Sunday, September 28, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Homily for the Week of September 21, 2008
HOMILY: Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time A, 2008
Ez 18:25-28; Phil 2:1-11; Mt 21: 28-32
Most of you are familiar with the concept of U-Turn. We make U-Turns, either with our cars and trucks, or in our life when we decide that we are going in the wrong direction, turn completely around, and head back in the same direction from which we came. Let's look at the U-Turns in our Bible readings for today. In our first reading Ezekiel speaks of God's justice in dealing with the people who make a U-turn in their spiritual lives. The Lord says that if people who do what is good and right make a U-turn and begin to do what is bad and sinful, they shall suffer eternal death. but if those who live lives of sin and wickedness, make a U-Turn from their bad life, they shall live.
In a similar fashion, Jesus challenges the chief priests and elders of the temple with a story about a father who asks his sons to work in the vineyard. One says no, changes his mind, and then goes to work in the vineyard. The other says yes, but does not go. Each of them made a U-turn. When Jesus asks them: Which of the two did his fathers will? the answer was obvious -- the one who originally said no. Each of the persons in Jesus story made a U-turn in their life. The chief priest first adopted God's law, and then turned around; those who were sinners changed their way of life. For this reason Jesus promised that the sinners would enter heaven before the religious leaders would be admitted.
But we understand a little better when we hear the words of Saint Paul: Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus. Jesus who was the son of God did not use that relationship to impress or control others. He died as a criminal because he knew that he had to do what God wanted him to do.
Do we come to Mass on weekends because we have to? Or do we come because we want to be part of that great prayer of the Church, where we are gathered up into Christ's own offering to his Father? Do we love our enemies providing they are hundreds of miles away. Do we decide to get rid of our bad habits and addictions only when the doctor tells us that they will kill us? Do we feel guilty or ashamed of what we are doing only when someone happens to see us? Many of us may say Yes to these questions.
In the Lord's prayer, we say Your will be done. How often we repeat these words, but how hard it is to accept what happens today in our own lives! The measure of the way we keep our promises to God is mirrored in the way we keep our promises to others. If we give our word and we must keep it, then we are walking in the truth. The more our faithfulness mirrors God's own, the more we are able to share God's great love with the world.
One of the difficult aspects of religion is that it very often talks about the mysteries in our life. In so doing religion often uses objects and symbols to describe these mysteries. When you leave this church today until you return next week none of you will see a pulpit, an altar, church pews and kneelers, colored glass windows, the clothes I am wearing, the bread for communion. But these are all symbols that tell us something of our Catholic religion.
How many of you are aware that the ''Golden Arches'' of McDonald's and the logo for Coke are more recognized throughout the world than the Cross? Yet, as I said last week I always impressed whenever I see a young person have a cross on a neck chain, and they wear it so it can be seen. One day in talking to a person who does tattoos, he mentioned that to his surprise, one of the most requested tattoos was that of some form of the cross.
Many persons will leave more per week as a tip for a meal than they will give each week to their church or to charity.
Last year an Insurance Company conducted a survey that found that 45 percent of married Americans listed their car as more important to them than their children. We must see the world with different eyes -- with eyes that love God. And how the eyes of God are with us every minute of every day. Ezekiel talks about this.
Ezekiel wrote at a time when the people found that God's system of reward and punishment seemed unfair. They observed that God seems to punish the righteous and reward the wicked. In the words of Ezekiel, God asks, ''Are my ways that are unfair, or is it really your ways that are unfair?'' Ezekiel presents two individuals. He presents first a person who has been good through most of his life, but who at the end turns away from God's virtues. The second person has lived a wicked life but at the end turns toward God.
According to our scorecard of justice, the almost-all-good person will go to heaven and the almost-all-bad person will not. Ezekiel tells us no, that, regardless of how much good he has done, the person who turned away from God will not be saved, while the person who, after a lifetime of evil, turned to God will be saved.
Ezekiel says to us that God neither judges us by our past or by our future. God judges us by our present. Where are we right now? What is the life we will present to God at the moment we meet Him?
