DON’T LOOK BACK

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 13 Tuesday in Ordinary Time  is, “Don’t Look Back!”

When I read today’s first reading, I heard - loud and clear - that simple imperative command: “Don’t Look Back!”

I would guess many  homilies for today’s readings  will stress that theme - because it’s worth thinking about - and we’ve heard it 100 times.

Okay, some preachers will go with the gospel and stress having faith in Jesus - to be able to ride out the storms of life.

LOT’S WIFE

I’m sure every other year when we have this first reading from Genesis, I think about this story of  Lot’s wife - who looked backwards and as a result she was turned into a pillar of salt.

I read somewhere that there are pillars of salt in various desert areas that look like people - and I’m sure this story came out of someone’s imagination - as well as life experience - and like the other great stories in Genesis, this story has one of life’s great messages: Don’t get stuck in the past.

I’ve been in several car situations when a back seat driver started giving orders to the driver - not to worry about the person who is on your back - or on your tail. Don’t look back and let him get you antsy and angry. Pay attention to the traffic in front of you.

We can get stuck in the rear view mirror - in the past - and as a result it effects our present moments as well as our future.

LOTS OF PEOPLE - NOT JUST LOT’S WIFE

Before I came to Annapolis, I spent 8 ½ years preaching parish missions - mostly in Ohio. I’ll never forget the woman a pastor and an associate in some parish - asked me to visit in a nursing home. It wasn’t confession. In fact, I wish it could have been that - and Christ would forgiver her of something she had done I guess in her life.  She was stuck in a tape recording - she was going to hell. She said that 50 times in a 30 minute visit. I tried to tell her God does not have a pitchfork and when we die, he pitchforks lots of folks into hell. That night at supper they asked how I did. I said, “No luck!” They said: Sorry it looks like nothing can help her. Woo. I wished when she got her dementia big time, she got stuck on a forgiving and loving God - instead of an angry God.

So it’s lots of people - not just Lot’s wife - who look back  - and keep looking back - and they get stuck in their past - especially past mistakes.

Today’s gospel has folks in a boat and they are filled with fear - and they don’t trust in Jesus. It takes faith to accept forgiveness and move on to the future.

When we make a mistake - say or do the wrong thing - we can get stuck in our mistake. It  can affect our ability to listen - to be aware of what’s going on in the present moment.

We’ve all heard Satchel Paige’s comment: “Don’t look back. Something may be gaining on you.”  It’s from his book, How to Keep Young  [1953].

Don Baylor, another baseball player - and then a manager, said,  “In baseball you can’t let losing carry over to the next day. You’ve got to flip the page.”

CONCLUSION

At coffee breaks, at cocktail parties, as well as hors d’oeuvres time, people tend to walk away from those who are old story tellers - especially if we’ve heard the stories 1,000 times - or they are exaggerations.

While at the same time, there are of course story tellers who are interesting.

And of course it’s important to be in touch with our past.  After all, these very scriptures are filled with stories - and they give us a common memory. Aren’t we here at Mass - doing all this - in memory of Jesus?

However, the Lot’s wife’s story give us the warning or not getting stuck in our memories - instead of living our lives forwards.