INTEGRATION MORE THAN  IMITATION

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 15^th Sunday in Ordinary Time [B] is, “Integration More Than Imitation.”

I’m wondering if I can pull off this homily on integration more than imitation.

Let me try. Let me try this way. I’ve deliberately made this a tiny bit shorter - just in case this is too complicated or too confusing.

FEAST OF THE MOST HOLY REDEEMER

As you know, we priests here at St. Mary’s and St. John Neumann are Redemptorists - and on the 3^rd Sunday of July - every year, we celebrate the feast of the Most Holy Redeemer.

We’ve been here in Annapolis since 1853. We’ve been in the United States since 1832. We’ve been in existence since 1732. There are about 5,300 of us around the world - in 77 countries. We getting older and fewer here in the United States, Canada and most of our provinces in Europe. We are growing in Vietnam, India, the Philippines, Poland, South America, Africa, Korea, Indonesia, etc.

We started out in the Kingdom of Naples in Italy. Our founder was a lawyer named Alphonsus de Liguori. After a disastrous loss in a law suit - because of a bribery on the other side or a mistake on his part, Alphonsus gives it all up and decides to become a priest. At the age of 30 he is ordained as a diocesan priest in Naples. All this caused much anger in his father, who had big plans for his oldest son.

For the next six years he worked mainly as a preacher. He exhausted himself. To recover, he  went on vacation to the Amalfi Coast - a great place to recover. While there someone tells him that there are goat herders and poor people up there in the hills whom no priest visits or cares about. He checks them out.

He knows  there are lots of priests in the Kingdom of Naples - but very few priests who want to work in the hills and small villages and with the migrant shepherds.

He gets the dream to be the one to do just that. He talks over his vision with some priests and friends. They agree to meet on November 9, 1732 in Scala, Italy - a tiny village just above the city of Amalfi - to start a new group in the Church. It’s the Feast of the Most Holy Savior, Jesus Christ - so that becomes the name of the group.

Most of the original cast of characters drop out, but Alphonsus does not give up his dream. He spends his time gathering a community of priests and brothers while preaching parish missions to the poor. They do this year after year after year - with the dream of getting approval with the local bishops and then with the Pope.

It isn’t till February 25, 1749 that Rome - with Benedict XIV - as pope - that the Congregation of the Holy Savior is approved. However, since there already was a group with that name - those doing the approval in Rome changed our name to the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. In Latin that’s Congregatio Sanctissimi Redemptoris - C.Ss.R. for short - like S.J., stands for the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits.

IMITATION NOT INTEGRATION

In the papers and the rule and the documents that Alphonsus sent to Rome with two of his priests, Rome didn’t get a key idea of Alphonsus: integration with Christ - not imitation of Christ.

To get our rule approved different folks in Rome made changes in the text that Alphonsus had drawn up. They said that, “The aim of the Institute of the Most Holy Redeemer is to bring secular priests together who will live in community and apply themselves to imitating the virtues and example of our Redeemer Jesus Christ especially  through preaching the Word of God to the poor.”

In that statement of purpose, the word imitation is stressed: Redemptorists are to imitate the virtues of Jesus Christ.

In preparing this homily yesterday, I noticed in a book on the life of Alphonsus - entitled, St. Alphonsus Liguori - Tireless Worker  for the Most Abandoned by Theodule Rey-Mermet, a distinction was made between imitation and integration. I do hope you get the distinction - otherwise this sermon flops.

Let me give the whole quote from that book - because that is where I got the theme for this homily: “Concerning the aim of Institutes, the overriding attitude of the time was this: ‘Every institute has two goals: The first is the sanctification of its members, and the second is the sanctification of the people and the good of the Church.’ ‘No,’ Liguori had said, ‘[our goal is] not a “mixed” contemplative-active life, but a Christian life, in the style of Saint Paul: “Yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me" [Galatians  2:20]. I live Christ the Redeemer if I am a Redemptorist.’ It was a question of integration and not of imitation. The bureaucratic minds could not comprehend this simple idea formulated by Alphonsus but inspired by the Holy Spirit. So Alphonsus accepted this text backed by the pope’s authority, more than thankful that approval had been granted; but the word imitation is to be found nowhere in the letter he addressed to his sons.” [1] [2]

WE KNOW THE DIFFERENCE

We know the difference between imitation and integration.

