CORNELIUS

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “Cornelius.”

There is only one person in the scriptures named, “Cornelius” and he appears only here in the 10th Chapter of The Acts of the Apostles – our first reading. That’s it. I knew that he was someone mentioned in The Acts of the Apostles, but I don’t remember ever reading, thinking or preaching about him. So that’s what I would like to do in this homily: to present some thoughts about Cornelius. This homily lacks poetics. It might sound a bit heady. Luckily it’s short – only 4 pages - in 14 Pica.

CORNELIUS

First of all he was a centurion in a place called Caesarea. A centurion was an officer in charge of 100 soldiers. The Roman Army would post at key small local towns a centurion and his 100 men.

Secondly, it’s interesting in the New Testament there is mention of 6 centurions and they are all good guys. Even the one in charge of crucifying Jesus ends up saying, “Truly this man was a Son of God” (Matthew 27:54; Mark 15:39) and “This was a great and good man” (Luke 23: 47).

Thirdly, Cornelius and his family are described as God fearing – and involved in the Jewish community. However, he was neither circumcised nor a member of the Jewish community.

Fourthly, Cornelius has a vision of an angel who came to him while he was praying; this is how this type of literature describes these things. He is told to send a message to a man named Peter who was in the city of Joppa. The vision gave clear specifics: Peter is staying with a man named Simon who is a leather tanner – whose house is near the sea. Cornelius sends one of his soldiers with two of his slaves to Joppa. In the meanwhile Peter goes up on a roof at the 6th hour to pray. He too has a vision. He sees this big, big cloth or canvas sheet coming down from heaven to earth. It has on it all kinds of animals. Peter is then told to kill and eat the animals. Interesting dream. Evidently, Peter is not a vegetarian. Peter says, “No way Lord, some of these animals are unclean.” A voice says three times, “Whatever God has made, you can’t call unclean.” While this vision is taking place the 3 men show up and ask for Peter. The Spirit speaks to Peter telling him he has visitors. He goes down and the three men tell Peter that a centurion named Cornelius had a vision and a holy angel told him to send for you – that you are invited to come to Cornelius' house to listen to him. The next day Peter goes to Caesarea with some of the disciples. In the meanwhile, as The Acts of the Apostles tells us (10:24) Cornelius invites his relations and close friends to be there for Peter’s arrival. Today’s first reading tells what happens next. Cornelius ends up being baptized a Gentile Christian and he doesn’t have to be circumcised or follow Jewish dietary laws etc. Today’s text uses the pronoun “them” at this baptism – not just Cornelius. Was the “them” his whole family – all his relations – his friends. Who are the “them”? Interesting….

Fifthly, this is a key moment in the history of our church. We are breaking lose from Judaism to reach out to the Gentiles – especially the Greek and Roman speaking world – without forcing everyone to be a Jew first. If you read The Acts of the Apostles and parts of Paul’s Letters, you can see that this was a big struggle. It’s also in the background of the Gospels.

CORNELIUS 2009

We don’t have to have visions to realize that a modern Cornelius might live right next door to us. Cornelius might be working with us each day. Cornelius might be in our car pool, bridge club, book club or tiny tots softball coaching staff.

Notice what happens when Peter enters Cornelius’ house and meets him. Cornelius falls to his knees and pays Peter homage. Peter lifts him up saying, “Get up. I myself am also a human being.”

Then notice what Peter says, “In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. Rather in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him.”

It hit me last night that I have never heard anyone quote this text, Acts 10:35. “…in every nation whoever fears him [God] and acts uprightly is acceptable to him.”

I’ll have to do some homework to see if this text is used in Vatican II documents and the New Catholic Catechism when talking about ecumenism and world religions. I’ll have to do my research and reading to see it ever comes up in religious arguments amongst Christians on the question: “Who is saved?” and “What is necessary for salvation?”

