“UH OH!” 

THE  INNER  SOUND 

THAT  SOUNDS  EXACTLY  LIKE 

WHAT  IT  SOUNDS  LIKE! 

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 30th Monday in Ordinary Time is, “'Uh Oh!' The Inner Sound that Sounds Exactly Like What It Sounds Like!”

"Uh oh!"

The Catholic Church just finished up a Synod on the Family in Rome.

It was an “Uh oh!” meeting - with reports and papers, discussions and possible decisions that they were going to deal with lots of issues. For example,  family, marriage, children, divorce, homosexuality, communion....

I'm sure some folks in our church said, "Uh oh! Pope Francis is at it again!"

Yes, he wants the Church to address some tough stuff in the major area of life: the Family.

When I read in a newspaper report that one solution to some questions is going to be:  “Talk to your priest in the privacy of the inner forum of your heart and mind,"  I said, “Uh oh!”

“Uh oh!” 

I uttered that  because that might mean more work, more time, more angst, more anxiety.”

“Uh oh!”

THE INNER SOUND CALLED, “UH OH!”

Let’s be honest: life has lots of “Uh oh!” moments.

We say it when we get spaghetti sauce on a white shirt or blouse. However,  those  “Uh oh’s!” can be taken care of with Tide Laundry Detergent.

It’s the “Uh oh’s” that have to do with people that can have the heavy duty stress.

And especially tough are “Uh oh’s” that  have to do with relationships - one’s spouse - one’s kids -  kids dating - family - moments around the dinner table - requests about rule changing in a family - and what have you.

Then there are marriages that don't make it - marriages that fall apart - marriages that crash on the rocks.

Then there is the reality of differences - differences - differences.

People are different. People differ in perception - perception - perception.

Our last two family weddings were weddings without official church blessings and settings - and of course I would be looking at them with my perception as priest - my values - my experience and what have you.

“Uh oh’s!” hopefully lead to listening - and learning how to deal with differences - and what to do when a fresh egg falls on the floor and breaks.

TODAY’S READINGS

In today’s two readings - Paul’s Letter to the Romans and Luke’s gospel story of the woman who was crippled for 18 years - we’re dealing with law vs. the spirit of the law.  We’re dealing with people vs. principle.

Do we have to leave people stuck - crippled - broken - for 18 years or for a life time?

In the issue of who can come to communion - in the discussions about this - I read the following: “Francis has carefully avoided taking sides in the debate but has appeared to tip his hand, for example, referring to Communion as ‘not a reward for the perfect but a medicine for the sick.’”

We’re church goers.  We know by now that popes are different. Francis is different from Benedict and Benedict is different from John Paul II. 

By now we've figured out things can be complicated - and simple solutions - are not always possible.

By  now we’ve figured out that life is all about figuring out how to deal with each other.

We have to learn how to deal with how kids are, how parents are, how our spouse is today, how friends, co-workers, priests, bishops, popes are - without going crazy with our "Uh oh's!"

ONE BASIC PRINCIPLE

One basic principle I have learned is this: laws, rules, regulations, are easier to deal with that to deal with people.

It's as simple as that.

In fact, laws, rules, regulations are made to make life easier for each other.

In fact, ordinarily it's practical and helpful to put things down on paper.

For example: here at St. Mary's we have weddings most Saturdays at 11 AM, 1, and 3 PM and at St. John Neumann's at 10, 12, and 2 PM.

Those 6 time slots were figured out to work well - because of musicians, priests, deacons, wedding coordinators - as well as funerals on Saturday mornings - and confessions and then Masses on Saturday afternoon. 

However, on a regular basis folks want different times - because it would work better for their wedding receptions and family situations.

It's here that I have discovered that "the law" becomes a problem.  

If one makes an exception, someone else wants the same deal or someone else gets inconvenienced. It's then that planning things becomes more difficult.

So I have had to learn the practical value of a set system - and how to say, "No!"

But .... 

We always have to butt in with a "but".

But to be personal, accomodating, flexible, able to adjust, willing to change for others is nice, but it's far more difficult than rules and regulations - set schedules.

Rules and regulations make life more easy for all involved.

CONCLUSION

However, it's right there when the "Uh oh's!" happen. 

In this homily I simply want to state that life is very much about "uh oh's!".

Christ walked into that synagogue that day and healed a woman who was bent over, crippled by a spirit, couldn't stand up straight for 18 years and Jesus healed her on the sabbath.

"Uh oh!"

Then the "Uh oh's!" start to flow like spaghetti sauce onto the table cloth.

Jesus if you did that for that lady on the sabbath, what about my daughter who has cancer or my son who has MS right now?

"Uh oh!"