First Sunday of Advent, Cycle A

MATTHEW 24:37-44

SOME OF OUR PROTESTANT FRIENDS HEAR THIS GOSPEL PASSAGE AND RELATE IT TO THE BOOK OF REVELATION; THEY SEE THIS AS JESUS PREDICTING SOMETHING CALLED “THE RAPTURE”. IF YOU READ THE BOOK OF REVELATION YOU CAN INTERPRET IT TO SUGGEST THAT BEFORE THE TERRIBLE THINGS THAT WILL HAPPEN AT THE END OF TIME, THE SAINTS, STARTING WITH THE BLESSED MOTHER, WILL BE MOVED OUT OF HARM'S WAY; ST PAUL TALKS ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE ALIVE BEING CAUGHT UP WITH THE DEAD WHO ARE RAISED AT THE TIME OF JUDGMENT. MANY FUNDAMENTALISTS EVEN THINK THEY KNOW WHERE ALL THIS IS GOING TO OCCUR, AND EVERY NOW AND THEN YOU HEAR ABOUT SOME GROUP GOING TO ISRAEL AND CLIMBING MOUNT OLIVET, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE JESUS ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN, AND THAT'S WHERE HE WILL COME AGAIN TO GATHER UP HIS SAINTS. BUT BEFORE YOU RUN OFF TO MOUNT OLIVET, WE SHOULD PROBABLY LOOK AT THIS STORY A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.

THE VERSE JUST BEFORE THE GOSPEL PASSAGE REMINDS US THAT NO ONE KNOWS THE DAY NOR THE HOUR, ONLY THE FATHER. AND THE GOSPEL READING STOPS WITH THE LINE ABOUT THE MASTER OF THE HOUSE AND THE THIEF. BUT IF WE WERE TO READ ON, WE WOULD SEE JESUS TALKING ABOUT THE FAITHFUL SERVANT WHO GIVES THE OTHER SERVANTS THEIR FOOD IN THE PROPER TIME. IMAGINE THAT. THE FAITHFUL SERVANT IS COMMENDED BECAUSE HE IS DOING EXACTLY WHAT HE SHOULD BE DOING. AND THEN WE CAN LOOK BACK AT THIS PASSAGE AND SEE THAT DURING THE TIME OF NOAH, PEOPLE WERE LIVING ORDINARY LIVES; NOT EVIL LIVES, NOT PARTICULARLY GOOD LIVES, BUT ORDINARY LIVES. JEWISH SCHOLARS SAY THAT NOAH, IN ADDITION TO BUILDING THE ARK AND ROUNDING UP ALL THE ANIMALS, PREACHED TO HIS FELLOW CITIZENS THAT THE END WAS COMING. IN THE BEGINNING, MANY BELIEVED HIM AND SOME PITCHED IN TO HELP BUILD THE ARK. AS TIME WHEN ON, AND THE END DIDN'T COME, THEY BEGAN TO GO BACK TO THEIR OLD WAYS, UNTIL ONLY NOAH AND HIS FAMILY REMAINED FAITHFUL. AND WE READ ABOUT TWO MEN OUT WORKING IN THE FIELD; ONE WILL BE TAKEN, ONE WILL BE LEFT; OR TWO WOMEN GRINDING GRAIN, ONE WILL BE TAKEN, ONE WILL BE LEFT. MAYBE IT'S THE ONES WHO ARE LEFT THAT ARE WHERE THEY SHOULD BE, NOT THE ONES WHO ARE TAKEN.

I HAD A PATIENT ONCE WHOSE SON HAD LEFT HOME SHORTLY AFTER HE TURNED EIGHTEEN. MY PATIENT HAD NOT HEARD FROM THE SON IN TWENTY YEARS; SHE DID NOT KNOW WHERE HE LIVED, OR HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH HIM. SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER HE WAS ALIVE OR DEAD. SHE TOLD ME THAT AFTER HER HUSBAND PASSED AWAY AND HER DAUGHTER HAD MARRIED AND MOVED OUT, SHE WANTED TO SELL HER HOUSE AND MOVE TO AN APARTMENT, BUT DIDN'T BECAUSE IF HER SON EVER CAME BACK, HE WOULD KNOW WHERE TO FIND HER. SHE WENT ABOUT HER DAILY ROUTINE ALWAYS KEEPING IN MIND THAT THERE MIGHT BE THAT KNOCK AT THE DOOR AND SHE WOULD SEE HIM AGAIN.

CAN IT BE THAT THIS IS WHAT JESUS IS TALKING ABOUT? THE EARLY CHRISTIANS, LIKE NOAH'S NEIGHBORS, LIVED IN ANTICIPATION OF THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS. EVERY TIME ONE OF THEM DIED OF NATURAL CAUSES OR MARTYRDOM, IT SHOOK THEIR FAITH, BECAUSE THERE WAS THE EXPECTATION THAT JESUS WAS GOING TO RETURN AND TAKE THEM ALL WITH HIM. SAINT PAUL HAD TO TELL THEM THAT IT DIDN'T MATTER IF YOU WERE ALIVE OR DEAD WHEN JESUS CAME, JUST SO YOU WERE READY. AND HERE WE ARE 2000 YEARS LATER, AND WE'VE LOST THAT SENSE OF URGENCY; FOR US THERE IS ALWAYS TOMORROW.

JESUS TELLS US TO BE PREPARED. THIS DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE SHOULD RUSH OUT TO A MOUNTAIN TOP TO WAIT; IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE SHOULD STAND ON THE STREET CORNER WITH A SIGN ON OUR BACK THAT SAYS “REPENT, THE END IS NEAR!”

SAINT ALPHONSUS LIGOURI RESOLVED WHEN HE WAS ORDAINED A PRIEST THAT HE WOULD NEVER WASTE TIME. HE DIED AT THE AGE OF 90, HAVING FOUNDED AND LED THE REDEMPTORIST RELIGIOUS ORDER, HAVING BEEN BISHOP OF NAPLES, AND HAVING WRITTEN 111 BOOKS AND OTHER WRITINGS WHICH ARE STILL READ TODAY. HE IS STILL CONSIDERED A LEADING EXPERT ON THE BLESSED MOTHER, AND ALSO ON MORAL THEOLOGY, AND WAS NAMED A DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH. SAINT ALPHONSUS SHOWS US THAT ONE OF THE THINGS SERIOUS CHRISTIANS NEED TO DO IS TO BE VERY AWARE OF HOW THEY USE THEIR TIME.

SAINT AUGUSTINE WAS ASKED WHAT HE WOULD DO IF HE KNEW THAT HE WOULD DIE BEFORE SUNDOWN. HE REPLIED THAT HE WOULD CONTINUE HOEING HIS VEGETABLE GARDEN. SAINT AUGUSTINE TEACHES US THAT WE HAVE TO LIVE INTENTIONALLY; WHEN WE CHOOSE TO DO SOMETHING, WE DO IT BECAUSE IT IS THE THING TO DO RIGHT NOW, AT THIS TIME.

AND SAINT FRANCIS DESALES TELLS US THAT IF YOU ARE THE MOTHER OF SMALL CHILDREN, YOU SHOULD NOT BE PRAYING BEFORE THE BLESSED SACRAMENT FOR SEVERAL HOURS EVERY DAY. SAINT FRANCIS TEACHES US THAT CHRISTIANS MAKE THEMSELVES HOLY BY DOING THE WORK THEY ARE CALLED TO DO, AND DOING IT AS WELL AS POSSIBLE.

