A Regular Joe

Tuesday, July 28, 2020

ATTACK of FLESH-EATING BANANAS

If you ever need proof of human gullibility, cast your mind back to the attack of the flesh-eating bananas. In January 2000, a series of chain emails began reporting that imported bananas were infecting people with “necrotizing fasciitis” – a rare disease in which the skin erupts into livid purple boils before disintegrating and peeling away from muscle and bone. According to the email chain, the FDA was trying to cover up the epidemic to avoid panic. Faced with the threat, readers were encouraged to spread the word to their friends and family.

Of course, the threat was pure nonsense. But by January 28th, the concern was great enough for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to issue a statement decrying the rumor. Did it help? Rather than quelling the rumor, they had only poured fuel on the flames. Within weeks, the CDC was hearing from so many distressed callers it had to set up a banana hotline. The facts became so distorted that people eventually started to quote the CDC as the source of the rumor.[1]

The world, and the individuals in it, are a mixture of good and evil. “Let them grow together until harvest.” (Mt 13:30) the Master said. The weeds, the wheat and the gullible. Setting up today’s Gospel explanation of the Parable of the Weeds. “The Son of Man will send his angels” (Mt 13:41). Jesus is saying, God will sort things out in the end. In the meantime, we are not to assume the role of judges because we cannot tell the weeds from the wheat.[2]

Election season seems to get harder and harder for people. People who truly desire to cast their vote for the person who they believe has the best interest of our nation and is most closely aligned with Gospel values and the moral and social justice teaching of the Church. Often, we discover within ourselves warring spirits, because there just isn’t the perfect candidate who fits perfectly all our ideals. Some of our brothers and sisters can get very passionate about which side of the fence they camp and the vigor in which they attempt to pursue others to join them.

The Catholic bishops of the United States are offering the Catholic faithful a teaching document on the political responsibility of Catholics called, “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship.” The document urges us to be engaged in the political process, with an fully informed consciences and it provides suggestions on how to contribute to civil and respectful public dialog.[3]

Let’s ask the Lord to take possession of our ‘field’ – our heart and our life – so that we may not be gullible to ‘the evil ones’ power to deceive. To let our unique light shine in the world, just like “the righteous who shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” That we may develop an informed conscience and a discerning spirit this election year.

[1] BBC, Future. “Why are people so incredibly gullible?” by David Robson, March 24, 2016.

[2] Sacred Space

[3] United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship

Sunday, July 26, 2020

WHAT IS YOUR PEARL?

[1]If Aladdin loaned you his lamp, giving you just 1 wish, what would you ask for? You have 10 seconds to make up your mind… Times up!

What did you ask for? According to some modern philosophers, whatever you picked was based on one of the four most basic human hungers—wealth, health, pleasure, or power. These they say, are what makes the world go round.[2]

The first book of Kings presents us with a somewhat similar scenario, but with the storied wisdom of young King Solomon on display. God “appeared to Solomon in a dream; and said, ‘Ask what I should give you.’” (1 Kgs 3:5) Because of Solomon’s love for God and his own profound humility, he proclaims himself God’s servant and requests, “an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong.” (1 Kgs 3:9) so I may serve God and the people of God.

In response to this request, God granted Solomon “a wise and discerning mind” and two other things: “I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor all your life” and “if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and commandments, then I will lengthen your life.” (1 Kgs 3:13-14)[3]

What did you ask for? Notice, Solomon didn’t ask to be smart, he asked to be wise. There is a big difference. Wisdom is more than intelligence; it goes much deeper. Some of the smartest people are not wise at all and many people with modest IQ’s have a real down-to-earth wisdom.

Where can we obtain this wisdom? Some look for it in philosophy. If that’s too heavy for you, there’s always the library or bookstore that have selves full of self-help books. Or, we can listen to God’s own Word, best expressed in the person and teachings of Jesus Christ. Here’s where we find the clues to discover the pearls of wisdom for life.

The fellow in today’s Gospel finds something of great value—that famous pearl, something that he desires above all other things—that he’s willing to let go of all he has to purchase it. Likewise, with the fellow who finds the treasure in the field, who sells all he has to buy the field. They know what’s important in their life and, moreover, they didn’t let anything get in the way of acquiring the object of their heart.

So, the question to ponder becomes: What’s your pearl? Sometimes, when our lives are not ordered correctly, that pearl could be wealth, health, pleasure, or power. Other times, when they’re ordered a little better, the pearl is family, friends, or love. But the greatest pearl, the biggest treasure is God. It’s Jesus. It’s following “The Word” in our lives, in big & small ways.

