Fourth Sunday of Advent, cycle B

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT, CYCLE B
LUKE 1:26-38
WE'VE REACHED THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT, AND THE GOSPEL READING IS THE FAMILIAR STORY OF THE ANNUNCIATION.  I THINK IF WE COULD LOOK IN EACH OTHER'S MINDS, THE SCENE WOULD BE AS IT IS DEPICTED IN SO MANY PAINTINGS; MARY IN HER ROOM, PRAYING, THE ANGEL WITH A WHITE ROBE AND WINGS STANDING BEFORE HER; MAYBE A BIRD IN THE AIR REPRESENTING THE HOLY SPIRIT.  THE ANNUNCIATION HAS BEEN PORTRAYED OVER AND OVER AGAIN BY ARTISTS DOWN THROUGH THE AGES.  BUT THINK OF THIS; MARY DIDN'T HAVE HER OWN ROOM; IN THOSE DAYS MOST HOMES FOR THE LOWER CLASSES CONSISTED OF A SINGLE ROOM, AND THERE WAS NO LIGHT STREAMING INTO THE ROOM.  AT NIGHT THE FAMILY ALL SLEPT IN THE ROOM, BUT DURING THE DAY EXCEPT IN REALLY AWFUL WEATHER, MOST OF LIFE TOOK PLACE OUTSIDE, IN THE COURTYARD.  I DON'T THINK MARY WAS PRAYING WHEN THE ANGEL APPEARED TO HER.  I THINK SHE WAS PROBABLY WORKING – DOING WHAT A TEENAGE GIRL WAS SUPPOSED TO DO, WHICH MEANT “WOMEN'S WORK.”
MARY WAS A CHILD OF HER TIME.  HER PARENTS HAD ARRANGED WITH JOSEPH OR JOSEPH'S PARENTS THAT MARY WOULD BE MARRIED TO JOSEPH AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, USUALLY WHEN JOSEPH HAD BUILT A HOME AND DEMONSTRATED THAT HE COULD MAKE A LIVING.  WHAT CONTACT THERE WAS BETWEEN JOSEPH AND MARY TOOK PLACE UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYES OF THE PARENTS; AND MARY FULLY EXPECTED, PERHAPS EVEN LOOKED FORWARD TO, TAKING ON THE ROLE OF A WIFE AND MOTHER.  FOR A DAUGHTER OF ISRAEL, THAT WAS THE HIGHEST ASPIRATION, AND IT WAS CONSIDERED A CURSE NOT TO HAVE BORNE CHILDREN.  MARY WAS GRATEFUL THAT HER OWN MOTHER WAS THERE TO TEACH HER HOW TO CARRY OUT THE DUTIES THAT WOULD BE EXPECTED  OF HER WHEN SHE BECAME THE  MATRON OF A HOUSEHOLD.
IT'S IN THIS CONTEXT THAT MARY LEARNS THAT GOD HAS OTHER PLANS, AND IT IS WHY SHE WAS GREATLY TROUBLED.  THE ANGEL GIVES HER A GLIMPSE OF THE FUTURE GOD HAS PLANNED FOR HER, A FUTURE THAT SHE CANNOT SEE HAPPENING.  HOW CAN SHE, A PEASANT GIRL, EVER GIVE BIRTH TO A KING WHO WILL BE GOD'S FAVORITE, AND RULE FOREVER?  CERTAINLY NOT IF SHE MARRIES JOSEPH.  MARY, WHO IS NO DUMMY, CAN'T CONCEIVE OF ANY WAY WHAT THE ANGEL IS SAYING COULD EVER HAPPEN, AND AT THIS POINT IN HER LIFE SHE IS STILL A VIRGIN.  A WEDDING DATE HAS NOT BEEN SET, AND PROBABLY SEEMED FAR OFF; AND THE ANGEL SPEAKS WITH SOME URGENCY, THAT THE MOMENT OF HER DECISION IS RIGHT NOW.
THE ANGEL TELLS HER THAT THIS WILL COME ABOUT THROUGH A MIRACLE.  THE ANGEL SPEAKS OF THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH OVERSHADOWING HER; MARY MUST HAVE REMEMBERED HOW GOD MADE HIS PRESENCE KNOWN TO THE ISRAELITES BY “OVERSHADOWING” THE ARK OF THE COVENANT; THE ISRAELITES KNEW THAT GOD WAS PRESENT WHEN A CLOUD DESCENDED ON THE ARK.  MARY REMEMBERS THAT GOD HAS KEPT HIS PROMISES IN THE PAST.  THE ANGEL SHOWS  HER THAT GOD IS STILL AT WORK IN THE WORLD, THAT HER COUSIN, WHO WAS THOUGHT TO BE BARREN, IS NOW PREGNANT AND IN HER SIXTH MONTH.
MARY AT THIS POINT HAS TO MAKE A DECISION.  SHE IS FREE TO REJECT WHAT THE ANGEL PROPOSES AND CONTINUE ON WITH THE LIFE SHE HAD PLANNED, THE LIFE SHE HAD ALWAYS EXPECTED TO LIVE.  OR SHE CAN ACCEPT THE ANGEL'S OFFER WITH ALL ITS UNCERTAINTY AND ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT MUST HAVE BEEN GOING ON IN HER MIND.  DOES SHE TRUST GOD?  CAN SHE STEP OUT IN FAITH?
AND SHE DOES.
DO YOU SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE?  YOU AND I GO THROUGH OUR OWN ANNUNCIATIONS.  GOD HAS GIVEN US CERTAIN GIFTS, SOME SMALL, SOME LARGE; AND GOD CHOOSES US TO TAKE PART IN HIS PLAN.  HE COMES TO US, WE DON'T GO TO HIM.  I  MAY THINK I COULD SERVE GOD REALLY WELL BY USING A PARTICULAR TALENT THAT I HAVE BEEN GIVEN, BUT GOD COMES TO ME AND  ASKS ME TO DO SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, MAYBE EVEN SOMETHING THAT I WOULD RATHER NOT DO.   AND WHEN I HEAR GOD ASKING ME TO DO SOMETHING, MY NATURAL REACTION IS TO BECOME GREATLY TROUBLED; BECAUSE HE IS ASKING ME SOMETHING THAT IS VERY HARD; TO GIVE UP WHAT I HAVE PLANNED AND DO WHAT HE HAS PLANNED FOR ME.  IT IS NO WONDER THAT MOST OF THE TIME GOD GETS A  “NO” FROM US.  NONE OF US LIKES HAVING OUR LIVES DISRUPTED AND OUR PLANS TRASHED.
AT THAT POINT GOD INVITES US TO LOOK BACK IN OUR PAST.  IT'S VERY HARD TO SEE GOD'S HAND IN OUR PRESENT MOMENT; BUT WHEN WE LOOK BACK, WE SEE, AS MARY SAW, THAT GOD DOES WORK IN OUR LIVES, AND IN OUR HISTORY.  AND SEEING THAT HE IS THERE, THAT HE IS TRUSTWORTHY, THAT THERE IS NO REASON FOR FEAR, EVEN IF WHAT HE IS ASKING US TO DO IS SEEMINGLY IMPOSSIBLE, MAYBE THEN WE CAN SAY, WITH MARY:  “BE IT DONE TO ME ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD.”
I'VE HAD LITTLE ANNUNCIATIONS IN MY OWN LIFE, WHEN I'M PRETTY SURE GOD WAS INVITING ME TO STEP OUT OF MY LIFE INTO THE UNKNOWN – WHEN I GOT MARRIED; WHEN I GAVE UP A  SAFE AND SECURE JOB IN BUFFALO TO COME HERE AND TAKE ON THE CHALLENGE OF BUILDING A NEW PROGRAM FROM THE GROUND UP; AND WHEN IN THE MIDDLE OF MY MEDICAL CAREER I FELT CALLED TO BE A DEACON.  IN THESE DECISIONS, I SAID, “BE IT DONE TO ME ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD.”  BUT THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OTHER TIMES WHEN I'VE SAID, “NO, I'LL PASS, THANKS ANYWAY.”  THANK HEAVEN GOD IS MERCIFUL AND DOESN'T GIVE UP ON ME OR ON YOU..
THINK OF YOUR OWN LIFE AN TRY TO SEE WHERE YOU'VE HAD AN ANNUNCIATION.  AND WHAT DID YOU DO ABOUT IT?  IF YOU SAID YES, WONDERFUL.  WAS GOD FAITHFUL WHEN YOU TOOK ON THE TASK HE GAVE YOU?  BUT IF YOU SAID NO, EVEN THEN GOD DID NOT DESERT YOU, AND GOD PROBABLY CAME BACK AND ASKED YOU FOR SOMETHING ELSE.
THERE IS ONE OTHER  THING ABOUT AN  ANNUNCIATION – MARY'S, YOURS, MINE.  AFTER MARY SAID “YES” THE ANGEL LEFT HER.  ONE OF THE WAYS WE KNOW CHRIST IS BEING CONCEIVED IN US IS THAT WE EXPERIENCE A CERTAIN KIND OF LONELINESS, A BIT OF PAIN, JUST AS MARY DID WHEN JOSEPH AND HER OWN FAMILY LEARNED OF HER PREGNANCY.  BECAUSE WHEN GOD ASKS US TO BECOME DISCIPLES, TO FOLLOW HIS PLAN INSTEAD OF OUR OWN, OTHER PEOPLE ARE OFTEN AFFECTED AND THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO CHANGE, AND OFTEN PUT UP BARRIERS.  WHEN THE ANGEL LEFT MARY, THAT MAY HAVE BEEN THE ONE TIME  IN HER LIFE WHEN SHE TRULY FELT SHE WAS “BLESSED AMONG WOMEN”  BECAUSE FROM THEN ON THERE ARE FEW CONSOLATIONS AND MANY SAD DAYS, UNTIL THE RESURRECTION; AND EVEN THEN THE CHILD THAT SHE LOVED FROM THE BEGINNING IS TAKEN FROM HER.  FAITHFUL DISCIPLES MIGHT NEVER SEE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR SAYING YES TO GOD UNTIL THE NEXT LIFE.  BUT THEN, THAT'S WHAT FAITH MEANS.

