A Regular Joe

Monday, September 28, 2015

DECIDE!!

Scriptures: Numbers 11:25-29; James 5:1-6; Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

Some friends who went deer hunting separated into pairs for the day. That night one hunter came back alone, staggering under an eight point buck. “Where’s Harry?” asked another hunter. “Oh, he fainted a couple miles up the trail,” Harry’s partner answered. “And you left him lying there all alone and carried the deer back?” “A tough call,” said the hunter, “but I figure no one’s going to steal Harry.”

Now that story is cousin to the old exclamation, “If I told you once, I’ve told you a million times, not to exaggerate!”

It’s a hyperbole (hī-pûr′bə-lē), using extravagant language to get a point across. Consider today’s Gospel story. It suggests outrageous, terrible sounding things like plucking out eyes and cutting off arms to get to Heaven! But we have to recognize Jesus is using hyperbole here, severely exaggerated speech to make a point. How do we know this? How many people who read the bible literally do you know that are one eyed, one handed, and/or one footed? Obviously they are making some adjustments when they get to scripture versus like this.

Another key point to keep in mind when reading this Gospel passage includes knowing who is Jesus’ audience? His audience is specifically the 12 Apostles, the very ones called to a leadership of service. The last couple of weeks we heard Jesus passion predictions, trying to explain that he must be handed over, tortured and killed; yet the Apostles are arguing about who’s the greatest among them, who will sit at his right and at his left in the kingdom, and Peter’s exclamation of “God forbid!”, meaning that’s not the way we envisioned your Kingdom coming. Jesus’ teachings are leading to his bottom line: DECIDE! Make the radical decision to follow me.

When Billy Graham’s Crusade was travelling around the country he always gave the audience a final challenge: “Decide! Cut away anything that prevents you from a radical decision for Jesus Christ! Decide for Christ!”

Pope Francis’ message has been very similar on his trip to America. While the Pope has not used hyperboles to make his point, he has in is simple, humble and merciful way communicated his knowledge of the key social challenges facing us today; immigration, the family, and the poor that demand a faith response. He clearly by word and action communicated the Gospel values that challenge us as a nation and individuals to “Decide!” To discover those things that need to be cut off, plucked out so that we can not only say the right things but provide the proper actions to meet the challenges head on in accordance with the scriptural messages of today.

To help us understand what we are deciding, we’ll use a picture. This picture is called “The Light of the World” and hangs in St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. It depicts Jesus standing at a door knocking. Note that the door is overgrown with vines and there is not a door knob or handle on the outside of the door, meaning only someone from within can open or respond to the knock to allow Jesus entry.

Again, the Gospel message, it’s time for a radical decision. What decision, to open the door to Jesus once and for all. Yet not one door, but three: the door to the past, the door to the present and the door to the future.

First to open the door to the past is to realize that “what is done is done.” That is, what we did, the hurtful things, the heartbreaking things, the arrogant things, the unjust things—they’re done and we can’t undo them. The only way we can deal with past hurts and sins that haunt us is to open the door to Jesus. This tradition is called opening the door to forgiveness. To decide to open the door to Jesus Christ of the past is simply to go to Jesus and ask for forgiveness, and that’s it.

Secondly, we must decide to open the door to the present and ask ourselves, “What is going on in my life right now?” What needs to be cut off, plucked out? What needs to be put into perspective?

There is a story about a missionary in China. At the time he and a family—mother, father and two children—were under house arrest. They’d been living under house arrest somewhat comfortably for many years. One day a soldier came in and told them they may return to America, but they could take only two hundred pounds with them. Well they’d been there for years! So they broke out the scale and the family arguments began. We must have this vase, we must have the typewriter, it’s almost brand new, and we’ve got to take these books, and this and that. Well they finally got it right on the dot, 200 lbs. When the soldier returned and asked if they were ready to go, they responded yes. “Did you weigh everything?” They said yes. “Did you weigh the kids?” “No, we didn’t.” “Weigh the kids,” he said. And in a moment, off went the vase, the typewriter, and the books into the trash.

What are the things cluttering our lives, separating us, distracting us from right relationship with family, community, Jesus? Cut it off! Pluck it out!

Lastly is to choose to open the door to the future. This simply means to give yourself to Jesus. The Christ who said, “Come to me all of you who labor and are heavily burdened and I will refresh you.” (Mt 11:28) “How often I would gather you as a mother hen gathers her chicks but you would not.” (Mt 23:37 & Lk 13:34) This is the Jesus who says, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life.” (Jn 14:6)

Decide! Decide what needs to be cut off and plucked out to open these doors. Open the door to your past, there is forgiveness. Open the door to the present to look at all the unnecessary and divisive things you have on the scales, and trash them, there is renewal, conversion, transformation. Open the door to the future, hand your very life over to Jesus, there is a promise.

