Today let’s take a moment to laugh, that doesn’t mean we forget about COVID 19 or the racial tension and injustice that we are facing as a nation.  The great American humorist, Will Rogers, had the reputation that he could make anyone laugh.    

 

President Calvin Coolidge, on the other hand, had the reputation for never laughing.  Rogers was invited to visit the White House and … the president's assistant brought Rogers into the Oval Office. 

What do you think happened they met?  … the assistant said, "President Coolidge, this is Will Rogers.   Then said, Mr. Rogers, this is President Coolidge."   To which Will Rogers leaned forward and said, "I'm sorry. I didn't catch the name."   With that, President Coolidge cracked up and started laughing.”  [“Making Anyone Laugh”]

Some people are quick in sports, some quick intellectually, some with music!  Some are quick with a verbal comeback, others quick with the right thing to say.  Of all the things that Jesus said, some scripture scholars think that His words, "I am the way and the truth and the life” are the most important! (Lee Griess, Return to the Lord, Your God, CSS Publishing Company, Sermons.com; slightly modified by me)

We know that even in Apostolic times the Church had disagreements and problems.  Those problems were solved and resolved by prayer, good will and decisions that made sense to the whole community.  Jesus urges to allow God to build us and mold us into a spiritual house.  A place where the Holy Spirit lives and thrives!

St. Francis deSales said: “Let us be who we are and be that well,

in order to bring honor to the Master craftsman whose handiwork we are.” 

(Oeurves, XII. Letter 289 10 June 1607)

God’s house is opened to us through, the Son - Jesus Christ.  Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life!  On the surface that statement appears rather simple and innocuous BUT it actually calls us to allow God to direct our lives and Jesus showed us how to do that!

But we like control; when Deacon Bernie [Salabsky from Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Bethlehem, PA] found out that he needed a heart transplant he shared this poem about riding on a tandem bicycle:

“At first, I sat in front, Jesus in the rear.

I couldn’t see him, but I knew He was there.

I could feel his help when the road got steep.

Then one day Jesus changed seats w/ me

Suddenly everything went topsy-turvy

When I was in control

The ride was predictable – even boring

But when Jesus took over, it got wild

I could hardly hold on.

This is madness – I cried out

But Jesus just smiled & said Pedal

And so, I learned to shut up & pedal

& trust my bike companion.

Oh, there are still times when I get scared & I’m ready to give up

But then Jesus turns around, touches my hand

Smiles & says, just pedal.”

Today we are faced with twin pandemics COVID 19 and institutional racism, so things are topsy-turvy in our nation, Jesus clearly said to the disciples and to us “I am the WAY and the TRUTH and the LIFE.”  So, we are called as disciples of Jesus to work to end these problems.  Trusting that God will lead us You and I are called to follow His WAY in TRUTH and in HUMILITY.  If you have the courage let Jesus on the front seat of your life and your will, and just pedal you will have the ride of your life and help others find their way. 

 

There is no high-tech, sophisticated, modern road to the Gospel; there is no quick way to bring about the reign of God in our midst; there is no easy way to build a dwelling place of God.  

Jesus challenges us …. In his death and resurrection … to walk the hard, demanding road of living the Gospel and building God’s house in us and in our world.  If we do that, we will be part of the solution to the COVID 19 Pandemic and to Racial injustice in the U.S.A. 

 

May God Be Praised!