I have some questions for you and I want you to give me a “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” as your reply:
Do you like broccoli?
Do you like cats?
Do you think the MN Twins will have a winning season?
Do you like scary movies?
Do you like green olives?
Do you have any idea where this homily is going?
Now that “thumbs up” or “down” has been around for a long time. We know the crowds used in with
gladiator fighting in determining what would happen to a defeated gladiator. It’s a universal sign.
But it seemed to become especially popular from the TV show with the two guys reviewing movies:
Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert. They gave us the notion of not be “wishy-washy” but to commit as to
say “yes” or “no.”
Ebert (the larger one) died recently with a battle with cancer. Before his death he said that he was
taking a “leave of presence.” He explained that he was not going away, there would be a team of
people that would continue the reviews and comments.”
“A leave of presence” is a good way of understanding the relationship of Jesus with us. We celebrate
his ascending in heaven. Jesus takes a “physical” leave . . . for he completed his work of renewal and
reconciliation through his teaching, passion, death and resurrection. BUT he remains present in the
spirit of healing, compassion and justice. He was the light that illuminated and the love that inspired:
the work of the disciples,
the work of Paul
the first Christians that followed
the work of every disciple . . . of every time and place.
And the work of you and me.
The disciples were shocked of Jesus leaving them. But, as he promised, he actually would not be
leaving them. He is present in every good, loving, generous thing we do today. .
St. Teresa of Avila (1515–1582) wrote:
Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours
So here’s a question . . . if others were to vote if they have recognized Christ in you recently. How
would they vote . . . thumbs up? Or thumbs down?