LUKE 14:1, 7-14
TODAY JESUS TELLS ANOTHER STORY INVOLVING A BANQUET. IT REMINDED ME OF THE STORY WHICH I THINK IS TRUE, OF A COUPLE WHO PLANNED THEIR WEDDING BANQUET. THEY RENTED A BANQUET HALL IN A LARGE HOTEL, HIRED A BAND, BOUGHT THE DECORATIONS, ORDERED THE FOOD – IT CAME TO ABOUT $30,000. THEN THE GROOM DECIDED HE WASN'T READY TO GET MARRIED. THE DISTRAUGHT AND ANGRY BRIDE WENT TO THE WEDDING PLANNER TO GET THE MONEY BACK, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS TOO LATE, CONTRACTS HAD BEEN SIGNED, THE MONEY WAS GONE. SO SHE DECIDED TO THROW A PARTY, AND INVITED PEOPLE FROM ALL THE HOMELESS SHELTERS AND FOOD KITCHENS IN THE CITY. SHE ASKED THE CATERERS TO CHANGE ONE THING ON THE MENU. INSTEAD OF ROAST BEEF, THE MAIN COURSE WOULD BE BONELESS CHICKEN, IN HONOR OF THE GROOM.
HE WHO EXALTS HIMSELF WILL BE HUMBLED, AND HE WHO HUMBLES HIMSELF WILL BE EXALTED. THAT IS THE LESSON JESUS WANTS HIS HEARERS TO TAKE HOME. AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO DO WITH HOW WE BEHAVE AT PARTIES, AT LEAST PRIMARILY. JESUS DOESN'T GIVE ETIQUETTE LESSONS -- WHEN HE TEACHES SOMETHING, IT HAS TO DO WITH OUR SOULS, WITH OUR PROSPECTS FOR ETERNAL HAPPINESS.
WE ARE PROBABLY ALL GUILTY OF EXALTING OURSELVES. ANYTIME WE COMPARE OURSELVES FAVORABLY TO SOMEONE ELSE, WE ARE EXALTING OURSELVES. IT DOESN'T EVEN MATTER IF THE COMPARISON IS GROUNDED IN REALITY; THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT AS SMART AS I AM. THERE ARE CERTAINLY PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT AS HEALTHY AS I AM. AND GOD KNOWS THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE NOWHERE NEAR AS TALL AS I AM. IF I MAKE THESE STATEMENTS OF FACT, THAT IS ONE THING. IF I MAKE SUCH STATEMENTS AND IMPLY THAT BECAUSE OF THESE THINGS MY VALUE IS GREATER THAN YOURS, THEN THAT IS EXALTING MYSELF.
WHEN I BELIEVE THAT SOME GIFT OR ACCOMPLISHMENT OR ACCIDENT OF BIRTH OR TALENT THAT I HAVE MAKES ME MORE VALUABLE THAN SOMEONE ELSE – EVEN IF ONLY IN THAT ONE AREA – THEN I AM EXALTING MYSELF, EVEN WHEN I KEEP MY OPINION TO MYSELF, EVEN WHEN I BEAR NO ILL WILL TOWARDS THE PERSON WITH WHOM I AM COMPARING MYSELF. A HUSBAND MAY FEEL THAT BECAUSE HE MAKES THE LION'S SHARE OF THE HOUSEHOLD INCOME, HE IS WORTH MORE THAN HIS WIFE. SHE MAY FEEL THAT SINCE SHE SPENDS MORE TIME RAISING THE CHILDREN, SHE IS WORTH MORE THAN HE IS. AND YET THEY MAY LOVE EACH OTHER AND VALUE EACH OTHER'S QUALITIES. SO THIS EXALTING ONESELF IS SUBTLE, AND THAT'S WHY I THINK MOST OF US DO IT, ALMOST UNCONSCIOUSLY.
SO WHY DOES JESUS WARN US ABOUT THIS TENDENCY WE ALL HAVE? BECAUSE IT LEADS TO A FALSE VIEW OF REALITY, WHICH LEADS TO UNHAPPINESS, WHICH LEADS TO SIN. AND THE FALSE VIEW OF REALITY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS THE IDEA THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH WHAT WE ARE WORTH. REALLY, THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO, NO ACCOMPLISHMENT WE CAN ACHIEVE, NO CIRCUMSTANCES OF BIRTH OR NATIONALITY OF CITIZENSHIP, THAT CAN ADD ANYTHING TO OUR WORTH; GRANTED WE ARE WORTH, AS JESUS SAID, MUCH MORE THAN A SPARROW – BUT ONLY BECAUSE WE ARE LOVED BY GOD. GOD LOVES US NOT IN PROPORTION TO WHAT WE DO, BUT BECAUSE WE ARE THE ADOPTED BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF HIS SON.
HOW WILL WE BE HUMBLED IF WE EXALT OURSELF? BECAUSE SOONER OR LATER, MAYBE WE HAVE TO WAIT TILL AFTER WE DIE, WE WILL REALIZE THAT WHAT WE VALUED IN OURSELVES IS NOTHING. TED TURNER, THE FOUNDER OF CNN AND A VERY RICH, SUCCESSFUL PERSON, SAID “SUCCESS IS AN EMPTY BAG, BUT YOU HAVE TO GET THERE TO REALIZE IT.” WHEN WE BEGIN TO COMPARE OURSELVES TO JESUS CHRIST, NOTHING ABOUT US CAN BE EXALTED. AND IF WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY FOUND OUR VALUE IN SOMETHING WE HAVE OR DO OR ARE, WE CAN ONLY LOOK AT OURSELVES WITH DISMAY.
JESUS SAYS THAT THOSE WHO HUMBLE THEMSELVES WILL BE EXALTED. HUMBLING OURSELVES IS ENTIRELY AN INTERIOR STATE, AN ATTITUDE. IT IS A CLEAR-EYED RECOGNITION NOT OF OUR ASSETS, NOT OF OUR TALENTS, NOT OF ALL THE THINGS ABOUT US THAT ARE GOOD, BUT RATHER, OUR LIABILITIES. IF WE TRULY KNOW OURSELVES, THERE ARE THINGS WE KNOW COULD BE BETTER. THERE ARE THINGS ABOUT ME THAT NOT ONLY COULD BE A LOT BETTER, BUT I DON'T EVEN WANT TO TRY TO MAKE THEM BETTER. EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE LIKE GAPING WOUNDS ON MY SOUL, I CAN BARELY IMAGINE MYSELF WITHOUT THEM. IT'S VERY EASY TO GO DAY TO DAY, WEEK TO WEEK, AND NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS. BUT IT IS VERY HARD TO STARE THEM DOWN AND REALIZE THAT I COULD CHANGE FOR THE BETTER, BUT DON'T EVEN WANT TO. AND IT IS IN THAT RECOGNITION, THAT CONFRONTATION WITH MY TRUE SELF, THAT I CAN BEGIN TO CHANGE. AND WHEN I SEE MY REAL FLAWS, MY TRUE FAULTS, THE SOURCES OF MY OWN SIN, I AM SEEING WHAT TRULY IMPACTS ON MY WORTH, BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE I CAN RESIST GOD'S LOVE, CHRIST'S FRIENDSHIP. AND ITS ALSO IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO EVEN BEGIN TO SEE THOSE DARK PLACES IN OTHER PEOPLE. BECAUSE EVERY PERSON KEEPS THEM HIDDEN, FROM OTHERS AND FROM EVEN HIMSELF.
SO JESUS, WHO KNOWS US SO WELL, IS SAYING, TURN YOUR ATTENTION AWAY FROM THOSE THINGS ABOUT YOURSELF THAT YOU ESTEEM, YOUR TALENTS, YOUR RICHES, YOUR HEALTH, YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR FAMILY. THOSE ARE ALL GIFTS. IF YOU THINK THEY MAKE YOU BETTER THAN EVEN ONE OTHER PERSON, YOU ARE SADLY MISTAKEN, AND A DAY WILL COME WHEN YOU WILL SEE THAT ALL OF THESE THINGS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUR VALUE. TURN YOUR ATTENTION INSTEAD TO THOSE PLACES IN YOUR LIFE THAT YOU HATE TO THINK ABOUT; YOUR SELFISHNESS, YOUR LAZINESS, THOSE TEMPTATIONS YOU CAN'T RESIST; THOSE HABITS OF MIND AND BODY WHICH DESTROY WHAT IS GOOD ABOUT YOU. BECAUSE IF YOU DO, I'LL GIVE YOU THE GRACE TO OVERCOME THEM.
SAINT AUGUSTINE SAID THAT EVERYTHING THAT IS IN US THAT WE HAVE MADE WILL BE CONDEMNED, BUT EVERYTHING THAT GOD HAS MADE IN US WILL BE SAVED.
THIS WEEK LET US BEGIN THE PROCESS OF HUMBLING OURSELVES, AND PRAY THAT WE WILL HEAR OUR MASTER'S VOICE, “FRIEND, GO UP HIGHER.”.
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Sunday, August 26, 2007
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C
LUKE 13:22-30
DID YOU EVER THINK ABOUT HEAVEN? WHEN I WAS LITTLE I IMAGINED IT AS A PLACE WHERE THERE WAS A LOT OF CANDY, NO SCHOOL, AND JUST FUN ALL THE TIME. THE ONLY THING THAT BOTHERED ME A LITTLE WAS THAT I SORT OF SUSPECTED THERE WOULD BE CHURCH, AND I'D HAVE TO STOP PLAYING EVERY NOW AND THEN AND PRAY. MOSLEMS HAVE A VERY DISTINCT IDEA OF HEAVEN, BECAUSE IT IS SPELLED OUT IN THE KORAN. IT IS A PLACE OF DELIGHT, WHERE ALL THE GOOD THINGS YOU COULD WANT ARE THERE INCLUDING A LARGE HAREM. I'M NOT SURE IT IS AS ATTRACTIVE TO MOSLEM WOMEN AS TO THE MEN.
BUT THE MORE YOU THINK ABOUT IT THE MORE DIFFICULT IT IS TO IMAGINE. AFTER ALL, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ETERNITY HERE, AND I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING IN ALL MY EXPERIENCE THAT WOULDN'T GET BORING AND OLD NOT IN FOREVER BUT EVEN IN A FEW YEARS. WE HUMAN BEINGS ARE DESIGNED SO THAT WHEN WE HAVE SOMETHING WE HAVE REALLY WANTED, WE IMMEDIATELY WANT SOMETHING ELSE. WE ADULTS TELL OURSELVES DIFFERENTLY SOMETIMES, BUT JUST WATCH A KID WITH A NEW TOY THAT HE OR SHE HAS WANTED FOR A LONG TIME. GIVE HIM ABOUT A WEEK. ST. AUGUSTINE SAID THAT THIS FEELING OF NEVER BEING COMPLETELY SATISFIED WAS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE ONLY THING THAT CAN SATISFY US IS BEING IN UNION WITH GOD.
WHAT WE DO KNOW ABOUT HEAVEN IS THAT WE CAN'T DESCRIBE IT. ST PAUL COULDN'T. WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT WE WILL BE UNITED TO THE TRINITY, AND THAT UNION IN SOME WAY WILL COMPLETELY SATISFY US, WILL COMPLETELY FILL US WITH JOY, WILL LAST FOREVER. AND THAT UNION IS ACCOMPLISHED ONLY BY OUR BECOMING ONE WITH JESUS. THAT IS WHAT HE MEANS BY “STRIVE TO ENTER THROUGH THE NARROW GATE”. HE HAS CALLED HIMSELF “THE GATE” IN OTHER PARTS OF THE GOSPEL, AND INSISTED THAT WE HAD TO GO THROUGH HIM IF WE WANTED TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO ACHIEVE THAT UNION WITH HIM ON THIS EARTH – SOME OF THE MYSTICS – AND OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD A MOMENT OR TWO IN THEIR LIVES WHEN THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED THAT UNION. BUT FOR MOST OF US, WE ARE STILL STRIVING, AND AS FOR ME, IF I WAKE UP IN PURGATORY SOME DAY, I WILL REALLY BE HAPPY.
JESUS MAKES IT VERY CLEAR THAT WE DON'T HAVE A CLAIM ON HEAVEN. IF WE ARE CATHOLIC, IF WE GO TO MASS EVERY SUNDAY OR EVEN EVERY DAY, IF WE FREQUENTLY RECEIVE THE SACRAMENTS, IS THAT ENOUGH? JESUS SEEMS TO BE SAYING, “DON'T EVER THINK YOU HAVE IT MADE. THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME REAL SURPRISES, AND YOU MIGHT FIND THAT YOU MISSED YOUR OPPORTUNITY. THERE IS A TIME WHEN THE HOUSEHOLDER WILL SHUT THE GATE, AND THAT WILL BE IT. IF WE ARE NOT ACTIVELY STRIVING TO ENTER THE GATE, STRIVING TO IMITATE JESUS, STRIVING TO KNOW HIM AND BE ONE WITH HIM, IF WE DON'T FEEL THAT SENSE OF EFFORT IN OUR LIVES, THEN SOMETHING MAY BE TERRIBLY WRONG AND WE BETTER MAKE IT RIGHT.
THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN SUMMER IS ALMOST OVER, AND WE ARE ALL GETTING BACK INTO THE ROUTINE. WE'VE HAD TWO MONTHS WHEN THINGS HAVE BEEN A LITTLE MORE RELAXED, AND HOPEFULLY WE HAVE RE-ENERGIZED OURSELVES FOR THE NEXT TEN MONTHS. THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO TAKE STOCK. WILL THE COMING YEAR BE THE SAME AS LAST? OR WILL YOU AND I START SEPTEMBER WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY, A SENSE OF OPPORTUNITY, A DESIRE TO STRIVE, TO DRAW CLOSER TO JESUS?
