Loving God is Simple...and Difficult (30th Sunday, Year A)

To listen to this homily, click here.

There are a lot of things out there that promise to simplify our lives. Many of these items also claim to make us happier, more efficient, more productive members of society. Electronics are common offenders in this area. For example, the computer, supposed to add hours to the day often drains us as we try to keep up with a tsunami of social media, waves of emails, and web-surfing. Something intended to help us often needs our help with frequent updates, software subscriptions, and spyware maintenance. The same might be said of the smartphone. Touted as a mobile office, it rarely gives us more free time as we are beholden to every text, new email, and incoming phone call. But the strangest claims of efficiency and simplicity can be found on tv, especially the shopping channel, and tend to deal with exercise and personal fitness. Perhaps you remember the treacherous thighmaster or the bizarre, indescribable shakeweight?! My favorite is the ab-belt, a modern marvel of laziness and strange science. According to the commercial, this gizmo punishes the user’s abdominal muscles better than sit-ups by sending intense electrical signals throughout the stomach region. According to the commercials, you just strap this baby on and then do whatever you like, even watch a movie, as it sculpts your midsection into perfect abs that would shame a bodybuilder. 

We humans desire simplicity; we crave it. We are constantly searching for that magical thing to make our lives easier, happier, and more efficient. That’s why we fall for these products which so often promise to simplify but rarely deliver on their pledge. That’s why we so often have garages and basements stuffed with junk, ..... yet we are still searching. 

Today, in the gospel, Jesus does the very thing we are looking for. He simplifies the 613 laws of the Jewish faith into two basic commandments. “Love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. And love your neighbor as yourself.”

You and I have heard these commandments since we were very little, so we might not think they are a big deal. But think again to what Jesus just did. He gives the key to living the good life, a happy, wholesome, fulfilling life in terms of our relationship with God and with other people, and does so in two commandments that are so simple that any young child can remember them. It doesn’t get much simpler than that. In fact, it can’t get any more simple than that. These two things are the very least we must do to be truly joyful in this life and forever happy with God in the life to come. And these two commandments are all you have to do in order to reach heaven.

It seems too good to be true, too simple to work. Why would this be any different than the million other things that claim to simplify but then end up disappointing? The answer, of course, is found in who it is that gives us these two great commandments. Jesus is completely trustworthy; he is God, he cannot lie. And he has nothing to gain from his wise words; there is no gimmick involved, simply his desire to unite us with each other and our heavenly Father. 

I think it is important to make one clarification. Just because Christ simplifies the whole moral code doesn’t mean that it suddenly becomes easy. In fact, its simplicity makes it more demanding! The more complicated something is, the greater the chance for some leeway or loophole. Just think of our nation’s tax laws. The simpler something becomes, the less wiggle room. What you see is what you get; no nuances, qualifications, or conditions. The same is true of the two great commandments that Jesus gives to you and me. He really means that we are to love God above all things with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind. And he is dead serious when he says we must love our neighbor as ourself.”

So how do we apply this to ourselves? How do these simple commandments make demands on us? Consider some of the following examples which are not in any way, an exhaustive list:

When it comes to loving God above all things, do I love him enough to get my family to Mass every weekend? Even when we have 7 games or a late night or am out of town? Or is it always God who gets the short end of the stick? Do I give generously of my income to God or do I mostly give him what I have left over after I have taken care of what I want? Do I give freely of my time and talent to God? Do I take some quality time each and every day to spend in prayer or does he simply get some time here or there when I am distracted, tired, and complaining? Do I respect the Church and seek to be obedient to her teaching? Even difficult teachings about marriage, birth control, and sexuality? Or do I think I always know best? Do I do as God has commanded me and pray for my government leaders? Do I seek his wisdom in trying to decide who to vote for - or do I vote for those who encourage me to live as if my concerns are the only ones that matter?

How about loving our neighbor as ourself? Do I have true respect for others without exception? Am I kind in the way I talk about others, including those that are different than me or who drive me crazy? Am I patient with those I interact with, even when they are annoying, needy, or downright rude? Christ’s command to love did not include any exceptions, even for these types of people! Do I allow others to have their dignity, even when I don’t feel like they deserve it? Do I in fact give myself to others out of love - or offer them only a show of courtesy concealing some other agenda? Do I further the social work of the Church by caring for the poor, the neglected, the sick and the unborn? Do I pay my taxes and accept my responsibilities towards my fellow citizen or do I lie and cheat to get ahead? Do I truly love my neighbor as myself, always and everywhere, or do only do so when it is pleasant, beneficial to me, or fits into my schedule?  

