Solemnity of Christ the King, Cycle C - November 24, 2019

Solemnity of Christ the King

Cycle C

November 24, 2019

Saint Mary Parish, Pylesville       9:30 and 11:15am

A King?

“Above him there was an inscription that read, ‘This is the King of the Jews.’”

Our Church has picked up on this title “King”and created this day in honor of Christ, as King. For us, in a leading democratic country that elects its presidents, this may seem like an odd way to honor Christ.

But, if we look closely at today’s gospel, we get some wonderful insights into what it means for Jesus, Christ, to be a king. This means something very different than it has meant for Henry VIII of England or Salman of Saudi Arabia.

Who Jesus Is 

First, we see that Jesus does not rule from a throne but hangs on a cross.  This conveys that Jesus does not selfishly take life from us like some of the notorious rulers of history have done.

Instead, he gives his life for us on the cross.  And he gives God’s life to us.

Then, we see that Jesus knows the value of silence. He remains silent in the face of ridicule and mockery. 

He doesn’t strike back verbally. His silence shows his goodness and peace and creates the space for others to calm down. 

Then, connected with that, Jesus does not grow hardened, much less vengeful. Instead, he remains compassionate and forgiving.

To the one repentant thief who is crucified with him, he responds: “Today you will be with me in paradise.” For those who actually are crucifying him, he prays: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”  

And finally, in all of this, we see that Jesus is not excluding. He does not shun or push away or refuse to have anything to do with those who are imperfect.

Instead, Jesus remains welcoming and including. This is his consistent way of drawing others to God and we see this all throughout the gospels.      

Conclusion

So,this title “King” helps us to see Jesus as a leader or ruler in an entirely different way.

He leads by example, by spiritual power, not by coercive power. The conclusions for us as individuals and for us as an institutional Church are probably obvious. 

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C - November 17, 2019

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Cycle C

November 17, 2019

Saint Mary Parish, Pylesville   4pm

Saint Matthew Parish, Baltimore    11am

Someday Is Now

Some years ago, I read a story about a man whose wife, Jan, had just died.

This man opened the bottom drawer of his wife’s bureau and pulled out a tissue-wrapped package. He unfolded it and showed his sister-in-law, his wife’s sister, a beautiful silk and lace slip.

He said, “Jan bought this the first time we went to New York, about eight years ago. She never wore it.

“She was saving it for a special occasion. I guess this is the occasion.”

He then placed the slip on the bed with the other clothes they would bring to the funeral home. Then he said to his sister-in-law, “Don’t ever save anything for a special occasion; every day is a special occasion.” 

Jan’s sister remembered these words. She kept thinking about all the things she herself had done without realizing they were special. 

The words of her brother-in-law began to have a real impact on her. She writes this: “I’m reading more and dusting less.  

“I’m sitting on the deck and admiring the view without fussing about the weeds in the garden. I’m spending more time with my family and friends and less time in committee meetings.  

“We use our good dishes for every event, like after getting the sink unstopped. I’m trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything that would add laughter or luster to our lives.

“And every moment I open my eyes, I tell myself that it is special. Every day, every minute, every breath…is a gift of God.”      

The Gospel and Now

This widowed man and his sister-in-law express the same point Jesus is making in today’s gospel.  

Jesus talks about a time when all kinds of threatening things will happen. But Jesus is not trying to get us to focus on that future end-time and to live with fear and gloom.  

Instead, he is trying to get us to focus on the present. And, he wants us to live with peace and hope.

In other words, yes, someday there will be an end-time. Someday we will pass on from this earth.

But Jesus wants us to be ready for that by being aware that today is special. He wants us to make the present moment special, to live today well, and that is the way to be ready for the future.

Making Now Special 

I want to propose two ways to help us make the present moment, the now special. 

First, each day do something good for one person important in our life. Maybe it will be asking your husband or wife or close friend what their day was like and really meaning it. 

Maybe it will be a text message or phone call to our parents or children, just to let them know you are thinking about them. Maybe it will be writing a note or sending an email to a family member or friend with whom we have just lost contact. 

And second, each day spend some time with God. Reserve a few minutes maybe just to be quiet and aware of God’s presence. 

Pray some prayer that we know by heart or speak to God in our own words. Allow this quiet and maybe alone time to put us in touch with our need to slow down and be compassionate, even as our heavenly parent is compassionate with each of us.   

Conclusion

So, two ways to help us make today, the now special:

1.   each day do something good for one person important in our life;

2.   and each day spend some time with God.

That’s what God wants us to do in the present moment. And that will also be the best way to prepare for the future.

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C - November 10, 2019

32nd Sunday of Ordinary Time

Cycle C

November 10, 2019

Saint Mary Parish, Pylesville       9:30 and 11:15am

A Strange Regulation 

In the Book of Deuteronomy, one of the first five books of the Bible, there is a rather strange regulation.

The rule stipulates what is to happen if a husband dies, leaving his wife widowed and with no children. The rule says that the deceased husband’s brother is to marry this woman.

Hopefully they will have a child and this will be a way for the deceased husband to live on. In fact, it is the only way they could imagine that he would be able to live on after death.

Dispute over Resurrection 

Now to us that ancient rule sounds very strange and, in fact, the Jewish people seldom observed it.    

But, it forms the background to today’s gospel. A group of the Jewish religious leaders are bothered by Jesus’ talk about resurrection.

They cannot accept this because it is not in the first five books of the Bible. So, they concoct an extreme example of a man who dies and, in succession, each of his six brothers marries his widow and each of them also dies.

