Homily

Today’s epistle is rather brief, so to give it a little more context I want to back up a few verses that come just before it. St. Paul writes:

“So when I intended this, did I act lightly? Or do I make 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” 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.”

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', that they are not 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 that yes remains in Christ. For whatever promises of God exist, in Jesus Christ came their 'yes' (their complete fulfillment). That strikes me as a most beautiful 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 is 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.'

When parents are raising their children their toddlers hear the word “no” much more than they hear the word “yes” because mom and dad want to keep their child from danger and also train their child into living a good, healthy moral lives. But it’s not an easy job. Sometimes the same “no” for the same reason has to be used over and over again. But good parents will keep on with it in the hope that the “no” situation for this behavior or that behavior will become a “yes” when the child finally learns this is not good, this is not allowed. Parents keep on with their “no’s” in the hope that the attitudes, behaviors, choices and decisions made by their children will turn into positives in their lives and for their futures.

Of course, when children hear the word “no” they are not able to understand the love and care and attention that their parents are using for their good. And then there are those times when children use the word “no” back at their parents in acts of defiance and disobedience. Kids don’t like to hear the word “no.” But what about adults? It seems to me that we live in a time when increasingly people reject that word if it is used on them and also the idea that certain behaviors they practice are wrong, and not acceptable. You shall not lie, steal, take the Lord’s name in vain, commit adultery or covet your neighbor’s goods. These sins have always been committed by people. But I think today the difference is that more and more people do not believe they are sins. More and more people do not accept any authority telling them “no” and behaviors that were once thought to be bad or immoral are now seen as acceptable, or even as expressions of a person’s rights and freedom. More and more people believe that there is no guide to good living that is greater than their own personal opinion, also known as, “You can’t tell me what to do.” And isn’t it amazing that people will turn to YouTube to learn how they can fix their dryer or bake a cherry pie, but they think there is no authority outside of themselves that can tell them how to live a good life.

It's not the only reason, but I think one of the main reasons people fall away from the practice of faith is that, much like a defiant child, they do not want to be told how to live and they do not want any restrictions placed on their behavior. As parents they may accept their role as guide and teacher for their children, but they reject the idea of the same guidance and teaching of God their Father. Living Christian life is seen mostly in negative terms, so it is either rejected or simply ignored. But every “no” in Christian understanding is only to lead us to the good of “yes.”

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 suffering or hardship. 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. 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 today to consider and think about Jesus as your great Yes and what that means for you, and, dear friends, let's be aware that every Amen we speak in this Liturgy is meant to be our Yes to Christ, our unfailing hope, and the Savior Who loves us beyond measure.