Third Sunday of Advent, cycle B

JOHN 1:6-8, 19-28
DID YOU NOTICE IN THIS GOSPEL READING THERE IS SOMETHING THAT JUST COULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED THE WAY JOHN DESCRIBES IT?  PROBABLY NOT, UNLESS YOU ARE A BIBLE GEEK, LIKE ME.  THE POINT IS THAT PRIESTS AND LEVITES, WHO WERE THE BIG WHEELS IN THE JEWISH RELIGION, WOULD NEVER HAVE “BEEN SENT” BY THE PHARISEES.  THE PHARISEES WERE LAY PEOPLE, WHO IN THE TIME OF JESUS REALLY DIDN'T HAVE THE KIND OF POWER THEY WERE TO ACQUIRE LATER, WHEN JOHN WROTE HIS GOSPEL – ALMOST SIXTY YEARS AFTER JESUS HAD BEEN PUT TO DEATH, AND ABOUT TWENTY YEARS AFTER THE TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM HAD BEEN TOTALLY DESTROYED.  AND WITH THE DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE, THE CENTER OF JEWISH WORSHIP, THE PRIESTS AND LEVITES NO LONGER HAD A PLACE TO PERFORM THEIR DUTIES, AND THE PRIESTHOOD DIED OUT.  THE PRIESTHOOD WAS HEREDITARY, AND JEWS BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE “COHEN”  AS THEIR LAST NAME ARE DESCENDED FROM THE PRIESTLY CLASS, SINCE THAT WORD MEANS “PRIEST” IN HEBREW.
SO WHEN JOHN WAS WRITING HIS GOSPEL, HE WAS LIVING IN A TIME WHEN THE JEWISH RELIGION WAS RE-FORMING ITSELF; THE PHARISEES, WHO KNEW THE LAW BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS, BEGAN TO TAKE THE ROLE OF LEADERS AND THE TITLE OF “RABBI” OR TEACHER.  MODERN JUDAISM BEGAN ABOUT THE SAME TIME AS CHRISTIANITY.
AND WHEN JOHN WAS WRITING HIS GOSPEL RABBINICAL JUDAISM WAS THE MAIN COMPETITOR TO CHRISTIANITY.  AND THE RABBIS HAD DECISIVELY REJECTED ANY CLAIM THAT JESUS CHRIST WAS THE SON OF GOD, OR EVEN A PROPHET; AS THE RABBIS POINTED OUT, THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY SAYS, “CURSED IS THE ONE WHO IS HANGED ON A TREE” – JESUS WAS HANGED ON A TREE, SO HE COULDN'T BE THE MESSIAH, OR FOR THAT MATTER, ANYONE WHO CLAIMED TO BE IN GOD'S FAVOR.
THAT'S PROBABLY THE REASON JOHN'S GOSPEL IS SO HARD ON THE PHARISEES, WHOM HE EQUATES WITH “THE JEWS”.  AND OF COURSE BECAUSE OF JOHN'S GOSPEL WE'VE HAD 2000 YEARS OF ANTI-SEMITISM ON THE PART OF CHRISTIANITY, AND IT STILL GOES ON TODAY.
BUT OBJECTIVELY THE PHARISEES WERE THE BEST OF THE JEWS; THEY LIVED THE LAW, NOT BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED THIS WAS WHAT YOU HAD TO DO TO BE SAVED, BUT BECAUSE THEY  BELIEVED THAT THE JEWS HAD BEEN GIVEN THE LAW BY GOD AS A SPECIAL GRACE, AND TO CARRY OUT THE LAW AS WELL AS POSSIBLE WAS THEIR DUTY AND THEIR PRIVILEGE.
JOHN IS DIVINELY INSPIRED WHEN HE WRITES HIS GOSPEL, BUT HE IS AN OLD MAN, AND HE IS FRUSTRATED AND UPSET WITH THE JEWISH PEOPLE, WHO SEEM TO BE DELIBERATELY REJECTING WHAT IS SO EVIDENT TO JOHN.  AND WHEN HE WRITES THIS PASSAGE THAT YOU HAVE JUST HEARD, HE IS THINKING OF THE PHARISEES WHEN HE SAYS, “THERE IS ONE AMONG YOU WHOM YOU DO NOT RECOGNIZE.”   JESUS WALKED AMONG THEM, TALKED  TO THEM, ATE WITH THEM.  THE PHARISEES KNEW JESUS PROBABLY BETTER THAN ANY OTHER GROUP OF PEOPLE.  THEY WENT TO THE TROUBLE OF TRYING TO DECIDE WHETHER HE WAS REALLY SENT FROM GOD OR JUST ANOTHER IMPOSTER.  THEY TESTED HIM OVER AND OVER AGAIN.  AND SOME WERE CONVERTED – SIMON, NICODEMUS; PROBABLY MANY WHO AREN'T NAMED IN SCRIPTURE.  SAINT PAUL ADMITS TO BEING A PHARISEE, AND A REALLY GOOD ONE AT THAT.  BUT MOST CONCLUDED THAT JESUS WAS NOT THE ONE THEY HAD BEEN WAITING FOR, THE ONE WHO WOULD BE A REASON TO CHANGE THEIR LIVES.
FLASH FORWARD 2000 YEARS.  WE LOOK AT THOSE PHARISEES THROUGH JOHN'S EYES AND WONDER, HOW COULD THEY BE SO BLIND?  BUT HOW MANY OF US ARE PHARISEES?  HOW MANY OF US HAVE CHANGED OUR LIVES, HAVE CONTINUED TO CHANGE OUR LIVES, BECAUSE JESUS IS AMONG US?   BECAUSE HE IS.  HE PROMISED THAT HE WOULD BE WITH US, THAT HE WOULD COME AND MAKE HIS DWELLING WITH US, THAT HE WOULD BE THERE WHEN TWO OR THREE ARE GATHERED IN HIS NAME.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO “MAKE STRAIGHT THE WAY OF THE LORD?”  SAINT PAUL TELLS US:  REJOICE, PRAY, GIVE THANKS, DO NOT DESPISE PROPHETIC UTTERANCES, TEST ALL THINGS AND KEEP WHAT IS GOOD, AND REFRAIN FROM EVERY KIND OF EVIL.  IF YOU AND I REALLY BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS AMONG US, THAT GOD HAS BECOME MAN SO THAT MAN CAN BECOME LIKE GOD, WE WOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH PAUL'S PRESCRIPTION.  HOW COULD WE NOT REJOICE?  HOW COULD  WE NOT GIVE THANKS?  AND IF JESUS IS AMONG US, HOW COULD WE NOT NOTICE HIM, SPEAK TO HIM, LISTEN TO WHAT HE HAS TO SAY – AND  THAT IS ALL THAT PRAYER IS.
AND PROPHECY:  IT DOESN'T MEAN PREDICTING THE FUTURE.  PROPHECY IS WHEN PEOPLE TELL IT LIKE IT IS.  SAINT PAUL SAYS THAT WE SHOULD TEST THE VOICES  THAT SWIRL AROUND  US, THAT TELLS US WHAT TO BELIEVE AND WHAT TO HATE – AND HE TELLS  US THAT WE CAN TRUST OURSELVES TO TELL WHAT IS GOOD AND WHAT IS NOT.  AND HE TELLS US TO REFRAIN FROM EVERY KIND OF EVIL.  EVIL IS ALWAYS THE RESULT OF MISREADING WHAT IS REAL.  MOST OF THE TIME IT COMES ABOUT BECAUSE WE FALSELY BELIEVE THAT OUR CONCERNS, OUR DESIRES, OUR AMBITIONS TAKE PRECEDENCE.  SOMETIMES EVIL COMES ABOUT BECAUSE WE ARE TIMID OR AFRAID.  WE MAY FEAR SOMEONE'S ANGER OR DISAPPROVAL; WE MAY FEAR BEING THE OBJECT OF RIDICULE.  OR EVIL COMES ABOUT BECAUSE WE ARE AFRAID TO SPEAK THE TRUTH TO SOMEONE ELSE.  AND THERE ARE MORE EVILS OUT THERE, AND THE BEST WAY TO AVOID EVIL IS TO RECOGNIZE REALITY, TO RECOGNIZE THAT GOD'S WILL IS ALL THAT MATTERS AND TO ACT ACCORDINGLY.
PAUL TELLS US HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE COMING OF OUR LORD, HOW TO MAKE STRAIGHT HIS PATHS.  LONG AGO PAUL AND JOHN THE BAPTIST GAVE THE SAME MESSAGE TO THE GOOD PEOPLE OF ISRAEL, WHO DELIGHTED IN KEEPING EVERY ONE OF THE LAWS GOD HAD GIVEN THEM – NOT JUST LAWS ABOUT WHAT TO EAT AND WHAT TO WEAR, BUT LAWS ABOUT HOW TO  TREAT WIDOWS AND ORPHANS, HOW DEAL WITH PEOPLE WHO WERE GENTILES, HOW TO PRAY, HOW TO WORSHIP, AND HOW TO STRUGGLE WITH YOURSELF IN ORDER TO BECOME A BETTER PERSON.  THE PHARISEES WERE GOOD PEOPLE, JUST LIKE YOU AND I ARE, HOPEFULLY.  BUT THEY DIDN'T RECOGNIZE THE ONE WHO WAS AMONG THEM, AND THEY DIDN'T PREPARE FOR THE COMING OF THE MESSIAH.  LET US NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE; LET US RECOGNIZE THAT HE IS WITH US, HE IS COMING TO US, AND HE CALLS ON US TO REJOICE.

