Homily - 31st Ordinary Sunday (Year B)

31^st Ordinary Sunday (Year B)

First Reading: Deuteronomy 6:2-6      Second Reading: Hebrews 7:23-28      Gospel Reading: Mark: 12:28b-34

"Shema, Israel ... Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might."

A few years ago, a radio station ran a contest. Disc jockeys invited their listeners to tune in their clock radios. "Just for fun," they said, "when you wake up to the sound of FM-106, call and tell us the first words you spoke when you rolled out of bed. If you're the third caller, you'll win $106."

It didn't take long for the contest to grow in enthusiasm. The first morning, a buoyant disc jockey said, "Caller number three, what did you say when you rolled out of bed this morning?" A groggy voice said, "Do I smell coffee burning?" Another day, a sleepy clerical worker said, "Oh no, I'm late for work." Somebody else said her first words were, "Honey, did I put out the dog last night?" A muffled curse was immediately heard in the background, and then a man was heard to say, "No, you didn't." It was a funny contest and drew a considerable audience.

One morning, however, the third caller said something unusual. The station phone rang. "Good morning, this is FM-106. You're on the air. What did you say when you rolled out of bed this morning?" A voice with a Bronx accent replied, "You want to know my first words in the morning?" The bubbly DJ said, "Yes, sir! Tell us what you said." The Bronx voice responded, "Shema, Israel ... Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might." There was a moment of embarrassed silence. Then the radio announcer said, "Sorry, wrong number," and cut to a commercial.

Try to remember. What did you say when you rolled out of bed today? Chances are, those words set the tone for the rest of the day. For the pious Jew the first words of each morning are always the same, and they are the words spoken that morning on FM-106, and they are the words which we hear in the First Reading of today from the Book of Deuteronomy: "Shema, Israel ... Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might." This primary obligatory prayer is as dear to every good Jew today as it was to Jesus himself and all the apostles. It is a statement of belief in the one true God. They were first spoken by Moses, who said, "Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Teach them to your children and talk about them when you lie down and when you rise." (Deuteronomy 6:6-7) And Moses urged his people to keep all of God's commandments.

In the Gospel Reading of today from St. Mark, one of the Scribes comes & asks Jesus - “Which is the first of all the commandments.” Throughout Jesus' ministry, his experiences have been characterized by conflict: he is challenged or questioned in a hostile manner by the Pharisees & Temple authorities and he responds harshly to them. However, there seems to be no sense of hostility or of a trap set here. The man isn't there to score points; he just wants to know the opinion of Jesus as a rabbi and teacher.

It is also interesting to see that Jesus' reply does not come from any of the actual laws themselves - not even from the Ten Commandments. Instead, it comes from before the law, the opening of the daily Jewish prayer found in Deuteronomy 6:4-5: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength," which we hear in the First Reading of today. The second commandment in turn comes from Leviticus 19:18: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." These are two trajectories of love – one pointed vertically to God, toward the heavens; and the other pointed horizontally to humanity, toward our neighbor.

We now call this the First and the Greatest Commandment. This is the FIRST Commandment – the first for antiquity, for this is older than even the Ten Commandments of the written law, and also for dignity, for it deals with God the Almighty who takes precedence over every other. It is the GREATEST Commandment – the greatest, for it contains in its bowels every other. It is the greatest commandment, then, for its comprehensiveness, and it is the greatest command for the immense demand which it makes upon us. It demands all our mind, all our soul, all our heart, and all our strength.

This is the most distinctive dimension of Jesus' interpretation of the law that he combined the two commandments into one. The significance of this in its context is that Jesus neither neglected the love of God nor the love of neighbor. In Jesus' teaching, the love of God is intimately connected with the love of neighbor and vice versa. They are inseparable, since we cannot really love God and despise our fellowmen. And we cannot adequately love our fellowmen without grounding anchor of love for God. We love God by loving our neighbor as we love ourselves. The proof and measure of how we love God is shown in how much we love others.

The heart and soul of the Gospel is LOVE and all the rest is commentary. Whatever else we may perceive religion to be, we are wrong—for true religion is love in action - 'God’s love for us and our love for God and for our neighbors.' Again, love for God in isolation from love for the neighbor is empty piety, a mere theoretical form of religion that makes no difference in this world God loves so passionately. This is the same message Jesus wishes to tell us in the Gospel passage for the day.

Moreover, the two-fold commandment of love is the resume, condensation and fulfillment of the ten Commandments. The first four commandments have to do with our relationship with God, and the remaining six have to do with our relationship with others. So, Jesus sums it up — 'Love God, love your neighbor.' It is as simple, and as profound, as that. In it all the other commandments are included and made one. These two commandments do constitute a central focus of our attention and are worthy of our memory, our prayer, and our action. Indeed, charity expresses all, contains all, and crowns all.

