Wednesday, October 1, 2025

 

Memorial of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church

(Nehemiah 2:1-8; Luke 9:57-62)

A parochial vicar was relatively new to parish ministry. When told by a Jewish laywoman that she wanted to become a Catholic, he invited her to register for RICA with the parish office.  The priest then relayed the news to the seasoned deacon who directed the parish’s Christian Initiation ministry.  The deacon responded unenthusiastically. He said that many people express a desire to join the Church, but few in fact take the necessary steps to do so.

No doubt non-Catholics interested in the Church are often impeded by considerations like the ones mentioned in today’s gospel.  They want to wait until the death of their parents who might be upset by their desire.  Or perhaps all the rules of the Church make it seem like a place impossible to give the soul rest.  They do not realize that it is the Lord who is calling them to come now.  Chances are if they wait for a more propitious time, they will never answer the call.

Christ calls even cradle Catholics to a deeper relationship with himself.  For some it will be a religious vocation, for others a lay ministry, and again for others more intense prayer.  We should not lightly delay responding to the call.  He is the Lord whose love makes us ever more fulfilled women and men.

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

 Wednesday of the Twentieth-sixth Week in Ordinary Time

(Job 9:1-12.14-16; Luke 9:57-62)

When Russia invaded Ukraine, a man prepared his family for asylum abroad.  After he sent them away, he went to fight for his country.  The man said that he wanted to be with his family but felt a moral obligation to defend his homeland.  Jesus’ reasoning is similar in today’s gospel. 

As if he were going to war, Jesus makes known the urgency of his mission.  Those who would join him must be prepared to make sacrifices.  They will not have their own bed to sleep on.  More difficult, they will have to leave their families without knowing when they will see them again.  Such demands can only be made for a supreme good, and there is no greater good than the Kingdom of because it is God Himself.  God is the peace, joy, and love that constitutes the Kingdom Jesus proclaims.

A few young women and men today leave behind their families to join religious orders to work for the kingdom.  Their parents often feel a loss, not only of their children but also of possible grandchildren.  But God provides for them a hundredfold.  Often it is the priest or religious who takes care of their parents in old age.  Parish or the religious congregation, which surround the celibate, often provide the support of a score of grandchildren.

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Memorial of St. Jerome, priest

(Nehemiah 2:1-8; Luke 9:57-62)

Howsoever modern times may have diluted the Catholic faith, they have made the choice to follow Christ as a religious or priest more radical.  It is said that when families were large and incomes were small, Catholic parents would almost designate one or two children as nuns and/or priests.  Now in contrast, when the average family has only one, two, or possibly three children, parents want to assure themselves of grandchildren.  They no longer promote vocations as much as they indicate to their children that they are hoping to have grandchildren.  In some cases a young person has to almost turn her or his back on the family to enter a seminary or convent.

This gospel passage today provokes this kind of radicalness as it deals with the difficulty of discipleship.  Jesus’ followers are called to sleep under the stars, to be absent from their homes when parents die, and indeed to leave aside totally family concerns.  However, a problem emerges.  Christian discipleship extends far beyond religious life and the priesthood.  Both married and single persons are called to follow Christ with the same kind of radicalness that we find in the gospel. 

Married couples who adhere to Church teaching on artificial contraception certainly swim against the tide of convention and ease.  Single persons who dedicate their lives to caring for others – be they young students or aged parents – while adhering to Catholic moral norms certainly will find struggle part of the package.  The key to Christian discipleship is letting go of personal desires to live as Jesus want us to.  This takes radical commitment in any time or place.  We can accomplish it with joy only by accepting God’s infinitely more radical love.

Homilette for Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Memorial of St. Jerome, priest

(Nehemiah 2:1-8; Luke 9:57-62)

For whatever setbacks that they have incurred on the Catholic faith, it seems that contemporary times have returned the radicalness to the choice of following Christ. Many think that when families were large and incomes were small, Catholic parents would almost designate one or two children as nuns and/or priests. These commentators go on to say that now when the average family has only one, two, or possibly three children, parents want to assure themselves of grandchildren so a young person has to almost turn her or his back on the family to pursue a vocation.

This gospel passage today provokes this kind of speculation as it deals with the difficulty of discipleship. Jesus’ followers are called to sleep under the stars, to be absent from their homes when parents die, and indeed to leave aside totally family concerns. However, a problem emerges. Christian discipleship extends far beyond religious life and the priesthood. Both married and single persons are called to follow Christ with the same kind of radicalness that we find in the gospel.

Married couples who adhere to Church teaching on artificial contraception certainly swim against the tide of convention and ease. Single persons who dedicate their lives to caring for others – be they young students or aged parents – while adhering to Catholic moral norms certainly will find struggle part of the package. The key to Christian discipleship is letting go of personal desires to live as Jesus want us to. This takes radical commitment in any time or place. We can accomplish it with joy only by accepting God’s infinitely more radical love.

Homilette for Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Wednesday, XXVI Week of Ordinary Time

(Luke 9:57-62)

Sometimes we have the luxury of making detailed preparations for a trip. At other times the opportunity to travel arises quickly and we must either grab it or lose it. Once a young man was with his family in Hawaii when he met a yachtsman about to set sail for Tahiti. The yachtsman invited the youth to be a crew member for the months-long trip. The latter decided to go although he had hardly enough time to pack. On his return, the young man could hardly express how wonderful an experience he had. Today we meet Jesus inviting others to an adventure of discipleship supremely wonderful although hardly pleasant.

The gospel passage begins by noting that Jesus is proceeding on his journey. He is on his way to Jerusalem where he will complete his mission of salvation. This fact explains the urgency of not having time to say “good-bye” to one’s family much less waiting for an elderly parent to die. It may be terrifying to think of accompanying someone to a brutal death. However, if that person is the sublimely gracious Lord, one can put fear aside to support him in his quest.

Jesus extends to us also the invitation to accompany him. To be sure we have time for our family. In fact, caring for the needs at home is part of our commitment to him. He does not intend for us to leave behind father, mother, wife or children so much as our ambitions, desires, and other ego compulsions. If we are in business, he will have us not track the bottom line so much as service to clients and care for employers. If we are in ministry, he will have us not count the accolades of bishops and rich patrons but our efforts to bring people to an awareness of the living God.