A Homily – Feast of All Saints, a Holy Day of Obligation (Year B)

First Reading – Apocalypse 7:2-4, 9-14 ©

Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 23(24):1-6 ©

Second Reading – 1 John 3;1-3 ©

Gospel Acclamation – Matthew 11:28 ©

The Gospel According to Matthew 5:1 – 12a ©

 

(NJB)

 

Listen!

God, the creator of the universe, God is not a king. The divine is not the lord of dominions, God does not sit on a throne.

Know this.

The multitude John witnessed in his vision is a society without number, there is no upper limit to its measure, it is continually aborning and without end.

The multitude is comprised of every person who has experienced the tribulations of living, every single one of us who has come into being and suffered while they sojourned through time and space.

Every human being who is alive today, has ever been or will ever be, all of us belong to the multitude…all of us children of the living God gathered together in the continuum of being, none of us are lost. This is the good news, and in it lies the way, our good-shepherd has directed us toward this end.

Understand this.

We are not saved by the blood of the lamb, not the literal sense, this is a metaphor. There is no sanctification or justification through ritual sacrifice, but there is in the feast that follows, where we all come to the table to share in the communal gift.

We may experience something of salvation in the here and now, if we let go of our enmities, forgive those who have wronged us, as God has forgiven us, and when we have accepted the forgiveness of those we have wronged. 

Be mindful!

The reading from Genesis is powerful, but do not look for God to come draped in glory, power and honors. Remember the humility of Jesus, look for divine there, as if God’s own self were as gentle as a lamb.

Remember.

All things and persons have their being in God; the divine is the foundation of all that is, without God there is nothing, without God there is not even the possibility of something,  

 If you wish to climb the mountain, and you are going their to find God, that is fine, there is nothing wrong with that, but God is closer than that, you may simply turn to your neighbor and see God reflected in their face. Behold the face of God, and it God’s holy presence give thanks  

 Be mindful.

 Do not worry about your own relative state of holiness, knowing that God loved you before creation, when only the possibility of you existed, believe that you are a holy vessel, worthy of God’s adoration, simply because you are. All things and everyone is loved by God, there is no better measure of holiness.

 There is no vanity in emulating the love that God bears for all God’s children. Look for God’s blessing in the service you provide to your neighbor, to your mother and father, to your sister and brother. Be justified in the quality and extent of your mercy.

 If you go looking for the God of Jacob, instead of seeing God in Jacob you will staring at idols.

 Know this!

 God is not confined to the pages of a book or by the inked letters on a scroll, the divine is not bound by the history and mythology of a people. It is fine to see in those things glimpses of the divine, the records and remembrances of past encounters, but if you seek the living God you must look to living.

 Consider the work of the apostle:

 When you are preaching the faith you are always speaking to the children of God, and there is nothing you yourself can do to affect their salvation, their salvation has already been accomplished in God and through God’s grace.

 Be mindful.

The teachings of Jesus cannot be treated like a shell game, though they are, and have been since the beginning, as Matthew illustrates.

 The way of Jesus is not a long can, it is not a bait and switch, it is a simple teaching that cannot be controlled or owned by any one group of people.

 The wise and the powerful, the learned and the clever, the weak and the meek, everyone has access to the same truth, to the knowledge of God, of justice, of hope, and love.

 Just because a person may be wise and powerful, learned and clever, or a child of the church, does not mean they recognize the truth when they see it, or act upon when they do.

 It is not your station in society, it is not how other people regard you, it is not the titles you have earned, or the ways that you have been marginalized that give us the tell on how you will fulfill the calling to follow Jesus. What matters is what is in your heart, and your willingness to trust in the content of your hope.

 Consider the Gospel reading for the day:

 Much has been written about the sermon on the mount. It is hard for me to believe that I would have anything new to add to that discussion, but adding something new is not as important as sharing the story and how it has shaped my perspective on the Gospel. Adding something new  happens all by itself, and by sharing our perspective we keep the conversation moving…this is the living faith.

