Assume the Best (31st Sunday, Year B)

To listen to this homily, click here.

If you are a faithful, observant Jew, there is nothing more important to living a good life, than the Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures. These inspired writings of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy lay a foundation for how to follow the Lord. In the Torah, 613 mosaic laws, including the 10 commandments, are laid out for the faithful to follow. Over the centuries, rabbis and scholars would build secondary laws around the 613 laws to keep people from breaking them. Think of them as a sort of fence, so you wouldn’t even come close to stepping on the sacred grass of the law. Over the centuries these became more and more complicated and technical, almost to the point of being ridiculous and distracting people from God rather than pointing them towards him. To be clear, I am talking about the laws of men, not the 613 laws given by God to Moses and the prophets. They started with good intentions but almost becoming an end in themselves. How many steps could you take on the sabbath? Were you carrying water? What constituted a step? etc…

It was this technical, legalistic mindset that motivated the enemies of Jesus. They would constantly propose scenarios with the law to try to trick him so they could discredit and kill him. For many of the scribes and pharisees, religion was all about legalism and ritual rather than relationship with God. It would have been very easy for Jesus to roll his eyes today, when this scribe asks which of the 613 laws is the greatest. He had been asked these questions many times before and he had shut down his critics. We would all understand if he assumed the worst in the scribe, especially since his experiences with them, over and over again, was negative because of their malice and lack of faith. 

But notice what Jesus does. He assumes the best in this scribe and instead of being cynical, believes he might actually want to learn something. Jesus listens to the question and answers with a thoughtfulness and wisdom which moves the scribe to exclaim that this answer is perfect, “That God is One and there is no other than he.’ And 'to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself’ is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

Jesus sees that this scribe is different, that he is seeking understanding and to truly know how to follow the law in the way that will most satisfy God. And Jesus’ willingness to engage him respectfully, thoughtfully, and with a loving desire to lead him to the kingdom, leads the man to grow in faith and come to a greater understanding of the law. His act of faith moves Jesus to say, “ you are not far from the kingdom of God”!!

The reflection I offer you for today / tonight, is how Jesus does not assume this scribe is just like all the others he has debated with. He had every reason to assume he was. But Jesus engages him with respect and truth, and because of that, draws out faith and greater understanding, which may lead to this man discovering eternal life rather than just some legalistic following of religion.

Think about the times we live in. How easy it is to label people and place them into stereotypes that fit nicely with our lived experience. How quick you and I are to judge and pigeon-hole someone because of their appearance, political party, race, or some other quality. Jesus engages each and every person on their own merits as a unique and important child of God. He never clumps people together or dismisses them because he once met someone who acted or looked like they did. 

I believe people can sense when we treat them with respect for who they are as an individual person, created in the image and likeness of God, with their own merits. I think the dynamics of interpersonal relations are changed when we go into conversations and situations assuming the best in each other rather than looking for the negative and ulterior motives. We can learn something from others who are completely different than us, who even disagree with us, if we are open to learning from their perspective rather than winning and being right. If we pay attention to how Jesus treats the people who come to him, we cannot help but notice the consistent respect, patience, and concern he shows, without exception, even to his enemies, even when he is not given the same courtesy.

Our world needs this today and our faith demands it of us. We cannot be content to sit back and only love those who love us. Our Christianity is not alive and well if we assume the worst in others and look for negative motivations as a matter of habit. People should not have to earn our respect; they are entitled to it because they are made and loved by God just as we are. We should engage each person hoping and praying for their eternal good and happiness, not just for what they can do for us. This assumption of the good and hope for human flourishing should be our default way of thinking that informs how we act and treat each other.

The temptation is to sit back and say, “I will do this once those other people do.” Or to harden our hearts and put on our emotional armor because we are afraid of being wrong about someone or looking like a sucker when they act like a jerk in the face of our kindness. But it’s God’s job to sort that out. Think of all the people who received the love of Jesus and threw it back in his face or took it for themselves and never spread it to the people around them. That sad reality didn’t make Jesus cynical or cause him to stop offering the love and mercy of God. Through his prayer and closeness to the Father, he could continue, time after time, to see each person as a potential saint and disciple rather than a likely Judas and sinner. 

