Homily for 21st Sunday: What will you do?

Jack and Jill, watching the evening news, grew more agitated as the announcer recounted the corruption and abuses found not only in the federal but also their local governments. How did this happen so fast, they wondered. They were just becoming aware of all the lies and misinformation that caused violence in their town and many towns throughout the nation. Most alarming was that there was very little push-back. It seemed that many simply would not get involved and accepted chaos as normal life. Jill said to Jack, “It’s about time that God stepped in and put an end to this mess?” Jack replied, “The country is surely divided more so today than we ever experienced in the past. However, I don’t think this is God’s responsibility to solve our problems. You and I, Jill, need to get involved and encourage others to work with us in finding better solutions to the evil that is oppressing the nation.” Jill suggested that they gather their neighbors for friendly discussions and see what might be done. Jack agreed and they planned a potluck dinner with neighbors as a beginning.

Corruption and abuse are not limited to just the present times. A true study of history reveals that just about every age fell victim to those who seized power and oppressed the people. Scripture reveals that God does have a solution and is ready to settle the problem. However, what God has in mind is not what many of us expect.

Speaking through the prophet Isaiah, God intended to take control of the situation. He said, “Thus says the Lord to Shebna, master of the palace: “I will thrust you from your office and pull you down from your station. On that day I will summon my servant Eliakim, son of Hilkiah; I will clothe him with your robe, and gird him with your sash, and give over to him your authority. … I will place the key of the House of David on Eliakim’s shoulder; when he opens, no one shall shut; when he shuts, no one shall open.” God did intervene, but God also gave his newly anointed leader authority to carry on the much-needed reforms. Will Eliakim have to do this by himself? There will be great change when those in leadership positions see the need for reform and actively engage in the needed reforms that foster justice and peace. Corruption and abuse are the products of sin. True repentance, and asking God for forgiveness, must be the focus of both leadership and community.

God sent his Son, Jesus, to overcome sin and restore justice so that there would be peace once again. Jesus offered a new way of living if accepted would bring justice and peace. He died on the cross to destroy sin and usher in peace. What happened? God did not clean up the mess totally! To do so would take away our freedom to make choices. Indeed, Jesus did share his vision and power with us, his followers; and we are expected to become involved in restoring justice and peace in society. This is how he did it. While he lived on earth as a human being, he worked with disciples to whom he would share the responsibility to continue his work of salvation and redemption.

The suffering community expected the Messiah to come and settle the problem once and for all. Unfortunately, their expectations were misguided. The corrupt and abusive leaders over many generations laid upon the poor their own regulations that were not freeing but more oppressive. So, the community waited for the Messiah. How would they know and recognize the true Messiah when he finally came? John the baptizer was the prophet sent to prepare the way for the messiah. Hope was renewed. However, the oppressive leaders were not ready to yield their authority. Even when the Baptist pointed to Jesus as the long-awaited messiah, the corrupt leaders refused to accept Jesus as the Messiah.

Jesus had his work cut out for him. He gathered men (and women) whom he would prepare for the job of convincing the community to accept Jesus as the Messiah through whom justice and peace would be restored. Many accepted Jesus as the anointed of God, but many continued to live in their ignorance. At a certain point in the relationship between Jesus and the disciples, the Lord raised the question of his identity. He asked them who people were saying who he was. After listening to their answers, he asked them point blank what they thought. Today, the Church asks you the same question. Who do you say Jesus is? Is he just a good man who taught about love of God and love of neighbor? Is he a good man who was raised up into the status of being a god simply because of his obedience to carrying out the will of God by dying and rising from the grave?

Peter spoke up: You are the Christ, the son of the living God. By the grace of God and not his own human insight, Peter was able to speak this truth. Jesus congratulated him and gave him a new name. From now on Simon would be called Peter. The name Peter means rock. Jesus then announced that upon this rock he would build his church, against which no evil would prevail. Then Jesus gave Simon Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven so that whatever he binds or looses on earth would be bound or loosed in heaven.

The keys have a particular significance for us; for one key prefigures the sacrament of Penance in which we find forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God. The other key unlocks our heart, disentangling the tentacles of sin and enabling us to enter the glory of God. What a joy it is to know that we have a chance for a better life through forgiveness and reconciliation and that we can help others to this better life.

Jack and Jill know that the burden of oppression under corrupt and abusive leadership can be lifted. These corrupt and abusive leaders must be removed from office. Just as important is the realization that you have the chance to share this with others, to give others hope for a better life. You have the responsibility to counter the corruption and abuse of leaders wherever found – in government, in church, in the workplace. Jesus expects you to work for justice and peace and has shown you the way.

God be blessed! Now and forever. Amen.