Presence: Renew, Repent, Rest (2021-11-28, Sunday 1st Sunday Advent)

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 Homily –  Nov.  28, 2021  /  Advent 1 (C)  ● Jeremiah 33:14-16  ●  Psalm 25   ●    

● 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2 ●  + Luke 21:25-28, 34-36 ●

[__00-a_]  It is practically obligatory or expected that we would bring a gift to a child for a child's birthday. And children expect we all expected to be showered with gifts wrapped presents on our birthdays. Therefore, it came as something of a shock to me a surprise to me as a teenager or young adult, when I heard about this custom of not bringing gifts to birthday parties, how grownups don't want gifts brought to them on their birthday, or other anniversary celebrations. At the very least, the older we get, it seems the material gift becomes less obligatory. Husbands and wives, this doesn't apply to you for Christmas, you must go shopping for each other. So there are some exceptions to this trend.

[__00-b_]  And what we often read on invitations is this play on words, your presence is the only gift that matters or your presence is a present. You know the drill, just be on time. sing Happy Birthday. But don't bring a gift.

 

[__00-c_]   What is the point of Advent and Christmas to follow if there is no gift? The theme or goal is God's presence. That’s the gift we're celebrating in the Gospel. Every Sunday we're celebrating God's presence.

But Advent reminds us to focus on God's presence, that God's presence is a gift. In this Sunday's gospel, we read about ominous warnings of the end of time. And I am called to ask myself, do I live an authentic faith and Christian life and adherence to God's Word, so that I will be able to stand head held high in God's presence that the final judgment.

Is the mind or verdict of God and God's word, such a closed book to me, that I would be afraid at the final judgment.

I'm testifying that God's Word and God's verdict can be an open book, it doesn't have to be a closed book. This is why we are called to pray to come to church to read the gospel, to read the Bible. So that we will know what is the mind of God.

In this particular year of the church, in our liturgical year, we will read and feature the Gospel of Luke this starts with this Sunday's reading from the Gospel of Luke chapter 21, and will continue all the Sunday of Advent. And almost every Sunday of 2022, will be the Gospel of Luke.

Luke’s Gospel gives examples that might resonate well with those of us how feel apart from or separated from regular prayer or Catholic practice or going to church.

Or, we maybe we know someone who is. The gospel of Luke could be a great gift to such a person.

The evangelists Luke, in both this gospel, and in his “Part 2 / Sequel” which is Acts of the Apostles, Luke known to featuring persons, both women and men who were on the margins are the outsiders. The word goes out to those people on the margins.

Are you on the margin? Are you feeling on the outside of some group that you would like to be a part of – Jesus invites you in as the outsider.

This includes the famous Good Samaritan, the Prodigal son, Zaccaheus, the tax collector.  Lydia, the trader in purple textile / cloth.

By God's gifts these outsiders know or come to know the mind of God. God's word is not a closed book to them.

[__00-d_]   Many years ago, I recall being part of a verdict or a decision in a legal courtroom. I was a juror on a trial. After hearing all the testimony from the very intelligent lawyers and attorneys and the judge, we went into our windowless room, the jury chamber, the jury, the jury chamber.

It felt dark in there, there were no windows. I imagine it was also soundproof, because another rule of being a juror is that the words of the members of the jury  or making this decision cannot be spoken outside the jury room.

We – the jurors are not allowed to talk to people outside the jury room, and the people outside the jury room cannot talk to us that because that would be tampering with the jury.

So I remember sensing that we had such power, we were making this decision, we were also making a decision in a lawsuit involving money involving monetary damages, and we were determining how much money would be awarded in the lawsuit. No one knew what we would come up with.

We – the jurors - were a “closed book”, to the lawyers and the judge and the defendant outside. Is that how you and I might view the final judgement, our own eternal destiny? Is it a closed book, a close a door, and we're not sure what God is going to decide?

The good news as Jesus tells us that we need not fear the Judgment Day, because he has given his life for us. He wishes to make us His disciples and this discipleship calls us. I'd like to touch on three things to draw closer to God, by my / your spiritual practices.

[1 Renew myself voluntarily]

[2 Repent in my own voice]

[3 Rest in God’s Presence]

[************]

[1 Renew myself voluntarily]

 Often we are prompted to renew because something is going to expire. Maybe your driver's license is about to expire, or my passport is about to expire, or some other form of identification is about to expire or run out how many days or years or months do we have left? We have to renew? These are forced renewals. They have to be done. But what about a voluntary renewal?

