Have you ever gone out of your way to do a good deed from someone, only to have it blow up in your face? Has there been a time when you did something that was good, right, difficult --- yet found that you were being criticized for your kindness or your intentions were questioned? When this does happen, we find ourselves asking a very basic question: Why are some people so cruel? Why are some so willing to assume the worst in others rather than presuming the good? Sadly, these are questions even young children ask. One of the most difficult experiences of raising a child is helping the youngster cope with classmates or teammates who are mean and cruel. This type of behavior exists in every stage of life. The basic plot of many novels and movies revolves around people who are downright mean and cruel. We would like to think that it is those “other people” who embody this dark side of human nature. But if we are reflective, we realize it doesn’t take much for us to cross the line and begin to treat people badly.
Today’s first reading from the Book of Wisdom presents mean, cruel people. They plot against the just man. They want to destroy him. The reasons for their hatred are petty and immature. They are jealous of his goodness. They find his witness to God offensive. Worst of all, he has earned what they themselves desperately want but do not deserve: the respect of others. Instead of humbly imitating the Just One and reforming their lives, they put their energy and resources into destroying the one who challenges them and makes them uncomfortable.
The passage from Wisdom not only acknowledges this aspect of human nature; it is also prophetic. Even though these verses were written hundreds of years before Christ, they describe the attitude of those who put Jesus to death. The Temple priests, the Sadducees and Pharisees attacked Jesus because He questioned their arrogance, their hypocrisy and his just lifestyle was offensive to them. They hated it when Jesus told them that they were not true to the law. Instead of changing themselves, they decided: Jesus had to die. Comfort took precedence over conversion.
This cruel situation often exists in our families, our nation, and even in our Church. A member of the family who is intent on living the faith might be mocked or hated by those who secretly wishes their faith was at the same level. In our society, the media often mocks those who are seeking to live properly. Our culture glories in pointing out the mistakes of just people. Instead of joining them in virtue, it would rather tear them down and show that good people are no different than immoral people or, if they are, it is only that they are judgmental, mean and absolutely no fun! Sadly, something similar happens in the Church. This shouldn’t surprise us because the Church is made of human beings. There are people within parishes, including clergy, who are ready to attack those whose virtue is perceived by others as greater than theirs, or whose lives make them uncomfortable. Comfort often takes precedence over conversion.
It would be easy to stop here; to end the homily after reflecting on all those other people who can be cruel, unkind, and petty. But that would be incomplete. we must also look at ourselves and examine the ways we fall into those same sins. In some way, we all feel threatened by the presence of the Just One in our midst. Sometimes that presence is the voice of a close friend or family member, challenging us to a more excellent way of acting or thinking. Other times it is the teaching of the Church which challenges us to stop thinking as the world does and start looking at things as Christ would. It can even be the correction of legitimate authority that offends our pride and causes us to attack whatever threatens our way of life.
We all have areas of our lives we prefer to keep just the way they are. There are parts of our hearts and souls we prefer that God just leave alone. We want to be our own masters. And if anyone comes along to challenge us, even if it be the Just One of God, well, we will take that person out. Perhaps by attacking their reputation. Maybe by pointing out their faults. Or questioning their motives. Or mocking their old-fashioned values and rigid morals.
The truth is: not a single one of us has all of the answers! No one here in church has it all figured out or all together. And if our first reaction to correction is to go on the attack and try to lash out at the one who dares question us, well then we are the ones who have a problem. When we respond this way we close ourselves off and risk silencing the Just Ones God sends us in the form of friends, family, clergy, co-workers, classmates, and even random strangers.
Jesus was crucified because a lot of people heard the gospel but didn’t want to change or be challenged. They chose to fight to be comfortable in their sinfulness and this caused them to be cruel, to the point of killing the innocent Son of God. Will we make the same mistake? Will we accept Jesus’ challenge to be excellent, to suffer with him, to be corrected and converted and separated from our selfishness so that we can be his Just Ones to a troubled world? If we say yes to being challenged, if we say yes to being corrected and occasionally uncomfortable for the sake of the gospel, then we will forever sing the confident words of the psalmist: “Behold, God is my helper; the Lord sustains my life.”
