3 Questions - Homily 10th Sunday OTB

(Readings)

It was a day in paradise, a day probably similar to today, blue skies, comfortable temperature, and low humidity. The perfect presence of God was walking in the Garden of Eden. It was the day God asked a simple but profound question. Simple questions are often the best.

There are three questions in today's scriptures. Three questions we answer every day by the way we live our lives. They are simple questions; because sometimes simple questions are the best.

My mother knew about simple questions. She had one simple question in her arsenal that asked so many questions - my whole name. If she called me by my whole name “William Earl Goss”, with a questioning timbre or tone in her voice, it was either time to run and hide or stand and confess.  

I’m sure most mom’s had the same technique. Yes, sometimes, short and simple is the best.

In the bible, God's first question is short and simple.  

The man and woman had just eaten from the forbidden tree when they sensed God's presence in the garden, so they hid from him. God called out to Adam. He probably called out with his whole name. It was only one word, Adam.

God’s simple question is “Where are you?”  The question in Hebrew is “ayeka”, which translates “Where are you?”  (Rabbi Marc Gellman)

God, who knows everything and created everything in the universe, asked “Where are you?”

God did not need to ask Adam where he was. But, Adam needed to be asked.

Maybe, God asked so man could confess and repent.

When your mother called you by your whole name, it was time to confess. Running and hiding does not good. Confess everything and do it immediately. She already knew. And God, God knows everything.

Adam who knew God and walked with God in the garden was hiding from God. The same Adam God formed from clay and blew the breath of life into his nostrils was no longer in the perfect presence of God.

If we really believe Holy Scripture holds the truths of God; then, they are truths for all eternity. God asks every person the same question when we are no longer in the perfect presence of God. God calls us by our whole name, “Where are you?”

In that question, God gives direction. He is calling us back to him.

Just like Adam, instead of answering, we hide. Hiding from God does not work!  We hide because our shame when we realize that we are naked before God.  But, God is God. We are always naked before God. God created us and knows all the intimate details. It is the world that points out we are naked.

When God ask us the simple question, “Who told you that you were naked?” Each will realize their nakedness in a different way. It may be:

• Who told you that you’re a failure?
• Who told you, you’re bad?
• Who told you, you’re not good enough?
• Who told you that money was happiness?
• Who told you that you’re not loved?
• Who told you that you cannot be forgiven?

If we are not in the perfect presence of God, we answer those questions with excuses. It's not my fault, someone else or something else made me do it! 

This story of the first man and woman is considered humanity’s fall from grace. It was our loss of the perfect presence of God.

But, we have Jesus Christ. He is the one who asks the third question.

Jesus family comes looking for him. Why? Maybe they felt their nakedness. Maybe the family was concerned or embarrassed or shamed by what the world was saying, accusing him of having an unclean spirit or being possessed by Beelzebul.

When his family arrived, the crowds said to him, “Your mother and your brothers and your sister are looking for you.” Maybe, his family called him out by his whole name.

Jesus didn't run and hide. Jesus had no sin to confess. Instead he asked in reply, “Who are my mother and brothers?”

Jesus, looking at those circled around the Son of God. Looking at those in the perfect presence of the incarnate word of God, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers, for whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”

In his own words, Jesus calls out, “Where are you?”

If you cannot give a good answer to “Where are you?” don’t despair. Saints may be the only ones with the right answer.  Yet be honest  in giving an answer to God, God already knows everything.

Only the world sees we are naked, absent of the perfect presence of God and points it out. The world points away from its own shame.

This is why St Paul writes - What is seen (our nakedness) is transitory, what is unseen (the perfect presence of God) is eternal.

Don’t be discouraged; our nakedness is just a momentary light affliction. Our inner self is being renewed day by day to bring us an eternal glory, beyond comparison.

It is in this glory, that we can answer “Where are you?”

Here I am Lord!

My brothers and sisters, strive to walk in the perfect presence of God. Be good, be holy and preach the gospel by the way you live and love. Amen.