OTHER HOMILY SOURCES:
Homily for 10th Sunday in Ordinary Time – on the Gospel
|
1 Kings 17:17-24 |
Galatians 1:11-19 |
Luke 7:11-17 |
Stop the Funeral Procession
By Fr Munachi E. Ezeogu, cssp
The miracle of Jesus raising the widow’s son at Nain is often compared to that of Elijah raising the son of the widow of Zarephath, which we have in today’s first reading (I Kings 17:17-24). Yet there are some important differences between the two. Firstly, in Elijah’s raising of the widow’s son in Zarephath, it was the woman who took her problem to Elijah. So there was some kind of solicitation or prayer. In the case of Jesus raising the widow’s son at Nain, the woman did not approach Jesus and no one else did on her behalf. No form of prayer whatsoever was involved. Secondly, in Elijah’s raising of the widow’s son in Zarephath, the woman had earlier proven her faith in the God of Elijah when her jar of meal and jug of oil were miraculously replenished. In the case of the widow of Nain, there was no evidence of faith whatsoever. And thirdly, the widow in Zarephath had done some good deed to the man of God. She had fed him and housed him. The widow of Nain had done no such good deeds that we know of. It is, therefore, easy to see why Elijah should perform a miracle for the widow of Zarephath. But why did Jesus perform this miracle for the widow of Nain? The only plausible answer is that Jesus is simply being true to his nature as God, his nature to love unconditionally, especially those who are in most need of God’s mercy.
Life in Palestine at the time of Jesus was hard, especially for women. Social and economic life was male-dominated and women had to depend on their husbands as bread winners. When a woman’s husband dies, she becomes the responsibility of her grown up son. Without a man to provide for her, a women was reduced to the status of a beggar. Now you can understand why the dying Jesus had to entrust his mother to his friend, John. As an only son, he was fulfilling his duty to provide for his mother. Nobody in traditional Jewish society was more pitiable that a widow who had lost her only son. It was a double tragedy because she was invariable going to live out the rest of her days in abject poverty, sadness and misery. By inviting himself into the situation and turning it around, Jesus is making a statement that it is not God’s will for any human being to live in abject poverty and misery. Jesus is protesting against those societal norms, cultural practices and economic policies that discriminate against women on account of their gender. By reviving her son and giving him back to her, Jesus is re-empowering her and giving her back a reason to hold her head high in the community. Jesus is restoring to this woman her personal integrity, her honour and dignity, as well as her economic and social lifeline that had been taken away by death. As he himself said, “I came that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).
Now, if God has unconditional love for all of His children and Jesus came to give us all life and joy in abundance, why is it that some people’s tears are wiped away but not those of others? Well, all of us are like people in a funeral procession. But how many of us would stand still when Jesus puts his hand on the coffin? Think of it. You know the emotions and commotions that go with a funeral procession. In fact, in many cultures, funeral processions are not supposed to stop for anybody. Other people have to stop to allow funeral processions through. But the widow of Nain cooperated in her miracle by stopping the funeral march when Jesus put his hand on the coffin and said to her, “Stop weeping” (Luke 7:11). Many of us in her shoes would shout at Jesus for interrupting our funeral song, push him aside, and continue our funeral march to the cemetery. If the woman of Nain did not stop the funeral procession, Jesus would not have been able to help her, much as he would love to.
Like the widow of Nain, everyone of us is bereft of something that would elevate us to our full dignity as children of God, physically, economically, socially and spiritually. Jesus does not like to see us live in misery and would like to turn our lives from sadness to joy. Today, Jesus asks us to halt the funeral procession and give him a chance to work his miracle of love in our lives. Shall we stop and be still before God and give God a chance to transform our lives? His word to us today is, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
munachi.com/c/sundayc10.htm
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We’re called to be compassionate
By Fr. Bel R. San Luis, SVD
Published: June 8, 2013
A group of salesmen went to a regional sales convention in Chicago. In their rush through the terminal, one of them accidentally kicked over a table which held a display of apples. Without stopping or looking back, they all managed to reach the plane in time for their nearly missed boarding.