In the beginning we imitate. In time, we integrate.

So in learning the piano or how to play baseball or lacrosse or to dance or to play bridge, we watch another and then we imitate them. We go through the motions.

In time, if we buy what we’re imitating, it becomes us. It becomes second nature. That’s integration.

In 1969 I was assigned to a retreat house to do high school retreats. So I showed up a few days early to watch a priest named Eddie do a high school retreat. Then I took over. It took me a few years to really figure out how to give a high school retreat. I imitated what  this other priest named Eddie did, but in time I was on my own - with another priest.

I would assume that people who enter our R.C.I. A. program come to Mass and the sessions - and then start imitating being a Catholic at first - but in time it becomes them.

I would assume that marriage works the same way. People go through the motions of what people who live together do - imitating their parents - and what they saw others do - but hopefully the relationship deepens and becomes real.

SO TOO WITH CHRIST

So too with Christ.

We say prayers;  then we pray prayers; then we move into communion with God - and for us Christians - in and through and with Jesus Christ.

We say that Christ is our Savior and Redeemer or what have you. All words - till we get them into our bones and into our being.

If we get this, then we start to get what St. Paul is saying in many of  these second readings at Sunday Mass - much of the year.

We preachers pass over Paul a lot - well I know I do - because he can be heady and difficult - but St. Alphonsus doesn’t. He gets Paul.

For example, in today’s second reading from Ephesians, Paul is telling us that we have been blessed in Christ, chosen in Christ, before the foundation of the world. [Cf. Ephesians 1: 3-14]

That’s profound. Every person - every person is known by God. Every person is on God’s radar screen. Every person is known by name by God. Every person has been redeemed  by the Blood of Jesus. Redemptorists want to spread that message to everyone - especially those who are missing out on experiencing this Good News - because no one sees them as valuable folks. 

In the deepest marriages - a couple realize - even though - we are incomplete people - weak at times - strong at times - sick at times - healthy at times - rich at times - poor at times - we strengthen each other - we grow together - we were meant for each other. That’s integration.

If we get these profound realities, if we integrate these blessings, these graces, these riches, then we can rise as redeemed people.

CONCLUSION

This integration is what Alphonsus called those who followed him to hear, experience, and then bring to other folks, especially those who feel abandoned by God and others, especially those who feel all alone - the poor me’s of the planet. The Redemptorist preaches: "You are  known and loved by Jesus Christ! God can grow you - redeem you - and bring you into the deepest depths of God." 


Ooops. I forgot to mention that our motto is: "Copiosa apud eum redemption." It's from Psalm 130: 7: "With him there is fullness of redemption."

OOOOOOOOO

Picture on top: St. Alphonsus de Liguori [1696-1787]

[1] Confer pages 439-440  in Theodule Rey-Memmet, St. Alphonsus Liguori - Tireless Worker for the Most Abandoned, Translated from the Second French Edition by Jehanne-Marie Marchesi, English Edition prepared by the Staff of Liguori Publications, New City Press, 206 Skillman Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11211.

[2]  When Alphonsus uses the word "sons" he is not referring to having his own children, he didn't, but to members of his Redemptorist Community.

SIN

Quote  for  Today - July 15,  2012


"You can't put your sins behind your back until you face them."


Anon




Questions:

Looking at your life, is there any ongoing destructive behavior that you're not facing?


Looking at the quote above, has that been true for you?

MEMORY

Quote for Today  July 14, 2012


Memory: "A hidden cord that is touched when we listen to our friend's original stories."

Cynic's Cyclopeaedia


Questions:


Can you bite your tongue when listening to another - and really hear their memory without jumping in with your stories at other's first breath or pause?


Can you hear another's story and calmly ask the other some questions that further clarifies or enhances their story or memory?

SCAPEGOAT

Quote for Today - July 13,  2012


Scapegoat: "Someone who has to be there when things go wrong."




Eugene E. Brussell


Questions:


When was the last time you saw scapegoating taking place right in front of your ears?


Have you ever been the scapegoat - the one being blamed for a mess-up?


Have you ever accused another for doing something you knew they didn't do - or it might have even been your fault?


