Deacon Larry

 

February 1, 2009

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dt 18: 15-20: 1 Cor 7: 32-35 ;Mk 7:21-28

Dc. Larry Brockman

“The devil made me do it”- a line from Flip Wilson’s old Reverend Leroy character.  We used to laugh, because of the hypocrisy- excusing one’s personal actions by placing the blame on the devil.  At least there was recognition of the devil and evil.  What is worse, is acting like there is no devil by excusing evil, and ignoring it.   

In our society today, collective consciences have been dulled, dulled by the acceptance of everybody as they are, and the idea that everyone has the freedom to choose, and that you can’t, and shouldn’t, legislate morality.  The argument against legislating morality is this:  “Let them do their thing;  They will have to suffer the consequences of their own actions; I shouldn’t judge others; and I don’t need to get involved.”  So, we collectively seem to look the other way when a line needs to be drawn, a line that defines when something becomes evil and adverse to society as a whole.  And even when our consciences tell us there is evil, we are all so busy with the activities and people in our own lives, we find it hard to marshal our resources and fight evil collectively and effectively.   

Last weekend was a notable exception.  The parish collected nearly 3000 postcard sets to send our Congress in a collective fight against the Freedom of Choice Act.  We can all be proud of that- Congratulations.  But the war against evil doesn’t end with one battle.  It goes on and on.  God knows that; and so, he sends us Prophets.  As we recall Moses words today, recognize that they are meant just as much for you and I as they were meant for the Israeli people.   

The Old Testament is the recorded history of a repeated cycle of events.  The people came to the Lord in times of Crisis and a perceived evil, and God provided for thewm, and so, the Israelis prevailed.  Then they experienced prosperity.  That was followed by the people abandoning God’s will for them, because they were self absorbed by their prosperity and didn’t think they needed God or his will.  So along came the words of warning by a new set of prophets.  The Israeli people then lost prosperity as evil crept back.  They finally listened to the prophets, but only after experiencing ruin.  And then the cycle repeated itself.   

We are no different.  After decades of prosperity since the great Depression, we are being told that a hard time is coming.  And so, we need to listen to the modern day prophets.  Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not taking about the prophets of financial gloom and doom, although there is certainly some truth in what they say.  Rather, I’m talking about the prophets of the Lord.  The Church has many such prophets- our Pope and Bishops.  You see, the root of our problem comes in moral decay, and we need to listen to the prophets that address it.   

The evidence of moral decay is overwhelming- rampant lust driven by Pornography; gay marriage driven by a lack of understanding of God’s natural law; and we all know that our financial crisis was fueled by greed.  And that greed fed all kinds of selfish behavior- lying, embezzlement, opulent living, etc..  Where did all of this selfish behavior come from?  The prophets of the Lord are speaking loud and clear, but are we listening. 

Consider this:  If we are a God fearing nation, then the Right to Life argument makes sense.  If you don’t believe in God, why would you care if a person in the womb was another human being?  The thing that matters is your convenience- that is the ultimate good, not God’s will.  That’s why it’s called pro-Choice, because choice for the individual is what matters, not God’s will. 

Now you might think that this kind of thinking on abortion doesn’t have far reaching implications. But it does.  It leads to assisted suicide, because that’s what some think is best for them; and it leads to Euthanasia, because that’s what some think is best for their suffering or for very old person’s family or finances.  Historians tell us that the same process occurred in Germany as Hitler rose to power.  First came the abortions, then Euthanasia, and then this kind of thinking led to the horrific holocaust, because the people in power decided that they, not God, knew how the ultimate strong society could be evolved.  It also led to separation of children from their parents, because the state knew better how and what children needed to be taught.   

Can it happen here?  Oregon and Washington already have laws that foster “choice” for assisted Suicide, and California has adopted a first step toward Euthanasia.  Our country cannot say prayers in the schools; our president and the majority of Congress favor Pro-Choice, and the public school system suppresses anything that doesn’t recognize secular teaching on evolution.  Yes, it can happen here.   

