The first reading tells us how the spirit of prophecy was given to Moses the leader as well as to seventy elders. But the spirit was also given to two outsiders Eldad and Medad, who begin to prophesy and this seems to cause a problem. Joshua wants God’s spirit to be exclusively for ‘insiders,’ those who belong to the group. Moses on the other hand knows that God’s gift is for everyone. When God chooses us and blesses us it is not for ourselves but for others. No one has rights over God! Nor is God bound to act only through any particular individual or group. God is free and his gifts have no exclusive price tag!
In the Gospel we have a situation that parallels the one in the first reading. John complains to Jesus that there is a man who is ‘not one of us’ who is casting out devils in the name of Jesus. He asks Jesus to forbid the use of his name. Jesus’ reaction is just the opposite. “You must not stop him: no one who works a miracle in my name is likely to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us.” The disciples like to think of themselves as the inner circle, Jesus is theirs and only they can cast out devils in His name. Again Jesus confronts their way of thinking and ours. God gives freely his gifts to whomsoever he chooses. No one has a hotline to Jesus, he is available to everyone saint and sinner alike! The power is in His name and not in us. Jesus in fact encourages us to use His name, to use His power. The good news in today’s Gospel is that no group has monopoly over Jesus. Because we are Catholics, Christians, Charismatics, or priests or religious does not make us better than our Hindu, Muslim or non-Christian brethren. Membership in the Church, should not be counted in terms of perks and privileges but rather in terms of responsibilities. The last part of the Gospel reminds us that being responsible followers of Jesus will involve making choices and these will be painful. We cannot compromise our faith and values. Are we ready to sacrifice, to cut off whatever comes in the way of our being his true disciple? If there is something in our lives that lessens Christ’s life in us or in our family or community are we ready to surrender it to the Lord? Christianity is not about special membership bonuses, exclusive deals and cost-free guaranteed right to heaven! Christianity is rather about breaking down barriers and building bridges to and for Christ no matter what the cost! We all have our prejudices, our blinkers that prevent us from seeing God working in strange and wonderful ways that are different from the way we see things.
The Daily Hidden Gift
Jesus Focuses on Possibilities
Illustrations:
From Fr. Tony Kadavil:
1: “Could you not have tolerated him for just one meal According
to a traditional Hebrew story, Abraham was sitting outside his tent one evening
when he saw an old man, weary from age and journey, coming toward him. Abraham
rushed out, greeted him, and then invited him into his tent. There he washed
the old man’s feet and gave him food and drink. The old man immediately began
eating without saying any prayer or blessing. So, Abraham asked him, “Don’t
you worship God?” The old traveler replied, “I worship fire
only and reverence no other god.” When Abraham heard this, he became
incensed, grabbed the old man by the shoulders, and threw him out of his tent
into the cold night air. When the old man had departed, God called to his
friend Abraham and asked where the stranger was. Abraham replied, “I
forced him out because he did not worship You.” God answered, “I
have suffered him these eighty years although he dishonors me. Could you not
endure him one night?” We are all children of God, and, hence, we have
to love and tolerate everyone, as explained in today’s first reading and the
Gospel. (Fr. Lakra). Fr. Tony (http://frtonyshomilies.com/).
2: Clerical scandal compared to rotten egg: Fr.
Jacob Manjaly repeats in all his preaching on scandal givers, the pertinent
advice he received as a Deacon from his teacher-mother. During a lunch at home,
she asked him what the most balanced food was. He replied, fried chicken or
fried fish. But his mother brought a fresh hen’s egg and convinced him that it
was the most balanced food filled with all nutrients for the growth of a chick
inside the egg, and hence the most nutritive food for humans as well. But she
used the occasion as teachable moment for her future priest-son, warning him
that if the egg is rotten, it is the most reprehensible, nasty smelling and
poisonous stuff, fit only to be buried deep down in the soil. In the same way,
a priest with his God-given power to consecrate bread and wine so that they
become the Body and Blood of Jesus at Holy Mass, to pardon the sinner in Jesus’
name, to bring God’s Life to babies making them children of God by Baptism, to
anoint the sick and prepare them for eternal life, if he becomes morally
corrupt, giving scandal to people, he is worse than the rotten egg and deserves
social and religious punishment. Fr. Tony (http://frtonyshomilies.com/).
