Homily for the 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sir 27:4-7

Ps 92

1 Cor 15:53-58

Lk 6:39-45

The readings from Sirach and Luke echo each other.   Both ask the same question. Both arrive at the same answer.  Both offer the same warning. 

From Sirach:  "Praise no one before he speaks, for it is then that people are tested."

From Luke:  " . . . from the heart the mouth speaks."

Sirach uses images from daily life, a sieve or pottery, to emphasize that the results  give the measure of person.  It isn't the publicity. The chest-thumping bravado matters little.  And good looks?  They should be ignored.  None of these indicate what emerges--or will emerge--from the heart. The proof of what lies in our hearts is found in what we say, what we do, and how we say or do it. Say is the key word. 

The power of speech is unique to humans.  No lower animal has the power of true speech.  Each species has a repertory of squeaks, squawks, shrieks, growls, grunts, and other primitive sounds that allow for a type of communication. But only humans have the gift of words, words that can be combined into sentences and  paragraphs, poetry and prayer, words that can explain difficult ideas or ease a grieving heart.

In scripture speech is frequently indicated by the use of the word 'tongue,' the extraordinary organ that gives humans the ability to form words consistently and intelligibly. Both Sirach and Jesus advise control of the tongue, control of what one says, and how one says it. 

There is a scene in Babette's Feast, the 1988 Best Foreign Film Oscar film and one of the most perfectly made films of all time.  Though wrongly misinterpreted by many as a semi-comedic food movie, it is a profound meditation on the Eucharist, its importance in creating a community, maintaining that community, and, most critically, healing the rifts that inevitably develop in any community. In one scene just before the titular feast, one of the women explains to the community that is falling apart as the result of long-held grudges, unkind words, and resentments: 

"The tongue, that strange little muscle, has accomplished great and glorious deeds for man.  But it's also an unruly evil, full of deadly poison."  There is nothing one can add to describe that description of the power of human speech, the effect of what we say, how we say it, and to whom we say it. 

That strange little muscle, can caress the words of prayer, the Our Father, the Hail Mary, the many formal prayers of the Church, and the uncountable number of prayers that we utter in times of distress and sorrow as well as celebration and joy.  That strange little muscle can also destroy the happiness of another or ruin a reputation in moments.  

We are, and will be, known by our words, the words we say and those we withhold, the emotion behind the words and the emotions they call forth from others.  The words we say go a long way in determining our reputations.  Our words represent the fruit of our lives, particularly as we age. 

The psalm assures us: 

"The just one shall flourish like the palm tree,
like a cedar of Lebanon shall he grow. . . 

They shall bear fruit even in old age;
vigorous and sturdy shall they be . . ."

We are two days away from Ash Wednesday. Lent gives us an opportunity to look at our lives, to evaluate our deeds, and to reconsider our words, those things that tell the world what we are, who we are, and how we are.  Those things that reveal the stores of goodness in our hearts.  The gospel antiphon gives us all the instruction we need: 

"Shine like lights in the world as you hold on to the word of life."

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Getting ready for the beginning of Lent.  A busy time to say the least.  Will spend Holy Week at the Abbey of Regina Laudis making my retreat and saying all of the liturgies.  The challenge with preaching int he same place for a week is that of being consistent.  As I am not in a parish, I have a lot of latitude with homilies. 

Took the photos a few weeks ago up in Vermont.  The sanctuary lamp is a real candle, not an electric one made to resemble something real.

The weather was mostly hideous.  I thook this with a focus on the condensation rather than the view outside the window.  There are sun-catchers scattered throughout.  On my next trip I am going to systematically photograph all of them, assuming there is reasonable sun.

During Mass

 +Fr. Jack, SJ, MD