Eleventh Ordinary Sunday A

With the temperature around 32 degrees or 95 degrees Fahrenheit, I am reminded of a fellow priest who said, “You think this hot, well hell is hotter. Think about it.” and he sat down. That was the end of the homily. However, fortunately the readings do not lend to that type of homily today. Quite the contrary.

Last Week the Parish Social Ministry team had a day of reflection and a Mass in thanksgiving for all the events held during the past scholastic year. At the Mass, the priest opened the Prayers of the Faithful, What can we praise God for? Little 8 year old David stood up and with a bright cheerful smile said, “Praise God for me!” I guess David sums up our readings today. God has chosen us and our hearts should resound the Response from the Responsorial Psalm, “We are the people the sheep of his flock.”

1.       In our first reading we see the story of God’s care for the People of Israel. This care is narrated in poetic terms. God carries the people - God bears them “on eagle wings” - a song that has become very popular for the last two decades. After doing that, God gives them a special dignity which prevails till today. God does not give only to take back. God makes them into a “priestly people and a holy nation.”

          God makes a contract with the People of Israel. However, whenever a contract is made between two powers, the Superior always makes a contract to its own benefit. However with God it seems to be the opposite. There is no glory, no praise, no honour that comes from this contract. God has no need for it.  God already has all of this to an Almighty degree. The sole beneficiary is the People of Israel.

2.       Paul picks up the same theme in the Second reading. People treasure their lives. They are not willing to give them up, definitely not for a miserable cause or a miserable person. However, Paul tells us that Jesus sacrificed his life for us when we were miserable because of our sins. Hence the Psalm that preceded this reading is so expressive of our nature, of our being human:

“We are his people, the sheep of his flock.” Because of his love for us Jesus did give his life up for us. At the height of our sinfulness, in the middle of our sinfulness, God encounters us. Then God justifies us: pays our debts. And God saves us: God raises us on high.

3.       But God has a purpose. There are others out there that are still in the same situation as we were in.

They need to be justified. They need to be saved. 2000 years ago Jesus called Peter and Andrew, James and John and the rest of the Apostles. Today we are being called. There is no Julia Ward Howe’s Battle Hymn Of The Republic -  nor is there Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstance”. Nevertheless,

       we have been summoned to soar like an eagle .

       We are summoned to stay in Jerusalem, which is not merely a physical or geographical place. It is a place that symbolizes the church. Here you will find good and holy people. But you will also find frauds and social climbers, people who are there for their own good. They are money grabbers. They too have to be justified. They too have to be saved.

However this task is not by a bunch of angels from heaven, but by the very people whom Jesus justified and sanctified by his blood: namely sinners like you and me.

          By accepting the challenge, our status is kicked up a notch - as in the time of Moses, we are called a priestly people, a holy nation. We need to pick up the challenge and soar like eagles. And we better do that quickly, because it is getting hotter outside by the minute ! God bless you all