God is so patient with us! He constantly draws the good out of us and focusses on our potential good rather than the very real faults we so often commit. It’s time for us to go and do likewise with each other without exception or excuse. God made us all; he loves each of us as individuals. Let’s assume the best in one another and find the good in others. Let’s be the first to do so. Who knows, someone may find their way to greater faith and understanding of God if we follow the Master’s lead!

To See As God Sees (30th Sunday, Year B)

To listen to this homily, click here.

Keep in mind that Mark’s gospel is written from the viewpoint of an elderly, wise, and holy St. Peter. We can only imagine his thoughts as he retold these stories to Mark after many years of reflection and seeing the truth of Jesus’ words and actions.

Let’s zoom in on Jericho, which is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. People have been living in it non-stop for 11,000 years! It was the location of both the rise and fall of Israel’s political fortunes. It was the first city that Joshua and the Chosen People conquered as they entered the Promised Land. Perhaps you remember the story as they walked around its walls, blew their trumpets and the walls came tumbling down leading to a great victory. It was also to Jericho that the last king of Israel fled before he was hunted down and killed, leading to God’s people being scattered in slavery and the 12 twelve tribes were lost forever. At the time of Jesus and the early Christians, Jericho was seen as a city of sin, worldliness, and pain. Even the geography seem to reinforce this notion because Jericho sat almost 3500’ lower in elevation from Jerusalem, the holy city, even though it was only 15 miles away. 

Jesus enters this “low city of the world” on his way to the heavenly city for Passover. He would have been teaching as he walked, answering questions and explaining the Scriptures. He is just walking through, at least that’s the plan. What good could be found in such a place, some might have asked. But Jesus is always listening for the cry of the poor. He is always on the lookout for a heart filled with faith.

“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” , a blind man yells. Even as people tell him to be quiet, to have some manners because Jesus is teaching and shouldn’t be interrupted, that he has bigger and better things to do, that he is just passing through Jericho, the blind man doesn’t care. In fact, he gets louder, more persistent, more obnoxious. He calls him the Son of David, which is a term for the messiah, demonstrating his belief that Jesus is the Chosen One of God.

These things catch Jesus’ ear and he tells the people to call the blind man to him. Does Bartimaeus hesitate? No, we hear that he jumps up, throws off his cloak, which is a symbol of his worldly possessions, and comes right to the Lord. 

Once he is standing in front of him, Jesus says, “what do you want me to do for you?” If you remember, Jesus said the exact same thing last week, when James and John came up to him. They blew it by asking for the places of honor at his right and left. Bartimaeus gets it right. He doesn’t even ask for the good thing of having his sight restored, he asks to see, which is not just his vision but the ability to see the world as God sees. And here is the important part, Jesus not only gives him what he asks but his vision as well. That is probably the most important part of the reading today. Don’t aim too low when asking God for something.

Think back to King Solomon when he was a young man. God appeared to him and said I will give you anything, just ask. Solomon could have requested power, money, a long life, peace, —— whatever he wanted. But he doesn’t request any of these things, instead he asks for wisdom. And guess what, he gets all those other “lesser” goods as well!

The blind man wants to see the world, his life, and God as Jesus does. The Lord says, not only will I give you that but your sight is restored too! And what does he do with the Divine gift of properly seeing the world, his life, and Jesus? He follows him on the way to Jerusalem, the way of the cross! He shows us the perfect progression of how a Christian should act: first he asks God for help, after receiving it, he gives thanks, and finally, he follows the Lord with conviction and loyalty.

I have to think St. Peter smiled as he told this story to St. Mark. He must have shaken his head at how blind James, John and all the apostles had been leading up to Jesus' death on the cross. I imagine Peter must have given glory to God for the faith of Bartimaeus and maybe even said to Mark, “make sure this story is included, so future believers don’t make the same mistakes we did.”

