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Sixth Sunday In Ordinary Time,Year B, February 15, 2015, by Fr. Kevin Anderson

Let’s say that you are faced with a difficulty or a tension . . . which would you rather be:

an extension cord [hold up an extension cord up] or a water filter [hold up a water filter]?

 

Now think about what these two items do: 

An extension cord receives “something” and passes it along.  It doesn’t change the “something.”  Most often that is electricity which passes through it. 

 

A water filter receives “something” and changes it.  Most often, that is water.  The filter takes in water which is full of toxins, dirt and impurities and holds them inside itself . . .and then it gives back changed water, pure water, something without all the “gunk” in it. 

 

Now think about Jesus.  He faced lots of tension and hostility.  He often faced hurting and wounded people.  In the gospel today, Jesus meets a man with leprosy.  Now remember that today leprosy is called “Hanson’s Disease.” It is a skin disease.  It is rare because doctors have found a way to treat it.  Back in the time of Jesus, people would usually die from it.  It was contagious.  Therefore, people didn’t want to be in contact with someone with leprosy, because you could “catch it” easily, become infected and could pass it on to others.   That’s why in the first reading from Leviticus there were details about what to do with someone with leprosy.

 

Anyway, Jesus models for us something entirely different.  Now don’t just think about leprosy

. . . think about all the bad things that Jesus encountered.    For example, there were people who hated him, and people who gossiped about him, and people who wouldn’t trust him.   Jesus does not act like an extension cord . . . that is, receiving all that bad “stuff” and then just passing it along or even passing it back.  No, instead Jesus receives all the bad “stuff” and holds it in himself and offers back only love, forgiveness and compassion.  To the leper in the gospel, Jesus takes in his wounds and gives back healing. It’s as if Jesus is able to “filter out” all that nasty stuff and offer back only goodness.

 

Jesus’s greatest action was to take in all the wounds, sins and “bad things” of the world and not give back revenge, or hate or a “get even” mentality.   Instead he gives back love . . . love which is ultimately given back by his love for us by dying on the cross.

 

Now think again  . . . which of these you usually act like . . .an extension cord or a water filter?

It is tough being a filter!  Usually when bad things come to us, we simple pass them on.  For example, when some gossip comes to us . . . what do we do?   Pass it on.  Or if we get yelled at . . . it is so easy to pass it back, or to pass it on to someone else.  For example, the boss yells at you and you get home and yell at the kids.  Or bad things happen at school and we pass that bad energy on to family or friends. 

 

We are invited to be different.  We cannot let someone else’s craziness make us crazy.  We cannot keep letting “bad things” pass through us.

Jesus was good at this.  His mother, Mary is also an good example of this.  Think of all the bad things that she witnessed in her life . . . for example the hate and meanness toward her son, she doesn’t’ pass it on, or pass it back.  Instead as it says again and again in scripture, “Mary pondered” that is “she reflected on these things in her heart.” 

 

What a wonderful example!  Of course, she was conceived immaculately by her parents and of course Jesus is the son of God.  But St. Paul, in the second reading challenges us to be imitators of him, as he imitates Christ.  He writes, “Whatever you do, everything for the glory of God.” 

 

But how do we do that?  Well let me tell you of how the mystics and some of the big saints did this.  The first step is to recognize what is happening.  That is, to acknowledge the “badness” that is coming to us.   Then to ponder it (as Mary did) . . . by our breathing.  Yea, that simple.  When you receive some negative attacks, or when there is major stress from school, or family or work. . . . step way for a bit, close your eyes if you can (but that is not necessary) and take in a slow breath, hold it, and breath out.  Let’s try it together.   [Have all close their eyes and breathe in slowly and exhale slowly]

 

Now it doesn’t mean that the bad energy simply goes away, but it does mean that you might be a better state of mind as to what to do about it.  To reflect (or ponder like Mary does) and decide to receive the criticism as accurate and something we could improve on.  Or to receive the words and ponder about the situation that might have caused the person to react this way to us. 

 

This takes work.  But mostly it begins with our desire to be different.  That is, our desire not to keep passing along, or passing back negative stuff.  Perhaps we can try holding it and passing back (like Jesus did) compassion, love, understanding. 

 

The next step that you can make is to ask yourself, “What does God what of me in this situation?”  Too, we quickly move to want we want, without considering God’s will.

 

The third part (which is the most important) is to pray.  To pray for the person/people involved.  Pray for their welling-being and goodness.  Pray NOT to change them, but for us to be open to be changed in whatever manner God desires. 

 

Remember as St. Paul said in the second reading, “avoid giving offense.  Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.”

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