Shawn The Baptist - Sunday Scriptures

“Why do bad things happen to good people?” Whenever there is some tragedy we often find ourselves questioning God, wondering “Where was God?” Where was God in the midst of this shooting, or hurricane, or fill in the blank with whatever suffering you find unjust. Sometimes, the answer is that this world is just fallen and imperfect and not meant to be our lasting home.

At this week’s “Adult Conversation” at the parish, I considered “Why Did God Allow 9/11?” and how to deal with unjust suffering. But in today’s homily, I’d like to consider another answer to why there is suffering. Sometimes, it’s our own fault. The gospel duo Wilburn & Wilburn offer a pointed reflection in their song, “You Asked Him to Leave.”

In our first reading, we hear of how the Israelites asked God to leave. Despite God’s continued care for them, they tell God they don’t want him and instead worship a golden calf as their God. In the gospel, the Prodigal Son tells his father he only wants his money and wishes he were dead. He then leaves. Not surprisingly, things go very badly for Israel and the Prodigal Son. The same is true for us when we reject God. “Where was God?” Well, in the words of the song, “He wasn’t there. Remember you asked him to leave.”

Now, that’s the bad news. The good news is that, even though we ask God to leave, as soon as we repent and ask him to come back, he does. In fact, he even goes after us, like that crazy shepherd in the gospel leavening 99 sheep to go after just one. It seems ridiculous to risk so munch for just one sheep… until you’re that one lost sheep.

In order for the good news of salvation to make any sense, we’ve got to admit the hard truth that none of us are really all that “good.” In fact, we all deserve death. That’s the bad news. The good news is that Jesus came and then willingly died in our place. He paid the price for us so that we who were lost could be found.

As a society, we’ve asked God to leave our families, our bedrooms, our workplaces, our government, politics, and schools. We’ve basically asked God to leave just about everywhere and be confined to our church buildings. Is it any wonder that these very things are now such a mess? Ask yourself where in your life God is not welcome. Don’t be afraid to surrender to God and invite him in. If you do, you will find great peace and joy. But if don’t, and bad things happen, don’t question God. “Remember you asked him to leave.”

The Washington Monument is one of the most recognizable structures in the world. At 555 feet in height, it was the tallest structure in the world until the construction of the Eiffel Tower. While most people look to the top of the monument soaring into the sky, there’s an even greater story to be found just 150 feet off the ground. About a quarter of the way up the monument, if you look carefully, you’ll see that the color of the stone changes. After beginning construction in 1848, the builders actually ran out of money in 1854. Construction was halted, and the majestic monument we know today remained just a 150 foot tall “stump” for about 23 years. What a joke and embarrassment that must have been.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus warns us not to start construction on a tower without making sure we intend to complete it. He’s warning his disciples that the decision to follow him is not easy. Think how difficult it would have been to build a tower in the days of Jesus. How is the “building project” of your faith going? Did you start out joyfully but have now stalled? The answer is to keep going. The Washington Monument was built by continuing to stack one brick at a time. God has a beautiful design for your life. Don’t let yourself get stuck as a stump only a quarter of the way done.

The Washington Monument is one of the most recognizable structures in the world. At 555 feet in height, it was the tallest structure in the world until the construction of the Eiffel Tower. While most people look to the top of the monument soaring into the sky, there’s an even greater story to be found just 150 feet off the ground. About a quarter of the way up the monument, if you look carefully, you’ll see that the color of the stone changes. After beginning construction in 1848, the builders actually ran out of money in 1854. Construction was halted, and the majestic monument we know today remained just a 150 foot tall “stump” for about 23 years. What a joke and embarrassment that must have been.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus warns us not to start construction on a tower without making sure we intend to complete it. He’s warning his disciples that the decision to follow him is not easy. Think how difficult it would have been to build a tower in the days of Jesus. How is the “building project” of your faith going? Did you start out joyfully but have now stalled? The answer is to keep going. The Washington Monument was built by continuing to stack one brick at a time. God has a beautiful design for your life. Don’t let yourself get stuck as a stump only a quarter of the way done.

 

Today's Gospel describes the social intricacies of who gets invited to the best parties and where certain people have a seat at the table. It all seem so contrived. Everyone is out to move up "higher." It reminds me of the title of an old book, "How to Win Friends and Influence People."

