Category: Misc

Homily for 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

By Deacon Richard Hay

“Confident Hope in our Prayer”

As I was preparing this homily over the last week or so, I really struggled with how to begin. I thought maybe sharing a story about the persistent daily prayer Margo and I offered over the course of seven weeks last year for a miraculous healing after she was diagnosed with terminal cancer would be a good start. Then I thought maybe an inspirational story of how answered prayers changed the lives of those making specific and persistent prayers to the Lord for those situations might work.

As I continued to pray and asked the Lord to help me find the right words to begin this homily, I was reminded that prayer comes from a place of deep and abiding love. The reason we offer prayer for others is out of love and desire to see the best outcomes in each of those situations.

Today’s gospel shows us the depth of Christ’s love for us, for all of us, no matter who we are and no matter where we come from. It’s a love that is given freely.

After hearing the beginning of today’s gospel though, some of us might have thought it wasn’t being given so freely because at first Jesus didn’t even reply to the Canaanite woman’s request. She isn’t even asking for healing for herself but for her daughter who was being tormented by a demon.

Throughout the New Testament, we hear stories of Jesus answering many others when they approached him and asked for healing, but in this instance, he is initially silent and then has a very different conversation with her than we might be used to hearing from Jesus.

When he finally did begin a dialog with the Canaanite woman, Jesus’s words seemed very harsh didn’t they? “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

However, she was insistent and replied – “Lord, help me.”

Again, Jesus responds with what seems like more harsh words for her when he says, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.”

Words are important to Jesus, that is evident throughout scripture and this is no different, He never said or did anything publicly by chance – it was always done to glorify His Father.

Remember, when Jesus stood in front of Lazurus’s tomb?

Scripture says that “Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you for hearing me. I know that you always hear me; but because of the crowd here I have said this, that they may believe that you sent me.”

By publicly acknowledging his father in heaven, even when he didn’t need to, he was telling the people around the tomb about his relationship with God His Father as He was about to show His glory and power.

This exchange Jesus was having with the Canaanite women would ultimately glorify God – just as God was glorified at the tomb of Lazurus.

So, after Jesus told her it was not right to take the food from the children and throw it to the dogs, she then replied “Please Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.”

Jesus’s next words to her were both affirming and beautiful, “O Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.”

Her persistent prayers were answered by the Lord.

Although this exchange started with what seemed like harsh words, they end with the sweetness of Jesus affirming her faith. The purpose was always to glorify God.

There are three key aspects of the Canaanite woman’s prayer that we can imitate in our own prayer lives. This is not the only way to pray but it is a way to pray.

First – she acknowledged who Jesus was – “Lord, Son of David.”

In our own prayer do we remember to recognize and acknowledge who God is?

Second – she states clearly what she is asking for – the healing of her daughter who was being “tormented by a demon.”

When we are praying to God, are we specific about what we pray for? It’s OK to ask Him for the resolution of a specific situation in our families or at work, or even a miracle healing for someone who is sick. It’s OK to use the names of those we are praying for as well.

Third – her prayer was persistent. Even after Jesus did not initially respond to her, she persevered. Then, when Jesus told her that it wasn’t right to give the food of the children to the dogs, she responded by asking the Lord for just a small portion – the scraps of the grace and mercy that are available from God in His abundance. She did this because her faith told her that even a small amount of grace and mercy from Jesus could heal her daughter. That is just like the woman who believed she could be healed if she could just touch the tassel of Jesus’s cloak.

This Canaanite woman’s faith and her prayer is an example for all of us to follow in our own prayer life.

Of course, when it comes to the answers to our prayers, they will always be God’s will for us because he knows what is best for us – even with things we persistently pray for.

However, persistence can result in answered prayer because remember the example of St. Monica who prayed for 30 years that her son, St. Augustine, would be converted and we all know what happened as a result of her prayers.

That is persistence in prayer. Are we ready to be that persistent in our own prayers?

Whatever our prayer might be, follow the Canaanite woman’s example and acknowledge who Jesus is; clearly state what you are praying for, and then be persistent with your prayer by taking it back to the Lord again and again.

This weekend, I attended the funeral service for the wife of one of my Navy buddies. I had been looking for a couple of words to close this homily and the pastor who preached the sermon at this service used the words “confident hope”. He was of course referring to confident hope in the resurrection, but those two words also describe how we approach prayer – with “confident hope”.

Confident that the Lord will hear us as pray to him and with the hope we have been given through his gifts of grace and mercy.

