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November 5, 2022: Obedience to God, Not Men
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Driving a vehicle is a topic that produces an opinion from every person alive. Or so it seems. After the topic of weather, driving likely takes second place. For example, the worst driving I’ve seen in my life thus far has been, believe it or not, not in America, but in Italy. Specifically, Naples. It’s somewhat difficult to describe with accuracy. Naples was/is a city of driving confusion. I believe there are lanes on the streets, but don’t quote me on that. I believe Napalese Italians understand what side of the road the vehicle belongs on. But don’t quote me on that either. When visiting Italy a number of years back, and before our tour bus entered the ancient city of Naples, we approached with a view of Naples from the top of a mountain. The beauty was incredible, to say the least. When we finally arrived down below and saw how discombobulated the traffic was, I thought, “What happened to that beautiful site from the top of the mountain?” Of course, Naples remains an ancient city with numerous historic sites to visit and appreciate. But a tourist must be careful when crossing the street, if you can find the street that is. Car on top of car with horns blaring is an apt description of that great city in southern Italy.
But also in Italy is to be found something that would not fly in this country. It would lead to too many occasions of road rage. I was fascinated the first time I visited Italy when I witnessed how motorcycles drive the streets of “The Boot.” In fact, I was so fascinated that I made it a point to come downstairs from my hotel room each evening to stand and watch the traffic fly by. And what I witnessed with motorcycles, of which there are many in the streets of Italy, were riders who used whatever angle or opening they had to advance up any street. This included driving in between vehicles at red lights, which in America would be a cause for potential road rage. When I first saw this amazing site, treating it with the same fascination Moses had when he witnessed the burning bush, I was expecting an ugly incident to occur between motorcyclist and small car driver, for most of the cars in Italy are of the smaller variety. Instead, what I saw was … well, nothing. No incidents; no yelling; no screaming; no blaring horns; no gestures (if you know what I mean); and no arguments. Motorcycles driving through stopped traffic to get ahead and advance at the stopping of a red light was normal procedure in a city like Sorrento. I must admit I was more happy to see this than I was disappointed. I get no joy from watching two driving opponents square off in the middle of the road because one of them felt like they were cut off. We all know in this nation what would happen, or what words would be spoken, or what silent thoughts would be thought, if such a stunt were pulled in any city street in America that has red lights in working order. Nothing good is the answer.
On my recent trip to Gettysburg and back last week, as I traveled with my fellow Civil War aficionado friend Steve, we both commented on how many drivers we encountered, both going there and coming back, who weaved in and out of highway traffic at high rates of speed. Personally, in all my years of traveling back and forth to that destination or others, this past time was by far the most I’ve witnessed of speedy weavers. For whatever reason. When in Seminary at St. Mary’s in Baltimore 20 years ago, and driving back and forth during holiday breaks, there would be a handful of drivers who caught the attention or everyone else on the road. Be it the New Jersey Turnpike, over bumpy Interstate 95 through New York, or the crazy busyness of the same road in Connecticut (a state that tries its best to imitate California for the worst traffic jams), there were always a few crazies weaving in and out at Mario Andretti speed along the 400-mile drive. But not one of those rides, or any of my past Civil War battlefield visit rides over many years could rival the number of insane drivers on this past trip. And honestly, I’m not grandpa Moses (husband of Grandma Moses) in the right lane keeping the speed limit on any highway. I’m not a speeder, for sure. But I’m not slow by any means. Yet, these folks (nutcase speeders) not only changed lanes quicker than a deer running from a hungry bear, they did so at a rate of speed that caused other drivers to think, among other things, “Where are the State Police when you want one?” And this includes a few motorcycle drivers too. My friend Steve said at one point, “We’ll be finding him as flat as a pancake up the road a ways.” I said, “You may be right, but I hope not. If so, I’ll give him the last rites. But at least he was using his directionals when he weaved in and out at 100 mph.”
Lengthy books could be written on driving sights and adventures by all folks who put the peddle to the metal. We all have our stories to tell. Maybe the reason why so many aggressive drivers were witnessed on this past trip is the end of the world just around the corner. They wanted to be home before Jesus came like a thief in the night. Or he came on the clouds of heaven in the rapture. But I doubt it. Even the Apostles believed that Jesus was returning in their lifetime. Fortunately for them, they didn’t have to deal with highways and nutty drivers. But they did have to address the issue of Roman soldiers on horses riding over them if they didn’t quickly move to the side on the Appian Way as they went out to the world preaching the Gospel of salvation. Makes us wonder if Jesus ever gave them a safety warning for the road, besides that of being aware of wolves in sheep’s clothing. If so, it never made it in the Bible. Our Lord’s warnings always had direct consequences regarding salvation or damnation. He didn’t mess around with the lesser stuff. So, I guess being run over by Roman soldiers riding their horses on their way to breaking up another human revolt – be it Jewish or Gentile - in some ancient city does not qualify for Divine revelation. Which is probably good, otherwise the Bible would be 10 times the size it already is.
