Wednesday, June 23, 2021

 Dear Reader, if you receive these homilettes by email, you may find the service stopped in July.  As I understand an instruction from Google, its Burnfeeder program will no longer support the service.  You can always find the homilettes on the blog site: https://cbmdominicanpreacher.blogspot.com/ . Perhaps if you send me your email address, I could send the homilettes in a mass email.  You may send your email address to cmeleop@yahoo.com. When I ascertain that the service is no longer functioning, I will start sending them to you personally.

 

Wednesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

(Genesis 15:1-12.17-18; Matthew 7:15-20)

Jean Vanier was often described as a living saint.  He founded a network of small communities aiding the mentally and physically disabled.  He also gave talks and wrote books on living a gospel-centered life. When his sexual abuse of several women became known after his death, many were shocked.  Is he a prophet in sheep’s clothing of whom Jesus warns in today’s gospel?

Perhaps, but like most human situations his life was complex.  No one could deny that he helped many people.  He also seemed to live very humbly.  Moreover, lust, at one time natural and despicable, has infected many prominent men.  On the other hand, Vanier knowingly manipulated at least six women in the context of giving spiritual direction.

We must judge Vanier as greatly flawed.  He did not coincide perfectly with Jesus’ example of a rotten tree because he did produce some good fruit.  We should pray that his sins be forgiven.  In doing that, however, let us also pray for his victims.

Tuesday, June 22, 2021

 Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

(Genesis 13:2.5-18; Matthew 7:6.12-14)

In a debate before the year 2000 presidential election George W. Bush said that he was “not into nation-building.” He meant that he would not allow the United States to take responsibility for foreign countries.  When the U.S. invaded Iraq, however, he had to eat those words.  In any case, God is “into nation-building” as both readings today testify.

Abram shows qualities that are characteristic of a wise leader.  When troubles erupt between his kinsmen and those of Lot, he keeps his clan together.  He is also willing to make a strategic sacrifice of better land for assured peace.  Noting Abram’s capacity, God promises that he will be father of countless descendants.  Jesus is laying the blueprint for the Church when he tells his disciples to "enter through the narrow gate.’”  Nations do not prosper through self-indulgence.  Rather, if they are to reach exalted status, their leaders must be just and their peoples hardworking.

Perhaps we don’t want to think of ourselves as nation-builders either.  We would rather devote ourselves to providing for our families or to saving our souls.  However, if our descendants are going to be virtuous people, we have to work for a strong nation.  We have to seek the common good, shun corruption in all its forms, and urge others to do so as well.

Monday, June 21, 2021

 Monday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

(Genesis 12:1-9; Matthew 7:1-5)

Many young men today hear a call like the one Abram receives in today’s first reading.  They are moved to leave behind homeland and family to live in a new land.  They are not necessarily pious as Abram probably was not.  But they feel an invisible power beckoning them to a life more bountiful than the one they leave behind.  Thinking about Abram today, one might recall the millions of immigrants around the world.  They are searching for a better life than the poverty and often violence of their own countries.

This is the beginning of the story of God’s chosen people.  All descendants of Abram and his wife Sarai will be part of that nation.  Sarai is childless to this point. Later Genesis comments that she is very beautiful.  God has called this adventuresome man with an eye for a beautiful woman to father a special people.  Their righteousness in time will lead the world to praise Him.

Like Jews we understand Abram to be our father in faith.  His rather earthly character should remind us that God does not only call the saintly but us as well.  Like Abram also we must respond to God’s call.  This is not a once-and-for-all proposition.  Rather, it means faithfulness day-in and day-out even when it seems like an absurd venture.

Sunday, June 20, 2021

 TWELFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY, June 20, 2021

(Job 38: 1.8-11; II Corinthians 5: 14-17; Mark 4: 35-41)

In a famous novel a young man no longer believes in a good God. He says that he cannot accept a God who would allow children to suffer. Instead of asking help from the Holy Spirit, the young man wants to “return the ticket” for church attendance. He does not deny God’s existence. He just won’t give Him any more attention. We see Jesus' disciples ready to do the same thing in the gospel today.

