Monday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
(Matthew 7:1-5)
Archbishop Tim Dolan of Milwaukee tells the story of an essay contest in the early 1930’s sponsored by an English newspaper. He writes that participants were to submit compositions answering the question, “What’s wrong with the world today?” As much as at any time there were plenty of troubles then. The great economies of the world were in depression. Communism was gaining popularity all over. Germany was on the verge of rearming. However, according to Archbishop Dolan, the Catholic writer G.K. Chesterton submitted the winning essay, consisting of only two words. Answering the question, “What’s wrong with the world...?” Chesterton wrote, “I am.”
Chesterton seems to have taken to heart Jesus’ message in the gospel today. Rather than judge others, we are to acknowledge and correct our faults. This kind of humility became thematic for Christianity. St. Paul will write to the Philippians, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves” (Phil 2:3). We should not see this perspective as unreal or self-abusive. Rather, it understands what many come to realize with guilt and embarrassment: we are not as capable as we think, and others are not as deficient.
Americans have a custom that institutionalizes the refraining of judging others. At our best we call everyone by Mr., Mrs., Ms., or Miss and their last name. Even the president of the country is often addressed as “Mr. President.” The custom is based on the equality of all. No one is inherently better or worse than another. Everyone deserves a simple title. In the end God will judge all regarding their use of individual talents.
Homilette for Friday, June 20, 2008
Friday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
(Matthew 6:19-23)
Some say that if you give a child a choice between a worn dime and shiny penny, she will choose the penny. Perhaps this is true, but my experience of children indicates a different result. Since they have difficulty making choices, children generally want both offerings. A sign of maturity is the ability to choose a goal and to marshal one’s resources to achieve it.
In the gospel today Jesus is calling his disciples to maturity and beyond. He wants them not only to choose between an earthly and a heavenly treasure but to do the good necessary to achieve the latter. Wealth is a fleeting blessing, he would say, where divine love lasts forever. So we are to multiply the love that the Holy Spirit pours into our hearts.
(Matthew 6:19-23)
Some say that if you give a child a choice between a worn dime and shiny penny, she will choose the penny. Perhaps this is true, but my experience of children indicates a different result. Since they have difficulty making choices, children generally want both offerings. A sign of maturity is the ability to choose a goal and to marshal one’s resources to achieve it.
In the gospel today Jesus is calling his disciples to maturity and beyond. He wants them not only to choose between an earthly and a heavenly treasure but to do the good necessary to achieve the latter. Wealth is a fleeting blessing, he would say, where divine love lasts forever. So we are to multiply the love that the Holy Spirit pours into our hearts.
Homilette for Thursday, June 19, 2008
Thursday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
(Matthew 6:7-15)
Once about thirty years ago Catholics were allowed to experiment with a different version of the Lord’s Prayer. There were no “thy’s” in the new version nor was it said that the Father “art in heaven.” If I remember correctly, the experiment also called for “debts” to be forgiven, not “trespasses,” and that we are not to be put “to the test” rather than not led “into temptation.”
The purpose of the experiment, no doubt, was to enable us to be more conscious of what we are saying when we pray this quintessential Christian prayer. As Jesus in today’s gospel criticizes pagans for babbling, sometimes we may repeat the words of the “Our Father” without paying attention to the words and perhaps not even knowing what some of the words mean.
The experimental version evidently failed to impress on many people the need for changes. Many probably felt the traditional form was so embedded in people’s consciousness that mandating a change would just cause resentment. Still we should be careful not to rattle off the words of the Lord’s Prayer as if they were a magic formula for attracting God’s attention. Rather we should say the words with deliberation contemplating what they mean. To help us appreciate the import of this prayer, we may note that it is strategically spoken by Jesus at the heart of his Sermon on the Mount which forms the heart of Christian teaching.
(Matthew 6:7-15)
Once about thirty years ago Catholics were allowed to experiment with a different version of the Lord’s Prayer. There were no “thy’s” in the new version nor was it said that the Father “art in heaven.” If I remember correctly, the experiment also called for “debts” to be forgiven, not “trespasses,” and that we are not to be put “to the test” rather than not led “into temptation.”
The purpose of the experiment, no doubt, was to enable us to be more conscious of what we are saying when we pray this quintessential Christian prayer. As Jesus in today’s gospel criticizes pagans for babbling, sometimes we may repeat the words of the “Our Father” without paying attention to the words and perhaps not even knowing what some of the words mean.
The experimental version evidently failed to impress on many people the need for changes. Many probably felt the traditional form was so embedded in people’s consciousness that mandating a change would just cause resentment. Still we should be careful not to rattle off the words of the Lord’s Prayer as if they were a magic formula for attracting God’s attention. Rather we should say the words with deliberation contemplating what they mean. To help us appreciate the import of this prayer, we may note that it is strategically spoken by Jesus at the heart of his Sermon on the Mount which forms the heart of Christian teaching.
