Wednesday, June 16, 2021

 Wednesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

(II Corinthians 9:6-11; Matthew 6:1-6.16-18)

Henri Nouwen was one of the most noted spiritual writers of the second half of the last century.  He wrote columns and books on how to live the gospel every day.  At some point he turned his attention to fundraising.  He explained to those working in development for the Church how to serve God better.

Nouwen wrote that fundraising is not begging.  Rather it is projecting a vision for the Church and asking people to share it with their money.  In short, it is a way to involve people in the Church’s ministry.  He also saw fundraising as a call to conversion.  Both fundraisers and potential benefactors are called to change their perspective.  They have to come to terms that God’s new project has a role for them.

We hear about St. Paul’s fundraising project in the first reading these last few days.  He is calling the community in Corinth to help support the Christians in Jerusalem.  He is asking them to look beyond their own needs to people in distress.  He no doubt sees assistance as solidification of the Jew and non-Jew communion that the Church is called to be.

Wednesday, June 15, 2021

 Wednesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

(II Corinthians 9:6-11; Matthew 6:1-6.16-18)

Henri Nouwen was one of the most noted spiritual writers of the second half of the last century.  He wrote columns and books on how to live the gospel every day.  At some point he turned his attention to fundraising.  He explained to those working in Church development how to serve God more faithfully.

Nouwen wrote that fundraising is not begging.  Rather it is projecting a vision for the Church and asking people to share in it with their money.  In short, it is a way to involve people in the Church’s ministry.  He also saw fundraising as a call to conversion.  Both fundraisers and potential benefactors are called to change their perspective.  They have to come to terms with the fact that God’s new project has a role for them.

We have been hearing about St. Paul’s fundraising project in the first reading these last few days.  He is calling the community in Corinth to help support the Christians in Jerusalem.  He is asking them to look beyond their own needs to people in distress.  No doubt, he sees their assistance as a way to solidify the communion of Jews and non-Jews that the Church is meant to be.

Monday, March 10, 2014

Monday of the First Week of Lent

(Leviticus 19:1-2.11-18; Matthew 25:31-46)

Fr. Henri Nouwen was perhaps the most noted spiritual writer in English during the last quarter of the twentieth century.  In his final years he often wrote of L’Arche, the movement uniting in community persons with severe disabilities with caregivers.  In one essay Fr. Nouwen described his service in an L’Arche community to an almost helpless youth named Adam.  Although a priest for decades with an unparalleled appreciation of the spiritual life, Nouwen learned from the young man the meaning of today’s gospel.

 Adam may not have had many alternatives; nevertheless, he allowed Nouwen to take care of him.  He evidently maintained his composure even when he was in pain from his caretaker’s awkward assistance.  In any event Adam proved himself like Jesus in that in being helped, he brought his helper a “peace that the world cannot give.”  The lessons were simple and yet profound.  First, Adam revealed to the author that what is truly important is a human person’s being not his success.  Second, Adam showed that what makes a human person an image of God is not the mind that comprehends reality but the heart that lets go of preoccupation with self to embrace another in love.  Finally, Adam demonstrated the importance of community since, like everyone else, he needed others to survive but, unlike most people, he was unable to hide that truth.

During Lent God invites us to find His Son in others.  The more we assist suffering people, the more we will recognize that it is Jesus whom we are caring for.  In so doing, he lifts us from our own misery to the joy of his company.

Monday, February 27, 2012

Monday of the First Week in Lent

(Leviticus 19:1-2.11-18; Matthew 25:31-46)

Henri Nouwen was perhaps the most noted spiritual writer in English during the last quarter of the twentieth century. In his final years he often wrote of the community of incapacitated persons and their caregivers in which he lived. In one essay he described his service to an almost helpless youth named Adam who conveyed to him the truth of today’s gospel.

Although there were few alternatives, Adam allowed Nouwen to take care of him. He evidently maintained his composure even when he was in distress. In any event Adam proved himself like Jesus in that in being helped, he brought his helper a “peace that the world cannot give.” The lessons were simple and yet profound. First, Adam revealed to the author, a man of great accomplishment, that what is truly important is a human person’s being not his success. Second, Adam revealed that what makes humans images of God is not the mind that comprehends reality but the heart that can forego preoccupation with self to embrace another in love. Finally, Adam demonstrated the importance of community since, like everyone else, he needed others to survive but in such an intense way that he was unable to hide that truth.

During Lent God invites us to find His Son in others. The more we know suffering people and assist them in their need, the more we will recognize that it is Jesus whom we are care for. In so doing, he lifts us from our own misery to the joy of his company.

Homilette for Friday, June 13, 2008

Memorial of Saint Anthony of Padua, priest and doctor of the Church

(I Kings 19:9a, 11-16)

The “tiny, whispering sound” conveying the presence of the Lord to Elijah is better translated the “sound of silence.” God visits him, as He does each of us, in the silent chamber of conscience where He tempers our pride and chastises our sloth.

The Lord’s question of Elijah, “Why are you here?” is both rhetorical and accusatory. God knows well that Elijah has chosen to run away from his responsibilities as prophet. Elijah must speak the word of God in order to turn the people’s hearts back to God. But the prophet only complains about his lot: the people have abandoned God, they have killed God’s messengers, and they are presently hunting down Elijah himself. God, however, does not condemn Elijah for irresponsibility and endless complaints. He only re-commissions Elijah to carry out His will.

Sometimes we feel discouraged like Elijah. Nothing seems to go right despite our efforts to please God. We too complain about our situation and perhaps become cynical about possibilities for its improvement. A generation ago Henry Nouwen wrote a pamphlet “From Resentment to Gratitude” which explored these feelings of frustration and anger that pervade contemporary life. As an antidote, Nouwen prescribes humbly refocusing our perspective. He writes that we must see “that our life is not an inalienable property to be defended but a gift to be shared.” Recognizing life for the gift that it is, we can leave behind our pouting to do God’s will.