Yesterday we had a wonderful proclamation of Jesus himself in the Gospel passage: Jesus shouts out: I CAME INTO THE WORLD AS LIGHT, SO THAT EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES IN ME MIGHT NOT REMAIN IN DARKNESS; then he went on to say that it is the will of the Father that no one stumbles around in the darkness of ignorance and sin – except for those who insist on it. (And who would insist on such a thing? but there are actually a great many who do!)
At the end of the gospel passage today, Jesus, after washing his disciples feet at the Last Supper told them in so many words that when they finally do go out into a godless world – as they would be sent – not to expect to be accepted or treated any better than he was. They would be misunderstood and mistreated – but they ought not to be afraid because they have been chosen by the Father to go and bear much fruit. And God gets his way! Jesus tells them that when you hear me speak you are actually hearing the words of my (our) heavenly Father; and when you go out, those who receive you will receive both me and my Father!
The first reading today is remarkable in that St. Paul in just a relatively few short sentences gives the entire history of the people of Israel which ends with the coming of the Messiah and in fact extends right up to the activities of the very last prophet of the Old Testament: John the Baptist, who literally points to Jesus and says to the crowds at the Jordan River: Look, there he is, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!
It is important to keep things in context; to see the bigger picture, to see things from an eagle's eye view! This can be quite settling, quite calming, quite informative.
As you know – if you read the newspapers and listen to the radio and television – the State of Maine is in the process of accepting something as law that just "cannot be" – even with a signed piece of paper, it simply cannot be: signing a piece of paper cannot make an orange and apple. It doesn't matter how either side "feels" about the issue – oranges are oranges, and apples are apples – and only apples make applesauce, oranges can never make applesauce.
What is needed at this particular stage is the eagle's-eye-view of the situation: an objective overview of the entire context and history of personhood, marriage, celibacy, and vocation; as well as how "exceptions to rules" fit into the picture – how are they regarded with respect and dignity, while maintaining their status as exceptions. Bishop Malone is launching such a program – and I for one am willing to do all I can to help him in his task as chief teacher and pastor of the diocese.
There are three things that you – and all the parishioners of St. Mary's can do to help: 1) you can attend any classes offered, or request them if they are not offered regarding an overview of marriage; 2) you can contact state officials and the governor by letter or email and let them know your concerns – signing them "A Concerned Catholic" would be quite appropriate; 3) signing a referendum in November (which most likely will be offered) against same-sex marriage and encouraging everyone you know to do the same; this would be a tremendous help: only 55,000 votes are needed to overturn the bill: there are 200,000+ Catholics in Maine: we can definitely turn the tide here! This would certainly send a signal to the whole country that the Church is alive and well in Maine, and that it is on the side of the Light, the side of her Lord Jesus, who is at his Father's side!
Jesus Christ, you are the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead; you have loved us and freed us from our sins by your Blood.
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