Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Reading 1 NM 11:25-29
Responsorial Psalm PS 19:8, 10, 12-13, 14
- (9a) The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
Reading 2 JAS 5:1-6
Alleluia CF. JN 17:17B, 17A
- Alleluia, alleluia.
Your word, O Lord, is truth;
consecrate us in the truth.
Gospel MK 9:38-43, 45, 47-48
RETREAT - NATIVITY 1 HOM. 26th (B) 4
Retreat/Mission – Nativity (929-/30/18) My name is Fr. Russell Bleich, a priest of the Archdiocese.
I TODAY WE BEGIN A PARISH MISSION HERE AT NATIVITY. I AM GLAD TO HAVE RECEIVED THE INVITATION FROM MSGR. MILLER AND YOUR PARISH LEADERS TO SHARE WITH YOU THIS TIME OF BLESSING. NATIVITY PARISH COMMUNITY IS WELL KNOWN FOR YOUR FAITH, YOUR LOVE OF GOD AND YOUR WORKS OF LOVE OF NEIGHBOR. NATIVITY PARISH IS HOLY GROUND WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO BE DISCIPLES OF JESUS. OUR MISSION THEME AS SELECTED BY OUR PARISH MISSION TEAM IS,
“BEING A DISCIPLE OF JESUS WHO WANT TO TALK AND WALK WITH GOD.” WE PRAY, COME HOLY SPIRIT – BE THE SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR OF OUR SOULS. IN THE GOSPELS JESUS WOULD OFTEN INVITE HIS CLOSE FRIENDS TO COME APART AWHILE TO SPEND TIME WITH HIM. IF WE DO THIS ON A PARISH MISSION WE MAKE SOME TIME TO BE WITH JESUS. I INVITE YOU TO SPEND SOME SPECIAL TIME TO BE ALONE WITH GOD RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE. I INVITE YOU TO COME SUNDAY AND MONDAY EVENING AT 6:30. WE WILL HAVE TALKS AND PRAYER TIME TOGETHER. AS PART OF THIS MISSION, I ALSO INVITE YOU TO DO A GOOD DEED FOR SOMEONE.OUR HOMILY FOR THIS MASS WILL ALSO BE OUR OPENING TALK OF THE MISSION. JESUS OFTEN USED STORIES IN TEACHING THE PEOPLE. ON OUR MISSION TOGETHER I WILL USE MANY STORIES AS JESUS DID.
MAYBE YOU HAVE HEARD THE STORY ABOUT MSGR. MILLER. HE SHOWED SIGNS OF A VOCATION TO BE A PRIEST AS A BOY. WHEN HE WAS ABOUT SIX YEAR OLD HIS MOTHER LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW INTO THE BACKYARD TO SEE HIM PREACHING TO THE CAT WHO SEEMED TO BE PAYING VERY CLOSE ATTENTION. THE NEXT TIME SHE LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW. SHE SAW YOUNG JIM OBVIOUSLY TRYING TO BAPTIZE THE CAT IN A TUB WHOSE LEGS WERE FLAILING ABOUT AND WATER WAS FLYING IN EVERY DIRECTION. “STOP!” SHE YELLED THE CAT DOES NOT LIKE THE WATER. JIM SAID, “HE SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT OF THAT BEFORE HE JOINED MY CHURCH.
THE GOSPEL OF JOY OF JESUS SAYS WE ARE MADE BY GOD TO SHARE HIS HAPPINESS. IN THIS WORLD WE ARE TO TRUST HIM AND PURSUE HAPPINESS. THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS - EVERYONE IS PURSUING HAPPINESS. BUT WHAT IS THE WAY TO PURSUE HAPPINESS?
