November 2019 - Page 2 of 4

To Go To God

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 501 | Friday, November 22, 2019

This is a Re-Post from Saturday, November 9, 2019, because the Gospel that day was also the ‘Cleansing of the Temple.’

In today’s Gospel we have the ‘Cleansing of the Temple’ where Jesus overturned the money tables, and drove out the money changers and the animal handlers – to purify the Temple. I think Jesus does the same thing to this Temple, to our hearts, and our souls. And why? John of the Cross says, “The soul must empty itself of all that is not God in order to go to God.” With that in mind, let us ask Jesus to do to this Temple what he did to that Temple on that day.

Holding Up the Mirror

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 500 | Presentation of Mary | Thursday, November 21, 2019

Today we celebrate the feast of the Presentation of Mary in the Temple. Blessed Titus Brandsma says, “Mary is the mirror in which we should ever watch ourselves; the mother whom her children ought to resemble more and more.” When we look at Mary we see woman of faith, woman of trust, woman of prayer, woman of nurturing, woman of loyalty, woman of life. And when we hold that to ourselves; when that’s our mirror where we see ourselves, I think, when the Lord comes, unlike in today’s Gospel when there’s a lament over Jerusalem, the Lord will not lament us because we will resemble his mother. Mary is the mirror in which we ought to watch ourselves; the mother whom her children ought to resemble more and more. Let us hold up that mirror.

God Gives the Hundredfold

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 499 | Wednesday, November 20, 2019

In today’s Gospel we have the retelling of the coin parable. This is in Luke’s Gospel where each servant is given one coin and when the master returns they present the one coin. And the first says, “I’ve earned ten,” and the second says, “I’ve earned five,” and the third says, “I’ve buried it and put it in a handkerchief.” It doesn’t matter what coins you get because, I think Saint Teresa of Avila tells us, “Never cease to believe that even in this life God gives the hundredfold.” If we work with God, no matter what coins we get – one or ten – even in this life God gives the hundredfold.

To Reach New Territory Take New Roads

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 497 | Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Note: This post is a rerun from Sunday, November 3rd, since the Gospel passage, Luke 19:1-10, is the same passage for today.

In his Sayings of Light and Love, Saint John of the Cross instructs us that, “Travelers cannot reach new territory if they do not take new roads and abandon the old familiar ones.” Good advice! In today’s Gospel, Jesus is going to Jericho – a new road for him. But more importantly, Zacchaeus is climbing a sycamore tree. That’s a new road for him. He’s going to reach new territory: comfort, and closeness, and love of Jesus. If we want those, we need to take new roads and abandon the old familiar ones that are getting us nowhere.

Prodigal Child

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 497 | Monday, November 18, 2019

In today’s Gospel we have the story of Jesus approaching Jericho and there’s a blind man out there who says, “Son of David, have pity on me!” And the crowds say, “Shh! Shh!” to him to shush him down. And he cries out all the more, “Have pity on me!” Jesus does have pity on him, and Jesus does have pity on us. Saint Therese reminds us, “I would throw myself into Jesus’ arms for I know how much he loves the prodigal child who returns to him.” That blind man knew that; Therese knows that; let us know that.

All in God’s Hands

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 159 | Sunday, November 17, 2019

In today’s Gospel we some super-heavy-duty and scary end of the world scenarios where nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom and there’ll be earthquakes and plagues and omens in the sky and people will arrest you and haul you before judges. And Jesus says “do not be terrified.” I think John of the Cross says the same thing. He says, “If the whole world should crumble and come to an end and all things go wrong, endure all with tranquility and with peaceful equanimity.” Why? Because it’s all in God’s hands. No matter what happens – today, in your life, in the world, at the end of the world – endure all with tranquility and peaceful equanimity. Great advice.

Bridegroom and Friend

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 496 | Saturday, November 16, 2019

We have a really interesting instruction about prayer in today’s Gospel where Jesus likens it to a widow who goes to a judge demanding justice and he’s unwilling. So she goes again and again and again till he finally gives in. But what if that widow went to a friend? Or what if she went to a spouse? Wouldn’t she be more apt to get what she needs or is looking for right away? That may be the instruction here. John of the Cross says, “Take God for your Bridegroom and Friend.” Wouldn’t your bridegroom give you something – right away? Wouldn’t your friend give you something – right away? Let’s not see God as judge or arbiter or arbitrary gift-giver but let us see God as Bridegroom and Friend.

If the Whole World Should Crumble

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 495 | Friday, November 15, 2019

Today we have some pretty heavy-duty end of the world stuff where Jesus says if you see these signs don’t even return to the house; and if two are in bed, one will be taken and one will be left; and if two are working, one will be taken and one will be left. Then what are we to do? Saint John of the Cross says, “If the whole world should crumble and come to an end and all things go wrong, endure all with tranquility and with peaceful equanimity.” That’s what we do! It’s all in God’s hands. Endure all with peace and tranquility.

I Have Found Heaven

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 494 | Thursday, November 14, 2019

In today’s Gospel Jesus warns us against chasing when people say, “Look! Here he is! or Look! There he is!” Warns against chasing after that because we know, especially as Carmelites, that Jesus is here now. Elizabeth of the Trinity says this very clearly when she says, “I have found heaven on earth for God is in heaven and God is in my soul.”

Gratitude

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 493 | Wednesday, November 13, 2019

In today’s Gospel we have the well-known story of the ten lepers who come to Jesus for healing. And he does it! But only one returns. And he asks, “Where are the other nine?” Well, the other nine may say, “I didn’t ask for leprosy, why should I say thanks? I didn’t do this to myself.” Therese reminds us, though, “Prayer is a cry of gratitude and love in the midst of trial as well as in joy.” That may be hard to remember, hard to implement, hard to do – just like the nine who wandered away. But it is true, “Prayer is a cry of gratitude and love in the midst of trial as well as in joy.” Let’s try to remember that.