-my homily from 7/24 is available by sending me an email at: frete@saint-albert.org
-the scriptures for this Sunday are available at USCCB.org
-I am preaching at the 8:00am and 9:30am masses this weekend
Can't get away from it!
St. Paul's wondering "what can separate us....?" is answered...nothing! He reminds us that truly we cannot get away from the love of God in Christ Jesus. How reassuring.
This seems so far from much of contemporary Catholic rhetoric...that I hear so often from so many: everyone is going to hell (separation from the love of God). It seems so easy to "go to hell" as if it is part of God's plan to have us get away from him.
Jesus' revelation and accomplishment is that nothing can separate us..nothing of course but our choice to reject Him. Like the abundance of the bread (12 baskets left over), Jesus seems to say to us that "he is the very 'stuff' of life" - that you just cannot get away from.
Do you feel that overwhelming presence, abundance, unavoidability of the kingdom? Why not? What has you distrusting of it's availability?
3 comments:
I am reading a short book by Sr. Edith Prendergast called Grace Abounds. As the title suggests, the book is filled with consideration of God’s abundant love for us and the invitation to us to respond. She reflects on this passage from Romans, that nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” She challenges the reader to consider what would the world be like if we lived inside this abundance and led from there? And when we imagine that sort of living, we see there is another way – a world filled with care and concern for others, a belief in abundance rather than scarcity, an atmosphere of radical gospel hospitality, as shown to us by Jesus. She calls it a “Christ-drenched universe” in which we can soak in the grace of God poured out in Jesus and then extend that divine kindness to others – or we can miss the presence to which the Matador refers, and fail to locate God in the ordinary. Maybe for some it is a matter of distrusting of its availability, while for others it could simply be missing the cue.
Anon1, What a gift you always share, thank you for that. I agree. It is in the missing it – I mean, God is the one that is keeping it together. I heard one of, if not the most, beautiful readings tonight. Was it John’s 1st Letter?... I don't remember, i should. I just remember, God is Love… it was very big, huge. And then - was just recently reminded that it is the priority, it is the most important thing – to keep in one’s forefront mind to keep one’s self from being separated. God’s love is abundant… yes, it is.
And yes, that overwhelming presence, there is no allowance for separation if one loves God… probably because it’s God’s plan – not ours. It’s like that feeling, thought, or person that is always there in your heart, mind, soul. . no matter where you go or what you do. If you love God, it doesn’t go away. . it really does remain. He keeps it together.
I can only speak for myself and after thinking it through, am more inclined to think it’s rather a matter of discerning the truth, that which is real - that which is of God. There is so much distraction in this world – without discernment, I think the only thing left is fear. . perhaps a realization of a lack of faith to believe that His Will, will be done. And, from what I’ve experienced… it’s just not in line with this world’s set of, or discernment in, rules. I think there is fear in that. Maybe, perhaps finally……that is the reason he said, ‘don’t be afraid.’
Go to Hell? Well, personally, I’m not going to Hell for anybody – so, when the Lord reveals His Will, His Love – recognized through only His Grace alone, and I have come to believe through deep, long prayer, with the assistance of Our Lady, in the ‘what happened’, is that which doesn’t leave one alone… not for a moment, an hour, a day, a month… that which is real, that which does not allow one to be separated - is when His Will be done. You accept it, or you separate from the Almighty… and that, well, that really scares me.
Good outline of the homily. While the questions are good, more would be helpful. Those that are simply "missing the cue" as anon1 mentioned will still miss it because of their own limited thinking. That's why examples or more pointed questions are helpful to stir, reach, open the most minds & hearts.
A little bit of a giggle . . . remember "Where's Waldo"? How he would be in every scene and you would have to look & look & look to find him? There he is, among the ordinary. And look at the bread that is consecrated . . .
. . . I think it doesn't satisfy cuz many are looking for something of what WE think God is (false perceptions)instead of realizing God is in everything, every situation, as present as our skin and breath. Not distrust as much as lack of awareness. Where IS that Waldo?!?!?!
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