HML • 2019 July 7 • 14th Sunday
• Isaiah 66:10-14c • Psalm
__ • Galatians 6:14-18 • +Luke 10:1-12, 17-20 •
Title: Connection. Consistency. Compassion.
[_01_] Jesus
speaks about discipleship and about following him as a disciple, in this
Gospel.
A
disciple is one who….
“one who accepts and assists in spreading the
doctrines (teachings) of another…” [source: Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Collegiate
Edition, 10th edition]
And,
we share the teachings, we spread the teachings of Jesus by our love for God
and for one another.
In
the Gospel of St. John, chapter 13, we read: “by this shall all [people, men
& women] know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John
13:35).
So,
that’s the goal. It is World Cup Final Sunday. You might have the game/match on
right now. It just started at 11:00 am.
That’s the goal we are aiming for -- love of God and love of neighbor …
[_02_] Jesus invites all of us to have this game
turned on and tuned in our heads, just as he sent out the 72 disciples out, he
is also sending us out.
And,
you and I are also sent out – at every Sunday Mass (every Mass & Holy
Eucharist), the deacon and priest express and conclude with a reminder that we
are sent à “go in peace” … “go
forth in peace to love and serve the Lord.”
And,
we say “Thanks be to God” – acknowledging that we are being sent at the time of
the final blessing. So, we acknowledge we have gained some nourishment here in
prayer, in word, in the sacraments. And, we go out with the Good News.
We
go out with the Good News right at the time it is announced the “Mass is ended”
and we say…”thanks be to God.”
So,
while I am touching on the nature of Mass-being-ended …you know “The Mass is
Ended, go in peace…” this homily is not quite ended or over yet. Bear with me.
[_03] We are
sent out in 3 ways , as disciples who are called to be:
[►CONNECTED] [►CONSISTENT]
[►COMPASSIONATE]
1st.
[►CONNECTED]. The
word connected means – originally – to “bind with” to be “tied with”.
And,
we are in so many ways bound and tied to each other.
The disciples are sent out 2-by-2, bound
and tied to each other.
Isn’t
the prayer of every mother, father, grandparent that their children will find
good friends.
I believe a good
prayer to say…”dear Lord, find me some friends, find me a good friend.” And, it
is the prayer of every mother, father, grandparent for their children that they
will have good friends, good connections in life. Jesus does not send us out to
be alone. We pray, Lord, send me a
friend or friends into my life, so that I can walk with you 2 by 2.
In
soccer, they go 2 by 2, to move that ball – that spherical object – downfield.
What
is the key to moving the ball downfield – the players may seem to have eyes in
the back of their heads…but in fact, they are so well practiced that they trust
where the other even without sight. They move the ball downfield –
geometrically and artistically and fluently … because they move together and
recognize their support for each other to move the ball from one player’s foot
to another player’s foot or head or knee whatever is necessary (except your
hands !)
One
or two players may gain statistical credit for GOAL / ASSIST, but everyone was
involved in getting the ball downfield. Even the players on the sidelines move
the ball downfield in practice.
Connection
is key.
It’s
not what you know it’s who you know! We are also bound, tied to each other –
connected as disciples.
[_04_] 2nd
. The importance of
being [►CONSISTENT]
And,
consistency is something we learn in many ways from our parents, from our
teachers. I’m grateful that I learned this from my parents, equally and
consistently. While loving us equally, they also knew each of us as
individuals.
I
recall this example set for me in the seminary, by seminary priests and faculty
members, one of whom was Monsignor Robert Coleman who says Thursday morning
Mass here at Lourdes.
Monsignor
Coleman gave that example of consistency, with the same expectations of
everyone studying for the priesthood.
Before
I went into the seminary, I thought I was pretty special, because I was the
only I knew about to study for the priesthood.
Then,
I got to the seminary and realized I might not be so special.
The
lesson of consistency was from another priest who shared with me ”you know, when you become a priest, you
should be glad …James Ferry / Father James Ferry, you should feel blessed – and
glad if the people forget your name or confuse you with other Catholic priests.
If that happens, you are doing something right. ”
Kind
of like you might confuse one player with another after a goal is scored or a
victory…
Consistency calls us to work together.
We
are called to be connected as disciples, consistent as disciples and also
compassionate as disciples.
[_05_] 3rd. The importance of
being [►COMPASSIONATE].
The word compassion includes the word ‘passion’ which does mean suffering …and
we are called to suffer with others.
Simon of Cyrene gave
us this example, walking the way of the Cross, picking up some of the lumber,
the wood to carry the Lord’s cross for Christ…to pick up his portion…Simon of
Cyrene is a team player!
Compassion
is also shown by our forgiveness, our willingness to forgive a wrong. Simon
Peter learns this.
Peter
comes to Jesus once and says, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how many
times must I forgive him.. as many as seven times?”
No,
not 7 times, but 77 times. In other words, “do not keep track…” And, it’s hard
to forgive someone over and over again. It’s difficult. Jesus knows this, but
he’s forgiving us over and over again..
And,
he’s asking us to do this for each other.
It
does not mean we can never correct another person. Nevertheless, “correcting”
another person does not mean that I am withholding forgiveness.
We
can correct another person and still forgive. On the other hand, we can also
receive correction – accept correction – and acknowledge that we have been
forgiven by another.
It’s
hard to forgive, but forgiveness teaches us COMPASSION, about CONSISTENCY, and
that we are CONNECTED in love of God and love of neighbor. [_fin_]
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