Homily Reflection 21st Sunday - Excuse Me; I'm not going out there!

Excuse Me; I’m Not Going Out There!

Joshua 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b;  Psalm 34:2-3, 16-17, 18-19, 20-21; Ephesians 5:21-32 or 5:2a, 25-32; John 6:60-69

We have two dogs, spoiled like children. One is 3. The other is 11. The young one is excitable; the older is laid back. The young one is nervous and scared of most things. The older dog is calm. The young dog is a pest. Let’s run. Let’s wrestle and play. The old dog endures it. 

Some nights, a stranger visits our yard. The dogs get excited. The old dog wakes me up with a poke from her paw. I imagine her wine as “Wake up! Come and see! Something’s here!” The old dog runs out the door barking. “Something’s here! Come and see! Something’s here!”

The young dog is all excited and runs out. Shocked by the darkness, she stops, turns around, and runs back inside. She’s afraid of the dark. Sitting on her heels, me between her and fear, she looks up with an expression that says: “Excuse me; I’m not going out there.”  

This is supposed to be a funny story but look closely. We can see Christians in this example.   

As Catholic we live among Christians of younger traditions. I’ll refer to them from now on as the young ones.

Catholics don’t get excited by much. We’re patient. But, the young ones are always excited about saving us. They’re concerned for our souls. Those poor Catholics are lost. The Catholic Church is confused. It’s not the Church Jesus founded. Catholics don’t believe in the Bible. Catholics do things, standing, kneeling, crossing themselves, it’s not Biblical.  

On the Eucharist and the real presence, the young ones sit back on their heels, “Excuse me; I’m not going out there!”  But, Catholics can get excited about the Eucharist. “Wake up! Come and see! Christ is here! “

If you are like the young ones and doubt, I hoped you paid attention to the readings. Paul writes to be faithful to Christ and the Church. Our Catholic faith lives the words of Joshua, “As for me and my house we will worship the Lord.”

These readings are about the Eucharist. Something the young ones believe Catholics have wrong. The young ones don’t believe in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. To them, it’s the Lord’s Supper, a symbolic memorial to Jesus. They believe that’s what Jesus wanted.

It’s not what Jesus tells us. Last week we heard Jesus’ instructions to “eat His flesh and drink His blood.” The Greek word John actually used was “gnaw.” I like chew on it.  Chew on Jesus; Chew on who Jesus is; Chew on what he means to you; Chew on the Christ that becomes part of you.

We shouldn’t be surprised that the young ones criticize and can’t accept this. Jesus’ disciples couldn’t accept His words either. They grumbled and criticized. His words were extreme. The words were different and controversial. “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”

The disciples knew his words weren’t symbolic. They took His words literally. 

And, Jesus explained his words. He didn’t say this is a parable you don’t understand. He asked “Does this shock you?”

It was not the shocking description of a memorial meal but an invitation to an intimate and personal relation with the living Christ. “Does this shock you?” It shocked his disciples; many no longer accompanied him.  

Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” Peter said, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”

This was Peter who Christ used to build his Church. This was was the same Peter to who every Pope, Catholic Bishop, Priest, and Deacon can trace the authority of his ordination. It was Peter and his successors in the Church that have kept the faith, defended it against heresy, false tradition and teachings; always remains faithful to Christ, celebrating the real presence in the Eucharist, and preaching the promise of eternal life.

Despite how the young ones interpret it, the Bible is Catholic. It contains the traditions, teachings, beliefs and sacraments of the Catholic faith. It is the teachings of those in the upper room, the ones Jesus breathed upon to receive his Spirit; the ones guided by the Advocate, the Paraclete that brings truth always. It’s the teaching traditions of the apostles, beginning with the 12 who stayed.

• They believed His words were Spirit and life.
• They believed the promise of eternal life.
• They believed in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, His flesh and His blood under the species of bread and wine. 
• They believed what Jesus said and believed Jesus meant what He said.

We believe it too. We believe the Lord is here in the Eucharist. We believe God loves us: old ones, young ones; those who left and those who stayed; the ones who would not believe, those who betrayed him, the sinners, the lost, and everyone else.  We believe God loves all of us. We believe God forgives all of us.

In all that we believe as His Church, Jesus is still asking, “Does this shock you?” It shocks many.  

Brothers and Sister, live your Catholic Faith. Stand up proudly for what you believe. Love one another as Christ loves us. Come to mass. Celebrate the sacraments. By your life, words, and actions accompany Christ as faithful members of his body.

Finally, what did I learn from my dog as she sat there with me between her and fear. It’s like our relationship with Jesus.  No matter what scares you, Christ is between you and your fears. Jesus is with you always.

Don’t be shocked. Don’t sit back on your heels afraid thinking “Excuse me; I’m not going out there.”  Get excited. Go out and shout to the world, “Wake up! Come and see! Christ is here!”

Christ is here in Eucharist, in the Church, and in each one of us.