Tag: Apostles

Gift above all gifts

A homily for The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, June 19, 2022

Gn 14:18-20, 1 Cor 11:23-26, Lk 9:11b-17

Our news flashes and history books are filled with accounts of women and men — heroes, we call them — risking their lives or even making the ultimate sacrifice for the good of others.

Often, these heroes act for the benefit of absolute strangers. Sometimes those strangers are right there where the act of heroism takes place. Many times, the strangers are thousands of miles away, across oceans on another continent.

That’s the case, of course, in world wars.

And sometimes the strangers who will benefit the most have not yet been born, because the act of heroism has a history-making or civilization-changing impact.

Risking their lives. Making the ultimate sacrifice. Smothering a grenade with their body. Spilling their blood.

Continue reading Gift above all gifts

So far away

A homily for the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord, May 29, 2022

Acts 1:1-11, Heb 9:24-28; 10:19-23, Lk 24:46-53

Years ago, in an episode of St. Elsewhere, the doctor played by Howie Mandel dies on the operating table and opens his eyes in Heaven, where he sees former patients celebrating in a beautiful countryside. 

He asks one of the patients when he would see God, and then Howie Mandel taps Howie Mandel on the shoulder, introducing himself as The Almighty. 

“Everyone sees me differently,” God explains, “because I created each of you in my image and likeness, and to you, I look like you.”

Fascinating interpretation, yes?

Then, back on Earth, the surgeons at St. Eligius Hospital revive Howie’s character and he leaves Heaven. For the time being.

Continue reading So far away

Teamwork

A homily for the Fifth Sunday of Easter, May 15, 2022

Acts 14:21-27, Rev 21:1-5a, Jn 13:31-33a, 34-35

Professional athletes have a lot of privileges and advantages that we regular people don’t, but maybe the biggest advantage they have over us is: They get to have a preseason.

Before they start their annual campaigns toward winning a league title or a world championship, athletes spend weeks or even months training to get better at their sport.

And then they get to scrimmage or play preseason games under real rules and typical conditions, with scores that are zeroed out when the real season starts.

Wouldn’t it be great if we all had preseasons anytime we started a new endeavor?

Continue reading Teamwork

For joy

A (brief) homily for the Fourth Sunday of Easter, May 8, 2022

Acts 13:14, 43-52, Rev 7:9, 14b-17, Jn 10:27-30

The Apostles headed out to spread the Good News, traveling mostly by foot from town to town, telling people they met about everything they had heard and seen during their days with Jesus of Nazareth.

Some people listened and followed. Some people heard but turned away. Some people ignored them completely.

Some people ran them out of town.

No problem.

The Apostles shook the dust off their feet and moved on.

(I love that image, knowing that the dust they were shaking off contained all sorts of mean, nasty, ugly stuff. Much more powerful than rude hand gestures.)

Continue reading For joy

Busted

A homily for the Third Sunday of Easter, May 1, 2022

Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41, Rev 5:11-14, Jn 21:1-19

After Russia invaded Ukraine in February, the Kremlin ordered steep fines and lengthy prison terms for anyone caught protesting against the so-called “special military operation.”

Thousands took to the streets in cities all over Russia, in defiance of the order.

After it became clear that the U.S. military presence in Vietnam was ill-advised and that there was growing discontent among citizens, especially young people, cities ordered curfews and demanded that groups apply for permits before exercising their First Amendment rights.

Tens of thousands took to the streets in cities all over America, in defiance of the orders.

After it became painfully obvious that skin color was being used as a reason to deny Americans their God-given inalienable rights, and that disenfranchised people planned to demonstrate and defy Jim Crow laws, states ordered lockdowns and warned of massive legal and extra-legal punishments.

Millions took to the streets in cities all over America, in defiance of the orders and threats.

Just as a handful of believers did in the First Century.

Continue reading Busted