Homily, Sunday, February 3

OCP Cycle A 020308 SJ/2d

My dear friends in the Spirit,

In today's readings we are reminded our our need to be church to one another. In the first reading from Zephaniah we hear the prophet recognize the need for Social Justice, with particular focus on global warming and organic sheep farming. Then we were treated to a beautiful rendition of the responsorial psalms, which was wonderfully representative of the fine liturgical music contained in the Oregon Catholic Press Breaking Bread Missal.

In the second reading, we hear Paul explain that we need to have a strong public education system. Further, Paul points out that it's OK to boast, as long as you have something to boast about.

Finally, in the Gospel, we see how Jesus wants us to save the poor, which is an allegory for the need for us to save the poor.

Now, all of this was brought home to me in the last week [when SOV2 endorsed Barack Obama for President. We had been waffling around about over whether to endorse Hillary or Barack. I mean, John Edwards was never on the table , because even though he has a preferential option for the poor, he is a white male, and if there's one thing we don't need in the White House it is a white male. The white males are stereotypers and prejudiced - they want you to see everyone only for their race or gender or whatever. That's why it's so important for us to endorse a woman or an African American - that's our way of sending a message that it's wrong to look at people just because of their race or gender. Plus, Obama is like Kennedy. Just think! A new Camelot! For a little while, we had our own New Camelot here at SOV2. But you can see some signs of trouble in the kingdom. I like to think of Ché as a sort of Lancelot, and Todd Turk as Percival, and H. Robert Williams as Merlin, and Maryann McGronk as The Lady of the Lake, and Stacy McCloud as Guenevere, and myself as King Arthur, of course. Fr. Chad is Modred, and Modred's mother is Sister Fairah. Oh - and Fr. Kane is the Black Knight who saves everything. And the Hugo Chavez brigade are the Knights Templar, and Dr. Al-Fakkir is Robin Hood. George Bush is, of course, bad Prince John, and Al Gore is Richard the Lion Hearted. I think Clyde Hummins might be Ivanhoe.]. It was clear to me that there is a need for us to save the poor.

But, the spirit speaks to us in many ways. I was reminded of [the time that Maryann spilled Jaegermeister on my Dorothy Day Fan Club T-Shirt. Boy was I pissed. I mean, come on, people! But it turns out that Jaegermeister washes right out, and in the meantime, Maryann got me a signed picture of Fr. Richard McBrien and Charles Curran during their famous "Council of Xenia" summit with Phil Donohue and Martin Sheen. I still have it - it's hung up in the grand ballroom at the Rectory.]

So, my sisters and brothers and nonspecific gender metaphorical siblings, let us open our minds, and ears to the spirit, and find ways to put into practice the constant admonition to be good stewards of the earth, to be church to one another, to enact reform of our institutions, and to seek above all to bring the spirit into the dark places of our own hearts.