DRAWING CLOSER IS NOT SOMETHING WE DO JUST IN OUR HEADS OR OUR HEARTS. IF WE WANT TO IMITATE JESUS, WE HAVE TO BEGIN TO ACT LIKE JESUS. IF WE WANT TO ACT LIKE JESUS, WHY OUR PARISH IS A GREAT PLACE TO START. JESUS TAUGHT; THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE, OR HELP THOSE WHO TEACH, IN OUR FAITH FORMATION PROGRAM. JESUS BROUGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER. THERE ARE MANY OPPORTUNITIES SOME OF WHICH CAN BE A LOT OF FUN, IN THE COMING YEAR, WHEN THE PARISH HAS SOME SORT OF CELEBRATION OR EVENT. JESUS, AFTER ALL, SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN THE PLEASANT COMPANY OF FRIENDS. JESUS VISITED THE SICK AND DISTRAUGHT, AND OFTEN HIS PRESENCE BROUGHT ABOUT HEALING. WE HAVE PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO WORK WITH THE SICK, THE SHUT INS, THE PEOPLE WHO NEED JUST A LITTLE PRESENCE AND A SYMPATHETIC EAR. JESUS EVANGELIZED; HE WENT ABOUT TELLING PEOPLE THE GOOD NEWS. HE BROKE INTO THEIR CLOSED WORLD AND SHOWED THEM NEW POSSIBILITIES. THERE ARE MANY OPPORTUNITIES IN THIS PARISH TO EVANGELIZE. WE HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF PARISHIONERS WHO NEVER GO TO CHURCH. SOME OF THEM ARE YOUR NEIGHBORS. WE HAVE OTHER PARISHIONERS WHO COME TO CHURCH MOST SUNDAYS, BUT THAT'S ABOUT IT. WE HAVE YOUNG MARRIED COUPLES WHO COULD BE INVITED TO BE MORE INVOLVED; WE HAVE NEW PARISHIONERS WHO COULD BE BEFRIENDED. BELIEVE ME, OUR PARISH DESPERATELY NEEDS EVANGELIZERS, EVEN BEFORE WE START GETTING OUT TO OUR NEIGHBORS WHO AREN'T CATHOLICS.
JESUS WAS A LEADER. HE CREATED A MOVEMENT THAT STARTED WITH 12 AND NOW INVOLVES ABOUT TWO BILLION. AND THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEADERSHIP IN THIS PARISH AS WELL AS FOLLOWERSHIP. WE NEED GOOD LEADERS AND GOOD FOLLOWERS, AND WHEN A LEADER AND A FEW FOLLOWERS GET TOGETHER TO ORGANIZE A PROJECT, THAT ISN'T A LOT DIFFERENT THAN WHEN JESUS AND HIS APOSTLES GOT TOGETHER TO DISTRIBUTE SOME BREAD AND FISH TO THE HUNGRY CROWDS, OR SET UP ONE OF THOSE SESSIONS WHEN JESUS HEALED PEOPLE WHO CAME TO HIM.
IN THE WEEKS AHEAD, YOUR PARISH COUNCIL WILL BE ORGANIZING ITSELF FOR THE COMING YEAR. MUCH OF THAT ORGANIZATION WILL HAVE TO DO WITH STUDYING THE NEEDS OF THE PARISH AND TRYING TO MEET THOSE NEEDS. AS THESE NEEDS ARE RECOGNIZED, YOU MAY BE CALLED UPON TO HELP. OR YOU MAY VOLUNTEER.
THE VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AND ACTIVITIES OUR PARISH SPONSORS ARE ALL OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO SERVE EACH OTHER, AND IN DOING SO, TO SERVE THE LORD AND IMITATE HIM. PRAYER AND SACRAMENTS ARE ESSENTIAL, BUT SERVICE IS AS WELL, IF WE WANT TO STRIVE TO ENTER THROUGH THE NARROW GATE. JESUS SAID, “LOVE ONE ANOTHER; HE SAID THAT WE ARE BROTHERS AND SISTERS; HE EVEN TOLD US THAT WHEN WE SERVED EACH OTHER, WE WERE SERVING HIM. LOVE, BEING BROTHERS AND SISTERS, IS NOT JUST A FEELING.
SO PLEASE MAKE THIS YEAR DIFFERENT THAN PREVIOUS YEARS. TRY TO SEE THE SPIRITUAL ASPECTS OF SERVICE. AND WHEN YOU HEAR THE WORDS AT THE END OF MASS “GO AND SERVE THE LORD AND EACH OTHER,” THEY WILL NOT JUST BE WORDS, THEY WILL BE A CALL TO ACTION.
DID YOU EVER THINK ABOUT HEAVEN? WHEN I WAS LITTLE I IMAGINED IT AS A PLACE WHERE THERE WAS A LOT OF CANDY, NO SCHOOL, AND JUST FUN ALL THE TIME. THE ONLY THING THAT BOTHERED ME A LITTLE WAS THAT I SORT OF SUSPECTED THERE WOULD BE CHURCH, AND I'D HAVE TO STOP PLAYING EVERY NOW AND THEN AND PRAY. MOSLEMS HAVE A VERY DISTINCT IDEA OF HEAVEN, BECAUSE IT IS SPELLED OUT IN THE KORAN. IT IS A PLACE OF DELIGHT, WHERE ALL THE GOOD THINGS YOU COULD WANT ARE THERE INCLUDING A LARGE HAREM. I'M NOT SURE IT IS AS ATTRACTIVE TO MOSLEM WOMEN AS TO THE MEN.
BUT THE MORE YOU THINK ABOUT IT THE MORE DIFFICULT IT IS TO IMAGINE. AFTER ALL, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ETERNITY HERE, AND I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING IN ALL MY EXPERIENCE THAT WOULDN'T GET BORING AND OLD NOT IN FOREVER BUT EVEN IN A FEW YEARS. WE HUMAN BEINGS ARE DESIGNED SO THAT WHEN WE HAVE SOMETHING WE HAVE REALLY WANTED, WE IMMEDIATELY WANT SOMETHING ELSE. WE ADULTS TELL OURSELVES DIFFERENTLY SOMETIMES, BUT JUST WATCH A KID WITH A NEW TOY THAT HE OR SHE HAS WANTED FOR A LONG TIME. GIVE HIM ABOUT A WEEK. ST. AUGUSTINE SAID THAT THIS FEELING OF NEVER BEING COMPLETELY SATISFIED WAS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE ONLY THING THAT CAN SATISFY US IS BEING IN UNION WITH GOD.
WHAT WE DO KNOW ABOUT HEAVEN IS THAT WE CAN'T DESCRIBE IT. ST PAUL COULDN'T. WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT WE WILL BE UNITED TO THE TRINITY, AND THAT UNION IN SOME WAY WILL COMPLETELY SATISFY US, WILL COMPLETELY FILL US WITH JOY, WILL LAST FOREVER. AND THAT UNION IS ACCOMPLISHED ONLY BY OUR BECOMING ONE WITH JESUS. THAT IS WHAT HE MEANS BY “STRIVE TO ENTER THROUGH THE NARROW GATE”. HE HAS CALLED HIMSELF “THE GATE” IN OTHER PARTS OF THE GOSPEL, AND INSISTED THAT WE HAD TO GO THROUGH HIM IF WE WANTED TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO ACHIEVE THAT UNION WITH HIM ON THIS EARTH – SOME OF THE MYSTICS – AND OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD A MOMENT OR TWO IN THEIR LIVES WHEN THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED THAT UNION. BUT FOR MOST OF US, WE ARE STILL STRIVING, AND AS FOR ME, IF I WAKE UP IN PURGATORY SOME DAY, I WILL REALLY BE HAPPY.
JESUS MAKES IT VERY CLEAR THAT WE DON'T HAVE A CLAIM ON HEAVEN. IF WE ARE CATHOLIC, IF WE GO TO MASS EVERY SUNDAY OR EVEN EVERY DAY, IF WE FREQUENTLY RECEIVE THE SACRAMENTS, IS THAT ENOUGH? JESUS SEEMS TO BE SAYING, “DON'T EVER THINK YOU HAVE IT MADE. THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME REAL SURPRISES, AND YOU MIGHT FIND THAT YOU MISSED YOUR OPPORTUNITY. THERE IS A TIME WHEN THE HOUSEHOLDER WILL SHUT THE GATE, AND THAT WILL BE IT. IF WE ARE NOT ACTIVELY STRIVING TO ENTER THE GATE, STRIVING TO IMITATE JESUS, STRIVING TO KNOW HIM AND BE ONE WITH HIM, IF WE DON'T FEEL THAT SENSE OF EFFORT IN OUR LIVES, THEN SOMETHING MAY BE TERRIBLY WRONG AND WE BETTER MAKE IT RIGHT.
THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN SUMMER IS ALMOST OVER, AND WE ARE ALL GETTING BACK INTO THE ROUTINE. WE'VE HAD TWO MONTHS WHEN THINGS HAVE BEEN A LITTLE MORE RELAXED, AND HOPEFULLY WE HAVE RE-ENERGIZED OURSELVES FOR THE NEXT TEN MONTHS. THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO TAKE STOCK. WILL THE COMING YEAR BE THE SAME AS LAST? OR WILL YOU AND I START SEPTEMBER WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY, A SENSE OF OPPORTUNITY, A DESIRE TO STRIVE, TO DRAW CLOSER TO JESUS?
DRAWING CLOSER IS NOT SOMETHING WE DO JUST IN OUR HEADS OR OUR HEARTS. IF WE WANT TO IMITATE JESUS, WE HAVE TO BEGIN TO ACT LIKE JESUS. IF WE WANT TO ACT LIKE JESUS, WHY OUR PARISH IS A GREAT PLACE TO START. JESUS TAUGHT; THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE, OR HELP THOSE WHO TEACH, IN OUR FAITH FORMATION PROGRAM. JESUS BROUGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER. THERE ARE MANY OPPORTUNITIES SOME OF WHICH CAN BE A LOT OF FUN, IN THE COMING YEAR, WHEN THE PARISH HAS SOME SORT OF CELEBRATION OR EVENT. JESUS, AFTER ALL, SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN THE PLEASANT COMPANY OF FRIENDS. JESUS VISITED THE SICK AND DISTRAUGHT, AND OFTEN HIS PRESENCE BROUGHT ABOUT HEALING. WE HAVE PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO WORK WITH THE SICK, THE SHUT INS, THE PEOPLE WHO NEED JUST A LITTLE PRESENCE AND A SYMPATHETIC EAR. JESUS EVANGELIZED; HE WENT ABOUT TELLING PEOPLE THE GOOD NEWS. HE BROKE INTO THEIR CLOSED WORLD AND SHOWED THEM NEW POSSIBILITIES. THERE ARE MANY OPPORTUNITIES IN THIS PARISH TO EVANGELIZE. WE HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF PARISHIONERS WHO NEVER GO TO CHURCH. SOME OF THEM ARE YOUR NEIGHBORS. WE HAVE OTHER PARISHIONERS WHO COME TO CHURCH MOST SUNDAYS, BUT THAT'S ABOUT IT. WE HAVE YOUNG MARRIED COUPLES WHO COULD BE INVITED TO BE MORE INVOLVED; WE HAVE NEW PARISHIONERS WHO COULD BE BEFRIENDED. BELIEVE ME, OUR PARISH DESPERATELY NEEDS EVANGELIZERS, EVEN BEFORE WE START GETTING OUT TO OUR NEIGHBORS WHO AREN'T CATHOLICS.
JESUS WAS A LEADER. HE CREATED A MOVEMENT THAT STARTED WITH 12 AND NOW INVOLVES ABOUT TWO BILLION. AND THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEADERSHIP IN THIS PARISH AS WELL AS FOLLOWERSHIP. WE NEED GOOD LEADERS AND GOOD FOLLOWERS, AND WHEN A LEADER AND A FEW FOLLOWERS GET TOGETHER TO ORGANIZE A PROJECT, THAT ISN'T A LOT DIFFERENT THAN WHEN JESUS AND HIS APOSTLES GOT TOGETHER TO DISTRIBUTE SOME BREAD AND FISH TO THE HUNGRY CROWDS, OR SET UP ONE OF THOSE SESSIONS WHEN JESUS HEALED PEOPLE WHO CAME TO HIM.
IN THE WEEKS AHEAD, YOUR PARISH COUNCIL WILL BE ORGANIZING ITSELF FOR THE COMING YEAR. MUCH OF THAT ORGANIZATION WILL HAVE TO DO WITH STUDYING THE NEEDS OF THE PARISH AND TRYING TO MEET THOSE NEEDS. AS THESE NEEDS ARE RECOGNIZED, YOU MAY BE CALLED UPON TO HELP. OR YOU MAY VOLUNTEER.
THE VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AND ACTIVITIES OUR PARISH SPONSORS ARE ALL OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO SERVE EACH OTHER, AND IN DOING SO, TO SERVE THE LORD AND IMITATE HIM. PRAYER AND SACRAMENTS ARE ESSENTIAL, BUT SERVICE IS AS WELL, IF WE WANT TO STRIVE TO ENTER THROUGH THE NARROW GATE. JESUS SAID, “LOVE ONE ANOTHER; HE SAID THAT WE ARE BROTHERS AND SISTERS; HE EVEN TOLD US THAT WHEN WE SERVED EACH OTHER, WE WERE SERVING HIM. LOVE, BEING BROTHERS AND SISTERS, IS NOT JUST A FEELING.
SO PLEASE MAKE THIS YEAR DIFFERENT THAN PREVIOUS YEARS. TRY TO SEE THE SPIRITUAL ASPECTS OF SERVICE. AND WHEN YOU HEAR THE WORDS AT THE END OF MASS “GO AND SERVE THE LORD AND EACH OTHER,” THEY WILL NOT JUST BE WORDS, THEY WILL BE A CALL TO ACTION.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle C
LUKE 12:32-48
ONCE A TRAVELER PASSED A BEAUTIFUL GARDEN, A PART OF A GREAT ESTATE. HE ASKED THE GARDENER HOW LONG HE HAD BEEN TAKING CARE OF IT. THE GARDENER SAID, 25 YEARS. AND THE OWNER OF THE ESTATE, DOES HE ENJOY THIS WONDERFUL GARDEN? “HE IS NOT HERE VERY OFTEN,” SAID THE GARDENER. “WHEN WAS HE HERE LAST?” ABOUT 12 YEARS AGO, REPLIED THE GARDENER. “TWELVE YEARS? AND YET YOU KEEP THE GARDEN AS THOUGH HE IS GOING TO COME BACK TOMORROW? “NOT TOMORROW, THE GARDENER REPLIED, TODAY.
