Homily – 6th Sunday of Ordinary Time – “What is the Truth?”

Sirach 15:15-20

1 Corinthians 2:6-10

Matthew 5:17-37 

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           Have you noticed a rising tension in our culture?  How angry we’ve become?  How intolerant we are of the views of others?  How divided we are as a nation?   Our battle lines are drawn between the truth -- as we see it.  This is most prevalent today on social media.  Some of the anger is caused by an explosion of fake news or partisan news posing as the truth.

The truth Jesus is sharing in today’s Gospel made a lot of people angry in His day. The truth of God can do that to some. 

But what we see online is not the truth of God. It’s the exact opposite. 
          We continue to live in a world where the truth is turned upside down, twisted and distorted – many times for political reasons, not Gospel reasons.  

Relativism is tearing at the very fabric of society. It’s a cancer eating away at the soul of our great nation.

The best way to understand the concept of relativism is to remember that famous conversation between Jesus and Pontius Pilate found in John’s Gospel:

So Pilate said to him, ‘Then you are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say I am a king.  For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.’ Pilate said to him, ‘What is truth?’”

In a nutshell, this conversation is EXHIBIT A of the concept of relativism. 

“What is truth?” 

The danger with our world today is this:  “I have my truth. You have your truth. Everyone in the room has their own truth.”

So, we can see why Pontius Pilate was tempted to throw up his hands and say, “What is truth?” 

For Jews, the Law was the truth as defined by God, the “revelation of God’s will, a kind of divine blueprint for action” in life. The Pharisees and Scribes were known for their strict adherence to the law, but Jesus is challenging us all to go even deeper in our understanding -- to the heart of the matter.  

He‘s just finished sharing the Beatitudes during His Sermon on the Mount when he turns to the Law of Moses.

Jesus is talking the truth here.  Not the surface level, superficial truth, but the deep down truths. The truths about how we can sometimes carry God’s law in our hearts; hearts that are filled with our angers, our prejudices, our lusts, our justifications, our fears.

These deep down truths are what’re bubbling to the surface in today’s divided culture, causing much anger, hatred and division.

The latest hot-button issue dividing Catholics is the Trump Administration’s Executive Order on immigration and refugees.  The travel ban is currently on hold.

Our Bishops had something important to say on the matter days before a temporary halt was imposed by a Seattle judge, writing:

“Though many of its features are temporary, we are deeply concerned about the effects of the Executive Order. We have both a right and a duty to protect our borders and our citizens; at the same time, we have a responsibility to come to the aid of those who seek a better life, with their families, in our wonderful country.

United with all U.S. Bishops, we will continue to safeguard and maintain the well-being of those entrusted to our care. We will continue working with our government to bring about a just and effective solution for all who have fled persecution, violence and poverty in order to build a better life for themselves and their families.” The Bishops full letter can be found in today’s Bulletin.

The Bishops are speaking the truth here, albeit an unpopular truth in some quarters. 

Here’s the truth about our Catholic faith on these issues (A special shout-out to prominent Catholic writer Fr. James Martin for this).

            “I am Pro-Life.  That means that I’m also pro-social justice.

That means that I am not only for the dignity of the human being from the moment of conception, but also for the dignity of the human being until the natural end of life. For life does not end with birth. A person who is truly Pro-Life is Pro-all Life, Pro-every stage of Life, Pro-every stage of Life for every person. For all life is sacred, because all life is created by God.

That means I support caring for the marginalized among us: the refugee, the migrant, the displaced person, … minorities of every kind who are persecuted, and all those who feel left out, mocked, lonely, ignored or frightened.

That means that when any particular group is targeted, as refugees and migrants have been recently, I feel a responsibility to speak out, as much as I can… I am against silence in the face of injustices visited on others.”

This is the truth about our Catholic faith.  We don’t get to pick and choose like a cafeteria what is our truth as Catholics.  No, we are called to embrace the truth of Jesus, live this truth and share the whole truth about our Catholic faith.

Sadly, we live in a culture more focused on politics than on the truth.

Some who get angry about relativism of faith sometimes relativize or turn a blind eye to social justice issues (“Jesus said, the poor will always be with us”).  They want their politics to align perfectly with their faith. 

