___ Click Here for Audio of Homily ___
___ Click Here for Video of Mass ___
2023-05-14 – Easter 6th Sunday -
Acts 8:5-18, 14-17 1st Peter 3:15-18 John 14:15-21
TITLE: Navigation
[_01_] This sounds like something that would only
happen on television in fictional situation comedy – a person driving a car and
using “navigation / GPS” so carefully and conscientiously listening to every
voice command and taking every turn to find the shortest possible route. While
doing so, the person drives his car directly into a body of water, into a lake.
It actually did happen on TV.
If you are a fan of the TV show, The Office, perhaps you remember the disoriented “regional
manager Michael Scott” and the other character Dwight doing exactly
that and driving into a lake due to confusion over GPS navigation directions.
[_02_]
Your brain – and my brain contain a navigation system much like
satellite navigation with maps and charts.
One scientist noted that over the centuries, "[we
have] have invented and utilised many different navigation tools such as maps,
compasses and latitude and longitude … Nature is far ahead of us and seems to
have developed these tools inside our heads for our survival." (https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080911103906.htm)
In other words, even before there was “navigation GPS”
there was something inside of you to find your way.
On the other hand, if you have never been to a place
before, have not needed assistance, directions? I certainly did.
[_03_] Recently,
I was surprised– to realize that my GPS navigation on my phone and my phone
signal had completely stopped working.
I was traveling to a location where I
had never ever been, going to stay at an AirBNB house that was rented by my
brother and we were in the suburbs of Atlanta Georgia for a family funeral. I
was relying on the GPS navigation.
The GPS on my phone was doing fine on
the “main roads” …. Not so much off the main roads.
Fortunately, for me – 2 things made a
difference – the rental car that I was in had a GPS that still worked…and my
brother also stood out in the dark at an intersection to flag me down.
The next day, in daylight, I drove the
same roads and with my brother’s assistance. It was a totally different story.
At one point, the road went pretty close to the lakeshore. I thought of the TV
/ The Office incident with Michael
Scott. Fortunately, the GPS did not lead me there.
Nevertheless, is there not something greater
than all of our technology ? Personal touch and contact matters. “Solitude” is a good thing and Jesus leads us
to solitude with him through the Holy Spirit.
We
actually need solitude in order to be with other people.
But, there is also a danger – and even
a toxic nature – if we are acutely or chronically lonely.
The US Surgeon General on a public
health level reports that loneliness can cause even physical illness. The
Surgeon General compares the danger of loneliness to toxic nature of smoking 15
cigarettes per day.
And, we need more than technology and
entertainment – or a navigation system to get us out of the darkness. We need a personal touch – even coming to
church by yourself, know that you are not alone here nor when you leave here.
[_04_]
While I was in Atlanta, I was reminded of a real-life navigation episode.
The reason I was in Atlanta was for a family funeral and I
have cousins and my aunt and uncle who live there. My uncle recently died and
while sad, we gave thanks for his life and love and hospitality over the years.
Together with relatives both
“northerner” and “southerner”, we recalled times we had been together and my
aunt and uncle’s desire to stay connected across time and distance.
If my aunt/uncle could not have
you over, they might track you down in a neighboring state in North Carolina or
FLA if you were there.
But if you were in the
neighborhood, you had to stop in.
[_06__] I received their hospitality
years ago when I was in their area for 2 days, and was absolutely expected to
show up in the evening for a home cooked meal. That evening, my aunt and uncle
– in tandem – shared a story about a visitor.
This was my 13 year old cousin who had flown by plane from Newark to
Atlanta for the summer.
My aunt was concerned that she
would connect safely and pick up my young cousin at the ATL airport. This was long before cell phones, tracking
apps, navigation. They had a meeting place agreed upon, but there was a mix-up
before they found each other.
My cousin did not know there
was any airport mix-up, but my aunt worried, searching 1, 2 or 3 baggage
carousels (claim) until finally finding her, “I didn't know where she was I
didn't know what was going on. I looked all over the place.”
And my uncle, recalling the
same episode, chimed in and a humorous, sarcastic response: “She was probably
trying to get away from you.” We laughed.
But, there was some truth that
resonated in my heart about this.
Are there not people in my life
that I am trying to love, to care for…and it seems that they are resistant or
not responding to what I want for them? Are they trying to NAVIGATE away from
me? And, am I really trying to do God’s will or is it my own?
Is there anyone whom you care
about, love, nurture…. Who seems to be trying to get away from you or NAVIGATE
away?
Some people are hard to love,
to connect with. In our reading from 1st Peter that we are called to
work for the good of others with “gentleness, with reverence” (1 Peter 3:16) especially
if we are in an argument or conflict. Doing so we truly “love our enemies”
because sometimes the enemy or adversary in our lives is someone who is simply
difficult to love. We also read in 1st Peter: “it is better to suffer
for doing good if that be the will of God than for doing evil.” (1st Peter 3: __)
Love is not just a one-time
feeling but an ongoing decision and commitment.
There is not only an internal “navigation” in your brain, but also the
Holy Spirit poured into your soul.
By the way, both during and
after the Last Supper, there were disciples of our Savior who were trying to
get away from him! But, Jesus still searches for them as a mother or father
searches for a child. Mothers – living and deceased – never stop looking for
you or out for you! Jesus says about his navigation:
“Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves
me and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.” (John 14:21)
No comments:
Post a Comment