Baptism of the Lord, 2013

LUKE 3:15-16, 21-22

A PRIEST WAS INTERVIEWING A YOUNG FATHER. “ARE YOU AND YOUR WIFE PREPARED TO HAVE YOUR CHILD BAPTIZED?” HE ASKED. “YES, FATHER,” REPLIED THE MAN. “MY WIFE HAS COOKIES AND CAKES AND SANDWICHES ALL READY TO GO.” “I MEANT SPIRITUALLY,” REPLIED THE PRIEST. “OH, YES,” SAID THE NEW DAD. “I'VE GOT A KEG OF BEER AND A CASE OF BOURBON.”

TODAY WHEN WE CELEBRATE THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD, IT'S A GOOD TIME TO REFLECT ON OUR OWN BAPTISM. WE DO A LOT OF BAPTISMS HERE IN ST. MARY'S, AND DESPITE EVERYTHING WE DO TO PREPARE OUR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES FOR BAPTISM, THE SAD TRUTH IS THAT ONCE THE CEREMONY IS OVER, ONCE THE PARTY IS OVER, A LOT OF THEM NEVER SEEM TO SHOW UP IN CHURCH AFTERWARD. DOES BAPTISM ACTUALLY MATTER? AFTER ALL, WE ALL KNOW GOOD PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T BEEN BAPTIZED, AND BAD PEOPLE WHO HAVE. SOME OF US REMEMBER THE OLD CATECHISM ANSWER – BAPTISM REMOVES ORIGINAL SIN – BUT UNFORTUNATELY, NOT THE CONSEQUENCES OF ORIGINAL SIN, SO WE ARE STILL SUBJECT TO DEATH AND SICKNESS, AND WE STILL HAVE A TENDENCY TO COMMIT PERSONAL SINS. BAPTISM ALSO BRINGS US INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST AND MAKES US PART OF THE COMMUNITY WE CALL THE CHURCH.

IN TODAY'S GOSPEL, THOUGH, WE WITNESS THE BAPTISM OF JESUS. UP TILL NOW, REMEMBER, JESUS HASN'T DONE ANYTHING – ANYTHING UNUSUAL, I MEAN. HE'S BEEN A CARPENTER. HE PROBABLY SPENT SOME TIME AS A FOLLOWER OF JOHN, HIS COUSIN. BUT THE POINT IS, HE'S BEEN PRETTY ORDINARY. SO MUCH SO THAT WHEN HE DID START HIS PUBLIC MINISTRY, THE PEOPLE WHO KNEW HIM ASKED, “IS THIS NOT THE SON OF THE CARPENTER?” AND THEY ASKED, “CAN ANYTHING GOOD COME OUT OF NAZARETH?” AND WE ARE TOLD THAT HE COULD NOT WORK MANY MIRACLES IN HIS HOME TOWN, BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF FAITH.

BUT AN AMAZING THING HAPPENED AT JESUS' BAPTISM. THE FATHER PROCLAIMS THAT JESUS IS HIS BELOVED SON. JESUS HAS DONE NOTHING; THE INITIATIVE IS THAT OF GOD THE FATHER.

A FEW YEARS AGO THERE WAS A WONDERFUL MOVIE CALLED “AS GOOD AS IT GETS”. JACK NICHOLSON WAS A RECLUSIVE WRITER WITH OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER. EVERY DAY HIS ROUTINE HAD TO BE JUST SO. EVERY DAY HE HAS BREAKFAST AT THE SAME TABLE IN THE SAME RESTAURANT, AND IS SERVED BY THE SAME WAITRESS. ONE DAY SHE DOESN'T SHOW UP BECAUSE SHE HAS TO TEND TO HER SICK SON. THE WRITER GOES OUT OF HIS WAY TO FIND HER, INITIALLY SO THAT HE CAN GET BACK TO HIS ROUTINE, BUT FINALLY HE FALLS IN LOVE. HE GRADUALLY OVERCOMES MANY OF HIS HANG-UPS, AND AT ONE POINT HE SAYS TO HER, “YOU MAKE ME WANT TO BE A BETTER MAN.”

IN THE BAPTISM OF JESUS, THE FATHER REACHES OUT TO HIM IN LOVE, CLAIMS HIM, AND BLESSES HIM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. AND WE KNOW THE REST OF THAT STORY. JESUS PROCEEDS TO GIVE HIMSELF ENTIRELY TO THE FATHER, EVEN TO THE POINT OF SUFFERING AND DYING ON THE CROSS. FROM A DIVINE STANDPOINT, JESUS IS GOD, OF COURSE; BUT FROM A HUMAN STANDPOINT, THE FREELY GIVEN LOVE OF THE FATHER MADE JESUS WANT TO BE A BETTER MAN.

WHEN WE GO THROUGH OUR OWN BAPTISMS, WE DON'T BRING ANYTHING TO THE TABLE. IT IS ALWAYS GOD WHO REACHES OUT TO US, WHO CLAIMS US, AND GIVES US HIS HOLY SPIRIT. LIKE THE FATHER IN THE STORY OF THE PRODIGAL SON, HE THEN WAITS FOR US TO RESPOND TO HIS LOVE.

BAPTISM IS FIRST OF ALL, ABOUT IDENTITY. IN OUR OWN BAPTISM, GOD IDENTIFIES US; I AM HIS BELOVED CHILD. CERTAINLY NOT BECAUSE I DESERVE IT. BUT IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE LITTLE BABIES THAT COME TO BE BAPTIZED. THEY CRY, THEY WAKE THEIR PARENTS UP AT NIGHT, DIAPERS NEED TO BE CHANGED, NOSES NEED TO BE WIPED – HARDLY A DAY GOES BY THAT THEY DON'T DO SOMETHING THAT WORRIES MOM AND DAD. BUT THE BABY IS STILL THE BELOVED CHILD OF HIS PARENTS. THE PARENTS LOVE IS FREELY GIVEN, AND THE BABY DOESN'T DESERVE IT.

SECOND, BAPTISM IS A RELATIONSHIP WHICH WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT, BECAUSE IT IS INITIATED BY GOD. I WAS READING AN ARTICLE THE OTHER DAY ABOUT “UNBAPTISM” CEREMONIES, USUALLY OCCURRING ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES BY KIDS WHO THINK THERE IS SOMETHING BOLD AND BRAVE ABOUT RENOUNCING CHRISTIANITY. BUT THEY CAN'T CHANGE THE RELATIONSHIP; GOD STILL LOVES THEM; FOR GOD, HE OR SHE IS STILL THE BELOVED CHILD. OH, SURE, WE CAN NEGLECT THE RELATIONSHIP, WE CAN RUN FROM IT, WE CAN IGNORE IT; BUT WE CAN'T DESTROY IT; ONCE GOD CLAIMS YOU AND I, HE IS NEVER GOING TO LET US GO.

BUT WHAT IS REALLY WONDERFUL IS THAT AS WE REFLECT ON THE RELATIONSHIP, WE BEGIN TO SEE HOW MUCH GOD LOVES US, HOW MUCH HE GIVES US. AND IF WE HAVE A SPARK OF DECENCY IN OUR HEARTS, WE SHOULD FIND OURSELVES WANTING TO BE BETTER MEN, BETTER WOMEN. BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT REAL LOVE DOES, IT PULLS US OUT OF OURSELVES, IT MAKES US TAKE STOCK, AND IT SHOWS US A BETTER WAY TO BE.

BAPTISM ISN'T JUST A ONE-TIME EVENT. IT CHANGES US, AND PUTS US INTO A RELATIONSHIP THAT NEVER ENDS. EVERY TIME WE COME IN TO CHURCH WE DIP OUR FINGERS IN HOLY WATER AND SIGN OURSELVES WITH THE CROSS. THAT IS A REMINDER OF OUR BAPTISM. ON SOME SUNDAYS AND HOLY DAYS, WATER IS SPRINKLED ON THE CONGREGATION; THAT IS A REMINDER OF BAPTISM.

