Whatever You Did to the Least, You Did to Me! (34th Sunday, Year A)

 To listen to this homily, click here.

One of my character flaws, one of many(!), that drives people crazy, is what they describe as “Schroeder Time”. In my version of chronology, a task that normally takes 15 minutes can be done in 5; a drive that always takes 20 minutes will be completed in 10. I often build my day and my commitments around this unrealistic schedule and usually end up running late and keeping people waiting. In my mind, my rationing of time makes perfect sense. The problem is, I don’t account for missing a light, getting behind someone driving below the speed limit, or any interruptions, disruptions, or diversions whatsoever. In other words, I assume everyone and everything will just move out of my way. This, of course, never happens! Daily life is full of surprises, detours, and interruptions and some of the most grace-filled moments are the ones we never planned on! 

While I make no defense of myself or my scheduling habits, I don’t think I am alone. This attitude seems to be pretty common among humans and it permeates many dimensions of our lives. How often we approach our day and our problems as if we were king or queen of the universe. As if all that matters was coming up with the perfect plan and carrying it out. 

Today’s feast reminds us of the actual truth: there is one king and only one king of the universe and that is Jesus. He rules over time and space, over all that ever was, is, and will be. There is no thing or person outside of his dominion and authority. But the kingdom of God is a little different than any other kingdom we’ve seen. It is hidden and subtle. It does not crush or dominate. It is full of surprise and irony. 

Our king likes to visit in disguise. He arrives in the appearance of the poor, the sick, the lowly, the annoying, and the sad. More often than not, he is shrouded in humility and subtlety; if you aren’t paying attention, he can walk right by without being noticed. That is the word of caution in today’s gospel. Both the righteous and the wicked seem surprised by their verdict; “When did we see you, Lord?” they exclaim and we can almost see them scratching their heads, trying to remember a moment when they encountered the Lord. “Whatever you did to one of these least ones, you did for me”, he replies. 

The famous Russian author, Leo Tolstoy, wrote a story called, “Martin the Cobbler.” It tells of a lonely shoemaker who is promised a visit by Jesus that very day. Throughout his work, he waited for his arrival. But the only ones that walked through the door were a man in need of shoes, a young mother in need of food and shelter, a child in need of kindness, all of whom he helps. Martin the cobbler ended the day thinking, “Perhaps tomorrow He will visit,” only to hear a voice reply, “I did come to you today, Martin; not once, but three times. – and you helped Me!” — Christ is a King who appears all around us as the poor, the sick, the crippled, the tortured, the marginalized. Many of these encounters are not life-changing moments but rather simple, thoughtful interactions of kindness, compassion, and respect.

This is a sobering reminder to you and me, a people that are often running around like chickens with our heads cut off. A people who often navigate our day and our lives through a screen without being present to the real humans around us. I know that I usually try to cram 28 hours of activity into most of my days and so I am not always accepting of the interruptions and surprises, the unscheduled visits and drop-ins where Jesus is hiding. Many times, when I pray, I carve out a little time that works for me and then I wait impatiently for God to do his thing, on my command and timeline. But this is not how the Kingdom of Heaven works! And this is not how the King of Kings usually visits! 

As we prepare to enter the season of Advent next week, the Church is giving us a reminder to slow down, to pick our head up, and be mindful of the little moments where God can be found. We are being encouraged to see the kingdom of God and its king for what they are and not how we want them to be. There is a bumper sticker many of us have seen which says, “God is my Co-pilot” . That is a good start but now the Church says, “If Christ the King is your Co-Pilot, it’s time to change seats. Let him lead the way!”

With that in mind, let’s make sure we value the seemingly insignificant interactions that will happen this week. Let’s allow ourselves to be interrupted and delayed without becoming too anxious or troubled. Be present to the people in front of you in the coming days, at the store, in your home, at work, and on the road. If Jesus is present in any of the people you are soon to encounter, will he be treated well or might he end up being ignored, dismissed, or worse? The key to entering into Christ’s kingdom depends most on these little moments and how we respond. Jesus will visit each of us many times in the week ahead. May we treat him well, starting always with the least among us!

Put a Ring On It (33rd Sunday, Year A)

To listen to this homily, click here.

