3rd Sunday of Lent, Year A (Feb. 24, 2008)
24/02/08 15:47
Third Sunday of Lent, Year A
February 24, 2008
Living Water or Bud Lite?
Last week, I heard a joke: Who is more content, a man with $12 million or a man with 12 kids? Answer: The man with 12 kids – he is content with what he has and wants no more!
What makes us content? A few weeks ago, a group of high school senior athletes were interviewed and asked about their goals in life. Sadly, most of them said their main goal in life was to become rich and to drive a Ferrari. Money, possessions, Ferrari’s – these do not provide us with real happiness and real fulfillment in life. In our gospel today, Jesus tells us that he alone has the “living water” – the secret to true happiness and fulfillment in life.
Today, I brought with me several beverages. Which is best at really quenching our thirst? [Show a soda pop, a beer, a bottle of water] All of us knows that water is the healthier drink – and yet, so often, we prefer the substitutes that are not as good for us, the beer and the soda pop. So today, we are going to look at the question: Living Water or Bud Lite? Do we truly thirst for what Jesus is offering us, or are we settling for something less, spiritual “Bud Lite” in our lives?
Last week, you may recall, we heard the story of the Transfiguration, about how Jesus and his disciples were transfigured – transformed – atop the mountain, when Moses and Elijah appeared to them, and when the voice of God the Father spoke from a cloud. We talked about how the power of God’s love is what really transforms and changes us. Today, in our gospel, we see this principle in action. We hear the story of Jesus’ encounter with a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well, and we see how Jesus’ love changes and transforms her.
In our gospel, Jesus breaks down three barriers.
1. First, he speaks with a woman. In the first century, men were not allowed to converse publicly with women. It’s still that way in some parts of the world, in the Middle East, in Saudia Arabia, for example – where women still must wear veils to hide their faces when they venture out into public. Jesus breaks this barrier and shows that, in God’s eyes, we are all equal. As Saint Paul so eloquently puts it, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28, NAB)
2. Second, Jesus speaks with a Samaritan. In the first century, Jews and Samaritans were bitter enemies. That’s why Jesus makes a Samaritan the hero in his story about the “Good Samaritan.” The conflict goes all the way back to about 500 B.C., in the time of the exile, when the Samaritans stayed behind in the Holy Land and intermarried with their conquerors, the Babylonians and the Assyrians. Even though the shortest route between Galilee and Jerusalem was through Samaria, good Jews often chose to take a much longer route, just to go around Samaria and avoid it altogether.
3. Finally, Jesus speaks with a sinner. He discovers that this woman has had five previous husband, and is now living with a sixth man who is not her husband. That’s probably why the Samaritan woman is drawing water from the well at noon, in the heat of the day, instead of in the morning, with the other women of the village. She is an outcast, a sinner, ostracized from the other women. But in Jesus’ eyes, she is a child of God, forgiven and given new life.
Love changes us. Love transforms us. We see this change, this transformation, in three ways in the life of this Samaritan woman.
1. First, she has an encounter with herself that is life changing and life transforming. Jesus helps her to see beyond her sin, that she is forgiven. That’s why Jesus’ persistent questioning of the woman is so important. We might think: Why did Jesus have to continue pressing this woman, especially about her marriages and her past? Wasn’t this embarrassing, demeaning to her? But you see, if Jesus had not pressed on, she would have left this encounter still trapped in the slavery of her sin. She would have thought, “Wasn’t that Jesus a kind, gentle, nice man?” But then, deeper still, she would have though, “But if only he knew me. If only he knew my past. If only he knew my sin. Then, he would not have been as kind and gentle and nice to me.” But Jesus took away that excuse for self pity, for he did know her past, he did know her sin – and still, in spite of her past, in spite of her sin, he loved her and accepted her and welcomed her.
2. That’s what an encounter with Jesus will do. This woman encountered the Messiah, the Savior of the world, and began a relationship with him.
3. This woman’s third encounter is with the world. After her encounter with herself, after her encounter with Jesus, love pushes her out, beyond herself, to share the good news of Jesus with others. So she spreads the word about Jesus to the other people of her village. She becomes a missionary, a witness, for the Lord.