Second Sunday of Advent, cycle B

MARK 1:1-8
JOHN THE BAPTIST IS A FASCINATING CHARACTER.  THERE ARE SCHOLARS WHO THINK THAT HIS FOLLOWERS WERE ACTUALLY A RIVAL FAITH IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE CHURCH, WHICH IS WHY IN THE NEW TESTAMENT JOHN IS ALWAYS PORTRAYED AS POINTING TO JESUS AS THE REAL MESSIAH.  IN FACT, IF YOU'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE NEWS, YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD OF THE YAZHIDI RELIGION IN IRAQ.  THEY CONSIDER JOHN THE BAPTIST AS ONE OF THEIR PROPHETS, AND SOME BELIEVE THAT THEY MIGHT BE DESCENDANTS OF THE JOHN MOVEMENT IN EARLY TIMES.
AS I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS GOSPEL, I WAS DRAWN TO THE PICTURE THAT MARK PAINTS – A MAN DRESSED IN CAMEL HAIR GARMENTS WITH A LEATHER BELT; A MAN WHO EATS LOCUSTS AND WILD HONEY.  MARK, LIKE THE OTHER GOSPEL WRITERS, DOESN'T JUST SAY THINGS FOR NO REASON.  NOW THE CAMEL HAIR SHIRT AND THE LEATHER BELT AREN'T A PROBLEM.  THAT WAS THE SAME OUTFIT ELIJAH WORE – THE GREATEST OF THE JEWISH PROPHETS.  BUT ELIJAH DID NOT EAT LOCUSTS AND WILD HONEY.  IN FACT, YOU CAN'T FIND ANYONE EATING THIS PECULIAR DIET IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.  SO THERE ARE DIFFERENT THEORIES ABOUT JOHN'S DIET.  ONE IS THAT SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE, WE MISTRANSLATED THE GREEK WORD FOR BEANS TO THE ONE FOR LOCUSTS.  THE GREEK WORD “AKRIS” MEANS LOCUST, AND “ENKRIS” MEANS BEAN CAKE.  BUT IF JOHN ATE BEAN CAKES, A COMMON ENOUGH FOOD, WHY MENTION IT AT ALL?  ANOTHER IDEA IS THAT LOCUSTS WERE ACTUALLY A DELICACY IN SOME PARTS OF THE NEAR EAST.  IN FACT, THEY WERE COOKED AND PEELED KIND OF LIKE WE DO SHRIMP OR CRAYFISH.  AND OF COURSE HONEY WAS A DELICACY AS WELL.  SO SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT EVEN THOUGH JOHN WAS DRESSED LIKE A WILD MAN, HIS DIET SHOWED THAT HE WAS STILL A MEMBER OF THE PRIESTLY CLASS – WHICH HE WOULD HAVE INHERITED FROM HIS FATHER.  SO IN HIS ROLE HE COMBINES THE ROLE OF PRIEST – THE GUARDIAN OF THE RELIGION – AND THE PROPHET – THE ONE WHO ACTS AS A CORRECTIVE TO THE RELIGION.  IN JOHN WE SEE THE TENSION IN THE OLD RELIGION IN ONE PERSON.  BUT AGAIN, MARK MAKES SURE WE KNOW THE HONEY WAS WILD – NOT SOMETHING THE PRIESTLY CLASS WOULD EAT.
BUT THE INTERPRETATION I LIKE THE MOST IS THAT LOCUSTS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT REPRESENT BAD THINGS.  THE PLAGUE OF LOCUSTS THAT MOSES BROUGHT ON THE EGYPTIANS; THE COMPARISON OF FOREIGN ARMIES TO LOCUSTS BY THE PROPHETS – WHEN YOU MET A LOCUST, YOU KNEW THERE WAS TROUBLE; LOCUSTS MEANT UPHEAVAL, LOSS, PAIN, AND RUIN.  WHEN JOHN EATS LOCUSTS, HE IS ACKNOWLEDGING THAT LIFE, ANY LIFE, IS GOING TO HAVE THESE THINGS; THEY ARE INESCAPABLE.  JOHN, AND YOU AND I, CANNOT HIDE FROM THEM, WE CANNOT DENY THEM WITH PLATITUDES LIKE “EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON” OR “GOD ALWAYS ANSWERS OUR PRAYERS, EVEN IF THE ANSWER IS NO”.  NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE MAKE, NO MATTER HOW GOOD OUR DOCTORS ARE, NO MATTER HOW PROTECTED WE ARE IN OUR HOME, COMMUNITY, OR COUNTRY, WE CAN NEVER FORGET THAT WE LIVE ON THE EDGE OF CHAOS, AND THAT NO MATTER WHAT, THE LOCUSTS WILL CATCH UP WITH US.
BUT FACING OUR WEAKNESS, OUR SIN, THE UNCERTAINTY OF OUR FUTURE, IS NOT ENOUGH.  THERE IS THE HONEY AS WELL.  THE ISRAELITES WERE PROMISED A LAND OF MILK AND HONEY.  HONEY RECALLS GOD FULFILLING HIS PROMISE.  BUT HONEY ALSO IS THE TASTE OF GOD'S WORD.  WHEN EZEKIEL IS GIVEN THE SCROLL TO EAT AS HE BEGINS HIS PROPHETIC CAREER, HE NOTES THAT IT IS AS SWEET AS HONEY.  IN ONE OF THE PSALMS IT SAYS GOD'S WORD IS LIKE HONEY ON THE TONGUE.  HONEY HAS TO DO WITH GOD KEEPING HIS PROMISES, WITH GOD NOT ABANDONING US.  IT HAS TO DO WITH OUR FAITH, FAITH THAT GOD IS REAL, THAT HE HEALS US AND CARES FOR US.
RECOGNIZING THE REALITY OF OUR LIVES, EATING THE LOCUSTS, IS VERY IMPORTANT, BUT IT ISN'T ENOUGH.  IF THAT IS ALL, WE FALL INTO DESPAIR.  BUT FAITH IS NOT ENOUGH EITHER.  IF ALL WE HAVE IS FAITH, WE DON'T REALIZE THAT WE ARE SINNERS, THAT WE ARE BROKEN, THAT WE CAN'T FIX OURSELVES OR OUR WORLD WITHOUT HELP.  IF ALL WE HAVE IS FAITH, WE DON'T SEE THAT WE NEED A SAVIOR.
SO ADVENT IS A TIME FOR US TO ADOPT THE DIET OF JOHN THE BAPTIST.  IT IS A TIME TO TAKE STOCK OF OURSELVES, TO RECOGNIZE OUR SINFULNESS.  SURE, MOST OF US PROBABLY AREN'T GUILTY OF MORTAL SIN.  IN FACT THERE MAY BE A FEW OF US WHO COULD SAY HE OR SHE IS NOT GUILTY OF EVEN VENIAL SIN.  BUT SIN IS BASICALLY THINKING AND DOING THINGS WHICH ARE IRRATIONAL, WHICH DON'T MAKE SENSE.  IF I STUFF MYSELF ON THANKSGIVING (AND THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN  THIS HAPPENED) AND I STILL EAT A SECOND PIECE OF PIE, WELL, THAT MAY NOT BE EVEN A VENIAL SIN, BUT IT IS IN THE CATEGORY OF SIN, BECAUSE IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE, AND I'LL PAY FOR IT IN SOME WAY.  IF I LIGHT A CIGARETTE, IT MAY NOT BE EVEN A VENIAL SIN, BUT IT'S NOT RATIONAL, AND IT WILL CATCH UP WITH ME.  IF I BROOD OVER SOMETHING SOMEONE DID TO ME A LONG TIME AGO, IT MAY NOT BE EVEN A LITTLE SIN, BUT IT WILL DETRACT FROM THE QUALITY OF MY LIFE, SO IT IS IRRATIONAL, IT IS STUPID, IT IS SIN.
ONCE WE TAKE STOCK OF EVERYTHING ABOUT OURSELVES THAT IS IRRATIONAL, THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE BUT WE KEEP ON DOING IT ANYWAY, OR WE KEEP ON THINKING ABOUT IT EVEN THOUGH IT'S STUPID, OR IT HAPPENS TO US EVEN THOUGH IT SEEMS SO UNFAIR, OUR FIRST REACTION IS ALMOST ONE OF DESPAIR – HOW FAR I AM FROM WHERE I WOULD LIKE TO BE.  AND THAT'S WHAT BEING A SINNER IS ALL ABOUT.  AND THAT IS WHERE THE HONEY COMES IN.  BECAUSE THERE IS A GOD, A GOD WHO TAKES PITY ON US, AND BECOMES ONE OF US, AND LIVES OUR LIFE FOR US AND DIES FOR US, AND BECAUSE ONE OF US IS GOD, SIN AND DEATH CANNOT WIN IN THE END.
WE WEAR PURPLE VESTMENTS IN LENT BECAUSE PURPLE IS A SIGN OF PENANCE.  LENT IS A TIME WHEN WE FAST, WHEN WE GIVE UP OUR PLEASURES AND REPENT OF OUR SINS.  BUT THE PURPLE IN ADVENT IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.  IT IS THE THE PURPLE OF THE EARLIEST PART OF THE MORNING, WHEN THE SUN JUST BEGINS TO RISE, AND IF YOU ARE UP AT THAT TIME, IT IS JUST A MOMENT WHEN THE BLACK NIGHT TRANSITIONS TO DAWN.  IT IS THE MOMENT WHEN WE REALIZE THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US ANOTHER DAY.
DURING ADVENT, EAT LOCUSTS; REALIZE YOUR SINFULNESS.  AND EAT HONEY, REALIZE THAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU ALL THAT YOU NEED – A SAVIOR.

