They went to Capernaum; and when the Sabbath came, Jesus entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.”
What was a man with an unclean spirit doing in the synagogue on the Sabbath? How long had he been attending the services, hiding in the crowd, and avoiding suspicion? What was an unholy person doing in a holy place on a holy day?
If we can muster enough courage and honesty, we should ask the same question of ourselves: What are unholy people doing in church on Sunday?
One objection I have often encountered from my high school students whenever we start talking about the Mass is that “it does not seem to work.” Sinful people go into the church; sinful people come out. They return the next week (sometimes with even more sins), go through the whole process again, and still come out the same — or even worse.
We sing out loud, “Glory to God in the highest,” when our actions shout otherwise. We exchange signs of peace when in our thoughts we entertain intrigue and discord. We proclaim that we are ready to give God everything that we possess when all we are prepared to give are bread and wine and not much else.
At the end of the Mass, we are told to “go in peace.” A few steps out of the church and our tempers already get the better of us as we wait for the irresponsible driver who double-parked in front of us, blocking our way. That sets the tone for the rest of the week. And we return to Mass on Sunday, ready to get sent “to love and serve the Lord in one another” again.
“Yeah, right.” That is what my high school students would say with a smirk and a shake of their heads. For me though, all this is not a deterrent for going to Mass. If anything, all this should make us run to church even faster, with a sense of urgency spurred on not only by necessity but also by desire. What my students do not get is that the Mass is not just about what we can do for God. It is more about what God can do for us.
Why do we sinners go to Mass? We go to Mass to come together and acknowledge our need for God’s grace. “Lord, have mercy.” And mercy is given. We kneel before a Father to admit our many failings and ask for the strength to stand up again. “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” And we are forgiven. We come because we thirst for words of hope and hunger for our salvation. “This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” And God is happy to invite us to his supper.
The man with an unclean spirit cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?” Jesus did not just send the man away. As he did with the lepers, the adulteresses, the tax collectors, and all those who came to him, Jesus cleansed the man and made him whole.
A little girl was once asked, “If bad people are red and good people are blue, what color would you be?” Without even blinking, she answered, “I would be striped.”
We are, all of us, striped red and blue and even mottled black and white and various shades of gray. We go to Mass and lift up to God not only the good in us but also the bad. We are not worthy to receive him. Nothing we can do can ever make us worthy for what God does for us. Yet he gives himself to us and makes us whole.
“What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?” I ask that, and in my heart, my God whispers, “Have to do with you? More like want to do with you. The answer is simple: Everything.”
Francis Alvarez, SJ joined the Jesuits 12 years ago. Since then, he has taught in the high schools of Ateneo de Manila and Ateneo de Zamboanga. Currently a deacon, he is preparing to be ordained a priest. For feedback on this column, email tinigloyola@yahoo.com