28th Sunday of Ordinary Time [C]

 


28TH SUNDAY, ORDINARY TIME [C]


As you reflect upon the readings this weekend, you may find yourself wondering about the Israelites: Do they deserve all of this special attention? Do they deserve to be saved? The inclination is to answer in the negative. After all, here they are, being out-performed by those  who would rate as “foreigners.”  Naaman exemplifies the notion of gratitude and also the notion of piety (see 2nd Kings 5:1-17). And yet, he’s not an Israelite; he’s a general in the Syrian army. Then we see what takes place in this passage from St. Luke: ten lepers have been cured, but only one comes back to express gratitude—and he happens to be a Samaritan (17:11-19). 


It leaves you to wonder about the Israelite population. Perhaps there ought to be a shift. Rather than concentrate on the Israelites, the Lord might want to focus instead upon the people who really deserve to be saved. But then again, does anybody actually deserve to be saved? As far as St. Paul is concerned, salvation needs to be understood as a gift (see Eph. 2:1-10). It’s not something we earn; it’s bestowed upon us as a gift. Meanwhile, in today’s selection from St. Paul, it becomes clear that we are being treated far better than we properly deserve. 


On the one hand, yes, if we deny God he will reciprocate by denying us (2nd Tim. 2:12). We’re talking here about something more than just a rebellious stage. Moral theologians would refer to it as a “fundamental option.”  It’s not merely a phase; it amounts to your Final Answer (to borrow an expression from a popular game show). You’re entering a state of permanent denial. You’re indicating that you want nothing to do with the Lord—not now, not ever. For his part, the Lord will respect the choice that you make. As a result, you won’t have anything to do with one another. The denials are mutual. 


The fact that you are reading this sermon would seem to suggest that denial is not the issue. It’s not about verse twelve; it’s more about verse thirteen. You don’t anticipate an act of denial. What is it that you do anticipate? Infidelity. It’s so difficult remaining faithful to the Lord. What worries you is your level of commitment. It has a way of fluctuating. You’re committed to the Lord…today. You’re not sure about tomorrow’s level of commitment. Your sense of commitment wavers back and forth. How will the Lord respond, if I can’t maintain a consistent pattern of fidelity? 


Here is where we come across some good news. God chooses to remain faithful, even if we have a hard time being faithful to him (2nd Tim. 2:13). When it’s a final state of denial, God practices reciprocity. When it’s a matter of infidelity, he forgoes the practice of reciprocity. By way of illustration, consider the case of Mark Antony. When you hear that name, you automatically begin to think about the Egyptian Queen, Cleopatra. However, prior to connecting with her, Mark Antony connected with a woman named Octavia. He didn’t simply connect with her; he followed through and married her. And even though he did a poor job of being committed to her, she nevertheless remained committed to him. In fact, Octavia raised the children that had been produced through her husband’s affair with Cleopatra. 


She takes the high road. She was better to him and to his memory than he ever would have deserved. The Lord takes a very similar approach with regard to his followers. He’s far better to us than we would ever deserve. In truth, it’s not enough to say that he’s being “good” to us; the point being made by St. Paul is that the Lord is being “excessively good” to us—excessively good and excessively faithful. 

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