HOMILY FOR 23rd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME


IN BACK TO THE FUTURE (THE SCIENCE FICTION FANTASY), MICHAEL J. FOX GAINED AN APPRECIATION OF THE PRESENT BY TRAVELING BACK INTO THE PAST.


IN TODAY’S SCRIPTURES WE ARE ALSO TO MOVE THROUGH TIME BUT IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. WE GAIN AN APPRECIATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE PRESENT BY TAKING A LOOK INTO THE FUTURE.  IN OTHER WORDS RATHER THAN LOOK TO THE PAST FOR THE SAKE OF THE PRESENT, THEY HAVE US LOOK TO THE FUTURE BUT STILL FOR THE SAKE OF THE PRESENT.


IN ISAIAH, THE PROPHET RELATES GOD’S PROMISE TO US THAT GOD WILL CHANGE THINGS, THAT THERE WILL BE A DIFFERENT FUTURE.


-ONE IN WHICH THE BLIND WILL SEE, THE DEAF WILL HEAR, THE MUTE SING, THE LAME BECOME ACTIVE  AND WATER WILL ABOUND FOR THE THIRSTY.


-WE ARE BEING GIVEN A VISION AND A PROMISE:  WE ARE TOLD NOT TO FEAR BECAUSE THERE WILL BE IN THE FUTURE A KINGDOM OF GOD, A TIME WHEN ALL IS RIGHT WITH THE WORLD.


-OUR PSALM THIS MORNING REITERATES THAT VISION BY DESCRIBING THE KINGDOM OF GOD AS ONE IN WHICH THERE IS JUSTICE FOR THE OPPRESSED, FOOD FOR THE HUNGRY AND FREEDOM FOR CAPTIVES.


-THE PSALM ALSO MAKES THE POINT THAT GOD KEEPS GOD’S PROMISES:  THE LORD IS FAITHFUL, THE PSALM SAYS, FOREVER.  WE HAVE EVERY REASON THEN TO EXPECT THE KINGDOM.  WE CAN AS THEY SAY BET OUR LIFE ON IT.  AND WE DO.


IN THE GOSPEL GOD’S PROMISE IS SPECIFICALLY FULFILLED IN CHRIST.  HIS MINISTRY ESTABLISHES THE REIGN OF GOD IN WHICH HEALINGS AND THE BLESSINGS OF LIFE ARE NO LONGER MERE EXPECTATIONS FOR THE FUTURE.  IN THE GOSPEL, THEY UNFOLD BEFORE OUR EYES.  THE DEAF DO HEAR AND THE MUTE SING JUST AS THE LORD HAD PROMISED IN ISAIAH.


-THE FUTURE IS NOW BORN INTO THE PRESENT AND NOT JUST IN SOME SCIENCE FICTION FANTASY, BUT IN REALITY.


-THE FUTURE HAS BECOME REAL AND POSSIBLE ALTHOUGH WE NEED THE EYES OF FAITH TO SEE IT.

UNLESS HOWEVER, WE STEP INTO THAT FUTURE THAT CHRIST HAS DEMONSTRATED AND INITIATED, THAT KINGDOM OF GOD, THAT TIME WHEN JUSTICE AND PEACE SHALL REIGN, WILL REMAIN NOTHING MORE THAN A NICE RELIGIOUS STORY, A PIPE DREAM, A NICE STORY TO TELL TO CHILDREN WHEN WE PUT THEM TO BED.


-UNLESS WE STEP INTO THE PICTURE AND BECOME THE ACTORS WHO MAKE IT REAL, WE WILL JUST END UP IN THE AUDIENCE WATCHING SOMEONE ELSE’S STORY UNFOLD.  WE NEED TO MAKE THE KINGDOM OF GOD OUR STORY.


-AND OUR NEW TESTAMENT READING FROM THE LETTER OF JAMES OFFERS US AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THAT CAN BE DONE.


-AN EXAMPLE ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT IN OUR CULTURE WHERE WE DOTE ON PEOPLE WITH MONEY, POWER AND CELEBRITY.


-NOTICE THAT NEITHER ISAIAH NOR OUR RESPONSORIAL PSALM MENTIONED THOSE AS CHARACTERISTICS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD


-THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS COUNTER-CULTURAL AND WE ARE CALLED TO ACT IN A COUNTER-CULTURAL MANNER BY ST. JAMES.


-IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD, WHILE THERE MIGHT BE SOCIAL DIFFERENCES, THOSE DIFFERERENCES SHOULD NOT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE TO US IN HOW WE LOOK AT AND TREAT PEOPLE.  WE ARE TO SHOW RESPECT TO ALL PEOPLE, TO OVERCOME DIVISIONS THAT SEPARATE US, AND TO INAUGURATE THAT PROMISED FUTURE OF PEACE AND BLESSINGS.


IN MATTHEW 13:31 JESUS DESCRIBES THE POWER OF THE KINGDOM IN THE PARABLE OF THE MUSTARD SEED.  IT IS THE SMALLEST OF SEEDS, BUT ONCE PLANTED BECOMES THE LARGEST OF PLANTS.


-JESUS IN HIS TIME ON EARTH PLANTED THE SEED OF THE KINGDOM.  HE BEGAN THE FUTURE IN THE PRESENT.  IT IS OUR JOB TO CULTIVATE AND CARE FOR THAT SEED OF THE KINGDOM UNTIL ITS SIZE OVERWHELMS THE WORLD, UNTIL THE FUTURE IS FULLY IN THE PRESENT.


-UNTIL AS THE PSALM SAYS, THERE IS JUSTICE FOR THE OPPRESSED, FOOD FOR THE HUNGRY, AND SIGHT FOR THE BLIND, AND HEARING FOR THE DEAF.