A Regular Joe

Sunday, September 30, 2018

CUT IT OFF

[1]The week prior to the NFL season opener is called the cut-down week. Meaning NFL teams had loads of decisions to make to pare their rosters down from 90 to 53 players. The “position battles” to figure out who will start Week 1 have largely been settled by this time, barring an injury in practice. Owners and coaches had to make the decision which players they felt would be contributors. They looked at each position group to pick the two or three guys they felt deserved an opportunity, and the players understand just how important this opportunity is for them to get out there and show their best. Players unable or unwilling to give their best, or are a distraction to the team effort were cut. Some players cut were long-time veterans, some who thought they’re position was secure based on who they are.

In our readings today, we find both Joshua and John are objecting to those who were prophesying and driving out demons who were outside the parameters of their team. For Joshua, since Eldad and Medad were not present with the group, that a portion of Moses’ spirit was shared, they are viewed with jealousy, suggesting the belief that they should not be prophesying as this belongs to Moses and the select group present. John too, in his youthful enthusiasm seems to want to limit the circle of intimacy around Jesus. His motivation will be revealed later in the Gospel of Mark, when he will confess the aspirations of his heart, along with his brother requesting, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right hand and the other to your left.” (Mk 10:38) Much like the players who thought their positions were secure because of who they were, yet cut from the team, John must have been stunned by the accurate aim of Jesus, who insinuated that for the health of his body, the Church, it might be suitable for John, the one who aspired to be Jesus’ right hand, be cut off. And the same would apply to those who aspire to be the eye of the Church, or the foot of the body of Christ.

Today’s Gospel is the neatest example of Jesus’ explicit teaching about what it means to form the body of the Church. To the degree that should one member of the body—hand, foot, eye—separate his or her function from the rest of the body, it disables the body. Said another way to say this is, if one member of the body sins, the whole body is affected. Moses’ and Jesus’ response to their young disciples, calls our attention to see the action of God’s Spirit. “Would that all the people of the Lord were prophets!” (Nm 11:29) As Christians baptized in the Trinitarian Rite (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) we are baptized priest, prophet and king. We have a responsibility to proclaim the good news of the Gospel, to be models of virtue in our everyday lives. The same self-giving virtue that Jesus modeled, even offering himself unto death, death on the cross. Jesus in his response to his disciple expands Moses’ response as he says, “For whoever is not against us is for us” (Mk 9:40) whether friend, foe, or us.

If someone does good rather than evil, manifesting the values of Jesus, see God’s Spirit there. Rash judgment or over-reaction, like that of the disciples, often blinds us to models of virtue, especially when someone doesn’t fit our expectations. Think about the picture of Muslims in the Middle East, who surrounded Christian churches to protect them. Think about the people who hid our Jewish sisters and brothers in an attempt to save them from the Holocaust. Think about the first responders from all faiths and no faith, who entered crumbling buildings on 9/11. These people embodied the ways of Jesus, whatever their faith, culture, or way of life. They manifested the Spirit of God, as Eldad and Medad did. They are with us, even if they are not members of our “camp.”

Inclusiveness, not exclusiveness, is the mark of Jesus’ followers.

If only all people of faith would clearly manifest the Spirit! If only more people were willing to be surprised by God’s presence in the world! St. James reminds us, we are called to respond to the cries of the least, the last, and the lost, to be as concerned for others as we are for ourselves. All too often, self-centeredness, dividing who’s in and who’s out too hastily, fear of change, or habitual sin can fill our hearts. Full, there is no room to see God anywhere. Make room. We must cut off whatever takes God’s place in our lives. Pluck out whatever distracts our ability to see God’s Spirit at work. Emptied, we must turn to God for eyes that see the Spirit, especially where we least expect.[2]

“For whoever is not against us is for us.”

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

ROAD TRIP

When Judy and I took our first road trip vacation together we had very different philosophies on planning the trip. I’m a bit more of an explorer that often likes to fly wherever the wind blows. I see an interesting path or road and I’m ready to blaze a new trail. Judy on the other hand is very structured. You plan for everything, EVERYTHING! Our first road trip was very interesting and challenging for me. She planned the packing for every possible situation that might occur, drive times were planned, hotels were booked along the planned route. When we reached a destination, activities had been planned in advance. Who, when, where and what were carefully choreographed. Then while we were in South Carolina heading North, I saw an interesting sign pointing to a less traveled road and my longing to be free disrupted the well-planned vacation. Trust me, I said, we’ll have a great time being free of the schedule.

“Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, ... Take nothing for the journey” (Lk 9:1-3). Trust in God’s providential care can be a challenge for many of us. Yet this is exactly what Jesus expecting and wanted his disciples to experience when sending them out to heal and preach. He was also sending them out so they could learn, experience and rely on God for all of their needs.

The psalmist asks for two things “put falsehood and lying far from me” and “provide me only with the food I need” (Prv 30:7-8). To experience the freedom of a trusting relationship, I am a firm believer in that we all would be far better off if truth and need are our focus. How much better would our relationships be with our brothers and sisters be, at home, at work, even in church if we put falsehood and lying far from us? How much better would our health be if we consumed only what we need? How much better would the world be if we all consumed only what was needed? Trusting in God’s care, the earth does produce enough to feed all his children, it is the distribution that causes the imbalance.

Trust completely in God, “Add nothing to his words, lest he reprove you, and you will be exposed as a deceiver.” (Prv 30:6) We are incapable to care for ourselves, strive as we may to be perfect like our Heavenly Father is perfect, we all carrying the burdensome baggage of our sinfulness and we can do nothing to save ourselves. We only trust in Jesus’ promise of his Father’s love, compassion, forgiveness, and mercy. The promise that He would always be with us.

The proof of this great love, rests here at the table of sacrifice. Each time we worship and approach this table, we become full participants in Jesus’ self-offering. Where he willingly endured suffering, he willingly took on the sin of the world, so that we would trust His Father to free us from our brokenness and draw all his children back to himself.

Sunday, September 23, 2018

WELCOME THE CHILD

[1]A baby changes everything — especially for a child who is used to getting mom and dad’s full attention. Introducing and raising siblings when each child expects to be center stage is one of the trickiest balancing acts a parent can pull off.

There is a story of a family who was bringing home their new born baby, when they got home they were greeted at the door by the baby’s 4-year-old brother who said, “I want to talk to my baby brother—alone.” This somewhat surprised the parents. But they let the 4-year-old in the nursery with the brother and they shut the door…but they put their ears to the door as they wondered what he was going to say. Looking into the crib the 4-year-old said: “Quick! Tell me who made you! Tell me where you came from! I’m beginning to forget.”

Do you remember those magical years where a child has not moved into that linear, left brain consciousness yet? It is an age where everything is still an enchanted universe… where it is still possible to believe in what you do not see. It is an age where one does not judge…one does not exclude…one does not care about race, creed, color, sexual orientation nor care about power, prestige or possessions. It is the age where it seems everything coheres and yet… we all seem to unlearn it in a way… we simply forget.

In today’s gospel we find Jesus taking the Twelve away from the crowd to speak to them of his pending Passion, Death and Resurrection. Not surprisingly, the Twelve have no idea what he is talking about and choose not to question him or at the very least do not want to discuss it.[2] Instead, we find the Twelve arguing about status, rank, and standing!

The disciples were arguing who was the greatest. The tax collectors were reaping their wealth and the Pharisees were determining who was in and who was out—all themes that are repeated today over 2,000 years later. Like the Twelve, we usually want to be on top, but Jesus calls us to be happy on the bottom. We want to be the boss, but he wants us to be the servant. We want to be grown-up and admired, but he tells us to be like children. We want to achieve a lot, but he says we need to receive a lot. We often want to determine who is worthy—but he says that all are called to this table. Indeed, it does seem that we continue to forget where we came from, who we were created to be, and what Jesus calls us to do.

In the book of James, we are introduced to the root of wickedness: “jealousy and selfish ambition.” (Jam 3:16) James draws upon the Wisdom traditions to contrast the earthy ways with those of the wise, which are “from above.” (Jam 3:17) Jesus upsets the Twelve’s expectations exhorting that the leader is the one among them who is “the servant of all.” (Mk 9:35) Saint John Paul II in his last Consistory issued a strong warning to the newly elected cardinals that their mission should be not to pursue careerism but to serve society’s most vulnerable, if need be, to the limit of martyrdom.

Jesus punctuates his teaching by taking a child (one without legal standing or status in the both Jewish and Greco-Roman society) and charges the disciples, “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me” (Mk 9:37) and I believe this is why Jesus brings forth a child so many times![3] “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Mt 19:14; Mk 10:14; Lk 18:16)

The “child” in today’s reading cannot model the kind of service Jesus is challenging the Twelve and us to model. To be “last of all” (Mk 9:35) is to be in the service of the “child.” This “child” represents all those who possess no social status or legal rights within society. This “child” is the immigrant and refugee seeking a better life for their family, hope for a better future. This “child” represents the most vulnerable people in our community and of society.

To welcome this “child” is indeed to welcome Jesus and the God he professes.[4]