The point of book is helping people learn how to get ahead. You have to make the "right" friends so that they can the influence the people you really want to influence. Then you make "better," more influential friends. And on and on it goes as you climb higher in higher. All this works pretty well as for as the corporate world goes. But in a world desperately in need of real friendships, this is an empty chase after wind.

St. John Paul II taught that the opposite of love is not hate, but use. We can never use another person as means to an end. If I'm only being friends with you because of what you can do for me, then I'm not really your friend. I'm using you. In the gospel, Jesus therefore urges us to be genuine friends. Don't hold a party just to get invited to a better party. In fact, find people who are not influential to be friends with... the poor, the blind, the lame, all considered outcasts at the time of Jesus.

If you've got a friend who sticks by you no matter what and isn't just there in the good times, then you've got a real friend. Friends like that are special. Be a friend like that, and you'll have influence in the world like you never imagined.

Today’s Gospel describes the social intricacies of who gets invited to the best parties and where certain people have a seat at the table. It all seem so contrived. Everyone is out to move up “higher.” It reminds me of the title of an old book, “How to Win Friends and Influence People.”

The point of book is helping people learn how to get ahead. You have to make the “right” friends so that they can the influence the people you really want to influence. Then you make “better,” more influential friends. And on and on it goes as you climb higher in higher. All this works pretty well as for as the corporate world goes. But in a world desperately in need of real friendships, this is an empty chase after wind.

St. John Paul II taught that the opposite of love is not hate, but use. We can never use another person as means to an end. If I’m only being friends with you because of what you can do for me, then I’m not really your friend. I’m using you. In the gospel, Jesus therefore urges us to be genuine friends. Don’t hold a party just to get invited to a better party. In fact, find people who are not influential to be friends with… the poor, the blind, the lame, all considered outcasts at the time of Jesus.

If you’ve got a friend who sticks by you no matter what and isn’t just there in the good times, then you’ve got a real friend. Friends like that are special. Be a friend like that, and you’ll have influence in the world like you never imagined.

When it gets to be over 100 degrees in Kansas in the summer, I like to go Alaska. For most of the last eight years I've volunteered to serve as Chaplain on a cruise ship heading to the northernmost state in the union (and westernmost... and easternmost... look that one up). In addition to the incredible beauty, I also find God lurking everywhere.

This homily was given at the end of a two-week itinerary. I consider such things as the struggle of salmon to get home, the long path of a glacier to the sea, and even the navigational system of the ship. So Alaska is not just good for beating the heat. It turns out that there are quite a few life lessons up there too.

When it gets to be over 100 degrees in Kansas in the summer, I like to go Alaska. For most of the last eight years I’ve volunteered to serve as Chaplain on a cruise ship heading to the northernmost state in the union (and westernmost… and easternmost… look that one up). In addition to the incredible beauty, I also find God lurking everywhere.

This homily was given at the end of a two-week itinerary. I consider such things as the struggle of salmon to get home, the long path of a glacier to the sea, and even the navigational system of the ship. So Alaska is not just good for beating the heat. It turns out that there are quite a few life lessons up there too.

Paul Harvey was a famous reporter and political commentator who is perhaps best known for his weekly segment entitled, "The Rest of the Story." In these short clips, Harvey would profile some famous person or incredible invention. But, here's the twist, he wouldn't tell you who or what he was describing until the very end. The story would often begin with some fairly unlikely difficulties, or obscure facts that you wouldn't associate with a great "success story." As the clues continued, Harvey would ultimately end with a big reveal and his famous tag line, "And now you know the rest of the story.

"Today's homily considers some of these type of stories, including this famous Super Bowl add (watch for yourself... I won't spoil it.)

Today's readings, in fact all of Christian history, are filled with these type of "improbable reversal" stories. Abraham was brought to the promised land when there was nothing there. Moses was told to get ready to leave Egypt when everything he had tried had failed to soften the heart of Pharaoh. We know how these stories end. They really are success stories.