So, consider a couple questions in light of what we know now about this story:

• Do we ever make the mistake of “passing through” a place or passing by a person, assuming God cannot be found there?
• Do we think at times that God doesn’t care about me or my problems and fail to call out to him for help? 
• Do we allow allow embarrassment, pride, or the voices of this world to convince us to be quiet instead of yelling for Jesus?
• Do we have a holy boldness when we go to God for what we need? Do we ask for the gift to see everything with his eyes or do we instead settle for lesser things that are good but not the best?
• Lastly, do we use those moments of Divine clarity and spiritual vision to give thanks to God and then follow him? Or do we settle back into the cares and concerns of worldly life until we need Jesus again?

The simple prayer of Bartimaeus is all that we need tonight, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me; help me to see!”

Jesus Knows What He Is Doing! (29th Sunday, Year B)

To listen to this homily, click here.

One of the great things about having parents is that they remember good or funny things you forgot you did growing up. One of the downfalls of having parents is that they remember bad and stupid things you forgot you did growing up. As a I child, I had an inquisitive mind. I liked to problem-solve and philosophize. I loved to take things apart and see how they worked. I would try and put them back together and see if they would still work. I even went through the neighborhood every time there was bulk trash pickup and go through people’s garbage looking for hidden treasure. Before you judge me, let me tell you, I found some pretty amazing things like an accordion, ski goggles, and some retro luggage that our family rocked for years. I still look at big trash piles to this day but I usually manage to stay in the car, at least when I am wearing my collar. 

As a result of this thinking and tinkering and theorizing about things, I came up with a pretty solid worldview and approach to solving my parents problems. I figured if I could get them straightened out then I could eventually move on to addressing the larger stage of the world’s problems in my teenage years. One night, very seriously, I sat my parents down and tried to explain to them a better way of parenting, based on my observations, critiques, and extensive experience of nine or so years of life. I don’t quite remember it this way, but my parents do! After they politely listened to my advice and recommendations on how they could better raise my younger siblings, they simply smiled and encouraged me not to worry about it, that they had things under control. Some twenty-plus years later, I see they did ok, that they actually had a plan in place and maybe my sage advice wasn’t so great. But I certainly didn’t believe it at the time and I definitely didn’t think my theories on life were all that outrageous.

Any parent or wise person here knows this experience. How often the people who know the least about something are the first ones to speak up and give suggestions. And those who are the least qualified to speak with authority oversimplify a given problem and present the so-called solution as indisputable truth. 

In our gospel today, this dynamic between the all-knowing and wise master and his naive and over-enthusiastic students is on display. James and John come up to Jesus and ask for a favor. They would like the privilege of sitting at his side when he arrives in his heavenly kingdom. The Lord has been working miracles and awing the crowds with his profound and definitive teaching. The twelve apostles must feel like rock stars as they journey from village to village and see huge groups of people lined up to listen to Jesus. So these brothers decide to secure their future with Christ. What better way to do this than get him to promise them the places of honor at his side?

For James and John, this made a lot of sense. In their philosophy or worldview, this was a good move. They had a plan, they had it figured out, and all they had to do was get Jesus to sign off on it. Kinda like that kid who tells his parents, “listen, all you have to do is this...”

Jesus doesn’t buy what they are selling but he corrects them gently. He says, “You do not know what you are asking.” Seeing this as a teaching moment, he asks them, “Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" They said to him, "We can." Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared."

Now what does this mean? Jesus first tells them he cannot give what they are asking for; it is not reasonable or good for them. Secondly, he tells them they will get to be with him and share what he has, but it’s not what they think or what they want to hear right now. The cup and baptism that they will share with Christ is suffering and death for the sake of the gospel. They don’t know it yet, but that is the one thing that will let them sit with Jesus in his heavenly kingdom. This cup of suffering is, ironically, the only way to the glory they desire and the life they ask for. They will understand it later but not right now. For now they must be corrected and trust that the Lord might just know what he is doing, even if it doesn’t make sense right now.

