THURSDAY HOMILY: Leaving the Ninety Nine, Finding the Lost Coin and Living as Leaven in the Loaf

11/8/2012

(Page 2 of 2)

Bishops office where the interview was conducted, there was a bullet hole from a failed snipers' attempt to silence him. The effort failed. The Lord protected him so that he could continue to be the good news. The Bishop explained that he kept it there to remind him that "that life can end in a second. We must not waste a single day."

This Bishop lived as leaven in the loaf. He understood what I mean by redemptively love the world, he was a missionary. He was so configured to the Lord that he echoed that cry of the Apostle Paul in his daily activity, "No longer do I live but Christ lives in me and the life I now live I live by faith in the Son of God".(Galatians 2:20)

He stayed in Alabania even though he could have engaged in any number of meaningful tasks as an academic, a cleric and a Church leader. He chose to be with those who needed the Lord. He walked into the loaf of the world and offered himself for its transformation. He went after the lost sheep. He searched for the lost treasure.

The writer explained that this holy priest saw 'the despair in the faces of the Albanians." The Bishop told him "I thought. Who's going to help these people? Who's going to give them hope? I knew this was a test and I said to myself, If you have faith, stay and struggle. If you don't, go home".

We may not be called to Albania. However, we are all called into a world desperately in need of God.
The late Blessed John XXIII once wrote "Every believer, in this, our world, must be a spark of light, a center of love, a vivifying ferment in the dough: He will be so to the degree that, in his innermost being, he lives in communion with God. In fact, there can be no peace among men if there is no peace in each one of them."

Will we be "a spark of light, a center of love, a vivifying ferment in the dough?" Will we answer the invitation to search for the lost sheep and find the lost treasure?

- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Year of Faith, parable, lost coin, kingdom of God, lost sheep, leaven, light, seed, New Evangelization, witness, Deacon Keith Fournier

NEWSLETTERS »

Previous Page 1 | 2

Rate This Article

Was this helpful to you? Very Helpful Somewhat Helpful Not Helpful at All

Would you be interested in more articles like this? Yes, I am Interested No, I am not Interested

Rate Article

1 - 5 of 5 Comments

Tom McGuire
6 months ago
Good homily, the reflection on the Bishop staying in Albania is a profound example of faithfulness. The Catholic students I meet from China, who will return to China, provide a similar witness.

The Gospel also makes me think of the example of Cardinal Dolan sitting down at a meal with President Obama and Governor Romney. So many criticized him, just as those who criticized Jesus in the Gospel.
Ann
6 months ago
Thanks for this post-election reminder of our calling to be faithful to God
andrew
6 months ago
It is always good to celebrate the discovery of God's mercy in one's life. When one loses anything, there is the faint possibility of the guilt of carelessness, suspicion of theft, etc. [why we ask that we be not led into temptation] However, when one pursues the search and finds that which had been lost, the feeling is different. Joy in thanking God will be the first reaction if seeking the lost was the only true purpose. Who are those in heaven rejoicing that Jesus is talking about? Are they the good neighbors you have chosen to live with, the guardian angels of these people? How then did Jesus thank God when he proclaimed that he had not lost even one that was handed in his care, considering his painful condition? Where was the celebration and who did he celebrate with? Our purpose of seeking and saving is for the greater glory of God alone. Jesus practiced everything that he preached.
abey
6 months ago
To that Faith of Abraham to become into Christ, to Life
Kasoy
6 months ago
Christ is clearly telling us that GOOD is more 'contagious" than evil. Let's continue to do good amidst the seeming triumph of evil in this world.

Comments submitted must be civil, remain on-topic and not violate any laws including copyright. We reserve the right to delete any comments which are abusive, inappropriate or not constructive to the discussion.

Though we invite robust discussion, we reserve the right to not publish any comment which denigrates the human person, undermines marriage and the family, or advocates for positions which openly oppose the teaching of the Catholic Church.

This is a supervised forum and the Editors of Catholic Online retain the right to direct it.

We also reserve the right to block any commenter for repeated violations. Your email address is required to post, but it will not be published on the site.

We ask that you NOT post your comment more than once. Catholic Online is growing and our ability to review all comments sometimes results in a delay in their publication.

Name *

Email *

Comment *

Send me important information from Catholic Online and it's partners. See Sample

Post Comment