January 24, 2021

 

Homily by Sister Cecelia

Isaiah 6:1-19, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Luke 4:16-24

How quickly a person’s mind can change!  When Christ uttered the words that the prophet Isaiah had said, the people of Nazareth were delighted and amazed. When he warned them that a prophet is not accepted in his own town and proceeded to give examples from their history of others than Jews being helped, their delight turned to fury, and they determined to throw Jesus off the nearby cliff.

What was in their minds that would prompt such a response? Yes, Jesus was criticizing his people. Perhaps they understood from his words that he was not going to do all his good works of healing the blind, freeing those in prison, and preaching the good news to the poor, as he had in other locales. But, instead of trying to understand why Jesus had said this, they hardened their hearts even more and determined to kill him.

When we look at our own lives, do we recall any similarities to the Nazarenes’ reaction when we are criticized? There must be reasons why we react sometimes with hurtful defensive anger rather than look at ourselves to see if we could do better. Then, even be thankful someone had the courage or audacity to vocalize their thoughts to us. It takes patience to come to know ourselves. It takes patience to appreciate every easy or difficult step along the way. Perhaps the first steps are easier, then comes the hard, wearying repetition of the process of learning. Learning to know ourselves with both patience and bravery.

The Spirit teaches us if our hearts remain open.

I’m reminded of my early years in the monastery in Indiana. Though we received some teaching, learning to live the gospel in community was done more by example than by words. I learned by the example of others in two ways. Some nuns behaved in what I judged to be very saintly ways, and I tried to make my behavior like theirs. With some others, I judged their behavior to not be what I thought was pleasing to God, so I promised myself I would not be like them. Since then, I have learned that judging others is not the most wholesome approach to life. We do judge or see the exterior behavior of others, but we cannot know what is in their hearts. Taking the attitude that if others don’t do what is expected, then I don’t need to, is not a wholesome approach either.

 Knowing my own values, and living up to them, rather than comparing myself to any other person, is a much better approach. 

An aspect of the good news Jesus was not able to give to the Nazarenes because of their hardness of hearts is exemplified in another parable-the goats and the sheep- of those who will be chosen and those who will not at the end of life. The parable could be shock therapy to get us out of any complacency we might have about our own goodness or despondency about the lack of it. What we do for others, or do not do, is what we are doing to Jesus. The surprise of the people involved in the parable of not knowing when they had done or not done those things to Jesus was they perhaps were thinking too big.  It is good to run the soup kitchen, but it is also good to take a sandwich to your next-door neighbor or to make one for your own hungry child. It is not good to rob a bank, but also not good to swipe a scarf from your friend. To get a glass of water for someone you think could be thirsty is an act of love or is not if you do not do it. It does not have to be big feats that Jesus is commending or terribly wicked things he is condemning. What we do or not do for or against another is what we are doing for our Lord.

Let our own hearts be open so that the Spirit can teach us to know ourselves, so that the Spirit can teach us to know God who is love.

Christ is in our midst!