THE WORLD WAS 

MY CLASSROOM*

If Jesus lived to 90, what would he have been like? If Jesus lived to 90, how would the story unfold?  If Jesus lived to 90 what would have been his observations? How different would his comments, his teachings be from what he told us at 33?

We don’t know the answers to these questions, but we can know what he knew at 33 by reading the gospels.

One thing I think Jesus would say would be, “The World Was My Classroom,” so that’s the reason - for this theme for this homily.

I love to read the gospels and then ask what happened, what did Jesus see, to trigger what he just said.

I think he walked his world, worked in the family carpenter shop, did village and home repairs, went to the synagogue, stepped back in the market place and observed what he observed,  learned what he learned.

He must have seen a pearl merchant searching for fine pearls - found one - sold all he had and bought that pearl at any price.

So too the man he saw who found a treasure in a field - pooled all his money - and bought that field.

He must have studied grapes and saw that one farmer pruned his vines - and had greater grapes and greater wine - and another vine grower didn’t prune and his yield was nothing like the first vineyard owner.

He must have heard about a vineyard owner who hired workers all day long and paid each one the same amount - because everyone needed a days’ wage like every worker does.

He must have had a sense of humor when he called Matthew a tax collector to give up everything to follow him - and Matthew did. In fact, he threw a party for Jesus to meet his friends - and this really taxed people and their take on Jesus.

He must have sat down near the sea shore and watched how hard working fishermen were - and said, “These are the types I’m going to need. These are the types I’m going to call. They know where the fish are and they are the ones who try, try and try again - even when their nets come up empty.

He must have heard about a woman who lost a coin - searched everywhere for the lost coin, finally found it and threw a party in celebration - without worry about the cost in coins.

He seems to have liked parties and celebrations, bread and wine - lots of bread - lots of wine.

He must have seen some people praying to be seen and heard - and some people who loved hiding in the back or behind pillars - so as to be near Our Father.

He must have heard about lost sheep and lost children and lost lives.

He must have walked by a cemetery and then walked by the Pharisees and said to himself, There is no difference. Both are dead, It’s just that these ones  - who look like white washed tombstones - haven’t been buried yet.

He must have seen mothers and fathers giving their lives  - giving their body and blood in sacrifice - for their children.

He must have seen a rich man dressed up big, big time - a man who didn’t see the poor man at his gate -  and then Jesus laughed when he saw the birds of the air or the flowers of the field - and laughed - because birds of the air and the flowers of the field as far more beautiful - than all those best dressed folks strutting down Fashion Street.

He must have realized when he watched folks in the market place, “I’m sure there are people who are like merchants. One is stingy, exact, a penny pincher, and the other is totally generous - and there’s a message in here somewhere. Amen.  He must have said many, “Amens” as he realized, "The World is My Classroom. Amen! Amen! Amen!"

OOOOOOO

* Homily at St. Mary's - for Thursday 22 Thursday in Ordinary Time © Andy Costello, Reflections 2012