 In the reading for today Jesus shares a way of seeing the world, of living in society, of understanding our relationship to the creator; a way that reverses the expectations of what a person might expect from the social compact that were prevalent in his time.

 Jesus might have said that the providence of heaven belongs to all people, regardless of who they are, where they came, or how far they think they are from the love of the creator, no matter what creed they profess or what traditions bind them…no matter how little they may think about God.

 The gentle of heart do seek to possess things, they have nothing to guard they are themselves unguarded and free; by freeing themselves from their desires they have gained everything.

 Have hope, our woes are temporary, all sadness and all mourning come to an end.

 Strive for what is right and just, for what is universal, for what touches all people; give up your concerns for yourself and your tribe. The narrow path leads to loneliness and misery, while the broad road leads to joy, the multitude are walking along it, walk in the company of your friends.

 Mercy follows upon mercy, as the sun follows the rain…be sure of it.

 All people come to the vision of God; this is as certain as that in time they will come to know their true selves, at which moment they will see the fullness of God at the center of their being, dwelling within everyone and uniting us as one.

 Accept the parentage of the divine and the reality of your status as a child of God; take up the task set before you: love justice, be merciful, make peace.

 The providence of heaven belongs to all people, its possession only comes through sharing it without reservation, distributing it to all of those in need.

 If you are abused and persecuted for the sake of peace and mercy. Have no fear, the powers of sin and evil, and the pain they bring, the reality of sickness and death; these are temporary, and will come to an end.

 

First Reading - Apocalypse 7:2-4,9-14

I Saw a Huge Number, Impossible to Count, of People from Every Nation, Race, Tribe and Language

I, John, saw another angel rising where the sun rises, carrying the seal of the living God; he called in a powerful voice to the four angels whose duty was to devastate land and sea, ‘Wait before you do any damage on land or at sea or to the trees, until we have put the seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.’ Then I heard how many were sealed: a hundred and forty-four thousand, out of all the tribes of Israel.

  After that I saw a huge number, impossible to count, of people from every nation, race, tribe and language; they were standing in front of the throne and in front of the Lamb, dressed in white robes and holding palms in their hands. They shouted aloud, ‘Victory to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’ And all the angels who were standing in a circle round the throne, surrounding the elders and the four animals, prostrated themselves before the throne, and touched the ground with their foreheads, worshipping God with these words, ‘Amen. Praise and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honour and power and strength to our God for ever and ever. Amen.’

  One of the elders then spoke, and asked me, ‘Do you know who these people are, dressed in white robes, and where they have come from?’ I answered him, ‘You can tell me, my lord.’ Then he said, ‘These are the people who have been through the great persecution, and they have washed their robes white again in the blood of the Lamb.’

 

Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 23(24):1-6

The Lord Comes to His Temple

The man with clean hands and pure heart will climb the mountain of the Lord.

Alleluia, alleluia!

The Lord’s is the earth and its fullness,

  the world and all who live in it.

He himself founded it upon the seas

  and set it firm over the waters.

Who will climb the mountain of the Lord?

  Who will stand in his holy place?

The one who is innocent of wrongdoing and pure of heart,

  who has not given himself to vanities or sworn falsely.

He will receive the blessing of the Lord

  and be justified by God his saviour.

This is the way of those who seek him,

  seek the face of the God of Jacob.

Gates, raise your heads. Stand up, eternal doors,

  and let the king of glory enter.

Who is the king of glory?

The Lord of might and power.

  The Lord, strong in battle.

Gates, raise your heads. Stand up, eternal doors,

  and let the king of glory enter.

Who is the king of glory?

The Lord of hosts

 – he is the king of glory.

Amen.

The man with clean hands and pure heart will climb the mountain of the Lord.

Alleluia!

 

Second Reading - 1 John 3:1-3

We Shall be Like God Because We Shall See Him as He Really Is

Think of the love that the Father has lavished on us, by letting us be called God’s children; and that is what we are.

Because the world refused to acknowledge him, therefore it does not acknowledge us.