TODAY IN THE GOSPEL JESUS GIVES US THREE COMMANDS. THE FIRST IS “DO NOT BE AFRAID.” IF WE ASK OURSELVES WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AFRAID, WE ALL THINK WE KNOW. WE'VE EXPERIENCED MOMENTS WHEN THE ADRENALIN RUSHED ABOUT AND OUR HEARTS RACED. WE'VE HAD THOSE “NEAR MISSES” WHEN WE NEARLY HAD A CAR ACCIDENT OR ALMOST STEPPED OFF THE CURB INTO TRAFFIC – AT LEAST I HAVE – WHEN IN THE AFTERMATH WE'VE FOUND OURSELVES SHAKING. BUT JESUS IS REFERRING NOT TO THESE KINDS OF FEAR, BUT INSTEAD TO A STATE OF FEAR. ALL MY LIFE I'VE NEVER WORRIED ABOUT THE FUTURE VERY MUCH. I'VE KIND OF LEFT THAT JOB TO MY WIFE, WHO IS MUCH BETTER AT WORRYING. WE LIVED OUR LIVES, BOUGHT A HOUSE, PUT THE KIDS THROUGH COLLEGE, PAID OFF THE MORTGAGE, WENT ON A FEW VACATIONS, AND MY WIFE AND I ARE FORTUNATE IN THAT WE STILL HAVE OUR GOOD HEALTH AND ARE BOTH DOING THINGS WE LIKE TO DO. BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE AGE OF 65 LOOMED. ALL OF A SUDDEN I BEGAN GETTING NOTICES FROM THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, TELLING ME WHAT KIND OF CHOICES I HAD. AND NOW I FIND MYSELF AFRAID – AFRAID THAT IF I LIVE TO BE 95 I MAY HAVE TO GO ON WELFARE, AFRAID THAT SINCE MUCH OF WHAT I HAVE SAVED UP IS IN FUNDS THAT DEPEND ON THE STOCK MARKET --I COULD LOSE MY SHIRT IF THE MARKET TANKS. BUT THERE IS HOPE FOR ME; JESUS TELLS ME THAT WHERE MY TREASURE IS, THERE IS MY HEART. THE SOLUTION TO MY FEAR IS TO RELOCATE MY TREASURE TO A TRULY SECURE PLACE, HEAVEN.
THE SECOND COMMAND IS TO SELL WHAT I HAVE AND GIVE ALMS. WELL, I GIVE ALMS, BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM TO HELP MY FEAR. IN FACT AS I CALCULATE HOW I AM GOING TO FINANCE THE REST OF MY LIFE, I LOOK AT THE VARIOUS CHARITIES WE SUPPORT AND THINK ABOUT HOW I AM GOING TO HAVE TO CUT BACK HERE AND ELIMINATE THERE. JESUS DOES NOT EXPECT ME OR YOU TO LIVE LIKE A MONK. THAT IS A GOOD WAY FOR MONKS TO LIVE, IT WOULD BE A SINFUL WAY FOR YOU OR I TO LIVE. BUT IF I WANT TO RELOCATE MY TREASURE SO THAT I CAN RELOCATE MY HEART, I'VE GOT TO SOMEHOW DETACH MYSELF FROM WHAT I HAVE TO THE POINT WHERE MY STUFF NO LONGER POSSESSES ME, TO THE POINT WHERE I COULD LITERALLY TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT. MY WIFE IS MUCH BETTER AT THAT THAN I AM. WE RECENTLY DUMPED THE ACCUMULATIONS OF 41 YEARS OF MARRIAGE – AND WE STILL HAVE A FEW TRUCKLOADS LEFT. OVER AND OVER IN THE GOSPELS JESUS MAKES THE POINT THAT IT IS NOT THE STUFF WE HAVE THAT WILL GAIN US TREASURE IN HEAVEN, IT IS THE STUFF WE GET RID OF SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT, SO THAT IT DOESN'T DEMAND OUR ATTENTION.
THE THIRD COMMAND IS TO BE PREPARED, TO BE READY. THIS ALSO IS A COMMAND JESUS GIVES MANY TIMES IN SCRIPTURE – BUT BE READY FOR WHAT? WELL, NOT THE END OF THE WORLD. ALL THROUGH THE HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY THERE HAVE BEEN PEOPLE WHO TOOK THAT MEANING, AND THEY FOUND THEMSELVES LOOKING FOOLISH AFTER THE PREDICTED MOMENT CAME AND WENT. WELL, NOT FOR MY OWN DEATH, EITHER. OF COURSE WE NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR DEATH SPIRITUALLY. BUT DOES THAT REQUIRE CONSTANT VIGILANCE? SHOULD WE STAY AWAKE ALL NIGHT AND MEMORIZE THE BIBLE? EVEN JESUS TOOK A BREAK NOW AND THEN, ENJOYED TIME WITH HIS FRIENDS, TOOK AT LEAST ONE NAP IN THE BACK OF A BOAT. SO THAT'S NOT WHAT HE MEANS. I THINK WHEN WE READ THE ILLUSTRATIONS AND EXAMPLES JESUS USES, HE IS TALKING ABOUT BEING ALERT AT ALL TIMES TO THOSE MOMENTS THAT CONSTANTLY SNEAK UP ON US WHERE WE PERSONALLY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD. BECAUSE IF THAT BECOMES OUR FOCUS RATHER THAN HOW I AM GOING TO FINANCE MY FUTURE, OR WHETHER I WILL RECOVER FROM THIS SERIOUS ILLNESS OR MANAGE TO GRADUATE FROM SCHOOL, OR BE ABLE TO HANG ON TO MY JOB OR MEET MY MORTGAGE PAYMENT, THEN I AM IN A POSITION TO STORE UP TREASURE WHERE IT IS SAFE. JUST THINK, IF I LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO IMITATE JESUS – OPPORTUNITIES TO OFFER A COMPLEMENT, OPPORTUNITIES TO LIFT SOMEONE'S SAGGING SPIRITS, MOMENTS TO REMIND MY CHILDREN THAT I LOVE THEM, -- JUST SIMPLE EVERYDAY THINGS, I AM ACCUMULATING TREASURE THAT CAN NEVER BE TAKEN AWAY. BUT SO OFTEN WE LET THEM GO BY BECAUSE WE ARE AFRAID, BECAUSE OUR MINDS ARE SO OCCUPIED BY THE FUTURE OR THE PAST THAT THE PRESENT SLIPS BY; OR THEY ARE SO CENTERED ON OURSELF THAT WE DON'T NOTICE VERY MUCH ABOUT OUR NEIGHBOR. WHERE MY TREASURE IS, THERE ALSO IS MY HEART.
SO JESUS SAYS, BE NOT AFRAID; FIND OUT WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS, AND IF IT IS NOT IN HEAVEN, IT ISN'T WORTH MUCH, IT ISN'T SECURE AT ALL, IT ISN'T A PLACE TO PUT YOUR HEART, SO TEAR YOURSELF AWAY FROM IT. AND THEN START STORING UP TREASURE BY BEING VIGILANT FOR ALL THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD UP THE KINGDOM OF GOD -- THE OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR DAY TO DAY LIFE. AND AS WE BEGAN TO LIVE THIS WAY, WE NO LONGER FEAR, AND WE REALIZE THAT AS WE BUILD UP THE KINGDOM OF GOD, IT IS ALREADY OURS, AS JESUS ASSURES US IN TODAY'S GOSPEL.
ONCE A TRAVELER PASSED A BEAUTIFUL GARDEN, A PART OF A GREAT ESTATE. HE ASKED THE GARDENER HOW LONG HE HAD BEEN TAKING CARE OF IT. THE GARDENER SAID, 25 YEARS. AND THE OWNER OF THE ESTATE, DOES HE ENJOY THIS WONDERFUL GARDEN? “HE IS NOT HERE VERY OFTEN,” SAID THE GARDENER. “WHEN WAS HE HERE LAST?” ABOUT 12 YEARS AGO, REPLIED THE GARDENER. “TWELVE YEARS? AND YET YOU KEEP THE GARDEN AS THOUGH HE IS GOING TO COME BACK TOMORROW? “NOT TOMORROW, THE GARDENER REPLIED, TODAY.
TODAY IN THE GOSPEL JESUS GIVES US THREE COMMANDS. THE FIRST IS “DO NOT BE AFRAID.” IF WE ASK OURSELVES WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AFRAID, WE ALL THINK WE KNOW. WE'VE EXPERIENCED MOMENTS WHEN THE ADRENALIN RUSHED ABOUT AND OUR HEARTS RACED. WE'VE HAD THOSE “NEAR MISSES” WHEN WE NEARLY HAD A CAR ACCIDENT OR ALMOST STEPPED OFF THE CURB INTO TRAFFIC – AT LEAST I HAVE – WHEN IN THE AFTERMATH WE'VE FOUND OURSELVES SHAKING. BUT JESUS IS REFERRING NOT TO THESE KINDS OF FEAR, BUT INSTEAD TO A STATE OF FEAR. ALL MY LIFE I'VE NEVER WORRIED ABOUT THE FUTURE VERY MUCH. I'VE KIND OF LEFT THAT JOB TO MY WIFE, WHO IS MUCH BETTER AT WORRYING. WE LIVED OUR LIVES, BOUGHT A HOUSE, PUT THE KIDS THROUGH COLLEGE, PAID OFF THE MORTGAGE, WENT ON A FEW VACATIONS, AND MY WIFE AND I ARE FORTUNATE IN THAT WE STILL HAVE OUR GOOD HEALTH AND ARE BOTH DOING THINGS WE LIKE TO DO. BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE AGE OF 65 LOOMED. ALL OF A SUDDEN I BEGAN GETTING NOTICES FROM THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, TELLING ME WHAT KIND OF CHOICES I HAD. AND NOW I FIND MYSELF AFRAID – AFRAID THAT IF I LIVE TO BE 95 I MAY HAVE TO GO ON WELFARE, AFRAID THAT SINCE MUCH OF WHAT I HAVE SAVED UP IS IN FUNDS THAT DEPEND ON THE STOCK MARKET --I COULD LOSE MY SHIRT IF THE MARKET TANKS. BUT THERE IS HOPE FOR ME; JESUS TELLS ME THAT WHERE MY TREASURE IS, THERE IS MY HEART. THE SOLUTION TO MY FEAR IS TO RELOCATE MY TREASURE TO A TRULY SECURE PLACE, HEAVEN.
THE SECOND COMMAND IS TO SELL WHAT I HAVE AND GIVE ALMS. WELL, I GIVE ALMS, BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM TO HELP MY FEAR. IN FACT AS I CALCULATE HOW I AM GOING TO FINANCE THE REST OF MY LIFE, I LOOK AT THE VARIOUS CHARITIES WE SUPPORT AND THINK ABOUT HOW I AM GOING TO HAVE TO CUT BACK HERE AND ELIMINATE THERE. JESUS DOES NOT EXPECT ME OR YOU TO LIVE LIKE A MONK. THAT IS A GOOD WAY FOR MONKS TO LIVE, IT WOULD BE A SINFUL WAY FOR YOU OR I TO LIVE. BUT IF I WANT TO RELOCATE MY TREASURE SO THAT I CAN RELOCATE MY HEART, I'VE GOT TO SOMEHOW DETACH MYSELF FROM WHAT I HAVE TO THE POINT WHERE MY STUFF NO LONGER POSSESSES ME, TO THE POINT WHERE I COULD LITERALLY TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT. MY WIFE IS MUCH BETTER AT THAT THAN I AM. WE RECENTLY DUMPED THE ACCUMULATIONS OF 41 YEARS OF MARRIAGE – AND WE STILL HAVE A FEW TRUCKLOADS LEFT. OVER AND OVER IN THE GOSPELS JESUS MAKES THE POINT THAT IT IS NOT THE STUFF WE HAVE THAT WILL GAIN US TREASURE IN HEAVEN, IT IS THE STUFF WE GET RID OF SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT, SO THAT IT DOESN'T DEMAND OUR ATTENTION.
THE THIRD COMMAND IS TO BE PREPARED, TO BE READY. THIS ALSO IS A COMMAND JESUS GIVES MANY TIMES IN SCRIPTURE – BUT BE READY FOR WHAT? WELL, NOT THE END OF THE WORLD. ALL THROUGH THE HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY THERE HAVE BEEN PEOPLE WHO TOOK THAT MEANING, AND THEY FOUND THEMSELVES LOOKING FOOLISH AFTER THE PREDICTED MOMENT CAME AND WENT. WELL, NOT FOR MY OWN DEATH, EITHER. OF COURSE WE NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR DEATH SPIRITUALLY. BUT DOES THAT REQUIRE CONSTANT VIGILANCE? SHOULD WE STAY AWAKE ALL NIGHT AND MEMORIZE THE BIBLE? EVEN JESUS TOOK A BREAK NOW AND THEN, ENJOYED TIME WITH HIS FRIENDS, TOOK AT LEAST ONE NAP IN THE BACK OF A BOAT. SO THAT'S NOT WHAT HE MEANS. I THINK WHEN WE READ THE ILLUSTRATIONS AND EXAMPLES JESUS USES, HE IS TALKING ABOUT BEING ALERT AT ALL TIMES TO THOSE MOMENTS THAT CONSTANTLY SNEAK UP ON US WHERE WE PERSONALLY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD. BECAUSE IF THAT BECOMES OUR FOCUS RATHER THAN HOW I AM GOING TO FINANCE MY FUTURE, OR WHETHER I WILL RECOVER FROM THIS SERIOUS ILLNESS OR MANAGE TO GRADUATE FROM SCHOOL, OR BE ABLE TO HANG ON TO MY JOB OR MEET MY MORTGAGE PAYMENT, THEN I AM IN A POSITION TO STORE UP TREASURE WHERE IT IS SAFE. JUST THINK, IF I LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO IMITATE JESUS – OPPORTUNITIES TO OFFER A COMPLEMENT, OPPORTUNITIES TO LIFT SOMEONE'S SAGGING SPIRITS, MOMENTS TO REMIND MY CHILDREN THAT I LOVE THEM, -- JUST SIMPLE EVERYDAY THINGS, I AM ACCUMULATING TREASURE THAT CAN NEVER BE TAKEN AWAY. BUT SO OFTEN WE LET THEM GO BY BECAUSE WE ARE AFRAID, BECAUSE OUR MINDS ARE SO OCCUPIED BY THE FUTURE OR THE PAST THAT THE PRESENT SLIPS BY; OR THEY ARE SO CENTERED ON OURSELF THAT WE DON'T NOTICE VERY MUCH ABOUT OUR NEIGHBOR. WHERE MY TREASURE IS, THERE ALSO IS MY HEART.
