Tuesday, June 9, 2026

 

Tuesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

(II Kings7:7-16; Matthew 5:13-16)

As the United States celebrates its semiquincentennial, its citizens will recall a famous sermon preached by John Winthrop, the governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.  In 1630, Winthrop told a shipfull of Puritan colonists that they would be like “a city on a hill” of which the world would take notice.  He exhorted the people to reflect the decency and justice which their faith espoused. The analogy was taken from today’s gospel passage.

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus coins the expression “a city on a hill.”  He means, of course, that his disciples should lead exemplary lives of virtue.  He himself is the lamp to be reflected by every household as a guide for all the world.  Living as he teaches, they would make of the earth the forerunner of God’s Kingdom.

The United States is not a Christian nation.  It is composed of adherents to many different religious traditions and of people without faith.  Yet its founding principles are largely in line with Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.  It has always advocated the primacy of law, the virtue of charity, the value of freedom, and (yes) the necessity of belief in God.  It has been “a city on a hill” that has not only guided many to its shores but has served as a model for other nations.

Friday, August 5, 2011

Friday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Deuteronomy 4: 32-40; Matthew 16:24-28)

Aboard the ship Arbella just before landing in Boston harbor, Governor John Winthrop told the Puritan colonists of the Massachusetts Bay Colony that they must be like a ¨city on a hill¨ for the world to see and imitate. In time these words will give rise to the idea of “American exceptionalism,” by which the nation is considered enlightened and trustworthy beyond other peoples. Of course, Governor Winthrop was making a reference to Jesus´ Sermon on the Mount, but his words also echo Moses´ in the reading from Deuteronomy today.

Moses reminds the Israelites of God´s special interest in them. God has led them from captivity in Egypt to freedom. He has carefully weeded them of their vices and made them into His holy people. Now, Moses says, the people must respond to the Lord´s particular kindness to them by keeping His laws and statutes. In this way they will give testimony to the world of God´s own righteousness.

We members of the Church should consider ourselves every bit as chosen as the Puritans and the Israelites. God has called us by name in Baptism and fed us with the body and blood of His Son in the Eucharist. Our exemplary lives demonstrate the privileges of intimacy with Him and summon others to our side.

Homilette for Friday, August 7, 2009

Friday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Deuteronomy 4: 32-40; Matthew 16:24-28)

Aboard the ship Arbella just before landing in Boston harbor, Governor John Winthrop told the Puritans of the Massachusetts Bay Colony that they must be like a ¨city on a hill¨ for the world to see and imitate. Of course, Governor Winthrop was making a reference to Jesus´ Sermon on the Mount, but his words also echo Moses´ in the reading from Deuteronomy today.

Moses reminds the Israelites of God´s special interest in them. God has led them from captivity in Egypt to freedom. He has carefully weeded them of their vices and made them into His holy people. Now, Moses says, the people must respond to the Lord´s particular kindness to them by keeping His laws and statutes. In this way they will give testimony to the world of God´s own righteousness.

We should consider ourselves every bit as chosen as the Puritans and the Israelites. God has called us by name in Baptism and fed us with the body and blood of His son in the Eucharist. We show our closeness to God by heeding the words that Jesus speaks in the gospel. Rather than complain and reject the crosses that burden our lives, we are to accept them in imitation of Jesus who bore a much more formidable one. In doing so, we not only become a model for the world to follow; we also gain the fullness of happiness that our hearts desire.

Homilette for Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Tuesday of the Tenth Week of Ordinary Time

(I Kings 17:7-16; Matthew 5:13-16)

Some people may knock the word of God as hot air. But how can Americans deny its value? In a famous address Governor John Winthrop used an image from the gospel today to describe his hopes for the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He said that the community should be like a “city on a hill” whose justice would be an example to all. In time America, thinking of itself – at its best moments -- in this way, would lead the world in liberty and justice. In the nineteenth century President Abraham Lincoln continually referred to the word of God in articulating his policies of abolition of slavery and reconciliation of enemies. Within the memory of many alive today the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., relied on the word of God to shape and establish a vision of human dignity and racial harmony.

The first reading today demonstrates the power of the word of God. Elijah acts on its demanding instructions. Because of its proven efficacy he can confidently tell the pagan widow of Zarephath not to fear as she exhausts her provisions feeding him. Finally, the word’s bounty provides for the woman’s continued need of food during draught.

As much as Elijah and the widow of Zarephath, we can rely on the word of God in our personal lives. We find wisdom and consolation in Scripture. Even more significantly, we ground our beings in its Eucharistic incarnation. Its shapes our thoughts and enlivens our actions so that we become, as Jesus recommends, virtual salt and light to the world. As salt we make life for others worth living; as light we show them the way to God’s Kingdom.