21st Sunday Year A 27 August 2023 Sermon

21st Sunday Year A 27 August 2023 Response

To be or Not to be is not the question, but Who do you say I am? That is the question that will determine where we spend eternity, so it is an important one.

It is not just who Jesus is, or what He is, but who we think He is that is vital to the process.

There has to be a response from us. He is the Saviour, but we have to want to be saved, and cooperate with the process.

We have to reply with similar words as Peter used: You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God (Mt 16, 16).

Peter’s response was prophetic. He was saying more than he actually knew. It was the Father who gave him these words, bringing forth a deeper answer than he would have made on his own authority.

So God can do for us, bringing forth an understanding and a courage beyond what we normally feel.

The apostles did not normally manifest that much faith, not at least before Pentecost.

They had much to learn, as do we.

The word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us.. That is God's statement. That is His side of the bargain; what are we going to do in response?

One thing we do is to remind ourselves of God's greatness, and our smallness. He is the Son of the living God. Think of the perfect humanity of Christ or the perfect holiness of the Father, and we are inspired to higher things.

Whether received or not, His identity, His mission, do not change.

No amount of human neglect can subtract anything from the power of God.

We must not try to reduce His importance.

We cannot afford to let our faith run down to some sort of partial response. We have to keep up the intensity.

We are on a pilgrimage, so we have to walk on hard ground sometimes, and overcome many adversities. We do not forget where we are going, or that this phase of our lives is not the final state. We are on the way, not there yet.

To receive God's  help we have to be willing to receive His whole revelation, not just bits and pieces here and there.

Receive the whole Christ: He is not just a teacher or philosopher or rebel, or misguided idealist,

We have to take all of Him at once. He will help us if we are humble enough to get the right understanding.

The full vision is much more exciting than the various attempts to minimise Him. There is a lot more yet that we have not seen or discovered.

The full identification of disciple with Master is the key. It is not just the external miracles that impress but the internal miracles which concern faith and related factors.

Jesus died and rose for the good of the human race, but He also wanted to deal with each individual person, to call that person to be a disciple now and a saint for eternity.

Each disciple has to repeat Peter’s confession, if not in exactly the same words, but a full affirmation of Jesus’ unique status.

He is not just this or just that. He is altogether beyond where others have tried to put Him.

We let Him lift us up to His level, rather than pull Him down to ours.

Whoever He is and whatever He is - we want to be one with Him. Once we know Him there is no alternative. But we do not need an alternative, only enough wisdom and courage to stay on course.

12th Sunday after Pentecost 19 August 2012

[One from the archives]

12th Sunday after Pentecost 19 August 2012 Good Samaritan

We sometimes hear in the news that a ‘good Samaritan’ has been assaulted or even killed as a result of his intervention in a situation, trying to help.

So there are dangers in helping out, in getting involved. Is it worth it?

Christ Himself could be considered a Good Samaritan. He intervened; He came to help out some people in trouble (the human race); and was killed for His troubles. So maybe He should have stayed ‘at home’ - in Heaven.

Was it worth His intervention? It appeared He ‘failed’ insofar as He was put to death; yet that is the very thing that saved us.

From the death of Christ: apparent defeat but actually victory. His resurrection was a victory, but the Cross, even by itself was also a victory. A victory of Love over Indifference.

The apostles and the martyrs have followed His example. It is a Good Samaritan act to preach the gospel, to spread the faith. It is an intervention, trying to help. And it can mean death.

Arguing from a basic kind of prudence, they would have done better to have stayed at home; the apostles should have gone back to fishing.

On deeper reflection, however, we see that there is a spiritual value to certain actions, whatever their apparent consequences at the time.

Our interventions may not ‘work’ by human standards but yet still be a victory.

If our intervention is motivated by love it will have the merit of being a sacrifice, in imitation of Christ. This is the greatest kind of love, and the most powerful – to lay down one’s life for another (Jn 15,13).

The apparent object may not be achieved. For example, I could intervene to save someone who is being assaulted and I might be killed myself. Not a success. But the love that one showed in trying to solve the problem will bring spiritual benefit to the helper and others.

There is a risk element in helping another. The Church cannot offer a detailed list of what to do or not to do in each case. We need the gifts of Wisdom, Prudence, and Counsel at such times.

The general point is that we should not expect in this life to have complete personal security or comfort. We are at times going to have to sacrifice our comfort and sometimes even our safety in getting involved in the lives of others.

The driving principle is what does Christ expect of us? We are, in effect, images of Christ; trying to replicate what He did, on a much smaller scale. We would die for the truth, or to save another. Or, if not called upon to die, at least spend ourselves in the attempt.