How many believe love can really change and transform us? That’s why our children need hugs, kisses, blessings, pats on the back, words of encouragement, love, from their parents. This even affects animals! I heard once of a family that owned a little poodle. They named it Tiger. Every time people would come over to visit, they would introduce their guests to Tiger, who would bend down, lovingly but roughly play with Tiger, tussling his hair, rocking his head. And little Tiger would growl playfully, like a little tiger. But one day, when guests arrived, the family decided to try a little experiment. This time, they introduced their little poodle as “Muffy,” not Tiger. The guests bent over: “Ohh, little Muffy. How cute. How sweet.” And the little dog rolled over on its back and started acting like a sweet, gentle Muffy instead of a ferocious tiger!
What is your thirst? And what will satisfy it? We all have thirsts – physical thirsts for food, water, clothing, shelter, safety, health; emotional thirsts for hugs, affection, affirmation, support, encouragement; and spiritual thirsts for a life of real meaning, purpose and significance, not just empty existence and hopelessness. In our gospel today, Jesus tells the Samaritan woman: “Whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:14, NAB)
How many think water is stronger and more powerful than rock? Look with me on the screen – the Grand Canyon, rocked carved away by the constant, relentless force of flowing water from the Colorado River. God’s living water is the power of His love, the power of his forgiveness, which transformed the Samaritan woman, and also can transform us, if we let it.
In baptism, we use water, which symbolizes three changes in our lives: (1) new life – water is necessary for survival, for life – and we receive that new life through our relationship with Jesus; (2) cleansing – we use water to bathe, to take away dirt – and we receive new life through forgiveness of our sins; and (3) death – we can drown in water – and we receive new life when we die to our old selves and allow the Spirit of God to be reborn in us. The sad thing is that so many people choose “Bud Lite” or spiritual “soda pop” – false substitutes – instead of the real, authentic “water of life” which Jesus offers to us.
Just like the Samaritan woman, Jesus invites us to experience that same three transformations and changes in our lives:
1. First, an encounter with myself. I am forgiven. I am a child of God. I no longer need to live as a slave to sin and guilt. Jesus has bought my freedom. How can we experience this first encounter? Through confession of our sins – and this Thursday, here in the church at 7 p.m., we will offer the Sacrament of Confession, the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is a sacrament of healing, of cleansing, of making us once again whole. And this Lent, make peace with yourself and with others. If there is someone you have hurt, ask them for forgiveness. If you are holding on to a grudge, a hurt, an anger, let go of it and seek to be reconciled to that person who hurt you. Accept that you are a child of God.
2. Second, this Lent, a deeper encounter with Jesus – through prayer, through more faithful participation in the sacraments, through spiritual reading and mediation, through growing stronger spiritually by feeding yourself in a small faith community or Bible study or retreat or workshop.
3. Thirdly, like the Samaritan woman at the well, an encounter the world – go out, become a real missionary for Jesus. How? By serving. Too often, we Catholics become mere spectators, instead of participants. Love changes us and moves us into action, as it did the Samaritan woman. Make a list, write down some ways that you might serve God, maybe in a ministry here in church. Next Sunday is our Mini-Retreat 301, “Alive and Gifted!” – which focuses on helping you discover your unique gifts and talents and SHAPE for serving the Lord. We can all serve others, even in simple ways – for example, cleaning up the pews of trash after Mass; offering to give a seat to someone who arrives a bit late to Mass; opening a door for someone; getting a cup of water for someone who is thirsty; letting someone out of the church parking lot ahead of you; smiling; shaking someone’s hand; giving someone a pat on the back or a word of encouragement.
There are always barriers, but remember, Jesus breaks down the barriers, if we let him. On your handout are a few of the barriers that we all need to let the Lord help us to overcome: Laziness, Fear and Timidity, Wrong Priorities; Stubbornness, Tiredness, a false sense of being unworthy, and – this last once is so common – falsehood, excuses, lies.
Jesus told the Samaritan woman: “The hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship him. God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth.” (John 4:23-24, NAB)
There’s a lot of false religion out there, religion that is not based on real love of God. Some of us are living a spiritual lie, just going through the motions – husbands here just because their wife insisted that they attend; families who go to church on Sunday, just to impress others; children who come to church because their parents make them. Some people don’t really want to give God their all, their very best. They don’t want to move beyond those barriers – those false priorities and laziness and stubbornness. They prefer sin over freedom, like the teen who hides marijuana in his bedroom, so his parents won’t know – but God sees, God knows – and God loves us nonetheless, forgives us nonetheless, invites us to change our lives and follow him, to drink “living water” instead of spiritual “Bud Lite.”
