HOMILY 17TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME
ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA CATHOLIC CHURCH
JULY 27, 2008 – 8, 10, 12 NOON MASSES
Brother Eric
“O Lord, my God, you have made me, but I don’t know how to act. I serve you in the midst of your people. Give your servant an understanding heart!” This prayer is really powerful. This prayer gave Solomon a special ticket for eternity: It was through this prayer that he became the wisest man that ever lived on this earth. I think I have an idea of why this prayer is so powerful. I have my own testimony, listen to this story:
After three months of rehearsals and hard work, the young-adult group Esperanza Latina was ready to present the play “Our Lady of Guadalupe.” This took place at St. Camillus Church in Silver Spring a year ago.
As indigenous, Spaniards conquerors, religious authorities and the Blessed Mother were getting ready to perform; I was working on the last details in the little room beside the stage. The barefoot indigenous were putting on make up on their bodies. They wore proper indigenous clothe, feathers and little bells. They looked ferocious. The Blessed Mother was spectacular. The bishop was already on his Franciscan habit and cape, carrying his rosary, his staff and his beautiful miter. Juan Diego was perfect in his humble white costume. The acolytes were ready with the incense; a sacred smoke was spreading around. The colorful uniforms of the Spaniards fit well to the proud conquerors. Helmets, swords, boots, sneakers, long beards . . . everything was splendid... Wait a second. Did I say sneakers? Yes, I said sneakers! One of the Spaniards had sneakers! The sneakers were not part of a scene in the XVI Century. Hello!!!!
-Guys, please, listen to me! -I said- Turn off your cell phones. The Spaniards and the indigenous didn’t have that technology yet.
-Listen -I continued- we have worked hard for this, and we want to do something nice for the people and for ourselves.
Daniel, the Spaniards didn’t have sneakers. We talked about this the other day. Why didn’t you bring shoes?
-Brother -he said- I don’t have shoes!
(He said that in low voice and looking to the ground)
- (I wanted to disappear, I prayed for the ground to open big its mouth and swallow me alive.)
-Listen again guys –I said- from now on, the Spaniards are allowed to wear sneakers. Let us pray… And we prayed.
The play was very successful, but I couldn’t forget the conversation with Daniel.
In my closet I had shoes, sandals and sneakers. Daniel probably had to choose between buying shoes or sneakers because his father is raising five kids, one of them with mental deficiencies. They are poor! I was blind! Don’t get me wrong here. I think is very good to have shoes. But I had been working with poor people for a year and I was blind to their needs. I guess I did not pray for an understanding heart, like Solomon did. If we are not really close to those in need, we become blind to their needs. What kind of justice is going to practice a man who is blind to the needs of those he serves?
Today Jesus speaks about the kingdom of heaven, in parables. Chapter 13 and specifically these parables, are the central point of Mt’s Gospel. Jesus’ message is shocking and urgent today. The Gospel of the Kingdom is not a comfortable religious experience, or something to put into practice only in our free time, or something to do whenever we feel like it. The kingdom is not one treasure or pearl among many! Friends, listen! There is only one great treasure! There is only one great pearl! Everything else is garbage. When Jesus came, the final judgment began. We either are good fish or bad fish. Do you remember the words: “Come blessed of my Father because I was hungry and you gave me to eat”? How are we supposed to serve those in need if we are blind to their needs? Indeed we need an understanding heart. When Solomon asked to the Lord for an understanding heart, the Lord was pleased with him.
I want to share one more story with you. It is about a couple of foster parents who found a treasure and sold everything to get that treasure. They became so close to the one in need, that they got an understanding heart.
In 1952, a child was born in the States with severe mental deficiencies. His eyes became infected and had to be removed, and his parents abandoned him at the hospital. Although he was expected to die, foster parents were found for him. The couple took the baby home and loved him as its own. This was not a pleasant religious experience! The child never moved a muscle for 9 years, but the couple stayed with him, loved him, and prayed for him. First he moved a hand, and little by little he learned to walk at the age of 12. The foster parents began then to pray, "Lord, everyone has a special gift. Help our child to find his."
Soon after that, they noticed that when the child heard music, he would move his fingers as if trying to keep the time. Since he seemed to like music, they decided to buy a piano. The mother would hold him next to her, on the piano bench, with one hand, and play simple tunes with the other. As she sang, she held her cheek next to his.
One night when he was sixteen, the couple had been watching "Liberace" on television. After everyone had gone to bed, the mother woke up and heard music. She thought perhaps someone had left the television on. When she went downstairs to check, she saw the boy at the piano. He was playing Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto (theme song for "Liberace") and playing it perfectly. At the age of 19, the young man started to sing, and then he started to give concerts for the benefit of the less fortuned. His name is Leslie Lemke.
We pray today for an understanding heart and for a good vision. We pray for us to do real justice, to find “the” pearl and never back up.