Weekly HOMILY for December 17, 2006: Do What You Do Only Better

3rd Sunday of Advent, Cycle C
Our Lady of Grace
December 17, 2006

Do What You Do, Only Better
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato


Experiences with You

This past week, I met with a man who is a former Marine.

He shared his experience in the Vietnam War and how his life has been since then. He has also talked about the anxiety that he and his wife are feeling right at the moment for their son who is now a Marine serving in Iraq.

That conversation last week led me to think of other talks I’ve had.

I recall sessions I have had with groups of parents, both here and in my former parishes.

These meetings are usually parent preparation sessions for First Eucharist, First Reconciliation, or Confirmation of their children.

What I remember almost always about these sessions is looking out and seeing how stressed and tired many of you look at those gatherings.


“What Should We Do?”

So, this past Tuesday morning, as I was focusing on these two experiences – the Marine and parent meetings – I started connecting them with today’s Gospel passage.

John the Baptist has been telling the people to prepare for the coming of the Savior. And the people begin asking him: “What should we do?”

To the crowds or people in general, John simply answers: “If you have enough clothing and food, share something with those who do not have enough.”

To the tax collectors, John simply answers: “Be honest and don’t collect any more tax than you should.”

And when some soldiers ask, “What should we do?” John answers: “Be respectful of people and don’t bully them.”

Now, notice the consistency in John’s answers. He doesn’t ask any of the groups to do anything outrageous, like giving away their life savings or quitting their jobs.

He simply asks them to do well what they are already doing – and to do it ethically, morally, and with care and respect for other people.

And the bottom line for John is that in doing well what we already do, we prepare for the coming of Jesus into our lives. It’s a simple though profound insight.


The Baptist and I

I can readily identify with what John the Baptist says to the different groups of people.

John is (1) Taking people where they are, that is, where they are in their stations of life with their beliefs and their responsibilities. And in that acceptance of where they are, (2) He is assuming their basic goodness and sincerity.

And my point today is that this is what I believe our approach as a Church, as priests, or as the faithful should be. It is the approach or attitude I feel when I meet with individuals or groups like the Marine or parents at Sacramental Preparation sessions.

Conversely, I believe it is inappropriate for us as a Church, as priests, or as individual Catholics to beat up on one another – and we do, do that!

To site one concrete example that touches us all, it is inappropriate for us to put others down because we see them as not conforming 100% to what we see as the teachings of the Church or the way of the Gospel.

In our Catholic Church today, there are some who use the term “Cafeteria Catholics” to describe other Catholics whom they see as not agreeing with or living out everything that the Church teaches.

This term is, in effect, a put-down and I believe it is a very inappropriate expression.

The truth is that all of us have some question or doubt or disagreement or inconsistency in our faith life. So, let’s just accept that as where that person is coming from and follow the respectful approach of John the Baptist today and respecting them in that very place.

We need to understand that all of us – myself included – are on a faith journey doing our best or at times muddling through to follow the way of the Lord.

In our best moments we hope – again, myself included – that we offer something to help one another grow a bit in our faith as parents, spouses, children, teens, friends, employers, citizens, etc.

And that’s exactly the kind of counsel that John the Baptist offers us today. But always, we do this with a basic respect for one another.

Never should we put one another down. Never should we use terms that stereotype others and in effect make them less than us, terms like “Cafeteria Catholics.”


Conclusion

I am struck by John’s approach today as a response to folks asking “What shall we do to prepare for the coming of Christ into our lives?”

And his response is: (1) Taking people where they are and (2) Standing on a position of respect and openness toward them.

It’s interesting that in doing so, you, like John, not only help bring that person to faith, but you also prepare for the coming of Jesus more deeply into your own life and in the life of this parish community.