3: “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it
off.” It was one of the most gripping news stories of 2003. In the
beautiful but desolate mountains of southeastern Utah, a twenty-seven-year-old
mountain climber named Aron Ralston, made a desperate decision. An avid
outdoors man, Aron was rock-climbing one day when his right arm became trapped
under a boulder, a boulder estimated to weigh at least eight hundred pounds. He
saw immediately that he was in deep trouble. Unable to budge the rock at all,
Aron took out his pocketknife and chipped away at the rock for 10 hours,
managing to produce only a small handful of dust. Obviously, this was not going
to work. Days were passing. No one knew where he was. Even worse, his family
and friends were used to his going off for days without contacting anyone, so
they were not even looking for him. With his arm still wedged beneath this
enormous boulder Aron Ralston recorded a video message to his parents telling
them good-bye. At the end of several days with no food or water, however, Aron
made a remarkable choice. Aron Ralston decided to amputate his arm in order to
save himself. And that’s exactly what he did, using only a pocketknife. What an
amazing display of courage and determination! After he was finished, he applied
a tourniquet to his arm and rappelled nearly 70 feet to the floor of the
canyon. Then he hiked five miles downstream where he encountered some other
hikers and was rescued. Aron Ralston made the obviously excruciating decision
to amputate his right arm to save his life. It is an amazing story! Who can read
this story without thinking of Jesus’ words from our lesson for today, “If your
hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed
than with two hands to go into hell”? What a stark declaration: “If your hand
causes you to sin, cut it off”! Aron Ralston certainly made that choice – to
sacrifice his arm in order to save his life. There are choices that must be
made in life, and those choices determine our destiny. Fr. Tony (http://frtonyshomilies.com/).
4: Gandhi, Mandela, Dorothy Day, and Martin Luther King Jr. With our fallen human nature, we fall victim to the evil tendency of trying to control the Spirit of God by our intolerance. Our own arrogance insists that another is not qualified to speak on justice or morality because of his/her lower educational qualifications, low-grade lifestyle, humble social background or race. As a society, we also tend to question people’s legitimacy – especially when they challenge us. Mohandas Gandhi, a Hindu leader in India, challenged the colonial rule of the British Empire over India with his principles of peace and non-violence. But the intolerant British Empire, initially dismissing him as a “silly, half-naked fakir,” tried to silence him by imprisonment. But later they found, to their horror that the entire nation was behind him in its fight for freedom from colonial rule. Nelson Mandela was ignored by the minority ruling class and was jailed for many for years as a radical because of his option for the poor and the oppressed in South Africa. Dorothy Day was imprisoned in the U. S. for her beliefs and was accused of being a Communist. Martin Luther King Jr. challenged a nation and its policy of discrimination. He was continually under surveillance by the FBI and was accused of inciting sedition and of being unpatriotic. There are Christians who still look on believers belonging to non-Christian religions and on members of Christian denominations different from their own as heretics and semi-pagans. In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives his disciples a lesson in Christian tolerance along with a warning against jealousy and scandal. Fr. Tony (http://frtonyshomilies.com/).
5: Intolerance in the blood: In Belfast,
Ireland, a Catholic priest, a Protestant minister and a Jewish rabbi were
engaged in a heated theological discussion. Suddenly an angel appeared in their
midst and said to them, “God sends you His blessings. Make one wish for peace
and your wish will be fulfilled by the Almighty.” The Protestant minister said,
“Let every Catholic disappear from our lovely island. Then peace will reign
supreme.” The priest said, “Let there not be a single Protestant left on our
sacred Irish soil. That will bring peace to this island.” “And what about you,
Rabbi?” said the angel. “Do you have no wish of your own?” “No,” said the rabbi.
“Just attend to the wishes of these two gentlemen and I shall be well pleased.”
(Anthony de Mello, in Taking Flight).
6: “Die, heretic scum!” I was
walking across a bridge one day, and I saw a man standing on the edge, about to
jump off. I immediately ran over and said “Stop! Don’t do it!” “Why shouldn’t
I?” he said. I said, “Well, there’s so much to live for!” “Like what?” “Well …
are you religious or atheist?” “Religious.” “Me too! Are you Christian or
Jewish?” “Christian.” “Me too! Are you Catholic or Protestant?” “Protestant.”
“Me too! Are you Episcopalian or Baptist?” “Baptist.” “Wow! Me too! Are you
Baptist Church of God or Baptist Church of the Lord?” “Baptist Church of God.”
“Me too! Are you Original Baptist Church of God, or are you Reformed Baptist
Church of God?” “Reformed Baptist Church of God.” “Me too! Are you Reformed
Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1879, or Reformed Baptist Church of God,
reformation of 1915?” “Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1915!” To
which I said, “Die, heretic scum!” and pushed him off. {An Emo Phillips skit}.
7: Jealousy even in death: Feeling very ill, a tough businessman went to see his doctor. After examining him, the doctor backed away and said, “I regret having to tell you this, but you have an advanced case of highly infectious rabies. It appears you’ve had it for some time. It will almost certainly be fatal.” In shock, the man asked the doctor for pen and paper. “Do you want to write your will?” the doctor asked. “No! I want to make a list of all the people I want to bite!” the man replied.)