WE CHRISTIANS ARE CALLED TO WITNESS THAT GOD CAME INTO THIS WORLD, HE BECAME MAN, HE LIVES IN US. WHEN I WAS GROWING UP THE TIME BEFORE CHRIST WAS DENOTED AS “B.C.” – BEFORE CHRIST – AND AFTER CHRIST IT WAS “A.D.” WHICH STANDS FOR THE YEAR OF THE LORD. NOW OF COURSE IT IS POLITICALLY CORRECT TO DENOTE THOSE TIMES AS BCE AND CE, – BEFORE THE COMMON ERA, AND THE COMMON ERA. BUT THE OLD DESIGNATION REFLECTS THE IDEA THAT FOR A CHRISTIAN, EVERYTHING CHANGED WHEN GOD BECAME MAN AT A PARTICULAR TIME AND PLACE, AMONG A PARTICULAR PEOPLE. AND WE GIVE WITNESS TO THE FACT THAT OUR WORLD IS INFUSED BY GOD BECAUSE OF THE INCARNATION IN OUR STRUGGLE TO BECOME SAINTS. WE LIVE WITNESSING THAT IT MATTERS HOW WE TREAT OUR NEIGHBORS; IT MATTERS THAT WE ARE HONEST, EVEN WHEN NO ONE WOULD KNOW; IT MATTERS HOW WE TAKE CARE OF OUR BODIES AND OUR MINDS, BECAUSE WE ARE TEMPLES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. WE CHRISTIANS WITNESS THAT EVERYTHING CHANGED WHEN GOD BECAME MAN WHEN WE CONSCIOUSLY TRY TO BRING CHRIST INTO THE WORLD THROUGH OUR IMITATION OF HIM.

IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE CHURCH, WE ARE TOLD THAT THE PAGANS SAID TO EACH OTHER, “SEE HOW THESE CHRISTIANS LOVE ONE ANOTHER!” AND YOU CAN BE SURE THAT MANY PAGANS BECAME CHRISTIANS BECAUSE THEY SAW THIS. TODAY OUR GOSPEL TELLS US THAT WE NEED TO LIVE OUR LIVES SO THAT OUR NEIGHBORS WILL SAY, “THEY REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT JESUS WILL COME AGAIN. AND THEY ARE READY.”

Christ the King, cycle C

LUKE 23:35-43

EACH OF THE GOSPELS TELLS THE STORY OF JESUS' CRUCIFIXION. ALTHOUGH THE STORIES ARE FOR THE MOST PART SIMILAR, THERE ARE IMPORTANT DIFFERENCES. IN THE GOSPEL OF MARK, IT SIMPLY SAYS THAT THEY CRUCIFIED TWO ROBBERS, OR MORE ACCURATELY, REBELS, WITH HIM. IN MATTHEW'S GOSPEL, THE TWO REBELS JOIN IN THE MOCKERY THAT IS COMING FROM THE CROWD. IN JOHN'S GOSPEL, IT SIMPLY SAYS THAT THEY CRUCIFIED HIM WITH TWO OTHERS, ONE ON THE RIGHT AND ONE ON THE LEFT. ONLY IN LUKE DO WE HAVE THE STORY YOU JUST HEARD.

ALL THE EVANGELISTS WROTE THEIR ACCOUNTS WITH THE INTENTION OF PUTTING FORTH THEIR OWN UNDERSTANDING OF WHO JESUS WAS. LUKE IS ALWAYS AT PAINS TO SHOW THAT JESUS COMES FOR THE LOWLY, THE OUTCAST, THE WIDOW AND ORPHAN – ALL THOSE AT THE MARGINS OF SOCIETY. HE ALSO MAKES IT CLEAR THAT JESUS IS THE JUST MAN, THE ONE WITHOUT FAULT, THE ONE WHO IS THE VERY EXEMPLAR OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. THE FACT THAT LUKE ALONE TELLS THIS STORY MUST MEAN THAT IT HAD SPECIAL MEANING TO HIM IN HIS OWN UNDERSTANDING OF JESUS.

THE FIRST THING TO NOTE IS THAT EVERYONE WAS MOCKING JESUS. LUKE SPECIFICALLY MENTIONS THE RULERS, WHO SAY, “HE SAVED OTHERS; LET HIM SAVE HIMSELF IF HE IS REALLY THE CHRIST OF GOD, THE CHOSEN ONE.” IN A WAY, THE RULERS LAY DOWN A CONDITION FOR BELIEF – THAT HE SAVE HIMSELF. THE SOLDIERS, WHO ARE PROBABLY NOT JEWS, PUT UP A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT CONDITION: “IF YOU ARE THE KING OF THE JEWS, SAVE YOURSELF.” THE SOLDIERS HAVE CONTEMPT FOR THE JEWS, AND BY THEIR STATEMENT, THEY ARE MOCKING NOT ONLY JESUS, BUT THE JEWS AS WELL. WE REMEMBER THE SCENE IN JOHN WHERE PILATE ORDERS THAT THE SIGN OVER JESUS' HEAD READ, “KING OF THE JEWS” AND THE JEWISH LEADERS PROTEST. PILATE SAYS, “WHAT I HAVE WRITTEN I HAVE WRITTEN.” BUT IN LUKE, WE NEVER HEAR ABOUT WHY THE SIGN IS THERE. FOR JOHN, IT REVEALS A HIDDEN TRUTH, THAT JESUS REALLY IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. FOR LUKE, IT IS SIMPLY MORE MOCKERY, A SIGN PUT THERE BY THE SOLDIERS.

FINALLY LUKE HAS ONE OF THOSE CRUCIFIED WITH JESUS JOIN IN THE MOCKERY. NOW I'M NOT SURE I WOULD CALL THIS MOCKERY. WE HAVE SOMEONE CONDEMNED TO DIE, SAYING “AREN'T YOU THE CHRIST? SAVE YOURSELF AND US!” LUKE PRECEDES THIS WITH THE STATEMENT THAT HE HAD BEEN HURLING INSULTS AT JESUS. I WONDER IF WHAT WE ARE HEARING IS DESPAIR. THE MAN HURLS INSULTS; JESUS DOESN'T REPLY. THE MAN FINALLY REALIZES THAT HE IS GOING TO DIE, AND WILL HAVE THE SAME END AS THE ONE ON THE CROSS NEXT TO HIM. BUT IN HIS DESPAIR, HE STILL REFUSES TO BELIEVE; IF YOU ARE THE CHRIST, SAVE US.

THINK OF WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF JESUS HAD COME DOWN FROM THE CROSS, IF HE HAD SAVED HIMSELF AND THOSE WHO WERE DYING WITH HIM. THE RELIGION JESUS ESTABLISHED WOULD HAVE BEEN TURBOCHARGED; EVERYONE IN JERUSALEM WOULD HAVE RUSHED TO BE BAPTIZED, SOLDIERS, RULERS, AND THIEVES ALIKE. THEY WOULD HAVE MADE JESUS KING; HOW COULD THEY NOT?

BUT JESUS DOESN'T COME DOWN FROM THE CROSS; HE CONTINUES TO WRITHE IN AGONY. AND THEN THE SO-CALLED GOOD THIEF SPEAKS. NOTICE THAT IN HIS SPEECH HE DOES THREE THINGS; FIRST, HE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT HE IS ON THE CROSS BECAUSE OF HIS OWN SINS. HE KNOWS THAT HE DESERVES THE PUNISHMENT; IT IS JUST. SECOND, HE DECLARES TO ALL THOSE WHO HEAR HIM, THAT JESUS IS INNOCENT; AND THAT JESUS IS KING. AND THIRD, HE ADMITS THAT HE HIMSELF CANNOT CONTROL WHAT HAPPENS TO HIM; ONLY JESUS HAS THAT POWER. AND THE GOOD THIEF THROWS HIMSELF ON JESUS' MERCY, AND DARES TO ASK, “REMEMBER ME WHEN YOU COME INTO YOUR KINGDOM.” THE GOOD THIEF ALONE DOES NOT DEMAND THAT JESUS SAVE HIM, OR COME DOWN FROM THE CROSS. HE ALONE PROFESSES FAITH, FAITH THAT JESUS WILL COME INTO HIS KINGDOM, FAITH THAT JESUS CAN SAVE HIM IF THAT IS HIS WILL.

LUKE WANTS US TO SEE THAT THE GOOD THIEF IS DOING WHAT EVERY CHRISTIAN HAS TO DO – YOU AND I NEED TO BE FULLY CONVINCED THAT WE ARE SINNERS, THAT WE ARE UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THAT. IF YOU DON'T THINK YOU ARE A SINNER, YOU ARE SADLY MISTAKEN. THERE ARE PEOPLE DYING BECAUSE YOU DON'T FEED THEM; THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING YOUR CLOTHES IN BANGLADESH FOR A WAGE THAT CAN BARELY FEED THEM; THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE PUTTING IN SIXTEEN HOUR DAYS HARVESTING AND PROCESSING COFFEE BEANS SO THAT YOU CAN ENJOY A CUP IN THE MORNING. EVEN IF WE LIVE EXEMPLARY LIVES, WE CAN'T HELP BUT BE PARTICIPANTS IN SIN. AND THAT IS STEP ONE.

