THAT HE IS A GOOD PERSON. AND THAT'S WHAT WE DO AS WELL; WE ALLOW THINGS, EVEN GOOD THINGS, TO STAND IN OUR WAY WHEN WE ARE CALLED TO FOLLOW JESUS BY USING OUR GIFTS. SOMETIMES WE TELL OURSELVES THAT WE HAVE OBLIGATIONS TO OUR FAMILIES OR OUR JOBS; BUT GOD ALWAYS PROVIDES. SOMETIMES WE TELL OURSELVES THAT OUR GIFTS AREN'T REALLY GOOD ENOUGH; BUT IF THAT'S THE CASE, WHY WERE THEY GIVEN IN THE FIRST PLACE? SOMETIMES WE SAY “OTHER PEOPLE ARE MORE QUALIFIED THAN I AM” BUT WE FORGET THAT WE ARE EACH OF US IRREPLACEABLE IN GOD'S PLAN.

THE CHURCH IN THIS COUNTRY, IN THIS DIOCESE, IS NOT DOING WELL. PARISHES HAVE BEEN CLOSED; ATTENDANCE IS DOWN AND KEEPS DROPPING; THE AVERAGE AGE OF OUR PRIESTS IS INCREASING AND THEIR NUMBERS DECREASING. AND YET EACH OF US HAS BEEN GIVEN GIFTS TO BUILD UP THE CHURCH. THE ONLY CONCLUSION THAT WE CAN DRAW IS THAT WE AREN'T USING THEM.

THE RICH YOUNG MAN WENT AWAY SAD. HE HAD BEEN INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GREATEST WORK OF ALL, TO BUILD UP THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, TO BE AN APOSTLE. AND HE CHOSE HIS POSSESSIONS OVER THIS. EACH OF US HAS BEEN GIVEN THE SAME INVITATION – TO USE OUR GIFTS, GIVEN FREELY BY GOD, TO BUILD UP THE KINGDOM. WILL WE ALSO GO AWAY SADDENED, BECAUSE WE ARE FASTENED TIGHTLY TO THE ORDINARY, THE ROUTINE, AND DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO UPSET THAT?

Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle B

MARK 10:2-16

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ALWAYS PUZZLES ME IS THE CONTRAST BETWEEN THE IDEAL OF MARRIAGE, WHICH THE CHURCH PREACHES, AND THE REALITY OF MARRIAGE, WHICH WE SEE AROUND US. I THINK WE ALL GET MARRIED WITH THE INTENTION OF HAVING THE BEST MARRIAGE POSSIBLE, BUT SOMEHOW, IT NEVER SEEMS TO WORK OUT THAT WAY. I'VE BEEN EXTREMELY BLESSED IN MY MARRIAGE, BUT I KNOW IT COULD BE BETTER, LARGELY BECAUSE I COULD DO BETTER. WE GET MARRIED AND THEN THE WORLD HAPPENS TO US.

BUT WE CAN LEARN SOMETHING FROM PEOPLE WHO STUDY MARRIAGE. WHAT DRAWS US TOGETHER IS NOT WHAT KEEPS US TOGETHER. BEING DRAWN TOGETHER IS NEVER LOGICAL. WE “FALL IN LOVE” WHICH IMPLIES A LACK OF CONTROL, WHICH IS BASICALLY TRUE. BUT THERE ARE OTHER WAYS OF BEING DRAWN TOGETHER. IN SOCIETIES WHERE MARRIAGES ARE ARRANGED THERE MAY NEVER BE “FALLING IN LOVE”.

ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS FOR FAILURE IN AMERICAN MARRIAGES IS THAT MOST MARRIED COUPLES FALL OUT OF LOVE. A FEW WEEKS OR MONTHS OR YEARS GO BY, AND THEY LOOK AT EACH OTHER AND SAY, “WHAT WAS I THINKING? WHO IS THIS STRANGER?” AND BECAUSE THE LOSS OF THE FEELING OF “BEING IN LOVE” IS SUCH A DISAPPOINTMENT, MANY COUPLES BREAK UP, AND MANY OF THOSE WHO REMAIN TOGETHER DO SO BECAUSE THERE ARE TOO MANY OBSTACLES TO BREAKING UP. SOONER OR LATER, SOME SORT OF ACCOMMODATION SETS IN AND THEY AREN'T TOO UNHAPPY AND THEY FIND THAT THEY CAN GET ALONG WITH LOWERED EXPECTATIONS. BUT THAT'S KIND OF SAD.

JESUS LIVED IN A SOCIETY WHERE PEOPLE DIDN'T FALL IN LOVE. A JEWISH GIRL HAD HER MARRIAGE ARRANGED. JEWISH LAW SAID THAT SHE COULD REFUSE TO MARRY THE ONE PICKED OUT FOR HER, BUT THERE WERE A LOT OF PRESSURES. THE PARENTS USUALLY TRIED TO FIND THE BEST MATCH THEY COULD, AND WHEN THAT DIDN'T WORK OUT, THEY WOULD GO OUT LOOKING AGAIN; BUT WHO WANTS TO BE SECOND BEST? JEWISH GIRLS PROBABLY KNEW THAT POTENTIAL HUSBAND NUMBER 2 AND 3 WOULD NOT MEASURE UP TO NUMBER 1. THE SECOND PROBLEM WAS THAT MARRIAGE WASN'T ENTIRELY BETWEEN THE COUPLE. VERY OFTEN THE PARENTS WANTED TO CEMENT RELATIONS BETWEEN TWO FAMILIES, OR RAISE THEIR STATUS. THEY WANTED THE BEST FOR THEIR DAUGHTER, BUT IF OTHER GOOD THINGS HAPPENED, WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THAT? AND THE THIRD PROBLEM WAS THAT A JEWISH HUSBAND COULD DIVORCE HIS WIFE FOR PRACTICALLY ANY REASON, BUT THERE WAS LITERALLY NO MECHANISM FOR A JEWISH WIFE TO DIVORCE HER HUSBAND.

SO THIS IS THE CONTEXT IN WHICH JESUS QUOTES FROM GENESIS, AND IMPLIES THAT THE MARRIAGE BOND SHOULD LAST UNTIL DEATH, REGARDLESS OF CIRCUMSTANCES. AND THE CHURCH HAS GOTTEN A LOT OF FLACK FOR ITS INSISTANCE THAT THIS SHOULD BE THE CASE. OH, WE HAVE ANNULMENTS, AND THAT'S A TOPIC FOR ANOTHER TIME. IT'S INTERESTING THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE A TRIBUNAL DECLARE THAT THERE NEVER WAS A SACRAMENTAL MARRIAGE IN THE FIRST PLACE, BUT THE ORTHODOX CHURCHES, WHICH ALSO FORBID DIVORCE, DON'T HAVE A MECHANISM FOR ANNULMENTS. THEY PRESUME A MARRIAGE IS SACRAMENTAL UNTIL IT ENDS, AND IF IT ENDS, THAT'S A SIGN THAT IT NEVER WAS SACRAMENTAL IN THE FIRST PLACE.