First Sunday of Advent, cycle B

MARK 13:33-37

MANY YEARS AGO I HAD A PATIENT WHO, BECAUSE OF HER DISEASE, HAD BASICALLY LOST MOST OF HER BOWEL. SHE WAS VERY DETERMINED, SO SHE WORE A BACKPACK WITH A PUMP WHICH DELIVERED NUTRITION AND FLUID RIGHT INTO A VEIN. SHE DID REMARKABLY WELL WITH THIS SYSTEM, ALTHOUGH NOWADAYS BECAUSE SHE HAD A TERMINAL DISEASE, I'M SURE YOU COULDN'T GET ANY INSURANCE COMPANY TO PAY FOR IT. ANYWAY, SHE FINALLY DID PASS AWAY, AND SEVERAL MONTHS LATER HER HUSBAND GAVE ME A COPY OF THE BOOK SHE HAD BEEN WORKING ON. IT WAS A COLLECTION OF POETRY CALLED “THE PRESENCE OF ABSENCE.” THE FIRST POEM HAD THE SAME TITLE. THE THEME WAS THAT MOST OF THE TIME WE NOTICE WHAT IS PRESENT, BUT WE NEED TO NOTICE WHAT ISN'T. AND OF COURSE THERE WERE MANY EXAMPLES FROM HER OWN EXPERIENCE, INCLUDING HOW SHE NOTICED THE ABSENCE OF TEA. SHE HAD BEEN A REAL TEA DRINKER, AND OVER AN AVERAGE DAY SHE WOULD HAVE SEVERAL CUPS. NOW OF COURSE SHE COULDN'T DRINK OR EAT ANYTHING. SHE NOTICED THE ABSENCE OF FRIENDS, OF HER PARENTS, AND IN THE LAST VERSE, THE ABSENCE OF GOD.

IF YOU NOTICED, IN THE FIRST READING THE PROPHET IS IN ANGUISH BECAUSE GOD SEEMS TO HAVE DESERTED HIS PEOPLE. IN THE GOSPEL JESUS ALSO POINTS OUT AN ABSENCE – THE SON OF MAN, THE ONE WHO IS TO COME, AND WITH HIS COMING, THE WORLD WILL BE SET RIGHT. THE PROPHET ISAIAH SEEMS TO HAVE AN ATTITUDE OF HOPELESSNESS AND OF LONGING. JESUS URGES US TO HAVE AN ATTITUDE OF ALMOST BREATHLESS ANTICIPATION.

WE ARE BEGINNING THE ADVENT SEASON AND WHEN WE WERE LITTLE CHILDREN WE KNEW WHAT BREATHLESS ANTICIPATION WAS ALL ABOUT. THANKSGIVING WAS OVER, AND CHRISTMAS LOOMED ON THE HORIZON. WE WERE THINKING ABOUT POSSIBILITIES – WHAT WOULD OUR GIFTS BE? AND AS WE GOT OLDER, WE THOUGHT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE MIGHT GIVE OUR OWN SIBLINGS OR PARENTS. AND FOUR WEEKS SEEMED TO STRETCH OUT FOREVER. WE COULD SENSE THE ABSENCE OF CHRISTMAS, AND SAVORED IT IN OUR IMAGINATIONS.

AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, EVERY TIME WE COME TO MASS WE ARE EXPERIENCING ABSENCE. THE BANQUET TO WHICH WE ARE ALL INVITED IS ABSENT; THERE IS ONLY A LITTLE BIT OF FOOD, NOT ENOUGH TO BEGIN TO TAKE AWAY OUR HUNGER. OUR LORD FEEDS US WITH HIS OWN FLESH, BUT JUST A TASTE. AND THE THIRST WHICH HE PROMISES TO QUENCH, THE THIRST FOR THE NEW COVENANT WHERE HIS KINGDOM COMES AND HIS WILL IS DONE ON EARTH AS IN HEAVEN – WE DRINK HIS BLOOD, AND IT IS ONLY A TASTE, NOT ENOUGH TO EVER SATISFY US IN THIS LIFE. AND WE HEAR HIS WORD. JESUS IS THE WORD, THE LAST WORD THE FATHER SPEAKS TO HUMANKIND, THE ENDURING WORD THAT HAS INFINITE DEPTH, THAT WILL TAKE AN ETERNITY FOR YOU AND I TO UNDERSTAND COMPLETELY. BUT WE ONLY HEAR A SMALL BIT OF THE WORD, BARELY ENOUGH TO SATISFY US FOR A LITTLE WHILE, LET ALONG A WHOLE WEEK. AND WE EXPERIENCE EACH OTHER. WE COME TOGETHER IN HIS NAME AND KNOW THAT HE PROMISED HE WOULD BE HERE AMONG US. AND BY FAITH WE KNOW THIS TO BE TRUE, BUT SOON WE WILL SCATTER, WE WILL GO BACK INTO OUR DAILY LIVES, WHERE WE WILL MEET OTHERS, OF COURSE, BUT WE WON'T BE GATHERING IN HIS NAME, OR AT LEAST MOST OF THE TIME WE WON'T. AND WE WILL EXPERIENCE THAT ABSENCE AS WELL, WHEN WE SIT DOWN WITH OUR FAMILIES AT SUPPER OR MEET OUR COWORKERS OR CUSTOMERS OR CLIENTS; WHEN WE GO OUT TO LUNCH OR SUPPER WITH SOMEONE. WE WILL SEE THAT HE IS NOT PRESENT.

ONE OF THE REASONS WE COME TO MASS IS TO EXPERIENCE ABSENCE. IF WE COME TO CHURCH TO BE FILLED UP, TO BE FED, TO EXPERIENCE GOD'S LOVE AND MERCY, THOSE ARE GOOD THINGS. BUT WE CAN'T LOSE SIGHT OF THE MANY REMINDERS THAT THE BIT OF FOOD WE ARE GIVEN, THE DROP OF WINE WHICH WE DRINK, THE SMALL HELPING OF THE WORD THAT WE HEAR, THE MOMENTARY PRESENCE OF THE LORD IN EACH OTHER – ARE ALL POINTERS, POINTERS TO THE WONDERFUL FULFILLMENT JESUS PROMISED THOSE WHO LOVE HIM. AND WHEN WE FEEL THAT, WE SHOULD LONG FOR THE REAL THING, THE GOD WHO ALONE CAN FILL UP OUR EMPTINESS, THE CHRIST WHO WILL BE OUR SHEPHERD AND LEAD US TO GREEN PASTURES, THE SPIRIT WHO GIVES US WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING AND ALL THE OTHER GIFTS, BUT ONLY SHADOWS OF WHAT THEY ARE REALLY MEANT TO BE.

ISAIAH LOOKS TO THE PAST AND SEES THAT WHERE GOD WAS WITH HIS PEOPLE, HE IS NO LONGER ALL HE CAN DO IS LAMENT THOSE GOOD OLD DAYS. JESUS LOOKS TO THE FUTURE AND SEES THAT WHAT IS COMING MAKES EVERYTHING ABOUT TODAY JUST A SHADOW OF THE REAL THING, AND HE URGES US TO BE READY. AND IF WE NOTICE THE ABSENCES WE WILL HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF HOW THINGS WILL BE WHEN WHAT THEY SIGNIFY BECOMES PRESENT.

THE BLESSED MOTHER, IN HER MAGNIFICAT, PRAISES GOD BECAUSE OF WHAT HE HAS DONE IN THE PAST, BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF WHAT HE HAS PROMISED HE WILL DO IN THE FUTURE. SHE PRAISES GOD IN WORDS THAT SEEM TO SAY THIS HAS ALREADY HAPPENED – “HE HAS SCATTERED THE PROUD IN THEIR CONCEIT, HE HAS CAST DOWN THE MIGHTY FROM THEIR THRONES, AND HAS LIFTED UP THE LOWLY. HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS, AND THE RICH HE HAS SENT AWAY EMPTY.” IN MARY'S TIME, AND IN OURS, THESE THINGS HAVE NOT YET HAPPENED. BUT MARY IN HER UNSHAKEABLE FAITH KNOWS THAT THEY WILL HAPPEN, AND PRAISES GOD FOR WHAT WILL COME. OUR GOAL IN ADVENT IS TO TAKE ON MARY'S ATTITUDE, AND MAKE A NEW RESOLUTION TO USE OUR GIFTS TO BUILD UP THE KINGDOM WHICH JESUS HAS ALREADY PLACED IN OUR MIDST. BECAUSE THEN WE WILL BE INDUSTRIOUS SERVANTS, WHO ARE NOT SURPRISED OR SHAMED WHEN THE MASTER RETURNS. LET US RESOLVE NOT TO BE ASLEEP.   

Christ the King, 2014

MATTHEW 25:31-46

MANY YEARS AGO THERE WAS A PEANUTS CARTOON. THE FIRST PANEL SHOWED SNOOPY STANDING IN THE COLD, SHIVERING. LUCY COMES ALONG AND SAYS, “BE OF GOOD CHEER, SNOOPY!” THEN CHARLIE BROWN COMES ALONG AND SAYS, “BE OF GOOD CHEER, SNOOPY!” AND THE LAST PANEL SHOWS SNOOPY, STILL SHIVERING, WHILE THE KIDS ARE IN THE HOUSE ENJOYING A CHRISTMAS PARTY.

WHAT YOU HAVE JUST HEARD IS FOR ME PROBABLY THE MOST FRIGHTENING PASSAGE IN THE BIBLE. BECAUSE I KNOW I HAVEN'T BEEN A SHEEP, OR AT LEAST A VERY GOOD ONE. AND NEITHER HAVE MOST OF YOU, AND THAT SHOULD WORRY YOU AS WELL. MOST PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO BE GOOD CHRISTIANS HAVE THREE ANSWERS TO THE CHALLENGE RAISED BY JESUS. ONE IS THAT “I GIVE MONEY TO CHARITY, AND THAT'S HOW I FEED THE HUNGRY, GIVE DRINK TO THE THIRSTY … AND SO ON.” ANOTHER IS “WELL, I MAY NOT GIVE FOOD TO THE HUNGRY, BUT I FEED PEOPLE IN OTHER WAYS. I FEED THEIR DESIRE FOR KNOWLEDGE, BECAUSE I AM A TEACHER; I FEED THEIR NEED FOR JUSTICE, BECAUSE I AM A LAWYER. I FEED THEIR HUNGER FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION, BECAUSE I'M A PILOT.” THE THIRD IS, “I TAKE CARE OF MY FAMILY, SO I'M FULFILLING ALL OF THESE COMMANDS.” BUT NONE OF THESE SOUND LIKE THEY WOULD CONVINCE JESUS WE SHOULD BE WITH THOSE ON HIS RIGHT HAND. AND THERE'S ANOTHER THING AS WELL. EVEN THOUGH THE WORLD HAS MORE THAN ENOUGH RESOURCES TO DO THESE THINGS THAT JESUS MENTIONS, WE ARE KIDDING OURSELVES IF WE THINK THAT HUMAN BEINGS ARE GOING TO WAKE UP ONE DAY AND REDISTRIBUTE ALL OUR GOODS, ALL OUR WEALTH, SO THAT EVERYONE HAS ENOUGH. THAT WAS THE IDEAL OF COMMUNISM, WHOSE MOTTO WAS “FROM EACH ACCORDING TO HIS ABILITY AND TO EACH ACCORDING TO HIS NEEDS.” AND LOOK HOW THAT WORKED OUT. SO MOST OF THE TIME WE FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE WHEN WE HEAR THIS GOSPEL, BUT BY THE NEXT DAY WE'VE FORGOTTEN IT; WE'VE PUT IT OUT OF OUR MIND FOR ANOTHER YEAR.

JESUS IS ALWAYS CONCERNED ABOUT THE POOR, BUT EVEN HE RECOGNIZES LIMITATIONS. HE DID SAY, “THE POOR YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE WITH YOU.”

SO MAYBE WE NEED TO LOOK DEEPER INTO THIS GOSPEL PASSAGE. AND I THINK IT MAY LIE IN THE ANSWERS THE TWO GROUPS GIVE: “WHEN DID WE FEED YOU? WHEN DID WE GIVE YOU TO DRINK?” SAY THOSE ON THE RIGHT SIDE. AND “WHEN DID WE NOT FEED YOU? AND WHEN DID WE NOT GIVE YOU TO DRINK?” SAY THOSE ON THE LEFT.

