HOMILY for July 2, 2014: Commissioning Service

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/

Commissioning Service

St. Luke’s Institute

July 2, 2014

THE JOY OF STEPS +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  The more practical among us, as we like to call ourselves, enjoy having things laid out 1, 2, and 3

Ø  Today’s Gospel verses from the last supper discourse of J to his disciples does just that, except without using the numbers

Ø  The entire passage is strikingly simple, but no less a profound look at essential elements of a XTN life 

5 STEPS IN A CIRCLE ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  The mov’t of the discourse in John is circular and it does not give us a tangent on which to get out of it

Ø  Easy 2 reconstruct fr words we hear proclaimed

Ø  Looking at it in terms of how begins, what happens, & where ends we find following elements in circle

Ø  1^st STEP: our life in Christ begins with his choice.

Ø  “It wasn’t you who chose me, but I who chose you”

Ø  Keyword: CHOSEN

Ø  2^nd STEP: Jesus chooses us in order to open us up as a receptacle for God’s revelation

Ø  “Everything I heard from my Father”

Ø  Keyword: RECEPTACLE

Ø  3^RD STEP: Because of our relationship w/ Jesus we cannot be thought of as slaves

Ø  “… becz slave doesn’t know what master is doing”

Ø  Instead, God’s willingness to open his divine heart to us indicates we are beloved friends; we all know hearts don’t just open up to anyone!

Ø  Keyword: RELATIONSHIP

Ø  4^th STEP: From our side, God expects we do something w/ the gift of relationship, that we “bear fruit,” i.e. that we love 1 another

Ø  This isn’t just an ideal but a direction modeled in Jesus’ self-sacrifice for us, so we 4 each other

Ø  Keyword: FRUIT

Ø  5^th STEP:  & finally, living such a lifeàfulfillment

Ø  “… so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you”

Ø  Keyword: FULFILLMENT

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

Ø  To Marco and John, to all of us, I place before US the testimony that has been our experience the past six months and ask:

Ø  “Is not this cycle of: Chosen, Receptacle, Relationship, Fruit, and Fulfillment not been part of our own experience?”

Ø  For this let us give thanks to God!

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