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The inner word

09 Aug 2015 - Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

Elijah was despairing—again. This time it wasn’t only famine and drought. His land and king had gone bad, the prophets who might have pointed things in a better direction were dead, and someone wanted to kill him, and so he decided to lie down under a tree and wait to die. God, however, wouldn’t let him—also again. Twice an angel woke him and fed him, not only to keep him alive but also to prepare him for a long walk to meet his God. In what ways does God touch you and give you strength and hope for life’s journey?

Hope Elijah Despair

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Homily stories

10 Aug 2014 - Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

AFTER MY marriage ended, I hopped in a car and drove from Chicago, where I had lived most of my life, to Seattle, where my sister lives. I desperately needed to get away from everything for a while, and I had never taken a road trip before. It was scary but exhilarating to have no future plans whatsoever. My husband and I were 25 years old when we met, 41 when we separated—that’s a long chapter, and I had to do the hard work of closing it. I wanted to be totally alone and crawl inside my head for a while. What better place to do that than among the isolation of farmland and mountains and forests? But it was hardly a peaceful drive. Even the weather—a heat wave in Iowa, a blinding blizzard in Wyoming, a dust storm in Washington—matched my inner tumult. I put 2,000 miles between me and my problems—through seven states, four capitals, three Native American reservations, and two national forests before reaching the lush, green valleys of the Cascades. And—I’m not making this up—a rainbow arced over the dizzying peaks in front of me. Finally—like Elijah after the wind and earthquake and fire and the disciples after the storm—my head began to clear.

Authors Jennifer Tomshack

Hope Elijah Despair Renewal

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Homily stories

29 Nov 2009 - First Sunday of Advent, Cycle C

It hadn’t been a good day—the computers shut down at work, and after hours on the phone with technical support, the problem still wasn’t solved. He closed the door of the office knowing that he would come back to the same problems Monday morning. He sat in rush hour traffic and considered the unrelenting stress in his life. The more he dwelled on his problems the more miserable he became. He hadn’t thought about cigarettes in years, but suddenly the thought of smoking one crossed his mind. A drink might be nice too. But no, he thought, the escape these things offered wasn’t permanent enough. He could feel his head pounding. ”Did I even eat lunch?” he wondered, knowing full well he hadn’t. His mood was getting darker as he pulled up to the house. “Damn,” he thought, “the in-laws are here.” He tried to muster a smile as he greeted his sister-in-law and her husband. He grabbed a pop from the fridge and sat down. The conversation drifted to talk of a friend’s family. “How many brothers and sisters does Harry have?” his wife asked. “Well,” her sister responded, “there were six kids in the family, but his youngest sister committed suicide a few years back.” A shot of sorrow pierced him. He sat straight up, and for the first time in months felt fully aware of God’s presence. His despair lifted.

Authors Patrice J. Tuohy

appreciate Despair

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The inner word

09 Aug 2009 - Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

The readings today make it clear that God nourishes and sustains us, but the food God gives us is to strengthen us to do God’s work. The more we take and eat of the bread of life, the deeper we are drawn into Christ’s life and to his way of life: that of caring, serving, forgiving, trusting, and, most of all, loving. Like Elijah, we’ve all had moments of despair. How did God find you during these times, or more precisely, how did you find God? Paul tells us to remove all bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, reviling, and malice. (Paul obviously never had to drive on a highway during rush hour or stand in a long checkout line waiting while two clerks finished their conversation.) What situations infuriate you the most or spur feelings of bitterness or malice? What steps can you take to remember Jesus in the heat of those moments? Jesus says he will not reject those who come to him. Do you ever fear Jesus’ rejection? Examine the causes of your concerns. Trust in God’s mercy and goodness.

bread of life Despair

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Homily stories

07 Mar 2010 - Third Sunday of Lent, Cycle C

A while back, in an exclusive Chicago suburb made up of many gated communities, a person went on a shooting rampage and killed a number of people. The entire community went into shock. Television and newspaper reporters swarmed over the area searching for the best interview. One stunned person was shown staring blankly into the T.V. camera and asking, “How could this happen here, in our community?” The implications of that question are staggering. Is murder acceptable in the poor, violent cities? Did the people in this suburb feel protected by some kind of economic or educational moat that kept them from such tragedy? Were those in the city guilty or deserving of violence while they were not? Pain, hurt, and suffering happen to all people everywhere. Some of it is caused by the randomness of nature and is no one’s fault no matter the immensity of the tragedy. Other times we bring on the suffering in our world through our own sinfulness and our response to it in others. We cannot let this reality lead us to an existential nihilism, or despair, or a sense of hopelessness. Lent reminds us that people can and do change. Like the fig tree in the gospel story, we, with a little work, can be changed and made fruitful. We should not give up on ourselves. God does not give up on us. The psalmist today sings “The Lord Is Kind and Merciful.” It is a good Lenten message for us to hear.

Authors Father Dominic Grassi

Change Violence repentance Despair

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Homily stories

02 Dec 2018 - First Sunday of Advent, Cycle C

It hadn’t been a good day—the computers shut down at work, and after hours on the phone with technical support, the problem still wasn’t solved. He closed the door of the office knowing that he would come back to the same problems Monday morning. He sat in rush hour traffic and considered the unrelenting stress in his life. The more he dwelled on his problems the more miserable he became. He hadn’t thought about cigarettes in years, but suddenly the thought of smoking one crossed his mind. A drink might be nice too. But no, he thought, the escape these things offered wasn’t permanent enough. He could feel his head pounding. ”Did I even eat lunch?” he wondered, knowing full well he hadn’t. His mood was getting darker as he pulled up to the house. “Damn,” he thought, “the in-laws are here.” He tried to muster a smile as he greeted his sister-in-law and her husband. He grabbed a pop from the fridge and sat down. The conversation drifted to talk of a friend’s family. “How many brothers and sisters does Harry have?” his wife asked. “Well,” her sister responded, “there were six kids in the family, but his youngest sister committed suicide a few years back.” A shot of sorrow pierced him. He sat straight up, and for the first time in months felt fully aware of God’s presence. His despair lifted.

Authors Patrice J. Tuohy

stress Despair god's presence

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