Hope Springs Eternal

23^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Cycle B

Is 35:4-7a

Jas 2: 1-5

Mt 7:31-37

Human beings are creatures of hope. It’s inbred into us. Hope is what keeps us alive in a hostile world. Hope is the only thing that keeps us sane in this insane world. We look at all the pain in the world and say, there has to be more than this. Without hope our lives would lack any meaning whatsoever. Without hope we would not even bother.

The Israelites were in a very dangerous position. The Assyrians were threatening to wipe them off the face of the earth because they stood between them and the Egyptian empire. Israel could never match the Assyrians militarily, and they did not know where to turn for help.

The prophet Isaiah offered the Israelites hope. He tells them today not to fear, because the Lord would deliver them. But you know, it didn’t work out so well for the Israelites. They were wiped out by the Assyrians. Thousands were slain and the rest taken away, never to return to their homeland.

It seems like Isaiah was whistling past the graveyard, giving them false hope. They called upon the Lord and trusted in him, but it didn’t stop the Assyrians. It seems that many times humanity overrides the salvation of God and causes suffering and pain anyway. It seems futile and naïve to rely upon God to save us.  

It’s easy to become cynical. I know of all the individuals suffering in the parish. Cancer and death and broken marriages and economic hardship. I see families all the time who pray and pray for a cure for this or that disease, only to have their loved one die anyway. I know people who have been praying for years for a job but are still unemployed. The prophets say that the Lord will save us but they don’t say when. Are we fated to suffer here on earth and only see the fulfillment of our prayers when we get to heaven? 

When I first read today’s psalm I said to myself, “Yeah, right. God doesn’t intervene in the lives of men that intimately today.” There are millions of poor and suffering people in the world today. Nothing ever changes. But then I realized that I was too far away from it. I was thinking of statistics and not of individuals.

Jesus never healed crowds, he healed individuals. Crowds do not experience conversion, individuals do. Miracles do not happen to crowds, but to individuals. Jesus takes the deaf mute away from the crowd and gets really personal with him.

People are smart. Crowds can be stupid. People are good. Crowds can be evil and cruel. There’s something about being in a crowd that can easily make it into a mob. Individuals didn’t condemn Jesus, the mob did. 

Crowds don’t suffer. Individuals suffer. Suffering is the most personal experience we can ever have. We can share joy, but it is really impossible for anyone else to truly understand and share in your individual suffering. 

Salvation is such a personal thing. It is ultimately between you and God. I have never seen entire nations turn back to the Lord, but I have seen individuals do so. I have not seen miracles happen to societies, but I have seen miracles happen in individuals’ lives. 

Jesus is the perfect man. He showed us how we are to live if we are to be truly human. He was able to heal the sick and turn men’s hearts to the truth. He took care of people’s physical suffering and hunger because he was able to work miracles. He knew that he had to alleviate physical suffering before people could be open to salvation. 

But now he’s gone back to heaven and we are left here to our own devices. Jesus destroyed death, but death is still with us. Jesus healed the sick, but we still suffer. Jesus left us with a message of hope, but still we despair. We hope, but is it all just a coping mechanism. Do we just cling to a thread of hope in a hopeless world because we cannot deal with the alternative?

Hope is such a personal thing also, but hope can be multiplied and sustained in and by the community of the Church. And so what if Jesus is no longer here on the earth, we are. Jesus Christ is still present in his Church. We are called to continue what he started. The gospel is hope itself. We cannot be cynical about life. We can and must be individuals of hope, and together as the Body of Christ we can bring that hope to the world. But it must start in your own heart. The Church cannot bring hope to the world if you do not have hope in your own heart first.

Take the words of the psalmist today and switch them around a bit. 

The God of Jacob keeps faith forever, secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry, when we ourselves are faithful to the teachings of Jesus, work for justice for all, and take care of the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of all those in need among us.

The LORD sets captives free when we turn away from the slavery of sin in our own lives and live as we were created to live.

The LORD gives sight to the blind when we first open our own eyes and then help those who are living the lies of society to see the truth;

The LORD raises up those who are bowed down when we lift them up, help them get back on their feet, and stand tall with dignity.

The LORD loves the just when we love justice; the LORD protects strangers when we show hospitality to the strangers among us.

The fatherless and the widow the LORD sustains when we strengthen the family,
but the way of the wicked he thwarts when we make those thousands of small choices every day to do what we know to be good and right.

The LORD shall reign forever; your God, O Zion, through all generations, when we make God the king and center of our lives.

We are a people of hope because we are the people of God. Our hope springs up in us as individuals, and our hope combines with people of faith the world over to bring hope to all of humanity. Hope is what binds us all together and it is hope that draws us all to God. And that truly is good news.

Will You Also Leave?

21^st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Cycle B

 “This saying is hard, who can accept it?” As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him. 

You’ve probably heard the joke, based largely upon fact, that the second largest religious denomination in the United States is fallen away Catholics. I think that’s true, and the statistics tell us that when Catholics fall away, it is usually because they do not agree with certain teachings of the Church. And yet when Catholics leave, they do not usually go searching for the truth in another religion or denomination. They simply stop going altogether. And ironically, when asked they still identify themselves as Catholic, even though they are not active in their faith.

