- Homily for the televised Mass at St. Michael's Cathedral - - Sept. 12, 2003 -

There are two very powerful Readings we will focus on today which demand that we better listen up if we want any part in Relationship with God. The first is a Reading from Paul to Timothy (1:1-2, 12-14), and the second is from the Gospel of Luke (6:39-42).

In their challenge to us they are profoundly meaningful, since they ultimately invite us to know how dearly loved we are by God. So much so, that God will not stop at proving it.

In the first Reading from St. Paul (1 Timothy; 1-2, 12-14), St. Paul confesses that he used to be ignorant, that he used to be blind to God's presence in the world, and within people, particularly the Christians. He had judged them unfairly and even took up the task of actively persecuting them.

What changed him? Let me put it this way: God got really mad! God decided enough was enough, and that Paul needed a lesson.

It was not until God's dramatic intervention in his life, on the Road to Damascus, when he was thrown from his horse, and blinded, that his life and his attitude changed.

God's words to Paul were part of the reason for the change. God did not yell out, "Why are you persecuting my people?" Rather, God demanded, "Why are you persecuting me?"

In that question, alone, Paul began to appreciate that God so clearly identified with each human being, that to persecute or mistrust even one of them was to insult the God who created them and loved them unconditionally. It did not take Paul too long to recognize God was also speaking about him. Paul, too, was treasured and loved. He, too, had dignity in God's eyes.

However, God was also driven to teach a lesson. As a firm reminder of how truly "blind' Paul had been to the world and people around him, God took away his sight. Paul was blinded in that fall from his horse. It was to be temporary, but God used it to teach Paul, even to save him.

I am sure, when Paul's sign was restored, he could no longer look at the world or people in the same way. He would now "see" people for who they truly were - precious sons and daughters of a loving God. And he would live to praise God for his own gift of life which he would use in service to God as he communicated his faith and belief to all he met.

Perhaps, given this insight into how God feels about us, we might better appreciate Jesus' strong reminder, even warning, in the Gospel passage from Luke (6:39-42), to be very, very careful, in how we treat one another.

He instructs us to first examine our own lives, our own sins, before we even begin to think about trying to point out the sins or weaknesses of another. There is great wisdom in his teaching.

If we truly look into our own lives, first, to examine what is broken, what needs healing, what demands forgiveness, perhaps we will better appreciate how difficult that is to do, even in ourselves. Perhaps, then, we will be more careful and sympathetic in how we approach others.

To then approach another, or to assist another, will be done more carefully, because we will be approaching more as a "wounded" healer, as opposed to a person who knows it all, or pretends to be better. In other words, we will resist the temptation to be judgmental.

Jesus calls us to help each other, not to unfairly judge, dismiss, or condemn one another. No healing happens when the intention is to hurt, and not to help.

Let us pray that like Paul, we may look at the world, and all its people, with eyes of faith, so we might see as God sees, and work with God in helping others to better appreciate how much they mean to God.

- Fr. Pat O'Dea -

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