Daily HOMILY for October 28, 2014: Feasts of Sts. Simon and Jude

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Feast of Sts. Simon and Jude

St. Luke Institute

October 28, 2014

A FAILED ENTERPRISE ++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  In 1982, an enterprise was founded 2 provide something the American public, at least its male portion, can’t seem 2 get enough of – football!

Ø  Donald Trump was among the investors & franchise owners in this new US Football League

Ø  The high level of talent counted three Heisman trophy winners, a host of other collegiate stars, & many future Pro Football Hall of Famers

Ø  League lured away from National Football League big name stars at height of their careers

Ø  3 years later, the new football league was defunct

A SUCCESSFUL ENTERPRISE ++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  Jesus starts w/ core of 12 extremely ordinary men

Ø  They weren’t wealthy, not well educated, w/ no background in travel or taking risks

Ø  Moreover, they were commissioned 2 preach a savior who’d been nailed to a cross as a criminal,

Ø  And who then supposedly rose fr death 2 new life!

Ø  They were commissioned 2 preach what at the time was considered bizarre behavior – things like loving 1’s enemies, doing gd things 4 1’s persecutors, forgiving people who hurt you & doing so over & over

AN ABIDING SPIRIT ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  It never should’ve worked

Ø  By earthly standards, it never should’ve gotten off the ground

Ø  Yet here we are 2,000 years later

Ø  There’s no explanation on earth

Ø  Even R historical mistakes, R sometimes terribly wrong decisions & policies, R a testimony 2 G’s presence among us becz he’s enabled Church 2 go on in spite of them

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

Ø  On this feast of Sts. Simon and Jude, it would be most appropriate to offer thanks to God for the gift of membership in R community of faith

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Daily HOMILY for October 27, 2014: Monday of the 30th Week of Ordinary Time

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Monday 30^th Week OT

St. Luke’s Institute

October 27, 2014

HANDLING THE TRUTH +++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  In the climactic scene of the classic film A Few Good Men, Navy lawyer Lt. Daniel Kaffee played by Tom Cruise is interrogating Marine Colonel Nathan Jessup, played by Jack Nicholson

Ø  At a pivotal point, Cruise demands the truth

Ø  Nicholson thunders, “You can’t handle the truth!”

BLINDED TO THE TRUTH ++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  The synagogue leader in today’s Gospel can’t handle the truth either

Ø  A miraculously cured woman stands in front of him, along w/ Jesus, who cured her

Ø  What reaction would you expect from the leader?

Ø  Astonishment and awe?

Ø  Gratitude for God’s power?

Ø  An invitation to praise him?

Ø  Well, none of that happens

Ø  The synagogue leader ignores Jesus and blames the woman for coming to be healed on the Sabbath

Ø  According to his twisted logic, healing someone requires work and work is not allowed on the Sabbath!

Ø  He warns the others to come on one of the other six days if they need healing

Ø  His response is senseless

Ø  It’d B like a hospital closing down it’s ER on Sunday

Ø  This fellow is so consumed with resentment against Jesus that he has blinded himself to truth

BLINDNESS IN OURSELVES ++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  It’s easy to see such extreme blindness in others: racial supremacists & extremists of almost any kind

Ø  But there’s 1 place where it’s difficult 2C, in selves

Ø  It’s easy 2B blind 2R own blindness, 2 let resentment grow till we can C no goodness in that person whatsoever, 2 become so fanatical about a particular truth that we make it the only truth

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

Ø  Let the synagogue leader teach us, by sharp contrast, 2 search R attitudes 4 patches of blindness

Ø  And we ask, “Who me?”

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Daily HOMILY for October 25, 2014: Saturday of the 29th Week of Ordinary Time

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Men’s Club Day of Recollection

St. Mark’s Church

October 25, 2014

MAKING JUDGMENTS ++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  The sharing of people’s thoughts about the misfortunes of others is often a great way to deflect attention away from yourself

Ø  “Just look at what he did & w/ a wife & 3 children!”

Ø  Often these deflections R genuine acts of humility, but at other times they are tacit acts of avoidance

Ø  My mother had an expression in this regard, “There but for the grace of God go I”

Ø  Meaning, of course, that if it weren’t for God’s grace, I could be doing the very same thing

Ø  J also had a saying, “Before U take the splinter out of UR neighbor’s eye, remove beam from UR own”

GETTING “ON IT” ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  The people tell Jesus the rumor about the 18 Galileans and how their guilt is proven by the tower of Siloam falling on them

Ø  J realizes they R attempting 2 distract him from his more imp message about repentance

Ø  He knows that they’re hoping 4 a public discussion of sinfulness of defiled Galileans

Ø  Noting their mindset, he lets the details of the rumor fall by the wayside

Ø  W/ compassionate clarity he engages their story as opportunity 2 continue 2 address R inclination 4 sin & need 4 repentance

Ø  He doesn’t allow self 2B drawn into perpetuation of the account

GETTING “OFF IT” +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  We Catholics, R often compromised by the proliferation of rumors or flawed stories, that are passed around social circles or office

Ø  When we hear these tales, we’re often unclear about how 2 respond

Ø  Sometimes we’re drawn into conversation w/o realizing damaging effects of an unforgiving heart, stereotyping, or listening to gossip

Ø  Perhaps we need 2 remember example of J & let overstatement about weaknesses of others fall by wayside

Ø  Maybe we need 2 remember all of us R guilty in some lapse, promise or responsibility

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

Ø  It’s time to remember “There for the grace of God go I” or “First remove the beam in your own eye”

Ø  J is very clear: “If U don’t repent, U’ll all perish.”

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