One of the time-tested ways to pray with Scripture is called Lectio Divina, which simply means Divine reading in Latin. The heart of this method is to slowly read the bible passage and pay attention to whatever word stands out or which image comes to mind. Strangely enough, the idea that kept coming to my mind as I read the first reading from Proverbs was that it is sort of like the Old Testament equivalent of Beyonce’s famous song, “Single Ladies”, AKA “Put a ring on it”. In this pop hit which made her famous, Beyonce basically tells her former boyfriend, who is jealous that she is enjoying a night out on the town, that if he thought she was so great and wanted her all to himself, then he should have put a ring on her finger. In a tone both defiant and triumphant, Beyonce makes it clear that her ex should never have let her slip away. 

In a similar fashion, the author of Proverbs sings the praises of a worthy wife. She is one who can be trusted with her husband’s heart, she is worthy of admiration because she is skillful, kind, resourceful, and generous. Her value is beyond price and she is a blessing to the members of her household and strangers alike. Everything she does is full of purpose and brings joy to her husband. We can almost hear the writer saying, “don’t let someone like this get away! If you like her, put a ring on her finger and treat her right!!” Good advice for sure but how do we apply it to our relationship with God?

In the parable presented by Jesus, two servants are praised while one is condemned. What sets them apart? The two who are commended and rewarded take the master’s treasure, that which is most precious to him, and immediately do something worthwhile with it. They are not afraid to take a risk to increase the gift entrusted to them because they understand the master’s heart. He doesn’t even have to tell them what to do because they anticipate what will bring him joy. This is a relationship of love, respect, and trust. Their hearts and desires are one; much like the synergy of mind and heart seen between spouses that know, love, and serve each other. Because of these sacred qualities, blessings abound and both parties flourish in ways that seem almost too good to be true. 

God has entrusted incredible treasure to each and every one of us. He has given us material goods, spiritual gifts, and countless blessings which come directly from his loving heart. We are called to be like the worthy wife of the first reading, who respects and reverences the heart of her beloved. We are called to be resourceful, skillful, kind, generous, and loving with the gifts that surround us. Most importantly, we are called to interact with God from a place of love, trust, and gratitude, confident in his care and eager to do the things we know will please him. We should be constantly thinking of those things we know will bring joy to God’s heart and seeking ways to make them a reality. That is what a worthy wife does for her beloved and that is why she is a treasure to her husband and all in her household. Anyone who has ever been in love knows how diligently one strives to gladden the heart of their beloved with gifts, affirmations, signs of affection, and sweet surprises. Do we do the same for God who has already entrusted so much of his heart to us?!

The servant who incurs the wrath of his master is punished, not because he produced less but because he acted out of fear. Instead of loving the one who entrusted the talent to him, he buries that treasure and fails to take the initiative. He sees the master as a tyrant, a taskmaster, rather than a dear friend who has entrusted his greatest treasure to his care. Fear, not love, rules his heart. As St. John says in one of his letters to the early church, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” All three of the characters in the parable are given something incredible and meaningful; far beyond what they were owed or would be expected to receive. 

We should also take care to avoid entering into a relationship of spiritual fear and slavery with God. This can very easily begin when we start comparing ourselves to others and wondering why God gave them gifts we don’t see in ourselves. Whatever blessings and talents have been entrusted to us are far more than we deserve or earn. And each of us have more than enough to provide a handsome return on the investment God makes in us! So, assuming an attitude of gratitude already puts us on the path to loving God and honoring him by the way we use our blessings. Secondly, the talents we have received must make a return to the Lord and his kingdom. They are not entrusted to us only for ourselves but should be used in a manner that gladdens God’s heart and builds up his household. When we allow God to work through us, there is this incredible multiplication where there is more than enough for us, our families, and others. It’s an incredible thing and it looks different for every person but I see it over and over again, “For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”  

So, let’s make sure we take some time this week to reflect on our relationship with God. Are we honoring the sacred trust he puts in us by loving him in what we do and how we live? Are we seeking ways to bring gladness to his heart and make a return on the talents entrusted to us? May we never hesitate to love the one who sees so much in us and who is always worthy of all that we have and all that we are.

