Moaning and Complaining

On the Roman Catholic calendar, this Sunday is the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time. The readings today (1 Kings 19:4–8, Ephesians 4:30–5:2, John 6:41–51) revolve around grumbling and murmuring about our situations before God.

Complain, complain, complain

All three readings start with a similar action: someone (or some group) complaining about their situation:

• In the first reading, after a day of wandering the desert Elijah prays for death, telling God that he’s had enough: not unlike a sentiment many have when they feel God is testing them.
• In the second reading, Paul is responding to bitter divides in the Church at Ephesus, where sectarian arguments threaten to undermine the community.
• In the Gospel, Jesus responds to the Jews who murmur about his pedigree: questioning his ability to speak for God when they know who his parents are.

Even Captain Picard is disgusted from time to time

We all complain from time to time: sometimes, we just need to cry “uncle!” and feel the need to give up. Father Richard at my parish talked about regularly having liver ball soup at his seminary, to which all the seminarians would grumble and complain about, so they’d all leave the seminary to grab burgers. Perhaps for you, it’s something like that, or going to church regularly, or dealing with coworkers and family, or even a diet.

It’s Not that Bad

But it’s important, as Paul teaches us in the second reading, that we try to avoid this, though: to “live in love” and do away with all the “bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling, [...] along with malice.” Why? Because regardless of what you’re complaining about, God is with you and it could be worse. Elijah, for example, complained after one day of wandering the desert: yet, with God’s help, he was able to walk the desert for 40 more days.

Deacon Greg Souza relayed a great story on doing away with reviling:

The story is told of a priest stationed at a parish in a popular beach resort area. There was a strong community of year round parishioners who served the parish well. However, during the summer months, the number of parishioners would swell with those who had seasonal residences in the area and tourists. One Saturday afternoon, a young man walked into the church for Mass straight off the beach with just a bathing suit on and a towel draped over his shoulder – no shirt, no shoes and his long, dirty blond hair still dripping wet. He walked straight up the center aisle and sat on the floor in front of the first row of pews. Everyone looked at each other, not knowing what to do. The priest was about to send an altar boy over to invite him to at least sit in a pew, when one of the oldest members of the parish got up to approach the young man. Everyone in the church started to tense up as they expected the older man to scold the young man for being inappropriately dressed for Mass. But instead, the older man walked over and sat on the floor next to the younger man. The whole church burst into applause and laughter at what was so obvious a display of the all-embracing love of our heavenly Father.

Even though it makes one cringe when someone doesn’t do things appropriately, it’s important to forgive, forget, and embrace them: because even coming to Mass in a bathing suit is not that bad, and forgivable in the eyes of God.

Have Faith

The Gospel conveys a similar, but different message: in it, Jesus asks the Jews it have faith in him; so that whomever believes in him shall have everlasting life. He asks them to stop murmuring about their doubts and questions, and realize God is speaking to them directly through Jesus. It’s important to realize that, even when we are complaining and questioning our faith in God, He’s always there, ready to help when you get back down from the ledge. It’s only when we stop complaining and listen, as Elijah did, that can God truly help us.