JOHN 10:1-10
MY LIFE IS NEVER DULL. I PRACTICE MEDICINE, I SUPERVISE OTHER PHYSICIANS AND HEALTH CARE WORKERS, I ACT AS A DEACON, I FUNCTION AS A HUSBAND AND FATHER AND GRANDFATHER. BUT THE LAST SIX OR SEVEN WEEKS HAVE BEEN A REAL KILLER. IT STARTED OUT WHEN I MADE A PREVIOUSLY PLANNED TRIP TO THE WEST COAST TO ATTEND A MEETING AND VISIT MY MOTHER. NATURALLY WHEN I GOT BACK ALL THE WORK I HAD NOT DONE WAS SQUEEZED INTO WHATEVER SPOTS IT COULD BE. THEN WE HAD HOLY WEEK. THAT IS PRETTY BUSY FROM A DEACON'S STANDPOINT. ON EASTER AS I HAD PROMISED MANY WEEKS BEFORE, MY WIFE AND I DROVE DOWN TO VISIT HER AGING FATHER. WHEN I GOT BACK, THEY HAD TAKEN ALL THE WORK I MISSED AND CRAMMED IT INTO WHATEVER SPACE THEY COULD FIND. I WAS PARTICIPATING IN TEACHING A COURSE OVER FIVE WEEKS. AND THEN MY 90 YEAR OLD MOTHER PASSED AWAY, AND IT WAS OFF TO THE WEST COAST AGAIN.
ONE EVENING AS I WAS TRYING TO CATCH MY BREATH, I HEARD THAT OLD SONG, “SOFTLY AND TENDERLY JESUS IS CALLING, CALLING FOR YOU AND FOR ME...” AND I BEGAN TO REFLECT ON TODAY'S GOSPEL.
JESUS TALKS ABOUT HIS SHEEP HEARING HIS VOICE. IN JESUS' TIME SHEPHERDS LIVED WITH THEIR SHEEP. THEY KNEW THEM AS INDIVIDUALS. AT NIGHT THE SHEEP BELONGING TO EACH SHEPHERD WOULD BE LED INTO A COMMON ENCLOSURE, AND ONE OF THE SHEPHERDS WOULD LIE ACROSS THE ENTRANCE. HE WAS THE SHEEPGATE THAT JESUS COMPARES HIMSELF TO IN THE SECOND PART OF THE GOSPEL. IN THE MORNING THE SHEPHERDS WOULD STAND OUTSIDE THE ENCLOSURE AND CALL THEIR SHEEP, WHO WOULD PROMPTLY GO OUT TO THEIR PARTICULAR SHEPHERD. WHEN THE SHEEP WERE GRAZING IN THE PASTURES, THE SHEPHERD WOULD USUALLY SING AND PLAY A SET OF PIPES. THIS HAD THE EFFECT OF CALMING THE SHEEP AND WHEN THEY WANDERED TOO FAR AWAY, THE WOULD COME BACK TO BE WITHIN THAT COMFORTING RANGE OF THE SHEPHERD'S VOICE.
IF I AM GOING TO BE ONE OF JESUS' SHEEP, THEN I NEED TO KNOW HIS VOICE. IN ORDER TO DO THAT, I NEED TO SPEND TIME WITH HIM. I CAN'T SPEND TIME WITH HIM WHEN THE NOISE OF THE WORLD DROWNS OUT HIS VOICE, AND THAT IS WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO ME DURING THE PAST FEW WEEKS. JESUS, AS THE OLD SONG SAYS, SPEAKS SOFTLY AND TENDERLY. CNN AND ESPN AND SIXTY MINUTES ALL SPEAK LOUDLY AND RATHER COARSELY. THEY DROWN OUT THE VOICE OF JESUS.
JESUS SPEAKS SOFTLY BECAUSE HE DOES NOT COMPEL US. HE OFFERS US HIS COMPANIONSHIP, HIS LEADERSHIP, HIS PROTECTION, BUT NEVER FORCES IT UPON US. HE RESPECTS OUR FREEDOM, MORE THAN WE OURSELVES RESPECT IT. FREEDOM, AFTER ALL, IS ONE OF THE ATTRIBUTES OF HUMAN BEINGS THAT IS TRULY GOD-LIKE; THE MORE FREE WE ARE, THE MORE LIKE GOD.
JESUS SPEAKS TENDERLY BECAUSE HE LOVES US. THE SHEPHERD IS ONE WHO KNOWS EACH SHEEP, SEES THAT THEY ARE FED, BINDS UP WOUNDS, PULLS OUT SPLINTERS, GETS THEM INTO SHELTER WHEN IT RAINS, AND IN A VERY REAL SENSE, GIVES UP HIS LIFE FOR HIS SHEEP. A SHEPHERD HAS TO HAVE LOVE FOR HIS CHARGES. YOU COULDN'T BE A SHEPHERD OTHERWISE. WE SHEEP MAY NOT BE OVERLY BRIGHT, WE MAY BE GIVEN TO FOLLOWING OUR APPETITES, WE MAY BE VERY SHORT-SIGHTED WHEN IT COMES TO SPIRITUAL REALITIES, BUT FOR SOME REASON, JESUS OUR SHEPHERD LOVES US.
THE SHEPHERD SPEAKS TO EACH SHEEP, HE IS CALLING TO YOU AND TO ME. HE KNOWS EACH OF US BY NAME.
THE ONLY HOPE FOR THE SHEEP IS TO KNOW THE SHEPHERD AND KNOW HIS VOICE. AMONG REAL SHEEP, THAT STARTS OUT WHEN THE LAMB IS BORN; THE LAMB BEGINS BY FOLLOWING ITS MOTHER. AS IT GROWS OLDER, IT LEARNS THAT THERE ARE DEFINITE ADVANTAGES TO FOLLOW THE SHEPHERD RATHER THAN WANDER OFF ON ONE'S OWN. AND EVENTUALLY THE SHEEP BEGINS TO IDENTIFY ITSELF WITH THE SHEPHERD; IT SEES ITSELF AS BELONGING TO, BEING UNITED WITH, THE SHEPHERD. AMONG US, WE ALSO BEGIN OUR JOURNEY LEARNING FROM OUR PARENTS AND OTHERS ABOUT JESUS, AND THEN WE BEGIN TO SEE THAT THERE ARE ADVANTAGES TO HAVING A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS. BUT HOW MANY OF US GO ON TO IDENTIFY WITH JESUS, TO BECOME TRULY PART OF HIM?
IT BOILS DOWN TO THIS. WE HAVE TO EACH MAKE TIME TO LISTEN, WE HAVE TO FIND EVEN A FEW MINUTES OF OUR BUSY DAYS TO SIT IN SILENCE, SIT IN DARKNESS, PERHAPS; TURN OFF THE NEWS, CELLPHONES, AND LISTEN. WE LISTEN, WE SPEAK, WE ENTER INTO A DIALOG. AND IF WE REGULARLY DO THIS, THE VOICE OF JESUS, HIS CALL TO ME, WILL BECOME MORE AND MORE CLEAR.
WHEN I WAS YOUNG, IT WAS COMMON FOR US KIDS FROM THE CATHOLIC SCHOOL TO DROP IN TO THE CHURCH TO “MAKE A VISIT”. IN OUR CHURCH YOU COULD ALWAYS SEE TEN OR FIFTEEN PEOPLE, NOT ALL OF THEM ELDERLY, SITTING IN THE SILENCE SAYING THE ROSARY, READING FROM A PRAYER BOOK, OR PERHAPS JUST SITTING. WE USED TO HAVE FORTY HOURS DEVOTION, WHEN THE BLESSED SACRAMENT WAS EXPOSED FROM FRIDAY EVENING TO SUNDAY MORNING. DURING THAT TIME, SOMEONE WOULD ALWAYS BE PRESENT. AND YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED BY THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE THERE DURING THE DAY.
WE CAN STILL MAKE TIME IN OUR DAY TO SPEND TIME WITH JESUS, WE CAN STILL MAKE VISITS, WE CAN STILL WORSHIP JESUS IN THE BLESSED SACRAMENT, BUT WE DON'T. AND WE RUN THE RISK OF NOT RECOGNIZING HIS VOICE, BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN TO KNOW HIM, WE HAVE NOT LISTENED FOR HIM. AND THE MOST DANGEROUS TIME FOR US IS TIME LIKE I'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH, TIME WHEN IT SEEMS THAT EVERYTHING YOU DO IS IMPORTANT, SO IMPORTANT THAT YOU LOSE SIGHT OF WHAT REALLY MATTERS, WHICH IS LISTENING FOR THE VOICE OF OUR SHEPHERD.
SO HOW ARE YOU GOING TO LISTEN THIS WEEK? HOW AM I? REMEMBER, SOFTLY AND TENDERLY, JESUS IS CALLING, CALLING FOR YOU AND FOR ME....
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Monday, April 7, 2008
Third Sunday of Easter, cycle A
LUKE 24:13-35
IN THE GOSPEL OF MARK, THERE IS MENTION OF TWO DISCIPLES WHO MET JESUS AND REPORTED THAT FACT TO THE APOSTLES. ST. LUKE, WRITING ABOUT 20 YEARS LATER, AND HAVING MARK'S GOSPEL IN FRONT OF HIM, ELABORATES ON THAT STORY FROM ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. BUT LUKE IS NOT JUST TELLING US A STORY. THERE IS METHOD HERE. LUKE, AFTER ALL, HAS BEEN A CHRISTIAN FOR MANY YEARS, AND IF WE ARE TO SAY THAT THIS LUKE IS THE SAME LUKE MENTIONED IN THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES AND PAUL'S EPISTLES, THEN HE HAS BEEN LIVING IN CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES FOR AT LEAST THIRTY YEARS. SO EVERYTHING LUKE WRITES HAS TO BE COLORED BY THE FACT THAT HE HAS BEEN A CHRISTIAN FOR MUCH OF HIS LIFE.
WE KNOW FROM OTHER SOURCES THAT IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE CHURCH THE MEMBERS OF A COMMUNITY WOULD GATHER ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, AND WOULD SING HYMNS AND SACRED SONGS, THEN WOULD READ FROM THE SCRIPTURES OR THE LETTERS OF THE APOSTLES, AND THEN THE LEADER OF THE ASSEMBLY, USUALLY THE BISHOP, WOULD DISCUSS THOSE READINGS. AFTERWARDS THEY WOULD GIVE THANKS AND WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE LAST SUPPER, OFFERING BREAD AND WINE, AND SPEAKING THE WORDS OF JESUS OVER THEM. THEN ALL THE MEMBERS WOULD PARTAKE OF THE BREAD AND WINE, AND THE DEACONS WOULD BE GIVEN SOME OF THE BREAD TO TAKE TO THE SICK AND IMPRISONED AND OTHERS WHO COULD NOT BE PRESENT. THE CONGREGATION WOULD THEN BE DISMISSED. THIS IS ALL WRITTEN DOWN IN A DOCUMENT FROM THE SECOND CENTURY, IN A LETTER WRITTEN BY A CHRISTIAN WRITER TO A PAGAN RULER. IT IS PART OF AN ATTEMPT TO EXPLAIN WHAT CHRISTIANS DO, AND WHO THEY ARE.
I THINK THE STORY THAT WE HEARD TODAY IS AN EVEN EARLIER REFLECTION ON THIS PRIMAL ACT OF THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY. THINK ABOUT IT. WE HAVE TWO DISCIPLES, POSSIBLY A MAN AND WIFE – THE MAN IS NAMED, THE OTHER PERSON IS NOT, WHICH WOULD BE A CUSTOM IN AN ERA WHEN WOMEN WERE SEEN AS SECOND CLASS CITIZENS, BUT IN THE CHRISTIAN WORLD, THEY WERE CONSIDERED DISCIPLES – AND THEY ARE DESPONDENT, HEARTBROKEN, AND THEY HAVE LEFT THE LITTLE COMMUNITY OF FOLLOWERS OF JESUS BACK IN JERUSALEM.. THEY ARE ON THEIR OWN. A STRANGER JOINS THEM AND ASKS WHY THE LONG FACES? THEY ANSWER, AND THE IMPORTANT POINT OF THEIR ANSWER IS THAT THEY HAD HOPED THAT JESUS WAS GOING TO BE THE ONE TO SAVE ISRAEL. THEY HAD HOPED THAT HE WOULD BE THE GREAT POLITICAL LEADER WHO WOULD OVERTHROW THE ROMANS AND RE-ESTABLISH THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL. JESUS THEN REPRIMANDS THEM, PROBABLY WITH A SMILE, AND PROCEEDS TO GO INTO THE SCRIPTURES AND EXPLAIN “WHY THE MESSIAH HAD TO SUFFER”. THEN WHEN THEY COME TO THE END OF THE JOURNEY, THEY INVITE HIM IN, AND HE BREAKS THE BREAD AND GIVES IT TO THEM, THEY RECOGNIZE HIM, AND THEY BECOME JOYFUL, AND THEIR FIRST IMPULSE IS TO RUSH BACK TO THE COMMUNITY WHICH THEY HAD LEFT, TO PROCLAIM THAT JESUS IS RISEN.
LUKE'S READERS, WHO WERE PROBABLY LIKE YOU AND I, HAD GOTTEN COMPLACENT AND BORED WITH THE WEEKLY CELEBRATION – WHICH WE KNOW FROM OTHER SOURCES WENT ON A LOT LONGER THAN THE 45 MINUTES OR SO THAT OURS DOES. AND LUKE CONSTRUCTS HIS STORY TO REMIND THEM WHY THEY DO WHAT THEY DO EVERY SUNDAY.
AND WE CAN TAKE THAT REMINDER TO HEART OURSELVES.
