Homily: 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

For the past few weeks, we have been listening to Jesus telling parables to the Chief Priests and Pharisees.  For Jesus is attempting to get their attention to think differently, choose differently and to open their eyes to his teachings of the Kingdom of God. But they show no interest in listening to his teachings about love and compassion, much less inclusion.  Thus, they look to corner Jesus into committing a crime of sedition and thus be crucified, by putting the question to Jesus if taxes should be paid to Caesar or not.

Perhaps a way to phrase this question in the present time would be: is our allegiance with the spiritual or the worldly?  Where is our focus today?  Since this story appears in all three Synoptic Gospels, this story carries a deeper and more significant message than a Gospel about just paying taxes. What is that hidden meaning?  Check it out…

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Homily: 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Based on this Sunday’s Gospel, it would appear that Jesus is encouraging us to be like the Steward who was dishonest in handling the affairs for his Master.  Seems there may be good reason that the Pharisees and scribes are complaining about his teachings.  But like most parables, there is something hidden deep inside this story that is often missed.  And what is hidden may just impact the way you see God.

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Homily: 5th Sunday in Lent

This Sunday we hear the familiar Gospel of the woman who was caught in adultery and about to be stoned.  Meanwhile the Scribes and the Pharisees, keepers of the Jewish Law, are not very happy with all the attention Jesus is getting, so they a lay trap for him.  What does Christ do?  Does he focus on the sin or the shame?  

See how a Jesuit who works with gangs in LA sheds light into the deepest meaning of this Gospel story.  

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O Clavis David

O Key of David and scepter of the house of Israel, You open and no one can close, You close and no one can open: Come and rescue the prisoners who are in darkness and in the shadow of death.

In my journaling each morning a familiar specter shows up nearly every day.  Like the terrifying faceless ghost of Christmas Future in the Dicken’s classic story, my Inner Critic makes an appearance.  Before 7 a.m. she is judge, jury and jailer – sometimes of people in my life but most often and most reliably of myself. 

This Antiphon reminds me today that the only way to silence this harsh voice is to place my life in the hands of the One who decides ‘what to open and what to close,’  the hands of my God who is longing to release me from my own prison of darkness by forgiveness and mercy.

Sometimes I beat up myself over a task left undone, a misstep, or an unkind word.  And you? What holds you in darkness waiting to be released?  What sits in your shadows hoping to be expunged by the Light?  Less we forget: the Key is mercy.

It Pope Francis who reminds us, “The Lord never gets tired of forgiving us, it is we who get tired of asking for forgiveness.” Or perhaps more simply in the words of Tiny Tim, “God Bless us everyone” And that includes you and me.

  

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

 

Homily: 5th Sunday of Lent

As we come into the final weeks of our Lenten journey– the question on my mind is: How well do we see Christ in our lives?   

Unfortunately I think many people miss the opening line in this week’s Gospel which starts out saying some Greeks came to worship at the Passover Feast and they asked to see Jesus - and their query seems to be more than just star-crazed gentiles looking to get a glimpse of Jesus. But I would guess the answer Jesus gives them was more than they were looking for.

So how can Tim Shriver, Special Olympics and Kodak help us make sense of this week’s Gospel?

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Homily: 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time

This Sunday we hear a continuation of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus continues teaching about a new way to live and love.  Author Krista Tippett in her recent book reminds us that law and politics are unable to really tell us what matters in life, what matters in a death, how to love, and how we can be of service to each other. “These are the kinds of questions religion arose to address.”

But it would seem many egocentric people (many who even call themselves religious) are still focused on using the laws to determine who they feel is in and who is not.  Yet Christ reminds us that we are called to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us, so that we may be in right relationship with God.

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you?!  Really? Isn’t that a bit over the top? 

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Homily: 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2013

This weekend every year two things happen: we celebrate Father’s Day…and the US Golf Open is played.  One of the greatest golfing legends of all times is Billy Casper.  This past year he wrote his autobiography called, The Big Three And Me, filled with great insight and wisdom about what impacted his life the most.

On this 11^th Sunday of Ordinary Time we hear the famous story of the sinful woman who washes the feet of Jesus and anoints his body with perfume. I found it interesting to see the similarities of how Billy Casper has lead his life….and how Jesus deals with the situation he finds himself in between the woman and the Pharisee.  Click and see what I mean…

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Homily: Pentecost 2013

In today’s gospel, John describes the appearance of the risen Christ to his disciples who are hiding in the Upper Room.  In doing so he reveals three basic skills or spiritual practices to follow in order to strengthen your soul, your well-being and your connection with God and with each other.  If you find yourself stuck in your own ‘Upper Room’ you may want to check out what you could be missing.

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