Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter
(Acts 25:13b-21; John21:15-19)
Many evangelical Protestants openly profess their love of Jesus. But surely love of the Lord is as much a characteristic of true Catholics. Mother Teresa used to describe herself by saying, “By blood, I am Albanian. By citizenship, an Indian. By faith, I am a Catholic nun. As to my calling, I belong to the world. As to my heart, I belong entirely to the Heart of Jesus.”
In the gospel today Jesus uses love for him as the one criterion for service of his lead apostle. Some will scoff that it is silly to say that we love someone who died two thousand years ago. They also will question what kind of love it is if the beloved, like a baseball star or a pop singer, has millions of professed lovers. But these objections really do not faze us because we know that Jesus is alive and dwells among us spiritually. We can even have a personal relationship with him by caring for his body, the Church, and listening to his words in Scripture. Finally, because he is God, we know that he can care for all his lovers with the utmost personal attention.
Homilette for Thursday, May 28, 2009
Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter
(Acts 22:30; 23:6-11)
Often when we feel criticized, we plan on how we are going to defend ourselves. We search for impressive words that will show off our wit and put down our critics. But this might be a foolish strategy. We would do better to listen carefully to what others are saying, pray to the Holy Spirit that we might respond prudently, and speak forthrightly what comes to mind. Jesus tells us as much when he says, “'When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.’”
In today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles Paul follows Jesus’ advice. He evaluates the situation and speaks to it. His reference to being a proponent of the resurrection of the dead divides his persecutors. What starts as a probable conspiracy to condemn Paul turns into a debate with half the assembly supporting him. The Holy Spirit is the driving force behind this and all apostolic activity in Acts. He brings Christianity from its humble beginning in Jerusalem to center stage in Rome where it will fan out throughout the whole world.
The Holy Spirit is God’s incomprehensible gift of Himself to us. The Spirit chastens our passions and perks up our senses so that we too might convert others by manifesting divine love. When Cardinal Joseph Bernardin of Chicago died in 1996, an abortionist gave up his practice in nearby Indiana. The doctor had never met the cardinal but was evidently impressed by Bernardin’s ability to express care for all people without backing away from his stand against abortion.
(Acts 22:30; 23:6-11)
Often when we feel criticized, we plan on how we are going to defend ourselves. We search for impressive words that will show off our wit and put down our critics. But this might be a foolish strategy. We would do better to listen carefully to what others are saying, pray to the Holy Spirit that we might respond prudently, and speak forthrightly what comes to mind. Jesus tells us as much when he says, “'When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.’”
In today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles Paul follows Jesus’ advice. He evaluates the situation and speaks to it. His reference to being a proponent of the resurrection of the dead divides his persecutors. What starts as a probable conspiracy to condemn Paul turns into a debate with half the assembly supporting him. The Holy Spirit is the driving force behind this and all apostolic activity in Acts. He brings Christianity from its humble beginning in Jerusalem to center stage in Rome where it will fan out throughout the whole world.
The Holy Spirit is God’s incomprehensible gift of Himself to us. The Spirit chastens our passions and perks up our senses so that we too might convert others by manifesting divine love. When Cardinal Joseph Bernardin of Chicago died in 1996, an abortionist gave up his practice in nearby Indiana. The doctor had never met the cardinal but was evidently impressed by Bernardin’s ability to express care for all people without backing away from his stand against abortion.
Homilette for Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter
(Acts 20:28-38; John 17:11-19)
Latin America has become pluralistic with regard to religion. In most cities Protestant churches dot neighborhoods like little grocery stores, and missionaries pace the streets inviting people to taste their spiritual food. There is little concern for ecumenism. Priests see the missionaries as bandits raiding their flocks. Meanwhile, Protestant pastors criticize Catholicism as the unfaithful spouse of the word of God. The situation defies Jesus’ prayer for unity in the gospel today.
Jesus asks his Father to make all those who believe in him one in faith and charity. He has in mind all the churches that his disciples will establish. We extend that vision today with the hope, expressed by Pope John Paul II in his encyclical That They May Be One, that Christian communities of the Reformation as well as those of Orthodoxy some day share with Catholics the Eucharist. We can move toward the realization of this goal by cooperating with other branches of Christianity on charitable projects and by participating in ecumenical dialogues and prayer services.
