Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle B

MARK 7:31-37

I'M HARD OF HEARING. AS I GET OLDER, IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE, EVEN WITH MY HEARING AIDS. I KNOW I PROBABLY WON'T LOSE ALL MY HEARING; MY MOTHER AND MANY OF HER BROTHERS AND SISTERS WERE HARD OF HEARING, BUT EVEN AT 90 THEY COULD STILL PARTICIPATE IN A CONVERSATION. BUT IT IS ANNOYING, ESPECIALLY TO PEOPLE LIKE MY WIFE, WHO SPENDS MUCH OF OUR CONVERSATIONS REPEATING WHAT SHE JUST SAID. SO I SYMPATHIZE WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE HARD OF HEARING. LIKE THE THREE MEN WHO WERE SITTING ON A PARK BENCH. THE FIRST SAID, “IT'S WINDY, ISN'T IT?” THE SECOND SAID, “NO, IT'S THURSDAY.” THE THIRD SAID, “ME TOO, LETS GO GET A BEER.”

WE HAVE JUST LISTENED TO THE ONLY TIME IN SCRIPTURE THAT JESUS HEALS A DEAF MAN. THERE WAS A CASE WHERE HE CAST OUT A DEAF AND DUMB SPIRIT, BUT THAT'S PROBABLY NOT THE SAME THING. MOST OF JESUS OTHER MIRACLES OF HEALING TAKE PLACE AT HIS COMMAND, OR AT HIS TOUCH. IN FACT, THAT IS THE REQUEST OF THE MAN'S FRIENDS – FOR JESUS TO LAY HIS HAND ON HIM. BUT IN THIS ONE, JESUS ACTS DIFFERENTLY, AND MARK TAKES PAINS TO RECORD EVERY DETAIL. SO WHAT IS GOING ON?

THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF SPECULATION ABOUT THIS. MARK IS THE OLDEST GOSPEL, AND IN THIS STORY AND A FEW OTHERS, MARK DEPICTS JESUS ACTING LIKE OTHER ITINERANT HEALERS. MARK SEES THIS IN A POSITIVE WAY, BUT MATTHEW, WHO INCORPORATES ABOUT 90 PERCENT OF MARK, LEAVES OUT THIS MIRACLE AND ANOTHER WHERE JESUS USES HIS SALIVA TO MAKE MUD WHICH HE APPLIES TO A BLIND MAN'S EYES. MATTHEW, WRITING TWENTY-FIVE YEARS LATER FOR A DIFFERENT AUDIENCE, MIGHT HAVE FELT THAT FOR JESUS TO ACT THIS WAY WAS NOT IN KEEPING WITH THE FACT THAT HE IS NOT JUST A HEALER, OR EVEN A GREAT HEALER, HE IS QUALITATIVELY DIFFERENT.

BUT SOME THINK MARK IS TELLING HIS READERS SOMETHING ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN JOURNEY WE ALL GO THROUGH; IT GOES SOMETHING LIKE THIS:

FIRST, THE MAN IS BROUGHT TO JESUS BY OTHERS. ALL OF US KNOW JESUS ONLY BECAUSE OTHERS HAVE SHOWN HIM TO US – PARENTS, TEACHERS, CLERGY, PEOPLE WE ADMIRE. BUT JUST AS WE WERE BROUGHT TO JESUS BY OTHERS, WE HAVE THE OBLIGATION TO BRING OTHERS TO HIM. IF NOT US, WHO?

SECOND, JESUS TAKES THE MAN AWAY FROM THE CROWD. HE IS DEMONSTRATING THE ISOLATION OF THE DEAF MAN, BUT ALSO THE ISOLATION AND LONELINESS THAT SIN BRINGS ABOUT. A PERSON IN SIN DOES NOT HEAR WHAT GOD WANTS TO TELL HIM. JESUS ALSO TAKES HIM AWAY SO THAT A RELATIONSHIP CAN FORM; IT IS ONLY IN RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS THAT WE CAN HOPE TO BE HEALED, HOPE TO BE SAVED; AND RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS IS CULTIVATED AWAY FROM THE CROWD, AWAY FROM NOISE, AWAY FROM THE CONSTANT DEMANDS OF LIFE.

JESUS PUTS HIS FINGERS IN THE MAN'S EARS. IF YOU ARE DEAF, YOU CAN'T HEAR JESUS ASKING YOU WHAT IT IS YOU WANT, OR TELLING YOU WHAT HE IS GOING TO DO. THE FINGERS IN THE EARS IS A FORM OF SIGN LANGUAGE; YOUR EARS ARE STOPPED UP, BUT I WILL UNSTOP THEM. THE SAME IS TRUE OF THE SALIVA ON THE TONGUE; THE MAN CAN'T SPEAK INTELLIGIBLY, A PROBLEM WHEN YOU'VE BEEN STONE DEAF A LONG TIME. YOU CAN'T HEAR OTHERS, AND YOU CAN'T HEAR YOUR OWN VOICE, SO YOU FORGET WORDS, FORGET HOW TO PRONOUNCE WORDS, AND EVENTUALLY NO ONE KNOWS WHAT YOU ARE SAYING. SALIVA WAS CONSIDERED TO HAVE HEALING PROPERTIES, SO JESUS, AGAIN USING SIGN LANGUAGE, IS SAYING, I WILL HEAL YOUR SPEECH AS WELL.

JESUS LOOKS UP TO HEAVEN. HE CALLS UPON THE FATHER FOR HEALING, BECAUSE ALL HEALING COMES FROM THE FATHER. IN LOOKING UP TO HEAVEN HE SHOWS THE DEAF MAN THAT THE POWER HE WILL EXPERIENCE COMES FROM GOD, NOT FROM MAN.

FINALLY, JESUS GROANS, OR SIGHS – BUT GROANING IS A MORE ACCURATE TRANSLATION. WE DON'T HAVE A GOOD REASON FOR THIS; WAS IT BECAUSE HE FELT DEEP SYMPATHY FOR THE MAN? OR BECAUSE WHENEVER HE WORKED A MIRACLE IT TOOK A LOT OUT OF HIM, AT LEAST IF YOU GO BY MARK. OR AS ONE SCHOLAR SPECULATED, WHEN HE GROANED, HE ENTERED INTO THE DEAF MAN'S WORLD BY TAKING ON HIS INABILITY TO SPEAK, JUST LIKE JESUS ENTERS INTO OUR WORLD TO TAKE ON OUR HUMANITY AND ULTIMATELY OUR DEATH.

FINALLY JESUS COMMANDS “BE OPENED!” IN ARAMAIC – WHY DOES MARK RECORD THE WORDS AS JESUS SPOKE THEM RATHER THAN SIMPLY HAVE JESUS SAYING “BE OPENED” IN GREEK, LIKE THE REST OF WHAT MARK RECORDED? WAS IT BECAUSE THIS HEALING TOOK PLACE IN A BORDER AREA, WHERE THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO SPOKE GREEK, AND WHERE HEBREW WAS THE LANGUAGE OF THE JEWS? IF JESUS USED HIS OWN ARAMAIC TONGUE, MAYBE FEW PEOPLE HEARD HIS COMMAND.

AND SUDDENLY THE DEAF MAN HEARS AND SPEAKS PLAINLY AND WITH THAT IS RESTORED TO HIS FRIENDS. SO WE HAVE A LITTLE PLAY THAT TELLS US IN GRAPHIC TERMS THAT WE ARE SINNERS (THE DEAFNESS, THE MUTENESS) AND OUR ONLY HOPE IS JESUS. THAT WE HAVE TO BE BROUGHT TO JESUS BY OTHERS WHO KNOW OF HIM. THAT WE HAVE TO ENTER INTO A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM, AND EVEN HERE, HE INITIATES IT. THAT IN ORDER TO HAVE THAT RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE TO SET ASIDE TIME TO BE ALONE WITH JESUS.

AND IT IS IN THE RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS THAT HE WILL HEAL US, HE WILL REMOVE THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR SINFULNESS, HE WILL RESTORE US TO WHAT WE ARE MEANT TO BE, AND WITH THAT WE BECOME FULLY HUMAN, WE BECOME PART OF THE PEOPLE JESUS IS GATHERING TOGETHER FOR HIS FATHER.

