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How many of us have heard of people who are, “spiritual, but not religious”?

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Many are drawn to the idea. It’s all about peace and love. 

“Away with all of the rules and boundaries of religion,” they say. “It’s too constricting. Do good and good will come to you.” 

The problem is, however, that God becomes more of a “hippie” than a judge.

And hippies can’t administer justice. We need a God who punishes evildoers and rewards the righteous.

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In the Gospel, we find the opposite approach.

The scribes and the Pharisees are “religious, but not spiritual.” 

They treat religion in a very rigid sense; God gives us rules to be followed. If you follow them, then you can earn your salvation.

But if you break them, then there’s no mercy for you.

God is not a “hippie.” He’s a “judge.” And a harsh one at that.

Some Catholics grew up with this mindset, as well; follow the rules and you’ll be saved. But beware of breaking them.

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Jesus teaches us to take more of a middle of the road approach, to be both spiritual and religious.

See God as your judge, who is also incredibly merciful. 

The one criterion by which the Lord will judge us is love. That’s it.

Religion boils down to, “Love your God,” Jesus says, “and love your neighbor.” Then we will be pleasing in his sight.

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How might we do both, even in little ways, today?

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Did you ever show up to school without doing your homework?

To me it was the worst feeling ever, as if the entire day was over before it began.

Even if I knew I didn’t do it, I’d still turn my bookbag upside down and give it a good shake as if it’d magically fall out.

But my teachers were never fooled. 

They knew as well as I did that, I was simply unprepared.

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In the Gospel, Jesus uses a parable to describe the end of the world – and by extension, the final judgment.

There are two groups: those who are permitted to attend the eternal banquet and those who are not. Each person is judged by a sole criterion: whether or not they’re wearing a wedding garment.

We might say, whether or not they’ve done their homework.

The white wedding garment symbolizes purity (something we also see at baptisms and weddings). Anyone without this pure garment cannot enter, because they’ve stained their lives with sin. 

It sounds harsh. It is harsh.

But the Gospel reminds us about the importance of living holy lives.

Meaning, we go to confession; we attend Mass; we read the Word; we pray; we make room for God in our daily lives.

We do our homework.

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Whatever it takes to make sure we arrive at the banquet dressed appropriately.

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Samuel Johnson, an 18^th century author, once visited a friend’s estate in the English countryside. After seeing all the rooms, rugs, and paintings on the wall, he said:

“These are the things which make it difficult to die.”

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Jesus never says it’s impossible for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Riches are not a sin.

But they are a danger, because we can easily become attached to them.

Think about how we’d feel if we woke up tomorrow and our house were downsized; our closet cut in half; our bookshelves emptied; and our car another ten years old.

It’d be shocking! Many of us would be saddened by it.

I know I would be. I love the two rooms I live in.

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Meanwhile, there are vets living on our streets; families who cannot make ends meet; children who haven’t eaten since yesterday. 

Or even the day before.

This doesn’t mean that we have to turn our lives upside down or sell everything we have. But we are obligated to help them.

We do this constantly here at Saint Catherine’s. Just last week, for example, we collected 1,800 personal care items and $1,300 for homeless teenagers living just miles from here.

This is what matters to God, having hearts that are generous. As Saint Paul says, “God loves a cheerful giver.”

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Riches are not a sin.

But they are a danger.

If we find ourselves feeling a little too attached, perhaps it’s time to share. 

God loves a cheerful giver.

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