Daily HOMILY for March 3, 2015: Tuesday of the 2nd Week of Lent

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Tuesday 2^nd Week Lent

Mepkin Abbey

March 3, 2015

SAYING VS DOING ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  Jesus’ quarrel w/ scribes & Pharisees isn’t w/ their teaching, but w/ their practice

Ø  “… do & observe all they tell U, but don’t follow their example”

Ø  Lord wants us 2 put R money where our mouth is

Ø  If we are going to proclaim great ideals and strict requirements, then we should exemplify them

THOSE ADDRESSED +++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  This suggests a warning: 1^st, to those of us who preach and teach professionally…

Ø  & 2^nd, 2 those of us, whether clerical, religious or lay, who just as easily moralize & condemn others

Ø  Preachers have 2 proclaim Gospel of J while recognizing they cannot perfectly exemplify it

Ø  St. Francis declared we’re all preachers when he said: “Wherever you go, preach the Gospel, & if necessary, use words.”

SOLUTIONS +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  1 solution = 2 recognize that we’re preaching ideals to which we all strain & fall short of mark

Ø  2^nd, we would do well to include ourselves in all our exhortations

Ø  The same advice holds for all who feel called to condemn others’ actions

Ø  Recall the famous 1^st first interview of Pope Francis w/ America Mag & reporter asked, “Who is Jorge Mario Bergoglio?” & his response: “I’m a sinner; I’m a sinner; I’m a sinner.”

Ø  Condemnations are honest if everyone, including ourselves, is included

Ø  Doing so also tempers any absolute or harsh judgment we are tempted to make of others

Pointing of the finger ++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  We see at SLI priests and religious who have castigated vice & moral laxity only to find that’s precisely what has brought them to SLI

Ø  The old pointing-the-index-finger to a problem, only to see 3 fingers pointing to the real problem

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

Ø  Let Jesus’ strictures on religious leaders of his day remind us: (1) The ideal is high & (2) We’re weak

Ø  The last sentence of the Gospel sums it up well:

Ø  “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

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