Monday, July 7, 2014

Monday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Hosea 2:16.17c-18.21-22; Matthew 9:18-26)

The man was diagnosed with cancer.  He duly took the chemotherapy that was prescribed.  With even greater confidence he believed that God would cure him.  Five months later and after no easy struggle, the man’s doctor says that there is no evidence of cancer.  Although the story is but one of millions and not yet completed, it does illustrate the prerequisite faith for healing shown in today’s gospel.

The official astoundingly goes to Jesus after his daughter has died to ask for resuscitation.  He believes that a personal encounter with Jesus will give life back to her.  On the way to his house, Jesus is approached by a woman who has been in the tentacles of hemorrhage for years.  She also places faith in Jesus’ presence.  Neither the official nor the afflicted are disappointed.

Our prayer invokes the presence of Jesus.  We may not feel his presence.  Indeed, we may feel the frustration of trying to send emails when the server is disconnected. But through persistent and patient faith we will experience his life-giving attention. 

Homilette for Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Memorial of St. Agnes, Virgin and martyr

(Hebrews 7:1-3.15-17; Mark 3:1-6)

The man was lying in a hospital bed depressed. He had been diagnosed with cancer and was not sure whether he was going to live much longer. He was also unsure of his relationship with God. He was not attending mass on Sunday because, he said, he was often busy. Was that a sufficient reason or perhaps it was only an excuse for a lifetime of neglecting his God?

In today’s gospel the Pharisees bring to fore a similar issue of Sabbath observance. They want to condemn Jesus for healing on the Sabbath. Is that legitimate work on a Sabbath or is doing any work beyond sheer emergency on the holy day a way to mask one’s denial of God’s sovereignty?

Jesus will reveal the contradiction lodged like an embolism in the Pharisees’ hearts. He poses them the question, “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” Then he restores the ability of the handicapped person to use his hand; meanwhile, the Pharisees begin to plot Jesus’ death on the same Sabbath.

We should see the Sabbath as a gift from God so that we might do good. Giving praise to God is the highest good. Also taking a day to rest and recreate is another appropriate good for the Sabbath. If it is necessary, we might also work on Sunday, the Christian Sabbath. But we must take care that the labor is truly required and not pursued out of greed or, worse, to mask our neglect of God.

Homilette for Tuesday, October 30, 2007

You will find postings for weekdays October 29 and 30 below.

Tuesday, XXX Week of Ordinary Time

(Romans 8:12-17)

Hope has been compared to a little girl walking between her two bigger sisters – faith and love. At times it seems that faith and love have to drag hope along. That is, believing and giving we can find enough satisfaction in life that we do not consider the reward of heaven. Still at other times it is just the opposite. Hope seems to run ahead leading faith and love along.

A woman has cancer that may be incurable. She has unfailingly practiced her faith, and it has provided many blessings. Her husband loves her deeply. Her three children respect her sincerely. Her five grandchildren provide her consolation for the future. For a long time then faith and love have dominated any consideration of eternity. Now, however, hope has to take over.

The possibility of imminent death rivets our attention on the great questions of faith. Is there life after death? When will I experience it? Is it possible that I am not worthy? Hope moves us to believe in God and to use the rest of our time to serve Him. As St. Paul indicates in the first reading, we are not sure of what eternal life consists. We do not see it like we might see pictures of the city where our company is sending us to work. We can only trust in God that the sufferings we now face – whether it be the trials of cancer or the loneliness with which that many old people live -- will end in glory.