My dear people, we are already the children of God but what we are to be in the future has not yet been revealed; all we know is, that when it is revealed we shall be like him because we shall see him as he really is.

Surely everyone who entertains this hope must purify himself, must try to be as pure as Christ.

 

Gospel Acclamation – Matthew 11:28

Alleluia, alleluia!

Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened and I will give you rest, says the Lord.

Alleluia!

 

The Gospel According to Matthew 5:1-12a

How Happy are the Poor in Spirit

Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up the hill. There he sat down and was joined by his disciples. Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them:

‘How happy are the poor in spirit; theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Happy the gentle:

  they shall have the earth for their heritage.

Happy those who mourn:

  they shall be comforted.

Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right:

  they shall be satisfied.

Happy the merciful:

  they shall have mercy shown them.

Happy the pure in heart:

  they shall see God.

Happy the peacemakers:

  they shall be called sons of God.

Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right:

  theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

‘Happy are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.’

 

A Homily – Feast of All Saints, a Holy Day of Obligation (Year B)

A Homily – The Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

First Reading – Jeremiah 31:7-9

Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 125(126)

Second Reading – Hebrews 5:1-6

Gospel Acclamation – John 8:12

Alternative Acclamation – 2 Timothy 1:10

The Gospel According to Mark 10:46-52 ©

 

(NJB)

 

Listen!

 It is wide and good to trust in the divine, the way is before us and it leads to salvation, have faith in God.

 From north to south, from east to west, all people are included in God’s plan for the salvation of the world; this is the meaning of the cross, upon which God draws all things and beings into the divine self and there is no-one left behind.

 Be mindful.

 Whatever trials we face on earth, we leave them behind in the end; from that point of departure, the divine spirit leads us along the way, on smooth paths beside clear streams, where we are graced not to stumble.

 Know this.

 It was not God, the creator of the universe, it was not God who freed the Jews from Babylon; it was the Cyrus, the king of Persia.

 It was a good deed and insofar as all good deeds have their origin in the goodness we all derive from the creator, then yes, God deserves the credit. Nevertheless, it was the free choice of the Persian King to release those who had been enslaved and their children who had grown up in captivity, it honored our common humanity to allow them to return to their homes.

 Not all the Jews went home, many of those whom the Persians freed remained where they were, more moved out into the diaspora establishing communities throughout the Mediterranean and the ancient Near East.

 When the contingent who returned to Judeah encountered their neighbors and cousins who had not been deported and enslaved by the Babylonians, the returnees made a choice to regard the people who were living on the land as impure, outcast or even as gentiles, not Hebrew at all. They built the second temple in Jerusalem, in part, to drive this point home.

 Know this!

 There are no priests along the way, God has no need for them. There is no rank or station among those who are on the way, we are sisters and brothers helping each other without regard to who is Jew or Gentile, male or female, stranger or exile.

 Remember.

 God prefers acts of mercy over blood rites and burnt offerings. Give God what God desires, walk humbly and serve justice all the days of your life, knowing that we are all in the way, and the way excludes no-one; we are all moving inexorably toward God, the divine source of all being.

 God is calling us to be holy, at all times God is speaking in our hearts, pulling at us with the constancy of gravity, inviting us into a life of compassion that leads to wellbeing. God calls us for the sake of love, God calls everyone and there is not one of us, not one child of God, not one being in the whole of creation who is outside of God’s plan.

 This was God’s plan from the beginning of time.

 Not for God to abolished death, but to revealed that the death of the body is merely a transition, a transition we all pass through on our journey toward the creator.

 Now consider the Gospel reading for the day:

 Jesus opens the eyes of the blind; this is a metaphor not a miracle of healing. Neither Jesus, nor we ourselves are able to suspend the laws of nature. It is not physical blindness that Jesus’ teaching addressed, but spiritual blindness for which the way is the cure.

 We must read the story metaphorically, acceptance of the literal interpretation, the reliance on the miracle narrative leads to a different kind of spiritual blindness that that which Jesus cured.