JESUS KNEW THAT FALLING IN LOVE IS NOT WHAT SUSTAINS A MARRIAGE. WE COULD SAY THAT COUPLES WHO ARE MARRIED, HOWEVER THEY GOT TO THAT POINT, NOW HAVE TO SPEND THEIR LIVES GROWING IN LOVE. YOU CAN'T DO THAT IF DIVORCE IS A POSSIBILITY; YOU CAN ONLY DO THAT IF BOTH OF YOU REJECT THE POSSIBILITY OF DIVORCE AND YOU TAKE TO HEART THAT YOUR PURPOSE IN MARRIAGE IS TO BECOME ONE FLESH. BECOMING ONE FLESH IS NOT THE SAME AS OCCUPYING THE SAME BODY. IT HAS TO DO WITH VALUING AND TREASURING THE SPOUSE AT LEAST AS MUCH AS YOU VALUE AND TREASURE YOURSELF. IN HOLY COMMUNION JESUS OFFERS TO BECOME ONE FLESH WITH US. MARITAL COMMUNION IS A REFLECTION OF THIS.

GROWING IN LOVE FOR A MARRIED COUPLE IS WORK. AND IT IS VERY HARD TO DO IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR OWN EGO, YOUR OWN PLEASURES, YOUR OWN STUFF; IT'S VERY HARD IF YOU SEE YOUR SPOUSE AS SOMEONE WHO IS THERE PRIMARILY TO MAKE YOU HAPPY.

WHEN JOAN AND I SPEAK TO COUPLES WHO ARE PLANNING TO MARRY IN THE PRE-CANA PROGRAM, WE LIKE TO GIVE THEM A LITTLE REFRIGERATOR MAGNET. ON IT IS A DRAWING OF A YOUNG COUPLE HOLDING HANDS AND THE STATEMENT ON THE CARD IS “GOD MADE ME TO SHOW YOU HOW MUCH HE LOVES YOU.” IF THIS WERE THE FIRST THOUGHT IN OUR MINDS EVERY MORNING, IT WOULD GO A LONG WAY TO REDUCING THE DIVORCE RATE AND MAKING MARRIAGES HAPPIER AND MORE JOYFUL.

MARRIAGES, OF COURSE, ARE MEANT TO REFLECT THE LOVE CHRIST HAS FOR HIS CHURCH. ALL OF US ARE CHURCH AND ALL OF US ARE CHRIST TO EACH OTHER – THAT'S KIND OF WHAT CHRISTIAN MEANS. IF WE ARE AWARE OF A FEW VERY GOOD MARRIAGES, PERHAPS WE SHOULD LOOK AT THEM AS EXAMPLES OF HOW WE SHOULD TREAT EACH OTHER.

WHEN I WAS FIRST MARRIED AND WOULD HEAR THE READING WHERE JESUS TELLS HIS FOLLOWERS THAT IN HEAVEN THEY WILL NEITHER MARRY NOR BE MARRIED, I USED TO FEEL SAD; I WANTED MY MARRIAGE TO GO ON FOREVER, NOT TO END WITH DEATH. BUT THE POINT IS THAT THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HEAVEN IS ALL ABOUT. IN THIS LIFE WE CAN MARRY ANOTHER PERSON AND SPEND OUR LIFETIMES TRYING TO SHOW THAT PERSON HOW MUCH GOD LOVES HIM OR HER. THAT, BY THE WAY, WILL MAKE US HAPPY AS WELL, BECAUSE IN CARRYING THAT OUT, WE FORGET OUR OWN EGOS, WE LOSE SIGHT OF WHAT WE THINK IS OWED TO US; AND LOSING SIGHT OF THE SELF IS NECESSARY FOR TRUE HAPPINESS.

BUT IN HEAVEN, THERE WON'T BE MARRIAGE AS WE KNOW IT; WE WILL ALL BE MARRIED TO EACH OTHER, AND OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH EACH OTHER WILL BE MORE INTIMATE, MORE JOYFUL, MORE FULFILLING THAN ANY MARRIAGE ON THIS EARTH, BECAUSE GOD WILL BE THE ONE WHO BINDS US TOGETHER IN JESUS CHRIST.

IF YOU ARE MARRIED, LOOK AT YOUR SPOUSE WITH NEW EYES AND ASK, “DO I REALLY BELIEVE THAT GOD MADE ME TO SHOW MY SPOUSE HOW MUCH HE LOVES HIM OR HER?” AND IF YOU ARE NOT MARRIED, DO YOU KNOW OF A MARRIAGE WHICH SHOWS HOW CHRIST LOVES HIS CHURCH, AND HOW YOU MUST AS WELL?

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle B

MARK 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, I LIVED IN A SMALL TOWN IN MONTANA. THE POPULATION WAS ABOUT 19,000 EVEN THOUGH IT WAS THE CAPITAL CITY. TODAY IT'S ABOUT 30,000, ALTHOUGH THAT'S AN UNDERESTIMATE SINCE IT IS NOW SURROUNDED BY GROWING SMALLER TOWNS. ANYWAY, WITH ALL THAT OPEN SPACE WE WEREN'T VERY CONCERNED ABOUT POLLUTION AND ECOLOGY, AND THERE WAS A TRASH DUMP JUST OVER THE EDGE OF TOWN WHERE THE DUMP TRUCKS DROPPED THEIR LOADS. AND IT WAS A MAGICAL PLACE FOR KIDS. ONCE WHEN MY SISTER MADE HER FIRST COMMUNION, SHE AND I SNUCK OFF IN OUR CHURCH CLOTHES TO SEE WHAT WE COULD FIND; OUR PARENTS WERE BUSY ENTERTAINING SOME FRIENDS. WHEN WE RETURNED, IT DID NOT SIT WELL WITH OUR MOTHER. BUT I REMEMBER THE DUMP. BROKEN FURNITURE, DISCARDED FOOD, BROKEN TOYS, AND OF COURSE CARDBOARD, TIN CANS, GLASS – WE DIDN'T RECYCLE. AND ALWAYS SMOKE. THE DUMP ATTRACTED TRANSIENTS, WHO COULD FIND LOTS OF STUFF TO MAKE CAMPFIRES OUT OF, AND THERE WAS ALWAYS ONE OR TWO SMOULDERING REMNANTS. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT WORMS, BUT THE DUMP DID ATTRACT ALL MANNER OF BIRDS, SO MAYBE.

GEHENNA WAS LIKE THAT, I SUPPOSE. ORIGINALLY, IT WAS THE NAME GIVEN TO A VALLEY OUTSIDE JERUSALEM. BIBLICAL ARCHEOLOGISTS THINK THAT SOME OF THE ABOMINATIONS ATTRIBUTED TO CERTAIN JEWISH KINGS INCLUDED HUMAN SACRIFICE TO PAGAN GODS; SOLOMON EVEN BUILT ALTARS AND TEMPLES SO THAT HIS WIVES COULD WORSHIP THEIR GODS. ELIJAH HAD TO FACE DOWN 400 PROPHETS OF BAAL WHO HAD BEEN BROUGHT TO JUDEA TO ESTABLISH THE CULT OF BAAL BY JEZEBEL, THE WIFE OF AHAB, ANOTHER KING GONE BAD. WHEN THE JEWS RETURNED FROM EXILE AND TRIED TO RE-ESTABLISH THEIR TEMPLE BASED RELIGION IN ITS PURE FORM, THE VALLEY BECAME A GARBAGE DUMP. I THINK THAT'S WHAT JESUS WAS THINKING OF WHEN HE SPOKE OF GEHENNA.

