When the World Burns

I've not yet seen the newest Batman offering, but the other night, FX - or some other channel - showed the last Batman film, "The Dark Knight."  I thought that was a superb exploration of the nature of evil and of our struggle against it.  Heath Ledger's portrayal of the Joker was inspired, and, I think, more than any other villain, he reveals the real nature of evil.

Bruce Wayne/Batman seeks to analyze and understand how that character "ticks."  In his laboratory, with video footage of his enemy, he struggles to find out why the Joker was doing what he was doing.  Alfred, his charming butler, shatters the academic pursuit by revealing that some men are not interested in gaining anything from their mischief.  "Some men," he says, "just want to see the world burn."

I don't know if you noticed, but each time the Joker talks to his victims about "how I got these scars," he tells a different story.  We really never find out what the truth is there.  He admits to Harvey Dent, "Do I look like a guy with a plan?"  And this is probably the scariest thing about our struggle with evil. There is no reason to it.  Sure, there are "causes" and "effects," but there is no sense of "justice" or "desert" when considering why things happen to us.

Ironically, the terrible events of the other day's showing of the new Batman film in Aurora, Colorado, poignantly remind us that this struggle with evil - in all its senselessness - is not just something that is confined to the silver screen.  As I watch the news coverage and the continuing investigation, it seems to me that a motive is far from materializing.  I remember that the Joker said, as he did not plan, "I just ... do."

This tragedy in Colorado calls us all again to pray.  We don't need to seek the Cross in our own lives - the Cross finds us.  The Cross is itself the result of evil in man's life.  However, it is also the Cross that God embraced.  Therefore, rather than seeking the Cross, we seek the One who died there - and who through that death brought life to the world.  Our crosses mean nothing - are as empty as evil itself - unless we can join them to the Cross of Jesus; and He who is the source of our meaning, brings the healing that our world awaits.

Stepping Out

On Friday of this past week, we marked the 43rd anniversary of our landing on the moon and Neil Armstrong’s famous, “one small step.” Since then, eleven others have had the distinction of having walked on the moon – and we have been able to finally make the complaint: “We can put a man on the moon, but I still cannot get the soda machine to accept my wrinkled dollar bill!” 

The Age of Exploration – an era of firsts – marks the achievements of humanity as we accomplish wonders in our world. As we develop our technology, more and more of the “impossible” becomes possible, and the miraculous becomes commonplace. However, when we truly consider the wonder of creation – how complex and interconnected we all are. In fact, for me, the more we discover, the more we learn, the more filled with wonder I am. 

But “interconnected” carries with it “responsibility.” The question, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” implies a positive response. And this is the case not only for we the people but also for our leaders – our shepherds. 

The prophet Jeremiah calls upon the shepherds of Israel – their leaders – to recognize their duty to lead the people to God and to live in His way. The mere fact that Jeremiah has to remind them means that they have been terribly negligent. “Woe to the shepherds who mislead and scatter the flock of my pasture.” God sees this failure on the part of the shepherds, and for the sake of His People He is prepared to step in and act on their behalf. 

Paul, writing to the Ephesians, reminds us of the solidarity we share in Jesus Christ. We were, at one time, “far off.” It was a big world, and we had a lot of space and time between ourselves. However, just as communication, transportation and technological advances have served to make the world “smaller,” so too does our connection to Jesus bring us together – erasing any differences or prejudices that would separate us; so much so, that Paul can say that he has created “in himself one new person in place of the two, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile both with God, in one body, through the cross.” Thus, together, we share that connection in the one Spirit of God. 

How is any of this possible? How can I be united with a person halfway across the planet in a way that demands my concern and love for her? How do we dare make the claim that we are one Church, with all our variety, opinions and ideas? 

The promise made by Jeremiah is brought to fulfillment in our Gospel. Seeing the people who came to him, Jesus is moved with concern for them, “for they were like sheep without a shepherd.” Looking at their hearts, he saw them trampled by the narrow-minded demands of the Law and those who led the nation. In their place, Jesus would open their hearts and let God walk there – where He can show them to true Shepherd’s care that they deserve. When we allow God to walk in our hearts, we are formed into one People – a sign of love and unity that we are meant to be, rather than scattered sheep who cannot witness to that love. It takes a heart prepared by prayer and fed by God’s life. 

Forty-three years ago, a man stepped out of a spaceship and walked around on the moon, and the world watched in wonder and rejoiced. Almost two thousand years ago, God walked along the beach at the Sea of Galilee, and the poor and downtrodden came to Him seeking to be fed. His heart went out to them in their need and their hunger. Now, Jesus waits to step into our lives again and show us love’s greatest expression – nourishing us with Himself. 

We can put a man on the moon, folks. Certainly, we can allow God into our hearts.

Moo

Sometimes, other people do know what they are talking about.

Work It, Kids!

Earlier this week, our local Catholic newspaper posted an article about a group of young people who came to Baltimore to explore opportunities for service among the needy of the city.  The story is not that different than those that could be written about many groups of youths in our area who boarded buses and headed out to serve a work camps throughout the United States.  However, these young people had come here - to us - to our city.

After an experience of work camp, such as the Catholic Heart Work Camp, our youth are clearly energized with a sense of their faith in action.  The stories that they bring back remind us all of the power of our faith and its effect on our lives.  But, when reading that story about our blessed visitors to Baltimore, I am reminded - as our young and not-as-young alike - that we have much work to do here as well.  Our faith begins at home - with our neighbors, with ourselves.

Pope Paul VI famously advised that "If you want peace work for justice."  Justice is about proper relationships - with God and with one another.  The credibility of our faith does not come from how well we argue.  It comes from how we live it.

Listen to your young people's experiences of putting their faith into action.  Then, that faith makes perfect sense.

Laying it all Out

AMC - "American Movie Classics" - showed "Napoleon Dynamite" the other night.  Now, why this film, released in 2004 to moderate success qualifies as an American classic is beyond me.  However, I love the film, so he's flippin' sweet in my book.

On the surface, this is a ridiculously random film, following Napoleon through his high school experience of an awkward geek who loves ligers (a lion and tiger hybrid), befriends a new student from Mexico, bickers with his brother and uncle, and runs his friend Pedro's political campaign.  It is just that randomness that is the hallmark of so many teenagers' lives.  But it would be a mistake to simply see this as a silly, random teen movie.

This movie is about friendship and the true value that friendship carries.  Napoleon believes in his friend Pedro - even though he is an outsider - the new kid, and a foreigner to boot - running for school president - which is more often a popularity contest anyway.  The unflappable Napoleon will never give up on his friend, and there's nothing he won't do for him.  When stuck for a "skit" as a sort of punctuation on his campaign speech, Pedro feels he has wasted his time.  He exits, stage right, expecting to be the loser everyone thinks he is.

That's when the bumping sounds of Jamiroquai's "Canned Heat" are piped over the speakers, and a moonboot-clad Napoleon totally puts himself out there for his buddy.  His moves stun, then delight the crowd, until the silence erupts with joyful applause.  They would vote for Pedro.

Why?

His speech was pretty sad.  He did not have charisma or the bubbly flair of his cheerleading opponent. Rather, he had something more important.  He had a friend who was willing to completely lay it out for him in front of others - not for himself, but for the one he believed in.  And that wins.

We too have that friend.  Jesus is willing - has already done it.  He laid himself on the line for us - not for Himself, but so that others can realize how wonderful we are - that we are worth God giving His all.  This is what He wants us to know - that we are so valuable to God that He is willing to give His only Son - even to be ridiculed, mocked and killed - for our redemption.  That is love.

And it makes me want to dance.