This reality will lead Jesus to say that we know not the day nor the hour, so be like bridesmaids waiting for the groom. Jesus will also ask what the master will do when he unexpectedly returns and finds some servants doing their job and some not.
In Our Psalm verses today are a prayer that we will come to a better understanding of God: 'Your ways, O Lord, make known to me; teach me your paths. If God looks to the current situation of our heart, what will He see? Will he find that we have been consciously waiting and attentive to our love?
All of us must be heading in the direction of everlasting life, hopefully all together in heaven. If we desire to get there, we may need to look at the areas of our lives where we need to make U-turns.
Do I need to make a U-turn in our prayer life?
Do I need to make a U-turn in our charitable giving?
Do I need to make a U-turn in our fantasies and pleasures, some of which may have become addictive?
Do I need to make a U-turn in the ways in which we deal with others: in how we respect and support one another or in the examples that we give to children?
Do I need to make a U-turn to pick up my clothes, do the dishes and make my bed?
Do I need to make a U-turn to give an honest compliment to someone who is not expecting it?
We must ask ourselves: What U-turns must I make this week?
As we look at our life, no matter our age, we may detect that it has a lot of zigzags. It is normal for us to be either happy or unhappy about the spiritual quality of our life so far. An example of living as God wants is the life of St. Therese of Lisieux. When she was just six years old she had learned to love God and made God part of her life. When she became a teenager she mentions that she had tried to act as if God was watching her, not in fear of punishment, but because she loved God. And before she died at the age of 24 she mentioned that the only thing she wanted was to love God.
On the other hand we have the example of St. Augustine. He is the picture of the wandering person. He knew that God loved him, but for many years he got involved in self centered love of himself rather than complete love of God. But, finally, with the help of Monica, his mother he made the U-Turn to God.
We are given the freedom to make U-turns in our lives. In that freedom we can turn away from any sinful patterns we have developed and move toward God or we can turn away from God. We may have said no to God in the past, but we can turn our lives around and say yes to God now. Very often we need a spiritual doctor to help us make that turn. Most do not like to go to doctors, whether they are medical doctors or spiritual doctors. Deciding it is time to get spiritual help may be the most important U-turn that we can make.
Ez 18:25-28; Phil 2:1-11; Mt 21: 28-32
Most of you are familiar with the concept of U-Turn. We make U-Turns, either with our cars and trucks, or in our life when we decide that we are going in the wrong direction, turn completely around, and head back in the same direction from which we came. Let's look at the U-Turns in our Bible readings for today. In our first reading Ezekiel speaks of God's justice in dealing with the people who make a U-turn in their spiritual lives. The Lord says that if people who do what is good and right make a U-turn and begin to do what is bad and sinful, they shall suffer eternal death. but if those who live lives of sin and wickedness, make a U-Turn from their bad life, they shall live.
In a similar fashion, Jesus challenges the chief priests and elders of the temple with a story about a father who asks his sons to work in the vineyard. One says no, changes his mind, and then goes to work in the vineyard. The other says yes, but does not go. Each of them made a U-turn. When Jesus asks them: Which of the two did his fathers will? the answer was obvious -- the one who originally said no. Each of the persons in Jesus story made a U-turn in their life. The chief priest first adopted God's law, and then turned around; those who were sinners changed their way of life. For this reason Jesus promised that the sinners would enter heaven before the religious leaders would be admitted.
But we understand a little better when we hear the words of Saint Paul: Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus. Jesus who was the son of God did not use that relationship to impress or control others. He died as a criminal because he knew that he had to do what God wanted him to do.
Do we come to Mass on weekends because we have to? Or do we come because we want to be part of that great prayer of the Church, where we are gathered up into Christ's own offering to his Father? Do we love our enemies providing they are hundreds of miles away. Do we decide to get rid of our bad habits and addictions only when the doctor tells us that they will kill us? Do we feel guilty or ashamed of what we are doing only when someone happens to see us? Many of us may say Yes to these questions.
