2020-12-06_ Advent (2nd ) ● Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11 ● Psalm 85 ● 2 Peter 3:8-14 ● + Mark 1:1-8 ● Title: Contact Tracing.
[_01_] Wesley Autrey – aka in NY = "Subway Samaritan" or "Subway Superman".
In Jan. 2007, while waiting for a Manhattan NYC Subway at 137th
Street with his two young daughters, Wesley noticed a young man, Cameron,
having a seizure. Wesley borrowed and used a pen and used it to keep the young
man’s jaw open.
That was just the beginning of his heroic, but Wesley
immediately stepped out of the crowd to do
something good.
[_02_] John the Baptist is also
someone who steps out of the crowd to do something good, to help people pepare
the way of the Lord, to get ready of the coming of the Messiah.
What we also receive from John the Baptist is message of
repentance. But is this message delivered to me ..just to make me feel GUILTY?
Judith Vorst wrote a book called “Necessary Losses” – it’s
not a religious book ..but one in which she asks …and I might myself might also
ask – am I only as good as my guilt?
Judith Vorst observed: “while guilt [and sense of being
guilty or becoming guilty] deprives us of numerous gratifications, we and our
world would be monstrous minus guilt. For the freedoms we lose, our constraints
and taboos, are the so called “necessary losses” part of the price we pay for CIVILIZATION.”
That is one way to look at guilt and repentance… and the
reason we confess our sins.
[_03_] Pope John Paul II and
other Catholic writers and saints and have observed that the commandments are
not given us simply to force us to be guilty and therefore to be …good.
But, rather to invite us to follow a path of service that
proves that we are truly free.
To re-use the phrase of Judith Vorst – “necessary losses” –
when we can overcome our own ego, our own desire…to do something for another
person, to make a gift of ourselves, this is what makes us free.
[_03_] The Commandments then
are given to us not just to force us into goodness but also for us to know what
our individual genius and origin is.
And, part of our individual genius and goodness to know
each of ourselves as either a son or daughter of God.
The Catholic Church watches over this notion what it means
to be a son or daughter, what it means to be a husband or wife, what it means
to be a man or woman…not because the Church is tyring to force us into the
straitjacket of gender-assigned or sex-assigned roles, but simply to affirm
that there is a genius in all of us that is written into both our bodies and
our souls.
This does not mean that a woman cannot be assertive or
affirmative or a man cannot be gentle and tender … but rather that each has a
genius in him or her.
There is both a masculine genius and feminine genius.
I bring this up ..noting that the Christian Gospel – the
Good News is given to us so that we will be in contact with the Good News with
our whole being.
[_0x_] These days, in the
pandemic of COVID-19, we are very consumed with what is called “contact
tracing”.
People diagnosed with COVID-19 are asked to identify
everyone they had close contact with during the time they may have been contagious.
Then, their contacts are “traced”, the dots are connected
to advise others.
Perhaps you have had an experience like this – you or
someone you know tested positive or knew someone who might be positive.
As a result, a test is taken by you – to see if your
“contact” caused the disease.
It’s also an example of conformity to an ideal state of
purity, cleanliness, in order to stay healthy.
[_07_] Of course, it is
also a reminder that health and healthfulness and such stability are fragile –
constantly changing states.
It’s hard to remain in stability, in conformity.
It is a challenge each day to conform ourselves and connect
ourselves to the Gospel. Sometimes, the people we are in contact with …will
help us to be more connected to Jesus and his word, sometimes, they will lead
us in the opposite direction.
So, we are always – “preparing the way of the Lord”..that
road is always under construction.
That road is also built to make contact traces.
What are the contact traces that I am making?
We are also called to have the some attitude and concern
for our moral and interpersonal choices.
For example – does my anger or resentment also not have
devastating impacts…does it not leave “contact traces” on myself and others?
Does an act of dishonesty or slander not leave “contact
traces”
And, on the positive side, what about un-publicized acts of
kindness, love, the gift you make to the parish giving tree to someone you do
not know or any gift of generosity you make to someone you do not know.
Does this not also leave positive contact traces?
We can prepare the way the Lord, make straight his paths,
the road which is always under construction. To conform to Jesus is our goal,
even if we seem out of place compared to everyone else.
[_08_] This is the
complete account of Wesley’s heroics. After he helped the young man, the young
man with the seizure stood up and then fell onto the subway tracks.
A train was entering the station at that very moment.
First, Wesley, tried to push the man back onto the platform. Then, realizing
this was impossible, he pushed the man into a drainage ditch and held him down
while the train – which was was slowing down passed over them.
Remarkably, there was enough space so that the train did
not harm….though Wesley was marked up pretty dark with a grease oil stain from
the subway engine.
Wesley was celebrated far and wide in NYC, internationally,
nationally – the Mayor of NYC at the time said – “Wesley's astonishing bravery - saving a life in
the face of an oncoming subway car - is an inspiration not just to New Yorkers,
but the entire world. His courageous rescue of a complete stranger is a
reminder of how we are surrounded by everyday heroes in New York City, and I am
deeply honored to recognize one of them today.”
Does not our virtue also leave positive contact traces?
Does it not leave a mark?
We can prepare the way the Lord, make straight his paths,
the road which is always under construction. To conform to Jesus is our goal,
even if we seem out of place compared to everyone else.
[_fin_]
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