January 14, 2018 - Second Sunday of Ordinary Time

"Is Jesus a "Who" for us?"

Audio Clip

I think we're all familiar with the saying, "The two things you never discuss with friends are politics and religion."   And given the level of societal unrest our country has experienced during the last decade, this probably would be a wise rule for us to follow today --- but, it also might rob us of a chance to try a little experiment I've been thinking about.  Here's my hypothesis: I believe that emotions have been so raw at times that even the most innocent expression of opinion from one side of the political spectrum can trigger an emotional response from the opposite side of the political spectrum.   So, I'd like to introduce two catalysts to all of you, one a phrase and the other a visual aid, and I ask you to pay close attention to your first instinctive reaction and the reaction of those around you --- are you ready? *"Make America Great Again"/HAT*

Do you think my hypothesis was proven or not --- I know that it has been within my own family.  These are challenging times in American society and particularly for those Catholics who seek to express our point of view while serving as witnesses for our Lord Jesus.  Recently, a friend shared a compelling quote she'd read which I believe accurately presents the role and responsibilities which our faith asks us to display today --- "Political issues matter, from war to abortion to poverty to same-sex marriage.  As Christians, we ought to care about these issues because they affect people's lives. But Jesus was known for His compassion, not for his politics. The messiah people were expecting was a political leader, the Messiah they got was a suffering servant.  If Jesus' followers are now known more for our politics than our grace, something is wrong." 

In today's Gospel, we hear Jesus greet His new disciples with the question, "What are you looking for?"  It's a simple question with a complex meaning --- which is why His disciples were not prepared to give Jesus a direct answer --- they responded with a question of their own, "Where are you staying?"  Jesus was quite familiar with the sentiment of the Jewish people as they lived under Roman occupation. He knew "what" his disciples and the native population wanted from him, namely, a great political and military leader to organize a revolution.  They wanted Jesus to serve their purposes. But, Jesus had no intention of being the catalyst for that kind of change. Jesus understood that independence was worthless unless the Jewish people experienced a conversion in spirit.

In our lives, is Jesus a "what" for us?  Do we find ourselves reaching out to Jesus most often when we want something from Him --- a provider, a protector, an educator, a healer?  Is the rule of our spiritual lives best stated that we expect Jesus to answer to us or do we answer to Him? Of course, Jesus does want us to reach out to Him in need through prayers of petition.  For many of us, our relationship with Him really began in moments like these --- but Jesus wants our communion with Him to be more than this.   

The circumstances of life, including suffering, are only some of the aspects which Jesus may use to call us to Him --- the others include prayer, the sacraments --- especially our Baptism and Holy Eucharist, our friends and family, even His creation of nature.  In today's Gospel, Jesus calls His new disciples, John and Andrew, to follow Him and to stay with Him. If we listen closely, we notice that Jesus patiently waits for Andrew to get his brother Simon, soon to be known as Peter, so Simon could join them. In Simon's case, Jesus worked through his brother, Andrew, and all three of them were led to Jesus by John the Baptist.  Jesus is always reaching out to us in mysterious ways, patiently waiting for us to respond to His call. Saint Mother Teresa puts it this way, ". . . if we could see . . . His concern for us, His awareness of our needs: the phone call we've waited for, the ride we are offered, the letter in the mail, just the little things He does for us throughout the day . . . we begin to fall in love with Him because He is so busy with us . . . .  I believe there's no such thing as luck in life, it's God's love . . . ."    

So, how do we respond to God's love in our world?  In our second reading, St. Paul shares "the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord . . . whoever is joined to the Lord becomes one Spirit with him."  This passage brings us back to the topic of societal unrest. Today, there is no element of society under greater attack than the Catholic church. Be certain of this --- we baptized followers of Jesus are being called today to become one spirit with Jesus by living our faith for others to see.  How do we respond to the teachings of the church, and I'm not referring to the opinions of clergy, but the teachings of Christ? The political leaders of our country are famous for "ala carte" selections. But for us, how do we respond --- is there a limit to our faith?

Our holiness lies not in solving for the question, "What are you looking for?" but "Who are you looking for?"  Our virtue does not lie in a tax cut if our resulting gain is spent foolishly, or in open borders, if our citizens can not be protected from those who seek to do us harm.  Until we ask the proper question, we will be searching for happiness in the wrong places, often stumbling upon fleeting, misguided answers. We will be truly happy when, as St. Paul says, we become and help others become "temples of the Holy Spirit" which "glorify God in (our) bodies."  

Saint Mother Teresa expresses this well --- "The greatest disease in the West today is not TB or leprosy; it is being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for.  We can cure physical diseases with medicine, but the only cure for loneliness, despair, and hopelessness is love. There are many in the world who are dying for a piece of bread but there are many more dying for a little love.  The poverty in the West is a different kind of poverty --- it is not only a poverty of loneliness but also of spirituality. There's a hunger for love, as there is a hunger for God."

As we prepare to celebrate Holy Eucharist, Jesus' gift of who He is for us --- our brother and Savior --- let us pray that Jesus will give us the grace to look beyond political rhetoric, as John the Baptist did, so we may be free to hear and to respond to Jesus' call for holiness.   And, may our devotion to Him help others recognize the presence of God in their lives. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.