Feb 9-14: Feb 9 Monday: Mk 6: 53-56:53 And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret, and moored to the shore. 54 And when they got out of the boat, immediately the people recognized him, 55 and ran about the whole neighbourhood and began to bring sick people on their pallets to any place where they heard he was. 56 And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and besought him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment; and as many as touched it were made well.
The context: Gennesaret was a tract of land four miles long on the western border of the Sea of Galilee, lying between current-day Tabgha and ancient Magdala. Known as the “Paradise of Galilee,” its land had rich soil in which farmers were able to grow walnuts, dates, olives, figs, and grapes. Since the strip of land bordered on the Sea of Galilee, it served as a fishing center as well. Today’s Gospel passage describes the reaction of the people of Gennesaret when the healing and preaching miracle-worker, Jesus, unexpectedly landed on their shore. They considered it a golden opportunity to hear his message and to get all their sick people healed by bringing them to Jesus with trusting Faith in his Divine power. They were confident that even touching Jesus’ garment would heal the sick. Actually, they may have been more interested in having the healer to heal their sick people than in taking in Jesus’ preaching which offered them spiritual healing. Our innate human tendency, as fallen selfish people in a fallen world, is to “USE” others to get something from them. We “make use of” God when we call Him only when we are in need or when we are sick, or when tragedy strikes us,and fail to thank Him when He helps us. Some of us “make use of” the Church only to be baptized, married and buried. Sometimes, we “make use of” our friends to get their company, help and support. Sometimes even grown-up children make use of their parents’ home for eating and sleeping without returning anything to their parents, who might rightly expect, but do not ask, a return, from them.
Life message: 1) A healing greater than physical healing is available to us especially in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Hence, we should have a much deeper desire to seek out Jesus in the confessional than the people of Jesus’ day had for physical healing.
2) Instead of making use of God, let us learn to live in His presence, and recognize His presence in others in the community.
2) When we present our needs before Him, let us do so with expectant Faith and gratitude, and promise Him with the help of His grace that we will do His will.
3) Let us also hasten (“scurry”) to Mass, hasten to bring people to Jesus, or hasten to say prayers with your children at night? Do we hasten to see the face of Jesus in our neighbors? Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/26
Feb 10 Tuesday: St. Scolastica, Virgin☹https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-scholastica) Mk 7:1-13:1 Now, when the Pharisees gathered together to him, with some of the Scribes, who had come from Jerusalem, 2 they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands defiled, that is, unwashed. 3 (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they wash their hands, observing the tradition of the elders; 4 and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they purify themselves; and there are many other traditions which they observe, the washing of cups and pots and vessels of bronze.) 5 And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with hands defiled?” 6 And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, `This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 7 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’ 8 You leave the commandment of God, and hold fast the tradition of men.” 9 And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God, in order to keep your tradition! 10 For Moses said, `Honor your father and your mother’; and, `He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him surely die’; 11 but you say, `If a man tells his father or his mother, What you would have gained from me is Korban’ (that is, given to God) — 12 then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, 13 thus making void the word of God through your tradition which you hand on. And many such things you do.”
The context: Today’s Gospel passage describes Jesus’ confrontation by the Scribes and the Pharisees sent from Jerusalem by the Jewish religion’s Supreme Court, the Sanhedrin, to assess Jesus’ “heretical teachings.” They first asked Jesus wwhy he did not command his disciples to do the ritual washing of hands before meals or during a banquet. Exodus 30:17ff had laid down rules for how the priests should wash their hands before offering sacrifice, but Jewish tradition had extended this purification to all Jews before every meal, in an effort to give meals a religious significance. Ritual purification was a symbol of the moral purity a person should have when approaching God. One should have a clean conscience and clean mind. But the Pharisees had focused on the mere external rite. Therefore, Jesus restored the genuine meaning of these precepts of the Law, the purpose of which was to teach the right way to render homage to God.
Jesus’ explanation: Jesus shocked his questioners by accusing them of hypocrisy and giving lip-service to God while ignoring His teachings, replacing them with man-made interpretations. As an example, Jesus pointed out how they were cleverly evading God’s commandment to honor one’s parents by falsely interpreting the precept of Korban. According to their interpretation, one could be freed from taking care of one’s parents in their old age by declaring the money or property meant for their support as “Korban,” or a special offering to God. Jesus told them that the true source of defilement was a person's heart and mind. True religion should not be mere external observances disconnected from the mind and the intentions.
Life messages: 1) We need to remember that the essence of religion is a personal relationship with God and with our fellow-human beings, not merely the external observances of religion. 2) God expects from us what He always gives us in abundance through Jesus — that generosity and good will which urge us to practice more mercy, offer more kindness, show more willingness to forgive offenses, and exercise more readiness to serve others lovingly and sacrificially. Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/26:
Feb 11 Wednesday: Our Lady of Lourdes: Mk 7: 14-23: Our Lady of Lourdes): https://www.franciscanmedia.org/our-lady-of-lourdes/ and the 34th World Day of the Sick (introduced by Pope St.John Paul II in 1992): It was three years and two months after the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception by Blessed Pope Pius IX (1854) that Mary appeared for the first time (February 11, 1858), to St. Bernadette Soubirous in the grotto at Massabielle, in Lourdes, France. Bernadette, a 14-year-old peasant girl, was the oldest daughter among the six children of Francois Soubirous and Louise Casterot. One day Bernadette went to the rocky area to collect firewood with her sister and a friend. It was when she was left behind by the other two near a big rock that Bernadette heard a loud noise. As she turned to investigate, she caught sight of a very beautiful Lady clothed in white with a rosary hanging on her arm standing in a grotto in the rock wall. The beautiful Lady smiled at her and summoned her to pray the rosary and they prayed together. Bernadette received 18 apparitions of our Lady starting in February and ending in July 1858. (Watch the movie: Song of Bernadette:https://youtu.be/wLKFAKIfn-w )Additional reflections: https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video;https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/; https://www.epriest.com/reflections
On her 18th appearance, the Holy Virgin gave the young visionary the answer to her pastor’s question, “Who are you?” In the local language Mary said, “I am the Immaculate Conception.”During her previous appearances, theBlessed Virgin Mary had instructed Bernadette to tell people to pray and do penance. All must pray especially for the conversion of sinners. Our Lady instructed Bernadette to go and tell her pastor that she wished a chapel to be built on the spot where she was appearing, and processions to be made to the grotto. But it wasn’t until four years later, in 1862, that the Bishop of the diocese declared the faithful “justified in believing the reality of the apparition,” and Pope Pius IX authorized him to permit the veneration of the Virgin Mary in Lourdes. A basilica was built upon the rock of Massabielle by the parish priest in 1865. It was consecrated, and the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes was solemnly crowned. In 1883 the foundation stone of another Church was laid, as the first was no longer large enough. It was built at the foot of the basilica, was consecrated in 1901, and was named the Church of the Rosary. Pope Leo XIII authorized a special office and a Mass, in commemoration of the apparition, and in 1907 Pius X extended the observance of this feast to the entire Church to be observed on 11 February. Since apparitions are private revelation and not public revelation, Catholics are not bound to believe them. However, all recent Popes have visited the Marian shine. Benedict XV, Pius XI and St. John XXIII went there as bishops, Pius XII as papal delegate. Pope Pius XII also issued a Lourdes encyclical on the 100th anniversary of the apparitions in 1958. Pope St. John Paul II visited Lourdes three times, Pope Benedict XVI completed a visit there on 15 September 2008 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the apparitions, and Pope Francis visited Lourdes in 2015.
Life Messages: The 34th World Day of the Sick will be observed on February 11, 2026. This day serves the purpose of reminding the members of the Church of the healing ministry of the Church. It reminds us of our Christian obligation to attend to the sick and the suffering around us. 2) This is also a day to show our gratitude to the caregivers, the doctors, the nurses, the health care workers, the pastoral ministers and all those who strive to restore the physical and spiritual health of the sick Fr. Tony Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/26
Intercessory Prayers for the World Day of Prayer for the Sick
Priest: Oh God, you have always cared for the sick in a special way, wanting your children to be healed in both body and soul. With Pope Leo XIV, we pray in special gratitude for those health care workers who continue to be signs of the merciful hands of God, offering care and comfort even as they perhaps struggle themselves. As we remember now all the ways you have come to heal the sick, we pray together: Oh God, heal all who are sick in body and soul.
Reader: God said, “I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord, because they have called you an outcast.” (Jer. 30:17)
All: O God, heal all who are sick in body and soul.
Reader:“The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness You restore him to full health” (Psalm 41:3).
All: O God, heal all who are sick in body and soul.
Reader: “All who had people sick with various diseases brought them to [Jesus]. He laid his hands on each of them and cured them.” (Lk 4:40).
All: O God, heal all who are sick in body and soul.
Reader: “Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you’” (Lk 10:8-9)
All: O God, heal all who are sick in body and soul.
Closing Prayer Priest: Hear our prayer, O God, and heal the many illnesses that afflict us in body, mind and soul. Bring comfort to those who suffer. Bring consolation to those who despair. Bring strength to those of us who walk with the sick. Bring hope to all for whom the path to healing is long or may not end. Let us never forget your special care for the sick, that they may also know they are precious and loved. Amen.
Feb 12 Thursday: Mk 7:24-30: 24 And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house, and would not have any one know it; yet he could not be hid. 25 But immediately a woman, whose little daughter was possessed by an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell down at his feet. 26 Now the woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 And he said to her, “Let the children first be fed, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 28 But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” 29 And he said to her, “For this saying you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” 30 And she went home, and found the child lying in bed, and the demon gone.”
The context: In the Gospel, Jesus demonstrates that salvation is meant for the Gentiles as well as for the Jews by healing the daughter of a Gentile woman as a reward for the mother’s strong Faith. Thus, Jesus shows that God’s mercy and love are available to all who call out to Him in Faith.
This is the second of the three miracles of healing Jesus performed for Gentiles. The first was the exorcism and healing of the possessed man in the the territory of the Geresenes (Mk 4:1-12) The third is the healing of the centurion’s servant (Mt 8:10-12). These miracles foreshadowed the future preaching of the Gospel to the whole world. Jesus first ignored both the persistent cry of the woman and the impatient demand of his disciples that the woman be sent away. Jesus then tried to awaken true Faith in the heart of this woman by an indirect refusal. We notice that the woman was refused three times by Jesus before he granted her request. Finally, the fourth time, her persistence was rewarded, and her plea was answered. She recognized Jesus as the Messiah (the Son of David) and expressed her need in clear, simple words. She persisted, undismayed by obstacles, and she expressed her request in all humility: "Have mercy on me." (Navarre Bible commentary). Jesus was completely won over by the depth of her Faith, her confidence and her wit, and responded exuberantly, "Woman, great is your Faith! Let it be done for you as you wish."
Life messages: 1) We need to persist in prayer with trustful confidence. Christ himself has told us to keep on asking him for what we need: “Ask and you shall receive.” Asking with fervor and perseverance proves that we have “great Faith.” We must realize, and remember, that we do not always get exactly what we have asked for, but rather what God knows we need and what is really best for us at the most appropriate time.
2) We need to pull down our walls of separation and share in the universality of God’s love. Today’s Gospel reminds us that God’s love and mercy are extended to all who call on Him in Faith and trust, no matter who they are. It is therefore fitting that we should pray that the walls which we have raised (or are in process of raising), by our pride, intolerance, and prejudice may crumble into dust. Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/26
Feb 13 Friday: Mk 7:31-37: 31 Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, through the region of the Decapolis. 32 And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech; and they besought him to lay his hand upon him. 33 And taking him aside from the multitude privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue; 34 and looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” 35 And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. 36 And he charged them to tell no one; but the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. 37 And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well; he even makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak.”
The context: Today’s Gospel describes how Jesus, by healing a deaf and mute man, fulfilled Isaiah’s Messianic prophecy, “The eyes of the blind shall be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped”(Isaiah 35:5). The Gospel invites us to become humble instruments of healing in Jesus’ hands by giving a voice to the needy and the marginalized in our society. It also challenges us to let our ears be opened to hear the word of God, and to let our tongues be loosened to convey the Good News of God’s love and salvation to others. Through this miracle story, Mark’s account also reminds us that no one can be a follower of the Lord without reaching out to the helpless (“preferential option for the poor”).
The miracle is described in seven ritual-like steps: (1) Jesus leads the man away from the crowd; (2) puts his fingers into the man’s ears; (3) spits on his own fingers; (4) touches the man’s tongue with the spittle; (5) looks up to Heaven; (6) sighs; (7) and speaks the healing command: “Ephphatha” (“be opened.”). And so it was done: the man’s hearing and speech were restored to him. Jesus carried out this elaborate ritual probably because the dumb man could not hear Jesus’ voice nor express his needs. Jesus applied a little saliva to the man’s tongue because people in those days believed that the spittle of holy men had curative properties. The miracle is about the opening of a person’s ears so that he will be able to hear the word of God, and the loosening of his tongue so that he will be able to profess his Faith in Jesus.
Life messages: 1) Jesus desires to give us his healing touch in order to loosen our tongues so that he may speak to the spiritually hungry through us. Jesus invites us to give him our hearts so that, through us, he may touch the lives of people in our day.
2) We must allow Jesus to heal our spiritual deafness and muteness because otherwise we may find it hard to speak to God in prayer and harder still to hear Him speaking to us through the Bible and through the Church.
3) Let us imitate the mute man in the Gospel by seeking out Jesus, following him away from the crowd, spending more of our time in getting to know him intimately through studying the Holy Scriptures, and experiencing him personally in our lives through prayer. The growing awareness of the healing presence of Jesus in our lives will open our ears and loosen our tongues. Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/26
Mk 8:1-10: 1 In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him, and said to them, 2 “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days, and have nothing to eat; 3 and if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way; and some of them have come a long way.” 4 And his disciples answered him, “How can one feed these men with bread here in the desert?” 5 And he asked them, “How many loaves have you?” They said, “Seven.”6 And he commanded the crowd to sit down on the ground; and he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd. 7 And they had a few small fish; and having blessed them, he commanded that these also should be set before them. 8 And they ate, and were satisfied; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. 9 And there were about four thousand people.10 And he sent them away; and immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.
The context: The miraculous feeding described in today’s Gospel took place on a hill near the Sea of Galilee after Jesus’ return from the Decapolis. A large crowd remained with Jesus for three days, participating in his preaching and healing ministry till all the food they had carried with them was gone.
Jesus felt pity for the hungry multitude and instructed his Apostles to feed them with what they had, namely, seven loaves of bread and a few small fish. They brought these to Jesus who said a prayer of thanksgiving over them and instructed them to distribute the bread and fish to the people. After the crowd had eaten their fill, the Apostles filled seven baskets with leftover broken pieces. This passage appears to be a repetition of Mk 6:34-44. But there are two differences: the first account shows the miracle performed for the benefit of Jews, the second for Gentiles. In the first account there are twelve basketfuls of scraps left over, in the second only seven. The language is “Eucharistic”: Jesus “took the loaves and giving thanks he broke them and handed them to his disciples to distribute.”
Life messages: 1) We need to help Jesus to feed the hungry today. Jesus invites us to give him our hearts so that he may touch the lives of people in our day through us, just as he touched the lives of millions through saintly souls like Francis of Assisi, Fr. Damien, Vincent de Paul and Mother Teresa. Let us feed the spiritually hungry with words and deeds of kindness, mercy, and sharing love. 2) We need to be fed by Jesus so that we may feed others. Jesus continues to feed us in His Church with His own Body and Blood in Holy Communion and with the word of God through the Holy Bible. Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/26
OT V (A) Sunday (Feb 8) 8-minute homily in 1 page (L-26)
Introduction: The common theme of today’s three readings is our two-fold mission to the world, to be salt and to be the light of a city built on a hilltop. (For a beautiful sermon by Pastor Gary Hamrick: Click on https://youtu.be/nPAeaj6l00I)
Scripture lessons summarized: In our first reading, the Lord God through His prophet Isaiah gives us examples of how we are to allow the light of God to shine through us. “Share your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own. Then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday” (58:7,10). The refrain for today’s Responsorial Psalm (Ps.112), reminds us, “The just man is a light in the darkness to the upright.” St. Paul, in the second reading, tells us that our proclamation of Faith will carry the Spirit and His power when we rely on the power and wisdom of God. Using two simple metaphors of salt and the light of a city on a mountaintop in today’s Gospel, Jesus outlines the role of Christians in this world. As a symbol of purity, salt was the common ingredient in sacrifices offered to God by Jews and pagans. In the ancient world, salt was the commonest of all the preservatives used to prevent the putrefaction of meat, fish, and fruits in pickles. Since Salt lends flavor to food items, it was also used to season and preserve food. A light has always been something which is meant to be seen. A lamp or light is a guide to make clear the way. A light serves also as a warning (e.g., red traffic lights which tell us to halt when there is danger ahead. Finally, light, particularly the sun’s, gives warmth and heat. (Check exegesis for details)
Life messages:1) We need to be the salt of the earth: a) As salt is a symbol of purity, used in sacrifices, the Christian must be an example of purity in speech, in conduct, and even in thought. b) As salt is an antiseptic and healing agent, the Christian must have a certain antiseptic influence on life and society, defeating corruption, fighting against injustice and making it easier for others to avoid sin. c) As salt preserves foods, we need to preserve the religious Faith, Christian cultural values, and moral principles which Jesus has given us, and to work at reconciling quarreling factions in families and communities. d) As salt is a food-flavoring agent, we need to add flavor to the lives of desperate people through outreach programs, which give meaning to their lives, boost their morale, offer them occasions to help others, and provide hope where there is none.
2) We need to be the light of the world: The second role of Christians is to receive the light of Christ and radiate it to everyone as love, kindness, mercy, forgiveness, humble service, and respect for those with different ethnic backgrounds, different lifestyles, other faiths — or no faith at all. As a guiding light in darkness, our duty as Christians is to show the correct and safe way and to shine through the darkness with Christ’s Light, thus removing the darkness caused by hatred, prejudice, spite, and jealousy. As a warning light, as Christians, our duty is to give timely and loving warning of physical and moral danger to those we encounter. As a warming light, our duty as Christians is to warm the cold hearts of others with warm, affectionate words and deeds.
OT V [A] (Feb 8, 2026): Is 58:7-10; I Cor 2:1-5; Mt 5: 13-16
Homily starter anecdotes:# 1: Salt of the earth and the light of the world:The story of EWTN is the story of a brave woman who had the courage of her conviction that she should be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Mother Angelica(who died in 2016), started broadcasting Catholic TV for just a few hours a day in 1981 from the garage of her Poor Clare Monastery in the US. The project grew and grew, and now, after forty-six years, the Eternal Word Television Network is available twenty-four hours a day all over the world by cable and satellite. Mother Teresa “(Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu (AG-nes GOHN-jah BOY-yah-jee-oo) born to Albanian parents in Yugoslavia, joined the Loreto Order of nuns, studied English in their Mother House in Dublin, Ireland and went to India in 1929 as missionary teacher. After 17 years, she received her ‘call within a call’ to work with the poorest of the poor, received permission to leave the Loreto order, started caring for the sick and dying in a small house, and founded the Missionaries of Charity. From this simple beginning, the Missionaries of Charity have grown to include 4,500 Sisters and Brothers, 755 homes for the children, the sick, the destitute and the dying and 1,369 medical clinics that serve 120,000 worldwide.” St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the foundress of the American Sisters of Charity, also began the system of Catholic education, which today (2011) includes over 7,000 elementary and secondary schools throughout the United States. St. Jeanne Jugan (Sr. Mary of the Cross), the foundress if the Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Poor became the salt and light by taking a blind, old woman and a 17-year-old-orphaned teenager to her cottage in France, and began a prayer-community of care-giving. Today, over 2,500 Little Sisters of the Poor serve 13,000 elderly residents in 195 homes worldwide. • Thirty of these homes are in the United States. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
# 2: ‘Where is the Church?“If the house is dark when nightfall comes, there is no sense in blaming the house; that is what happens when the sun goes down.” The question to ask is, “Where is the light?” Similarly, if the meat goes bad and becomes inedible, there is no sense in blaming the meat; this is what happens when bacteria are left alone to breed. The question to ask is, “Where is the salt?” Similarly, if a society deteriorates, and its standards decline until it becomes like a dark night or a stinking fish, there is no sense in blaming society; that is what happens when fallen men and women are left to themselves, and human selfishness goes unchecked. The question to ask here is, “Where is the Church? Why are the salt and light of Jesus Christ not permeating and changing our society?” (Anglican Theologian Rev. John Stott (1921-2011) in his book Issues Facing Christians Today)
#3: Salt and light:The story of EWTN is the story of a brave woman who had the courage of her conviction that she should be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Mother Angelica (who died in 2016), started broadcasting Catholic TV for just a few hours a day in 1981 from the garage of her Poor Clare Monastery in the US. The project grew and grew, and now, after forty-six years, the Eternal Word Television Network is available twenty-four hours a day all over the world by cable and satellite. Mother Angelica is an example of a true Christian living out her Faith as salt to preserve Christian values and to provide the modern world with a purifying mass-medium. She kept putting her lamp on the lampstand so that Christ’s Light would shine for everyone in the modern global village. With the death of Mother Angelica on Easter Sunday, 2016, the Church lost the most charismatic American Catholic media personality of her time, as well as someone who proved beyond any doubt that a determined, grace-filled, savvy woman can, after all, wield real power. For much of the 1980s and 1990s, she was simply the most riveting Catholic figure on the airwaves. She was a simple nun, with a profound Faith, and one courageously dependent upon God’s grace to supply what was needed. Her life and deeds were miraculous. — Mother Angelica regularly attributed the success of EWTN to God’s providence, but the history of the operation reveals savvy business decisions that helped “this miracle of God” to become the multi-million-dollar global media conglomerate it is today. That those decisions were made by a woman without much previous power in the Church or elsewhere is notable. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).# 4: St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa) — salt and light: David Porter writes of Mother Teresa: “She was born as Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu (AG-nes GOHN-jah BOY-yah-jee-oo), to Albanian parents in Yugoslavia. . She went to India in 1929 as a member of the Loreto Order of nuns, after learning English in their Motherhouse in Dublin Ireland. She taught in India for many years and became principal of the school. In 1946, she received her ‘call within a call’ to work with the poorest of the poor. By 1948, she had received permission to leave the Loreto order and had gotten training in the nursing skills she would need to carry out her calling. She prayed, “Oh God, if I cannot help these people in their poverty and their suffering, let me at least die with them, close to them, so that I can show them Your love” [Mother Teresa: The Early Years, 67; cited by Caroline J. Simon, “The Media and Mother Teresa,” Perspectives, 12 (March, 1997), 3.] Simon notes: “From this simple beginning, the Missionaries of Charity have grown to include 4,500 Sisters and Brothers, 755 homes for the children, the sick, the destitute and the dying and 1,369 medical clinics that serve 120,000 worldwide.” — We too can become the salt of the earth and the light of the world as Mother Teresa did. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
#5: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton: Getting Closer to God Means Serving Others: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, had a long and difficult journey into the Catholic faith. She lived around 1800 and was part of New York high society both by birth and also by marriage. As a young wife and mother, she felt a profound spiritual restlessness. A non-Catholic Christian, she longed for a deeper relationship with Christ, but didn’t know where to find it. A series of Crosses, including her husband’s death, led her to the Catholic Church, where she found what she was looking for in the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Converting to Catholicism led her to be criticized and ostracized by friends, social circles, and even family members. But her deeper intimacy with Christ made the suffering worthwhile. Instead of falling into discouragement or self-pity, in fact, she found herself moved to start a new religious order dedicated to educating the young. Thus was born the American Sisters of Charity, which now has five major divisions in the United States and Canada. And thus began the American system of Catholic education, which in 2011 included over 7,000 elementary and secondary schools throughout the United States. — God wants to bring flavor and light to the world, and the closer we get to his Sacred Heart, the more our hearts will burn with that same desire. [Information for this Illustration was garnered from Fr. Charles P. Connor’s “Classic Catholic Converts.”] (E- Priest). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
# 5: Is your salt salty and your light shining? If you doubt your light matters, take this little quiz: 1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world. 2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners. 3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America Pageant. Do you know all these answers? Probably not. Ask yourself some additional questions: 1. Who fed and clothed you when you were helpless? 2. What was the name of your 1st grade teacher? 3. Who is the first friend you would call in an emergency? You do know the answers to these questions. They are the salt and light of the world. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
Introduction: The common theme of the readings today is our mission to the world as salt and light.
Scripture lessons summarized: In our first reading, the prophet Isaiah gives examples of how we are to allow the light of God to shine through us: “Share your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own. Then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday” (58:7, 10). The refrain for today’s Responsorial Psalm (Ps 112), reminds us, “The just man is a light in the darkness to the upright.” The verses explain that “light” as graciousness, mercy, and justice in dealing with other people. St. Paul, in the second reading, tells us that our proclamation of Faith will carry the Spirit and His power when we rely on the power and wisdom of God. Using two simple metaphors in today’s Gospel, Jesus outlines the role of Christians in this world. The Christian’s task is to be the salt of society, preserving, reconciling, adding flavor, giving meaning where there is no meaning, and giving hope where there is no hope. Every Christian needs to reflect the light borrowed from Christ and radiate that light in the form of love, kindness, mercy, forgiveness, and humble service.
The first reading explained (Is 58:7-10):The exiles who returned from Babylon had hoped for a quick restoration of their beloved capital Jerusalem, but completion of that project was frustratingly slow. The people wondered why their suffering was so prolonged, and the prophet Isaiah told them that the main problem was their unwillingness to share God’s blessings with others. Hence, the prophet gave them examples of how they were to allow the light of God to shine through them: “Share your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own. Then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday” (58:7, 10). The Prophet Isaiah speaks in terms of justice and compassionate care for the weak, needy, and vulnerable because it is through them that the very Goodness of God is revealed, and the disciple’s God-given light will shine like the dawn. Alleviating the suffering of the oppressed and tending to the needs of others are the activities which produce light. It is by avoiding malice and by comforting the afflicted, that we enable others to see and experience the light of the Lord’s favor. Today’s Gospel also reminds us of our duty as believing Christians is to become salt and light for the world, and tells us that the best means to do so is by sacrificially sharing our blessings with others. The Responsorial Psalm corroborates this, saying “The just person is a light in darkness to the upright.”The Psalmist’s assertion, “TheLord is my light,” is echoed in Jesus’ words “I am the Light of the world; the man who follows me will have the Light of Life.”
The second reading explained (I Cor 2:1-5):St. Paul learned the lesson from his experience in Athens that his human eloquence did not help his missionary work. Hence, in Corinth Paul says that in coming to them, he chose not to rely on human eloquence, saying “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in much fear and trembling, and my speech and message were not in plausible words of wisdom but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, “so that your Faith might rest, not on human wisdom, but on the power of God.” And he kept his resolve in Corinth and instructed the intellectuals there to learn the lesson of self-sacrifice from the crucified Christ. When Paul persisted in preaching Jesus as the suffering Savior, the unexpected happened. Pagans, as well as Jews and God-fearers believed the message and found their lives transformed by a new, liberating power, which broke the stranglehold of selfishness and vice and purified them from within. St. Paul’s experience teaches us that when we start doing good for others, even if it costs us suffering and death, those actions will demonstrate God’s Spirit and power, and we will become the salt of the earth and the light of the world that Jesus challenges us to become in today’s Gospel.
Gospel exegesis: Jesus uses two metaphors to describe the role of his disciples in the society, namely salt and light, which have some common properties: 1) each is needed to sustain life, 2) each has purifying and healing qualities and 3) each has penetrating properties.
The salt of the earth: In the ancient world salt was highly valued. The Greeks called salt divine, and the Romans said, “There is nothing more useful than sun and salt.” The English word salary literally means “salt money.” In the time of Jesus, salt was connected in people’s minds with three special qualities. (i) Salt was connected with purity because it was white and it came from the purest of all things, the sun and the sea. Salt was the most primitive of all offerings to the gods. Jewish sacrifices were offered with salt. The Orientals made their oaths with salt to ratify them. They believed that it was the salt that kept the sea pure. As the “salt of the earth,” the Christian must be an example of purity, exercising absolute purity in speech, in conduct, and even in thought. God calls His children to preserve and purify. The Church is to preserve modesty (1 Tm 2:9), morality (Eph 5:3-12), honesty, and integrity (Jn 8:44-47).
(ii) Salt was the commonest of all preservatives in the ancient world, when people did not have fridges and freezers. Salt was used to prevent the putrefaction of meat, fish, fruits, and pickles. One of the strategies used in ancient wars was to block enemy soldiers from using salt mines, thus blocking their meat preservation and leather tanning for making shoes. As the salt of the earth, the Christian must have a certain antiseptic influence on life and society, defeating corruption and making it easier for others to be good. Christians are to be a preserving influence to retard moral and spiritual spoilage in the world. “As the salt of the earth, you are called to preserve the Faith which you have received and to pass it on intact to others. Your generation is being challenged in a special way to keep safe the deposit of Faith.” (Youth Day- 2002 Message by Pope St. John Paul II).
(iii) Salt lends flavor to food items. Job declares, “food without salt is a sadly insipid and even a sickening thing” (Job 6:6-7). One of the main functions of salt is to season food, to give it taste and flavor. This image reminds us that, through Baptism, our whole being has been profoundly changed, because it has been “seasoned” with the new Life which comes from Christ (cf. Rom 6:4) “The salt which keeps our Christian identity intact even in a very secularized world is the grace of Baptism” (Youth Day- 2002 Message by Pope St. John Paul II). Christianity lends flavor to life, although people think the opposite about us. In a worried and depressed world, the Christian should be the one person who remains full of the joy of life, conveying it to others. It is our duty to make the world palatable (bearable), not just to others but also to God so that He can, so to speak, continue to bear with it, in spite of its “distasteful” wickedness. To be the salt of society also means that we are deeply concerned with its well-being. By living out our Faith, Hope and Charity in the world, caring for those in need physically and spiritually without expecting a reward for doing, as the first disciples did, so, we, too, are preserving the cultural values and moral principles Jesus has given us. Thus, we, too, will be adding flavor to the common life. As salt seasoned and preserved food, and as it kept a fire burning uniformly in an oven for a longer time, the disciples, and we, are to improve the tone of society (“season” it), preserve the Faith, and extend the fire of the Spirit through our evangelization efforts.
iv)Salt has healing properties: That is why doctors prescribe saline nasal sprays and gargling with warm salt water and the application of sponge or cotton dipped in hot saline water on inflammations. The antibacterial properties of the salt are used in various ways in native medicine and Grandma remedies. In ancient cultures, babies were rubbed with salt as soon as they were born to disinfect their bodies from any harmful bacteria they may have carried from their mother during childbirth.
Are we insipid salt? Jesus went on to say that, if salt became insipid, it was fit only to be thrown out and trodden on by men. He was referring to the outdoor ovens of his own time, which were heated by blocks of cow dung, mixed with salt and other animal manure and dried in the sun served as fuel. When the fuel paddies were lit in an oven, the mixed-in salt would help the paddies burn longer, with a more even heat. When the family spent dung block, they would throw it out onto the road to harden a muddy surface. Usually, salt does not lose its flavor and its saltiness. But when mixed with impurities, salt can lose its ability to enhance flavor. We, too, might lose our ability to be a “flavoring agent” for the world if we allow “impurities” into our lives (1 Cor 15:33). Therefore, we need to keep ourselves free from sin (Eph 5:3-7. As the salt of the earth, the Christians are to keep the fire of Faith alive even under stress. If Christian “salt” loses its “flavor,” its “uselessness” invites disaster. As a Christian, one is not fulfilling one’s purpose if one does not bring to life the purity, the antiseptic power, and the flavor of salt, for then one invites disaster. In former times, if one, Jewish or Christian, did fail, then repented, one suffered the fate of the repentant and returned apostate Jew in the Jewish community, or the repentant apostate in the early Church. As penance for this sin, one had to lie across the door of the synagogue or Church and invite people to trample upon one as they entered. Today, there is a new, non-irritating, brand of Christianity around. It is without offense and without effect. Ah, but dear friends, Jesus didn’t call us to be the “sugar of the world.” He called us to be the “salt of the earth.”
The light of the world: The metaphor of light is often used in the Bible. The Jews spoke of Jerusalem as “a light to the Gentiles.” But Jerusalem did not produce its own light. Rather, it was God who lit the lamp of Israel. Moreover, Jerusalem, a city on a mountain top, could not hide God’s light. At the start of his ministry, St. Matthew portrays Jesus as the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy, being “the Great Light” that will disperse the shadow of death and the darkness of sin, which have enveloped the world. When Jesus commands his followers to be the light of the world, he demands nothing less than that we should be like him, the One who is the Light of the world: "As long as I am in the world, I am the Light of the world" (Jn 9:5). Christ is the "true" or "original" Light (Jn 8:12). We, as citizens of the Kingdom of God who believe in Him and live with His Life, are simply carriers of that Light – lamps, or "luminaries." That is, we reflect the Light of the One True Light, just as the moon reflects the light of the sun (2 Cor 4:6). The radiance which shines from the Christian comes from the loving presence of Christ within the Christian's heart, just as the radiance of a “radiant bride” [and Bride, the Church, in the universal sense[ comes from the love of the bridegroom [or Bridegroom] for her which fills her [Her] heart to overflowing. Thus, Christians are to be torchbearers in a dark world. We should not try to hide the light which God has lit in our lives. Rather, we should let it shine so that others may see our Grace-born good deeds and praise God for them. St. Paul exhorts the Christians in Philippi “to be blameless and innocent in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine like lights in the world” (Phil 2: 15). The light is also used for healing, especially in modern medicine as infrared rays, ultraviolet rays, x-rays and laser rays, and God’s Light is meant to instruct and heal the world of sin and bring it to Life through His unfailing Mercy and Love His Love, if only it will come to Him in loving grateful surrender.