In fact, the voices of those who are pro-choice, evolutionists, and atheists sound very much like the possessed person in today’s Gospel.  They sound like this:  “What have you to do with us, you Christians, you are trying to destroy us”?  And then comes the follow up argument:  “Leave us alone”.  Well, the time has come for all of you to be concerned.  You need to help cast these demons out of those who deny God, His law, and His will.  And your efforts must be as relentless as theirs.  Make no mistake about it.  There is a devil, and there is evil, absolute evil, not “it depends” and “it’s relative”.  The evil needs to be met with authoritative teaching like what our Church is telling us.   

One of the great things about this country is that we still have the power to make things happen with our collective voice.  The country wanted economic change.  We are going to get it, for better or worse.  But I sincerely believe the country did not vote for a pro-choice change, euthanasia, and a movement away from “One nation under God” to accommodate a minority.  You all have the power to make a moral change.  But that power comes by relentless action to live the will of God and profess it with your votes. 

Let it never happen, that some day you ever say  “The devil made me do it.” 

  January 4, 2009

Epiphany

Is 60: 1-6; Eph 3: 2-3a, 5-6; Mt 2: 1-12

Dc. Larry Brockman

Rejoice! Today is your feast, because today the gentiles experienced salvation.  You are all members of the Kingdom of God.  Or are you?   Before you answer, consider this quote from St. Augustine:

 “What we see, then, is that two societies have issued from two kinds of love.   Worldly society has flowered from a selfish love which dared to despise even God; whereas the communion of saints is rooted in a love of God that is ready to trample on self.    In a word, this latter relies on the Lord; whereas the other boasts that it can get along by itself.   The city of man seeks the praise of men; whereas the height of glory for the other is to hear God in the witness of conscience [City of God XIV.28]”.   

So, perhaps a better question is this:  Which of the two societies do you belong to, the city of Man, or the City of God?  

The Gospel story today talks about the contrast between people in these two societies at the time of Christ’s birth.  The Magi dedicated time, effort, and their treasure to finding Christ and paying Him homage.  They were educated men, probably from ancient Babylon- scientists, who followed the signs, not knowing where they would take them, but determined to find the newborn King of the Jews.   When the going got rough, and they lost sight of the Star, they kept their cool, they kept their faith, and they kept sight of their goal.   They were humble men, not thinking of themselves.  So, they asked for help, and were sent to Bethlehem, only to discover the return of the star, validating their action.  When they saw the Christ Child, they paid him homage, and they left precious gifts.  These men then returned, anxious to share their joy with their own countrymen and decided not to report back to Herod.  The Magi were not Jews- they were Gentiles.  They fulfilled the promise and the prophesy in the First Reading, a promise that the salvation brought by Christ would be shared with all people.

Contrast the Magi with Herod and the leaders in Jerusalem.  When apprised of the Magi’s mission, Herod checked with the authorities to find out where the Messiah would be born.  He was told in Bethlehem, and passed that on.  But Herod was not happy with the idea of a new King.  He was trembling with fear.  Herod, and his cohorts, were in control.  They didn’t want a King; they didn’t want a Messiah.  They were capable of getting along themselves.  And so, Herod cunningly tried to get the Magi to help him.  He wanted the Magi to report back if they found the child so he could destroy his competition.  The proof of this is the slaughter of the Holy Innocents ordered by Herod.  Herod and the leaders were part of the worldly society, not the city of God.   

The contrast between these two- Herod and the Magi, is stark.  For us, the contrast is less so.  But, to answer the question- which society do we belong to, we need to probe a bit and be honest with ourselves.   

There are three areas where you might hold back on accepting Christ.  First, perhaps it’s your goals in life.    Maybe you are primarily thinking that great achievements will give meaning to your life.  They won’t – only Christ will.  The only achievement that will last is that of fulfilling his will, following his example and his teachings.  Feeling a need to achieve is good, but it can’t be something that consumes you.  So today, let’s lay those achievements, those gold medals you covet so much,  at the feet of the baby Jesus, just like the Magi offered the gift of gold.   

