Thursday, June 18, 2015

Daily HOMILY for June 17, 2015: Wednesday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time


PODCAST - Press sideways triangle below to listen

Wednesday 11th Week OT
The Institute
June 17, 2015

SHINE OR NOT SHINE? ++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø  At the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells his disciples that their light must shine before others so “that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father”
Ø  But in today’s Gospel, he exhorts them to practice their piety in a hidden way so that only their heavenly Father will see their righteous deeds and reward them
Ø  So how are we to practice our piety: in a hidden way or for others to see?
DISCIPLES VS HYPOCRITES +++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø  On the one hand, the purpose of our good deeds is to lead others to praise our Father in heaven
Ø  On the other, we are not to practice our piety to garner the praise and acclaim of others
Ø  This is why Jesus draws such a sharp contrast between his disciples and the hypocrites
Ø  Whereas the latter are divided in their allegiance to God, seeking the praise of human beings as well as of God, Jesus’ disciples are to be single-minded and whole-hearted in their devotion to God
BY OUR FRUITS WE’RE KNOWN ++++++++++++++++++
Ø  For example, receiving ashes on our foreheads as Lent begins is an outward sign of our intention to reform our lives and grow in holiness
Ø  However, there must be people who receive ashes to be noticed or do so out of social pressure
Ø  What we reap at Easter and through the year is the true harvest of our devotional acts of piety or giving alms
Ø  Building on images from today’s first reading, we know that by our fruits we are known
SINGLE MINDED OR DIVIDED HEARTS? ++++++++++++
Ø  When we are single-minded and whole-hearted in our devotion to God, the sole purpose of our good deeds is to lead others to praise God
Ø  But when we act with a divided heart that seeks the praise of human beings as well as of God, our deeds are often much less about leading others to praise God and more about garnering praise for ourselves
CONCLUSION +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø  This is a contrast in piety that is both sharp and subtle
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++