BUT I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT YOUR DAILY ROUTINE. WATER IS EVERYWHERE. IF YOU ARE LIKE ME, YOU GET UP IN THE MORNING AND TAKE A SHOWER. YOU BRUSH YOUR TEETH, YOU MIGHT WASH YOUR HANDS AS FEW TIMES A DAY, BEFORE MEALS. YOU RUN THE WATER IN THE SINK AS YOU CLEAN UP DISHES. SOME OF YOU MIGHT BATHE A SMALL CHILD, OR HELP BATHE AN ELDERLY PARENT. SOME OF YOU MIGHT HAVE TO DO LAUNDRY. THE NEXT TIME YOU USE WATER, AND IN FACT EVERY TIME YOU USE WATER, SAY TO YOURSELF, “I AM GOD'S BELOVED CHILD”. SAY IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN. LET WATER REMIND YOU OF THIS FACT. EVENTUALLY, IT WILL SINK IN – AND IT CAN'T HELP BUT MAKE YOU JOYFUL. IT CAN'T HELP BUT MAKE YOU WANT TO BE A BETTER PERSON.

THAT'S WHAT BAPTISM IS ABOUT.

Epiphany, 2013

MATTHEW 2:1-12

YOU WILL NOTICE THAT IN THE GOSPEL READING WE HEAR ABOUT WISE MEN WHO CAME FROM THE EAST. SO WHERE DID WE GET THE IDEA THAT THERE WERE THREE OF THEM AND THAT THEY WERE KINGS? AFTER ALL, EVERY CHRISTMAS WE SING “WE THREE KINGS OF ORIENT ARE...” SINCE I WAS A BOY, THE NEXT LINE IS EITHER “BEARING GIFTS WE TRAVEL AFAR” OR “TRIED TO SMOKE A RUBBER CIGAR”. BUT THE FACTS ARE CLEAR. WE REFER TO THEM AS KINGS BECAUSE OF THE PSALM WE HEARD, WHERE IT SAYS THAT “ALL KINGS SHALL PAY HIM HOMAGE”. BUT WE AUTOMATICALLY THINK THERE WERE THREE BECAUSE OF THE THREE GIFTS. AFTER ALL, IF THERE WERE MANY MAGI AND ONE OF THEM BROUGHT ALL THREE GIFTS, WE JUST DON'T SEE THAT AS NORMAL. ONE GIFT, ONE KING. THAT MAKES SENSE TO US.

IN THE FIRST READING, BY THE WAY, WE HEAR ABOUT CAMELS AND DROMEDARIES BEARING GIFTS OF GOLD AND FRANKINCENSE. CLEARLY MATTHEW KNEW ABOUT THIS PASSAGE FROM THE PROPHET ISAIAH – IN HIS GOSPEL MATTHEW OFTEN SHOWS THAT HE KNOWS ISAIAH'S PROPHECY. IN FACT, IT IS SO FULL OF PREDICTIONS ABOUT JESUS THAT IT HAS BEEN CALLED THE “FIFTH GOSPEL”. BUT MATTHEW REPORTS THAT IN ADDITION TO GOLD AND FRANKINCENSE, THEY BRING MYRRH. GOLD MAKES SENSE; THAT'S A GIFT FOR A KING. FRANKINCENSE MAKES SENSE, THAT'S A GIFT FOR A HIGH PRIEST. BUT MYRRH? THAT'S LIKE GIVING A NEWBORN BABY A JAR OF EMBALMING FLUID. BUT FOR MATTHEW IT MADE PERFECT SENSE, BECAUSE HE KNEW THAT JESUS WOULD BE KING AND HIGH PRIEST, BUT THROUGH SUFFERING AND DEATH. SO MYRRH IS A SYMBOL OF THAT.

BUT BACK TO THE THREE KINGS, AND THE THREE GIFTS. EACH KING HAS A DIFFERENT GIFT. YOU AND I, AND EVERY MEMBER OF SAINT MARY'S PARISH, HAS A UNIQUE GIFT. WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN GIVE AWAY, SOMETHING THAT THE CHURCH NEEDS (AND BY THE CHURCH WE OF COURSE MEAN THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH – ?CHURCH, AFTER ALL, MEANS “ASSEMBLY”). AND IN FACT WITHOUT OUR GIFT, THE CHURCH CANNOT THRIVE, IT CAN'T REACH IT'S FULL POTENTIAL. NO MATTER HOW SMALL WE THINK OUR GIFT IS, IT'S NECESSARY.

YOU WILL ALSO NOTICE THAT IN ORDER TO HONOR JESUS' ROLE AS KING AND HIGH PRIEST, AND THE ONE WHO SUFFERS AND DIES, THE THREE GIFTS ARE NECESSARY. ONE WOULD NOT EXPRESS THE WHOLE STORY. SO EACH KING BRINGS A GIFT, BUT NO KING IS ABLE TO BRING ALL THE GIFTS; HE SIMPLY DOESN'T HAVE THEM TO GIVE. WHETHER YOUR GIFT IS SOMETHING SPECTACULAR, MAYBE FOUNDING A RELIGIOUS ORDER LIKE MOTHER THERESA, OR SOMETHING NOT SO FLASHY, LIKE FIXING A MEAL FOR SOMEONE GOING THROUGH A CRISIS, ONE GIFT DOES NOT OVERSHADOW ANOTHER. AND EVERY GIFT ORIGINALLY COMES FROM GOD ANYWAY.

FINALLY, THE THREE KINGS MADE A LONG AND DIFFICULT JOURNEY TO LAY THEIR GIFTS AT THE FEET OF JESUS. ONE OF THE TRAGEDIES OF OUR MODERN CHURCH IS THAT WE DON'T MAKE THE EFFORT TO BRING OUR GIFT TO WHERE IT IS NEEDED. THERE ARE SOME REASONS FOR THIS, OF COURSE; WE CAN ALWAYS FALL BACK ON BEING TOO BUSY. BUT REALLY, ONE OF THE REASONS IS THAT WE DON'T MAKE THE EFFORT TO KNOW OUR GIFTS. SOMETIMES WE DON'T SEE OUR GIFT, OR WE DON'T VALUE IT AS MUCH AS IT SHOULD BE VALUED – AND THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THAT WE AREN'T HELPING EACH OTHER DISCOVER OUR GIFTS. THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE AN IMPORTANT PART OF PARISH LIFE – AS WE GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER IN THE SERVICES WE DO, THE OPPORTUNITIES TO SOCIALIZE, AND OUR MEETING TOGETHER FOR LITURGY EVERY WEEK, WE ARE SUPPOSED TO HELP EACH OTHER DISCERN HIS OR HER GIFTS. DO YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL BETTER BY YOUR WORDS? ARE YOU GIFTED WITH WISDOM, SO THAT YOU SEE WHAT ACTION TO TAKE? DO YOU HAVE THE GIFT OF LEADERSHIP? ARE YOU A GOOD “DETAIL PERSON?” CAN YOU MAKE PEOPLE LAUGH? DO YOU HAVE RARE PATIENCE? CAN YOU TEACH IN AN EFFECTIVE WAY? WHEN WE RECOGNIZE THESE GIFTS IN EACH OTHER, WE SHOULD POINT THEM OUT. OF COURSE, EVEN IF WE KNOW OUR GIFTS, ANOTHER DANGER IS THAT WE PUT OFF GIVING THEM AWAY.

FINALLY, THERE IS A LEGEND FROM THE MIDDLE EAST THAT COULD GO HERE. THERE WAS ONCE A KING WHO WOKE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT BECAUSE OF SOME THUMPING ON THE ROOF. “WHO'S THERE?” HE CALLED. “A FRIEND”, REPLIED A VOICE. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING ON THE ROOF,” DEMANDED THE KING. “I'M LOOKING FOR MY CAMEL.” “YOU FOOL!” HOW COULD YOU POSSIBLY FIND A CAMEL ON A ROOF?”, SAID THE KING. “YOU FOOL,” REPLIED THE VOICE, “HOW COULD YOU POSSIBLY FIND GOD INSIDE YOUR PALACE IN SILK PAJAMAS IN YOUR SOFT BED?”

JESUS MADE IT CLEAR, ABUNDANTLY CLEAR, THAT IF WE WANTED TO FIND HIM, WE HAVE TO GIVE AWAY OUR GIFTS. REMEMBER THE STORY JESUS TOLD? “THE RIGHTEOUS WILL SAY, 'LORD, WHEN DID WE FEED YOU, AND GIVE YOU SOMETHING TO DRINK?' … AND THE KING REPLIED, “WHATSOEVER YOU DO FOR THE LEAST OF MY BRETHREN, YOU DO FOR ME.” HAVING A GIFT IS A WONDERFUL THING, EVEN A SMALL GIFT, EVEN SOMETHING THE WORLD MIGHT CONSIDER INSIGNIFICANT. A GIFT TELLS US THAT GOD LOVES US, AND HAS GIVEN US SOMETHING UNIQUE, SOMETHING WHICH CAN HELP BRING ABOUT THE KINGDOM. RECOGNIZING THE GIFT IS EVEN BETTER, BECAUSE THAT IS A SIGN THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS WORKING IN US, HELPING US TO KNOW OURSELVES. BUT GIVING AWAY THE GIFT, THAT IS THE GREATEST THING OF ALL, BECAUSE WHEN WE GIVE AWAY OUR GIFT, WE FIND GOD.

