Daily HOMILY for September 3, 2014: Wednesday of the 22nd 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 22^nd Week OT

St. Luke’s Institute

September 3, 2014

ATTACHMENTS TO INDIVIDUALS +++++++++++++++++

Ø  Paul berates the Corinthians about their attachments to particular individuals who may have been their teachers in the faith

Ø  He tackles a difficult subject and one which is still with us

Ø  Today’s equivalent for many Catholics deals often with our preference for Father McGillicuddy over Father Tartini

INDIVIDUALS ONLY INSTRUMENTS ++++++++++++++++

Ø  Paul speaks in ideal terms and tells the Corinthians and us that neither one is of any special account…

Ø  And that to push your allegiance to one over the other is immature

Ø  After all, God gives us grace, affects us through the sacraments, through the priests and religious, as well as through other ministers in the church

Ø  They are all simply God’s instruments

LIKING VS ATTACHMENT ++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  But very realistically, we can’t deny we may like Father Tartini’s style better or Father McGilluciddy’s homilies better

Ø  We may feel more comfortable with one or the other

Ø  We may like the one more because he’s nearer our age or isn’t our age

Ø  Even the athletic look of one may give him an edge as far as we’re concerned

Ø  There are many human factors which can’t simply be dismissed or glossed over

Ø  They are there…

Ø  But at least we must somehow keep our perspective, our sense that God works through different instruments and not make the personality or appearance the basis for divisive behavior

Ø  It’s the same with our ordinary acquaintances or people we must deal with on a regular basis

Ø  Not all of them will attract us in the same way

Ø  Everyone of us has painful and unattractive qualities for someone

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

Ø  We probably need to learn to rejoice more in the variety of God’s gifts in other people, priests and religious included, and see God acting in them.

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