July 13, 2008: 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)
Have you ever waited in line for something? Waiting in line is not one of our virtues as Americans. We get impatient at Walmart or Costco when the checkout counter has more than 3 persons in line. Why can’t they open other 20 checkout counters, we say. Sometimes, though, we can wait in line for long-long time without complaining. That’s only when what we are waiting for is worth the wait. Take for example couple of days ago. There were lines of people waiting outside all the AT&T and Apple stores across our nation. Some people arrived 2 AM with their lawn chairs outside the stores. Now where was I at 2 AM this Friday? Yes, I went to the AT&T store on Friday, but not at 2 AM. I got there at 7 PM, and as expected they were sold out as early as noon that day. Was I disappointed? Yes. Did I cry over it? No. On CNN I saw interviews with the folks waiting in line for hours. They seemed very excited, even when they waited over 6 hours in line without sleep. Is iPhone that life changing or even life giving? I don’t know, may be I should ask my pastor who has one.
But here is something to think about. When I got to the church today to unlock the doors, I didn’t see long lines of people eagerly and excitedly waiting for the doors to open. In our Second Reading, St. Paul tells the Romans, “Brothers and sisters: I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us. For creation awaits with eager expectation the revelation of the children of God.” I’m sure St. Paul is talking about the pain of waiting in line for iPhone is nothing compared with the glory of owning the new iPhone 3G. Am I right? No? You can substitute iPhone for any other things that you want to have or own. And still St. Paul is not talking about those. So what is St. Paul talking about? He must be talking about someone whom we have been waiting from the very beginning, the one who is worth waiting for a long, long time. Forget waiting 6 hours outside AT&T store; this someone is worth waiting from the very beginning of time. Who is this? It is Jesus, Word of God made flesh who is proclaimed right here at mass and who comes to us literally flesh and blood in the Eucharist. If Jesus is that important, why is there not a line outside the church? Is iPhone greater than Jesus? Jesus himself gives the explanation in today’s gospel.
He says in the parable of the sower, “The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the kingdom without understanding it, and the evil one comes and steals away
what was sown in his heart. The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy. But he has no root and lasts only for a time. When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, he immediately falls away. The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit. But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.” Jesus says our hearts are filled with desire for things that give no life or nourishment. In other words we are willing to wait in line for empty calories, but not for true nourishing feast. One practical thing we can do to prepare a rich soil is to read ahead the gospel for the Sunday. If we can wait in line for 6 hours without complaining for an iPhone, we can certainly spend 15 minutes in reflection on the gospel and the Eucharist we will receive at the Sunday mass.
But here is something to think about. When I got to the church today to unlock the doors, I didn’t see long lines of people eagerly and excitedly waiting for the doors to open. In our Second Reading, St. Paul tells the Romans, “Brothers and sisters: I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us. For creation awaits with eager expectation the revelation of the children of God.” I’m sure St. Paul is talking about the pain of waiting in line for iPhone is nothing compared with the glory of owning the new iPhone 3G. Am I right? No? You can substitute iPhone for any other things that you want to have or own. And still St. Paul is not talking about those. So what is St. Paul talking about? He must be talking about someone whom we have been waiting from the very beginning, the one who is worth waiting for a long, long time. Forget waiting 6 hours outside AT&T store; this someone is worth waiting from the very beginning of time. Who is this? It is Jesus, Word of God made flesh who is proclaimed right here at mass and who comes to us literally flesh and blood in the Eucharist. If Jesus is that important, why is there not a line outside the church? Is iPhone greater than Jesus? Jesus himself gives the explanation in today’s gospel.
He says in the parable of the sower, “The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the kingdom without understanding it, and the evil one comes and steals away
what was sown in his heart. The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy. But he has no root and lasts only for a time. When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, he immediately falls away. The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit. But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.” Jesus says our hearts are filled with desire for things that give no life or nourishment. In other words we are willing to wait in line for empty calories, but not for true nourishing feast. One practical thing we can do to prepare a rich soil is to read ahead the gospel for the Sunday. If we can wait in line for 6 hours without complaining for an iPhone, we can certainly spend 15 minutes in reflection on the gospel and the Eucharist we will receive at the Sunday mass.