DURING THE NEW YEAR, LET US RESOLVE TO GIVE AWAY OUR GIFTS TO EACH OTHER. AND WE CAN BE ASSURED THAT WE WILL BE GIVEN GREATER GIFTS, AND THAT THE GREATEST OF ALL GIFTS WILL BE THAT GOD ENTERS INTO OUR LIVES, GOD BECOMES ONE OF US. THAT AFTER ALL IS THE MEANING OF THE EUCHARIST WE CELEBRATE EVERY WEEK; WE OFFER GOD BREAD AND WINE, AND HE RETURNS TO US HIS SON.

Feast of the Holy Family, 2012

LUKE 2:41-52

WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, I REMEMBER A SERMON GIVEN ON THIS FEAST. THE PRIEST WENT ON AND ON ABOUT WHAT A GREAT PARENTS MARY AND JOSEPH WERE, AND HOW THEY FORMED THE IDEAL FAMILY, AND HOW IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR EVERY CATHOLIC FAMILY TO TRY TO BUILD A HOLY FAMILY LIKE THEY HAD. ON THE WAY HOME FROM CHURCH, MY MOTHER, WHO HAD THREE FAIRLY NORMAL CHILDREN, REMARKED THAT IT WAS EASY FOR MARY AND JOSEPH TO HAVE A HOLY FAMILY, AFTER ALL, THEY ONLY HAD ONE CHILD AND HE WAS PERFECT. MOM THE THEOLOGIAN.

IN ALL THE GOSPELS WE HAVE ONE STORY ABOUT JESUS BETWEEN HIS INFANCY AND HIS PUBLIC MINISTRY, AND THIS IS IT. ODDLY ENOUGH, THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF STORIES CIRCULATING IN EARLY CHRISTENDOM, SOME IF WHICH FILTERED DOWN EVEN TO TODAY. THERE IS A SECOND CENTURY WRITING CALLED “THE GOSPEL OF THE INFANCY OF JESUS” IN WHICH WE HEAR THAT ONE DAY JOSEPH AND JESUS HAD BUILT A BED FOR A CUSTOMER, WHO WAS TOO LONG FOR IT. SO JESUS JUST GRABBED ONE END AND STRETCHED THE BED ABOUT SIX INCHES. ANOTHER STORY HAD TO DO WITH JESUS MAKING LITTLE CLAY BIRDS AND PUTTING THEM ON A FENCE. SOME KIDS CAME ALONG AND STARTED THROWING ROCKS. JESUS WAVED HIS HANDS AND THE BIRDS FLEW AWAY. THAT STORY I FIRST HEARD FROM MY NEARLY ILLITERATE GERMAN GRANDMOTHER, SO IT HAD GREAT STAYING POWER. THERE WERE PROBABLY A LOT OF STORIES WHEN LUKE WROTE HIS GOSPEL; HE MAY HAVE EVEN HEARD MORE THAN THIS ONE FROM MARY HERSELF. BUT HE ONLY CHOSE THIS ONE TO INCLUDE IN HIS GOSPEL. I THINK ONE OF THE REASONS WAS THAT HE WANTED US TO SEE THAT BEING A HOLY FAMILY DOES NOT MEAN EVERYTHING IS PERFECT. TO JOSEPH AND MARY, THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING LOST THEIR ONLY SON WAS DEVASTATING. I AM SURE WORDS WERE EXCHANGED ABOUT WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE DONE WHAT. EVEN LOVERS, EVEN SAINTS, HAVE MOMENTS OF FRICTION AND HARD FEELINGS; IT'S A HUMAN CONDITION.

SO WHAT MAKES A FAMILY? POPE PAUL VI GAVE A DEFINITION: A FAMILY IS A COMMUNITY OF LOVE AND SHARING, BEAUTIFUL FOR THE PROBLEMS IT POSES AND THE REWARD IT BRINGS, THE PERFECT SETTING FOR THE REARING OF CHILDREN. WE KNOW VERY LITTLE ABOUT THE FAMILY OF JESUS. BUT THAT IT WAS A COMMUNITY OF LOVE IS UNQUESTIONABLE; JOSEPH LAID DOWN HIS LIFE EVERY DAY FOR MARY AND JESUS – NOT TERRIBLY DIFFERENT FROM MANY OF YOU FATHERS. MARY CREATED A HOME FOR JOSEPH – THAT DOESN'T MEAN SHE BROUGHT HIM A DRINK AND THE NEWSPAPER WHEN HE CAME HOME AFTER A HARD DAY'S WORK; WE KNOW THAT WOMEN IN MARY'S CIRCUMSTANCES WORKED EVERY BIT AS HARD AS THEIR HUSBANDS AT MAKING A LIVING. SHE AND JOSEPH WERE NOT COMPETITORS, BUT RATHER, THEY COMPLEMENTED EACH OTHER. AND THAT'S MUCH LIKE MANY OF THE COUPLES IN OUR PARISH. IT ISN'T A MATTER OF THE WOMAN'S ROLE OR THE MAN'S ROLE, IT'S THE FACT THAT IN A COMMUNITY OF LOVE AND SHARING, EACH MAKES AN EFFORT TO HELP THE OTHER MEMBERS BECOME THE BEST PERSONS THEY CAN BE; AND THAT MEANS THAT WE RECOGNIZE EACH OTHERS STRENGTHS AND ENCOURAGE THEIR DEVELOPMENT; AND WHERE YOU ARE NOT STRONG, I WILLINGLY TAKE ON THAT BURDEN. IF A WIFE COMES HOME FROM WORK TIRED AND WORN OUT, HER HUSBAND BETTER KNOW HOW TO COOK. IF A HUSBAND CAN BARELY ADD AND SUBTRACT, MAYBE HIS WIFE SHOULD HANDLE THE FAMILY FINANCES.

THE COMMUNITY OF THE FAMILY IS BEAUTIFUL FOR THE PROBLEMS IT POSES AND THE REWARD IT BRINGS. I'M SURE YOU'VE KNOWN MANY COUPLES WHO HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR FIFTY YEARS OR MORE. THEY CAN LOOK BACK AND SEE THAT TOGETHER THEY HANDLED EVERY CHALLENGE, EVERY HEARTBREAK, EVERY ADJUSTMENT; AND THEY TAKE GREAT SATISFACTION IN KNOWING THAT THEY MET WHATEVER WAS THROWN AT THEM, EVEN THOUGH THEY DIDN'T SEE THOSE MOMENTS AS BEAUTIFUL WHEN THEY HAPPENED. I THINK MOST COUPLES KNOW THE BEAUTY OF SOLVING GOOD PROBLEMS TOGETHER; BUYING A HOUSE OR CAR; HELPING A CHILD SELECT A COLLEGE. BUT THERE IS BEAUTY IN HOW THE BAD PROBLEMS ARE HANDLED; THE LOSS OF A JOB; A CHRONIC ILLNESS.

AND A FAMILY IS THE PERFECT SETTING FOR THE RAISING OF CHILDREN. I KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY CHILDREN WHO ARE RAISED IN BROKEN FAMILIES, OR BY A SINGLE MOTHER OR FATHER. THEY'LL TURN OUT. LOVE CAN FIX A LOT OF THINGS. AND THERE ARE CHILDREN WHO WOULD BE BETTER OFF IF THEIR PARENTS WEREN'T TOGETHER. THEY'LL TURN OUT AS WELL. BUT TO BE THE CHILD OF PARENTS WHO LOVE EACH OTHER; TO EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENT WAYS A FATHER LOVES AND A MOTHER LOVES; TO LEARN FIRST-HAND THE BEAUTIFUL COMPLEMENTARITY OF THE SEXES – THAT'S A PRIVILEGE WHICH SEEMS TO BE GETTING MORE AND MORE UNUSUAL. THE TENTH MOST COMMON REQUEST KIDS MADE FOR CHRISTMAS WAS TO HAVE A DAD.