We could combine this text with Matthew 25: 31 – 46 – the Last Judgment scene of the sheep and the goats – heaven or hell – and then add, “Wow are there going to be surprises after we die?”

These texts and several other biblical texts say we are judged on love – how well we loved and cared for each other.

We’ve all heard the jokes about different folks arriving in heaven and as they go by different doors they ask, ‘Who’s in there?” and the angel butler or St. Peter pointing to the closed door of a big room or mansion goes, “Shhh. Those folks think they’re the only ones here.”

And I noticed that today’s second reading and gospel stress love as the key – that if we are without love, then we don’t know God – for God is love.

And if God is heaven and heaven is all about love, then we better love God and each other a lot more.

And we know that when we love, we are in heaven.

CONCLUSION: 7 ASSUMPTIONS*

I would assume that there are millions of non-church goers – non-Christians – who like Cornelius talk to God in prayer and love God and their neighbor each day.

I would assume that there are millions of non-church goers – non-Christians – those who are Muslims, Jews, Hindi, etc. etc. etc. who like Cornelius talk to God in prayer and love each other each day.

I would assume that there are millions of non-church goers – non-Christians, non anything, atheists, etc. who work at loving their families and neighbors and are joyful people.

I would assume that there are millions of Christians in name – who don’t love – who are not joyful – who don’t listen to Christ – who don’t remain in Christ’s love – and who feel like they are in hell – down deep hell from time to time – and they don’t know why and they don’t know God.

I would assume that the purpose of coming to church, being a Christian, being a Catholic, is to hear about God and loving one another, to be baptized in Christ and in the Spirit, and to walk out of church into the parking lot and into our world and bring the joy and love of Christ to all those we meet.

I would assume this text could be used in the struggles with the “In Your Face” approach to texts like John 3:16 – when folks use that text to put people in hell based on whether they are “born again” or not – some of whom don’t accept the Catholic practice of infant baptism or what have you.

I would assume we Catholics got our name because the Discipleship – Community – Movement – Church – Jesus started – opened up to people like Cornelius. As a result, one can walk into any Catholic Church around the world and feel in communion with everyone in that Church – even if they are speaking in strange tongues according to us – but we can connect with them – and that at Masses in places like this we are united by our love for Christ and each other – people who were born in Annapolis or elsewhere – strangers and non-strangers – that we are all human beings discovering God and his love for us – especially in our love for one another – whatever our name is – Cornelius or Cornelia – Patrick or Patricia – Evelyn or Eddie – Oscar or Ophelia – Sam or Sophie. Welcome! Wellgo!

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*As I was reflecting upon these questions, I realized I was back in the territory of Karl Rahner’s “Anonymous Christian” theology. If we believe that salvation comes through Jesus Christ, then what about those who never heard of Jesus Christ? Karl Rahner could not accept a theology that would say they are condemned. He would hold that the key consideration is conscience – their basic stance towards goodness and life. His theology on this became part of the Vatican Council teachings on this question. Some disagree with this position saying that it’s a put down on other religions. Would Catholics feel they were being disregarded if someone described us as “anonymous Buddhists,” or “anonymous Mormons,” or “anonymous Muslims,” or what have you? Others say this position does not match with scripture texts about salvation. If one starts to study the “salvation questions”: “Who is saved?”; “How is someone saved?”; and “What is salvation?” then be prepared for a lot of research. One must study “Baptism of Desire”, the works of Karl Rahner, S.J., the works of Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, as well as the documents of Vatican II, especially, Lumen Gentium, Gaudium et Spes, Unitatis Redintegratio, Nostra Aetate, and Dignitatis Humanae, as well as the Catechism of the Catholic Church #847. See also #55, 161, 169, 432, 1095. This can lead to the various ways sacred scriptures are interpreted. This can lead one to head scratching – prayer – as well as signing up for classes for furthering one’s theological development. If this has confused you, type into Google, "Anonymous Christian, Karl Rahner."