IT'S VERY LIKELY THAT IF THE SECOND GROUP HAD RECOGNIZED THE KING, THEY WOULD HAVE FED HIM AND GIVEN HIM TO DRINK AND PROBABLY VERY GENEROUSLY AS WELL. AND IF THE FIRST GROUP HAD ACTUALLY SEEN THE KING, THEY WOULD HAVE AS WELL. IN OTHER WORDS, THOSE ON THE LEFT AND THOSE ON THE RIGHT NEVER EVEN CONSIDERED THE GREAT KING; FOR THOSE ON THE RIGHT, WHAT THEY DID WAS NATURAL, JUST AS FAILURE TO DO ANYTHING WAS NATURAL FOR THOSE ON THE LEFT.

THE REAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO GROUPS IS NOT ACTUALLY WHAT THEY'VE DONE, BUT IT LIES IN HOW THEY SEE OTHER PEOPLE. FOR THE SECOND GROUP, MOST OTHER PEOPLE ARE TO BE IGNORED, AND THE REST ARE NUISANCES. THERE MAY BE A FEW – FAMILY MEMBERS, GOOD FRIENDS – WHO THEY WOULD DO SOMETHING FOR, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, OTHER PEOPLE'S PROBLEMS DO NOT CONCERN THEM. FOR THE FIRST GROUP, THOUGH, EVERY OTHER PERSON IS DESERVING OF HAVING ME FILL HIS NEED IF I CAN. IF HE'S SICK, I'LL CARE FOR HIM; IF HE'S NAKED, I'LL CLOTHE HIM – NOT BECAUSE I THINK HE IS THE GREAT KING IN DISGUISE, BUT BECAUSE I SEE SOMETHING OF THE GREAT KING IN EACH PERSON, WHO IS MADE IN HIS IMAGE AND LIKENESS. IN SHORT, I AM NOT FULFILLING SOMEONE'S NEEDS FOR ANY OTHER REASON THAN THAT I'VE RECOGNIZED THAT PERSON AS A BROTHER OR SISTER, WHO SHARES MY HUMANITY. AND THE GREAT KING CONFIRMS THIS IN HIS STATEMENTS, BECAUSE HE ALSO SHARES MY HUMANITY AND THAT OF ALL HUMAN BEINGS.

THE FIRST GROUP DID NOT GET TO WHERE THEY ARE THROUGH MAGIC, OR GENETICS, OR ANY OTHER ACCIDENT. THEY GOT THERE DELIBERATELY. THEY STARTED OUT SELF-CENTERED, AS WE ALL DO. BUT AT SOME POINT THEY ALLOWED THE HUMANITY OF THE OTHER PERSON TO AFFECT THEM, AND BEGAN TO CHANGE THEIR BEHAVIOR, CHANGE THE WAY THEY SAW THE OTHER PERSON; AND LIKE ANY HABIT, WHAT STARTED OUT AS DIFFICULT AND REQUIRING CONSCIOUS DECISIONS EVENTUALLY BECAME SECOND NATURE. THE SECOND GROUP DID THE SAME THING; THEY STARTED OUT SELF CENTERED AND BEGAN TO NOTICE AND RESPOND TO DIFFERENCES, SO THAT THEY SAW MOST PEOPLE AS BELONGING TO “THEM”, AND JUST A FEW TO “US”. AND THE MORE PEOPLE THEY MET, THE MORE DIVIDING THEY DID – THOSE FOREIGNERS, THOSE GAYS, THOSE TEENAGERS, THOSE CRIMINALS. AND EVENTUALLY THEIR LACK OF ATTENTION TO THE NEEDS OF OTHERS WAS SECOND NATURE; THE RICH MAN WHO STEPPED OVER THE BEGGAR LAZARUS EVERY MORNING PROBABLY STOPPED EVEN SEEING HIM OR HEARING HIM BECAUSE IN THE BEGINNING HE HAD FORCED HIMSELF TO IGNORE LAZARUS.

JESUS KNOWS WE CAN'T STOP ALL THE EVIL AND INJUSTICE IN THE WORLD. THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, WHICH IS THE GOAL OF ALL CHRISTIANS, IS A GOAL FOR THE END OF TIME. WE KNOW IT WILL COME, WE PRAY THAT IT WILL COME, BUT UNTIL CHRIST COMES AGAIN, IT WILL ALWAYS BE FULLY REALIZED ONLY IN THE FUTURE. BUT WE CAN MAKE THE CHOICE AS TO WHETHER WE WILL BEGIN LIVING IN THE KINGDOM RIGHT NOW. BECAUSE THE JUDGMENT OF THE GREAT KING IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE INDEFINITE FUTURE, AFTER WE DIE. IT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW; IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME YOU AND I ENCOUNTER ANOTHER PERSON.

MAYBE THAT'S THE REAL POINT OF THIS GOSPEL. JESUS WANTS US TO MAKE THE EFFORT TO CHANGE OURSELVES SO THAT IT BECOMES SECOND NATURE TO DO WHAT HE ASKS US TO DO. AND THAT IS PERHAPS EVEN HARDER THAN JUST DOING IT. CHANGING OURSELVES THROUGH DELIBERATELY CULTIVATING NEW HABITS IS PAINFUL; BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A DISCIPLE.

 BUT IF YOU WANT TO GO ABOUT IT, HERE'S ALL YOU HAVE TO DO. WHENEVER WE MEET ANOTHER PERSON, THE FIRST THING ON OUR MINDS SHOULD BE, “WHAT DOES HE OR SHE NEED THAT I HAVE TO GIVE? AND IF THERE IS SUCH A NEED, WE SHOULD SATISFY THAT NEED AS BEST WE CAN, EVEN IF THERE HAVE BEEN SHARP LINES DRAWN BETWEEN HIM AND I. AND IF WE DO THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN DELIBERATELY, IT WILL BECOME A HABIT, AND WE WILL DO IT WITHOUT THINKING, AND WE WILL BE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED WHEN WE LEARN SOMEDAY THAT WE HAVE BEEN SERVING THE GREAT KING ALL ALONG.