This is a timeless lesson for you and me. So often we are like James and John, asking Jesus for this favor and that. Wanting him to grant various things that we believe hold the key to our happiness and fortune. These requests seem like a good idea at the time. They make perfect sense to us while we are asking them. They nearly always represent good intentions and good things. But how many times they are immature, limited in scope, and actually less than what God wants to give us!

Friends, we may not ask to sit at Jesus’ side in the heavenly kingdom but don’t we often come to him seeking something else? Like that new job that pays a better salary or that bigger house that seems perfect or that relationship that we believe would complete us, or the Megamillions Jackpot!? It can be large or small, but don’t we often come to God with a request and a plan and a thought, even if we don’t say it out loud, that we have it figured out and if God would just do this, then we would be set?!

God wants us to talk to him and to ask him for the things we need. But he also wants us to realize that sometimes we don’t know what we need or what is actually best for us and for others. He wants us to trust that he will give what we need and more to be happy and joyful and, most importantly, to live with him forever in heaven. Even if his answer doesn’t always make sense at the time, even if it isn’t exactly what we asked for. 

In the end, James and John got what they asked for. As saints, they sit at his side in the glory of heaven. But they got there by a different road than they planned; they got there by embracing the suffering of the cross and trusting that God knew what he was doing. You and I should expect nothing different. We can and should enjoy that same eternal glory that is endless life in heaven. But first we will need to drink of the cup that Jesus did and embrace the same baptism of suffering and sacrifice that he lived. Are we willing to trust the Lord this much? Are we ready to humble ourselves and realize that God has things under control? “Lord, let  your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you!”

The Case for Christian Marriage (27th Sunday, Year B)

To listen to this homily, click here.

“The union of man and woman in marriage [is] a unique, natural, fundamental and beautiful good for persons, communities, and whole societies.”

Pope Francis spoke these words several years ago to highlight the importance of healthy families and healthy marriages for the good of the world. The family is the basic building block of society and serves as the most accurate barometer of how a nation is holding up. If families are generally happy, wholesome, and functional then the country will move in the same direction. On the other hand, if families are broken, dysfunctional, and sources of conflict, then it is only a matter of time before the society begins to mirror those wounds and problems. The same is true about the institution of marriage. Healthy, holy marriages make for a better society. 

So what is going on in our world today??!! If marriage and family life are beneficial to society, why does our culture often undermine these crucial institutions? There is no one person or problem to blame. It is a perfect storm of many factors that have converged to make an environment that is often hostile towards married life. The truth is, God’s plan for marriage and family has been under attack from the moment Adam and Eve lived in the Garden. The problems we see today such as domestic violence, rampant divorce, casual infidelity, abortion, contraception, and same-sex unions are all rooted in the human desire to re-define God’s plan for marriage and family. 

But rather than dwell on the problems that face married couples and families, I think it is more helpful to consider the many positive things Christian marriage has to offer our world. This holy sacrament provides future generations for the world. It offers a safe and stable place for children to grow and develop so they can be healthy, productive members of society. Marriage strengthens the spouses in every aspect of life and allows them to be more than they could be by themselves. It multiplies joy in good times and gives strength and comfort in the midst of adversity. At its best, holy matrimony brings husband and wife closer to God and to each other and helps spouses and their children get to heaven. It allows Jesus to be present through all of life. The sacrament of marriage is not just a prayer during the wedding, it is not just a blessing of two people, it is far more. It is the partnership of God with two people as they establish a new unit of his Church. The sacrament of matrimony establishes the home with Christ at the center.  It is a bold, public pledge to live according to God’s plan. It is a solemn vow to work with God to build up His Church and serve as a living portrait of his Divine Love. That is why people get married in the Church. That is the ideal. 

However, we live in a world that often gives up on ideals. We live in a world where people, good people, suffer the result of sin. "But there is disorder”, the Pharisees say to Jesus in the Gospel. The Law of Moses, after all, permitted a bill of divorce. "This was not God’s original intention”, Jesus replies. Disharmony in homes, among people, is a result of generations of sin. We have many wonderful people in our parish whose marriages have suffered. It may not be their fault; it may not even be their former spouse's fault. Many good people suffer the destruction of their marriage and the inability to form a sacred lasting union due to the effects of sin in the world. It’s not so simple as to blame it on one spouse or the other. Therefore, we need to have a special place in our hearts and in our charity for those who have suffered the loss of their marriages. They have been pulled away from the intention of the Creator by the forces of the world. They need our support and our love. As for sin and suffering, it was never in God's plan for evil to enter the world. 

