Eternal Time: Reflections upon the works of the Catholic composer Olivier Messiaen

“What comes from the organ is invisible music, propelled by wind, yet whose instrument gives no sign of activity, and whose player normally cannot be seen. Organ music symbolizes and makes real the contact between the mundane and the eternal.Indeed it makes a sacrament of all the world.” - Olivier Messiaen
 
“With Messiaen, all is prayer.” - Charles Tournemire, French composer and organist

“Paul Dukas always told me to listen to the birds.” – Olivier Messiaen


The Miracle of Stalag 8A – A Beauty Beyond the Horror:
Olivier Messiaen and the Quartet for the End of Time
by John William McMullen

In January 2009 while searching for organ works by Bach at the downtown Evansville library, I came across a collection of organ works by the French composer Olivier Messiaen (10 December 1908 - 27 April 1992).

I had heard a piece by him in the past, but I really didn’t know much about him. I then began to explore more of his musical world and soon discovered that he loved birds and composed for and played the pipe organ. Immediately upon listening to his Apparition de l'église éternelle, Vision of the Eternal Church, I knew I had met a kindred spirit.

Speaking for myself, music was always a part of my life as I grew up; from my parents playing the radio or listening to albums to the good Sisters of Providence getting us to sing every morning at Mass. Yet I can attribute my initial interest in classical music to a performance by the IU Music Department at Vincennes on the occasion of Johann Sebastian Bach’s 300th birthday, March 25, 1985. I am forever indebted to my Philosophy professor, Dr. Verkamp, and his insight into encouraging me to attend the concert. Bach’s music opened a door to another world and he has been a constant companion ever since. Father Columba Kelly, O.S.B., of Saint Meinrad Archabbey, a Gregorian Chant scholar and musicologist, then deepened my love for music while I was a student in his Music Appreciation class at Saint Meinrad in 1986.

Ever since my youth, however, I have had a love for the pipe organ. It all began with hearing our church organist playing the works of J.S. Bach, Charles-Marie Widor, César Franck, Marcel Dupré, and Maurice Duruflé on the pipe organ at the Old Cathedral in Vincennes, Indiana. Over the years the works of Francis Poulenc, Felix Alexandre Guilmant, Josef Rheinberger, John Tavener and John Rutter have enriched my life.

From hearing the pipe organ at the Old Cathedral in Vincennes, Indiana and Saint Meinrad, Indiana, and later attending recitals in the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.; Westminster Cathedral in London, England; Notre Dame in Paris, France; and the Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore (the Duomo) in Florence, Italy; or from listening to Pipe Dreams on Public Radio, my love for the instrument has not diminished.

In April of 2009 my wife and I attended an organ recital at Saint Meinrad Archabbey in southern Indiana and one of the pieces played was the organ work L’Ascension by Olivier Messiaen. The weather was beautiful and the monks had opened the abbey church’s windows. Interestingly as the Messiaen piece began I noticed an unusual number of birds singing and chirping: sparrows, crows, a Mockingbird, but in particular there was a Blue Jay that must have been perched on one of the ledges of the windowsills. He seemed intent on making his voice heard. I wondered if perhaps Olivier Messiaen was smiling upon us, for he loved bird songs very much.

As for L’Ascension, regardless of one’s religious sentiments, I was immediately caught up Messiaen’s his sonorous harmony and subtle theological reflections upon Jesus’ Ascension into Heaven, especially the last movement which rises to the heavens and the sounds seemingly evaporate into the clouds. Messiaen wrote, “What comes from the organ is invisible music, propelled by wind, yet whose instrument gives no sign of activity, and whose player normally cannot be seen. Organ music symbolizes and makes real the contact between the mundane and the eternal. Indeed it makes a sacrament of all the world.”

My wife and I sat next to Father Columba Kelly, O.S.B. at this recital. A renowned Gregorian Chant scholar and humble musical genius, he was also my former music professor while a student at Saint Meinrad College. It was indeed Father Columba who deepened my love for music. After the performance he gave us an impromptu exposition on the piece and further enlightened us on the genius of Messiaen.

The more I read on Messiaen’s life, the more intriguing his life and work became. I soon began collecting his works and found myself returning to them often, meditating upon them. He studied at the Paris Conservatoire (1919-30) with Paul and Marcel Dupré and taught there (1941-78) while also serving as organist of the Church of La Trinité in Paris.

Yet Messiaen was an enigma to the world: an avant-garde composer and also a devout Catholic. However, most of the musical world remembers Messiaen for his Quatuor pour la Fin du Temps (Quartet for the End of Time), a work composed while Messiaen was a prisoner of war in a German Stalag. I soon obtained a copy of the Quartet for the End of Time and learned of the unique story behind its composition.

The story of Olivier Messiaen, French composer, organist, ornithologist, and devout Catholic drafted into the French army on the eve of Hitler's blitzkrieg is an amazing tale.

Rebecca Rischin’s work, For the End of Time: The Story of the Messiaen Quartet (Cornell University Press, 2003; 2006), chronicles the composition well. Messiaen, who served in the French army, was captured at Verdun by the Germans and sent to Stalag 8A in Gorlitz, Germany, where he composed the great work, Quotor pour la fin du temps, creating musical history in the most unlikely of places.

“Certainly, there are many reasons that Messiaen thought fit to compose a piece for the end of time,” MIT graduate student Sudeep Agawala writes. “Messiaen’s musical narrative takes place at the end of a social and political era—World War II was ushering in a world of economic hardship for the national leaders of the free world; Nazi persecution, torture, and mass murders were re-defining the image of humanity and the regard for human life in terrifying new ways; scientific developments magnified human power over nature to previously unthinkable levels and revolutionized its perception of reality. The ways in which the old regimes were changing were not necessarily exciting or hopeful. In fact, many of the recent developments seemed the opposite. However, written in a German war camp, about the end of the world, the end of time, Messiaen’s piece, steely in its portrayal of God and the Apocalypse still manages optimism. Messiaen’s end is not one of fire, inhumanity and mass destruction. His world saw the end in praise of eternal comfort and glory.”

Throughout his imprisonment, Messiaen suffered numerous hardships, including starvation and freezing temperatures, yet he remained true to his music.

Messiaen had a love for the scripture, especially the Book of the Apocalypse, The Revelation of St. John, with its description of the end of Time. It foretells that Christ’s death and resurrection would ultimately redeem the world. (This is certainly not the typical take on the book of Revelation which, for many, is still about cataclysmic death and destruction).

When Messiaen read the Book of the Apocalypse, or Revelation, he was intrigued by the tenth chapter: “And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire. In his hand he held a small scroll that had been opened. He then set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the land.…
Then the angel I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven and swore by the one who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and earth and sea and all that is in them, ‘There shall be no more Time….”

