I saw a movie at Grant last week. It is called Whatever Works. It is a Woody Allen film and the central character is Boris Yelnikoff, an eccentric in his seventies who believes that life happens by chance. I mean, what are the chances that one would jump out of the window of a New York high rise and still survive? What are the chances that a pretty twenty-two year old runaway from Mississippi would land up at his door and finally end up marrying him? What are the chances that the mother of this girl would land up at the same apartment and make it big in New York even though it meant happily sleeping between two men? What are the chances that the girl’s father would land up at the same apartment in search of his daughter and wife and finally meet the man of his dreams to live happily ever after. The girl finally realizes that marrying a younger man would make her happier and what are the chances that a hopeless Boris would jump out of the window a second time, only to land on his future wife. The movie ends with all the characters happily sharing a drink. Boris’ lesson to the audience at the end of it all is simple. Life is a game of chance. Take any happiness you get along the way in whatever way it comes. “Whatever works.”
I have to admit, the “whatever works” philosophy is very attractive. It certainly seems easier, than undertaking the arduous task of defining a goal and purpose for life. I wish at birth attached to all of us is small fortune cookie that would have life all worked out for us. But it does not work that way. And so we struggle not only trying to make life but also to make meaning out of it. Wealth, occupation, gender, are no barriers to asking the question, “What is the purpose of my life?” Some of us struggle more than others but in reality we know that “whatever works” does not work.
Listen to these words from today’s second reading. It has something to say about the purpose of human life. Paul says, “In him (Christ) we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory….” (Eph 1:11-12). In other words, it is possible for human beings to find the meaning and purpose of life by aligning themselves with God’s will and purpose. Scripture calls people who are “chosen and destined according to the purpose of God,” prophets. Amos in today’s first reading is a classic example of this. Amos was a shepherd under the reign of King Jeroboam II. While there was tremendous prosperity during his reign there was also terrible injustice and idolatry. Amos is called aside by God for God’s purpose – to call an entire people to fidelity and justice. Amos so personalizes this call that even when he is threatened by Amaziah, the priest at Bethel, he continues to prophesy at the cost of his life. He had found his purpose in God’s purpose. In the gospel reading Jesus calls the twelve and sent them out to preach repentance. Through the healing, the cure and their preaching they bring God’s presence to people. But ever more, in Jesus mission they find their own purpose and meaning.
Let me offer three practical implications from today’s readings.
a) The concept of “being chosen by God for God’s purpose” is a very radical concept in Christianity. By radical I mean that there is the concept of being chosen from the womb, or being chosen, as Paul says in today’s second reading, “before the foundation of the world.” (Eph 1:4) Thus each of us has a very holy and sacred task assigned to us. Our task is to discover beyond our occupation and our earthly pursuits, the eternal significance of our lives. This week spend immense amount of time in prayer and reflection on this one question: “What is the eternal significance of my life; as I see it; as God sees it?”
b) At some point we must realize that the eternal significance of every person has social implications. Amos’ prophetic calling is integrally related to the renewal of a nation. I am most touched by Amos “truth-telling” as his prophetic act. Not only does he defend his prophetic calling in the face of threats but if we read the book of Amos, he spoke the truth against the prevalent injustice and infidelity. Against kings, priests, false prophets and those in authority, he would only proclaim the truth. Our nation and the world is in the economic and violent turmoil it is today because people in political and economic powers engaged in deception. Think of the child abuse crisis in the church – if only there was more truth and honesty so many lives would be unharmed. It is not uncommon for us to engage in small untruths to escape meeting people, not go to work, to avoid embarrassment, to avoid change, to avoid taxes. Like Amos, I would like for us to think about truth-telling as prophetic act. Truth telling is of eternal significance.
c) A third practical implication being prophetic involves what I call the prophetic vision. One of the most serious threats to being authentically prophetic is to lose God’s purpose and will by aligning ourselves with political ideologies. The goal of politics is power. The goal of a prophet, on the other hand, is eternity. Neither Rush Limbaugh or Michael Moore, neither Republicans or Democrats, neither Conservatives or Liberals, neither Progressive or Traditionalists present the entire truth. From my ordinary conversations with people I know how easy it is to confuse political ideologies with religious truths. In the midst of all these extremes, what does it mean to be “destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of God’s will, so that we might exist for the praise of God’s glory…” To be able to truly be the voice of God in our broken, divided, violent, and oppressive world is to be a prophet. This is an eternal calling.
Just for a moment let us turn our focus to the altar, to the Eucharist and to the eternal sacrifice it makes present. Let us become aware that moral human beings that we are will soon become one with the Eternal God. This is the God who calls us, has destined us according to God’s eternal will. Let us allow our mortal human will to mingle with the Eternal will of God. For this is our eternal purpose, in this is our eternity. Amen.
Fr. Joy Poonoly C.Ss.R.
