Crazy Parents

Avoiding the temptation to put people on pedestals  

Revelation 4:1-11 

            I, John, had a vision of an open door to heaven, and I heard the trumpetlike voice that had spoken to me before, saying, “Come up here and I will show you what must happen afterwards.” At once I was caught up in spirit.  A throne was there in heaven, and on the throne sat one whose appearance sparkled like jasper and carnelian. Around the throne was a halo as brilliant as an emerald. Surrounding the throne I saw twenty-four other thrones on which twenty-four elders sat, dressed in white garments and with gold crowns on their heads.   

          Have you guys ever noticed how crazy adults are, especially your parents? Like the old cliché: “ you can’t live with them, and you can’t live without them.” And part of the reason adults and parents look more and more crazy is because of how you are changing and growing as a teenager. Every teen sees adults in a very special and singular way – like no one else – because it’s all tied up with how you see yourself. Let me explain.   

          When you were a child, you put your parents on a pedestal and you thought they were prefect, some of our seventh graders probably still do. But how many ninth graders think your mom and dad are perfect? What happened to them? How did you parents fall off that pedestal of perfection? Well, really it’s because of something that has happened, and is happening, to each of YOU. When you are a little kid, your dad looks like Superman: he’s all-powerful, he can pick you up, carry you on his shoulders, and he knows everything, like how to hunt deer – he s so smart! And your mom is like Wonder Woman: she can answer every question, heals all your wounds like magic, and makes you feel safe and loved. And she’s beautiful: by the way, your mother is the first woman every man loves, and all subsequent women you’ll fall in love with, will be held up to her standard. Small children happily place their parents on the pedestal of perfection.   

          But what happens when you become a teenager? Your body grows strong, your mind becomes sharp, you have insights of your own, without anyone’s help. The boys see that they are stronger than their dad, and if they got in a fight with their old man, they could beat them up. Right? A girl sees that she’s more beautiful than her mother. Sorry, mom! You understand things your parents don’t know anything about, like “ghost apps.” You are stronger, smarter, bigger and more beautiful than your parents. What’s more, your parents don’t know everything, and they make mistakes, and do and say wrong and hurtful things. They are not perfect, like you used to think they were as a small child. But do you know what they are? They are human, like me and like you. You dad never was Superman, and your mom never was Wonder Woman, even though you thought they were, and wished they were. They are just human beings doing the best they can.   

          In the first reading today, which Mr. Newcity read so nicely, we see where adults do become perfect, namely, in heaven. St. John writes about his vision of heaven, and he sees this scene: “Surrounding the throne (Jesus’ throne), I saw twenty-four other thrones, on which twenty-four elders sat, dressed in white garments and with gold crowns on their heads.” Do you know who the “24 elders” are? They are the 12 tribes of Israel from the Old Testament plus the 12 apostles of the New Testament. 12 plus 12 equals 24. But John’s point is that people (elders, apostles and parents) don’t become perfect till they get to heaven; on earth they’re still very human and very imperfect. The thrones they sit on are the pedestals of perfection: in heaven, not on earth.   

          Boys and girls, be careful about putting people on pedestals of perfection. No one gets a pedestal or a throne until they get to heaven. We’ve just experienced and endured a very bitter presidential election, but don’t put either candidate on a pedestal, and think they are perfect. Be careful about repeating the rhetoric you’ve heard over the past year, “build that wall” and other nonsense. Be better than that. I want you to know how sad I am over the departure of Mr. DeHart. I really like him and hate to see him leave, but he resigned and wanted to pursue other projects. There’s no need to put him on a pedestal and campaign for his return. Be bigger than that. You go to basketball and volleyball and football games and see adults acting very immaturely. Don’t copy them, pray for them, and be bigger than that.   

          And I am so proud to see how Trinity students are growing into fine young men and women. I heard about the basketball game against Woodland, where there was taunting. But Trinity players and fans didn’t do that. I’m very proud of you. I love how you make everyone feel welcome in this school – regardless of their color of skin, their native language, their social class, how much or how little hair they have. No one in this school is perfect, but everyone in this school is a brother and sister, and deserves respect.   

          Let me tell you what happened at the last football game against Pocola, in case you missed it. The game was a great battle; our boys gave it everything they had; they left it all on the field. I knew they gave it their all because there were tears in the eyes of tough football jocks. When we all huddled in the middle of the field and about to pray, Coach Vitale noticed that one player was missing. He said, “Hey, where’s so-and-so?’ No one could find him. Then someone noticed he had gone over to the Pocola team huddle and was congratulating them on their victory. I mean, who does that??? He came back, knelt down, and we all prayed. I’m not going to tell you the name of that player because he knows who he is and his teammates know and God knows. And it doesn’t really matter who it was, because I think any Trinity student would have done the same thing. I’ve never been more proud of this school than in that moment.   

          Boys and girls, leave the pedestals of perfection for heaven. While you’re here on earth, just do the best you can every day. And remember that everyone else is probably doing the best they can, too, even your crazy parents.  

 

          Praised be Jesus Christ!