Can I voluntarily renew my commitment to prayer to quiet, voluntarily renew my own commitment to be present to others? And also recognize that Advent does begin in the noisiness of a season, a shopping season and of your season. But do we have to be absorbed by it? It might cause us to expire? Can we say no? At least or at least not right now. In other words, we're called to renew ourselves voluntarily, to renew ourselves towards God's word.

[2 Repent in my own voice]

Personally, often, I may be aware or sorrowful of something I did wrong, sorry for my words or my actions for what I've done for what I have failed to do in my thoughts and in my words, but am I willing to state these things out loud in my own voice to repent in my own voice. 

My own testimony experiences that I can truly let go of things by saying them out loud, we are called to say them out loud in confession to a priests, to a priest who keeps everything under that seal of confession, or as needed to say it out loud to others, to admit our faults, but to also recognize that we are always doing this in God's presence. We speak in our own voice to God. We are called to repent in our own voice. And this enables us to stand on the day of judgment and to rest in God's presence.

Advent is …

[1 Renew myself voluntarily]

[2 Repent in my own voice]

[3 Rest in God’s Presence]

And… [3 Rest in God’s Presence]

Have you ever taken a really long journey of 5-6 + hours, maybe an overnight bus ride, overnight car ride, or red eye plane journey or an overnight flight to or from a far country. And in that journey, you found it difficult to rest.

You were told to rest during the journey. You wanted to rest during the journey but it was so uncomfortable or perhaps you were excited to be going where you were going and you could not rest during the trip. Then, when you finally arrived at your friend's house or family home, or the “base”,  you were exhausted.

What are we told at such at time? Don’t take nap.  I don’t want to hear that! I detest that principle of modern travel.

There I am, or I was …I have arrived I’m exhausted and I am told not to go to sleep because while I may feel very tired, it is actually the middle of the day, 10 am or 2pm. And you're told, “Don't go to sleep!”. Because that's going to mess up your body clock, stay up five or six more hours, and then go to sleep at a regular time. That's impossible!

My body wants to rest. So, I enjoy NOT following the advice. I have some of my greatest naps, 3-4 + hour when I'm totally exhausted. And yes, my body clock is off for a few days. And I do suffer from the jetlag. But it's worth it, in my opinion, to rest when you get to your destination.

Advent reminds us that our destination is now to rest in God's presence now and if our body clock is off if we are out of sync with the rest of the world. That's not bad. That's part of the Good News.

We can rest while we wait for the Judgment Day.

Presence/Absence of Gratitude (2021-11-25, Thanksgiving Day)

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 Homily –  Nov.  25, 2021  /  USA Thanksgiving

● ●  Luke 17:11-19 ●

[__00-a_]     Sometimes there is a delay. When is a gift due? Could it be delayed?

The due date for the gifts on The Giving Tree? I think it's December 12. Just you could make a few could make a note of that. But that's this is not what I'm talking about exactly.

When is a gift “due”?  What is the due date for a gift to be delivered? In the case of a wedding – bride and groom -  there is a 1-year / 365 day rule. It’s considered acceptable to send a gift up to 1 year (12 months) after the wedding.

And, just as there can be a time lag or time interval between the event and the giving of the gift, there can also be a time lag between receiving the gift and acknowledging the gift or expressing gratitude.

A few years ago, I sent a gift to friend for his wedding sevral a few months after their wedding – using the 1 year rule and waited several more months for a thank you which may have been lost in the mail. I am not sure what happened.

We use the expression – did you “get it” to refer to the delivery of an Amazon package or any physical object being delivered.

We also the expression – did you “get it” to refer to something “spiritual” or intellectual – in other words, did you understand it.

Did you get it? You don’t get it, PADRE !

          In my case, I did not “get” the thank you…and was concerned that the gift was not received.

          Perhaps, I was also wondered whether it was appreciated whether they “got it”.    Yes, they got it, they liked it, all good.

[__00-b_]       What is a meaningful expression of gratitude and appreciation to you?  This can be rather personal, in terms of what you will “get”.

I read this as an example in a magazine. Imagine you are going back to work – perhaps later today or tomorrow, the next day or Monday..  And, your return, this particular day is the 10^th anniversary of your employment. You worked for this particular organization for 10 years.

And, right there on your desk is an GIFT CARD and acknowledgement that you have been worked there for 10 years.

But the gift card arrives even without a thank you note, nothing personal, no one’s name is on it except yours and the mention of 10 years. And, the gift card is there.  How would you feel about this?

Well, you might say to me, it depends on how much money is on the gift card! I would know based on the monetary value of the gift card how much I am appreciated.

Sometimes, that’s how we look at thank you’s or at gifts. It depends on much it is.

