Don’t Just Stay Silent
Last week, I came across a story about a priest who was a man after my own heart. He liked to use visual objects and images to illustrate his Sunday homilies. One Sunday, he placed four worms into four separate jars. The first worm was put into a container of alcohol. The second worm was put into a container of cigarette smoke. The third worm was put into a container of chocolate syrup. The fourth worm was put into a container of good clean soil. At the conclusion of the sermon, the priest reported the following results: The first worm in alcohol - Dead. The second worm in cigarette smoke - Dead. Third worm in chocolate syrup - Dead. Fourth worm in good clean soil - Alive! So the priest then asked the congregation: What can you learn from this demonstration? All was quiet until a little old woman in the back quickly raised her hand and said, "I guess as long as you drink, smoke and eat chocolate, you won't have worms!"
Wrong! I’m sure the priest was trying to show that, spiritually, we need good soil if we are to live and grow and mature. And that’s really what Matthew is trying to emphasize this week, and in the gospels we are hearing on these recent Sundays of Ordinary Time.
Matthew portrays Jesus as the new Moses. The first Moses, in the Old Testament, is the great leader and liberator of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. He’s the one who receives the Ten Commandments. Tradition tells us he wrote the first five books of the Bible, called the Pentateuch. In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus is the one who frees us from slavery to sin; Jesus is the new lawgiver who gives us the new law to love God and neighbor above all else; and Matthew has the new Moses, Jesus, delivering five powerful sermons, just as the first Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible.
Today’s gospel comes from the fourth of those five sermons by Jesus – and this is the most practical and down to earth of the five sermons. It’s often called the Sermon on the Church, and it deals with the nitty gritty of how we should live as Christians in community, how we should live as a family and as church. Today’s gospel focuses on something really specific and really concrete – how to deal with conflict and confrontation. And if you look with me on your handout today, the answer Jesus gives is a simple one: DO NOT JUST STAY SILENT.
Anyone here ever get mad? I’m the oldest of four brothers. Anyone else here the oldest in your family? Did you ever pick on your younger siblings? How many here are the youngest? Did you get picked on by your older brother or sister? As a kid, I was really mean to my younger brothers – always punching them, always bullying them. In fact, they’ll tell you even today that they never can understand how I ended up becoming a priest, since I was such a devil as a kid. I was always getting mad and losing my temper.
Churches are not immune. I came across a story of a priest and the church choir director, who were both mad at each other, and this went on for months and months. One Sunday, the priest preached on the importance of forgiveness and being open to change in our lives – and the choir director sang a song entitled, “I shall not be moved.” Another Sunday, the priest preached on generosity and tithing – and the choir director sang a song, “Jesus paid it all.” On yet another Sunday, the priest preached against gossip – and the choir director sang, “I love to tell it all.” After a while, the frustrated priest even talked about resigning as pastor, and the choir director sang, “Why not tonight?” And when the priest finally announced that he was retiring, the choir director sang, “What a friend we have in Jesus.”
Years back now, a friend of mine sent me the following e-mail: “Lord, thank you for this day. So far, I haven’t stolen anything, criticized anyone, gossiped or gotten mad. I haven’t been jealous or selfish. But in a few moments, I have to wake up and get out of this bed, and then I am going to really need your help!” Can anyone here relate to that prayer? I sure can! It’s sometimes hard just to begin the day, much less get through it! And one of the hardest things we must learn is how to handle conflict and confrontation.
On your handout, we see three unhealthy ways that people typically deal with conflict:
1. They ignore the problem. They don’t want to make waves. They don’t want to cause an escalation in the conflict. It’s just not worth the hassle. So they say nothing.
2. Secondly, some people give the silent treatment. They don’t say anything directly to the person who has offended them. But through their body language, or by frowning or giving the evil eye, they passively aggressively try to punish the person who they think has hurt them.
3. Thirdly, if the offense is really bad, we try to get back at the person who has hurt us. We seek revenge.
None of these is God’s way. God says, first, that we must:
1. Speak. We cannot stay silent and pretend the problem doesn’t exist, or passively aggressively attack and injure the other person through our silence. Silence is NOT golden when it comes to dealing with conflict!
2. Maybe you’ve heard the chilling story of the people who stayed silent in the midst of the Nazi Holocaust. “They came after the Jews, but I was not a Jew, so I stayed silent and said nothing. They came after the Poles and Russians, but I was not a Pole or Russian, so I stayed silent and said nothing. They came after those who were gay, but I was not gay, so I stayed silent and said nothing. They came after the physically and mentally handicapped, but I was not mentally or physically handicapped, so I stayed silent and said nothing. But finally, they came after the Catholics – and by this time, there was no one left but me.”
3. Silence can be deadly. It becomes buried anger – like a time bomb, waiting to explode.
4. That’s why Jesus tells us, [Matthew 18:15-17]
5. Speaking out can even be counter cultural – because often, our culture teaches us not to cause any conflict, never to rock the boat, children are to be seen but not heard, etc. But the world needs more people are not afraid to speak out with truth and love.
6. I’ve know families where the kids are using drugs, but the parents stay silent and ignore the problem. I’ve even known parents that allow their 15-year-old daughter to have the 19- or 20-year-old boyfriend move into the family home, where the two begin to live together as husband and wife, right under the nose of the parents, and in the parents’ own house!
7. Too often, parents today have abdicated their role and responsibility. Maybe parents just feel that they are powerless and have no control. Maybe parents are afraid. Maybe parents feel guilty because they work so much, and have so little time for their children. Our kids today are raised by Day Care, fed by McDonalds and entertained by HBO and MTV. One European visitor to the U.S. observed while leaving, “America is the only place where parents are so attentive to obeying their children.”
But God says we must do more than just speak. Jesus tells us we must speak – in love! In our second reading, Paul tells us … [Romans 13:8-9]
Words can be spoken in love or in hatred. In hatred, they cause hurt and injury. But in love, they can heal. I remember a wonderful story of two farmers who were brothers and lived side by side. For years, they were the best of friends. But then, one day, one brother started fighting with the other, until they quit speaking to one another. This went on for days, then weeks, then months. Finally, one of the brothers took his bulldozer, dug a huge trench in the field separating his property from his brother’s property, filled the trench with water and created a mote to separate the two. One day, a carpenter came knocking on the door of the other brother, looking for some work. The brother hired him immediately, and told him, “I have a real good project for you. I’m going into town and will be gone all day, but when I get home, I want to see a tall fence separating my land from my brother’s land, because I never want to see that scoundrel again.” The farmer went to town, and when he returned late that night, he found the carpenter had done a completely different job. Instead of a wall, the carpenter had built a bridge that crossed the river. On the other side was the brother, arms wide open, who came running to his brother seeking forgiveness. “I am so sorry,” he cried. “I know that I built this mote to separate us, but you are such a good brother. You could have built a wall, but instead, you chose to built a bridge. I am sorry! Let’s start over again!” And they lived happily every after! You see, God wants us to build bridges, not walls.
Love means we must speak – speak the truth, even when that is difficult – speak when speaking means “tough love” -- but to speak it with love and care for the other person. We need to imitate Jesus, who never sugar coated the truth, but still, spoke it with a sense of love and forgiveness. It’s like Jesus as a spoke to the woman who had been committing adultery. He criticized the sin, but loved and forgave her!
On your handout, it says: We must hold TRUTH and GRACE in balance. We must use a SCALPEL – which is used by doctors to heal – rather than a SWORD, which is used by soldiers to kill.
The handout offers six concrete suggestions of how to speak the truth in love:
HOW TO SPEAK WITH “TOUGH” LOVE:
1. Get clear about the issue
2. Pray & ask God if you are the one to address the issue
3. First address the issue in person and in private
4. Be gentle but also firm and honest
5. If necessary, enlist the help of a few trusted others
6. Follow up – DON’T UNLOAD AND ABANDON
Finally, Jesus tells us WHY we must speak the truth in love – because we are family. And so, in our first reading, Ezequiel tells us that we must be watchmen for one another – read Ezekiel 33:7-9
Jesus tells us that we can never be Christians purely alone – that we must live in community with others: “Where two…” (Matthew 18:20)
I love the quote on your handout from Dr. Karl Menninger: “Love is the medicine for the sickness of the world.” And the quote from the French Jesuit priest and scientist Teilhard de Chardin: “Someday, after mastering the winds, the waves, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love, and then, for the second time in the history of the world, man will have discovered fire.”
You see, we must live as family. When I was a child, I remember hearing the sad story of a woman who was brutally raped in the middle of New York City, in Central Park. Dozens of persons were walking by and heard her screams – but they did nothing. It was none of their business. They didn’t want to get involved. They didn’t want to get their hands dirty in someone else’s problems and business. How sad! Remember how in Genesis, Cain killed his brother Abel, and God told Cain, “You are your brother’s keeper!”
We are responsible to one another, because we are family. And our family is more than just our kids, our spouse – it’s our neighbors, and the people in other cities and nations, in Africa and Asia and Latin America, rich or poor. C.S. Lewis, in his book, “The Great Divorce,” depicts hell as a gigantic city of empty homes – because everyone has moved further and further away from the city so they can live in peace, without neighbors, without crime or problems. God wants us to care for the victims of the hurricane in Louisiana, and for the starving children in Africa, and for those who are in the midst of war in Iraq and Afghanistan…
This weekend, we celebrate Labor Day. We must be in solidarity with workers, fighting for decent and livable wages and good healthy work environments, and protection of workers, and health care…
Last week, we went to World Youth Day in Germany. The unity, the flags, the sense of all of us as one big family in Christ, from around the world:
[Show World Youth Day video]
In conclusion, two action steps:
1. Reach out in love to a person in your life who is struggling, or perhaps who has hurt you – someone that you are in conflict with.
2. Second, reach out somehow to the hurting of the world, because we are one big family – reach out in prayer, and with money, and with time and talent. Some organizations worthy to support are listed.
When facing conflicts or challenges – Don’t just stay silent. Speak out in love, because we are a family!
June 29, 2008
In the Footsteps of Saints Peter and Paul
Today is a bit different from most Sundays in Ordinary Time. Usually, I’m dressed in green, the color of the church season, Ordinary Time. But today, I’m wearing red – the color of martyrdom, of blood. That’s because, today, we celebrate the feast of two great heroes of church history, Saint Peter and Saint Paul. Their feast usually falls on a weekday, but this year, we are fortunate that it falls on a Sunday. The Pope also has proclaimed this as the Year of Saint Paul, which is even more reason to celebrate today’s feast in a special way!
I want to talk about how we can learn from these two great saints, how we can learn to follow in their footsteps. But first, I want us to take a quick tour of the New Testament of the Bible. That’s because it is in the New Testament of the Bible where we really hear and learn about Saint Peter and Saint Paul.
How many of us here own a Bible? Did you know that the Bible is the most important book we have as Christians? It’s our sacred Scriptures. Yet lots of Catholics don’t even own a Bible, and we only hear from the Bible when we come to church on Sundays. My friends, that is not enough! Here in this church, we give all the children in 1st communion classes children’s Bibles, with pictures; and we give all our teens in Confirmation a youth Bible. It’s because we want every single one of our kids, and us as adults, too, to own a Bible. It’s our Holy Book, from God!
When I was little, my parents bought a big family Bible. It was a huge thing. They put it on the coffee table in the living room – and there it sat, for years and years, a giant decoration, unread, collecting dust. Don’t do that with the Bible. If you are going to buy a big Bible for your living room, that’s fine – but also, buy a smaller Bible that you can really use, a Bible you can easily carry with you and read, a Bible that you’re not afraid to mark up with pencil or pen or magic marker, underlining and circling words and phrases, scribbling notes in the margins. The Bible is meant to be read and used and studied. It’s not just a decoration for the house!
Teen-agers – I have a question for you. Young men: Any of you ever send love letters to the girls at school? Girls: Do you ever like to receive messages from the boys? Now, I know I’m old fashioned. We used to send paper airplane notes sailing through the classroom. Now, teens text each other their love messages. But the point is the same: We all like to receive love letters. The Bible is God’s love letter to us. It’s the most marvelous love letter ever written in all of history. But what good is a love letter if it goes unread?
On the screen is the outline of the New Testament of the Bible. There are four gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. They each tell the story about the life of Jesus. Then comes a book entitled “Acts of the Apostles.” Does anyone know what it’s about? (Hint: Who’s buried in Grant’s tomb? Right – Grant!) “Acts of the Apostles” is about what? Right – the “acts of the apostles.” It was written by Saint Luke, the same guy who wrote the gospel of Luke, and it is a continuation of Luke’s gospel. It tells about Saint Peter and Saint Paul and the history of the early church in the years after Jesus’ death and resurrection. Next come Paul’s letters, then letters by other apostles, and finally, the Book of Revelation.
Here’s your homework assignment: First, if you don’t own a Bible, buy one; and, second, start reading Acts of the Apostles – a wonderful adventure story about the birth of the church, and about Saints Peter and Paul.
Now, let’s look at Saint Peter. He was one of the 12 disciples -- really, the head of the disciples – and Jesus named him the first Pope, the first leader of the church. Our gospel today tells us the story: And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18, NAB)
What else do we know about Peter? Most of us probably think of Saint Peter as the guy at the Pearly Gates of Heaven, waiting to let some people in or kick others out. Anyone here ever heard those jokes about Saint Peter at the Pearly Gates? Here’s one:
(Choose one to use)
♣ An engineer dies and reports to the pearly gates. St. Peter checks his dossier and says, "Ah, you're an engineer you're in the wrong place." So the engineer reports to the gates of hell and is let in. Pretty soon, the engineer gets dissatisfied with the level of comfort in hell, and starts designing and building improvements. After a while, they've got air conditioning and flush toilets and escalators and the engineer is a pretty popular guy. One day God calls Satan up on the telephone and says with a sneer, "So, how's it going down there in hell?" Satan replies, "Hey, things are going great. We've got air conditioning and flush toilets and escalators, and there's no telling what this engineer is going to come up with next. God replies, "What? You've got an engineer? That's a mistake he should never have gotten down there; send him up here." Satan says, "No way. I like having an engineer on the staff, and I'm keeping him." God says, "Send him back up here or I'll sue." Satan laughs uproariously and answers, "Yeah, right. And just where are YOU going to get a lawyer?"
♣ The Pope and a lawyer both died on the same die. St. Peter gives the pope a 1-room hut, the lawyer a mansion. The lawyer asks Saint Peter: Isn’t there a mistake? “No,” says Saint Peter. “You see, up here in heaven, we have lots and lots of popes, bishops and priests, but you’re the first lawyer who has ever been here.
♣ Three men arrived at the pearly gates. St. Peter said to the first one, "Welcome, I see in my book that you've led an upstanding life, honest, generous, loving, always faithful to your wife. Congratulations, you will travel through heaven in a Cadillac. To the second man, St. Peter said, "You've lived a respectable life, but oh dear, I see that you've had an indescretionate relationship with your secretary. You'll be travelling through heaven on a motorcycle. To the third man, St. Peter said. "However did you get here?" "Beat's me" said the man, "I've lied, cheated and messed around plenty." "Oh, well," replied St. Peter. "You're here, by the grace of God. So I say that you may travel through heaven on a bicycle." The third man was pleased with his luck, pedaling down the golden streets when he saw the first man draped over the hood of his Cadillac, sobbing. "What's up" said the cyclist, "You lived the good life and have the rewards." "Yes," said the first man, "But I just saw my wife go by on a skateboard!"
♣ A teacher, a doctor, and a lawyer all die and end up at the Pearly Gates. St. Peter meets them there and says "It's good to have you here, but we're a little over crowded today. You'll each have to answer 1 question before I can let you in." Peter turns to the teacher and says "What was the name of the famous ship that hit an iceberg and sank in the early 1900s?" The teacher smiles and says "That's easy. The Titanic." Peter lets her in. Then he turns to the doctor and says "How many people died on the Titanic?" The doctor says "Well, that's a tricky one, but luckily I just saw the movie, so I know. 1500." Peter lets the doctor in, too. Then Peter turns to the lawyer and says "Name them."
Here’s what we really know about Saint Peter: He was a simple man; not well educated, probably; a fisherman. He was married. He loved Jesus, but often, was putting his foot in his mouth and getting in trouble, speaking before he should have spoken. He died in Rome in the 60s A.D., under the persecution of the Roman Emperor Nero. He was crucified, but – and this shows his great humility and love for Jesus – he refused to be crucified in the same way as Jesus, his Savior. So he was crucified upside down.
I want to look at just two incidents in the life of Saint Peter. The first is in Matthew 26, just before Jesus is about to die. Peter said to Jesus, “Though all may have their faith in you shaken, mine will never be.” Jesus said to him, "Amen, I say to you, this very night before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” I think we all know the rest of the story: Peter denies Jesus three times. Clearly, this is an example of Peter putting his foot in his mouth.
Next incident: Jesus has risen and now appears to the disciples. This is in John’s gospel, chapter 21: When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He then said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." (Jesus) said to him, “Feed my sheep”
Why does Jesus ask Peter three times, “Do you love me?” It’s because Jesus knows that Peter already, in the past, denied him three times. Now he is giving Peter a second chance, an opportunity to redeem himself. And, despite Peter denying him, Jesus puts him in charge of the church: “Feed my sheep.” Not as a dictator, but as a pastor who must sacrifice and take care of the flock. Peter eventually even gives his life for the flock, and Jesus even talks about Peter’s eventual death: “Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” He said this signifying by what kind of death Peter would glorify God. And when Jesus had said this, he said to Peter, “Follow me.” (John 21:15-19, NAB)
What can we learn from the example of Saint Peter? First, Jesus looks for love, not perfection. Peter was a real bumbler, imperfect, not always trustworthy – but he had a big heart, and Jesus sees into the heart and wants our love, not our perfection. Jesus forgives us, just as he forgave Peter. So – three action steps. First, accept God’s love and forgiveness. Don’t live enslaved to the past and to guilt. Jesus wants to free you. Second: Do the same to others. Forgive them, love them, just as God has loved and forgiven you. Third: Like Peter, step out in faith and don’t wait until the “perfect moment” because the “perfect moment” is an illusion, a lie, and doesn’t exist.
It’s easy to procrastinate, and that’s why too many of us Christians are spectators, not participators, sitting on the sidelines, missing the action. Excuses, excuses, excuses – but it’s really mostly fear. “I’m not good enough. I’ve made too many past mistakes. I don’t know how. What if I fail and others make fun of me? I’m too busy. Someday, when I’m (fill in the blank here): out of school… not weighed down by kids… not so involved in my career and work… when I’m older and retired.” But then, for those retired: “Now I’m too old, too feeble, too tired, don’t have the energy, too sick.” You see my point? God is not looking for perfection. Peter was far from perfect. He’s not looking for skills or talents or education. Peter was a fisherman. He’s looking for people with a heart for God and for other people, people who are humble and have big hearts of love for others, people willing to take a risk and step out on the water, even if they might sink; people like Peter, who will make good shepherds because they love people and they love God.
Now let’s turn to our second Christian hero, Saint Paul. I’ve always liked Paul – I picked him for my Confirmation name. What do we know about Paul? A quick quiz: How many think he was one of the 12 disciples? Lots of people get this wrong. Paul did not even know Jesus when Jesus walked on the earth. Paul became a Christian after Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension into heaven. On the screen is a picture, an icon, of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. They worked together – Peter as missionary to the Jews, Paul as missionary to the Romans, the Gentiles. We know they sometimes disagreed and fought – but they were brothers in Christ, nonetheless. Paul was a Pharisee, a learned Jew who also was a Roman citizen and who spoke both Hebrew and Greek. He was a teacher and a missionary. He traveled throughout the Roman Empire, speaking about Jesus and starting new churches. He wrote lots of letters to the many churches that he founded, and many of these letters are preserved in our New Testament – Paul’s letters to the Romans, the Corinthians, the Galatians, the Ephesians, the Colossians and the Thessalonians, on and on. We know that he, too, died as a martyr in Rome, about the same time as Peter, under the same Roman Emperor, Nero – but Paul was decapitated, not crucified.
Let’s look briefly at two incidents in Paul’s life. First is before Paul’s conversion. Note that Paul’s Hebrew name was Saul, and his Greek name was Paul, but Paul and Saul are the same person. The story is told in Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 8: Saul … was trying to destroy the church; entering house after house and dragging out men and women, he handed them over for imprisonment. (Acts 8:3, NAB).
But now, let’s read the second incident, told in Acts, Chapter 9: Now Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that, if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains. On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” He said, “Who are you, sir?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” … Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. (Acts 9:1-5, 8, NAB)
What can we learn from these two episodes in Paul’s life? Like Peter, Paul was not perfect. In fact, he did many evil things, persecuting and imprisoning Christians. But God forgives our past and uses us, if we are open. That’s what conversion is about – changing direction in our lives. Just as Jesus called out to Paul to change his life, Jesus asks us to change our lives, too – to stop running away from him and start running toward him, to listen to him and to give our hearts and our lives to him.
Four lessons and action steps that we can learn from Paul and his writings:
First, accept God’s limitless love. No conditions. No strings attached. You are forgiven. Don’t live in the past and let past sins and mistakes enslave you. Paul tells us, in his letter to the Romans: We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose… What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? … What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? … I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:28, 31, 35, 38-39, NAB)
Second, put love as the first priority in your life – love of God, and love of others. Don’t let money, pleasure, possessions, career, popularity, sports, TV, recreation, vacation, retirement – and the list can go on and on -- become false gods that dominate and control your life. In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul tells us: If I speak in human and angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, (love) is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:1-8, NAB)
Third, like Saint Paul, be a real missionary for Jesus. In his 2nd letter to the Corinthians, Paul tells us: We are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. (2 Corinthians 5:20, NAB) Anyone here ever watch those TV court dramas – “Judge Judy,” “Law and Order”? In those shows, and in real life, too, the trained experts are the police, the judges, the lawyers. But are the witnesses professionals? No! They just tell what they’ve seen and experienced – “I saw so-and-so rob the bank.” Jesus does not ask us to be experts who need to know a lot about the Bible, or about Christian doctrines and history and teaching. And we’re not the judges and lawyers, responsible for saving people and from deciding whether they go to heaven or to hell. We just need to be witnesses, representatives, ambassadors. We just need to share what we ourselves have already experienced about the love of Jesus. But it is urgent that we share and not stay silent – share with our children, our neighbors, our co-workers, our spouses and families and friends. Why? Two reasons: If we don’t share, how will they hear and know about God? We might be their only chance to hear the good news of Jesus. And second, so many people are hurting, in pain, suffering, even dying – and we have the good news, the message of life and salvation! How selfish if we hold it to ourselves, instead of sharing!
A final lesson from Saint Paul: Don’t be afraid of sacrifice, suffering and weakness. Again, in his 2nd letter to the Corinthians, Paul talks about his own suffering and sacrifice: Five times at the hands of the Jews I received forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I passed a night and a day on the deep; on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own race, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, dangers among false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many sleepless nights, through hunger and thirst, through frequent fastings, through cold and exposure. And apart from these things, there is the daily pressure upon me of my anxiety for all the churches. Following Jesus is not a guarantee of life on easy street, but rather, a promise of the cross and suffering – but for a prize worth suffering for!
Paul goes on: I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 11:24-29, 12:10, NAB) I am 100 percent convinced that God can use us more in our failures, our past sins and mistakes, our weaknesses, than in our strengths. When we serve God from our strength, our talent, we become prideful, puffed up, full of ourselves. But when we serve God out of humility and weakness, like Saint Peter and Saint Paul, then God gets the glory, not us! A recovering alcoholic is much better able to help others who struggle with drinking than a non-alcoholic. A mother who has lost a child at birth is much more able to help other women in similar situations. But we need to be open, like Peter and Paul, to God’s call, so that God can really enter into our lives and take center stage and really use us!
Let’s conclude by looking at Saint Paul’s letter to Timothy, from our second reading today. Paul is near his death, and he writes:
I am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance…
Each of us has only one life. We can waste it or use it wisely, according to God’s plan. Don’t waste your one life that God has given you! Finish the race, keep the faith, shoot for the crown of victory. This crown, this reward and victory, is not just for Saint Paul, but for everyone who loves the Lord and longs for his appearance.
Paul continues:
The Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was rescued from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat and will bring me safe to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.
(2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18, NAB)
God loves us, unconditionally, no strings attached. There may be sacrifices and struggles and sufferings, but he is always with us – and his love conquers all. Despite our failures, our sins, our imperfections, our weaknesses, Jesus wants to use us as his ambassadors and witnesses.
So get rid of the excuses and the procrastination. Use your one life as God wants you to use it.
There is only one question: Will you listening to the Lord, will you say “yes” to God’s invitation? If you say “yes,” God will use you mightily, just as he did Saint Peter and Saint Paul. And we, too, will walk in their footsteps, humble saints, also, imperfect but with big hearts that love God and love other people.
Let us pray…
June 22, 2008
Defeating Fear
Today, we’re going to talk about a very practical topic: Defeating Fear. In our gospel today, Jesus tells us, three times, “Do not be afraid.” First, he says, Don’t be afraid of those who threaten you… Then he says, Don't be afraid of those who want to kill you. They can only kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Finally, he says, Don't be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. (Matthew 10:26-31, NLT)
All of us have fears. Last week, I came across a story of a little boy who ran to his mom and dad at night, full of fear in the midst of a thunder storm. His mom told him, “Honey, go back to bed and everything will be all right, because God is with you.” The little boy had a better idea. “Mom,” he said, “I’ll stay here and sleep with dad, and you go and sleep with God.”
A joke is told about a pastor who was afraid of flying. He was on a plane, knuckles clenched tight, teeth chattering. The stewardess said to him, “Pastor, I thought with God on your side, you wouldn’t be so afraid.” The pastor replied, “The Bible says, ‘Lo, I am with you always,” but not ‘high, I am with you always!’ ”
Ours is a culture of fear. Watch the following movie clip from Michael Moore’s film, “Bowling for Colombine.” [Clip shows fear] Especially since 9/11, we as a country have been bombarded by messages of terror and fear – on the television news who use fear to bolster ratings, and by politicians wanting to exploit fear for their own agendas. But fear is all around us!
Priests can feel fear. A few years ago, I was taking my walk in Palm Desert, exercising, when this ferocious dog came out of a house and cornered me in a cul-de-sac. For about 15 or 20 minutes, I was trapped, and couldn’t get around this barking, snarling dog, until finally a neighbor came out and rescued me. But I was afraid.
Many years ago, when I lived in South Bend, I was living in a rectory in the inner city. It was Thanksgiving, but I was sick, so instead of going out to dinner, I stayed home in bed. It was twilight, I was resting upstairs in my bedroom, when I heard noises downstairs. I peaked out the bedroom window and saw shadows downstairs of someone coming in and out of the first floor of my house, carrying things in their arms. Panicked, I thought, “It’s Thanksgiving. They think everyone is out of the house. We’re being robbed.” I crawled to the phone, called 911, the police came quickly – and they immediately arrested… Sister Claire Alfred, who worked at the church and had decided to come by on Thanksgiving to clean a few things from the first floor of the house!
We all fear. Medical dictionaries list more than 600 phobias, or fears. There’s even “phobiaphobia” – fear of fear itself. And there is “homilyphobia” – fear of homilies, fear of sermons. I used to be afraid of public speaking. In college, the only class I almost flunked was speech. The professor told me, “Please, please, never, ever choose a career that involves public speaking.” Right!
What are some of your fears? This short video shows some common fears… [show video clip]. Fear of death, or sickness, or pain. That’s a common fear. Last week, I read about a class of junior high students who were asked by their teacher to write on the subject of death, and one teen wrote, “I want to die in my sleep, like my grandfather did. I’d hate to die screaming in panic like the passengers in his car did.” And there are many other fears – fear of unemployment, losing our job, not being able to pay the bills; fears about our children; fear of being rejected; fear of being lonely or alone in life.
People respond to fear in three ways. Some people suppress it. They run away, hide, pretend it’s not there. They put on masks of denial. Machismo is a mask to hide fear – “Look, I’m tough!” Smiley faces are masks – “Look, I’m always happy.” Right! In a Peanuts cartoon, Charlie Brown once said, “There’s no problem so big that I can’t run away from it!” But running away from our fears and problems is not a good solution. So other people respond to fear by resorting to destructive behavior, on themselves or on others. Addictions, anger, resentment, bitterness, or anxiety or stress or excessive worry. This, too, is not a healthy way to respond to fear. The third option is the best: Trust God. [Show humorous Blue Fish video on faith vs. fear, in the form of a MacIntosh vs. Windows commercial]
God wants us to live in freedom, not in fear, in light, not in darkness. A few months ago, a friend sent me this photo by e-mail, but it got me thinking: God wants His light to shine in me and through me, but fear blocks out the light. Jesus tells us: You are like light for the whole world… Your light must shine before people. (Matthew 5:14, 16, TEV) Jesus says, in our gospel today: What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. (Matthew 10:27, NLT)
Why live in fear? It’s wasted energy. Fear doesn’t change anything at all. It only makes things worse. Back in the 1930s, at the height of the Great Depression, when the economy of the U.S. was in shambles and everyone was full of fear, the newly elected President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, said these famous words at his first inaugural speech in 1933: “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” We live today in a time of economic hardship – soaring gas prices, people losing jobs and homes – and maybe we, too, need to hear these words again. Mark Twain once said: “I have known many troubles in life, most of which never happened.” We waste energy worrying about what might be. Usually, “what might be” never happens! But even if it does, one of my favorite sayings is this: “If God gives you lemons, make lemonade.” (Unknown) So much depends on our attitude. We can look at a glass of water and say, “It’s half empty” – the cry of the pessimist – or we can look at that same glass of water and say, “It’s half full” – the cry of the optimist. It’s our choice to let fear rule or not! Lou Holtz, the famous coach of the Notre Dame football team, was once pelted by oranges after playing in the Orange Bowl. He said, “It could be worse. We could be playing in the Gator Bowl!” The Bible itself tells us, 366 times – once for every day of the year, plus one additional time for good measure – “Do not be afraid!” Today, our gospel tells us that three times!
You and I, we only have one life to live. How are we going to choose to live it? In light or in darkness? In freedom or in fear? The Bible tells us: If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight is shining on you. (Luke 11:36, NLT). Jesus told the people: “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't be stumbling through the darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” (John 8:12, NLT)
There is an illness that plagues many of us, a spiritual sickness, and I call it the scourge of timidity. We’re afraid to confront, to speak out, to take a stand. Did you know that silence and inaction are just as much choices as speaking out and getting involved? Many parents today are afraid to speak out and confront their children, even when the kids are over 18, still living at home, but doing all sorts of things that go against the beliefs and values of the parents. Lots of people live in dysfunctional households, where there is alcoholism, or verbal or physical abuse – but we are cowered and afraid to name and confront the problem. Silence, inaction, timidity can be wrong! But you see, fear enslaves us.
It’s OK to say “No,” and it’s also OK to say “yes” – but mean it. Jesus says to us in the Bible: Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ (Matthew 5:37, NAB) Our gospel today says it emphatically: Don’t be afraid of those who threaten you… What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ears, shout from the housetops for all to hear! Don't be afraid of those who want to kill you. They can only kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:26-29, NLT)
Now, there is a right way and a wrong way to speak out. Jesus isn’t telling us to go out and club people over the head with our words. We always, always, always must speak out in love, kindness, compassion, gentleness. But don’t be afraid to speak out in love, kindness, compassion and gentleness – because, ultimately, we don’t need to impress other people, we simply must please God. We only have to live to please an audience of one – God – and not all the other people and the critics who are all around us.
The second danger of timidity is that it creates what I call a “Company of Yes Men and Yes Women” – followers, not leaders, people who just go along with the crowd. This can affect the church, too – leaders, priests and bishops, too, who tow the line, don’t want to rock the boat, are political climbers, or who just aren’t prophetic. I think that’s what happened at Abu Ghraib in Iraq – a bunch of young, inexperienced soldiers blindly following orders. Last week, I read a story of a young medical student, just graduating to become a doctor. As he was driving home one evening, he came upon a car wreck. Stopping, he discovered a man in the car who was about to die without medical attention. But to attend the man, he had to move him – which always involves a risk of causing paralysis. The young medical student knew that if he did nothing, the man would die; but if he moved the man to save his life, but it resulted in paralysis, he’d face a medical malpractice lawsuit that would destroy his future and his career. He ended up helping the man, saving his life – and, fortunately, there was no paralysis and no lawsuit. But the next week, he told his supervisor about the experience, who told him: “That was the dumbest thing you ever did. You put your entire future and career as a doctor on the line. Next time, just keep driving.” The medical student later wrote, “Next time, I’ll take his advice and just keep going.”
What are some of the issues in the church? Do we speak out or stay silent? And what do we say? After all, not everyone agrees on all these issues. Let’s take a few examples:
♣ Immigration reform. That’s an easy one to talk about here in Coachella, or in Mecca or Indio, where nearly everyone is an immigrant or has a family member who is an immigrant. But they might throw tomatoes at the priest who preaches on this issue in La Quinta or Indian Wells or Rancho Mirage. I bet churches there don’t talk about immigration as much as we do here.
♣ What about abortion? For most Catholics, that’s an easier issue, I think, because we sort of intrinsically agree on the sanctity of life. But society definitely does not agree with us. We are in the minority. And then, there is a big problem, politically, because while we oppose abortion, we also oppose anything that diminishes the sanctity of life, including, for example, capital punishment or the use of torture or human rights abuses or whether the Iraq war is just or not – and lots of churches steer away from those “hot potato” controversial political issues. In a sense, abortion is a lot safer to preach about!
♣ Biblical literalism. In seminary, priests and theology students learn that the Bible is filled with metaphor, symbol, myth – it’s not all historical. So, for example, did God literally create the world in seven days, or is the scientific theory of evolution compatible with our faith? Fundamentalist Christians battle about this all the time, and try to have “creationism” taught in the schools, alongside evolution. But even in Catholic circles, do we dare teach about this aspect of the Bible, or do we stay silent so as not to rock the boat, spiritually, or offend the spiritual sensibilities of some of our church members?
♣ Women’s rights and women’s ordination. Issues not discussed very much. But I’m amazed that women only received the right to vote when my own mother was a little girl, not that long ago. It’s interesting that only now has a woman risen high enough, politically, to almost win her party’s nomination for president. What is the role of women in the church?
♣ Racism, bigotry, discrimination. Today, not many people argue over this, but 50 years ago, that wasn’t so. I grew up in the South. When I was a little kid – I don’t remember it – there were “colored” bathrooms and “colored” restaurants and blacks had to sit in the back of public buses. I’ve asked my parents, “When you were young, why didn’t you challenge those things?” and they respond, “We didn’t know any better, we just didn’t think about it, it was the way things were and we just went along with what everyone else said and did.” In those days, there were black churches and white churches – even among Catholics! When I lived in Phoenix, next door to the church was the former “Mexican” school from the 1940s, which was separate from the “white” school. But when we just go along and are “company men and women” – isn’t that how Adolf Hitler and his Nazi party were able to seize power in Germany, good people afraid to say or do anything? I really believe most of us are trying to be good, honest, decent people – but if fear takes over, even good people do and say nothing in the face of wrong and evil.
♣ Did you know that California was the first state, back in 1948, to legalize interracial marriage? The California State Supreme Court ordered the change. The federal government didn’t catch on until a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 1967. Today, nobody blinks an eye over the issue of interracial marriage, but they did back then. I raise that because, last week, what story dominated the news? Right – same-sex marriage. Our tendency is to stay silent, to shy away from controversy, to ignore the elephant in the room, to not rock the boat. I don’t know how history will look at this decision by the California Supreme Court – maybe like interracial marriage, or maybe an abomination to the sanctity of marriage. The Catholic Church clearly is against same-sex marriage, but favors civil protections of gay couples in civil unions, and also, the church defends the fair and just treatment of all people, regardless of race, culture, ethnic background, gender or sexual orientation. But some other non-Catholic churches allow same-sex marriages and clearly disagree with our Catholic Church on this issue; and others are marching in the streets against it, but with hatred and anger that also goes against what we as Catholics teach and believe.
♣ My point is this: People are always going to disagree over all these issues, but that doesn’t mean we can stay silent, not speak, and let fear keep us on a leash. We need to speak our truth, as best we see it by following our informed consciences – but out in love, and with compassion, respect and tolerance, not in anger or with hatred or bitterness. Sometimes we need to learn to agree to disagree. All of us are brothers and sisters, even when we have different opinions and viewpoints. And maybe we need to speak out with more humility – recognizing that we all are human, we all make mistakes, none of us is God.
So, finally, let’s look at four steps to help us overcome fear:
Step One: Know that you are loved by God. Our gospel today tells us: You are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. (Matthew 10:31, NLT) Love transforms everything and can conquer all fear. We don’t need to live to please anyone else or be popular with anyone else, or change to meet someone else’s expectations of us. God loves us just as we are. We live for an audience of one – to please the Lord.
On the screen are two quotes. They say the same thing, in just slightly different ways: “Courage is fear that has been conquered by love.” “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather, the judgment that something else is more important than fear.” (Ambrose Redmoon) We all have fears. Fear is part of our humanity – but it can be overcome by courage, based in love. A mother fears busy traffic, but nonetheless will risk traffic and overcome fear, out of love, if she sees her child dart out into that traffic. We are loved – and this love gives us courage to overcome our fears.
Second Step: Expose your fears. Name them. Write them down. There’s even a space on your Homily Notes to write them down. Even better, share them – not with just anyone, of course, but with a trusted confidant or spiritual director or friend. Naming our fears helps us to overcome them.
Third Step: Turn your fears over to God. Pray to God, specifically, about your fears, and ask God to take them onto Himself. Use the Bible as a source of strength. On your handout on some Bible verses to help you with this, so take these verses home with you and re-read them and meditate on them and allow them to give you strength.
♣ You, Lord, are on my side, strong and mighty… (Jeremiah 20:11, TEV)
♣ I cried out to the Lord in my suffering, and he heard me. He set me free from all my fears. (Psalm 34:6, NLT)
♣ God has said, “I will never leave you; I will never abandon you.” Let us be bold, then, and say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6, TEV)
♣ In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world. (John 16:33, NAB)
♣ Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or are hungry or cold or in danger or threatened with death? ... No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can't, and life can't. The angels can't, and the demons can't. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35, 37-39, NLT)
Refocusing helps us overcome fear. If we focus on our worries and problems, they overwhelm us. But if we pray, focus on God and on God’s word, get involved more in the works of God – that takes our mind off the things that cause us fear.