The three musicians and Messiaen represent the religious, philosophical, and political viewpoints of their contemporaries of the early 20th century. Nonetheless, these four very different men collaborated as a harmonious quartet to create musical history in the most unlikely of places. The Quartet for the End of Time is hailed as one of the most sublime pieces of chamber music composed in the 20th Century.

“There is no doubt that time stood still while these four prisoners played,” Graham Pellettieri wrote, “bringing warmth and light to so many who desperately needed it, during one of the coldest and darkest times in human history. The uncertainty of both the prison environment and the outcome of the war created a ‘timeless’ effect for the prisoners.”

“By 1941, this composer [Messiaen] no longer wanted to hear time being beaten out by a drum—one, two, three, four; he had had enough of that in the war,” writes Alex Ross, music critic for the New Yorker Magazine. “Instead, he devised rhythms that expanded, contracted, stopped in their tracks, and rolled back in symmetrical patterns…This is the music of one who expects paradise not only in a single awesome hereafter but also in the happenstance epiphanies of daily life. In the face of hate, this honestly Christian man did not ask, ‘Why, O Lord?’ He said, ‘I love you’.”

Messiaen reminds me of the caged bird who sings despite its captivity. In Maya Angelou’s famous poem, I know why the Caged Bird Sings, I believe she captures the spirit of Messiaen as he composed and sang during his captivity.

The caged bird sings with a fearful trill
of things unknown but longed for still
and his tune is heard on the distant hill
for the caged bird sings of freedom.

In the words of Messiaen scholar, Rebecca Rischin, Associate Professor at Ohio University School of Music: “The Quartet stands as Messiaen’s triumph over time. On 15 January 1941, Messiaen realized his dream of the bird. Where all around him men were making war, Messiaen, like a bird, was making music.”

“The first performance of the Quartet for the End of Time at the Stalag in January 1941 has, together with the premiere of The Rite of Spring, become one of the great stories of twentieth-century music,” wrote Paul Griffiths in his 1985 book, Olivier Messiaen and the Music of Time.

The four men who comprise the quartet represent the philosophical, political, and theological complexity of the twentieth century. And I believe that Messiaen’s work is important, not only for contribution to music history, but in the way Messiaen faced adversity. Particularly important is the relationship between the members of the quartet. Messiaen and his three companions become the famous quartet of Stalag 8A. These four very different men collaborated to create musical history in the most unlikely of places.

“While the musical world interprets the miracle of Stalag 8A as the perfect performance of the ‘Quartet for the End of Time’ in inhuman conditions by musicians suffering from cold and slow starvation,” Writes Dr. Philip Pierpont, Former Academic Dean of Vincennes University, “I regard the coming together as one the four musicians: Messiaen, the faithful-Catholic and mystic composer; Pasquier, the agnostic cellist; le Boulaire, the atheist violinist; and the irrepressible Akoka, warrior Trotskyite Jew and master of the clarinet, as yet another miracle.”

Messiaen’s music marks the end of the World War I era and the beginning of World War II. In the face of the economically distressed world, Nazism and Communism were on the rise, and redefining humanity, diplomacy, and warfare. Messiaen’s Quartet, composed in a Stalag, transforms man’s inhumanity to man with hope.

Yet to the avant-garde, Messiaen was too traditional and too religious; to the traditionalists and religious, he was too avant-garde. As a result he will always stand somewhere outside of Time. In the words of Messiaen: Eternity is not a long period of time; it is no time at all.

Rebecca Rischin put it well when she wrote: “On 15 January 1941, in a German prison camp in Silesia, music triumphed over Time, breaking free of rhythm and liberating a quartet of French prisoners and their listeners from the horrors of their time. The Quartet for the End of Time… its musical beauty, at once terrifying and sublime, exalts listeners and performers alike, and the story of its creators stands as a testament to the powers of music and human will to transcend the most terrible of times.”

Messiaen’s Quartet transforms man’s inhumanity to man with hope. In the words of Messiaen: “The future may seem black, but the flowers are in bloom, the sun is shining, and the birds are singing.”

In the words of Messiaen scholar, Rebecca Rischin: “The Quartet stands as Messiaen’s triumph over time. On 15 January 1941, Messiaen realized his dream of the bird. Where all around him men were making war, Messiaen, like a bird, was making music.”
To the avant-garde, he was too traditional and too religious; to the traditionalists and religious, he was too avant-garde. As a result he will always stand somewhere outside of Time. In the words of Messiaen: Eternity is not a long period of time; it is no time at all.

“It would be the highest compliment to me as a composer, Messiaen said, “if you had a spiritual experience because of hearing my music.”


John William McMullen is a Permanent Deacon, Theology Instructor at Mater Dei High School in Evansville, Indiana, and has taught philosophy and ethics at the University of Southern Indiana and Ivy Tech Community College. He is the author of several books: The Last Blackrobe of Indiana and the Potawatomi Trail of Death; Roman; Poor Souls; and Utopia Revisited. His latest work is entitled: THE MIRACLE OF STALAG 8A - Beauty Beyond the Horror: Olivier Messiaen and the Quartet for the End of Time. (Bird Brain Publishing). McMullen resides in Evansville, Indiana, with his wife and children.

The Promise of Christ: Fear Not! Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 8 August 2010 Deacon John McMullen

Readings
Heb 11:1-2, 8-19 & Luke 12.32-33

Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.

1) My wife and I and the kids recently went camping – I know – in July? It was as humid as… well… It was My wife’s idea. But I had time to really reflect on things as I spent time in the woods, in a hot, humid, and wet tent. One question I came home with was: “What is the one thing necessary?” “What really matters?” My wife said a dry bed and air-conditioning would be a start.

Seriously, every morning the birds woke us with their beautiful songs. Let’s face it. The birds have no worries. The first thing they do each morning is wake and sing. They praise God and then go look for food.

2) Today we heard about the Hebrew patriarch Abraham knew what it was like to live in a tent. Abraham, at the age of 75, abandoned all he knew and he and his beloved wife Sarah left home in search of a land God promised He would show him!
He and Sarah were on the camping trail with God. Think of Abraham’s faith. He’s a 75 year old man who was open to the Word of God. He should have been retiring and moving into a condo – certainly not living in a tent!

There is no question that his peers – and his father and brother - likely considered him to be acting like a teenager or thought he was having a late mid-life crisis. Sort of like when my wife said we’re going camping in July and I agreed. But oftentimes God speaks to us through those around us, even our wives, children, friends – and even our enemies!

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; he went out, not knowing where he was to go. He just started walking to the land God promised to show him...No maps, no GPS, nothing, no evidence except faith in a promise!

Oftentimes it is the very old and the very young who can see the clearest, such as the young Virgin Mary, Juan Diego, or Blessed Pope John XXIII when he dared to call the Second Vatican Council!

3) On the second day of our camping trip we decided to go hiking. The adults in our group were well equipped with water bottles, maps, cell phones, hiking boots, backpacks, even an umbrella, etc.

