POWER
INTRODUCTION
The title of my homily and thoughts for this 29th Sunday in
Ordinary Time [B] is: “Power.”
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, want power.
Question: are they everyone? Is that you? Is that me? Do I want power?
Answer: “Well, ah, ah, ah, yes, of course! But it all
depends about what?”
BUREAU OF
INDIAN AFFAIRS
There was a time there that I was interested in studying
about American Indians. Today they are called, Native Americans or the First
Nation People or we name them by tribes, Mohawk, Sioux, Algonquin, Coyote
people, etc., etc., etc.
I’m in Washington D.C. and I decide to go down to the
Bureau of Indian Affairs. I go up to the front desk and ask a woman there, “I’m
doing some studies about American Indians, is there anybody I can talk to with
some of my questions.”
It must have been a slow day because she gets on the phone - says a few things - and then hands
me a piece of paper with what room to go to and what person to see.
The guy was the top guy or next to the top guy and he
brings me into his inner office and I start asking questions about Native
American rituals, symbols, dances,
religions, etc., etc., etc.
I was asking him the why of what I was reading - the
“What’s going on?” with these folks.
And he says to me, “Power! It’s all about power. People
want power over nature, over life, over what’s happening.” “Men want power over other men.” “Men want
power over women.” “Hunters want power over animals.”
The guy was an anthropologist - had an American Indian
background and lineage - and had lived and served and worked in South Dakota on
a reservation. Since I was a priest he
said the Jesuits did fabulous work. He said, “Too bad they got bounced out of
some places where they were working.”
I walked out wondering about power.
Is that the main issue in life - in the church - in a
parish - in a family?
Is the main prayer in life, “My will be done on earth as
it is in heaven”?
JAMES AND JOHN
AGAIN
In today’s gospel they ask Jesus directly, “Teacher, we
want you to do for us whatever we ask of you?”
How’s that for a major life question?
Hey, other person, “Do what I want you to do.” “Be the
way I want you to be.”
Jesus replies, “What do you wish me to do for you?”
They reply, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at
your right and the other at your left.”
Interesting request!
This is the gospel of Mark - written earlier than Matthew.
In Matthew 20: 20 it’s the mother of
James and John who comes up to Jesus and makes that request. Did James and John
slip Matthew a silver coin to blame their mother for their embarrassing question
- especially when Jesus gives his answer - that it’s all about service, serving
and not being served?
IS THIS THE
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OR THE CLERGY?
Is this the history of the Church or the clergy - this
desire for top seats and top billing?
Is this the history of the world - the desire to Lord it
over others?
Is this where comedians laugh and celebrate, because here
is the spot for lots of humor.
“You want it when?”
Be careful of slipping on that banana skin.
I love the story a bishop from Brazil told us. There was this really pompous bishop - in
charge of everything - so at a major bishop’s meeting they put a whoopee
cushion under his cushion and all waited
till he sat. He didn’t laugh.
I used to love reading a Catholic magazine called, Critic, because it had great cartoons about churchy stuff. I hope
the priests and bishops were able to laugh at themselves in the cartoons - with
pot bellies and bishops with big pointed hats.
I’ve always thought that political cartoons in the papers
was a very important part of Freedom of the Press. The Church certainly needs
cartoons as well.
If you’ve been listening to the stuff about Pope Francis. He’s basically
saying to bishops and priests, it’s about service guys. It’s all about service
not selfies. It’s not about titles and garb and great seats.
In his recent visit to the United States, being in the Fiat flanked by
big SUV’s was not by accident. I’m sure the cartoonists loved the material Pope
Francis’ mannerisms and style. It’s easy to draw the pope mobile.
It’s about service - so enough with the robes and the glitter and the
glamor.
And this pope - like any pope - has to be ever aware of Lord Acton’s
quote, “All power tends to corrupt; absolute power
corrupts absolutely.”
I’ve noticed he calls himself the Bishop of Rome - not
supreme pontiff - and this does not go unnoticed by the Greek Orthodox Church -
as well as the Russian Orthodox church - and maybe the Anglicans as well.
Vatican II moved us away from the pyramid model - a top
down management style - to a circle model - that is a round table approach.
I’ve been hearing church commentators saying in the last 40 years there was
movement back to the top down pyramid model.
I’m hearing that Pope Francis is pushing for
decentralization once again. Right now I’m reading his encyclical on the
environment and ecology and I’m noticing
him saying, ”The bishops of Mexico or Japan or the United States or Germany or
Paraguay say ….” We have the synod of the family going on in Rome right now -
and we’ll see what that brings. It has some new voices - different voices - and
different powers that be.
I remember hearing a story about Cardinal Cook of New
York. He was at a big banquet and some lady had him button hooked and the
monsignori who were to sit at the head table with him were quite frustrated -
because they didn’t know where to sit on a round table - when the top guy
hasn’t sat down yet. He finally sat down and the boys quickly jumped into their
proper seats.
WHO
CARES?
I sense Jesus would say, “Laugh. Smile. Sit down and enjoy
the chicken.”
Better grab the waiters and waitresses and you feed them -
or at least see them as the key folks in the room. Wash their feet. Know their
names. Ask about their moms.
I love a story I heard Benedict Groeschel telling us in a
course he was giving that I was taking. Benedict died a while back - he could
be quite conservative - especially in his later years - but he was real and
real funny - and could poke good fun at everyone.
He was doing some work at a mental hospital - and he was
sitting at a round table with some of the psychologists and psychiatrists in
the place. Benedict asked them, “I’m sure you know who’s the most important
person here in this psychiatric hospital?”
Silence.
And Benedict points to this black woman behind the counter
serving food to all on her line and laughing and commenting to everyone. Benedict
then said he said, “Come on now, you all go to her for suggestions and advice,
to vent and to complain.”
And all were silent.
CONCLUSION
In the meanwhile we use our tricks to prove to the world,
“We’re great.”
But underneath we feel our weaknesses - our lack of control -
over each other and the weather and conversations and being understood. Hey we heard in today's second reading Jesus can sympathize with our weaknesses in all things but sin. [Cf. Hebrews 4:14-16]
Laugh at every time another cuts us off in the middle of a
story we’re telling because we triggered a similiar story in them. Or we’re cut off by a dog entering the scene or someone just ups and leaves us because they have to go to the
bathroom and we never seem to be able to finish our stories.
Enjoy having to work with each other as we get sweaty in
the arm pits or have spinach or that gunky white stuff stuck in our teeth.
