26th Sunday of Ordinary Time - Catching the Spirit

THE 26TH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
October 1, 2000
Nm 11:25-29; Ps 19:8,10,12-14; Jas 5:1-6; Mk 9:39-43,45,47-48

I. INTRODUCTION - Catching the Spirit

The Spirit of God descends upon Moses, and then as if contagious, upon the elders gathered in the tent, and even upon two who were not assembled with them. When some want to stop the two from prophesying, Moses cries that he would have them be a nation of prophets. This is precisely what Jesus seeks to make a reality. We are anointed in baptism as prophets of the Good News. The essential mission of the Church, in all her members, is to be a prophetic voice of Christ's kingdom.

This prophetic role is utterly dependent upon the action of God. It is his word, and not our own, that moves the Christian disciple. Prophesy or the proclamation of the Gospel in our words and actions, is an expression of divine favor or grace. God gives his servants that which is necessary for the acquisition of our ultimate end, union with him. Toward this end, he infuses habits and/or virtues that assist us in the earthly pilgrimage. The Holy Spirit lives in us as in a temple, illumining our steps. We understand the significance of the Spirit's presence as a participation in the divine nature. God extends something of himself. The one who is ALL HOLY sanctifies us. The one who is UTTERLY IMMACULATE washes us clean and grants us purity. The one who is ALMIGHTY makes the weakest of us into a soldier for Christ, a champion of faith. The genuine prophet most surrenders himself into the loving hands of God. It is for this reason that Jesus seems to glorify poverty and the central role of charity. The widow's mite is the secret to sanctity and to true prophecy. Everything we have is a gift. All must be surrendered, either to others in their need or by the strong hand of death and judgment. Jesus would have us opt for the former.

Nothing is ours. Like a burner on the stove, while the electricity courses through it, the ring radiates a red glow of heat. However, turn off the electricity, it quickly grows cold and dark again. Without the divine energy of the Spirit, we also grow cold and dark. Grace is like the electricity or a burning fire. It changes us and sets us aflame, but we are not consumed. We may put on Christ, but men and women we remain. Sometimes, as in our first reading, we can be surprised by whom God chooses to move by his dynamic Spirit.

II. BODY - The Spirit & Prophets

In terms of our relationship to the Holy Spirit, we all play the feminine role. Not taking the analogy too far, as a daughter to God's Spirit and as a bride to Christ, we are refashioned. The prophet rejoices in the wedding gown given by the Spirit as Isaiah did in days of old: "I rejoice heartily in the Lord, in my God is the joy of my soul; For he has clothed me with a robe of salvation, and wrapped me in a mantle of justice. Like a bridegroom adorned with a diadem, like a bride bedecked with her jewels" (Isaiah 61:10). The gifts of the Holy Spirit adorn the soul. We are made pleasing to God and given fortification. We do not need Samson's hair for strength, but the virtues that accompany the Spirit. God is our armor. Further, the actions-- even mundane ones-- of just men and women, bring merit, so long as sin is avoided. Christ's whole life was a saving work. If Christ thoroughly lives in us then everything we do, not just virtuous acts, become saving moments. Eating, drinking, sleeping, even taking care of the necessities of nature are viewed in the context of our Lord and merit favor. All is grace.

All Christian prophets are adoptive children of God. Their names appear in the book of life and they are offered a share in eternal life. They proclaim the truth, not merely that others might be saved, but that they themselves might merit salvation.

The grace of God can bestow understanding just as the Spirit acted upon the elders and Moses. As Catholics such an illumination takes into consideration the public manner of revelation and lawful authority. The Holy Spirit inspires Scripture, making it truly the Word of God. As a guarantee of the authentic and accurate interpretation of revelation, this same Spirit guides of chief teachers of faith, the bishops in union with the Pope. It is in this context that the Spirit of God instructs us and makes us missionaries of the Gospel.

Except for Confirmations and the feast of Pentecost, we often neglect to speak about the Holy Spirit. It is an image hard for our minds to grasp. Certainly we are well accustomed to the theme of God as Father from the witness of our families. The figure of Christ on the Cross gives meat to our appreciation of the Son of God. But we struggle in appreciating the role of the Holy Spirit. People can relate easily to a notion of God as their heavenly Father and to Jesus as our elder Brother in faith who surrenders his life for us. But, look at the images of the Spirit. We use fire for light and warmth, but it is regarded as a thing. The dove, while beautiful and free in flight, is still just an animal. Wind might be felt against one's face, but few of us would talk to it. The Holy Spirit is signified by non-personal elements, and yet, he is the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity and a fundamental catalyst and source of our life, faith, and sanctification. It is true that since the Trinity is a single God, devotion and worship rendered to any one applies to all three. But this does not resolve the struggle in our psychology to embrace the Spirit. It is no wonder that the charismatic movement in the Church exhibits so many elements that speak of mystery: the tongues, prophecy, interpretation, faith healing, etc. However, ecstatic external expressions of being moved by the Spirit need not be present.