But the kids with us just took off into the woods, with no water, no map, nothing… all they knew was that there was a trail and there was a lake at the end of the trail. That’s all they had to go on and then they were gone. The kids had complete trust and in their youthful enthusiasm they ran off like they knew what they were doing!

As the kids quickly went out of sight – the adults trudged on. Then the horror stories began about those who have gotten lost in the woods and were stranded for days or actually died, whose skeletal remains were not discovered until much later. The talk then turned even more morbid, recounting other notorious camping trips gone horribly wrong.

One of the adults said, “If we’ve lost the kids, we can notify the park rangers.” But this did not make my wife feel any better. Trust me.

Mind you, that’s when the clouds began to grow dark and then thunder followed. It soon began to rain and rain – and RAIN. Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled even more loudly. And still no sign of our children on the trail.

That’s when the mothers of our group began to get really worried. We called to the kids, but no answer. I ran ahead and soon found myself entangled in spider webs across the trail path, which was a sure sign that no one had been on this trail in a while. My son did not answer his cell phone and the rain was a steady downpour as the storm grew worse.

We adults were now deep, deep in the forest. I had a feeling that the kids were fine, but that didn’t allay the mamas’ fears. We adults were the ones who were lost. With all of our sophisticated equipment, we were clueless on the trail in the forest.

4) Have any of you ever felt lost in the woods of life? Haven’t we all at one time or another felt lost in the woods of life – the loss of a job, the death of a spouse, being in a dead end job? Or even just the terrible feeling of loneliness and being all alone?

Jesus told his disciples BE NOT AFRAID any longer, little flock. Just as the birds trust completely in their makers’ care, Jesus assures us that not even one of them is neglected by God. Even their feathers have been counted! Jesus says “Your heavenly Father is pleased to give you the kingdom!” He is pleased to give you the kingdom!

5) As we continued to hike the trail that day, we, the adults, with all our maps, flashlights, and electronic devices, we were powerless. We needed to keep faith. We needed to trust!

As the lightning decreased and the thunder began to subside; the sun broke through the clouds, revealing a blue sky. Then my wife’s cell phone rang. It was our oldest son back at the van, wanting to know what was taking us so long. It turns out the kids had it right.

Like Abraham who trusted in God completely and walked in faith, knowing that the Lord would lead him, the young people with us on our hike that day had faith and hope in the unseen.

The kids had blazed a trail of faith and reminded us of Abraham and Sarah who had obeyed God’s call and made a leap of faith.
In the woods that day, the kids had faith in us adults completely. The kids showed us the kind of faith that Abraham had, the kind of faith Jesus was talking about, when they put their trust in us, knowing that we were going to look out for them and care for them.

We should be the same way with God – trusting in Jesus’ words: “No longer be afraid!”

Be assured, that there will be storms, we will sometimes seem to be lost, and we will be frightened, but we must fear not! For our Heavenly Father is pleased to give us the kingdom! Nothing can separate us from the Love of God that comes through Jesus Christ!

Happy the people God has chosen as his own, for he travels with us on the path of life!

DEPENDENCE DAY 14th Sunday Year C

DECLARATION OF DEPENDENCE

What a way to begin Independence Day. “I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals. Eat what is placed before you.” What? So much for Good News!

And these words of Jesus are especially bothersome today for they come to us on Independence Day! Yet these words imply a radical dependence! A total reliance on God and one another, for he sends the disciples out two by two.

But I ask are we really independent or do we recognize our dependence upon God? Are we Americans first, then followers of the Gospel? Which messengers are we following? FOX, MSNBC, the National Enquirer or Cosmopolitan – or Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John?

The world says that the more we have, then the better off we are! The world says to consume and use whatever we can to make a name for ourselves. If I can just get that new car or a bigger house or whatever it is, then I’ll be somebody! Advertisers spend billions of dollars every year telling us that we need their products to make us acceptable and help us achieve more! Right? Isn’t that right?

But Jesus tells us today to live simply and not be weighed down with all that extra stuff and not allow our possessions to possess us! So maybe that’s the whole point of the gospel message – that we have become so independent-minded, that we are actually too dependent upon the wrong things and not dependent enough on God.
Christ commands us to live radically simple lives, relying less on things, and relying more on Him and one another; not asserting so much our independence as our interdependence upon one another.

This means that we cannot live just as Americans or citizens of the U.S., though that we are, but our worldview must be focused on the Cross of Christ! Christ’s worldview turns the world’s view upside down.

So I ask are we Catholics first, then Americans, or have we allowed American values to dictate what parts of the gospel we like and discard what doesn’t seem to fit our political agenda?

Christ calls all people to himself. And so has the United States in her history.
Can we imagine what it would be to leave everything we know, leaving our native land and immigrating here with a different language? The people that made the journey to the United States often had little more than a dream in their heart and a hole in their pocket. Many were literally penniless, having sold all they had to simply purchase the ticket to sail on the boat, and with no real guarantee they would be granted entry or survive in the New World. And these exiles, arriving here tattered and torn, with a few words of English, set out to begin a new life. Many of these exiles had nothing to speak of, no money bag, no extra pair of shoes, but only the clothes on their backs. And for many the first sight they beheld upon arriving here was the Statue of liberty.

The image that comes to mind for many of us on this Independence Day weekend is the Statue of Liberty, a universal symbol of freedom and democracy.
The bronze plaque on the Statue of Liberty’s giant pedestal calls her the Mother of Exiles.

How many souls long to belong, long for welcome in this world of ours, and imagine all those who journeyed here to the U.S., whose first sight was the Mother of Exiles, Lady Liberty.

The plaque reads: “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free!

Interestingly, the name "Mother of Exiles" was never taken up as the Statue of Liberty’s name, even though it is engraved in bronze. Yet as Catholics our Blessed Mother and Mother Church herself have both been called “Mother of Exiles”. And isn’t this the hope of all exiles, that they will find welcome and rest and a home?

Yet in a way, as Catholics, we are exiles in this world. If we live by gospel values, we may well be exiled by our neighbors or even our friends. Some may say of us that we’ve gone too far with our faith in Jesus business, that we are unpatriotic to the point where we place gospel values above American values. It is certainly an interesting thought to imagine that the Statue of Liberty is calling us to be better Americans and in the process better Christian, better Catholics.

So if we are marked by the sign of the cross, then we can expect suffering, rejections, and crucifixion. Not everyone can or will accept the gospel cross. We will be judged as fools for Christ. We will be going against the popular opinion. Yet we recognize that Only in God is our soul at rest; our true fulfillment will not be in any party, except the party of Christ. Our independence day is celebrated on Good Friday. St. Paul encourages us to fnd our freedom in the cross of Christ.

Finding rest in Christ, recognizing His Mother as our Mother, and knowing that the Church herself is the Mother of Exiles, is truly liberating! The irony of today is that our true independence is found in our dependence upon God, Christ, Mary, the Church, indeed our dependence upon one another.

