Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Daily HOMILY for January 27, 2015: Tuesday of the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time


PODCAST - Press sideways triangle below to listen

Tuesday 3rd Week OT
St. Luke’s Institute
January 27, 2015
GOD’S WIL ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø  At times we all struggle w/ knowing “God’s will”
Ø  Throughout history the misappropriation of “God’s will” has led to some ugly results  
Ø  Religious wars, colonization, & terrorism stem from the misuse of religion & a mistaken interpretation of what it means 2 do G’s will
Ø  Readings remind us, we cannot run from notion, that there is a will of G & we’re called 2 do it! 
Ø  But what is it? Where do we find it? 
JESUS & GOD’S WILL ++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø  J himself didn’t fully comprehend what G had in store 4 his own life until after his baptism
Ø  & we witness J’s struggle w/ G’s will in Gethsemane, when it was clear he’d B betrayed
Ø  J, fully human & divine, experienced difficulty of both knowing G’s will & needing 2 execute it as a limited person
Ø  J’s life & death give us a glimpse at both attentiveness we need 2 understand G’s will & the extraordinary strength & courage 2 do it
US & GOD’S WILL +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø  G’s will = still a mystery 2 me.  I don’t know what G wants from me, & we may never know God’s plan for the world
Ø  But that doesn’t mean we are not responsible for listening 2 God w/ an open heart like Jesus
Ø  We must cultivate an attentiveness & a stillness that allow us 2 communicate w/ G in midst of R daily chaos
Ø  And in those moments of prayerful reflection when we do perceive God’s will, it might require immense fortitude to carry it out
CONCLUSION ++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø  On the heels of the Baptism of Lord & in light of readings, we commit ourselves 2 contemplating what it means to “come to do the Lord’s will”
Ø  As we’re called 2 do in sacrament of Baptism & commit 2 do each day in Eucharist
Ø  Specific answers may prove elusive, but we’re assured that the spiritual process will bear great fruit.

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