SO JESUS SAYS, BE NOT AFRAID; FIND OUT WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS, AND IF IT IS NOT IN HEAVEN, IT ISN'T WORTH MUCH, IT ISN'T SECURE AT ALL, IT ISN'T A PLACE TO PUT YOUR HEART, SO TEAR YOURSELF AWAY FROM IT. AND THEN START STORING UP TREASURE BY BEING VIGILANT FOR ALL THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD UP THE KINGDOM OF GOD -- THE OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR DAY TO DAY LIFE. AND AS WE BEGAN TO LIVE THIS WAY, WE NO LONGER FEAR, AND WE REALIZE THAT AS WE BUILD UP THE KINGDOM OF GOD, IT IS ALREADY OURS, AS JESUS ASSURES US IN TODAY'S GOSPEL.
Sunday, August 5, 2007
16th Sunday in Ordinary Time cycle C
LUKE 12:13-21
THE GREAT RUSSIAN AUTHOR LEO TOLSTOY WROTE A SHORT STORY CALLED, “HOW MUCH LAND DOES A MAN NEED.” ONCE THERE WAS A PEASANT WHO WAS OFFERED ALL THE LAND HE COULD WALK AROUND IN A DAY. HE SET OUT FIRST THING IN THE MORNING AT A BRISK PACE. WHEN NOON CAME, HE STEPPED IT UP A LITTLE. ABOUT MID AFTERNOON, HE REALIZED HE WAS A LONG WAY FROM THE STARTING POINT, SO HE BEGAN TO JOG. AS EVENING CAME ON HE BROKE INTO A RUN, AND FINALLY, JUST AS NIGHT FELL, HE SPRINTED BACK TO HIS STARTING POINT AND PROMPTLY COLLAPSED AND DIED. HIS FAMILY BURIED HIM IN A GRAVE THAT WAS ABOUT SIX FEET BY THREE FEET.
THE RICH MAN IN JESUS STORY IS FABULOUSLY WEALTHY BY THE STANDARDS OF HIS TIME. HE OWNS LAND, AND HE HAS WEALTH STORED UP. AND WHILE HE PROBABLY CAME BY HIS WEALTH HONESTLY, IT MUST HAVE INVOLVED HIRING DAY WORKERS TO TILL THE SOIL AND HARVEST THE GRAIN. AND AT FIRST GLANCE, HE SEEMS TO BE ACTING PRUDENTLY IN CREATING MORE ROOM FOR HIS WEALTH. BUT GOD CALLS HIM A FOOL.
THERE IS ANOTHER PASSAGE IN SCRIPTURE ABOUT A FOOL. IT IS A PROVERB, THAT I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD BEFORE: “THE FOOL SAYS IN HIS HEART THAT THERE IS NO GOD.”
I THINK WHEN I FIRST HEARD THAT SAYING, SOMEONE TOLD ME THAT IT REFERRED TO ATHEISTS. BUT HAVING KNOWN MANY ATHEISTS, I WOULD BE HARD PRESSED TO CALL MANY OF THEM FOOLS. SOME OF THEM HAVE BRILLIANT MINDS, AND YOU JUST HAVE TO CONCLUDE THAT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN GIVEN THE GIFT OF FAITH. BUT THE FOOL IN THE SAYING IS NOT REALLY AN ATHEIST. HE IS ACTING AS THOUGH THERE IS NO GOD; HE IS SAYING THAT IN HIS HEART, EVEN THOUGH HE MAY BELIEVE IN GOD INTELLECTUALLY. SINCE THERE IS A GOD, TO ACT AS THOUGH THERE IS NO GOD IS FOOLISH.
AND THAT IS THE POINT IN THE STORY JESUS TELLS. HERE IS A MAN WHO IS A REAL LOSER, NOT BECAUSE HE IS WEALTHY, NOT BECAUSE HE IS PRUDENT, BUT BECAUSE HE IS ACTING AS THOUGH THERE IS NO GOD.
THE FIRST WAY HE ACTS AS THOUGH THERE IS NO GOD IS IN HIS PRESUMPTION THAT WHAT HE HAS GOTTEN FROM THE LAND CREATED BY GOD, FROM THE RAIN AND THE SUN GIVEN BY GOD, FROM THE LABOR OF HIS SERVANTS, HE CONSIDERS TO BE HIS. A FOOL IS SOMEONE WHO THINKS HE IS AN OWNER, RATHER THAN A CARETAKER OR A STEWARD.
THE SECOND WAY IS THAT HE MISUSES WHAT HE POSSESSES. HE ALREADY HAD MORE THAN ENOUGH, BUT IN ORDER TO PROVIDE FOR HIMSELF FAR INTO THE FUTURE, HE WANTS TO SPEND MONEY CREATING MORE STORAGE SPACE SO THAT HE CAN POSSESS EVEN MORE, WHILE THERE ARE NEEDY PEOPLE ALL AROUND HIM. IF YOU AND I EVER NEED STORAGE SPACE FOR OUR GOODS, THERE ARE ALWAYS POOR PEOPLE AROUND TO BE THAT STORAGE SPACE. AND CONTRAST THIS ATTITUDE WITH HOW JESUS KEEPS TELLING US TO WORRY ABOUT TODAY, AND LET TOMORROW TAKE CARE OF ITSELF, SINCE TOMORROW IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE IN GOD'S HANDS.
THE THIRD WAY HE ACTS AS THOUGH THERE IS NO GOD IS IN HIS PRESUMPTION THAT HE WILL LIVE LONG ENOUGH AND REMAIN HEALTHY ENOUGH TO ENJOY HIS WEALTH. HE ACTS AS THOUGH HE IS IN CONTROL, BUT HE OF COURSE, AND YOU AND I OF COURSE, ARE NOT IN CONTROL. OUR LIVES COULD BE SNUFFED OUT TOMORROW; WE COULD BE HOMELESS, WE COULD BE PUSHING A STOLEN SHOPPING BASKET AROUND COLLECTING DISCARDED CANS AND BOTTLES.
SO THE MAN IS A FOOL, AND JESUS PULLS NO PUNCHES. BUT NOTICE THE WORDS JESUS USES: THIS NIGHT YOUR LIFE WILL BE REQUIRED OF YOU. FOR THIS IS THE WAY IT WORKS FOR A MAN WHO GROWS RICH FOR HIMSELF INSTEAD OF GROWING RICH IN THE SIGHT OF GOD. JESUS IS NOT SAYING THAT GOD IS GOING TO PUNISH THIS MAN FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE. GOD DOESN'T NEED TO PUNISH HIM. IT IS AS NATURAL AS WATER RUNNING DOWNHILL. IF YOU CHOOSE TO LIVE THAT WAY, YOU WILL END UP LOSING YOUR LIFE, YOUR SOUL – MAYBE A LONG TIME BEFORE YOU ACTUALLY DIE. THIS PRINCIPLE, BY THE WAY, SEEMS TO LIE BEHIND ALL THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN – WE VIOLATE GOD'S TEACHINGS, AND THE BAD THINGS THAT HAPPEN FLOW FROM OUR ACTION, NOT BECAUSE GOD WANTS US TO SUFFER. ITS KIND OF LIKE THE STORY OF THE FAMILY WHO SET UP A BIRD FEEDER WITH FOUR STATIONS AND KEPT IT FULL OF BIRDSEED. FOR A WHILE THE BIRDS PRACTICALLY LIVED IN THE BACK YARD, BUT A FEW WEEKS WENT BY AND THEY SELDOM SAW A BIRD. IN THE BEGINNING THEY HAD TO FILL THE FEEDER UP PRACTICALLY EVERY DAY, NOW IT WAS LESS THAN ONCE A WEEK. EVENTUALLY THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM. ONE OF THE BIRDS HAD DECIDED HE OWNED THE FEEDER, AND HE WOULD ATTACK ANY OTHER BIRD THAT TRIED TO EAT FROM IT. BUT NOW THAT ALL HIS ENERGY AND ATTENTION WERE DIRECTED TOWARDS KEEPING OTHER BIRDS AWAY, HE HAD GIVEN UP HIS FREEDOM AND SPENT ALL HIS TIME WORRYING ABOUT WHEN A BIGGER BIRD MIGHT COME ALONG, OR WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IF HE FELL ASLEEP. HE HAD LOST HIS LIFE, HE HAD LOST HIS SOUL.
JESUS IS NOT GIVING US SOME OLD PLATITUDE – YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU. HE'S RESPONDING TO THE MAN WHO ASKED HIM TO JUDGE BETWEEN HIS BROTHER AND HIMSELF. THE MAN IS IN DANGER OF LOSING HIMSELF, LOSING HIS SOUL, BECAUSE THE IDEA OF HIS HAVING A FORTUNE NOW POSSESSES HIM.
SO HOW ARE YOU AND I FOOLS? THOSE OF US WHO LIVE IN LONGMEADOW TEND TO BE WEALTHIER THAN MOST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD, EVEN MOST PEOPLE IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS. WE ARE BETTER EDUCATED; WE ARE HEALTHIER, WE HAVE MORE LEISURE. AND MANY OF US ARE POSSESSED BY OUR STUFF, BY OUR COMMITMENTS, BY SO MUCH BUSYNESS THAT WE HAVE LOST OUR SELF SOMEWHERE IN THE TIME THAT'S GONE BY.
SO LET US TAKE SOME TIME TODAY TO EXAMINE OUR LIVES AND ASK, WHAT POSSESSES US, WHAT IS THERE THAT THREATENS OUR SELF, WHAT IS THERE THAT WAITS TO ENSLAVE US.
AND LET US LISTEN TO THOSE WORDS OF JESUS, “THAT IS THE WAY IT WORKS FOR THE MAN WHO GROWS RICH FOR HIMSELF INSTEAD OF RICH IN THE SIGHT OF GOD.”
THE GREAT RUSSIAN AUTHOR LEO TOLSTOY WROTE A SHORT STORY CALLED, “HOW MUCH LAND DOES A MAN NEED.” ONCE THERE WAS A PEASANT WHO WAS OFFERED ALL THE LAND HE COULD WALK AROUND IN A DAY. HE SET OUT FIRST THING IN THE MORNING AT A BRISK PACE. WHEN NOON CAME, HE STEPPED IT UP A LITTLE. ABOUT MID AFTERNOON, HE REALIZED HE WAS A LONG WAY FROM THE STARTING POINT, SO HE BEGAN TO JOG. AS EVENING CAME ON HE BROKE INTO A RUN, AND FINALLY, JUST AS NIGHT FELL, HE SPRINTED BACK TO HIS STARTING POINT AND PROMPTLY COLLAPSED AND DIED. HIS FAMILY BURIED HIM IN A GRAVE THAT WAS ABOUT SIX FEET BY THREE FEET.
THE RICH MAN IN JESUS STORY IS FABULOUSLY WEALTHY BY THE STANDARDS OF HIS TIME. HE OWNS LAND, AND HE HAS WEALTH STORED UP. AND WHILE HE PROBABLY CAME BY HIS WEALTH HONESTLY, IT MUST HAVE INVOLVED HIRING DAY WORKERS TO TILL THE SOIL AND HARVEST THE GRAIN. AND AT FIRST GLANCE, HE SEEMS TO BE ACTING PRUDENTLY IN CREATING MORE ROOM FOR HIS WEALTH. BUT GOD CALLS HIM A FOOL.
THERE IS ANOTHER PASSAGE IN SCRIPTURE ABOUT A FOOL. IT IS A PROVERB, THAT I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD BEFORE: “THE FOOL SAYS IN HIS HEART THAT THERE IS NO GOD.”
I THINK WHEN I FIRST HEARD THAT SAYING, SOMEONE TOLD ME THAT IT REFERRED TO ATHEISTS. BUT HAVING KNOWN MANY ATHEISTS, I WOULD BE HARD PRESSED TO CALL MANY OF THEM FOOLS. SOME OF THEM HAVE BRILLIANT MINDS, AND YOU JUST HAVE TO CONCLUDE THAT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN GIVEN THE GIFT OF FAITH. BUT THE FOOL IN THE SAYING IS NOT REALLY AN ATHEIST. HE IS ACTING AS THOUGH THERE IS NO GOD; HE IS SAYING THAT IN HIS HEART, EVEN THOUGH HE MAY BELIEVE IN GOD INTELLECTUALLY. SINCE THERE IS A GOD, TO ACT AS THOUGH THERE IS NO GOD IS FOOLISH.
AND THAT IS THE POINT IN THE STORY JESUS TELLS. HERE IS A MAN WHO IS A REAL LOSER, NOT BECAUSE HE IS WEALTHY, NOT BECAUSE HE IS PRUDENT, BUT BECAUSE HE IS ACTING AS THOUGH THERE IS NO GOD.
THE FIRST WAY HE ACTS AS THOUGH THERE IS NO GOD IS IN HIS PRESUMPTION THAT WHAT HE HAS GOTTEN FROM THE LAND CREATED BY GOD, FROM THE RAIN AND THE SUN GIVEN BY GOD, FROM THE LABOR OF HIS SERVANTS, HE CONSIDERS TO BE HIS. A FOOL IS SOMEONE WHO THINKS HE IS AN OWNER, RATHER THAN A CARETAKER OR A STEWARD.
THE SECOND WAY IS THAT HE MISUSES WHAT HE POSSESSES. HE ALREADY HAD MORE THAN ENOUGH, BUT IN ORDER TO PROVIDE FOR HIMSELF FAR INTO THE FUTURE, HE WANTS TO SPEND MONEY CREATING MORE STORAGE SPACE SO THAT HE CAN POSSESS EVEN MORE, WHILE THERE ARE NEEDY PEOPLE ALL AROUND HIM. IF YOU AND I EVER NEED STORAGE SPACE FOR OUR GOODS, THERE ARE ALWAYS POOR PEOPLE AROUND TO BE THAT STORAGE SPACE. AND CONTRAST THIS ATTITUDE WITH HOW JESUS KEEPS TELLING US TO WORRY ABOUT TODAY, AND LET TOMORROW TAKE CARE OF ITSELF, SINCE TOMORROW IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE IN GOD'S HANDS.
THE THIRD WAY HE ACTS AS THOUGH THERE IS NO GOD IS IN HIS PRESUMPTION THAT HE WILL LIVE LONG ENOUGH AND REMAIN HEALTHY ENOUGH TO ENJOY HIS WEALTH. HE ACTS AS THOUGH HE IS IN CONTROL, BUT HE OF COURSE, AND YOU AND I OF COURSE, ARE NOT IN CONTROL. OUR LIVES COULD BE SNUFFED OUT TOMORROW; WE COULD BE HOMELESS, WE COULD BE PUSHING A STOLEN SHOPPING BASKET AROUND COLLECTING DISCARDED CANS AND BOTTLES.
