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Homily themes

06 Dec 2015 - Second Sunday of Advent, Cycle C

Luke’s lineup of political rulers points a finger at some of Christ’s opposition to come: Pilate—his executioner; Herod Antipas and Philip—the brothers to whom the Romans handed the kingdom of their father Herod the Great; and Annas and Caiaphas—his persecutors. Weak men all, in a way. Real power and strength, however, lie with God who through Jesus is already bringing about a true kingdom of justice, peace, and righteousness, a Reign greater than any earthly political power and one in which “all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

Peace power

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In other words

18 Oct 2015 - Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

James and John, Zebedee’s sons, came up to him. “Teacher, we have something we want you to do for us.” “What is it? I’ll see what I can do.” “Arrange it,” they said, “so that we will be awarded the highest places of honor in your glory—one of us at your right, the other at your left.” Jesus said, “You have no idea what you’re asking. Are you capable of drinking the cup I drink, of being baptized in the baptism I’m about to be plunged into?” “Sure,” they said. “Why not?” Jesus said, “Come to think of it, you will drink the cup I drink, and be baptized in my baptism. But as to awarding places of honor, that’s not my business. There are other arrangements for that.” When the other 10 heard of this conversation, they lost their tempers with James and John. Jesus got them together to settle things down. “You’ve observed how godless rulers throw their weight around,” he said, “and when people get a little power how quickly it goes to their heads. It’s not going to be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not to be served—and then to give away his life in exchange for many who are held hostage” (from Mark 10). Taken from The Message: Catholic/Ecumenical Edition by Eugene Peterson (ACTA Publications, 2014); actapublications.com; 800-397-2282.

power serve

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Homily stories

18 Oct 2015 - Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

Jim Heskett of Harvard Business School writes that in 2013 he attended a board meeting at ServiceMaster, a major corporation that sells cleaning materials and services. Heskett recalls that ServiceMaster CEO, William Pollard, spilled a cup of coffee prior to the start of the board meeting. Pollard “asked a colleague to get him cleaning compound and a cloth, things easily found in a company that provided cleaning services. Whereupon he proceeded to get down on his hands and knees to clean up the spill himself. The remarkable thing was that board members and employees alike hardly noticed as he did it. It was as if it was expected in a company with self-proclaimed servant leadership.” Fact is, the inclination to serve seems all too rare, especially among those in power. It seems so rare that when it happens—when the pope washes and kisses the feet of 12 men and women in a Rome prison housing many hardened criminals, rather than the feet of priests and bishops on Holy Thursday—the moment is broadcast around the world. But the pope’s purpose is not to draw attention to his own humility, but to issue an invitation: “Go and do likewise.”

Authors Father Larry Janowski O.F.M.

power serve

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Homily themes

18 Oct 2015 - Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

“Can you drink the cup that I drink?” True power: James and John think it comes from status—how close you are to the head of the table. They are like those who lord it over others or think they can save themselves. For one thing, only God assigns the seats at the messianic banquet. Real power comes from being one who serves, a diakonos: literally the one who serves as at a table, not sits in the places of honor. The disciples also don’t seem to understand that the path to greatness goes through following Jesus’ example of suffering and sacrifice before they get to the glory. They will at first betray their brave “we can” later when the real thing confronts them in Jesus’ Passion. If you to listen to and follow Christ now, though, you’ll be there at the end when things go from bad to worse to best.

power serve

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Homily themes

20 Jul 2014 - Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

The books of the Hebrew Bible known as “the Writings,” of which Wisdom and Psalms are parts, often speak of the sovereignty of the one God—God alone is the ultimate power in the universe. And this week’s readings are a kind of meditation on the greatness of God. God is the King above all kings. No other God has the “care of all”; “all the nations you have made shall come and worship you.” God is mighty, a doer of “wondrous deeds” but whose justice also abounds in kindness and teaches God’s people “by these deeds . . . that those who are just must be kind.” Judgment is God’s alone, as the gospel parable says, but God takes pity and “comes to the aid of our weakness.”

power

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Sign & sacrament

24 Nov 2013 - Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Cycle C

Power seems cool to possess—from a distance. You can do anything with enough of it: Order people around; get your way; make money, squander it, and get more. Those with worldly power are seemingly invincible—every comfort, security, and cure is theirs for the taking. That’s why the crowds around the cross mock Jesus as a phony. If he really had juice, why is he hanging up there? What they failed to appreciate is the divine use of authority: not for self-preservation, but poured out for the sake of others. Think differently. Think love.

power Authority

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Homily themes

20 Oct 2013 - Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

The woman in the parable was in a difficult situation. As a widow, her portrait would have been next to the word “powerless” in an ancient Near Eastern dictionary. Not only that, she was going up against a figure who did have great power, a judge, who was corrupt as well. Moses was also in a power-challenged situation. Yes, he had with him the staff that had defeated the Egyptians, but now he gets weary, and Aaron and Hur found the man a chair and gave him a hand. Weakness in these stories, though, ends up being strength for those who know that all “help is from the Lord” and first put their faith in God and call on God in prayer.

Authors Joel Schorn

power Weakness

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Sign & sacrament

16 Sep 2012 - Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

What does it mean “to speak truth to power”? Jesus provides a good example. He frequently confronted civic and religious authorities whose use of power resulted in oppression of people. That did not make Jesus a hero. Often he was thrown out of places, attacked, and ridiculed. Eventually he was killed for proclaiming the Good News. As followers of Jesus the Christ, that is our inheritance. We must summon the courage to speak the truth of our experience. We may not be called to do this in epic moments so much as in our day-to-day relationships. How do we speak the truth to people we love and live with every day? How do we speak a truth that is transformative, not destructive?

speak truth to power

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Sign & sacrament

17 Jun 2012 - Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

One of my favorite teachings from the epistles is almost a throwaway line from Colossians 3:21: “Fathers, do not nag your children, lest they lose heart.” That’s the old ICEL translation from the breviary, anyway. Relentless negativity does foster profound discouragement in children and other living things. Anyone who holds authority over others and seeks to do that justly must honor this reality. What Jesus understood is the proper use of authority. Use it to fight demons, sickness, ignorance, and sin! Don’t cast a stone that’s legally within your right to hurl when the defenseless creature in front of you needs forgiveness more than condemnation. Jesus knows what to do with power. Do you?

Authors Alice Camille

Authority Forgiveness power

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Who's listening?

16 Oct 2011 - Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

Some of the people hearing you preach today may feel very strongly about keeping the church out of politics. Others may be very supportive of the church speaking truth to power in a very public and even political way. Both will feel today's gospel justifies their position. Follow Jesus' lead and avoid getting tripped up in an impossible argument by looking at the deeper message of today's gospel: How well do we each recognize God's authority in our lives?

politics power god's authority

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