Thursday, October 31, 2024

Thursday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

(Ephesians 6:10-20; Luke 13:3-35)

This evening many will celebrate Halloween, the eve of the Feast of All Saints.  For their purposes, however, they should celebrate tomorrow, the eve of the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, more commonly called All Souls Day or the “day of the dead.”  The object of the commemoration is to pray for those who, having died in sin, must await entrance into eternal life.  Unfortunately, the celebration for most people has nothing to do with prayer.  It features death as a make-believe pretext for children, costumed as pirates and ghosts, to collect candy and for adults, dressed similarly, to have a party.

If there ever is a moment of crisis in life, it is at death.  It is a person’s last chance to ask forgiveness of sins and put one’s life in the hands of the Lord.  For this he or she needs the spiritual armor of which the Letter to the Ephesians speaks in today’s first reading.  Truth, righteousness, readiness for peace, faith, the hope of salvation, and the Spirit of discernment are all required.  With these protections one will not be terrified at leaving behind loved ones as well as his or her body.

There seems to be nothing wrong with playing “trick or treat” or gathering with friends to celebrate the fall (or spring for those in the southern hemisphere).  But let us remind one another sometime during the celebration not to forget the root of the occasion.  We should encourage one another to pray for those who have died.  We also should also ask God to keep us faithful to Him at the hour of our death.

Tuesday, October 10, and Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Tuesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time

(Jonah 3:1-10; Luke 10:38-42)

Since no historical records exist of the mass conversion of Nineveh and since the story of Jonah drips with exaggeration, the book is taken as an instruction to later Jews rather than a chronicle of an actual event.  It certainly indicates God’s will that other peoples be saved.  It also warns against prejudice.

Nineveh’s complete repentance is seen in the way both king and people change their hearts.  This sense is punctuated by dressing the animals in sackcloth.  Given that every society has some backsliders, Jews would have marveled to hear how thorough the conversion of their feared neighbors to the northeast was.  These were the same barbarians who had ravaged their ancestors.  Perhaps, the Jews could conclude, they are not as bad as they seemed.

The Book of Jonah is instructive to us as well.  It tells us not to consider any people or any person as beyond saving.  God works wonders. Those whom we may regard as despicable may come to surpass us in rendering true worship to God.

Wednesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time

(Jonah 4:1-11; Luke 11:1-4)

With Halloween approaching, let’s reflect on what the word means.  We find a form of it in the first petition in the Lord’s Prayer read in today’s liturgy.  The prayer asks God to make “hallowed” His name.  It is a request that God’s name be reverenced or made holy.  The word Halloween is short for all hallows even, the eve of all the holy ones.  We have a sense of this meaning since the next day we celebrate the Feast of All Saints.

When we pray “hallowed be your name,” we express our desire that God’s name be reverenced throughout the world.  We want God to be honored and obeyed that He might have His due glory and we might live in peace with all.  It is then a giant petition even though it sounds simple.

The movement toward a universal recognition of God’s name should begin with us.  We should do more than not take His name in vain.  We should give it honor by testifying to others our gratefulness and continuous need for God.

Homilette for Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Wednesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time

(Luke 11:1-4)

With Halloween approaching we might want to reflect on the first petition in the Lord’s Prayer: “hallowed be your name.” The word Halloween comes from a form of hallowed. It is actually short for all hallows even, or the eve of all saints. American Catholics have a sense of this meaning since we are obligated to attend mass the next day, the Feast of All Saints.

Obviously then, “hallowed” is connected with sanctity. Indeed, it is an ancient way of saying “holy.” When we pray “hallowed be your name,” we express our wish that God’s name be reverenced throughout the world. Here a name is more than a way to call something or somebody; rather, it means one’s fame or reputation. We can look at two famous Shakespearean quotes to appreciate the difference. In Romeo and Juliet the heroine downplays the importance of a name when she tells her lover, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by another name would smell so sweet.” The character Cassio in Othello captures more the biblical idea of name when he speaks of reputation, “Reputation, reputation, reputation! Oh I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself...”

When the world calls upon God with reverence – our petition here – it will first recognize God as father. More than that, it also sees God as deserving of awe and absolute attention.

Homilette for Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Wednesday, XXVII Week of Ordinary Time

(Luke 11:1-4)

With Halloween fast approaching we might want to reflect on the first desire expressed in the Lord’s Prayer, “hallowed be your name.” The word Halloween comes from a form of hallowed. It is actually short for all hallows even, or the eve of All Saints. American Catholics have a sense of this because of the obligation to attend Mass the next day, the Feast of All Saints.

Obviously then, "hallowed" is connected with saints. Indeed, it is an ancient way of saying “holy.” When we heed Jesus’ instruction to pray “hallowed be your name,” we express our wish that God’s name be recognized as holy. Here name is more than a way to call something; rather, it means one’s fame or reputation. We can look at two famous Shakespearean quotes to appreciate the difference. In Romeo and Juliet the heroine downplays the importance of a name when she tells her lover, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by another name would smell so sweet.” The character Cassio in Othello captures more the biblical idea of name when he speaks of reputation, “Reputation, reputation, reputation! Oh I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself...”

Holiness, of course, is the chief element of God’s reputation. He shows His holiness through His glory which is nothing less than the manifestation of His divine and gracious will throughout creation. When all women and men follow God’s will, His name is truly hallowed and peace reigns of earth.