WE ARE HUMAN, WE WANDER AWAY FROM OUR FELLOWSHIP WITH THE OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR CHURCH. WE FORGET WHY WE WERE BAPTIZED, WHAT IT ALL MEANS. AND WE EVEN FORGET, HEAVEN HELP US, WHY JESUS CAME TO THE EARTH. OUR TENDENCY IS TO SEE HIM AS SOMEONE WHO IS THERE TO ANSWER OUR PRAYERS, TO MEET OUR NEEDS, TO FIGHT THE ROMANS AND RESTORE THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL. AND THEN WE HEAR THE SCRIPTURES TOGETHER – AND LET ME DIVERGE FOR A MINUTE. IT IS A GOOD THING TO GET IN THE HABIT OF LISTENING TO THE SCRIPTURES BEING READ, INSTEAD OF READING THEM WHILE THEY ARE BEING READ OUT LOUD. I KNOW SOME OF YOU ARE A LITTLE DEAF, LIKE ME, BUT WHEN WE ARE LISTENING TO SOMETHING, THE PART OF OUR MIND THAT WE USE IN DECIPHERING THOSE BLACK MARKS ON THE PAGE IS SILENT, AND THAT ALLOWS US TO BETTER HEAR WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT WANTS US TO HEAR. HEARING THE WORDS READ ALSO ENGAGES US AT AN EMOTIONAL LEVEL; THAT'S WHY WE LISTEN TO MUSIC, NOT READ IT ON A PAGE, WHICH WE COULD DO. AFTER WE HEAR THE SCRIPTURES, THERE IS AN INTERPRETATION GIVEN TO THEM BY THE HOMILIST, JUST AS JESUS INTERPRETED THE SCRIPTURES WHICH HE HAD CALLED TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DISCIPLES. AFTER THAT, THE EUCHARIST IS CELEBRATED, AND JESUS IS WITH US, AND HE COMES TO LIVE IN US, AND TRANSFORMS US. AND ALL OF US WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THIS EUCHARIST BECOME ONE BECAUSE THE BODY AND BLOOD OF JESUS CAN NEVER AGAIN BE DIVIDED. AND WHEN WE LEAVE THE EUCHARIST, WE ARE GIVEN THE GRACE TO BECOME MORE UNITED WITH OUR COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS, MORE INVOLVED, MORE ACTIVE; AND WE ARE GIVEN THE POWER TO PROCLAIM THAT THE LORD IS RISEN TO OUR FELLOW BELIEVERS AND TO THE WHOLE WORLD, THROUGH OUR WORDS AND ACTIONS.
SO THE STORY LUKE TELLS REMINDS HIS READERS WHY THEY GO THROUGH THIS SET OF ACTIONS EVERY SUNDAY. AND IT SHOULD REMIND US AS WELL. FOR MORE THAN 2000 YEARS CHRISTIANS ALL OVER THE WORLD HAVE GOTTEN TOGETHER AND ESSENTIALLY DONE WHAT WE ARE DOING TODAY, WHAT WE HAVE DONE FROM THE BEGINNING. AND FOR MORE THAN 2000 YEARS, THEY HAVE PERIODICALLY BECOME BORED AND COMPLACENT AND PERHAPS WONDERED WHAT THEY WERE DOING THERE EVERY SUNDAY? AND THE STORY OF EMMAUS HAS BEEN THERE TO REMIND THEM THAT WE FALL INTO ERROR WHEN WE LEAVE OUR COMMUNITY; BUT JESUS IS THERE ON OUR JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE, AND THROUGH THE SCRIPTURES CORRECTS OUR ERRORS AND MISCONCEPTIONS, AND THROUGH THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD, RENEWS OUR DESIRE TO PROCLAIM THE RESURRECTION IN THE ASSEMBLY OF THE CHURCH AND IN THE WORLD.
TODAY YOU HAVE HEARD THE SCRIPTURES, YOU HAVE HEARD AN INTERPRETATION OF ONE OF THE READINGS; AND SOON OUR PRIEST WILL SAY THE BLESSING OVER THE BREAD AND WINE, AND JESUS WILL BECOME THAT BREAD AND WINE, AND OUR PRIEST WILL RE-ENACT THAT MOMENT OF THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD, AND WE WILL RECOGNIZE OUR RISEN LORD. AND LET US PRAY, AS WE TAKE THAT BREAD AND WINE INTO OURSELVES, AS WE AGAIN WALK THAT ROAD TO EMMAUS AS WE DO EVERY WEEK, THAT OUR HEARTS WILL BURN WITHIN US, SO THAT WE ARE RENEWED AND SO THAT WE WILL LEAVE THIS CHURCH TO PROCLAIM THE RISEN LORD ONCE AGAIN.
IN THE GOSPEL OF MARK, THERE IS MENTION OF TWO DISCIPLES WHO MET JESUS AND REPORTED THAT FACT TO THE APOSTLES. ST. LUKE, WRITING ABOUT 20 YEARS LATER, AND HAVING MARK'S GOSPEL IN FRONT OF HIM, ELABORATES ON THAT STORY FROM ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. BUT LUKE IS NOT JUST TELLING US A STORY. THERE IS METHOD HERE. LUKE, AFTER ALL, HAS BEEN A CHRISTIAN FOR MANY YEARS, AND IF WE ARE TO SAY THAT THIS LUKE IS THE SAME LUKE MENTIONED IN THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES AND PAUL'S EPISTLES, THEN HE HAS BEEN LIVING IN CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES FOR AT LEAST THIRTY YEARS. SO EVERYTHING LUKE WRITES HAS TO BE COLORED BY THE FACT THAT HE HAS BEEN A CHRISTIAN FOR MUCH OF HIS LIFE.
WE KNOW FROM OTHER SOURCES THAT IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE CHURCH THE MEMBERS OF A COMMUNITY WOULD GATHER ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, AND WOULD SING HYMNS AND SACRED SONGS, THEN WOULD READ FROM THE SCRIPTURES OR THE LETTERS OF THE APOSTLES, AND THEN THE LEADER OF THE ASSEMBLY, USUALLY THE BISHOP, WOULD DISCUSS THOSE READINGS. AFTERWARDS THEY WOULD GIVE THANKS AND WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE LAST SUPPER, OFFERING BREAD AND WINE, AND SPEAKING THE WORDS OF JESUS OVER THEM. THEN ALL THE MEMBERS WOULD PARTAKE OF THE BREAD AND WINE, AND THE DEACONS WOULD BE GIVEN SOME OF THE BREAD TO TAKE TO THE SICK AND IMPRISONED AND OTHERS WHO COULD NOT BE PRESENT. THE CONGREGATION WOULD THEN BE DISMISSED. THIS IS ALL WRITTEN DOWN IN A DOCUMENT FROM THE SECOND CENTURY, IN A LETTER WRITTEN BY A CHRISTIAN WRITER TO A PAGAN RULER. IT IS PART OF AN ATTEMPT TO EXPLAIN WHAT CHRISTIANS DO, AND WHO THEY ARE.
I THINK THE STORY THAT WE HEARD TODAY IS AN EVEN EARLIER REFLECTION ON THIS PRIMAL ACT OF THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY. THINK ABOUT IT. WE HAVE TWO DISCIPLES, POSSIBLY A MAN AND WIFE – THE MAN IS NAMED, THE OTHER PERSON IS NOT, WHICH WOULD BE A CUSTOM IN AN ERA WHEN WOMEN WERE SEEN AS SECOND CLASS CITIZENS, BUT IN THE CHRISTIAN WORLD, THEY WERE CONSIDERED DISCIPLES – AND THEY ARE DESPONDENT, HEARTBROKEN, AND THEY HAVE LEFT THE LITTLE COMMUNITY OF FOLLOWERS OF JESUS BACK IN JERUSALEM.. THEY ARE ON THEIR OWN. A STRANGER JOINS THEM AND ASKS WHY THE LONG FACES? THEY ANSWER, AND THE IMPORTANT POINT OF THEIR ANSWER IS THAT THEY HAD HOPED THAT JESUS WAS GOING TO BE THE ONE TO SAVE ISRAEL. THEY HAD HOPED THAT HE WOULD BE THE GREAT POLITICAL LEADER WHO WOULD OVERTHROW THE ROMANS AND RE-ESTABLISH THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL. JESUS THEN REPRIMANDS THEM, PROBABLY WITH A SMILE, AND PROCEEDS TO GO INTO THE SCRIPTURES AND EXPLAIN “WHY THE MESSIAH HAD TO SUFFER”. THEN WHEN THEY COME TO THE END OF THE JOURNEY, THEY INVITE HIM IN, AND HE BREAKS THE BREAD AND GIVES IT TO THEM, THEY RECOGNIZE HIM, AND THEY BECOME JOYFUL, AND THEIR FIRST IMPULSE IS TO RUSH BACK TO THE COMMUNITY WHICH THEY HAD LEFT, TO PROCLAIM THAT JESUS IS RISEN.
LUKE'S READERS, WHO WERE PROBABLY LIKE YOU AND I, HAD GOTTEN COMPLACENT AND BORED WITH THE WEEKLY CELEBRATION – WHICH WE KNOW FROM OTHER SOURCES WENT ON A LOT LONGER THAN THE 45 MINUTES OR SO THAT OURS DOES. AND LUKE CONSTRUCTS HIS STORY TO REMIND THEM WHY THEY DO WHAT THEY DO EVERY SUNDAY.
AND WE CAN TAKE THAT REMINDER TO HEART OURSELVES.
WE ARE HUMAN, WE WANDER AWAY FROM OUR FELLOWSHIP WITH THE OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR CHURCH. WE FORGET WHY WE WERE BAPTIZED, WHAT IT ALL MEANS. AND WE EVEN FORGET, HEAVEN HELP US, WHY JESUS CAME TO THE EARTH. OUR TENDENCY IS TO SEE HIM AS SOMEONE WHO IS THERE TO ANSWER OUR PRAYERS, TO MEET OUR NEEDS, TO FIGHT THE ROMANS AND RESTORE THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL. AND THEN WE HEAR THE SCRIPTURES TOGETHER – AND LET ME DIVERGE FOR A MINUTE. IT IS A GOOD THING TO GET IN THE HABIT OF LISTENING TO THE SCRIPTURES BEING READ, INSTEAD OF READING THEM WHILE THEY ARE BEING READ OUT LOUD. I KNOW SOME OF YOU ARE A LITTLE DEAF, LIKE ME, BUT WHEN WE ARE LISTENING TO SOMETHING, THE PART OF OUR MIND THAT WE USE IN DECIPHERING THOSE BLACK MARKS ON THE PAGE IS SILENT, AND THAT ALLOWS US TO BETTER HEAR WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT WANTS US TO HEAR. HEARING THE WORDS READ ALSO ENGAGES US AT AN EMOTIONAL LEVEL; THAT'S WHY WE LISTEN TO MUSIC, NOT READ IT ON A PAGE, WHICH WE COULD DO. AFTER WE HEAR THE SCRIPTURES, THERE IS AN INTERPRETATION GIVEN TO THEM BY THE HOMILIST, JUST AS JESUS INTERPRETED THE SCRIPTURES WHICH HE HAD CALLED TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DISCIPLES. AFTER THAT, THE EUCHARIST IS CELEBRATED, AND JESUS IS WITH US, AND HE COMES TO LIVE IN US, AND TRANSFORMS US. AND ALL OF US WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THIS EUCHARIST BECOME ONE BECAUSE THE BODY AND BLOOD OF JESUS CAN NEVER AGAIN BE DIVIDED. AND WHEN WE LEAVE THE EUCHARIST, WE ARE GIVEN THE GRACE TO BECOME MORE UNITED WITH OUR COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS, MORE INVOLVED, MORE ACTIVE; AND WE ARE GIVEN THE POWER TO PROCLAIM THAT THE LORD IS RISEN TO OUR FELLOW BELIEVERS AND TO THE WHOLE WORLD, THROUGH OUR WORDS AND ACTIONS.
SO THE STORY LUKE TELLS REMINDS HIS READERS WHY THEY GO THROUGH THIS SET OF ACTIONS EVERY SUNDAY. AND IT SHOULD REMIND US AS WELL. FOR MORE THAN 2000 YEARS CHRISTIANS ALL OVER THE WORLD HAVE GOTTEN TOGETHER AND ESSENTIALLY DONE WHAT WE ARE DOING TODAY, WHAT WE HAVE DONE FROM THE BEGINNING. AND FOR MORE THAN 2000 YEARS, THEY HAVE PERIODICALLY BECOME BORED AND COMPLACENT AND PERHAPS WONDERED WHAT THEY WERE DOING THERE EVERY SUNDAY? AND THE STORY OF EMMAUS HAS BEEN THERE TO REMIND THEM THAT WE FALL INTO ERROR WHEN WE LEAVE OUR COMMUNITY; BUT JESUS IS THERE ON OUR JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE, AND THROUGH THE SCRIPTURES CORRECTS OUR ERRORS AND MISCONCEPTIONS, AND THROUGH THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD, RENEWS OUR DESIRE TO PROCLAIM THE RESURRECTION IN THE ASSEMBLY OF THE CHURCH AND IN THE WORLD.