The role of Christians as Christ’s light of the world. (i) A light is something which is meant to be seen. (The lamp in Palestine was like a sauce-boat full of oil with a wick floating in it. When people went out, they took the lamp from its stand and put it under an earthen bushel measure for safety’s sake, so that it might burn without risk until they came back). Christians must be visible like a “city on a hilltop” and a “lamp… on a “lamp stand.” Jesus therefore expects His followers to be seen by the world (Jn 13:35; 17:21). In addition, they must radiate and give light. “Let your light shine before men” (Mt 5:16). By this metaphor Jesus means that our Christianity should be visible in the ordinary activities of the world, for example, in the way we treat a shop assistant across the counter, in the way we order a meal in a restaurant, in the way we treat our employees or serve our employer, in the way we play a game or drive or park a motor car, in the daily language we use, and in the daily literature we read.
(ii) A lamp or light is a guide to make clear the way. So then, a Christian must make the way clear to others. That is to say, a Christian must, of necessity, be an example. “The light which Jesus speaks of in the Gospel is the light of Faith, God’s free gift, which enlightens the heart and clarifies the mind. It is the God Who said, ‘Let Light shine out of darkness,’ Who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God on the face of Christ’ (2 Cor 4:6). Our personal encounter with Christ bathes life in new Light, sets us on the right path, and sends us out to be his witnesses.” (Youth Day message by Pope St. John Paul II). As Christians, it is our duty to take a stand which the weaker brother will support, to take the lead which those with less courage will follow. The world needs its guiding lights. There are people waiting and longing for a leader to take a stand and to do the thing which they do not dare by themselves.
iii) A light can often be a warning light. A light is often the warning which tells us to halt when there is danger ahead. It is sometimes our duty as Christians to bring to our brothers and sisters, actual or potential, a necessary warning of danger or disaster. If our warnings are given, not in anger, criticism, irritation, or condemnation, but in loving concern, they may be effective.
iv) Light exposes everything hidden by darkness. (Note Jn 3:19; 1 Cor 4:5; Eph 5:8–11). When our teens, baptized and confirmed, get pregnant and do drugs at the same rate as the general teenage population; when our marriages end in divorce at the same rate as the rest of society; when we cheat in business, or lie, steal, and cheat on our spouses at the same statistical level as those who say they are not Christians — something is wrong. Let us pause for a moment and ask ourselves whether we are carrying the Light which can be seen, the Light which warns, the Light which guides. These are the Lights which God shines through our Christian living.
Life messages: 1) We need to act as salt and light by sharing in Christ’s ministry as priest, prophet, and king. As priest, Christ offered a sacrifice of love to the Father. What sacrifices of love do we offer to the Father? We can offer our married, single, or family life, our work, our outreach to others, even our relaxation, along with our prayers and sufferings, to God. We can offer them at any time, but the best time is at Mass when we offer ourselves with Christ to the Father. As Prophet, Christ proclaimed the Good News of salvation. He also calls us to evangelize others (both fellow-Catholics and non-Catholics), by word and example, at home, at school, and at work. We bear witness most effectively when others see the difference Christ has made in our lives, shining through us as the Light which can be seen, the Light which warns, and the Light which guides. Finally, as King, Christ became servant to all through His Self-giving. He also calls us to give of ourselves so the workplace, the neighborhood, the school, the parish and the home may become more humane. He calls us to serve in our parishes so they can grow and become more alive. He calls us to integrate our Christian Faith with the loving presence of our daily lives, so that our service may be His service to others. Doing all this, when we offer ourselves to God, when we proclaim the Good News in word and example, and when we serve others, we make a difference as Christians. This is how God calls us to worship, to witness, and to give of ourselves.
2) We need to live our short lives as traces of salt and candles of light: It only takes a sprinkling of salt to transform a dull and tasteless piece of meat. Just a little salt transforms everything. Just a pinch of soul-salt will add flavor to the lives of hundreds, or even thousands. Just as salt acts as a preservative and adds flavor to food, so the exemplary lives of Christians lend flavor to life by helping people to live correctly and by keeping society wholesome. Just a little light empties the world of darkness. With a little Faith Hope, and Love we can light up a big social area. Does that encourage us? It should. We may think we’re insignificant – and in a way we are – but with a little bit of Christ’s Light, we become a veritable lighthouse, illuminating the way for many. This Christ-light removes the darkness caused by hatred, spite, fear, selfishness, and jealousy. Our good deeds and actions reflect the image of Jesus, the Light of the world. We can speak with kindness and respect, we can value ourselves, we can tell the truth with love, and we can use our talents in generous service to others. We can listen with empathy and compassion and speak with encouragement and understanding, we can engage in dialogue patiently, and we can come to know people of different ethnic backgrounds, people with different lifestyles and sexual preferences, people of other Faiths and people of no Faith – and this will bring the light of Christ to illumine and change the world. Salt is a hidden but powerful influence. Light is a visible and revealing influence. Jesus tells us that we are not only to be the salt of the earth but also the light of the world. We are called to make a visible, tangible impact on the world around us. Does our life make a difference? It should. Jesus said we are to be salt and light. Does our life make a difference? It can, if we surrender ourselves to Christ. Does our life make a difference? If we live for Him, it will!
JOKES OF THE WEEK
Business is business: Angela was nearing 60 and was in her final year of teaching in the public school. She was a devout Christian who missed teaching from the Bible. Because she was worried about how little her class knew about religion, Angela decided she was going to disregard the new regulations and teach some religion. She told her class that she would run a contest. She would give £50 to whoever could tell her who the greatest man was who ever lived. Immediately Isaac a Jewish boy began to wave his hand, but Angela ignored him in favor of those in her Sunday school class. As she went around the room, Angela was disappointed with the answers she got. Jane, her best scholar, picked Noah because he saved all the animals. Others said, “I think the greatest man who ever lived was Alexander the Great because he conquered the whole world.” and “I think it was Thomas Edison, because he invented the light bulb.” Finally, she called on Isaac who still had his hand in the air. “I think the greatest man who ever lived was Jesus Christ.” said Isaac. Angela was shocked but still gave him the £50 reward. As she did so, she said, “Well, Isaac, I’m very surprised that you should be the only one with the right answer. How come?” “Well, to tell you the truth,” Isaac replied as he pocketed the money, “I think it was Moses, but business is business.”
2) “If Jesus were from Alabama….” :A little girl from Alabama went to church for the first time ever when she was visiting her grandparents in Michigan. When the Baptist pastor announced it was time for the Lord’s Supper, she was excited – and hungry. The congregation filed up to the altar rail, and the child watched in confusion as her grandparents received a wafer and small plastic cup of wine. She could hardly wait to get back to the pew to tell her grandma that Jesus wasn’t from Alabama. “How do you know that, dear?” asked her grandma. “Because that was the poorest meal I’ve ever seen,” she said. “Mama would’ve at least given everybody some corn bread and sweet tea.”
USEFUL WEBSITES OF THE WEEK (For homilies & Bible study groups) (The easiest method to visit these websites is to double click on thew URL of the website or to copy and paste the web address or URL on the Address bar of any Internet website like Google or MSN and press the Enter button of your Keyboard).
1) Your Faith rests not on the wisdom of men:During the Nazi era in Germany, one of the strongest Catholic leaders in the German Reich was Michael, Cardinal von Faulhaber (1869-1952). An able Bible professor, he long taught courses on the Old Testament in the University of Strassburg. Then in 1911 he was named Bishop of Speyer, and in 1917, Archbishop of Munich. Pope Benedict XV raised him to the rank of Cardinal in 1921. A few years after Faulhaber received the “red hat,” Adolf Hitler began to rise into power. The Cardinal held Hitler in little esteem. As a nobleman, he disdained this Austrian upstart; as a Churchman he disapproved of his ideology. In the early 1930’s when Hitler’s Nazis began to peddle their deadly philosophy, the Cardinal boldly condemned racism, neo-paganism, and totalitarianism from his cathedral pulpit, basing his sermons on the Scriptures with which he was so familiar. Particularly notable were his Advent sermons of 1933, in which he emphasized that Christianity had its roots in Judaism. As an intellectual, Cardinal Faulhaber was not at all uncomfortable in conversing, and even sparring, with other savants. There is a famous story of his chat with the great Nobel physicist, Jewish but agnostic, \Albert Einstein (1879-1955). Einstein and the Cardinal met on one occasion, and during their conversation the scientist said: “I respect religion, but I believe in mathematics. Probably it is the other way round with your Eminence, isn’t it?” “No,” Faulhaber quietly replied, “to me both are merely different expressions of the same Divine truth.” But Einstein responded, “If mathematical science should prove one day that some of its findings are in direct conflict with religious beliefs what would you say then?” “Oh,” said the Cardinal with a smile, “I share the highest regard for mathematicians and I am certain that in such a case you people would never rest until you found out where your mistake was!”– St. Paul says much the same to us in today’s second reading. “Your Faith rests not on the wisdom of men but on the power of God.” (Fr. Robert F. McNamara). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
2)The salt and the light are still at work whenwe…“do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can” (John Wesley’s advice). We taste salt and see light when we receive the following Franciscan blessing: “May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half- truths, and superficial relationships so that you may live deep within your heart. May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and the exploitation of people, so that you may wish for justice, freedom, and peace. May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.” (Christianity Today, Vol. 36, no. 14). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
3) Korean, American. and Chinese Christians: As you know, the majority religion in America is still Christianity, but we are dominated today not by the values of Christianity, but by the values of humanism and secularism. Yet, in Korea, even though there are 35 million Buddhists, and only two million evangelical Christians, Christian values dominate that culture. Why is that? It is because Korean Christians understand they are to be the salt of the earth. A Chinese Christian came to a missionary one time and said, “I have learned to quote the entire Sermon on the Mount by memory.” He stood before the missionary and perfectly quoted the sermon word-for-word. The missionary said, “That is wonderful. How did you practice it in your life?” The Chinese Christian said, “I spent the last year trying to live it.” Dr. James Stewart, a great British preacher, once said: “The greatest threat to Christianity is not Communism, atheism, materialism, or humanism. It is Christians trying to sneak into Heaven incognito without ever sharing their Faith, without ever living out the Christian life as salt of the earth and light of the world.” This is exactly the problem Jesus was trying to remedy with part of the Sermon on the Mount on the Beatitudes. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
4) Saints are people who let the light shine through: A little boy was taken by his mother to see a famous cathedral. On the windows were the pictures of various Christians. As he was watching the sunbeams shining through the stained-glass windows, he asked his mother, “Who are those people on the windows?” She said, “They’re saints.” The little boy looked at the windows and said, “Oh! So Saints are only real people who let the light shine through Could I be one?” “If you really want to,” his mother answered with a smile.” — They were both right. And that’s why Jesus died for us: so that we can all become saints, here and hereafter! (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
5) Be eagles soaring through the clouds of holiness: There is a story about a wild duck that broke his wing during the flight home for the winter. A sympathetic farmer retrieved the fallen duck and took him home. The farmer’s children adopted the duck as their pet and began to feed him from the table and take him along as they performed their daily chores. By the next fall, the children were heartbroken as they watched the duck look at the other ducks who were flying south for the winter, but his wing still wasn’t strong enough for the flight. Every time a flock flew south, the duck would look longingly into the sky and then return to play with the children. Well, the second year the duck’s wing had grown much stronger, but the children had fed the duck so well that when he attempted to take off he was too fat to get off the ground. After one or two attempts he gave up and returned to play with the children. The third year the duck was completely healed. But as the other ducks quacked their call to go south, the duck never even looked up as they flew over. He had become so accustomed to the comfort of his new existence he had lost his focus on the true calling and meaning of his life. — God has not called us to be fat ducks, satisfied with a world that is going to go up in smoke. God has called us to be eagles soaring through the clouds of holiness; shaking out the salt of a godly life; shining out the light of the truth of Jesus Christ, and bringing as many men as we can to glorify our Father in Heaven. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
6) “I love Jesus and Gospel tapes”: After the Los Angeles riots, Steve Futterman of CBC Radio broadcast an interview he had had with one of the many looters in the riot. The man had been one of many people who had looted a record store. When asked what he had stolen, the man replied, “Gospel tapes. I love Jesus.” (“Quotes & Comments,” The United Church Observer, Sept. 1992, p. 48.) — Our text for the day is about people who love Jesus, but hopefully in a more positive way than did this looter. Jesus defined his followers as the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world.” (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
7) “It made a difference for that one.” While walking along a beach, an elderly gentleman saw someone in the distance leaning down, picking something up and throwing it into the ocean. As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a little boy. When he got closer still, he discovered what the boy was doing. The kid was picking up starfish off the beach and throwing them back into the ocean. The man walked up to the kid and said, “What are you doing?” The boy said, “I am saving starfish.” “But,” said the man, “the beach goes on for miles and miles, and there are millions and millions of starfish. What difference does what you are doing make?” The little kid reached down, picked up one more starfish, tossed it into the ocean and simply said, “Well, it makes a difference to that one.” — No one of us in this Church can do everything, but all of us in this place can do something in our homes and communities that the Light of Christ may shine in the world. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
8) Christmas lights of Wauconda, Illinois: Wauconda, Illinois is a small town with a population of 6500. For the past 45 years the town had placed two large illuminated crosses on the city water towers during the Christmas season. Then, last year, the town council received a threat of legal suit if the crosses were continued, based on the separation of church and state. The town council grudgingly took them down. But that’s when the citizens of Wauconda took matters into their own hands. They decided to place lighted reminders of Christ on their own property. So, all over the community, up went crosses and nativity stars and lighted manger scenes and trees. You could see Wauconda from the interstate freeway! You could see Wauconda a hundred miles away. All night it was as bright as day because the people decided to turn on the lights. — In our Scriptural text for this morning, Jesus is urging us to turn on the lights. Each of us is supposed to shine for Christ’s sake. Our light is not like that of the sun. Our light resembles that of the moon; it is a reflected light, from Christ who lives within us. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
9)Sanders was a tither radiating the light of Christ. Football player, Barry Sanders, was signed by the Detroit Lions in 1989. He was right out of college. Many eyebrows were raised when his contract was announced at $6.1 million for five years. But the real objection came when Sanders was also given an immediate signing bonus of $2.1. million. Critics said that Sanders was greedy. Objections were somewhat silenced, however, when word leaked out that Sanders had sent a check for $210,000 to his little Baptist church in Wichita, Kansas. Sanders was a tither. Both the size of that check and the fact that it was the first one he wrote turned on some lights for the Kingdom. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
10) A wartime story. One of the boldest and most dramatic decisions of World War II was made by Admiral Marc Mitscher in the Battle of the Philippine Sea. Late in the afternoon of June 20, 1944, Mitscher had dispatched a bombing mission against the fleeing Japanese fleet. It was pitch dark when the first of the flyers began returning to their carriers. But with the fleet under strict wartime blackout regulations and the pilots’ fuel supplies running dangerously low, many of the flyers would never be able to find their way back to their carriers. Admiral Mitscher took a calculated risk. He turned on the lights. One returning flyer described the scene as a “Hollywood premier, Chinese New Year’s, and Fourth of July all rolled into one.” For two hours the planes landed. Some eighty pilots, out of gas, ditched in the sea but close enough to the carriers that few were lost. — When we are bold enough to turn on the lights for Christ, despite the costs and the risks, lost souls are won for our Lord and our city is electrified with His power. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
11) “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine!” A university professor was invited to speak at a military base in December. He was met at an airport by an unforgettable soldier named Ralph. This is the professor’s story: “After we introduced ourselves to each other, we headed toward the baggage claim area. But Ralph kept disappearing. Once he stopped to help an older woman with her baggage. Once he stopped to lift two toddlers up to see Santa Claus, and again, he paused to give directions to someone who was lost. Finally, I said, ‘Where did you learn that?’ ‘What?’ asked Ralph. ‘Where did you learn to live like that?’ Ralph replied, ‘During the war I was in Vietnam. My job was to clear the mine fields. You never knew which step might be your last, so I learned to live between the steps. I guess I just keep living that way.’” – “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine!” (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
12) Jesus Christ, the Light of the world. “Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. After a brief sojourn in a foreign land, he grew up in another village and never traveled 200 miles from there. He worked in a carpenter shop until he was thirty, and then for three years he was an itinerant preacher. He never owned a home. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never went to Rome or saw the Emperor. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credential but himself. While he was still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against him. His friends ran away; one of them denied him. He was turned over to his enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed upon a cross between two thieves. While he was dying his executioners gambled for the only piece of property he had on earth – his coat. When he was dead, he was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend. Twenty long centuries have come and gone, and today he is the centerpiece of the human race and the leader of the column of progress. — I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever were built, all the parliaments that ever sat and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as has that one solitary life.” (Author unknown) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
13)Lighting a light rather than cursing the darkness:Terry Fox was a 22-year-old student at Simon Fraser University in Canada. In 1977, he developed bone cancer and had to have his right leg amputated. When his old high school basketball coach heard about the tragedy, he sent Terry a newspaper article about an amputee who ran in the New York Marathon. The article triggered Terry’s imagination. He knew he had only a few years to live, and he wanted to do something significant with them. He decided he would try to run across Canada from Newfoundland to British Columbia, a distance of 5,000 miles. He would ask people to sponsor him and give the proceeds to cancer research. For 18 months, Terry practiced running on the artificial leg. Finally, on April 12, 1980, he began his run. He dipped his artificial leg into the Atlantic and set out across Canada. In his pocket he had pledges totaling over a million dollars. Then 114 days and 3,000 miles into the run, Terry suddenly collapsed. The cancer had spread to his lungs. He would be unable to complete the run. When news of Terry’s collapse broke, people from all over Canada began sending pledges to him in the Hospital. In hours, over $24 million was pledged. A few days later, Terry died.– If anyone had a right to curse the darkness, it was Terry. But he was too big for that. He decided to light a candle. And that light has been shining ever since. A movie has been made of his life. A stamp has been issued in his honor. And he is the youngest person ever to receive his nation’s highest honor, the Order of Canada. To this day, Terry still excites the imagination of people (Mark Link in Sunday Homilies). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
14)Keeping the lights on:A mother and her small child once drove past the restored home of Abraham Lincoln in Springfield. It was night and the national shrine of the United States was brightly lit. “Look, Mama,” the child said excitedly, “Mr. Lincoln has left his lights on.” The mother smiled. “Yes,” she replied; “he left them on for the whole world to see.” — Although Lincoln has been dead since 1865, he is still a tremendous inspiration to all people. But in a much truer sense, Christ, “God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God,” remains, and will remain to the end, the Shining Beacon for all peoples of all times. Christ has shared his Light with us, his disciples, and he asks us to be what we are: the light of the world. (Vima Dasan; quotedby Fr. Botelho). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
15)Salt (NaCl):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 the poisonous gas that gives bleach its offensive odor. When sodium and chlorine are combined, the result is sodium chloride (common table salt), the substance we use to preserve meat and bring out its flavor. — 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, ruth spoken without Love 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, however, then we have what Jesus called “the salt of the earth,” and the Light of the world, and we’re able to preserve and bring out the beauty of our Faith. (David H. Johnson). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
16) Be not simply good…Alexander Solzhenitsyn recalls, as he says, “with shame,” an incident he witnessed when he was captain in the Russian army. “One day I saw a sergeant of the secret police, on horseback, using a whip on a Russian soldier who had been captured serving in a German unit. The man, naked from the waist up, was staggering under the blows, his body covered in blood. Suddenly he looked at me and cried out: ‘Mister Captain, save me!’Any officer in any army in the world should have put a stop to this torture, but I was a coward. I said nothing, I did nothing. This picture has remained in my mind ever since.” — He could have brought light into a dark situation, but he didn’t. “Be not simply good,” says Thoreau, “be good for something.” (Flor McCarthy in New Sunday and Holy Day Liturgies; quoted by Fr. Botelho). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
17)Love brings trouble: It’s been said that when we love people and go out to help them, we become vulnerable. That’s what the wealthy industrialist Charles M. Schwab declared after going to court and winning a suit at age seventy. Given permission by the judge to speak to the spectators, Schwab made the following statement: “I’d like to say here in a court of law, and speaking as an old man, that nine-tenths of my troubles are traceable to my being kind to others. Look, you young people, if you want to steer away from trouble, be hard-boiled. Be quick with a good loud ‘no’ to anyone and everyone. If you follow this rule, you will seldom be bothered as you tread life’s pathways. Except you’ll have no friends, you’ll be lonely, and you won’t have fun!” — Schwab made his point –- love may bring headaches, but it’s worth it because we are the light of the world. (Anonymous;quoted by Fr. Botelho). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
18) Copper Kettle Christian:A woman in Bible study related that when she recently went into her basement, she made an interesting discovery. Some potatoes had sprouted in the darkest corner of the room. At first, she couldn’t figure out how they had received enough light to grow. Then she noticed that she had hung a copper kettle from a rafter near a cellar window. She kept it so brightly polished that it reflected the rays of the sun onto the potatoes. — She exclaimed, “When I saw that reflection, I thought, ‘I may not be a preacher or a teacher with the ability to expound upon Scripture, but at least I can be a copper-kettle Christian, catching the rays of the Son and reflecting His light to someone in a dark corner!’” (Brian Cavanaugh in Sower’s Seeds of Encouragement; quoted by Fr. Botelho). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
19) Choosing Life: Dr. Victor E. Frankl, survivor of three grim years at Auschwitz and other Nazi prisons, has recorded his observations on life in Hitler’s camps. “We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken away from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” (Victor Frankl in Man’s Search for Meaning; quoted by Fr. Botelho).(https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
20) ”Now I believe!” One day a man visited the home for the poor and the dying in Calcutta founded by Mother Teresa (now St. Teresa of Calcutta). He arrived just as the Sisters were bringing in some of the dying off the streets. They had picked up a man out of the gutter, covered with dirt and sores. Without knowing that she was being watched, one of the Sisters began to care for the dying man. The visitor kept watching the Sister as she worked. He saw how tenderly she cared for her patient. He noticed how, as she washed the man, she smiled at him. She did not miss a detail in her attentive care of that dying man. After carefully watching the Sister the visitor turned to Mother Teresa and said, “When I came here today, I didn’t believe in God, and my heart was full of hatred. But now I am leaving here believing in God. I have seen the love of God in action. Through the hands of that Sister, through her tenderness, through her gestures which were so full of love for that wretched man, I have seen God’s love descend upon him. Now I believe.” — We make God present to others by being the salt of the earth and light of the world. (Flor McCarthyin New Sunday & Holy Day Liturgies; quoted by Fr. Botelho).(https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
21.As Dear as Salt: An aged king who had three sons decided to choose his successor. To discover which of them would reign when he died, he inquired how much they loved him. “More than the world’s wealth!” exclaimed the first. The second declared. “Greater than all the wisdom the world holds!” The youngest said, “As dear as salt.” Infuriated, the king exiled him and bequeathed the kingdom to his eldest son. Later, fortune favored the banished son, and he became king in another faraway kingdom. But he missed his father and longed to meet him. Years later, he invited his father –very old by then – for a banquet and ordered that sumptuous dishes be prepared, but without any salt. When the old king came to the palace, his son pretended to be away, and the courtiers requested the king to begin feasting. The aroma of the food pleased the king, but, when he tasted it, he was aghast- it was tasteless, saltless! Angry, he demanded an explanation for the insult. His son-king appeared in his regalia. The young King smiled lovingly at his father and said, “When you banished me for loving you “more than salt” I wept, but eventually I realized that you had never eaten a meal without salt, so you were not to blame, I missed you, though, and I longed to be reconciled with you. Can you now see how very much I have always loved you?” The old King, tears in his eyes, said, “Yes, I can! Now I see and I offer you my sorrow, and my apology for all the pain I have caused you. Can you forgive me?” “Years ago,” replied his son. “Then we are one again — father and son forever!” his father replied, and they embraced with joy. –- Jesus tells us, today, that we are not only ‘as dear as salt’ but “You are salt! You are light!” (Francis Gonsalves in Sunday Seeds for Daily Deeds; quoted by Fr. Botelho).(https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
22.Let your light shine:A poor Scottish farmer named Fleming heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog and found a terrified boy, mired up to his waist in black muck. Fleming saved the child from what could have been a slow horrible death. The next day a fancy carriage pulled up at his home and an elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy Fleming saved. “I want to repay you” said the nobleman, “for saving my son’s life.” “No, I can’t accept payment for what I did.” said the Scottish farmer. At that moment, the farmer’s son came to the door of the family hovel. “Is that your son?” the nobleman asked. “Yes,” the farmer replied proudly. The nobleman said, “I will make you a deal. Let me provide him with the level of education that my son will enjoy. If the lad is anything like his father, he will no doubt grow to be a man we both will be proud of.” And he did. Farmer Fleming’s son attended the very best schools and in time graduated from St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School, London University, and went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the man who discovered Penicillin. But there is more to this story! Years afterward, the same nobleman’s son who was saved from the bog was stricken with pneumonia. What saved his life this time? Penicillin. The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill. His son’s name? Sir Winston Churchill. — Let us be the salt of the earth; and let our light shine before others. “(John Pichappilly in The Table of the Word; quoted by Fr. Botelho).(https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
23)St. Teresa’sinvitation to come be His light: Saint Teresa of Calcutta received an inspiration from Our Lord to found the Missionaries of Charity and bring his Light to the poor and ailing of Calcutta. In her spiritual diaries, She described this invitation by Our Lord as an invitation to come be His light (see Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light: The Private Writings of the Saint of Calcutta, by Mother Teresa and Brian Kolodiejchuk). When she saw the squalor in which the poor of India lived, she felt Our Lord asking her to bring His Light into the darkness of those holes (Ibid). She once said, “Words which do not give the Light of Christ increase the darkness.” Even though her spiritual diaries show she experienced an intense spiritual darkness for much of her life, no one who knew her could see it in the way she treated others. She was always a shining beacon of joy, love, and peace. (Source: http://www.catholic.org/clife/teresa/quotes.php). (E- Priest) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
24)“Digital Humanity” One Catholic layman recently showed that he understands this truth deeply. Reflecting on the Vatican’s insistent call to Catholics to use new media for good and not for ill, he got an idea. He envisioned a social-networking community that would be built around the Golden Rule: Do unto others what you have them do unto you. This moral principle is present, in some form or other, in all cultures and almost all religions. But even though almost everybody agrees with it, almost nobody makes a concerted effort to follow it. So this Catholic businessman started a social networking web site called “Digital Humanity” or “DigHu” [dih-joo] [http://www.dighu.com/home.php]. The site is built around members who record their “daily dighus” – daily good deeds done to better the world one step at a time. Here are some examples of recent posts: [You may want to go to the site to see more recent posts or to look for ones that would be interesting for your parishioners.] Paulie posted: “Stopped to check on the inhabitants of a car that spun out.” PACMAN posted: “Covering the shift of a fellow employee on my off day.” Nicole S posted: “Washed the dishes without complaining.” The theory behind the site is simple: people need encouragement to do what they know they should be doing, and social network sharing of daily dighus may be able to help provide that kind of encouragement. It’s a new web site, and still small. But imagine how pleased our Lord must be with that Catholic layman, who had the courage and creativity to come up with a new way to try and obey Christ’s admonition in today’s Gospel: “Your Light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” — He is someone who has decided to live his God-given mission actively, without delay. (E- Priest) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
25) “I give them Jesus.” St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa) was speaking to persons who had come to meet her from all over the world. Among those to whom she spoke was a group of religious sisters from many North American orders. After her talk she asked if there were any questions. “Yes, I have one,” a Sister sitting near the front said. “As you know, most of the orders represented here have been losing members. It seems that more and more women are leaving all the time. And yet your order is attracting thousands upon thousands. What do you do?” Without hesitating Mother Teresa answered, “I give them Jesus.” “Yes I know,” said the woman, “but take habits, for example. Do your women object to wearing habits? And the rules of the order, how do you do it?” “I give them Jesus,” Mother Teresa replied. “Yes, I know Mother,” said the woman, “but can you be more specific?” “I give them Jesus,” Mother Teresa repeated again. “Mother,” said the woman, “we are all of us aware of your fine work. I want to know about something else.” Mother Teresa said quietly, “I give them Jesus. There is nothing else.” (Margaret Davidson, Scholastic, 1971. Cited in BTBC, pp. 250-251.) — We Christians have something the world cannot find anywhere else. It is Jesus, the salt of the earth and the light of the world. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
26) Rose Hawthorne Makes a Splash: The story of Rose Hawthorne, daughter of the famous nineteenth century American author, Nathaniel Hawthorne, illustrates the influence of example. Rose’s family of origin was not even Christian, but Unitarian. The family traveled to Italy when Rose was just a girl, and the beauty of the art, architecture, and Catholic culture there impressed them. But at the same time, the mediocre lives of the Catholic Christians they met there turned them off. Nathaniel Hawthorne actually wrote about this, commenting on how little effect this beauty seemed to have on the people: “I really wonder that Catholics are not better men and women.” But if the bad example of some Catholics turned off Nathaniel Hawthorne, it was the good example of some other Catholics that led his daughter Rose to discover her calling. She and her husband became Catholic soon after their marriage, and Rose found herself deeply impressed by the visible presence of women consecrated entirely to God and the Church: Catholic nuns. After her husband passed away, she became a nun herself, actually founding the Hawthorne Dominicans for the Care of Incurable Cancer Sufferers – a congregation still going strong today. One rule of this congregation is that they do not accept any money from a patient’s family, as that could end up by their treating the wealthier ones with more loving care that they did the destitute. Their actual example of totally unselfish service made an impression on another famous American writer from the nineteenth century — Mark Twain. He was so impressed by Rose’s work, in fact, that even though he was not a Catholic himself and had inherited a strong prejudice against Catholicism, he became one of Rose’s first and steadiest benefactors. As Catholics, what we do and how we do it can either draw people closer to God or push them further away. ( Fr. Charles P. Connor’s “Classic Catholic Converts.”] E- Priest. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
27) Dodgers are going to win with Don Sutton pitching. Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Don Sutton hadn’t won a game in eight weeks. A critical press was suggesting that he be dropped from the starting lineup. The future looked bleak, and Sutton felt terrible. Then, before a game, Dodgers manager Walter Alston tapped him on the shoulder. “I’d like to speak with you, Don,” he said. Sutton prepared himself for the worst. “Don,” said Alston, “I know how the past couple of months have been for you. Everyone’s wondering whether we can make it to the play-offs . . . You know there’s a lot of pressure . . . I’ve had to make a decision.” Sutton had visions of being taken off the mound. Then Alston continued. “If the Dodgers are going to win this year,” he said, looking Sutton in the eye, “they’re going to win with Don Sutton pitching. Come what may, you’re staying in the starting job. That’s all I wanted to say.” Sutton’s losing streak lasted two more weeks, but because of his manager’s encouragement he felt different about it. Something in him was turning around. He found himself pitching the best ball of his career. In the National League pennant drive, he won 13 games out of 14. — There are all kinds of theories about how to motivate people. We can do it through guilt, through fear, through shame. But these were not Jesus’ methods. Jesus motivated through positive messages of hope and encouragement. Consider our lesson for today. Jesus says to his followers, “You are the light of the world. . . .” (Sermons.com). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
28) “They have changed the skyline of a city like New York!” It was during the early days of television. A workman was placing television transmitters at the very top of the Empire State building in New York City. Seeing him at work up there, so far off the ground, a reporter thought this would make a fascinating human interest story. So, when the workman had completed his task and had returned to the ground, the reporter approached him and asked, “Aren’t you frightened to work under conditions like that that? Isn’t it dangerous to work so high off the ground?” The workman replied, “Yes sir, it is dangerous.” Then he added…“But then, how many people can say that they have changed the skyline of a city like New York!” — After relating that story, James McCormick comments: “God offers us the privilege of changing the skyline not of a city, but of the world by becoming the Light of the world. We can help make this world healthier, more humane, more harmonious, and more blessed.” (Fr. Kayala). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
29) What’s your favorite color? 450? 600? Or 700? In case those numbers don’t immediately mean anything to you, on the visible spectrum scale for light 450 nanometers means “blue,” 600 is yellow, and at 700 nanometers you are seeing red. But we don’t “see” numbers, do we? We see the beautiful, variable, illuminating colors that light takes on as it is refracted and reflected before our eyes. We don’t experience nanometers — we bask under a blue sky, or we bathe in wonder at the beauty of a sunset that melts from orange to red to crimson and purple. Whether we catalogue light as 550 nanometers or perceive it as “green” is all a matter of perspective. Are we dissecting the idea of “light” into its most basic components (measured nanometers)? Or are we responding to the expression of that light as we experience it in the world, in colors? — In Matthew’s account of the Sermon on the Mount, immediately after Jesus lays out his “Blessed be” Beatitudes, he lifts up two metaphors showing us how disciples of the kingdom will be known to this world. They will be the “salt of the earth,” and they will be the “light of the world,” a light that will “shine before others.” — Salt sharpens flavors. Light sharpens both sight and insight. Jesus is calling would-be followers of the kingdom to sharpen lives by living on the sharp, the cutting edges, the places where new perspectives, new tastes, and new visions are embraced. Light does not just banish darkness and illuminate corners and crevices. It makes everything new. Fr. Kayla). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
30) “Sometimes it’s good to know a second language!”There was a mother mouse who decided to teach her children about the world. So, she gathered all of her little mice and set out for a walk. They walked down the hall and turned to the right. Then they went down the hall and took another right. And suddenly they found themselves in front of the family cat dozing in the sunlight. The mother mouse was scared. But she didn’t want to give in to her fright. So, she signaled to the children to be very quiet and to follow as she began to tip toe quietly and slowly past the sleeping cat. Just as she was about to get past the cat, the cat’s eyes popped open and raised its paw. The little mice were petrified. What would their mother do? Well, just as the cat’s paw started to come down, that mother mouse looked the cat right in the eye and started barking like a dog. And do you know what? The cat was so startled and frightened that it jumped up and ran away! The mother mouse, wiped her brow, shook a little and then turned to her little mice and said, “Children, I hope you learned a valuable lesson. Sometimes it’s good to know a second language!” — It’s the same way with us. It’s good to know a second language. Salt and Light are the language of God: the language of Grace and Mercy, spoken in Faith, in Hope and in Love. And when this language is translated into action it becomes the most beautiful language ever spoken. We’re called to be Salt and Light, and to speak the language of God as we live our Faith. We’re called to live the Word.