LET ME TELL YOU A STORY ABOUT A PUPPY NAMED BLACKIE. WHEN I WAS A BOY, I HAD A PUPPY CALLED BLACKIE. MY DAD WOULD SAY TO BLACKIE, “BLACKIE, YOU ARE A GOOD DOG (TAIL WAG) BUT A DUMB DOG.” (TAIL WAG) HE WAS A GOOD DOG WHO DID A DUMB THING. BLACKIE THOUGHT THAT CHASING HIS TAIL WOULD BRING HIM HAPPINESS. IT NEVER DID. HE JUST KEPT GOING AROUND IN CIRCLES AND NEVER CAUGHT HIS TAIL. GOD CREATED US GOOD IN HIS IMAGE AND LIKENESS AND IN BAPTISM ADOPTED US MAKING US HIS SONS AND DAUGHTERS. BUT WE KNOW THAT GOOD CHILDREN CAN DO DUMB THINGS. EVEN SIN. THE DRUG ADDICT SAYS THAT CHASING THE HIGH IS THE WAY TO HAPPINESS, ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT IN THE END IT LEADS TO NEVER ENOUGH AND MISERY. THE WORLD SAYS THE WAY TO HAPPINESS IS MONEY, STUFF, POWER, FAME, ETC. PEOPLE WHO TRY THIS WAY NEVER GET ENOUGH TO MAKE THEM HAPPY EITHER. IT IS ABOUT AS WISE AS BLACKIE CHASING HIS TAIL. THERE ARE A LOT OF WAYS THAT I CAN PURSUE HAPPINESS THAT ARE ABOUT AS WISE AS RUNNING AROUND IN CIRCLES LIKE BLACKIE. BLACKIE WAS A GOOD DOG BUT HE DID A DUMB THING. WE CAN CHOOSE THE WRONG THINGS TOO.
IN OUR READINGS TODAY GOD SPEAKS TO US IN WORDS, SIMPLE, PRACTICAL AND IMPORTANT. OUR CHOICES HAVE CONSEQUENCES. GOOD CHOICES HAVE GOOD CONSEQUENCES, BAD CHOICES HAVE BAD CONSEQUENCES GOD'S WORD'S ARE BOTH CONSOLING AND CHALLENGING.GOD USES STRONG LANGUAGE AND STRONG IMAGES. OUR GOOD CHOICES HAVE GOOD CONSEQUENCES.JESUS USES THE IMAGE OF A CUP OF WATER. HE SAYS GIVING A CUP OF WATER IN HIS NAME WILL HAVE AN ETERNAL REWARD. WE HEAR THE GOOD NEWS THAT THE SMALLEST THINGS WE DO FOR GOOD HAVE AN IMPACT NOT ONLY FOR NOW BUT FOREVER. FAMILY LIFE IS FILLED WITH OPPORTUNITIES. TO DO LITTLE THINGS WITH GREAT LOVE - THEY ARE SO IMPORTANT.
ALL THESE LITTLE THINGS ARE SYMBOLIZED BY THE CUP OF WATER. SIMPLE ACTS OF KINDNESS AND SERVICE, INCLUDING OUR SMILES, KIND AFFIRMING AND ENCOURAGING WORDS AND HIDDEN PRAYERS. POPE FRANCIS, ST THERESA AND FRANCIS OF ASSISI ALL TEACH CHOOSING TO DO THE LITTLEST THING IN OUR ORDINARY LIFE CAN BE DONE WITH A HEART FULL OF LOVE – THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THIS CHOICE ALWAYS HAS GOOD CONSEQUENCES. OUR SECOND READING TEACHES THAT AFFIRMING AND ENABLING THE GOOD WORKS OF OTHERS WILL HAVE THEIR ETERNAL REWARD ALSO IN THE GOSPEL. JESUS SAYS TODAY THAT BAD CHOICES HAVE BAD CONSEQUENCES.
ALL OF US ARE SINNERS AND WE KNOW SOMETIMES WE DO MAKE BAD CHOICES. WE KNOW WELL THAT THIS APPLIES TO ALL OF US INCLUDING PRIESTS, BISHOPS, DEACONS AND RELIGIOUS. WE WANT AVOID SIN AND THE OCCASIONS THAT LEAD US TO SIN. BUT, LIKE ST. PAUL, WE DO NOT ALWAYS DO THE GOOD WE WANT TO DO LIKE HIM, WHEN WE FALL SHORT WE ASK FOR, GOD MERCY WE GIVE THANKS FOR, THE GIFT OF DIVINE MERCY.
IN THE GOSPEL, JESUS USES STRONG LANGUAGE AND GRAPHIC IMAGES TO MAKE HIS POINT ABOUT CONSEQUENCES FOR SERIOUS BAD CHOICES. THE IMAGES OF MUTILATION ARE NOT MEANT TO BE TAKEN LITERALLY. OBVIOUSLY NO BODY PART IS THE SOURCE OF SIN. SIN COMES FROM OUR MINDS AND HEARTS, NOT OUR BODY PARTS.