There is no such thing as a lone Christian. We are in this together. And just as Jesus instructed his disciples, he continues to instruct us that we must trust in God for our defense and depend upon the hospitality of others for our well being. And this is what we celebrate today: our Dependence upon God and dependence upon one another. God alone is enough.

But if God alone is too much for our neighbors or family to handle, if believing in Christ and following the gospel somehow makes us less patriotic than other Americans, then let us repeat the words of Patrick Henry: “If this be treason, let us make the most of it!”

THE UNTOUCHABLES (11th Sunday Year C)

Joe was a college student who, every day, passed by a bag lady as she pushed a shopping cart. But one day Joe got stopped in traffic and decided to pull into a gas station. The lady smiled at him and came up beside his car pushing her cart full of collected treasures. Some people stared, with the look that said, “What’s that college kid doing with that bag lady?” As Joe filled his gas tank, he asked her name and she told him it was Wilhelmina. She told him her sad story and how she was all alone in the world.

As Joe finished pumping his gas and prepared to leave, he started his engine, rolled his window down, and waved goodbye. However, soft jazz from his radio filled the air. Wilhelmina said, “Oh, I like this music – let’s dance!” Joe was taken aback at first, but then he turned his music up, opened the car windows, and got out of his car. Wilhelmina reached for Joe’s hand and the two touched. Her skin was rough to the touch, but her face brightened with a smile as she and Joe danced and he turned her around a time or two.

Just then a police officer pulled into the parking lot and looked hard at the two with an expression that said, “what the___”

Wilhelmina clung to Joe’s arm and gave the cop a look that said, “We’re together.” Joe nodded and said, “It’s okay. She’s with me.”

The cop just looked at Joe and shook his head in disbelief that this college kid would even touch Wilhelmina. He drove away shaking his head at Joe’s poor judgment.
*****

Joe is a lot like Jesus. Jesus touched all the wrong people. And he allowed the wrong people to touch him. Which brings us to another woman in today’s gospel.

Jesus turns to Simon the Pharisee and asks: “Do you see this woman?” Do you see this woman? * Simon doesn’t see her, or at least does not see her as a real human being, worthy of redemption. And he never answers the question. He could only see outward appearances, he could only see rules and laws that had been broken. And he could not see the woman.

There are still many who only follow the Commandments and the rules of the Church out of a fear of God, rather than trusting in God and allowing the Holy Spirit to help us love others with whom we come face to face.

You see, forgiveness and love weren’t even on Simon the Pharisee’s mind. His religion was about being right, and judging others as either sinful or righteous. The law for the Jewish Pharisees was very, very strict. However, the problem with the Pharisees was that they only followed the letter of the law and forgot the purpose behind the law.

The Pharisees truly thought they were honoring God by their strict rules yet it made life very uncomfortable and difficult for most people, that many people gave up trying. In the Pharisee’s world, that there were only two types of people: the good and the bad.

Do we see this woman?

What we have here is a woman who recognized the presence of God’s love poured out in Jesus. She forgot all the rules of respectable society because she only knew one thing: Jesus. She completely abandoned herself to Divine Providence and gave all she could, her tears, her kisses, her hair, and her costly perfume because Jesus was present to her.

The problem with Simon is that he had already judged this woman as sinful – forever a sinner.

Yet her sin is no longer important – what is important is that she is a forgiven and changed woman! In fact, Jesus does not mention the woman’s sin at all, but instead proclaims her acts of kindness and hospitality as signs of her great love!

Jesus chastises Simon the Pharisee for his sins of omission, and loving too little! His failure to exercise hospitality, failure to tend to the needs of others, and failure to recognize the dignity of even the most sinful. Simon loved too little.

So what is the first thing we see in others?

Haven’t we all been like the Pharisees by keeping certain people in categories or even considering others as hopeless or unredeemable?

How do we see others? What about the poor person at the Dollar General Store we think is on meth? What about that nasty mouthed person at the gas station or the ball field? What about that inept cashier or incompetent waiter or waitress? ……….. You know what I’m talking about.

This is a difficulty for many of us. Indeed it is a cross. We have to die to our neat and orderly worlds where we put people in categories; we must crucify all within us that would seek to diminish or deny the human dignity of even one person, regardless whether he or she is a sinner or not.

Being a Christian is not about trying to live only by the law. Being a legalist can’t give you life. If one could achieve righteousness by following the law, then Jesus’ mission was meaningless. We are called to relationship with Christ and others.

With the woman, Jesus breaks the law and reaches out and touches the "untouchable." We too are called to break out of the neat little boxes society has created for us to live in. The woman only saw Jesus because she knew she was loved and forgiven by Him.

Therefore, no matter how difficult or different others may be, may we see them in our midst as calling us to mercy and compassion; not running from them or casting stones at them, but allowing them to help us be witnesses of Christ’s unconditional love.

May we have the courage to love as Jesus loved and the faith to always give thanks to God for his mercy.

Just like Joe and Wilhelmina, the people in my story, Wilhelmina saw Joe and found in him a friend. Joe in turn saw Wilhelmina as a person and stopped worrying about what others might think and became so forgetful of himself that he was willing to dance with her in public – even in the presence of a police officer who likely knew Wilhelmina’s past and her sins.

As Joe reached out to Wilhelmina, Jesus reaches out to those from whom all others draw back. Jesus showed us that Christianity is about reaching out to the untouchables so that God’s love will be real to those most in need of His mercy!

Joe was changed that day. On his drive to school, he knew in his heart that Wilhelmina was more than just a bag lady with lots of baggage – but a human being, a person, who longed to love and be loved.

ASCENSION THURSDAY (ON SUNDAY)

I can recall very clearly my first day of school when my mother and father took me to school and left me there. I watched them as they walked back to their car and drove away. I remember crying great tears of sadness.

It happened again when my parents drove me to college and left me there…I recall watching them drive away…as I carried my luggage to my dorm room. There were both tears of joy and sorrow.

Or what about those of us here who have lost loved ones and when we are at the cemetery and they lower the casket into the ground and after the final prayers the funeral directors announce that “this concludes our service…. you may return to your cars.” Those tears may stream for days or years.

In these situations of transition, moving from one phase of our lives to another, we feel all alone and vulnerable, and ask: “Now what?”

I believe that may indeed have been what the disciples experienced on the day of the Lord’s Ascension into Heaven.

The crucifixion didn’t make sense to the disciples. The resurrection was unbelievable as well when they first heard the news, and were doubly astounded when they witnessed him alive again! And just as they were getting used to him being with them, he informs them that he must ascend to the Father.

The disciples lament: “We were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel.” And the disciples asked, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

The disciples were thick headed. Can you imagine it…the disciples are worried about whether Jesus is going to restore the kingdom of Israel to its former glory! They were still stuck in the old mindset that religion is about power and that the Kingdom is about material wealth or fame.

