Homily

Embarrassment is described as the emotional state that is associated with moderate to high levels of discomfort, due to some kind of socially unacceptable or frowned upon action or condition that is seen by or known by other people. Feeling some level of shame because other people see something about us, or know something about us we wish they did not. A few people have tried to categorize the things that cause us to be embarrassed, and one man decided on four categories. (1) Socially awkward acts. Someone tells you your pants are not zipped up. You’re talking to someone you know, and another person joins you and wants to be introduced, but you can’t remember the first person’s name. (2) Accidents. Accidents can bring on embarrassment. I took the Sisters out to dinner once and the waiter brought us bread and a plate of olive oil for dipping that bread. Sister Mary Magdalen, as you remember, had very bad eyesight. Suddenly she asks, “What is this?” and picks up the plate and the oil runs all over the table. She was not embarrassed, she was very calm and apologized, and took it in stride because it was just an accident. God bless her. I would have been SO embarrassed. An accident. (3) Mistakes. You call someone by the wrong name. You think the clerk at the counter gave you the wrong change, twice, because your mental mathematic processor is not working well that day. (4) Failures in morality can cause embarrassment. For example, someone catches you telling a lie.

Now the first three categories usually have nothing to do with the moral or spiritual in a significant way. But I would like to rename number 4, “Failures in Morality,” and instead call it “Failures in Christian Living.” It is true that we may be caught sinning sometimes by others, such as telling a lie, or grandma hears me swearing in the car. But there are also many times when my moral failure is in trying NOT to be embarrassed. Taking part in raunchy joke telling, or in conversations that tear down another person’s character, because I want to be part of the group, or I don’t want them to think I have a different set of values than they do. Never mentioning anything about my faith or the spiritual life with other people, even when there is a perfect opportunity to do so, because I’m afraid it won’t be acceptable. Listening to other people speak about their moral opinions but being afraid to speak of Christian values that go against what many people believe today. Fear of embarrassment leads to hiding my faith. Many years ago, when airlines still fed you on longer flights, I prayed before I ate but didn’t make the sign of the cross while doing so. In restaurants it was okay, but on a plane you are so close to other people, I was afraid I would be embarrassed to make such a public display of faith right under the noses of other people.

Then, one day, across the aisle, I saw two kindly-looking middle-aged women, who were obviously traveling together, make the sign of the cross in unison, quietly pray, and then cross themselves again before they ate. I was very impressed, in fact inspired, by their small public act of faith, and ashamed at my own stupid fear of embarrassment. Imagine that—being afraid of the disapproval of complete strangers for a simple act of faith. Those two ladies had a big impact on me and my practices through their own simple act of faith, carried out with no sense of embarrassment. So how are we doing on the embarrassment versus living as Christians struggle in our daily lives?

And today I think of enthusiasm. Which is not so happy a thought when I consider how enthusiastic I am for Christ. Enthusiasm is eager enjoyment or interest in something or someone. Yes, there are times when I am enthusiastic for the Lord and the life He has given me—at Easter, Christmas, some of the other feastdays, at Liturgy and at other times and situations in life. I have that enthusiasm. But if I make a list of all the things I eagerly enjoy or have an interest in, it is a sad comparison to see how much is oriented toward the Lord, and how much toward making my own life comfortable, pleasant and enjoyable. Eager for the internet or eager for prayer? Eager for the news or for the Good News? Eager for entertainment or for worship? Eager for serving others or for being served? Eager for the things of this world or for the Kingdom of God? Eager to believe that the way I am living my life right now is the best way that I can live it? Eager to think I am totally capable of finding my own path to love, and that I have plenty of time left to achieve that goal? What I am eager for is what I value? Where your treasure is, there your heart will also be. Am I as eager for Christ as I should be? If not, what should I do that I may be enthusiastic for the Lord?

Embarrassment—Zacchaeus was already socially looked down upon as a tax-collector, in a society where public opinion and social standing were much more important than in our culture. Climbing up a tree would have made him the butt of jokes among his neighbors. But he didn’t care about embarrassment. He cared about Jesus. It’s obvious he climbed that tree in his enthusiasm just to see Christ, and when Jesus speaks to him Zacchaeus’ enthusiastic answer reveals that he values what Jesus is teaching, and Jesus Himself. There is for him no embarrassment possible when he meets the Lord, no enthusiasm more important than bringing Him into his home as a most honored guest.

Embarrassment. Enthusiasm. Zacchaeus. Jesus.

What do we think? What should we do?