Palm Sunday 'A'

Saturday March 19, 2005

Anything is Better Than Reform

Thirty years ago we were not as convinced of the danger of cigarette smoking as we are today. It is not that there were no warnings. Indeed studies had already concluded that smoking causes cancer. Some smokers heeded these early warnings; most did not.

Shortly thereafter, the inevitable backlash emerged, poking holes in the arguments against smoking. New studies ‘engineered’ for the most part by the tobacco industry produced counter claims. Depending on the strength of personal denial and threats to the economy, the impact of smoking reforms on personal smoking habits and on the tobacco industry was mixed. Tobacco companies have issued warnings and have contributed large sums of money in health related causes and have simultaneously expanded their marketing to third and fourth world countries where smoking is on the rise.

The only people who welcome reform are reformers. Everyone else prefers to live or die with culpable or inculpable denial.

I ‘bummed’ my last cigarette on December 6, 1983 at approximately 1:15 PM in the office of the rectory of St Joseph Church in Mendham—cold turkey. It was a menthol cigarette. Somehow I had convinced myself that mentholated cigarettes were not as unhealthy as regular cigarettes. That’s how denial works. It dissipates only in stages and depends less on intelligence as on and irrational psycho-dynamic dependence. In fact menthol and filtered cigarettes were worse than regular cigarettes.

Thirty years later most people middle aged and over avoid smoking environments. Unfortunately, smoking is on the increase among teens. They haven’t gotten the message or they don’t want to get the message. They are in the early stages of denial. Personal acceptance and peer pressure are more important than common sense.

Although legislation has capped smoking environments, the heightened awareness of the dangers of smoking has had a greater impact on reform.

A similar phenomenon has taken place regarding the use of alcohol and drugs though there is a lot more denial about substance abuse and its damaging effects. DWI laws have resulted in safer highways but not necessarily in safer drinking habits.

This phenomenon is much more subtle in political arena. From time to time, there have been cries for reform in government from one or another side of the aisle, each presenting a case against a clear and present danger to society unless certain reform measures are accepted and passed through the legislature. Sooner or later, backlash occurs from the opposing party punching holes in the data and citing all the reasons why the reform won’t work. Unfortunately, within the political sphere, the data is often skewed by a hidden agenda that has little to do with the case and cause for reform. Both sides resort eventually to ‘ad hominem’ arguments and name-calling. Don’t confuse the issue with facts. Destroy the opponent at all costs. Kill the messenger. Anything is better than reform. ‘We have the right to have our cake and the right to eat it too.’

Jesus was a reformer. He told the truth and challenged the religious and political establishments of his time to act “in spirit and in truth.” He set out to inform his opponents about goodness and’ Godness’ not to destroy them for their badness.

He was popular at first but his popularity peaked and the tide was turned against him. His triumphant entry into Jerusalem and his acceptance as king was not to last. Though some considered his ‘kingship’ a good ruse to depose him through a mockery of a trial, his kingdom was not of this world or on this earth. He was confronted with the inevitable backlash again. He was too good to be true. If people listened to what he said and heeded his call to discipleship, it would lead to personal conversion and religious reform. But anything is better than reform!

The passion narrative can be understood only in the light of the Beatitudes and Jesus’ mission to mercy. He confronted even his opponents with love not hate. He subjected himself to human judgement and eventual degradation because it was only way for humanity to appreciate divine forgiveness. God did not will the death of his son; he willed only that he be faithful to life and to accept the consequences of living faithfully—committed to justice, truth and integrity with a touch of hard nosed compassion—even if it cost him his life.

It was not the Jews who put Jesus to death; it was humanity and its will to power that made Jesus powerless before human pride and the arrogance of earthly rulers and religious rulers too!

This is the mystery into which we are invited this holiest of weeks. But it is important and necessary that we view the crucifixion of Jesus through the lens of the Beatitudes and the miracle stories all of which constitute the meaning of Jesus life and the ultimate reason for his execution.

Too good to be true, he was rejected; too powerless to be defeated, he was raised up in glory. His mission is our mission; his destiny our destiny.

Recent Articles

Seventh Sunday of Easter 'B'

Living the Mystery at the town square As I walked recently to the Green in the center of Morristown after my…continue reading...

Sixth Sunday of Easter 'C'

In all things, charity It continues to astound me how the Scriptures come to life over and over again under different…continue reading...

Sixth Sunday of Easter 'C'

In all things, charity It continues to astound me how the Scriptures come to life over and over again under different…continue reading...

Fifth Sunday of Easter 'B'

Let’s stay connected. It’s not unusual to hear family members or close friends at the departure gates of life say to…continue reading...

Fourth Sunday of Easter 'B'

Watch out for the leopards! When my sister and I were kids, my father would whistle for us when it was…continue reading...