homily Archives - Page 14 of 19

Behold the Lamb of God

Carmelite homily for Sunday, January 19, 2020 – Lectionary 64

In today’s Gospel we have Jesus walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee and John the Baptist says to his disciples, “Behold the Lamb of God.” And that is our task, is to proclaim the Lamb of God. For example, Saint Therese writes about one sister in her community that was hypercritical and grumpy and grouchy and just unpleasant to be around, and Saint Therese writes, “penetrating into the inner sanctuary where he chooses to dwell, I took care to render for this sister all services possible; and when I was tempted to answer her back in a disagreeable manner, I was content with giving her my most friendly smile instead.” That’s proclaiming the Lamb of God – is to see Jesus even in the crotchety or to everyone – to see Christ in all things, and to proclaim Christ in all things. To proclaim with John the Baptist and all the disciples: Behold the Lamb of God.

Great Wisdom

Carmelite homily for Saturday, January 18, 2020 – Lectionary 310

In today’s Gospel we have the call of Levi (or Matthew). Jesus is walking by the tax-collecting post and sees him and says, “Come follow me.” And Levi does. And invites everybody over to his house for a banquet in honor of this, and in honor of Jesus. And what is the reaction of the crowds, especially the scribes? They complain. How this man is a sinner; he’s a tax-collector. The people around here are sinners. This is a great blessing and all they see are the problems. John of the Cross says, “It is great wisdom to know how to be silent; look at neither the remarks nor the deeds nor the lives of others.” That is very difficult advice, very needed advice. That day at the customs-station, the tax-collectors station, and today. But I think John is right: it is great wisdom to be silent.

Good Companions

Carmelite homily for Friday, January 17, 2020 – Lectionary 309

In today’s Gospel we have the well-known story of a group of men bringing their friend, who’s a paralytic, to Jesus. But can’t get near him because of the crowds, so they climb up on the roof with that man, open up the roof, and lower the stretcher down in front of Jesus. Quite the feat. Teresa of Avila says, “God accords great favor with anyone placed with good companions.” Of course, she means the foundation of her new convents, reformed convents, but I think that rule applies to a lot larger than that. When we have good friends, caring friends, supportive friends, great accords come our way.

But It’s Supposed to be Dirty

Carmelite homily for Thursday, January 16, 2020 – Lectionary 308

In today’s Gospel we have a leper come to Jesus and asking to be made clean; and Jesus does heal the leprosy, does make the man clean. Teresa of Avila says, “Don’t you think, Lord, it would be good that the inn where you have chosen to dwell were not to get so dirty?” Actually, I think, the inn is supposed to be dirty. That’s where our mission is. This man’s mission was in his leprosy. With the cleansing he went out and proclaimed the good news. We oftentimes think of these things as afflictions or problems or failings. They’re actually blessings and gifts from God. So, yes, the inn is to be dirty – for the Lord to cleanse and us to proclaim.

Prayer > Works

Carmelite homily for Wednesday, January 15, 2020 – Lectionary 307

In today’s Gospel Jesus is doing good deeds. He cures Simon Peter’s mother-in-law. He drives out demons. At the end of the day he goes to pray, but they follow him. He comes back to do more good deeds. Oftentimes we think there might be a tension between my need for prayer and my need for a relationship with God and all the work I have to do. But they shouldn’t be in conflict. Teresa of Avila says, “The reason for prayer: good works, good works.” They are tied together. Or as Teresa of Avila will also say, “Martha and Mary must combine.” The reason for prayer: good works. Let us pray and let us do good works. Amen.

Freed Us – From Us

Carmelite homily for Tuesday, January 14, 2020 – Lectionary 306

In today’s Gospel Jesus enters the synagogue and there’s a man there who says, “what are you here for? are you here to destroy us?” And instead of destroying him, Jesus frees him. The question is: why would the man be there in the first place? He wanted to be free! Teresa of Avila says, “May the Lord be praised who freed me from myself.” Oftentimes that’s the demon. The demon is ourselves – our problems, our predispositions – us. Jesus will free us, from us. May the Lord be praised who freed me from myself.

True Friar

Carmelite homily for Sunday, December 15, 2019 – Lectionary 007 (Third Sunday of Advent)

In today’s Gospel we have John the Baptist, who the early Carmelites said was a Carmelite, a member of the Order, because he’s dressed like Elijah – camel’s hair, leather belt. But what does it really mean to be a Carmelite? What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus? Because that’s what John the Baptist is asking, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to look for another?” And Jesus describes what he is doing. That’s what it means to be a follower. Saint Teresa of Avila writes, “Being a friar doesn’t consist in the habit – I mean wearing it – but in enjoying the state of higher perfection, which is what it means to be a true friar.” That’s what Jesus is asking of John: are you a true friar? That’s what Jesus is asking of us: are you a true friar? Higher perfection, doing the works of Jesus, living in love.

The Feast of Saint John of the Cross

Carmelite homily for Saturday, December 14, 2019 – Lectionary 693

Today we celebrate the feast of a great one – Saint John of the Cross – Carmelite, mystic, spiritual writer, Doctor of the Church. There’s so much to say. But his best known quotation may say it all. He writes, “At the evening of life you will be examined in love.” I think of all his teachings writings, everything, his poetry, his commentaries, everything can be summarized by that one line. And hopefully our lives can be summarized by that one line. Because it’s a true line: “At the evening of life you will be examined in love.” Happy Feast of Saint John of the Cross.

A Soul Surrendered

Carmelite homily for Friday, December 13, 2019 – Lectionary 185

In today’s Gospel Jesus remarks about the gripey people. That he says, “We played you a flute but you would not dance so we sang you a dirge but you would not wail. That John the Baptist came neither eating nor drinking and you said he’s crazy and so Jesus came eating and drinking and you said he’s a glutton. No matter what happens people will complain. Teresa of Avila says, ahh, put that all aside. One of her great lines is, “For a soul surrendered into God’s hands doesn’t care whether they say good or evil about it.” That could sum up today’s message of the Gospel.

Here All Are Loved

Thursday, December 12, 2019 – Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe — Carmelite homily for Lectionary 690a

Today we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe where Mary appears in Aztec and Christian symbols on a hill in Mexico City, Tepeyac, to an indigenous man, Juan Diego, and has a message of unity and brotherhood and sisterhood and love — that it is an embrace of God. That’s a wonderful message. Teresa of Avila, when she’s describing her reformed Carmels, her new foundations, says, “Here all are friends; here all are helped; here all are loved.” Even though that comes from Teresa of Avila that is exactly the message of today’s Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.