Let us also think as well about the Scribe's response to Jesus' reply. About how the Scribe affirms Jesus and the truth of God by saying: "You are right teacher.... this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices" and how then Jesus recognizes the grace and wisdom of the scribe and says to him: "You are not far from the kingdom of God." What interesting words these are... It just goes to show that there is wisdom in the law of God and that those who study it - can find the truth within it - the truth that love is more important than sacrifice and that mercy is more important than burnt offerings, and that these are the things from which flow all laws worthy of the name.

Today's Gospel passage is probably the most inspiring passage in the Bible. It tells us how we should live our life and gives us the desire to do so. We didn't get this life to serve ourselves and our desires, but to use those desires to love the one that gave us this life. This is also a passage to think about everyday, because it is so difficult to understand the depth of what Jesus is saying.

 

Finally, the Second Reading of today from the Letter to the Hebrews continues the teaching on Jesus the eternal High Priest. Unlike the priests of the Old Testament, whose priesthood died with them, Jesus lives forever to intercede for us. He continually offers to the Father the perfect sacrifice of himself, which is the proof of his magnanimous and everlasting love for us - “No greater love a man can have than to lay down his life for his friend.” And before he died, Jesus gave his disciples and us, a new commandment - “I give you a new commandment: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” In every Eucharistic celebration, we share in Jesus' eternal sacrifice and remember his great and eternal self-giving love for us. Let us thenfollow his example and take part in this Eucharistic celebration with deep faith, hope and love for God and one another.

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Homily - All Saints Day (Year B)

All Saints (Year B)

First Reading: Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14        Second Reading: 1 John 3:1-3       Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:1-12a

“LORD, THIS IS THE PEOPLE THAT LONGS TO SEE YOUR FACE!”

After a long illness a woman died and arrived at the Gates of Heaven. While she was waiting for St. Peter to greet her, she peeked through the Gates. She saw inside a beautiful banquet table. Sitting around it were her parents and all the other people whom she had loved and who died before her.

When St. Peter came by, the woman said to him, “This is such a wonderful place! How do I get in?” “You will have to spell a word,” St. Peter told her. “Which word?” the woman asked. “LOVE,” St. Peter said. The woman correctly spelled the word “LOVE” and St. Peter welcomed her into heaven.

About six month later St. Peter came to the woman and asked her to watch the Gates of Heaven for him that day. Now, while the woman was guarding the Gates of Heaven, her husband arrived there. “I'm surprised to see you here,” the woman said, “How have you been?” “Oh! I have been doing pretty well since you died,” her husband told her. “I married the beautiful nurse who took care of you while you were ill. And then I won a lottery. I sold the little house you and I lived in, and bought a big mansion. And my wife and I traveled all around the world. We were on vacation and went water skiing today. I fell, the ski hit my head and here I am.” Then he asked her, “How do I get in?” “You will have to spell a word,” the woman told him. “Which word?” her husband asked. She replied, “CZECHOSLOVAKIA.”

I suppose all of us do realize that this is no way to get into heaven when we die. However, this humorous story does bring up a most serious question - 'How does a person get into heaven? Who will be there and who will not?'

Today is 1^st November and on this day we solemnly celebrate the great feast of All Saints. It is important to emphasize from the beginning what we mean here by ‘saints.’ Normally, we apply the word to people of extraordinary holiness who have been 'canonized' or 'beatified' by the Church. Among them each one has their favorites: St. Elizabeth of Hungary, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Anthony, St. Joseph and so on. But today’s feast uses the word in a much wider sense. It refers to all those baptized Christians who have died and are now in heaven with God in glory. It also certainly includes all non-Christians who lived a good life sincerely in accordance with the convictions of their conscience. “Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.”

The Gospel Reading from St. Matthew chosen for today’s feast is interesting. It gives us what we know as 'the Beatitudes' from the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount. It is, in fact, a Charter for Holiness. When many people think of holiness they think of keeping 'the Ten Commandments' and perhaps some other requirements of the Church like going to Mass on Sundays or fasting during Lent. What we often tend to forget is that the Ten Commandments really belong to the Old Testament and are part of the Jewish law. Of course, they are still valid and Jesus said clearly that he had not come to abolish the Jewish law but to fulfill it.

We might then say that the Beatitudes are an example of that fulfilling. They go far beyond the Ten Commandments in what they expect of a follower of Christ and yet the sad thing is that one hears of relatively few Christians saying that they base their lives on the Beatitudes. When we go to Confession it is the Ten Commandments we normally refer to and not the Beatitudes. And this is sad because it is clear from their position in Matthew’s gospel that the Beatitudes have a central place. The Beatitudes is a compendium, a summary of Jesus' teachings. They are a kind of mission statement saying what kind of person the good Christian will be.

