TOP DOWN

Quote for Today - October 20, 2013

"A sensible house-keeper begins to sweep her stairs from the top."

German Proverb

Question: Is this what the pope is doing?

FAITH AND LAW

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 28 Saturday in Ordinary Time is, “Faith and Law.”

ROMANS

As we know we’re going through the Book of Romans in these weekday Masses as our First Reading. As we know questions of the Law are central to St. Paul. It’s going to culminate especially in Chapter 7 - but the reality of “the Law” pops up over and over again in Romans and much of Paul - as well as in the gospels - with Jesus and his struggles with the Pharisees.

Today’s First Reading begins: “Brothers and sisters: It was not through the law that the promise was made to Abraham and his descendents that he would inherit the world, but through the righteousness that comes from faith.”

When Paul was Saul he was furious with Christians because they were not keeping the Law. His goal was to arrest and eradicate them. Paul could be righteous to the zenith - because he thought he was right. Aren’t we all? Then he fell on his face and discovered Jesus in his blindness.

TITLE OF MY HOMILY

The title of my homily is, “Faith and Law.”

I was going to entitle it, “Faith or Law.”

I used “and” instead if “or: because I would assume that we begin with the law and then move to stronger motives: like that of faith and hope and charity.

I would assume that we teach kids  rules - without giving reasons - before they reach the age of reason.

We use the word “no” - to kids - as to not touching knives or hot things - or going too near the street - where cars can come flying by.

I assume we need laws - traffic laws - clean air and food laws - and rules and regulations to make life work smoothly.

But then I assume that somewhere along the line - when it comes to religion and God - we move from Law to Faith.

Recently someone said to me that they never liked the phrase, “Holy Day of Obligation” - but wished it was “Holy Day of Celebration.”

With so many people dropping out of Sunday Mass - I’ve heard statistics like 32 to 38% now go to Sunday Mass. Are there any statistics of people coming back - not because of the Sunday Mass obligation - but rather the Sunday Mass Celebration?

Question: Do I do what I do out of law or duty - or out of love and joy?

Haven’t we winced at the comment: “Of course I love you. I’m married to you.” Wouldn’t we celebrate each time a spouse said: “I love you!”

I became a Redemptorist to become a missionary in Brazil - but never got that assignment. I’ve heard of a  Redemptorist who spent his whole life being bitter - because he wanted to become a professor in the seminary - and instead he was sent to Brazil - and complained his way out of there - till he got reassigned to the States.

So the question: “Life: what is my central motivation? Duty, Law, Have to, or Love, Celebration, Want to?”

I’ve read about baseball players who were doing well - then get traded - and they do horrible - on their next team - then they get traded again - to a new team and they flourish. A reporter digs into the player’s life and we find out, he was angry and depressed - because he just couldn’t play for that second team - in the second city - not even out of duty or contract.

ISAAC JOGUES - AND THE NORTH AMERICAN MARTYRS

 Today we celebrate the feast of St. Isaac Jogues and the North American Martyrs - who came to North America - and served the Native Americans with great passion and dedication. 

We all remember hearing as kids how St. Isaac Jogues was tortured, freed by the Dutch, went back to France and then couldn’t wait to come back and continue his ministry or preaching about the love of Christ to the people here. He wasn’t here out of Law and Duty - but out of love.

So too all of us here at a Daily Mass of Celebration - not obligation. Amen.

ALONE AGAIN NATURALLY

Quote for Today - October 19, 2013

"We're all in this together ... alone."

Lily Tomlin

REALITY THERAPY

Quote for Today - October 18, 2013

"Some days you tame the tiger. And some days the tiger has you for lunch."

Tug McGraw

THE PAST IS TRICKY

Quote for Today  - October 17, 2013

"Nostalgia is a seductive liar."

George W. Ball

DON'T EXPECT 

THE SAME OLD 

SAME OLD!

Quote for Today October 16, 2013

"Never look for this year's birds in last year's nests."

Miguel de Cervantes

WISDOM AND 

WISDOM TEACHERS

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “Wisdom and Wisdom Teachers.”

