Parish Missions

The Challenge to Change

An old rabbi was once asked why the Messiah

had not yet come. He responded, "The Messiah

blessed be his name, does not come because

we are no different today than we were yesterday."

This "challenge to change" may very well sum up the theme of today's Scriptures.

Isaiah's idyllic vision sounds wonderful, but what if we are the valleys that will be filled, the mountains brought low, the rugged land made a plain? The Israelites are at this time nearing the end of the Babylonian exile, and the prophet is beginning his attempt to convince them to return to Jerusalem. Even with the gentle language of "Give comfort to my people…speak tenderly to Jerusalem...," they aren't all that eager; they have become comfortable. It's been more than a generation. They don't want to change!

Mark begins his Gospel (“good news”) with John's call for radical change. For all John's success, we are not always too impressed by John's wild appearance and erratic behavior. He connects his message of reform to Isaiah's: this is to be a radical conversion. We don't

want to change.

Someone is coming whose impact on their lives will be even greater than John's. One will come, John proclaims, who will baptize in the Holy Spirit, with FIRE. This baptism will demand everything we have, everything we are. Soon we will come to know the depth of the commitment demanded by Jesus: "in holiness and devotion." That sounds just a little too much like work.

It was in our baptism that we were called to this conversion. Unfortunately, for most of us that was as an infant. And the problem arises: what were we radically converting from? We were innocent.

The Church today asks us, nonetheless, to reflect on filling in the valleys, lowering the mountains, making the rough country a broad valley. And if you're feeling uncomfortable about it don't feel bad, you've got plenty of company.

But the fact remains that the Messiah, and with him a New Creation, will not come unless, in the words of that wise rabbi, we begin to be different. The Lord does not expect perfection in our conversion process: only that we earnestly attempt day by day to make the changes that will align us with his message and mission.

The radical conversion must begin with our attitude. There is something in me that needs changing. A relationship needs work? A guilt has to be laid to rest? An anger must be dealt with? Attitudes always involve emotions, which makes change very problematic. Wherever the emotions are involved, there is sure to be pain: change would be so easy to handle if it weren't for the emotions!

Next, radical conversion requires a change in behavior. What we do is essential to any conversion process. To have an attitude of love, of patience, of service for others can only be evidenced by what we do. That's why Jesus cautioned his followers: "By their works you will know them."

We continue to rejoice with the catechumens and the candidates for full reception into our faith communities. They are for us a reminder of our own call to conversion: accepting day by day the message and mission of Jesus Christ in a radically new way -- both by a change in attitude and a change in behavior. Each of us prays with and for them this day as we enter our second week of preparation for Christ's coming that we will have the courage to change.