AND JESUS SAYS, “TELL NO ONE...” NOT BECAUSE HE IS BASHFUL AND DOESN'T WANT TO BE SEEN AS A GREAT HERO OR WONDERWORKER, BUT BECAUSE ULTIMATELY EVERYONE HAS TO UNDERGO THE DEAF MAN'S JOURNEY BY THEMSELVES; YOU DON'T INHERIT YOUR FAITH, YOU DON'T GET A RELATIONSHIP UNLESS YOU WANT ONE. JESUS DOES NOT FORCE THIS ON YOU. AND WHEN YOU ARE HEALED, WHEN YOU CAN SPEAK, WHO KNOWS? DID THE DEAF MAN GO ABOUT PROCLAIMING WHAT GOD HAD DONE FOR HIM? DID HIS PROCLAMATION PREPARE THE SOIL FOR THE GROWTH OF THE CHURCH AMONG THE GENTILES? WHATEVER HAPPENED WITH THE DEAF MAN, WHEN WE CAN SPEAK AGAIN, LET US PROCLAIM WHAT HAS BEEN DONE FOR US.

Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle B

MARK 7: 1-8, 14-15, 21-23
A MAN WAS DRIVING ALONG ONE DAY WHEN HE FOUND HIMSELF STOPPED BEHIND A WOMAN WHO WAS ON HER CELL PHONE.  THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN; SHE DIDN'T MOVE; THE LIGHT TURNED RED AGAIN.  THE MAN SHOOK HIS FIST AT HER, POUNDED HIS STEERING WHEEL, AND BECAME RED IN THE FACE.  ALL OF THIS WAS OBSERVED BY THE POLICEMAN IN THE CAR BEHIND HIM, WHO PROMPTLY ARRESTED HIM AND TOLD HIM TO GET OUT OF THE CAR.  THE MAN WAS PUT IN HANDCUFFS WHILE THE POLICEMAN WENT THROUGH ALL THE PAPERS, OPENED THE GLOVE BOX AND THE TRUNK, MADE A FEW CALLS, AND THEN FINALLY UNLOCKED THE MAN'S HANDS AND TOLD HIM HE WAS FREE TO GO.  THE MAN WAS SEETHING. “I'LL HAVE YOUR BADGE! HE SAID.  I'LL SUE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO STOP SOMEONE IN HIS OWN CAR.  MY WINDOWS WERE ROLLED UP AND NO ONE COULD HEAR ME!”  THE OFFICER REPLIED, “WELL, I DIDN'T STOP YOU BECAUSE OF THE TANTRUM YOU WERE THROWING.  I SAW A CROSS DANGLING FROM  YOUR MIRROR, YOU HAVE ONE OF THOSE BUMPER STICKERS WITH A FISH ON IT AND ANOTHER ONE THAT SAYS “JOHN 3:16; AND YOU HAVE A DECAL THAT SAYS “KEEP CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS.”  I ARRESTED YOU BECAUSE I THOUGHT YOU HAD STOLEN THE CAR FROM A CHRISTIAN.”
AS WE LISTEN TO THE GOSPEL TODAY, WE HEAR ABOUT THOSE HYPOCRITICAL PHARISEES AGAIN.  WE REMEMBER THAT THEY WERE ALWAYS CRITICIZING ORDINARY PEOPLE FOR NOT BEING AS CAREFUL ABOUT THE LAW AS THEY WERE.  IT SEEMS AS THOUGH ANYTIME WE PICK UP ONE OF THE GOSPELS WE RUN INTO ANOTHER PHARISEE, SOMEONE WHO NOT ONLY DOESN'T GET WHAT JESUS IS TRYING TO TEACH, BUT GETS SO MAD THAT THEY PLOT WAYS TO KILL HIM.  OUR JESUS, THOSE PHARISEES.
BUT JESUS NEVER BECAME A CHRISTIAN.  HE LIVED AND DIED A JEW.  WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SCRIPTURES, JESUS HIMSELF DOESN'T DO VERY MUCH TO CONVERT GENTILES; HE SEES HIS MISSION FIRST TO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL.  AND POSSIBLY HIS CONFRONTATIONS WITH THE PHARISEES ARE PRECISELY BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONES WHO TAKE RELIGION MOST SERIOUSLY IN JESUS' TIME.  IF JESUS WERE BORN AND RAISED A 20TH CENTURY AMERICAN CATHOLIC HE WOULDN'T BE FIGHTING WITH RABBIS FROM THE LOCAL SYNAGOGUES AND TEMPLES; HE WOULD BE CONFRONTING CATHOLICS, NOT THE ONES WHO HAVE DROPPED OUT OR ATTEND THE ASSEMBLY OF GOD CHURCH ACROSS THE RIVER; NOT THE ONES WHO ARE REGISTERED AS CATHOLICS BUT COME TO MASS ON CHRISTMAS AND EASTER; NOT THE ONES WHO ENROLL THEIR KIDS IN FAITH FORMATION BUT NEVER DARKEN THE DOOR OF THE CHURCH THEMSELVES.  JESUS WOULD BE CONFRONTING FAITHFUL CATHOLICS, MAYBE YOU AND SURELY ME.
HE WOULD CONFRONT ME BECAUSE I'M A HYPOCRITE.  BUT I'M IN GOOD COMPANY, I GUESS.  SAINT PAUL SAID, “WRETCHED MAN THAT I AM! WHO WILL SET ME FREE FROM THE BODY OF THIS DEATH? THANKS BE TO GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD! SO THEN, ON THE ONE HAND I MYSELF WITH MY MIND AM SERVING THE LAW OF GOD, BUT ON THE OTHER, WITH MY FLESH THE LAW OF SIN.”
SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT BEING A HYPOCRITE IS A BAD THING.  IT'S NOT.  IN FACT, PEOPLE WHO ARE HYPOCRITES ARE A STEP ABOVE PEOPLE WHO AREN'T.  A HYPOCRITE IS SOMEONE WHO PROFESSES CERTAIN BELIEFS BUT WHOSE ACTIONS CONTRADICT THOSE BELIEFS.  THAT'S WHAT PAUL IS TALKING ABOUT.  THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF HYPOCRITES.  THERE ARE THE ONES WHO PRETEND TO BELIEVE SOMETHING SO THAT THEY CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOMEONE ELSE.  BUT MOST OF US HYPOCRITES BELIEVE SOMETHING BUT CANNOT BRING OURSELVES TO ACT AS WE BELIEVE.  I BELIEVE THAT CHRISTIANS SHOULD FEED THE HUNGRY, GIVE DRINK TO THE THIRSTY, CLOTHE THE NAKED, GIVE SHELTER TO THE HOMELESS, VISIT THE SICK, VISIT THE IMPRISONED, AND BURY THE DEAD.  I HOPE WHAT MY WIFE AND I GIVE TO CHARITY WILL COVER OUR PART IN THIS, BUT EXCEPT FOR VISITING SOME SICK PEOPLE, I DON'T PERSONALLY DO MANY OF THOSE THINGS; DO YOU?  I BELIEVE I AM CALLED TO INSTRUCT THE IGNORANT; TO COUNSEL THE DOUBTFUL; TO ADMONISH SINNERS; TO BEAR WRONGS PATIENTLY; TO FORGIVE OFFENSES WILLINGLY; TO COMFORT THE AFFLICTED; AND TO PRAY FOR THE LIVING AND THE DEAD. BUT I DON'T REMEMBER ADMONISHING SINNERS, AND I'M NOT VERY PATIENT AND IT'S HARD  TO FORGIVE OFFENSES. MY BELIEFS AND MY ACTIONS DON'T LINE UP.
JESUS CONFRONTED THE PHARISEES NOT BECAUSE THEY WERE SO VERY WRONG, BUT BECAUSE THEY WERE ALMOST RIGHT; THEY TOOK SERIOUSLY WHAT GOD COMMANDED, BUT GOT THE DETAILS WRONG.  THEY FAITHFULLY WASHED  THEIR HANDS BEFORE EATING, AS GOD HAD COMMANDED; BUT FORGOT THAT THEIR RITUAL ACT OF PURIFICATION WAS SUPPOSED TO REFLECT AN INNER PURITY; AND WERE THE INNER PURITY THERE, THEIR OUTWARD BEHAVIOR WOULD BE DIFFERENT.  I THINK WHEN JESUS SPOKE TO THE PHARISEES IN THIS PASSAGE, HE SMILED A LITTLE WHEN HE USED THE WORD “HYPOCRITE”.  HE KNEW THEY WERE TRYING, AND REMINDED THEM TO TRY HARDER, OR PERHAPS, TO TRY SMARTER.
IF JESUS WERE A MODERN AMERICAN CATHOLIC, HE WOULD BE SAYING TO THOSE OF US WHO ARE TRYING TO BE FAITHFUL, WHO ARE TAKING THE CHURCH A LITTLE BIT SERIOUSLY, “COMPARE WHAT YOU SAY YOU BELIEVE WITH WHAT YOU DO.  IT'S NOT CONSISTENT, IS IT?  YOUR TASK AS MY FOLLOWER IS TO SPEND YOUR LIFE NOT ONLY LEARNING WHAT I TEACH, BUT CONFORMING YOUR LIFE TO WHAT YOU LEARN.  THAT'S WHAT IT MEANS TO BE MY DISCIPLE. WE HYPOCRITES ARE JESUS' HOPE FOR THE WORLD.  PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE TENSION BETWEEN WHAT THEY BELIEVE AND WHAT THEY DO ARE NOT GOING TO CHANGE; THEY AREN'T GOING TO HEAR JESUS' MESSAGE.  THEIR ONLY HOPE IS WHEN, THROUGH THE GRACE OF GOD, THEY BEGIN TO HAVE TENSION BETWEEN THEIR BELIEFS AND THEIR  ACTIONS; AND THAT CAN ONLY COME WHEN THEY LOOK AT A PERSON THEY LOVE AND ADMIRE, MAYBE YOU, MAYBE ME, AND SEE THAT HE OR SHE LIVES ACCORDING TO DIFFERENT VALUES THAN  THEY DO.  WHEN HE KNOWS SOMEONE WELL AND BEGINS TO WISH HE HAD HIS JOY, HIS PEACE, HIS INTEGRITY, HIS DEVOTION – THAT'S WHEN TENSION IS INTRODUCED AND  THE POSSIBILITY OF CHANGE BECOMES REAL.  THAT'S WHEN HE BECOMES A  HYPOCRITE.
SO DON'T THINK THIS GOSPEL IS MEANT TO CONTRAST THOSE HYPOCRITICAL PHARISEES WITH US CHRISTIANS, WHO KNOW BETTER.  AND PLEASE DON'T READ INTO THIS PASSAGE THE IDEA THAT MARK IS CRITICIZING JEWS BECAUSE OF THE EXTERNAL PRACTICES THEY FOLLOW IN ATTEMPTING TO LIVE GOD'S LAW.  RATHER, ASK YOURSELF WHERE YOU ARE A HYPOCRITE; WHERE YOU COULD DO BETTER, COULD DO DIFFERENTLY, WHERE PEOPLE COULD WATCH YOU AND SAY, “I KNOW WHAT HE BELIEVES”.  AND MAY NO ONE EVER THINK YOU STOLE YOUR CAR FROM A CHRISTIAN.

