I’m More Disney Than You Are | September 7, 2015

 September 7, 2015

I went to Disneyland with friends this past weekend and while they all went on the big scary roller coast of anxiety, I sat on a stress free bench and observed the crowd. I was entertained with the thought that Disneyland is a microcosm of the church and that the varying degrees of “Disney” people or fanatics resembles the varying degrees of “Churchy” people or fanatics that we have been getting a taste for in the gospels this past week. I saw a grown woman in a full Maleficent costume, multiple Tinkerbell tutus, dads in Goofy hats and carrying their own light sabers, kids on leashes, toddler princesses, Disney character tattoos on both men and women, entire families wearing matching outfits from head to toe, bride and groom Mickey and Minnie ears, Chewbacca back packs by the dozen, vests covered in Disney pins, and one 6 or 7 year old boy with Mickey ears shaved into the back of his head.

The Disney commercial culture is alive and well and manifested in many different ways. I imagine, however, that just wearing the garb does not a true Disney fanatic make, and the next level of fandom is how much random Disney trivia do you know. I always find that the ride Pirates of the Caribbean is the place to test your actual Disney fan status. The competition between “real” Disney fans usually begins with the sentence; “Did you know…” followed up with some outrageous Disney fact like, “There is one real human skull on this ride?” Then the one-upping starts to banter back and forth. Let’s face it, we all want to prove exactly how personally dedicated we are to whatever cause, organization, football team, etc. that we love through our knowledge and the amount of gear we own. I may or may not have proudly announced the Notre Dame football score out loud multiple times throughout the day to whomever would listen and I may or may not have yelled “GO IRISH!” every time I saw a USC t-shirt.

My point is that the Pharisees wanted to prove their own superior knowledge of the faith by pointing out Jesus’ obvious lukewarm dedication. Disney (and Notre Dame, cough cough) fanatics and the Pharisees are alike in their pride for their “religion”, however, Disney fans are way more cheery in their approach and actually seem to want to evangelize others while the Pharisees might just be tooting their own horn (and Notre Dame fans are actually superior because their team is named after the Mother of God!!!!! Just sayin’.).

Today’s gospel is another example of Jesus preaching in the synagogue. I think we sometimes forget that he was a legit Rabbi. The Pharisees challenged him again. Envy is one of the seven deadly sins for a reason because it gnaws at you constantly until one day you wake up and ½ your soul has been consumed. I think it is telling that as soon as the Pharisees saw the man with the withered hand, they knew immediately that Jesus would be compelled to heal him. Would our adversaries think the same about us? “Uh oh, there is a person in need here, you know what that means, Jen is going to freaking try to help them. Oi vey!” I sure hope so. You know Pope Francis’ secret service team learned this within 24 hours of him being Pope! Well Jesus had the same reputation. I picture him looking at Peter, James, and John with a wink like, “Watch this…” I’m sure they wanted to see what this Jesus character was going to do now. Do your friends wait with baited breath to witness your next move?

With all eyes on him, Jesus calls the man out of the crowd, “Come up and stand before us.” Then he turns toward the Pharisees, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” Then he looked around the room, like the magician David Blaine showing the deck of cards to a full house in Las Vegas. Everyone leans in so they don’t miss the slight of hand (pun intended) trick. If synagogues had a house band, they would kick in with the drum roll here…to the man, Jesus says, “Stretch out your hand.” Ta da!!!!! His hand was completely restored, ladies and gentlemen!!!! Amazing!!!!

Once again, Jesus knew that healing the man’s physical ailment was important but restoring this man’s faith and all those that let their heart become transformed through this miracle, was the actually amazing part and the “good” that he referred to in his opening challenge. The Pharisees were pissed because Jesus trumped them one more time in public. Ugh. Like when I hold onto my very own Disney trump card of being close personal friends with a couple who met when they played Snow White and Prince Charming at Disneyland and have now been married for over 30 years! BAM! I’m more Disney than you are!!

Let’s not be swooned by our envy and pride but rather let’s focus on doing good, spreading joy, and simply evangelizing the truth so everyone we meet will want what we have. If we were to combine all of our Disney knowledge and experiences, we would become one big happy family that lived happily ever after and the same is true with our knowledge and love for Christ. May we not try to one-up each other on matters of faith, but join our hearts as one so that we might all enter the magic kingdom together. Stretch out your hand to the one that heals your soul. 

Reading 1 COL 1:24–2:3

Brothers and sisters:
I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake,
and in my flesh I am filling up
what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ
on behalf of his Body, which is the Church,
of which I am a minister
in accordance with God’s stewardship given to me
to bring to completion for you the word of God,
the mystery hidden from ages and from generations past.
But now it has been manifested to his holy ones,
to whom God chose to make known the riches of the glory
of this mystery among the Gentiles;
it is Christ in you, the hope for glory.
It is he whom we proclaim,
admonishing everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom,
that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
For this I labor and struggle,
in accord with the exercise of his power working within me.

For I want you to know how great a struggle I am having for you
and for those in Laodicea
and all who have not seen me face to face,
that their hearts may be encouraged
as they are brought together in love,
to have all the richness of assured understanding,
for the knowledge of the mystery of God, Christ,
in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Responsorial Psalm PS 62:6-7, 9

R. (8) In God is my safety and my glory.
Only in God be at rest, my soul,
for from him comes my hope.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed.
R. In God is my safety and my glory.
Trust in him at all times, O my people!
Pour out your hearts before him;
God is our refuge!
R. In God is my safety and my glory.

Alleluia JN 10:27

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 6:6-11

On a certain sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and taught,
and there was a man there whose right hand was withered.
The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely
to see if he would cure on the sabbath
so that they might discover a reason to accuse him.
But he realized their intentions
and said to the man with the withered hand,
“Come up and stand before us.”
And he rose and stood there.
Then Jesus said to them,
“I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbath
rather than to do evil,
to save life rather than to destroy it?”
Looking around at them all, he then said to him,
“Stretch out your hand.”
He did so and his hand was restored.
But they became enraged
and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.