October 2019 - Father Greg

Who/What are Carmelite Beatitudes Today?

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 667 – Solemnity of All Saints, Friday, November 1, 2019

In today’s Gospel we have the Beatitudes on this Feast, this Solemnity of All Saints. Sister Constance is a nun at Baltimore Carmel and she’s written a set of Carmelite Beatitudes. They’re available online. I’m not going to read them all, but just a few and you’ll get that feel for carmelite-ness in her Beatitudes.

Blessed are they who journey through darkness, for they shall find light and great joy.
Blessed are they who hold the sorrows of this world in their prayer, for they shall see humanity’s glorious transformation.
Blessed are they love the trials of the spiritual journey, for they shall be purified.
Blessed are they who are silent and find a place for ‘other,’ for they will learn to see all things in God.

Her list continues. The Beatitudes are paths to sanctity; whether they are Jesus’ in Matthew’s Gospel or Sister Constance’s, available to you online. The call is to be saints ourselves and we do this by being “Blesseds” in the world today.

Good to Be Caught Up in Trifles

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 482 – Thursday, October 31, 2019

In her autobiography, Story of a Soul, Saint Therese uses many different images. One of my favorites is of a little bird. She writes, “Ahhh, this little bird picks up a grain, then it chases after a little worm, then coming upon a little pool of water it wets its feathers hardly formed, then it sees an attractive flower its little mind is absorbed with this little flower. In a word, it is unable to soar like the eagles. This little bird is caught up in the trifles of the earth. But, O Jesus, your little bird is happy to be weak and little and would it never become big because then it would not have the tenacity, the boldness, to be in your presence and fall asleep. Yes, keep me weak, Lord. This little bird wants to fix its gaze upon you.” Today, Jesus uses the image of wanting to gather little birds under his wings. I think Therese has captured this very well.

On the Greatness of Humility

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 481 – Wednesday, October 30, 2019

In his Sayings of Light of Love, Saint John of the Cross writes, “The Lord does not look on our greatness but only on the greatness of our humility.” In today’s Gospel all these people are calling after Jesus and saying, “Lord, Lord!” and “Who will be saved?” And he says, “Try to come in through the narrow gate.” The narrow gate is a small gate; maybe a humble gate. The smallest gate. It is humbleness that he calls us to. The Lord does not look on our greatness but only on the greatness of our humility.

Flowers in the Garden of God

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 480 – Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Carmel means “Garden of God” – Carm-El. That’s why the saints, the Carmelites saints, are likened to flowers, like the Little Flower called herself “Little Flower.” Here’s what Titus Brandsma in his book, “Carmelite Mysticism Historical Sketches,” says about Mary. “Mary is like a sunflower. This flower rises high above the other flowers. It is a simple flower. It can grow in all gardens. It is tall and firm with deep roots, always pointing towards the sun, yet keeping its head down in humility.” Today, in the Gospel, Jesus uses agricultural – gardening – metaphors. What kind of flower are you? Are you a weed? Are you a beautiful flower? Are you like Therese, a simple flower?

Fulfilled In His Call

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 666 – Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Monday, October 26, 2019

In her autobiography, Story of a Soul, Saint Therese of Lisieux writes, “I wanted Carmel as soon as I learned of it; for all the aspirations of my soul are fulfilled in this Order.” I think that is what ‘call’ is – it’s to fulfill us, to fill the aspirations of our soul . In today’s Gospel we have the call, the vocation, of the twelve apostles. Yes, they’re working on their call, they’re working on their journey, they’re working on their discipleship. It’s the call for all us. But if Jesus calls us, all the aspirations of our souls will be fulfilled – in his call.

Judge Sits Highest

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 150 – Sunday, October 27, 2019

A few years ago I was on a jury, a jury trial, that lasted ten days. I learned a lot. What was really interesting is the layout of the courtroom. In the courtroom at the highest level you had the judge – sitting very high. Next to the judge was the witness box on one side; the jurors on the other side, sitting up, and then the alternate jurors a step down. And then there was the main floor which was everybody else. So it was really based on judgment. The judge being the highest judge was the highest. The jurors being the next judges were the second highest. The plaintiffs and defendants in the witness box, the third highest. Then everybody else. A very vertical structure, based on judgment. This is exactly what Jesus is getting at in this example of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, oftentimes called the Pharisee and the Publican. There’s a lot of judgment going on here. That’s why the Pharisee is being condemned because he places himself so high – above the Publican, above all other men, all other people. Jesus calls us to be brothers and sisters. Jesus calls us to live a horizontal life. To gather with him around the table. To gather with him as his companions, as his disciples, as his apostles. To gather with him horizontally. Whenever we put ourselves vertically – hmmm, I think we’re distant from how he calls us to live, how he calls us to be, how he calls, how he calls us his brothers and sisters.

Deeper Repentance

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 478 – Saturday, October 26, 2019

There’s a thought-provoking line from Saint John of the Cross. He writes, “Repent of your sins, but do not regret them, for your sins can teach you who you are.” In today’s Gospel, Jesus used the word “repent” a lot. I think that maybe he’s calling us to the deeper meaning of that word. Repent. Rethink. Pensar. To think, like, “pensive.” That’s the call of the Gospel. To think out what we’re doing; how we’re doing it; why we’re doing it. To think deeply. “Repent of your sins, but do not regret them, for your sins can teach you who you are.” Now that’s deep repentance.

But We Do Have Feelings

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 477 – Friday, October 25, 2019

There’s a line from Saint Therese of Lisieux. She writes, “In Carmel, we do not have enemies, but we do have feelings.” In today’s Gospel, Jesus is talking about opponents, magistrates and trials. I think the call is: let’s never get there. Let’s have feelings positive, in regard, patience for one another. Let’s not have enemies. In Carmel, we do not have enemies, but we do have feelings. Let’s hope they’re positive.

Jesus In My Cell

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 476 – Thursday, October 24, 2019

From his prison cell in Dachau, Titus Brandsma wrote a poem called Before a Picture of Jesus in My Cell.

A new awareness of thy love encompasses my heart;
Sweet Jesus, I in thee and thou
in my shall never part.

No grief shall fall my way but I
shall see thy grief-filled eyes;
the lonely way that thou once walked
has made me sorrow-wise.

All trouble is a white-lit joy,
that lights my darkest day;
thy love has turned to brightest light
this night-like way.

If I have thee alone,
the hours will bless
with still, cold hands of love
my utter loneliness. 

Stay with me, Jesus, only say;
I shall not fear
if, reaching out my hand,
I feel thee near.

Today’s Gospel is filled with upset and anxiousness and conflict but I think when we just put our hand in the hand of Jesus we can rise above it or live apart from it. That’s the call of today’s Gospel.

Gifts that are Best for Us

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 475 – Wednesday, October 23, 2019

In The Way of Perfection, Saint Teresa of Avila writes, “The Lord gives us gifts that are for our best, but we are quite capable of flinging them back in his face, because we want to cash in for the wealth we can understand.” I think that fits in well with today’s Gospel.