 The fact that the sacred text is replete with miracles and phantasmagoria is not the fault of Jesus, who never wrote a thing; it is the fault of the Gospel writers, and every succeeding generation of Christians who came after who failed to challenge these false constructions.

 The first false construction the narrative encourages us to accept is the notion that Jesus is the son of David: he was not; Jesus was the son of Joseph.

 Joseph is said to be in the lineage of David, and Jesus after him, but the only reason to call him that is to put forward the notion that Jesus had some kind of Royal authority.

 He did not. Jesus was not a king, he was a servant; just as God is not a king, God is our parent.

 We do not relate to Jesus and God as subjects to a ruler, but as siblings to a brother and child to their mother and father.

 Know this!

 A person cannot subject themselves to an authority that pretends to control the modes of mediation between the loving power of God and God’s own children.

 God is the sole arbiter of God’s power.

 When the disciples tried to block the man from approaching Jesus, Jesus moves them aside so that he may approach the man according to the way.

 Finally, today’s reading asks us to remember this: Jesus is addressed as Rabbi, he is himself a Pharisee. He was not a priest, he was a teacher, a scholar and a commentator on the law. 

 

First Reading – Jeremiah 31:7-9

I Will Guide Them By a Smooth Path Where They Will Not Stumble

The Lord says this:

 

Shout with joy for Jacob!

Hail the chief of nations!

Proclaim! Praise! Shout:

 

‘The Lord has saved his people, the remnant of Israel!’

 

See, I will bring them back from the land of the North and gather them from the far ends of earth; all of them: the blind and the lame, women with child, women in labour: a great company returning here.

 

They had left in tears, I will comfort them as I lead them back; I will guide them to streams of water, by a smooth path where they will not stumble.

For I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my first-born son.

 

Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 125(126)

Gladness and hope in the Lord

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

When the Lord gave Zion back her captives, we became like dreamers.

Our mouths were filled with gladness and our voices cried in exultation.

Among the Gentiles they were saying,

  “By his deeds the Lord has shown himself great.”

The Lord’s deeds showed forth his greatness,

  and filled us with rejoicing.

Give us back our captives, O Lord,

  as you renew the dry streams in the desolate South.

Those who sow in tears will rejoice at the harvest.

They wept as they went, went with seed for the sowing;

but with joy they will come, come bearing the sheaves.

Amen.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

 

Second Reading – Hebrews 5:1-6

'You Are a Priest of the Order of Melchizedek, and For Ever'

Every high priest has been taken out of mankind and is appointed to act for men in their relations with God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins; and so he can sympathise with those who are ignorant or uncertain because he too lives in the limitations of weakness. That is why he has to make sin offerings for himself as well as for the people. No one takes this honour on himself, but each one is called by God, as Aaron was. Nor did Christ give himself the glory of becoming high priest, but he had it from the one who said to him: You are my son, today I have become your father, and in another text: You are a priest of the order of Melchizedek, and for ever.

 

Gospel Acclamation – John 8:12

Alleluia, alleluia!

I am the light of the world, says the Lord; anyone who follows me will have the light of life.

Alleluia!

 

Alternative Acclamation – 2 Timothy 1:10

Alleluia, alleluia!

Our Saviour Jesus Christ abolished death and he has proclaimed life through the Good News.

Alleluia!

 

The Gospel According to Mark 10:46-52 ©

Go; Your Faith Has Saved You

As Jesus left Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus (that is, the son of Timaeus), a blind beggar, was sitting at the side of the road. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout and to say, ‘Son of David, Jesus, have pity on me.’ And many of them scolded him and told him to keep quiet, but he only shouted all the louder, ‘Son of David, have pity on me.’ Jesus stopped and said, ‘Call him here.’ So they called the blind man. ‘Courage,’ they said ‘get up; he is calling you.’ So throwing off his cloak, he jumped up and went to Jesus. Then Jesus spoke, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ ‘Rabbuni,’ the blind man said to him ‘Master, let me see again.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your faith has saved you.’ And immediately his sight returned and he followed him along the road.