Of course, all this requires freedom—detachment or “indifference” as St. Ignatius would say—making sure nothing gets in the way of our walking in God’s ways, keeping God’s statutes and commandments. Because it’s not about what you do as much as it is for whom you do it.[4]

Like the greatest pearl and the biggest treasure, the Kingdom of God is worth giving up everything else to obtain. This invitation is open to everyone. The kingdom is a gift, but one that comes at a price. Those who understand are able to accept both the “new” teaching and way of living, as well as recognize it is a reflection of the “old” teaching of the law and the prophets.[5]

Jesus in asking his disciples, “Do you understand all these things?” (Mt 13:51) reinforces a point that disciples must ponder and study his teachings until they see how to put them into practice. This is why in the Rite of Baptism for Children parents are asked, “What do you want?” What do you want from the Church? After their response of Baptism there is an explanation of responsibilities, and another question, “Do you understand this responsibility?” Godparents and the community present are also asked, “Are you ready to help the parents in their duty?” To BE the example of Christian love so that the child will grow in the knowledge of Christian discipleship.

Likewise, in the Sacraments of Initiation for adults, the catechumen is “instructed in the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 13:52) so they may freely accept the gift of the kingdom, acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Savior, embrace the charge of mission, and accept the cost of being Jesus’ disciple, to go forth, like their sponsors modeled and lived to get them to this moment. To BECOME the example of Christian love in the world.

This week, ponder what you asked for with your 1 wish, then ask yourself, what is my pearl? If your pearl is truly Jesus and the Kingdom, then it’s worth giving up everything else to obtain it.

[1] New American Bible, Saint Joseph Edition. © 1986. Scriptures: 1 Kings 3:5,7-12; Romans 8:28-30; Matthew 13:44-52.
[2] Sundays with Jesus, by James DiGiacomo, SJ © 2007.
[3] The Word on the Street, by John W. Martens © 2016.
[4] Naked, and You Clothed Me, Edited by Deacon Jim Knipper © 2013. Ask something of me and I will give it to you, by Fr. James Martin, SJ.
[5] Living the Word, by John R. Barker OFM & Karla J. Bellinger © 2019.

Tuesday, July 21, 2020

A CENTERED IDENTITY

Have you ever sat in the pew and felt like an outsider? Wondering about your relationship with Christ. We want a personal relationship with Christ and envy those who seem to have it. Spiritual people are different. They are the saints who don’t get their hands dirty with everyday life. Or are they? Do they have bills to pay and a family to raise? We may consider life’s burdens an obstacle to having a close relationship with Jesus.

When we consider the nation of Israel’s history as it ebbed and flowed through the many peaks and valleys in their relationship with God. The prophet Micah, in today’s reading, offers a prayer reminding God of his promises to the people and urging Him to act as He has always done, with mercy and compassion. Israel’s prayers always appeal to the exodus. Whether asking for forgiveness, seeking assurance, or promising amendment, Israel recognizes that her very identity is bound up in the covenant executed by God’s rescuing the people from slavery and bringing them to the land of promise.

In the Gospel we find Jesus’ family described as “standing outside” the circle of the crowds, with Jesus’ disciples in the center. In the Gospel of Matthew, Mary is not a significant character as evidenced by the infancy narratives. So, halfway through this Gospel, Jesus’ family remains undecided about his identity.

Addressing the relatively open statement of a bystander, Jesus asks rhetorically “Who are my mother and brothers?” (Mt 12:48) He then answers that his redefined family are those who do his Father’s will. Stretching out his hand to his disciples, Jesus adopts them as his family and challenges them to exemplify the Church in carrying out God’s will.

We are the adopted children of Christ. To think of we are as anything less is like deciding to be “standing outside,” cut off from, the amazing grace of knowing Christ.

Now we know there’s been some bumps in the road and dark valleys in our own lives. We also know that Jesus lived in the middle of all the action. He embraced life surrounded by ordinary people living ordinary lives. He laughed with his friends and cried at funerals. He talked about fishing, planting seeds, and going to parties. He lifted his disciples up when they felt low, rebuked their wrongs, and forgave their disbelief.

Jesus was a regular guy who was also extraordinary. He shows us the way to have a relationship with God. Being a spiritual person is simply living the life we have been given. We gather around the Eucharistic table regularly to pray the exodus prayers of acknowledging our own faults and reminding God of His great compassion and mercy so we can be counted in the center of the crowd around Jesus. This is how we know that our identity, as ordinary a life as we may have, is in the center, to be a member of his family. “For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother." (Mt 13:50)