Empty Shows

Gospel: Mark 7: 1-13

In today's Gospel we see two very different visions of religion.  In the first, religion is presented as a series of external practices involving interaction with things that are not human - the cleansing of food, purifications, worship practices, and the like.  This is a vicarious religion of ease as it does not involve human interaction or anything ethical really.  It is safe, and we can create elaborate external practices that exclude other people so that we can make ourselves feel special with our actions and distinctive garbs.

But the religion of Jesus is much more challenging because it is in the realm of the ethical, in the care of others through love and mercy in specific ways.  Authentic religion is about the direct encounter with others in their need and our need.  True religion is about vulnerability.  Jesus encounters everyone.  He does not shy away from any encounter, no matter what background, no matter how unclean, no matter their status in the world.  

It is easy to see why religion often invents other things for it to be about.  We don't like being vulnerable.  We don't like encountering other people.  Like the priest and Levite, our Temple rituals are more important than caring for the other in need.  Our condemnation of others is much easier than meeting people where they are at and accompanying them on their journey.  Today we must choose which religion is ours - the pretend religion of dress-up and cosplay, or the religion of Jesus and encounter.

Open to All

Gospel: Mark 6: 53-56

As today's Gospel portion highlights, people follow Jesus wherever he goes, bringing to him people in need of healing.  What each of these scenes have in common is that Jesus heals every single person brought to him.  In not a single instance does he refuse to heal anyone.  Without regard to race, creed, gender, socioeconomic background or any other category, Jesus heals everyone brought to him for healing, liberation, and nourishment.

The second important feature is that Jesus never places any conditions on this healing, deliverance, and nourishment of others.  He does not require any prior action or statement.  He does not demand any quid pro quo or anything of the sort.  Jesus simply heals, liberates, and nourishes people simply because they have a need:  they are ill or lame; they are beset by demons; they are hungry.  That is enough to elicit the love and mercy of Jesus.

We Christians have a lot to learn in this regard.  We who love to be gatekeepers of sacramental grace and care.  We who demand conditions and quid pro quo for helping others.  We who think God is only for us and not for others.  We who are obsessed with our programs and processes.  With Jesus there are no conditions, no exclusion, no processes or programs.  There is just encounter and care based on the need others have for God's love and mercy.   

Salt and Light

Gospel: Matthew 5: 13-16

Salt and light have something in common, perhaps why Jesus uses them in today's Gospel portion on what a disciple should be.  Salt and light are not the main attraction.  No one orders salt and eats just it.  And no one puts on a light in order to look at the light.  Salt is used to enhance the flavor of something else or to preserve that item.  Light is used in order that we might see other things by it.  Salt and light are used to complement and enhance other things.

A disciple of the Lord Jesus, then, does not exist for themselves.  They are not to be the main attraction.  A disciples is supposed to exist in order to make others better, to shine a light on the good in the world.  We are to preserve and season those around us.  We are to shine light through the works of love and mercy on the good that the world does not regard as good - those cast off to the margins: the poor, the marginalized, the foreigner, immigrant, migrant, refugee.  

The Good Samaritan uses his oil and wine to save and preserve one left on the margins, one who was in the eyes of the world his enemy.  Today we are called to use our salt and light in the same way: to go out into the byways of the world to save and preserve those the world regards as dross.  And we are to do so as humby and quietly as salt and light do their work - not to be seen, but to be effective in this work of love and mercy to others.