Feast of Saint Michael, Saint Gabriel and Saint Raphael, archangels
(Daniel 7:9-10.13-14 or Revelation 12:7-12ab; John 1:47-51)
Hester Prynne, the adulteress in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s masterpiece The Scarlet Letter, had an “A” sewn on her clothes. However, she went about town doing so much good for so long a time that the people began to think that the letter stood for “angel.” Today’s feast of Sts. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael underscores this very humane quality of angels.
One might think of angels as creepy characters. They are pure spirits created by God to perform His work. But in truth we generally think of angels as quite amenable company, like those in the popular television series Touched by an Angel. Of course, it is because God is so good that His messengers can hardly be anything but caring.
Today’s feast celebrates three angels renowned in the Bible. St. Michael is known for his protection against evil. St. Gabriel is seen as the bearer of good news. And St. Raphael is remembered for his coming to the aid of the downtrodden. Together they represent the work of all the heavenly hosts.
Showing posts with label Hester Prynne. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hester Prynne. Show all posts
Homilette for February 6, 2008
Ash Wednesday
(Matthew 6:1-6;16-18)
Hester Prynne is the heroine of the famous American novel, The Scarlet Letter. She lives in colonial New England. After marrying an older man who leaves her for long periods, she allows herself to be seduced. When she gives birth to a baby, the town condemns her. Her penalty is that she must wear a big red A, meaning adulteress, on her clothing at all times. She stoically bears the mark of disgrace while she goes about town with her daughter helping others. As the years pass, the townspeople forget Hester’s crime. They see her care for others and come to think the A on her clothing stands for angel.
In a few moments we will have ashes put on our foreheads. Like Hester Prynne’s scarlet letter the ashes are a sign that we have sinned. We have loved ourselves too much. We have served God and neighbor too little. Along with wearing ashes today, we should make extra efforts to fast, pray, and help others every during of Lent. Then when we ask God’s forgiveness, He will wipe our sins from the record like the people lose memory of what Hester’s A originally means. Again like Hester, people will recognize us for virtues not for our faults.
So let us take on all the disciplines of Lent willingly. A generation ago some preachers recommended that we “do something positive for Lent” and not give up anything. That advice, though sincerely made, lacked wisdom. We must curb our desire for constant gratification as well as develop a practice of serving others. Efforts on both fronts shall draw us closer to God. Efforts, again on both fronts, shall allow us to rise with Christ on Easter.
(Matthew 6:1-6;16-18)
Hester Prynne is the heroine of the famous American novel, The Scarlet Letter. She lives in colonial New England. After marrying an older man who leaves her for long periods, she allows herself to be seduced. When she gives birth to a baby, the town condemns her. Her penalty is that she must wear a big red A, meaning adulteress, on her clothing at all times. She stoically bears the mark of disgrace while she goes about town with her daughter helping others. As the years pass, the townspeople forget Hester’s crime. They see her care for others and come to think the A on her clothing stands for angel.
In a few moments we will have ashes put on our foreheads. Like Hester Prynne’s scarlet letter the ashes are a sign that we have sinned. We have loved ourselves too much. We have served God and neighbor too little. Along with wearing ashes today, we should make extra efforts to fast, pray, and help others every during of Lent. Then when we ask God’s forgiveness, He will wipe our sins from the record like the people lose memory of what Hester’s A originally means. Again like Hester, people will recognize us for virtues not for our faults.
So let us take on all the disciplines of Lent willingly. A generation ago some preachers recommended that we “do something positive for Lent” and not give up anything. That advice, though sincerely made, lacked wisdom. We must curb our desire for constant gratification as well as develop a practice of serving others. Efforts on both fronts shall draw us closer to God. Efforts, again on both fronts, shall allow us to rise with Christ on Easter.
Homilette for Ash Wednesday, February 21, 2007
(Matthew 6)
Hester Prynne is the heroine of the famous American novel, The Scarlet Letter. She lives in colonial New England. After marrying an older man who leaves her for long periods, she allows herself to be seduced. When she gives birth to a baby, the town condemns her. Her penalty is that she must wear a big red “A” for adultery on her clothing. She does so while going about the town with her daughter and helping everyone. As the years pass, the townspeople forget Hester’s crime. They see her care for others and think the “A” on her clothing stands for “angel.”
In a few moments we will have ashes put on our foreheads. Like Hester Prynne’s scarlet letter the ashes are a sign that we have sinned. We have loved ourselves too much. We have not served God and neighbor enough. Along with wearing ashes today, we should make extra efforts to fast, pray, and help others during the forty days of Lent. When we do so, God will forget our offenses like the people forget that Hester’s letter “A” stands for adultery. Again like Hester, we will be remembered for our virtue not for our faults.
So let us take on all the disciplines of Lent willingly. A generation ago some preachers recommended that we “do something positive for Lent” and not give up anything. That was not wise advice. We must curb our desire for constant gratification as well as develop the practice of serving others. In these ways we shall draw close to God. In these ways we shall rise with Christ on Easter.
Hester Prynne is the heroine of the famous American novel, The Scarlet Letter. She lives in colonial New England. After marrying an older man who leaves her for long periods, she allows herself to be seduced. When she gives birth to a baby, the town condemns her. Her penalty is that she must wear a big red “A” for adultery on her clothing. She does so while going about the town with her daughter and helping everyone. As the years pass, the townspeople forget Hester’s crime. They see her care for others and think the “A” on her clothing stands for “angel.”
In a few moments we will have ashes put on our foreheads. Like Hester Prynne’s scarlet letter the ashes are a sign that we have sinned. We have loved ourselves too much. We have not served God and neighbor enough. Along with wearing ashes today, we should make extra efforts to fast, pray, and help others during the forty days of Lent. When we do so, God will forget our offenses like the people forget that Hester’s letter “A” stands for adultery. Again like Hester, we will be remembered for our virtue not for our faults.
So let us take on all the disciplines of Lent willingly. A generation ago some preachers recommended that we “do something positive for Lent” and not give up anything. That was not wise advice. We must curb our desire for constant gratification as well as develop the practice of serving others. In these ways we shall draw close to God. In these ways we shall rise with Christ on Easter.
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