GOFIGURATIONS

Velazquez

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 27th Tuesday in Ordinary Time is, “GoFigurations.”

It’s a word I made up for this homily and for a “How to….” method for reflection on many scripture readings or texts.

We can apply this method to many Bible readings - like today’s first reading from Jonah 3: 1-10 on how fast people converted.  Did you notice in today’s first reading that not only people fasted - but animals as well. St. Francis and Pope Francis would love that.

However, in this homily I’m only going to do some “GoFigurations” on the gospel story of Martha and Mary.

GoFigurations.

Spelling:  “g o F i g u r a t i o n s” 

Notice the capital "F” within the word.  If I invented the word, why can’t I put a capital within the word?

Meaning: Figurations one has to go figure out.

PREFIGURATIONS

Last night as I was reading a scripture commentary on today’s gospel story about Martha and Mary, the author - probably Marcel Bastin - [three names are mentioned as authors] (1) - uses the word, “prefigurations”. Martha and Mary are presented as figures - for the church to look at - and to imitate - yes even Martha.

The church has to serve - feed - care for others - like Martha did for Jesus.  Luke presented the figure of the Good Samaritan in yesterday’s gospel as a figure to imitate. Today the church is going deeper and saying, “Yes you have to serve - but don’t forget the guest.”

That’s why husbands and wives who have guests over - learn to switch off and on - to make sure both are present to the guests - and not be inwardly complaining about being stuck with all the work in the kitchen. In fact, neglect some of the finer goodies and foodies - if you’re going to neglect time with the guests.

Both are important - but one is more important than the other.

Martha is important - but Mary - if you go figure out this story as it’s presented here in the gospel of Luke - she has chosen the more important role at the visit of Jesus to their house.

GOFIGURATIONS

So I made up this word, “GoFigurations” - as a way to read and hear the scriptures.

The scriptures are loaded with figures. We know what figures are. Anyone who took an art class knows that when you begin to draw or paint a picture, you first draw figures. The artist or would be artist sketches them there on paper or cardboard - even canvas - and anyone looking at an artist’s preliminary work looks at it and tries to figure out who or what the figure  is  - and what is the artist is going to draw.

Go Figure.  We know just what that slang throwaway phrase means.

Something happens. It’s a puzzle. And we say scratching our head, “Go Figure.”

So we listen to this story Luke tells us about Martha and Mary. We see the figure of Mary just listening to Jesus. We see the figure of Martha coming in and out of the kitchen with a face on. Now go figure out the message. Study the scene.

We’ve been in similar scenes many times in our lives. We’re visiting a family and the host brings out hors d’oeuvers -  like pigs in the blanket. Well, oops, Martha being Jewish would  not have served them - well we all like good bread - delicious wine - and a good conversation.

Did Jesus like an audience? Well,  there was Mary - at Jesus’ feet - mind you?

Who / what was more important: the food we eat or the people we meet while eating?

Luke is some story teller. We can paint the scene in our imagination. We can picture Martha - steaming as she was steaming food in the kitchen. There is her sister doing nothing - nothing - and Jesus ends up praising Mary. Go figure. He is biting the hand that is  feeding him.

Go Figure. Go deeper. Get the message that people are more important than a super perfect 5 star supper.

CONCLUSION

Now go figure. Do a configuration. GoFirgurate. What message do you come up with?

Go Figure. Go Deeper. One message is this: Jesus is the center of the banquet. Jesus is the reason we are here at Mass.

He is the one to notice -  to pay attention to - even if we have poor readers, a poor sermon, poor music, someone coughing, babies crying, ushers in shorts, Eucharistic ministers with cleavage, and ambulances flying and crying down Duke of Gloucester Street.

The guest is Jesus.

Come let us adore him. Christ the Lord.

Come let us meet him! Come let is eat him - eat him up.

NOTES:

(1) God Day By Day, Following the Weekday Lectionary, Volume Three, Ordinary Time: Luke, Commentary on the Texts, Marcel Bastin, Chislain Pinckers, Michel Teheux,  Translate by Robert R. Barr, Paulist Press, New York/ New Jersey,1984