In the Lord's prayer, we say Your will be done. How often we repeat these words, but how hard it is to accept what happens today in our own lives! The measure of the way we keep our promises to God is mirrored in the way we keep our promises to others. If we give our word and we must keep it, then we are walking in the truth. The more our faithfulness mirrors God's own, the more we are able to share God's great love with the world.
One of the difficult aspects of religion is that it very often talks about the mysteries in our life. In so doing religion often uses objects and symbols to describe these mysteries. When you leave this church today until you return next week none of you will see a pulpit, an altar, church pews and kneelers, colored glass windows, the clothes I am wearing, the bread for communion. But these are all symbols that tell us something of our Catholic religion.
How many of you are aware that the ''Golden Arches'' of McDonald's and the logo for Coke are more recognized throughout the world than the Cross? Yet, as I said last week I always impressed whenever I see a young person have a cross on a neck chain, and they wear it so it can be seen. One day in talking to a person who does tattoos, he mentioned that to his surprise, one of the most requested tattoos was that of some form of the cross.
Many persons will leave more per week as a tip for a meal than they will give each week to their church or to charity.
Last year an Insurance Company conducted a survey that found that 45 percent of married Americans listed their car as more important to them than their children. We must see the world with different eyes -- with eyes that love God. And how the eyes of God are with us every minute of every day. Ezekiel talks about this.
Ezekiel wrote at a time when the people found that God's system of reward and punishment seemed unfair. They observed that God seems to punish the righteous and reward the wicked. In the words of Ezekiel, God asks, ''Are my ways that are unfair, or is it really your ways that are unfair?'' Ezekiel presents two individuals. He presents first a person who has been good through most of his life, but who at the end turns away from God's virtues. The second person has lived a wicked life but at the end turns toward God.
According to our scorecard of justice, the almost-all-good person will go to heaven and the almost-all-bad person will not. Ezekiel tells us no, that, regardless of how much good he has done, the person who turned away from God will not be saved, while the person who, after a lifetime of evil, turned to God will be saved.
Ezekiel says to us that God neither judges us by our past or by our future. God judges us by our present. Where are we right now? What is the life we will present to God at the moment we meet Him?
This reality will lead Jesus to say that we know not the day nor the hour, so be like bridesmaids waiting for the groom. Jesus will also ask what the master will do when he unexpectedly returns and finds some servants doing their job and some not.
In Our Psalm verses today are a prayer that we will come to a better understanding of God: 'Your ways, O Lord, make known to me; teach me your paths. If God looks to the current situation of our heart, what will He see? Will he find that we have been consciously waiting and attentive to our love?
All of us must be heading in the direction of everlasting life, hopefully all together in heaven. If we desire to get there, we may need to look at the areas of our lives where we need to make U-turns.
Do I need to make a U-turn in our prayer life?
Do I need to make a U-turn in our charitable giving?
Do I need to make a U-turn in our fantasies and pleasures, some of which may have become addictive?
Do I need to make a U-turn in the ways in which we deal with others: in how we respect and support one another or in the examples that we give to children?
Do I need to make a U-turn to pick up my clothes, do the dishes and make my bed?
Do I need to make a U-turn to give an honest compliment to someone who is not expecting it?
We must ask ourselves: What U-turns must I make this week?
As we look at our life, no matter our age, we may detect that it has a lot of zigzags. It is normal for us to be either happy or unhappy about the spiritual quality of our life so far. An example of living as God wants is the life of St. Therese of Lisieux. When she was just six years old she had learned to love God and made God part of her life. When she became a teenager she mentions that she had tried to act as if God was watching her, not in fear of punishment, but because she loved God. And before she died at the age of 24 she mentioned that the only thing she wanted was to love God.
On the other hand we have the example of St. Augustine. He is the picture of the wandering person. He knew that God loved him, but for many years he got involved in self centered love of himself rather than complete love of God. But, finally, with the help of Monica, his mother he made the U-Turn to God.
