Sunday Homily, October 18, 2015, 29th Ordinary Time
Readings:
Isaiah 53, 10-11, The Lord was pleased to crush him.
Psalm 33, Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you
Hebrews 4, 14-16, Let us approach the throne of grace.
Mark 10, 35-45, Whoever wishes to be great will be your servant.
Victoria says, "Hi, Everybody, Welcome in."
Isaiah:
A review:
Authors: at least 3 because there are 3 distinct parts to Isaiah the book. Today's author is number 2.
Time of Composition: near the end of the Babylonian Captivity, i.e., ca. 555 Before Christ.
Subject Matter: part 1 up to chapter 39, warnings about impending doom because of the badness of the people. The remaining two parts are called the Book of Consolation, letting the people know that a more peaceful &:prosperous time is coming.
One exception: 4 Suffering Servant passages in writer number 2, plus today's passage.
Emma and her buddy, too, say, "Good Morning, Folks."
Today’s Selection: Isaiah number 2. Pretty nasty treatment being dealt to someone. 4 observations—
A. This chapter in 2 Isaiah is not included as one of the 4 Suffering Servant Songs, even though it presents the same theme.
B. The he, the servant that is talked about is
–for the Hebrews, the Jewish nation/people;
–for Christians, Christ.
C. False Belief number 1? The Jews thought Yahweh demanded suffering or sacrifice of valuable items ( e.g., sacrificial lamb, scape goat ) as payment for badness or for favors.
D. False Belief number 2? The early Jews & Christians believed that an original great sin had been committed by our ancestors & that sin could only be paid for by a human-divine hero, Jesus. He had to be sacrificed to this god. Or as the first line of our official reading says, “The lord was pleased to crush him with infirmity.”
Do you think God crushes people with infirmity? Was there really an original sin? Contemporary theology says no.
And not to be left out, Buddy says, "Welcome, Everybody."
If I don’t want to be 1st, do I have to be a slave?
I want to talk today about being first and being a servant or slave. Or if I don’t want to be first, do I have to be a slave? I am uncomfortable with the either or. I have seen good people get obsessed with serving. Can there be a healthy middle ground? I would say, yes, and it is self acceptance of myself as I am. A story.
You all know that Rosemary & I love to ride our bikes around White Rock Lake. We go south on the White Rock Creek Trail from Royal Lane. The second bridge we go under is the bridge where David Stephens was killed Monday Mmorning, 7:45. Then circle the lake clockwise with a break at the boat house at the south end, near the dam. All together about 20 miles.
Zoe, the Candle Lighter
Homeward bound from the boat house we use West Lawther Drive, a beautiful little lane running between the lake and gorgeous mansions. Lots of bikers use this road and walkers and runners use the path meandering along closer to the lake.
There can be mini, spur of the moment competitions on this road among northbound riders like we are.
One day I am cruising along Lawther, when I am passed by 4 young kids about 13 years old, 3 boys & a girl. “Whoa,” I think, “How can these kids
Genevieve says, "It is nice to be baptized."
do this to me?” “I am going to pace these kids.”
I discover that these kids are well coached by somebody. They are drafting and they are changing leader every mile or so. Plus, they are flying. I don’t draft, but I stay behind enough.
We fly under the bridge that is Nwst. Hwy and race up the White Rock Creek Trail. I keep up with them, but don’t like it. They are going too fast, especially on curves, doubly especially on curves that involve shaded tunnels under bridges, a bit like Walnut Hill.
Finally, about half way up the trail to Royal Lane, I Iet them go. I never see them again.
Is it Hug Your Gorilla Sunday today?
I decide two things:
- I will not race with people on the White Rock Creek Path. Too dangerous. Both West and East Lawther Drives, okay.
- Give up trying to be a great biker or first. I am a B level biker. I am a B level athlete and a B level intellectual. In fact, one of the therapeutic values of biking is that, just after I think I am hot stuff because I have passed some young dude in all his fine bike clothes, along comes someone, like a girl, who passes me like I am waiting at the DART station.
Anybody not want to be first once in a while? Be best in something? Absolutely normal. Look at sports, academics, appearance. So does that mean I have to be a slave or servant? Very tricky statement psychologically.
The Team, Georgie & Kevin.
2 Observations:
- It is normal and okay to want to be first. I hope so. Certainly I know kids at 75 who have it.
- When Mark says “servant” and “slave,” do you see Mark’s hyperbole, his exaggeration, and his use of infinite demand? This is his literary tool to make a point.
- From my experience, the danger is… A person who is religiously obsessed, poorly trained, spiritually & psychologically insecure, or scrupulous, this poor person can take the servant idea to an extreme. The motto is, “Always better to give than to receive.” No way.
The best music, Mary, Bethany, & Ray.
I have known & worked with people with this mentality. We had them in the Jesuits. The person cannot allow anyone to do anything for them. Sometimes it is called scrupulosity.
For that matter, I have some of that stuff. I don’t always like to be on the receiving end. Giving and serving can be quite comforting.
Rosemary reading her Blessing of The Week.
Spiritual health avoids extremes. It helps me to accept myself as I am. It also challenges me to make a difference in our world.
On the one hand, how do you handle not being number one? On the other, how do you help others healthily?