Thirty third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

MATTHEW 25:13-40
MY GRANDFATHER HAD COMPLETED FOURTH GRADE IN A LITTLE COUNTRY SCHOOL BEFORE HIS PARENTS MADE HIM START WORKING ON THE FARM.  WHEN HE WAS FOURTEEN HE LEFT HOME AND WORKED ON RANCHES UNTIL HE WAS THIRTY.  AFTER THAT HE HELD A LOT OF LOW-PAYING JOBS WHILE RAISING HIS FAMILY – HE WAS A SALESMAN, A BARTENDER, A HANDYMAN – HE NEVER OWNED HIS OWN HOME AND DROVE AROUND IN AN OLD USED CAR.  NOW AND THEN I'D ACCOMPANY MY GRANDPARENTS ON A SHOPPING EXPEDITION, AND I REMEMBER HOW, EVERY TIME WE WOULD PASS A CERTAIN VERY POPULAR DRIVE IN RESTAURANT – YOU KNOW, ONE OF THOSE KIND WHERE YOUNG LADIES BROUGHT YOUR ORDER OUT AND ATTACHED IT TO YOUR WINDOW WITH A SPECIAL TRAY – I GUESS YOU HAVE TO PRETTY OLD TO REMEMBER THAT, THOUGH – HE WOULD REMARK THAT THE MAN WHO HAD SET UP THAT BUSINESS HAD ASKED MY GRANDFATHER TO BE HIS PARTNER.  MY GRANDFATHER ALWAYS REGRETTED HAVING PASSED UP THAT OPPORTUNITY.
TODAY'S GOSPEL IS ABOUT PASSING UP OPPORTUNITY.  IN A DEEPER SENSE, IT IS ABOUT WHY WE PASS UP OPPORTUNITY.  WE USUALLY FOCUS ON THE POOR FELLOW WHO BURIED THE TALENT HIS MASTER GAVE HIM.  WE HEAR THOSE WORDS “MASTER, I KNEW YOU WERE A DEMANDING PERSON, HARVESTING WHERE YOU DID NOT PLANT AND GATHERING WHERE YOU DID NOT SCATTER; SO OUT OF FEAR I WENT OFF AND BURIED YOUR TALENT IN THE GROUND.”  AND WE MIGHT SYMPATHIZE WITH HIM WHEN THE MASTER TAKES THE ONE TALENT AWAY AND GIVES IT TO THE ONE WITH TEN, AND THROWS THE USELESS SERVANT OUT OF THE HOUSE.
BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE STORY, THE MAN WHO RECEIVED TEN TALENTS PROBABLY KNEW THE VERY SAME THING ABOUT THE MASTER.  IF HE TOOK A CHANCE AND LOST THOSE TALENTS, HE WOULD BE PUNISHED TEN TIMES AS MUCH, I WOULD THINK.  BUT HIS VIEW WAS DOMINATED BY A DIFFERENT IDEA – “THIS IS MY BIG CHANCE TO SHOW MY MASTER THAT HE CAN TRUST ME!”  AND THE ENTERPRISING SERVANT SET OUT TO DO JUST THAT – AND HE SUCCEEDED.  THE MAN WITH TWO TALENTS DOES LIKEWISE.  THE MASTER HAD, AFTER ALL, DISTRIBUTED THE TALENTS ACCORDING TO EACH ONE'S ABILITY.  THE FIRST TWO SERVANTS DID THE BEST THEY COULD WITH WHAT THEY HAD, AND THE MASTER COMMENDED THEM FOR IT, AND PROMISED THAT THEY WOULD BE PROMOTED AND GIVEN MORE RESPONSIBILITIES.
THE WORD “TALENT” BY THE WAY, IS FROM A GREEK WORD FOR A WEIGHT OF ABOUT 130 POUNDS.  WHEN JESUS LIVED, IT WAS A SHORTHAND WAY OF REFERRING TO THAT AMOUNT OF GOLD – IN OTHER WORDS, A HUGE AMOUNT, AN INCREDIBLE VALUE TO TRUST TO ONE OF YOUR SERVANTS.  WHEN THE SCRIPTURES WERE TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH, THE WORD BEGAN TO DESIGNATE A GIFT, OR AN ABILITY SOMEONE WAS BORN WITH.  BUT WHETHER WE ARE THINKING OF A  HUGE SUM OF MONEY OR OF SOME SORT OF  GIFT WE'VE BEEN  GIVEN OR SOME SORT OF ABILITY THAT WE'VE NEVER WORKED FOR, THE PARABLE STILL WORKS.
SAINT PAUL IN THREE DIFFERENT PLACES IN HIS WRITINGS REFERS TO GIFTS, OR CHARISMS, EACH CHRISTIAN IS GIVEN BY THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR THE BUILDING UP OF THE CHURCH.  MUCH OF THE TIME, THESE GIFTS BUILD UPON CAPACITIES PEOPLE ALREADY HAVE – IF YOU ARE A GOOD TEACHER, MAYBE YOUR CHARISM IS TO TEACH THE FAITH; IF YOU KNOW HOW TO RUN A BUSINESS, YOUR CHARISM MIGHT BE ADMINISTRATION.  BUT THESE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ARE NOT GIVEN FOR YOUR BENEFIT; THEY ARE TO BE USED FOR THE CHURCH, FOR THE PEOPLE GOD HAS CALLED TOGETHER.  AND THE QUESTION THEN COMES UP, IF EVERYONE IS GIVEN A CHARISM, WHY DO SO FEW ACTUALLY USE THEIR CHARISM?  LEAVING ASIDE THE FACT THAT MOST CATHOLICS DON'T SEE THEMSELVES AS HAVING CHARISMS AND AS A RESULT MAKE NO EFFORT TO DISCOVER THEIR OWN SPECIAL GIFTS, I THINK WE LOOK AT GOD THE WAY THE THIRD SERVANT LOOKS AT HIS MASTER – WE ARE MOTIVATED BY FEAR, HOPING THAT IF WE FULFILL THE MINIMUM – MASS ON SUNDAY AND HOLY DAYS, AVOIDING THEFT AND MURDER AND ADULTERY, GOING TO CONFESSION NOW AND THEN – WE'LL MAKE IT TO HEAVEN, PROBABLY BY WAY OF PURGATORY, BUT WE'LL MAKE IT.  WE WON'T GIVE GOD A REASON TO SEND US TO HELL, BECAUSE HE IS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR A REASON, WE KNOW.
BUT THE GOOD SERVANTS COULDN'T WAIT TO GET OUT THERE AND USE THEIR MASTER'S FORTUNE TO MAKE EVEN MORE MONEY – FOR THEIR MASTER, NOT THEMSELVES.    AND NOTICE THAT THE TWO SERVANTS, ONE OF WHOM HAS MADE HIS MASTER TEN TALENTS AND THE OTHER TWO, RECEIVE EXACTLY THE SAME COMMENDATION FROM THE MASTER, “WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT, SINCE YOU WERE FAITHFUL IN SMALL MATTERS, I WILL GIVE YOU GREAT RESPONSIBILITIES.  COME SHARE YOUR MASTER'S JOY”.  WHEN WE USE OUR CHARISMS, WE ARE BEING VEHICLES FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT; HE MAY CHOOSE TO USE ONE PERSON'S GIFTS A LOT AND ANOTHER'S ONLY A LITTLE.  BLESSED CHARLES DE FOUCALD, WHO FOUNDED THE LITTLE BROTHERS OF JESUS, DIED WHEN THERE WAS JUST HIM AND ONE OTHER PERSON WHO STILL BELONGED TO THE ORDER.  SOMETIMES ONE'S CHARISM MAY BE USED ONLY ONCE.  THE CHURCH HAS HONORED MANY MARTYRS WHO WERE INDIFFERENT CHRISTIANS UP TO THE POINT WHERE THEY HAD TO CHOOSE BETWEEN DEATH OR RENOUNCING THEIR FAITH.  THEIR CHARISM WAS ONLY EXERCISED ON THAT ONE OCCASION.
BUT THE THING ABOUT THE GIFTS THE SPIRIT GIVES EACH PERSON FOR THE BUILDING UP OF THE CHURCH IS THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO USE THEM.  YOU CAN CHOOSE TO BURY THEM AND GO ON WITH YOUR LIFE.  WHETHER WE USE THEM OR NOT IS PARTLY DUE TO HOW WE LOOK AT GOD.  IF WE SEE HIM AS A CRUEL MASTER WHO REAPS WHAT HE DOES NOT SEW, WE HAVE VERY LITTLE INCENTIVE TO DO ANYTHING BESIDES THE BARE MINIMUM.  BUT IF WE SEE HIM AS A MASTER WHO LETS US ENTER INTO PARTNERSHIP WITH HIM IN BUILDING UP THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, A MASTER WHO WILL LET US ENTER INTO HIS JOY, WHO WILL REWARD US WITH EVEN MORE RESPONSIBILITY ONCE WE HAVE SHOWN THAT WE CAN HANDLE A LITTLE, THEN WE REALIZE THAT EXERCISING OUR CHARISMS TO THEIR FULLEST IS THE ONLY THING THAT REALLY MATTERS.
MY GRANDFATHER SPENT MUCH OF HIS LIFE REGRETTING THE OPPORTUNITY HE PASSED UP.  MAY YOU AND I NEVER REGRET OUR CHANCE TO MULTIPLY OUR MASTER'S WEALTH AND ENTER INTO HIS JOY.

Feast of the Basilica of Saint John Lateran

JOHN 2:13-22

THIS WEEKEND WE CELEBRATE A CHURCH, RATHER THAN A PERSON. THE CHURCH OF SAINT JOHN LATERAN IS THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF THE BISHOP OF ROME. I THINK MOST OF US WOULD HAVE GUESSED THAT SAINT PETER'S WOULD BE THAT CHURCH, BUT WE WOULD BE WRONG. THE CHURCH IS ON LAND THAT ONCE HELD THE PALACE OF THE LATERANI FAMILY, WHO WERE VERY PROMINENT IN ANCIENT ROME. ONE OF THE LATERANI FELL OUT OF FAVOR WITH THE EMPEROR, AND THE LAND WAS CONFISCATED. THE ORIGINAL CHURCH WAS BUILT BY THE EMPEROR CONSTANTINE IN THE FOURTH CENTURY, AFTER CHRISTIANITY BECAME LEGALIZED. THE CURRENT CHURCH IS THE FIFTH ONE BUILT ON THAT SITE. SO WHY SHOULD WE CELEBRATE THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ROME? AFTER ALL THEY DON'T CELEBRATE THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF SPRINGFIELD. THE CATHEDRAL OF SAINT JOHN LATERAN IS CALLED “THE MOTHER CHURCH OF ROME AND THE WORLD”, AND THE ORIGINAL MAY VERY WELL HAVE BEEN THE FIRST SIGNIFICANT CHURCH IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE. THE JEWS HAD THEIR TEMPLE, AND ALL THROUGH THE EMPIRE THERE WERE SYNAGOGUES, USUALLY NOT VERY IMPRESSIVE BUILDINGS CHRISTIANS COULD NOT ERECT STRUCTURES FOR WORSHIP; IT WAS AGAINST THE LAW. SO MOST OF THE TIME THEY WORSHIPED IN HOMES, OR IN CATACOMBS, OR IN OTHER SECRETIVE PLACES. IMAGINE THE JOY WHEN THE CATHEDRAL WAS FIRST ERECTED.

