homily Archives - Page 7 of 19

Go Bear Much Fruit

Carmelite homily for Wednesday (Easter V), May 13, 2020 – Lectionary 287 (John 15:1-8)

In today’s Gospel Jesus uses the well-known image of ‘I am the vine; you are the branches; remain on the vine and you will bear great fruit.’ To remain on the vine means to do what the vine does, what Jesus does, which is: forgive seventy times seven, return a blessing for a curse, love your enemies, turn the other cheek, the Golden Rule. This bears a great harvest, a great fruit. Teresa of Avila says, “Let us not cease to believe that even in this life God gives the hundredfold.” I think that’s what Jesus promises in today’s Gospel.

No Longer “I” but “You”

Carmelite homily for Tuesday (Easter V), May 12, 2020 – Lectionary 2286 (John 14:27-31)

On the day Saint Therese of Lisieux made vows in the Carmel of Lisieux she wrote a prayer and she carried it in her pocket on that day. The prayer reads, “Jesus, I ask you for nothing but peace – and love, infinite love; love which is no longer “I” but “you.” In today’s Gospel Jesus promises peace, but peace not as the world gives. What does that mean? I think Therese has the key, the answer there. Because the world is all about “I, me, and mine.” And she’s praying, ‘not that, but you.’ That’s the key to deep, lasting, rich peace.

Without Noise

Carmelite homily for Monday (Easter V), May 11, 2020 – Lectionary 285 (John 14:21-26

We know that words are things of the head – they’re thinking; where love is a thing of the heart – it’s feeling. So in today’s Gospel Jesus says he’s going to send the Advocate to teach us all things or remind of everything he’s done. But what has he taught us but love? What has he instructed us but love? And so how is he going to teach these things of the heart? With words? No. Saint Therese says, “He instructs without the noise of words.” That’s how the Holy Spirit acts; that’s how Jesus acts; that’s how we grow – in love, not with words, but with love.

Neither the Remarks nor the Deeds nor the Lives

Carmelite homily for Friday, April 3, 2020 – Lectionary 255 (John 10:31-42)

All this week in these Gospel passages we’ve had a lot of turmoil. And today the religious leaders are calling Jesus ‘a blasphemer’ – a capital offense – and the pick up rocks to kill him. He doesn’t make much of a defense; instead, he walks through their midst and goes to Bethany. Saint John of the Cross writes, “It is great wisdom to know how to be silent. Look at neither the remarks nor the deeds nor the lives of others.” Yes, the religious leaders should be doing this to Jesus. And Jesus is modelling this to the religious leaders by just walking through their midst. He’s not condemning them despite their condemnations of him. Maybe that’s the lesson here – to love our neighbor, love our enemies, condemn no one, return a blessing instead – to live and love like Jesus.

Ropes, Cords, and Threads

Carmelite homily for Thursday, April 2, 2020 – Lectionary 254 (John 8:51-59)

Saint John of the Cross wrote a commentary on his poem, The Dark Night, called The Ascent of Mount Carmel. There are forty chapters in two books and there are forty days of Lent. It’s a perfect Lenten practice. What is he trying to accomplish in The Ascent of Mount Carmel, but freedom! To free us from ourselves, our self-righteousness, our sinfulness, our pride. Saint John off the Cross writes, “It makes little difference whether a bird is tied by a thin thread or by a cord.” That’s what John is trying to do – cut the cords, cut the ropes, but cut even the thin threads that tie us. I think that so well ties in with all these Gospels we have in this season and it ties in well with our hearts.

The Freedom Jesus Gives

Carmelite homily for Wednesday, April 1, 2020 – Lectionary 253 (John 8:31-42)

In today’s Gospel there’s still more upset. This time the issue is freedom versus slavery. The Pharisees claim to be free because they’re children of Abraham, and Jesus says they’re slaves. They get upset. It’s not just an external freedom Jesus is talking about. It’s an internal freedom. Here’s what Saint John of the Cross says, “Freedom cannot abide in an enslaved heart; rather, it abides in a liberated heart, a child’s heart.” That’s where true freedom is. This is the freedom Jesus offers; the freedom Jesus teaches; the freedom Jesus gives.

He Instructs Without the Noise of Words

Carmelite homily for Tuesday, March 31, 2020 – Lectionary 252 (John 8:21-30)

In today’s Gospel the Pharisees come to Jesus with yet more gripes and they ask, ‘who are you?’ And he says, ‘I’ve told you from the beginning and I have a lot to teach you.’ But he doesn’t teach them in the passage. Why? Maybe because we’re not listening. But maybe because Saint Therese knows, “He instructs without the noise of words.” What does that mean? Maybe example. What does that mean? Maybe love. What does that mean? Compassion. What does that mean? Humane life. What does that mean? Living deeply in Jesus.

Maybe Start in Silence

Carmelite homily for Monday, March 30, 2020 – Lectionary 251 (John 8:1-11)

In her work, The Way of Perfection, Teresa of Avila talks about perfection. And she’s condemning how the sisters can be looking at each other and then reporting to the prioress all the faults. Here’s what she has to say about that behavior, “Let us understand, my daughters, that true perfection consists in love of God and love of neighbor. All that is in the Rule and Constitutions serve for nothing else than to be a means towards keeping these commandments with ever greater perfection. So let each one look to herself only. And as to the breaches and faults of the sisters, keep silence. For perfection consists of love of God and love of neighbor; whereas, perfectionism comes from the devil.” And today we have all these people bringing this woman caught in adultery to Jesus. All pointing fingers at her. And Jesus, though he’s writing on the ground, is actually pointing fingers at them, telling them, ‘be silent.’ And when he looks up, they’re gone. It’s silent. Maybe we should’ve started there.

Come Out! Be Unbound!

Carmelite homily for Sunday, March 29, 2020 – Lectionary 34 (John 11:1-45)

We know Saint Therese because of her autobiography, A Story of a Soul, but she also would write to priests. That was her mission – to support priests – especially the newly-ordained who went out on mission. One wrote to her with scruples and feelings of inadequacy and she replies to him, “Do not waste these days of sunshine hiding in the dark of fear and anxiety.” Great advice – for everybody. Today we have Lazarus coming out of the tomb. And I think we need to come out of the tomb also. Because our tombs are oftentimes fear and anxiety. Why do I always have to have the last word? Fear and anxiety. Why do I have to control everybody around me? Fear and anxiety. Why do I have to …. Fear and anxiety. Jesus tells Lazarus, “Come out!” and he tells us, “Come out! And be unbound!” from fear and anxiety.

Try a Different Solution

Carmelite homily for Saturday, March 28, 2020 – Lectionary 249 (John 7:40-53)

This is a great week for Gospel passages. Now we everybody upset because of authority. Who has the authority here? Who is in control here? Who has the power here? That’s what we see in today’s Gospel passage. John of the Cross may have a different way. He writes, “The soul that journeys to God without shaking off its cares or quieting its appetites is like the one who drags a cart uphill.” If your life is an uphill drag maybe a different solution?