Ordinary 24 – C
Ex 32:7-11, 13-14, 1 Tim 12:12-17, Lk 15:1-32
Fr. Carl McCarthy

 
            Television has made the idea of a “makeover” very popular. Some of these makeovers are not just any kind of makeover, but an “extreme makeover.”  These makeover shows help people to renovate their homes, their businesses, their lifestyles, and even their persons.

          At the end of these hour-long shows, we usually see a family walk speechless into their brand new home, or the owners of a renovated restaurant standing in awe at what they see.  People are overjoyed with the way their new kitchen, or bathroom, or restored car looks. They can’t wait to look in the mirror and see what miracle their face-lifts or liposuctions have done for them.

          As we watch them, the joy that they experience with the end results of these “extreme makeovers” may even cause us to wonder, if even but for a moment, "what would happen if I had a little surgical work done to my face, or if I renovated my kitchen, or if HGTV chose to come to my house and redesign my entire living room?"

          What if this were to happen?  What if we gave ourselves over to an “extreme makeover,” but not one that works on the outside world, but one that went deep, deep, down into the very core of who we are -- into our hearts, into our very souls. There, we would allow God to do whatever it took to make us over, maybe even to extreme proportions.

          The gospel reveals three parables of extreme measures, where we see people engaging in activities that seem beyond belief, even crazy! Who would go after one silly, lost sheep and take a chance on losing the other ninety-nine? Those sheep are all the shepherd has; why would he do such a thing? Or who would turn their house upside down, cleaning it from top to bottom, to look for one lost coin, of little value?  And, after finding it,  who would call the neighbors together to celebrate with them, over a single coin?  Or who celebrates with a feast the return of a radical son, who had left home, spent his father’s inheritance on a life of dissipation, and then come back to a party rather than to punishment and ridicule?    

          The revelation for us in these parables may be that this is really how our God works. God works with extreme means, with ways that are beyond our comprehension. God does things for us that seem beyond belief. God can, and will, make us over with mercy, love, forgiveness and peace when we allow God to do so. When we allow it, God’s love is so profound that he will even come to us when we stray, pick us up and carry us back. When we allow, God has the ability to take the smallest of situations, things that others may think nothing about because they see little value in them, and bring new life from them. When we allow, God will even welcome us back by throwing a feast for us, even after we have strayed, squandered and spent ourselves in lives of dissipation.

          This is really how God works – in extreme and radical ways – reshaping and fashioning us and our world into the image and likeness of his Son, Jesus.     

sdrose@bellsouth.net
10-1-2007