Maybe it’s the affections of your heart that are your diversion.   Maybe you still think that the perfect relationship will give meaning to your life- your spouse, friends, or a boss; or possibly it is things that make you comfortable or happy that are your diversion- a car, a TV, or clothes.  Relationships and things, in themselves, won’t bring you the joy of Christmas.  There is no such thing as the perfect relationship – at least, not without Christ, because all of us are imperfect, and so we need to bear with the imperfections of others.  In fact, Christ is the one who gives every relationship its lasting beauty and joy because of the loving example he set in relationships.  And perfect happiness is not found in having things.  So, strive to please him first, and then he will make your relationships pleasing beyond your wildest dreams, and you will be content with what gifts you have.  Today, let’s lay the affections of the heart at his feet,   just as the Magi offered our Lord the sweet smell of their frankincense.   

Lastly, maybe it’s your sufferings that are a diversion.  Maybe you are angry at God for the hurt you have experienced in life.  But if God has permitted it, it’s only because he knows he can transform you through that suffering.  All people, and especially Jesus, are subject to suffering.  Let’s stop rebelling against our King and loving Lord and lay our sufferings at his feet – just as the Magi offered him their myrrh, the spicy ointment used to embalm bodies for burial.   

Lastly, the Magi demonstrated an additional virtue that is a key in determining which society we belong to.  The Magi lived their faith and demonstrated it to others.  If you separate your faith from your Mission in the World, then you have not been truly born as a Christian.

There’s a story about Alexander the great that makes this point.  One night during a campaign, he couldn’t sleep and left his tent to walk around the camp.   He came across a soldier asleep on guard duty – a serious offense.  The penalty for falling asleep on guard duty was often instant death.  The soldier began to wake up as Alexander the Great approached him.   Recognizing who was standing in front of him, the young man feared for his life.   “Do you know what the penalty is for falling asleep on guard duty?” Alexander the Great asked the soldier.  “Yes, sir,” the soldier responded in a quivering voice.  “Soldier, what’s your name?” demanded Alexander the Great.  “Alexander, sir.”  Alexander the Great repeated: “What is your name?”  “My name is Alexander, sir,” the soldier repeated.  A third time and more loudly Alexander the Great asked, “What is your name?”  A third time the soldier meekly said, “My name is Alexander, sir.”  Alexander the Great then looked the soldier straight in the eye.   “Soldier,” he said with intensity, “either change your name or change your conduct.”  Likewise, you will know you are a Christian by your conduct! 

 November 30, 2008

First Sunday of Advent

Is 63: 16b-17, 19b; 64: 2-7; 1 Cor 1: 3-9; Mark 13: 33-37

Dc. Larry Brockman

Be Watchful! Be Alert!  Advice straight from Jesus mouth in today’s Gospel.  Jesus is advising us to be alert about His presence in our lives and to reflect on it to be certain that we have it right with Him and our God in this blessed season of Advent as we prepare for the coming of the Savior on Christmas.   

Now for most people, this sounds like such a vague and indefinite warning- be watchful.  It stirs your heart momentarily while you hear the Gospel.  But before you can really think about what it means, the feeling leaves.  You will finish Mass, and whatever stirred your heart for that brief time will be gone, swept away by the busy events in the days and weeks before Christmas.  Unless- unless you consciously take the time, make the time to reflect on your life to watch out for God’s presence and will in your life so that you are prepared for the Lord’s coming at Christmas, and indeed, for the coming of the Lord at any time.  That, after all, is the meaning of Advent- a time of preparation for the coming of the Lord.   

