St. Dominic Catholic Church

Homilies

June 10, 2018 10th Sunday in Ordinary Time

There’s a three-year cycle of lectionary readings.

Each of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke are read for a year except during Easter time, when we hear from the Gospel of John.

The second reading is a more or less continuous reading of one of the letters that were sent to early church communities.

We will be hearing from the second letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians until July 8.

The first reading is from the Old Testament, and is always chosen to connect with an idea or theme from the Gospel.

Sometimes the Old Testament reading helps us understand something that happens or that is said in the Gospel.

 

It’s not always immediately clear what that connection is.

What does the scene immediately after the first sin have to do with the confrontation between Jesus and the scribes, or Jesus’ explanation of who is his true family?

And what does Jesus mean when he says, “whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin"?

We may find it hard to forgive some people, but the idea that Godmight not forgive a sin should make us terrified.

What is this blasphemy so we don’t commit it?

St. Mark says this blasphemy occurs when the scribes say Jesus casts out demons because he is possessed by a stronger demon, Satan himself.

They don’t recognize what is truly good; in fact, they mistake it for evil.

They’ve done this a lot with Jesus.

The presumption of the scribes – which they shared with many of the Pharisees and the chief priests, is that theyare good – they understand the law, interpret it, and keep it.

Jesus is different, therefore, he must be evil, and all the apparent good he does is a deception.

 

We might be relieved and say, “I’d never do that!” but think about this:

Jesus established the Church to continue his ministry and teaching.

How often do we knowingly do things contrary to that teaching because we presume to know better?

There are many ways we essentially say, “Jesus, you and your Church are crazy.”

When we use artificial means of birth control, abort our children, euthanize our sick, cohabit before marriage, divide immigrant families, criminalize the poor, live for more money or things, we are saying we know better what is good or evil.

 

And what happens when we are confronted with our sin?

Look at Adam; when God discovers his disobedience, Adam doesn’t say, “I’m sorry.”

Instead, he says: “The woman, whom YOU put here with me – she gave me the fruit, and so I ate it.”  

He blames both Eve andGod.

Poor Eve has only the serpent as a scapegoat, but notice, she says, He tricked me into it.

Those of you who have children have heard this song and dance a thousand times.

“He hit me first” – as if that justifies doing something wrong.

As we get older, nothing changes: “I had road rage because the other guy cut me off.”

Instead of taking responsibility for our actions, we play the victim card.

We blame our dysfunctional family, a lousy teacher, our spouse, and yes, even God.

The sin that will not be forgiven is one we commit every day: we decide what is good is evil and don’tdo the good.

We call what is evil, good, and do what is evil.

The story of the Fall is played out every dayin our lives.

The irony is that the serpent lied.

Our first parents ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but we still can’t distinguish what’s really good or evil.

 

But what really makes any sin unforgivable is simply that we don’t own up to it and humbly say, “I did wrong and I’m sorry.”

God will forgive any sin for which we are contrite, regret what we’ve done, and never want to do it again.

This is the beginning of conversion; the beginning of real faith.

When we allow Jesus, the light that has come into the world to draw closer to us, His light reveals our sinfulness.

We may want to hide, like Adam and Eve, we may want to say, “Depart from me, Lord, I am sinful,” like Simon the fisherman.

But Jesus’ response is always, “Do not be afraid”.

We must not fear our sin, because there is no sin that Jesus cannot heal.

When we admit the truth that we are sinners, we can accept our complete dependence upon the obedience, suffering and death of Jesus for our healing and salvation.

And we can accept his grace, which truly heals us.

We can enter into a true relationship with Him, as creature and Creator, as beloved and Lover.

We become, by God’s choice, adopted sons and daughters, and know “that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also withJesus.”

The one who has experienced this adoption can joyfully embrace God’s will and do it.

This is why Jesus looks at those seated in a circle around him, listening to His voice, and says, “whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”

We become, like Mary, a disciple of her son; children of the New Adam who truly know good from evil.