31) Salt of the earth: Mike Ilitch helping Rosa Park: Those who knew Mike Ilitch, Little Caesar’s founder and the Detroit Tigers owner, who died Friday, February 10, 2017, spent some time fondly remembering his impact on friends, on Detroit residents, and on the sports community. Ilitch also had an impact on the daily life of one of the most iconic figures from the civil rights movement. For more than a decade, Ilitch had quietly paid for Rosa Parks’ apartment in downtown Detroit, according to CNN affiliate WXYZ. That story came to light thanks to Damon Keith, a Detroit native and Federal judge. Shortly after her famed defiance of segregation sparked the Montgomery, Alabama, bus boycott, Parks moved to Detroit and became an important presence in the city for years afterward. But in 1994, Parks was robbed and assaulted in her home at the age of 81. Keith, himself an important legal figure in the civil rights movement, worked to find Parks a new, safer apartment at the Riverfront Apartments in Detroit, according to the Sports Business Daily. Ilitch read the story in the newspaper and called Keith, offering to pay for Parks’ housing indefinitely. With no fanfare, Ilitch continued paying for the apartment until Parks died in 2005, Keith said. (http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/15/us/mike-ilitch-rosa-parks-trnd/) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
32)“You are my sunshine”:Like all good parents, when Karen and her husband found that another baby was on the way, they did what they could to help their three-year old son, Michael, prepare for a new sibling. When they found the baby was going to be a girl, they would gather Michael in their arms and he would sing to his sister in Mummy’s tummy the only song he knew, “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.” The pregnancy progressed normally, then the labour pains, but complications arise during delivery. Finally, Michael’s sister was born but she was in serious conditions. The days inched by but the little girl got worse. The pediatric specialist told the parents, “There is very little hope. Be prepared for the worst.” Michael kept begging to see his sister. “I want to sing to her,” he pleaded. But children were not allowed in the ICU. Finally, Karen made up her mind. She would take Michael to the hospital whether they liked it or not, figuring that if he didn’t see his sister now, he might never see her alive. She dressed him and marched him to the ICU, but the head nurse bellowed, “Get that kid out of here now!” Karen glared into the nurse’s face, her lips a firm line, “He is not leaving until he sings to his sister!” she declared. Michael gazed at the tiny infant losing the battle to live, and begins to sing in the pure-hearted voice of a three-year-old: “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy, when skies are grey…” Instantly, the baby responded. Her pulse rate became calm and steady. Keep on singing Michael! “You never know dear how much I love you. Please don’t take my sunshine away.” The baby’s ragged, strained breathing became as smooth as a kitten’s purr. Michael’s little sister relaxed at rest; healing rest seemed to sweep over her. Keep on singing Michael! Tears ran down the face of the bossy head nurse. Karen glowed. Funeral plans were scrapped. The next day — the very next day — the little girl was well enough to go home! — In an article about the incident, Woman’s Day magazine called it “the miracle of a brother’s song.” Karen called it a miracle of God’s love. The medical staff simply called it a miracle. We call it the Lazarus story all over again. Love is stronger than death. (William Bausch in The Word In and Out of Season; quoted by Fr. Botelho). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
33) ‘Keeper of the Flame.” Sometime ago the Los Angeles Times carried a moving story by reporter Dave Smith. It was about a modern Christian who put God first in his life, other people second, and himself third. His name is Charlie DeLeo. After returning from Vietnam, he got a job as maintenance man at the Statue of Liberty. Charlie told the reporter that part of his job is to take care of the torch in the statue’s hand and the crown on the statue’s head. He has to make sure that the sodium vapor lights are always working and that the 200 glass windows in the torch and the crown are always clean. Pointing to the torch, Charlie said proudly, “That’s my chapel. I dedicated it to the Lord, and I go up there and meditate on my breaks.” But Charlie does other things for the Lord, as well. He received a commendation from the Red Cross after donating his 65th pint of blood. And since hearing of the work of Mother Teresa in India, he has given over $12,000 to her and to people like her. Charlie told the Los Angeles Times reporter: “I don’t socialize much; don’t have enough money to get married. I don’t keep any of my money. After I got my job, I sponsored six orphans through those children’s organizations.” Charlie ended by telling the reporter that he calls himself the “Keeper of the Flame” of the Statue of Liberty. Later a park guide told the reporter: “Everybody knows Charlie is special. When he first gave himself that title, people smiled. But we all take it seriously now. To us, he’s exactly what he says: ‘Keeper of the Flame’.” – J In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus challenges us to be the keeper of his flame. (Mark Link in Sunday Homilies). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
34) An encounter with true Christian light: President Woodrow Wilson once told the story of his encounter with true Christian Light. He said: “I was in a very common place. I was sitting in a barber chair, when I became aware that a powerful personality had entered the room. A man had come quietly in upon the same errand as myself, to have his hair cut, and sat in the chair next to me. Every word the man uttered, though it was not in the least didactic, showed a personal interest in the man who was serving him. And before I got through with what was being done to me, I was aware that I had attended an evangelistic service, because pastor Dwight L. Moody was in that chair. — I purposely lingered in the room after he had left, and noted the singular effect that his visit had brought upon the barber shop. They talked in undertones. They didn’t know his name, but they knew something had elevated their thoughts, and I felt that I left that place as I should have left a place of worship.” (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
35)Dr. David Livingstone, who died in 1873, was a Scottish missionary and explorer. He spent over half of his life serving in Africa. He went to unchartered regions of the continent where no Europeans had ever been before. He took no guns or supplies to trade. The Africans who were with him carried medical supplies. Dr. Livingstone just carried his Bible and Dr. Livingstone became a legend. In an effort to document his remarkable achievements for his readers, the publisher of the New York Herald sent their London correspondent, Henry Stanley, in search of Livingstone. When Stanley finally found the missionary he greeted him with those famous words, “Dr. Livingstone I presume.” The Doctor was in ill health, he was failing. But his ability to make a difference in the lives of those around him never failed. With his medical supplies he set up a small hospital. He even went to other villages to care for the sick. Every night wherever he was he would read stories from the Bible and lead prayers. Stanley, who was a tough reporter wrote, “What keeps him going? Little by little, I found myself helping in the hospital. He became contagious, his sympathy and love for others spread to me. His Piety, his holiness, his zeal and gentleness affected me. I was converted by him although he never knew it. He was truly a light to the world, he was truly the salt of the earth.” — In our reading today, we hear from Jesus and Isaiah. Both are uncomfortably challenging, both are strong, blunt and uncompromising. Each tells us something we really would rather not hear. (Fr. Bob Warren) L/26
Kindly visit my website by clicking on https://frtonyshomilies.com/ for missed or previous Cycle A homilies, 141 Year of Faith “Adult Faith Formation Lessons” (useful for RCIA classes too) & 197 “Question of the Week.” Please contact me by email only atakadavil@gmail.com. For additional homilies, you may visithttps://www.catholicsermons.com/homilies/sunday_homilies of Fr. Nick’s collection of homilies or Resources in the CBCI website: https://www.cbci.in. (Special thankstoVatican Radio website http://www.vaticannews.va/en/church.html -which completed uploading my Cycle A, B and C homilies from 1998 to 2020) My post-retirement U. S. postal address is Fr. Anthony Kadavil, Fr. Anthony Kadavil, C/o Fr. Joseph M. C. , St. Agatha Church, 1001 Hand Avenue, Bay Minette, Al, U. S. A. 36507
Salt and Light Media: June 8, 2016–Pope Francis has urged believers to be true Christians and give flavor to the life of others, not to be tempted to shine light upon themselves but to bring the light of faith to their neighbors and to mankind. The Pope was speaking on Tuesday morning during Mass at the Casa Santa Marta.
Drawing inspiration from the Gospel reading of the day, Pope Francis spoke of when Jesus told his disciples,“ You are the salt of the earth”, “You are the light of the world”,” Christians, he said, must be salt and light, but never self-serving: salt must add flavor and light must illuminate the other.
The Pope continued his homily with the question: “What must a Christian do in order for the salt not to run out, so that the oil to light the lamp does not come to an end?” The “battery” a Christian uses to generate light, the Pope explained, is simply prayer.
“There are many things one can do, many works of charity, many great things for the Church – a Catholic University, a college, a hospital – you may even be rewarded as a benefactor of the Church with a monument, but if you do not pray, it will be dark and dimly lit,” he said.
Prayer, the Pope said, is what lights up Christian life, and he highlighted the fact that prayer is a “serious” matter: “a prayer of adoration to God the Father, a prayer of praise to the Holy Trinity, a prayer of thanksgiving, a prayer to request to God… prayer must come from the heart”.
As regards the salt that Christians are called to be: it becomes salt when it is given to others. This, Pope Francis explained, is another Christian attitude: “to give of oneself, to give flavor to the lives of others, to give flavor to many things with the message of the Gospel”.
Salt is something to be used, not to keep for oneself – Francis elaborated – but to give to others. “It’s curious,” he continued, “both salt and light are for others, not for oneself: salt does not give flavor to itself; light does not illuminate itself.”
“Of course,” he noted, “you may be wondering how long salt and light can last without running out if we continue to give of ourselves relentlessly. That’s where the power of God comes in,” the Pope explained, “because the Christian is salt given to us by God during Baptism, it’s a gift that never ends”.
And reflecting on the reading from Kings in which Zarephath’s widow trusts the prophet Elijah and thus, her flour and her oil never run out, Pope Francis urged Christians to shine brightly and always overcome the temptation to shine light upon themselves. Calling it “mirror spirituality,” he said, “it is a bad thing” to want to shine light onto oneself: “Be light to illuminate, be salt to give flavor and to preserve”.
“May your light shine before men,” the Pope quoting Jesus, said, “so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in Heaven.”
Feb 2-7: Feb 2 Monday:The Presentation of the Lord: Lk 2: 22-40 or Lk 2: 22-32: ((https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/presentation-of-the-lord): The context: Today’s Gospel presents the head of the Holy Family, Joseph, faithfully obeying God’s law given through Moses, concerning the purification of the mother and the redeeming of the firstborn son, by presenting Mary and the Baby Jesus in the Temple. The events recounted appear elsewhere in the liturgical year but are those we traditionally celebrate today, February 2nd, with the Feast of Presentation of Jesus. This is a combined feast, commemorating the Jewish practice of the purification of the mother after childbirth and the presentation of the child in the Temple. It is known as the Hypanthe feast or Feast of the Purification of Mary (by the offering two pigeons in the Temple), the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (by prayers and the payment of “five shekels to a member of the priestly family” (Nm 3:47-48; NAB Note on Lk 2:22), to redeem or buy back the firstborn male child back from the Lord’s service), and the Feast of Encounter (because the New Testament, represented by the Baby Jesus, encountered the Old Testament, represented by Simeon and Anna). On February 2nd, we celebrate these events as a formal ending of the Christmas season. The same day, we also celebrate the Feast of Candlemas(because candles are blessed then for liturgical and personal use). Purification and redemption ceremonies: The Mosaic Law taught that, since every Jewish male child belonged to Yahweh, the parents had to “buy back” the child (“redeem” him), (The “Pidyon haBen” Service) with the payment of “five shekels (=15 Denarius = wage for 15 days of work), to a member of the priestly family” (Nm 3:47-48; NAB Note on Lk 2:22). In addition (Nm 18:15), every mother had to be purified after childbirth by prayers and the sacrificeof alamb (or two turtledoves for the poor) in the Temple. Joseph kept these laws as an act of obedience to God.
The encounter with Simeon and Anna: By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the old, pious, Spirit-filled Simeon and the very old widow, Anna, both of whom who had been waiting for the revelation of God’s salvation, were present in the Temple on the day Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to Present Him to the Father. Simeon recognized Jesus as the Lord’s Anointed One, and in his prayer of blessing, he prophesied that Jesus was meant to be the glory of Israel and a Light of revelation to the Gentiles. While he blessed Mary, Simeon warned that her child would be “set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and forasign of contradiction” and that “a sword will pierce through your own soul. Simeon was prophesying both the universal salvation that would be proclaimed by Jesus and the necessity of suffering in the mission of the Messiah.
Life messages:Every Holy Mass in which we participate is our presentation. Although we were officially presented to God on the day of our Baptism, we present ourselves and our dear ones on the altar before God our Father through our Savior Jesus Christ at every Holy Mass. Hence, we need to live our daily lives with the awareness both that we are dedicated people consecrated to God and that we are obliged to lead holy lives. Let us also remember and pray for our godparents who presented us to the Lord on the day of our Baptism Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/26
Feb 3 Tuesday: Mk 5: 21-43:The context: Today’s Gospel is a beautiful presentation of two miracles, a healing, and a revival and restoration of life. These miracles were worked by Jesus as rewards for the trusting Faith of a synagogue ruler and of a woman with a hemorrhage (Metrorrhagia). Though the ruler trusted Jesus out of desperation, and the woman’s Faith was a bit superstitious, even their defective Faith was amply rewarded.
The ruler and the woman: The ruler of the synagogue supported Jewish orthodoxy. He could have despised Jesus who befriended sinners. But he bravely approached Jesus as a last resort when all the doctors had failed, and his daughter was dying. Since the Jews believed that one was not actually dead until three days had passed after one stopped breathing, when word came that the child had died, the ruler showed courage and Faith in staying with Jesus, ignoring the ridicule of fellow-Jews. In the same way, the woman with the bleeding disease was ritually unclean, and she was not supposed to appear in public. She had the courage and Faith to ignore a social and religious taboo in order to approach and touch the garment of Jesus from behind. Both the ruler’s child and the sick woman were brought back to life and to the community.
Life message: 1) Jesus accepts us as we are. Hence, we need not wait until we have the correct motive and strong Faith to bring our problems before Jesus. Let us bring before him our bodily, mental, and spiritual wounds and ask for his healing touch today. Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/26
Legends: We have only a few legends and no historical documents about St. Blaise and his martyrdom. But some Eastern Churches observe his feast day as a day of obligation. The British, German and Slavic people honor his memory. The U.S. Catholics seek his intercession for the healing of throat diseases by the ritual of blessing of throats. According to the Acts of St. Blaise written in the eighth century, Bishop Blaise was martyred in his episcopal city of Sebastea, Armenia, (Turkey) in 316. Stories tell how, when the Christian persecutions began, he withdraw to a cave in the woods when inspired to do so by the Lord. Since he had been a physician before he became a bishop, Blaise soon became the friend of wild animals that were ill or wounded. They sought him out. One day the governor’s hunters searching for animals to bring to the city’s amphitheater were shocked when they happened upon Blaise. There he was, kneeling and praying — surrounded by totally docile wolves, lions and bears, tame in his presence. When they took him prisoner, on the way to the jail he got more chances to perform miracles besides healing the boy with the fishbone. He met a poor woman in great distress because a wolf had snatched her small, young pig. She asked his help. Blaise commanded the wolf to return the pig. Right away, the wolf heard and brought back the pig which was not harmed. The woman continued to visit him in prison, bringing him food and candles to bring him light in his dark cell.
The cult of St. Blaise spread throughout the entire Church in the Middle Ages because of the healing of a boy. Details regarding the miraculous healing of the boy vary. One account relates that the miracle occurred during his journey to prison when he placed his hand on the boy’s head and prayed. In anther version of the story, the miracle happened while Blaise was in prison,when he picked up two candles provided to him and formed a cross around the boy’s throat. The use of candles for the blessing of throats stems from the candles supplied by that woman which Blaise used while in prison.
Martyrdom and miracles: Another version: When the governor of Cappadocia (in Modern Turkey) began to persecute the Christians, St. Blaise was arrested. The governor of Cappadocia tried in vain to persuade Blaise to sacrifice to pagan idols. The first time Blaise refused; he was beaten. The next time he was suspended from a tree and his flesh torn with iron combs or rakes. Finally, he was beheaded. As he was led to the place of execution a poor mother rushed up to him, begging him to save her child who was choking to death on a fishbone. The bishop gave him a blessing which enabled the child to cough up the bone. Later Bishop Blaise was cruelly tortured and beheaded.
The Rite of Blessing: The blessing of throats may be given by a priest, deacon, or a lay minister who follows the rites and prayers designated for a lay minister. The priest or deacon makes the sign of the cross over the recipient as the blessing is said. If necessary, laypersons are permitted to give the blessing of the throats, but they are instructed not to make the sign of the cross. The recipient, of course, may always make the Sign of the Cros upon receiving the blessing.
Life message: We all need some type of healing in some parts of our body, mind, or soul. Let us ask the intercession of St. Blaise, Bishop and Martyr, with repentant hearts, so that Jesus the healer may place his healing touch on us as we present ourselves for the ritual of the blessing of the throats. Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/26
Feb 4 Wednesday: :Mk 6:1-6:The context: Today’s Gospel passage describes the scorn of bland indifference Jesus met in his audience and the jealous, hurtful comments Jesus heard when, as a carpenter-turned-Rabbi with a band of his own disciples, he started preaching in the synagogue of his hometown, Nazareth. A prophet without honor: The people of Nazareth literally jammed the synagogue, eager to see their familiar carpenter-turned-miracle-working preacher, Jesus, working miracles as he had done in neighboring towns and villages. But they were jealous, incredulous, and critical, rather than believing, which prevented Jesus from doing miraculous healings. They were jealous of the extraordinary ability of a former carpenter without formal education in Mosaic Law to give a powerful and authoritative interpretation of their Holy Scriptures. A carpenter’s profession was considered low in social ranking. Besides, they could not accept a prophet coming from so low a family background as Jesus’ was, nor could they accept his “blasphemous” claim to be the promised Messiah. Jesus’ relatives, known to them, were equally unimportant people. But the most offensive thing he did, in their judgment, was to point out to them their own unbelief, citing examples of the famous prophets Elijah and Elisha favoring Faith-filled Gentiles over unbelieving Jews. Brothers and sisters of Jesus: “Ancient Hebrew, Aramaic and other languages had no special words for different degrees of relationship, such as are found in more modern languages. In general, all those belonging to the same family, clan, and even tribe, were brethren. Jesus had different kinds of relatives, in two groups — some on his mother’s side, others on St. Joseph’s. Matthew 13:55-56 mentions, as living in Nazareth, ‘His brethren,’ James, Joses, Simon and Judas; elsewhere, there is reference to Jesus’ sisters (cf. Mt 6:3). But, in Mt 27:56, we are told that James and Joses were sons of a Mary distinct from the Blessed Virgin, and that Simon and Judas were not brothers of James, or St. Joseph’s children from a previous marriage. Jesus, on the other hand, was known to everyone as the son of Mary (Mk 6:3) or the carpenter’s son (Mt 13:55). The Church has always maintained as an absolutely certaity that Jesus had no brothers or sisters in the full meaning of the term: it is a dogma that Mary was ever-Virgin” (Navarre Bible Commentary).
Life messages: 1) Perhaps we have experienced the pain of rejection, betrayal, abandonment, violated trust, neglect, or abuse from our own friends and relatives. On such occasions, let us face rejection with prophetic courage and optimism. 2) Let us not, like the people in Jesus’ hometown, reject God in our personal lives. 3) Our country needs to hear God’s Truth from Spirit-filled Christians with the prophetic courage of their convictions. 4) Trusting Faith in the Divinity and goodness of Christ is essential, if Jesus is to work miracles in our personal lives. In addition, we need to be docile to the Holy Spirit living within us, so that He may work miracles in our lives. When we are challenged by the Gospel and by the Church, we should be thankful and should not allow the prophetic voice of the Church die in our hearts. Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/26
Feb 5 Thursday:St. Agatha, Virgin, Martyr: (https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-agatha ) Mk 6:7-13: 7 And he called to him the twelve, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; 9 but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. 10 And he said to them, “Where you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. 11 And if any place will not receive you and they refuse to hear you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet for a testimony against them.” 12 So they went out and preached that men should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick and healed them.
The context: Today’s Gospel describes the commissioning of the twelve Apostles. They were sent out in pairs with power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases to the people whom Jesus would visit. They wereto preach the coming of the Kingdom of God, or God’s rule in their lives.They were also to show the people listening HOW to prepare their hearts for God’s rule — repenting of their sins, then asking for God’s forgiveness and liberation from their evil habits. The Apostles were also expected to follow Jesus’ detailed action plan. Jesus’ instructions and travel tips. From his instructions, it is clear that Jesus meant his disciples to take no supplies for the road. They were simply to trust that God, the Provider, would open the hearts of believers to take care of their needs. Jesus’ instructions also suggest that his disciples should not be like the acquisitive priests of the day, who were interested only in gaining riches. His disciples should be walking examples of God’s love and providence. The Jews supported their rabbis and judged doing so a privilege as well as an obligation, because hospitality was an important religious tradition in Palestine. The Apostles should also choose temporary accommodation in a reputable household, should bless the residents with God’s peace, should be satisfied with the food and accommodation they had received, and should not search for better ones. They were to preach “‘the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand,’ heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, and cast out demons.”
Life messages:1) We all have a witnessing mission: Each Christian is called, not only to be a disciple, but also to be an apostle, bearing witness to Christ. As apostles, we are to evangelize the world by sharing with others not just words, or ideas, or doctrines, but our experience of God and His Son, Jesus. It is through our transparent Christian lives that we must show Jesus to others as we have experienced his unconditional love, overflowing mercy, forgiveness, and concern for the people around us. 2) We also have a liberating mission. There are many demons which can control the lives of people around us making them helpless slaves —the demon of nicotine, the demon of alcohol or drugs, the demon of gambling, the demon of pornography and promiscuous sex, the demons of materialism, secularism, and consumerism. We need the help of Jesus to be liberated ourselves and to help others to accept from Jesus full liberation from these demons. Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/26
Feb 6 Friday:St. Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs(https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-paul-miki-and-companions) : Mk 6:14-29: Who is Jesus? The text begins with a survey of the opinions of the people about Jesus, and of Herod about Jesus. Some associated Jesus to John the Baptist and to Elijah. Others identified him with a Prophet, that is, with someone who spoke in the name of God, who had the courage to denounce the injustices of the powerful and who knew how to animate the hope of the little ones. Persons tried to understand Jesus starting from the things that they themselves knew, believed, and hoped. They tried to make him fit into familiar criteria of the Old Testament with its prophecies and its hopes, and of the Tradition of the Ancient, with their laws. But these criteria were not sufficient. Jesus could not fit in those criteria because Jesus overtopped them!
The cause for the killing of John. Galilee, the land of Jesus, was governed by Herod Antipas, the son of King Herod the Great, from the year 4 BC up to the year 39 after Christ, a reign of 43 years! During the whole lifetime of Jesus, then, there had been no changes in the government of Galilee! Herod Antipas was the absolute Lord of everything; he listened to no one and did whatever he pleased. But the one, who really commanded in Palestine, from the year 63 BC, was the Roman Emperor under the Procurator the Emperor appointed to rule the new Province. Herod, in order not to be removed from office, tried to please Rome in everything. He insisted above all, upon an efficient administration which would provide income for the Roman Empire. The only thing that concerned or worried him was his security and promotion. This is why he repressed any type of subversion. Falvio Giuseppe, a writer of that time, says that the reason for the imprisonment of John the Baptist was the fear that Herod had of a popular revolt. Herod liked to be called benefactor of the people, but in reality he was a tyrant (Lk 22:25). The denouncement of John against him (Mk 6:18), was the drop which filled up the cup, and John was thrown into prison.
The Murder Plot. The anniversary and the banquet of the feast, with dancing and orgies! This was an environment in which the alliances were plotted. To the feast attended and were present “the great of the court, the officials and important persons from Galilee.” In this environment, the murdering of John the Baptist was plotted. John, the prophet, was a living denouncement in this corrupt system. This is why he was eliminated under the pretext of a problem of personal vengeance. All this reveals the moral weakness of Herod. So much power accumulated in the hands of a man who did not control himself! Under the enthusiasm of the feast and of the wine, Herod swore lightly to give something to the young dancer. And superstitious as he was, he thought that he had to maintain his oath. For Herod, the life of his subjects counted nothing and had no value. He used them as he wanted and decided what to do with them, just as he decided where to place the chairs in his house. Mark gives an account of how things happened and lets the community draw the conclusions.
Personal Questions Do you know the case of persons who have died victims of corruption and of the dominion of the powerful? And do you know persons in our community and in our Church, victims of authoritarianism and of an excess of power?
Herod, the powerful one who assumed he was the owner of life and death of the people, was also a very superstitious person,so he feared the resurrection John the Baptist whom he had so wronged.. Herod was was a coward before the great, a corrupt man before the girl. Superstition, cowardice, and corruption distinguished the exercise of the power of Herod. Compare this with the religious and civil power today in the various levels of society and of the Church.
Feb 7 Saturday: Mk 6:30-34:30 The apostles returned to Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a lonely place by themselves. 33 Now many saw them going, and knew them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns, and got there ahead of them. 34 As he went ashore he saw a great throng, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things
The context: Today’s Gospel passage presents the sympathetic and merciful heart of Jesus who lovingly invites his Apostles to a desolate place for some rest. Jesus realized that the Apostles he had sent on a preaching and healing mission to be neighboring towns and villages needed some unwinding and rest on their return. He was also eager to hear about their missionary adventures as they proudly shared their experiences. In no time, however, they were surrounded by the crowd, and Jesus resumed his preaching and teaching because he saw the crowd as sheep without shepherd.
Today’s Gospel describes how Jesus became a Good Shepherd. The Old Testament describes God as shepherd of His people, Israel. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want (Ps 23:1). The prophet Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would feed his flock like a shepherd, he would gather the lambs in his arms” (Isaiah 40:11). Jesus told his disciples that he was the Good Shepherd who was willing to lay down his life for his sheep. In his epistle, Peter calls Jesus the “Shepherd and Guardian of our souls”(1 Pt 2:25).
Life messages: 1) Let us show to all those entrusted to our care the same mercy, compassion, care, and concern which Jesus the Good Shepherd showed to the crowds around him. 2) Let us become good sheep of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, by leading pure, innocent, humble, selfless lives, by obeying Christ’s commandment of love, and especially by gaining daily spiritual strength from the Body and Blood of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, in Holy Communion. Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/26
Both Timothy and Titus wereconverts andco-workers of St. Paul, who sent them to defuse tensions in problem Churches. Timothy was born in Lystra in Asia Minor. He had a Greek father and Jewish mother, Eunice by name. He was converted by Paul in AD 47. He labored with Paul for 15 years, even during Paul’s house arrest in Rome, and Paul called him “dear son.” He visited the cities of Asia Minor and Greece in the company of St. Paul. He was made Bishop of Ephesus when he was comparatively young. Paul wrote two letters to him and once advised him to take a little daily dose of wine to treat his stomach problem: “Stop drinking only water but have a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent illnesses” (1Timothy 5:23). He also advised Timothy to “stir into flame” the grace of the Holy Spirit Whom he had received in Baptism (with Confirmation) and Ordination. Timothy won a martyr’s crown at Ephesus on a pagan feast day in the precincts of the temple of the goddess Diana to which he had gone to calm an unruly crowd.
Jan 26-31: Jan 26 Monday: Saints. Timothy & Titus: For a short biography, click here:https://www.francisca-20nmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saints-timothy-and-titus Mk 3:22-3022And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul, and by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.” 23 And he called them to him, and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26 And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. 27 But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods unless he first binds the strong man; then indeed he may plunder his house. 28 “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin” — 30 for they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.” [Feast Day (St. Timothy & Titus) Gospel: Jn 15:9-17]
Titus was a Greek-speaking Gentile from Antioch whose parents were Gentiles. He was Paul’s friend and fellow-preacher, a peacemaker and an administrator whom Paul chose to carry his letters to Church communities. He was made Administrator (Bishop) of Christians in Crete, charged with organizing the Church there, correcting abuses, and appointing presbyter-bishops.
Life messages: 1) Let us have the apostolic zeal of saints Timothy and Titus. 2) Let us also practice their charity and patience. (Fr. Tony) L/26
The context: Today’s Gospel passage gives Jesus’ crushing reply to the slander propagated by observers from the Sanhedrin, that Jesus expelled devils using the assistance of the leader of devils.
Jesus refutes the false allegation raised against him by the Sanhedrin scribes with three counterarguments and a warning: 1) A house divided against itself will perish and a country engaged in civil war will be ruined. Hence, Satan will not fight against Satan by helping Jesus to expel his co-workers. 2) If Jesus is collaborating with Satan to exorcise minor demons, then the Jewish exorcists are doing the same. 3) Jesus claims that he is using the power of his Heavenly Father to evict devils, just as a stronger man can tie up the strong man who has guarded all his possessions, and take all the strong man has acquired. The evil one, the strong man, has much of the world as a guarded possession, but Jesus is stronger that the evil one and will destroy the captor and free the captives. – by dying on the cross in willing sacrifice to save all of us, 4) Finally, Jesus gives a crushing blow to his accusers, warning them that by telling blatant lies they are blaspheming against the Holy Spirit and, hence, that their sins are unforgivable (unless, of course, they repent).
Life messages: 1) Jesus teaches that we can be influenced by the evil spirit if we listen to him and follow him. Hence, we have to keep our souls daily cleansed and filled with the Spirit of God, leaving no space for the evil spirit to enter our souls. Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/26
Mk 3:31-35: 31 And his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside they sent to him and called him. 32 And a crowd was sitting about him; and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, asking for you.” 33 And he replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34 And looking around on those who sat about him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does the will of God is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
The context: As Jesus became a strong critic of the Jewish religious authorities, his cousins, taking Mary His mother with them (though she supported him and all he was doing) to get a hearing by Jesus and take him to Nazareth by force, perhaps because they feared that he would be arrested and put to death, and that they might be next
Jesus’ plain statement: Today’s Gospel episode seems to suggest that Jesus ignored the request of his mother and close relatives who had traveled the long distance of 20 miles to talk to him. But everyone in the audience knew that Jesus loved his mother and had taken care of her for years before he started his public ministry. Besides, Jesus’ plain answer, “Whoever does the will of God is my brother, and sister, and mother…” was actually a compliment to his mother who had always listened to the word of God and obeyed it. Jesus was declaring, “Blessed are those who hear and keep the word of God as she is faithfully doing” (Vatican II, Lumen Gentium, 58). Jesus was also using the occasion to teach the congregation a new lesson about their relationship with God. Being a disciple of Jesus, or a Christian, is first and foremost a relationship of mutual love, service, and unity with God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and so, with each other and with all who belong to God as His children. Jesus has changed the order of relationships, and he shows us here that true kinship is not just a matter of flesh and blood. God’s gracious gift to us is His adoption of us as His sons and daughters. This gift enables us to recognize all those who belong to Christ as our brothers and sisters. Our adoption as sons and daughters of God transforms all our relationships and requires a new order of loyalty to God and His kingdom. “’Everyone who does the will of the Father,’ that is to say, who obeys Him, is a brother or sister of Christ, because he is like Jesus who fulfilled the will of his Father. But he who not only obeys but converts others, begets Christ in them, and thus becomes like the Mother of Christ” (“Commentary on St. Matthew,” 12:49-50.)
Life message: 1) Let us remember that by Baptism we become the children of God, brothers and sisters of Jesus, and members of the Heavenly family of the Triune God. Hence, let us observe our obligations of treating others with love and respect and of sharing our love with them in corporal and spiritual works of mercy. We are also His disciples, and so are obliged to be hearers as well as doers of the word of God. Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/26
Mk 4:1-20:1 Again he began to teach beside the sea. And a very large crowd gathered about him so that he got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. 2 And he taught them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: 3 “Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it had not much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil; 6 and when the sun rose it was scorched, and since it had no root it withered away. 7 Other seed fell among thorns and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. 8 And other seeds fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty-fold and sixty-fold and a hundredfold.” 9 And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” 10 …..19
The context: Today’s Gospel passage gives us the parable of the sower, the seeds sown, and the yield depending upon the type of soil. It is the first parable of Jesus in the New Testament about the Kingdom of Heaven. It is also a parable interpreted by Jesus himself. This parable was intended as a double warning: to the hearers to be attentive to, and to the Apostles to be hopeful about, Jesus’ preaching in the face of growing opposition to the Master and his ideas. Jesus wants all of us to open our hearts generously to the word of God and then to put that word into practice. The Sower is God, through the Church, the parents, the teachers, and us ourselves. The seed sown is the high-yielding word of God which is “a sharp sword” (Is 49:2), “two-edged sword” (Heb 4:12), and “fire and hammer” (Jer 23:29).
Soil type & the yield: The hardened soil on the footpath represents people with minds closed because of laziness, pride, prejudice, or fear. The soil on flat rock pieces represents emotional types of people who go after novelties without sticking to anything, and are unwilling to surrender their wills to God. “I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh” (Ez 11:19). The soil filled with weeds represents those who are addicted to evil habits and evil tendencies, those whose hearts are filled with hatred or jealousy, and those whose greed focuses on acquiring money by any means and on enjoying life in any way possible. The good and fertile soil represents well-intentioned people with open minds and clean hearts, earnest in hearing the word and zealous in putting it into practice. Zacchaeus, the sinful woman , the thief on Jesus’ right side, St. Augustine, St. Francis of Assisi, and St. Francis Xavier, among others, fall into this category of the good soil.
The context: Today’s Gospel passage is taken from Mark’s version of Jesus’ teaching after he had told the parable of the sower. Jesus reminds us that we are the light of the world and that our duty is to receive and radiate around us Christ’s light of love, mercy, compassion, and forgiveness.
The image of light and lamp: Lamps help people to see and work in the dark, and their light prevents our stumbling and falling down. For the Jews, Light represented the inner Beauty, Truth, and Goodness of God. God’s Light illumines our lives with Light, celestial joy, and everlasting peace. The glory of the Lord shone around the shepherds at Bethlehem (Lk 2:9). Paul recognized the presence of God in a blinding Light (Acts 9:3; 22:6); God “dwells in inaccessible Light” (1 Tim 6:16). That is why Jesus claims that he is the Light of the world. When the Light of Christ shines in our hearts, we are able to recognize who we are, who our neighbors are, and Who God ISand to see clearly how closely we actually are related to God and our neighbors. When we live in Christ’s Light, we do not foolishly try to hide truths about ourselves from ourselves, from our neighbors, or from God. Christ’s Light will also remind us of the consequences of our sinful ways and bad habits.
