December 2, 2016

UNDERNEATH

Much, not all, is underneath,

like gum under a church bench.

There’s oil underneath, so too a treasure -

buried - because robbers were near.

So too your feelings - buried beneath -

underneath your kind words to me.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2016

THE CHOICE

IS ALWAYS OURS

INTRODUCTION

What I would like to speak about is “The Choice Is Always Ours.”  “The Choice Is Always Ours.”

That’s the idea that struck me when I read today’s gospel. Jesus gives us a choice. 

I can be the type of person who builds my house on rock or the type of person who builds his house on sand.

“The Choice Is Always Ours.”

I have a choice. 

It’s sort of like a black and white way of seeing life and approaches to life and its choices.

And it’s a good way at times of approaching life.

“The Choice Is Always Ours.”

ADVENT

Advent is a time—one of those times we can step back and see life and its choices in a hard fashion—in a black and white way and to see life with its contrasting choices.

To see the basic choices of life and the basic choices we are making with our time and with our life.

Moreover Advent is not just waiting and then reflecting. It’s also a time to see if I need to make some newer moves in my life.

So that I can not just be the one who gives gifts at Christmas, but that I myself can be a gift that I give others at Christmas: myself, a better me—not just the giving of money or a shirt, but to give the people of my life, to my family, to my community, my parish, wherever I am, a better me. It’s cheaper, but it’s also tougher.

That I can be the best gift, not Chevas Regal or diamonds or the best new toy on the market.

MY TOPIC

So that’s my topic today. That’s what I want to preach on.

“The Choice Is Always Ours.”

A new me or the same old me.

“The Choice Is Always Ours.”

This is a black and white way of looking at all this. It’s sort of like the white snow and the dark trees of December. It’s sort of like the white moon and the dark lake.

Now it’s simplistic. It’s not complicated. And life is complicated—very complicated.

Life is infinitesimal details—like the details in a space shuttle—astronautically details. 

But by that very reality, sometimes it’s smart to be simple, to cut things down to “yes” and “no” realities. This way or that way realities. Make things black and white. And of course, you can scream, “Wait a minute. Things are not that simple. Things are not black and white.”

Right! But sometimes to learn we have to make things black and white—just giving two choices—not allowing us to have a big menu.

It’s contrast. Jesus preached that way quite often. 

So let’s begin—using images, poetry, pictures that Jesus used. Let’s take some time to ask basic questions, using some basic meditations, some basic considerations about life, some basic choices in life.

“The Choice Is Always Ours.”

BIBLE

Let’s begin by turning to the Bible. It’s loaded with lots of contrasting images that we can bring to prayer and bring to thought—lots of contrasting images that will help us see in stark black and white colors either or choices for how to live and do life.

And thank God Catholics are turning to the Bible more and more as a prayer book—as a source book for thinking and meditation.

What used to be a source of division now is a source of prayer for all Christians.

(Problems will always remain with the Bible, but as we were taught, only about 10 % of the Bible is a problem. 90 % is excellent for prayer and reflective reading.

Vatican II said to open up the treasures of the Scriptures for the faithful—quoting St. Jerome, “Ignorance of the Scriptures is Ignorance of Jesus Christ.” 

So thank God for the increase in Bible reading. There are various Bible courses in person or on tapes or in books. Reflective reading of the Scriptures here in Church in front of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, in the presence of the Word made flesh dwelling amongst us. 

I find myself using the Scriptures more and more for sermons, whereas before it was the movies, songs, books, the New York Times, Time magazine, etc.  

FIRST IMAGE: HOUSE - BUILT ON ROCK OR SAND?

Today’s gospel gives us the choice to build our house on rock or to build our house, our future,  on sand. [Cf. Matthew 7: 21-24-27.]

This is the first image I want to focus on. There are many more.

If I build my house on rock, I hear the word of God, put it into my life, then I’m building a strong future. When the storms of life hit me, I’m okay. I don’t crumble. The phone rings, the cancer is announced. The tragedies hit and I stand firm, because my house is built on rock. 

