6th Sunday of Easter: As Good as it Gets
May 12, 2010
Several years ago there was a movie starring Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt called “As Good As It Gets.” Jack Nicholson plays a self-absorbed, totally neurotic, obsessive-compulsive author who writes romance novels, but has no real experience of love or romance. Each morning he goes to the same restaurant, sits at the same table, and orders the same meal from the same waitress (played by Helen Hunt). As the movie progresses, these two people begin to have something resembling a relationship, although Helen Hunt’s character is usually exasperated by this man’s emotional problems and his difficulty in thinking about anyone but himself. Then at one point in the movie Nicholson says: “I’ve got a really great compliment for you, and it’s true.” She responds: “I’m so afraid you’re about to say something awful” (as he did so often). And then he says: “You make me want to be a better person.” To which she answers: “That’s maybe the best compliment of my life.” You make me want to be a better person.
I think many of us know a young person who’s changed significantly after they start dating a special person. It seems that it’s usually the guy whose lifestyle changes for the better because of a new relationship. They “settle down.” Their priorities change.
The first reading today speaks about a special time in the early Church. Paul and Barnabas had been very successful in preaching the Gospel of Jesus to the Gentiles (people who were not Jews). That’s important, because in those early days, people thought that Christianity was a part of the Jewish religion, and some people felt that the Gentiles who accepted Jesus into their lives should observe all of the Jewish laws – even some of the laws that Jesus preached against.
Paul and Barnabas had seen the transformation that the Holy Spirit had worked among the Gentiles. And the question they posed to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem was this: “What sorts of behaviours are required of the Gentiles who accept Jesus into their lives?” They were especially concerned about whether the men had to be circumcised. But the discussion related to all of the Gentiles – men and women. Paul’s thoughts on this were clear. You remember that he told the Galatians: “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” These Gentiles had entered into a new relationship with Jesus and a relationship with the other believers who were forming the early Church. They had a new identity.
After a long debate in Jerusalem, Peter said this: “God, who knows the human heart, testified to [the Gentiles] by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us; and in cleansing their hearts by faith he has made no distinction between them and us.” And so they sent a letter to the new Christians listing a few simple practices that, they thought, would be helpful.
Peter and the others were saying that our relationship with God should be based not on laws, but on faith and love. Last week Father Andrew began his homily with the question: “How do we identify ourselves as Christians?” And he went on to answer the question by saying that it is love that identifies us as Christians.
And today, Jesus continues to speak about love. He invites us into an amazing relationship with him and his Father. “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” Jesus isn’t saying: “Do what I tell you and I’ll pat you on the head and smile at you.” He’s talking about entering into a much deeper relationship – he and the Father will make their home with us. He is talking about an intimate relationship that’s hard to describe.
Today is Mother’s Day. It might be helpful to think about the relationship between a mother and a child. This is also a relationship that’s hard to describe, especially in the early months of a child’s life. It’s sometimes difficult to talk or think about one without the other, and in fact, it takes a long time before the baby even realizes that it’s a separate being from its mother. Another example of this kind of relationship might be the married couples who are perfectly at ease with each other and always connected to one another – whether they’re physically together or not.
This is the kind of love that Jesus is talking about – a love so strong that it’s hard to tell where we stop and Jesus starts. It’s similar to the love between a husband and a wife – between a mother and child – and yet it goes far beyond even these sacred relationships.
You know how, when you’re getting ready to leave someone, you always say something like: “I’ll see you again,” or “See ya’ soon,” or maybe you even arrange your next meeting before you leave. It’s like you don’t want to separate without some concrete assurance that you’ll see each other again. Today’s Gospel comes from a part of John’s Gospel called the “Farewell Discourses,” so Jesus was saying goodbye to his closest friends before the crucifixion. And he kind of did what we do when we say goodbye to a friend. He knew the apostles would be upset when he was gone, so he said that the Father would send the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit would remind them of all the things Jesus said to them.
