Power Outages (2011-10-30)

This is my homily for Sunday 30 October 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.

31st Sunday (Year A)

NEWS NOTE --- The New York Times By SARAH MASLIN Published: October 30, 2011

*** " Millions of people across the Northeast found themselves without power on Sunday after an unusual autumn storm dumped record amounts of snow. More than 2.3 million customers from Pennsylvania through New England had no electricity, according to reports, as the region was lashed by surprisingly high winds and the snowdrifts piled up. In Manhattan, tree branches snapped under the weight of wet snow, piling up along Fifth Avenue and blocking Central Park paths. " ***

[_01_] In a power outage (blackout, loss of electricity, heat, cable, telephone), we observe homes going dark on the same street where other homes burn and glow PSE&G style.

Random does the loss of power seem. Not only does our home within become disorganized without working light switches, but the neighbourhood is also in disarray.

The grass seems greener on the neighbor’s property for it is now better illuminated.

[_02_] And, how about the process of restoring power to households who have electricity from the utility company?

This may also seem random. Some homes are restored to electricity, heat, telephone sooner than others.

In New Jersey, the utility is PSE&G (Public Service Electric and Gas). And, we recognize that PSE&G (and Verizon and other providers) must set a priority.
That is, we try to have patience while the most vulnerable – the most deserving – are cared for.

In this regard, power is given to those who are most deserving.

[_03_] In the Gospel this Sunday, Jesus speaks of the power, prestige, authority, that is gained or obtained by some individuals.

These individuals are the Pharisees and Scribes. They have power.

Do they have this power because they have earned it?

We also have encounters with those who have authority and power. These individuals could be teachers, parents, professors, supervisors.

What do we learn from these experiences?

[_04_] The disciples are being reminded that power is not given to them because they have earned it or deserved it.

And, parents, for example, exercise their greatest influence over their children not by winning an argument today or by laying down the law or proving they are right all the time.

Rather, don’t parents have the greatest influence over their children, simply by the exercise of humble service.

That is, children themselves learn how to be mothers and fathers and husbands and wives by the example of parents who sacrifice.

And, in a similar way, we could say that students – who feel called to teach – will learn what it is to be a teacher not by the teacher with the longest curriculum vitae longest but from the teacher’s own sacrifice and gift of self.

In this regard, we learn that the last shall become first in times of both darkness and light. [__end__]