On the other side of these doors stands the most unconditional Lover you’ll ever meet.

References:

Living the Word. Laurie Brink, O.P. and Deacon Frederick Bauerschmidt © 2014. World Library Publications.
Sick, and You Cared For Me Edited by Deacon Jim Knipper © 2014 “Whoever Is Not Against Us Is For Us” by Fr. William Bausch

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

NOURISHING BODY AND SPIRIT

18th Sunday of Ordinary Time (2015)
Scriptures: Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15; Ephesians 4:17, 20-24; John 6:24-35

For months Judy and I anxiously anticipated our trip to the “Defending the Faith” conference at Franciscan University in Steubenville, OH. It was an opportunity to hear from some of the greatest scripture scholars and spiritual writers of our time like Scott & Kimberly Hahn, Patrick Madrid, Matt Maher and so many others. It was an opportunity to get to know better our fellow parishioners that traveled with us and mingle with Catholic Christians from around the world. When we arrived in Steubenville the pace was fast and furious, a mistake in registration made matters a bit more stressful, than the torture of hours in a folding chair taking its toll on our butts, the hills and numerous stairs all over campus and elevation change, challenged us sea level flat landers considerably. Yep! The grumbling was in full force, despite the tremendous experiences, topics and powerful celebrations of Mass and Adoration that were feeding us.

Our grumblings were much like the Israelites on their journey to the Promise Land. Only a month into the journey, after being delivered of their slavery in Egypt, witnessing the power of God to deliver them from the Egyptian army at the Red Sea, they are grumbling against Moses, even desiring to return the Egypt where at least the they would have “died...as we sat by our fleshpots and ate our fill of bread!” (Ex 16:4).

One of my favorite sociology theories is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. The basic concept says that humans have needs and there are basic needs that must be met in order for us to grow to the next level. The most basic need includes: air, water and food. Think about it; better yet let’s experiment with it. Go ahead and hold your breath as long as you can, what happens? Eventually your body will do one of two things automatically, create a great desire for air so you intake a voluntarily breath or, if you're stubborn enough to resist this desire for air, it will temporarily shut you down so that it can recover involuntarily. Consider the times you are hungry, how is your ability to focus? Did you have a good breakfast so you could get the most out of the Mass, this homily? Or did you skip breakfast and are sitting there with your stomach grumbling, “I hope his homily is short so that we can get to brunch/lunch/dinner? Odds are, if you are hungry, you are vulnerable to grumbling and focus challenged.

It was the Israelites need for food, physical food, that God used to reveal his saving power and it is the physical food that motivated the Jews to pursue Jesus in today's Gospel and Jesus knows it, “Amen, Amen I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled.” (Jn 6:26) What Jesus wants them to understand is that it wasn’t “man” providing their ancestors with their “daily bread” but God, His Father and Jesus is not only concerned for their bodily need for food, but also for their need for spiritual “food that endures for eternal life.” (Jn 6:27) It is at this point that the Jews ask for this spiritual food and Jesus announces, “I am the bread of life.” (Jn 6:35) Is this not the bread we are seeking? Why we come to Mass … To seek the bread and wine, the body and blood of our Lord and Savior. To eat that we may share in HIs eternal life?

What motivates us to come and receive the bread and wine? We’ve shared from this pulpit, several times, the statistics concerning the Catholics belief or lack thereof in transubstantiation (the bread and wine, transformed into the body and blood of Jesus) and the trend stating that Catholics are leaving the Church because they feel they are not being fed. “These people are hungry for spiritual food, they crave for it, but do not know how or where to get this substance.”[1] Many in the pews today are here to receive the food yet are challenged to understand the Mystery as they ask the same Israelite desert question from the first reading concerning the manna, “what is this”? (Ex 16:15)

St. Paul challenges the people of Ephesus that “their new life in Christ requires their abandonment of their ‘old-self’”[2] that the moral requirements of Christian membership require us to put on a “new-self”, “created in God’s way in righteousness and holiness of truth.” (Eph 4:24) In other words, St. Paul and St. John are telling us our faith has to move beyond our stomachs. Which begs us to ask the questions: Do you believe that Jesus is life? … Do you believe that Jesus is the bringer of abundant life? … Do you believe that Jesus is the true bread come down from heaven? Then our faith requires more of us than to come and receive the bread and wine! No longer can [we] live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of [our] minds.” (Eph 4:17)

Our faith and moral code keeps us on the path to the Kingdom of God, it is path that is often the narrow way that runs counter to today's societal norms, it’s littered with challenges and suffering. It is a path that does not know political party lines, it is a path that says if you are going to talk about or preach a strict moral code, you have to be living one. If you enter the debate concerning the sanctity of marriage then you have to be modeling the self-giving love that Jesus models for his bride, the Church. If you stand on the right to life platform, you must embrace every aspect of from conception to natural death. This is hard! It requires us to see through the eyes of Jesus, to be Jesus in the world, to have the courage to challenge the norms of society in such a way that the lost can find their way to Jesus, it requires us to walk with and eat with sinners so they can find the all merciful and loving God we crave. It calls us to believe in and have faith in the Bread of Life who comes down from heaven, that we might never hunger or thirst again.