* * *
All but one! He paused and felt a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned.
He told his buddies to go on without him, and explained he was taking a later flight. Then he returned to the place where the apples were all over the terminal floor. He was glad he did.
* * *
The 16-year-old girl was totally blind! The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped organize her display.
As he did this, he noticed that many of them had become battered and bruised; these he set aside in another basket.
* * *
When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl, “Here, please take this $40 for the damage we did.”
As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl called out to him, “Mister….” He paused and turned to look back into those blind eyes. She continued, “ARE YOU JESUS?”
* * *
If you open the gospels, you can’t miss seeing Jesus Christ as a Man of compassion. Jesus showed compassion on the lepers, the crippled, the hungry, the deaf, the poor, the little children, and even His executioner. And, as we read in today’s Gospel, Jesus empathized with the poor bereaved widow whose only son died.
* * *
The Lord had encountered a lot of funeral processions during His time. But why is this particular funeral encounter so special that it was included by the evangelist? We must recall that in biblical times, the widow was a symbol of the poor and the helpless. There was no job available for women, nor was there any social security system for such people.
So when Jesus comes across a widow who has lost not only her husband as breadwinner, but also her only son who was her only hope in life, He meets someone who is, indeed, the poorest of the poor during His time. So deeply moved with compassion, He restored the dead son back to life.
* * *
In the gospel episode, Jesus teaches that as his followers, we should likewise have the spirit and act of compassion. We may not perform miracles as Jesus did but we can show compassion in various concrete ways. For instance, we can assist the needy. If you can give something more than a doleout like some work or educational assistance, that would be more worthwhile. We can console the lonely and bereaved. To those weighed down with a heavy problem, a listening ear might help unload their emotional burden.
* * *
Remember: We will be judged by God by how much we have shown mercy to the “least” of Christ’s brethren. In the parable of the Last Judgment, the Lord will say: “When I was hungry, you gave me to eat, thirsty you gave to drink, sick and you visited me…Enter into the Kingdom of heaven.” (Read Mt 25:31 ff.).
Be compassionate and God will be compassionat on you.
mb.com.ph/News/Opinion_Editorial/16090/We%E2%80%99re_called_to_be_compassionate#.UbJbaqwwjV4
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10th Sunday in Ordinary Time Sermon and Homily
Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 90
Reading 1 1 KGS 17:17-24
Responsorial Psalm PS 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11, 12, 13
Reading 2 GAL 1:11-19
Gospel LK 7:11-17
Full Readings Here
TENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
1kgs 17:17-24 Gal 1:11-19 LK 7:11-17
OUR DUTY TO BE AT THE SAME TIME PROPHETIC AND COMPASSIONATE
Our Tradition and conduct toward the Unfortunate;
Transformation, Resuscitation, and Resurrection; Helping the Bereaved.
A movie star, visiting a refugee camp for the publicity of it, was repelled by the sight. On his first morning, he washed his hands about a dozen times. He didn’t want to touch anything, least of all people, all covered with sores and scabs.Then,just has he bending down to one little tyke, mainly for the photographer’s benefit, someone accidentally stood on the child’s fingers. The child screamed, and in a reflex, the movie star, forgetting the child’s dirt and sores, grabbed him. He always remembered that warm little body clinging to him and the crying instantly stopping. At that moment he knew he had much to learn about loving, but he knew, too, that at least he had started.
10th Sunday in Ordinary Time Sermon and Homily
Today’s Gospel is about compassion It presents all the charm, colour, suspense’s, and pathos of good short story. As Jesus entered the town of Nain in Galilee, two crowds met, approaching from different directions. One was the large crowd (v.11) that the accompanied Jesus. The other was the large crowd from the city (v12) in a funeral procession. Few processions, even today, evoke as much awe as that which wends its way to the cemetery.Today,the headlights of the hearse, followed by an automotive train of mourners,declare,”This is the march of death; stand back!”Cars stop at intersections; other drivers avert their eyes; children on their way to or from school, as well as some adults, gape wide-eyed at cross walks.