The men of ancient Israel felt a need to surrender themselves to the divine movement. Their chanting, dancing, and prophesying uncover that need. Such actions were in harmony with the times and culture, paralleling the manifestations among the pagans. The one difference was not the external actions but the substance behind them: the true God had shown his face and will to Israel. The truth has prevailed in Israel and the Church while the so-called prophetic messages to others around them has disappeared. If it was not from God, it could not last. Within the family of God, the distinction between a good and a false prophet is noted in today's responsorial: "The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul; The decree of the Lord is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple." Such delineation is still valid today. Any voice that claims a divine mandate and yet violates the commandments is that of a false prophet.

We must be discerning so that we will not seek to silence the voice of God's prophets and that we will not be lead astray by false messengers. What are the false prophets saying today? We know all too well. "We love each other, how could something so wonderful be sinful? If we don't live with each other, how can we know if we are sexually compatible or not? The Church is living in the dark ages, we have to use the pill! We can't have this baby now, we have school and our careers to consider. Is it not better to get rid of it then to adopt it out to strangers? I am sure that if grandma were in her right mind she would tell us to pull the plug. Jim and Jack are sweet guys, why should they be punished for how God made them-- especially since they use condoms? Everyone steals office supplies from work, it is expected. That was a great movie, even though they did take God's name in vain a dozen times. These sexy dresses (what there is of them) will sure get Tom's motor running. It doesn't matter if you go to a Protestant or Catholic Church-- it's the same thing-- what matters is going. I'm not a bad person for sometimes missing Mass, it isn't like I murdered someone. I only read Playboy for the articles. I wish the city would stop those beggars from annoying hardworking people like me. It would probably be best if their kind were sterilized. This is good stuff, take it, everyone's doing it."

It is in the sea of lies that the true prophet raises his voice as a living sign of contradiction. He tells us to follow the commandments and the moral laws of the Church. He tells us to defend the dignity of all human life and the values that most respect human personhood and the family. He also tells us not to compromise the honor that is due to God alone. The true prophet encounters resistance, mockery, and sometimes even martyrdom. The second reading acknowledges this eventuality: "The shouts of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You live in wanton luxury on the earth; you fattened yourselves for the day of slaughter. You condemned, even killed, the just man; he does not resist you."

III. CONCLUSION - Not Against Us, With Us

Similar to the first reading, the new elders or disciples seem to resent that a stranger might use Jesus' name to expel demons. Our Lord says, "Do not try to stop him. No man performs a miracle using my name can speak ill of me. Anyone who is not against us is with us." The power of God works where it wills. Jesus then makes a quick warning against false prophets, stipulating that any who would led simple believers astray would best be cast into the sea-- literally, better off dead. Jesus is not creating a death penalty for heresy; rather, he is remarking that rendering false teaching puts one under severe judgment from God.

Noting that sin often invalidates the life of virtue and clouds our witness, Jesus utilizes Hebraic hyperbole (exaggeration) in saying if your hand causes you to sin-- or your foot-- or your eye-- cut it off or pluck it out. Short of actually maiming ourselves, our Lord is telling us to avoid sin at all costs. If we are to be nation of prophets, we must repent of sin, believe in the Gospel, and proclaim it to others.

ASIDES

Good Thoughts (Anonymous)

1. Anger is a condition in which the tongue works faster than the mind.

2. You can't change the past, but you can ruin the present by worrying over the future.

3. Love . . . and you shall be loved.

4. God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him.

5. All people smile in the same language.

6. A hug is a great gift where one size fits all. It can be given for any occasion and it's easy to exchange.

7. Everyone needs to be loved . . . especially when they do not deserve it.

8. The real measure of a man's wealth is what he has invested in eternity.

9. Laughter is God's sunshine.

10. Everything has beauty but not everyone sees it.

11. It's important for parents to live the same things they teach.

12. Thank God for what you have, Trust God for what you need.

13. If you fill your heart with regrets of yesterday and the worries of tomorrow, you have no today to be thankful for.

14. Happy memories never wears out . . . relive them as often as you want.

15. Home is the place where we grumble the most, but are often treated the best.