 

A Kingdom Way of Life (31st Sunday, Year A)

 To listen to this homily, click here.

Jesus’ contentious conversations with the scribes and Pharisees over the last few weeks reminds me of a parable about a lion who was very proud. He decided to take a walk one day to demonstrate his mastery over all the other creatures. He strutted through the wilderness until he came across a bear. “WHO IS THE KING OF THE animals, BEAR?”  “Why of course you are, mighty lion.”  He went on until he found the tiger. “WHO IS THE KING OF THE animals, TIGER?”  ‘Why you are, great lion.”  Next the lion found the elephant. “WHO IS THE KING OF THE animals, ELEPHANT?”  The elephant grabbed the lion with his trunk and spun him around a few times and slammed him to the ground. He then stepped on him a few times, picked him up again, dunked him in the water and finally threw him against a tree. The lion was seeing stars and took a minute to stand up. As he hobbled away, he said to the elephant, “LOOK, JUST BECAUSE YOU DON’T KNOW THE ANSWER, YOU DON’T HAVE TO GET SO UPSET!’” 

Of course, the lion was the one who wasn’t getting it. He was missing the truth, painfully demonstrated to him, just like many of the scribes and Pharisees to whom Jesus gives a spiritual smackdown in today’s Gospel.

Now, this spiritual pride and blindness was a not a new problem! Our first reading condemns the unfaithful and bad behavior of the Old Testament priests who had wandered away from God and become an insult to his holiness. Not only are they hurting themselves, they are misleading others and making it more difficult to walk in the Lord’s ways. 

Jesus was experiencing the same frustration. He had tried, over and over again to show the Scribes and Pharisees the error of their ways. He had worked miracles, offered parables, debated with them, and continually outsmarted their riddles. But still they hardened their hearts, refusing to humble themselves and learn their lesson. Because they refused every effort to turn back to God, Jesus knows he must try to save the people who look to them for guidance and inspiration. Otherwise, they will follow them to their own destruction. 

So what are the pharisees and scribes doing that is so horrible and provokes such a strong condemnation from Jesus? In a word, it is pride. They equated looking good with being good and were content to appear holy without actually being holy. They practiced their faith in a way that made them feel superior to the people they were called to lead. For them, leadership consisted of crushing those beneath them with laws and rules, intimidating with intellectual arguments, and demanding acknowledgement and praise whenever they went. Jesus’ public ministry and preaching demonstrates the exact opposite type of leadership and example. He sought only to lift up those around him. His miracles were always directed towards the good of others and he often tried to keep them private. In his words and his actions, Jesus teaches what true power, greatness, and love consist of: humble service done to please God and help others rather than self-serving hypocrisy which draws attention and praise to oneself. 

We would be wise to look inward as well. How much of the Pharisee mindset lives in us? How often do we seek recognition, demand respect with our credentials, or feel superior by what we have accomplished? How many of us define our worth and the value of others based on accolades, likes, or worldly acknowledgements which are here today and gone tomorrow. I have to share something embarrassing about that! When I was in HS, I was “accepted” into some sort of honor society. Good for me! But I wanted other people to know about my brilliance so I paid money to make sure my name was printed in some yearbook. I cannot even remember what year that was or where to find the listing. But at the time it made me feel elevated and superior. A small but very real example of the pharisee mindset alive and well in me! Are we willing to examine the ways we scheme, strive, and maneuver our way to praise, recognition, and admiration?

Hearing this sort of criticism is hard; realizing that we need to change our behavior or purify our motivations is unpleasant. Living in humble service to God and others is not usually our first choice. However, our Scriptures make it clear, such a way of life is what defines the Kingdom of God and its citizens. In order to enjoy true greatness and joy, the type that cannot be taken away, we must embrace the correction, the humility put forth by Jesus.

Doing so brings us to a place of peace and freedom. If we set our heart on pleasing God through humble service and heartfelt worship, we no longer fall hostage to comparing ourselves to others or finding value in our things, accomplishments, or status, all of which can be lost in an instant. If we set our hearts on pleasing God, obeying his word, letting him be our teacher, master, father, and friend, then the opinions of the world and and its false promises lose much of their power over us.