Do you ever spot this going on in political advertisements?


Have you ever spotted this in kids - in the playground or at school or at home?

COMPLAINING

Quote for Today - July 12, 2012




"Lyndon [President Lyndon B. Johnson] has a clock inside him with an alarm that tells him at least once an  hour to chew somebody out."




Anonymous friend of L.B.J.


Questions:

Are you like Lyndon B. Johnson or are you like the person who has the alarm that calls you to compliment  at least one person every hour?


Why would anyone approach a complainer or a fault finder - sensing they would then be on that person's radar screen?

FINGER POINTING

Quote for Today - July 11,  2012


"A reformer is one who insists upon his conscience being your guide."



Anonymous






Questions:

Do you have anyone who is always on your case?

Do you have anyone who is always correcting You?


Do you have anyone who wants to reform you?


Do you have anyone who is a "religious nut" - whom you try to avoid at all costs?

SOW THE WIND, 

REAP THE WHIRLWIND

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “Sow the Wind, Reap the Whirlwind.”

It’s from our first reading for today. It’s Hosea 8:7.

“Sow the Wind, Reap the Whirlwind.”

I have heard that saying from time to time, but I never took the time to think about it.  


A question:  can I put in words, just what the proverb is getting at? 


So that’s what I decided to do last night for this short  homily this morning - for the 14^th Tuesday in Ordinary Time.

MEANING

I assume that this saying from Hosea means: there are consequences. I assume it means: don’t mess with Mother Nature.  I assume it means: think before you speak or before you leap. I assume it means: Don’t go there! I assume it means: Don’t open Pandora’s Box.

Proverbs  11: 29 has a similar  message,  “He that troubles his own house shall inherit the wind.”

EXAMPLES

Last week during the wind storm, someone opened our back door. In flew 1,000 old leaves that must have been desirous of  a new location. Once inside they flew everywhere till the door was closed. 


Have we ever had one of those portable window screens rattling because it was really windy outside. We think: remove the screen and then close the window. So we open the window a bit and the wind rushes in - and things go flying.

If you get a dog, who’s going to feed her or him - who’s going to take him or her out to do his duty?  What are you going to do when vacation time comes?

If I buy a sailboat, then ….

If you send in a check for a religious charity, expect a whirlwind of mail.

If I make a suggestion, guess who’s going to be asked to carry it out?

A man called up his neighbor at 3 AM and yells into the phone, “Your dog is driving us crazy. We can’t sleep.” Then he slams down the phone. The next morning at 3 AM the neighbor who got the call the night before calls the person who called the night before and says, “I don’t have a dog.” He then gently hangs up.

Drink or take drugs and then drive - or drive with a cell phone in hand - be ready for possible problems ahead.

Haven’t we all been at a gathering - for coffee - or a family picnic - and someone brings something up and we scream inwardly, “Don’t go there!” Sure enough someone goes there. “Sow the wind; reap the whirlwind.”

SO THE IMAGE IS IN OUR SCRIPTURES

One of the images of God in the scriptures is the wind. It’s invisible - but we see the trees shake. We see the balloon fill up. Then we hear it pop - but we don’t see what was in it. Then we do see  the red, blue, yellow pieces of the burst balloon fall to the ground.

In the Old Testament the invisible God is pictured as a Gentle Breeze. We know what that feels like on a hot day. We’ve seen images of what a tornado or hurricane can do to a house. We know what the winds do with fire in the forest. 

In the gospel of John, Jesus talks about the Holy Spirit as wind.

We pray, “Come Holy Spirit!” when we want light, insight, help in making the right decisions.

We’re told to breathe - and breathe - deeply - when we  might be in panic mode.

In today’s gospel, we meet someone with a demon. We can relate to this person, because we all have our personal demons. When they cause inner storms, it's then we need to ask Jesus to suck them out of us - and then pray that Jesus breathe fresh air and new life into us.

When in doubt, pause, catch your breath and breathe.

When in doubt, pause, hesitate, talk to a third party - before storming out of the room to go and tell someone off - who has been driving us crazy.  Otherwise, things might get even worse. As the saying goes, “Sow the wind; reap the whirlwind.”

CONCLUSION

Sometimes shut mouths, shut windows, shut doors, prevent howls and horror shows.