My friends, so often the lessons coming from the weekly Scriptures are “simple” ones—lessons that challenge us about becoming, who each of us is intended to be, at our best.  When life becomes discouraging and even frustrating, it is often because humans, rather than choosing to be their best, choose the lowest common denominator that allows them to go through life, rather unscathed. 

   But, let’s leave that for a bit and look for the lessons in today’s Scriptures.  From the Old Testament prophet, Elijah and the New Testament prophet, our brother, Jesus, we are treated to the stories of two women who ultimately, choose to, “give their best” and as a result, the best comes back to them—at least for the woman in the Old Testament reading from Kings.  The woman the Jesus lifts up for us to consider; we don’t know what ultimately happens to her, but we can assume that her goodness, her largeness of heart is repaid with good, going forward. 

   So, let’s look closer at these two women and try to understand the totality of the gift that each gives.  In each case we see that these women are living, “on the edge.”  The woman from the Old Testament reading is a widow, caring for her son, and both are literally, starving to death.  When Elijah comes into this pair’s lives and asks for, “water and bread,” the woman is about to prepare their final meal!  We can understand why she hesitates a bit before giving Elijah that final meal, a stranger, rather than her son. 

   Ultimately, this woman and mother, gives out of her need and in order for her to do this, we have to assume that she also has a great deal of faith. She believes what Elijah tells her, sight unseen, that, “the jar of flour and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day YHWH makes it rain on the land.”   

Additionally, we must remember the plight of all widowed, or otherwise single women in Elijah’s as well as in Jesus’ time.  Women had basically no power, no resource if there wasn’t a man in their lives—and the children of such women were in the same straights.  It says something then that, “a man” would ask so much of this poor woman.  It also should tell us something when we realize how graciously Elijah rewarded, through God’s help, his most generous benefactor.  And each of us must take this to heart as the Scriptures of old are for us today.  Each of us is called to care in our plenty and in our need and to walk in faith, trusting that our God is watching over us. 

   “Caring” when in need is truly the personal story of each woman lifted up for us today.  Each story is so compelling because on face value, we may not expect the reaction—the gift that each gives, “out of her need.”

   Many of us are blessed with being able to give “out of our plenty,” and we should, when we have the opportunity.  The idea of giving, “out of our need” is compelling because it would seem, that each of us, out of plenty, or out of need is being called, to give—to share, what we can.

   Not to put too fine a point on it, but Jesus really wants us, “to get” the example of the poor woman in the Gospel story today from Mark, who gives, “out of her need,” as opposed to the “religious scholars” [who serve themselves on the gifts of others].  This should say something to us about the real, spiritual need to strive for balance with the goods of this world.  That anyone, anywhere, is hungry, homeless, lonely, or afraid should weigh on our hearts so that we do our part to alleviate those needs. This is truly what it means to, “be our best.”

   Because none of us can do it all, it is good to remember, in our day, that there are many ways to give:  financially yes—but there is also the gift of our time, visiting a shut-in, bringing the communion of the altar, but also, in the larger sense, the “communion” that each of us, is—our smiles, our companionship with and for others. 

   This past February marked 10 years that our parish has participated in Home-Delivered Meals.  And I would guess that we, in our three cooking groups, have been bringing monthly meals to the Catholic Worker (Bethany) House for that many years as well. 

   I have mentioned in our bulletin, but will again here, that we have need of two more volunteers to serve on our All Are One board beginning in January of 2022 as two people would like to step down after serving several terms.  Please be in touch with me, either “out of your plenty” or “out of your need” where time is concerned, to serve in this way.  It is a job that I can honestly say is more fun than work.  Elijah’s words to the poor mother in today’s Scriptures might be fitting in this regard, “Don’t be afraid,” [God will cover your needs].

   I have talked quite a bit today about generosity in giving—not as much about the “faith” it takes at times, like in the two women in today’s readings, trusting that the little we may be able to give, or do, will matter, and not put us in jeopardy if we do in fact move in faith, to try and help.  We must look to this aspect of “faith” though, as both of today’s prophets, Elijah and Jesus seem to be calling us to such trust. It moves us beyond our own needs to see the needs of others, which often times are much greater than our own. Or as Joan Chittister says on her calendar page for November, “When we begin to see as God sees, we see far beyond ourselves.”

