We locate the Book of Sirach among the latter books of the Old Testament to be written. It is one of the books of the Wisdom literature of the Hebrew Scriptures. Sirach was a rabbi who led a community of Jews who lived in what was called the Diaspora. The term Jewish Diaspora referred to Jews who did not live in the Holy Land but continued to maintain their belief in their tradition in a pagan land and environment. In this passage Sirach advises his community as well as us who read his words about the attitude and disposition we bring to our prayers. When we pray God is listening to our heart.

In this passage from the Second Letter to Timothy we have the writer pouring out the struggle he had experienced as he maintained his faith and trust in the Lord. He knows defeat and betrayal. He is not disposed to revenge but rather he continues to remain rooted in a trust in the Lord and the final and ultimate victory he and we will know in the Lord.

Any teacher knows the effectiveness of pointing out contrasts in order to bring home a point or to teach a lesson. We have the contrast in postures of praying in this story of Jesus. When we showcase and highlight what we have done we are honoring and exalting ourselves. When we admit our weakness and helplessness and turn in trust of God we honor God and our relationship with the Lord.

There once was a lecture that I heard that dealt with the subject of self identity. As happens to many of us when someone is talking, I listened to the ideas that were being presented and when it started to get complicated and more and more information was coming forth I began to drift away. The part of the lecture that I retained had to do with the element and the influence of competition and the part it plays in the lives of all of us.

Our society, our culture is swept up into the world of competition. Think of the presidential campaign that is going on now. All the candidates are competing to be elected to get our vote. Even more locally there is the heated competition going on with the governor, the mayor of Chicago, the Speaker of the house and the president of the state senate for the way to put together a state budget.

There is competition among your children to get what they want. There is a desire on all of our parts to see children make a team, get the part in a play or come in first in class. Many of us hope we get the promotion and get the raise. In so many ways our worth or at least how we look at ourselves and how others look at us is dependent on how we do in competing with others. I always am in competition with Father Velo to see who can give the best homily. We never leave the world of competition. It has a hold on us. It can be unbending or it can be flexible. It all depends on how dependent we are on competition for our identity.

Notice how many of us go through life pointing to what we have done or to what we have achieved. Implied in our self promoting is that we are not like others. We have done more than others. Our star shines a tad brighter. Consequently, if you weigh what others can point to and what we can claim as our accomplishments we must be better than others. We have bought into the world of competition and comparison.

Any parent who has more than one child does not base their love and relationship to their children on what the children have achieved to bring fame and recognition to them or to the parents. Our regard for others is not for what they have done. We love those we love because we love them. That is a love that is within us not what they do. Often it is not because of what they have done but in spite of what is done. Sure children and friends and family members can break our hearts yet our love for them does not fade. It can often make love all the harder but since love is not based on what others achieve the love remains.

Falling into the trap of competition and comparison is the mistake that is highlighted in the gospel. When we presume to go to God satisfied in what we have done we in fact are paying tribute to ourselves. It is as if we are telling God that God really should be impressed with what we have done. We can be so foolishly filled with ourselves. Think of the times of disappointment we may have said “How can God treat me this way after all I have done?” or “Why does God not listen to my prayers?” Maybe it is because our prayers are demands. We think and expect to be rewarded.

In the example of the letter to Timothy we hear the author acknowledging his failures as his own. Still in his inadequacy he retains a confidence in God. That is the attitude of a believer who realizes that all we have or achieved is not what we have done but rather what God continues to do through us.

The honesty of the man who cannot raise his head to God is found in his acknowledgment of his faults but also his confidence in God. He does not extol his achievements in comparison to others but rather realizes the love that God has for him is not because of what he has done but indeed in spite of what he has done. He acknowledges his own sinfulness and like the author to the letter to Timothy he is able to know the love that the Father has for him. Since he does not exalt himself but acknowledges his limits and in humbling himself the Lord exalts him. When we find our worth in thinking we are better than others and in competing and comparing with others we fail to realize the value of our lives is in the love God always has for us. It is like the love of parents for all their children whether they are winners and famous or unknown they are always loved not because of what they have done but in spite of what they have done.

Homily preached at the 8:00 and 9:30 Sunday liturgies

 October 28, 2007

Reverend William D. Mannion