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Knights of Columbus

FR. OLMAN'S HOMILIES

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Foolish people seek shortcuts around God.  Wise people believe that God will offer the grace to live out what God asks of them.

Many people are glad to find a shortcut that really works.  Today’s Scripture readings do not use the term “shortcut” but it is, in fact, central to each of them.  What else is Jesus talking about when he notes that saying “Lord, Lord” will not be enough?  There are not sales, bargains or shortcuts for living according to God’s ways.

Moses tells the Israelites to trust God.

It was easy enough, at first, for them to avoid the crude idolatry of worshiping the same idols that their pagan neighbors did.

A more subtle idolatry eventually surfaced because idolatry can take many forms.  Without denying the god of the exodus, some Israelites, reasoned, “Why deny the gods that our neighbors worship?” Those gods seem to have provided pretty well for them.  There must be room for all these gods!

Words about God can easily become empty and religious practices can become hollow.  Moses urges the people to remember and act on their most basic conviction.  The Lord their God is one.

The Sabbath and its rest reminds us that no matter how from that conviction, we will succeed in life –no matter what else happens.

Today is a good day to name and surrender any shortcuts around God that we have attempted.

Jesus says that doing God’s will is all that matters.

Talk is simply talk.  Conversion happens when we move to action.  If we fast forward 18 chapters in Matthew’s Gospel, we meet people who ask, in effect, “who knew that feeding the hungry or clothing the naked was so important?”

There are no “two-for’s” in following Jesus, no way of being his disciple while finding a shortcut to avoid any personal inconvenience.  Jesus emptied himself for us.  His followers must empty themselves and prepare to accept what Jesus has to offer.

All the apostles except John died as martyrs.  Were they not paying attention?  Did they miss some shortcut in following Jesus?  No.

In today’s second reading, Paul tells the Romans that they are justified by faith.  In his Letter to the Galatians, he tells them that what matter is “a faith that works thought love”.

Paul didn’t recommend a faith based on finding the best shortcut around God.

Many shortcuts call out to us, inviting us to trust them.

The gospel of guaranteed material wealth, dear to many televangelists, is a fraud.  Following Jesus does not make us destitute, but it can only ensure riches if we are willing to put some of Jesus’ teachings “on hold”.

The good News of Jesus Christ questions us and challenges us.  If we prevent it form doing that, it has already stopped being Jesus’ Good News and has become something else.

Holy people show us what we can trust.  Holy women and men are the only genuine realists.

Every Eucharist assures us that Jesus, who gave his life for us, is enough for us.  We have only to hear his words and live them out.

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Last modified: 06/01/2008