WHEN WE FULLY REALIZE THIS, THE NEXT STEP IS TO RECOGNIZE AND INDEED PROCLAIM, THAT JESUS IS THE ANSWER. IF WE DON'T SPEAK OUT THAT WE BELIEVE, THEN JESUS HAS PROMISED THAT IF WE WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE HIM HEAR AND NOW, HE WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE US BEFORE HIS FATHER. THE GOOD THIEF SPOKE OUT, AT LEAST TO THE OTHER THIEF, THAT JESUS INNOCENT, AND THAT JESUS WAS KING. AND FINALLY, WE HAVE TO REALLY THROW OURSELVES ON HIS MERCY. MOST OF US THINK THAT BY LIVING GOOD LIVES AND AVOIDING PERSONAL SIN WE ARE OWED HEAVEN. BUT NOT SO. OUR HOPE OF BEING IN PARADISE DEPENDS ENTIRELY IN JESUS MERCY. THE GOOD THIEF KNEW THAT.

ONE COMMENTATOR POINTED OUT THAT LUKE TELLS THIS STORY SO THAT WE WILL KNOW THAT JESUS' EXTENDS HIS MERCY EVEN TO THIEVES AND REBELS, EVEN UP TO THE POINT OF DEATH. IT IS NEVER TOO LATE; AND NO ONE IS EVER SO FAR GONE THAT HE CANNOT BE RESCUED. BUT LUKE ALSO REMINDS US THAT IT IS POSSIBLE THAT WE CAN LOSE WHAT JESUS WANTS TO OFFER US; THE OTHER THIEF SHOWS US THAT EVEN IN THE PRESENCE OF JESUS, WE CAN JOIN IN THE MOCKERY, WE CAN DEMAND A MIRACLE, WE CAN REFUSE TO BELIEVE; AND WE RISK BEING LOST.

THIS GOSPEL IS GIVEN TO US ON THE SUNDAY WE ACKNOWLEDGE CHRIST AS KING. BUT WE DON'T SEE A GOLDEN CROWN OR SILKEN ROBES OR A JEWELED THRONE ROOM; WE SEE A CONDEMNED MAN DYING ON A CROSS. BUT IF WE LOOK CLOSELY, IF WE LOOK BEYOND WHAT IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF OUR EYES, WE SEE THAT THIS MAN IS IN CONTROL, THAT THIS MAN CAN ASSURE US THAT THIS DAY WE WILL BE WITH HIM IN PARADISE. THE GOOD THIEF SAW THIS. MAY YOU AND I SEE IT WHEN WE ARE DYING AS WELL.

Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle C

LUKE 21:5-19
THE CARTHUSIANS ARE A MONASTIC ORDER DERIVED FROM THE BENEDICTINE RULE, ONLY MUCH MORE STRICT. IN FRANCE ONE MONASTERY MAKES THE LIQUOR CALLED “CHARTREUSE”. ONLY FIVE MONKS KNOW THE SECRET FORMULA. UP UNTIL RECENTLY, IF YOU WERE A YOUNG MAN ENTERING THE CARTHUSIAN ORDER, YOU WOULD BUILD A CASKET, AND THAT WOULD BE WHERE YOU SLEPT UNTIL YOU DIED. THEN YOU'D BE BURIED IN THE CASKET. THIS WAS TO REMIND YOU THAT YOU WERE MORTAL, AND THAT YOU SHOULD LOOK AT EVERYTHING FROM THE PERSPECTIVE THAT YOU WILL DIE SOME DAY, AND THE WORLD WILL GO ON WITHOUT YOU. GOOD ADVICE FOR US ALL, I'M SURE. IF SOMETHING IS ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN, YOU CAN PLAN YOUR LIFE AROUND IT.
TODAY JESUS TELLS US SOMETHING ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN. THE FUTURE WILL NOT BE BETTER THAN THE PAST; EVERYTHING WE THINK IS PERMANENT, LIKE THE TEMPLE OF JERUSALEM, IS ONLY A FLASH IN THE PAN. IF WE FEEL LIKE WE ARE PRETTY SECURE NOW, PRETTY COMFORTABLE – IT WON'T BE FOREVER. WE THINK WE ARE “CIVILIZED” AND THE BAD OLD DAYS ARE BEHIND US. BUT THAT'S WHAT THEY THOUGHT IN THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE, WHICH LASTED ABOUT 500 YEARS, UNTIL IT FELL TO THE MOSLEMS; AND THE REMNANTS OF THE CHRISTIAN PEOPLE WHO ONCE MADE UP THAT EMPIRE ARE EVEN NOW BEING WIPED OUT. BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO LOOK THAT FAR BACK. LAST WEEK THE PHILLIPINE ISLANDS WERE STRUCK BY A STORM DESCRIBED AS THE MOST DEVASTATING IN HISTORY. IN ONE BRIEF MOMENT MORE THAN TEN THOUSAND PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS WERE RENDERED HOMELESS, WITHOUT LAW AND ORDER, NEAR STARVATION – AND BEFORE ORDER IS RESTORED YOU CAN BET THAT THE SUM TOTAL OF HUMAN MISERY WILL BE GREATLY INCREASED OVER WHAT IT IS NOW.
WE HUMAN BEINGS LIKE STABILITY; WHEN THE WORLD AROUND US IS STABLE AND PREDICTABLE, WE ARE FREE, TO A CERTAIN EXTENT. THE STAGE ON WHICH WE ACT OUT OUR LIVES IS ROCK SOLID. BUT WHEN THE STAGE ITSELF IS CONSTANTLY CHANGING, IT'S ENOUGH TO DRIVE US CRAZY.
JESUS' MESSAGE IS TWO-FOLD. YOUR WORLD, HE TELLS US, IS NOT REALLY STABLE. YOU MAY LIVE IN A POCKET OF STABILITY NOW, BUT DON'T BE FOOLED. THAT'S AN ILLUSION. BUT THEN HE SAYS, HIS FOLLOWERS WILL BE PERSECUTED. HE PROMISES TO BE WITH US, AND HELP US SAY THE RIGHT THINGS, BUT DOESN'T PROMISE THAT WE WILL ESCAPE THIS PERSECUTION. ARE WE BEING PERSECUTED RIGHT NOW? IN A SENSE WE ARE, BY OUR FELLOW CITIZENS, BY OUR GOVERNMENT. OUR FELLOW CITIZENS CONSIDER SOME OF OUR BELIEFS AS BACKWARD, HATEFUL, PREJUDICIAL. IF WE BELIEVE THAT SO-CALLED SAME SEX MARRIAGE IS NOT GOOD FOR SOCIETY, IT ISN'T THAT WE HAVE A RIGHT TO OUR OPINION, IT'S THAT WE AREN'T WITH THE TIMES; WE ARE BIGOTS. IF WE BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULDN'T KILL CHILDREN WHO HAVEN'T BEEN BORN YET, WE ARE AGAINST WOMENS' RIGHTS AND BECAUSE OF THAT, SHOULD NOT HAVE A SAY IN THE PUBLIC DISCOURSE. OUR GOVERNMENT PERSECUTES US WHEN IT INSISTS THAT CATHOLIC EMPLOYERS PROVIDE INSURANCE FOR ABORTION AND BIRTH CONTROL SERVICES – AGAINST THEIR CONSCIENCES. WE WILL BE, AND WE ARE BEING, PERSECUTED. OF COURSE, THERE'S A WAY TO AVOID ALL THIS. WE CAN BE SILENT, OR WE CAN DISAGREE WITH WHAT OUR TWO THOUSAND YEAR OLD CHURCH BELIEVES. AND IF WE SPEAK UP TO THE WORLD ABOUT OUR DISAGREEMENTS WITH OUR CHURCH , WE WILL BE WELCOMED AS ENLIGHTENED CATHOLICS. NUMEROUS CATHOLIC POLITICIANS DON'T SEEM TO HAVE A PROBLEM PERSONALLY ADVOCATING THINGS THE CHURCH HAS CONDEMNED, AND STILL INSISTING THEY ARE CATHOLICS. BUT IF WE ARE NOT BEING PERSECUTED, WE NEED TO ASK, ARE WE STILL PART OF JESUS' PEOPLE? HE DID PROMISE, AFTER ALL, THAT HIS FOLLOWERS WOULD BE PERSECUTED AND HANDED OVER, AND SOME EVEN BE PUT TO DEATH. IF WE ARE FAT AND HAPPY AND TOTALLY ON THE SIDE OF OUR PERMISSIVE AND AMORAL CULTURE, MAYBE WE AREN'T PART OF JESUS' FOLLOWERS.
THE SECOND PART OF JESUS' PROMISE TO US IS THAT NOT A HAIR ON OUR HEADS WILL BE DESTROYED; IF WE PERSEVERE, WE WILL SAVE OUR LIVES. JESUS JUST PROMISED THAT SOME OF US WOULD BE PUT TO DEATH; BUT THEN PROMISES THAT IF WE PERSEVERE WE WILL LIVE. THIS IS THE PROMISE THAT SO MANY MARTYRS TOOK SERIOUSLY; THIS IS THE PROMISE THAT THOSE WHO JOIN MONASTIC ORDERS HAVE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR. SO IF HE GIVES US THAT PROMISE, WHAT DOES HE WANT US TO PERSEVERE IN? WHAT IS IT, IF WE TRUST HIM, THAT WE MUST DO?
AS I READ THIS GOSPEL PASSAGE, JESUS TELLS US THAT ALL OF THIS WILL HAPPEN SO THAT WE CAN GIVE TESTIMONY; SO THAT WE CAN WITNESS TO THE WORLD THAT JESUS IS LORD, THAT HE IS THE WAY, AND THAT HIS CHURCH CARRIES OUT HIS WORK EVEN TODAY. JESUS EVEN PROMISES THAT THOSE WHO WITNESS DON'T HAVE TO PREPARE, SINCE HE WILL GIVE THEM WHAT THEY NEED TO BE WITNESSES, SO THAT THEY CAN'T BE REFUTED. THIS OF COURSE IS NO WAY OF MAKING FRIENDS AND WITNESSES OF JESUS WILL BE HATED.
I READ RECENTLY ABOUT A WOMAN NAMED ELIZABETH PILENKO, WHO LED A COMMUNIST CELL IN THE DAYS BEFORE THE CZAR WAS OVERTHROWN. AFTER LENIN TOOK OVER, SHE WAS APPALLED BY WHAT HE WAS DOING, AND SAW THAT THE CHRISTIANS IN RUSSIA WERE RISKING THEIR LIVES TO HELP THOSE WHO WERE DEVASTATED BY THE NEW GOVERNMENT'S POLICIES. SHE BECAME A CHRISTIAN, THEN BECAME A NUN, AND EVENTUALLY WAS THE SUPERIOR OF A CONVENT IN FRANCE. WHEN THE NAZIS CAME, SHE WAS PLACED IN A CONCENTRATION CAMP, WHERE SHE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH JEWS AND GYPSIES AND OTHERS WHO WERE BEING SYSTEMATICALLY WIPED OUT. ONE DAY A MOTHER AND HER CHILD WERE TOLD THAT ONE OF THEM WAS SLATED FOR THE NEXT MASS EXECUTION. MOTHER MARIA STEPPED FORWARD AND OFFERED HERSELF INSTEAD. SHE WAS TAKEN OFF AND EXECUTED, ALONG WITH THE OTHERS WHO HAD BEEN SINGLED OUT.
SHE HAD HEARD JESUS' PROMISES; SHE HAD BORN WITNESS; SHE HAD BEEN HATED AS A RESULT; AND SHE HAD BEEN PUT TO DEATH. SHE WENT TO HER DEATH TRUSTING THAT NOT A HAIR ON HER HEAD WOULD BE HARMED AND THAT SHE WOULD SAVE HER LIFE.
THAT'S ALL THAT JESUS ASKS OF YOU AND I – TO BELIEVE HIS PROMISES. AND IF WE DO BELIEVE, IT WON'T BE A PROBLEM TO STAND UP TO OUR SOCIETY, EVEN IF WE ARE IMPRISONED, EVEN IF WE ARE PUT TO DEATH.

Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle C

LUKE 20:27-38

RECENTLY ONE OF MY COUSINS DIED AFTER, AS THEY SAY, A LONG ILLNESS. HE’D GROWN UP ON A FARM, BUT WENT TO COLLEGE AND GOT A GRADUATE DEGREE AND WORKED FOR A TIME AS AN ENGINEER. BUT THE LURE OF THE FARM WAS TOO GREAT, AND WHEN HIS DAD RETIRED, HE MOVED HIS FAMILY BACK TO MONTANA AND SPENT THE REST OF HIS LIFE RUNNING THE FARM. HE USED TO JOKE THAT IF SOMEONE GAVE HIM A MILLION DOLLARS, HE WOULD KEEP ON FARMING UNTIL IT WAS ALL GONE. YOU HAVE TO REALLY LIKE FARMING TO BE A FARMER, I GUESS. HE USED TO WRITE STORIES ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCES AND SEND THEM TO HIS COUSINS. EVENTUALLY TRAGEDY STRUCK, AND HE BECAME MORE AND MORE HELPLESS, UNTIL HE WAS BEDRIDDEN, BREATHING THROUGH A HOLE IN HIS NECK. AND THEN HE DIED.

WHENEVER SOMEONE CLOSE DIES, I CAN’T HELP BUT WONDER. IS THAT ALL THERE IS? OF COURSE I BELIEVE IN LIFE AFTER DEATH, BUT WHAT DOES THAT REALLY MEAN? WE CATHOLICS ARE CONDITIONED TO BELIEVE THAT DEATH IS NOT THE END, AND WE THINK THAT IS A PRETTY MUCH UNIVERSAL HUMAN IDEA, BUT IT’S NOT. JUST AS IN OUR TIME, IN THE TIME OF JESUS, THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO DID NOT BELIEVE IN LIFE AFTER DEATH. SADDUCEES WERE ACTUALLY THE CONSERVATIVE ONES. THEY ONLY READ THE FIRST FIVE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE, AND IF YOU COMB THROUGH THOSE FIVE BOOKS, YOU WON’T FIND ANY MENTION OF LIFE AFTER DEATH, SO THE SADDUCEES DID NOT BELIEVE IN IT EITHER. THE PHARISEES, INFLUENCED PERHAPS BY OTHER CULTURES AND BY LATER WRITINGS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, DID BELIEVE, AND SO DID JESUS AND HIS FRIENDS. REMEMBER WHEN JESUS CALLED LAZARUS BACK FROM THE DEAD? MARTHA IN ANSWER TO HIS QUESTION ADMITTED HER OWN BELIEF IN THE RESURRECTION. BUT BELIEF IN RESURRECTION ALWAYS LEADS TO WHAT DOES THAT REALLY MEAN?

WE CATHOLICS TEND TO THINK ABOUT LIFE AFTER DEATH AS A STATE WHERE OUR SOUL LEAVES OUR BODY AND ENDS UP IN HEAVEN, PURGATORY, OR HELL. THAT’S NOT TOO BIG A STRETCH -- AFTER ALL NO ONE HAS SEEN A SOUL, AND SINCE IT DOESN’T TAKE UP SPACE AND IS NOT “MATERIAL” WE DON’T HAVE TO WONDER WHERE GOD IS GOING TO PUT ALL OF THEM. BUT OFFICIAL CHURCH TEACHING IS THAT ULTIMATELY OUR SOULS WILL BE ANIMATING OUR BODIES AGAIN -- BODIES THAT WILL BE CHANGED, OF COURSE, BUT WILL BE CONTINUOUS WITH THE BODY WE HAVE RIGHT NOW. AND WE BELIEVE THAT MARY HAS ALREADY GONE THROUGH THIS PROCESS; HER BODY IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD AND HER SOUL ANIMATES THAT BODY.

AND THAT RAISES ALL KINDS OF QUESTIONS. WHAT HAPPENS IF THE BODY WAS CREMATED? OR WORSE YET, THE BODY IS RETURNED TO ITS ELEMENTS, BECOMES FERTILIZER FOR PLANTS, WHICH IN TURN ARE EATEN BY LIVESTOCK, WHICH ARE EATEN BY PEOPLE, THUS BECOMING ANOTHER BODY? SORTING ALL THAT OUT IS TRULY A TASK ONLY GOD COULD DO.

