Daily HOMILY for January 7, 2014: Tuesday after Epiphany, 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 after Epiphany
St. Luke’s Institute
January 7, 2014

SOMETHING’S GOTTA GIVE ++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  Some of us who are old enough may remember the song “Something’s Gotta Give” sung by the McGuire Sisters

Ø  It was #5 of the 100 most popular songs in 1955

Ø  The song playfully uses the irresistible force paradox – which asks, “What happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable object”

Ø  It can serve as a metaphor for our relationship with Jesus Christ, with Jesus being the “irresistible force” and we the “immovable object”

AN IRRESISTIBLE FORCE +++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  So let us ask, “What contributes to God’s being an irresistible force?”

Ø  That God foregoes self-interest for us?

Ø  That God deems us worthy enough to become one of us?

Ø  That this is truly an act of love on God’s behalf?

AN IMMOVABLE OBJECT ++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  And conversely, “What contributes to our being an immovable object?”

Ø  Obstinacy, addictive behavior, satisfaction with lesser goods, never tasting the “good stuff”

Ø  Love means having some taste of the force and the limitations of ourselves as the objects of God’s love

BALANCING THE TWO ++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  And using the idea of a balance (demonstrate), all we have to do is have the “force” gain just a bit in mass/weight over the object

Ø  That desired “imbalance” can be achieved one of two ways

Ø  Lessening the weight of the object (us), allowing God to be God, let’s call it surrender

Ø  Or increasing the weight of the force (God) through the experience of prayer

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

Ø  Either way is to experience grace

Ø  Either way is to sing from our own experience “When an irresistible force such as you, meets an immoveable object like me…”

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