Daily HOMILY for March 6, 2014: Thursday after Ash Wednesday, 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/

Thursday after Ash Wednesday

St. Athanasius / St. Rose

March 6, 2014

PARADOXES ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  Denying oneself & taking up one’s cross daily is what followers of Jesus must do

Ø  Luke alone of all the Gospels says, “daily”

Ø  What I find strange is that though the cross symbolizes death, Jesus is describing it as a path of life, a spirituality

Ø  So the paradox is, “How can a symbol of death be a symbol of life?

Ø  Or in Jesus’ words, “How can you gain your life by losing it?

Ø  A “paradox” is a statement that doesn’t follow logically; it doesn’t make sense up here in my head

HEAD AND HEART +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  What is interesting to note is that most of the big issues in our lives deal with such paradoxes, issues of love of a spouse, commitment to an ailing parent, pain and suffering of someone who has been good all their life, or tragic death of a youth

Ø  How do such paradoxes get solved? How do folks come to peace regarding them?

Ø  And we have seen that peace and resolution come individuals perhaps ourselves

Ø  The answer to that question is that we have a different place to solve paradoxes

Ø  The place to resolve them is in our hearts

Ø  Let’s take Js’ paradoxical statement & move fr head 2 heart, 2 better understand how it’s 2B solved

MOVING FROM HEAD TO HEART +++++++++++++++++

Ø  The paradox: How can 1’s life be saved by losing it?

Ø  Moving from head to heart, Jesus is saying when you lead w/ your heart and move out of your self-absorbed ego to caring for others – e.g. the spouse, ailing parent, pain and suffering of an innocent, or death of the youth, you will experience a fullness of life

Ø  Makes no sense here (head). It gets resolved, come to peace here (heart)

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

Ø  Is it any wonder that prayer, fasting & almsgiving are the actions of Lent?

Ø  They’re part of this movement from head to heart that gets us caring about others

Ø  W/o the move, there can be no understanding of how losing can bring about greater gain

Ø  It just doesn’t make sense…here!

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