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle B

JOHN 6:60-69

I'M SURE SOME OF YOU KNOW ABOUT THE MASONIC ORDER. THEY STARTED A LONG TIME AGO AS A SECRET SOCIETY WHICH OPPOSED THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, AND EVENTUALLY BECAME A SOCIAL ORGANIZATION HERE IN THE US. WHEN I WAS GROWING UP I THOUGHT THAT IF YOU WERE A PROTESTANT YOU JOINED THE MASONS, AND IF YOU WERE CATHOLIC IT WAS THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS. IN OUR TOWN MANY OF MY DAD'S NON-CATHOLIC FRIENDS WERE MASONS. I GOT TO THINKING ABOUT THIS NOT LONG AGO WHEN I WAS SPEAKING TO A FRIEND OF MINE WHO IS A FAIRLY OBSERVANT JEW. HE IS ALSO A MASON, AND HE TOLD ME THAT IN THE 1950'S THERE WERE MORE THAN 1.2 MILLION MASONS IN THE US. NOW THERE ARE ABOUT 300,000. TO BE A MASON YOU HAVE TO MAKE SOME VERY SERIOUS PROMISES, OATHS REALLY. MY FRIEND THINKS THAT THE TREMENDOUS DROP IN MEMBERSHIP IS BECAUSE MODERN PEOPLE CANNOT COMMIT. HE'S PROBABLY RIGHT.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO MUCH TO BE A PRACTICING CATHOLIC. THE CHURCH EVEN LAID OUT THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS A LONG TIME AGO. ATTEND MASS ON SUNDAYS AND HOLY DAYS OF OBLIGATION, YEARLY RECEPTION OF HOLY COMMUNION, RECEIVE THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE ONCE A YEAR IF YOU ARE IN THE STATE OF MORTAL SIN, AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE SUPPORT OF THE CHURCH, FAST AND ABSTAIN ON THE DAYS DESIGNATED BY THE CHURCH. BUT AS EASY AS THESE ARE, WE ARE LOSING MEMBERS AS WELL; FOR EVERY ADULT WHO CONVERTS TO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH FIVE DROP OUT OF ACTIVE PRACTICE; SOME JOIN OTHER FAITHS BUT MOST JUST BECOME NOTHING.

A LOT OF OUR PROTESTANT BROTHERS AND SISTERS LOOK AT THE GOSPEL WE READ TODAY AND SAY, “LOOK, JESUS DIDN'T REALLY MEAN THAT STUFF ABOUT EATING HIS BODY AND DRINKING HIS BLOOD; HE SAYS RIGHT HERE THAT IT IS THE SPIRIT THAT GIVES LIFE AND THE FLESH IS OF NO AVAIL. BUT I DON'T THINK ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO TURNED AWAY AND WENT BACK TO THEIR FORMER LIVES THOUGHT THAT. IF THEY HAD, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE LEFT. NO, THEY LEFT BECAUSE THEY KNEW JESUS WAS NOT BACKING DOWN.

CONSIDER – HE SAYS TO THEM, “DOES THIS SHOCK YOU? WHAT IF YOU WERE TO SEE THE SON OF MAN ASCENDING TO WHERE HE WAS BEFORE?” CLEARLY, HE IS CHALLENGING THEM – WHAT IF YOU SAW ME RISE INTO THE HEAVENS, WOULD YOU BELIEVE MY WORDS THEN? AND HE GOES ON TO SAY THAT IT TAKES AN ACT OF THE FATHER FOR SOMEONE TO COME TO HIM. AND JESUS CLEARLY SAID IN THE PREVIOUS PASSAGES THAT IF YOU WANTED TO HAVE LIFE, YOU HAD TO EAT HIS BODY AND DRINK HIS BLOOD; AND NOW HE SAYS THAT THE SPIRIT GIVES LIFE, THE FLESH IS OF NO AVAIL. IF WE ARE TO BENEFIT FROM EATING HIS BODY AND DRINKING HIS BLOOD, THE SPIRIT NEEDS TO ACT UPON US.

THE GREAT THING, THOUGH, IS THAT WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN CALLED BY THE FATHER; THAT'S BAPTISM. AND WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN GIVEN THE SPIRIT; THAT'S CONFIRMATION. SO WE HAVE ACCESS TO ETERNAL LIFE; IT'S OURS FOR THE TAKING.

SOMETIMES WE MAKE THINGS WAY TOO COMPLICATED. IN THE SIMPLEST TERMS, GOD LOVES US, SO HE GIVES US HIS SON TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO BECOME ONE WITH GOD. ALL THE THEOLOGY, ALL THE RULES, ALL THE PRACTICES OF DEVOTION WE PARTICIPATE IN, EVEN OUR DEVOTION TO MARY, ARE ALL JUST WAYS FOR US TO DRAW CLOSER TO THE SON, TO JESUS.

AND THAT'S WHAT THE APOSTLES RECOGNIZED AT THIS MOMENT. JESUS SAYS, “DO YOU ALSO WANT TO LEAVE?” AND PETER, SPEAKING FOR THEM ALL, REPLIES, “TO WHOM WOULD WE GO? YOU HAVE THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE.”

PETER IS SAYING, “I DON'T PRETEND TO UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING; I'M JUST A HUMAN BEING. BUT I'M PUTTING EVERYTHING ON THE LINE. I'M CASTING MY LOT WITH YOU.”

