Weekly HOMILY for September 23, 2012: 25th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle B -- How High Can You Swing?

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25^th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle B

Men’s Retreat at Retreat and Conference Center at Bon Secours

September 23, 2012

How High Can You Swing?

By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato

“…keeping up with myself”

A father named George Durrant recalls a wonderful little memory of his children.

One day George took his three children to the playground at the nearby park.  All three of them were on the swings.

The two older children – Devon and Katherine – had learned how to pump and swing on their own.  They were going higher and higher.

Devon said, “I’m keeping up with Katherine,” and Katherine said, “And I’m keeping up with Devon.”  Little Miranda was waiting for her father to push her and on her own, she was barely moving.

Miranda of course heard Devon and Katherine announcing how they were keeping up with each other.  In response, she simply said, “I’m just keeping up with myself.” 

 

Getting Ahead of Others

Little Miranda’s words help us to appreciate a core lesson in today’s gospel.

The apostles are arguing about which one of them is the greatest.  Each of them is trying to be above the other eleven. 

Underneath all of this energy, I would say that each of them wants to feel valuable and worthwhile.  What they really want is a sense of self-worth or self-esteem. 

They try to attain this by comparing themselves to others and in doing this, they are doing exactly what little Miranda does not do on the swings.  She just keeps up with herself and feels contented with that.

Jesus’ Response

How does Jesus respond to this?

Apparently, there is a child standing nearby.  Jesus gently brings this child right into the group and with this child, Jesus gives two powerful lessons.

1. The Value of Each Person

First, Jesus is teaching that each person, each of us is already valuable just in being ourselves.

In Jesus’ culture, children were at the bottom of the ladder.  For example, if a family did not have enough food, the father would eat first, then the mother, and only then would the children get what was left over.

This sounds backwards to us.  I bet some of you parents or maybe our parents held back on eating or on buying something so that the children could have enough.

Well, here Jesus says, “Whoever receives a child such as this, receives me.”  What he’s saying is that a child and, very importantly, who that child symbolizes – anyone who is seen as the last and least in society – even these persons are valuable.

We all have value in ourselves.  It is inherent in our very being.

So we can be like little Miranda on the swing.  We don’t have to compare ourselves with anyone and we don’t have to be above others as the apostles are trying to do to attain the value we already have.

Each of us is unconditionally valuable.  This is why our Church teaches the value of human life from conception right through to natural death.

There is an inherent value and worth in each person and in the life of each person.  We are to protect and respect this life and also find our self-worth right here, not in comparing ourselves to others or in being above others.     

    

2. Care for the Least

Then Jesus teaches a second pointed lesson with this child.

Jesus calls us to care for the least and last among us.  He’s calling for a new attitude that will issue forth into a new behavior.

Once gain, we are not to compare ourselves and see ourselves as better than those whose income is at poverty level or those in need of financial assistance.  We are not to view them or speak of these people as a drain on society.

This attitude or approach is inconsistent with Jesus’ way.  Instead, we are to view those in need – like the child in the story – as valuable as we ourselves are.

I sometimes think of it this way.  In a hospital, the health care professionals simply treat a person who is sick.

They don’t ask if their intestinal or coronary trouble is their own fault because of eating all kinds of fatty foods and, if that’s the case, refuse to treat them.  They simply treat them, help them to get better, and then advise them on how to care for themselves from that point.

Well, in the same way, we are to value the last and the least in our society.  We are to care for them without comparing ourselves or seeing them as below us or ourselves as above them.  

And Jesus is saying that again, in doing this, we ourselves will find self-worth.  Our sense of self will be strengthened and enhanced in the doing of this.

Conclusion

So, a simple passage today, with lessons that are powerful and helpful, and maybe also challenging and discomforting.

Weekly HOMILY for September 16, 2012: 24th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle B -- Pieces of a Mirror

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24^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

Terranuova Hermitage

September 16, 2012

Pieces of a Mirror

By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato

The Challenge of the Mirror

I read a story recently about a Greek professor at a conference who had survived the atrocities committed by the Nazis in his homeland during World War II. As a result he had dedicated his life to establishing an institute to heal the wounds of war among his countrymen and women.

The professor ended his presentation by taking from his worn leather billfold a very small round mirror.

He explained: “One day as a small child, during World War II, I found the broken pieces of a mirror on the road near our home. A German motorcycle had been wrecked in that place.

“I kept the largest piece and by scratching it on a stone I made it round.

“I became fascinated by the fact that I could reflect light into dark places where the sun would never shine – in deep holes and crevices and dark closets.

“It became a game to get light into the most inaccessible places. I kept the little mirror, and I would take out from time to time and continue the challenge.

“I grew to understand that this was not just a child’s game, but a metaphor for what I might do with my life.

“I came to understand that I am not the light or even the source of light. But light – as truth, understanding, and knowledge – is there, and it will only shine in many dark places if I reflect it.

“Yes, I can be the reflected light that changes people.”

