Homily 7/05/2020

Readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/070520.cfm

Jesus prayed in our Gospel, “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth … you have revealed them [these things] to the little ones.”  Fr. Ha began our liturgy, “O God, who in the abasement of your Son have raised up a fallen world, fill your faithful with holy joy ….”  [Collect, Sunday, 7/05/2020]

Abasement means the humbling of Jesus, the Word of God.

This particular passage from Matthew’s Gospel has been called the “pearl” because it has a prayer offered by Jesus, & we are privileged to listen, while the Son [of God] talks to [God] the Father in [God] the Holy Spirit.

In our psalm we made a commitment, “Every day will I bless you & … praise your name forever and ever.”  St. Paul tells us if we live in the Spirit we will live forever.  The mystery of the Kingdom is living the Gospel Message like children, children who listen to their parents and follow their advice.  That is the call to TRUST God.  Think about this the Savior of the world humbling Himself to ride a donkey, can we follow His example?

We are called to build up God’s Kingdom, even if it means driving a 1999 Kia rather than a 2020 Mercedes Benz.  The world looks to power, wealth, fame, prestige, etc. to give its’ glory, adulation & honor, BUT Jesus reminds us that those things in and of themselves are not bad, but how we live is much more important.  Our Messiah, Jesus fully human and fully God wants us to realize, it is His yoke that we are called to carry, and He will help us.

These two stories may help us.

A Zen Buddhist priest named Tetsugen [Tet SU gen] sought to print several thousand copies of their holy books so the Japanese people would be able to read them.  He spent 10 years traveling all over Japan raising the money, from the rich and poor.

When he had enough money to print the books, a river overflowed and caused a great flood & he used all the money to help those who needed food and shelter.  Again, he went all over Japan asking for money to print the holy books and after ten year he had enough - then an epidemic spread across the country & he used the money for the sick, the suffering and the dying.  A third time he went all over Japan a third time, it took 20 years, but he was able to finally print the holy books for his people.

A copy of the 1^st edition is on display in a monastery in Kyoto.

The Japanese who visit tell their children that Tetsugen [Tet SU gen] published three editions of the holy book: the 1^st two are invisible but far superior to the 3^rd.  [Table Talk, Cycle A 14^th Sunday in Ordinary Time]

Living God’s Message is a powerful witness.  The 2^nd story is about a young mother on a church retreat who shared about her involvement in her parish.  I have three children & my days are focused on bringing our children up in the faith by teaching them stories from the Bible, bringing them to church & helping them learn what it means to be members of the body of Christ. [Connections, July]

Those stories point to God’s Message in action and this poem Jesus Speaks by J. Janda can help us, please close you eyes and open your mind and your heart:

“You get too discouraged

you forget you are learning to walk

of course, you fall down

give yourself time

i am patient with you

be more patient with yourself

i have something very special in mind for you

something only you can do

don’t give up.” [Saint Louis University Sunday Website]

N.C. State basketball coach Jim Valvano, when he was dying from cancer, gave a speech he ended it by saying, “Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.”  Take a few minutes, in silence, to reflect on your TRUST of God, and “Don’t Give Up, don’t ever give up.”

May God Be Praised!