Tag Archives: Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Homilies,

To watch Fr. Joe’s homily for the Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: CLICK HERE!

Maybe it is just part of human nature; but there is a tendency to not trust people.  But the truth is, there are lots of good people who are doing their best.  Who are doing God’s will as it pertains to them every day.

Says Jesus, “Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister  and mother.”

No doubt it is easy to see the not so good around us.  Read the papers, look at the email from Africa that says you have $17.5 million coming to you or the mail that says you could be a winner!  One can understand the skepticism and cynicism that seems to grow in our lives.

Yet, I would suggest that Jesus is reminding us to open our eyes and minds and hearts in not only SEEING the good, the will of God being lived by others; but knowing how Jesus is reminding us of how important DOING anything that is great or small or in between that is done out of love, care, concern, affirmation and appreciation is a sign of God’s will being done then and there.

Jesus calls us to be family…

Recently at a Daily Mass, I mentioned that God our Father, like any parent, certainly smiles when we do the will of God.

The will of God that comes down to not only love of God, but love of one another…

How do we continue to live God’s will, not just yesterday, but today and every today?

This past week I had a medical procedure that was nothing serious; a medical procedure that goes with being older.   (And even mentioning medical issues is a sure sign of being older!)  Anyways, after all was over, I was so Impressed with all the medical staff from the receptionist, to the nurses, the anesthesiologist, the support staff and even the doctor.

I was so impressed, I felt that I had to write a note to thank them for their care, thoughtfulness, gentleness, assistance and professionalism.  Or maybe it was just the unrequested warm blanket that the nurse got for me that impressed me…

Anyways, before I could write the letter, I received a phone call from the medical facility asking me if everything was OK.  After responding that I was doing well, I shared with the person calling, “Please convey my thanks to everyone for their kindness and professionalism.”  The response came back in a way that re-affirmed my letter to them when she said, “I will be sure to convey your appreciation to everyone.”

It takes a medical village for this facility to care for its patients.  But care for them they do, and just maybe writing the letter was just one way that God’s will was done in affirming the goodness of others.

So what’s the point?

Look around for the good that people are doing in their lives, at homes, at work, in the community, in the parish, wherever…  My guess is there is a lot more GOOD out their being done every day that we see or acknowledge by others, and even ourselves.

See the good, do the good, be the good that is the will of God today and everyday.  And just maybe we will see and also contribute personally to a bit more of the Kingdom of God unfolding here on earth, as it is in Heaven, every day.

Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Homilies

Our Scripture Readings today share with us similar stories.  Two boys are dead and receive life back.  Compassion is shown the two widows and in reality, two people are brought back to life in each story.

In the time of these two stories, a woman without a husband or a son would be left destitute.  And in each story, God is not going to let that happen.  Both stories, speak to us about compassion shown to these woman in dire straights.

In both stories, “words” are spoken… “words” that have an effect:

Elijah, calls out to God, “Oh Lord, my God, let the life breath return to the body of this child.”

And Jesus says:   “Young man, I tell you, arise.”

In both stories, the words of life and compassion were seen in the effect, the results.  From the very beginning of Genesis, when God spoke, it happened.   “Let there be light, and there was light.”

Today, Jesus, The Word, speaks, “Let there be life” and life reappears!

It may be hard to see ourselves in the person of Jesus, but  maybe we can see ourselves in Elijah of the First Reading today…

As people of the present time, who are called to bring God’s love and compassion and mercy and so much more to the hurting and needy persons of today.  Jesus’ Ministry can only continue through us.

Then as I was thinking about what would be some concrete ways that we can reach out to others.  The phone rang in my office and the person on the other side of the phone was one of our residents at the House on the Hill. {residents next to the church for retired priests} He shared that he was hearing on and off beeping.  I said I would be over in a minute. Being the “best landlord” I diagnosed the problem: the battery in the smoke detector needed to be replaced.  And, having a prophetic moment before I went to the House on the Hill, I replaced the battery with the one I had in my pocket.

Mission accomplished, I when back to my office to send a bill to our Tenant for Maintenance Services…  Just kidding, to finish today’s Homily with a final thought: We can share life with people in many ways.

Seize the moments to do something good for another.  It may be something small, it may be something big, be it a kind word, an act of kindness, a great deed done… It may mean more to a person than you or I can ever imagine.