THE TONGUE

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 6th Saturday in Ordinary Time is, “The Tongue.”

In today’s first reading from James 3: 1-10 - I see one more reason to say, “If you want to read the Bible, start with the Letter of James.” I like to say, “If you don’t get James, if you don’t feel challenged by the Letter of James, you won’t get stuff that’s not as clear as James.”

MATCH BOOK

We all know what a match book looks like. Question: How many matches are there in one match book? Answer: The regular match book has 20 matches in it.

Next picture opening book of match book and seeing 20 red tongues.

Then realize that those 20 red tongues can start 20 fires - or more.

James says just that. The tongue can ruin someone - burn someone - hurt another big time.

James says that the fire of the tongue can cause as much damage as a fire.

The wrong word can burn another.

But don’t forget the paradox: the right word can heal another.

MEDITATION

So this Letter of James can get us to meditate and reflect upon our own tongues - our own words - and the impact we make on one another - to build or to burn.

Agree or disagree? “In nine times out of ten, the slanderous tongue belongs to a disappointed person.” George Bancroft .

Agree or disagree? Do life’s two biggest regrets have to do with words: words spoken and words that we forgot to speak?

Agree or disagree: “The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.” Harriet Beecher Stowe

I know there are conversations I didn’t have with my dad - that I wished I had. How about you - what do you say to loved ones when you stand at their grave, see their photo, pick out their memorial card from your prayer book?

I know there are sermons and comments I made that I wish hadn’t made. I know there are sermons and comments I could have said in another way.

The human tongue is a powerful fire as James is telling us in this first reading today.

CONCLUSION: THE BODY MORNING PRAYER

Tongue: stick your tongue out of your teeth a tiny bit and bite it for a moment each morning and while biting it, say a prayer that you use your tongue well that day - that you say something that helps another and you say something that hurts another.

Ears:  touch your ears for a moment each morning and ask the Lord that you might hear good stuff about people this day.

Eyes:  touch your eyes for a moment each morning and ask the Lord that only see the good things people do for each other this day.

Hands:  touch your hands for a moment each morning and ask the Lord that you reach out your hands to help someone this day.

Feet:  touch your toes or tap your feet for a moment each morning and ask the Lord that you walk away from gossip this day instead of spreading bad news about others.

Mind:  put your hand on top of your head for a moment each morning and pray that today you think good thoughts, plan good deeds, and good words come out of your mind and mouth. Amen.

QUALITY 

NOT 

QUANTITY

February  18, 2012

Quote for Today - Eighteenth Day of Black History Month

"Too often
the educational value
of doing well
what is done,
however little,
is overlooked.
One thing well done
prepares the mind
to do the next thing better.
Not how much,
but how well,
should be the motto.
One problem
thoroughly understood
is of more value
than a score
poorly mastered."

Booker T. Washington [1856-1915]
 
On top 1940 Postage Stamp - Booker T. Washington

FAITH AND WORKS

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 6th Friday in Ordinary Time is, “Faith and Works.”

Today’s first reading - James 2: 14-26 - is a famous text of the New Testament - and fro theological discussion it’s worth being aware of it.

It has triggered for some the great “Faith and Works” controversy.

Luther called this text of James “straw” - compared to Paul’s writings on faith in Jesus as our Savior.

BIBLICAL TEXTS AND CHURCH TEACHINGS


If one gets into theology, one gets into conflicts and controversy.

As I thought about the “Faith and Works” question, I tried to see what principles have worked for me. I thought to myself, “Could I put them into writing. Let me start with 3 principles.

1) A text out of context is a text out of context. When people start arguing religious questions, out of our mouths come Bible texts - which triggers other Bible texts. So some people then say, “A text out of context is a pretext.” I’m saying here: “A text our of context is a text our of context.” That should be less argumentative. So if someone is arguing with you - using Bible texts - smile. Offer them a glass of cold water if they come to your door or a cup of tea or coffee - if they are in your house. If they want to argue with you using Bible texts, best of luck. I would simply say, “Am I correct that your mind is made up on this?” If they say “Yes” then talk about the Ravens or the weather. If they continue with a Bible text simply say, “A text our of context is a text out of context.”

2) Outside the Bible there is light. If you’re a Catholic, you would know that we hold that there are sources of light outside the Bible. This does not mean that the Catholic Church is not Biblically based. It means that there are traditions and teachings, councils and creeds, some of which have risen out of conflicts amongst various Christians about meanings of words in the Bible etc. So Catholics hold up to the light both the Bible and the Bible in light of Traditions that arose afterwards, etc.

3) If minds are made up, minds are made up. If one person says the curtain is blue and the other person says it’s purple, why argue? If one person says President Obama is a secret Muslim, why argue? If someone says, “The Catholic Church is wrong on this!” and you see their hands are fists - and their face and whole skull is a fist, why argue?

SOME IF’S - BACK TO JAMES 2: 14-26
Now back to today’s text from James 2:14-26..

If Luther and various protestors thought that some Christians - united to Rome - thought that some people thought they were buying eternal salvation by a money donation, then Luther and others thought that was going on. And they protested.

If Catholic Church theologians thought and taught that Jesus is the one who saves us - not ourselves - they thought that - while not necessarily thinking the money thing.