 

A Homily – The Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

A Homily – The Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

First Reading – Isaiah 53:10-11

Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 32(33):4-5,18-20,22

Second Reading – Hebrews 4:14-16

Gospel Acclamation – John 14:6

The Gospel According to Mark 10:35-45 ©

 

(NJB)

 

Listen!

It is wise and good for the leader of a community, or anyone in a position of leadership, to assume responsibility for the mistakes made by those serving under their authority, it is wise and good.

When you rise to the leadership of an enduring community, you are responsibility for its present and its future but also for its history, including mistakes that were made before your time. At times this might be difficult, but the essence of leadership is problem solving, critical thinking and clarity of mind.

These principles may be applied to all human relationships, taking responsibility and admitting fault, seeking forgiveness and accepting it, this is the way that allows the spirit to flourish and leads to the divine. This is to say that when we enter into a relationship with another human being, we accept them for they are, for the potential that we see in them and their past no matter their faults.

As followers of the way, we tasked with leading ourselves, first and foremost, to the water that nourishes and the light that transforms.

Know this!

God, the creator of the universe, has taken responsibility for the entire creation and all that transpires within it, all the good that flows from the source of all goodness and all of the evil we return, God has taken responsibility for all of it…this is the mystery of the cross…and yet, though God has taken responsibility for it all, God will not intervene in our affairs.

God will not rescue a victim, God will not punish a perpetrator, God will not choose a winner or a loser in any contest or conflict...because God has made us, and the whole creation free.

The psalmist is correct.

It is fitting to praise God. It is wise to trust in God’s counsel, listen to your heart. Have faith in God’s mercy; though do not expect God to rescue you from danger, and do not believe that God’s loves any one of God’s children more than God loves any other; God’s promise extends to everyone, even the most broken.

God knows all things and understands all things…you have heard this said. God’s knowledge is not an abstract knowledge of particulars, of the minute details in individual events, God understands our person, our choices, our lives even as we understand them ourselves.

Trust in God’s plan for you, and for creation, but do not wait for salvation, you have already been saved, go out and share the good news.

Consider the teacher of the apostle  and ask yourself these questions:

     Is it true that in Jesus, the Son of God, there is no sin?

2.          Is it true that all things come into being, and have there existence in Jesus, who is God’s eternal Word?

3.          Is it true that not one thing exists apart from God?

 I ask again; is it true that in Jesus there is no sin?

 I ask this because Christian doctrine teaches that we are all “in Jesus,” and that “in Jesus” there is no sin.

 Are we really to believe that this thing exists?

What is its ontology, from what is it derived?

Is sin a substance, or a state of being?

 The apostle taught that Jesus was our “high priest,” not in his capacity as the deity, but in his humanity he takes the role of priest, and through the priestly mediation he connects with his followers through intimacy and ritual, encouraging the faithful along the way to dwell within the truth and be dedicated to the good of all God’s children.  

 When you consider the Gospel reading for the today, know this:

 Jesus did not come to give his life as a ransom for many. We know this because there was no ransom to pay…this is a poor metaphor, and figure of speech.

 Our salvation is not linked to the satisfaction of a cosmic debt, which in this configuration is imagined to be a debt owed by God to the Devil, a debt that Jesus, directed by his father, opted to pay on our behalf, and the price was blood. The idea that Jesus gave his life as a ransom is based in this concept, and this concept is not based in reality…it is false to say so.

 Know this.

 The meaning of the word salvation is: to make well, to be washed clean, or made whole.

 We do not live in a universe where we pay for our sins through blood sacrifices; we do not and we never have. Blood will not wash us clean.

 The economy of salvation, based on this concept is unjust, immoral and theologically bankrupt. It is transactional, rooted in superstition and corrupted by magical thinking.

 It must be rejected for its falsity, and because it is inherently susceptible to the corruption of grifters and graff.

 The sacrifice that Jesus would have us offer is the sacrifice of service manifested in the care we give to one another; through love and care, by fostering hope and trust, by relieving people of their pain and providing them comfort.

