Daily HOMILY for August 22, 2015: Saturday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time

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Saturday 20^st Week OT

Bon Secours Retreat

August 22, 2015

THE EVIL CYCLE OF “VIRTUE” ++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  For most of us, being good is so demanding that we are rather pleased w/ ourselves when it happens

Ø  The greater the struggle, the more pride we feel in having achieved success

Ø  Naturally we want others to be aware of how well we have done, so we begin to modify our behavior so that everyone can see how good we are

Ø  Inevitable many people are kind enough and simple enough to be taken in by these tactics

Ø  They give us the seats of honor and address themselves to us w/ veneration

Ø  And we glow in their admiration

Ø  Perversely, such “virtue” is its own reward

“VIRTUOUS” POLITICIANS +++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  Vanity and seeking approval are the special temptations of the virtuous

Ø  Like morally bankrupt politicians who follow polls rather than policies, the virtuous may tailor their actions with a view to impressing those who might observe them

NO NEED FOR SALVATION +++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  Like the OT prophets who denounced religious performance when it was used to disguise injustice and unkindness …

Ø  Jesus warns us not to be misled by people who try to gain ascendancy over others by their virtue and good works

Ø  Virtue can be a wall between us and God, since the self-righteous have no need for salvation

Ø  They are doing very will on their own

Ø  Sinners, on the other hand, know they will be lost unless someone helps them

Ø  Those who recognize this are sincere when they call out to God, and as Jesus teaches us in a memorable parable, the publican who admits his sinfulness goes home justified (Luke 18:9-14)

Ø  The Pharisee is left to his own resources 

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

Ø  Isn’t it strange that virtue seems to block access to God more than sin?

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Daily HOMILY for August 20, 2015: Thursday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time

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Thursday 20^th Week OT

Retreat and Conference Center at Bon Secours

August 20, 2015

JEPHTHAH’S SPOTTY RELIGION ++++++++++++++++++

Ø  “The spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah,” we hear as today’s first reading opens

Ø  A bit later: “The Lord delivered them [the enemy] into Jephthah’s power

Ø  And then we hear this man Jephthah, apparently God’s instrument to deliver Israel, is ready to have his daughter put 2 death to fulfill his vow

Ø  Such vows are part of local religion surrounding Israel, but were not part of the religion of Moses

Ø  It looks like Jephthah’s religion is spotty…

Ø  It’s in part the religion of Israel’s God, and part that is more primitive and cruel

OUR SPOTTY RELIGION ++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  It may not be so starkly exemplified in our lives, but our religion, too, is most likely to be similarly a bit spotty

Ø  We have heard and tried to answer the invitation of God to the wedding banquet, but we bring to it some unredeemed behavior

1.     For example, we may show genuine love for family members and neighbors,

2.     But we are perfectly willing to leave out of our love a whole race or group of people

3.     Or we are basically honest, but allow ourselves more leeway when money is involved

4.     Or we’re faithful 2 Sunday worship, but spend R time there grumbling w/i about some little slight

5.     Or we’re sensitive 2 others’ feelings, but allow R-selves an exception, in case of a wife or husband

Expectations ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  All this may B reason 4 self-reproof, & it also tells us we cannot expect total consistency & thoroughgoing Christ-like behavior in everyone else either

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

Ø  It is quite appropriate that we preface our worship with a request for forgiveness …

Ø  And a willingness to forgive the same behavior in others

Ø  After all whose life is not a little spotty!

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Daily HOMILY for August 17, 2015: Monday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time

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Monday 20^th Week OT

Bon Secours Retreat

August 17, 2017

TWO SAD SITUATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  I’m not sure which is sadder:

Ø  Children of Israel paying no attention 2 their judges or the rich young man who turns his back on J

Ø  Each shows stubbornness and both turn their backs on God’s messengers

Ø  Both situations are sad

Ø  Yet, taking a step back from the emotion, we can discern something deeper with both of them

JEWS IN THE BOOK OF JUDGES +++++++++++++++++++

Ø  In the Book of Judges, children of Israel R a people still learning how to live in covenant with God

Ø  At one time, it was Moses alone who led them

Ø  Now a host of judges has assumed leadership

Ø  And down the line, a king will replace those judges

Ø  All that is to say their story is young yet

Ø  Group is youthfully disobedient at this point

Ø  By way of application, the rebelliousness and disobedience of our childhood or teenage may still be part of us, when we lose our temper, answer rudely or don’t pay attention to what is being said

YOUNG MAN IN THE GOSPEL ++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  And, as for the young man in the Gospel, we all know that growing up is no easy task

Ø  Youthfulness does tend to devalue the long vision of what it takes to mature into full humanity

Ø  So maybe we can cut the young man some slack

Ø  Here again there’s application to ourselves

Ø  Perhaps we can acknowledge that it takes time to mature in the spiritual life, even at our age

Ø  Maturation isn’t a straight clean even line upward

Ø  It’s more a succession of ups and downs with an overall upward movement

Ø  Maybe we need to acknowledge that we all struggle to arrive at spiritual maturity

Ø  One day we’re up; another day we’re down

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

Ø  Perhaps we may be ripe today for hearing the word of God & receiving the Eucharist

Ø  …ripe for a deeper awareness and another level of maturity

Ø  We are invited to allow Jesus to transform our rebelliousness & religious immaturity into opportunities for mercy, growth, and maturity

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