HOMILY for June 3, 2018: Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, Cycle B

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Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, Cycle B

Terranova Hermitage

June 3, 2018           

What We Speak Matters…Big Time!

By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato

Our Language 

Today I want to reflect with you about the words that we use when we speak.

Our words are very important. They have an effect on us and to some extent, they form us as persons.

Our words also have an effect on others. They may lead others to feel good or to feel lousy about themselves, or to become angry or compassionate.

And because of this, our words have an effect on our relationship with God. So, my concern is that we need to be more intentional about our use of words.

As the saying goes, “We need to think before we speak.”For the past three or four months, I have been thinking about some basic rules for our use of words.

I’ve got six, quick, positive rules for the kinds of words we are to speak, and, corresponding negatives for the kinds of words we are to avoid. So, here goes!

Six Rules on Words 

Number 1. Use words that are affirming and not belittling.

Affirm the good qualities of others or at least be respectful of them as persons. Don’t belittle others and make them appear as no good.

Number 2. Use words that are unitive and not divisive.

Emphasize the things that you share in common with others and that unite you. Don’t divide yourself from others, as if there is no common ground between you. 

Number 3. Use words that are reconciling and not distancing. 

Ask for forgiveness or be forgiving, or at least speak in a way that leaves the door open to reconciling. Don’t distance yourself from others especially by holding yourself as absolutely right and them as absolutely wrong.

Number 4. Use words that are protecting and not bullying.

Be protective of others who are vulnerable. Don’t bully them by taking advantage of their weakness or inferior position.

                                                                                                                               

Number 5. Use words that are persuasive and not coercive.

Treat others as reasonable persons and try to respectfully persuade them about whatever the issue is. Don’t try to coerce others into seeing or doing things your way.

Number 6. Use words that are truthful and not untruthful.

Say things that you know or believe to be true, even if they are not in yourbest interest. Don’t say things that are untrue, as a way of making yourself look better.

The Body of Christ

Okay! I see these as six basic, but important rules on our use of words.

I think they are a timely refresher for us at this time. And I am moved to talk about this by today’s celebration in honor of the Body and Blood of Christ.

Today’s Gospel tells us that Jesus gives us bread and wine, his body and blood as our spiritual food. Jesus also intends that his sacramental body would make us into his living body on this earth. 

The result is that we need to live like the living body of Christ that we are. One very important way of doing this is in our use of words. 

And so, my idea is that when we use words that are affirming, unitive reconciling, protecting, persuasive, and truthful – when we speak this language, we are being Eucharistic people. We are building up the living body of Christ on this earth.

But when we use words that are belittling, divisive, distancing, bullying, coercive, and untruthful – when we speak this language, we are not being Eucharistic people. 

We are tearing down the living body of Christ on this earth – and we saw an unfortunate public example of this in the Roseanne Barr incident this past week!

Conclusion

So, I end as I began: our use of words is very important. 

The words we speak to your spouse, your parents or children, to our classmates or co-workers, to our neighbors or friends, to people in this church or in this community – these are important and they have effects.

The words may be about those with whom we are speaking. Or they may be about other persons or groups – maybe persons of other nationalities, races, religions, or cultures.

Let’s you and I be an example of how to speak and what words to use and not to use. 

Then we and our words will have a positive effect on our community and our entire American society.

HOMILY for May 27, 2018: Solemnity of the Holy Trinity, Cycle B

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Solemnity of the Holy Trinity, Cycle B

Terranova Hermitage

May 27, 2018

Diversity: Portal to the Trinity

By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato 

 

The Trinity and Diversity 

Today is the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity. 

If we look back over our entire Christian history, theologians have written many, many things about this central mystery of our faith – one God, three persons. We keep trying to understand more fully the mystery of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Today, I want to share one insight that is proposed by Father Richard Rohr. Father Rohr is a Franciscan, a theologian, and a leader of spirituality.

He says this: “The mystery that we’re talking about here is clearly diversity on display! The Three [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] are diverse, different, and distinct – and yet they are one.”

In other words, the Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is not the Father. As Father Rohr says,“The Three are diverse, different, and distinct – and yet they are one.” 

Creation and Diversity

From this, Richard Rohr draws an important conclusion.

He says that this insight means that there is diversity at the very heart or core of reality for God is being itself. God is the origin of all life and all that exists.

It follows that if there is diversity in God, there must also be diversity in all of creation: plants, animals and minerals.

And because human beings are made in God’s image and likeness there surely must be diversity among us as well. 

Richard Rohr also states it this way. He says that God is goodness, goodness itself. 

Since there is diversity in God, this means that goodness is not sameness or uniformity. And so, God did not make us to be uniform, that is, everyone and everything the same or alike.

Instead, God made us diverse, different, and distinct, and, as Genesis says, God looked upon all that he had made and saw that it was good. So, to be good or like God, we are to be who we are. 

The more we welcome and embrace this diversity, the more we are in the flow of the divine life. And the more we welcome and embrace this diversity, the more we are participating in the divine goodness. 

 

We and Diversity 

A few weeks ago, I noticed a poster hanging on the wall in a sacristy where I’ve helped out on weekends. 

It had the word diversityspelled out in a column with each letter beginning a phrase. The first line read, “D is for Different.” The second “I is for Individuals,” etc.

D – is for Different.

I – is for Individuals.

V – is for Valuing.

E – is for Each Other

R – is for Regardless of 

S – is for Skin

I – is for Intelligence

T – is for Talents and 

Y – is for Years.

That poster stuck in my mind and helped me understand what the word “diversity” really means. 

Putting it all together it read: Diversity: Different – Individuals – Valuing – Each other – Regardless of – Skin – Intelligence – Talents – or Years.

We could, of course, include other differences like language, nationality, religion, culture and on it goes. Diversity includes all the differences, the rich differences within the human family. 

Respect Diversity 

Perhaps before I began it would have sounded strange, to say that Trinity Sunday calls us to embrace diversity.

That very fact tells me I have to take note of my tendency for uniformity. I have to refrain from the temptation to make others into being like myself if they are to be acceptable. 

It also tells me that I have to note the prejudices or stereotypes I have and be more open to accepting individuals as they are.

Finally, I have to keep in check my fears of those who are different from me, and instead see diversity for what it is –a richness, an opening us up more fully to the richness of humanity, and as leading us closer to God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

There’s a real challenge for us in today’s celebration, for there is much diversity in our lives that we are called to embrace.