Who do you think you are? (Sunday homily)

When we are children, we all have those moments 
when we are trying to get mom or dad’s attention. 
Look, mom! Look! Look! Look!!

Of course, our parents want to look and see what we’re doing;
But they might be driving, or fixing dinner, 
or getting other work done, and they can’t always look. 
They might even get irritated.

But let me tell you something, and this is true no matter how young, 
or how old, you are: 
parents never stop wanting to look at their children. Never.

Last Sunday I had a baptism, and afterward, as I always do, 
I ask to hold the baby, the newly christened saint.

And there’s something that often happens: 
the baby that is peaceful and content 
in her mother or father’s embrace, 
slowly starts getting agitated and cries. 

Then, when I give the baby back, he’s calm again.
Why is that? Because in various ways, 
that infant recognizes her parents, but doesn’t recognize me.

There is a connection, that literally begins with conception, 
and is nourished a thousand ways from that point on; 
and whether we realize it or not, whether we acknowledge it or not, 
that connection with our parents, that love, 
sustains us and gives us peace and confidence. 

It makes us able to be complete people.  
Even decades later, when you and I become full adults, 
and seem to be on our own, that bond remains, and it is powerful.

On the other hand, if all that doesn’t happen in the way I describe: 
if there is some distance or rupture, if there is a wound?
That can be very painful, and it can have affects long after.

Many of us, as adults, have had to find healing for those wounds.

The point I am making is that what happens on this natural plain, 
also happens on the supernatural level.

In the Gospel, Jesus describes a scene: 
people are jostling for the best seats. 
It’s not that they are most comfortable places; 
it’s that they are closest to the host of the party; the big-shot.

Jesus might as easily have been talking about 
someone trying to impress the boss; 
or in school, when certain kids seem to be cool, 
so they’re the ones you want to hang out with.

But if I have a good relationship with my boss, I can relax; 
I don’t have to impress him. 
And the point of the Gospel is, 
if you have a good relationship with Jesus, then what else matters?

Who cares where you sit? How you dress?
So what if you go to your 20 year reunion, and you’ve put on weight, 
Your hair is thinking, and you don’t have an impressive job?

Look at what you and I are doing, right now: we’re at Holy Mass.
We are going to have an audience with the King of Kings, almighty God!
He’s going to be here, right here, in our midst, on this altar!

Nothing else comes even close to that!

I hope you go to our festival, I hope you have a good time – 
and spend a lot of money! – but this, here, is so much more important!
There’s no comparison.

Our relationship with Jesus is our treasure.
If there’s a wound, we can fix it immediately in confession.
How good Jesus is to us! 

If you get crosswise with your boss, or your spouse, 
or your neighbors, that can be hard to put right.
But when we commit mortal sins, what does Jesus do?
Kick us out? Say, “I’m done with you?”
No, he invites us, he prays for us, to seek him out in confession.

It is such a great gift, that sometimes we take it for granted.

Why do we try to impress other people? 
The boss? A girl or a guy we’re interested in? Relatives?
Why do we envy what other people have? Their good looks or talents? 
Their youth? Their opportunities or advantages?
It all boils down to one thing, really: whether you and I are at peace. 
Peace with what we have and who we are.

What you and I have is Jesus. Who we are is his friends.
That can and will be ours forever! What else do we need?