I read a story last week about a young man visiting New York City, who attended a church there on Sunday. Everyone in the congregation was dressed to the hilt – suits, ties, fancy dresses. The young man wore clean clothes, but nothing fancy – jeans, a T-shirt, tennis shoes. The pastor took the young man to the side and suggested, “Next week, if you decide to come back, ask God first to tell you what kinds of clothes you should wear if you want to attend this church.” The next week, the young man returned to the same church, but again, dressed in jeans, a T shirt and tennis shoes. The pastor asked the young man, “Didn’t you ask God about how to dress before coming to this church?” The young man replied, “I did ask God that question – but he said he didn’t know the answer, because He had never been to this church before!”
Is God really here with us, in this church? It depends – on how we love God and how we love neighbor. Are we drinking God’s living water or just spiritual Bud Lite? Are we allowing the Lord to transform us, as he did the Samaritan woman at the well?
Let’s conclude by reading, aloud, one final verse – from Psalm 42 – and making it truly our own heartfelt prayer to the Lord: As the deer longs for streams of water, so my soul longs for you, O God. My being thirsts for God, the living God. (Psalm 42:1-2, NAB)
2nd Sunday of Lent, Year A (Feb. 17, 2008)
24/02/08 15:45
2nd Sunday of Lent, Year A
February 17, 2008
It’s All About Love
On this second Sunday of Lent, I want to begin by showing you a scene from one of my favorite movies. As you watch this clip, try to answer two questions: (1) What’s the name of the movie? And (2) what’s the theme, or topic – not of the movie, but of this particular scene? [Show famous clip from movie “Titanic” where Leo DeCaprio is on the bow of the boat, trying to win the heart of the girl by holding her in his arms, overlooking the sea]
What’s the name of the movie? Right – “Titanic.” And what is the theme of this scene? Love, trust.
How many here love romantic movies? Me, too! Last Thursday, we celebrated love. We celebrated what day? Right! Valentine’s Day. Anyone here give away a Valentine’s card or gift, or receive one? Anyone forget about Valentine’s Day? Shame on you! (just kidding) I heard a joke last week about a woman who, just a day before Valentine’s Day, had a dream and told her husband about it. She said, “Honey, last night I dreamed that you gave me a diamond bracelet. What do you think the dream meant?” He replied, “Just wait until tomorrow, and you’ll find out.” Next day, Valentines’ Day, the husband arrived home from work with a beautifully wrapped gift. His wife eagerly opened it, and discovered… (pause) …a book entitled, “How to Interpret Dreams.”
Today, I want to talk about love – but not because of Valentine’s Day. I want to talk about love because Lent is really about love. There are all kinds of love. In the Greek of Jesus’ day, they even had different words to describe each kind of love, sort of like the Eskimos have different words to describe different kinds of snow. There’s romantic love, of course – what we just saw in “Titanic” and what we see in Valentine’s Day. There’s also friendship love, affection between buddies. There’s family love – moms and dads for their kids, children for their parents, brothers and sisters for each other. But in the Greek of Jesus’ day, the highest kind of love was called “agape” love – unconditional, self sacrificial love. This is the kind of love Jesus showed for us when he died on the cross for us, when he gave his life to save us. This is the kind of love we celebrate in Lent.
Our first point today, on your outline, is this: God is love. The Bible tells us: God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him. (1 John 4:16, NAB). Jesus lived immersed in the love of God, His Father, and that’s what we see today in our gospel reading, in the story of the Transfiguration. Listen to the words of the Father, as He speaks about his Son, Jesus: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” (Matthew 17:5, NAB). I really like the way the Message Bible translates this verse, because I think it gets more to the core of what the Father was trying to say. The Message Bible tells us: A light-radiant cloud enveloped them, and sounding from deep in the cloud a voice: “This is my Son, marked by my love, focus of my delight. Listen to him.” (Matthew 17:5, Message) Could you hear the love in the Father’s voice as he spoke proudly about his Son? “This is my Son, marked by my love, focus of my delight. Listen to him.” I believe the reason Jesus was so successful at his ministry, so successful at reaching out in love to those who were hurting and in pain, was because he, himself, had experienced so much love in his life, from his heavenly Father and from his earthly parents, too, Joseph and Mary. And that leads to our second point…
We are loved, too. The Bible tells us: See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are. (1 John 3:1, NAB) And in John 3:16 -- maybe the most famous verse of the Bible, which most of us probably have memorized by now – we hear the greatest summary about God’s love, not just for us as individuals, but also for the entire world: For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. (John 3:16, NAB) That verse talks clearly about agape love – self sacrificial love, love without conditions. Now, we’ve heard John 3:16 so much that maybe some of us are a bit tired of it – but today, I’m going to ask you to do me a favor. Hold it in your memory, in the back of your head, because we’re going to come back to it a little bit later this morning.
