Thursday of the Fourth Week in Lent
(Exodus 32:7-14; John 5:31-47)
“The world is too much with us,” the poet William Wordsworth lamented two hundred years ago. If anything, the presence of the mundane has increased in the interim. Because of its inherent goodness, the world has been glorified and idolized. Many people make gods out of its characteristic representatives -- money, sex, and power.
Of course, the condition is much more than two centuries old. It befalls the Israelites in the desert as the reading from Exodus today indicates. The golden calf stands at once for God and a pagan deity. Its representation of power and glory is supposed to convey the idea of the awesomeness of God. But defying God’s prohibition of craven images, the calf becomes a testament to the human will’s tendency to chuck God aside in order to pursue its own desires.
As Moses pleads with God for mercy toward the stiff-necked people, Jesus argues with the people to accept the testimony of their invisible God. In a significant albeit gentle way Jesus has demonstrated that he is from God. His words contain wisdom and his deeds bring relief to the poor. But the people, forever seeking demonstrations of dominance, fail to recognize his prophecy. We must not be so blinded by the glitter of the world. We must let go of inordinate desire for money, sex, and power. We must seek Jesus’ wisdom and goodness.
Homilette for Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
(Isaiah 7:10-14.8:10; Hebrews 10:4-11; Luke 1:26-38)
In the novel All We Know of Heaven, author Rémy Rougeau, O.S.B., describes how a monk (possibly himself) receives his vocation. It happens literally by a star falling from heaven. Observing the night sky, a boy sees a shooting star land near his home. He is what we might call “a good boy,” but not remarkably more devout than others. When he goes to investigate, the lad finds the fallen meteor. Thinking over its significance, he concludes that the meteor is a sign from God telling him that he has a vocation. A number of years later, he joins a Cistercian monastery.
Luke’s gospel today tells a similar story. Mary has a religious experience. She is devout although the extent of her sanctity is perhaps not evident. An angel tells Mary of her special vocation to be the mother of Jesus Christ. Like the boy pondering the significance of the meteor, Mary questions whether the angel really intends the message for her. After all, she is not married. When the angel assures her that God will provide whatever she lacks, Mary does not hesitate to accept.
We have all probably had an experience that we would call “religious.” Perhaps it was a dream or a conversation with a special person. We probably don’t consider ourselves better than any other person, yet God seems to have shown us His special favor. Like Mary and like the monk in Rémy Rougeau’s novel, let us not fail to ponder what God wants us to do.
(Isaiah 7:10-14.8:10; Hebrews 10:4-11; Luke 1:26-38)
In the novel All We Know of Heaven, author Rémy Rougeau, O.S.B., describes how a monk (possibly himself) receives his vocation. It happens literally by a star falling from heaven. Observing the night sky, a boy sees a shooting star land near his home. He is what we might call “a good boy,” but not remarkably more devout than others. When he goes to investigate, the lad finds the fallen meteor. Thinking over its significance, he concludes that the meteor is a sign from God telling him that he has a vocation. A number of years later, he joins a Cistercian monastery.
Luke’s gospel today tells a similar story. Mary has a religious experience. She is devout although the extent of her sanctity is perhaps not evident. An angel tells Mary of her special vocation to be the mother of Jesus Christ. Like the boy pondering the significance of the meteor, Mary questions whether the angel really intends the message for her. After all, she is not married. When the angel assures her that God will provide whatever she lacks, Mary does not hesitate to accept.
We have all probably had an experience that we would call “religious.” Perhaps it was a dream or a conversation with a special person. We probably don’t consider ourselves better than any other person, yet God seems to have shown us His special favor. Like Mary and like the monk in Rémy Rougeau’s novel, let us not fail to ponder what God wants us to do.
Homiltte for Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent
(Ezekiel 47:1-9 and12; John 5:1-16)
“Food grows where water flows.” The agricultural lobby posts signs in rural highways with such messages as this. They remind the public that we should not take water for granted. It may fall from the sky, but often costly government programs have to preserve and channel water if it is to nurture life.
Both readings today illustrate the life-giving power of water. In the reading from the prophet Ezekiel the Temple waters flow to produce abundant plant and aquatic life. We should see this water as a kind of grace that provides both nutrition and healing for God’s people. In the reading from the Gospel of John the crippled man cannot avail himself of the Temple waters so Jesus heals him directly. Jesus becomes a more reliable fount of grace than the Temple waters which stir only intermittently and whose effectiveness fades.
Jesus is present to us in many ways but especially through the seven sacraments. Partaking in them, we receive his Holy Spirit who builds up everlasting life in us. We should avail ourselves of the Eucharist at least weekly, of Reconciliation regularly, and of the other five as the occasion calls for them.
(Ezekiel 47:1-9 and12; John 5:1-16)
“Food grows where water flows.” The agricultural lobby posts signs in rural highways with such messages as this. They remind the public that we should not take water for granted. It may fall from the sky, but often costly government programs have to preserve and channel water if it is to nurture life.