The paradox of the rich getting richer: In today’s Gospel, Jesus makes the comment “for to him who has, more will be given,” following the warning “Take heed how you hear….” Jesus is telling us that if we listen to him with open minds and open hearts and walk in his Light, the tiny bit of wisdom and understanding that we’ve already gained will grow and grow with his help. If, on the other hand, our hearts are closed to him, even the little bit of wisdom that we think we’ve got will be lost. Jesus is not talking about money or wealth in any form. He is talking about the extent and depth of our connectedness to God. If we are already deeply rooted in God, our spirits will grow larger, richer, and fuller by the day. But if our connection to the Lord is only superficial, our spirits certainly won’t grow, and our connection to Him may well not last at all.
Jan 30 Friday: Mk 4:26-34:26 Jesus said to the crowds: “This is how it is with the Kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed upon the ground, 27 and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he knows not how. 28 The earth produces of itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” 30 And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? 31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” 33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; 34 he did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything. (Feast Day gospel: Mt 23:8-12)
The context: Using the mini-parables of the growth of wheat seeds and mustard seeds in the field, Jesus explains the nature of the growth of the Kingdom of God or rule of God in human beings and human societies. In the case of both wheat and mustard seeds, the initial growth is slow and unnoticeable. But within days a leafy shoot will emerge, and within months a mature plant with numerous branches and leaves, flowers and fruits will be produced. The growth is silent and slow but steady, using power from the seed in the beginning and transforming absorbed water and minerals for energy in the later stages. Jesus explains that the Kingdom of God grows this way in human souls. The Kingdom of God is the growth of God’s rule in human hearts that occurs when man does the will of God and surrenders his life to God. It is slow and microscopic in the beginning. But it grows by using the power of the Holy Spirit, given to us through the Word of God, the Sacraments, and our prayers. Finally, God’s rule in the human heart transforms individuals and communities into God’s people, doing His will in His kingdom.
Life message 1) As we learn God’s will from His words and try to put these words into practice, we participate in the growth of God’s Kingdom on earth, a growth which will be completed in our Heavenly life. But we need the special anointing of the Holy Spirit to be doers of the word of God, so let us offer our lives before God every day, asking for this special anointing. Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/26
Jan 31 Saturday: St. John Bosco, Priest: For a short biography: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-john-boscoMk 4:35-41:35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great storm of wind arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care if we perish?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?” 41 And they were filled with awe, and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey him?”
The context: Mark’s emphasis on Jesus’ wondrous works helps him to reveal Jesus’ true Messianic identity. The role of God in calming the storms of life is the central theme of today’s Gospel. By describing the miracle, Mark also gives the assurance to his first-century believers that nothing can harm the Church as long as the risen Lord is with them. The incident reminds us today to keep Jesus in our life’s boat and to seek God’s help in the storms of life.
The storm: The Sea of Galilee is lake thirteen miles long from north to south and eight miles broad from east to west at its widest. It is notorious for its sudden storms. When a cold wind blows from the west, the valleys and gullies and hills act like gigantic funnels, compressing the winds and letting them rush down to the lake to create storms with violent waves. Unable to control their boat and their fears in just such a storm, the disciples awaken Jesus, accusing him of disregarding their safety. Jesus' response is immediate. First, Jesus rebukes the winds and the sea, producing perfect c. does he reproach them for their lack of Faith.
Life messages: 1) We need to welcome Jesus into the boat of our life. All of us are making a journey across the sea of time to the shore of eternity, and it is natural that, occasionally in our lives, we all experience different types of violent storms: physical storms, emotional storms, and spiritual storms. We face storms of sorrow, doubts, anxiety, worries, temptations, and passion. Only Jesus can give us real peace in the storm of sorrow or console us at the loss of our dear ones.
OT IV [A] Sunday (Feb 1) 8-minute homily in one page (L-26)
Introduction: Today’s readings define our Christian goal of eternal happiness and explain the attitudes and actions necessary to reach it. They form the outline for Christ-like living, noting the personal qualities expected of a disciple of Jesus and pointing out the way of life to be lived by a disciple. They show us the values that Christ cares about. In essence, the Beatitudes both fulfill and complete the Ten Commandments which stress the “Thou shalt nots.” But Jesus presents the Beatitudes in a positive sense, as the virtues in life which will ultimately lead to the rewards of salvation – not in this world, but in the next.
Scripture lessons: Zephaniah, in the first reading, calls the “moral minority” of the Jews of his time “blessed” because they seek justice, humility, truth, and righteousness, thus making a declaration of dependence on God. In the second reading, Paul advises his Corinthian Christians to use their gifts and Heaven-sent blessings for the good of the community because God has chosen to give them life in Jesus, by whom He justified, sanctified and redeemed them.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus instructs his disciples in the paradoxical blessedness of poverty, hunger, sorrow, and persecution. In poverty, we recognize God’s reign; in hunger, His providence; in sorrow, true happiness; and in persecution, true joy. In other words, the blessed in Jesus’ list are poor in spirit, compassionate, meek, merciful, clean of heart, peace-makers and those who are willing even to be insulted and persecuted for their lived Faith in him Each of the inspired authors of today’s readings, Zephaniah, Paul, and Matthew, “makes a motion,” that each of us should consider making a personal Declaration of Dependence on God, and then work with His grace to lead a holier and happier life.
Life messages: 1) We need to respond to the challenge of the Beatitudes in daily life. The Beatitudes propose to us a way of life inviting us to identify with the poor, those who mourn, the meek, and those who hunger and thirst after justice. They challenge us to be compassionate people, to be men and women who are pure in heart, and to become the peacemakers in our dealings with one another, in our families, and in the society at large, even when this approach to things exposes us to ridicule and persecution. Let us remember that each time we reach out to help the needy, the sick, and the oppressed, we share with them a foretaste of the promises of the Beatitudes here and now.
2) We need to choose the way wisely. "There are two Ways, one of Life and one of Death, and there is a great difference between the two Ways." These are the opening lines of the Didache, a first century Christian catechism used to teach new Christians the essence of the Christian Faith. The Way of Life is the WAY Jesus IS. and JESUS IS the only WAY that leads to eternal life. The challenge of the Beatitudes is: “Are you going to be happy in the world’s way or in Christ’s way?” God wants us to love Him with our entire soul and body, mind and heart, and to love each other selflessly along with everyone else as brothers and sisters of Jesus Whose Father, God, has adopted us into His Family.
OT IV [A] SUNDAY (Feb 1): Zep 2:3, 3:12-13; I Cor 1:26-31; Mt 5:1-12a
Homily starter anecdotes: # 1: 1) Happiness & unhappiness: The “Dear Abby” Column once received a letter from a 15-year-old girl which read as follows: “Dear Abby: Happiness is: not having your parents scold you if you come home late, having your own bedroom, and getting the telephone call you’ve been hoping for. Happiness is belonging to a popular group, being dressed as well as anybody, and having a lot of spending money. Happiness is something I don’t have. 15 and Unhappy.” Shortly after the letter was published, “Dear Abby” received a reply from 13-year-old girl who wrote: Dear Abby: “Happiness is being able to walk and talk, to see and hear. Unhappiness is reading a letter from a 15-year-old girl who can do all four things and still says she isn’t happy. I can talk, I can see, I can hear. But I can’t walk. 13, crippled and Happy.” — These letters reflect two different points of view on happiness. Today’s gospel on the Beatitudes does the same. (Albert Cylwicki inHis Word Resounds) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
#2: Is there anybody who is really happy? In the United States seventy people commit suicide every day and another 1,000 try it. That is 365,000 people every year are unhappy enough to try to snuff out their own existence. Put another way, in your lifetime of 80 years, 29 million people in this country will attempt to end their lives. And the suicide rate is increasing the fastest among young people, rising to nearly 300 percent among those 15 to 24 in the last twenty years. Is there anybody who is really happy? — In today’s Gospel Jesus revels the secret of the true and lasting happiness which makes life worth living. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
# 3: Beatitude of a scholar kitty: C. L. James in his delightful book, To See a World in a Grain of Sand, tells the fable of a wise old cat who notices a kitten chasing its tail. “Why are you chasing your tail?” said the wise old cat. The kitten replied, “I have learned that the best thing for a cat is happiness, and happiness is my tail. Therefore, I am chasing it, and when I catch it, I shall have happiness.” The wise old cat responded, “My son, I, too, have paid attention to the problems of the universe. I too have judged that happiness is my tail. But, I noticed that whenever I chase after it, it keeps running away from me, but when I go about my business, it just seems to come after me wherever I go.” — We do not find happiness in material things, in a pill, in a bottle, or by having love affairs. Happiness is something that comes from within us. The only truly happy life is a life lived with God as our life’s Source and our true center. Today’s Gospel asserts that those who have recognized and acknowledged their dependence on God are the truly blessed; these are the poor in spirit, the sorrowing, the lowly, those who hunger and thirst for holiness, the merciful, the single-hearted, the peace-makers, and those persecuted for their right convictions. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
Introduction: Today’s readings define our Christian goal of eternal happiness and explain the attitudes and actions necessary to reach it. In the Beatitudes, Jesus outlines the values and attitudes needed to enter and enjoy God’s kingdom: poverty of spirit, hunger and thirst for justice, compassion, meekness, mercy, integrity, peace-making, and the willingness to suffer persecution for the sake of justice. The Beatitudes contain the most essential aspects of Christian behavior that we need to make habitual if we are to live the truly Christ-like lives of loving obedience and compassion that He asks of all of us who believe. The Beatitudes spell out the personal qualities expected of a disciple of Jesus and the way of life to be lived by Jesus’ disciples. They show us the values that Christ cares about. In essence, the Beatitudes both fulfill and complete the Ten Commandments. While the Ten Commandments given to Moses on Mount Sinai, as recorded in the Old Testament Book of Exodus, provide a series of “Thou shalt nots,” Jesus presents the Beatitudes in a positive sense, as the virtues –not in this world, but in the next.
Scripture lessons, summarized: The Prophet Zephaniah, in the first reading, calls the “moral minority” of the Jews of his time “blessed” because they seek justice, humility, truth, and righteousness, thus making a declaration of dependence on God. In the second reading, Paul advises his Corinthian Christians to use their gifts and Heaven-sent blessings for the good of the community because God has chosen to give them life in Jesus, by whom He has justified, sanctified, and redeemed them. In today’s Gospel, Jesus instructs his disciples in the paradoxical blessedness of poverty, hunger, sorrow, and persecution. In poverty, we recognize God’s reign; in hunger, His providence; in sorrow, true happiness; and in persecution, true joy. In other words, the “blessed” on Jesus’ list are poor in spirit, compassionate, meek, merciful, clean of heart, peace-makers, and those who are willing even to be insulted and persecuted for their lived Faith in Him. Each of the inspired authors of today’s readings, Zephaniah, Paul, and Matthew, “makes a motion,” that each of us should consider making a personal Declaration of Dependence on God, and then, working (with His grace) to lead holier, happier lives.
The first reading (Zep 2:3, 3:12-13) explained: Zephaniah prophesied in Jerusalem during a time when many in that city were faithless and corrupt. Most of the book of the prophet Zephaniah is about the terrible Day (“The Day of the Lord”) when the Lord will wreak vengeance upon idolaters and the unfaithful. But this passage describes a “remnant,” a humble and just minority, who will receive, not vengeance, but security. Both Jesus and Zephaniah address this remnant, or “moral minority.” They want their listeners not to choose the path of arrogance, not even to pine for power, but to “seek justice … seek humility, do no wrong, speak no lies (Zephaniah), and to “thirst for righteousness, be merciful, be peace-makers” (Jesus). Zephaniah’s “Beatitudes” may be paraphrased, “Blessed are those who observe God’s law; those who seek justice; those who seek humility; those who do no wrong; and Blessed are those who tell no lies. Their reward will be shelter from God’s anger and protection from disturbance by anyone or anything.”
The second reading (I Cor 1:26-31) explained: Two things about the situation in Corinth made it necessary for Paul to remind the Christians there of their humble station and of his own humble apostolic status: 1) Corinth was a Greek metropolis with philosophers placing a high premium on knowledge and sophistication; and 2) the Christians there enjoyed an abundance of what are called charisms, or spiritual gifts, including some extraordinary powers like healing, prophecy, and speaking in tongues. Paul advised these Christians to use their gifts and heaven-sent blessings for the good of the community, not just for their own aggrandizement, and he reminded them of the contrast between Christ’s values and the world’s values.
Gospel exegesis:Source of real happiness: Today’s readings tell us that real happiness lies in what are known as “the Beatitudes.” “Beatitudes” are technically known as “macarisms,” (blessings – from the Greek makarios, meaning “blessed” or “happy”). These beatitudes echo Isaiah 61:1-2. Other examples of macarisms can be found in the Book of Proverbs, the Psalms, and even in the book of Revelation. There are thirty-seven beatitudes in the New Testament, seventeen of which are sayings of Jesus. Matthew presents Jesus as the new Moses who teaches us from the mountain that Christianity is more than obeying the Ten Commandments. The Sermon on the Mount is almost surely a collection of Jesus’ teachings rather than a sermon delivered in one sitting. The beatitudes of Jesus were taught in Aramaic. They are not simple statements; rather they are exclamations, i.e., O! The blessedness of the poor in spirit!” (Compare Psalm 1 for a similar Hebrew version.) Matthew presents the Beatitudes as coming at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount. He gives eight Beatitudes (the ninth being an explanation of the eighth).
Bombshells: In both Matthew and Luke, the Beatitudes are a “series of bombshells” or “flashes of lightning followed by thunder of surprise and shock” because Jesus reverses our natural assumption that happiness lies in riches, power, pleasure, and comfort. We believe in personal pride; Jesus blesses poverty of spirit. We seek pleasure; Jesus blesses those who mourn. We see the prosperity of aggressive people; Jesus blesses the meek. We love good food and drink; Jesus blesses those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. He challenges his listeners to find fulfillment of their needs in God, in their particular socio-economic context. The peasants, the farm workers, and the artisans of the villages in Palestine were the oppressed class. The majority of them had no political power or rights. In contrast to them were the rich and powerful, who owned most of the land, collaborated with the hated Romans, controlled the Temple cult, and interpreted the laws of God. Jesus addresses this situation in his Beatitudes.
Christ is the center of the beatitudes: Each beatitude looks at the Christian life from a different perspective. Matthew’s first beatitude with its “the poor in spirit” ( 5:3 ) is the best known and perhaps the most difficult to interpret. Matthew’s “in spirit” indicates that these “poor” make no claim on God. Matthew’s eight beatitudes expand on the first. The mourners will experience God’s comfort (v. 4). The meek demonstrate a Christ-like attitude that demands nothing for itself. Thus, the meek with Jesus shall inherit the earth (v. 5). Those who “hunger and thirst for righteousness” (v. 6) desire God’s saving righteousness in Christ. The mercy Christians show to others (v. 7) must be that of Christ, who showed mercy to his tormentors ( Luke 23:34 ). In the fifth petition of the Lord’s Prayer Christians pray that God will forgive them, just as they forgive others ( Matt 6:12 ). “Seeing God” is reserved to Christ ( John 1:18 ), but now the pure in heart will see God with him (v. 8). The Gospels reserve the phrase “Son of God” to Jesus alone, but the peace-makers show themselves to be reconciled to God, and all people are now entitled to a like honor in being called the sons of God (v. 9). The eighth beatitude follows the first with its promise of the kingdom of heaven, Christ’s pledge that they will participate in his suffering and glory. (https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/beatitudes/)
The first set of four beatitudes: Happiness of the poor in spirit, the gentle, the mourners and the righteous. Being poor in spirit is the fundamental condition for becoming blessed and happy. The best translation of that is: blessed are those who know their need for God. Jesus is not extolling the virtue of poverty but the virtues of Faith and trust in God because He is our ultimate Source of security. We are blessed when we know our need for God and do His will every day. We are poor in spirit when we surrender our plans to God and ask for His help. We are poor in spirit when we admit our sins, mourn for them repenting, ask His grace and forgiveness for them, and promise to “sin no more and avoid the near occasions of sin.” The poor in spirit also hunger and thirst for righteousness. Jesus’ blessing of the poor would have been Good News to the first disciples, who had “left everything and followed him” (Lk 5:11).
Jesus also tells us that if we are to be happy we need to be meek – gentle, self-controlled and God-controlled. The meek are the gentle people, kindly, accepting adversity with courage. The meek are those who have made a complete surrender of self to God, instead of becoming aggressive, demanding, and assertive. Meekness or gentleness is the ability to be angry with the right people about the right things at the right time to the right degree, e.g., Moses. True meekness allows us to fight for justice using peaceful means, as did Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela. Lenin is reported to have said on his death bed: “If I had ten young men like Francis of Assisi I could have averted the Bolshevik Revolution.”
The next one is: “Blessed are those who mourn.”
To mourn in biblical language and in religious language is to lament over the sin and sadness, the suffering and pain that are so common in our lives and in the world in which we live. One is not sorry simply for oneself, but for all peoples that are affected, so, when we lament, we show our compassion for others as well as our understanding, and we join them in their tears. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted by each other and by the presence of God Himself.
Jesus says that we will be blessed when we hunger and thirst for what is right. To be righteous means to do the will of God. We are hungering and thirsting for righteousness when we have a profound respect for others and want to treat them with dignity. So, when we see other people abused in one way or another, we hunger and thirst to see their dignity respected. Righteous also describes those who are right with God, with their neighbors and with their own selves and their own heart. If they hunger and thirst for this kind of relationship then, of course, God Himself will give it to them.
The second set of beatitudes: The happiness of the merciful, pure of heart, peace-makers and the persecuted. The second set of four beatitudes in Matthew 5:7-10 promise rewards in life after death to people who practice virtuous behavior. Giving unconditional forgiveness and showing the honesty and humility of asking pardon for our offenses against others are signs of a merciful heart and are essential for peace and joy of spirit. God’s mothering tenderness is the true mercy. And so, when we say, “Blessed are those who give this kind of tenderness to others,” they will have mercy shown them by God Himself. Mercy is also love extended, not out of necessity, but given through the desire to help. Jesus gave the example of the forgiving love of a merciful heart from the cross by praying for his executioners. As long as we hold something in our hearts against somebody, we are neither free nor happy. Hence, let us forgive, forget and be merciful. Mercy is also the ability to identify with others, to be willing to suffer with them, and to walk in their shoes. What Jesus meant about being pure in heart is that we cannot be happy if we are hypocrites. The pure in heart are morally pure, honest, and sincere. The real accent in Matthew’s sixth beatitude is on integrity. We should be people of integrity and character. The pure of heart will see God in their here-and-now ability to discern His presence in others and in the small and ordinary events of their lives. Clean of heart means a one-track heart and, of course, that one-track heart is basically the heart of Jesus.
Instead of merely longing for peace in the world we must be peace-makers in the little world around us. Peace-making demands positive actions for reconciliation. Making peace involves proclamation, diplomacy, self-control, and a willingness to forgive, to forget, and to promote the work of forgiveness among others. Peace-makers work for “shalom”– the wholeness and well-being that God wills for a broken world. The Hebrew word Shalom means “May you be blessed by the presence of all good things!” Finally, Jesus said, we will be happy if people and systems persecute us for our Faith and loving, Christian conduct, because Jesus’ enemies persecuted him for the same reasons. Early Christians were persecuted for a variety of reasons. The Jews persecuted them as heretics. The Jews and the Romans falsely accused the Christians of immoral practices. The words of the Last Supper, “This is my Body…. This is my Blood,” led to charges of cannibalism. The Agape (Love Feast) and the kiss of peace led to charges of sexual immorality. Apocalyptic literature, like the book of Revelation, led to charges of sedition. Today, Christians face persecution in different forms all around the world. Internally, adherence to Christ’s values means persecution by our own rebellious, selfish desires.
The Beatitudes versus Liberation theology: If the poor, the hungry, the sorrowful and the hated are all blessed, then why should anyone attempt to help them improve their lot? Indeed, that was the argument often used by previous generations who had not been exposed to the “Theology of Liberation.” God, so runs this argument, has ordained that the poor should be content with their lot. They claim that a person who has absolutely no possessions is free to seek God alone. But they ignore the difference between choosing poverty and being plunged into it without one’s choice, due to the unjust socio-political situation. Only a few saints, such as Francis of Assisi, chose the sufferings and hardships that poverty brings. Perhaps what Christ is really telling us is that we should work to improve the conditions of the poor in order for the poor to have a choice. They have the right to choose whether or not to embrace poverty, rather than having it thrust upon them by greedy exploiters.
“The heart of Christ’s teaching:” The Catechism of the Catholic Church summarizes the importance of the Beatitudes as being “at the heart of Jesus’ teaching.”“The Beatitudes describe our relationship to the Kingdom in three ways. First, these simple promises address our highest desire: happiness with God. For, only God can satisfy the heart. Second, they describe the path to God for us as individuals and together as a Church. Through the Beatitudes, we share God’s very life (sanctifying grace) because we enter into His Kingdom. Finally, they challenge us to live moral lives by putting God first. If we want to know what it truly means to be a Christian, we should read the Beatitudes in Matthew” (CCC #1716-#1724).
Life messages: 1) We need to respond to the challenge of the Beatitudes in daily life. Millions of starving, persecuted, homeless people lead hopeless lives. The Beatitudes propose to us Jesus’ Way of Life, inviting us to identify with the poor, those who mourn, the meek, and those who hunger and thirst after justice. They challenge us to be compassionate people, to be men and women who are pure in heart, and to people who become the peace-makers in their dealings with one another, in their families and in the society at large, even when this approach to things exposes them to ridicule and persecution. “As long as you did it to/for one of these, my least brethren, you did it to/for me”(Mt 25:40) is the criterion for our Last Judgment. St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa) and her Sisters, Brothers and Priests, accepted this challenge and demonstrate that one can “live the Beatitudes” in the modern world. Hence, let us remember that each time we reach out to help the needy, the sick, and the oppressed, we share with them a foretaste of the promises of the Beatitudes here and now. This is why, down through the centuries, individuals, congregations, and Church bodies have practiced charity in creative, faithful ways. They have operated soup kitchens, food banks, clothing centers, homeless shelters, and housing programs. Such enterprises represent a wonderful outpouring of good will and Christian faithfulness in response to the challenge of the beatitudes. Let us have the good will to participate in such activities in our parish and in our community. 2) We need to choose the way wisely. “There are two Ways, one of Life and one of Death, and there is a great difference between the two Ways.” These are the opening lines of the Didache, a first century Christian catechism used to teach new Christians the essence of the Christian Faith. The Way of Life is the WAY Jesus IS, the only Waythat leads to eternal life. The challenge of the Beatitudes is: “Are you going to be happy in the world’s way or in Christ’s way?” If we choose the world’s way, we are seeking our blessings in the wrong place. Sometimes we think that good health, long life, happy relationships, and a good job are blessings we “deserve” for being honest, not cheating on our taxes, coming to Church, and giving a little to charity. This is the easy way of the world. But the hard way of Jesus requires of us toil and suffering in working for the poor, the sick, and the hungry. God wants us to live as brothers and sisters who care for each another. Doing so yields an “eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (II Cor. 4:17). In the final analysis, the blessing of the Beatitudes is the possession of “the Kingdom of God.”
JOKES OF THE WEEK:1) Beatitude in Heaven: Fr. Charlie was teaching his Sunday school class. He asked the class, “If I were to sell my house and my car, have a big garage sale and give all my money to the Church, would that get me into Heaven?” “NO!” the children all answered. “If I were to do all my priestly duties well, and practice the Beatitudes in my life, would that get me into Heaven?” the Pastor asked. Again, the answer was, “NO!” “Well, then, if I were to be kind to animals, give candy to all the children, and love and serve my parish, would that get me into Heaven?” Again, the answer was, “NO!” “Well”, he continued, “then how can I get into Heaven?” Five-year-old little Johnny shouted out, “First you have to die.”
3) Beatitude in marriage: In his book, On This Day, Carl D. Windsor includes this anecdote: Even the most devoted couple will experience a “stormy” bout once in a while. A grandmother, celebrating her golden wedding anniversary, once told the secret of her long and happy marriage. “On my wedding day, I decided to make a list of ten of my husband’s faults which, for the sake of our marriage, I would overlook,” she said. A guest asked the woman what some of the faults she had chosen to overlook were. The grandmother replied, “To tell you the truth, my dear, I never did get around to listing them. But whenever my husband did something that made me hopping mad, I would say to myself, ‘Lucky for him that’s one of the ten!’”– Today, the words of the Beatitudes invite us to consider anew our dependence on God, to acknowledge Him as the Supreme Authority in our lives, and to recognize in Him the Source of our identity and happiness.
4) A famous preacher once told his congregation, “Every blade of grass is a sermon.” — A few days later, a parishioner saw him mowing his lawn. ‘That’s right, Father,’ the man said, ‘cut your sermons short.’ (Catholic homilies).
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USEFUL WEBSITES OF THE WEEK (For homilies & Bible study groups) (The easiest method to visit these websites is to copy and paste the web address or URL on the Address bar of any Internet website like Google or MSN and press the Enter button of your Keyboard).
20 Additional anecdotes: 1) Aristotle versus Galileo:“Aristotle maintained that women have fewer teeth than men. Although he was twice married, it never occurred to him to verify this statement by examining his wives’ mouths” (Bertrand Russell, British mathematician, & philosopher). About 400 hundred years ago Galileo argued that Aristotle’s theory on gravity was incorrect. According to Aristotle if you dropped one object weighing ten pounds and another weighing one pound from the same height, the ten-pound object would fall ten times faster than the other. Questioning the greatest ancient authority in science and philosophy, Galileo claimed that both objects would fall at the same speed. But people thought that Galileo was a little crazy. So, Galileo climbed up the leaning tower of Pisa and dropped two objects, one heavier than the other, over the edge. To the amazement of the crowd, the heavier object did not fall faster than the lighter one. — You too may have dismissed as wrong, maybe naive, misguided, or possibly even stupid, something you were told, and then may have come to find out afterwards that it was actually true. Well, the Beatitudes announced by Jesus in today’s Gospel might not seem right to us because we equate happiness with power, influence, wealth, health, and beauty. In fact, if anybody other than Jesus had proposed them, we might just have considered them as too extreme. But Jesus meant what he said and practiced what he taught. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
2)“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you.”On the morning before Bill Clinton took the presidential oath of office, he went to a nearby Church for a prayer service. Someone read the Beatitudes during the service. When the reader came to the last two verses, someone observed Mr. Clinton repeating the words of Jesus: 11 “Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.” — They were good words for a politician to say, particularly on the opening day of what turned out to be a rocky term of office. Any politician who tries to take an occasional stand for what is holy, just, and true can expect persecution, slander, and false accounts. The only reward may be a Heavenly one. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
3) “Happiness on easy monthly terms.” An ad appeared recently in USAToday for the BMW automobile. The ad begins like this: “Needless to say, you can’t buy happiness. But for a mere $299 a month, you can lease exhilaration. Simply visit your authorized BMW dealer before September 30 and lease a new BMW 325…” After extolling the virtues of the BMW, the ad concludes like this: “For a program of spiritual uplift on easy monthly terms, we recommend you visit a participating BMW dealer.” — I like that: “a program of spiritual uplift on easy monthly terms.” (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
4) Eight laws of public health: Some years ago a panel of doctors was appointed by the Federal government to meet together and draw up eight laws of public health that could be printed in pamphlet form and distributed to the public. After twelve days of exhausting meetings, the doctors were unable to come to a consensus. It seems that their areas of concern were too diverse. Among the group were a cancer specialist, a cardiologist, a pulmonologist and a psychiatrist, and each approached the problem from the perspective of his own discipline. The chest expert was concerned about coal dust from the mines and lint produced by textile mills, while the psychiatrist was concerned about the effects off urban stress. — Finally, Dr. Harold Sladen of a famous hospital in Detroit came up with an appropriate idea. He said: “Let’s just republish the eight Beatitudes of Jesus and simply replace the word ‘Blessed’ with the word ‘Healthy.’”(https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
5) Living the Beatitudes: In the last century, the Belgian priest Father Damien De Veuster went to live on a remote island in a colony of people suffering with leprosy. Father Damien tried to live the values of the Beatitudes. He was pure in heart, merciful, hungry and thirsty for righteousness. He was publicly persecuted for doing what he believed was right. His biographers also say he was often lonely, depressed, and stubborn. His immediate superiors branded him a troublemaker. (Gavan Daws, Holy Man (Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1984-5) — The Catholic Church had to wait for years, only naming him as a saint in 2010. But people who knew Father Damien called him “happy” or “blessed.” (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
6) Happiness is found in purposeful living: In his book, Anatomy of an Illness, Norman Cousins tells a revealing story about Pablo Casals, the great cellist. Cousins describes meeting Casals shortly before his ninetieth birthday. It was almost painful for Cousins to watch the old man dress. Arthritis, emphysema, the frailty of advanced years — all had taken their toll. The hands swollen, the fingers clenched — how could a man in such condition ever hope to play his beloved music again? And yet, even before eating Casals made his way slowly and with much difficulty to his piano. There a miracle took place right before Norman Cousins’ eyes. As he describes it, “The fingers slowly unlocked and reached toward the keys like the buds of a plant toward sunlight. [Casals’] back straightened. He seemed to breathe more freely.” He began with a piece by Bach which he played with a sensitivity and control that would have been the envy of a young and agile pianist. He then launched into a Brahms concerto, and his fingers seemed to race above the keyboard. “His entire body seemed fused with music,” Cousins wrote. “It was no longer stiff and shrunken, but supple and graceful — and completely freed from its arthritic coils.” By the time he walked away from the piano he seemed to be an entirely different person from the tired old man who had struggled out of bed and into his clothes. He stood straighter and taller. He immediately walked to the breakfast table, ate heartily, and then went out for a stroll on the beach. — “The sense of uselessness,” said Thomas Huxley, “is the severest shock which our system can sustain.” Conversely, when we have a great purpose to live for, a purpose that is high and noble, our whole being is enhanced. That is the first conclusion about happiness which we can derive from these teachings of our Lord. Happiness is found in giving ourselves to a high and noble purpose. (Rev. King Duncan) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
7) Is anyone in this world truly happy? Samuel Johnson once wrote a story entitled “Rasselas” in which the main character, an Abyssinian prince, lived on a mountaintop in peace and luxury but became dissatisfied with his walled-in existence and finally ventured out into the world to search for those persons who were altogether happy. To his surprise he discovered that no such person existed in the world. He returned, disillusioned, to his home in Abyssinia — Is anyone in this world truly happy? (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
8) “Really happy and was still in their right mind?” There was a Peanuts cartoon years ago in which Lucy asked Charlie Brown if he had ever known anybody who was really happy. Before she could finish her sentence, however, Snoopy came dancing on tiptoe into the frame, his nose high in the air. He danced and bounced his way across two frames of the cartoon strip. — Finally, in the last frame, Lucy finished her sentence, “Have you ever known anybody who was really happy, and was still in their right mind?” (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
9) Declaration of Independence:On July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, approved Richard Henry Lee’s motion that the thirteen colonies in North America declare their independence from Great Britain and from the rule of King George III. On that July 4, celebrated now as Independence Day, the Congress approved the Declaration. Since then, human history has been punctuated with many such declarations of independence. Over 40 countries on the continent of Africa, more than a dozen newly independent republics in the former Soviet Union, several areas in Eastern Europe and conflicting ethnic groups with differing ideologies in many countries have engaged in civil wars and declared their political independence from those who had controlled them. The clamor for independence can be heard everywhere, from Hong Kong in the east to the Basque country in the west. — Independence, self-rule, and the prerogative of determining one’s own direction, goals, and priorities have perennial appeal for most human beings. — But, as is often the case, the readings for today’s liturgy invite us to consider a different perspective. The inspired authors of today’s readings, Zephaniah, Paul, and Matthew, make a motion, as it were, a motion that each of us should consider making a personal Declaration of Dependence on God, to receive our true blessing. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
10) Battle of Gettysburg: Frederick Buechner tells about watching a scene in the Ken Burns film series on the Civil War. It was the fiftieth anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, and veterans from North and South gathered at the battleground to reminisce. At one point, the veterans decided to reenact Pickett’s Charge. All the participants took their positions, and then one side began to charge the other. Instead of swords and rifles, this time the vets carried canes and crutches. As both sides converged, the old men did not fight. Instead, they embraced and began to weep. Buechner muses, “If only those doddering old veterans had seen in 1863 what they now saw so clearly fifty years later.” — Then he adds: “Half a century later, they saw that the great battle had been a great madness. The men who were advancing toward them across the field of Gettysburg were not enemies. They were human beings like themselves, with the same dreams, needs, hopes, the same wives and children waiting for them to come home … What they saw was that we were, all of us, created not to do battle with each other but to love each other, and it was not just a truth they saw. For a few minutes, it was a truth they lived. It was a truth they became. [Frederick Buechner, “Journey Toward Wholeness,” Theology Today 49/4 (January 1993), pp. 454-464).] (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
11) “If only I had that, I would be happy.” Father Louis Everly, a noted Belgian theologian, priest and writer says that so many people never find happiness because they do not know where to look for it. Too many people make the mistake of seeking one more material thing, one more pay raise, one more promotion, one more problem solved, one more handicap overcome. “If only I had that,” they often say, “I would be happy.” Too late, they learn that happiness does not come from the outside but from within. Howard Hughes was one of the wealthiest men who ever lived but he could not buy contentment or peace of mind. — That is the first thing that is evident as we view the Beatitudes. Happiness is not synonymous with the pursuit of pleasure. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
12) Satan’s Beatitudes:Blessed are those who are too tired, too busy, too distracted to spend an hour once a week with their fellow Christians in Church – they are my best workers. Blessed are those who wait to be asked and expect to be thanked – I can use them in my business. Blessed are those who are touchy. Soon they will stop going to Church – verily, they shall be my missionaries. Blessed are those who sow gossip and trouble – they are my beloved children. Blessed are those who have no time to pray – for they are MY prey. Blessed are those who gossip – for they are my secret agents. Blessed are you when you read this and think it has everything to do with other people, and nothing to do with you – I’ve got room for YOU at my inn. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
13) Eight principles for the measure of a person. Some years ago, the Raleigh, North Carolina News & Observer published an article entitled: “How Do You Measure Up as a Man?” The article stated that some extensive research had been conducted on the 20th century standards for measuring a man. 1) His ability to make and conserve money. 2) The cost, style and age of his car. 3) How much hair he has. 4) His strength and size. 5) The job he holds and how successful he is at it. 6) What sports he likes. 7) How many clubs he belongs to. 8) His aggressiveness and reliability. — Jesus Christ also once set down eight principles for the measure of a person. His standards stand in stark contrast to the aforementioned. There would appear to be a wide gulf between the popular image of the successful person and what God sees as the successful person. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
14) Final happiness: I like the story of the preacher who met two little boys. After greeting them, he said, “Boys, would you like to go to Heaven?” “Yes, sir!” one responded immediately. “No, sir,” the other boy said honestly. Surprised by such honesty, the preacher asked, “Son, do you mean that eventually you don’t want to go to Heaven?” “I’d like to go eventually,” replied the boy, “but I thought you were getting up a load to go today.” — For many people, happiness, like Heaven, is something that is going to come eventually, but it never quite arrives. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
15) Secret of happiness: Barbara L. Frederickson, Ph.D., has spent fifteen years studying happiness, and she has reached the conclusion that happiness comes from finding positive meaning in the things that happen to us. You get a flat tire on the way to work. Bad experience. You have a great conversation with the mechanic who comes to fix your flat. Good experience. Your presentation at work didn’t wow your colleagues as much as you had hoped it would. Bad experience. You learn valuable lessons from your failure that you can use in making your next presentation. Good experience. — People who find positive meaning, even in bad experiences, are happier and more resilient than are people who only focus on their bad experiences. (Rev. Frank Lyman.) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
16) City of Joy:City of Joy is the title of a novel (and a movie based on it), written by a European Doctor who came to live in the Calcutta slum, Anand Nagar (City of Joy). Describing the naked or half-naked slum children playing in the rain and mud, he says that the rich children living in the city mansions can never be happy like these poor kids. — “Happy are the poor, for theirs is the Kingdom of God.” (Joe Vempeny).(https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
17) “I’d give it to the poor.” During the Great Depression in America, a government agency had the task of travelling through isolated mountain areas, in search of poor farmers, to whom they would give some grant of money for the purchase of seed, or repairing their homes. One agent came upon an old woman living in a shack. It had no floor. Several windows were broken and covered over with tar paper. The old woman had but the basic essentials, and was just barely scratching out a living on a miserable plot of land. The agent said to her, “If the government gave you $200, what would you do with it?” Her instant answer was: “I’d give it to the poor.” — It is a mistake for a religious to think of money as riches. In spite of the lack of it, this good woman does not consider herself poor. Millions of good people are really rich, while having little money. On the other hand, one could have plenty of money, and be really poor. (Indian Thoughts Archives) (Joe Vempeny). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
18)Happiness Myths:Dr. Harold Treffert is the director of the Winnebago Mental Health Institute in Wisconsin. In an article entitled “The American Fairy Tale,” he discusses five dangerous ideas we have about the meaning of happiness. First, happiness is things. The more you accumulate and have, the happier you will be. Second, happiness is what you do. The more you produce and earn, the happier you will be. Third, happiness is being the same as others. The more you are fashionable and conform with the times, the happier you will be. Fourth, happiness is mental health. The fewer problems you have and the more carefree you are, the happier you will be. Fifth, happiness is communicating with electronic gadgets. The more you can communicate with a television set, a satellite, or a computer, the happier you will be. According to Dr. Treffert, these five myths about happiness are the cause of many mental health problems today. — If happiness cannot be found through these five myths of “The American Fairy Tale,” then where do we find it? Jesus gives us the answer when he outlines the beatitudes in today’s reading from Luke. (Albert Cylwicki in His Word Resounds) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
19)The attitude that beatifies:There was a farmer. He lived a happy life spending most of the time taking care of his farm with the aid of his horse. One day he lost his horse. Neighbors came to sympathize with him. “What a shame!” they said. “Who knows? God Knows!” He replied. A week later this horse returned with another horse. The neighbors came to share his joy. “What a blessing!” they said. “Who knows? God knows!” he replied. One day while riding the horse, his son fell off the horse and broke his leg. Again, neighbors came to offer their sympathy. “What a shame!” they said. “Who knows? God knows!” he replied. A week late a war broke out in their country. The king ordered all men over 18 years of age to join the military. They spared his son because of his broken leg. Once again neighbors rushed to his house. “What a blessing!” they said. — “Who knows? God Knows!” the farmer replied. (SV) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
20)Is there anybody who is really happy? According to the Center for Disease Control, in the United States “in 2016, nearly 45,000 Americans age 10 and older died by suicide. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death, and is one of just three leading causes that are on the rise.” Three years ago, 45,000 American people were unhappy enough to snuff out their own lives. Statistics suggest that your lifetime 15 million people in this country will attempt to end their lives. And the suicide rate is increasing the fastest among young people nearly 300 percent among those 15 to 24 in the last twenty years. — Is there anybody who is really happy? (https://frtonyshomilies.com/). L/26
Kindly visit my website by clicking on https://frtonyshomilies.com/ for missed or previous Cycle A homilies, 141 Year of Faith “Adult Faith Formation Lessons” (useful for RCIA classes too) & 197 “Question of the Week.” Please contact me by email only atakadavil@gmail.com. For additional homilies, you may visithttps://www.catholicsermons.com/homilies/sunday_homilies of Fr. Nick’s collection of homilies or Resources in the CBCI website: https://www.cbci.in. (Special thankstoVatican Radio website http://www.vaticannews.va/en/church.html -which completed uploading my Cycle A, B and C homilies from 1998 to 2020) My post-retirement U. S. postal address is Fr. Anthony Kadavil, Fr. Anthony Kadavil, C/o Fr. Joseph M. C. , St. Agatha Church, 1001 Hand Avenue, Bay Minette, Al, U. S. A. 36507
Jan 19-24(Please visit my website https://frtonyshomilies.com/ if you miss any of my emailed homilies) Jan 19 Monday:Mk 2:18-22: 18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and people came and said to him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” 19 And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 20 The days will come, when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day. 21 No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; if he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. 22 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; if he does, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and so are the skins; but new wine is for fresh skins.”