Who have been your wisdom teachers? Who has given you your life wisdom?

Is there any wisdom teacher you’d would like to go to hear - to listen to her or his wisdom?

I was thinking last night - that  those are good questions. It’s good to reflect upon those who taught us the wisdom that is part of our lives. I think of at least 3 good teachers I’ve had - a few other people I’ve met along the way. The key is to not to first name the teacher - but to first name the wisdom - and then unravel, “Who was the one who taught me that.”

For example, one good specific wisdom learning I picked up was this: “You’re complaining about him - but give me a specific complaint.”  And sometimes that shuts me up or another up.” It can be worded with a two word question: “For example?”

SCRIPTURE READINGS AT MASS

Yesterday’s gospel talked about the Queen of the South coming to hear the wisdom of Solomon. It also talked about the Ninevites listening to Jonah and they were converted. Jesus made that comment when he saw the crowds listening to him - but many did not change or convert. Today’s gospel talks about Jesus at a dinner and Jesus notices the Pharisees once more concerned about externals - the outside - what you see. It’s not what you get. Then Jesus gives them the wisdom - that it’s the inside - the within - the person - one’s motives - the invisible - that counts.

Today’s first reading continues with the Letter of Paul to the Romans that we began yesterday - and we’ll have it as the first reading at daily Mass for about the next month.  Many people have listened to Paul - especially in his letter to the Romans and changed - like Augustine reading Romans 13: 11-14 - and he is changed - converted - after his long struggle. Notice in today’s first reading, how Paul goes from the known to the unknown - the seen to the unseen - to see the One who is behind and underneath - the one who is keeping us and all together.

TODAY’S FEAST OF ST. TERESA OF AVILA

Down through the years many people have read the writings of St. Teresa of Avila to sip her wisdom.

I like her take on prayer. She often uses simple clear images and pictures that everyone can understand. Who hasn’t understood her 4 stages of prayer?

The first stage is “Going to the well.” Prayer is seeing our soul like a garden and taking water from a well to water ourselves. Beginners in prayer have to start off small - like going to a specific place or prayer or prayer method.

The second stage is to get a garden hose. The person who sticks to prayer will find easier ways to water one’s garden.

The third stage is to pray near running water. It’s the message of Psalm 1. Be a live tree as opposed to a dead leaf. Lead a life that is bearing fruit. Prayer and action - and action and prayer work together. Talk isn’t enough.

And the fourth state is, “Sometimes it rains. Sometimes,  if we take time to just sit in prayer, we’ll grow and sometimes we’ll experience a downpour of God’s presence and love.

Of if we simply can’t pray, St. Teresa of Avila simply says to pray the Our Father slowly and with meaning.

We all know her comments about not letting anything disturb us. Of course it’s easier said than done. Yet listen to her words.

“Let nothing disturb you,
 let nothing cause you fear
All things pass.
God is unchanging.
Patience obtains all:
Whoever has God
needs nothing else.

God alone suffices.”    

A short cut is to say, “Nada” “Nothing!” inwardly - when someone or something is driving us nuts.

You know us priests, so I always liked her comment about "having a peculiar distrust of holy men who where stupid." (St Teresa of Avila, Bruce, 1943; TAN, 1987, p 75).

She went through a lot in her life - not only in her struggles with other nuns to reform the Carmelites - but also with the so called, “Thought Police”. In her life she was investigated by the Spanish Inquisition at least 6 times. Her books were investigated. The papal nuncio thought she was risky and restless and a disobedient woman. She was accused of heresy. So what else is new?

As you know, this has happened to lots of folks down through the years. Theologians are waiting to see how this Pope will be on all this. The wisdom I see in all this is the so called,  “Gamaliel Principle” - which you can find in the Acts of the Apostles. “If this is of God, in time we’ll know it. If it ain’t it will flop.” [Cf. Acts of the Apostles 5:34-39]

CONCLUSION

The title of my homily is, “Wisdom and Wisdom Teachers.”

Who are they? What specific wisdom insights have they given us?