My dear friends,
“Everyone’s complaining.” That is one of those lines I absolute hate. It generally comes from a person who has a problem and wants to sound more reasonable or amenable than he or she is. The person presenting the issue wants to make it sound as if vast throngs of people stand side by side united in a common cause to throw off the shackles of injustice. It is usually the person speaking who has a petty grievance. Instead of owning that the issue is his or hers, that person wants to say it’s the issue of thousands. If you ever want to get me really angry, try it sometime! If you just tell me it’s you, and we could talk!
It’s like people who write anonymous letters. There are people in this world who unleash furry, but they refuse to attach a name to it. That one confuses me terribly. Why would you bother to sit down and write some impassioned protest or plea, but not then want to get a response? What if your point were completely reasonable and the recipient wanted to talk about it? You could have led to making a change; instead, you have a letter thrown in the trash and disregarded as the ravings of a crazy person. (By the way, I long ago learned to scan for signatures. If a letter has no signature, whether it was good, bad, or indifferent, that letter goes in the shredder.) If you want an answer, then there needs to be a way to answer.
I find it very difficult to abide people who won’t stand by an assertion or own what has been said. Perhaps it comes from having to preach publically, and knowing anything I say is open to critiques and criticisms. It confuses me. Why not claim your thoughts and ideas? Why not engage in a discussion? Why not stand by what you believe? If you don’t, then that demonstrates a lack of commitment or acknowledges that your point is wrong.
In our Gospel this weekend, a worker confronts an owner of a vineyard about a perceived lack of justice in the way workers are paid. That worker didn’t drop an anonymous note in a suggestion box. He speaks directly to the face of the employer. While the laborer doesn’t get the answer for which he hoped, he still gets one. The Master explains his reasons. It’s a lesson in mercy. They may not agree, but there is resolution. It gives all listening food for thought. An open discussion allows for that.
We are called to honestly come to our God and acknowledge where we are. We may not understand, for we are told that God’s ways are not our ways, but the only way to begin to understand is to speak and listen. Jesus never condemns sinners who are honest and open about the wrongs they have done; however, he is often quick to condemn those who try to look better than they are. Christ wants his people to be open and to be compassionate. We need to tackle issues honestly and openly, with open minds and hearts. When we just cower behind anonymous complaints or couch our personal issues as being those of all people, then dialogue never happens. As a people united in One Body, we can deal with conflict and disagreements. Honest discussions from loving places are much better at opening up minds and new possibilities.
Hopefully yours in Christ, Fr. Joe
September 13, 2020
My dear friends,
It has been one of those days. Since 7:00 this morning until I sat at this computer to type at 7:30 in the evening, I’ve been on the go. I have more tasks to accomplish after working on this bulletin. I hope to wrap it up before 10:00 PM. Now, don’t get me wrong, this isn’t typical. Not all my days are a blur of constant activities. This one has, but tomorrow, I hope to have a quiet evening. (Having said this, I’ll probably have seventeen calls tomorrow, but I can hope and pray!) There are busy days and slower ones.
I laugh when I hear people ask me, “Father, how do you do it?” I just do. No one asks my parents how they raised eight children. No one asks the teachers how they manage the challenges of teaching, especially in the situations we face today. No one asks the aids at the nursing facilities how they cover all the patients in their units as we face a global pandemic. People have tasks to face and challenges to meet. They either get them done or they don’t.
I work best when I tackle one task at a time, or bunch several that can be done simultaneously. It’s the best method for me. By checking off the list, I don’t feel overwhelmed and find a sense of accomplishment . I can give my attention to a task without being overwhelmed about another. I know I will have time later to handle the next one when this task is complete. It also prevents me from dawdling too long and wasting a great deal of precious time. The odd thing is that I actually am more productive when I am busy than if I have very little to do.
In my prayer life, I try to take the same approach. I try to face the situation at hand and deal with it rather than facing all things at once. I handle my preparations for public liturgies and the prayers I need to help me there. I work on the homilies and order of the rites. When that is done, I pray my own prayers. I might read the Bible. I might say some old prayer that brings me peace and comfort. I might just simply take some time to talk to God in my own words. By doing each of these separately, I am able to get my mind and heart into the exercise without too much distraction.
In the midst of a global pandemic, as we face terrible partisan difference of politics, address racial discrimination, deal with social unrest, and having been through the hottest and driest summer ever, it’s easy to get distracted. We could be lost in worries and fears. With all that to face, who can keep their mind on God. We might be lost in anger, fear, frustration, confusion, and just plain apathy. Facing everything at once is too much for us to handle. We begin to think our lives are out of control as so many external forces press upon us. Don’t fear. You will be fine.
Find one thing you can do and control, and do it. You can’t change the entire world, but you can make a difference in one moment, or for one person, or solving one problem. If we each tackle one problem, or find peace in one setting, then it becomes manageable. We are not overwhelmed by fear. Try it. Face one problem and do what you can at this one moment. You will find it brings great happiness, contentment, and peace of mind.