2023 Lenten Preaching Series 5: Ecological Education

We are now at the fifth week of Lent …

- How successful have you been in your Lenten sacrifices?

- Have you made your Easter confession yet?

- Have you been more prayerful, and generous in giving alms?

- Have you seen any progress in your spiritual growth?

As Lent rapidly departs us, this weekend we are reminded that there is still time … to prepare our hearts and minds and very selves for the feast of Easter … with Jesus, hope is not lost, hope is never lost!

The Old Testament reading today from Ezekiel 37 is a story that helps focus our attention on the mystery and majesty of YHWH who knows no death that cannot be infused with life. This day and these readings are reminders to celebrate that fact that the church is in the business of offering life amid what sometimes seems to be a death-dealing culture.

And that culture, both that of Ezekiel's 6th-century world and our own, has never better been characterized than in this astonishing and well-known passage. For we, like they, are dry bones, once marrow-filled skeletons, created by God, now picked clean by a culture intent on death for many rather than life for all.

The text is both historical and allegorical at the same time. It is assumed that Ezekiel went into a Babylonian exile with the first wave of deportees in 597 BCE, a group that was added to when Nebuchadnezzar ten years later destroyed what remained of Jerusalem in a furious rage, capturing and blinding the king, Zedekiah, and herding the last leaders of a shattered Judah eastward to the huge Babylonian capital.

So, when Ezekiel speaks of dry bones in a valley, he means precisely that — dead soldiers after a slaughter, empty lives after a crashing defeat. When YHWH drops him into this silent and terrifying valley of bones, obviously dead and gone, and asks him, "Can these bones live?" the certain answer must be: "Not a chance!"

Yet, Ezekiel does not answer in that way. He says instead, O YHWH God, you know, a delightfully ambiguous response that could mean God, it is your call, not mine.

God makes no appraisal of Ezekiel's reply, but instead in typical divine fashion calls the prophet to his work. Prophesy to the bones, and say to them, 'Thus says YHWH!'

The prophet is then admonished to proclaim an anatomy lesson to the bones, wherein YHWH will provide breath and sinews and flesh and skin such that the bones will leap to life again, until the valley is filled with a standing host, a vast multitude of living beings.

In short, Israel's exile to Babylon is far from the last work of YHWH; the dry bones of defeat and humiliation will become the healthy host of Israel once again. There will be a future and a hope for the scattered people; dry bones will indeed live again.

We hear that message of coming back to life again in the Gospel this week too. We know the familiar story of the death of Lazarus and the grief of his sisters Mary and Martha. I understand how Mary and Martha felt. They had called for Jesus. He was down near the Jordan where John had been baptizing, very close to Bethany and especially close if your dear friend is dying!

But Jesus, doesn’t seem too concerned. He sees a far bigger perspective than everyone else who is in a panic that Jesus hasn’t arrived. Then suddenly, all too suddenly it is too late … Lazarus is dead. It seems as if all human hope is now superfluous. It seems to be too late.

Jesus knows that Lazarus is dead. He tells his disciples this truth. Only then does he decide to go to nearby Bethany. He arrives on the fourth day. The day that is beyond all hope. All through Scripture the third day is the day that God acts. Jesus arrives on the hopeless day, the fourth.

We heard that Jesus bears the ire of Martha, if you had been here, my brother would not have died! Read in Jersey-ese, Where the hell were you?

… After which we hear Jesus himself weeps at his dead friends’ tomb … And then he calls forth life and liberation from the hopeless hole, on the hopeless day, amidst a hopeless crowd. He calls forth life amid certain confirmed, putrefied and stinking death. Jesus gives Lazarus new life and the people new hope.

We have all been there, no doubt, hopeless, anxious, worrying, concerned, even given up. In the dark of failed relationships, failed programs for happiness, failed dreams of beauty and no happy endings. In the entombed hopeless reality of life’s darkness, Jesus reaches out to us too, in a voice that calls our name to give us new life and a new hope.

Just like the dried bones, just like for Lazarus, just like for the challenges of our life, we can have new hope for our planet … all is not lost, all hope is not gone, but we need to act, we need to fall in love with our planet again!

In these days when so many studies show that the planet is disintegrating and being ruined right before our very eyes, we can still stand up, against all the odds, against the contrary voices, against false statistics, against all politics, armed with facts and information, and with hope … to develop a plan, a sustainable plan that will help future generations.

The first step of the plan must be to educate ourselves on the matter. As mature disciples we are challenged to be honest, open, and willing to admit that we do not know all that there is to know, and further to be humble enough to start to learn more, not only about the condition of the planet, but more importantly, on what we can do to help. The bulletin contains some resources for further reference.

This fifth Sunday of Lent reminds us that it’s not too late …

… to better our spiritual selves …

… to increase our prayer, almsgiving, and sacrifice …

… and to better educate ourselves on what we can do to better sustain our planet.

Let’s commit to do this not only for ourselves but for future generations too!

Blessings!

RSM

Stewards of God's Creation and Protectors of Life

One week left until Easter! On Palm Sunday we listen to the very familiar readings that help us to “get in the mood” for Holy Week … reflecting on the paschal mystery, thinking about all that Christ did for us and the required response for our lives.