The context: Today’s Gospel passage gives Jesus’ reply to the question raised, perhaps by some well-meaning Pharisees who were disciples of John the Baptist, asking why Jesus’ disciples ate and drank and feasted, while they (John the Baptist’s disciples), and the Pharisees in general, fasted and prayed. Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving were the three cardinal religious practices — the “good deeds” — of Jewish religious life.
Jesus’ reply: Jesus responded to their sincere question using three metaphors: the metaphor of the “children of the bridal chamber,” the metaphor of patching torn clothing, and the metaphor of wineskins. First, Jesus compared his disciples with the children of the bridal chamber. These were the selected friends of the bride and groom who feasted in the company of the bride and groom during a week of honeymoon. Nobody expected them to fast. Jesus assured the questioners that his disciples would fast when the Bridegroom (Jesus himself), was taken away from them. In other words, fasting is necessary when we sin, and our union with Christ begins to fade, as happens when we get addicted to evil habits and evil tendencies, leading us to sin. As Catholic Christians, we are uniquely blessed to experience Jesus’ presence in the Eucharist. In the same way, we are to welcome both the joys of Christian life and the crosses it offers us. But Joy is the chief characteristic of a Christian – Joy even in tribulation. Using the comparisons of the danger of using new, unshrunken cloth to make a patch for an old garment, or old wineskins to store new, still-fermenting wine, Jesus told the questioners that they must have more elastic and open minds and larger hearts to understand and follow his new ideas which were, in many cases, different from traditional Jewish teachings. Jesus is challenging us to be open to radical transformation so that we may receive him and, with his grace, reflect his love, mercy, and forgiveness to others.
Life message: 1) We need to be adjustable Christians with open and elastic minds and hearts. The Holy Spirit, working actively in the Church and guiding the Church’s teaching authority (the Magisterium), enables the Church to put into practice new visions, new ideas, new adaptations, and new ways of worship in place of old ones. So, we should have the generosity and good will to follow the teachings of the Church. At the same time, we need the Old Testament revelations, the New Testament teachings, and the Sacred Tradition of the Church as main sources of our Christian Faith. ) We need to gain spiritual strength by fasting, prayer, and penance, especially when we separate ourselves from Christ by our sins .Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/26
Jan 20 Tuesday:St. Fabian, Pope, Martr; St. Sebastian Martyr:https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-Fabian-Pope-and-saint-Sebastian-Martyr) Mk2:23-28: 23As [Jesus] was passing through a field of grain on the sabbath, his disciples began to make a path while picking the heads of grain.f 24At this the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?”25He said to them, “Have you never read what David did* when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry? 26How he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest and ate the bread of offering that only the priests could lawfully eat, and shared it with his companions?” 27Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for man,* not man for the sabbath.i 28* That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.
The context: Today’s Gospel passage gives us Jesus’ teaching on the purpose of the Sabbath and on its proper observance. This was his response to a criticism and a silly accusation made by Pharisees against his disciples who, on a Sabbath, to satisfy their hunger, plucked ears of grain from a field and ate the grains after removing the husks by rubbing the grains between their palms and blowing away the chaff. The Pharisees accused them of violating Sabbath laws by performing three items of work forbidden on Sabbath, namely, harvesting, threshing and winnowing.
Counterarguments: According to Matthew Jesus gives three counterarguments from Holy Scripture defending his apostles. (1) Basic human needs, like hunger, take precedence over Divine worship and Sabbath observance. Jesus cites from the Scripture the example of the hungry David and his selected soldiers. They approached Ahimelech, the priest of Nob, who gave them for food the “offering bread” which only the priests were allowed to eat (1 Sm 21:1-6). (2) No law can stand against Divine worship. That is why the priests were not considered as violating Sabbath laws although they did the work of preparing two rams for sacrifice in the Temple (Nm 28:9-10). (3) God desires that we practice mercy: Jesus quotes the prophet Hosea to tell the accusers God’s words: “I want mercy, not sacrifice” (Hos 6:6).
Life messages: Like the Jewish Sabbath, the Christian Sunday is to be 1) a day for rest and refreshment with members of the family; 2) a day for thanksgiving and the recharging of spiritual batteries, through participation in the Eucharistic celebration (for Catholics) and through (a worship service for the Non-Catholics); 3) a day parents should use for teaching religious Faith and Bible lessons to their children; 4) a day for doing works of charity in the neighborhood and in the parish; 5) a day for socializing with family members, neighbors, and fellow parishioners. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/26
Mk 3:1-6: 1 There was a man there with a withered hand. 2 And they watched him, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3 And he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come here.” 4 And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. 5 And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6 The Pharisees went out, and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.
The context: Today’s Gospel describes a miraculous healing done by Jesus on one Sabbath as a public violation of Sabbath law intended to demonstrate that God’s intention for the Sabbath was to do good and to save life rather than to do evil or to destroy life.
The incident and the reaction: Ex 20:8 and Dt 5:12 instructed the Jews to keep the Sabbath holy. But the Scribes and the Phariseeshad soamplified God’s law on the Sabbath by misinterpreting it and had, through man-made laws, made it almost impossible for common people to keep perfectly. Jesus wanted to demonstrate in public the original intention of God in declaring the Sabbath holy. For Jesus, the Sabbath was a day of rest to be used in adoring God, learning and teaching His laws, and doing good to/for others. Hence, Jesus took the liberty of granting healing to a man with a withered hand in the local synagogue immediately after the worship service, thus infuriating the scribes and the Pharisees.
Life messages: 1) Our Catholic Christian Sabbath, that is, our Sunday, observance of participating in the Eucharistic celebration is meant to recharge our spiritual batteries for doing good to/for others and avoiding evil. 2) Our Sunday observance is also meant to be an offering of our lives to God on the altar, to ask His pardon and forgiveness for our sins, to present our needs before the Lord and to participate in the Divine Life by Holy Communion. 3) Sunday is also a day for us to spend time with the members of the family and to participate in the activities of our parish and neighborhood. Fr. Tony(https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/26
Jan 22 Thursday Mk 3:7-12: 7 Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great multitude from Galilee followed; also from Judea 8 and Jerusalem and Idumea and from beyond the Jordan and from about Tyre and Sidon a great multitude, hearing all that he did, came to him. 9 And he told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, lest they should crush him; 10 for he had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed upon him to touch him. 11 And whenever the unclean spirits beheld him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” 12 And he strictly ordered them not to make him known.
The context: Today’s Gospel describes how both Jews and Gentiles from Galilee and all surrounding areas gathered around Jesus practically every day of his public ministry of preaching and healing. Jesus preached the Good News of God’s love and demonstrated by his healing ministry the mercy and compassion of God the Father.
Jesus’ mission was universal, attracting Jews and pagans alike. He exercised his Divine power of healing, using his human body to demonstrate to the people that he was both God and man. Jesus instructed the healed ones not to publicize him as the expected Messiah because he did not want to bring his public life to a premature end. The ordinary Jews believed that the expected Messiah would declare himself King of the Jews after overthrowing the Roman rule. Hence, it was dangerous to let people regard him as the Messiah.
Life message: 1) Jesus continues to preach the Good News and heal the sick through his Church and through us, his followers. He welcomes our response to him and calls us to come to him through the Sacraments, especially through our participation in the Eucharistic celebration with trusting Faith and confident expectation. “The holy human nature of our Lord is our only route to salvation; it is the essential means we must use to unite ourselves to God. Thus, we can today approach our Lord by means of the sacraments, especially and pre-eminently the Eucharist. And through the sacraments there flows to us, from God, through the human nature of the Word, a strength which cures those who receive the sacraments with faith (cf. St. Thomas Aquinas, “Summa Theologiae”, III, q. 62, a. 5). (Fr. Tony) L/26
Mk 3:13-19:13 And he went up on the mountain, and called to him those whom he desired; and they came to him. 4 And he appointed twelve, to be with him, and to be sent out to preach 15 and have authority to cast out demons: 16 Simon whom he surnamed Peter; 17 James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, whom he surnamed Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder; 18 Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew [Nathaniel], and Matthew [Levi], and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus, and Simon the Cananaean, 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. Then he went home. (& Lk 6: 12-16)
The context: Today’s Gospel passage gives a short account of the call and mission of the Apostles. Jesus is the first missionary. He, the Only-begotten Son of the Father, was sent to this world, and particularly to His Chosen People, to proclaim “Good News” that God, his Father and ours, is a loving, merciful, and forgiving Father Who wants to save everyone through His Son Jesus. Today’s Gospel describes how Jesus selects and empowers twelve future missionaries as apostles, giving them his own mission along with a share of his power to preach, and to heal the sick as proof of the truth of their message. Then, Jesus sends them in pairs to the Jewish towns and villages as heralds, to prepare the people he is going to visit in Person to receive the Good News.
Special features: Jesus selected very ordinary people, most of them hard-working fishermen with no social status, learning, or political influence, because he was sure that they would be very effective instruments in God’s hands. It was a strange mixture of people. Matthew (Levi) was a hated tax-collector for a foreign power, while Simon the Cananaean was a Zealot and fanatical nationalist who belonged to a militant group determined to destroy Roman rule by any means. The others were mostly professional fishermen with a lot of good will, patience and stamina. At first it was only their admiration and love for Jesus that united them. Jesus selected them after a night of prayer and gave them his own powers of healing and exorcism and his own mission of preaching the “Kingdom of God.”
Life messages: 1) As Christians, we have the same mission that Jesus entrusted to his apostles: to proclaim the word of God to all the world. 2) We fulfill this mission primarily by living out Jesus’ teachings and by promoting and helping the world-wide missionary activities of the Church with prayer, moral support, and financial aid. Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/ (L/26)
Mk 3:20-21: Then he went home; 20 and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. 21 And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for people were saying, “He is beside himself.”
The context: Today’s Gospel tells us how Jesus’ relatives and fellow villagers, wrongly judging him as out of his mind, tried to take him by force back to Nazareth, his home, to concentrate on doing his safe, secure job as a good carpenter. That might be one reason why Jesus once remarked, “a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.” (Mt 10:36). However, Jesus met their opposition with grace and continued to live out his Messianic Mission, quietly determined to fulfill his Father’s will.
There were five reasons why Jesus’ family might have thought he was mad and, so, attempted to end his preaching and healing mission. First, Jesus had abandoned his safe, secure job as a much-needed village carpenter with a steady income to become a wandering preacher with no residence or steady income. Second, Jesus had chosen a band of fishermen with no political or social influence, a hated tax-collector and a fanatic zealot among his disciples. Third, Jesus had begun to criticize the power lobby – the chief priests, elders, scribes, and Pharisees – in the Jewish religion’s headquarters, Jerusalem, labeling them hypocrites. Jesus’ relatives might also have been afraid that Jesus would be arrested, and they would be persecuted with him for criticizing those in power. Fourth, Jesus had indirectly claimed to be the long-awaited Messiah and had worked miracles to support his claim. Fifth, they might have been jealous of Jesus’ huge popularity throughout Palestine.
Life messages: 1) Since Jesus experienced rejection by his own relatives, he can sympathize with the hurt and rejection we receive from our family members and console us in our pain. 2) Let us learn to forgive the modern “liberal-minded” people who find our Christian beliefs and practice “crazy,” and face them with the courage of our convictions based on Christ’s Divine authority and the reliability of his doctrines and promises. 3) Let us remember that many saints, following Christ’s example, have been taken for madmen — but they were “mad” with loving, holy love for Jesus Christ, their God. Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/(L/26).
Introduction: Today’s readings show that the early Christians understood how Jesus had fulfilled the expectations of ancient Israel. Describing the humble beginning of the public ministry of Jesus, today’s Scripture readings teach us that Christ has brought us from the darkness of sin into the Light of God (Mt 4:16) by calling us to repentance (Mt 4:17) and complete acceptance of the Kingdom of God and God’s consequent rule over us. (You may add a homily starter anecdote)
Scripture lessons summarized: The first reading contains a prophetic reference to Christ as the Light that dispels darkness. Matthew wanted his readers to recognize that the Light of which Isaiah spoke had finally appeared with the coming of Jesus. The refrain for today’s Responsorial Psalm (Ps 27) reminds us that, “The Lord is my Light and my Salvation.” The second reading advises the Corinthians to live as children of the Light, avoiding divisions and rivalries, because several factions had arisen among the Corinthian Christians, each claiming allegiance to its first Christian teacher or to a particular Apostle such as Peter, Paul, or Apollos. In today’s Gospel passage (Mt 4:12-23), Matthew explains that what Isaiah prophesied has been fulfilled through the preaching and healing ministry of Jesus.By his ministry of inviting people to the Kingdom of God through repentance, Jesus has brought Light to peoples living in darkness, thus fulfilling God’s original promise. In addition, the Gospel describes the call of the first disciples (4:18-22), who would learn from, live out, and then teach us (through the Holy Spirit Who would empower them), Jesus’ proclamation of God’s Good News. They and their successors would continue Jesus’ own preaching, teaching, and healing ministry to the end of time and this world, drawing people to repent of their sins, accept the Good News of God’s rule (the Kingdom of God) over them. The ordinary men Jesus called had no formal training in Mosaic Law to preach the Good News, yet they and their successors have been very effective instruments in the hands of the Holy Spirit, to extend Jesus’ mission to the world.
Life messages:1) We need to appreciate our call to be Christ’s disciples: Every one of us is called by God, both individually and as a Church member, to be His disciple. The call is both a privilege and responsibility. The mission of preaching, teaching, and healing which Jesus began in Galilee has become the responsibility of the Church and of each individual Christian. Our response to the call begins with our reception of Baptism and Confirmation, the Sacraments of Initiation. That response is meant to be strengthened through the years by the Eucharist and Reconciliation and to be made manifest in Matrimony or Holy Orders. We are healed and consoled in the Anointing which also prepares us for death. As we respond to Christ’s call, we gain spiritual strength through our personal and family prayers, our Sacramental life and our faithful study of the Bible and the Church’s teachings. 2) We need to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom: When we receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, we are sent forth to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom and to defend the Catholic Faith. Each of us Christians has received a unique call to preach the Good News of God’s love, mercy, forgiveness, and salvation through our daily life. This call challenges us to rebuild our lives, homes, and communities in the justice and peace that Jesus proclaims. As we continue with the celebration of the Holy Mass, let us ask the Lord Jesus to give us the strength and perseverance to answer his calling, so that we may faithfully serve the Lord, doing His Divine will as best as we can by cooperating with His grace.
OT III [A] (1/22/2023) Is 8:23—9:3, 1 Cor 1:10-13, 17, Mt 4:12-23
Homily starter anecdotes:# 1: Light and darkness:Terry Anderson, a journalist for the Associated Press, was seized and held hostage in Lebanon for seven years; blindfolded almost all of that time, Anderson described his experience in this way, “Deepest darkness, fumbling, uncertainties are frightening. More frightening is the darkness of the mind, when outside light makes no impression and inner lights go dim. . .” [Den of Lions, Crown Publishers, Inc. (New York: 1993).] In November of 1965, a power failure plunged seven northeastern U.S. states and Ontario, Canada, into a darkness which lasted for more than thirteen hours. About thirty million people living in eighty thousand square miles of territory were affected. In 1977, another, less severe, power failure darkened New York City for fifty-two minutes. Losses due to accidents and looting were in excess of one billion dollars. — In the Holy Scriptures, light and darkness serve as symbols for good and evil. In today’s first reading and in the Gospel, Jesus is presented as the One sent to remove the darkness of sin from the world. Through Isaiah, God promises that His people will see an end to the darkness of oppression and separation. Today’s Gospel shows us how the prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled in Jesus. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
# 2: Remain in politics and exert a Christian influence there: Those of you who saw the remarkable film Amazing Grace (https://youtu.be/lqlcjI85gaY?list=PLHKcjlIaFmTQHWaOU6j4fwNo-0PHUDr4f) remember the story of William Wilberforce, a British politician who, after his conversion to Christianity, became England’s greatest anti-slavery advocate. It was through his tireless efforts that England eventually outlawed slavery, paving the way for the end of the slave-trade in the Western world. But William Wilberforce almost missed his calling. After his conversion, Wilberforce considered leaving politics for the ministry. He wasn’t sure how a Christian could live out his Faith in “the world.” Fortunately, Wilberforce turned to an Anglican clergyman, John Newton, for guidance. Newton was a former slave trader who had renounced the trade and entered the ministry, writing the much-loved hymn, “Amazing Grace” as a result of his conversion. Newton convinced Wilberforce that God had called Wilberforce to remain in politics in order to exert a Christian influence there. — It was John Newton who gave William Wilberforce the wake-up call that kept him championing the cause of freedom for Britain’s slaves. Four men, fishermen by trade, were toiling at the nets beside the Sea of Galilee when they received a wake-up call from Jesus. And their whole world was turned upside down. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
#3: Light in darkness in the life of a football legend: Darryl Floyd Stingley (September 18, 1951 – April 5, 2007) was an American professionalfootball player, a wide receiver whose career was ended at age 26 by an on-field spinal cord injury. Stingley had 110 receptions for 1,883 yards and 14 touchdowns in 60 regular season games for the Patriots. He also had 28 carries for 244 yards and two touchdowns, 19 punt returns for 136 yards and eight kickoff returns for 187 yards. He had over 500 combined yards rushing, receiving and returning both punt and kickoffs in 1973 and 1975. He finished his career with 2,450 combined yards rushing, receiving, and returning both punts and kickoffs. In a 1978 preseason game against the Oakland Raiders at Oakland Coliseum on August 12, Stingley was hit by Raiders defensive back, Jack Tatum. As Stingley stretched for an errant pass, he and Tatum collided. Stingley’s helmet made contact with Tatum’s shoulder pad, compressing his spinal cord and breaking his fourth and fifth cervical vertebrae.[5] He eventually regained limited movement in his right arm, but spent the rest of his life, 30 years, as a quadriplegic in a wheel chair. The injury came just after Stingley had finished negotiating a contract extension that would have made him one of the highest paid receivers in the NFL. The new contract was to be announced when the Patriots returned from the West Coast. Instead, it was never signed. But Daryl never gave up; he trusted that God would show him His light in darkness. In an interview with Newsweek magazine, he insisted that his life was better after the accident. He told Chicago Tribune that the tragedy gave him a spiritual rebirth, enabling him to show some light to those in the darkness of despair. — In today’s Gospel, Matthew describes Jesus’ public ministry in the Galilee of the Gentiles as the light prophesied by the prophet Isaiah. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darryl_Stingley). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
# 4: St. John Henry Newman, (Cardinal Newman)’s prayer for light in the darkness of life:
Lead, kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom,
Lead thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home,–
Lead thou me on!
Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene,–one step enough for me. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
Introduction: Today’s Scripture readings tell us that Christ has brought us into the Light (4:16), by calling us to repentance (4:17).
Scripture lessons summarized: The first reading contains the prophetic reference to Christ as the Light that dispels darkness. Matthew wanted his readers to recognize that the Light Isaiah spoke of had finally appeared with the coming of Jesus. The refrain for today’s Responsorial Psalm (Ps 27) has us sing, “The Lord is my Light and my Salvation,” and the Psalm itself reminds us that with Him as our “life’s refuge,” we need fear no earthly power or threat. In the second reading, Paul advises the Corinthians to live as children of the Light, avoiding divisions and rivalries. Several factions had arisen among the Corinthians, each claiming allegiance to its first Christian teacher or to a particular Apostle, and these controversies were threatening to splinter the Community. Today’s Gospel reading (Mt. 4:12-23) makes us realize that what had been prophesied by Isaiah was being fulfilled through Jesus. In his ministry of calling disciples and reforming lives, Jesus also brought Light to peoples in darkness, restoring and fulfilling God’s original promise. His presence made a great difference in the lives of the people of Capernaum as well as those of neighboring towns of Zebulon and Naphtali. His light was strongly felt because it brought healing and deliverance. In addition, the Gospel describes the call of the first disciples (4:18-22) and Jesus’ teaching and healing ministry, which invited people to repent of their sins and accept the Good News of God’s Kingdom, changing their lives to match their Faith. Thus, the Gospel describes the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry.
First Reading (Is 8:23- 9:3) explained:At the time of Isaiah the prophet, Israel was split into a northern kingdom called Israel, with the city of Samaria as its capital, and a southern kingdom known as Judah with Jerusalem as its capital. Assyrian, Babylonian, and Roman invaders always came from “the north” – meaning they followed the trade routes and river routes. Two of Jacob’s sons, Zebulun and Naphtali, were apportioned territory west and north of the Sea of Galilee. Therefore, they would be the first to feel the brunt of an attack from an invading force. In fact, when Assyria destroyed the kingdom of Northern Israel around 720 BC, Zebulun and Naphtali were the first tribal lands to fall into the hands of the enemy. Later the Roman army would occupy the territory. Note that this area would include the towns of Nazareth and Capernaum. The people in the region around Galilee were overcome by gloom when their enemy, Assyria, conquered them and began among them the process of pagan enculturation, forcing intermarriage in the northern tribes of Zebulon and Naphtali. The descendants of these intermarriages became the despised Samaritans of Jesus’ day. But Isaiah declares that God’s power is greater than the powers of darkness, and through him, God assures them that “a great light” will lead them into “abundant joy.” Jesus is “the great light” who leads us all out of the land of gloom. By Jesus’ death and Resurrection, God has assured us that darkness can never have the last word. In his prophetic mind, Isaiah sees this as if it has already happened: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great Light…” The Light he is talking about is the Light of God, which scatters the darkness of ignorance and sin. No wonder Matthew quoted this very passage from the great prophet when he described the time Jesus went to the area around the Sea of Galilee and “began to preach“! Matthew wanted his readers to recognize that the Light Isaiah spoke of had finally appeared with the coming of Jesus. Although the Judean Jews considered the Samaritan women unclean from the womb and their men godless blasphemers, Jesus came to them as the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah, bringing them light and salvation. Jesus shows that he is the “light” of hope, evident to all through his deeds of power (healing), preaching the Good News (about the arrival of the Kingdom of Heaven), and calling his first disciples (the apostles). His clear message has two main elements: Repent, because the kingdom is at hand, and Follow Me, to learn how to spread the Good News and live this new life of selfless love and service. This timeless message calls each of us to immediate action.
Second Reading (I Cor 1:10-13, 17) explained: Since Corinth was a wild and woolly place, Saint Paul needed to wield his authority there quite severely. Throughout this letter, he is very concerned with preserving the unity of the Christian community. Several factions have arisen among his Corinthians, each claiming allegiance to its first Christian teacher or to a particular Apostle. Paul wants the Christians to rise above these immature rivalries and to follow the humility and obedience of Jesus who emptied himself for them all. Paul argues that people who live in the Light must avoid divisions and rivalries. The quarrel and division among them is a sign that they are not living in the light of Christ, for Christ cannot be divided, nor can his message be changed to suit its hearers. So, Paul urges his readers to heal all divisions in their community so they will be able to bear united witness to the Lord and, above all, to keep their focus on Jesus Christ.
Gospel exegesis (Mt 4:12-23):The center of Jesus’ public life. After John was arrested, Jesus chose Galilee as the base for his teaching, preaching, and healing mission. That choice fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah (9:1-2). Nazareth and Capernaum of Galilee were in the territory of Zebulon and Naphtali. It would seem that Jesus’ trip to Capernaum was made, not just as a missionary trip, but to establish Capernaum as his home base. Capernaum by the sea was a small agricultural and fishing village of Galilee on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee. Galilee was a small region with a large, mixed Jewish and Gentile population. Major trade routes passed through it. Hence, the Galileans were more open than the residents of Judea to new ideas. In addition, the western shore of the sea was occupied by many small but prosperous cities and towns. This provided Jesus with the chance to minister to many people within a reasonable walking distance.
Light in darkness: Matthew tells us that the people to whom Jesus brought his ministry had been sitting in darkness, but that Jesus’ coming had brought them a great Light. The area was called the “Galilee of the Gentiles” because the Jews, who were beginning to resettle this land devastated by earlier wars, met, and had to make space for themselves among, the large resident population of Hellenistic pagans loaned there by the Assyrians during their conquest of the Kingdom of Israel. As a Jew in Roman-controlled territory, Jesus had located himself among the marginalized, with the poor not the wealthy, with the rural peasants not the urban elite, with the ruled not the rulers, with the powerless and exploited not the powerful, and with those who resisted Imperial demands rather than with those who enforced them. Thus, he began his ministry among the apparently small and insignificant places and people who, nevertheless, were central for God’s purposes. We, too, need to introduce Christ’s Light into the darkness of prejudice, war, abuse, social injustice, hunger, poverty, ignorance, greed, anger, vengeance, and apathy. We can do this by seeking and walking in the Light of God, the Good News. God’s light breaks our yoke. It shows us the Way. It clears our doubts and fears, and increases our confidence in God and in ourselves too.
Invitation to repentance:Jesus used exactly the same words John the Baptist had used: “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven has come near.” The word “repent” usually means to be sorry for or to regret some wrong actions we have done in the past. Jesus, however, is asking for much more than that. The call is not just to be sorry for past sins and to avoid them in the future. It is a call for a change of direction from now on and into the future, a right-about-turn from sin to God. The Greek word for repent is “metanoia,” which implies a radical change in one’s thinking. It means looking at life in a completely new way. It is only when we begin to make this radical change that we begin to become part of that Kingdom and God starts ruling our lives. When we come before God confessing, “I can’t do better,” then we are dying to self. We are giving up control of our lives. We are throwing our sinful lives on the mercy of God. We are inviting God to do for us what we can’t do for ourselves — namely to raise the dead — to change and re-create us. “Repent” is in the present tense — “Keep on repenting!” or “Continually be repentant!” Repentance is the ongoing lifestyle of the people in the kingdom. We may not neglect the first step into the net of Jesus, the step of “repentance” – which is also the first teaching of Jesus (CCC#1989).
The Kingdom of Heaven is the theme of Jesus’ preaching. Matthew/Levi, a former Scribe, consistently uses the phrase “Kingdom of Heaven” instead of “Kingdom of God.” Though the terms are synonymous, many devout Jews in those days preferred the use of “Kingdom of Heaven,” because of scruples about breaking the Second Commandment, “Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord, thy God, in vain by using God’s Name in common every day speech. [Even today, devout Orthodox Jews will spell God as G-D, rather than sin in this regard.] The Kingdom of God occurs when the will of God is established on earth, that is, when the world becomes the way God wants it to be. (In praying the “Our Father” we say: “Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.)” The day that prayer is answered in full will be good news for all of us, because when we do God’s will, His kingdom is established, evil is destroyed, poverty, war, hatred, injustice, corruption, and violence will disappear. There will be abundance and peace, love and kindness, harmony and justice. Hence, to be in God’s Kingdom or the Kingdom of Heaven, is not to be in a particular place, either in this life or the next. Rather it is to be living one’s life – wherever we are – under the loving Kingly and Fatherly power of God. It is to be in a relationship of loving surrender to one’s God and Lord and consequently to be in an environment where values like truth, love, compassion, justice, freedom, and peace prevail. In telling us that the Kingdom has come near, Jesus is telling us that we can dwell in this Kingdom right now, provided we repent, turning our hearts away from the idols that crowd our lives in order to welcome God into our being as our Center, and to allow Him to reign in our lives here and hereafter.
