November 11, 2005
Imagine for a moment. You’re a third grade religion teacher in a Catholic grade school or parochial religious education program, and as a homework assignment, you ask your little ones to draw and entitle their favorite story of Jesus. The following week, it’s show and tell time and the children excitedly stand up in the front of the classroom holding up their crayon masterpieces. The first child lifts her drawing in front of her face and says, “Jesus as a babe in Bethlehem!” The second child nervously whispers, “Jesus heals a blind man”. The third, “Jesus walks on water”. Now honestly, wouldn’t you be a bit surprised if the last little one comes forward and shouts, “Jesus cleans His house” as he displays a drawing of Jesus swinging a whip and kicking over a table full of coins!
I don’t think this famous story in the life of Our Lord would be my “favorite”, but I must admit it does somewhat clash with the popular images of Our Savior – you know, the sugary depictions of Jesus sitting there with wide eyes and tilted head talking to children about love and peace. Such depictions are quite understandable for nursery plaques – but for church pulpits? The Gospels are chock full of particular encounters and parables which have one message in mind – “clean up your act”.
If we really want to get a good look, or we might say a realistic look at Our Lord and His message, it would be good to read the four Gospels with a pencil in hand. Then underline all the passages which could fall under the heading, “the hard sayings of Jesus”. If your Bible is brand new, be forewarned, there’s a lot of them – more than you know or desire! This is why it takes so long for some preachers to write one sermon – they spend so much time soaking Our Lord’s message to make it soft enough to serve on Sunday.
Perhaps the reason why some preachers dilute their message is due to criticism by the tender-to-the-touch and easily offended parishioners. But I believe there is another part of the problem – a somewhat selective memory of the “old church”, the caustic pre-enlightenment days when fire and brimstone sermons singed people’s missals every Sunday. To offset this harsh and offensive image, clergy feel inclined to pitch the hard truth of the Gospel to the people like one throws a wiffleball to a two-year-old. If a collection of these “listener friendly” homilies were bound in a book, here are two appropriate titles: “Pudding from the Pulpit” or “Marshmallows for the New Millennium”.
Before you hop on your high horse and run this message to your pastor or parish priest, stop and consider how many times you “wimped out” and waved the white flag because you weren’t ready to do battle. Parents especially know how easy it is to toss reason to the wind and say “yes”, only because pushing the “no” button would cause a big explosion. Certainly the one who writes these words has at times been intimidated by the demeanor of a congregation and served them more whipped cream than cake.
When we must preach a hard message, whether we stand at the pulpit or sit in a pew, we need humility, courage, wisdom, and above all, charity. Although Our Lord often said some very tough things, He did so only to the self righteous. But to the poor and repentant, He was ever so tender. As skillets are scoured with steel wool and silver is polished with lambs wool, so too Our Lord with people – He always knew when to apply the powder and the pressure to make them shine. Unlike us, He always knew how to separate the person from their problem and the sinner from their sin.
As we allow a cancer surgeon to conduct a search and destroy mission in our body, so too should we invite Christ in our soul. A successful operation is impossible without our co-operation, that is, we must first admit that we need help, then entrust ourselves to an expert. What Jesus did in the temple court was symbolic of what He really wants to accomplish in us today – namely, to remove all that is evil, ugly, and unclean. After all, it is His house!
Fr. Glenn Sudano, CFR
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