Sunday Homily, June 22, 2014, Corpus Christi
Readings:
Deuteronomy 8, 2-3, 14-16, He let you be afflicted with hunger, then fed you.
Psalm 147, Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
1 Corinthians 10, 16-17, We all partake of the one loaf.
John 6, 51-58, Whoever eats this bread will live forever.
Deuteronomy: The fifth & last book of the Torah. The scene: Moses & the Hebrews are in the desert just outside the promised land, the land of the Canaanites, whom they are going to kick out and kill. Moses is reviewing their journey from Egypt.
Date: first put into some form around 750 before Christ, then put into a more final form, guess when, at the end of the Babylonian Captivity, around 555.
Author: not Moses, even though the book is 3 sermons of Moses on the plains of Moab, just at the end of the period of wandering, and just before entering the land of the Caananites, or the Promised Land. It is really tradition, stories of old times.
Our Selection: Moses is recounting the escape from Egypt and the years in the desert.
The belief that Yahweh punishes, corrects us, and tests us with affliction is not common today as Moses suggests to the people. You can still hear it from fundamentalist preachers. Remember the huricane in New Orleans? We will read more of the section to get the sense more clearly.
My Guide through the Desert
We have just read about how Moses guided the Jewish people through the desert. In honor of two of our most favorite people who are retiring from years in public education, this morning I would like to talk about people who guided us and me through the desert.
Two short stories, some of which you may have heard before. It just seems to fit in here so well.
When I was in maybe 6th grade, I joined the Boy Scouts at Christ the King around January, when I have my birthday. Some of my classmate joined up in the spring.
First thing I know, along comes summer and we are heading to Texoma for a week of summer camp. We get there, get our tents, and I overhear some of the 8th grade guys planning to initiate me. Why me? Probably because I was bigger than some of my classmates.
So suddenly I get sick. I’m afraid. I'm home sick. I want out of there. These guys were bigger than me and I did not feel safe, no way. The scout master was a pretty passive guy I did not know well.
We had come in on Sunday. By Monday night I am back home, and back home really feeling horrible about what I did. I feel like a chicken, for sure. I was embarrassed even in front of my parents.
The next summer comes along. My dad, who had remained active along with me in the Scout troop, invited me to go with him back to Texoma. He was going to spend the night as one of the adult overnight supports for the troop.
With some trepidation, I decided to go. We arrived at night and I still remember walking into the tent of my coach and teacher, Frank Hart. He was sitting on his cot and there was a Coleman lantern buzzing. He had always supported me. Always encouraged me.
His welcome that night was a turning point in my young life. It probably prepared me for the day after high school, when I would walk away from the security of my family, join the Jesuits, and never return, even to Dallas for 7 years.
My second guide through the desert was one of the Jesuits at the old Jesuit High. From as early as I can remember I detested clericalism and the piety stuff. That was all I had seen until Jesuit. Fr. Jules May was not clerical and not pious.
He was our freshman football coach. As coach he was out there in clothes as crummy as what we wore. And as coach he got after us like a drill sergeant. He cussed us. He yelled at us. He accepted us ultimately. I remember my dad was somewhat shocked. I loved him.
I remember one day we were playing Highland Park on our upper field right next to Oak Lawn across from Holy Trinity. My best buddy played center for Highland Park and I played center for Jesuit. At one point in the game we were punting out of our own end zone, a chain link fence between our field and Oak Lawn. I centered that ball over the kicker’s head, over the fence, and onto Oak Lawn.
I was so humiliated and was waiting for Jules May to descend upon me with both feet. He did not.
Jules May was one of the reasons I decided to join the Jesuits.
These two coaches and teachers were guides to me through the desert. Cathy & Rick have guided tons of young people through the desert.
Who was your guide?
Whom are you guiding today?