TODAY'S GOSPEL IS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD. PEOPLE CAN DO GOOD THINGS EVEN IF THEY AREN'T PART OF YOUR GROUP. WE CATHOLICS ARE SOMETIMES PUT TO SHAME BY THE FAITH OF PEOPLE IN OTHER DENOMINATIONS, IN OTHER RELIGIONS, EVEN THOUGH WE BELIEVE OUR RELIGION WAS FOUNDED BY JESUS AND IS PROTECTED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT FROM ERROR, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE THE EUCHARIST, THE GUARANTEE THAT JESUS IS WITH US UNTIL THE END OF TIME. NONE OF US WOULD DISAGREE THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT SEEMS TO WORK OUTSIDE THE CHURCH AS WE KNOW IT.

AND NONE OF US WOULD DISAGREE THAT CAUSING AN INNOCENT PERSON TO SIN IS A TERRIBLE THING; MOST OF US WOULD PROBABLY NOT GO SO FAR AS TO DROWN A PORNOGRAPHER OR SOMEONE WHO ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO SPEND THEIR FORTUNES GAMBLING. BUT JESUS PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE EITHER.

BUT WHERE MANY OF US WOULD HAVE A PROBLEM IS WHEN JESUS TURNS TO YOU AND I AND SAYS, “IF YOUR HAND CAUSES YOU TO SIN, CUT IT OFF; IT IS BETTER TO ENTER INTO LIFE MAIMED THAN HAVING TWO HANDS, TO BE CAST INTO GEHENNA”. SURELY HE MUST MEAN REALLY SERIOUS SIN; BECAUSE IF HE'S TALKING ABOUT ANY OLD SIN, WE ARE ALL IN BIG TROUBLE. AND YET, HE DID SAY “SIN” WITHOUT QUALIFIERS, RIGHT?

I THINK THAT SHOULD LEAD US TO ANOTHER LANGUAGE LESSON. THE HEBREW WORD FOR SIN IS “CHET” WHICH MEANS “TO MISS THE MARK” AS IN SHOOTING AN ARROW. SO WE MIGHT RE-PHRASE CHRIST'S STATEMENT AS “IF YOUR HAND CAUSES YOU TO MISS THE MARK, CUT IT OFF; IT'S BETTER TO ENTER LIFE MAIMED THEN TO BE THROWN ONTO THE GARBAGE PIT WITH ALL YOUR LIMBS”.

SO WHAT IS THE MARK WE ARE SUPPOSED TO HIT? CHRISTIANITY IS SIMPLE; IN THE FIRST GRADE I LEARNED THAT GOD MADE ME TO KNOW, LOVE AND SERVE HIM IN THIS WORLD AND BE HAPPY WITH HIM IN THE NEXT. THAT'S THE MARK. WE KNOW GOD BY COMMUNICATING WITH HIM, SPEAKING TO HIM AND LISTENING TO HIM. WE PRAY AND WE LISTEN TO THE SCRIPTURES AND THE CHURCH, WHICH SPEAKS FOR JESUS. WE MAKE TIME TO DO THIS; YOU WOULD NEVER GET TO KNOW ANOTHER HUMAN BEING BY NEVER SPENDING ANY TIME WITH HIM; TRUE OF GOD AS WELL. WE LOVE GOD BY IMITATING HIS SON, WHO CAME TO EARTH TO SHOW US HOW A HUMAN BEING IS SUPPOSED TO LIVE. IF YOU WANT TO IMITATE SOMEONE, THAT TAKES A LOT OF PRACTICE; YOU HAVE TO MAKE CONSCIOUS DECISIONS ABOUT HOW YOU ARE GOING TO ACT AND REACT, AND KEEP DOING THIS UNTIL YOU'VE CHANGED YOURSELF. WE ALL EXPECT TO SLIP ONCE IN A WHILE, BUT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO LOOK BACK AND SAY, “I'M MAKING SOME PROGRESS”. AND WE SERVE HIM IN THE ONLY WAY WE CAN – WE SERVE HIS CHILDREN, THE PEOPLE WE ENCOUNTER EVERY DAY, EACH OF WHOM BEARS HIS IMAGE AND LIKENESS.

RECENTLY I READ AN ESSAY WHICH TRIED TO ANSWER THE QUESTION, “WHY DOES GOD LOVE US?”. THE TITLE OF THE ESSAY WAS “HUMAN BEINGS ARE USELESS”. THE AUTHOR SAID THAT WE VALUE A SHOVEL BECAUSE IT HELPS US MOVE DIRT. BUT WE VALUE A BEAUTIFUL PAINTING PRECISELY BECAUSE IT IS USELESS. IT ISN'T REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING; IT'S VALUE IS IN ITSELF. GOD LOVES US FOR THE SAME REASON; WE AREN'T USEFUL TO HIM, BUT BEING MADE IN HIS IMAGE AND LIKENESS, WE ARE BEAUTIFUL TO HIM. AND JUST AS WE DESIRE TO POSESS BEAUTIFUL THINGS, GOD DESIRES TO GATHER US BACK TO HIMSELF.

SAINT JOHN SAID, “GOD IS LOVE”. WE CAN TURN THAT AROUND AND SAY, “LOVE IS GOD”. THAT MEANS THAT WHERE LOVE IS PRACTICED, GOD IS THERE; AND WHERE LOVE DOESN'T EXIST, GOD IS FAR AWAY. AND OUR PURPOSE IS TO WILLINGLY ALLOW GOD TO GATHER US BACK TO HIMSELF, TO DRAW US THROUGH LOVE, BECAUSE GOD IS LOVE.

SO THINK ABOUT THAT THIS WEEK. IF YOU COMMIT A SIN SOME PEOPLE WOULD SAY THAT EVEN A MINOR SIN, EVEN WHAT WE USED TO CALL A VENIAL SIN, IS A TERRIBLE OFFENSE AGAINST GOD BECAUSE GOD IS SO PERFECT, SO GOOD, SO YOU NAME IT, THAT ANY OFFENSE DESERVES DEATH. BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT I THINK; AFTER ALL, GOD LOVES US AND MADE US THE WAY WE ARE, NOT SO HE COULD PUNISH US FOR ANY INFRACTION, EVEN SERIOUS ONES. A FATHER WHO SLAPS AROUND HIS THREE YEAR OLD BECAUSE THE CHILD WAS DISOBEDIENT WOULD BE IN COURT; GOD IS THE BEST FATHER THERE IS. NO, THE SADDEST THING IS A HUMAN BEING WHO IS CALLED TO SUCH GREATNESS AND FRITTERS AWAY HIS LIFE PURSUING TRIVIAL THINGS. HE'S MISSED THE MARK; HE'S MADE HIMSELF TRASH.

Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle B

MARK 9:30-37

IN 1964 JEAN VANIER WAS INSPIRED TO INVITE TWO PEOPLE WITH MENTAL DISABILITIES TO LEAVE THEIR INSTITUTION AND LIVE WITH HIM. GRADUALLY THE MOVEMENT GREW UNTIL TODAY THERE ARE 147 COMMUNITIES IN 35 COUNTRIES ON ALL FIVE CONTINENTS. THE MOVEMENT BEGAN AS A CATHOLIC ORGANIZATION BUT NOW THERE ARE L”ARCHE COMMUNITIES UNDER AUSPICES OF OTHER CHRISTIAN DENOMINATIONS SO WHAT IS L'ARCHE? IT'S MISSION IS:

TO MAKE KNOWN THE GIFTS OF PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES

TO FOSTER THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITIES THAT RESPOND TO MEMBERS' CHANGING NEEDS, AND

TO ENGAGE WITH LOCAL CULTURES WHILE WORKING TOWARD A MORE HUMAN SOCIETY.

