Untitled Sermon

Paul tells us in the second reading to we leery of the “wisdom” of the world:

Let no one deceive himself.

If anyone among you considers himself wise in this age,

Let no one deceive himself.

If anyone among you considers himself wise in this age,

let him become a fool, so as to become wise.

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God,

for it is written:

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God,

for it is written:

God catches the wise in their own ruses,

and again:

God catches the wise in their own ruses,

The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise,

and again:

that they are vain.

The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise,

that they are vain.

This could apply generally to the Christian message but today, the Church gives us a particular context, a very explicit counter to the “wisdom of this world,” for this reading by placing it next to our Gospel where Jesus gives us a shocking commandment:

“You have heard that it was said,

This could apply generally to the Christian message but today, the Church gives us a particular context, a very explicit counter to the “wisdom of this world,” for this reading by placing it next to our Gospel where Jesus gives us a shocking commandment:

You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.

“You have heard that it was said,

You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.

But I say to you, love your enemies

and pray for those who persecute you,

But I say to you, love your enemies

that you may be children of your heavenly Father,

and pray for those who persecute you,

that you may be children of your heavenly Father,

Simple right? Love your enemies. Simple but not very easy. Or as we say “More easily said than done…” Yesterday, as she often does, my wife Kathy wanted to read me a meditation that was published for that day in the Magnificat. Some of you may be familiar with it. It struck to the heart of this commandment to love our enemies.” I’m reading an abridged version so I highly recommend that you read the whole thing in yesterday’s Magnificat magazine.

Starting in 1992, Algeria had been embroiled in civil war, leading to increasing violence from clashes between state-backed military forces and extremist rebels. ... Close to 45,000 are estimated to have been killed in the struggle.

Simple right? Love your enemies. Simple but not very easy. Or as we say “More easily said than done…” Yesterday, as she often does, my wife Kathy wanted to read me a meditation that was published for that day in the Magnificat. Some of you may be familiar with it. It struck to the heart of this commandment to love our enemies.” I’m reading an abridged version so I highly recommend that you read the whole thing in yesterday’s Magnificat magazine.

Starting in 1992, Algeria had been embroiled in civil war, leading to increasing violence from clashes between state-backed military forces and extremist rebels. ... Close to 45,000 are estimated to have been killed in the struggle.

Catholics in Algeria represent a small minority. The Trappist monks of the Abbey of Our Lady of Atlas at Tibhirine knew they stood a good chance of being murdered if they remained.

On the night of March 27, 1996, twenty or more armed men attacked the monastery and kidnapped seven Trappist monks. …

A May 23 statement from the fundamentalist Armed Islamic Group claimed that the monks had been beheaded two months after the kidnapping. … their heads were recovered on May 30, and buried in the Tibhirine convent. The bodies have never been found.

On the night of March 27, 1996, twenty or more armed men attacked the monastery and kidnapped seven Trappist monks. …

Nearly three years before the abduction, French Father Christian de Chergé, the monastery’s prior, had written a letter indicating that he and his fellow monks were willing to offer themselves as a sacrifice for the Algerians whom they served.

A May 23 statement from the fundamentalist Armed Islamic Group claimed that the monks had been beheaded two months after the kidnapping. … their heads were recovered on May 30, and buried in the Tibhirine convent. The bodies have never been found.

Nearly three years before the abduction, French Father Christian de Chergé, the monastery’s prior, had written a letter indicating that he and his fellow monks were willing to offer themselves as a sacrifice for the Algerians whom they served.

…

“When the time comes,” Father de Chergé wrote, “I would like to be able to have that stroke of lucidity which would permit me to ask forgiveness of God and of my brothers in humanity, forgiving wholeheartedly, at the same time, whoever my killer might be.”

“May we meet each other again, happy thieves, in paradise, should it please God.”

“When the time comes,” Father de Chergé wrote, “I would like to be able to have that stroke of lucidity which would permit me to ask forgiveness of God and of my brothers in humanity, forgiving wholeheartedly, at the same time, whoever my killer might be.”

… On August 1, 1996, several months after the Tibhirine abductions, the bishop was killed along with his driver by a remote-controlled bomb.

“May we meet each other again, happy thieves, in paradise, should it please God.”

Seven people were convicted of the killings and sentenced to death. The Catholic Church of Algeria successfully petitioned to have their death sentences commuted.

… On August 1, 1996, several months after the Tibhirine abductions, the bishop was killed along with his driver by a remote-controlled bomb.

“Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”

Seven people were convicted of the killings and sentenced to death. The Catholic Church of Algeria successfully petitioned to have their death sentences commuted.

“Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”

This story of the Algerian martyrs is a startling example of living out this commandment in the modern world. Another example in recent memory is Pope John Paul II forgiving the main who tried to assassinate him. Throughout the history of the Church there are examples of Saints who live out this commandment to love their enemies. Simple but not easy.

A few years ago Father Davignon gave a homily on this gospel and he gave us a very powerful and accessible way to live this commandment. We won’t all be killed for our faith, right? But we’re still to love our enemies. Father Davignon spoke about how we often have lists of people we pray for: those who are sick, or have lost a loved one, or are facing difficulties in life, or are hoping for a job … Then we went on to suggest that we could do the same for our “enemies”, in other words we could create a list of those who treat us badly, or unfairly, or even persecute us … Then, as we add to that list we pray for everyone on it, every day … we pray for their wellbeing, for their conversion, for their happiness.

This seems doable, right? If we do even this simple thing we will have started on a path of loving our enemies. A small step towards being perfect as our father in heaven is perfect.

Untitled Sermon

Homily