TODAY YOU HAVE HEARD THE SCRIPTURES, YOU HAVE HEARD AN INTERPRETATION OF ONE OF THE READINGS; AND SOON OUR PRIEST WILL SAY THE BLESSING OVER THE BREAD AND WINE, AND JESUS WILL BECOME THAT BREAD AND WINE, AND OUR PRIEST WILL RE-ENACT THAT MOMENT OF THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD, AND WE WILL RECOGNIZE OUR RISEN LORD. AND LET US PRAY, AS WE TAKE THAT BREAD AND WINE INTO OURSELVES, AS WE AGAIN WALK THAT ROAD TO EMMAUS AS WE DO EVERY WEEK, THAT OUR HEARTS WILL BURN WITHIN US, SO THAT WE ARE RENEWED AND SO THAT WE WILL LEAVE THIS CHURCH TO PROCLAIM THE RISEN LORD ONCE AGAIN.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Second Sunday of Easter, cycle A (Mercy Sunday)
JOHN 20:19-31
I HAVE A SOFT SPOT IN MY HEART FOR THOMAS. I ALWAYS HAVE, AND WHEN I HAD TO SELECT A NEW NAME FOR MY CONFIRMATION WHEN I WAS IN SEVENTH GRADE, I CHOSE THOMAS. OF COURSE I WAS THINKING OF THOMAS AQUINAS AS WELL, BUT I FIGURED TWO THOMAS' FOR THE PRICE OF ONE COULDN'T BE ALL BAD.
WE DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THOMAS. HE SPEAKS FOUR TIMES IN THE SCRIPTURES. WHEN JESUS TELLS HIS APOSTLES THAT HE IS GOING TO GO TO JUDEA TO HEAL LAZARUS, THEY ALL GET UPSET, BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT JESUS IS A WANTED MAN IN JUDEA. BUT THOMAS FINALLY SAYS, “LET US GO AND DIE WITH HIM.” AT THE LAST SUPPER, JESUS TELLS HIS APOSTLES “WHERE I AM GOING, YOU KNOW” AND THOMAS SAYS, “NO WE DON'T, TELL US WHERE YOU ARE GOING?” WE HEAR THE OTHER TWO INSTANCES IN THIS GOSPEL: “UNLESS I PUT MY FINGERS IN THE HOLES IN HIS HANDS, AND MY HAND IN HIS SIDE, I WILL NOT BELIEVE!” AND FINALLY, “MY LORD AND MY GOD!”
AFTER PENTECOST, WE ARE PRETTY SURE THAT THOMAS TRAVELED TO JEWISH SETTLEMENTS ON THE ARABIAN PENINSULA, AND ULTIMATELY GOT TO INDIA. INFORMATION FROM THE SECOND CENTURY DESCRIBES HOW THOMAS MET AN INDIAN RULER AND CONVERTED HIM AND HIS PEOPLE. THOMAS WAS A CARPENTER, AND LEGEND HAS IT THAT HE BUILT SEVEN CHURCHES. FINALLY ANOTHER RULER WHO KEPT HIS PEOPLE IN ABJECT POVERTY, ASKED HIM TO COME AND BUILD A CHURCH IN HIS TERRITORY. THOMAS TOOK THE MONEY AND USED IT FOR THE POOR AND ULTIMATELY THIS LEAD TO HIS MARTYRDOM. THERE ARE STILL CHRISTIANS IN INDIA WHO WERE THERE AT LEAST SINCE THE THIRD CENTURY, WHO INSIST THAT THEIR CHURCH WAS FOUNDED BY THOMAS; AND UP UNTIL THE 15TH CENTURY, THERE WERE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ARABIAN SEA WHO CLAIMED TO HAVE BEEN FOUNDED BY THOMAS. PAUL GOT A LOT OF PRESS BECAUSE OF ALL THE LETTERS THAT HE WROTE, AND ALL THE TERRITORY THAT HE WENT TO IN MISSION; BUT THOMAS SEEMS TO HAVE RIVALED PAUL IN TERMS OF HIS TRAVELS AND HIS FOUNDING OF CHURCHES.
SO THOMAS IS NO SLOUCH, THOMAS LIVED A LIFE OF HEROIC FAITH. AND I THINK I KNOW WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH THOMAS' MIND WHEN HE TOLD THE OTHER APOSTLES THAT HE WOULD NOT BELIEVE UNLESS.... THOMAS KNEW THAT IF THE RESURRECTION REALLY HAPPENED, IT WOULD MEAN THAT HIS ENTIRE LIFE HAD TO CHANGE. THOMAS WOULD NOT JUST BELIEVE SOMETHING; HE KNEW THAT REAL BELIEF HAD CONSEQUENCES, AND BEFORE HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR SOMETHING, HE NEEDED TO BE SURE THAT THE SOMETHING WAS WORTHY OF THAT GIFT. I DOUBT THE OTHER APOSTLES HAD GIVEN AS MUCH THOUGHT TO THIS AS THOMAS – CERTAINLY IN THE EXAMPLES IN WHICH HE SPOKE BEFORE THE RESURRECTION, HE DOES THINK THINGS THROUGH, AND HE DOES ASK QUESTIONS WHEN HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND. ADMIRABLE TRAITS.
I DON'T THINK JESUS IS PUTTING THOMAS DOWN. AFTER ALL, ALL THE FIRST CHRISTIANS HAD WITNESSED THE RESURRECTED CHRIST, EVEN HIS MOTHER. PAUL TELLS US THAT ABOUT 500 PEOPLE HAD SEEN THE RISEN CHRIST. JESUS JUMP-STARTED HIS CHURCH WITH THOSE APPEARANCES. BUT AFTER THAT, AFTER HE ASCENDS INTO HEAVEN, HE LEAVES HIS CHURCH WITH THE GIFT OF FAITH, AND THAT IS THE REFERENCE TO THOSE WHO HAVE NOT SEEN, BUT HAVE BELIEVED. WE ARE THE BLESSED ONES.
BUT I THINK JESUS MEANS BELIEF IN THE SAME WAY THAT THOMAS DID. IF YOU BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION, THEN YOUR LIFE BETTER CHANGE, YOU BETTER LIVE LIKE JESUS IS YOUR LORD AND YOUR GOD. AND MOST OF US, ESPECIALLY MYSELF, HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.
THIS IS MERCY SUNDAY. SAINT FAUSTINA SAID THAT GOD'S GREATEST ATTRIBUTE IS HIS UNFATHOMABLE MERCY.
HERE IN THIS GOSPEL JESUS SHOWS THAT MERCY, WHEN HE COMES TO THE APOSTLES, FRIGHTENED AND HIDING IN THE THE ROOM, THE APOSTLES WHO DESERTED HIM AND LEFT HIM TO DIE ON THE CROSS, THE LEADER OF THE APOSTLES WHO LIED ABOUT KNOWING WHO HE WAS, AND THERE IS NO WORD ABOUT THAT, JUST JESUS GIVING THEM HIS PEACE. JESUS SHOWS HIS MERCY WHEN HE GIVES THE APOSTLES THE POWER TO FORGIVE SINS. GOD'S MERCY IS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE COMMUNITY OF HIS FOLLOWERS. JESUS SHOWS THAT MERCY WHEN HE APPEARS TO THOMAS, AND MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR THOMAS TO BELIEVE. HAD THAT SECOND APPEARANCE BEEN TO SCOLD THOMAS, I DOUBT THAT HE WOULD HAVE OFFERED TO FULFILL THOMAS' STATED CONDITIONS. AND JESUS CONTINUES TO SHOW HIS FATHER'S MERCY TO YOU AND I, WHO HAVE THE GIFT OF FAITH, GIVEN AT BAPTISM, REINFORCED AT CONFIRMATION, AND STRENGTHENED THROUGH THE HOLY EUCHARIST THAT IS OUR FOOD AND DRINK, AND THROUGH THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE, THAT FORGIVES OUR TRANSGRESSIONS AND GIVES US STRENGTH TO OVERCOME WHAT HOLDS US DOWN. AND WE BELIEVE, AND UNFORTUNATELY FOR MANY OF US THAT'S WHERE IT STOPS. OUR BELIEF IN THE RESURRECTION IS FILED BACK THERE WITH OUR BELIEF IN GLOBAL WARMING OR IN THE THEORY OF EVOLUTION OR THAT TWO AND TWO IS FOUR. FOR MANY OF US, THE RESURRECTION HASN'T CHANGED OUR LIVES TO THE EXTENT THAT IT SHOULD. BECAUSE OF THIS, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I DEFINITELY NEED ALL THE MERCY I CAN GET.
SO TODAY LET US PRAY FOR MERCY, THANK GOD FOR HIS MERCY, AND ASK SAINT THOMAS TO HELP US LIVE THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR BELIEF IN THE RESURRECTION SO THAT WE CAN SAY WITH ALL OUR HEARTS, MY LORD AND MY GOD.
I HAVE A SOFT SPOT IN MY HEART FOR THOMAS. I ALWAYS HAVE, AND WHEN I HAD TO SELECT A NEW NAME FOR MY CONFIRMATION WHEN I WAS IN SEVENTH GRADE, I CHOSE THOMAS. OF COURSE I WAS THINKING OF THOMAS AQUINAS AS WELL, BUT I FIGURED TWO THOMAS' FOR THE PRICE OF ONE COULDN'T BE ALL BAD.
WE DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THOMAS. HE SPEAKS FOUR TIMES IN THE SCRIPTURES. WHEN JESUS TELLS HIS APOSTLES THAT HE IS GOING TO GO TO JUDEA TO HEAL LAZARUS, THEY ALL GET UPSET, BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT JESUS IS A WANTED MAN IN JUDEA. BUT THOMAS FINALLY SAYS, “LET US GO AND DIE WITH HIM.” AT THE LAST SUPPER, JESUS TELLS HIS APOSTLES “WHERE I AM GOING, YOU KNOW” AND THOMAS SAYS, “NO WE DON'T, TELL US WHERE YOU ARE GOING?” WE HEAR THE OTHER TWO INSTANCES IN THIS GOSPEL: “UNLESS I PUT MY FINGERS IN THE HOLES IN HIS HANDS, AND MY HAND IN HIS SIDE, I WILL NOT BELIEVE!” AND FINALLY, “MY LORD AND MY GOD!”
AFTER PENTECOST, WE ARE PRETTY SURE THAT THOMAS TRAVELED TO JEWISH SETTLEMENTS ON THE ARABIAN PENINSULA, AND ULTIMATELY GOT TO INDIA. INFORMATION FROM THE SECOND CENTURY DESCRIBES HOW THOMAS MET AN INDIAN RULER AND CONVERTED HIM AND HIS PEOPLE. THOMAS WAS A CARPENTER, AND LEGEND HAS IT THAT HE BUILT SEVEN CHURCHES. FINALLY ANOTHER RULER WHO KEPT HIS PEOPLE IN ABJECT POVERTY, ASKED HIM TO COME AND BUILD A CHURCH IN HIS TERRITORY. THOMAS TOOK THE MONEY AND USED IT FOR THE POOR AND ULTIMATELY THIS LEAD TO HIS MARTYRDOM. THERE ARE STILL CHRISTIANS IN INDIA WHO WERE THERE AT LEAST SINCE THE THIRD CENTURY, WHO INSIST THAT THEIR CHURCH WAS FOUNDED BY THOMAS; AND UP UNTIL THE 15TH CENTURY, THERE WERE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ARABIAN SEA WHO CLAIMED TO HAVE BEEN FOUNDED BY THOMAS. PAUL GOT A LOT OF PRESS BECAUSE OF ALL THE LETTERS THAT HE WROTE, AND ALL THE TERRITORY THAT HE WENT TO IN MISSION; BUT THOMAS SEEMS TO HAVE RIVALED PAUL IN TERMS OF HIS TRAVELS AND HIS FOUNDING OF CHURCHES.
SO THOMAS IS NO SLOUCH, THOMAS LIVED A LIFE OF HEROIC FAITH. AND I THINK I KNOW WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH THOMAS' MIND WHEN HE TOLD THE OTHER APOSTLES THAT HE WOULD NOT BELIEVE UNLESS.... THOMAS KNEW THAT IF THE RESURRECTION REALLY HAPPENED, IT WOULD MEAN THAT HIS ENTIRE LIFE HAD TO CHANGE. THOMAS WOULD NOT JUST BELIEVE SOMETHING; HE KNEW THAT REAL BELIEF HAD CONSEQUENCES, AND BEFORE HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR SOMETHING, HE NEEDED TO BE SURE THAT THE SOMETHING WAS WORTHY OF THAT GIFT. I DOUBT THE OTHER APOSTLES HAD GIVEN AS MUCH THOUGHT TO THIS AS THOMAS – CERTAINLY IN THE EXAMPLES IN WHICH HE SPOKE BEFORE THE RESURRECTION, HE DOES THINK THINGS THROUGH, AND HE DOES ASK QUESTIONS WHEN HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND. ADMIRABLE TRAITS.
I DON'T THINK JESUS IS PUTTING THOMAS DOWN. AFTER ALL, ALL THE FIRST CHRISTIANS HAD WITNESSED THE RESURRECTED CHRIST, EVEN HIS MOTHER. PAUL TELLS US THAT ABOUT 500 PEOPLE HAD SEEN THE RISEN CHRIST. JESUS JUMP-STARTED HIS CHURCH WITH THOSE APPEARANCES. BUT AFTER THAT, AFTER HE ASCENDS INTO HEAVEN, HE LEAVES HIS CHURCH WITH THE GIFT OF FAITH, AND THAT IS THE REFERENCE TO THOSE WHO HAVE NOT SEEN, BUT HAVE BELIEVED. WE ARE THE BLESSED ONES.
BUT I THINK JESUS MEANS BELIEF IN THE SAME WAY THAT THOMAS DID. IF YOU BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION, THEN YOUR LIFE BETTER CHANGE, YOU BETTER LIVE LIKE JESUS IS YOUR LORD AND YOUR GOD. AND MOST OF US, ESPECIALLY MYSELF, HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.
THIS IS MERCY SUNDAY. SAINT FAUSTINA SAID THAT GOD'S GREATEST ATTRIBUTE IS HIS UNFATHOMABLE MERCY.