BUT BELIEF IN RESURRECTION IS NOT REALLY ABOUT HOW IT WILL BE, WHETHER OUR RISEN BODY CAN WALK THROUGH WALLS OR FLY AROUND LIKE SUPERMAN OR TELEPORT LIKE THE PEOPLE ON STAR TREK. IT ISN’T ABOUT WHAT WE WILL EAT AND WHAT WE WILL WEAR. IT’S REALLY ABOUT JUSTICE.

WE BELIEVE GOD IS ULTIMATELY JUST. YET WE LOOK AROUND AND DON’T SEE ANY. AND THAT’S NOT A NEW PROBLEM EITHER. IN FACT WHEN YOU GO BACK TO THE STORY OF CAIN AND ABEL GOD TELLS CAIN THAT ABEL’S BLOOD HAS BEEN CRYING OUT TO HIM. AND IN ANSWER TO THAT CRY, GOD PUNISHES CAIN. AND ABRAHAM NEARLY SACRIFICES HIS SON IN OBEDIENCE TO GOD, AND IS REWARDED -- NOT WITH ETERNAL LIFE, BUT WITH RICHES AND LONG LIFE, AND OF COURSE, WITH THE PROMISE OF DESCENDANTS MORE NUMERABLE THAN THE STARS IN THE SKY.

THE SADDUCEES MAY NOT HAVE BELIEVE IN LIFE AFTER DEATH, BUT THEY DID BELIEVE THAT GOD WAS JUST, AND SOMEHOW JUSTICE WOULD BE SERVED. THE PHARISEES REALIZED THAT JUSTICE DEMANDED MORE THAN THAT; IT DEMANDED THAT THE PERSON REWARDED OR PUNISHED HAD TO BE AROUND IN SOME WAY OR IT DIDN’T REALLY COUNT AS JUSTICE. AND JESUS ROUNDLY ENDORSES THAT, NOT ONLY HERE BUT ULTIMATELY BY RISING FROM THE DEAD HIMSELF. BUT JESUS ALSO TELLS US THAT IT’S USELESS TO SPECULATE ABOUT HOW IT WILL BE, EXCEPT TO SAY IT WON’T BE LIKE ANYTHING WE CAN RELATE TO. THERE WON’T BE MARRYING OR BEING GIVEN IN MARRIAGE; WE WILL BE LIKE ANGELS, WHATEVER THAT MEANS. SAINT PAUL TALKS ABOUT HIS OWN VISION WHEN HE WAS SNATCHED UP TO THE SEVENTH HEAVEN, AND PROCLAIMED “EYE HAS NOT SEEN, NOR EAR HEARD, NEITHER HAVE ENTERED INTO THE HEART OF MAN, THE THINGS WHICH GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THEM THAT LOVE HIM.”

AND THAT SHOULD CONTENT US, THOSE OF US WHO HAVE LOST A LOVED ONE, THOSE OF US, ALL OF US, WHO WILL SOMEDAY CROSS THAT THRESHOLD. IF WE CAN BELIEVE IN OUR HEARTS THAT GOD IS JUST, THEN WE NEEDN’T HAVE A FEAR OF DEATH, BECAUSE JESUS HAS SATISFIED GOD’S JUSTICE AND TURNED IT INTO MERCY, IF ONLY WE CLAIM IT.

MY COUSIN MARRIED A WONDERFUL WOMAN, RAISED A FAMILY, WORKED HARD, TREATED OTHER PEOPLE DECENTLY, PARTICIPATED IN THE SACRAMENTAL LIFE OF THE CHURCH. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO BY ANY STANDARDS HAVE DONE A LOT LESS AND YET HAVE A LOT MORE; AND OF COURSE THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD WHO WORKED HARDER, PRAYED MORE FERVENTLY, LOVED MORE DEEPLY -- BUT SOMEHOW THEIR LIVES ARE MISERABLE. THERE IS NO JUSTICE HERE.

IF GOD IS JUST, AND THERE IS NO JUSTICE HERE, THEN THERE HAS TO BE RESURRECTION. IF THOSE OF US WHO LOVED MY COUSIN COULD BRING HIM BACK, NOT AS HE WAS AT THE END, BUT IN THE PRIME OF LIFE, WOULDN’T WE DO SO? BUT GOD CAN, AND GOD WILL, BECAUSE HE LOVES MY COUSIN EVEN NOW, HIS BODY, NOT JUST HIS SOUL; AND HE IS THE GOD OF THE LIVING.

ALL THROUGH THE NEW TESTAMENT THE GOOD NEWS OF THE RESURRECTION SHINES THROUGH EVERY PAGE -- NOT JUST THAT OF JESUS, BUT YOURS AND MINE. AND AT THE VERY END IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION, WE HEAR THOSE WONDERFUL WORDS: “‘HE WILL WIPE EVERY TEAR FROM THEIR EYES. THERE WILL BE NO MORE DEATH’ OR MOURNING OR CRYING OR PAIN, FOR THE OLD ORDER OF THINGS HAS PASSED AWAY.”

SO THINK ABOUT THOSE THINGS THIS WEEK, AND ABOUT YOUR OWN LOVED ONES WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY. AND LET YOURSELF BE JOYFUL KNOWING THAT IN GOD THEY LIVE AND WILL ALWAYS LIVE, AND SO DO WE AS WELL.

Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle C

LUKE 19:1-10

DO YOU REMEMBER THAT MOVIE CALLED “AS GOOD AS IT GETS?” JACK NICHOLSON PLAYS A WRITER WHO IS FULL OF NEUROSES AND OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE PROBLEMS. HE EVENTUALLY MEETS A SINGLE MOTHER AND FALLS IN LOVE WITH HER. HE EVENTUALLY TELLS HER THAT HE IS GOING TO GIVE HER A COMPLIMENT. HE SAYS THAT HIS DOCTOR PRESCRIBED SOME PILLS FOR HIM THAT WOULD HELP HIM WITH HIS BEHAVIOR, BUT HE ABSOLUTELY HATES TO TAKE PILLS. SHE ASKS, “HOW IS THAT A COMPLIMENT?” HE REPLIES, “THIS MORNING I TOOK A PILL. YOU MAKE ME WANT TO BE A BETTER MAN.”

LOVE ISN'T LOVE UNLESS IT CHANGES YOU. THINK OF HOW NEW PARENTS CHANGE THEIR BEHAVIOR WHEN THEY ARE EXPECTING A BABY. THE EXPECTANT MOTHER BEGINS TO WORRY ABOUT WHAT SHE EATS AND DRINKS; THE FATHER BEGINS TO THINK ABOUT WHETHER HE WILL BE ABLE TO SUPPORT HIS FAMILY AND WHAT HE SHOULD DO TO MAKE THAT MORE LIKELY. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE HONEYMOON ARE OVER AND REAL LIFE MOVES IN ALL BECAUSE OF LOVE. OR EVEN THINK ABOUT WHEN THIS COUPLE FELL IN LOVE. HE PROBABLY BEGAN TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO HOW HE DRESSED, AND MAYBE INCREASED THE NUMBER OF SHOWERS HE TOOK EACH WEEK. SHE SPENT A LITTLE MORE TIME LOOKING IN THE MIRROR BEFORE A DATE, AND TRIED TO SHED THOSE FIVE EXTRA POUNDS THAT SHE PUT ON.

OR THINK ABOUT THE ORIGINS OF THE FRANCISCANS, OR THE JESUITS, OR ANY NUMBER OF OTHER ORDERS. IT WASN'T ONLY LOVE OF GOD THAT LED PEOPLE TO JOIN; IT WAS SOMETHING ABOUT THE FOUNDER THAT ATTRACTED THEM TO THAT PARTICULAR ORDER. IT WAS A SORT OF LOVE.

