Answers and Questions (2010-12-12, Advent)

This is my homily for Sunday 12 December 2010 (Immaculate Conception) for the on-campus Sunday Mass (7:30 p.m.) of Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) Teaneck, NJ. Mass is every Sunday during Fall 2010 + Spring 2011 semesters. I am the Catholic campus minister for this campus and for the FDU Newman Catholic Association.

Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10 | Psalm 146 | James 5:7-10 | Matthew 11:2-11

[__01____] In the earliest days – and years – of our education, we are judged (evaluated) by our ability to answer questions.

The challenge for us is to RESPOND, to ANSWER:
• Spelling
• Mathematics
• History
• And many other subjects.

We answer what is asked. And, this series of answers forms a foundation of grammar, arithmetic, and other subjects.

As we go on in school – and in life – our intelligence judged partially by these answers. However, we reach a point at which we are also evaluated not by answers – but also by questions.

By questions we ask, we demonstrate, at the very least, command of the subject matter. For example, the brilliant astrophysicist or attorney is not only known for his/her ability to answer legal and scientific questions but also for an ability to pose new questions.

And, we also grow in our faith and relationship with Christ and with others by asking new questions.

And, in the Gospel today, Jesus also encourages us to be attentive to our own personal experience.

This encourages us to bring our questions to him.

[__02__ ] Bringing forward a question, asking a question we reveal something about ourselves.

And, unless we submit questions anonymously to a professor in class, we cannot
really ever ask a question without revealing who we are at a particular moment.

And, by the way – teachers generally want to know who is asking – it helps them guide the student, doesn’t it?

In the Gospel, some of the disciples of John the Baptist come forward with a basic, fundamental question of Christ:

“Are you the one who is to come or should we look for another?”

Jesus welcomes their question and reminds them of the miracles, parables, and teaching.

Christ the Teacher appeals to their intelligence and experience. However, by the nature of their question, they may not be ready to hear the answer.

This Gospel reminds us that these disciples do not have all of the knowledge we have. They are still in mid-semester. Jesus has not yet been crucified, died and risen from the dead.

And, they would have wondered why Jesus was not more austere / impoverished / extreme as John was.

So – they have questions. At least, they are asking. And, asking a question is part of our journey of faith.

[__03 __ ] Asking a question, we can demonstrate both our knowledge and our desire for knowledge.

Questions are part of relationships.

In a professional setting, consider what happens at the conclusion of job interview. The interviewer asks you or me what questions we have.

Then, we have the sometimes daunting challenge of asking an intelligent question about an industry or institution with which we have no experience.

Yet, by our questions, we also demonstrate our interest in the position. Also, we show interest by not asking certain things. For example, by not asking about salary, we demonstrate our interest in all the other conditions and factors that make a job what it is.

We stay away from that question, right ?

[__04__ ] In the early days of our education, we are asked to give answers. And, we spend a lot of time listening.

Consider that even before we can speak we also learn.

But, learning is not a matter of memorization. Isn’t this true no matter how fundamental the command?

For example, consider the commandment, Thou Shalt Not Steal.

The 7th commandment. We know it by heart, we memorized it by the words and by the number. And, we figure it’s going to be on the final, both now and forever.

On the other hand, this commandment does not simply ask you and me to refrain from breaking into cars and houses.

This commandment also encourages us to consider:
• how we use our goods and resources?
• Am I willing to share with someone who has less?
• How do I speak of others? Would I protect the reputation of another person in the same way I would protect property?
• Do I use other people for my own advancement?

[__05__ ] Much of our lives requires us to give answers. This is not only true in academia but also in life. Mothers and fathers – loving their children – are also responding YES to difficult questions.

Teachers who give their lives to the classroom also say YES each day. Doctors and medical professionals may be called to say YES to cases large and small, profitable or not.

Our lives involve many answers and not all of them are easy.

Sometimes, in life, we tire of asking questions. In a long-term relationship such as marriage or family, we may be exhausted at questions and exasperated at the answers.

We may feel we know everything there is not know about another. But, questions are not only about knowledge. They are also about a relationship.

The depth of our commitment – and our faith – is also shown in the questions we ask - both of God and of each other. [__end___]