Homily for the week of July 12, 2009

HOMILY Fifteenth Sunday B, 2009

First Reading: Amos 7:12–15

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 85:9–10, 11–12, 13–14

Second Reading: Ephesians 1:3–14 [3–10]

Gospel: Mark 6:7–13

For the last 3 or 4 months the news in our country has been mostly about money or what is called the economy. We have heard about our President and our elected members of Congress giving billions of dollars of our money to banks and companies like General Motors and Chrysler in order to balance their check books. Very shortly after their bailouts and stimulus checks it was discovered that some employees received millions of dollars in bonuses. It was also discovered that these bonuses were being paid to many of the very ones who were responsible. In one way or other most of you have been affected by this economic downturn. For example every Catholic parish that has a cemetery must by law must invest the cost of grave in a perpetual care fund. Only the interest on that fund can be used for taking care of the cemetery. The St. James Perpetual Care Fund has lost about 30% of its amount in the past 4 months.

Our Bible readings for today give us an entirely different message based on faith and justice. Jesus offers no bonuses or bailouts to those he chooses. After doing interviews Jesus chooses twelve persons to represent him. Try to imagine Jesus sitting at a table talking to his 12 chosen workers. He calls their names two by two; they step up to receive their destinations and directions. To each person he hands a walking stick. We must understand that before they met Jesus these twelve men all had money and quite a lot of possessions. Jesus gives them very specific instructions about what they are to pack—nothing! He insists that they take nothing with them except the walking stick and sandals on their feet, They are to take no food, no bag, no money, no change of clothing. They are to go completely empty-handed. They are to put on the clothes of others and eat whatever the local people share. This way they become one with those they are teaching.

Jesus was choosing his followers and his workers. Being chosen is one of our most common experiences. Some of you may have been chosen to win a prize in a contest. Others may have been picked to play on a high school or summer sports team, or be a member of a card group. In marriage, a man and a women choose each other for better or for worse until death parts them. One day 50 years ago a bishop chose me to be a priest.

Jesus did the same thing. He chose six pairs of persons who had been working on all kinds of jobs: some were fisherman, others were carpenters, others were unemployed. None of them had any college degrees or even formal education. None of them knew Jesus; none of them believed in Jesus. They are to take nothing upon which they can rely, but only their trust in Jesus’ word. They became the first missionaries. That is, a person sent out to do God's work.

Once they were picked they were given job descriptions. Jesus asks them to do a very simple job. They are to invite all persons they meet to repent, which means to make a 180 degree turn in their lives. Jesus tells them that at times they will meet with opposition and be laughed at. At times they will be seen as a threat to others. Many will not believe a word of what they tell them. They are not to argue with these persons. But merely go on to another place.

God had been choosing persons to speak for him for thousands of years. In our First Reading we are told the story of how God chose Amos to be a prophet, the conscience of the people. But Amos wasn't trained; he never went to school; he had no education; he was never taught how to speak. But God chose Amos to change jobs to do God's work.

On the day of our Baptism you and I were chosen by God. We were chosen to be holy and blameless. On that day we became an adopted child of God. We were given a lighted candle and told to keep it burning brightly as a reminder that we are followers of Christ. We were dressed in white as a sign of our dignity. The priest touches the ears and mouth of the baby saying: May the Lord soon touch your ears to receive his word, and your mouth to proclaim his faith.

As persons chosen by God we are reminded to look at ourselves to see if we need a change in direction in our lives; if we need to return to God and put God at the CENTER of our lives.

Today we are called to do exactly the same -- to travel light, not to be attached to the things of this world. Jesus calls us to trust in Him and not rely on the false securities of material possessions, success, popularity, and money. He sends us out into a world that seems to have forgotten God or that has rejected God. He calls us to bring people back to a knowledge and a love of God. Rather than to complain about the situations, we are invited to help heal the sick and comfort the dying, the depressed, the lonely and the unloved.

Jesus tells us to expect to be rejected, or at least not to be accepted by everyone. He tells us to expect it and when it comes, we should just keep on walking and talking.

At Baptism each of us were chosen by God. What has happened in your life since that day? Where has God been? Have you found yourself packing and unpacking? In what way have you been an example to others? Today thank God for something that you very much like about yourself; today ask God to help you with something which bothers you.