“Oh, how foolish you are,” Jesus says in Luke’s account. The disciples we’re hoping that he would restore the good ol’ days. Yet is that really what Christ came to do? And can we ever truly recover the good ol’ days? And what are the good ol’ days? And were the good ol’ days all that good?

So on the day of his Ascension, Jesus gathered his scattered flock together and led them out as far as Bethany where Mary, Martha, and Lazarus lived – perhaps he wanted to bid his dear friends farewell, along with the rest of the Apostles and disciples. I imagine His mother was there as well.

And as He Ascends into Heaven the disciples are still a bit clueless because they are staring at the sky until two angels inform them that they ought to move along. They might as well have said to them: “this concludes our service…. you may return to your cars.”

Now what? In one respect we cannot remain fixated on the clouds above and ignore the plight of our fellow human beings! On the other hand, we cannot allow our entire focus to be here below. We must seek that fine balance of being centered in Christ, with the eyes of our hearts fixed on the things of heaven, yet also our eyes seeking Christ in our neighbor and our ears being open to the cry of the poor and our hands outstretched to all those in need!

The early church community could not remain hidden away living a private religion in the upper room. They could not live in the past, but had to move forward into the future! We have to recognize now more than ever the urgency of the gospel message and that it must be proclaimed!

So the Ascension was a new beginning. The disciples were no longer downhearted but rather full of joy, assured that Christ could no longer be separated from them.
As I attended the college graduation ceremony for my sister-in-law, I was once again reminded of those first days when I was left alone on the campus of college as well as the day of graduation.

I spoke with my sister-in-law, and other graduates about their experience of their first days of college and their graduation. We found that both events brought joy mixed with uncertainty.

In a way we had all been at similar crossroads as were the first disciples and asked: “Now what? “

The graduates have walked across the stage, received their diploma and heard those glorious words: “Graduates: By virtue of the authority and power granted to me, I now confer on you all the "rights, privileges, and responsibilities to which you are entitled."

So “Now what? A graduate can’t let those words go to his head. These “rights, privileges, and responsibilities” are words of great consequence. In the words of Spiderman: “With great power comes great responsibility!

And just as graduates receive their degrees, all of us as disciples will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit in order to fulfill our mission as Church!
But let’s face it, coming down the mountain after experiencing Christ’s Ascension is hard, and living the faith, day in, day out, is going to be hard.

It’s tough for children as they adapt to new surroundings in a new school. It’s difficult for college graduates to adapt to a new way of life in the working world. And for us too, it is a great challenge to constantly adapt to the changing circumstances that call us to embrace our faith anew. But this is what we are called to on this feast of the Ascension.

Just as the disciples realize that they could not dwell on the past, we too must work to bring about the kingdom now! The urgent call to repentance must echo through our world. Forgiveness must be extended to all! And tidings of great joy have to be spread far and wide!

We are assured that Christ is seated at the right Hand of the Glory of God. We have a heavenly intercessor in Heaven who hears our prayer as we head back to school or work or home each day.

Now What? When we walk out of here, will be dumbly looking to the sky, - or will we get on with the job of spreading the word? We cannot live in the past, but must move forward into the future, by being clothed from the power from on high, the Holy Spirit!

And on the Last Day we too will ascend to Heaven and hear the Words of Christ: “By virtue of the authority and power granted to me, I now confer on you all the "rights, privileges, and responsibilities to which you are entitled as my disciples. Come into the presence of my Father where there will be great joy, where every tear will be wiped away.”

PALM SUNDAY YEAR C 2010

Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem is a foreshadowing of his coming again in glory. But first there must be the Cross.

The humility of Jesus riding a donkey also reminds us of his mother birth in Bethlehem…
Even the song of the crowd reminds us of the angels’ song at Jesus’ nativity –

“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

At the Passover meal, Jesus said to his disciples: “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you.” Then an argument broke out among them
about which of them should be regarded as the greatest.

The disciples then encouraged Jesus to put up a fight:
“Look, here are two swords!”

Jesus said. “Enough of this!” They had missed his message of mercy completely.

When Jesus asked his disciples to pray, they fell asleep.

When Judas came with the cohort, his disciples asked,
“Lord, shall we strike with a sword?” but before Jesus could answer, one of them struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear.
But Jesus touched the servant’s ear and healed him.

Peter abandons Jesus and warms himself by a lesser light, then he denies he even knew him, then the Lord turned and looked at Peter….

(Pause)

We know how fickle public opinion can be. The same crowds hailing Jesus as the messiah on Palm Sunday, are against him on Good Friday.

Jesus was too political for Rome and too religious for the Jews.

The crowds chanted “away with this man,” release Barabbas!
Pontius Pilate found Jesus innocent, but to placate the crowds allowed him to be crucified anyway.

As they led Jesus away they took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian; and made him carry the cross behind Jesus. (The chief Apostle Simon-Peter was nowhere to be found)

A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who mourned and lamented him. But Jesus comforted them in their grief and sorrow.

As Jesus was crucified he prayed: “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” In fact, theologians agree that Jesus likely prayed this prayer over and over, “Father, forgive them; they know not what they do.”
In his death upon the cross Christ puts an end to all human sacrifice. He does not demand a pound of flesh for our sins! Christ is the final sacrifice that saves us from sin! His task was to save the world, “For God so loved the world that he gave His only Son….”
(pause)

One of the criminals hanging next to our Lord said: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Jesus replied, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

(pause)

The centurion who witnessed what had happened glorified God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent beyond doubt.”

Meanwhile all his acquaintances stood at a distance.

(Pause)

Jesus always gives, reassures, heals, and calms others – even in the midst of his own pain and suffering.

Where do we see ourselves in the gospel story today? [pause]

I imagine that all the disciples needed the Sabbath rest to pause and reflect upon such a shocking end to the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, but more importantly they needed the Sabbath rest in order to prepare for the greatest shock the world has ever experienced! The empty tomb on the Third Day!

[pause]

What will be our Easter response?

WIPE AWAY OUR TEARS AND OUR FEARS - 3rd sunday of Lent Year C

In Luke’s gospel account today, a recent act of violence and death is on the crowds’ mind. Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, had killed some Galilean worshipers upon the very altar that they had offered their sacrifices upon. Jesus himself then reminds the crowd about a recent tragedy in the village of Siloam – a water tower had collapsed, crushing eighteen men to death.

The people of Jesus' day had an easy explanation for the horrific deaths of the Galileans and the eighteen men under the tower: they were "worse sinners" and "more guilty" than those who were not killed.

This idea of God smiting humans for their sins was popular theology in Jesus’ day, so it was plausible for the crowd and the disciples to think that God had smote the Galileans and the villagers of Siloam.

