The Law of Luck

Believing God’s love rules the world

 Mark 7:31-37     

          Jesus left the district of Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the Decapolis.  And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him off by himself away from the crowd.  He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, “Ephphatha!” (that is, “Be opened!”) And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly.  He ordered them not to tell anyone.  But the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it.  They were exceedingly astonished and they said, “He has done all things well.  He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

            Today is Friday the 13th!  Some people believe today is unlucky.  Raise your hand if you think today is “unlucky.”  In fact some people think the number 13 is bad luck.  So, if you’re in an elevator in a very tall building, you’ll notice there is no button for the 13th floor.  The buttons go directly from 12 to 14.  But even though they call it “the 14th floor” it’s still the 13th level of the building!  Other people try to avoid bad luck by “knocking on wood.”  Have you ever seen anyone do that?  When people say something bad COULD happen, they quickly knock on wood to avoid any bad luck.  Of all the people who play sports – basketball, volleyball, cricket – who are the most superstitious?  Baseball players!  If baseball players are winning games, they keep wearing the same uniforms without washing them, even their socks and underwear.  It’s very gross.  We do all these silly things to avoid any bad luck and to find some good luck.  We believe that the “law of luck” rules the world.

             In the gospel today Jesus cures a man who couldn’t hear very well.  But then Jesus does something very funny.  What did he do?  He tells the people not to tell anyone about the miracle.  If I had done a miracle, I would want it broadcast on the Evening News, or at least be a Sportscenter Top 10 Plays!  But not Jesus.  Why not?  Because he didn’t want people to believe in luck, but rather in love, in his Father's love.  God loves everyone in the world, not just those who were lucky enough to be in the house where Jesus was that day.  You see, Jesus wanted to teach the people that the “law of love” rules the world – that God loves each and every person – not the law of luck, just for the lucky few who “won the lottery” and were cured that day.

             Boys and girls, be careful how often you use the word, “luck,” and believe things that happen to us are good luck or bad luck.  We say, “Man, I was lucky I hit that 3-point shot to win the game!”  Or, “I sure am lucky my parents send me to Christ the King School.”  Some people even say, “It’s better to be lucky than good!”  Without realizing it, we begin to believe in the “law of luck.”  But what really rules the world is the “the law of love.”  God loves each and every person in the world: the rich AND the poor, the smart AND the really smart, the Cowboys AND the Indians (especially the Indians)!  I have a dear friend who often tells me, “God has a plan, and we have to be patient.”  She’s telling me that God’s plan is a plan of love, and when we're patient, we can see that his plan is slowly unfolding when good things happen and even when bad things happen; God loves us no matter what is happening to us.  It's better to be loved than lucky.  The “law of love” rules the world.

            Today is Friday the 13th.  Now, how many of you think today is unlucky?

            Praised be Jesus Christ!