But if I don’t put the word of God into my life, don’t even consider or reconsider it, then I’m building my house on sand.  I’m living a wishy washy life. 

So the choice is building my life on quick sand - living a quicksandish type of life - dying a  quicksandish kind of living.  

So which is more me? When the phone rings or there is a knock on the door, when there is a message of trouble, a death in my life, a new appointment that is a disappointment, will I fall apart or not fall apart based on what my house was built on. Can I handle the storms and stress of life? Can I handle conflict in my life or sickness or temptation? So it’s obvious if it’s on sand my life falls apart. Rock or sand? 

“The Choice Is Always Ours.”

NEXT IMAGE: A TREE THAT PRODUCES FRUIT OR ZILCH

Or as Jesus said once, I have a choice to be a tree that produces fruit on a tree or a tree that just takes up space. 

The fig tree, the orange tree, the apple tree that gives fruit, that’s putting out, that’s what we are being called to be.

Then there is the person who just sits there doing nothing, nothing but cross word puzzles or is a cross with his or her words to the rest of the family or work space—just taking up space, doing nothing. 

“The Choice Is Always Ours.”

So I can be a good tree or a bad tree (Matthew 12: 33). How’s that for a black and white image. We know trees by the fruit they produce or don’t produce. What am I? A provider or a waste? A giver or a taker? When I walk into a room, what do I create? What conversations do I provide? 

Do I say to others, “Take a break? I’ll do the dishes. I’ll put out the garbage. I’ll take care of supper.”

Or am I a rotten apple?

By their fruits you shall know them.

“The Choice Is Always Ours.”

NEXT IMAGE: TWO SERVANTS

The first servant is the good guy or gal. She or he wears the white hat. She or he is considerate. She or he is kind. She or he listens. She or he understands.

The second servant is the bully. Bullies push people around. They yell. They use their voice to control. They are moody. They are selfish.  They are drunk. They try to control everything. They are  lazy and stick others with the tough jobs. They cause problems.

Which servant am I? Forgiving and Unforgiving servant? (Cf. Matthew 18: 21)

“The Choice Is Always Ours.”

NEXT IMAGE: WISE VIRGINS OR FOOLISH VIRGINS?

This used to be called the parable of the 10 virgins. 5 were foolish; 5 were wise. The foolish were unprepared; the wise were prepared. They brought enough oil. You never can be sure when the bridegroom is going to show up. You have to be prepared, because you never know.

The world could end in 2017 or maybe it’s 35,982. Who knows? Ready or not, here it comes. It’s earthquake time. It’s accountant time. Make an accounting of your stewardship.

Which is more me: wise or foolish?

“The Choice Is Always Ours.”

NEXT IMAGE: THE WAY - NARROW OR WIDE?

Another two that Jesus uses is the way or the road: do I take the narrow or wide path?

Do I want to be the person who is walking the narrow way, the back road. This road can be curvy, dangerous, rocky. It’s the road that we can’t see too far ahead. 

Or do I want to spend my life on the wide road that leads to destruction—the 4 lane highway that is crowded, the obvious road to take. According to Jesus it’s the road  that leads to death.

The narrow curving winding way that seems dead, the road not taken,  leads to life? 

The wide way has lots of stuff along it—lots of stores and amusements and attractions, that seem so life giving. The wide road has lots of signs, fewer pot holes, plenty of stores and shops with lots of stuff.

I saw on TV once a man walking down the street with lots of bags, suitcases, camera bags, lots of stuff and he comes to a narrow door. He turns in and tries to get in through that door, but he can’t fit because of all his stuff. He won’t put them down, so he gives up and  goes on. The camera keeps focusing on the half open door as the man goes down the street.  Just then a little kid comes running up the street and he fits right in through that narrow door way. He has nothing. The voice in the background was giving the Sermon on the Mount about the two ways—but I could hear Jesus saying, “Unless you be like little children.”

Do I accept Jesus as the way, the truth and the life? 

“The Choice Is Always Ours.”

