2 Samuel 15:13-14, 30; 16:5-13
Psalm 3:2-7
Mark 5:1-20
The unclean spirits beg Jesus to let them enter the pigs. When they do enter the pigs, it does not do them any good. The pigs run off a cliff and die. The unclean spirits are afraid to be cast out entirely, but they cannot be at rest even where they ask to be sent. It was pointless to be put into the pigs, but Jesus does not argue with them. They are self-destructive, and Jesus let them be self-destructive however they want. These unclean spirits are like a person who cannot be free from addiction to a sin like pornography or gluttony. They destroy themselves through their own will.
Then the people of the town beg Jesus to leave. They are above all afraid of this man, Jesus, who can control realities greater than we can see. These townspeople are like a person who wants to live life without religion. Just make money and spend money and forget God. The see God as just a troubler of their everyday lives. When God comes and visits them, they beg him to leave. They reject their chance at salvation because of their concern for the things of this earth.
Then the man who has been freed from the unclean spirits begs Jesus to let him follow as a disciple. Jesus refuses his request. He has other plans for this man. He sends him away to preach the Gospel, which means that this man was an Apostle, and we do not even know his name.
It is this way with us. So long as we are self-destructive or worldly, God lets us do whatever we want; there was no point in guiding our foolishness, but when we begin trying to follow God, roadblocks suddenly appear; God is guiding us according to his plan. We can destroy ourselves or ignore God in any way we want, but if we decide to become a disciple, he will be firm with us. “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son or daughter whom he accepts.”
In the first reading, David is punished for his sin, and he is punished severely. Meanwhile many people commit similar sins and worse yet seem to receive no punishment. It is because it would do them no good. By punishing David, God is saying that he has plans for David, that David is worth preparing for greater things. We do not want God to grant our every prayer. We want God to make us better, even if that means suffering and obstacles.
Daily Homilies
Showing posts with label Opposition. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Opposition. Show all posts
April 9, 2012 - Monday in the Octave of Easter
Today's Readings
In the Gospel today we see again the plotting of the chief priests, which we saw a lot of in the days leading up to Good Friday. Here, however, when the plotting is contrasted to the joy of the Resurrection, it becomes almost comedic, like generals moving plastic figures in a war room after they have been definitively defeated. By their plots they demonstrate that they have no regard whatsoever for the truth, but they cannot cover up the Resurrection. Jesus is the Resurrection. He appears to the women and to the Apostles. He continues appearing for 40 days, and then he appears later to St. Paul.
Of course the chief priests' story is so unlikely for many, many reasons, not the least of which is that it accuses the disciples of stealing the body and pretending to believe in the Resurrection despite the tomb being guarded by two Roman guards, and the end result was that many of them were willing to be killed and persecuted for the belief in the Resurrection. Also, how would the guards know that the disciples had come and stolen the body if they were sleeping so soundly that they did not even hear a large stone rolled away from a tomb?
Nevertheless, people believed the story. Some people are willing to believe anything rather than the truth. If someone chooses not to believe in the Resurrection, there are all sorts of theories that they can come up with. Today it is even easier. Two-thousand years after the fact people can pretend that the history is murky when it is not or that the sources are not reliable when they are. Belief so rarely relies on evidence in this life. People choose to believe what they choose to believe without evidence or in spite of the evidence, then they act as if we Christians are the ones who take something on faith.
All the witnesses, all the evidence says that Jesus Christ rose from the dead. Standing against that is nothing except the fact that we have never seen a dead person rise. You and I have to decide what we will believe, but if we decide to believe in the Resurrection, at least all the evidence is on our side.
In the Gospel today we see again the plotting of the chief priests, which we saw a lot of in the days leading up to Good Friday. Here, however, when the plotting is contrasted to the joy of the Resurrection, it becomes almost comedic, like generals moving plastic figures in a war room after they have been definitively defeated. By their plots they demonstrate that they have no regard whatsoever for the truth, but they cannot cover up the Resurrection. Jesus is the Resurrection. He appears to the women and to the Apostles. He continues appearing for 40 days, and then he appears later to St. Paul.
Of course the chief priests' story is so unlikely for many, many reasons, not the least of which is that it accuses the disciples of stealing the body and pretending to believe in the Resurrection despite the tomb being guarded by two Roman guards, and the end result was that many of them were willing to be killed and persecuted for the belief in the Resurrection. Also, how would the guards know that the disciples had come and stolen the body if they were sleeping so soundly that they did not even hear a large stone rolled away from a tomb?
