JOHN THE BAPTIST
THE CHURCH CELEBRATES THE BIRTH OF THREE PEOPLE, OUT OF ALL THE SAINTS AND APOSTLES. THESE WERE JESUS, MARY, AND JOHN THE BAPTIST. WE CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND JESUS AND MARY, BUT WHY JOHN THE BAPTIST? AND WHY IS THAT BIRTH CELEBRATED AT ALMOST THE EXACT TIME THAT THE DAYS BEGIN TO GET SHORTER?
JESUS AND MARY AND JOHN HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON. ALL WERE BORN WITHOUT ORIGINAL SIN. JESUS BECAUSE HE WAS GOD, AND GOD CAN HAVE NO PART OF SIN; MARY, BECAUSE FROM THE MOMENT OF CONCEPTION THE SAVING GRACES OF JESUS WERE APPLIED, AND SHE WAS CONCEIVED WITHOUT ORIGINAL SIN; AND JOHN, WHOM THE CHURCH TEACHES WAS CLEANSED FROM ORIGINAL SIN IN HIS MOTHER'S WOMB. THE NAME JOHN IN HEBREW MEANS “FAVORED OF GOD” -- NOT TOO DIFFERENT FROM THE GREETING OF THE ANGEL TO MARY AT THE ANNUNCIATION.
JESUS ONCE REFERRED TO JOHN AS THE GREATEST MAN EVER BORN OF WOMAN UP TO THAT TIME. HIS FATHER, INSPIRED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, SAID THAT HE WOULD BE THE PROPHET OF THE MOST HIGH.
MOST OF US, WHEN WE THINK OF JOHN, REMEMBER THAT HE LEAPED IN HIS MOTHER'S WOMB WHEN MARY, PREGNANT WITH JESUS, CAME TO VISIT ELIZABETH. WE REMEMBER THAT JOHN CAME OUT OF THE DESERT WEARING CAMEL'S HAIR AND EATING LOCUSTS AND HONEY; WE REMEMBER THAT HE WAS A FIERY, AND PERHAPS VERY TROUBLING PREACHER, WHO WAS NEVER AFRAID TO SPEAK THE TRUTH – AND IN FACT, THAT IS WHY HE WAS PUT TO DEATH – BECAUSE HE CONDEMNED HEROD FOR MARRYING HIS BROTHER'S WIFE. JOHN SEEMS TO BE A DISTANT, COLD, ECCENTRIC FIGURE, AND HE SEEMS HARD TO LOVE, HARD TO RELATE TO.
SO WHAT ARE WE TO MAKE OF THIS JOHN THE BAPTIST, WHOM THE CHURCH DIRECTS US TO HONOR TODAY, TO THE POINT WHERE HIS FEAST SUPERSEDES THE REGULAR SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME THAT WE WOULD NORMALLY CELEBRATE TODAY?
MAYBE OUR IMPRESSION OF JOHN IS NOT ACCURATE. AFTER ALL, HE HAD NO TROUBLE ATTRACTING FOLLOWERS. SEVERAL OF THE APOSTLES WHO FOLLOWED JESUS HAD ORIGINALLY FOLLOWED JOHN, ANDREW AMONG THEM. IN THE DAYS OF THE EARLY CHURCH, WE SEE THE APOSTLES LIKE PAUL WHO WERE OUT ON MISSION, RUNNING ACROSS PEOPLE WHO WERE FOLLOWERS OF JOHN, WHO HAD BEEN BAPTIZED BY JOHN, BUT DID NOT KNOW THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS. THE SCRIPTURES TELL US THAT EVEN THOUGH JOHN TOLD HEROD THAT HE WAS LIVING IN SIN TO HAVE MARRIED HIS BROTHER'S WIFE, HEROD LIKED TO LISTEN TO JOHN. JOHN MUST HAVE BEEN A VERY CHARISMATIC FIGURE WHO CHANGED THE HEARTS OF MANY PEOPLE, WHO REKINDLED THEIR DESIRE TO SERVE GOD. AND HUMANLY SPEAKING, JOHN PREPARED THE SOIL FOR JESUS; PEOPLE WHO LISTENED TO JOHN, WHO REFORMED THEIR LIVES ACCORDING TO JOHN'S PROPHETIC PREACHING, WERE READY FOR JESUS.
MARY WAS THE ONE WHO GAVE JESUS A BODY, AND WHO FORMED HIS MIND AND CONSCIENCE AFTER HE WAS BORN. JOHN WAS THE ONE WHO PREPARED A PORTION OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE TO BECOME THE CHURCH IN RESPONSE TO JESUS' ACTION. THE CHURCH HAS NEVER FORGOTTEN.
SO WHAT SHOULD WE THINK ABOUT ON THIS FEAST OF THE GREATEST OF MEN BORN OF WOMEN UP UNTIL THE TIME OF JESUS?
WE SHOULD REMEMBER HIS PREACHING – HE PREACHED THAT WE SHOULD CHANGE OUR LIVES, WE SHOULD REPENT OF OUR SINS, IN ORDER TO PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD. I ALWAYS LIKED THE PASSAGE WHERE THE TAX COLLECTORS ASKED HIM, “WHAT THEN SHALL WE DO?” AND HE DID NOT SAY, “GO AND LIVE IN THE DESERT” OR “GIVE UP EVERYTHING” -- HE SAID, TAKE ONLY WHAT YOU ARE ENTITLED TO. AND WHEN THE SOLDIERS ASKED THE SAME QUESTION, HE SAID, “BE CONTENT WITH YOUR SALARY, AND DO NOT EXTORT PEOPLE”. JOHN DID NOT DEMAND THAT HIS FOLLOWERS BE SPIRITUAL ATHLETES; HE MERELY CALLED THEM TO LIVE THEIR STATES OF LIFE AS WELL AS THEY POSSIBLY COULD. THAT IS REPENTANCE, THAT IS A CHANGE OF HEART.
WE SHOULD REMEMBER HIS OBEDIENCE – WHEN JESUS CAME DOWN TO BE BAPTIZED, JOHN SAID, “YOU SHOULD BE THE ONE BAPTIZING ME”. AND JESUS COMMANDED HIM TO BAPTIZE HIM ANYWAY.
WE SHOULD REMEMBER WHAT JOHN SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES WHEN JESUS PASSED BY – BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD” AND “HE MUST INCREASE, I MUST DECREASE.” JOHN KNEW HIS ROLE IN RELATIONSHIP TO GOD; HE WAS SECONDARY, HE WAS NOT THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE; HE WAS A SERVANT, HIS LIFE MEANT NOTHING UNLESS HE DID GOD'S WILL.
AND WE SHOULD REMEMBER THAT JOHN WAS NOT AFRAID OF SPEAKING THE TRUTH, EVEN TO SOMEONE WHO HAD THE POWER TO TAKE HIS LIFE. IF JOHN LIVED TODAY, ITS HARD TO BELIEVE HE WOULD BE SILENT, LIKE WE CATHOLICS ARE, WHEN OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES PROMOTE HOMOSEXUAL MARRIAGE AND ABORTION, AND ALLOW PEOPLE TO GO WITHOUT HEALTH CARE AND THE BASIC NECESSITIES OF LIFE IN THE RICHEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. IT MIGHT BE THAT JOHN WOULD BE CRITICIZING US CATHOLICS MORE THAN THE WORLD AT LARGE, BECAUSE WE KNOW BETTER; WE ARE THE ONES WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE CHANGING THE WORLD FOR JESUS.
AND PERHAPS WE SHOULD REMEMBER THAT JOHN, ESPECIALLY FAVORED BY GOD, CLEANSED FROM SIN IN HIS MOTHER'S WOMB, DESTINED FOR ALL ETERNITY TO PLAY A CENTRAL ROLE IN SALVATION HISTORY, IN THE END WAS LOCKED IN JAIL AND HAD HIS HEAD CHOPPED OFF. AND JESUS DIED ON A CROSS, AND MARY SAW HER ONLY SON PUT TO DEATH, AND MOST OF THE APOSTLES WERE EXECUTED, AND OUR ANCESTORS IN THE EARLY CHURCH FREQUENTLY DIED BY BEING BURNED, OR CRUCIFIED, OR THROWN TO THE LIONS. BEING A FAVORED ONE OF GOD IS NOT THE SAME THING AS BEING A FAVORED ONE IN THE WORLD. IN FACT, SOMETIMES I THINK THAT WHEN WE ARE NOT BEING PERSECUTED, WHEN WE DO NOT HAVE A CROSS TO CARRY, MAYBE THAT IS A SIGN THAT WE ARE NOT ON THE RIGHT TRACK.
JOHN'S BIRTHDAY IS JUST AFTER THE SUMMER SOLSTICE. THAT MEANS THAT FROM NOW ON THERE IS LESS LIGHT EACH DAY, UNTIL CHRISTMAS, WHEN THE DAYLIGHT BEGINS TO INCREASE ONCE AGAIN. JOHN IS THE LAST OF THE GREAT PROPHETS, AND HE ENDS THAT AGE AS HE PREPARES THE WAY FOR JESUS, WHO ENLIGHTENS THE WORLD WITH NEW LIGHT.
LET US PRAY TODAY TO ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST TO WORK AMONG US AND ONCE AGAIN PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Sunday, June 17, 2007
11th Sunday of Ordinary Time, cycle C
11TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, CYCLE C
LUKE 7:36 – 8:3
THE FIRST THING TO GET STRAIGHT ABOUT THIS GOSPEL PASSAGE IS THAT SIMON THE PHARISEE IS A GOOD GUY. PHARISEES CAME IN A VARIETY OF TYPES. THERE WERE THOSE WE MEET IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN WHO ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO TRIP JESUS UP, AND WHEN THEY CAN'T THEY PLOT TO HAVE HIM KILLED. WE MEET OTHER PHARISEES LIKE PAUL WHO PROBABLY DID MORE TO BUILD UP THE EARLY CHURCH THAN ANY OTHER PERSON, AND EVEN LONG AFTER HE WAS A CHRISTIAN, HE CONTINUED TO BE PROUD OF THE FACT THAT HE HAD BEEN A PHARISEE. AND THEN THERE WERE ALL OF THOSE IN THE MIDDLE SOMEWHERE.
THE DISTINGUISHING THING ABOUT PHARISEES WAS THAT THEY PUBLICLY LIVED THE LAW. THEY KNEW EVERYTHING REQUIRED OF A GOOD JEW AND THEY DID IT, AND DID IT IN SPADES. IF THE LAW SAID TO WEAR A SHAWL WITH TASSELS ON IT WHILE YOU PRAYED, THEY DID, AND WORE AN EXTRA LONG ONE. THEY ACTED IN SUCH A WAY BECAUSE THEY SAW THEMSELVES AS PEOPLE CALLED TO GIVE EXAMPLE TO THEIR FELLOW JEWS. AND OF COURSE SOME GOT TO THE POINT WHERE THEY FORGOT THEIR ORIGINS, WHERE THEY BEGAN TO TAKE PRIDE IN HOW WELL THEY PRACTICED THE LAW; WHERE THEY BECAME HYPOCRITES.
BUT HERE IS SIMON. HE IS KIND OF IN THE MIDDLE. HE ISN'T ONE OF THOSE EXTREME PHARISEES WHO WON'T EVEN EAT SUPPER WITH SOMEONE WHO IS NOT A PHARISEE; AND YET HE ISN'T LAX, EITHER. AND HE INVITES JESUS TO SUPPER, PROBABLY SINCERELY, PROBABLY OUT OF GENEROSITY – BUT HE ISN'T GOING TO GO TO GREAT LENGTHS HERE; AFTER ALL, JESUS IS NOT A PHARISEE; JESUS HAS ALREADY SCANDALIZED THE ESTABLISHMENT; AND SIMON HAS HIS REPUTATION TO THINK ABOUT. SO HE IS TORN – HE WANTS TO HAVE SUPPER AND CONVERSATION WITH THIS FASCINATING MAN, JESUS, BUT HE DOESN'T WANT PEOPLE TO THINK HE WELCOMES JESUS WITH OPEN ARMS. SO HE SETS A VERY CASUAL TABLE – MORE OF A LUNCH; AND DOES NOT OFFER JESUS THE SIGNS OF HOSPITALITY THAT WERE REQUIRED OF A HOST GIVING A FORMAL DINNER.
THERE IS ANOTHER THING ABOUT SIMON. HE BELIEVES THAT BY FOLLOWING THE LAW REALLY WELL, HE WILL BE SAVED. JESUS MAY BE AN INTERESTING PREACHER, AND THE MIRACLES HE WORKED WERE IMPRESSIVE; BUT SIMON HAS NO NEED OF A SAVIOUR. HE CAN GET TO HEAVEN ON HIS OWN.
JESUS SAYS TO SIMON, “DO YOU SEE THIS WOMAN?” AND WE ALSO LOOK AT HER. EVERYONE KNOWS SHE IS A SINNER. WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT MEANS? I THINK IF WE WERE TO TAKE A POLL, WE WOULD HAVE A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE IN THIS CHURCH WHO WOULD NAME THE SIN. SHE SELLS HERSELF FOR MONEY! IN FACT, DOWN THROUGH THE AGES, THOSE WHO COMMENTED ON THIS GOSPEL GENERALLY CONCLUDE THAT THIS IS THE CASE. BUT IT DOESN'T SAY. AND IN JESUS' TIME THERE WERE OTHER WAYS TO BE A PUBLIC SINNER. YOU MIGHT BE MARRIED TO A GENTILE. THAT GOT YOU THE LABEL. YOU MIGHT BE SOMEONE'S TROPHY WIFE, BECAUSE IN THOSE DAYS YOU COULD TAKE A SECOND WIFE IF YOU COULD AFFORD IT, WHILE KEEPING THE FIRST WIFE. YOU MIGHT EVEN BE SOMEONE WHO NEVER MARRIED, AND RAN HER OWN BUSINESS. YOU SEE, IT DIDN'T TAKE MUCH TO BE LABELED A SINNER. BUT THE REAL POINT IS THAT THIS WOMAN WAS ISOLATED, SHUNNED BY POLITE COMPANY; AND THE WHOLE SOCIETY HAS TOLD HER THAT SHE IS BEYOND REDEMPTION; THERE IS NO WAY SHE WILL ESCAPE TORMENT IN THE LIFE TO COME. AND SHE TOO HAS HEARD ABOUT JESUS, AND SHE MAKES THIS DRAMATIC ENTRANCE AND PERFORMS THOSE STRANGE ACTIONS BECAUSE SHE HAS FOUND ONE PERSON WHO ACCEPTS HER, WHO SEES BEYOND HER LABEL, WHO FORGIVES HER. ISN'T IT INTERESTING THAT JESUS DOES NOT SAY “I FORGIVE YOU” BUT SAYS, “YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN” AND EXPLAINS THAT IT IS BECAUSE OF HER GREAT LOVE. SIMON THINKS HE DOESN'T NEED A SAVIOR. THIS WOMAN KNOWS SHE NEEDS ONE.
