because many sunday homily helps subscrip - you … · · 2016-09-08because many sunday homily...

Because many Sunday Homily Helps subscrip-

tions begin with the new liturgical year, the

exegesis and outline for November 30, 2014

will arrive with the December isue.

You should receive the print copy for 11/30 in

plenty of time (by 11-10-14) , but should a prob-

lelm arise, please contact Melody Baron (800-

488-0488, x158 or [email protected])

for assistance.

SPECIAL NOTICE

Published by ST. ANTHONY MESSENGER PRESS, 28 W. Liberty Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202 800-488-0488 • www.FranciscanMedia.orgEditor: Rev. Hilarion Kistner, O.F.M., S.T.D., S.S.L. Exegesis: G: Fr. Eugene Hensell, O.S.B., 2: Fr. Hilarion Kistner, O.F.M., 1: Fr. Timothy Schehr, S.S.L.

Sunday Homily Helps - $35.00 per year ($43.00 for Canada). Also available: Weekday Homily Helps - $60.00 per year ($72.00 for Canada).

All rights reserved. Material may not be reproduced or photocopied in any form without permission.

November 1, 2014 — All Saints

INTRODUCTION TO PENITENTIAL RITE: We are called to besaints but must admit that we are often far from saintly.Let us remind ourselves of our many failings and entrustourselves to the loving mercy of God, who knows ourweakness but loves us just the same.

• INTRODUCTION: In the first reading, God’s faithful ser-vants stand around the heavenly throne. They wearrobes of honor and carry symbols of victory.

• INTRODUCTION: In the second reading, John reminds usthat we are the beloved children of God. We prepare tobecome saints in heaven by being pure on earth in imita-tion of God.

• INTRODUCTION: In the Gospel, Jesus proclaims howhappy and fortunate are those who can look forward tolife in the kingdom of heaven.

GENERAL INTERCESSIONS1) For those called to special vocations in the Church,

that they measure up to the high ideals of their call-ing,

2) For all the faithful, that, in the words of VaticanII,they '”strive for the holiness and perfection oftheir own proper state,”

3) For parents and teachers, that they show theyounger generation the way to blessedness by wordand example,

4) For those who have strayed from the path of holi-ness, that they repent of their sins and find their wayback to a life of faith and love,

November 2, 2014 — All Souls’ Day

INTRODUCTION TO PENITENTIAL RITE: Jesus died and isrisen: that is our faith and our hope. For the times thatour lives have not reflected that faith, we ask for pardonand strength.

• INTRODUCTION: In the first reading, the faithful findrest in the hands of God. Their suffering in this world

made them precious in the eyes of their Creator.

• INTRODUCTION: In the second reading, John reminds usof God’s love for us. Such love is a firm foundation for theChristian’s hope for eternal glory.

• INTRODUCTION: In the Gospel, Jesus promises that any-one who comes to him from the Father will not be reject-ed.

GENERAL INTERCESSIONS

1) That our beloved dead know the peace and joyreserved for those who believe in Jesus,

2) That we find peace and consolation in the promiseof immortality given us in the death and resurrec-tion of Jesus,

3) For Pope Francis and his ministry to the universalChurch,

4) For the grace to walk each moment in the light ofthe resurrection,

5) For peace in the Middle East and in troubled partsof the world.

November 9, 2014 — Dedication of St. John Lateran

INTRODUCTION TO PENITENTIAL RITE: We gather in thisplace that we consider the Lord’s house as members ofthe Church built on the foundation of Jesus. Knowingthat God is in our midst when we unite in faith, we con-fess our faults and ask for forgiveness and healing.

• INTRODUCTION: In the first reading, a prophet seeswater flowing from the temple of the Lord. It brings lifeto all the land.

• INTRODUCTION: In the second reading, Paul tells us thatwe are the temple of God. Jesus is the foundation andthe Spirit dwells in this temple.

• INTRODUCTION: In the Gospel, Jesus symbolicallycleanses the temple, demonstrating the power of hisown messianic authority over that of the temple cult.

Published by FRANCISCAN MEDIA, 28 W. Liberty Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202 800-488-0488 • www.FranciscanMedia.orgEditor: Rev. Hilarion Kistner, OFM, S.T.D., S.S.L. Exegesis: G: Fr. Eugene Hensell, OSB, 2: Fr. Hilarion Kistner, OFM, 1: Fr. Timothy Schehr, S.S.L.



Lectern GuideINTRODUCTIONS TO PENITENTIAL RITE AND READINGS, MODELS FOR GENERAL INTERCESSIONS

The INTRODUCTION TO PENITENTIAL RITE is a model which can also be adapted for use as an introduction to the liturgy itself. The INTRODUCTIONS TO THE READINGS, if read by priest or lector before the respective read-ings, are intended to focus the attention of the listeners. The MODELS FOR GENERAL INTERCESSIONS relate to

the theme of the homily outline and may be used to supplement the usual petitions.

Jesus has established his kingship by his death and res-urrection. At the end, he will hand the kingdom over tohis Father.

• INTRODUCTION: In the Gospel, the Son of Man passesfinal judgment. It is based on the practice of the corpo-ral works of mercy toward the least of Jesus’ brothersand sisters.