God never meant for people to be widowed, divorced or without a loving spouse. In God's original plan there would be no need for people to work so hard to establish and preserve their marriages. It is tragic how evil attacks something so good. The divinely created attraction of men and women to image God has been deformed into a drive for selfish gratification. Sexual intimacy is portrayed by the world as having less to do with love and more to do with pleasure. But deep down, people know better. People know the ideal of marriage exists. But they need more than the ideal. People need a living, breathing example of what this looks like. 

We need the witness of your marriages as a union with God, demonstrating the Creator's Love for the world, making real what is often talked about as theology. We need the witness of your marriage, your sacrament. Your marriages are infinitely more than natural unions. You are not animals who mate for life. You are human beings, made in the image and likeness of God, who are called to make God real to the world by reflecting His Love in your love for each other and for your children. The world needs the Sacrament of Matrimony. We need you to be married in the Church and to live this sacrament. 

How important you are to us all! We the single, the celibate, the separated, the divorced, the widowed, need you, the married, to embrace and live the ideal of marriage. We ask God's blessing today on all in our parish who celebrate and live the sacrament of matrimony. May you have the courage and strength to give witness to the presence of God in your marriage and your family.

It All Belongs to God (25th Sunday, Year B)

To listen to this homily, click here.

Throughout the Archdiocese, we are encouraged to reflect on the theme of stewardship for this weekend. To lead us in that direction, consider the story about a family coming out of Mass on Sunday. The man said to his wife, “father’s homily wasn’t very good.” The wife added, “Yeah, and the choir sang off key.” Their son was listening to his parents and he chimed in. “It seemed OK to me, especially since it only cost us a dollar!”

That is a caricature of one approach to weekly worship here at Mass and to religion which can be summed up in the question, “What am I getting out of it?” or “what is it doing for me?” This mentality seems to be popular with many Catholics, especially today when there are countless commitments and forms of entertainment competing for our time and attention. But there is a deeper, more rewarding approach to weekly worship and service called Stewardship. It is based on the fundamental truth that we all have the same heavenly Father. The implications of this truth are enormous. If God is our Father, then he is the source of all we have and are. It also means we are brothers and sisters and we have a responsibility for each other and to God as a sort of spiritual family.

It is hard to keep that perspective today. In many ways our society is coming apart. One can easily respond by saying that I will take care of myself. Let others worry about themselves. Live and let live. Of course, I will be tolerant of others - as long as they don’t get in my way. But if we all have one father, if we are brothers and sisters in Christ, that approach won’t work. Because of Jesus, we have to care for each other as family.

The way we express this reality is by Stewardship, that is, dedicating the first portion of our time, talent and treasure back to God in grateful recognition that he is the source of all we have. Traditionally and biblically, this is expressed by the tithe; give 10% back to God and use the remaining 90% for our needs. In the Scriptures, this 10% was not given last from the leftovers but was given out of the best, the first fruits. 

There was a boy in the nineteenth century who lived by this rule. He came from a modest family. In his first job he earned $1.50 a week. He brought the money home to his mother who placed it in her lap. She said, “John, I would be very happy if you gave ten percent back to God.” That Sunday, young John placed fifteen cents in the collection. From that time, he gave God ten percent of everything he earned. He went on to become one of the richest men in America – John David Rockefeller.

Now, you could certainly find things about Rockefeller to criticize. Still, he knew the first part belongs to God. I am not here to preach the gospel of prosperity or to say that tithing will make you a millionaire, but I promise it will bring peace, purpose, blessings and you will always have what you need! 