Both readings today illustrate the life-giving power of water. In the reading from the prophet Ezekiel the Temple waters flow to produce abundant plant and aquatic life. We should see this water as a kind of grace that provides both nutrition and healing for God’s people. In the reading from the Gospel of John the crippled man cannot avail himself of the Temple waters so Jesus heals him directly. Jesus becomes a more reliable fount of grace than the Temple waters which stir only intermittently and whose effectiveness fades.
Jesus is present to us in many ways but especially through the seven sacraments. Partaking in them, we receive his Holy Spirit who builds up everlasting life in us. We should avail ourselves of the Eucharist at least weekly, of Reconciliation regularly, and of the other five as the occasion calls for them.
Homilette for Monday, March 23, 2009
Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent
(Isaiah 65:17-21; John 4:43-54)
The Prospect of Immortality was written over forty years ago in an age of extravagant optimism. It describes the possibility of deep-freezing people at death so that they may be thawed when cures for their ailments are discovered. Since then, to my knowledge, there have been no accounts of successful revitalization. However, there have been reports of rotting cadavers of people who paid to have their dead bodies frozen.
It has been said that no one will get out of this world alive. Then what of our belief in the resurrection? In the first reading, Isaiah offers the springboard to this belief. God -- the prophet tells us -- will create a new earth where people will live hundreds of years. We believe that this new creation has been realized in Jesus Christ. He saves people from death as we see in the gospel today. He restores life as we read in the story of Lazarus and his sisters. And he will rise from the dead to eternal glory. We can assure ourselves that there is no “prospect of immortality” besides the hope of the resurrected Jesus redeeming us from death.
(Isaiah 65:17-21; John 4:43-54)
The Prospect of Immortality was written over forty years ago in an age of extravagant optimism. It describes the possibility of deep-freezing people at death so that they may be thawed when cures for their ailments are discovered. Since then, to my knowledge, there have been no accounts of successful revitalization. However, there have been reports of rotting cadavers of people who paid to have their dead bodies frozen.
It has been said that no one will get out of this world alive. Then what of our belief in the resurrection? In the first reading, Isaiah offers the springboard to this belief. God -- the prophet tells us -- will create a new earth where people will live hundreds of years. We believe that this new creation has been realized in Jesus Christ. He saves people from death as we see in the gospel today. He restores life as we read in the story of Lazarus and his sisters. And he will rise from the dead to eternal glory. We can assure ourselves that there is no “prospect of immortality” besides the hope of the resurrected Jesus redeeming us from death.
Homilette for Friday, March 20, 2009
Friday of the Third Week of Lent
(Hosea 14:2-10; Matthew 12:28-34)
Elvis Presley sang a famous song titled, “Words.” “It's only words,” he crooned, “and words are all I have to take your heart away.” In the first reading today, the prophet Hosea tells us to woo God’s heart with words. “Take with you words,” the prophet says, “and return to the Lord.” Our words are like a radio broadcast. We do not have to climb any mountains or cross any seas to reach Him. We only have to say that we are sorry for having offended Him.
But our words must be truthful. Sometimes we use them deceptively or, at least, in ways that do not match our abilities. “I would do anything for you,” a university student told his girlfriend. “Would you go to the library with me Friday night?” she asked. “I would,” he replied, “but I am busy at that time.” For our words to be truthful, we have to commit ourselves to what they say.
The step between words on the lips and commitment in the heart is all that is missing from the scribe’s entering the Kingdom of God in the gospel. Jesus is not criticizing the man when he says that is he is “not far from the Kingdom of God.” He only means that the scribe’s approval of Jesus’ commandments is not enough for salvation. He must take Jesus’ words to heart and put them into practice. As St. Paul writes to the Romans, both confession with the mouth and belief in the heart are necessary to be saved.
(Hosea 14:2-10; Matthew 12:28-34)
Elvis Presley sang a famous song titled, “Words.” “It's only words,” he crooned, “and words are all I have to take your heart away.” In the first reading today, the prophet Hosea tells us to woo God’s heart with words. “Take with you words,” the prophet says, “and return to the Lord.” Our words are like a radio broadcast. We do not have to climb any mountains or cross any seas to reach Him. We only have to say that we are sorry for having offended Him.
But our words must be truthful. Sometimes we use them deceptively or, at least, in ways that do not match our abilities. “I would do anything for you,” a university student told his girlfriend. “Would you go to the library with me Friday night?” she asked. “I would,” he replied, “but I am busy at that time.” For our words to be truthful, we have to commit ourselves to what they say.
The step between words on the lips and commitment in the heart is all that is missing from the scribe’s entering the Kingdom of God in the gospel. Jesus is not criticizing the man when he says that is he is “not far from the Kingdom of God.” He only means that the scribe’s approval of Jesus’ commandments is not enough for salvation. He must take Jesus’ words to heart and put them into practice. As St. Paul writes to the Romans, both confession with the mouth and belief in the heart are necessary to be saved.
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