Homily for 32nd Sunday, Cycle C, 11/10/13 Pray for us, St. Paul implores the Christians of Thessalonica, pray for us, so that the word of the Lord may speed forward. This imagery of the word speeding forward calls to mind, was perhaps meant by Paul to call to mind, the one-hundred-forty-seventh Psalm, where we read that God gives an order, his word flashes to earth. Its an image, of course, Gods word suddenly and startlingly jumping into human affairs, that Christians very early on saw as fulfilled by the event of Christ Jesus, Gods word, Gods communication to us. Not only was Gods word heard, it was also seen and touched, For the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Paul is thinking here, however, less of the earthly presence of Our Lord a couple decades earlier than when he was writing, than to the continued presence and activity of Christ in His Gospel, His Gospel that such individuals as Paul and those he influenced were doing all in their power to make known as widely as possible. The Gospel, all of Holy Scripture, ought not to be regarded as an inanimate object, so much ink on so much paper bound in so much leather or cardboard. What is present rather is God, in Christ, through the Spirit, taking human language and transforming it, freeing it from its intrinsic limitations, and elevating it to a level where it becomes that which He wants to say to us and do for us. Recall that when a priest or deacon says, The Gospel of the Lord, all who hear respond, Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. This is not a dialogue we are addressing to each other, its a joyful acknowledgment of What, Whom, we have among us when the Gospel is proclaimed. Among us now, going forth from us as we make our way through life -- that is Pauls intent in his prayer that the word of the Lord may speed forward. That is what the Church is about, whether in Thessalonica, in Rome, or in Downers Grove, from now until the end of days. Speaking of Downers Grove, I have been reminded a few times lately that, on my first Sunday helping out here, in October 1993, I said I would be coming on weekends until, well, the abbot told me I wouldnt be coming any more. Two abbots later, that sad notification has taken place. I say sad not because of any aversion to the work Ill be taking up in Lisle, but out of regret that Ill no longer be in as close a contact with the people of a very fine parish. I have enjoyed worshiping God with you, have enjoyed the wisdom and goodness of four pastors who have given the best years of their lives to making this the good parish it is, and have enjoyed the company and encouragement of so many of you, including some who, we pray, are now praying for us in eternity. Thank you.
Posted on: Sun, 10 Nov 2013 17:00:00 +0000
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