AND THAT IS THE POINT OF THE STORY JESUS TELLS. IF YOU ARE THE RECIPIENT OF FORGIVENESS, YOU LOVE IN PROPORTION TO THAT FORGIVENESS. SIMON LOVES A LITTLE, BUT NOT MUCH; HE IS HELD DOWN BY HIS SOCIAL POSITION AND BY HIS OWN BELIEF THAT AS LONG AS HE LIVES THE LAW, HE'LL BE FINE. JESUS COMES TO SIMON, BUT IT DOESN'T APPEAR THAT IT DID SIMON MUCH GOOD. THE WOMAN LOVES GREATLY, AND DEMONSTRATES THIS LOVE – IT ISN'T JUST LIP SERVICE. SHE KNOWS THAT NO MATTER WHAT SHE DOES, SHE WILL STILL BE A SINNER; SHE KNOWS THAT IT ISN'T IN HER POWER TO BECOME RIGHTEOUS. SHE KNOWS THAT SHE NEEDS FORGIVENESS, SHE NEEDS A SAVIOR.
IT SEEMS THAT THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO TAKE-HOME POINTS HERE. THE FIRST IS THE IMPACT OF FORGIVENESS; SIMON CONDEMNS, JESUS PRONOUNCES FORGIVENESS. HAD SIMON HAD HIS WAY, THE WOMAN WOULD HAVE BEEN THROWN OUT IN THE STREET, BACK TO HER ISOLATION, BACK TO HER BROKEN LIFE, WITH NO HOPE OF GETTING OUT OF IT. ARE WE, BY FAILING TO FORGIVE, CONDEMNING OTHERS TO HURT THAT DOESN'T NEED TO BE, TO ISOLATION THAT WE COULD EASILY FIX? THE SECOND IS THAT WE AREN'T GOING TO GET CLOSE TO JESUS UNLESS WE REALIZE, DEEP IN OUR BEINGS, THAT WE NEED A SAVIOR. AND PERHAPS IT IS A GOOD TIME TO ASK YOURSELF, REALLY AND TRULY, WHETHER YOU BELIEVE YOU NEED SAVING. A LOT OF CATHOLICS ARE LIKE SIMON; THEY BELIEVE AS LONG AS THEY FOLLOW THE RULES, AVOID SERIOUS SIN, AND COME TO MASS ON SUNDAY, THINGS WILL WORK OUT. DEEP IN THEIR HEARTS THEY DON'T BELIEVE THEY ARE SINNERS, THEY DON'T BELIEVE THERE IS MUCH TO FORGIVE IN THEIR LIVES. AND THE LAST POINT IS THAT GENEROSITY AND FORGIVENESS AND LOVE ARE ALL TIED TOGETHER. JESUS MAKES IT CLEAR THAT SIMON, WHO HAS SHOWN ONLY A LITTLE GENEROSITY, WHO HAS DEMONSTRATED ONLY A LITTLE LOVE, WILL CONTINUE WITH THE BURDEN OF HIS OWN SINS, WHEREAS THE WOMAN, WHO DID THE OPPOSITE, CAN WALK AWAY KNOWING THAT SHE IS FREE OF HER SINS, EVEN IF PEOPLE STILL CALL HER A SINNER.
LET US LOOK AT OUR LIVES, AT OUR GENEROSITY, AT OUT LOVE. LET US BE CONSCIOUS OF THE FACT THAT NO MATTER HOW GOOD WE THINK WE ARE, NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE DO FOR OUR CHURCH OR OUR NEIGHBOR, NOTHING WE DO IS GOING TO SAVE US. WE ALL NEED A SAVIOR. AND LET US ASK HOW WE ARE LOVING – LIKE SIMON? OR LIKE THE WOMAN KNOWN AS A SINNER.
LUKE 7:36 – 8:3
THE FIRST THING TO GET STRAIGHT ABOUT THIS GOSPEL PASSAGE IS THAT SIMON THE PHARISEE IS A GOOD GUY. PHARISEES CAME IN A VARIETY OF TYPES. THERE WERE THOSE WE MEET IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN WHO ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO TRIP JESUS UP, AND WHEN THEY CAN'T THEY PLOT TO HAVE HIM KILLED. WE MEET OTHER PHARISEES LIKE PAUL WHO PROBABLY DID MORE TO BUILD UP THE EARLY CHURCH THAN ANY OTHER PERSON, AND EVEN LONG AFTER HE WAS A CHRISTIAN, HE CONTINUED TO BE PROUD OF THE FACT THAT HE HAD BEEN A PHARISEE. AND THEN THERE WERE ALL OF THOSE IN THE MIDDLE SOMEWHERE.
THE DISTINGUISHING THING ABOUT PHARISEES WAS THAT THEY PUBLICLY LIVED THE LAW. THEY KNEW EVERYTHING REQUIRED OF A GOOD JEW AND THEY DID IT, AND DID IT IN SPADES. IF THE LAW SAID TO WEAR A SHAWL WITH TASSELS ON IT WHILE YOU PRAYED, THEY DID, AND WORE AN EXTRA LONG ONE. THEY ACTED IN SUCH A WAY BECAUSE THEY SAW THEMSELVES AS PEOPLE CALLED TO GIVE EXAMPLE TO THEIR FELLOW JEWS. AND OF COURSE SOME GOT TO THE POINT WHERE THEY FORGOT THEIR ORIGINS, WHERE THEY BEGAN TO TAKE PRIDE IN HOW WELL THEY PRACTICED THE LAW; WHERE THEY BECAME HYPOCRITES.
BUT HERE IS SIMON. HE IS KIND OF IN THE MIDDLE. HE ISN'T ONE OF THOSE EXTREME PHARISEES WHO WON'T EVEN EAT SUPPER WITH SOMEONE WHO IS NOT A PHARISEE; AND YET HE ISN'T LAX, EITHER. AND HE INVITES JESUS TO SUPPER, PROBABLY SINCERELY, PROBABLY OUT OF GENEROSITY – BUT HE ISN'T GOING TO GO TO GREAT LENGTHS HERE; AFTER ALL, JESUS IS NOT A PHARISEE; JESUS HAS ALREADY SCANDALIZED THE ESTABLISHMENT; AND SIMON HAS HIS REPUTATION TO THINK ABOUT. SO HE IS TORN – HE WANTS TO HAVE SUPPER AND CONVERSATION WITH THIS FASCINATING MAN, JESUS, BUT HE DOESN'T WANT PEOPLE TO THINK HE WELCOMES JESUS WITH OPEN ARMS. SO HE SETS A VERY CASUAL TABLE – MORE OF A LUNCH; AND DOES NOT OFFER JESUS THE SIGNS OF HOSPITALITY THAT WERE REQUIRED OF A HOST GIVING A FORMAL DINNER.
THERE IS ANOTHER THING ABOUT SIMON. HE BELIEVES THAT BY FOLLOWING THE LAW REALLY WELL, HE WILL BE SAVED. JESUS MAY BE AN INTERESTING PREACHER, AND THE MIRACLES HE WORKED WERE IMPRESSIVE; BUT SIMON HAS NO NEED OF A SAVIOUR. HE CAN GET TO HEAVEN ON HIS OWN.
JESUS SAYS TO SIMON, “DO YOU SEE THIS WOMAN?” AND WE ALSO LOOK AT HER. EVERYONE KNOWS SHE IS A SINNER. WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT MEANS? I THINK IF WE WERE TO TAKE A POLL, WE WOULD HAVE A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE IN THIS CHURCH WHO WOULD NAME THE SIN. SHE SELLS HERSELF FOR MONEY! IN FACT, DOWN THROUGH THE AGES, THOSE WHO COMMENTED ON THIS GOSPEL GENERALLY CONCLUDE THAT THIS IS THE CASE. BUT IT DOESN'T SAY. AND IN JESUS' TIME THERE WERE OTHER WAYS TO BE A PUBLIC SINNER. YOU MIGHT BE MARRIED TO A GENTILE. THAT GOT YOU THE LABEL. YOU MIGHT BE SOMEONE'S TROPHY WIFE, BECAUSE IN THOSE DAYS YOU COULD TAKE A SECOND WIFE IF YOU COULD AFFORD IT, WHILE KEEPING THE FIRST WIFE. YOU MIGHT EVEN BE SOMEONE WHO NEVER MARRIED, AND RAN HER OWN BUSINESS. YOU SEE, IT DIDN'T TAKE MUCH TO BE LABELED A SINNER. BUT THE REAL POINT IS THAT THIS WOMAN WAS ISOLATED, SHUNNED BY POLITE COMPANY; AND THE WHOLE SOCIETY HAS TOLD HER THAT SHE IS BEYOND REDEMPTION; THERE IS NO WAY SHE WILL ESCAPE TORMENT IN THE LIFE TO COME. AND SHE TOO HAS HEARD ABOUT JESUS, AND SHE MAKES THIS DRAMATIC ENTRANCE AND PERFORMS THOSE STRANGE ACTIONS BECAUSE SHE HAS FOUND ONE PERSON WHO ACCEPTS HER, WHO SEES BEYOND HER LABEL, WHO FORGIVES HER. ISN'T IT INTERESTING THAT JESUS DOES NOT SAY “I FORGIVE YOU” BUT SAYS, “YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN” AND EXPLAINS THAT IT IS BECAUSE OF HER GREAT LOVE. SIMON THINKS HE DOESN'T NEED A SAVIOR. THIS WOMAN KNOWS SHE NEEDS ONE.
AND THAT IS THE POINT OF THE STORY JESUS TELLS. IF YOU ARE THE RECIPIENT OF FORGIVENESS, YOU LOVE IN PROPORTION TO THAT FORGIVENESS. SIMON LOVES A LITTLE, BUT NOT MUCH; HE IS HELD DOWN BY HIS SOCIAL POSITION AND BY HIS OWN BELIEF THAT AS LONG AS HE LIVES THE LAW, HE'LL BE FINE. JESUS COMES TO SIMON, BUT IT DOESN'T APPEAR THAT IT DID SIMON MUCH GOOD. THE WOMAN LOVES GREATLY, AND DEMONSTRATES THIS LOVE – IT ISN'T JUST LIP SERVICE. SHE KNOWS THAT NO MATTER WHAT SHE DOES, SHE WILL STILL BE A SINNER; SHE KNOWS THAT IT ISN'T IN HER POWER TO BECOME RIGHTEOUS. SHE KNOWS THAT SHE NEEDS FORGIVENESS, SHE NEEDS A SAVIOR.
IT SEEMS THAT THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO TAKE-HOME POINTS HERE. THE FIRST IS THE IMPACT OF FORGIVENESS; SIMON CONDEMNS, JESUS PRONOUNCES FORGIVENESS. HAD SIMON HAD HIS WAY, THE WOMAN WOULD HAVE BEEN THROWN OUT IN THE STREET, BACK TO HER ISOLATION, BACK TO HER BROKEN LIFE, WITH NO HOPE OF GETTING OUT OF IT. ARE WE, BY FAILING TO FORGIVE, CONDEMNING OTHERS TO HURT THAT DOESN'T NEED TO BE, TO ISOLATION THAT WE COULD EASILY FIX? THE SECOND IS THAT WE AREN'T GOING TO GET CLOSE TO JESUS UNLESS WE REALIZE, DEEP IN OUR BEINGS, THAT WE NEED A SAVIOR. AND PERHAPS IT IS A GOOD TIME TO ASK YOURSELF, REALLY AND TRULY, WHETHER YOU BELIEVE YOU NEED SAVING. A LOT OF CATHOLICS ARE LIKE SIMON; THEY BELIEVE AS LONG AS THEY FOLLOW THE RULES, AVOID SERIOUS SIN, AND COME TO MASS ON SUNDAY, THINGS WILL WORK OUT. DEEP IN THEIR HEARTS THEY DON'T BELIEVE THEY ARE SINNERS, THEY DON'T BELIEVE THERE IS MUCH TO FORGIVE IN THEIR LIVES. AND THE LAST POINT IS THAT GENEROSITY AND FORGIVENESS AND LOVE ARE ALL TIED TOGETHER. JESUS MAKES IT CLEAR THAT SIMON, WHO HAS SHOWN ONLY A LITTLE GENEROSITY, WHO HAS DEMONSTRATED ONLY A LITTLE LOVE, WILL CONTINUE WITH THE BURDEN OF HIS OWN SINS, WHEREAS THE WOMAN, WHO DID THE OPPOSITE, CAN WALK AWAY KNOWING THAT SHE IS FREE OF HER SINS, EVEN IF PEOPLE STILL CALL HER A SINNER.
LET US LOOK AT OUR LIVES, AT OUR GENEROSITY, AT OUT LOVE. LET US BE CONSCIOUS OF THE FACT THAT NO MATTER HOW GOOD WE THINK WE ARE, NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE DO FOR OUR CHURCH OR OUR NEIGHBOR, NOTHING WE DO IS GOING TO SAVE US. WE ALL NEED A SAVIOR. AND LET US ASK HOW WE ARE LOVING – LIKE SIMON? OR LIKE THE WOMAN KNOWN AS A SINNER.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Corpus Christi (Body of Christ)
A FEW MONTHS UNDER TWO YEARS AGO I WEIGHED 35 POUNDS MORE THAN I DO NOW. MY USUAL PATTERN WAS TO FAST DURING LENT, LOSE MY WEIGHT, THEN GRADUALLY GAIN IT BACK, PLUS A FEW EXTRA POUNDS, BY THE TIME THE NEXT LENT CAME. EVERY DAY I FAITHFULLY EXERCISED BUT IT DIDN'T SEEM TO HELP. FINALLY I DECIDED THAT I JUST HAD TO CHANGE THE WAY I ATE. SO I ELIMINATED BAD THINGS FROM MY DIET. THAT MEANT NO CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES. I DON'T THINK I EVER TURNED DOWN A CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE. THE FIST ONES I REMEMBER EATING WERE WHEN I WAS ABOUT FOUR. WHERE I WORK, THEY ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE, WHENEVER PEOPLE ARE HAVING A MEETING, OR EVEN IN THE CAFETERIA – FRESHLY BAKED, LARGE, SOFT AND CHEWY.
AND WHEN I WENT ON MY DIET, I BEGAN TO FEEL SORRY FOR MYSELF. I WAS A LITTLE ANGRY. IT DIDN'T SEEM FAIR. I COULD GIVE MOST FOOD UP, BUT CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES?
BUT THE WEIGHT CAME OFF, AND I FELT BETTER, AND I HAD TO PUT NEW NOTCHES IN MY BELTS. I HAVEN'T EATEN A CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE SINCE THE DAY I STARTED MY DIET.
