Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time 'A'

Saturday September 24, 2005

It’s Never Too Late to Change or Just Do It Now!

It’s a parable to which most of us can relate because either we’ve been there and done that as a child or we’ve been there and done that as a parent.

I could usually tell from the tone of my mother’s voice whether or not an impending task was a command performance or just a friendly invitation to join in a few household chores. Whenever my dad overheard my delay strategy or my promise to do it later, he would tune in with a gentle but firm: “Do it now and bellyache about it later!” Words of wisdom for an indolent son!

Promises do not take the place of performance. However, beyond the ‘terrible twos,’ I do not recall ever having been as bold as the first son in this Jesus story. Perhaps I buried that memory when I went to seminary. I do confess, however, that my intentions have often been more intense than my deeds.

William James once said that the greatest discovery of his time was that human beings could alter their lives by altering the attitudes of their mind.

Notwithstanding this ‘discovery,’ the possibility of a life-altering conversion was alive and well in Judeo-Christian thinking dating back to Ezekiel as is evident in the readings this weekend. They are about personal responsibility and the possibility of a change of mind and heart—a second chance, if you will. Despite what you may have heard or stated tdo the contrary, it is possible to teach an old dog new tricks!

Change is a God-given prerogative for everyone! A change of mind leads to a change of heart and a changed heart can transform an individual life and an individual life can have an enduring impact on the course of world events. Just think of what the change in the direction of the wind can do in the Mendhams, or along the Gulf coast, for that matter. It’s always better to light one little candle than to curse the darkness – a preemptive strike for good!

When you consider the dramatic impact of evil minds on world events, e.g., Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Edi Amin, Saddam Hussein and Osama ben Ladin, to name only a few, it is not difficult to acknowledge the negative impact of the actions of one individual on an entire population.

However, the power of positive thinking has had an even greater impact on civilization. Aristotle and Plato; Benjamin Franklin and Samuel Johnson; Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Ghandi, Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandella are only a few among other historic figures prominent for their vision, wisdom and courage. But even these affirmative thinkers had to struggle with their positive response to goodness in the face of evil.

If this is true of sophists, sages and global pundits of every race and nation, it is even truer of religious figures.

In his response to God’s call Moses said, “Send someone else!”

Isaiah said, “Woe is me. I am doomed! For I am a man of unclean lips.”

Jeremiah said, “I’m too young and inexperienced!”

Jonah the legendary preacher said: “I don’t want to go—period!”

Peter denied any association with Jesus not just once but three times!

Thomas the doubter refused to give his “yes” unless and until he put his hands into the side of Jesus.

Paul spent most of his life saying “no!” while persecuting those who said “yes.”

And there are additional examples in other times and places: Augustine, Ignatius of Loyola, Charles de Focauld; and in modern times: John Isaac Newton; Thomas Merton and Kenneth E. Lasch!

How about you?

Ezekiel cautions his contemporaries and us: “Don’t blame everyone else for your mistakes; take personal responsibility for your actions. But remember, the past need not be a prelude to the present nor to the future. No one needs to be stuck anywhere and it’s never too late to change.” In many respects, it’s really a matter of letting go of excess baggage and opening the mind to a new truth.

Ezekiel was aware of the Jewish proverb, “Fathers have eaten green grapes; thus their children’s teeth are set on edge.” [Ezekiel 18:2; Jeremiah 31:29] However, both he and his colleague, Jeremiah challenged the validity of this saying and refused to hold children accountable for the faults of their parents. God holds individuals accountable for their own sins. But Ezekiel does confess that God will also hold him and his fellow prophets responsible for the sins of the nation if he does not speak up and speak out with integrity. Preachers, take note!

But who is responsible for hurricanes?

I have no explanation other than those offered by expert meteorologists and amateur weather pundits all along the coast. This is the work of nature not God. I have the sense God has given us the intelligence to invent weather forecasting satellites that allow us to step back off the shore and for a global view the entire gulf and gulf coast well in advance of these storms. More folks paid attention to Rita that to Katrina for sure.

But a few perceptive ecologists have challenged us not only to view the immediacy of these storms but to take an historical look back at the gulf shores through the lens of ecology and understand that indeed the laws of nature insist on having the last word. Two storms accomplished in a fraction of the time it would take terrorists to inflict the same damage.

It occurred to me as I watched the storm readying itself for the final attack last evening that indeed, the Church’s teaching on the ‘natural law’ is not totally without relevance.

Catching the rhythm of nature will eventually lead us to catch the rhythm of God.

I think there’s a lesson in the wind and rain and in the human effort to compensate for the damage that follows the storm.

There is no way to harness a hurricane but we have the God-given resources to prepare and respond and prepare again. I suspect the loss of life from Rita will be significantly less than Katrina.

Opening up our minds and hearts to the creative energy of God and harnessing the energy of human effort can go a long way to compensate for nature’s mood swings and for the twists and turns of world events.

The same is applicable to other challenges that face us a society in the pursuit of peace instead of war or in a more equitable distribution of global wealth or in the recognition and application of the basic principle of equality for all under God.

But a promise to do the right think is not enough. The measure of faithfulness is not in the promise but in the performance.

There are two kinds of people in this world: those who profess one thing and practice another and those who say little and do a lot!
Our ultimate empowerment comes through our whole – hearted “yes” to live “in Christ.” This is summed up in Paul’s letter to the Philippians. “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus…” who was obedient, that is, who listened attentively to the voice of God within his heart and who because he listened, responded with full heart and for that reason, raised him up to be in God.

It’s a life-long challenge. Every day we are faced with the decision not only to say yes but even more importantly, to live our yes, Amen! Amen! Let God’s people say “Amen!”

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