The way we get to heaven is utterly simple: “Love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. And love your neighbor as yourself.” But it is not easy. We need God’s help every step of the way, through prayer, the sacraments, and the teaching and support of His Church. May we recommit ourselves to the two great commandments and then trust that in keeping them, we will find eternal love, peace, and happiness. 

"... Give to God What Belongs to God" (29th Sunday, Year A)

To listen to this homily, click here.

For the last three weeks, Jesus has been on the attack with the scribes and pharisees as he calls them out for their hypocrisy and legalistic view of religion. The Lord’s words seem harsh; we might have thought in the back of our minds, “Jesus, I know you needed to say something, but did you have to be so aggressive?” It helps if we remember Jesus is not being crabby or unkind; he knows his time on earth is quickly coming to an end. The cross is looming and still, the religious leaders of Israel refuse to repent and believe in their savior. Jesus has tried everything: he has healed the sick, raised the dead, cast out demons, taught in the synagogues, even read their hearts and still they do not believe. These last three weeks have shown us Jesus’ last attempts to move their hearts; he pulls no punches, he speaks directly to their pride and hardness of heart in the hopes that this might crack their unbelief. 

Today’s gospel shows their response. They are sick of being criticized and exposed as frauds. Instead of humbly repenting and changing their lives, the religious leaders go on the attack, trying to trap Jesus with a question they hope will destroy his credibility with the people and maybe even get him killed by the Romans. The question seems to be a perfect dilemma; “Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?" If Jesus replies that the tax should be paid, he will lose the respect of the majority of his fellow Jews, oppressed as they are by a foreign, pagan government and army. If he rejects payment of the tax, he will be arrested and executed for instigating a rebellion. We can imagine the faces of Jesus’ enemies as they asked the question, how they looked at each other with smug grins and patted themselves on the back for shutting down this know-it-all carpenter. 

In one of the best comebacks of all time, Jesus asks for a Roman coin and answers their dilemma with a simplicity and brilliance that could only come from God: “repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” St. Matthew says when they hear Jesus’ answer, they marvel at him, not so much in admiration as exasperation and then they retreat to think of some more questions to trap Jesus. 

Two things jump out at me from this encounter between Jesus and the Jewish religious authorities. The first is how much energy they wasted trying to be self-righteous and in control. Jesus had an answer to every excuse, question, and objection they came up with for not believing in him. There was a never a time when the Son of God ran away from them, gave up hope for their conversion, or avoided their disbelief. He met it head-on over and over again. Instead of recognizing what was obvious, what was right in front of their face, that they were dealing with the savior of the world and savior of their souls, they chose to try and come up with impossible questions and outlandish reasons for why Jesus could not be taken seriously. 

Are there times where we do the exact same things with Lord? Moments when the truth is right in front of us in terms of what we need to do or how we need to change, and yet we come up with creative excuses as to why we are right and the Lord’s words don’t apply to us?(maybe to other people but not us) Don’t we also spend tremendous amounts of energy and time justifying ourselves and rationalizing our behavior when the simpler, saner, and more obvious response should be humble conversion?

The other truth Jesus proclaims in this encounter is the importance of priorities. Jesus’ enemies set up a false choice: choose Caesar or choose God, one or the other. Jesus begs to differ. It’s about having the right priorities in your life, both with others and with God. You and I have an obligation to honor legitimate authority as Christians living in the United States of America. Giving to Caesar means paying our fair share of taxes, participating in the process of government by voting and being informed about legislation on local, state, and national levels. We are obliged to obey just laws, respect those who enforce them, and live orderly lives. All of this is part of giving to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. 

Even more important, however, is our obligation to give to God what belongs to God. Only God should receive our adoration and complete loyalty. It is the Lord who gives us the gift of life and human dignity not a government or person in power. We owe God gratitude for these things every day in prayer and every week here at Mass. 99% of the time, there is no conflict between what we owe Caesar or other people and what ought to be given to God. But when there is, when a government or a person tries to demand the things that belong to God alone, we must always refuse, even if that means personal suffering, penalties, or shame. 

Every person who has ever lived bears the image and likeness of God. Each one of is like the coin Jesus uses to teach in the gospel. Depending on our priorities and the choices we make in life, we decide whose image we reflect. Who wants to be a person whose soul shows a distorted image of God or only an image of Caesar? It is an honor and a glory, we are made in the image of God. But it is also an awesome responsibility. When the face of a body is disfigured by self-indulgence, when the face of a soul is twisted by envy or hatred or narcissistic possessiveness, the image of God in that person is warped. When others look at the face of that person, they will see distortion of God’s image.