It's easy to look back and enjoy these hard luck stories that turned out so famously well. But what about your life right now? Maybe you're in some pretty lousy circumstances. Maybe things are not going well. Maybe you're telling yourself that things have never gone well, that you're a failure, and that it will always be this way. The truth is, no matter where you've been or what you're facing right now, you're in one of these great success stories. You've just got to hang on. If you're feeling down, that's OK, but you don't need a new life... you just need a different story.

God isn't done with you. One day, we will look back on our whole life and see how all the pieces fit. And you know what, we probably wouldn't change a thing. Because from heaven we will see the masterpiece God really created with the ups and downs of our lives. And we will rejoice, because then, we will see... the rest of the story.

Paul Harvey was a famous reporter and political commentator who is perhaps best known for his weekly segment entitled, “The Rest of the Story.” In these short clips, Harvey would profile some famous person or incredible invention. But, here’s the twist, he wouldn’t tell you who or what he was describing until the very end. The story would often begin with some fairly unlikely difficulties, or obscure facts that you wouldn’t associate with a great “success story.” As the clues continued, Harvey would ultimately end with a big reveal and his famous tag line, “And now you know the rest of the story.

“Today’s homily considers some of these type of stories, including this famous Super Bowl add (watch for yourself… I won’t spoil it.)



Today’s readings, in fact all of Christian history, are filled with these type of “improbable reversal” stories. Abraham was brought to the promised land when there was nothing there. Moses was told to get ready to leave Egypt when everything he had tried had failed to soften the heart of Pharaoh. We know how these stories end. They really are success stories.

It’s easy to look back and enjoy these hard luck stories that turned out so famously well. But what about your life right now? Maybe you’re in some pretty lousy circumstances. Maybe things are not going well. Maybe you’re telling yourself that things have never gone well, that you’re a failure, and that it will always be this way. The truth is, no matter where you’ve been or what you’re facing right now, you’re in one of these great success stories. You’ve just got to hang on. If you’re feeling down, that’s OK, but you don’t need a new life… you just need a different story.

God isn’t done with you. One day, we will look back on our whole life and see how all the pieces fit. And you know what, we probably wouldn’t change a thing. Because from heaven we will see the masterpiece God really created with the ups and downs of our lives. And we will rejoice, because then, we will see… the rest of the story.

“If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” So the psalmist urges us in today’s Mass. Changing our hearts is important, but did you ever stop to think about the first part, hearing God’s voice? Even people who say they believe in God often think of him as some distant power. Perhaps he is like a clockmaker who spun up the world at the time of creation like a big clock and then just let it go to unwind itself over the course of history. Our psalm today gives us a very different image of the true God.

The psalm tells us that the God who made everything, including us, wants to speak to us. In fact, we should be listening, not just in general, but right now… TODAY! This is not a God who is distant and uninvolved. This is a God who is with us and wants to mix it up in our world. That’s the whole meaning of God becoming one of us in the incarnation, Jesus taking on our human flesh. Even better, when Jesus left this world at his Ascension, he promised to remain with us always. We are not abandoned. We are not alone.

Now, all of this might make us feel good to know that we have this divine protection and even communication. But there is something here that effects all of society. If, as St. Paul tells us in the second reading, we know that Christ has been raised, and that we have been raised with Christ, then we are free to “seek what is above.” I say “free” because, when you know that this world is not all there is, then you are not weighed down trying to get all your joy and happiness from this world. This is the lesson of the today’s gospel.

If this world is all there is, then you’ve got to try to get as much as possible of what this world offers. If you’re blessed and have a lot, then you need to build bigger barns and store it up. If material wealth and possessions are the only lasting happiness, then you have to hold on to it. You have to get as much for yourself as possible. This is why the truth of Christianity, the truth of the resurrection of Jesus, effects the entire culture. Imagine if everyone lived only for this world, taking and grasping desperately for everything they could get. What kind of world would this be? Now, consider that there are over a billion people who call themselves Christians, who know that there are “things above” that are greater than “what is on earth.” Think of the contrast between the great saints who give up all the material possessions compared to those who would be constantly at war to obtain more and more? Christians have not only the secret to happiness, but also the path to world peace.

Where do you seek happiness? Do you cling to the things of this world and live in fear of not having enough? How is God inviting you to a greater freedom by setting your heart on the things above? Talk to God about these things in your prayer this week, and then listen. You just might hear his voice.