HERE IN THIS GOSPEL JESUS SHOWS THAT MERCY, WHEN HE COMES TO THE APOSTLES, FRIGHTENED AND HIDING IN THE THE ROOM, THE APOSTLES WHO DESERTED HIM AND LEFT HIM TO DIE ON THE CROSS, THE LEADER OF THE APOSTLES WHO LIED ABOUT KNOWING WHO HE WAS, AND THERE IS NO WORD ABOUT THAT, JUST JESUS GIVING THEM HIS PEACE. JESUS SHOWS HIS MERCY WHEN HE GIVES THE APOSTLES THE POWER TO FORGIVE SINS. GOD'S MERCY IS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE COMMUNITY OF HIS FOLLOWERS. JESUS SHOWS THAT MERCY WHEN HE APPEARS TO THOMAS, AND MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR THOMAS TO BELIEVE. HAD THAT SECOND APPEARANCE BEEN TO SCOLD THOMAS, I DOUBT THAT HE WOULD HAVE OFFERED TO FULFILL THOMAS' STATED CONDITIONS. AND JESUS CONTINUES TO SHOW HIS FATHER'S MERCY TO YOU AND I, WHO HAVE THE GIFT OF FAITH, GIVEN AT BAPTISM, REINFORCED AT CONFIRMATION, AND STRENGTHENED THROUGH THE HOLY EUCHARIST THAT IS OUR FOOD AND DRINK, AND THROUGH THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE, THAT FORGIVES OUR TRANSGRESSIONS AND GIVES US STRENGTH TO OVERCOME WHAT HOLDS US DOWN. AND WE BELIEVE, AND UNFORTUNATELY FOR MANY OF US THAT'S WHERE IT STOPS. OUR BELIEF IN THE RESURRECTION IS FILED BACK THERE WITH OUR BELIEF IN GLOBAL WARMING OR IN THE THEORY OF EVOLUTION OR THAT TWO AND TWO IS FOUR. FOR MANY OF US, THE RESURRECTION HASN'T CHANGED OUR LIVES TO THE EXTENT THAT IT SHOULD. BECAUSE OF THIS, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I DEFINITELY NEED ALL THE MERCY I CAN GET.
SO TODAY LET US PRAY FOR MERCY, THANK GOD FOR HIS MERCY, AND ASK SAINT THOMAS TO HELP US LIVE THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR BELIEF IN THE RESURRECTION SO THAT WE CAN SAY WITH ALL OUR HEARTS, MY LORD AND MY GOD.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Holy Thursday, cycle A
John 20:1-9
I WONDER HOW JESUS REALLY FELT ON THAT HOLY THURSDAY, THE END OF HIS LAST FULL DAY ON EARTH? JESUS KNEW WHAT WAS COMING, WE SEE THAT ALL THROUGH THE GOSPELS; BUT YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO BE GOD TO KNOW YOU WERE IN TROUBLE. HE HAD OFFENDED THE JEWISH AUTHORITIES WHEN HE RAISED LAZARUS; HE HAD OFFENDED THE ROMAN AUTHORITIES WHEN HE ENTERED JERUSALEM IN A TRIUMPHAL PROCESSION WHICH NOT ONLY STIRRED THE CROWDS INTO A NEAR RIOT, BUT WAS ALSO A SORT OF MOCKERY OF A ROMAN TRIUMPHAL PROCESSION; ONLY THE ROMAN GENERAL WOULD BE ON A MAJESTIC HORSE OR PULLED IN A WAR CHARIOT, NOT RIDING ON THE BACK OF A DONKEY. AND HE HAD NEARLY CAUSED A RIOT WHEN HE CLEANSED THE TEMPLE – AND THAT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGH HOLY DAYS, RIGHT WHEN THE CITY WAS FULL OF PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE ROMAN EMPIRE, CELEBRATING THEIR LIBERATION FROM SOMEONE ELSE WHO HAD ENSLAVED THEM, THE PHARAOH OF EGYPT.
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A GOOD TIME TO GO INTO HIDING. BUT JESUS CELEBRATES THE PASSOVER WITH HIS DISCIPLES.
HOW LONELY HE MUST HAVE FELT. NONE OF THEM REALLY BELIEVED WHAT WAS TO COME; AND INDEED SO FAR THE AUTHORITIES HAD BEEN CURIOUSLY QUIET. HE LOOKED OVER THESE PEASANTS WHO WERE HIS CLOSEST DISCIPLES, THESE MEN WHO TIME AND TIME AGAIN HAD NOT SEEMED TO GET IT. HIS TIME WAS NEARLY OVER, AND THEY WERE GOING TO CARRY ON? BUT IT WAS PASSOVER, AND A TIME FOR BEING JOYFUL. THE WINE WAS FLOWING, AND THERE WAS MEAT ON THE TABLE, AND HIS FRIENDS WERE TALKING AND LAUGHING AS THEY CELEBRATED.
AND THEN JESUS DOES A STRANGE THING. HE STRIPS OFF HIS OUTER GARMENT, THROWS A TOWEL OVER HIS SHOULDER, AND STOOPS TO WASH THEIR FEET.
WE SEE THIS RITUAL EVERY HOLY THURSDAY. WE PICK A FEW PEOPLE FROM THE CONGREGATION, AND FATHER POURS WATER OVER FEET WHICH HAVE PROBABLY BEEN RECENTLY WASHED. BUT THINK ABOUT THE ACTUAL EVENT. FIRST, WASHING FEET WAS ALMOST A NECESSITY. PEOPLE THREW THEIR TRASH, INCLUDING HUMAN WASTE, IN THE STREETS. THERE WEREN'T TRASH COLLECTORS AND GARBAGE DISPOSALS. OTHER PEOPLE AND ANIMALS WALKED OVER THE REFUSE – AND THE ANIMALS CONTRIBUTED MORE TO THE GENERAL STINK AND FILTH. AND MOST PEOPLE EITHER RAN AROUND BAREFOOT OR WORE SANDALS, WHICH WERE LITTLE MORE THAN A PIECE OF LEATHER HELD ONTO THE FOOT WITH A FEW LACES. YOU CAN BELIEVE THAT FEET GOT FILTHY FAST.
SO AT A BIG DINNER PARTY, SOMEONE HAD TO WASH THE FEET. AND THAT SOMEONE WAS USUALLY A SLAVE, OR A POOR GENTILE HIRED FOR THAT PURPOSE. BECAUSE YOU BECAME RITUALLY UNCLEAN COMING INTO CONTACT WITH ALL THAT FILTH. AND WASHING THE FEET WAS REALLY WASHING, NOT A SYMBOLIC STREAM OF WARM WATER.
AND WHY DOES JESUS DO THIS? HE TELLS US THAT HE WANTS TO GIVE US AN EXAMPLE. BUT ON A DEEPER LEVEL, JESUS DOES THIS BECAUSE HE IS JESUS. HE CAME TO SERVE, HE STOOPED TO BECOME ONE OF US, HE EMPTIED HIMSELF OUT FOR US. IT IS JUST WHAT JESUS DOES – HE BECOMES A SLAVE TO US, AS ST. PAUL TELLS US IN HIS EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS.
HOLY THURSDAY IS THE DAY JESUS INSTITUTED THE EUCHARIST. IT IS THE DAY WHEN THE APOSTLES BECAME THE FIRST PRIESTS. WE HEAR A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THESE TWO MAJOR EVENTS IN THE EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL, BUT NOTHING IN THE GOSPEL. JUST THIS STRANGE STORY OF JESUS WASHING THE FILTH OFF THE FEET OF PETER, WHO WOULD DENY HE EVER KNEW HIM, OF JUDAS, WHO WOULD SELL HIM OUT FOR A FEW COINS; AND ALL THE REST, WHO WOULD LEAVE HIM ALONE ON THE CROSS, MOCKED BY THE SAME PEOPLE WHO ONLY A SHORT TIME AGO WERE WELCOMING HIM INTO JERUSALEM WITH PALM BRANCHES AND CRIES OF “HOSANNA, SON OF DAVID!”
TOMORROW WE WILL REMEMBER THE TERRIBLE DEATH JESUS ENDURED. ON SATURDAY, WE WILL THINK ABOUT HOW DEATH AND EVIL ALMOST WON THE BATTLE. AND ON SUNDAY, WE WILL CELEBRATE HIS RESURRECTION, WHEN HE PROVED ONCE AND FOR ALL THAT HIS RAISING OF LAZARUS WAS NO FLUKE; HE CONQUERED DEATH, FOREVER.
AND IN THAT GREAT SET OF EVENTS, WE MAY BE TEMPTED TO THINK THAT IT ALL CAME DOWN TO THIS, THIS GREAT PASSAGE FROM SUFFERING TO DEATH TO RESURRECTION, AND WE MAY FORGET THAT JESUS LIVED TO SERVE, THAT HE WASHED THE FILTH FROM THE FEET OF HIS FRIENDS, AND STILL SEEKS TO DO THAT FOR YOU AND I. AND IN HIS EXAMPLE TO US, HE SHOWS US THAT FOR MOST OF US, IT WILL NOT BE A MARTYR'S TRIUMPHANT DEATH AND ENTRY INTO HEAVEN; IT WILL NOT BE SOME GLORIOUS WORK LIKE FOUNDING A RELIGIOUS ORDER OR CONVERTING A NATION OF PAGANS, OR WRITING A DEATHLESS MASTERPIECE OF THEOLOGY OR DEVOTION.
NO, FOR MOST OF US, IT WILL BE WASHING EACH OTHER'S FEET, PUTTING UP WITH THE FILTH THAT CONTAMINATES ALL OF US, EACH IN DIFFERENT WAYS; RECOGNIZING THAT I AM THE WORST OF SINNERS AND AM LUCKY TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM A HUMBLE SERVICE FOR MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS; THAT I IMITATE JESUS MOST CLOSELY WHEN I FORGET MYSELF, AND SERVE MY NEIGHBOR IN THE WAY HE NEEDS ME TO SERVE HIM, RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW.
AND AFTER JESUS WASHED THEIR FEET, ALTHOUGH WE DON'T HEAR ABOUT IT IN JOHN'S GOSPEL, THE OTHER THREE GOSPELS TELL US THAT HE TOOK BREAD, AND BROKE IT, AND GAVE IT AWAY, AND SAID “EAT THIS, IT IS MY BODY”, AND HE TOOK THE CUP, AND BLESSED IT AND SAID, “DRINK THIS, IT IS MY BLOOD” AND HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT IN THE EATING OF HIS BODY AND THE DRINKING OF HIS BLOOD, THERE IS A NEW AGREEMENT BETWEEN GOD AND MAN, ONE THAT WILL LAST FOREVER; AND THAT AGREEMENT IS THAT WHEN WE EAT HIS BODY AND DRINK HIS BLOOD, HE WILL LIVE IN US, AND CHANGE US, IF WE LET HIM, AND THROUGH US CONTINUE TO BUILD UP HIS KINGDOM. BUT IT IS NOT A KINGDOM OF TRIUMPH AND GLORY, WHERE ALL HIS ENEMIES WILL BE CAST DOWN AND ALL HIS FRIENDS WILL ENJOY THAT HEAVENLY FEAST – AT LEAST NOT YET. IT IS A KINGDOM WHERE THE GREATEST WILL WASH THE FILTH OFF OF THE FEET OF THE LEAST, AND THE LEAST WILL DO THE SAME FOR THE GREATEST, AND IF YOU WANT TO SEE JESUS IN ACTION, LOOK FOR PEOPLE WASHING THE FEET OF THEIR NEIGHBOR. AND IF YOU WANT TO BE PART OF THE KINGDOM, LOOK FOR SOMEONE'S FEET TO WASH.
I WONDER HOW JESUS REALLY FELT ON THAT HOLY THURSDAY, THE END OF HIS LAST FULL DAY ON EARTH? JESUS KNEW WHAT WAS COMING, WE SEE THAT ALL THROUGH THE GOSPELS; BUT YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO BE GOD TO KNOW YOU WERE IN TROUBLE. HE HAD OFFENDED THE JEWISH AUTHORITIES WHEN HE RAISED LAZARUS; HE HAD OFFENDED THE ROMAN AUTHORITIES WHEN HE ENTERED JERUSALEM IN A TRIUMPHAL PROCESSION WHICH NOT ONLY STIRRED THE CROWDS INTO A NEAR RIOT, BUT WAS ALSO A SORT OF MOCKERY OF A ROMAN TRIUMPHAL PROCESSION; ONLY THE ROMAN GENERAL WOULD BE ON A MAJESTIC HORSE OR PULLED IN A WAR CHARIOT, NOT RIDING ON THE BACK OF A DONKEY. AND HE HAD NEARLY CAUSED A RIOT WHEN HE CLEANSED THE TEMPLE – AND THAT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGH HOLY DAYS, RIGHT WHEN THE CITY WAS FULL OF PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE ROMAN EMPIRE, CELEBRATING THEIR LIBERATION FROM SOMEONE ELSE WHO HAD ENSLAVED THEM, THE PHARAOH OF EGYPT.
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A GOOD TIME TO GO INTO HIDING. BUT JESUS CELEBRATES THE PASSOVER WITH HIS DISCIPLES.
HOW LONELY HE MUST HAVE FELT. NONE OF THEM REALLY BELIEVED WHAT WAS TO COME; AND INDEED SO FAR THE AUTHORITIES HAD BEEN CURIOUSLY QUIET. HE LOOKED OVER THESE PEASANTS WHO WERE HIS CLOSEST DISCIPLES, THESE MEN WHO TIME AND TIME AGAIN HAD NOT SEEMED TO GET IT. HIS TIME WAS NEARLY OVER, AND THEY WERE GOING TO CARRY ON? BUT IT WAS PASSOVER, AND A TIME FOR BEING JOYFUL. THE WINE WAS FLOWING, AND THERE WAS MEAT ON THE TABLE, AND HIS FRIENDS WERE TALKING AND LAUGHING AS THEY CELEBRATED.
