XIII Sunday of the Year

YES… BUT!

1 Kings 19:16b, 19-21; Galatians 5:1, 13-18; Luke 9:51-62

Readings for the XIII Sunday of the Year

In his book “Games People Play”, Eric Berne talks about the “why don’t you… yes but” game that many people play. Players start by lamenting a problem but find excuses for every solution offered. One example of the game!

White: “My husband always insists on doing our own repairs, and he never builds anything right.”

Black: “Why doesn’t he take a course in carpentry?” White: “Yes, but he doesn’t have time.”

Blue: “Why don’t you buy him some good tools?” White: “Yes, but he doesn’t know how to use them.”

Red: “Why don’t you have your building done by a carpenter?” White: “Yes, but that would cost too much.” 

Brown: “Why don’t you just accept what he does the way he does it?” White: “Yes, but the whole thing might fall down.”

Like White, many of us suffer from the “yes, but…” syndrome. We are ready to get down to our books, start that much-postponed project, begin changing our behaviour, take on the world and maybe even climb Mount Everest but…

In the gospel, the anonymous trio of would-be followers are “yes-butters”.

The first is enthusiastic to follow Jesus, who cautions him that he must be ready for a tough life without necessities and be prepared to identify with the poor. 

The second asks if he can first stay and bury the dead, a necessary family obligation. Jesus’ admonition seems harsh. However, he is clear that following him requires single-minded commitment. This is the commitment and detachment that Elisha shows (in the first reading) when he slaughters his oxen and uses the equipment that comes with them for fuel. 

The third first wanted to go to say goodbye to his family. He resembles Elisha of the first reading! Jesus is emphatic that there is no looking back when it comes to following him. We can neither wallow in past sins nor boast of past successes if we are to be fit for the kingdom of God. 

In what areas of my life am I a “yes-butter”? What are the “buts” that prevent me from following Jesus: comforts; familial and societal responsibilities; successes and failures? Am I willing to overcome the “yes, but…” syndrome?

Jesus sets the example himself of single-minded commitment: “He resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem”! Interestingly, in the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus reverses the “yes, but…” syndrome. He asks the Father: “Remove this cup from me, but not my will but yours be done” (Luke 22:42)!

May you and I stop playing the “yes but” game and follow Jesus.

The Body and Blood of Christ

I HAVE NOTHING MORE TO GIVE YOU

Genesis 14:18-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Luke 9:11b-17

Readings for the Body and Blood of Christ

In 1967, Robert Sténuit—the Belgian underwater archaeologist—discovered the wreck of the Spanish Armada ship, the Girona, off the coast of Ireland. Among the many treasures he recovered was a wedding ring. The top of the ring had a hand holding a heart; the band had these words etched on it: “no tengo mas que dar te” (I have nothing more to give you).

The same image and words could be used to describe today’s Feast of the Body and Blood of Jesus. The feast (and every Eucharist) is Jesus symbolically saying to us: “I have nothing more to give you.” 

There are three aspects to today’s celebration: self-gift; sacrifice; service.

Self-gift: Abram gives Melchizedek a tenth of everything he has. Jesus challenges the apostles: “Give the people something to eat yourselves.” All they have is five loaves and two fish. For Jesus, this meagre contribution is enough to satiate the hunger of the five thousand… with enough left over to feed another crowd. Luke does not say that Jesus multiplies the loaves and fish; Luke uses words associated with the Eucharist in narrating the miracle! In the second reading, Paul describes Jesus’ total self-gift of his body and blood at the Last Supper; he has nothing more to give us. 

Sacrifice: At the Last Supper, Jesus symbolically and sacramentally gave himself to his apostles. On Calvary, he broke his body and shed his blood for his people; Jesus could truly say: “I have nothing more to give you.”

Service: At the Last Supper, Jesus did more than break bread and share the cup; he washed the feet of his disciples. In his gospel, St John does not have the institution narrative; he has rather a description of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet. For John, the towel and basin are Eucharistic symbols. 

Self-gift, sacrifice, service! This is what we celebrate. This is our challenge.

Am I willing to give myself for others? What are the “five loaves and two fish” I am called to share with others? 