SO THE MAN IS A FOOL, AND JESUS PULLS NO PUNCHES. BUT NOTICE THE WORDS JESUS USES: THIS NIGHT YOUR LIFE WILL BE REQUIRED OF YOU. FOR THIS IS THE WAY IT WORKS FOR A MAN WHO GROWS RICH FOR HIMSELF INSTEAD OF GROWING RICH IN THE SIGHT OF GOD. JESUS IS NOT SAYING THAT GOD IS GOING TO PUNISH THIS MAN FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE. GOD DOESN'T NEED TO PUNISH HIM. IT IS AS NATURAL AS WATER RUNNING DOWNHILL. IF YOU CHOOSE TO LIVE THAT WAY, YOU WILL END UP LOSING YOUR LIFE, YOUR SOUL – MAYBE A LONG TIME BEFORE YOU ACTUALLY DIE. THIS PRINCIPLE, BY THE WAY, SEEMS TO LIE BEHIND ALL THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN – WE VIOLATE GOD'S TEACHINGS, AND THE BAD THINGS THAT HAPPEN FLOW FROM OUR ACTION, NOT BECAUSE GOD WANTS US TO SUFFER. ITS KIND OF LIKE THE STORY OF THE FAMILY WHO SET UP A BIRD FEEDER WITH FOUR STATIONS AND KEPT IT FULL OF BIRDSEED. FOR A WHILE THE BIRDS PRACTICALLY LIVED IN THE BACK YARD, BUT A FEW WEEKS WENT BY AND THEY SELDOM SAW A BIRD. IN THE BEGINNING THEY HAD TO FILL THE FEEDER UP PRACTICALLY EVERY DAY, NOW IT WAS LESS THAN ONCE A WEEK. EVENTUALLY THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM. ONE OF THE BIRDS HAD DECIDED HE OWNED THE FEEDER, AND HE WOULD ATTACK ANY OTHER BIRD THAT TRIED TO EAT FROM IT. BUT NOW THAT ALL HIS ENERGY AND ATTENTION WERE DIRECTED TOWARDS KEEPING OTHER BIRDS AWAY, HE HAD GIVEN UP HIS FREEDOM AND SPENT ALL HIS TIME WORRYING ABOUT WHEN A BIGGER BIRD MIGHT COME ALONG, OR WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IF HE FELL ASLEEP. HE HAD LOST HIS LIFE, HE HAD LOST HIS SOUL.
JESUS IS NOT GIVING US SOME OLD PLATITUDE – YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU. HE'S RESPONDING TO THE MAN WHO ASKED HIM TO JUDGE BETWEEN HIS BROTHER AND HIMSELF. THE MAN IS IN DANGER OF LOSING HIMSELF, LOSING HIS SOUL, BECAUSE THE IDEA OF HIS HAVING A FORTUNE NOW POSSESSES HIM.
SO HOW ARE YOU AND I FOOLS? THOSE OF US WHO LIVE IN LONGMEADOW TEND TO BE WEALTHIER THAN MOST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD, EVEN MOST PEOPLE IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS. WE ARE BETTER EDUCATED; WE ARE HEALTHIER, WE HAVE MORE LEISURE. AND MANY OF US ARE POSSESSED BY OUR STUFF, BY OUR COMMITMENTS, BY SO MUCH BUSYNESS THAT WE HAVE LOST OUR SELF SOMEWHERE IN THE TIME THAT'S GONE BY.
SO LET US TAKE SOME TIME TODAY TO EXAMINE OUR LIVES AND ASK, WHAT POSSESSES US, WHAT IS THERE THAT THREATENS OUR SELF, WHAT IS THERE THAT WAITS TO ENSLAVE US.
AND LET US LISTEN TO THOSE WORDS OF JESUS, “THAT IS THE WAY IT WORKS FOR THE MAN WHO GROWS RICH FOR HIMSELF INSTEAD OF RICH IN THE SIGHT OF GOD.”
Sunday, July 29, 2007
17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle C
LUKE 11:1-13
I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I READ TODAY'S READING FROM GENESIS OUT LOUD. IT WAS AT A NOVENA MASS ON MONDAY NIGHT BACK IN THE DAYS OF MONSIGNOR DEVINE, AND BEFORE I BECAME A DEACON. AS I LISTENED TO THE WORDS I WAS SAYING, I COULD FEEL LAUGHTER RISING UP UNCONTROLLABLY. I MANAGED TO GET THROUGH THE READING WITHOUT LAUGHING, BUT JUST BARELY. IT IS A FUNNY STORY. I THINK IT WAS MEANT TO BE, AS ARE MANY OF THE STORIES IN THE BOOK OF GENESIS. BUT IT MAKES TWO POINTS. GOD WHO IS UNCHANGEABLE SOMEHOW ALLOWS HIS CHILDREN TO PERSUADE HIM TO CHANGE HIS MIND. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE TRINITY OR THE INCARNATION EITHER. THE SECOND POINT IS THAT PERSISTENCE PAYS OFF, A POINT AGREED TO BY JESUS IN TODAY'S GOSPEL.
THE LORD'S PRAYER AS GIVEN IN THE GOSPEL OF LUKE IS NOT THE FAMILIAR ONE WE ALL KNOW, WHICH COMES FROM MATTHEW. IT IS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME, HOWEVER. AFTER WE PRAY THAT GOD'S NAME BE HALLOWED, AND THAT HIS KINGDOM COMES, WE ASK FOR THREE THINGS.
FIRST, WE ASK FOR OUR DAILY BREAD. BREAD IN THIS SENSE MEANS WHATEVER WE NEED TO KEEP GOING, TO HALLOW GOD'S NAME AND BRING ABOUT HIS KINGDOM. A STARVING PERSON CAN'T CONCENTRATE ON ANYTHING BUT HIS HUNGER. A VERY SICK PERSON CAN'T THINK ABOUT MUCH BESIDES HOW SICK HE IS – THINK ABOUT ALL THE THINGS YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED WHEN YOU'VE HAD A CASE OF THE FLU. A PERSON WHO IS HOMELESS OR PERSECUTED OR LIVING IN GRINDING POVERTY IS A VERY POOR INSTRUMENT IN GOD'S HANDS. SO WE ASK FOR WHAT WE NEED. WE ALSO REMEMBER THAT WHAT WE NEED AND WHAT WE WANT ARE DIFFERENT THINGS. WHEN WE PRAY FOR WHAT WE WANT, WE ARE IN DANGER OF PUTTING OURSELVES BEFORE GOD'S KINGDOM, TREATING GOD LIKE SOME KIND OF COSMIC VENDING MACHINE. WHEN I TAKE MY GRANDCHILDREN SHOPPING, THEY WANT A LOT, BUT MOST OF THE TIME I SAY “NO”. FOR OUR WANTS, WE MAY EXPERIENCE GOD'S NO.
SECOND, WE ASK GOD'S FORGIVENESS, BUT JESUS HAS US PRAY WITH A CONDITION. FORGIVE US AS WE FORGIVE. GOD'S NAME WILL BE HONORED AND HIS KINGDOM WILL COME TO THE EXTENT THAT THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN HIS PEOPLE ARE HEALED, AND TO THE EXTENT THAT HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH US IS HEALED. THE KINGDOM WE PRAY TO COME IS A KINGDOM WHERE WE ARE ALL BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WHERE WE WILL ALL LOVE ONE ANOTHER, WHERE WE ALL ARE IN COMMUNION WITH OUR FATHER, LIKE JESUS WAS. ALL OF THIS REQUIRES FORGIVENESS ALL AROUND.
AND THEN WE COME TO THE THIRD PETITION. LUKE SAYS, “SUBJECT US NOT TO THE TRIAL” AND MATTHEW SAYS, “LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL.” WHAT ARE WE PRAYING FOR? IS GOD A SADIST? PART OF THE DIFFICULTY WE HAVE WHEN WE HEAR THESE WORDS IS THAT WE ARE THINKING OF FAILING THE TRIAL, OR GIVING IN TO TEMPTATION; WE FALL INTO SIN. BUT MAYBE JESUS HAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN MIND. AGAIN, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HONORING GOD'S NAME AND BRINGING ABOUT HIS KINGDOM. CERTAINLY PERSONAL SIN, WHICH IS THE CONSEQUENCE OF TEMPTATION, GOES AGAINST THIS GOAL. BUT MANY OTHER THINGS DO AS WELL. JESUS, AFTER ALL, WAS DRIVEN INTO THE DESERT BY THE SPIRIT, THERE TO BE TEMPTED BY SATAN. TURN THESE STONES INTO BREAD, HE WAS TOLD. WHAT A TEMPTATION – A WAY TO END WORLD HUNGER; BUT NOT THE RIGHT WAY. THE RIGHT WAY IS MUCH HARDER – TO GET PEOPLE TO CARE FOR EACH OTHER. JUMP OFF OF THE TOWER OF THE TEMPLE, AND HAVE THE ANGELS CATCH YOU. WHAT A TEMPTATION – IF YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL MESSAGE FOR THE HUMAN RACE, WHAT BETTER WAY TO GET THEM TO LISTEN THAN TO DO SOMETHING SPECTACULAR AND MIRACULOUS! BUT NOT THE RIGHT WAY. EVERY PERSON MUST COME TO THE ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS AND HIS MESSAGE THROUGH HIS OWN CONVERSION, THROUGH HIS OWN STRUGGLE. AND FINALLY, WORSHIP ME AND I WILL GIVE YOU ALL THE KINGDOMS OF THE EARTH. WHAT A TEMPTATION – A TEMPTATION THAT WE'VE SEEN IN OUR OWN TIME OVER AND OVER AGAIN, FROM LENIN TO CASTRO, FROM HITLER TO MAO – IF ONLY I HAD ABSOLUTE POWER, I COULD MAKE THE WORLD INTO A PARADISE. BUT DISASTER ALWAYS HAPPENS. AND IT IS NOT THE RIGHT WAY. PARADISE ON EARTH WILL COME ONLY WHEN EVERY PERSON COMPLETELY AND FULLY OBEYS THOSE TWO GREAT COMMANDMENTS, LOVE GOD WITH YOUR WHOLE HEART, SOUL, MIND AND STRENGTH, AND LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF. AND UNTIL YOU DO THIS, AND I DO THIS, PARADISE WILL NOT COME; BUT WHEN YOU AND I DO THIS, IT IS A LITTLE CLOSER.
THESE ARE THE KIND OF TEMPTATIONS WE PRAY NOT TO BE LEAD INTO. THESE ARE THE TRIALS WE ASK TO AVOID. BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN HOW EVEN GOOD PEOPLE CAN LOSE SIGHT OF WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT. OVER THE LAST 2000 YEARS WE HAVE EVEN SEEN OUR OWN CHURCH, THE CHURCH FOUNDED BY JESUS, BECOME ENAMORED OF POWER, ATTRACTED TO WEALTH, LIVING THE LETTER RATHER THAN THE SPIRIT OF THE LAW – AND ALL FOR GOOD REASONS; BUT IN DOING SO, STRAYING FROM THE RIGHT WAY, FROM JESUS' WAY. AND YOU AND I ARE NOT IMMUNE. MOST OF US HAVE ALREADY SUCCUMBED TO THESE KINDS OF TEMPTATIONS. DID YOU WINCE A LITTLE WHEN THE VATICAN REITERATED THE AGE-OLD TEACHING THAT OURS IS THE ONLY TRUE CHURCH? DO YOU FEEL A LITTLE ASHAMED THAT OUR CHURCH CONTINUES TO OPPOSE EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH, SAME SEX MARRIAGE, ABORTION, ARTIFICIAL BIRTH CONTROL? DON'T YOU WISH SOMETIMES THAT CHRISTIANS WOULD PUT THEIR DOCTRINAL DISPUTES ASIDE AND WORK TOGETHER TO END POVERTY AND CLEAN UP THE ENVIRONMENT? WHAT ABOUT ALL THE FUSS ABOUT THE LATIN MASS?
THE POINT IS THAT FOR EVERY PROBLEM THERE IS A QUICK FIX, AN EASY SOLUTION. BUT IF WE KNOW ANYTHING FROM STUDYING THE LIFE AND DEATH OF JESUS, WE KNOW THAT JESUS' WAY IS NOT THE QUICK FIX. JESUS' WAY IS TO DIE ON THE CROSS.
SO LET US PRAY THAT WE WILL NOT BE LEAD INTO TEMPTATION, BECAUSE WE ARE SO WEAK, WE ARE SO EASILY SWAYED, WE OR MORE LIKELY THAN NOT TO FALL, AND NOT EVEN KNOW WE HAVE FALLEN. AND LET US LOOK INTO OUR HEARTS AND COMPARE OUR ATTITUDES, OUR BELIEFS, TO THOSE OF OUR CHURCH, WHO, DESPITE BAD AND EVEN SINFUL LEADERS, DESPITE INDIFFERENT LAITY, DESPITE FALLING OVER AND OVER AGAIN, IS STILL THE ONLY PLACE WHERE THE TEACHING OF JESUS CHRIST SUBSISTS COMPLETELY. BECAUSE WE ARE LIKE THOSE APOSTLES, WHO SAY, “TO WHOM SHALL WE GO, YOU HAVE THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE.”
I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I READ TODAY'S READING FROM GENESIS OUT LOUD. IT WAS AT A NOVENA MASS ON MONDAY NIGHT BACK IN THE DAYS OF MONSIGNOR DEVINE, AND BEFORE I BECAME A DEACON. AS I LISTENED TO THE WORDS I WAS SAYING, I COULD FEEL LAUGHTER RISING UP UNCONTROLLABLY. I MANAGED TO GET THROUGH THE READING WITHOUT LAUGHING, BUT JUST BARELY. IT IS A FUNNY STORY. I THINK IT WAS MEANT TO BE, AS ARE MANY OF THE STORIES IN THE BOOK OF GENESIS. BUT IT MAKES TWO POINTS. GOD WHO IS UNCHANGEABLE SOMEHOW ALLOWS HIS CHILDREN TO PERSUADE HIM TO CHANGE HIS MIND. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE TRINITY OR THE INCARNATION EITHER. THE SECOND POINT IS THAT PERSISTENCE PAYS OFF, A POINT AGREED TO BY JESUS IN TODAY'S GOSPEL.
