Homily for the Thirtieth Sunday of Ordinary Time (A)

Homily for the Thirtieth Sunday of Ordinary Time (A)

St. Joseph’s Neier October 22-23, 2011

Rev. Kevin Schmittgens

Central Idea: The Great Commandment calls us to balance, to creativity, and to see with a long view.

"Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?"

A Michigan newspaper recently had an article about the influx of homeless people in and around the city of Traverse City. It is a depressing indication of the economic problems that many people are facing.

One of the people interviewed for the story, a 55 year-old man, was fired from his job at a winery about a year and a half ago. Since that time, he has lived under a local bridge as well as relying upon the charity of local churches and Goodwill Industries to get by. The city is doing it’s best to deal with the problem, but Traverse City can be a brutal place, meteorologically speaking. Northern Michigan can get COLD! The man suffered frostbite on his feet and told of another man who lost all of his toes and others who have died of hypothermia.

What is amazing about this story is WHO the man is, or rather, who he is related to. His name is Anthony Ciccone. If the last name doesn’t sound familiar, there is a reason for that. Anthony’s sister dropped her last name and is simply known as (have you guessed it yet?), Madonna. In fact, Anthony was let go from HIS OWN FAMILY’S WINERY!

Madonna is controversial, a lightning rod for us religious people. She is famously provocative in her overt sexuality, her blatant use or misuse of religious imagery, her conspicuous consumption lifestyle. So at first glance, this looks like a perfect story to disparage and condemn the pop star. How could a multi-millionaire let her own brother suffer the indignity and danger of homelessness in, of all places, Northern Michigan?! Brrrr…now that’s COLD!

It seems, at first glance, a blatant rejection of the Great Commandment of Love that we recall and reflect upon in our readings this weekend. Even absolute atheists would recommend (never command) helping those who share the same DNA. It makes evolutionary sense. So what gives, Madonna, give Anthony a hand, will ya?

But as someone who has had a family member in a similar, albeit, less desperate, predicament, let me just say that we do not know all the facts. It looks bad, to be sure, but we do not know all the circumstances surrounding this story and I, for one, would be very cautious about pointing the finger, even at someone like Madonna.

In other words, there is not an automatic default response of love. In fact, it is entirely possible, in some cases, that simply helping that homeless brother may be the EXACT wrong way to live out the commandment of love.

So what’s a person, or a multi-million dollar pop icon to do?

The first key is balance. There are three parts to the Great Commandment, love God, love neighbor, love yourself. Each of those parts, I contend, is vital for a healthy response of true love. Is my response a reflection of my love of God? Is my response the best thing for my brother or sister? Is my response respectful of legitimate self-care? The last aspect usually gets short shrift in our Christian tradition, a tradition where you are to stifle and even repress your own self-interest. However, if you ALWAYS do that, all I can say is “Watch out!” I have seen it time and time again. You may ultimately end up bitter and angry and resentful. Balance, people, balance!

The second key is creativity. Unfortunately, we tend to take the easy, simple or well-worn response of love, and that isn’t always the BEST response. I believe this is a problem on both sides of our political system right now. One or the other responses to social problems have ruled the day, even though we are coming to realize that these responses may be wrong-headed, if not flat out daft. Love always finds a new way; love always discovers a new path. The Great Commandment calls us to be innovative and inventive.

The final key is a need for a long view. That is the essence of love of God; it is the essence of the Great Commandment. Sometimes a response in the short run may not serve someone down the line. As a teacher, I struggle with this all the time. I suppose I could give all my students passing grades, but will that help them in their lives down the road. If I let them get away with laziness and sloppiness, if I fail to call them to responsibility and dependability, will I be doing something that, in the end, will be loving or negligent? Sometimes the Great Commandment of love is a call to tough love. It still demands that we love, but maybe that love has to see farther down the road.

At first glance, it seems unimaginable that the family member of someone with the means and resource to help would have to end up homeless. But I can imagine a series of decisions that dear old Anthony might have made that would keep his wealthy sister from jumping in and saving the day. In fact, the whole scenario sounds rather fishy to me, so much so that I did a lot of digging to see if this story was even true.

But one thing is crystal clear in our lives; Jesus calls us to love and to love deeply. No matter what people have done, no matter what the circumstances, no matter what decisions may have been made, we are called to respond, we are bound by the Great Commandment of Love. What exactly that response may be may take a lot of soul searching, a lot of vision and a lot of hope. It may take something more.

Like a Prayer.