June 27, 2010 - Sunday 13

Last Sunday's homily is in the library>>>

This Sunday's readings are at the USCCB.org>>>

I am preaching and presiding at 4:00pm Mass on June 26 and 11:00am Mass on June 27th. See you there!

Free for what?

I had an old friend who, when asked, "are you free" would always say, "I'm cheap, but not free." Rather risque for this blog on preaching, but it always comes to my mind when I think or preach about freedom.

Fr. Robert Barron has a great reflection on today's readings and he reminds us that freedom is about vocation - doing God's will. And freedom, in the biblical sense, is the freedom from attachments and a freedom for doing God's will - vocation!

I think people in today's world cannot hear this call realistically. They hear "leave everything and follow me" and they think they have to either become a hermit or a monk or they're doomed to deny Jesus. As if "having stuff" is the opposite to following Jesus.

Nothing could be farther from the truth. The truth is that having stuff, having relationships, having responsibilities in the world is not a lack of freedom. When your stuff, your relationships or your responsibilities HAVE you - that's a lack of freedom to follow Jesus.

How can we be in the world but not of it. How can you raise your family, love your spouse, do your job, take your vacation, and enjoy your life in a way that it doesn't keep you from loving your neighbor as yourself - Jesus' will for you?

Good question. No easy answer. What do you think?

The Vision Thing

Well, after twelve months of ministry, conversation, and reflection I dared to stand before the people and report what I have seen and heard. I double dared to lay out a vision for the future. See what you think. See the June 21 Homily in the archive>>>