A homily for the Third Sunday of Lent, March 7, 2021
Ex 20:1-17, 1 Cor 1:22-25, Jn 2:13-25
“I want you to get up right now. Sit up. Go to your windows. Open them and stick your head out and yell – ‘I’m as mad as hell and I’m not gonna take this anymore!’ Things have got to change. But first, you’ve gotta get mad! … You’ve got to say, ‘I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not gonna take this anymore!’ Then we’ll figure out what to do about the depression and the inflation and the oil crisis. But first, get up out of your chairs, open the window, stick your head out, and yell, and say it: ‘I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not gonna take this anymore!’” — From “Network”
That was 45 years ago. It could be today. It should be today.
Today’s Gospel and this fictional televised rant have a lot in common, and most of what they have has little to do with unbridled anger.
We all remember that Jesus was infuriated by the money-changers and the merchants in the Temple, and we all remember that the newscaster in the movie punched the line “I’m mad as hell.” Yes, we all remember the anger.
But then, Jesus did something about it, casting out the people who he believed had no business doing business in God’s house. He took action, which had results … and consequences.
The newscaster (the character’s name was Howard Beale, played by Peter Finch), likewise, demanded action. Get up! he demanded. Go to your windows! Scream, and then we’ll find ways to fix what’s wrong with society, remedy what’s failing in our country and the world. Bring about consequential results.
Get up, and take action.
Isn’t that what Jesus said and did 2,000 years before this movie?
Is what Jesus said and did as memorable as this film?
Do we remember the action? Or do we just remember “I’m mad as hell”?
Are we, as followers of Christ, following in his footsteps of righteousness?
Now, it’s true that the precautions we are — and have been — taking for health and safety during the pandemic limit our actions for the time being, but this Lent is a perfect time for us to refine our personal social justice action plans and rededicate them to the Greater Glory of God.
Here’s how.
Seek out an injustice within society.
Really and for truly go looking; don’t expect it to plunk into your lap. (That’s the “get up!” part.) You’ll know it when you see it. You will relate to this societal ill. It will strike you, strike you hard. That’s how you’ll know that this is your challenge. That’s the Holy Spirit at work.
Get emotional.
You’ll know what feelings you need to tap into to be driven to action. Anger and moral outrage. Empathy or sympathy. Sadness or even grief. But never despair, because God will give you — give all of us — the strength to persevere in a righteous task.
Identify how much of the problem you can tackle.
Some of us can slay dragons; others would merely be tilting at windmills. All of us can do something to root out systemic racism, sexism, xenophobia, homophobia, income inequality and food insecurity, but each of us must be realistic about how much we can do. How much we can contribute. How much time we can dedicate without neglecting our primary responsibilities to family and friends.
Identify the skills you can apply toward solving the problem.
You’ll know. Thank God for those gifts.
Then get up, and take action.
Just as Jesus did.