AND THEN JESUS DOES A STRANGE THING. HE STRIPS OFF HIS OUTER GARMENT, THROWS A TOWEL OVER HIS SHOULDER, AND STOOPS TO WASH THEIR FEET.
WE SEE THIS RITUAL EVERY HOLY THURSDAY. WE PICK A FEW PEOPLE FROM THE CONGREGATION, AND FATHER POURS WATER OVER FEET WHICH HAVE PROBABLY BEEN RECENTLY WASHED. BUT THINK ABOUT THE ACTUAL EVENT. FIRST, WASHING FEET WAS ALMOST A NECESSITY. PEOPLE THREW THEIR TRASH, INCLUDING HUMAN WASTE, IN THE STREETS. THERE WEREN'T TRASH COLLECTORS AND GARBAGE DISPOSALS. OTHER PEOPLE AND ANIMALS WALKED OVER THE REFUSE – AND THE ANIMALS CONTRIBUTED MORE TO THE GENERAL STINK AND FILTH. AND MOST PEOPLE EITHER RAN AROUND BAREFOOT OR WORE SANDALS, WHICH WERE LITTLE MORE THAN A PIECE OF LEATHER HELD ONTO THE FOOT WITH A FEW LACES. YOU CAN BELIEVE THAT FEET GOT FILTHY FAST.
SO AT A BIG DINNER PARTY, SOMEONE HAD TO WASH THE FEET. AND THAT SOMEONE WAS USUALLY A SLAVE, OR A POOR GENTILE HIRED FOR THAT PURPOSE. BECAUSE YOU BECAME RITUALLY UNCLEAN COMING INTO CONTACT WITH ALL THAT FILTH. AND WASHING THE FEET WAS REALLY WASHING, NOT A SYMBOLIC STREAM OF WARM WATER.
AND WHY DOES JESUS DO THIS? HE TELLS US THAT HE WANTS TO GIVE US AN EXAMPLE. BUT ON A DEEPER LEVEL, JESUS DOES THIS BECAUSE HE IS JESUS. HE CAME TO SERVE, HE STOOPED TO BECOME ONE OF US, HE EMPTIED HIMSELF OUT FOR US. IT IS JUST WHAT JESUS DOES – HE BECOMES A SLAVE TO US, AS ST. PAUL TELLS US IN HIS EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS.
HOLY THURSDAY IS THE DAY JESUS INSTITUTED THE EUCHARIST. IT IS THE DAY WHEN THE APOSTLES BECAME THE FIRST PRIESTS. WE HEAR A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THESE TWO MAJOR EVENTS IN THE EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL, BUT NOTHING IN THE GOSPEL. JUST THIS STRANGE STORY OF JESUS WASHING THE FILTH OFF THE FEET OF PETER, WHO WOULD DENY HE EVER KNEW HIM, OF JUDAS, WHO WOULD SELL HIM OUT FOR A FEW COINS; AND ALL THE REST, WHO WOULD LEAVE HIM ALONE ON THE CROSS, MOCKED BY THE SAME PEOPLE WHO ONLY A SHORT TIME AGO WERE WELCOMING HIM INTO JERUSALEM WITH PALM BRANCHES AND CRIES OF “HOSANNA, SON OF DAVID!”
TOMORROW WE WILL REMEMBER THE TERRIBLE DEATH JESUS ENDURED. ON SATURDAY, WE WILL THINK ABOUT HOW DEATH AND EVIL ALMOST WON THE BATTLE. AND ON SUNDAY, WE WILL CELEBRATE HIS RESURRECTION, WHEN HE PROVED ONCE AND FOR ALL THAT HIS RAISING OF LAZARUS WAS NO FLUKE; HE CONQUERED DEATH, FOREVER.
AND IN THAT GREAT SET OF EVENTS, WE MAY BE TEMPTED TO THINK THAT IT ALL CAME DOWN TO THIS, THIS GREAT PASSAGE FROM SUFFERING TO DEATH TO RESURRECTION, AND WE MAY FORGET THAT JESUS LIVED TO SERVE, THAT HE WASHED THE FILTH FROM THE FEET OF HIS FRIENDS, AND STILL SEEKS TO DO THAT FOR YOU AND I. AND IN HIS EXAMPLE TO US, HE SHOWS US THAT FOR MOST OF US, IT WILL NOT BE A MARTYR'S TRIUMPHANT DEATH AND ENTRY INTO HEAVEN; IT WILL NOT BE SOME GLORIOUS WORK LIKE FOUNDING A RELIGIOUS ORDER OR CONVERTING A NATION OF PAGANS, OR WRITING A DEATHLESS MASTERPIECE OF THEOLOGY OR DEVOTION.
NO, FOR MOST OF US, IT WILL BE WASHING EACH OTHER'S FEET, PUTTING UP WITH THE FILTH THAT CONTAMINATES ALL OF US, EACH IN DIFFERENT WAYS; RECOGNIZING THAT I AM THE WORST OF SINNERS AND AM LUCKY TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM A HUMBLE SERVICE FOR MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS; THAT I IMITATE JESUS MOST CLOSELY WHEN I FORGET MYSELF, AND SERVE MY NEIGHBOR IN THE WAY HE NEEDS ME TO SERVE HIM, RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW.
AND AFTER JESUS WASHED THEIR FEET, ALTHOUGH WE DON'T HEAR ABOUT IT IN JOHN'S GOSPEL, THE OTHER THREE GOSPELS TELL US THAT HE TOOK BREAD, AND BROKE IT, AND GAVE IT AWAY, AND SAID “EAT THIS, IT IS MY BODY”, AND HE TOOK THE CUP, AND BLESSED IT AND SAID, “DRINK THIS, IT IS MY BLOOD” AND HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT IN THE EATING OF HIS BODY AND THE DRINKING OF HIS BLOOD, THERE IS A NEW AGREEMENT BETWEEN GOD AND MAN, ONE THAT WILL LAST FOREVER; AND THAT AGREEMENT IS THAT WHEN WE EAT HIS BODY AND DRINK HIS BLOOD, HE WILL LIVE IN US, AND CHANGE US, IF WE LET HIM, AND THROUGH US CONTINUE TO BUILD UP HIS KINGDOM. BUT IT IS NOT A KINGDOM OF TRIUMPH AND GLORY, WHERE ALL HIS ENEMIES WILL BE CAST DOWN AND ALL HIS FRIENDS WILL ENJOY THAT HEAVENLY FEAST – AT LEAST NOT YET. IT IS A KINGDOM WHERE THE GREATEST WILL WASH THE FILTH OFF OF THE FEET OF THE LEAST, AND THE LEAST WILL DO THE SAME FOR THE GREATEST, AND IF YOU WANT TO SEE JESUS IN ACTION, LOOK FOR PEOPLE WASHING THE FEET OF THEIR NEIGHBOR. AND IF YOU WANT TO BE PART OF THE KINGDOM, LOOK FOR SOMEONE'S FEET TO WASH.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Palm Sunday, 2008
THE PASSION OF MATTHEW
THIS IS THE SUNDAY I USED TO DREAD WHEN I WAS A LITTLE KID. IT WAS THE SUNDAY WHEN THEY READ THE PASSION. FOR SOME REASON, IT WAS A LOT HARDER TO SIT THROUGH THE SUNDAY READING THAN THE GOOD FRIDAY READING. ON GOOD FRIDAY, YOU HAD THE OPTION OF NOT BEING THERE. SUNDAY YOUR HAD TO BE THERE.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT? IT HASN'T GOTTEN ANY SHORTER SINCE I WAS A LITTLE KID. BUT I DO LISTEN MORE ATTENTIVELY. I TRY TO GET INTO IT, I TRY TO SEE THE EVENTS AS THEY UNFOLD. BECAUSE IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T HURT ANY OF US ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR TO REMEMBER THAT JESUS WAS A REAL HUMAN BEING, THAT HE WAS BETRAYED BY A FRIEND, THAT HE WAS DESERTED BY OTHER FRIENDS, THAT HE WAS BEATEN, SCOURGED, HUMILIATED, AND PUT TO DEATH. THIS REALLY HAPPENED; IT ISN'T A LEGEND.
BUT I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THE BEGINNING OF THIS STORY FOR A MINUTE. AFTER THE SUPPER, JESUS, PETER, JAMES, AND JOHN GO TO THE GARDEN OF GESTHEMENE. THERE JESUS POURS OUT HIS HEART IN PRAYER TO THE FATHER. THERE IS A FAMOUS PICTURE OF JESUS PRAYING IN THE GARDEN, THAT MOST OF US HAVE SEEN. IN IT HE IS KNEELING, LEANING ON A ROCK, LOOKING UP TO HEAVEN, AND THERE IS A LIGHT SHINING DOWN ON HIM. VERY DIGNIFIED, VERY SERENE. AND IT DIDN'T HAPPEN LIKE THAT AT ALL. JESUS SAYS THAT HIS HEART IS NEARLY BROKEN WITH SORROW. I'VE BEEN THERE, AND SO HAVE YOU. YOU LEARN THAT SOMEONE YOU LOVE HAS TERMINAL CANCER. YOU GET THE NEWS THAT YOUR SON IS GETTING DIVORCED AFTER TEN YEARS OF MARRIAGE. YOU LOSE YOUR JOB AND IN THIS ECONOMY, YOU HAVEN'T MUCH CHANCE OF GETTING ANOTHER, AND IF YOU DO, IT WON'T PAY NEARLY AS WELL. YOU ARE CONFRONTED BY THE IRS WITH A HUGE BACK TAXES BILL; AND SO ON, AND SO FORTH.
I THINK OF ELIOT SPITZER, THE GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK, THIS PAST WEEK. GRANTED, HE BROUGHT IT ALL ON HIMSELF, AND I NEVER PARTICULARLY THOUGHT MUCH OF HIM, BUT I FELT HIS AGONY WHEN HE HAD TO STAND UP IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE COUNTRY AND HIS WIFE, AND ADMIT HIS GUILT AND RESIGN FROM THE OFFICE THAT HE HAD SPENT MUCH OF HIS LIFE TRYING TO WIN-- NOT ONLY THAT, BUT HE HAD TO GIVE UP THE CAREER THAT HE HAD SINGLEMINDEDLY PURSUED. IN A FEW YEARS, HE MIGHT HAVE HAD A REAL SHOT AT THE PRESIDENCY. BUT NOW ITS ALL ASHES.
WHEN OUR HEARTS ARE BROKEN WITH SORROW, FOR WHATEVER REASON, WE DON'T THINK STRAIGHT. THE ADRENALIN RUSHES AROUND IN OUR BODIES; WE SWEAT, OUR HEARTS RACE, WE'D RATHER BE ANYWHERE BUT WHERE WE ARE. AND YOU CAN BE SURE JESUS FELT THE SAME; HE KNEW WHAT WAS COMING, AND HE KNEW THERE WAS NO GETTING OUT OF IT. LIKE ALL OF US IN THIS SORT OF SITUATION, WE LONG FOR SOMEONE TO HELP US BEAR OUR BURDEN. JESUS DID ALSO, BUT WHEN HE WENT TO HIS THREE BEST FRIENDS, THEY WERE ASLEEP.
SO JESUS SHOWS US HOW WE ARE TO RESPOND WHEN OUR HEARTS ARE NEARLY BROKEN WITH SORROW. CERTAINLY WE CAN PRAY THAT OUR SITUATION BE RELIEVED AS HE DID -- OUR PROBLEM REDUCED, OUR TRAGEDY AVERTED. AND SOMETIMES GOD ANSWERS OUR PRAYER THE WAY WE WANT HIM TO. BUT THE REAL KEY IS IN THE WORDS OF JESUS, “MY FATHER, IF THIS CANNOT PASS BY ME WITHOUT MY DRINKING IT, YOUR WILL BE DONE.” BECAUSE WHEN OUR HEARTS ARE NEARLY BROKEN WITH SORROW, HOWEVER WE GOT THERE, OUR FAULT, SOMEONE ELSE'S FAULT, NO ONE'S FAULT, IF WE MUST PASS THROUGH THE SORROW, LET US PRAY THAT GOD'S WILL BE DONE, THAT IN SOME WAY OUR TRAGEDY WILL LEAD TO SOMETHING GOOD, THAT THIS SORROW THAT LOOKS SO MALIGNANT AND MEANINGLESS WILL IN SOME WAY UNITE US TO THE CROSS OF CHRIST, AND IN THAT WE CAN FIND JOY.
SO PRAY ON THIS PALM SUNDAY THAT WHEN YOU HAVE TO FACE THAT NEXT TRAGEDY IN LIFE, THAT MOMENT WHEN YOUR HEART ALMOST BREAKS WITH SORROW, YOU WILL REMEMBER THE PRAYER OF JESUS, AND PRAY IT AS HE DID.
THIS IS THE SUNDAY I USED TO DREAD WHEN I WAS A LITTLE KID. IT WAS THE SUNDAY WHEN THEY READ THE PASSION. FOR SOME REASON, IT WAS A LOT HARDER TO SIT THROUGH THE SUNDAY READING THAN THE GOOD FRIDAY READING. ON GOOD FRIDAY, YOU HAD THE OPTION OF NOT BEING THERE. SUNDAY YOUR HAD TO BE THERE.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT? IT HASN'T GOTTEN ANY SHORTER SINCE I WAS A LITTLE KID. BUT I DO LISTEN MORE ATTENTIVELY. I TRY TO GET INTO IT, I TRY TO SEE THE EVENTS AS THEY UNFOLD. BECAUSE IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T HURT ANY OF US ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR TO REMEMBER THAT JESUS WAS A REAL HUMAN BEING, THAT HE WAS BETRAYED BY A FRIEND, THAT HE WAS DESERTED BY OTHER FRIENDS, THAT HE WAS BEATEN, SCOURGED, HUMILIATED, AND PUT TO DEATH. THIS REALLY HAPPENED; IT ISN'T A LEGEND.
