Friday, February 7, 2014

Friday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

(Sirach 47:2-11; Mark 6:14-29)

The word enigma comes from a Greek word meaning riddle.  An enigma is more than what meets the eye.  Or, we might say, an enigma confounds the eye.  To some Senator Ted Kennedy was an enigma.  He seemed legitimately concerned about the poor and defenseless – immigrants, the uninsured, and children in substandard schools, for example.  But he refused to defend the unborn, certainly among the most vulnerable of all human beings.  In the first half of the narratives of Mark’s gospel, Jesus also appears to observers as enigmatic. 

In the first seven chapters of the gospel Jesus works wonders and confronts hypocrites like the prophet Elijah.  He announces the coming God’s kingdom like John the Baptist.  Demons know his true identity, but it is elusive to other humans.  Haunted by guilt, Herod Antipas supposes that Jesus must be the reincarnation of the Baptist whose head he had chopped off. 

In the second half of the gospel Peter correctly names Jesus as the Messiah, but no one understands what that term means until he dies on the cross.  Then the Roman centurion, observing his innocence and faithfulness lived out to the last breath, proclaims Jesus the “son of God”.  On the third day Jesus rises from the dead clearing away all doubts about his identity, at least among his followers.  Jesus is no longer an enigma but, indeed, sterling truth whose hand leads us to both dignity and joy. 

Friday, August 6, 2010

Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord

(Daniel 7:9-10.13-14; II Peter 1:16-19; Luke 9:28b-36)

Ted Kennedy wrote in his memoirs of an experience he had as a youth. His father, who was a successful businessman and diplomat, told him: “You can have a serious life or a non-serious life, Teddy; I’ll still love you whichever choice you make. But if you decide to have a non-serious life, I won’t have much time for you…. There are too many children here who are doing things that are interesting for me to do much with you.” Those words settled deep in the future senator’s brain and made a great difference in his life. With good reason we opposed Ted Kennedy’s position on abortion, but we admired him for his tireless support of the uninsured and undocumented.

Jesus’ prayer in the account of the Transfiguration today reminds us of the conversation between Ted Kennedy and his father. Dialoguing with the Father, Jesus becomes aware of the violent death with the glorious outcome that awaits him in Jerusalem. He does not shrink from it. Quite the contrary, he embraces it as his conversation with Moses and Elijah indicates. The first liberated the Israelites in Egypt; the second suffered to keep the people from idolatry. Like them, Jesus will liberate humankind from slavery to sin. His suffering will strengthen the people from idolizing pleasure, power, or possessions.

Each of us if we examine our lives closely has had experiences like Jesus’. That is, like Ted Kennedy, we have had a glimpse of the possibility of knowing God intimately by living a righteous life. We know that such a life requires effort and will not be free of pain. But we also know that God, who loves us more than we can imagine, will reward our effort abundantly.

Homilette for Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Tuesday of the Third Lent in Lent

(Daniel 3:25.34-43; Matthew 18:21-35)

When former president Gerald Ford died in 2007, commentators remembered him with surprising admiration. They recognized his pardoning his predecessor Richard Nixon for criminal activity in the Watergate affair as his greatest achievement. Even Ted Kennedy admitted that although he had disagreed with the decision at first, the pardon did a distinctive service to the country. It helped heal a nation badly divided over ideology and shocked over wrongdoing at the highest levels.

Would that public figures be more willing to practice today what they admire in past heroes! Instead we usually hear them demand resignation, impeachment, or apology from those who violate their principles. In the gospel Jesus tells his disciples that it should not be that way with us. We must be ready to forgive when people repent of their misdeeds. Rather than clamor for retribution, we should pray that our offenders take note of their wrongdoing, ask forgiveness, and make proper amends.

Mercy becomes us. Shakespeare writes that an “earthly power doth then show likest God's,
when mercy seasons justice.” It even makes us better appreciated in our society as in the case of President Ford. In forgiving, of course, we must not abandon the norms of justice. Compensation to the wronged is usually due, and the offender should be resolved not to offend again. But practiced rightly, mercy like “the gentle rain from heaven” – as Shakespeare put it -- benefits everyone.

A HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY TO ALL!

Homilette for February 26, 2008

Tuesday of the Third Lent of Lent

(Mt 18:21-35)

A year ago in January former President Gerald Ford died. Commentators in the newspapers and on television remembered him with admiration. They said that his singular greatest achievement was to pardon ex-President Nixon for criminal activity in the Watergate cover-up. Even Ted Kennedy admitted that, although he disagreed with the decision at the time, he has come to regard it as a distinctive service to the country. The pardon helped heal a nation badly divided over ideology and shocked over wrongdoing at the highest levels.

Would that politicians be more willing to practice today what they admire in past heroes! Instead we usually hear them demand the resignation, the impeachment, or an apology from those who violate their principles. In the gospel Jesus tells his disciples that it should not be that way with us. We must be ready to forgive when people repent of their misdeeds. Rather than clamor for retribution, we must pray that our offenders take note of their wrongdoing, ask forgiveness, and make proper amends.

Mercy becomes us. Shakespeare writes that an “earthly power doth then show likest God's,
when mercy seasons justice.” It even makes us better appreciated in our society as in the case of President Ford. In forgiving, of course, we must not abandon the norms of justice. Compensation to the wronged is usually due, and the offender must be resolved not to offend again. But practiced rightly, mercy like “the gentle rain from heaven” – as Shakespeare put it -- benefits everyone.

Homilette for Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Tuesday, III Lent

(Mt 18)

President Gerald Ford died in January. Commentators in the newspapers and on television remembered him with admiration. They said that his singular greatest achievement was to pardon ex-President Nixon for criminal activity in the Watergate cover-up. Even Ted Kennedy admitted that although he disagreed with the decision at the time, he has come to regard it as a distinctive service to the country. The pardon helped heal a nation badly divided over ideology and shocked over wrongdoing at the highest levels.

Would that politicians be more willing to practice what they admire in others! Instead we usually hear from them calls for resignation, impeachment and apology. In the gospel today Jesus tells his disciples that it should not be that way with us. We must be ready to forgive when people repent of their misdeeds. Rather than clamor for retribution, we must pray that our offenders take note of their wrongdoing and make proper amends.

Mercy becomes us. It makes us like God whom has been revealed as replete with merciful love. It even makes us better appreciated in our society as in the case of President Ford. In forgiving, of course, we must not abandon the norms of justice. Compensation to the wronged is usually due, and the offender must be resolved not to offend again. But practiced rightly, mercy makes everyone better.