19th Sunday after Pentecost 11.10.09 No short cuts
He who is a thief must be a thief no longer but work his way honestly. So St Paul tells us in today’s epistle. It is time to do things God’s way not our way. This is a struggle for us. It seems like taking the long way round when we could just cut across here...
Reflecting on Our Lord’s life: He worked many miracles but could have worked a lot more. He could have healed every sickness, raised every dead person... and in every place and time.
He once walked on water but we understand that He normally walked the full distance and probably had aching bones. He could have worked a miracle every time. (What would we do if we had that power to work miracles?)
We don’t have the same power but we do have the ‘power’ to take some short cuts.
For example, to steal - There is something I want, so I take it. Why bother to work to make money to buy something when I can just go into someone else’s house and take it?
St Paul is saying: This, my good man, is not the way anymore. That is what you used to do, now you must be like Christ. You must do things differently now.
So with all the commandments and the teachings of the Church: what a business. Why would you give up the direct route and take the long way round? For example, with marriage. Why wait to express love sexually? Why stay with my wife when I can find a prettier younger girl?
Why have a baby if I can stop it from being conceived or born? Why bother to speak nicely or carefully when it is easier to shoot my mouth off? Why bother to work hard when I know others will do it if I don’t? Why bother to be good when other people are not?
It is the way of Christ. Jesus could have said to Himself, Why come to earth and be put to death? He shows us the hard way, the narrow way, the way of the Cross. In many ways unappealing compared with seduction, forbidden fruit, the path of least resistance. How can we come to accept it?
The natural law is one answer. If we were all thieves no property would be safe, no boundaries respected. If there were no fidelity in marriage no family would be intact. If there were no road rules we would all be crashing every day.
A higher motive, however, is to learn to trust and obey God, keeping His laws in His honour and at the same time benefiting from His providential love. Obey Him and He will bless: He will make water come from the rock, bread fall from heaven. He will work the miracles for us if we are in union with Him.
But don’t try to work your own miracles, or rearrange the commandments to suit yourself.
The short cut always leads to a dead end.
Go with Him and it will become clear. This is the challenge before us. Can we put our lives on the line like that?
We always like things to be easier than they are. The greatest blessedness is to be doing things His way. Even if you are the only honest person in the street it will bear fruit.
People don’t want to join the Church because it has restrictions... the Church is out of date they will say; it should change its teachings to allow all human frailties free reign. OK let’s try this out; abolish all commandments as from tomorrow, and see if the world improves!?
No, we must go the more sober way, as St Paul directs. No more thieving, lying, adultery... now we are re-formed in the image of Christ, like putting on a new set of clothes. (cf the wedding garment of the Gospel). It seems strange at first, but opens up a whole new world.
Ironic that people think that in throwing off the yoke of Christ they will find happiness; it is exactly the opposite. Take up My yoke... and you will find rest for your souls (Mt11, 28).
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