Daily HOMILY for June 25, 2014: Wednesday of the 12th Week of Ordinary Time

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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/

Wednesday of the 12^th Week

St. Luke’s Institute

June 25, 2014

WHAT MAKES A WINNING ATHLETE? ++++++++++++

Ø  Fans of professional sports recognize athletic ability

Ø  They know players who simply run so swiftly, leap so high, shoot the ball so accurately, or hit it so fast that they catch our eye

Ø  Pro sports are filled w/ wonderful athletes that sportswriters & commentators often ask:

Ø  “Does this athlete make those around him or her better players?”

Ø  A true star does

Ø  That question goes beyond the 1^st impression we have of an athlete

Ø  It takes time and must be observed over numerous games and season

Ø  Does the team win championships becz this athlete raises the level of play of all those on the team?

Ø  That’s the real question

Ø  A flashy player who scores points & gets all the headlines, not necessarily the real star, even though player may initially attract all the attention

WHAT MAKES A WINNING PROPHET? ++++++++++++

Ø  When asked how 2 distinguish true prophets from false ones, J suggests that over time action of true prophets “bear fruit,” i.e. they generate gd results

Ø  False prophets may grab headlines; they may be flashy and impressive, but do they help teammates perform better?

WHAT MAKES A WINNING RESIDENT? +++++++++++

Ø  If you think of our small groups, 12-step groups, and large groups as teams “going for the gold,”

Ø  Then the gold is:

o   Personal and team insights 

o   Personal and team forgiveness

o   Personal and team transformation

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

Ø  Does our participation and sharing, our risking and caring raise the level of conversation in our groups?

Ø  Doing so makes us real stars and creates gold or in Jesus’ words, “the fruit,” we’re looking for

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