THE LORD'S PRAYER AS GIVEN IN THE GOSPEL OF LUKE IS NOT THE FAMILIAR ONE WE ALL KNOW, WHICH COMES FROM MATTHEW. IT IS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME, HOWEVER. AFTER WE PRAY THAT GOD'S NAME BE HALLOWED, AND THAT HIS KINGDOM COMES, WE ASK FOR THREE THINGS.
FIRST, WE ASK FOR OUR DAILY BREAD. BREAD IN THIS SENSE MEANS WHATEVER WE NEED TO KEEP GOING, TO HALLOW GOD'S NAME AND BRING ABOUT HIS KINGDOM. A STARVING PERSON CAN'T CONCENTRATE ON ANYTHING BUT HIS HUNGER. A VERY SICK PERSON CAN'T THINK ABOUT MUCH BESIDES HOW SICK HE IS – THINK ABOUT ALL THE THINGS YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED WHEN YOU'VE HAD A CASE OF THE FLU. A PERSON WHO IS HOMELESS OR PERSECUTED OR LIVING IN GRINDING POVERTY IS A VERY POOR INSTRUMENT IN GOD'S HANDS. SO WE ASK FOR WHAT WE NEED. WE ALSO REMEMBER THAT WHAT WE NEED AND WHAT WE WANT ARE DIFFERENT THINGS. WHEN WE PRAY FOR WHAT WE WANT, WE ARE IN DANGER OF PUTTING OURSELVES BEFORE GOD'S KINGDOM, TREATING GOD LIKE SOME KIND OF COSMIC VENDING MACHINE. WHEN I TAKE MY GRANDCHILDREN SHOPPING, THEY WANT A LOT, BUT MOST OF THE TIME I SAY “NO”. FOR OUR WANTS, WE MAY EXPERIENCE GOD'S NO.
SECOND, WE ASK GOD'S FORGIVENESS, BUT JESUS HAS US PRAY WITH A CONDITION. FORGIVE US AS WE FORGIVE. GOD'S NAME WILL BE HONORED AND HIS KINGDOM WILL COME TO THE EXTENT THAT THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN HIS PEOPLE ARE HEALED, AND TO THE EXTENT THAT HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH US IS HEALED. THE KINGDOM WE PRAY TO COME IS A KINGDOM WHERE WE ARE ALL BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WHERE WE WILL ALL LOVE ONE ANOTHER, WHERE WE ALL ARE IN COMMUNION WITH OUR FATHER, LIKE JESUS WAS. ALL OF THIS REQUIRES FORGIVENESS ALL AROUND.
AND THEN WE COME TO THE THIRD PETITION. LUKE SAYS, “SUBJECT US NOT TO THE TRIAL” AND MATTHEW SAYS, “LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL.” WHAT ARE WE PRAYING FOR? IS GOD A SADIST? PART OF THE DIFFICULTY WE HAVE WHEN WE HEAR THESE WORDS IS THAT WE ARE THINKING OF FAILING THE TRIAL, OR GIVING IN TO TEMPTATION; WE FALL INTO SIN. BUT MAYBE JESUS HAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN MIND. AGAIN, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HONORING GOD'S NAME AND BRINGING ABOUT HIS KINGDOM. CERTAINLY PERSONAL SIN, WHICH IS THE CONSEQUENCE OF TEMPTATION, GOES AGAINST THIS GOAL. BUT MANY OTHER THINGS DO AS WELL. JESUS, AFTER ALL, WAS DRIVEN INTO THE DESERT BY THE SPIRIT, THERE TO BE TEMPTED BY SATAN. TURN THESE STONES INTO BREAD, HE WAS TOLD. WHAT A TEMPTATION – A WAY TO END WORLD HUNGER; BUT NOT THE RIGHT WAY. THE RIGHT WAY IS MUCH HARDER – TO GET PEOPLE TO CARE FOR EACH OTHER. JUMP OFF OF THE TOWER OF THE TEMPLE, AND HAVE THE ANGELS CATCH YOU. WHAT A TEMPTATION – IF YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL MESSAGE FOR THE HUMAN RACE, WHAT BETTER WAY TO GET THEM TO LISTEN THAN TO DO SOMETHING SPECTACULAR AND MIRACULOUS! BUT NOT THE RIGHT WAY. EVERY PERSON MUST COME TO THE ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS AND HIS MESSAGE THROUGH HIS OWN CONVERSION, THROUGH HIS OWN STRUGGLE. AND FINALLY, WORSHIP ME AND I WILL GIVE YOU ALL THE KINGDOMS OF THE EARTH. WHAT A TEMPTATION – A TEMPTATION THAT WE'VE SEEN IN OUR OWN TIME OVER AND OVER AGAIN, FROM LENIN TO CASTRO, FROM HITLER TO MAO – IF ONLY I HAD ABSOLUTE POWER, I COULD MAKE THE WORLD INTO A PARADISE. BUT DISASTER ALWAYS HAPPENS. AND IT IS NOT THE RIGHT WAY. PARADISE ON EARTH WILL COME ONLY WHEN EVERY PERSON COMPLETELY AND FULLY OBEYS THOSE TWO GREAT COMMANDMENTS, LOVE GOD WITH YOUR WHOLE HEART, SOUL, MIND AND STRENGTH, AND LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF. AND UNTIL YOU DO THIS, AND I DO THIS, PARADISE WILL NOT COME; BUT WHEN YOU AND I DO THIS, IT IS A LITTLE CLOSER.
THESE ARE THE KIND OF TEMPTATIONS WE PRAY NOT TO BE LEAD INTO. THESE ARE THE TRIALS WE ASK TO AVOID. BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN HOW EVEN GOOD PEOPLE CAN LOSE SIGHT OF WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT. OVER THE LAST 2000 YEARS WE HAVE EVEN SEEN OUR OWN CHURCH, THE CHURCH FOUNDED BY JESUS, BECOME ENAMORED OF POWER, ATTRACTED TO WEALTH, LIVING THE LETTER RATHER THAN THE SPIRIT OF THE LAW – AND ALL FOR GOOD REASONS; BUT IN DOING SO, STRAYING FROM THE RIGHT WAY, FROM JESUS' WAY. AND YOU AND I ARE NOT IMMUNE. MOST OF US HAVE ALREADY SUCCUMBED TO THESE KINDS OF TEMPTATIONS. DID YOU WINCE A LITTLE WHEN THE VATICAN REITERATED THE AGE-OLD TEACHING THAT OURS IS THE ONLY TRUE CHURCH? DO YOU FEEL A LITTLE ASHAMED THAT OUR CHURCH CONTINUES TO OPPOSE EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH, SAME SEX MARRIAGE, ABORTION, ARTIFICIAL BIRTH CONTROL? DON'T YOU WISH SOMETIMES THAT CHRISTIANS WOULD PUT THEIR DOCTRINAL DISPUTES ASIDE AND WORK TOGETHER TO END POVERTY AND CLEAN UP THE ENVIRONMENT? WHAT ABOUT ALL THE FUSS ABOUT THE LATIN MASS?
THE POINT IS THAT FOR EVERY PROBLEM THERE IS A QUICK FIX, AN EASY SOLUTION. BUT IF WE KNOW ANYTHING FROM STUDYING THE LIFE AND DEATH OF JESUS, WE KNOW THAT JESUS' WAY IS NOT THE QUICK FIX. JESUS' WAY IS TO DIE ON THE CROSS.
SO LET US PRAY THAT WE WILL NOT BE LEAD INTO TEMPTATION, BECAUSE WE ARE SO WEAK, WE ARE SO EASILY SWAYED, WE OR MORE LIKELY THAN NOT TO FALL, AND NOT EVEN KNOW WE HAVE FALLEN. AND LET US LOOK INTO OUR HEARTS AND COMPARE OUR ATTITUDES, OUR BELIEFS, TO THOSE OF OUR CHURCH, WHO, DESPITE BAD AND EVEN SINFUL LEADERS, DESPITE INDIFFERENT LAITY, DESPITE FALLING OVER AND OVER AGAIN, IS STILL THE ONLY PLACE WHERE THE TEACHING OF JESUS CHRIST SUBSISTS COMPLETELY. BECAUSE WE ARE LIKE THOSE APOSTLES, WHO SAY, “TO WHOM SHALL WE GO, YOU HAVE THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE.”
Sunday, July 22, 2007
16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle C
LUKE 10:38-42
HOSPITALITY. WE HEAR THAT WORD A LOT AND DON'T THINK TOO MUCH OF IT. IT IS WHEN WE HAVE THE KIDS OVER FOR SUNDAY SUPPER, OR WHEN WE ARE TREATED PARTICULARLY WELL ON AN AIRPLANE OR IN A CITY WE VISIT. HOSPITALITY IS IN PART DEFINED BY ITS OPPOSITE – AN ATTITUDE OF COLDNESS, INDIFFERENCE, OR EVEN HOSTILITY. BUT HOSPITALITY HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH OUR RELIGION – AFTER ALL, JESUS ENDORSED IT IN HIS PARABLES AND EVEN TOOK ADVANTAGE OF IT A FEW TIMES, WHEN HE HAD SUPPER WITH A TAX COLLECTOR OR A PHARISEE, WHEN HE ALLOWED PETER'S MOTHER IN LAW TO WAIT ON HIM. JESUS ALLOWED HIMSELF TO RECEIVE HOSPITALITY.
AND IF JESUS IS THE RECIPIENT OF HOSPITALITY, HE IS NEVER ONLY A RECIPIENT. A PERSON WHO RECEIVES HOSPITALITY USUALLY GIVES SOMETHING IN RETURN.
WHENEVER I READ THE STORY OF ABRAHAM ENTERTAINING THE THREE VISITORS, I CAN'T HELP BUT SEE IN MY MIND THE FAMOUS ICON OF THE EASTERN CHURCH. IN THE FOREGROUND ARE THE THREE STRANGERS; THEY ARE SITTING AROUND A TABLE, SEEMINGLY ENGROSSED IN CONVERSATION WITH EACH OTHER. ABRAHAM IS HOVERING IN THE BACKGROUND, WAITING ON THEM. AND SARAH IS PEEKING OUT FROM THE TENT, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT SHE IS LAUGHING AS SHE HEARS THE STRANGERS PREDICT THAT NEXT YEAR SHE WILL HAVE A CHILD. THE ICON SHOWS HER TO BE A VERY OLD WOMAN.
ABRAHAM, IN PROVIDING HOSPITALITY, CREATES SPACE FOR THE STRANGERS TO BE THEMSELVES. HE DOES NOT SIT AT THE TABLE AND INJECT HIMSELF IN THEIR CONVERSATION. HE SEES TO THEIR NEEDS, AND PUTS HIMSELF AT THEIR SERVICE. WHAT THEY CHOOSE TO DO IS UP TO THEM. THOSE WHO RECEIVE HOSPITALITY IDEALLY SHOULD BE CHANGED BY IT, AND IDEALLY SHOULD FEEL GRATITUDE TOWARDS THEIR HOST; AND IDEALLY, SHOULD BE MORE HOSPITABLE IN THE FUTURE. AND THE STRANGERS SHOW THEIR GRATITUDE BY PROVIDING FOR ABRAHAM AND SARAH THEIR HEART'S DESIRE, A CHILD.
THE GOSPEL READING IS ALSO ABOUT HOSPITALITY. HERE, MARTHA AND MARY AND LAZARUS, TWO SISTERS AND A BROTHER WHO LIVE TOGETHER, OFFER JESUS AND HIS APOSTLES HOSPITALITY. THEY CREATE SPACE SO THAT JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES CAN BE THEMSELVES. AND WHEN YOU LET JESUS BE HIMSELF, HE SPEAKS WORDS OF SALVATION, WORDS WHICH YOU CAN'T IGNORE – AND MARY DOES NOT IGNORE THEM; SHE LETS JESUS BE JESUS. AND WE SEE THAT THE ONE WHO SINS AGAINST HOSPITALITY IS THE ONE WHO IS DOING ALL THE HEAVY LIFTING, MARTHA, WHO IS OUT IN THE KITCHEN PREPARING AN ELABORATE MEAL. SHE IS NOT LETTING JESUS BE JESUS. SHE IS MAKING JESUS BE THE GUEST, THE ONE WHO WILL GRACE HER TABLE, THE ONE WHO WILL FIT INTO HER MOLD. THAT IS WHAT UPSETS HER; HE IS NOT GOING ALONG WITH THE PLAN, AND MARY ISN'T HELPING, SITTING OUT THERE WITH THE MEN WHILE JESUS TEACHES. BUT LIKE THE THREE MEN WHO VISITED ABRAHAM, JESUS SHOWS HIS GRATITUDE BY GIVING THOSE AROUND HIM THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE.
OUR SUNDAY MASS IS ABOUT HOSPITALITY. OUR PARISH BUILT A BEAUTIFUL CHURCH MANY YEARS AGO, NOT FOR US, BUT BECAUSE WE WANT TO INVITE OUR LORD TO BE WITH US. WE PAY FOR OUR ORGANIST AND OUR CANTOR NOT SO MUCH SO THAT WE WILL HEAR BEAUTIFUL MUSIC, BUT SO THAT WHEN JESUS COMES INTO OUR MIDST, WE WANT TO DEMONSTRATE TO HIM THAT HIS COMPANY IS APPRECIATED. WE DO NOT WANT TO BE LIKE THE PHARISEE WHO INVITED JESUS TO SUPPER, BUT DID NOT PROVIDE WATER FOR HIS FEET AND DID NOT GREET HIM WITH A KISS. EVEN THE AIR CONDITIONING WHICH WE ENJOY IS NOT PRIMARILY FOR US, BUT RATHER, SO THAT WE CAN BE LESS DISTRACTED WHEN JESUS COMES TO US; SO WE CAN BE BETTER HOSTS. AND OF COURSE BEING HOST TO JESUS MEANS THAT WE PAY ATTENTION TO HIM, LIKE ABRAHAM WAITING ON THE THREE VISITORS, OR LIKE MARY, SITTING AT HIS FEET. AND BEING HOST TO JESUS SHOULD MEAN THAT WE DRESS APPROPRIATELY, COME BEFORE MASS STARTS, AND LEAVE AFTER MASS IS OVER. WE WOULD NEVER TREAT A GUEST IN OUR HOME THE WAY WE SOMETIMES TREAT THE GUEST WHOM WE ENTERTAIN EVERY SUNDAY.