1). That Church and world leaders be blessed with thewisdom to know and use their power for the bene-fit of the poor and the powerless,

2) That our Christian community have the courage torecognize and share our individual and communalgifts as the King’s good servants,

3) For people living under the leadership of those whoexercise abuse of their power,

4) For those who daily face hunger, homelessness,loneliness, hopelessness, and despair,

5) As we celebrate Thanksgiving Day this week, thatwe remember all the large and small blessings wehave received as individuals, as a community, andas a nation,


1) For our pope, bishops, priests, and all who proph-esy, teach, and provide spiritual guidance, that theyrecognize God as the source of their strength,

2) For those who feel distant from God, that theyknow God’s presence within them,

3) For those without homes, the poor, the hungry, andthe sick, that they find themselves at home withJesus, who will provide nourishment, healing, andeternal life,

4) For all who suffer from hatred or prejudice, thatthey persist in recognizing their own worth andeternal value that comes from God alone,

5) For all who sincerely seek to know and do God'swill,

November 16, 2014 — 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

INTRODUCTION TO PENITENTIAL RITE: The blessings ofthe past week lead us to question what we’ve done withthem all. We seek forgiveness if we held on to the bless-ings and didn’t pass them on as God intended.

• INTRODUCTION: In the first reading, a poet describesWisdom as the perfect partner. She brings life and count-less blessings to those who love her.

• INTRODUCTION: In the second reading, Paul tells thepeople that the day of the Lord will come unexpectedly.It will be a day of light for those who are faithful.

• INTRODUCTION: In the Gospel, Jesus teaches that care-ful preparation must be made for the final coming of theLord.


1) That the Church be a blessing for the world andnever a hindrance to God’s compassion and mercy,

2) That governments exist for all the men and womenthey serve, not simply for individual profit and gain,

3) That people who, through illness or trauma, areblocked by self-doubt and fear be freed to trust,

4) That peace in families and parishes flourish throughthe experience of God’s peace we bring one another,

November 23, 2014 — Christ the King

INTRODUCTION TO PENITENTIAL RITE: As we prepare tocelebrate the Eucharist, let us remember our sins andask forgiveness for the times we have failed to share thenourishment we receive at this meal of love.

• INTRODUCTION: In the first reading, God is the shep-herd of the flock. At last, the people have peace andsecurity.

• INTRODUCTION: In the second reading, we hear that

Published by FRANCISCAN MEDIA, 28 W. Liberty Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202 800-488-0488 • www.franciscanmedia.orgEditor: Rev. Hilarion Kistner, O.F.M., S.T.D., S.S.L. Exegesis: G: Fr. Eugene Hensell, OSB, 2: Fr. Hilarion Kistner, OFM, 1: Fr. Timothy Schehr, S.S.L.



Exegesis of the 1st reading, Rv 7:2–4, 9–14

After the breaking of the fifth seal, the martyrs praythat God will act on the sacrifice they made for theLord and the gospel. With the breaking of the sixthseal, God responds to their prayer and makes prepara-tions to call the rest of the world to repentance. 1) The Church. Messengers stand ready to release the

destruction that may move people to change theirways and turn to God. But first, John sees still anothermessenger. This one holds the seal of God and calls forthe destructive winds to be delayed. Those alreadyserving God must first be identified with the divineimprint on their foreheads. The number of these faith-ful servants is the total of 12 x 12 x 1,000. It representsthe Church as the renewed Israel. The Church’s foun-dation is the witness of the 12 apostles chosen by theLord to carry forward God’s plan of salvation, whichfeatured so prominently the 12 tribes of Israel. 2) The nations. Next, John sees a huge crowd stand-

ing before the throne of God and the Lamb. This crowdincludes people from every nation. They wear robes ofhonor and carry palms of victory. Grateful for the giftof salvation, they give thanks with a loud voice to Godand to the Lamb. The rest of the heavenly court joinsthe nations in giving praise. John learns the identity ofthose dressed in white. They are the faithful who sur-vived the great time of trial on earth. They believed inthe Lord who shed his blood to give them eternal life.

Exegesis of the 2nd reading, 1 Jn 3:1–31) Beloved. 1 Jn uses the word beloved five times. In

this letter, he traces all love to God. God’s love makesus children of God.2) Purity. God’s love enables us to hope that we will

see God. Such love will help us to be pure as God ispure already in this life.

Exegesis of the Gospel, Mt 5:1–12a

Jesus begins his famous Sermon on the Mount withthe Beatitudes, a fitting focus for the Solemnity of AllSaints. Just as Moses went up the mountain to receivefrom God the authoritative 10 commandments, soJesus ascends a mountain to offer his authoritative

interpretation of God’s sacred Torah. This teaching isdirected specifically to Jesus’ disciples, those who arecommitted to following him and putting his teachinginto practice.1) Nine Beatitudes. The sermon begins with a series of

nine Beatitudes. They are not a list of ethical maxims,rules, or regulations that people must obey in order toenter the kingdom of heaven. Rather, they describe theblessing and happiness that Jesus promises discipleswho have embraced the kingdom of heaven. EachBeatitude has two parts. First, Jesus pronounces ablessing on certain people (“Blessed are the poor inspirit . . .”). Secondly, he provides the reason for thisblessing (“for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”). Ineach case, the blessing is not due to some special ethi-cal achievement of the recipient. It is the result of thegift of final salvation that God brings with the king-dom.2) Importance of first Beatitude. In many ways, the first

Beatitude is the most important and sets the tone forthe rest. “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” This is a formof poverty that extends beyond the lack of materialwealth. Those who are poor in spirit are people whohave a keen realization that ultimately they are depen-dent upon God for everything. The background for understanding this Beatitude is

Is 61:1–3. Christians understood that Jesus fulfilled thisprophecy by bringing good news to the oppressed,comforting all who mourn, and emphasizing right-eousness. Thus, the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Thisis both a present reality and a future promise. It is agrand reversal that begins with Jesus’s own life andministry and will be fulfilled at the end of time. All of the remaining Beatitudes follow this pattern

of reversal. God can transform lives of diminishmentinto lives of abundance. The blessed are those faithfuldisciples who live in constant hope. They characterizewhat makes up the life of a saint. Saints are those re-markable men and women who have lived their livesfocused on the kingdom of God.