24- Additional anecdotes
1) : Cut it off: According
to an Irish legend, in olden days a group of adventurers set out from the
European mainland in a few boats to conquer a new territory, what is believed
to be the present-day Ireland. Their leader was a daring man of fortune who
announced that whoever touched land first would possess the entire territory
and become its king. One of his team members was named O’Neil who was determined
to have the new land. He rowed mightily, but a rival boat pressed him hard,
caught up with him and then outstripped him. What could he do as his rival was
fast approaching the land? This strong-nerved, iron-minded O’Neil dropped his
oars, seized battle-axe, cut his left arm, and threw it upon the shore over his
rival’s head so that he could be the first to touch the land to make it his
own. And he won the land by his heroic sacrifice.– In today’s Gospel Jesus uses
a similar metaphor asking us to cut off our hand if it causes us to sin and
prevent us from inheriting Heaven. (Msgr. Arthur Tonne). Fr. Tony (http://frtonyshomilies.com/).
2) “If you call her a pig, Robert, you’re calling me a
pig, too!” Robert A. Schuller, young Robert, tells of getting into an
argument with his older sister when he was eight. “’You’re a pig!’ he screamed
when she refused to give him one of his own toys. Their dad, television
preacher Robert H. Schuller, heard what was going on. He came into the room and
said to young Bob, ‘Robert, don’t you ever call your sister a pig again.’ ‘But,
Dad, she is!’ he objected. ‘If you call her a pig, Robert, you’re calling me a
pig, too!’ said the older Schuller. Young Bob had to think about that for a
while. He certainly didn’t think his dad was a pig. His father could tell that
he didn’t fully understand what he was saying. ‘Robert, if your sister is a
pig, then I’m a pig. She is my child! I can’t have a pig for a child unless I’m
a pig. When you insult your sister, you’re insulting me, too. When you mock or
belittle yourself, you’re doing the same thing to me. You’re my son. The same
thing is true for you and God or for your brothers and sisters in the human
race and God. When you belittle yourself, you’re belittling God. When you
insult your neighbor, you’re insulting God.’“ Young Robert said he never forgot
that lesson. [Robert A. Schuler, Getting Through What You’re Going
Through (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1986), p. 116.] It’s a
lesson all of us need to learn. Can’t we all get along? We can, if each of us
will open our hearts to the love of Jesus Christ. Fr. Tony (http://frtonyshomilies.com/).
3) “The building is on fire! The building is on fire!” Once
there was an ecumenical crusade that was being held in a large city. Every
imaginable denomination was in attendance for this unprecedented spiritual
event. During one very well-attended event a secretary suddenly rushed in
shouting, “The building is on fire! The building is on fire!” At which point:
The METHODISTS gathered in the corner and prayed. The BAPTISTS cried, “Where is
the water?” The QUAKERS quietly praised God for the blessings that fire brings.
The LUTHERANS posted a notice on the door declaring that the fire was evil. The
ROMAN CATHOLICS passed a plate to cover the damages. The JEWS posted symbols on
the doors, hoping that the fire would pass. The CONGREGATIONALISTS shouted,
“Every man for himself!” The FUNDAMENTALISTS proclaimed, “It’s the vengeance of
God.” The EPISCOPALIANS formed a procession and marched out. The CHRISTIAN
SCIENTISTS concluded that there was no fire. The PRESBYTERIANS appointed a
chairperson to appoint a committee to look into the matter and make a written
report. And the secretary grabbed a fire extinguisher and put the fire out [The
Catholic Digest (September 1992), p. 37.] It is amazing the multitude
of different groups there are, all calling themselves Christian. And each one,
of course, feels that it has a corner on the truth. God must get a good laugh
out of it all! Fr. Tony (http://frtonyshomilies.com/).
4) “Lord have mercy,” the old man whispered, “He’s gonna
be a politician!” Some of our older members may remember a ridiculous,
time-honored story about an old country preacher who had a teenage son. One
day, while the boy was at school, his father decided to try an experiment. He
went into the boy’s room and placed on his desk three objects: a Bible, a
silver dollar, and a bottle of whiskey. “Now then,” the old preacher said to
himself, “I’ll just hide behind the door here, and when my son comes home from school
this afternoon, I’ll see which of these three objects he picks up. If he picks
up the Bible, he’s going to be a preacher like me. If he picks up the dollar,
he’s going to be a businessman, and that would be okay, too. But if he picks up
the bottle of whiskey, he’s going to be a no-good drunkard.” Soon the old man
heard his son’s footsteps as he came in the house. He watched as the boy walked
over to inspect the three items on the desk. First, the boy picked up the Bible
and placed it under his arm. Then he picked up the silver dollar and dropped it
into his pocket. Finally, he uncorked the bottle and took a big drink. “Lord
have mercy,” the old man whispered, “He’s gonna be a politician!” — I guess we
could say that, unless you’re going to be a politician, you are going to have
to make some choices in life. Life is a matter of choices — choices about how
you spend your time, choices about how you spend your money –- which show you
and others what you think is important. Fr. Tony (http://frtonyshomilies.com/).