Or, would you roll your eyes and wonder – with this gift card am I being CONGRATULATED ..or EVALUATED .. or TERMINATED, after 10 years?

You might wonder – am I really appreciated? Do I matter?

That is, we expect GRATITUDE to come to us, to be expressed in certain meaningful ways.

We are taught to express gratitude in meaningful ways.

From the time we are small from the time we are young, our parents and grandparents and grownups and teachers have reminded us to say thank you, they tell us to say thank you. And as we grow up, I think we all realize that we need the help of others. We need the help of others in order to survive.

It is practically obligatory in any management training or leadership class, to say “make sure you thank the team….”

So, if you are a new employee or new pastors or priests in the Archdiocese of Newark or assigned to Our Lady of Lourdes, West Orange or any other parish, to remind them to affirm and thank the people on the team to thank the parish staff to thank the parish council thank the finance Council think that the lectors every lector, every Usher every Eucharistic minister, every altar server, every choir member, every musician, every staff member,  every volunteer who teaches our children in religious Education to prepare for the sacraments of 1^st Penance, 1^st Communion and Confirmation.

And, I am grateful to everyone I have just forgotten to mention. Thank you’s are risky – in public – because we might leave someone out.

But, we do the best we can. And, we make lists. This time of year is a time of many lists. But, it’s also a time to be personal direct simply to acknowledge those in our presence, those we know.

I am grateful to those who help Our Lady of Lourdes Parish.

I am called to do that. And I am called to do it in an authentic way really to do it, you know, from the heart.

Did you get my thank you, not just materially but spiritually and intellectually?  

The Archbishop years, many years ago gave us this example. He said, You know, I always tell the priests, this, do your love your people? [IN A DEEP VOICE] He said, Do you love your people? And then the 2^nd question was, do they know that you love them? That’ an important 2^nd question, not just for priests, but for all of us. To our family, I love my family, does my family know that? I love them. Or if you say I love my spouse, does my spouse know that I love her or I love him. I love my children. Or for a child, I love my mother I love my father does my mother and father know how much I love them. And that I try to do what they say that's another way we express love that we we try to follow what other people need, we try to serve them.

[EXAMPLE]

One day many years ago, when I was a first out of college at one of my first jobs. The head of our department walked by me this was kind of a big company, the head of our department walked by me. And there were like hundreds of people in our department and he said hello to me my name, he greeted me by name, my co-worker sensing that I was really pleased to get noticed told me

Hey, you James Ferry, he's only doing that because they told him to do that at manager school or business school or leadership training. So I just use this as an example to show that gratitude is certainly something we value. And we also have finely tuned spidey senses to detect when gratitude is either false or lacking or inauthentic or absent.

Looking back on that example, I believed and still believed this superior of mine was being authentic and he remembered my name. We like to be called by name. I am not trying to put pressure on you to remember more names or people you don’t yet know but to call by name and reach to those you can. It makes a difference. Just saying someone’s name is an act of appreciation.

I think people “get it”

Perhaps we notice gratitude more when it is absent than when it is present. Because we take it for granted that it's going to be present the Gospels is today is about both the absence and the presence of gratitude.

BORDER / IN BETWEEN

We might say that Jesus is travelling into his border territory. Judas is traveling the border territory between friendly Galilee and unfriendly scenario. He's traveling in the border territory between the safety of people who don't have leprosy and the unsafe, the unsafety of people who have leprosy, and that's where he meets the 10 lepers. And we are also existing in a border territory in our own lives of border territory, between living a life of gratitude and gratefulness, or a life of ingratitude and ungratefulness. Where do you exist on that spectrum? While I tell myself that being grateful was better than being ungrateful.

 Am I really able to live this in a meaningful way? For example, am I grateful, only when things are going my way.  Am I grateful for knowledge of my or awareness of my faults of my deficiencies of ways in which I can grow of my leprosy?  Of my need to repent of my sins.

If a light bulb goes “on”, and I remember where I put my headphones or where I placed my keys, that’s nice. I am grateful.

If a light bulb goes “on” and I remember what I did wrong, I might not be immediately or instinctively grateful.

 I can also dwell in a border region in a demilitarized zone between gratitude and ingratitude. Maybe I don't want to go too far into gratitude or too far into ingratitude. Maybe I don't want to express too much thankfulness because this might invite me to accept what I don't want to accept.

For example. Do I dare be grateful for illness that befalls me or a loved one?  (It is the illness of leprosy that causes these 10 lepers to encounter Jesus. Would they have known and grown otherwise?)

Do I dare be grateful for the sacrifices and compassion we can learn during a time of illness or trial? Do I dare be grateful for the life of someone who has died very young? Too soon, in my estimation? Do I dare be grateful for the time I did have with this person who was taken from me so young?

