Father Lasch

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 'B'

Our God is a God of life

Our experience tells us that life is ultimately terminal. Someone put it this way, “Aging is a disease that ends in death!” I consider that a rather pessimistic view of life. Aging is privilege; aging gracefully is a precious gift not given to all.

In any event, the author of the Book of Wisdom insists that “God did not make death” but that “God formed ‘man’ [and woman] to be imperishable.”

Living within a large Jewish community residing in Alexandria and influenced by Greek philosophers during the first century before Christ, the wisdom author reasoned that if God were eternal, those who honor their relationship with God would be honored with enduring life beyond the grave. By this time in Jewish history, belief in an afterlife had become a common tenet.

The story of the healing of the daughter of Jairus and of the woman who had suffered chronic hemorrhaging for twelve years is one in a series of miraculous healing stories interspersed with ‘living’ parables intended to increase faith and the assurance that those who approach Jesus in faith will not see death.

Nevertheless death happens and despite advanced directives we may be prepared but we are rarely ready. Death is always intrusive and so we seek divine intervention and we hope for miracles. Oh, yes, by way of exception, we pray in good faith at the bedside of loved ones who have suffered far beyond human endurance that they be spared further pain and that their soul be delivered to the God of eternal life.

In the face of daily reports of global death and destruction, it may be difficult for sincere believers not to become cynical about the existence of a caring God. Where is God in war torn Iraq? In Darfur, and where was God last month when the Air France jet disintegrated in a wicked storm?

As one preacher put it, “we certainly can be happy for cure of the woman and the restoration of Jairus’ daughter but why can’t we persuade God to cure cancer or even the common cold?” Or hold back tornadoes or prevent the barbaric terrorism of suicide bombers?

The gospels contain stories of faith in order to assure us that there is more to life than what the eye can see or the hear can hear. But Jesus himself taught that only in due course will be have all the answers to life’s mysteries and those answers lie beyond the grave. We still believe that those who honor God and live according to the dictates of their conscience will indeed see God beyond the grave.

Are there beliefs for which a good Christian would die?

Absolutely!

Are there beliefs for which a good Christian would kill?

Hmm. My understanding of the teachings of Jesus would say no!

In the meantime, we listen attentively to the inspired Word of God as we search for answers to the most pressing life and death challenges of our age.

I have seen many miracles of healing in my short life—all sorts of miracles. Some of them were at the hands of wise doctors, nurses, rescue workers and even soldiers in combat. I have seen dramatic reversals in deteriorating relationships in marriage or between parents and their children. But we Catholics do not have the franchise on miracles nor do we have all the answers to the most complex life challenges of our age be they scientific, economic or even purely spiritual.

Through the kindness of a friend I received this uplifting meditation contained in a book by by Irish poet, John O’Donohue, entitled, “Benedictus” that helps to put in perspective the death that often haunts us but that also puts life in clearer perspective:

“I imagine that one of the great store houses of blessing is the invisible neighbourhood [sic] where the dead dwell. Our friends among the dead now live where time and space are transfigured. They behold us now in ways they never could have when they lived beside us on earth. Because they live near the source of destiny, their blessings for us are accurate and penetrating, offering a divine illumination not available according to the calculations of the given visible world. Perhaps one of the surprises of death will be a retrospective view of the lives we lived here and to see how our friends among the dead clothed us in weave after weave of blessing.” [“Benedictus, A Book of Blessings” by John O’Donohue, Bantam Press, London, 2007]

And a lovely verse by the same author entitled, “For Death,” to bring it home:

From the moment you were born,
Your death has walked beside you.
Though it seldom shows its face,
You still feel its empty touch
When fear invades your life,
Or what you love is lost
Or inner damage is incurred.

Yet when destiny draws you
into these spaces of poverty,
_And your heart stays generous
Until some door opens into the light,
You are quietly befriending your death;
So that you will have no need to fear
When your time comes to turn and leave.

That the silent presence of your death
Would call your life to attention,
Wake you up to how scarce your time is
And to the urgency to become free
And equal to the call of your destiny.

That you would gather yourself
And decide carefully
How you now can live
The life you would love
To look back on
From your deathbed. [Ibid]

It is never too late to begin again as if for the first time!

Daily Scripture

+ 12th in Ordinary Time

A little hospitality, please.

Readings: Genesis 18:1-15 Responsorial: Luke 1:46-55 Matthew 8:5-17

At the appointed time, about this time next year, I will return to you, and Sarah will have a son. Sarah dissembled, saying, “I didn’t laugh.” But he replied, “Yes you did.” [Genesis 18:14-15]

You need to read, of course, the entire passage to get the gist and understand the message. It’s part of the longer story of Abraham, “our father in the faith” and Sarah, our “mother” in the faith. Yes, I think that Sarah must be named as such with Abraham. Why not? It was she who bore Isaac in her elder years. And yes, wouldn’t you laugh if someone told you a ninety year old woman was going to have a baby, notwithstanding the wonders of modern bio-technology?

At root, this story is about hospitality and faith and the ability to trust that welcoming the ‘stranger’ on to our turf can give birth to new visions and dreams and uncover hidden realities that can chart a new future.