SO ONE OF THE REASONS TO CELEBRATE IS THAT THIS CHURCH IS A SYMBOL OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS EMERGING OUT OF THE DARKNESS, BRINGING LIGHT TO THE NATIONS.

THE GOSPEL READING SHOWS HOW SENSITIVE JESUS WAS TO THE SACRED NATURE OF THE TEMPLE, THE PLACE OF WORSHIP FOR THE JEWS. THE MONEY CHANGERS AND THE PEOPLE WHO SOLD ANIMALS WERE ACTUALLY CONDONED AND EVEN ENCOURAGED TO SET UP SHOP IN THE OUTER COURTYARD. IF YOU WANTED TO OFFER SACRIFICE THE ANIMAL HAD TO BE PERFECT, BY JEWISH LAW HANDED DOWN FROM MOSES; AND BECAUSE YOU WERE IN THE TEMPLE AREA YOU COULD ONLY PURCHASE THE SACRIFICIAL ANIMAL WITH UNTAINTED MONEY. WHEN JESUS DROVE THE MONEY CHANGERS AND THE ANIMAL SELLERS OUT OF THE TEMPLE, IT WAS A REAL SURPRISE TO PIOUS JEWS, ALMOST A BLASPHEMY. BUT JESUS SEES WHAT IS GOING ON AS PROFANING THE SACRED. SO A SECOND REASON TO CELEBRATE THE MOTHER CHURCH OF THE WORLD IS TO REMIND OURSELVES THAT THERE ARE SACRED PLACES, THIS CHURCH BEING ONE, AND IF WE HAVE EVEN A LITTLE OF JESUS' ZEAL, WE WILL GUARD THE SACREDNESS OF THIS SPACE; WE WILL REMEMBER THAT JESUS IS PRESENT BODY AND BLOOD, SOUL AND DIVINITY; AND WE WILL ATTEND HOLY MASS WITH THE GREATEST REVERENCE.

ANOTHER SACRED SPACE, OF COURSE, IS THE BODY EACH OF US HAS BEEN GIVEN. SAINT PAUL TELLS US THAT WE ARE TEMPLES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AND IF WE ARE TO GUARD THE SACREDNESS OF OUR CHURCH, SHOULD WE NOT BE EVEN MORE EAGER TO GUARD OUR OWN SACREDNESS? THIS MEANS THAT WE ATTEND TO OUR BODY AS WELL AS TO OUR SOUL. THERE IS A WONDERFUL BOOK COMING OUT CALLED “THE THEOLOGY OF THE TABLE,” IN WHICH THE AUTHOR SAYS THAT A TWENTY YEAR OLD NEEDS TO THINK LOVINGLY OF THE 70 YEAR OLD HE WILL BECOME SOMEDAY WHENEVER HE EATS OR DRINKS. AND WE COULD ADD, WHENEVER HE PUTS ANYTHING IN HIS MIND AS WELL. SO A THIRD REASON TO CELEBRATE THE MOTHER CHURCH IS TO REMIND US THAT WE ARE SACRED BEINGS OURSELVES.

THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF SAINT JOHN LATERAN HAS A BEAUTIFUL INTERIOR. I'VE NEVER BEEN THERE, BUT YOU CAN GOOGLE IT AND SEE SEVERAL IMAGES SHOWING THE MAGNIFICENT STATUES AND STAINED GLASS WINDOWS. YOU CAN SEE HOW THE PEOPLE WHO BUILT IT POURED EVERYTHING INTO MAKING IT BEAUTIFUL. I DOUBT YOU COULD GET ANYONE TO DO THIS ANYMORE; THE COST WOULD BE BEYOND THE REACH OF EVEN A LARGE DIOCESE. BUT IN THOSE DAYS THE PEOPLE CONSIDERED THE HOUSE OF GOD TO BE MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAN THEIR OWN DWELLINGS, AND ACTED ACCORDINGLY. YOU CAN SEE THE SAME SORT OF THING IN SOME OF THE OLDER ETHNIC CHURCHES AROUND HERE. SO ANOTHER REASON TO CELEBRATE THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ROME IS TO REMEMBER THAT TO GOD BELONGS OUR FIRST FRUITS; WHEN WE GIVE TO GOD OUR GIVING SHOULD NOT BE WHAT IS LEFT OVER AFTER WE ATTEND TO OUR NEEDS AND WANTS; OUR GIFT TO GOD SHOULD BE THE FIRST CLAIM ON WHAT WE HAVE.

EVERY CATHOLIC CHURCH IS A BRIDGE BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH. JESUS DWELLS WITH US JUST AS HE DOES WITH THE FATHER IN HEAVEN. AND WHENEVER WE HAVE A EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATION, HEAVEN TOUCHES EARTH. THE BREAD AND WINE BECOME THE PERSON OF JESUS; WITH JESUS HAVING BEEN GIVEN TO US, WE NOW HAVE THE MEANS TO APPROACH THE GREAT BANQUET TO WHICH WE HAVE BEEN INVITED. AND WE TASTE THAT BANQUET AS WELL, WHEN WE RECEIVE THE EUCHARIST. AND AS WE RECEIVE JESUS, WHO CAN NEVER AGAIN BE DIVIDED, WHO FOREVER REMAINS ONE, WE JOIN WITH ALL THE OTHER CHRISTIANS IN TIME AND SPACE WHO HAVE ALSO EATEN AND DRUNK THE SACRED MEAL.

IN EZEKIEL'S VISION THE TEMPLE BECOMES THE SOURCE OF LIFE FOR ALL THE WORLD. THE LIFE GIVING WATERS MAKE THE SALT SEA FRESH, AND NOURISH THE PLANTS THAT IN TURN NOURISH THE ANIMAL LIFE. THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD LONG FOR, SHOULD WORK FOR. THAT OUR TEMPLE, OUR SAINT MARY'S CHURCH, BECOMES THE SOURCE OF LIVING WATER FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE WITHIN THE PARISH BOUNDARIES, CATHOLICS AND NON-CATHOLICS ALIKE. AND YOU AND I ARE THE ONES WHO BEAR THE LIVING WATER. WE COME TO THE CHURCH AND DRAW STRENGTH AND LIFE FROM THE EUCHARIST, AND CARRY IT OUT INTO THE WORLD. THE MORE WE SHARE THESE GRACES THE MORE GRACES ARE GIVEN TO US.

THE CHURCH OF SAINT JOHN LATERAN IS THE MOTHER CHURCH OF CATHOLICISM. IT IS THE CHURCH OF POPE FRANCIS, THE BISHOP OF ROME, WHO IS THE SERVANT OF THE SERVANTS OF GOD. IT IS A SYMBOL AND SOURCE OF THE ONENESS, THE UNIVERSALITY, THE APOSTOLIC FOUNDATION, AND THE HOLINESS THAT MARK THE TRUE CHURCH O JESUS CHRIST. IT'S EXCITING TO BE A MEMBER OF THIS CHURCH. IT'S WONDERFUL TO KNOW THAT GOD EXPECTS GREAT THINGS FROM US – NOT BECAUSE WE ARE CAPABLE OF GREAT THINGS, BUT BECAUSE IF WE LET HIM HE WILL WORK GREAT THINGS THROUGH US. THE CHURCH OF THE BISHOP OF ROME AND INDEED ALL CATHOLIC CHURCHES ARE SIGNS THAT GOD IS BRINGING ABOUT A NEW CREATION EVEN NOW, AND THAT AT THE END OF TIME, THERE WILL NO LONGER BE CHURCHES, BECAUSE THE WHOLE WORLD WILL BE A HOLY PLACE, WHERE THERE IS NO NEED OF LAMPS OR SUNLIGHT, BECAUSE GOD HIMSELF WILL BE OUR LIGHT.