TO DO THIS, THEY

CREATE SMALL FAITH-BASED COMMUNITIES OF FRIENDSHIP AND MUTUALITY BETWEEN PEOPLE OF DIFFERING ABILITIES;

DEVELOP LIFELONG SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE HIGHLY VULNERABLE DUE TO OLD AGE AND/OR MULTIPLE DISABILITIES.

HIGHLIGHT THE UNIQUE CAPACITY OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES TO ENRICH RELATIONSHIPS AND TO BUILD COMMUNITIES WHERE THE VALUES OF COMPASSION, INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY ARE UPHELD AND LIVED BY EACH PERSON.

IN EVERY COMMUNITY THOSE WITH DISABILITIES LIVE ALONGSIDE THOSE WHO ARE WHAT SOCIETY CALLS NORMAL. THEY EAT TOGETHER, WORK TOGETHER, AND CREATE A COMMUNITY.

TODAY JESUS TAKES A SMALL CHILD AND PUTS HIS ARMS AROUND IT. HE TELLS HIS DISCIPLES "WHOEVER RECEIVES ONE CHILD SUCH AS THIS IN MY NAME, RECEIVES ME; AND WHOEVER RECEIVES ME, RECEIVES NOT ME BUT THE ONE WHO SENT ME."

JEAN VANIER AND THE MOVEMENT HE STARTED PUTS INTO ACTIONS WHAT JESUS SUGGESTED. IN JESUS' TIME, ALTHOUGH CHILDREN WERE VALUED, THEY WERE NOT SEEN AS THEY ARE TODAY; THEY DIDN'T GO TO SCHOOL, THEY WERE TOO YOUNG TO LEARN A TRADE, AND ABOUT HALF OF THE CHILDREN WHO LIVED TO BE FIVE WOULD BE DEAD BY THE AGE OF TEN FROM DISEASE OR ACCIDENT. IT DIDN'T PAY TO INVEST A LOT IN A CHILD, UNLESS YOU WERE THE MOTHER OR THE FATHER. AFTER ALL, THERE WAS VERY LITTLE CHANCE THAT YOUR INVESTMENT WOULD BE RETURNED.

THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE LITTLE CHILDREN TO US. THERE ARE THE MENTALLY DISABLED, FOR SURE. WE'RE ALL AWARE OF PEOPLE BORN WITH MENTAL AND PHYSICAL DISABILITIES, SOME QUITE SEVERE. BUT THERE ARE THE FRAIL ELDERLY, WHO ARE LOSING PHYSICAL AND MENTAL POWERS AS THEY AGE; THERE ARE THOSE WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE WHOSE PERSONALITIES AND INTELLECTS ARE SLIPPING AWAY. THERE ARE REFUGEES IN OUR MIDST WHO ARE AFRAID TO COME OUT OF HIDING; AND OF COURSE THERE ARE CHILDREN, CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN ABANDONED BY THEIR FAMILIES AND LIVE ON THE STREETS.

JEAN VANIER WAS INSPIRED BY GOD TO FORM COMMUNITIES OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD NOT NORMALLY ASSOCIATE TOGETHER. HE RECOGNIZED THAT PEOPLE NEED TO BE MEMBERS OF COMMUNITIES, EVEN THOSE WHO ARE AT THE EXTREMES OF LIFE

IN THE JEWISH NURSING HOME, IN GLENMEADOW, IN REDSTONE, IN EAST VILLAGE PLACE – AND MANY OTHER FACILITIES IN THE AREA, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HUNGER FOR COMMUNITY. IT'S ONE THING TO BE A PATIENT, OR A RESIDENT; BUT WHAT YOU FIND IS THAT THEIR PHYSICAL NEEDS ARE TAKEN CARE OF; NOW AND THEN A SON OR DAUGHTER VISITS; BUT AS TIME GOES BY, THEY BECOME MORE AND MORE ISOLATED. THEY CAN'T GET TO CHURCH ANYMORE, THEY CAN'T GO SHOPPING; THEIR FRIENDS HAVE EITHER PASSED AWAY OR ARE IN NURSING HOMES THEMSELVES; AND THERE IS FOR THEM A GAPING HOLE WHERE COMMUNITY SHOULD EXIST. THIS ONE HAS PARKINSONS DISEASE AND CAN'T FEED HERSELF AS A RESULT; THAT ONE CAN'T SEE WELL ENOUGH TO READ, OR HEAR WELL ENOUGH TO PARTICIPATE IN A CONVERSATION. THE SADDEST THING TO ME IS TO SEE PEOPLE WHO SLEEP ALL DAY AND ALL NIGHT, WAKING UP ONLY TO EAT. THEY HAVE NOTHING TO LIVE FOR, AND TO SLEEP ALL THE TIME IS TO BLOCK OUT THE REALITY THAT HAS NOTHING TO OFFER THEM. THEY ARE ALL LITTLE CHILDREN TO US; THEY CAN'T GIVE BACK ANYTHING TO THOSE WHO REACH OUT TO THEM.

BUT EVERY HUMAN BEING NEEDS COMMUNITY. IT'S BUILT INTO OUR NATURE. IT'S ONE OF THE PURPOSES OF THE CHURCH, TO INVITE EVERYONE INTO A COMMUNITY WHERE JESUS IS CENTRAL, WHERE JESUS GIVES US MEANING AND PURPOSE.

THERE'S A WONDERFUL MAN IN OUR CHURCH WHO MAKES IT A POINT TO DROP IN ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK JUST TO BE PRESENT TO A FEW PEOPLE WHO ARE HOUSEBOUND AND LONELY. HE DOESN'T JUST VISIT ONCE IN AWHILE; HE DOESN'T DROP IN FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN LEAVE. HE FORMS A FRIENDSHIP WITH THEM; IT IS ONE ON ONE; IT'S REPEATED. HE'S DOING HIS PART TO INVITE THEM INTO COMMUNITY. IT ISN'T ALL GIVING, EITHER. THE ONE WHO OFFERS COMMUNITY WILL RECEIVE AS WELL. IF YOU GIVE SOME OF YOUR TIME TO GENUINELY GET TO KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS A “LITTLE CHILD” YOU'LL OPEN YOURSELF UP THEIR LIFE STORIES AND LEARN A LOT ABOUT YOURSELF AS WELL.

SO THIS IS A GOOD SUNDAY TO TAKE STOCK. DO YOU HAVE A LITTLE CHILD THAT YOU'VE RECEIVED? NOT A RELATIVE – THAT'S OBLIGATION. BUT JUST ONE PERSON THAT CAN'T GIVE ANYTHING BACK; A PERSON WHO IS SHUT IN, WHO IS INSTITUTIONALIZED, WHO IS SLIPPING AWAY PHYSICALLY OR MENTALLY; A PERSON WHO COULD USE THE SIMPLE PRESENCE OF ANOTHER HUMAN BEING.

JESUS IS MAKING AN ASTOUNDING CLAIM: OUR TREATMENT OF THE LOWLY, THE “NOBODIES OF THE WORLD, IS THE MEASUREMENT OF OUR TREATMENT OF GOD HIMSELF. AND IF YOU'VE RECEIVED SUCH A PERSON, YOU'VE RECEIVED JESUS CHRIST AND IF THAT IS THE CASE, YOU'VE RECEIVED THE GOD WHO SENT HIM. ISN'T THAT A GREAT INCENTIVE?

Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle B

MARK 8:27-35

SOME OF YOU PROBABLY HAVE HEARD THE STORY OF THE DUCK AND THE SCORPION. THEY WERE STANDING AT THE EDGE OF A RIVER AND THE SCORPION, NOT BEING ABLE TO SWIM, BEGGED THE DUCK TO TAKE HIM TO THE OTHER SIDE. “DO I LOOK LIKE AN IDIOT?” SAID THE DUCK. “IF I DO THAT YOU WILL STING ME AND I'LL DIE. NOTHING DOING.” “I WON'T,” SAID THE SCORPION. “YOU WILL BE DOING ME A FAVOR AND I WOULD NEVER STING A FRIEND.” FINALLY THE DUCK AGREED. THE SCORPION CLIMBED ON HIS BACK AND ABOUT HALF-WAY ACROSS THE RIVER, THE SCORPION STUNG THE DUCK. “WHY DID YOU DO THAT?” SAID THE DUCK. “NOW WE'LL BOTH DIE.” “SORRY,” SAID THE SCORPION. “IT'S WHAT I DO.”

THE LAST SENTENCE IN THE GOSPEL SEEMS A BIT DISCONNECTED FROM THE REST, DOESN'T IT? THE LORD HAS THAT INTERCHANGE WITH PETER, WHO HAS JUST REALIZED THAT JESUS IS THE MESSIAH; AND THEN WHEN JESUS PREDICTS HIS PASSION AND DEATH, PETER REBUKES HIM. AT THAT POINT, JESUS CALLS HIM SATAN, THEN HE TURNS TO THE CROWD AND TALKS ABOUT THE REQUIREMENT FOR BEING HIS DISCIPLE.

WE ALL WOULD LIKE TO BE DISCIPLES, WOULDN'T WE? MAYBE SOME OF US ARE, MAYBE SOME OF US THINK WE ARE, AND I SUPPOSE A FEW OF US DON'T REALLY CARE. BUT I WONDER IF WE REALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A DISCIPLE, SOMEONE WHO WISHES TO COME AFTER JESUS, AS IT SAYS IN THE GOSPEL. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO “TAKE UP MY CROSS” TO LOSE MY LIFE IN ORDER TO SAVE IT?

IN JESUS' TIME, ALL THROUGH THE ROMAN WORLD, THERE WEREN'T MANY PEOPLE WHO COULD READ AND WRITE; AND THERE WEREN'T MANY THINGS YOU COULD READ EVEN IF YOU KNEW HOW. KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM WERE TRANSMITTED ORALLY. IF YOU WERE A MAN, YOU WOULD HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT YOU WERE GOING TO DO WITH YOUR LIFE; MAYBE FOLLOW THE TRADE OF YOUR FATHER; MAYBE JOIN THE ARMY; MAYBE BECOME A LEADER OF YOUR RELIGION, JEWISH OR PAGAN. THERE WERE ALWAYS A FEW, THOUGH, WHO BECAME DISCIPLES. WE KNOW THAT THERE WERE VARIOUS PHILOSOPHIC SCHOOLS – EPICURIANS AND STOICS AND PLATONISTS AMONG THE GREEKS; VARIOUS SCHOOLS OF PHARISEICAL THOUGHT, BUT ALSO SADDUCEAN THOUGHT AMONG THE JEWS; AND IF YOU FELT CALLED TO BECOME WISE, YOU MIGHT BECOME A DISCIPLE OF SOMEONE WHO PROFESSED ONE OF THESE PHILOSOPHICAL OR RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS. THIS MEANT THAT YOU BECAME A DISCIPLE OF A MASTER. MOST MASTERS HAD AT ANY ONE TIME BETWEEN FIVE AND EIGHT DISCIPLES. THE MASTER WOULD INTERVIEW THE POTENTIAL DISCIPLE AT GREAT LENGTH; THE DISCIPLE WOULD SPEND SOME TIME FOLLOWING THE MASTER BEFORE BEING FULLY ACCEPTED. THAT'S KIND OF WHAT THAT SCENE IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN IS ALL ABOUT, WHEN JESUS ASKS ANDREW “WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?” AND ANDREW SAYS, “WHERE DO YOU LIVE?” AND JESUS REPLIES, “COME AND SEE.”

THE DISCIPLE LIVED WITH THE MASTER; RECEIVED INSTRUCTION FROM HIM; ASKED AND ANSWERED QUESTIONS, BUT ALSO IMITATED HIM SIMPLY BECAUSE HE WAS THE MASTER. WISDOM, AFTER ALL, IS NOT JUST IN THE HEAD; IT HAS TO DO WITH HOW YOU SPEAK, HOW YOU TREAT OTHERS, EVEN HOW YOU EAT AND BRUSH YOUR TEETH. A GOOD DISCIPLE SLOWLY BECAME SO MUCH LIKE THE MASTER THAT A THIRD PARTY COULD TELL WHICH DISCIPLE BELONGED TO WHICH MASTER. EVENTUALLY WHEN THE MASTER FELT THE DISCIPLE HAD LEARNED ALL HE COULD, HE WOULD SEND THE DISCIPLE OFF TO BECOME A “MASTER” HIMSELF. THIS SYSTEM OF INSTRUCTION IN WISDOM WAS WIDESPREAD; NOT ONLY IN THE MEDITERRANIAN WORLD, BUT IN CHINA AND INDIA AND PERSIA AS WELL. CONFUSCIUS AND BUDDHA AND ZOROASTER ALL HAD DISCIPLES, WHICH IS WHY THE RELIGIONS THEY FOUNDED MANAGED TO GROW AND BECOME WIDESPREAD.

NOW THE GOSPEL STARTS TO HANG TOGETHER, DOESN'T IT? JESUS REBUKES PETER: “YOU ARE THINKING NOT AS GOD DOES, BUT AS HUMAN BEINGS DO.” SO PETER'S JOB, IF HE WANTS TO BE A DISCIPLE, IS TO THINK AS GOD DOES. AND IN ORDER TO DO THIS, IN ORDER TO FOLLOW JESUS AS A DISCIPLE, HE HAS TO LOSE HIS LIFE, BECAUSE IF HE KEEPS ON BEING PETER, IF HE TRIES TO SAVE PETER, HE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FOLLOW JESUS. AND JESUS LIKENS THIS PROCESS TO TAKING UP A CROSS; IT'S NOT EASY, ITS PAINFUL – IT'S LIKE THOSE POOR GUYS BEING FORCED TO CARRY THEIR CROSSES TO THEIR OWN EXECUTIONS, SOMETHING EVERYONE HAD WITNESSED ONE TIME OR ANOTHER.