We cannot help everyone in the world; we cannot fight every battle. But if we are filled with the Spirit of Christ unselfish behaviour will come naturally.

Worldly prudence will tell us to make sure we are safe at all times. The Gospel will say we cannot be safe at all times, or even most of the time.

We are not required to go looking for trouble, but there will be times when we do put ourselves at risk, which, even if miscalculated will not be wasted.

We can still be as wise as serpents. Otherwise we will be answering all the scam emails, giving away our bank account numbers to every stranger!

We must be cautious in general, but not to the point of wiping out all risk.

It is just as well that Jesus Christ did not stay at home. Just as well that the apostles did not go back to their previous jobs. Just as well that we are being formed in the same mind and learning to be good Samaritans in our time.

19th Sunday Ordinary Time (A) 13 August 2023 Sermon

19^th Sunday Ordinary Time (A) 13 August 2023 Courage

As one American president put it: the only thing we have to fear is fear itself (Franklin Roosevelt)

Fear does play too much of a part in our lives. It does have one useful purpose, to make us more cautious in dangerous situations.

However, in spiritual terms it tends to restrict us from the full flowering of the gifts that God has given us. We worry about many things, and often feel insecure.

We take refuge in our faith and that does help a lot, but there are still gaps in our faith whereby we are not totally convinced, or totally proof against panic, anxiety etc

We world be greatly comforted if we had Jesus with us in visible form. It is only that we cannot see Him that we doubt He is there.

If He were with us we would not be afraid of anything, even walking on water (Gospel). Yes, but He is with us!

In another boat story, Jesus rebuked the apostles for their lack of faith. (Mt 8,26) He is asking them in effect: Did you think I would let the boat sink and we all drown? Or for Peter in today’s Gospel: Why did you doubt?

He would rebuke us too, very likely, for the same reason - as we forget past blessings and treat the new problem like it is too much for us.

As the word of God puts it: Though ten thousand come against me (Ps 3,6) I will not fear. Though the stalls stand empty of cattle yet will I rejoice in the Lord (Hab 3,17)

The key is to look at the Lord, not at the problem, nor even the solution, but the Lord Himself. That is where our gaze must be.

If we could cultivate a deeper, longer and more intense relationship with Him then we are making progress.

How can we strengthen our belief so that fear no longer impedes us?

Lots of prayer is good, helping us to become more familiar with God's way of thinking. We have His word, and the writings of saints, popes, councils, etc.

We have the sacraments, especially the Eucharist. With sacraments, there is not a lot to see, but a great deal to believe!

And belief is another way of knowing besides seeing.

We are able to cultivate a deeper trust simply by constantly turning to our Lord and trust must follow.

He will give us all we need.

He will guide us till we understand what to believe and what to do.

He will give us a new way of looking at reality, and with that an ability to base our decisions and attitudes on Jesus Christ.

He makes Himself known to us by degrees, and we gradually pick it up. The prophet Elijah detected God's presence in the gentle breeze. (3 K or 1 K 19,10-18). This is normally how He makes Himself known. Sometimes through more dramatic means but mostly very subtle, so quiet it can be missed.

We find ways of discerning God's presence which are not by sight.

Most of all what increases is our love for God. We come to trust Him and be ready to follow Him, even if it leads to Calvary.

Perfect love drives out fear (1 Jn 4,18)

Overcoming fear is not a technique but an experience of love. We would go through fire and water when we love enough.

We may go through our whole lives without ever seeing God or feeling His touch, or other sense experiences. But there will be a whole string of other signs and wonders, more and less spectacular and we will see that our faith arrives on time after all!

 

 

9th Sunday after Pentecost 30 July 2013 Sermon

9^th Sunday after Pentecost 21.7.13 Repentance

[I did not preach last Sunday, so here is one from the archives]

Our Lord laments that Jerusalem is about to be destroyed because its people have refused to repent of their sinful ways.

They could have turned at any point but they would not.

We could weep over just about any city with all the increasing defiance of the laws of God in our time: same-sex ‘marriage’, euthanasia, etc etc

If only the people of our time would repent it would save a lot of trouble.

There is an even worse outcome than sudden physical death, however, and that is death of the soul – mortal sin.

If Our Lord weeps for Jerusalem He feels far more pain for a lost soul.

He wants everyone to be saved, and that is a great comfort.

But we have to cooperate, somewhere along the line. We cannot presume on His mercy to save us, or others.

God is very patient, but we must not take His patience as laxity or indifference.

