Thursday, July 15, 2021

If you want to continue receiving homilettes by email, please send me your name and email address.  (If you have already done so, there is no need to repeat.)  I have been having difficulty adopting another mailing service.  However, Google seems to be sending them out for the time being at least.  If and when it stops, I will send out the homilettes to all who send me their addresses if the email service problem is not worked  by then. Thank you for your readership.  cm

Memorial of Saint Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

(Exodus 3:13-20; Matthew 11:28-30)

St. Bonaventure was an accomplished Franciscans and churchmen.  His long tenure as General Minister earned him the reputation of second founder of the Order.  He also was a master theologian in Paris and a cardinal of the Church.  He became a major figure in the Council of Lyon during which he died.  His genius produced many volumes, one of which was entitled Journey of the Mind into God.  In today’s first reading God comes out of Himself, as it were, to enter the human journey.

God reveals His name to Moses.  Names, for sure, are important.  They give one standing in society and help one know her/himself.  The Book of Exodus may be called the “Book of Names” because it begins by saying “the names of the sons of Israel.”  God’s revealing His name to Moses is like giving him a calling card.  He will remember God more readily and can more easily seek God’s help.

God has done better than give us His name and promise to help.  He sent us His Son. Jesus shares our lot so that we might share his glory.  But we cannot do this except by his grace.  Because we need this help, we should call upon Jesus’ name always.

Thursday, July 18, 2019

Thursday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Exodus 3:13-20; Matthew 11:28-30)

Most people these days prefer being on a “first name basis” with everyone.  Perhaps some seniors are jarred when telephone sales reps use their first names as if they played cards together.  But the younger generation generally finds such familiarity unremarkable.  For this reason some may have a hard time understanding the concession God is granting to Moses in today’s first reading.  When He reveals His name, “I am who am,” He is inviting interruption.  It is as if God’s were giving out cell number.  Now Moses and the Israelites can call to Him for assistance at any time.

By revealing His name, God is showing how much He cares about Israel.  In the Old Testament He focuses attention on the small nation.  But it is only an initial step in a larger plan.  Through Israel God will bring the whole human race together.  For a while, Israel seemed incapable of minding God’s ways. Eventually, however, one of its members will obediently carry out God’s purpose.  This one, of course, is Jesus, the son of Mary.

It is said that “I am who am” reveals the essence of God, i.e., the source of all being.  Jesus will show beyond any doubt that being is not a passive or indifferent at its source.  To the contrary, it is both active and compassionate.  Through Jesus God will break down the stubbornness and hatred that keep humans from Him and from one another.  In Jesus God will reach out to all – especially the lowliest of people -- to make them one with Him.