18th Sunday 2013
Robert VerEecke, S.J.
May I ask if any of you enjoyed the study of grammar when you were in
school? Anyone a fan of “diagramming sentences”? I have to say: I loved
grammar. I mention that this morning for two reasons. One is that I want to
speak of the “grammar of simplicity” which Pope Francis references in his
talk to the Brazilian Bishops. The second is that, like Francis, my homily is
in three parts, using three sentences.
An imperative, an interrogatory and a declarative.
The imperative: Keep it simple. The interrogatory: Why so much stuff?
The declarative: Christ is all in all.
Keep it simple. That’s the way I began my homily last week that I presume
you didn’t hear (except for a few exceptions). The context for the homily
was Pope Francis’ message to the Brazilian bishops responding to the
question of why so many people are leaving the Catholic Church and
becoming members of evangelical churches.
He said ordinary Catholics didn't understand such lofty ideas and needed to
hear the simpler message of love, forgiveness and mercy that are at the core
of the Catholic faith.
“At times we lose people because they don't understand what we are saying,
because we have forgotten the language of simplicity and import an
intellectualism foreign to our people," he said. "Without the grammar of
simplicity, the church loses the very conditions which make it possible to fish
for God in the deep waters of his mystery.” (I just love that image.)
Keep it simple, he says. Know the Beatitudes and Matthew 25. They are the
blueprint for Christian living.
Last week in the scriptures we heard Jesus “keeping it simple”.
Keep it simple, Jesus tells his disciples. When you pray, no need for long
sentences with subordinate clauses like those we are using in our liturgy and
that are challenging to pray and comprehend. Pray from the heart, pray to
God, your heavenly father, with a heart filled with gratitude and ask for what
you need, your daily bread, forgiveness and mercy and be with us as we face
the challenges of every day living.
Ask, seek, knock. The answer will come. It’s always a “yes”, even when it
first feels like a No.
That was last week. This week’s scripture continues this theme of the
simplicity of life. In the parable of the man who collects so much stuff, not
sharing but keeping it for himself, building bigger and bigger store houses,
Jesus reminds us that “you can’t take it with you”. Life is a gift. (Sorry
Qoheleth. May I suggest a good therapist, spiritual director or some other
mood enhancer) Life is a gift. It’s not yours for the “taking”, grabbing
greedily for all you can get out of it. But it’s there for the “receiving” and
the “sharing” and the “giving back”.
Which leads me the question: Why so much stuff? Stuff is one of those
collective nouns that seems to mean nothing and everything at the same time.
Stuff. Even it’s sound gives you the feeling that it’s about more than you
could possibly need to live a happy and fulfilled life.
“Eat, drink and be merry.” Stuff yourself with more than you need. You’re
already filled but you keep on stuffing. What is it about us human beings
that makes us want more and more “stuff” inside and out? Why do we stuff
ourselves and collect so much stuff that we discard and don’t use or need
anyway?
OK. I realize I’m sounding as depressing as Qoheleth. I do think it’s worth
thinking about in the context of the “grammar of simplicity” that Francis
talks about. Does all the stuff we have keep us from “fishing” for God in the
deep waters of his mystery?
Imperative: Keep it simple
Interrogatory: Why so much stuff?
Now the declarative sentence from St. Paul: Christ is all in all.
What could be simpler? Christ is meant to be the “stuff of life”, the Staff of
life, the bread of life, the wine of gladness. Bread and wine, simple gifts that
are transformed into meaning without measure for those of us who are called
to take and receive and share who we are with our sisters and brothers.