Tuesday, February 25, 2020

HOMILY for February 23, 2020: 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

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7th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A
Church of the Nativity
February 23, 2020

Disarming Enemies
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato


Life with Family – Week 4

We are in the final week of a series all about family – your family and mine – and how they impact our faith.

Throughout this series we have been seeking to engage and equip you to shape your experience of family with your commitment to faith. Yes, shape how you experience family with your faith as a resource, as a firm foundation on which to stand. 

God wants to use our families to come to know him and learn to love and serve him. Leading with our faith can deepen the way we can know, love, and serve God.  

And our family can be that place, and in the process we can experience greater love, harmony, and peace.

Defensive Posture

For most of us, ‘peace’ is not the word we think of when we think of our family.  Conflict is inevitable in family life.  And conflict often escalates and builds on itself. 

It’s the “yeah/yeah, YEAH/YEAH,” syndrome that I learned growing up on the streets of Brooklyn, NY and being part of a street gang. Yes, I know, it’s hard to believe, but no less true! I was an Imperial Spade. (Snap fingers)

When we feel attacked, it’s very natural to respond in kind. “yeah/yeah, YEAH/YEAH”  

When our family members accuse us of something, our first instinct is to bring up something worse than they did.  

In this escalating, even petty things can suddenly turn into contentious stand-offs.   

Gospel

In today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches us a different response when others hurt us.  

Rather than responding in kind or just merely capitulating to it, we’re called actually to treat our aggressors better than they deserve. 

For us who follow Jesus it’s no longer an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. It’s no longer the escalating “yeah/yeah, YEAH/YEAH!”

Rather than retaliation or escalation, it’s to be: offer no resistance, right cheek/left cheek, give to the one who asks.

Then Jesus pushes it even further: love your enemies; pray for those who persecute you. Prayer opens up the flow of grace and empowers you to love where love is difficult and this prayerful openness strengthens the practice of your faith within your family.    
Conclusion

This response can be incredibly disarming and can completely change the way your family deals with conflict. It’s worked in my family, particularly with my older brother. It can work in yours.  

Join us after communion to hear Tom Corcoran dive deeper into this powerful message.

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