Packing Extra (2011-11-06)

This is my homily for Sunday 6 November 2011. I am a Catholic chaplain in Teaneck at Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) campus and for the FDU Newman Catholic Association. We celebrate Catholic Mass - during Fall and Spring semester - every Sunday Mass (7:30 p.m.) at the Interfaith Chapel, 842 River Road, Teaneck, NJ.

[_01_] Is it wise, is it intelligent to carry EXTRA?

Do we not, at times, identify someone as foolish if he or she has too many suitcases, too many textbooks, too many packages or is simply moving too slowly? This parable suggests that we can acquire wisdom when we also acquire – and accept – the extra burden in our lives.

[_02_] Consider for example, last week’s loss of electric power, heat, communications, phone.

Can we survive without Google? Life seemed to move much at a much slower pace.

And, the really “well connected” people were not those with the most HD boxes, flat screens, or gigabytes per second of Internet service.

The well connected folks in the blackout were those with Double-A batteries, lanterns and fireplaces.

Prudent it was to have a little extra.

[_03_] Do we not also strive to acquire a little extra in academic studies in the classroom as well?

In academic endeavors, we carry around many books, papers, notebooks.

And, in the early part of the semester, we may carry around absolutely everything not sure of what we need. (Or, perhaps, we think only the freshmen do this… the upperclassmen are much cooler, aren’t they?).

Nevertheless, early in the semester –- as we read in the parable in the Gospel -- we have to fill up our flasks with oil, our tanks with fuel. We fill up these flasks, these tanks, to get through the midterm and final.

By December, we may actually be able to reduce the weight in our backpacks. That is, we may have burned off, consumed some of the necessary oil. So, we may not be carrying around so many gallons of oil or kilograms of textbooks. Rather, we hope that we hope that we have learned the knowledge.

That, is the knowledge is burning inside of us. And, this light will burn until the end of the semester and beyond.

[_04_] In the population of students, the wise person brings some extra; the foolish person is the one who travels with little or no luggage.

And, for a while, this person is pretty cool and comfortable. But, this is also the person who knocks on your door, or comes up to you at the [SUB] cafeteria and wants you to explain microbiology or microeconomics, the day before the midterm.

This person, foolishly, has not studied, having carried nothing around, let alone opening a book. Unfortunately, it’s too late.

This parable reminds us to acquire, for example, intellectual knowledge for ourselves. Some things cannot be memorized or downloaded at the last minute.
Wise and prudent are we to carry a bit extra at the start of the journey.

[_05_] Isn’t this also true in our spiritual lives and in our relationships with others?

That is, we are also wise to carry a bit extra. However, we may find it difficult to do so.

For example, at Newark Airport or L.A.X. or JFK or Penn Station, I could be easily persuaded to carry an extra suitcase or layer of clothing … on one condition.
That is, I am carrying this burden for my own comfort, my own appearance.

[_06_] More difficult, however, is the choice that I make which brings me NEITHER:

Popularity NOR Reward.

Sometimes, I do not achieve popularity or reward for my actions.

For example, I may choose to do the honest thing when my friends are pressuring me to take the easy way out. I may carry the extra burden of rejection or loneliness for a while, due to the choice of virtue, of integrity. The Lord reminds us that we are are not alone. Just as Simon of Cyrene helped with his cross, Jesus returns the favor with our crosses.

[_07_] Or, I may choose to compromise or make a sacrifice for someone who does not notice – recognize – what I am doing.

This choice may slow me down. Isn’t it easier when I receive credit for my actions? …and also when all of the electricity and lights are working?

[_08_] By this parable, Jesus encourages us to accept even the difficult burden, not to run from our responsibilities.

It is true… the commitment which seems difficult may also slow us down. This may be for example, the commitment of marriage, family, parenting for many of us.

We may be tested, examined – and stopped at the border repeatedly to be asked about it.

But, and these commitments require great energy from us… but, they are also commitments which teach us about God’s love, forgiveness, mercy, commitments which provide the fuel we need to gain warmth and the light we need in order to see.

[__fin__]