Do I dare be grateful for a relationship has ended against may will, against my choice? As Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane Father, let this cup pass from me but not my will but thine be done. Jesus was grateful even for his suffering, and acknowledging his gratitude up until the end. But the 1 leper who returned is eager to show his reverence his respect for Christ as a savior.

It's not entirely clear why the other 9 do not return in reverence or respect. The official biblical scholar explanation of this is that the one leper represents the truly humble Christian disciple, who's not necessarily going to be an insider, with all the with all advanced knowledge of Jewish faith and the commandments, but simply someone who recognizes Jesus  for who he is, “Son of David / King  / Savior”

The other nine are similar to the larger community that Jesus is surrounded by some of whom, who feel entitled to their salvation, and who are not grateful because they feel entitled, and they have better things to do – in their own estimation.

They “other 9 lepers” know that Jewish law, but they feel entitled to their salvation, and they have better things to do in their own estimation. And sometimes we might have an entitlement mentality that can mitigate that can hinder us from living a life of gratitude. Do we put rivalry ahead of respect for example.

In this example, Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem, and he's on his way to Jerusalem to give up his life for us. The Samaritan leper who returned recognizes this he recognizes that – from the outset – and that’s why he and the others are calling out “Son of David have mercy on us”

So we give thanks for Jesus's own body and blood, His life, death and resurrection in our lives this day, and always.   [__fin_]      

The Truth (Christ the King) (2021-11-21, Sunday-34)

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 Homily – Nov.  21, 2021  /  34^th (Christ King) (B)

● Daniel 7:13-14  ●   Psalm 93   ●  Revelation 1:5-8 ●  + John 18:33b-37 ●

Title:   The Truth    

[__00-a_]    This Gospel and reflection makes me feel a little uncomfortable.

I read this in an article about the “psychology of being honest or truthful”:

There is some evidence that we're able to believe we're honest even though we lie or cheat by doing so only in little ways.

We're therefore able to tell ourselves we're mostly honest—that is, we're only dishonest in ways that we think don't matter.

Is Pontius Pilate aware that he is not living completely truthfully? Or, maybe he thinks it does not matter.

Apparently this strategy works: most of us don't suffer serious cognitive dissonance over our integrity. Thus it seems we can have the best of both worlds without too much work: We can lie or cheat in little ways that place us at an advantage, but still get to view ourselves as fundamentally honest.

But, is it possible that the revelation of even a small lie will risk our reputation to others?

Is it possible that even a small lie will lead to another ?

Does lying cause us unnecessary distress?

 (Source: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/happiness-in-world/201402/why-be-honest)

The call to “truthfulness” does not mean we must disclose or divulge our personal affairs or reasons for doing something. There are some things that others do not need to be informed of or aware of.

 [__00-b_]   1 time many years ago, I took some of my co-workers out for lunch to a restaurant, I was the host for lunch, where I became the host for lunch. I paid for the whole lunch. So when at the conclusion of the dessert and meal, I said, Please give me the bill, I took the bill or “check”.  And I put the whole lunch on my credit card. And I considered at the time that this was going to be a business expense, and I would submit this receipt on my expense account.

So, I submitted the receipt for that restaurant bill to my boss to be reimbursed. As my employer, my boss asked me why I had submitted this bill, this receipt, what was the purpose of the lunch? Who was there? Was it really a business lunch? And why was it so expensive? My boss did not approve the expense. Because my boss and manager knew that either one or both of us would be in trouble if the company paid for a lunch that was really just a social gathering and not really a business expense. There are rules for such things.

It’s not just a business expense because I feel or say it is a business expense. There needs to be evidence, something verifiable, objectively true.

In this case, I stood corrected for doing something that I had recognize was not entirely honest. And I'm grateful for the correction. It cost me some money. But like they say on the old MasterCard credit commercial, the lunch in New York City cost X number of dollars. But the lesson in integrity was priceless.

My boss also took a special interest in me at the time and offered to pay 50% of the cost. This was extremely generous and not necessary. In this case, I'd say that there was both Justice and Mercy and that I learned a lesson in integrity and the danger of making concessions or cutting corners or looking for the easy way out. Honesty is the best policy.

[__00-c_]     Are you an honest person? Am I an honest person? I'm sure you'd say yes, I would say yes. Yet we're all tempted at times to make concessions or not hold to an objectively true standard.

Should I have offered to pay for the lunch for other people just because we were all on a common lunch break and worked for the same company?  No. I recall that my co-workers did not expect such treatment and said NO to my offer. I did it anyway.  When I asked for the bill, they were shocked that I would try to submit this as legitimate business expense. That should have been my first clue!

