Homily: Twenty-first Sunday of Ordinary Time
Homily: Twenty-first Sunday of Ordinary Time (Eph. 5:21-32)
We had a wedding at Sacred Heart this weekend. Weddings are wonderful celebrations. The vocation of marriage is a very challenging as most of us know. Marriage is also a basic building block of the church community. Every household is said to be a little church. With all this being said, it is troubling that the number of sacramental marriages in the church has dropped dramatically over the last 50 years. The church has a problem. To put it simply, how do we sell the whole idea of an unselfish, lifelong commitment, to young people?
Probably we need to clarify what marriage is and isn’t in the mind of the church. The section we read from Ephesians today can be a problem as we try to explain what the church teaches. The first thing to be said is that our church is not a fundamentalist church. We don’t take verses of the Bible out of context and use them as absolutes. Our church uses what we call a form critical approach to scripture. We try to look at the culture in which the passage of scripture was written asking, “What was going on there?” We also ask if we can look back to find the crux of what the writer was trying to say.
One of the favorite story lines that is used in literature is to have someone go back in time unexpectedly. Or perhaps they go into the future. When the person is transported to another era all kinds of entertaining circumstances can happen. We probably all remember the “Back to the Future Movies” of a few years ago.
Another story was written by Mark Twain, and it is called a Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. The story revolves around a man from the 19th century being transported to the 6th century. His name is Hank Morgan. He receives a blow to the head, and he is taken back in time. Hank ends up in Camelot. At first, he is at a disadvantage has he tries to adjust to his new situation, but over time he uses his superior knowledge to take over the country. Gradually, he is known simply as the “boss.”
He gains influence by being able to tell the future like knowing in advance when an eclipse of the sun is going to happen. He uses technology from the 19th century to intimidate the people of the 6th century. He makes fireworks and sets them off. Eventually he even produces a handgun that strikes fear in the hearts of the 6th century people he encounters. He takes advantage of superstitions that people have. Two different worlds come together which leads to a lot of misunderstandings. Gradually Hank realizes he must leave Camelot to return to the 19th century. He also begins to understand that he might be doing damage to the people he is interacting with in the Camelot. He should not try to change history.
As 21st century people, we should be careful about how we look at the Letter to the Ephesians today. We might be quick to judge things by our standards. What was the cultural context that Paul was dealing with? The Greco-Roman marriage practices are shocking to us.
Women were considered pieces of property. Sexual pleasure was not something that was governed by ethical norms. For that reason, it was thought that a male could do as they pleased. You had one relationship with the woman you were married to, but you could have a sexual relationship with a host of other people. Divorce was common. Women had few rights and could be expelled from their home when husbands became unhappy with them.
What Paul says in his letter is probably something that does not resonate in our modern world. We would think of him as backward. In 1st century however his thought was revolutionary.
What are some of the thoughts that he presented that transcend culture and time? One value would be that members of families are to view each other as images of Christ. Another idea, an important Christian teaching for all time, is that sexual activity needs to have an ethical framework. When we sexually manipulate another person, we harm them emotionally. We harm them spiritually. Love is always the measure of our actions. When we are selfish this isn’t being Christ like. Commitment isn’t a hindrance to freedom. No, it is where we find security which leads to a sense of personal well-being.
Today, when married life is being devalued. When family life in many instances is falling apart. We need to recapture our respect for the sanctity of marriage. An important way of doing that is to understand the value of what Christian tradition offers us.
Reflection Questions:
- Is all scripture to be considered black and white instruction? What effects how we are to consider biblical writing?
- Is the church out of touch in its teachings on marriage and family life? What values are worth preserving?
Dear Parishioners,
We have been trying to reinvigorate our parish life. It has been a challenge after the last two years. Now with the new wave of COVID, it has proven to be even more difficult. It is hard to know whether to push people to attend parish events. With the new wave of COVID, it has proven to be even more difficult. Nursing facilities are once again strengthening their protocols. We want to try and keep people safe. Thanks to all who have gotten their inoculations and have kept up on testing for COVID.
I would like to thank the social committee for sponsoring the outdoor cookout recently. It seemed like we had a good turn out and there was a fine spirit. Since we were outside, it was a pretty safe event. Next Sunday, at 9 a.m., we will again be having an outdoor Mass, the last one of the summer.
I would like to announce that I have scheduled a parish mission with Fr. Britto Berchmans. This will be October 17, 18 and 19. Fr. Britto was here about seven years ago. He is a dynamic presenter. Hopefully, this can be a time of renewal for our parish. There will be more information about this mission later.
May Our Lady and all the Angels and Saints watch over you today.
Fr. Mark