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11 Oct 2015 - Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

Minimalism seems to be all the rage these days. Blogs and books about simple living abound. Maybe the recent recession and collapse of the real estate market was a big reality check. For a while, people had to cut back. But now, even though the economy and even the housing market has improved, many people seem to want to keep cutting back. Maybe Americans learned a lesson about pointless excess. Maybe we’re caring more about waste and the environment. Regardless, the trendsetters say the oversized “McMansions” are passé and the self-described “small house movement” is hip. What’s more, we’re clearing the clutter inside our living spaces instead of adding to it. Of course, doing it only because it’s cool isn’t the best reason. Then it turns into just another game of one-upsmanship. But with the right intention—the intention of unburdening yourself of possessions to enter the kingdom of God—getting rid of what you don’t need and learning to live with less is wonderfully freeing. You don’t have to keep up with the Joneses. You can spend your time and money on other things of much more satisfying and long-lasting value—such as the people you are close to, living a full life, pursuing your dreams, and making the world a better place.

Authors Jennifer Tomshack

Minimalism Possessions simplifying

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Homily themes

11 Oct 2015 - Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, “Then who can be saved?” Mark’s audience must have had the same shock as Saint Peter and the other disciples at Jesus’ radical teaching about wealth. People today might feel the same consternation. We can soften Jesus’ words by saying he was talking about detachment or not letting material goods run your life. We can point out that he promised a restoration of what his followers sacrificed, as the Book of Wisdom did. But Jesus—as he so often did in Mark’s gospel—was setting a very high bar for being his disciple. His words, like the word of God in the Letter to the Hebrews, cuts down to basic values and decisions by which your life is measured: Are you willing to sacrifice your earthly security to follow the Lord? Because that’s what he’s asking.

Wealth Possessions

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Exploring the word

04 Mar 2012 - Second Sunday of Lent, Cycle B

IT’S NOT EASY to teach a lesson about Abraham’s intended sacrifice of his son, what Judaism calls the Akedah or “binding” of Isaac. To our modern ears the story is simply outrageous. Does religion claim that God has the right to demand even our children from us to fulfill the inscrutable Almighty will? Would any contemporary parent submit to such authority if the power were in his or her hands—as it clearly was with Abraham? Possession is nine-tenths of the law, or so we’ve been saying since the 16th century. If something’s in your possession, it’s presumed yours unless compelling evidence proves otherwise. That argument hasn’t always helped native peoples retain their land rights, and it gets pretty murky when applied to the Middle East, Taiwan, Tibet—which is why many people prefer to back up rights with guns. What denotes a possession, however, is even trickier to fathom. Families “belong” to each other in obvious ways, but people are not belongings. Land and property aside, what sort of rights do parents have over their children? As parents age and their faculties fail, do their children gain authority over them? What claim can one spouse make on another? Biblically speaking, who is my neighbor and what right does that relationship have over me, if any? When it comes to God, of course, the matter gets even hazier. What belongs to Caesar, precisely, and what to God? If everything “really” is God’s, then does our stewardship guarantee us any rights at all? If “the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away,” any prerogatives we exercise over people or things seem like a temporal sham. Yet we profess our faith in a God who is neither arbitrary nor capricious. This God of ours did not toy with Abraham, nor with us. Possession isn’t as clear-cut as those nine-tenths of the law present. “The universal destination of goods,” as the Catechism of the Catholic Church describes it, suggests that personal wealth is under a social mortgage (CCC 2403). What we have, we’re given for a reason, not merely for safe-keeping or personal indulgence. Perhaps the loveliest line in the Catechism is a quote from the Second Vatican Council’s Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity: “That which is already due in justice is not to be offered as a gift of charity” (CCC 2446). In this sense Abraham could not offer Isaac to God as a gift because God already possessed Isaac utterly. If we could see the world “transfigured,” we might understand what being the Beloved Son meant to Jesus. It didn’t imply merely standing on mountaintops shining like the sun and hobnobbing with prophets. It required the self-knowledge that Jesus belonged to God, utterly. That meant walking back down the mountain and turning his face toward Jerusalem. Doing God’s will proved he “belonged” to his Father—as it does with us. Related scripture links Good news central: Mark 1:1, 15; Luke 3:18; 4:18 Synoptic parallels: Matt. 17:1-8; Luke 9:28-36 Abraham and his God: Gen. 12:10-20; 16:1-16; 19:1-29; 20:1-18 God as beauty: Exod. 33:7-23 Catechism links Images of God: CCC 35; 203; 210; 214-221; 284; 369-370 Transfiguration: CCC 554-556; 568

Authors Alice Camille

Abraham possession

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Pope Francis keeps it simple

