Homily

Today's epistle reading is rather brief, so to give it a little more context I want to back up a bit to verses 17-20:

So when I intended this, did I act lightly? Or do I make my plans according to human considerations, so that with me it is “yes, yes” and “no, no”? As God is faithful, our word to you is not “yes” and “no.” For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed to you by us, Silvanus and Timothy and me, was not “yes” and “no,” but “yes” has been in him. For however many are the promises of God, their Yes is in him; therefore, the Amen from us also goes through him to God for glory.

It's very interesting and even surprising, because St. Paul has been telling the Corinthians about his travel plans and he knows they are disappointed that he has not yet returned to visit them again. He tells them he has a definite plan he will stick to and not some kind of vague promise to return, as he writes, "not according to human considerations, so that with me it is 'yes, yes' and 'no, no.'" In other words he's not going to change his mind about visiting them based on circumstances or feelings.

Then he does something extraordinary in verse 18. He jumps from talking about his travel plans not being based on 'yes, yes/no, no' changeable into talking about Christ. Let me paraphrase a bit. St. Paul says, For God is faithful: our word to you is not 'yes' and 'no' at the same time. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you did not become 'yes' and 'no,' but in Him, 'yes' has become and it remains. For whatever promises of God exist, in Jesus Christ came their 'yes' (their complete fulfillment). It strikes me as marvelous and glorious truth.

Jesus Christ is the Yes of God the Father. He is the 'yes' of every promise God has made, the completion of every plan of His Father, He is the fullness of all that good, holy, life-creating and true. All of creation is made known and understood only through Him and through Him all of the universe is led to give praise to God the Father. Jesus is the great and divine 'YES.'

So I started thinking about those two opposites. Paul mentions here, yes and no. When we're trying to parent our children even starting out as babies and toddlers, what word do we use more often in order to teach them and protect them, "yes" or "no?" How many times do you say "yes" to your children versus how many times do you say "no?" And how many of those "no's" are given with great volume? And it's, of course understandable that there are many "no's" in raising children in order to guide them, teach them and defend them against the dangers in life, and to help raise them in ways that are healthy and morally good. We know they need the no's, no? But every time a good parent tells a child "no" it is in the hope that they will never have to repeat that same "no" again. That hope is rarely realized, or I should say it is rarely achieved quickly. We will probably have to keep saying "no, no, no" again and ever again n the same circumstance until our child learns and accepts that this thing is not good, it is not allowed. Yet, even though we may often feel like giving up, we keep on with our "no's" because we say them in the hope that they will turn into "yes's," that the attitudes, behaviors, choices and decisions made by our children will turn into positives in their lives and in their futures.

Now, from our children's perspective, do they sense the love and the care and the persistent attention of their parents with every "no" they hear coming from their mouths, and every voice and finger raised? My dear parents I am not trying to shock you or cause you to lose heart, but please understand that every time you tell your children "no" they may not see the love, the wisdom and the superior guidance behind your words. In fact, they in turn may tell you "no," as if to say, "Here's a taste of your own medicine; so how do you like that?" And oh, how often then we feel the rush of parental love bringing a rosy color to our faces.

It is true, kids don't like to hear the word 'no.' But do adults love hearing it more? And I think we live in a time when more and more it is acceptable for people to say, "You can't tell me what I can't do." That is an attitude you can find in abundance today at every age group in America. It's the idea that there is no source or guide to good living outside of myself which I can turn to for help, and submit myself to it. I alone can decide what is good and best for me. You can't tell me what to do.

And, dear friends I ask you what is the substantial difference between this way of thinking and a three-year-old who is yelling "no" back at you? I just want to say that there is tremendous difference between someone saying, "I want to find the truth, I seek to live a good life, I'm looking for wisdom to guide me," there's a huge difference between that way of thinking versus, "You can't tell me what to do."

I'm afraid that some times we live our Christian lives that way. We aren't doing in a defiant manner, yelling "no" to God. We just kind of act as though God is in the living room, so if I steal a cookie out of the jar in the kitchen and eat it, He doesn't see me, and since I therefore won't get punished right now, what's the big deal? We say no to His commandments, either directly or implicitly because we think it's better for us to do so, at least here, and here, and here. No murder or grand theft auto--maybe just a few lies, a little revenge, some selfishness. And I'm afraid we're sometimes like kids who just hear "no"--and nothing more than that and who is going to tell us adults, "You need to go to your room and think about what you just did and don't come out until you're ready to say sorry"?

So I find this section of St. Paul's letter to be a powerful antidote to any negative thoughts or actions we may have to living according to the Gospel teaching. Jesus Christ, in whom, Paul reminds us we have been sealed and anointed in baptism; Jesus Christ is the great "YES" of God our Father. He is the YES to all of creation, He is the YES to all in pain or sorry, He is the YES to those who are afraid or uncertain, He is the YES that stood up to the monstrous threat of death and sin and overcame its power, and He is the YES to all who are looking for the fullness of life, not simply living as best we can figure out for ourselves. I ask you to consider and think about Jesus as your great Yes and what that means for you, and let's be aware that every Amen we speak in this Liturgy is meant to be our Yes to Christ.