Exactly what should you watch for?  Isaiah gives us a great clue on what you should watch for.  He says:  “Why do you let us wander, O Lord, from your ways, and harden our hearts so that we fear you not”.  This, it would seem, is the easy path of life- to wander away from God’s plan for you and take on your own agendas- agendas that concentrate on “me” rather than “us”; agendas that align our priorities with the things of the world.  This, in fact, is the lesson of so many of the Old Testament stories we hear, how the Israelites wandered from the law and the prophets in times of prosperity.  Oh, they might pay lip service to the rituals of Worship, but, as soon as the service was over, their agendas prevailed.  And if following the Lord’s law was inconvenient, it was ignored.  After all, they were prospering and didn’t think they needed the Lord.  But then, disaster would befall the Israelites, and they would turn to the Lord in adversity.  This was the pattern over some 2,000 years!  The lesson that Christians should take away from this is that we need to be constantly watchful for God’s will for us and make that the pattern in our lives. 

This is exactly what Jesus meant in the Gospel   Jesus says he gave his servants work to do.  You see, all of you are God’s servants, so God has given each of you work to do.  You need to watch for that constantly.  It means you need to recognize the God given talents you have, and act on them, not just for your own benefit, but for the benefit of all.  It means Moms and Dads who recognize the responsibility they have to instill faith in their children by the example they set for their children, and by taking on high moral standards; it means professionals who are dependable and efficient at their jobs while maintaining an eye on the general good; and students who are dedicated and diligent to their calling as students.  It means working together as a family and building each other up.   

Now for those of you who don’t think you have the time to reflect, or think that it can wait,  consider again these words in Jesus’ warning:  “May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping”  These are very sobering words.  You can let that nagging feeling you got to be watchful  pass over- as it certainly will when you walk out of the church and return to the busy world.  But if you do that, if you wait, you may get a wakeup call.  In which case, you may not have the time to act.  It might be a loved one suddenly killed in an auto accident, a terrible illness in your family- a stroke or Alzheimers, or even a quick turn of events in your own life- like a heart attack.  I know, I am recovering from such a wakeup call, an unexpected heart attack just a month ago.  Believe me, it really helped me focus on what is really important in my life.   All the projects and goals I had set for myself were gone- and the things that really mattered were family and relationships.  Such wakeup calls come like a thief in the night.  They affect you and those around you, and in these cases, there isn’t much of an opportunity to prepare, to be watchful- just regrets.  Don’t let that happen to you.  Listen to Jesus, when he says:  “What I say to you, I say to all, “Watch””. 

 

October 5, 2008

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Is 5: 1-7; Phil 4: 6-9; Mt 21: 33-43

Dc. Larry Brockman

Have you counted your blessings recently?  Have you even recognized your blessings recently?  Both the First Reading and the Gospel tell us that we have such Blessings.  How so?   

Well, consider that we, the people of God, are the vineyard that is talked about in the parables today, and that God represents the Landowner in both of them.  What does the parable say that God does?  He plants the vines on fertile ground, and He does all that can be done to nourish and encourage the vines to grow and bear fruit. 

Now I’m quite sure that God doesn’t make junk.  So, that means each of you is chosen by God to be capable in the way he intended.  Yes, each of you is a special vine hand selected by God to grow in the environment that God wants for you.  So that means each of you has been planted on fertile ground, and that you are truly blessed.  But do you recognize that for what it is?  And have you responded by bearing the fruit God is hoping for? 

It’s fair to say that most people are constantly searching for fulfillment in their lives.  So, if you are honest, your answer is that you have not borne all the fruit God hopes for.  And I think there are two reasons for that.  First, it’s hard to recognize the blessings you have been given when you are focused on the blessings that you would like to have instead of the ones you actually do have.  It’s like you’d rather be an apple tree than a grape vine.  And when you don’t grow apples, you get upset.  Yet, that’s looking for something that’s not intended for you.  If your time and energy are focused on your goals, not God’s goals, you are not recognizing your blessings.  For most people, the fact that you are where you are right now means that you are in the environment God intended for you.  So, the proper focus is on your family, your job, the situation around you, and the things that you naturally do well- right where you are.  Note also that God is persistent.  God will keep nourishing you along the way, hoping, and expecting the best; hoping you will bear fruit in the environment He has placed you in.   

