Daily HOMILY for November 21, 2013: Thursday of 33rd Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

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In 2014, I am facilitating a 12-week interactive online course in contemplative prayer and action for priests with Saint Luke Institute.  Please visit SLIconnect.org to learn more:  https://www.sliconnect.org/product/living-god-program-contemplative-life-2/

Thursday 33^rd Week OT

Cleveland Priests’ Retreat

November 21, 2013

Jesus wept for peace ++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  “As Jesus drew near 2 Jerusalem, saw city & wept over it, saying, ‘If this day you only knew what makes 4 peace – but now it’s hidden fr your eyes.’”

Ø  Given number of wars since time of J & R own tumultuous times @ home & abroad it would B good 2 know “what makes 4 peace” according 2 J

What’s important +++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  If we look at gospels as values & teachings of J we C that real peace implies something deeper than polite acceptance of those who R different

Ø  Means mtg those who R different, appreciating them & their culture, creating friendship w/ them

Ø  Family, culture, religion, community, friendship R all necessary for human growth

What we need +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  & we need 2 learn how not 2 remain enclosed/ imprisoned in our own such groups

Ø  Have 2 cross boundaries & meet those who R different

Ø  Coexistnce = foundtn & imp, but peace = deeper

Ø  2 create peace we have 2 go further than just hello

Ø  Have 2 discover who other is & reveal who we are

Ø  As we listen 2 & really meet 1 another, begin 2 C work of G in beauty & value of those who R diff

Ø  Personal relationship implies tenderness and kindness

WHAT WE DON’T NEED +++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  Opposite of love = hardness of heart or insensitivity

Ø  It is indifference 2 others & what think, feel, need

Ø  It’s 2 avoid meeting them & 2 erect defenses

Ø  Fear encloses you within your system of protection

Ø  Peace / absence of war & / living alongside others, ignoring, indifferent to, or avoiding them

Ø  It’s getting 2 know each, appreciating, seeing each other’s value, & receiving from each other

CONCLUSION +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  If we only knew “what makes for peace”…but we do. J has shown us by his life and example

Ø  Flows from a communion of hearts in which we discover that we’re truly bros and srs w/i a common humanity

Ø  Our inability to understand is why J wept over Jerusalem & why he continues to weep over us

Ø  How long will it take for us to catch on!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Daily HOMILY for November 20, 2013: Wednesday of 33rd Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

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In 2014, I am facilitating a 12-week interactive online course in contemplative prayer and action for priests with Saint Luke Institute.  Please visit SLIconnect.org to learn more:  https://www.sliconnect.org/product/living-god-program-contemplative-life-2/

Wednesday 33^rd Week OT

Cleveland Priests’ Retreat

November 20, 2013

AN ERROR RE THE K/G ++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  An old familiar parable; let’s look at it in new way

Ø  J tells it as he’s approaching Jerusalem and the disciples are thinking that the K/G is going to show itself then and there

Ø  So one of Jesus’ reasons for telling it is to clarify this error on their part

3 SERVANTS ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  In Parable, king calls 10 servants to whom he’s given each, 10 silver coins 2 see how much they’ve gained

Ø  1^st has produced 10 more talents “Well done, trustworthy in small things, you’ll govern 10 cities”

Ø  2^nd produced 5 more talents 2 which king replies “And you shall be in charge of five cities”

Ø  3^rd servant arrives & says, “Sir, here’s your talent I put it away safely wrapped up in a cloth, because I was afraid of you, for you are an exacting man, you gather in what you have not laid out and reap what you have not sown.”

MISTAKEN IMAGE OF GOD  ++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  In this 3^rd servant we have a mistaken idea of God which is criticized by Jesus

Ø  For starters, servant considers God a severe master

Ø  Before such a God, one is afraid & hides behind the exact & poor observance of the law

Ø  Thinks acting in this way he’ll not be punished by the severity of the legislator

Ø  Such a person doesn’t believe or trust in God, but believes rather in self & his observance of the law

Ø  He’s closed himself up in self; drawn away from God, & is not able 2B concerned about others

Ø  Thus he’s incapable of growing as a free person

Ø  Notice it a false image of God that isolates the person, kills the community, extinguishes joy, and impoverishes life

Ø  The poor fellow is not condemned by God, but by the mistaken idea that he had conceived of God

Ø  His image of God rendered him immature & fearful

AN ERROR CORRECTED +++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  What the disciples have learned = R lesson as well

Ø  The K/G comes to those who have a proper image of God as a loving Father and risk use their talents for the good of others

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Daily HOMILY for November 19, 2013: Tuesday of 33rd Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

PODCAST - Press sideways triangle below to listen

or click here if there is no triangle
In 2014, I am facilitating a 12-week interactive online course in contemplative prayer and action for priests with Saint Luke Institute.  Please visit SLIconnect.org to learn more:  https://www.sliconnect.org/product/living-god-program-contemplative-life-2/

Tuesday 33^rd Week OT

Cleveland Priests’ Retreat

November 19, 2013

THE STORY +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  Story of Zacchaeus climbing a tree 2C J is a delight

Ø  We smile to picture this little man shedding his dignity to catch a glimpse of the famous Rabbi

Ø  The charm of the story, however, belies the profundity of the message

Zacchaeus ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  1^st, fast-forward to the end of today’s story, to Jesus’ final word to Zacchaeus and to everyone who will listen

Ø  “Today salvation has come to this house”

Ø  This is the eschatological now – the eternal today – the moment of salvation that only Jesus can inaugurate and fulfill

Ø  Zacchaeus has made it, and with so little effort!

Ø  There is a 2^nd part to this message of good news

Ø  Who of us has not known deep longing to see the face of God?

Ø  The psalms articulate this desire: “it is your face, O Lord, that I seek. Hide not your face (Ps 27)

Ø  So Zacchaeus goes out on a limb to see Jesus

Jesus +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  Jesus arrives and simply “looks up”; he sees Zacchaeus

Ø  In that mutual gaze each sees more than a face

Ø  A look of curiosity turns into a moment of profound recognition and love

Ø  In that moment Zacchaeus sees himself  -- his less-than-honest dealing with his countrymen

Ø  He also sees one who clearly offers him freedom – a way out

Ø  Jesus, for his own part, sees a man who is ready to receive all he wants to give

OUR ENCOUNTER ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  The liturgy invites us to look into our own hearts today

Ø  We may have met Jesus many times, but have we allowed the look of Jesus to propel us into a wild, jubilant scramble down to receive all that he wants to give us?

CONCLUSION +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  To see oneself is risky business

Ø  To see oneself in the face of Jesus is salvation and we can experience it in the moment

Ø  Are we ready to hear the invitation as if for the 1^st time?

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++