The Gospel says that particularly blessed are: Those who are poor in spirit; those who are gentle; those who mourn; those who hunger and thirst for what is right; those who are merciful; those who are pure in heart; those who make peace; and those who are persecuted in the cause of right.

This is the kind of Christian we are all called to be. It is these qualities which made the saints and which will make saints of us too. They go far beyond what is required by the Ten Commandments. If taken literally, the commandments can be kept and not with great difficulty. Many of them are expressed in the negative, 'You shall NOT…' so we can observe them by doing nothing at all! 'I have not killed anyone… I have not committed adultery… I have not stolen…' Does that make me a saint?

Being a Christian is a lot more than not doing things which are wrong. The Beatitudes are expressed in positive terms. They also express not just actions but attitudes. In a way, they can never be fully observed. No matter how well I try to observe them, I can always go further. They leave no room for smugness, the kind of smugness the Pharisees had in keeping the Law. The Beatitudes are a true and reliable recipe for sainthood. “Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.”

Again, saints are the children of God. “Think of the love that the Father has lavished on us, by letting us be called God’s children,” the Second Reading from the First Letter of St. John reminds us today. Saints are not self-made people. They are people who have responded generously to the love of God showered on them. And the completion of that love is to be invited to share life with God forever in the life to come.

“What we are to be in the future has not yet been revealed,” the Reading also says. We do not know and have no way of knowing what that future existence will be like and it does not help very much to speculate. It is better to go along with St. Paul who says that life face to face with God is something totally beyond our comprehension. Let us rather concentrate on the life we are leading now and let it be a good preparation for that future time. “Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.”

Indeed, the First Reading from the book of Revelation presents an apocalyptic vision of those who have died in Christ. They are numbered at '144,000' – a number taken literally by some Christian sects. However, the number is clearly symbolical. It consists of the sacred number 12, squared and multiplied by another complete number, 1,000. It simply represents the total of all those who have died faithful to Christ their Lord. They represent 'every nation, tribe and language' for access to Christ is open to all. They are dressed in white robes with palms in their hands. They are the robes of goodness and integrity. “They are the people who have been through the great trial”. That is they are those who have been through persecution. And paradoxically, “they have washed their robes white again in the blood of the Lamb”. It is the blood of Jesus Christ which brings salvation but only to those who have united with him in sharing its effects. Many of them, of course, are martyrs and they have mingled their own blood with that of Jesus. It is a picture of total victory and the end of all the pains and sorrows they endured in this life. “Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.”

Today’s feast is first of all an occasion for great rejoicing and thanksgiving. It is altogether reasonable to think that many of our family, relatives and friends who have gone before us are being celebrated today. We look forward to the day when we, too, can be with them experiencing the same total joy, happiness and peace.

Today is also a day for us to pray to them – both the canonized and the un-canonized – and ask them to pray on our behalf that we may live our lives in faithfulness so that we, too, may experience the same reward. “LORD, THIS IS THE PEOPLE THAT LONGS TO SEE YOUR FACE!”

  

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Homily - 30th Ordinary Sunday (Year B)

30^th Ordinary Sunday (Year B)

First Reading: Jeremiah 31:7-9        Second Reading: Hebrews 5:1-6        Gospel Reading: Mark 10:46-52

“IF ONLY I COULD SEE THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD!”

Here’s a true story: One day a man woke up to find that, according to the local newspaper, he had died. Actually, the man’s older brother died, but the editors ran the wrong obituary. The man read on, fascinated to have the unique opportunity to find out what others thought of him. But what he read made him shudder.

The writer of the obituary reported the passing of a “great industrialist” who had amassed a considerable fortune from manufacturing weapons of destruction - dynamite, to be precise. His reputation as a heartless employer and ruthless businessman was also chronicled. The newspaper ended its story calling him a “merchant of death.”

The man was stunned. This was not how he wanted to be remembered. And so from that moment on, he devoted his time and fortune to works of philanthropy, justice and peace.

Today, the man who had “died” in an erroneous newspaper story is not remembered as the inventor of dynamite, but as the founder of the prestigious Nobel Prizes.

Alfred Nobel later would say, “Everyone ought to have the chance to correct his/her epitaph in midstream and write a new one.” And when Alfred Nobel actually died, in 1896, his obituary hailed him as “a humanitarian and a visionary.”

And so, we might want to ask ourselves: 'How do we want to be remembered in the light of our own mortality?' We may not have a definitive incident to realize and correct ourselves like Alfred Nobel had; but we can always pray to God to 'open our eyes' and grant a 'clear vision' to guide our lives in the right path in the midst of evil - “If only I could see the goodness of the Lord!”