5) The “greatest moment in sports history” anyone has
ever seen. The members of the opposing Central Washington University
softball team did something that stunned spectators. Central Washington first
baseman Mallory Holtman asked the umpire if she and her teammates could help
Sara. The umpire said there was no rule against it. So Holtman and shortstop
Liz Wallace put their arms under Sara’s legs, and she put her arms over their
shoulders. The three players headed around the bases, stopping to let Sara
touch each base with her good leg. The three-run homer would count. — Here’s
what’s amazing. Listen up all you sports addicts. This act of sportsmanship by
the Central Washington team contributed to their own elimination from the
playoffs. There was a price for their compassion, but still they did what was
right. Sports writers around the country have hailed this event as the ultimate
act of sportsmanship. Others have said it is the “greatest moment in sports history”
anyone has ever seen. (Billy Strayhorn, http://www.epulpit.net/080810.htm.)
I say it reflects a change that must take place in human hearts before God’s
kingdom comes on earth, even as it is in Heaven. Fr. Tony (http://frtonyshomilies.com/).
6) “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off.” It
was one of the most gripping news stories of 2003. In the beautiful but
desolate mountains of southeastern Utah, a twenty-seven-year-old mountain
climber named Aron Ralston, made a desperate decision. An avid outdoors man,
Aron was rock-climbing one day when his right arm became trapped under a
boulder, a boulder estimated to weigh at least eight hundred pounds. He saw
immediately that he was in deep trouble. Unable to budge the rock at all, Aron
took out his pocketknife and chipped away at the rock for 10 hours, managing to
produce only a small handful of dust. Obviously, this was not going to work.
Days were passing. No one knew where he was. Even worse, his family and friends
were used to his going off for days without contacting anyone, so they were not
even looking for him. With his arm still wedged beneath this enormous boulder
Aron Ralston recorded a video message to his parents telling them good-bye. At
the end of several days with no food or water, however, Aron made a remarkable
choice. Aron Ralston decided to amputate his arm in order to save himself. And
that’s exactly what he did, using only a pocket knife. What an amazing display
of courage and determination! After he was finished, he applied a tourniquet to
his arm and rappelled nearly 70 feet to the floor of the canyon. Then he hiked
five miles downstream where he encountered some other hikers and was rescued.
Aron Ralston made the obviously excruciating decision to amputate his right arm
to save his life. It is an amazing story! — Who can read this story without
thinking of Jesus’ words from our lesson for today, “If your hand causes you to
sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands
to go into hell”? What a stark declaration: “If your hand causes you to sin,
cut it off.” Aron Ralston certainly made a choice – to sacrifice his arm in
order to save his life. There are choices that must be made in life, and those
choices determine our destiny. Fr. Tony (http://frtonyshomilies.com/).
7) Sodium chloride: If there are any chemists
here this morning, you know that sodium is an extremely active element found
naturally only in combined form; it always links itself to another element.
Chlorine, on the other hand, is a poisonous gas that can stand by itself.
Chlorine is what gives bleach its offensive odor. When sodium and chlorine are
combined, the result is Sodium Chloride. What is Sodium Chloride? Salt. Common
table salt: the substance we use to preserve meat and bring out its flavor; the
substance we use to add spice to meals. — Love and truth can be like sodium and
chlorine. Love without truth is flighty, sometimes blind, willing to combine
with various doctrines. On the other hand, truth by itself can be offensive,
sometimes even poisonous. Spoken without love, it can turn people away from the
Gospel. When truth and love are combined in an individual or a Church, then we
have what Jesus called “the salt of the earth,” and we’re able to preserve and
bring out the beauty of our faith. Fr. Tony (http://frtonyshomilies.com/).
8) Dante’s View: In Death Valley, there is a
place known as Dante’s View. From this location you can look down into the
lowest spot in the United States, a depression in the earth two hundred feet
below sea level called Black Water. But from Dante’s View you can also look up
to the highest peak in the United States, Mt. Whitney, rising to a height of
14,500 feet. In one direction you move to the lowest spot in the United States,
in the other, to the highest. From Dante’s View, only the traveler can decide
which direction he or she will take. [Maxie Dunnam, The Devil at Noon
Day (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1996).] — There are choices
we must make. If you’re going to have a healthy spiritual life, there are
choices you must make about the input you give your mind. If you’re going to
have a healthy marriage and a healthy family, there are choices you’re going to
have to make every day. Fr. Tony (http://frtonyshomilies.com/).