   I believe our brother Jesus wants us to understand that whatever we can give, does matter, and when it comes, out of our need, it can truly “break open our hearts” so that we can see what is most important. 

   The writer to the Hebrews in today’s second reading, as in past Sundays, speaks to the surface issue of Jesus’s sacrifice of his life, “for our sins.”  I would like to suggest that our brother’s sacrifice of his life was all about showing us the way to live and to love—and those with power didn’t always like how Jesus called us, “to be our best,” and perhaps that is why he had to die. 

  Episcopalian bishop, John Shelby Spong said it rather profoundly and I will conclude with his words: 

      When we strive to be our best selves, our humanity, which is really “divine” in its best sense, comes to the fore, and when that happens, we have achieved, heaven, by growing to that place that  our loving God intended for us all along—giving, caring, loving, and living for ourselves and others. Amen? Amen!

   My friends, again this Sunday, as in previous Sundays, comes the admonition, “to listen.”  And what, we might ask, “Are we to listen to?”  The writer of Deuteronomy, thought to be Moses, clearly states that we should listen so as to carefully determine, “what will bring [us] prosperity.”  This is then followed by the beautiful prayer known to all practicing Jews— then, and to the present.

   “Hear O Israel…love your God with all your heart, and soul, and strength.”  Then in Mark’s gospel selection for today, our brother Jesus, repeats this same prayer which defines the greatest commandment, but gives a second commandment too, which in Matthew and Luke are expanded upon letting us know that the second is no less important than the first.  We all of course know that the 2^nd is, “To love our neighbors as ourselves. 

   Moses goes on to say of this beautiful Jewish prayer, “Let these words be written on your hearts.”  Now to fully understand the import of Moses words, we have to look at a bit of Jewish/Israelite history with their God. 

   In the Old Testament, a relationship with God could quite simply be summed up in the word, “covenant.”  God had made a covenant with the people and they with God.  In our day, “promise” would be the understanding we would have—God promises to watch over the people and they in turn promise—faith inx, and love for God.  Each of us, through our godparents said, “yes” to this commitment to God when we were baptized and at our confirmations, we said our own “yeses.” 

   The Israelites, in the beautiful prayer, “Hear O Israel,” pray that this admonition, that they love God with all their heart, soul, and strength, would literally, “be written on their hearts,” so as to never forget.   And further, this action of having this commandment, “written on their hearts,” lifts up for them how important it truly is.  They would have seen this action as, “engaging their consciences,” too, so that the observance isn’t, “cold and methodical,” but truly, “alive” and what would make them well, in all ways, and would ultimately cause them, “to prosper” as Moses spoke of in the first reading.

   Additionally, for the Hebrew people, “the heart” was considered the “seat” of their minds and wills.  Their souls were thought of as, “the source of all vitality” and, “all of one’s strength.”  All of this, in combination then, was “to be taken to their hearts,” or in other words, “taken very seriously.” 

   So it is, with this understanding, that Jesus answers the scribe’s question in today’s gospel.  Often times, the scribes and Pharisees are attempting to trip Jesus up—to find fault with his seemingly unorthodox teachings, but that doesn’t seem to be the case here—this scribe who would have been well-versed in the 613 laws to regulate the people’s lives, was simply asking Jesus which he thought, “was most important.” 

   Our brother Jesus—always one to give more than what is asked for, repeats the “O Israel” prayer laying out the commandment to love their God, with the totality of their beings, but adds a second commandment, “no less important,” he says, to complete the instruction—that they/we “love our neighbors as ourselves.”  And over time, these two have come to be known as, the Two Great Commandments.  Those who have spent time thinking on these two, have said that really, keeping them is all that is needed where laws and commandments are concerned. 

   Jewish scholar, Hillel, under whom it is thought that Paul of Tarsus studied, put it this way—after these two, “all the rest is commentary.” 

   The writer to the Hebrews, in today’s 2^nd reading, speaks of our brother Jesus as our, “high priest,” who is holy, without fault and as one, “set apart.”  Clearly, we should keep our eyes on him.  Jesus’ commitment was, “total” to the One who sent him and if we would be his followers, ours must be too, this writer seems to be saying.

