HML • 2019 September 1 • 22nd t Sunday
• Sirach 3:17-18, 20,
28-29 • Psalm 68 • Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24a
• Luke 14:1, 7-14
Title: The Courage to Forget; the Compassion to
Forgive; the Commitment to Focus. Pay It Forward
[_01_] It takes courage to forget;
it takes compassion to forgive and it takes commitment to focus on a goal.
I bring
up these 3 virtues of – COURAGE, COMPASSION, COMMITMENT, in light of Jesus’
message to those who are very concerned about their self-image, their place and
placement.
What we
read in the Gospel is
an instruction from our Savior that goes beyond mere social etiquette or common
sense.
Some of
this social etiquette was explored by the philosopher and comedian Jerry
Seinfeld in the TV sit-com Seinfeld
bearing his name. There is one episode where 2 of the main characters are
flying back to NYC on a plane and there are exactly 2 seats remaining on the
plane. One of the seats is in First
Class, the other seat is in economy class. So, they must decide who is to sit
where because – in this “overbooked” plane – both tickets cost the same money.
Jerry
uses this interesting logic to justify why he must take first class and Elaine
must take lower economy class: “Elaine,
you have never ever been in First Class … so you would not miss it… ”
In this
TV fictional example, Jerry is being very self-conscious and particular about
his need to be in First Class … it has to do with his own memory – apparently
he forget that he was once NOT in 1st Class and he forgets that 1st
Class is not something he deserves.
The
Pharisees in the Gospel also forget that 1st Class is not the their
salvation .. God is…Nevertheless, they would be very upset to be anywhere else.
[_02_] It takes courage to forget … to forget one’s
own needs.
A more
serious and real-life example…
This past July 30th – just one
month ago, there was a car accident and 911 emergency call to which the New
Jersey State Police and West Orange Fire Department responded. The location was
the Route 280 highway shoulder.
Several West Orange Firefighters –
fire truck and ambulance responded. What happened next was unusual – even for
firefighters. While the firefighter/EMT’s
William Holder and Brian Keenan – were caring for a patient… their own
ambulance was in an accident.
Fortunately, there were no fatalities but
both have a long road for physical therapy and recovery. I know you and we have
prayed for them and they are grateful for your prayers and support.
It is part of the technique and focus
of a firefighter, of a police officer, of an EMT, of so many first responders
to be more focused on the other person than on themselves. As a result, these firefighters and
state troopers were vulnerable…
[_02_] I
cite firefighters Holder and Keenan and also the first responders in SE &
Florida who will also surely give us examples of putting the other first and
forgetting themselves, of the courage to forget….
Our regional neighbors in the SE
southeast and Florida prepare for Hurricane Dorian our prayers are with them.
It is difficult – while we pray for
others – to completely put aside our own needs, our own sense of what we
deserve or merit. Our desire is to be paid back…
With the courage to forget we can
follow the virtuous action to love by paying it forward…
In
2000, the novel – (Catherine Ryan Hyde ) Pay
It Forward was published and adapted into a film/Hollywood movie also
called “Pay It Forward” – with the young actor Haley Joel Osment and several
others.., -- “Pay It Forward” showed scenes in which there was an obligation to
“achieve” 3 good deeds for
others in response to 1 good deed [received].
Such good deeds should [achieve]
things that the other person cannot [achieve]
on his or her own.
Pay
it Forward…
Sometimes,
I am too absorbed in “pay it back” than to … “pay it forward…” the message of
the Gospel and God’s mercy is not just about pay back but pay it forward.
“Forgive
us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us…”
Jesus
who does not owe us anything or gain anything by forgiving us ..gives us his life
as a free gift… and just says, for example at the at the end of the Good
Samaritan parable --- “go thou and do
likewise”.
I.e.,
= pay it forward.
[_04_] Paying it forward involves not only the
COURAGE TO FORGET ..but also the COMPASSION TO FORGIVE.
And,
forgiveness is an invitation to change… even if I may appear quite stubborn…
A
few weeks ago, I walked out of Dunkin Donuts right down the street. I was carrying stuff physically so self
absorbed in my mind that I hardly noticed did not notice that someone had held
the door for me.
He gently whispered toward me – “thank
you” – meaning that I should say “thank you.” But, even this did not register
in my thick head immediately.
The Gospel reminds me today that he
who is exalted will be humbled. (The
gentleman who kindly reminded me to say thank you … was also paying it forward,
because I think about this a lot walking through doors now!)
But, he had the compassion to forgive
and remind me. [][][]
[_05_] Paying
it forward also involves the commitment to focus.
And the moon landing
of July 20, 1969 is one such example.
50
years ago, what was that united or impressed people around the world, was not
that all understood the moon scientifically …or magically or metaphysically.
But,
somehow, the landing on the moon touched us human beings, that we reached out
of our Earth, our home to another place.
This united us not only in the doing ..but in the being in our existence
as a human community.
And,
it was also tremendously well publicized by NASA and the government.
It
mattered to us to reach out beyond Earth to land on the moon.
And,
it was very attention grabbing of everyone at a time of great political strife
and division and worldwide tension.
I
read these U.S. / national statistics of how much attention was paid to
the moon landing, to the Apollo 11.
On
July 19-20, 1969, 93% of people in the U.S. watching television saw a man land
on the moon.
Never
have there been a ratings percentage for anything before or since. 93% of
people.
In
New York City, 100% of people watched the moon landing. No one watched anything
else.
Just
in case you thought – because I thought this – that not that many people really
had televisions.
That, TV watching was
an exclusive like-minded club of people like people today who just did the same
thing.
That’s not the case.
Consider - in 2019 – 96% of households have television. In 1969, 95% of households had television.
So, the event of the
moon landing – drew us together.
And, this positive
event helped us to understand our nature – our being – as humanity, as sisters
and brothers, as children of God.
And, sometimes it is
a negative event – a catastrophe – that draws us together – 9/11 primary in
minds.
The event or crisis
reminds not that we know what to do, but who we are, the importance of
community, the importance of our being, of respecting other people. Of ..
paying it forward with our courage,
our compassion,
our commitment..
And, Holy Eucharist, the Mass reminds that we
exist simply because we are. And, we remember that we are saved simply because
we exist …and by the incarnanate-existence of Jesus … for God so loved the
world that he gave his only Son so that all who believe in him might not perish
but might have eternal life. [_fin_]
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