Homily

In this section of St. Paul's letter to the Church in Rome, Paul is talking about the strange reality that many of the Jewish people who hear the Gospel message do not accept it or believe in it. Judaism had become a faith where people believed that if they followed the Law of Moses, they would be saved as righteous people. The problem, as Paul points out, is that no one can live this law perfectly, and, even if they could it is not what God requires. The Lord asks for a righteousness based on faith, not the performance of the Law.

St. Paul writes, "But the righteousness that comes from faith say, "Do not say in your heart, "Who will go up into heaven?" (That is, to bring Christ down.) or "Who will go down into the abyss?" (That is to bring Christ up from the dead.) You know for over 40 years I've wondered what St. Paul meant by that, so this year I decided to find out. St. Paul is saying that no human effort can gain salvation, because it has already been won by Christ, and is freely offered to us if we accept it, believe it and live in it. So don't say who is going up to heaven to bring down a Savior for us, because He has already come and already achieved salvation for all the faithful, And don't say that we must go to the abode of the dead to find Christ and bring Him back to life, because by His death, He has conquered death. Now I get it!

Not a salvation created from human effort, but a salvation offered as a gift by God Himself, for those who believe. I often think of faith, and/or the lack thereof while reading or skimming the obituaries in the newspaper. There is one obituary that's appeared three days in a row. A young man, James Dunhart Wood died at the age of 38. Here's how the obituary reads: "On July 2nd, 2014, James Dunhart Wood blasted off his much-beloved planet Earth in true JDW style. The timing of his sudden heart attack is unfortunate, but for once he was 'early." I just had to stop for a bit there and think about what I had just read. If he blasted off from earth, where did he go? The timing of his death was "unfortunate?" And at least he had been able to die "early" for once? I don't know who wrote this obituary but I find it to be crude and insulting while trying to pass as clever and funny. Let me continue reading it: "Though we know a wizard arrives and leaves precisely when he is supposed to, the force capable of igniting his ascendance was, of course, his own Thunder Heart." Sorry, but I don't know any wizards if he is speaking about sorcerers, and how is it they know when to come and go? And if James "ascended" where did he ascend to?

Back to the obituary: "A true modern Renaissance Man, his impact is vast and everlasting." You know, I don't know how vastly he affected anything or anyone, but I'm positive the effects are not everlasting.

Again, the obituary: "He loved music, nature and his connection to it; bicycling and big ideas." Hmmm. Big ideas. And if you are in the habit of reading obituaries, you'll notice the almost obligatory statement that is in probably 80% of men's obituaries: "He loved nature." Hunting, fishing, woods, coast, mountains—if all these men are such big lovers of nature, why is it that the Costco parking lot is always full?

Back to the obituary: "He and his former wife were able to co-parent light-heartedly, with humor and respect." I am at a loss for words about that sentence. "A Celebration of Life will convene at Seven Brides Brewery, 990 N. 1st St., Silverton, on Saturday, July 12th. All are invited to raise a toast, share a James story, or rev James a "V-8-Engine Salute!" I'm even more speechless. You know what I think about "celebrations of life"—they are generally more accurately described as, "Glad it was him and not me" parties. No mourning for the departed, but rather more like a Bon Voyage gathering. He's gone, and we don't know where to, but that's okay as long as you don't mention death. And then there is the typical, "Let's tell stories about Jim," segment, where apparently everyone at the gathering has to tell a funny story about good old Jim, and usually trying to top the person who previously spoke, in an amateur stand-up comedy-like situation. I call it funeral Karaoke. Everybody gets a chance at the mike. It's really all about me.

I do not know James Duhart Wood. I think it's very sad that he died so young, and I am sure there must be people who loved him and are grieving at his death. I'm sorry for the person who wrote this tragic obituary. It is not my intent to demean either one of them, seriously. I prayed for this man.

What also makes me sad is that there is no clue as to whether or not he had any faith in God, but the odds are, here in Oregon, probably not. And there surely is no such clue for the obituary's author's faith either. But I wonder how much different, how much richer and fuller James' life would have been had he lived as a Christian. What if he had access to the sacraments, to confession and what if he had been able to receive the Holy Eucharist unto life everlasting? What if he had lived according to the teachings of Christ and if he read the Scriptures as a member of the Catholic Church? What if he knew that his intended goal was to share in the Divine Life of God in this world, and to be happy in the Lord's presence for all eternity? What if he had lived as a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ? Would his obituary read differently than the one I read to you? But ever more importantly, how much fuller might have been the life he lived, the love he experienced and shared, the virtues he sought to practice, the understanding of his place in the great family of those who love God, if he had been a member of Christ's Church?

So then the thought must turn to me. How much fuller would my own life be if I were not so hesitant to seek after the Lord with my whole heart and soul instead of setting up limits as to how much I'm willing to do, how far I'm willing to go? Yes, I do have faith, of course, but how eager am I to allow that faith to grow so completely that it becomes more and more like the faith that St. Paul had? Am I willing to give up comfort in order to receive grace? Willing to trust in God rather than my own ideas of what makes a good life? Willing to sacrifice in true charity for the good of others and not count the cost to myself? Willing to pick up the cross and follow after Christ? Willing to believe that if I put on the full yoke, I will find it easy and the burden will be light? Willing to stand out in a skeptical society as a Christian without rancor or malice or ill will against my neighbors, but still willing to stand up for truth?

I pray for James Duhart Wood today at Liturgy, and may his memory be eternal in God's presence. I pray that I learn to love and cherish even more, even much, much more the great gift of faith that has been given to me. I pray that your faith may also be strengthened and fulfilled and that none of us here ever lose this gift—that none of us here ever lose Christ our Lord because of our sin and our weakness. I pray that every one of us standing here today will one day stand together again before the throne of God, and may our faithful lives allow Christ our Lord to bring us there, and not only us, but as many others as we are able to help get there as well, by our love, our example and our prayers