ITS INTERESTING HOW WE RESENT DOING WHAT IS GOOD FOR US. TELL A SMOKER THAT CIGARETTES ARE BAD FOR HIS HEALTH, AND HE GETS ANGRY. TELL SOMEONE WHO IS OVERWEIGHT THAT HER LIFE COULD BE SO MUCH BETTER IF SHE COULD LOSE WEIGHT AND SHE WILL TELL YOU ITS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS, WHICH, I GUESS, IT ISN'T. TELL A COUCH POTATO THAT IF HE DOESN'T GET UP AND GET MOVING, HE'S SETTING HIMSELF UP FOR A HEART ATTACK. THAT WILL MAKE HIM MAD. I KNOW BECAUSE I AM A PHYSICIAN, AND I TELL PEOPLE THESE THINGS AS PART OF MY JOB, AND THEY GET MAD OR MAKE EXCUSES BUT VERY FEW TRY TO CHANGE.
IT IS THE SAME WAY IN OUR SPIRITUAL LIVES. WE CATHOLICS BELIEVE THAT THE HOLY EUCHARIST IS THE SUMMIT OF OUR CHRISTIAN LIVES. WE BELIEVE THAT THE BREAD AND WINE BECOME THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST. AND WE BELIEVE THAT JESUS LEFT HIS CHURCH WITH THIS MIRACLE, NOT TO SHOW OFF, NOT TO PROVE HE WAS GOD, BUT BECAUSE OUT OF LOVE FOR US HE WANTED TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO BECOME ONE WITH HIM, NOT JUST IN A SPIRITUAL WAY, BUT IN A WAY THAT ENCOMPASSES ALL OF ME, AND ALL OF HIM. WHEN JESUS IS PRESENT AS EUCHARIST, IT IS HIS BODY AND BLOOD, HIS SOUL, HIS DIVINITY; SINCE HIS DIVINITY IS THERE, SO IS THE FATHER AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. SINCE HIS HUMANITY IS THERE, SO IS EVERYONE WHO HAS EVER BECOME ONE WITH JESUS – HOPEFULLY YOUR ANCESTORS AND MINE; CERTAINLY THE SAINTS, THE BLESSED MOTHER, THE APOSTLES, THE HOLY ANGELS. WHEN WE RECEIVE THE EUCHARIST, WE RECEIVE HEAVEN.
AND MORE THAN THAT. THE EUCHARIST OFFERS US JESUS' OWN STRENGTH, HIS WISDOM, HIS LOVE. THESE ARE ALL THINGS JESUS PROMISED.
BUT ST. THOMAS TELLS US THAT IF A PIECE OF THE EUCHARIST FELL ON THE FLOOR AND WAS EATEN BY A MOUSE, THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THE MOUSE IS THAT HE WOULD GAIN A COUPLE OF CALORIES. THE BENEFITS OF THE EUCHARIST ARE IN DIRECT PROPORTION TO THE PREPARATION AND THE DISPOSITION OF THE PERSON RECEIVING. BECAUSE SO MANY ARE NOT PREPARED AND NOT DISPOSED, THEY NEVER CHANGE, THEY NEVER RECEIVE THE MIRACLES THE EUCHARIST PROMISES. AND OF COURSE WHEN PEOPLE HEAR THAT THEY MAY NOT BE RECEIVING THE EUCHARIST PROPERLY, SOMETIMES THEY GET MAD OR MAKE EXCUSES.
ST. THOMAS TELLS US THAT IF WE WANT TO RECEIVE THE BENEFITS OF THE EUCHARIST, WE MUST NOT BE “FALSE PERSONS”. FALSE PERSONS ARE THOSE WHO SAY ONE THING AND DO ANOTHER. IF WE ARE TO GET THE MOST FROM THE EUCHARIST, WE MUST BE TRYING TO LIVE LIKE JESUS. THE CLOSER WE ARE TO JESUS, THE MORE THE EUCHARIST WILL BENEFIT US. AT THE SAME TIME, TO RECEIVE THE EUCHARIST WITHOUT THOUGHT, TO RECEIVE WHILE WE ARE IN THE STATE OF SIN, TO RECEIVE WITHOUT BELIEF – THEN THE EUCHARIST DOESN'T DO US ANY GOOD AT ALL AND MAY EVEN HARM US. ST. PAUL TELLS US THAT IF WE EAT AND DRINK THE BODY AND BLOOD UNWORTHILY, WE WILL BE EATING AND DRINKING JUDGMENT ON OURSELVES.
NOW YOU AND I KNOW ALL THIS. IF WE ARE HERE SUNDAY AFTER SUNDAY, THERE IS AT LEAST A LITTLE BIT OF US THAT REALIZES THAT SOMETHING SPECIAL GOES ON HERE DURING MASS. BUT SOME OF US NEVER QUITE MAKE IT TO MASS ON TIME. SOME OF US LIKE TO LEAVE EARLY SO AS TO BEAT THE TRAFFIC. SOME OF US READ THE BULLETIN DURING THE PARTS OF THE MASS WE FIND DULL. A LOT OF US DON'T SING, WHICH MEANS THAT WE DON'T PARTICIPATE FULLY. SOME OF US LET OUR MINDS WANDER TO OTHER PLACES AND TIMES.
AND SOME OF US COME TO CHURCH IN BEACH CLOTHES, AND SOME OF US COME TO RECEIVE AND SHOW NO REVERENCE AT ALL FOR THE MIRACLE THAT IS BEFORE US; AND I'VE SEEN PEOPLE RECEIVE WHILE CHEWING GUM.
THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO IF WE ARE TO RECEIVE WORTHILY. FIRST, WE HAVE TO BE FREE FROM MORTAL SIN. IF WE ARE CONSCIOUS OF MORTAL SIN, WE NEED TO GO TO CONFESSION. SECOND, WE HAVE TO BE ENGAGED IN THE MASS. THAT MEANS SINGING, RESPONDING, JOINING OUR VOICES WITH EACH OTHER IN THE COMMON PRAYERS. THIRD, WE NEED TO ACTIVELY BELIEVE. THAT MEANS THAT WE OFFER OURSELVES, OUR JOBS, OUR FAMILIES, OUR TROUBLES, OUR JOYS, WHEN THE PRIEST IS OFFERING THE BREAD AND WINE. WE BELIEVE THAT EVERYTHING WE OFFER IS TRANSFORMED, JUST AS THE BREAD AND WINE ARE TRANSFORMED, AT THE CONSECRATION. THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHO WHO TRANFORMS THE BREAD AND WINE, CAN TRANSFORM EVERYTHING IN OUR LIVES SO THAT IT FULFILLS GOD'S PLAN. AND FINALLY, WHEN WE RECEIVE JESUS IN THE EUCHARIST, WE BELIEVE THAT HE SATISFIES OUR HUNGRY HEART, AS THE SONG GOES. ST. AUGUSTINE SAID THAT OUR HEARTS ARE RESTLESS UNTIL THEY REST IN JESUS. WHEN WE RECEIVE JESUS IN THE EUCHARIST, WE MUST DESIRE THAT HE SATISFY THAT RESTLESSNESS, THAT HE MAKE US MORE LIKE HIMSELF, THAT HE MAKE US MORE THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF HIS FATHER; BECAUSE THAT IS WHY HE GAVE US THE EUCHARIST.
AND PLEASE, BE REVERENT; BOW YOUR HEADS BEFORE YOU RECEIVE. THE HOLY EUCHARIST IS NOT A THING; HE IS ALIVE, HE IS JESUS. HANDLE HIS BODY LIKE YOU WOULD HANDLE A PRECIOUS DIAMOND OR A HELPLESS BABY. AND AFTER YOU FULFILL HIS COMMAND, AFTER YOU EAT HIS BODY AND DRINK HIS BLOOD, REST WITH HIM AWHILE. CLOSE YOUR EYES AND LISTEN; OFFER THE DEEPEST PRAYERS IN YOUR HEART; ASK HIM TO BECOME ONE WITH YOU.
TODAY MY GRANDSON DREW AND MY GRAND DAUGHTER MARYA SQUIRE ARE RECEIVING THEIR FIRST HOLY COMMUNION. THEY ARE INVITING JESUS TO LIVE IN THEM, TO WORK ON THEM, AND TO MAKE THEM INTO SAINTS.
LET US ALL PRAY THAT WE WILL APPROACH THE HOLY EUCHARIST TODAY, AS WE DID SO LONG AGO, WHEN WE RECEIVED OUR FIRST COMMUNION. AND LET US PRAY THAT JESUS THROUGH THIS COMMUNION WILL MAKE US ALL INTO SAINTS.
AND WHEN I WENT ON MY DIET, I BEGAN TO FEEL SORRY FOR MYSELF. I WAS A LITTLE ANGRY. IT DIDN'T SEEM FAIR. I COULD GIVE MOST FOOD UP, BUT CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES?
BUT THE WEIGHT CAME OFF, AND I FELT BETTER, AND I HAD TO PUT NEW NOTCHES IN MY BELTS. I HAVEN'T EATEN A CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE SINCE THE DAY I STARTED MY DIET.
ITS INTERESTING HOW WE RESENT DOING WHAT IS GOOD FOR US. TELL A SMOKER THAT CIGARETTES ARE BAD FOR HIS HEALTH, AND HE GETS ANGRY. TELL SOMEONE WHO IS OVERWEIGHT THAT HER LIFE COULD BE SO MUCH BETTER IF SHE COULD LOSE WEIGHT AND SHE WILL TELL YOU ITS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS, WHICH, I GUESS, IT ISN'T. TELL A COUCH POTATO THAT IF HE DOESN'T GET UP AND GET MOVING, HE'S SETTING HIMSELF UP FOR A HEART ATTACK. THAT WILL MAKE HIM MAD. I KNOW BECAUSE I AM A PHYSICIAN, AND I TELL PEOPLE THESE THINGS AS PART OF MY JOB, AND THEY GET MAD OR MAKE EXCUSES BUT VERY FEW TRY TO CHANGE.
IT IS THE SAME WAY IN OUR SPIRITUAL LIVES. WE CATHOLICS BELIEVE THAT THE HOLY EUCHARIST IS THE SUMMIT OF OUR CHRISTIAN LIVES. WE BELIEVE THAT THE BREAD AND WINE BECOME THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST. AND WE BELIEVE THAT JESUS LEFT HIS CHURCH WITH THIS MIRACLE, NOT TO SHOW OFF, NOT TO PROVE HE WAS GOD, BUT BECAUSE OUT OF LOVE FOR US HE WANTED TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO BECOME ONE WITH HIM, NOT JUST IN A SPIRITUAL WAY, BUT IN A WAY THAT ENCOMPASSES ALL OF ME, AND ALL OF HIM. WHEN JESUS IS PRESENT AS EUCHARIST, IT IS HIS BODY AND BLOOD, HIS SOUL, HIS DIVINITY; SINCE HIS DIVINITY IS THERE, SO IS THE FATHER AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. SINCE HIS HUMANITY IS THERE, SO IS EVERYONE WHO HAS EVER BECOME ONE WITH JESUS – HOPEFULLY YOUR ANCESTORS AND MINE; CERTAINLY THE SAINTS, THE BLESSED MOTHER, THE APOSTLES, THE HOLY ANGELS. WHEN WE RECEIVE THE EUCHARIST, WE RECEIVE HEAVEN.
AND MORE THAN THAT. THE EUCHARIST OFFERS US JESUS' OWN STRENGTH, HIS WISDOM, HIS LOVE. THESE ARE ALL THINGS JESUS PROMISED.
BUT ST. THOMAS TELLS US THAT IF A PIECE OF THE EUCHARIST FELL ON THE FLOOR AND WAS EATEN BY A MOUSE, THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THE MOUSE IS THAT HE WOULD GAIN A COUPLE OF CALORIES. THE BENEFITS OF THE EUCHARIST ARE IN DIRECT PROPORTION TO THE PREPARATION AND THE DISPOSITION OF THE PERSON RECEIVING. BECAUSE SO MANY ARE NOT PREPARED AND NOT DISPOSED, THEY NEVER CHANGE, THEY NEVER RECEIVE THE MIRACLES THE EUCHARIST PROMISES. AND OF COURSE WHEN PEOPLE HEAR THAT THEY MAY NOT BE RECEIVING THE EUCHARIST PROPERLY, SOMETIMES THEY GET MAD OR MAKE EXCUSES.
ST. THOMAS TELLS US THAT IF WE WANT TO RECEIVE THE BENEFITS OF THE EUCHARIST, WE MUST NOT BE “FALSE PERSONS”. FALSE PERSONS ARE THOSE WHO SAY ONE THING AND DO ANOTHER. IF WE ARE TO GET THE MOST FROM THE EUCHARIST, WE MUST BE TRYING TO LIVE LIKE JESUS. THE CLOSER WE ARE TO JESUS, THE MORE THE EUCHARIST WILL BENEFIT US. AT THE SAME TIME, TO RECEIVE THE EUCHARIST WITHOUT THOUGHT, TO RECEIVE WHILE WE ARE IN THE STATE OF SIN, TO RECEIVE WITHOUT BELIEF – THEN THE EUCHARIST DOESN'T DO US ANY GOOD AT ALL AND MAY EVEN HARM US. ST. PAUL TELLS US THAT IF WE EAT AND DRINK THE BODY AND BLOOD UNWORTHILY, WE WILL BE EATING AND DRINKING JUDGMENT ON OURSELVES.
NOW YOU AND I KNOW ALL THIS. IF WE ARE HERE SUNDAY AFTER SUNDAY, THERE IS AT LEAST A LITTLE BIT OF US THAT REALIZES THAT SOMETHING SPECIAL GOES ON HERE DURING MASS. BUT SOME OF US NEVER QUITE MAKE IT TO MASS ON TIME. SOME OF US LIKE TO LEAVE EARLY SO AS TO BEAT THE TRAFFIC. SOME OF US READ THE BULLETIN DURING THE PARTS OF THE MASS WE FIND DULL. A LOT OF US DON'T SING, WHICH MEANS THAT WE DON'T PARTICIPATE FULLY. SOME OF US LET OUR MINDS WANDER TO OTHER PLACES AND TIMES.
AND SOME OF US COME TO CHURCH IN BEACH CLOTHES, AND SOME OF US COME TO RECEIVE AND SHOW NO REVERENCE AT ALL FOR THE MIRACLE THAT IS BEFORE US; AND I'VE SEEN PEOPLE RECEIVE WHILE CHEWING GUM.
THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO IF WE ARE TO RECEIVE WORTHILY. FIRST, WE HAVE TO BE FREE FROM MORTAL SIN. IF WE ARE CONSCIOUS OF MORTAL SIN, WE NEED TO GO TO CONFESSION. SECOND, WE HAVE TO BE ENGAGED IN THE MASS. THAT MEANS SINGING, RESPONDING, JOINING OUR VOICES WITH EACH OTHER IN THE COMMON PRAYERS. THIRD, WE NEED TO ACTIVELY BELIEVE. THAT MEANS THAT WE OFFER OURSELVES, OUR JOBS, OUR FAMILIES, OUR TROUBLES, OUR JOYS, WHEN THE PRIEST IS OFFERING THE BREAD AND WINE. WE BELIEVE THAT EVERYTHING WE OFFER IS TRANSFORMED, JUST AS THE BREAD AND WINE ARE TRANSFORMED, AT THE CONSECRATION. THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHO WHO TRANFORMS THE BREAD AND WINE, CAN TRANSFORM EVERYTHING IN OUR LIVES SO THAT IT FULFILLS GOD'S PLAN. AND FINALLY, WHEN WE RECEIVE JESUS IN THE EUCHARIST, WE BELIEVE THAT HE SATISFIES OUR HUNGRY HEART, AS THE SONG GOES. ST. AUGUSTINE SAID THAT OUR HEARTS ARE RESTLESS UNTIL THEY REST IN JESUS. WHEN WE RECEIVE JESUS IN THE EUCHARIST, WE MUST DESIRE THAT HE SATISFY THAT RESTLESSNESS, THAT HE MAKE US MORE LIKE HIMSELF, THAT HE MAKE US MORE THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF HIS FATHER; BECAUSE THAT IS WHY HE GAVE US THE EUCHARIST.
AND PLEASE, BE REVERENT; BOW YOUR HEADS BEFORE YOU RECEIVE. THE HOLY EUCHARIST IS NOT A THING; HE IS ALIVE, HE IS JESUS. HANDLE HIS BODY LIKE YOU WOULD HANDLE A PRECIOUS DIAMOND OR A HELPLESS BABY. AND AFTER YOU FULFILL HIS COMMAND, AFTER YOU EAT HIS BODY AND DRINK HIS BLOOD, REST WITH HIM AWHILE. CLOSE YOUR EYES AND LISTEN; OFFER THE DEEPEST PRAYERS IN YOUR HEART; ASK HIM TO BECOME ONE WITH YOU.
TODAY MY GRANDSON DREW AND MY GRAND DAUGHTER MARYA SQUIRE ARE RECEIVING THEIR FIRST HOLY COMMUNION. THEY ARE INVITING JESUS TO LIVE IN THEM, TO WORK ON THEM, AND TO MAKE THEM INTO SAINTS.
LET US ALL PRAY THAT WE WILL APPROACH THE HOLY EUCHARIST TODAY, AS WE DID SO LONG AGO, WHEN WE RECEIVED OUR FIRST COMMUNION. AND LET US PRAY THAT JESUS THROUGH THIS COMMUNION WILL MAKE US ALL INTO SAINTS.
Sunday, June 3, 2007
TRINITY SUNDAY, CYCLE C
DO YOU REMEMBER THE STORY FROM GENESIS WHEN ABRAHAM AND SARAH WERE VISITED BY THREE STRANGERS, AND AFTER THEY HAD EXTENDED HOSPITALITY THE STRANGERS ANNOUNCED THAT THEY WOULD RETURN IN ONE YEAR AND SARAH WOULD HAVE A CHILD. AND SARA LAUGHED BECAUSE SHE AND ABRAHAM WERE EXTREMELY OLD. THERE IS A GREEK ORTHODOX ICON WHICH DEPICTS THIS MOMENT. IN THE FOREGROUND ARE THE THREE STRANGERS, SITTING AT A TABLE UNDER A TREE, IN THE FRONT OF ABRAHAM'S TENT. ABRAHAM IS HOVERING BEHIND THEM, WAITING ON THEM, AND SARAH IS A LITTLE FURTHER BACK, ALSO SERVING. THE THREE STRANGERS SEEM TO BE IN CONVERSATION WITH ONE ANOTHER. AND CHRISTIAN TRADITION FROM VERY EARLY TIMES SEES THIS AS A MOMENT WHEN GOD MANIFESTED HIMSELF AS TRINITY.
THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THIS IMAGE THAT SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT THE TRINITY THAT WE PROBABLY DON'T THINK ABOUT MUCH; THE THREE PERSONS IN ONE GOD ARE IN CONVERSATION WITH ONE ANOTHER; THEY ENJOY EACH OTHER'S COMPANY; THEY FIND COMFORT IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP. THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND; THINK OF THAT PERSON OR PERSONS THAT YOU CAN BE COMPLETELY AT HOME WITH, THAT YOU CAN BE YOURSELF, THAT YOU CAN LET DOWN ALL YOUR GUARD. THAT IS SOMETHING LIKE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. IN EACH OTHER'S PRESENCE THEY ARE COMPLETELY THEMSELVES; THEY EXPERIENCE THEIR SAMENESS, THEIR GODHEAD; THEY EXPERIENCE AND REJOICE IN THEIR DIFFERENCE, THE FATHER IS NOT THE SON. THE SON IS NOT THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND SO FORTH. THE TRINITY IS NOT JUST AN ARTICLE OF FAITH THAT WE CHRISTIANS MUST BELIEVE; THE TRINITY HAS CONSEQUENCES. IF GOD IS FUNDAMENTALLY A RELATIONSHIP, WHICH IS WHAT THE TRINITY TEACHES US, THEN IT IS IN RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE BECOME GOD-LIKE. AND FOR A RELATIONSHIP TO BE GOD-LIKE, IT MUST APPROACH THE KIND OF TRANSPARENCY, OPENNESS, TRUST, THAT IS IN THE GOD RELATIONSHIP.
THE TRINITY ALSO TEACHES US ABOUT WHY GOD CREATED US. OUR OLD CATECHISM USED TO SAY THAT GOD CREATED US TO KNOW, LOVE, AND SERVE HIM IN THIS WORLD AND TO BE HAPPY WITH HIM IN THE NEXT. STILL A GOOD ANSWER. BUT GOD DID NOT CREATE US OUT OF NEED, OR OUT OF SOME SORT OF GENEROUS IMPULSE. GOD CREATED US BECAUSE IT WAS A NATURAL OUTGROWTH OF THE LOVE THAT EXISTS BETWEEN THE THREE PERSONS. SOME PEOPLE HAVE ARGUED THAT IF THE UNIVERSE IS SEVERAL BILLION YEARS OLD, IF THERE ARE COUNTLESS STARS AND EVEN MORE COUNTLESS PLANETS; IF LIFE ON EARTH HAS SPUN OFF IN MILLIONS OF DIRECTIONS, AND WHOLE SPECIES HAVE COME AND GONE DOWN THROUGH THOUSANDS OF CENTURIES, IT MUST MEAN GOD IS TERRIBLY INEFFICIENT IF THE OBJECT WAS TO CREATE MAN. AND IF THE OBJECT WAS TO BRING MAN TO SALVATION THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, THEN WHAT ABOUT THE BILLIONS OF PEOPLE, PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE, WHO HAVE NOT HEARD OF CHRIST OR WILL NOT HEAR? ISN'T THAT EXTREMELY INEFFICIENT? ISN'T GOD REMARKABLY WASTEFUL? BUT I SEE IT INSTEAD AS GOD'S WAY – IN THE CENTER OF THE TRINITY, THERE IS AWESOME CREATIVE LOVE, MORE POWERFUL THAN ANYTHING WE CAN IMAGINE; AND IN THAT LOVE, CREATION IS HAPPENING ALL THE TIME, THINGS ARE COMING INTO BEING, GOING OUT OF BEING; AND SOMEHOW IN THE END, ALL WILL BE GATHERED TOGETHER AS GOD PLANS. THE GIFT OF BEING, WHETHER YOU ARE AN ANGEL OR AN ANT, IS A GIFT IN AND OF ITSELF WHICH NO BEING CAN GIVE ITSELF OR ANY OTHER BEING.
ANOTHER INSIGHT FROM THE EARLY DAYS OF THE CHURCH HAS TO DO WITH THE DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PERSONS OF THE TRINITY SUMMED UP IN THE GREEK WORD “PERICHORESIS”. THIS MEANS SOMETHING LIKE “DANCING AROUND” AND REFLECTS THE FACT THAT THE TRINITY IS NO STATIC THING; EACH PERSON ENFOLDS, AND IS ENFOLDED, BY THE OTHER PERSON. THAT IS WHY WHEN THE FATHER IS CREATING, THE SON AND SPIRIT ARE THERE AS WELL; AND WHEN THE SON IS REDEEMING, THERE THE FATHER AND THE SPIRIT ARE; EACH PERSON CARRIES OUT HIS ROLE AS GOD, BUT THE OTHER TWO PERSONS ARE RIGHT THERE IN A SENSE STEPPING BACK, BUT AT THE SAME TIME PARTICIPATING. HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS IN WHICH ALL PARTICIPANTS RECOGNIZE AND REJOICE IN THE GIFTS OF EACH OTHER; IN WHICH EACH SUPPORTS THE OTHER IN EXERCISING THEIR GIFTS, AND THERE IS NO RIVALRY, NO JEALOUSY – THESE RELATIONSHIPS ARE TRINITARIAN.
AND FINALLY THE TRINITY IS ENMESHED IN OUR LIVES. HOW DO WE EXPERIENCE GOD THE FATHER? IF YOU ARE AWARE OF CREATION – NOT JUST THINGS, BUT THE BEAUTY OF THINGS, THE GRANDEUR OF THINGS, THE WAY ALL CREATION SORT OF WORKS TOGETHER, YOU ARE MEETING GOD THE FATHER.
WHEN YOU SEE SOMEONE WHO IS NEEDY, AND WE ALL ARE, BUT WHEN YOU SEE SOMEONE ELSE, SOMEONE WHO SHARES YOUR HUMANITY, SOMEONE WHO MAY BE EXPERIENCING PAIN, LONELINESS, JOY, -- YOU ARE EXPERIENCING GOD THE SON, WHO BECAME ONE OF US, AND SHARED EVERYTHING WITH US, AND BY DOING SO UNITED US AND MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO TRANSCEND OUR LONELINESS. AND BECAUSE HE BECAME ONE OF US, IN SOME MYSTERIOUS WAY HE BECOMES US AND WE BECOME HIM AND HE CAN SAY, “WHAT YOU DO FOR THE LEAST OF MY BROTHERS, THAT YOU DO FOR ME”.
AND WHEN YOU HEAR THE WHISPERINGS IN YOUR HEART, WHEN YOU FEEL THOSE IMPULSES TO REACH OUT TO SOMEONE AND DO SOMETHING FOR HIM, EVEN IF IT IS TO DROP A QUARTER IN A PAPER CUP HELD IN A FILTHY HAND, OR OFFER A WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO SOMEONE WHO IS STRUGGLING, YOU ARE ENCOUNTERING THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE HELPER WHO SPEAKS WITHIN EACH OF US, WITHOUT WHOM WE CAN DO NOTHING THAT IS GOOD.
GOD GIVES US EVERY GOOD GIFT AS CREATOR; GOD PROVIDES THE MEANS FOR US TO USE THOSE GIFTS AS REDEEMER, WHO LIVES IN US, WHO IDENTIFIES WITH US; AND GOD TELLS US HOW TO USE THE GIFTS WE ARE GIVEN TO MAKE THE WORLD HOLY, AS THE SANCTIFIER WHO MAKES US HIS TEMPLE.
GOD DID NOT REVEAL HIS INNER NATURE TO US JUST SO THEOLOGIANS COULD SPEND LIFETIMES THINKING AND WRITING ABOUT THE TRINITY. HE REVEALS HIS NATURE SO THAT WE WOULD KNOW THAT WE FIND OUR SALVATION IN RELATIONSHIPS, NEVER OFF BY OURSELVES; AND THAT RELATIONSHIPS MUST DEVELOP AND BECOME PERFECT BY FOLLOWING THE TRINITARIAN MODEL.
SO ON TRINITY SUNDAY LET US ASK THE FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT TO PERFECT EACH OF US AND PERFECT OUR COMMUNITY SO THAT THOSE WHO SEE US WILL SEE GOD, AND BE MOVED TO JOIN US IN OUR JOURNEY BACK TO THE CENTER OF THE TRINITY.
THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THIS IMAGE THAT SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT THE TRINITY THAT WE PROBABLY DON'T THINK ABOUT MUCH; THE THREE PERSONS IN ONE GOD ARE IN CONVERSATION WITH ONE ANOTHER; THEY ENJOY EACH OTHER'S COMPANY; THEY FIND COMFORT IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP. THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND; THINK OF THAT PERSON OR PERSONS THAT YOU CAN BE COMPLETELY AT HOME WITH, THAT YOU CAN BE YOURSELF, THAT YOU CAN LET DOWN ALL YOUR GUARD. THAT IS SOMETHING LIKE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. IN EACH OTHER'S PRESENCE THEY ARE COMPLETELY THEMSELVES; THEY EXPERIENCE THEIR SAMENESS, THEIR GODHEAD; THEY EXPERIENCE AND REJOICE IN THEIR DIFFERENCE, THE FATHER IS NOT THE SON. THE SON IS NOT THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND SO FORTH. THE TRINITY IS NOT JUST AN ARTICLE OF FAITH THAT WE CHRISTIANS MUST BELIEVE; THE TRINITY HAS CONSEQUENCES. IF GOD IS FUNDAMENTALLY A RELATIONSHIP, WHICH IS WHAT THE TRINITY TEACHES US, THEN IT IS IN RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE BECOME GOD-LIKE. AND FOR A RELATIONSHIP TO BE GOD-LIKE, IT MUST APPROACH THE KIND OF TRANSPARENCY, OPENNESS, TRUST, THAT IS IN THE GOD RELATIONSHIP.