AND PETER AND THE OTHERS WHO DID STICK WITH HIM WITNESSED HIS RESURRECTION AND FROM THE STRENGTH OF THAT WENT ON TO PREACH HIS GOSPEL TO ALL THE WORLD, EVEN TO THE POINT OF THEIR OWN MARTYRDOMS.

I WAS PREACHING TO THE CHILDREN LAST SUNDAY. WHEN I PREACH TO CHILDREN I GENERALLY ASK THEM QUESTIONS AND TAKE MY CUES FROM THEIR ANSWERS. ONE LITTLE GUY SEEMS TO HAVE GOTTEN THE MESSAGE. WHEN YOU ASK HIM A QUESTION HIS ANSWER IS USUALLY “JESUS”. HE MAY NOT EVEN UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION, BUT HE KNOWS THE ANSWER.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE APOSTLES PREACHED AFTER THE RESURRECTION? IT'S RIGHT THERE IN THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. THEY PREACHED THAT JESUS HAD COME TO EARTH, TAUGHT, SUFFERED, DIED AND ROSE AGAIN. DO YOU KNOW WHAT PAUL PREACHED? AFTER FAILING TO CONVERT THE ATHENIANS WITH LOGIC, HE SWORE THAT IN THE FUTURE HE WOULD ONLY PREACH CHRIST, AND HIM CRUCIFIED. THE ANSWER IS JESUS, ALWAYS JESUS.

IF YOU AND I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE CHURCH – AND I DO, AND YOU DO AS WELL, I'M SURE – THE ANSWER IS NOT TO DROP OUT, TO FIND SOMETHING MORE TO OUR TASTE, WHETHER IT IS A DIFFERENT FAITH OR A DIFFERENT PARISH. IF WE ARE DISTURBED BY SCANDALS IN THE CHURCH OUR ANSWER IS NOT TO LEAVE. OUR CHURCH, FOR ALL HER FAULTS, BRINGS US THE BODY AND BLOOD, SOUL AND DIVINITY OF JESUS, THE SON OF GOD. OUR CHURCH FEEDS US WITH IS WORDS. OUR CHURCH, RUN BY HUMAN BEINGS UNFORTUNATELY, STRUGGLES TO HELP US KNOW THIS JESUS, WHO HAS THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE.

THE EVIDENCE BEFORE US IS THAT MOST OF US ARE UNWILLING TO COMMIT. CERTAINLY THOSE WHO DROP OUT OF ACTIVELY PRACTICING THEIR FAITH DON'T WANT TO COMMIT. BUT AMONG MANY OF US WHO ARE HERE AT MASS EVERY WEEKEND AND DO FULFILL THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS WE DEFINE AS “PRACTICING”, AREN'T COMMITTED EITHER. THEY DON'T TRY TO CONFORM THEIR LIVES TO THE TEACHINGS OF THE CHURCH, WHICH ARE INSEPARABLE FROM THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS. THE CHURCH IS SUPPOSED TO BE A SIGN OF CONTRADICTION; WE OPPOSE ABORTION; WE CALL FOR ACTIVE MINISTRY TO THE POOR AND DISADVANTAGED; WE BELIEVE IN THE PERMANENCE OF MARRIAGE AND THAT MARRIAGE CAN ONLY BE CONTRACTED BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN; WE BELIEVE THAT HUMAN LIFE FROM CONCEPTION TO DEATH, IS OF INFINITE VALUE. AND YET WE FIND MANY CATHOLICS WHO WOULD DISAGREE WITH ONE OR MORE OF THESE POSITIONS, BUT HAVE NEVER TRIED TO UNDERSTAND THE CHURCH'S REASONS FOR THEM.

TODAY LET US ASK OURSELVES, ARE WE COMMITTED? CAN WE SAY WITH PETER, “WHERE ELSE CAN WE GO? YOU HAVE THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE”.   

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle B

JOHN 6:51-58

EVERY WEEK I BRING THE EUCHARIST TO A FEW PEOPLE WHO CAN'T GET TO CHURCH. ONE LADY ALWAYS KNEELS AND BOWS HER HEAD AFTERWARD. FOR SOME OF THEM AFTER THEY RECEIVE THEY RESUME THE CONVERSATION WE WERE HAVING BEFORE; THE EUCHARIST SEEMS TO HAVE HAD MINIMUM IMPACT. AND THERE ARE VARIOUS REACTIONS IN BETWEEN. BUT THERE IS ONE MAN WHO HAS ADVANCED ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. HE DOESN'T TALK MOST OF THE TIME BUT NOW AND THEN GETS A WORD OR TWO OUT. HE SITS IN A RECLINER ALL DAY LONG WATCHING OLD MOVIES ON A 56 INCH FLAT SCREEN TELEVISION. HE HAS FULL TIME CAREGIVERS WHO FEED HIM, MAKE SURE HE CHANGES HIS POSITION NOW AND THEN, AND CLEAN HIM UP. THEY PUT HIM TO BED AND GET HIM UP IN THE MORNING. WHEN YOU LOOK AT HIM YOU GET THE FEELING THAT THERE ISN'T MUCH THERE.

BUT WHEN I BRING HIM COMMUNION, HE'S ATTENTIVE; HE MAKES THE SIGN OF THE CROSS WITH ME, AND AS WE SAY THE LORD'S PRAYER, HIS LIPS ARE MOVING AND NOW AND THEN A WORD COMES OUT. AND HE RECEIVES THE EUCHARIST WITH REVERENCE. MOMENTS LATER HE IS BACK WATCHING TELEVISION AND I AM NO LONGER A PART OF HIS WORLD.

SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS WAS ONCE ASKED, “WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF A FRAGMENT OF THE EUCHARIST FELL TO THE FLOOR AND WAS EATEN BY A MOUSE?” AND THOMAS REPLIED, “NOTHING AT ALL”. BECAUSE IF YOU ARE GOING TO RECEIVE THE EUCHARIST YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE CAPACITY TO BE UNITED TO JESUS. AND IF YOU ARE GOING TO RECEIVE THE EUCHARIST WORTHILY, YOU HAVE TO BE RIGHTLY DISPOSED – THAT MEANS THAT YOU ARE FREE OF SERIOUS SIN, YOU RECOGNIZE THAT THE EUCHARIST IS THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST, AND YOU DESIRE THAT JESUS BECOME ONE WITH YOU AND CONTINUE THE PROCESS OF TRANSFORMING YOU INTO ANOTHER CHRIST, WHICH IS THE GOAL OF BEING A CHRISTIAN.

SO WHAT IS GOING ON WHEN I GIVE THE EUCHARIST TO MY FRIEND WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE? THERE IS SOMETHING IN HIM THAT RECOGNIZES THE EUCHARIST AND THE LORD'S PRAYER – MAYBE BARELY REMEMBERED HABITS THAT HE PICKED UP WHEN HE WAS A CHILD, BECAUSE THEY ARE THE LAST TO GO. BUT DOES HE STILL HAVE THE CAPACITY TO RECEIVE? AND DOES HE BELIEVE? AND IS THERE THE DESIRE TO BECOME ONE WITH JESUS? OR IS GIVING HIM THE EUCHARIST A WASTE OF TIME – HE CERTAINLY ISN'T CAPABLE OF COMMITTING A SIN ANY MORE, AND ANY CHANGE IN HIS LIFE FROM NOW ON WILL ONLY BE MORE AND MORE MOVEMENT TOWARDS THE DARKNESS.

BUT JESUS SAID, “UNLESS YOU EAT THE FLESH AND DRINK THE BLOOD OF THE SON OF MAN, YOU WILL NOT HAVE LIFE IN YOU.”

IT'S INTERESTING THAT THE PASSAGES FROM THE GOSPEL OF JOHN THAT WE ARE READING, KNOWN AS THE “BREAD OF LIFE DISCOURSE” HAVE ALWAYS RAISED CONTROVERSY. JOHN HIMSELF MUST HAVE WRITTEN THESE THINGS DOWN BECAUSE THERE WAS DISSENSION IN THE EARLY CHURCH. THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO SAID, “THIS IS A HARD SAYING, WHO CAN BELIEVE IT?” BUT FROM THE EARLIEST TIMES THE FATHER'S OF THE CHURCH WERE INSISTENT THAT THE BREAD AND WINE BECAME THE BODY AND BLOOD OF JESUS. WHAT ELSE COULD JESUS MEAN WHEN HE SAID THOSE STRANGE WORDS?

