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Exploring the word

06 Feb 2011 - Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

THINGS ARE BETTER when we take care of one another. Things grow worse if we don’t. That is nowhere truer than in families. Loving and purposeful families grow together and yield abundant dividends in loyalty, mutual encouragement, and assured welfare. Careless, neglectful, or abusive families reap sorrow and hostility that winds through the years and spreads the malignancy further. What’s true for the microcosm tends to be magnified in the macrocosm. Communities that care for their weaker members thrive in peace and well-being. Communities cut off from the fate of their disadvantaged ones will harvest division, unrest, and violence. Follow this simple formula through a single nation, or the league of nations, and its veracity continues to prove out. Hebrew prophecy proposed an answer as simple as the problem: Share your bread. Shelter your homeless. Clothe the naked. Don’t turn your back on your own. The nation that cares for its afflicted will be a beacon to the world. And woe to the nation that doesn’t. Even in midday, the gloom that it sows will overtake it. Jesus is also a fan of simplicity. “Love one another” is a great rule to live by. So is forgiving our trespassers, and being not afraid. If we practiced those three—love, forgiveness, courage—we’d have marvelous, radiant lives. We’d find our hearts curiously free of obstacles to becoming the people we want to be, happy and fulfilled. We’d also supply the salt to our communities so that everyone around us would lead richer lives simply because they know us, harvest our love, and are illumined by our example. When we live in the light and become the light ourselves, we discover our true purpose. Saint Paul understood that when he made his startling resolution to keep his gospel plain and simple. It wasn’t instinctive for him. Paul was a scholar: Pharisee-trained to delve into the webbed intricacies of law and celebrating the fine print in every legislated aspect of life. Living in a Hellenist society, he appreciated that wisdom teachers were supposed to show off their learning to garner impressed crowds. Paul could have done that. Yet he kept Christianity simple. He stayed close to the cross. Many prefer to multiply the requirements of faith, making salvation a Mt. Everest of expectations to climb and heaven itself the land of Unobtainia. Christ, Paul said, opened a door through which this whole sinful world may pass. That’s it. No circumcision, no sacrifices, no umpteen Deuteronomic regulations to keep. Salvation is achieved, and it’s yours: Only reach out and take it! Is living according to our true purpose a challenge we are ready to embrace? Related scripture links The glory of the Lord: Gen. 15:17; Exod. 3:1-15, 13:21; Ps. 78:14; Ezek. 43:2; Acts 2:3 God is the giver of light: Gen. 1:3-5; Ps. 13:4; Prov. 29:13; Isa. 45:7 Jesus is the light: John 1:9, 3:19-21, 8:12, 9:5, 12:35, 46 We are the light: Luke 16:8b; John 12:36; 1 Thess. 5:5; Eph. 5:8 Other divine associations with light: 1 Tim. 6:16; 1 John 1:5-7 Catechism links Light of the world: CCC 782; 1216; 2105; 2466 Works of mercy: CCC 1829; 2446-2447 The power of God: CCC 124; 736

Authors Alice Camille

simplicity Salvation Poor

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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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Atlanta archbishop apologizes for lavish residence

06 Apr 2014 - Preaching the News for Sunday

This Sunday’s psalm pledges forgiveness from the Lord for personal wrongdoings. Roman Catholic Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta apologized Monday for building a new $2.2 million mansion as his residence, a decision criticized by local Catholics who cited the example of austerity set by the new pope.Gregory recently moved into the nearly 6,400-square-foot residence. Its construction was made possible by a large donation from the estate of Joseph Mitchell, nephew of Margaret Mitchell, author of Gone With The Wind, the Civil War epic novel that made his family wealthy. When Mitchell died in 2011, he left an estate worth more than $15 million to the archdiocese on the condition it be used for "general religious and charitable purposes."Gregory said that he has received criticism over the spending in letters, emails, and telephone messages. "I failed to consider the impact on the families throughout the archdiocese who, though struggling to pay their mortgages, utilities, tuition, and other bills, faithfully respond year after year to my pleas to assist with funding our ministries and services," he said in his published remarks.In January a group of local Catholics met with the archbishop and asked that he sell the large home and return to his old residence. They cited the example of Pope Francis, who turned down living quarters in a Vatican palace and drives a simple car."The example of the Holy Father, and the way people of every sector of our society have responded to his message of gentle joy and compassion without pretense has set the bar for every Catholic and even for many who don't share our communion," Gregory said. "What we didn't stop to consider, and that oversight rests with me and me alone, was that the world and the church have changed.”The Catholic leader said he will discuss the situation with several diocesan councils, including a special meeting of its finance council. If church representatives want the bishop to sell the home, Gregory said he will do so and move elsewhere.Homily hint: Archbishop Gregory’s credit, he has taken responsibility and is responding to the call to a more humble lifestyle. All of us can stumble, especially if we have been entrusted with great power and authority. But together we can find our way toward a more Christ-like witness and simple living. Source: An article by Ray Henry for the Associated Press