THE TRINITY ALSO TEACHES US ABOUT WHY GOD CREATED US. OUR OLD CATECHISM USED TO SAY THAT GOD CREATED US TO KNOW, LOVE, AND SERVE HIM IN THIS WORLD AND TO BE HAPPY WITH HIM IN THE NEXT. STILL A GOOD ANSWER. BUT GOD DID NOT CREATE US OUT OF NEED, OR OUT OF SOME SORT OF GENEROUS IMPULSE. GOD CREATED US BECAUSE IT WAS A NATURAL OUTGROWTH OF THE LOVE THAT EXISTS BETWEEN THE THREE PERSONS. SOME PEOPLE HAVE ARGUED THAT IF THE UNIVERSE IS SEVERAL BILLION YEARS OLD, IF THERE ARE COUNTLESS STARS AND EVEN MORE COUNTLESS PLANETS; IF LIFE ON EARTH HAS SPUN OFF IN MILLIONS OF DIRECTIONS, AND WHOLE SPECIES HAVE COME AND GONE DOWN THROUGH THOUSANDS OF CENTURIES, IT MUST MEAN GOD IS TERRIBLY INEFFICIENT IF THE OBJECT WAS TO CREATE MAN. AND IF THE OBJECT WAS TO BRING MAN TO SALVATION THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, THEN WHAT ABOUT THE BILLIONS OF PEOPLE, PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE, WHO HAVE NOT HEARD OF CHRIST OR WILL NOT HEAR? ISN'T THAT EXTREMELY INEFFICIENT? ISN'T GOD REMARKABLY WASTEFUL? BUT I SEE IT INSTEAD AS GOD'S WAY – IN THE CENTER OF THE TRINITY, THERE IS AWESOME CREATIVE LOVE, MORE POWERFUL THAN ANYTHING WE CAN IMAGINE; AND IN THAT LOVE, CREATION IS HAPPENING ALL THE TIME, THINGS ARE COMING INTO BEING, GOING OUT OF BEING; AND SOMEHOW IN THE END, ALL WILL BE GATHERED TOGETHER AS GOD PLANS. THE GIFT OF BEING, WHETHER YOU ARE AN ANGEL OR AN ANT, IS A GIFT IN AND OF ITSELF WHICH NO BEING CAN GIVE ITSELF OR ANY OTHER BEING.
ANOTHER INSIGHT FROM THE EARLY DAYS OF THE CHURCH HAS TO DO WITH THE DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PERSONS OF THE TRINITY SUMMED UP IN THE GREEK WORD “PERICHORESIS”. THIS MEANS SOMETHING LIKE “DANCING AROUND” AND REFLECTS THE FACT THAT THE TRINITY IS NO STATIC THING; EACH PERSON ENFOLDS, AND IS ENFOLDED, BY THE OTHER PERSON. THAT IS WHY WHEN THE FATHER IS CREATING, THE SON AND SPIRIT ARE THERE AS WELL; AND WHEN THE SON IS REDEEMING, THERE THE FATHER AND THE SPIRIT ARE; EACH PERSON CARRIES OUT HIS ROLE AS GOD, BUT THE OTHER TWO PERSONS ARE RIGHT THERE IN A SENSE STEPPING BACK, BUT AT THE SAME TIME PARTICIPATING. HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS IN WHICH ALL PARTICIPANTS RECOGNIZE AND REJOICE IN THE GIFTS OF EACH OTHER; IN WHICH EACH SUPPORTS THE OTHER IN EXERCISING THEIR GIFTS, AND THERE IS NO RIVALRY, NO JEALOUSY – THESE RELATIONSHIPS ARE TRINITARIAN.
AND FINALLY THE TRINITY IS ENMESHED IN OUR LIVES. HOW DO WE EXPERIENCE GOD THE FATHER? IF YOU ARE AWARE OF CREATION – NOT JUST THINGS, BUT THE BEAUTY OF THINGS, THE GRANDEUR OF THINGS, THE WAY ALL CREATION SORT OF WORKS TOGETHER, YOU ARE MEETING GOD THE FATHER.
WHEN YOU SEE SOMEONE WHO IS NEEDY, AND WE ALL ARE, BUT WHEN YOU SEE SOMEONE ELSE, SOMEONE WHO SHARES YOUR HUMANITY, SOMEONE WHO MAY BE EXPERIENCING PAIN, LONELINESS, JOY, -- YOU ARE EXPERIENCING GOD THE SON, WHO BECAME ONE OF US, AND SHARED EVERYTHING WITH US, AND BY DOING SO UNITED US AND MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO TRANSCEND OUR LONELINESS. AND BECAUSE HE BECAME ONE OF US, IN SOME MYSTERIOUS WAY HE BECOMES US AND WE BECOME HIM AND HE CAN SAY, “WHAT YOU DO FOR THE LEAST OF MY BROTHERS, THAT YOU DO FOR ME”.
AND WHEN YOU HEAR THE WHISPERINGS IN YOUR HEART, WHEN YOU FEEL THOSE IMPULSES TO REACH OUT TO SOMEONE AND DO SOMETHING FOR HIM, EVEN IF IT IS TO DROP A QUARTER IN A PAPER CUP HELD IN A FILTHY HAND, OR OFFER A WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO SOMEONE WHO IS STRUGGLING, YOU ARE ENCOUNTERING THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE HELPER WHO SPEAKS WITHIN EACH OF US, WITHOUT WHOM WE CAN DO NOTHING THAT IS GOOD.
GOD GIVES US EVERY GOOD GIFT AS CREATOR; GOD PROVIDES THE MEANS FOR US TO USE THOSE GIFTS AS REDEEMER, WHO LIVES IN US, WHO IDENTIFIES WITH US; AND GOD TELLS US HOW TO USE THE GIFTS WE ARE GIVEN TO MAKE THE WORLD HOLY, AS THE SANCTIFIER WHO MAKES US HIS TEMPLE.
GOD DID NOT REVEAL HIS INNER NATURE TO US JUST SO THEOLOGIANS COULD SPEND LIFETIMES THINKING AND WRITING ABOUT THE TRINITY. HE REVEALS HIS NATURE SO THAT WE WOULD KNOW THAT WE FIND OUR SALVATION IN RELATIONSHIPS, NEVER OFF BY OURSELVES; AND THAT RELATIONSHIPS MUST DEVELOP AND BECOME PERFECT BY FOLLOWING THE TRINITARIAN MODEL.
SO ON TRINITY SUNDAY LET US ASK THE FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT TO PERFECT EACH OF US AND PERFECT OUR COMMUNITY SO THAT THOSE WHO SEE US WILL SEE GOD, AND BE MOVED TO JOIN US IN OUR JOURNEY BACK TO THE CENTER OF THE TRINITY.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Pentecost Sunday cycle C
PENTECOST
THE WEATHER IS GETTING WARMER. ONE OF THESE DAYS YOU AND I WILL HAVE THAT STANDARD SUMMER EXPERIENCE. WE WILL OPEN THE DOOR TO OUR CAR AND BE MET WITH A BLAST OF HOT, STALE AIR. THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR WILL BE SWELTERING. AND THEN WE WILL OPEN THE WINDOW, AND A LITTLE AIR WILL BEGIN TO CIRCULATE IN THE CAR, AND GRADUALLY IT WILL BE COOLER; AND WE WILL CATCH LITTLE SMELLS, SMELLS OF FLOWERS, OF CUT GRASS, PROBABLY A LITTLE TOUCH OF EXHAUST FROM PASSING CARS – BUT THE AIR WHICH HAD BEEN A DEAD WEIGHT WILL COME ALIVE.
AT THE FIRST PENTECOST, THE APOSTLES WERE IN A ROOM. WE ARE TOLD THAT THEY HAD EVERYTHING CLOSED OFF; THEY WERE FRIGHTENED. JERUSALEM GETS HOT, AND THE ROOMS THAT PEOPLE BUILT IN THOSE DAYS WERE QUITE SMALL; AND IF THERE WERE WINDOWS THEY WERE SMALL AS WELL; AND PEOPLE DIDN'T BATHE NEARLY AS OFTEN AS WE DO, AND IN THAT LITTLE ROOM IT WASN'T MUCH DIFFERENT, I THINK, FROM THE INSIDE OF A CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER. THEY WERE SWELTERING; THE BODY ODOR WAS UNPLEASANT, AND THEIR NATURAL REACTION TO THE HEAT WAS PROBABLY EXAGGERATED BY THEIR FEAR. THEY MUST HAVE THOUGHT THEY WERE IN HELL.
AND THEN A WIND RUSHES UPON THEM, AND THE HOT AIR BECOMES COOL, AND THERE ARE TONGUES OF FLAME ABOVE THEIR HEADS, AND THE FEAR THEY EXPERIENCED SEEMS TO BE BUT A DISTANT MEMORY. AND THEY CAN'T WAIT TO GET OUT AND PROCLAIM WHAT HAS HAPPENED, SPEAKING NOT IN HEBREW OR ARAMAIC, BUT IN THE VERY LANGUAGE OF GOD, A LANGUAGE THAT ALL CAN UNDERSTAND. AND THE CHURCH WAS BORN.
A LITTLE GIRL WAS IN HER ROOM AT NIGHT AND CALLED FOR HER MOTHER. “I'M SCARED!” SHE EXCLAIMED. HER MOTHER REMINDED HER THAT SHE SHOULD NOT BE SCARED, GOD WAS THERE, AND HE WAS EVERYWHERE. “I KNOW GOD IS HERE,” SHE REPLIED, “BUT SOMETIMES I NEED SOMEONE WITH SKIN ON.”
THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE THIRD PERSON OF THE TRINITY, IS GOD PUTTING SKIN ON. HE IS THE ONE WHO LIVES IN US AND PROMPTS US TO CARRY OUT THE WORK THAT JESUS STARTED. I THINK ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THAT WE HAVE SUCH A HARD TIME GRASPING WHAT HE IS ALL ABOUT. WE CAN TALK ABOUT GOD THE FATHER AS CREATOR, AND WE SEE IN OUR MIND'S EYE A DIGNIFIED FIGURE WITH A LONG WHITE BEARD. WE HAVE MANY IMAGES OF JESUS, AND MANY OF US FOCUS MOST OF OUR WORSHIP TOWARDS THIS SECOND PERSON IN THE GODHEAD, WHOM WE CAN IDENTIFY WITH, BECAUSE HE WALKED THE EARTH AND LITERALLY HAS BEEN WHERE WE ALL HAVE BEEN AND WILL GO; HE HAS BEEN AN EMBRYO, A NEWBORN, A CHILD, A TEENAGER, A YOUNG ADULT, AND HE HAS SUFFERED AND DIED, AND EVEN GONE INTO THE REALM ON THE OTHER SIDE OF DEATH.
BUT THE SPIRIT? OUR MINDS DO NOT READILY COME UP WITH SATISFACTORY IMAGES; A DOVE? A FLAME? A WIND? WATER? BUT HE IS A PERSON, WHO THINKS, FEELS, ACTS, AND LOVES; BUT WE ARE HIS SKIN. HE PROMPTS US, COMFORTS US, GIVES US COURAGE, PUTS WORDS INTO OUR MOUTHS, AND THE MORE WE LET HIM TAKE OVER OUR LIVES, THE MORE POWERFUL WE BECOME IN DOING THE WORKS OF JESUS. THESE ARE WONDERFUL IDEAS, RIGHT? THEN WHY AREN'T WE MORE AWARE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT? WHERE ARE HIS WORKS, THE WORKS WHICH SEEMED TO PERMEATE THE EARLY CHURCH, THE POWER THAT MADE THE EARLY CHURCH SO STRONG, THAT GAVE PEOPLE THE COURAGE TO TRAVEL TO DISTANT LANDS TO CARRY THE GOSPEL MESSAGE; TO JOIN MONASTERIES OR RELIGIOUS ORDERS DEVOTED TO LIVING THE GOSPEL MORE PERFECTLY, TO EVEN BE WILLING TO DIE FOR THE SAKE OF JESUS?
THE HOLY SPIRIT WANTS THOSE IN WHICH HE LIVES, YOU AND I, TO SURRENDER OURSELVES TO HIM, TO LET HIM LEAD US. THE MORE WE DO THIS, THE GREATER THE WORKS THAT HE CAN ACHIEVE WITH US. BUT WE HAVE A TERRIBLE TIME SURRENDERING. FOR ONE THING, WE HATE CHANGE, WE HATE THE UNKNOWN. WE CLING TO THE ILLUSION THAT WE ARE IN CONTROL OF OUR LIVES, EVEN THOUGH WE KNOW WE AREN'T. WE WORRY ABOUT THE FUTURE, ABOUT HOW PEOPLE LOOK AT US, ABOUT OUR COMFORTS, OUR PLANS, OUR HOBBIES AND OUR JOBS. WE HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT – JESUS PROMISED – BUT WE FIGHT HIM RATHER THAN SURRENDERING TO HIM.
BUT HERE WE ARE ON PENTECOST SUNDAY, CELEBRATING THE HOLY SPIRIT, CELEBRATING THE BIRTH OF THE CHURCH. WE ARE IN A ROOM, AND THE AIR IS STILL. THE WALLS AND THE WINDOWS AND DOORS KEEP THE OUTSIDE OUT AND THE INSIDE IN. MAYBE THE AIR IS A LITTLE STUFFY. MAYBE WE ARE UNCERTAIN, AND DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO NEXT. MAYBE WE ARE AFRAID OF WHAT WE WILL FIND WHEN WE GET OUT THERE.
BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS HERE! JESUS GAVE THE SPIRIT TO THE CHURCH ON THAT PENTECOST SUNDAY 2000 YEARS AGO, AND THE SPIRIT IS STILL HERE! DESPITE POOR LEADERS AND EVEN POORER FOLLOWERS, DESPITE PERSECUTION AND COMPETING RELIGIONS, DESPITE WIDESPREAD AND INCREASING SECULARISM, THE CHURCH IS STILL HERE, STILL POSSESSING THE SPIRIT THAT MOVED OVER THE WATERS AT THE BEGINNING OF CREATION, THAT INSPIRED THE PROPHETS, THAT WORKED MIRACLES THROUGH THE APOSTLES, AND THAT RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD. THAT SAME SPIRIT IS IN YOU AND IN I, AND JESUS REFERRED TO HIM AS THE PARACLETE, AND FUNDAMENTALLY, THAT MEANS HELPER; HE LIVES IN US TO HELP US, TO LIGHT A FIRE IN US, TO TAKE OUR HUMANITY AND MAKE IT DIVINE. WHAT A GIFT JESUS GAVE US.
DO YOU FEEL A LITTLE BREEZE? BE STILL AND SENSE IT; MAYBE IT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT, MOVING AMONG US, AS HE DID AMONG THE APOSTLES. SURRENDER TO HIM; TELL HIM THAT YOU WANT HIM TO DIRECT YOUR LIFE; TELL HIM THAT YOU WANT HIS HELP TO REMOVE ALL THE BARRIERS BETWEEN YOU, THAT YOU ARE SORRY FOR YOUR SINS, YOUR SELFISHNESS, YOUR FOOLISH DELUSION THAT YOU ARE THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE.
IS THE BREEZE GETTING A LITTLE STRONGER? IS THERE A TINY MOVEMENT IN YOUR HEART THAT MAKES YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT JESUS? THAT MAKES YOU WANT TO BRING SOMEONE YOU LOVE CLOSER TO JESUS? THAT'S THE HOLY SPIRIT! LET HIM MOVE YOU!
IS THERE SOMETHING IN YOUR HEART THAT WANTS THE EUCHARIST? IS THERE A PART OF YOU THAT WANTS TO SPEAK YOUR DEEPEST SECRETS, YOUR HIDDEN FEARS, TO GOD YOUR FATHER? ASK THE HOLY SPIRIT TO PRAY IN YOU TO THE FATHER, BECAUSE HE DOES THAT AS WELL.
