HOMILY for August 20, 2014: Commissioning Service

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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/

Commissioning Service

St. Luke’s Institute

August 20, 2014

THIRST +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  The story is told of a young student who went to his spiritual teacher and asked the question, "Master, how can I truly find God?"

Ø  The teacher asked the student to accompany him to the river that ran by the village and invited him to go into the water

Ø  When they got 2 middle of the stream, teacher said, “Please immerse yourself in the water”

Ø  The student did as he was instructed, whereupon the teacher put his hands on the young man's head and held him under the water

Ø  Immediately the student began to struggle

Ø  The master continued to hold him under

Ø  The student began thrashing and beating the water and air with his arms

Ø  Still, the master held him under the water

Ø  Finally, the student was released and shot up from the water, lungs aching and gasping for air

Ø  Teacher waited for a few moments & then said,

Ø  “When you desire God to the same level you just desired to breath, then you shall truly find God"

Ø  Thirst and water are two of the most powerful spiritual symbols in all of scripture

RIVERS OF DEATH à RIVERS OF LIVING WATER ++++

Ø  Jesus is very aware of their power

Ø  There are ways to be present in a river 

Ø  Ways for it to be a river of living water rather than a river of death

Ø  It takes the ability to stay afloat in it, to learn to navigate it, to harness its power and energy

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

Ø  Unfortunate it takes near drowning 4 us 2 realize R need for God and how water can be life-giving

Ø  That realization can come from R time here at SLI

Ø  Thank God there are places and persons – & love & support of confreres that pull us out fr under & afford us life-giving air and a new lease on living

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

Ø  As we bid Steve and Bill a fond farewell, we are very aware of our part in their breathing again, in their harnessing of the river for life 

Ø  We challenge them 2 return to ministry and serve others as they themselves have been served

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Daily HOMILY for August 20, 2014: Wednesday of the 20th Week of Ordinary Time

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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 of 20^th Week OT

St. Luke’s Institute

August 20, 2013

 

EQUAL PAY FOR UNEQUAL WORK +++++++++++++++

Ø  The parable of the landowner and the laborers that we just heard presents a conflict about equal pay for unequal work

ENVY ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  Upset laborers get wage that they had agreed to

Ø  But they R upset by landowner’s generosity 2 workers hired later in the day

Ø  Landowner asks stinging question: “Are you envious because I am generous?”

Ø  This question cuts deeply becz it focuses on something that’s difficult 2 admit: being envious

QUESTION OF WORTH ++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  The landowner’s question leads to a fundamental question for each of us

Ø  Where do we get our sense of self-worth?

Ø  Do we get it from earning more than others, from possessing more than others, from accomplishing more than others?

Ø  Do others have to be lesser so that we can be greater, or lose so that we can win, or have less so that we can have more?

Ø  Does R self-worth rest on these beliefs?

Ø  Do we come from abundance or from scarcity?

WORTH COMES FROM ­++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  J wants us 2 remember that so much of what we R comes as an abundant gift of love

Ø  E.g., every moment of R existence? Gift from G!

Ø  Our birth? A gift of our parents!

Ø  R ed & mentoring? Gift of teachers & role models

Ø  Our relationship with God and our hope for resurrection? Yes, a gift from Jesus, the Son of God who is pure love, love itself!

GET ROOTED IN OUR WORTH +++++++++++++++++++

Ø  So R self-worth comes from being loved

Ø  If we remember this and through our daily prayer and presence get really rooted in this love, then we can rejoice that others are also loved and gifted

Ø  We can die to the self-absorbed, affronted ego of the laborers hired early in the day

Ø  We can live from a center that is absorbed in the love of Jesus that empties itself for others and takes great joy in their well-being too

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Daily HOMILY for August 19, 2014: Tuesday of the 20th 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/

Tuesday 20^th Week OT

St. Luke’s Institute

August 19, 2014

MEANINGS OF CAMEL/EYE ++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  What if this is literally true?

Ø  That, “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God”

Ø  This Gospel verse says that my stuff is not coming with me into the Kingdom

Ø  Or maybe if I have stuff, there is no entrance wide enough to accommodate me

Ø  Or maybe it’s not literally true, & the image of a laden camel symbolic 4 a high-minded collector

Ø  Or it’s some ancient gate that’s so narrow I will have to dismount my camel & all my belongings

THE REAL MEANING +++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  Another meaning here can be seen as gracious & filled w/ comfort

Ø  This might be a magnificent invitation: we will not need anything

Ø  We will be greeted and welcomed and ushered in just as we are

Ø  We will need no protection from hot or cold, from rain or snow

Ø  We will need no provisions for food or shelter

Ø  All our assignments are completed and projects have been handed over at the last exit ramp

Ø  Nor will we need any official papers verifying credentials, qualification, endorsements, or civil agreements

Ø  We will each be known as we are

Ø  Not only do we slip, slide, or slink in w/ nothing, but all obligations are checked at the door of death

DEATH AS A WARM SHOWER ++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  My favorite image of death is simply stepping out of the shower

Ø  We are clean, warmed, refreshed, and brand new

Ø  There is a new life awaiting my next step into that giant warm towel of well-being, into life ever after

Ø  Clothed in light, there is no shame, only grace

Ø  We won’t need any of our stuff

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

Ø  For many of us this has been a rough ride, staring with the passage from the birth canal out of our mother’s womb

Ø  This needle’s eye is a welcome point of entry

Ø  Nothing but God 

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