BUT I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THE BEGINNING OF THIS STORY FOR A MINUTE. AFTER THE SUPPER, JESUS, PETER, JAMES, AND JOHN GO TO THE GARDEN OF GESTHEMENE. THERE JESUS POURS OUT HIS HEART IN PRAYER TO THE FATHER. THERE IS A FAMOUS PICTURE OF JESUS PRAYING IN THE GARDEN, THAT MOST OF US HAVE SEEN. IN IT HE IS KNEELING, LEANING ON A ROCK, LOOKING UP TO HEAVEN, AND THERE IS A LIGHT SHINING DOWN ON HIM. VERY DIGNIFIED, VERY SERENE. AND IT DIDN'T HAPPEN LIKE THAT AT ALL. JESUS SAYS THAT HIS HEART IS NEARLY BROKEN WITH SORROW. I'VE BEEN THERE, AND SO HAVE YOU. YOU LEARN THAT SOMEONE YOU LOVE HAS TERMINAL CANCER. YOU GET THE NEWS THAT YOUR SON IS GETTING DIVORCED AFTER TEN YEARS OF MARRIAGE. YOU LOSE YOUR JOB AND IN THIS ECONOMY, YOU HAVEN'T MUCH CHANCE OF GETTING ANOTHER, AND IF YOU DO, IT WON'T PAY NEARLY AS WELL. YOU ARE CONFRONTED BY THE IRS WITH A HUGE BACK TAXES BILL; AND SO ON, AND SO FORTH.
I THINK OF ELIOT SPITZER, THE GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK, THIS PAST WEEK. GRANTED, HE BROUGHT IT ALL ON HIMSELF, AND I NEVER PARTICULARLY THOUGHT MUCH OF HIM, BUT I FELT HIS AGONY WHEN HE HAD TO STAND UP IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE COUNTRY AND HIS WIFE, AND ADMIT HIS GUILT AND RESIGN FROM THE OFFICE THAT HE HAD SPENT MUCH OF HIS LIFE TRYING TO WIN-- NOT ONLY THAT, BUT HE HAD TO GIVE UP THE CAREER THAT HE HAD SINGLEMINDEDLY PURSUED. IN A FEW YEARS, HE MIGHT HAVE HAD A REAL SHOT AT THE PRESIDENCY. BUT NOW ITS ALL ASHES.
WHEN OUR HEARTS ARE BROKEN WITH SORROW, FOR WHATEVER REASON, WE DON'T THINK STRAIGHT. THE ADRENALIN RUSHES AROUND IN OUR BODIES; WE SWEAT, OUR HEARTS RACE, WE'D RATHER BE ANYWHERE BUT WHERE WE ARE. AND YOU CAN BE SURE JESUS FELT THE SAME; HE KNEW WHAT WAS COMING, AND HE KNEW THERE WAS NO GETTING OUT OF IT. LIKE ALL OF US IN THIS SORT OF SITUATION, WE LONG FOR SOMEONE TO HELP US BEAR OUR BURDEN. JESUS DID ALSO, BUT WHEN HE WENT TO HIS THREE BEST FRIENDS, THEY WERE ASLEEP.
SO JESUS SHOWS US HOW WE ARE TO RESPOND WHEN OUR HEARTS ARE NEARLY BROKEN WITH SORROW. CERTAINLY WE CAN PRAY THAT OUR SITUATION BE RELIEVED AS HE DID -- OUR PROBLEM REDUCED, OUR TRAGEDY AVERTED. AND SOMETIMES GOD ANSWERS OUR PRAYER THE WAY WE WANT HIM TO. BUT THE REAL KEY IS IN THE WORDS OF JESUS, “MY FATHER, IF THIS CANNOT PASS BY ME WITHOUT MY DRINKING IT, YOUR WILL BE DONE.” BECAUSE WHEN OUR HEARTS ARE NEARLY BROKEN WITH SORROW, HOWEVER WE GOT THERE, OUR FAULT, SOMEONE ELSE'S FAULT, NO ONE'S FAULT, IF WE MUST PASS THROUGH THE SORROW, LET US PRAY THAT GOD'S WILL BE DONE, THAT IN SOME WAY OUR TRAGEDY WILL LEAD TO SOMETHING GOOD, THAT THIS SORROW THAT LOOKS SO MALIGNANT AND MEANINGLESS WILL IN SOME WAY UNITE US TO THE CROSS OF CHRIST, AND IN THAT WE CAN FIND JOY.
SO PRAY ON THIS PALM SUNDAY THAT WHEN YOU HAVE TO FACE THAT NEXT TRAGEDY IN LIFE, THAT MOMENT WHEN YOUR HEART ALMOST BREAKS WITH SORROW, YOU WILL REMEMBER THE PRAYER OF JESUS, AND PRAY IT AS HE DID.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Fifth Sunday of Lent, cycle A
JOHN 11:1-45
THREE MEN WERE DISCUSSING WHAT THEY WANTED TO BE REMEMBERED FOR. ONE SAID, “WHEN PEOPLE LOOK DOWN ON ME IN MY COFFIN, I WANT THEM TO SAY WHAT A SUCCESSFUL PERSON I WAS.” THE SECOND SAID, “WHEN THEY LOOK DOWN ON ME IN MY COFFIN, I WANT THEM TO SAY HOW KIND AND GENEROUS I WAS.” THE THIRD THOUGHT A MINUTE AND SAID, “WHEN THEY LOOK DOWN ON ME IN MY COFFIN, I WANT THEM TO SAY, HEY, ISN'T HIS LEG MOVING?” SO WHAT DO YOU WANT THEM TO SAY WHEN THEY LOOK DOWN INTO YOUR COFFIN?
TODAY WE HEARD THE STORY OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR MIRACLE JESUS WORKED. JOHN MAKES SURE HIS READERS KNOW HOW INCREDIBLE THIS WAS. JESUS DOES NOT ARRIVE UNTIL FOUR DAYS AFTER LAZARUS HAD DIED. IT WAS COMMONLY BELIEVED THAT THE SOUL STAYED IN THE AREA OF THE BODY FOR THREE DAYS, BUT AFTER THAT, WENT TO “SHEOL” WHERE, AT LEAST AMONG THE JEWS, IT WAS THOUGHT THAT THE SOUL AWAITED THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD. ONCE YOU WERE IN SHEOL, THERE WAS NO RETURN. THE SECOND POINT, IF WE DIDN'T GET THE FIRST, IS THAT MARTHA MAKES HER COMMENT, “LORD, IT HAS BEEN FOUR DAYS NOW, SURELY THERE WILL BE A STENCH!” OR, AS SHE SAYS IN THE OLD BIBLE I GREW UP WITH, “LORD, BY THIS TIME HE STINKETH,” RESURRECTING A DECAYING CORPSE WHEN THE SOUL IS IMPRISONED IN SHEOL IS BEYOND THE CAPACITY OF ANY GREAT MAGICIAN OR PROPHET OR HOLY MAN. NO ONE BUT GOD COULD DO WHAT WAS DONE THIS DAY.
BUT, SPECTACULAR AS THIS MIRACLE IS, WE ARE UNFORTUNATE IN THAT WE DON'T SEE THE LARGER PICTURE FROM HEARING JUST THIS SEGMENT OF THE GOSPEL. HERE ARE SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER.
FIRST, JESUS HAD BEEN LIVING AND TEACHING IN GALILEE. IT WAS ABOUT AS FAR FROM JERUSALEM AS WORCESTER IS FROM SPRINGFIELD. WHICH IS A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE IF YOU HAVE TO WALK. HE WAS RELATIVELY SAFE THERE; HE WAS BEYOND THE REACH OF THE PEOPLE IN JERUSALEM WHO HATED HIM. JESUS AND HIS APOSTLES ALL APPRECIATED HOW DANGEROUS IT WOULD BE TO GO DOWN TO JERUSALEM. THAT IS WHY WE HEAR THOMAS SAYING “LET US GO DOWN AND DIE WITH HIM.” THE LITTLE TOWN OF BETHANY WHERE THE MIRACLE TAKES PLACE WAS ONLY TWO MILES FROM THE CITY OF JERUSALEM. IN ORDER TO RAISE LAZARUS FROM THE DEAD, JESUS PUT HIS OWN LIFE IN DANGER; IN FACT, GIVEN THAT HE WAS GOD AS WELL AS MAN, HE KNEW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF HE TRAVELED TO JERUSALEM.
SECOND, IF WE WERE TO READ FURTHER, WE WOULD SEE THAT NOT ONLY DID JESUS PUT HIS OWN LIFE IN DANGER BY COMING SO CLOSE TO JERUSALEM, BUT BY RAISING LAZARUS IN THIS BIG PUBLIC EVENT, HE GREATLY ANGERED THE AUTHORITIES. IF THERE HAD BEEN ANY PHARISEES OR MEMBERS OF THE PRIESTLY CLASS WHO HAD BEEN SITTING ON THE FENCE, WHEN HE RAISED LAZARUS, AND MANY CAME TO BELIEVE IN HIM, THEY NO LONGER DID SO. THEY WERE ALL VERY CLEAR ON THE IDEA THAT JESUS HAD TO DIE, OR THEY MIGHT VERY WELL LOSE THEIR POWER OVER THE PEOPLE. OF COURSE THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT ROME MIGHT DO, AND TO BE FAIR, MANY THOUGHT THAT JESUS WAS LEADING THE PEOPLE INTO HERESY. TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE, IN FACT, WE HEAR THAT THE ENEMIES OF JESUS PLOTTED TO KILL LAZARUS AS WELL, SINCE HE WAS LIVING PROOF OF JESUS' POWER.
AND THEN, AFTER THESE EVENTS, JESUS ENTERS THE CITY OF JERUSALEM IN STYLE, RIDING ON A DONKEY, BEING JOYOUSLY GREETED BY THE PEOPLE, AND THEN GOING ON TO STAND JUDGMENT, BE CRUCIFIED, AND DIE.
THE POINT, OF COURSE, IS NOT SO MUCH THAT JESUS PROVED THAT HE WAS GOD BY THE MIRACLE HE PERFORMED, BUT RATHER, THAT HE WAS WILLING TO GIVE UP HIS OWN LIFE SO THAT LAZARUS COULD LIVE. AND THE IMPLICATION IS THAT JESUS' LOVE IS SUCH THAT HE WILLINGLY TRADES HIS OWN LIFE FOR YOURS, FOR MINE, FOR ANY WHO ARE HIS FRIENDS, WHO STAND CONDEMNED TO DIE AS WE ALL DO.
LAZARUS WAS LIKE YOU AND I, HE WAS PROBABLY A GOOD, ORDINARY PERSON, TOOK CARE OF HIS SISTERS, PROBABLY WORKED WITH HIS HANDS AS MOST DID IN THOSE DAYS. BUT LIKE YOU AND I HE WAS NOT ALWAYS FAITHFUL, HE NEVER GOT THROUGH A DAY WITHOUT DOING SOMETHING OR FAILING TO DO SOMETHING WHICH IF HE THOUGHT ABOUT IT, HE WOULD REGRET. AS THE YEARS WENT BY HE CONTINUED TO FAIL IN LIVING A LIFE THAT WAS COMPLETELY PLEASING TO GOD. LITTLE THINGS, LITTLE SINS, BUT SINS AGAINST AN INFINITELY GOOD GOD. AND LAZARUS WAS LIKE YOU AND I, TRYING TO STAY OUT OF TROUBLE, GETTING UP EACH MORNING AND RESOLVING TO DO BETTER, AND GOING TO BED AT NIGHT HOPING FOR FORGIVENESS FOR HIS FAILURE TO DO SO. AND LAZARUS, LIKE YOU AND I, HAD NO CLAIM ON ETERNAL LIFE, OR EVEN TEMPORAL LIFE; NOTHING WE HAVE, NOTHING WE COULD HAVE, IS OUR OWN, IT IS ALL A GIFT THAT WE DON'T DESERVE.
AND JESUS TRADES HIS LIFE FOR LAZARUS; HE TRADES HIS LIFE FOR YOURS AND MINE.
WHEN PEOPLE SEE ME IN MY COFFIN, WHICH WILL BE SOMETIME BETWEEN NOW AND ABOUT 20 YEARS FROM NOW, I DON'T CARE IF THEY SAY THAT I WAS SUCCESSFUL, OR THAT I WAS KIND AND GENEROUS, OR AS MY WIFE WOULD PROBABLY SAY, THAT I WAS AN OLD GROUCH. I DO HOPE PEOPLE WILL SAY THAT I WAS A FRIEND OF JESUS. BECAUSE WHEN I AM HELPLESS, WHEN I HAVE LOST THE BREATH OF LIFE, WHEN I CAN NO LONGER MOVE OR SEE OR HEAR OR TOUCH, I PRAY THAT I WILL HEAR A VOICE SAYING, “DONALD, COME OUT OF THERE!” AND I WILL GET TO MY FEET AND GO TO MEET MY BEST FRIEND, WHO HAS ALREADY TRADED HIS LIFE FOR MINE.