We are given the freedom to make U-turns in our lives. In that freedom we can turn away from any sinful patterns we have developed and move toward God or we can turn away from God. We may have said no to God in the past, but we can turn our lives around and say yes to God now. Very often we need a spiritual doctor to help us make that turn. Most do not like to go to doctors, whether they are medical doctors or spiritual doctors. Deciding it is time to get spiritual help may be the most important U-turn that we can make.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Homily for the Week of September 14, 2008
Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, 2008
Numbers 21:4b-9
Psalm 78:1bc-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38
Philippians 2:6-11
John 3:13-17
I recently visited a home and noticed a beautiful crucifix by the front door. I remarked how beautiful it was to which I got the question: ''What crucifix?'' I then pointed to it by the front door. And I got the response: ''I guess I've walked past it for so many years that I don't even notice it anymore.'' Has the cross, the crucifix we see, been around so long that we have forgotten what it is about? Is it now just another pretty thing to hang on the wall, or a pretty thing on a necklace, or pretty dangling earrings?
You might wonder why we Catholics have a weekend during which we honor the cross which was a violent means of torture used by the Romans. The Romans inherited this "tool" of torture from the Persians. Crucifixion was such a humiliating and horrible form of death that Roman citizens could not be put to death on a cross. Crucifixion was reserved for slaves and those who had committed treason or brutal crimes. After being beaten and tortured, victims were stripped naked, their clothing given to the soldiers. We honor the cross because Jesus carried his cross and died on it.
One of the most recognized religious symbols is that of the cross or a crucifix. A crucifix is a cross on which is the body of Jesus. At the center of every Catholic church you will find a cross. If you looked at older churches from the an airplane you would see the form of a cross. The cross hangs round the necks of hundreds of thousands of people in our world, perhaps many of you. Many religious communities of woman and men use the cross as the mark to distinguish them as persons dedicated in poverty, chastity and obedience. Crosses are even worn by some who have no visible outward sign of being religious, nor even Christians.
The Cross -- because of what it represents is universal symbol of the Christian faith. It has inspired our devotions. We are recognized as Catholics when we make the Sign of the Cross. Members of other religions do not make the sign of the cross. We make the sign of the cross as begin Mass and we our blessed by the sign of the cross as we finish Mass. We begin our prayers with the sign of the cross to fix our minds and hearts on God. We end our prayers with the sign of the cross to keep us close to Jesus. We make the sign of the cross as we enter the church, we make it on our forehead, lips and heart at the reading of the Gospel. We pray the Stations (or Way) of the Cross. On Good Friday we have a special Veneration of the Cross by kissing the feet of the image of Our Savior crucified. Very often a crucifix is placed on the casket at the beginning of a funeral. Our Rosary has a crucifix. Crucifixes are placed in Catholic school classrooms, in Catholic centers. The cross or the crucifix is a constant reminder of what we believe.
Jesus once said: He who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake shall find it.
Very often as a priest I have had persons come to me to talk about spiritual issues. Sometimes they have been away from the church or organized religions for many years. The practice of their religion met very little to them. I remember one man in his 60's who had been away from formal religion for years. He came to talk with me to find out how to get back to church after the death of his wife. As we talked he proudly opened his billfold On the inside he had tacked a small cross which had been given to him by his grandmother at the time of his first communion. Tears came into his eyes as he looked at it, saying: Jesus has always been with me.
After 2000 years the cross has lost none of its power to attract and to convert. And that is so because the cross is the best visual telling us HOW MUCH GOD LOVES US. A look at the cross does tell us much about suffering and pain, but also it shows us much more about love and freedom. It tells us much more about life than it does about death.
Unfortunately, it is possible for us to be so use to our symbols that we don't see them anymore. And even worse, how many of us have grown so use to hearing about the death of Jesus that it simply does not seem real to us, or we just don't take the time to pray about it.
This feast of the exaltation of the holy cross began nearly 1700 years ago in Rome. The emperor was Constantine. He was not a Christian. He had killed many Christians. He was fighting a war for Rome and he was losing. But then he had a vision of the Cross which appeared with the words: In this sign you shall conquer. He kept the cross in his memory, won the war and became a Christian. In so doing he also ended the persecution against the followers of Jesus.