CERTAINLY WE SEE THE ELEMENTS OF A FAMILY IN MARY, JOSEPH, AND JESUS. WE KNOW OF SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THEY FACED BY THE STORIES IN THE GOSPELS, LIKE THIS ONE. WE KNOW MORE GENERALLY HOW PEOPLE LIVED IN THAT TIME AND THE PROBLEMS THEY FACED TOGETHER. AND WHEN WE THINK ABOUT JOSEPH AND MARY AND JESUS, WE SEE THAT THEIR FAMILY IS NOT ALL THAT DIFFERENT FROM OUR OWN FAMILIES, AND THEIR PROBLEMS PRETTY MUCH LIKE OUR OWN. THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN PERFECT PEOPLE, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY HAD A FREE RIDE. EVERY DAY EACH HAD TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT AFFECTED THE OTHERS, AND WE KNOW THAT WITH EVERY DECISION YOU GIVE UP SOMETHING FOR SOMETHING ELSE. AND EVEN SAINTS PROBABLY HAVE DIFFERENT IDEAS OF WHICH GOOD THING TO GIVE UP FOR ANOTHER GOOD THING. FRICTION HAPPENS.

SO HOW CAN A FAMILY BE HOLY? CERTAINLY JOSEPH WAS A JUST MAN, AND HIS BEHAVIOR SHOWED A WILLING OBEDIENCE TO GOD'S VOICE. AND MARY, NO ONE WAS HOLIER THAN SHE WHOM AN ANGEL CALLED “FULL OF GRACE”. BUT WHAT REALLY MADE THIS FAMILY HOLY WAS THE PRESENCE OF JESUS CHRIST. IF HE IS IN THE MIDST OF THE FAMILY, IN EACH OTHER, IN THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS GOD GIVES, THEN GOD HIMSELF LIVES IN THAT FAMILY, AND PRESERVES IT AND NOURISHES IT. A HOLY FAMILY BRINGS CHRIST INTO THE WORLD.

MARY AND JOSEPH NEVER HAD IT EASY. WE THINK JOSEPH DIED BEFORE JESUS BEGAN HIS PUBLIC MINISTRY; THAT WOULD MAKE MARY SOMEWHERE IN HER LATE TWENTIES TO EARLY FORTIES, ALONE AND WITHOUT MUCH IN THE WAY OF RESOURCES. AND MARY HAD TO FACE THE TRAGEDY OF JESUS' DEATH ON THE CROSS ALONE, AND I'M SURE SHE WOULD HAVE LIKED TO SHARE THE JOY OF HIS RESURRECTION WITH JOSEPH. BUT IN ANY HOLY FAMILY, YOU TAKE WHAT YOU ARE GIVEN, YOU KEEP FOCUSED ON BRINGING JESUS INTO THE WORLD, YOU DRAW STRENGTH FROM EACH OTHER, AND YOU KNOW THAT A DAY WILL COME WHEN YOU, LIKE JOSEPH AND MARY, WILL ENTER THE PRESENCE OF JESUS WHO WILL SAY, “WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANTS.”.

Christmas at Dawn, 2012

LUKE 2:15-20

ON CHRISTMAS DAY WE CELEBRATE A MYSTERY. WHEN WE TRY TO PUT IT INTO WORDS, IT SEEMS TO MAKE IT TRIVIAL. GOD BECAME ONE OF US. THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE BECAME A MAN WHO LIVED AND DIED 2000 YEARS AGO; THE NATURE OF THAT UNION WAS SUCH THAT THE CHURCH INSISTED THAT MARY GAVE BIRTH TO GOD; SHE IS THE THEOTOKOS, THE GOD-BEARER.

THIS MYSTERY GOES ON. WE CAN ASK WHY THIS HAPPENED? WHY DID GOD BECOME MAN, AND WE TALK ABOUT ORIGINAL SIN AND WE MENTION THAT FOR ALL THOSE YEARS THE PEOPLE GOD CHOSE WERE UNABLE TO REMAIN FAITHFUL TO HIM BY SIMPLY FOLLOWING RULES; WE STUDY THE DRAMA OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, AND FOR US IT ALL MAKES SENSE WHEN WE RELATE IT TO CHRIST.

THE MYSTERY GOES ON. JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD, AND THE SPIRIT THAT HAD CONCEIVED HIM IN MARY'S WOMB ENTERED INTO HIS FOLLOWERS, AND THEY BECAME TRANSFORMED. AND THE SPIRIT IS STILL ACTING ON HIS FOLLOWERS, STILL CONCEIVING JESUS IN THEM.

THE MYSTERY GOES ON. BECAUSE GOD BECAME MATTER, SOMETHING HAPPENED NOT ONLY TO HUMAN BEINGS, BUT TO THE UNIVERSE ITSELF. OUR MATERIAL WORLD TAKES ON SOMETHING OF DIVINITY. AND SOMEHOW THIS INCARNATION, THIS GOD ENTERING FLESH, ENTERING MATTER, IS DONE FOR A PURPOSE; IN SOME WAY GOD GATHERS ALL HIS CREATION INTO HIMSELF FOR ALL ETERNITY; JESUS SPOKE ABOUT THIS WHEN HE PREDICTED THAT WHEN HE WAS LIFTED UP, HE WOULD DRAW ALL THINGS TO HIMSELF, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT LOVE DOES.

WHEN I WAS ATTENDING SAINT HELENA GRADE SCHOOL, WE HAD A LOT OF DEVOTIONS TO THE BLESSED MOTHER. WE LEARNED ABOUT HER APPEARANCES AT LOURDES AND FATIMA; MEDJUGORE HADN'T HAPPENED YET. STATUES AND HOLY CARDS ALL DEPICTED MARY AS YOU SEE HER DEPICTED AROUND THIS CHURCH; WEARING A LONG ROBE, HEAD COVERED, A LOVING EXPRESSION ON HER FACE. OUR STATUES AND HOLY CARDS SEEM TO MAKE MARY SOMETHING FAR MORE THAN HUMAN. AN OLD POEM DESCRIBED MARY AS THE MOON THAT REFLECTED THE SUN WHO IS JESUS.

SINCE WE BELIEVE MARY WAS SINLESS FROM THE MOMENT OF HER CONCEPTION, WE BELIEVE SHE WAS THE MOST PERFECT HUMAN BEING. AND FOR US, PERFECTION MEANS PHYSICAL BEAUTY AND A BRILLIANT MIND. YOU MAY REMEMBER AN OLD MARIAN HYMN THAT I ALWAYS LOVED THAT STARTS OUT “ON THIS DAY, O BEAUTIFUL MOTHER...”

BUT WHEN MARY WALKED THE EARTH, SHE WAS NOT NECESSARILY A GREAT BEAUTY. SHE WAS NOT NECESSARILY A GENIUS, LIKE EINSTEIN OR THOMAS AQUINAS. AS FAR AS WE CAN TELL SHE SPENT HER LIFE JUST LIKE OTHER PEASANT WOMEN, COOKING, CLEANING, SEWING, WEAVING – DOING EVERYTHING SHE COULD TO HELP JOSEPH MAKE A LIVING. VERY PROBABLY SHE COULD NOT EVEN READ; MOST WOMEN COULDN'T IN THOSE DAYS, AND INDEED, NEITHER COULD MOST MEN.

BEAUTY AND INTELLIGENCE ARE NOT REALLY THINGS YOU CAN MEASURE ON A SCALE ANYWAY. BUT MARY WAS PERFECT WHERE IT MATTERS. SHE HAD WISDOM. SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE SAINT LUKE, THE AUTHOR OF THIS GOSPEL, MUST HAVE KNOWN MARY PERSONALLY, BECAUSE THE CHRISTMAS STORY AND ALL THE INFORMATION HE WROTE ABOUT THE INFANCY AND CHILDHOOD OF JESUS COULD ONLY HAVE BEEN LEARNED FROM MARY. AND LUKE MENTIONS IN TODAY'S READING THAT AFTER THE APPEARANCE OF THE ANGELS TO THE SHEPHERDS, MARY PONDERS THESE THINGS IN HER HEART. LUKE TELLS US THIS AGAIN AFTER MARY AND JOSEPH FIND JESUS IN THE TEMPLE. HE EVEN USES THIS WORD AT THE ANNUNCIATION, WHEN MARY “PONDERED “ WHAT MANNER OF GREETING THE ANGEL GAVE HER. AND I THINK HE EMPHASIZES THIS BECAUSE HE LEARNED FROM MARY THAT THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO DEAL WITH A MYSTERY.