I think it must have been so difficult for Jesus to rebuke the scribes and pharisees in such a harsh way. He wanted them to be saved more than they wanted it for themselves. But as he saw them abuse the gifts, talents, and spiritual power that had been entrusted to them and lead others away from God, Jesus knew he had try and save those being harmed by their pride. Each of us is capable of the same arrogance, hypocrisy, and blindness. So let us give Jesus permission to teach us his values rather than binding ourselves to those of the world. Let us make sure a day never goes by without looking at a crucifix and reminding ourselves what true greatness and power look like. May we always seek to please God by humble service to him and the people around us. And may we know the peace that comes from putting others first and letting God exalt us in whatever way he sees fit!

Developing a Taste for God (28th Sunday, Year A)

 To listen to this homily, click here.

Today’s readings center around food and the connection between the hunger we feel in our bellies and the hunger we can and should have for heaven. Isaiah describes paradise as a banquet of “juicy, rich food and pure choice wine.” God, he says, will provide it “for all people”, which is a bit of a good news/bad news situation. Good news because everyone is invited to attend, bad news because even our enemies and the people we judge to be unworthy are also welcome at the same table. In other words, God wants the people who voted for Trump and the people who voted for Biden to be saved; the people who drink coke and the others drinking Pepsi are all invited to the same heavenly banquet! Now whether any of them actually attend is up to each individual, but our readings are clear: all are invited!

Such an image appeals to all of us in some way; especially if you are like me and love to eat! The idea of abundance, with massive tables of fine food and drink, something for every taste, and everyone coming together as family for a leisurely meal is the hallmark of a good time in any culture and every age. But our love for food and drink is something that must be cultivated and developed. Most of us start with a very narrow list of things we eat. Every parent has experienced this truth as they try to expand their child’s palate from chicken nuggets, pizza, and french fries. For those picky eaters, going to the finest Michelin-starred establishments, and the offer of Kobe Beef, hand-made sushi, or French patisserie would be nothing but torture.

I can relate to this when it comes to alcohol. I never developed a taste for liquor and when someone offers me fine scotch, bourbon, or whiskey, one sip makes me want to pour the whole thing down the drain, no matter how much it costs. Most of us have some food or drink we declare as our favorite and we also have a few we do not like, even after giving it a try. Fortunately there is great variety in the world of food and we are blessed to be able to pick and choose what we want. 

However, there is one taste which we all must acquire during our lifetime. If we do not, it will be a tragedy because this craving is the only one which ultimately matters. This flavor, this hunger, is the one we have for God and the things that lead to him. Like our earthy cravings for food and drink, the desire for God must be cultivated and expanded deliberately and thoughtfully. While something in us is naturally attracted to the Lord, we are easily distracted and often attached to what is easy and quick.

As Jesus offers this image of a happy banquet, open to all, he also introduces a somber detail. He understands our human nature and how often we reject the good things God offers. He knows that many people will ignore his invitation and refuse to enter the feast. The parable does not tell us exactly why some make that choice, although we hear their excuses which are pretty flimsy. We are left to wonder. Do they harbor some resentment against the king? Do they consider themselves superior to the other wedding guests? Do they feel they have more important things to do? Is it the food itself which does not appeal to them? We do not know. The horrible thing is that, by a series of decisions, they have built up a palate which cannot be satisfied by the Lord’s feast. His food does not sound appetizing to them. They have failed to form the one craving which matters – the taste for God.

Today’s parable invites us to reflect on the tastes we are developing. It matters little whether we have a preference for meat, vegetables, sweets, or any other food. But it will make a huge difference if we become attracted to sin and vice, the junk food of the soul. Things like revenge, hatred, greed, deceit, impurity, jealousy and the many other menu items that make us spiritually unhealthy and malnourished. At every moment and with each choice, we are either drawing nearer to God or pulling further away from him. We can look at our decisions this way: Is what I am thinking, doing, or saying helping me acquire a craving for God? Or is it making me want the very opposite of what God has prepared for me? 

