“…’will speak to him about you. If I learn anything, I will let you know.’ Jonathan then spoke well of David to his father Saul…’’ (1 SAM 19: 3-4)
We can do so much good when talking to somebody. Jonathan’s conversation with “his father Saul” saved David’s life. We can expand somebody’s imagination, inspire them with some creativity in charity, show them the situation from a different angle or just remind them of some positive aspects and changes which you recently found. When we talk, we can save lives “and bring life to light through the Gospel.”
“Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life to light through the Gospel.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” (MK 3: 4)
The Pharisees probably answered—nothing; you cannot do anything. But God’s idea for the sabbath was to celebrate His hard work for us, when He finished creating everything for us. Behind the sabbath we have the wonderful, free, creative and joyful gift of self. So, in the same way, our celebration of the sabbath should be focused on “to do good, save life,” rather than doing nothing.
“Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom and cured every disease among the people.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath. That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.” (MK 2: 27-28)
An end and a means to an end—how often we make some mistakes there, especially in our relationships; how often we are tempted to use somebody to our own ends. She or he can easily be a means for our ends. Even God could be used in my prayers as a means to my ends. Love and Responsibility reminds us: “no one may use a person as a means to an end: neither any man nor even God the Creator.” The answer lies in love, where we look for the common good and common ends. “Our LORD,” who is love, knows how to “enlighten the eyes of our hearts” so that we can answer “to our call.”
“May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our hearts, that we may know what is the hope that belongs to our call.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Does the LORD so delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obedience to the command of the LORD? Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission than the fat of rams.” (1 SM 15: 22)
Obedience keeps us focused on God’s will—I do whatever is commanded by God; sacrifice, even dedicated to God, keeps us focused on our will—I do whatever I want to do. Sacrifice looks nice but could be dangerous for our souls; obedience, even if sometimes difficult, brings a lot of good fruit to us.
“The word of God is living and effective, able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“No more shall people call you ‘Forsaken,’ or your land ‘Desolate,’ but you shall be called ‘My Delight,’ and your land ‘Espoused.’ For the LORD delights in you and makes your land his spouse. As a young man marries a virgin, your Builder shall marry you; and as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride so shall your God rejoice in you.”
To our God we are like His bride and He rejoices in us. Many mightfeel “forsaken” or “desolate,” but to Him we are “His delight” and “espoused”—“for the Lord delights in us and makes our land his spouse.” What a dignity, what a privilege and what a challenge!
“God has called us through the Gospel to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Jesus went out along the sea. All the crowd came to him and he taught them. As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. Jesus said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed Jesus.” (MK 2: 13-14)
Now I understand better the English phrase “by the way” because Levi’s vocation was born exactly this way, when Our Lord “passed by, and saw Levi, son of Alphaeus,” and “said to him, ’Follow me.’” No great novena, hundreds of rosaries, special preparation, retreats and spiritual directing. Nothing like this. In passing. God calls us when we are ready and when we are not. Levi “got up and followed Jesus” without any question, any comments, or any assurances that he was completely unworthy and for sure that Jesus should invite somebody else. Jesus said, “he got up.”
“The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor and to proclaim liberty to captives.”
“When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home. Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them.” (MK 2: 1-2)
We can meet Jesus in so many places. Wherever He is, He is always concerned about us. Even “at home” He doesn’t look for privacy and rest but is concerned about our relationship with God—“He preached the word to them”–to those “at [His] home” and outside because “there was no longer room for them.” Our homes are also places where He loves to be, where there is a place for “the word.”
“A great prophet has arisen in our midst and God has visited his people.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.” (MK 1: 45)
Jesus takes care of us everywhere. Also in “deserted places.” There is no need to go especially there (but of course you can go and I would strongly recommend this) because we have such a place in ourselves: hidden, shameful, and empty. Jesus chooses these places to be with us to give us many consolations. There is no place, no loneliness which cannot be filled with God’s love. And God’s word beckons us—“people kept coming to Him from everywhere.”
“Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom and cured every disease among the people.” (Gospel Acclamation)
Welcome back Dear Readers,
I am back from my yearly retreat at my hermitage. Thank you for your prayers. I am back to my service—helping you to start a new day with a new hope. God is love and loves us. We are His beloved children: sinners, broken, rejected, but still His children, loved more than we can expect. I know it perfectly because I am like you. So please accept again, with a New Year, my humble support, and let God’s Word change us not for the better, but to be a more loving, gentle, and respectful givers-of-self. Because our goal is not to be better, but to be like He is. And God is not a Perfect Person, but God is Love as a Father and Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Homily, 13th of January 2016
Not permitting any word of his to be without effect
“Samuel grew up, and the LORD was with him, not permitting any word of his to be without effect.” (1 SAM 3: 19)
Sounds like we can use this as a New Year’s wish, or more seriously—as a new standard for us. Our God gives us His word every day, and we can take this word and—as another translation says: “not permit any word of his to go unfulfilled.” How humble is God giving us His word to fulfill. How important we are to God that He sends us every day a word to help us grow in love.
“My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord. I know them, and they follow me.” (Gospel Acclamation)
