Sunday Homily June 10, 2012, Corpus Christi
Readings:
Exodus 24, 3-8, We will do everything the Lord has told us.
Psalm 116, I will take the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.
Hebrews 9, 11-15, The tent in which Christ serves is greater & more perfect.
Mark 14, 12-16, 22-26, Where do you want us to go & get the Passover meal ready.
Exodus: 8 points on the readings, including 2 on Exodus, 4 on points related to the readings, & 2 more on Exodus
1. This is the 2nd book of the Torah/Pentateuch, the first section of the Old Testament. Deuteronomy, which we visited last week, is the 5th & last book. Genesis is the first book.
2. Story: This is a fabulous and entertaining fable that tells how the Israelites got out of slavery in Egypt with the leadership of Moses.
3. Passover: the night the angel passed over the first born male children of the Jews because they had smeared lamb's blood on their door posts. But the angel killed all the Egyptian first born sons to make Pharaoh let the people go. Remember, this is not history, rather like a fable, like Aesop's Fables. There is a story about the burning bush in the Holy Land, for tourists. Tourists are told this bush was the bush that burst into flame and from which Yahweh spoke to Moses.
4. Covenant vs Contract: in a contract two parties agree to do something. If one fails, the contract is often null. In a covenant two people agree, and even if one party fails, the other party honors the covenant. The Covenant between Yahweh & the People: the people will honor Yahweh as their only god; Yahweh will protect and care for them as his chosen, and bring them into a new land.
5. Sacrifice & holocaust: ancient tribal belief that I must offer to my god (s) things precious to me to appease the god's anger or win his favor, for example, with animals, prisoners, and the most beautiful girl in the community. Jesus was seen as this sacrifice to appease the god, and also as the high priest who usually performed the sacrifice. Thus the emphasis on blood & death. Today scripture scholars as well as ordinary folks don't believe any more in a God who was so angry that he demanded special sacrifice. We do not have a vengeful, angry God.
6. 12 tribes: the 12 sons of the patriarch Jacob (or Israel; the 3 patiarchs were Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob-Israel).
7. Author & Date of Exodus: not Moses. Rather a compilation of material from different centuries, that was mostly put together after the Babylonian Captivity, e.g., ca. 550 BCE.
8. Our Selection from Exodus: the people have been wandering in the desert and are now being given laws and customs they must observe. The Covenant is being sealed.
The Eucharist in daily life
Folks, it has been an amazing five weeks of peak human experiences for Rosemary and me, like champagne events. Two weddings, two reunions, and Andy’s memorial right in the middle week, the one Sunday I have been here in the past five. Each of these experiences has given me a deeper appreciation of life and friendship.
Rosemary had her fun family reunion in NJ coupled with the 5 Boro Bike Tour of NY, we along with 33 thousand others.
The next weekend we celebrated Jessica Bresson’s wedding in CT. Two weeks ago we celebrated Kate Banzhaf’s wedding in CO Springs.
Then, last weekend a reunion of the S.J. class with whom I spent the first 7 years of my Jesuit life. We gathered in New Orleans, my former home office, which in itself was quite emotional. I love the city, have not been back in over 10 years, and could see all those Katrina scenes from television in my mind. Many of us spent a lot of time with the refugees who ended up in Reunion Arena.
Observations about my class & the reunion.
20 plus guys showed up with their wives. I have to tell you, I did not recognize some of my classmates. I literally asked a number of the guys, “Who are you?’ Most of us are in our early 70’s.
I have not seen the majority since ’65, when we finished up 3 years at Spring Hill College, Mobile. Most of us were shipping out to various internships around the country. I lucked out and got to return to Dallas for the first time in 7 years, and I taught at the high school for 3 years, one of the most fun experiences of my life.
As our conversations progressed, I was struck at how each person was at home in their skin. I saw no posturing or pretense. These are high octane guys and each has used his talents well as college professors, a doctor, stock brokers, real-estate. One guys even works for the Atomic Energy Commission in Vienna.
I was deeply touched by the presence of one guy’s gentle but severely handicapped son of about 20 years. Two of the guys had lost their dear wives recently and their stories brought tears to my eyes.
I also discovered & appreciated a spiritual depth in everyone. They are progressive and disappointed with the turning back the clock on Vatican II. The few who attend Mass do so because they know a priest who talks to where they are at.
One of my favorite questions to ask people, as you know, is what is the special blessing or gift in your life since the last time we met. This group shared on this level from the start and did it with incredible appreciation.
Two of the guys are still Jesuit priests, one working in Peru, the other working with Nativity Schools in NYC. These are Jesuit schools focused primarily on underprivileged boys & girls.
Finally I saw appreciation, of life, of friendship, and of community. I love these guys and am stunned at how rich it is to be with them. The group last met 8 years ago and has met maybe 3-4 times, once in Mobile, in Maryland, & I think in Boston. In appreciation of this renewal of old friendships & my love for them, I plan to invite the group to consider meeting again in two years, same place. It is already being talked about.
One last point, a Eucharist event. John Ross Sima, the priest working in Peru, arrived late and made his appearance in the Saturday morning session. He brought with him a cream cake from Peru. He cut it up and passed it around to everyone.
I would propose that this is one of the bases of Eucharist: a meal that celebrates our life, our friendship, our love, and, in turn, deepens them. That’s what we do here.
Your Eucharist?