The disciples are in a boat in the middle of a lake when a storm arises. Their situation becomes perilous when the boat begins to take in the water. The disciples wonder if they will survive. Jesus has accompanied them, but he is sleeping. Their predicament resembles that of the first century church when Mark wrote his gospel. The storm represents the persecution that had existed from the church’s beginnings. It seemed to some Christians then that Jesus didn't care if they survived or not.

There is similar unrest within the church today. We know that marriage is a permanent alliance between a man and a woman. It has two purposes: to have children and to increase the mutual good of the couple. However, the world today accepts homosexual marriage as if it were natural. Also, it looks at sexual intimacy simply as means of pleasure. For many couples it does not matter whether the sexual act is open to procreation. Meanwhile, it seems to some as if Pope Francis wants to approve of homosexual relationships. These people ask: “Has he not said, ‘Who am I to judge?’ in cases of homosexuality. And didn't he endorse gay unions in a recent television interview? "

These charges are serious and disturbing. They result from the distortion of what the pope has said and a misunderstanding of his intentions. Like Christ, Pope Francis loves people deeply. He wants everyone - including homosexuals - to grow in human virtue. When he said, "Who am I to judge?" he was referring to priests with some homosexual tendencies but living celibacy with integrity. Likewise, the pope has never been in favor of gay unions that authorize sexual relations. Rather, he knows that homosexuals have needs as well as rights like everyone else. If they live together in the same home, they need insurance benefits and the right to make emergency medical decisions for one another. It should be the same for any couple sharing the same household, a single man living with his mother perhaps. However, the basis of the right has to be sharing the same house, not the same bed.

In the gospel Jesus awakens in time to save the disciples from drowning. Because he loves them, he does not want any of them lost. But he has to correct their mistaken notion that he did not care if they drowned.  Sometimes love requires that we correct the mistakes of those whom we love. This is why Pope Francis recently approved the ban on blessing gay unions. Like Jesus, he does not want to exclude anyone from his love, including – and maybe especially – homosexual persons.  However, neither does he want to bless relationships that are harmful to both society and individuals.

Today is Father's Day in several countries. It's only fair to ask: why do we celebrate our fathers?  Is it simply for passing on their genes to us?  We don't believe that because passing on genes did not cost them anything. No, we celebrate our fathers today for the many efforts they made to see us grow in strength and virtue. We celebrate them today for having fed us. We celebrate them today for correcting us when we were mistaken. We celebrate them today for showing us love when we felt disturbed or lost.

Friday, June 18, 2021

Friday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

(II Corinthians 11:18.21-30; Matthew 6:19-23)

Writing passionately in this Second Letter to the  Corinthians, Paul’s words elicit comment.  However, commentators cannot say very much because the context is not clear.  Is Paul criticizing “superapostles” for promoting circumcision as he did in the Letter to the Galatians?  Perhaps, but it seems likely that something else is at play.  It very well may be that there are a number of Christian evangelizers roaming around.  Some of these are requesting money from their listeners and then criticizing Paul for not taking any.

In the passage today, Paul wants to demonstrate that he is an authentic apostle.  Indeed, he is claiming that he is the most authentic, given all that he has suffered to preach the gospel.  He knows that boasting is not a good practice.  However, he begs patience of his readers for having to make his case.  Jesus told his disciples that they will have to suffer in preaching the gospel.  Paul demonstrates here how much he has done that.

This passage urges us beyond admiration of Paul and modesty about our accomplishments.  It warns us of smooth talkers who distort the Word of God.  They come in different forms.  Some preach “hell and brimstone” so that we become hypercritical of our neighbors.  Others may preach self-indulgence so that we lose sight of our sinfulness.  In either case we have the truth of Paul writings to keep us on the right track.