MAY WE ALL FEEL THE HOLY SPIRIT IN US AND AMONG US ON THIS PENTECOST. COME HOLY SPIRIT, COME!
THE WEATHER IS GETTING WARMER. ONE OF THESE DAYS YOU AND I WILL HAVE THAT STANDARD SUMMER EXPERIENCE. WE WILL OPEN THE DOOR TO OUR CAR AND BE MET WITH A BLAST OF HOT, STALE AIR. THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR WILL BE SWELTERING. AND THEN WE WILL OPEN THE WINDOW, AND A LITTLE AIR WILL BEGIN TO CIRCULATE IN THE CAR, AND GRADUALLY IT WILL BE COOLER; AND WE WILL CATCH LITTLE SMELLS, SMELLS OF FLOWERS, OF CUT GRASS, PROBABLY A LITTLE TOUCH OF EXHAUST FROM PASSING CARS – BUT THE AIR WHICH HAD BEEN A DEAD WEIGHT WILL COME ALIVE.
AT THE FIRST PENTECOST, THE APOSTLES WERE IN A ROOM. WE ARE TOLD THAT THEY HAD EVERYTHING CLOSED OFF; THEY WERE FRIGHTENED. JERUSALEM GETS HOT, AND THE ROOMS THAT PEOPLE BUILT IN THOSE DAYS WERE QUITE SMALL; AND IF THERE WERE WINDOWS THEY WERE SMALL AS WELL; AND PEOPLE DIDN'T BATHE NEARLY AS OFTEN AS WE DO, AND IN THAT LITTLE ROOM IT WASN'T MUCH DIFFERENT, I THINK, FROM THE INSIDE OF A CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER. THEY WERE SWELTERING; THE BODY ODOR WAS UNPLEASANT, AND THEIR NATURAL REACTION TO THE HEAT WAS PROBABLY EXAGGERATED BY THEIR FEAR. THEY MUST HAVE THOUGHT THEY WERE IN HELL.
AND THEN A WIND RUSHES UPON THEM, AND THE HOT AIR BECOMES COOL, AND THERE ARE TONGUES OF FLAME ABOVE THEIR HEADS, AND THE FEAR THEY EXPERIENCED SEEMS TO BE BUT A DISTANT MEMORY. AND THEY CAN'T WAIT TO GET OUT AND PROCLAIM WHAT HAS HAPPENED, SPEAKING NOT IN HEBREW OR ARAMAIC, BUT IN THE VERY LANGUAGE OF GOD, A LANGUAGE THAT ALL CAN UNDERSTAND. AND THE CHURCH WAS BORN.
A LITTLE GIRL WAS IN HER ROOM AT NIGHT AND CALLED FOR HER MOTHER. “I'M SCARED!” SHE EXCLAIMED. HER MOTHER REMINDED HER THAT SHE SHOULD NOT BE SCARED, GOD WAS THERE, AND HE WAS EVERYWHERE. “I KNOW GOD IS HERE,” SHE REPLIED, “BUT SOMETIMES I NEED SOMEONE WITH SKIN ON.”
THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE THIRD PERSON OF THE TRINITY, IS GOD PUTTING SKIN ON. HE IS THE ONE WHO LIVES IN US AND PROMPTS US TO CARRY OUT THE WORK THAT JESUS STARTED. I THINK ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THAT WE HAVE SUCH A HARD TIME GRASPING WHAT HE IS ALL ABOUT. WE CAN TALK ABOUT GOD THE FATHER AS CREATOR, AND WE SEE IN OUR MIND'S EYE A DIGNIFIED FIGURE WITH A LONG WHITE BEARD. WE HAVE MANY IMAGES OF JESUS, AND MANY OF US FOCUS MOST OF OUR WORSHIP TOWARDS THIS SECOND PERSON IN THE GODHEAD, WHOM WE CAN IDENTIFY WITH, BECAUSE HE WALKED THE EARTH AND LITERALLY HAS BEEN WHERE WE ALL HAVE BEEN AND WILL GO; HE HAS BEEN AN EMBRYO, A NEWBORN, A CHILD, A TEENAGER, A YOUNG ADULT, AND HE HAS SUFFERED AND DIED, AND EVEN GONE INTO THE REALM ON THE OTHER SIDE OF DEATH.
BUT THE SPIRIT? OUR MINDS DO NOT READILY COME UP WITH SATISFACTORY IMAGES; A DOVE? A FLAME? A WIND? WATER? BUT HE IS A PERSON, WHO THINKS, FEELS, ACTS, AND LOVES; BUT WE ARE HIS SKIN. HE PROMPTS US, COMFORTS US, GIVES US COURAGE, PUTS WORDS INTO OUR MOUTHS, AND THE MORE WE LET HIM TAKE OVER OUR LIVES, THE MORE POWERFUL WE BECOME IN DOING THE WORKS OF JESUS. THESE ARE WONDERFUL IDEAS, RIGHT? THEN WHY AREN'T WE MORE AWARE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT? WHERE ARE HIS WORKS, THE WORKS WHICH SEEMED TO PERMEATE THE EARLY CHURCH, THE POWER THAT MADE THE EARLY CHURCH SO STRONG, THAT GAVE PEOPLE THE COURAGE TO TRAVEL TO DISTANT LANDS TO CARRY THE GOSPEL MESSAGE; TO JOIN MONASTERIES OR RELIGIOUS ORDERS DEVOTED TO LIVING THE GOSPEL MORE PERFECTLY, TO EVEN BE WILLING TO DIE FOR THE SAKE OF JESUS?
THE HOLY SPIRIT WANTS THOSE IN WHICH HE LIVES, YOU AND I, TO SURRENDER OURSELVES TO HIM, TO LET HIM LEAD US. THE MORE WE DO THIS, THE GREATER THE WORKS THAT HE CAN ACHIEVE WITH US. BUT WE HAVE A TERRIBLE TIME SURRENDERING. FOR ONE THING, WE HATE CHANGE, WE HATE THE UNKNOWN. WE CLING TO THE ILLUSION THAT WE ARE IN CONTROL OF OUR LIVES, EVEN THOUGH WE KNOW WE AREN'T. WE WORRY ABOUT THE FUTURE, ABOUT HOW PEOPLE LOOK AT US, ABOUT OUR COMFORTS, OUR PLANS, OUR HOBBIES AND OUR JOBS. WE HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT – JESUS PROMISED – BUT WE FIGHT HIM RATHER THAN SURRENDERING TO HIM.
BUT HERE WE ARE ON PENTECOST SUNDAY, CELEBRATING THE HOLY SPIRIT, CELEBRATING THE BIRTH OF THE CHURCH. WE ARE IN A ROOM, AND THE AIR IS STILL. THE WALLS AND THE WINDOWS AND DOORS KEEP THE OUTSIDE OUT AND THE INSIDE IN. MAYBE THE AIR IS A LITTLE STUFFY. MAYBE WE ARE UNCERTAIN, AND DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO NEXT. MAYBE WE ARE AFRAID OF WHAT WE WILL FIND WHEN WE GET OUT THERE.
BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS HERE! JESUS GAVE THE SPIRIT TO THE CHURCH ON THAT PENTECOST SUNDAY 2000 YEARS AGO, AND THE SPIRIT IS STILL HERE! DESPITE POOR LEADERS AND EVEN POORER FOLLOWERS, DESPITE PERSECUTION AND COMPETING RELIGIONS, DESPITE WIDESPREAD AND INCREASING SECULARISM, THE CHURCH IS STILL HERE, STILL POSSESSING THE SPIRIT THAT MOVED OVER THE WATERS AT THE BEGINNING OF CREATION, THAT INSPIRED THE PROPHETS, THAT WORKED MIRACLES THROUGH THE APOSTLES, AND THAT RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD. THAT SAME SPIRIT IS IN YOU AND IN I, AND JESUS REFERRED TO HIM AS THE PARACLETE, AND FUNDAMENTALLY, THAT MEANS HELPER; HE LIVES IN US TO HELP US, TO LIGHT A FIRE IN US, TO TAKE OUR HUMANITY AND MAKE IT DIVINE. WHAT A GIFT JESUS GAVE US.
DO YOU FEEL A LITTLE BREEZE? BE STILL AND SENSE IT; MAYBE IT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT, MOVING AMONG US, AS HE DID AMONG THE APOSTLES. SURRENDER TO HIM; TELL HIM THAT YOU WANT HIM TO DIRECT YOUR LIFE; TELL HIM THAT YOU WANT HIS HELP TO REMOVE ALL THE BARRIERS BETWEEN YOU, THAT YOU ARE SORRY FOR YOUR SINS, YOUR SELFISHNESS, YOUR FOOLISH DELUSION THAT YOU ARE THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE.
IS THE BREEZE GETTING A LITTLE STRONGER? IS THERE A TINY MOVEMENT IN YOUR HEART THAT MAKES YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT JESUS? THAT MAKES YOU WANT TO BRING SOMEONE YOU LOVE CLOSER TO JESUS? THAT'S THE HOLY SPIRIT! LET HIM MOVE YOU!
IS THERE SOMETHING IN YOUR HEART THAT WANTS THE EUCHARIST? IS THERE A PART OF YOU THAT WANTS TO SPEAK YOUR DEEPEST SECRETS, YOUR HIDDEN FEARS, TO GOD YOUR FATHER? ASK THE HOLY SPIRIT TO PRAY IN YOU TO THE FATHER, BECAUSE HE DOES THAT AS WELL.
MAY WE ALL FEEL THE HOLY SPIRIT IN US AND AMONG US ON THIS PENTECOST. COME HOLY SPIRIT, COME!
7th Sunday of Easter, cycle C
JOHN 17:20-26
7TH SUNDAY OF EASTER, CYCLE C
SOME SURVIVORS OF A SHIPWRECK WERE DRIFTING IN A LIFEBOAT. AFTER A FEW DAYS THE PEOPLE IN THE FRONT OF THE BOAT BEGAN TO REFER TO THEMSELVES AS THE “FRONT PEOPLE”. AFTER A FEW MORE DAYS THE FRONT PEOPLE STOPPED TALKING TO THE BACK PEOPLE. THEN ONE DAY THE BOAT SPRANG A LEAK. THE FRONT PEOPLE CONGRATULATED THEMSELVES. THE LEAK WAS IN THE BACK OF THE BOAT, THEY HAD NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.
IF YOU LISTEN TO THE GOSPEL READING TODAY, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH JESUS IS SAYING THAT HE DESIRES ALL OF US TO BE ONE. HE HAS GIVEN HIS OWN GLORY TO US FOR THAT PURPOSE. AND WHY? BECAUSE IT IS A CONDITION OF OUR SHARING THE LOVE WHICH EXISTS BETWEEN THE FATHER AND THE SON. AND FINALLY, THIS UNITY THAT HE PRAYS THAT WE WILL HAVE IS THE VEHICLE BY WHICH THE WHOLE WORLD WILL LEARN OF HIS MESSAGE.
BUT WE ARE LIKE THOSE PEOPLE IN THE LIFEBOAT. WE'RE NOT TOO GOOD AT UNITY. IN SOME PARISHES, THERE ARE DIVISIONS BETWEEN ETHNIC GROUPS. IN OTHERS, THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN THERE A LONG TIME ARE NOT WELCOMING TO THE NEWCOMERS. THERE IS ALWAYS A GROUP WHO DOES ABOUT 90% OF WHAT GETS DONE, A LARGER GROUP WHO COME TO MASS ON SUNDAYS, AND THAT'S ABOUT IT; AND OF COURSE A STILL LARGER GROUP WHO SHOW UP ON CHRISTMAS AND EASTER, AND WHEN THEY WANT SOMEONE BAPTIZED OR MARRIED. MANY OF OUR CATHOLICS DON'T CARE ABOUT THE UNITY THAT JESUS LONGED FOR, BECAUSE THEY DON'T WORK AT IT, THEY DON'T WORK AT BECOMING ONE.
AND I COULD GO ON, AND SO COULD YOU. AND BECAUSE WE AREN'T UNIFIED, WE AREN'T GETTING THE MESSAGE OF JESUS OUT TO THE WORLD. AND BECAUSE WE AREN'T GETTING THAT MESSAGE OUT, PEOPLE HAVE TWO REACTIONS; THERE ARE THOSE WHO GIVE UP ON GOD, AND BECOME SECULAR; THE MESSAGE OF JESUS MEANS NOTHING; IN FACT, THEY ARE INDIFFERENT TO WHETHER OR NOT GOD EXISTS. AND OTHERS, HUNGRY FOR SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT, TURN TO RELIGIOUS GROUPS THAT SEEM TO OFFER MORE – MORE UNITY, FOR SURE.
SO WHAT IS OUR PROBLEM? ON PHILOSOPHER SAID THAT HUMAN BEINGS WERE LIKE PORCUPINES. WHEN WE TRY TO HUDDLE TOGETHER, WE STICK EACH OTHER WITH OUR QUILLS. BY THE TIME WE ARE ADULTS, MOST OF US HAVE BEEN HURT BY RELATIONSHIPS. MOST OF US HAVE DEVELOPED A LITTLE BIT OF A SHELL, AT LEAST, AND A FEW QUILLS AS WELL. THERE ARE A FEW PEOPLE WE TRUST, AND A LOT WE DON'T. THIS IS NATURAL, ITS PART OF BEING HUMAN. IT'S THE REASON PRIMITIVE PEOPLE FORMED TRIBES AND FOUGHT WITH EACH OTHER. IT'S THE REASON MODERN PEOPLE FORM GROUPS OF VARIOUS SORTS. WE ARE COMFORTABLE WHEN THERE IS A CLEAR LINE BETWEEN US AND THEM, BETWEEN THE FRONT OF THE BOAT PEOPLE AND THOSE IN THE BACK.
JESUS WANTS SOMETHING DIFFERENT. HE WANTS US TO BE ONE, HE WANTS US TO INVITE EVERYONE TO BE ONE WITH US. FOR CATHOLICS WHO FOLLOW HIM THERE SHOULD BE NO US AND THEM, THERE SHOULD ONLY BE US AND POTENTIAL MEMBERS OF US, OF OUR GROUP.
AND HOW DO WE DO THIS? ST. STEPHEN SHOWS US. WE FORGIVE. HE HAD BEEN PREACHING THE TRUTH. HE WAS TAKEN OUT OF THE CITY AND STONED. IN THAT VERY MOMENT WHEN HE WAS BEING EXECUTED, HE ASKED GOD TO FORGIVE THOSE WHO WERE PUTTING HIM TO DEATH. FORGIVENESS IS THAT, YES. BUT IT IS BROADER AND MORE SUBTLE. WE HAVE TO BECOME CONSCIOUS OF HOW WE HABITUALLY REACT TO OTHER PEOPLE. WHAT IS IT ABOUT SOMEONE THAT CAUSES ME TO UNCONSCIOUSLY BACK OFF, OR WITHDRAW? WHAT HABITS ARE INTERFERING WITH THE UNITY WE ARE CALLED TO CREATE? SELFISHNESS, SHYNESS, SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS, DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING OUR EMOTIONS, NOT WANTING TO GET HURT – WE CAN ALL FIND SOMETHING.
