November 2019 - Page 3 of 4

Attached to Dignities?

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 492 | Tuesday, November 12, 2019

In today’s Gospel Jesus says, when the servants come in from a long day does the master say, ‘let me take care of you?’ No, the master says, now that you’re back, take care of me. And at the end say, you’ve done nothing but what you were expected to do. This is true, we are to be servants, but the call is to be more than servants – to be friends, to be brothers, sisters, offspring of the Lord. Saint John of the Cross tells us, “Those attached to dignities are considered by God mere slaves and not offspring.” The call is to be offspring and to join the master at the table.

Precious Neighbor

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 491 | Monday, November 11, 2019

In his Sayings of Light and Love, John of the Cross reminds us, “Your neighbor may be precious in God’s sight for reasons you do not have in mind.” In today’s Gospel Jesus says to forgive your brother; if he wrongs you seven times, forgive him seven times. Because that neighbor, your brother, yours sister, may be precious in his sight for reasons you do not have in mind. Since you do not know what motivates, you do not know the background, you do not know that person – you only know yourself and even weakly there sometimes – ‘forgive’ is the call of today’s Gospel. For, “Your neighbor may be precious in God’s sight for reasons you do not have in mind.”

Doing Good On Earth

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 156 | Sunday, November 10, 2019

One of the best known lines of Saint Therese of Lisieux is “I will spend my heaven doing good on earth.” This could be the problem in today’s Gospel when the Sadducees come to Jesus with this hypothetical case of a woman who marries seven successive husbands. And in the end, whose wife with she be? And Jesus says it’s not like that at all. I think Therese knows that too. Heaven is not about being – whose wife will she be – it’s about doing. In fact, life is about doing, not about being. I oftentimes tell couples about to be married, “it’s not enough be married, you’ve got to do married.” And I say that to our seminarians, “it’s not enough to be a priest, you’ve got to do priest.” And I think that’s the key everywhere because that’s how God acts. God is not a being; God is a doing – redeeming us, saving us, guiding us, loving us. That’s the key that, I think, Therese captured. And that’s the Little Way. Do – it’s not enough to be – do good. “I will spend my heaven doing good on earth.” And let us do our earth doing good on earth.

To Go to God

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 671 | Dedication of Saint John Lateran | Saturday, November 9, 2019

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.

Strikingly Shrewd

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 489 – Friday, November 8, 2019

We have a very interesting parable Gospel passage today – about the shrewd steward who lessens everyone’s invoice so they feel indebted to him and take him in when he’s fired. And Jesus admires this! Why? Maybe because the steward shows gumption and creativity. And that’s what Jesus wants. Even the great Teresa of Avila says, “I was strikingly shrewd when it came to mischief.” I think that’s the call of today’s Gospel – to be strikingly shrewd. Jesus seems to like it.

Looking At Christ Who Is Looking At Us

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 488 – Thursday, November 7, 2019

In today’s Gospel we have two parables, very similar – the lost sheep and the lost coin. Jesus is looking for us. But Teresa of Avila reminds us that we should be looking for Jesus. She writes, “We should occupy ourselves in looking at Christ who is looking at us.”

Freedom of Spirit

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 487 – Wednesday, November 6, 2019

In today’s Gospel, Jesus says whoever does not take up his cross and follow him is not worthy to be his disciple. But Jesus doesn’t say why. Why should we take up this cross? But Teresa of Avila answers it. She says, “If you wish to gain freedom of spirit begin by not being afraid of the cross.” Because it is the crosses of our lives that pull us past ego, past fear, past self-appetites, past selfishness – and self. It is the cross that brings us to freedom. So if you wish to gain freedom, begin by not being afraid of the cross.

Under the Pretext of Serving You

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 486 – Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Saint Teresa of Avila has an interesting and thought-provoking line. She says, “What a pity it was to have left you, my Lord, under the pretext of serving you.” Oftentimes, yes, we’re busy with the chaos of our lives, our busy minds, you know; but sometimes we leave the Lord because we think we’re serving the Lord. It’s easier to do something than it is to pray. Or do something than it is to be silent. Or do something than it is to introspect. Yes, I think she’s right – it is a pity when we leave the Lord under the pretext of serving the Lord. This is an extra warning in today’s Gospel when Jesus talks about the Kingdom of God being like a banquet and all the invited guests bow out one by one. Are we doing the same?

Immensely Rich

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 485 – Monday, November 4, 2019

In today’s Gospel Jesus tells us to invite to the poor, the crippled, the blind, the lame – in a word, everybody – to a banquet that we hold. We think, “How can we do this?” Teresa of Avila reminds us. She says, “How can we share our gifts lavishly if we do not understand that we are rich?” That’s how we can do this. We are immensely rich. We can share with everybody.

To Reach New Territory Take New Roads

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 153 – Sunday, November 3, 2019

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.