Second, in order to bear really good fruit, you have to extend yourself.  Think of a vine that does not spread out roots.  It will languish and bear poor fruit; it may even falter and die.  In the gospel story, God keeps sending his servants to call into accountability the tenants who are tending the vineyard.  Three times these servants were sent.  Yet the tenants keep abusing God’s servants, and finally they killed the owner’s son, because these tenants refused to give the landlord his due.  It can be like that in our lives as well.  We can resist the messages that God keeps sending us on how to extend ourselves, and persist on pursuing our own agenda instead.  Then, when things happen in our lives that seem to be going against us, we build up resentment, resentment which can lead to the same offense the tenants committed- killing God’s son by abandoning Him and trying to take control over life for ourselves!  It can be the pursuit of your comforts (like a larger car or bigger TV); or your leisure time (like too much lunch time with the girls or too much football on TV); any one of a number of things.  But it is something where your focus is on yourself rather than on the mission God has in mind for you to extend yourself.  Then, when things don’t go your way, you build up resentment and slowly, kill God’s son rather than change the focus of your life to seek God’s will and bear more fruit.   

St. Paul said this to the Philippians:  “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think of these things.”    Well, this is how you can extend yourself:  By doing something that builds the values Paul is talking about above where our society has fallen down.  That means getting involved in something outside of your own life that contributes to these values.  It doesn’t have to be a major commitment, but what is important is a start.  Today for example, we are signing up people to get involved in our Right to Life Activity.  Consider getting involved in that.  Start by joining the Right to Life sidewalk chain outside the Church from 1:30 to 2:30 this afternoon.  Also, in a couple of short weeks, we elect our Government.  Get to know where the candidates stand.  Make sure the candidates meet Paul’s criteria on the issues- important issues like right to life, education, and health care.  And get involved by helping the candidate that fosters these values.  Then there are opportunities to help with a new Hospital Visitation Ministry, or with St. Vincent de Paul, or other social service ministries in the parish.    

Now I know some of you may be thinking that you can’t find a connection between the feeling of restlessness or resentment you might have over your misfortunes and the positive effects of the two recommendations I have just made, to be satisfied with the blessings God has given you, and then go one step further by getting involved in something selfless outside your daily comfort zone.  But listen to this from the second reading from Paul:  “Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, then the God of peace will be with you”.  That’s what we are all looking for- the Peace of God that surpasses all understanding, and that is the connection. 

  August 17, 2008

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Is 56: 1, 6-7; Rom 11: 13-15, 29-32; Mt 15: 21-28

Dc. Larry Brockman

There’s great news for all of you in today’s scripture!  God wants all of you to be saved.   

First, Isaiah says:  “For my salvation is about to come, my justice is about to be revealed”.  Then, St. Paul echoes this same theme when he says:  “For the gifts of the call are irrevocable.”  The call is the call to be a member of the Kingdom of God; the gift is everlasting life.  Yes, all of you are called to that gift.  And finally, Jesus says in the gospel that the Canaanite women is saved by her faith.  This was a real departure- Jesus is travelling outside Palestine- the only time he ever did that.  The area was populated by Canaanites- traditional enemies of the Jews  So, as a Jew practicing Jewish tradition, Jesus was just affirming the belief that only the chosen Israeli people could be saved when he says: “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel”. 

But, the Canaanite woman was excepted because of her true faith and the active response to that faith she displayed- by her persistence.  This exception applies to all of us.    So these readings bring to mind two important things about salvation.  First, that God has called everybody to be saved and to experience eternal happiness.  And second, that our response to that call is important.   

First, consider that God wants everybody to be saved.  That means he wants you- all of you out there.  He also wants the guy that cut you off on the way into the parking lot; the difficult boss you work for; the bully at the school you attend; the neighborhood gossip; the atheist you see on the talk show; and even those weird looking people you’d rather not associate with.  He wants everybody.   

