EXPOSITION

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 4^th Sunday in Lent is, “Exposition.”

In a way, “exposition” is a religious word.

In a way it’s not a word that is used that often.

“Position,” yes.  “Exposition” – to knock out of position – “ex” “out of” and put in an “out side” position, yes.

In writing courses a student would learn about exposition or expository writing which means writing that explains something.

In music – it’s the first part of the piece, exposing a theme in the piece that the composer wants the listener to hear and pick up – up front.

So that’s why I like to tell up front a title of something what I’m going to try to talk about.

I like to come up with a catchy title to get people’s attention.

A title is like a shiny fish hook to catch people, etc. – to be fishers of people as Jesus put it.

So today – my goal would be for each of us – to catch ourselves – to expose – to disclose ourselves to ourselves - to hook ourselves – to lift ourselves up out of the dark or deep waters – we swim in -  like a person holding a fish on a hook – taken out of our hiding places – to be exposed – to see ourselves as we really are.

TODAY’S GOSPEL

Today’s Gospel from John says, “We like to hide in the darkness!”  We don’t like the light.

In this gospel we see Nicodemus coming to Jesus in the dark, in the night, on the sneak – with his questions.

In this gospel we also have Jesus exposed on the cross – and John tells us what the cross is all about: salvation – Jesus – Eternal Life.

It too is like a fish hook – trying to catch you – pull you out of the deep.

Exposition….

I love a learning I caught from Father Benedict Groeschel of EWTN fame – a priest and a character to say the least – who said, “Ask people to tell you their favorite Bible Text and they will be telling you a lot about themselves.” They will be exposing how they think and see.

I heard that on a Monday in a course I was taking with him. The following weekend I was with a group of men on a retreat. This guy was driving me nuts with his questions and challenges – so with a guess in the dark – I asked him his favorite Bible text. He said without a moment’s hesitation. “Beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing.”

He didn’t notice – what I noticed – as he spoke the gestured with his index finger – pointed right at me.

To me he seemed ultra-rigid and too literal. I don’t think he would get poetry – and I often have problems with folks who don’t get what I’m saying – because I’m too poetic or what have you. My imagination is stronger than my intellect.

With this guy, I was tempted on the spot to counter with the words of Jesus in the gospel of John, “Is it I, Lord.” 

I didn’t but I think of that quote often when Judas asks that question.

It was right after Jesus says, “One of you is about to betray me.” [John 13:21]

“Is it I Lord?”

I’m sorry, I don’t want to betray you today.

After 40 or 50 years of age – we often know we are betraying ourselves – exposing ourselves – when we express ourselves.

Exposition….

You know a lot more about me or anyone who goes into the pulpit – than the person in the pulpit.  Of course there is the worry about not judging others.

Life…. Exposure …. Exposition….

I’m always saying inwardly – well not always – but many times, “Are you saying what you’re saying, or are you saying something else?”

REMEMBER THE TITANS

I was watching the 2,000 movie, Remember the Titans, this past Friday night. I noticed the very different personalities of the two coaches. Denzel Washington played the part of Herman Boon and Will Patton played the part of Bill Yoast – in this 1971 story about a high school football teams struggles when intergration was taking place in Alexandria, Virginia.

It was remarkable for exposing motives, for exposing what was going on.

In a way the two coaches were like 1 person – showing us in the story - in the movie – that each person has choices. We talk to ourselves. We question ourselves. Our brain asks us: “Why are you doing this? Is it for ego, self, others, the team, recognition, fame. why, why, why?”

Coach Herman Boone is often asked these questions by his assistant coach, Bill Yoast. The questions finally got to him – so he asks his wife, her take on him. He finally being exposed. He was trying to look at an exposition of his motives.

Why are we here in church this morning?  Why do we go to Mass? What are we looking for? Why do we do what we do every day.

DAVID CARR

Friday in the March 16^th 2015 Issue of America Magazine came in – along with the week before’s Issue. I always get something out of that Jesuit weekly magazine. They have a sermon on inside of the back cover. They are usually better than anything we get off – but taste is taste. Father Joe Krastel loves the Letters – finds them the best part of the magazine. I usually find an article in it worth the subscription.

This latest issue has a life story about David Carr – who died February 12, this year. It’s by his brother John Carr who is the director of the Invitation on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

David and John were two of three brothers and three sisters from Minneapolis, Minnesota.

I’ve seen David Carr on TV talk shows and I’ve read some of his stuff in the New York Times.  In the article in America, John exposes a lot of stuff about his brother David. He had drinking and drug problems – especially cocaine. David became a very open person.  David often let folks know his stuff – his mistakes and his good stuff – and his mistakes were great teachers. 

David Carr could be brutally blunt. He  didn’t hesitate to use language to let a speaker as well as any listeners know what he was thinking when that person spoke.

His first marriage ended in divorce. He had twins in a relationship with a girlfriend. He had his third daughter with his next wife.

I like one interpretation of the scene of Moses nailing the snakes on the tree in today’s first reading – as Moses exposing to the Israelites – pointing to the snakes: “This is what’s killing you.”

David Carr announced to any readers his snakes that were killing him.  He publically said it was cocaine and alcohol.  He got into AA – which bluntly gets people to be blunt about themselves. Denial does not have to run one’s life.

Announcing “I am an alcoholic” can be the birth cry of an alcoholic. Only this truth will set you free.

In a piece called, “Family Comes First”, David said his twin daughters saved his life and gave him a purpose. The article in America says, “He brought his infant twins to the local parish seeking baptism, saying this could be a bad son, employee, friend, but not a bad father. The pastor simply said, ‘welcome home.’”  John Carr in the America Magazine article said, “Our parents and family never gave up on David, which made his recovery and achievements sources of enormous relief and gratitude.”

On religion, in something he wrote David Carr wrote the following about religion.  What’s your take on the following? Listen carefully – a man is giving a good exposition of his life:

"I'm a churchgoing Catholic, and I do that as a matter of, it's good to stand with my family. It's good that I didn't have to come up with my own creation myth for my children. It's a wonderful community. It's not really where I find God. The accommodation I've reached is a very jury-rigged one, which is: All along the way, in [substance abuse] recovery, I've been helped ... by all of these strangers who get in a room and do a form of group-talk therapy and live by certain rules in their life — and one of the rules is that you help everyone who needs help. And I think to myself: Well, that seems remarkable. Not only is that not a general human impulse, but it's not an impulse of mine. And yet, I found myself doing that over and over again. Am I, underneath all things, just a really wonderful, giving person? Or is there a force greater than myself that is leading me to act in ways that are altruistic and not self-interested and lead to the greater good? That's sort of as far as I've gotten."

CONCLUSION

The title of my homily is, “Exposition.”

Lent is a time to be like Nicodemus and go to Jesus in the night.

Ask Jesus questions. Let him ask you questions. Stand under the cross and listen in your dark – till the morning light.

Visit the adoration chapel. Sit in front of Jesus – in exposition of the Blessed Sacrament – and face what’s killing you – and see what’s giving you life. Amen.