Sunday, July 8, 2012

Where Did You Get that Lousy Haircut?

Homily - 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B
Church of the Holy Angels


view detailsA man of Italian descent always had a dream of visiting the city of Rome and meeting the Holy Father.  So he saved up his money and put together a trip to the holy city, believing it would be the trip of a lifetime.  The day before he left he went to his barber for a haircut and told the barber about his plans.  "Rome," the barber said.  "It's over-rated.  I've been there.  How are you getting there?"  "I'm flying Alitalia."  "That's a mistake," the barber said.  "That airline is awful, they're always late.  And the food!  You can't even eat the food.  Trust me you won't eat a thing."  "Where do you plant to stay when you get there?"  "Well," the man said, "I have reservations at the Hotel Michelangelo.  It's supposed to be very good."  The barber said, "It's a dump.  I've stayed there.  It's overpriced and the rooms are small.  When you need something, you can't find anyone.  What do you plan on doing when you get to Rome?"  "My heart's desire is to visit the pope."  "Forget it," said the barber.  The pope is busy.  He only has time for wealthy and important people.  Not people like you and me.  Trust me, you won't even get close to him."

A few weeks later the man returned to the barber.  The barber greeted him and said, "I'll bet you took my advise and didn't go Rome, did you?"  "Oh yes, I did," said the man.  I flew Alitalia.  And not only did we arrive 30 minutes early but they bumped me to first class and I ate like a king.  I stayed at the Hotel Michelangelo and they were nice enough to send a car to the airport to pick me up.  The room was huge and I had a wonderful view of the Vatican. But, best of all, I had a private audience with the pope in his apartments."  "No," said the barber.  I'm amazed.  I can't believe it.  Well, what did you do when you saw the pope?  Did he say anything to you?  "Oh yes," said the man.  "I was brought into his apartments and I knelt down to kiss his ring.  He looked at me and said, "My son, where did you get that lousy haircut?"

Negativity breeds negativity.  And it's so easy for us to become negative.  And it's even easier to become negative about the people and the things closest to us.  That's what's happening in today's Gospel.  Jesus comes to visit his hometown.  For months he's been traveling around Galilee with huge crowds singing his praises.  But when he comes to his hometown, to the people who know him the best, all he receives is criticism about his person and his mission.  This lack of belief so unsettles him that he can do no work of power there.  The negativity of the people created a negative environment which was an obstacle to God's grace.

In this election year, the negativity is right on our televisions or on the radio.  Instead of promoting what they're hoping to do, politicians focus on what the other hasn't done.  Positive turns to negative smear campaigns and deter us from the important issues and become an obstacle to working together.  Lots of people complain about the Church – it's too strict, Mass is boring, the leadership is out of touch.  And we disengage rather than engage failing to involve ourselves in making a difference for the better.  Maybe you think that mom and dad can't do anything right – their rules are lame, they don't like my friends, they won't buy me what I want.  We complain, "my life is boring."  And we can't find anything good about our parents or our home.

From the perspective of faith, the negative is unhealthy because it paralyzes us.  It encourages us to throw in the towel, to give up.  Criticism zaps us of our energy and prevents us from being all that God wants us to be.  It's why Jesus needed to move on to the next town or village to be most effective and not be overwhelmed by the negative energy of Nazareth.

How do we become more positive?  How do we become more hopeful?

Jane Brody wrote a recent column in the New York Times about the power of positive thinking.  She gave these reflections which I've interpreted from a spiritual perspective:
·         FACE YOUR FEARS.  Step out of your comfort zone to help eliminate fear, anxiety and negative thoughts that can stand in the way of success.  Too many people today fill up the void and their fear with compensatory behavior: drugs, sex, food, alcohol, unhealthy relationships.
·         RE-EVALUATE EVENTS IN YOUR LIFE.  When I was 13 years old I was diagnosed with scoliosis.  I wore a Milwaukee back brace for 2 years – 23 hours a day!  I hated it and wondered why.  Years later I came to be grateful for that time of my life.  I grew in understanding of what it means to be the outsider or to have a disability.  What was disguised as a curse, was actually a blessing when it was re-evaluated.
·         PRAYING.  Prayer is an amazing thing.  It helps us step back from our lives and see how things are fitting together. 
·         TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR FEELINGS.  Too many people today let their feelings dictate their actions.  Feelings are like the Engine Light on your car.  If it comes on and you choose to ignore it, cover it up or hit it with a hammer, the car isn't going to run.  The light tells you, open the hood, look underneath and diagnose the problem.  Feelings call us to do the same.
·         LAUGH.  Laughter is great medicine.  Leon Bloy once said, "Joy is the infallible sign of the presence of God.  Joy is too often missing in our world.  Christians are called to be a living sign of that joy.
·         BE FULLY ENGAGED.   Have you ever had a pity party and the only one invited was yourself?  When we feel sorry for ourselves we become isolated, withdrawn, separated from others.  When I feel down I try to call a friend I've not spoken to in a while or visit the nursing home or hospital or pray for someone going through a rough spell.  Engagement in the lives of others dissipates my own concerns and worries.
     
May we put aside the negativity that frustrated Jesus of Nazareth.  May we become a people of thankfulness and joy.  Thankful for this place.  Thankful for our lives and our freedom.  And then use that thankfulness to correct and improve our country, our church, our families and our world.


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