Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/072212.cfm

for he is our peace, he who made both one 
and broke down the dividing wall of enmity,  through his flesh, 
abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims, 
that he might create in himself one new person in place of the two, 
thus establishing peace, 
and might reconcile both with god, 
in one body, through the cross, 
putting that enmity to death by it.

I suppose most of my readers remember the Berlin Wall and the "Iron Curtain." Most of us remember thinking those fortified, mined barriers would never come down. The first thing I ever learned about international affairs was the Iron Curtain. It was impregnable and permanent. It seemed only a nuclear war could bring it down and, given that "something there is that doesn't love a wall, that wants it down" (as Robert Frost suggested) World War III seemed inevitable. 

And then it was gone. One day East Germans started driving around the one and through the other; the next day the East German government dismantled the wall. Shortly after that, divided Germany was reunited. And today Germany prospers like no other nation. 


Walls are meant to last forever, although nothing does. Jewish worshipers were very familiar with the wall between the Jewish and Gentile courts in the Temple of Jerusalem. Gentiles who believed in the Jewish God were welcome to enter the Temple, but only so far. 


Saint Paul chose that uninspired barrier to describe the impact of Jesus. With his broken body and within his own flesh, he broke down the barrier that set apart Jews and Gentiles. The New Chosen People would not be limited to cradle Jews, cradle Christians or cradle Catholics. Anyone could enter the Holy of Holies and be swept into salvation. Anyone could claim a rightful place within the heart of God and our Eucharist. 


This teaching remains as a challenge to us. Walls and barriers remain. Today America is divided by "gated communities;" their residents take care of themselves and shun their fellow taxpayers in their school districts, counties and states. I took a little trip into one some years ago, with a priest friend. Sure enough, we found ourselves tailed by a car with two unfriendly looking men as we drove slowly about. We didn't need to be told we were unwelcome; and we left. 


"Location, location, location" we're told are the three criteria for property values. If you live in the right place your home is worth something; if not, you're out of luck. In Jennings, Louisiana I lived in the African-American neighborhood, one of the few white folks who lived there. Even the nicest homes paid low property tax, or none, because location determined what they were worth. That neighborhood had no wall around it but the railroad track -- as in "the wrong side of the tracks" -- served the same purpose. The American dream struggles in such an environment. 


When I was in Louisiana I enjoyed visiting the city and parish jails. I often spoke to the inmates within their walls about this very passage. Jesus Christ has broken down the wall that sets apart criminals and law-abiding citizens. 


The wall that so many would love to erect between the United States and Mexico is equally doomed. Too many Americans want their intoxicating drugs to abide such an absurdity. 


In today's Gospel Jesus sees how exhausted we are with our efforts to distance ourselves from those around us. It's tiring, costly and pointless. We are indeed like sheep without a shepherd, not even knowing how the goats should be separated from the sheep, or who will do it. That is an authority reserved to him, the Just Judge. 

in his days judah shall be saved, 
israel shall dwell in security. 
this is the name they give him: 
"the lord our justice."

But he is our peace and as we follow him, we will see Isaiah's prophecy fulfilled:

i will appoint shepherds for them who will shepherd them 
so that they need no longer fear and tremble; 
and none shall be missing, says the lord.

P.S. In the wake of yet another mass murder, let us pray that Americans will intentionally disarm themselves. More guns only spawn more killings. There will always be madmen among us, and evil persons, but we have no obligation to arm them.  


It seems unlikely, I know; but so did the dismantling of the Berlin Wall.