(1950–2008)
The Gift We Receive and Give
September 20, 2009, Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Wisdom 2:12, 17-20 James 3:16-4:3 Mark 9:30-37
To the churched and unchurched[1]
gathered in a church not built by human hands[2]
Alleluia, alleluia.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark
Glory to you, Lord.
The Gift We Receive and Give
September 20, 2009, Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Wisdom 2:12, 17-20 James 3:16-4:3 Mark 9:30-37
To the churched and unchurched[1]
gathered in a church not built by human hands[2]
Alleluia, alleluia.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark
Glory to you, Lord.
Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it. He was teaching his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill Him, and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question Him.
They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they remained silent. They had been discussing among themselves on the way who among them was the greatest. Then Jesus sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wishes to be first must place himself last and be the servant of the others.”
They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they remained silent. They had been discussing among themselves on the way who among them was the greatest. Then Jesus sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wishes to be first must place himself last and be the servant of the others.”
Then taking a child, He placed it in the their midst, and putting his arms around it said to them, “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but the One who sent Me.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Introduction
First Day of Fall
Introduction
First Day of Fall
In northern climes gold and red leaves cover the ground now, and they rustle as we shuffle our feet through them. It’s a pleasant sight and good feeling, though it is accompanied with a bit of melancholy. There are even pumpkins now in supermarkets to be carved into ghoulish faces for Halloween, or, better yet, to be baked into pies for Thanksgiving Day. This coming Tuesday, September 22, the season will change from summer into fall.
Childish adults
What doesn’t change is human nature. Journeying through Galilee, Jesus’ disciples were quarreling among themselves. When they got to Capernaum, Jesus asked what they were quarreling about. “They fell silent,” Scripture says; they were ashamed to tell Him. These full-grown men were arguing about who among them was the greatest. Jesus scolds these childish adults and tries to put them straight about true greatness: ”Whoever wishes to be first among you must place himself last of all and be the servant of the others.” (Mk 9:34-35)
The mentality of competition and prestige, which characterized the society of the Roman Empire, was already creeping into the little society of Jesus. Look at the contrast: Jesus, who is the Suffering Servant of Isaiah (Is 52& 53), has as his followers a group of men who are arguing about who among them is the greatest!
Jesus does not succeed in straightening them out. In the very next chapter of Mark, they’re still acting like kids. James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come up to Jesus and make a request: “Master, when you come into your kingdom, we want you to grant us seats of honor, one at your right and the other at your left.” Jesus tries again to put them straight with the selfsame injunction: “Whoever wishes to be great, must be the servant of the others.” (Mk 10:35-43)
Such displays of childishness are sprinkled throughout the gospels. Scribes and Pharisees, full-grown men, are depicted as prancing around with long flowing prayer-shawls, or as seeking places of honor at wedding banquets, or as looking for prominent pews in the synagogue. (Mt 23:5-6; Lk 14:7-14)
The mentality of competition and prestige, which characterized the society of the Roman Empire, was already creeping into the little society of Jesus. Look at the contrast: Jesus, who is the Suffering Servant of Isaiah (Is 52& 53), has as his followers a group of men who are arguing about who among them is the greatest!
Jesus does not succeed in straightening them out. In the very next chapter of Mark, they’re still acting like kids. James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come up to Jesus and make a request: “Master, when you come into your kingdom, we want you to grant us seats of honor, one at your right and the other at your left.” Jesus tries again to put them straight with the selfsame injunction: “Whoever wishes to be great, must be the servant of the others.” (Mk 10:35-43)
Such displays of childishness are sprinkled throughout the gospels. Scribes and Pharisees, full-grown men, are depicted as prancing around with long flowing prayer-shawls, or as seeking places of honor at wedding banquets, or as looking for prominent pews in the synagogue. (Mt 23:5-6; Lk 14:7-14)
Self-esteem
Strange to say, such displays betray a note of poor self-esteem. People who don’t feel good about themselves sometimes protest in one way or the other that they’re greater than the other guy. When they do feel good about themselves, then they simply go their peaceful way. People who don’t feel good about themselves need to sit in a place of honor at a wedding banquet or in a prominent pew in church. When they do feel good about themselves, then any place will be just fine. People who don’t feel good about ourselves need to lengthen the tassels on their prayer-shawls (or do something outlandish like dropping their drawers so that their rear-ends are sticking out) in order to draw attention to themselves. When they do feel good about themselves, then they’re content, in fact even happy, to go unnoticed.
