SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

30 JULY 2017

          Jesus uses two different parables to make the same point.  In the first parable, a poor farmer working on someone else’s farm stumbles upon a buried treasure by accident.  In the second parable, a rich merchant who had been looking for jewels finally finds the pearl of great price.  Both the farmer and the merchant realize the importance of what they have found.  Both sacrifice everything to purchase the treasure and the pearl.

            Jesus uses these parables to teach us about the kingdom of heaven.  We often think of the kingdom of heaven in terms of that happy experience which hopefully awaits all of us after we die.  But in these parables, Jesus describes the kingdom of heaven as God dwelling in our midst now.  Whether we have stumbled upon God’s presence or have been searching for it for a long time, Jesus invites us to sacrifice to make sure that the kingdom of heaven is ours.

            In order to embrace God’s presence in this kingdom of heaven, we need the gift that Solomon requested when God offered him anything he wanted:  an understanding heart.  With the gift of an understanding heart, Solomon had the wisdom to serve as God’s anointed one in the kingdom he inherited from his father, David.     

We need that same understanding heart, that same wisdom, when we make our decision to embrace God’s dwelling, the kingdom of heaven, in our day.  There are many competing voices today pulling us into many different directions.  We live in a consumer-oriented society that promises happiness if we make the right sacrifices.  Whether the commodity is the flashiest car, or the latest improvement in skin care, or the biggest house, or the latest video game, the advertising industry promises that these things will make us happy.  But, once we have sacrificed some cash to obtain them, we look for the next great thing that will bring us happiness.  These things can easily distract us from entering more fully into the kingdom of heaven and enjoying a more intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.

            We are gathered at this Mass today, because we are wise enough to know that developing our relationship with Jesus Christ is important.  Our Scripture readings challenge us to be wise enough to sacrifice those things that distract us from having a more intimate relationship.  If we spend all our time and energy chasing after possessions and values that do not last, the third parable in today’s Gospel provides a warning for us.  The fishermen separate the good fish from the bad fish at the end of their catch.  The fish do not have any choice.  But, we can make choices.  We have already sacrificed one hour to enter into the real presence of Christ at this Mass.  We pray for the wisdom to choose Christ’s presence in our families, in our service of the poor, and in the many ways the kingdom of heaven is already present.  A friend of mine, who is a recovering alcoholic, told me about the way he stumbled upon the kingdom of heaven.  All of a sudden, he woke up to the fact that what was causing him momentary pleasure was ruining his family and his life.  In embracing his recovery, he had the wisdom to sacrifice an old way of living for a way of participating in the kingdom of heaven.  Sadly, Solomon did not use his gift of wisdom.  He put so many things above his commitment to God that he made many bad choices, resulting in the division of his kingdom after his death. 

It is good for us to hear these parables during these summer months, when we have more time to spend with our families.  Saint Paul shares the wisdom he has received when he insists that all things work for good for those who love God.  Christ invites us to use that wisdom and make the kingdom a priority.  If we make wise choices to be part of the kingdom of heaven now, we will not be separated from that kingdom after our death.

FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

16 JULY 2017

          The parables of Jesus are incredible teaching tools, because they tell stories which people readily understand.  In today’s parable of the sower and the seed, he speaks to those who are familiar with agricultural methods in his day.  They know the dynamic of sowing seed into the ground.  But there is always a twist in his parables to get their undivided attention.  The twist in this parable involves the sower scattering seed everywhere.  Seed was precious, and no farmer would risk throwing seed on hardened footpaths, or on rocky ground, or among thorn bushes.

            But God’s Word is spread everywhere, and I’ve seen various reactions of people to that Word over my 43 years as a priest.  Some people cannot accept God’s Word, because their hearts are so hardened that the Word cannot penetrate.  Others accept God’s Word initially with joy.  We see this in RCIA.  Newly baptized and newly received Catholics are enthused about their faith.  But unless there is a spouse, a closely related sponsor, or some kind of connection to the parish, odds are good that they will not pursue the faith.  Others begin as committed Catholics.  But, engaged in travel teams or other priorities, they stop coming to Sunday Mass, and they drop off.  But I have also seen lots of people who have the open hearts of rich soil and have allowed that Word to take root in their lives.  A farmer at the time of Jesus would have been delighted with a yield of tenfold.  Jesus promises a yield of a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.

            Through my long friendship with Father Larry Kanyike, I have seen the incredible yield of faith in the people of Uganda.  Beginning with the martyrdom of Saint Charles Lwanga (pictured on our Triumphal Arch) and his companions in the 19^th century, the faith in Uganda has definitely taken root.  When we traveled to Father Larry’s parish five years ago, Mike Wargo, Eric King, my nephew Ben, and I witnessed the vitality of that faith.  Thousands of parishioners waited for hours for the dedication of their new church, and most of them stood in the hot sun and listened to the Liturgy from loud speakers set outside.  In addition to the new church at the center of the parish, there are four outstations where Mass is celebrated every Sunday, since most parishioners must walk to Mass.  His parishioners were profoundly grateful for the assistance we gave in building their church.  The soil of their hearts is very rich, and the yield is obvious.