Our third point today about love is this: Love changes us. We’re going to look at four specific ways that love changes us:
1. Love overcomes fear. We see that in our gospel today. On top the mountain, at the Transfiguration, the disciples fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” (Matthew 17:6-7, NAB) I’m particularly struck by that tiny detail about Jesus touching them, because touch is such a powerful way for people to show love and affection. Couples in love touch, hold hands, kiss. Children need hugs. Teens need a pat on the back or a high five. Studies show that new born babies who do not receive lots of physical touch and affection in the first days and weeks of their life grow up scarred and hurt, emotionally and psychologically. What are our fears? Some of us may be facing economic difficulties, the loss of a job, how to pay the bills. Others might face the fear of a divorce, a separation, struggles in their marriage. Maybe there is fear of a child who is in the military and might be sent off to fight in Iraq or Afghanistan. Some of us are facing illnesses, the fear of a medical procedure, a test or an operation, or maybe the bad news that we have cancer or some other ailment. God is more powerful than our fears. His love embraces us and comforts us in the midst of our fears.
2. Love heals our hurts and brokenness. All of us have suffered some sort of pain or brokenness in our lives. Saint Paul tells us, in his 2nd letter to the Corinthians, in the Message paraphrase: God comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. (2 Corinthians 1:4, Message) This verse is so important, because it not only talks about how God heals us in our hurts and pain, but it tells us the secret to experiencing that healing – by going out and helping to heal others. You see, as we are hurting, God will send others into our loves who also are hurting, and when we reach out to help them, God is at our side to help us, too. And that leads directly to a third way that love changes us:
3. Love invites sacrifice and struggle. There is a cost to love. It requires risk. It sometimes means we’ll be hurt. Parents know this – love of their children often requires sacrifice and struggle and sometimes, tough love. In our second reading today, Saint Paul tells us: Do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God. He saved us and called us to a holy life, not according to our works but according to his own design and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began. (2 Timothy 1:8-9, NAB) I want to be honest with you: The Christian life comes with a price, a cost. That price, that cost, is the cross. Just as Jesus died on the cross, he told his followers, “Take up your cross and follow me.” Those who promise that the Christian life will provide a life on easy street, full of riches and comforts, don’t know their church history very well. The disciples died as martyrs. The founder of Christianity, Jesus, hung on a cross. Love costs – but it is worth the price. The cost of following Jesus pays off in other ways, in spiritual blessings and benefits, in a life lived with meaning and purpose and significance, in an inner peace and joy which nothing on this earth can ever take away from us.
Years ago, when I first moved to Phoenix, Arizona, I was with my cousin and it was in late spring, probably May or perhaps even in early June. We decided to go hiking, to climb Squaw Peak, which has a beautiful view of the entire valley. Unfortunately, both of us grew up in Kentucky and in southern Indiana, where there are only hills, not mountains; where there is always plenty of shade from trees, and lots of running water. So we decided to climb this rocky mountain in Phoenix called Squaw Peak, at noon, in the heat of the day, temperatures soaring around 100 degrees, without water, without shade – not very bright. We were what they call “inexperienced,” to say the least! The climb started off easily enough. But about halfway up the mountain, both of us were panting, sweating, about to die. I told my cousin, “I don’t think I can make it any further. Let’s call it quits and go down.” But just at that moment, an older gentleman, maybe in his mid to late 70s, passes us climbing down from the top of the mountain. Of course, he has water and a walking stick and a hat for shade. He’s smiling, not sweating a bit, and says, “You young ‘uns will enjoy the view from on top. It’s beautiful, and well worth the climb.” After he left, I told my cousin, “No 70-year-old senior citizen is going to outdo us! We’re going to make it to the top of this mountain, even if it kills us.” So we persevered, and – of course – the man was right. The view was spectacular. The effort, the sacrifice, the pain were worth it. I sometimes tell that story at weddings. Life, and marriage, is like that climb – at first, it may seem easy; but then come the obstacles, the pain, the sacrifice, and the temptation to call it quits, to throw it all away; but if we persevere, if we keep trusting God to walk with us, we eventually make it to the top, and it is all worth it.