In the First Reading of today, we hear from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah. As a prophet, Jeremiah has something of a bad name - being seen primarily as 'a prophet of doom and gloom.' This was largely because he had been entrusted with the prophecies concerning the collapse of the southern kingdom of Judah and subsequent Exile in Babylon. This wasn't at all a pleasant and an easy task to do.

However, today’s reading shows that Jeremiah “saw beyond” the Exile to the restoration of the people to their homeland and spoke about hope, a new beginning for a people once conquered but now free; a people once overwhelmed by tragedies but now enjoying prosperity and peace. The homecoming is triumphant. Jeremiah sees the compassionate Lord bringing back the faithful in a great company.

However, the people who make up that company are not the great and the good - or a great military force marching proudly to reclaim lost territory. The company is made up of the most vulnerable of people: 'the blind, the lame, women with children and even women in labor.' Those who were dragged in tears from their homes will be guided back with utmost tenderness - led to water and places of rest along paths that will not cause even the blind and lame to stumble.

Here Jeremiah challenges us to hope always in the compassionate God despite the adversities we may experience. “If only I could see the goodness of the Lord!”

In our Second Reading of today from the Letter to the Hebrews, we are confronted with the role of the high priest. Here the author speaks about the work of Jesus, our High Priest, who through his death and resurrection empowers us to have a relationship with God not only in this earthly life but beyond this life: eternal life with God. He also makes it clear that Jesus the High Priest is able to be compassionate because he, himself, is a wounded healer. Here, again, we see the gracious nature of our relationship to our God. “If only I could see the goodness of the Lord!”

In the Gospel Reading of today according to St. Mark, we hear about Jesus healing a blind man called Bartimaeus. In reality, it is much more than a simple miracle story. As a miracle story, it is the last one told by Mark as Jesus heads for the final showdown in Jerusalem which has considerable significance for the story that follows. Its position in this Gospel is no accident as it comes at the end of a long section which tells about Jesus forming his disciples. It is both an epilogue for this section of Mark’s gospel and a summary of the Christian's life and pilgrimage. The story is full of symbolism, highlighting and giving meaning to the rest of the narrative. And above all, it speaks of the goodness, compassion and mercy of Jesus - “If only I could see the goodness of the Lord!”

This is also one of the Gospel stories which is so lively and quite easy to imagine - As Jesus and his entourage walk out of Jericho, we are told that a blind beggar, Bartimaeus is sitting beside the road. He hears all the noise and as soon as he learns that Jesus is passing that way he begins to call out - “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me.” The people around tell him to be quiet. However, Bartimaeus will not be put off easily. He continues to call out even more loudly. Jesus, we should remember, tells us to keep on asking to receive something.

Jesus eventually hears, stops and says - “Call him over here.” The people then go over to him and say - “Cheer up! Rise up, he is calling you.” Bartimaeus immediately jumps up, throws off his cloak. For a beggar, his cloak was also his sleeping mat, his only possession. Even this he now gets rid of. Very possibly, he now approaches Jesus almost naked: with nothing except himself. That is all he has. It is a symbol of both his inner and outer poverty. Before God, we are all poor.

Face to face now with Jesus, Bartimaeus is asked - “What can I do for You?” In last week's Gospel Jesus asked exactly the same question of the apostles James and John. Their answer: "Give us the two top spots in the Kingdom of your glory." In reply they were told very clearly they would get only what they deserved. They also got some firm teaching about serving others and not looking for privileges. In answer to the same question, Bartimaeus gives a very different answer: "Lord, that I may see." In the context of this story he is asking for much more than physical sight. His prayer is the most basic of all and is the one we all need to make continually.

And finally, when Jesus says - “Go your way, your faith has saved you,” the joyful moment when his sight returns, Bartimaeus immediately follows Jesus on the way. He comes to Jesus with confidence and trust, in freedom, with nothing. Compare this with the rich and young man who could not follow Jesus, because he was rich and did not want to part with his possessions.

So, by creating as detailed an image of it as we can, we gain deeper insights on the story. We can begin to see things in it of which we may not be aware simply by reading it. And this extra dimension - of seeing more deeply – the spiritual insight - is part of the message of the story.

Bartimaeus “saw” in Jesus someone who could heal him. He “saw” the possibility and grasped his opportunity. Even though those around him did not see as he did and tried to quieten him, Bartimaeus trusted to his “vision” and continued to call out to the one he “saw” and who he knew could restore his sight. This blind man Bartimaeus had a tremendous faith in Jesus. “If only I could see the goodness of the Lord!”

The question this poses is: what did he actually see? What did this blind man see in Jesus that so many of those around him did not? And what is the implication of that for us?

Bartimaeus may have been blind, but he could actually see 'Who Jesus is?' more clearly than the disciples and crowd who had been all along. As soon as he was healed and was made whole by Jesus, he left begging behind and chose to follow Jesus.