NEXT IMAGE: WHEAT OR WEEDS?

Do I want to be wheat or weeds? [Cf. Matthew 13: 24) Wheat that can become bread, that can become food for our table, or even the Body of Christ. Our body in service to others. 

Or do I want to be weeds—weeds that are just taking up space? Useless. Just watching TV, sleeping, wasting my life,

Wheat or weeds? 

“The Choice Is Always Ours.”

NEXT IMAGE: SHEEP OR GOAT?

Do I want to be a sheep or a goat? Sheep or goat?  

“The Choice Is Always Ours.”

The sheep is the one who always gives. He or she is aware of the sick. They visit the hurting, the lonely. They are aware of who’s who and what’s what and they go out of their way to help the one’s who need help.

They call up the forgotten or they write them a letter. They make their day. Or they take a walk or drive to see the sick. Or those who are lonely or in prison with problems trapped, stuck, caught, or thirsty or hungry or naked.

Or we can be a goat—doing none of these things— doesn’t see the hungry, thirsty, naked, and the only one one he feeds or gives a drink to is self. Visits himself, cares for himself, warms himself, when he’s sick he takes good care f himself. 

Amen. As long as you did it to the least of my brothers or sisters, you did it to me.

Sheep or goat? “The Choice Is Always Ours.” 

NEXT IMAGE: YEAST OF THE PHARISEES & SADUCEES—OR YEAST OF JESUS

Which is more you, the yeast of Jesus that helps all rise or the yeast of the Pharisees and the Sadducees that is rotten? (Cf. Matthew 16: 5)

ADVENT

Advent I think it’s a good time to look at our life this way. To see it in black and white contrasting choices.

Do any of the many images I already mentioned grab you?

GOLDEN BRIDGE

A man was telling me on a retreat once that he went to a hypnotist who was know to be able to help people lose weight. He felt he was sick and tired of himself being overweight and that he had to try something new to lose weight.

And the example that the hypnotist gave him was that of the Golden Bridge.

And the guy lost weight and when he came on retreat he had to tell me his story and he told me about the Golden Bridge and said that I might want to use it in a sermon some time.

The hypnotist said to close one's eyes and picture a golden bridge over a stream or river of water.

Picture land on one said and land on the other side and water right down the middle separating the two pieces of land and the golden bridge connecting both sides.

On one side of the bridge put oneself as we are with our present patterns, our present patterns of living, of eating, of sleeping, of exercising, drinking patterns, how we use our time and our life and our energies, how we relate to our family, how we do our job, oneself as we are, exactly as we are right now.  

Now see oneself on the other side of the bridge as we would like to be: thinner, exercising, being nice to people, eating lots of salads and not junk food, sleeping right, walking, trim, smiling, happy. See oneself healthier. Whatever way we dream we would like to be, less cholesterol, less triglycerides, living longer, moving faster, etc.

Next step back a distance and see both sides of the bridge at once. Like a tennis game, move

our head back and forth. Compare oneself on every aspect of our life. Really give both choices a real good look. Even use a piece of paper and draw the whole thing.  Describe oneself  A and B. Contrast oneself.

Then make a decision which side of the bridge we want to live on. 

“The choice is always ours.”

“The choice is always ours.”

And if we choose the healthier side, the thinner side, the more alive side, we'’ll feel the tension of wanting to go back, like those crossing the desert, wanting to be back in the flesh pots of Egypt. And we’ll actually go back over, but we best admit to oneself and be honest with oneself. 

Well it worked for this guy who told me his story. He lost weight and he felt much better about himself. 

I thought it was a good example. One can use it for drinking problems, sexual problems, anger problems, jealousy problems, sleeping problems. Any problem.

I said to the guy that I’d use it for a sermon and here it is, I’m using it.

What kind of a Christian am I?

What kind of a person am I?

“The choice is always ours.”

THEOLOGICALLY

Theologically we could work in grace - growing gracefully.

We can let grace build on our nature.

We have some choices here. 