The crowds in today’s Gospel funeral procession contained not only relatives and friends engaged in the merciful work of burying the dead, but also hired musicians and mourners whose flutes and cymbals and shrills cries created a kind of frenzy’s Luke’s description of the dead man as the only son of a widowed mother contains the ageless sorrow of the world, and the tears—the world of broken hearts. Whereas others held back, the widow can hardly get near enough to her son’s body. This is the burial of her last hope. She is present now as she was the day she gave him birth, mother as she was mother then. She grieves as one who would be willing to change places with the deceased, to enter death in order to restore life. Surrounded by friends, she s yet alone.
To all that pathos, Luke adds the compassion that under laid Jesus being the best of what we mean by being human. Jesus, far from being as some people picture him, apathetic and aloof, was again and again overwhelmed with pity, moved to his depths at tragedy. Luke calls Jesus’ compassion his power. For the first of many times, Luke calls Jesus ‘’Lord’’—the only evangelist to use that expression before the resurrection. Jesus stepped forward and touched the coffin of the time meant the long open wicker basket in which mourners placed the linen—wrapped body .Then Luke the physician records that, to the surprise of every one, the dead man sat up (v.15)
Now, there are those who see here only a miracle of diagnosis—that is, that is that Jesus, with prescience beyond the times, saw that the man wasn’t really dead, but in a cataleptic trance. Jesus would thus have prevented the man from being buried alive as then happened to some because of poor medical skills and quick burials. but we must remember that the one writing is Luke the physician, who we may presume was more observant than the ordinary person about things like this. even more the person performing the miracle is Jesus, Who showed that he is Lord not only of life but of death.
It would have been lacking in compassion at such a time to speak to the lonely widow the lines that the unknown poet put into the mouth of God to parents upon the death of a child.
“I’ll lend you, for a little while, a child of mine, ”He said,” for your love while he lives, and mourn when he is dead. It may be six or seven years, or twenty-two, or three. But will you, ’till I call him back, take care of him for me? He’ll bring his charms to gladden you and shall his stay be brief, You’ll have his lovely memories as solace for your grief. I cannot promise he will stay as all from earth return. But there are lessons taught down there I want this child to learn. I’ve looked the wide world over in my search for teachers true, and from the throngs that crowds life’s lanes, I have selected you. Now will you give him all your love – not think the lab our vain, nor hate when I come to call to take him back again.”I fancied that I heard them say,”Dear Lord, thy will be done. For all the joy this child shall bring, the risk of grief well run. We’ll shower him with tenderness and love him while we may, and for the happiness we’ve known, forever great ful stay. And should the angles call for him much sooner than we planned, we’ll brave the bitter grief that comes, and try to understand.”
Rather Jesus gave him to his mother. Jesus must have taken him and well-nigh carried him, and placed him in the arms of his mother. When the mother’s arms had closed round the body of her son, only then did Jesus step aside and go his way possibly to hide his tears.
Luke consciously related his story of Jesus to similar stories about the prophets Elijah and Elisha. The story of Elijah in today’s First reading is part of the ‘’Elijah Cycle’’ of stories which, like so many other stories about the prophets, is told to enhanced the reputation of the prophet and thus help give authority to his word.
The climax of the Elijah story isn’t so much the physical restoration of the life of the young man who’s death made his widowed mother destitute as it is the widow’s profession of faith. The widow, who was a non-Jew from the region of Sidon, received the spiritual gift of salvation through looking after Elijah and hearing from him the word of God. Whereas Elijah had raised the son of widow at Zarephath and Elisha the son of the widow at Shunem with dramatic symbolic rites, Jesus did it just by the power of his word.
