THE POLICE

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, "The Police!"

That’s the thought that hit me as I read today’s two readings for this 5^th Monday in Lent.

My homily won’t be too long, because today’s readings are long – and some of you have to get back to work.

The Police.

WHAT’S YOUR TAKE ON POLICE?

What’s your take on the police? 100 cars surround us or go past us while we’re driving. We notice very few of  them – but we spot police cars.

Last week when they had this gigantic traffic jam in Annapolis, I heard people saying, “Where were the police when you need them?”

I want a FDA – to police the manufacturing of drugs and food – to check for health hazards. I want people to check on emissions and our water and our labeling, etc. etc. etc.

I hear athletes now wanting better policing of PED’s – wanting the playing field to be level and fair.

So when it comes to policing, what’s your take?

THE READINGS

Who delegated the two dirty old men in today’s  first reading to want Susanna arrested?

Who made them the police? [Cf. Daniel 13: 1-9, 15-17. 19-30, 33-62]

And we find out they are the bad guys.

And the crowd, the community, crash in on them and find them guilty of the crime they wanted to accuse Susanna of – to save their skin.

And the men in today’s gospel want to condemn this woman caught in adultery – they want to throw rocks at her. [John 8: 1-11]

And Jesus like Daniel saves her – from the rocks – as Jesus gives us the great mantra – “Let the one without sin be the first to throw a rock at her.”

And then the tiny detail, “And they walked away beginning with the eldest.”

Who makes whom the police?

ROCK THROWERS ARE STILL AROUND

Rock throwers are still around.

The thought police are still hunting down mistake makers.  If someone is making a speech or announcing a ball game and they have a speech wardrobe malfunction or “wrong” comment" – it goes viral on other programs – as well as YouTube.

In listening to priests I hear comments about Liturgical Nazi’s. If you make one slip of the tongue or do one thing wrong – they let you or others know.

During political campaigns, I've noticed that people police bumper stickers in Catholic Parking Lots.

Pastors or bishops receive e-mail – sometime anonymous from the thought police – on a regular basis.

Let him or her without something contrary to the Spirit of Jesus make the first complaint.

If I get anything out of this gospel from John and this reading from Daniel, the older we get, the more understanding we ought to be. I don’t know about you, but I fear becoming a grouch. Hello, hello, listen to the title and the theme of this homily.

I think we all ought to read today’s two readings very carefully – along with Luke 15 – where the refrain is, “There is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous people who need no repentance.”  We ought to hear Pope Francis’ off hand comment to the reporter on the plane about gays – “Who am I to judge.” I think we ought to get the old, old book, The Scarlet Letter and read it very carefully. It’s all about the community throwing rocks at Hester Prynne – for her sin of adultery.

CONCLUSION

Sometimes we see police just sitting in their cars –in a big parking lot - and not out there checking the speed cars are going by.  Maybe we all ought to put our inner policeman or woman in park – and start talking to our inner policeman or policewoman – instead of judging everyone else than ourselves. Amen.