OUR LIMITATIONS

!5th Sunday C 2007 10:30 A man told this story. He said: There are some things that we can’t do. We have physical limitations for example – flying off the roof of a building, deciding to grow a couple of inches, or shrink a couple of inches – but we also have internal limitations. One of mine, the man said, is that I get nervous about last minute things. And then when I’m nervous, it’s almost automatic that I will snap at an undeserving anyone. It’s a limitation: the only thing I can do about it is try to do Christmas shopping early and try to hold my tongue. That way, on Christmas Eve, I don’t bite the heads off the shop assistants or my own unfortunate family. Each of us has a series of physical and psychological limitations that we have to deal with. That’s life. How does this story about limitations fit in with the parable about the Good Samaritan? Usually, the homily on the Good Samaritan urges you to do some good for those in need. To stop what you’re doing or where you’re going and help another. And this is a legitimate challenge. But today through this man’s story, I’d like to direct the attention of all you good Samaritans to the fact of your limitations in doing good. To help you realize that you can’t play God in helping others anymore than you can play Samson in the face of a lion. Notice that the Samaritan in the parable doesn’t chase after the thieves to persuade them to leave their lives of crime behind and become productive citizens. He doesn’t go to the city council to plead for more police. He doesn’t start a vigilante group to patrol the roadway to prevent further robberies. He doesn’t start a support group for battered and robbed travelers. He does what he can. Some time ago there was an uproar when people involved in working for justice criticized Mother Theresa because she wasn’t working to change the sinful social and political structures which were causing the poverty and disease in India. All she was doing, they complained, was tending to individuals. These arm chair Samaritans who never picked up dying people from the street, took them into their homes and cared for them while they were dying berated Mother Theresa for doing only that – only that! ? Robert Wicks in his book, Seeking Perspective, said, “Contemplation is not pietistic passivity but a willingness to accept life unconditionally and to fathom its possibilities within the limits of human failure and sin.” The lesson on limitations was brought home to me by my first pastor. There I was newly ordained. My 12 years in the seminary were like a dam holding back my zeal. And now through ordination, the floodgates were wide open. I was going to help everybody, save everybody, turn the world into God’s kingdom on earth. Father Charles Allen, my first pastor, said to me one day, that the advantage of having two priests in a parish was that people one priest couldn’t reach, the other priest might be able to get through to. At the time I thought he was trying to undermine my bulldozing zeal. But what he was telling me was that I shouldn’t try to play God, that I was only human therefore limited therefore imperfect. That what counted was my steadfast everyday efforts not my ticker-tape accomplishments. In all probability he saved me from becoming disillusioned when I eventually and inevitably failed. Richard Wollheim's in his book , On The Emotions said, “Discouragement teaches you that just as you are limited so too are all the people in your relationships limited. But the mystical tradition of your faith inspires you and them to continue expanding beyond theses limitations by recognizing that no one and nothing in this life is perfect.” Sometimes everyday actions like words of affirmation or a smile of encouragement can do more good than frantically trying to convert a whole group to the experience of Jesus. In fact, your words, your acts of affirmation are the very way people will experience Jesus. Remember what Jesus said about the good seed? It will bear a harvest of 30 or 60 or 100-fold. Jesus makes room for less than 100%. When a batter hits .300, he’s considered a star. A .300 batting average is your 30-fold. Striving for 100-fold can leave you discouraged and disillusioned. Remember, a pebble thrown into a lake makes ripples all across the lake. As long as you are causing ripples, all your efforts for good are worth making. And sometimes you may be pleasantly surprised that you were able to make waves. Never get discouraged about doing good especially when you don’t seem immediate results. HUMOR: The bishop had been receiving complaints about Father Murphy’s homilies. So he called the priest in. Now the bishop did not want to dwell on Father Murphy’s limitation as a preacher, so he decided to be gentle but honest with him. “Murph,” the bishop smiled, “how long have we known one another? Thirty years” “Yes bishop,” the priest replied. “Well, Murph we know one another well enough that we can be open and honest with each other, right?” “Yes, bishop,” Father Murphy replied. “Well, Murph, I’m getting complaints about you homilies: too long, distracted, repetitive, boring, Now you do a lot of good work in your parish. Can’t you put some zip into your homilies? Maybe a beginning that’s a grabber. For instance, this weekend I’m starting my homily this way: I’m in love with a married woman. Then I’ll wait a few seconds and say, Her name is Mary. Then I’ll preach on the Blessed Mother. You see how it works, Murph?” “Yes, bishop,” Murph replied. “So go and put some zip in your homilies,” the bishop smiled graciously. The following Sunday Father Murphy ascended the pulpit and began. “Our bishop is in love with a married woman (pause) and for the life of me I can’t remember her name.” THOUGHT Always persevere in doing good.