AND PERHAPS THAT IS WHAT WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT THIS FIFTH WEEK IN LENT. IF WE ARE FRIENDS OF JESUS, THE GRAVE IS NOT A PROBLEM. IF WE ARE FRIENDS OF JESUS, WE CAN BE CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL HEAR HIS COMMAND TO “COME OUT OF THERE”. IN THE STORY OF THE RAISING OF LAZARUS, WE ARE ASSURED THAT JESUS KEEPS THE PROMISE THAT GOD MADE TO EZECHIEL SO LONG AGO: “I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT INTO YOU THAT YOU MAY LIVE...I HAVE PROMISED, AND I WILL DO IT”.
THREE MEN WERE DISCUSSING WHAT THEY WANTED TO BE REMEMBERED FOR. ONE SAID, “WHEN PEOPLE LOOK DOWN ON ME IN MY COFFIN, I WANT THEM TO SAY WHAT A SUCCESSFUL PERSON I WAS.” THE SECOND SAID, “WHEN THEY LOOK DOWN ON ME IN MY COFFIN, I WANT THEM TO SAY HOW KIND AND GENEROUS I WAS.” THE THIRD THOUGHT A MINUTE AND SAID, “WHEN THEY LOOK DOWN ON ME IN MY COFFIN, I WANT THEM TO SAY, HEY, ISN'T HIS LEG MOVING?” SO WHAT DO YOU WANT THEM TO SAY WHEN THEY LOOK DOWN INTO YOUR COFFIN?
TODAY WE HEARD THE STORY OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR MIRACLE JESUS WORKED. JOHN MAKES SURE HIS READERS KNOW HOW INCREDIBLE THIS WAS. JESUS DOES NOT ARRIVE UNTIL FOUR DAYS AFTER LAZARUS HAD DIED. IT WAS COMMONLY BELIEVED THAT THE SOUL STAYED IN THE AREA OF THE BODY FOR THREE DAYS, BUT AFTER THAT, WENT TO “SHEOL” WHERE, AT LEAST AMONG THE JEWS, IT WAS THOUGHT THAT THE SOUL AWAITED THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD. ONCE YOU WERE IN SHEOL, THERE WAS NO RETURN. THE SECOND POINT, IF WE DIDN'T GET THE FIRST, IS THAT MARTHA MAKES HER COMMENT, “LORD, IT HAS BEEN FOUR DAYS NOW, SURELY THERE WILL BE A STENCH!” OR, AS SHE SAYS IN THE OLD BIBLE I GREW UP WITH, “LORD, BY THIS TIME HE STINKETH,” RESURRECTING A DECAYING CORPSE WHEN THE SOUL IS IMPRISONED IN SHEOL IS BEYOND THE CAPACITY OF ANY GREAT MAGICIAN OR PROPHET OR HOLY MAN. NO ONE BUT GOD COULD DO WHAT WAS DONE THIS DAY.
BUT, SPECTACULAR AS THIS MIRACLE IS, WE ARE UNFORTUNATE IN THAT WE DON'T SEE THE LARGER PICTURE FROM HEARING JUST THIS SEGMENT OF THE GOSPEL. HERE ARE SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER.
FIRST, JESUS HAD BEEN LIVING AND TEACHING IN GALILEE. IT WAS ABOUT AS FAR FROM JERUSALEM AS WORCESTER IS FROM SPRINGFIELD. WHICH IS A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE IF YOU HAVE TO WALK. HE WAS RELATIVELY SAFE THERE; HE WAS BEYOND THE REACH OF THE PEOPLE IN JERUSALEM WHO HATED HIM. JESUS AND HIS APOSTLES ALL APPRECIATED HOW DANGEROUS IT WOULD BE TO GO DOWN TO JERUSALEM. THAT IS WHY WE HEAR THOMAS SAYING “LET US GO DOWN AND DIE WITH HIM.” THE LITTLE TOWN OF BETHANY WHERE THE MIRACLE TAKES PLACE WAS ONLY TWO MILES FROM THE CITY OF JERUSALEM. IN ORDER TO RAISE LAZARUS FROM THE DEAD, JESUS PUT HIS OWN LIFE IN DANGER; IN FACT, GIVEN THAT HE WAS GOD AS WELL AS MAN, HE KNEW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF HE TRAVELED TO JERUSALEM.
SECOND, IF WE WERE TO READ FURTHER, WE WOULD SEE THAT NOT ONLY DID JESUS PUT HIS OWN LIFE IN DANGER BY COMING SO CLOSE TO JERUSALEM, BUT BY RAISING LAZARUS IN THIS BIG PUBLIC EVENT, HE GREATLY ANGERED THE AUTHORITIES. IF THERE HAD BEEN ANY PHARISEES OR MEMBERS OF THE PRIESTLY CLASS WHO HAD BEEN SITTING ON THE FENCE, WHEN HE RAISED LAZARUS, AND MANY CAME TO BELIEVE IN HIM, THEY NO LONGER DID SO. THEY WERE ALL VERY CLEAR ON THE IDEA THAT JESUS HAD TO DIE, OR THEY MIGHT VERY WELL LOSE THEIR POWER OVER THE PEOPLE. OF COURSE THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT ROME MIGHT DO, AND TO BE FAIR, MANY THOUGHT THAT JESUS WAS LEADING THE PEOPLE INTO HERESY. TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE, IN FACT, WE HEAR THAT THE ENEMIES OF JESUS PLOTTED TO KILL LAZARUS AS WELL, SINCE HE WAS LIVING PROOF OF JESUS' POWER.
AND THEN, AFTER THESE EVENTS, JESUS ENTERS THE CITY OF JERUSALEM IN STYLE, RIDING ON A DONKEY, BEING JOYOUSLY GREETED BY THE PEOPLE, AND THEN GOING ON TO STAND JUDGMENT, BE CRUCIFIED, AND DIE.
THE POINT, OF COURSE, IS NOT SO MUCH THAT JESUS PROVED THAT HE WAS GOD BY THE MIRACLE HE PERFORMED, BUT RATHER, THAT HE WAS WILLING TO GIVE UP HIS OWN LIFE SO THAT LAZARUS COULD LIVE. AND THE IMPLICATION IS THAT JESUS' LOVE IS SUCH THAT HE WILLINGLY TRADES HIS OWN LIFE FOR YOURS, FOR MINE, FOR ANY WHO ARE HIS FRIENDS, WHO STAND CONDEMNED TO DIE AS WE ALL DO.
LAZARUS WAS LIKE YOU AND I, HE WAS PROBABLY A GOOD, ORDINARY PERSON, TOOK CARE OF HIS SISTERS, PROBABLY WORKED WITH HIS HANDS AS MOST DID IN THOSE DAYS. BUT LIKE YOU AND I HE WAS NOT ALWAYS FAITHFUL, HE NEVER GOT THROUGH A DAY WITHOUT DOING SOMETHING OR FAILING TO DO SOMETHING WHICH IF HE THOUGHT ABOUT IT, HE WOULD REGRET. AS THE YEARS WENT BY HE CONTINUED TO FAIL IN LIVING A LIFE THAT WAS COMPLETELY PLEASING TO GOD. LITTLE THINGS, LITTLE SINS, BUT SINS AGAINST AN INFINITELY GOOD GOD. AND LAZARUS WAS LIKE YOU AND I, TRYING TO STAY OUT OF TROUBLE, GETTING UP EACH MORNING AND RESOLVING TO DO BETTER, AND GOING TO BED AT NIGHT HOPING FOR FORGIVENESS FOR HIS FAILURE TO DO SO. AND LAZARUS, LIKE YOU AND I, HAD NO CLAIM ON ETERNAL LIFE, OR EVEN TEMPORAL LIFE; NOTHING WE HAVE, NOTHING WE COULD HAVE, IS OUR OWN, IT IS ALL A GIFT THAT WE DON'T DESERVE.
AND JESUS TRADES HIS LIFE FOR LAZARUS; HE TRADES HIS LIFE FOR YOURS AND MINE.
WHEN PEOPLE SEE ME IN MY COFFIN, WHICH WILL BE SOMETIME BETWEEN NOW AND ABOUT 20 YEARS FROM NOW, I DON'T CARE IF THEY SAY THAT I WAS SUCCESSFUL, OR THAT I WAS KIND AND GENEROUS, OR AS MY WIFE WOULD PROBABLY SAY, THAT I WAS AN OLD GROUCH. I DO HOPE PEOPLE WILL SAY THAT I WAS A FRIEND OF JESUS. BECAUSE WHEN I AM HELPLESS, WHEN I HAVE LOST THE BREATH OF LIFE, WHEN I CAN NO LONGER MOVE OR SEE OR HEAR OR TOUCH, I PRAY THAT I WILL HEAR A VOICE SAYING, “DONALD, COME OUT OF THERE!” AND I WILL GET TO MY FEET AND GO TO MEET MY BEST FRIEND, WHO HAS ALREADY TRADED HIS LIFE FOR MINE.
AND PERHAPS THAT IS WHAT WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT THIS FIFTH WEEK IN LENT. IF WE ARE FRIENDS OF JESUS, THE GRAVE IS NOT A PROBLEM. IF WE ARE FRIENDS OF JESUS, WE CAN BE CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL HEAR HIS COMMAND TO “COME OUT OF THERE”. IN THE STORY OF THE RAISING OF LAZARUS, WE ARE ASSURED THAT JESUS KEEPS THE PROMISE THAT GOD MADE TO EZECHIEL SO LONG AGO: “I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT INTO YOU THAT YOU MAY LIVE...I HAVE PROMISED, AND I WILL DO IT”.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Fourth Sunday of Lent, cycle A
JOHN 9:1-41
THE MORE YOU STUDY THE GOSPELS, THE MORE INTERESTING THEY ARE. JOHN PUTS TOGETHER HIS STORIES OF JESUS SO THAT ANYONE WHO READS THEM CAN FIND SOMETHING OF HIMSELF OR HERSELF IN THEM. TODAY'S GOSPEL IS NO EXCEPTION. IT IS A WONDERFUL STUDY ON WHAT PASSES FOR RELIGION, AND WHEN YOU GO THROUGH IT AND MEET THE PEOPLE WHO REACT TO THE BLIND MAN, YOU CAN'T HELP BUT SEE SOMETHING OF YOURSELF SOMEWHERE.
FIRST, WE MEET THE APOSTLES. THEY SEE THE BLIND MAN, AND IMMEDIATELY ASK JESUS WHAT THIS MEANS? THEY ARE THEOLOGIANS. THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN THE PROBLEMS OF THE WORLD TO THE PEOPLE TO WHOM THEY WILL BE SENT. THAT'S A GOOD THING OF COURSE. BUT TO THEM, THE BLIND MAN IS SOMETHING TO BE STUDIED AND EXPLAINED, NO MORE. “WAS IT HIS SIN OR THAT OF HIS PARENTS THAT CAUSED HIM TO BE BORN BLIND?” THERE ARE PEOPLE IN OUR CHURCH WHO ARE VERY GOOD AT EXPLAINING WHAT THE CHURCH TEACHES, RELATING CHURCH DOCTRINE TO THE BIBLE; IN FACT, THERE IS A WHOLE INDUSTRY OUT THERE THAT DOES APOLOGETICS. YOU CAN HIRE PROFESSIONAL APOLOGISTS WHO WILL COME TO YOUR PARISH; IN SOME PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, THESE PROFESSIONAL APOLOGISTS INVITE PROTESTANT COUNTERPARTS TO DEBATE WITH THEM. THERE ARE MAGAZINES LIKE “THIS ROCK” THAT ARE VERY WELL DONE.
BUT THEOLOGY AND APOLOGETICS, IMPORTANT AS THEY ARE, DO NOT REPRESENT THE ESSENCE OF FOLLOWING CHRIST. I HAVE ONLY TO REMEMBER THOSE LONG EVENINGS IN COLLEGE WHEN WE WOULD GO OUT AND DRINK BEER AND TALK ABOUT RELIGION, AND THAT WOULD MAKE US FEEL HOLY.
THEN WE MEET THE PHARISEES. UPON HEARING ABOUT THE MIRACLE, THEIR REACTION IS NOT TO PRAISE AND THANK GOD, BUT TO IMMEDIATELY POINT OUT THAT SINCE JESUS DID THIS ON THE SABBATH, IT CAN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH GOD. THEY ARE THE RULE-FOLLOWERS. NOW RULES ARE VERY IMPORTANT, AND IN OUR CHURCH, WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF PROBLEMS BECAUSE CATHOLICS, LAY AND CLERICAL ALIKE, DECIDE THAT THEY AREN'T GOING TO FOLLOW THE RULES. CATHOLICS IGNORE THE CHURCH'S TEACHING ON ANY NUMBER OF THINGS, FROM CONTRACEPTION TO ABORTION TO THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES AS VOTING CITIZENS. THEY IGNORE THE CHURCH'S TEACHINGS ON PARTICIPATION IN MASS AND THE SACRAMENTS; SOME OF OUR PRIESTS FEEL THAT THEY CAN SPICE UP THE MASS WITH A FEW WELL CHOSEN WORDS OF THEIR OWN, AND SO IT GOES. AND ANYONE WHO CARES ABOUT THE CHURCH CAN SEE THAT IT IS IN TROUBLE. BUT SOME OF US ARE TOO MUCH INTO THE RULES. FOLLOWING THE RULES SOMETIMES CAN CAUSE US TO SIN AGAINST CHARITY. IF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH SOME OF THE VERY RIGHT WING CATHOLIC PAPERS AND WEB SITES, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE OBSESSION WITH RULES CAN HAVE THE EFFECT OF MAKING PEOPLE TURN AWAY FROM THEIR FAITH.