MARTIN LUTHER AND JOHN CALVIN ALSO SAID, “THIS IS A HARD SAYING, WHO CAN BELIEVE IT?” AND OUR PROTESTANT BROTHERS AND SISTERS DESPITE CLAIMING TO BELIEVE SCRIPTURE, DON'T BELIEVE THESE WORDS MEAN WHAT THEY SAY. FOR THEM IT IS JUST A SYMBOL, AND WHEN THEY READ THE CLEAR WORDS OF JESUS, THEY SAY THAT EATING AND DRINKING HIS BODY AND BLOOD WAS A WAY OF SAYING THAT WE NEEDED TO ACCEPT HIS TEACHINGS AND BELIEVE IN HIM AND ALLOW HIM TO BE OUR LORD AND MASTER.

A MOUSE MAY GET NOTHING OUT OF EATING THE FLESH AND DRINKING THE BLOOD OF JESUS. BUT I THINK MY FRIEND WITH ALZHEIMER'S DOES, AND SO DOES MY GRANDCHILD WHO IS MAKING HIS FIRST COMMUNION, AND SO DOES THE MOTHER HOLDING A CRYING BABY AS SHE HURRIEDLY RECEIVES WHILE TRYING TO QUIET THE CHILD DOWN. SO DOES THE MAN WHO IS THINKING ABOUT THE GOLF GAME HE PLANS TO GET TO AS SOON AS MASS IS OVER, AND CAN'T FATHER MOVE ALONG A LITTLE FASTER?

I BELIEVE THAT JESUS REALLY DOES WANT TO FEED US WITH HIS BODY AND BLOOD. HE CARES ABOUT OUR BODIES AND OUR SOULS, WHICH IS TO SAY THAT HE CARES ABOUT YOU AND I, PERSONS WHO ARE RELATED TO CHIMPANZEES AND ALL OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM, BUT ARE ALSO RELATED TO ANGELS. AND WHEN JESUS FEEDS US THE EUCHARIST IS BROKEN DOWN JUST AS ANY FOOD IS, AND PROVIDES US WITH ENERGY AND WITH PROTEIN AND CARBOHYDRATES AND BECOMES PART OF OUR BODY. BUT BECAUSE WHAT WE EAT IS GOD HIMSELF, WE BECOME PART OF HIM, AND SINCE GOD IS ONE, WE ENTER INTO A UNION WITH EACH OTHER.

THIS IS THE INCREDIBLE MIRACLE WHICH OCCURS EVERY TIME WE RECEIVE THE EUCHARIST. THE UNION WITH GOD AND WITH EACH OTHER HAPPENS BECAUSE WE ARE HUMAN; IT HAPPENS AS LONG AS WE DON'T DO ANYTHING TO KEEP IT FROM HAPPENING; IT HAPPENS EVEN WHEN WE ARE THINKING ABOUT HOW TO KEEP THE BABY QUIET OR WHETHER WE WILL MAKE IT TO TEE TIME. IT HAPPENS EVEN IF THERE IS ALMOST NOTHING LEFT OF THE PERSON WE USED TO BE, BECAUSE THAT IS THE KIND OF LOVING CARING GOD WE HAVE.

BUT HOW WONDERFUL WHEN WE USE THIS MOMENT TO LOVE HIM BACK, TO SPEAK TO HIM, TO LISTEN TO HIM, TO CONSCIOUSLY ENTER INTO UNION WITH HIM. BECAUSE THAT IS POSSIBLE AS WELL. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY PEOPLE, EVEN NON-CATHOLICS, WHO HAVE SENSED THE SPECIALNESS OF THE EUCHARIST. WE HAVE A PRIEST IN OUR DIOCESE WHO WAS A MORMON ELDER, BUT ULTIMATELY BECAME A CATHOLIC AND A PRIEST BECAUSE HE SENSED THE REAL PRESENCE.

IF YOU ARE A GREAT CHEF AND TURN OUT MARVELOUS MEALS, YOU WILL SEE THAT SOME PEOPLE GULP DOWN THE FOOD AND OFF THEY GO. OTHERS ARE DISTRACTED BY THE DINNER CONVERSATION AND BARELY NOTICE WHAT THEY ARE PUTTING IN THEIR MOUTHS. BUT THERE ARE A FEW WHO GET WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE, AND DIRECT ALL THEIR ATTENTION TO YOUR CREATIONS. YOU KNOW THAT MANY WILL NOT APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS, BUT YOU STILL MAKE THE EFFORT. YOU MAKE THE EFFORT BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT A FEW PEOPLE WILL RESPOND TO YOUR INVITATION, A FEW PEOPLE WILL SEE FOOD IN A NEW WAY.

AND JESUS WILL CONTINUE TO FEED US AND NOURISH US AND LOVE US IN THE HOPES THAT A FEW OF US WILL RECOGNIZE WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR US.

LET US PRAY THAT YOU AND I WILL BE GIVEN THE GRACE TO LOVE HIM BACK THE WAY HE DESERVES TO BE LOVED. 

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle B

JOHN 6:41-51

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHER THREE GOSPELS. IN FACT, THERE ARE ONLY A FEW PLACES WHERE YOU CAN FIND COMMON STORIES – THE STORY OF THE CRUCIFIXION, OF COURSE; THE STORY OF THE FEEDING OF THE 5000, AND A FEW OTHERS. JOHN SPENDS MUCH OF HIS GOSPEL, INCLUDING THE FEW COMMON STORIES, ELABORATING ON CHRIST'S DIVINITY AND HOW THAT RELATES TO US.

TODAY'S GOSPEL IS PART OF A FIVE-PART SELECTION HAVING TO DO WITH I FIND IT QUITE HARD TO GRASP; YOU THINK YOU HAVE IT, THEN YOU FIND THAT YOU DON'T. IN FACT, IT DOESN'T SOUND AT ALL LIKE JESUS IN THE OTHER THREE GOSPELS. WHEN YOU READ MATTHEW, MARK, OR LUKE, JESUS SPEAKS PLAINLY AND SIMPLY. HE HAS PARABLES WHICH SOMETIMES HE INTERPRETS, BUT WHEN HE DOES, THE INTERPRETATION SEEMS OBVIOUS. THE JESUS OF THOSE THREE GOSPELS IS VERY CLEAR. IN JOHN, THOUGH, IT'S AS THOUGH WE HAVE A DIFFERENT JESUS ENTIRELY, AND THIS IS ESPECIALLY THE CASE HERE IN THE PASSAGES HAVING TO DO WITH THE BREAD OF LIFE.

I DON'T WANT TO SOUND LIKE A HERETIC HERE, BUT I THINK THE BEST WAY TO LOOK AT THE GOSPEL OF JOHN IS TO SEE IT AS A DELIBERATE ATTEMPT AT DESCRIBING THE NATURE OF JESUS AND HIS RELATIONSHIP TO US, AND IT IS DONE BY PUTTING WORDS INTO JESUS' MOUTH. HOW COULD MATTHEW, MARK AND LUKE HAVE LEFT OUT WHAT JESUS IS SAYING TODAY? IT ISN'T AS THOUGH IT WAS A SECRET; AFTER ALL, ACCORDING TO JOHN, ALL THE APOSTLES AND THE CROWDS OF JEWS HEARD HIM CALL HIMSELF THE BREAD OF LIFE COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN; WOULD ANYONE WHO WAS WRITING A BIOGRAPHY OF JESUS HAVE NEGLECTED TO MENTION THAT JESUS SAID, “WHO EATS THIS BREAD WILL LIVE FOREVER, AND THE BREAD THAT I WILL GIVE IS MY FLESH FOR THE LIFE OF THE WORLD.” IT WOULD BE LIKE WRITING A BIOGRAPHY OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND TOTALLY NEGLECTING TO MENTION THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS.

