Daily HOMILY for October 6, 2017: Friday in the 26th Week of Ordinary Time

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Friday 26^th Week OT

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October 6, 2017

2 DEFICIENCIES ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  In Gospel J speaks of many great deeds he did in towns of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum

Ø  Yet, condemns towns and almost sounds harsh

Ø  Why is J esp tough on these folks?

Ø  From the context, seems that two deficiencies were involved

MISSED OPPORTUNITIES ++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  1^st there folks had been given a great opportunity in seeing J and his works personally, yet, they blew the opp

Ø  Insight: that the greater our opp is, the greater is our responsibility to notice and nurture it

Ø  It’s what makes J so angry

Ø  The lesson: we need to notice and nurture for example, by read a spiritually nourishing book or learn something more about prayer, or live w/ a greater sense of gratitude

Ø  These are opps that would deepen our relationship w/ the Lord

DOING NOTHING ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  2^nd deficiency that provokes J is that folks of these towns are guilty of doing nothing

Ø  So it’s not so much something they did, as something they failed to do

Ø  In our Catholic tradition we speak of sins of omission/commission

Ø  We are prone to focus on sins of commission rather than omission

Ø  What we could have done, but failed to do, e.g. quality time w/ grandchildren, caring for someone we saw in need: amputee visiting a new amputee, sitting w/ patients in pre-op, holding infants, pets on wheels

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

Ø  Each day God offers us signs of his presence as Jesus does to the citizens of those towns

Ø  It is up to us to notice & nurture and to act on behalf of the blessing received

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

Daily HOMILY for October 4, 2017: Wednesday in the 26th Week of Ordinary Time

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Wednesday of the 26^th Week OT

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October 4, 2017

THE CROSS +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  The would-be disciple tells Jesus that he will be his follower wherever Jesus goes

Ø  Jesus is going at the moment only to one place: to Jerusalem and the Cross

Ø  Wherever we go, wherever R life leads, we too are going up 2 Jerusalem & the Cross in some form or other

Ø  It may be simply the pains of old age, disease, family disharmony, poverty, or heartbreak

Ø  1 can say that Cross is part of every human life & that would seem a dark view of life, if it not 4 assurance of resurrection thru belief in Jesus

THE COSMOS +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  Science shows us that pattern of suffering, death, & rebirth = also in details of nature

Ø  It’s the pattern of the birth/death of cosmos

Ø  This tells us we don’t need 2 go looking for a +

Ø  Built into life well-lived, love generously given, work carried out faithfully, & fidelity 2 promises & responsibilities

Ø  Perhaps “Cross” sounds too dramatic as a description of the pains & difficulties accompanying a life of faithfulness & good work

Ø  And R cross may B marked not so much by drama as by nagging continuance or dulling annoyance

APPLICATION +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  The psychoanalyst Carl Jung saw the physical nature of cross as apt picture of what happens in some form or other to all of us

Ø  R plans, desires, & hopes R cancelled, thwarted, or made more difficult by various circumstances

Ø  Difficult home life, R own uncontrolled passions, crossing of boundaries, the list is legion

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

Ø  Following Jesus means, fortunately, both Cross & Resurrection

Ø  By R active engage in daily living, we can face reality & gain strength that life’s crosses require of us

Ø  Follower of J knows life will not B free of pain, but finds meaning in life, suffering, death, & resurrection of Master that is present at this altar