Why this homily matters?
What does it mean to be inclusive? Our society seems to think that this means being passive and permissive. But these are not how one should describe how God’s love is inclusive. Passive – no. Permissive- not either. A useful analogy is to think of parents looking for a child they would like to adopt. Active not passive. They are willing to invest their time, money and hearts in the pursuit. Not having that child affects them. And when they get the child, they cannot imagine their family without that child. They are not the same without that child.
Key Points
Inclusive Love
To be included is so very powerful. So much of our early experiences are about fitting into groups of people around us. It is a huge gift indeed to be included.
Do we think that the Catholic Church is inclusive? Doesn’t to be inclusive mean to be open, tolerant, welcoming? Those are not necessarily the words we would use to describe our Church. However, the word Catholic means universal. The Catholic Church exists in every nation. Likewise, it is represented in every race and in virtually every language. We learn in scripture that God’s love is inclusive. God desires that all be saved.
What does it mean to be inclusive? Perhaps it is helpful to start with what it does not mean?
Inclusive means neither being passive nor permissive. Some people or churches say that all are welcome. This is not what the Catholic Church says. Rather we say that all people are invited into the Catholic Church. It is not a situation where God is ambivalent if you enter into a relationship with Him or not. In other words, it’s not the case that if you want to enter into a relationship with God, He is okay with it. Or if you don’t enter into a relationship, then, He’s okay with that too.
Inclusive Love – Lessons of Parents Seeking Adoption
To be inclusive is an active process. For example, Fr Mike describes couples who desperately want to be parents through adoption. The attitude of these couples is what it means to be inclusive. They are not passive. That is to say, they are actively pursuing getting a child. For the chance of getting a child for adoption, they are willing to:
- give their time,
- their money and
- their whole heart.
In short, they will jump through any hoop for the chance. They have a heart to fight for these kids.
We are not indifferent or passive. We are in pursuit.
Inclusiveness also means radically open. In the case of adoption, couples don’t care about:
- the circumstances of their conception or
- who the parents are.
They are radically open.
God’s Love Sprouts from Abraham and Sarah
This is God as well. Firstly, God chooses Abraham and Sarah. It grows from that couple to a family, to a tribe and to a kingdom. It seems that God has chosen the people of Israel exclusively.
To Abraham he promises:
- They will have descendents
- They will have land
- Through them he will bless the entire world.
God’s love is inclusive. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead. And there will be one flock and one shepherd.
The story of the Bible is God’s pursuit to include everybody. God’s love excludes no one. Certainly, Christ died for all without exception. There will never be a human being for whom Christ did not suffer. Therefore, there will never be a single person who is not wanted.
The point of being inclusive is to include. It is to bring people in. For example, in the adoption process, the point is to bring a child into the family. You wouldn’t say to that child, “it’s nice that you are here.” No you would say instead, “we found you! Now you are part of us!”
GK Chesterton wrote about having an open mind. The purpose of an open mind is the same as an open mouth. It is to close down on something solid. Similarly, the Catholic Church has arms wide open waiting to embrace you.
Inclusiveness is not permissiveness. It is to bring people in. We are not us without you. God’s love is in pursuit of you and God’s love desires to possess you.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus says I want them to be mine. To be inclusive is not to be permissive but rather possessive.
Jesus’ Exclusive Claim
But there is something that is exclusive. God desires all to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. Not to come to a knowledge of a truth, or to my truth or your truth. To come to a knowledge of the truth.
Jesus makes some exclusive claims about himself. I am the way, the truth and the life. He doesn’t say I can show you a way. Nor does he say that He can show you a truth. He does not say I can show you a life. Rather, He says, “no one can come to the Father except through me”. There is no other name by which we are to be saved.
We find these words very unsettling. The question becomes, is it true? Is Jesus the only way to the Father? Some people will say, “I don’t believe Jesus was God but I believe he was a good person.” CS Lewis said this is the one thing we cannot say about Jesus. We cannot say that Jesus was not God but only a good person. Why? Because Jesus claimed to be God. So if he was not God, then he was either a liar or a lunatic. He made an exclusive claim. All of his miracles are signs that point to something.
Jesus Heals a Paralytic
One particular miracle involved a paralyzed man. He was brought to see Jesus by his friends. There were so many people in their way that they could not get close. So they lowered him down through the roof. What did Jesus do? He said to him, “Your sins are forgiven.” The people around say, “Who but God can forgive sins.” Exactly right. So Jesus then says to the paralyzed man to prove that He is who He says He is. “Rise, pick up your mat and walk.”
In John 11, we hear about the siblings Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Lazarus has been dead for 4 days. Martha tells Jesus that he has been dead for 4 days. They know what dead looks like. After 4 days, they know what dead smells like. Jesus insists they roll away the stone. Then he says, Lazarus come out. We are told then that many came to believe in Him after this. Why? Because he made exclusive claims with indisputable proof. No more so than the Resurrection.
He wants to include us in His life. Jesus has made an exclusive claim. If that is true, then He has an exclusive claim on your life.
Salvation in Other Religions
What about other religions? The Catholic Church teaches that other religions have some degree of truth in them. For example, even satanism. Satan exists and that is true. However, Satan should not be worshiped. This is false. Hindus believe that there is more to this world than just this world. True. Are there millions of Gods? No. Islam teaches there is one God. True. They don’t believe in Jesus which is false.
What about people who don’t know Jesus? What will happen to them? The Catholic Church says that those who seek God sincerely may be saved. However, you cannot drift into Heaven.
Jesus has made an exclusive claim. He has an inclusive love.
Would you leave your RSVP to a function unanswered because you do not know what other people will do? That is not wise. I don’t want Jesus to ever stop asking for me to join him. He makes the invitation and a claim to my life. Why would I not answer and say yes?
Suggested Homily
04/25/21 Inclusive Love/Exclusive Claim – Bulldog Catholic
Scripture References
1 Timothy 2:4
Acts 4:8-12
1 John 3:1 – 2
John 10:11-18
John 11
Mark 2: 1-12