INSIDE JOB

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “Inside Job.”

TODAY’S GOSPEL

In today’s gospel from Luke [11:37-41], Jesus is telling us once more to be careful of not becoming stuck outside the cup – concentrating on externals – and not taking care of inside business.

There is that temptation to avoid the hard work of inside growth: attitude growth, value growth, spiritual growth. It’s the stuff only we and God see – and sometimes that causes us an, “Uh oh! Oh no!”

There is that temptation to stay outside, because it’s often messy inside. So we avoid the mess by being superficial – which literally means, “staying on the surface”. Concentrate on the look – clothes – symbols of honor. Try to look good out there like the Pharisees – or concentrate on what others are doing wrong or not to our liking.

Christianity is an inside and outside job – but it starts within. Daily conversion begins as an inside job – in the heart – in the inner room.

Hey, as Jesus said, it’s much easier spotting other’s faults instead of dealing with our own. Gossip is easier than prayer. Gossip is easier than Gospel – being bearer of Good News.

I love the end of today’s gospel. In spite of what Jesus just said, he gives us a way out. Even if our life is a mess inside – put something in the poor box. Be generous. At least help the poor.

And there were a lot of people needing help here last night – for assistance from the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Thank you for your generosity.

ROMANS

And today’s first reading from Romans, [1:16-25], Romans which we started yesterday – the great letter which Augustine, Luther, and Barth, and so many other greats and littles, have been challenged by, urges us inside – inside God. Paul challenges us to see God’s invisible attributes in creation. Study, ponder, consider, God’s visible creative works of art that surround us – and see the power and divinity of God in them.

The next time you see a spider web, study it. Be amazed at the engineering, before you pull it down with a cleaning rag or mop.

The next time you see a baby’s fingers or toes, study them for a few moments – then tickle them.

The next time you have a ginger ale or soda, just look at the fizzy bubbles jumping up in the glass. From time to time I love to pour a can of soda into a glass and put the glass up to my chin and feel the ginger ale bubbles hitting my chin. Try it. You’ll like it.

Go to art museums or cathedrals or go to the aquarium in Baltimore and look at all those amazing creations.

Next time it rains, put your tongue out and taste some rain drops. Imagine a second grader telling her classmates, “My 84 year old grandma loves to lick rain drops out of the air.”

It’s October. Soon we’ll be seeing all those autumn leaves – with the October colors of fire red and orange orange and banana yellow and then the brown and tan colors of November leaves. Be ready to hear the sound of leaves on November sidewalks – running with the wind – moving with a shuffling sound up and down the red bricks of Annapolis.

Paul is saying visible creation shows us the power of the invisible God – inside everything. It’s an inside job. Spot God. Be amazed by God. Tell God, “Nice job – God – thank you for another beautiful day of life.”

CONCLUSION

So instead of spotting stuff we don’t like in others – like the Pharisee in today’s gospel, spot outside stuff and make it inside stuff. Reflect on the little things of everyday – as well as the vast canvas of the night sky. Let the little child in you start crying and laughing. Have the time of your life with God. God is a great baby sitter. [Cf. Mark 10: 13-16]

Start within. Life is both an inside job and an outside job.

We do a better outside job – if we do a better inside job.

Isn’t that why we come inside Church, inside God, inside prayer, inside the cup, each morning – so we can go out and do great outside jobs as well? Amen.

[This was my homily for this morning, the 28th Tuesday in ordinary time. The picture is of a big spider web in St. Mary's Prayer Garden - spotted by Pam our chef!]