St.Paul, too, like Jesus and Elijah, was a prophet and, like them had to face calumnies, envies, and mistrust. In today’s portion of his letter to the Galations, Paul defends his gospel; hi thesis is that his Gospel is not of human origin (v.11), but comes from God, and is the common possession of all the Apostles. This Gospel Paul received through a revelation of Jesus Christ (v.12) while he was on the road to Damascus to kill Christians. This doesn’t mean that the facts about Jesus were communicated miraculously to Paul. He did have to depend in addition on traditional teaching.
Paul’s life proved what trust in God can do. His former way of life in Judaism (v.13),humanly considered, hardly provided the physichological back round from which is Christian Gospel would have developed. As a Pharisee, he had persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. As a Pharisee, he had strongly rejected everything that departed from the Mosaic Law and his interpretations by the rabbis. Toward the church of God, which he would eventually come to see as reflecting the first testament assembly of the people of God in the desert (qehal Yahew,Num 16:20; 20:4),he had a scorched earth policy.
But the time came (v 15) when all that changed. When that profound conversion happens—when a person completely changes values and does thorough turn- about in life-there has to be an explanation. Paul’s explanation was the intervention of God and God’s action wasn’t haphazard, but planned. God choose to reveal His son through Paul (v.16).Paul dint see himself choosen for Honour, however, but for service —the same as the house wife who prepares her children for school or engineer who builds a bridge.
To think through what happened to him and to speak with God stop took courage. It was Damascus to which Paul have been travelling to persecute the church when he was knocked off his horse. All Damascus knew that. And the Christians knew what kind of man Paul had been. They wanted no part of him.
Paul’s next step took an equal amount of courage. He went up to Jerusalem (v.18). The Christians in Jerusalem has his former victims, unable to believe that he has changed, might well ostracize him. His former Jewish associates there too might well have nothing to do with one whom they considered a deserter and a traitor. But we have to have the courage to face our past. There are after all at least a hundred ways of falling and only one way of standing up. Paul wanted to confer with Kephas —Peter, the head of the Church –and to do that he had to pay the price of facing whatever in Jerusalem might await him. His fifteen day meeting with peter was successful, and he also met James, a relative of the Lord. Both Apostles broadened and depended Paul’s faith and trust in the Lord.
All the people in Today’s readings — Elijah, Paul, and Jesus – are prophets – That is people who speak on God’s behalf to others. And they are all compassionate that is they feel for the needs of others. Paul didn’t get either prophecy or compassion correct at first, but he learned. Jesus, unlike Elijah, wasn’t asked to intervene; what moved him was his extraordinary degree of compassion. We are, all like them, expected to be both prophetic and compassionate—persons who buy word and example show people how to be God like but who at the same time understand people’s weaknesses. Some good people try to speak for God, while being oblivious of the needs of people. Other good people feel deeply for others but, because they aren’t in touch with God their feelings are only on the surface.
No matter where we find ourselves, like Paul we can learn. We can learn today to cooperate with God’s grace to raise us beyond the limits this world imposes, so that we may be free to love as Christ teaches. That love is life giving, supporting, transforming, healing, and compassionate. Like Jesus our compassion must take us, even when not asked, where ever there is the misery of crushed hearts and tears of the bereaved, so that we may promote the unending praise of our heavenly father and the Honour of his Son.
sundaysermon.org/10th-sunday-in-ordinary-time-sermon-and-homily/
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Moments
Surprise!
By Fr. Jerry M. Orbos SVD
Philippine Daily Inquirer
11:45 pm | Saturday, June 8th, 2013
The story is told about a woman who was beyond consolation at the death of her husband. She grieved long and hard. Finally a streak of light came to her dark world when her daughter told her: “Mommy, look at it this way. Now, at least you know for sure where Daddy is, 24 hours a day!”
