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Homily stories

28 Jun 2015 - Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

It's a familiar, charming story passed on from time to time: It is said that a little boy wanted to meet God, so he packed his backpack with goodies and set off on his journey. In short order, he found that it was time for a snack so he sat down on the nearest park bench and opened his stash. He noticed an old women at the other end of the bench who looked a little hungry, so he offered her half of his cupcake. She smiled and accepted it with pleasure. He then offered her some of his root beer, which she accepted with another smile. They sat quietly thinking about things without ever saying a word. Finally as it got dark he got up to leave and waved good-bye. Then he offered her a hug. Both the boy and the women went home happy--each quite sure that they had met God in the park that day (though, the woman tells her daughter at home, “He’s a lot younger than I expected.”). What to make of the mysterious phrase that Jesus “realized that power had gone out of him”? We all project attitudes and even powers, “vibes” that let others know they’re welcome or not, that here is a listener, even a healer. What vibes do I give off? Signals that say, “Don’t bother me”? Or are my Christian charity and compassion so evident that comfort and even healing might flow from me?

Authors Father Larry Janowski O.F.M.

Healing listening

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Quotes

01 Feb 2015 - Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

The first duty of love is to listen. —Paul Tillich (1886-1965) To believe in the relevance of God is to believe in the presence of prophets among us who show the relevance of his Word. To believe in the faithfulness of God and in his church is to believe that he will not let it fall asleep, be overwhelmed, lose its vigor and the dynamism of its hope. –Jésus-Maria Asurmendi

Love listening

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Homily themes

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

So there was Elijah, on the same mountain where Moses and the Israelites encountered the mighty presence of God. There were the disciples, having their own encounter with God’s presence in Jesus’ power over the elements of creation. All of them were afraid. But there was no reason to fear. The voice of the Lord came through, whether small or in the commanding words of Jesus, and what is needed is to listen for that voice. What is it saying? Not only “do not be afraid”; it is also issuing a call: for Elijah to take up again his prophetic mission, and for the disciples have the courage to step out of a boat in the middle of the night.

call Elijah fear listening

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Exploring the word

01 Jun 2014 - Seventh Sunday of Easter, Cycle A

The church has celebrated World Communications Day on the Sunday before Pentecost since 1967. Blame it on the Second Vatican Council’s document Gaudium et Spes: If the church is to be relevant to the modern world, it has to join the conversation! Pope Paul VI appreciated that the world is increasingly a global society, thanks to print media, radio, television, motion pictures—and now the internet. Each year since the pope in residence has issued a message to the media and to media consumers, intended to serve as a moral checklist in engaging these influential resources. Most people, already stuffed to the gills with media options, ignore the occasion and the message. This year Pope Francis reminds us this information glut can mean that more is turning into less. Some retreat to opinion ghettos to continue their self-talk with the already-convinced. You may erect a Facebook fortress and declare your truths to the universe with fingers firmly planted in both ears. The media highway, the pope says, is a two-way street. If we are to bring the world together in unity and familiarity, we have to listen as well as declaim. The digital world is a "network not of wires but of people," Francis insists. Even if social networks shrink everyone into a OneWorld reality, we will remain a multi-plexity of individuals with distinct perspectives that require respectful engagement. What that means in practical terms is: Change the channel once in a while. Don't read, watch, and ingest only those news sources that make you comfortable or confirm your druthers. Listen to the opposition. Dialogue with a family member who begs to differ. Bring down the tone of the rhetoric. Find out why others don't share your opinions. It probably isn't because they're the spawn of Satan. It could be that life experiences have led them to different conclusions. The pope notes that communication involves silence as much as words. There has to be space between the ideas for the words to be digested, turned over, and evaluated. One of the joys of modern communication is also its biggest problem: It all happens so fast. Human beings need time to think, and there's precious little reflecting going on between the finger and the "send" key. Two great biblical pauses occur in the stories for this Sunday. The apostles, after encountering the risen Lord and watching him ascend to heaven, don't go straight to a blog site to upload their photos and tell-all. Instead they barricade themselves for a marathon session of prayer. In the same way, when the hour of Jesus finally arrives, he doesn't barrel out into the night to confront his detractors and engage the battle. He sets himself to the quietest and most peaceful work of all: prayer. Only in the silence does the swirl of information find its proper context. Related scripture links Jesus on prayer: Matt. 6:5-13; 7:7-11; Luke 11:1-13; 18:10-14; John 15:7; 16:26 Pray unceasingly: 1 Thess. 5:17; Phil. 4:6; Eph. 6:18-20; Col. 4:2; Heb. 7:25 Catechism links Prayer: CCC 2558-2589; 2598-2619; 2623-2643; 2650-2660; 2742-2745; 2746-2751