But it’s not like the Holy Spirit would tell them: “Remember that Jesus said, blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth,” or “remember when he turned water into wine?” No, not like that. The Holy Spirit would remind them of the relationship they had with Jesus. And these memories would fill them with love – and this love would make them want to be better people. And it should be like that for us. Our relationship with Jesus should fill us with love – it should make us want to be better people. And Jesus promised that when we do that – when we keep his word – he and the Father will make their home with us – they will be so close to us that the relationship will be obvious to everyone. This is what Father Andrew was getting at when he asked: “How do we identify ourselves as Christians?” It will be obvious.
I’d like you to do something today. Maybe on your way home from church – maybe at the supper table – maybe when you’re saying your evening prayers – maybe by yourself, maybe with someone close to you. Ask yourself: “How am I different because of my relationship with Jesus?” “What do I do differently?” “How do I feel differently because of my relationship with Jesus?” “How do I deal differently with people and situations in my life (good and bad) because of my relationship with Jesus?”
You may find this easy, or it might be difficult. You may be disappointed that your relationship with Jesus doesn’t seem to affect you very much outside the four walls of our church. Or you may find that your relationship with Jesus is so much a part of your being, that it affects everything you do.
Today Jesus is offering us a relationship that’s beyond our imaginations. He holds this out to us as a free gift – we only need to accept it. And if we accept it, Jesus and the Father will come to live with us – become an intimate part of who we are. That’s as good as it gets.
2nd Sunday of Easter: Divine Mercy Sunday
May 12, 2010
Today is the Second Sunday of Easter, and it is also called Divine Mercy Sunday. So if it’s Divine mercy, it must mean we’re talking about the mercy of God. But what is mercy? It might be helpful to think back a couple of weeks, during Lent, when Father Andrew and I were talking about repentance and reconciliation. When we talked about repentance, we were talking about acknowledging our sins and resolving not to sin again. And when we talked about reconciliation, we talked about going to the person that we’ve sinned against – even if that “person” is God – and asking for their forgiveness. So repentance and reconciliation are things that the sinner does. Mercy is something given freely by the person who is sinned against.
It might be helpful to have an example. I don’t know how many of you watch the old westerns. I used to enjoy them a lot. There was a simplicity that we just don’t see any more. So, I want to introduce three people to you: Dirty Pete is a lazy no-account good for nuthin’ (I think you know what that means). Mr. Clampett is a wealthy landowner. And Judge Gallows distributes justice in this small town in the old west. As our scene begins, Mr. Clampett was riding his horse on his ranch when he came across Dirty Pete, who was stealing some of his cattle.
Mr. Clampett: Dirty Pete! Is that you tryin’ to steal my prize cattle?
Dirty Pete: Well no Mr. Clampett – I was just – ah – well – I was just ah – borrowin’ ‘em?
Mr. Clampett: Bad enough that you’re trying to steal my cattle – don’t you go makin’ it worse by lyin’ too! You know the law around these parts – when a man catches someone stealing his cattle, he’s allowed to shoot ‘im – no questions asked. And that’s just what I’m fixin’ to do to you.
Dirty Pete: Please Mr. Clampett – I know I don’t deserve it, but I’m beggin’ fer mercy. I know you got every right ta shoot me, but please?
Mr. Clampett: Yer right – I ain’t got no reason not ta shoot ya, but I won’t. I’m gonna take ya in ta Judge Gallows, and he’ll give ya a fair trial.
Dirty Pete: Thank ya sir – like I said – I don’t deserve no mercy, and I’m much obliged.
So Dirty Pete and Mr. Clampett rode into town and went to see Judge Gallows. Half the town came to see the trial – it was held in the local saloon. Mr. Clampett told his story, and then the Judge questioned Dirty Pete. Several of the townsfolk spoke about Dirty Pete – I guess you’d call them “character witnesses,” but none of them had anything good to say about Dirty Pete. Finally, the Judge spoke:
Judge Gallows: Dirty Pete – you was caught red-handed with Mr. Clampett’s cattle. Now you know what the law says ‘bout cattle-rustlin’ – cattle rustlers gotta hang! And yer gonna hang – tomorra’ – at high noon.