I’m not OK
The blessing of good self-esteem is bestowed at an early age, just as the wound of poor self-esteem is inflicted early on in life. By the age of three or four the matter is basically signed, sealed and delivered. By that time a recording has been set into play within us saying either "I'm OK” or “I’m not OK.” If the recording is saying “I’m OK,” we’ve been blessed, and there’s nothing more we have to do but simply live life with a grateful heart. If the recording is saying “I’m not OK,” (which in varying degrees is the case with most of us), then we have a problem to deal with.
I am one of those guys who like many others have that problem to deal with. I was born of Italian immigrants who came to this country at the start of the last century. In the beginning it’s always hard for immigrants. It was particularly hard for our family. Our mother was taken from us when we were quite young, leaving my sister and me without loving arms to cradle us. It left our father without a helpmate in a foreign land and our house without a soul. That poor start has set off an “I’m-not-OK” recording in my life, which always needs opposite voices telling me “I’m OK.”
I’m OK
Over the years friends have affirmed me as OK, and even more than just OK. My task has been to heed and believe them. Their voices did not succeed in turning off the not-OK-recording inside me, but they did, indeed, succeed in turning down its volume, enabling me to live a productive life.
Besides good friends there was also my dog, Simeon. For fourteen years he affirmed me as OK, and even more than just OK. He didn’t turn off the not-OK-recording inside me, but he did, indeed, turn down its volume. I recall a little pillow a friend had given me a long time ago. On it was inscribed: “My goal in life is to be the kind of person my dog thinks I am.” There’s no better pill for one who doesn’t feel good about himself than having a dog. No wonder there are so many passionate dog-lovers in the world.
Jesus confirms what good friends and our dogs keep telling us. “Two sparrows are sold for one penny in the marketplace,” He tells us, “and yet not one of those tiny creatures falls to the ground without your Father’s consent. So don’t be afraid. Know that you are worth more than a whole flock of sparrows.” (Mt 10:29-30)
Russert’s gift to Luke
Good self-esteem is a critical gift. Because of bad self-esteem kids commit suicide or avenge themselves with school massacres or fix themselves up with fast-fixes or wear their pants below their knees. At the end of the day, good self-esteem isn’t the result of giving kids the toys and trinkets of technology; it’s the result of giving them something very special and very spiritual.
Tim Russert gave his son Luke (the only child of Russert and his wife) something very special and spiritual. American television journalist and moderator of NBC's Meet the Press for 16 years he authored two books: Wisdom of Our Fathers and Big Russ and Me. The second became a no. 1 New York Times best seller. In it he tells about the dreaded day he had to drop his son Luke off at college. As they were parting he handed his son a note and told him to, “Read it after I leave.” Russert left and Luke read the note:
Tim Russert gave his son Luke (the only child of Russert and his wife) something very special and spiritual. American television journalist and moderator of NBC's Meet the Press for 16 years he authored two books: Wisdom of Our Fathers and Big Russ and Me. The second became a no. 1 New York Times best seller. In it he tells about the dreaded day he had to drop his son Luke off at college. As they were parting he handed his son a note and told him to, “Read it after I leave.” Russert left and Luke read the note:
Dear Luke, off you go. New school, new city, new friends, new challenges. You
are more than ready. Whether it was New York or Washington or the different
schools you've been to, you've connected with people that made your mark. I've
so enjoyed watching you and helping you grow. We've had an amazing 19 years
together. I hope we have at least another 19. I will always be here for you. We
are bonded by blood. Call any time, any day, with good news or bad. I am on your
side. Keep an open mind to new ideas and people with different views. Study
hard. Laugh often. Keep your honor. With admiration, respect, and deep love,
dad, a.k.a. The Big Guy.
Son Luke told Today’s Matt Lauer, “I spoke to him [his dad] at least two to three times a day. It had to do with the election coming up, sports, or just about life. There was always a lot of love from him. We would always hug. There wasn’t a day that went by that I didn’t know my father loved me. For that, I’m eternally grateful.”
Conclusion
Self-esteem: the gift we receive and bestow
Good self-esteem is a gift we receive, and we are deeply grateful to friends and our dogs who help us to feel good about ourselves. Good self-esteem is also a gift we bestow, as Russert bestowed it on son Luke. Without good self-esteem we have nothing, and with it we have everything, even though we might have nothing.
[1] By the “the unchurched” is especially meant not those who have left the church but those whom the church institution has left!
[1] By the “the unchurched” is especially meant not those who have left the church but those whom the church institution has left!