FIRST, FORGIVENESS HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH FINDING THE QUILLS THAT KEEP US APART FROM EACH OTHER, BECAUSE ONCE WE FIND THEM, THEY NO LONGER NEED TO BE BARRIERS; WE CAN RECOGNIZE THEM FOR WHAT THEY ARE -- ROOTED IN OUR EMOTIONS AND HABITS, NOT IN REALITY.
THE SECOND PART OF FORGIVENESS IS REACHING OUT. WE DON'T WAIT FOR OTHERS TO COME TO US, WE GO TO THEM. IF THE APOSTLES HAD WAITED FOR PEOPLE TO COME, THEY MIGHT NEVER HAVE BEEN MARTYRED, THEY MIGHT HAVE LIVED FAR MORE COMFORTABLE LIVES; BUT THE HERITAGE OF JESUS WOULD HAVE BEEN A MERE HISTORICAL NOTE INSTEAD OF A MOVEMENT THAT INVOLVES ABOUT TWO BILLION PEOPLE.
AND THE THIRD PART OF FORGIVENESS IS THAT WHEN PEOPLE PRICK US WITH THEIR QUILLS, WE KEEP REACHING OUT, WE DON'T GIVE UP.
THE LOVE BETWEEN THE FATHER AND THE SON IS A LOVE WHICH COMES BECAUSE OF PERFECT UNITY; THE FATHER AND THE SON KNOW EACH OTHER PERFECTLY, AND BECAUSE THEY DO, THEY LOVE EACH OTHER SO MUCH THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS BREATHED FORTH – AND REAL LOVE WANTS TO SHARE, WANTS TO BRING OTHERS INTO THE CIRCLE, AND THAT IS WHY THE FATHER SENT THE SON HE LOVED WITH GODLY LOVE INTO THE WORLD; AND THAT IS WHY THE SON WILLINGLY DIED ON THE CROSS; AND THAT IS WHY THE HOLY SPIRIT STILL MOVES AMONG US, PROMPTING US TO LOVE EACH OTHER AND TO BRING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE INTO THE CIRCLE THAT STARTED BEFORE THE BIG BANG, BEFORE THE UNIVERSE CAME INTO EXISTENCE.
WHERE WILL YOU FIND THE HOLY SPIRIT? THE MOST LIKELY PLACE IS WHERE OTHER CHRISTIANS GATHER. HOW MANY OF US HAVE THE SOCIAL ASPECT OF OUR LIVES SOMEWHERE ELSE, NOT IN THE PARISH. THE PARISH, AFTER ALL, IS WHERE GOD WANTS US TO BEGIN BECOMING ONE.
THE PRAYER OF JESUS IS A PRAYER OF DEEP LONGING. IT IS A MOMENT WHEN JESUS ALLOWS US TO LOOK INTO HIS SOUL. AND ALL WE SEE IS LOVE, LOVE SO GREAT THAT HE WILL DIE TO BRING US LIFE. AND TODAY WE SHOULD LOOK INTO OUR OWN LIVES AND ASK, HOW ARE WE RESPONDING TO THAT LOVE? HOW ARE WE TRYING TO ACHIEVE THAT UNITY HE PRAYED FOR. HOW ARE WE PRACTICING FORGIVENESS, DEEPENING OUR POWERS TO FORGIVE?
7TH SUNDAY OF EASTER, CYCLE C
SOME SURVIVORS OF A SHIPWRECK WERE DRIFTING IN A LIFEBOAT. AFTER A FEW DAYS THE PEOPLE IN THE FRONT OF THE BOAT BEGAN TO REFER TO THEMSELVES AS THE “FRONT PEOPLE”. AFTER A FEW MORE DAYS THE FRONT PEOPLE STOPPED TALKING TO THE BACK PEOPLE. THEN ONE DAY THE BOAT SPRANG A LEAK. THE FRONT PEOPLE CONGRATULATED THEMSELVES. THE LEAK WAS IN THE BACK OF THE BOAT, THEY HAD NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.
IF YOU LISTEN TO THE GOSPEL READING TODAY, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH JESUS IS SAYING THAT HE DESIRES ALL OF US TO BE ONE. HE HAS GIVEN HIS OWN GLORY TO US FOR THAT PURPOSE. AND WHY? BECAUSE IT IS A CONDITION OF OUR SHARING THE LOVE WHICH EXISTS BETWEEN THE FATHER AND THE SON. AND FINALLY, THIS UNITY THAT HE PRAYS THAT WE WILL HAVE IS THE VEHICLE BY WHICH THE WHOLE WORLD WILL LEARN OF HIS MESSAGE.
BUT WE ARE LIKE THOSE PEOPLE IN THE LIFEBOAT. WE'RE NOT TOO GOOD AT UNITY. IN SOME PARISHES, THERE ARE DIVISIONS BETWEEN ETHNIC GROUPS. IN OTHERS, THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN THERE A LONG TIME ARE NOT WELCOMING TO THE NEWCOMERS. THERE IS ALWAYS A GROUP WHO DOES ABOUT 90% OF WHAT GETS DONE, A LARGER GROUP WHO COME TO MASS ON SUNDAYS, AND THAT'S ABOUT IT; AND OF COURSE A STILL LARGER GROUP WHO SHOW UP ON CHRISTMAS AND EASTER, AND WHEN THEY WANT SOMEONE BAPTIZED OR MARRIED. MANY OF OUR CATHOLICS DON'T CARE ABOUT THE UNITY THAT JESUS LONGED FOR, BECAUSE THEY DON'T WORK AT IT, THEY DON'T WORK AT BECOMING ONE.
AND I COULD GO ON, AND SO COULD YOU. AND BECAUSE WE AREN'T UNIFIED, WE AREN'T GETTING THE MESSAGE OF JESUS OUT TO THE WORLD. AND BECAUSE WE AREN'T GETTING THAT MESSAGE OUT, PEOPLE HAVE TWO REACTIONS; THERE ARE THOSE WHO GIVE UP ON GOD, AND BECOME SECULAR; THE MESSAGE OF JESUS MEANS NOTHING; IN FACT, THEY ARE INDIFFERENT TO WHETHER OR NOT GOD EXISTS. AND OTHERS, HUNGRY FOR SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT, TURN TO RELIGIOUS GROUPS THAT SEEM TO OFFER MORE – MORE UNITY, FOR SURE.
SO WHAT IS OUR PROBLEM? ON PHILOSOPHER SAID THAT HUMAN BEINGS WERE LIKE PORCUPINES. WHEN WE TRY TO HUDDLE TOGETHER, WE STICK EACH OTHER WITH OUR QUILLS. BY THE TIME WE ARE ADULTS, MOST OF US HAVE BEEN HURT BY RELATIONSHIPS. MOST OF US HAVE DEVELOPED A LITTLE BIT OF A SHELL, AT LEAST, AND A FEW QUILLS AS WELL. THERE ARE A FEW PEOPLE WE TRUST, AND A LOT WE DON'T. THIS IS NATURAL, ITS PART OF BEING HUMAN. IT'S THE REASON PRIMITIVE PEOPLE FORMED TRIBES AND FOUGHT WITH EACH OTHER. IT'S THE REASON MODERN PEOPLE FORM GROUPS OF VARIOUS SORTS. WE ARE COMFORTABLE WHEN THERE IS A CLEAR LINE BETWEEN US AND THEM, BETWEEN THE FRONT OF THE BOAT PEOPLE AND THOSE IN THE BACK.
JESUS WANTS SOMETHING DIFFERENT. HE WANTS US TO BE ONE, HE WANTS US TO INVITE EVERYONE TO BE ONE WITH US. FOR CATHOLICS WHO FOLLOW HIM THERE SHOULD BE NO US AND THEM, THERE SHOULD ONLY BE US AND POTENTIAL MEMBERS OF US, OF OUR GROUP.
AND HOW DO WE DO THIS? ST. STEPHEN SHOWS US. WE FORGIVE. HE HAD BEEN PREACHING THE TRUTH. HE WAS TAKEN OUT OF THE CITY AND STONED. IN THAT VERY MOMENT WHEN HE WAS BEING EXECUTED, HE ASKED GOD TO FORGIVE THOSE WHO WERE PUTTING HIM TO DEATH. FORGIVENESS IS THAT, YES. BUT IT IS BROADER AND MORE SUBTLE. WE HAVE TO BECOME CONSCIOUS OF HOW WE HABITUALLY REACT TO OTHER PEOPLE. WHAT IS IT ABOUT SOMEONE THAT CAUSES ME TO UNCONSCIOUSLY BACK OFF, OR WITHDRAW? WHAT HABITS ARE INTERFERING WITH THE UNITY WE ARE CALLED TO CREATE? SELFISHNESS, SHYNESS, SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS, DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING OUR EMOTIONS, NOT WANTING TO GET HURT – WE CAN ALL FIND SOMETHING.
FIRST, FORGIVENESS HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH FINDING THE QUILLS THAT KEEP US APART FROM EACH OTHER, BECAUSE ONCE WE FIND THEM, THEY NO LONGER NEED TO BE BARRIERS; WE CAN RECOGNIZE THEM FOR WHAT THEY ARE -- ROOTED IN OUR EMOTIONS AND HABITS, NOT IN REALITY.
THE SECOND PART OF FORGIVENESS IS REACHING OUT. WE DON'T WAIT FOR OTHERS TO COME TO US, WE GO TO THEM. IF THE APOSTLES HAD WAITED FOR PEOPLE TO COME, THEY MIGHT NEVER HAVE BEEN MARTYRED, THEY MIGHT HAVE LIVED FAR MORE COMFORTABLE LIVES; BUT THE HERITAGE OF JESUS WOULD HAVE BEEN A MERE HISTORICAL NOTE INSTEAD OF A MOVEMENT THAT INVOLVES ABOUT TWO BILLION PEOPLE.
AND THE THIRD PART OF FORGIVENESS IS THAT WHEN PEOPLE PRICK US WITH THEIR QUILLS, WE KEEP REACHING OUT, WE DON'T GIVE UP.
THE LOVE BETWEEN THE FATHER AND THE SON IS A LOVE WHICH COMES BECAUSE OF PERFECT UNITY; THE FATHER AND THE SON KNOW EACH OTHER PERFECTLY, AND BECAUSE THEY DO, THEY LOVE EACH OTHER SO MUCH THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS BREATHED FORTH – AND REAL LOVE WANTS TO SHARE, WANTS TO BRING OTHERS INTO THE CIRCLE, AND THAT IS WHY THE FATHER SENT THE SON HE LOVED WITH GODLY LOVE INTO THE WORLD; AND THAT IS WHY THE SON WILLINGLY DIED ON THE CROSS; AND THAT IS WHY THE HOLY SPIRIT STILL MOVES AMONG US, PROMPTING US TO LOVE EACH OTHER AND TO BRING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE INTO THE CIRCLE THAT STARTED BEFORE THE BIG BANG, BEFORE THE UNIVERSE CAME INTO EXISTENCE.
WHERE WILL YOU FIND THE HOLY SPIRIT? THE MOST LIKELY PLACE IS WHERE OTHER CHRISTIANS GATHER. HOW MANY OF US HAVE THE SOCIAL ASPECT OF OUR LIVES SOMEWHERE ELSE, NOT IN THE PARISH. THE PARISH, AFTER ALL, IS WHERE GOD WANTS US TO BEGIN BECOMING ONE.
THE PRAYER OF JESUS IS A PRAYER OF DEEP LONGING. IT IS A MOMENT WHEN JESUS ALLOWS US TO LOOK INTO HIS SOUL. AND ALL WE SEE IS LOVE, LOVE SO GREAT THAT HE WILL DIE TO BRING US LIFE. AND TODAY WE SHOULD LOOK INTO OUR OWN LIVES AND ASK, HOW ARE WE RESPONDING TO THAT LOVE? HOW ARE WE TRYING TO ACHIEVE THAT UNITY HE PRAYED FOR. HOW ARE WE PRACTICING FORGIVENESS, DEEPENING OUR POWERS TO FORGIVE?
6th Sunday of Easter, cycle C
JOHN 14:23-29
SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER, CYCLE C
LAST WEEK ONE OF MY PATIENTS PASSED AWAY. I HAD BEEN CARING FOR HIM FOR OVER THIRTEEN YEARS. HE WAS A GOOD MAN, NOT WELL EDUCATED. HE WORKED IN THE BUILDING TRADE. HE HAD A LOVELY WIFE, TWO SONS, AND TWO DAUGHTERS. HE WAS GENEROUS, AND SPENT A LOT OF HIS SPARE TIME RAISING MONEY FOR VARIOUS CAUSES. HE WAS A DEEPLY COMMITTED CATHOLIC. I GOT TO KNOW HIM VERY WELL. DOWN THROUGH THE YEARS, AS HIS CANCER WOULD DISAPPEAR AND COME BACK, HE WOULD FACE DEATH ALL OVER AGAIN, THEN EXPERIENCE A REPRIEVE. FINALLY, IT WAS CLEAR THAT THIS TIME THERE WOULD BE NO REPRIEVE. OVER THE LAST YEAR HE LOST THE USE OF HIS LEGS, LOST BLADDER CONTROL, AND REQUIRED MORPHINE PUMPED INTO HIS SPINAL CANAL TO HANDLE THE PAIN. AND THERE WERE MANY TIMES WHEN HE WAS GRUMPY AND SHORT TEMPERED. I MET HIS WIDOW THE OTHER DAY WHO TOLD ME ABOUT HIS LAST DAYS. HIS PASTOR HAD COME TO ANOINT HIM. HIS BROTHERS AND HIS FRIENDS HAD ALL VISITED. HE WAS SURROUNDED BY HIS CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN. HE TURNED TO HIS WIFE AND SAID, “ITS TIME”. AND A FEW MINUTES LATER, HE QUIETLY DIED, AT PEACE.
JESUS PROMISES PEACE TODAY, A PEACE THAT THE WORLD CAN'T GIVE. IN THE END, MY PATIENT SEEMED TO HAVE RECEIVED THAT PEACE, THAT PEACE THAT LEAVES YOUR HEART UNTROUBLED AND UNAFRAID. THAT PEACE THAT COMES FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT SPEAKING THOSE WORDS INTO YOUR SOUL THAT ASSURE YOU THAT YOU ARE LOVED, YOU ARE CARED FOR, YOU WILL SHARE IN THE RESURRECTION.
