This is my homily for Sunday 4 December 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 Evening (7:30 p.m.) at the Interfaith Chapel, 842 River Road, Teaneck, NJ.
2nd Sunday of Advent (B)
Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11 | Psalm 85 | 2 Peter 3:8-14 | Mark 1:1-8
[_01_] This Sunday is the Second Sunday of Advent.
We are reminded in this Gospel of a custom, a traditional practice of the Middle East, and of the Far and farther east.
John the Baptist touches on this referring to the “latchet of the shoe, the sandal.”
This is the shoe/sandal to be removed/untied before entering the house.
We normally expect guests to remove their own shoes. Thus, we can enjoy clean floors, hard wood unblemished by the scratches of little pebbles, we removal of shoes.
[_02_] But, would I, could I, remove the shoes of someone else? Or, as Jesus also demonstrates in the Gospel, remove the shoes and then wash the feet of someone else.
To remove the shoes of another, we are called to:
• Vigilance, watchfulness
• Stretching, bending
• Manual dexterity, skilful tying and untying with our hands.
(__1st) Vigilance, watchfulness, and to wait and pray.
Isn’t this the vigilance, the watchfulness exercised in the responsibility of:
• mothers and fathers, for children.
• doctors and nurses for patients
• Teachers for students.
• An attorney for a client
• All of us for each other
In such a case, the care giver may have specialized knowledge and skills. This care giver may even be highly paid.
On the other hand, parents and doctors and teachers and attorneys also rely on God’s help. They rely on God given talents and they also trust their little ones to God.
In this regard, vigilance also reminds us not only to do our best but also to pray that we will accept God’s will, results that may be beyond our control.
Vigilance is not only pulling someone back from danger. Vigilance is also a prayer for the other, a prayer for the person or situation we cannot control.
To remove the shoes of another, we first watch out and are vigilant for the arrival of such a person.
As Paul writes to the Colossians, “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” (Colossians 4:2)
(__2nd) Stretching, bending.
Sometimes, tying our own shoes is difficult enough. What about the shoes of another person?
To do so, we stretch our arms, back, And, this is an imitation of Christ. As Paul wrote:
“Though he was in the form of God, Jesus did not deem equality with God something to be grasped at. Rather, he emptied himself and took the form of a slave, being born in the likeness of men.” (Philippians 2:6-7)
(__3rd) Manual Dexterity
To tie and untie sandals is an act of precision, of exactness, of skillfulness.
How many months (years) before children develop this skill?
And, as grown ups, we need our own hands and fingers to be in perfect working order.
A sprained finger, a broken wrist, and we may on the 21-day disabled list/NFL injured reserve for tying and untying.
It requires attentiveness to detail, to the smallest of details, and to a tolerance for the dust of the floor.
Will I tie, untie?
Will I take the extra time to tie shoelaces in these cases …
(1) the letter, email, conversation that extra attention to both what we write or speak and how we write and speak so as to speak with both charity and clarity.
(2) The difficult homework assignment which we would rather rush through, the homework assignment for the class we do not enjoy.
(3) And, for my own good, will untie my own shoes, and ask for extra help if I need it? It may seem easier to keep my shoes on and sprint … when slowing down is what you and I need to learn and grow.
(4) Will I untie … by the favor extended to someone who overlooks my kindness, someone who is preoccupied.
It is difficult to be vigilant, to stretch, to use our manual dexterity.
But, in this way, we imitate Christ who also has stooped down to become one of us and who wants to be part of the smallest details and sacrifices of our lives.
[__fin__]
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