Get Out There! (Anyway)

We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.

When you think about it,

That's a pretty pathetic attempt at claiming a real relationship.

Hey, remember we met that time at that dinner party.

Yeah, I used to see you teaching, even heard some of what you said.

Jesus says he's not too impressed with that kind of relationship.

If that's all we've got, he'll say:

I do not know where you are from … depart from me.

He's expecting more from us than just a vague awareness of him.

More than just recognizing him as someone we once saw across a room

Or passing on the street.

So what does he expect from us?

Of course he expects us to love God and love our neighbor.

And to demonstrate that through our life, through our actions.

He expects that of everyone.

But all of us here have been specially blessed.

Fortunately for us, we are those to whom much has been given.

Much in both spiritual and worldly gifts.

When we compare the world around us

We see that we Americans

Have been given great freedom and security and wealth.

We see that we Catholic Christians

Have been given great knowledge of the Truth.

And from whom much is given, much is expected.

We're expected to share the gifts we've been given.

The spiritual gifts and the worldly gifts.

All of today's Scripture readings call us to evangelization.

Many others have not yet heard the Good News.

The news that there is a God, and that He is kind and merciful.

That He loves us as His children.

In our first reading from Isaiah, God says

I come to gather the nations of every language.

I will send [messengers].

They shall bring all your brothers and sisters from all the nations

As an offering to the Lord.

Who might those messengers be?

Our Psalm response repeats

Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

In the Letter to the Hebrews we read that

The Lord disciplines those he loves.

He treats us as his children.

And, like a good father, he teaches and disciplines us.

We should view the trials of life as part of his discipline.

Accept our trials, learn from them, don't seek comfort above duty.

In the Gospel Acclamation we heard

I am the way, the truth and the life, says the Lord,

No one comes to the Father except through me.

That's not to say that only Catholics or only Christians can be saved.

But that, only because of Jesus can anyone be saved.

Without his intervention in mankind's estrangement, 

No one could be saved.

We’ve been specially blessed.

Look at the foundation we've received from our early years.

Most of us were trained in the faith as children.

Our faith was nurtured and shaped by our families and community.

We built strong beliefs from that training.

Strong foundations were also handed down to Jews.

Who still have their covenant with God.

And to the Muslims who do have some knowledge our one God.

And to Buddhists and Hindus and people of every religion.

And even to atheists.

Still others have no foundations or weak, neglected foundations.

It can be very difficult, maybe impossible,

For some to overcome and reject their existing beliefs or disbeliefs.

But others are open, even searching, for any Good News.

So it's our duty to evangelize—to put the Truth out there.

To help it spread so that can see it,

And maybe choose to embrace it in this life.

Then God—in His infinite mercy—will decide

Who gets to share in eternal life.

Regarding that eternal life, Jesus is asked in our Gospel,

Will only a few people be saved?

He doesn't answer directly.

But he does tell us to Strive to enter through the narrow gate.

That Many will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.

Yet, at the same time, he also implies that many will be saved.

People will come from the east and the west

And from the north and the south

And will recline at table in the kingdom of God.

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus has given us many warnings:

Many are called but few are chosen.

The wheat will be separated from the chaff.

The goats from the lambs,

The weeds from the wheat.

But he's also given us many assurances:

Salvation is impossible for man, but nothing is impossible for God.

The rejoicing over finding the lost sheep and the lost coin.

The rejoicing over the return of the prodigal son.

God does not want even one of us to be lost.

God favors mercy over justice.

How do we balance all this?

We have the Truth, we have the Good News.

But we still have imperfect, incomplete understanding.

So we trust in God, we put our hope in God.

And we strive to do what Jesus tells us to do.

So we push beyond our comfort zone 

And go out to spread the Good News.

Out to share our gifts with our brothers and sisters.

Out to preach in the streets or to go knocking door-to-door.

Or to simply live a visible life of good acts and quiet example.

But where can we find our brothers and sisters?

Last Sunday we were visited by Fr Sebastian, 

A missionary from Tanzania.

He told us of the  struggles and needs of his congregation.

He and his people are our brothers and sisters.

This week we saw a haunting photo of a dazed child,

Rescued from the rubble in Aleppo, Syria.