And so our sins ought to grieve us. Who wants to be a person whose soul, whose life shows a distorted image of God? But this same line of Christ’s that leads to worry and sorrow also gives comfort. Just as Caesar’s money belongs to Caesar, so we belong to God; We are his. The God who made us in his image will not leave us in our sins. Through the redemption of Christ, God will make his image lovely in each one of us as long as we keep our priorities straight and use our energy to move towards God in continual conversion. 

Worst Case Survival Guide (28th Sunday, Year A)

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How many of you remember the tv show, Man vs. Wild? It was a unique concept at the time, where a survivalist named Bear Grylls, was dropped off in some remote, difficult terrain and he would try to last for a week on little more than his wits, ingenuity, and advanced survival skills. Amazingly, he was largely successful because of his broad knowledge base, his confident and decisive choices, and his willingness to embrace discipline. Around the same time, there were also these little books called, “Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook”. In these entertaining articles, the reader was given tips on how to make it through serious challenges like escaping a mountain lion, wading through quicksand, diffusing a bomb, or even surviving a bad date. As odd as these things were, they appealed to a desire that most of us have, even if we aren’t that good at carrying it out. We like to be prepared for as many situations as possible. We want to be able to hit whatever curveball is thrown at us. We generally don’t like surprises, but if and when they come our way, we want to be able to handle them in a healthy, decisive way.

In the second reading today, St. Paul is talking to the Philippians, a community he loved very dearly. He is writing the letter from prison, where he has been detained for spreading the gospel. In the letter he encourages and praises the believers in Philippi for the ways they have supported him and his missionary work with prayer and material resources. He even brags to other communities about the Philippians’ kindness and generosity. In today’s passage, he is giving them the secret of his success: he is telling them how to survive any scenario that life can throw at them. And Paul should know about this. He has lived through abundance and poverty, being well-fed and hungry, in need and having more than enough. He had survived shipwrecks, stoning, a severe beating and even some time at sea as a castaway. He had made it through numerous dangers from nature and other people and somehow had emerged alive: not just alive but joyful, grateful, and flourishing!

What was his secret?! Was it a special training? Was he some freak of nature, with ripped muscles or a genius IQ? No, this was not the answer! How did St. Paul do all of this, becoming one of the greatest saints of all time? He says quite simply, “I can do all things in him who strengthens me.” and “My God will fully supply whatever you need.” St.  Paul could survive anything life threw at him because he never made any decision apart from Christ. Over the course of his life, from the moment of his conversion to the time he was martyred, he relied on the Lord to guide his thinking and form his actions.

At this point, I think we need to pause and think about this. Is the approach of St. Paul, doing all things in and through Christ, something possible for us? Is it a viable, relevant worst-case survival guide for modern-day Christians living here in Chesterfield? The short answer is “yes”! Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever! His wisdom has not diminished with the ages and it never will. His power has not decreased as time wears on. His love for each and every one of his followers is just as strong as it was when St. Paul was around. Our Lord is waiting for that invitation from us to strengthen us, to supply for our every need. But he is not going to force that goodness on us; we have to ask and invite him into our lives and our decision-making.

We need to have the courage and honesty to ask ourselves these questions. First, in whose name do we make decisions in our daily life? Is it in the name of convenience or comfort or wealth? Deep down, is greed, unmoderated pleasure or pride, the force that moves us and forms our choices? Do we consider inviting the Lord to be a part of our decision-making? Are we open to his guidance and even the ways he might challenge us and change our course of action? Or do we make up our mind on something and move forward stubbornly, hoping for the best? Who do we rely on to take care of our needs and give us strength? Is it first and foremost, God? Or, do we place that entire burden on ourselves, on our own resources, talents, and cleverness? Perhaps we place our trust in another person, an institution, some other creature? 

St. Paul wanted the Philippians to know that God was incredibly present to them and ready to help in every need, no matter how large or small. That’s how humble Christ is, he lowers himself to be available to us in every circumstance. St. Paul was inseparable from Christ, like thunder and lightning, peanut butter and jelly. It was this intimate connection in everything, that enabled him to survive whatever came his way. We are called to that same resilience and we desire it deep in our hearts. Like St. Paul, we can do all things in him who strengthens us, and God will fully supply whatever we need, if,( and this is important,) if we talk to him and let him guide us. We make this a reality by getting in the habit of talking to him daily as we would a close friend, of holding nothing back from him, even those things we might be struggling with. We can also seek his input and listen for his ideas. This friendship is what made enabled Paul to be fearless and ready for every challenge. This personal relationship with the Lord is what made St. Paul undefeated, even in terrible circumstances. May we follow his lead and share the same blessings he did, able to survive any worst-case scenario that comes our way!

