No Excuses! (13th Sunday of OT, Year C)

 To listen to this homily, click here.

This past week I had the wonderful gift of spending time with my family down in Florida. And with 39 of us in one house, I was reminded, many times, how creative kids are when it comes to stalling for time and creating excuses. When there is a difficult task to be done or it is time for the fun to end, children get to work on trying how to figure out how to gain more time for fun, games, and snacks. They convincingly make their case for just one more story, one more show, or one last handful of snacks. When they are enjoying themselves and it is time to go home, kids suddenly forget where they put their shoes or temporarily lose their hearing. Kids will also give a passionate list of reasons of why they should be allowed to continue doing what they are doing. 

We see this process of “stalling” in the word of God today. In our readings, God is beckoning others to service and discipleship. God moves Elijah to invite Elisha to the honor of becoming the next prophet who will spend his life sharing God’s truth. In our Gospel, Jesus invites others to follow him. In both readings, people stall for time; they say ‘yes’ but not quite yet. They look back to what they must leave behind. And they give some pretty good reasons. Elisha tells Elijah to let him first go home and tell his parents good-bye. An unnamed man in the gospel responds to the invitation of the Lord by saying “Let me first bury my father.” But the Lord is persistent and even unimpressed with the excuses given. Jesus says in our gospel: “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.” The reason for this uncompromising demand is that God is doing the calling. This is no ordinary invite. 

Pausing before going, finding excuses to delay our unconditional “yes”, especially as adults, indicates that we don’t really understand or we don’t really care who it is that is calling us. It means we have something better to do or more important to hold us back. If we don’t care about who is calling us, we might end up failing to answer his call. It is undeniably easier to stay at home in the midst of what is small and familiar than to take the risks that come with answering a great call.

So here is the point of our readings today: there isn’t room for hanging back when the Lord calls us. If we hesitate, if we think of an excuse to postpone answering him, we aren’t really hearing the Lord calling; and so we aren’t really going to follow him either, not now, not later. That is why in the Gospel Jesus says that no one who sets his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of heaven. Each human person was made to follow the Lord, to live a life of love and holiness. Answering that call can’t wait for later; there is nothing more important that needs to happen first. The Lord’s call has to be answered now. This is what I love about Elisha’s response. After he asks Elijah for some more time and is rebuked, the fire of God is kindled in Elisha. He sacrifices his family’s oxen and uses their yokes for firewood to roast them as a meal for his servants. Elisha is making sure that he can’t go home again, that there is no turning back from following the Lord. His commitment is total and there will be no looking back. How could he, after what he did to the family oxen and their yokes?

One last thing about the call; most of what we are asked to leave behind are not things that are good and holy. Most often, it is primarily our sins and unhealthy attachments, our addictions and self-reliance. When God calls each of us, he first begs us to turn our back on the things that hurt us and others, the things that drain us and take away true happiness. And for anything we are asked to leave behind, God never leaves the void unfilled, he always rushes in with gifts and consolations that are even bigger and better. 

It’s like he says, “let go of that good thing so I can give something even better”. My own experience has absolutely proven this true and I know you can find many others that would say the same. God is generous beyond our imagination and we would do well to accept his invitation as quickly and completely as possible. Always!

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the monumental ruling of the Supreme Court on Friday, which takes a first step in reversing our nation’s 49-year-old tragedy of considering abortion as an inalienable constitutional right. First of all, we should thank God and realize the power of prayer, sacrifice, and witness on the part of generations of people. Secondly, this is not the end of the struggle; abortion is still legal, to some degree, in each state, so there are still many innocent lives at risk. Third, this ruling has set off a wave of anger, despair, and hatred that will unleash it’s fury against God, the Church, and anyone who believes abortion is the killing of an innocent human person. We shouldn’t be surprised or frightened. Satan has always hated children and innocence and the bible is full of examples where evil takes out its rage against the most defenseless. But this wave of spite and malice must be met with compassion, mercy, prayer, and truth. Our readings advocate for a certain spiritual decisiveness, to choose a path and stick with it and so it is here. We must keep our hands to the plow and continue the work of protecting all human life and reaching out to those affected by abortion. We must continue the wonderful work of helping parents who feel they have no options as they contemplate an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy. They should never feel alone or unsupported and there are many ways each of us can help in that effort.

Last of all, take some time this week to read the majority ruling along with the consensus opinions and dissent. We have an obligation to be informed about this issue. I was struck by the rational, orderly, and calm argument of Justice Alito’s writing. It was not ideological or political and simply built the case from the law itself. In his writing, you will notice a term that is used many times, something called ordered liberty. It is the concept of freedom that serves a greater purpose, the type of freedom St. Paul referenced in the second reading. Jesus set us free from sin and death, not so we could use that freedom to do whatever we want to others and ourselves. We do not have the freedom to do whatever we want to our bodies or the bodies of unborn children. We do not have the freedom to redefine right and wrong. We do not have the freedom to make ourselves God or declare ourselves lord of life and death. But, we are free to live in the goodness and love Jesus offers.  We are free to love God and love others in ways that help all of us get to heaven. Our readings and this monumental decision call us to reflect on how we use our freedom, as a country, as a church, and as individuals. Are we using that gift to serve and help all those in need, the unborn, the poor, the sick, the elderly, the forgotten, the immigrant, the prisoner, and the many other marginalized people who are the face of Christ. 

