Daily HOMILY for November 25, 2013: Monday of 34th Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

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In 2014, I am facilitating a 12-week interactive online course in contemplative prayer and action for priests with Saint Luke Institute.  Please visit SLIconnect.org to learn more:  https://www.sliconnect.org/product/living-god-program-contemplative-life-2/

Mon 34^th Week OT

St. Luke Institute

November 25, 2013

“TRUST FALL” AND TEAMBUILDING +++++++++++++++

Ø  A “trust fall” is a common teambuilding exercise

Ø  A person who stands erect w/ arms crossed over chest will fall back

Ø  To be as rigid as a board, starting fall from heels

Ø  Another person stands behind, ready 2 catch them

Ø  The “fall” is only about 15 degrees, but U must trust person will catch U

Ø  An act of vulnerability, surrender, and faith

“TRUST FALL” AND THE WIDOW ++++++++++++++++++

Ø  Story of widow’s mite = witness to falling w/o safety net, w/o some person 2 catch her

Ø  Her trust is God will always be there to catch her

Ø  But it’s important to understand trust in Lord isn’t offering up a prayer like a multiple-choice question, where one creates the possible answers & then G circles 1 of R stated desires

Ø  No, trust is offering God a fill-in-the-blank question, as we say in the Lord’s Prayer, “Thy will be done.”

“TRUST FALL” AND US ++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  Easy 2 create safeguards 2 prevent 1self fr falling

Ø  Invest in stocks & bonds 2 prevent financial ruin

Ø  Exercise & diet properly 2 reduce disease & aliments

Ø  Develop relationship 2 grow & express R human intimacy

Ø  All these safeguards R good & holy in themselves

Ø  But what it they R tested and fail, and a person begins to fall?

LIVING THE “TRUST FALL” +++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  We’re called 2 place R trust in J always, esp when R safeguards fall apart

Ø  R surrender 2 God in unknown future becomes R poverty

Ø  Here, we offer R whole livelihood; here, we’re asked 2 have reckless trust in G

Ø  And in that, we may not know what future holds, but know J will always B ready 2 catch us in ways we can never imagine

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