WORDS  AND  ACTION 

INTRODUCTION

The title of homily for this 3^rd Sunday of Advent (B)  is, “Words and Action.”

The heart of Christianity is, “The Word became flesh and walked amongst us.”

Do you agree with Gandhi and so many others – that Christianity is a too, too -  “Talkie-talkie” religion?

E.M. Foster in his 1924 novel, A Passage to India, has someone make that dig about ”poor, talkative, little Christianity”.

There is a temptation to be one sided: too much talk – but we can also sometimes be too much action – that is mindless motion – mindless action.

Each of us has to ask ourselves if we are all talk – or if we are too mechanical?

Each of us has look at ourselves – and look at our life and be truly honest – whether or not we put into practice the old principle: “Action speaks louder than words.”

We’ve all heard the words – “Walk the walk. Don’t just talk to talk.”

Which is more me: walkie or talkie?

BAR MITZVAH

I was at a bar mitzvah in a Jewish synagogue this year. I sat there noticing once more how much a synagogue is like our churches. There are the benches and the aisles.  There’s the sanctuary.  In the sanctuary there is a table or altar. Up front there are the  steps to a raised platform – called the “bimah.”

Up on that bimah or raised platform up front, I spotted the tabernacle – or ark. Above that there is the “ner tamid” or light or eternal flame.  

After the ceremony started I saw the young person – Adam – going up to the ark  – the box – that holds the Torah – of first 5 books of the Jewish Bible. The rabbi opened the cabinet door. He took out the scrolls. He handed it to the kid who marched with it to the pulpit. He then read a passage from the Jewish Scriptures.

TODAY’S GOSPEL

Every time I read today’s first reading from Isaiah, I think of that scene – in various bar or bat mitzvahs I’ve been to.

At every Mass we have the moment of the reading of the scriptures – the word.

We also have the moment at every mass – at the consecration - when we believe the words become flesh and dwell among us.

In our tabernacle – we keep the bread. We have there the body of Christ – that is preserved for those who bring the bread to the sick.

Out of that adoration has come – but action – service is central.

Just as at the end of every Mass – we are sent out into the world – as the Body of Christ - to bring Christ and his love to our world.

Christianity is not just a religion of the word – but it’s also a religion of the flesh.

Action.

So the call of Christianity is not just to be word – but that the words become flesh,  body, real – in us.

The call of Christianity is to hear the word – say yes to the word as Mary was challenged to say – and then become Christ.

TALK IS IMPORTANT – BUT TALK IS TALK

Talk is important, key, real.  Of course – but talk is talk.

A Christian community needs to talk  - to have meetings – but we better not be talk, talk, talk.

A Christian community needs to plan – to map out action steps – but then they have to become flesh – otherwise we’re all talk.

Goethe or someone came to the end of his life and asked, “Tell me. Did I ever finish anything?”

JESUS

Jesus talked – gave us sayings and stories – but he was off on action.

He said, “Not everyone who says, ‘Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom, but it’s the one who does the will of my Father.”

He knew about babble that people thought was prayer.

He knew about people running to and from the temple – but didn’t spot the brother or sister on the road needing help.

He talked about a son whose father asked him to do something and that son said, “Yes!” but then didn’t do it – but  his brother who said “No!” then went out and did what the father asked him to do.

In today’s first reading from Isaiah – we have the words Jesus was handed that day in the synagogue in Nazareth:

         The spirit of the Lord God is upon me,

         because the Lord has anointed me;

         he has sent me to bring glad tidings  to the poor,

         to heal the broken hearted,

         to proclaim liberty to the captives

        and release to the prisoners,

        to announce a year of favor from the Lord

        and a day of vindication by our God.

Then we hear Jesus going out and doing all that.

Talking to talk, then walking to walk.

DON’T COMPLICATE LIFE

If I hear anything about Pope Francis it’s right here.

Rules, plans are important – but they have to be pastoral.

They have to be of service to the people – not knots to knot up their lives.

I hear him calling our church to simplify, simplify, simplify – to help people live out the Christian Calling – not just talk in the Christian.

I hear him calling our church not just to know the words of Christianity – but to know the Word Jesus Christ – to be like Mary – saying Yes – a word, yes, to God – then becoming pregnant with Christ – and then bring him into our world

And we start with Christmas – making baby steps – and as the church year goes on year after year after year – we go and grow our faith and our relationship to Christ.

CONCLUSION

The title of my homily was, “Words and Actions.”

Let me sum up my homily is, 14 words:

“Don’t talk about love, show me.”

“Don’t talk about Jesus, show me Jesus in you.”