XIII Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle C

1 Kgs 19:16b, 19-21
Ps 16:1-2,5,7-8,9-10,11
Gal 5:1, 13-18
Lk 9:51-62

I really wonder what would have happened if our Lord had actually called down fire from heaven to smite that town of Samaria.  It almost sounds too perfect: the stereotypical angry god that exacts revenge at the slightest insult.  These two “Sons of Thunder”, James and John, are all too ready for retribution for an offense against the Lord.  But Jesus rebukes them and in some manuscripts, Jesus says, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of; for the Son of man came not to destroy men’s lives but to save them.”  This idea of revenge and retribution is not in the spirit of the Lord’s purpose.  But some would argue… but wait shouldn’t they deserve punishment and justice?  Before we can understand the Gospel and the scriptures today, we must first take a look at what makes us human.

All of Creation is created by God, this we know.  And even if you subscribe to the Big Bang Theory, there must have been something or someone to have put it there: a Creator.  Amongst all of creation He created us in His image.  Scientists and theorists have tried to propose our evolutionary connection to apes and monkeys; and while that may be biologically sound, we are still a unique species because of a certain power that we have: intellection and reason.  Even animals have basic emotions, but we can think in a manner that is above and beyond the rest of creation.  Cheetahs are faster, bears are stronger, birds may fly, and fish swim in the water, but we have the intellectual power for all those things and more with the power of our mind.  I would propose that this is our greatest asset.  Closely following that asset is another gift that God gives us: free will – freedom.

St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians says, we are set free and not to submit again to the yoke of slavery. For you were called for freedom… but do not use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh.  Live by the Spirit… for the flesh has desires against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh.  After the fall of Adam and Eve, the effects of sin mainly the flesh’s appetites have had an edge.  Our animal/creature nature – which makes us like the rest of creation (e.g. hunger, thirst, shelter, desire for reproduction) has been fighting against our ability and desire to live free.  That is not to say that we do not need these things, but quite often our rational power and our will power have been compromised; and they become inverted.  So that when things are a little frustrating we go back to our animal appetites: “This has been a bad day, I need to… (e.g. retail therapy, go to a sports bar, surf the internet, watch television, veg on the couch).  What happens then is that we are yoked with a certain slavery to sin or desire.  We become a beast burdened and controlled instead of having the true dignity of a human person in control of our desires and temptations.  Even if our “addiction” does not need professional help, it is something that turns us and keeps us from God.

But the grace of God and life in the Spirit of God intends us to be something greater – that which He has called us to be: to live in our full potential of knowing, loving, serving, and glorifying Him.  Our will and our ability to reason give us the power to say, “No! I am not going to succumb to sin.  I am better than that and God desires me to be better than that.”

There are many temptations in the world and one of these is the prevalent use of contraceptives, especially as public education seeks to push and encourage it to young people.  To actively promote contraceptives to young people is to say, “Hey, we know you’re an animal and since you can’t control yourself – at least do this.”  I think that young people should be insulted.  The irony is that if you can’t control yourself on the important things in life, then how are you going to control yourself on doing something as simple as taking a pill or putting something on?  We have the ability to control our bodily appetites.  Yes, we get hungry but does that mean we have to pull out a candy bar every time our grumbles?  Yes, there is a desire to love someone but does that mean that one has to have “intimate relations” every time they see each other?  Are you animals, are you rabbits?  No, you are human beings with the gift of knowledge and wisdom; free will and the power to think through your actions and control your desires.

When I hear about the atrocities that happened with the a certain late-term abortion doctor, who was convicted of doing some truly horrendous things to babies and his patients and then I hear about the debate of banning abortion past 20 weeks here in Texas and increasing safety standards in abortion clinics, I think the answers seems obvious.  What is the moral difference between what this particular abortion doctor did and what other abortionists are doing now?  None. It is only a matter of where it is done: inside or outside of the womb.  I believe that the right to choice should be unfettered because of the gift of free will, but if that choice affects another human person, this choice must be checked.  We must respect the dignity and life of the other as well, in this case: the baby.  One with only an animal nature may try the most expedient and convenient way out because that is the natural way of things.  But we again have been blessed with the knowledge and wisdom to realize that life is precious and has dignity and therefore the expediency and convenience must fall back to dignity of life.  Does this mean that we abandon the mother in a crisis pregnancy? Absolutely not!  We are called to provide care and aid to both mother and child in need because they are indeed our vulnerable brothers and sisters in Christ.

To undo the burden of slavery to sin in the world, we must yoke ourselves with Christ: because He assures us that His yoke is easy and His burden is light.  The story of Elijah and Elisha, when heard against the story of Jesus and the would-be follower, shows how radical that call to discipleship is.  Whereas Elijah allows Elisha to turn back, Jesus replies, Let the dead bury the dead and No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom….  The radical call of Jesus Christ is demanding, but it also helps us to undo that burden and slavery to sin when we put things in right order.  The yoke of Christ helps us in a positive way to see how we are called to something that goes beyond the animal nature into a Divine Relationship with Him.

The laws in the OT were set out to force one into charity without the free will to decide.  But God calls us now to live positively, to Love our neighbor as yourself.  We are called then in freedom, to love as God would love; and not in a spirit of vengeance and retribution – because that is not what God is about.

This past week has been pretty rough in terms of the failure to pass some Texas legislation and the Supreme Court decision.  With these events in the midst of the US Bishops’ campaign “Fortnight for Freedom” (ending on July 4), it seems to just add salt to the wounds.  But our Christian faith and discipleship calls us not to call for revenge and a scorched earth mentality, but to continue in prayer and to build up His Kingdom: to seek the lost and the forsaken, to protect the unborn and those at death’s door (e.g. indigent and Death Row), to welcome the stranger (e.g. immigrants) and marginalized (e.g. homosexuals and disabled).  As the greatest of God’s creation, we have been gifted with purpose and power – now we must use them justly and share the love that God has given to us.  We could be just like the monkeys and apes in the wild.  We could do whatever we want, whenever we want – but that is below our dignity.  We can think, we can reason, and we have a living relationship with God.  He does not promise it to be pain free or without difficulty (as you can see plainly see on the Cross), but He does tell us that the reward and consolation will be great.  Therefore, let us live in and be guided in the Holy Spirit- let us not yoke ourselves to the slavery of sin, but yoke ourselves to Christ who shows us the way.