Some, of course, choose not to see - others cannot see. Why that should be may be due to upbringing or fear of seeing things differently. Another reason for not seeing is that it might require change.

What are we going to do then? Today, in light of that true story about Alfred Nobel, we might want to ask – 'How do we want to be remembered in the light of our own mortality?' - As a man or woman who with eyes of faith, like Bartimaeus in today’s Gospel, sees the reality and goodness of God all around us and makes a difference for the better in the lives of some people; or do we want to be remembered as someone who was blinded to the reality and goodness of God all around us and makes little or no difference. If only we allow Jesus to 'open our eyes' fully, “IF ONLY I COULD SEE THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD!” but then the choice is ours.

 

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Homily - 29th Ordinary Sunday (Year B)

29^th Ordinary Sunday (Year B)

 

 

First Reading: Isaiah 53:10-11          Second Reading: Hebrews 4:14-16          Gospel Reading: Mark 10:35-45

 

“HE GAVE US ALL HE HAD, AND GAVE GLADLY.”

 

There is a story told of a wheat farmer who saved an entire village from destruction. From his hilltop farm he felt the earth quake and saw the distant ocean swiftly withdraw from the shore line. He knew that a tidal wave was coming. In the valley below, he saw his neighbors working low fields that would soon be flooded. They must run quickly to his hilltop or they would all die.

Now, his wheat barns were dry as tinder. So, with a torch he set fire to his barns and soon the fire bell started ringing. His neighbors saw the smoke and rushed to help him. Then from their safe perch they saw the tidal wave wash over the fields they had just left.

In a flash they knew not only who had saved them but what their salvation had cost their benefactor. They later erected a monument to his memory bearing the motto, “He gave us all he had, and gave gladly.” This poor farmer finished first in the eyes of his community, but it cost him everything he had.

 

There aren't many people in our world like that farmer. He willingly sacrificed himself that others might survive. Most people do everything they can to better themselves, and think nothing of the people they step on as they climb to the top of the heap. Today's Scripture Readings are designed to teach us the truth that not everyone who finishes first is victorious. Sometimes those who take the last seat, those who willingly finish last, are the real winners in the game of life.

 

In the Gospel passage of today from St. Mark's Gospel, we see selfish ambition in all of its ugliness. The two brothers, the sons of Zebedee - James and John come to Jesus asking for the top seats in his kingdom. In fact, they are literally asking for the three poison pills – 'Position, Prestige & Power.' And Jesus uses this event to teach his disciples and us all, some valuable lessons about leadership, service to others and forgiveness. Jesus responds by telling them that they have no idea what they are asking for. He confronts them by asking them if they are willing and able to experience all that he is about to endure. They tell him that they can. But these men do not understand what awaits Jesus. Their response reveals a complete lack of understanding concerning what Jesus is about to suffer and of the load he was sent to carry. Jesus is on his way to Calvary where he will bear the sins of his people on a Roman cross. He is about to experience the undiluted wrath of Almighty God against sin and sinners. Jesus then tells them that they may experience his anguish to a degree, but the positions in the kingdom would not be given out based on selfish ambition; rather, they will be given according to the will of the Sovereign God.

 

When the rest of the disciples heard about what John and James were up to, they became angry. Perhaps they were angry because these fellows were trying to promote themselves over the rest. Or, perhaps they were angry because James and John beat them to the draw and asked Jesus first. Whatever the reason, they were steamed! Their reaction to what James and John did is no better than the request James and John made. But Jesus doesn’t allow their anger to simmer. He addresses the issue at hand and calls their attention to the Gentile world around them. He lets them know that 'high seat seeking' is the way of the world. Those who rule in this world rise to the top by grabbing power and oppressing their opponents. We see that mentality all around us in the world today.

Jesus wants the disciples, and us too, to understand that God has a higher goal for his children. He wants us to know that the path to the top leads through the bottom. If one really wants to reach the top, he/she must start out at the bottom. If one really wants to be a leader, if one is looking for respect, then he/she must first learn how to serve. People respect those who serve them. Respect is earned, it is never demanded. Far too many people want to be recognized for the things they do. They want their pat on the back. They want to hear 'thank you', and 'good job.' They do what they do, because they want to be recognized - and they have their reward.

 

Jesus uses his impending sacrifice as the ultimate example of sacrificial service. He sets the pattern all of his people are commanded to follow - "I came not to be served, but to serve." Again, "Whoever would be great among you must be your servant." Service was his passion. Service was his life. The greatest example of that can be seen the night before he went to the cross, when he washed his disciples' feet and commanded them to do the same. If our God is willing to serve sinful humanity, we should be willing to serve as well. May that same passion grip our hearts! May we freely take the place of slaves and serve others for the glory of God alone!