The Vineyard of the Lord (27th Sunday, Year A)

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This weekend is all about vineyards in the Word of God. Each reading, with the exception of St. Paul, uses a vineyard as the backdrop for teaching us about God. Regardless of whether or not you like wine or prefer beer, the Scriptures pack a punch on several different levels.

The first perspective we might consider is historical. When Jesus tells his story about the vineyard, he is speaking directly to the People of God. The vineyard represents the Chosen People and God is the landowner. Jesus stresses all the good things God has done to get the vineyard prepared; not only did he plant the vines in the various covenants he made with Israel, he also protected it through numerous miracles and the different kings, judges and leaders he sent to aid Israel.  All the hard work has been done by God. He asks his people to take care of the relationship he has built with them and harvest the produce which is represented in the fulfillment of his promises, the Incarnation. (Despite his generosity, God can’t seem to get his share of the vintage.) When God sends the prophets to remind his people of what they owe him (namely loyalty and praise), they beat, kill, and chase away his messengers. Anticipating his own death, Jesus says the landowner finally sends his son, hoping it will be enough to set the the vineyard in order. However, the tenants are so hardened they even kill the son, thinking this will allow them to keep the vineyard for themselves. Incredibly, when Jesus asks how the landowner should treat his rebellious tenants, his audience, the same people who will soon call for Jesus to be crucified, reply that the evildoers of the story should be put to a wretched death and their share be given to a new person. As things turn out, the tenants of the vineyard, the Chosen People, lose their exclusive claim to God’s vineyard and he opens it up to new tenants, anyone who believes in his resurrected Son, Jesus Christ.

The second perspective of these parables is spiritual. In this view, God is still the landowner but now the vineyard is the Church, the new Israel. Once again, God has done all the hard work of preparing the Church to bear tremendous fruit. He has founded it through the sacrifice of his Son on the cross, watered it with the grace of the sacraments, protected it throughout the centuries with the Gift of the Holy Spirit and the leadership of the apostles represented in the teaching of the magisterium. Finally, he has constantly provided saintly men and women to keep the vineyard in shape and remind the tenants to give him his due of praise, glory, and worship throughout the ages. The open question that remains when we consider the parable in this way is this: Are we doing our part to make sure the Catholic Church is bearing good fruit for the Lord? As Catholics, are we making a holy impact on society? Are we helping to ensure that God gets what is his from the universe he created? Namely love, respect, and adoration? Do we share freely of our gifts with the Church as a sign of appreciation for what God has done for us? Not to be too harsh on ourselves, but judging by the level of hatred, division, and violence in our world right now, perhaps we in the Church have been thinking too much about our own share rather than God’s!

The third, and frankly, most challenging perspective to look at the parable of the vineyard is personal. Each one of us is God’s vineyard and he has invested tremendously in every person. He created us with his own hands in our mother’s womb, gave us an eternal soul that reflected himself, made sure we are protected by a guardian angel, and bestowed a personality and talents that were unique to each and every person. After doing all this, he gave us free will and let us be born into the world to enjoy his goodness and the gifts he gave so freely. Throughout the life of every person, God sends messengers and caretakers to watch over us: teachers, priests, parents, friends, and neighbors, to make sure our vineyard doesn’t get destroyed. Once again, God is the one who does the hard work and then, instead of being a control freak, like we tend to be, he steps back to let the vineyard have a chance to grow and bear fruit. All he asks in return is that the vineyard be fruitful and a share of its production be given back to him.

What does this mean on a personal level?  Have we in fact produced the good fruit of justice, mercy, and love? Do we at times forget that we are only tenants of our lives, bodies, and souls? Do we instead imagine ourselves as owners and do as we please? Do we tend to store up more of its fruit than we could possibly use while others die of starvation and need? Do we act with violence against our fellow human beings with anger, gossip, judgement, unforgiveness, or impurity, failing to see each person as a son or daughter of God? 

Throughout the ages, both in Scripture and in pious practice, Christians have avoided these dangers with something called the tithe. In tithing, the first fruits of our time, talent, and treasure are given back to God and we live on the rest. This custom has endured over the ages, from the Old testament to now, because it ensures God receives his proper due from the gifts he showers upon us. The concept is simple: look at the blessings in your life and ask if God is receiving a portion of the best of your time, your personal talents and also your material goods. Do we try and return something of everything he has given us or do we try and hoard them for ourselves? Do we give to God first or do we instead take care of our own desires and give God whatever is leftover, if anything is at all? 