Why don’t people get more involved in ministry and in the church? I think it’s not primarily laziness, and not even busyness. It’s fear – what if I fail? What if I don’t know how? What if I’m rejected? Fear enslaves.
Step 4 is essential: Step out in faith. Jump in the water. It won’t hurt. Take a risk. Get involved, however God may want you to do that – by speaking, in love; by forgiving someone; by loving and caring more; by serving and volunteering; by doing. Christianity is an action faith, not a spectator sport. Faith without works is dead.
Fear can be defeated, when we trust in God. God loves you and wants to free you from fear. God wants to help you to live in light, not darkness. Will you accept his invitation of life and light and freedom from fear? Just four simple steps: Know that you are loved; expose the fears; trust in God; and take a step of faith by becoming a doer, not just a sitter.
Let us pray…
11th Sunday of Ordinary Time
June 15, 2008
A Father’s Heart
Today, on the screen, is a photo of a father, reading a book to his daughter. Why do you think we have this photo on the screen today? Right! Because it’s Father’s Day!
I like Father’s Day. They say dads get short shrift compared to moms on Mother’s Day, and maybe they’re right. We give out flowers to all the moms on Mother’s Day. Sorry, dad, but I don’t have any gifts for you today – no gift certificates to Home Depot or Lowe’s, or Best Buys or Circuit City or Radio Shack. No free tickets to a Laker’s game or to one of our area golf resorts. But I do like Father’s Day, even if it’s not a religious holiday, per se. Maybe it’s because we priests also are called “Father.” In fact, a friend once told me that priests actually get to enjoy two Father’s Day holidays, not one! We get to enjoy “Father’s Day,” today, but also “Independence Day,” no kids!
Fathers often get a bum rap. Mark Twain, the famous 19th century American author, once said: When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years. It’s funny how we don’t really appreciate our dads when we are teen-agers, but we appreciate them a lot when we grow up and are dads ourselves. So let’s give all of our dads a big round of applause today, this Father’s Day! (applause) And kids, if you’re next to your dad, give him a hug!
Today, we’re going to talk about “a Father’s Heart.” We’re going to look at what makes a good dad, and also, we’re going to look into the heart of God, who is our heavenly Father.
What makes a good father? Watch this funny video… (show humorous video of a father)
Is this a good father in the video, yes or know? Why? What makes a good father -- give me some ideas… he’s kind; hardworking; responsible; spends time with his kids; tries to know his goods; is a good husband to the kid’s mom; faithful in his marriage; sacrifices; guides his family spiritually.
What makes a bad father? Always comes home grumpy, angry, yelling, screaming; violent, abuse; a drunk; uses bad languages, teaches his children bad habits; is unfaithful; is irresponsible, lazy; machismo; refuses to teach his children about God – that’s “women’s work.”
Did you know that God is a Father? We’re God’s children. Jesus taught us to pray to God this way: “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name…” Some people have a hard time relating to God as “father.” Their human father was abusive, mean-spirited, cruel – and so, they have a hard time picturing God as “father.” Or lots of children today are growing up without fathers, in single parent households where dad is absent or gone because of divorce or separation. Some children have lost their fathers to death. Today, because it’s Father’s Day, we’re going to use the image of God as Father, but if that is painful or difficult for you, don’t get hung up on the image or the word “father.” It’s simply meant to show that God is the ideal, perfect, all-loving, all present “father” – maybe the father that some of us never ever really had.
Jesus, the Bible tells us, is God’s Son. That means Jesus reflect the face and the character and the mindset of his Father in heaven. In the letter to the Colossians, Saint Paul tells us: Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. (Colossians 1:15, NLT) Jesus himself spoke to his disciples about God as “abba,” “daddy,” and he told them, Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. (John 14:10-11, NAB)
Maybe it’s a bit of an oversimplification to say that God in the Old Testament of the Bible is portrayed often as an angry, jealous, punishing, distant God. We know that Abraham, Moses, the prophets and the other great leaders of ancient Israel spoke intimately and lovingly to God. But Jesus really brought it home – God wants to be in relationship with us, as a father wants to be in loving relationship with his children. There is an intimacy, a tenderness in the relationship Jesus has with his Father. And Jesus teaches us that we, too, can experience that same intimacy and tenderness with God.
All of our readings today show us the heart of God as a loving Father.
♣ In the first reading, from Exodus, God tells his people, Israel: “You shall be my special possession, dearer to me than all other people, though all the earth is mine.” (Exodus 19:5, NAB)
♣ In our Psalm for today, Psalm 100: You know the Lord is God! He created us, and we belong to him; we are his people, the sheep in his pasture… The Lord is good! His love and faithfulness will last forever. (Psalm 100:3, 5, CEV)
♣ In our second reading, from Paul’s letter to the Romans: The love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us. For Christ, while we were still helpless, yet died at the appointed time for the ungodly. Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. (Romans 5:5-8, NAB) Notice something very important in this reading: The notion of sacrifice. We sacrifice today for lots of things, for ourselves – we sacrifice for money, popularity, attractiveness, pleasure, material comforts. And we sacrifice for the ones we love – our spouses, our kids, our family, sometimes for our friends. But notice: Jesus challenges us to sacrifice for anyone and everyone, not just for those whom we find easy to care for and love.
♣ Finally, let’s look at the heart of God in our gospel today, from Matthew: Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” (Matthew 9:35-38, NAB)
Jesus, reflecting the heart of his Father, is filled with love and compassion for the people, all the people, wandering lost, like sheep without a shepherd. Too often, in the church, we jump too quickly to the second part of this gospel, the part about too much harvest and too few laborers – and we use this gospel as a way to club people over the head and to lay a guilt trip on them for not volunteering, not serving. Jesus does ask us to go out, to serve – but first, before the serving, comes the heart. You see, we too must have the heart of God, the heart of a servant, the heart of compassion. And for everyone – not just those who are easy to love: for the criminals in jail, even the murderers and rapists and child molesters; for the foreigner who is here in our country without legal papers and documentation; for those of different races and ethnic backgrounds and sexual orientations; for the victims of war and violence in Iraq; for the people starving in Asia’ for the victims of AIDS dying in Africa and in America; for the homeless; for those who’ve lost homes and jobs during this economic recession that is afflicting our country; for those who are struggling because of high gasoline prices; for those who are sick and dying in hospitals and hospices and nursing homes; for those who are somehow different from us... The list goes on and on and on… Some of us are those same hurting people. We need compassion and we need to give out compassion.
Look closely at this gospel. Notice that Jesus did four things:
♣ First, he announced the Good News of the Reign of God. But what is the Reign of God? How can we announce it if we don’t even know what it is? Often, we think the reign of God is just about heaven, off in the future. Wrong! We pray: “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom (thy Reign) come, thy will be done” – where? – “on earth as it already is being done in heaven.” Jesus announced a new world here on earth, where God is King, where there is no more war, no more poverty, no more violence and torture and injustice. God wants us to announce and to build that same Kingdom, that same Reign, here and now, in our day and in our time.
♣ Second, Jesus cured the sick and the hurting. We, too, are called to go out and minister to those in need.
♣ Third, Jesus felt compassion. This is at the heart of what motivated and moved him. Deep inside, he felt compassion, for the people were lost, like sheep without a shepherd – and so many needs, and so few laborers.
♣ So finally, fourthly, Jesus turned to his Father in heaven, in prayer, trusting in God: Ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. This is God’s work, not ours. God is in charge. We just are asked to cooperate with the Lord’s purposes and the Lord’s plans.
Notice that this is the context for Jesus sending his twelve apostles out on mission. He told them: As you go, make this proclamation: First -- ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ You are to be instruments of a new Reign, a new Kingdom. Then, second: Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. You are to be compassionate and to reach out to those in need. And finally: Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give. Be generous. Trust in God. Recognize that everything is a gift from the Lord. We never earned it. So give back freely what you yourselves have received freely. (Matthew 10:7-8 (NAB)
This heart of God does not come naturally. We are born with selfish hearts that crave and demand for ourselves. Babies do this – “give me milk, change my diaper.” Children do this: “That’s my toy.” Teen-agers do this: “Dad, give me money. Dad, lend me the keys to the car.” Adults do this: “What’s in this relationship for me? What will I get out of this deal?” Watch this short video clip… [Show brief clip of a heart transplant operation]
God needs to give us all a heart transplant, a heart like God’s that feels real deep compassion and love for other people, all other people. God even promises to give us this new heart, if we are open to receiving it: I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you, taking from your bodies your stony hearts and giving you natural hearts. (Ezekiel 36:26, NAB)
How do you get started? Let’s go step-by-step.
♣ First, how do we announce the Reign of God? Here are some simple ways. First, tune in to the political issues. Don’t be apathetic or uninvolved or too busy to engage the world. Read. Watch the news. Think about how God would want us, as a nation, to use our resources to help the poor and the needy, in our own country and around the world, and how to build a world of peace, harmony, wholeness. Second: Vote. It’s not an option for Christians – it’s a duty. And this is an election year! We are called to participate in building a more just society, a society that reflects the values of God’s Kingdom, God’s reign. Third, we can also get involved locally in our community. This Tuesday, for example, at 6:30 p.m. right here in the church, our church Social Justice Group is inviting people to meet with our city officials to improve parks and recreation programs in the city. We’ve already had some success. Maybe you’ve seen the Skate Park for teens that is going up next to the Boys and Girls Club. That’s because of the efforts of our parish social justice team. But it takes all of us, pulling together, not sitting on the sidelines, attending – that’s how we begin to build God’s Reign.
♣ How do we cure the sick and help the hurting? How do we grow into people who are more compassionate towards others? Simple. One word. Serve. I’ve talked a lot about that the last few weeks. That’s why we’ve started the white hospitality cards, so you can indicate areas where you might be willing to help out and serve in ministry. For a Christian, serving is not an option. Following Jesus is not a spectator sport. But why? Serving enlarges our hearts, changes and transforms us. If you fix a meal for the homeless on a Sunday night at the Old Church, you not only help them, but you also help yourself. You grow in your compassion and concern for other people. The same in any ministry. Working with the children or with the teens, and you help them, of course – but they also help you and change you!
♣ Finally: Trusting in the Lord. How do we do that? It requires steady self discipline, a habit of prayer, each day. We can’t do it on our own. We need a steady connection to God, the power source. If we stay connected, he promises to help us. And we need to stay connected to other people, other Christians, because two or more are always stronger than one alone. That’s why Jesus founded a church – so we can live as sisters and brothers, encouraging and strengthening and helping one another.
Mother Teresa said this: “Everything starts from prayer. Without asking God for love, we cannot possess love and still less are we able to give it to others. Just as people today are speaking so much about the poor but they do not know the poor, we too cannot talk so much about prayer and yet not know how to pray.”
Prayer is the starting point. Mission, service – that’s the ending point. But it requires a heart of God in us, a heart transformed and transplanted, a heart of love and care and compassion for everyone, for the world. “God so loved the world!”
How many lives do you have? Just one, right! Use it well. Use it not just for yourself, but for others. The harvest is plentiful, the workers are few – but God is calling you, to have a heart transformed, a heart of compassion for those in the world who are hurting.
I want to end with a story, a wonderful tradition about Saint Francis of Assisi, the kindly thirteenth century monk, who one day informed his brethren that he planned to go into the nearby village on a preaching mission. He invited a novice to go along. On their way, they passed an injured man and Francis promptly stopped, saw to the poor fellow's needs and arranged medical care for him. They went on and soon passed a homeless man who was near starvation. Again, Francis stopped his journey and ministered to the hungry, homeless man. So it went, through the day: people in need, Francis lovingly caring for them as best he could until the sun was low in the sky. He told his novice friend it was time for them to return, now, to the monastery for evening prayers. But the young man said, "Father, you said we were coming to town to preach to the people." Francis smiled. Then he said, "My friend, that's what we've been doing all day."
Friends, that’s God’s call to us as well – to be people who preach and announce the Good News of God’s Kingdom, but through our actions and our love and our compassion. God is calling you – and me – to use our one life in service to others. Will you say “yes” to God’s call and God’s invitation?
Let us pray…
June 1, 2008
Serious Business: Building on Solid Rock, Not Sand
A young man came out of church one Sunday and was greeted by the pastor. The pastor grabbed the young man’s hand and pulled him aside. “Son,” he said, “You need to join the Army of the Lord!” The young man answered, “I'm already in the Army of the Lord, Pastor.” The pastor then said, “How come I don't see you except at Christmas and Easter?” The young man whispered back, “I'm in the secret service.”
Friends, you cannot be in the “secret service” and also be in the Lord’s Army. It’s got to be public, visible, real, not shallow, superficial, false. Today’s readings talk about serious business, not playing religion – about building our life, spiritually, on sold rock, not sand.
On the screen is a picture – of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. It’s in Italy, and it is falling down, because they built it on sand. The same can happen to us, spiritually, if we aren’t careful.
Last week, I came across a wonderful story about a family in the hills of Arkansas. A young couple got involved in a church where there was a lot of shouting and clapping and running for Jesus. They were trying to convince Grandma that she should attend. “You should have seen it,” the young man said to Grandma. “The Holy Spirit was really there!” Grandma kept rocking and didn't say a word. “And, Grandma,” said the young woman, “you should have seen the preacher. He really got with it. He was screaming at the top of his voice and the people were popping up like popcorn to praise the Lord. It was unbelievable!” Again, Grandma kept right on rocking. Finally, the young man said, “Grandma, don't you like our church? You never seem to say.” Grandma finally spoke: “Honey, let me just put it this way. I don't care how loud they shout, and I don't care how high they jump. It's what they do when they come back down that counts.”
We can play church all we want. But if we are not loving God and other people, if we are not serving the needs of one another and of our community, if our faith is just “one hour a week to ease our conscience” – then we’ve missed what Jesus was all about. Let’s look at our readings today, and let’s begin with the Old Testament, with the Book of Deuteronomy. Read with me, aloud, and especially notice the words that I have outlined: Commit yourselves completely to these words of mine… Today I am giving you the choice between a blessing and a curse! You will be blessed if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today. You will receive a curse if you reject the commands of the Lord your God and turn from his way by worshiping foreign gods. (Deuteronomy 11:18, 26-28, NLT)
God didn’t same, “I am giving you some options.” He said, “I am giving you a choice.” He’s demanding that your obey. He didn’t same, “Commit yourself two hours on Sunday morning.” He said, “Commit yourself completely.”
Our gospel today elaborates further, but you need a little background first. This is at the end of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Jesus has given the crowd the beatitudes: Blessed are the poor in spirit; blessed are the meek, the sorrowing, the persecuted. Then he talks practically about not living in fear or worry; forgiving enemies; turning the other cheek; how to show forth love in your marriage. It’s all very practical stuff. But he knew, after the crowd had listened for so long, and they were tired and hungry, that the words probably would go in one ear and out the other. He didn’t want that to happen. He wanted them not just to listen, but to act. So he concludes his sermon, Chapters 5, 6 and 7 of Matthew’s gospel, with these words: “Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to me as ‘Lord,’ but they still won't enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21, NLT) And he uses an example: “Anyone who listens to my teaching and obeys me is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock… But anyone who hears my teaching and ignores it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand.” (Matthew 7:24, 26, NLT)
Let’s review briefly from last week, because as we move forward and develop today’s topic, we’re going to build on what we talked about last week:
♣ First, we said that we are all broken, hurting – but God wants us healthy and strong, not flabby and weak.
o Even the world promotes strength. Fill in the blanks on the screen: Ford ___ (tough); Strong as an ___’ (ox); Be __ (all) that you can be; Wanted: A few __ (good) men; Drink __ (milk).
♣ Second, we talked about how, in order to be healthy and strong, God needs to change us, transform us, convert us – and this transformation, or change, begins – where? – in the mind. We need to become convinced, in our minds, that we need to change, we need to be more fervent in our faith, we need to make Jesus the real commander in chief in charge of our lives. If we are not convinced in our minds of the need for change, we’ll never change our behavior and our actions.
♣ Third, we said that change, or transformation requires two things: (1) faith, or trust, in God; and (2) other people, that is, the church. We can’t do it on our own. By ourselves, we are doomed to fall flat on our face. We need God at the center of our life, with His power strengthening us; and we need other people.
♣ So: I gave you a homework assignment. Since change must begin in the mind, I asked you to study and to memorize two passages of the Bible, the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. These two verses from the Bible set a foundation for us, spiritually. They show us the direction we must go if we are to follow Jesus. The Great Command says we must do two things: (1) we must be faithful to our worship, our love of God; and (2) we must truly love others, love our neighbor, serve one another. The Great Commission tells us we must grow, learn, mature, and we must go out, as witnesses, as missionaries for Jesus.
♣ We used the “mission statement” from Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church: “A Great Commitment to the Great Commandment and to the Great Commission will grow a great church.” We looked at God’s five purposes for our lives, purposes which flow from these two verses: (1) Worship – knowing and loving God; (2) Community – loving those around me; (3) Discipleship – growing spiritually in knowledge, character, skills; (4) Ministry – using my gifts and talents to serve others; and (5) Mission – living out my faith in the community and world. We showed how, in our church, we use our five mini-retreats – each is a “base” on our spiritual “baseball diamond” – to grow in these five purposes: Mini-Retreat 101, knowing Christ; Mini-Retreat 201, growing in Christ; Mini-Retreat 301, serving Christ; Mini-Retreat 401, sharing Christ with others; and Mini-Retreat 501, worshiping the Lord.
Now, let’s get practical. These five purposes lead to five habits of spiritual maturity – and this is what all of us ought to be striving for. First, a habit of personal prayer. Second, a habit of communal worship each weekend at Mass; Third, a habit of spiritual growth, ideally in a small faith community, a small group; Fourth, a habit of serving in ministry and in mission; and fifth, a habit of being generous, understanding that I don’t own anything, that everything comes from God, so I give back generously of my time, and of my talent, and of my money, my treasure, by tithing.
Look on the screen. I want to show you an example of how some of these habits are being lived out right here in our church. Last week, Albert Villanueva gave me these pictures. They are photos of his small faith community. They meet every week in his house, where they pray and study and fellowship with each other. Then, this next photo shows them in Tecate, Mexico, where they raise money and visit and help at a place called “La Casa para los Pobres Desamparados” – a house for destitute Mexicans with physical and mental handicaps who have no family or support system. This community is living out God’s five purposes – and they are full of joy, full of excitement, because when we learn to give, to be generous, to pray together and fellowship with other Christians, we come alive with God’s power in our lives.
I think there are two reasons, two problems, why more of us aren’t doing these sorts of things. First is spiritual flabbiness. Studies show that in most churches, 10 percent of the members do most the work, and 90 percent do little or nothing except attend. Just attending is not following the Lord! But that same study showed that of the 90 percent who do little or nothing except attend, 40 percent say they are willing to get more involved, they just don’t know how!
Our first question has to be this: Am I in that 10 percent or in that 90 percent? Then, our second question has to be this: If I am in the 90 percent, am I part of the 40 percent who wants to do more, or am I a part of the 60 percent that won’t move, even if Jesus comes back? Friends, I can’t do much if you are in that 60 percent. Some people just choose to stay stuck in sin and won’t move or budge. That’s the spiritual flabbiness I was talking about. But for the other 40 percent – that’s where the second problem arise. They just don’t know how to get more involved! So that’s the final thing we’re going to talk about today: How to plug in.
Watch this short but funny video. [Show video of weight lifting bloopers from You Tube] These folks are trying to get healthy, trying to be strong – but they are failing miserably, because they don’t know how. The same thing happens to a lot of us, spiritually. We really want to be strong, mature, healthy spiritually – but how?
I’m going to give you three steps, and they are written on your handout:
Step 1: Assess your spiritual health. On your handout are some questions to guide you. Take this home and do it on your own.
1. Where have I grown spiritually this past year? Where do I want to grow spiritually this year?
2. What classes have I completed this year (mini-retreats, other retreats, classes, etc.)?
3. How am I doing with each of God’s purposes for my life? And with my spiritual habits?
Worship: Knowing and loving God
Community: Loving those around me
Discipleship: Growing spiritually in knowledge, character, skills
Ministry: Using my gifts and talents to serve others
Mission: Living out my faith in the community and world
Spiritual Habits:
Daily prayer, quiet time
Weekly Mass Attendance
Participation in a small group
Serving in a ministry
Tithing
Step 2: Develop an action plan. Here in the church, I’ve prepared response cards in your pews and in the back of church. Take a pencil and use this as a way to get involved. The first side of the card has basic information: name, address, phone number, e-mail. If you change your address or phone or e-mail, fill out that side of the card and put it into the collection basket at Mass, or in the Hospitality Card box at the entrance of church. But the back side of the card is to help you plug in. It has several areas: prayer requests; requests for counseling needs; requests for information on sacraments; and ways to get involved in different ministries. Use this card as a way to plug in. Turn the card in with your name and contact information, and we’ll get back with you.
Step 3: Step out in faith. Good intentions are not enough. You’ve heard the saying, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” If you want to swim, you’ve got to get into the water and get wet. Take a risk. Don’t be afraid. God is with you. Do it for the Lord.
When I was a student at Purdue University, many, many years ago, studying engineering, I made three promises to God: First, I would always go to church every Sunday and never miss; second, I would always attend my Wednesday Bible study and small faith community; and third, I would always participate monthly in my small group’s outreach project, which was to visit a local nursing home, load residents of the nursing home into our cars and bring them to campus, where we prepared a meal and a party for them, so they could get out of the bleak environment of the nursing home. Now, let me confess. Engineering is hard. I had to study late nights. There were many, many exams and lab reports and projects. I often felt tempted to not go to church on Sunday, to miss my small group meeting because I had an exam the next morning, to blow off the nursing home ministry. But I was able to resist the temptation – not because I’m so good and holy and better than anyone else, but simply because I had made a choice, in my mind, to do it. I did it often reluctantly, with a bad attitude, thinking of my homework or my next exam – but I did it, out of obedience, and because I had made up my MIND to do it. Afterward, I always felt spiritually pumped up and energized and glad I had followed through faithfully on my promises. I often did not feel that way beforehand, but I felt that way always afterward. And now, many, many, many, many years later – what had a greater impact in my life? I don’t remember any of the specifics of my classes, my exams, my lab reports – but I still remember going to church at St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center, I still remember my Wednesday night small group and our “sofa Masses,” and I especially remember the nursing home ministry. Those are the things that change and transform us. Those are the things that really matter. Get your priorities straight. Jump into the water. Don’t stay sitting as a spectator on the sidelines.
On your handout, I’ve given you three simple ways to step out in faith, in addition to the response cards:
♣ This Thursday, 6:30 p.m. in the classrooms behind church, I’ll be there just to answer your questions and help you, if you need some one on one assistance. Come on Thursday.
♣ This thing in my hand is called a church bulletin. On the front page is a list of ministries and ministry coordinators, with their phone numbers. If you are interested in a ministry, call them! And on the inside of the bulletin are listed the upcoming activities in the parish, and contact phone numbers. Just make a phone call.
♣ Third: I’m giving you my phone number – both at my office and my cell phone. Call me. Just don’t call my cell phone at 3 or 4 in the morning!
I want to conclude with two last slides here on the screen. One is a photo of some pills – antibiotics, penicillin. I want to use this as an example. What happens if you get sick, the doctor prescribes penicillin for 10 days, but you only take it for one or two or three days? An underdose permits the illness to remain in your system and to build up an immunity to the drug. The illness becomes resistant to the drug, so that you are actually worse off than if you had never taken any penicillin in the first place! Something similar takes place in the spiritual realm where masses of people seem to be playing with religion - taking in just enough of it to become immune to the real thing. Many people attend just enough religious services to temporarily quiet their conscience; they attend just enough weddings, funerals, and special observances to keep them from longing for a genuine and thorough encounter with God who is so absent from their commitment. They have just enough religion to make them immune to the real thing. And they are worse off, because they’ve convinced themselves – falsely – that just going to church, just sitting in the pews as a spectator, is enough.
Jesus warned that when an evil spirit leaves a person, sometimes seven other evil spirits, each worse than the first, return and camp out in the person’s life. I think Jesus was referring exactly to this same sort of false “penicillin resistant” religion. Just a little religion may be worse for our spiritual health than no religion at all!
I want to end with a word of encouragement – from the Bible, from the Old Testament book of Joshua. God spoke to the Hebrew people as they prepared to enter the Holy Land, when they were afraid and uncertain. He told them: “Be strong and very courageous. Obey all the laws Moses gave you. Do not turn away from them, and you will be successful in everything you do.” (Joshua 1:7, NLT) And two verses later, God speaks similar words a second time: “I command you – be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9, NLT)
God speaks the same words to us today. It’s serious business, building on solid rock, not sand. God is strong and for us, because He loves us. Will you be strong for God?
Let us pray…
Corpus Christi Sunday
May 25, 2008
Broken But Made Whole Again
Today we celebrate Corpus Christi Sunday. The word, in Latin, means “The Body of Christ.” The body of Christ is not just a piece of bread, changed into the Body of Christ. That is a part of it, of course. But the very bread that becomes Jesus’ body flows into us, transforms and changes us, makes us into the very Body of Christ in the world. That’s what we are going to talk about today – us as the Body of Christ, and how we as a Body can become stronger, healthier, more mature.
Take out your handouts, and a pencil or pen, if you have one. This is going to be a participatory homily. As the Body of Christ, we’re going to work together and even do a little bit of homework together. By the way, do you know why I give out these handouts? Not just to wad up and throw at your neighbor. Not just to leave in the pew as trash to be cleaned up after Mass. These handouts are to help us grow and learn, to take home so we can put into practice in our daily lives what we hear and learn today at the Mass.
Let’s begin. I brought with me an egg. If I hold it up high, then drop it into this bucket here below on the floor, what will happen? Right! Slot! It will break. (Drop the egg, let it break). All of us are a bit like this egg – broken, hurting in some way. Jesus himself suffered hurt and brokenness, agony and fear and despair, as he journeyed to the cross. At the Last Supper, he took the bread and “broke it” – reminding us that, as Christians, as part of the Body of Christ, we too are all broken.
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These are some of the universal ways that all of us, as human beings, are broken:
♣ By loneliness… everyone wants to be loved, but sometimes we feel broken because we have no one to walk with us, to companion us. Maybe it’s the loneliness of a divorce, or the death of a loved one.
♣ By drifting … everyone wants meaning, significance in life. But sometimes it feels as if we are just running in circles, on a treadmill going nowhere.
♣ By spiritual emptiness… everyone needs God. But sometimes it feels as if God has abandoned us, and we are all alone, or that our prayer life is dry, and we just don’t feel the presence of God like in the past. We are in the midst of that “dark night of the soul” spiritually.
♣ By guilt… everyone needs forgiveness. But maybe we’ve done something in the past and we are still holding on to the guilt. It’s grabbled us by the throat, won’t let go, and we are gripped by guilt instead of freedom from knowing that God forgives us, because God loves us.
♣ By bitterness… everyone needs reconciliation. But maybe we’re angry at someone, filled with rage and resentment, bitterness and hurt toward that person who has hurt us. Teenagers who feel angry and resentful toward their parents; spouses who aren’t speaking to one another; a former friend, but now, we don’t even speak to one another. Bitterness leaves us broken and not at peace with ourselves or with others, all because of a ruptured and broken relationship, and because we are not reconciled with that other person.
♣ By fear -- of illness, death, losing our jobs, not being able to make house payments or payments on our car… everyone craves life, but sometimes, it seems like death is always stalking us – not just physical death, but spiritual and emotional “death” also.
All of us are broken. For me, over the last few months, the entire project of building our new church as felt exhausting, sometimes frustrating because of obstacles and roadblocks, overwhelming and beyond my strength and ability. There are days when I just feel tired, depressed even – broken. But Jesus wants to heal our brokenness, and make us whole and complete again. He wants to make an omelet out of these broken eggs! And here’s how – God’s answer to our brokenness. The answer comes in two parts: (1) Faith in God; and (2) the Church.
Let’s look at Part 1, Faith in God. We are never alone. The Lord is always with us. But we need to stay connected to the Lord, who is the source of life and healing for our brokenness. No matter what tragedy befalls us, no matter how deep a hole of despair or depression engulfs us – our faith, our relationship with the Lord, can see us through the darkness, to God’s light on the other side. But it is up to us to stay connected to God. Read with me from our first reading today, from the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy: “Be careful that you don’t become arrogant and forget the Lord your God.” (Deuteronomy 8:14, GW).
On your handout, fill in the blank here: Transformation begins in the ______________ . In the stomach? In the feet? In the mind? In the heart? Let’s vote. Now read with me from Paul’s Letter to the Romans: Dear friends, God is good. Stop here for a moment and just let that sink in. God is good. God loves us and has our best in mind. These rules and commands that the Lord gives to us, they are for our protection and our benefit. God is good and wants us to become the very best we can become. Here’s how: So I beg you to offer your bodies to him as a living sacrifice, pure and pleasing… This is the Feast of the Body of Christ. If we are the Body of Christ, we need to give our entire selves as living sacrifices to Him. He warns: Don't be like the people of this world, -- be careful of all the world’s snares and false values, that will keep us trapped in our brokenness -- but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him. (Romans 12:1-2, CEV)
So: What is the answer? Transformation begins in the MIND. Then it moves into the heart and into our actions. That’s the problem in much of Christianity today. We aren’t really convinced in our minds that God has the answer to our brokenness, so we keep turning to the lies of the world. The couple who, in their minds, have become convinced that divorce will bring them happiness… or the teenager in his or her mind, who has become convinced that smoking pot at a party will make him or her more popular… or the teen who thinks, in her mind, that having sex with her boyfriend, maybe even getting pregnant, will fill the hole of loneliness that she feels because she is angry and estranged from her parents. Sin always begins in the mind. We believe a lie. And so we stay trapped in our brokenness. We must change the way we think, then that will change our hearts and our actions. We must have faith and trust in the Lord, not in other people, not in the lies and falsehoods of our society, not in just our own feelings and emotions. Put God first. Invite Jesus into your heart and into your life. Let him become the commander-in-chief of everything you do. Really offer your bodies and your complete self in submission to him. He loves us and will heal our brokenness, if we let him.
The second part of the solution is the church. On this feast of Corpus Christi, that’s really where we want to focus most of our attention. We are the church. We are the Body of Christ. Fill in the blank: Transformation requires _____________ -- (a) food; (b) money; (c) good looks – that’s why I’ve put up a picture of myself on the screen! Or (d) other people. Right! Other people. Read with me from God’s Word in the Book of Ecclesiastes: Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get a better return for their labor. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, NLT) Last week, I heard a fascinating story about a guy, an engineer, who owned a 19,000 pound barn and needed to move it. He did some calculations and discovered that, with 350 men, each lifting 55 pounds each, they could move the barn. So he got people from his church, people from town, and all 350 of them, surrounding the barn, and with some pulleys and wenches, they successfully lifted and moved that 19,000 pound barn! There is strength in numbers! That’s why Jesus formed a church, so that we would not be alone, so we can work together and help each other. That’s why Jesus never sent his disciples out alone. They always went out in groups, at least two by two. The early church grew because people would say about them: “See how they love one another.” The Bible, in Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 4, tells us: All the believers were of one heart and mind… they shared everything they had. (Acts 4:32, NLT)
Why are we here? Why are you here? Not just to be a sponge. Not just to be a spectator, sitting on the sidelines. Read with me what the Bible says – we’re going to do a very quick study of one chapter of one book in the Bible, Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, Chapter 4: Christ chose some of us to be apostles, prophets, missionaries, pastors, and teachers, so that his people would learn to serve and his body would grow strong. Then we will be mature, just as Christ is, and we will be completely like him. (Ephesians 4:11-13, CEV) This is God’s plan for us – spiritually maturity, to be completely like Christ, strong – and it requires, in one word, “serving.” We all have different gifts – not everyone is a teacher, a prophet, a missionary, a pastor – but all of us must serve and be doers.
Last week, I was at a conference and we learned some interesting statistics. In the typical church, only 10 percent of the people are involved. The other 90 percent are spectators. They discovered that of that 90 percent who are uninvolved, 60 percent don’t even want to change or get involved – but 40 percent do. They just don’t know how. Next week, I’m going to talk more on how, but it’s really not hard. Pick up the phone and call us. Or attend the next mini-retreat, 101, “Catholics Alive!” which is coming up in two Sundays, June 8 at 3 p.m., and ask us there. It’s not rocket science. And there is so much that can be done – everything from making phone calls to cutting the grass to helping with the children or youth. Why? Not just because there is a need, but because you need to get involved, for your own spiritual health and growth. And you can really make a difference. Volunteer in the youth ministry, for example, and you might really turn the life of a teenager around. Don’t get involved and that same teenager might drift into drugs or gangs. Jesus commands us to serve.
Let’s keep going: What is needed to make us strong? We must stop acting like children. (Ephesians 4:13-14, CEV) It’s as simple as that. But unfortunately, many Christians are stuck in spiritual first grade. Many stopped growing spiritually back at age 8 or 9 or 10, when they made their first communion.
Paul tells us the dangers: We must not let deceitful people trick us by their false teachings, which are like winds that toss us around from place to place. Love should always make us tell the truth. (Ephesians 4:14-15, CEV) Many Christians are really disciples of the world, not disciples of Jesus Christ. Instead of following the truth of God, we follow the truth of society, of Madison Avenue and Hollywood and our government. We follow idols like money, materialism, pleasure, popularity. We replace love of God with love for things.
When we change our minds, when we truly follow God, what are the results? Paul tells us: Then we will grow in every way and be more like Christ, the head of the body. Christ holds it together and makes all of its parts work perfectly, as it grows and becomes strong because of love. (Ephesians 4:15-16, CEV) The brokenness in our lives is made whole again by the love of Christ.
Anyone here know how to spell “love”? It’s really not spelled L-O-V-E. It’s really spelled T-I-M-E. Real love is measured by how much energy and time we put into the relationship – husbands with their wives, parents with their children, and us with God. How much time and energy are you giving to God, to serving Him?
God’s goal for us – write this in on your handout – is spiritual HEALTH, individually and communally, all of us together as a family, as the Body of Christ. Our readings today tell us what is needed for spiritual health. First, we need to be united, all of us on the same page, working together, all of us doing our part. A body divided or not working together is a body that is sick and diseased. In our second reading today, Paul tells us: Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf. (1 Corinthians 10:17, NAB) But too often, we are divided – not pulling together as a team. Some work, others sit.
And to be healthy, we need to exercise, eat properly and get enough rest. The same applies spiritually – we need to feed ourselves spiritually, to be healthy: Prayer, quiet time with God each day, reading the Bible, fellowship with other Christians in a Bible study or small faith community. Our first reading tells us: Remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would really obey his commands. Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people need more than bread for their life; real life comes by feeding on every word of the Lord. (Deuteronomy 2-3, NLT) We need to eat, spiritually, or we will grow weak, spiritually.
Finally, health requires healthy relationships. Even Jesus was not alone, but depended on his heavenly Father. Our gospel today tells us: Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. (John 6:56-67, NAB) That’s why Jesus founded the church, so we are never alone.
Are you healthy, spiritually? Are we healthy, spiritually, as a church family? I heard a joke last week about a group of Russians and Americans on a joint expedition, back in the days of communism. The American took a bite out of the hard, black Russian bread and broke a tooth. He screamed, “Lousy communist bread!” The Russian replied, “It’s not lousy communist bread; it’s rotten capitalist tooth.” God feeds us in so many ways, if we let Him, with living bread – but maybe the problem is in us, in rotten teeth, spiritually, because we don’t take care of ourselves spiritually. We stay stuck in a spiritual root, locked in our brokenness.
Let’s get practical. Since spiritual transformation and change and health begin in the mind, I’m going to ask us to memorize two verses from the Bible. These verses need to sink into your spiritual DNA and into the spiritual DNA of all of us as a church. These two verses give us the recipe for spiritual health. The first verse is the Great Commandment of Jesus. Read it with me: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind…This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39, NLT) The second verse is the Great Commission of Jesus, his final marching orders to the disciples as he prepared to leave the earth. Let’s read it together: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20, NAB)
These two verses are the foundation of being a mature, growing, strong follower of Jesus Christ. One church in Orange County even uses these verses in its church’s mission statement: “A great commitment to the Great Commandment and to the Great Commission will grow a great church.” Do we want to be a great church, for the glory of God? Then it requires great commitment to these two verses of the Bible, the Great Commandment and the Great Commission of Jesus Christ.
Love God. That’s worship. That’s why we are here on Sunday. In our church, love of God is the first purpose, or reason, God has us here on this earth. Love your neighbor: That’s service. God insists that we be servants, actively involved in ministry in the church, washing one another’s feet, not just sitting and watching from the sidelines. Go. Christianity is not a spectator sport. Go, teach, grow, mature. Go, baptize, spread the good news, become an ambassador for Jesus when you leave this place today. The Body of Christ is meant to be the very body and presence of Jesus in the world – to your spouse; to your kids; at your workplace; at school and home and shopping center; playing sports; watching TV; driving your car. Following Jesus is 24-7, all hours, all days of the week, every day of the year.
In our church, we use a spiritual baseball diamond to help people grow into spiritual maturity. It’s so easy you can draw this on a napkin. That’s why we use a baseball diamond, because of its simplicity. A child can understand this. You can share it. It’s a simple, five-step process toward spiritual maturity which you can share with anyone, even just sitting at Starbuck’s, sipping your “vente” or “grande” coffee. Love God – that’s at the center of the baseball diamond, the real heart of what our faith is about. We have an entire class, or mini-retreat, on this. It’s Mini-Retreat 101. To love God, we need to know God, so we have our first base class, Mini-Retreat 101, “Catholics Alive!” to help us get on the way toward spiritual maturity. It’s coming up Sunday after next, June 8, 3 p.m. If you’ve never lived it, you’re invited and urged to attend. It’s also the doorway to becoming a member of our church. To love God, we also need to grow in Christ, become more mature. Our Mini-Retreat 201, second base, focuses on how to mature and grow spiritually. To love God, we need to serve Christ, and Mini-Retreat 301 shows us how to serve. To love God, we need to share Christ with us, become ambassadors and missionaries for Jesus in the world, and our fourth base class, Mini-Retreat 401, teaches how to do that.
