OUT THERE

OR

IN HERE?

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “Out There Or In Here?”

TODAY’S READINGS

Today’s two readings for the Second Monday in Advent are rich in imagery, story, poetry and visualization.

We can picture what Isaiah 35:1-10 is talking about. We can picture a desert and parched land blooming with flowers.

It happens in Arizona every time after a rich rain fall. Surprise! All those flowers underneath it all were just waiting for the rain. If you haven’t been to Arizona - perhaps you’ve walked into a church near the end of Lent or Advent and surprise - the church sanctuary is blooming with lilies or Christmas trees!

We can picture today’s gospel from Luke 5:17-26. Jesus is standing there preaching in a house - surrounded by people. We’ve seen that scene on a dozen Catholic calendar pictures or in an art museum. Suddenly stuff starts falling from the ceiling. A small group of men have brought their friend to Jesus on a stretcher. Because of the crowd, they can’t get in to see Jesus. They had faith in Jesus that he would heal their friend. So they went up on the roof and opened it up to lower this paralyzed man down in front of Jesus.

I love babies to cry at Mass - especially during a sermon. It’s life. It challenges all of us to be patient and be pro life especially when we have the surround sound of screaming hungry babies. However, I think I would stop and be distracted if our roof and ceiling started to open up or if someone brought someone up in a wheelchair down the aisle during a sermon to be healed.

So it’s easy to picture today’s two readings.

TITLE OF MY HOMILY: OUT THERE OR IN HERE?

The title of my homily is, “Out There Or In Here?”

The catch would be to move these stories - these images into our being - into our soul - into our lives.

How many times have we heard or seen the saying, “Bloom where you are planted”?

How many times have we felt stuck, paralyzed?

How many times have we had friends who are frozen in the past - because of a death or a divorce or a disaster?

I was listening to David Brooks on the radio yesterday. He was talking about two kinds of people over 70. Those who are stuck in the past and they keep repeating what happened. They keep rehearsing it. They keep rehashing it. They keep reinforcing it. And then there are those who have moved on and moved up and out to new life.

Timing is everything. So if you’re paralyzed in the past or a friend is still there, at some point scream, “Enough already.”

Stand up and walk. Get in your car and take yourself or the paralyzed friend for a big milk shake at Chick and Ruth’s - supposedly they have the best milkshakes in this area. Or say, “Let’s go for a walk. I’ll carry your crutch and then toss them in a dumpster or the South River.”

If you’re a painter, when was the last time you painted a picture? Make a blank canvas bloom and splash with color. Or even if you’re not a painter buy a box of crayons or get some play dough and make out you’re Michelangelo.

If you’re a photographer, when was the last time you went to Quiet Waters Park for a photo shoot - or picture the leaves on the trees around your house - and shoot them. Have you stopped to look at all those beautiful leaves still on the trees or running around on sidewalks?

If you’re a poet, when was the last time you wrote a poem?

If you’re a book reader, when was the last time you read a book you couldn’t find enough time to get back to?

Both of today’s readings feature before and after. Both readings feature weakness and then healing. Both readings feature old life changing to new life.

How do people change?

Today’s readings give two answers: with a little help from my friends and with a lot of help from the Lord.

ADVENT PRAYER: MARANATHA

The advent prayer is Maranatha: Come Lord Jesus.

If you’re dry and dead, mad or sad, paralyzed and stuck, get ye to Jesus.

The title of my homily is, “Out There or In Here?”

Open up the roof your head and pour these readings into your life today? There not meant to be out there in a book or in the air around a pulpit - but in here.  [POINT TO THE TOP OF ONE’S HEAD]

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Picture on top: not sure of its origin.