9) Can you be the new Telemachus? One person
armed with the Gospel of peace can change the world. Telemachus did. Who was
Telemachus? He was a monk who lived in the 5th century. And his story is a
story of courage. He felt God saying to him, “Go to Rome.” He was in a
cloistered monastery, but he put his possessions in a sack and set out for
Rome. When he arrived in the city, people were thronging in the streets. He
asked why all the excitement and was told that this was the day that the
gladiators would be fighting in the coliseum, the day of the games, the circus.
He thought to himself, “Four centuries after Christ and they are still killing
each other, for enjoyment?” He ran to the coliseum and heard the gladiators
saying, “Hail to Caesar, we die for Caesar!” and he thought, “This isn’t
right.” He jumped over the railing and went out into the middle of the field,
got between two gladiators, and tried to stop them. The crowd became enraged
and stoned the peacemaker to death. When the Emperor of Rome, Honorius, heard
about the monk, he declared him a Christian martyr and put an end to the games.
Legend has it that the very last Gladiatorial game was the one in which
Telemachus died. — Jesus said, “Have salt in yourselves – be at peace with each
other.” Sometimes it seems we have gladiatorial games going on inside the
Church, inside our homes, at work. And the games have been going on for as long
as we can remember! Who will be a Telemachus? Who will be the monk who jumps
into the arena, sacrifices himself, and brings peace? Peace can be made but it
sometimes comes at a heavy price. Fr. Tony (http://frtonyshomilies.com/).
10) 268 years of peace and 8000 broken peace treaties: Here
is an interesting statistic: The Society of International Law, in London,
observed that during the last 3,550 years of recorded history there have been
only 268 years of peace. That means that since the beginning of recorded
history, the entire world has been at peace less than eight percent of the
time! What is even more interesting is that during this time in excess of 8000
peace treaties were made — and broken. — My friend, that represents a lot of
turf wars. Why do we not have peace in our life? Because, at any cost, we fight
to protect our turf, and we fight to get the turf of the other fellow. Fr.
Tony (http://frtonyshomilies.com/).
11) USA flag on a Russian ship! Some time ago
there was an interesting story about whales that were trapped in the ice off
the coast of Alaska. These whales swam in the cool waters of Alaska so long
that they missed the last plane to Hawaii! They were completely enclosed by the
deepening ice. Some people saw their plight and tried to rescue them by sawing
through the ice, but they were unsuccessful and called for additional help. The
United States Navy sent in a ship to rescue the whales. That, too, failed.
Finally, a Soviet icebreaker was asked to plow through the ice allowing the
whales to swim out into the open sea. This was in American waters, and thus,
before the Russian ship started its work, a United States of America flag was
raised on its mast. People, especially the Press Corps, could hardly believe
it! Here was a USA flag on a Russian ship! A whale was used to bring two
countries, often at odds with each other, together for the sake of rescue.
[Eddie Fox & George E. Morris, Let the Redeemed of the
Lord Say So! (Franklin, TN: Providence House, 1999).] — It’s
interesting. God also used a whale to get the attention of the prophet Jonah.
As you’ll remember, Jonah was prejudiced against the people of Nineveh. He
wanted God to destroy the people of that city. And then God sent a whale . . .
and then a gourd . . . and then a worm. Finally Jonah got the message. It’s a
message we still need to hear. All the world’s people belong to God. God loves
us all the same. God’s will is liberty and justice for all the world’s people.
But here is what we also need to realize: there will not be peace in the world
until each of us resolves to live out the message of Christ’s love in our own
family and neighborhood. If you and I cannot love one another, there is no hope
for the world. Fr. Tony (http://frtonyshomilies.com/).
12) “If I don’t remember who I am in Him, I’m done.” Some
of you are familiar with superstar singer Mary J. Blige. Blige is a three-time
Grammy Award-winning rhythm & blues and hip-hop soul singer, songwriter and
producer. She has had several #1 songs. Many people regard her as today’s queen
of soul. Mary J. Blige has changed her image significantly over the course of
her career, and she credits much of that change to her newfound faith in Jesus
Christ. Blige claims that her early years in show business were marred by heavy
alcohol and drug abuse. She projected an image of toughness, but inside she was
hurting. One day, Blige read an interview with superstar Beyonce in which
Beyonce spoke of her love for her mother and father. Blige found herself crying
over the desire to experience that kind of love. In recent years, after giving
her life to Jesus, Mary J. Blige is able to say, “It was later, when I gave my
life to Jesus Christ, that I found out who I am. I’m a child of God. God is my
mommy, my daddy. That’s the only thing that’ll keep my head up. If I don’t
remember who I am in him, I’m done.” [“Oprah Talks to Mary J. Blige,” O,
The Oprah Magazine (May 2006), p. 243.] — It was important for Mary J.