4. Finally, love changes us because love always, always invites – and requires -- a response. We must decide: Yes to love or no; yes to keep on climbing, or no, let’s go down and call it quits. On the screen is a picture of a couple at their marriage. Real love, just like a successful marriage, requires trust, requires love, but mostly requires faithfulness and fidelity to our commitments, to seeing it through to the end, “in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.” I remember a funny story about a little boy, 8 years old, named Ben. He had grown up in a very devout, Christian family. His parents were always talking about the importance of “giving your life to Christ.” So one day, little Ben, age 8, announced, “Tonight, I am giving my life to Christ!” Later, his parents crept up to his bedroom, expecting to find little Ben in bed, sound asleep – but no! He was packing his suitcase. For him, giving his life to Jesus meant, literally, packing so that he could go to heaven! But in the simple faith of a child, what great love, what great commitment! In our gospel today, the Father tells us, “Listen to him!” Listen to my Son, Jesus. But do we really listen? Or do we, more often, listen to the noise, the false distractions that pull us away from true faith in God? In our first reading today, we have a wonderful example of someone who listened and who obeyed – Abram. The Bible tells us: The Lord told Abram, “Leave your country, your relatives, and your father's house, and go to the land that I will show you. I will cause you to become the father of a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and I will make you a blessing to others… So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed him… Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. (Genesis 12:1-2, 4, NLT) Imagine the scene – Abram is old, settled, 75 years old, and being asked to leave everything he has worked so hard for in his life behind, to move to a new land and to start all over! Are we as open to listen to God, to obey his call, no matter where we are in life, young or old. God’s love always, always invites – and requires – a response.
Last week, I read about a guy who went to a jewelry store to buy a gift for his wife for Valentine’s Day. Sitting next to the shining diamonds was one plain, white stone. “Why is this plain stone next to these brilliant diamonds?” the man asked the jeweler. The store owner replied, “That’s not just a plain stone. It’s an opal. It looks plain when it’s sitting all by itself. But if you grab it in your hand, it will start to shine as bright as a rainbow with all kinds of beautiful colors.” We are kind of like that opal – plain, ordinary on the outside. But if we allow the Master, God, to embrace and hold us with his love, he will transform us so that our lives start to shine with the brilliance of a rainbow, just like an opal.
Remember, at the beginning of this homily, when I asked you to hold on to John 3:16. That’s because, as we conclude today, I want us to go beyond John 3:16, to go beyond a shallow, superficial faith – and we’re going to do that in two ways, with a warning and with a challenge.
First, the warning – and this is in John 3:17-19, the verses that follow John 3:16. Most people never read these next verses. They stop too soon. They stop at the good part about God so loving the world. But let’s read on. Let’s read the warning: God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again…[But] This is the crisis we're in: God-light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness. They went for the darkness because they were not really interested in pleasing God. (John 3:17, 19, Message) How sad: God showers us with his light and love, but so many people run for the darkness instead – they just aren’t interested in pleasing God. Are we?
And so, finally, the challenge – and this is from 1 John 3:16. Did you know that, in the Bible, in addition to the gospel of John, there also is a letter of John, called 1 John. And here, it gives us a challenge: This is how we've come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves. If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God's love? It disappears. And you made it disappear. My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love. (1 John 3:16-18, Message)
God’s love changes and transforms us – if we let it. That’s why Lent is all about love – agape – love that is sacrificial and without conditions. Let God’s love change you. Let God’s love move you into real action as a Christian, climbing the mountain, no matter the obstacles, persevering to the top. Please pray with me, as we close, this prayer, entitled “The Road Ahead” – and then, we will listen to a final song, entitled, “Lead Me, Lord.”
My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this, you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always, though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone. (“The Road Ahead”)
[Close with song, “Lead Me, Lord”]
“Lead me, Lord, lead me, Lord,
By the light of truth
To seek and to find the narrow way.
Be my way, be my truth, be my life, O Lord, and lead me, Lord, to you.”