Daily Homily 4-4-2020
5th Saturday of Lent/Jn. 10:31-42 (Save Us from Corrupt Politicians)
Jesus was a problem for the Pharisees and Sadducees who represented the Jewish religious establishment in Biblical times. He was a problem for the Pharisees because he had a habit of bending religious law. He was a problem for the Sadducees because he threatened the social order.
The Sadducees were part of the political system in Israel at the time Jesus lived. The Sadducees supervised the worship in the temple which generated a lot of money which they had few qualms about dipping into for their own personal needs. They were also in league with the Romans. The Sadducees were pragmatists who believe it was better for them if they cooperated with the Romans rather than fight them.
The question that was constantly on their mind was how do we keep things calm rather than the question of what is right and wrong? That is how corrupt politicians think. Many political people just want to keep their positions because they reap a rich reward. If the poor suffer that’s all right. If someone must die so that nothing would change that’s all right.
Jesus was caught in the middle of this turmoil. He preached hope and change, and this led to his being labeled as an enemy of the state. It made no difference that his movement was non-violent. It made no difference that he was a moral person. He had too much of a following and that was a threat.
The ironic part of this whole situation is that it was not long after Jesus’ death that Jerusalem was destroyed (70 A.D.) The Romans grew tired of the Jewish leaders and their machinations. The Sadducees efforts to keep the status quo fell apart. We are left to wonder what would have happened if they would have stood up for what was just? What would have happened if they would have been open to the message of Jesus.
Jesus’ story challenges us to be people who always choose to defend what is right. At times we all waffle, but we must be strong and align with goodness wherever we find it.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Parishioners,
I found this prayer by Cameron Bellm which is both consoling and challenging:
Prayer for the Pandemic
May we who are merely inconvenienced remember those whose lives are at stake.
May we who have no risk factors remember those most vulnerable.
May we who have the luxury of working from home remember those who must choose between preserving their health or making their rent.
May we who have the flexibility to care for our children when their schools close remember those who have no options.
May we who have to cancel our trips remember those who have no safe place to go.
May we who are losing our margin money in the tumult of the economic market remember those who have no margin at all.
May we who settle in for a quarantine at home remember those who have no home.
As fear grips our country, let us choose love.
During this time when we cannot physically wrap our arms around each other, let us yet find ways to be a loving embrace of God to our neighbors. Amen.
Please remember that we will live stream Mass on Facebook this afternoon at 4 p.m. for Palm Sunday. After that, the Mass will be posted on the Sacred Heart WEB page. You can go to the red ribbon at the top of the page and click on Masses and you will see the list of livestreamed Masses, choose “Palm Sunday”.
We received another communication from the Chancery Office in Peoria last night. The crux of the message is that our parishes will be locked down until further notice. Even if the governor says that we can assemble the Bishop may say not yet. We will need to continue to find creative ways to maintain our parish community.
May Our Lady intercede for all of us in this time of plague.
Fr. Mark