I have two short stories that demonstrate this point.  The first has to do with a recently canonized saint.  In 2006, the pope canonized St. Raphael Guizar, a Bishop from Mexico.  St. Raphael prayed constantly that his bitter enemy would be saved.  In fact, he was quoted as praying that he would give his right eye if God would give his saving grace to this hard-hearted sinner.  Thirty years after his death, Raphael’s body was exhumed so that they could move it to a new burial place.  They were amazed to find his body still fully intact- just as soft and pliable, and as unspoiled as the day he was buried- except- except for his right eye, which was totally decomposed.   

The second story involves St. Theresa of Lisieux.  St. Theresa prayed incessantly that a notorious murderer would experience a change of heart, and repent of his sins.  Despite her daily prayers, the villain refused a priest repeatedly while awaiting execution.  But, just before his execution, as he lay before the executioner’s sword, he asked for a crucifix, which he kissed, and then proceeded to ask for forgiveness.   

Yes, God wants all of you to be saved.  That’s why Jesus died for us- all of us.  We are all sinners; but no matter what we’ve done, we are all called to the Kingdom of God.  It is not up to you and I to judge our peers;   The justice of which Isaiah speaks is God’s justice, not ours.  So, hard as it is to believe, God wants all to be saved, even those obnoxious, and seemingly despicable people in the world that nobody likes.  In fact, as the two stories show, God wants us to pray for our enemies, because by our sacrifices and prayers, we help to convert even the hardest of hearts, and win over sinners for God’s Kingdom.   

Sometimes, though, we become pre-occupied with judging and condemning others when our focus should be on the second important factor- our response to the call.  The Canaanite woman demonstrates some very important qualities that we should all exhibit in response to God’s call to us:  Love, Humility, Faith and Persistence. 

Now it’s important to understand just how much of an outsider the Canaanite woman was.  She was not a Jew; she belonged to a group that had been bitter enemies of the Jews.  In fact, she is not even described as a God-Fearer.  God-Fearers were a gentile people who, despite the fact that they were not Jewish by lineage, followed the God of Israel as their own.  No, this lady simply heard Jesus, and came to believe that he was the Messiah.  There is no question of her love, for her actions on behalf of her daughter spoke clearly.  She was willing to risk public humiliation, and rejection by her own Canaanite people by following after Jesus persistently.  Her willingness to forget herself in deference to her daughter demonstrates real love.  Second, she was filled with real faith.  She addresses Jesus as Lord, the term used to describe God himself by the Jews.  And she prostrated herself before Jesus as is to give homage to Him.  Yes, she believed that this was God that she was appealing to.  Jesus sensed the genuine faith, and complemented her.  Lastly, she was humble.  Though persistent, she was low key, and respectful.  Her responses to the comment about the dogs eating the scraps from the table clearly show her humility. 

So let us put aside your judgment of others, and concentrate on your response to the call to the Kingdom of God.  Practice the virtues- Love, Faith, and Humility.  And above all- be persistent. 

 

July 20, 2008

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Wis 12: 13, 16-19; Rom 8: 26-27; Mt 13: 24-43

Dc. Larry Brockman

God is irrelevant.  That’s what a Canadian social study concluded about that nation’s young people.  Because, although 84% of those surveyed said they believed in God, only 10% believed that God had “a great deal of influence on how they lived”.  Our society teaches that here as well.  It claims that everything can be explained by natural processes through science, and that those natural processes are not coordinated by “an intelligent source”- they are just random.  So people don’t really believe God works miracles- because they can all be explained through science.  And what follows from that is very subtle, but it is nevertheless certainly assumed.  Because if God doesn’t intervene in what happens in our world, then that implies that God doesn’t work in our lives either.  So, the chances are that lots of people today, even those who say they believe in God, don’t really think God has a great deal of influence on their lives. 

Do you?    Really, do you think God has a great deal of influence on your life?  Well, today’s parable of the wheat gives good insight into God’s attitude towards our lack of faith,  Because it deals with mercy- God’s infinite mercy.   

