What brings me life?

Homily

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time BI

Transferred Feast of St. Lawrence

Opening Weekend at KU

22 August 2021

AMDG +mj  

What if I were to serve today my own blood, and jerky made from my arm that I just cut off?  What if I said that unless you gnaw on my arm and throw back my blood, you're dead to me?  How many of you would get in line?  How many of you would leave?

So we let ourselves be affected by Jesus' most disgusting sermon, and his most challenging.  The guy is nuts.  He doubles down on his most offensive sermon, causing most to walk away.

I'll have to admit I don't know why I'm still here.  I don't know why you haven't canceled Jesus.  It's the biggest risk, the greatest act of faith, and the most ridiculous thing, to respond each week to the most disgusting invitation.  Jesus chased a lot of people away by saying exclusive and challenging things, but this takes the cake.  Unless you gnaw on my flesh and drink my blood you are dead to me.

It's way beyond the offense Paul makes by saying wives must be subordinate to their husbands in everything.  Paul's words in their context would only have shocked men, not women, who are being told to wake up to their leadership responsibilities and to bathe their wives in sacrifice, even as Christ does for his bride the Church.  Still, the words pale in comparison to what Jesus says.

What brings me life?  That is the first pivotal question of the semester.  These disgusting words of Jesus bring me life, as much or more than any other!  He calls his disgusting words spirit and life, for they are an invitation to live as God does, to live differently, to live fully, a life only possible through faith.  The flesh is of no avail.  Everyone who thinks and acts in ways they can control, manage or measure will die.  Yet it is the Spirit that gives life.

That's what gets us fired up at St. Lawrence. It is the risk of faith.  It is the improbable story of a student courageously living their faith in college, and applying these words of life to the experiences, relationships and learning that takes place at KU.  It's what brings us life, guiding great stories.

What brings you life?  I dare say it is those who go for it, who make the risk of faith, never moreso that each Sunday when we decide not to be offended by Jesus most challenging sermon, but to be affected by it.  I invite you to engage, not cancel your faith, and to courageously walk the path that leads to life!