This was a harsh teaching that Jesus rejected. We know that some of the greatest saints have suffered and human experience shows us that bad things can happen and do happen to good people; Jesus is the greatest example.

Jesus is challenging his hearers to think about their image of God. His words challenge us to think of our image of God as well.

I recall after the deadly tornado 6 November 2005, there were some Christians who claimed it was God’s punishment upon the States of Indiana and Kentucky for allowing everything from casino gambling and horse-racing to homosexuality and abortion. In some ways it may be tempting to believe such things.

And there are still Christians who think that God is angry at us and even say that God cursed the poor people of Haiti with an earthquake. This philosophy of believing that human suffering is always caused by sin is a dangerous theology.

On the problem of evil, Thomas Aquinas wrote, [God does not directly will evil, but] "God allows or permits evil” and can draw forth some greater good out of suffering and death.

But often tragedy, earthquake, disaster, illness, and disease can cause us to question our faith in God’s mercy.

* * * * *

In John’s gospel when Jesus met the man blind from birth, the disciples ask Jesus: "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents? That he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him. (John 9:2).

In Luke’s gospel James and John were upset that a particular group of Samaritans had not accepted Jesus’ message, so James and John ask Jesus if they can call fire down from heaven to consume those Samaritans (which would have undoubtedly killed them), but Jesus turns and reprimands the disciples for even having such intentions.
Jesus does not wish for us to talk or think this way. If we do we are in the wrong state of mind; we are living in the state of sin and the kingdom of fear, not the kingdom of God.

God’s love is not the kind that says “I’ll love you if you’re good”; or “I’ll love you if you prove what a great person you are”; or “I’ll love you as long as you don’t disappoint me.”

This image of God is based on dread and fear that God is more apt to curse than forgive. Yet we know that true love casts out all fear!

For our God is NOT in heaven at his computer screen ready to delete us with the first sign of disobedience. We know that Christ came to forgive us and call us to act with mercy, compassion, love, and service. This was Jesus’ Mission, his Message, His Person.

In his death upon the cross Christ puts an end to all human sacrifice. He does not demand a pound of flesh for our sins! Christ is the final sacrifice that saves us from sin! His task was to save the world, “For God so loved the world that he gave His only Son….”

Nothing we can do can make God love us! He already loves us! That is why God sent His son! And God is so madly in love with each one of us that he longs for us to share that love with whomsoever we meet! And all our works, our prayers, our acts of love and charity are all done in response to God’s gracious love and mercy!! So we rejoice in the mercy of our God! Mercy! Mercy! Mercy! Jesus is our Mercy!
THIS IS THE GOOD NEWS!!! We can never repeat it enough!

* * * * *

Yet many of us do have fears of failure or rejection, fears of violence or not meeting other peoples’ expectations of us, fears of being used or taken advantage of, or even fear of natural disasters or war.

Perhaps our fear is not of anything specific – just an overall dread, a feeling that life could fall apart on us at any moment and we wouldn’t be able to cope.
But the good news is that we can respond to our fears with a deepened trust in the love of God – whether it is a fear of violence or a tragic accident such as the stories in today’s gospel.

Saint Paul wrote that we, as children of God, “did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear,” but that we are “joint heirs with Christ,” and if we unite our sufferings with His we will “also be glorified with him.” For the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us” (Rom 8.14-18).

The example of Jesus shows us that when we do suffer we can suffer redemptively; suffering can be transformed into new life. And the foundation of our Christian hope is our belief in the Resurrection of Christ!

Then as we who grow closer to Christ, we come to trust God more deeply over time. Little by little the fears that grip our hearts lose their power over us. We can let go of fear because we know that God is with us – in and through suffering, death, and destruction, and that despite it all, new Life CAN come forth - for not even suffering and death can crush us completely or destroy God’s love for us!
Again, Saint Paul wrote: “If God is for us, who can be against us? What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish or distress or persecution or disaster? No!” he says, “[f]or I am convinced that neither death, nor life… nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:31, 35-38).

God will raise us up, turning our “little crucifixions”, rejections, failures, and losses into new life.

Then, whenever the time of our physical death comes, we will not be caught by surprise or locked in the grip of fear, but we will be living the Kingdom message;
God will give us new life, life in union with Him, a life beyond anything we could ever dream of or ever imagine, where He will wipe away every tear – and every fear –!

WHO YOU GONNA LOVE?

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C Deacon John McMullen

From a personal point of view, if anyone wants to know the secret to our marriage, here’s what works for us.

Once a week we take time to go to a nice restaurant where we can be alone: a Candlelight dinner, soft music, and a slow drive home. (pause). I go on Tuesdays, MG goes on Thursdays.

Last year I asked MG, "Where do you want to go for our anniversary?"
She said, "Somewhere I haven’t been in a while."
I answered, "How about the kitchen?"
I wound up in the emergency room.

During our engagement Mary Grace and I got into a tiff on our way to Cincinnati about her driving skills. I was being helpful and she thought otherwise. We had gone about 100 miles and neither one of us had said a word. As we passed a farm I saw some pigs, and I asked her, "Are those relatives of yours?" "Yes," she replied. "I’m marrying into the family."]

Seriously, this weekend we are given plenty to reflect upon on how we live our lives; how we love; what we love; who we love, and who we are going to love.
For those of us old enough to remember Telly Salvales’ character in the old TV show KOJAK, you will recall that he used to say, “Who loves ya, baby?”
Well, today I ask all of you, “Who do you love?”

Our scripture readings this week make it clear there are really only two ways to live your life: a blessing of life to others or a woe-full curse of death unto oneself.

In two of the earliest Christian writings, called The Didache, the teachings of the Twelve Apostles, and The Epistle of Barnabas, both writers begin their texts much in the same way of today’s first reading and psalm.

The Didache begins: There are two ways, one of life and one of death, but a great difference between the two ways.

The way of death consists of: greediness, arrogance; persecuting the good, hating truth… Those on this path lack meekness, patience, and kindness and pursue revenge;
Barnabas adds that: the way of death is crooked, and full of cursing; for it is the way of eternal death… and especially evil are those who do not attend to the needs of the widow and orphan, who do not care for the needy and do not pity the poor, who oppress the afflicted, who are only advocates of the rich, who are unjust, failing to come to the aid of the heavily-burdened and turn away those in want of necessities, and who are in every respect utterly sunk in sin. This is the way of Death.

Yet the way of Life leads to eternal life. The Didache reads: The way of life, then, is this: First, you shall love God who made you; second, love your neighbor as yourself, and do not do to another what you would not want done to you. Bless those who curse you, and pray for your enemies, and fast for those who persecute you. Love those who hate you, and you shall not have an enemy.

If someone takes from you what is yours, ask it not back, for indeed it was never yours in the first place. Give to everyone who asks you, and ask it not back; for the Father wills that all should be given of our blessings. Happy are they who give according to this commandment.

