What is the difference between good religion and bad religion. That is the theme with which we are dealing today.
It should be noted that the primary difference between good religion and bad does not lie in the realm of theological ideas. Jesus did not denounce the scribes and Pharisees for what might be called “doctrinal heresy”. In fact he almost seemed to approve of them at that point. He told his disciples to “do everything and observe everything they tell you”. But then he added, “Do not follow their example.” In other words he approved of their religious theory but disapproved of their religious practice. He did not like what their religion had done to their character.
Jesus knew that in matters of religion it is possible to be doctrinally correct and, at the same time, to be morally and ethically corrupt.
These people had so misused their religion as to make themselves arrogant snobs. They were firmly convinced that they were just a little bit better than the average run of people. And that, my friends, is one sure sign of a religion gone bad.
Good religion always engenders humility. Bad religion engenders arrogance. Whenever you and I begin to think that we are a little bit better than some other person or some other group, we can mark it down at that very point, our religion has started to go bad.
It works something like this: Since I am right and you are wrong, and since I am better than you are, then God must surely be on my side against you. This means that I have a divinely mandated responsibility to get you straightened out. This gives me the right to impose my will upon you. If I cannot change your mind then I must control your actions so that you cannot corrupt the rest of society.
This is the attitude that brought about the crucifixion of Christ. This is the attitude that created and sustained the institution of slavery. This is the attitude that inspired and energized the Nazi regime in Germany. This is the attitude that underlies all racial discrimination and religious persecution. There is no more damnable attitude on the face of the earth than the tragic notion that Gods is on my side against you.
Let me illustrate the attitude by citing two events of recent history and a comment that was made concerning them. Some of us remember the tragedy when a Korean passenger plane was shot down by a Soviet jet fighter, killing two hundred sixty-nine people. The other event was less publicized. It happened a few months later in that same region. There was an accidental explosion on a Soviet military base that killed approximately three hundred of their military personnel. A short time later a nationally known television evangelist (Jerry Falwall) reminded his listeners of both events and then gave his interpretation of them. He pointed out that the second tragedy is shrouded in mystery. And no one knows for sure what happened. But he insisted that he knew. His exact words were these: “God struck the match.” In other words, God caused the explosion. He was punishing them for what they had done to us. The evangelist was saying that same old thing – God is on our side against them. And I could not disagree more.
I am saying, my friends, that God is not on our side against anybody. Our role in this world is not to conquer and control. It is to save. Jesus said, “The greatest among you will be the one who serves the rest.” That is good religion. And if we ever forget it, our religion has started to go bad.
I close by quoting Mother Teresa. More than any person, she knew what good religion is. She says: “Each person’s mission is a mission of love. Begin in the place where you are, with the people closest to you. Make your homes centers of compassion and forgive endlessly. Let no one ever come to you without coming away better and happier…
“At the hour of death when we come face-to-face with God, we are going to be judged on love; not how much we have done, but how much love we put into doing”
Now that’s good religion!
Archive for October, 2011
“Good Religion or Bad Religion?” 10-30-2011
Sunday, October 30th, 2011“You’re Not Much Help Here, Lord” 10-16-2011
Sunday, October 16th, 2011As Jesus was teaching, someone approached him with two bumper stickers, one for Barack Obama, one for Republicans. “Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you teach the way of God. Tell us, who should we vote for?” Jesus replied, “Vote for those who will lead you to God’s reign. Support those who will establish the Father’s kingdom of justice and mercy.”
A parent then came up to Jesus and handed him two bills and asked, “Lord, money is tight. Which do I pay first: my house payment or my contribution to my church?” Jesus said, “Give thanks to God for what you have received. Pay to our creditors what is rightly owed them.”
A teenager next came up to Jesus. “Jesus, my Confirmation class meets tonight, the same time as football practice for this weekend’s big game. Should I come to class or do I meet my obligations to my teammates and coaches?” Jesus blessed him, saying, “Give to God the time he has given you. Give to your team the time the game warrants.”
All three – the voter, the homeowner, the teenager – left Jesus as confused as they were when they approached him.
Jesus’ answers are not the clear solutions we hope for to these and many other questions. But his response is the heart of living our faith: the struggle to return to God what is God’s. Through prayer and discernment, each one of us has to do for ourselves the hard work of deciding exactly what is God’s will in our complex world of politics, money and human relationships. Jesus’ response to the Pharisees today confronts them, and us, with the demand to act out of our deepest convictions and take responsibility for those actions. The purpose and meaning of life, the path to dealing with the complexities of our time and place, are found in our struggle with our consciences and in the values we hold in the depths of our hearts. Jesus appeals to us to look beyond the simplistic politics and black-and white legalisms represented by Caesar’s coin and realize that we are called to embrace the values centered in a faith that sees the hand of God in all things and recognizes every human being as being part of one human family under the providence of God.
The House of Aptos 10-2-2011
Sunday, October 2nd, 2011During the responsorial psalm we all sang, “The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.” We sang it five times. And it’s true, I guess. It was true for the ancient Jew that wrote that psalm. But if the scripture at mass is addressed not just to people long ago but to you and me today, then probably a more accurate translation of the phrase is: The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Aptos.
The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Aptos. Let me now sing of my friend God, and one of his vineyards, the vineyard in that part of California USA which is now called Aptos.
God once had a vineyard on a fertile hillside. It was a beautiful hillside that overlooked the clear blue waters of the Monterey Bay. In the bay were squid and fish of every variety, delicious to eat, not difficult to catch. On the hillside grew trees and shrubs and wildflowers of great beauty and variety. In the trees birds chanted beautiful songs. The climate was mild and pleasant. Nearby was a valley of incredible fertility where vegetables and berries grew abundantly.
It was this very favored spot, God chose for his vineyard. He gave the care of this very special vineyard to men and women. Men and women he loved dearly. Men and women who lived in Aptos. He gave them the care of this part of the earth and said, make it beautiful. Make it a place of peace and harmony and sharing and brotherly and sisterly love. This part of the earth I entrust to you. Make Aptos like heaven.
But the people in Aptos, us, living in this garden spot, asked to turn it into heaven had other ideas. The harvest they gave back to God was sour grapes. They didn’t get along, the didn’t share, and that garden that could have been a little piece of heaven became a thorny place, a place where people didn’t trust each other, share with each other, make room for each other.
God loved his garden in Aptos, his people in Aptos – the vineyard of the Lord is the house of Aptos so when things got tangled and messy he sent his servants, the prophets. He sent good people to proclaim truth and hope and whatever. He sent constant reminders that people needed to become more honest, more caring with each other. He reminded people that by showing love for each other they were showing love for him.
Oh some of the prophets may have ended up beaten or killed or stoned, but mostly because this is the civilized 21st century, they were just ignored. They came proclaiming God’s plan, urging people to be godly, and were told – a cute idea, but it will never work in the real world. Can you imagine people having the nerve to tell God what will work in the real world! Or a lovely idea, and I’ll try loving and trusting and sharing just as soon as everybody else does.
But against all odds and beyond all limits, God loved his people at Aptos and in an extraordinarily reckless action – the kind of wild thing you have to be God or like God to do, he said – They’re turning earth into hell. I’ve got to get through to them. I know. I’ll send my son. Maybe they’ll respect and listen to him.
Brothers and sisters, I have an announcement for you of the greatest possible importance. God’s dear son is in Aptos. He is here telling us it is not too late and Aptos can still be heaven, if we choose so. The 64 trillion dollar question is – will we respect God’s son. Will we be his living breathing presence in 2011? Will we now finally, bring joy to the Father’s heart?