* * *
In today’s Gospel (Lk. 7, 11-17), Jesus gave new life and light to a woman who lost not only her husband but her only son as well. Jesus was moved by pity, and brought the widow’s son back to life. The power of God, the power of God’s love, is tremendous and conquers all, even death itself. What a mighty, powerful, and loving God we have. A God of surprises, a God of love!
* * *
Take note that there was a large crowd that accompanied the widow on her way to bury her child. But only Jesus was able to help her truly. We need people to accompany us, especially in the most difficult moments of our journey. But in the end, it is a personal encounter with our Lord that will really set us free from our darkness and prisons. People can be there for us, and for this we are grateful, but a lot of things fall into place when we listen to our God face to face, and heart to heart. People in our lives can only do so much. In the end, it is really between us and our God.
* * *
No words can describe the pain of losing a loved one, and often, no words will suffice to console someone in grief. At times, it is only our presence and prayers that can really “help.” Death is a great mystery and before a great mystery we can only listen, and pray.
* * *
Speaking of mystery, we laid to rest Fr. Liberato Fernandez, SVD, last May 29. Father “Tito” spent the last nine years of his life in a coma, in deep slumber. In the meantime some other confreres overtook him to eternity. He who was already at the doorstep of eternity was made to wait and sleep peacefully. Indeed, there is no way for us to know or predict how, when, or where we will die. Only God holds the key to life and to eternal life.
* * *
Now, more than ever, I realize the wisdom of Christ’s words that we live one day at a time. Let us look at every single day given to us as a gift. The truth is we only have today. Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow may never come. Let us not keep on rewinding, or keep on forwarding. Let today just play. Yes, let us just do our very best today.
* * *
“Today can be my last day.” I have found so much peace in this scary and morbid thought. It is a reality that we can go any time. So, for me, if today is my last day, I will not spend it in sadness, in worries, in anger, in not forgiving, and in pride. What a waste, indeed, to spend my last day on earth with negative thoughts and feelings. And if I still wake up tomorrow morning, I will be so grateful to God for giving me another day to live and to love.
* * *
Do you believe in angels? I do. At difficult times of my life, I concretely experienced the presence and help of angels sent to me by God. Recently after my Mass with Filipino pilgrims at the Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in France, a woman in her twenties approached me and asked for my blessing. Her name was Margaruite, from Belgium. After I blessed her, she told me that during the Mass she saw bright light exuding so much peace around me at the altar. The next thing she said really hit me in my heart.
* * *
“God loves you so much. Do not be afraid. God’s power is greater than all worldly powers. Be strong. All will be well. Just believe and trust.” Words I needed so much to hear! Wow! It was such a powerful, grace-filled moment. Yes, God uses people to reach out to us, especially when we need them most. After some moments in prayer, we parted with much peace and assurance. But that was not the end.
* * *
The next day, as my fellow pilgrims and I were all in the bus set to depart at 7:30 a.m. from our hotel, a car came to the parking space and Margaruite alighted from it. I went down to greet her, and her simple message was: “I came to say thank you and to say goodbye. The Lord wants me to tell you that everything will be all right.” Wow! How did she know what hotel we were in, and what time we were leaving? These were the thoughts that were in my mind as I thanked her and said goodbye in turn. As we were leaving, I looked from the bus to the parking lot. There was no car, and Margaruite was gone. Just like that.
* * *
“Never say die.” As long as we live, there is hope. And please, don’t forget that our God is a God of surprises. Yes, we must not give up, or lose hope. God does not give up on us. Neither should we give up on ourselves and on one another.
* * *
One with you in thanksgiving and hope as we celebrate our Independence Day on June 12. Someday soon, let us work and pray that we as a nation will not only progress but will also continue to hold on to our core values that will make us a rich, progressive, and holy nation.