The lesson of the vineyard is clear; God has been generous with us and we need to acknowledge that generosity by giving back some of the best of what we have and who we are. The greatness of God rests in the fact that he will use what we give him, not for himself, but to bless others and enrich our lives even further. Let’s make sure we give God his share first; good things will follow!

Which Son Are You? (26th Sunday, Year A)

For all of you in church who are parents, this parable of Jesus probably resonates with your own experience of raising children. His story gives the scenario of two children, asked by their father to do work in his vineyard. The first son is defiant, “no way, Jose” he says, but later changes his mind and does what his dad asks. The second son is a smooth talker and when asked, says, “sure Dad”, but never does the work. If you have raised children, you have likely seen the actions of both sons unfold before your eyes. Even if you are not a parent, growing up, each of us probably played the part of both sons.

This parable has, of course, a historical context. In today’s gospel, the vineyard stands for God’s people and the two sons represent those who are called to care for them. The second son represents the established religion of Jesus’ time, exemplified in the skeptical scribes and pharisees. As often happens in such cases, the religious leaders of that time paid lip-service to God but, when Jesus came in a way they did not expect, they were unable to accept the mysterious ways of God, 

The first son stands for the “outsiders”; including non-Jewish people, who had been accustomed to saying “No” to God but, having been humbled by their experience of sinfulness, were receptive to the challenge of Jesus. They were joined by “tax collectors and prostitutes” who, though despised by the religious types of that time, were humble and open to the message of Jesus. The point is that pride and smugness are far greater obstacles to true conversion than a sinful past ready for repentance. 

And so here is the thing for us to notice. What the NO-saying son says is contrary to God’s will. But what he does is inline with it. It is the other way around with the YES-saying son. The words of the YES-saying son are obedient to God’s will, but his actions are in opposition to it. The words of the YES-saying son are empty. His life, not his words, tell the real truth about his relationship to his father. The truth is that the YES-saying son rejects God’s will, however much acceptance appears to be in his words.

One of the great hallmarks of Jesus’ preaching is that even though it is set in a historical context, it reaches across generations and cultures. The Lord’s challenge to the scribes and pharisees is also directed at us. Today’s parable demands that we consider the question, “which son am I?” One who says “no” to God’s face but then repents and does what he wants? Or have I been the one who says “yes” to God’s face but in my heart I never do what he asks? How can we really know? 

It is best to reflect on these questions trusting that even though we may not be perfect sons and daughters of God, his mercy is always waiting for us. As modern-day Christians we must consider:

Are we ones who can recite the creed - ones who have our children baptized and taught the Faith - maybe we even work in the church and do much that seems holy - and yet do not really see and believe that God is working in and around us, just as the chief priests refused to believe God was working in John the Baptist or in Jesus the Son of Joseph and Mary?

Are we familiar with religion but unacquainted with faith and what it requires of us in our hearts, our heads, our attitudes, and our actions? Do we understand what faith requires of us and what it does for us? Is our faith stagnant, comfortable, and largely confined to an hour each weekend?

Or are we the ones who said at first - no way God - forget it; you don't even exist - and if you do - you aren't what I want in a God - I have better things to do than pray and read that Bible with all its rules and regulations, its wars and woes, its contradictions and craziness.

Are we the ones who led a life that was clearly wrong: ones who cheated, lied, stole, drank, gossiped and tried to experience every pleasure regardless of the consequences? But then changed our minds after listening to our pain and emptiness, and to the voice promising forgiveness and wholeness that comes from Heaven, through people sent by God?

Or, are we somewhere in between? Children of God who try hard some days to be faithful and on other days let our hardness of heart, our selfishness, our unwillingness to see God and listen to God in our daily routines get the better of us?

That is the profit of this passage for us; asking who we are and what needs to be done. The good news is it’s possible to change one's mind; it’s never too late, as long as we are alive, to become a child destined to see and enter the Kingdom of God. Today it’s not too late to get right with God, it’s not too late to say to God - I believe - help my unbelief. It’s not too late to say to God: yes, I will go out in the vineyard after all. I will work to bring the good news of your love to my family, my friends, and the whole world in what I say and do. I will worship you and work with you and obey your will.

The Psalm gives us the right prayer to go with this parable: “Lord, teach us your ways!” Our ways need to be God’s ways. It is good if our words say 'yes' to God. But what is crucial is that our lives say 'yes' to God. Unless they do, our words are worthless. May we become the sons and daughters of God who please him with both our words and our actions, each and every day!