Very often, our problem is not that our desires and hungers are too great for what God offers; instead, they are too small. We struggle to believe that God can satisfy so we fix our attention on lesser things which taste sweet but make our soul hurt. And if God, in his mercy, deprives us of these unhealthy things, or commands us to stay away from them, we accuse him of being unfair or unloving. But this is not true. He has prepared the richest possible banquet for us. And part of us knows what God offers is actually what we want. We must trust God and let go of the wretched stuff we keep grasping and consuming, thinking it will take away our hunger for happiness and meaning. God made us for himself and as St. Augustine famously said, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in God”!

The wonderful news in these readings is that very little is required of us compared to what we receive. God provides everything, even the wedding garment that each person should wear. Through baptism and the sacraments, through Scripture and Tradition, through the guidance of the church and abundance of his grace, God makes us worthy to be at his table and delight in what he offers. The one thing we have that he cannot make or take, is our “yes”. He waits for us to choose him; once we do, we will have more than we could ever want. 

So let us choose him. Today, tomorrow, and every day we find ourselves on this earth until we are ushered into the eternal feast which is being prepared for all those who love Him! 

Have No Anxiety! (27th Sunday, Year A)

 To listen to this homily, click here.

There were these great commercials in the 90’s; some of you weren’t born then but you can find them on Youtube. These ads highlighted the Tombstone frozen pizza brand and they presented different scenarios of someone about to meet their maker. Before they did, the bad guy asked them what they wanted on their tombstone and they answered, “pepperoni and cheese”. There is something sacred and special about last words, at least in the movies, where someone leaves a lasting impression or a killer one-liner, right before they depart this life, a sort of immortal mic-drop. While this is mostly Hollywood stuff, there have been some amazing last words throughout history. St. Lawrence roasted his persecutors as he was being cooked to death over a massive fire. “Turn me over, I’m done on this side” he said. Bob Hope, the great comedian, was asked by his wife in his final hours where he wanted to be buried. “Surprise me”, he replied. And W.C. Fields, a well-known actor and comedian who was also a bit of a party animal and a generally difficult person, was seen reading the bible not long before he died. When asked why he had the holy book in his hands, he quipped, “I’m looking for loopholes.”

If we were about to die, whom would we write or call, and what would we say? Most of us would contact our loved ones, use words that expressed our affection, along with guidance and encouragement for the rest of their earthly lives. The apostle Paul was in a similar situation when he wrote his letter to the Philippians. Paul was under house arrest in Rome, in chains and under armed guard. He was soon to go on trial for his faith and the death penalty was a real possibility. So, Paul chose to write to his loved ones, the Christians in Philippi, a church that Paul had founded. 

So what were Paul’s last words to the Philippians? What was the enduring thing he wished to leave them? St. Paul tells them (and us), “Have no anxiety at all.” We might smile at those words. When someone says not to worry, it can sound naive, unrealistic, or even dismissive. But, that is hardly the case with Paul. He faced trials few of us could conceive. A partial list includes an escape involving being lowered over the side of building in a basket, public whippings, shipwrecks, snake bites, imprisonment and bodily ailments. Yet in this letter, written toward the end of his life, he says, “Have no anxiety at all.”

In his admonition to stop worrying, St. Paul was echoing Jesus. At the Last Supper, knowing full well that the next morning would bring public humiliation and unspeakable tortures, Jesus told his disciples, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” We might ask how it is possible to obey such a command. All of us would like to be free from worries, but it seems impossible. We have financial problems, family difficulties, work deadlines, health concerns – not to mention worries about what is happening in our world: natural disasters, societal breakdown, wars, economic turmoil and intense division. When Paul says to have no anxieties, when Jesus tells us not to be troubled, it does not mean to ignore reality. What it means is that we take a different approach to our troubles.

Before we get to that, I want you to know that I am not speaking from some high and mighty place. I am a worrier. I worry about money. I worry about what people think about me. I worry about not doing my job well enough. I hear other people problems and I worry about them too! It bothers me that I can do so little to help. Slowly, over time though, I am beginning to see the wisdom of St. Paul’s words. More often than not, my anxiety does no good for me or others.

