June 28, 2009 - Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time  - Fr. John Yonkovig
Someone asked me a few weeks ago what was the greatest trip I had ever taken? Now some of you know that I do like to travel - so this was a tough question. It caused me to stop and think. It struck me that my sabbatical in Berkeley, CA was the greatest trip. They said, “Why?” I thought for a second and said, life can be so much easier and calmer when we have nothing to do with others. When we don’t get involved, when we just walk away, mind our own business and just do what you want to do. And that was what the sabbatical was all about. You could go to classes if you wanted. You could interact with the nuns and priests and students if you wanted. You could eat with them or not eat with them, whatever you wanted. I lived in an apartment building and I could talk to the neighbors, if I wanted. There were no demands on me - I could do what I wanted or do nothing. For three whole months I could do what I wanted and there were no emergency calls from the hospital or from hospice. No demands whatsoever. It was incredible for me. IT WAS A VERY SAFE APPROACH TO LIFE! And I enjoyed it!!

My Berkeley story recalled an article I read in the NY Times this past March - a true story. To quote the story: “I was in Dunkin’ Donuts this morning and an old lady wearing a tattered watch cap started speaking to no one in particular. ‘I can’t sleep at night. I have pains in my chest all the time. My leg hurts and my children do not love me.’ People waiting in line hid in their cell phones, looked away or stared straight ahead. ‘I don’t know what to do. I don’t know where to turn. My husband died two years ago on the 27th.’ Everyone pretended she wasn’t there. The girls behind the counter took the next customers. The line inched forward. At a side table, a beautiful young woman with matching purple scarf and hat, looked at the old woman and said simply, ‘Honey, please sit down with me and tell me your story.’ It is possible, you see, for one person to save the world!

Life can be so much easier and peaceful when we have nothing to do with others - don’t get involved, walk away, mind your own business. These are all much safer approaches to life. But in today’s Gospel, Jesus is not afraid to wade into the messiness of life in order to transform it, to heal and restore it. In the two miracles we hear today, Jesus ignores custom and taboo in a way that we modern readers surely miss. In taking the dead girl by the hand, in allowing the sick woman to touch him, Jesus became religiously or ceremoniously unclean and therefore not permitted to enter the synagogue or temple. But to respond compassionately to the plight of these families becomes more important, more sacred, than the safety of convention and tradition. We are followers of Christ, his disciples and we are all called to be healers. Our lives are continually touching those of other people. With a little sympathy we could heal a wounded heart. With a little care we could ease a troubled mind. With a little of our time we could ease the pain of loneliness for someone. From time to time each of us should stop and ask ourselves: “What goes out from me through my words, my deeds, my relationships - hurting or healing?” May we imitate that same compassion of the healing Christ, risking our own sense of safety and satisfaction in order to bring that love into the lives of others. Sabbaticals are wonderful but they are NOT the real world we live in. You can save the world at Dunkin Donuts!