Homilette for Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Wednesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
(II Kings 2:1;6-14)
Most talented college football players probably think of little by way of a career other than playing in the NFL. No doubt they seek the fame of a Brett Favre as well as a million dollar contract. But are they aware of the risks involved? Several former players have died at a relatively young age because of concussions received on the football field. More typical are chronic pain after competing for several seasons. We might ask a similar question of Elisha as he requests of double portion of Elijah’s spirit.
Elijah accomplished amazing feats as God’s spokesperson in Israel, but he also suffered for his prophecy. Once he walked forty days and forty nights to escape execution by King Ahab and his spiteful wife Jezebel. Speaking the word of God – the prophet’s task -- is always a risky business. Ruthless people often have vested interest in silencing God’s word. Jesus suffered as a prophet although he did not speak so much on behalf of God as with the unique authority of God Himself. At one point he told his disciples that he was bound to die in Jerusalem like the prophets.
Some today might consider themselves as prophets. They have a clear vision of and want to speak out for what is right. They might even quote Scripture, the word of God, in doing so. Of course, such action – done judiciously -- is commendable. But it will not be universally appreciated. As with Elijah and Jesus, those who speak out strongly for righteousness are likely to find themselves derided, if not more vehemently persecuted.
(II Kings 2:1;6-14)
Most talented college football players probably think of little by way of a career other than playing in the NFL. No doubt they seek the fame of a Brett Favre as well as a million dollar contract. But are they aware of the risks involved? Several former players have died at a relatively young age because of concussions received on the football field. More typical are chronic pain after competing for several seasons. We might ask a similar question of Elisha as he requests of double portion of Elijah’s spirit.
Elijah accomplished amazing feats as God’s spokesperson in Israel, but he also suffered for his prophecy. Once he walked forty days and forty nights to escape execution by King Ahab and his spiteful wife Jezebel. Speaking the word of God – the prophet’s task -- is always a risky business. Ruthless people often have vested interest in silencing God’s word. Jesus suffered as a prophet although he did not speak so much on behalf of God as with the unique authority of God Himself. At one point he told his disciples that he was bound to die in Jerusalem like the prophets.
Some today might consider themselves as prophets. They have a clear vision of and want to speak out for what is right. They might even quote Scripture, the word of God, in doing so. Of course, such action – done judiciously -- is commendable. But it will not be universally appreciated. As with Elijah and Jesus, those who speak out strongly for righteousness are likely to find themselves derided, if not more vehemently persecuted.
Homilette for Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Tuesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
(Mt 5:43-48)
Jesus’ command in the gospel, “’...be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect’” distresses many Christians. They worry that they will have to conduct a neurotic, illusive program to change their lives. Better, they may think, to remain simul iustus et peccator, Martin Luther’s expression to describe the Christian as justified while remaining sinful. “God loves us as we are,” they may say to excuse their unwillingness to change.
We like to think of Jesus as accommodating of our sins and foibles. The gospel stories of Jesus’ eating with prostitutes and tax collectors reassure that he will accept us with our less grievous faults. And surely he does! He does not spurn us because of weakness for pornography, displays of bad temper, or the like. But at the same time he calls us to change our sinful ways. At Baptism or in the Sacrament of Reconciliation he even provides us the power to reform.
Yet we should not be surprised if our transformation is gradual. Human nature, after all, is notoriously habitual. Yet with constant, determined effort we can overcome the meanest of tendencies. In this season when Olympic athletes are closing in on perfection, we might consider ourselves in similar training. In our case, of course, we seek mastery of behavior which wins the prize of a permanent place in the Father’s kingdom.
(Mt 5:43-48)
Jesus’ command in the gospel, “’...be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect’” distresses many Christians. They worry that they will have to conduct a neurotic, illusive program to change their lives. Better, they may think, to remain simul iustus et peccator, Martin Luther’s expression to describe the Christian as justified while remaining sinful. “God loves us as we are,” they may say to excuse their unwillingness to change.
We like to think of Jesus as accommodating of our sins and foibles. The gospel stories of Jesus’ eating with prostitutes and tax collectors reassure that he will accept us with our less grievous faults. And surely he does! He does not spurn us because of weakness for pornography, displays of bad temper, or the like. But at the same time he calls us to change our sinful ways. At Baptism or in the Sacrament of Reconciliation he even provides us the power to reform.
Yet we should not be surprised if our transformation is gradual. Human nature, after all, is notoriously habitual. Yet with constant, determined effort we can overcome the meanest of tendencies. In this season when Olympic athletes are closing in on perfection, we might consider ourselves in similar training. In our case, of course, we seek mastery of behavior which wins the prize of a permanent place in the Father’s kingdom.
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