Category: HOMILIES

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HOMILIES

CHRIST HAS NO BODY

In lieu of a homily on this feast of the Corpus Christi, I invite you to read the words of one of the greatest mystics and doctors of the Church, St. Teresa Avila. Her words are so true and so moving; any commentary is but footnote.

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Christ has no body now,
but yours.
No hands, no feet on earth,
but yours.

Yours are the eyes
through which He looks
with compassion on this world.

Yours are the feet
with which He walks
to do good.

Yours are the hands
through which He blesses
all the world.

Yours are the hands,
yours are the feet,
yours are the eyes,
you are His body.

Christ has no body now on earth
but yours.

bap

If you wish, listen to the words set to song by David Ogden.

Categories
HOMILIES

A PSYCHOLOGICAL TAKE ON THE TRINITY

This reflection is based on John 16:12-15 on the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity.

We could talk theology as usual, resorting to the familiar formula of the three divine Persons in one God. Or we could opt to discuss its spiritual message–how community life among us is perfectly exemplified by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And if you prefer, we could also simply wax poetry because there is so much poetry in this mystery in the very concrete and visual way it suggests how God, by His very nature, is love.

TrinityFlyer

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HOMILIES

THE PROBLEM WITH TRUTH (AND MY PROBLEM WITH THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS)

This reflection is based on John 13:31-35 for the Fifth Easter of Sunday.

I begin with a confession: I had to read today’s Sunday Gospel several times before I managed to get into it. Don’t get me wrong. I do not disagree with the words of our Lord. On the contrary, these are, in fact, some of his most important–and at the time, revolutionary–teachings.

farewell discourse

Just listen:

“I give you a new commandment: love one another.
As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.
This is how all will know that you are my disciples,
if you have love for one another.”

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HOMILIES

EASTER ALLERGY TEST

This reflection is based on John 20:19-31.

In our Lord’s resurrection appearances, all his closest friends and followers seem to have a hard time recognizing him. Either his risen body looks different or the eyes of his disciples have been at least initially veiled.

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Mary Magdalene mistakes him for a gardener whom she suspects of spiriting her Master’s body away from its tomb–that is, until he calls her by name in a tone that has always belonged only to him.

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HOMILIES

LISTEN TO THE STONES

This Palm Sunday homily is based on Luke 19:28-40.

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The liturgy of Palm Sunday is marked by the jubilant waving of palm leaves and the somber reading of the Passion narrative.

Talk about contrasts!

To the cheers of the crowd, our Lord enters the city of Jerusalem, riding a humble donkey. He does that not only to fulfill Scripture, but also to demonstrate the kind of kingdom he is inaugurating. In just a few days, Jesus will be exiting the same gate with the same crowd singing to a different tune: A total failure by every appearance, Jesus marches to a brutal death reserved for the worst criminals of the Roman Empire.

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