This isn’t a new thing. Today we’ve heard about the first group of fallen away Catholics. Some of those who were closest to Jesus.

Many people today think that some of Jesus’ teachings are outdated, not in keeping with our modern sensibilities, that they’re a product of a patriarchal, oppressive society that we’ve grown beyond. And they point to that second reading today as proof. So they pick and choose those teachings they think are evolved, and discard those they think do not apply anymore. Or worse, they twist and bend the teachings in an amazing display of intellectual and philosophical gymnastics to make them say what they want them to say. 

It was the same in Jesus’ day. Today’s gospel is the conclusion of the great Bread of Life discourse in John. It began with the feeding of the five thousand with five loaves and two fishes. That was a great thing. The people were amazed and happy that they received their fill of food. A miracle. That was easy for them to accept because they experienced it with their own eyes and stomachs. 

Then we heard that the people followed Jesus across the Sea of Galilee because they wanted more of the free food. As long as they could get something for nothing they were enthusiastic in their belief in Jesus. It’s easy to believe when we agree. But then Jesus started saying some strange things. He said that just as the Hebrews had received manna in the desert from heaven, God had sent him to be the living bread. Weird, but they could sort of relate because they had heard the stories of the manna their entire lives. Jesus was just speaking metaphorically, right? We get it. Your teachings will feed us. You are referring to spiritual food, right?

But then last week Jesus got a bit more specific. “The bread that I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world.” Huh?

“Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood,
you do not have life within you.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood
has eternal life,
and I will raise him on the last day.
For my flesh is true food,
and my blood is true drink.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood
remains in me and I in him.”

That was too much for them. Too literal. No wiggle room . Jesus wasn’t being metaphorical. The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat? Who does he think he is?” And that is where we took up again today. The Jews could not understand or accept that teaching of Jesus. And so many of his own disciples left him. It was easy for them to follow Jesus when he was giving them what they wanted. It was easy for them to follow Jesus when he gave them free stuff. But when he began talking about things they could not or would not understand and accept, they left him. 

And what about the others? Jesus then said to the Twelve, "Do you also want to leave?" Simon Peter answered him, "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” Where else could we go? I think that is why most people who leave the Catholic Church just stop practicing their faith altogether. Where else could they go? How many words of eternal life are there? If there is one God, there is one truth. Jesus said he is the way, the truth and the life. Where else but in Jesus can we find those words of eternal life? If you believe that Jesus is the Son of God then you must believe that he alone has the words of eternal life. If we reject Jesus’ words we reject him, and if we reject him, can we ever share eternal life? 

Wow, that’s hard. But isn’t that the core of the matter? Isn’t eternal life what it’s all about? It’s not about you coming to church to feel good or become a better person, or to fulfill some psychological or spiritual need. It’s all about eternal life. Your eternal life. And the only way we can attain eternal life is by following the truth. If you don’t believe Jesus is the truth, then why are you here?

Joshua said to the Hebrews, "If it does not please you to serve the LORD, decide today whom you will serve.” And you must serve if you are to attain eternal life. Will you serve the Lord, or will you serve the many other gods you have set up in your life? And if you have a problem with St. Paul saying that we must be subordinate to one another, how can you subordinate yourself to an unseen God, especially since you think he’s sometimes completely out of date?

Where else could you go? Jesus says that unless you eat his body and drink his blood, you have no life within you. No life. And so you come to Mass to celebrate and receive that life. Where else could you go? He says that his body and blood are true food and true drink, not some symbol. And so you come to Mass to eat and to drink. Where else could you go? What other doctrine or religion or denomination gives you that? 

You can twist his words and rationalize it all day long, but this is the only place you can find Jesus’ body, soul and divinity.  Jesus said he calls us his friends, and we are his friends if we keep his commands. Not our will but his will be done. This is the place Jesus commanded us to come. Do this in memory of me. And yet most of us take it for granted, or just show up when the mood hits us or it’s convenient. Or thousands just stop coming at all.

And if you think that Catholicism is just one of many ways to get to heaven, all equally good, think again. Peter didn’t say, “You know, Jesus, there’s another rabbi in the next town over who has a message that’s easier to accept. We’ll just go there.” No, he said, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” Not some words, THE WORDS. And then Peter and the twelve took those words and passed them down to us through the tradition of the Church. Unbroken and unchanged for over 2000 years. 

Where else could you go?

We may like all the feel good sayings of Jesus, but his core teachings challenge us. They can be hard to accept. They can be hard because we make them hard. Because we want to live the lives we want to live, and not live the way God created us to live. We want to have all the pleasure we desire. We don’t want moral constraints. We remove all limits on our sexuality. We pour chemicals into our bodies that alter our most basic functions. We try hard to say when life will begin and when it will be prevented. We take it upon ourselves to determine which lives are worth living and which aren’t convenient. We look to fundamentally change the very foundations of society, given to us by our Creator, twisting scripture to justify our positions. 