No, I’m not suggesting that we go out into the streets and invite the first stranger to your table. That would be lunacy! However, I think we could take the risk of ‘engagement’ with the stranger. By this I mean to lighten up and smile. Open up to a little spontaneous conversation with someone while your waiting to check out on the grocery line or at the gas pump or on the elevator. Some people will ignore you. Most will not.

When I’m on the elevator at Morristown Memorial Hospital with one of the maintenance crew or a medical technician, I ask, “Do you own this place?” The responses are interesting ranging from, “I wish I did” to “I’m glad I don’t.” Sometimes the conversation continues outside the elevator and we discover that we share the same concerns about medicine about the care of the sick and just about getting through hard times.

We are living in a world that is becoming more and more vulgar in discourse. I think we need more ‘tone setters’ such and you and me to facilitate a change in attitudes. New attitudes can begin with a smile followed by a laugh or two. In this way, we can lighten one another’s burdens and become animators rather than victims of our age and circumstances.

Daily Scripture

+ 12th Week in Ordinary Time

It’s no laughing matter – but God smiled.

Readings: Genesis 17:1, 9-10, 15-22 Psalm 128:1-5 Matt 8:1-4

Abraham bowed to the ground, and he laughed, thinking to himself, “Is a child to be born to a man one hundred years old, and will Sarah have a child at the age of ninety?” [Genesis 17:17]

We laugh at whatever strikes us as funny – or absurd. We laugh at the spectacular and I suppose we even laugh at miracles if for no other reason than the possibility that the impossible is about to happen before our eyes.

The Book of Genesis is an interesting mix of different types of literature from different sources. It is not necessary or even germane to unpack the biblical sources. Suffice it to repeat that the Book of Genesis is a kind of “once upon a time” story.

The Bible contains sacred history based on faith stories about God’s ordinary and extraordinary interventions in their lives dating back to Abraham whose name was changed from Abram to Abraham, which means the father of many nations. He is our ‘Father in the faith.” Sarah’s name was also changed from Sarai to indicate the change in her role as the mother of many nations though to be sure at this period, her feminine role was subservient to her husband’s.

Isaac was the child of this extraordinary pregnancy. His name means “God laughs” or more likely “God smiles.” His birth is the result of God’s extraordinary intervention. He is the child of blessing, the proto-type of Jesus.

Many of us look for extraordinary interventions and we still pray for miracles – of winning the lottery, of passing the test, of getting the job, of defeating the enemy, of healing, of blessing, of many things.

Miracles still happen but it is only after the fact that we recognize God’s extraordinary intervention. We do best not to plan our lives around miracles but on steadfast fast that nothing can happen in life that God and we can’t handle together.

Daily Scripture

+ 12th in Ordinary Time

What’s going on here?

Readings: Genesis 16:1-12, 15-16 Psalm 106:1-5 Matthew 7:21-29

Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram named the son whom Hagar bore him Ishmael. Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishamael. [Genesis 16:15-16]

On the assumption that the Book of Genesis is a kind of “once upon a time” story of the origin and meaning of life, we need to understand that it was a collection of stories recorded for Jews around the time of the Babylonian exile. Consequently, it can be read only in the light of prevailing Jewish customs and norms of behavior. In the situation of a barren wife, her husband could raise up a son through one of his wife’s slaves. Sounds bizarre to us and has caused a great deal of turmoil for those who cannot understand how the eternal God – the God of Moses, the God of Jesus and the God of every age would condone not only adultery but also the institution of slavery.

This notwithstanding, the Bible can be a dangerous book in the hands of the wrong person and has even been used to defend abusive behavior and even polygamy. So much for biblical fundamentalism or any kind of fundamentalism for that matter.

The Bible must be handled with care and those who use it to box people in or fence people out should take care lest they tie the hands of God.

The revelation of God is progressive and evolves from age to age. No, the Bible does not have the last word! In the Roman Catholic tradition, the Bible belongs to the ‘church,’ i.e., to the body of the faithful who strive to know the truth and live the rule of love. Moreover, even the ‘official teachers’ of the Church need to take care not to exclude the insights of the faithful at large lest they—the official teachers—become like those to whom Jesus lashed out for lording it over the faithful.

For Christians, Jesus is the ‘living word’ and there is room at Jesus’ table for everyone. St Paul said that in Christ there is not longer Greek or Jew, male or female, slave or freeman. All are one in him and there can no longer be insiders and outsiders.

Daily Scripture

+ Birth of John the Baptist

In all things, defer to Christ.

Readings: Isaiah 49:1-6 Psalm 139:1-3, 13-15 Acts 13:22-26 Luke 1:57-66, 80

I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth. [Isaiah 49:6]

As John was completing his course, he would say, “Behold, one is coming after me; I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.” [Acts 13:25]

When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son. He will be called John. [Luke 1:57, 60]

It is the patronal feast of the Diocese of Paterson and its cathedral church.

John’s entire life and ministry was to pave the way for Jesus of Nazareth His birth signaled the advent of the ‘Anointed of God’ and the beginning of a new age. Jesus himself said that there is no prophet greater than John the Baptist.

I believe that we too are called to pave the way for Christ by the conduct of our lives, “using words only when necessary.” We can do this by being deferential to others and by our reverence for the presence of Christ in others, no matter how disfigured his image. Our silent witness can be even more powerful than our most eloquent discourse.

We can make a big difference through our commitment to make the ordinary, extraordinary opportunities for God’s grace to impact on others.