He and his people are our brothers and sisters.

And we have plenty of brothers and sisters right here in our own country.

Our own city, our own families.

All people, even our own children, are our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Before we find ourselves knockin on Heaven's door,

Let's build up our relationship with Jesus.

Let's get to that sharing and that messenger work he's called us to.

Let's give ourselves a lot more to say than:

We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.

21st Sunday of Ordinary Time

Lk 13:22-30   Read this Scripture @usccb.org

Lost But Found

Today's Gospel passage is one of my favorites.

The rejoicing over the lost sheep that was found and brought back.

Jesus' flat-out assurance that God does not want even one of us to be lost.

That's what the Good News is all about.

Such solid encouragement for our hope.

Perhaps somewhat selfish hope, for ourselves and our loved ones.

But broader still, hope for the world.
Hope for everyone.

God—Our Father—does not want even one of us to be lost.

He's gone so far as to send His Son to redeem us.

What better reason could we have for a strong hope that, 
In the end, all will work out.

That in the end we will all join Our Father in Heaven.

Why shouldn't we have great hope!

We should.

But we can't let our attitude push beyond hope 
Into the realm of presumption.

We can't think we can do whatever we want.

That we don't even have to try to live a good life.

We can't presume that God will overlook everything.

That we have a free pass relying on God's perfect mercy.

Presumption ignores the fact that God is not only all-merciful. 
He's also all-just.

How does He strike the balance between His perfect mercy 
And His perfect justice?

Mercy trumps justice.

But isn't there some point where perfect justice demands punishment?

Or at least denial of reward?

Aren't there many Gospel passages about the need to 
Enter through the narrow gate?

About many being called, but few chosen?

That gives us a lot to ponder, and to meditate and pray about.

But the clear message today is that we should never despair.

Our Father—Almighty God—wants every one of us 
To join Him in Heaven.

And He's always standing by to help us get there.

You can't top that for Good News.

You can't find a better basis for optimism and great hope.

Great hope for ourselves and for everyone.

Tuesday, 19th Week of  Ordinary Time

Mt 18:1-14         Read this Scripture @usccb.org

Jesus Boots

Many years ago I read of an invention called Jesus Boots.

There was a picture of a guy walking across a nice calm pool.

He had huge floating styrofoam-like blocks on his feet.

And for balance, he had two long ski poles.

Each stuck into another floating block.

He wasn’t actually walking on water—

He was piloting a Styrofoam flotilla.

Today, a quick Google search shows the technology hasn’t advanced.

It’s probably safe to say that we’d all be pretty impressed

If we saw someone truly walking on water.

Maybe other miracles should be more impressive to us.

Miracles that might seem to accomplish something of greater value.

Like raising the dead, or healing the sick.

Or stopping a storm.

So, why are we so impressed with walking on water?

Maybe it’s because stepping into water 
Is something we’ve all experienced.

We all have repeated, first hand, experience

Of stepping right through that surface.

We know that we can’t walk on the water.

And we know that no one else can either.

It’s completely against the laws of nature.

On the other hand, we’ve heard that sometimes

Blind people do regain their sight.

Deaf people have been known to regain their hearing.

People do recover from illnesses.

People thought to be dead can be revived.

And every storm comes to an end sooner or later.

But under no circumstances do people ever

Walk on the water of a stormy sea.

So we should indeed be especially impressed that Jesus walked on water.

The disciples were especially impressed.

They’d seen many miracles before, but this one led them to say—

Truly you are the Son of God.

Perhaps it’s that divine nature that lets him overcome our laws of nature.

But that’s not what Jesus tells us.

He says the power to perform miracles comes from faith.

We don’t have to be divine to walk on water.

We just need faith in the divine.

A deep, deep faith that God is with us.

Peter walked a few steps, until his faith gave out.

And when it did, Jesus quickly rescued him,

But he also criticized him for his little faith and his doubt.

At other times too, Jesus criticized the disciples for their little faith.

He said that faith the size of a mustard seed could move mountains.

And still, none of us have ever walked on water.

Or moved a mountain.

We do have faith.

But we also have doubts.

Each of us is still a work in progress.

As is the whole human race.

So for now, perhaps the best we can do is stick with an exercise program.