SO BACK TO THE QUESTION. IF I WANT TO BE A DISCIPLE, WHO IS MY MASTER? WE KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT. IT'S JESUS. AND WHERE IS HE? IN THE CHURCH HE FOUNDED, WHICH SAINT PAUL CALLED “THE BODY OF CHRIST”. JESUS CREATED THE CHURCH TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR YOU AND I AND EVERYONE WHO WILL COME AFTER US TO BECOME DISCIPLES. AND LIKE THOSE DISCIPLES OF OLD, OUR TASK IS TO IMITATE OUR MASTER, TO LEARN WHAT HE WANTS US TO LEARN; TO CHANGE THE WAY WE THINK AND ACT SO THAT WE ARE CONSTANTLY GIVING UP OUR LIVES AND TAKING ON HIS LIFE. A SERIOUS DISCIPLE IS GOING TO BE CONSCIOUS OF THIS PROCESS; HE IS GOING TO HAVE A PLAN OF PRAYER, OF STUDY, OF ACTION; HE IS GOING TO HAVE A WAY TO BENCHMARK PROGRESS. MAYBE SHE WILL TAKE THE TASK SERIOUSLY ENOUGH TO HAVE A SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR, JUST TO GET SOMEONE ELSE TO MAKE SURE SHE'S ON THE RIGHT PATH. AND IT WILL BE DIFFICULT AND SOMETIMES PAINFUL AS WE PROGRESS FROM THINKING THE WAY WE DO NOW TO THE WAY GOD THINKS.

WE READ ABOUT MASTERS WHO HAVE THEIR DISCIPLES DO THINGS THAT DON'T SEEM TO MAKE SENSE. ONLY AFTER THEY DO THEM DOES THE MASTER REVEAL HOW THIS FITS INTO THE PLAN. A DISCIPLE COULD NOT BE A CAFETERIA DISCIPLE, PICKING AND CHOOSING WHICH TEACHINGS OF HIS MASTER HE WOULD FOLLOW AND WHICH HE WOULD NOT. A TRUE DISCIPLE WOULD BE IN IT ALL THE WAY. A DISCIPLE OF JESUS HAS TO BE LIKE THAT; IF JESUS, SPEAKING THROUGH HIS CHURCH, SAYS SOMETHING, THE TRUE DISCIPLE WILL DO HIS BEST TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS BEING SAID AND TO CONFORM HIS OWN LIFE AND HIS OWN THINKING TO WHAT HE IS BEING TOLD.

TODAY JESUS TELLS US WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO COME AFTER HIM; THAT IT WON'T BE EASY; THAT IT ISN'T OVER IN A SHORT TIME; IN FACT, IT WILL TAKE ALL OF YOUR LIFE. BUT IN THE END THERE IS THE PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE.

BUT SOME OF US DON'T REALLY WANT TO BE DISCIPLES; WE DON'T WANT TO CHANGE OURSELVES; WE ARE LIKE THE SCORPION, WHO WOULD RATHER DIE THAN CHANGE.

Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle B

MARK 7:31-37

I'M HARD OF HEARING. AS I GET OLDER, IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE, EVEN WITH MY HEARING AIDS. I KNOW I PROBABLY WON'T LOSE ALL MY HEARING; MY MOTHER AND MANY OF HER BROTHERS AND SISTERS WERE HARD OF HEARING, BUT EVEN AT 90 THEY COULD STILL PARTICIPATE IN A CONVERSATION. BUT IT IS ANNOYING, ESPECIALLY TO PEOPLE LIKE MY WIFE, WHO SPENDS MUCH OF OUR CONVERSATIONS REPEATING WHAT SHE JUST SAID. SO I SYMPATHIZE WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE HARD OF HEARING. LIKE THE THREE MEN WHO WERE SITTING ON A PARK BENCH. THE FIRST SAID, “IT'S WINDY, ISN'T IT?” THE SECOND SAID, “NO, IT'S THURSDAY.” THE THIRD SAID, “ME TOO, LETS GO GET A BEER.”

WE HAVE JUST LISTENED TO THE ONLY TIME IN SCRIPTURE THAT JESUS HEALS A DEAF MAN. THERE WAS A CASE WHERE HE CAST OUT A DEAF AND DUMB SPIRIT, BUT THAT'S PROBABLY NOT THE SAME THING. MOST OF JESUS OTHER MIRACLES OF HEALING TAKE PLACE AT HIS COMMAND, OR AT HIS TOUCH. IN FACT, THAT IS THE REQUEST OF THE MAN'S FRIENDS – FOR JESUS TO LAY HIS HAND ON HIM. BUT IN THIS ONE, JESUS ACTS DIFFERENTLY, AND MARK TAKES PAINS TO RECORD EVERY DETAIL. SO WHAT IS GOING ON?

THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF SPECULATION ABOUT THIS. MARK IS THE OLDEST GOSPEL, AND IN THIS STORY AND A FEW OTHERS, MARK DEPICTS JESUS ACTING LIKE OTHER ITINERANT HEALERS. MARK SEES THIS IN A POSITIVE WAY, BUT MATTHEW, WHO INCORPORATES ABOUT 90 PERCENT OF MARK, LEAVES OUT THIS MIRACLE AND ANOTHER WHERE JESUS USES HIS SALIVA TO MAKE MUD WHICH HE APPLIES TO A BLIND MAN'S EYES. MATTHEW, WRITING TWENTY-FIVE YEARS LATER FOR A DIFFERENT AUDIENCE, MIGHT HAVE FELT THAT FOR JESUS TO ACT THIS WAY WAS NOT IN KEEPING WITH THE FACT THAT HE IS NOT JUST A HEALER, OR EVEN A GREAT HEALER, HE IS QUALITATIVELY DIFFERENT.

BUT SOME THINK MARK IS TELLING HIS READERS SOMETHING ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN JOURNEY WE ALL GO THROUGH; IT GOES SOMETHING LIKE THIS:

FIRST, THE MAN IS BROUGHT TO JESUS BY OTHERS. ALL OF US KNOW JESUS ONLY BECAUSE OTHERS HAVE SHOWN HIM TO US – PARENTS, TEACHERS, CLERGY, PEOPLE WE ADMIRE. BUT JUST AS WE WERE BROUGHT TO JESUS BY OTHERS, WE HAVE THE OBLIGATION TO BRING OTHERS TO HIM. IF NOT US, WHO?

SECOND, JESUS TAKES THE MAN AWAY FROM THE CROWD. HE IS DEMONSTRATING THE ISOLATION OF THE DEAF MAN, BUT ALSO THE ISOLATION AND LONELINESS THAT SIN BRINGS ABOUT. A PERSON IN SIN DOES NOT HEAR WHAT GOD WANTS TO TELL HIM. JESUS ALSO TAKES HIM AWAY SO THAT A RELATIONSHIP CAN FORM; IT IS ONLY IN RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS THAT WE CAN HOPE TO BE HEALED, HOPE TO BE SAVED; AND RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS IS CULTIVATED AWAY FROM THE CROWD, AWAY FROM NOISE, AWAY FROM THE CONSTANT DEMANDS OF LIFE.

JESUS PUTS HIS FINGERS IN THE MAN'S EARS. IF YOU ARE DEAF, YOU CAN'T HEAR JESUS ASKING YOU WHAT IT IS YOU WANT, OR TELLING YOU WHAT HE IS GOING TO DO. THE FINGERS IN THE EARS IS A FORM OF SIGN LANGUAGE; YOUR EARS ARE STOPPED UP, BUT I WILL UNSTOP THEM. THE SAME IS TRUE OF THE SALIVA ON THE TONGUE; THE MAN CAN'T SPEAK INTELLIGIBLY, A PROBLEM WHEN YOU'VE BEEN STONE DEAF A LONG TIME. YOU CAN'T HEAR OTHERS, AND YOU CAN'T HEAR YOUR OWN VOICE, SO YOU FORGET WORDS, FORGET HOW TO PRONOUNCE WORDS, AND EVENTUALLY NO ONE KNOWS WHAT YOU ARE SAYING. SALIVA WAS CONSIDERED TO HAVE HEALING PROPERTIES, SO JESUS, AGAIN USING SIGN LANGUAGE, IS SAYING, I WILL HEAL YOUR SPEECH AS WELL.

