On a Sunday night I visit the
jail, and earlier this year would always spend time with a man I know very
well. Strangely enough, he enjoyed his time in jail, free as it was from the
pressures of his life on the outside. This situation had given him time to
think about the realities of his life and the opportunity to consider what
changes needed to be made. He had been fortunate to come face to face with
himself, warts and all, and to see his strengths and weaknesses. Towards the
end of his sentence I recall him becoming agitated. He pondered whether this
change he had seen in his life was sustainable. He had seen what was possible
and he liked it, but knew how artificial it was. His life was easier freed from
the possibility of destructive decisions. He feared the day when he faced his
family and friends and had to stand by the decisions he had made in jail.
Jesus faced a similar situation. The
boy had matured and returned a fiery preacher. He had confronted his weakness when
he went into the desert for forty days to strengthen himself; he confronted his
shyness when he intervened at the wedding feast of Cana to begin his mission.
This was the next hurdle. He stood before his strongest critics and passed.
Unfortunately the critics, his family and childhood friends, failed the test.
In our first reading Ezekiel was
sent on a difficult mission, to do his best whether people listened or not.
Paul in the letter to the Corinthians speaks strongly about the need to
recognise our weaknesses so that we can be strong. Strength comes from
self-knowledge and acceptance, not by denial. Paul obviously had some sin which
recurred and probably tripped him up occasionally, just like my mate in jail.
Paul knew that by accepting his weakness and the strength of God’s healing, he
could change himself and the witness to others. When we are weak then we are
strong.
The story does not end there!
The encounter in Nazareth is a
story of winners and losers. Jesus was ready, open, generous, wise. The
Nazarenes were blinkered, set in their ways and incapable of looking forward.
Jesus returned to them a man conscious and confident of the mission entrusted
to him by his Father. Unfortunately, he could work no miracles there because of
their lack of faith. Nazareth remained stagnant; Jesus left.
Miracles need the air of faith in
which to thrive and grace needs open hearts to work its wonder. It is my hope
that this Year of Grace will find my heart open to God working in my life in a
new way, and that means that I am open to God working in your heart. Openness
to where God leads us means we can and will change and allow others to do the
same, rather than holding them back. It also means that we can not only accept
and live with our weaknesses, but even those of others as well!
I saw my mate who had been
released from prison yesterday. He was smiling, happy and full of life. The
changed has endured, and his family have been given to grace to grow as well.
Grace works when our hearts are
open!
Homily 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B 8th July 2012
No comments:
Post a Comment