Daily HOMILY for July 24, 2014: Thursday of the 16th 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/

Cape May Retreat

Thursday 16^th Week OT

July 24, 2014

KOANS ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  We’ve all heard those phrases in Buddhism used to startle people into thinking differently or seeing things anew

Ø  The more popular ones being, “What is the sound of one hand clapping?” or “If a tree falls in the forest and no in there, does it make a sound?”

Ø  Yesterday the readings from Matthew’s Gospel began recounting a series of parables of Jesus which form chapter 13 of his Gospel

Ø  These parables continue for the next few days

PARABLES ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  Parables R a bit like these phrases, called “koans”

Ø  Like them, parables are simple, and yet mysterious

Ø  When hearing them we need to avoid two extreme reactions

Ø  In one case, we may say to ourselves, “Well, that’s pretty simple and clear”

Ø  In the other case, we might say “That makes no sense whatsoever”

Ø  Like koans, the parables of Jesus are comparisons meant to open us up to some new facet of understanding

Ø  Comparisons R taken from nature or ordinary life & 4 that reason they may initially strike us as obvious

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Ø  Scripture scholars say that parables are meant to leave us unsure of what they mean so that they will badger our minds into untried ways

Ø  Take for example Jesus’ words: “To you who have, more will be given; to you who have not, even what you have will be taken”

Ø  Is what I have my money, my talents, my awareness?

Ø  And if I have $1,000 and you have $2,000 will you get more in the future than I?

Ø  Does that also apply to our talents? Our different levels of awareness? Our faith?

Ø  We all can afford to let our minds be teased into more thinking, more wide-ranging dimensions

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

Ø  If Jesus’ parable gets me thinking, wondering what this parable might mean to me and my life at this moment, it will have achieved its purpose

Ø  “To you who have, more will be given; to you who have not, even what you have will be taken”

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