   So my friends, bringing all this forward, what do these readings say to us?  Because you see, our very own “yeses” to God/Jesus, in time, call us to more than just, “hearing” the Word—we must act on it too. 

   For the Israelites, saying that they “loved God” meant that they must love those others that God is in commitment with too.  The way this often played out for them in real life was that for this nomadic people—one that “traveled” a good deal, everyone—friend or foe—they named them, “strangers and guests,” were welcome at their homes and could expect, “hospitality”—that’s what, “writing it on their hearts” meant to them. 

   For us friends, as Christians—Jesus’ followers, this means, that we must welcome and care for, “the Body of Christ.”  And we all know that this care goes further than the “bread” of the altar.  Some things to care about this next week within the Body of Christ:

• The COP26 Summit—the United Nation’s Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland
• Racism—at our roots
• Sexism/patriarchy—rooted deeply too
• Poverty and homelessness in our country, and the list can go on—but this is probably enough to ponder and pray over for a week

   But it is right that we care because as Jesus said, “How can you say that you love God whom you cannot see, but not love your neighbor who you can?”  Jesus said it best in Matthew 25— “Whatever you do for the least of these, you do it for me.”  Our hearts, my friends, are generally in the right place; but our bodies and minds aren’t always there. When we find it hard to do something kind for someone we may not like, it’s good to remember that they may be carrying a heavy load around and are doing the best that they can. What is presented to the world may be a sullen, unfriendly countenance and their actions may seem selfish and unkind, but it may be that they are living with a broken heart.

   When we say we love another with our whole heart and mind, soul and strength, as we talked about here today, we must include all those whom that one loves.  It is that way with God too. And when we love, or try to love completely, as God does, we too are close to the kindom because we are doing what God does.  Let me repeat that–when we love, or try to love completely, as God does, we too are close to the kindom because we are doing what God does. 

   This next week, remember All Saints and All Souls days on the 1^st and 2^nd of November—all those who have gone on before us—who perhaps have shown us the way. And all the Sundays in November, I will have our Book of Life here for you to remember all your loved ones who have passed on and to add any new names that you may have.  Amen? Amen!

    My friends, it would seem that this Sunday’s readings are offering a two-sided message for us to ponder.  “Ministry”—doing it, that is, is one side of the message, and doing it with “mercy” seems to be the other side. 

   Jeremiah begins today as he speaks simply, Yahweh’s message to the Israelites, gathering them from all places— “I guided them in my mercy,” leading them to streams of water.  The writer to the Hebrews lets us know that their “high priest” will deal with them, “patiently” and this is because the high priest too is, “beset by weakness.”  And this my friends is why we can turn to our brother Jesus in our weakness as he knows what it is to live a human life. 

   In the gospel today from Mark, we hear the beautiful story of Bartimaeus who is physically blind and of how Jesus, our human brother deals with him—with mercy and patience.  And the psalmist reminds us, “God has done great things for us!” 

   As you all know, because I have told you many times before, the wisdom of those who choose our Sunday readings, intend that we will not just read the messages contained within and think, “that’s good for them,” but go that next step and apply the wisdom to our own lives as well. 

   I will begin our application by going to the poignant story of the blind beggar, Bartimaeus.  What does he say?  “I want to see,” and we can imagine that in his need, he stresses this fact— “God, I just want to see!”  Jesus’ response is to deal with him mercifully. 

   The patience of which I spoke was used with regard to his apostles who attempt to keep Bartimaeus quiet.  Jesus needs to keep telling this lot to focus on what is most important—listening and then doing what they can to help. 

    With regard to us then—could Bartimaeus’ prayer be ours as well?  “God, I just want to see,” remembering of course, that there are several ways of being blind:  physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  I know for sure, in my own life, when I am trying to seek a balance between being firm and being loving, that I pray, “O God, help me to see the piece that I am perhaps missing.”  

   I mentioned in an earlier homily that I have been reading, Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson.  I just finished it this past week and when all is said and done; I find that what struck me most in his story of working with his mostly black, brothers and sisters, some as young as 14 years of age, on death row, was the apparent, “lack of mercy” that he saw in judges, prosecutors, and the general public, apart from family members in the cases he tried as a lawyer, and especially when the defendants were black. 

