It’s Impossible!
August 10, 2008
Gospel: Matthew 14:22-33
Also read: Romans 9:1-5
Do you remember Perry Como? For those too young to remember he was a popular big band singer in the 1940’s and a television superstar in the 1950’s and 60’s. He lived his final years in Jupiter (Palm Beach County, Florida) and died there in 2001 – a devout Catholic, by the way.
One of his many popular recordings was a love song entitled, “It’s Impossible.” Do you remember, “It’s impossible, tell the sun to leave the sky, it’s just impossible…”
Well, I just learned that there was a line from that song that was very controversial – at least on Long Island. Deacon Tony tells me that many people there were very upset when Perry sang: “I would sell my very soul and not regret it.” I was living in Westchester County, New York at the time and I do not recall any controversy, but I guess they are more sensitive about things like that on Long Island.
However, I can understand how people would cringe at the thought of someone really being willing to “sell their soul” for a gal or a guy – or for anything. After all, the soul is that part of our being that will live forever once our earthly journey is completed. Our hope is that we will spend eternity basking in God’ love - but if we lose our soul the best we can hope for is probably to spend eternity completely alone.
Yet, in our second reading, St. Paul appears willing to sacrifice his soul. He says, “For I could wish that I myself were accursed and separated from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kin according to the flesh.” Jesus said that there is no greater love than to sacrifice one’s life for a friend – yet Paul seems willing to make an even greater sacrifice. He seems willing accept banishment from God in return for the Jewish people’s acceptance of Jesus as the Messiah.
The word Paul uses is “anathema” – and it is a terrible word. To be declared anathema is to be marked for utter destruction.
Do you remember last week’s second reading from this same letter to the Romans? It is the passage just before this one: “Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The dearest thing in all Paul’s life was the fact that nothing could separate him from God’s love – but to be declared anathema would do just that.
This is why I do not think that Paul was speaking literally. He was using a form of poetic license – much like Perry’s songwriter. Once he had accepted Jesus as the Messiah there was nothing – in heaven or on earth – that could separate him from the love of God. But, by even saying that he would accept banishment from God for the sake of his own people Paul was showing the depth of his love for them.
There were at least four covenants between God and the Jewish people. There was the covenant with Noah after the flood when God promised that the floods would not come again. There was the covenant with Abraham - the promise of a great nation. There was the covenant with Moses – when God delivered the law on Mount Sinai. Then there was the new covenant in Jesus Christ – the promise of salvation.
The first three had been preparation for the fourth. Paul felt that the tragedy of Israel was that God had prepared her for the day of the coming of the Messiah – and all the preparation was frustrated by their refusal to accept Him. It was not God’s law that was broken but God’s heart.
We must never take for granted the tremendous gift that is our faith in Jesus Christ. It is not only the promise of eternal life - it is what makes this life worth living.
Of course, not all Jews rejected Jesus. The earliest disciples, and Paul himself, were devout Jews. After his conversion, Paul began his preaching in the synagogues of Damascus - but when they failed to accept his message he had to flee the city. Rejected by his own people, Paul became the Apostle to the Gentiles.
This is the Year of St. Paul – who may have said that he was willing to accept banishment from God - but who I am sure did not really mean it. Paul knew better than most that to live without God’s love is just impossible.
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