Homily: Monday, 2nd Week of Advent

Readings Is 35:1-10; Psalm 85; Lk 5:17-26

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The event Luke described in today's Gospel passage occurred not long after Jesus called His first disciples [Lk 5:1-11]. 

Just imagine the effect of all this excitement on these new followers of Jesus. They'd already seen Him do the unthinkable: he'd spoken to a leper and actually touched him. And then he did the impossible: he cured him [Lk 5:12-16].

Jesus Heals a Leper

This and many other cures, and His preaching, had attracted a lot of attention, so much attention that Pharisees and Scribes and others had come to see what Jesus was all about. As Luke tells us: 

"They came from every village in Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem" [Lk 5:17].

But they weren't there to praise Jesus, were they? No they watched and listened to Jesus as the crowds, the curious and the hopeful, anxiously approached Him. And in the midst of these crowds several men carried a paralytic to Jesus.

Before we go on, let me share 2 simple truths with you. They're relevant at this point in our brief journey.

Truth number one: Everyone needs healing.

That's right...everyone! Some of us might not need physical healing -- at least not yet -- but every single one of us needs spiritual healing. We're not all physically ill, but we are all sinners.

And the second truth? Each of us, at one time or another, experiences fear.

These are Gospel truths, you know. They're Gospel truths because they're such an integral part of the Gospel. Jesus did a lot of things during His public ministry. He preached, He taught, He listened, He warned, He prophesied, he blessed. But everywhere He went He always did two things: He healed and told us not to fear

Be Not Afraid!

The blind, the lame, the deaf, the lepers and many others, moved by the Spirit, overcame their fears and, often in great humility, went directly to the Lord and begged for healing. 

But others were paralyzed, physically paralyzed or paralyzed by fear, unable to take that step on their own. That's where the rest of us come in. That's right; we're called to take part in Jesus' healing ministry by bringing others to Him.

Now back to Capernaum...

Luke, who loved to fill in the details, described how the men lowered the paralytic on a stretcher through a hole in the roof. But the same key point is made in all three synoptic Gospels: the paralytic did not come on his own, but was brought to Jesus by others.

What about the man himself? He was paralyzed physically; but was he also paralyzed spiritually? I suspect so, based on what Jesus said and did. At first Jesus didn't even address his physical condition, but simply said:

"As for you, your sins are forgiven" [Lk 5:20].

In Matthew's Gospel Jesus uses slightly different words:

"Courage, child, your sins are forgiven" [Mt 9:2].

 Courage, that which moves us despite our fears, and our unforgiven sins, the source of spiritual paralysis. Yes, doubly paralyzed, he needed others to help him find the healing power of Jesus Christ.

"Your sins are forgiven..."

This man's friends, despite all the obstacles, carried him to Jesus, even if it meant cutting a hole in the roof. How important were those men? The Gospel text is explicit. Jesus didn't respond to the faith of the paralytic; indeed, it's never even mentioned. No, Jesus responded to the faith of the friends, those who carried him to Jesus.

What kind of healing did our Lord provide? The kind that brought this man to wholeness, to  spiritual healing, "...your sins are forgiven."

The physical healing came later, almost as an afterthought, as a way for Jesus to prove His divine power, to demonstrate that he had the power and the authority to perform the greatest miracle of that day, to heal the soul, to offer spiritual healing through the forgiveness of sins.

You see, physical healing by God is never an end in itself. It always aims at something else, something much greater: the soul's spiritual healing, to remove our fears, to continue the lifelong conversion that our faith demands of us.

But notice the disciples, those first-century versions of you and me. What were they doing? Pretty much what they'd always done: creating obstacles, blocking the way to Jesus.

What about us? Do we make it easy for others to approach Jesus for healing and forgiveness? Are we stretcher-bearers or obstacles? And even when we do respond, so often we just go half-way. 

Sometimes our words are too sharp, or dismissive, or even silent.

Sometimes we keep Christ tucked away in a pocket, instead of holding Him up for all to see. 

Sometimes we flat out miss Jesus, even when He's right there in front of us: when He's hungry, or thirsty, or too sick, or a bit too shabby, or just too different.

Do we see now how Jesus comes into our lives? He does that, you know, through others, every day.

Do we see now what Jesus meant when He said, "Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me."

Yes, far too often I've been a obstacle to healing or, at best, a pretty incompetent stretcher-bearer, but I like to think I'm learning to follow the Spirit's urgings when Jesus calls, or when He just shows up right there in front of me.

Pray for me and know that I'll be praying for you.

Anniversary #50

November 2, 1968

A few days ago, on Friday, November 2nd (All Souls Day), Dear Diane and I celebrated the 50th anniversary of our wedding. It's hard to believe that 50 years have passed since that day in Pensacola, Florida and we're both wondering how quickly those years have slipped by. But they certainly have and here we are ready to begin our next 50, or some fraction thereof.

Because we are hosting our good friends, Nancy and Joe Hathaway, who are each coping with serious health issues, we've been occupied with far more important things than anniversary celebrations. 