This feast is celebrated always on September fourteenth. It is believed that St. Helen, the mother of Constantine while on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 326, found a piece of the “True Cross” on September fourteenth. The feast became important when it was believed that the “True Cross” was returned from Persia to Jerusalem in the seventh century after its having been stolen.
The cross, however, can be a contradiction. How could dying save people? Because of this, the cross did not immediately become a symbol for Christianity. The cross was an instrument of torture and death for slaves, traitors, and criminals. It was a humiliating death to hang naked for everyone to see. How could people wear such a symbol on a chain around their necks, or place it on the walls of their kitchens and living rooms?
But it became a symbol of love. We are told that Jesus was obedient unto death, death on a cross. For God so loved the world that he gave his only son. So after a few centuries the cross became the symbol - not of death - but of love. By dying on the cross Jesus took away our sins, so that we would not have to die for them.
The good news of today's gospel is that God loves us, and God loves us right now. And that love is extended to us and shown by Christ through his cross. God had no way of showing us his love other than inviting his son to show that love by dying that we might live again after we have fallen. Our bible reading today tells us that Jesus came into the world, not to condemn us but that we might be saved through him.
Pray before the cross. Pray the stations of the cross. At Baptism a sign of the cross was placed on our foreheads. Our Parents and God parents were invited to do the same. Make sure that a crucifix is seen prominently throughout your home. Parents should point out to their children why you have these crucifixes. Let the image of the suffering Jesus heal you of pain of any kind: physical, emotional and spiritual. Let us chose the cross out of love for the one who died on it. It is our ladder, our bridge, our anchor and our badge of belonging to Jesus Christ. The cross "is not only the symbol of your life in God and your salvation, but also ... the silent witness of human suffering and the unique and priceless expression of all our hopes.
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you,
Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
Numbers 21:4b-9
Psalm 78:1bc-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38
Philippians 2:6-11
John 3:13-17
I recently visited a home and noticed a beautiful crucifix by the front door. I remarked how beautiful it was to which I got the question: ''What crucifix?'' I then pointed to it by the front door. And I got the response: ''I guess I've walked past it for so many years that I don't even notice it anymore.'' Has the cross, the crucifix we see, been around so long that we have forgotten what it is about? Is it now just another pretty thing to hang on the wall, or a pretty thing on a necklace, or pretty dangling earrings?
You might wonder why we Catholics have a weekend during which we honor the cross which was a violent means of torture used by the Romans. The Romans inherited this "tool" of torture from the Persians. Crucifixion was such a humiliating and horrible form of death that Roman citizens could not be put to death on a cross. Crucifixion was reserved for slaves and those who had committed treason or brutal crimes. After being beaten and tortured, victims were stripped naked, their clothing given to the soldiers. We honor the cross because Jesus carried his cross and died on it.
One of the most recognized religious symbols is that of the cross or a crucifix. A crucifix is a cross on which is the body of Jesus. At the center of every Catholic church you will find a cross. If you looked at older churches from the an airplane you would see the form of a cross. The cross hangs round the necks of hundreds of thousands of people in our world, perhaps many of you. Many religious communities of woman and men use the cross as the mark to distinguish them as persons dedicated in poverty, chastity and obedience. Crosses are even worn by some who have no visible outward sign of being religious, nor even Christians.
The Cross -- because of what it represents is universal symbol of the Christian faith. It has inspired our devotions. We are recognized as Catholics when we make the Sign of the Cross. Members of other religions do not make the sign of the cross. We make the sign of the cross as begin Mass and we our blessed by the sign of the cross as we finish Mass. We begin our prayers with the sign of the cross to fix our minds and hearts on God. We end our prayers with the sign of the cross to keep us close to Jesus. We make the sign of the cross as we enter the church, we make it on our forehead, lips and heart at the reading of the Gospel. We pray the Stations (or Way) of the Cross. On Good Friday we have a special Veneration of the Cross by kissing the feet of the image of Our Savior crucified. Very often a crucifix is placed on the casket at the beginning of a funeral. Our Rosary has a crucifix. Crucifixes are placed in Catholic school classrooms, in Catholic centers. The cross or the crucifix is a constant reminder of what we believe.