(Acts 20:28-38; John 17:11-19)
Latin America has become pluralistic with regard to religion. In most cities Protestant churches dot neighborhoods like little grocery stores, and missionaries pace the streets inviting people to taste their spiritual food. There is little concern for ecumenism. Priests see the missionaries as bandits raiding their flocks. Meanwhile, Protestant pastors criticize Catholicism as the unfaithful spouse of the word of God. The situation defies Jesus’ prayer for unity in the gospel today.
Jesus asks his Father to make all those who believe in him one in faith and charity. He has in mind all the churches that his disciples will establish. We extend that vision today with the hope, expressed by Pope John Paul II in his encyclical That They May Be One, that Christian communities of the Reformation as well as those of Orthodoxy some day share with Catholics the Eucharist. We can move toward the realization of this goal by cooperating with other branches of Christianity on charitable projects and by participating in ecumenical dialogues and prayer services.
Homilette for Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Memorial of St. Philip Neri, priest
(Acts 20:17-27; John 17:1-11a)
Ten years ago a movie related the saga of an all-black (except for officers) regiment during the Civil War. The unit overcomes external prejudice and internal fear to become a crack fighting force. The last scene shows the courageous soldiers going into their final battle where they will be killed fighting not only for their country but for the freedom of their people. The movie was titled “Glory” because the men give their lives for a cause much bigger than individual happiness.
In the gospel Jesus speaks of the glory he intends to achieve by doing his Father’s will. That will, of course, is no less than the redemption of humanity through Jesus’ death on the cross. The world has never before seen such self-sacrifice because Jesus himself has no part in the sin which demands his life for expiation. However, there is a link between the glory won by soldiers dying for their country and that of Jesus giving himself over to crucifixion. In as much as the soldiers transcend the pitfalls of war – hatred, brutality, pride, and licentiousness – to serve both God and country, the glory they achieve reflects and, indeed, adds to the glory Jesus attains in his death and resurrection.
(Acts 20:17-27; John 17:1-11a)
Ten years ago a movie related the saga of an all-black (except for officers) regiment during the Civil War. The unit overcomes external prejudice and internal fear to become a crack fighting force. The last scene shows the courageous soldiers going into their final battle where they will be killed fighting not only for their country but for the freedom of their people. The movie was titled “Glory” because the men give their lives for a cause much bigger than individual happiness.
In the gospel Jesus speaks of the glory he intends to achieve by doing his Father’s will. That will, of course, is no less than the redemption of humanity through Jesus’ death on the cross. The world has never before seen such self-sacrifice because Jesus himself has no part in the sin which demands his life for expiation. However, there is a link between the glory won by soldiers dying for their country and that of Jesus giving himself over to crucifixion. In as much as the soldiers transcend the pitfalls of war – hatred, brutality, pride, and licentiousness – to serve both God and country, the glory they achieve reflects and, indeed, adds to the glory Jesus attains in his death and resurrection.
Homilette for Monday, May 25, 2009
Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter
(Acts 19:1-8; John 16:29-33)
As we pray for our war dead today, we need to face the horror of it all. Once a movie featuring the British Air Force during World War I exposed the frivolousness with which aviators spoke about battle. The film made clear that only because they never witnessed the actual deaths or saw the remains of fallen comrades, could pilots boast of the glory of combat. Surely, a more realistic viewpoint is that of the infantryman like Wilfred Owen, the English poet who died in World War I. He writes that if we could see war’s vile and gore, we would not say “Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori” (that it is a sweet and noble thing to die for one’s country).
In the gospel Jesus assures us that despite the horror of war or of any other evil, we can be at peace. We need not worry because he has conquered the twin nemeses of evil and death. We only have to remain close to him. And if we, like his disciples, find ourselves separated from him, we only have to turn again in his direction asking forgiveness.
(Acts 19:1-8; John 16:29-33)
As we pray for our war dead today, we need to face the horror of it all. Once a movie featuring the British Air Force during World War I exposed the frivolousness with which aviators spoke about battle. The film made clear that only because they never witnessed the actual deaths or saw the remains of fallen comrades, could pilots boast of the glory of combat. Surely, a more realistic viewpoint is that of the infantryman like Wilfred Owen, the English poet who died in World War I. He writes that if we could see war’s vile and gore, we would not say “Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori” (that it is a sweet and noble thing to die for one’s country).
In the gospel Jesus assures us that despite the horror of war or of any other evil, we can be at peace. We need not worry because he has conquered the twin nemeses of evil and death. We only have to remain close to him. And if we, like his disciples, find ourselves separated from him, we only have to turn again in his direction asking forgiveness.
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