Monday, September 22, 2008

Homily – 09-22-2008 – Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time - Monday

Part of this gospel passage today seems understandable, part not! But that is the whole point of the passage. That a light be put on a lamp stand is easily understood. That this light refers to the "mysteries of God" that he has chosen to reveal to us is also easily understood. That we must share with "others" knowledge of the mysteries – this makes sense!

The part that may not readily understood is at the end of the passage when it says "to anyone who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he seems to have will be taken away." In a way this is related to the theme of yesterday's readings at Mass: God's will and ways are not ours! What is meant here – from God's perspective is: hearing the word of God (about the mysteries) without understanding leads to total loss of hearing. And it is a special kind of hearing that is called for: hearing with the aim of communicating what is heard, that "knowledge", that "word" to others.

Therefore, this passage is not "unfair" at all. God's logic is so much higher than ours, and so much more reliable and trustworthy than our own.

The first reading from the Book of Proverbs speaks of "God's way of seeing and doing things" as prescriptions on how to get along with people! deal directly and honestly with people; don't quarrel needlessly; envy no one, especially the lawless ones; be counted among the blessed of God rather than the cursed; be humble so that God will deal with you kindly, and not sternly as he will with the arrogant.

May our light (the Light of Christ) shine before others today – that they may see our good deeds and glorify our heavenly Father! Amen!

No comments:

Happy New Year 202

  A Happy New Year to you all! I hope and pray I am able to keep this blog up to date now that we are entering into the New Year! I would li...