Sunday Homily September 30, 2012, 26th Ordinary Time B
Readings:
Numbers 11, 25-29, Would that the Lord might bestow his spirit on them all.
Psalm 19, The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart
James 5, 1-6, Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries.
Mark 9, 38-43, 45, 47-48, If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out.
INTRODUCTION:
Our First reading is from the book of Numbers. The words of Moses spoken to Joshua are in expectation for the words of Christ in today’s gospel reading that were given to the disciple, John.
For the past five weeks our second reading has been from the Letter of James. The letter was addressed to all of the Jews who became Christians across the Greek-Roman world. It is the first of what we call the universal letters, followed by two letters from Peter, three letters from John, and the letter from Jude.
I will be giving you an insight that today’s Church has failed to recognize until now. Today’s reading from the Letter of James is a reprimand to those who have stored up a worldly [instead of heavenly] treasure in their hearts.
HOMILY:
Remember that the inspired writers of the gospels do use Jesus’ words to address what’s happening in the early Church. Jesus has just given his disciples time to reflect on their arrogance when John, seeking to show their more favorable side, reveals, instead, their arrogance again.
Someone who they do not know has been proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ. When his words were welcomed, this Spirit filled man baptized him; forgave the man his sins, in the name of Christ. John told Jesus that he and the other disciples put an end to that, for the Spirit filled man was not of the Church. What did Christ do? He does not say, ‘Well done, I’m glad you denounced him.’ Rather, ‘Are you out of you mind? Those who are not against us are for us!’
In the Matthew gospel the disciples are told, ‘You are not to call yourself teacher, you have one teacher [Christ]. Jesus has nothing positive to say about human tradition either, ‘You count leaves of herbs for your tithe; but you ignore justice, mercy and truth!’
Last week, I returned with Judy from my 55th High School Reunion. I went with an apology to give to two classmates. One was for Art; one for Jim my best friend in High School. Art’s twin brother died from a heart defect when we were in 12th grade. Two girls, friends, had died the year before in a car accident. One was dating my best friend. I didn’t go to any of the funerals. I wanted to be there; I needed to be there. But I was not allowed to go!
It was prior to Vatican II, and a practicing Catholic was required to believe that the Catholic Church was the only way to salvation; Such arrogance! At that time a Catholic was not allowed to follow his conscience if it disagreed with a teaching of the magisterium; More arrogance. A Catholic was not allowed to enter the doors of a protestant church, for the Church taught that they were not part of the body of Christ; Mea culpa, mea culpa!
I was in Graduate School when John the 23rd opened its doors to the Holy Spirit. It was another 20 plus years before the Church presented the finished documents of Vatican II. The very first congress of leaders within the Church included Peter, James and Paul to address a faction of Jewish Christians who were teaching that gentile converts to Christianity needed to become Jews first.
We read in Luke Acts that both Paul and Peter replied that the gentiles received the Holy Spirit at Baptism, not Circumcision. Its doors were to remain open to the gentiles; a letter with this decision was taken to them. Were the Jewish Christians who had previously given the teaching excommunicated? No! However, in the middle of the Letter to James is the following parable.
It begins with James telling them that few are to be teachers. Why; because everyone can make mistakes, and such teachers will be judged with strictness. [Since this sets the stage for the rest of the parable, it will address the grave mistake they have made.] James describes himself with two metaphors.
He is the rider of a horse, with a big mouth, [those who are teaching that gentile converts need to be circumcised]. James, the rider, controls their big mouth by using a bit [this parable, personally explained to them].
Second there is a ship being tossed about by the wind and waves. James is the rudder seeking to control of the Church during this schism. Their teaching is like a fire that could engulf the whole forest, the Church. He describes them as someone who from the same mouth blesses God and curses those who have been made in the image of God [the newly baptized gentiles] ‘This ought not be so!’
The living waters [good news] and bitter waters do not flow from the same source [mouth]. Therefore you who are wise and understanding [of the mistake you have made], show goodness. In like manner this is our prayer to the magisterium, ‘Be wise Shepherds; ‘Those who are not against us, are for us!’