I found homily production especially difficult this week. The spiritual doctrine of Christ the King is so striking and sublime: the Lord, anointed and reigning from the Cross, unable even to move much less control the world, having emptied himself of everything it should mean to be God in order to give himself up for the life of the world.
But how to package it in a way that is accessible and not overwhelming when we come to consider our own call as anointed Christians to do the very same thing?
And then in Luke's account, which we read this year, we have the famous "good" and "bad" criminals. The former recognizes the irony of the cross: it is Jesus who suffers the condemnation that we have earned for ourselves. And yet he recognizes that this crucified God has the dominion and power to save: "remember me when you come into your kingdom."
So I'm not sure if it will end up being what I offer tomorrow, but the homily I came up with so far is posted here.
...the Lord, anointed and reigning from the Cross, unable even to move much less control the world, having emptied himself of everything it should mean to be God in order to give himself up for the life of the world.
ReplyDeleteIt's what makes Christianity so strange. Give up everything your father gave you, and you gain everything; give up your life and you gain your life; this helpless being dying horribly is King of the universe. It invites meditation more than discussion. But I guess you can't have a homily that is just meditation!
Father, I've been tooling around the archives of your homilies and just wanted to say Thank You for sharing your heart and mind with us!
ReplyDeleteLynn
Thanks Lynn, for your encouragement as I try to learn.
ReplyDelete