HE DOES NOT SAY THAT SHE PONDERED THESE THINGS IN HER MIND. I THINK WE DO TOO MUCH OF THAT. WHEN WE STAND BEFORE A MYSTERY, WE WANT AN EXPLANATION. IF JESUS IS PRESENT WHERE BREAD AND WINE ONCE WERE, HOW CAN THAT BE? IF GOD IS ONE, AND AT THE SAME TIME HE IS A COMMUNITY OF THREE PERSONS – WELL, BOOKS AND BOOKS HAVE BEEN WRITTEN ABOUT THAT, AND NO ONE HAS YET FIGURED OUT HOW IT CAN BE. BUT NOT FOR LACK OF TRYING.

MARY PONDERS MYSTERY IN HER HEART. WHEN SHE CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHAT NO ONE CAN UNDERSTAND, SHE DOES NOT REJECT IT AS TOO DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE AND THEREFORE NOT WORTH BELIEVING; NOR DOES SHE SPEND HOURS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW IT CAN BE, WHAT THE LOGICAL EXPLANATION IS; SHE SIMPLY STANDS BEFORE IT AND LOOKS FOR GOD IN THE MYSTERY.

AND WE CAN IMAGINE YOUNG LUKE, NOT A JEW, PROBABLY A GREEK, PROBABLY SCHOOLED IN THE ANALYTIC METHODS OF PLATO, SITTING WITH AN OLD LADY IN A SMALL HOUSE IN WHAT IS NOW TURKEY, TRYING TO LEARN ABOUT JESUS' CHILDHOOD. AND MARY ANSWERS HIS QUESTIONS IN SIMPLE WORDS. AND LUKE ASKS, “HOW CAN THIS BE?” AND SHE SIMPLY SMILES, AND SAYS, “”THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT WAS.”

DO YOU REMEMBER THAT SONG BY THE BEATLES? “WHEN I FIND MYSELF IN TIMES OF TROUBLE, MOTHER MARY COMES TO ME, SPEAKING WORDS OF WISDOM, 'LET IT BE.' AND IN MY HOUR OF DARKNESS SHE IS STANDING RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME, SPEAKING WORDS OF WISDOM, 'LET IT BE.'” IF WE WANT A MYSTERY TO AFFECT US, THE FIRST THING TO DO IS LET IT BE.

WHEN I GIVE A SERMON SOMETIMES IT COMES MORE FROM MY MIND THAN MY HEART. AND SOMETIMES THAT'S GOTTEN ME IN TROUBLE NOW AND THEN. NOT LONG AGO A PARISHIONER POINTED OUT THAT I HAD SPOKEN OF DOGMA, AND SHE WANTED FAITH. HER HOPE FROM A SERMON WAS TO COME AWAY WITH A NUGGET THAT COULD NOURISH HER ON HER OWN JOURNEY, WHICH SHE RIGHTLY RECOGNIZED WAS UNION WITH OUR GREAT LOVER, JESUS. SHE PROBABLY KNEW MORE ABOUT MARY'S APPROACH TO MYSTERY THAN I DID.

SO TODAY WE CELEBRATE A GREAT MYSTERY, PERHAPS THE GREATEST OF OUR FAITH, THE MYSTERY OF INCARNATION, OF GOD BECOMING MAN, OF GOD BINDING HIMSELF TO HIS CREATION, OF GOD SETTING IN MOTION HIS PLAN TAKE THE FINITE AND MAKE IT INFINITE. AND THERE IS NO WAY WORDS CAN ENCOMPASS THAT. ALL WE CAN DO IS PONDER – TRY TO UNDERSTAND THE MYSTERY WITH OUR HEARTS. AND MARY CAN TEACH US HOW TO DO THIS. THE MORE WE PONDER THE MYSTERY, THE MORE WE SEE THAT WE ARE ON HOLY GROUND, THE MORE WE FEEL IN OUR OWN HEARTS THE PRESENCE OF THE GOD WHO IS ALL IN ALL.

SO MERRY CHRISTMAS, OF COURSE, BUT TAKE HOME WITH YOU THE MYSTERY, AND PONDER IT TODAY, TOMORROW, AND EVERY DAY, FOR GOD HAS CHOSEN TO BE WITH US.

Fourth Sunday of Advent, cycle C

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT, CYCLE C

LUKE 1:39-45

WHEN I WAS IN PRACTICE, I HAD A PATIENT WITH CANCER WHO WAS PARALYZED FROM THE WASTE DOWN, AND BLIND AS WELL, FROM HIS DISEASE. HE WAS SERIOUSLY DEPRESSED. ANOTHER PATIENT, A VERY SWEET LADY WHO HAD HER TREATMENTS AT THE SAME TIME HE DID, WOULD ASK TO BE PUT IN THE CHAIR NEXT TO HIM, AND JUST QUIETLY TALK TO HIM ABOUT WHATEVER WAS ON HER MIND. TO OUR SURPRISE AFTER A WHILE HIS DEPRESSION BEGAN TO LIFT AND THE ONE-WAY CONVERSATION BEGAN TO GO BOTH WAYS. SHE TOOK A TURN FOR THE WORSE, AND IT BECAME HIS TURN TO REACH OUT TO HER IN HER DESPAIR. THEY LIFTED EACH OTHER'S BURDENS.

THIS GOSPEL SEEMS TO DESCRIBE A JOYFUL MOMENT, WHEN MARY AND ELIZABETH MEET. AND IT IS JOYFUL; ELIZABETH IS PROMPTED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT TO RECOGNIZE THAT GOD HAS ENTERED THE WORLD, THAT THE BABY IN MARY'S WOMB IS THE LONG-AWAITED MESSIAH. AND IF YOU REMEMBER, SHORTLY AFTER THIS WE HEAR MARY'S MAGNIFICAT, HER GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING.

BUT MARY AND ELIZABETH HAVE THIS IN COMMON; THEY ARE BOTH CARRYING GREAT BURDENS, AND I AM NOT JUST REFERRING TO THE BABIES. MARY IS PREGNANT AND UNMARRIED. IN LUKE'S STORY, WE LEARN THAT SHE IS ENGAGED TO JOSEPH, STILL A VIRGIN, AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ANGELIC ANNOUNCEMENT, SHE GOES TO ELIZABETH. IF WE PUT MATTHEW'S AND LUKE'S STORY TOGETHER, JOSEPH PROBABLY LEARNED OF HER PREGNANCY WHEN SHE RETURNED FROM HER VISIT TO ELIZABETH; BY THEN IT WAS PROBABLY OBVIOUS. BUT ALL THAT IS IN THE FUTURE. RIGHT NOW MARY IS PREGNANT AND ALONE, AND PROBABLY HAS NO IDEA OF WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS; AND WHEN YOU ARE BEARING AN AWFUL SECRET AND HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT THE FUTURE, YOU WORRY, AND PROBABLY MARY WORRIED, EVEN THOUGH SHE TRUSTED IN GOD.

ELIZABETH'S BURDEN IS DIFFERENT; SHE IS TOO OLD. SHE FINDS HERSELF PREGNANT WHEN ALL HER FRIENDS ARE GRANDMOTHERS. IN THOSE DAYS WHEN THE AVERAGE LIFE EXPECTANCY WAS QUITE A BIT LESS THAN NOW ELIZABETH MUST HAVE WONDERED IF SHE WOULD LIVE LONG ENOUGH TO RAISE A CHILD; AND HER OLD HUSBAND ZACHARY COULDN'T TALK ANYMORE – PROBABLY THE FIRST OF MANY AILMENTS THAT WOULD EAT AWAY AT HIM BEFORE HE DIED; AND ELIZABETH COULD SEE THAT SHE WOULD SPEND HER OWN DECLINING YEARS TAKING CARE OF A BABY AND AN AILING HUSBAND.

MARY AND ELIZABETH ARE EACH OTHER'S REFUGE. ELIZABETH OFFERS MARY A SAFE HAVEN, AWAY FROM PRYING EYES, FROM GOSSIP, FROM PEOPLE DEMANDING EXPLANATIONS. MARY GREETS ELIZABETH, AND ELIZABETH REVEALS THAT SHE KNOWS ABOUT THE PREGNANCY, AND ALSO KNOWS OF ITS SIGNIFICANCE. WHAT A LOAD OFF OF MARY'S MIND! AT LAST, SOMEONE TO SHARE THE NEWS WITH, SOMEONE WHO ACCEPTED HER UNCONDITIONALLY, SOMEONE WHO HAD ALSO BEEN TOUCHED BY GOD. AND ELIZABETH, SIX MONTHS PREGNANT, HAVING HAD TO ASSUME ZACHARY'S BURDENS AS WELL AS HER OWN; HAVING NO ONE WHO WOULD LEND A SYMPATHETIC EAR OR OFFER A LITTLE HELP, NOW LOOKS FORWARD TO THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, THE MONTHS THAT WOULD BE THE MOST DIFFICULT OF HER PREGNANCY, WITH SOME SORT OF RELIEF, BECAUSE MARY WILL BE THERE TO HELP.