Blige to find Jesus. What difference does it make whether I become one who
really is affected by Christ’s presence in my life? Fr. Tony (http://frtonyshomilies.com/).
13) “Sacred Doves of Peace.” Mark from Wisconsin
wrote in to his newspaper with this most ironic story: He stopped by a pet
store one day to look for a bird. As he entered the store, he noticed a strange
rustling noise coming from the back. In the back of the store was a large cage
with a sign underneath it advertising “Sacred Doves of Peace.” And in the cage
were two white doves . . . beating each other to a pulp. [Life As We Know
It, edited by Daniel Kelly (Kansas City: Andrews and McMee, 1996), p.
32.] — I would like to say that is the way of the world, but it has often been
the way of the Church as well. It reminds me of a proposal made by the
Mennonite Church a few years ago. The Mennonites historically have been a
Church that advocates peace. Here was their proposal: Can’t we agree that, as
Christians, we at least won’t kill other Christians? The reference was to
Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland. Liberals objected that this
proposal makes it sound okay to kill Muslims or atheists or Hindus, which of
course isn’t the point. Conservatives protested that this proposal might make
war impossible. v
14) Sin is hell. And hell is serious business. Psychiatrist
Karl Menninger [What Ever Became of Sin? (New York: Hawthorn Books,
1973)] notes that American Presidents used to mention sin once in awhile, but
that none has done so since 1953. The Republicans refer to the problems of
“pride” and “self-righteousness.” The Democrats refer to “short-comings.” But
no one uses the grand old sweeping concept of sin anymore. Thus, it seems, we
as a nation stopped sinning sixty-seven years ago! And, speaking of politics: a
poll on Heaven and Hell in the Des Moines Register awhile back
found that only one Republican in 35 expects to end up in Hell, whereas one
Democrat in nine assumes he will. I am not sure what that means. It may mean
that it does little good to preach hellfire and brimstone to a congregation
that is filled with people who don’t believe there is a chance in hell that
they will end up there. And that reminds me of Mark Twain’s famous statement.
He said that when he died, he would like to go to Heaven for the climate but
would probably prefer Hell for the companionship. Mark Twain was clever and
witty, but he missed the point. — Sin isn’t fun. Sin is hell. And hell is
serious business. Fr. Tony (http://frtonyshomilies.com/).
15) Thomas Aquinas once remarked, “Beware the man of
one book!” Narrowness, intolerance or living life according to only
one book or point of view is as much an injustice to the person so trapped as
it is against others. The following anonymous piece offers a profile of such a
person:
“When the other person acts that way, he’s obnoxious;
when you do it, it’s nerves.
When she is set in her ways, she is obstinate;
when you are, it’s just being firm.
When he doesn’t like your friends, he’s prejudiced;
when you don’t like his, you are simply showing good judgment of human nature.
When she tries to be accommodating, she’s polishing the apple;
when you do it, you’re using tact.
When he takes time to do things, he’s plodding and slow;
when you take forever, you’re being deliberate and careful.
When she finds fault, she’s cranky;
when you do, you’re discriminating.”
Each of the readings for today’s liturgy invites the
gathered assembly to shatter this profile and shake itself free of its “one
book mentality” by becoming more aware and appreciative of the Spirit of God at
work in others, even in those we least expect. (Sanchez Archives). Fr.
Tony (http://frtonyshomilies.com/).
16) Ecce Homo – Behold the Man! A war
story provided William Sangster with the picture he wanted in order to show us
that we see ourselves only when we see ourselves in Christ. “During the war a
soldier picked up on the battle fields of France a battered frame which had
once contained a picture of Christ. The picture had gone but the frame still
bore the words: ‘Ecce Homo’. The soldier sent it home as a souvenir, and
someone at home put a mirror on it and hung it on the wall. One day a man went
into the house and understood the startling words ‘Behold the man!’ as he saw
himself in the mirror. — We only see ourselves when we see ourselves in Jesus.
Blots we barely knew there come to view in His white light” [James Feeban
in Story Power! Quoted by Fr. Botelho.] Fr. Tony (http://frtonyshomilies.com/).