How can I be body broken and blood shed for others? 

In what way will I serve and love others in the week ahead?

May we relive Jesus’ self-gift, sacrifice and service so that we too can say: “I have nothing more to give you.” 

Trinity Sunday

A PRACTICAL MYSTERY

Proverbs 8:22-31; Romans 5:1-5; John 16:12-15

Readings for Trinity Sunday

The philosopher Immanuel Kant wrote: “The doctrine of the Trinity provides nothing, absolutely nothing of practical value, even if one claims to understand it.”

There are many who agree with Kant! The math (1+1+1=3) is wrong; philosophers/ theologians use a term like “consubstantial” to explain it. The doctrine of the Trinity surpasses our understanding; it is a mystery. However, the doctrine is a “practical mystery” with radical consequences for our life. 

First: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are unique and distinct. To help us understand that uniqueness, God has revealed to us three separate functions of the three persons—the Father creates; the Son reconciles and redeems; and the Spirit guides and teaches. 

Second: these three unique and distinct persons live in communion; they form a community; God is a family! Today’s gospel text indicates the close relationship they share: “the Spirit will guide you to all truth… he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine.” An intimate and magnificent collaboration! 

The Greek Fathers use the word “perichoresis” to describe this loving communion of the Trinity; the word may be defined as a “dancing together”. God does not exist in solitary individualism but in a community of love and sharing.

What are the implications of the doctrine of the Trinity for us?

Created in the image and likeness of a Trinitarian God, we have qualities like God! 

First, we are unique individuals; and we want to be accepted thus. 

Second, we yearn to live in community/communion. We achieve this communion not by negating/denying differences, but by respecting and nurturing our diversity, and blending our differences.

Third, like the Father, we are called to be productive/creative, and to contribute to the building of our family, church, society, nation; like the Son, we are called to reconcile and to mend what is broken; like the Spirit, it is our task to dispel ignorance and to guide. 

God is God only in a Trinitarian relationship; so too we can be fully human only in relationship: a vertical relationship with God and a horizontal relationship with people and creation.

How am I going to live the doctrine of the Trinity in my life? Will I respect myself and other as unique persons and form communion and community by blending differences; and be a creative, reconciling, and guiding person?

Pentecost Sunday

PICKED UP AND CARRIED BY “SOMEONE”

Acts 2:1-11; 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13 (or Romans 8:8-17);

John 20:19-23 (or John 14:15-16, 23b-26)

Readings for Pentecost Sunday

In a major football game, a player’s performance exceeded the expectations of his mates and coach. In the last five minutes of the game, with the score against his team, he scored two goals! He ran faster and dribbled better than he had ever done. In the locker room, his coach said: “I didn’t know you had it in you.” He replied: “I didn’t either! I was picked up and carried by something outside myself.”

Pentecost is when the apostles “were picked up and carried by someone outside themselves”! The Holy Spirit empowered and transformed them!

The Spirit filled them with enthusiasm (‘en-theos’ which means ‘God within’). Armed with the power of this ‘God within’, they moved out of the Upper Room to proclaim the Good News of the Resurrection. Recall Peter’s speech: “This man… you killed, using lawless men to crucify him. But God raised him up.” 

The Spirit gave them the gifts they needed to proclaim the Good News: belief in the truth; the courage to proclaim it; the willingness/ ability to reach out to people of other languages and persuasions.

The Spirit formed them into one community. The verses after today’s first reading: “All who believed were together and had all things in common.” This in a group which was jostling for position and power!

The same Spirit empowers and transforms us. 

The Spirit empowers us to proclaim that God is our Father, and therefore beyond the tangible differences of region, language, culture, and social status, we are one family. 

The Spirit gives us the gifts and resources we need (1 Corinthians 12:4-11). We need to believe and understand that the Spirit works differently in different people… and give space for that to happen; we ought to use our gifts to build up the church.

The Spirit forms us into one family.

Will I let the Spirit pick me up and carry me… to go beyond my natural strengths and abilities?

What are the gifts that the Spirit gives me, and how will I use it to proclaim Jesus and to build up his kingdom on earth?