SO I THINK THE BEST WAY TO UNDERSTAND JOHN IS TO REMEMBER THAT THE GOSPEL IN THE FORM WE READ IT TODAY WAS FINISHED ALMOST 90 YEARS AFTER JESUS' BIRTH. THE GOSPEL COMES FROM A COMMUNITY WHERE THE EUCHARIST WAS CELEBRATED AND WHERE JESUS' DIVINITY MIGHT HAVE STILL BEEN A CONTROVERSY. AND THERE WAS DISSENSION IN THE COMMUNITY; SINCE MOST EARLY CHRISTIANS WERE JEWISH CONVERTS, THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THERE WAS SOME DISAGREEMENT AMONG THEM; AFTER ALL, THE JEWS WERE STRICT MONOTHEISTS, AND PRAYED, “HEAR, O ISRAEL, THE LORD IS GOD, THE LORD IS ONE”. THEY BELIEVED THAT WHEN THE MESSIAH CAME, HE WOULD FEED HIS PEOPLE WITH A HEAVENLY MANNA JUST AS MOSES HAD DONE WITH THE ISRAELITES WANDERING IN THE DESERT. THEY BELIEVED THAT TO SEE GOD WAS TO DIE, AND THE ONLY PERSON WHO HAD EVER SEEN GOD WAS MOSES, WHO WAS COMPLETELY CHANGED BY THE EXPERIENCE. AND AMONG CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES, THE CELEBRATION OF THE EUCHARIST WAS UNIVERSAL, AND WHENEVER THIS HAPPENED, THOSE WORDS QUOTED BY MATTHEW, MARK AND LUKE, WERE SPOKEN OVER THE BREAD AND WINE – “THIS IS MY BODY … THIS IS MY BLOOD”.

SO IN A SENSE, JOHN SETS UP THE CONFRONTATION BETWEEN “THE JEWS” – A DESIGNATION FOR THOSE CONVERTS WHO SEE JESUS AS JUST ANOTHER PROPHET AND TEACHER – AND JESUS HIMSELF, WHO CLAIMS THAT, LIKE MOSES, HE HAS SEEN GOD; THAT HE HAD A HEAVENLY ORIGIN RATHER THAN AN EARTHLY ONE; AND THAT LIKE MOSES, HE DID BRING MANNA TO FEED GOD'S PEOPLE – THE EUCHARIST. HIS MANNA WAS MORE THAN EARTHLY FOOD, THOUGH; IT WAS CAPABLE OF GIVING ETERNAL LIFE. AND THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION SAID BY THE PRIEST , STANDING IN FOR JESUS, OVER THE BREAD AND WINE AT THE EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATION WERE STATEMENTS OF FACT, NOT MERELY MEANT TO BE SYMBOLIC.

AS WE WILL SEE AS THIS GOSPEL CONTINUES TO BE READ, THERE IS A MOMENT WHEN THE MAJORITY OF JESUS' HEARERS TURN AWAY, SAYING, “THIS IS A HARD SAYING, WHO CAN ACCEPT IT?”

IT IS HARD TO ACCEPT. MANY CATHOLICS DON'T BELIEVE IN THE REAL PRESENCE OF JESUS IN THE EUCHARIST. OTHERS DO BELIEVE, INTELLECTUALLY, BUT IT DOESN'T MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LIVES. SOME PEOPLE RECEIVE THE EUCHARIST AS THOUGH IT WERE SOMETHING MAGIC; AND OF COURSE MANY RECEIVE THE EUCHARIST WITHOUT MUCH THOUGHT AT ALL.

JOHN REMINDS US THAT THE EUCHARIST MEANS EVERYTHING; IT IS THE ONLY WAY WE HAVE TO BECOME PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY UNITED TO JESUS. IT IS THE WAY THE LINES SEPARATING HIM FROM OURSELVES IS BROKEN DOWN A LITTLE BIT. IT IS THE NATURAL, THE ORDINARY WAY THAT JESUS CONTINUES TO LIVE AMONG US. WHEN WE ALLOW HIM TO FEED US AND TRANSFORM US INTO HIMSELF, WE OPEN OURSELVES TO ETERNAL LIFE, BECAUSE HE IS ETERNAL LIFE.

IF THE BREAD AND WINE WHICH IS NOW JESUS WERE TO SIT IN A VAULT, WE WOULD STILL BELIEVE THAT JESUS WAS PRESENT UNDER THE FORM OF BREAD AND WINE. BUT IT WOULD DO NO GOOD. THE RELIGIOUS DIMENSION OF THE EUCHARIST REQUIRES THAT IT BE EATEN AND DRUNK BY YOU AND I. IF JESUS MEANS TO SAVE ALL OF US, NOT JUST OUR SOULS, THEN IT FOLLOWS THAT HE FEED US WITH FOOD THAT WILL GIVE US ETERNAL LIFE. ELIJAH WAS FED ONCE, AND HAD THE ENERGY TO WALK FOR FORTY DAYS. AS WE RECEIVE THE EUCHARIST LET US ASK THE LORD TO LIVE IN US AND TRANSFORM US SO THAT WE HAVE WHAT IS NECESSARY TO BE ONE WITH HIIM FOREVER.   

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle B

JOHN 6:24-35

MY WIFE AND I HAVE A LOT OF GRANDCHILDREN, AMONG WHOM ARE TWIN BOYS. THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN TELL THEM APART IS THAT THE BLONDE ONE IS A HALF INCH TALLER THAN THE ONE WITH DARK HAIR. MY WIFE HAS BEEN HAVING THEM COME OVER TO OUR HOUSE TO WORK IN THE GARDEN OR PAINT LAWN FURNITURE. SHE GIVES THEM MONEY FOR THESE TASKS, AS WELL AS SOME POST-TASK ICE CREAM, SO THEY KNOW THEY ARE GETTING A GOOD DEAL. THE THINGS SHE HAS THEM DO ARE THINGS THEY'VE NEVER DONE BEFORE, SO SHE PATIENTLY SHOWS THEM HOW TO PULL UP WEEDS OR APPLY PAINT OR RAKE UP PLANT WASTE. AND SHE HAS TO KEEP GOING BACK TO CORRECT THEM OR REMEDY THEIR MISTAKES. AND WHETHER THE JOB IS DONE WELL OR BADLY, SHE PAYS THEM ANYWAY, BECAUSE SHE'S A GRANDMOTHER. AND OF COURSE I THINK TO MYSELF, “WHY DOESN'T SHE JUST DO IT HERSELF? IT WOULD TAKE THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME AND WE'D SAVE MONEY.” I MAY BE OLD, BUT I'M STILL CHEAP.

I THINK OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS SOMETHING LIKE THAT. IF YOU ARE LIKE ME, YOU CAN ALWAYS THINK OF SOME WAY YOU COULD DO BETTER; IT ISN'T THAT HARD TO AVOID SERIOUS SIN, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU GET OLD, I THINK; BUT THERE IS SO MUCH THAT COULD BE DONE BUT ISN'T. I COULD BE MORE ATTENTIVE IN MY PRAYERS; I COULD GIVE MORE OF MY TIME AND MONEY TO HELP THE POOR AND THE LONELY AND THE PEOPLE IN INSTITUTIONS. NO MATTER WHAT I DO I KNOW I COULD DO MORE, I COULD DO WHAT I DO BETTER. AND I'M NOT ALONE. THAT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON COMPLAINT AMONG THOSE WHO ARE CLOSE FRIENDS OF JESUS – THE SAINTS. ST. PETER SAID, “DEPART FROM ME, FOR I AM A SINFUL MAN.” ST. PAUL SAID “FOR I DO NOT DO WHAT I WANT, BUT I DO THE VERY THING THAT I HATE." HE CRIES OUT, "WRETCHED MAN THAT I AM! WHO WILL DELIVER ME FROM THIS BODY OF DEATH?” PEOPLE LIKE SAINT FRANCIS XAVIER AND SAINT ALPHONSUS LIGOURI WERE SO CONSUMED WITH WHAT THEY BELIEVED WAS THEIR PURPOSE IN LIFE THAT THEY COULD BARELY SLEEP, AND YET COMPLAINED THAT THEY COULDN'T DO EVEN A FRACTION OF WHAT THEY KNEW HAD TO BE DONE. THE CLOSER YOU ARE TO JESUS, I THINK, THE MORE CLEARLY YOU SEE THE TASK AT HAND, THE BUILDING UP OF HIS KINGDOM – AND IT LOOKS LIKE AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK. IT ALMOST SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE JUST TO DO YOUR PART, JUST TO MAKE YOURSELF WHAT YOU KNOW YOU SHOULD BE.

