Sunday Homily, Sept 9, 2007, 23rd in Ordinary Time
Readings: Wisdom 9, 13-18; Psalm 90; Philemon 9, 10-17; Luke 14, 25-33.
Wisdom: This is another of the books called Apocrypha, because they are not part of the original Old Testament. The work makes use of traditional Jewish material, as well as ideas borrowed from Greek philosophy, in order to teach that God rewards those who are faithful to him.
Our section this morning is simply saying, Who knows or who can guess God’s mind or intentions for us. This sets up the Gospel which is rather confounding at first reading.
Hate my Mother, Father, & Wife?
A few summers ago Rosemary & I made a three night back packing trip through Zion National Park in Utah. We entered the north west corner of the park by getting a farmer to drop us off, and we hiked back to the center of the park where the headquarters, lodges, and our car were.
Somewhere in the middle of the hike after climbing some switchbacks, we came to a vista point and took a break. Suddenly from below comes a muscular college kid running up the switchbacks. When he arrives at the top he stops for a break and some water.
Being very outgoing, he explains that he is from Notre Dame, is planning on entering the Olympics, and is in training. He runs in one day the whole trip we used four days to cover.
Unfortunately, we never did notice whether he showed up at the Olympics or not. Whether he did or not, he was motivated.
Luke’s gospel today talks about motivation, but in exaggerated terms. This is hyperbole, hype, exaggeration to make a point. It is coach talk.
So what is the goal? "Being my disciple," Jesus says. What is that? I would propose that it means being a whole person, a balanced, maturing person, a peaceful person. To achieve the goal takes self discipline and effort. These are the means to the goal. What is mentioned by Luke is the means, even though hyped.
What are the signs of my progress? The author I’ve been reading says there are three signs: more outgoing, more self confident, and more loving-caring.
Teachers can watch the process with kids they teach. Initially we are self focused, self absorbed. As we grow we turn from our self to others.
This outgoing characteristic is strengthened as I become more self confident, which, in turn, grows because I am accepted and loved by others. With this foundation I can risk more. Success increases my self confidence.
Then I, too, love and care for others. The self focused child becomes the caring parent, teacher, or volunteer.
Our Notre Dame boy would probably think this passage about hating your mother, father, spouse, even your own life is silly. Yet, he is doing what it recommends if you can see it as saying the ultimate goal is so good it is worth devoting everything to it with passion. He is focused on an intermediate goal, the Olympics, but in that focus he is maturing and becoming a more whole & peaceful person.
What are you passionate about?
AUDIO: http://mysite.verizon.net/reso7rjy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2007-09-09.mp3