HOMILY for October 15, 2014: Commissioning Service

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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/

Commissioning Service

St. Luke’s Institute

October 15, 2014

GOAL, MEANS & SUPPORT +++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  In the section of St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans chosen for his commissioning,

Ø  Paul

o   Lays out the goal for our living

o   What it takes to get there, and

o   Finally a perspective we need to hold onto at any point along the way

THE GOAL +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  Goal is that we are called to be children of God and it’s more than a call, it’s a destiny, a birthright

Ø  As children of God, the Spirit is the life breath we’ve received that makes us full members of the household, not fearful slaves or even hired servants

Ø  So profound is this relationship, that we can utter that familiar and tender name for God, “Abba”  

THE MEANS +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  What it takes for me to come of age in this household is to unite my sufferings to the sufferings of Jesus

Ø  That is, to enter into the struggle to accept my own sufferings and shortcomings, be they physical, psychological or spiritual

Ø  Actually, it’s more than accept, it’s to embrace them and unite them to Jesus’ sufferings

Ø  That acceptance and uniting is the link to my own sanctification and glory

Ø  As Paul says, “We are heirs of God and coheirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”

THE SUPPORT +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  Finally, the perspective we need to hold onto along the way

Ø  Paul says, “Creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.”

Ø  That is, each step along the way of accepting our crosses, we’re in touch with more and more bits of light, bits of the revelation of who we really are

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

Ø  So as heard testified, this is not some pie-in-the-sky promise

Ø  This is a reality that can be experienced in the moment

Ø  This is the grace that flows from a place like SLI

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Daily HOMILY for October 15, 2014: Wednesday of the 28th Week of Ordinary Time

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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 of 28^th Week OT

St. Luke Institute

October 15, 2014

THE WILLOW +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  In my childhood, a huge willow tree graced the backyard of our home

Ø  Its slender tendrils and leaves brushed the ground and its sturdy trunk used to beg me and my siblings to climb up to new heights

Ø  The tree of my childhood seemed like it had been there forever, which for children means before we could remember

Ø  Yet, it retained the grace of youth when the wind blew its branches and moved it so gracefully back and forth

THE PSALM +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  The willow tree of my childhood came come to mind when I read today’s psalm several days ago

Ø  The psalm compares a person, who is right with the Lord, to the strength of a tree that has weathered every storm and yet stayed rooted in the soil in which if first saw light

Ø  The tree

o   That bends, but does not break,

o   That shelters, but does not harm,

o   That invites others to take refuge in its branches, but does not turn them away

Ø  This is a most suitable metaphor for those who would follow Jesus and know the fruits of the Spirit

NEW MEANING +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  The tree, which becomes one with the very ground of which it is part, is a wonderful comparison to Jesus who bends, shelters, and invites

Ø  To Jesus who confronts the Pharisees and the scholars with an exhortation to know, not just the words of the Law, but the mercy and love of God who gave the Law

Ø  One might ask, “Is Jesus dismissing the Law?”

Ø  No, rather, he wants us to know God like a tree knows the river and the soil from which it draws life

Ø  A tree that bends, shelters, and invites

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

Ø  He wants us to remain planted in the Lord, arms lifting high to heaven in praise and thanksgiving

Ø  It’s nice to have a daily reminder in any tree I see!

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Daily HOMILY for October 14, 2014: Tuesday of the 28th Week of Ordinary Time

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 of 28^th Week OT

St. Luke Institute

October 14, 2014

DISILLUSIONMENT +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  At times, people’s disappointment with religion or even severe disillusionment, leads some to neglect religious practice or even to fall away

Ø  Often, though, the problem is not really with God, but with the people from pope to priest, or with some decision or practice of the Church

Ø  I would ask, “Do we perhaps put too much faith in them or expect too much from them?”

Ø  All the practices, regulations, and the ministers of religion are to some degree necessary, but always, as St. Paul says elsewhere, weak vessels for the grace they bring us (2 Cor 4:7)

Ø  They are at the service of our relationship to God and are not that relationship itself

ENLIGHTENMENT ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  St. Paul’s strong emphasis on faith, faith in God, should help us to make an important distinction this morning

Ø  He is berating those he writes to for seeking their salvation in the practices of the Law

Ø  In doing so, he says, they sever themselves from Christ

Ø  “For through the Spirit, by faith, we await the hope of righteousness.

Ø  “For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor un-circumcision counts for anything,

Ø  “But only faith working through love”

APPLICATON ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  The external difficulties caused for us by those who minister in the Church are not so important that they should discourage us,

Ø  Our faith is not in them

Ø  They may be the contemporary equivalent of the practices that St. Paul says are not the true objects of our faith and confidence

Ø  Our faith is, must be, in Jesus Christ, in his promises and grace, not in his instruments, whether they be us or others!

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

Ø  The two – the grace of JC and his instruments – are often closely related, but they are never identical

Ø  There is hope for anyone who’s become disillusioned with leadership

Ø  It is found in turning our attention to the person of Jesus himself

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Daily HOMILY for October 1, 2014: Wednesday of the 26th Week of Ordinary Time

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/

Wednesday of the 26^th Week OT

St. Luke’s Institute

October 1, 2014

THE CROSS +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  The would-be disciple tells Jesus that he will be his follower wherever Jesus goes

Ø  Jesus is going at the moment only to one place: to Jerusalem and the Cross

Ø  Wherever we go, wherever R life leads, we’re going up 2 Jerusalem & the Cross in some form or other

Ø  It may be simply the pains of old age, disease, family disharmony, poverty, or heartbreak

Ø  1 can say that Cross is part of every human life & that would seem a dark view of life if it not 4 assurance of resurrection thru belief in Jesus

THE COSMOS +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  More scientific show us that pattern of suffering, death, & rebirth = also in details of nature

Ø  It’s the pattern of the cosmos

Ø  This tells us we don’t need 2 go looking for a cross

Ø  Built into life well-lived, love generously given, work carried out faithfully, & fidelity 2 promises & responsibilities

Ø  Perhaps “Cross” sounds too dramatic as a description of the pains & difficulties accompanying a life of faithfulness & good work

Ø  And R cross may B marked not so much by drama as by nagging continuance or dulling annoyance

APPLICATION +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  The psychoanalyst Carl Jung saw the physical nature of cross as apt picture of what happens in some form or other to all of us

Ø  R plans, desires, & hopes R cancelled, thwarted, or made more difficult by various circumstances

Ø  Difficult home life, R own uncontrolled passions, crossing of boundaries, the list is legion

Ø  Following Jesus means, fortunately, both Cross & Resurrection

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

Ø  By R active participation here, we can face reality & gain strength that life’s crosses require of us

Ø  Follower of J knows life will not B free of pain, but finds meaning in life, suffering, death, & resurrection of Master present daily at this altar.

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