For many people Stewardship is frightening. They would like to do it, but don’t know how to start. They feel they have too many debts or obligations. I remember feeling this way when I began giving as a seminarian. I was timid and started out at 4 or 5%. But you have to begin somewhere —— and the hardest part is committing to giving God his share first, whatever that amount is. Rockefeller said if he had not tithed his first dollar, he never would have tithed his first million dollars.

On a personal note, it took me seven years to reach the goal of tithing, which for me is 5% to the parish and 5% to other charities. Interestingly, and sometimes inexplicably, in the years since I made this commitment, I have been increasingly blessed and have been able to give even more than the 10% I originally planned. God has taken what I have given to him, blessed it and returned it to me many times over. I have always had more than I needed.

Stewardship does requires planning and prayer. If my giving to God consists of whatever is left in my wallet each weekend or happens simply when I remember or feel like it, it will be nearly impossible to be a good steward. It will be an afterthought at best.

Stewardship is not just asking us to prayerfully consider the charitable giving of our financial resources. Sometimes giving money is the easy part. Even more importantly, we need to give God a portion of the best of ourselves which is our time and talent. We are all are busy, but try to look at it in a different way. Each of us has the same number of hours in a week: 168.  45, 55 or even 60 go for sleep. Another 40 or more are spent on one’s work or studies. That still leaves about 70 hours. We give one hour to God at Sunday Mass. Could we give an additional hour or two – say in Eucharistic Adoration, in a faith formation program, serving on a parish or school committee, or some other ministry at Incarnate Word? Could we also prayerfully look at the amount of time we spend on entertainment, especially on the internet or in front of the TV? Did you know that the average American spends 5hrs and 4 minutes a day watching tv and another 24hrs a week on the internet? Think how our lives, our families, and our parish would be transformed if we gave 10% of that screen time to God in personal prayer? Can you imagine how much more peaceful our hearts would be?

Giving part of our best time, talent, and treasure is important. As I mentioned – and I believe many people sense – our society is becoming unraveled. There is a temptation to pull back and circle the wagons. I sometimes experience it myself. I have even felt a sense of discouragement come over me while at Mass as I think of the many needs of our church and how difficult it is to get people to help. I am somewhat ashamed to say it, but it’s true. However, what gives me new hope and purpose is when I visit the kids in their classrooms at the school and PSR or interact with our teens in the youth group who want to know more about our faith and how they can be a part of it. You and I want to make a better society and a better parish for their sake.

For their sake, I am asking you to make a commitment of Time, Talent and Treasure. And there is no minimum age for stewardship. All of us have something to offer God because he has blessed us so much. We have one Father. We are all brothers and sisters – with a responsibility for each other. God owns it all……we are called to share and give some of it back so others may be blessed and our happiness may be multiplied.

Take My Kidney, Pope!! (24th Sunday, Year B)

To listen to this homily, click here.

One of the great theologians of our time is a man named Scott Hahn, who converted to Catholicism after serving as a Presbyterian pastor and professor. Most of you probably know his name and I think the parish has given some of his books as our Christmas and Easter gift. Anyway, in one of his talks he tells the anecdote of Pope John Paul II needing a kidney transplant. There was much concern throughout the Roman Catholic world, knowing that without a donor the Pope would soon die. People spontaneously gathered outside the Pope’s apartment in St. Peter’s Square screaming and waving their hands. The Pope heard all the noise and poked his head out the window. The crowd went nuts and started chanting, ”Take my kidney, Pope, take my kidney!" Well, the Pope didn't know what to do, so an idea popped into his head. He asked everyone to quiet down and he told them he was going to throw down a feather.  Whoever the feather landed on, that would be a sign from the Holy Spirit, that they were meant to be the donor. The Pope then dropped the feather off his balcony and you know what he heard? "Take my kidney, Pope," (trying to blow it away), Take my kidney (trying to blow it away)."

The past two Sundays we have reflected on the wonderful and practical letter of St. James. His words are just as relevant now as they were then as he urges us to care for the afflicted and show no favorites. In other words, don't treat someone differently because they can do something for you. This leads into James’ message for today: if our faith is only words and doesn't have actions to back it up, it is empty and dead. Put another way: we demonstrate our true beliefs and character by how we act. It’s easy to say, “Take my kidney, Pope!” but it is a whole other thing to go through with it. 