And all of these brothers also die childless. So, these religious leaders ask Jesus who will be this woman’s husband in the resurrection.

They feel certain that this extreme scenario will discredit Jesus’ teaching. Well, Jesus doesn’t comment about the Old Testament rule, but he does teach some things about resurrection.

1.    Resurrection as Transformation 

Most importantly, Jesus says that resurrected life will not be just a continuation of this life.

For example, he says that in resurrected life people do not marry. Now let’s be clear that Jesus is not putting down marriage.

He actually lifts up the dignity of marriage on other occasions. Here Jesus is simply saying that resurrected life is very different from this life.

We will be transformed. We will have a transformed life in and with God and we can’t think about this just in terms of our human life experience. 

2.    Resurrection through Relationship 

And then, Jesus makes it clear that resurrection happens through our relationship with God.

Jesus says that God isthe God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. These great religious figures are dead, but Jesus uses the present tense in speaking of them – God istheir God right now. 

So, Jesus is saying that God’s relationship with them continues on. The idea is that God’s love for us and God’s relationship with us has no end.  

This means that we are to do whatever we can to live in this relationship – by coming to know Jesus more and more in the Gospels and by having Communion with Him through the Eucharist. So, this relationship with God that we have rightnowleads to resurrected life in the future.

3.    Resurrection through Respect 

And then the last thing that Jesus teaches here is a bit hidden, but it is still present.

Notice that Jesus completely ignores that ancient rule of a brother marrying his deceased brother’s widow. Jesus just ignores this and in doing that, he is teaching something. 

That ancient rule was very male-centered. It was focused only on the husband and hisbeing able to live on in some way through offspring. 

The rule showed no respect for the woman, the wife. It treated her more as an object.

By not even acknowledging this rule, Jesus is sending a message. We are to be respectful of all persons, including women.

This is a living out of our relationship with God who respects each person equally. Being respectful of women and of all persons rightnowopens us to resurrection in the future.

Conclusion

So that’s my take on this interesting, to say the least, interesting passage of Scripture.

I hope it is helpful for all of you. Amen!

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C - November 3, 2019

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Cycle C

November 3, 2019

A Favorite Story

Today’s gospel story is always one of the favorites for children.

This short man named Zacchaeus is easy for children to identify with.  His climbing a tree to see Jesus always captures their imagination.

But I believe this story also has a lot to say to us adults.  I see a number of important messages here.

1. Fill Emptiness

First, Zacchaeus knows that something is missing in his life.  

He has a good job, he is wealthy and he is living comfortably.  But Zacchaeus feels an emptiness within himself, a gap, something missing.  

And, with this awareness, he wants to see Jesus. I often hear persons say – “There’s something missing in my life.”   

When we feel that, we usually try to fill the emptiness.  And like Zacchaeus, the way to fill this is not with more money or alcohol or a better lifestyle, but with a person – with God, with Jesus.

This is the only way to fill our inner, spiritual emptiness.  It works for Zacchaeus and it can work for us too.

 

2. Reach Out 

The next message I see is that Jesus reaches out to Zacchaeus.

Jesus knows his name and he must also have known that Zacchaeus is unethical and despised by his fellow citizens.  But Jesus reaches out to him.

Jesus even goes to his home to have dinner with him. And most significantly, he doesn’t first ask Zacchaeus to repent or confess his sins or change his ways.

Jesus first has a relationship, communion with Zacchaeus.  This is what brings Zacchaeus to life and conversion, instead of being a reward for conversion.

I see this as one of the themes Pope Francis is lifting up for us.  We as a Church are to welcome and include and have people here rather than stand above and exclude people.

It is the most effective way for human and spiritual growth.  And, of course, we as individuals are also to embrace this way in our personal lives.

3. Be With

Then I notice that Jesus does not reprimand Zacchaeus.

Jesus does not put him down or give a long moralizing sermon.  He is just there, with him, and the results are wonderful.

This is what our Sacrament of Reconciliation is to be like.  The priest – in the role of Jesus – is not to judge and condemn and put down.

Instead, the priest is to be with the person as a fellow sinner on the human journey.  It is in this prayerful, faith relationship that spiritual growth can respectfully take place.

4. Change Lifestyle

And then, what quickly follows from Jesus’ approach is that Zacchaeus changes his life.

Jesus doesn’t ask him to do anything specific.  Zacchaeus just knows that if he is going to be in relationship with Jesus, he’s got to share his wealth with the poor and make restitution to anyone he has ripped off.

This is again a good approach to the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  The penance – the action that follows the sacrament should just flow from our renewed relationship with the Lord.

So maybe it is praying or coming to Mass regularly or patching up a relationship or not going to certain Internet sites.  And, by the way, actions like these, ways of living out our relationship with God can also happen outside the Sacrament of Reconciliation in everyday life.

5. Recognize Goodness

The last message I want to note is that Jesus recognizes Zacchaeus’ basic goodness.

The other people all say that Zacchaeus is a sinner.  On this, Jesus agrees.

They also say that he is no good at all and is not worthy to be around.  And on this, Jesus disagrees.

No question, Zacchaeus has done some bad things.  But to say that he is a bad person is impossible for Jesus because he knows that there is a basic goodness in everyone that no one can take away.

It is this positive good in Zacchaeus that Jesus awakens and calls forth.  Jesus does the same for us and wants us to do the same for one another.

Conclusion

So, today’s is a favorite story for children, but it is also an adult story – loaded with messages for us!