First, let me explain something about the parable.  The word used for “weed” in the parable is actually “Darnel”.  Darnel looks very much like wheat when it is young.  That makes Darnel difficult to deal with until it grows to a mature plant.  But Darnel’s fruit is poisonous as opposed to the nourishing properties of wheat.  That is what made the enemy’s deed so cunning and effective.  Scholars indicate that processing costs would have been 4 times normal to do what the landowner ordered his workers to do- to separately gather and process the good and the bad crops.  So, a normal landowner would not have been so calm.  He would have been very angry, and sent his people out to find the enemy and seek revenge. 

But, Jesus theme in this parable is Mercy.  Jesus tells us the meaning of the parable in his own words.  The enemy is the devil; the Darnel are those who follow the devil; the Son of God is the landowner; and the wheat represents the righteous ones.  Jesus says the landowner’s plan was to be patient- and wait until the harvest.  He didn’t seek revenge. 

Now, all of you out there probably think this parable is talking about “them”, not “us”.  After all, us’ns all gathered here are believers.  “Them” are the evil ones out there in the world, the people who are not here; the Canadians I mentioned, or people who are atheists or imprisoned felons- the bad people of the world.  Well, I don’t think so.  I think Jesus is talking to you and I,   Because there’s a little bit of Darnel in all of us.  We are all sinners.  And society has carefully sown a dangerous weed seed, one that grows up right along side of us.  It looks like a believer; it says it’s a believer; but when you come right down to it, it is not a believer.  Down deep many people all around us think God is remote, and irrelevant in their lives.  And that happens right here among us, it’s not just “them”- somewhere out there.   

But, Jesus is telling you and I that God will be patient.  God will wait until the harvest at the Last Judgment to determine who is righteous and who is not.  In other words, God will be merciful. 

I see at least three lessons to be learned from this parable.  First, God is giving us every chance to repent and bear good fruit.  We can be Darnel today, but wheat tomorrow.  And God is willing to give us every chance to follow him right up until the last moment.  Second, God knows that we will be exposed to those who are weeds.  Indeed, God will leave the weeds amongst us. 

Why would he do that?  Well, because He wants all of us, and He is patient enough to give all of us a chance to repent.  Even those who think he is remote and not active in their lives.  Yes, he even loves “them”.  And thirdly, God wants us to be patient with the Darnel.  We are all called to show the same kind of mercy to others, as the mercy we would want shown to us.  Recall the words from the first reading:  “You mastery over all things makes you lenient to all”, and “And you taught your people, by these deeds, that those who are just must be kind”.   Kindness leads to conversion.   And so, the evil in the world is left in place partly because God hopes we will do his will, and by our example of kindness and mercy, convert even the hardest of hearts.     

Rest assured  God does have a great deal of influence in your lives.  Again, as the Wisdom reading says so well:  “For you show your might when the perfection of your power is disbelieved”.  Despite cynics and skeptics, this might has been demonstrated over the years in the miracles of the saints.  Anyone familiar with Padre Pio or Mother Theresa knows and understands that.

How can you assure that God is active in your life?  You access God in your life by your faith in Him, which translates to trusting that He will be with you in your life; and by prayer.  Paul tells us in the second reading that God’s spirit will come to our aid in weakness to plead for us when we pray, and I Quote:  “Because he intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will”.  Try that- and see how he intercedes for you.  He answers your prayers by showering you with gifts- a child, a job, a healing; and, like any good parent, by disciplining you- a forced change in your life; an apparent no; or a loss of some kind.  When you have a prayer relationship with Him, you will come to understand the “why” of these hard things in time.  When that happens, and it surely will, it is then that you will know, that:

God is relevant. 