The call of the Apostles: While the Evangelists Luke and John allowed time for the disciples to find out more about Jesus before they were called, Matthew did no such thing. He immediately shows Jesus calling two sets of fishermen brothers — Simon (later renamed Peter) & Andrew and James & John. And except for telling them “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men,” He gives no indication about what following him will entail — where they are going and what they will do. (Some Scripture scholars point out that Jesus moved permanently to Capernaum because he was rejected by his home-town people of Nazareth and was welcomed at the house of Peter. Andrew and Peter were his first disciples and John and James who were called next, were probably Jesus’ cousins). Matthew is not concerned with those details. His concern is that Jesus, about to begin his public ministry selects those who are to be his Talmudim, the inner circle surrounding a teaching Rabbi who asked him to be their Master, and shared their master’s life with him, seeing to his ntheeeds as they learned. For Jesus, Who did the choosing, the disciples were to be those who would carry on his Messianic Mission bringing His Light to the whole world, after His death, Resurrection, and Ascension into Heaven. Jesus invited these four to become his disciples, and they respond immediately, leaving their nets, their boats, and James and John their father, Zebedee, as well, to follow Jesus. The Twelve Jesus called were apparently less-than-ideal candidates to be his students. The first called, four fishermen, were simple working people with no great background. In Cicero’s ranking of occupations (De Off 1.150-51), owners of cultivated land appear first and fishermen last! What Jesus needed, then, were ordinary people who would give him themselves. What Christ needs today is not our ability, but our availability. What Jesus taught his Twelve disciples, and through them teaches us, was not a course of study, but a way of life to follow. Hence, he offered all these men the opportunity to observe him close at hand on a daily basis. How did the first four disciples respond to Jesus’ call? In St. Matthew’s words, “At once they left their nets and followed him.” They put their total trust in him, leaving behind everything — their fishing nets, their parents and families–not knowing where it would all lead. Given the relatively small size of Lower Galilee and close proximity of the Galilean places named in the Gospel, there is no need to assume that those who followed Jesus never returned home again. The Church responds to Jesus by reminding us that the call from Jesus is “personal” for each one of us. It is then the responsibility of each of us to be a personal witness within the common mission of spreading the good news (CCC#878).
Fishers of men: In the ancient world, fishing was a metaphor for two distinct activities: judgment and teaching. Fishing for people meant bringing them to justice by dragging them out of their hiding places and setting them before the judge. Fishing as teaching people meant leading them from ignorance to wisdom. Both cases involved a radical change of environment, a break with a former way of life, and an entrance upon a new way of life. We are the fish dragged out of the water in the nets to die to ourselves, so that God may give us a resurrection, a new life, a new family, a new future, all under God’s control, all within the Kingdom of Heaven which has come near in Jesus. We have very little real control over our own lives in any case, but as fish caught in the net of God’s love, we can trust that we are under God’s control. We have to believe that being captured by God’s love, being commanded by Him to repent, die to self, and to obey Him, and being raised to a new life by God is not only right for us, but is a message we need to share with the entire world. For the moment, ‘Jesus is the Light’ which the people in darkness are rejoicing to see; but he will soon say to his followers, ‘You are the light of the world,’ and that is his purpose in choosing his followers.
Jesus’ teaching ministry:“Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.” For Matthew, Jesus’ teaching was of much greater significance than his miracles. Indeed, his teaching took precedence even over preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom. Jesus taught in their synagogues. There was only one Temple, located in Jerusalem, but every village of any size had a synagogue where people gathered to worship and to learn. Teaching was at the heart of synagogue life. The service consisted of prayers, readings from the Scriptures, and an address. The ruler of the synagogue could invite any qualified man to give the address. The synagogue, then, was the natural place for Jesus to begin His teaching ministry. The last two verses (24-25), of this chapter, not included in this lesson, emphasize Jesus’ healing ministry and the effect it had on people. Great crowds came from near and far to follow Jesus. The activities of Jesus are summarized in the last verse of our text: teaching, preaching, and healing — perhaps in simpler terms: words and deeds. Our words and deeds need to be addressed, not just to Church people or to our parishioners, but to all with whom we have contact.
Life messages:1) We need to appreciate our call to be Christ’s disciples: Every one of us is called by God, both individually and as Church members. The mission of preaching, teaching, and healing which Jesus began in Galilee is now the responsibility of the Church. Our own unique vocation and relationship with the risen Lord is never separated from the Body of the universal Church. Be we monk, priest, married, or single lay persons, male or female, young or old, we are all called, and in this ongoing call we become what God wants us to be. Our response to the call begins with our Baptism and Confirmation, the Sacraments of Initiation. That response is strengthened through the years by the Eucharist and Reconciliation, and is made manifest in Matrimony or Holy Orders. We are healed and consoled in the Anointing which also prepares us for death. In addition, God is relentless in calling us back to Himself when we stray from Him. Let us make personal efforts, then, to see the Light of Christ and to grow in holiness by learning the truths that are revealed through the Holy Catholic Church and its Sacraments. Let us be shining lights in the world as Christ was, and let us and make a personal effort to bring others to the Truth and the Light, so that they may rejoice with us in the Church, the mystical Body of Christ, the present, developing form of the Kingdom of God.
2) God sends us to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom: “Jesus traveled throughout Galilee, teaching in the synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness among the people” (Mt. 4:23). Equally today, the Word of God, the promoting of the Good News of the Kingdom of Heaven, heals all kinds of ills. The Word of God transforms hearts so that victims may forgive those who have harmed them, those who have physically, sexually, or psychologically abused them. When we receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, we are sent forth to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom and to defend the Catholic Faith. Like Peter, James, and John, we are asked by Jesus to take on the work of discipleship; we are asked to leave our “fishing nets” — our own needs and wants — to follow the example of love and servanthood given to us by Jesus; we are asked to rebuild our lives, homes, and cities in the justice and peace that Jesus proclaims. As we continue with the celebration of the Holy Mass, let us ask the Lord Jesus to give us the strength and perseverance to answer His calling so that we may faithfully serve the Lord according to His Divine Will.
3) We need to become the light of the world as Jesus was the Light in darkness: The mission and role of Christians is to receive the light of Christ and radiate it to everyone as love, kindness, mercy, forgiveness, humble service, and respect for those with different ethnic backgrounds, different lifestyles, other Faiths, or no Faith at all. With a little bit of Christ’s Light, we become a veritable lighthouse, illuminating the way for many and removing the darkness caused by hatred, spite and jealousy.
JOKES OF THE WEEK
1) Teaching ministry: A pastor told his congregation, “Next week I plan to preach about the sin of lying. To help you understand my sermon, I want you all to read Mark 17.” The following Sunday, as he prepared to deliver his sermon, the minister asked for a show of hands. He wanted to know how many had read Mark 17. Every hand went up. The minister smiled and said, “Mark has only 16 chapters. I will now proceed with my sermon on the sin of lying.”
2) God’s Chosen People absent in China? Two Jews Sid and Al were sitting in a Chinese restaurant. “Sid,” asked Al, “Are there any Jews in China?” “I don’t know,” Sid replied. “Why don’t we ask the waiter?” When the waiter came by, Al said, “Do you have any Chinese Jews?” “I don’t know sir, let me ask,” the waiter replied, and he went into the kitchen. He quickly returned and said, “No, sir. No Chinese Jews.”“Are you sure?” Al asked. “I will check with our manager, sir.” the waiter replied and went back to the kitchen. While he was still gone, Sid said, “I cannot believe there are no Jews in China. Our people are scattered everywhere.” When the waiter returned, he said, “Sir, no Chinese Jews.” “Are you really sure?” Al asked again. “I cannot believe you have no Chinese Jews.” “Sir, I asked everyone,” the waiter replied exasperated. “We have orange juice, prune juice, tomato juice and grape juice, but no one ever heard of Chinese juice!”
3) “Think about your face and cut the homily.” The story is told about a pastor that got up in the pulpit and apologized for the Band-Aid on his face. He said, “I was thinking about my homily while shaving and cut my face.” Afterward the trustee found a note in the collection plate, “Next time, think about your face and cut the homily.”
USEFUL WEBSITES OF THE WEEK(For homilies & Bible study groups)
1)Be fishers of men! On Feb. 2, 2006, President George W. Bush hosted the 64th annual National Prayer Breakfast. This is a bi‑partisan event that draws hundreds of politicians, clergy, and other guests each year to the White House. The National Prayer Breakfast is an interfaith gathering: Christians, Jews, and even a few Muslims are all included and given time to make remarks. King Abdullah of Jordan was in attendance as a guest of honor. The speaker that day was the rock star known as Bono, lead singer of the group U2. [A few months back we shared with you the remarkable message about caring for the world’s poor that Bono gave to this distinguished audience.] Here is something else Bono had to say: “A number of years ago,” said Bono, “I met a wise man who changed my life. In countless ways, large and small, I was always seeking the Lord’s blessing. I was saying, you know, I have a new song, look after it . . . I have a family, please look after them . . . I have this crazy idea . . . . “ And this wise man said: “Stop!” He said, “Stop asking God to bless what you’re doing. Get involved in what God is doing — because it’s already blessed.” — Get involved in what God is doing — what a radical idea! Don’t spend so much time asking God to bless what you are doing. Rather, ask God to show you what He is doing, and then join in. Bono believes God is calling him to be an advocate for the poor. He said to the National Prayer Breakfast, “Well, God, as I said, is with the poor. That, I believe, is what God is doing. And that is what He’s calling us to do.” All Christians should be committed to helping the poor, but poverty extends way beyond finances.There are people in the medical field who feel called of God to help in the healing of bodies. Some in teaching believe their calling from God is to help little boys’ and girls’ minds to grow. A plumber can be a Christian plumber, doing honest, helpful work and sharing a positive Christian witness to everyone he serves. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).L/23
2) Delivery Room suspense: Three men were pacing nervously outside the delivery room at a hospital when the head nurse came out beaming. To the first she said, “Congratulations, sir, you are the father of twins.” “Terrific!” said the man, “I just signed a contract with the Minnesota Twins, and this’ll be great press.” To the second man the nurse said, “Congratulations to you too. You are the father of healthy triplets!” “Fantastic!” he said. “I’m the vice-president of 3-M Company. This’ll be great P.R.!” At that point the third man turned ashen and ran for the door. “What’s wrong, sir? Where are you going?” called the nurse. As he jumped into his car, the man shouted, “I’m dashing to my office to resign. I’m the president of 7-UP!” (Msgr. Dennis Clarke). — John the Baptist and Jesus surprised the self-righteous Jews by their call to repentance. Today’s Gospel, from the fourth chapter of Matthew, offers us Christians an equally surprising and shocking announcement by Jesus: “Repent; the Kingdom of God is near.” (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
3) “Do you want the brainiest or do you want the holiest?” John McKay, the former coach of the University of Southern California Trojans once said that it is not the superstars who win most football games but average players giving their best. In the play, Green Pastures, God asks Gabriel to recruit a leader and Gabriel asks in return, “Do you want the brainiest or do you want the holiest?” God answers, “Get me the holiest. I’ll make him the brainiest.” In a little town in the Swiss Alps there is a monument with two figures on it. One is a cultured scientist, the author of many books. The other is a poor Swiss peasant, an Alpine guide. Together they had conquered a great mountain. The scientist’s name made all of the newspapers, but the monument contains both figures because the great scientist could never have made the ascent without the humble guide. — Beginning with the crude manger of Bethlehem, no message is clearer in the New Testament than this one: Christian Faith is the celebration of ordinary people who come to possess a very extraordinary power. When we are asked to serve God in some capacity, we shouldn’t talk ourselves out of a great opportunity by saying, “I’m too old,” or “I don’t have enough education,” or using some other personal putdown. God can give us the ability. What He can’t give us is willingness to say “yes” and act on it. That must come from our free choice. That is why God always prefers the holiest to the brainiest. The first disciples that Jesus called were ordinary fishermen. (Rev. King Duncan) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
4) Novel way of presenting the Kingdom of God: Jesus came preaching, “the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” What was there about that Kingdom that got these fishermen so excited? And why are we not just as excited? It reminds me of a woman who read somewhere that dogs were healthier if fed a tablespoon of cod liver oil each day. So, each day she followed the same routine: she chased her dog until she caught it, wrestled it down, and managed to force the fishy remedy down the dog’s throat. One day, in the middle of this grueling medical effort, the bottle was kicked over. With a sigh, she loosened her grip on the dog so she could wipe up the mess. To her surprise the dog trotted over to the puddle and began lapping up what had been spilled. The dog loved cod liver oil. It was just the owner’s method of application the dog objected to. (Bill McNabb and Steven Mabry, Awaken Your Students to Scripture). — Sometimes, I think something like that has happened to the Good News of the Kingdom of God. It has been so poorly presented to us that we have never been captured by its attractiveness and its power. (Rev. King Duncan) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
5) They kept the stock in Apple Computer for themselves: Jim Egan worked at the West Coast Computer Fair in 1977. His job was to help customers decorate their booths. Industry shows are the cheapest way to reach customers within the trade, but some undercapitalized entrepreneurs hardly have enough to rent a booth, let alone pay for the decorations. Egan was approached by a couple of long-haired kids who wanted some chrome displays to make their booth “look flashy.” Egan said he had the displays, but they were for rent. The kids said they were short of cash, but perhaps Egan might like some stock in their new company. Egan, who had seen them come and go in his twenty years in the business, said he would accept only hard cash. So, Steve Wozniak and Steven Jobs did without the chrome, fixed up their booth, and kept the stock in Apple Computer for themselves. Presumably, Jim Egan is still decorating booths for hard cash. (Peter Hay, The Book of Business Anecdotes, p. 212). — Sometimes it is a good thing to catch fire from someone else. The story of the New Testament is the story of men and women who got close enough to Jesus to catch fire from Him. Doesn’t it amaze you to see how quickly the disciples left their fishing nets to follow Jesus? (Rev. Billy D. Strayhorn) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).(https://frtonyshomilies.com/). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
6) “Please know that the management forgives you.” J. Edwin Orr, a former professor of Church History, described the great outpouring of the Holy Spirit during the Welsh Revivals of the nineteenth century. As people sought the infilling of the Spirit, they did all they could to confess wrongdoings and to make restitution. This unexpectedly created severe problems for the shipyards along the coast of Wales. Over the years, workers had pilfered all kinds of things. Everything from wheelbarrows to hammers had been stolen. However, as people sought to be right with God, they started to return what they had taken, with the result that soon the shipyards of Wales were overwhelmed with returned property. There were such huge piles of returned tools that several of the yards had to put up signs that read, IF YOU HAVE BEEN LED BY GOD TO RETURN WHAT YOU HAVE STOLEN, PLEASE KNOW THAT THE MANAGEMENT FORGIVES YOU AND WISHES YOU TO KEEP WHAT YOU HAVE TAKEN. (Tony Campolo, How to Be Pentecostal (Dallas: Word, 1991), pp. 92-93.) — Wouldn’t you love to see that kind of revival sweep this nation? Couldn’t you get excited about a world in which people began making restitution for their wrongs? Couldn’t you get excited about a world in which you could always trust people to do the right thing because God lived in their hearts? Couldn’t you get excited about a world without child-abuse, without murder, without broken families, or drug addiction? In order to enter this Kingdom of God, Jesus challenges us in today’s Gospel to repent and renew our lives. (Rev. Billy D. Strayhorn) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
7) “Lead kindly light…” In 1833, a young theologian and Anglican vicar, John Henry Newman, was traveling in the Mediterranean when he was struck down by a fever that nearly killed him. “My servant thought I was dying and begged for my last directions,” he recalls in his autobiography. ”I gave them as he wished, but I said, ‘I shall not die, for I have not sinned against light.”‘ Newman recovered slowly but felt desperately homesick. On the way back to England, he took an orange boat sailing from Palermo to Marseilles; the boat was becalmed in the Straits of Bonifacio. Thus stranded, in an exhausted and emotional state, Newman was impelled to write this verse as a meditative poem called, “The Pillar of the Cloud,” expressive of his longing for consoling Christian certainties in an age of mounting doubt (The Telegraph, 22 Sept, 2007). — Newman probably had in mind the prophecy of Isaiah given in today’s first reading “The people who walked in the darkness have seen a great light.” [ John Henry Newman (1801-90) was converted to the Roman Catholic Church, ordained a priest, and later made a Cardinal. In 2019 he was canonized by Pope Francis; he was named a Doctor of the Church by Pope Leo XIV (2026).] — We too have our moments of darkness. The death of a lifelong spouse, an unexpected rejection by a loved one, a smashed dream of business success, or the loss of good health can throw us into temporary darkness. But in these tragic moments, true believers have, in the past, seen the light of God, a light that illumines the shadows of our hearts with the radiance of His splendor, guiding us to travel safely over the tempestuous sea of life. (Vima Dasan in His Word Lives; quoted by Fr. Botelho) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
8) The Light she lit is still burning. Mother Teresa gives us a beautiful example of a man who was brought out of darkness into the light. One day in Melbourne, Australia, she visited a poor man whom nobody knew existed. The room in which he was living was in a terrible state of untidiness and neglect. There was no light in the room. The man hardly ever opened the blinds. He hadn’t had a friend in the world. She started to clean and tidy the room. At first, he protested, saying, “Leave it alone. It’s all right as it is.” But she went ahead anyway. Under a pile of rubbish, she found a beautiful oil lamp, but it was covered with dirt. She cleaned and polished it. Then she asked him, “How come you never light the lamp?” “Why should I light it?” he replied. “No one ever comes to see me. I never see anybody.” “Will you promise to light it if one of my sisters comes to see you?” “Yes,” he replied. “If I hear a human voice, I’ll light the lamp.” Two of Mother Teresa’s nuns began to visit him on a regular basis. Things gradually improved for him. — One day, he said to the nuns, “Sisters, I’ll be able to manage on my own from now on. But do me a favour. Tell that first Sister, who came to see me, that the light she lit in my life is still burning.” (Flor McCarthy inNew Sunday and Holy Day Liturgies; quoted by Fr. Botelho) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
9) Copper-kettle Christian: A woman who was studying the Bible, went to her basement and made an interesting discovery. Some potatoes had sprouted in the darkest corner of the room. At first, she couldn’t figure out how they had received enough light to grow. Then she noticed that she had hung a copper kettle from a rafter near a cellar window. She kept it so brightly polished that it reflected the rays of the sun onto the potatoes. She said, “When I saw that reflection, I thought, ‘I may not be a preacher or a teacher with the ability to expound upon Scripture, but at least I can be a copper kettle Christian, catching the rays of Christ and reflecting His light to someone in a dark corner.’” — Today’s Scripture lesson tells us that Christ came as a Light and brought us into the Light by calling us to repentance and to the Kingdom of God. (Fr. Chirakkal). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
10) Their faces said it all:A historian tells us that many, many years ago, a group of prospectors set out from Bannock, Montana, in search of gold. For days together they had to endure many hardships and cope with severe weather changes, so that some of them, unable to cope, actually perished. Undeterred, the rest persisted until one day they ran into a gang of ruthless Indians, who seized their horses and belongings and left them with a few limping ponies. Releasing them, the Red Indians warned them never to return for, the next time, their lives would be at risk. The crestfallen group began their return journey very disappointed. At night they decided to stop by a stream and camp. One of the men entered the stream and noticed something unusual about one stone. So, he lifted it up and cracked it open and realized that they had struck gold right there. And so, his companions joined and they made a reasonable haul. The next day they discovered even more and were absolutely ecstatic. The following day they returned to Bannock, in order to bring all the equipment and horses necessary to collect their treasure. And they vowed that they would not tell anyone of their extraordinary discovery. When they decided to set out, they found themselves surrounded by 300 equally excited gold prospectors. Somebody seemed to have spilled the beans! — The fact of the matter is that no one had let out their secret. But the others saw their ecstatic joy on their faces and sensed there certainly was a very good reason for it. So, they decided to join, fully assured that soon they, too, would be as jubilantly happy as the others. The successful prospectors’ beaming faces had literally betrayed their secret! Do our faces reveal that we have found the greatest treasure: Jesus Christ? (James Valladares in Your Words, O Lord, Are Spirit, and They Are Life; quoted by Fr. Botelho). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
11) Ready to follow, no matter what the cost? Have you heard the story of Pizarro, the conqueror of Peru? The Spaniards came to believe that the rivers of Peru were flowing with gold and people could just pick up gold from these rivers. Pizarro got together a band of men who were fond of adventure and eager to get gold. They crossed the Atlantic and crossed the Isthmus of Panama. The travel was not easy, and they had troubled times. On the sea there were storms and over land poisonous snakes and wild animals. There was no food, and the band of men had to face many difficulties and therefore decided to return to Spain. Pizarro drew out his sword and drew a line on the sand with his sword that separated north and south. Then he said to his band of soldiers, “Comrades, on the south of this line there lie famine, perils, nakedness, trials, and death, while on the north there lie pleasure, ease, and comfort. As for me I go south,” and he stepped over the line on the south. — Seven men followed him not for love of the gold but because they loved him and trusted him and wanted to sacrifice everything. That is why we remember them as the seven immortals of Peru. (Elias Dias in Divine Stories for Families; quoted by Fr. Botelho). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
12) The Arrival of the Light: Some Alpine valleys are so deep that the rays of the sun do not reach them for days or even weeks in the middle of winter. These days can be very depressing ones for the people who live in the valleys. It is almost as if life were one long night. A priest who ministered in one of those valleys tells the following story. One day in the depths of winter he was in the classroom chatting with the children, who hadn’t seen the sun for nine days. Then all of a sudden, a ray of sunshine shone into the classroom. On seeing it the children climbed on to their desks and cheered for sheer joy. This shows that, even though the sun may not touch the skin, it can warm the soul. — Light is a source of great joy. For sick people the night is the hardest of all times. How they welcome those first rays of light which signal the end of the night and the dawning of the day! The coming of electricity to rural Ireland transformed life for those living in the country. (Flor McCarthy in New Sunday and Holy Day Liturgies; quoted by Fr. Botelho). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
13) Film:Finding Private Ryan (Embrace your mission in life). It is June 6, 1944, D-Day. The Allied troops land on Omaha Beach in Normandy. Captain Miller is a squadron leader. After the deadly, horror-filled landing, he is asked to lead his men on a special mission of dubious merit to find a Private James Ryan. Ryan is one of four sons in the U.S. military and, when the other three are killed, top military officials in Washington want the surviving son returned home to his mother. Miller and six men take on the mission. In an American-occupied town, they find the wrong Private Ryan. They continue on and encounter a German guard-post where a sniper kills one of the men. The translator, Corporal Upham, persuades Miller not to kill the sniper, and they let him go. They eventually find the right Ryan in a squad defending a bridge, but he refuses to leave. During an attack, Upham cowers in fear while the sniper they had released shoots one of the team. Miller is also killed, but U.S. planes save the troops and the bridge is held. Upham confronts the sniper and kills him. Private Ryan is saved. Decades later, Ryan and his family visit Miller’s grave in France. — Each one of us has a mission. We have to discover our mission and fulfill that mission to find fulfillment in life. (Peter Malone in Lights Camera…. Faith!Quoted by Fr. Botelho). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
14)Repent and Believe the Good News: In November of 1984 on one of his PBS Late Night America Shows, Dennis Wholey confessed that he was an alcoholic. He went on to describe a book he had put together entitled The Courage to Change: Personal Conversations about Alcoholism with Dennis Wholey. The book contains frank and revealing conversations with a wide variety of celebrity alcoholics such as rock singer Grace Slick, baseball player Bob Welch, actor Jason Robards, comedian Shecky Greene and Catholic priest Vaughan Quinn. Also, there are heartfelt conversations with Rod Steiger and Jerry Falwell, who are children of alcoholics; and Sybil Carter, whose husband Billy is an alcoholic. Four years earlier, Dennis Wholey had confronted his own problem with alcohol and then went on a mission with his book to help other victims of what is sometimes called “the most treatable untreated disease in this country.” — Dennis Wholey’s message in The Courage to Change matches our Lord’s message in Mark’s Gospel: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe the good news.”(Albert Cylwicki in His Word Resounds; quoted by Fr. Botelho). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
15) Let There Be No Factions: In today’s second reading, St. Paul warns the Corinthians – and all Christians – against factions: “Be united in mind and judgment.” It should be unnecessary to tell those joined by Baptism into Christ’s Mystical Body to avoid fighting each other, but, unfortunately, we, and all human beings, are prone to quarreling. In some tragic cases, throughout the history of the church, Catholics have not only quarreled, but let their quarrels end up in schism. Schism means withdrawal from, and denial of, the authority Christ gave to his Church and its Shepherds. Some schisms have been large and have remained unhealed even after centuries. Others have been small, sometimes, permanent, sometimes (thank God), brief. All have involved unchristian bitterness. In the 1850’s there was a small schism in a parish in Rochester, New York, which serves as a good illustration. The issue debated was control by the laity of Church funds and of Pastoral appointments. From as early as 1785, people in some American Catholic parishes had been embattled with Catholic Church authorities over these matters of control. One cause of the trouble was that the state laws for parish incorporation were designed for Protestant parishes, in which, unlike Catholic parishes, laymen were allowed to manage funds and hire or fire pastors. Wherever Catholic laypeople interpreted the State law in a Catholic way, a “trustee” corporation could work out the interpretation. The trouble was that lay Catholic trustees so often abused their powers – even violently – that the American bishops had to forbid this type of lay participation entirely. Gradually, from 1829 to 1850, the bishops were able to put an end to most of these factional quarrels. But not to all. In the 1850’s, in a handful of American Catholic parishes, “trustee-ists” decided to make a last stand. One was the German Catholic parish of St. Peter’s Rochester. Here the ringleaders were so bitter that they even worked hand-in-glove with the Know-nothings (an anti-Catholic political party) to get a state law passed demanding that Catholic parishes incorporate according to the Protestant form. When the bishop (John Timon of Buffalo) suspended Church services at St. Peter’s as a countermove, they replied by incorporating a new parish called “The Christ Catholic St. Stephen’s Congregation.” This was schism. Even though they used the adjective “Catholic,” they were no longer a part of the Catholic Church, and no Catholic could attend worship there in good conscience. Fortunately, the dissidents came to their senses eventually. By 1862 Bishop Timon had received all but one back into the Catholic fold. The Catholic parish was reincorporated under the name “Ss. Peter and Paul,” and as such it still functions. — Even today, however, Catholics can be tempted to schism. Factions still arise and some Catholics even leave the Church to worship at other churches that may call themselves “Catholic” but are not in union with either the local Catholic bishop or through him, with the Pope. Schism has often been called “tearing apart of the seamless robe of Christ” – that is, splitting the people of God into parts. Christ prayed “that all may be one.” Those who foster disunion are therefore enemies of Christ’s prayer. (Fr. Robert F. McNamara). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
16) “O.K. boys, head ‘em up, and move ‘em out.” Clint Eastwood is an American film icon. Who can forget Dirty Harry and the huge 45 caliber Magnum he carried, more a cannon than a pistol, or the sneering invitation, “Make my day!”? But long before he was Dirty Harry, Eastwood was Rowdy Yates on the TV show Rawhide. — There is an important hand gesture I remember from that boyhood drama. On horseback, the trail boss would lift his hand, index finger up, make a rapid circling motion in the air, then point ahead with these words, “O.K. boys, head ‘em up, and move ‘em out.” It was a call to a long, tough, trail ride with the promise of adventure along the way and a payout at the end. — That is the gesture I see Jesus making in these call stories. “Simon, Andrew, James, John, head ‘em up, and move ‘em out.’ Follow me, and I will help you corral people for God,” or, in the case of their work, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”(Rev. Phil Thrailkill). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
17)To wat is your life committed? For a multitude of people today it could be summed up in one word: MONEY. Even Christian people are bowing before the god, Mammon, and we do this even though we know we can’t take it with us! Chuck Swindoll in his book, Strengthening Your Grip (Waco: Word Books, 1982), gives one of the most delightful illustrations of that truth that I know. He tells about a minister friend of his who was in need of a dark suit to wear to a funeral. He had very little money so he went to the local pawn shop in search of a bargain. Much to his amazement they had a solid black suit that fit him exactly at a very reasonable price. As he paid for the suit, he inquired how they could possibly sell such nice suits so cheaply. The pawnbroker smiled and said that the suits had once been owned by the local mortuary. They had used them on deceased persons for funerals, then removed them before the burial. The minister felt a little uncomfortable wearing a suit that had been on a corpse, but since no one else would know, and he really did need a suit badly, why not? Everything went fine until about midway through the sermon. While he was talking he casually started to put his hands in the pockets of his new suit…It was then that he discovered that his pants had no pockets. And the truth came home to him. Why would a dead man need pockets? — We leave it all behind. Let me ask the question again. To what or to whom is your life committed? Today’s reading from Matthew’s Gospel is about a group of men who were called by Jesus to be his disciples. It is about Simon and Andrew and James and John, four fishermen, but it is also about you and me, because we have been called to be disciples as well. We have been called to be committed to something that is eternal, that is ennobling, that is earthshaking. What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? (Rev. King Duncan). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
18) The church will be filled: An orchestra was giving a concert in a large church hall in England. The place was absolutely jam-packed. Afterwards a casual member of that church very flippantly asked the pastor of the church when the hall would ever be filled like that for Sunday morning worship. The pastor answered solemnly, “It will be filled when, like that conductor, I have eighty well-trained, committed and disciplined men and women to work with me.” How the church needs that today! (Rev. King Duncan). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
19) “Don’t get too close to people or you’ll catch their dreams.” A few years back there was a movie titled, Tucker. [Tucker:The Man and His Dream is a 1988 American biographical comedy-drama film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, starring Jeff Bridges, and about real-life inventor Preston Tucker. Google.] It tells the story of Inventor Preston Tucker who tried to fight the Detroit automobile industry by attempting to introduce a car named after himself. In one scene, Tucker is talking about how his mother came from the old country. She was Italian and had a very heavy accent. Tucker remembered that for years when he was young she said to him, “Don’t get too close to people! You’ll catch their dreams.” What she was really saying in broken English was, “Don’t get too close to people! You’ll catch their germs.” But Tucker grew up thinking she was telling him, “Don’t get too close to people or you’ll catch their dreams.” — Sometimes it is a good thing to catch someone else’s dream. The story of the New Testament is the story of men and women who got close enough to Jesus to catch his dream. Doesn’t it amaze you how quickly the disciples left their fishing nets to follow Jesus? (Rev. King Duncan). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
20)“It was the Christians who did everything!” When the missionaries were forced to leave China in 1951, and Christians began to be oppressed by the Communist government, the future of the church seemed bleak. In the preceding decades of western mission work, many of the approximately one million Protestant communicants had become “rice Christians,” accepting the forms of Christianity more for personal gain than genuine conviction. When the pressures began to mount, they soon fell away. With the coming of the Cultural Revolution and the suppression of all institutional religious functions, it seemed that Christianity in China was doomed. Yet during this period of terrible persecution, committed Christians, not afraid to defy the principalities of this world, began to meet secretly in their homes. When regular church services were outlawed during the “Great Leap Forward,” these informal cottage meetings became the primary structure of the church. As their pastors were killed or imprisoned, members of the laity came forward to provide leadership. Women especially took an active role. When their houses were searched by the Red Guards, and all Bibles and Christian literature destroyed, the people drew upon their memory of Scripture and shared experiences to build up one another in the faith. As the Christians in these small groups displayed extraordinary courage, zeal, and love, the Gospel spread to their neighbors and fellow workers. Freely they gave their own food and clothing to the needy and poor, especially to those whose breadwinners had been killed or thrown into prison. They visited the bereaved and prayed for the sick, often seeing God miraculously heal. Typical was the way some believers cared for a Communist school teacher who became seriously ill. So genuine was their compassion, that upon her recovery she, too, accepted Christ, only to suffer public ridicule on return to her work. Required to appear at a public “confession” meeting, she protested: “When I was ill, you did nothing to help me. It was the Christians who did everything!” — That fact shamed her critics into silence. Today the church of Jesus Christ in Communist China is alive and growing because individual Christians did their part to be fishers of men. (Rev. King Duncan) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/). L/26
Kindly visit my websiteby clicking on https://frtonyshomilies.com/ for missed or previous Cycle A homilies, 141 Year of Faith “Adult Faith Formation Lessons” (useful for RCIA classes too) & 197 “Question of the Week.” Please contact me by email only atakadavil@gmail.com.For additional homilies, you may visithttps://www.catholicsermons.com/homilies/sunday_homilies of Fr. Nick’s collection of homilies or Resources in the CBCI website: https://www.cbci.in. (Special thankstoVatican Radio website http://www.vaticannews.va/en/church.html -which completed uploading my Cycle A, B and C homilies from 1998 to 2020) My post-retirement U. S. postal address is Fr. Anthony Kadavil, Fr. Anthony Kadavil, C/o Fr. Joseph M. C. , St. Agatha Church, 1001 Hand Avenue, Bay Minette, Al, U. S. A. 36507
Jan 12-17: Jan 12 Monday: Mk 1:14-20: 14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel.” 16 And passing along by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him.19 And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 And immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants sand followed him.
The context: Today’s Gospel describes the beginning of Jesus’ preaching and healing ministry and the call of his Apostles who were to continue that ministry. Jesus started his public ministry immediately after John the Baptist was arrested. Following John’s pattern, Jesus, too, invited his hearers to repent as a preparation for believing in the Gospel, or the Good News, of the Kingdom of God. Repentance means both true sorrow for having refused God’s love and a resolution to make amends. This results in the about-face turn to God which produces a radical change of mind, heart, behavior and life. Believingin Jesus and the Gospel demands from the hearers a resolution to take Jesus’ words seriously, to translate them into action and to put trust in Jesus’ authority. Jesus preached theGospel,or Good News, that God is a loving, forgiving, caring, merciful Father Who wants to liberate us and save us from our sins through His Only-begotten son Jesus. According to Mark, Jesus selected four fishermen, Andrew and his brother Simon (later named Peter by Jesus), with James and his brother John, right from their fishing boats. Jesus wanted these ordinary, hard-working people as assistants for his ministry because they would be very responsive instruments in the hands of God.