Happy Day for Both of US

We had expected to take Nancy to Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa on the morning of November 2nd, but another dear friend, Pat Eggert, came to our rescue and did the driving for us. Pat's husband, Larry, is a fellow alumnus of the U. S. Naval Academy (class of 1965) and both he and Pat are regulars at my Bible Study sessions in the parish. Yes, indeed, we are blessed to have such wonderful and caring friends.

1972 in Monterey after 4 years

1974 - Annapolis - After 6 years

1979 - Montecello - Diane +4 after 11 years

As it turned out, at the last minute we were actually able to  do a little (very little) celebrating, so we went out to dinner and enjoyed some excellent seafood that Friday evening. Of course, because our lives have lately been less than exciting, I expected something weird would happen...and it did. Just as our meal arrived, my cellphone, along with the phones of all the other diners, began blaring emergency signals. 

2000 - Florence, Italy after 32 years

In 2003 after 35 years

Surprise, surprise! It was a tornado warning! Almost simultaneously with the warnings the sky darkened and we were greeted by a downpour and high winds. The rain was horizontal. Very exciting. So we said a quick prayer, thanking God for our years together and for the dinner before us.

2008 After 40 years

We informed our waiter, a very nice man named Carlos, of the warning and he simply said, "It's good you're not sitting near a window." I agreed and added that rather than taking shelter, we intended to enjoy our meal while it was still hot. This turned out to be an excellent choice, for the meal was delicious and the warning was withdrawn after about 15 minutes.

2012 - On a cruise after 44 years

So...our day was fine and was enhanced by a good meal and even better friendships.

Thank you, Diane, for putting up with me all these years. I have been truly blessed.

Homily: Monday, 9th Week of Ordinary Time

Readings: 2 Pt 1:2-7; Ps 91; Mk 12:1-12

Today, of course, is Memorial Day, the day when we honor those who have given their lives for the freedom we hold dear.

Offer a prayer of thanksgiving today; thank God for raising up those courageous souls so willing to sacrifice themselves so you and I can worship here this morning in freedom. Jesus said it best:

“No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” [Jn 15:13].

And so, today I recall my many friends who did exactly that, and I pray that, thanks to God's mercy, they now share eternal life in His presence.

Now…let’s turn to today’s Gospel.

Do you recall the scene in Saturday’s Gospel passage? The chief priests, scribes and elders had questioned Jesus’ authority, an authority they rejected even though it was accepted by the people. It hadn’t been a pleasant experience for these important men; Jesus had embarrassed them and revealed their hypocrisy. Now, in today’s Gospel, Jesus addressed these same hardened hearts with a parable.

Usually when confronted by a passage containing a parable the homily focuses on the parable’s interpretation – how it was perceived by those who first heard it and how we should understand it. But I think sometimes it’s just as important to understand the situation in which the parable was introduced. So that’s what I intend to do this morning.

Because Jesus’ disputes with the Jewish leadership were so frequent and so confrontational, it’s easy to believe that His aim was simply to expose them and condemn them. Yes, it would be easy to think this, but it would also be wrong.

In truth, Jesus hoped to soften their hardened hearts, and lead them to true conversion. In this we’re reminded of what God spoke through His prophet Jeremiah during some of Israel’s darkest days:

“I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. I will rejoice in them doing good” [Jer 32:40-41].

Jesus teaching in the Temple

God rejoices, and all heaven rejoices with Him, when the sinner returns in true conversion of heart.

Have you ever considered that one of the reasons Jesus used parables as a teaching tool is because a parable contains a promise; it includes a message of hope. Jesus, you see, is always pursuing rebellious hearts, encouraging sinners to return to Him and do so freely.

Through this parable He hoped that the priests, scribes and elders would recognize their true selves and the evil that was consuming them. It’s that shock of recognition in one’s own sinfulness that causes the listener to question his life, and to realize that he must change. But such change can come only in the presence of humility. One must be willing to see oneself as a sinner.

The priests, scribes and elders, however, are so consumed by themselves, so sure of their own holiness, so certain that their observation of the law will save them, that they cannot even conceive of the need for a Savior. But Jesus will not turn away from them. He will continue to pursue them. And He does so by exposing them, again and again, to God’s hope for them.

"...they realized that he had addressed the parable to them."

One parable after another focuses on their weaknesses, on that which separates them from true friendship with God. Jesus never loses hope in their conversion. He never grows impatient. He continues to knock, hoping they will open the door and invite Him in.

He seems to plead with them: My love for you is beyond your understanding, and will launch a steady stream of arrows, arrows of divine love, into your hearts. The Father has filled me with His wisdom. And the Spirit is ready to move within you, to change you in ways you can’t imagine, if only you will respond, if only you will make the slightest nod in my direction.

“Listen,” Jesus says, “to another parable, and understand.”

Did they come to understand? Perhaps some did, even after they had shouted out those terrifying words, “Crucify Him!” [Mk 15:13] Yes, the Father sent His Son and the tenants put Him to death. 

The Father sent His Son...

And God takes His vengeance on the unfaithful, the hardhearted, the sinful, and He does so in a most unusual, unpredictable way: 

He overwhelms them with His mercy.