Nevertheless, people believed the story. Some people are willing to believe anything rather than the truth. If someone chooses not to believe in the Resurrection, there are all sorts of theories that they can come up with. Today it is even easier. Two-thousand years after the fact people can pretend that the history is murky when it is not or that the sources are not reliable when they are. Belief so rarely relies on evidence in this life. People choose to believe what they choose to believe without evidence or in spite of the evidence, then they act as if we Christians are the ones who take something on faith.
All the witnesses, all the evidence says that Jesus Christ rose from the dead. Standing against that is nothing except the fact that we have never seen a dead person rise. You and I have to decide what we will believe, but if we decide to believe in the Resurrection, at least all the evidence is on our side.
March 28, 2012 - Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Today's Readings
There are two kinds of fire we use at church: candles and charcoals. There is a major difference between these two kinds of fire. Fire is something external to the candles; only the wick at the top burns. Fire is something internal to the charcoals. It is harder to get a charcoal going than a candle, but, once it is lit, every bit of a charcoal burns at once. Wind has different effects on each type of fire. When we carry a candle outside, we have to hold our hands around it, and still the wind will come up from behind and blow the candle out. Charcoal, however, cannot be blown out. The more the wind blows, the more the charcoal glows red-hot; the fire is increased by the wind.
There are two kinds of Christians in the Church: candles and charcoals. There is a major difference between these two kinds of believers. The Holy Spirit is something external to candles; only a little part of their life is burning with love. The Holy Spirit is something internal to charcoals. God’s grace is at work in us to get the charcoal going, to have every part of our lives on fire. Suffering and persecution has a different effect on each type of fire. Candles are always in danger of going out; the pastor has to keep a careful watch on them, and still some idea will blow in from somewhere and the fire of the candle blows out. Charcoals, however, cannot be blown out. The more they are threatened, the more they believe; their love is increased by suffering.
King Nebuchadnezzar threatened Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He became furious. If they were candles, the love of God would have been blown out under such threats. Instead the three men say, “If our God whom we serve can deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; may he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods, nor worship the golden image which you have set up.” Their faith was absolute. Their love was all-consuming. We should pray and work so that we can become charcoals like them. In truth, we are all candles trying to become charcoals. May the blazing fire of God’s love consume every part of us, destroying what is unworthy, leaving behind red-hot coals, indistinguishable from the fire itself.
There are two kinds of fire we use at church: candles and charcoals. There is a major difference between these two kinds of fire. Fire is something external to the candles; only the wick at the top burns. Fire is something internal to the charcoals. It is harder to get a charcoal going than a candle, but, once it is lit, every bit of a charcoal burns at once. Wind has different effects on each type of fire. When we carry a candle outside, we have to hold our hands around it, and still the wind will come up from behind and blow the candle out. Charcoal, however, cannot be blown out. The more the wind blows, the more the charcoal glows red-hot; the fire is increased by the wind.
There are two kinds of Christians in the Church: candles and charcoals. There is a major difference between these two kinds of believers. The Holy Spirit is something external to candles; only a little part of their life is burning with love. The Holy Spirit is something internal to charcoals. God’s grace is at work in us to get the charcoal going, to have every part of our lives on fire. Suffering and persecution has a different effect on each type of fire. Candles are always in danger of going out; the pastor has to keep a careful watch on them, and still some idea will blow in from somewhere and the fire of the candle blows out. Charcoals, however, cannot be blown out. The more they are threatened, the more they believe; their love is increased by suffering.
King Nebuchadnezzar threatened Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He became furious. If they were candles, the love of God would have been blown out under such threats. Instead the three men say, “If our God whom we serve can deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; may he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods, nor worship the golden image which you have set up.” Their faith was absolute. Their love was all-consuming. We should pray and work so that we can become charcoals like them. In truth, we are all candles trying to become charcoals. May the blazing fire of God’s love consume every part of us, destroying what is unworthy, leaving behind red-hot coals, indistinguishable from the fire itself.
January 30, 2012 - Monday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Readings
The unclean spirits beg Jesus to let them enter the pigs. When they do enter the pigs, it does not do them any good. The pigs run off a cliff and die. The unclean spirits are afraid to be cast out entirely, but they cannot be at rest even where they ask to be sent. It was pointless to be put into the pigs, but Jesus does not argue with them. They are self-destructive, and Jesus let them be self-destructive however they want. These unclean spirits are like a person who cannot be free from addiction to a sin like pornography or gluttony. They destroy themselves through their own will.
