Christ The Servant
Catholic Church
Cold Springs, Ontario
Homily Selections
15th Sunday in Ordinary Time
July 12, 2009
July 12, 2009
Good morning. . . A little feminist humour to oil your brains this morning . . .
A stranger was seated next to a little girl on the airplane when the stranger turned to her and said, 'Let's talk... I've heard that flights go quicker if you strike up a conversation with your fellow passenger.'
The little girl, who had just opened her book, closed it slowly and said to the stranger, 'What would you like to talk about?'
'Oh, I don't know,' said the stranger. 'How about nuclear power?' and he smiles.
OK, ' she said. 'That could be an interesting topic. But let me ask you a question first. A horse, a cow, and a deer all eat the same stuff - grass. Yet a deer excretes little pellets, while a cow turns out a flat patty, and a horse produces clumps of dried grass. Why do you suppose that is?'
The stranger, visibly surprised by the little girl's intelligence, thinks about it and says, 'Hmmm, I have no idea.'
To which the little girl replies, 'Do you really feel qualified to discuss nuclear power when you don't know ... manure?'
Last week, we struggled with Jesus not being accepted in his home town; it was a reminder that doing the work of God does not win anyone popularity contests. In the reading from the book of Amos this morning, we have an incomplete picture. We, the listener, literally witness Amos being insulted and fired from his role of prophet, a Donald Trump moment for sure. Talk about termination! Just prior to this scene, Amos has prophesied that Bethel will be attacked by grasshopper-like insects called locusts that the town will be visited by fire and they will face serious oppression. Amos prophesies to God’s people and his message falls on deaf ears. Amos knows himself as a simple shepherd who receives visions from the Lord; he is not one of the professional prophets who tell people whatever they want to hear. Amos is in service of the Lord. Not a career to which many of us would willingly aspire.
The Psalm for today is one of hope and describes the kind of relationship that the psalmist would like with God. It is in fact the relationship that the king and Amaziah of Bethel could have if they chose to hear what prophets like Amos were saying to the community.
In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, the people of God are told that they are chosen, that God has a plan and that we the people of God are part of that plan. We are not add-ons, nor are we an afterthought. We are not disposable assets. God chose us as part of God’s plan. We are human art work, God’s creativity - God’s expression of love, compassion and relationship. None of us will ever grow up and be orphaned. God will always be there for us.
We will however grow into a more mature relationship with our Creator. The reading from Mark today is a recipe for a grown up relationship with both God and the world. If one follows these directions one cannot get it wrong which is very appealing for those of us who like to get it right. The underlying messages or themes in the reading are very countercultural.
First no one will accomplish anything on one’s own; the message is “travel in twos”. Life in our western world today all too often focuses on what we can do as an individual. Anyone employed by God works in relationship.
The second message is to travel light. The instruction is no food, no sack and each pair is to carry no money in their belts. Most people who begin a journey attempt to take all of the comforts of home. Jesus has other ideas. The Twelve do not need money or food or extra clothes because Jesus’ intent is that they will depend on the hospitality of those whom they encounter. This implies a rather intimate relationship with one’s hosts something most of us attempt to avoid. As you consider these directions, are any of you squirming yet? Why this particular instruction? Perhaps there is an underlying theme of social justice at work here. Jesus does not want the Twelve to lord it over their hosts; Jesus creates a recipe for mutuality, hospitality and relationship which sets the stage for real relationship.
The third instruction is that the Twelve are to remain in the house in the town where they visit. No hopping around to get better digs; remain in the home and with the people who have been welcoming. Jesus seems to be creating an opportunity to live in the moment, to be present and not to be searching for a nicer place to stay. There is no room for temporary upward mobility in Jesus’ instructions.
Finally, in any town that refuses welcome, the pair is to shake the dust off their feet. The sub text is that there is to be no violence or force. Freedom is an essential ingredient in Jesus’ recipe for healing.
Clearly Jesus understands all too well the experiences of both Amos and the Twelve; he well knows that specific instructions are necessary in order to deal with the rejection of the world as well as the temptations of the prophet or disciple. He provides an outline for how humankind can create a better world.
So what do the readings have to do with our lives today you may ask? God has never appeared to us sending us to Bethel or asking us to contact a friend and begin a journey without money or food. We don’t even belong to a religion that asks us to go and knock on doors. Nonetheless each of us is called. I would like to share part of a short story with you that appeared in the Irish Times. It is about a R.C. priest named Shay Cullen from Dublin, Ireland who works in the Philippines with children who have been sexually exploited.
“In 1974 he co-founded Preda to offer help and shelter to some of the victims. He is clearly frustrated with the institutional side of the church which wanted him in his words “to live in the Rectory and say mass every day not go on to the streets….When I came here we had martial law, death squads, rampant abuse of women and children. And the church was silent about it. And silence is consent.” In a reference to the crucifix he suggests that the Church has forgotten “that in every church you’re looking at a condemned criminal who got the death penalty for defending human rights and the rights of children ….If we look on Jesus as a progressive role model for the poor, the sick and the underprivileged, it is revolutionary. And we live every day, like Jesus, without compromise, because the one thing that guy never did was compromise.”
To some his views may seem radical but his ministry has an authentic note about it, out there on the streets, where Jesus was, supporting and speaking out for the weak and vulnerable.
In the future, according to the Irish Times, the Christian cause in Ireland will be best served not by those who seek to impose their views or control people’s lives but by those who like Shay Cullen can convince others by the integrity of their lives that what they represent is worth having.”
As we sit with the readings this week, I invite you to reflect on the message that each of us is called and has been chosen to step outside our comfort zone, working together to create a world of non-violence and to bring about the healing presence of God in the world, a choice that all too often brings us into conflict with our families, friends, workplaces, churches and communities.