Flood Control Measures (2011-03-06)

This is my homily for 6 March 2011. I am a Catholic chaplain at 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.

Deuteronomy 11:18, 26-28, 32 | Psalm 31 | Romans 3:21-25, 28 | Matthew 7:21-27

[___01] Hoping to keep the water out of our homes, driveways, garages, basements … hoping to keep the melting snow … from causing a flood, we take certain precautions.
By careful planning, or by hours and hours of snow-shoveling or gutter-cleaning, we can keep the water flowing in the proper direction, away from our home and out int the street, to the river to the ocean.

Ideal for you and me is the ability to turn or off the water, the faucet.

This will keep the water out, the flood away.

Our homes, and foundations of our homes, will then remain dry … by our own maintenance efforts and careful planning.

[___02___] But, then again, we also know that the weather – the rain and snow and storms – are not faucets or taps that we can turn on and off.

Sometimes, we can only wait out the storm.

And, in this Gospel, Jesus promises us that certain storms – certain difficulties – are going to come that we did not anticipate, that we did not foresee.

[___03___] Now, sometimes, we can move away from the flood or the water which is troubling or difficult.

If we take “water” in this case to mean our own vulnerability, our own sinfulness, our own brokenness …then we can sometimes take precautions.

For example, if I know that certain people in my life cause me difficulty .. well, sometimes, I can take precautions. Maybe, I can avoid seeing them …or if I have to see them … I will be careful what we talk about or how much time we spend together.

This is a way to avert a storm.

It is not always possible.

[__04__] For example, let’s say someone is tempting you and me to do something dishonest, something wrong. And, we know it is wrong.

We know that if we follow their advice… we could be in trouble …or we would simply be going against what we believe.

For example, we are tempted to do something -- at a party, at school … at work … or we tempted to do something that is dishonest professionally or dishonest academically.

[___05___] Now, in some cases, we will do something, we will follow our consciences … and this turns out to have some negative consequences.

For example, suddenly, I
• Do not fit in with the cool crowd
• Have nothing to do on Saturday night
• Am isolated from a colleague or superior who had expected my undying allegiance and loyalty.

In these cases, we take a stand… we do the right thing.

And, this is similar to keep our windows shut when it is raining. We do not want any more water to come in.

Or, we take the high ground to avoid the water.

[___06___] But, as a result, we may find ourselves rejected by others.
And, this is an unforeseen flood, this is hardship.
And, in this situation, Jesus the Lord is asking us about our foundation.

He is encouraging us to see our relationship with him as a foundation.

Though others might reject us… and might even damage our reputation, our true foundation is not in popularity, or wealth or fame.

Jesus tells his disciples then – and now –

“whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.” (Luke 10:16)

(Also - Christ did not please himself:"The reproaches they uttered against you fell on me. (Romans 15:1-3) )

[___07__] The challenge for us is to consider our real foundation, even during a time of flood or stress.

The challenge is to remember that doing good is its own reward, even though this goodness might not be rewarded or recognized.

This is a strong foundation.

[__end__]