We need Understanding Hearts and Right versus Wrong: 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Listen to the homily here.

Notes:

17^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Triathlons

·      Swimming in tough water

o   Even in calm water—zig-zags vs. straight lines

o   Large waves—where am I going?

o   Bumping each other like minnows in a bucket

o   Where’s the buoy? 

o   Get me out of this swim!

o   Another image for me right now

Here is a great conversation between God and Solomon—the son of King David:

·      “The LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. God said, “Ask something of me and I will give it to you.”

·      Pause…

·      Take your name instead of Solomon…imagine this dream at night and God said the same question: “Ask something of me and I will give it to you.”

o   As typically we ought to ask God for prayers—intercessions

o   NUANCE: But again, what if He asks YOU?

How would you answer…not a genie, but God?

·      A long life?  Health?

·      Riches?

·      Life of our enemies?

·      Power?

·      Fame?

·      Popular?

·      Possessions?

·      “I serve you in the midst of the people whom you have chosen,
a people so vast that it cannot be numbered or counted.
Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart
to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong.”

Solomon’s answer was understanding

·      Isn’t that a key of life?  Or, as we say throughout our history, the virtue of prudence/wisdom?

I think that virtue is crucial today.  

·      What about some upside-down situations today?

·      Again, Covid-19?

o   School that is quickly coming?

o   No sports on TV?

o   No movies in Holywood popping out?

o   Carazy news?—right from wrong?

o   Protocols?

I hope that we may what pray for these virtues—an understanding heart, wisdom, prudence, a map no matter what situation we are in  

·      And the beauty is that this question from God is a question to help us on our journey

·      At the same time He is the one to follow

·      And the closer we are with Him, we must be with Him

·      And when we are feeling distance from God, this is how we can see His will