July 4, 2010

    I am sending you like poodles among leopards. A poodle visiting Africa wanders off and gets lost. The poodle notices an obviously hungry leopard approaching. The poodle smells trouble. Noticing some bones on the ground nearby, the poodle begins chewing on the bones with her back to the approaching leopard. Just as the leopard is about to leap, the poodle shouts, “Wow, that was one delicious leopard! I wonder if there are any more around here?” Hearing this, the leopard halts his attack with a look of terror as he darts into the trees. “That was close!” the leopard says. Now a monkey who had been watching the whole scene from a nearby tree, figures he trade his knowledge for protection from the leopard. So off  goes the monkey. The poodle sees the monkey heading after the leopard and figures that something must be up. The monkey catches up with the leopard, spills the beans and strikes a deal for himself. The leopard is furious at being made a fool of and says, “Here, monkey, hop on my back and see what’s going to happen to that poodle!” The poodle sees the leopard coming with the monkey on his back and begins to wonder, “Now what am I going to do?” Instead of running, the poodle again sits down with her back to her attackers, pretending she hasn’t seen them and just when they get close enough to hear, the poodle says: “Where’s that monkey? I sent him off an hour ago to bring me another leopard!” Jesus is sending you like poodles among leopards.
    The challenges we face are many. Economically, for many, these remain tough times. Environmentally, there is an ever growing mess to clean up and we continue to recover from the effects of Katrina. Like Jerusalem, New Orleans is a city that has endured great suffering, we have mourned for her, and we love her. In the midst of those challenges, thus says the Lord: Rejoice with New Orleans and be glad because of her, exult, exult with her that you may suck fully of the milk of her comfort, the milk of her culture, and delight in her music. Like children, you shall be carried in her arms, fondled in her lap; as a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; in New Orleans you shall find your comfort. As Jerusalem was rebuilt after the destruction of the temple, so too we are laboring to rebuild, laboring to clean up the Gulf, laboring to love and serve one another.
    “Ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest”. This past week, I was fortunate to celebrate Mass with a group of Catholic students from Ohio who came to help out in a variety of service programs here in New Orleans. They came back rejoicing that they had shed light where there was darkness, that they brought enthusiasm, youth and vigor in areas where there was despair, and that they brought healing and restoration where there was injury. They tread upon darkness, despair, and injury and showed in very practical ways how we as Church are called to imitate Jesus. Jesus does not send us out to merely admire Him, but instead to imitate him in overcoming the powers of darkness in the world.
    Southern hospitality and southern comfort cannot be beat.  I remember a number of students from Jesuit high school came to Dallas after Katrina where I was teaching theology. In there own way those students came without a money bag, no sack, no sandals, and in a great hurry. When they found a place to house the students they stayed there eating and drinking what was offered. It was incredible to see how families opened up their homes. As southerners, we understand the type of hospitality that Jesus is talking. I suspect most have offered that kind of hospitality and to some degree been recipients of it. Most people are kind, generous and good hearted. In times of difficulty and crisis, we often discover in very practical ways how intimately God cares for us.
    God's love and care is very personal. God's promises to build up and restore Jerusalem give us hope to continue to rebuild our homes, our Church, and our communities.  Jesus sends us to bring hope, light and healing into the world and while we may at teams feel unprepared, understaffed, and underfunded we recall that we have in fact received Jesus crucified to be our strength. In the midst of difficulty and challenge we turn to the body and blood of Jesus on the cross to strengthen us to overcome forces of darkness in the world and to labor with Jesus in the harvest. Your hospitality, your strength, your resourcefulness, your faith, your creativity, and your generosity are signs that you are laboring with Jesus and give cause to rejoice. The Kingdom of God is at hand as you labor with Jesus to bring healing and comfort to the world. I take great comfort and rejoice because Jesus sends you as poodles among leopards.