Third Sunday In Ordinary Time – Year C
January 26, 2025 10:30 AM
Saint Cecilia Catholic Community, Palm Springs, CA
Rev. David Justin Lynch
Nehemiah 8:2-4A;5-6;8-10 | Psalm 19:8-10;15
1 Corinthians 12:12-14;27 | Luke 1:1-4;4:14-21
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, AMEN.
Christians of the Protestant tradition often accuse those of the Catholic tradition of neglecting scripture. Nothing could be further from the truth. The fact is, however, that Catholics take scripture very seriously. Here at Saint Cecilia Catholic Community, at every Sunday Mass, we proclaim four scripture readings, while most Protestant services feature one, or at most two, readings. So, if you really like the Bible, we are the place for you to worship. Today’s readings invite us to take scripture seriously by stimulating us as to how we interpret scripture. And how we interpret scripture is consequential.
Picture the assembly of the Jewish people listening to Ezra, the priest, in today’s first reading. They had just returned to their homeland after the Babylonian exile, where they were held captive for between forty and seventy years. They were glad to be home and were delighted to hear the Torah read to them, although we are not told exactly what specific text Ezra was reading to them.
The return to the Holy Land from the Babylonian captivity was a time of new beginnings for the Jewish people that called for a joyful celebration. Ezra closed his proclamation by urging the people hearing him to celebrate. Contrast that attitude with that of some who call themselves Christians, using scripture as a weapon against those with whom they disagree.
Here’s an example. You probably are familiar with the passage in Matthew that says, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” Those who misuse that passage out of context will use it to silence valid criticism or correction, implying that no one has the right to address sinful or harmful behavior. This use of Scripture seeks to evade accountability and can discourage constructive dialogue or necessary correction. Moreover, what Jesus really was doing was to warn against hypocritical or unfair judgment.
A more appropriate use of scripture to make a difference can be found in Paul’s letter to the Galatians, where he says,
“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.”
There, Paul focuses on restoration, not condemnation. That way of thinking is more likely to help God’s Word serve its intended purpose of healing, teaching, and guiding. That’s precisely what Jesus enunciated to the people gathered in the synagogue for worship as he gave them a roadmap of where he was going.
When one is in the business world, one hears much about “mission statements.” In the business context, a mission statement declares the company’s objectives. What Paul had to say in that passage coordinates well with the message of Jesus in today’s Gospel, which had Jesus proclaiming his Mission Statement.
Jesus told the people that he came to preach the good news to the poor and to proclaim liberty to those held against their will. Jesus, of course, went ahead and did exactly that. Jesus is God’s Word made flesh, bringing God’s love and healing to the world. The ministry of Jesus caused many people to be angry at him. In fact, the section of Luke’s Gospel that follows today’s gospel reading tells us that after Jesus read from the scripture scroll, a mob drove him out of town and threatened to throw him off a cliff. But Jesus didn’t care if anyone was angry at him. The eventual result was a mob persuaded the ruling authorities to kill him by crucifixion.
Those who speak truth to power very often meet the same deadly fate. Last Monday, we celebrated the Feast of Dr. Martin Luther King, a martyr who died because he actualized the teachings of Jesus. Dr. King took the message of Jesus we heard in today’s Gospel reading into the streets and ran with it. But he was killed because he refused to acquiesce to the prevailing social system where Caucasians dominated people of color, just as Jesus refused to acquiesce to the domination systems of the Herodians and the Romans. Jesus and Martin Luther King got in the face of a prevailing domination system and demanded that it change.
Fast forward fifty years or so to twenty-twenty-five. In the news media, we hear about Christian Nationalism, which very loud voices promote as a national religion. Christian Nationalism, however, is anything but Christian. It flies in the face of everything Jesus taught.
Many people misunderstand what Christian Nationalism means. Many mistakenly think it simply refers to Christians who are patriotic. In reality, it is an ideology that seeks to force Americans to adhere to a defective version of Christianity.
Christian Nationalism is an ideology of oppression. We often hear conservatives talk about the importance of religious freedom, but what many really want is freedom for themselves and the removal of rights and freedoms from other groups of people who disagree with them.
Christian Nationalism merges a peculiar version of Christianity with a specific national identity, suggesting that one nation has a unique claim to God’s favor. This idea directly contradicts Jesus’ universal call to salvation for all people. The Kingdom of God, however, has nothing to do with earthly empires. Jesus said so much when he told Pontius Pilate, “My Kingdom is not of this world.” Jesus sought to establish a heavenly kingdom that included people from all nations, cultures, and backgrounds. Early Christianity emphasized unity in Christ rather than loyalty to a particular nation, ethnicity, or cultural identity.
Christian Nationalism prioritizes national interests and cultural superiority. This creates divisions and fosters exclusion. That contradicts Jesus’ example of welcoming all people into God’s kingdom. Jesus taught radical love that transcends boundaries of ethnicity, nationality, or religion. His ministry reached out to marginalized groups and those outside the Jewish community, emphasizing inclusivity, just like what we do here at Saint Cecilia’s.
Christian Nationalism seeks to wield political power in the name of religion. This pursuit of dominance contrasts with Jesus’ teachings on servant leadership and His focus on spiritual transformation over political control. Jesus rejected the pursuit of worldly power and modeled humility, even to the point of washing His disciples’ feet.
Christian Nationalism endorses forceful and coercive methods to impose religious values, contrary to the preaching of Jesus, inveighing us to love each other and engage in voluntary discipleship. Jesus called His followers to be peacemakers and agents of reconciliation, emphasizing nonviolence and justice.
Christian Nationalism is racism, patriarchy, and xenophobia disguised as Christianity. Hearing the name of Jesus invoked to get people to obey human laws and human authority and protect the rights of those in the established social order is nothing but total spiritual abuse. The main value taught by Jesus was love. Christian nationalism is quite the opposite. It is an ideology of grievance, anger, and hate, things that have no place among decent people.
Christian Nationalism is neither Christian nor patriotic. It is not loving. It is anti-democratic. It is oppression by a group of people toward others who do not share their ideology. At this current point in history, God calls us to rescue Christianity from current corruptive influences.
So, what should be our response as Catholic Christians to Christian Nationalism?
Episcopal Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde gave us some suggestions when she addressed the President of the United States from her pulpit at Washington National Cathedral. She told him to be merciful in carrying out his duties as President. As Pope Francis correctly said, “The name of God is mercy.” My advice is the same: show mercy to one another. The words of Jesus in today’s Gospel point in the same direction. Good news for the poor and the oppressed is showing mercy. Freeing prisoners is showing mercy. Feeding hungry people is showing mercy. Housing the unhoused is showing mercy.
Jesus demonstrated mercy throughout his life. Contrary to what we hear from the MAGA crowd, Bishop Mariann’s sermon was not a political speech, but mainstream Christian thought. You may recall the verse in the Matthean Beatitudes, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” So like Jesus and Bishop Mariann, my message to you is, “show mercy.”
The long-standing, basic, over-arching traditions of interpersonal Christianity are what will get us through the next four years. That is, love your neighbor. Don’t do something to someone else that you would not like done to you. Forgive those who sin against you and reconcile relationships. Don’t always look for someone to blame for a problem. If you compromise, do not suborn injustice. Help those in need. Don’t let stronger people take advantage of weaker people. Show the world what Christian mercy looks like. Speak truth to power, as Bishop Mariann did. And finally, above all, be kind. It doesn’t cost anything. AMEN.