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Sunday Homily

Rev. THEODORE SMITH O.Praem., Priest for Hungarians

(Lk18:9-14) “Blessed are you that weep now, for you shall laugh... Woe, to you that laugh now for you shall mourn and weep!” (Lk6:21b,25b) So reads the third of Jesus' Eight Beatitudes as recorded by St. Luke. Every sorrow is by no means wholesome, nor is every exultation unhealthy. Rejoicing in the Lord is always good (Phil4:4), but the Pharisee rejoiced in himself. The contrite Publican's sorrow was healthy, but Judas Iscariot's wasn't. He despaired of God's mercy. Humanity can't be nicely divided into two camps – Pharisees and Publicans – but all of us do stand to learn something from this remarkable parable. Like the Pharisee, we too rejoice when we should cry. Like the Publican, we weep when we should rejoice; the Publican went home forgiven; the Pharisee did not. The Pharisee's praise of God was self-adulation, his worship was self-service! The Pharisee was the victim of monumental self- deception – and we can be too!

Our very salvation can depend on making a good examination of conscience. This was the fundamental difference between the two: one didn't; the other did. And we can too, if we heed the advice given in The Imitation of Christ: “Jesus has many lovers of His heavenly kingdom, but few bearers of His Cross. He has many seekers of comfort, but few of tribulation. He finds many companions of His table, but few of His fasting. All desire to rejoice with Him, few are willing to undergo anything for His sake. Many follow Jesus that they may eat of His loaves, but few that they may drink the cup of His passion. Many are astonished at His Miracles, few follow after the shame of His Cross. Many love Jesus so long as no adversities happen to them. Many praise Him and bless Him, as long as they receive any comforts from Him. But if Jesus hide Himself and withdraw from them a little while, they fall either into complaining or into too great dejection of mind.”

“But they who love Jesus for Jesus' sake, and not for any consolation of their own, bless Him in all tribulation and anguish of heart as in the highest consolation. And if He should never give them consolation, nevertheless they would always praise Him and always give Him thanks. Oh what power hath the pure love of Jesus, unmixed with any gain or love of self! Should not all they be called mercenary who are always seeking consolations? Do they not prove themselves lovers of self more than of Christ who are always seeking their own gain and advantage? Where shall be found one who is willing to serve God altogether for nothing?...and having done all things which he knows to be his duty, feels like he has done nothing. Let him not reckon as much what might be much esteemed, but let him pronounce himself to be in truth an unprofitable servant.” (II,11,1)

Men like this can face down the world because they've conquered their “devils” within. “Neither death, nor life.. nor things present, nor things to come, nor might, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, can separate [them] from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom8:38) They're like Christ, who exteriorly vanquished the devil on Calvary because He had already defeated him in the desert during an interior contest of wills. The fate of nations is likewise determined within the souls of individuals. The '56 revolution was no exception. Its beginnings were non-violent. Its initial success was guaranteed when government soldiers lowered their weapons, refusing to fire on their unarmed Hungarian countrymen. Its failure was guaranteed when brave freedom fighters – for whom we pray – were tricked into placing their trust in weapons – especially those of their would-be ally. Older Hungarians recognize the makings of dictatorial Hungary's Államvédelmi Hatóság in America's new Homeland Security. What follows is advice for the future, not criticism of the past. The devil also wants us to trust in weapons. Instead, let's trust in God and in each other. This is Jesus' way. It doesn't defy logic; it surpasses it! So don't try to understand it completely! In history – as in the spiritual life – the devil is overcome by peaceful non-cooperation, not by a violent attack! Amen!