Some who get angry about social justice issues want to relativize or turn a blind eye to the evils of abortion or euthanasia.  They want their politics to align perfectly with their faith. 

Problem is being Catholic means not being fully Democrat, not being fully Republican. For our faith has aspects appealing to both major parties. But a hyper focus on politics will miss the message of Jesus completely.

This is what Jesus is talking about this weekend. How we allow our human politics to get in the way of God. The Scribes and Pharisees were notorious for doing this, too.    

In his series of Screwtape Letters, noted Christian author C.S. Lewis foretold our democratic society’s penchant to be led down the primrose path of polarizing politics and the anger that would follow. 

Reviewing this 75-year-old letter, one contemporary author says it perfectly reflects what’s happening in present day America.

C.S. Lewis was asking this important question many years ago, “Are we becoming the democracy Hell wishes us to be?” 

Here’s what C.S. Lewis wrote:

“For ‘democracy’ or the ‘democratic spirit’ (diabolical sense) leads to a nation without great men, a nation mainly of subliterates, full of the cocksureness which flattery breeds on ignorance, and quick to snarl or whimper at the first sign of criticism.  And that is what Hell wishes every democratic people to be.”

Please tell me if this doesn’t ring true when reading the excessive vitriol and unfettered anger found online, much of it caused today by fake news or partisan news found on social media.

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Here's an excellent graph for discerning political slant of your news source
Fake news comes from sources on far left and far right

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Are we sharing the truth online?  Are we spreading the Gospel?  Or are we spreading ignorance, lies and misinformation? 

Is this what Jesus calls us to do?    No!

As we heard from the Book of Sirach, “he has set before you fire and water to whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand. Before man are life and death, good and evil, whichever he chooses shall be given him.”  

Bishop of Rome Emeritus Benedict shared something meaningful about living the truth of Jesus Christ prior to being named Pope.

As Cardinal Ratzinger, he gave the following homily during the 2005 conclave: 

“All people desire to leave a lasting mark. But what endures? … The only thing that lasts forever is the human soul, the human person created by God for eternity.  

The fruit that endures is therefore all that we have sown in human souls: love, knowledge, a gesture capable of touching hearts, words that open the soul to joy in the Lord.  

So let us go and pray to the Lord to help us bear fruit that endures. Only in this way will the earth be changed from a valley of tears to a garden of God.”

Homily–2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time–“Who is my Neighbor”

Isaiah 49:3,5-6

1 Corinthians 1:1-3

John 1:29-34

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Perhaps lost in the holiday hustle and bustle was something all Catholics are called to read, reflect on and take action.

In mid-November, the three Bishops and Archbishop of Washington released a Pastoral Letter entitled, “Who is my Neighbor?   The Face of Poverty in Washington State.” (Click on LINK to see Archbishop/Bishop's letter and other materials)

The Bishops are expressing their concern that poverty is reaching “crisis proportions.” Our Archbishop and his fellow Bishops are calling on all people (Catholic and non-Catholic) to take direct action in solidarity with those who are homeless, mentally ill, addicted and hungry.”

            I’m reminded of something we saw on the streets the other night while serving our homeless brothers and sisters.

            This beautiful act of human compassion was done by someone right here in our own parish community. Perhaps you know him?

Or at least have seen him over the years.  His name is Kevin and he lives on the streets.

            I’ve heard young people refer to Kevin as skinny Santa Claus due to his long white hair and beard.

            What he did will touch your heart.

Kevin is a baptized Catholic. He used to be an altar server back in the day.  That’s why he comes to Mass each week.

His baptism makes him Priest, Prophet and King in our Christian faith. His Catholic faith is what prompted him to lovingly do what he did.

Kevin has been sanctified in Christ Jesus, and is called holy; as St. Paul reminds us we all are in today’s Letter to the Corinthians.

He is a servant through whom God shows His glory, to use today’s words of the Prophet Isaiah.  Kevin is a light to the nations, helping show how God’s salvation reaches to the ends of the earth.

Today, our Church pulls out the Gospel of John showing John the Baptist baptizing Jesus in the River Jordan.  As John is baptizing the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world,” he sees, “the Spirit come down like a dove from heaven and remain upon him.”  John is the first to declare Jesus the Son of God. 