See how it fits together? If we live out these five purposes which Jesus has for us, we as the Body of Christ will grow strong. But if we don’t, we’ll remain trapped in our brokenness. All five purposes are in those two verses in the Bible, so this week, take the handout home, learn those two verses, let them sink into your mind and start to change the way you think, so that they also start to change your heart and your behavior. We’re all broken, but God wants to make us whole again. Will you let him?
Please bow your head as we pray together: Change our minds so that we put you first in our lives. Help us to live out the Great Commandment, to love you with all our heart, soul, mind and being, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Help us to live out the Great Commission, to go and spread your love throughout the world, to become your hands and feet, your ears and mouth, in our hurting and broken world. Knit us together in unity. Move us to grow and to give, to serve and to live as your ambassadors, your witnesses. If we won’t go, if we won’t do, who will? Make us strong and mature. As a church, help us to always growing, individually and communally. Heal our brokenness and make us whole again. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Let’s conclude by listening to a song, “Trust God,” by Rich Muchow:
Trust God from the bottom of your heart.
Don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Trust God for where your life is going.
God is in control. God is in control.
Commit to the Lord, whatever you do,
and your plans will succeed.
Pray – Lord, I’m available to you.
Here I am, Lord. Use me.
God is in control. God is in control.
Trust God. Trust God. Trust God.
Trust God. Trust God.
May 18, 2008
Trinity: Why It Matters
By Fr. Bruce Cecil, CSC
A little girl in kindergarten was drawing. Her teacher asks, “What are you drawing?” The little girl responded, “I’m drawing God.” The teacher replied, “That’s impossible. Nobody knows what God looks like.” But the little girl, without skipping a beat, responded with total self assurance, “Don’t worry, teacher. In a few moments, they will!”
How do we know what God looks like? As Christians, we see God reflected in human form in Jesus Christ, whom we believe is God. But apart from Jesus, we can’t see God or draw God or even comprehend God in a full and comprehensive way.
We can’t study God through a telescope, like we look at and study the stars and planets. We can’t dissect God under a microscope, like we do a frog in biology lab. That’s what make’s today’s feast of the Most Holy Trinity so difficult. It’s the only feast in the church dedicated to a “doctrine,” or “belief.” Many preaches look ahead to this day and groan, wondering how to make something so esoteric and so abstract as the Trinity comprehensible and meaningful to their congregants on Sunday morning. I’ve even heard fellow priests mutter, “If the Pope declared suddenly that there were four persons in God, not just three, most Catholics would just say, “So what?” and roll over in bed and go back to sleep.” The Trinity is NOT one of those doctrines that stirs the soul, that keeps us alert, on our toes, awake, full of enthusiasm and excitement. It doesn’t touch us at a gut level, at the level of real life.
A joke is told of a little boy on a cruise ship who fell overboard into the ocean. The mother, frantic, began screaming, “Help! Get a theologian!” All the people around started to ask, “Why a theologian?” The mother replied confidently, “Because theologians can go deeper and stay down longer than anyone else I know!” (Maybe you need to be in seminary and surrounded by theology professors to really get that joke!) It seems like the doctrine of the Trinity is one of those deep, dark mysteries reserved for study by the theologians!
But today, my friends, we are going to go down deeper and try to stay longer – but because the Trinity really does matter. And we’re going to look at why it matters.
Two ways we are going to look at God today: Ontologically and experientially. That first way involves using a very big, theological word, so please, repeat it after me: Ontologically. Once again – Ontologically. It simply means “the nature, the core real essence of something.” So the doctrine of the Trinity talks about the “ontological” or “core nature” of God. More simply: Who is God?
Our second question is experiential: How do we experience God? It deals NOT just with the question, “Who is God?” but with the deeper question: “Who is God to me?”
Let’s begin with the ontological question: Who is God?
I heard a story recently about a missionary priest who traveled to Japan to convert the natives to Christianity back in the 19th century. He was trying to explain the mystery of the Holy Trinity, that God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. To explain God as Father, he of course used the image of a father. And to explain God the Son, he obviously used the imagery of a son. But for the Spirit, that was more difficult, so he used the image of a bird – of the dove descending on Jesus at his baptism. One of the Japanese men who was listening finally said to the missionary priest, “Father, I understand when you talk about the Honorable Father. And I understand when you talk about the Honorable Son. But you really confuse me when you talk about Honorable Big Bird!”
Theologian Sandra Schneiders says to us: “God is not two men and a bird!”
The problem is that we are born naturally curious. We want to understand God. A story is told of a little boy, 4 years old, who asked his mom, “Where is God?” She answered, “Everywhere.” The boy persisted, “Is God in this room?” and his mother replied, “Yes.” Then he asked, “Is God in my glass of milk?” Again, the mom replied, “Yes.” The boy paused, slapped his hand over the glass of milk and screamed in delight, “Gotcha!”
Would that getting a hold of God were so easy! But it isn’t. That’s why people, through the centuries, have used all sorts of analogies and examples to try to understand the Trinity. Saint Patrick used a three leaf clover. Saint Augustine used the sun – as a bright orb, as rays emanating from that orb, and as the heat we feel from the sun on our skin. Others have said the Trinity is like an apple – core, fruit and skin, but still, one apple; or like water, H2O – liquid, gas and solid, but still it’s water, H2O. The problem is that none of these analogies really works completely. How does one say that 1 + 1 + 1 = 1, not 3?
That’s why some religions attack us on the doctrine of the Trinity. They claim that the Trinity was invented by the bishops of the early church in the 4th century, at the Council of Nicaea. They claim that belief in the Trinity means we believe in three gods, not one God. Some groups today that deny the Trinity include Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, Apostolic or One-ness Only or Jesus-only Pentecostals, Unitarians, and of course, Muslims and Jews. But denial of the Trinity goes all the way back to before the time of the Council of Nicaea, to a priest named Arius who said the idea of the Trinity was nonsense. I want to ask, “If there is no Trinity, and if we accept that Jesus is God, then who was Jesus praying to when he prayed, ‘Our Father’? Was he merely praying to himself?
You may remember that ancient story about St. Augustine. One day he took a break from writing about the Trinity to take a walk along the seashore. There he came across a child with a little pail, intently scooping up a pail full of water out of the ocean, then walking up the beach and dumping it out into the sand, then going back down to scoop out another pail of water to pour into the sand, etc. Augustine asked the child what he was doing, and the child explained that he was “emptying the sea out into the sand.” When the Bishop tried to gently point out the absurd impossibility of this task, the child replied, “Ah, but I’ll drain the sea before you understand the Trinity.”
The Trinity is a mystery. Ontologically, we can never fully grasp the core of God’s being. That’s because we are not God. In the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, the Lord tells us: For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9, NAB)
So why does this all matter, anyway? Maybe you’ve heard people say, “It doesn’t really matter what you believe; it just matters that you believe.” Wrong! Lie! Warning, warning! Here’s why it matters. How can the beliefs about God of radical terrorist suicide bombers or an Osama bin Laden be equal to the beliefs about God of a Mahatma Gandhi or a Mother Teresa? Is God a teddy bear or a vengeful, wrathful dictator? Is God loving or capricious? Is God personal or just an impersonal force? You see, what we believe about God really does make a difference!
On your handout are some of the different ways people have looked at God, and how those beliefs have had consequences.
♣ In the time of Jesus, the Greeks, Romans, Persians and Egyptians believed in lots of gods. They were polytheists. They worshiped gods for the sun and moon, for love and war, for mountains and seas, for storms and fertility. Such beliefs lead to superstition – we pray to one god for good crops, another god for safety from storms and earthquakes, another god for our love life, another god when we go to war. Today, we may not believe in multiple gods, but there is still a lot of superstitious beliefs – people who worry about ghosts and their houses being haunted by evil spirits, or we wear a rosary around our neck in a superstitious belief that somehow, we’ll be protected from harm and danger.
♣ Today, some people are atheists and believe in no God or gods. In the last year or two, the atheistic viewpoint has become particularly prominent, because of vocal atheistic authors and scientists like Richard Dawkins and Stephen Harris. But if there is no God, life is completely meaningless, absurd, purposeless. We’re just cosmic accidents. That leads to hopelessness and despair.
♣ The founding fathers of the U.S. republic, people like Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, were deists. They believed in God, but they believed that God had been like a giant clockmaker who wound up the clock – the universe – and then left. So God is absent from the world. That leads to self reliance and a philosophy of rugged individualism and “pull yourself up by your own bootstraps.” No wonder so many people in our country today struggle with trusting God in their lives. But Jesus teaches us to let go and let God – trust in God’s love, and in God’s grace to save us, not us having to save ourselves because of a God who is AWOL and absent from the scene.
♣ Another popular version of God today is what I call the “Star Wars God” – an impersonal force, “May the Force be with you.” Eastern religions and much of the New Age movement seem to believe in this kind of “god.” But a cosmic force is not the same as God, and leaves us cold and alone.
♣ Finally, we come to the Christian notion of God, which is what is revealed in our doctrine of the Trinity – a personal God who knows us intimately, who loves us dearly, who craves an ongoing, living friendship and relationship with us, now and for all of eternity.
Who is God? The way we answer that question makes a huge difference. But even more important is the experiential question: Who is God for me?
Theologian Elizabeth Johnson writes in her new book that Trinity is HOW the early Christians experienced God, not just who God is ontologically. She writes that the early Christians experienced God in three ways, hence the Trinity – as God beyond them, the Father; as God with them, Jesus, the Son; and as God within them, the Holy Spirit.
The Trinity does not attempt to explain God. It only explains to us in a very elemental way what God has revealed to us about himself so far. Think of an ice berg. We only see the tip, the part sticking up above water, but most the ice berg is submerged and hidden below the water. We Christians affirm the Trinity, not as a complete explanation of God’s ontological nature, but simply as a way of describing what we know about God.
Elizabeth Johnson goes on to say that the doctrine of the Trinity is extremely practical. While it does not give us blueprints on how to resolve wars, how to overcome world hunger or how to defeat AIDS, it shapes our vision of reality. God is NOT as a monarch ruling in isolated splendor, lording it over others, like a dictator. Rather, God is an overflowing communion of self giving love.
All three of our readings today focus on this experiential aspect of the Trinity. In our first reading from Exodus, God tells us: “I am the Lord, I am the Lord, the merciful and gracious God. I am slow to anger and rich in unfailing love and faithfulness.” (Exodus 34:6, NLT)
In our second reading, Saint Paul shows how this belief in the Triune God affects our way of life as Christians: Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Rejoice. Change your ways. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet each other in Christian love…May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Corinthians 13:11-14, NLT)
Finally, our gospel today contains what is probably the most famous verse in all the Bible, the one always flashing before the TV cameras at nationally televised football and basketball games, John 3:16. Please read it with me: For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16, NLT)
Focus on that word “gave.” You see, the Trinity is experiential. It’s relational. It’s is sacrificial. It is giving. We often say that God is love, and just as love of a husband and a wife result in the gift of children, so too, we are the product of God’s love, the love that swirls between God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. That love has produced us, and has produced this wonderful world and this marvelous universe where we live. We are the children of God!
The community and the love that exists within God’s self in the Trinity is the same community and love that impels us to live in healthy fellowship and community with others, not as isolated “islands” and as alone individuals. It impels us to love our sisters and brothers throughout the world. It impels us to imitate and emulate our heavenly Father in his great love. That’s why Trinity pushes us to become more connected to the world, more connected to other people, more connected also to the Lord.
I want to end with a story. It was sent to me last week by a Dominicans priest and shows how our experience of the Triune God and God’s love for us can move us to live in a way that truly gives glory to the Lord. The Dominican priest writes:
When I was in South America, I met an American woman doctor a gynecologist - who also worked in the Amazon for many years. And gradually, after she had got to know me, she told me her story. She had first come to the Amazon ten years previously just for a few weeks and fallen in love with the country the land and the people. And also she had realized how much her skills as a gynecologist were needed and appreciated. So, after a long discussion with her husband, they both decided to come and give two years to working in the Amazon. They decided that this was the most time they could afford to take away from earning good money in America. And so they came with their two children an 8-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy who had a minor problem with his spleen. They both found valuable work to do and they were very happy to feel that they were really working to make people better rather than just to make money. Then, near the end of their 2 years, their 4-year-old son suddenly became ill. They brought him to the hospital. The doctors found he had a chest infection, but it didn't seem too bad, so they gave him some antibiotics to make it better. But it got worse. The doctors realized that his minor problem in the spleen was preventing his immune system from fighting the infection properly. Suddenly, he needed urgent specialist treatment that was not available in the Amazon. So they specially chartered a plane and evacuated him to Trinidad. He died in the plane on the way. She says that after that she cried every day for two years. And she deeply and bitterly regretted her decision to come to South America, believing that if she had stayed in the United States, her son would have had a better chance. But then, she says, after about 2 years of grief, there started coming to her mind the images of some of the people she had helped in the Amazon people whose lives she had saved, or whose sufferings she had relieved. And she began to remember how many, many of those there had been. It did not make it all right she knows that nothing will ever do that - but it gave her some comfort. And she began to realize that God was asking her to go back. And the moment of decision was when she and her husband prayed over this passage: "God loved the World so much that He gave His only Son." Having also lost her only Son, she now knew what those few words really mean. And so she went back. She and her husband are still there.
So today, on this Trinity Sunday, the question is not just, “Who is God?” but also, “Who is God to me?” How is this relationship with the living God -- Father, Son and Holy Spirit – impacting my life and changing me? For God so loved the world that He GAVE his only Son. Now, He invites us to do likewise, to also use our life and to become GIVERS of God’s life to others.
4th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year A
February 3, 2008
Be All That You Can Be
“Be all that you can be.” Anyone ever heard that slogan before? Right – the Army! But did you know that God also wants each of us to “be all that we can be,” to reach our fullest potential? It’s because He created us. It’s because He loves us. It’s because He shaped and formed us for a purpose. We’re not mere accidents.
“Be all that you can be” – spiritually, not just intellectually, not just in your chosen career, not just at school or work or society. In our gospel today, Jesus is teaching atop a mountain. Matthew’s gospel portrays Jesus as the New Moses, the new Teacher and the new Law Giver. We hear the beginning of what is called the Sermon on the Mount, one of Jesus’ teachings, or sermons – and the first part of the Sermon on the Mount consists of the “Beatitudes,” the rules of Jesus, how we are to live as Christians, how we can “be all that we can be.” Here’s how: Live for the Lord by Living the Beatitudes.
This is Super Bowl weekend. You know that I love football. But on Super Bowl Sunday, do you know what I like best? The commercials. I brought one with me today, from a few years back, but it’s one of my favorites. [Show ad on donkey who dreams of being a Clydesdale] What’s the point of this ad? “Be all that you can be.”
How many here have ever had a dream about being something big – an astronaut, the president, a famous movie star or sports hero? Did you know that I, as your pastor, also had dreams when I was younger? Here are a few examples: [Show on screen: Frizzy haired phase in college; surfing beach boy phase; Elvis phase; Arnold Schwartzenegger phase; hippie phase; and Men-in-Black phase] God loves us so much he wants us to be the very best we can be – Clydesdales, not donkeys. Follow with me on your worship and homily handouts. Let’s read this out loud: God Chooses the Nobodies of the World.” God chooses the donkeys to be the Clydesdales.
In our 2nd reading today from 1 Corinthians, Saint Paul tells us: Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world's eyes, or powerful, or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God deliberately chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose those who are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important, so that no one can ever boast in the presence of God. God alone made it possible for you to be in Christ Jesus.
(1 Corinthians 1:26-30, NLT)
Why does God do this? Two reasons, I think. First, those who are not so rich or so popular or so beautiful or so handsome are more open to God, because they are not trying to live on their riches or their popularity or the beauty. They’re more humble. They know they need God, they can’t survive on their own. Second, God gets the credit. It’s obvious that when great accomplishments occur through average, ordinary people, God is the one behind the success, not ordinary Joe or simple Sally.
I want to tell you a story, about a guy named Callixtus. He was an embezzler, a thief. The story comes from a book I’m reading, which I am using in the Pastor’s Letter in the bulletin each week, “Saints Behaving Badly: The Cutthroats, Crooks, Trollops, Con Men and Devil Worshippers Who Became Saints.” My kind of book!
Callixtus lived in Rome around the year 190. He was a slave. His owner, Carphophorus, was a Christian and had started up a bank to help other Christians, especially poor widows. He put his slave, Callixtus, in charge of managing the bank — a big mistake! Callixtus stole from the bank, then boarded a ship and tried to run away with the money. Carpophorus caught up with him in the town of Portus, where Callixtus was aboard a ship, anchored in the middle of the harbor, anxiously awaiting a favorable wind. Carpophorus hired a boatman to ferry him out to the vessel. Calixtus saw him coming. In desperation, he dove into the sea and tried to swim to safety; but was caught and sentenced to hard labor, chained to a gristmill, turning the massive stone wheel day after day.
Callixtus was lucky, however. The investors in the bank begged Carpophorus to free Callixtus from hard labor, so that Callixtus could be ordered to work to recover at least some of their lost money. But this turned out to be another big mistake! The very next Saturday, Callixtus ran into a crowded Roman synagogue during prayer services and demanded that his Jewish creditors pay back the money they owed him. The Jews, of course, arrested Callixtus for disturbing the peace and for desecrating a holy place. Callixtus was scourged and sent off to hard labor in the mines on the island of Sardinia – a virtual death sentence!.
But once again, Callixtus was lucky. A woman named Marcia, mistress to the Emperor Commodus, was a Christian and felt sorry for the Christian prisoners on Sardinia. Using her political influence, she convinced the emperor to free all Christians who were working at the mines. Pope Victor I prepared a list of Christian prisoners who were to be freed from the island, but the Pope purposely left Callixtus’ name off the list. Nonetheless, when the Pope’s representative arrived at the island to free the Christian prisoners, Callixtus fell at his feet and begged to be freed, too. The Pope’s representative, feeling pity, obliged.
Carpophorus was furious to see his slave again, and Pope Victor was horrified that this scoundrel Callixtus was back in the city. Victor ordered Callixtus to live in a house far outside the city walls, where he began working for a priest named Zephyrinus and experienced a real spiritual conversion. Victor died and Father Zephyrinus became the next Pope. He ordained Callixtus as a deacon. In Rome, Callixtus became well known and popular. When Pope Zephyrinus died, Callixtus was elected as the next Pope. He became know for his great mercy in forgiving sinners.
A wonderful story of how God uses the weak, the unworthy, the downtrodden, even slaves and embezzlers for His greater purpose. St.Thérèse of Lisieux is another example. She’s better known as St.Thérèse, the Little Flower. She was a teenager in France who wanted to become a nun, but she was too young. She wrote to the Pope for special permission and was allowed to enter the convent of the Carmelites at age 15. She died just a few short years later of tuberculosis, but before her death, wrote a beautiful spiritual meditation. Here’s one of the things she wrote: Jesus deigned to teach me this mystery. He set before me the book of nature. I understood how all the flowers he has created are beautiful, how the splendor of the rose and the whiteness of the lily do not take away from the perfume of little violet or the delightful simplicity of the daisy. I understand that if all flowers wanted to be roses, nature would lose her springtime beauty…And so it is in the world of souls, Jesus’ garden. He willed to create such great souls comparable to lilies and roses, but he has created smaller ones and these must be content to be daisies or violets destined to give joy to God’s glances when He looks down at His feet. Perfection consists in doing His will, in being what He wills us to be…
Just as God chose the embezzler slave, Callixtus, to be Pope, and just as God chose a simple French teenager, Thérèse, to be a saint and eventually one of only three female doctors of the church – God also chooses each of us. In John’s gospel, Jesus tells us: You didn't choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit that will last. (John 15:16, NLT)
The Beatitudes are Jesus’ roadmap to help us “bear fruit” for God’s Kingdom. They are on your handout, in three different translations of the Bible, because sometimes, different translations help us pick out different insights or different ways to understand or interpret each beatitude.
First, God wants us to allow Him to be in control of our lives.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (New American Bible)
God blesses those who realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them. (New Living Bible)
You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. (Message Bible)
Too often in our society, we follow the world’s beatitudes, not God’s: Blessed is the man who makes a fortune; blessed I the one who earns a six figure salary; blessed are the TV and sports stars; blessed are the beautiful people, the handsome people; blessed is the mom whose sons are star athletes on the high school football team; blessed are those who can retire and play golf or swim every day, and drive around in BMWs, Mercedes and Porshes; blessed is the one who owns a palace in the city and summer homes in the mountains and on the beach.
And the second beatitude:
Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. (New American Bible)
You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. (Message Bible)
So many people are hurting, lonely, suffering. Some here have lost a job and are struggling to make house payments or car payments. Some are single persons, who feel they are not called by God to the single life, but they are afraid that “Mr. or Mrs. Right” may never come along to marry. Maybe a married person is experiencing conflict in marriage and wishing he or she were single again. Maybe someone here has a child in Iraq. Some of us are struggling, perhaps, with an addiction or an illness, or the death of a loved one. We are called to trust in God, to let go and place our needs into His hands. Then, we will experience his strength, his comfort, his solace, his blessing.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. (New American Bible)
God blesses those who are gentle and lowly, for the whole earth will belong to them. (New Living Bible)
Lots of folks misunderstand this beatitude. In today’s society, meekness often denotes weakness, being a wimp, a doormat. That’s not what the word means in Greek. It means that we are in balance, in harmony, in sync in our lives. The Message Bible gets it right here: You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought. (Message Bible)
The Fourth Beatitude: Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
(New American Bible)
God blesses those who are hungry and thirsty for justice, for they will receive it in full. (New Living Bible)
You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat. (Message Bible)
We as Christians are called to be light in the world – to engage in fighting injustice. This is an election year. This week is Super Tuesday, the primaries. Catholics must vote. It’s not an option, it’s a duty and an obligation. And we must vote for candidates who promote a culture of life, not death – against abortion, against capital punishment, in favor of health care reform for the poor, in favor of immigration law reform to help our brothers and sisters from other countries who are here in our nation, working.
The Fifth Beatitude:
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. (New American Bible)
You're blessed when you care. (Message Bible)
We must be a loving, compassionate people. We must care about our neighbor.
The Sixth Beatitude:
Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. (New American Bible)
You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world. (Message Bible)
How can we be witnesses for Jesus and draw others to the Lord of Life, if we ourselves are living in hypocrisy and uncleanliness? Many Christians wonder why they never experience real blessings from the Lord in their lives, but they are living in such sin, which blocks the grace of God, trying to work in their lives!
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. (New American Bible)
You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family. (Message Bible)
Obviously, we need to pray for peace in Iraq and in Afghanistan, in the Middle East and in Kenya, for an end to genocide in the Sudan and the violence of drug cartels in Mexico and Colombia. But also, we must become peacemakers in our homes, amongst our family, and at work and in our neighborhoods.
Finally:
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (New American Bible)
You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom. (Message Bible)
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. (New American Bible)
God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. (New Living Bible)
Count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. (Message Bible)
It costs to be a real follower of Jesus. We too must embrace the cross, just as Jesus did.
It comes down to a simple choice: Will we follow Jesus, or will we just play at our faith? In my own daily prayer, I’ve started reading through the Book of Psalms in the Bible, and in the very first psalm, God lays out the choices with clarity. Let’s read this together: Blessed is the person who does not follow the advice of wicked people, take the path of sinners, or join the company of mockers. Rather, he delights in the teachings of the Lord and reflects on his teachings day and night. He is like a tree planted beside streams— a tree that produces fruit in season and whose leaves do not wither. He succeeds in everything he does. Wicked people are not like that. Instead, they are like husks that the wind blows away. (Psalm 1:1-4, GW)
Lots of people play religion like they cook: A pinch of salt here, a dash of pepper there, a bit of God here, but not too much to affect my routine… We wouldn’t want to go overboard and become religious fanatics. Leave me with my comfortable existence, and just enough of this going to church to make sure God doesn’t send any lightning bolts down on my head.
This week, we start Lent. This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday. Lent is an opportunity for us to turn back to God if we’ve drifted. But for so many Catholics, it’s just a tradition, just a custom. We come to get ashes out of habit more than out of a real desire to change our lives. On Ash Wednesday every year, it’s the same – thousands, even tens of thousands, line up for ashes, but most don’t even bother to return on the following Sunday.
I was shopping recently at Smart and Final. A couple was in line in front of me. They looked at me for a while, trying to figure out who I was. Finally, one of them said, “Are you a teacher here in town?” “No,” I said, “I’m the priest at Our Lady of Soledad.” “Oh,” they said, “now we remember you! We have a child there now in Confirmation classes!” Too many of our Catholics are so disconnected to God and church, and attend so seldom, that they don’t even recognize the pastor!
God gives us a choice of three ways we can live our lives:
1. Out of control – destructively, sinfully.
2. Under our own control – we make up the rules, we maybe just give God a little sliver of our life, but not much, just a pinch of salt to make us feel good and to comfort our guilty consciences;
3. or: Under God’s control, with the Lord really at the center of our lives.
Which way do you think is most pleasing to the Lord?
God wants us to live as Beatitude People…Loving Him…Loving Others…
God wants to use us so that our lives bear fruit, and are not arid and barren.
God wants us to be the very best that we can be.
And remember: Even if we’re just a donkey, we’re all Clydesdales in God’s eyes!
January 27, 2008
How Is God Calling You?
Anyone have one of these? (Pull out a cell phone) What is it used for? Right! Communication. In two ways: We receive calls and we make calls. Today’s gospel is about two-way communication – God calling us, and us responding. The question for us today is simple: God is calling us… but are we listening? Are we responding?
How does God call us? On the screen are some images to illustrate some of the ways: At Mass, at the Eucharist, when Jesus actually feeds us with his very Body and Blood; through the Bible, his Word, which is God’s instruction manual to us for life; in pray, speaking to God and listening to him, opening ourselves to hearing what he wants us to hear; and in nature, in the everyday moments of our lives, at home or school or work, while we are driving or shopping, at the hospital or the doctor’s office. It’s sometimes sad that we don’t always take advantages of the ways God communicates with us – we rush through our prayers or forget to pray, we’re too busy to read the Bible, we’re bored at Mass and impatient for it to be over, we’re so frazzled with the pressures of daily life that we fail to slow down and see and hear the presence of God all around us.
Our gospel story today is familiar: One day as Jesus was walking along the shore beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—fishing with a net, for they were commercial fishermen. Jesus called out to them, “Come, be my disciples, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and went with him. (Matthew 4:18-20, New Living Translation)
Why did the first disciples drop everything and follow Jesus? On your handout, write this very important word:
KEY WORD: HOPE
In our gospel today, Jesus quotes the prophet Isaiah: “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined.” (Matthew 4:16, New Living Translation)
They followed him because he brought hope into the midst of their dark world. In the midst of foreign conquest by the Romans, in the midst of poverty and sickness and suffering, in the midst of persecution and mistreatment, Jesus was the savior, the messiah, the one who brought them hope for a new day and a new kingdom. No wonder they followed him! They were hungry and thirsty for change! And we, today, also live in the midst of lots of darkness and despair – but Jesus offers us hope, as well. He calls us to embrace his message of life, not death, to say “yes” to his call and to become his messengers of hope to a world that so often drifts lost and aimless.
Pope Benedict XVI just came out himself with a new encyclical, or teaching, on this subject, entitled, “Saved by Hope.” He talks about how we love in a world that often is without god, in darkness and without hope, But hope, he says, is the precious gift that we as Christians offer to our despairing and hurting world.
On your handout, write in two more words: DISCERNMENT and VOCATION. “Discernment” simply means to listen attentively and really wrestle to hear the call of God in our lives. “Vocation” means “God’s call” or God’s plan or God’s purpose for our life. On your handout are some questions to ponder, with real seriousness:
What are some possible “spiritual vocations”? ________________________ God blesses each of us with different gifts and talents, and different calls. None of us is alike. God does not just like vanilla, but also, all the other flavors. But what is our flavor? How does God want you to use your life? Some possible vocations we ought to consider: Serving the church in fulltime ministry, as a priest or a religious sister or brother, as a deacon, as a lay minister; serving God as a married person, but with a sense of the sacredness and sacramentality of marriage as a real call from God, a call to fidelity and faithfulness; serving God as a single person, but consecrated to a holy, sanctified way of life; called to be a parent and raise children who grow up really knowing the Lord Jesus Christ; called to serve as a missionary; called to serve as a doctor, a nurse, a teacher, a police officer or fire fighter. What is God’s call to you, your vocation?
Are we reflecting and discerning God’s call and our vocation? Are we encouraging others to reflect on and discern their vocation? Are we praying for more vocations to the priesthood and religious life? Discernment of our vocation requires effort, work, prayer, diligence, perseverance. Too often, we just blow it off. How many parents really encourage their children to consider the priesthood or religious life, for example? How many of us really pray for our children to discover God’s purpose and plan for their lives?
Watch the following video with me, on priestly vocation. (Show abbreviated version of U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ video “Fishers of Men”)
There are two aspects of God’s call in our lives. First, God calls us to become DISCIPLES, or his FOLLOWERS. This is just as he did to Peter and Andrew, James and John in our gospel. The word “disciple” comes from the same root as “discipline.” A disciple is someone who is disciplined, someone who is developing strong spiritual habits. On your handout, write the next key word: MATURITY. God wants us to grow up, to mature spiritually. He doesn’t want us to stay spiritual babies. Saint Paul tells us in his letter to the Ephesians: No prolonged infancies among us, please. We'll not tolerate babes in the woods, small children who are an easy mark for impostors. God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. (Ephesians 4:14-15, Message Bible). And he tells us in his Second Letter to the Corinthians: Our greatest wish and prayer is that you will become mature Christians. (2 Cor. 13:9, LB)
Second, God calls us NOT just to BECOME disciples, but also, to MAKE disciples. God wants our lives to bear fruit. We’re not just meant to sit and occupy space on the earth for the span of our life, eating and drinking and breathing in the air, but making no contribution back. Jesus told his disciples: It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. (John 15:16, NAB) On your handout, write in the next word: FRUIT. I’ve also put on your handout some other verses in the Bible that make this same point, which you can look up at home.
As Catholic Christians, as a church, are we mature? Are we bearing fruit? I dare say, “Not enough.” We go to church, we pray, but too often, most Catholics are just occupying space as spectators, to really following Jesus and living fruitful lives. The message of Jesus calls for radical change. Wake up! God is calling! Are we listening?
Last week, I was reading in a Christian magazine, Sojourners, about a new book by Jim Wallis, who is a Christian evangelical social activist. His first book – great in an election year – was entitled “God’s Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It.” And I think in this election year, many Americans are yearning and hoping for real change, not just the same old “politics as usual.” It’s probably not much different than in the 1st century, when the followers of Jesus also were yearning for a savior and a new kingdom and new light to scatter the darkness. But Wallis has written a new book, entitled “The Great Awakening.” He believes Americans, especially our young people, are so hungry for change, so hungry for something new, and so filled with hope that we are on the verge of a new spiritual “Great Awakening” in our nation. He writes: “The Great Awakening speaks of two great hungers in our world today – the hunger for spirituality and the hunger for social justice.” (Jim Wallis, Sojourners Magazine)
What were our two words? MATURITY and FRUIT. Wallis is saying the same thing but with different words: SPIRITUALITY and SOCIAL JUSTICE.
But Spirituality needs to be more than a sappy New Age stare-at-your-navel-and-meditate type of spirituality. Real mature spirituality means we strive to live lives of godliness, holiness, personal integrity. As Saint Paul tells us: Dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God. (1 Thessalonians 4:1, NLT) And real spirituality, real spiritual maturity, means public charity and public justice, putting flesh to our words, putting our faith into action. The apostle James said it this way: Dear brothers and sisters, what's the use of saying you have faith if you don't prove it by your actions? That kind of faith can't save anyone. Suppose you see a brother or sister who needs food or clothing, and you say, “Well, good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don't give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, it isn't enough just to have faith. Faith that doesn't show itself by good deeds is no faith at all—it is dead and useless. (James 2:14-17, NLT)
Maturity, bearing fruit. Authentic spirituality, social justice. God’s first call to us to BECOME disciples; and God’s second call to us to go out and MAKE disciples, to live as witnesses of Jesus, to live as people who are bring hope to our world and who are transforming our world through the message of the love of Jesus Christ. So on your handouts, write two more words, just to help us let this idea sink into our heads:
God’s First Call: Become DISCIPLES. So write down this KEY WORD: GROW.
God’s Second Call: Make DISCIPLES. So write down this KEY WORD: GO.
That’s the Christian message in a nutshell. It’s what Jesus told his disciples to do at the end of Matthew’s gospel: Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19, New Living Translation) The Message Bible puts it this way: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19, Message Bible)
Now, let’s get practical. How do we become mature in our faith? How do we grow and then go out to bear fruit? On your handout are a few common myths:
Myth #1: Growth is automatic. Fact #1: Growth is a choice. Spiritual maturity requires self discipline and perseverance, effort and choosing on our part. A plant doesn’t just grow automatically. Someone has to feed and water it. Are you consciously choosing to grow spiritually? Are you taking concrete actions and steps in your life to make that happen? Here are some ways to start: Attend the mini-retreats; join a Bible study group or a small faith community; sign up for the Parish Renewal Weekend retreat or the Valley Missionary Program Encounter Retreat in February. Take steps to move away from being a spectator and to becoming an active participant.
Myth #2: Growth is instant. Fact #2: Growth is a gradual process. All growth is in stages and in sequence. A baby first breathes, then eats, then walks, then talks. Spiritual growth also takes time and patience. But you have to start. Remember the famous Chinese proverb: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” So take that first step, or take that next step, so that you can grow into spiritual maturity.
Myth #3: Growth can be attainted by yourself. Fact #3: Growth requires other people. A lot of people have fallen for this very “individualistic” religion – me and God. It’s influenced by the Eastern Religions and by New Age spirituality: meditate, commune with nature, go off and live as a monk or hermit, separate yourself from the contamination of the world. But real spiritual growth can’t happen in a bubble, us isolated and alone. Spiritual growth happens when we learn to love others, when we learn to serve others and put their needs ahead of our own. Real spiritual growth happens in community, when we rub shoulders with others, we learn from them and they learn from us. That’s why Jesus founded a church – precisely so that we would NOT become “lone Ranger Christians.”
Myth #4: Growth occurs by attending church. Fact #4: Growth requires developing habits. Lots of people fall for this going-to-church myth. I’m not against going to church, of course. This is where we come to be fed and to feed one another. But for what purpose? Just to navel gaze and act holier than thou? No! So that we can GO out and live the message of Jesus, so that we can GO out and tell the world about Jesus – at work, at play, at school, at home. Some people seem to spend most their lives in church. But have you noticed? Some of those people act piously, act holy, but despite attending church every day and every week, month after month and year after year -- they often remain the meanest, pettiest, angriest, nit pickiest people on the face of the earth! Why? Because growth is not just about attending – it’s about developing spiritual habits and disciplines.
On your handout, I’ve written the five steps toward spiritual maturity. You may notice that these five steps mirror the steps in our Mini-Retreats 101, 201, 301, 401 and 501, which is why we urge everyone in our parish to attend these mini-retreats:
1. Love the Lord and His Church.
2. Feed yourself spiritually to grow strong.
3. Plug into to a community.
4. Give generously of your time, talent and treasure.
5. Become a “contagious” Christian in the world.
Finally, on your handout is a Ten Point Spiritual Health Checkup. Score each question A, B, C, D or F. Be honest. You can do this at home if you want – but do it. A checkup is how we know if we are OK.
Ten-Point Spiritual Health Check-Up (A, B, C, D or F):
1. Do I really love God with my whole being? ____
2. Am I praying each day? ____
3. Am I attending Mass each week? ____
4. Am I in a small faith community or group? ____
5. Am I feeding myself spiritually on a regular basis? ____
6. Am I giving of my time and talent in a ministry? ____
7. Am I giving of my treasure in a sacrificial way to support God’s works? ____
8. Am I a “contagious Christian” and a good witness of Christ? ____
9. Am I a “world” Christian, aware of politics, public justice issues, etc.? ____
10. Am I discerning God’s call for me in life and my life vocation? _____
In 2008, let us as a church become the most mature church, spiritually, in the entire Coachella Valley. Let us grow and let us go, building the Kingdom of God and making disciples of all nations. God is calling… but are we listening?
2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year A
January 20, 2008
“Behold, the Lamb of God!”
How many here think words are important? That it’s easy to miscommunicate? That sometimes, miscommunication can lead to misunderstandings, even fights and arguments?
I heard a joke a few weeks ago about a guy named Leroy, who attended a church tent revival. He asked the preacher, “Pastor, please pray for my hearing.” The preacher laid hands on Leroy’s head, he placed his fingers on Leroy’s ears, he invoked the Lord in a loud voice to heal Leroy’s hearing. Then he asked Leroy, “How’s your hearing now?” Leroy replied, “I don’t know yet. My hearing isn’t until Wednesday.”
In our gospel today, John the Baptist cries out in a loud voice as he sees Jesus, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.” Every Sunday, at every Mass, we hear and say those words: “Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God…” But do we understand what the words “Lamb of God” really mean? Wouldn’t it have made more sense, if John the Baptist was trying to show that Jesus was the Son of God, to have cried out, “Behold, the lion of God,” or “Behold, the Tiger if God”? Why a lamb?
Today, in the 21st century, we really don’t understand the words “lamb of God” in the same sense as John the Baptist’s 1st century Jewish listeners. Today, the word “lamb” conjures up the image of an innocent, cuddly, cute, somewhat stupid little white animal covered with fleece. But that is not the image that would have come to mind for John’s audience.
Today, I want to look at three words that conjure up what a 1st century Jew in the time of Jesus and in the time of John the Baptist might have thought when they heard Jesus referred to as the “Lamb of God.” And I want to look at the way these three words teach us today about Jesus, and how we might apply these three words today in our own lives.