JESUS LOOKS UP TO HEAVEN. HE CALLS UPON THE FATHER FOR HEALING, BECAUSE ALL HEALING COMES FROM THE FATHER. IN LOOKING UP TO HEAVEN HE SHOWS THE DEAF MAN THAT THE POWER HE WILL EXPERIENCE COMES FROM GOD, NOT FROM MAN.

FINALLY, JESUS GROANS, OR SIGHS – BUT GROANING IS A MORE ACCURATE TRANSLATION. WE DON'T HAVE A GOOD REASON FOR THIS; WAS IT BECAUSE HE FELT DEEP SYMPATHY FOR THE MAN? OR BECAUSE WHENEVER HE WORKED A MIRACLE IT TOOK A LOT OUT OF HIM, AT LEAST IF YOU GO BY MARK. OR AS ONE SCHOLAR SPECULATED, WHEN HE GROANED, HE ENTERED INTO THE DEAF MAN'S WORLD BY TAKING ON HIS INABILITY TO SPEAK, JUST LIKE JESUS ENTERS INTO OUR WORLD TO TAKE ON OUR HUMANITY AND ULTIMATELY OUR DEATH.

FINALLY JESUS COMMANDS “BE OPENED!” IN ARAMAIC – WHY DOES MARK RECORD THE WORDS AS JESUS SPOKE THEM RATHER THAN SIMPLY HAVE JESUS SAYING “BE OPENED” IN GREEK, LIKE THE REST OF WHAT MARK RECORDED? WAS IT BECAUSE THIS HEALING TOOK PLACE IN A BORDER AREA, WHERE THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO SPOKE GREEK, AND WHERE HEBREW WAS THE LANGUAGE OF THE JEWS? IF JESUS USED HIS OWN ARAMAIC TONGUE, MAYBE FEW PEOPLE HEARD HIS COMMAND.

AND SUDDENLY THE DEAF MAN HEARS AND SPEAKS PLAINLY AND WITH THAT IS RESTORED TO HIS FRIENDS. SO WE HAVE A LITTLE PLAY THAT TELLS US IN GRAPHIC TERMS THAT WE ARE SINNERS (THE DEAFNESS, THE MUTENESS) AND OUR ONLY HOPE IS JESUS. THAT WE HAVE TO BE BROUGHT TO JESUS BY OTHERS WHO KNOW OF HIM. THAT WE HAVE TO ENTER INTO A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM, AND EVEN HERE, HE INITIATES IT. THAT IN ORDER TO HAVE THAT RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE TO SET ASIDE TIME TO BE ALONE WITH JESUS.

AND IT IS IN THE RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS THAT HE WILL HEAL US, HE WILL REMOVE THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR SINFULNESS, HE WILL RESTORE US TO WHAT WE ARE MEANT TO BE, AND WITH THAT WE BECOME FULLY HUMAN, WE BECOME PART OF THE PEOPLE JESUS IS GATHERING TOGETHER FOR HIS FATHER.

AND JESUS SAYS, “TELL NO ONE...” NOT BECAUSE HE IS BASHFUL AND DOESN'T WANT TO BE SEEN AS A GREAT HERO OR WONDERWORKER, BUT BECAUSE ULTIMATELY EVERYONE HAS TO UNDERGO THE DEAF MAN'S JOURNEY BY THEMSELVES; YOU DON'T INHERIT YOUR FAITH, YOU DON'T GET A RELATIONSHIP UNLESS YOU WANT ONE. JESUS DOES NOT FORCE THIS ON YOU. AND WHEN YOU ARE HEALED, WHEN YOU CAN SPEAK, WHO KNOWS? DID THE DEAF MAN GO ABOUT PROCLAIMING WHAT GOD HAD DONE FOR HIM? DID HIS PROCLAMATION PREPARE THE SOIL FOR THE GROWTH OF THE CHURCH AMONG THE GENTILES? WHATEVER HAPPENED WITH THE DEAF MAN, WHEN WE CAN SPEAK AGAIN, LET US PROCLAIM WHAT HAS BEEN DONE FOR US.

Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle B

MARK 7: 1-8, 14-15, 21-23
A MAN WAS DRIVING ALONG ONE DAY WHEN HE FOUND HIMSELF STOPPED BEHIND A WOMAN WHO WAS ON HER CELL PHONE.  THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN; SHE DIDN'T MOVE; THE LIGHT TURNED RED AGAIN.  THE MAN SHOOK HIS FIST AT HER, POUNDED HIS STEERING WHEEL, AND BECAME RED IN THE FACE.  ALL OF THIS WAS OBSERVED BY THE POLICEMAN IN THE CAR BEHIND HIM, WHO PROMPTLY ARRESTED HIM AND TOLD HIM TO GET OUT OF THE CAR.  THE MAN WAS PUT IN HANDCUFFS WHILE THE POLICEMAN WENT THROUGH ALL THE PAPERS, OPENED THE GLOVE BOX AND THE TRUNK, MADE A FEW CALLS, AND THEN FINALLY UNLOCKED THE MAN'S HANDS AND TOLD HIM HE WAS FREE TO GO.  THE MAN WAS SEETHING. “I'LL HAVE YOUR BADGE! HE SAID.  I'LL SUE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO STOP SOMEONE IN HIS OWN CAR.  MY WINDOWS WERE ROLLED UP AND NO ONE COULD HEAR ME!”  THE OFFICER REPLIED, “WELL, I DIDN'T STOP YOU BECAUSE OF THE TANTRUM YOU WERE THROWING.  I SAW A CROSS DANGLING FROM  YOUR MIRROR, YOU HAVE ONE OF THOSE BUMPER STICKERS WITH A FISH ON IT AND ANOTHER ONE THAT SAYS “JOHN 3:16; AND YOU HAVE A DECAL THAT SAYS “KEEP CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS.”  I ARRESTED YOU BECAUSE I THOUGHT YOU HAD STOLEN THE CAR FROM A CHRISTIAN.”
AS WE LISTEN TO THE GOSPEL TODAY, WE HEAR ABOUT THOSE HYPOCRITICAL PHARISEES AGAIN.  WE REMEMBER THAT THEY WERE ALWAYS CRITICIZING ORDINARY PEOPLE FOR NOT BEING AS CAREFUL ABOUT THE LAW AS THEY WERE.  IT SEEMS AS THOUGH ANYTIME WE PICK UP ONE OF THE GOSPELS WE RUN INTO ANOTHER PHARISEE, SOMEONE WHO NOT ONLY DOESN'T GET WHAT JESUS IS TRYING TO TEACH, BUT GETS SO MAD THAT THEY PLOT WAYS TO KILL HIM.  OUR JESUS, THOSE PHARISEES.
BUT JESUS NEVER BECAME A CHRISTIAN.  HE LIVED AND DIED A JEW.  WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SCRIPTURES, JESUS HIMSELF DOESN'T DO VERY MUCH TO CONVERT GENTILES; HE SEES HIS MISSION FIRST TO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL.  AND POSSIBLY HIS CONFRONTATIONS WITH THE PHARISEES ARE PRECISELY BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONES WHO TAKE RELIGION MOST SERIOUSLY IN JESUS' TIME.  IF JESUS WERE BORN AND RAISED A 20TH CENTURY AMERICAN CATHOLIC HE WOULDN'T BE FIGHTING WITH RABBIS FROM THE LOCAL SYNAGOGUES AND TEMPLES; HE WOULD BE CONFRONTING CATHOLICS, NOT THE ONES WHO HAVE DROPPED OUT OR ATTEND THE ASSEMBLY OF GOD CHURCH ACROSS THE RIVER; NOT THE ONES WHO ARE REGISTERED AS CATHOLICS BUT COME TO MASS ON CHRISTMAS AND EASTER; NOT THE ONES WHO ENROLL THEIR KIDS IN FAITH FORMATION BUT NEVER DARKEN THE DOOR OF THE CHURCH THEMSELVES.  JESUS WOULD BE CONFRONTING FAITHFUL CATHOLICS, MAYBE YOU AND SURELY ME.
HE WOULD CONFRONT ME BECAUSE I'M A HYPOCRITE.  BUT I'M IN GOOD COMPANY, I GUESS.  SAINT PAUL SAID, “WRETCHED MAN THAT I AM! WHO WILL SET ME FREE FROM THE BODY OF THIS DEATH? THANKS BE TO GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD! SO THEN, ON THE ONE HAND I MYSELF WITH MY MIND AM SERVING THE LAW OF GOD, BUT ON THE OTHER, WITH MY FLESH THE LAW OF SIN.”
SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT BEING A HYPOCRITE IS A BAD THING.  IT'S NOT.  IN FACT, PEOPLE WHO ARE HYPOCRITES ARE A STEP ABOVE PEOPLE WHO AREN'T.  A HYPOCRITE IS SOMEONE WHO PROFESSES CERTAIN BELIEFS BUT WHOSE ACTIONS CONTRADICT THOSE BELIEFS.  THAT'S WHAT PAUL IS TALKING ABOUT.  THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF HYPOCRITES.  THERE ARE THE ONES WHO PRETEND TO BELIEVE SOMETHING SO THAT THEY CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOMEONE ELSE.  BUT MOST OF US HYPOCRITES BELIEVE SOMETHING BUT CANNOT BRING OURSELVES TO ACT AS WE BELIEVE.  I BELIEVE THAT CHRISTIANS SHOULD FEED THE HUNGRY, GIVE DRINK TO THE THIRSTY, CLOTHE THE NAKED, GIVE SHELTER TO THE HOMELESS, VISIT THE SICK, VISIT THE IMPRISONED, AND BURY THE DEAD.  I HOPE WHAT MY WIFE AND I GIVE TO CHARITY WILL COVER OUR PART IN THIS, BUT EXCEPT FOR VISITING SOME SICK PEOPLE, I DON'T PERSONALLY DO MANY OF THOSE THINGS; DO YOU?  I BELIEVE I AM CALLED TO INSTRUCT THE IGNORANT; TO COUNSEL THE DOUBTFUL; TO ADMONISH SINNERS; TO BEAR WRONGS PATIENTLY; TO FORGIVE OFFENSES WILLINGLY; TO COMFORT THE AFFLICTED; AND TO PRAY FOR THE LIVING AND THE DEAD. BUT I DON'T REMEMBER ADMONISHING SINNERS, AND I'M NOT VERY PATIENT AND IT'S HARD  TO FORGIVE OFFENSES. MY BELIEFS AND MY ACTIONS DON'T LINE UP.
JESUS CONFRONTED THE PHARISEES NOT BECAUSE THEY WERE SO VERY WRONG, BUT BECAUSE THEY WERE ALMOST RIGHT; THEY TOOK SERIOUSLY WHAT GOD COMMANDED, BUT GOT THE DETAILS WRONG.  THEY FAITHFULLY WASHED  THEIR HANDS BEFORE EATING, AS GOD HAD COMMANDED; BUT FORGOT THAT THEIR RITUAL ACT OF PURIFICATION WAS SUPPOSED TO REFLECT AN INNER PURITY; AND WERE THE INNER PURITY THERE, THEIR OUTWARD BEHAVIOR WOULD BE DIFFERENT.  I THINK WHEN JESUS SPOKE TO THE PHARISEES IN THIS PASSAGE, HE SMILED A LITTLE WHEN HE USED THE WORD “HYPOCRITE”.  HE KNEW THEY WERE TRYING, AND REMINDED THEM TO TRY HARDER, OR PERHAPS, TO TRY SMARTER.
IF JESUS WERE A MODERN AMERICAN CATHOLIC, HE WOULD BE SAYING TO THOSE OF US WHO ARE TRYING TO BE FAITHFUL, WHO ARE TAKING THE CHURCH A LITTLE BIT SERIOUSLY, “COMPARE WHAT YOU SAY YOU BELIEVE WITH WHAT YOU DO.  IT'S NOT CONSISTENT, IS IT?  YOUR TASK AS MY FOLLOWER IS TO SPEND YOUR LIFE NOT ONLY LEARNING WHAT I TEACH, BUT CONFORMING YOUR LIFE TO WHAT YOU LEARN.  THAT'S WHAT IT MEANS TO BE MY DISCIPLE. WE HYPOCRITES ARE JESUS' HOPE FOR THE WORLD.  PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE TENSION BETWEEN WHAT THEY BELIEVE AND WHAT THEY DO ARE NOT GOING TO CHANGE; THEY AREN'T GOING TO HEAR JESUS' MESSAGE.  THEIR ONLY HOPE IS WHEN, THROUGH THE GRACE OF GOD, THEY BEGIN TO HAVE TENSION BETWEEN THEIR BELIEFS AND THEIR  ACTIONS; AND THAT CAN ONLY COME WHEN THEY LOOK AT A PERSON THEY LOVE AND ADMIRE, MAYBE YOU, MAYBE ME, AND SEE THAT HE OR SHE LIVES ACCORDING TO DIFFERENT VALUES THAN  THEY DO.  WHEN HE KNOWS SOMEONE WELL AND BEGINS TO WISH HE HAD HIS JOY, HIS PEACE, HIS INTEGRITY, HIS DEVOTION – THAT'S WHEN TENSION IS INTRODUCED AND  THE POSSIBILITY OF CHANGE BECOMES REAL.  THAT'S WHEN HE BECOMES A  HYPOCRITE.
SO DON'T THINK THIS GOSPEL IS MEANT TO CONTRAST THOSE HYPOCRITICAL PHARISEES WITH US CHRISTIANS, WHO KNOW BETTER.  AND PLEASE DON'T READ INTO THIS PASSAGE THE IDEA THAT MARK IS CRITICIZING JEWS BECAUSE OF THE EXTERNAL PRACTICES THEY FOLLOW IN ATTEMPTING TO LIVE GOD'S LAW.  RATHER, ASK YOURSELF WHERE YOU ARE A HYPOCRITE; WHERE YOU COULD DO BETTER, COULD DO DIFFERENTLY, WHERE PEOPLE COULD WATCH YOU AND SAY, “I KNOW WHAT HE BELIEVES”.  AND MAY NO ONE EVER THINK YOU STOLE YOUR CAR FROM A CHRISTIAN.