Oct 26th 2008 Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time < Next Homily - Previous Homily >

October Homilies:  5th | 12th | 19th | 26th

  Today’s Gospel is a classic example of Mark’s use of miracle stories. He uses them to make a catechetical point, not to overwhelm the reader with Jesus’s power. Mark does not deny the power, but emphasizes rather our desire to understand, to grasp, to find meaning. If  you want really to see who you are and what you’re life is about, you must listen closely to Jesus, not seeking words which will serve your own agenda, but rather words which challenge you, make you think, force you to reflect.

read the padre
Keep in touch...
Locally, and Globally! 

Check out
Andrew M. Greeley's Columns for the
Chicago SunTimes'
Daily Southtown.
_

  Once upon a time a very wealthy Yuppie  and his girl friend went on a trip to Africa to hunt lions – with a camera because they were politically correct Yuppies They were shocked and disgusted by the poverty, the corruption, the hunger, and the sickness of the people in these countries. They told each other repeatedly how everything would be fine in Africa if the local people simply had a sense of initiative and responsibility and developed a work ethic something like the American one. As a matter of solemn principle they refused to give money to beggars. When they came home they told everyone that they would never go back – the lions were as lazy as the rest of the people in Africa. There was no point, they said in spending their tax dollars to help those who wouldn’t help themselves. Didn’t you have any sympathy with those poor people, another Yuppie asked them. How can you sympathize, they said, with those who aren’t ready to help themselves.

Psalm 18:1-4,46,49-50

1 I love thee, O LORD, my strength.
2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.
4 The cords of death encompassed me, the torrents of perdition assailed me;
46 The LORD lives; and blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation,
49 For this I will extol thee, O LORD, among the nations, and sing praises to thy name.
50 Great triumphs he gives to his king, and shows steadfast love to his anointed, to David and his descendants for ever.

October Homilies:  5th | 12th | 19th | 26th
Return to September Homilies

Articles | Messages | Author | Homilies | Previews | Mailbox Newsletters | Home

Father Greeley's blog - Read and comment on new articles directly? Click here: