Monday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time

Hard working honey bee

These women represent two covenants.

Saint Paul reinterpreted the ancient story of Isaac and Ishmael as a story of two covenants, Jewish and Christian. An entirely different interpretation, perhaps unfamiliar to Americans, recognizes Ishmael as the father of the Arab race, which would eventually add up to three covenants!

These mythological interpretations may seem largely irrelevant to secular Americans. The most religious of us pick and choose our myths rather carefully, working with them and around them as best we can. But the myth of Ishmael as descendent of Abraham and heir to his covenant with God is important to many of our American neighbors, the increasing number of Muslims.

I watched with interest the recent “discussion” about how we should celebrate Patriot Day. I’ve discussed it several times since then with some of the Veterans at the hospital. They all agreed we should 1) fly the flag at half-mast; 2) observe a moment of silence; 3) read the names of the slain; 4) honor especially the fire and police personnel who rushed into the Twin Towers, and so forth. And they all agreed we should not burn a Koran on September 11. They also showed a marked reluctance to honor the day with sales, although every other national holiday is marked with sales.

Saint Paul’s reference to Ishmael and Isaac aims to identify the new Christian tradition as apart from the older Jewish tradition. He intends to show how much better belief in Jesus is than observance of the Mosaic Law.
This is not an unworthy goal. Indeed it would be very strange if a man made enormous sacrifices and often risked his life for his faith and didn’t believe it the worthiest possible religion on earth. When Pope John Paul II issued an encyclical describing Catholicism as the best form of Christianity many people were upset. It seemed like a teaching aimed at antagonism and alienation. But would anyone expect the Pope to say, “It doesn’t matter which religion you practice?” Would you expect a Republican to say it doesn’t matter which party you vote for?

Without compromising our faith, we can accept Saint Paul’s interpretation and honor our Jewish and Muslim sisters and brothers. The proof of the superiority of faith in Jesus must wait until the final judgment. On that day the Just Judge will look not at our opinions but at our fidelity to his principles of mercy and justice. Did we honor every human being, regardless of that person’s thoughts, words and deeds?

The contest among the children of Abraham is not who believes most sincerely but who makes the greatest sacrifices as they honor the dignity of every human being. Were you  concerned only for yourself and your own kind? Or did you play fair on every occasion, even when the rules of the game seemed to favor your own team?

It’s been said that even children have a sense of fair play; they know when they’re being cheated. But fair play should also recognize when one’s opponents are being cheated, and strive to re-level the playing field.

In 1949 Jackie Robinson broke into the white baseball major leagues. He was one of the greatest players in the history of our sports. Did Americans finally decide to let African-Americans play because we’re dedicated to Christian principles?

I don’t think so. The values of competition, talent and competence trumped racism. We decided we wanted the best talent regardless of race, creed or sexual orientation. Eventually we have welcomed women into the competition for opportunities and jobs -- though we’ve still a long way to fair pay for a fair day’s work – not because we think women should have the right but because we want competence in every position. I don't care if my surgeon is Catholic, Congregational or Communist; I want competence!

Religion, of its nature, is conservative. It doesn’t like the unfamiliar; it doesn’t want to change. But the prophetic religions of Abraham demand that we find ways to honor all of God’s people and all of God’s creatures.