The cost of service for Jesus was extremely high. It cost him his very life. Jesus willingly went to his death to save those who cared nothing for him. He suffered the shame, the pain, the humiliation, and the agony of the cross to serve lost sinners. He experienced the undiluted wrath of Almighty God to serve us. He took the place of a common criminal and was judged as rebel so that sinners could be saved. He willingly entered into death so that others might enter into life. So, looking at Jesus we can gratefully say, “He gave us all he had, and gave gladly.”

 

In the First Reading of today from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, Isaiah describes the Suffering Servant of God. This servant gives up his life "as an offering for sin." By doing so, he bears the guilt of others. God says of him, "My servant shall justify many." To justify others is to free them from blame or take away their guilt. We can easily understand why Christians see a portrait of Jesus Christ in this reading. He is the obedient servant who gave his life for our salvation. By his suffering, death, and rising, he leads us into fullness of days. “He gave us all he had, and gave gladly.”

 

In the Second Reading of today from the letter to the Hebrews, the Author says that Jesus is “the High Priest who has passed through heavens” and is mediator between God and man restoring all things to the Father. He offered himself as sacrifice on the altar of the Cross for the forgiveness of our sins and he intercedes for us always. Jesus in loving and serving us gave his all, even to the point of dying on the cross. “He gave us all he had, and gave gladly.”

Whenever temptation knocks on our doors, we have only to turn to Jesus. He will strengthen us to do what is right. Temptation is a familiar visitor for most of us. Sometimes we lock our doors and say 'Keep out!' Other times we let temptation 'in' and wind up acting against God's will. Jesus never said yes to temptation. He knows what it is like to be tempted, for he personally went through them. Therefore, he understands how hard it is for us to resist temptations to sins.

 

How did Jesus arrive at such an exalted place? Certainly, it isn’t because he is God! He is there because he took the place of a slave. He is there because he willingly chose the lowest place of all and God elevated him to the highest place of all. It is a paradox, but it is true nonetheless, for the Christian 'the way up is always down.' Is that the path we are walking? Are we being a servant of God by actively seeking ways to selflessly serve others? If the Lord has touched our hearts about our service, today would be a good day to enlist and to gratefully proclaim like the villagers in the opening story - “HE GAVE US ALL HE HAD, AND GAVE GLADLY.”

                                                      

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Homily - 28th Ordinary Sunday (Year B)

28^th Ordinary Sunday (Year B)

First Reading: Wisdom 7:7-11         Second Reading: Hebrews 4:12-13         Gospel Reading: Mark 10:17-30

“TRAVEL LIGHT ON YOUR LIFE-LONG JOURNEY TO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN!”

There was a father who one day took his little son to buy a puppy. When they arrived at the home where the puppies were sold … they walked around to the back yard where the puppies were. There they saw inside a fenced in area, seven little puppies. As the Father and son looked at them .. they noticed one little puppy whose little tail was wagging faster than the tails of the other little puppies. The father then said to the owner of the puppies, "Sir, we'll take the one with the happy ending."

I suppose everybody likes a story with a happy ending. When we look at the personal encounters Jesus had, while on earth - most of them ended gloriously, for most often, the people who met Jesus were healed, saved and eternally changed. However, not every meeting ended so gloriously! In the Gospel Reading of today from St. Mark, we are presented with a man - young & rich - who had a personal encounter with the Jesus that ended tragically - “... his countenance fell, and he went away sad, ...”

In the Gospel text we read that the rich young man was so right, yet so wrong. He came to the right person, asked the right questions, received the right answers, but made a wrong decision. So, what was the problem he carried? In spite of all he had going for him, this man had one mighty big skeleton in his closet! In spite of all that he had, he still had an itch he could not scratch! He had found that his youth left him unsatisfied. His money had left him feeling unfulfilled. His morality, his clean living and his religious activity had not been able to satisfy the deepest longing of his soul. His swift climb up the rungs of the social ladder had failed to give him what he wanted most: 'peace with God.'

So, he came with haste to Jesus, fell down before him and cried out - “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He then assured the Good Teacher that he had kept the commandments since he was a child. Jesus looked steadily at him with love for his uncomplicated integrity, his sheer goodness. But this goodness was not enough and so Jesus challenged him to do one more thing - “There is one thing you lack,” he said. Here comes the bombshell - “Go, sell everything you own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, and follow me.” And the young man was understandably unable to do this easily. Definitely, it would not just be the riches that would be lost but the lifestyle they permitted - the comfort, security, fine food and wines and the admiration of others. And what would he be giving it up for? So “... his countenance fell, and he went away sad, ...” “Travel light on your life-long journey to the Kingdom of Heaven!”