In the first reading this week we hear proclaimed the sad story of a mother and seven brothers who are tortured to death because they refuse to rescind their Jewish practices revealed to them by God. The secular king demands that all people obey his way, or else. The king, again, makes himself out to be God, when he is nothing but a two bit … well, I won’t write it here. He expects pure obedience from every subject, and will settle for nothing less. He’s like a wild driver out on the streets of his kingdom telling men, women, and children to convert to his human sickness or die at his command. Like the way too many drivers we saw last week on the way home from Civil War country, he’s out of control. He needs a psychological examination, like many drivers and politicians today. Maybe a few priests too. The king demands what belongs to God to be his. He’s actually trying to steal from the Almighty God. His end is predictable. And so is that of the mother and seven brothers, who refuse openly and adamantly to push aside what God has revealed to their people.
Anyway, after the second brother was put to death by another “out of control driver,” the third brother stepped forward with eagerness. As the author of 2nd Maccabees writes, “the third suffered their cruel sport.” Then, the reading proceeds grotesquely as to how the 3rd brother suffered. It sounds like he was hit from behind by a driver at a high rate of speed who was too busy texting rather than driving with care and focus. A cruel sport. Or another cruel sport; a driver who weaved once too many times, did a few flips and somersaults, and landed on someone else’s machinery, causing the innocent person to suffer the more serious consequences. How often does the innocent have to suffer at the hands of an aggressor? From an out-of-control mindset?
As the story goes, each of the seven brothers and their mother were put to death by another ravenous king, of which we still have a few (or more) around today. If only such people could be sent to Mars, accommodating themselves on the Red Planet rather than causing havoc on earth. I believe someday the Red Planet banishment and sentence for violent leaders and others would be a good plan for those of us who drive the roads of earth in respectful ways. It may be a little too cool up there for human habitation, but we’ll pack the spaceship with extra clothing.
What is most admirable about this tough first reading is the family’s obedience to God rather than men. They adhere to the teachings God set before them rather than the “unruly rules of the road.” This is an age-old issue for us humans. We admire our sprots stars and film stars and others who greatly excel at the gifts freely given to them by God. But we have a bad habit of our admiration becoming some form of weird worship. The mother and seven brothers refused weird worship of an alien “god,” a human who will die and not come back. The family of eight remained as one on the road to heaven, even though it meant being crashed into by an unexpected force. Admiration is the reaction, I pray, for those of us who stand next to our God rather than go the way of secular admonitions.
Well, what began as a driving discourse has ended with pure obedience to our Lord and Savior. Along the way, there will be some weaving and crossing lanes for all of us. But when this happens, may it result in trusting that God is in charge, a truth many folks have lost during a recent pandemic. God is in control, and, as proof found in those numerous crazy drivers last week, we are not. Even if they made it home safely, which I pray they did, along with all the good drivers they passed in a most vile way, God remains the Boss. Which is good, for the Lord is a sensible God. Not a controlling God, but One who is in control, even to the point of offering up his Son for the salvation of our world. Drive safely.
PEACE
In the United States, the 20th century has given us the remarkable Christian nonviolent witness of Dorothy Day, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Cesar Chavez. Both King and Chavez are indebted to Gandhi for their nonviolent action in the social and political orders. Each of these leaders, including Gandhi, is known for a profound spirituality, one nourished by a maturing life of prayer.
The 20th century has also witnessed thousands of Christians joining peace organizations of various kinds. Christian men and women have always been a part of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, and international, ecumenical, and interfaith movement committed to nonviolence. The Christian Peace Conference, begun in Eastern Europe after World War II, has welcomed Christians from all denominations to continue dialogue for the making of peace. Christian women have joined others in the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, begun during World War I by Jane Addams. Christian women and men have joined other concerned citizens in organizations protesting the escalation of the arms race, particularly nuclear weapons.
One peace movement, Pax Christi International, deserves special mention here because of its significance for Catholic spirituality. Pax Christi International, the Catholic Peace Movement, was begun by French and German Catholics to bring about reconciliation after the horrendous brutality of the Second World War. Today Pax Christi has fully developed sections throughout Europe and North America. New sections are beginning in Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Programs include national and international conferences and retreats, educational programs and publications, and various nonviolent actions. A prayerful spirit permeates every meeting and action of Pax Christi. Although members are not required to be committed totally to nonviolence, some members do take a vow of nonviolence. From The New Dictionary of Catholic Spirituality