Every youngster knows what next Tuesday is. Halloween! Make sure children/grandchildren are safe if they go trick or treating.
You may have heard the story about three health care professionals who died and stood before St. Peter at the pearly gates of heaven. St. Peter said to the first, "Tell me about what you did on earth." The doctor said, "I did surgery on thousands of patients and improved their lives. "Enter!" said St. Peter. Then the second. "I was a trauma nurse practitioner. I helped save hundreds of people involved in horrific accidents." "Enter!" signaled St. Peter, and turned to the third, who admitted, "I worked for an HMO and saved my company money by refusing care to people trying to use the system." "Enter!" said St. Peter. "You mean it?" the agent asked. "Yes," said St. Peter. "You've been pre-approved for only thirty days." Talk about a statement coming back to bit you.
The word of God carries us back in our imaginations to the 13th century before Jesus (the 1200s), to the covenant (or special relationship) God renewed with the Hebrews on Mount Sinai after he freed them from their oppressors in Ancient Egypt. The author proclaims that the covenant is meaningless if the Hebrews do not treat people compassionately.
The author challenges us to treat one another compassionately, especially the vulnerable.
Paul’s letter praises the Christians of Thessalonica in Greece as models of discipleship. They, despite all kinds of hardships, continue as faithful disciples of Jesus. Paul may be asking whether we are examples of discipleship for others.
In the Gospel according to Matthew, we picture Jesus surrounded by Pharisees, somewhat like aggressive reporters. A clever lawyer here tries to stump Jesus: Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law? A tricky question. Why? Because the law had 613 do’s and don’ts. Jesus answers simply by reciting the daily Jewish prayer, the Shema (“Hear!”): “You shall love the Lord your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength.” But then Jesus startles the Pharisees by adding love of neighbor. We love God to the extent we love our fellow human beings.
We often judge people by appearances: how they look or dress or talk. Here's a true story: A very ordinary-looking couple went to see the president of Harvard University. The secretary surmised from their scruffy clothes that they had no business at Harvard. “We'd like to see the president,” the man said softly. “He's busy all day,” she replied. “We'll wait,” the woman answered. Finally the president asked them in. The couple said their son had died a year ago and loved Harvard and they wanted to memorialize him with a building on campus. The surprised president said, “Do you know how much such a building costs? $10 million?” He then dismissed them. Later the wife said to her husband, “All it costs to start a college is $10 million a building.” Mr. and Mrs. Leland Stanford headed for California to build Stanford University.
Yes, we often forget: behind “appearances” people reflect the image of God. To be a disciple of Jesus is, first of all, to see the likeness of God in our fellow human beings. Mt. 25 connects love of God with love of our neighbor: “when I was hungry, when I was thirsty” you did something. We can’t say we love God and yet neglect our fellow human beings.
How many have heard the name Alfred Nobel? He's best known for the Nobel Peace Prize. Less well known is he was a weapons manufacturer. In 1888, Alfred’s brother Ludvig died. A French newspaper erroneously published Alfred’s obituary, stating, “Dr. Alfred Nobel, who became rich by finding ways to kill more people faster than ever before, died yesterday.” Alfred Nobel was devastated by the obituary: was this how he would be remembered? Absolutely not! His last will and testament assigned the bulk of his estate to establish the Nobel prizes, for which he is remembered well. How do we want to be remembered?
All of us, as missionary disciples of Jesus, are called to make a difference for the better in the lives of people.
You may remember the play and film “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” In younger days, wrote the author of Genesis, Joseph went through betrayal by his jealous brothers and then slavery in Egypt. Yet in all these misfortunes, Joseph was ever faithful to God, trusting in God's unconditional love for him. Soon the powerless slave became the powerful administrator in the court of the pharaoh of Egypt. He made Joseph master of his household, ruler over all he possessed.
Not only did Joseph remain faithful to God, but he also forgave his brothers for what they did to him. Ultimately, Joseph's faithfulness to God led to a life of great fruitfulness.
Our life too be immensely fruitful, because the Spirit of God lives within us. We are “the temple of the living God,” writes Paul. (2 Cor 6:16) Just as God dwelt in the Jerusalem temple, so now he dwells in us by his Spirit. The Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22–23).
St. Paul’s life was fruitful. He enriched many. (2 Cor 6:10) “Riches” for Paul were the spiritual riches of being in Christ. Paul's life continues to enrich many today, especially in this letters.
Like Joseph, Paul’s fruitfulness came at a price. He lists some of the things he endured: “hardships...beatings, imprisonments…slandered… distrusted...having nothing.”’ (2 Cor 6:.4–10). Looking at Paul’s life puts our own problems into perspective.
In all these hardships, Paul remained faithful to the God who loved him unconditionally. Paul always tried always to act with integrity. To act with integrity is to first know who we are, what we stand for, what we believe and what we care most about. Paul in particular recognized that we are the temple of the living God, that God lives and moves in us. God is a father to us and we are his sons and daughters, heirs to the kingdom of God. Therefore, our challenge is to make our lives fit and holy temples for God dwelling in us.
God wants us to be a branch in his vine: producing fruit. The Gospel according to John explains, “Jesus is the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower...Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remain on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches.” (John 15: 1-5).
I close with a paraphrase of one of my favorite quotes: We shall pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that we can do or any kindness that we can show to any human being, let us do it now, let's not defer or neglect it for we shall not pass this way again. With this advice embedded into us, our love of God will shine through our love of our fellow human beings.
