July 5 - Homily for Today

The readings for our Mass tonight can have something directly to say both about the 14^th Sunday in Ordinary Time (reminder: “Ordinary” comes from “ordinal” which means “counting” – we are counting the Sundays from Pentecost down to the Solemnity of Christ the King in November) – and the national celebration of the 239^th anniversary of its Declaration of Independence from its tyrannical parent European homeland: England.

In the first reading we see the task put to the Prophet Ezekiel to warn the people of Israel to heed the loving parental correction of their Father-God – so that at least – though they may continue to rebel as their ancestors did – they will know that a great prophet has risen in their midst: this being reminiscent of the greatest Prophet, Jesus, who would come later and get the same reaction.

It is easy to point our finger at those people of old and say: “Why are you doing that? Don’t you know that you are dealing with God – a most loving and compassionate God? Don’t be so stubborn! Change you ways!”

But then again, realize that we are at the same time pointing the remaining fingers at ourselves – and could we not ask ourselves the same questions – “do we get it or not? do we believe that God loves us and only has our best interest in mind – and that he will always guide us in right paths if we ask him, and then let him!”

In the second reading today St. Paul learns the great lesson that it is not always in his best interest to be flawless, in tip top shape and relatively carefree. In fact, quite the opposite: to keep his attention fixed on him, God visits Paul with a rather large “thorn in the side.” Self-sufficiency is only well-founded, when it depends entirely on the grace of God. St. Paul learned to pray from the heart: “Power is made perfect in weakness – God’s grace is sufficient.”

The same is true for us – far from being a stiff-necked rebellious house like the Israelites of old – and like the early St. Paul – it would behoove us – as individuals and as a nation to glory in those weak areas of our lives, and our abilities, and our administration of all the things God has placed us in charge of – both privately and in grander, larger, even governmental scales: we need to say: GOD, I SURRENDER! How is this supposed to work? How can I get it really right? Instead of grasping at straws and tilting at windmills. Might is rarely right, if, in fact, ever.

It is faith in God that has seen us, and our country through in the past, and it will see us through in the future. Yet, many who see the great Prophet of the Mystical Body of the Risen Christ: the Church, as a nuisance rather than a beacon of hope and light in the stormy night that we often find ourselves in – will get no results from their complaining as did the people in Jesus’ hometown, who just did not give him credit for being who he really was: GOD’S WORDS, LOVE, TRUTH, POWER and COMPASSION IN THE FLESH!  How could they miss that? How can we?

May our Fourth of July be one of celebrating Independence from tyranny – but may it never lead us into a worse kind of tyranny – a world without God, a world without hope, a world without light!

A true Prophet has risen in our midst – he will bring glad tidings to those who have ears to hear, and hearts to listen! Amen.