Jesus takes this opportunity to speak to his disciples about the difficulty of the salvation of those who have an abundance of this world. He says - “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God.” This turned the disciples' understanding on its head. Of course, Jesus is not saying that the rich will never enter the Kingdom of God. Nor he is asking everyone to embrace such an absolute poverty - that's a special vocation, to which only a few are called. Nevertheless, in different ways we are all called to follow Jesus with a total commitment. The acquisition of possessions can so easily dominate our lives. We can come to think that they can provide us with a happiness and security, which only God can give. The desire for material prosperity can easily distort our judgment as to what is most important in life - seeking first the Kingdom of God. Being preoccupied with wealth may blind us to what God is offering us. Only he can give us lasting security, happiness and peace. He wants us to seek nothing but the very best, and be content with nothing less.

There is a legend that says that there was a gate called 'the eye of the needle' that led into the holy city of Jerusalem. This gate was actually shaped like the eye of a needle and a camel walking upright could not pass through it. However, if the camel stooped and had all its baggage removed, it could pass through the entrance. After dark, when the main gates were shut, travelers would have to use this smaller gate, through which the camel could only enter unencumbered and crawling on its knees!

The idea here is to show that we must humble ourselves, become free of our worldly goods, and be unburdened by sins to pass into the kingdom of heaven. It also implies that even rich people can get into heaven provided they approach God on their knees without all their baggage. “Travel light on your life-long journey to the Kingdom of Heaven!”

In the First Reading of today from the Book of Wisdom, the author clearly says that wisdom is more desirable than riches. It is also to be valued above power, health, and beauty. What is wisdom? Wisdom involves seeing deep down below the surface of words and events, making a judgment as to the truth of that insight, and giving an assent which we call 'understanding.' Wisdom enables us to keep our priorities straight. It helps us to see things from God's point of view. Sometimes we hesitate to seek the things of God because it might mean we have to lose the things of earth. But when we seek God and God's kingdom first, everything else of true value will follow.

The word of God's wisdom is not always comfortable, though: “It cuts like any double-edged sword but more finely … it can judge the secret emotions and thoughts of the heart," this is what the Author of the Letter to the Hebrews says in the Second Reading of today. Sometimes God's wisdom brings us uncomfortable realizations about ourselves. We may find that all our activity and buying and selling were ways of avoiding things.

The Scripture Readings of today can also be a useful reminder in our day when so many people believe that amassing wealth will lead to security and happiness. It is true that destitution inhibits the growth of human beings and leads to human misery - but excessive wealth can have a similar effect. Eventually, the external treasures begin to contrast with the emptiness of the inner coffers and people sense that there is something more that they need to find.

Therefore, we can rest lightly on our wealth and cultivate an awareness of 'enough' - an attitude of poverty: 'I have enough to meet my need - I do not yearn for more.' It is an attitude which can be liberating - setting us free from a grindstone to begin filling our souls with treasures which will endure to eternal life. We can expand our knowledge - reflect on life - explore new horizons - and always, seeking the gifts extolled in today’s First Reading: 'the gift of wisdom and understanding.'
Jesus is calling us today to travel light with him and not be held back by unnecessary clutter. If we've learned to 'travel light on our life-long journey to the Kingdom of Heaven' we will find it far easier to follow Christ, who gained the fullness of life and the glory of heaven by being emptied of everything on the cross. There's something liberating in not being weighed down by excess baggage. That's especially true when following Christ. “TRAVEL LIGHT ON YOUR LIFE-LONG JOURNEY TO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN!”
Here we're brought face to face with the challenge of Jesus and we have to come up with a response. The question for us is: What are we going to do about it? Shall we change the orientation and tenor of our lives? Or shall we say it's all a bit too risky? Shall we go away like the rich young man? Sorrowfully, of course. But go away all the same.

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Homily - 27th Ordinary Sunday (Year B)

27^th Ordinary Sunday (Year B)

First Reading:  Genesis 2:18-24           Second Reading:  Hebrews 2:9-11           Gospel Reading:   Mark 10:2-16

“MAY THE LORD BLESS US AND PROTECT US ALL THE DAYS OF OUR LIFE!”

A Sunday school teacher was trying to demonstrate the difference between 'right' and 'wrong'. "All right children, let's take an example," she said. "If I were to go into a man's pocket and take his wallet with all his money, what would I be?" A child in the back answered, "You'd be his wife."

Well, the three Scripture Readings of today are all centered around the theme of ' family life' and not to mention that it has its foundation in marriage. In other words, it is with a marriage that a family's life begins.

 

The First Reading of today from the Book of Genesis takes us back to the first family and our first ancestors. God created man and woman as partners or helpmates to one another, and joined them together as husband & wife. And although the comedian Bill Cosby describes them as our first dysfunctional family, the biblical author highlights the common bond the entire human family has with one another.