The first word is FREEDOM. For a 1st century Jew, the words “Lamb of God” conjure up thoughts of the Passover and the Exodus, the greatest moment in Jewish history. The people of Israel were living in slavery in Egypt. God tells Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, he Egyptian king, and tell him that the Lord God demands that he free my chosen people.” We know the rest of the story: How God hardened Pharaoh’s heart; how God sent plagues upon the Egyptian people to punish Pharaoh’s stubbornness; how in the final plague, God told the Israelites to sacrifice a lamb and to celebrate a Passover meal and to smear the blood of the lamb on the doorposts of their homes, because that night, the angel of the Lord would pass over and protect the homes with blood, the homes of the Israelites, but if there was no blood, the angel would slay the firstborn male child in the homes of all the Egyptians. Freedom. You’ve seen the movie, Charlton Heston as Moses in “The Ten Commandments,” raising his hands to part the waters of the Red Sea as the Israelites escape the clutches of Pharaoh. Today, 3,500 years later, faithful Jews the world over still celebrate the Feast of Passover every spring, sacrificing a lamb to recall God giving them freedom.
“Behold, the Lamb of God.” The Message Translation of the Bible captures this sense of Passover and freedom, quoting John the Baptist as crying out: “Here he is, God's Passover Lamb!” (John 1:29, Message Bible) And Jesus himself, as Lamb of God, as the new Moses, speaks of freeing us from slavery, when he begins his public ministry by entering the synagogue in his hometown of Nazareth and reading from the scroll of the Old Testament prophet Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19, New American Bible)
Word One is FREEDOM. Word Two is SACRIFICE. In the first century, Jews traveled to Jerusalem at least once a year, where they offered the blood of lambs, goats and doves as sacrifices in the Temple for atonement of their sins. “Lamb of God” would have conjured up images of bloody offerings to appease God, and of bloody covenant-signing ceremonies where an animal was offered in sacrifice as a way to seal the agreement and to make it sacred and binding. The Old Testament of the Bible talks about how the Israelites would cut an animal in two, then walk between the two halves of the animal as a ritualized way of finalizing an agreement or a covenant, because, in so doing, they were saying to the other party in the agreement, “If I break this covenant, may what has happened to this animal also happen to me.”
Today, why don’t we bring sheep and goats and doves to church for sacrifices? Didn’t anyone here bring any animals to Mass? Why not? You see, Jesus, as “Lamb of God,” was the definitive and final sacrifice for our sin. The Bible tells us that God now desires us to offer ourselves – our love, our fidelity, our trust in Him, our very selves – as a living sacrifice, pleasing to the Lord, rather than the offering of animals. The prophet Hosea in the Old Testament puts it this way: “I want your constant love, not your animal sacrifices. I would rather have my people know me than burn offerings to me.” – (Hosea 6:6, Today’s English Version)
There is an interesting and significant event in the Temple as Jesus is dying on the cross. Luke’s gospel tells us: “It was noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o'clock. The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the thick veil hanging in the Temple was torn apart.” (Luke 23:44-45, New Living Bible) The tearing of the Temple curtain is of great symbolic importance, you see, because up until the time of Jesus, the Jews believed that God lived inside the Temple of Jerusalem, behind that curtain in a special room called the Holy of Holies. That’s also where they kept the Ark of the Covenant and the tablets of the Ten Commandments. Only the High Priest, and only once a year, was allowed into the Holy of Holies to offer the sacrifice of a lamb to atone for the sins of the people of Israel. But now, Jesus, the Lamb of God, becomes the final and definitive sacrifice for sin, so the curtain of the Temple is torn in two, and God comes out of the Temple to live in a new temple, in the temple of our hearts. That’s why we no longer offer bloody animal sacrifices to the Lord, because now, the Lord wants us to sacrifice our hearts and our lives to him. Jesus, the Lamb of God, feeds us each week here at Mass spiritually, with the Eucharist, with his very Body and Blood, sacrificed for us on the cross.
Before continuing, one quick but important warning: Sometimes, this sacrifice, or atonement, for our sin by Jesus on the cross is misunderstood. Some Christians mistakenly teach that God the Father is a wrathful, vengeful, all-just God who demands blood punishment for our sins. Imagine that God is judge and one of us (pick a teen from the congregation) has committed a crime deserving the death penalty. So (teen) is about to be executed. He deserves death. But in comes Jesus, who offers to die in (teen’s) place. The problem with this notion of atonement is that it makes God into a kind of blood-thirsty monster who insists on death instead of forgiveness and mercy, who insists even on sacrificing his innocent son in order to safeguard his righteousness as a just judge. This God is inflexible, unbending, without compassion or love or kindness. Someone has to die, no matter what, to pay for our sin.
Instead of this notion, I like what Jesus says in John’s gospel: “I am the good shepherd… I lay down my life for the sheep… No one can take my life from me. I lay down my life voluntarily.” (John 10:14-15, 18, New Living Translation) You see, Jesus always mirrors and reflects his Father, who – quite the opposite of being a God of wrath and anger and punishment -- loves us deeply. Jesus chooses to sacrifice, chooses to give his life on the cross for us, voluntarily, but not because he must die as part of a twisted way to appease the wrath of an angry Father. How many here are parents? How many make sacrifices for your children? How many make those sacrifices out of love for your children? God is like an all loving parent who loves us so much he was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, by becoming human, taking on our very flesh, living with us always (Emmanuel), and even making the ultimate love sacrifice by giving himself into the hands of evil leaders and dying on a cross as a sacrifice for us.
And so… that leads us to our third and final word: SALVATION. For 1st century Jews, listening the John the Baptist proclaim Jesus as the Lamb of God, they would have thought of the Lamb as the fulfillment of the promises and prophesies of the Old Testament, the promises and prophesies that God would send a Messiah, a savior. The prophet Isaiah said it this way: “All of us were like sheep that were lost, each of us going his own way. But the Lord made the punishment fall on him, the punishment all of us deserved. He was treated harshly, but endured it humbly; he never said a word. Like a lamb about to be slaughtered, like a sheep about to be sheared, he never said a word. He was arrested and sentenced and led off to die, and no one cared about his fate. He was put to death for the sins of our people… His death was a sacrifice to bring forgiveness. (Isaiah 53:6-8, 10, Today’s English Version) In our gospel today, it is clear that John the Baptist also saw Jesus in this way, for he testified, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him…Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.” (John 1:32, 34, NAB)
Now, let’s apply what we’ve learned in our own lives. First, I’ve brought with me today a flashlight. Flashlights shine in the darkness and show us the way so we don’t stumble or fall or get lost. In many ways, John the Baptist is a spiritual flashlight, pointing not to himself but to Jesus, who is the true Light of the World. John the Baptist tell us, “Soon a man is coming who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before I did…I have been baptizing with water in order to point him out to Israel.” – John 1:30-31 (New Living Translation) We would do well to imitate John’s humility, not focusing on ourselves, but allowing the Lord to use us so that we, too, become flashlights who point others to God. Jesus tells us: “You are the light of the world—like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see.” (Matthew 5:14, New Living Translation)
Our first word is FREEDOM. In a world filled with so much tension and stress, Jesus, the Lamb of God, promises us inner, spiritual freedom and peace. But we must trust in him, putting our faith in God and not in the things of this world. Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church in Orange County, puts it this way: We must choose either to worry or to worship. When we worship and pray, we turn over our anxieties and stresses and preoccupations to the Lord. The Bible tells us: “Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7, New Living Translation)
As Christians, God also expects us to bring freedom to others. Like our Master, Jesus, the Lamb of God, we are called to free the captives, comfort the sick, feed the hungry, clothe the naked. Jesus commands us: “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere.” (Mark 16:15, New Living Translation) The world is so hungry for this freedom!
Today, we celebrate Pro-Life Sunday in our church; and tomorrow, we honor Martin Luther King, Jr., who fought for life, for racial harmony and justice in our country; and later this year, we will elect new leaders in our nation. As Christians, are given an opportunity to engage society and our world in a positive way, to promote a culture of life in our country and in our society, and to oppose a culture of death.
There are many, many important life issues on the table that require our prayers and our attention: Defending the unborn, who are the most vulnerable in our society, by fighting for an end to abortion; helping young women with an unwanted pregnancy find love and support so that they will choose options other than abortion; working hard to end the death penalty – New Jersey just abolished it, some other states are thinking about it, yet we are one of the few nations on earth that still execute criminals; reforming our nation’s ugly and unjust immigration system; fighting bigotry and prejudice and an ugly spirit of hate, which so often is directed against the most vulnerable, like immigrants, or against the poor and homeless, or against those who are not like ourselves – foreigners, or persons of a different skin color or ethnic background or sexual orientation. As Christians, we must fight for affordable health care for the elderly and children and the poor; we must oppose torture and human rights abuses, even by our own CIA against our enemies; we must promote peace and international cooperation; we must battle hunger and starvation and AIDS in Africa and throughout the world.
Our second word is SACRIFICE. The Christian life is not easy. It requires dedication, perseverance, faith, trust in God. As Jesus sacrificed his life because of his love for us, we too are asked to sacrifice our very lives because of our love for Him and because of our love for others. We are called to grow a “shepherd’s heart” of love and compassion for others, a heart that imitates the heart of Jesus, the Lamb of God and our Good Shepherd.
And our third word, SALVATION, is the most important one of all, because Jesus, the Lamb of God, is our savior, our rock, our strength, our salvation. Without that living, vibrant, alive relationship with Him, nothing else really matters. Our love for Him is the reason we sacrifice and fight for the world’s freedom and for life in abundance for all peoples.
Alexander Men, a famous reformist Russian Orthodox priest who advised Soviet dissident Alexander Solsenitsyn and who opposed Soviet communism, was gunned down and killed under very mysterious circumstances in Russia in 1990. In an interview shortly before his assassination, he was asked why he risked his life for his Christian faith, why he continued for fight so fervently and to sacrifice so diligently for justice and freedom in the world. He replied that, for him, Christianity was unique among all the other religions of the world, for one reason only, but that one reason made all the difference in the world. Christianity, of noted, had the Bible, but other religions also had their sacred scriptures. Christianity had the Ten Commandments and other moral codes, but so, too, most other religions followed similar moral codes. The difference, he said, was that Christianity was more than a religion. It was, first and foremost, a relationship, a personal friendship, with the God of the universe – a God of love and mercy who was not far off, but who loved us so much that He came into the world and offered himself as a living sacrifice on our behalf.
Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God: It is he, and he alone, whom we are called to serve. He is our Passover, our Freedom. He is the final sacrifice that takes away our sin. He is our salvation, offering us friendship through a personal relationship with Him. And he commissions us to take His light of freedom and salvation to others, so that they, too, might come to know Him, and have life in His name.
“Glory to God in the highest, Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. To Him be the glory, forever and ever. Amen.”
I recently heard a story about a family who was attended a play at their church, a theatrical production based on the gospel. In the play, one of the actors – a shepherd – cries out, “The king is coming! The king is coming!” A little boy in the audience cries out to his mom and dad, “So this is Elvis!”
Today, we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King. Jesus is the King, not Elvis – despite what popular culture might teach us! The feast began in the 1920s, in Europe in the aftermath of World War I, when communism and fascism were on the rise. The pope at that time proclaimed the feast of Christ the King as a way to show that Christ and Christian values were king, not the atheistic philosophies of the communists or the fascists.
On your handouts, it says, “A New (And Different Kind of) King (And Kingdom). Jesus is no ordinary king. Jesus’ kingdom is no ordinary kingdom.
The first question on your handout is this: What kind of king? St. Paul tells us in his letter to the Philippians: Jesus emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness… (Philippians 2:7, NAB)
Jesus was not a king by worldly standards, seeking fame and riches and power, trying to build up an empire to give glory to himself. Jesus emptied himself, became like a slave, died on a cross out of love for sinful humanity. Many years ago, when I was first ordained, a friend of mine gave me as a gift this handcrafted Peruvian cross (hold up cross for all to see). It is quite interesting – and in some ways, quite ugly – because the cross and crucifixion were ugly and painful, a form of torture. Today, we decorate our churches with crosses; we wear them around our necks or hang them in our cars; we forget what crucifixion was really like. The horror of what Jesus endured is often lost and forgotten. Last Lent, did anyone see Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ”? That movie showed the horror of crucifixion. Imagine instead of placing crosses in our churches, we instead hung up a picture of the electric chair. Jesus was no ordinary king. No ordinary king would willingly endure crucifixion for love of his people.
I remember my first Mass as a priest. I used this cross as a prop for my homily. I was very young and inexperienced. As I was preaching, this woman came running from the congregation and started reaching for the cross, screaming, “Give it to me! Give it to me!” At the time, I didn’t know what to do. Since then, I’ve learned that there are some crazy people in every church, just like this poor lady, reaching for the cross, who was mentally ill. Maybe there are a few crazy folks here at Mass today – don’t worry! The message of the cross and the message of this feast of Christ the King is that God loves us, no matter what, even in our craziness.
The second question on your handout: What kind of kingdom? Listen to some of the words of Jesus:
"You have heard that the law of Moses says, 'Do not murder….' But I say, if you are angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! – Matthew 5:21-22 (NLT)
"You have heard that the law of Moses says, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust in his eye has already committed adultery with her in his heart. – Mt 5:27-28
"You have heard that the law of Moses says, 'If an eye is injured, injure the eye of the person who did it. If a tooth gets knocked out, knock out the tooth of the person who did it.' But I say, don't resist an evil person! If you are slapped on the right cheek, turn the other, too. – Matthew 5:38-39 (NLT)
"You have heard that the law of Moses says, 'Love your neighbor' and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! – Matthew 5:43-44 (NLT)
The values of the Kingdom of God is upside down from the values of the Kingdoms of this world. Close your eyes. Imagine for a moment God’s kingdom – no war, no violence, no injustice or discrimination. Peace. Everyone is brother and sister to one another. No hatred. No vengeance.
He will settle disputes among the nations, among the great powers near and far. They will hammer their swords into plows and their spears into pruning knives. Nations will never again go to war, never prepare for battle again. – Micah 4:3 (Today’s English Version)
Wolves and sheep will live together in peace, and leopards will lie down with young goats. Calves and lion cubs will feed together, and little children will take care of them. -- Isaiah 11:6 (TEV)
The Lord Almighty will prepare a banquet for all the nations of the world—a banquet of the richest food and the finest wine. Here he will suddenly remove the cloud of sorrow that has been hanging over all the nations. The Sovereign Lord will destroy death forever! He will wipe away the tears from everyone's eyes and take away the disgrace his people have suffered throughout the world… When it happens, everyone will say, "He is our God! We have put our trust in him, and he has rescued us. He is the Lord! We have put our trust in him, and now we are happy and joyful because he has saved us." – Is 25:6-9
On your sheets, it says there are two kinds of power: Coercive power, where force is used to compel others to do what we want; and persuasive power – love – where people choose to follow us and imitate us because of the compelling attractiveness of our message and our lifestyle.
Which kind of power does the world use? Right. Coercive power. Bombs, missiles, police, soldiers – we impose and coerce with force. That’s often why there are wars and conflicts.
What kind of power does Jesus use? Right. Persuasive power. Jesus commanded no armies. He was not head of state. His power was the power of love, the power of persuasion, the power of changed hearts and changed lives.
Which kind of power, ultimately, is more effective? People debate this issue. But let me just point out: Two thousand years after Jesus walked on the earth, his persuasive power of love still commands billions of followers, it still moves and changes hearts and lives, it still inspires and elevates our spirit. After two thousand years ago, the forces of coercive power have come and gone – the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, the Ottoman Empire, the Spanish conquistadors, the British Empire. All have vanished. Which kind of power really has been more effective?
But we still have more to do. The Kingdom of God has not yet arrived, at least not in its fullness. Last week, I came across some frightening statistics about children in the U.S. Every single day in our country, three children die from child abuse, nine are murdered, 13 die from guns, 30 are wounded by guns, 101 babies die before their first birthday, 202 children are arrested every day for drug abuse, 248 children are arrested every day for violent crimes, 427 are arrested for alcohol abuse or drunken driving, 2,781 teens get pregnant every day, 1,115 teens have abortions each day, 1,234 children run away from home, 2,860 see their parents get divorced, 3,325 babies are born to unwed mothers (25 percent of America’s children live without fathers), 10,988 public school children are suspended from school every day, 100,000 children are homeless, 1,200,000 latchkey children come home to a house where there is a gun – the list could go on and on! (Statistics from the Children’s Defense Fund)
What’s the answer? The third question on your sheet is the all-important one: Is Christ King? Personally and communally? Both are important. The starting point is our own spiritual conversion, making Jesus king of our lives. But then we need to move forward, not stay stuck there, start to spread God’s love throughout the world so that Christ is king in our families, in our neighborhoods, in our cities and states, in our nation, in our world.
First, making Christ king of our lives, personally. Leo Tolstoy, the famous Russian novelist, once said, “Everyone wants to change the world, but nobody wants to change themselves.” If Christ is to be King, it starts with us. And it is about surrender – allowing God to take charge. The famous Supreme Court chief justice, Oliver Wendell Holmes, when he turned 90 years old, was asked by a reporter, “What is the secret of your great success.” He replied, very wisely, “I learned, very early on in life, that I am not God.”
But that is not always an easy lesson to learn. Many years ago, when I was still in college, I traveled with a church youth group to Baja California in Mexico for a summer service project, to dig septic tanks for an orphanage. When we arrived, the directors of the orphanage had given each of the children T-shirts that said, “Jesús es Rey -- Jesus is King.” But there was a problem. About a half dozen of the kids were named Jesús – and they were fighting with each other over who was king! In fact, for the next year, the directors of the orphanage decided to print the T-shirts differently, to say, “Cristo es Rey – Christ is King!” – just to stop the competition. You see, it is human nature to want to be in control, to be in charge, to be king of the mountain. But God says, “Surrender! Let go of control! Let me take charge of your life and be king.”
That’s what we see in our gospel today – the story of the two thieves. One turns his life over to Jesus, but the other doesn’t. We all face the same choice – let Jesus in as King, or lock him out.
Next, we need to work to make Jesus Christ king in our community, in our world. This means we need to become kingdom people. There are two steps: First, as I just mentioned, inviting Jesus to take charge of your life; but then, second, following God’s roadmap, doing what God says, becoming kingdom people.
We’re at the end of the year, liturgically. Today, the Feast of Christ the King, is the last Sunday of the church year. Next Sunday, we begin Advent and a new church year. So this is a perfect time to do our own individual end-of-the-year review – how have we allowed Jesus to be king of our lives? – and to make some “New Year’s” Resolutions for the upcoming year, turning more and more to God in our lives in the upcoming weeks and months.
A few days ago, I went to see an interesting new movie, entitled “The Motorcycle Diaries.” It’s about the life of Che Guevara, the young Latin American revolutionary in the 1950s. It’s the story of how Che Guevara grew up in Argentina, a rich kid, sort of like a kid born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He has just completed medical school, and has a bright future ahead of him. But he and a friend decide to hop on a motorcycle and tour throughout Latin America. On the trip, Che begins to have a conversion. For the first time, he is exposed to the plight of the poor and the oppressed. He witnesses the unjust treatment of the indigenous at the hands of the rich and powerful. He begins to want to change the world and make it better.
There is one powerful scene where Che and his motorcycle buddy stop to work a few months at a leper colony on the Amazon River, in the jungles of Peru. The lepers live on one side of the river, the doctors on the other. A group of nuns cooks and provides for the lepers and the doctors. But there is this discrimination, this separation, this disconnect – lepers on one side of the river, caretakers on the other. The nuns prepare the meals, but they have one rule – you must go to Mass, or you don’t get to eat. Che spends an entire day helping the lepers, but he doesn’t go to Mass. So when it comes time for dinner, Mother Superior refuses to serve him. The scene challenges us to ask: What is really more important to God? Going to Mass, praying, following the rules and rituals of our faith? Or reaching out to the poor and needy in our midst? Unlike the movie, I would argue that both are necessary. It does not good to simply go to Mass, to be pious, unless we also go out and start to put our faith into practice by building God’s Kingdom. But we need spiritual strength and nourishment to do God’s will, so we need to go to Mass so that we can be strengthened for the task God has given to us.
Look on your handout. What is God’s road map?
First, we need to pray and worship. We need spiritual habits and disciplines to be strong. Here at Mass today, we have a young man, Adam, who is a boxer. He just came back from Las Vegas, where he won the bantam weight title. But Adam, some questions: Does it take discipline and training and hard work and fortitude and perseverance to be a good boxer? Do you need to get up early to train? Do you think it takes the same sort of discipline and perseverance and good habits to be a follower of Jesus? Of course!
No. 2 – grow. Get in a small group. Go to some of our retreats. Don’t stagnate!
These first two steps are the preparation. If we don’t develop strong spiritual habits, if we aren’t growing spiritually, we will never be able to spread God’s Kingdom. We need to feed ourselves first, to be strong spiritually ourselves, before we can feed others. Have you ever been on an airplane? At the start of the flight, the stewardess explains safety procedures. “In case of a loss of cabin pressure, oxygen masks will descend… First, put the oxygen mask over your own face, then place an oxygen mask over the face of any small children…” First, yourself – then the children!
No. 3 and No. 4 are the action steps. Give. Be generous. Use your time, talent and treasure for the glory of God. Go out, be a witness for Jesus – to family, friends, neighbors, at work, at school, wherever you go, 24-7, all the time. Your very identity, if you are a true follower of Jesus, is to be a witness and a missionary for Jesus Christ in the world, to be a Kingdom builder.
Look at the cartoon, from Zits. This is one of my favorite cartoons. Read it. This teenager does not care about the world! For him, the entire universe is a disappointment! Now that may be the attitude of teenagers from time to time – and you who are parents of teenagers can relate, I am sure! – but this cannot be the attitude of us Christians!
Look at the next two verses on your handout. In John’s gospel, Jesus is praying to His Father and he says: In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world. –- John 17:18 (Message)
You see, God gives us a mission. We’re not here on this earth just to take up space or to use up the oxygen and other resources of our planet!
What you'll get is the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world." – Acts 1:8 (Message)
God is with us and will help us. We are not alone! That’s why Jesus founded a church, so that we would have partners. But catch the deeper meaning of this verse – we are to be witnesses, but where? First, Jerusalem! Our own neighborhood. Our own family and friends. Our own back yard. Then? Judea and Samaria – our community, our co-workers. Maybe we need to go beyond our own comfort zone and reach out and start to know people that aren’t just in our circle of friends, maybe even people from a different race or culture or language, or maybe the older folks here spending more time with the teenagers, getting to know their culture. Finally, “to the ends of the world” – world Christians, concerned about the needs of people everywhere, because all people are God’s children. To God, the people of the United States are not more important than the people of Iraq or Afghanistan – God loves all people, and wants all people to be part of his family.
Here are just some ways we can start to build God’s Kingdom. I brought with me today a grocery cart. Last week, we had a canned food drive to replenish the supply of items for our parish food pantry. It is open everyday to help provide food for people in need. To be honest, we had an entire U Haul truck full of food last week, and I thought we would never find a way to unload it – until a bunch of our parish members, teens and children and older people, started to show up and formed an assembly line. The truck was unloaded in about an hour! And it was fun, too! That is the power of working together, not just by ourselves! Starting next Sunday, I am going to leave this grocery cart at the entrance to church. Families can start to bring canned goods and even toys for needy children for Christmas, and leave those items in this cart – and that is one way we can start to build the Kingdom of God right here in our own community.
Another way: Many of you know that on Monday nights, a small team of us visit the juvenile prison. We need more helpers. That’s a way to build God’s Kingdom. Call me if you want to sign up!
I also brought with me this map. It is a map of the world. After Masses this weekend, I am going to put it up at the entrance of church. Maria and Veronica in our front office made the map. Give them an applause! Every Sunday, this church has given away 10 percent of every Sunday’s collection to help the poor. That’s about $40,000 a year. This map shows some of the places that we help – India, Bangladesh, Africa, Haiti, Mexico, other places in Latin America, a poor inner city high school in Chicago.
Listen to this letter, written to me about a month ago from a priest who is a missionary in Bangladesh, which is right next to India and is maybe the poorest country on earth:
I am sending this letter to all of you who were with me in Cascade. I need some help. You all know that I have been back in Bangladesh for 10 years, since August 1994. Almost 9 of those years have been in this parish. My parish is over 60 miles from end to end. Almost all of our parishioners are tribals and daily workers in the vast tea estates in this area. Beside all the regular pastoral work (we have had over 2000 baptisms in my time here), we are trying to see to the education of the as many kids as possible. They have no access to education except through our efforts. We also are trying to take care of the sick. Again, there is no other medical care available. We live by begging, which is a hard thing for me personally to do. We have gotten by, but this year’s monsoon season has been terrible. What is overwhelming us now are the number of sick people – malaria, typhoid, jaundice, TB, dysentery, all of this in some ways caused by the awful weather we have had. Trying to deal with the huge number of sick has exhausted our resources and still they are coming. … We need help very much. This has been an extraordinary year for sickness and we can’t cope, but we have to. Any and everything will be very welcome and acknowledged. It will help save people’s lives. – Bruce, I hope you are well. My best to the others there. I am doing fine, just getting to be an old guy. Please pray for me. –Father Frank
We were able to use the 10 percent one Sunday and sent Fr. Frank almost $1,000. Every little bit helps, and we are working to become World Christians and Kingdom people.
Look at the last verse on your handout. David served God's purposes in his own time… – Acts 13:36 (Today’s English Version)
In our first reading today, we heard part of the story of how the people named David as their human king. But David was successful as king only because he allowed God to be his real king – he served God’s purposes in his own time. We are called to do the same – to serve God’s purposes, not our own; and in our time, which is different from David’s time, for every generation is different from those that have gone before, and needs and circumstances change.
We are called to be a kingdom people who go out to our own Jerusalem, our own Samarias and Judeas, and to the ends of the world. It begins by allowing Jesus to be king in here, in each of us and in our hearts.
Let’s close by listening to a song – not a typical church song, but it shows how the message of Jesus transcends cultures and all the artificial barriers of race and nation. This is a song our young people may enjoy. It’s a rap song, hip hop – by P. Diddy, a famous rap musician who has had his own personal ups and downs, his own transformation and conversion. This song talks a bit about his conversion, and his coming back to trusting in Jesus as King of his life. The song is entitled, “Best Friend,” and is about his friendship with the Lord. Listen, and the words are on your handout so you can follow along:
BEST FRIEND, by P. Diddy
I've seen a lot of things in my life, A lot of ups and downs, Made a lot of mistakes, No matter what, you've always been by my side, You've always been my best friend, You're the love of my life (Oh), You're everything to me (Oh), You never left my side (You're my best friend), I love you so much (Yes, you are), You're my best friend. Since the beginning of time, All you did was bless men. Too young to understand but now you my best friend. How could they doubt you, never think about you, Don't they know nothing's possible without you. Faith without fear that's how they raised me, Words of man kill but never phase me, Grateful for wisdom that you gave me, But still I'm like, dear God I wonder, could you save me? Too much sinning, gotta be more than plush living, Gotta be more than grabbing nines to buck tin in , Gotta be more than just to lust women, Gotta be more than platinum Rolexes, 600's and crushed linen. Praise your name, I know some of them hate their due, Judgment day, don't they know they can't escape your crew, I'm just trying to live right and pray you take me through, And with this song I dedicate to you, my Lord. Lord, you mean the world to me, Before I was born you chose me, You always hear me when I call, Even catch me when I'm falling, You're the closest one to me, I surrender all to thee, I want the whole wide world to see, That we've always been and we'll always be best friends. Sometimes I reminisce and wonder how I made it this far. Because of you, I'm me, so you the real star. Your hindsight, the time's right to get my mind tight. Then give it to you and let it shine bright. My best friend, only know how to teach the truth. Plant the seeds of life and let them eat the fruit. Can't you see that He spread love for you. Shed blood for you, cry for and die for you. Willies with mac millies know how you get down. We know the drama you bring whenever you hit town. Just remember when you pray, God is love. Gracious, merciful, forgive even the hardest thugs. Life as we know it, it all begins with Him. Life as we know it, it all ends with Him. If I was you I would never try to pretend with Him. He might spaz and blow it, I'm best friends with him. Been two and a half years since my man Big passed. Been two and a half years since my world crashed. I needed help, God gave me the power. Gave me the strength to go face to face with my darkest hour. Looked me in the eyes and ask "What you doing unhappy?" "Don't you know why I'm here?" and started shooting at me. Back to the wall, is my faith gonna play out. Never wavered once, gave me no way out. Your time to die, don't even stress the date. You're coming with me, your soul I'm next to take. I told him "I'm too much blessed with faith." "And living for Christ" and then he said "Manifest the great" All of a sudden, what I'm remembering. Ground started to shake, everything trembling. The power of the truth was shooting through my Timberlands. Here was my Lord Jesus Christ, my best friend again, come on. You mean everything to me. You've been with me from day one. Even when I thought nobody was there, You were there. You're my best friend. I love you like no other. There is no feeling like this in the world. If you can relate to what I'm feeling, put your hands in the air for me. Let me see you. No, matter of fact, clap your hands for me. Clap your hands, come on. Thank you, Jesus. You always hear me when I'm calling, always catch me when I fall, yeah. I surrender all to thee. I want the whole world to see that you've always been, you'll always be, my best friend. I love you Jesus. Thank you, forgive me for my trespasses, as I forgive those who trespass against me. Thank you.
33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
November 18, 2007
Building Our New Church Together: Part 4 – Celebration!
Welcome, everyone! By now, most all of you probably know that we are in the midst of a fundraising campaign for our new church. The campaign is entitled “Building Our New Church Together.” An artist rendition of the proposed new church is up on the screen. I’ve been preaching on the campaign for four weeks now, and today, we are in the final week, Week 4, in our series on this topic.
I think everyone is aware of the huge need for this new church. Just two days ago, a front page article in The Desert Sun talked about the projected growth in the Coachella Valley in the next 25 years. Coachella is projected to become the largest city in the Valley, with a population of more than 120,000 people. This church that we are in now will not serve 120,000 people. It doesn’t serve the population we have now! So we are building for the future, anticipating and planning and preparing for the future, being good stewards of what the Lord has given to us!
So let’s review:
I preached on Step 1 three weeks ago. What is it? Right! Prayer. This is the first and most essential step. “Unless the Lord build the house, in vain do the laborers labor.” This is God’s project, not mine, not yours. We’re just partnering with the Lord, but He’s in charge. It’s His new Temple.
Step 2 is discernment, listening. Discernment goes hand in hand with prayer. I trust that in this last month, all of us have been praying and discerning, listening to God, asking Him to God and lead each and every one of us into wisdom and insight. What is God asking me to contribute to this project? How is God calling me to do my part.
Step 3 is giving. This is no easy project. It’s going to cost $9 million altogether. In this campaign, we’re trying to raise up to $6 million so we can get started. That’s a lot of money for a relatively poor community. But with God, nothing is impossible! We have a God of miracles, especially when we are praying, when we are discerning, when we are open and listening to the Lord, when we are grateful and generous with what God has given to us. This is a historical opportunity. We get to participate with the Lord in making history here in Coachella, for the Lord’s glory. Some of our parents and grandparents had that opportunity back in 1971, when they sacrificed and were generous to build this church. We are the beneficiaries of their generosity. And now, we are blessed by God to do our part, to return the favor, for our children and our grandchildren and great-grandchildren – and, most of all, for the Lord. Almost certainly, this opportunity to be a part of history will not pass our way again. It’s not every day, or every year, or even every decade that one is blessed with an opportunity to help build a Temple for God!
So today, our last step is Commitment. This is Commitment Sunday, when we ask everyone – every single family in our parish – to fill out a pledge card, to make a three-year commitment and a promise to God, to help with this project and to make it a reality. In just a few moments, we’re going to pass out commitment cards and we’re going to ask each and every family here to fill it out, and to make a step of faith, and to come forward and place that card in this basket here in front, as our offering to God.
Step 4 is Celebration, because this ought to be a joyous occasion for all of us. That’s why the church is decorated so festively with balloons and ribbons. That’s why we have a basket that looks like a wedding cake – for weddings are festive occasions, and celebrate commitment. That’s why we have a fiesta going on all day today outside, free for everyone.
How many here like fiestas? Did you know that Jesus, too, was a “party animal”? That’s one of the reasons he made the Pharisees so angry – he was going to all the parties, the wedding feasts, the birthday celebrations, and especially the parties of “sinners” and “outcasts.” He was changing water into wine. He was healing people, and then, they celebrated. Jesus loved a good party. We Christians also are called to be people full of joy, full of life! Saint Augustine once said, “A Christian ought to be an alleluia from head to foot!” Saint Irenaeus once said, “The glory of God is a person fully alive!” Martin Luther, the famous Protestant reformer, once said, “If I knew the world would end tomorrow, I would plant a tree today.” As Christians, we are called to be people of hope, of joy, of life! We have been blessed with the Good News of Jesus, and now have the privilege and the honor to share it with others! In Mexico, there is a saying: “Un cristiano triste es un triste cristiano” – or, roughly translated, “A sad Christian is a sad excuse for a Christian.”
Look at what Jesus says in the Bible, in John’s Gospel. Let’s read it together: "I've told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature.” - John 15:11 (Msg) And then, in the next chapter: Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy. - John 16:24 (NLT)
Saint Paul echoes this same message of Jesus in his letter to the Romans, Chapter 8: We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28
Did you know this verse often is misunderstood? Lots of Christians do not really understand what real Christian joy is. That’s because we rip verses like these out of the Bible, out of context, paste them onto greeting cards and sell them as a way to comfort people. Many Christians think Christian joy, Christian happiness is just like a magic pill or an inoculation to protect us from harm and pain and suffering – if I go to church, if I pray, if I obey the Ten Commandments, then somehow, God will protect me from harm’s way and make my life easier and more pain free. Wrong! Jesus himself suffered on the cross. Almost all the disciples suffered painful martyr’s deaths. Christians experience the same pain, the same injustices, the same hurts as everyone else – but there is a difference: Jesus is with us in the pain, in the hurt, in the suffering; and we have fellow believers, brothers and sisters in Christ, which is the Body of Christ, the Church, at our side, to help pick us up and steady us when we stumble and fall. “We know that ALL THINGS work for good” – you see, this means there is “bad” out there, and we will experience it from time to time, but the Lord will work it for the good, transform it, if we but let him. And there is a condition: “for those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.”
Did you know? You are no accident. We are not mere coincidences. God has a plan, a purpose for each of our lives. But it is up to us whether we will listen to God, follow him, obey him, complete His purpose for our lives instead of just living for ourselves and for our own plans and purposes. Last week, I read about a lady in San Diego, Adel Dominguez. She just recently died. She was 114 years old – the oldest living American. And shortly before she died, a reporter asked her, “To what do you attribute your longevity, your long life?” I love her response. She said: “I give all the credit to God. I know God has a purpose and a plan for my life. And I knew I wasn’t going to die until He was through with me.”
Paul goes on. Let’s read further: …For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son... Lots of big words here, but they’re not hard to unpack. God “foreknew us,” “predestined us,” had a plan and a purpose for our life, even before we were born – and that plan, that purpose is for us to grow more and more like Jesus, more and more into the image of God’s Son – more loving, more compassionate, more merciful, more forgiving, more generous.
And those he predestined he also called… You see, God speaks to all of us, calls all of us. But are we listening?
… and those he called he also justified… That means he forgives us when we sin and make mistakes in our life.
…and those he justified he also glorified…That’s the joy. God glorifies us, gives us the inheritance, the keys to His Kingdom, makes us His children, His adopted sons and daughters!
Did you hear clearly Jesus’ words in our gospel today? He spoke of signs of the end times – famines, wars, plagues, earthquakes, terrible sights in the sky. He warned of many false prophets who would falsely predict the end of the world and proclaim themselves to be the messiah. He told the disciples they would suffer. Some would be thrown into prison. Some would be killed. Parents, brothers and sisters, other family members would even turn on them and turn them in to the Jewish authorities for punishment! But don’t lose heart! Be filled with joy! This is an opportunity to witness for Jesus, and He will even give you the words that you need to speak! Not a hair on your head will be destroyed! But you must persevere, stick with it, in order to save your life! We, too, have this marvelous opportunity to witness for the Lord by building a new Temple, a new house for God here in Coachella.
Saint Paul concludes: What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? … What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? … No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8: 28-31, 35, 37-39 (NAB) You see, Saint Paul doesn’t promise a life free of pain and suffering – for indeed, there will be anguish, distress, persecution, famine, peril, the sword – but not of this is more powerful than God’s love. God is victorious. God conquers overwhelmingly. None of these obstacles will ever separate us from the Lord, for His love for us. And that, my friends, is the real fire of Christian joy – an inner peace, an inner tranquility in the very depths of our souls, planted there by God. Nothing can rob us of that joy! No storm, no hurricane, no fire, no earthquake, no persecution or sickness or calamity – nothing!
So the question is this: How will I choose to live?
Lots of people are just living for themselves. Some are stuck at the survival level, always worried about food, clothes, rent, paying the bills. But that’s not really living. That’s just existing. Others are stuck at the “success” level – living selfishly for just themselves and their family, a bigger house, a fancier car, nicer clothes, more rest and vacation, fame and success, climbing the ladder at work. God wants us to live at the level of significance – using our lives for His plan and purpose, contributing back to the world, making a difference beyond ourselves by imitating Jesus and living for others, not just for me, me, me.
Here are three secrets for living an abundant, significant, joy-filled life. First, be thankful. Next week, we celebrate Thanksgiving. But Thanksgiving and giving thanks to the Lord ought not to be a once-a-year affair. It ought to be every day, because God has blessed us with many, many riches and blessings. Second, live joyfully. Don’t pout or cry in your tears. Now this doesn’t mean putting on a false sort of “happy face” and pretending to be happy all the time. Surely there are times for tears, for mourning, for sadness. But let the joy and the peace of God fill your hearts, even in the difficult moments and trials of life. Finally, be generous. Be a person of sacrifices and gives for others, not just for yourself. Building this new church is going to take all three of these things: thanksgiving, joy, and great sacrifice and generosity.