When I look at my worries, I see that the majority concern only two things and I have no control over either of them. Those two things are centered around an unchangeable past or an unknowable future. I often obsess about past faults and blunders, yet I can do nothing to change them; what’s done is done. The best I can do is to learn from them, repent of those things which were sinful and make restitution if possible. The same is true about tomorrow – the things which I worry about often do not come to pass or, when they do happen, they turn out completely different than what I feared. The only day I can control is today. This doesn’t mean we fail to make prudent plans. Careful preparation is part of today's duty. But once we make those plans, we put them in Jesus’ hands.

After telling his readers not to be anxious, Paul offers a better way. First, we are to be prayerful. God wants to help us handle our problems and concerns, if we let him. If we commit our worries to God in prayer he will give us inner peace, contentment and assurance. So let’s make sure we set aside time to pray every day. Find a few quiet minutes to offer God our anxieties and fears, to lift before him the troubles of others, and to thank him for all he has given us and promised us. No special words are required. We can say what we really feel. If we do this, God will calm our hearts and clear our minds. We will experience gratitude as we remember that he was faithful in the past and he will continue to be faithful in the present and future!

Secondly, Paul encourages us to turn our minds to whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, gracious, excellent, and worthy of praise. That is a pretty comprehensive list which covers everything good in the areas of belief, behavior and beauty:

• In the area of belief, it means learning and reflecting on everything true about God, about ourselves and about the world he has made. Are we listening to the voice of Paul and others in the Bible and our Catholic Tradition who teach us about the character of God, the nature of humanity and the work of Christ? Or do we get our version of reality from news, cynical politicians or corporations who stand to profit from our anxiety?
• In the area of behavior, do we seek to contemplate and imitate those individuals in Scripture and in society who exhibit godliness, kindness, generosity and all the other fruits of the Spirit? Above all, do we look to Christ as our role model and example for living?
• And in the area of beauty, do we appreciate and delight in all that God has made, giving thanks to him for all that is attractive and glorious in Creation? 

In all of this, we realize our thoughts really matter! If our thinking goes astray or is consumed with anxiety, our beliefs and our behavior soon follow. So let’s make sure we guard our hearts and minds, and take responsibility for what we and our families give our attention to.

To bring this full circle, none of us knows what our last words will be. We don’t know whether they will be witty, wise or memorable. But we do know Paul’s last words to the Philippians. Last words that should be of first importance for us. Last words written in the face of death that can guide us in life: Have no anxiety, be prayerful, and turn our minds to all that is good.

Unsend Your "No" to God (26th Sunday, Year A)

 To listen to this homily, click here.

One of the wonderful innovations of technology introduced in the last year or two is the ability to “unsend” emails and text messages. There are lots of reasons why someone might want to do this and most of us can think of moments when we wanted to turn back time to get a message back. For whatever reason, I have a bad habit of sending emails too soon, before I include all the recipients or attachments. Of course, I usually remember immediately after pressing ‘send’. Having the ability to fix a problematic text or email without looking like a fool is wonderful! It is a blessing to be able to change your response, to right a wrong, and correct an answer before it is final. 

The gospel parable reminds us that God does something similar for us, his often-foolish, selfish, wishy-washy children! The ability to change our answer to him and make things right is not something we deserve but it is a gift given to us by God who loves us more than we can imagine. His story gives the scenario of two children, who are asked by their father to work in his vineyard. The first son is defiant and disrespects the honor of working side-by-side with his father. “No way” he says, but later changes his mind and does what his dad asks. The second son is a smooth talker or perhaps lacks commitment, and says, “sure Dad”, but never follows through. If you have raised children, you have likely seen the actions of both sons unfold before your eyes. Certainly all of us, at some point, have played the part of both.

This parable has, of course, a historical context. 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?” Ideally we would be neither; the best case would be that we say “yes” to God when he calls and we would also do what we promised. But we all struggle with sinfulness and selfishness and must ask: are we the 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? 

Or, maybe we are 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 listen to God 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, to take back our “no”. 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: “guide me in your truth and teach me!” 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 also 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!