We can ask in prayer with and through Jesus that we receive and cooperated with the graces we need in all this. 

We can ask Jesus Christ to be  the bridge.

Or we could ask Christ to come from the other side - Paradise - onto our side of the bridge.

We can ask Jesus to be The New Adam to lead us the Old Adam and Eve back over the bridge back into the Garden, 

We can ask Jesus - the new Moses - to take us his people out of their Egypt and head us for the Promised Land.

CHRISTMAS TREE PEOPLE OR APPLE TREE PEOPLE?

I heard this same idea of contrast and choice in a Christmas sermon a few years back. It was an example that I never forgot. I stole it and used it a few times. The guy said he heard it from someone, so if anyone is stuck for a sermon you too can use it.

The example is this. 

We have a choice of being a Christmas Tree person or an Apple Tree person. 

The Christmas tree is beautiful when we look at it in our living room. It stands out. It’s all decorated. It has lights. It’s well dressed. It’s decorated. And then people come and put presents at its feet

But in reality, if we think about it, it’s dead. It’s a dead tree. Or sometimes it’s fake or artificial. It just stands there and does nothing. It just receives. It doesn’t give. People do for it. They put lights on it. They make it glitter. But it’s still dead.

And after Christmas it’s thrown out—to be burned. It has no use—except perhaps for fire wood, but it’s not that great even as fire wood, going up in a quick blaze—or it’s artificial, it disappears for another year—sitting in the basement or a closet in a box—doing nothing.

But the apple tree is alive. In the spring it gives blossoms. It gives a beautiful smell to the air. In the summer it gives shade and beauty and hope. And in the fall it gives apples—food. And it does this over and over and over again, steadily through the years—without saying a word. A tree has no mouth. 

So which would we rather be: the Christmas Tree Person or the Apple Tree Person?

“The choice is always ours.”

QUESTIONS

1) Which of the images of Jesus says the most to me about myself? 

          a) Wide Gate or Narrow Gate?

          b) Good Tree or Bad Tree?

          c) Good and Faithful Servant or Bully Boy?

          d) Wise Virgin or Foolish One?

          e) Sheep or Goat?

          f) House on Rock or House on Sand?

2) What words of Jesus do we find hardest to take—not understand, something we know exactly what he’s talking about, but we don’t like because it’s too tough? E.g.:

- deny very self,

- forgive 70 x7 times,

- turn the other cheek,

- forgive your enemies,

- I was hungry and you fed me, etc.

3) If we could take one message, one parable, one saying, one story of Jesus and have it as an advertisement on prime time TV for a week, which one would we pick?

4) What words of Jesus would we want printed on our tomb stone? if we could do that, would it be something that sums up our life? Would it be something that sums up our death?

Would it be something that is for us and what we wish we could do with our life, our dreams? 

CONCLUSION

During this Advent, why not take some time out to look at our life choices? Our life. What kind of a person am I:

Sheep or Goat?

House on Rock or House on Sand?

Wheat or Weed?

Wise Virgin or Fool?

Big Highway Person or Little Way Person?

Christmas Tree Person or Apple Tree Person?

Which side of the Golden Bridge do you live on and what side of the Golden Bridge are you living on right now?

  

“The choice is always ours.” 

December 1, 2016

DECEMBER  IS  DIFFERENT

December is different.

To be honest, in December

we get less work done. No sweat ….

But we get a lot of other things done:

parties, shopping, reaching out,

being with people we might have neglected -

or have lost touch with for a while.

So there is the call or the card, a visit,

a connecting, a gift, a tip,  a surprise!

December is different.

Nostalgia, memories of Christmas past…. Days

are darker.  Jingle bells, Christmas carols ….

Cold moves into our bones a bit much.

And then there’s the Christmas story 
underneath it all. It can get lost, but 
it’s there. There are jokes about the 
Catholic who goes to Mass at least once 

a year. Yet that person gets it - that 
Christmas has the word “Mass” in it -
there at its end. Christ’s Mass = Christmas.