MARY AND ELIZABETH CONFIRM THE REALITY OF THEIR EXPERIENCES. AN ANGEL HAD COME TO MARY. I THINK IF AN ANGEL CAME TO ONE OF US, EVEN THOUGH WE BELIEVE IN ANGELS, WE MIGHT VERY WELL DOUBT OUR EXPERIENCE. PEOPLE IN THOSE DAYS WEREN'T DIFFERENT. IF YOU WENT AROUND TELLING PEOPLE YOU HAD SEEN AN ANGEL, PEOPLE WOULD REACT IN ONE OF THREE WAYS – THEY WOULD CALL YOU ARE A LIAR; THEY WOULD THINK YOU WERE CRAZY, OR PERHAPS THEY MIGHT BELIEVE YOU HAD SEEN AN EVIL SPIRIT. WE THINK THE SAME WAY NOW AS THEN; WE WOULD PROBABLY GIVE MORE WEIGHT TO DELUSION AND LESS TO AN EVIL SPIRIT, BUT THE POINT IS, MARY DID NOT DARE TO TELL ANYONE ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE BECAUSE WHO WOULD BELIEVE A TEENAGER? ELIZABETH EXPERIENCES THE HOLY SPIRIT IN MARY'S PRESENCE, AND THE KNOWLEDGE THAT HER SON AND MARY'S SON HAD BOTH BEEN SELECTED BY GOD FOR A SPECIAL MISSIONS. WHEN MARY HEARS ELIZABETH, IT MUST HAVE BEEN A RELIEF. WHEN ELIZABETH HEARS MARY'S STORY, SHE REALIZED HER OWN PREGNANCY WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT, NOT A HORRIBLE JOKE PLAYED ON HER BY FATE, BUT ORDAINED BY GOD TO FURTHER HIS PURPOSES IN THE WORLD.

MARY AND ELIZABETH STRENGTHEN EACH OTHERS FAITH. ELIZABETH PRAISES GOD IN HER GREETING TO MARY, AND MARY, IN TURN, GOES ON TO PRAISE GOD IN THE PRAYER SHE WILL SAY AFTER THIS GOSPEL STORY IT IS TRUE THAT BOTH WERE WOMEN OF FAITH. BUT EVEN AMONG THE MOST FAITHFUL OUR FAITH GETS STRONGER WHEN WE SPEAK ABOUT IT TO EACH OTHER. LATER WE WILL SEE ELIZABETH'S FAITH WHEN THEY ARE ABOUT TO NAME THE BABY. WE HEAR THAT THEY WANT TO CALL HIM AFTER HIS FATHER'S NAME, BUT ELIZABETH SPEAKS UP AND SAYS, “NO, HIS NAME SHALL BE JOHN”. WHAT WOMAN WOULD DARE PRESUME TO NAME HER SON IN THOSE DAYS? BUT SHE HAS FAITH, AND ZACHARY CONFIRMS THIS IN WRITING AND IS GIVEN HIS VOICE BACK. AND MARY RETURNS TO JOSEPH STRENGTHENED BY HER INTERACTION WITH ELIZABETH, AND CONFRONTS JOSEPH WITH THE NEWS THAT HER PREGNANCY IS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND JOSEPH WILL JUST HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT.

SOME PEOPLE SEE IN THE STORY OF MARY AND ELIZABETH THE END OF THE OLD DISPENSATION AND THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW; ELIZABETH REPRESENTS ISRAEL, OLD, WORN OUT, HER BEST DAYS BEHIND HER, GIVING RISE MIRACULOUSLY TO ONE LAST PROPHET, THE ONE JESUS SAYS IS THE GREATEST BORN OF WOMAN UNTIL NOW; AND MARY, YOUNG, VIRGINAL, BRINGING FORTH A NEW CREATION, CONCEIVED BY GOD, SUCH THAT EVERYONE WHO IS OF THE KINGDOM HE WILL ESTABLISH IS, AS JESUS SAYS, GREATER THAN JOHN. AND OTHERS SEE MARY AS THE NEW ARK OF THE COVENANT, COMING DOWN FROM THE HILL COUNTRY BEARING THE PRESENCE OF GOD, JUST AS THE FIRST ARK WAS BROUGHT DOWN TO JERUSALEM BY KING DAVID. ALL THAT MAY BE TRUE; BUT I THINK WE CAN SEE IN MARY AND ELIZABETH, IN THIS MOMENT PORTRAYED IN THE GOSPELS, HOW TWO PEOPLE OF FAITH, TROUBLED BY CIRCUMSTANCES OVER WHICH THEY HAVE NO CONTROL, WITH THE HELP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN STRENGTHEN EACH OTHER AND HELP EACH OTHER AS THEY CONFRONT OVERWHELMING ODDS. AND THAT WAS TRUE THEN, AND IT IS TRUE NOW.

ON THIS FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT LET US RESOLVE TO SHARE OUR BURDENS AND OUR JOYS WITH EACH OTHER, KNOWING THAT JESUS IS PRESENT WHERE TWO OR THREE ARE GATHERED IN HIS NAME. LET US ALSO REMEMBER THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVES EACH OF US GIFTS SO THAT WE CAN BE OF SERVICE TO EACH OTHER, AND IT'S VERY SAD WHEN WE HAVE A GIFT SOMEONE NEEDS, AND WE DON'T USE IT.

AND LET US ALSO REMEMBER THAT JESUS IS PRESENT IN US, WHO ARE HIS BODY, JUST AS HE WAS PRESENT IN A TEENAGE GIRL MEETING HER OLD COUSIN SO LONG AGO IN THE HILL COUNTRY OF JUDEA.

Third Sunday of Advent, Cycle C

LUKE 3:10-18

TO ME THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING GOSPEL PASSAGES. BUT YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT IT IN CONTEXT. I THINK MOST OF US HAVE A PICTURE OF JOHN THE BAPTIST. IN FACT, HE IS THE ONLY CHARACTER IN THE NEW TESTAMENT THAT HAS HIS CLOTHING DESCRIBED – HE WORE A GARMENT MADE OF CAMEL'S HAIR AND A LEATHER BELT. WE ALSO KNOW WHAT HE ATE. LOCUSTS AND WILD HONEY. AND EVEN THOUGH HE WAS RELATED TO JESUS, IN THOSE DAYS THEY PROBABLY HAD ALMOST NOTHING TO DO WITH EACH OTHER – JESUS, AFTER ALL, GREW UP IN NAZARETH, AND JOHN IN THE HILL COUNTRY OF JUDEA. THAT'S A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 100 MILES, AND NOT EASY TO DO WHEN YOU HAD TO WALK. SCHOLARS THINK THAT JOHN MAY HAVE JOINED ONE OF THOSE SECTS THAT LIVED OUT IN THE DESERT – THEY WERE CALLED “ESSENES” – AND THEY BELIEVED THAT THE WORLD WAS GOING TO END VERY SOON AND THAT THE BEST THING YOU COULD DO TO PREPARE WAS TO GO OUT IN THE DESERT AND CONCENTRATE ON LIVING A LIFE OF PRAYER, RIGOROUSLY KEEPING THE LAW OF MOSES, AND STAYING AWAY FROM CONTAMINATION BY THE GENERAL CULTURE. THEY RESEMBLED A MONASTIC ORDER.

SO JOHN CAME OUT OF THE DESERT, WE WERE TOLD LAST WEEK, BECAUSE THE WORD OF GOD CAME TO HIM. AND WHEN WE READ ABOUT JOHN, HE WAS NO SHRINKING VIOLET. HE TOLD THE PEOPLE THAT THEY WERE A BROOD OF VIPERS, AND THAT IF GOD WANTED TO HE COULD MAKE CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM OUT OF ROCKS. WE KNOW THAT JOHN WASN'T AFRAID OF ANYONE. HE DARED TO TELL THE KING THAT HE WAS LIVING IN SIN, HAVING MARRIED HIS BROTHER'S WIFE. JOHN WAS A TROUBLE MAKER; HE WAS DRAWING CROWDS TO THE SHORE OF THE JORDAN RIVER AND BAPTIZING THE ONES WHO WANTED TO SIGNIFY THEIR REPENTANCE – AND JOHN HAD NO AUTHORITY – HE WASN'T A PRIEST OR A RABBI.

