Sunday Sept. 25, 2016
26th Sunday (year
C)
• Amos 6:1a, 4-7 • Psalm 146 •
• 1 Timothy 6:11-16 • Luke 16:19-31•
[__01__] The unfamiliar can be beneficial and
attractive. Do we not sometimes listen the advice of someone unfamiliar to us
before we listen to the advice of those closest to us?
The
unfamiliar is good news.
On
the website for Major League Baseball, on MLB.COM, a reporter wrote this about
New York Yankees’ rookie Gary Sanchez and his success as a hitter at home
plate, on the baseball diamond:
“If
this were a video game, the opponents would be certain that Gary Sanchez [has
been cheating… has been dishonest … or has hacked the game in order to cheat.]
This
is real life, though, and the best [Major League Baseball ] pitchers in the
world still have yet to find a consistent way to get Sanchez out. The
23-year-old rookie homered twice and drove in five runs on Wednesday, leading
the Yankees to an 11-5 victory over the Rays at Tropicana Field.” (MLB.COM , September 22, 2016)
Gary
Sanchez has hit 19 home runs in 45 games. He has played in only 45 games, less
than half the season. He has hit more home runs than anyone in a 45-game
stretch. He is a rookie, in his first year..
He
is being talked about for 2016 professional Major League Baseball rookie of the
year and he has not even played in 50% of the games this year.
[__02__] Gary
Sanchez has offense, offensive and powerful capability. The pitchers do not
have sufficient defense yet.
In
this case, he is unfamiliar, he is unknown, he has the advantage.
Being
unfamiliar, being unknown, being the new kid on the block can have advantages.
[__03__] So, now, opposing teams – and even the Yankees
themselves – are trying to figure out what is the key to this new player’s
success?
He
is unfamiliar to them.
Being
unfamiliar has its advantages.
[__04__] What we read in the Gospel this Sunday is the
parable of our Savior about the rich man and the poor man.
They are also unfamiliar to each
other. The rich man has no familiarity –
no connection with the poor man at his doorstep.
The poor man, living in rags, starving
for food, thirsty for food, needing shelter, has no idea what is to eat with
silverware, sleep on clean sheets, or wear clean clothes.
Both are at a disadvantage. Neither
one knows the other.
[* * * P A U S E * * *]
[__05__] At this 5:30 pm Mass, we welcome (or “at yesterday’s 5:30 pm Mass on Saturday,
we welcomed ”) our Confirmation
candidates for 2016.
They are not rookies here at Our Lady
of Lourdes, yet they are young, they are precious … we also pray for their
success, prosperity and flourishing for many years and seasons to come.
We asked our Confirmation candidates
to gather here in church at 3:45 this afternoon (or at 3:45 pm on Saturday /
yesterday afternoon) for some time of examination, meditation, quiet before the
Blessed Sacrament, before God in the Tabernacle on the right side of the altar.
[__06__] Could this experience be a bit unfamiliar ? a
bit uncomfortable?
Yes, you and I are busy. We are use to
being “on”, having a signal and accessible.
Sitting in silence in church, we may
have a sense that we are now have to turn ourselves off – not to mention the
device, and go without any bars. In the
midst of all this, we may wonder what percent complete we have reached. That progress bar helps us to feel more
familiar.
Coming to pray, in silence, we may
feel unfamiliar.
And, this is true for all of us, for
all those who are lifelong Catholics, for the Sisters of Charity who have
taught many of us, for the priests of Our Lady of Lourdes, for me, that prayer
is – at times – an experience with what is unfamiliar.
Or, at least, I suggest, the
unfamiliarity has an advantage.
Yes, it is true that God loves you and
me. God knows what we need before we ask.
So, in this regard, we come to church
not so that God can examine us, test us, or see if we are worthy, but rather so
that we can know his ways better.
And, it is actually Good News that his
ways are not our ways, as Isaiah the prophet wrote (Isaiah 55:8)
The fact that there is always more to
know about Christ’s love, Christ’s mercy, this is Good News.
This is to our advantage also.
Isn't it beneficial - advantageous - to be surprised by this good
news?
[__fin__]
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