Life is all about food [bread], drink [wine],
gathering and sharing table talk, Good News
with each other - and giving the gift of
ourselves - our body and blood to and
with each other: Eucharist each day.

December is different.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2016

November 30, 2016

I CAN’T

I can’t run like a cheetah….

I can’t twist my neck like an owl….
I can’t scamper or climb a tree like a squirrel….

I can’t jump out of the water like a whale ….

I can’t fly and glide like a hawk….

I can’t dive like an osprey….

I can’t make monkey sounds ….
I can’t be a fly on the wall….

I can’t do a beach dance like a sandpiper ….

I can’t change my colors like a chameleon …..

I can’t grab like a lobster or a crab ….

I can’t hibernate like a grizzly bear for 7 months….

I can’t hide like a mouse …. Well, sometimes….

So I can know what I can’t do as well as
what I can do. Can others?  How about you?

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2016

SEEING  THE  STUMP 

OR 

SEEING  THE  SHOOT? 

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “Seeing the Stump or Seeing the Shoot?”

Did you hear the opening sentence in today’s first reading for this Tuesday in the First Week of Advent, “On that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom”?  [Cf. Isaiah 11: 1-10.]

Say that 10 times and say it fast….

It’s the optimist - pessimist question: seeing the glass half empty or seeing the glass half full.

We’re walking through the woods.  We spot  a stump. It must have been at least a 3 feet  thick tree.  It’s gone. It’s been cut down. And all that is left is the stump. The rough, varying, circles tell us that the tree must have been around 100 years old. If we look at and study the concentric circles in the stump long enough, it tells us the good years and the bad years - thick and thin years.

What do we see when we see a stump?

Do we see and feel an “Ooooh!” or an “Aah!” Do we sense an emptiness? A stately tree was here and now it’s gone. Does the stump feel like a tombstone made of wood? Or are we more a romantic - and picture the wood from this tree is now a chair or a table or part of a house - maybe even a church bench or two?

ISAIAH THE DREAMER

Or do we see what Isaiah saw?  He saw a shoot  sprouting from the stump.  He saw the cut down tree as a symbol of Israel. We had our losses  - our failures - our bad days - but we have hope for new days -  a new life - a new future - a new hope.  He saw a future.

He saw the Spirit of the Lord rest upon stump - that was still alive - still sprouting a shoot - of new life.

He sensed the Spirit - the presence of God - giving off  a spirit of wisdom and understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord.

Isaiah saw that stump - with its shoot and its new life.

He saw a new way to judge - not by appearance -  but by justice - fairness - what is right.

He saw creation - in the  great scenes of nature - all around him - in a new way. The wolf will be the guest of the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the young lion will browse together - and a little child will guide them. He saw The Peaceable Kingdom - just as Edward Hicks [1780-1849] would see it in his time: the cow and the bear shall be neighbors - the little child shall play by the cobra’s den.

What do you see when you see a tree stump? Do you see the dead stump of death or do you see the tiny green shoot sprouting off the dead stump?

Today’s gospel gives us another beatitude: “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see…."
[Cf.  Luke 10: 21-24.]

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

Sometimes if someone sees they are dead, finished, just a stump, then they stay as is.

Sometimes when someone sees something small and good sprouting new life in another. they experience  hope. Then if they express that wonderful surprise they see in another to that person, the other starts to sprout wings and they fly.

A grandmother gives a great compliment to a granddaughter - whose mother and father are disgusted with her - and never encourage her -  and the granddaughter wakes up - she loves doing craft art and she who has dropped out of high school - gets her GED - and gets a job in a co-op that    not only puts out great work - but also allows for apprentices to learn crafts and skills that the old folks know and teach.

A 45 year old welder loses his job - and thanks to a friend who knew he did great work - he started a new job - with a third more pay - and better benefits - and he starts turning out even better work.

A 25 year older dropped out of the family’s religion for centuries - being a Catholic - didn’t think our religion makes sense - etc. etc. etc. - stays with his grandfather for a year - because Nana had died - and starts to see in his grandfather that some religious practices  and God make sense.