And so, moving forward, let us live by these words of St. Paul, that are just as true today as they were when he wrote them nearly two millennia ago, Brothers and sisters: For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery. For you were called for freedom.

But do not use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh; rather, serve one another through love. For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement, namely, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. But if you go on biting and devouring one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another.

The Greatest, Untapped Power (Pentecost, 2022)

 To listen to this homily, click here.

There is a story told of a New York man, who hosted a friend visiting from England. He wanted to show his guest the marvels of our country, so he took him to Niagara Falls. “Come,” he said, “I will show you the greatest, unharnessed power in the world.” From above they could appreciate the expanse of the Falls, as they looked from the U.S. to the Canadian side. Then they went below, where the water made a deafening noise and sprayed mist hundreds of feet in the air. The American explained about the enormous quantity of water and its great force. He had to practically shout into his friends ear as he concluded, “Here is the greatest unused power in the world.”

The visitor was certainly impressed; he had seen nothing like it in his own country. But then he started to think a little deeper. “Yes,” he said to his American friend, “the power here is great, but there is something much greater. The greatest unused power in the world is the Holy Spirit.” Sadly, that man has a point. Today we celebrate Pentecost Sunday, which is the Feast of the Holy Spirit. It reminds us of a power we have barely tapped into as Christians. In the readings we see some of the things the Holy Spirit makes possible: Communication in a language deeper than words that resonates with people of every nation. Inner peace. Forgiveness of sins and healing of body and soul. Unity and friendship between people who were formerly enemies. Every worthwhile gift. Renewal of the earth.

This Sunday you and I are reminded that we are not only allowed, but also invited, to tap into the power of the Holy Spirit. How our world would change if we permitted him to enter our hearts and drive our decisions! In my years as a priest, so many people have told me that they wish their lives could be different, that they would love to redo or undo certain moments and decisions. They would like to have more energy, more enthusiasm, and live in the truth. They want interior peace and a sense of purpose; they wish they had not spent so many years wandering from God and his love. Those good things and a sense of direction come from the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit energizes us, guides us, and gives us new life.

Every person in every age needs the Holy Spirit, but the need is especially urgent now. One of our biggest problems today is boredom and mediocrity. An apathy and indifference has descended on our culture which hides a sense of despair. We have all kinds of entertainment and creature comforts, we are busier than ever, but people feel bored, unfulfilled, and unhappy. Boredom leads people to fall into vices, like greed, envy, lust, gluttony, anger, and so on. However, these vices do not bring happiness; they are ways of keeping God at arm’s length.

The solution is NOT to try and do more or become workaholics. In fact, for many modern-day Catholics, workaholism and never-ending busyness masks a deeper spiritual laziness. Many people never stop working or going from one thing to the next because they fear the effort involved working on the relationship with their spouse, children and God. But that should never be us.

On the other hand, the person who opens himself to the power of the Holy Spirit can find joy in things which are small and ordinary. We’ve had some great examples of modern saints, like Mother Teresa and John Paul II who were incredibly productive and engaged in the world but also constantly in touch with God. Another great example is St. John Neumann. He came to America to serve immigrants as a priest. Besides the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, he made a personal vow to never waste a single moment of time. If he were alive today I actually don’t think he would be multi-tasking, always on the phone, replying to texts and emails and updating his social media. St. John did not indulge in constant, frenetic activity, but instead opened himself to the grace of every moment. As a young priest he ministered to a far-flung parish of miners. It involved a lot of traveling during which he engaged in prayer and studying languages. Besides German, Czech and English, he learned Spanish, French, Italian, and Dutch so he could hear confessions of his diverse parishioners. When Irish immigration started, he learned Gaelic so well that one Irish woman remarked, "Isn't it grand that we have an Irish bishop!”

Later, as Archbishop of Philadelphia, he was instrumental in setting up the Catholic School system which quickly spread throughout the country. St. John did not live a long life - he died in his late forties. Nonetheless, his accomplishments endure because he placed every moment under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and allowed himself to be shown what had to be done and what had to be ignored. He couldn’t do everything and he was ok with that. In spite of many troubles and much opposition, he maintained an inner calm. With the help of the Holy Spirit, he was able to sift though all the things that called for his attention and focus on what actually needed his time and energy. This being present to God and others in the moment brought him peace and freedom from anxiety. People commented on how he could find joy in little things such as seeing a beautiful flower or speaking to a child.

Like St. John, we have a great, untapped power available to us; a spiritual Niagra falls, the same Holy Spirit that enabled him to accomplish amazing things in 48 short years. All we have to do is ask for this gift of the Spirit and give God time and space to work. That means slowing down, listening to him in prayer, and letting go of our constant need for entertainment, comfort, and non-stop activity. When we do this, we will be amazed at how alive we feel, how stress melts away, and how we always have the time to do the things that are most important. Make sure and speak to the Holy Spirit today and every day: Come, Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit, you have permission to enter our lives, our work, our families and our decisions. Enkindle in us the fire of your love. Dear Father, send out your Holy Spirit, the Spirit of your Son Jesus and renew the face of the earth.