All Saints

November 1, 2014

Annual readings

Lectionary #667

Published by FRANCISCAN MEDIA, 28 W. Liberty Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202 800-488-0488 • www.FranciscanMedia.orgEditor: Rev. Hilarion Kistner, O.F.M., S.T.D., S.S.L. Exegesis: G: Fr. Eugene Hensell, O.S.B., 2: Fr. Hilarion Kistner, O.F.M., 1: Fr. Timothy Schehr, S.S.L.



Published by ST. ANTHONY MESSENGER PRESS, 28 W. Liberty Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202 800-488-0488 • www.FranciscanMedia.orgEditor: Rev. Hilarion Kistner, O.F.M., S.T.D., S.S.L. Exegesis: G: Fr. Eugene Hensell, O.S.B., 2: Fr. Hilarion Kistner, O.F.M., 1: Fr. Timothy Schehr, S.S.L.



PURPOSE: To encourage the congregation with theassurance that holiness is possible for everyone.

SUMMARY: Being a saint is not limited to a fewselected individuals. All are invited to become saints.Jesus showed us how by teaching us the Beatitudes. Ifwe live as true children of God, we have the promise ofeternal happiness.

A) ATTENTION-GETTER Earlier this year, the Churchrejoiced at the canonization of two popes: John XXIIIand John Paul II. By canonization, the Church declaresthat a saintly person lived a life worthy of imitation, alife that earned the person the unending happiness ofheaven. Not everyone can be pope, but everyone canbe a saint.

B) APPLICATION We celebrate the feast today of allthe saints, the minority who are canonized and every-one else who has made it through the pearly gates.

1) The Second Vatican Council gives us this clearteaching, in its chapter on the universal call toholiness in the document on the Church. “In theChurch, everyone whether belonging to the hierar-chy or being cared for by it, is called to holiness,according to the saying of the Apostle: ‘For this isthe will of God, your sanctification.’ . . . All thefaithful of Christ of whatever rank or status, arecalled to the fullness of the Christian life and to theperfection of charity.”a) The Book of Revelation describes a vision of anew Israel, a multitude in heaven of descendantsof the 12 tribes of Israel, founded on the 12 apos-tles. Then it tells of a countless number “fromevery nation, race, people, and tongue,” standingbefore the throne of God and before the Lamb ofGod.

b) The Epistle of John says that we are the childrenof God now. It has not yet appeared what we willbe—when we see God face to face.

c) The heavenly vision includes everyone. Our rela-tives, our friends, our fellow parishioners, evensome of our enemies will be in that throng.

2) In the Beatitudes of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount,we find out how to be blessed, how to achieve truehappiness here on earth and eternal happiness inheaven. The way to happiness that Jesus shows isnot the way we might think. In fact, it is the oppo-site of the world’s idea of happiness.

a) Being poor in spirit, which means, among otherthings, relying not on ourselves, but solely onGod, is not the way most red-blooded Americansget happy. Nor are mourning, hungering for jus-tice, being merciful or meek, or suffering persecu-tion—and certainly not cultivating purity of heartor of any other kind.

b) Our culture often tells us that the rich, the pow-erful, the popular, the hedonistic are blessed. Theheralds of advertising teach us this from the firstmoment our little eyes are glued to a televisionset or an internet screen.

c) Being a saint, then, means being counterculturalor fostering those elements in our culture thatpromote justice, peace, and charity. It does notcome in a neat package like a ready-made cakemix. It often means going against the grain of ourown inclinations and the urgings of our culture.

3) All Saints Day tells us that this kind of blessed-ness, holiness, sanctity is possible.a) It directs our attention to those who have gonebefore us, to what Vatican II calls “an abundant harvest of good, as is admirably shown by the lifeof so many saints in Church history.”

b) The Council instructs us to live a life of love, hear-ing the word of God and accepting God's will,cooperating with God's grace, receiving the sacra-ments, practicing the virtues. “It is the love ofGod and the love of one's neighbor which pointsout the true disciple of Christ.”

c) We all know people who have lived this way.They have trusted in God. They have thought ofothers first and themselves second. They havetaught us by word and example. They have in-spired us. They are among that countless throngin heaven. We want to be in their number.

C) CONCLUSION Pope Saint John XXIII, Pope SaintJohn Paul II, and all the saints in heaven, pray for us,that we may one day join you and all the saints.

D) TRANSITION TO LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST In the Prayer after Holy Communion today, we pray:“As we adore you O God, who alone are holy andwonderful in all your saints,we implore your grace, sothat, coming to perfect holiness in the fullness of yourlove, we may pass from this pilgrim table to the ban-quet of our heavenly homeland.”

(Rev. Paul J. Schmidt)

All Saints November 1, 2014

Exegesis of the 1st reading, Wis 3:1–9

This book is attributed to wise King Solomon. It cer-tainly reflects the kind of wisdom that king displayedwhen God appeared to him in the famous dream of 1Kgs 3:5–14. Interpreters today date the book to the firstcentury BC. Its fine style and eloquence attest to itscomposition in Greek, perhaps in Alexandria, Egypt,where the Torah was first translated into Greek a cen-tury or so earlier. The author challenges readers toserve the Lord God of Israel. Such devotion to God isthe surest path to wisdom, leading to eternal life.

