Before Mass:
The overwhelming theme of the readings today is
HUMILITY. I’ll just tell you that now, because
that’s not what we’re going to talk about.
We don’t often preach on the 2nd reading, because it doesn’t
always fit the theme of the other two readings.
But today, it’s a powerful one, and I really felt like Spirit prompting
me to concentrate on it. To understand
that reading though, you gotta know just a little back story – because it refers
to something that’s not obvious to us today.
The first part of the reading refers to’ blazing fire and
gloomy darkness and storm and a trumpet blast and a voice speaking words such
that those who heard begged that no message be further addressed to them.’ What?!
That make sent to anybody? The
first century readers would immediately have known what he was talking
about: At Mt Sanai, God was giving the
10 commandments to Moses, but what the people experiences was thunder and
lighting and trumpet blasts and the mountain was smoking – THAT was how the
people experienced the voice of God- and they were SO terrified that they
begged Moses – YOU talk to God so we don’t have to hear him lest we die! Literally, they thought approaching would
kill them. Our reading today is saying
THAT is NOT how WE experience God.
You
and I are in the New Testament – and that’s what the second half of the reading
is about ‘No, you have approached Mount Zion’ – that’s symbolic speech for you
have approached HEAVEN. So put your
thinking cap on… When exactly have you and I approached HEAVEN? We’re not dead yet – is there another time we
approach heaven? – at Mass. That’s the
main thing to remember as you listen to the second half – he’s describing
what’s about to happen right here.
Homily
Have you ever been someplace
that was so beautiful – so moving – so above-and-beyond that words fail when
you try to tell your friends about it!?
I feel that when I come back from Colorado. As much as I try to show pictures and tell
the stories, there is no way I can communicate to you just how phenomenal the
experience is. Why? Because unless you were there, you just don’t
get it. It’s more than mountains, it’s
more than awesome sunrises and clouds and trees and the smell of the spruce and
the breezes and the wildlife sightings and the cold, crisp, dry air….I could go
on and on, but I’d still fail in my descriptions.
That’s kinda what’s happening
in today’s second reading. The letter to
the Hebrews is TRYING to describe something phenomenal, over-the-top, moving –
but words don’t do it justice. Why? Because the audience hasn’t seen what he’s
trying to explain. He’s TRYING to open
their eyes to recognize what is right in front of them. He’s trying to open OUR eyes to what we’re
about to experience here at Mass.
If I had my way, right now
I’d quit talking and we’d watch a video which SHOWS us what this reading is
trying to say. Maybe you saw it on
facebook or the website – if so, you’re at an advantage. For everyone else, – I’ll TRY to convey some
meaning by adding more words even though it may be an epic fail.
So, Pick up your missalettes
and turn to page 207. I want to go deep
into several lines in the second half of that 2nd reading. We’ve
heard this kind of stuff our whole lives, but it’s so full of metaphors that it
comes across as just flowery church-talk.
Remember what I said before Mass, he’s talking about The Mass. Let’s put those glasses on and see if it
makes more sense.
Skip to the line: “you HAVE
COME to Mount Zion
a) “Mt. Zion”, “the city of
the living God”, “the heavenly Jerusalem” —
These are three of images which the Bible itself uses to describe
HEAVEN. Think about that: We are visiting the city of the living God. Where is God? In heaven!
Many saints have told us that Mass truly is “heaven on earth,”. Let that sink in a little – when we’re
kneeling here during the consecration, we are actually in heaven.
b) “Innumerable angels in
festal gathering” — If God was to open our eyes just once so that we could see
the invisible — as he has to some mystics in Church history — we would see
them! We would be overwhelmed to see the
entire heavenly host surrounding us in the sanctuary. All the angels are here! Also notice they are in ‘festal gathering’…
is that important? YES – they are
dressed up for a feast. What’s the
feast?? We’ll come back to that in a
couple minutes.
