Growing up, I used to watch a television show called “Touched by an Angel.”
It was one of those feel good shows.
There was always a person suffering for one reason or another, so God would send an angel to open that person’s eyes to grace, to see how intimately the Lord was working in their life.
By the end of the show, the problem was resolved. A person who was hurting was healed; a doubter came to faith; a broken heart was given peace.
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Throughout the bible, we hear about people who are touched by an angel.
For example, the Archangel Gabriel appears to Mary, telling her that she will conceive the Son of God in her womb.
A different angel appears to Saint Joseph, telling him that Mary’s pregnancy is God’s will; that there’s nothing to be afraid of.
The Apostle John later has a vision of the end of the world, as we hear in our first reading. John sees the Archangel Michael slaying Satan, that ancient serpent, the cause of evil in our world.
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Today’s feast of the Archangels reminds us that God is constantly working in our lives. But often we fail to see him, which is why the Lord sends angels to open our eyes to his presence.
Do I see God working in my life?
If not, ask your guardian angel to show you.
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As the angels reminds us, the Lord is much closer than he appears; closer than we could ever imagine.
We can see this on television, we hear it in protests , and we even notice it by yard signs placed in people’s lawns.
Yet, I’m sure what we all want is peace.
Peace in our nation; peace on our streets; peace in our homes; peace in our hearts.
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Today we celebrate the feast of Saint Wenceslaus, who like us wanted peace in his nation.
Born into a royal family in Bohemia – modern day Czech Republic – he became ruler of the kingdom at a very young age.
But his nation, like ours, was a house divided, largely because of religion. Bohemia was a Christian nation, but there also were anti-Christian factions inciting riots.
Wenceslaus made it his mission to bring his nation together, working for unity as Christ commanded us to do.
But when he was 22 years old, he was murdered while on his way to Mass by his brother and other revolutionaries, tearing his nation apart.
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For centuries, Wenceslaus has been remembered as a righteous king, leaving an example for other royals – and ordinary Christians like us – to follow.
When we see our society splintering, we cannot remain silent. We must be proactive in working for peace.
But if Christ is our standard, then we believe that lasting peace only comes through love, honesty, humility, and forgiveness.
Not weapons, hate speech, or mudslinging. And certainly not by posting online slanderous or hurtful words about people we disagree with.
Peace demands humility.
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How, then, might I be an agent of peace in America today?
(Below is Sunday’s Gospel passage, followed by Sunday’s sermon):
“Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people: “What is your opinion?
A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ He said in reply, ‘I will not, ‘ but afterwards changed his mind and went. The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir, ‘but did not go. Which of the two did his father’s will?”
They answered, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him.”
(Matthew 21: 28-32)
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When the English author G.K. Chesterton was asked, “What is wrong with the world?”
He replied, “I am.”
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Most of us would answer differently.
What’s wrong with the world?
Democrats. Republicans. Independents. Other people.
Terrorism. Corruption. Racism. COVID. Wildfires. The flu.
Anything – and anyone – but me.
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So, why would Chesterton, a devout Christian, say he’s part of what’s wrong with the world?
He wasn’t taking personal responsibility for all of the world’s problems. But he was acknowledging the role he’s played in it.
Like the first son in today’s Gospel, Chesterton admits to ignoring his conscience at times, to saying “no” to doing his Father’s will.
But like that first son, he also repents.
That’s the essence of the Christian journey: We acknowledge our sins, we seek forgiveness, and we strive to do better.
As hear we hear every Ash Wednesday while ashes are being traced on our forehead: “Repent and believe in the Gospel.”
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Most of us would admit that we’re generic sinners. As the old saying goes, “Nobody’s perfect.”
But we shouldn’t take comfort in that old adage. Nobody wants to live in an imperfect world. Too often it leaves us bruised and broken. And God – not us – gets the blame.
As Christians we’re challenged to piece our broken world back together; to leave our sins behind; to love God with all our heart and our neighbor as ourselves.
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Key to such spiritual growth is not only practicing virtue, but also naming our vice.
We must be honest with ourselves – and with one another – about what we struggle with in order to effect real change.
Alcoholics understand this well.
Whenever a person speaks at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, for example, they must begin by stating their name and the reason why they’re there.
For example, “Hi, I’m ‘so and so’ and I’m an alcoholic.”
Only then will others listen.
I remember hearing my mother say those words: “Hi, I’m Vicki and I’m an alcoholic,” when I attended an AA meeting to celebrate her 10th anniversary of sobriety.
It was truly humbling to watch.
That rigorous level of honesty enabled her to overcome, perhaps, the deepest struggle of her life. But as she often said to me, “I stay honest in order to stay sober.”
That’s the type of rigorous honesty – and accountability – we also need to practice as Christians.
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So, “What’s wrong with the world?”
At times, “I am.”
I’m a Christian.
But I can also be proud, impatient, and greedy.
I can be like the first son in the Gospel who ignores his conscience and says “no” to doing his father’s will, but later repents, namely in confession.
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What’s the alternative?
To see ourselves like the second son. To say “yes” to doing our Father’s will but fail to carry it out.
For example, Jesus teaches us to love our enemies; to pray for those who persecute us; to turn the other cheek; to forgive without limits; to clothe and feed the poor; to see Christ in every person.
These are some of the core tenets of our faith. And every Sunday we profess our willingness to put these beliefs into practice.
But how often does our faith fizzle out somewhere between Monday morning and Saturday night?
Maybe someone hurt us last week and we refuse to forgive them. Maybe we turned on the news this morning and found our blood boiling over politics.
Maybe we find ourselves constantly judging others who disagree with us. Maybe we’ve purchased more than we need or have given less than we can.
Faith is a full-time commitment – and a very difficult one at that. If we’re honest, it’s easy to “say”that we’re a Christian, but much harder to “be” a Christian all day, every day.
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So, “What’s wrong with the world?”
At times, “I am.”
I’m a Christian.
But I don’t always act like it.
I suppose I’m like the tax collectors and prostitutes in today’s Gospel. Although they’re imperfect, they strive to be better.
And for that Jesus blesses them, promising they’ll enter the kingdom of God before the chief priests and scribes who say they’ll do the Lord’s will, but don’t actually do it.
So, what about you?
How is the Lord inviting you to repent and believe in the Gospel? Or, how are you being challenged to live your faith on a deeper level?