I’ve been impressed by the great generosity and joy of some of the members of our church. Last week, one of our members – a “young man” like me, in his 50s – came up and said, “Father, I’m not a rich man. I’ve worked my whole life in the fields, picking grapes and dates. I work hard, seven days a week, but I never, ever miss Mass. I don’t have a lot to give, but many years back, I bought a time share in a condominium in Ixtapa, a beach in Mexico. You can have it, sell if for the new church.” And he gave us the deed to the condominium – worth maybe $10,000 or $15,000. But that’s not all. Then he pulled out his credit card and said, “Father, also, I want to give $30 a week for the next three years on my credit card for the new church.” A huge sacrifice! Great generosity! A few months ago, another family here in this parish came up to me. They had just sold a house in Mexico and they handed me a check for 10 percent of the sale – for our new church. Look at the posters some of our children have made, to show their love for this church! You see, church is not a building. It’s us, the people of God. But we need buildings to help us serve the needs of our growing community. Last week, our Youth put together a short PowerPoint presentation about what they like about our church. Let’s watch it as our ushers pass out pledge cards (but please, do not fill out the pledge cards yet – wait for instructions! Thanks!)
(Watch 3½ minute PowerPoint presentation)
As I’ve said, we need everyone to fill out a pledge card. If everyone does his or her part, this project will be successful. But if some hold back and let others do it, we won’t be successful. This is the biggest project we’ve undertaken as a church since 1971, and it will require generosity and sacrifice by everyone. But God will work this miracle, if we are generous and if we are willing to sacrifice with great joy and enthusiasm in our hearts. The reason we need pledge cards, not just donations, is because the diocese will help us get a loan for the new construction, if we have a certain amount of money in pledges and donations, so it is very important that every family fill out a pledge card.
First, fill out the top part – name, address, phone number. On the screen is an example:
Pedro Infante
22222 Calle Cantinflas
Coachella, CA 92236
(333) 333-3333 or cell (444) 444-4444
Next, fill out the amount, as shown – a 3-year total and then, broken down, per year. So a $3,000 gift altogether is $1,000 each year for three years. You can choose to pay weekly, monthly, four times a year or yearly. You can even pay by credit card, Visa or Mastercard, by giving us your credit card number, name and expiration date. Everyone who makes a pledge will also receive these yellow envelopes by mail, and they also are available at the back of church, and we will use these yellow envelopes for the next three years as a way to distinguish the offerings for the new church from regular church offerings, which will continue to be in the blue envelopes.
On the screen is a chart to help you calculate the amounts. (Show giving chart to help people fill out the dollar amounts on the pledge cards) Remember, even a small amount goes a long way over time. Just $3 a day, less than the price of a soda and hamburger, adds up to more than $3,000 in three years! Of course, all of us have been praying and discerning about this for more than a month, so hopefully, we’re all ready to fill these cards out today. But please take your time to fill them out correctly.
Everyone can participate. We are asking equal sacrifices, not equal gifts. Some people own land, businesses, have savings, and can give more – maybe even $100,000 or $50,000. Others have less financially, but everyone can pray and everyone can probably give up a soda pop a day, $1 a day, which is more than $1,000 in 3 years, or save up their coins, or get some “padrinos” or other friends, family and co-workers to chip in. Lots of us are in the middle – not rich, but not poor, either – and for us, it will mean sacrificing some of the little extras, the luxuries that we don’t really need – going out to eat as much, or to the movies, or to Starbuck’s, or beer or cigarettes or ice cream or candy; or donating a tax refund; or getting rid of HBO and some premium TV channels; or postponing some purchases of clothes, a new TV, jewelry, CDs, a new stereo, a new car; or going to the casino less; or spending less on golf or on a vacation; or maybe selling off something we don’t need, like a car we aren’t using. Everyone can participate somehow – even our kids, even our teenagers – everyone!
Now, I want everyone to come up, together as a family – moms and dads and children, and together, place your pledge card into the basket as a sacred, holy offering and sacrifice to God. It is a step of trust, a step of gratitude to God for His many blessings, a step in joy because we are loving and serving God, because we are participating in making history here in Coachella.
And finally, we will all extend hands over the basket and pray for the Lord to build His new house in Coachella, for the success of this project, for us to always have generous hearts and for the Lord to bless our generosity, for us to be filled with his joy and his life … Pray over basket…
32nd Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C
November 11, 2007
Building Our New Church Together:
Step 3 – Giving!
Welcome, everybody! We’re in week three of a four part series entitled “Building Our New Church Together!” By now, most of you know that we’re in the middle of a campaign to raise money to build a new church. Artist renderings of the new church and the logo for the campaign are up on the screen for you to see. I really like the name of the campaign – “Building OUR church” – it’s not my church, not the diocese’s church, not a church being built by just the leaders in our community, but this new church and this new church campaign belongs to ALL of us, as a family, and for not just ourselves, but also, for our children and grandchildren. This is a historic moment for our community – one that we won’t likely see again in our lifetime – an opportunity to build something that will last for 40, 50, maybe 100 years or more. And we will have the privilege of saying, to our children and grandchildren, that we were a part of it. But to be successful, it will require all of us to do our part, “Building OUR Church TOGETHER!”
Let’s review. Two weeks ago, we talked about Step 1. Anybody remember what it was? Right! PRAYER. This project will only be successful if God is the Master Builder, not us. It will only be successful if all of us are fervently praying for its success.
Last week, I spoke about Step 2. Anyone remember that step? Right! DISCERNMENT – LISTENING. We need to be listening to the Lord, each and everyone of us – listening to how God wants us to contribute and to be a part of this historic project.
Step 3 is today. Anyone know what it is? Right! GIVING. And then, next Sunday, I will speak on Step 4: CELEBRATION! God wants to bless us and God wants to bless this church, when we are faithful. God wants us to be fully alive Christians, filled with His power, filled with His Spirit, celebrating life so that our enthusiasm and our excitement for the Lord is contagious and that we witness for the Lord, everywhere we go.
So today, we are going to talk about Step 3, Giving. And I’m going to offer you today three challenges. The first challenge is to be generous – lavishly generous, giving not the leftovers but the first fruits of what we have to the Lord. Jesus was generous to us. He died for us, gave His life for our salvation. And He asks us to imitate Him and to be generous in turn.
I want to tell you a story, told to me last week by Father Jaime. Most of us have heard the parable in our gospel today about the seven husbands who died, and their wife. But we don’t know the whole story. However, last week, Father Jaime told me the rest of the story, and he gave me permission to share it with you, if you promise to keep it a secret and not tell anyone else. Deal? OK, here goes. Oh, and before we start, let’s ask forgiveness from Saint Luke for taking some liberty with his gospel!
Lots of people have speculated as to why the seven brothers all died. Some say it was just a chain of bad luck. Others say the brothers got what they deserved because of the way they lived. Still others blame the wife, saying she killed her husbands. The real story, Father Jaime told me, is about generosity and giving. Jesus told his disciples that when we are generous, then we receive, but when we are stingy, we lose what has been given to us.
The story begins with the wife, whose name is Dulce, and her first husband, Lucio, who was the oldest brother. One day, Dulce said to her new husband, “Honey, we must make a three-year pledge to help raise money for a new church in Coachella.” Lucio responded angrily, “Are you crazy? I never go to Mass. Why should I give of my hard-earned money to the church?” A few days later, Lucio keeled over at work, while laboring for his hard-earned money, and he died.
Next came José. He married Dulce as a way to respect the memory of his dead brother, and because it was the tradition of his people. One night while eating, Dulce – who was a very faithful follower of Jesus – said to her new husband, Jose, “Honey, Father at church asked us to make a pledge for three years to help in building a new church in Coachella.” José immediately became very tense. “Woman,” he said, “my money barely pays all the bills. Tell those priests to ask rich people for the money, not me!” It should be noted that José wasn’t too poor to not go out to the bars every Friday and Saturday night, and to spend all day Sundays drinking beer and watching soccer. Neighbors say poor José died instantly from a stray bullet fired during a fight at a bar on Harrison Street.
It should be noted that José was picked up by a “train” and taken to station with a big sign that said, “Why am I here?” At the train station, he ran into his brother Lucio, who asked, “What are you doing here?” José replied, “It’s all your wife Dulce’s fault!”
Next up was Jorge. Dulce liked him better than the other two, because he was nicer to her. But he still had a temper. One day shortly after their marriage, Dulce said to him, “Honey, my love, let’s make a donation to help build that new church here in Coachella.” This time, Dulce was careful not to mention that it was a three-year commitment! Jorge looked at his wife for a few moments, then said in a stern voice, “I don’t have money for that! I want to buy new rims for my car! Don’t bring up the topic again.” Jorge loved his car, but one day shortly after this, he was racing down the street in the car when he crashed and died.
The same happened for the next three brothers – Bruce, John and Jaime. Bruce used this as his excuse: “How will I ever buy my new pickup if I give to that church?” John said, “I’ll give to the church, but only if I win the jackpot at the casino.” Jaime used this as his excuse: “I have family in Mexico and need to save to visit them, so there’s no extra money for that new church.” The three gave nothing to God. Too bad! One by one, the same thing happened to each of them… they each died!
The six brothers all ended up at the same train station, commiserating and consoling one another. They were angry, but no longer at Dulce. Rather, it was the fault of THOSE priests who kept asking people to help pay for THEIR church! They decided that when the train arrived to take them to heaven’s gate, they would lodge a complaint with Saint Peter against THOSE priests!
Now it was Dulce’s last chance – with the youngest brother, Hermenegildo. He was a nice young man, most the time, but with a ferocious temper. By now, Dulce realized she could not risk losing another husband by mentioning the new church, so she stayed silent and said nothing. But of course, that’s when fate intervened. One day, the phone rang while Hermenegildo was home alone. Dulce was at work. The phone call was from the church in Coachella, asking for a three year pledge to help build a new church. Poor Dulce! Neighbors say she came home from work that day and found her “Hermi” dead in bed. He apparently had died of a heart attack after losing his temper and yelling at the church secretary who had phoned him for a donation!
Dulce decided not to remarry after that. In any case, she had run out of brothers! But the good news was that she inherited all the money from all seven brothers. But this is the question for you: Do you think Dulce decided to donate for three years to help build a new church in Coachella? You decide! End of story!
So what is that first challenge? Right. Be generous! It’s important to remember that this is OUR project as a family, not the project of the priests or the diocese. In my small faith community last week, one of the members of my community commented that a lot of people think the Vatican or the bishop should pay for and build a new church, because they’re rich. This is a common misconception. The Vatican and the diocese are not rich. We send money to them each year so they can pay their expenses, not vice versa! We must own this project as our own! Everyone must participate!
In our second reading today, Saint Paul says – and I think these words could just as easily apply to us! -- May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father… encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word… We are confident of you in the Lord that what we instruct you, you are doing and will continue to do. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the endurance of Christ. – 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, 3:4-5 (NAB) You see, the Lord wants us to be generous. He wants to encourage and strengthen us in good deeds, and he is confident that we will do our duty and please him!
The second challenge is this: Be Joyful. Saint Paul says, “God loves a cheerful giver!” Nobody should be forced or compelled to give. It should be something joyful. It’s only when we give joyfully that we receive the full benefit of blessings from the Lord. Of course, in this campaign, we’ll accept a grumpy giver, too!
The third challenge is to sacrifice. The word “sacrifice” means that we give until it hurts a little. You’ve heard the expression in terms of physical exercise, “No pain, no gain.” The same applies spiritually. It’s easy to give God the leftovers – a few dollars here or there – but God is not a beggar and does not want the leftovers. God wants the first fruits, the very best of what we have. I see people all the time give just out of their surplus. In the Bible, it happened with the Pharisee who gave a lot more money than the poor widow – but she gave of her last coin, while he just gave out of his abundance. It happens here in church – people put a dollar or five into the collection plate, but then spend $80 or $100 at a brunch after Mass, or $15 or $20 on ice cream from the ice cream truck right outside the doors of the church, on the streets. At Mini-Retreat 101, I always tell folks that the Bill Gates’ of the world – those who are rich and have been blessed – must give more – much more! – than the poor! Bill Gates can easily afford to give away 99 percent of his wealth, and live on the remaining 1 percent, which is probably about $100 million or so!
Sacrifice is important, especially because these pledges to the new church are above and beyond our regular giving. We need to maintain our regular weekly tithes to pay for the gas, the water, the electricity and the other costs of running our parish. These pledges for the new church are extra, above and beyond our regular giving, so it will require some pain and some sacrifice.
How do we do that? Last week, I put up on the screen a quote from Mother Teresa: “It is not how much we give, but how much we put into giving.” All of us needs to sacrifice, to dig deep into our hearts, to listen and ask God what he wants us to do. The quantity will differ, person by person, depending on circumstances – but all of us will have to sacrifice equally and do our part. Our goal is $6 million. It sounds like a lot. But do you know why this goal is attainable? For two reasons: First, there are lots of us, so if we all do our part, the job gets done. Failure will only happen if some people slack off – because a few people can’t carry a project this big all by themselves. Secondly, a little bit saved – over time – goes a long way. I calculated this last week: One soda pop per day for three years is $1,096! Just one soda pop a day! And everyone can do that!
So let’s get real specific, real concrete. How can you help in this campaign?
For those who’ve been blessed with lots of wealth, you need to step up to the plate and be generous. You might need to make a truly big gift -- $200,000, $100,000, $50,000. Maybe there aren’t that many people here like that, but there are some, and you would be surprised. People who own multiple homes or apartments and have rental income; people who own farms and land; people who can dedicate profits from their business; people who’ve saved up a lot of money over a lifetime, or have investments, or who’ve received an inheritance or some kind of settlement. But it requires great generosity, great trust in God.
There also are those who are struggling financially. That’s part of the reason those wealthier folks need to step up to the plate, to help out those who are less fortunate. But all of us can participate! Here are some ways:
- Prayer. Everyone can do this!
- Save a dollar a day – give up soda pop, or candy, or the ice cream truck, or fast food, or beer or cigarettes.
- Find “padrinos” or friends to help. I know one guy who is planning to ask his coworkers to chip in $1 a week.
- Ask your family – brothers, sisters, parents, aunts, uncles, cousins. Some might not even live here, or they might not come to church here, but they still might be willing to chip in. I asked my parents, my brothers, my aunts and uncles and cousins if they would consider donating to our new church.
- Save coins. This is easy. Here’s my collection of coins, just from the last few weeks… [show coins]
- One lady told me, “I don’t have a lot of money, but I’m willing to sell tamales twice a month and donate the profit to the new church.” One of our small faith communities is organizing a car wash today behind McDonald’s in Indio, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., to raise money for the new church. Everyone can participate somehow. We just have to be creative and willing to sacrifice!
Finally, there are those in the middle financially. That may be the largest group of parishioners – they’re not rich, but they’re also not poor. They have access to discretionary income. Here, our choices are what really matter – will I postpone or give up that new pickup or that new house or that new TV or that vacation for a few years? W I sacrifice some of my comfort so that this new church will be built? Here are a few possible ways people in the middle can help with this new church project:
- Cut back on some luxury expenses – eating out less, going to the movies a bit less, giving up on Starbuck’s everyday on the way to work. That Starbuck’s adds up, expense wise! About a week and a half ago, I took my two godsons and one of their friends to the movies in Rancho Mirage. Four of us. The tickets cost $10 each, $40 altogether, and then another $25 or $30 for popcorn, nachos and soda pop. One trip less to the movies a month or one less night out at a restaurant can save $50, $70 or even $100 or more, which could really make a big difference in building this new church!
- Maybe you could give your tax refund check to God instead of spending it.
- Maybe you could postpone a big expense – a new TV, a new car, a new home, a fancy vacation – and use what you save for the new church.
- Maybe your could cut out the premium cable TV channels – HBO and so forth – and use the money you save for the new church.
- Perhaps you could downsize somewhere or sell off something you don’t really need or use. Last night, one gentleman from our church offered to sell a used car, which he almost never uses, and donating that money to the new church.
- Maybe plan a less expensive wedding or quinceañera or baptism or birthday party.
- Maybe go to the casino less or spend less money playing golf.
The point is this: There are many ways to raise this money, and they are not too difficult, if everyone pulls together. But it does take everyone, not just a few. What seems impossible becomes possible, because, with God, nothing is impossible,
Remember our history. Back in 1971, our parents and grandparents sacrificed – and the result is this church, which has served our community for more than 35 years. We can do it again. It’s now our turn to make a contribution to our community, for the sake of our children and our grandchildren. Watch with me now this movie, made by some of our youth, about the new church:
[Show the video]
After Mass today, all of us will get a copy of this video, one per family. Take it home, watch it this week. Show it to others of your family and friends. Spread the word. We need lots of people and lots of support, in order to be successful.
Remember: Next week is Commitment Sunday. Pray. Ask God to speak to you. Listen.
We’ll ask each and every family next Sunday at all Masses to fill out a commitment card, making a promise to God for three years. Together, we will build our future. It takes generosity and a cheerful openness for all of us to do our part, all of us to participate and to sacrifice. But nothing is impossible with God!
Amen and God bless!
November 4, 2007
Building Our New Church Together – Step 2: Discernment
Most of you know that we are in the midst of a capital fundraising campaign to raise money to build a new church here in Coachella. On the screen is an artist’s rendition of the new church. The campaign logo is also on the screen, and the name of the campaign is “Building Our New Church Together.” I especially like that word “together,” because this is a big, ambitious project – the biggest project in my entire life that I’ve ever been involved in – and we are hoping to raise between $3 million and $6 million. It’s not a project that will be successful if only one of us, or a few of us, participate. It requires all of us, together, every single person and every single family, pulling together to do our part. And it requires us working together in partnership with God.
Today, we are in week 2 of a four-part series on “Building Our New Church Together.” But in the homily each of these four weeks, we are looking at the project from a spiritual perspective, from God’s perspective. Last week, I talked about Step 1. Does anyone remember what it was? Right! Prayer! Prayer is the most important part of this campaign. If we are not praying, this becomes just a human effort, not a godly effort. Prayer connects us to God. I hope all of us are praying – and praying fervently – for the success of this effort to build the Lord a new church here in Coachella, and not so much for ourselves, but for our community and for our future, our children and our grandchildren.
Here’s where we are going in our series – Step 1, Prayer; Step 2, Discernment; Step 3, Giving; and Step 4, which will be on Nov. 17 and 18 and which is our “Commitment Sunday,” celebrating! This series is leading us up to Nov. 17 and 18 where, at all our Masses, we are asking families to make a 3-year financial pledge, a 3-year financial commitment to the Lord, to help us in the building of our new church. And that’s why we need everyone here, ahead of time, in preparation for “Commitment Sunday,” to pray and to discern what the Lord is calling them to give.
Today, we are going to talk about Step 2, Discernment. On the screen are pictures of several people, hands to their ears, listening – and that’s because discernment really is about listening – listening to God, asking God to guide and lead us in our lives.
In our second reading today, Saint Paul is writing to the church in Thessalonia, and he says to them, “Brothers and sisters, we keep praying for you, that our God will make you worthy of the life to which he called you.” (2 Thessalonians 1:11, NLT) How many here believe that God has a plan and a purpose for your life? How many here believe that none of us is here on this earth accidentally, or as a mere coincidence? You see, God loves each of us immensely, and God calls each of us to fulfill a purpose for our lives. God knows what is best for us, and if we fail to fulfill God’s plan and God’s purpose, then we miss out on the promise of fullness of life that God wants each of us to enjoy.
Unfortunately, not all people fulfill the call of God in their lives. That’s because much of the time, we are not listening to God. Wee are not open to His call, because we are distracted, we are preoccupied, we get busy with other things. Many years ago, back in 1979 when I was just 22 years old, I was about to graduate from college with a degree in journalism. This was back in Indiana. During spring break, I got into my beat up yellow Datsun with 190,000 miles on it, and I drove around to every major city in the Midwest – Indianapolis, Chicago, Toledo, Detroit, Cincinnati – knocking on doors of newspapers, looking for a job. It was a very bad year for the economy, and nobody was hiring. I could not find a job, despite four years of hard work at school, preparing for a newspaper career. As a result, after graduation, I was forced to move back to my hometown of Evansville, Indiana, which was the very last place I really wanted to go; and to live with my mom and dad, because I had no money to pay for rent at an apartment; and to take a low-paying minimum wage job in Evansville that I despised and hated. I was so mad at God. But about a month after moving back home to Evansville, Indiana, my dad was diagnosed with a brain tumor about the size of my fist, and this was a very difficult time for my mom, my dad, and the rest of our family – lots of doctor’s visits, dangerous surgery at the hospital, fear that my dad would die. The good news is that he survived and is still alive today. The surgery was successful – just a little nerve damage that affects his face slightly. The tumor itself was benign, not malignant. But I realized that God had a plan and a purpose much bigger than my own plans. God wanted me to be home at that very critical moment for my family, not off in some distant city, working for a big city newspaper while my dad was at home sick.
Listening to God, following God is a choice. We can choose to listen to the Lord, or we can choose to tune the Lord out and go our own way. Our gospel today tells a wonderful story – one of my favorites in the entire Bible – about a guy named Zacchaeus, who at first tuned God out, but then repented, experienced a deep spiritual conversion and became a follower of Jesus. Today, I want us to do two things together: First, look at this story of Zacchaeus; and then, secondly, apply it in our own lives and look at how we can listen and discern God’s plan and purpose for our lives.
As we read this story of Zacchaeus together, I’ve asked one of our children to assist me. [Invite a short child to help] Let’s read the first part of the story together:
Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature.
Now you can see why I asked (Name) ________ to help me. He’s going to play Zacchaeus for us today. Imagine Danny Devito as Zacchaeus! Now Zacchaeus was rich – a tax collector – but most probably, he was rich because he stole and swindled people. That’s why he had a reputation of being a thief. Let me ask a quick question of everyone here: Raise your hand if you’ve ever robbed a bank! Nobody! We definitely have a church of saints here! Now, a second question: Anyone here ever robbed God? Think about this one. Anyone here not given God our full 100 percent, of our time, of our talent, of our love, of our energy, of our treasure? All of us – myself included – have stolen something from God. There is a bit of Zacchaeus in all of us! Let’s continue with the story:
So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way.
[Invite child to climb up a step ladder] Anyone here ever climbed a tree? Anyone here ever got stuck up a tree? I’ve never gotten stuck up a tree, but in my first year here as pastor, I got stuck up on the roof. I was trying to fix a TV antenna, and couldn’t get down because the step ladder was too short. So I was waving and screaming for help to the cars passing on the street – to no avail. Everyone in their cars just passed by, waving, yelling, “Hello, Father, how are you doing?” They couldn’t hear that I was screaming for help! Spiritually, we sometimes get stuck up a tree, cut off from God. We feel that God is off in the distance, that we’ve drifted away from God. Sometimes we like to be up that tree – playing church, playing religion, watching the Lord from a distance, but we don’t want to get too close to the Lord, because that might require something of us. We like staying up in that tree – maybe going to church on Sunday, but don’t ask me to practice my faith too seriously, especially not around my friends or at work or with my family – Sunday, OK, for one hour only, but not Monday or Tuesday or Wednesday or Thursday or Friday or Saturday!
Zacchaeus is up in the tree – curious about Jesus, but not really wanting to get too close to the Lord. Let me ask everyone here: What day did all our children celebrate last Wednesday? Right – Halloween. I’ve brought with me, for our little Zacchaeus, some items from my Halloween collection. [Pull out a monster mask and ask child to put it on] Sometimes we hide from God. We put on masks. We don’t show God or others our true selves. We pretend to be what we are not. [Pull out a Halloween chicken head mask and ask child to put it on] Sometimes we’re afraid to come down out of the tree, we’re afraid to really allow God to change us. We’re not sure where that will lead, so we hold back, we make excuses, we play “chicken.” [Pull out a set of headphones and ask child to put it on] Sometimes we don’t listen to God. We block the voice of God out with the noise of our society, or we distract ourselves with other things.
Last week, I talked to one of my godsons. He’s a great kid, really – good grades, active in sports and in other activities at school. He’s almost 16 and he asked me, “Padrino, I want to get a job. I need some spending money. What do you think?” We talked about it. I asked him about his grades, told him that studying had to be a priority. And I asked him how he was going to find time to work, with all his sports and other school activities. “No problem,” he said proudly. “I’ve figured it out. I’ll go to school and do my sports and school activities Monday through Friday, I’ll work Friday nights and all day Saturday, on Saturday night I’ll have time for my friends or for my sports and club activities, then I’ll work all day Sunday, do my homework Sunday night, and be ready for school again on Monday.” I asked him point blank, “And what about God? Where do you fit your relationship with the Lord into this busy schedule, if you’re working all day Saturday and Sunday?” “Oh,” he said, and he paused. I asked him again. Again, “Oh.” He’s a good kid. He said, “I’ll get up early Sunday morning and go to Mass at 7 a.m., before I go to work.” I said, “Right!” I don’t know any 16-year-old teen who, after working all day Saturday, going out Saturday night, having to work all day Sunday, is able and willing to get up for 7 a.m. church services. It’s just not realistic. You see, even for good kids, the noise of the world, the lure of money, the attraction of a job or sports or going out and having a good time, or just sleeping in late – they subtly, subconsciously, almost without us knowing or being aware, crowd out God.
Jesus said to Zacchaeus: Don’t stay up in the tree, far away from me. Take off the masks. Get rid of the fear. Take off the earphones. Listen to me, not to the noise of the world. I love you. I created you. I know what is best for you. Follow my plan and my purpose for your life, not your own plans, not what the world tells you – and I will give you abundant life. Come down! And so we read:
When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house." And he came down quickly and received him with joy.
But notice what comes next:
When people all saw this, they began to grumble, saying, "He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner."
There will be others who criticize us, demean us, poke at our self esteem, tear us down. Remember last week when I talked about “magnifying glass” people – those who are always judging everyone else, criticizing everyone else, putting everyone else down? It may be our own family members, a spouse or a child – don’t go to church, don’t be a religious fanatic. You’ll never, ever live a life pleasing to God and you will never, ever fulfill God’s plan and God’s purpose for your life if you listen to the critics and try to please them. We are here on the earth to please just one person, the Lord, and not the crowds. Look at how Zacchaeus responded:
But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over."
He responded not just with words, but with actions, with heartfelt generosity. We too must “walk the walk” and not just “talk the talk.” And listen to the result:
And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost." (Luke 19:1-10, New American Bible)
Please give a big round of applause to my helper here, Zacchaeus. [Applause for child] Now let’s take the story of Zacchaeus and apply it to our own lives. Mother Teresa once said, “It is not how much we give, but how much we put into giving.” God wants us to be generous, but it isn’t about the amount, it’s about our heart. Zacchaeus was so filled with the joy of the Lord that he was willing and able to give lavishly, joyfully.
How do we discern God’s will for our lives. Here are the steps. Let’s read them together:
1. Stay focused on God.
2. Pray for God’s wisdom and guidance.
3. Follow Biblical and church principles.
4. Consult with godly and discerning people.
5. Don’t follow popular opinion or what other ungodly people say.
6. Ask tough questions of yourself.
Here are some examples of those tough questions:
1. In what ways am I hiding from God?
2. In what ways am I stuck up in a tree?
3. What is God inviting me to do?
4. Am I open to respond to God with generous faith? Or do I hold back?
5. Am I allowing others and their criticism to hold me back?
We’re building a new church. It’s going to take a lot of prayer, a lot of commitment, a lot of sacrifice on all of our parts. I heard a joke last week about two young men who were best friends and who both had a deep conversion to the Lord. They promised each other that they would always be faithful to the Lord, and they would always give God 10 percent of whatever the made. The first became a pastor, the other a businessman. At first, the businessman struggled. It took time for his business to take off. In the first year, he only made $10,000, but – per his promise to God – he gave the Lord 10 percent, which was $1,000. As years went by, he was more successful -- $100, 000 a year, $500,000 a year, a million dollars a year, and he kept faithfully giving to God his 10 percent -- $10,000, $50,000, $100,000. But one year, he made $70 million, and he just couldn’t fathom parting with 10 percent of that to God. Ten percent was $7 million! So he went to his friend, the pastor, and he asked the pastor to pray to God for him, asking God to let him off the hook with his promise as a young man. The pastor knelt on the floor and began to pray fervently. The businessman asked his friend, “Are you asking God to let me off the hook about my promise?” “No,” said the pastor, “I’m asking God to give you back that first job when you only made $10,000 a year!”
The real question is: Are we giving God our very best? Or are we giving the Lord the scraps off the table, the leftovers? This parish has a lot of people who are poor and struggling. Maybe they can’t give a lot of money. Maybe their gift will be of their time and talent, their energy and their prayers. Maybe they’ll just be able to give up a soda pop a day and give that money to the campaign to build our new church. Others of us are in the middle, economically. We’re not rich, but neither are we poor. We have discretionary income – but will we spend it for God or on ourselves? It might mean cutting back on going out to restaurants or fast food, or cutting back on beer or soda pop or cigarettes, or postponing a vacation, or postponing the purchase of a new wide screen TV, or cutting out some of those premium cable TV channels. Will we give God our very best? A few people in our community really have been blessed with a lot of money. They own businesses or homes or apartment complexes, or they’ve received an inheritance, or they’ve been able to save a lot of money over the course of many years. They have the ability to show extraordinary generosity, if they wish. In all those groups, there are people who are very, very generous, who are constantly the first to give, no matter how big or small that gift is. And then, there are others who (as they say in Monterrey) are “codos,” tight.
Why be generous? Why be good stewards? On the screen are some of the reasons:
1. God has been generous to us and we are grateful.
2. Generosity reminds us that all we have comes from God.
3. Generosity enlarges our heart to love.
4. Generosity teaches us to trust in God, not ourselves.
5. Generosity refocuses us on God, not ourselves.
Remember, God calls all of us. God has a plan and a purpose for each of our lives. But it is up to us to listen, to respond. “We keep on praying for you,” says Saint Paul, “that our God will make you worthy of the life to which he called you. And we pray that God, by his power, will fulfill all your good intentions and faithful deeds.” (2 Thessalonians 1:11, New Living Translation)
Last week, it being Halloween, I came across the following interesting reflection: “A woman was asked by a co-worker, "What is it like to be a Christian?" The co-worker replied, "It is like being a pumpkin. God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off of you. Then he cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff. He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, and then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see."
Let me conclude by showing you a painting, entitled “Light of the World,” by Holman Hunt. He painted it back in the 19th century. Jesus is holding a lamp in one hand. He wants to scatter the darkness and fill our lives with light and love. And he is knocking on a door with the other hand. But notice: The door where he is knocking does not have a door handle. Anyone know why? It’s because the door represents our hearts, and the handle is on the inside of the door, but not on the outside. Jesus never forces himself upon us. He never pushes open the door to force us to follow him. He knocks gently. He invites, just as he invited Zacchaeus to come down from the tree and to follow him.
Jesus is knocking at our hearts, too. He is inviting us to open the door. He promises to fill us with His light and his love and his life. But are we listening? Will we respond? Will we take off the masks, get rid of the fear, hear his voice – and in choosing to follow him, discover true fullness of life?
Last week in the English Masses, I showed a short video clip, and today, I want to show it to you, also. As you watch, think about what the clip is trying to say to us:
[Video clip, Part 1, from Bowling for Colombine. Theme: Fear]
There’s a second part to the video clip, a cartoon. I hope everyone enjoys cartoons. Let’s watch:
[Video Clip, Part 2]
What are these video clips about? [Allow answers from the congregation]
If you look at your handout, it says that we live in a culture of fear. And maybe that has never been more true than in the last few years, in the aftermath of 9-11 and Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein and the war on terrorism and the war in Iraq.
The video clips show that TV and the media are constantly feeding us and bombarding us with a constant menu of fear. But even from the beginning of our nation’s history, fear has fed the violence in our culture. The massacre of native Americans. The burning of witches. Racism and the Civil War. The Ku Klux Klan and the NRA. Most of human history has been mired in the quagmire of violence, often fed by fear.
Today, we are going to talk about the Christian response to this culture of fear, and the antidote which Jesus offers to us. We can sum up Jesus’ antidote in three short words: DO NOT FEAR. Please repeat those words after me: DO NOT FEAR. Again: DO NOT FEAR. We need to let that message sink in deep. Even if the world seems to be ending – DO NOT FEAR.
The end of the world does not just happen at the end of time or at the end of history. Our world can seem to be coming to end even in the here and now. When the World Trade Center in New York was attacked on 9-11, it seemed then that the world was coming to an end. Personal crises in our own lives can make it seem like the world is caving in all around us and coming to end. Jesus tells us: DO NOT FEAR.
On your handouts is a question: What do you fear? Would someone give us some answers about what people fear?
[Allow answers from the congregation. Possible responses: Getting fired, getting downsized or laid off and losing a job; getting sick; a loved one (or ourselves) dying; a tragedy in our family; a child or spouse getting hurt or dying; marriage conflicts, divorce; problems with addictions; problems with our kids; our kids getting depressed, not feeling like their parents understand them, even contemplating suicide; problems in school; problems with bullies; insecurities; a midlife crisis…]
This could become a very long list, couldn’t it? Did you know that experts say there are more than 600 different phobias – psychological fears – that afflict people? A few days after the election, I read a tragic story of a young man in New York City who was so depressed after the elections and after George Bush defeated John Kerry that he committed suicide, he killed himself. Fear, depression, sadness – they are all around us, every day.
But look at the next question: What is your vision of the future? What are your hopes and dreams?
[Again, allow responses from the congregation]
Some of us are optimists, and others are pessimists. For some, the glass is half empty, and for others, it is half full. Some see the future full of hope and exciting possibilities – kind of like Star Trek or the Jetson’s, where we will go “where no one has gone before.” Others think more of Armaggedon, Apocalypse Now.
Some people give up. They just stop caring. They just live for themselves and never worry about anyone else, much less about the rest of the world. I believe that the Enemy, Satan, uses several tactics in an effort to defeat us. On your sheet are four of them – Fear; Doubt; Apathy; Depression. Which is the one that most affects you?
I think Jesus would want us to have the attitude of the great Protestant Reformer Martin Luther, who said: “If I knew the world was going to end tomorrow, I would plant a tree today.” Christians are to be hopeful about the future, instruments and tools in the hand of God to build God’s kingdom, focused on enjoying and living life to its fullest today and trusting God to take care of the future.
Our readings from the Bible give us some good guidance today. The first piece of advice is simply this: Be Careful of Superstition and False Prophets.
In our first reading, the prophet Malachi tells us that there will be an end to the world:
For lo, the day is coming, blazing like an oven,
when all the proud and all evildoers will be stubble,
And the day that is coming will set them on fire,
leaving them neither root nor branch,
says the LORD of hosts. -- Malachi 4:1 (NAB)
But in our gospel today, Jesus also tells us: "See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he,' and 'The time has come.' Do not follow them!” (Luke 21:8) In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells his disciples: “But of that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.” (Matthew 24:36)
How many believe there are lots of false prophets out there, trying to scare us? How many believe there is a lot of superstition out there?
People come running to us priests, asking for a house blessing, because they hear noises in their home and think the house is haunted. When there is an earthquake, the church suddenly is full the next Sunday. But God is not a magician. God doesn’t want us to come running every time we get scared, but to forget him the rest of the time. God wants us to follow him all the time, and to give our hearts and lives over to him, to love him and to build a personal and intimate relationship and friendship with Him. God wants us to always be ready and strong spiritually, not just to come running when there is a crisis. That requires following him before the crisis comes in our lives, giving our lives over to him now, not off in the future.
There are lots of false prophets out there. Beware. Be careful. Many of the more fundamentalist churches go door to door, using scare tactics to win over gullible and weak Catholics. Did you know that the founders of groups like the Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Mormons all started their new religions by going door to door, scaring people by predicting the end of the world.
There are books out there, scaring people: The Left Behind series; the Da Vinci Code. When I was in high school, the popular scare book was “The Late Great Planet Earth.” It predicted that the world was about to end because of the Middle East crisis and the oil crisis, so on and so forth. Not much has changed in 30 years! These books are garbage! Bad theology. Don’t fall for it.
Think about it: If these authors really believed the world was about to end, why sell their books? Why not give them away for free? Why not do the world a service, warn people for free? If the world really is about to end, and they really believe it, there is no need to sell their books, because who needs money after the world ends?
I read recently about some bumper stickers on cars. One said: “Warning: Whenever the rapture occurs” – (that’s the belief of some fundamentalist Christians that God is going to take all believers up to heaven in one fell swoop, in one great moment called the rapture – and everyone else is going to be left behind, to face the anti-Christ and the devil) – “he driver of this car will disappear.” But some enterprising bumper sticker competitor has come up with a response: “When the rapture comes, may I have your car?”
Jesus’ message to us is what? Let’s say it together: DO NOT FEAR.
The second word of advice from today’s reading is this: TRUST IN GOD. I was reading last week that the Bible says “Do not fear” 366 times! That’s once for every day of the year – and an extra day for good measure. Do you think God wants us to get the point?
Look at what Malachi tells us: “But for you who fear my name, there will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays; And you will gambol like calves out of the stall.” (Malachi 4:2, NAB) Look what Jesus tells us in today’s gospel: “When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified" (Luke 21:9, NAB).
On your sheets, I’ve listed four ways that people typically respond to fear, some good and some bad. First: Some people respond by looking for false security. Tell me: Is this good or bad? Right: Bad! Some examples: we trust in security alarms in our homes to protect us; or guns to fend off criminals; or money to stave off economic difficulties. As a nation, we sometimes put false trust in our armed forces and in our missiles. Husbands and wives sometimes put all their trust in each other – but the reality is that one is probably going to die before the other, leaving that other alone. Or some put their faith in their children – but our children eventually will leave home.
Look at what Jesus says in our gospel today: “While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, he said, "All that you see here--the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down." (Luke 21:5-6, NAB) In other words, don’t trust in human-made temples of stone – they won’t last! Instead, focus on the real temple – which is ourselves. Are we living temples where God lives and is a priority?
Second, some people respond to fear by falling into apathy and depression and negativity. Good or bad? Right: Bad. Jesus wants to lift us up and give us fullness of life and joy – not sadness and despair. Even when life is hard, if we’ve cultivated a relationship with the Lord, he will help us through, so that we can pass from the valley of darkness to the mountain of hope and new life.