SO TODAY YOU HEAR A FEW BRAVE SOULS; THEY'VE BEEN LISTENING TO JOHN PREACHING. THEY SAY, “WHAT SHOULD WE DO?” PROBABLY EXPECTING JOHN WILL TELL THEM TO GIVE UP THEIR JOBS AND GO OUT INTO THE DESERT. JOHN'S ADVICE IS VERY MILD – IF YOU HAVE TWO COATS AND YOUR NEIGHBOR HAS NONE, GIVE HIM ONE OF YOURS. SURELY THE TAX COLLECTORS EXPECTED TO BE TOLD TO GIVE UP THEIR PROFESSION. A TAX COLLECTOR WAS ABOUT AS LOW AS YOU COULD GET. THE WAY IT WORKED WAS THAT THE ROMANS APPOINTED SOMEONE IN A VILLAGE WHOSE JOB IT WAS TO COLLECT TAXES. HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR HANDING OVER THE SUM THE ROMANS DECIDED WAS FAIR. HE WOULD THEN GO AROUND,. ACCOMPANIED BY A FEW SOLDIERS, AND TELL PEOPLE WHAT THEY OWED. HE WAS ENTITLED TO A COMMISSION. YOU CAN SEE THAT THEIR WAS A LITTLE ROOM FOR ABUSE HERE. BUT JOHN DOESN'T ORDER THEM TO STOP WORKING – HE TELLS THEM TO TAKE ONLY WHAT THEY ARE ENTITLED TO. THE SOLDIERS WERE ONLY SLIGHTLY ABOVE THE TAX COLLECTORS ON THE SOCIAL SCALE. THEY WOULD USE THEIR POSITIONS TO THREATEN PEOPLE – “THAT'S A NICE SHOP YOU HAVE THERE”, THEY WOULD SAY. “IT WOULD BE TOO BAD IF IT BURNED TO THE GROUND SOME NIGHT. FORTUNATELY, FOR A SLIGHT FEE WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.” AND JOHN TELLS THEM, “BE CONTENT WITH YOUR PAY.”

JOHN HAS BEEN CALLING THE PEOPLE TO REPENTANCE. THAT WORD IS A TRANSLATION OF THE GREEK WORD METANOIA, WHICH DOESN'T QUITE MEAN WHAT REPENTANCE MEANS. METANOIA MEANS “OUT OF THE MIND” OR PERHAPS, “CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK”. EACH OF THE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTION, “WHAT SHOULD WE DO” ARE BASICALLY THE SAME ANSWER – WHEN YOU ARE DEALING WITH ANOTHER PERSON, LOOK TO HIS OR HER WELFARE FIRST, BEFORE YOUR OWN. SEE OTHER PEOPLE AS PERSONS, NOT AS OBJECTS TO BE EXPLOITED.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT THIS GOSPEL IS THAT THE ADVICE COMING FROM JOHN JUST DOESN'T SEEM TO GO ALONG WITH WHAT A WILD MAN FROM THE DESERT SHOULD BE TELLING PEOPLE. AND INDEED, IN THE NEXT BREATH JOHN IS BACK TO HIS OLD SELF, TELLING THE CROWDS THAT IF YOU THINK HE, JOHN, IS BAD NEWS, WAIT TILL THE ONE JOHN IS PREPARING FOR COMES. JOHN IS NOTHING COMPARED TO THAT ONE, WHO WILL SEPARATE THE WHEAT FROM THE CHAFF, AND BURN THE CHAFF IN FIRE THAT NEVER GOES OUT.

DURING ADVENT WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT JOHN THE BAPTIST. JESUS CALLS HIM THE GREATEST BORN OF WOMAN UP TO THAT POINT IN HISTORY, AND JOHN IS TO PREPARE THE WAY FOR INCARNATION. NOW JESUS IS ALREADY AROUND – HE IS ALREADY GOD INCARNATE, GOD IN THE FLESH. BUT GOD IS NOT THROUGH BREAKING INTO OUR WORLD; HE CONTINUES TO DO SO EVEN TODAY. GOD IS CONSTANTLY PUTTING ON OUR FLESH AND BONES, AND A CONSEQUENCE OF INCARNATION IS TO DRAW US TOGETHER, TO OVERCOME THE BARRIERS THAT WE CREATE BETWEEN OURSELVES. WHEN THOSE BARRIERS ARE DOWN, GOD DWELLS IN US. AND THOSE BARRIERS COME DOWN WHEN WE FOLLOW JOHN'S COMMANDS AND SEE EACH OTHER AS PERSONS, WORTH EVERY BIT AS MUCH AS WE ARE, DESERVING OF EVERYTHING WE DESERVE, BEING RESPECTED AS MUCH AS WE DESIRE RESPECT. WHEN WE TREAT EACH OTHER AS PERSONS, GOD IS THERE, WEARING MY FLESH, WEARING YOURS.

RIGHT AFTER JOHN THREATENS THE PEOPLE WITH UNQUENCHABLE FIRE IF THEY DON'T GET WITH THE PROGRAM, THE GOSPEL PASSAGE ENDS WITH THE CURIOUS STATEMENT, “IN THIS AND MANY OTHER WAYS JOHN PREACHED THE GOOD NEWS TO THE PEOPLE.” GOOD NEWS? UNQUENCHABLE FIRE? HMM.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO OUT INTO THE DESERT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GIVE UP YOUR JOB OR WEAR CLOTHES MADE OUT OF CAMEL'S HAIR OR EAT LOCUSTS AND HONEY. OUR CHRISTIAN HISTORY IS FILLED WITH THE STORIES OF SPIRITUAL ATHLETES WHO SHAME US ALL WITH THEIR FASTING, THEIR GOOD WORKS, THEIR EXEMPLARY LIVES, AND THAT IS A GOOD THING, BECAUSE THEY REMIND US THAT WE COULD ALWAYS DO BETTER, WE COULD ALWAYS DO MORE. BUT THE ESSENTIALS ARE AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE – YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A A SPIRITUAL ATHLETE OR A ROCKET SCIENTIST. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO TO BE PART OF THE MYSTERY OF INCARNATION, TO BE PART OF GOD BREAKING INTO THE WORLD, IS TO LIVE THE FACT THAT GOD IS ALREADY IN YOU AND AND IN YOUR NEIGHBOR. WHEN YOU DO THIS, THAT'S THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, THAT IS WHAT JOHN FORETOLD, WHAT JESUS CAME TO BUILD, AND THAT IS ALREADY IN OUR MIDST.

Second Sunday of Advent, cycle C

LUKE 3:1-6

THIS WEEK THE NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER CAME OUT WITH AN EDITORIAL THAT SAID THAT IT WAS TIME FOR WOMEN PRIESTS. THE REASONS GIVEN WERE MANY, BUT ONE WAS THAT “NO ONE” COULD SAY WHETHER A PERSON HAD RECEIVED A CALL TO THE PRIESTHOOD, AND TO SAY THAT ANATOMY WAS SOMEHOW A BARRIER WAS TO LIMIT THE POWER OF GOD. THE EDITORIAL WENT ON TO SAY THAT “THE MAJORITY” OF THE FAITHFUL SUPPORT THE ORDINATION OF WOMEN.

IN 1996, 27% OF THE POPULATION FELT THAT SAME SEX MARRIAGE SHOULD BE LEGALIZED. IN 2012, 49% FELT THAT WAY.

RECENTLY WHEN THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION INSISTED THAT HEALTH INSURANCE COVER ARTIFICIAL BIRTH CONTROL AND THE MORNING AFTER PILL, WHICH IS BASICALLY ABORTION, 39% OF CATHOLICS AGREED WITH THAT POSITION; 56% AGREED WITH THE BISHOPS, WHO CAME OUT STRONGLY AGAINST THIS PROVISION. ABOUT 33% OF PEOPLE WHO CALL THEMSELVES CATHOLIC FEEL THAT ABORTION IS MORALLY ACCEPTABLE IN SOME SITUATIONS. AND IN ANOTHER POLL, 55% OF PEOPLE IDENTIFYING THEMSELVES AS CATHOLICS FELT THAT THERE WERE CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN ASSISTED SUICIDE WAS OK.