Authors Alice Camille

Pentecost Technology listening

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Sign & sacrament

01 Jun 2014 - Seventh Sunday of Easter, Cycle A

The telecommunications industry would have us believe that the most important connections we make are via computer and cell phone. While it’s true that these devices are useful in today’s world, there remains the crucial connection with that still, small voice within our own hearts that no computer can reach. That voice, which is God’s, can only be heard in stillness: in the bare branches of trees against a clear blue winter sky, the quiet of an early summer morning, the starry brilliance in a night sky, our breathing in and breathing out. What is God calling you to do now? Spend some time today just listening.

Technology listening solitude

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Homily themes

29 Dec 2013 - Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, Cycle A

This week Saint Joseph picks up where he left off showing one of his chief virtues, his willingness to hear and pay attention to God, by acting on his instructions from the angel right away. The other readings speak of obedience as well: between family members and among those in Christian community generally. Notice how this kind of obedience takes the form not merely of following orders but of listening, heeding, respecting, and following.

Authors Joel Schorn

Obedience listening

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Homily stories

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

It may seem that Jesus is non-responsive to the questions that come his way. But the truth is that he is responsive to the question beneath the question. There's an ancient story of the man who came to a wise man to complain that his wife didn't appreciate him. The wise man instructed him to go home and listen to whatever his wife said. The man returned, saying things were worse. "I've listened to everything she has said, but she still says I don't appreciate her." "Fine," said the wise man. "Now go home and listen to everything she doesn't say." Jesus does that kind of listening and frequently answers the questions his listeners didn't even realize they were asking.

listening appreciate jesus

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Who's listening?

25 Sep 2011 - Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

In your congregation you probably have people who experience various levels of comfort with change. Some are ready to change at the slightest whim; others will resist change with all their might. In today's gospel, Jesus seems to agree with singer Sheryl Crow who croons, "Change will do you good." But for Jesus, it has to be the right kind of change--from defiance to reliance on God. The important criterion is "what are you changing toward?"

listening Change

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Homily stories

18 Jan 2015 - Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

Mothers hear everything. They detect the slightest whisper of change in a baby’s breathing; the tiny whine that will lead to a wail if a toddler’s food or sleep doesn’t come quick; the worry and angst in a teenager’s sullenness; the heartbreak and confusion in a young adult’s short temper. It’s not that moms are endowed with supersonic powers. They have simply mastered the art of good listening, which begins and ends with love. Out of love, they pay attention to the patterns and pulses in their children’s lives. Out of love they respond to spoken and unspoken needs. That type of deep listening is not reserved for moms alone. Any relationship benefits from good listening, and it is absolutely essential to being Christian. Many may hear Jesus’ call, but only those who are listening with loving and open hearts will know to stop what they are doing and follow where Christ leads.

Authors Patrice J. Tuohy

mothers listening moms Love

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The good listener

Funeral homily stories

In the past few years I've been to more funerals than I care to count as my parents' generation crosses the threshold into all that is unseen. One theme that runs constant at the funerals for mothers is "Mom was a good listener." Despite problems they may have had with their mothers, when it came right down to it, their mothers were their close confidants. Like Mary, the Mother of Jesus, when mothers hear or observe things about their children, they tend to hold these things in their hearts and reflect on them. As their children grow, a mother draws on this storehouse of knowledge to help her children understand who they are and who they are meant to be. For this reason, mothers have a trememdous influence on their children. Yet wise mothers, following Mary's lead, know that their job is not to control or constrict their children or deny them their mission. Our children are our offerings to God. The best we can do is love them, teach them of God's love, and send them on their way with a blessing similar to the one Moses offered the Israelites: The Lord bless you and keep you! The Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace! Amen.

Authors Patrice J. Tuohy

Mary listener listening death funerals mothers

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