So as we approach prayer, we should always do so with “confident hope”.

Homily for Fourth Sunday of Lent – Laetare Sunday (Year A)

By Deacon Richard Hay

“Are we there yet?”

When I was growing up with five brothers and sisters near Louisville, Kentucky in the 70’s, my maternal grandparents lived in the southwest corner of Kansas in a city called Syracuse – roughly a 1,000 mile trip in one direction.

Back then my parents had this massive station wagon that we called the Brown Bomber because it was so big and well – brown. It made that trip multiple times and there was always drama including losing a wheel once coming off at an exit for lunch and having to push the car home at the end of one trip for about a mile because we ran out of gas.

The very back of this station wagon wasn’t used for luggage – it had two seats back there which faced to the rear of the vehicle so you would see where you had been rather than where you were going. I loved sitting back there on these trips.

No matter what type of car any of us have made these types of trips in, there are a couple of common aspects to these journeys.

First is the ever-persistent question – “Are we there yet?”

Second is that the trip to our destination always seemed to take much longer than the trip home.

That is why some of you might be thinking – “Has it really already been four weeks since Lent started?” and others are thinking “Has it really only been four weeks since Lent began?”

While we are all considering our progress for this forty-day period of Lent and how fast it is coming or going, there is another group in our midst that has been on a journey towards Easter that has been much longer – the catechumens and candidates – now the elect – who will receive the sacraments of initiation – Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Communion at the Easter Vigil. Many of them have been on this journey for the last year or even longer.

This weekend, they will participate in the second of the three scrutiny’s as they continue this long journey to join us in full communion with the Church. We should all continue to offer our prayers of support for each one of them and you can see all their names out in the Narthex. For all of the elect and all of us, the answer to this journey’s “Are we there yet?” question is – almost.

Today is the Fourth Sunday of Lent, also known as Laetare Sunday, just past the midway point in our journey to Easter. With three more weeks to go, it is a good time to evaluate how our own experience of Lent has gone so far – to evaluate how fruitful our season of prayer, almsgiving, and fasting has been so far.

If it has gone well – then give thanks to God for that and of course, also ask for continued blessings in these final weeks of Lent.

If things have been a bit more challenging, then give thanks for that too because that usually means growth is happening. Offer prayers of thanksgiving for that as well.

If necessary, anyone of us can also change our plans for Lent – that is OK too.

In the first reading, we hear the story of Samuel anointing David as the new king of Israel. We are reminded that God sees beyond our outward appearance and peers deep into our hearts. David was the youngest and smallest of his brothers, but God chose him to be king because of his great faith. It wasn’t about his size or looks. This is a reminder that God can use anyone, regardless of their background or circumstances.

In the second reading, St. Paul reminds us that we were once in darkness but are now called to live as children of light. He encourages us to live in that light, which means living in the truth and avoiding sin. This can be difficult at times, especially when we are tempted to give in to our desires or when we are faced with challenges and struggles. But St. Paul reminds us that we are not alone in this journey because Christ has redeemed us and has given us His grace and strength which we receive through the sacraments.

In the Gospel reading, we hear the familiar story of the blind man who is healed by Jesus. While there are multiple layers to this story – the bottom line is that Jesus’s healing power has the ability to transform our lives. The blind man represents all of us who are spiritually blind, who are unable to see the full truth and beauty of God’s love. But when we turn to Jesus and ask for His help, He can open our eyes and help us to see.

As we reflect on these readings, we are encouraged to examine our own lives. Are we living in the truth and avoiding sin?

Are we seeking God’s plan for our lives, even if it means going against the norms of society?

Are we asking Jesus to heal our spiritual blindness and to help us see the full truth and beauty of His love?

As we pause and think about our relationship with God and approach these final weeks of Lent, remember that this is a time of repentance, renewal, and preparation. A time for us to turn away from sin and to turn toward God’s mercy and grace, while making changes that will bring us closer to Christ – changes that will hopefully last beyond Lent.

Remember – we are called to be like David, who was chosen by God to do great things even though he was the youngest and smallest of his brothers.

We are called to be like St. Paul, who lived as a child of light and who encouraged others to do the same.

We are called to be like the blind man, who had the courage to ask Jesus for help, was healed and later professed Him as Lord.

As we continue our journey through Lent, remember that God loves each one of us and that He is always there for us, no matter what.

However, It is up to us, just like it was to the blind man, to profess – “I do believe, Lord.”