AND AS I SAID BEFORE, HOSPITALITY IS A TWO WAY STREET. JESUS COMES INTO OUR MIDST AS GUEST, AND TURNS THE TABLES ON US. HE COMES AS OUR GUEST, BUT HE BRINGS HIS WORD, IN OUR READINGS AND IN THE HOMILY. DO WE LISTEN ATTENTIVELY? DO WE LET THE HOLY SPIRIT MOVE US? OR DO WE READ THE WORDS IN THE BOOK WHILE THEY ARE BEING SPOKEN? LISTENING IS PASSIVE, LISTENING ALLOWS THE SPIRIT TO WORK. READING IS ACTIVE, THE SPIRIT DOESN'T DO MUCH WHEN WE ARE NOT BEING OPEN TO HIM. OR DO WE SHAKE OUR WATCH AND WONDER WHEN THIS WILL ALL BE OVER.
JESUS COMES AS OUR GUEST, BUT HE BRINGS THE FOOD. WE'VE SET ASIDE SOME OF WHAT WE CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT – BREAD AND WINE, FOOD AND DRINK; BUT HE CHANGES THAT INTO HIS BODY AND BLOOD, AND SERVES US. AND SOME OF US RECEIVE THIS PRECIOUS GIFT WITH GREAT REVERENCE. WE MAKE A GESTURE OF RESPECT, LIKE A BOW. WE SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY RECEIVE THE HOST INTO OUR HANDS OR OUR MOUTHS. AFTER EATING THE BODY AND DRINKING THE BLOOD, WE SPEND A FEW MINUTES BEING OPEN TO JESUS; WE GO BACK TO OUR PEWS AND SIT IN SILENCE, OR KNEEL WITH OUR EYES CLOSED SO WE ARE NOT DISTRACTED. AND IN THOSE MOMENTS, JESUS TRANSFORMS US. AND YET OTHERS OF US TAKE THIS GIFT WITH EXTREME CASUALNESS, POPPING THE HOST INTO OUR MOUTHS AS WE RUSH FROM COMMUNION TO THE PARKING LOT. IF WE WERE A GUEST IN THE HOME OF A FRIEND, WE WOULDN'T DO THIS, WE WOULDN'T SIT DOWN TO A WONDERFUL SUPPER AND ASK FOR A DOGGIE BAG BECAUSE WE WERE IN A HURRY TO LEAVE.
PEOPLE OFTEN SYMPATHIZE WITH MARTHA; MY MOTHER WAS ONE OF THOSE. SOMEBODY HAS TO DO THE WORK, SHE WOULD SAY. BUT MARTHA, WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE GIVING HOSPITALITY, WAS NOT REALLY; SHE HAD LOWERED HER STATUS TO THAT OF THE COOK. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, SHE DID NOT RECEIVE WHAT OUR LORD, THE GUEST AND THE HOST, WANTED TO GIVE HER.
SO LET US ASK HOW WE GIVE AND RECEIVE HOSPITALITY AT SUNDAY MASS, WHEN JESUS COMES INTO OUR MIDST. LET US ASK WHETHER WE ARE LIKE MARY, WHO HAS CHOSEN THE BETTER PART.
HOSPITALITY. WE HEAR THAT WORD A LOT AND DON'T THINK TOO MUCH OF IT. IT IS WHEN WE HAVE THE KIDS OVER FOR SUNDAY SUPPER, OR WHEN WE ARE TREATED PARTICULARLY WELL ON AN AIRPLANE OR IN A CITY WE VISIT. HOSPITALITY IS IN PART DEFINED BY ITS OPPOSITE – AN ATTITUDE OF COLDNESS, INDIFFERENCE, OR EVEN HOSTILITY. BUT HOSPITALITY HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH OUR RELIGION – AFTER ALL, JESUS ENDORSED IT IN HIS PARABLES AND EVEN TOOK ADVANTAGE OF IT A FEW TIMES, WHEN HE HAD SUPPER WITH A TAX COLLECTOR OR A PHARISEE, WHEN HE ALLOWED PETER'S MOTHER IN LAW TO WAIT ON HIM. JESUS ALLOWED HIMSELF TO RECEIVE HOSPITALITY.
AND IF JESUS IS THE RECIPIENT OF HOSPITALITY, HE IS NEVER ONLY A RECIPIENT. A PERSON WHO RECEIVES HOSPITALITY USUALLY GIVES SOMETHING IN RETURN.
WHENEVER I READ THE STORY OF ABRAHAM ENTERTAINING THE THREE VISITORS, I CAN'T HELP BUT SEE IN MY MIND THE FAMOUS ICON OF THE EASTERN CHURCH. IN THE FOREGROUND ARE THE THREE STRANGERS; THEY ARE SITTING AROUND A TABLE, SEEMINGLY ENGROSSED IN CONVERSATION WITH EACH OTHER. ABRAHAM IS HOVERING IN THE BACKGROUND, WAITING ON THEM. AND SARAH IS PEEKING OUT FROM THE TENT, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT SHE IS LAUGHING AS SHE HEARS THE STRANGERS PREDICT THAT NEXT YEAR SHE WILL HAVE A CHILD. THE ICON SHOWS HER TO BE A VERY OLD WOMAN.
ABRAHAM, IN PROVIDING HOSPITALITY, CREATES SPACE FOR THE STRANGERS TO BE THEMSELVES. HE DOES NOT SIT AT THE TABLE AND INJECT HIMSELF IN THEIR CONVERSATION. HE SEES TO THEIR NEEDS, AND PUTS HIMSELF AT THEIR SERVICE. WHAT THEY CHOOSE TO DO IS UP TO THEM. THOSE WHO RECEIVE HOSPITALITY IDEALLY SHOULD BE CHANGED BY IT, AND IDEALLY SHOULD FEEL GRATITUDE TOWARDS THEIR HOST; AND IDEALLY, SHOULD BE MORE HOSPITABLE IN THE FUTURE. AND THE STRANGERS SHOW THEIR GRATITUDE BY PROVIDING FOR ABRAHAM AND SARAH THEIR HEART'S DESIRE, A CHILD.
THE GOSPEL READING IS ALSO ABOUT HOSPITALITY. HERE, MARTHA AND MARY AND LAZARUS, TWO SISTERS AND A BROTHER WHO LIVE TOGETHER, OFFER JESUS AND HIS APOSTLES HOSPITALITY. THEY CREATE SPACE SO THAT JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES CAN BE THEMSELVES. AND WHEN YOU LET JESUS BE HIMSELF, HE SPEAKS WORDS OF SALVATION, WORDS WHICH YOU CAN'T IGNORE – AND MARY DOES NOT IGNORE THEM; SHE LETS JESUS BE JESUS. AND WE SEE THAT THE ONE WHO SINS AGAINST HOSPITALITY IS THE ONE WHO IS DOING ALL THE HEAVY LIFTING, MARTHA, WHO IS OUT IN THE KITCHEN PREPARING AN ELABORATE MEAL. SHE IS NOT LETTING JESUS BE JESUS. SHE IS MAKING JESUS BE THE GUEST, THE ONE WHO WILL GRACE HER TABLE, THE ONE WHO WILL FIT INTO HER MOLD. THAT IS WHAT UPSETS HER; HE IS NOT GOING ALONG WITH THE PLAN, AND MARY ISN'T HELPING, SITTING OUT THERE WITH THE MEN WHILE JESUS TEACHES. BUT LIKE THE THREE MEN WHO VISITED ABRAHAM, JESUS SHOWS HIS GRATITUDE BY GIVING THOSE AROUND HIM THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE.
OUR SUNDAY MASS IS ABOUT HOSPITALITY. OUR PARISH BUILT A BEAUTIFUL CHURCH MANY YEARS AGO, NOT FOR US, BUT BECAUSE WE WANT TO INVITE OUR LORD TO BE WITH US. WE PAY FOR OUR ORGANIST AND OUR CANTOR NOT SO MUCH SO THAT WE WILL HEAR BEAUTIFUL MUSIC, BUT SO THAT WHEN JESUS COMES INTO OUR MIDST, WE WANT TO DEMONSTRATE TO HIM THAT HIS COMPANY IS APPRECIATED. WE DO NOT WANT TO BE LIKE THE PHARISEE WHO INVITED JESUS TO SUPPER, BUT DID NOT PROVIDE WATER FOR HIS FEET AND DID NOT GREET HIM WITH A KISS. EVEN THE AIR CONDITIONING WHICH WE ENJOY IS NOT PRIMARILY FOR US, BUT RATHER, SO THAT WE CAN BE LESS DISTRACTED WHEN JESUS COMES TO US; SO WE CAN BE BETTER HOSTS. AND OF COURSE BEING HOST TO JESUS MEANS THAT WE PAY ATTENTION TO HIM, LIKE ABRAHAM WAITING ON THE THREE VISITORS, OR LIKE MARY, SITTING AT HIS FEET. AND BEING HOST TO JESUS SHOULD MEAN THAT WE DRESS APPROPRIATELY, COME BEFORE MASS STARTS, AND LEAVE AFTER MASS IS OVER. WE WOULD NEVER TREAT A GUEST IN OUR HOME THE WAY WE SOMETIMES TREAT THE GUEST WHOM WE ENTERTAIN EVERY SUNDAY.
AND AS I SAID BEFORE, HOSPITALITY IS A TWO WAY STREET. JESUS COMES INTO OUR MIDST AS GUEST, AND TURNS THE TABLES ON US. HE COMES AS OUR GUEST, BUT HE BRINGS HIS WORD, IN OUR READINGS AND IN THE HOMILY. DO WE LISTEN ATTENTIVELY? DO WE LET THE HOLY SPIRIT MOVE US? OR DO WE READ THE WORDS IN THE BOOK WHILE THEY ARE BEING SPOKEN? LISTENING IS PASSIVE, LISTENING ALLOWS THE SPIRIT TO WORK. READING IS ACTIVE, THE SPIRIT DOESN'T DO MUCH WHEN WE ARE NOT BEING OPEN TO HIM. OR DO WE SHAKE OUR WATCH AND WONDER WHEN THIS WILL ALL BE OVER.
JESUS COMES AS OUR GUEST, BUT HE BRINGS THE FOOD. WE'VE SET ASIDE SOME OF WHAT WE CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT – BREAD AND WINE, FOOD AND DRINK; BUT HE CHANGES THAT INTO HIS BODY AND BLOOD, AND SERVES US. AND SOME OF US RECEIVE THIS PRECIOUS GIFT WITH GREAT REVERENCE. WE MAKE A GESTURE OF RESPECT, LIKE A BOW. WE SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY RECEIVE THE HOST INTO OUR HANDS OR OUR MOUTHS. AFTER EATING THE BODY AND DRINKING THE BLOOD, WE SPEND A FEW MINUTES BEING OPEN TO JESUS; WE GO BACK TO OUR PEWS AND SIT IN SILENCE, OR KNEEL WITH OUR EYES CLOSED SO WE ARE NOT DISTRACTED. AND IN THOSE MOMENTS, JESUS TRANSFORMS US. AND YET OTHERS OF US TAKE THIS GIFT WITH EXTREME CASUALNESS, POPPING THE HOST INTO OUR MOUTHS AS WE RUSH FROM COMMUNION TO THE PARKING LOT. IF WE WERE A GUEST IN THE HOME OF A FRIEND, WE WOULDN'T DO THIS, WE WOULDN'T SIT DOWN TO A WONDERFUL SUPPER AND ASK FOR A DOGGIE BAG BECAUSE WE WERE IN A HURRY TO LEAVE.
PEOPLE OFTEN SYMPATHIZE WITH MARTHA; MY MOTHER WAS ONE OF THOSE. SOMEBODY HAS TO DO THE WORK, SHE WOULD SAY. BUT MARTHA, WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE GIVING HOSPITALITY, WAS NOT REALLY; SHE HAD LOWERED HER STATUS TO THAT OF THE COOK. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, SHE DID NOT RECEIVE WHAT OUR LORD, THE GUEST AND THE HOST, WANTED TO GIVE HER.
SO LET US ASK HOW WE GIVE AND RECEIVE HOSPITALITY AT SUNDAY MASS, WHEN JESUS COMES INTO OUR MIDST. LET US ASK WHETHER WE ARE LIKE MARY, WHO HAS CHOSEN THE BETTER PART.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
15th Sunday in Ordinary time cycle C
LUKE 10:25-37
ONCE THERE WAS A VILLAGE WHERE AN OLD MAN LIVED IN A SHACK AT THE EDGE OF TOWN. HE HAD A SMALL GARDEN WHICH HE TENDED, AND HE WOULD SIT AND PLAY HIS HARMONICA IN THE EVENINGS TO THE DELIGHT OF CHILDREN AND OTHERS WHO PASSED BY. WHEN HIS GARDEN GREW, HE WOULD GIVE AWAY ITS PRODUCE. HIS CLOTHING WAS OLD AND SMELLY AND IN TATTERS, SO ONE DAY THE TOWNSPEOPLE TOOK UP A COLLECTION AND BOUGHT A COMPLETE SET OF NEW CLOTHING FOR HIM. THEY WRAPPED IT IN A PACKAGE AND PUT IT ON HIS DOORSTEP AT NIGHT. THE NEXT MORNING HE TOLD HIS FRIENDS ABOUT IT WITH GREAT EXCITEMENT. “LOOK AT THE WONDERFUL CLOTHES SOMEONE LEFT ON MY STEPS,” HE EXCLAIMED. “YOU ARE VERY LUCKY,” REPLIED THE VILLAGERS. “I KNOW,” HE REPLIED. “JUST YESTERDAY I MET SOMEONE WHO COULD REALLY USE THEM.”
I THINK WE ALL KNOW PEOPLE WHO ARE ALWAYS DOING THINGS FOR OTHER PEOPLE. SOME OF THEM SEEM TO NEVER THINK OF THEMSELVES. WE KNOW PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALMOST NOTHING, BUT WILL GIVE YOU WHAT THEY CAN – SOME HOMEMADE SOUP; A MAGAZINE OR BOOK THEY PARTICULARLY ENJOYED; MAYBE THEY WOULD DROP EVERYTHING AND GO WITH SOMEONE WHO NEEDED A COMPANION ON A TRIP. AND THESE PERSONS ARE NOT WHO WE MIGHT THINK OF AS SAINTS. SOMETIMES THEY ARE VERY FLAWED. SOMETIMES THEY SEEM TO HAVE PERSONALITY DISORDERS. BUT I ENVY THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE SO GENEROUS.
