Daily HOMILY for April 11, 2014: Friday of the 5th Week of Lent, Cycle A

PODCAST - Press sideways triangle below to listen

or click here if there is no triangle
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/

Friday of the 5^th Week of Lent

Washington Retreat House

April 11, 2014

FROM BAD +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  Imagine you’re part of a group that’s feeling at their worst re job security, medical test results, breakup of family, or financial ruin

Ø  It’s a group for whom nothing’s going right, for whom the future looks dim at best…

Ø  You’re all desolate & distraught

Ø  And into the midst of your group comes one full of the best good will, a cheerful spirit, ready to offer himself, and to be of help

Ø  Begins to speak 2 1 of U & then 2 another & encounters distrust here & incomprehension, mocking laughter, & hostility

Ø  Precisely what J is going through in Gospel

TO WORSE +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  But worst of it is, negativity toward his best efforts never lets up & darkness nevr gives way 2 light

Ø  Closed hearts never open the least bit & all grow flintier, more obscure, more hostile, right up 2 “hour of Powers of Darkness”

Ø  Gives us some idea of what sin is & how it festers & builds w/ blindness & hardening of hearts!

REDEMPTION +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  But also get some idea of what Redemption means:

Ø  J has 2 go thru w/ all this hostility until the gloom/doom curtain falls in order 2 pay price of sin

Ø  He bares w/ this state of being walled in w/i self, of being refused by those he’d come 2 redeem

Ø  Bares it w/o escape or relief until life is snuffed out

APPLICATION +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  If can arrive at an understanding of this rejection of innocent goodness becz of R hard hearts & watch curtain of darkness descend over all hope of turning things around, then we’ll have understood something of what Redemption means

Ø  J could only have endured it by mystery which John repeatedly mentions “the Father is w/ me always”

Ø  “With me always,” even here, when same Gospel has J crying out in his last agony, “My God, my God, why have your forsaken me!”

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

Ø  In final fulfillment of the self-sacrifice, in blackest darkness of doom & death, even nearness of F seems 2 withdraw & J is left alone, though he surrenders

Ø  How well will we fare?

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