Sixth Sunday   February 14, 2010

Jeremiah 17:5-8   Ps.1   1 Corinthians 15:12-20   Luke 6: 20-26

1. A young boy was caught on the first floor of a burning building. The stairs were on fire and so it was impossible to reach him by those means. The boy climbed on to the balcony calling for his father. His father called to him and told him to Jump. But there is so much smoke, I cannot see you cried the boy.  But I can see you, the father assured the boy: Jump. Trusting in his father’s love and ability, the boy jumped safely and was caught by the father. It was all a matter of trust.

 It is this trust that Jeremiah speaks off to the People of Israel in the face of danger in which they were. They were tempted to make an alliance with the Country of Egypt. Jeremiah paints things in total contrast:

You are cursed if you trust in human powers, human ability, human promises. They will fail, because we humans are weak, vulnerable and limited. However,

You are blessed if you trust in God. God keeps promises made, becase God has the power to keep these promises. The comparison or metaphor that Jeremiah uses is that of nature:

Trusting in human beings is like a shrub growing in an arid desert and the soil has no moisture, and plenty of salt that prevents growth. Trusting in God on the other hand is like a tree planted near a stream. Even in the dry season, the roots reach out to the waters of the stream, and the trees is ever green and bears much fruit.

2. However, as in the case of the boy in the burning building,

we need a firm basis for this trust

we need a firm foundation for on which we build our hope.

In the second reading, Paul gives us a basis and foundation for our hope and trust. This is the truth that after he died, Jesus rose from the dead.  Jesus gave us the promise that although he would be raised up (on the cross) – he would rise again. The assurance and the confidence we have in this gives the confidence to make the leap, the jump of faith – like the boy in the burning building jumped, leaped into his father’s arms.

3. However this is the crux of the problem. I have been working with the 8^th graders in their preparation for their confirmation. We had an open session in which they could ask questions of their faith. Quite a few students asked this precise question:

• Is Jesus real or only a legend for us to imitate?
• Did Jesus really rise from the dead?
• If Jesus did rise from the dead, why does he allow suffering, sickness, wars and violence to continue.

• However, these are questions put by devout and firm believers, and not only by eighth graders. It is perfectly right to question our faith, and healthy as well. But we should make sure we have a mature teacher or guide to help us find the answers. The final commitment is our own to make. Mary, the Mother of Jesus herself asked questions at the time of the Annunciation: How can this be possible? 

A wise man said, for the non believer, no proof will ever be sufficient. For the believer, no proof is necessary. This is not trying to duck the question. Today on Valentine’s day, we send boxes of chocolates, flowers and heart shaped cards – out of love.  But as in the case of our questions about

Is Jesus real?

Did he rise from the dead? Should we not also ask questions like

Is love real? Or more precisely and more personally: Why does this boy or this girl love me? What have I done that my parents love me? that my parents make all these sacrifices for me?

The proof our faith and the beliefs that we affirm in the Creed is not seen in dogmas and doctrines that we learn. These proofs are seen in the way we live our lives, it is seen

In the compassion we show to others

In the way we handle our sufferings and pain

In the respect we show to elders and the care we have children

In the time we spend with homeless, the street people, uneducated and the disabled.

In these things, we are blessed as Jesus says in the Gospel. Jesus says “Blessed are the poor” – the actual poor. This blessing went against the traditions and beliefs of the Jewish people. They believed and still believe that if you live a good and law abiding life, you would blessed with two things in particular.

You would be blessed with good health. Anyone born lame, blind afflicted with leprosy, haemorrhages were either sinful or had sinful parents.

Secondly, You would be blessed with wealth and riches. Being poor was considered a punishment for perhaps your sins.  You would meet with financial set backs, bankruptcies, it would leave you homeless and a beggar. As a result, Matthew tries to gloss over this teaching of Jesus by saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” You really do not have to be actually poor! But Luke will not beat around the bush. If you are poor – actually poor then you are Blessed. The reason is found in the passage from Jeremiah. When you are actually poor, you do not  and cannot trust in material things, possessions or human handouts – you depend totally on God. God will not let you down and hence you are Blessed.   The poor and the hungry are those who know that they have nothing in and of themselves to entitle them to a right relationship with God. They know themselves to be the have-nots. For the poor, like the boy who jumped from a burning building, they trust in God who will give us our daily bread.  Nourished by this Bread of Life, nourished by the Word of God we try to live out our lives as Christians.

Some time ago a newspaper columnist Arthur Jones, shared an important moment in his earlier life with his readers. It happened when he was drafted into the Royal Air Force and found himself in military barracks with 30 other men.

On the first night he had to make a decision. He had always knelt to say his prayers. Should he continue to kneel now that he was in military service? He squirmed a little and then said to himself: Why should I change just because people are watching? Am I going to begin my life away from home by letting other people dictate what I should do or not do? He decided to kneel.

By the time he had finished, he became aware that everyone else was aware of him. And when he made the Sign of the Cross, he was aware that everyone else knew he was a Catholic. As it turned out, he was the only Catholic in the barracks. Yet, night after night he knelt. He said that those ten minutes on his knees often led to discussions that lasted for hours. On the last day in boot camp, someone said to him, You are the finest Christian I’ve ever met.

He replied, Well, I might be the most public Christian you’ve ever met, but I don’t think I’m the finest. Still, I thank you for what you said. 

I think we could say Arthur Jones was blessed in the sight of God.