Obviously, marriage is instituted by God Himself. Above all therefore, it demands that the spouses make room for God in their relationship. Part of the problem in marriage today is that it is seen by many people as a private arrangement. It's origin is from God as we heard in the first reading. In marriage two people – a man and a woman – promise God as well as each other to stay together as husband and wife “for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health until death.” The moment God is removed from the marital relationship, the marriage begins to crumble and may finally fall apart. “May the Lord bless us and protect us all the days of our life!”

Now there is a cute love story told of a boy and a girl: The boy says to the girl - “Hey, I've got two words to say.” “What?” the girl asks. The boy says: “I love You!” “Huh... Isn't that three words?” the girl objects. “No,” replies the boy, “because, 'YOU' and 'I' are ONE.”

 

In the Gospel Reading of today from St. Mark, the Pharisees ask Jesus a question regarding divorce to test him - “Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?” And of course they believed they knew the answer. Divorce was permitted by Jewish Law. But Jesus surprised them. He referred to the original intention God had in creating men and women - “But from the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate.” It is goodness and love that are at the heart of creation, and marriages are built on them. On hearing today's gospel our minds may well start to focus on the issue of divorce and remarriage, but Jesus wants us to discover or rediscover how it was in the beginning, at creation, and to live and love accordingly. The central and sustaining image is that the two spouses become one indivisible flesh. So, we are not to put asunder what God has Joined. "May the Lord bless us and protect us all the days of our life."

 

There is a story told about two old friends who were catching up: One friend asked: “How is that you haven’t yet married?” “To be honest,” the second began, “I have spent years looking for the perfect woman. I met a very beautiful and highly intelligent woman and, for a brief time, I thought I had found the perfect woman. But soon I discovered that she was terribly self-centered. Then, I met a woman who was outgoing and generous, but soon I discovered that she was a spendthrift. I had just about given up on meeting the perfect woman until, one day, I met her. Beautiful, intelligent, kind, generous, a wonderful sense of humor. She was the perfect woman.” “So why didn’t you marry her?” his friend asked. Looking down at his glass, he replied, “Because she was looking for the perfect man.”

So often people are looking for the perfect this or that and forget that life is not perfect. Things often don’t work out quite the way we would like. And so too with marriage. Like most things in life, we have to work at a good relationship.

 

Yes, when we talk about marriage, it is always expected to be forever. In reality though, maintaining and strengthening it is difficult, but not impossible. When two people are united in the biggest commitment of their lives, they seek to complement each other through the boundless love they profess. It calls for commitment to one another despite the ups and downs of everyday life. It also calls for the need to develop a sense of the other, putting always the spouse first - For example, a businessman, he should never put his business before his wife and family. Similarly a professional or a mother, her priority should always be her husband and family.

Again, where there is love, there is admiration. One should always use words of praise for the partner. No matter the occasion, express what you admire about that person, and let him or her know how proud you feel to be his or her partner. Such words of love will be planted forever in your partner's heart, and therefore, self-esteem is strengthened and rewarded towards you the same way.

Moreover, marriage calls for time together to enjoy one another’s company. It requires good communication. Communication in all relevant areas between the couple, such as financial issues, bringing up children, if any, as well as feelings, is a lifeguard and not negotiable. This is the number one rule. If they learn to make this a habit in their relationship, the rest will fall in place even easier.

One may wonder about having in marriage – a sense of humor. But it is important. Someone has said that humor is a mixture of love and wit. We need good humor. Not always, of course, for we can’t take lightly the illness or death of loved ones. We do at times have to take ourselves seriously but not always. We have to be able to smile at our little and large eccentricities — from the way he may slurp his soup to the time she takes to do her hair – for life is full of contradictions. We have to expect the inconsistent in ourselves, in others, and we have to talk humorously about it and laugh lovingly with humor.

Also, like any relationship, marriage involves conflict, perhaps over money. For example, who controls it and how is it spent? Are you a tightwad or a spendthrift? Marriage demands that we always keep things in perspective, that we continually forgive and get on with our relationship despite arguments now and then. Sometimes it’s okay to say we agree to disagree. “May the Lord bless us and protect us all the days of our life!”

Finally, while talking about our human family (earthly family), let us not forget our spiritual family (heavenly family), about which the Author speaks in the Second Reading of today from the Letter to the Hebrews. God became en-fleshed in Jesus of Nazareth, the face of God among us. And through the death and resurrection and by the power of the Spirit, God gifts us with eternal life; and that gift of grace or God’s life makes us brothers and sisters to one another and sons and daughters of God. This is the Family of God and love, justice, peace, freedom, unity etc. are its values, and towards which all earthly families are ultimately directed into this one heavenly family.

During this Mass then let us pray - “MAY THE LORD BLESS US AND PROTECT US ALL THE DAYS OF OUR LIFE!” so that all of us may one day be members of the heavenly family – with God as our darling Father and we as his dear child.

 

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