Third, Hedonism. That’s a big word, but it just means, “Living for yourself, selfishly, seeking gratification and pleasure for yourself with no real concern for other people.” It’s the Playboy philosophy: Eat, drink and be merry. Live it up now, because there may not be a tomorrow. As a college roommate of mine used to say so crassly, “Life’s a bitch, and then you die.” So just live for the moment. Lot of people live this way. Good or bad? Right: Bad. God placed us on this earth for a purpose – not just to live for ourselves, but to live for Him.
Four: Trust in God. Good or bad? Right: Good. This is the point of our readings today.
How do we do that? This is where we get down to the nitty gritty, and on your sheets are four ways to trust in God, even in the midst of our fears.
First, we need to name our fears. The first step in overcoming any obstacle in life is naming the obstacle. That’s how we began today – naming some of our fears.
Second, offer your fears to God. Pray and give them over to him. The Bible says, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear.” (1 John 4:18, NAB) Let’s say a little prayer together right now. Turn to someone next to you, join hands with them, bow your heads… [Lead congregation in short prayer to overcome fears]
Third, don’t try to go it alone. This is the biggest mistake Christians make. We need fellowship and community. We need others to help us in our faith. That’s why it is so essential that we worship together as a family on Sunday at church. It’s why we need to receive strength from Jesus by receiving the Body and Blood of Christ in communion, and receiving the other sacraments as well. It’s why we need to be in a small faith community or Bible study small group – to have others around us on a regular basis, walking with us spiritually so that we can strengthen and encourage each other together. That’s why we need to take advantage of opportunities to grow spiritually – retreats, classes, etc. One of the things I’ve observed recently is that some people go to the Mini-Retreat 101 to baptize a child or get married – but then, they stop. Keep going! A story is told of an man who never went to church and always told his wife and kids, “I pray alone by myself. I don’t need to go to church.” One day, the pastor visited him at his home. Without saying a word, he reached into the fire, pulled out a hot charcoal, and laid it alone on the mantle of the fireplace. After a few moments, the coal went out. That’s what happens to us, spiritually, when we isolate ourselves and remove ourselves from the furnace or the fireplace, which is the church, the community. With other Christians around us, the coal stays hot and burning. Isolated from the community, the fire dies.
Finally: Persevere. Jesus says in our gospel today: “By your perseverance you will secure your lives.” (Luke 21:19, NAB) One of the greatest tragedies I’ve seen is that people burn out spiritually, or they get lazy and fall back into bad spiritual habits. They may be hot for a while spiritually, but then, they go cold. I’ve heard it said that the Christian life is a marathon, not a sprint. The winner is the one who perseveres to the end.
Let’s conclude by reading the last verse on your handouts, from Paul’s letter to the Romans. We use this verse at the closing prayer of our Mini-Retreat 101. It reminds us that our lives are to become living sacrifices, a living offering to God. We are to be God’s temples, not following the false ways of this world: “I urge you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:1-2, NAB)
I suggest you take this handout home. Meditate: What are your fears. Follow these steps – admit your fears, offer them to God in prayer, connect (or reconnect) with the family of God, and persevere, don’t give up. Maybe re-read this last verse from Romans every day for the next week or two.
And remember Jesus’ three words to us today: DO NOT FEAR.
Ordinary 32-C (November 7, 2004)
I need one volunteer, someone who will come forward and who is a brave soul – not a kid, but an adult. Now I want to ask you a simple question. In my bag here, I have a few items. I want to ask if you would be able and willing to use these items for me, right here and now, in front of this entire congregation.
• (Pull out a diaper) Would you be willing to wear this?
• (Baby bib) Would you be willing to put this on?
• (Nipple and baby bottle) Would you be willing to drink from this and put this in your mouth?
• Why not?
Please give a big applause for our brave “guinea pig” volunteer here! Many thanks!
Now why was he/she unwilling or reluctant to use the items I pulled out of the bag? Because each of those items is for an infant, a baby – and he/she no longer is a baby, no longer an infant.
None of us stays an infant. We all grow up. And that’s what Jesus wants of us spiritually, also. On your handouts today, we’re going to talk about how to become mature, spiritually. It says, “Growing Up, Growing Wise: Learning to Ask the RIGHT Questions.”
We all grow up, physically. No one stays an infant. But some people never grow up spiritually or emotionally or psychologically. God wants us to grow, not just physically, but also spiritually. God wants us to become wise. And in today’s gospel, we see that part of spiritual maturity means asking the right questions.
In our gospel, we see in the Sadducees an example of spiritual immaturity – asking the wrong question. They are not interested in discovering the truth. They just want to trap Jesus, trick him, play spiritual games. So they ask: At the resurrection, whose wife will that woman be? For all seven had been married to her. – Lk. 20:33
Do you think some people still play spiritual games today? They aren’t interested in really discovering the truth. They just want to force everyone else to think like they do. Max Lucado, a popular Christian writer, wrote the following (which is on your handout). He’s a non-Catholic, so it is written for a Protestant audience, but the point is clear: Some time ago I came upon a fellow on a trip who was carrying a Bible. "Are you a believer?" I asked him. "Yes," he said excitedly. I've learned you can't be too careful. "Virgin birth?" I asked. "I accept it." "Deity of Jesus?" "No doubt." "Death of Christ on the cross?" "He died for all people." Could it be that I was face to face with a Christian? Perhaps. Nonetheless, I continued my checklist. "Status of man." "Sinner in need of grace." "Definition of grace." "God doing for man what man can't do." "Return of Christ?" "Imminent." "Bible?" "Inspired." "The Church?" "The Body of Christ." I started getting excited. "Conservative or liberal?" He was getting interested too. "Conservative." My heart began to beat faster. "Heritage?" "Southern Congregationalist Holy Son of God Dispensationalist Triune Convention." That was mine! "Branch?" "Pre-millennial, post-trib, non-charismatic, King James, one-cup communion." My eyes misted. I had only one other question. "Is your pulpit wooden or fiberglass?" "Fiberglass," he responded. I withdrew my hand and stiffened my neck. "Heretic!" I said and walked away – Max Lucado.
I’ve heard of churches that split over whether to sit or stand or kneel, whether to use glass or metal cups for communion, whether to use guitar music or organ music at Mass. How sad to fight over details, but to miss the opportunity to show concern for the real issues that trouble God – poverty, hunger, disease, war, violence, our cruelty to one another as human beings, government policies that ignore the weak and vulnerable.
Last week, I read about a woman who attended a Gay Pride parade in her hometown. There’s a parade of that sort going on this weekend in Palm Springs, I believe. Afterward, she wandered in to a Metropolitan Church, which is a church denomination that ministers to the gay community. As the church service began, a group of protesters from another church entered and started to yell that all gay people were going to burn in hell. The pastor instructed his congregation to turn toward the protesters and say, simply, “Jesus loves you.” But the protesters started yelling back, “Jesus hates you! Jesus hates you!”
Can you imagine Jesus saying that to anyone? We’ve twisted religion, and so often made God into our own image rather than imitate the real Jesus, who loved everyone and welcomed all into His kingdom. Spiritual immaturity – making mountains our of molehills and forgetting the essentials: Love God and love your neighbor as yourself.
God wants us to grow into adult spiritual maturity and to ask the right questions, not to play games with God. Saint Paul tells us:
When I was a child, my speech, feelings, and thinking were all those of a child; now that I am an adult, I have no more use for childish ways. -- 1 Corinthians 13:11 (Today’s English Version)
We must become like a mature person, growing until we become like Christ
and have his perfection. -- Ephesians 4:13 (New Contemporary Version)
Today, we are going to look at four questions, raised by today’s Scripture readings. First: Is there life after death? In the gospel, the Sadducees are trying to trick Jesus with their question – but it still is a good question, in spite of their motives.
I heard a joke about life after death. Two friends, Abe and Sal, who always sat together each day on a park bench, chatting, wondered if there was baseball in heaven. They made an agreement with each other: The first to die would come back as a spirit and tell the other if there was baseball in heaven. One day, Abe died. The next day, Sal was sitting on the park bench, all alone, and he heard a voice. “Is that you, Abe?” he asked. Abe replied, “Yes, it’s me.” “Well,” asked Sal, “is there baseball in heaven?” Abe replied, “I have good news and bad news.” So Sal said, “Give me the good news first.” “OK,” said Abe, “there is baseball in heaven.” “Great,” said Sal. “So what’s the bad news?” Abe replied, “You’re scheduled to pitch this Friday.”
Is there life after death? It’s a good question, and it urges us to ask ourselves, “Are we ready for it?” This is really the question of purpose and meaning in our life, because all of us yearn for our lives to count for something. We yearn for the purpose of our life to be more than spending a few short years on earth, then back to dust we go and we are forgotten and dead forever. Why am I here? Does my life have purpose and meaning?
God’s answer in the Bible is a resounding “Yes!” St. Paul tells us in his 1 letter to the Thessalonians: Since Jesus died and broke loose from the grave, God will most certainly bring back to life those who died in Jesus. -- 1 Thessalonians 4:14 (Message)
Paul tells us in First Corinthians: No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him. -- 1 Corinthians 2:9 (New Living Translation)
Paul asks us: How can some of you say that the dead will not be raised to life? If that is true, it means that Christ was not raised; and if Christ has not been raised from death, then we have nothing to preach and you have nothing to believe. More than that, we are shown to be lying about God… And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is a delusion… But the truth is that Christ has been raised from death, as the guarantee that those who sleep in death will also be raised. -- 1 Cor. 15:12-15, 17, 20 (TEV)
The Bible affirms resurrection and life after death, but it doesn’t tell us much about the details. People ask: Will I recognize and know my loved ones? Will an infant who died be grown, or still an infant? Will people who’s bodies are scarred or maimed get new bodies in heaven? Will there be dogs and cats in heaven? Will the streets be paved in gold? What color will the sky be? On and on – and nobody knows!
For modern minds, think “Jurassic Park” – how the dinosaurs, long extinct, were brought back to life. Or think Star Trek and the transporter – “beam me up, Scotty!” Maybe God will beam us up to heaven and reconfigure us. Think maybe of DNA – how even when we die, our unique identity is still locked up inside the DNA that is transported down through the centuries, generation to generation. Maybe our souls are like spiritual DNA. Some people say resurrection and life after death make no sense in our modern, scientific view of the world. But at least one famous modern physicist, Frank Tippler, has written a scientific book entitled “The Physics of Immortality” in which he argues, using science, that immortality makes sense and is possible. Why not? When we die, the atoms and molecules or our bodies continue to exist. Why can’t God reconfigure them back, so that we become us again? Why can’t mind and soul transcend the body, just like DNA does?
But in our gospel today, Jesus gives us a different sort of answer – not, maybe, the answer we prefer, but an intriguing and amazing and wise answer, nonetheless. Turn to the second side of your handouts. Jesus asks us: Are you married to God?
Let me explain. Remember, the Sadducees are trying to trick Jesus by asking that, if someone is married and widowed and remarried several times during this lifetime, what happens in the next life? Who is their spouse? Jesus says: The children of this age marry and remarry; but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and to the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. -- Luke 20:34-35 (NAB)
This might be good news for some, bad news for others. I heard a story of a bride who wanted to change the words of her wedding vows from “Until death to us part” to “Substantial penalty for early withdrawal.” No way! At weddings, grooms and brides are asked to say, “Until death do us part,” but that raises the question: what happens after death? I heard another story of a woman who was dying of cancer, but suddenly, her husband keeled over, dead from a heart attack. A friend, trying to comfort her, said, “Don’t worry. Soon you two will be together again.” The wife replied, “I guess I am never going to get away from him, am I?”
Jesus is saying that in heaven, we are wedding to God, not to other people. Jesus is saying that our first priority needs to be to God, even here on earth, because heaven (or hell, depending on our choices) begins here on earth. If you want purpose and meaning and significance to your life, you must wed yourself to God and to God’s plans and purposes, and not follow the false lures of the world. Jesus tells us in the gospel of Matthew: If you love your father or mother or even your sons and daughters more than me, you are not fit to be my disciples. -- Matthew 10:37 (CEV)
That leads to our second question: Am I living or just existing? What is the quality of my life? Am I just going through motions, or am I taking maximum advantage of the opportunities and blessings that God sends my way. The second part of Jesus’ answer to the Sadducees is this: Now he is God, not of the dead, but of the living; for to him everyone is alive. – Luke 20:38 (NJB)
Jesus tells us to focus more on living life to its fullest in the here and now, and don’t fear or worry about the future or about life after death. Just trust in God. God is a God of the living.
That leads us to a third key question, raised in our first reading from the Old Testament, from the second book of Maccabees: What would I die for? Do I live for the truth, or am I living a lie and living behind a false mask? What are my values and convictions, and am I true to those values and convictions? Or do I sell out the false values of the world?
In Maccabees, seven young Jewish brothers are arrested by the king and forced to choose: Renounce your faith in God and live, or die. Their answer is on your sheet: We are ready to die rather than transgress the laws of our ancestors. – 2 Maccabees 7:2 (NAB) --- The King of the world will raise us up to live again forever. It is for his laws that we are dying. -- 2 Maccabees 7:9 (NAB)
All of us, every single day, are bombarded with messages – some true, some false. There are many wolves in sheep’s clothing. For example, look at the following video:
[Video shows TV news bombarding us with the message of fear]
We are not always told the truth. I’ve become more and more aware, during these past months of the election campaigns, of all the false propaganda that is out there. Our children are taught this propaganda even in the schools – a blind and narrow nationalism, a false patriotism, what theologians call “civil religion” where we worship our country more than our God, and believe that our country is divinely blessed by God and can do no wrong. Politicians from both parties are guilty of this when they say, “God bless America” and invoke God in order to win votes. As Christians, we are world citizens – we think of all people as God’s children, not just people in our own nation or of our own race. No one nation is perfect or above critique or “chosen by God” – not even our own, despite the rhetoric and the rah rah of patriotism that sometimes can blind us to God’s cry for justice.
I was encouraged last week by the large turnout for the election. Lines were long at the polls here in Coachella. Some of our young people here in the parish really hustled to convince our community – which normally is apathetic –to vote! Their hard work paid off. Let’s give them a big round of applause! And we should applaud our candidates – winners and losers – but also urge them to lead by God’s principles, not the false principles of power and greed, but with love and compassion, especially for those who do not have a voice.
As Christians, we need to always be seeking the truth – God’s truth – and to hear opposing viewpoints. Let me show you another version of truth – one that is seldom taught in our schools or on mainstream TV, but that will make us think and maybe help explain why so much of the rest of the world hates Americans:
[Show video of American injustice and brief cartoon history of American violence]
Our last question: In God we trust? Do we? Is God in control of our lives? Do we really follow God, or do we follow what is popular and what the crowds are doing?
As Christians, we are to live in the now, and make God’s Kingdom real here and now. We can’t do it on our own. We need God. On your sheet are five action steps to help us put flesh on our faith and to develop a vibrant, authentic, mature faith marked by wisdom and prudence:
1. Commit. We need to choose – God’s way or our way, God’s way or the world and the crowd.
2. Pray. Talk, hang out, waste time with God, read the Bible, read newspapers, read books, learn, become informed about the world and about your faith. Lean on God, not on yourself. Connect with the power source.
3. Worship. We need each other. There is power in numbers. God created a church so that we can have a family that will help us to grow into our full spiritual potential. We will never become fully what God intends of us if we try to do it alone and cut off from other Christians. Go to Mass on Sunday and plug in with other Christians on a regular basis.
4. Grow. Water the seeds that God has planted in your life. Seize opportunities – retreats, small faith communities, Bible study groups, whatever.
5. Act. Faith without works is dead. Serve others to make the world a better place, don’t just serve yourself or your friends and family. Be generous. Be joyful and enthusiastic. Share your faith in God and your relationship with Jesus and your enthusiasm for building God’s kingdom with others.
Grow up and grow wise! God is raising up an army of mature Christian disciples. Will we join God’s team?
A heard a story just last week about a cab driver and a nun. The cab driver picks up the nun. She gets into the cab, and the cab driver won't stop staring at her. She asks him why he is staring and he replies, "I have a question to ask you but I don't want to offend you." She answers: "My dear son, you cannot offend me. When you're as old as I am and have been a nun as long as I have, you get a chance to see and hear just about everything. I'm sure that there's nothing you could say or ask that I would find offensive." "Well, I've always had a fantasy to have a nun kiss me." She responds, "Well, let's see what we can do about that: #1, you have to be single and #2 you must be a Catholic." The cab driver is very excited and says, "Yes, I am single and I'm Catholic too!" The nun says, "OK, pull into the next alley." He does and the nun fulfills his fantasy. But when they get back on the road, the cab driver starts crying. "My dear child." said the nun, "Why are you crying?" "Forgive me sister, but I have sinned. I lied, I must confess, I'm married and a I'm a Baptist." The nun says, "That's OK, I am on the way to a Halloween party, and my name is Kevin."
Tonight, in the United States, we celebrate Halloween. Children – and adults, too – don masks and costumes for parties and to go door to door, trick or treating. But Halloween is not the only time we wear masks and costumes. Lots of time, in real life, we don masks to hide our real self from other people. We bury ourselves in our jobs, or in an addiction, or in the pursuit of material or sensual pleasure – and we drown out our real selves and try to hide behind our masks.
Some of us think we are too fat, and others think they are too skinny. Some think they are too short, while others think they are too tall. Some think they are too old, others think they are too young. Some of us worry because we are losing our hair – others worry because they are too hairy. When I was a teenager, I had really hairy arms, and this little kid started to tease me – “Fuzzy bunny, fuzzy bunny!” Now, I worry that I am losing all my
A survey a few years ago showed that 58 percent of all men are unhappy with their weight, 36 percent want more hair; 32 percent would like to change their height; and 19 percent would like a new nose. For women, 78 percent are unhappy with their weight, 48 percent want to hide wrinkles and other signs of aging; 37 percent would like to change the appearance of their teeth, and 34 percent would like better looking legs.
On your sheets, it says, “No More Masks! Climbing Down from the Tree and Embracing God’s Love.”
Our story in today’s gospel is about a man named Zacchaeus, who for years had worn a mask of sorts, and it was making him miserable. This is one of my favorite stories in the entire Bible. I think of Zacchaeus sort of like this … [Show short clip of Danny DeVito]
Zacchaeus was short – “vertically challenged” – so people probably made fun of him. He was a tax collector, so that made him very unpopular, because he collected taxes for the hated Romans – the oppressors – and he also was probably dishonest and stole from people, which is why he was rich. But this gospel today is really a love story – God’s love story toward us – because God is madly in love with us – and it doesn’t matter if we are rich or poor, tall or short, fat or skinny, handsome or beautiful, or ugly or a 90-pound weakling. In God’s sight, we are all beautiful – because God made us. Let’s get this into our heads. Repeat after me: “God… is madly in love… with me!”
On your sheet, it says that God has a plan for each of us. God wants what is best for us. In our first reading today, Paul tells us as much in his Second Letter to the Thessalonians. Let’s read it together: We always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith, that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, in accord with the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ.
This is a powerful verse, packed full of lots of truth from God. Paul prays that we might be worthy of the calling we have received from God. Did you know that God calls each and everyone of us? Paul says we are to fulfill every good purpose, and every effort of faith. God has a plan for us. And we are to do all this in order to glorify God. Paul tells us that the name of Jesus is to be glorified in us – we are to show forth to the world the love of Christ.
I heard a funny story recently of an elderly pastor who was lying in the hospital, sick and dying. A chaplain came by, offering to read to him from the Bible. The elderly man who was sick asked that he read from the 1st chapter of the 1st book of Chronicles. A section of that chapter is on your handout:
Adam, Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. The descendants of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. The descendants of Gomer were Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. The descendants of Javan were Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittim, and the Rodanim. The descendants of Ham were Cush, Mesraim, Put, and Canaan. The descendants of Cush were Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raama, and Sabteca. The descendants of Raama were Sheba and Dedan. – 1 Chronicles 1:1-9
That long list of names goes on for 53 verses altogether! The poor chaplain! But the sick man said, “That really gives me lots of comfort!” Finally, the chaplain asked, “Why did you select those Bible verses to give you comfort?” The sick man replied, “Because it reminds me that even though all those names are hard to say and pronounce, God know each of them by name, and loves them!”
God knows each of us by name – and loves us!
There’s a second message from Paul: Fear can rob us of enjoying the fullness of life that God has for us. At the end of our second reading today, Paul tells us: We ask you, brothers, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling with him, not to be shaken out of your minds suddenly, or to be alarmed either by a "spirit," or by an oral statement, or by a letter allegedly from us to the effect that the day of the Lord is at hand. The people of Paul’s day thought the end of the world was just around the corner, about to arrive at any moment – but Paul urges them to stay calm and not let fear or alarm shake them.
Finally, we have the wonderful story of Zacchaeus. I often use this story at house blessings. I tell the people at the home that this is the first time in the Bible when Jesus blessed a house. We usually reenact the story with a little kid – [invite a child forth, put a mask on their face] and their dad [invite a dad forward, who plays the tree. Ask the child to climb up on the shoulders of his or her dad as you retell the story]
On your sheets are some things we can learn from Zacchaeus, and also, some things that we learn about Jesus:
1. Zacchaeus was rich.
a. And Jesus didn’t care. You see, for God, it doesn’t really matter. Rich or poor, God loves us and accepts us as we are.
2. Zacchaeus was criticized and misjudged – probably because he was short, but more importantly, because he was a thief and a tax collector. We too may face criticism and teasing in our lives – sometimes for things we can’t do anything about, like being short or tall; and other times, because we do something wrong.
a. In either case, Jesus always extends a hand to us – a hand of acceptance, a hand of forgiveness, an invitation to trust and follow Him.
• Criticism is part of life! Have you ever been misjudged? I was reading last week about some of the great misjudgments and blunders of recent human history. Here are a few:
o 1842 – Samuel Morse – telegraph
o 1876 – Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone “useless toy” – President, Western Union
o 1878 – Thomas Edison’s lightbulb “unworthy of scientific study” – British Parliament
o 1908 – Car will never replace horse and buggy
o 1940 – Helicopter will never have practical military use – military experts
3. Zacchaeus is enthusiastic and curious. He ran ahead to see Jesus, and when he discovered that he could not see Jesus because of the crowd and his shortness of height, he even climbed a tree.
a. Jesus refused to listen to the crowd, who criticize both Jesus and Zacchaeus because Jesus was eating at the house of a sinner.
4. Zacchaeus is ready to change. He wants to get rid of the mask, to climb down from the tree.
a. Jesus, our gospel tells us, always seeks after the lost and wants to bring salvation to all.
And this is the good news. Jesus doesn’t judge or point fingers or listen to what the crowd is saying. Jesus doesn’t lay out a bunch of preconditions – “I’ll go to your house IF you sell all your possessions or return everything you’ve stolen…” Jesus takes us as we are, and loves us and invites us to embrace life.
The last verse in today’s gospel is the clincher – the good news. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost. – Luke 19:10
Salvation is when we discover and live as our true and authentic selves, as we discover God’s plan and purpose for our life, and start to live according to that divine plan and purpose. Salvation is when we start to really believe that we are loved.
I want to conclude with a story about a little boy who was burned severely in an accident and taken to the hospital, where doctors and nurses felt that he surely would die, because his injuries were so serious. The little boy himself gave up on life and thought he was about to die. But then one day, his teacher came to visit. She brought him his homework and told him that he would have to start working on his verbs and nouns and adjectives, as well as on his mathematics. The next day, the teacher returned to the hospital to visit the little boy. The nurse asked her, “What did you do to that little boy on your last visit?” At first, the teacher was frightened. She thought she had said or done something wrong, and that the little boy had taken a turn for the worse, as a result. But the nurses reassured the teacher, saying, “After your visit, the little boy make a complete turn around, and he now is getting better by the hour.”
What happened? Before, the little boy had given up on life and thought he was going to die. But after the visit by the teacher, he began to believe that he would live. After all, what teacher would waste time giving a homework assignment, if she thought that the boy was going to die?
The last thing on your handout is a simple question -- Us?
This final question is all important. Do we believe that God wants to give us fullness of new life? Do we believe that we are loved by God? And what are the masks we need to remove? What are the trees which we need to climb down from?
Are we willing to accept Jesus’ offer of a new life, and to realize that we are loved by God beyond anything we can every fully imagine? No more masks! Let’s climb down from our trees and embrace God’s love!
A story is told of a very astute musician who worked part time as a volunteer in the choir at his church. But he really dreamed of becoming the paid, fulltime director of music and liturgy at the church. One Sunday, the priest was telling the congregation about all the needs of the church, especially regarding repairs and a leaky roof. The priest then asked the congregation, “Anyone who is willing to make a special one-time extra donation of $100 to help fix the leaky roof, please stand!” At that very second, the astute musician started to play the “Star Spangled Banner” – and everyone in the congregation, out of habit, stood at full attention, their hands over their hearts. That day, the priest got his money to fix the church roof, and the musician got his full time job as choir director at the church!
Today, we continue our series on Stewardship – and we are going to focus today on the stewardship of our treasure, our money. Most of us priests don’t like talking about money, because we get accused of doing nothing else. Churches are full of people who complain, “All the priest ever does is talk about money.”
At Mini-Retreat 101, I tell a joke about a little boy who was traveling with his parents on an airplane when he swallowed and coin and started to choke. His mom cried out, “Is there a doctor on board the plane?” Fortunately, a doctor came running to help the little boy. But after a few moments, the doctor yelled out, “Is there a priest on board the plane?” The mother really started to panic. She thought the doctor was unable to save her child, and that he was calling for the priest to perform Last Rites. But the doctor told the mother, “Calm down! Your boy will be OK. It’s just that priests are the real experts in getting money out of people!”
Or at the same mini-retreat, I often tell the story of two young men, flying in a plane over the Bermuda Triangle, and they crash on a deserted island. The first starts to moan, “We’re going to die here!” But the other replies calmly, “I’m a multi-millionaire. God will save me!” The other responded, “You may have lots of money in the bank back home, but here, it is of no use at all. We’re on a deserted island, nobody knows where we are, and we are going to die!” But the other man continued to say calmly, “I’m a multi-millionaire. God will save me!” The first man said, “You’re crazy! You’re delusional! We’re both going to die on this deserted island!” But the other man said, “Don’t worry! I’m a multi-millionaire, and every single Sunday without fail, I give my 10 percent to my church. So my pastor will find us!”
The fact is that Jesus himself talked about money a lot in the New Testament – more than any other topic, except for the Kingdom of God. And Jesus talked about money for a spiritual reason – not because God needs our money. God doesn’t need anything. Everything comes from God. But Jesus understood that money and material possessions, more than anything else in our life, have the capacity to enslave us and hold us in spiritual bondage. And Jesus came to free us from slavery and bondage, to give us fullness of life in abundance.
Look at your handouts. It says, “Giving God Our Very Best.” That’s what God wants! He wants our hearts. He wants our love. He wants us to give the maximum, not just the minimum.
I’ve asked two teenagers to come up and help me this morning for just a second. [Invite teens forward] In paper sack, I have some apples. I am going to offer two apples, one for each of these teenagers. And one of them must choose which apple he wants for himself, and which one he wants to give to his friend. [Pull the apples out of the sack, one by one. The first should be a beautiful, ripe apple. The other apple should be almost fully eaten – just a core left. Ask:] Which of these two apples do you want for yourself, and which do you want to give to your friend? Now, if it was God standing here, asking for an apple, which would you give to God? [Applause for the teens as they return to their seats]
Do we give God our very best? Or do we give God the leftovers, the half eaten apple?
Faithfulness and stewardship are about giving God our very best, not just the leftovers. The last words of Jesus in our gospel today are very instructive: “When the Son of Man comes, will he find” – what is the underlined word on your handouts? – right! – “faith on earth?”
In our second reading today, St. Paul tells us in his Second Letter to Timothy, “Beloved: Remain” – what is the word? – “faithful to what you have learned and believed.”
Faith and faithfulness are the keys to fullness of life, which is what God wants for all of us! That challenge for us as Christians is simply this: Are we becoming people of true faith and fidelity to God? Do we try to give God the very best, the full apple, or just the core? And how do we show our faithfulness?
For two weeks now, we have been talking about Stewardship – which is just another word for faithfulness and putting God first in our lives. Two weeks ago, we talked about faithfulness with our time – and how our faith, like a tiny mustard seed, will grow into something tremendous that bears abundant fruit, if we water it and fertilize it and tend to it. Last week, we talked about stewardship and faithfulness of our talent – how we all have been blessed with many gifts and skills and talents, and God wants us to use those gifts and talents for his glory, and that the starting point is us developing an attitude of gratitude and thankfulness. Today, we talk about stewardship of our treasure.
On your handouts, it says, “Setting our Priorities.” Is God Number One? Or have we allowed other worldly distractions to crowed God out or to push God off to the sides and to the margins of our life? Last spring, at a conference on stewardship, I heard a story about a missionary in Africa who preached to his congregation about stewardship. The next morning, very early, a man from the village who was a fisherman came knocking at the door of the priest’s home. He was carrying a humongous fish. He said to this priest, “I really enjoyed your sermon yesterday on stewardship, so I came this morning to give you my 10 percent.” The priest was very impressed with the gift of the beautiful fish, but he said to the fisherman, “It really is early in the morning. How have you had time, already, to have completed your work and to have caught your catch of fish, so that you can come here at this early hour to pay your tithe?” The fisherman replied, “O no, Father! This is the first and only fish that I’ve caught today. Now I am going back to my boat so that God will help me catch the other nine!”
That fisherman understood stewardship – faithfulness – giving God the very best, the first of his catch of fish, then trusting that God what take care of the other nine.
I’ve invited [name] to share with us for a few moments about his/her testimony on how they have used their gifts to serve God here in our church. [Invite a testimony]
[Testimony]
On your handout, we see the same commitment and faithfulness in Saint Paul, who writes: All the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I've dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by him. I didn't want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ—God's righteousness. I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself. -- Philippians 3:8-10 (Message)
Giving our very best to God is a way of life. God doesn’t want us to give unless it is from the heart. Generosity is not about rules and regulations and obligations. Faith is about trusting Christ and going all the way with Him and giving him the very best because we love him and want to give, not because we have to give! Paul didn’t want to settle for second best, some inferior form of faithfulness and righteousness. He wanted to be sold out for Christ, 100 percent.
Not everyone gives God their very best. I jokingly say at Mass that I am sometimes envious of the ice cream truck driver who parks in front of the church every Sunday morning after Mass. It’s because I see people at Mass put in their dollar bill or their 50 cents into the collection plate, then go outside to the plaza after Mass and pluck out $5 or $10 for ice cream for themselves and their kids! That ice cream truck driver doesn’t even attend Mass, but he gets more than we do here at church in terms of the collection!
On your sheet, it says, “My Way or God’s Way.” “My Way” – the way of many, many people, when it comes to their money, goes something like this: We earn our paycheck every week or 14 days, we pay our bills, we spend money on things we want, then if there is any left over, we try to save a little bit for a rainy day, and then, if there is still some leftover, we put it into the collection plate on Sunday at Mass. But look at the way that God really blesses: We earn our wages every week or two weeks, we then give God the first part – just like the fisherman gave his first fish – then we save for the future, pay our bills, and enjoy what remains.
Why this order? First, it shows that we are putting God first in our lives. Second, just like the fisherman who trusted that God would provide him with nine more fish, we are showing that we trust God to meet our needs. Third, we are showing that we are thankful to God for all that we have – that we are aware that we have nothing at all, apart from God, and that we are called to be grateful for God’s many blessings on us.
Faithfulness is not about feeling guilty. It’s not about how much we have to give. A poor widow might only be able to give one dollar, but it comes from her heart. A rich person might be able to give much more, but he or she is not really sacrificing much when they give. A Bill Gates who has billions of dollars probably should be giving away 99 percent of his income – he can easily live on the remaining billion dollars he has left! Some can give more of their time, others more of their talent, others more of their treasure – but God has provided a way for everyone to give something back. Here at this church, we’ve suggested in the past that people start out by giving one hour of their weekly salary. That’s 2 ½ percent of their wages. But after some time goes by, maybe the next year, they can give a little bit more, sacrifice more, stretch a little bit more, grow a little deeper in their faithfulness. Take it to prayer. Go home and ask God for guidance on how to use your time, talent and treasure. Then be obedient to the leading of God, be joyful in your faithfulness, and watch as God repays your faithfulness with joy and blessing in your life. God looks at our heart. Are we giving God the full apple, our very best? Or just the core and the leftovers?
On your sheet, I’ve listed two challenges. The first I’ve called “Ten Percent Sunday.” This is an invitation, not meant to cause in guilt. But as a community, let’s try this out. We did this about five years ago, and it was very successful. For one week only, next Sunday if possible or the following Sunday otherwise, we ask every family that is able to try to give a full 10 percent of their weekly earnings to God. Just for one week. Why? For two reasons: (1) We will see just what the giving capacity of our community is; and (2) this will help us whittle down our parish debt, which is now at about $20,000.
The second challenge, for those who are able: Increase your weekly gift to the church by $1. Not everyone can do this, but hopefully, many can. We’ve noticed that our church is growing. More people are using the facilities. Yet we’ve never had a paid janitor to help keep the church and facilities clean. Our volunteers are wonderful, but we are finding that is not enough. The building and church are dirty, but we’ve not had enough money to hire a janitor. But if just 500 families give $1 extra a week, we will have enough money to hire a janitor to keep our facilities clean and in better repair. Also, we have more kids here than ever before, and more programs for children and youth. We want to expand those programs, but we need some extra money to do it.
I’m trusting God. This is God’s church, and God will provide – if we are faithful, if we are giving God our very best.
We have a very wonderful church, full of very dedicated and faith-filled people who give and give and give, over and over again. All it takes is for every single one of us to do our part and try to give our very best to God. About two weeks ago, I was at a conference with other priests, and I was talking about this parish – its many activities and all the wonderful ministries and activities of our people, and also about our weekly tithing using envelopes. Some of the wealthier parishes have more money than we do, but percentage-wise, we were outdoing almost every other parish in terms of numbers of people who contribute in some way of their time, talent and treasure. I am very proud of us as a parish. And today, I want us to give an applause to ourselves and to the faithfulness of the people of this church. [Applause] We just need to keep marching forward!
Turn to the back of your handouts. This is the last thing for today. It says “Stewardship – Setting the Table for a God Visit.” Image that tonight, if you are a Republican, George Bush says he wants to come over to your home for dinner. Or if you are a Democrat, John Kerry wants to dine with you. How many would simply rush out to Jack in the Box and buy some hamburgers for the dinner? Of course not! You’d prepare carne asada, enchiladas, tacos – if you invite me along, too, make sure you also prepare some chile rellenos! We’d give it our very best!
God is here in our midst, dining with us today. God deserves our very best. And when we are faithful, he will repay our faithfulness with lives that are full of God’s abundant life.
On your sheet are five simple steps as we prepare for a banquet with God:
First, look back. Remember God’s many blessings in our lives during the past.
Next, look forward – celebrate the future. God has wonderful plans for us, even in eternity.
Next, look around – at the needs of the poor, at the needs in our church and in our community. Let’s be generous is sharing of what we have with others.
Next, look inward – am I preparing myself spiritually? Is God No. 1? Am I giving God my very best and being a good and faithful steward of the time, talent and treasure that God has given me?
Finally, look up! Rejoice, for each of us is a beloved and precious child of God.
Faithfulness! Let us always strive for the maximum, not the minimum, giving God the whole apple, not just the core, giving God our very best.
October 28, 2007
Building Our New Church Together: Step One – Prayer
Welcome, everyone! As you know, we’re in the midst of a capital fundraising campaign entitled “Building Our New Church Together.” We’re raising money to build a new church here in Coachella, and last week, we handed out information packets. If you didn’t receive one, we have more packets available after Mass at the table at the doorway to church. In the information brochure, it lists four steps. They are: (1) Pray; (2) Discern; (3) Give; and (4) Celebrate. Each week for the next four weeks, we are going to talk about one of those steps, and today, we are going to talk about the first of those steps, prayer. Fortunately, that also happens to be Jesus’ topic in today’s gospel.
How many here think prayer is important? Statistics show that most Americans agree with you. A Gallup Poll several years ago showed that 78 percent of all Americans pray at least once a week, 57 percent pray every day, and even 20 percent of atheists pray each day – though I don’t know to whom they pray!
Children: Do you pray? Good. Last week, I came across these prayers by children (Saturday Evening Post, March/April 2006, p.48):
♣ Dear God, If you give me a genie lamp like Aladdin, I will give you anything you want except my money or my chess set. -- Raphael
♣ Dear God, We read Thomas Edison made light. But in Sunday school they said you did it. So I bet he stoled your idea. -- Sincerely, Donna
♣ Dear God, If we come back, please don’t let me be Jennifer Horton because I hate her. -- Denise
♣ Dear God, I want to be just like my daddy when I get big, but not with so much hair all over. -- Sam
♣ Dear God, I think about you sometimes even when I’m not praying. -- Elliott
Prayer is important. It’s what connects us to God. But there are right ways and wrong ways to pray. And that’s what our gospel is about today. Before we turn to our text in the Bible, let’s look at a more contemporary example of right and wrong ways to pray. Many of you know that I grew up in Indiana. People from Indiana are called “Hoosiers.” This is a clip from a movie entitled “Hoosiers.” It’s about a basketball team, because in Indiana, basketball is the sport. Gene Hackman plays a high school basketball coach, and the team prays before its game. But as you watch this short video clip, think about this one simple question: Who in this scene is praying correctly, and who is praying incorrectly?
[Show clip of praying before game, at about 0:58 into the movie. The coach and most the players are not really paying attention to the prayer. Gene Hackman is putting on his coat while the pastor prays! But one young man stays on his knees even after all the others have left. He is the only one who puts God and prayer first, before playing the game. Briefly discuss the video clip with the congregation, to illustrate authentic vs. inauthentic prayer.]
