HOMILY  -  15^TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME

ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA CATHOLIC CHURCH

JULY 13, 2008 – 8, 10, 12 NOON MASSES

May the Lord Jesus give us His peace.

Brown grass,  set free from corruption,  seedy dangers.

Brown grass.  Only those ignorant of the water shortage have all green grass these days.  The rest of us enjoy that summer staple of South Carolina – brown grass.  I speak of the brown grass because the Prophet Isaiah says that the rains have come and the earth is nourished by them.

He says, “Just like rain produces growth in plants, God’s Word will produce growth in the human soul.”  Just like the rains can come and grass stay brown, so God’s Word can come and souls wilt. 

We can have brown grass souls.  Sure there are those who irrigate with property, status, passing thrills, spft, spft, spft.  And the grass stays green as long as the sprinkler goes spft!  But there is a grass in the Carolinas that is more like what God is looking for in the human soul.  It is called monkey grass or mondo grass.  If you pulled it up you would find that the grass has bulbous roots which conserve water when it rains and then provide that moisture when it is dry.  They get rain and then persevere from a plan.  When God’s Word is proclaimed, we could be like the mondo grass and live from the Word through dry times.  Mondo!

Set free from corruption.  St. Paul is speaking to Rome.  He knows the people have it rough, temptations, poverty, people around them acting like “every man for himself!”  He tries to give the Romans encouragement.  “My friends, all creation groans and waits to be set free from the corruptions around us.”  The same is true today.  Ask any poor folk trying to buy gas while petroleum companies make historic profits. 

We wait.  But do you know what we are waiting for?  It will surprise you.  We are waiting for you!  St. Paul says, “For creation eagerly awaits the revelation of the children of God.”  Well child, what do you have to reveal?  The Kingdom of God is at hand, the Lordship of Jesus.  Justice.

It is not fair that we remain silent, remain idle, we are the ones God says will end the waiting!  God acting through us - will literally set people free. 

I think of those fed here this past week, those who got teeth in their mouths for the first time in years, those whose bills were paid so they did not have to decided between food and medicine, those counseled to strength.  The suffering it will take to make change is nothing in comparison to the effect of new life and freedom from corruption.  This week someone said to Mary Corner as food was being provided, “Nobody around here takes care of us like you all do.”  Do you feel God glorified in that?  In those freed from hunger?  Indignities?  People to wait no more.

Seedy dangers.  Some seed falls among rocks, some among thorns, some on the open path.  It gets burnt, eaten, choked.  Jesus says, you and I are that seed.  Our own pride can burn us.  The lure of material wealth can eat us up, the disconnected and anxious times can choke us.  We can be like seeds that don’t have roots, among thieves who gladly steal what we have.

But there are fine examples among us.  There are those who patiently strive to understand people and situations, knowing there is always more to the story.  There are people around us who take what they have and make justice with it.  Some are teaching people to get their GED, others are helping with languages, others serving as government, police, business leaders who reinvest in the community, healthcare.  These provide a yield of 30, 60, 100 fold.  They are good soil for seeds.  We can grow protected among them.  We are called by God personally to become this for others.

Whatchu want? Brown grass?  Spft, spft, spft?  Whatchu want?  Corruption corrupting hope?  Whatchu want? Stolen, dried up choked people.  This cannot happen.  Hear the call, Mondo grass!  Reveal the gifts only the children of God can bring!  Blessed are you because you see and hear, and bring justice to a weary waiting world.  Set my people free!