Deacon Greg's Homily 9-11-16
Homily – September 11, 2016 (24th Sunday in Ordinary Time- C)
Read Luke 15: 1-32
Once again, the bell tolled and the names were read...
On September 11th, 2001, 19 self proclaimed militants hijacked four planes and carried out an organized attack on The World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, DC... A fourth plane crashed in a Pennsylvania field when it's passengers were able to divert and prevent the destruction of another target. Over 3000 people died on that morning, including over 400 police and firefighters responding to the attacks, sent in to search for the lost.
It goes without saying that this one event has defined the world we live in. This one event has become evidence of the best and the worst humanity has to offer. This one event still challenges us to the core, to find meaning and purpose from such a terrible morning, fifteen years ago.
Over 1100 families still have not found the remains of their loved ones. In a way, their search continues.
And then there's this... We sang before the Gospel, "God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation." When faced with such challenges as security threats and terror in this newly defined reality...
Once again, the bell tolled and the names were read...
On September 11th, 2001, 19 self proclaimed militants hijacked four planes and carried out an organized attack on The World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, DC... A fourth plane crashed in a Pennsylvania field when it's passengers were able to divert and prevent the destruction of another target. Over 3000 people died on that morning, including over 400 police and firefighters responding to the attacks, sent in to search for the lost.
It goes without saying that this one event has defined the world we live in. This one event has become evidence of the best and the worst humanity has to offer. This one event still challenges us to the core, to find meaning and purpose from such a terrible morning, fifteen years ago.
Over 1100 families still have not found the remains of their loved ones. In a way, their search continues.
And then there's this... We sang before the Gospel, "God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation." When faced with such challenges as security threats and terror in this newly defined reality...
- How do we forgive?
- When do we reach out and reconcile?
They say, "Never Forget!" While I'm sure that is the case for us all, the question left to ponder, even after all of these years, is how do we reconcile it all?
We've all experienced loss, and in this case, 9/11 was certainly poignant to be sure. Our faith tells us that ALL who perished on that morning were found, and hoisted up on to the shoulders of the Lord. And no matter their life's situation at that moment, they were welcomed home and greeted with much celebration by their Father, who loves them with great abundance and compassion.
We've all experienced loss, and in this case, 9/11 was certainly poignant to be sure. Our faith tells us that ALL who perished on that morning were found, and hoisted up on to the shoulders of the Lord. And no matter their life's situation at that moment, they were welcomed home and greeted with much celebration by their Father, who loves them with great abundance and compassion.
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As disciples, called to live a life that is centered on God, His love, and the allowing of His Son, Jesus Christ, to work through us; it is paramount that...
WE SEEK OUT THE LOST!
WE CELEBRATE THEIR RETURN!
WE WELCOME THEM HOME!
Let's be fair and admit that we tend to settle for the 99…
We’re a society that is sometimes OK with cutting our losses and moving on…
If God is overjoyed at the one who repents, over the 99 who seem to have no need for such things... The we should live with the same amount of love for those who are lost.
Look at the woman and the lost coin…
The word prodigal is defined as spending with reckless extravagance. In knowing this story, we know that the Son squandered everything and THEN came to his senses. In this spirit, I ask you who are currently "lost" in some way, ARE YOU READY TO BE FOUND? Again, its only fair to recognize that in the story, from the father's perspective, the son was "lost" as soon as he left home, but he didn't recognize it until he ran out of money! In the same way, please know that we're not complete, until you come home... But again, are you ready and willing to be found?
Even in the face of reckless extravagance, the son who finally wants to be found and come home, does so with desire and humility. None of that, however, was required for him to be met with his father's extravagant love that is synonymous with God’s mercy. In the story, the father almost knocks him down in his attempt to embrace him and welcome him home!
God models an unbounded love for ALL, especially the sinner! So as disciples, we’re called to do the same, and REJOICE with our whole heart, for these brothers and sisters of ours...
As disciples, called to live a life that is centered on God, His love, and the allowing of His Son, Jesus Christ, to work through us; it is paramount that...
WE SEEK OUT THE LOST!
WE CELEBRATE THEIR RETURN!
WE WELCOME THEM HOME!
Let's be fair and admit that we tend to settle for the 99…
We’re a society that is sometimes OK with cutting our losses and moving on…
- 99% is a very high A+.
- Going 9 for 10 in baseball is very rare.
- 99% pure is a widely held expectation of our bars of soap.
If God is overjoyed at the one who repents, over the 99 who seem to have no need for such things... The we should live with the same amount of love for those who are lost.
Look at the woman and the lost coin…
- Do we Celebrate all of our blessings, no matter how small?
- As disciples, we’re called to celebrate and VALUE even the smallest portion of those who are lost, for it is certainly worth the effort to search and to find!
The word prodigal is defined as spending with reckless extravagance. In knowing this story, we know that the Son squandered everything and THEN came to his senses. In this spirit, I ask you who are currently "lost" in some way, ARE YOU READY TO BE FOUND? Again, its only fair to recognize that in the story, from the father's perspective, the son was "lost" as soon as he left home, but he didn't recognize it until he ran out of money! In the same way, please know that we're not complete, until you come home... But again, are you ready and willing to be found?
Even in the face of reckless extravagance, the son who finally wants to be found and come home, does so with desire and humility. None of that, however, was required for him to be met with his father's extravagant love that is synonymous with God’s mercy. In the story, the father almost knocks him down in his attempt to embrace him and welcome him home!
God models an unbounded love for ALL, especially the sinner! So as disciples, we’re called to do the same, and REJOICE with our whole heart, for these brothers and sisters of ours...
SEEK OUT THE LOST!
CELEBRATE THEIR RETURN!
WELCOME THEM HOME!
By the way, a cease fire begins in Syria on Monday, September 12th...
Let us pray for peace and continued reconciliation during these times!
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