Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time 'B'

Sunday September 10, 2006

We are all handicapped children of God

Unless we have borne a handicap from birth or early childhood, we tend not to appreciate the stigma that is too associated with a physical or emotional handicap, particularly as children. Indeed, it is not unusual for handicapped children to be ‘tagged’ by their peers becoming targets for their puns and objects of cruel ridicule by schoolyard comedians.

Even adults with handicaps are not spared offensive jokes and jests. But lest we go to excess to the other extreme, handicapped persons are not without a sense of humor. I suppose there is a fine line between gentle banter and demeaning jokes.

This story was told by a man who himself has labored with a hearing impediment and other chronic ailments. Despite his handicaps, he has never lost his sense of humor or the ability to laugh at himself.

Having suffered a loss of hearing, the elderly man was persuaded by his loving family to purchase a rather expensive hearing aid. In fact, so frustrated had they become with his repeated requests to speak louder, they pledged to pay for a new hearing device no matter the cost.

Off he went and on his return was pleased to announce that they would pay through the nose for his new aid. As he entered the room, he announced, “This will set you all back $10,000!” To which they responded, “My God, what kind is it?” He replied, “It’s three o’clock!”

Speaking of which, I have reached the stage at which I am unable to distinguish words or decipher sounds when I am in a large crowd. I had always assumed that hearing loss has to do with volume. I have discovered this is not always the case — in fact it is rarely the cause. It has to do with tone, quality of sound and other sound factors. Perhaps a member of my loving family will some day insist that I too purchase a hearing aid so that at the next family wedding, I’ll be able to respond intelligently despite the din of the music and the sound of voices from the left and right all speaking at the same time. If you want to know the truth, I put cotton in my ears at wedding receptions.

Jesus was particularly sensitive not only to the physically handicapped but also to the spiritually handicapped. He was careful never to attach a stigma to a physical handicap or connect it with wrongdoing as was common among his contemporaries. John the Evangelist tells us that he went out of his way to make it clear that “it was not this man’s sin nor the sin of his parents that he was born blind.” [Cf. John 9:1-3]

How many parents who have given birth to a child with severe disabilities have also borne the burden of guilt and suffered the consequences of a sin they didn’t commit. This is not God’s way!

In more recent times some parents of sons or daughters who turn out to be of a homosexual orientation also suffer these same feelings of estrangement as if somehow they could have changed the orientation of their children. They hold themselves perpetually responsible to change them. In their frustration, they alienate their own flesh and blood from home and hearth. This is not God’s way!

The scriptures this weekend deal with handicaps of one kind or another but the biblical authors use them as a metaphor for the lack of faith and insight among his disciples that most of us seem to have inherited. In this sense are we not all handicapped children of God?

Our handicap may or may not be physical though, to be sure, sooner or later we will succumb to one or another handicap, you can bet on that! After my dad died, I found a magnifying glass in every room! At 92 he was suffering the early stages of macula degeneration. I can expect the same when I reach 92 if not before, so I’ve saved all the magnifying glasses. I have one in my pocket as I speak!

Most of our handicaps are indeed spiritual—not only our lack of sight but our lack of insight. Carl Jung said that many of the psychological mishaps that derail us in the course of life are often rooted in spiritual blindness and a lack of insight. The healing starts when we allow cry out for healing and for the removal of the obstacles to God’s healing grace.

As always, the first reading sets the tone and prepares our minds and hearts for the gospel lesson about Jesus.

Mark’s story though literal in its context, is certainly not restricted to the literal. Jesus was not a magician. There is a deeper meaning to Mark’s story as there is to Jesus’ words and deeds.

I think 9/11 and the abiding fear of terrorism has handicapped us as individuals and as a nation and in some cases has made us paranoid.

I recall quite clearly that in the weeks that followed 9/11, we turned to the daily readings and Sunday Scriptures not for answers but for meaning. In the wake of the attacks as the smoke cleared, we reached out to one another not with simplistic responses but with heartfelt concern. In fact the best answer we could give at the time was not to answer. Instead, people reached deep into their pockets and found the wherewithal to give sacrificially and deep into their hearts to provide emotional support to those most in need.

The dust has long since settled, but the hurt remain for many survivors and although some questions have been addressed, new questions have arisen and so we turn again to the Scriptures not for answers but for meaning at a distance.

Openness is a word that has fallen on hard times. But there can be no genuine growth in grace and wisdom without the openness to new ideas and different perspectives through honest dialogue.

There is still much truth to be explored in our world and in our Church.

Those of you who are connected to the Internet undoubtedly received a copy of the Dali Lama’s “Instructions for Life.” I think his wisdom is the perfect corollary to today’s lessons:

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

2. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.

3. Follow the three R’s:
• Respect for self,
• Respect for others and
• Responsibility for all your actions.

4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck. (And I would add, a blessing.)

5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.

6. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great relationship.

7. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

8. Spend some time alone every day.

9. Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.

10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

11. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time.

12. A loving atmosphere in your home [and heart] is the foundation for your life.

Now go and live it to the best of your ability with God’s grace.

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