17) Small is beautiful: For
months the chapel was decorated with artificial flowers. While they looked
pretty they lacked one vital thing – they emitted no scent. Then one day
someone brought in a small bunch of fresh bluebells and placed them on the
altar. As soon as you walked into the chapel you noticed the difference. The
fragrance given off by the little bluebells filled the entire chapel. — How the
genuine article shines out, how it quietly makes its presence felt. It doesn’t
have to be big. Even the dew lessens the heat. Jesus said that anyone who gave
one of the disciples even a cup of cold water would be rewarded. The “cup of
cold water” is a symbol of the small kind deed. (Flor McCarthy in
New Sundays and Holy Day Liturgies: quoted by Fr. Botelho.) Fr. Tony (http://frtonyshomilies.com/).
18) Envy destroys: In Greek history we read of a
young man who so distinguished himself in public games that his fellow citizens
raised a statue in his honor, to keep fresh the memory of his victories. This
statue so excited the envy of another rival who had been defeated in the races
that one night he stole out under cover of darkness with the intention to
destroy the statue. But he only nicked it slightly. He gave it a final heave
and it fell – on top of him and killed him. -– Envy always harms the one who is
guilty of it. That is why in today’s Gospel Jesus warns us against jealousy and
envy. (Frank Michalic in 1000 Stories; quoted by Fr. Botelho.) Fr.
Tony (http://frtonyshomilies.com/).
19) A candle loses nothing by lighting another
candle: A few years ago, at the Seattle Special Olympics, nine
contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting
line for the 100-yard dash. At the gun, they all started out, except one little
boy who, tumbled, and began to cry. The other eight heard the boy cry. They
slowed down, then all turned around and went back……every one of them. One girl
with Down’s syndrome bent down and kissed him and said, “This will make it
better.” Then all nine linked arms and walked together to the finish line.
Everyone in the stadium stood, and the cheering went on for several minutes.
People who were there are telling the story. — Why? Because deep down we know this
one thing: What matters in this life is more than winning for ourselves. What
matters in this life is helping others win, instead of becoming jealous, even
if it means slowing down and changing our course. (Fr. Botelho). Fr. Tony (http://frtonyshomilies.com/).
20) Send him to Hell! O Henry, the master
storyteller, once wrote a story about a woman whose mother had died when she
was a little girl. When the father came home from work the little girl would
ask him to play with her. Her father would tell her that he had no time and
that she should go out into the street and play; then he would light up his
pipe, take off his shoes, put his feet up and read the newspaper. By the time
the little girl grew up, she was used to the streets, and made her living
there. When she died, St. Peter looked up to Jesus and asked, “I suppose we
send her to Hell?” The Lord said, “No she deserves Heaven. But go down to
earth, look for that man who refused to play with her when she needed him, and
send him to Hell because instead of training his daughter by good examples he
ruined her life by bad example!” (Harold Buetow in God Still Speaks: Listen!
Quoted by Fr. Botelho). Fr. Tony (http://frtonyshomilies.com/).
21) Feeding Sin: In 1939, a coast guard vessel
was cruising the Canadian Arctic when the men spotted a polar bear stranded on
an ice floe. It was quite a novelty for the seamen, who threw the bear salami,
peanut butter, and chocolate bars. Then they ran out of the food.
Unfortunately, the polar bear hadn’t run out of appetite, so he proceeded to
board their vessel. The men on ship were terrified and opened the fire hoses on
the bear. The polar bear loved it and raised his paws in the air to get the
water under his armpits. We don’t know how they did it, but eventually they
forced the polar bear to return to his ice pad–but not before teaching these
seamen a horrifying lesson about feeding polar bears. — Some people make the
same mistake with sin that these sailors nearly made with the polar bear. That
is why Jesus gives the strong warning about the surgical removal of sources of
temptation in today’s Gospel. (Sermons.com). Fr. Kayala. Fr. Tony (http://frtonyshomilies.com/).
22) Difference between charity and social justice:
Someone once told the following story as an illustration of the difference
between charity and social justice: A huge boulder rolled down a mountain and
landed in the middle of a narrow, curving roadway. An approaching car rounded
the turn and crashed into the boulder. Families living nearby rushed to rescue
the injured passengers, brought them into their own homes and tended to them
until they were well. That’s charity. Not too many weeks later, another
unwitting vehicle collided with the boulder and the families took them in and
cared for them also. That’s charity. Within a month, still another carload of
travellers hit the boulder. After seeing to the needs of the accident victims,
the people in the area got together to decide how to get rid of the boulder.
