Have you ever noticed that Jesus very seldom answered a question directly? Who is my neighbor? A man was traveling down to Jericho when he was attacked by robbers… Should we pay the tax or not? Whose image and inscription is on the coin of tribute? Are you the king of the Jews? The reason I came into the world is to testify to the truth. Today’s gospel text reflects that pattern. “Are you the one who is to come or should we look for another?” Jesus said, “Go and tell what you hear and see…” Look at the evidence of healing and wholeness and make your own decision. Doubtless as a good teacher Jesus wanted his questioners to figure things out for themselves rather than give a pre-digested answer. Perhaps in doing so he demonstrates the old adage: “Talk is cheap.” Or as they teach you in preaching class: don’t tell, show. All of which reminded me of a Broadway show tune. (What a surprise!) In My Fair Lady the young swain is trying to woo the heroine, Eliza Doolittle with poetry and verse. She explodes: “Words! Words! Words! I’m so sick of words! Sing me no song! Read me no rhyme! Don’t waste my time, Show me! Don’t talk of June, Don’t talk of fall! Don’t talk at all! Show me! Never do I ever want to hear another word. There isn’t one I haven’t heard. Here we are together in what ought to be a dream; Say one more word and I’ll scream! Don’t talk of love lasting through time. Make me no undying vow. Show me now!”
Kind of makes you wonder if we rely on words too much in the Catholic tradition. When you want to know what a Catholic believes we rely on words: the catechism, the creed, the sermon. What would things look like if instead telling we showed? Take our baptismal promises for an example. Show me what you mean when you say, “I believe in God, the Father Almighty.” See the supernova and the snail, the dinosaur and DNA and understand the divine architect has a wonderful plan. See that every single individual is treated as loveable, as precious since they are made in the divine image. See that we have a destiny beyond the limits of time and space. That’s how you can tell we believe in God. Show me what you mean when you say that God is the “creator of heaven and earth.” See that we are treating creation as our common home, as the place me must tend with care. See that we are not polluting the air and water, that we are using the resources of this world wisely, that we respect the circle of life in all of its glorious diversity. That’s how we show our belief in God as creator.
What about Jesus. Show what you mean when you say you believe in Jesus? See that we act in the conviction that God is not content to remain in heaven above it all but instead engages with humanity in bringing us life, life to the full. See that we treat every human being as not simply a product of evolution but as a member of the family of God with Jesus as our elder brother. See our understanding that a particular person in a particular place at a particular time brings the entire history of the world into a focus and provides it a meaning and a destiny. That’s how we show our belief in Jesus. But show what you mean when you say that Jesus suffered and died and rose again? See how the suffering we have to go through in this world – physical, mental, emotional – is not viewed as a terminal tragedy but as somehow used by God to bring about something new. See how death is not the enemy to be feared above all else but instead a doorway into a richer and fuller life. See how our mourning and grief and sense of loss is colored with hope even in the midst of our tears. That’s what Jesus’ suffering and death and resurrection does for us.
What about the Holy Spirit? Show me what you mean when you say you believe in the Holy Spirit? See that we don’t rely simply on our own strength and ability but instead we can do all things through the one who strengthens us. See that we can look in the Bible, in the Sacred Scriptures, and find there a word from God which guides our thoughts and actions. See that when we go into prayer we can come to a decision which we believe is part of the plan of God for us. That’s what the Holy Spirit means.
And the church? Show what the church means. See that we create a space where everyone feels welcome, everyone feels that they belong. See that we offer each other support as we journey through life together. See that we are not closed in on ourselves but instead are engaged in the realities of this world, in particular being attentive to those on the margins of society to let them know that they are important in the eyes of God. That’s what it means to be Church.
You say you believe in life everlasting? Show what that looks like. See that we get our values not in our positions or our possessions or our recognition but instead from a destiny which is beyond this world. See that we value every human life – the fragile, the broken, the needy — from cradle to grave as possessing a worth and value beyond any human calculus. See our joy no matter what is happening because of the blessed assurance we have that in the end love never dies. What do you think? How are we doing? Do we really exhibit what it means to be Christians? Can people recognize in us the great gift we have as people of faith? Is there enough evidence to convict us of being baptized? Does it show?
