22nd Sunday Ordinary Time, B

August 30, 2009 – 5:00 p.m., 12 Noon

Church of the Holy Angels

1. George was sitting at a stop light one morning

- the woman in the car in front of him was talking on her cell phone and didn't realize

that the light was green until it turned to red again

- George was beside himself. With the windows still up, he began screaming

obscenities and beating on his steering wheel
- his expressions of distress were interrupted when a policeman tapped on the drivers'

side window
- George protested, "You can't arrest me for hollering in my own car." and

with that the policeman ordered him into the back seat of his police car
- after what seemed like an eternity, checking over his car from top to bottom,

the officer told George he was free to go. George angrily said, "I knew you

couldn't arrest me for yelling in my own car. You haven't heard the last of this."

- The officer replied. "I didn't arrest you for shouting in your car. I was directly
behind you at the light. I saw you screaming and beating your steering wheel.
- I said to myself, "What a jerk." Then I noticed the cross hanging from your

rearview mirror, the fish on the trunk lid, and your bumper stickers which read,
"My boss is a Jewish carpenter," and "Jesus is coming soon."

- I was going to arrest you for stealing a car from a Christian.

2. Today's Scriptures speak to us about what we believe and how we live
- and how our example either draws people close to faith or pushes them away

3. Our first reading is from Deuteronomy, which is the 5^th, and last, book of the
Pentateuch. The others in this part of the Hebrew Scriptures are Genesis, Exodus,
Leviticus, and Numbers
- these five books comprise the Jewish Torah or law book, the expression of God's
will for his people
- the book of Deuteronomy (which means, "second law") consists of the last words
of Moses before his death
- he exhorts, corrects, and threatens the people, appealing to their past glory, their
historic mission and the promise of future triumph
- he tries to reinforce the Lord's claim to their obedience, loyalty and love

4. The second reading is taken from the letter of James
- James urges us to live a life of good works

- he says that just hearing and believing isn't enough
- he says that "faith without works is dead."

- and he compares the believer to the first fruits of creation

- just as the first fruits of the harvest were offered back to God, because they
belonged to him

- the same happens when someone is reborn in Jesus Christ, that person becomes the
property of God

- he urges us to "humbly welcome the word which has taken root in you."

- and he reminds us to care for the poor and be free of sin as much as possible
- true worship sends us into the world to love one another in true service

5. St. Ignatius of Loyola believed that we are all leaders and that we are leading
all of the time

- he said that we affect people's lives not primarily through our words but by our

actions

- the parent yelling obscenities at the ump on the ball-field is leading

- the frustrated and visibly angry woman who is behind the person at the grocery
store with 13 items rather than 12 in the express line is leading

- the parishioner cleaning debris in Slavic Village, pounding nails in the

Dominican Republic or offering a hug to a student at St. Thomas Aquinas
School is leading

- the co-worker who refuses to engage in gossip at the water cooler is leading

- the choir member who comforts a grieving family by singing for the funeral

is leading

5. The Gospel reminds us today that all our laws, all our rituals, all our worship

is useless if it does not affect our hearts; if it doesn't form and shape us into the

people of God that we are called to be.

- and Jesus' harshest criticism was directed toward those who followed the law

to a "T" but whose hearts were far from the spirit of that same law

- our liturgy; our prayer should make us anxious, ready, inspired to go and

serve God's people

- it should raise us from our individual needs, concerns and worries and

connect us to the greater good; to be one with the needs of the poor, our

brothers and sisters in need

- to make us thankful for all we have and mindful of our obligation to give

back

- and it's not that hard to do

6. Think about the true story of Sr. Cleopas, a Notre Dame sister from Chardon

- she taught high school and college math for 50 years!

- she made it enjoyable for her students

- when she could no longer teach, she found another ministry.

- she’d collect day old bread from a bakery and distribute it to the poor

- when even this work became too much for Sister, she retired to her provincial house

- one day, a younger sister was walking quickly down the hall and passed Sr. Cleopas,

shuffling slowly along – with her cane, her body bent from osteporosis.

- despite her frailty, the older young greeted the younger one as she sped by

- When the young nun reached the end of the hall she stopped

- going back to the bent figure she said, “Sr. Cleopas, I just want you to know how

much your smile means to me. And without hesitation, Sr. Cleopas said, “My smile

is all I have left to give.”

Even a smile can be a tremendous gift and it's not taken for granted by our God.

7. The words spoken by the Bishop at the ordination of a deacon are words that so

aptly fit today's message and Scriptures and our lives as well:

‘Believe what you read. Teach what you believe. Practice what you teach.’

- and the bishop concludes, "May God, who has begun this good work in you,

bring it to completion."