            But they live in a Third World country, and they are very poor in material possessions.  A recent drought has caused starvation in a country normally verdant with vegetation.  That is why Father Larry has sought our help so often.  Through our generosity, he has constructed a health clinic for his parishioners.  We helped build his church, restored his rectory, and paved the road in front of the church and school.  Father Larry would have been here this weekend, but he could not get a visa.  So, I am asking for your help on his behalf.

            When we were there five years ago, the poor condition of his parish school was evident.  You can check out the pictures in today’s bulletin and investigate the display in the back of church.  There is also a video on our website.  With our help, Father Larry can provide a much healthier facility for his school children.  Buildings in Uganda are very simple and utilitarian.  Labor and material costs are much less than what we have here.  Because of the climate, there is no need for heating or air conditioning.  They still use outhouses. 

            There are envelopes at the ends of all the pews.  If you are prepared, you can take one now, make a contribution, and place it in the basket with your sacrificial gift.  If you need more time or information, take the envelope home, study the materials, and bring it back next Sunday.  In Father Larry’s name, thank you!  Hopefully, he will receive his visa and be here to thank all of us in person before the end of the summer.

FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

9 JULY 2017

          To understand the words of Jesus in today’ Gospel, we need to consider the context. In this part of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus has been proclaiming the Good News in Galilee.  However, the religious leaders and the “important” members of the communities have rejected him.  In rejecting him, they complained that John the Baptist fasted, avoiding food and drink.  They accused Jesus of eating and drinking, hanging out with “drunkards” and sinners. 

            That is why Jesus addresses his words today to the “little ones”.  The little ones have welcomed him and accepted his message.  So, he invites them to come to him and take rest.  But, the rest that he recommends seems strange.  He invites them to accept his yoke upon their shoulders and learn from him, because his yoke is easy, and his burden light. 

            As the stepson of a carpenter, Jesus knows something about yokes.  A yoke united a pair of oxen together to allow them to share the load of plowing or hauling a loaded wagon.  The yoke rests on the necks and distributes the work load, not necessarily evenly, but in a way that capabilities are shared.  Each member of the yoked pair can contribute to his/her maximum capability, the stronger contributing more energy than the weaker, to accomplish the common task. Jesus' yoke is light, because it is Jesus who is yoked to each of us, and in every task he bears the heavier part of the burden. He is carrying the yoke of rejection.  Important people have judged him to be a fraud.  Instead of feeling sorry for himself, he gives thanks for his close relationship with his heavenly Father.  He continues his journey to the hill of Golgotha, where the yoke of the cross will take his life.  In carrying the heavier load, he helps us to carry our burdens, maintaining our faith in the mystery of his death and resurrection.

            We are his disciples, the “little ones” today.  We have come to Mass to give praise and thanks to God, who slowly reveals himself to us as we continue our pilgrimage together through life.  Each of us comes with our own set of circumstances.  Many of us are taking rest in these summer days following the 4^th of July.  For many of us, life is going well, and it is easy to give thanks to God as we gather to worship.  But, some of us are carrying heavy burdens or yokes.  Some are struggling with difficulties in relationships, or even breakups in families.  Others are shouldering economic difficulties, with job losses or unexpected expenses.  Others are carrying the heavy yokes health issues or life changing cancers or other diseases.  Many are burdened with the difficulties of the aging process or loss of memory.

            Whatever yoke we may be carrying, Jesus invites us to rest and carry his yoke.  Instead of allowing the yokes of our lives to separate us from the love of the Father, Jesus invites us to imitate his example in the face of hatred and rejection.  He invites us to yoke ourselves with him, allowing him to carry the heavier load of our burdens.  He invites us to give thanks for his Father’s care for us and to trust that his Father is not abandoning us when we carry heavy yokes.  He does not take away those burdens.  Instead, he promises to yoke himself with us in facing those difficulties and renewing our trust in the power of his death and resurrection.

            Saint Paul expresses this truth in a different way.  He reminds us that we are no longer in the flesh but in the spirit of God.  Saint Paul is not telling us to hate our bodies and regard our bodies as obstacles to being holy. Those who live only in the flesh cannot see beyond what we perceive with our senses.  Those who live only in the flesh will do anything to avoid pain and the cross of Jesus Christ.  Those who live in the spirit can carry those yokes, because we are yoked to Jesus Christ.  If we renew our faith in his death and resurrection, his strength allows us, in our weakness, to keep carrying the lighter portion of the load.