TODAY'S GOSPEL SEEMS TO BE ADDRESSED TO THAT. THE CROWDS SAY, “WHAT CAN WE DO TO ACCOMPLISH THE WORKS OF GOD?” AND WE SAY WITH THEM, “WHAT DO YOU EXPECT OF ME, GOD? AND IF WE ARE HONEST, WE ACKNOWLEDGE HOW LITTLE, HOW INEFFECTIVE, HOW WEAK WE ARE WHEN WE MEASURE THE GAP BETWEEN WHERE WE ARE NOW AND WHERE WE WOULD LIKE TO BE WITH GOD.

JESUS' ANSWER IS THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT THINGS ALL WRONG. THE ONLY WORK OF GOD WE ARE TO DO IS TO BELIEVE IN JESUS, THE ONE WHO WAS SENT. BUT THE ISSUE IS, DO WE BELIEVE IN JESUS? THE CROWDS WHO HEAR HIM MISS THE POINT – HE JUST TOLD THEM THEY SHOULD BELIEVE IN HIM, AND THEY CHALLENGE HIM; WORK YET ANOTHER MIRACLE TO PROVE YOU ARE WHAT YOU SAY. AND THEY WERE THERE BECAUSE THEY EATEN THE BREAD AND THE FISH AT THE MIRACLE WE HEARD ABOUT LAST WEEK. I THINK YOU AND I WANT TO BELIEVE IN JESUS. BUT WE DON'T REALLY WANT TO FACE ALL THAT IMPLIES. POPE FRANCIS TOOK A VOW TO STOP WATCHING TELEVISION – NOT BECAUSE HE THOUGHT IT WAS EVIL, BUT BECAUSE HE SAW THAT IT WAS WASTING HIS TIME. COULD YOU OR I DO THAT? BUT BELIEVING IN JESUS DOES MEAN THAT WE LET HIM TAKE OVER OUR WHOLE LIVES, AND I'M OK WITH THAT AS LONG AS IT DOESN'T INTERFERE WITH MY WATCHING A FEW PROGRAMS. OF COURSE, YOU MAY NOT BE TELEVISION FANS, BUT I BET THERE ARE SOME PARTS OF YOUR LIFE WHICH WOULD BE VERY HARD TO CHANGE EVEN IF JESUS HIMSELF ASKED YOU TO. EVEN SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS WASN'T EXEMPT. HE DIED BECAUSE ON A TRIP FROM ROME TO FRANCE HE DIVERTED HIS PARTY TO A LITTLE TOWN KNOWN FOR ITS FISH. THOMAS WANTED TO TRY THE FISH. HE GOT ONE THAT WAS TAINTED, AND DIED OF FOOD POISONING.

SO BEING A CHRISTIAN IS ALWAYS A CHALLENGE. WE KNOW WE COULD GREATLY IMPROVE AND YET WE ARE FAIRLY CONTENT BEING IN OUR RUT. WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, I HEARD MORE THAN ONCE FROM MY CATHOLIC RELATIVES THE SENTIMENT THAT “I'M JUST HOPING TO GET IN THE DOOR OF HEAVEN” OR “I'LL BE HAPPY TO MAKE IT TO PURGATORY.” NOW WE DON'T TALK ABOUT HEAVEN AND HELL AND PURGATORY ALL THAT MUCH, BUT THE SENTIMENT IS THE SAME; WE'VE GIVEN UP A LITTLE BIT ON BECOMING SAINTS AND WE ARE SETTLING FOR SECOND BEST.

JESUS SAYS HE IS THE BREAD OF LIFE. AND YOU AND I BELIEVE THAT THE HOST WE RECEIVE IS HIS BODY AND THE CUP WE DRINK FROM CONTAINS HIS BLOOD – IN COMMUNION HE BECOMES PART OF US AND WE BECOME PART OF HIM. FOR US IT ISN'T JUST A SYMBOL, IT IS REAL. AND YET EVEN HERE WE FALL SHORT. I'VE MADE MANY COMMUNIONS WHEN I'M NOT ENTIRELY IN THE MOMENT, OR I'M DISTRACTED, OR I'M STILL FEELING UPSET ABOUT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED. AND I'VE RECEIVED THE EUCHARIST AND IMMEDIATELY BEGAN THINKING ABOUT THE NEXT THING I HAD TO DO.

BUT I THINK THAT'S THE MESSAGE HERE. GOD DOESN'T HOLD US TO HIGH STANDARDS. GOD DOESN'T EVEN HOLD US TO LOW STANDARDS. HE KEEPS BECKONING US, HE KEEPS LOVING US, AND HE FEEDS US WITH JESUS, HIS SON, THE PERFECT PERSON, WHO BECOMES ONE WITH US. AND HE WILL KEEP DOING THIS AS LONG AS WE LIVE, IF WE LET HIM. GOD IS ALWAYS HOPEFUL THAT WE WILL BECOME MORE AND MORE LIKE HIS SON, BUT HIS FEEDING US AND LOVING US AND PROTECTING US IS A GIVEN; IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HOW ADVANCED WE ARE SPIRITUALLY, OR WHAT GREAT WORKS WE DO.

IF WE WANT TO BECOME SAINTS, WE CAN. LITTLE SAINTS, GREAT SAINTS. JESUS, AFTER ALL, LIVES IN US AND GIVES US WHAT WE NEED. BUT BECOMING A SAINT IS A RESPONSE TO GOD'S LOVE, IT'S NOT A REQUIREMENT.

I LIKE THE STORY OF THE TWO MEN WHO DIED AND CAME BEFORE GOD; ONE HAD SPENT HIS LIFE DOING GOOD; HE HAD ENDOWED HOSPITALS AND SUPPORTED MISSIONARIES; IN ADDITION TO GIVING AWAY HIS FORTUNE, HE PERSONALLY WORKED IN SOUP KITCHENS AND VOLUNTEERED IN HOSPICE PROGRAMS. AND OF COURSE WHEN HE FINALLY MET GOD, HE WAS NOT SURPRISED WHEN GOD SAID, “THANK YOU FOR THE GOOD YOU'VE DONE. I AM GIVING YOU THIS BEAUTIFUL MANSION, STAFFED WITH SERVANTS OF EVERY KIND, AND WHATEVER YOU WISH FOR WILL BE YOURS.” THE SECOND MAN RAN A BUSINESS WHERE ETHICS WAS NOT A STRONG POINT; HE CHEATED HIS CUSTOMERS AND SUPPLIERS ALIKE. HE WAS SHORT TEMPERED AND PARANOID, AND LOST FRIENDS FASTER THAN HE COULD MAKE THEM. HE HAD NEVER GIVEN MONEY TO CHARITY. ONCE, THOUGH, HE FELT SORRY FOR A BEGGAR STANDING IN THE COLD, AND GAVE HI AN OLD COAT HE HAD INTENDED TO THROW AWAY. SO HE WAS SURPRISED WHEN GOD SAID, “THANK YOU FOR THE GOOD YOU'VE DONE. I AM GIVING YOU THIS BEAUTIFUL MANSION, STAFFED WITH SERVANTS OF EVERY KIND, AND WHATEVER YOU WISH FOR WILL BE YOURS.” BUT THAT'S NOT THE WHOLE STORY. THE FIRST MAN SAW WHAT HAD HAPPENED, AND SAID TO GOD, “NOW I SEE THAT YOU ARE LOVE ITSELF.”  

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle B

JOHN 6:1-15

IF YOU HAVE BEEN PAYING ATTENTION, YOU NOTICED THAT THE GOSPEL WAS FROM JOHN TODAY, RATHER THAN MARK. IF WE HAD KEPT READING MARK, WE WOULD HAVE READ ABOUT THE MIRACLE OF THE LOAVES AND THE FISHES. BUT THE CHURCH DECIDED TO HAVE US READ SEVERAL PARTS OF THE GOSPEL OF JOHN FOR A WHILE. MARK ONLY TALKS ABOUT THE MIRACLE; JOHN GOES INTO GREAT DETAIL ABOUT WHAT THE MIRACLE MEANS. WE'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT IN THE COMING WEEKEND LITURGIES.

EVEN THOUGH WE ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE STORY ABOUT THE FEEDING OF THE MULTITUDE, THEY ARE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT FROM GOSPEL TO GOSPEL. IN JOHN, WE LEARN THAT PHILIP SAYS TO THE LORD, “FEEDING THESE PEOPLE IS IMPOSSIBLE. EVEN TWO HUNDRED DAYS WAGES WOULD BARELY MAKE A DENT.” BUT ANDREW BRINGS A BOY WHO HAS A FEW BARLEY LOAVES AND A COUPLE OF DRIED FISH, AND SAYS, “LORD, HE'S WILLING TO HELP, BUT WHAT GOOD WILL THIS DO?” AND THE REST FOLLOWS ALONG THOSE FAMILIAR LINES.

