"There is a little boy here."

Here is the Flemish painter, Ambrosius Francken's (1544-1618) great painting depicting this well known Gospel scene — The Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes. There's a lot going on in the painting. Ambrosius has placed Jesus in the center — open-handed (a gesture of non-violence). He has a pleasant soft-smile and wears a beautiful, rose-colored outer mantle. And while eleven apostles are talking among themselves, we see this most important moment, Andrew, making an essential introduction: "There is a little boy here...." We see the boy with his five barley loaves and the two fish on a plate. It appears that the boy has unwrapped the bread for Jesus.

After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a multitude followed him, because they saw the signs which he did on those who were diseased. Jesus went up into the hills, and there sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a multitude was coming to him, Jesus said, to Phillip, "How are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?" This he said to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, "Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little." One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, "There is a little boy here who has five  barley loaves and two fish; but what are they among so many? Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." John 6:1-10

I can well imagine Jesus saying to the boy, "What's your name? Thank you for sharing all you have." We know nothing about the little boy, but we can imagine that he told his mother he was going to hear Jesus, and so she sent him off with something to eat. He was in the right place at the right time, and Andrew had the clarity of mind to make the introduction. And so, a great thing happened.

I saw a bumper sticker the other day which read, The most radical thing we can do is introduce people to one another.  The word radical comes from the Latin radix = root. But an ugly darkness has overcome us these past few years. We are living in suspicion and fear of others. We're quick to assess and judge others. A great bitterness, fueled by conspiracy theories, has spread among us. There are even scenarios that the days following Election Day will be traumatic and violent. Some have called what's going on with us a "cold civil war," ready to burst into flame. People from other countries worry about us, feel embarrassed for us, let down by us. We are not a very United States these days. Our enemies are glad that we are unsettled and at each other. We need to re-discover the good and fundamental work of introducing people to one another. And not just for the sake of winning votes for our candidate. Sad that it's all been reduced to that.

I had a pastor who taught me the necessity of making introductions — an easy way for a pastor to build and enhance community. Sad to say, but Catholics don't get high marks in this regard. I know a young man who when he went away for his first year of college also started attending daily mass in the nearby cathedral. After one year he stopped and said to me, "I went to the noon Mass everyday, and after a year not one person had come near me to say hello or to introduce themselves." I once suggested from the pulpit that we periodically change the pew we sit in week after week, year after year, sometimes for a lifetime, as it would give us a chance to meet new people. You would have thought I had denied the Eucharistic Presence the rejection of the idea was so visceral. Discouraging, really.

A great wonder happened because Andrew made an introduction. Divinity broke in through a human introduction. Want to be a radical — deeply rooted in the gospel? This week, why don't we do something about making introductions — and not just in church. Time is short — let's get past all the excuses.

 

"Hate Has No Home Here" ~ And The Catholic Front Lawn

 

I'm seeing this multilingual sign on front lawns in some places these days. May it signal brighter days ahead. "Hate Has No Home Here." Perhaps it reflects that folks are frustrated and tired of the bitterness that has long afflicted us as a nation, and which seems to have found fresh support and expression more recently. This country has a real black/brown problem. I feel a tremendous disappointment when I detect it among Christians.

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.  This I command you, to love one another. John 15: 9-17

I believe that all Christians (myself very much included) like to keep an eye on the back door — an escape route from one or another of the high bar of Jesus' expectations. I've had people say to me, "Oh Father, I don't hate anyone," as if hate means, "I want you dead." But that's not the definition of hate. Hate is simply strong feelings against the other. There's a lot of hate around these days. 

Catholics often place a statue of the Virgin Mary on their front lawns. Why not? But might I suggest getting one of these Hate Has No Home Here signs and putting it on the lawn (next to Virgin Mary if she is already there). I mean, Mary is the one who gave us the One who says stop the hate. What a witness! Imagine, every Catholic home in the nation announcing — For our part, no more hate.

Intercessions ~ Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

First baby born in the Jewish New Year ~ Jerusalem

The Jewish New Year is being celebrated these days,/ followed by liturgical feasts of repentance,/ reflection and new action./ We join these brothers and sisters in faith,/ asking for gifts of peace,/ safety and health./ We pray to the Lord.

In early October in Assisi,/ as Pope Francis will deliver his letter on social friendship,/ the world is experiencing great storms of war,/ poverty,/ migration,/ climate change,/ racial tension,/economic and political crises./ We pray for the healing of North-South,/ rich-poor divides,/ and the many ways in which people are differentiated,/ denigrated and excluded./ We pray to the Lord.

A huge fire has destroyed a camp of nearly 13,000 Syrian and Afghan migrants on the Isle of Lesbos in Greece./ The people are without toilets,/ medicine,/ food or water./ Four thousand are children./ Four hundred are unaccompanied children./ We pray for them/ and any who are working to relieve their suffering./ We pray to the Lord.

Terrible fires continue to burn in California,/ Oregon and Washington State./ We pray for those who have lost everything./ For those who are missing or who have died,/ mindful that firefighters are among the dead./ For those who are fighting this environmental disaster/ and for the healing of our wasted planet./ We pray to the Lord.

More than 204,000 people have died of Coronavirus in our country alone./ We pray for them and their relatives and friends./ Again we pray for doctors,/ nurses and all who work in hospitals and labs./ We pray for those who take no precautions to protect themselves or others,/ who call this pandemic a hoax./ We pray to the Lord.

May Election Day and Night be peaceful,/ without violence,/ threat,/ suspicion or fear./ We pray to elect people across to nation,/ who are decent,/ honest,/ and committed to service,/ rather than power and money./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for the health and restoration of family and friends,/ mindful of those who are stressed,/worried,/ depressed or sad../ We pray to the Lord.