Life message: In order to be effective instruments in the hands of God and to continue Jesus’ preaching, healing and saving ministry, we, too, need to repent of our sins on a daily basis and to renew our lives by cooperating with God’s grace and relying on the power of God. Fr. Tony(https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/26
Jan 13 Tuesday: St. Hilary, Bishop, Doctor of the Church: Mk 1:21-28: Then they came to Capernaum, and on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. 22. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. 23.In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; 24. he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are – the Holy One of God!” 25. Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!” 26. The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. 27. All were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.” 28. His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.
The context: Jesus made the city of Capernaum on the shore of the Sea of Galilee (the center of the fishing business), his headquarters. There he started his preaching, teaching, and healing ministry. The people were impressed by the authority of his teaching. The Old Testament prophets had taught using God’s delegated authority, and the scribes and Pharisees taught quoting Moses, the prophets, and the great rabbis. But Jesus taught using his own authority and knowledge as God. Perfect knowledge of God, perfect accomplishment of God’s will, and absolute confidence in God were the sources of Jesus’ authority.
The second part of today’s Gospel describes a healing by exorcism which Jesus performed in the synagogue. We are told how Jesus, using his authority as God, cast out the devil by just one command: “Be silent, and come out of him!” In first-century Palestine, most sicknesses, especially mental illness, were considered to be the result of demonic possession, and both Jewish and pagan exorcists used lengthy procedures and physical force in their exorcisms. When Jesus commanded the Evil One to depart, it did so at once, and in its rush to depart, convulsed the man. Thus, Jesus demonstrated that he is the Messiah, the Savior, more powerful than the demon.
Life messages: 1) Our Faith is based on the Divinity of Christ, which is proved by his miracles; these, in turn, give authority and validity to his teaching and promises. Hence, let us accept Jesus’ teachings even if some of them are mysteries beyond our reach. 2) Let us read the authoritative word of God every day and assimilate it into our lives. 3) In our illnesses, let us confidently approach Jesus, the healer with trusting Faith, and then go to the doctors who serve as the current instruments of Jesus’ healing ministry in our midst. Fr. Tony(https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/26
Jan 14 Wednesday: Mk 1:29-39: 29 And immediately he left the synagogue, and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever, and immediately they told him of her. 31 And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her; and she served them. 32 That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered together about the door. 34 And he healed many who were sick with various diseases and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. 35 And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose and went out to a lonely place, and there he prayed. 36 And Simon and those who were with him pursued him, 37 and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” 38 And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns that I may preach there also; for that is why I came out.” 39 And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.
The context:Today’s Gospel tells us that preaching the Good News of God’s love, mercy, and salvation and healing the sick were the means Jesus used to enable his listeners to do the will of God and thus to build up the Kingdom of God, allowing God to take control of their lives. We are also told that Jesus recharged his spiritual batteries by talking with and listening to his Heavenly Father. Thus, preaching, healing, and recharging spiritual power by prayer were the three key points of Jesus’ public ministry.
Healing mission: Jesus was never tired of healing the sick, thus demonstrating the mercy and compassion of his Heavenly Father to every sick person who approached him with trusting Faith. As soon as he had finished the day’s preaching in the synagogue on one Sabbath, Jesus went to Simon’s home and healed Simon’s mother-in-law of a fever. In the evening when the Sabbath rest was over, the people brought all their sick dear ones to Jesus for healing and exorcism, and he healed them all. Jesus began the next day very early, spending time in prayer in a lonely place.
Life messages: 1) We are called to continue Jesus’ preaching mission primarily by bearing witness to Christ through our day-to-day lives, as we radiate Christ’s mercy, love, forgiveness, and spirit of humble service to all around us. 2) We can participate in Jesus’ healing mission by praying for the sick, by visiting them, and by helping and encouraging the sick and shut-ins. 3) But in order to continue Jesus’ preaching and healing mission, we, too, need to have our spiritual batteries recharged every day by prayer as Jesus did. Fr. Tony(https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/26
Jan 15 Thursday: Mk 1:40-45: 40 And a leper came to him beseeching him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” 41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, “I will; be clean.” 42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. 43 And he sternly charged him, and sent him away at once, 44 and said to him, “See that you say nothing to any one; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to the people.” 45 But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread
The context: Today’s Gospel describes Jesus touching a man sick with a severe case of leprosy and healing him instantly. In this miracle we have all the essentials for any miracle, says, Rev. Dr. L. Parker. We have a) a leper; b) a disease, leprosy; c) recognition of the disease by the man who has it; d) the presence of Jesus; e) Faith; f) trust, and g) humility enough for the sick man to ask for help from Jesus. Biblical “leprosy” rarely indicated Hansen’s disease (leprosy proper). Mostly, the term referred to skin diseases like ringworm, psoriasis, leukoderma, skin cancer, and vitiligo. The suffering of lepers in Biblical times was chiefly due to the way they were treated by the religious society of the day (Interpreter’s Bible). They were deemed unclean, unfit to be counted among a people who considered themselves “a kingdom of priests, a holy nation” (Ex 19:6). In addition, lepers were treated as sinners who were being punished by God with this contagious disease. The leprosy given by God as punishment to Miriam, the complaining sister of Moses (Nm 12: 1-3, 9-13), to Gehazi, the greedy servant of the prophet Elisha (2 Kgs 5:22-27), and to the proud king Uzziah of Judah, also called Azariah (2 Kgs 15:3-5), supported the Jewish belief that leprosy was God’s punishment for sins. Finally, “leprosy” was considered a contagious disease, and, hence,its victims were separated from their families and society. The Mosaic Law, as given in Leviticus, demanded that the priest declare the leper unclean and that the leper a) keep his garments rent and his head bare, b) muffle his beard, c) cry out, “Unclean, unclean,” and d) dwell apart, making his abode outside the camp. As a general rule, when a Jewish leper was healed, he had to go to the local priest for confirmation that he was now clean and was permitted to mix with the general public. Here the healed leper started evangelizing everyone he met by sharing the Good News of God’s activity in his life and allowing the Holy Spirit to touch the lives of others.
Life Messages: 1) The strong Faith of the sick man prompted him to violate the Mosaic Law prohibiting him from joining a crowd and approaching Jesus. The sympathy and mercy of Jesus prompted Jesus to violate the Mosaic Law which forbade anyone to touch an untouchable leper. Thus, Jesus teaches the lesson that the essence of Christianity is to touch the untouchable, to love the unlovable, and to forgive the unforgivable. 2) Sins cause spiritual leprosy in us and hence the need of daily repentance and reconciliation with God. L/26
Jan 16 Friday: Mk 2:1-12: 1 And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, not even about the door; and he was preaching the word to them. 3 …..12
The context: Today’s Gospel presents the last in a series of five healing stories. This one demonstrates the power of Faith, and in this particular case we learn what others can do for us if they are persons of Faith. As soon as Jesus got back to Capernaum after a preaching tour of Galilee, the crowds gathered in and around the house where he was staying, so that there was no room to get in or out. Four men, carrying their paralyzed friend, tried in vain to get to the house through the crowd. Here is the wonderful picture of a man who was saved by the Faith of his friends. His friends weremen who had trusting Faith in the healing power of Jesus, and they were men with initiative, tenacity, and creativity. So, they carried their friend to the flat roof of the house, removed as many roof tiles as were needed to make an opening wide and long enough to allow them to lower the man on his mat, and then did so, placing their friend right in front of Jesus! Luke tells us that there were in the crowd Pharisees and Doctors of the Law from Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem sent to check out Jesus, the new preacher, and to report back to the Sanhedrin.
The sick man’s paralysis was seen by the people around as a punishment for some serious sin in his own life or the lives of his parents. It was a common belief that no major sickness could be cured until that sin was forgiven. For that reason, Jesus began the young man’s healing by audibly forgiving his sins, so that he might feel no longer estranged from God. Then the young man was able to receive the physical healing he and his friends desired for him. But the Pharisees judged that, in forgiving sin, Jesus had insulted God by blasphemy, because forgiving sin is the exclusive prerogative of God. Jesus insisted that if he healed the man physically, then his enemies must recognize his authority to forgive sin, and consequently his Divinity. He then healed the young man with a single command — but we do not know whether any of the objectors responded by believing in Jesus.
Life message:We are called to intercede for others and to bring them to Christ. 1) In the Old Testament, it is Moses who constantly begs God’s mercy and forgiveness for the Israelites’ sins. Later, we find the prophets interceding for the unfaithful Israelites.
2) In the New Testament, the dramatic role played by the friends of the paralyzed man in the healing story reminds us of the continuing need for, and power of, intercession for/by others. This text gives us encouragement to intercede for those who are ill or in special need. When we pray and invite God into the situation, healing takes place. Fr. Tony(https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/26
Jan 17 Saturday:St. Anthony, Abbot: Mk 2:13-17: 13 He went out again beside the sea; and all the crowd gathered about him, and he taught them. 14 And as he passed on, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. 15 And as he sat at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were sitting with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him. 16 And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
The context:Today’s Gospel episode, telling of Matthew’s call as Jesus’ Apostle, reminds us of God’s love and mercy for sinners and challenges us to practice this same love and mercy in our relations with others.
The call and the response: Jesus went to the tax collector’s station to invite Levi, son of Alphaeus, known to us as Matthew, to become his disciple. Since tax collectors worked for a foreign power and extorted more tax money from the people than the area owed, they were hated and despised as traitors by the Jewish people and considered public sinners by the Pharisees. Jesus could see in Levi/Matthew a person who needed Divine love and grace. While everyone hated Levi/Matthew, Jesus was ready to offer him undeserved love, mercy, and forgiveness. Levi/Matthew responded immediately, abandoning his lucrative job because for Matthew, Christ’s call to follow Him was a promise of salvation, fellowship, guidance, and protection.
Scandalous partying with sinners. It was altogether natural for Levi/Matthew to celebrate his new calling by holding a feast for his friends. But Jesus’ dining with outcasts in the house of a traitor scandalized the Pharisees for whom ritual purity and table fellowship were important religious practices. Hence, they asked the disciples, “Why does your master eat with tax collectors and sinners?” In answer to their question, Jesus stressed his ministry as healer: “Those who are well do not need a physician; the sick do.” Then, in Matthew’s own account of his conversion, Jesus challenged the Pharisees, quoting Hosea, “Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice” (Hosea 6:6). Finally, Jesus clarified his position, “I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Life messages:1) Jesus calls you and me for a purpose: Jesus has called each of us through our Baptism, forgiven our sins, and welcomed us as members of the Kingdom. 2) Further, He calls us daily through the Word and through His Church, to be His disciples, and to turn away from all the things that distract us and draw us away from God. 3) Just as Jesus did for us and for Matthew, so we are to reach out to the unwanted and the marginalized in society with God’s own love, mercy and compassion to bring them Jesus’ healing and peace. Fr. Tony(https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/26
OT II [A] (Jan 18) Sunday homily (8-minute homily in one page) L/26
Introduction: The central theme of today’s readings is a challenge to live like the Lamb of God and to die like the Lamb of God and thus bear witness to Christ the “Lamb of God.” We have to choose to accept John’s testimony in today’s Gospel as God’s personal and corporate call to us to become witnesses to the Lamb of God. (You may add a homily starter anecdote here)
Scripture summarized: In both the first and second readings, God calls individuals to His service entrusting them with a mission. The first reading is from the “Songs of the Suffering Servant” in Isaiah, where the prophet was chosen by God from his mother’s womb and consecrated to be a “light to the nations.” Here, aspects of Jesus’ own life, as sacrificial lamb, and mission, as salvation of the world, are foreshadowed. In the second reading, Paul reminds the Corinthian Christians that they, like all who call on the Name of Jesus, are “sanctified and called to be holy.” They have been called by God and consecrated in Christ Jesus for a life of holiness and service. As believers, we too have been called by God to become members of Christ’s Body by our Baptism, and we, too, are consecrated in Christ Jesus for a life of holiness and service. The Gospel passage presents three themes, namely, the witness John the Baptist bears to Jesus, the revelation (epiphany) and identification of Jesus as the “Lamb of God,” and the call to discipleship. John’s first declaration probably brought five pictures of the “lamb” to the minds of his Jewish listeners. 1) The Lamb of Yearly Atonement (Lv 16:20-22) sacrificed on Yom Kippur. 2) The Lamb of Daily Atonement (Ex 29:38-42; Nm 28:1-8). 3) The Paschal Lamb (Ex. 12:11ss). 4) The Lamb of the Prophets (Jer 11:19), (Is 53:7). 5) The Lamb of the Conquerors. (See the “gospel exegesis” for details).
Life messages:1)We need to live and die like the Lamb of God. (A) Live like a lamb by: i) leading pure, innocent, humble, selfless lives, obedient to the Christ’s commandment of love; ii) appreciating the loving Providence and protecting care of the Good Shepherd in His Church; iii) eating the Body and drinking the Blood of the Good Shepherd, thus deriving spiritual strength from the Holy Spirit through the Holy Bible, the Sacraments and our prayers. (B) Die like a sacrificial lamb by: i) the sacrificial sharing our blessings of health, wealth, and talents with others in the family, parish, and community; ii) bearing witness to Christ in our illness, pain, and suffering; iii) offering our sufferings for the salvation of souls, in reparation for our sins and those of the whole world. 2) We need to be witnesses to the Lamb of God by our exemplary lives. Today’s Gospel reminds us that being a disciple of Jesus means that we need to grow in Faith so that we can become effective witnesses for him. Bearing witness to Christ is an active, not passive, lifetime enterprise. One cannot be a disciple of Jesus at a distance, any more than one can be a distant lover. 3)We are invited to “Come and see.” The essence of our witnessing is to state what we have seen and believed and then to invite others to “come and see” Jesus for themselves and, so, become discipls with us. As with Andrew and John, our Faith begins with our responding to Jesus’ invitation to “come and see.” We tell others about good restaurants, barbers, optometrists, etc. Why isn’t there the same fervor over inviting and encouraging people to come and participate in our Church activities? If we are not willing to invite others into this experience, what does that say about our experiences with Christ and with our Church?
OT II [A] (jan 18, 2026) Homily: Is 49:3, 5-6; I Cor 1:1-3; Jn 1:29-34
Homily starter anecdotes: #1: John the Baptist, the Essene preacher who introduced Jesus as the “Lamb of God.” When John’s parents died, he may well have been still too young to be on his own. Zechariah and Elizabeth had been very old when John was born, so that would not have been a surprise, but apparently nothing was done to prepare for it, just the same. According to tradition, the rest of the family had gone north to Nazareth because of political problems, and John, left alone, was taken in by a group of old men who lived in a little village down by the Dead Sea. The place was called Qumran, and the men were known as the Essenes. No one agrees just where the Essenes came from originally, but most agree that they had come to Qumran to get away from the “corruption” they believed was taking place in the Temple in Jerusalem. (a response to overwhelming corruption in secular life, copied during the following centuries, particularly in the second century by the Desert Fathers and Mothers, and in the Middle Ages, by those who founded and lived in the monasteries throughout Europe). You could say of both groups, that they were “religious fanatics” — or, more accurately, saints-in-the making, who lived lives of penance and prayer and spent the days and nights copying Scripture with its prophetic scrolls about how one day, God was going to send His Messiah and flush that filth right out of Jerusalem. Since many of them were unmarried, it was common for them to “adopt” homeless children and raise them, teaching them to continue the Essene lifestyle. One of those homeless children may well have been the young boy, John. Years later, when he appears just a few miles north of Qumran, he preaches, “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand!” These are Essene words, pure and simple. –- But even when he became a popular preacher, John still had the humility to acknowledge and introduce Jesus as “the Lamb of God” and the expected Messiah. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
# 2: “Eureka! Eureka!” According to the legend, the ruler Hieros II asked Archimedes the scientist to find a method for determining whether a crown was pure gold or mixed with silver. One day when Archimedes stepped into his bath and noticed that the water rose as he sat down, he leaped out of the bathtub naked shouting, “Eureka! Eureka!” (= “I have found [it]!”). The method of determining whether or not a crown was pure gold, discovered by Archimedes in his bathtub, was to compare its weight to its volume. If one had 1 pound of gold and 1 pound of silver and submerged them in water, the silver would make the water rise higher than the gold, because silver is less dense than gold (and so larger in size, that is, volume). Archimedes compared the volume of water displaced by the suspect crown with that displaced by a pure gold crown of equal weight, to dispel the doubt of his emperor. — Archimedes did not “find” this truth by searching after it — although he might have spent days thinking about a solution to the problem. His “find” came as an unexpected surprise. He might have noticed the water in the bathtub rising hundreds of times before, but its significance didn’t “click” in his brain until that “eureka” moment. Today’s Gospel describes how John the Baptist discovered Jesus as the Lamb of God and how first, Andrew and John, then Simon and James, and then Philip and Nathaniel/Bartholomew discovered him as the “Promised Messiah” quite unexpectedly. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
# 3: Lamb at the top of the Church:A tourist visited a Church in Werner, Germany and was surprised to see the carved figure of a lamb carved on the bell tower of the church. He asked why it was there and was told that when the bell tower of the church was being built, a workman fell from a high scaffold. His co-workers rushed down, expecting to find him dead. But to their surprise and joy, he was alive and only slightly injured. How did he survive? A flock of sheep was passing beneath the tower at the time, and he landed on top of a lamb. The lamb broke his fall and was crushed to death, but the man was saved. To commemorate that miraculous escape, a fellow stone artist carved a lamb on the tower at the exact height from which the workman had fallen. — This statue of the lamb expresses a tiny bit of what John the Baptist means when he introduces Jesus to his disciples saying, “Behold, the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world.” Much deeper and more meaningful must be our gratitude to Jesus the Lamb of God for saving us from the eternally fatal fall from grace. (Msgr. Arthur Tonne, Five Minutes Homilies; Rev. Richard Fairchild in Sermon and Liturgy). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
Introduction:The central theme of today’s readings is a challenge to live like the Lamb of God and to die like the Lamb of God. In both the first and second readings God calls individuals to His service. The Gospel passage presents three themes, namely, John the Baptist’s witness to Jesus, Jesus’ revelation (epiphany) and identification as the “Lamb of God,” and the call to discipleship. Those who are called gradually accept the identity of the One who calls them. Like John the Evangelist, we may choose to accept today’s Gospel as a personal and corporate call to become witnesses to the Lamb of God.
Scripture readings explained:The first reading (Is 49:3, 5-6): Bible Scholars have called this and three similar passages from this section of Isaiah (chapters 40-55), the “Songs of the Suffering Servant.” Today’s selection is from the second Servant Song. In the original author’s mind, the servant was probably a figure for the people of Israel, or for a faithful remnant within the people. The Gospels clearly show that the “suffering servant” is Jesus. The early Church saw aspects of Jesus’ own life (as sacrificial lamb), and mission (universal salvation), foreshadowed in the Servant Songs, and the Church refers to all of them throughout the liturgical year. Jesus was consecrated and commissioned to engage in a ministry of universal salvation. As God formed Isaiah from his mother’s womb as His prophet and a “Light to the nations,” we too are called by our Baptism to be that same “Light to the nations,” revealing the Christ. Being born again of water and the Holy Spirit gives us Jesus’ mission of being the “Light of the world.” In the Responsorial Psalm (Ps 40), the Psalmist is determined to give thanks not only with his lips but also with his life. The Response for today’s Responsorial Psalm (Ps 40) gives us the answer God wants from us when He invites us to similar service: “Here I am, Lord; I come to do Your will!”
The second reading is the beginning of Saint Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, with heading, inside address, and salutation, all in sentence form. The letter is for all the members of the Church in Corinth. Corinth was a bawdy seaport in cosmopolitan Greece. The vices of every seaport, plus the philosophical ferment of ancient Greece, were part of these peoples’ lives and gave rise, in part, to the need for this letter. Paul reminds the Corinthians that they are “sanctified and called to be holy,” like all who call on the Name of Jesus in Faith. They are called by God and consecrated in Christ Jesus for a life of holiness and service. By virtue of their Baptism into Christ Jesus, believers become members of his Body. They are not alone! They are called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Further, that same Lord Jesus is the Lord of those other Churches as well. As people who are baptized into Christ Jesus through the Holy Spirit, they, and we, share the vocation of Israel and the Church. So we are all meant to serve as “a Light to the nations,” with Jesus, God’s “Suffering Servant.”
Gospel exegesis: While the call and consecration of John the Baptist by God commissioned him for the important ministry of becoming the precursor of Jesus, it was Jesus who was consecrated, and commissioned to bring salvation to the world. As precursor of Jesus, John gives testimony to Jesus in today’s Gospel. A testimony can be a statement of a truth about something or someone, or a public expression of a religious experience. John the Baptist gives testimony to Jesus by pointing out that he is the Lamb of God (vv 29, 36); a man who was before me (v 30); the One on Whom the Holy Spirit remained (v 33); and the Son of God (v 34). John’s disciples call Jesus, “Rabbi” (vs. 38). Andrew calls him the Messiah (v 41), and Nathaniel/Bartholomew calls Jesus Rabbi, Son of God, and King of Israel (vs. 49). Jesus completes the Christology with his own declaration that he is the Son of Man (vs. 51).
The Lamb of God: John the Baptist introduced Jesus to the Jews as the “Lamb of God” on the second day (Jn 1:29). He repeats it on the third day. “Lamb of God” is the most meaningful title given to Jesus in the Bible. It is used 29 times in the book of Revelation. It sums up the love, the sacrifice, and the triumph of Christ. John’s introduction probably brought five pictures of the “lamb” to the minds of his Jewish listeners.
1) The Lamb of Atonement (Lv 16:20-22). A lamb was brought to the Temple on the Day of Atonement (YomKippur). Placing his hands over its head, the high priest transferred all the sins of his people onto the animal. It was then sent into the forest to be killed by some wild animal. 2) The Lamb of Daily Atonement (Tamid [“standing,” perpetual, continual] Sacrifice) — (Ex 29:38-42; Nm 28:1-8). One lamb was sacrificed on the “Black Altar” of the Temple every morning and another was sacrificed every evening to make a continuous sacrifice in order to atone for the sins of the Jews. 3) The Paschal Lamb(Ex. 12:11ss), the blood of which saved the first born of the Jewish families in Egypt from the Angel of destruction. This lamb reminded them also of the Paschal Lamb which they killed every year on the Passover Feast. 4) The Lamb of the Prophetswhich portrayed One who, by His sacrifice, would redeem His people: “The gentle lamb led to the slaughterhouse” (Jer 11:19),“like a lamb to the slaughter” (Is 53:7). Both refer to the sufferings and sacrifice of Christ. 5) The Lamb of the Conquerors. This was the picture of a horned lamb on the Jewish flag at the time of Maccabaean liberation war, when it was used as a sign of God’s conquering majesty and power. The great Jewish conquerors like Samuel, David, and Solomon were described by the ancient Jewish historians as “horned lambs.”
Christ as Lamb of God is a title familiar to us. In the Eucharist, at “the breaking of the bread” we proclaim in word or song what the Baptist said. Our traditional fraction anthem is the Agnus Dei – “Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us/grant us peace.” In this prayer we give a triple aexpression to our deepest understanding of the identity and purpose of Jesus Christ as our Lamb and Lord. By His life of love and sacrifice, we believe and affirm that He is the One Who was to come, came, and continues to come, into a broken world to take our sins upon Himself.
Life messages: 1) We need to live and die like the Lamb of God. (A) Live like a lamb: i) leading pure, innocent, humble, selfless lives obeying the Christ’s commandment of love; ii) appreciating the loving providence and protecting care of the Good Shepherd in His Church; iii) eating the Body and drinking the Blood of the Good Shepherd; and iv) deriving spiritual strength from his Holy Spirit through the Sacraments and prayers. (B) Die like a sacrificial lamb by: i) sharing our blessings of health, wealth, time, and talents with others in the family, parish, and community; ii) bearing witness to Christ in our illness, pain and suffering; iii) offering our suffering for the salvation of souls and as reparation for our sins and those of others.
2) We need to rebuild broken lives. Like the missionary call of the servant in Isaiah (Is 49:1-3) and “those called to be saints” in St. Paul’s First Letter to the Church in Corinth (1Cor 1:2ff), we are informed that God’s call is trustworthy and true. Therefore, we can believe from the depth of our hearts that our God is faithful. Our faithful response to God is to rebuild broken lives, our own and others’, reconciling them with God’s love and justice through Christ Jesus our Lamb and Lord. Through Baptism into the Body of Christ, we are empowered and enabled by the Holy Spirit to help free and build up the oppressed. Through the love of the Lamb of God, we are called to better the lot and comfort the broken spirit, of all who have been exiled from the possibility of hope and from God’s righteousness or who are burdened by the yoke of spiritual, social, economic, and political dislocation. In other words, through the life, death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the glorified Lamb, we are called to empower the human spirit with a sense of identity and purpose.
3) We need to be witnesses to the Lamb of God. Today’s Gospel reminds us that being a disciple of Jesus means that we grow by Faith to become witnesses for Him. And bearing witness to Christ is an active (not passive), lifetime enterprise. One cannot be a disciple of Jesus at a distance any more than one can be a distant lover. To love Christ is to be drawn close to Him, to know Christ personally, to experience Him through the Bible, prayer, and the Sacraments, and to inspire others to want to know Jesus. To help Christ is to share the Good News about Him with others. Blessed are we when we bring to others the gifts of love, peace, justice, patience, and mercy, thus becoming witnesses for the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ our Lord.
4) We need to “Come and see”. The essence of our witness-bearing is, first, to state what we have seen and believed, and then to invite others to “come and see.” For Andrew and John, Faith begins by responding to Jesus’ invitation, “Come and see.” Three times Andrew brings someone to Jesus! First, he brings his brother, Simon (1:40), then, a boy with five barley loaves and two fish (6:8); and finally, “some Greeks” (12:20-22), who want to see Jesus, which signals the hour for the Son of Man to be glorified. We tell others about good restaurants, barbers, optometrists, etc. Why isn’t there the same fervor over inviting and encouraging people to come and participate in our Church activities? Often, we hesitate to do so because of the false notion that talking about religion is taboo in our culture, or that religion is a private matter and shouldn’t be shared with others, or that we don’t have much of a personal Faith to share, or that our worship services would not be appealing to others. One of the differences that Faith should make in our lives is the desire that others — especially those without a religious Faith — might also share in and benefit from the relationship God offers through Christ. If we are not willing to invite others into this experience, what does that say about our experiences with Christ and with our Church?
JOKES OF THE WEEK
Pastor joke: My neighboring pastor put sanitary hot air hand dryers in the rest rooms at his Church and after two weeks took them out. I asked him why and he confessed that they worked fine but when he went in there, he saw a sign that read, “For a sample of this week’s sermon, push the button.”
The future son-in-law: The rich businessman Raymond goes to meet his new son-in-law to be, Ben. He says to Ben, “So, tell me Ben, my boy, what you do?” “I study the Theology,” he replies. “But Ben, you are going to marry my daughter! How are going to feed and house her?” “No problem,” says Ben, “I study Theology, and it says God will provide.” “But you will have children! How will you educate them?” asks Raymond. “No problem,” says Ben, “I study Theology, and it says God will provide.” When Raymond returns home, his wife anxiously asks him what Ben is like. “Well,” says Raymond, “he’s a lovely boy. I only just met him, and he already thinks I’m God.”