Sometimes when we live outside the truth or outside truthfulness, or outside the lines of honesty, there are signals that we are going wrong. And their visible reaction should have been a signal to me. And there was a signal in the Gospel today to Pontius Pilate  also has difficulty hearing the truth.

Pontius P has difficulty hearing the truth.

Is there a Pontius Pilate “personality” in you who has difficulty hearing the truth?

In the Gospel this Sunday, Jesus concludes by addressing Pilate with these words:  “I came into the world to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth, listens to my voice.”  (John 18:37)

To this, Pilate responds: “what is truth?”  (John 18:38)

[Repeat “above” verses.]

Pilate cannot -- or is not willing to hear -- the truth that Jesus is saying.

Jesus is willing to die, willing to be put to death accused of being a revolutionary and treasonous troublemaker. But these charges are not verifiable in the context of Pilates true system of “policing” and “prosecuting”, of “law and order”.

Pilate knew the charges were not true, that they weren't verifiable.

Pilate gives this “Jesus of Nazareth” chance to back out or to plead out, as they say on TV, in CSI or “Law & Order”.

Jesus gets the chance to deny that he's a king. And if only Jesus would deny his royal identity, say he's not the Son of God, then Pilate could make this whole messy trial go away. Then Pilate could expunge the record for Jesus of Nazareth.   

But Jesus is willing to do more than the official record requires.

Jesus is willing to die because Jesus knows the truth. And that he came to die in place of us for our sins. And that He is the Son of God, Jesus knows he's the son of God.

When Pilate accuses Jesus of being the Messiah, Son of God, a king, Jesus does not deny it.  Jesus knows that he's divine and that this truth is going to upset people going to make people anxious.

 

[__00-d_]      Why  Pontius Pilate doing this?  Pontius Pilate is doing this because he's really being used by – he is the tool of - some of the Jewish authorities. The Jewish authorities don't have the law enforcement capability or the punishing authority at the level of Pontius Pilate. They want to use Pilate to get to Jesus.

          Pilate represents the Roman Empire. So Jesus has been presented to Pilate as a revolutionary figure who threatens the government.

And Pilate goes along with the charges in order to remain popular.

What do I do in order to go along with others in order to remain popular or in order to maintain my perspective, prosperity or my position in my life?

When I think back to that restaurant lunch example, I wasn't just treating the group so that I could save them a few dollars, or save me a few dollars or bucks.

I also wanted to puff myself up, and my position to them, I wanted to look like I was important. And guess what, I'm not even sure they remember that I paid for the lunch!

I don't think they even remember whether I was proud or arrogant or self serving on that particular day.

Because in a matter of honesty and truth, such things don't cling to the bystanders, they cling to the person doing them. And I am called to own that.

And I still have to ask myself, not the question that Pilate asked what is truth, though there is as though there is never an objective standard of what's true. But rather to ask who is truth, Jesus is truth, and who is capable of teaching me the truth?

We are capable of sharing the truth with others of being Christ to others.

Why are parents called to teach their children about honesty, and even to correct them? In such moments of dishonesty? Why are teachers called to do the same thing? They're called to do that because we are all tempted to cut corners or concede to the truth. And it's truly a gift to be corrected, a gift to be corrected by someone who loves us by someone who cares about us to be correct or to be corrected in our conscience by God who loves us and gave His life for us. It's better to be corrected, even to be caught to be reminded of the truth by someone interested in our welfare than by someone who is not. Jesus is interested in your welfare. The truth of the Gospel is that Jesus is here for our welfare for our good, he is dying for you for me. This is the truth.

 

End Times. (2021-11-14, Sunday-33)

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Homily – Nov.  14, 2021  /  33^rd Sunday (Year B)

●  Daniel 12:1-3  ●   Psalm 16 ● Hebrews 10:11-14, 18 ●  + Mark 13:24-32 ●

Title:  End Times

[__00-a_]   One of my joys as a parish priest here at Our Lady of Lourdes is to learn from you and so many of our parishes, about your esteem your love for our parish, altar and sanctuary and building and how high the high esteem in which you hold our parish altar sanctuary and building. A few weeks ago, I learned this lesson again, a few weeks ago, a married couple who live in Colorado, returned here tour Lady of Lourdes in West Orange for the renewal of their wedding marriage vows on their 25th anniversary. Which, in which both of them came all dressed up, together with their parents who were here in 1996, for their, for their wedding. And we're here for this 2021 celebration with their two college age children. Of course, they could have celebrated at a church in Colorado, in their Denver suburb, but really wanted to make a pilgrimage here for this renewal of vows in the church where they were married. On the one hand, one could say that after 25 years, everything is different.

