The King's Corner

Homily for July 31, 2016 Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Readings for today's Homily   To watch Mass in its entirety click The Mass

Today we read, “…But at a birthday celebration for Herod, the daughter of Herodias performed a dance before the guests and delighted Herod so much that he swore to give her whatever she might ask for.   Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests who were present, he ordered that it be given, and he had John beheaded in the prison.  His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who took it to her mother…” Poor John.   His head was put on a platter sans body.  That mother and daughter did him in.   The king let them have their wish.

In today’s first reading from Jeremiah we hear about Shiloh and a warning.   Shiloh was one of the main centers of Israelite worship and was located in Samaria.   The Ark of the Covenant was present, and people made pilgrimages to Shiloh for major feasts and sacrifices. This is where the prophet Jeremiah had his ministry.  But Shiloh had been reduced to ruins (desolate and deserted), and Jeremiah used it as an example to warn the people that their holy city, Jerusalem, like Shiloh, could fall under divine judgment.  That judgment turned out to be its destruction by the Babylonians with the Jewish people going into captivity. For those of us who are Civil War buffs, the Battle of Shiloh was the bloodiest battle in American history up until that time. It was exceeded the next year by the Battle of Chancellorsville and then by the 3-day Battle of Gettysburg – the bloodiest of the war.

Jesus said to the disciples: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind.  When it is full, they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets.  What is bad they throw away.  Thus it will be at the end of the age.  The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth” (Matthew 13:47-53).  Once again we have a parable of the good being separated from the bad – the righteous from the wicked.  How often do we make these sorts of judgments – deciding whether someone is good or bad?  Into what “fiery furnaces” have we thrown them? Our lives involve “net”works of people we daily encounter during work and play.   We get entangled in their lives and into the hassles that go along with relationships.   We judge them and often unfairly causing them to wail and grind their teeth in pain and sorrow.

Today’s Gospel reads:  “Jesus said to his disciples: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls.  When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it’ (Matthew 13:44-46).”   For  both the treasure and the pearl, the person and then the merchant find what they seek. But there’s a big difference.  The person appears to find someone else’s treasure by accident and then hides it later to buy the field from its owner.   Sneaky and dishonest.  On the other hand, the merchant is searching – actively searching for fine pearls and is rewarded for his persistence by finding one of great price.  He knows what he wants; he finds it; then he sells what he owns to buy it.

“Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house.  His disciples approached him and said, ‘Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.’  He said in reply, ‘He who sows good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed the children of the Kingdom. The weeds are the children of the Evil One, and the enemy who sows them is the Devil” (Matthew 13:36-43).   I’m not so sure. Weeds are the plants that don’t fit in.  They ruin the flower planting or crowd out the useful crops.  At least that’s how we see it, and then we go to pull the weeds or give them a good dose of weed-killer.  Such is the fate of weeds. Then again, when comparing people to weeds and calling them children of the devil, don’t we cast judgment on those who need compassion, understanding, and a dose of love, not dislike or even hate? 

Today we hear about a mother asking Jesus to command her two sons to sit at his right and left in his Kingdom (Matthew 20:20-28).  Apparently, she thought either seat would bestow greatness upon her sons.  Jesus said the seats were not his to give.  Now that’s humility. But, isn’t the left seat reserved for the goats with the right for the sheep (Matthew 25:31-34).   I wonder about her choice.  I assume her sons did.  “Does Mom think of me as the goat and ‘accursed’ to be sent ‘into eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels’ (Matthew 25:41) ?  Or, am I the favored one?"  Perhaps they would have drawn straws.   Either way one son wins and the other loses big time.

Homily for July 24, 2016 Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Readings for today's Homily To watch Mass in its entirety click The Mass

Sunday 10:30 Homily -- We all know the story of Martha and Mary with Jesus gently scolding Martha.  Mary is at his feet listening.  According to Jesus, “Mary chose the better part.”   We all suspect Jesus was telling Martha to slow down and, like Mary, listen to him instead of serving.   As a deacon whose ministry is to serve, I’ve always found this story a bit strange because for me and my fellow deacons, such as Deacon Lemay, “the better part” is service.  We are to serve the sick in hospitals and nursing homes. We are to serve the aged, prisoners, the young on college campuses, the poor, minority communities, and newly arrived immigrants. We are to serve you. Then again, how can we serve well and properly if we don’t first slow down and listen to Jesus. This pertains to all of us here in this church with our new pastor Father Healey having to be an example for us about how best to serve.

Homily for July 17, 2016 Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Readings for today's Homily To watch Mass in its entirety click The Mass

Homily for July 10, 2016 the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Readings for today's Homily To watch Mass in its entirety click The Mass

The events in Dallas are saddening to all - and a reminder that we need to pray for peace on Earth. As I reflect on all that has happened, the hymn "Let There Be Peace on Earth" goes through my head. Most especially the line, "Let there be peace on earth...and let it begin with me." I think many, if not most of us, have a difficult time remembering that each and every one of us has an impact on this community, this world.  We have to be peacemakers.  Let us rely on Jesus, the Prince of Peace, to help us to build peace and harmony throughout the world. Growing up, attending Catholic middle school, we always prayed the Prayer of St. Francis weekly.  To this day, at every funeral or Sunday Mass I sing this hymn, I think back to that classroom years ago.  Each of us knew that prayer to memory.  I think the words of St. Francis of Assisi would be a great way for all of us to pray for peace.  We need to be instruments of peace. Lord, make me an instrument of You

The traffic this week on Cape Cod has been very heavy!  Lots of people come to Cape Cod to enjoy all it has to offer.  It took me close to an hour the other day just to get from my house in Sandwich to the bridge!  While many get frustrated by the traffic (myself included), it is important to be thankful for so many visitors. Local businesses - (and even churches!) - thrive off of these visitors.  All winter long, ice cream stores rest up and prepare for a busy summer.  During the cold months, the beaches are quiet - perhaps you'll catch a person or two watching the sun rise or set, but not much activity during the day otherwise.  All of that has changed - and we welcome all of those visiting Cape Cod! I work in retail during the summer, and a cloudy day is ideal for business this time of year!  Just a month ago, a cloudy day didn't impact business much whatsoever. Why am I blogging about this?  First off, I think it's an important reminder of how blessed we

Homily for July 3, 2016 the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Readings for today's Homily To watch Mass in its entirety click The Mass