Halloween is upon us. If your children or grandchildren go trick or treating, be sure they have a fun and safe time.
The scriptures often highlight arguments between Jesus and the religious leaders of Judaism. I heard a story about a couple arguing about what kind of car they should buy. The husband wanted a flashy sports car. After much back and forth with his wife, who wanted something practical, he finally groaned, “My birthday’s coming. I want something that goes from 0 to 200 in four seconds or less!” So, the wife bought him a bathroom scale. That didn’t go over well.
The word of God brings us back to the thirteenth century before Jesus, to the covenant God renewed with the Hebrews on Mount Sinai after he freed them from their oppressors in Egypt. The author proclaims that the covenant is meaningless if the Hebrews do not treat people compassionately. This challenges us to be compassionate, especially to the vulnerable.
In the second reading, Paul praises the Christians of Thessaloniki in Greece. Despite all kinds of hardships, they continue as faithful disciples of Jesus. Paul may be asking whether we are examples of faithfulness to God and our responsibilities.
In the Gospel, Pharisees like aggressive reporters surround Jesus. A clever lawyer tries to stump Jesus: 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.
Then Jesus startles the questioners by adding love of neighbor. Yes, we love God to the extent we love our fellow human beings.
We often judge people by appearances. How they dress? Look? Talk? Here's a legend: In the 1880s an ordinary-looking couple went to see the president of Harvard University. Their only son had died from typhoid fever and they wanted to memorialize him with a building. The president said dismissively, “Do you know how much a building costs? $10 million?” He wished them well and they departed. The wife assessed, “Is that all it costs to start a college: $10 million a building.” Mr. and Mrs. Stanford went back to California to found Stanford University in memory of their only child.
Yes, behind “appearances” are some surprising things. To be a disciple of Jesus is, first of all, to see the likeness of God in our fellow humans. Matthew 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.
Sometimes we get a "wake-up call." Alfred Nobel's brother Ludvig died in 1888. A newspaper published in error an obituary on Alfred, a weapons manufacturer. The headline read “The merchant of death is dead.” Alfred was devastated and determined he would not be remembered this way! He assigned the bulk of his estate to establish the Nobel prizes, for which he is known internationally today.
We are called to make a difference for the better. Remember “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” The Book of Genesis informs us that young Joseph endured betrayal by his brothers and slavery in Egypt. Yet he trusted in God's unconditional love. Soon the slave became the powerful administrator in the court of the pharaoh, who made Joseph ruler over all he possessed.
Joseph's faith and forgiveness of his brothers exemplified a life of fruitfulness and compassion.
Our life too should be immensely fruitful, because the Spirit of God lives within us. We are “temples of the living God,” writes Paul. 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.
“Riches” for Paul were the spiritual riches of being in and with Christ. Paul's life continues to enrich many today, especially in his letters. Like Joseph, Paul’s fruitfulness came at a price. He endured “hardships...beatings, imprisonments… slandered… distrusted...having nothing.”
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 recognized that God lives and moves in us. God is our Father and we are his sons and daughters, heirs to God's kingdom. So, our challenge is to make our lives 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 remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches.”
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. Amen.