 

[__00-b_]    They look different. They have a family now, I'm not the priest who was present that day. But their journey and pilgrimage to this church is a reminder that -- while many circumstances of their lives have changed - that they can still walk down this aisle with a similar anticipation and excitement of their wedding day.

Also, their vows and promises have a power which has not passed away. Their vows endure, beyond this building. One day – in 1996 - their vows were pronounced only in this building and existed only here.

But then those vows became a living reality beyond this building. And certainly their vows have had a permanence beyond this church of 1 Eagle Rock Ave, West Orange, NJ, 07052.

 

[__00-c_]     These vows are an example of words and vows and promises which endure and do not pass away. The gospel is Sunday concludes with these words from Christ,  “the heavens and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”

Jesus is speaking of permanence and strength and stability. In this reflection I'd like to touch on.

But in order to Jesus to talk about stability, he also is talking about some things that are not stable, that are unstable.

So I'd like to talk about what Jesus is saying about

[what's unstable, what is unstable?

How is it unstable?

And why is it unstable? ]

And what's our hope in all of this? ]

[__01_]     What is unstable?

What's unstable is the Temple, the Temple building. Earlier in this same chapter 13, Jesus's disciples doing, they're out for a walk in downtown central Jerusalem, and they're admiring the structure and the architecture. And they are very impressed with what is stable and permanent – or seems to be -- in the skyline in the city of Jerusalem. One of them says to Jesus, “Teacher, look at these enormous buildings.”

And Jesus said to him, “you see these great buildings, not one stone will be left upon another, all will be torn down.”  It is remarkable, and also a scandal to some people that Jesus will suggest that the temple is neither stable nor permanent. His disciples also pick up on this and they want to know more. And they asked him privately, ”tell us Jesus, when will this occur? When will this sign, what will be the sign that all this is coming to an end?”

So what and they want to know because what a devout Jewish person knew to be stable and permanent was the temple. And so it's a signal of the end of the world that the temple would be torn down. And in fact, the access of the Jewish people had been impeded and hindered in the past not only due to the previous destruction of the temple, but also to the dispersion or diaspora of the Jewish people as a result of war, and captivity. Every time that Jewish people lost the temple, it was a sign that their world as they knew it was ending. And on a smaller scale for us for a short time, during the COVID pandemic, for a few months, we lost access to our temple to our house of worship, which taught us that we cannot take our own house and place of worship for granted. We also learned that our preparation and place of worship was not limited to one building, we're glad to be back in our house.

What could be unstable about our about our faith in Christ as if we only see him as a building or as a structure, Jesus is not a structure, he is an enduring, invisible reality, similar to the reality of a wedding vow, that is deeper than any wedding ring or wedding dress or wedding ceremony.

In short, Jesus is a sacrament the visible sign of an invisible reality. And what Jesus is teaching in this chapter of Mark with all its references to the end of the world, and the end of time, is that the temple of Jerusalem is going to be torn down. But what Jesus is really referring to is the temple of his body, the temple of his life, which is going to be subject to the passion and dying on the cross. He doesn't want His disciples to lose hope when the body is destroyed. So that's what is going to happen.

 

[__02_]     How is it un-stable?

How is this instability going to be demonstrated? Right now the disciples are walking as one unified group, this is how they are they're sightseeing and observing the buildings. But soon their unity will be disrupted, Jesus Iscariot will be the betrayer Peter will be the denier. All of them, except one will be in their own little exile playing their own version of Reality TV / Survivor after Calvary. Jesus is the brother who is handed over for execution. And Jesus wants them to know that how it goes for him, how is how it's going to go for them. Jesus describes how the calamity or the end of the world is going to be brother will hand over brother for execution. And likewise the father has child children will turn against their parents that have been put to death, because of my name, you will be hated by everyone. Nonetheless, the man who holds out to the end is the one who will come through safe.

How is the temple destroyed? How was Jesus destroyed? by people who would normally love and support each other, turning upon each other? It happens every day, perhaps? Is there someone in your family by whom you feel betrayed? Is there someone close to you whom you have heard intentionally or inadvertently, either on purpose or not on purpose, the temple or relate of our relationships can be torn down from within? And how do they survive? We can survive? They survive not just by our own power, they've survived survived by God's grace, how can we survive someone sinning against us? How can we have the courage and humility to seek forgiveness because we know that

Jesus has died and paid for our sins, we are made more stable with him. This is how it could happen. It can happen because our relationships can be unstable on their own, but how they can be made stable is with his help.

