Fr Greg, Carmelite priest – blog, homilies, fun and holy ideas
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.
Carmelite homily for Lectionary 661 (Feast of Saint Luke) – Friday, October 18, 2019
Saint Therese is oftentimes called the Greatest Saint of Modern Times because she uses modern imagery in her writings. For example, she’ll say, “you can climb the rough staircase of perfection or ride the smooth elevator of love.” It’s a great image of going to heaven. But I extend it because when you take an elevator the doors open and the doors close; people get on and people get off. Sometimes they’re not people you want to deal with or sometimes they’re people who will help or give you advice. The elevator doors open and the elevator doors close on our journey to heaven. So in today’s Gospel, Jesus is sending the seventy-two and we think that they’re going to different places to prepare the way for him. No! They’re all going to you. One at a time. It’s like there are seventy-two floors – each one to teach you generosity, or patience, or fidelity, or hope, or optimism, or life, or love. Finally, the doors will open and there will be Jesus. But it takes the seventy-two to get us there.
Carmelite homily for Lectionary 470 – Thursday, October 17, 2019
It seems that all the Carmelite writers have the same quotation – maybe they’re quoting each other, but it’s a good one. “The Lord will never look at the greatness of your deeds; only upon the love with which they are done.” In today’s Gospel we have Jesus condemning the people because they’re defending the faith, and going after him and each other, and building great monuments. They’re doing all sorts of things that are laudatory, but no love in them. I think this quotation from John of the Cross, from Teresa of Avila, from Therese of Lisieux, from ‘you name that Carmelite author’, it’s there: “The Lord will never look at the greatness of your deeds; only upon the love with which they are done.” Whatever you do today, no matter how great, do it with love.
Carmelite homily for Lectionary 469 – Wednesday, October 16, 2019
There’s a quotation of Saint Therese of Lisieux, the Little Flower, that is so good that I keep it on my desk. She says, “When we are misunderstood and judged unfavorably, what good does it do to defend or explain ourselves? It is so much better to say nothing and allow others to judge us as they please.” Wow, is that tough! In today’s Gospel we have the Pharisees and the Sadducees and the Scribes all being criticized by Jesus because of their self-righteousness. Instead of looking at themselves, they defend themselves and they attack Jesus and each other. I think Therese is right. Sanctity is, “When we are misunderstood and judged unfavorably; it is so much better to say nothing and allow others to judge us as they please.”
Carmelite homily for Lectionary 144 – Sunday, October 13, 2019
In her autobiography, Story of a Soul, Saint Therese talks about prayer. She writes, “For me, prayer is an aspiration of the heart, an upward glance toward heaven; with gratitude and love in times of trial and of joy.” Notice that there are no words to this description of prayer of hers. In today’s Gospel, we have the lepers coming to Jesus but we have no words from them. I think oftentimes prayer and gratitude and love aren’t words – they are just heart. Let us be filled with heart today.