SYMBOLICALLY OUR HANDS AND EYES AND FEET REPRESENT ANYTHING IN OUR LIFE THAT SHOULD BE AT THE SERVICE OF CHRIST BUT CAN BE MISUSED TO LEAD US AWAY FROM CHRIST. WE GET THE POINT. THE IMAGES ARE NOT TO BE TAKEN LITERALLY BUT NEITHER ARE THEY TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY. JESUS IS SAYING OUR BAD CHOICES HAVE BAD CONSEQUENCES.HE SINGLES OUT FOR SPECIAL EMPHASIS BAD CHOICES AFFECTING CHILDREN AND BAD CHOICES THAT LEAD OTHERS ASTRAY. HIS IMAGE OF BEING CAST INTO THE SEA WITH A MILLSTONE AROUND OUR NECK REALLY MAKES THE POINT. OF COURSE BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WE WANT TO DO JUST THE OPPOSITE. YOU HAVE HEARD THE CALL OF JESUS IN THE GOSPEL. AS HIS DISCIPLES WE WANT TO IMITATE HIM AND LEAD OTHERS TO HIM, NOT TO LEAD THEM ASTRAY. WE WANT OUR WHOLE LIFE TO BE A CUP OF WATER GIVEN IN HIS NAME. THE PROPHET DANIEL SAYS. “THOSE WHO LEAD OTHERS TO JUSTICE AND TO GOD WILL SHINE LIKE THE STARS FOREVER.”
BLACKIE WAS A GOOD DOG WHO SOMETIMES DID DUMB THINGS. HIS ACTIONS HAD BAD CONSEQUENCES. ON THIS DAY OF THE LORD WE COME TO ASK GOD'S MERCY FOR BAD CHOICES WE HAVE MADE. WE COME TO THE TABLE OF THE LORD, TO BE NOURISHED BY THE BREAD OF LIFE TO MAKE GOOD CHOICES, TO OFFER AGAIN OUR CUP OF WATER TO OTHERS IN HIS NAME AND TO LEAD THEM TO CHRIST TO AFFIRM AND SUPPORT THE EFFORTS OF OTHERS TO DO GOOD. AND TO HOPE IN THE ETERNAL REWARD PROMISED US BY JESUS.
BEGINNING THIS WEEKEND HERE AT NATIVITY PARISH COMMUNITY WE ARE ON MISSION THROUGH MONDAY EVENING. DURING OUR TIME ON MISSION I INVITE YOU TO SPEND SOME SPECIAL TIME TO BE ALONE WITH JESUS RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE. AS PART OF THIS MISSION, I ALSO INVITE YOU DO TO A GOOD DEED FOR SOMEONE. I INVITE YOU TO COME SUNDAY AND MONDAY EVENING AT 6:30. WE WILL HAVE TALKS AND PRAYER TIME TOGETHER. THE TALKS WILL INCLUDE LOTS OF STORIES
SUNDAY EVENING OUR THEME WILL BE: “KEEPING THE MAIN THING THE MAIN THING” SOME OF OUR STORIES WILL INCLUDE - GRANDMA KLINE'S LOVE STORY. STORIES ABOUT THE ROBINS,THE MOUNTAINS AND THE LAP OF GOD. A STORY ABOUT A DYING MOTHER WORDS TO HER SON. AND YES, MORE STORES ABOUT MSGR. MILLER
MONDAY EVENING THE THEME WILL BE “HOLDING ON TIGHT TO JESUS.” SOME OF THE STORIES WILL INCLUDE: THE DOOR THAT SWINGS BOTH WAYS. THE RESCUE OF THE BOYS SOCCER TEAM FROM THE CAVE IN THAILAND AND OUR RESCUE BY JESUS FROM THE DARKNESS OF SIN AND DEATH. STORIES ABOUT THE NOT BAD, THE NOT GOOD, THE NOT YET--- AND MORE. AND OF COURSE MORE STORES ABOUT MSGR. MILLER. COME AND PRAY WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PARISH FOR GOD'S BLESSINGS. ON THIS MISSION WE SAY “YES” AGAIN TO JESUS TO BE HIS DISCIPLE. LIKE MARY – WE COME AND SAY “HERE I AM LORD. DO WITH ME AS YOU WILL” TODAY AT MASS. LET US PRAY TOGETHER FOR GOD'S BLESSINGS TO TOUCH OUR LIVES ON OUR PARISH MISSION. COME HOLY SPIRIT COME.