DON’T  TRY  TO FLY SOLO -

DON’T  TRY TO GO IT ALONE 

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “Don’t Try to Fly Solo - Don’t Try to Go It Alone.”

Today’s second reading from St. Paul to the Romans 15: 4-9 begins, “Whatever was written previously was written for our instruction, that by endurance and by the encouragement  of the Scriptures we might have hope." 

So last night I read today’s 3 readings for instruction, for hope, for words of encouragement.

And the theme for today’s 3 readings that came up off the pages was the theme of community. We’re not in this to go it alone.

The first thing that hit me was the importance of welcoming one another, accepting one another. Then as I began to reflect, I realized that is not enough, so a second point came up: the need for growth and development, change, conversion, after the welcomes.

The doormat at the door that says “Welcome!” is not enough. Coffee and cakes, the “Hi John” at 12 Step meetings, they are not enough. They aren’t even the first step.

So my reflections in this homily will attempt to stress  two points: # 1) Welcoming and then more, # 2) Conversion.

Perhaps if I had more time and stayed with these readings a third and fourth point would emerge. But enough for now. 

Let me begin.

1) HOSPITALITY AND WELCOMING ONE ANOTHER

After telling us that everything in scripture is for our benefit, for our instruction, etc., Paul in today’s second reading from Romans 15: 4-9 says: Welcome one another. Accept one another.

It’s a basic principle in life that where there are “No Smoking” signs, people are smoking. Where there are “Quite Hospital Zone” signs, there is noise. Where there is “Please Pick Up After Yourself”, people are not picking up after themselves.

So if Paul is telling his listeners, “Welcome one another!”, people are not welcoming one another.

And we know from the letters of Paul, from Acts, from the four gospels, from life, people often don’t welcome one another. We shun those we don’t like. We don’t like people of different colors or religion from us.

I remember a woman named Ruth Duffy telling us in an Enneagram Workshop, that we are different fish and different kettles of fish.

There always seems to be restrictions – laws – rules and regulations.  The circumcised didn’t like the uncircumcised and if they wanted to be part of the New Covenant, they better get cut and snipped fast.

We need one another, so we better learn how to live with one another.

It’s not good to fly alone. It’s not good to go solo.

We’ve all read newspaper stories about pilots in small planes who have had heart attacks and thank God they were not flying solo. A person in the tower guides the other person, a passenger who went along for the ride and now they have to land the plane safely.

As scripture says, “It’s not good to be alone.” We need spouse, family, friends, acquaintances, co-pilots, people along for the ride, etc. We need community. We need group. We need church. We need each other.

Those who go alone on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho might get mugged.

Those who go together on the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus  might meet Jesus and discover him in the breaking of the word and the breaking of the bread.

So that’s the first point: the importance of not going it alone. We  heard in our training and formation in becoming priests, the old Latin saying,  “Vae soli ....”  “Beware of going alone!”

2) CONVERSION

But mere presence is not enough. We need to appear at the party in a new garment. As Jesus pointed out, we are invited to the party, but please wash up. Please show up in glad attire.

And later he’ll point out, “Change your hearts, not your  garments.”

Conversion is necessary! Welcoming another is not enough.

STORY OF SOLO

When I was reflecting on all this, I remembered a story that I saw on Discovery Channel. I am not sure if I’m merging two films or two stories together, but I think the name of the film was either “Solo” or “The Wild Dogs of Africa.

Maybe when I heard myself saying, “Don’t go it alone. Don’t fly solo” I thought of this.

A film team did a study on a pack of wild dogs of Africa. What I saw, really triggered some heavy feelings in me—about community—about how we humans can treat one another at times.

This male dog was king of the pack. He was the strongest dog and he had whatever he wanted. Well, he got this female dog, his dog pregnant. She was Queen, that is, till another female dog took over. She then drove the other queen away and became the Queen. She too got pregnant by the king.

The old queen had her litter of pups. I think it was 6 pups. Then a short time later, the new queen had her litter. Then the new queen went and stomped the old queen’s  pups to death—that is - all but one. The camera crew ended up calling her “Solo.”

The new queen also drove the old queen away—without “Solo.” She kept her in the pack, but every time “Solo” went for food, no can get. The new queen prevented  Solo from eating.  As a result, “Solo” grew up stunted. Then as the pack moved on for newer feeding grounds, Solo with shorter stunted legs couldn’t keep up with the pack. Eventually, she was nabbed by some other predator.

I never forgot that film. I think of it when I see human beings bullying other human beings.  We allow people in our communities, but sometimes we stunt them. We don’t feed them. We don’t let them grow and get nourished.

TODAY’S GOSPEL

In today’s gospel – Matthew 3: 1-12 -  the Pharisees show up for baptism, but they are not willing to change. They are doing it out of fear tactics. Putting on the garment is not enough. Change of heart is called for. The ax of conversion has to get to the root of things. That’s where we have to change.

TODAY’S FIRST READING

In today’s first reading from Isaiah 11: 1-10 - we have the same message. Mere appearances are not enough. If I were a lamb, I would not invite the wolf to dinner—unless I knew he changed his attitudes. Otherwise I might be the dinner. If I were the calf, I wouldn’t invite the lion to visit me, unless I knew he too changed his mannerisms. So too the cow with the bear and the child with cobra.

Unless we take the first step—the conversion step—and are willing to take all the following steps, we won’t have what Isaiah is calling us to.

The Gentiles won’t enter our home unless we change. Then they might appear at our doorstep looking for welcome and for life.

And when we change, when we get to the root of things, then shoots of new life will sprout from the stump. Then buds will blossom.

CONCLUSION

Those are some reflections from today’s readings. They could use some fixing up. I know that. I always find out what I am trying to say, when I have an audience. When I go it alone -  I usually crash more than this. Thanks for listening.

In conclusion, then, my message then is about community. We need to welcome each other because it’s not good to fly or go it solo. But once we are together we need to do some growing together. Amen. Come Lord Jesus!