On Palm Sunday, and every Sunday, we gather to worship. We usually think of human beings as the ones who shout out praise to God. However, other creatures, each in its own way, often make profound religious statements. There are examples of this in two of today’s readings. The passage describing Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem recalls the standard royal entrance procession of the day when people would gather around and cheer the arriving royalty. However, Jesus does not enter the city on a mighty warhorse, as did so many conquering heroes. He sat on a colt (some translate the Greek word as "donkey"). This animal was meek and unassuming, thus proclaiming the character of its rider. The symbolism is striking, and words of explanation are unnecessary.

Even more striking is the symbolism of the Passover meal. It was already a ceremony that "remembered," or made ritually present, the much earlier event of Israel’s deliverance by God. The meal probably consisted of bread, herbs, lamb, fruit, a vegetable, and wine – whatever Earth brought forth that year. This meal of deliverance with all the symbolism the food might have carried became the setting for Jesus’ own mystical action.

Taking the bread and the wine, Jesus transformed it. The symbolism of binding oneself with others by sharing the same food becomes more than symbolism here. The bread and wine are transformed into Jesus himself. No longer merely symbols, they are now sacrament.

In Lent, we have been thinking about our planet and the climate. The past five homilies are all posted on the parish website and blog in case you want to revisit them. We end our series today noting that there is still much to do.

Climate change has dried up the fruit of the field and the fruit of the vine; it has left animals like the colt to starve in the woods. It cripples our bodies as it destroys our food; it defiles our spirits as it desecrates our religious symbols. There is no religious remembrance where earth is violated.

As stewards of God's creation and protectors of life, we are called to "care for our common home," as Pope Francis so eloquently asks of us in Laudato si'.

As we prepare for Holy Week … take some time to think about the themes presented … and the ways that we can be better lovers of the planet. From the very beginning, God created the heavens and the earth, and all that dwell on it and God saw that it was good … let’s respect the good that God created, and to the best of our ability, give a better world to our children than that which we received.

RSM

2023 Lenten Preaching Series 4: To Be Better Creatures in a World Severely Challenged

Sometimes the Bible seems very complicated even for those who have studied it. But even after all these years, we continue to proclaim it and listen to it and try and take into ourselves the eternal messages it offers us.

This week we may ask:

· Why do the Books of Samuel describe so many political rivalries, the failure of a king, the accession of his successor?

· Why does it look at the same reality from so many different and sometimes contradictory angles?

· Where is the Word of God amid all this?

One of the answers to these questions is that the biblical authors re-read the history of their people while looking for God’s presence in it. In this re-reading, they wanted to understand how God, despite appearances, was guiding his people or, conversely, how he was not behind this or that human project, for which only hardened hearts and deafness to the divine call were responsible.

A re-reading of history in faith allowed them to understand some events differently. The transition from tribal life to the monarchy occupies an important place in this story, with mixed views on the monarchy. This is where King David comes to the fore.

The Books of Samuel want to stress that David became king by the will of God. The ultimate explanation of his success is not his political or military skill. Rumors had circulated that perhaps he came to power by shedding innocent blood or by ruthlessness. These texts give the lie to such statements. David has not usurped the crown; it was given to him. The text tells us:

Not as man sees does God see,

because man sees the appearance

but the LORD looks into the heart.

David was a shepherd of sheep, but because of his good heart, David was chosen by God to be king. He was anointed king by the prophet Samuel in place of King Saul, who no longer obeyed God. But David did not become king until many years later when Saul died.

David was chosen because of his good heart. How is your heart? What lies underneath all that we can see about you? About one another?

While surely there are many responses, what are the marks of someone with a good heart?

1. Humor does not come at the expense of others. A good-hearted person has a sense of humor that lifts others up and doesn’t tear them down.

2. Generosity is a way of life. In big ways and small ways these people are glad to share their resources.

3. They give of their time. Because time is a most precious commodity, it speaks volumes when someone is willing to spend it with someone in need.

4. They make things smooth, not rough. Their kindness helps to calms anxiety, turn sadness into joy, and prevent annoyances from igniting.

5. Everyone is treated with respect and dignity. Watch how they treat the salesclerk, restaurant server, or taxi driver.

6. The person’s words and actions match. Good deeds emerge from a good heart.

7. Unselfishness prevails. The person values your wishes and opinions and is glad to serve you.

8. Good people see good in the world. Sure, daunting problems confront us every day. But there are far more positives than negatives—and good-hearted people dwell on what’s going right rather than what’s going wrong.

This Lent we have been reflecting on how to be better creatures in a world that’s severely challenged … how to better care for all of the beautiful creation that God has given to us to enjoy.

This week we are asked to think about how we can adopt a more sustainable lifestyle. Again, there are lots and lots of ways to accomplish this, so here are just a few:

· Instead of throwing away old clothes, donate them or use them to make items such as napkins and rugs,

· Recycle plastics, tetra packs, cardboard, foil, and electronic gadgets, instead of throwing them away,

· Buy used items instead of new ones,

· Choose to reduce the amount of waste you create by limiting buying things you don’t need.

Much like the ancient people, we too must continue to try and understand the will of God in our lives, in our parish, and in our world. Sometimes it’s not easy and I daresay that it’s a lifelong process.

Each of us this Lent and every day is called to try and discern the will of God in our lives …

- What is God asking of us here any now?

- How are we called to be his ambassadors?

- What does God want from us specifically with regard for our care of creation … his creation!

Whatever the answer you come up with, there is no doubt in my mind that we are all called to have a good heart in this discernment. Take some time this day and check your heart … and the hearts of those around you … for the heart of Jesus dwells therein!

RSM