Along the same lines, there is a story about Charles Blondin, who was a famous acrobat from France in the 1800’s. He was like the early version of the Flying Wallendas or Evel Knievel with his sensational tricks. Once Blondin gathered a crowd at Niagara Falls. He asked them if they thought he could walk a tightrope stretched across the Falls. The crowd cheered their approval. Then he asked if they believed he could do it blindfolded. Once again a booming cheer. Finally he asked if they believed he could do it pushing a wheelbarrow. The crowd went wild with excitement. Blondin then approached a man cheering loudest. "Do you really believe I can do it?" "Of course," the man said. "Then," said Blondin, "Will you get in the wheelbarrow?”

Take these stories and consider them in relation to your friendship with Jesus Christ and His Bride, the Catholic Church. I think most of us would profess loudly and confidently that we believe Jesus is God. In fact we will do exactly that after the homily as we say the Creed together. We believe he can do anything. Still, aren’t we a little, or even a lot, reluctant to get into that wheelbarrow. It's one thing to believe, to profess with our words; it's a whole other thing to put it all on the line, whether that be our body, soul, future, finances, reputation, or whatever else. The wheelbarrow represents the Church. I admit that wheelbarrow looks pretty rusty and beat up right now after some of the shameful scandals and poor leadership exposed by the Grand Jury report in Pennsylvania. With all that, I am grateful we have people brave enough to get into the wheelbarrow and let Jesus lead them. Those who keep coming to Mass, who keep praying to God in their hearts, who keep ministering to others in his Name, even when the world calls for us let go of our faith and our Church. It’s in these dark and painful moments of crisis where we learn what it means to live our faith beyond words. Is it more than mere talk? For some priests and bishops, it was not. As we see in James, true faith involves care of the afflicted and avoiding sexual sins, greed, deceit, envy and arrogance. 

True faith also means we trust Jesus and don't go after illusions. In today's Gospel Jesus places the cross at the center of what it means to follow him. Peter takes Jesus aside and arrogantly tries to correct him. Peter wants a messiah, a savior, but not a suffering servant like the one Isaiah describes in today's first reading. He wants a powerful, conquering king with worldly power and glory. Jesus minces no words. "Get behind me, Satan." Jesus knows how Satan works. He can orchestrate huge evils like the Nazi concentration camps, ethnic cleansing, abortion, and yes, the clergy abuse scandal. The devil can also work through basically good people - like St. Peter. He does it by getting us to turn away from the cross. It’s natural to want to run away from any suffering or pain. But we should never forget that through our baptism, we are given grace and strength to think and act not only naturally but also supernaturally. We don’t have to go looking for suffering, but when it inevitably finds us, we must remember that Jesus and his cross give it meaning and purpose.   

We are fortunate enough to have the words of St. James words for two more Sundays. I think of them like a challenging treat, like a delicious ice cream that punches you in the face. For today we see that true faith requires not just words but also actions. Living our faith means taking a risk - getting into the wheelbarrow. Or to put it in Jesus’ words, taking up our cross and following him. True faith means accepting the irony that "Whoever loses his life for my sake and the sake of the gospel will save it." 

The Danger of Hypocrisy (22nd Sunday, Year B)

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There is a story told of a priest who was called out to the hospital located in a not-so-great part of town in the early morning hours to anoint someone. After performing his priestly duties, he was walking back to his car when he was confronted by a mugger who exclaimed, “give me your money or I’ll shoot!" As the priest fumbled with his wallet, the thief saw the collar, and changed his mind. The relieved priest lit a cigarette and offered one to his would-be robber. The latter proudly said, "No thanks, Father. I've given up smoking for Lent." Like the would-be thief, many of us Christians can lose sight of the forest because of the trees. The danger of sin is that it opens up a disconnect between what we believe and how we actually behave in everyday situations. We can end up being very observant of certain traditions while blindly missing the essentials of what it means to follow Jesus. There is a danger, St. John Newman warned, of thinking God takes our sins lightly because we take them lightly.