A couple are on drugs - get married, get pregnant, and get serious. The thought of having a new baby - wakes them both up - big time - and their parents can’t believe the change.

CONCLUSION

The title of my homily for today was, “Seeing the Stump or Seeing the Shoot?”

New life can sprout from what was thought to be dead stumps.

Advent is a season of these kinds of hopes.   It’s a time to see how Jesus sees.

November 29, 2016

COMEDY OF ERRORS

Sometime there - when we’re audience -

when we’re watching life from our

playpen or high chair or even the floor -

we start to learn that life is a comedy:

a pork chop falls off a platter  - our mom

grabs it from the floor - washes it off, fast,

throws it on the frying pan for a moment -

puts it back on the platter as she heads

for the crowd at the dining room table.

Or we see a dog grab a hot dog right

out of a bun at a picnic and nobody sees

it but us. So too an uncle sneaking some

bourbon or our mom looking at everyone’s

cards when someone’s answering a phone

call - and everyone else heads for the

bathroom or for some chips and it’s her

chance at the card table to see what cards

the others have. Hey whatever it takes….

Life: a comedy of errors - spilled pork -

cheating at cards - a secret sip of bourbon -

a stolen hot dog - mistakes, sins, laughter.

I hope. I hope. I hope. Hey God sees it all.

Isn’t that what the nuns taught us? And

did they ever go to the bathroom? And

did they have hair under those bonnets?

And God’s creations have volcanic eruptions.

Hippos in mud. God, is this how - it all works?

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2016

LORD, I  AM NOT WORTHY 

THAT YOU SHOULD ENTER 

UNDER MY ROOF….

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this First Monday in Advent comes from today’s Gospel, “Lord, I Am Not Worthy That You Should Enter Under My Roof….”

They put that formula in those words back into our Mass a few years back - so when we come to that moment before Communion today, let’s say it with strong gusto.

TODAY’S GOSPEL SCENE

A centurion - a military man - in charge of 100 soldiers - has a paralyzed servant. He hears about Jesus the Healer. He finds Jesus. He approaches Jesus and asks him to cure his servant - from a distance - from right there - right now.

Jesus says, “I will come and cure him.”

The centurion says he knows about authority - giving orders - snapping fingers - and things happen  - so why can’t you simply do it now - from here - and save your steps from going to my house? Besides that, I’m not worthy that someone like you should enter under my roof.

Jesus is amazed at these comments. He  sees that this man has faith - about how things work - so Jesus heals the man’s servant from a distance.

Don’t we ask God from a distance to cure us - to save us - to help us?

THE UNWORTHINESS

The thing that hits me in this whole story is  the feeling of unworthiness. It’s right there as part of the story - part of the conversation - part of the communication with Jesus.

There is something in us - sometimes  - when we feel unworthy - out of place - out of sorts - with certain scenes and situations and persons.

We show up at a dinner - and everyone is dressed up - and we’re not. “Uh oh!”

People are on the road…. It’s Sunday morning. They find out where a Catholic Church is. They go to Mass in jeans and a Ravens jersey - and everyone in this small Southern Town - is wearing suits and dresses to Sunday Mass. The strangers get a feeling of “Uh oh!” or “Oh no!” They feel out of place and out of sorts.

Years ago,  a priest I know,  told me he was preaching one Sunday - in  the Cathedral church in Trenton, New Jersey, the state capital. In his sermon he spoke out against Capital punishment which was a hot topic in the papers at the time.

There he was after Mass - on the sidewalk - shaking hands with folks as they left church that morning. A man in a suit comes up to him - and says, “Thanks a lot, Father  with your comments against Capital Punishment.” 

The priest says, “What do you mean? Who are you?” 

He says, “I’m the governor and this was one gruesome murder case - that people on both sides are protesting about. Evidently, you’re very aware of it.”

Then the governor says, “You also mentioned the football Giants in your sermon this morning, do you want to go to the game next Sunday?”