IF YOU COME INTO THE CHURCH SOMETIMES YOU WILL FIND A LITTLE PILE OF XEROXED PAPERS ABOUT THE NOVENA TO SAINT JUDE. I'M SURE THAT WHOEVER RUNS THEM OFF AND LEAVES THEM HERE IS VERY SINCERE, AND PROBABLY CLOSER TO THE LORD THAN I AM. THEY BASICALLY SAY THAT IF YOU SAY THE PRAYER NINE TIMES A DAY FOR NINE DAYS AND LEAVE NINE COPIES OF THE PRAYER IN THE CHURCH EACH TIME, WHAT YOU PRAY FOR WILL HAPPEN. YOU'VE PROBABLY RUN ACROSS OTHER SUCH PRAYERS. WE EVEN SAY THEM AT THE END OF MASS SOMETIMES; WE SAY THE “MEMORARE” WHICH HAS THE LINES “NEVER WAS IT KNOWN THAT ANYONE WHO FLED TO YOUR PROTECTION, IMPLORED YOUR HELP, OR SOUGHT YOUR INTERCESSION WAS LEFT UNAIDED.” BUT IF WE BELIEVE THAT THESE PRAYERS COMPEL GOD TO DO SOMETHING, AS IT SEEMS THE PRAYER TO SAINT JUDE DOES, WE ARE NOT LOOKING FOR A MIRACLE, WE ARE ASKING, OR MAYBE TELLING GOD TO DO MAGIC. IN MAGIC, YOU SAY WORDS ACCORDING TO A FORMULA, USUALLY IN SOME REPETITIVE FASHION, YOU WAVE YOUR HANDS, YOU BURN INCENSE, MAYBE YOU OFFER AN ANIMAL AND YOU EXPECT GOD TO COMPLY.

BUT A MIRACLE IS DIFFERENT. IF YOU WANT A MIRACLE, YOU HAVE TO BRING SOMETHING TO THE TABLE. AND THAT'S WHAT WE SEE IN THE GOSPEL STORY. ALL THE APOSTLES HAVE SEEN JESUS WORK MIRACLES; IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN THE FIRST THING THEY SAW WAS THE MIRACLE AT CANA, WHEN HE TURNED WATER INTO WINE. THEY'VE SEEN HEALINGS AND DEMONS BEING DRIVEN OUT. AND WHEN YOU GO TO THE ACCOUNTS OF THE MIRACLES, MOST OF THE TIME SOMEONE BROUGHT SOMETHING TO JESUS. IN THE CANA MIRACLE, THEY BROUGHT HIM JUGS OF WATER. IN THE HEALING OF THE PARALYZED MAN, HIS FRIENDS BROUGHT THE MAN TO JESUS BY LOWERING HIM THROUGH THE ROOF. YOU GET THE IDEA. AND IN THIS STORY, AS WELL, ANDREW BRINGS THE BOY WITH THE LOAVES AND THE FISHES. HE'S SKEPTICAL; HE ISN'T CONVINCED THAT JESUS CAN WORK A MIRACLE THIS BIG; BUT HE BRINGS SOMETHING TO JESUS.

WHEN YOU READ ABOUT THE MIRACLES ATTRIBUTED TO THE SAINTS, YOU SEE THE SAME PATTERN. SAINT FRANCIS HAD A DREAM THAT HE WAS TO REBUILD THE CHURCH SO HE WENT OUT AND STARTED TO REBUILD AN OLD ABANDONED CHURCH BUILDING. MOTHER THERESA SAW THE GREAT NEED OF THE STREET PEOPLE OF CALCUTTA, AND THOUGH SHE HAD NOTHING AND SHE WAS ONLY ONE PERSON, SHE STARTED TAKING CARE OF THEM ANYWAY. IF YOU WANT A MIRACLE, YOU HAVE TO BRING SOMETHING. POPE FRANCIS GOT IT. HE SAID, “PRAY TO END HUNGER, AND THEN GO FEED SOMEONE WHO IS HUNGRY. THAT IS REAL PRAYER.”

GOD WHO LIVES IN US LOVES TO AID US WHEN WE START OUT TO DO HIS WILL. AND WE KNOW HIS WILL – HE'S TOLD US WHAT HE WANTS MANY TIMES, THROUGH THE COMMANDMENTS, THROUGH HIS SON, THROUGH THE CHURCH FOUNDED BY HIS SON. SOMETIMES HE DOES SPEAK TO US DIRECTLY; BUT I THINK IF YOU ARE LIKE ME, YOU REALIZE THIS AFTER IT HAPPENED, NOT DURING, NOT BEFORE. AFTER ALMOST 50 YEARS OF A VERY HAPPY MARRIAGE, I KNOW THAT GOD SPOKE TO ME WHEN I MADE A RETREAT ONE SUMMER ASKING WHAT I SHOULD DO WITH MY LIFE. I GOT AN ANSWER, TOO, IN MY HEART. I HEARD GOD SAY TO ME, “WHATEVER YOU DO, I WON'T LOVE YOU ANYMORE THAN I ALREADY DO.” THAT MOMENT SET ME FREE – FREE OF THE EXPECTATIONS OF MY PARENTS, MY TEACHERS, EVEN MY SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR AT THE TIME. AND I COULD TELL YOU OF THE TWO OR THREE OTHER TIMES GOD HAS PROBABLY SPOKEN TO ME SO LOUDLY AND OBVIOUSLY. BUT THE POINT IS, WE KNOW HIS WILL FOR EACH OF US, AND IF WE EMBRACE WHAT HE WANTS FOR US, AND STEP OUT AND BEGIN IT, EVEN IF THE ODDS AGAINST SUCCESS ARE OVERWHELMING, GOD WILL WORK A MIRACLE; HE WILL MULTIPLY WHAT WE BRING IN SOME WAY. FRANCIS NEVER KNEW HE WAS DESTINED TO FOUND THE FRANCISCAN ORDER THAT WOULD CONTINUE TO MAKE THE CHURCH HOLY FOR THE NEXT 800 YEARS. MOTHER THERESA DID NOT EXPECT TO FOUND A MAJOR RELIGIOUS ORDER MORE THAN HALF-WAY THROUGH HER LIFE. AND YOU – WHAT DOES GOD WANT FOR YOU? WHAT WILL GOD DO FOR YOU WHEN YOU STEP OUT AND BRING YOUR FIVE LOAVES AND TWO FISHES TO HIM?

THERE ARE A FEW PEOPLE IN OUR OWN PARISH WHO'VE DONE SO. YOU PROBABLY KNOW ONE OR TWO OF THEM. I WOULDN'T NAME THEM BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE EMBARRASSED, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO TO GREAT SAINTS TO FIND GOD WORKING MIRACLES. ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS LOOK AROUND.

DO YOU HAVE TIME TO ALLOW GOD TO WORK A MIRACLE THROUGH YOU? WELL, THE PEOPLE WHO WORK MIRACLES ALWAYS SEEM TO HAVE ENOUGH TIME. DO YOU HAVE THE RESOURCES FOR GOD TO WORK A MIRACLE? DON'T BE SILLY. HE PROMISED THAT WHAT YOU GAVE, HE WOULD RETURN A HUNDRED FOLD. ARE YOU HOLY ENOUGH? OF COURSE NOT. BUT THAT DOESN'T STOP GOD. DO YOU HAVE STRONG ENOUGH FAITH? ANDREW DIDN'T. AND PHILIP'S FAITH WASN'T EVEN ON A PAR WITH ANDREW'S. SO THERE ARE NO EXCUSES. GOD WANTS TO USE YOU TO WORK A MIRACLE. AND IF YOU STEP OUT AND BEGIN WHAT YOU KNOW NEEDS TO BE DONE, YOU WILL BE SURPRISED. IF YOU DON'T, THOUGH, HE STILL CAN'T LOVE YOU ANYMORE THAN HE DOES. BUT YOU CAN LOVE HIM MORE THAN YOU DO. I'M CURRENTLY WRITING A SERIES OF ARTICLES IN THE BULLETIN ABOUT THE CHARISMS. DO YOU RECOGNIZE YOURS? HOW ARE YOU USING IT ?