Homilette for Friday, September 12, 2008

Friday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time

(I Corinthians 9:16-19; 22b-27)

Friday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time

(I Corinthians 9:16-19; 22b-27)

Last month the eyes of the world were riveted on Michael Phelps. The American swimmer was attempting to win an unprecedented eight gold medals in one Olympic season. Few people considered Phelps’ competitors – how they might enjoy receiving Olympic gold. No, they were hoping to see a champion of champions emerge in those games.

In the reading from the first letter to the Corinthians today Paul challenges us to compete like Michael Phelps. But, he implies, the prize that we aim at is not lustrous gold which often carries with it soul-destroying pride. Quite the contrary, the award we seek is invisible to the eye but edifying of the soul. We work for everlasting life with God and achieve it by dedicating ourselves to Him.

Make no mistake about it; our quest for sanctity is as daunting as Michael Phelps’ pursuit of gold medals. We must discipline our bodies to overcome the desires of the flesh and our minds to keep focused on our heavenly prize. As Phelps spent multiple hours daily at swimming practice, we must pray for God’s assistance and take advantage of opportunities to do good. The difference between Phelps’ shooting for Olympic gold and our seeking everlasting life is that in our case no extraordinary natural disposition is necessary to gain the goal we seek. Every one of us can become a saint with God’s grace.

Homilette for Thursday. September 11, 2008

Thursday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time

(Luke 6:27-38)

When is a victim not a victim? The answer is when the victim takes control of the situation. “Victim” comes from the Latin word victima meaning a creature used in a sacrifice. Sacrificial objects are usually unknowing and passive. They neither resist nor collaborate in the sacrifice. The gospel passage today recommends that Christians not act like victims when we are called to suffering. No, we are to take the initiative in an extraordinary way.

Jesus strings together a series of responses to injury under the rubric: love your enemies. Christians are to do good to those who hate us, to bless those who curse us, and to pray for those who mistreat us. We also turn the other cheek when someone strikes us, offer our shirt when they take our coat, and give to others without demanding repayment. Jesus also tells us why we want to treat our enemies so benignly. By our love for all, we show ourselves to be true children of God who will provide us an eternal reward.

In the last few years a number of Catholic Christians in Rwanda have demonstrated that fulfilling Jesus’ mandate in this passage is possible. In the genocide of 1994 killers took the lives of half a million people. In 2001 an archbishop started a process of truth-telling, public confession and requests for forgiveness in the midst of a widespread study of Scripture. One man has forgiven eight people who confessed to taking part in the killing of sixty-five of his relatives!