Work to build up our faith.

Pray, listen, try to do what we’re called to do.

Maybe test the waters now and then to see how we’re doing.

And take consolation in Jesus’ assurance.

Every time we begin to sink in doubt—
He'll be right there to rescue us.

Tuesday 18th Week of Ordinary Time

Mt 14:22-36   Read this Scripture @usccb.org

Beloved Weeds

Deep down, we all like happy endings.

That’s part of human nature.

And this parable of the wheat and the weeds 
Seems to have a happy ending.

Justice is served.

The righteous end up shining like the sun
In the kingdom of their Father.

But I have to admit, I find this parable troubling.

Even when I’m feeling like I’m part of the wheat.

The wheat is gathered into the barn.

But the weeds are burned.

The righteous shine like the sun.

But the evildoers wail and grind their teeth.

This is not the happiest ending imaginable.

Certainly not for the weeds.

And not even for those of us shining like the sun 
In the kingdom of the Father.

We’re in the presence of God, and maybe we’re in such ecstasy 
That nothing else matters.

But might our joy be dulled by the distant sounds 
Of wailing and grinding?

Might we miss a family member, a friend—a loved one?

And weren’t we told to love everyone?

Wasn’t that a chief requirement for getting into the kingdom?

I’m glad that in organizing today’s scripture readings
The Church includes some reassurances.

They help to balance the stern warning of the parable.

They suggest that, if for no other reason, God might deliver us 
For the glory of his own name.

Other passages are sometimes joined with today’s Gospel.

And they’re even more assuring.

They assure us, God is kind and merciful, good and forgiving, 
Lenient to all.

He judges with clemency.

His children have good grounds for hope

That he will permit repentance for their sins.

So we can hope that all of us will make it to heaven.

We can trust that heaven will be all that Jesus said it would be.

And we can do more.

We can work to build the kingdom of heaven.

We can get down in the weeds—and deliver God’s message.

By our words and actions, and by our example.

Maybe that message will touch a beloved weed.

(I imagine that we all fear we have at least one beloved weed)

Touch it with the right word, or the right act, at the right time.

Maybe it will infuse the weeds with a little bio-engineering antidote, 
A little gene therapy.

An impossible dream? 

Maybe so.

But we can also try our best to pray for an 
Unquestionably happy ending.

Pray that when the angels come to bundle the weeds for burning—
None are found.

That God, for whom all things are possible, 

Will have already transformed them all into wheat.

Tuesday 17th Week of Ordinary Time

Mt 13:36-43   Read this Scripture @usccb.org

Lead Me

It’s hard to know what to expect.

Where we’re headed next, and what to do when we get there.

We’ve come to a point where it seems that division is everywhere.

Wars and terrorist attacks around the world.

In Syria, Iraq, France and Belgium, and right here.

Brexit in Europe, an attempted coup in Turkey.

Racial issues and ideological polarization here at home.

Tweets and posts and sound bites from all sides, 
With little regard for truth.

It’s enough to make you long for a simpler time.

I remember one such time.

A childhood summer, back in the 1950’s,

My brother and I spent a couple weeks with my aunt. 

She was living in the quiet, little town of Columbus, Indiana.

The streets, at least in her part of town, were still dirt roads.

At the corner of two dirt streets was a little Pentecostal church.

A typical little mid-western country church – but in a town.

And my aunt was living in the house right next door.

We’d sit on her porch in the hot night air.

And listen to the lively hymns 
Pouring out the open windows of that church.

Some were hymns I’d never heard before.

Others, I’d heard – but not in any church.

I’d heard them when my father would take us to listen 
To Dixieland bands.

When they came up the river from New Orleans to Cincinnati.

Songs like When the Saints Go Marchin In.

And Down by the Riverside.

I still remember one of those songs I’d never heard before.

It comes to mind whenever I read today’s Gospel passage.

Because it’s like the Psalm refrain that’s often paired with this Gospel.

Guide me Lord along the everlasting way.

I can’t remember the words from the verses of that song.

But I can still hear the refrain booming out those church windows.

Lead me, lead me, lead me along the everlasting way.

In our recent scripture readings.

We have a lot of people on the move.

All led along on their journeys, by God.

Guided by his teaching and his word.