What did John the Baptist look like?  The bible says John was dressed in clothing of camel’s hair and a leather belt.  “John's hair was very long… with a (long) beard.”  John also lived homeless, feeding on whatever he could find; mostly locusts and wild honey.

This description sounds like a homeless person in today’s society. This description sounds a little like our friend and fellow parishioner Kevin.

John’s sole role was to prepare the way of the Lord, help call people to own up to their own sinfulness and to wash away their sins in baptism in the River Jordan.

John was committed to social justice and the plight of the poor and called his Jewish brothers and sisters to hear their cries and act.

The tradition of our own two-thousand year old baptism rite comes directly from what John did to Jesus and others. 

Back to the Bishops letter, we the baptized and especially “those who enjoy material necessities of life” are called to “stop and look into the face of poverty” and “recognize that ‘the poor’ are not strangers. They are our sisters and brothers, members of our human family.”

            We are called to learn from the poor. Enter into relationship with the poor. Advocate for the poor. And serve the poor.

            The Bishops said this, “Some things are best addressed by individuals, families, churches and charities; but when problems such as homelessness, hunger, drug addiction and mental illness are common to every community, it is A just and reasonable expectation that society will act cooperatively to address these problems.” 

The Bishops added, “It is not our intention to prescribe specific policy options, but to propose a moral basis for determining whether public policies serve justice.”

So what are we Catholics asked to do?   Advocate “on behalf of those who lack the basic rights of food and shelter, access to health care, a living wage and education and to ask difficult questions and search for solutions.”

            We are called to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, walking with, loving and healing those on the margins, those who are outcasts.

            In Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis said, “I want a Church which is poor and for the poor. They have much to teach us. ... We need to let ourselves be evangelized by them.”

            This quote kicks off the three-page Pastoral Letter.  You’ll find the letter in today’s bulletin.

            As Pope Francis reminds us, the poor “have much to teach us… We need to let ourselves be evangelized by them.”

            And that’s exactly what Kevin did. He evangelized our homeless outreach group the other night.

            We arrived on an evening when temperatures were in the mid-20s.  Kevin was under a bridge in his sleeping bag. Next to him was a young man dressed only in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt; no coat, no blanket, no food.  He was freezing.

            The man was clearly going through withdrawals from a drug addiction.  Kevin was talking to him and trying to get the man to stay by him.

            Our group arrived with a car loaded with FEMA emergency blankets, food and water.  We spotted Kevin and grabbed blankets to help keep him warm in the frigid weather.

            The young man refused blankets and didn’t want much to do with us. He was pretty out of it.  But Kevin insisted we give a blanket to his neighbor, and food and water. We did as Kevin commanded. And watched as he lovingly took care of the man.

            A group of Everett high school students, including a young parishioner from our community, were out that night handing out bowls of hot chili to our friends on the streets. 

            This scene should help remind us of what the Bishops letter is all about. We are all neighbors.

            We are all called by God to love our neighbors as ourselves. It is not our place to justify ourselves by asking what the scholar of the Law who tested Jesus asked, “And who is my neighbor?”

As we recall, Jesus shared with the man the story of the Good Samaritan.  While the priest and Levite (or deacon) passed by the man beaten by robbers and laying on the side of the road, the Samaritan, (an outcast in the Jewish world) stopped and tended to the man.

When the scholar of the Law is asked by Jesus, “Which…, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?”  He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

 “Who is my Neighbor?”

Kevin knows.  The young people from Everett High School know. 

The question from our Bishops is do you?

And even if you do know, what direct action are you going to take to help with this crisis?

Homily–3rd Sunday of Advent – Great Expectations

Isaiah 35:1-6a,10

2 James 5:7-10

Matthew 11: 2-11

For years, my wife and I would return to her family home in Spokane during the holidays and we’d always have a great expectation for a big snow storm. The kind Mary experienced as a child growing up in eastern Washington. The kind I experienced a few times as a young boy growing up here in the Puget Sound area and several times while in college in Pullman.

Our great expectation was to go home, spend time with family at the holidays, and experience a giant snow storm. 

But, alas, it never happened. In all years we would go to Spokane at Christmas to visit with Mary’s dad, mom, sister and brother, big snow would be in the forecast. But it would never fall.