JESUS WAS ALWAYS BRINGING ABOUT CHANGE; MEN AND WOMEN LOVED HIM AND CHANGED. THE APOSTLES LEFT EVERYTHING TO FOLLOW HIM; WE REMEMBER THE WOMAN WHO WAS ABOUT TO BE STONED FOR ADULTERY; HER LIFE WAS LITERALLY SAVED BECAUSE OF THE ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS. AND TODAY WE READ ABOUT ANOTHER SUCH ENCOUNTER – A SHORT RICH TAX COLLECTOR WHO FELT THE URGE TO SEE JESUS AND CLIMBED A TREE. AND THE RESULT OF THIS ENCOUNTER WAS A CHANGE IN THE TAX COLLECTOR'S HEART – HE INTENDED TO GIVE HALF HIS WEALTH AWAY, AND MAKE SURE THAT HE HAD DEFRAUDED NO ONE. HIS ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS DID NOT JUST CHANGE HIM, IT CHANGED THE PEOPLE WHO RECEIVED THE PRODUCT OF HIS GENEROSITY, AND JESUS HIMSELF PROMISES NOT ONLY THAT SALVATION WOULD COME TO ZACCHEUS, BUT TO HIS WHOLE HOUSEHOLD. ALL BECAUSE ZACCHEUS WANTED TO SEE JESUS AND WENT TO THE TROUBLE OF CLIMBING A TREE. HOW MUCH DID GOD DO FOR THIS MAN, WHO DID SO LITTLE TO DESERVE IT?

MY GRANDFATHER, WHO WAS A FALLEN AWAY MORMON, USED TO SAY THAT HE FELT CLOSEST TO GOD WHEN HE WAS FISHING OR HIKING IN THE HILLS OF MONTANA. AND WE ALL PROBABLY HAVE OUR FAVORITE WAY TO FEEL CLOSE TO GOD – ONE OF MINE IS TO TAKE A GOOD LONG RIDE ON MY BICYCLE. AFTER ALL, GOD IS EVERYWHERE, AND WE CAN ENCOUNTER HIM IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCE. SO COULD ZACCHEUS; SO COULD THE APOSTLES. I THINK IT'S INTERESTING THAT AFTER THE RESURRECTION WHEN THE APOSTLES DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO NEXT, PETER ANNOUNCED “I AM GOING FISHING.” HE KNEW THAT IF HE SLIPPED INTO THE OLD GROOVE OF WORKING THE NETS AND STEERING THE BOAT, HE WOULD FEEL AT HOME. BUT ALTHOUGH WE CAN AND SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD WHEREVER WE ARE, IT ISN'T THE SAME THING AS ENCOUNTERING CHRIST, THE GOD, CHRIST THE MAN. AND JESUS LEFT US THE SACRAMENT OF THE EUCHARIST PRECISELY SO THAT WE COULD ENCOUNTER HIM IN A SPECIFIC WAY, IN A SPECIFIC PLACE.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT HOW WE LOVE JESUS; BUT IF JACK NICHOLSON STAYED IN HIS APARTMENT HE COULD LOVE HELEN HUNT ALL HE WANTED TO, BUT NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN. IT WAS ONLY WHEN HE CAME INTO HER PRESENCE THAT THE LOVE COULD BEGIN TO BLOSSOM. AND WE CATHOLICS BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS REALLY AND TRULY PRESENT IN THE EUCHARIST, JUT AS HE WAS PRESENT TO ZACCHEUS 2000 YEARS AGO. AND YET, WE'VE DEFINITELY LOST SOMETHING IN THAT WE DON'T ACT LIKE WE BELIEVE THAT. WE AREN'T WILLING TO CLIMB THE TREE TO SEE HIM; WE SHOW UP FOR OUR WEEKLY MASS, AND THAT'S A WONDERFUL THING – BUT HE'S HERE IN THE TABERNACLE ALL THE TIME, AND DURING SPECIAL TIMES, LIKE EVERY TUESDAY AND ON FIRST FRIDAYS, HE IS VISIBLE TO US; HE IS PRESENT TO US; HE IS THERE TO LOVE US AND HELP US DEEPEN OUR OWN LOVE FOR HIM.

SOME PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH ALL THAT SILENCE SITTING ON A HARD PEW. BUT THE BEAUTY OF ADORATION IS THAT IT DOESN'T DEMAND ANYTHING FROM US BUT OUR PRESENCE; JESUS IS REALLY PRESENT, WE NEED TO BE REALLY PRESENT. TWO FRIENDS CAN HANG OUT TOGETHER WITHOUT TALKING; LOVERS CAN BE DOING THEIR OWN THINGS BUT IN THE PRESENCE OF EACH OTHER THERE IS SOMETHING EXTRA. AND THAT'S WHAT ADORATION IS ALL ABOUT. BRING A BOOK; ORGANIZE YOUR WEEK; DAYDREAM; TELL HIM WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND IF YOU WANT. LOOK WHAT HAPPENED TO ZACCHEUS AND ALL HE DID WAS CLIMB A TREE. THINK OF THE POSSIBILITIES IF YOU BEGIN MAKING A TIME TO COME INTO THIS CHURCH FOR A HALF-HOUR OR SO ONCE A WEEK TO BE IN THE REAL PRESENCE OF JESUS.

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle C

LUKE 18:9-14

DID YOU HEAR THE STORY OF THE LITTLE GIRL WHO CAME HOME FROM SCHOOL ONE DAY ALL EXCITED. “THEY VOTED ME THE PRETTIEST GIRL IN THE CLASS!”, SHE SAID. THE NEXT DAY, SAME THING; “THEY VOTED ME THE MOST POPULAR GIRL IN THE CLASS!” ON THE THIRD DAY, SHE WAS EVEN MORE EXCITED. “TODAY THEY VOTED ME THE MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED!” THE NEXT DAY SHE CAME HOME CRYING. HER MOTHER SAID, “I GATHER SOMEONE ELSE WON THE VOTE TODAY.” “NO” SAID THE GIRL, “I WON. I WAS VOTED THE MOST STUCK UP.”

JESUS ONCE SAID THAT NO MAN WHO LIGHTS A LAMP PUTS IT UNDER A BUSHEL; INSTEAD HE PUTS IT ON A LAMP STAND SO THAT ALL THAT ENTER WILL SEE THE LIGHT. AND HE ALSO SAID, “LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE BEFORE MEN, THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS AND GLORIFY YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN. MOTHER THERESA ACCEPTED THE NOBEL PRIZE FOR HER WORK AMONG THE POOR AND FORGOTTEN IN INDIA. AND DOWN THROUGH THE AGES WE'VE GOT MANY SAINTS WHO DID NOT HIDE THE FACT THAT THEY DID EXTRAORDINARILY GOOD WORKS.

THE PHARISEE IN THE STORY JESUS TOLD SEEMS TO BE DOING THE SAME THING. WE KNOW THAT PHARISEES WERE PEOPLE WHO WERE FULLY COMMITTED TO NOT ONLY OBEYING THE LAW, BUT SORT OF MOVING THE LAW INTO THEMSELVES. THIS PHARISEE TITHES, SO HE IS GIVING MORE OF HIS INCOME TO HIS RELIGION AND HIS CHARITIES THAN MOST OF US DO; AND HE FASTS, WHICH IS A PROFOUND RELIGIOUS ACT THAT MANY CHRISTIANS HAVE COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN ABOUT. AND YOU COULD PROBABLY CHECK ON THIS PHARISEE AND FIND THAT HE LIVED AN EXEMPLARY LIFE. SO WHAT IS THE PROBLEM HERE? PHARISEES WORE SPECIAL CLOTHING AS THEY WENT ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS; WHAT THEY WORE WAS BASED UPON WHAT WAS WRITTEN IN THE FIVE HOLY BOOKS OF MOSES. IF YOU PUT ON THOSE CLOTHES IN THAT SOCIETY, YOU WERE INVITING PEOPLE TO WATCH YOUR EVERY MOVE, AND IF YOU BROKE EVEN A SMALL COMMANDMENT, YOU WERE CONDEMNED AS A HYPOCRITE. AND THIS PHARISEE, PERHAPS, IS GLAD THAT HE IS NOT LIKE MOST OTHER MEN, GLAD THAT HE HAS THE STRENGTH AND WILL-POWER TO OBEY THE LAW DOWN TO THE LAST LITTLE DETAIL. AND MAYBE HE THINKS, BY PRAYING HIS PRAYER OUT LOUD, THAT SOME OF THE OTHER PEOPLE IN THE TEMPLE MIGHT SAY, “IF THAT GUY CAN DO IT, MAYBE I CAN DO IT AS WELL.”

