Daily HOMILY for May 12, 2015: Tuesday of the 6th Week of Easter

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Tuesday 6^th Week Easter

St. Luke’s Institute

May 12, 2015

FAITH UP & DOWN +++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  Faith comes across at times in the Scriptures as very swift and clean

Ø  At other times it appears difficult and a struggle

UP & DOWN IN READINGS +++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  Thus in 1^st reading we get the impression that the jailer, struck by the miraculous freeing of Paul and Silas, asks a basic question, hears the answer, and is baptized with his whole family

Ø  The reading ends: “…and with his household rejoiced at having come to faith in God”

Ø  As I said, clean and swift

Ø  In the Gospel however, we see the closest disciples of Jesus are so disturbed and at a loss over the things Jesus has been saying that grief fills their hearts

OUR UPS & DOWNS IN FAITH +++++++++++++++++++

Ø  Possibly the two readings taken together can reflect the different moments our faith can take

Ø  Sometimes our faith seems clear and strong

Ø  We say, “Where would I be without it?”

Ø  At other times, our faith is cause for torment and sorrow

Ø  We ask, “Why did this ever happen to me? Why me!”

Ø  We should not be surprised that our faith goes through various phases and that it may well be alternatively strong and weak, joy-giving and frightening

Ø  Most likely our faith will involve some struggle, such as the two aspects of faith appearing in today’s readings

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

Ø  The words heard elsewhere in Mark’s Gospel are very fitting for any one of us at some time or another, or all the time:

Ø  “Lord, I do believe; help my unbelief”

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Daily HOMILY for May 11, 2015: Monday of the 6th Week of Easter

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Monday 6^th Week Easter

St. Luke’s Institute

May 11, 2015

BEING RECOGNIZED AS CHRISTIANS +++++++++++++

Ø  R witnessing to Christ is so pale & low-keyed

Ø  In saying this, idea’s not that we should go looking 4 ways 2 make ourselves really obnoxious,

Ø  In order to bring on the desired persecution that would make us more like the kind of witnesses Jesus speaks of in today’s Gospel

Ø  But it does seem that R faith in Lord could permeate us more fully, B more influential in R lives, at least to extent others C it as our identity

Ø  True, we may not be called 2 ringing doorbells, passing out literature, or preaching in mall

Ø  But in some way a genuine belief in the Lord should require that we let it flow over into some visible, audible consequences

TESTIFYING IS THE KEY ++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  In the Gospel, Jesus assures us that “When the Advocate comes … we ourselves will also testify.”

Ø  There you have it!

Ø  The Spirit will be sent to enable the disciples to give testimony to what they have seen and heard

Ø  So we also are called to witness just like them

VARIETY IN TESTIFYING ++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  The disciples were no slouches in their witness, but note they witnessed in a variety of ways, keyword “variety”

Ø  For example, in Acts, Paul & his companions go to a place of prayer and witness their faith to the women there

Ø  All pretty quiet & non-confrontational

Ø  And this little gathering has some great results

Ø  R witness need not be brassy or w/ lots of fuss

Ø  When someone’s sorrowing/discouraged, we offer hope/encouragement 1-on1 or in sm group

Ø  When someone’s down, we pray w/ or 4 them

Ø  When someone’s grieving or sad, we offer a supportive word at the dinner table

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

Ø  Bearing witness has many faces, but they all have one heart, the heart of JC

Ø  A heart nourished each day here, on Word and Sacrament

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Daily HOMILY for May 5, 2015: Tuesday of the 5th Week of Easter

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Tuesday 5^th Easter

St. Luke’s Institute

May 5, 2015

SHALOM ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  For the word “peace,” Jesus would have used the word shalom, which has many meanings

Ø  Its meanings include an inner harmony of head & heart, wholeness, and well-being

Ø  Thus peace is more than simply an end of conflict

Ø  Its this “shalom” Jesus gives us in the very face of his impending suffering and death

SHALOM & SUFFERING ++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  He tells us, “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God”

Ø  And he adds, “Pease I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you”

Ø  The shalom Jesus promises his followers flows from their trust in him

Ø  It’s the kind of peace the apostles could experience within themselves even while suffering the belligerent attention of persecutors

Ø  The shalom that comes from Christ, is to a great degree independent of outward circumstances

Ø  It is a deep assurance within us of God’s love and presence

Ø  On the contrary In the world around us, it usually takes at least two to make peace

A CHANGE OF FOCUS REQUIRED ++++++++++++++++

Ø  The paschal gift of peace then gives us the inner strength to go forward to whatever our mission is

Ø  Suffering, even very intense suffering, isn’t the focus; it is the means of bringing forth new life

Ø  If we are able to accept the suffering with a sense of trust, focused on the goal and on the new life we are helping to bring forth…

Ø  We will experience that shalom that Jesus talks about: peace in the face of pain

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

Ø  Extending a sign of peace, as we do each morning here at Eucharist to those around us, is meant not only to be a sign of our pledge to work for peace among each other…

Ø  But to give our shalom within us to that neighbor

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