HANGING ONTO HIS WORDS

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for the 33 Friday in Ordinary Time is, “Hanging Onto His Words.”

At the end of today’s gospel I noticed an interesting image, “… all the people were hanging on his words.” [Luke 19:48]

It’s a metaphor. You can’t hang onto words. Words are made of sound in air. Yet we get the image - because of the times we hanged onto the edge of a bench or hanged onto a door frame if possible in an earthquake.

EXAMPLES

People hang onto the words in weather reports - or comments from the Federal Reserve as well as stock reports. We hang onto words in phone calls that tell of what the doctor said to a relative - about someone in the family with cancer or possible cancer. We all can remember the TV commercials when the Columbian village folks are waiting for Elexagente’s report whether their coffee crop met his standards. The family waits for the word that the guy finally proposed to the girl - and they want to know the date for the wedding. Then when they are expecting their first child, we want to hear the words whether, “It’s a boy!” or “It’s a girl!”

JESUS

The gospels say in various ways that the people hung onto Jesus’ words. They didn’t know where he got his wisdom. Who is this person whose words the winds and waves obey? Isn’t he the carpenter’s son? Isn’t he from our village?

We know the scene pictured in the pen drawing on top of this page. It's by Rembrandt - from back in 1665. It's entitled,  "The Walk to Emmaus" - when the two disciples didn't know whom they were walking and talking with - but they said afterwards, "Did notl our hearts burn within us as he talked to us on the road and explained the scriptures to us?" [Cf. Luke 24:13-35]

The scribes and the Pharisees hung onto his words - in order to nail him - and they eventually succeeded - getting him nailed to a cross.

The common folk were listening for a word - that would give wisdom - and light - inspiration and challenge, strength and consolation.

Some list Jesus as the greatest wisdom teacher the earth has ever known. For some - that belief is separate from the belief that Jesus was God.

THE GOSPELS

Because he was such a good speaker - such a good carpenter with words - because people hung onto his words - we can imagine why Matthew, Mark, Luke and John did such a good job in gathering his stories and sayings that hung around. As a result we have the 4 gospels. Note that the dates of the gospels are some 30, 40, 50 years after Jesus’ death and resurrection.

SOME PONDERINGS

My favorite Bible text usually is Galatians 6:2 - which is Paul’s message, “Bear one another’s burdens and in this way you’ll be following the law of Christ.”

What is your favorite Bible text?

If someone said to limit that question of favorite Bible text to the Gospels - what gospel text would I pick?

I would start the process of coming up with an answer to that question by starting with the parables that Jesus has gifted our world. We would think that those stories would be worth hanging on people: the story of the Prodigal Son, the story of the Sheep and the Goats, the story of the Good Samaritan. Or we might look at Jesus’ sayings. Many would choose, “Come to me all you labor and are burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me. for I am meek and humble; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy and my burden light.” [Matthew 11: 28-30] That’s just one saying. Do you have a favorite?

CONCLUSION

What words of Jesus do you hang your life on? Do you have one saying that is hanging on one of your walls or hanging around inside a prayer book or on a special memorial death card?

Name it. Frame it. Thank Jesus for his words in his presence in your life today. Amen.