[__03_]     Why is it un-stable?

This is the why

Jesus has told us what is unstable, the temple structure is unstable because it is of stone in earth. And even our lives are unstable. If we put our faith in things that are only material. Jesus is warning us about the end of the world, not simply because the end is always near. But because he is always near. And he wants us to put our faith in Him to recognize that while we may die, we can live in him. And while our loved ones may die, they can live in him.

And while the world may be unstable in any number of ways, do you feel unstable? Are you unstable, feeling unstable about your house, your finances, your health, your family, anything? You may feel unstable because of someone you have lost or you fear losing. But we don't have to fear losing Jesus for He is our temple. In this regard. Every day is also an anniversary for us. Every day is an anniversary of our faith. Our vow every day is an anniversary of the memorial of his sacrifice for us. And a reminder as we read in the 84^th  Psalm, that “one day within your courts, one day within your house is better than a thousand elsewhere.”  [__fin_] 

Marathon Sunday. The Scribes. Widow (2021-11-07, Sunday - 32)

___CLICK / HEAR AUDIO OF SUN. Nov. 7, 2021 HOMILY__

__ Click / Watch Video: "Sun. Nov. 7 " (7:30 am Mass)___

Homily – Nov.  7, 2021  /  32^nd Sunday (Year B)  ●  1 Kings 17:10-16  ●   Psalm ● 146  ●  Hebrews 9:24-28   ●  + Mark 12:38-44 ●

 Title:  Marathon Sunday

[__00-a_]     A few years ago, my classmate and friend ran the 26.2 miles of the NYC Marathon. Today – November 7^th – is “Marathon Sunday” as the runners make their way through all 5 boroughs on their way to the Central Park finish line. 2021 = 50^th anniversary of NYC-M.

          I was very interested to know about happens at the ‘starting line’ at the “starting point” in Staten Island at the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.  Before the start, I understand it’s a good idea NOT to go crazy on the free food, but I really wanted to know what do you do with your “possessions”. In other words, do you just have to show up ready to run in your running shorts, short sleeve shirt and shoes and without a phone or device or anything?

          I was told this, “It’’s not like that. You can bring your Nike or Under Armour warmup suit or sweat pants and your phone. Then, just before the race, you put everything in a bag or knapsack and hand it over,  your other layers of clothes and check in as though you boarding a plane on United Airlines at JFK airport. Then you leave and your bag (named/numbered) is transported to the finish line, to Central Park, for you.”

          That’s the way the COMPETITIION of the NYC Marathon is structured.

          In this Gospel passage, I would like to reflect on …

[1^st . The one preoccupied with competition, “running a race” = the scribes !]

[2^nd . The 1 predisposed to commitment, running a different race  = the widow !.]

[3^rd.  The 1 preparing for the cross = , running a race on our behalf = Jesus Christ.]

[__00-b_]     Where are the disciples in today’s Gospel “race” or “event” ?  In Mark, Chapter 12,  Jesus and his disciples are positioned / located geographically almost as though they are people in NYC-M watching runners pass them by, on the Queensboro Bridge or 5^th Avenue.

The runners pass by on their way to the temple treasury. They are the wealthy who deposit large ∑ $$ sums of money into the treasury of the temple.

It's important to note here that Jesus is in [N] neutral regarding his view of the rich, the person who makes a large monetary financial contribution. 

Neither the wealthy person nor family is being mocked or denigrated Nevertheless, there is a critique of the scribes [S] not for their “riches” but for their “religion”.

The [S] are preoccupied with competition and also with their appearance and their robes (their garments)

Apparently, the [S] would not be willing to remove their outer layers and hand them over at the beginning of the “marathon” in Staten Island with the expectation of a return later.

They are very fond of their long robes.

[__01_]      [1^st . Those preoccupied w/ competition = [S] scribes]

The scribes are competitors, And they are competitors out to take from others. Being a competitor is not always / necessarily bad or evil.   Whether in business or in the arts and music and sports.

Even in school, we compete with our classmates to learn and while only 1 person in the class can be # 1, or only one person can be the valedictorian, isn’t it true that every one can learn more by competing as an individual student.

This would be a so-called [+] POSITIVE sum game. Everybody is raised up by the competition, as opposed to the [0] ] ZERO  sum game played by the scribes.

This question then for you and me is not whether we are going to be competitors or not. But are we going to be competitors willing to recognize that our actions have consequences for others.

Am I competitor who recognizes CONSEQUENCES or who ignores CONSEQUENCES of my actions?

And, if I recognize “CONSEQUENCE”, this also calls me to repentance, to confession.