Jesus once said: He who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake shall find it.
Very often as a priest I have had persons come to me to talk about spiritual issues. Sometimes they have been away from the church or organized religions for many years. The practice of their religion met very little to them. I remember one man in his 60's who had been away from formal religion for years. He came to talk with me to find out how to get back to church after the death of his wife. As we talked he proudly opened his billfold On the inside he had tacked a small cross which had been given to him by his grandmother at the time of his first communion. Tears came into his eyes as he looked at it, saying: Jesus has always been with me.
After 2000 years the cross has lost none of its power to attract and to convert. And that is so because the cross is the best visual telling us HOW MUCH GOD LOVES US. A look at the cross does tell us much about suffering and pain, but also it shows us much more about love and freedom. It tells us much more about life than it does about death.
Unfortunately, it is possible for us to be so use to our symbols that we don't see them anymore. And even worse, how many of us have grown so use to hearing about the death of Jesus that it simply does not seem real to us, or we just don't take the time to pray about it.
This feast of the exaltation of the holy cross began nearly 1700 years ago in Rome. The emperor was Constantine. He was not a Christian. He had killed many Christians. He was fighting a war for Rome and he was losing. But then he had a vision of the Cross which appeared with the words: In this sign you shall conquer. He kept the cross in his memory, won the war and became a Christian. In so doing he also ended the persecution against the followers of Jesus.
This feast is celebrated always on September fourteenth. It is believed that St. Helen, the mother of Constantine while on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 326, found a piece of the “True Cross” on September fourteenth. The feast became important when it was believed that the “True Cross” was returned from Persia to Jerusalem in the seventh century after its having been stolen.
The cross, however, can be a contradiction. How could dying save people? Because of this, the cross did not immediately become a symbol for Christianity. The cross was an instrument of torture and death for slaves, traitors, and criminals. It was a humiliating death to hang naked for everyone to see. How could people wear such a symbol on a chain around their necks, or place it on the walls of their kitchens and living rooms?
But it became a symbol of love. We are told that Jesus was obedient unto death, death on a cross. For God so loved the world that he gave his only son. So after a few centuries the cross became the symbol - not of death - but of love. By dying on the cross Jesus took away our sins, so that we would not have to die for them.
The good news of today's gospel is that God loves us, and God loves us right now. And that love is extended to us and shown by Christ through his cross. God had no way of showing us his love other than inviting his son to show that love by dying that we might live again after we have fallen. Our bible reading today tells us that Jesus came into the world, not to condemn us but that we might be saved through him.
Pray before the cross. Pray the stations of the cross. At Baptism a sign of the cross was placed on our foreheads. Our Parents and God parents were invited to do the same. Make sure that a crucifix is seen prominently throughout your home. Parents should point out to their children why you have these crucifixes. Let the image of the suffering Jesus heal you of pain of any kind: physical, emotional and spiritual. Let us chose the cross out of love for the one who died on it. It is our ladder, our bridge, our anchor and our badge of belonging to Jesus Christ. The cross "is not only the symbol of your life in God and your salvation, but also ... the silent witness of human suffering and the unique and priceless expression of all our hopes.
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you,
Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Homily for the Week of September 7, 2008
Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time September 7, 2008
Ezekiel 33,7-9
Psalm 94,1-2.6-7.8-9
Romans 13,8-10
Matthew 18,15-20
Last week I was in Rouses Point and I passed by a church with a sign out front that said, “God promised Christians a safe landing, not smooth sailing”. That was a catchy reminder of just how challenging it can be to try to live the Christian life.
The Gospel makes it plain that Jesus called his disciples to love others unconditionally and, as we heard, so pointedly today, he certainly expects us to take the initiative in seeking reconciliation when love breaks down.
