Sunday Homily, January 29, 2017, 4th Ordinary Time
Readings:
Zephaniah 2, 3; 3, 12-13, They shall do no wrong and speak no lies.
Psalm 146, Blessed are the poor in spirit, the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
1 Corinthians 1, 26-31, God chose the foolish of the world.
Matthew 5, 13-16, You are the light of the world.
Welcome in, Everybody.
Zephaniah observations:
What: a tiny book of only 4 chapters.
Who: a prophet in the typical mode, criticism of current bad behavior, promise of punishment, a better day after repentance and purification.
When: about 600 years before Christ.
Today's selection: A promise of better days in the future.
And from Kevin, too, "Come on in, Folks."
The Lord will give Sight to the Blind (Psalm 146, verse 8)
I have talked the past two Sundays on how I was given light to find my way by various people. I would like to continue this theme this morning because I am struck by the line in the Psalm that says the Lord will give sight to the blind. Another story.
When I was ordained at St. Rita’s in ’71, I returned from Toronto where I had been studying theology to my mother Jesuit province, called the New Orleans or Southern Province.
Hi, Kara, Hi, Denise, daughter & Mom team.
For about 4 years I gave spiritual retreats mostly to nuns and priests, retreats which were individually directed instead of preached to large numbers. To do this I established a base and a team at St. Charles College in Grand Coteau, LA, a beautiful place where Jesuits were trained for the first 4 years of their times as a Jesuit.
There was another center like ours in Wernersville, PA. I would go there once a year to consult with their team and director, George Schemel. He was maybe 20 years older than I and a sage in my eyes.
Hi, Cole, Hi, Erin, son & mom team.
At some point on one of my visits there, George asked me to be part of a team he wanted to send to East and West Africa to give these directed retreats to the religious over there. Would I go?
I was stunned that he believed in me so much. I was both scared and honored. What does this guy see in me that he would ask me to be part of this team?
We are loaded with great Candle Lighters, this week Brandon.
I checked with my home province, got the okay, and went off for a year with another young Jesuit, Bob Hamm. While there I got asked to come back after the year to set up a permanent spiritual center. Guess what I did. Yep, I came back.
As a result of George Schemel believing in me, a number of things took place.
The Offertory Team, Mike & Geri, Connie & John
I spent ten years in East Africa, mostly in the country of Tanzania, where I coordinated a team going to about 4 centers in the country to give seminars and retreats, some lasting a month.
I also had the privilege of setting up a spiritual center in Nairobi, Kenya, and working there for about 4 years. I found a plot of 39 acres & two houses on the edge of town. On one side was the town, on the other, the Nairobi game park. One night we came home and a giraffe was walking casually across our yard.
Hi, Zoe, you look beautiful.
While doing this, I discovered I had a talent hidden up to then. I learned Swahili and discovered through the language I could really enter into the cultural fabric of the people.
Once when I was at the little town of Moshi, near Kilimanjaro, I went to the local market. I knew an old man who sold fruit and veggies. I loved the old guy and we would chat up a storm when I was in town. I could also leave my motor cycle near him, so he would keep thieves away.
The Play Station.
At one point after chatting with him, I was picking up some fruit while he talked with a little old lady. She asks my friend about me, “Is he one of us,” using a word I would never presume to use for myself, ndugu, meaning brother, but more than that. She had overheard me talking Swahili with my old friend. He responded, “Yes.”
The Best, Bethany (plus 1 soon to arrive) & Ray
Talking about Kilimanjaro, I climbed that old mountain 5 times
After all this, I finally returned to the States, and what did I encounter? Two more lights who, incredibly, believed in me. Who? Bernadette and Carol. Because of them we are here this morning. What a Blessing!
I think, Ray, we may have another understudy here.
George Schemel believed in me and showed it. Because of his believing, I was able to accomplish things I never would have dreamed about. Plus, I lived a marvelous 10 year adventure. George was a light to me. As are Bernadette, Carol, and you people.
Who has believed in you?
Whom do you believe in?
Yeah! It is Girl Scout Cookie time again and Harper is ready to supply all your favorite flavors. Good work, Dear Harper.