USEFUL WEBSITES OF THE WEEK(For homilies & Bible study groups)
8) Marian materials: C:\WUTemp\Website links\virginmary.htm
22 Additional anecdotes:
1) The picture of the Lamb of God in His mercy: In a cathedral in Copenhagen, Denmark there is a magnificent statue of Jesus by the noted sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen. When Thorvaldsen first completed the clay sculpture he gazed upon the finished product with great satisfaction. It was a sculpture of Christ with His face looking upward and arms extended upward. It was a statue of a majestic, conquering Christ. Later that night, however, after the sculptor had left his fine new work in clay to dry and harden, something unexpected occurred. Sea mist seeped into the studio in the night. The clay did not harden as quickly as anticipated. The upraised arms and head of the sculpture began to droop. The majestic Christ with arms lifted up and head thrown back was transformed into a Christ with head bent forward and arms stretched downward as if in a pose of gentle invitation. — At first Thorvaldsen was bitterly disappointed. As he studied the transformed sculpture, however, he came to see a dimension of Christ that had not been real to him before. It was the Christ Who is a gentle, merciful Savior. Thorvaldsen inscribed on the base of the completed statue, “Come Unto Me,” and that picture of the Lamb of God in His mercy has inspired millions. (Rev. King Duncan). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
2) “Will not my example inspire you to do your best?” Leonardo da Vinci had started a work on canvas in his studio. He chose a subject, sketched its outer lines, shaded here and lightened there. About half way through his work, however, he halted his sketching. He turned to a student of his and said, “I want you to finish the work that I have started.” The student protested. He surely was not worthy of such an honor. Da Vinci reassured him, “Will not my example inspire you to do your best?” he asked. “And besides, I am right here beside you if you should need any help.” — “Behold the Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world.” See Him in his majesty. See Him in His mercy. See Him in His ministry to the world, a ministry to which He calls you and me to complete. May His example inspire us and His presence empower us, so that all the world may come to know that the victory has been won! (Rev. King Duncan) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
3)“Come and see.” William Willimon, professor at Duke Divinity School, remembers when a friend of his visited the Soviet Union in the 1970s. Upon his return he announced that the Church behind the Iron Curtain was mostly “irrelevant because the only people there are little old ladies.” Dr. Willimon writes, “Looking back now at the collapse of Communism, the difficulties of rebuilding the Soviet Union after a long period of spiritual bankruptcy, I hope my friend would now say, ‘Thank God for the little old ladies. Theirexistence provided a continuing, visible, political rebuke to the Soviets.'” (William H. Willimon). — It would be wonderful if our prayer and witness were as effective as the prayers and witness of those little old ladies. It would be wonderful if our witness, like Andrew’s, was effective enough to challenge another Simon Peter. That is our task, and what a joyous, challenging task it is. Having found Christ, or more correctly having been found by Christ, we find others, that they, too, may “come and see.” (Rev. King Duncan). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
4) John the Baptist bore witness by identifying Jesus as the “Lamb of God.” John Sculley, former head of Apple Computer tells about his first encounter with Tom Watson, the man who made IBM into one of the world’s great corporations. Sculley left Pepsi Cola to take the presidency of Apple. It was not an easy transition. During a time of tremendous pressure Sculley received an invitation from Watson to come to Watson’s home. During the weekend, Sculley was most impressed by Watson on many levels but particularly by his modesty and by how genuinely interested he was in Apple. Watson seemed confident that Sculley’s company would get over their problems. “As long as Apple can continue to innovate and hold together the things it believes in, it will pull through,” Watson told Sculley. — Sculley said it was the word of encouragement he needed coming from a man he greatly admired. John the Baptist did the same thing for his disciples by identifying Jesus as the “Lamb of God.” (Rev. King Duncsan) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
5) “I want to order one pound of Barbecue… ” One day a man called a Church by mistake. The Church receptionist happened to be distracted at the time, and did not answer the phone in the usual fashion. She just said “Hello.” The man said, “I want to order one pound of Barbecue, two pints of Cole slaw, and a dozen hush puppies.” The receptionist said, “Wait a minute, sir. We are not a food service operation. You must have the wrong number.“ The man hesitated a moment and then asked, “What do you sell? What business are you in?” — That’s a fair question to ask. What is our mission? What is our principal message or service or goal? While all our tasks are important, none of them is our central mission. We are here, first and foremost, to declare this Good News: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came down from Heaven as the “Lamb of God” to save us from our sins by His sacrificial death on the cross. (Rev. Bill Bouknight) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
6) “But I just want to leave a committed life behind.” Two months before his assassination, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke to his congregation at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta about his death in what would oddly enough become his eulogy. “Every now and then I think about my own death, and I think about my own funeral,” Dr. King told his congregation. “If any of you are around when I have to meet my day, I don’t want a long funeral. And if you get somebody to deliver the eulogy, tell them not to talk too long. Every now and then I wonder what I want them to say. Tell them not to mention that I have a Nobel Peace Prize; that isn’t important. Tell them not to mention that I have three or four hundred other awards; that is not important. I’d like someone to mention that day that Martin LutherKing, Jr. tried to give his life serving others. I’d like someone to say that day that Martin Luther King, Jr. tried to love somebody. I want you to be able to say that day that I did try to feed the hungry. I want you to be able to say that day that I did try, in my life, to clothe those who were naked. I want you to be able to say that I did try to visit those in prison. I want you to say that I tried to love and serve humanity.” Dr. King concluded with these words: “I won’t have any money left behind. I won’t have the fine and luxurious things of life to leave behind. But I just want to leave a committed life behind.” [Henry Hampton and Steve Fayer with Sarah Flynn, Voices of Freedom (New York: Bantam Books, 1990), pp. 470-471.] — Did Martin Luther King, Jr., have that level of commitment when he first began his ministry? It is doubtful. He had youthful enthusiasm to be sure. He had strong convictions. He was well brought up, with an outstanding Baptist preacher as a father. But people who are truly captured by the spirit of Christ become so generally after years of walking in Christ’s footsteps. Our Faith is validated and grows as we “come and see.” (Rev. King Duncan). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
7) “No,” said the Lord Jesus, “not the world’s sins, just yours!” One day a saintly African Christian told his congregation about a vision he had had the night before. In the vision he was climbing up the hill to the Church. Suddenly he heard steps behind him. He turned and saw a man carrying a very heavy load on his back, climbing that hill. He was full of sympathy for this man and spoke kindly to him. Then he noticed that the man’s hands were scarred. Suddenly he realized that this was Jesus. He said to him, “Lord, are you carrying the world’s sins up the hill?” “No,” said the Lord Jesus, “not the world’s sins, just yours!” [Roy Hession, The Calvary Road, (Fort Washington, PA: CLC Publications, 1950), p. 55.] — Jesus’ atoning sacrifice reaches out to the entire world, but it begins very personally with me and you. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
8)“I told you that I would make you regret it.“ A young soldier was utterly humiliated by his senior officer. The officer had gone beyond the bounds of acceptable behavior in disciplining the young soldier, and he knew it, so he said nothing as the younger man said through clenched teeth, “I’ll make you regret this, if it is the last thing I ever do.” A few days later their company was under heavy fire, and the officer was wounded and cut off from his troops. Through the haze of the battlefield, he saw a figure coming to his rescue. It was the young soldier. At the risk of his own life, the young soldier dragged the officer to safety. The officer said, apologetically, “Son, I owe you my life.” The young man laughed and said, “I told you that I would make you regret humiliating me if it was the last thing I ever did!” — That is God’s kind of revenge. “Behold the Lamb that takes away the sins of the world…” Something happened on Calvary that bridged the gap between a Holy God and unholy humanity. We see Christ in His majesty but also in His mercy. (Rev. King Duncan) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
9) “I saw how it would be so easy for me to turn things around.” Working in a small town in Latin America, a woman felt despair. She was experiencing marital problems, as well as conflicts with people she worked with. Without warning, an earthquake struck one day. In those moments of panic and fear, she ran with other people to the relative safety of a garden plaza as buildings shattered and dust billowed. “For those moments I saw everything so clearly,” she recalls, “how I could become so much kinder to my husband, how other relationships could work out. In an instant, and with such gratitude, I saw how it would be so easy for me to turn things around.” — In that dramatic moment this woman had glimpsed how the brokenness in her life could be mended. At that moment she saw clearly how she could bring about healing in her life. At that moment it was as if God had spoken to her in a most dramatic way. [David Douglas, Wilderness Sojourn (San Francisco: Harper & Row, Publishers, 1987), p. 68.] God had promised John the Baptist a personal epiphany: “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the One Who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” When John saw the Spirit descend upon Jesus in the form of a dove, he knew without a doubt that Jesus was the Messiah. John the Baptist believed that day because of a personal revelation. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
10) Our God is a God of abundance, not of scarcity. In his best-selling books, Stephen Covey talks about people with an abundance mentality and people with a scarcity mentality. This is an important concept and I hope you will bear with me for a moment. People with a scarcity mentality, says Covey, see life as a finite pie: if someone gets a big piece of the pie, it means less for them. People with a scarcity mentality have a hard time in sharing recognition, credit, power, or profit, says Covey. They also have a tough time being genuinely happy for the success of other people, even and sometimes especially, members of their own family or close friends and associates. It’s almost as if something were being taken from them when someone else receives special recognition or success. — Have you ever seen that happen? You can tell someone with a scarcity mentality by the disparaging remarks they make following someone else’s success. It’s a sad situation when other people’s happiness somehow diminishes your own but that’s the “scarcity mentality”! The abundance mentality, on the other hand, says, “There is enough glory, enough credit, and enough honor in this world for everybody,” that our God is a God of abundance, not of scarcity.” (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
11)“It’s not polite to point.” The Star People are like the Wise Men, people still on the journey, people still searching and seeking out the meaning of life. But once the Star People and the Angel People experience the newborn Messiah, they can no longer stay in those roles. Their lives have been changed. So, I want to give them different names. Since the birth of Christ, there are Seekers and there are Pointers. — Now, I know that our mothers told us, “It’s not polite to point,” but in this instance I think it’s OK. Because, we’re called to point out Jesus, as Lord and Savior, to a world of Seekers. It’s OK because, Jesus has already been fingered by God when God spoke at Jesus’ baptism and said: “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
12)“Come and see”: There’s a scene in the first Toby McGuire Spiderman movie that sort of gets to the point I’m making. In the beginning of the movie Spiderman, Peter Parker undergoes a transformation. Bitten by a spider that’s been subjected to genetic experimentation, Peter develops superpowers and becomes a hero who nightly swings between the skyscrapers, looking for some endangered soul to rescue. One such soul is Mary Jane, a young woman he secretly loves. Of course, she falls for Spiderman, but not for Peter Parker. Mary Jane (M.J.) doesn’t know who Spiderman really is, even though he comes to her rescue. Spiderman saves her life, not once, but twice. Later, M.J. and Peter discuss her mysterious rescuer, and she confesses her love for Spiderman. Mary Jane is impressed that Peter “knows” Spiderman. In fact, Peter admits he’s had a “conversation” with Spiderman about Mary Jane. She wants to know what Peter told him about her. Peter searches for the right words; “I said, um, ‘Spiderman,’ I said, ‘the great thing about M.J. is when you look in her eyes, and she looks back in yours, everything feels not quite normal, because you feel strong, and weak at the same time. You feel excited, and at the same time terrified. The truth is, you don’t know the way you feel, except you know the kind of man you want to be. It’s as if you’ve reached the unreachable, and you weren’t ready for it.'” — I think what Peter describes is the same phenomenon both Andrew and John experienced when they came to know Jesus. The same is true for us, as well. Looking into the eyes of Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God, we feel weak, but He makes us strong; we are terrified, and at the same time we’re more exhilarated than we’ve ever been in our lives; and in Him we see the person we want to become – the person God created us to be. I think that’s what happened to Andrew and John. Jesus said, “Come and see”; they went, they saw – and they were changed from Seekers to Pointers and then they Pointed out Jesus to others. (Rev. Billy D. Strayhorn) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/). 13) “We’ve found the Messiah.” That’s all. I love the series of movies called The Matrix. The Wachowski Brothers are great story tellers. Their universe is very Christian, even if it doesn’t claim to be. They have taken all the best parts of Scripture (stories of Faith, faithfulness, temptation, the fall, of prophecy and a Savior) and have woven them all together into a universe of technology and despair that is engaging, moving and theologically thought-provoking. There’s a really brief scene in The Matrix, where Morpheus, the John the Baptist or Elijah kind of character, has freed Neo from The Matrix. He’s convinced that Neo is the One – the one who will save them and set them free. He tells another character, Trinity: “We’ve done it, Trinity! We’ve found him!” Trinity says, “I hope you’re right.” And Morpheus responds, “You don’t have to hope. I know it.” — That’s basically the message Andrew had for his brother. Andrew pointed out Jesus to his brother Simon in a very simple way. He said: “We’ve found the Messiah.” That’s all. He could have quoted Morpheus and said the same thing. “We’ve done it Simon! We’ve found him!” Andrew was pointing the way. And by Andrew’s pointing the way, Simon’s life and name were changed. (Rev. Billy D. Strayhorn). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/). 14) “Lamb of God.” Many people are known not by their name but by their nickname, and sometimes the nicknames indicate who the person is. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was most widely known as Mahatma; Margaret Thatcher as the Iron Lady, and St. Theresa of Lisieux as the Little Flower. Jesus Christ, too, was given names like the Lamb of God, the Servant of God, and the Lord, indicating the roles he performed or fulfilled as he lived on earth. — What name do we give Jesus? How have we known him? (Fr. Botelho) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
15) Lamb of God for sacrifice: Sarojini, a nurse at Beach Hospital in Bombay was taking her morning shower when she heard screams coming from the street. Quickly changing, she saw to her horror a little girl being dragged across the street by two stray dogs. The child was covered with blood. Sarojini rushed out and managed to snatch the girl from the dogs. But the dogs would not give up. Suddenly jumping up they managed to get a good hold of the girl and jerked her from Sarojini’s hands. As soon as she fell to the ground, the dogs began to bite the child on the head, hands, and stomach. Sarojini jumped on top of the girl and lay flat on her, protecting the girl from the dogs, using her body as a shield. Now the dogs began attacking Sarojini. She was in agony as they dug their teeth into her hip and thighs. But Sarojini did not move, all the while attempting valiantly to kick the dogs with both her legs. Meanwhile two people came running from nearby houses with heavy sticks in their hands and managed to beat the dogs and chase them away. A passing van was stopped and picking Sarojini and the little girl, sped away to Beach Hospital where the girl underwent six hours of surgery and Sarojini four. It took six months for their wounds to heal. “I never regretted what I did,” said Sarojini. “I’ll do it again if needed!” (Fr. C.P. Varkey in “If He and She Can….” ) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
16) THE LAMB WINS: When Communism fell in Czechoslovakia the churches opened and people were free to worship. One Church in Prague put a sign on a lawn of a Prague church. It read: THE LAMB WINS. — This week, make the Carthusian monks’ motto your own: “To seek God assiduously, find God promptly, and possess God fully.” (Fr. James Gilhooley) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
17) Heroic love: Many years ago, there was a very dangerous fire in a certain part of Wales. For three whole days the fire raged with such intensity and fury that rescue attempts were greatly hampered. Sadly, quite a few lost their lives and their property. On the third day, we are told, some Council workers saw a nest in a tree and they just could not believe that it had survived the ravages of that destructive fire. Very gently one worker brought the nest down. To his surprise he found the charred and lifeless remains of the mother bird with her wings outstretched. And then to his astounded disbelief, he heard a little chirp and found two little young ones beneath the brittle remains of the mother bird. She had bravely and selflessly chosen to die in order to protect her little ones. What heroic love! — This is what we commemorate and celebrate today. There was no way we humans could be delivered from sin and death by our own efforts. A price had to be paid, and the supreme price that could make deliverance possible and available for us to receive was paid by God Who gave us his Son Jesus to die for us. Jesus is the Lamb of God who has taken away the sins of the world. How do we show our gratitude for his sacrifice today? How can we imitate him? (James Valladares in Your Words, O Lord, Are Spirit, and They Are Life) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
18)Finding Jesus Today: Regina Riley tells a story to which many parents can relate. For years she had prayed that her two sons would return to the Faith. Then one Sunday morning her sons were in the aisle besides her; her joy and gratitude overflowed. Afterwards she asked her sons what prompted their return and the younger son told the story. One Sunday morning, while vacationing in Colorado, they were driving down a mountain road. It was raining cats and dogs. Suddenly they came upon an old man without an umbrella. He was soaked through and through, and walked with a noticeable limp. Yet he kept trudging doggedly along the road. The brothers stopped and picked him up. It turned out that the stranger was on his way to Mass at a church three miles down the road. The brothers took him there. Since it was coming down so hard, and since they had nothing better to do, they decided to wait for the stranger to take him home after Mass. It wasn’t long before the two boys figured that they might as well go inside, rather than wait in the car. As the two brothers listened to the reading and sat through the breaking of the bread, something moved them deeply. — The only way they could explain it later was: “You know Mother it felt so right. Like getting home after a long, tiring trip.” (Mark Link in Sunday Homilies). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
19)Jesus, the Lamb of God that Washes Away Our Sins…There is a story about a young priest, who had been appointed to serve as Pastor in a small parish. One summer afternoon, he was sitting in the confessional. A woman came and knelt and said, “Hey, Priest! Relax. I did not come to make a confession. I came here because of that old lady — my mother, who insisted that I go for Confession. I’ll just kneel here for five minutes and then go away.” “What is your name?” the priest asked. “Agatha,” she replied. “That’s a lovely name,” continued the priest; “Agatha means good or kind.” The lady giggled and said, “I am a bad girl; the worst in this town. I just came out of the prison, and I am in the flesh trade. When I was in the prison, I fell for your holy stuff. I prayed to your God to free me, but He did not answer me. He was too busy for the likes of us, I suppose. Do you want to hear further,” asked the lady? “Yes, go on,” replied the priest. “Then I prayed to the devil,” continued the lady, “I promised the devil that I would take nine sacrilegious communion if he would free me. I took Communion and cursed God-aplenty. Can you believe it? I got freed on the eighth day. What do you say to that, priest?” “The devil got a good bargain,” said the priest, “He gave you freedom, and then in return he got your immortal soul. But Agatha! Believe me, you are not completely lost. You still have love in your heart. You are here because of your mother. That means that you still love your mother. Anyone with even a little love in the heart is not lost. Stay with me here and all this can be blotted out like a bad dream.” A faint moan came out from her. She started breathing heavily. “That’s enough. I am getting out. You can’t do anything about it,” she said. She got up and began to walk out. “Stay here, and pray, please” the priest urged. But she went out. As she was going out, the priest shouted, “I am going to wait for you here, and I am sure that you will come back.” The priest continued in the confessional. He asked everyone who came to the church to pray for a special intention. After all the confessions the priest knelt down and started praying. Many hours passed. One after another the people moved out of the Church. The sacristan turned off the lights and wanted to close the Church. The priest was still praying. He took the key from the sacristan, saying that he, himself, would lock the Church. Hours passed – it was almost midnight. Then he heard the same trotting of the sandals. Joy filled his heart. Agatha came and knelt next to him. She began to weep. She poured out her sins to him, and he absolved her of all her sins. She was cleansed. She was a new person again. — Hats off to that priest. He forgave and reclaimed that lady in the name of Jesus. Jesus-the Lamb washes away our sins by His blood. (John Rose in John’s Sunday Homilies) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
20) The doctrine of atonement: There is a name for the truth that Jesus, the Son of God, died to save us from our sins, destroying our enemies sin and death. It is the doctrine of the Atonement. If you look up atonement in the dictionary it will tell you that it is a satisfaction or reparation for a wrong or injury. For example, in 1942, in the midst of war hysteria, we relocated about 100,000 Japanese Americans to internment centers on the West Coast. Later, we realized that such action violated our own Bill of Rights. As an expression of our regret, we paid money to Japanese Americans who were held against their will. — Such payment is an atonement for the wrong we did them. Atonement in a spiritual context refers to the reconciliation of God and humanity by means of the suffering and death of Jesus Christ. John Wesley, our Methodist founder, referred to this as the central doctrine of our Faith. (Rev. Bill Bouknight). (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
21) “I have never read one of his books.” Bill Bryson traveled to Hannibal, Missouri, to visit the boyhood home of author, Mark Twain. The house was a “trim, white-washed house with green shutters, set incongruously in the middle of downtown.” It cost two dollars to walk around the site. Bryson found the house a disappointment. “It purported to be a faithful reproduction of the original interiors,” he writes, “but there were wires and water sprinklers clumsily evident in every room. I also very much doubt that young Samuel Clemens’ bedroom had Armstrong vinyl on the floor or that his sister’s bedroom had a plywood partition in it.” The house is owned by the city of Hannibal and attracts 135,000 visitors each year. Bryson was disappointed that he was not able to actually go inside the house. “You look through the windows,” he says. At each window there is a recorded message telling about each room. As he proceeded from window to window he asked another tourist. “What do you think of it?” The friendly stranger replied, “Oh, I think it was great. I come here whenever I am in Hannibal — two, three times a year. Sometimes I go out of my way to come here.” Dumbfounded, Bryson replied, “Really?” “Yeah,” answered the stranger. “I must have been here twenty, thirty times by now. This is a real shrine, you know.” They walked and talked some more. Bryson’s last question to the man was, “Would you say the house is just like Twain described it in his books?” “I don’t know,” the stranger said. “I have never read one of his books.” (Bill Bryson, The Lost Continent: Travels in Small Town America). – “Visiting his shrine” but ignoring his books is doubtless true of many followers of Jesus who are satisfied with that same superficial approach. They visit his shrine, but never read his teachings. Some of us, though, want to go farther. Some of us want to know Jesus, not just as an interesting historical figure, but as the living Son of God. How do we find Jesus? That is the question for this morning. How do we find him? Let me suggest some ways. Sometimes, we find him through a dramatic act of revelation. It doesn’t happen that way to many of us, but sometimes God breaks into people’s lives in a clear, unmistakable act of disclosure. That is what happened to John the Baptist. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).
22)Theology of the body: A lot of the physical fitness craze today is not as much about physical fitness as it is about glorifying the body. Joggers pound the street. There is a plethora of work-out books. Why, you can even buy records and videos that tell you how to turn flab into firmness and fat into muscle. To be sure, it is important to stay in shape, but much of this craze is just to glorify the body. Four symbols illustrate our obsession with glorifying the body: 1) “Dress to win!” Learn how to dress so you can be a winner. The worst thing you could ever do is to show up dressed in the wrong clothing. When the ties get narrow, don’t wear a wide one. When the shirts get shorter, don’t wear a long one. You have to know how to dress to win, that is how to glorify the body. 2) The tanning spa. People are paying what I consider to be a very high price to tan their bodies so their bodies can be glorified. Now, all of us know that tanning spas are not good for anyone. They can cause skin cancer from which one can die, or, at least, can permanently damage one’s skin. Yet, because we are so obsessed with glorifying the body, we will pay high prices to get brown, even, causing much harm to body, psyche, and immortal soul. 4) Steroids. One who takes steroids to enlarge the muscles of the body in order to become a better athlete, is asking for real trouble. When one pumps iron after taking steroids, the muscles in the body take on added dimension and strength, but the internal harmony of the body is disturbed with sometimes fatal results.
So, I say to you, we know a lot about how to glorify the body, but we don’t know very much about how to glorify God with the body. One of the reasons we don’t know how to glorify God with the body is that we have been taught to glorify God with our spirits, but not with our bodies. We have been taught that the body is not as important as the spirit. We have been taught that spiritual glorification is more important than physical glorification. We have been fed the lie that the body is our possession and that we can do as we please with it, no matter Who says No. — The Apostle Paul tried to correct that notion when he said, “Glorify God with the body! Glorify God with the body!“ How is it then that we glorify God with the body? 1) Saint Paul said we glorify God with the body by shunning immorality. To “shun” immorality means don’t flirt with temptation! 2) Furthermore, Saint Paul said that the body is not meant for immorality, but ismeant for the Lord and the Lord for the body. The body, in other words, is a member of Christ’s body. 3) Finally, we glorify God with the body when we physically do things that glorify God, as when we use our bodies in service to humankind. This is probably the greatest glorification of God with the body. — Today’s Gospel tells us that after receiving a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit in baptism, Jesus then left the river Jordan to begin his public ministry. Jesus glorified God not only with his words, but with his flesh-and-blood body. Jesus’ fulfillment of the Messaianic Mission — walking the hills and valleys of Israel in poverty, preaching the Good News, healing the sick, and obeying His Father’s will — would end with an unjust verdict and Jesus’ dying a criminal’s death marked by suffering intensely in body and spirit, on a Roman cross. Without Jesus’ complete surrender of body and spirit to the Father’s will, thus glorifying Him, God’s words about a descending Spirit would have been hollow. It was Jesus’ bodily glorification of God which gave validity to the Spirit’s work. So, if the Spirit is truly with us, we will glorify God not only with our words, but with our physical bodies as well. “Glorify God with your body,” said St. Paul. That’s what Jesus did and so should we. How else will the world believe that the Spirit has descended on us? (https://frtonyshomilies.com/). L/26
Kindly visit my websiteby clicking on https://frtonyshomilies.com/ for missed or previous Cycle A homilies, 141 Year of Faith “Adult Faith Formation Lessons” (useful for RCIA classes too) & 197 “Question of the Week.” Please contact me by email only atakadavil@gmail.com.For additional homilies, you may visithttps://www.catholicsermons.com/homilies/sunday_homilies of Fr. Nick’s collection of homilies or Resources in the CBCI website: https://www.cbci.in. (Special thanksto Vatican Radio website http://www.vaticannews.va/en/church.html -which completed uploading my Cycle A, B and C homilies in May 2020) My post-retirement U. S. postal address is Fr. Anthony Kadavil, Fr. Anthony Kadavil, C/o Fr. Joseph M. C. , St. Agatha Church, 1001 Hand Avenue, Bay Minette, Al, U. S. A. 36507
Mt 4: 12-17, 23-25: 12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee; 13 and leaving Nazareth he went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulon and Naphtali, 14 that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15 The land of Zebulon and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles — 16 the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned. 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. He went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, 23 proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people. 24 12 His fame spread to all of Syria, and they brought to him all who were sick with various diseases and racked with pain, those who were possessed, lunatics, and paralytics, and he cured them. 25 And great crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, 13 Jerusalem, and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan followed him.
The context: Today’s Gospel describes the beginning of Jesus’ mission of preaching and healing in Galilee. He chose that area as the ideal spot because it was the most fertile land in Palestine. In addition, it was the most populated area, with 204 villages around the Sea of Galilee housing Jews and Gentiles. The Jews there belonged to the tribes of Asher, Naphtali and Zebulon. The people were open to new ideas because they had been exposed to various religious beliefs and the culture of traders from all over the known world.
Preaching the Good News: Jesus started preaching the Good News about God the Father and about God’s Kingdom. Since it was God the King’s message, it carried God’s authority and certainty. It was “Good News” because Jesus introduced to his hearers God his Father as a loving, merciful, providing, forgiving Father Who wants to save everyone from the bondage of sin. It was also “Good News” of hope and peace. As a continuation of John’s message, Jesus, too, invited his hearers to repentance and the renewal of their lives. Matthew identified Jesus’ preaching and healing ministry in Galilee as the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah.
Life message: As Christians we have been given Jesus’ mission to continue. Hence, our exemplary, transparent lives must be our message radiating Christ’s love, mercy, forgiveness and spirit of humble and committed service. (Fr. Tony) L/26
Jan 6 Tuesday:St. Andre Bessette, Religious, USA: Mk 6: 34-44: 34 As he went ashore he saw a great throng, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. 35 And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, This is a lonely place, and the hour is now late; 36 send them away, to go into the country and villages round about and buy themselves something to eat.& 37 But he answered them, You give them something to eat.; And they said to him,;Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread, and give it to them to eat?; 38 And he said to them,;How many loaves have you? Go and see.; And when they had found out, they said,;Five, and two fish.; 39 Then he commanded them all to sit down by companies upon the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. 41 And taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples to set before the people; and he divided the two fish among them all. 42 And they all ate and were satisfied. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. 44 And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.
The context: Today’s Gospel describes Jesus’ miraculous feeding of a great multitude. The story is told in all four Gospels and serves as Jesus’ way of introducing to his hearers a merciful, providing God. This miraculous feeding was meant to remind people of God's provision of manna in the wilderness and to foreshadow the true Heavenly Bread, which Jesus would offer His followers. Jesus took pity on the growing physical hunger of his listeners as he preached, and he challenged his Apostles to feed them. But they had with them only five loaves of bread and two dried fish. Jesus took these, said a prayer of blessing broke them and asked the Apostles to distribute them till the hungry people were fully satisfied. Since it was mid-April, springtime in Israel, the people could sit comfortably on green grass in their groups of hundreds and fifties as Jesus instructed. After serving a generous meal, the Apostles collected twelve wicker baskets of leftover bread and fish pieces, a vivid proof and reminder of God’s generosity in giving. Life messages: 1) We will not, by ourselves, be able to feed the hungry illions in the world. But today’s Gospel challenges us to do our humble share in alleviating hunger and poverty in our neighborhood. 2) God will amplify our little contributions and reward our good will and generosity. (Fr. Tony) L/26
Mk 6: 45-52: 45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. 47 And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48 And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out; 50 for they all saw him, and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said,;Take heart, it is I; have no fear." 51 And he got into the boat with them and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, 52 for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.
The context: The event presented by today’s Gospel is the scene immediately following Jesus' miraculous feeding of the five thousand with five loaves of bread and two fish. Sensing the danger of being seized by the people and; made King as the leader of a revolt, Jesus promptly instructed his Apostles to leave the place by boat. He dismissed the crowd and went to the mountain to pray in solitude. A double miracle in the sea: When the Apostles in the boat were several furlongs away from the shore, they faced an unexpected storm on the sea caused by the rush of hot wind from the desert blowing through the gaps of the Golan Heights onto the Sea of Galilee. Recognizing His Apostles' danger, Jesus went toward their boat, walking on the stormy sea. Jesus calmed the frightened disciples as he approached the boat. As soon as Jesus got into the boat, the storm ceased miraculously, to the great astonishment of the Apostles.
Life messages: 1) Let us approach Jesus with strong Faith in His ability and availability to calm the storms in our lives and in the life of the Church. Church history shows us how Jesus saved his Church from the storms of persecution in the first three centuries, from the storms of heresies in the fifth and sixth centuries, from the storms of moral degradation and the Protestant reformation movement in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, and from the storms of clergy sex-abuse scandals in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
2) Let us ask Jesus to protect us when we face storms of strong temptations, storms of doubts about our religious beliefs, and storms of fear, anxiety and worries in our personal lives. Experiencing Jesus’ presence in our lives, let us confess our Faith in him and call out for his help and protection Fr. Tony L/26
Jan 8 Thursday:Lk 4: 14-22:Jesus in the synagogue at Nazareth 14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and a report concerning him went out through all the surrounding country. 15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. 16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up; and he went to the synagogue, as his custom was, on the Sabbath day. And he stood up to read; 17 and there was given to him the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened the book and found the place where it was written, 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hasanointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” 20 And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 And all spoke well of him, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth; and they said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?”
Scripture explained: Today’s Gospel describes how Jesus participated in the Sabbath prayer of the synagogue in his native place with a band of his disciples. The prayer began with “Shema’’ prayer followed by the recital of the “Eighteen Blessings,” praising and thanking God. Then four passages from the “Torah” the book of Law were read and explained by a priest, followed by a selection from the Prophets, which was read and interpreted by an invited scholar or guest or volunteer. Finally, the prayer was concluded with a priest or the synagogue president blessing the assembly, using the blessing from the Book of Numbers (6: 22 ff). Since Jesus had become popular as a miracle working preacher in Capernaum, he was given the chance to read from the Book of the Prophets and to interpret the Scripture. Jesus, handed the Scroll of the prophet Isaiah, opened it and read his prophecy on the mission of the expected Messiah. Surprising everyone, Jesus claimed that he was the One sent “to bring glad tidings to the poor, liberation to captives, recovery of sight to the blind and freedom for the oppressed”—language that reflects the Biblical year of Jubilee. To the great amazement and disbelief of his own townsmen, Jesus declared that Isaiah’s prophecy was being fulfilled at that very moment “in their hearing,” because the prophet was foretelling and describing Jesus’ mission and ministry. Jesus’ mission would be to give liberation to everyone who would listen to his “Good News,” accept it and put it into practice. Luke reports that the initial reaction of the people was surprise at the power and eloquence of this son of their soil.
Life messages: 1) We need to receive Christ’s freedom, live it and pass it on to others: As members of Christ’s Mystical Body, we share in the freeing, saving mission of Jesus. But we are captives of sin. We need Christ to set us free. We are often blinded by our evil habits, addictions and need for financial security. Once we receive true liberation from Christ, we have to share it with those we encounter in our daily lives, families, neighborhoods, parishes and workplaces. 2) We need to let the power of the Holy Spirit fill us, and to be ready to have miracles done through us. Today’s Gospel tells us that Jesus performed miracles because he was filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. Let us be ready to become Spirit-filled instruments of Christ’s saving freedom. Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/26 For additional reflections:https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video ; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/ ; https://www.epriest.com/reflections
Jan 9 Friday: Lk 5: 12-16: 12 While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and besought him,; Lord, if you will, you can make me clean13 And he stretched out his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be clean And immediately the leprosy left him. 14 And he charged him to tell no one; but ;go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a proof to the people.; 15 But so much the more the report went abroad concerning him; and great multitudes gathered to hear and to be healed of their infirmities. 16 But he withdrew to the wilderness and prayed. The context: Today’s Gospel describes Jesus touching a man sick with a severe case of leprosy and healing him instantly. Biblical “leprosy” rarely indicated Hansen’s disease (leprosy proper); mostly, the term referred to skin diseases like ringworm, psoriasis, leukoderma, vitiligo and some types of skin cancer. The suffering of lepers in Biblical times was chiefly due to the way they were treated by the religious society of the day (Interpreter’s Bible). They were deemed unclean, unfit to be counted among a people who considered themselves “a kingdom of priests, a holy nation” (Ex 19:6). “Leprosy” was also a terrible disease because its victims were separated from their families and society. Besides, lepers were treated as sinners deserving no mercy because they were seen as being punished by God with their contagious disease. The leprosy given by God as a punishment to Miriam, the complaining sister of Moses, to Gehazi, the greedy servant of the prophet Elijah and to the proud the King Uzziah, supported the Jewish belief that leprosy was God’s punishment for sins. Mosaic restrictions on lepers: The Mosaic Law, as given in Leviticus, demanded that, first, the priest declare the leper unclean, and then that the leper a) keep his garments rent and his head bare, b) muffle his beard, c) cry out, Unclean, uncleanand d) dwell apart, making his abode outside the camp. As a general rule, when a Jewish leper was healed, he had to go to the local priest for confirmation that he was now clean and was permitted to mix with the general public.
Life Messages: 1) The strong faith of the sick man prompted him to violate the Mosaic Law prohibiting him from joining a crowd and approaching Jesus. The sympathy and mercy of Jesus prompted Jesus to violate the Mosaic Law which forbade anyone to touch an untouchable leper. Thus, Jesus teaches the lesson that the essence of Christianity is to touch the untouchable, to love the unlovable, and to forgive the unforgivable.
2) By sending the cured man to the priests to get their certification of his freedom from disease, Jesus teaches us that we should pray for healing and, at the same time, go to the doctors who share God’s wisdom in healing. Healing normally happens when man’s skill combines with God’s grace. (Fr. Tony) L/26
Jan 10 Saturday: Jn 3: 22-30: 22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the land of Judea; there he remained with them and baptized. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and people came and were baptized. 24 For John had not yet been put in prison. 25 Now a discussion arose between John's disciples and a Jew over purifying. 26 And they came to John, and said to him, ;Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you bore witness, here he is, baptizing, and all are going to him.; 27 John answered, No one can receive anything except what is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness that I said, I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him. 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice; therefore, this joy of mine is now full. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease
The context: Today’s Gospel passage shows the loveliness of John the Baptist’s humility. John was responding to his disciples who complained that many among them were deserting John to join the new preacher, Jesus, whom John had baptized. John’s explanation: John told them plainly who he really was and what his mission was. He told them that he was only a forerunner of the Messiah and that his mission was to prepare a people for the Messiah by preaching repentance. He was challenging his hearers to receive the baptism of repentance as their first step in renewing their lives, so they could welcome Jesus the Messiah into their lives. John explained further that his role was to be the “friend of the bridegroom” (shoshben), Jesus. As the shoshben arranges the meeting of the bride and groom, arranges the details of the wedding, presides over the wedding, guards the bridal chamber and leaves happily, John prepared the bride, namely, the Jewish nation for receiving her bridegroom, Jesus the Messiah, by baptizing the people who were willing to repent and then baptizing Jesus and introducing him to the people as the “Lamb of God.”
Life messages: 1) Our mission, as St. Francis de Sales puts it, is to “bloom where you are planted.” God has given a unique mission to each one of us, and we are expected to accomplish that unique mission by receiving God’s strength through the various means Jesus has instituted in his Church. No one can receive anything except what has been given from Heaven.” 2) True humility and trusting faith in God are necessary for us to accomplish our life’s mission by using God’s freely given gifts. (Fr. Tony) L/26
#3: Salt and light: The story of EWTN is the story of a brave woman who had the courage of her conviction that she should be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Mother Angelica (who died in 2016), started broadcasting Catholic TV for just a few hours a day in 1981 from the garage of her Poor Clare Monastery in the US. The project grew and grew, and now, after forty-six years, the Eternal Word Television Network is available twenty-four hours a day all over the world by cable and satellite. Mother Angelica is an example of a true Christian living out her Faith as salt to preserve Christian values and to provide the modern world with a purifying mass-medium. She kept putting her lamp on the lampstand so that Christ’s Light would shine for everyone in the modern global village. With the death of Mother Angelica on Easter Sunday, 2016, the Church lost the most charismatic American Catholic media personality of her time, as well as someone who proved beyond any doubt that a determined, grace-filled, savvy woman can, after all, wield real power. For much of the 1980s and 1990s, she was simply the most riveting Catholic figure on the airwaves. She was a simple nun, with a profound Faith, and one courageously dependent upon God’s grace to supply what was needed. Her life and deeds were miraculous. — Mother Angelica regularly attributed the success of EWTN to God’s providence, but the history of the operation reveals savvy business decisions that helped “this miracle of God” to become the multi-million-dollar global media conglomerate it is today. That those decisions were made by a woman without much previous power in the Church or elsewhere is notable. (
# 4: St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa) — salt and light: David Porter writes of Mother Teresa: “She was born as Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu (AG-nes GOHN-jah BOY-yah-jee-oo), to Albanian parents in Yugoslavia. . She went to India in 1929 as a member of the Loreto Order of nuns, after learning English in their Motherhouse in Dublin Ireland. She taught in India for many years and became principal of the school. In 1946, she received her ‘call within a call’ to work with the poorest of the poor. By 1948, she had received permission to leave the Loreto order and had gotten training in the nursing skills she would need to carry out her calling. She prayed, “Oh God, if I cannot help these people in their poverty and their suffering, let me at least die with them, close to them, so that I can show them Your love” [Mother Teresa: The Early Years, 67; cited by Caroline J. Simon, “The Media and Mother Teresa,” Perspectives, 12 (March, 1997), 3.] Simon notes: “From this simple beginning, the Missionaries of Charity have grown to include 4,500 Sisters and Brothers, 755 homes for the children, the sick, the destitute and the dying and 1,369 medical clinics that serve 120,000 worldwide.” — We too can become the salt of the earth and the light of the world as Mother Teresa did. (
#5: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton: Getting Closer to God Means Serving Others: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, had a long and difficult journey into the Catholic faith. She lived around 1800 and was part of New York high society both by birth and also by marriage. As a young wife and mother, she felt a profound spiritual restlessness. A non-Catholic Christian, she longed for a deeper relationship with Christ, but didn’t know where to find it. A series of Crosses, including her husband’s death, led her to the Catholic Church, where she found what she was looking for in the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Converting to Catholicism led her to be criticized and ostracized by friends, social circles, and even family members. But her deeper intimacy with Christ made the suffering worthwhile. Instead of falling into discouragement or self-pity, in fact, she found herself moved to start a new religious order dedicated to educating the young. Thus was born the American Sisters of Charity, which now has five major divisions in the United States and Canada. And thus began the American system of Catholic education, which in 2011 included over 7,000 elementary and secondary schools throughout the United States. — God wants to bring flavor and light to the world, and the closer we get to his Sacred Heart, the more our hearts will burn with that same desire. [Information for this Illustration was garnered from 
“Scriptural Homilies” Cycle A (No. 14) by Fr. Tony: 
” Scriptural Homilies” no. 11 (A) by Fr. Tony 
“Scriptural Homilies” Cycle A (No. 13) by Fr. Tony: 
Fr Tony's Homilies 
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