AND THE TAX COLLECTOR. TAX COLLECTORS FIRST OF ALL WORKED FOR THE ROMANS. THE ROMANS WOULD GO INTO A VILLAGE AND APPOINT ONE OR MORE TAX COLLECTORS. THIS WAS AN ENVIABLE POSITION FROM A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT, EVEN THOUGH YOU'D BE KICKED OUT OF POLITE SOCIETY. THE WAY THINGS WORKED IS THAT YOU WENT OUT WITH A FEW ROMAN SOLDIERS AND YOU LOOKED OVER YOUR NEIGHBOR'S CROPS, OR HIS VINEYARDS OR HIS OLIVE TREES, OR WHATEVER HE DID TO MAKE A LIVING. YOU MADE AN ESTIMATE ABOUT HOW MUCH THIS WAS WORTH AND YOU CALCULATED THE PERCENTAGE OWED TO THE ROMANS. AND YOU THREW IN A LITTLE EXTRA, BECAUSE THAT'S HOW YOU MADE YOUR LIVING. TAX COLLECTORS GOT PART OF WHAT THEY COLLECTED. AND SINCE THE AVERAGE CITIZEN COULDN'T READ OR WRITE, AND SINCE THE ROMAN SOLDIERS WERE THERE TO ENFORCE YOUR DECISIONS, IT WAS A PRETTY NICE TRADE, AND EASY TO CHEAT ON. PEOPLE DIDN'T BECOME TAX COLLECTORS BECAUSE THEY WERE RELIGIOUS, OR GIVEN TO GREAT HONESTY. THEY BECAME TAX COLLECTORS TO GET RICH. AND YET OUR TAX COLLECTOR GOES HOME “JUSTIFIED.” ALL BECAUSE HE BEGS GOD FOR MERCY.

SO WHAT GIVES? IS JESUS SAYING THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE LIKE THE PHARISEE, AND WE SHOULD HIDE OUR LIGHT UNDER A BUSHEL? IS JESUS SAYING THAT WE SHOULD BE LIKE THE TAX COLLECTOR, AND NO MATTER HOW BADLY WE SIN, JUST CALL OUT FOR MERCY AND ALL WILL BE FORGIVEN? I DON'T THINK EITHER IS THE CASE.

IF YOU ARE REALLY HONEST WITH YOURSELF – I DON'T CARE WHO YOU ARE, EVEN IF YOU ARE A WALKING SAINT – YOU HAVE TO ADMIT YOU COULD BE BETTER. YOUR PRAYER LIFE COULD STAND AN OVERHAUL. YOU COULD BE A BETTER HUSBAND OR WIFE, OR MOTHER OR FATHER. IN THE COURSE OF YOUR DAY, DID YOU CUT A CORNER HERE AND THERE? HOW ABOUT YOUR DIET, YOUR EXERCISE – COULD THAT USE A LITTLE WORK? HAVE YOU CALLED YOUR MOTHER LATELY? ANY FRIENDS YOU'VE NEGLECTED, OR COMPLEMENTS YOU HAVEN'T GIVEN? WHEN I LOOK AT WHAT COULD BE VERSUS WHAT IS, I KNOW I COULD DO BETTER. AND THAT'S THE ONLY COMPARISON THAT MATTERS. THE PHARISEE THINKS GOD GRADES ON A CURVE, AND AS LONG AS THERE ARE TAX COLLECTORS AROUND, HE'S GOT NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. BUT THE TAX COLLECTOR LOOKS AT HIMSELF, AND SEES THE GREAT GAP BETWEEN WHAT HE IS AND WHAT HE COULD BE. THE PHARISEE IS OF THE OPINION THAT HE DESERVES GOD'S FAVOR, BECAUSE HE'S BEEN SO GOOD AT KEEPING THE LAW. THE TAX COLLECTOR KNOWS THAT THE ONLY WAY HE'S GOING TO MAKE IT IS IF GOD IS MERCIFUL TO HIM; THERE'S NOTHING HE CAN DO, NOTHING AT ALL, TO MAKE GOD GIVE HIM A PORTION OF THE WORLD TO COME.

IT'S HARD GOING THROUGH A DAY WITHOUT AT LEAST MOMENTARILY CONTRASTING YOURSELF WITH SOMEONE ELSE; IT'S AN INSTINCT.. IF SOMEONE IS CLEARLY BETTER THAN I AM AT SOMETHING I TREASURE, I'LL FIND SOMETHING IN HIM THAT PALES IN COMPARISON TO ME. AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN GIVEN HUGE BLESSINGS – GREAT HEALTH, A GOOD MIND, A GREAT FAMILY, AND A LOT OF LUCK – AND FOR THEM IT'S EVEN HARDER TO NOT SAY, “THANK GOD I AM NOT LIKE THE REST OF MEN”. THE PHARISEE'S SIN IS NOT THAT HE IS BRAGGING OR SHOWING OFF. HIS SIN IS THAT HE IS NOT LOOKING AT HOW FAR HE HAS TO GO. THE TAX COLLECTOR MIGHT KNOW HE IS IN A HOLE HE CAN NEVER DIG OUT OF, BUT HIS EYES ARE FIXED ON WHAT IS STILL NEEDED IN HIS OWN LIFE. JESUS SAID, “BE PERFECT AS YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER IS PERFECT.” THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO PRAY ABOUT, THAT'S THE COMPARISON WE NEED TO MAKE WHEN WE ARE AT PRAYER. SAINT PAUL TOLD HIS FOLLOWERS TO BE IMITATORS OF HIM. THAT SOUNDS LIKE BRAGGING, BUT SAINT PAUL GOES ON TO SAY “AS I AM AN IMITATOR OF CHRIST.” HE KNEW HE STILL HAD A LONG WAY TO GO, BUT HE ALSO KNEW THAT HE WAS A GOOD EXAMPLE TO HIS NEW CONVERTS.

SO LIVE LIKE THE PHARISEE, KEEPING ALL THE COMMANDMENTS TO THE LETTER; TITHE AND FAST AND KEEP ON STRIVING TO BE BETTER TOMORROW THAN YOU WERE TODAY. AND EACH DAY FOCUS ON WHAT STILL STANDS IN THE WAY OF YOU AND PERFECTION. IF YOU ARE ANYTHING LIKE ANY OF THE SAINTS YOU KNOW YOU WON'T REACH PERFECTION IN THIS LIFE; BUT WORKING TOWARDS PERFECTION IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT. AND WHEN YOU ARE TEMPTED TO COMPARE YOURSELF TO SOMEONE ELSE, COMPARE YOURSELF INSTEAD TO WHAT YOU COULD BE IF YOUR REALLY WORKED AT IT. AND THEN CALL OUT FOR GOD'S MERCY, BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY HOPE YOU AND I HAVE.

Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle C

LUKE 18:1-8

HOW DO WE INTERPRET JESUS' PARABLE TODAY? I GUESS THE OBVIOUS ANSWER IS THAT HE IS TELLING US THAT WE SHOULD BE VERY PERSISTENT IN OUR PRAYER. JESUS GAVE MANY OTHER TEACHINGS ABOUT PRAYER – HE GAVE US THE LORD'S PRAYER AS A MODEL; HE TOLD US THAT WHATEVER WE ASKED FOR WOULD BE GIVEN TO US; HE TOLD US ANOTHER PARABLE ABOUT A MAN WHO WENT TO HIS NEIGHBOR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT TO BORROW A LOAF OF BREAD, AND ENDED UP BANGING DOWN THE DOOR UNTIL THE NEIGHBOR GOT UP. AND HE GAVE US THAT WONDERFUL INSTRUCTION, “ASK AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU, SEEK AND YOU WILL FIND, KNOCK AND IT WILL BE OPEN TO YOU.” THESE ARE ALL WONDERFUL WORDS, BUT IF YOU ARE LIKE ME, YOU DON'T SEE THESE THINGS HAPPENING; YOU KNOW OF A MOTHER WHO HAS PRAYED FOR HER CHILD'S LIFE – AND THE CHILD DIED. WASN'T SHE PERSISTENT ENOUGH? IF YOU ARE LIKE ME, YOU TAKE REFUGE IN TAGGING “THY WILL BE DONE” ONTO ALL YOUR PRAYERS, EVEN IF YOU DON'T ACTUALLY SAY THE WORDS, BECAUSE THAT GIVES GOD AN OUT. YOU SAY, “GOD ALWAYS ANSWERS PRAYERS, BUT SOMETIMES THE ANSWER IS NO.” I'M ALWAYS TROUBLED BY WHAT JESUS SAYS ABOUT PRAYER, AND MY OWN EXPERIENCE WITH PRAYER.