Too often, prayer is just superstition to win a game, magic when we need a special divine favor from God, self-centered rather than God-centered. Now, let’s look at today’s gospel. We have two characters, the Pharisee and the tax collector. First, let’s read together, out loud, the prayer of the Pharisee: “O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity--greedy, dishonest, adulterous--or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.” (Luke 18:11-12, NAB)
Is it a good prayer or a bad prayer? Of course, for us, we’ve heard this story a zillion times, so we know the punch line. But put yourself into the shoes of those 1st century Jews who were hearing Jesus tell this story for the very first time. In their day, the Pharisees were the spiritual super heroes, the guys in white who truly loved and followed God sincerely and with passion. This Pharisee, as he prays in the Temple, is probably not lying. He’s not greedy or dishonest. He hasn’t committed adultery. He fasts twice a week and tithes his 10 percent. Our church probably needs more of these “Pharisees” as members – especially that part about faithfully tithing a full 10 percent! So what’s wrong with his prayer, if he is telling the truth? Answer: His attitude. Notice his focus. Count the number of “I’s” in his prayer: “O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity--greedy, dishonest, adulterous--or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.” (Luke 18:11-12, NAB) His focus is on himself – “I”, “I”, “I,” me, me, me.
Now compare the Pharisee’s prayer with that of the tax collector. Let’s read this together: “The tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, “O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” (Luke 18:13, NAB) Where is his focus? Right – on God!
On the screen, there are two images: A magnifying glass and a mirror. Some people, when they pray, are “magnifying glass” people, like the Pharisee. They are scrutinizing everyone else, judging, comparing – “I’m not a sinner like Mike over there, or like Susan!” – “I go to church EVERY Sunday – look at me!” Their focus is on themselves, puffing themselves up, trying to show off and impress everyone else. But the tax collector is a “mirror” person – he isn’t looking around at everyone else, judging and criticizing them. He’s just looking at himself in a mirror, honestly, humbly – admitting he is a sinner and crying out for God’s help and forgiveness and mercy.
Jesus told this parable to help us become “mirror” people, not “magnifying glass” people. Our gospel today starts off with this explanation: Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. (Luke 18:9, NAB) Jesus ends the parable this way: “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luke 18:14, NAB)
Are we humble? Do we focus on God or on ourselves? Are we trying to do the Lord’s will, or just trying to manipulate the Lord to do our will? The Catholic church teaches that there are seven deadly sins: Pride, Envy, Anger, Avarice, Gluttony, Lust, Sloth. It seems that the real “felony” on this list is pride. We live in a very selfish, egotistical “me-me” society. Everyone is focused on what gives us happiness, pleasure, contentment, joy. We are focused on avoiding pain, hardship, sacrifice – and settle for a life of blandness, instead! We play God and want to be in control of our own lives and our own destinies, instead of allowing the Lord to be in control and to guide us in the ways the He wants us to go.
I read a funny story last week of a little boy, 7 years old and just a few days shy of his 8th birthday. Grandma was visiting, the family was sitting around about to eat dinner, and dad asked his little boy to say grace. The boy began his prayer with great fervor, in a very loud voice: “Dear Lord: Thank you for this food! Thank you for the gift of life! Thank you for my birthday, which is coming up in just a few days. Thank you for knowing that I want a new bicycle, and a new Nintendo, and a new skateboard, and a new TV set, and…” His dad interrupted him: “Son, that’s enough. Don’t forget, God’s not deaf!” The little boy replied, “I know God’s not deaf, but grandma is!”
Two men went into a church to pray. One owned a large business but was going bankrupt and needed %4 million. The other needed $500 to pay his rent and put food on the table for his family. The poor man started to pray fervently and in a loud voice for $500 for the rent and food. The rich man, overhearing and unable to concentrate on his own prayer, finally told the man, “Be quiet! Here’s $500. Go on your way. God has answered your prayer!” Once the poor man had left, the rich man turned in prayer, “Dear Lord, now that I have your undivided attention, what about that $5 million I need?”
We’re all a bit deaf and blind, spiritually. We lack humility. We pray to God for what we want, rather than what God wants.
(Two other optional stories to use in place of the ones above)
♣ A rather self righteous, pompous man went to the doctor and demanded that the doctor treat him for his pain. The doctor began, “Do you drink?” The man replied indignantly, “I’m a follower of Christ – a drop of liquor has never, ever touched my lips!” The doctor asked, “Do you smoke?” The man replied, “My body is a Temple of the Holy Spirit. Cigarettes do not contaminate this Temple!” The doctor asked, “Do you sleep well at night?” The man replied, “I sleep like a baby, with a clear conscience, for I have never broken even one of the Ten Commandments!” The doctor asked, “Then what’s your problem?” The man replied, “I have this terrible headache.” The doctor smiled: “I know exactly what is the cause of your problem. Your halo is on too tight.”
♣ A couple left Mass. The wife asked her husband, “Were you paying attention?” He replied, “Of course! They talked about that Pharisee and that tax collector. The Pharisee really was a pompous, self righteous guy, wasn’t he? Thank God I am nothing at all like him!”
On your handout, it says, “Humility is not putting yourself down. Humility is lifting God up.” There is this false sense of being humble – we bow our heads low, act weak and defenseless, beat ourselves up, pretend that we are unworthy, and we use that as an excuse for not getting involved or not doing anything. That’s false humility. We are adopted children of God, and so, we must hold our heads high, proud to be God’s children, brave and strong to do the Lord’s bidding. But there is a big difference between being a child of God and pretending to be God. We are not God. True humility is not tearing yourself down, but neither is it trying to pretend that we are God. True humility is lifting God up, opening ourselves to do God’s will, seeking after what the Lord wants us to do, willingly sacrificing and dedicating ourselves to the Lord’s purposes and the Lord’s mission in our lives.
I came across a humorous prayer a few years back: “So far today, God, I’ve done all right. I haven’t gossiped, haven’t lost my temper, haven’t been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish or over-indulgent. I’m really glad about that. But in a few minutes, God, I’m going to get out of bed and from then on I’m probably going to need a lot more help.” (Anonymous)
We are not God. We need God’s help. We are called to do God’s will, not our own. Back on September 11, 2001, a Catholic priest named Mychal Judge, a Franciscan, worked as chaplain for the New York City fire department. He was called in to help rescue the victims in the World Trade Center towers, and he was killed from falling debris from those twin towers. Later, when his body was recovered from the rubble, they found a piece of paper in one of his pockets. On that piece of paper was a handwritten prayer that today has become known as the Prayer of Father Mychal Judge. Let’s read it together: “Lord, take me where you want me to go. Let me meet who you want me to meet. Tell me what you want me to say. And keep me out of your way.”
– Fr. Mychal Judge, O.F.M., New York City fire department chaplain, killed on 9/11/2001
A good prayer or a bad prayer? Why? Because it focuses on God. “Lord, take me where you want me to go.” That’s the kind of prayer of the tax collector, but not the Pharisee. That’s the kind of prayer that is pleasing to the Lord.
We need to be humble. We need to seek the Lord’s healing and mercy. We need to learn how to pray, authentically. When Jesus’ disciples asked him to teach them how to pray, he gave them the prayer that we know as the “Our Father.” Notice how it begins: “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.” Notice where it is directed: “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Your will, not mine, here and now, in my heart and in my life.
A story is told of a guy who died and went to heaven. St. Peter met him at the Pearly Gates and told him, “You need a thousand points to get into heaven.” “No problem,” thought the man, for he went to church every day, prayed all the time, gave generously to the poor, severed in all the different ministries of his church. So as he recounted his good deeds to Saint Peter, Saint Peter kept count: “Fifty points; 55; 70; 73; 82; 300.” But the guy was running out of good deeds, and he only had 317 points. Finally, in desperation, he cried out to Saint Peter: “I won’t make it! I won’t make it! I’ll need the mercy of God to get in!” But at that point, Saint Peter smiled, said simply, “A thousand points it is – asking for God’s mercy!”
You see, we are called to be the disciples, the followers of Jesus, not the captains and the quarterbacks and the leaders of the team. Close your eyes for a moment. Just listen as I pray out loud, with you, the words of Psalm 51 in the Bible:
Have mercy on me, God, in your goodness; in your abundant compassion blot out my offense. Wash away all my guilt; from my sin cleanse me. For I know my offense; my sin is always before me. Against you alone have I sinned; I have done such evil in your sight that you are just in your sentence, blameless when you condemn. True, I was born guilty, a sinner, even as my mother conceived me. Still, you insist on sincerity of heart; in my inmost being teach me wisdom. Cleanse me with hyssop, that I may be pure; wash me, make me whiter than snow. Let me hear sounds of joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Turn away your face from my sins; blot out all my guilt. A clean heart create for me, God;
renew in me a steadfast spirit. (Psalm 51, NAB)
Now, open your eyes. How do we become people of prayer? Here are some simple ideas:
Communally:
♣ We have a prayer box. If you know someone who is in need of prayer, someone hurting or going through a crisis, put their name in this box. Our parish prayer team will start to pray for them. You can join the prayer team, too. Just talk to me today after Mass if you are interested, or call one of the leaders of our parish Prayer Group/
♣ At meal time, in your family. Give thanks to God for your many blessings. Use the meal prayer cards we passed out here at Mass a few weeks ago.
♣ Show up to Mass each week. Don’t skip out. This is our spiritually family and we need to be faithful in joining together weekly to pray and to rejoice and to worship the Lord, and to grow and learn from him.
♣ Get involved in one of our small faith communities. This is where we connect with other Christians on a more personal level and pray with and for one another.
Individually:
♣ Carve out time each and every day in your schedule for prayer, for daily quiet time with God. Five or ten minutes is better than nothing. You don’t have to say anything. Just listening to God is enough. Or talk to God as a friend, in your own words. You don’t need memorized prayers.
♣ Read from the Psalms or from other passages of the Bible. The Bible is God’s love letter to us.
♣ Listen to spiritual music, maybe in your car as you are driving to work or on errands around town.
♣ Take a walk outdoors with God.
♣ Listen, listen, listen! Don’t do all the talking. Allow the Lord to speak to you in the inner, deepest recesses of your heart and soul.
I’ve seen miracles happen in this parish, through prayer. Ezequiel Barragan – a young man in our parish, shot in the heart at a party, doctors gave him no chance of survival. But this community prayed fervently for Ezequiel, and yesterday, he was here at church, walking around, healed. Doctors say it is a miracle. Or Saul Castro. Went to Mexico, contracted a virus, was in a coma, doctors said he would never recover, that he was doomed to live out the rest of his life as a vegetable. This morning, he was here with his family at church, walking and talking and on the road to recovery. Miracles, big and small, when we have faith and when we are faithful.
As a church family, we have a big, big project coming up – building a new church. Our goal is $6 million over three years. It’s a lot of money. Our Commitment Weekend is November 17 and 18. We are going to ask each and every one of you, each of our families, to make a pledge, a promise on Nov. 17 or 18 -- for the next three years, to sacrifice and to be dedicated and to be faithful in responding to God’s call to give financially so that we can build our new church. It won’t be easy, but nothing is impossible with God, if we are humble, if we are faithful, if we are obedient to the call of the Lord.
But it must start with prayer. This must be God’s work, not ours. Please go home and this month, pray and pray more for God’s guidance on how you and your family can help in this fundraising campaign. Before we give, we must all pray and discern, pray and listen, pray in humility so that the Lord would strengthen us to be faithful and to be obedient to his plan and his purpose in our life.
Now, I invite _________________ to come forward, who will share a few words of testimony about how prayer has been important to him/her in this effort to raise money for our new church here in Coachella. Please welcome ___________________ .
Last week, I heard the story of a man who was scheduled to make a relatively short flight from one city in the Midwest to another. But as he got to the airport, he started to feel uncomfortable about taking the flight. So instead, he rented a car and drove to his destination. Later that day, as he was listening to the news on the radio, he heard that the plane had crashed, and everyone on board had been killed.
Please look with me on your handouts. “Living on the Edge of Eternity.”
What went through the minds of those passengers in the last 30 seconds of their life, as they knew that they were about the crash and die? What went through the minds of the people trapped on the upper floors of the World Trade Center on September 11, knowing that the building was about to fall, with them in it? What goes through the mind of a person who learns that he or she has terminal cancer? What goes through the minds of people as they lay dying in bed at home or in the hospital?
On your handout is the picture of an hour glass. What would go through your mind if you knew that the hour glass was running, that these would be your last 30 minutes on earth?
All of us are living on the edge of eternity. Our last day on earth might be today, tomorrow, next week or next month, next year or 50 years from now. None of us knows. But we all know that the moment will come, for each and every one of us, when we will face eternity. The big question is: What are we doing to prepare ourselves? Are we ready for our eternity?
In our gospel today, we hear about ten lepers. They are sick, with a dreaded and fatal disease, leprosy. They are dying. They are living, quite literally, on the edge of eternity. But Jesus heals them.
The next part of the story is what is interesting. Let’s read it together on your handout: “Jesus said, ‘Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?’” (Luke 17:18)
The story has many nuances. For example, it is only the foreigner, the Samaritan, the one who is despised and rejected by Jesus’ listeners because he is not a Jew like the rest of them – only the foreigner, the Samaritan, who returns to give thanks to Jesus. We might ask ourselves: Who are the “foreigners” in our midst, the people we shun and reject and turn our backs on?
The key to this story is the attitude of the Samaritan. He is grateful. He takes time to come back to Jesus to say, “Thank you.” He is the only one who truly appreciates the healing he has received from God. And so Jesus says to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.” (Luke 17:19)
“Your faith has saved you.” All ten lepers, living on the edge of eternity, facing death. Only one, the foreigner, the Samaritan, is ready for eternity, spiritually. You see, there are two kinds of healing – physical healing, but that won’t last, because eventually – maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but someday – all ten are going to die; and then, there is spiritual healing, the kind that saves us and carries us to God and into eternity. That second kind of healing requires faith. “Your faith has saved you.”
Last week, we talked about faith. Today, we continue that discussion. And next week, too, we are going to talk about faith, because for these three weeks, we are focusing on stewardship – and stewardship is really just another word for faith and for fidelity and faithfulness.
Last week, we talked about stewardship of time. Time is a gift from God. And we all have the exact same amount of it – 24 hours a day, no more and no less. But how do we use the gift of time that God has given us? How do we prioritize our time, so that we are not just selfishly living for ourselves, but that we use our time wisely and in service to others?
Our gospel told us that if we have faith just the size of a tiny mustard seed, we could move huge trees and huge mountains. The example of the mustard seed is meant to encourage us. We don’t need a lot of faith – but we do need to tend the seed of faith by planting it, watering it, fertilizing it. Then the seed of faith will grow in us and produce a huge tree and bear much fruit.
This week, we talk about our talents. God has given us many gifts and talents. But we can horde them or we can use them generously for others. Our gospel today reminds us that the starting point for the use of our gifts and talents is an attitude of gratitude and thankfulness. If we are thankful, if we are grateful, then we start to return what we have received. We become more generous. We are like the tenth leper who made time to return to Jesus simply to say, “Thank you.”
Next week, we will look at our stewardship of treasure. As just a brief preview, Jesus will ask us in next weekend’s gospel, “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” It’s a good question. Are we people of true faith? And if so, how are we showing it?
Last week, you may remember – as we talked about the use of time – the chart that I handed out: “How much time do I have left?” It shows for our particular age, how many more years of life we have on earth, on average, according to the experts. It’s a rather sobering chart! So today, let me ask all of you a question – and please don’t be shy about yelling out the answer: “How long have you lived?” --------------
[Allow people to answer out loud. Then:] None of you answered correctly! You all answered your age – but that is very different from answering, “How long have you lived?” God wants us not just to exist and put in time, but to really live life to its fullest. And that requires stewardship – using what God has given to us wisely, giving instead of just receiving.
On your sheets, it says, “Beware of tombs!” There are many “tombs” in life – distractions, attitudes, circumstances that invade our life and take over and enslave us, that keep us from living fully as God would intend. What are some of the tombs that are holding you back from truly and fully following God and being a person of true faith?
Good stewards, people of faith, learn to leave their tombs behind. They risk doing what is right, not just following the crowd, or doing what is popular, or just blending in with everyone else. They refine their priorities, making God number 1, and not letting other things crowd out God. They reach for eternity – they are focused not just on the here and now, not just on the immediate – but on the bigger picture, on what it really means to living on the edge of eternity.
A good steward:
1. Receives God’s gifts gratefully;
2. Cherishes and tends them in a responsible and accountable manner;
3. Shares them in justice and love with others; and
4. Returns them with increase to the Lord.
Stewardship must be:
1. Intentional and Planned
2. Prayerful
3. Proportional
4. Sacrificial
Let me conclude with just one illustration, then we will talk about our Ministry Fair and how we can use our gifts and talents for God.
I have with me a jar. Now if I fill this jar with golf balls, is it full? Yes or No? Let’s add some rocks. Is it full? Let’s add some sand. Is it full? Let’s add some beer. Is it full?
Life is like this jar. We fill our lives up with lots of things. But if I fill the jar with beer first, is there room for the golf balls, or the rocks, or the sand? No! As Christians, we need to fill our life first with the golf balls, the big things that are the most important, liking tending to our relationship with God. Then with some of the other things, like the rocks and the sand. Then with the beer. There’s room for fun – but life can’t be all fun and games. Life can’t be all beer!
On your sheet are ways to use your gifts and talents….
[Discuss Ministry Fair, signing up for a ministry, attending Mini-Retreat 301 to learn more about your gifts and ministries, calling our Coordinator of Ministries for further information or questions.]
Today, I want to talk about “Mustard Seed Faith and Everyday Heroes.”
We’re going to look at three words from our Scripture readings today: Faith, Time, and Duty. All three are related and interconnected to one another.
First, FAITH. A story is told of a priest who was celebrating a children’s Mass, and made the mistake of asking the children some questions. His first question: Who made the world? One of the children raised her hand and replied correctly: God! Second question: Who is God? Another child raised his hand and said, “God is Spirit.” Again, OK. Third question: Where is God? A third child replied, “In the bathroom.” The priest, confused, asked the child why God was in the bathroom. The child replied, “Every morning, I hear my dad screaming, ‘My God, how long are you going to be in the bathroom?’ “
Where is God? That’s a question of faith – and the question that opens our first reading, from the Old Testament book of the prophet Habakkuk:
How long, O LORD? I cry for help but you do not listen! I cry out to you,
"Violence!" but you do not intervene. Why do you let me see ruin; why must I look at misery? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and clamorous discord. -- Habakkuk 1:2-3 (NAB)
It’s also the question of the apostles in our gospel today:
The apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith.' -- Luke 17:5 (NJB)
Habakkuk and the apostles lived in violent, dangerous times. Where is God in the midst of the evil emperors and the injustice and the oppression and the violence? Help us to believe, cry the apostles – increase or faith – because it is hard to believe that God is in charge when so much evil and so much pain in the world.
We ask the same questions today. We read in the newspapers about terrorists and beheadings, about church scandals and business scandals, about dirty politics and corruption, about crime and violence. Where is God? Increase our faith!
We know someone who has died of cancer, and we prayed, and prayed and prayed that God would heal them – but he didn’t. Why? Where is God? Increase our faith! Or a son or daughter is killed in Iraq – why, God? Or someone loses their job, and now their family is hungry … or a son or daughter has fallen into drugs … or a car accident leaves a friend or loved one injured. Why, O God? Where are you? How can we have faith?
Let me ask you a few questions: 2 + 2 is ___? 3 + 3 is _____? 5 + 5 is _____? The President of the U.S. is _____? The capital of the U.S. is ______?
Were those easy or hard questions to answer? Easy, right? Now let me ask you some other questions: Prove that God exists? Why does God allow pain and suffering? Why does God allow war, or earthquakes, or hurricanes or tornadoes? Why do bad things happen to good people?
Faith is not science. Faith is not mathematics. It’s not 2 + 2 = 4. Faith is more about relationship – our relationship with God, and God’s relationship with us. We all know about relationships, because we all have them – husbands and wives, parents and children, brothers and sisters. But relationships are messy. They aren’t neat and cut and dried, like science or math. They take time to nurture and to develop. They take tender care, like a plant needs water and fertilizer. They take patience and perseverance. They require trust and time.
God’s answer to the plea of Habakkuk and the request of the apostles is on your sheet: TIME. That’s the second word we are going to look at today.
Let’s read from Habakkuk:
Then the LORD answered me and said: Write down the vision clearly
upon the tablets, so that one can read it readily. For the vision still has its time,
presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint. If it delays, wait for it, it will surely come,
it will not be late. -- Habakkuk 2:2-3 (NAB)
Maybe that’s not always the word we want to hear, but it is the word that God gives to Habakkuk and to us: Wait; have patience; God’s time is not our time; trust, and in the end, God will make all things right.
Many people live just for today, just for the moment. They have no patience for tomorrow. They want everything now. They live mostly for themselves. They don’t step back to look at the big picture, of where their life is going, of what they are doing to make a contribution to the world. But God’s people of faith – us – we are called to live today for tomorrow. In other words, faith means we are grateful and take advantage of every opportunity that God has given to us in this moment in time, in this “today” – but with an eye on the future, on tomorrow, on making a contribution to the betterment of the world, and making an investment in God’s kingdom and in our eternal future, someday, with God.
Look again at Habakkuk. He says:
"Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked; but the righteous will live by their faith. -- Habakkuk 2:4 (NLT)
Real faith is not a bland, empty creed – it’s not a bunch of verbal proclamations and doctrines or rules from a catechism. Real faith is not magic, though many people think it is. Some people think of God is a magical genie -- they start praying when they want or need a favor. If God answers the way they expect, they are happy. If not, they are mad at God.
Real faith is a journey and an adventure – a choice and a way of life. It’s not just occasionally when we’re desperate and need a favor, so we shoot an e-mail prayer request up to heaven for a quick answer. It’s a long term relationship, for life and for eternity.
In the gospel, Jesus gives the example of a mustard seed. He says:
"If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to (this) mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you. -- Luke 17:6 (NAB)
But what is mustard seed faith? Jesus didn’t use this example to shame us and make us feel guilty – O, my faith is not strong enough, my faith is not adequate, because if only I had a tiny, little bit of faith, I could move mountains, but I can’t. Rather, Jesus used this example to encourage us and fill us with hope. This is God’s promise to us – with just a little bit of faith, all things are possible, with God. You don’t have to be a Mother Teresa or a Pope John Paul II to move mountains for God!
Let me illustrate. [Hold out a bucket] This bucket contains something very large. It’s bigger than a car. It’s bigger than a house. Can anyone guess what it is? Let me invite one of our children or teenagers to reach in to see what huge, large thing I have in this bucket. [Invite child or teen to pull out a mustard seed].
What is this? Right! It’s a mustard seed. It’s not very big, is it? Not yet, anyway! But this is what Jesus was talking about in our gospel. If you plant the seed, water it and fertilize it, someday – in time – it will grow into a huge tree bigger than a car or a house! But it takes TIME. And that is what faith is all about.
On your sheets, it says: “Faith is not waiting for miracles. Faith is making miracles happen.” You see, we are God’s hands and feet in the world, and God expects us to be used by Him to work miracles in our world.
Now that leads us to our third and final word today: DUTY.
We’ve asked the faith question: Where is God? And God has answered, saying that faith is a process that takes time and patience.
Now, it’s time for us to give an answer. God’s invitation is for us to be a people of faith and a people focused not just on ourselves, not just on the here-and-now, not just on the moment -- but to focus our energy and our attentions on the future and on building God’s Kingdom. Do we say “yes” to God’s invitation?
The gospel today talks about duty:
The servant does not deserve thanks for obeying orders, does he? It is the same with you; when you have done all you have been told to do, say, 'We are ordinary servants; we have only done our duty.' " -- Luke 17:9-10 (TEV)
In our American society, where everyone is considered equal, Jesus’ words here may seem strange and harsh. Who wants to be a servant or a slave? But Jesus’ point is that God IS the Master, God is the one who made us and all creation. We have a duty to be grateful and to be faithful.
Now there are two kinds of duty. One is forced, or conscripted. Soldiers in a draft WILL fight in the war, or else. Employees at a job will work, or they won’t get paid and they may lose their job. But Jesus isn’t trying to force us. Christian duty is meant to be filled with passion and enthusiasm and energy and joy. Jesus wants us to be a people of faith, NOT because we “have to,” but because we “want to” – because we are in love with God.
Our second reading from Paul’s 2nd Letter to Timothy captures this sense of duty in a beautiful way. Paul tells Timothy, Stir into flame the gift of God that you have... -- 2 Timothy 1:6 (NAB)
We have gifts, we have talents, we have time – stir what God has given you into flame, so that you can be a person of true faith. That is the “duty” that God wants of us.
I heard a joke about breakfast. Does anyone know the difference between a chicken and a pig at breakfast? The chicken is only involved – it provides the eggs. But the pig is really committed – because he provides the bacon! What kind of Christian do we want to be? Chickens or pigs? Giving just of the extra – our eggs – or giving everything we have to God, the becoming the bacon?
On the back of your handout, it says, “God’s army of nobodies.” That’s because mustard seed faith is available to everyone. You don’t need to be a Mother Teresa or a Dorothy Day or a Martin Luther King or a Cesar Chavez or a Mohatma Gandhi to be a sold-out, on fire follower of God.
Look at Habakkuk. He’s a biblical nobody. Most people can’t even spell or pronounce his name. His book is more like a footnote, hidden amid the “big” prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah. His book is only 3 short chapters. We don’t know where he came from or what happened to him. We don’t know if his followers listened to him, or if they fell asleep during his sermons.
Or look at the apostles. Simple fishermen. Not the rich, the powerful or the famous. But they changed the world with their mustard seed faith.
We can change the world, too, in little ways. For example: Vote. If all the Hispanics in this country really showed up to vote at the polls this November, they would change our country. Faithfulness is measured in the little things, not the big things.
Two last things for today:
First, think of one of your everyday “mustard seed” heroes or saints: Someone you know who has really shown in their life the meaning of true faithfulness and fidelity to God. – Turn to someone next to you and share for just a moment about that hero, that saint. [Pause]
Second, let’s look at ourselves. What are we doing to nurture and nourish our own faith. On your sheet, it says, “Spiritual Exercise.” One of our teenagers is going to come forward now – and lift this barbell. Good!
Spiritually, we need to exercise. Faith doesn’t just grow automatically. The seed needs care and watering.
In the next few weeks, we are looking at our stewardship – how we as a people of God are using what God has given to us in a wise and responsible manner. Today, we looked a bit at the idea of TIME. Next week, we will have our Ministry Fair and we will look at our use of talent. Then, the third week, we will look at treasure.
On your sheet, I’ve written a few interesting statistics about time. First: How Americans use their time. They have 10,080 minutes a week – 168 hours altogether. Sleep – 7 ½ hours a day. Work: 21 hours a day. TV – 2 ½ hours a day. You can read through the list. But what comes into last place? Right! God. Worship. How sad! If we are to be true people of faith, God cannot come last in the list of things we do with our time each week.
The second statistic is even more sobering: How much time do we have left? Look up your age, and the chart will tell you, statistically, how many years of life – on average – that you have here on the earth. It’s quite sobering, really. Most people never stop to think about it.
The point is not to squander the precious time that God has given us on earth – but to use the time we have as preparation for the future, for eternity, by being a people of real faith, a people who are in love with God and are doing our sacred duty to serve God and to fan the flame of faith and the gifts that God has blessed us with.
St. Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, the Society of Jesus, wrote a book entitled, “The Spiritual Exercises.” We need to exercise our faith, or it will be weak and tepid. St. Ignatius wrote a prayer, which is on your handout. Let’s read it together:
Teach us, good Lord, to serve you as you deserve; to give and not to count the cost; to fight and not to heed the wounds; to toil and not to seek for rest; to labor and not to ask for a reward, saving that of knowing that we do your will. – Saint Ignatius of Loyola
When I was growing up as a little kid, one of my favorite TV shows was “Lost in Space.” I especially liked the little robot. Every time anything went wrong, the little robot would start turning left and right, left and right, and start screaming in its whiney robot voice, “Danger, Danger, Danger!” It went like this… [show TV clip]
In today’s gospel, Jesus gives us the parable of the rich man and poor Lazarus. It is a scary story, but also a challenging one. And it warns us, “Danger, danger, danger!” It is meant to wake us up.
This morning, we are going to practice staying alert and awake, just as our gospel asks of us. [Invite a volunteer forward]
_________ here is going to be our living alarm clock throughout this homily. I am giving him a smoke detector. Whenever you feel the urge, ___________, just press this little button and an alarm will sound, and that will keep all of us awake!
The story in our gospel is meant to keep us awake. It is a story about a rich man and a poor man, Lazarus. The basis of the story is written on your handouts. Let’s read it together… [Read Luke 16:19-23] Question: What is the one thing that the rich man and poor Lazarus have in common? --- Answer: They both die.
This is an important point. We can’t take our money with us! Both rich and poor, famous and not-so-famous, movie stars and professional athletes and presidents, along with all of us ordinary, regular people – we all die. As the famous saying goes, “There are only two things certain in life: death and taxes.” But in the parable, they end up in radically different places – the rich man in Hell, poor Lazarus in the bosom of Abraham, enjoying heaven. So this parable is meant to wake us up spiritually and warn us, before it’s too late, that the choices and decisions we make in this life have eternal consequences, for good or ill. That’s why I’ve entitled today’s homily, “Planning for the Future” – because all of us, if we’re wise, plan for tomorrow. But I’m not just talking about planning for our kids’ college, or for our next home or vacation, or for retirement. More important than that is our spiritual preparation for our eternal tomorrow, after we die.
Now if we look at this parable, at first it seems like Jesus is condemning the rich man because he is rich. But I want to note off the bat that this is not the case. How do I know? It’s simple, really. Lazarus is sitting in heaven in the bosom of Abraham, and the Bible tells us that Abraham was a very wealthy man – land, sheep, you name it!
Luke’s gospel has been called the “Gospel of the Poor.” It begins with the story of the birth of Jesus at Christmas, and Mary sings a song, called the Magnificat, that goes like this: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my savior…. He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty.” It’s easy to see why this is called the “gospel of the poor.” Later, when Jesus is giving the Beatitudes, Luke says simply, “Blessed are the poor,” which is quite different from Matthew’s version, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” Luke is the only gospel with the story of Zaccheus, the rich tax collector who converts and gives his money to the poor. Luke’s is the only gospel with this story of the rich man and Lazarus.
But we need to be careful to avoid two errors: First, the error of glorifying the poor; Second, the error of condemning the rich. Not all poor people are good, nor is abject poverty ever a good; and not all rich people are bad. Luke tells us that Jesus had many rich friends, who were evidently very generous in supporting his ministry with his disciples. Rather, Luke is sounding an alarm – [sound an alarm or smoke detector] to wake us up. This sin is NOT being rich, but rather, being INDIFFERENT and UNCONCERNED about the plight of the poor all around us, not helping, not using what God has given us in the correct way. The sin is being a bad steward or administrator of all that we have been given.
This is a theme throughout Luke’s gospel. “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.” (Luke 13:24). Or: “A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every three is known by its own fruit.” (Luke 6:43-44]
Question: How many here are rich? Nobody?
Just yesterday, the newspaper contained an article, “Forbes names the richest men in America.” Topping the list was Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, worth $48 billion. At last count, his wealth equaled the assets of 43 percent of the American population! Altogether, there were 313 billionaires in the U.S. this past year, up from 262 the year before. They included the Walton family, who own Wal-Mart. Altogether, the 400 riches people in the United States controlled assets worth $1 trillion!
How many here are rich? None of us are rich like Bill Gates, but look at the pictures on your handout. Children starving, hungry, emaciated. How many of us are rich? Let’s conduct a poll.
How many own a car? Own 2 or more? How many have more than one TV in your house? How many own a radio, a tape player, a CD player or a DVD player? How many have a big screen TV in their homes? How many have a cellular phone? How many own a Nintendo or Sega? How many have a computer at home? How many own a watch? How many have shoes? How many have a shirt? How many ate breakfast today? These children in this photo don’t have shoes or a shirt, and they did not eat breakfast!
We are rich in so many ways. We have our health, our family, a roof over our head and food on the table and clothing to wear, friends, our faith.
The real question is this: How do we use our wealth? Did you know that in the U.S., we spend $400 million a year on chewing gum? We spend six times more on cigarettes than on combating world hunger. Our country comprises 6 percent of the world’s population, but we consume 40 percent of the world’s natural resources.
I read last week about an experiment at a college in the U.S. Students were given a dollar and could choose how to spend it. They were given several options: (1) help fight hunger in India; (2) help fight AIDS in Africa; (3) help provide books for poor kids in an inner city school; or (4) help purchase a new photocopier for the school and for their use. Guess what the results were? Eighty percent of the students gave their dollar to help purchase a new photocopier for the school!
A joke is told about a little girl who went to the store with her mom. In the store was a big jar of candy. The owner invited the girl to stick her hand into the jar and pull out a handful of candy, but she refused. The storekeeper coaxed her, and finally reaching in, grabbed a handful of candy, and give it to the reluctant little girl. Afterward, the mom asked the little girl, “Why were you so shy about reaching your hand into the candy jar.” The little girl replied, “Because I knew that the storekeeper’s hand was a lot bigger than mine!” We live in a society where we keep trying to get a bigger and bigger handful of candy for ourselves. But our gospel challenges us to look beyond ourselves and our own wants – and to look toward others.
Another story is told of a young man, driving a brand new Corvette. He was parked one day, and saw a boy – obviously very poor – admiring the car. The poor boy asked the owner, “How much did you pay for that car?” The young man replied, “I don’t know, because the car was given to me as a gift by my brother.” The poor boy said, “I sure wish…” and the young man thought he would say, “I sure wish I had a brother like that.” But he didn’t say that. Instead, he said, “I wish I could be a brother like that.” It turned out that he had a little brother at home who was crippled and could hardly get out of the house. The story has a happy ending. The young man with the Corvette drove the boy home, where they picked up his crippled brother and gave him a ride in the fancy Corvette. The other brother kept saying, “Someday, I’m going to buy you a car, just like this!”
How do we use what God has given us? How do we reach out to help those who are poor and in need?
On your handouts, it says, “Good Riches and Bad Riches.” Good riches are the spiritual riches we have been given – our health, our family and loved ones, our faith. Good riches are when we share generously of what we’ve been given, when we are good stewards and administrators. Bad riches are when we are indifferent to the needs of others, focused only on ourselves.
Look at the verses on your handout. Luke 12:21 tells us: “Yes, every person is a fool who gets rich on earth but not in heaven.” Genesis 4 is the story of Cain and Abel, and tells us how to be rich spiritually. Cain asks God, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” The answer is – YES! A famous Jesuit priest in the 1960s, Daniel Berrigan, once said, “None of us can do everything to solve all the problems of the world.” In fact, that’s not what God asks of us. “But everyone can do something.”
Turn to the back of your handouts. Just as there are good riches and bad riches, there also is good poverty and bad poverty.” The bad poverty is the suffering and hunger and starvation of so many people in our world. But there is a good poverty – a poverty of spirit, where we are not dependent on the things we own, but rather, we are dependent on God. It’s when we are not attached or enslaved to things. That’s what Matthew means when he says, “Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
But look at what Amos says when we are attached to material things, and let those things squeeze out God in our lives, and when we are indifferent and inattentive to the poor in our midst. [Read Amos 6:1, 4-8]
Instead, we are to follow the advice that Paul gives to Timothy in our second reading --- [read 1 Tim. 6:11-12]
On your sheet are some Action steps – some ideas of what you can do. [Read action steps]
Finally, at the bottom of your handout, it says, “Sins of Omission: Doing Nothing.” That really was the sin of the rich man. He had been blessed with many good things, but he did nothing with what he had been given. He was a bad steward. He was indifferent to the poor Lazarus on his doorstep.
A final story, about a man who died and went to heaven. Saint Peter started looking for his name in the book of life, he couldn’t find it. The man protested, “There must be a mistake! I didn’t do anything!” St. Peter just looked at him and replied, “Precisely!” For that was precisely the problem – he had not done anything!
The word “hell” comes from an old English word that means, “not to see.” The rich man did not see. He was blind. He did nothing.
Notice that the poor man in today’s gospel is named Lazarus. The name “Lazarus” means “God is my help.” This gospel challenges us to see, to be alert and awake, to trust in God’s help, to not be indifferent as we prepare for our future.
By the way, did anyone notice the rich man’s name?
He remains nameless – and for a reason: His name is NOT written in the book of life, because he failed to use what God had given to him.
Warning, warning, warning! Stay alert. Let none of us make the same mistake as the rich man in our parable today. Rather, let us be good stewards of all that God has given us. Let us make wise plans for our future.
[Sound the alarm] Is everyone here still awake?
25th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C
September 23, 2007
Stewardship: A Way of Life
How many here have ever heard the word “stewardship?” When I say that word, what’s the first image that comes into your mind? Right! Most people say, “Money.”
There are lots of jokes about the church and money. One of my favorites, which I use a lot at our Mini-Retreat 101, is about a child on an airplane who swallows a quarter and starts to choke. The panicked mother asks, “Is there a doctor on board?” Fortunately, a doctor on board comes rushing forward to help the little boy. After a while, however, the doctor cries out, “Is there a priest on board the plane?” By now, the mother is in a complete panic. “The doctor can’t save my child,” she things, “so he is calling for a priest for the last rites of the sick and dying.” But the doctor tells the mother, “Calm down! Don’t worry! Your child will be OK. It’s just that priests are the real experts at getting money out of people.”
Repeat after me: “Stewardship is not JUST about money. Stewardship is about gratitude.” Again! “Stewardship is not JUST about money. Stewardship is about gratitude.”
Notice: I said stewardship is not JUST about money. It is about money, and material things – but it also is about our time and our talent, and about how we use all that God has given us and administer what we have in a wise and godly manner. Stewardship is really a way of life, the way we follow God. It is a life lived in gratitude for all God’s blessings to us – and out of that gratitude flows us generously sharing what we have received from the Lord with others. That’s why our mini-Retreat workshops on stewardship are entitled “Blessed to Bless!”
In the next few weeks and months, we’re going to be talking a lot about stewardship here in this parish. In fact, in October, we’re beginning a 6-week series on stewardship in all of our small faith communities, as a way to help us prepare for our capital fundraising campaign in November to build a new church.
In our gospel today, Jesus talks about stewardship. He tells a story of a shrewd and dishonest administrator, or steward, who gets fired – but then protects himself by reducing the debts of this boss’ creditors. Smart fellow, crafty. Jesus tells us, "The children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.” (Luke 6:8-9, NAB) When Jesus tells us, “Make friends with dishonest wealth,” he means that, as Christians, we are to have a right relationship with money and our material wealth, not becoming overly attached to them and allowing God to be ruler over them.
