(Please read the scripture passage before reading the homily.
Luke wrote his account of the Gospel so that he could apply the words and deeds of the Lord to situations in his community. He could readily admit that sin did exist in his community, that there was need of repentance and forgiveness and that the faith of the community needed strengthening.
He wrote in a style easy to understand. It would not be hard for people to grasp the consequences of having a weight of several hundred pounds attached to one’s neck and then being thrown in the sea. Such a one would be leaving the living rather promptly.
Consider the mulberry tree. It has an extensive root system that makes it hard to uproot. It’s root, however, cannot survive under water for an extended time. Imagine the faith that can uproot and replant such a tree.
These things can happen. Great obstacles can be overcome. The leaders and people of Luks’s community will survive, no matter the odds. The Christian faith will grow. Times of persecution and trial will give way to peace and victory. The Lord will not desert his Church. Luke would have his leaders lead and the rest of the community faithful to the Gospel. Just as the Lord never tires of forgiving our sins, so also should we not tire of forgiving others.
We live in communities; I live in a retirement community. Some of you do the same. Many live in family communities. Some have communities of fellow workers. Some have community at church. We all, however, live in some sort of community. We need the lesson of sin and scandal, with its counterpart called forgiveness. We face difficulties in living together in these communities and so we need the lesson of the mulberry tree which can test our faith and also prove our faith.
Luke wanted us to know that the words of the Gospel can describe the Lord’s life among us and also enable us to live together in the community where God has put us. He wrote for his people and he wrote for us because we read his words and can be inspired by them, just as Luke’s people were.