1) Blessed. In the opening chapters of Wis, the authorexposes the weakness of seeking fulfillment in thethings of this world alone. Such people may imagineall the advantages belong to them. They may despiseGod’s faithful servants and even seek to put them todeath. But as this reading makes clear, their plan is mis-guided. The godless may succeed in robbing the just oflife in this world, but that is not the end of them. Thejust rest in the hands of God, who created them forimmortality.

2) Worthy. The remainder of the reading elaborateson the value of the just before God even if the worlddismisses them as insignificant. Their excellence ismade only more apparent by suffering, just as goldemerges from a furnace all the more purified. Ul-timately, the just enjoy all the advantages. They did notmake the mistake of measuring all value by the stan-dards of this world. They now shine forth like theembers of a fire that was thought to have died out.

Exegesis of the 2nd reading, Rom 5:5–11

1) Trinity. God the Father’s love for us has beenpoured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. The concreteevidence for people of faith is the fact that Christ diedfor us.

2) Hope. Christians need fear nothing. God’s loveprovides the firm foundation for our hope for an eter-nity of glory.

Exegesis of the Gospel, Jn 6:37–40

The context for this Gospel passage is the bread of

life discourse where Jesus has just proclaimed himselfthe “bread of life.” Whoever comes to him will neverbe hungry, and whoever believes in him will never bethirsty (Jn 6:35). Still, there are those who have seenJesus but do not believe. The present verses focus onwhat it means to come to Jesus and believe. Accordingto John’s Gospel, seeing and believing lie right at thevery heart of faith.

1) Jesus’ mission. The way to the Father is throughJesus. He offers encouragement by proclaiming thatanyone who comes to him will not be rejected. This isGod’s will, and Jesus makes clear that his mission is todo the will of the Father. God’s intention is that no oneis to be lost. The goal is that everyone shall be raised upon the last day. What this means is that God wants sal-vation for everyone. However, salvation is not some-thing automatic. A faith response is required fromeveryone who sees the Son. This kind of seeing leads tobelief. This kind of belief leads to eternal life.

2) God’s presence. At the heart of this seeing andbelieving is the challenge to see God’s presence in andthrough the life and teaching of the Son. Faith in Jesusis determinative for the believer’s present and future.Jesus’ care for the believer certainly applies to the hereand now, but it is not limited to that. It also extendsinto the future wherein, on the last day, God will raiseup the believer.

There is a delicate balance throughout all thisbetween God’s initiative in giving people to Jesus andthe human faith response. God’s initiating took placeby sending Jesus from heaven to make God’s will visi-ble and accessible to humankind. Without this, no onewould be able to have faith in Jesus.

The reality is, however, that there are those who seeJesus and do not believe. What causes this is that suchpeople are not able to see through the eyes of faith. Thisis the situation that runs throughout the entire Gospelof John. Believers and unbelievers can see the samething, some will come to faith and others will not. Justas Jesus will not reject anyone the Father sends, therealso has to be a faith response on the part of the oneseeing. We believe that the faithful departed are thosewho saw and believed.

All Souls’ Day

November 2, 2014

Annual readings

Lectionary #668







PURPOSE: Faith in Jesus does not make death easy,but makes it meaningful if viewed with the eyes offaith.

SUMMARY: For those who believe, death is not theend, but a beginning of a whole new kind of life.

A) ATTENTION-GETTER Two people look at a blockof marble and see very different things. One sees abeautiful stone and marvels at the coloring and textureof the stone. The other sees a beautiful statue hiddenwithin the contours of the block. One observes whatseems to be the factual reality of the situation. Theother sees the reality of its hidden potential and possi-bility.

B) APPLICATION In today’s first reading, the authorof the Book of Wisdom says that, to the eyes of the fool-ish, the dead seem to be gone. And their passing isseen as an affliction and utter destruction. The foolishmourn what appears to be a loss and an end of life.

1) The author of the Book of Wisdom draws manycontrasts between the wise and the foolish. Thewise are the people who see reality through the lensof faith. The foolish view life without faith. a) To the foolish, death appears to be a tragic end-ing. Those who have died are no more. Theycease to exist.

b) To the wise, death is seen as the doorway toimmortality, and the dead are seen to be at peace.Those who have died live a new and deeper life.

c) Both observe the same reality—the deceased. Butone sees death, and only the other sees new life.One lacks the eyes of faith; the other sees thedeeper reality because of the eyes of faith.

2) Such is the situation of today’s celebration of AllSouls Day.a) We commemorate those who have died. Weremember the lives of those who have passedfrom this life.

b) Yet we believe and have hope that they truly arenot dead, but alive in the Lord, who promisedeverlasting life for those who believe.

c) “Life for the faithful is changed, not ended” as weacclaim in one of the Prefaces we pray at Massesfor the dead.

3) In today’s passage from the Gospel of John, Jesusassures us that it is the will of God the Father thatall live forever.

a) The God revealed by Jesus is not a vengeful Godwho takes delight in the destruction of his people.

b) Rather, God the Father is a loving God who goesto extreme measures to bring his children topeace.

c) He even sent his Son to live and die for us, show-ing us his infinite love. The insight from the Bookof Wisdom reaches its fullest meaning in the mes-sage of Jesus. Truly, the dead are at peace.

