Father Greg

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.

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.