Then the people of the town beg Jesus to leave. They are above all afraid of this man, Jesus, who can control realities greater than we can see. These townspeople are like a person who wants to live life without religion. Just make money and spend money and forget God. When God comes and visits them, they want him gone as soon as possible. They reject their chance at salvation because of their concern for the things of this earth.
Then the man who has been freed from the unclean spirits begs Jesus to let him follow as a disciple. Jesus refuses his request. He has other plans for this man. He sends him away to preach the Gospel, which means that this man was an Apostle, and we do not even know his name.
It is this way with us. So long as we are self-destructive or worldly, God lets us do whatever we want; there was no point in guiding our foolishness, but when we begin trying to follow God, roadblocks suddenly appear; God is guiding us according to his plan. We can destroy ourselves or ignore God in any way we want, but if we decide to become a disciple, he will be firm with us. “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son or daughter whom he accepts.”
In the first reading, David is punished for his sin, and he is punished severely. Meanwhile many people commit similar sins and worse yet seem to receive no punishment. It is because it would do them no good. By punishing David, God is saying that he has plans for David, that David is worth preparing for greater things. We do not want God to grant our every prayer. We want God to make us better, even if that means suffering and obstacles.
The unclean spirits beg Jesus to let them enter the pigs. When they do enter the pigs, it does not do them any good. The pigs run off a cliff and die. The unclean spirits are afraid to be cast out entirely, but they cannot be at rest even where they ask to be sent. It was pointless to be put into the pigs, but Jesus does not argue with them. They are self-destructive, and Jesus let them be self-destructive however they want. These unclean spirits are like a person who cannot be free from addiction to a sin like pornography or gluttony. They destroy themselves through their own will.
Then the people of the town beg Jesus to leave. They are above all afraid of this man, Jesus, who can control realities greater than we can see. These townspeople are like a person who wants to live life without religion. Just make money and spend money and forget God. When God comes and visits them, they want him gone as soon as possible. They reject their chance at salvation because of their concern for the things of this earth.
Then the man who has been freed from the unclean spirits begs Jesus to let him follow as a disciple. Jesus refuses his request. He has other plans for this man. He sends him away to preach the Gospel, which means that this man was an Apostle, and we do not even know his name.
It is this way with us. So long as we are self-destructive or worldly, God lets us do whatever we want; there was no point in guiding our foolishness, but when we begin trying to follow God, roadblocks suddenly appear; God is guiding us according to his plan. We can destroy ourselves or ignore God in any way we want, but if we decide to become a disciple, he will be firm with us. “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son or daughter whom he accepts.”
In the first reading, David is punished for his sin, and he is punished severely. Meanwhile many people commit similar sins and worse yet seem to receive no punishment. It is because it would do them no good. By punishing David, God is saying that he has plans for David, that David is worth preparing for greater things. We do not want God to grant our every prayer. We want God to make us better, even if that means suffering and obstacles.
June 13, 2011 - Memorial of Saint Anthony of Padua, priest and doctor of the Church
During this week, we are going to be working through St. Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. We began this letter before Ash Wednesday, and, now that Lent and Easter are over, we will finish the letter, but perhaps you do not remember the readings three months ago.
St. Paul’s problem is that some people have come to Corinth preaching a different kind of Christianity than Paul preached, based in the old Law and rules and not in a shared mission with God. Paul is telling the Corinthians that this new gospel is not the true gospel. He spends most of the letter trying to convince them that they ought to listen to him and not the other people.
So it is that we will be reading this week Paul’s defense of himself. He presents himself to the Corinthians in order to prove that he is the true servant of God. These self-congratulations culminate in one of my favorite lines from Paul, “I am talking like a crazy person!”, but we have to wait until Friday for that.
Paul, it seems, is disobeying the teaching that Jesus is giving in his sermon today. Jesus told us to turn the other cheek, but Paul is not. He has been insulted. The false apostles have said that Paul is not really very impressive at all. Rather than humbly accept the insults, Paul is standing up for himself. He relates the many things he has suffered, the great works he has accomplished.
Paul knows that a Christian should not boast. Indeed, most of the teaching we have against boasting comes in the midst of his boasting here. He has decided to boast for a very important reason: for the glory of God. The Corinthians were beginning to doubt the Gospel that Paul had taught them. He needs to convince them that he is trustworthy, that they should believe him rather than the imposters. So he spends over half the letter boasting about what a great apostle he is.
So even boasting can be done to the glory of God. As we hear his boasting this week, we can understand that Paul is not merely bragging so that people will be impressed by him but so that people will believe him when he preaches the Gospel. For our part we should have two reactions. First, Paul really was an amazing apostle. Second, perhaps our life should be more like his.
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