That’s such a tall order that we could easily be thinking that kind of teaching was fine for first century folks but this world of the twenty-first century is full of people who seem so unlovable that it can’t help but make you wonder. If Jesus walked the earth today, preaching love and reconciliation, would he draw the line when it came to terrorists who have no respect for others’ lives or rights; or doctors who make their living killing children; or corporate big shots whose greed bankrupts a business and destroys the savings of lots of investors; or predators who abuse and molest the young? Would Jesus make exceptions for those kinds of evil people?
After all, Jesus was well aware of the dark side of life when he walked the earth so long ago. Not much has changed in 2000 years. First century folks were not nearly as sophisticated as we are today in killing unborn children so they simply threw unwanted new-borns into the dump. Speaking of terror, let’s not forget that Jesus and his neighbors lived in an occupied country where captive subjects were policed by the Roman army. As to the abuse of the young, they were routinely exposed to the perversion and pornography that was even ritualized in the religions of the pagans. Jesus didn’t know about 401(k)’s, of course; but he was well-acquainted with slavery and the rule of sick emperors.
Yet, even as he lived in such a sick and unjust society, he still preached love and reconciliation. Could he have been out of touch with reality? But, we are gathered here today because we don’t believe that Jesus was out of touch with reality. No, we’re here today because we believe the Christian life of love and reconciliation is the true way to happiness, not only for the here and now but for ever. It’s interesting to note just how far Jesus would go for reconciliation. In today’s Gospel when Jesus tells us to make every effort to achieve reconciliation, He says if nothing works, then treat the other as you would a Gentile or a tax collector; but he himself wouldn’t stop even there. He invited both Gentiles and tax collectors to eat and talk with him and thereby changed their hearts. Our Gospel today was written by a tax collector, Matthew, who ended up giving his life for the sake of love and reconciliation.
Seven years ago this week we will remember the tragic events of September 11th brought home to many Americans the reality that serious harm had been done to innocent victims. For a variety of reasons our media and politicians have played back over and over again the scenes of these events. It comes at a time when the words under God is to be removed from our Pledge of Allegiance, and songs like God Bless America are removed from public programs, and athletes are not encouraged to pray before a game. But the rescue workers and construction workers at Ground Zero told a different story: they repeated over and over that the Spirit of God was with them, and they praised most of all the chaplains who were with them day after day: WHATEVER YOU NEEDED, WHENEVER YOU NEEDED THEM,THEY WERE THERE FOR US.
We’re also here because we know how often and how easily we don’t really live out what we say we believe. When love breaks down in even the most intimate of our relationships with others, with family and neighbors, co-workers and even fellow worshippers, we know we need God’s grace to give us the strength and courage to seek reconciliation and renew lost love. It’s here in this place that we are nourished by word and sacrament so we can go back out into our often sick and unjust society and try to renew it. That’s what Jesus asks of us. As Ezekiel reminds us, in our first reading, that ‘s not just a nice thing to do; it’s absolutely necessary for our own good. Speaking as God’s prophet, he utters some very sobering words. He says, “if you warn the wicked man, trying to turn him from his way, and he refuses to turn from his way, he shall die for his guilt, but you shall save yourself”.
The meditation on the front cover of our Bulletin today has an excellent reflection on how we can apply to ourselves and others the advice that Jesus gives us in the Gospel. How we can bring about love and forgiveness better by using I-statements rather than you-statements. Perhaps, as we approach the altar for our share of the Body and Blood of Jesus today, we could plead with God to fill our hearts with a thirst for peace because only a peaceful person will long to seek reconciliation with even the unlovable among us, no matter what the cost. Jesus, Matthew, and Paul all gave up their lives for that cause. Could we at least give up some of our comfort and security? There’s no doubt that Jesus wants us to do just that so, as the Psalmist says, “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts”.
Ezekiel 33,7-9
Psalm 94,1-2.6-7.8-9
Romans 13,8-10
Matthew 18,15-20
Last week I was in Rouses Point and I passed by a church with a sign out front that said, “God promised Christians a safe landing, not smooth sailing”. That was a catchy reminder of just how challenging it can be to try to live the Christian life.