Leading them through situations they could never have predicted.

Today we find Abraham and Sarah living in their tent.

On a hill overlooking Sodom and the cities of the plains.

Planning to make their way to a more permanent settlement.

Never expecting that those cities would soon be destroyed.

Never expecting that Sarah would soon become a mother.

A few days ago the Gospel spoke of Jesus sending out his disciples.

First his 12 apostles, and then 72 more disciples.

Never expecting that they would have the power he gave them.

The power to heal, the power to preach and be ambassadors of God.

They served as Jesus’ advance men.

As he himself also journeyed—to Jerusalem.

Today he comes upon the little village where Martha and Mary live.

Bethany, just outside Jerusalem.

Martha is trying to be the perfect host.

She’s nearly frantic, concerned about so many things.

So much to do, and so little time.

And Mary won’t help her.

Mary has planted herself on the floor next to Jesus.

To just sit and listen for any truth or teaching he might offer.

To take in his wisdom and guidance.

When Martha complains to Jesus, he doesn’t give her any sympathy.

He tells her that she herself has made her choice.

She’s chosen to focus on all her busy tasks.

While Mary has chosen the better part.

And also the more appropriate part for that moment – listening.

For most of us, it’s pretty easy to identify with Martha.

We all have busy schedules.

We all have more to do than we can ever get done.

But even if part of our load is doing “good works”.

Even if one of our busy-schedule items is getting to Mass—

Whatever our load, or overload—

We still need to take time out as Mary did.

We need to regularly take time—make time—

To just sit and listen to that voice of Jesus within us.

Because like Abraham and the 12 and the 72,

And like Martha and Mary,

And like the Indiana town-folk of half a century ago,

We’re all on a journey.

And we don’t know what will happen next.

But we do know that we can always rely on Jesus.

He’s always there, offering to lead us along the everlasting way.

If only we’ll set aside a few minutes a day to just sit and listen.

16th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Lk 10:38-42   Read this Scripture @usccb.org

America

America! America! God shed His grace on thee.

The refrain from our recessional hymn 
At all of our 4^th of July weekend Masses.

A little mixture of State into our Church celebration.

A plea—a prayer—for our country.

And God has shed His grace on America.

On all of us, individually and collectively.

There are a lot of collective references in today’s Scripture readings.

Massive groups of people lumped together by their city or nation names.

The nations of Aram and Ephraim are plotting, and will face destruction.

Jerusalem is blessed and protected.

Sodom and Tyre and Sidon are held up as models to avoid.

Chorazin and Bethsaida and Capernaum are sternly warned.

Today we hear that Samaria, the capitol of Ephraim, will be crushed.

This past Sunday we heard Jesus’ parable

About one particular, righteous citizen of Samaria.

The Good Samaritan.

Who showed us how to follow the 2^nd Great Commandment.

Love thy neighbor as thyself.

Crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea.

And beyond.

There’s a strong tie between the individual and the collective.

God knows us and loves us individually, by name.

But he also views us as part of the groups he has put us in.

And he holds us to some share of responsibility for those groups.

The families, the cities, the nations—humankind.

How are we feeling about our nation today?

Collectively, how are we doing with that 2^nd Great Commandment?

Or even the 1^st!  (Love God!)

God has indeed blessed America—over many years.

The Lord has done great things for us.

But it’s too easy to become unappreciative; presumptive.

Like the litany of peoples in today’s readings.

To presume, that, as our Psalm said,

God upholds his city forever.

Where is America headed?

What power do we individuals have over the collective?

We have substantial powers.

Not the least of which are the power of prayer and the power of example.

Remember Abraham bargaining with God over the destruction of Sodom.

God finally agreed that if there were ten righteous people there,

He would not destroy the city.

A few good individuals can save an entire city—a nation—a world.

We can continue to strive to be those good people.

We can continue to encourage others through our example.

We can continue to pray for the whole world.

But especially for our country.

Pray that God will uphold us during these dark times.

Pray, as we do in our other great patriotic hymn.

That God Bless America.

That He Stand beside her, and guide her,

Through the night with the light from above.

Tuesday, 15th Week of Ordinary Time

Mt 11:20-24   Read this Scripture @usccb.org