You shall bear no grudge. You shall not hate anyone…and do not murmur. Be patient, compassionate, gentle, and good. And in all prayer you shall acknowledge your sins, and you shall not come near to God in prayer or to the altar as long as you bear ill will in your conscience.

Barnabas reiterates this theme. You shall be simple in heart, and rich in spirit. You shall be meek and peaceable. Love your neighbor more than yourself.
Thou shall share in all things with your neighbor; you shall not call things your own; for if we all partake of the incorruptible, eternal things in common, then how much more should we share in earthly things which are corruptible!

Be always ready to stretch forth your hands to give. Do not hesitate to give, nor murmur when you give. "Give to every one that ask of you," and great shall be your reward. Do not be the cause of a rift among believers or be the cause of schism. This is the way of light.

Wow! Talk about a strange way to live Christianity! Or is it the way things ought to be? What does the Gospel teach us? Better yet, what does Jesus command? Today’s Beatitudes from Luke are often called the Sermon on the Plain….Plain and simple – the gospel is meant to lift the lowly and bring down the high and mighty arrogant.

* * * * *

One of my favorite Saints is Saint Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits. In his marvelous Spiritual Exercises –which he wrote while dwelling among the Benedictine Monastery at Montserrat - in the second week of meditations he asks the retreatant to ponder the two ways of the Kingdom and calls them the TWO STANDARDS.
The one is Christ, our Commander-in-chief and Lord; the other is Lucifer, the mortal enemy of our human nature.

Christ calls and wants all under His standard, his flag of allegiance; and Lucifer, on the contrary, wants us under his.

Ignatius has us imagine seeing the place; a great field of all that region of Jerusalem, where the supreme Commander-in-chief of the good is Christ our Lord; another field in the region of Babylon, where the chief of the enemy is Lucifer. (if we have ever been on a high mountain or even a great hillside one can see the valley below for miles in either direction . This is the idea.

On one side we can see the chief of the enemy army seated in that great field of Babylon, as in a great chair of fire and smoke, horrible and terrifying.

He then issues a summons to innumerable demons and scatters them, some to one city and others to another, and so through all the world, not omitting any places, states, or any person.

He tells them to cast out nets and chains; that they have first to tempt with a longing for riches - as he is accustomed to do in most cases -that humans may more easily come to vain honor of the world, and then to vast pride. So that the first step shall be that of riches and worldly goods; the second, that of honor and fame; the third, that of power and pride; and from these three steps he draws on to all the other vices.

Then we behold the supreme and true Captain, Who is Christ our Lord at the other end of the valley. Our Lord puts Himself in a great field of that region of Jerusalem, in lowly place, beautiful and attractive. He then chooses so many persons - Apostles, Disciples, teachers, care-givers, husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, children – and sends them through all the world spreading His sacred doctrine through all states and conditions of persons.

Christ our Lord then asks all of His servants and friends whom He sends on this expedition, to want to help all people.

By having them embrace spiritual poverty, disregard for worldly honor, and humility against pride. And from these three all the other virtues flow.

We are in that valley. The battle is raging – who standard will we choose?

* * * * * *

Finally, in the Book of Revelation, the Lord speaks to the Church Community at Ephesus: "I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate the wicked; you have tested those who call themselves apostles but are not, and discovered that they are impostors. Moreover, you have endurance and have suffered for my name, and you have not grown weary.”

In other words, the church community of Ephesus knows the truth of God, they know the faith, they understand the doctrine, they have it clear in their minds, and they have suffered for being faithful to the gospel message and the truths of the faith, BUT – and this is an important conjunction - after praising them for their faith, he then says: “Yet I hold this against you: you have lost your first love!”
And who is the first love? Is it not Christ Jesus Himself?! And not only must we love truth in the mind, but we must love with the heart. We must love the truth with our minds, but love the Person of Christ with all of our heart, and serve Christ by serving one another with our hands.

We still read letters today written by St. Paul to the Ephesians, but sadly, the Church community at Ephesus faltered in its faith and did not hearken to the words of Christ or of Saint Paul, for there is no church at Ephesus today.

We are about to embark upon the Penitential Season of Lent, the desert of abandonment when we fast and pray. What will we learn to fast from? Whatever keeps us away from God and serving – and communicating with – our neighbor. TV, I-pod, cell phone, halo, guitar hero? Whatever it is –whatever we spend most of our time and money on can become our god.

Yet the greatest commandment is the same yesterday, today, and forever: Love God with all our mind, all our heart, all our soul, and with all our strength; and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

* * * * *

May we, the Church of Nativity, aye, the Church of the Diocese of Evansville, and indeed all Catholics and Christians everywhere, never forget our first love.
And take the path of Light, Life, and Blessing!

[Who are you going to love?]

Who ya gonna love?

WHERE IS THE LOVE?

4th Sunday of Ordinary Time Deacon McMullen Jan 30-31, 2010

Where is the Love?

[The homily begins with me hitting a trash can lid with a ball bat. After which I ask:

Where’s the love? [pause]

Imagine that week after week at Mass, the preacher, in order to not offend anyone, really says nothing of substance. He doesn’t proclaim the Word of God and allow it to challenge the congregation to grow in faith or develop a more personal relationship with the Lord nor does he call the people to look within themselves and see where God is calling them to share their time and talents.

Instead, the preacher continually encourages the people to keep their religion to themselves, reinforcing the old saw that only Catholics go to heaven, women shouldn’t be allowed in the sanctuary, and that everyone ought to focus on their sinfulness and faults, and never stop repeating to themselves how unworthy they are of God’s love!

Unfortunately, there are those who have embraced a warped, frustrated view of Catholicism that I have just described.

But what a completely upside down disturbing view of the gospel message! Yet that is sort of the kind of a mentality Jesus was confronted with when he returned to his hometown of Nazareth.

Jesus proclaims a passage of the prophet Isaiah and announces: “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”

The Nazareth crowd initially responds positively to him and his words. But then they begin to question him and his authority. Isn’t this the son of Joseph? He was a stonecutter, a mere carpenter. Who does he think he is? Once again, there is no room at the inn for Jesus, even in his hometown!

I’m sure Jesus could have asked: Where’s the love? Where’s the love!

Jesus recognizes that he is being rejected – but he knew it would be this way – you and I know that the good news of the gospel is often shunned in favor of the bad news of gossip, people’s personal failures, and the latest scandal.

Jesus jogs their memory and rekindles the story of Elijah who went to the widow of Zarapheth rather than any of the widows of Israel; he also recalls the story of Naaman the Syrian who was the only leper cleansed by the Prophet Elisha. God will not be outdone in generosity nor will he be confined to our ridiculous boundary lines. But the people did not want to hear how God loved their enemies, so Jesus is rejected! Jesus’ God was bigger than what they were used to, greater than what they could accept, so he is rejected!
They wanted a god who was only on their side, so he is rejected!

