Hi everyone – I’m down the shore this weekend, so I’m not “on” to preach/preside at Mass for the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time – August 16, 2009… but if I was, here’s what I would be preaching. The readings for the day can be found at https://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/081609.shtml
Thanks for reading – Hope you’re having a great summer! Fr Jim
HOMILY:
So just taking a look at my appointment book can be an interesting experience for me.
I have a 10:00 Doctors appointment on Monday – I know that I have to leave by 9:45 to get there in time and that I should not have anything scheduled till after 1:00 because I’ll be sitting and waiting, to get into the exam room, waiting for the nurse to come in to tell me the “doctors running a little late”; waiting for the nurse to come back again to tell me “I’m the next person he’ll see”; waiting after he has seen me for the nurse to come back to give me a printout with my next appointment/ followup stuff and then waiting to square up my insurance/bill stuff.
In short, I know my 10:00 doctors appointment – which I was told would be “a quick in and out” visit (as he describes it) – is anything but.
Then looking at some other appointments for the week, it’s quite the opposite. Like I have a person who’s coming for spiritual direction on Tuesday at 2:00 PM – who will be at my office by 1:50 PM, who’ll email the night before to confirm again… He’s a pretty reliable guy. I know I can count on him when he says he’ll be there at 2:00 – He’s there.
I’m sure this is the same for all of us. There are some people who we can be confident in their word. They say what they mean and mean what they say. Whether it’s something routine like setting a time for an appointment or in matters that are much more important.
Like when you’re going through a crisis or a trauma. You will often have people who will say “if there’s anything I can do for you – let me know… I’ll be there.” I’m sure everyone means that on some level, but unfortunately, they are missing in action soon after. At the same time, there will be others, who will go above and beyond what any of us could have ever imagined in those moments of crisis – shining forth as true, best friends.
Today’s Gospel has that “Saying what you mean and meaning what you say” feel to it when you think about it. Jesus keeps saying that we need to “eat his flesh and drink his blood.”
He can’t mean what he says some argue and scoff.
Yet, Jesus has said this, what, 7 times in this section of John.
Well he must be talking literally or figuratively or poetically some wonder.
Yet he never interrupts or corrects the “confusion” of the moment – clarifies that this is a symbol or re-interprets this to mean anything other than what he very bluntly, shockingly has said to his followers.
Jesus means what he says and says what he means… And he has never given them any reason not to trust his word. He’s preached words that have touched their hearts and souls. He’s astounded them with miracles that cannot be explained…Yet, this call to faith, this miraculous, intimate gift that he’s offering – His very Body and Blood given to us to be consumed by us becomes very troublesome for these followers of Jesus. So much so, that in next week’s gospel, we’ll hear how this will be a moment of departure for some.
It is hard for us to believe that God means what he says and says what he means at times. Often times that’s because we approach things from our own view of the world. I want this person to find a job… that relative to be healed… that friend to be more faithful… and when things don’t happen the way that we want, we immediately assume God isn’t faithful, isn’t listening, isn’t keeping His promises to us.
Yet, Jesus keeps inviting, offering, giving His very self to us. Trying to break us out of our own self-centered view of the world to receive Him and His vision, His view of the world. Eat my flesh… drink my blood.. Whoever [does so] remains in me and I in him.. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father…
So in one of those topsy-turvey, didn’t see that coming revelations – Jesus points out to us – we say we are his followers and that we believe in Him and Trust in Him and Have Faith in Him. He asks us – do we mean what we say and say what we mean????
