Friday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
(Luke 12:54-59)
Everyone has heard of climate change. For the last thirty years the average temperatures around the world have increased significantly. Meteorologists have linked these increases to fiercer tropical storms and longer draughts. The temperature increases certainly have brought about the melting of the polar ice caps altering the habitats and habits of arctic animals and arctic humans.
What would Jesus say about climate change if he were here in flesh and blood? He perhaps would comment as he does in the gospel reading today. He would observe how we are proficient observers of the weather but blind to our faults. He would urge us to consider seriously our sins and to change our ways. He would warn us that if we refuse to seek God’s forgiveness now, it will soon be too late.
When Jesus mentions the case of an opponent turning a person over to a magistrate, he means that unless we make amends with God now, God will turn us over to Jesus who is to judge the world at the end of time. By all means, Jesus will be a fair, even a merciful judge. However, unless we change directions now, we are likely to become so puffed up by self-righteousness that we will not think to ask Jesus for clemency.
Showing posts with label climate change. Show all posts
Showing posts with label climate change. Show all posts
Homilette for Friday, October 26, 2007
Friday, XXIX Week of Ordinary Time
(Luke 12:54-59)
Everyone has heard of climate change. For the last thirty years the average temperatures around the world have increased. Meteorologists have linked these increases to fiercer tropical storms and longer draughts. The temperature increases certainly have brought about the melting of the polar ice caps altering the habitats of both artic animals and humans. Most people believe that we humans have triggered the increases by burning too much gasoline in cars and coal in electric power generators. However, a few scientists argue that the earth’s atmosphere heats up naturally every few hundred years or so but then cools down again.
What would Jesus do about climate change if he were here in flesh and blood? He perhaps would comment as he does in the gospel reading today. He would chastise the people for being keen preceptors of climate but blind to their own faults. He would urge us to consider seriously our sins and to change our ways. He would warn us that if we don’t seek God’s forgiveness now, it will soon be too late.
When Jesus mentions the case of an opponent turning a person over to a magistrate, he means that unless we make amends with God now, God will turn us over to Jesus who is to judge the world at the end of time. We are only fooling ourselves if we think that Jesus cannot be severe with us. We remember the parable about the five foolish virgins who were not around when the bridegroom came back and were wailing outside the wedding banquet. Jesus regularly warns us in the gospels that the something similar could happen to us.
(Luke 12:54-59)
Everyone has heard of climate change. For the last thirty years the average temperatures around the world have increased. Meteorologists have linked these increases to fiercer tropical storms and longer draughts. The temperature increases certainly have brought about the melting of the polar ice caps altering the habitats of both artic animals and humans. Most people believe that we humans have triggered the increases by burning too much gasoline in cars and coal in electric power generators. However, a few scientists argue that the earth’s atmosphere heats up naturally every few hundred years or so but then cools down again.
What would Jesus do about climate change if he were here in flesh and blood? He perhaps would comment as he does in the gospel reading today. He would chastise the people for being keen preceptors of climate but blind to their own faults. He would urge us to consider seriously our sins and to change our ways. He would warn us that if we don’t seek God’s forgiveness now, it will soon be too late.
When Jesus mentions the case of an opponent turning a person over to a magistrate, he means that unless we make amends with God now, God will turn us over to Jesus who is to judge the world at the end of time. We are only fooling ourselves if we think that Jesus cannot be severe with us. We remember the parable about the five foolish virgins who were not around when the bridegroom came back and were wailing outside the wedding banquet. Jesus regularly warns us in the gospels that the something similar could happen to us.
Homilette for Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Wednesday, VII Easter
(John 17)
The Gospel of John may be compared to a Soduku puzzle. Both the gospel and the puzzle are deceptively simple. The gospel uses few sophisticated words, and its sentences are brief. However, understanding its concepts requires thoughtful deliberation.
We all remember the consoling line at the beginning of the gospel where Jesus tells how “God so loved the world” that He gave to it His only Son. Here at the end of the gospel, however, Jesus is nothing but cautionary about the world. He says that the world hated his disciples and that they in no way belong to the world. The world has shown itself beyond redemption by rejecting God’s Son. Still the disciples must complete their mission of rescuing true children of God from the clutches of the Prince of the World.
Some of us might be uncomfortable with the Gospel of John’s negative evaluation of the world. We see much about secular life that promotes Christian values. For example, concern about climate change, which may have cause great suffering, stems largely from a coalition of secular institutions, including science and environmentalists. Some testimony in favor of openness toward the world can be found in Scripture passages such as, “The Lord’s are the earth and its fullness; the world and those who dwell in it” (Psalm 24). Nevertheless, Christians are wise neither to consider the world a permanent ally nor to think that they can easily convert the world completely to their side.
(John 17)
The Gospel of John may be compared to a Soduku puzzle. Both the gospel and the puzzle are deceptively simple. The gospel uses few sophisticated words, and its sentences are brief. However, understanding its concepts requires thoughtful deliberation.
We all remember the consoling line at the beginning of the gospel where Jesus tells how “God so loved the world” that He gave to it His only Son. Here at the end of the gospel, however, Jesus is nothing but cautionary about the world. He says that the world hated his disciples and that they in no way belong to the world. The world has shown itself beyond redemption by rejecting God’s Son. Still the disciples must complete their mission of rescuing true children of God from the clutches of the Prince of the World.
Some of us might be uncomfortable with the Gospel of John’s negative evaluation of the world. We see much about secular life that promotes Christian values. For example, concern about climate change, which may have cause great suffering, stems largely from a coalition of secular institutions, including science and environmentalists. Some testimony in favor of openness toward the world can be found in Scripture passages such as, “The Lord’s are the earth and its fullness; the world and those who dwell in it” (Psalm 24). Nevertheless, Christians are wise neither to consider the world a permanent ally nor to think that they can easily convert the world completely to their side.
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