26TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME HOMILY – YEAR B 2024
TOLERANCE, HOSPITALITY AND SCANDAL
Mk 9.38-43,45,47-48 Num 11.25-29 James 5.1-6
Perhaps a simple example of tolerance, drawn from one of today’s Gospel themes, is reflected in the funeral of Hughie Coghlan, avid Magpie supporters, at Our Lady of Nativity church during the week. Brooke, his son, quoted him as saying “There is only one team”, having been born and raised in Collingwood. At the same time, I had to point out that there would be no Grand Final if there weren’t other teams to compete with! At least he lived to see them win this time last year! His coffin was covered with black and white stripes, with a big magpie at one end (as was Father Bob Maguire’s, I think!). Needless to say, the final song at Keilor cemetery was “Good Old Collingwood Forever” (played twice)!! Anyway, diversity makes life more interesting, and there’s nothing wrong with a bit of competition. And that’s why I still say “Go Storm” , which didn’t please everyone, especially when I was parish priest at Manly! It’s good to have alternatives.
Now, Jesus has strong words today, first about tolerance, hospitality, and then causing scandal, the latter being condemned and the punishment severe, but we have to remember this is imagery. The image of hellfire is a figment of the imagination, but the warning is to lead by example, and not cause others to follow bad practice. Fear does not provide good motivation. Is it not far preferable to freely choose to do good and avoid evil, because that’s the right thing to do?
There is something here about broad-mindedness and being open to new ideas and to the considered opinions of others, where we can be quick to judge without proper consideration being given to another way of looking at things. We can look at history for plenty of examples, from the flat earth theory, to the earth going around the sun, and not being at the centre of the universe, to the indivisibility of the atom, to the theory of evolution, these but a few.
Then we could consider the extreme theological view of no salvation outside the Catholic Church, stated by Pope Boniface VIII in 1302, at a time when he’d lost all temporal power. Fortunately, this was condemned as heresy in the 1930’s, but it should have been clarified much sooner!
Pope Francis, on his recent tour to South East Asia spoke of the need for openness to, and respect for, other faiths, in saying: “All religions are paths to God.” One immediate negative reaction was to criticise him for not being clear enough about the primacy of Catholicism, and Christianity being the only correct and true way to God. Yet, what he was getting at was that there is some inherent truth and goodness in the beliefs of others, leading to the mystery of the divine, and, for Christians, we believe this is mediated through Jesus, and the Gospel he proclaims.
What is more, one’s beliefs and traditions largely evolve as an accident of birth, so imposition of belief onto others is not the way to go, as ultimately, faith has to be freely accepted and chosen, and hopefully lived out in a positive and practical way, as we are challenged to do. Faith seeks understanding, so new ways of expressing the mystery continue to be found, as we get to know more about our world and our place and purpose in it.
As for today’s Gospel, the image of the body used here, in terms of gouging out an eye or lopping off a hand or a foot, is only a metaphor for the broader community of believers. Common sense tells us that literal self-mutilation is hardly the mind of Jesus, but extreme and vivid examples are given as a wakeup warning to do the right thing, in order to emphasize the importance of countering hypocrisy, to which we can all be prone! The implication is more that perpetrators of wrong should be penalized in some way, perhaps with temporary exclusion from the community, with a view to repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation.
And remember the context too, where we heard last week that Jesus has just spoken of care and protection of the ‘little ones’, as he welcomes the children, highlighting their innocence and need of interest and attention. Isn’t this where, we, as Church, in particular, as well as society as a whole, missed the boat on this issue in the past, when it came to child protection, for which we have strict protocols now, where our compliance is required? Hopefully, we’ve learned from the immeasurable damage done, and it won’t happen again.
Again I quote Claude Mostowik MSC: “James exhorts us to identify with the poor and vulnerable among us and beyond. When we foster relationships of dignity and equality among people, God’s reign breaks in. Mark today echoes Numbers (with Moses giving leeway to Medad and Eldad prophesying) in sharing power widely and removing what endangers community well-being. Jesus warns his disciples to care about how they treat the ‘little ones’ among them, beginning with children… Mark stresses hospitality where anyone… extending hospitality will be rewarded. And we have a responsibility to welcome and care for all people, even outside our faith and social communities.”
Then we continue with James attacking complacency and reminding us to be generous and thoughtful in sharing our resources with those in need. It’s a question of balance, as there’s nothing wrong with enjoying ourselves with the good things of life, as long as we’re not turning a blind eye to those who are in need, and so doing something practical about that.
Also, this weekend, as we acknowledge World Day of Migrants and Refugees, we seek your generous support for our parish Refugee and Asylum Seeker Support Group, whose members provide pastoral, material and financial support for many throughout the year. Thanks again to those who participate in this important work.
john hannon 29th September 2024