Fr. Jeff’s Weekly Homily

August 27, 2006
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

READING 1: Joshua 1-2a,15-17,18b
“If it does not please you to serve the Lord, decide today whom you will serve…"

Psalm 34
Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

READING 2: Ephesians 5:21-32
Husbands love your wives, even as Christ loved the church…

GOSPEL: John 6:60-69
Many of Jesus’ disciples who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, “Does this shock you? What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him. And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father.” As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him. Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”

Every year, when the University and College students return, Gainesville wakes up. Traffic picks up and we slightly older people need to be alert for young drivers who take more chances than we do. There is life everywhere and as volleyball and soccer seasons begin, there are games to go to. High school football started Friday night and Gator football starts next weekend. I remember one year being at the grocery store and checking the eggs in the carton to be sure none were broken. An especially bright guy, probably a UF freshman, picked up an egg carton too. He looked at me turning the eggs and started to turn his and then he said, “We’re looking for a prize, right?”

Choosing a carton of eggs is no big deal. But, if you don’t check to see if any are broken before you leave the store you are stuck with any that are in the carton when you get home.

Today, Joshua invited his people to choose their god. Jesus disciples and apostles were choosing to stay with him or not. Still, I would like to suggest that neither one was really about “choosing” because the choices had already been made. Joshua’s people already were living in covenant with God. The question really was whether they would live their covenant or compromise and embrace some of the pagan practices of their neighbors. The disciples and the apostles had already chosen to follow Jesus. They accepted him as their Savior; the problem was that he wasn’t everything they hoped the Messiah would be and he was asking them to make some sacrifices. No, I don’t think it was about choosing, I think it was about integrity.

Paul told the Ephesians: “Husbands love your wives as Christ loves his bride the Church.” Of course he meant it both ways for husbands and wives. I don’t think anyone who has been awake these last several years would say the Church is everything Jesus dreamed we would be. Yet, he still loves us and gives himself to us every time we come to Mass. Husbands and wives sometimes don’t feel they are getting everything they bargained for, but Paul is saying this is about your integrity. In the days of Paul marriages were arranged; love was not a factor.

Anyone who has seen the play or movie or maybe performed in a high school or college production of “Fiddler on the Roof” knows the story is about Trevye the milkman and his wife Goldie. Their marriage was arranged by their parents according to their ancient traditions. The crisis that stimulates the story is that their two daughters want to marry men of their own choosing, men they love. The real story, though, is Trevye asking Goldie whether she has grown to love him. All through the show, Goldie deflects the question. Finally in the end, she says, yes, I do love you. That is the bottom line question. Joshua and Jesus were both asking the question God wants us to answer and we all want answered, “do you love me?”

When someone is in hospice I ask the husband and the wife separately whether it had been a good marriage. The guy almost always says: “Oh yes, it was great!” The wife, though, usually pauses and remembers, then she might deflect the question or answer, “well, there were some ups and downs, it wasn’t always good, but overall, yes, it was good.”

We live in a nation of “buts.” There are “little buts,” “middle sized buts,” and “big buts.” There really are no buts, though, when it comes to integrity.

Coach John Wooden was offered two coaching jobs at the same time. His first choice was to take the one from Minnesota . He was from that area. The second offer came from UCLA. He told the people from the University of Minnesota that there were a few changes he wanted on his contract and to get back with him by a certain time and let him know if they were acceptable because UCLA was going to call an hour later. Well, the hour passed and he didn’t hear from Minnesota , so when UCLA called he accepted their offer. Shortly after, Minnesota called to agree to his changes. They told him there had been a snow storm and the phone lines were down and that’s why they were late calling. Coach Wooden said that he had already accepted the offer from UCLA and would not go back on his word. He had integrity and those who worked or played with him knew he would not compromise his integrity. Anyone who follows college basketball knows he turned out to be the best coach in the history of college basketball and he’s about 93 now, and still alive. The great basketball tradition at UCLA continues. Of course you remember, the Gators beat them in the national championship game this year.

Fr. Jeff McGowan
Queen of Peace Catholic Community
Gainesville, Florida