THE LAWYER WAS A GOOD MAN; HE WAS INTERESTED IN GETTING TO HEAVEN. HE THOUGHT JESUS HAD SOME SECRET. BUT JESUS JUST SAID SOMETHING THAT EVERY JEW LEARNED AS A CHILD; LOVE GOD WITH EVERYTHING YOU HAVE, LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF. THE LAWYER THOUGHT A MINUTE; IT WAS TOO SIMPLE AN ANSWER. BUT HE HAD JESUS' ATTENTION SO HE ASKED A VERY LAWYERLY QUESTION. WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR?
THE LAWYER WANTED INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO GET TO HEAVEN. HE DIDN'T WANT TO WASTE TIME LAVISHING LOVE ON THE WRONG PEOPLE!
BUT JESUS IN TELLING THE STORY, TURNS THE TABLES. HE SAYS, “DON'T WORRY ABOUT GETTING SAVED – THAT'S MY JOB. YOU, GO OUT AND BE A NEIGHBOR.”
WE PRETTY MUCH GET JESUS' POINT. THE SAMARITAN, WHO IS FROM A PEOPLE THAT THE JEWS HATED, TURNS OUT TO BE THE NEIGHBOR. BUT WHAT WAS THE MATTER WITH THE PRIEST AND THE LEVITE?
THE PRIEST HURRIED BY BECAUSE HE WAS ON HIS WAY TO PERFORM HIS PRIESTLY DUTIES, AND CONTACT WITH A STRANGER WHO WAS BLEEDING AND MIGHT EVEN DIE WOULD DESTROY HIS RITUAL PURITY, AND HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO OFFER SACRIFICE, HE WOULD END UP DISAPPOINTING GOD. THE PRIEST HAD GOOD REASONS FOR WHAT HE DID. THE ROLE OF THE LEVITES IN THAT SOCIETY WAS TO LOOK AFTER THE WIDOWS AND ORPHANS. THEY USED SOME OF THE TEMPLE REVENUES FOR THIS SACRED DUTY. THE LEVITE WAS THINKING ABOUT ALL THE PEOPLE HE HAD TO HELP; IF HE DIDN'T GET TO JERUSALEM SO THAT HE COULD GET HIS SHARE OF THE ALLOTED MONEY AND BRING IT BACK TO HIS VILLAGE, HE COULD THINK OF A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD GO HUNGRY. SO HE HURRIED BY. AND BOTH THE PRIEST AND THE LEVITE REMEMBERED STORIES ABOUT HOW BANDITS WOULD HAVE ONE OF THEIR CREW ACT LIKE HE HAD BEEN INJURED AND WHEN SOMEONE STOPPED TO HELP, THE BANDITS WOULD EMERGE FROM THEIR HIDING PLACES AND ROB THE PERSON WHO STOPPED TO HELP, OFTEN KILLING HIM. THAT MAY BE EXACTLY WHY THE INJURED MAN HAD BEEN SET UPON BY BANDITS. HE MAY HAVE STOPPED TO HELP.
THE SAMARITAN, WE REMEMBER, WAS ON BUSINESS HIMSELF, AND COULD HAVE USED ANY OF THOSE EXCUSES FOR NOT BEING A NEIGHBOR – BUT DIDN'T.
WE MIGHT NOT BE CAPABLE OF BECOMING THE KIND OF NEIGHBORS THAT JESUS CALLS US TO BE RIGHT NOW. BUT WE CAN SORT OUT WHAT KEEPS US FROM THAT GOAL. IS OUR EXCUSE THAT WE ARE DOING SOMETHING MORE IMPORTANT AS THE PRIEST THOUGHT HE WAS DOING? WE DON'T USUALLY PUT OUR RELIGIOUS DUTIES OVER SOMETHING LIKE THIS, BUT MANY OF US ARE INVOLVED IN CAUSES WHICH WE THINK ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, AND THEY OCCUPY OUR THOUGHTS AND OUR TIMES, AND WE DON'T SEE OUR NEIGHBOR'S NEED. POLITICS, GLOBAL WARMING – YOU NAME THE CAUSE. IS OUR EXCUSE THAT WE ARE ALREADY GIVING? MANY OF US USE OUR MONEY AND OUR TIME TO HELP A SOUP KITCHEN, A SHELTER, A MISSION SOCIETY; OUR ALMA MATER. AND WE DON'T SEE OUR NEIGHBOR'S NEED. AND OF COURSE MANY OF US FEAR GETTING INVOLVED ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, ESPECIALLY WHEN OUR NEIGHBOR IS ANNOYING, DIRTY, A LITTLE INSANE; AND WE LOOK AWAY.
AND MAYBE WE'VE TRIED TO HELP BEFORE, AND SOMETHING BAD HAS COME OF IT. THERE IS THAT OLD SAYING THAT NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED. WE MIGHT IDENTIFY WITH THE POOR MAN WHO MAY HAVE STOPPED TO HELP SOMEONE ELSE AND WAS BEATEN AND ROBBED AND LEFT FOR DEAD.
TODAY WE SHOULD LEAVE OUR CHURCH, NOT THINKING ABOUT OUR FAILINGS AS A NEIGHBOR; VERY FEW OF US ARE PERFECT NEIGHBORS. INSTEAD WE SHOULD ASK HOW WE ARE LIKE THE PRIEST AND THE LEVITE – NOT EVIL MEN, BUT GOOD MEN – WHO HAVE GOOD REASONS FOR PASSING THE NEIGHBOR. AND THEN WE NEED TO PRAY THAT JESUS WILL SHARPEN OUR VISION SO THAT WITHOUT NEGLECTING THE GOOD THINGS WE DO, THE GOOD CAUSES WE SUPPORT, THE CHARITIES IN WHICH WE INVEST, WE SEE OUR NEIGHBOR WITH A COMPASSIONATE HEART, AND REALIZE THAT NOTHING IS SO IMPORTANT AS THAT MOMENT. AND MAY GOD SHARPEN OUR VISION EVEN FURTHER SO THAT WE RECOGNIZE WHO IS THERE AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BEATEN AND ROBBED AND LEFT FOR DEAD. AND SEE THAT THE PERSON IS JESUS CHRIST.
ONCE THERE WAS A VILLAGE WHERE AN OLD MAN LIVED IN A SHACK AT THE EDGE OF TOWN. HE HAD A SMALL GARDEN WHICH HE TENDED, AND HE WOULD SIT AND PLAY HIS HARMONICA IN THE EVENINGS TO THE DELIGHT OF CHILDREN AND OTHERS WHO PASSED BY. WHEN HIS GARDEN GREW, HE WOULD GIVE AWAY ITS PRODUCE. HIS CLOTHING WAS OLD AND SMELLY AND IN TATTERS, SO ONE DAY THE TOWNSPEOPLE TOOK UP A COLLECTION AND BOUGHT A COMPLETE SET OF NEW CLOTHING FOR HIM. THEY WRAPPED IT IN A PACKAGE AND PUT IT ON HIS DOORSTEP AT NIGHT. THE NEXT MORNING HE TOLD HIS FRIENDS ABOUT IT WITH GREAT EXCITEMENT. “LOOK AT THE WONDERFUL CLOTHES SOMEONE LEFT ON MY STEPS,” HE EXCLAIMED. “YOU ARE VERY LUCKY,” REPLIED THE VILLAGERS. “I KNOW,” HE REPLIED. “JUST YESTERDAY I MET SOMEONE WHO COULD REALLY USE THEM.”
I THINK WE ALL KNOW PEOPLE WHO ARE ALWAYS DOING THINGS FOR OTHER PEOPLE. SOME OF THEM SEEM TO NEVER THINK OF THEMSELVES. WE KNOW PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALMOST NOTHING, BUT WILL GIVE YOU WHAT THEY CAN – SOME HOMEMADE SOUP; A MAGAZINE OR BOOK THEY PARTICULARLY ENJOYED; MAYBE THEY WOULD DROP EVERYTHING AND GO WITH SOMEONE WHO NEEDED A COMPANION ON A TRIP. AND THESE PERSONS ARE NOT WHO WE MIGHT THINK OF AS SAINTS. SOMETIMES THEY ARE VERY FLAWED. SOMETIMES THEY SEEM TO HAVE PERSONALITY DISORDERS. BUT I ENVY THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE SO GENEROUS.
THE LAWYER WAS A GOOD MAN; HE WAS INTERESTED IN GETTING TO HEAVEN. HE THOUGHT JESUS HAD SOME SECRET. BUT JESUS JUST SAID SOMETHING THAT EVERY JEW LEARNED AS A CHILD; LOVE GOD WITH EVERYTHING YOU HAVE, LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF. THE LAWYER THOUGHT A MINUTE; IT WAS TOO SIMPLE AN ANSWER. BUT HE HAD JESUS' ATTENTION SO HE ASKED A VERY LAWYERLY QUESTION. WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR?
THE LAWYER WANTED INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO GET TO HEAVEN. HE DIDN'T WANT TO WASTE TIME LAVISHING LOVE ON THE WRONG PEOPLE!
BUT JESUS IN TELLING THE STORY, TURNS THE TABLES. HE SAYS, “DON'T WORRY ABOUT GETTING SAVED – THAT'S MY JOB. YOU, GO OUT AND BE A NEIGHBOR.”
WE PRETTY MUCH GET JESUS' POINT. THE SAMARITAN, WHO IS FROM A PEOPLE THAT THE JEWS HATED, TURNS OUT TO BE THE NEIGHBOR. BUT WHAT WAS THE MATTER WITH THE PRIEST AND THE LEVITE?
THE PRIEST HURRIED BY BECAUSE HE WAS ON HIS WAY TO PERFORM HIS PRIESTLY DUTIES, AND CONTACT WITH A STRANGER WHO WAS BLEEDING AND MIGHT EVEN DIE WOULD DESTROY HIS RITUAL PURITY, AND HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO OFFER SACRIFICE, HE WOULD END UP DISAPPOINTING GOD. THE PRIEST HAD GOOD REASONS FOR WHAT HE DID. THE ROLE OF THE LEVITES IN THAT SOCIETY WAS TO LOOK AFTER THE WIDOWS AND ORPHANS. THEY USED SOME OF THE TEMPLE REVENUES FOR THIS SACRED DUTY. THE LEVITE WAS THINKING ABOUT ALL THE PEOPLE HE HAD TO HELP; IF HE DIDN'T GET TO JERUSALEM SO THAT HE COULD GET HIS SHARE OF THE ALLOTED MONEY AND BRING IT BACK TO HIS VILLAGE, HE COULD THINK OF A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD GO HUNGRY. SO HE HURRIED BY. AND BOTH THE PRIEST AND THE LEVITE REMEMBERED STORIES ABOUT HOW BANDITS WOULD HAVE ONE OF THEIR CREW ACT LIKE HE HAD BEEN INJURED AND WHEN SOMEONE STOPPED TO HELP, THE BANDITS WOULD EMERGE FROM THEIR HIDING PLACES AND ROB THE PERSON WHO STOPPED TO HELP, OFTEN KILLING HIM. THAT MAY BE EXACTLY WHY THE INJURED MAN HAD BEEN SET UPON BY BANDITS. HE MAY HAVE STOPPED TO HELP.
THE SAMARITAN, WE REMEMBER, WAS ON BUSINESS HIMSELF, AND COULD HAVE USED ANY OF THOSE EXCUSES FOR NOT BEING A NEIGHBOR – BUT DIDN'T.
WE MIGHT NOT BE CAPABLE OF BECOMING THE KIND OF NEIGHBORS THAT JESUS CALLS US TO BE RIGHT NOW. BUT WE CAN SORT OUT WHAT KEEPS US FROM THAT GOAL. IS OUR EXCUSE THAT WE ARE DOING SOMETHING MORE IMPORTANT AS THE PRIEST THOUGHT HE WAS DOING? WE DON'T USUALLY PUT OUR RELIGIOUS DUTIES OVER SOMETHING LIKE THIS, BUT MANY OF US ARE INVOLVED IN CAUSES WHICH WE THINK ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, AND THEY OCCUPY OUR THOUGHTS AND OUR TIMES, AND WE DON'T SEE OUR NEIGHBOR'S NEED. POLITICS, GLOBAL WARMING – YOU NAME THE CAUSE. IS OUR EXCUSE THAT WE ARE ALREADY GIVING? MANY OF US USE OUR MONEY AND OUR TIME TO HELP A SOUP KITCHEN, A SHELTER, A MISSION SOCIETY; OUR ALMA MATER. AND WE DON'T SEE OUR NEIGHBOR'S NEED. AND OF COURSE MANY OF US FEAR GETTING INVOLVED ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, ESPECIALLY WHEN OUR NEIGHBOR IS ANNOYING, DIRTY, A LITTLE INSANE; AND WE LOOK AWAY.
AND MAYBE WE'VE TRIED TO HELP BEFORE, AND SOMETHING BAD HAS COME OF IT. THERE IS THAT OLD SAYING THAT NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED. WE MIGHT IDENTIFY WITH THE POOR MAN WHO MAY HAVE STOPPED TO HELP SOMEONE ELSE AND WAS BEATEN AND ROBBED AND LEFT FOR DEAD.
TODAY WE SHOULD LEAVE OUR CHURCH, NOT THINKING ABOUT OUR FAILINGS AS A NEIGHBOR; VERY FEW OF US ARE PERFECT NEIGHBORS. INSTEAD WE SHOULD ASK HOW WE ARE LIKE THE PRIEST AND THE LEVITE – NOT EVIL MEN, BUT GOOD MEN – WHO HAVE GOOD REASONS FOR PASSING THE NEIGHBOR. AND THEN WE NEED TO PRAY THAT JESUS WILL SHARPEN OUR VISION SO THAT WITHOUT NEGLECTING THE GOOD THINGS WE DO, THE GOOD CAUSES WE SUPPORT, THE CHARITIES IN WHICH WE INVEST, WE SEE OUR NEIGHBOR WITH A COMPASSIONATE HEART, AND REALIZE THAT NOTHING IS SO IMPORTANT AS THAT MOMENT. AND MAY GOD SHARPEN OUR VISION EVEN FURTHER SO THAT WE RECOGNIZE WHO IS THERE AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BEATEN AND ROBBED AND LEFT FOR DEAD. AND SEE THAT THE PERSON IS JESUS CHRIST.
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