  June 15, 2008

11^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Ex 19: 2-6a; Rom 5:6-11; Mt 9: 36-10:8

Dc. Larry Brockman

Way back in 1910, Mrs. John Dodd did something that affects all of us today.  You see, her dad, William Smart, was a civil war vet, who returned home to his farm in Spokane Washington only to find his wife had died in childbirth, bearing his 6th child.  Mr. Smart brought up the 6 children and ran the farm, too, all by himself.  It wasn’t until Mrs. Dodd grew up and had children of her own, that she fully appreciated the strength and selflessness her father had shown in raising 6 children as a single parent.  The strength came from belief in God and from love; and the selflessness demonstrated that love put into action.  To show her appreciation, Mrs. Dodd organized the first “Father’s Day” in Spokane, Washington on June 19, 1910.- a special day to honor fathers who had given so much to their children in the selflessness that had been an inspiration for their children.  By 1924, Father’s Days were being celebrated throughout the country, but not all on the same day.  It wasn’t until 1966 that President Johnson signed a presidential proclamation that set Father’s Day as the 3rd Sunday of June each year.  Today, we celebrate Father’s Day.   

Now in today’s gospel, Jesus summons his disciples and sends them out to do God’s work.  to proclaim the Kingdom of God to everyone.  This image prefigures the role of the Church today.  The Church sends out Bishops and Priests and Deacons to proclaim the Kingdom of God and bring people together.  But this summons and the mission that follows it doesn’t just apply to priests, deacons and religious; it applies to all of you as well.  Only instead of being summoned to proclaim the Kingdom of God to the community at large, the Church; you are called to proclaim the Kingdom of God in your families, the domestic Church.  That’s what parents are called to do for their children, to live and proclaim the word of God in their families.   

In the second reading, St. Paul tells us that Christ died for all of us, a good man dieing for the ungodly.  He says that “..only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person, one might even find the courage to die”.   But isn’t that what a good Father does for his children all the time?  Once a man becomes a father he is constantly called upon to makes sacrifices.  He works to feed and provide for his family.  He spends time being with and teaching his children.  In a sense, he dies a little to himself over and over, so that his children can have a better life.  His children represent his hopes, the happiness of his children gives him great joy.  And so, Fathers are willing to sacrifice their own wants for their children.   

And yet, there is more to Fatherhood than making those sacrifices.  First, children need Fathers who are motivated by love in all that they do.  Truly selfless motivation is the key that transmits the love.  Sometimes, that motivation isn’t recognized for what it is until much later, like it was for Mrs. Dodd.  But, that’s OK, the important thing is that love is the motivation.     

Second, children need to see that their dad’s actions are based on a solid foundation.  That foundation should be values firmly based on belief in, faith in, God.  Because it is that kind of Faith that will awaken God’s spirit in your children.  Ultimately, parents have the primary responsibility for passing on Faith.  Not the school, not the Church, not the grandparents; but the parents.  Children see how you perceive and relate to God in your life and that speaks louder than anything we can teach them as a Church.  In particular, the father has a special place in the family.  Because, as St. Paul has said, the father is the “Head” of the family.  Children look to the father to provide leadership.  Fathers who lead are a stabilizing and centering influence in their children’s lives.  They know what’s right; they say what they mean; and what they say and do is consistent with the values they preach.   

Third, children need to know that their fathers are human.  All people make mistakes, but good fathers admit it when they make mistakes.  That means saying “I’m sorry” when you are wrong.  That teaches forgiveness and compassion, virtues the world desperately needs today.     

As I look out on all of you today, I see all kinds of families.  There are fathers and grandfathers and great grandfathers.  There are children and grandchildren and great grandchildren.  This is a good time to reflect on your Dad, living or dead, to recognize the acts of selflessness that your Dad made for you; to reflect on how you can be a better child, or a better Dad.   

During the American Revolution, a Frenchman of so-called “low parentage”   Named Pierre Beaumarchais played a key role in getting the French to help our revolution.  He was aware that others demeaned his family origins, but he had this to say:  “I can only reply that I never saw a man with whom I would exchange fathers”.  Do you feel that way about your Dad?