4) We are like the person who views a slab of marbleand sees its potential. We, in faith, view the realityof death and see in it the possibility of new life.a) This does not make the death of a loved one easy,nor does it cheapen the pain we feel in separationand loss. These feelings are real and appropriate.

b) But we do see the possibility that death opens forus in the promise of eternal life. And in that faith,we find our hope and consolation.

C) TRANSITION TO LITURGY OF THE EUCHARISTAs we enter into the Eucharist, we remember the deathand resurrection of the Lord, the events in which wefind our hope and consolation. Death for Jesus was noteasy. Mary and the apostles grieved the loss of a sonand friend. But Easter brought incomparable joy andpeace. So, too, the death and resurrection of Jesus bringus peace and hope. It is in the Eucharist that we nowexperience the power of the crucified-risen Jesus. Hehelps us realize that Christian death results in heavelylife. Earthly sadness will be transformed into eternaljoy.

(Don Miller, OFM)

All Souls Day November 2, 2014

Exegesis of the 1st reading, Ez 47:1–2, 8–9, 12

The temple of the Lord prevails in Ezekiel’s visions.Before the collapse of the kingdom, his visions forecastGod’s abandoning the temple made so unclean by thesins of the people. With God no longer associated withthe Jerusalem temple, the city has lost its only truesource of protection, although many in the city mistak-enly believed they had protection in an alliance withEgypt. But circumstances have changed dramaticallyin the vision recorded in this reading. 1) New temple. In previous chapters, a heavenly mes-

senger has been walking Ezekiel through a new tem-ple. This new temple is constructed by God and not bymortals. It represents, therefore, the ideal place whereGod and humanity come together. With all the corrup-tion of the past removed, God enters this temple tostay. As is stated so dramatically at Ez 43:7, the feet ofthe Lord will be firmly planted in this temple.2) New life. God’s presence in the temple brings new

life to the nation. This is represented by the stream ofwater flowing from the temple’s south side. As thewater flows to the sea, it transforms the surroundingarid land into a lush garden, reminiscent of the Gardenof Eden. The trees in this garden have unique proper-ties. They produce fruit for the people year-round.Even their leaves benefit humanity by offering themhealing. The clear lesson from these details is that Godis the only lasting source of life and security for thepeople.

Exegesis of the 2nd reading, 1 Cor 3:9c–11,16–17

1) Church’s foundation. Paul tells us that he laid thefoundation for God’s building, but then he adds thatthis foundation is Jesus Christ. He calls himself “a wisemaster builder”—another way of claiming to be afaithful apostle.2) Temple of God. Paul reminds the community that

they are the temple and that the Spirit dwells in them.In a strong statement, Paul warns that God will destroyanyone who destroys God’s holy temple.

Exegesis of the Gospel, Jn 2:13–22 The incident of Jesus cleansing the temple appears

in all four Gospels. However, only in John does thisevent happen at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. TheSynoptic Gospels place it at the end of the ministry, andit becomes the motive Jesus’ opponents use for havinghim killed. Historically, the Synoptics are more accu-rate. John has placed this event at the beginning ofJesus’ ministry for theological reasons. It becomesmore about the fate of Jesus than about the temple.Here, Jesus confronts the authority of the great templeof Jerusalem with his own authority.1) Jews and Christians. The tone is set in the first sen-

tence where we are told that the “Passover of the Jews”was near. John seems to want to separate the Christiansfrom the Jews. In fact, the Christians had by this timebeen expelled from membership in the Jewish syna-gogue. In the temple, Jesus engages in a symbolicaction. He drives out those selling animals to be sacri-ficed at Passover, as well as the money changers.However, Jesus’ argument is not with these vendorsand money changers. This is all symbolic for the entiretemple system. The temple had authority over almostevery aspect of Jewish life. Using his own authority asMessiah and Son of God, Jesus declares the whole tem-ple system null and void. It has failed to bring faithful-ness and holiness to the people.2) The new temple. The evangelist inserts a typical

Johannine misunderstanding about destroying andrebuilding the temple in three days. The Jewish author-ities misunderstand Jesus and think he is talking liter-ally about the physical building. He is talking about hisbody, which has now replaced the temple in the faithand understanding of the Johannine Christians. Eventhe disciples are portrayed as failing to understandwhat Jesus meant until after his resurrection. Christians do not put their faith in a temple. They

believe in Jesus, and all they need to worship him isspirit and truth. No building is required. Everythingthat the temple was understood to provide for the Jewsis now understood by the Christians to come fromJesus. It is no accident that the Church came to beunderstood as the Body of Christ.

Dedication of St. John Lateran

November 9, 2014

Annual readings

Lectionary #671







PURPOSE: To recognize and rejoice in the presence ofthe Lord in his people, the Church.

SUMMARY: Jesus grew up as a Jew with awarenessand respect for the centrality of the temple in Hebrewlife. By his life, death, and resurrection, he replaced thesignificance of the Jewish temple as a building, makingit clear that we ourselves are now the temple where theSpirit of God dwells.

A) ATTENTION-GETTER For citizens of the US es-tablishment, ownership of a home is often cited as the“American Dream.” So many of our cultural elementsare based on the concept of “home.” TV shows such as“This Old House” provide information for peoplewanting to improve or renovate their homes. There iseven at least one TV channel that focuses on do-it-yourself efforts to make improvements to windowsand doors, update plumbing and electrical systems,and renovate kitchens and bathrooms.Our view of “home” today is really a logical exten-

sion of a desire to settle down in a place of our ownthroughout all human history.