If Jesus and Paul thought that some Jews were thinking that keeping the Law with all its tiny details - will keep us in God’s good graces - and save us - and in the meanwhile they are cruel to their parents or what have - using loopholes in the Law, Jesus and Paul disagreed with the Law saving us idea. [Cf. Mark 7: 1-13; Romans 7]

If James saw folks in his community not doing any work or making any effort for caring for the poor and the hungry or those who were freezing cold - and in the meanwhile they are saying they have faith in Jesus Christ, then he’s saying they have a misguided understanding of life and faith.

If Luther and others don’t think they have teachings, understandings, ideas, policies, theologies - about what Bible texts mean and don’t mean and these teachings and understandings are not in the Bible, but they believe come out of the Bible, they need to step back and realize that. If they won’t admit this, don’t argue. It isn’t worth it. One has to realize that reality. Protestant communities have teachings, their own popes, councils, theologies that are part of their tradition.

CONCLUSION

In the meanwhile, hopefully all Christians realize that Jesus is our Savior - and we can’t buy heaven - as well as an eternal life - our resurrection after we die. It’s totally out of our hands.

However, hopefully, in the meanwhile, we lose ourselves - die to ourselves - so we can help others rise - and lead a great healthy life, here - as well as hereafter.

I HAVE A VISION 

February  17,  2012

Quote for Today - Seventeenth Day in Black History Month

"Have a vision. Be demanding."

Colin Powell [1937  -      ]

I’M 

PARTIAL

Today’s first reading [James 2:1-9] - the reading for this 6th Thursday in Ordinary Time - triggers the topic of partiality. [1]

Fill in the blank: I’m partial to _______________.

Starbucks, summers, butter almond ice cream, lacrosse, mornings ….

If I limited the blank to people, who would make our list?

Today’s first reading begins: “Show no partiality!”

James, the writer of today’s letter, spotted something that happens in many churches - many schools - many teams - many places of work: partiality.

In his church James must have seen someone come in with gold rings and things and fancy clothes - and the ushers said - or the leader said, “Come right up here Mr. Bo Jangles. We have a nice seat for you up front.” Then in comes a poor person with shabby clothes and he is told to “Stand back there!” or “Sit at my feet.”

That’s partiality.

You know the saying, “In the land of the blind, the one eyed person is king or queen.”

If we were all living in the land of the blind, how would we show partiality? Would it be by accent? Speech? The sound of our voice?

If we were all deaf, dumb and blind, how would we show partiality?

Would it be scent? Would it be touch? Weight? Height?

If you’ve watched Animal Channel you know about Alpha Males. You know how one animal takes over. So when we talk about animals, we talk about partiality.

If you’ve watched Discovery Channel you know about the dominant female monkey in a cage - the one who is queen - has shoulders thrown back - while the other female monkeys hunch a bit in submission.

If you read the Gospels you know all the sheep are important - even the lost one - the one out of communion with the rest. [2]

The title of my homily is, “I’m partial!”

Humans flaunt their looks, their wealthy, their gold, their marks, their cars, their athleticism, their talents - to show they are in the upper part of humanity.

Jesus didn’t like this separation stuff - this pedestal stuff - this non-communion stuff.

At times I hear people wanting to block communion - block union - in the community of churchgoers.

The follower of Jesus works on being open to all people - saints and sinners - who’s who? - being there for all people - serving all - washing feet - and greeting all - trying not to be partial or to show partiality.

God is not partial.

All are God’s creations.

For some it doesn’t seem to work that way.

Just listen to people. God is not fair. Life is not fair. Why am I so short?

Why does so and so have such and such?

Then there is paradox. The scriptures seem to say the poor are God’s favorites. The Psalm response for today is: “The Lord hears the cries of the poor!” [3]

The poor say, “You’re kidding God. You’re kidding.”

Then there are the paradoxes. Of course we are partial to the members of our own families.

Of course we are partial to our own kind.

Of course we are partial to those we’re comfortable with.

Of course we are partial to those our own age.

Of course we play the game. You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.

We know what our teachers want - what answers they want us to give - what behavior they want to see.

People do the same thing to each other all around the world. “Whatever you want boss!”

Hey it’s the Golden Rule isn’t it.

Yet the call - the message - the hope is still there: to be impartial.

The Christian reaches out to all people.

The Christian tries to learn the language and skills of reaching out to all people.

Jesus pushed this and look where it got him.

He says the cross is what’s going to happen in Jerusalem - and Peter takes Jesus aside and says, “Are you crazy?”

And Jesus - who chose Peter - who made Peter his key guy - who gave Peter the keys to the kingdom says to Peter: "Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."

Keep on being part of Jesus - who brings us into communion with the Father and the Spirit. To abide - to travel with Jesus - to our Jerusalem - and we’ll be learning these things. It’s called “discipleship” - not a bad ship to be on.

******

[1] This was a homily for our St. Mary's High School young people this morning over at Marian Hall.

[2] Read Luke 15

[3] Read Psalm 34: 2-7

GRAVITAS

February  16, 2012

Quote for Today - Sixteenth Day in Black History Month


"I gravitate towards gravitas."



Morgan Freeman [1937-  ]

RACISM

Febuary  15, 2012

Quote for Today - Fifteenth Day of Black History Month

"I detest racialism, because I regard it as a barbaric thing, whether it comes from a black man or a white man."


Nelson Mandela