04 Aug 2013 - Preaching the News for Sunday

Echoing Jesus' words in the gospel, Pope Francis on his way back from World Youth Day made headlines around the world with his simple question, “Who am I to judge?" regarding gay priests; equally notable, however, were comments he made earlier last Sunday in an address to the bishops of Brazil, the world’s largest episcopate. One of the pope’s key messages was similar to that of Jesus to his disciples: One’s life—including the life of the church—does not consist of possessions.“The results of our pastoral work do not depend on a wealth of resources,” said Francis, “but on the creativity of love. To be sure, perseverance, effort, hard work, planning, and organization all have their place, but first and foremost we need to realize that the church’s power does not reside in herself; it is hidden in the deep waters of God, into which she is called to cast her nets."The church, Francis said, “cannot leave simplicity behind; otherwise she forgets how to speak the language of mystery. Not only does she herself remain outside the door of the mystery, but she proves incapable of approaching those who look to the church for something which they themselves cannot provide, namely, God himself. At times we lose people because they don’t understand what we are saying, because we have forgotten the language of simplicity and import an intellectualism foreign to our people. Without the grammar of simplicity, the church loses the very conditions which make it possible 'to fish' for God in the deep waters of his mystery. . . ."People today are attracted by things that are faster and faster: rapid internet connections, speedy cars and planes, instant relationships. But at the same time we see a desperate need for calmness, I would even say slowness. Is the church still able to move slowly: to take the time to listen, to have the patience to mend and reassemble?”Homily hint: What do you make of Pope Francis' emphasis on the church’s role as something which is not quick to judge as it takes time to listen to the concerns of its children. We would all do well to slow down, remain calm, and seek the simplicity and creativity of love. Source: Vatican Radio

church Possessions Pope Francis simplicity speed

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Homily stories

01 Aug 2010 - Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

I once knew a woman who prided herself on her disdain for worldly goods. She would echo today’s gospel and say, “Life doesn’t consist of possessions; it’s all about relationships.” And yet she treated her relationships like possessions. One wrong word from a friend and she played the aggrieved martyr. One wrong action and she cut people out of her life. She didn’t have friends, she took hostages. Those close to her were always guessing what would set her off next. The fact is that anything can be treated as a possession—even people. I know a few people who might not think it’s true of them but who treat their family as a possession, a sort of trophy to display to others. Their main concern is to look good in their own eyes and in the eyes of others. Their kids miss out on their real presence almost as much as the kids whose parents have abandoned them. Some people even treat God as a possession. They think they’ve got God in their hip pocket or on their dashboard or otherwise at their beck and call. They would rather control a false god than risk a relationship with the true and living God. But God is not a possession and neither are we. In fact, God continually invites us to enter into a real relationship with him. God will never treat us as objects. Shouldn’t we return the favor?

Authors Tom McGrath

possession relationships

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Exploring the word

31 Jul 2016 - Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

The best things in life—aren't things. Somewhere deep down, many of us suspect this. Some may even accept it and strive to live in the direction of higher values. However, the world is chock full of wonderful, wonderful things and we all want some of them. Maybe lots of them. I know I do. I get that world peace is important. And I want to save the environment and clean up our energy, water, and food supply. Justice is a top-shelf priority, no doubt about it. Ending world hunger, preventing disease—I'm on board, count me in. A loving family and the company of friends is really good, certainly more vital to existence than having a new car. But I want the car, too. And a better kitchen. A bigger apartment, actually. A niftier vacation than the one I can presently afford. Like the one in the magazines. We ruminate in this way often, daydream about having enough money to get all the stuff. And if we have enough money, we find our daydream expanding to a new horizon, creating even more pseudo-needs. As every rich person will tell you, the only thing better than a million dollars is two million. Most folks in the Sunday assembly know that, in the end, Qoheleth is right. It's all vanity, all the striving and buying, stockpiling and yearning. A garage full of toys isn't happiness. But it sure sounds like happiness. If we're destined to be grass that springs up in the morning, then let it be a long morning, and let's have our time in the sun! The society around us, of course, is no help at all in forming more reasonable and durable values. This culture is established on buying and selling. It has to arouse our conspicuous consumption to survive and thrive. Maybe we have to stop calling ourselves consumers. That's not who we are; that's who sellers want us to be. The identity of a consumer is deceptive and dangerous to our souls. Resist the name. Disavow it when you hear it. Jesus has a more frank name for a consumer: greedy. Since consumption literally means feeding a hunger, a consumer is a person who lets hunger dictate every decision. This sort of greed inflates us, even as it inflates our homes and garages, our bodies and our dissatisfaction with what we already have. The more we get, the more we want. Greed inflates everything but our spirits. No matter what we purchase and possess, it's always going to be like that second piece of pie: It seemed like a good idea at the time. It tasted good in the moment. But the reality of the second piece never matches up to the idea. It just makes us sick. Related scripture links Wealth as negative influence: Eccles. 5:10-19; Amos 2:6; 3:10; 5:11-12; Mic. 2:1-3; Sir. 13:3-7; 19-23; 31:3-7 Wealth in a positive light: Prov. 3:16; 10:4; 11:16; Sir. 31:8-11 Jesus on wealth: Mark 10:17-31; 12:41-44; Matt. 19:16-20; Luke 16:13, 19-31; 18:18-30; 21:1-4 Later church teachings: 1 Tim. 6:7-10; James 1:9-11; 2:1-9; 5:1-6