“Sure,” the priest says.

“Good,” the governor says “Be at my house next Sunday at 11:00 AM for brunch and we’ll drive to the game after that.” 

He shows up next Sunday at the governor’s house in his Giants jacket and jeans. Everyone is in gowns and suits for the brunch. He told me that he felt really  stupid or out of place in his attire.

Then after brunch they get into stretch limos in the same outfits and  head for Giants’ Stadium.

Nobody changed clothes.  They wore gowns and suits as they watched the game from  the governor’s box. He said he felt dumb all day long.

There’s something about this feeling of unworthiness  - that we experience from time to time.  Have we ever had a similar experience?

OF COURSE

Of course, we have. It’s part of being human.

Of course this is all about inner worthiness….

Of course this is all about inner dirtiness.

Of course this is about sinfulness - and it’s used at every Mass when preparing for receiving communion at Mass.

As you know there is a fight going on now with some Cardinals and the Pope about receiving communion when someone is divorced and remarried etc. etc. etc. and how we can be more pastoral for folks who have had disasters in their lives?

The pope wants more study and discussion on these questions.

If you read Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation, The Joy of Love, Amoris Laetitia, you know about the controversial Chapter 8.

Where are you on this question?

I’m more on the so called “liberal” side with all this.

However, I personally think it’s good for people to hesitate before coming up to receive Holy Communion - perhaps because we’re in the middle of a family feud and we won’t forgive a brother or a sister about something.  I sense that’s the background of Jesus’ comment in the Gospel of Matthew when Jesus says, “If you are bringing your offering to the altar and there remember your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, go and be reconciled with your brother first, and then come back and present your offering.” [Matthew 5:23-24]

That’s from Matthew - and having read the gospels over and over again down through the years, it’s been my sense that Matthew is stricter than Luke.

It’s my sense that some people are stricter than other people.

I see this in struggles people have with Pope Francis.

Some want more cleanliness….

Some want a smaller - a more neater - more cleaner Catholic Church.

Some are more understanding of sinners - than others.

Pharisees are not just in the gospels.

Where are you on all this?

A GREAT EXAMPLE: THE PARABLE OF THE WEDDING BANQUET

A great example is the difference between Matthew and Luke when it comes to telling the story of the wedding banquet.

A king plans a great banquet for the wedding of his son - but the invited don’t show. So the king sends out his servants to invite everyone you find - to the banquet - people by the roadside or people in the back alleys.

In Matthew a guy shows up after being invited to the banquet - out of the blue - but the king has him tossed out into the street - and he grinds his teeth - because he didn’t go get better clothes for the banquet. [Cf. Matthew 22: 1-14.]

When Luke has Jesus telling the parable, it’s about a man inviting lots of people to a banquet - and the invited don’t show - so the man tells his servants to go out to the streets and alleys - and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame - and fill my banquet hall.  There is no mention of how they dress and how they look. [Cf. Luke 14: 15-24]

So that’s why I say Luke seems more lenient.

When he describes the prodigal son coming home and being hugged by his father - even though he’s dirty and smelly - hey he was working in a pig pen -  but there the father says, “Clean him up - and get him some better sandals and robes.”

CONCLUSION

So that’s some semi-baked thoughts about this question of unworthiness - and here we are in God’s House - this church - at this banquet.

It’s worth pondering - for both now and for hereafter.

At the age of 77 I’m thinking of the next life - more than when I was 55.

When we die, will there be a purgatory - a cleansing - of course that’s our Catholic teaching - but what will it be like?  

I’m hoping I’ll be in paradise that very day I die. I want to be like the Good Thief - sweaty, blood, messy, but loved enough to hear Jesus say, “Today you’ll be with me in paradise.”

And by the way that scene is in Luke as well - Luke 23: 43. It’s not in Matthew 27: 38 - nor Mark 15: 27.

And when I come into paradise, I’m hoping Jesus will add, “Good move, Good thief.” 

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Painting on top: Paolo Veronese, Healing of the Centurion's Servant, 16th Century