* * *
A moment with the Lord:
Lord, help me not to give up because you are a God of surprises, a God of love! Amen.
opinion.inquirer.net/54219/surprise
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MABUHAY NA BUHAY: Reflection for the 10th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C – June 9, 2013 – YEAR OF FAITH
Minsan sa aking klase sa mga fourth year high school ay tinanong ko ang aking mga estudyante kung ano ang kanilang “motto” sa buhay. Nagtaas ng kamay ang isa at sinabing: “Fadz, ang motto ko po ay ‘to live not only to exist!” Napahanga ako sa kanya at tinanong ko kung alam ba n’ya ang ibig sabihin nito. Ang sabi niya sa akin: “Ewan ko nga po Fadz. Di ko rin alam. Nabasa ko lang ‘yan sa isang libro!” TO LIVE NOT ONLY TO EXIST! Totoo nga naman, maaring nag-eexist ka nga ngunit hindi ka naman buhay. Tingnan mo ang mga bagay sa iyong paligid. Nakikita mo, nahahawakan, nararamdaman ngunit hindi naman buhay. Ngunit hindi lang naman ito totoo sa mga bagay dahil may mga tao ring nag-eexist ngunit hindi naman buhay. Wala silang pinagkaiba sa mga “taong grasa” na lakad ng lakad ngunit wala namang patutunguhan. Para silang mga “walking zombies” na humihinga ngunit hindi naman buhay! Nais ng Diyos na tayo ay mabuhay na buhay at hindi mabuhay na patay. Ang sabi nga ni San Ireneo na hango sa Sulat ni San Pablo sa mga taga Filipos ay “the glory of God is man fully alive!” (Phil. 1:21) Kaya nga Siya ay kinikilalalng Diyos ng mga buhay at hindi ng mga patay. Sa unang pagbasa at sa Ebanghelyo ay nakita natin ang pagbibigay ng Diyos ng buhay sa mga tao nang namatay. Binuhay ni Propeta Elias ang anak na lalaki ng babaeng balo na tumulong sa kanya. Binuhay naman ni Jesus ang anak na binata ng isang babaeng taga-Nain. Ayaw ng Diyos na maging kaawa-awa ang kalagayan ng dalawang babaeng balo sa pagkawala ng kanilang mga anak. Sapagkat mga balo na sila, ang kanilang pag-asa ay nasa kanilang mga anak na lalaki. Sa pagkawala ng kanilang mga anak ay nawala din ang ang kanilang pag-asa at kinabukasan. Kaya nga binuhay ng Diyos ang kanilang pag-asa. Binuhay ng Diyos ang kanilang mga anak. Ipinapakita ng mga ito na ayaw ng Diyos na mawalan tayo ng pag-asa. Kahit ang mga patay ay bubuhayin Niya para lamang bigyan tayo ng pag-asa sa ating buhay. Talagang ngang Siya ang Diyos ng mga buhay! At dahil ito ang Diyos na pinaglilingkuran natin ay huwag sana tayong mawalan ng pag-asa sa buhay. Huwag tayong manatiling patay dahil sa ating lumang pag-uugali. Kahit napakasama pa ng ating nakaraan ay lagi tayong may pagkakataong magbago. Ngayong Taon ng Pananampalataya ay muli tayong hinahamon na magtiwala sa Diyos na buhay. Totoong napakahirap gisingin ang mga taong nagtutulog-tulugan. Mahirap makinig ang mga taong nagbibingi-bingihan. Mahirap buhayin ang taong nagpapatay-patayan. Bakit di natin buksan ang ating puso sa inspirasyon ng Espiritu Santo na nag-aanyaya sa ating makibahagi sa buhay ng Diyos? Ang “pintuan ng pananampalataya” ay patuloy na nag-aanyayang mabuhay tayo ng buhay na buhay! “The glory of God is man (or woman) FULLY ALIVE!”
kiliti-ng-diyos.blogspot.com/2013/06/mabuhay-na-buhay-reflection-for-10th.html
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See Today’s Readings: Cycle C
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