There will be a time when there is no time. The time we delay now is wasted when we could be building up His kingdom on earth.

There is always the temptation to delay repentance. I will get around to it some day.

But I might die suddenly. And then also, if we delay too long our hearts can become hardened and we lose the whole idea of repentance, or any desire for it.

Complacency is a huge problem. Just like the Jews of Moses’ time (epistle) and of Our Lord’s time (Gospel) our present world has lost its way. We, minority that we are, must keep God’s commands before us, and hold onto them no matter what falsehoods we encounter, nor how many people believe in those falsehoods. Further still, we must be ready to suffer and die for God’s way.

Repentance is a hard message to sell. We can appeal at different levels.

There is natural reason. The world would run better if everyone behaved.

There is the threat of temporal punishment, like floods, earthquakes etc.

There is the threat of hellfire.

There is the promise of heaven.

All of these things are true. But they can still be ignored.

To the natural reason argument: I must look out for myself. I cannot worry about society or the future.

To the threat of punishment: There is no such thing. Disasters are merely a matter of science or random events.

To the threat of hell fire: Hell is just an old superstition. There is no such place in this enlightened age.

To the promise of Heaven: they will say, either that there is no heaven or that if there is then everyone goes there, regardless.

It is very hard to get through to the modern mind because secularism has permeated to every level.

We cannot coerce repentance. It has to be a work of grace. We do what we can to prepare it, to follow up, to make it more likely.

If we can save one soul it is worth it.

We never know who is going to convert next.

We have to keep beating the drum – all at once warning against errors, the depravity of which man is capable, the consequence of sin, and the joy of repentance.

We cannot change the tune because each generation faces the same basic choice – for or against God.

We have our work cut out. Holding on to our own faith while offering it to others. Lots of prayer is required.

And part of that prayer is: Lord give us time, give us grace. Don't wipe us out just yet. Somehow move people to see what they have never seen before, and to ask for Your mercy.

17th Sunday of Ordinary time (A) 30 July 2023 Sermon

 

17^th Sunday Ordinary time (A) 30 July 2023 Seeking treasure

The man sells all he has to buy that field which contains the precious treasure. (Mt 13,45-46).

He reasons that the treasure is worth more than everything he has now.

We are always trying to make things as advantageous to ourselves as possible.

If we buy a product for instance, we calculate that the product is worth the money we spend on it.

It can be difficult evaluating things which we contemplate acquiring for ourselves.

Not everything has a price tag. In the spiritual world there are things like wisdom, courage, compassion, kindness etc. these things cannot be put in monetary terms, yet we will have to give up other things if we are to possess them.

To acquire good habits, for instance, we must be prepared to give up the bad habits.

If I want a healthy diet, for instance, I have to eat less junk food. A sacrifice on one side, a greater benefit on the other.

When it comes to right and wrong, faced with a choice, we have to sacrifice something if we are to have the other thing.

We do not always calculate accurately. Adam was deceived into thinking that the forbidden fruit would make him even happier than he already was. He gave up his union with God for what looked like happiness but was not.

Judas, along similar lines, forfeited union with Jesus for thirty pieces of silver!

Solomon, however, made a better choice (I Kings 3,9). He preferred wisdom to wealth and comfort.

Looking at our lives overall we see that we have an ongoing choice to walk in God's ways, or to reject Him.

Going with God and not against Him will being us great happiness, but sometimes at a cost, a sacrifice of some lesser happiness.

Would we be prepared to die for our faith, for example? It hurts to be eaten by lions, but there is great joy for those who go that far in their love of God.

Heaven is pure bliss, so any sacrifice we have to make to get there will be worth it.

If we discover God  - His goodness, His desirability – when we really get hold of that then we are more happy with that possession than with all the other things put together.

We can say we possess God, not in the sense that we have control over Him, but in the sense we have access to His help in all matters at all times.

We might try to possess God without giving up anything else, but that will not work.

There has to be a certain definite decision to obey God in all matters, to entrust our lives to His service.

He helps us to understand that is what we need to do and eventually to want it as well.

We learn to trust that whatever God wills must be the best for us.

It is in a way just another transaction. We give up one thing for another.

When we choose what God would have us choose we gain far more than we lose, so we have a good bargain.

And this we can do all our lives, growing all the time in understanding of God's ways.

If we get it wrong and try to get by without God (as did Adam and Judas) we can still recover and get everything back in the right place.

This is the beauty of God's mercy that He will not hold us to our first decisions if they were wrong. We can then make another transaction – our guilt for His mercy.

So let us trade all else for that treasure in the field, the key to eternal life.