In 1 Peter 4:10, the Bible tells us: “As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” (1 Peter 4:10, NAB) Saint Teresa of Avila, the 16th century saint and mystic, said: “Christ has no body now on earth but yours, no hands but yours, yours are the eyes through which He is going about doing good, yours are the hands with which He is to bless people now…”
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Last week, I came across two helpful illustrations to help understand stewardship. One consists of a cross and says, “The Four Quadrants of Stewardship.” At the top of the cross, most importantly, is to follow God faithfully. Stewardship is really about us choosing to live as God wants, faithfully following Him. Out of this faithfulness flows living responsibly and sharing gratefully. And at the bottom of the cross, it says, “To Possess Loosely.” This means that we do not let money and material possessions dominate and control our lives – we are not attached and enslaved. Whenever I drive into the wealthier neighborhoods around here, I am always struck by how the rich live behind fences and guard gates, with elaborate security monitoring systems. The more we possess, the more we become preoccupied that someone might steal from us, and our fear leaves us trapped and controlled by our wealth. Jesus came to set us free, to liberate us from all fears and false attachments.
A second illustration of stewardship is the Stewardship Hand. The starting point, the little finger, says “Relationship.” Stewardship is us living in proper and right relationship with God and with other people and with all of God’s creation. If we are in a right relationship with the Lord, then comes a proper understanding of ownership and possessions – God is the owner, the boss, not me; my possessions belong to God, and are just on loan to me. Next, stewardship requires sacrifice. We are called to give sacrificially – not just of our leftovers, not just the second hand stuff we no longer need or want, but to give God the very best, the first fruits of our labor. Finally, everyone, hold up a hand. Which is the only finger than can touch all the other fingers? Right! It’s the thumb. And on our drawing of the Stewardship Hand, the thumb symbolizes love. Without love, none of these other things matter. Love is the o+nly right motive for being a good steward.
Let’s look quickly at three very specific questions about stewardship:
1. What difference will stewardship make in my life? Answer: All the difference in the world. It will transform and change you completely. A life of generosity and gratefulness and detachment is a life of freedom and joy, meaning and purpose.
2. How is stewardship different than fundraising? Answer: Fundraising is about raising money when there is a need. Stewardship is an attitude, a spiritual way of life. As we are in the midst of this campaign to build a new church, lots of people have come up to me and said, “Father, let’s just organize a bingo; a car wash; a tamale sale.” Those fundraising efforts are not bad, of course, but they are not stewardship. Sometimes, fundraisers become an excuse for us not to live as faithful stewards of God – “I’ll buy a taco or tamale at your festival, but don’t ask me to dig into my own pockets to give!” God wants our entire life to be lived as a gift given back to God.
3. How is stewardship different from tithing? Answer: In the Old Testament, God commanded that the Israelites give back 10 percent of their herds or crops to God, and this 10 percent is called a tithe. But stewardship is about developing an awareness and an attitude that everything we have belongs to God, not just 10 percent. The problem with 10 percent, or some other amount, is that we stop there and start to think we’ve done our duty. A few years ago, I suggested people might want to start by giving back to God and the church one hour of their weekly salary. That’s about 2.5 percent, by the way, a long way from the biblical 10 percent. But it’s a starting point. The problem is that some people end there. For the rest of their lives, they give that 2.5 percent. Stewardship says we are growing in our capacity and our ability to be generous. And it’s really not about any one set percentage. A Bill Gates, blessed with billions of dollars, can give away 99 percent of his wealth and still live comfortably on the remaining 1 percent. A couple with 10 children might struggle more to give $10 a week than a couple with no children to give $50 a week. Stewardship means we pray, ask God to guide us and be in charge of our giving, and we learn to give and to be generous in a sacrificial way, but the amount may be more or it may be less than 10 percent. Stewardship also means that we are generous, not just with money, but with giving back to God of our time and energy and talent. If we work a 40 hour work week, a tithe of our time would be giving back to God four hours a week in time in serving the Lord.
The bottom line question is simply this: Am I faithful to God? In our gospel today, Jesus tells us: “The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones; and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones. If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who will trust you with true wealth? …No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." (Luke 16:10-11, 13, NAB)
Each of us must ask ourselves: How am I called to be a steward for Christ? At home, with your kids and in your marriage. At work or while shopping or while driving down the highway. With my body – do I eat right, get enough sleep and exercise, not smoke or do other things that will harm my body? For our young people, stewardship means doing your homework, obeying your teachers, working hard at school. For me as priest, stewardship means I need to take care of the spiritual family here in this church, to help shepherd the flock of God, to challenge and sometimes push so that this spiritual family at this parish will grow strong and mature in Christ.
Last night, we baptized a baby. The challenge of stewardship, for those parents, is to teach that child about Jesus and to set a good spiritual example for the child. I told them that in the 1st century, when parents baptized a baby, they were taking a real risk, because Christianity in those days was illegal within the Roman Empire and punishable by death. By baptizing the baby, parents in those days were running a risk that their child might be arrested and executed for following Jesus Christ. Today, unfortunately, we’ve too often transformed baptism into just a pretty ceremony to please the parents and godparents, but with no real cost or commitment associated with it. Sad!
We are called to be good stewards, not just as individuals, but also as a community. That’s why, as a church, we tithe 10 percent of our collection every Sunday to help the poor and to a variety of worthy causes. As a Christian community, how do we vote on such issues as varied as abortion, capital punishment, the war in Iraq, immigration reform, health care insurance, the environment, recycling… Next week, the Bloodmobile will be here at our church. Donating blood to save the lives of others is being a good steward.
Two weeks ago, I preached on the cost of discipleship, the cost of following Jesus. There is a cost, too, when we do not follow Jesus. Our children suffer spiritually, for example, when parents fail to set a good spiritual example at home for their kids. And we, ourselves, suffer, too. One day, we all will be lying in that hospital bed, dying, reviewing our life – and how sad for those who look back, only to realize that they wasted the opportunities God gave them, that they missed out on living an authentic life, and now, it is too late. Last week, our gospel talked about lost things – a lost sheep, a lost coin, the lost sons in the parable of the Prodigal Son. This week, the good news of Jesus is about being found. Being good stewards of all that God has given us is the path to being found, not lost.
Has anyone here ever read or heard about the poem, “Footsteps in the Sand.” It’s a poem about Jesus carrying us when we are too weak to carry ourselves. But there is an updated version of that poem, slightly irreverent, not meant to offend, but rather, to challenge and, also, to make us laugh a little. It’s called “Butt Prints in the Sand,” and goes like this:
One night, I had a wondrous dream;
One set of footprints there was seen.
The footprints of my precious Lord,
But mine were not along the shore.
But then some stranger prints appeared,
And I asked the Lord, "What have we here?"
"Those prints are large and round and neat,
But, Lord, they are too big for feet."
"My child," He said in somber tones.
"For miles I carried you alone.
I challenged you to walk in faith,
But you refused and made me wait.
You disobeyed, you would not grow,
The walk of-faith you would not know.
So I got tired and fed up,
And there I dropped you on your butt,
Because in life, there comes a time,
When one must fight, and one must climb,
When one must rise and take a stand,
Or leave their butt prints in the sand."
Despite the humor, there’s some real truth in this little poem. Some of us Catholics really need to get off our “buts” – and now, I mean “but” in a different sense: “I really want to start going back to church, but…” “I really intend to join a small faith community, but…” “I really plan to jump into a ministry, but…” and we are full of excuses and procrastination.
Tony Barile, our business office manager, studied the envelope giving in our parish in 2006. He found that 3,249 persons used envelopes during the year, but here’s the breakdown:
♣ 1,190 persons (about a third) gave less than $25 in the entire year. That’s less than 50 cents a week!
♣ 992 persons (almost another third) gave between $25 and $100 over the course of a year – between 50 cents and $2 a week.
♣ Only 70 families contributed $1,000 or more to the church during 2006 – which is an average of $20 a week, or more.
♣ If you crunch the numbers, those 70 people gave more than twice as much as the 1,190 persons who only gave less than $25 in the course of a year.
♣ The average gift was about $147 a year, or $2.82 a week.
♣ We may be a poor parish, but some of this, quite frankly, is pathetic and a disgrace to God. Even the very poorest family in this town can afford to give more than 50 cents a week to God! I see people from our parish driving new, expensive cars and asking me to bless them, or walking out of Costco with expensive $1,600 flat panel TVs, or spending $10 or $15 on the ice cream trucks that sometimes park in front of the church on Sunday morning – but, only 50 cents for God!
God demands that we be good stewards of the blessings we have received. I suspect that if we could study the way people use their time, we’d find similar things as with the money – that a few people are dedicating lots of time to serving the Lord, but a huge majority are giving almost nothing of their time to God. Experts say the best way to measure a person’s real commitment to the Lord is to look at two things: (1) their wallet or purse, how they prioritize spending their money; and (2) their calendar books, how much time they spend serving God versus serving themselves.
One last point, and then, I want to give us a little test or quiz. Saint Paul tells us, “You must each make up your own mind as to how much you should give. Don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure, for God loves the person who gives cheerfully.” (2 Corinthians 9:7, NLT) The Lord wants us to be generous, but only if we can give joyfully. Stewardship as a way of life should fill us with God’s joy, because we are freed from attachments, freed to live fully for God and not just for ourselves, knowing that the Lord is in control and we no longer have any need to fear or worry. That’s great news!
Last week, a magazine at my alma mater, Indiana University, printed a cover story on me and this parish. The pictures are on the screen, above. This is not to brag, but I think we all look pretty happy in these photos from our parish, don’t you? Last week, I and the other priests in the diocese were at meetings with our bishop, and one of the speakers at the conference talked about the joys of priesthood. He began by noting that most lay persons think that most priests are not happy. After all, they must live lonely, celibate lives, with long hours and low pay, right? But surveys show that 90 percent of priests are very satisfied with their lives and would not choose any other way of life, despite the celibacy and long hours and low pay. That’s a higher satisfaction rate than any other profession – doctors, teachers, lawyers, you name it. Why? The survey found that it is because priests feel they are using their lives to make a contribution to the world that is greater than themselves, that their lives are filled with real purpose and meaning.
God wants all of us to have a sense of purpose and meaning and fulfillment in our lives. But that will only happen when we learn to live a life of faithful stewardship, living our lives for God and not for ourselves.
How to live a life of stewardship is real easy. It’s just two simple steps. First, take out your wallet or purse or checkbook and make God first. Every time you get paid, write out your first check payment to God. Put God first in the area of your finances. Second, take out your calendar book and, first thing before scheduling anything else in, block out time for God – time each day to pray, time each week to attend church, time during the week to participate in a small faith community and/or a ministry, time a few times a year to attend a spiritual workshop or retreat.
Now, let’s take our little quiz or test. Answer each question only to yourself. Nobody needs to raise a hand. You can take this survey home with you and answer these questions when you are alone. The survey is on your worship aid handout this morning. But if you answer these questions honestly, they will tell you how faithful you are in really following God in your life, and in living a life of real Christian stewardship and generosity. Here are the questions:
1. Do I REALLY love God? Is God first in my life?
2. Do I REALLY love God’s family, the church?
3. Am I mostly happy or mostly unhappy?
4. Am I thankful to God? What are some of the things for which I am thankful to God?
5. Am I a generous and giving person?
6. How am I a generous and giving person: With my time? With my talent? With my treasure?
7. Getting really specific:
♣ Am I serving in a ministry?
♣ Am I in a small group?
♣ Do I give away a sizable part of my income to God and charity?
♣ Did I attend any retreats or classes in the last year that were not required?
♣ Do I read the Bible and pray regularly?
♣ Did I read or listen to anything spiritual in the last year?
♣ Is my spiritual life more than just attending church?
♣ Where has God made me a steward? At work? At home? In my marriage? At school? At church? In my community?
As you ponder these questions, listen to the following song mediation – “Shine, Jesus, Shine.” I invite you to join in singing the refrain together.
Don’t just leave butt prints in the sand of your life. Leave real footprints. Let the Lord really lead you and your life. You see, a faithful life of stewardship means we are allowing the light of Jesus and the fire of the Holy Spirit to shine and to blaze in us, so that the love of God flows forth in our lives like a gushing river of life. Faithfully administering what God has given us, and in gratitude and in generosity, we allow the Lord to use us to help build His Kingdom!
Listen and sing!
Shine, Jesus, shine; fill this land with the Father’s glory!
Blaze, Spirit, blaze! Set our hearts on fire!
Flow, river, flow; flood the nations with grace and mercy.
Send forth your Word, Lord, and let there be light.
(Song by Graham Kendrick)
Robert E. Lee, the famous civil war general who led the losing army of the Confederacy in the south, was bankrupt and destitute after the war. A company offered him a million dollar contract if he would sell them the use of his name. Robert E. Lee replied, “My name is all I have left, and it isn’t for sale.”
Robert E. Lee was a man of honesty and integrity. Are we people of honesty and integrity? Because that is what our gospel asks of us today!
Look at your handout today, at the top, where it says, “Living a Life of Honesty and Integrity.” Our readings today give us some clues on how to do that. But first, if we are honest, we must admit that in our society today, it’s an uphill fight, because honesty and integrity are in scarce supply. It’s even become a joke in some places. Take, for example, the story of the lawyer who went to the funeral home to arrange his tombstone in advance. He asked the undertaker to write on his tombstone, “Here lies an honest man and a lawyer.” But the undertaker refused, and explained, “It’s illegal to bury two different people in the same grave.”
Now I admit, lawyers and politicians always take the heat for being dishonest and corrupt. But dishonesty and corruption are all around us, in the business world, in the political world, in the entertainment industry, in our own lives.
• How many have every been to Mexico? What do you think of when I say the word “mordida?” [Bite – the bribe of corruption]
• Last week, in the news, it was revealed that the two airplanes that crashed in Russia because of two women suicide bombers – one of the women bombers was able to pass through security because she bribed the guard, paying him a mere $30, which costs dozens of innocent passengers their lives.
• Just the other day, I was talking with a parishioner who used to work in the auto dealer industry, selling cars. He told me how ruthless and cutthroat that industry is, how full of greed and dishonesty, how some dealers purposely doctor invoices and lie to customers so they can increase the markup on the cars they sell, and increase their own commissions and profits.
• Even here at the church, I’m surprised at how greedy and dishonest people can be. People are always stealing the outdoor lights near the Youth Center. Last week, I went into the bathrooms and found someone had stolen all the handles off the hot water for the sinks!
Let’s begin with a question: Is it OK to steal and cheat?
Watch these two video clips. The first is from “Liar, Liar,” with Jim Carrey. He’s explaining to his son that adults have to lie and cheat to be successful. And the second clip is from one of my favorite movies, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” where we see a typical teenager in action…. [show clips]
Cheating, deceit, dishonesty – they abound in our society, whether it’s cutting school or stealing pencils from the office or embezzling millions of dollars. There is a saying: “Opportunity, not conscience, separates the petty thief from the hardened criminal.”
If we are honest, we will admit that there’s a bit of thief in all of us. And too often, we justify it by saying, “Everybody does it.” But not everyone “does it,” and Jesus tells us clearly that if we are to be his followers, we need to be people of honesty and integrity, not deception and deceit.
Look at your handout. First, we have the example of the prophet Amos, from our first reading. On your handout it says, “Just Us or Justice?” Now obviously, that’s a play on words. But many people focus just on themselves, just on us. God wants us to focus on justice – on others. And notice how Amos denounces the corruption of his day, the attitude of “Just Us” rather than real “justice” -- Listen to this, you that trample on the needy and try to destroy the poor of the country. You say to yourselves, "We can hardly wait for the holy days to be over so that we can sell our grain. When will the Sabbath end, so that we can start selling again? Then we can overcharge, use false measures, and fix the scales to cheat our customers. We can sell worthless wheat at a high price. We'll find someone poor who can't pay his debts, not even the price of a pair of sandals, and we'll buy him as a slave." – Amos 8:4-6 (Today’s English Version)
Second, let’s look at the parable in our gospel today, the story of the Shrewd Manager. This is one of the strangest parables that Jesus ever told, because it seems to make a hero out of a dishonest servant, who steals from his master in order to save his own skin. It might almost seem that Jesus is invented a new Beatitude: “Blessed are the cunning and the crafty and the clever.”
To be honest, scholars themselves are not completely sure how to interpret this parable. It may be that the shrewd manager is stealing from his Master in order to save his own skin. Or it may be that the shrewd manager is just cutting into his own commission. That to me makes the most sense, and explains why the master commends his shrewd manager instead of criticizing him or having him arrested.
In any case, the real point of the story is that we too are called to be wise stewards and administrators of all that God has given to us. I remember a funny story about an Israeli soldier who was tired of fighting and wanted a leave of duty so he could rest and go home for a bit. His commander told him, “You can have a weekend pass if you bring me back a Syrian tank.” To the commander’s surprise, the young soldier returned an hour later, driving a Syrian tank. “How did you do that?” the commander asked, astonished. “Easy,” said the young man. “I simply drove one of our tanks over the Syrian side, asked the soldiers there if they also wanted a leave of absence, they said yes, so we traded tanks.”
Very shrewd, very wise! On your handout, it says that we have three choices in life:
• We can waste our life. Lots of people, unfortunately, do just that – destroying their lives with drugs, alcohol, marital infidelity, so on and so forth.
• We can spend our life: living just for ourselves, for pleasure and fame and popularity.
• Or – what God wants – we can invest our lives – use the gifts and talents that God has given us as an investment in the lives of other people, in making the world a better place, in building God’s kingdom, in building for eternity.
Last week, I read two stories about Harvard University, one that made me sad and the other that gave me great hope. The first story, which made me sad, was about a survey of the top priorities of the students at Harvard. In order, the top priorities were: Money, Power, Reputation. But the second story gave me hope. It was about the Law School, which had planned a lavish and expensive celebration at a fancy hotel for its graduating students. But the students asked the school to hold a much simpler, less expensive celebration so they could use the extra money they saved to help the poor. Here is a story of investing your life, not just spending it or wasting it!
Now, turn to the back of your handouts. Let’s get practical. Our gospel today gives us four steps to help us live lives of honesty and integrity.
STEP ONE: WISE AND FAITHFUL ADMINISTRATORS… Make wise use of what God gives them.
"The rich man had to admire the dishonest rascal for being so shrewd. And it is true that the citizens of this world are more shrewd than the godly are. I tell you, use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. In this way, your generosity stores up a reward for you in heaven. – Luke 16:8-9 (New Living Translation)
Notice that the shrewd manager focused on long term rewards, not just short term gains. He gave up the quick buck in order to invest in the long term future of making friends instead of enemies. He made wise use of what God had given him. If we are to be good and wise and faithful administrators of what God has given us, we too need to think in the long range, not just the short term. Unfortunately, too many people think just about the immediate present, without looking ahead or planning for the future, including their eternal and spiritual future after they die.
STEP TWO: WISE AND FAITHFUL ADMINISTRATORS… Act NOW, not LATER.
The manager said to himself, "What shall I do NOW that my master is going to fire me? I can't dig ditches, and I'm ashamed to beg. I know what I'll do, so that people will welcome me into their homes after I've lost my job." – Luke 16:3-4 (Contemporary English Version)
It is foolish to procrastinate. Tomorrow may be too late. Now is the time to act. But too many people procrastinate spiritually.
STEP THREE: WISE AND FAITHFUL ADMINISTRATORS… Are faithful in SMALL and LARGE ways.
"Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won't be faithful in large ones. If you cheat even a little, you won't be honest with greater responsibilities. – Luke 16:10 (NLT)
Most of us today won’t write a book, win the lottery, govern a nation, stop a war, win a Super Bowl or NBA championship or Olympic gold medal, become movie star or sports hero – BUT all of us can become EVERYDAY HEROES. We follow God when we are faithful in small things – loving our spouses and our children, working hard, being honest and truthful. And if we are dishonest and unfaithful in small things, that too will eventually spill over and cause us problems in larger things.
STEP FOUR: WISE AND FAITHFUL ADMINISTRATORS… Prioritize correctly.
You cannot serve both God and money." – Luke 16:13 (NLT)
It is so sad that so many people mess up in this critical area of their lives. A few weeks ago, I talked to a young man who started selling drugs – the quick money. Greed is a powerful motivator. But he didn’t look at the big picture – the danger of getting arrested, the damage he was causing to his wife and kids, how his greed for money was contributing to the drug problem that is destroying our society.
A joke is told of a college professor who discovered a genie in a bottle. The genie offered him one of three blessings: infinite wealth, infinite fame or infinite wisdom. Being a college professor, he of course chose infinite wisdom. But his students, who were watching him, noticed that once he received infinite wisdom, he sat in a corner, thinking to himself, but saying nothing. Finally, one of the students asked him, “With your newly acquired infinite wisdom, tell us what you are thinking.” The professor replied, “I should have chosen infinite wealth!”
Greed is even in the church. I read last week of a man who came to the pastor of his church, begging for money to help a poor lady who couldn’t pay her rent. The priest was ready to open his wallet to help the poor woman, and was very impressed by the zeal of this man, in his efforts to help the poor woman. “It is always so good to see someone who is so concerned for the poor,” said the priest. “By the way, what do you do for a living?” The man replied, “I’m the poor woman’s landlord.” Sharks, even in the church!
Love of money can destroy us. ““Money is like seawater,” goes the saying. “The more you drink, the thirstier you get.” Yet our society bombards us with messages that promote greed and materialism: “He who dies with most toys, wins;” -- “When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping.”
A man was asked once to compare a glass window and a glass mirror. Looking through the glass window, he could see other people. Looking into the glass window, he could see only himself. A wise rabbi explained that the difference between the glass window and the glass mirror is the thin layer of silver on the back of the mirror. That silver, which represents the lure of money and wealth, blinds us so that we can only see ourselves, but we cannot see through the glass to see other people.
It’s like in the Holy Land, the difference between the Sea of Galilee in the north and the Dead Sea in the south. The Sea of Galilee in the north is surrounded by lush green hills and fields. The Dead Sea in the south is surrounded by desert and is lifeless. The difference is that the Sea of Galilee has tributaries and rivers that feed out from it and water and irrigate the fields and the hills. But the Dead Sea only takes in water from the Jordan River, but it never gives out. Our lives, too, will blossom like the Sea of Galilee if we give of our time, our talent and our treasure. But if we are selfish, our lives will wither and die, like the Dead Sea.
We need to look at life from the long term view, from God’s perspective, investing in eternity, not just spending our life or wasting our life. A joke is told of a man who was very rich and asked God to allow him to take one suitcase with him to heaven when he died. The man died, arrived at the gates of heaven, and St. Peter asked him to open his suitcase. Inside were many heavy blocks of gold. St. Peter asked, “You brought pavement with you in your suitcase?”
The final item on your handout is a “Life Investment Inventory.” This is something you can do in your head, or at home, if you wish. It’s very simple: On a scale of 1 to 10, how am I now doing in terms of giving of my time, my talent and my treasure? Am I doing well – that would be a 9 or 10? Or am I doing poorly – that would be a 1 or 2? Secondly, what is my goal for this coming year in each of those areas – where do I want to be? Do I want to move up from a 3 to a 6, or from a 6 to an 8? Finally, how am I going to do that?
Time – do I need to volunteer more? Am I just giving one hour a week on Sunday morning? Can I give more? Maybe attend some of the mini-retreats, or one of the bigger retreats, or a Bible study or small faith community.
Talent – am I using my gifts here in the church. Do I help out? Am I serving in a ministry?
Treasure – am I giving my fair share to support the church and its ministries? Here at this parish, we suggest that everyone at least try to give at least one hour of their weekly salary to God. But give more if you can, less if you really are unable.
Some people have lots of money – a good job, so on and so forth. They should give more. Others are struggling financially, maybe they are even unemployed. Perhaps they can’t give as much money, but they can give more of their time and talent. All of us can contribute in some way, financially or with our gifts and talents and with our time.
Let me conclude with two inspirational stories. One is about John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church in England. As a young pastor, he earned barely enough to live on, say $20,000 a year. But he only needed $18,000 to live on, so he gave the other $2,000 away to help the poor. A few years later, his salary had increased to $40,000 a year. But he still only needed about $18,000 a year to live on – so he gave away $22,000 to the poor. Still later, when he was now a world-renowned preacher, his salary had jumped to $100,000 a year. But he still only needed $18,000 to live on – so he gave away $82,000 to the poor.
See the example he set of being a wise and honest disciple of Jesus, a person of integrity? Instead of just spending, spending, spending, more and more and more, a bigger house and a fancier car –he invested in God’s Kingdom by helping the poor.
My second and last story is a bit sadder. It’s about a church of ducks. Every Sunday, they would wallow to their duck church, where the duck pastor would open the duck Bible and read and preach to them. One Sunday, the duck pastor opened the duck Bible and started to proclaim, “You ducks have wings like eagles. You ducks can fly. You ducks can soar!” All the ducks flapped their wings with joy and jubilation. But after the church service, they wallowed home again. Not one of them flew home.
As we start this new year, what kind of church to we want to become? A church like the ducks, who every Sunday hear what God asks us to do – that we are to be good stewards, good and wise administrators, a people of honesty and integrity, get more involved by investing our time, talent and treasure – but instead of flying, we just wallow home, and nothing changes? Or do we want to really soar and fly?
My brothers and sisters, it is up to us – really take this message to heart, really commit to becoming more plugged in to God in this coming year by generously giving of our time, talent and treasure? Or just letting God’s message go into one ear but out the other, and nothing changes.
God wants us to be people of honestly and integrity, good stewards, good administrators of all that He has given us.
LIFE INVESTMENT INVENTORY
My time I now give 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 I want to give ________ How?______
My talent I now give 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 I want to give ________ How?______
My treasure I now give 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 I want to give ________ How?______
Homily
24th Sunday of Ordinary Time
September 16, 2007
Lost
Anyone here have a favorite TV show? Watch this short video clip and see if you can identify the show. It is one of the most popular shows on TV right now. [Show blurb for TV show “Lost”]
Our gospel today talks about lost things. Jesus tells three parables – but all three make essentially the same point: The lost sheep; the lost coin; and the prodigal, or lost, son. Notice that each story ends with a party, with celebration and rejoicing. Jesus is making the point that God always seeks out the lost, and always rejoices when the lost is found.
Who are the lost? The world is full of lost souls!
Some are lost to sin: drugs, alcohol, gambling, greed, sexual promiscuity and immorality, materialism, hedonism, and the pursuit of pleasure, or the pursuit of fame or popularity or acceptance or success, or maybe, lost to anger or bitterness or hatred or jealousy and envy, or to cynicism and negativity.
Some are lost through no direct fault of their own: a sickness, a failure, the loss of a loved one, financial distress, or maybe they have fallen into the hole of despair, depression, hopelessness. Last week, a dad called me who felt exactly as the father in Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son: “My son was dead, but now he has come back to life!” This dad’s teenage son is named Ezekiel. You may remember that, back in April, we prayed for Ezekiel. He was at a party in Thermal, there was a fight, Ezekiel was just trying to be the peacemaker and break up the fight, but someone pulled a gun, shot into the crowd, and Ezekiel was hit by three bullets. One bullet lodged between his heart and his aorta. Doctors said he would not live, that he had absolutely zero chance of survival. He was in a coma, at Desert Hospital – and we prayed, and we kept praying. Today, five months later, Ezekiel is walking and talking and almost 100 percent back to normal. The doctors have called it a miracle. He was lost, not through his own fault, but because of a gun, because of violence. His dad will say, rejoicing, “My son was dead, but now he has come back to life!”
Who are the lost souls? It can be a spouse, a child, a parent, a friend, a co-worker – or, ourselves! Look at the story of the prodigal son. Who are the “lost” in that story? The younger son, of course, who squanders his inheritance. But also the older son, who stays away from the party, who harbors anger, resentment, jealousy toward his younger brother, and, most of all, against the generous father, who in the story symbolizes God.
Last week, I read a story about a teacher who said to the children in his classroom, “If I painted all the bad children red, and all the good children green, which color would you be?” One very bright child yelled out, “I’d be striped!” And isn’t that true about all of us – we’re all striped, we’re all a bit of a mixture of good and bad. So we ought to be careful about pointing fingers and judging others.
One of my favorite jokes is about an employer who, on the weekend, needed to ask one of his employees a question, so he phoned the employee at home. But the employee’s little 4-year-old boy answered the phone. “Is your dad home?” the boss asked. “Yes,” said the little boy in a whisper, “but he’s busy.” “Is your mom home?” asked the boss. “Yes,” said the little boy, again in a quiet whisper, “but she’s busy, too.” “Do you have an older brother or sister at home whom I could talk to?” asked the boss. “I have both an older brother and an older sister,” said the little boy, “and both of them are home, but they’re both busy, too.” “Are there any other adults at your home?” asked the boss. “Yes,” said the little boy quietly. “Both the police and the firemen are here.” The boss, now rather worried, asked, “Can I talk to them?” “No,” said the little boy, “they’re all busy, too.” The boss, now completely beside himself, asks, “What’s happening at your house that everyone is so busy they can’t come to the phone?” “Oh,” said the little boy, “it’s because they’re all looking for me!” You see, spiritually, we can be like that little boy at times, hiding from God – but no matter how far we run from the Lord, he keeps searching for us, chasing after us, trying to find the lost sheep.
Look at our second reading, from St. Paul’s 1st letter to Timothy: “I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord … for considering me worthy and appointing me to serve him, even though in the past I spoke evil of him and persecuted and insulted him. But God was merciful to me, because I did not yet have faith and so did not know what I was doing… Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. I am the worst of them, but God was merciful to me.” (1 Timothy 1:12-13, 15-16, TEV) You see, even the great apostle to the Gentiles, St. Paul himself, felt lost spiritually at one time, until he was found by God.
Maybe you’ve been reading in the newspaper these past too weeks about Mother Teresa’s memoirs, how she struggled for years and years with a spiritual “lost-ness” – a “dark night of the soul.” I don’t think such darkness, such “lost-ness,” is that unusual. I just think a lot of people hide it because they don’t want to appear to be weak, spiritually. But the truth is that all of have moments of lost-ness and spiritual weakness.
Yesterday, in Le Mans, France, the founder of my religious community of Holy Cross, Father Basil Anthony Moreau, was beatified. As you leave church today, everyone will receive a special prayer card with his picture on it. But he founded Holy Cross, then his own community kicked him out, and he died all alone, cared for only by a group of religious sisters. Talk about being abandoned, feeling lost and rejected and alone! All of us experience lost-ness sometime in our lives.
The good new is that there is hope for lost souls like ourselves. God does not ever give up on us. Neither should we give up on ourselves or on others whom we see as lost. God loves all of us, and he wants us to start to see with his eyes, to see with the eye of the heart, with eyes of love and compassion for those who are lost and hurting. A little child once asked his mom, “Is God like a grown-up or like a parent?” The mom didn’t quite understand, of course, because parents are adults – so she asked the child the explain. “Grown-ups,” said the little boy, “love you when you are good, but parents just love you.” What is God like – a grown up or a parent?
Watch this next very short film clip… [show “Shrek,” when Princess Fiona changes into an ogress in front of Shrek and loses her outward beauty] There is a part of all of us that is a bit like Princess Fiona – hidden, lost, it causes us embarrassment or shame. But God sees us for who we really are – good and bad, green, red and stripes – and loves us nonetheless.
The context of these three parables is that the Pharisees and scribes are criticizing Jesus for hanging out with sinners, prostitutes, tax collectors. Jesus tells these stories so that we won’t imitate the Pharisees, we won’t imitate the older son, we won’t harbor anger and resentment or be judgmental of others. Rather, like Jesus, we will grow a heart of compassion and love for the lost. We will see others as God sees them, with tenderness and love, and reach out to rescue the lost because we want them to be found.
John Dominic Crossan, a famous Scripture scholar, says Jesus told parables to help us see how Jesus would run the world if Jesus sat on Caesar’s throne. It’s to help us start to run the world – or at least, to do our small part to transform the world – as Jesus would want. It’s not always easy. More often than not, we nurse our wounds instead of seeking real healing for them. A joke is told of a man who found a bottle lying on the beach. He rubbed it and out popped a genie. The genie promised him three wishes – but warned him that his worst enemy would get twice of whatever he asked. The man had this one really bad enemy, but he decided to make a wish anyway. “Give me $10 million,” he asked, and the genie instantly granted him his wish – but also gave his worst enemy $20 million. “Let me live 300 years,” the man asked. The genie granted his wish, but his worst enemy was given 600 years of life. Thinking real hard, the man finally asked the genie, “Please make me blind – but only in one eye!”
Aren’t we a bit like that – wanting our enemies to suffer, judging others in our minds, if not on our lips. Each of these three parables ends with a party, a fiesta, a celebration. God loves parties, especially if it is to welcome back one who was lost. But how would we feel if, when we get to God’s heavenly banquet, we find some folks we hadn’t quiet expected – a Genghis Khan or Adolph Hitler or Mussolini, or maybe a Sadaam Hussein or a bossy mother-in-law – waiting for us at the table?
Only God knows who will be at the table. We are not to judge. We are simply to love and to reach out with compassion to the lost, to help them so that they might be found. We are to join the party, to celebrate the return of the lost.
I want to end with a story from a book by Christian writer and sociologist Tony Campolo, entitled “The Kingdom of God is a Party.” A few years ago, Campolo traveled to Honolulu, Hawaii, for a speaking engagement. He flew all the way from Pennsylvania to Hawaii and had an awful case of jet lag. Therefore, at 3:00 a.m., he was wide awake. Tony found a donut shop near his hotel. As he sat there sipping coffee and glancing at a newspaper, the door to the diner swung open and in marched eight or nine provocative and boisterous prostitutes. Their talk was loud and crude. Tony was just about to make his getaway when he overheard one of the women say, "Tomorrow's my birthday. I'm gonna be thirty-nine." One of her friends responded in a sarcastic tone, "So, what do you want from me, a birthday party?" "No," she said. "I've never had a birthday party in my life. Too late to start now." Suddenly, Tony Campolo had an idea. As soon as the women had left, he said to Harry, the owner of the diner, "Do those women come in here every night?" "Yep," he said, "about this same time. Hope they weren't bothering you." "No," Tony said, "but I have an idea. The one sitting next to me is going to have a birthday tomorrow. I'll pay the bill if we can have a little birthday party for her."
A smile spread across Harry's face. "That's a good idea. Her name is Agnes." He called his wife out of the kitchen area and told her about it. They agreed to bake the cake. The next morning by 3:00 a.m., Campolo had decorated the diner with crepe paper and had made a big sign reading, "Happy Birthday, Agnes." Word had gotten around somehow because by 3:00 a.m. every prostitute in Honolulu was in the place. Wall to wall prostitutes and Tony Campolo. At 3:30 a.m. on the dot, Agnes walked in and confronted the cake with burning candles and the crowd singing loudly, "Happy Birthday." She was flabbergasted, stunned, shaken. Her eyes moistened. Then after she blew out the candles she completely lost it and openly cried.
After the party was over, Tony asked the group if he could say a prayer. He prayed for Agnes and everyone else in the group. Then after everyone was gone, he thanked Harry for going along with the party. Harry said, "Hey, you didn't tell me you were a preacher. What church do you belong to?" In one of those moments when just the right words came, Tony answered, "I belong to a church that throws birthday parties for prostitutes at 3:00 a.m."
What kind of church are we? What kind of Christians are we? You see, Jesus loved the lost and throws a party when the lost are found. And Jesus invites us to imitate him, to seek out the lost and to join the party -- to celebrate with God when the lost are found.
23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time
September 9, 2007
Count the Cost
School started last week, so I want to begin today with a question for the teens and the children (and be honest, because we’re in church!): Any of you guys ever skipped school?
Second question, also for the kids: How many of you think your mom or dad skipped school when he or she was younger? OK, your turn, moms and dads: How many of you skipped school when you were younger?
Adults skip out on things even as adults. Not too long ago, I came across a story of a boss who asked one of his employees, “Do you believe in the resurrection of the dead?” The employee responded, “Yes.” The boss then said, “Good, because remember last week, when you took off two days of work to attend your grandmother’s funeral? Well, she showed up yesterday here at work, looking for you.”
How many think priests have skipped from time to time? How many think I’ve skipped? I want to tell you a true story. A few years ago, I was attending a weeklong conference of priests in Los Angeles. To be honest, some of the talks were kind of boring, so a group of us decided that on Wednesday, midway through the conference, we would skip out for one day. No one would notice – we thought! We decided to go into Hollywood, the “The Price is Right.” But we got caught skipping, and here’s how. You see, one of our group – Fr. Bill Faeilla -- got picked to go on the show. He’s a Holy Cross priest – that’s the name of our religious congregation – and his one-liner that got us onto the show was this: “I’m a Holy Cross priest – more cross than holy.” Anyway, he won in the first round. Then he won in the second round. He kept winning until, finally, he won the grand prize – a brand new car. Good news? You bet! Except for one thing – now we were all on national TV, so everyone would know that we played hooky that day!
Today, I want to help us NOT play hooky from God. I want to challenge us to follow the Lord wholeheartedly, not half-heartedly. Specifically, as we look at our gospel today, I want us to count the cost of being a disciple, a follower of Jesus.
Everything in life has a cost. If you want good health, it costs energy and effort to eat the right kinds of food, get enough sleep at night, stick to an exercise regime. If you want to be successful at school, it costs effort to study and complete homework assignments on time. How many of you who are parents believe there is a cost to being a good parent? Just last week, I heard a story of a poor dad, on a cross-country airplane flight with his two daughters, ages 3 and 4. Mom couldn’t join them on the trip so dad was all alone – and these two little ones were at that mischievous age. They were running up and down the aisles of the plane, throwing food and magazines at one another, occasionally crying out in a temper tantrum, and – in general – bothering all the other passengers. A stewardess even asked the father, only half jokingly, “Would you mind taking your children outside to play?” You know it’s bad when the stewardess asks you that! But then, one gentle turned to the father and asked him quietly, “Are those your two children?” The man replied, “Yes.” The other man then said, “My wife and I would give anything to have two children.” The father, now hushed, simply asked, “Oh, so you and your wife don’t have any kids?&#