BEWARE OF THE COMFORT ZONE

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara CSsR

Homily for the 22^nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

Holy Names Church

Memphis, Tennessee, USA

The term “comfort zone” refers to “a situation, or position in which a person feels secure, comfortable, relaxed, unthreatened and sometimes in control of things.” That term is commonly used today to describe a thoroughly comfortable place. Life in one’s comfort zone is usually marked by ease, freedom of movement, familiarity, safety, smiling, laughing, warm embrace, free handshake with comments like “It’s good to see you.”

Every one of us likes to be in a comfort zone. Each time I attend any dinner organized by the Diocese of Memphis, or any of these Catholic organizations here in the diocese, I usually look for my comfort zones after greeting few people by looking for those from Holy Names Church. Being in the midst of people I know is a comfort zone for me. But at the same time, I also know that I need to move around to introduce myself to those who do not know me even though doing that is not always easy. People who don’t know you, hardly spend their time talking to you. After saying “hi” or “hello” and “good to see you,” they quickly disappear. And sometimes I wonder whether the person was really happy to see me. So, we all want to remain in our comfort zones. But we also know that we cannot and should not remain there indefinitely. We cannot grow into intellectual, spiritual, moral, and social maturity if we remain in our comfort zones indefinitely.

I am talking about the comfort zone because it is the modern description of what Jesus is saying in today’s gospel. The gospel of today can easily be divided into two sections:

* In the first section, Jesus warns against sitting in the place of honor at a wedding banquet. * In the second section, the Lord asks us to consider extending invitation to those people who may not be able to invite us in return- that is, the poor and vulnerable around us. So in this gospel, Jesus gives us an instruction on how we should behave when we are a guest to a party, and when we are a host of one.

The Lord’s words in this gospel are not just a moral lesson or about etiquette (good manners). What Jesus is saying today goes beyond social occasions; it’s meant to shape the entire live of a Christian. Jesus is teaching the basic Christian virtues of humility and solidarity with the poor.

Choosing the place of honor in a banquet is choosing the comfort zone. We all want to be recognized. We all want a place of honor. We want a place of comfort and safety. But Jesus cautions us to be mindful of how we go about searching for the comfort zone. The Lord urges us to refrain from crowning ourselves kings and queens. In most societies, the king or the queen is chosen. No one confers the honor on herself. The place of honor is given and not taken.

Again Jesus cautions against staying put in that comfort zone once we find ourselves there. Rather than limiting our guest list to people who are like us, people with whom we are comfortable, who do not threaten us or bother us with financial request, Jesus wants his followers to expand the list. When you throw a party, invite the poor around you. If you live in an exclusive neighborhood where the poor are hardly seen, consider giving some money or other material things to organizations that cater for the poor, for example, the Catholic Charities, the social ministry of your parish or the Salvation Army.

We may consider the injunctions of Jesus difficult or even impossible. This is so because “Birds of the same feather flock together.” But do you know what Jesus is essentially saying here? The Lord wants us not to forget the poor. In the enjoyment of life, in the partying of life, in the celebration of life, in the glamour of life, even at the peak of our career, do not forget the poor. The Catholic Social Ethics emphasizes making a deliberate option for the poor and vulnerable. The poverty of the poor, the havelessness of the poor, the haggardness and the wretchedness of the poor does not de-robe or deprive them of their human dignity. They are still humans created in imago Dei.

So today’s gospel is a basic moral test on how the most vulnerable members of the society are fairing. In our society marred by deepening divisions between rich and poor, Jesus calls us to remember the needs of the poor and vulnerable first. “When you hold a launch or a dinner….” remember the not-haves. When you are hungry, think of those whose daily experiences is that of daily hunger. When you buy new clothes in order “refresh” your clothes closet, think of those who wear the same clothes almost every day with little or no hope of buying a new one. If you are able to save some money in your bank account after all the bills are paid, think of those who never went to the bank because they have no bank account and have nothing to save. If you were affected some how by this recession, think of those whose everyday life is a life of recession and depression. Jesus wants us to enjoy the fruits of our labor, but he also wants us to remember the pains of those who are not as fortunate as we are. Remember, we are the hands of Jesus today.

Remembering or thinking or considering the poor is not merely having them in your thought. It is not just a mere feeling of sympathy for them. It is rather an active compassion or a compassionate action, the type that brought the Good Samaritan by the side of the man beaten mercilessly by robbers.

And you know what? Jesus did not tell us to do what he did not do. Throughout his entire ministry on earth, the Lord lived for others. His entire life is full of episodes of Jesus not remaining in a comfort zone and not trying to enter one. Repeatedly, he avoided comfort zones instead made choices for the benefit of the poor. Everything that Jesus accomplished on earth was for the salvation and welfare of others. He opted out of the comfort zone in order to make others comfortable. And he invites us to do the same.

Surely, the cross is not a comfort zone. It is a place of humility. The first reading says “My child, conduct your affairs with humility….if you humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor with God.” In humility, do not remain in your comfort zone. Like Jesus, make your home for the poor.”