Daily HOMILY for January 14, 2014: Tuesday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

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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/

Tuesday 1^st Week OT

St. Luke’s Institute

January 14, 2014

Power of Evil +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  Commentators on Scripture point out that people of NT times believed in the presence & power of devils all around them

Ø  & esp as causes of illness & harm

POWER OF EVIL VANQUISHED +++++++++++++++++++

Ø  2 readings today suggest the frustrations & ills of ordinary life which lend credence 2 notion that evil power is at work

Ø  Like Hannah, many have hopes that seem doomed 2 disappointment

Ø  In Hannah’s case, “Lord remembered her” & she had son, destined to be Samuel

Ø  Man in Gospel 2 was relieved of presence of demon, whatever form

Ø  Other Gospel stories suggest some cases looked like mental illness or epilepsy

DEALING W/ POWER OF EVIL TODAY ++++++++++++++

Ø  There R present in R own lives or those of R families or friends illnesses like those attributed 2 unclean spirits by J’s contemporaries

Ø  Childlessness, cancer, unemployment, accidents – the list seems infinite

Ø  Would B wonderful if 1 could promise healing & solution 2 all R problems in exchange 4 trust in J

Ø  But all know from example of faithful people who nevertheless suffer that there’s no such simple arrangement

Ø  (1) Can the fact that the Scriptures show us people getting responses from God help us to trust?

Ø  (2) And are there R own friends who attest 2 that

Ø  (3) Or maybe another time of R life attests 2 it also

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

Ø  Part of the faith we pray 4 & work at daily = maintaining trust in G even when answer 2 R prayer = long in coming or never evident

Ø  Perhaps we need G’s help 2B less self-centered, less anxious about our own personal needs, and more willing to respond to needs & suffering of those around us

Ø  With St. Francis the answer may be that we need “not so much to be consoled as to console.”

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