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Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A, October 8, 2017, by Fr. Kevin Anderson

Once upon a time, long ago, in a village far away.  [Altar servers raising up a large banner with a dragon on it.]  A small dragon came wondering into the village.  The people saw the beast and began to scream and yell from fear.  [Banner is raised higher to expose more of the dragon image.]  Then some people went out to the dragon with clubs and spears.  They shouted, “Get out of here.”  But as the people yelled more and more at the dragon, it grew and grew. [Banner is fully raised to show the entire dragon.]  Finally becoming a huge dragon with fire coming from its mouth.

 

Well, at that moment, the king returned to the village.  He had never seen such a large and fierce beast.  But he knew exactly what to do.  He came up to the dragon and said, “Hello.  You must have had a very busy day.  Has anyone offered you anything to drink, or some food to eat?”  And as the king spoke, the large dragon started to get smaller.  [Banner is lowered a bit.]  “There, there,” continued the king as he came up to the beast and patted it, “Have some tea and some bread.  And here is a blanket for the night.”  [Banner is lowered until it completely rests on the floor.]  And will each kind word the dragon got smaller and smaller until it just disappeared.

 

Probably all of us here have encountered people who act like dragons.  That is, they roar and act real mean.  Maybe we also have acted like that.  Sometimes we feel that being angry is the only way we are noticed or have people listen to us.

 

I guess that is one way to get someone’s attention.  But most people who work in retail, will tell you that the hostile, angry and loud costumer usually gets the worst treatment; whereas the costumer who has a complaint yet remains calm and not angry . . . usually gets their issue solved faster (and often better).

 

There are difficult people in life.  Life is difficult.  Hurting people, hurt people. 

 

In the gospel, there is a hurting vineyard.  The workers only see what they do not have and the people are angry.  Jesus asks, “Well what should the only do?”  The listeners say, “Kill those bad people.”  And notice that Jesus doesn’t agree or disagree with them . . . but says that, “The part that you don’t think belongs is really the most important part.  That is, the cornerstone.”

 

Back in the time of Jesus, a building was built by finding a perfect stone (smooth, square) then putting it into place and building the rest of the structure upon it.  Well, Jesus says that the stone which no one else wanted (or thought was no good) was the exact stone that God would use.

 

There are many angry people in the world . . . over all sorts of issues.  And to change the anger in the world doesn’t start with “them.”  It starts with you.  Think of the difficult person in your life.  Now recall a time when they were angry, or difficult or mean.   And think . . . did your response of being angry back at them, or being just as loud or difficult change anything?   Probably not. 

 

Maybe the stone that God wants to build upon with you . . . is the stone of mercy, or understanding, or kindness.  And the healing of that difficult person can begin with you.  That is, for you to get in touch with your own wounds, your own craziness. 

 

Maybe it is time to try something different.  Don’t let someone else’s craziness make you crazy.  Don’t let someone else’s anger make you angry.  Hurting people, hurt people.  Get in touch with your own wounds . . . work on recognizing them, healing them.

 

Then maybe you can live as St. Paul said in the second reading: 

“Have no anxiety at all. 

Let the peace of God which is greater than all understanding,

guard your hearts and minds IN Christ Jesus.

 

Whatever is true, whatever is honorable,

whatever is just, whatever is lovely, and whatever is gracious . . .

keep on doing those things.  Then the God of peace will be with you.”

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