HOMILY FOR AUGUST 24, 2014 BASED ON.. Friday, June 28, 2013
Strength in Numbers (2013-06-23)
[__01__] In many
every day matters, we seek to be productive and profitable, avoiding large
numbers. Some of us might avoid large
numbers by not doing mathematics .... MEANWHILE .... some of us avoid large
numbers by avoiding crowds.
· We travel
more happily and efficiently outside rush hour.
We live more
happily – and peacefully – if we can avoid panic and chaos that might originate
in crowd. Financial advisers tell us to
avoid following the herd or crowd.
[__02__] In this
section of the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 9, and on other occasions, Jesus
separates himself from the crowd.
This separation is manifested/demonstrated in …
[__02(a)__] TOTAL
ATTENDANCE – That is, this encounter occurs when …
Jesus was praying in solitude and his disciples were with
him.” (Luke 9:18)
Our Savior had gone away from and separated the disciples
from the crowd.
[__02(b)__] This
separation is manifested/demonstrated in this Gospel in 2-part question …
The question, part 1
-- Jesus had asked the
disciples, “Who do the crowds say that I
am?” (Luke 9:18)
We hear the analytical and data-driven answers of the
disciples, based on the current Nielsen ratings, based on Jesus’ reputation and
identity.
The disciples have asked around, learning that Jesus is
known by his association to others – to Elijah, John the Baptist, one of the
prophets.
The question, part 2 --
is not based on analysis or data, but rather is personal question . “Who do you say that I am?” (Luke 9:20)
Jesus separates himself from the crowed. And, sometimes we are invited to do the same.
[__03__] In
matters of morality and ethics, a classmate or friend may invite us to do something
we recognize as dishonest.
To do the right thing might mean a separation, a distance
from the crowd, or a challenge to the friend from whom we have been invited
down the wrong path.
This is not easy.
[__04__] In more
public settings or even in legal situations, we may encounter this.
We find ourselves, in RECEENT YEARS, as a Catholic community
praying for religious freedom.
For example - the “crowd” and our country may sign up for
legislation, choices, technologies … which are contrary to our faith.
Also, we recognize that that many people will be helped by technology,
by access to regular examinations, to prescriptions, to hospitals.
At the same time, we as Catholics have reservations about a
path that seems to include the greatest number of the choices, the greatest
number of permissions …without sufficient regard for religious freedom.
Having freedom means exercising our values, our conscience…
not simply doing what is permitted.
In this regard, some separation from the crowd is Good News,
for our religious faith and civil freedom.
[__05__] In our
own quieter moments of prayer, we also ask for the Lord’s guidance.
For example, we can sit before Jesus, present in the
tabernacle, in church, asking his guidance during a crisis or sorrow.
We may separate ourselves from the crowd for a while to do
so. We can also ask his guidance during
a time of joy.
Or, we might remind a family member for whom “faith” or
“church” might seem a distant reality about this.
Such a person might not have the continuity
of religious practice in their lives.
Such a person could be reminded to come to church, to pray before the
tabernacle, to ask God – in solitude –for the word or words today.
Jesus speaks to us in our solitude away from the crowd. God
speaks to us each day.
[__06__] This
conversation of prayer does not only happen at times of sorrow or crisis.
For example, you might say to yourself…or I might say to
myself …. “given my gifts, talents, how shall I take up my cross each day?”
This could also be a prayer this summer, after graduation,
or as we approach graduation from high school or college. How shall each of us give back?
[__07__] For
now, Jesus is separated, away from the crowd.
Yet, it is also true that he and his disciples will return
to the crowd as we also will. He will return to Jerusalem, to the big city.
This return is part of the prediction of his passion and
death.
And, we will also return to our equivalent of “Jerusalem,”
the big city, to the tasks and activities of our lives.
We will return to our lives, to our tasks.
[__08__] It is
Good News also to be back in the crowd.
For we are called to seek God’s will and presence everywhere. And, thus
in making choices – and seeking the good – we are reminded of the question
directed individually to each of us from our Savior –
“who do you say that I am?” (Luke 9:20) [__fin__]
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