SECOND CHANCES
INTRODUCTION
The title of my homily for this 29 Tuesday in Ordinary Time as well as the Feast of Sts. Isaac Jogues, John De Brebeuf and Companions is, “Second Chances.”
Sometimes – not all the time – we are offered second chances.
I guarantee you if you took a look at all the boats in Annapolis waters, you’d find a boat named, “Second Chance.” I’ve seen “Second Wind!”
Sometimes – not all the time – we are given second chances.
Sometimes we say the wrong thing. “Ouch!” and we live to regret it.
Sometimes we are given a second chance.
Some people are more forgiving than other people.
Sometimes after stubbornness or stupidity, people see and experience second chances. Resurrection is a possibility.
ISSAC JOGUES, JOHN DE BREBEUF AND COMPANIONS
Today we celebrate the feast of Saints Isaac Jogues, John de Brebeuf and Companions who were killed trying to bring Jesus and his Good News to Native American Peoples.
If they did their preaching today it would be different – especially because they are Jesuits. I say that based on their and other’s missionary work in Asia and the Southern Hemisphere.
Sometimes – not all the time – we are offered second chances – to do it different – and better – having learned by our experiences.
Today there is more listening – more respect – more awareness of the cultures of the people being visited by missionaries.
Today – some – not all – try to hear the people being visited – and they are evangelized by the culture and wisdom the native persons have to offer to the missionaries. The first step is to listen. The second step is to learn. The old model of: Observe, Judge and then Act is observed by some.
The hope is still the same as today’s first reading [Ephesians 2: 12-22] – to introduce Christ anew to our world – to bring those far off to Christ – to knock down walls – so that we can discover Christ – the Trinity – already and yet to come – in the place being visited. Jesus – the Incarnation – keeps coming into our world.
Vatican II grasped this message anew in its documents and decrees on missionary activity – for example Ad Gentes [1965] – as well as Lumen Gentium [1964]. We are now some 50 years later – and some Christian theologians of Latin America – Africa – Asia – have been developing these understandings – listening and learning from the culture of those whom the Church keeps reaching out to – keeps leavening.
Sometimes some scream at Asian and South American theologians when they do this.
Sometimes there is dialogue. Sometimes there are walls. Sometimes there are second chances.
Sometimes heads don’t have to roll. New martyrs are not necessary.
Of course hindsight is sometimes 20 – 20. Sometimes hindsight leads to foresight.
In case someone wants to scream at what I just said, I’ll give you a second chance to read Paul’s visit to Athens – as told in Acts 17 – and when he spoke to the Council at the Areopagus. He said that he walked around town and visited their holy places and found an altar with the inscription: “To An Unknown God.” Then he said I proclaim to you this unknown God whom you worship without knowing it.
Some in Athens said we’ll hear you later – at some other time; and some laughed at him and said, “Goodbye.” [Cf. Acts 17: 32]
He wasn’t killed in Athens. He didn’t end up starting up a Christian community in Athens. There is no Letter to the Athenians in the scriptures. There are in Corinth, Ephesus and Rome. He made the most of his second chances.
The history of life is assimilation and adjustments – struggles with darkness with mornings of light and insight.
The history of theology is often rejection of new ideas – or new looks at old stuff.
Early Church theologians like Clement of Alexandria used Plato to understand the revelation of Christ coming out of Judaism.
Augustine dabbled in a lot of different thinkers before he came to Christ.
Aquinas learned Aristotle by discovering him through Avicenna, the Arab-Muslim philosopher and physician. Aquinas got in trouble – but in time, people saw his wisdom and brilliance.
Life is second looks, second chances, sometimes.
CONCLUSION
Life is described in many ways. In today’s gospel the metaphor is a wedding banquet. Luke has Jesus telling us to be like those waiting for their master’s return from a wedding – so that when he arrives and knocks on the door, we will be open for him.
Sometimes we’re sleeping. Sometimes we’re foolish.
Today’s first reading and the Vatican Council announced the call of all to holiness. Wherever we are, whatever condition we’re in, Jesus often talked about second chances – better sometimes there are 70 times 7 chances to be forgiven and to start again. It’s never too late to hear the call into the vineyard or to enter the kingdom at the last hour. Amen.
Picture on top: St. Isaac Jogues and Companions
Comment: this is a first draft homily. Last night after reading the readings and thinking about Isaac Jogues and missionaries, this is what I came up with. I like preaching - because it often forces me to address questions that I have not been listening to. In this case: Theology of Missions. Theology of Evangelization. I am not aware of what discussion and dialogue is going on in India, Thailand, Africa, etc. concerning respect and understanding of the people the Church hopes to evangelize. This homily triggered for me areas where I am quite out of touch, etc. How about you?
