Feast of Mary’s Assumption

http://frjohnriccardo.libsyn.com/august_15_2010_homily_for_the_feast_of_the_assumption_of_the_blessed_virgin_mary

Great homily to celebrate the feats of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s Assumption into heaven!

Prudence

Reflection:

A common theme between today’s first reading and gospel is the concept of wisdom leading to preparedness. In our relationship with Jesus, He desires to continually pour His wisdom upon us the same way a father desires to share his vocation with his son. No father who enjoys fixing his own automobiles would allow his son to take his car to a mechanic. Rather he would share knowledge with his son regarding the various components of car and how to determine what is broken and the proper methodology for fixing it. The same applies to Jesus as he states earlier in Matthew’s gospel, “For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”  Jesus shares with us His wisdom and guidance not as head knowledge for us but rather to prepare us and show us the way in our daily journey.  Whether it be following the Lord’s command to pray for the conversion of one’s son in the case of St Monica or whether it be more effectively living out one’s faith in the world since it’s not a “spectator sport” we must seek wisdom and place that wisdom into action in a prudent manner.

Reading (Matthew 25: 1 -13):

Jesus told his disciples this parable: “The Kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  Five of them were foolish and five were wise.  The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight, there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’  Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.  The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise ones replied, ‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’  While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked. Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’ But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

Hypocrisy

Reflection:

As followers of Christ there is the tendency to continue to pat each other on the back. It reminds me somewhat of a dog owner giving the dog a biscuit everything time he does something good. Sooner or later the dog may actually begin to believe he/she is good and reach maturity. However, as Christians we should give glory to God for the good that comes out of us because it’s His doing and we must never lose sight or out of touch with the reality that the faults and sins of Christians is the largest deterrent of Christianity. So we must always and continually open the dead man’s tomb where the filth and hypocrisy lies so we can root out the sin rather than just do weekly pruning. A song that always comes to mind for readings such as today’s is Casting Crowns “Stained Glass Masquerade.”

Reading (Matt 23: 27 -32):

Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of filth. Even so, on the outside you appear righteous, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You build the tombs of the prophets
and adorn the memorials of the righteous, and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have joined them in shedding the prophets’ blood.’ Thus you bear witness against yourselves that you are the children of those who murdered the prophets;
now fill up what your ancestors measured out!”