Spin City (2011-02-27)

This is my homily for 27 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.

[ Isaiah 49:14-15 | Psalm 62 | 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 | Matthew 6:24-34]

[__01_] Sometimes, we speak of a 360-degree movement or circular rotation as something that only brings us back to square one.
“Spinning our wheels.”

On the other hand , machines have to revolve and turn in order to produce – the wheels of a bicycle or car turn.

A washing machine/dryer spins as it cleans and dries.

And, the Lord identifies “spinning” as equivalent to working and producing, in this Sunday’s Gospel… also referring to what we wear, our garments which have also been woven …or spun either by hand or machine:

“Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin … [they do not work or spin] – But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them.” (see  Matthew 6:24-34)

[__02____] We are asked a few questions in this Gospel. Using the metaphor of clothing, food, and drink, Jesus is asking us about our desires, our hopes for the future … our concerns about the future, our anxieties…

And, thus, asking:
(1) SPEED – what spin cycle are you on? Am I on? Slow, medium, fast – turbo ?

(2) CENTER – what is in the center of our circle? What – or who -- maintains the balance as we turn, revolve? Is the Lord, the Holy Spirit, in the center – or something else ..someone else – filling up the center and crowding out other things?

[__03___] We are being encouraged to slow down. Using the wild flower example, Jesus reminds us that the organic beauty – and slow growth -- of flowers exceeds anything we could build artificially.

Does this mean that we should sit on our hands ..and wait for the flowers to grow or the paint to dry in our lives?

At other places in the Good News and New Testament, we are told about the importance of work –

The letter of St. James warns employers about withholding wages from workers or failing to pay workers a just wage (James 5:4) - the letter of Paul to the Thessalonians is quite blunt – those who do not work should not eat. Paul himself is trying to say that he himself has worked for his daily bread. And, we are called to do the same.

Jesus is cautioning us, however, about the anxiety we may have about daily bread or daily achievement or care of any kind.

Can we go slower and still get somewhere…as the flowers grow gradually?

We are often called to do so – for example ..even if in the short term, we seem to be spinning slowly or paid back only a little bit.

This is often our view of ..

[__03(a)_-ACADEMIC/HOMEWORK___ ] It takes patience – perseverance – to keep on going even when we do not fully understand a particular subject or teacher.
It may take courage to ask a question in class when we do not know what’s going on. That is, I do not want to appear foolish … or admit that I don’t know something …
However, this is humility that enables us to acquire wisdom – Solomon – in addition to being well-dressed – was known for his desire for wisdom, for asking the Lord God for wisdom.

This comes about through many small steps and the courage to keep going, even at a slow speed.

[__03(b)-CARE OF A LOVED ONE__ ] Caring for someone who is suffering from an illness or someone who is at an advanced age can also cause us to spin… even to spin out of control.

I may wonder if this type of “homework” also has any real effect.

We may feel we are really pushing uphill.

But .. in caring for someone who is suffering or -- even not fully alert and awake – we profess a faith in the eternity of life …not only in the existence of heaven ..but belief that life continues even when we cannot perceive it or measure it in the regular way. This also takes courage …and calls us to a slower pace …and a new center.


[__04__] Who is in the center?

Spinning requires some balance and a center of gravity.

With a strong center, we stay physically upright and – on the field or court – we go advance and avoid our opponents.

Spinning and turning are necessary to score points ….
• In Madison Square Garden
• In the World Cup
• Or on the red carpet at the Academy Awards (Oscars) tonight – celebrities of Hollywood will turn around to be photographed, also in garments believed to be more stylish than Solomon in all his splendor.

So ..having a strong center enables me to be physically and materially upright…

[__05__ ] Sometimes, however, this uprightness produces a very tiny center of gravity and center of existence.

There is only room for one – i.e., my self, my needs, my anxieties – in this center of gravity.

I may be spinning my wheels …or running in place.

Jesus asks us – about what we want to wear, eat, drink?

And, by this, he is also asking – around what do we revolve?
He does not suggest that we stop working or or cease caring.
Some us work very hard, have many worries,.he only reminds us that we can still do our spin moves … slowly

On a bicycle, isn’t it true that at the higher gears, we are covering greater distance …while spinning and turning more slowly.

We can also do the same, spinning more slowly and keeping him at the center.

[the-end]