In like manner, people have established houses ofworship, best exemplified by the temple of Jerusalemand many edifices constructed by practitioners ofChristianity. Today’s feast on the Church’s calendarcelebrates the dedication of the basilica of St. JohnLateran, the “home church” of the bishop of Rome.

B) APPLICATION Since the beginnings of religiousfaith, temples or houses of worship have played animportant role in the lives of believers

1) The prophet Ezekiel had a vision of a temple withan angel guide. a) A stream of water in Ezekiel’s vision symbolizesnew life flowing from God to his people.

b) The water brings forth new life in the form of allkinds of living creatures.

c) Trees bearing fresh fruit are another sign of God’spresence.

d) The fruit of the trees will not only be food butalso serve as medicine.

2) Paul lays claim to his role as one of the builders ofthe foundation of the community of believers thatis the Church.a) Paul makes it clear that the community of believ-ers is the metaphorical building in which Goddwells.

b) Paul compares himself to a master builderbecause of his role in the formation of the Church.

c) Paul makes it clear that the true foundation of theChurch is Christ.

d) Paul reminds us that members of the Church cancontribute to its building but can also harm theChurch.

3) Jesus makes it obvious that he has come to bringthe old belief system to fulfillment.a) John’s account says Jesus arrived at the templenear the observance of Passover at the beginningof his ministry.

b) Saying they had made the house of God into amarketplace, Jesus drove those who were sellinganimals for sacrifice as well as the money-chang-ers out of the temple.

c) On being challenged by those who remained,Jesus made a seemingly preposterous claim aboutdestroying the temple and raising it up in threedays.

d) Jesus was actually speaking about the temple ofhis body and alluding to his own death and res-urrection.

e) The evangelist John notes that the disciplesremembered these remarks after the resurrection.

3) Believers in Christ do not require a building to bein the presence of God.a) While believers have always sought a place orbuilding in which to worship God, such physicalstructures are no longer essential.

b) We who believe in Christ can know God’s pres-ence wherever we are.

c) The community of the Church is Christ’s bodymanifested in our world.

C) TRANSITION TO LITURGY OF THE EUCHARISTWhenever we gather, God is in our midst. Knowingthat, we approach the Lord's table in the Lord’s hometo celebrate the presence of Christ in our world and ineach of us.

(John E. Hingsbergen)

Dedication of St. John Lateran November 9, 2014

Exegesis of the 1st reading, Prv 31:10–13, 19–20,30–31

The final chapter of Prv honors the worthy wife. Sheis a fine representative of Lady Wisdom celebrated inthe opening chapters of Prv. In fact, details in this trib-ute to her remind readers of the character of LadyWisdom in the opening chapters of the book. This read-ing is composed of selections from a poem of 22 lines,each line beginning with a successive letter of theHebrew alphabet. This alphabetic arrangement is morethan a mere contrivance; it denotes completion andwholeness, adding to the perfection found in this idealspouse. 1) Search. The poem begins with the discovery of so

worthy a spouse. The implication is that the man hadbeen searching for such a partner for quite some time.In a similar way, the many proverbs within this bookchallenge readers to search for wisdom. Like this per-fect spouse, Wisdom likewise has a value beyond any-thing this world can offer. Once she is found, the manentrusts his heart to her. There is no fear of disappoint-ment or harm in having her. Similarly, the one whofinds Wisdom can be sure she will guide all her fol-lowers along a path that leads to life.2) Benefits. The poem gives special attention to the

hands of this perfect spouse. They are skillful at pro-viding for the protection of her family. She makesclothing to shield them from the rays of the sun and tokeep them warm in the cold. The poem marvels at howeasily her fingers work with the spindle and the distaff.She reaches out to the poor with her hands too, giftingthem also with her creations. She embraces the needyto give them comfort.

Exegesis of the 2nd reading, 1 Thes 5:1-6

1) Day of darkness. For people who refuse to believein Jesus, his coming will be like a thief in the night.They will suffer disaster and be lost in darkness.2) Day of light. Paul encourages his people to be alert

spiritually. Then they will be “children of light” andenjoy the Day of the Lord.

Exegesis of the Gospel, Mt 25:14-30

Today’s parable of the talents has seriously chal-lenged interpreters almost from the beginning. Is the“master” in the story supposed to be a metaphor forGod? Did the servants do the right thing with the tal-ents entrusted to them? 1) The usual interpretation sees the parable as recom-

mending responsible activity on the part of the ser-vants in the absence of their master. Those who mademore with what the master had entrusted to them rep-resent positive acceptable behavior as opposed to thefearful inactivity of the one servant who only buriedhis treasure and then gave it back. Therefore, we, too,are to use our talents well because, at the final endwhen the Lord comes, we will be held accountable. 2) Another interpretation sees the Master as a

metaphor for many corrupt absentee landowners. Hisreputation is well known: A demanding person, heharvests where he did not plant and gathers where hedid not scatter. The first two servants did exactly whatthe master expected them to do, and by doing so, theyparticipated in the master’s corrupt ways. But theywere rewarded. The third servant refuses to participatein the corrupt system. Unlike the first two, this servantdescribes the master as corrupt. The third servant isafraid because he has done a very dangerous thing andhe knows how this master will respond, and he is right.In the master’s system, the rich get richer and the poorget poorer. Those who refuse to participate in the cor-ruption get cast out or even killed.Without attempting to make Jesus into a modern

social activist, this second approach to the story fits thementality and activity of Jesus better than the first.Jesus wants the righteousness of his disciples to exceedthat of the scribes and Pharisees. Perhaps that means standing up and refusing to

continue to participate in social corruption regardlessof the repercussions. Perhaps the real hero of this storyis the last servant who, in spite of his fear, refuses totake part in the master’s corruption. He will get noreward from the corrupt master but, as Jesus promisesto those persecuted for righteousness sake, theirs is thekingdom of heaven.

