October 3, 2004: Not for Sissies

The Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time


This past week has been a tough one in our parish. We buried two great friends — Frank Palmer on Tuesday at age 83, and Jean Tevebaugh on Friday at age 80 — and we’ve got several more elderly parishioners in the hospital: one with emphysema and struggling to breathe… another with a broken hip but far too fragile to endure the necessary surgery… still another with a gangrenous colon… and so on down the line. And of course, our nursing homes have more of the same, in even greater numbers.

If you’re an old movie fan, I’m sure you remember the great actress, Bette Davis. This coming Wednesday marks the 15th anniversary of her death. Bette is famous for a great quote. She said, “Old age is no place for sissies.” Isn’t that the truth! Life’s toughest problems pale by comparison to the health issues of the senior years.

Our older parishioners—especially those in their 80s and 90s—grew up in a different age. The Church was different back then. Even Fr. Motsett was a young pup! Whether you miss those days or you’re glad they’re behind us, one thing is certain: people kept themselves connected to the Catholic Church. A Catholic with any faith at all wouldn’t dream of missing Saturday confession—much less Sunday Mass. Things may have been strict by the standards of today’s world, but they definitely gave folks an anchor.

And today—perhaps 50 or 60 or even 70 years later—those same folks—many now in hospital beds—are drinking from the deep reservoir of that strong faith foundation to sustain themselves… to keep themselves going. They are not despairing. They are not giving up. They are not calling for Dr. Kevorkian. No, they are hanging in there, toughing life out, knowing that God has a plan and a timetable. Those of us who are still a little younger can only marvel… and agree, that old age is no place for sissies.

Our Mass readings today encourage us to persevere, to hang tough, despite life’s problems and bitter times. The prophet Habakkuk complains to God about the oppressive life his people must endure. He wants to know how come the Lord doesn’t do something about it: “Why do you let me see ruin? Why must I look at misery?”

St. Paul reminds Timothy that God didn’t give him a spirit of cowardice, but rather one of power and self-control. He writes, “Bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God.”

The great thing about God is that He doesn’t leave us guessing. God never commands us to do anything without giving us the way and the help to do it. Jesus reprimanded the Pharisees for laying heavy burdens on people’s backs without lifting a finger to help them… He certainly doesn’t do that! So what’s the way? What’s the great secret that turns the sick and suffering into spiritual powerhouses?

The greatest thing is the Mass.

Now, I don’t need to “preach to the choir,” as the saying goes. Obviously, you’re all here at Mass, so you already know the importance of coming. But what about so many other people who aren’t here today? We can seat 325 to 350 people in St. Paul’s. We have five weekend Masses. So we have room, comfortably, for 1,700 people—which is less than the size of our parish family. So why aren’t we packed in here? Where is everyone?

I guess there are lots of reasons. Maybe some people think Mass is dull and boring and they don’t feel they get anything out of it. Others may think that God doesn’t care if they miss Mass twenty or fifty times a year; after all, they come when they can. Or, people may be busy—they want to sleep in or play ball or go shopping or watch the game on TV—no time for Church! Maybe some people are angry about something—a priest or a nun or a Catholic school teacher who insulted them, or a teaching they disagree with, so they “punish God” by staying away. Maybe some people don’t feel worthy. And there are lots of other excuses, too.

Now, if a person has made up his mind that he’s not coming to church, and he’s adamant about it, there’s not much you can do—except pray for him that the Holy Spirit will work on him and soften his attitude one day. But it the real reason he’s not coming may simply be that he’s fallen into the habit of not coming to Mass—the same way we fall into the habit of not exercising any more or falling back into smoking cigarettes after quitting or slipping off our diet. We wish we could do better, but we’re just a little weak. So it may be your job as a friend and a faithful Catholic to jump in and lend a hand and provide a spark… a spark to save a soul!

Through your own prayer, let God fill you with the words and opportunities you need to be Christ’s apostle. A friend may tell you that Mass is meaningless or boring or hypocritical… yet you come every Sunday—and maybe every day! Why? You see the same Mass they do, but you get something valuable out of it. What is this deeper meaning that you’re getting? You ought to meditate on this, because this is precisely what you need to share. When you speak of your experience with the Lord at Mass, people are going to listen.

Teenagers and children, this message goes for you, too—maybe even more than for the grown-ups. There are lots of your friends who don’t come to Mass as they should… and often it’s because their parents don’t come so they have no way to get here. You should invite your friends to Mass with you—and you should work on them to persuade their parents to start bringing them.

I know it isn’t always easy to talk to your friends and family about coming to church. It isn’t the coolest conversation in the world. Jesus knows that, too. But if you’re brave enough and willing enough to pray about this, God will give you the courage and opportunities you need. He won’t forget that you put your neck on the line for him. Being a real Catholic isn’t for sissies either.

In the Gospel today, Jesus says that even if we had a tiny faith—the size of a mustard seed—smaller than a single sprinkle on a doughnut!—you could command a giant tree to be uprooted and transplanted into the sea. It takes even less effort to get a couple of friends back to Mass on Sunday.

Is it worth it? You bet! That’s the very strength that keeps our elderly friends going, because they know it’s what’s going to save their souls. Their goal is clearly in sight.

Make this your special project and prayer intention this week. Pray for more faith. Then start looking for openings and opportunities to invite a friend or two to come back. God’s blessings will amaze you! Amen!




Today’s Readings:
Habakkuk 1, 2–3 and 2, 2–4
Psalm 95
2 Timothy 1, 6–14
Luke 17, 5–10