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2 Samuel 5:1-3 ●●● Psalm 122 ●●●
Colossians 1:12-20 ●●● + Luke 23:35-48
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Title: Lateness and Mercy.
[__00__] Jesus
Christ the King is the feast today and we begin with this reading from Samuel
about David being made King of Israel.
And, it was notable that when David
was made King, he was not the likely choice. He was the youngest of all of the
sons in the family. The prophet Samuel thought he was to select one of the
older sons to be king, but nevertheless David is selected, is called.
The last, youngest, latest to arrive
became FIRST.
As the eldest child in my family, I
always thought that the “last’ and youngest children got more…had it easier…
But, whether we are first or last, we
may think we are not getting what we deserve. The good news is that the last
can be first.
[__01__] In the
Gospel today, we see the virtue of being persistent and persevering, even when
arriving late, even when delayed.
Have you ever been noticed because you were delayed, or late, fashionably or
unfashionably late to an event or gathering?
Our local NY philosopher-comedian
Jerry Seinfeld depicted this in the humor one of the episodes of his 1990’s
comedy – Seinfeld – in which the
theme of lateness and the danger of lateness is portrayed in a house guest and
visitor…
The main characters Jerry and Elaine
are both involved because the house guest is at Elaine’s home and he is a marathon
runner from Trinidad & Tobago named Jean
Paul who was in the Olympics and became famous for
over-sleeping and missing his event, the
Olympic marathon. Elaine tells Jerry about it, and Jerry meets Jean
Paul. Jean Paul reveals that in his room – at the Olympics -- there were separate knobs for the alarm volume and the radio volume and that he neglected
to - before he went to bed - to turn up the volume for the alarm. Thus he
overslept and missed the race.
Thus a theme of the episode is how to
get to NYC Marathon on time..that’s what the show is about. “Jean Paul” does
not want to be late again. Being late has been his downfall…he does not want to
repeat the experience.
[__02__] This
is the Sunday of Christ the King and we read about the thief on the cross who
says, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Jesus, remember me.
One way that we can be remembered – or
memorable – is when we show up late. In
the fictional Seinfeld example, the
marathoner Jean
Paul cannot escape the infamy of his lateness. He was always
trying to overcome it. It’s not really
clear whether his new friends are helping him.
Is the “last” or latest going to be
first? Lateness can be good news.
According to Gospel/Christian value,
yes, this is possible and there is no one later …more delayed in repentance
than the thief on cross at Calvary.
On Good Friday, he made a dramatic
entrance at the 11th hour, as we say. “Jesus remember me when you come into your
kingdom.”
Is he any different, however, from the
characters in another example, those in the parable of the workers in the vineyard,
the late-arriving workers who are paid a full-day’s wage..and this really
annoys the workers who had worked all day? Imagine…the late arrivals receive
the same as the early arrivals.
Lateness is not always bad news.
The theme of the Seinfeld episode is
that there is always one more human intervention in terms of a better alarm
clock, a better hotel room, a better reminder system that can prevent lateness.
And that summarizes our scientific everyday world view. Are you late? Then,
turn up the volume.
Jesus, however, is saying that being
late is not necessarily our downfall … it all depends on what we do when we
arrive.
There is also the famous quote by
comedian Woody Allen: “80 % of success is just showing up.”
At least the good thief shows up. That’s
more than we can say for 11 of the 12 apostles for whom the crucifixion was not
a Must-See-TV experience for them and they scattered and went into hiding. They
did not want to be there, to see or be seen
[__03__] Am
I present when I show up?
I’d like to share an example which
shows that – at least in my case – showing up involves not just a willingness
to be appear and to be seen … but really to be known by the other.
The good thief wants to be known. Regarding myself, I am not so sure.
A few months ago, I arrived at a
gathering in which several people were seated in a circle, everyone was
listening, taking notes, writing stuff down… band I arrived about 15 minutes
after the start. I was uncomfortable about my lateness, but everyone was quite welcoming
and understanding.
I was handed some papers and I sat
down then realizing that I had no pen, no blue ink, no black ink, nothing to
write with. Someone kindly offered me a pen with black ink which I immediately
refused. Why? Because of course I did not want anyone to know that I was not
only late but also unprepared.
Therefore, for me… “Jesus, remember me when you come into your
kingdom.”
While it is true that lack of
punctuality once in a while is not the greatest of all offenses against God and
neighbor, I was aware that my lateness and my inability to acknowledge it and
then take the help that was offered…well… my faults were in high-def / HDTV for
all to see. But that’s good news. Then,
I could be aware of my need for re-charge of mercy and the energy of grace.
[__04__] [*** pause
***]
It is the role of the Church and
disciples within the Church …you and me…and me in my role as a priest to teach
others about God’s mercy.
The priest is present – I am called to
be present to you – in this journey of the road to conversion.
In this regard, yes there is a
“Saturday afternoon” schedule for confessions, but it’s also true that a priest
– myself included – does nothing more important – around the clock, anytime,
anywhere than to hear confessions and to celebrate God’s mercy.
This is not because the priest is a
perfect model of virtue.
When he celebrates… …… CCC 1465
---1465 When he celebrates
the sacrament of Penance, the priest is fulfilling the ministry of the Good
Shepherd who seeks the lost sheep, of the Good Samaritan who binds up wounds,
of the Father who awaits the prodigal son and welcomes him on his return, and
of the just and impartial judge whose judgment is both just and merciful. The
priest is the sign and the instrument of God's merciful love for the sinner.
[__05__] Another experience of lateness, delay,
running late…
And a priest’s role in doing so, for
me.
It was a significant experience for me
with a parish priest of my youth, when I was a teenager.
So, there was this Catholic youth
group, we had a leader/chaplain who was named Father Anthony and we took a trip
to an amusement theme park near what is now Mountain Creek Ski Area in Sussex
County, New Jersey. We were not skiing..we
there in summer for the rides at what was called Vernon Valley Action Park. I
am dating myself by even mentioning this long-since-closed place.
Anyway, it was a one-day trip, for
which we arrived around 9 am at the park and were supposed to be back for the
bus at 4 pm. I was part of a group who decided it was way too restrictive to
observe such a rule so we stayed in the park for an extra 45 to 60
minutes. Maybe no one was was going to
be on time and we were having a good time, a passive-aggressive good time.
The bus left without us, but there was
one parent – a mother – who had driven had an 1980ish station wagon and she
drove us home in the station wagon. We
were told that our leader – Father Anthony – was quite displeased and upset.
Being late was NOT GOOD NEWS at that moment.
And, when we arrived back, Father
Anthony told us of the danger and difficulty which we had caused. I got the message. I also sensed in him a
concern that was truly fatherly for our welfare, a father who wanted to level with
us…while also trying to move on and move forward.
[__06__] A few months later, there was a parish youth
retreat at which one us happened to reflect on the summertime experience at the
park and the peer pressure and “herd mentality” that took over and led to our
going astray and being 45 minutes late.
Hey…it took us a few months to figure
it out… sometimes it takes a few months to know what you did wrong and put it
out there. But it’s never too late.
And, while this admission of guilt was
more of a public witnessing than a private-confessing, I could see that Father
Anthony’s role was similar in that he rejoiced at the conversion experience,
the realization …and rejoiced in a way that a mother or father or parent would
also rejoice when one his or her children “gets it” or gets with the program,
however long that might take. It is worth the wait, worth the wait ..of waiting
for Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, worth waiting for his mercy.
Jesus remember me when you come into
your kingdom.
[__fin__]
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