THE SLUDGE OF GRUDGES

INTRODUCTION


The title of my homily is, “The Sludge of Grudges.”

Today is the day we remember the Beheading of John the Baptist.

And there is a line in today’s gospel that jumps off the page every time I read this gospel. Mark says, “Herodias harbored a grudge against him” that is, John the Baptist.

And Herod - as we heard in today’s gospel - made the promise and the boast - at the party - in front of the other men - that he would give Herodias’ daughter anything she wanted - even up to half his kingdom.

It’s great storytelling. It’s great writing. It’s easy to picture this young woman doing a lusty dance - and pulling Herod into her trance - by her dance - and it gives her mother a chance to get rid of John the Baptist for good - by getting her daughter to ask the king for the head of John the Baptist on a platter.

Herodias had a grudge against him because he told Herod it was not right for him to be living with your brother’s wife.

The title of my homily is, “The Sludge of Grudges.”

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GRIPES AND GRUDGES

There is a difference between gripes and grudges.

Gripes are annoyances - people not using their blinkers when changing lanes - people sneezing into their hands - instead of the new hope - into one’s shoulder - people having 11 products at the 10 items or less counter at the supermarket.

Grudges are deep seated - can’t stand feelings about another - because of something they said or did 11 years ago. Grudges are underneath and sludge up our arteries - with anger - when we come into that person’s presence or something triggers that memory.

It’s great English translation of the Greek  in today's gospel - when our translation says, “Herodias harbored a grudge.”

We’ve seen docks and harbors on TV where stuff comes in from all over the world. We’ve heard about strikes where nothing moves - and vegetables start to stink. Or garbage that was supposed to be shipped elsewhere is stuck standing still there in the harbor. And fruits and vegetables and garbage start to rot.

We sometimes find out what we’ve been harboring at weddings, wakes and funerals - when we have to meet and greet family members especially. Grudges are often about family situations. Blood is thicker than water and blood is even thicker when it has sludge - the sludge of a grudge - in it.

LETTING GO - FORGIVENESS

The opposite is letting go. The opposite is getting the sludge of grudges flowing - by the clean living water of Jesus.

Letting go of a gripe and forgiving it - is much easier than letting go and letting sludge flush and flow away. That’s much, much more difficult.

It can be done.

Jesus was really aware of grudges - the stuff we hold onto - hence the big, big stress in the gospels about forgiving one another.

If we don’t heads roll.

If we don’t  forgive and let go as best as possible - often only step by step, then that sludge builds up - and when others see us - see our face - and face our spirit - they hear inside their being a, “Heads up! Watch out for this one!”

Too many grudges - too much sludge - and we get what the scriptures call, “Hardness of heart.”

Warning: if people nickname us, "Grudge" or "Grumble!" or "Growl" then it's time for a change of heart - attitude - way of living and interacting with others. If they nickname you, "Gripe", you're a bit off the hook. Smile.

CONCLUSION

The title of my homily is, “The Sludge of Grudges.”

The topic is timely - because today is the Memorial of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist.

The topic is timely - because many people in the east came back to basements filled with sludge.

Much worse is coming to the realization I’m carrying a certain grudge about a certain person too long now - too many years now - and I have to cut that out of my head. Tough stuff. Tough work. Tough task. Amen.