The Challenge of James

In today’s second reading, the author of the Epistle to James realizes that the members of the newly formed Christian communities need concrete guidance about how to make ethical decisions in real-life situations.

Even today, James’ very practical advice continues to challenge believers to have integrity and not to tolerate a dichotomy between the faith that is professed with our lips and what is professed by our choices in life.

James addresses that dichotomy and says, in effect, “Put your money where your mouth is.” James is calling upon believers to translate their words of good will into actions that extend that goodwill to others in practical and helpful ways.

In essence he’s challenging us to be, like the little round mirror I made,“a fragment reflecting light into dark places; a light that changes people.”

In a well-balanced life, there must be both good thoughts and decisive actions grounded in those thoughts.

Therefore, for a person of authentic faith, it isn’t enough to simply think of helping another. Rather, thoughts and prayers bring faith to life in concrete actions and efforts that tend to the needs of others with generosity and love.

The Challenge of Our Baptism

At baptism we are given a small candle lighted from the Paschal candle. The light symbolized the faith we had just embraced.

The priest then charged us to reflect the light of Easter faith to others.

Again, in baptism we became a piece of the broken mirror that is the light and face of Christ.

We were called to reflect the light of Christ that is within us into dark places:

Ø  They may be the downcast hearts of people who come to worship needing to hear a hopeful word

Ø  Or the minds of children and youth in our cul-de-sac

Ø  Or the empty stomachs of the hungry

Ø  Or those with whom we work

The good works that flow from our faith that support and nourish others are how we become “pieces of the mirror” in which we reflect the healing and reconciling light of the Risen Christ.

Conclusion

Are you ready for that challenge?

Weekly HOMILY for September 9, 2012: 23th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle B -- Be Opened Inwardly and Outwardly

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23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle B

Terranuova Hermitage

September 9, 2012

 

Be Opened Inwardly and Outwardly

By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato

Heidi’s Parents

Three months ago, at the beginning of June, a friend of mine flew to Denver to officiate at his nephew David’s wedding.

David married a young woman named Heidi.  My friend had met Heidi for the first time on another visit to Denver last October.

Heidi’s mother and father are both deaf.  And their serious hearing impairment also makes it impossible for them to speak clearly.

As I understand it, if we cannot hear ourselves speaking, we cannot speak clearly.  The speech impairment flows from the hearing impairment. If you don’t hear it right you can’t speak it right.

All that said, Heidi’s parents are absolutely delightful people.  They are friendly, jovial, and a pleasure to be with. 

The Deaf and Mute Man

I thought of Heidi’s parents when I read today’s gospel.

In it we find a man who is both deaf and mute.  And notice: Jesus first enables the man to hear and then, after that, to speak. 

If he can hear, then his speaking will flow from what he hears.  And notice also: Jesus heals the man by using, in the English translation, just two words: “Be opened!”

“Be opened!” In opening the man’s ears and mouth, Jesus heals the man physically.

But, as wonderful as this is, the healing is even more than simply a physical healing.  In Jesus’ time, unlike my nephew’s in-laws today, those who were deaf and mute were really cut off from the rest of society.

They were shunned and became very isolated from society.  They were treated as incapable of holding a job or of being with others in any way at all.

They were socially isolated.  And on top of that, they were also perceived as being alienated from God.

Their disability was seen as a punishment for sin.  So Jesus’ healing of this man today is not just physical, but also social and spiritual – that’s how great the healing is!  

“Be Opened!”

Now let’s take this one step farther.

Jesus’ words – “Be opened!” – are also intended for the disciples and for us.  Jesus calls us to “Be opened!”

Recently, I came across a very simple morning prayer.  It is easy to remember.

“Lord, open me: inward to you, outward to others.”  “Lord, open me: inward to you, outward to others.”

Jesus wants us to “Be opened!”   And for that to happen, we need to desire it and ask him to open us.

“Open Us: Inward”

First, we pray: “Lord, open me: inward to you.”

Open me to your presence that is already within me.  You are here, within me, removing my isolation and being my constant companion on my journey of life.

Open me to your strength within me.  You are my empowerment to deal with the everyday stuff of life and you are my refuge when times are really tough.

Open us to your love within me.  You are the outreaching, unconditional love of God for me and the grounding of my self-worth and self-esteem.

And open me to your healing within me.  You, little by little, put together my loose ends, remove my alienation from God and make me a whole and holy person.

    

“Open Us: Outward”

And then, we pray: “Lord, open me: outward to others.”

First open my ears.  Help me to hear the happiness or sadness, the self-confidence or self-doubt of those closest to me.

And then Lord, open my eyes.  Help me to see my spouse’s need for a caring intervention about alcohol or an aging parent’s need for help around the house.

Also Lord, open my mouth.  Help me to speak words of comfort to a neighbor who is grieving or words of challenge to a society in the grip of consumerism.

And Lord, even open my mind.  Help me to examine my judgments about people who look different from me or my prejudice toward immigrants, gays, or whomever. 

Conclusion

Jesus says: “Be opened!”

And we pray: “Lord, open me: inward to you, outward to others.”