SURE, EVERY NOW AND THEN YOU SEE A GLIMMER OF GOD BREAKING THROUGH. PEOPLE PRAY FOR A YOUNG PRIEST WHO SEEMS TO BE DYING, AND HE TURNS THE CORNER! A MAN OUT OF WORK PRAYS FOR A JOB TO TAKE CARE OF HIS FAMILY, AND THE VERY NEXT DAY GETS A GREAT OFFER. I'VE HAD MOMENTS LIKE THAT; ONCE IN A BLUE MOON IT SEEMS AS THOUGH GOD DOES HEAR MY PRAYER AND ANSWERS IT. BUT THOSE MOMENTS ONLY EMPHASIZE THE MANY MANY TIMES I'VE PRAYER AND THE ANSWER, IF ANY, IS VERY SUBTLE – OR MAYBE IT IS “NO”. AND YET, JESUS PRAYERS WERE ALWAYS ANSWERED, ALWAYS EXCEPT THAT TIME IN THE GARDEN WHEN HE PRAYED, “LET THIS CUP PASS FROM ME – BUT ADDED – NOT MY WILL, BUT YOURS BE DONE.” BUT EVEN THERE, WE KNOW THAT JESUS HAD KNOWN THAT WHEN HE WENT DOWN TO JERUSALEM HE WASN'T COMING BACK; EVEN HIS APOSTLES KNEW THAT. AFTER TRYING TO PERSUADE HIM NOT TO GO, THOMAS SAID, “LET US GO DOWN WITH HIM AND DIE WITH HIM.” THAT PRAYER IN THE GARDEN JUST PROVED THAT JESUS WAS HUMAN, NOT THAT HE WANTED TO AVOID WHAT HE WAS SENT TO EARTH FOR.

SOME PROTESTANTS TALK ABOUT “ASKING PRAYER.” IT WORKS SOMETHING LIKE THIS. FIRST, YOU HAVE TO ASK. THE WIDOW ASKED FOR A JUST DECISION AGAINST HER ADVERSARY. THE POINT IS THAT SHE WAS OWED THIS DECISION; SHE WASN'T ASKING FOR A GOLD-PLATED MULE OR AN IVORY PALACE. THE POINT OF ASKING PRAYER IS THAT GOD HAS ALREADY SET EVERYTHING IN MOTION AND IS EAGER FOR YOU TO ASK SO THAT IT CAN BE GIVEN TO YOU. AND GOD PROMPTS YOU TO ASK. SOMETIMES WE PRAY ROTE PRAYERS, HARDLY KNOWING WHAT WE ARE SAYING; SOMETIMES WE PRAY FOR STUFF, FOR FAVORS, OFTEN FOR GOOD THINGS; AND SOMETIMES WE PRAY WITH NO EXPECTATION THAT OUR PRAYER WILL BE ANSWERED, AND THAT'S NOT A PRAYER AT ALL. THE FIRST STEP IS TO LISTEN TO WHAT GOD IS ASKING US TO PRAY FOR AND THEN ASK FOR IT.

SECOND YOU HAVE TO SEEK. THE WIDOW KEEPS COMING TO THE JUDGE. SHE DOESN'T CONDEMN HIM, DOESN'T GO OFF AND DESPAIR; PRETTY SOON THE JUDGE KNOWS THIS WIDOW; SHE BECOMES REAL TO HIM, NOT JUST ANOTHER STREET PERSON. A RELATIONSHIP IS FORMED; TWO HUMAN BEINGS OPEN UP A LITTLE TO EACH OTHER. JESUS TELLS US TO PRAY “IN HIS NAME” THIS MEANS WE ARE TO PRAY IN THE MIND OF CHRIST. WE DON'T SAY, “LORD, PLEASE FIND ME A JOB.” WE SAY, “LORD, HERE IS A NEED. HOW DO YOU WANT ME TO PRAY ABOUT IT?” SAINT PAUL SAID THAT HE PRAYED THREE TIMES THAT AN ILLNESS WOULD BE LIFTED, AND THE LORD FINALLY REPLIED, “MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU, FOR POWER IS PERFECTED IN WEAKNESS.” PAUL THEN GLORIED IN THE WEAKNESS HE HAD, BECAUSE HE HAD COME TO KNOW THE MIND OF CHRIST.

THIRD, YOU HAVE TO KNOCK. THE WIDOW'S PERSISTENCE MAKES THE JUDGE FEARFUL THAT SHE MIGHT DO VIOLENCE TO HIM, AND HE FINALLY RELENTS. WHAT IS THE POINT OF PRAYING OVER AND OVER AGAIN FOR THE SAME THING? DOESN'T GOD HEAR US THE FIRST TIME? BUT WE SEE THROUGHOUT SCRIPTURE THAT THE GREAT FIGURES OFTEN PRAY REPEATEDLY; THE STORY OF MOSES HOLDING UP HIS STAFF WITH THE HELP OF HIS AIDS SHOWS US ABOUT THIS KNOCKING. WHEN HE HELD THE STAFF UP, THE ISRAELITES GOT THE BETTER OF THE FIGHT, BUT WHEN HE COULDN'T HOLD IT UP ANYMORE, THEY BEGAN TO LOSE. PERSISTENT PRAYER DOESN'T CHANGE GOD'S MIND. BUT IT DOES RELEASE SPIRITUAL ENERGY. EVEN THOUGH GOD MIGHT WISH TO ANSWER OUR PRAYERS, THERE ARE BARRIERS. WE MAY PRAY FOR THE RECOVERY OF A CHILD FROM A LIFE-THREATENING ILLNESS; BUT THE CHILD AT SOME LEVEL MIGHT BE PRAYING TO BE UNITED TO GOD. WE MIGHT PRAY THAT A FRIEND RETURNS TO THE CHURCH. BUT GOD WOULD NEVER STAND IN THE WAY OF THE FREE WILL HE'S GIVEN THAT FRIEND. SOMETIMES THESE BARRIERS CAN BE OVERCOME, AND PERHAPS THE KNOCKING, THE REPETITIOUS PRAYER, RELEASES THAT KIND OF ENERGY. IT WORKED FOR THE WIDOW; SHE STARTED WITH A JUDGE THAT DID NOT FEAR GOD OR MAN, BUT ENDED UP WITH A JUDGE WHO COULD NO LONGER DENY HER JUSTICE. WHAT HAPPENED? THE JUDGE WAS CHANGED. WE CAN'T CHANGE GOD, BUT WE CAN CHANGE WHAT IS KEEPING GOD FROM ACTING – BECAUSE INDEED GOD LIMITS HIMSELF OUT OF LOVE FOR US.

JESUS SAYS THAT OUR PERSISTENCE WILL PAY OFF. WE WHO ARE GOD'S CHOSEN ONES WILL RECEIVE WHAT IS RIGHT FOR US. NOTICE THAT JESUS REFERS TO OUR RIGHTS, AND THAT'S WHAT HE IS GUARANTEEING. HE IS THE ONE WHO GUARANTEES, WHO IS ALWAYS THERE WHEN WE ARE PRAYING, HAS DONE ALL THAT HE POSSIBLY CAN FOR US TO HAVE OUR “RIGHTS” AS CHILDREN OF THE FATHER.

BUT THEN WE HEAR THAT LAST SENTENCE ECHOING DOWN OVER 2000 YEARS – WHEN THE SON OF MAN COMES, WILL HE FIND FAITH ON EARTH? AND I LOOK AT MY OWN PRAYER LIFE, AND I REALIZE THAT I'VE STILL GOT A LONG WAY TO GO TO PRAY THE WAY HE WANTS ME TO PRAY. AND I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME TO LEARN HOW TO DO IT. AND MAYBE YOU FEEL THE SAME WAY, SO LET'S GET STARTED.