 While it may be true that Jesus saw the inevitability of his own death as a practical reality, and a likely possibility, it was not inevitable. His murder was an unnecessary, to the Romans and the State of Judea, it did not fulfil a cosmic purpose, it was merely cruel.

First Reading – Isaiah 53:10-11

If He Offers His Life in Atonement, What the Lord Wishes Will Be Done

The Lord has been pleased to crush his servant with suffering.

If he offers his life in atonement, he shall see his heirs, he shall have a long life and through him what the Lord wishes will be done.

His soul’s anguish over, he shall see the light and be content.

By his sufferings shall my servant justify many, taking their faults on himself.

 

Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 32(33):4-5,18-20,22

 The Lord provides

Praise is fitting for loyal hearts.

Alleluia, alleluia!

Rejoice in the Lord, you just:

  it is good for the upright to praise him.

Proclaim the Lord on the lyre,

  play his song on the ten-stringed harp.

Sing a new song to the Lord,

  sing out your cries of triumph,

for the word of the Lord is truly just,

  and all his actions are faithful.

The Lord loves justice and right judgement;

  the earth is full of his loving kindness.

By the Lord’s word the heavens were made,

  and all their array by the breath of his mouth.

He gathered the seas as if in a bag,

  he stored up the depths in his treasury.

Let every land fear the Lord,

  let all the world be awed at his presence.

For he spoke, and they came into being;

  he commanded, and they were made.

The Lord confounds the counsel of the nations,

  throws the thoughts of the peoples into confusion.

But the Lord’s own counsel stands firm for ever,

  his thoughts last for all generations.

Happy the nation whose lord is God,

  the people he has chosen as his inheritance.

The Lord looks down from the heavens

  and sees all the children of men.

From his dwelling-place he looks

  upon all who inhabit the earth.

He moulded each one of their hearts,

  he understands all that they do.

The king will not be saved by his forces;

  the abundance of his strength will not set the strong man free.

Do not trust a horse to save you,

  whatever its swiftness and strength.

For see, the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him,

  upon those who trust in his mercy,

hoping he will save their souls from death

  and their bodies from hunger.

Our souls praise the Lord,

  for he is our help and our protector,

for our hearts rejoice in him,

  and we trust in his holy name.

Lord, show us your loving kindness,

  just as we put our hope in you.

Amen.

Praise is fitting for loyal hearts.

Alleluia, alleluia!

 

Second Reading – Hebrews 4:14-16

Our High Priest is One Who Has Been Tempted in Every Way That We Are

Since in Jesus, the Son of God, we have the supreme high priest who has gone through to the highest heaven, we must never let go of the faith that we have professed. For it is not as if we had a high priest who was incapable of feeling our weaknesses with us; but we have one who has been tempted in every way that we are, though he is without sin. Let us be confident, then, in approaching the throne of grace, that we shall have mercy from him and find grace when we are in need of help.

 

Gospel Acclamation – John 14:6

Alleluia, alleluia!

I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, says the Lord; No one can come to the Father except through me.

Alleluia!

 

The Gospel According to Mark 10:35-45 ©

The Son of Man Came to Give His Life As a Ransom for Many

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached Jesus. ‘Master,’ they said to him ‘we want you to do us a favour.’

He said to them, ‘What is it you want me to do for you?’

They said to him, ‘Allow us to sit one at your right hand and the other at your left in your glory.’

‘You do not know what you are asking’ Jesus said to them. ‘Can you drink the cup that I must drink, or be baptised with the baptism with which I must be baptised?’

They replied, ‘We can.’

Jesus said to them, ‘The cup that I must drink you shall drink, and with the baptism with which I must be baptised you shall be baptised, but as for seats at my right hand or my left, these are not mine to grant; they belong to those to whom they have been allotted.’

When the other ten heard this they began to feel indignant with James and John, so Jesus called them to him and said to them, ‘You know that among the pagans their so-called rulers lord it over them, and their great men make their authority felt. This is not to happen among you. No; anyone who wants to become great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be slave to all. For the Son of Man himself did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’

A Homily – The Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)