And by his rejection he is letting us know that we can expect rejection as well. In fact, it seems to be a calling card for Catholics and Christians around the world, even now.

We too will encounter opposition and a lack of faith – even among our fellow believers – people with preconceived notions of God that limit grace - but we must not allow their cynicism and doubt to crush our faith!

The Nazareth crowd was filled with religious intolerance and holy anger – often the worst kind! And they sought to kill Jesus by throwing him off a cliff headfirst!

But Jesus passed through their midst and went away. He went away!!! He went away. Where did he go?

He went to those who have open hearts and willing minds to embrace his vision of the kingdom! Do we see him in our midst? What are going to do with Jesus and his message, his mission, and his vision of the kingdom?

Should we beat a trash can lid, telling people what great Christians we are? Where is the Love in that? Or should we live the love?

Jeremiah, Elijah, Elisha, and Jesus all knew their God to be bigger than any of our ridiculous categories or boxes in which we want to keep God. But God cannot be contained. God cannot be limited. God’s love is overflowing.

Being sent to your own people and telling them something that might be hard for them to accept can get you into hot water just like the kind of trouble Jesus got into! Those who think they know all there is to know about the faith are often the scariest people to deal with. Those who should know that we are forever on a journey with and to the Lord are often the least interested in truly hearing the Word of God!

Yet if we take the gospel seriously, we are also called to be prophets! Not to foretell the future, but to speak and do God’s Word in our World! Jesus calls us all to be prophets, speaking the Word of God in and out of season and putting it into action!

As prophets, you and I have business outside these walls of worship. These walls are never to confine God’s Word or action in the world!

So, how can we be prophets today? Saint Paul describes our role very well in today’s epistle. We are to love. And what does love look like?

“Love is patient, love is kind. Love is not jealous, love is not pompous…” and all that…

We are the love in the world. And if we are not love to the world, then we are hypocrites, actors dressed as Christians.

Paraphrasing Saint Paul, if I have the tongues of angels and human and have no love, then I am nothing more than a trash can lid being hammered with a ball bat.

If I had the faith to move a mountain but do not put that faith into practice through acts of love and mercy, then I am as useless as an earthmover without a shovel!

These are strong words. Yet the gospel is strong medicine for a disease ridden world!

Therefore what should move us more than anything is what happens to us when we hear the Word proclaimed and then gather around this altar! When we comprehend the Word of God with our minds and receive the Word into our hearts, we are transformed; then as we approach the altar and receive the Body of Christ, the Eucharist, then we become the very Body of Christ, the Church!

So what happens to us once we hear the words, “Mass is ended, go in peace to love and serve the Lord!”?
Are those merely words? Or do we not realize that we are given a command! We are to boldly go forth as prophets to the nations! We become the sanctuary to the world! We are the Church and we take Christ to the world! We are God’s bread given as manna to the needy! We are God’s love poured out to a thirsty world!

What would the world be like if we practiced the virtues of patience, kindness, hope & love?!

[Ball bat on trash can lid again.] Where’s the love? Where is the Love? Where is our love? Where is the Lord?

EPIPHANY ANYONE?

There is a fairly forgettable film with Will Farrell called Talladega Nights, - trust me, I am not recommending the film – though I am sure many of you have already seen it – but four years ago one of my freshmen students placed the DVD box in my hand, so I watched it. It took me three nights to get all the way through the banal attempt at humor.

However there was one very telling scene where Will Farrell’s character Ricky decides to lead a prayer before a meal and he prays to the Baby Jesus because, in his words, “I like the Baby Jesus best.”

On this solemn feast of Epiphany and as we continue to celebrate the Christmas Season - while the rest of the world forgot about Christ 10 days ago – we savor the sweetness of the Savior’s birth.

However, we do not remain fixated upon the infant in the manger. We cannot. In fact, in Matthew’s gospel the Magi do not visit Jesus in a manger. Mary and Joseph and the child Jesus are dwelling in a house by the time the magi arrive. Jesus does not stay in one place for long. So if we only recognize Christ in the manger, then our faith would never grow beyond that of the likes of a Ricky Bobby.

Could it be that the reason some people may be more comfortable with the Baby Jesus is because they only come to Mass on Christmas? Then the next time these folks show up for church is on Easter Sunday after all the hard work has been done and the tomb is empty! But Catholics or Christians who treat their faith that way miss the whole story!

Many people do want Jesus in their own image… and for Ricky Bobby, Jesus is a little 8lb 6 oz., perfect newborn baby Jesus, in perfect golden-fleece diapers…”

He is the Jesus of his own imagination. He fashions Jesus according to an image that he prefers and is comfortable with and then pictures Jesus showering him with money, success, and power. But is this the true Jesus?

Ricky Bobby was so immature that the only way he could relate to Jesus was on the level of baby and God was the great gumball machine in the sky ready to grant his every desire.

We know that Jesus grew to manhood and began his public ministry. But even in the midst of Christmas we sing: “What child is this, who, laid to rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping? The king of kings salvation brings, let loving hearts enthrone him. And then the next verse reads: Nails, spear, shall pierce him through, the cross be borne for me, for you; Hail, hail, the Word made flesh, the Babe, the Son of Mary!”


So even in the manger the shadow of the cross is there. Jesus is born in Bethlehem which means “little house of bread” and is placed in a manger – a wooden feeding trough for animals; then in his ministry he proclaims that he is “The Bread of Life” and gives his flesh as “our daily bread” and is eventually placed on the wood of the cross, nailed to it and lifted on high.

Therefore , note that the feast of epiphany is threefold – yes, we recall the Magi, the strange visitors from the east who come to worship the Christ child and offer gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh;

But we also recall the adult Jesus’ baptism where he begins his public ministry where God the Father announces, “This is my Beloved Son with whom I am well pleased.

And thirdly we recall Jesus first public miracle where he changes the water into wine at the wedding at Cana.

No child stays a child forever. Ask any parent or grandparent and they will all agree – they grow up so fast. So it was with Jesus! He didn’t just come as a sweet baby but as a sweet Savior!

He grows up and in his public ministry he challenges us in many ways.

Being a Christian is not for wimps. Jesus calls us to show mercy even when no one else is showing mercy; he calls us to be peacemakers even in the midst of war and oppression; he calls us to forgive one another if we desire God to forgive us. He calls us to love others as God loves each of us. This is an epiphany for many – perhaps even some of us here this morning.

Epiphany is a moveable feast – in more ways than one. Every day we are called to experience epiphany.

May we experience the epiphany of recognition that Christ comes to transform our ordinary existence into extraordinary grace-filled lives; that the same Father calls to us in the silence of our hearts that we are God’s Beloved Sons and Daughters!

May our celebration of epiphany leads us to the epiphany that we are God’s beloved children and we are to be Christ to one another.

Now imagine how glorious, how awesome our celebration of Christmas will be now that we know the rest of the story?!!!