I have not used a Chosen reference in awhile, so I figured it was time to again interject an example from the series to highlight a reflection. Especially since season 4 is just a couple months away from debut.
In a scene from Season 3, we see Jesus and Little James (younger James, the brother of John) discussing why was it that Jesus has not healed James of his lameness. Jesus has just told his apostles that He was sending them out to preach the Good News and to work miracles…including healing the lame. How was it that Jesus was sending out the lame to cure the lame. James asks, “Why haven’t you healed me?”
Jesus responds by telling James to listen carefully because what He is about to tell him will affect the rest of his life. He tells James that He could easily cure him of his illness. James has seen Jesus accomplish this many, many times. He implies that these miracles were “common place”. But what will the response be from those who are lame, when they are healed by someone with the same disability. What faith does that demonstrate from James that he does God’s will even when he himself did not receive the same grace of healing for himself. Jesus also stresses to James that he WILL be healed when he enters life eternal alongside Jesus. Here is the link to the clip:
In today’s first reading we read from Paul’s letter to Timothy. Paul states:
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
Of these I am the foremost.
But for that reason I was mercifully treated,
so that in me, as the foremost,
Christ Jesus might display all his patience as an example
for those who would come to believe in him for everlasting life.
(1 Timothy 1:15-16)
What effect do you think Paul had on those who knew him as a Pharisee among Pharisees? As someone who mercilessly persecuted followers of The Way? When he then, after being converted on the road to Damascus, preached the Good News in synagogues. The disability of his reputation in a way mirrored James’ disability. I am sure Christ knew the power Paul would have of ministering to the very people that he had served alongside in the arrest and killing of early Christians. But it did not come without cost. Paul was beaten almost to the point of death. He went hungry and homeless. He was ridiculed and ostracized from his fellow countrymen. But he persisted in spreading Christ’s Word up to the point of his death by being beheaded in Rome. Why?
The answer lies in today’s Gospel. Jesus compares two houses to those who individuals who claim to be His followers. One house is built on rock and one built on no foundation (though Matthew’s version of this parable has one house on rock and the other on sand). He uses the example of the home built on sand to those that follow him in word only. Falling away at the slightest tribulation.
And then there are those that endure all for the Gospel. This is the home built on rock. Both houses would look the same on the outside. As would an observer of two persons calling themselves Christian. One would say all the right things. Reiterate all the quotes Jesus made. Maybe recite the beatitudes. But when trouble came. When the winds and the rains battered the house of their faith, they would collapse under the pressure. Not suited for the life that Christ promised. Paul built his “house”, his faith, not on a sand foundation, but on rock. This was Paul…he knew what laid in store for him. And it was worth all that he had to endure. His house looked good on the outside as well as having a foundation that was built to withstand all that would be coming at Paul.
We have just emerged from a very difficult time in the Church. The unprecedented closure of churches in the face of the COVID pandemic. Catholics all over the world were locked out of their parishes. Out of their houses of worship. Could not receive the Eucharist. For most it was a test of their faith. Was church attendance merely a habit? When that habitual behavior was interrupted for several months did they remain home? Was their house of faith built on a sand foundation? Or was that faith built on rock? Able to withstand the separation and isolation, returning to worship and receive Christ’s body and blood? May we face the storms battering the Church as would a home built on a rock foundation. Remaining firmly planted in the teachings of Our Lord. Growing into the good tree bearing good fruit for the sake of the kingdom.
