Homily for the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Audio for homily
Before preaching on this gospel text
I think it’s only fair
that I make a statement of full disclosure:
I am the second son!
No doubt about it!
I usually have the best of intentions.
I generally want to do the right thing.
I plan to do the right thing.
I say I'm going to do the right thing.
I’m very good at reassuring myself that I am, indeed,
going to DO what I know I should do.
I tell the Lord I’m going to do what I know he wants me to do.
But then, I put it off:
whatever it is I wanted to do, needed to do -
I put off doing it.
I avoid it.
I get busy.
I get too busy.
I get too busy doing other things:
sometimes other good things
and sometimes other not so good things.
And sometimes I put off doing whatever it was long enough
that I end up forgetting what it was I wanted to do,
what I planned to do,
what I promised the Lord I’d do.
Like the second son in the gospel story,
I say, “YES! I’ll do that. “
But I don’t follow through.
And I repeat this failure over and over again.
- I tell myself I’m going to eat more healthful food.
But I don’t.
- I tell myself I’m going to exercise more.
(Actually, I tell myself I'm going to exercise!)
But I don’t.
- I tell myself I’m going to pray more.
But I don’t.
- I’ve got some habits I want to put an end to.
And I don’t.
- I promise to be more generous with my time, my money, my talents.
But I’m not.
- I’ve got character flaws I resolve to work on.
But then I don’t.
And I don’t think I’m the only one here with this problem.
It’s a problem as old as the parables of Jesus.
We want to do the right thing… but we don’t.
We want to change… but we don’t.
We want to do more than just say “I will!” … but we don’t.
What can break this vicious circle?
What might get us at least to the level of the first son
who said he wasn’t going to do what was asked of him --
but then had a change of heart - and followed through?
The clue to an answer is in the second scripture today.
Recall these words:
Have in you the same attitudeMight we pray to empty ourselves of our false promises
that is also in Christ Jesus…
who emptied himself… who humbled himself…
and invite the Lord to come in
and make the changes we seem unable to make on our own?
Would you pray for that with me?
This morning?
If it helps, close your eyes…
Let us pray…
Lord, some things in my life need changing
and I wish these changes would happen over night
but change comes slowly to me -
perhaps because I come slowly to change...
Help me change, Lord.
Open me to the changes I want to make,
to the changes you want me to make in my life…
Change me from the inside out, Lord,
reset my heart and adjust it to loving and being loved;
let my mind be in sync with your word and wisdom...
Stretch me, Lord,
to be the person you call me to be;
stretch me until I’m satisfied with nothing less
than being the person you created me to be...
Open my eyes, Lord,
to see your hands at work in my life
helping me to change, every day...
Open my ears to hear your voice guiding me
through the changes I need to make...
Open my mouth, Lord,
to pray, to ask for your help
with the changes I most need to make...
Open my hands
to work for the change that will lift others up…
Open my heart, Lord,
to your Spirit shaping, shifting, changing me from within...
So many things in my life need changing, Lord:
heal and mend whatever’s torn, wounded and broken...
Change me, Lord:
open, empty and humble my heart
for the sake of all whose paths cross mine:
help me serve those in need,
cheer those who sorrow,
comfort those who grieve,
stand with those who are alone,
and rejoice with those whose hearts are glad…
You emptied yourself, Lord,
you humbled yourself on the Cross,
becoming obedient even to the point of death.
We come now to your table, Lord,
where your Spirit changes our gifts of bread and wine,
and makes of them your Body and Blood in the Eucharist.
Change us, too, Lord,
and make of us the people you call us to be.
Amen.
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Gobsmackingly beautiful.
ReplyDeleteHearing it doubly so- now to put it into practice !!
Thank you and Blessings
it seems to be the second son is to be human...always so much that can be changed! It's a lifetime of fall and return...but as i look over my shoulder i see i've been more faithful than i give myself credit for. I think Julian of Norwich sad it best..."first the fall, then the recovery from the fall but BOTH are the mercy of God."
ReplyDeleteTelling myself to change never seems to work. Two things that do seem to be helping me change: 1) remembering that I am not special (who am I to think I have to be perfect?) and 2)trying to really "see" other people - listen to and see them as feeling, hurting, loving children of God, just as I am.
ReplyDeleteMMatthews