Mr. Clampett: Yer honor, I’d like ta say somethin’ if I can.
Judge Gallows: OK, you got a right.
Mr. Clampett: Well I know Dirty Pete ain’t never done an honest day’s work in his life, and I caught him dead to rights stealin’ my cattle. An’ I know he should hang. But I’m gonna ask ya not ta hang ‘im. I think maybe he learnt his lesson. I think he’s sorry for what he done, and he ain’t gonna do it again. In fact, I’m even gonna give him a job on my ranch. I think I kin make an honest person outa him.
Judge Gallows: Mr. Clampett – in all my years on the bench – I ain’t never seen no better example of mercy. Dirty Pete did you wrong – an’ most folks would be happy ta see him swing. But I’ll do like ya said. He’s yers.
I think we should thank Dirty Pete, Mr. Clampett, and Judge Gallows.
Now I don’t think we can learn much about English grammar from this story, but let’s see what we can learn from these three people about mercy. Dirty Pete was a sinner – like us. And like us, he didn’t deserve mercy – none of us deserves mercy. If we deserve anything, we deserve justice – and Judge Gallows knew all about that. He knew the law, and he knew what the law required. But Mr. Clampett went way beyond the law, beyond justice – he extended mercy.
If we look at what Mr. Clampett did, it involved a couple of things. It involved forgiveness. It involved charity. It involved compassion. It involved kindness. And it involved humility. A proud Mr. Clampett would have said: “No one does that to a Clampett. And I’ll make sure no one else ever does!” But that’s not what he did. Forgiveness, charity, compassion, kindness, humility.
The Gospel today presents us with a very moving story. We tend to think of the apostles as being very brave people who went to their death because of their belief in Jesus – and indeed, they did. But as we heard last week, when it came to crunch time – when their leader and friend was being led away to be tortured and killed, they ran and hid. We know that his mother was with him, some of the women followed him to Calvary, and a special disciple was there – but where were the apostles.
And now, after his death, three days in the tomb, and his glorious Resurrection, he comes to face the apostles – these close friends who deserted him. I know what I would have said to these fair-weather friends, but what were Jesus’ first words? “Peace be with you.” Not: “You cowards.” Not: “Where the heck were you guys when I was bleeding to death?” “Peace be with you.” Jesus was not interested in justice on the evening when he rose from the dead – he was filled with forgiveness, charity, compassion, kindness, and humility. He was filled with mercy.
And he showed a special mercy to Thomas. Thomas obviously didn’t believe the other apostles when they told him that Jesus had risen from the dead. And when Jesus appeared again, a week later, he extended his hands and his side to Thomas – he extended his mercy.
And Thomas’ story is very important for us. We haven’t walked and talked and eaten with Jesus the way the apostles did. We didn’t see him after he rose from the dead and before he ascended. So we are called – like Thomas was called – to believe in what we have not seen. Can we do that?
But Jesus wasn’t finished with his mercy. He instructed the apostles to extend that mercy to all people who believed in him: “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them.” When we receive the sacrament of Reconciliation, we receive this mercy. We don’t deserve it – we receive it as a free gift of Jesus, who died so that our sins might be forgiven.
You remember how Mr. Clampett asked Judge Gallows not to hang Dirty Pete. Well, imagine that instead of asking him not to hang Dirty Pete, Mr. Clampett had said: “I know there’s been a crime committed, and someone’s got to hang – well, let it be me instead of Dirty Pete.” That’s what Jesus did – and that’s why we celebrate his Divine Mercy today.
While Jesus was dying for our salvation, he was also giving us an example of how we should treat others – not in strict adherence to the law, not an eye for an eye – but with forgiveness, charity, compassion, kindness, and humility – yes, with mercy.