We are Lazarus _and_ Dives

By e September 28, 2019 Homilies, Jesus Stuff No Comments

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
Lectionary: 138 – Luke 16:19-31

English Español

The church traditionally refers to today’s gospel as the story of Lazarus and Dives. Dives is the Latin word for “rich man,” and Lazarus was one of the most common names at the time Jesus lived. So, we have here, the story of a rich man, any rich man, and a regular, ordinary, common poor man.

There is so much to consider in the story of Lazarus and Dives, that it is difficult to know where to begin. How are we to understand the vision of paradise prior to the crucifixion and resurrection, and how it relates to our eternal destiny? Why won’t Abraham help Dives or his brothers? Why didn’t Dives apologize to Lazarus, and ask him for help? Dives seems worried about his brothers, is it possible that maybe he’s not so bad after all? 

Perhaps, though, it is best to start with the beginning. Meditating upon death, heaven, hell, the final judgment, and the new heavens and new earth are well and good. It is perhaps better if we focus on how we live today.

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The Well Connected Steward – 25th Sunday of Ordinary Time Year C

By e September 22, 2019 Homilies, Jesus Stuff No Comments

25th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C
English Español

You know, I wonder… do we understand who we are in this parable? Are we the rich man? The wasteful and dishonest steward? The debtors?

St John Chrysostom says we are all the stewards in this parable. We know that, but I think we forget it.

A steward is someone who takes care of the property of another. They have responsibility for it, and some authority, but it isn’t theirs. Do you remember the Steward of Gondor in The Lord of the Rings? He thought it all belonged to him, and hoarded everything for himself. The steward in this story had connections. It’s too bad though, that he worried more about those connections, with people willing to lie and cheat, than he did about staying in the good graces of his master.

Anyway, that’s who we are. We are stewards.

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The Lost – 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By e September 13, 2019 Homilies, Jesus Stuff 2 Comments

Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
Lectionary: 132 – Luke 15:1-32

Deacon LeRoy reminded us at our adult education session a few weeks ago that this week’s gospel shows us three different responses to three different types of “being lost” experiences.

  • The poor, stupid, sheep is a person who is lost, and often knows it. The sheep has no idea how to get home, and needs the shepherd to take pity and fetch them home.
  • The coin is a person completely unaware they are lost, and needs the woman to work diligently to recover them.
  • The son is a rebellious person who deliberately leaves the Father. The Father doesn’t go looking for him, but when he approaches the Father, the Father runs out to meet him.

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We Can’t, without love – 23rd Ordinary Time, Year C

By e September 9, 2019 Homilies, Jesus Stuff 1 Comment

So, one homily down, 29,999 (ish) to go!

The full Homilies are below, in English and en Español. I’ve also attached the original draft, and the “final” English and Spanish written versions, for posterity. 🙂

Some of my favorite moments of the ordination liturgy were…

  • Bishop Coerver’s eyes when I made my promise to respect and obey him and his successors.
  • The heartfelt hugs at the sign of peace with the Bishop and my fellow deacons.
  • The kind and joyful smile in Bishop Rodriguez’s eyes when we exchanged a silent greeting after I shared a greeting of peace with Bishop Coerver.
  • Bishop Coerver taking baby Elizabeth at the offertory to give her a grandfatherly snuggle.
  • Re-discovering what an amazing camera ninja Kristin Bednarz is, and getting to see things from another perspective. I don’t know how she gets to all the right places at all the right times… bilocation?

As I served at my first masses, I learned (or re-learned)…

  • I’m not loud enough. I knew this, but I thought I was making enough of an adjustment. I wasn’t.
  • Serving with another deacon is something that requires practice.
  • Stay flexible and alert.
  • Wear a light shirt, but thick enough to soak up some sweat.
  • We should burn people at the stake who donate attractive, but drippy flagons and pitchers for wine. (just kidding…mostly)
  • A trained and attentive server is an incredible blessing.
  • It’s a blessing to have a pastor who cares enough about the sacrifice of the mass to kindly offer suggestions and corrections.
  • People are kind when they know you’re a baby Deacon. 🙂

As I prepared for my first homily, I learned…

  • I’m going to talk more than I think I will, and interject little repetitions or interactions with the assembly. Those are going to add significant time as compared to a straight reading at home. I don’t want to just read them a homily, so I need to start with something too short, so that when I interject or repeat, I don’t go way over a reasonable time limit.
  • I need to read the scriptures in both languages before I write anything. I was all ready to go with my super long homily, which I thought was not too long at all, then my friend, Deacon Adrian, mentioned that the Spanish translation of the gospel was significantly different.
  • It’s worth getting other eyes on the homily before giving it the first time. I benefited greatly from Deacon Adrian, and my pastor, Father Jacob, reviewing my draft.
  • My time frame this time was compressed, because I knew I wanted to have a rough draft ready, but finalize the homily post-ordination. In the future, I want to get feedback in sufficient time to apply it better. By the time I figured out I had three homilies (hate, love, and trust), it was too late to find a good ending for love, or a good beginning for trust, and just give the one homily. As a result, I could cut the homily on hate, but people had to listen to one and two thirds homilies on love and trust.
  • I still need a good native Mexican reviewer for my Spanish homily. I shudder to think of who I may have scandalized with my awful accent and limited vocabulary augmented by google.
  • People are kind when they know you’re a baby Deacon. 🙂

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