c) “The assembly of the first
born enrolled in heaven” — “Assembly” is the translation of ekklesia, which is the
Greek word for Church. Y’all know the Church is not the building, but the
people – and that includes all people past, present, and future. Bottom line – we may think we come here to
pray individually or even as a community - but we’re not alone! Every person who has their name written in
the book of life is praying together with us as brothers and sisters. So move over and let them into your pew!
d) “God the judge of all” —
God the Father is here. We already said
we have approached God’s holy city, but God himself is HERE. God is all loving, but He is also our judge —
so we should never pretend that we’re better than we are – because He knows us
better than we know ourselves. We should
approach the judge in humility. But on
the other hand we need not be terrified, because this same God gave us Jesus as
our defense lawyer – and he’s already written his defense brief on our behalf
in his own blood (1John 2:1).
e) “The spirits of the
righteous made perfect” — This refers to the saints, who have been made perfect
by God – through earthly trials, through martyrdom, through purgatory. The Love of God has perfected them. All of
them are here as well — here! In our
church!! Including our patron Saints
Isidore, Raphael, and Celestine — praying right alongside of us.
f) “Jesus, the mediator of a
new covenant” — Wait – WHERE is Jesus?
He’s in heaven. He stands
forever before the throne of his Father offering his body as the once-for-all
sacrifice. But – He is also HERE. He is the mediator… think of it this
way: because we have the Body of Jesus
on our altar, THAT is what makes it possible for us all to participate in that
heavenly liturgy. We’re both in heaven
and on earth because we have a mediator who makes it possible! Jesus is the priest, He is also the
sacrifice. When father holds up the host
at the consecration, it’s no longer Father holding the host, but Jesus himself
holding it up using the hands of our Priest!
As a community, we join in THE sacrifice which is forever offered in
heaven. It’s not a new sacrifice – He
died once for all - but Jesus stands forever before the throne offering himself
as this sacrifice on our behalf.
g) “The sprinkled blood that
speaks more eloquently than the blood of Abel” — OK think - What blood are we
approaching? The blood of Jesus. Who was Abel?
He was Adam’s son who was killed by his brother Cain. After Abel was killed by his brother, his blood
cried out for vengeance. On the other
hand, when we, the brothers of Jesus killed him, his blood speaks not of vengeance but of
forgiveness: Here’s an example – we’ll
hear the words shortly: “This is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and
everlasting covenant, which will be shed for you and for all SO THAT SINS MAY
BE FORGIVEN.” Put two and two together… Why
did Jesus empty himself of blood? To
forgive us! Jesus’ blood seeks
forgiveness – and Forgiveness is more eloquent than vengeance.
This is the reality every
time we come to Mass! Honestly, I have to remind myself often, because without
the eyes of faith, we would never see this nor believe any of it.
There’s a video I HIGHLY
recommend called ‘The Mass Unveiled’ –
you can google it – or find it in the bulletin or there’s a link on our
website (and below). It’s only 5.5 minutes and gives
a great visual of what’s going on at Mass – in fact, if you watch it, you’ll
understand that much of my feeble descriptions were made after seeing that
video….and you’ll understand that my words didn’t do it justice.
One last note – it’s not
coincidence that the Gospel speaks of being invited to a wedding banquet. The Mass IS the wedding feast of Jesus as He
is wed to his bride, the Church. We’ve
all been invited here by the Father. Even
the angels are here in their festal garments.
How we approach the feast has consequences – if we’re all pumped up and
exalted and think we deserve this somehow, we will be humbled. But if we humbly recognize that there is NO
WAY we could deserve what Jesus did for us, then we will remain lowly – HUMBLE –
then the Father will exalt us. He’ll
say, ‘friend come to a higher position’. The Father will call each of us by name to
approach Him more closely, not just to the seats in the first row, but beyond
the first row, to wed us to His Son. Did
you catch that? That’s what this
marriage feast is all about: You and I
come forward to be WED to Jesus himself.
And you thought you were just
coming to church today.
