Flute and Dirge

Opening our ears of faith to hear God’s voice

09/18/2024

Lk 7:31-35 Jesus said to the crowds: “To what shall I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance. We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.’ For John the Baptist came neither eating food nor drinking wine, and you said, ‘He is possessed by a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said, ‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”

Perhaps you have heard the old joke about the man on his roof during a flood. A rowboat came by and the rescuer shouted, “Jump in, I can save you!” The stranded man replied, “No, it’s okay. I’m praying to God and he is going to save me.” Then a motorboat came by an hour later as the water was rising and the fellow shouted, “Jump in, I can save you!” Again the man on the roof responded: “No, God will save me!”

Finally, as the water had reached his feet, a helicopter flew by and the rescuer yelled, “Grab the rope, I can save you!” But the stubborn man insisted: “No thanks! I have faith that God will save me!” Well, the water continued to rise and eventually the man drowned and died. He went to heaven and had a chance to discuss his demise with God.

He complained: “Lord, I had faith in you and prayed fervently. Why didn’t you save me?” God answered, “I sent you two boats and a helicopter! What more did you expect?” In other words, God is always aware of our position and plight – as St. Augustine said he is closer to us than we are to ourselves – but sometimes we expect the water to miraculously part instead of a simpler natural solution to our problems.

In the gospel today Jesus also discusses the different ways God speaks to us but we miss his messages. He explains: “For John the Baptist came neither eating food nor drinking wine and you said, ‘He is possessed by a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said, ‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard.’” That is, sometimes God speaks through our pains but at other times he speaks through our pleasures.

C. S. Lewis put it perfectly: “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains; it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” John the Baptist was God’s voice shouting in pain and speaking in conscience, while Jesus was God’s voice whispering through pleasures, like eating and drinking. But the people turned a deaf ear.

As Franz Werfel in the novel “The Song of Bernadette” said: “For those who believe, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not believe no explanation is possible.” In other words, for believers God is speaking, whispering, and shouting all the time, and we open our ears to hear his symphony of love. For those who do not believe God is mute and never speaks to us.

My friends, may I give you a little homily homework today to train your ears to hear God’s voice? Why? Well, so you don’t end up like that poor man on the roof during the flood. Try to notice the three ways God’s voice is heard by people of faith. First, try to notice one way God whispers in our pleasures. Quality time spent with family and friends, a good delicious meal, a vigorous game of tennis. Can you hear God whispering “I love you” in these pleasures he has given us for our enjoyment? God is like a father who delights to see his children happy.

Second, listen for God’s voice speaking in your conscience. Good old Catholic guilt is one way we hear God’s voice in our hearts, and it often sounds a lot like the voice of our mom and dad, or the strict nun who taught us in fourth grade. God is a good Father who speaks to his children to grow up and become saints, and not remain childish selfish sinners. Every night before we go to bed we should examine our conscience, opening our ears to God’s voice and then opening our mouths to ask his forgiveness.

And third, God shouts to us in our pains. Nothing helps people turn back to God or come back to church like our pains and problems. A divorce, a lost job, an illness, and most especially the death of a loved one. Just like lots of family reunions revolve around the death of a grandparent or parent, so funeral Masses are full of people who haven’t darkened church doors for a long time. God shouts to us in our pains. He does not want us to suffer, of course, but sometimes that is the only way he can get our attention.

Folks, God’s voice is like a symphony of love reverberating all around us, if only we open our ears to listen. Listen then again to Jesus’ words in the gospel: “We played the flute for you, but you did not dance. We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.” Today, try not to miss the flute and dirge of God's communication, otherwise, you might end up like the poor man on the roof during the flood.

Praised be Jesus Christ!