Or, are we competitors willing to turn our repentance into confession, a confess of our faith in Jesus Christ, to confess our sins and repentance, to confess to admit our need for God.

Sometimes we can turn anything into a competition rather than a confession.

For example, do I believe that I can win and hold on to the affection of others, or that I am entitled to the affection of others because of what I do for them?

If so, I am preoccupied with competition. In a relationship, we don't earn affection by proving ourselves via action, but by showing ourselves by fidelity…even loving our family members is an act of faith, we do not know what the “return” or “result” will be.

Who is preoccupied with competition?  The scribes. Any one of us can be a bit of a “scribe” at times.

[__02_]       [2^nd . The 1 who is is predisposed to commitment = the widow.]

The widow is not a competitor in the way the scribes are, she is running a different race, the widow is predisposed to a commitment.

It is interesting to note that Jesus in the Gospel speaks to 2 different audiences or groups of listeners.

First, PUBLICLY/LOUDLY to the crowd, Jesus criticizes the [S] for their FESTIVITY, the FLATTERY they enjoy and their 1^st-CLASS STATUS.

None of these is bad. It’s not even bad to b “flattered” but the question – am I attached to being FLATTERED?

Secondly, PRIVATELY, to his disciples, Jesus praises the widow.

The scribes do everything for show, and Jesus denounces them in a loud public voice.

Are you willing – am I willing – to do something for someone else even before or without having all my so-called  “ducks in a row”. I  prefer to have my “ducks in a row”,  all the I’s dotted, t’s crossed, spell-checked, etc., etc.

But in all of this, am I really predisposed to making a commitment or or am I preoccupied with the competition?

Do I really need the LONG ROBE of my  ADIDAS or Nike or Under Armour outfit in terms of my level of or organization or appearance?

Rhetorical.Q. Do you and I take the time to consider to  what and to whom we are committed? What am I committed to? To whom am I committed? What do I spend my time and my money on?

The widow is a powerful example by giving our whole livelihood to God.

The widow is not making this as an impulse buy as an impulse purchase, or an impulsive contribution. But she has in her heart a deep intention. She does not need an outer layer with Adidas/Nike.

When I am asked to do something, am I predisposed to make the commitment to make real commitments? Or do I only do the minimum to get started in the door and then take back for myself later as I go along.  Do I keep the marathon of giving and commitment going ?

So we've discussed the scribes who are preoccupied with competition, the widow who was pre disposed to competition to commitment.

 [__03_]    [3^rd. Jesus is preparing for the cross.]

And now there's Jesus who is preparing for the cross in which Jesus will do the maximum for us, he's not going to do the minimum he's going to the maximum in forgiveness of our sins.  Jesus also gives his all…

In a similar way, the NYC-M runners must give up their possessions to start the race.

We read in Paul’s letter to Timothy:   “For we brought nothing into this world: and certainly we can carry nothing out.”  (1 Timothy 6:7)

I.e., refers to the fact that we are born with no possessions and we leave this world with no possessions. You can't take it with you.

It also reminds that we become more and more like Jesus Christ, not only by what we store up by what we give away, hand over, we become more and more ourselves, not by what we store up by what we give over what we hand over. And Jesus Himself gives us his example, his own personal commentary by giving up his life, and there's a notable contrast here.

CONTRAST – Long Robes vs. Removing the Robe. The scribes are being criticized because they wear long robes, apparently, they're really into their robes, their appearance, their being perhaps photographed, of their selfies, and how they appear.

Jesus has a different attitude to his robe.  At the Last Supper, we read that he removes his robe, before he washes the feet of his disciples, removing his robe, his outer garment he becomes more and more our Savior.

And, there is a further stage and solemnity of removal when he goes to the cross, He removes even more layers in that he is totally stripped and he suffers on the cross in HD and we can see in HDTV who Jesus is by what He has given up in his suffering for us.

This gives you and me eternal life. We still have a calling in this race.

We are also called to put aside the competition to confess our sins humbly before God.

In doing so, we are also called to prepare privately in our own surrender in our own silence, and we are strengthened to follow Christ confessing of our sins.

Repenting is also an action of giving it all away, giving away our whole livelihood giving away our sins, giving away things perhaps that even give us comfort.

At the NYC-M, the vast majority of runners are not there to WIN and be # 1 for some monetary gain.  They are not there to win the race, but to finish the race.

We are here also, in prayer and support for each other to finish the race as well, to give ourselves back to God.

Sometimes, it takes a lot of energy – mental strength, aerobic energy, to love our neighbor to follow the Commandments, to fight the good fight and finish the race, for as many miles as it takes.   [__fin_]