You know, it is going to become harder and harder to remain a faithful follower of Jesus. The pressures that are being placed upon us by our society and our government will lead to more and more people leaving the Church. It will become just too hard to fight it anymore. Cardinal George of Chicago, one of the smartest bishops I’ve ever heard, said recently, “I will probably die in my bed. My successor will die in prison, and his successor will die a martyr in the public square.” Over the top? Hyperbole? Or prophetic? Time will tell.

The saddest thing is that we ourselves are complicit in our own destruction. Many Catholics today not only agree with forcing faith out of public life, they are actually working to make it happen. We take so much for granted, and have lost sight of the ultimate goal, eternal life. Empty pews testify to that.

The ancient Hebrews were also beset with pressure to conform to the myriad gods of the people surrounding them. Joshua told them, “Decide today whom you will serve, the gods your fathers served beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose country you are now dwelling. As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

What about you? Do you also want to leave? Whatever happens, as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.

Leftovers

17^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Cycle B

2 Kgs 4:42-44

Eph 4:1-6

Jn 6:1-15

I’ve often wondered why there was so much left over when Jesus fed the 5000. I mean, he knew exactly how many people were there and how much they would eat. Why didn’t he give them just enough for their meal? Why did he overdo it? 

When Jesus gave miraculously, he always overdid it. He made 180 gallons of wine for the wedding feast at Cana. He overstuffed the 5000 so that there were 12 baskets of leftovers. When he told the apostles to cast their nets on the other side of the boat, their nets were filled to overflowing. 

Jesus does not want us to live simply at a subsistence level, he wants us to have abundance. If your children came to you hungry, would you just give them enough to get by, or would you ask if they wanted seconds? At my house, if you don’t ask for seconds I get offended. What’s wrong, didn’t you like it? When Jesus told his disciples to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” he doesn’t mean we have to have just enough for today. He doesn’t want us to be hungry or thirsty or poor. He wants us to trust that God will take care of us, but he wasn’t talking about any specific quantity. He wants to give us seconds, and thirds and fourths.

The only limit to Jesus’ generosity is our willingness to receive it. It will keep coming until we say we are full, then it will come some more. 

Jesus does not want us to just get by; he wants us to have leftovers. 

There were 5000 there for the feast, but some people didn’t come, even though they had wanted to. Some people had to work that day. Some people had such a hard time getting their kids ready to go that they threw their hands up in frustration and stayed home. Some people just wanted to sleep in. Some people only went to see Jesus a couple of times a year, when the mood hit them. Some people dropped their children off, but didn’t stay themselves. Some people didn’t really believe in Jesus. Some found his message divisive and hard to accept. Some thought he was behind the times and what he was asking them to do was too difficult. Some people didn’t like Jesus’ heavy Galilean accent so decided not to bother. Some people didn’t like Jesus’ politics. Some stayed away because someone in the crowd had said or done something to offend them. Whatever the reason, they didn’t come, and they missed out on the feast. 

But Jesus knew what was in their hearts, and he patiently waited for them to eventually come back. And when they did, there would be leftovers enough for them, too.

The leftovers were for those who are not at the feast. The leftovers are for those leftover.

Two weeks ago we heard the story of Jesus sending his apostles out two by two into the towns to preach the good news. He told them that they were not to take anything with them but a walking stick and a pair of sandals. They were to rely totally upon the generosity of strangers. They were to have faith that God would provide for all that they needed, and they were in turn to heal the people of their physical maladies. When they returned they spoke in amazement of how much they received in return.

Then last week we heard that they were not even allowed a moment’s peace to rest and recharge. The masses kept coming and coming, and tired though he was, Jesus took pity on them and continued to teach them and heal them. Whenever they came to him he never turned them away.

And today Jesus tells his apostles that they must continue his work; that they must also have compassion for the lost sheep, and never give up on them. He told them to feed the people themselves. Don’t assume someone else will do it. Never assume the people will take care of themselves. You do it.

 Never throw out the leftovers. Never assume that they have everything they need. Always have something for those who come, no matter how inopportune the time. Jesus of Nazareth is no longer here with us. It is now up to his disciples to continue the feast.

This entire chapter of the gospel of John, chapter six, is a foreshadowing of the Eucharist. For the next few weeks we will delve deeper and deeper into the mystery of the Bread of Life. It begins with an absurd outpouring of generosity by Jesus. He gives the crowds their fill. And it ends with most of those people abandoning Jesus and his message. That seems to be the pattern, but that doesn’t mean we are to ever give up on them. Even though almost all abandoned Jesus, he still left them all his Body and Blood. He still died on the cross for them.

We are never to give up on the leftovers. St. Paul says today that we are to work patiently, with humility and gentleness, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace. We are never to stop working to bring the lost sheep back into the fold. We are never to reject those who come late to the feast. And if it is us who have left and returned, left and returned again, we will still be welcome. 

What if Jesus had said to those who came late to the feast, “Sorry, you’re too late. There’s nothing left for you?” What if there was nothing left over? No, instead he says, “Come on over here, we’ve got these twelve baskets of leftovers just for you! And you know, they never get stale! They’re just as fresh and delicious as on the day I first gave them”.