Everyone, and Anyone (2011-02-20)

This is my homily for 20 February 2011. I am the Catholic campus minister for Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) campus and for the FDU Newman Catholic Association. We celebrate Catholic Mass - during Fall and Spring semester - every Sunday Mass (7:30 p.m.) at the Interfaith Chapel, 842 River Road, Teaneck, NJ.

Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18 | Psalm 103 | 1 Corinthians 3:16-23 | Matthew 5:38-48

[__01___] In the Gospel, Jesus asks us about greetings and whom do we greet.
We usually greet those who return our greeting, those who reciprocate in some way, the generosity, kindness or “good-morning”which we extend.

But, then, Jesus asks us about those who do not reciprocate, those who do not respond and even about those who reject us.

Some individuals will walk right by us without saying Good Morning or Hello.
“If you greet brother or your sister or your friends or only those who say Good Morning, what is unusual about that ?” (cf. Matthew 5:38-48)

We are asked about expanding the social network. And, we are asked how we could apply this to our lives?

[__02___] One example – imagine we are in a large gathering, a large room, a large gathering, a banquet, a party, and with many people. And, we do not linger too long with any one person.

Rather, we “work the room” – we meet everyone who is there. To spend a little bit of time with everyone … no matter important or unimportant a person may seem. This is a sacrifice we can make … to meet and greet and be cordial to a wide variety of people is an imitation of Christ himself.

(Sometimes, one may turn “working the room” into an exercise of ego … but it need not be this way).

[__03___] At school, we are called to this cordiality, this generosity.
For example, to be cheerful even to those who do not make us feel cheerful, to smile for the teacher who does not smile to us.

To smile and to be kind to the other person at school whom others might ridicule or ignore.

This is difficult. The more usual way is to place restrictions, and to use methods that will connect me to the people most likely to give me something back (consolation, amusement, entertainment…)

And we even have methods for imposing our restrictions, caller I.D., voice mail, filtering of e-mail addresses.

To greet certain people and not others, to lend generously to some and not to others. To stay connected with those whom we already desire a connection.

[__04__ ] Jesus is asking us to reconsider these restrictions.
And,this is not so that others might walk all over us. Is this not our immediate reaction when we hear the words … “turn the other cheek?”

We imagine that we have just become a doormat ..and someone has stepped all over us. But, another thing is that Jesus is asking us to have confidence in ourselves even when we endure rejection.

To have confidence even in the other person who rejects us.

To be compassionate to the other person who, perhaps, is ignoring us.

And, to ask myself (yourself), do I rely on – depend on – the affirmation and recognition of others …as a prerequisite before I say Good Morning or do anything?
Jesus is asking us if we have the confidence to walk the second mile with another person, even for the person who has done nothing to deserve it ….

[__05__ ] Yes, it is true that we cannot be equally generous – or making equal “appropriations” of time and money – to everyone, to all …
The deficit would be overwhelming. The Lord is asking us to be discerning
Also, as we heard in last week’s Gospel, we have to make our Yes mean Yes and our No mean No. To be committed .. and to make careful decisions. But, Jesus is also asking us – what is our criteria?

How do we evaluate others? And, would we give our generous service to just anybody?

[__06__ ] Or, would we only serve generously certain people…
Jesus asks us if we would drop some of our restrictions …and to recognize the inherent value of my kindness to another person. Even if that person does not return it. And, to recognize the inherent value of the other.

Jesus is asking us to greet and to befriend those whom others might ignore. To go beyond the usual to do the unusual….

To greet others who may ignore us. The Gospel asks us to have confidence, to reach out to others… not that we can help all … but that, for the ordinary person, we can be kind to just anybody… [the-end]