THE CLING, CLING, CLING

OF PARABLES

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 17^th Monday in Ordinary Time  is, “The Cling, Cling, Cling of Parables.”

I noticed in today’s first reading the word, “cling”. Interesting English word. It intrigued me. I went to the Hebrew. Sure enough that’s a good translation of the word used in the Hebrew - HID BAQ TI - the root word being DA BAQ. [Cf. Jeremiah 13:11]

It means cling, cleave, close, deeply attached, fastened, joined, stick to.

JEREMIAH’S LOIN CLOTH

Preachers know that parables and props are a great way to preach.

Jeremiah the preacher uses a loin cloth for a prop - for his preaching.

Our pastor, Father John Tizio, is the best preacher I’ve seen  in using props. He’s really good at it - especially at Kids’ Masses - but I’ve seen him use props at adult Masses as well. Excellent.

When I listened to today’s first reading - and read it several times - I wondered if any modern preacher would use a pair of jockey shorts for a sermon prop. It would certainly get our attention.

And guess what: that image of a priest holding up a pair of jockey shorts in a pulpit - would cling to our memories for life. Remember that time, Father SoandSo held up a pair of jockey shorts in the pulpit.

Jeremiah’s use of a loin cloth - a rotting loin cloth - certainly clung to Israel’s memory - long enough to get put into words.

He’s preaching that God wants us to cling to him like our underwear clings to us.

Jeremiah’s parable of the loin cloth is a great parable. Does it cling to you like you’re underwear?

BACK TO CLING

The title of my homily is, “The Cling, Cling, Cling of Parables.”

When we hear bells on a summer night, for some people it brings back memories of the ice cream truck cling, cling, clinging through the air - from years and years ago. Ice cream. I remember us kids singing when we heard those bells, “I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream.”

We have a lot of things clinging to us - triggered at times - like Pavlov’s bells - by something or someone - by what they are wearing - a blouse - a T-shirt - a perfume - a “that reminds me of!”

The title of my homily is, “The Cling, Cling, Cling of Parables.”

Jesus knew this human reality - so in his parables which he sent in words through the air - he talks about fathers and sons, workers in the field, people in the market place, as well as mustard seeds and mustard bushes and yeast, flour and bread as we heard in today’s gospel.

Jesus is trying to trigger in us - ring a bell in us - when he uses everyday experiences - the sacred in our midst.

We are surrounded by reminders - but sometimes we don’t hear them - like Israel didn’t listen to God. Did you hear the last sentence in today’s first reading? It was just 5 words: “But they did not listen.”

CONCLUSION

Mustard, plants, trees,  the sound of birds, yeast, flour, bread, all can ring bells in us. Our underwear clings to us  - sometimes more than other times - especially in hot weather. Hopefully, all those things underneath our surface  have cling, cling, cling, and remind us to cling, cling, cling to God. Amen.