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

November 16, 2014

Series A readings

Lectionary #157







PURPOSE: To help us recognize that God has a planfor humanity and that we can either help or hinderthat plan’s fulfillment.

SUMMARY: The grace and life we have been given bythe Lord is meant to multiply and spread its effects inthe lives around us.

A) ATTENTION-GETTER Beavers are fascinating ani-mals. They’ve created more ponds and lakes than wecan ever imagine because they love to swim and puttheir homes in waters that can protect them frompredators who can’t swim or invade their nests. Yet,beavers are also dangerous pests for animals and peo-ple downstream who rely on the waters the beaversare holding back.

B) APPLICATION While beavers are great at creatingnew ecosystems, the reality is that beavers live forbeavers. They really don’t give a dam (pun intended),neither do they build one, for anyone but themselves.People can be like beavers. We can be given great teethand great skills for engineering, but we’re not alwaysthinking about what our dams are doing to the rest ofour fellow creatures.

1)The Gospel parable is about an investment ofmoney that the servants do not own.a) They are being given their master’s money toinvest “according to their abilities.”

b) Two of the men in the story double the invest-ment to the master’s benefit.

c) One of the men is more afraid of what the masterwill do to him if he loses it; he’s more preoccupiedwith his own future, not with the master’s.

2) Jesus’ parable intends to focus on God’s goals andGod’s mission.a) God’s gifts are meant for a purpose.b) Unlike the master, God’s treasure is not to enrich

himself.c) God’s gifts are intended to multiply for the sakeof others.

3) One way to ‘dam up’ God’s gifts is to imagine theyare intended only for us.a) Pope Francis has warned seminarians that the callto priesthood is not about personal fulfillment.Vocations need to be judged on whether a futurepriest is good for the People of God.

b) In marriage, ideally, spouses are sent for the sal-

vation of the other spouse, becoming a sign ofGod’s fidelity and compassion. That’s whatmakes the sacrament.

c) Is Mass really for you and me? The word Masscomes from missa, which implies being sent for atask. Can we be so deceived as to think we’re herefor ourselves—and not for the God who has aplan for us to accomplish outside?

4) The proverbial wife of Proverbs devotes her life tothe benefit of the family and not to self-interest.a) Those who think the reading means that men cansit around and do nothing and watch the wife doeverything are definitely on the wrong track.

b) In ancient Palestine, wives were a major invest-ment that had to be chosen wisely; she can multi-ply the goods of a family and benefit the mem-bers’ lives and reputations.

5) The task of all followers of Jesus is to devote ourenergies to God’s project: Goodness is shared sothat goodness can be shared. a) Hoarded goodness is a contradiction in terms.b) Acts of kindness or a smile from a good person

inspire goodness in others.c) Time spent with a child, with our spouse, in acharitable act, or at a parish picnic is never wast-ed. It will reap goodness that goes beyond thesimple action.

C) CONCLUSION God calls us to live for his futureand not our own. We’ve been given a treasure to passon, a way to move forward God’s kingdom, knowingthat Jesus and his self-gift are the pattern for all menand women. We live so that God’s reign, God’s life andgrace, will live on and prosper in human lives so thatall may be saved and know the joy of the Good News.Life is meant to be shared, not squandered.

D) TRANSITION TO LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST:This Eucharist leads to communion. God’s grace andlife become real when communion takes a humanform: lives poured out for the sake of the other. Christ’seternal life is a great gift, but it is lost, or at leastblocked, when all we do is receive it. As OscarHammerstein II once wrote, “Love isn’t love till yougive it away.” What a great investment God makes inus today. Let’s not make self-serving lakes; let the riverflow.

(John Petrikovic, OFM Cap.)

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time November 16, 2014

Exegesis of the 1st reading, Ez 34:11–12, 15–17

This oracle comes after the devastating news thatthe city of Jerusalem has fallen to the Babylonian army(Ez 33:21). Ezekiel did his best to turn the hearts of thepeople toward God so they would never have to hearsuch news. But king and people alike refuse to listen tothe prophet. And so the inevitable end comes. But it isalso a beginning. From here on, Ezekiel’s oracles areabout the restoration of the kingdom. The first of suchoracles, this one features the famous valley of the drybones. 1) Shepherd. The title of shepherd was traditionally

applied to kings in the ancient world. Like a shepherdover a flock of sheep, a king was expected to care forthe people. This was especially true for the royal houseof Israel. David was, in fact, a shepherd when he madehis first appearance. David and his successors weresupposed to be first and foremost spiritual guides forthe people of God, the only true King of Israel. But hisideal was never realized as the fall of Jerusalem madeentirely clear. In this oracle, God announces dramati-cally, “I myself will look after and tend my sheep . . . .”2) For the people. As the ideal shepherd, God will

undo all the harm inflicted upon the people by David’ssuccessors. Their misguided policies so weakened thekingdom that it finally collapsed. But God will bring anexiled people back to their homeland. God will healthem and give them the security they never had fromthe kings of old.

Exegesis of the 2nd reading, 1 Cor 15:20–26, 28

1) Christ the King. By his death and resurrection,Jesus became king of the kingdom of God. He has con-quered all the evil forces hostile to God.2) God the Father, King. At the end, Jesus will come in

glory. Then he will hand over the kingdom to hisFather.