What great expectation do you have in our life?

A peace-filled Christmas season? Reconciliation with an estranged loved one? A cure for a disease your spouse is battling? 

John the Baptist had a great expectation, too.   As the herald of the Messiah, his great expectation was that Jesus would be the chosen one to unite and lead Israel and bring about the reign of God.

John declared to the people, “I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals.” 

John knew his whole life that Jesus was the Messiah. He even knew in the womb.

Yet, this week, we see an imprisoned John, depressed and disillusioned and wondering if, in fact, Jesus is the chosen one.  Many Jews in John’s time were expecting a great political or military leader. Jesus is anything but. 

Jesus echoes today’s first reading from Isaiah to remind John (and all of us) what the reign of God looks like:

“the blind regain sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the Good News proclaimed to them”

Merciful healings, wholeness and re-creation of all things; Jesus reminds us to look for all these signs to see what the reign of God looks like in our own lives. 

Scholars say, “Jesus defines his role as not of sovereignty or judgment, as expected, but as one of blessing on the needy.”

Blessing on the needy is how Jesus – how God – shows His love for us.  

We are all needy or poor in spirit at times… in desperate need of God’s love.  Many times God comforts us in beautiful ways.

When the Kingdom breaks into our human existence – God’s intervention is seen in wondrous things. This is a saving God who brings new life. The one referred to by the Prophet Isaiah today.

Just as “the desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will rejoice and bloom,” God’s love for us dawns in our lives in radiant beauty.

Not that we will be cured of our physical ailments. But we will find comfort. And we will see wondrous things!

The Letter of Saint James reminds us we must both be patient and prepared for the coming of the Lord.  

John’s Father Zechariah understood the joy of so great a salvation as he penned his powerful Canticle foretelling his son’s and Jesus’s role in our salvation history.  This is the son he thought he’d never have. Zechariah and wife Elizabeth are rewarded for their patience.

This is what he said in his Canticle, a prayer prayed by all Catholic clergy, religious and some laity every day in our morning prayer:

“You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God, the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death and to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

 

At first glance, you might think this passage is about great expectations parents have for their child. But if you look closer you will see it’s really about the great expectations people have for God.

The coming birth of Jesus is the dawn of God's reign.

Dawn is coming.  And darkness will be driven away soon by a holy light.

 In November of 2002, Mary’s dad Jack was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumor. He was given just a few months to live.

But those few months miraculously turned into an entire year allowing Jack’s family to show their great love for him and say goodbye.

A year after his diagnosis, we gathered in Spokane on Jack’s final Christmas and celebrated as a complete family one last time together. It was a beautiful, joy-filled gathering.  One we all will remember forever.

As we said our final goodbye and left Spokane a few days after Christmas, Jack went to bed and never woke up again. He died on December 29^th, 2003.

We got the news the day after we drove home and immediately piled our two sons back into the car to return home to Spokane.

We arrived to a house filled with great darkness, sadness and pain. 

As we started planning the funeral, the weather forecast suddenly changed. Snow was coming our way. Meteorologists were predicting a major snow storm. We tried not to get our hopes up.

On the morning of New Year’s Eve day, the snow began to fall, and fall, and fall.  By noon, it was a near whiteout blizzard; dumping like we’d never seen before.  Over the course of 18 hours, nearly three feet of snow piled up in Spokane.

We took our boys to a favorite sledding spot behind nearby Whitworth College for the first time. As Mary, sons Sean and Connor, sister Beth and brother Danny cascaded down the steep hill, we all rejoiced in this long awaited great expectation of big snow.

  It’s one of our most cherished family memories. And it was a light that came during a time of great darkness, a time we were comforted by our loving God in a breathtaking way.

The big snow lifted our spirits allowing us the grace to experience faith, hope and love as we commended Jack’s soul to our heavenly father at his funeral a few days later.

 On this Gaudete Sunday, as we rejoice in the expected coming of baby Jesus, may your great expectations be fulfilled.  May you find what you are seeking in the coming of our Lord and savior.  May you experience the loving comfort of God in your time of need.

And may the coming birth of the Messiah be a reminder that love is the greatest expectation of them all. And Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s great love for us.