Almost all gambling starts with the words: “I bet”. And the wager is to risk something of value in the hopes of reaping something of greater value. I have been blessed by a temperament flaw that is not drawn to gambling. I’m cheap. My idea of a bet is the one I have with my golf partner – the loser has to keep score the next round. It doesn’t ‘cost’ me anything other than a bit of my pride and my time. I would not make a very good professional gambler.
Interestingly enough though, our readings today talk about people who gamble. Jesus talks about servants who gambled that the master would not return, or at least not return quickly. They gambled there was plenty of time to get their act together and to become better human beings in this life. They bet there was plenty of time to store up treasure in heaven by how they lived here on earth. The author of Hebrews writes about Abraham who trusted his God and was willing to move forward without knowing exactly where, and exactly how it would all turn out. He gambled that it was worth it to follow the way of his God, not because he was confident in himself, but “because he thought the one who had made the promise was trustworthy.”
It was when I read this that I realized that I gamble, and gamble on a daily basis. I bet my life on three realities. 1) that God who is Father, Son and Spirit, is real and worth all the time I ‘invest’ in him. 2) The Catholic Church, as painfully flawed and broken as it is these days, is still the vehicle Jesus intended and has chosen to spread his message, and is so worth fighting for. And 3) even now, how I/we live and the choices I/we make blossom into the eternal life I/we am destined for, NOT JUST IN HEAVEN, but right here on earth.
I understand that a lot of people buy into that first proposition, somewhat easily. We see that in those who define themselves as ‘spiritual, but not religious’, so prevalent among Gen X’er and Y’s and the “None’s”. They are happy to believe in God, but less happy to trust in the church. I get it. The scandal that has rocked the church is just that, scandalous. And yet I remember a priest who said this: Scandal never releases us from doing the good that is ours to do. Someone else’s failure, as heinous as it might be, never gives me the excuse to not do my part. And my part is to pray for and atone for the wounds of the church. My part is to continue to change the church from within by cooperating with God in my actions, and by striving to deepen my holiness, which is my connection to God who is Father, Son and Spirit.
And that is where that I take that third gamble, and invite you to join me. To trust that how I/we behave, and the choices I/we make are the things that God will use to bring about, not only the kingdom of God, but the restoration of his church.
Concretely, just as Abraham set out in faith, I invite you to do the same through one event and two practices.
1) Join this community on a day of Eucharistic Adoration, with time for the Divine Mercy Chaplet, Confessions and concluding with Mass on Friday, Sept. 6th. (more details in next week’s bulletin)
2) Since the names on the list go back 7 decades, to 1950, abstain from meat on Fridays for the next 7 Friday’s – praying for and offering your sacrifice for a different decade of victims each time.
3) Reach out with a note or a phone call or a letter, either to someone you know who is really struggling these days with the scandal and/or has left the church, or to a member who’s witness of faith inspires you – let them know you notice and are praying for them.
I don’t gamble about many things. Really just three, not withstanding my ‘golf wager’. But those three are so worth it. Not necessarily because I see how it will turn out. But because, like the author of Hebrews, I believe the one who has made the promise is trustworthy.” To live prepared, and preparing for the day of the Lord’s return – by my prayer, by my service to the church, by the example and witness of a holy life. That is so worth it. In fact, I bet my life on it.