Exegesis of the Gospel, Mt 25:31–46

Today’s Gospel is a judgment scene wherein the Sonof Man in all his glory makes preparation for the finaljudgment. He assumes the authoritative position of sit-

ting upon his glorious throne. Those to be judged aredescribed as “all the nations.” That implies all the peo-ples of the world, including the Church. The dynamicof the process is a simple dividing of people who areacceptable from those who are unacceptable. Theimage is given of dividing sheep from goats. Sheep arehere considered good while goats are considered bad.No one is sure why these connotations are given eitherto sheep or to goats. There is no long tradition aboutthis. Those who are judged positively will be invited toinherit the kingdom prepared for them from the foun-dation of the world. Those judged negatively will becast into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and hisangels.1) Positive judgment. The criteria for judgment

involve what we call the corporal works of mercy:feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, hospi-tality to the stranger, clothing the naked, caring for theill, and visiting those in prison. Those judged positive-ly do these works without any thought of reward orulterior motive. Most especially, they are done for theleast of the brothers and sisters. Many think that inMt’s Gospel this refers to Christian disciples or mis-sionaries and how they were treated and accepted asthey carry out their work.2) Negative judgement. Those judged negatively

would have done these corporal works of mercy if theywere aware that there was something in it for them.Since they did not recognize this, they did nothing andignored the least of the brothers and sisters. The Son ofMan makes it very clear that whatever was or was notdone to the least of the brothers and sisters was ineffect done or not done to him. The criteria involvingthe corporal works of mercy are very suitable for Mt’sGospel. He persistently emphasizes putting the teach-ing of Jesus into practice. Nothing could do this betterthan these works, and to do so not because of any senseof reward, merit, or recognition. This is what Jesus didin his own life and ministry. This is what all disciplesare called to do. This is what it means to be a discipleof Jesus. It is not how much theology, doctrine, orinspirational words one knows. It is about selflesslycaring for the least of the brothers and sisters.

Christ the King

November 23, 2014

Series A readings

Lectionary #160







PURPOSE: To point out that our Christian mission isto further Christ’s kingdom of truth, holiness, love, jus-tice, and peace.

SUMMARY: Christ is a king, but his kingdom is notof this world.

A) ATTENTION-GETTER St. Thomas More, the 16th-century Lord Chancellor of England, was beheaded forrefusing to sign a letter asking Pope Clement VII toannul King Henry VIII’s marriage to Catherine ofAragon because she had not given him a son. He fur-ther antagonized Henry VIII by refusing to take anOath of Supremacy declaring Henry Supreme Head ofthe Church of England. On his way to the scaffold,Thomas sent a message to Henry saying, “I die theking’s faithful servant, but God’s first.”

B) APPLICATION Thomas knew that he had given hisbest to the king and done his best to further the king’sreign, even though Henry did not recognize it. Like St.Thomas, we are to be Christ the King’s good servants.In fact, the reign of God will be a long time comingunless we are our King’s good servants—unless wemean it when we pray, “Thy kingdom come,” and thenput some muscle into our prayer by doing somethingabout it.

1) It has been said that Christ is a powerless kingbecause his kingdom is totally at odds with anydisplay of power in this world.a) We have all seen examples of people who abusetheir power in an attempt to dominate andmanipulate others.

b) That kind of power has no place in Christ’s king-dom.

c) The epitome of Christ as a powerless king is seenespecially in Jesus’ total powerlessness on thecross.

2) Violence or retribution are totally foreign toChrist’s kingdom. a) The feast of Christ the King is a recent feast. Itwas instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1925 preciselybecause nations and rulers were abusing theirpower at the time.

b) Dominance, competition, and vengeance have noplace in Christ’s kingdom.

c) The values of Christ’s kingdom are service andhumility.

3) Christ the King is as living symbol God’s lavish-ness. a) Christ the King is someone looking out for us,using the power of God for our benefit.

b) That power reaches not only into the future,beyond space and time. It also reaches the hereand now.

c) It includes and speaks to us. It permeates us. d) God’s reign, God’s kingdom, is present whenev-er anyone is willing to stand and speak the truth– as Jesus stood and spoke for the truth.

4) Christ the King was chosen by God to serve God’speople.a) How heartening to have someone with power onour side.

b) How comforting to have someone looking out forus and for our good.

c) Through the Spirit, Christ the King gives uspower to use for the benefit of the powerless—theleast of our sisters and brothers.

5) And how do we use that power to benefit the pow-erless? Today’s Gospel is quite clear about that. a) Feed the hungry.b) Give drink to the thirsty.c) Clothe the naked.d) Welcome the stranger.e) Comfort the ill. f) Visit the imprisoned.

C) CONCLUSION The fulfillment of Christ’s king-dom in large part relies on us. It relies on our possess-ing faith, hope, and love that are strong and far-reach-ing. Christ’s kingdom relies on our willingness to—like St. Thomas More—give our best as our King’sgood servants.

D) TRANSITION TO LITURGY OF THE EUCHARISTAs we move now to celebrate the banquet of God’s lav-ish and limitless love—and abundant nourishment—let us be open to the power of God’s Spirit working inand through us. That Spirit empowers us to share thisbountiful love and nourishment with all others in theworld. This is indeed something for which to givethanks in today’s celebration of the Eucharist andthrough the coming week as we approach our nation’scelebration of thanks.

(Sandra DeGidio, OSM)

Christ the King November 23, 2014

because many sunday homily helps subscrip - you … · · 2016-09-08because many sunday homily...

Documents