There's Something We Need To Talk About...(23rd Sunday, Year A)

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Last week’s Scriptures encouraged us to consider our relationship with the Truth. Are we willing to speak it, defend it, and even suffer for it, when God’s truth makes us unpopular or unwelcome? Last week’s readings also confronted us with another question; are we willing to hear the truth about ourselves, even when it is difficult or requires change on our part? In my own self-reflection, I have to admit that sometimes I have been willing to compromise the truth or remain silent because there is part of me that would rather be popular, accepted, and free from conflict. There are other times where I get defensive about hearing the truth about myself, especially my faults or failures. I have been tempted to lash out, to be critical of those offering correction rather than humbly receiving feedback as an opportunity to grow in virtue and excellence. Perhaps you can think of similar moments in your own experience?! Last week’s Scriptures made it clear that to be in friendship with God, we must be committed to truth, no matter where it leads us. Today’s Scriptures continue that theme but now apply it to our friendships with others!

In the first reading, God says to Ezekiel, “You, son of man, I have appointed watchman for the house of Israel; when you hear me say anything, you shall warn them for me. If I tell the wicked, "O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak out to dissuade the wicked from his way, the wicked shall die for his guilt, but I will hold you responsible for his death.” God goes on to tell Ezekiel if he warns the wayward sinner and is ignored, it is no longer the prophet’s problem; he has done his job. That is an important reminder for us too! We are responsible for speaking the truth in our vocations but we are not responsible for the results. We cannot control whether a person accepts God’s truth but we must make sure they have a chance to hear it. The gospel builds on this theme of truthful but loving correction as Jesus lays out a process of charitable confrontation to be used when someone has fallen into sin. 

Both of these readings, with their mandate to correct the sinner, to share difficult truths in love, fly in the face of what our feelings-first, anything goes, morally-subjective society tells us to do. Our culture often preaches that we should never rock the boat, that offending someone is the worst sin we could ever commit. Ahhh, but the Word of God offers another perspective, which is certainly more challenging but also more loving. 

Just as He told the prophet Ezekiel, God tells us, ‘you are a watchman, a watchwoman for my kingdom. If we see someone doing wrong and say nothing; we are in some way responsible too!’ We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, with two important caveats: 1) we are dealing primarily with major moral issues and 2), we always examine our own lives 1st before confronting another! If we truly love every person, we should want them to share in the truth of God’s saving and loving commandments. We are never confronting someone to win them over to our view or our opinions (that would be proud and arrogant) but to share God’s truth. We have to want what is best for them, which is not just earthly comfort or contentment but everlasting happiness in heaven. Many times that will mean supporting others with encouragement and love. Sometimes that will mean respectfully pointing out ways a person is wandering away from God. We see this in good parenting; loving parents not only encourage their children but also correct them. They always strive to do so with love but true concern for the child means confronting wrongdoing directly and not ignoring it. 

There is nothing easy about confronting another person about something as personal as sin. Thankfully, in the gospel, Jesus gives us method for doing so with the best possible chance of a good outcome. We would be wise to follow his approach, which starts small with just two people and only involves others if absolutely necessary. We also can’t hope to give correction if we aren’t first open to receive it. Every one of us is imperfect and sinful in some way. We must be humble enough to accept charitable criticism from the prophets God sends into our lives. The experience of receiving correction prepares us to offer it compassionately. We know how the first reaction we feel is often shame, pride, anger, or defensiveness. It doesn’t mean the person is wrong but often our first response to correction is pushing back or lashing out. Understanding this helps us to be kind to the person who loves us enough to point out our sins. It also allows us to absorb the feelings of those whom we correct without taking it personally.

  

Ultimately, we aren’t having these difficult conversations with others using our standards, trying to get our way, or seeking to make life easier for ourselves. We are not trying to win or be right! Instead we are trying to win the person back to Christ and his saving truth. We are doing for them what we would want someone to do for us if we were in the same situation. And so our motivation should always be love and compassion for the other person. To help us have the proper intentions, we must pray about the situation and for the person before we ever open our mouths. We should be respectful and make sure not to talk to everyone else about their faults and weaknesses. Just as we appreciate someone coming directly to us about a problem, so we should do for others. Everything we do should be motivated by Godly love. May you and I be humble servants of God’s truth, willing to speak up respectfully and humbly when someone has wandered from God. If we do so with love, God might use that as the first moment of a conversion that brings a person closer to him for all eternity!