Pope Francis wilton gregory simplicity archdiocese of atlanta

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Exploring the word

27 Nov 2011 - First Sunday of Advent, Cycle B

Watch. That’s what Jesus has to say to his disciples today. Watch! While a single word makes for a poor homily and an inferior lesson plan, it does help to ask ourselves: Are we watching for something, or guarding against it? And how will we know what it is when it arrives? A publisher I know says the best books are about “one thing.” Other books sprawl all over the place and say too little about too much, leading to confusion and even frustration on the part of a reader.What was that all about? we find ourselves wondering, wishing we could recover the time wasted on such a venture to spend on something more focused and productive. Movies plots, college courses, and talks by politicians and experts can leave us with a similar feeling of dissatisfaction and bewilderment. TMI, the hip modern shorthand for “too much information,” is a valid complaint in our contemporary culture where details are available in abundance but the ability to sort and prioritize all those facts and pseudo-facts becomes increasingly complex. Perhaps the simplicity of today’s message is gratefully received. Vigilance among the lapping waves of overstimulation, not to mention the oversupply of information that does little to inform us, is a good watchword. Not paranoia, not chronic anxiety, but an uncomplicated spiritual vigilance is fundamental to the Christian life. Because, frankly, the devil really is in the details. It’s when we’re most distracted that moral laziness can reel us in and make a fine meal of us. Too much information can actually make ethical oversimplifications more attractive. When we live on the frantic edge of things, we’re most likely to rationalize our bad choices with black-and-white thinking: I work hard. I deserve this. It’s only this once. If she didn’t get in my face, I wouldn’t have to yell like that. They’re not us, so we certainly have no obligation to help them. Watch, Jesus says. The devil is in the surrender of the will to the “inevitable.” Spiritual vigilance is discovered in silence, cultivated in stillness. No wonder it’s so rare that even 20 centuries ago Jesus had to insist on it. If we don’t watch—pay attention, focus—then supper is burned, the child wanders into danger, the marriage falls into jeopardy, the dog eats your homework, the appointment is forgotten, the wrong word slips out of your mouth, and now you’ll pay the consequences for thoughtlessness. So if there’s an appropriate word with which to center ourselves in this new church year and inaugural season of Advent, it’s this one: watch. Start small, take five deliberate minutes each day; sit with a candle or a stopwatch if you must. Cultivate vigilance. Pray to become, in every hour, wide awake. Related scripture links What are we waiting for: Isa. 65:17, 66:22; Rom. 8:18-25; 2 Pet. 3:8-14; Rev. 21:1-5 The potter of Genesis: Gen. 2:4-7 The potter and the vessel: Jer. 18:1-12, 19:1-15; Isa. 45:9; Job 10:8-12; Wis. 15:7-17; Rom. 9:20; 2 Cor. 4:7 The Lord giveth and taketh: Job 1:21 Catechism links Season of Advent: 524; 1095 Conversion: 821; 1427-1439 Incarnation: 456-464; 470; 478

Authors Alice Camille

watch simplicity Devil advent vigilance

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Homily stories

14 Jul 2024 - Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

My family and I were on a walk while at my parents’ cottage on a small lake in Southwest Michigan when we got a lesson about life. Around the bend in the lake we met an old couple sitting on rickety lawn chairs fishing. Their equipment consisted of a small, cheap tackle box, a plastic margarine container full of night crawlers, a five-gallon plastic bucket to hold their catch, and two long bamboo poles that carried their lines out beyond the shallows and seaweed. “How’s the fishing?” I asked. “Fantastic,” the man said, nodding to the bucketful of fish thrashing about in the shallow water. Across the road was a much larger lake where a fisherman was calling it quits. He was cranking his expensive bass boat onto his trailer. He wore a vest with about 27 pockets, each bulging with gear. He took six or seven fiberglass rods out of the boat and placed them in the back of his SUV, and then followed suit with two shiny multi-drawered tackle boxes and other gear. “Ain’t no damned fish in this lake,” he snarled as he gunned the engine, pulling his still-dripping boat up the boat ramp and onto the highway. The apostles were sent out into the world with just a single tunic and a walking stick. As fishers of people, despite their lack of fancy gear, they brought in quite a haul.

Authors Tom McGrath

fishers of people fishing simplicity

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