Friday, July 9, 2021

 Friday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Genesis 46:1-7.28-20; Matthew 10:16-23)

Jacob is resolved to see his son, Joseph, in Egypt before he dies.  But it is a long journey for an old man.  Perhaps he fears that he will die along the way.  Or it may be the danger of traveling the lonely roads in a small party.  Nevertheless, God tells him not to be afraid.  Jacob may not have another danger in mind, but God certainly does.  Egypt is the most advanced culture on earth.  In moving there, Jacob’s clan might assimilate the culture so that it loses its identity.  His descendants may forget the God of his fathers as they hear of the mighty Pharoah and the Egyptian gods of nature.  Yet God tells Jacob to go.  Pleased with Jacob’s sacrifice, God will bring Jacob people’s back to their land.

We must take care that our children and grandchildren do not lose themselves in contemporary culture.  Many aspects of today’s society jar the sensitive soul.  Cancel culture is certainly one.  Intelligent people are dismissing the rich legacy of the past because the people who forged it were not perfect.  The watering down and dissolution of religion is another.  Will the Church be visible at all in fifty years?

We likewise need to heed God’s message not to fear.  Certainly, as well, we should offer Him sacrifices of praise and good works.  As Jesus predicts in today’s gospel there are trials ahead. But like God in his advice to Jacob, Jesus is telling us that he will be with us to overcome them.

Friday, July 12, 2019

Friday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Genesis 46:1-7.28-20; Matthew 10:16-23)

A narrative is a story.  The word is used often to explain a people’s ethos or values.  Today’s first reading reveals one of Israel’s significant narratives.  God tells Jacob not to fear going to Egypt.  There, He says, his family will prosper to become a great nation.  This narrative will give Israel reason to be tolerant of other kinds of people living among them but not sharing their culture.

The gospel relates a significant Christian narrative.  It tells of how followers of Jesus will be persecuted because of his legacy.  It indicates that they are not to retaliate but to respond with the truth which the Spirit will give them.  In this way the world will come to know Jesus’ message of enemy love not just as doable but also as salvific.

Narratives help us to appropriate the lessons taught by our founders.  They form us with an identity and a common understanding.  As descendants of Israel we should be tolerant of other peoples.  As followers of Jesus, we should be ready to suffer insult rather than strike back at our detractors.

Friday, July 14, 2017

Friday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Genesis 46:1-7.28-20; Matthew 10:16-23)

A Mexican child will answer the call of a parent by saying, “Mande,” meaning, “Send (me).”  The implication is that the child will do whatever he is commanded.  We find this willingness to comply in the first reading when Israel responds to the call of the Lord, “Here I am.”  In other often quoted biblical texts, Samuel goes to Eli saying, “Here I am.  I come to do your will” and of the Virgin Mary answers the angel, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done unto me according to your word.”  It should be noted that Israel did not always acquiesce to God’s will.  As a young man, he cheated his brother in order to obtain his father’s blessing.  Through a slow but sure process, however, God has taught Israel how to trust in Him. 

Willingness to conform to God’s will is one requirement of fathering a great nation.  Another, more obvious need is to assure the welfare of one’s family.  Israel proves that he has looked after this concern when he travels to Egypt to be reunited with his son Joseph.  He has been faithful to the tradition of his father Isaac and his grandfather Abraham although he followed it in a highly individual way.

Jesus also manifests these two traits of nation-building.  He implicitly follows his Father’s will to the end, and he sends his Spirit, as today’s gospel indicates, to protect his apostles.  With such care the Church has become like a great nation that gives God glory throughout the earth.

Friday, July 8, 2011

Friday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Genesis 46:1-7.28-20; Matthew 10:16-23)

A Mexican child will answer the call of a parent by saying, “Mande,” meaning, “Send (me).” The implication is that the child will do whatever he is commanded. We find this willingness to comply in the first reading when Israel responds to the call of the Lord, “Here I am.” In other often quoted biblical texts, Samuel goes to Eli saying, “Here I am. I come to do your will” and of the Virgin Mary answers the angel, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done unto me according to your word.” We should note that Israel did not always acquiesce to God’s will. As a young man, he trusted in his craftiness rather than in the Lord. Through a slow but sure process, however, God taught Israel how to trust in Him.

Willingness to conform to God’s will is one requirement of fathering a great nation. Another, more obvious need is to assure the welfare of one’s family. Israel proves that he has looked after this concern when he travels to Egypt to be reunited with his son Joseph. He has been faithful to the tradition of his father Isaac and his grandfather Abraham although he followed them in a unique way.

Jesus shows these two traits of nation-building in an eminent way. He follows his Father’s will to the end, and he sends his Spirit, as indicated in today’s gospel, to protect his disciples. With such care the Church has become a great people that gives God glory throughout the earth.

Homilette for Friday, July 10, 2009

Please excuse the recent error and delays of publication. I have been away from my regular habitat with less access to the Internet.

Friday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Genesis 46:1-7.28-20; Matthew 10:16-23)

A Mexican child will answer the call of his mother or father by saying, “Mande,” meaning “send (me).” The implicit idea conveyed by this word is that the child is willing to do whatever the parent commands. We find this same willingness in the first reading when Israel responds to the call of the Lord with, “Here I am.” It is the response of Samuel to Eli, “Here I am. I come to do your will” and of the Virgin Mary to the angel, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done unto me according to your will.” Israel’s response is remarkable, however, because he was not always so compliant. As a young man, he duped his brother and his father trusting in his craftiness rather than in the Lord to get ahead. God, however, taught him, through a slow but sure process, how to trust in Him.

Willingness to conform to God’s will is one requirement of fathering a great nation. Another, more obvious need is to assure the welfare of one’s family. Israel shows that he has looked after this concern when he hugs his son Joseph and confesses that he can now die in peace. He has been faithful to the tradition of his father Isaac and his grandfather Abraham although he followed them in his unique way.

Jesus shows these two traits of nation-building in an eminent way. He follows his Father’s will to the end, and he sends his Spirit, as indicated in today’s gospel, to protect his disciples. We might add that given the nature of his relationship with God, the Father, there is something very unique about Jesus’ preparation of the holy nation that bears his name.