Sunday Homily, February 3, 2019, 34th Ordinary Time
Says Rick, "You missed my birthday party yesterday, but I am still celebrating today. Welcome in, Everybody."
Readings:
Jeremiah 1, 4- 5, 17-19, Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.
Psalm 71, I will sing of your salvation.
1 Corinthians 12, 31-13 4-13, As the body is one.
Luke 4, 21-30, Today this passage is fulfilled in your hearing.
This morning we will read the Gospel first, then Jeremiah, and finally Corinthians. I want to highlight Corinthians, it is so special. The homily will come after the first paragraph, before the special treatise on Love.
Good as it gets!
Jeremiah observations:
Who: One of the Big 3 and my second favorite behind Isaiah, whom we will hear from next Sunday. Why a favorite: because he shares his feelings with gusto.
When: you can guess it, before and during the Babylonian Captivity. Notice how much prophetic energy is concentrated around this one event? Shows how big it was in Jewish history. Keep 555 before Christ as the beacon date.
Suit up time.
What: you can guess this, too. Criticism of behavior, warning of punishment from God, and eventually a better day.
What today: Jeremiah’s call by God to be his man, really Everyperson’s call to be God’s special. This call theme carries through our next 2 readings, especially the next one, The Big One.
Can there be a better welcome than this from Cindy & Dee!
A Special Reading, 1 Corinthians
Years ago when I used to do a lot of weddings, like at St Marks, I would hear this treatise on Love and I would groan, ‘Not again.’
While still at St. Marks, all of a sudden at another wedding, I tuned in to the reading. Love is patient. Love is kind. That applies to me. I could be more patient and more kind. I could be more loving. (Don’t ask Rosemary)
Equally welcoming is Dear Jan who arranges communion for everybody.
Right around this time there was an instruction from the diocese or Fr. Smythe, ‘Don’t touch the kids.’ I thought about this and realized that I was not hugged enough when I was a little boy. For one thing my mom was sick a lot and even had some operations. I remember being taken in by some family friends and being homesick big time when I was a little guy, maybe pre-school.
Elevation Time.
So, once ordained & home from East Africa, I remember one Sunday standing in the entrance to the cafetorium ready to begin the 10:30 Mass. I decided right then that I will continue to hug all these kids to show them they are loveable and good stuff. Maybe they will think God really loves them. A lot of those kids thought I was God once I suited up, so their parents said.
Having a nice vision, Hue?
To send this message is also why I used to give kids, and, in fact everybody, two or three Hershey kisses whenever they came to me for reconciliation, especially for first confessions.
The side effect of this, of course, was that my line went on forever and poor Deacon Mike had to stay late to shut down the church. Everybody else was long gone. I just wanted to say, ‘Kid you are not bad. God thinks you are good and a neat kid.’
Buddy reading our Blessing of The Winter Candles.
Emma lighting The Winter Candles.
I have a handful of very special, positive Scripture passages. They are like compasses. This Corinthians passage helps me to continue to be patient & kind and to remind all of you that you are lovable. (Well, maybe not Sir Charlie)
Teamwork!