The Gospel makes it plain that Jesus called his disciples to love others unconditionally and, as we heard, so pointedly today, he certainly expects us to take the initiative in seeking reconciliation when love breaks down.
That’s such a tall order that we could easily be thinking that kind of teaching was fine for first century folks but this world of the twenty-first century is full of people who seem so unlovable that it can’t help but make you wonder. If Jesus walked the earth today, preaching love and reconciliation, would he draw the line when it came to terrorists who have no respect for others’ lives or rights; or doctors who make their living killing children; or corporate big shots whose greed bankrupts a business and destroys the savings of lots of investors; or predators who abuse and molest the young? Would Jesus make exceptions for those kinds of evil people?
After all, Jesus was well aware of the dark side of life when he walked the earth so long ago. Not much has changed in 2000 years. First century folks were not nearly as sophisticated as we are today in killing unborn children so they simply threw unwanted new-borns into the dump. Speaking of terror, let’s not forget that Jesus and his neighbors lived in an occupied country where captive subjects were policed by the Roman army. As to the abuse of the young, they were routinely exposed to the perversion and pornography that was even ritualized in the religions of the pagans. Jesus didn’t know about 401(k)’s, of course; but he was well-acquainted with slavery and the rule of sick emperors.
Yet, even as he lived in such a sick and unjust society, he still preached love and reconciliation. Could he have been out of touch with reality? But, we are gathered here today because we don’t believe that Jesus was out of touch with reality. No, we’re here today because we believe the Christian life of love and reconciliation is the true way to happiness, not only for the here and now but for ever. It’s interesting to note just how far Jesus would go for reconciliation. In today’s Gospel when Jesus tells us to make every effort to achieve reconciliation, He says if nothing works, then treat the other as you would a Gentile or a tax collector; but he himself wouldn’t stop even there. He invited both Gentiles and tax collectors to eat and talk with him and thereby changed their hearts. Our Gospel today was written by a tax collector, Matthew, who ended up giving his life for the sake of love and reconciliation.
Seven years ago this week we will remember the tragic events of September 11th brought home to many Americans the reality that serious harm had been done to innocent victims. For a variety of reasons our media and politicians have played back over and over again the scenes of these events. It comes at a time when the words under God is to be removed from our Pledge of Allegiance, and songs like God Bless America are removed from public programs, and athletes are not encouraged to pray before a game. But the rescue workers and construction workers at Ground Zero told a different story: they repeated over and over that the Spirit of God was with them, and they praised most of all the chaplains who were with them day after day: WHATEVER YOU NEEDED, WHENEVER YOU NEEDED THEM,THEY WERE THERE FOR US.
We’re also here because we know how often and how easily we don’t really live out what we say we believe. When love breaks down in even the most intimate of our relationships with others, with family and neighbors, co-workers and even fellow worshippers, we know we need God’s grace to give us the strength and courage to seek reconciliation and renew lost love. It’s here in this place that we are nourished by word and sacrament so we can go back out into our often sick and unjust society and try to renew it. That’s what Jesus asks of us. As Ezekiel reminds us, in our first reading, that ‘s not just a nice thing to do; it’s absolutely necessary for our own good. Speaking as God’s prophet, he utters some very sobering words. He says, “if you warn the wicked man, trying to turn him from his way, and he refuses to turn from his way, he shall die for his guilt, but you shall save yourself”.
The meditation on the front cover of our Bulletin today has an excellent reflection on how we can apply to ourselves and others the advice that Jesus gives us in the Gospel. How we can bring about love and forgiveness better by using I-statements rather than you-statements. Perhaps, as we approach the altar for our share of the Body and Blood of Jesus today, we could plead with God to fill our hearts with a thirst for peace because only a peaceful person will long to seek reconciliation with even the unlovable among us, no matter what the cost. Jesus, Matthew, and Paul all gave up their lives for that cause. Could we at least give up some of our comfort and security? There’s no doubt that Jesus wants us to do just that so, as the Psalmist says, “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts”.
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