   Rather than the democratic standard of, “innocent until proven guilty”—the opposite was often true for black defendants—the assumption going in of, “guilty as charged,” –often with little work expended by the defense, to prove innocence.  It is perhaps a good lesson for us all as we check our assumptions, thoughts, and feelings where others are concerned—especially when we disagree with them. 

   An assumption/question coming from Scripture where our brother Jesus was concerned might be instructive as we ponder how we look at others— “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”  We can simply fill in the town, tribe, family name.  It would seem that “mercy” is quite close to “love” –the virtue that we as Jesus’ followers must always apply in dealing with our world.

   So, we have laid out “the how,” we should minister (with mercy) as Jesus’ followers in our world; let’s now turn to the actual “ministry” that each of us is called to in our world.  I think sometimes, people feel that “ministry” is about what the priest or pastor does in a parish and has little to do with me, thank you very much, and that would be wrong if we thought that.  I give you myself as a prime example.

   For many years, I prayed that I/we would find a place, a community, where all would be included, all valued and was often disappointed as I looked, until one day, (and you all know my story) God basically said, “Kathy, why don’t you form that community?” 

   Each of us friends, is called to do our part.  Mine has been to pastor here at All Are One Catholic church—some of you have been called to speak truth to power through letters to the editor and to bishops and have done so with courage.  Others have spoken out to friends and family members about the rightness of women serving at the altars of our churches and others do it through their personal witness here in attending Mass presided over by an illicit, albeit valid woman priest.  

   So friends, don’t take lightly what each of you does here—not everyone has the courage that you have.  You can therefore, humbly and I do underscore that, “humbly,” pat yourself on the back and add a prayer that we, as a community, can always, humbly witness to the powers-that-be, that it is right for us to be here, whether we are ever recognized officially or not. 

   The writer to the Hebrews reminds us that being able to minister to others—something we do within this community through our concern for each other, as well as outreach in our larger community of Winona through Home Delivered Meals, monthly meals to the Catholic Worker house and financial gifts to local, national, and international organizations established to assist those in need is a gift we have received from God, not for ourselves, but for others.  In other words, God has opened our hearts to give in all the ways that we do, so that we truly can continue our brother Jesus’ work upon the earth.  All ministers, official and unofficial must always remember this!  Each and all have been gifted for service, not for us, but for others. 

   In conclusion my friends, let’s return a final time to our brother, Bartimaeus to learn what we can from him.  It is good to remember that he got the attention of Jesus and others because he was, “making a ruckus”—something we recall the apostles wanted to put a halt to.  Sometimes, in order to jump start some action, “a ruckus” may be needed. 

   In Bartimaeus’ time, most physical afflictions were seen as punishment for one’s sins.  Into the midst of that reality, Bartimaeus still implores, “God, I just want to see!”  Would that more of us were willing to make a ruckus when there just seems to be something wrong! 

   On every Thursday morning here in Winona, except for maybe Thanksgiving, the “postcard writers” –true ministers in every way, spend two hours, “making a ruckus” as they write our Congress people asking them to act on behalf of all the people they purport to serve.

   John Lewis, former Congress person, now gone home to God, “made a ruckus” throughout his many years in Congress—only he called it, “making good trouble.” 

   What would our world be like if we each could sincerely pray Bartimaeus’ prayer, “God, I just want to see” so that I am not blind to the real ways of suffering in my world.

   How would it be if the bishops around our country, meeting in November would decide to become real listeners of women, of youth and young adults, of the LGBTQ community, of all the down-trodden and ask each group the question our brother Jesus asked Bartimaeus, “What do you want me to do for you?”  And then, do it!

   All of this “stuff” is not easy to do, granted, but we weren’t promised, “easy” when we signed on.  At our baptisms, others said, “yes” for us; at our confirmations, we said, “yes” for ourselves—yes to following in Jesus’ footsteps—that should mean something to each of us!  We shouldn’t be proud of an epitaph that reads, “He/She got through life pretty much unscathed.” 

   In that light then, my friends, I’d like to close with the following lines from The Talmud, the body of Jewish civil and ceremonial law—something our brother Jesus would have been very familiar with. I have shared these words before, but thought they bared repeating:

Do not be daunted, by the enormity of the world’s grief.

Do just[ice] now.

Love mercy, now.

Walk humbly, now

You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.   Amen? Amen!