The Rambler

17TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME [B] As a church, we’re committed to telling the world about Jesus. There are those who end up saying yes to Jesus. And then there are those who end up saying no. Why do they beg off? Why do they decline? Typically it has to do with some aspect of church life. They don’t want to be associated with “all those hypocrites.”  Or they disagree with a particular church teaching. Or there might be lingering anger relating to the clergy sex abuse scandal. Or they will point to the fact that the Christian movement remains a seriously divided movement. Isn’t it supposed to be “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Eph. 4:5)?  On the surface, these sound like valid reasons. But you can’t help wondering about the level of authenticity: Are they being honest with themselves? Is it really about that particular church teaching? Is it really about exposure to hypocrites? Is it really about the scandal of division or the scandal of abuse? In some cases, we’ll be able to answer

16TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME [B] It’s the middle of the night and a baby is crying. Within moments the mother is there, tending to her child. Never mind the fact that the mother was in bed. Never mind the fact that she had put in a long day and was really looking forward to some badly needed rest. This very reasonable desire on her part is being set aside for the sake of a larger priority. She’s being true to her nature. She’s willing to set aside her reasonable desires for the sake of her calling, for the sake of her motherhood. We encounter this phenomenon in “Morning Song,” a poem written by Sylvia Plath. The poem portrays a mother crawling out of bed to comfort her crying child. She does this because it’s all part of the motherhood profile. She’s simply being faithful to her vocation, to her calling.  Notice the sequence of events in this weekend’s Gospel. Jesus and his disciples have been hard at it; they’re feeling the need for some down-time. However, the crowds are proving to b

  15TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME [B] We’ll begin by looking back on the “Be A Pepper” campaign. This refers to an advertising campaign launched in 1977 by the Dr. Pepper bottling company. The pitch-man spells it out for you:  I’m a pepper, he’s a pepper, she’s a pepper; wouldn’t you like to be a pepper too?  In other words.. I’ve had a taste. He’s had a taste. She’s had a taste. Upon tasting it, I now identify as a pepper. So does he. So does she. We’re betting that you will want to be a pepper, once you’ve tasted this particular soft drink. So we’re encouraging you to: HAVE A TASTE!! It’s a campaign that can be regarded as a crude form of evangelization. It’s being aimed at your taste buds, or perhaps your wallet. Meanwhile, the evangelization project featured in Mark chapter six has more to do with bringing satisfaction to the human soul. The disciples are being sent forth to promote the benefits of the New Covenant. They go willingly. They go willingly because they have chosen to be c

  14TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME A classic western film will typically feature a hero who rides in at the beginning—from parts unknown. He deals with a particular crisis, and then what does he do? He rides back out. The 1953 production “Shane” exemplifies this time-honored format. Alan Ladd plays the role of the hero who rides in, saves the day, and then rides back out.  For his part, Jesus has committed himself to saving the day. However, he’s not gaining any traction in the community of Nazareth. They regard him as a local (Mark 6:1-6). Perhaps they would be more likely to take him seriously if was seen riding in from parts unknown. The general impression is that the Messiah will arrive from an unknown location (see John 7:27). They are not willing to accept the notion of a home-grown Messiah.  It’s the same old song and dance. We’re not talking about anything new; this represents a continuation. We’re carrying forward a pattern that originates in the Old Testament period: it’s reveale

  HOMILY FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY We are celebrating a particular kind of independence: no longer allowing ourselves to be subjected to the British Crown. This bold decision was made official on July 4th, 1776, with the Continental Congress issuing its Declaration of Independence. Of course, it wasn’t going to be that easy. Battles would be fought, some of them being counted as victories and some of them being counted as defeats. Blood would be spilled and lives would be lost. But in the end, we earned our independence. We would no longer have to serve under the dominion of a foreign power.  Another bold decision stands before us: are we committed to the concept of spiritual freedom? Jesus arrives in our world, proclaiming liberty to those who are being held captive (Luke 4:18). We hear that when the Son of Man has set you free, then you are free indeed (John 8:36). Free from what, exactly? In what way are we being held captive? Look within yourself. Think about all of those impulses, thos