Authors Alice Camille

consumer consumerism money greed Possessions

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In other words

31 Jul 2016 - Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

Someone out of the crowd said, “Teacher, order my brother to give me a fair share of the family inheritance.” He replied, “Mister, what makes you think it’s any of my business to be a judge or mediator for you?” Speaking to the people, he went on, “Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot.” Then he told them this story: “The farm of a certain rich man produced a terrific crop. He talked to himself: ‘What can I do? My barn isn’t big enough for this harvest.’ Then he said, ‘Here’s what I’ll do: I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll gather in all my grain and goods, and I’ll say to myself, Self, you’ve done well! You’ve got it made and can now retire. Take it easy and have the time of your life!’ “Just then God showed up and said, ‘Fool! Tonight you die. And your barnful of goods—who gets it?’ That’s what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God” (from Luke 12).

greed Possessions

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Homily stories

31 Jul 2016 - Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

A young student was asked by his teacher what he wanted to be when he grew up. Without thinking the student said, "I don't know." “Well," said the teacher, "what do you want to do when you finish high school?" “I'll go to university.” “And then what?” “I'll get a job.” “And then what?” “I'll make lots of money.” “Then what?” “I'll buy a house and a car.” “Then what?” “I guess I’ll get married.” “Then what?” “Maybe have a family?” said the student, not quite sure of it himself. “And then what?” The student thought some more and then said, “I'll make more money, maybe buy a bigger house, get a new car. Maybe buy a boat or a plane . . .” “Then what?” asked the teacher. Enjoying the prospects of future prosperity, the student was excited now. “Then I’ll retire and spend all my time traveling and enjoying my money and success.” “And then what happens?” asked the teacher one last time. After a short pause the student responded, “I guess then I die.” Nodding, the teacher agreed, “Then you die.” In the parable of the rich man who stores up his wealth, Jesus warns us not to get caught up in the acquisitions game. Life might end at any moment for any of us. What do you want to do with your life?

Authors Deacon Pedro Guevara-Mann

money Possessions

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Who's listening?

11 Oct 2009 - Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

God’s Word is living and incisive, the Letter to the Hebrews says, and the vivid and difficult gospel story of the rich man provides a fine example. The reading confronts those who think they can follow the ethical rules and still hoard their possessions when others are in need. And wealthy hearers of this story may rush into the loophole of “with God all things are possible, so I’ll keep that money in the bank and hope for the best!” Today’s gospel does not condemn material possessions, but it does call on those who have more than enough to use their wealth—perhaps sacrificially at times—to the benefit of those who lack. As the bringer, with the readings, of God’s Word, you want your message to be penetrating but hopeful. Talk with your people today about the great variety of ways they can use their resources—monetary, personal, spiritual—to alleviate the suffering and want of God’s poor.

word of god money Possessions Wealth sacrifice Generosity

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Homily stories

11 Oct 2009 - Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

It’s Sunday morning. You can tell. People flood to their place of worship and kneel before the symbols of all that brings them joy and happiness in their lives. Unfortunately the temple to which many people make their pilgrimage is the health club, the gym where they look for eternal youth on the elliptical machine or treadmill or stationary bicycle. In so many ways, it is a greater source of competition than anything else that might keep people from church. Others can be found kneeling, but in their driveways. They are polishing the chrome wheels of the car they treat with more awe and respect than any person they know. It has become a symbol, an idol, worshipped at the altar of success and financial independence. The problem is it will rust, scratch, and eventually be left behind for a newer model. Our bodies are important. But there is more to life than them. Our possessions make our lives pleasant. But we cannot live for them alone. In the end we will owe an accounting of ourselves to God. What will our lives have shown to have been most important to us; what did we prize the most? Perhaps all of us could use a little more time kneeling in church thanking God for what is truly important and showing our gratitude by our actions for all the graces and blessings given to us.

Authors Father Dominic Grassi

Possessions Wealth worship

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