That’s social justice. — When James, in today’s second reading, called upon the
rich to attend to the needs of the poor, he was not recommending charity; he
was demanding social justice. He was not pleading with the wealthy to dip into
their surplus in order to throw a few crumbs to the needy. James charged the
rich to give the poor what was their due on two counts. First, as members of
the same community, all were, therefore, responsible for the well-being of one
another. If one was in need, those who had the means to help were bound, by the
Christian law of love, to do so. Second, that which was being withheld from the
poor were their just wages. To refuse to pay the farmhands who had harvested
the fields was not only an act of injustice, but it was an affront to God who
is ever alert to the cries of the poor. (Sanchez Archives). Fr. Tony (http://frtonyshomilies.com/).
23) The Spirit came on them also: During her
rounds, a Catholic social worker in Corning, New York got acquainted with
Orrin, who was on the relief rolls. Orrin, 82, lived alone in a shanty on the
edge of this small upstate city. He was just about as poor as he could be, but
attracted her by his quiet, cheerful dignity. One day he told her a little
about himself, and she began to understand why he was so serene. “I belong to
the Gospel Tabernacle,” he said. “I go to Church on Wednesday night, and there
isn’t a fuller Church in town.” “When I get up mornings, I pray for an hour. I
pray for everybody I’m going to meet each day. Then I read my Bible for an
hour. At night I read the Bible again.” Orrin’s remarks set the Catholic woman
thinking. “I believe,” she said to herself, “that I belong to the true Church.
But this sweet little man seems to be much closer to God than I am!” — God has
indeed given us one true Church as the authorized channel of salvation. But
that does not prevent Him from working out “special arrangements” with those
who are not registered members of the Church. That is why Jesus told the
apostles not to forbid a man outside their own number to invoke the name of
Christ against demons. “Anyone who is not against us,” He explained, “is with
us.” Moses had taken the same stand when Joshua tried to stop the preaching of
the two men who had not been officially called to membership in the committee
of seventy elders. “Are you jealous for my sake?” Moses asked Joshua. “Would
that all the people of the Lord were prophets!” How the Spirit dealt with the
two unofficial preachers was His business; and it was clear He “had come to
rest on them also.” (Numbers 11:25. Today’s first reading.) — We have no right
to pass judgment on God’s generosity towards any of His children. (Father
Robert F. McNamara). Fr. Tony (http://frtonyshomilies.com/).
24) Cost of discipleship for St. Thomas More: The
Movie A Man for All seasons (Watch movie
clips: https://youtu.be/1Acvwko6Wd0) is
based on the life of St. Thomas More. Thomas More was a teenager in England
when Columbus discovered America. Thomas attended Oxford University and after
graduation, entered public life. he rose rapidly as a government official. In
1529, king Henry VIII honored him by appointing him Chancellor of England. Then
tragedy struck Thomas More’s life. Here’s how it happened. Henry VIII divorced
his queen and remarried unlawfully. To combat opposition to his marriage, Henry
ordered certain dignitaries of the state to sign a document swearing under oath
that his remarriage was lawful. Henry passed word to the dignitaries that if
they refused to sign the document they would be arrested for treason. A
dramatic scene occurred when Lord Norfolk brought the document to Thomas More.
Thomas refused to sign it; no amount of persuasion would change his mind.
Finally, Lord Norfolk lost his patience. He said to his friend: “Oh confound
all this ..I don’t know whether the marriage was lawful or not. But damn it,
Thomas, look at these names….You know these men! Can’t you do what I did and
come along with us , for fellowship?” — Thomas More still refused. He wouldn’t
swear to something that he knew in his heart was wrong. Thomas More was
eventually arrested. On July 6, 1535, he was executed for treason. The story of
St. Thomas More illustrates what Jesus means when he says in today’s Gospel” “
If your hand makes you lose your faith, cut off. ….eyes… take it out. (Mark
Link S. J. in Illustrated Sunday Homilies). Fr. Tony (http://frtonyshomilies.com/). L/21
You have a parent or a sibling die.
You are the first in your family to go away to college.
You enlist in the military.
You get married.
You become a parent.
You win the lottery.
You declare bankruptcy.
You have a heart attack . . . but you wake up.
6) Changing the Signs
In the ancient world salt was a valuable and scarce commodity. It was used as currency in some countries even into modern times. During an invasion of Ethiopia, in the late 19th century, Italian soldiers found blocks of salt stored in bank vaults along with other familiar forms of currency. Jesus was paying his disciples a compliment when he called them salt.
Batteries are designed to be turned on, to be used, not neglected or ignored. What you and I refuse to use we will surely lose. We're meant to he turned on, too. Our gifts are to be used! Our lives are not meant to be "waited out" but to be lived up! Are you and I living up to the gifts and talents God has given us? What kind of commitment do we have to ourselves and to the graces within us?
Rwanda ----Imaculee Ilibagiza . 1994…Hutus and Tutsis…genocide --- 1 million Tutsis were killed…