WE AMERICANS PRIDE OURSELVES ON OUR INDEPENDENCE, AND WE AREN'T ABOUT TO LET ANYONE TELL US WHAT TO BELIEVE – CATHOLICS INCLUDED, APPARENTLY. NOW I AM A HARD-CORE CATHOLIC, AND EVEN I HAVE SYMPATHY FOR THE POSITIONS ON THESE ISSUES WHICH GO AGAINST THE CLEAR TEACHING OF THE CHURCH. THAT DOESN'T MEAN I AGREE WITH THEM, BUT I CAN SEE WHERE THE CHURCH'S POSITION CAN CAUSE SOME PEOPLE PAIN.

IN TODAY'S GOSPEL, YOU MIGHT BE STRUCK BY THE BEGINNING; “IN THE FIFTEENTH YEAR OF THE REIGN OF TIBERIUS CAESAR....” WHY DID LUKE GO TO SO MUCH TROUBLE TO PIN DOWN THE TIME? DOES IT ADD ANYTHING TO THE STATEMENT ABOUT TIBERIUS TO THROW IN ALL THAT OTHER STUFF ABOUT TETRARCHS AND GOVERNORS AND KINGS AND HIGH PRIESTS? IF YOU KNOW WHEN TIBERIUS RULED, YOU HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION YOU NEED, DON'T YOU?

BUT I THINK LUKE IS NOT JUST TELLING US WHEN THIS ALL HAPPENED; HE IS SAYING THAT DESPITE ALL THESE PEOPLE IN POWERFUL POSITIONS, BOTH CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS, THE WORD OF GOD DID NOT GO TO THEM; INSTEAD, IT WENT TO THE WILDERNESS AND SOUGHT OUT JOHN THE BAPTIST. AND IN THE SCRIPTURES WE READ ABOUT VAST CROWDS THAT FOLLOWED JOHN. THERE MAY HAVE BEEN CROWDS OUT THERE LISTENING TO HIM, BUT IF IT'S ANYTHING LIKE TODAY, MOST PEOPLE JUST WENT ON ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS. THE SAME WAS TRUE OF JESUS; CROWDS FOLLOWED HIM, BUT AS WE CAN SEE FROM THE STORY OF THE CRUCIFIXION, CROWDS OPPOSED HIM AS WELL.

WE MAY PRIDE OURSELVES ON OUR INDEPENDENCE OF THOUGHT, BUT THE STATISTICS ARE CLEAR; CATHOLICS THINK LIKE EVERYONE ELSE IN OUR SOCIETY. THEY ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO AGREE WITH BARACK OBAMA OR JOE BIDEN THAN WITH CARDINAL DOLAN. AND YOUNG CATHOLICS ESPECIALLY, IF THEY STILL HAVE ANY ATTACHMENT AT ALL TO THE CHURCH, ARE LIKELY TO EXPLAIN THEIR SO-CALLED ENLIGHTENED ATTITUDES ABOUT SAME SEX MARRIAGE, ABORTION, ASSISTED SUICIDE, ORDINATION OF WOMEN – ATTITUDES WHICH ARE DIAMETRICALLY APPOSED TO WHAT THE CHURCH TEACHES – BY SAYING THAT JESUS WOULD AGREE WITH THEIR POSITION. WHY? BECAUSE HE HAS A SOFT HEART; HE HAS SYMPATHY FOR PEOPLE GOING THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES; HE WOULD NEVER AGREE WITH A CHURCH THAT TAUGHT THINGS THAT MIGHT CAUSE ANYONE PAIN. JESUS WAS ALL ABOUT FORGIVENESS, FINDING THE LOST SHEEP, EATING WITH SINNERS, TAKING SIDES AGAINST AUTHORITIES, BEING INCLUSIVE.

BUT IS THAT THE REAL JESUS? IT'S PART OF HIM,THAT'S FOR SURE. BUT HE IS ALSO THE ONE WHO SAID, “LISTEN TO THE PHARISEES AND THE SCRIBES, BECAUSE THEY SIT ON THE SEAT OF MOSES; BUT DO NOT DO WHAT THEY DO.” AND HE SAID, “FOR TRULY I SAY TO YOU, UNTIL HEAVEN AND EARTH PASS AWAY, NOT THE SMALLEST LETTER OR STROKE SHALL PASS FROM THE LAW UNTIL ALL IS ACCOMPLISHED.” AND HE SAID, “UPON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH, AND THE GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT.” AND HE SAID, “WHATSOEVER YOU BIND ON EARTH SHALL BE BOUND IN HEAVEN, AND WHAT YOU LOOSE ON EARTH SHALL BE LOOSED IN HEAVEN.”

THERE WAS AN INTERESTING ANSWER TO THE EDITORIAL OF THE NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER. THE WRITER SAID, “IF WOMEN WHO WANT TO BE PRIESTS BELIEVE THAT THE CHURCH IS WRONG IN ITS REASONED POSITION WHICH IT HAS HELD FOR 2000 YEARS, THEN WHY DESIRE TO BECOME CATHOLIC PRIESTS? IF THE CHURCH IS WRONG ABOUT THIS, IT'S PROBABLY WRONG ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS, AND MAYBE IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR THOSE WOMEN TO FIND A CHURCH THAT DOES ORDAIN WOMEN TO THE PRIESTHOOD, OR THE MINISTRY. AFTER ALL, THERE ARE SEVERAL, INCLUDING THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH. BUT IF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS THE TRUE CHURCH FOUNDED BY CHRIST AND PROTECTED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, THEN WHAT THE CHURCH TEACHES IS THE TEACHING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND IF THAT'S THE CASE, IF YOU WANT TO BE A CATHOLIC, GET ON BOARD.

THE PEOPLE WHO LISTENED TO JOHN THE BAPTIST WERE THE REAL INDEPENDENT THINKERS. WHEN THEY LISTENED TO HIM, THEY KNEW IN THEIR HEARTS THAT HE HAD THE WORD OF GOD. SOMETIMES THE WORD WAS DIFFICULT TO HEAR – JOHN CONDEMNED HEROD FOR MARRYING HIS BROTHER'S WIFE, WHICH LED TO HIS EXECUTION. A MODERN CATHOLIC WOULD SAY, “WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? THE BROTHER HAD DIED. SO WHAT IF GOD'S LAW SAID OTHERWISE? WHY SHOULD HEROD AND HERODIAS HAVE TO SUFFER BECAUSE OF A LAW?” JOHN INSISTED ON OBEDIENCE TO THE LAW. HE TOLD SOLDIERS TO BE CONTENT WITH THEIR PAY, TAX COLLECTORS TO ONLY COLLECT WHAT THEY WERE ENTITLED TO – THESE WERE RULES HE WAS LAYING DOWN. WE MODERN PEOPLE HAVE AN IDEA THAT THE EARLY CHRISTIANS, INDEED, EARLY CHRISTIANITY, OVERTHREW THE LAW. BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO READ MUCH OF THE NEW TESTAMENT BEFORE YOU REALIZE THAT THE ESSENCE OF THE LAW WAS STILL BEING PREACHED BY PETER, PAUL, AND THE OTHER EARLY LEADERS.

JEWISH LAW HAD ITS ABUSES, BUT IF ANYTHING THE REAL ABUSE WAS USUALLY TO TAKE THE WORD OF GOD AND THINK THROUGH HOW IT COULD BE APPLIED TO EVERY SITUATION IMAGINABLE; AND SOMETIMES THAT SOUNDED SILLY. THE FIRST CHRISTIANS DID NOT THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATHWATER, BUT INSTEAD, SAW THAT THERE WAS A CERTAIN CORE OF MORAL BEHAVIOR THAT EXISTED IN JEWISH LAW. THIS THEY KEPT.

IF YOU ARE A MODERN CATHOLIC AND YOU THINK THAT THE TEACHINGS OF THE CHURCH ARE JUST THE RAMBLINGS OF OLD MEN IN LONG ROBES TRYING TO MAKE LIFE DIFFICULT, THE MOST LIKELY THING IS THAT YOU HAVEN'T TAKEN THE TIME TO LEARN WHY THE CHURCH TEACHES WHAT IT TEACHES. IN THE YEAR OF THE FAITH PROCLAIMED BY OUR HOLY FATHER, IT IS AN EXCELLENT TIME TO STUDY THESE ISSUES. YOUR CHOICE IS TO BECOME AN INDEPENDENT THINKER AND BEGIN WITH THE WORD OF GOD, OR TO GO ALONG WITH WHATEVER THE PREVAILING OPINION IS.

GOD DOES NOT CHANGE, AND HIS TEACHINGS DON'T CHANGE.