WE WILL ALL BE WHERE MY PATIENT WAS. WE WILL ALL HAVE A MOMENT WHEN OUR WORLD IS COMPLETELY TURNED UPSIDE DOWN, WHERE WE WILL BE WRENCHED OUT OF OUR COMFORTABLE ROUTINE, WHERE THE INDEFINITE FUTURE THAT WE FACE SUDDENLY BECOMES DEFINITE, UNCONTROLLABLE, OUT OF OUR HANDS. AND YOU KNOW, THE WORLD OFFERS PEACE. SOMETIMES IT MAY BE THE PEACE OF AN ABORTION, WHICH TAKES AWAY THAT INCONVENIENT NEW LIFE WHICH, IF ALLOWED TO LIVE, WILL RUIN SOMEONE'S COLLEGE EDUCATION OR JEOPARDIZE HIS OR HER CAREER. OR WHEN LIFE APPEARS HOPELESS, SUICIDE AND EUTHANASIA CAN END THE STRUGGLE – THE WORLD OFFERS PEACE. THE WORLD'S PEACE MAY COME FROM WINNING A LAWSUIT; IT MAY COME FROM SPENDING ENOUGH MONEY TO MAKE MY PROBLEM GO AWAY. PERHAPS I CAN RUN AWAY AND BECOME ANONYMOUS, PERHAPS I CAN DIVORCE AND START OVER AGAIN. THE WORLD OFFERS A CERTAIN KIND OF PEACE.
THE PEACE JESUS OFFERS, HOWEVER, IS DIFFERENT. THE WORLD SAYS, “YOU CAN HAVE PEACE IF YOU JUST CHANGE THE REALITY AROUND YOU.” JESUS SAYS, “REAL PEACE IS WHEN YOU CHANGE YOUR HEART.” AND THAT CHANGE OF HEART IS RECOGNITION THAT GOD IS IN CHARGE, AND THAT GREAT GOOD CAN COME FROM THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH WE FIND OURSELVES, EVEN IF WE GOT THERE THROUGH OUR OWN MISTAKES. IF GOD CAN TURN THE CRUCIFIXION INTO THE RESURRECTION, HE CAN AND DOES TURN MY CIRCUMSTANCES INTO BLESSINGS. AND WHEN WE HEAR THE HOLY SPIRIT REMINDING US OF THIS AND ACCEPT IT, WE FIND PEACE.
IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR MASS, WE EXCHANGE A SIGN OF PEACE. SOMETIMES WE WAVE OR SMILE, SOMETIMES WE SHAKE HANDS; AND MANY OF US THINK THIS IS SORT OF A GREETING. BUT LISTEN: FIRST OUR PRIEST RECALLS THE VERY WORDS WE HEARD IN THE GOSPEL TODAY, AND PRAYS FOR PEACE. THEN HE OFFERS US PEACE – THE PEACE OF THE LORD – NOTICE, NOT THE PEACE OF THE WORLD – BE WITH YOU. AND THEN WE ARE INSTRUCTED TO OFFER A SIGN OF PEACE TO EACH OTHER.
AS CHRISTIANS, WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE PEACE OF CHRIST, AND WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE POWER TO BRING THIS PEACE TO OTHERS. WHEN WE OFFER THE SIGN OF PEACE, WE ARE PLEDGING THAT WE ARE THERE FOR THE OTHER PERSON, WHEN HE HAS HIS WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN, WHEN HER ORDERLY LIFE CRASHES AND BURNS. AND WE BRING PEACE IN SIMPLE WAYS; WE FEED, WE CLOTHE, WE VISIT, WE CONSOLE, WE DO WHAT WE CAN WHEN WE CAN – AND MOST OF ALL, WE PRAY FOR EACH OTHER. BECAUSE CHRISTIANS DO THAT; IF MY HEART IS UNTROUBLED AND UNAFRAID, I CAN HELP YOURS BECOME THAT WAY AS WELL. WHEN YOU SEE THAT I TRUST IN GOD, IT IS EASIER FOR YOU TO DO THE SAME.
MY PATIENT PASSED AWAY IN THAT WONDERFUL PEACE THAT JESUS GIVES. HE HAD THAT PEACE BECAUSE HE WAS GIVEN IT, GIVEN IT BY HIS WIFE, HIS FAMILY, BY HIS CHURCH THROUGH HIS PASTOR; BY HIS FRIENDS AND EVEN BY US, HIS CAREGIVERS. AND GIVING PEACE TO SOMEONE ALWAYS MEANS THAT YOU WILL RECEIVE PEACE AS WELL. BECAUSE THOSE WHO SAW HIM DIE, AND SAW HOW HE DIED, ARE LESS AFRAID, THEY ARE LESS TROUBLED. AND THEY WILL PASS THIS PEACE ON TO OTHERS AND IT WILL BE MAGNIFIED THROUGH THE GRACE OF GOD.
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, NEVER MISS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE THE PEACE THAT JESUS GIVES. NEVER PASS UP A CHANCE TO QUIET A TROUBLED HEART, CONSOLE SOMEONE WHO IS SAD, SOOTHE ONE WHO IS ANXIOUS. BECAUSE NOT ONLY WILL YOU BE GIVING PEACE, BUT YOU WILL BE RECEIVING IT.
THIS IS MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND. AS I WAS THINKING ABOUT TODAY'S READINGS, I REMEMBERED HOW OFTEN I'VE WATCHED MOTHERS ESPECIALLY MY OWN DAUGHTERS, GIVE PEACE TO THEIR LITTLE CHILDREN. I'VE SEEN HOW SOME MOTHERS, SOME FAMILIES, HAVE AN AURA OF PEACE ABOUT THEM, AND THE CHILDREN ARE SECURE AND HAPPY, OUTGOING AND GENEROUS. AND THEN THERE ARE FAMILIES WHERE THERE IS NO PEACE, WHERE NO MATTER WHAT A CHILD ACCOMPLISHES, HE IS EXPECTED TO DO MORE; WHERE RULES ARE STRICT AND PUNISHMENT IS SWIFT; AND I THINK JESUS IS LIKE ONE OF THOSE GOOD MOTHERS, SPEAKING TO US THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHISPERING LET YOUR HEARTS NOT BE TROUBLED OR AFRAID; I AM GOING AWAY, AND I AM COMING BACK TO YOU.
SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER, CYCLE C
LAST WEEK ONE OF MY PATIENTS PASSED AWAY. I HAD BEEN CARING FOR HIM FOR OVER THIRTEEN YEARS. HE WAS A GOOD MAN, NOT WELL EDUCATED. HE WORKED IN THE BUILDING TRADE. HE HAD A LOVELY WIFE, TWO SONS, AND TWO DAUGHTERS. HE WAS GENEROUS, AND SPENT A LOT OF HIS SPARE TIME RAISING MONEY FOR VARIOUS CAUSES. HE WAS A DEEPLY COMMITTED CATHOLIC. I GOT TO KNOW HIM VERY WELL. DOWN THROUGH THE YEARS, AS HIS CANCER WOULD DISAPPEAR AND COME BACK, HE WOULD FACE DEATH ALL OVER AGAIN, THEN EXPERIENCE A REPRIEVE. FINALLY, IT WAS CLEAR THAT THIS TIME THERE WOULD BE NO REPRIEVE. OVER THE LAST YEAR HE LOST THE USE OF HIS LEGS, LOST BLADDER CONTROL, AND REQUIRED MORPHINE PUMPED INTO HIS SPINAL CANAL TO HANDLE THE PAIN. AND THERE WERE MANY TIMES WHEN HE WAS GRUMPY AND SHORT TEMPERED. I MET HIS WIDOW THE OTHER DAY WHO TOLD ME ABOUT HIS LAST DAYS. HIS PASTOR HAD COME TO ANOINT HIM. HIS BROTHERS AND HIS FRIENDS HAD ALL VISITED. HE WAS SURROUNDED BY HIS CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN. HE TURNED TO HIS WIFE AND SAID, “ITS TIME”. AND A FEW MINUTES LATER, HE QUIETLY DIED, AT PEACE.
JESUS PROMISES PEACE TODAY, A PEACE THAT THE WORLD CAN'T GIVE. IN THE END, MY PATIENT SEEMED TO HAVE RECEIVED THAT PEACE, THAT PEACE THAT LEAVES YOUR HEART UNTROUBLED AND UNAFRAID. THAT PEACE THAT COMES FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT SPEAKING THOSE WORDS INTO YOUR SOUL THAT ASSURE YOU THAT YOU ARE LOVED, YOU ARE CARED FOR, YOU WILL SHARE IN THE RESURRECTION.
WE WILL ALL BE WHERE MY PATIENT WAS. WE WILL ALL HAVE A MOMENT WHEN OUR WORLD IS COMPLETELY TURNED UPSIDE DOWN, WHERE WE WILL BE WRENCHED OUT OF OUR COMFORTABLE ROUTINE, WHERE THE INDEFINITE FUTURE THAT WE FACE SUDDENLY BECOMES DEFINITE, UNCONTROLLABLE, OUT OF OUR HANDS. AND YOU KNOW, THE WORLD OFFERS PEACE. SOMETIMES IT MAY BE THE PEACE OF AN ABORTION, WHICH TAKES AWAY THAT INCONVENIENT NEW LIFE WHICH, IF ALLOWED TO LIVE, WILL RUIN SOMEONE'S COLLEGE EDUCATION OR JEOPARDIZE HIS OR HER CAREER. OR WHEN LIFE APPEARS HOPELESS, SUICIDE AND EUTHANASIA CAN END THE STRUGGLE – THE WORLD OFFERS PEACE. THE WORLD'S PEACE MAY COME FROM WINNING A LAWSUIT; IT MAY COME FROM SPENDING ENOUGH MONEY TO MAKE MY PROBLEM GO AWAY. PERHAPS I CAN RUN AWAY AND BECOME ANONYMOUS, PERHAPS I CAN DIVORCE AND START OVER AGAIN. THE WORLD OFFERS A CERTAIN KIND OF PEACE.
THE PEACE JESUS OFFERS, HOWEVER, IS DIFFERENT. THE WORLD SAYS, “YOU CAN HAVE PEACE IF YOU JUST CHANGE THE REALITY AROUND YOU.” JESUS SAYS, “REAL PEACE IS WHEN YOU CHANGE YOUR HEART.” AND THAT CHANGE OF HEART IS RECOGNITION THAT GOD IS IN CHARGE, AND THAT GREAT GOOD CAN COME FROM THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH WE FIND OURSELVES, EVEN IF WE GOT THERE THROUGH OUR OWN MISTAKES. IF GOD CAN TURN THE CRUCIFIXION INTO THE RESURRECTION, HE CAN AND DOES TURN MY CIRCUMSTANCES INTO BLESSINGS. AND WHEN WE HEAR THE HOLY SPIRIT REMINDING US OF THIS AND ACCEPT IT, WE FIND PEACE.
IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR MASS, WE EXCHANGE A SIGN OF PEACE. SOMETIMES WE WAVE OR SMILE, SOMETIMES WE SHAKE HANDS; AND MANY OF US THINK THIS IS SORT OF A GREETING. BUT LISTEN: FIRST OUR PRIEST RECALLS THE VERY WORDS WE HEARD IN THE GOSPEL TODAY, AND PRAYS FOR PEACE. THEN HE OFFERS US PEACE – THE PEACE OF THE LORD – NOTICE, NOT THE PEACE OF THE WORLD – BE WITH YOU. AND THEN WE ARE INSTRUCTED TO OFFER A SIGN OF PEACE TO EACH OTHER.
AS CHRISTIANS, WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE PEACE OF CHRIST, AND WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE POWER TO BRING THIS PEACE TO OTHERS. WHEN WE OFFER THE SIGN OF PEACE, WE ARE PLEDGING THAT WE ARE THERE FOR THE OTHER PERSON, WHEN HE HAS HIS WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN, WHEN HER ORDERLY LIFE CRASHES AND BURNS. AND WE BRING PEACE IN SIMPLE WAYS; WE FEED, WE CLOTHE, WE VISIT, WE CONSOLE, WE DO WHAT WE CAN WHEN WE CAN – AND MOST OF ALL, WE PRAY FOR EACH OTHER. BECAUSE CHRISTIANS DO THAT; IF MY HEART IS UNTROUBLED AND UNAFRAID, I CAN HELP YOURS BECOME THAT WAY AS WELL. WHEN YOU SEE THAT I TRUST IN GOD, IT IS EASIER FOR YOU TO DO THE SAME.
MY PATIENT PASSED AWAY IN THAT WONDERFUL PEACE THAT JESUS GIVES. HE HAD THAT PEACE BECAUSE HE WAS GIVEN IT, GIVEN IT BY HIS WIFE, HIS FAMILY, BY HIS CHURCH THROUGH HIS PASTOR; BY HIS FRIENDS AND EVEN BY US, HIS CAREGIVERS. AND GIVING PEACE TO SOMEONE ALWAYS MEANS THAT YOU WILL RECEIVE PEACE AS WELL. BECAUSE THOSE WHO SAW HIM DIE, AND SAW HOW HE DIED, ARE LESS AFRAID, THEY ARE LESS TROUBLED. AND THEY WILL PASS THIS PEACE ON TO OTHERS AND IT WILL BE MAGNIFIED THROUGH THE GRACE OF GOD.
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, NEVER MISS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE THE PEACE THAT JESUS GIVES. NEVER PASS UP A CHANCE TO QUIET A TROUBLED HEART, CONSOLE SOMEONE WHO IS SAD, SOOTHE ONE WHO IS ANXIOUS. BECAUSE NOT ONLY WILL YOU BE GIVING PEACE, BUT YOU WILL BE RECEIVING IT.
THIS IS MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND. AS I WAS THINKING ABOUT TODAY'S READINGS, I REMEMBERED HOW OFTEN I'VE WATCHED MOTHERS ESPECIALLY MY OWN DAUGHTERS, GIVE PEACE TO THEIR LITTLE CHILDREN. I'VE SEEN HOW SOME MOTHERS, SOME FAMILIES, HAVE AN AURA OF PEACE ABOUT THEM, AND THE CHILDREN ARE SECURE AND HAPPY, OUTGOING AND GENEROUS. AND THEN THERE ARE FAMILIES WHERE THERE IS NO PEACE, WHERE NO MATTER WHAT A CHILD ACCOMPLISHES, HE IS EXPECTED TO DO MORE; WHERE RULES ARE STRICT AND PUNISHMENT IS SWIFT; AND I THINK JESUS IS LIKE ONE OF THOSE GOOD MOTHERS, SPEAKING TO US THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHISPERING LET YOUR HEARTS NOT BE TROUBLED OR AFRAID; I AM GOING AWAY, AND I AM COMING BACK TO YOU.
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