THEN WE MEET THE MAN'S PARENTS. THE PARENTS REFUSE TO TAKE A STAND. “ASK HIM YOURSELF,” THEY SAY, “HE IS OF AGE.” AND JOHN TELLS US THAT THEY FEARED BEING EXPELLED FROM THE SYNAGOGUE. WE CAN ASSUME THEY WERE RELIGIOUS PEOPLE, AND BEING MEMBERS OF THE SYNAGOGUE WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO THEM. BUT THEY PROBABLY THOUGHT THAT RELIGION SHOULD BE A PRIVATE AFFAIR, THAT THE BEST THING AS TO LET EVERYONE DO THEIR OWN THING, AND THE IMPORTANT THING WAS TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR OWN SOUL AND LET EVERYONE ELSE GO THEIR OWN WAY. THE PARENTS ARE THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD NEVER ROCK THE BOAT, WHO WOULD NEVER DELIBERATELY TROUBLE SOMEONE ELSE'S CONSCIENCE. THEY BELIEVED THAT YOU COULD BELIEVE ANYTHING, BECAUSE WHAT WAS IMPORTANT WAS THAT YOU WERE SINCERE.
I LIKE THE NEXT PART. THE MAN BORN BLIND ARGUES WITH THE AUTHORITIES IN THE SYNAGOGUE, MAKING POINTS THAT THEY CANNOT REFUTE; AND THEIR REACTION ULTIMATELY IS TO THROW HIM OUT PHYSICALLY. FOR THEM RELIGION IS A GUARANTEE THAT THEY ARE RIGHT, AND THAT PEOPLE WHO DISAGREE WITH THEM ARE WRONG. SOUNDS A LITTLE LIKE THE TALIBAN, OR SOME PROTESTANT GROUPS, OR INDEED, SOME OF OUR CATHOLIC BROTHERS AND SISTERS. IF YOU DON'T AGREE WITH US, WE'LL SEPARATE FROM YOU AND HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU. AND IF YOU TRY TO REACH ACROSS THAT GAP, WE'LL THROW YOU OUT, WE'LL SEVER ALL TIES. AS LONG AS WE ONLY ASSOCIATE WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE RIGHT 100% OF THE TIME, WE'LL AVOID CONTAMINATION AND BE HOLY.
AND OF COURSE WE MUSTN'T FORGET THE REACTION OF JESUS TO THE EVENT OF THE BLIND MAN. HE HEALS HIM. HE DOESN'T ASK ANY QUESTIONS, DOESN'T GIVE HIM A FAITH TEST, SIMPLY MAKES SOME MUD AND PUTS IT IN HIS EYES AND THE MAN CAN SEE. I CAN'T RESIST POINTING OUT SOMETHING HERE. DO YOU REMEMBER THAT ADAM WAS CREATED BY GOD FROM MUD? JESUS CREATES THE EYES, OR THE EYESIGHT, OF THE MAN BORN BLIND OUT OF MUD. I THINK JOHN WANTS US TO NOTICE THIS.
SO WHAT IS TRUE RELIGION? IS IT THEOLOGY? FOLLOWING THE RULES? BEING QUIET AND AVOIDING CONTROVERSY? SEEING THE WORLD AS AN EVER SMALLER “US” WHO ARE RIGHT, AND “THEM” WHO ARE WRONG? OR IS IT MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE PERSON GOD PUTS IN OUR PATH?
IT IS SAID THAT MOTHER THERESA WAS INVITED TO ADDRESS A GATHERING OF VARIOUS DIGNITARIES AND HEADS OF CHARITABLE AGENCIES IN INDIA, WHO WERE HAVING A CONFERENCE ON HOW TO END HUNGER. AS THEY WERE ALL ENTERING THE LECTURE HALL, THEY STEPPED AROUND A BEGGAR STATIONED NEAR THE FRONT DOOR. MOTHER THERESA AND HER COMPANION COULD NOT DO THAT. THEY HELPED THE BEGGAR TO HIS FEET, AND WALKED WITH HIM, SUPPORTING HIM BECAUSE HE WAS SO WEAK, TO ONE OF THEIR HOSPICES LOCATED NOT TOO FAR AWAY, WHERE THEY SAW THAT HE WAS FED AND CLEANED UP, AND GIVEN SOME CLOTHING. AND WHEN THEY GOT BACK TO THE LECTURE HALL, IT WAS TOO LATE. MOTHER THERESA NEVER HAD A CHANCE TO TELL ALL THOSE PEOPLE HOW TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF HUNGER.
SO TODAY ON THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT, WISE OLD JOHN THE EVANGELIST INVITES US TO LOOK INTO HIS GOSPEL STORY, AND SEE OURSELVES. WHAT DOES RELIGION MEAN TO US? AND PLEASE, REALLY LOOK AT YOURSELVES HONESTLY. BECAUSE ALL THESE PEOPLE WHOM WE MEET IN THIS STORY OF THE BLIND MAN ARE YOU AND I.
THE MORE YOU STUDY THE GOSPELS, THE MORE INTERESTING THEY ARE. JOHN PUTS TOGETHER HIS STORIES OF JESUS SO THAT ANYONE WHO READS THEM CAN FIND SOMETHING OF HIMSELF OR HERSELF IN THEM. TODAY'S GOSPEL IS NO EXCEPTION. IT IS A WONDERFUL STUDY ON WHAT PASSES FOR RELIGION, AND WHEN YOU GO THROUGH IT AND MEET THE PEOPLE WHO REACT TO THE BLIND MAN, YOU CAN'T HELP BUT SEE SOMETHING OF YOURSELF SOMEWHERE.
FIRST, WE MEET THE APOSTLES. THEY SEE THE BLIND MAN, AND IMMEDIATELY ASK JESUS WHAT THIS MEANS? THEY ARE THEOLOGIANS. THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN THE PROBLEMS OF THE WORLD TO THE PEOPLE TO WHOM THEY WILL BE SENT. THAT'S A GOOD THING OF COURSE. BUT TO THEM, THE BLIND MAN IS SOMETHING TO BE STUDIED AND EXPLAINED, NO MORE. “WAS IT HIS SIN OR THAT OF HIS PARENTS THAT CAUSED HIM TO BE BORN BLIND?” THERE ARE PEOPLE IN OUR CHURCH WHO ARE VERY GOOD AT EXPLAINING WHAT THE CHURCH TEACHES, RELATING CHURCH DOCTRINE TO THE BIBLE; IN FACT, THERE IS A WHOLE INDUSTRY OUT THERE THAT DOES APOLOGETICS. YOU CAN HIRE PROFESSIONAL APOLOGISTS WHO WILL COME TO YOUR PARISH; IN SOME PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, THESE PROFESSIONAL APOLOGISTS INVITE PROTESTANT COUNTERPARTS TO DEBATE WITH THEM. THERE ARE MAGAZINES LIKE “THIS ROCK” THAT ARE VERY WELL DONE.
BUT THEOLOGY AND APOLOGETICS, IMPORTANT AS THEY ARE, DO NOT REPRESENT THE ESSENCE OF FOLLOWING CHRIST. I HAVE ONLY TO REMEMBER THOSE LONG EVENINGS IN COLLEGE WHEN WE WOULD GO OUT AND DRINK BEER AND TALK ABOUT RELIGION, AND THAT WOULD MAKE US FEEL HOLY.
THEN WE MEET THE PHARISEES. UPON HEARING ABOUT THE MIRACLE, THEIR REACTION IS NOT TO PRAISE AND THANK GOD, BUT TO IMMEDIATELY POINT OUT THAT SINCE JESUS DID THIS ON THE SABBATH, IT CAN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH GOD. THEY ARE THE RULE-FOLLOWERS. NOW RULES ARE VERY IMPORTANT, AND IN OUR CHURCH, WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF PROBLEMS BECAUSE CATHOLICS, LAY AND CLERICAL ALIKE, DECIDE THAT THEY AREN'T GOING TO FOLLOW THE RULES. CATHOLICS IGNORE THE CHURCH'S TEACHING ON ANY NUMBER OF THINGS, FROM CONTRACEPTION TO ABORTION TO THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES AS VOTING CITIZENS. THEY IGNORE THE CHURCH'S TEACHINGS ON PARTICIPATION IN MASS AND THE SACRAMENTS; SOME OF OUR PRIESTS FEEL THAT THEY CAN SPICE UP THE MASS WITH A FEW WELL CHOSEN WORDS OF THEIR OWN, AND SO IT GOES. AND ANYONE WHO CARES ABOUT THE CHURCH CAN SEE THAT IT IS IN TROUBLE. BUT SOME OF US ARE TOO MUCH INTO THE RULES. FOLLOWING THE RULES SOMETIMES CAN CAUSE US TO SIN AGAINST CHARITY. IF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH SOME OF THE VERY RIGHT WING CATHOLIC PAPERS AND WEB SITES, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE OBSESSION WITH RULES CAN HAVE THE EFFECT OF MAKING PEOPLE TURN AWAY FROM THEIR FAITH.
THEN WE MEET THE MAN'S PARENTS. THE PARENTS REFUSE TO TAKE A STAND. “ASK HIM YOURSELF,” THEY SAY, “HE IS OF AGE.” AND JOHN TELLS US THAT THEY FEARED BEING EXPELLED FROM THE SYNAGOGUE. WE CAN ASSUME THEY WERE RELIGIOUS PEOPLE, AND BEING MEMBERS OF THE SYNAGOGUE WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO THEM. BUT THEY PROBABLY THOUGHT THAT RELIGION SHOULD BE A PRIVATE AFFAIR, THAT THE BEST THING AS TO LET EVERYONE DO THEIR OWN THING, AND THE IMPORTANT THING WAS TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR OWN SOUL AND LET EVERYONE ELSE GO THEIR OWN WAY. THE PARENTS ARE THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD NEVER ROCK THE BOAT, WHO WOULD NEVER DELIBERATELY TROUBLE SOMEONE ELSE'S CONSCIENCE. THEY BELIEVED THAT YOU COULD BELIEVE ANYTHING, BECAUSE WHAT WAS IMPORTANT WAS THAT YOU WERE SINCERE.
I LIKE THE NEXT PART. THE MAN BORN BLIND ARGUES WITH THE AUTHORITIES IN THE SYNAGOGUE, MAKING POINTS THAT THEY CANNOT REFUTE; AND THEIR REACTION ULTIMATELY IS TO THROW HIM OUT PHYSICALLY. FOR THEM RELIGION IS A GUARANTEE THAT THEY ARE RIGHT, AND THAT PEOPLE WHO DISAGREE WITH THEM ARE WRONG. SOUNDS A LITTLE LIKE THE TALIBAN, OR SOME PROTESTANT GROUPS, OR INDEED, SOME OF OUR CATHOLIC BROTHERS AND SISTERS. IF YOU DON'T AGREE WITH US, WE'LL SEPARATE FROM YOU AND HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU. AND IF YOU TRY TO REACH ACROSS THAT GAP, WE'LL THROW YOU OUT, WE'LL SEVER ALL TIES. AS LONG AS WE ONLY ASSOCIATE WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE RIGHT 100% OF THE TIME, WE'LL AVOID CONTAMINATION AND BE HOLY.
AND OF COURSE WE MUSTN'T FORGET THE REACTION OF JESUS TO THE EVENT OF THE BLIND MAN. HE HEALS HIM. HE DOESN'T ASK ANY QUESTIONS, DOESN'T GIVE HIM A FAITH TEST, SIMPLY MAKES SOME MUD AND PUTS IT IN HIS EYES AND THE MAN CAN SEE. I CAN'T RESIST POINTING OUT SOMETHING HERE. DO YOU REMEMBER THAT ADAM WAS CREATED BY GOD FROM MUD? JESUS CREATES THE EYES, OR THE EYESIGHT, OF THE MAN BORN BLIND OUT OF MUD. I THINK JOHN WANTS US TO NOTICE THIS.
SO WHAT IS TRUE RELIGION? IS IT THEOLOGY? FOLLOWING THE RULES? BEING QUIET AND AVOIDING CONTROVERSY? SEEING THE WORLD AS AN EVER SMALLER “US” WHO ARE RIGHT, AND “THEM” WHO ARE WRONG? OR IS IT MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE PERSON GOD PUTS IN OUR PATH?
IT IS SAID THAT MOTHER THERESA WAS INVITED TO ADDRESS A GATHERING OF VARIOUS DIGNITARIES AND HEADS OF CHARITABLE AGENCIES IN INDIA, WHO WERE HAVING A CONFERENCE ON HOW TO END HUNGER. AS THEY WERE ALL ENTERING THE LECTURE HALL, THEY STEPPED AROUND A BEGGAR STATIONED NEAR THE FRONT DOOR. MOTHER THERESA AND HER COMPANION COULD NOT DO THAT. THEY HELPED THE BEGGAR TO HIS FEET, AND WALKED WITH HIM, SUPPORTING HIM BECAUSE HE WAS SO WEAK, TO ONE OF THEIR HOSPICES LOCATED NOT TOO FAR AWAY, WHERE THEY SAW THAT HE WAS FED AND CLEANED UP, AND GIVEN SOME CLOTHING. AND WHEN THEY GOT BACK TO THE LECTURE HALL, IT WAS TOO LATE. MOTHER THERESA NEVER HAD A CHANCE TO TELL ALL THOSE PEOPLE HOW TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF HUNGER.
SO TODAY ON THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT, WISE OLD JOHN THE EVANGELIST INVITES US TO LOOK INTO HIS GOSPEL STORY, AND SEE OURSELVES. WHAT DOES RELIGION MEAN TO US? AND PLEASE, REALLY LOOK AT YOURSELVES HONESTLY. BECAUSE ALL THESE PEOPLE WHOM WE MEET IN THIS STORY OF THE BLIND MAN ARE YOU AND I.
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