Daily HOMILY for September 17, 2014: Wednesday of the 24th Week of Ordinary Time

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/

Wednesday 24^th Week OT

St. Luke’s Institute

September 17, 2014

JESUS & JOHN ++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  J critiques the generation of his time by comparing them to children in the marketplace who are never satisfied

Ø  If someone plays a flute, which refers to J & his attitude of festivity & fellowship, the children won’t join in the celebration

Ø  If someone else sings a dirge, which refers to John the Baptist & his call to repent & the children won’t weep

Ø  2 men, 2 missions, & neither can satisfy critics

Madeleine Delbrél +++++++++++++++++++

Ø  Madeleine Delbrél a French poet wrote poem entitled “Ask Us to Dance” which has us as children in the marketplace acting differently

Ø  Lord, come ask us to dance

Ø  We’re ready to dance this errand for you,

Ø  These accounts to do, this dinner to prepare, this vigil to keep

Ø  When we would prefer to sleep.

Ø  We’re ready to dance for you the dance of work,

Ø  The dance of heat, and later the dance of cold,

Ø  If certain melodies are often played in the minor key, we won’t tell you that they’re sad;

Ø  If others leave us a little breathless, we won’t tell you that they knock the wind out of us.

Ø  And if other people bump into us, we’ll take it with a good laugh,

Ø  Knowing well that that’s the sort of thing that happens when you’re dancing…

Ø  Make us live our life

Ø  Not like a game of chess, where every move is calculated,

Ø  Not like a contest, where everything is difficult,

Ø  Not like a math problem, which makes our head hurt,

Ø  But like an endless celebration, where our meeting with you is constantly new,

Ø  Like a ball, like a dance, in the arms of your grace, in the universal music of love.

Ø  Lord, ask us to dance.

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

Ø  It’s time we resist the new thing God is now doing and dance!

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