Monday, August 10, 2015

INTERRUPTION AFTER INTERRUPTION

13th Sunday of Ordinary Time (2015) YEAR B
Scriptures: Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23-24; 2 Corinthians 8:7, 9, 13-15; Mark 5:21-43

Interruptions seem to be the norm for me at work. I get to Daily Bread between 7:00 & 7:10 in the morning, clients are allowed on campus at 7:00. It’s almost like they are waiting for my truck to pull up, because I can’t even get to the Outreach Center door when I hear, Deacon Joe, Deacon Joe! I’m standing their balancing papers, bags, tools and often my morning travel mug of coffee (can’t tell you how many time that has been dumped before I get a sip) to the sound of “My clothes got all wet and I need…”; “I have a doctor’s appointment this morning, can I get in the shower first?” “Someone stole my…”; “Fight!!”; “Call 911!”

Now I’m the kind of guy that comes to work with a plan. I make lists, pile my papers on my desk in order priority so that when the day begins, I'm ready to get things done. Then reality hits ... emails, the phone, the staff, volunteers, and my boss! You know I work for Deacon John, right? Let me tell you! Seriously, there are days when I go home warn out yet feeling like I've accomplished nothing for all the darn interruptions!

I was complaining about my frustrating interruptions one day to a good friend who reminded me, “Never forget, the interruptions are the ministry.” Well, this changed how I viewed my annoying interruptions.

Interruptions are ministry opportunities.

Last week we touched on the disciples’ walk with Jesus, how they’d seen Him cast out demons (Mk 1:25), cure the sick (Mk 1:31), cleanse lepers (Mk 1:42), heal a paralytic (Mk 2:9), and make a withered hand whole (Mk 3:5). In most cases, these acts were interruptions to what Jesus was doing & going. Today’s Gospel is no different. I’m sure Jesus’ plan was to continue teaching to the crowds that were pressing upon him when a synagogue official (Jarius) interrupts him saying, “My daughter is at the point of death. Please come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live.” (Mk 5:23) And Jesus went off with him. While they were on the way, “… a woman, afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years.” (Mk 5:25) interrupts the first interruption, and what does Jesus do? “Go away lady, can’t you see I’m busy with this other interruption?” or “I can’t believe you touched me, now I’m ritually unclean and can’t help this official!”

There are some amazing things happening in these two particular interruptions we need to explore. First, who are these people interrupting Jesus; second is identifying the source / the power making these miracles possible; and third what nugget do we get to take away.

Think about the two interrupters. Jarius is a man of position, wealth and influence, the nameless woman is a nobody. Her hemorrhaging makes her ritually unclean and unfit for relationships of any kind. Yet Jesus does not hesitate in either case to drop everything he's doing to be part of their interruption, and God's interruption in their lives. The healings were possible because of their faith, "Daughter your faith has healed you." (Mk 5:34) Faith--a trusting openness--plays a key role. Each person reached out to Jesus and received, not just a physical healing, but a community healing as well. Each person healed can re-enter the communal life. The child is restored to life with the living and the woman, whose "social-suffering" as an untouchable for 12 years, is now healed and able to enter into community relationships once again.

There's an invitation here for us, too. Last week Mark uses Jesus' stilling of the storm to show his divine power over nature, this weeks' healing stories show Jesus' power over death, sickness, and exclusion. When we can reach out in faith, with a trusting openness, and receive Jesus' body and blood, soul and divinity, we can be healed, physically and socially. It becomes our encouragement not to lose heart when other voices challenge or deny by telling us that we're wrong (about the real presence, the Sacraments, especially the Sacrament of Marriage), that it's just no use, encouraging us to simply give up and close the door.

It’s an interruption, an evangelization & ministry opportunity.

All we have to do is trust to the point of knowing all we have to do is to get next to Jesus, touch the hem of his garment and our life will take a different turn.

In the book of Wisdom we read that death entered the world through the envy of the devil. He is alive and working in our modern society. St. Paul says in the second letter to the Corinthians that Jesus gave up the riches of immortality and shared our death, so that he could enrich us who are dead in our sins.[1] Jesus is the Way and the Truth. The healing and wholeness which Jesus offers doesn't insure every ailment or suffering will end immediately, or we won't die, or everything will turn out just the way we want it all the time. It does affirm that even death will not be the end of the story. It is another interruption, an opportunity for God to do what God has shown us in Jesus Christ.[2]