One of the warnings running throughout the readings this week at daily Mass and today for the 22nd week in ordinary time is this: Don’t be a hypocrite! In other words, make sure what you believe and how you act line up. Don’t say one thing and do another. There is something universally reviling about hypocrites. We can't stand it when we learn that models of morality have been leading secret, immoral lives. We are upset when those whom we respect are revealed to be indecent frauds. Sadly we have seen this principle in action with the clergy scandals that have afflicted the Church in recent times. 

We agree with the Lord in his attack on the hypocrites. But then Jesus turns the focus of his teaching towards us. He says the things that are evil are what comes out of us. He doesn’t just lead us in a round of mob justice to condemn all those bad people in the world; rather Jesus forces each of us to ask, "Am I a hypocrite? What thoughts, words, and actions are coming out of me? What is my heart producing?" We need to be concerned with fighting against any evil that might be lurking inside us. We can easily see the wrong in others, but if we are to avoid being hypocrites ourselves, we need to control our thoughts. We need to protect ourselves against those things which will turn black and white into gray. We need to be wholesome. We need to be pure of heart. We need to be gentle, strong, and merciful. 

Because the human reaction to hypocrisy is so visceral, there is a danger that when we see it in ourselves, when we are the hypocrites, we give in to self-hatred. But God doesn’t want us hating ourselves. We must replace self-hatred with love, His Divine Love. We belong to God. He is among us and, through the grace of our baptism, He is within us. His gift of grace will help us win the battle for our souls. And this is the great irony: the thing God can’t stand the most (hypocrisy) seems at first glance, very similar to the thing He loves above all else! God loves sinners so much he didn’t even spare His Son to save them. So what is the difference between a hypocrite and a sinner? One key thing. The sinner avoids becoming a hypocrite by honest reflection on his or her life. The difference is that the sinner says, “God, I am sorry. I have done wrong. I need your help. I don’t want to hurt you or anyone else anymore. I want to do good things but I am weak. I understand the sins of others because I have my own weaknesses and failures.” 

One last observation. Just because the hypocritical Pharisees misused the commandments to harden their hearts doesn’t mean God decided to throw away the Law! Jesus does not dismiss the commandments or the notion of sin but he condemns using it to afflict, judge, or hurt others. Jesus exposes the Pharisees for honoring God with lip-service while their hearts are far from him. But the problem is with them, not the moral code. The commandments and teachings of right and wrong come from God and cannot change or be dismissed even when its teachers lead horrible lives. Perhaps the saddest result of hypocrisy in some of our moral leaders today is that it makes it easier for us to dismiss the saving truths they were supposed to be representing. That is the ultimate scandal of hypocrisy: the splendor of Divine truth, found in God’s laws and commandments is obscured by human pride and weakness. 

Today it would be a good idea for each of us to pray for the grace to be able to humbly and honestly reflect on our own life and actions. How do they or don’t they line up with the teachings we have received from Christ through Scripture and Tradition? Is what comes out of us in the form of thoughts, words, and actions consistent with what we profess and believe as followers of Christ? Is there anything we are doing or not doing that could lead someone to doubt the truth of who we represent, namely Jesus Christ? Are we willing to look first at our own sins and weaknesses rather than brushing over them to point out the faults of others? Do we think, consciously or not, that we are better than others, which is a sure sign we need God’s help to root out hypocrisy in ourselves. 

The Good News is that God’s love is steadfast! He will never stop loving sinners who confess their need for Him! So let’s be set free from any pride or self-righteousness that might afflict us. Let’s openly admit to God that we are weak and sinful and in need of His care. Make use of the sacrament of confession which he gave us as a way of returning to him and receiving his gifts of healing and strength. Pray not only for yourself, but for all who wander in darkness and for anyone who may have been hurt by our sins and hypocrisy. In time, with God’s grace, we can become the person described by the psalmist, ‘who does justice and who will live in the presence of the Lord’!