ePriest.com: Your Spanish Homily

Readings

Reading I: Wisdom 2:17-20
Psalm: Psalms 54:3-4, 5, 6-8
Reading II: James 3:16--4:3
Gospel: Mark 9:30-37

Preaching Tip

Preaching Tip for the 25th Sunday in OT B – Christ in the Synagogue Continues His Instruction through the Priest at Mass

 

The Homiletic Directory (2014) gives us a powerful image when it states that Christ’s preaching in the synagogue at Nazareth is continued by the Catholic priest at mass (HD 4). 

 

The sacramentality of the Word is analogous to the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. At mass, Christ wishes to be both heard and to be received.

 

We approach the Liturgy of the Word to hear Christ

 

We approach the Liturgy of the Eucharist to receive Christ

 

The homily is an integral part of the Church’s worship, and because it makes Christ present, it is fitting that only the ordained minister delivers the homily.

 

By extension, we can say that as the priest brings the bread and wine to the altar and makes Christ present by confecting the Eucharist, so the priest brings the Word of God to the people and makes Christ present by delivering the homily. 

 

In the words of Verbum Domini

 

"The sacramentality of the Word can thus be understood by analogy with the real presence of Christ under the appearances of the consecrated bread and wine. By approaching the altar and partaking in the Eucharistic banquet we truly share in the body and blood of Christ. The proclamation of God’s word at the celebration entails an acknowledgment that Christ himself is present, that he speaks to us, and that he wishes to be heard" (VD 56).

B To 25                                                                               

AMBICIONES

Escalar los puestos de poder será siempre la gran tentación de aquellos que son "demasiado humanos". Ambicionar cargos, corromper con el dinero, influenciar a las masas. ¿Quién podrá resistir la seducción? Seguir a Cristo es transformar el mundo, no desde los puestos de mando sino desde el servicio humilde de los últimos puestos. Esta es la fuerza del cristiano.

Hermanas y hermanos:

1. Hay tres cosas que mucha gente pone en la cima de su escala de valores: Riqueza, poder y placer y para conseguirlos sacrifica todo lo demás. Para nosotros, los personajes importantes son los hombres y las mujeres de prestigio, que han logrado sobresalir sobre los demás y ser aplaudidos por las gentes. Son los rostros que vemos en la TV: líderes políticos, cantantes, atletas.

Jesucristo invierte esta escala de valores: En la cumbre pone la humildad, la pobreza y la cruz. Hombres y mujeres anónimos, de rostro desconocido, que se desviven en el servicio desinteresado a los demás. Pueden parecer los últimos pero su vida es verdaderamente grande.

2. Entre los más cercanos al Maestro surgió una discusión sobre  "quién era el más importante". Jesús aprovecha la ocasión para enseñarnos que el que gobierna a la comunidad se compromete a las más duras tareas. "Ministrare" significa servir. El ministerio es un "servicio", radical y bien concreto. Un ministro debe poner a disposición de los demás todo lo que es y todo lo que tiene. ¡Cuántas veces nos dejamos guiar según la mentalidad humana! Ser más que los demás, "salir en la foto". Y eso puede pasar en la política y en la vida social y en la familia y en la comunidad eclesial.

3. Jesús nos enseña que debemos ser los últimos, disponibles, servidores y no dueños. San Pablo lo asumió como programa de su apostolado: "Me he hecho todo a todos". Eso incluye tiempo, fuerzas, talentos, capacidad. Además al hacerlo "con todos" significa que se adapta a las necesidades de cada uno, sin excluir a nadie. Es lo que Tagore sentenciaba con verdadero espíritu evangélico: "Me dormí y soñé que la vida era alegría; me desperté y me encontré con que la vida era servicio; me puse a servir y descubrí que el servicio es alegría". Jesús lo dijo así: "Hay más alegría en dar que en recibir"

La ley de Dios es una verdadera regla interior y un estilo de vida. La fidelidad es lo que da al justo la capacidad de resistir las seducciones de la moda, de las costumbres paganas. La presencia de una persona buena da, por una parte, testimonio a los demás y les puede edificar y animar a practicar el bien. Pero, por otra, puede resultar una denuncia callada del estilo de vida que llevan otros: por ejemplo, materialista, despreocupada por las cosas del espíritu, superficial, injusta, egoísta.

Hermanos: Al llegar a casa hoy ejercitemos nuestra autoridad con espíritu de servicio. ¡Y hay tantos detalles que harán felices a nuestros hijos! Ellos aprenderán de nosotros las virtudes de la convivencia humana como la humildad, la generosidad, el respeto, la servicialidad. Probemos ya y veremos con asombro los resultados. Que así sea.


English Translation

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B               

                                                                                    AMBITIONS
 
Climbing positions of power will always be the greatest temptation
for those who are “too human:” Looking for position, being corrupted by money, influencing the masses. Who can resist the seduction? Following Christ is transforming the world, not from positions of power but from the humble service of the lowest positions. This is the Christian’s strength.

Brothers and sisters,

1. There are three things that many people place at the top of their values’ scale: wealth, power and pleasure. And to get them they sacrifice everything else. For us, important people are prestigious men and women, who stand out above the others and are applauded by the public. They are the faces we see on TV: political leaders, singers, athletes.

Jesus Christ turns this scale of values upside-down: At the top he places humility, poverty and the cross – anonymous men and women, unknown faces who go out of their way in the selfless service to others. They may seem to be the least, but their life is truly great.

2. Among those closest to the Master, a discussion arose about “who was the greatest.” Jesus took advantage of the occasion to teach us that he who governs the community commits him to the hardest tasks. “Ministrare” means to serve. Ministry is a radical and real “service”.  A minister must be available with all he has and all he is to those he serves. How often do we let ourselves be guided by a human mentality – being greater than others, “getting the spotlight!” This can happen in politics and social arenas, and even in our families and in the Church community.
 
3. Jesus teaches us that we should be the least, available for others, servers and not masters. St Paul took this up as the program for his apostolate: “I have become all things to all” (1 Corinthians 9:21). This includes time, strength, talents and capabilities. Moreover, giving it “to all” means that he adapts himself to the needs of each one, without excluding anyone. It is what Tagore pronounced with true evangelical zeal: “I fell asleep and dreamt that life was joy; I awoke and found that life was service; I served and found that service is joy.” Jesus put it like this, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
 
God’s Law is a true internal rule and lifestyle. Fidelity is what gives the just person the ability to resist the seductions of fads and pagan customs. On the one hand, the presence of a good person gives testimony to others, edifying and encouraging them to do the good. On the other hand, it can also be a silent indictment of contrary lifestyles: for example, materialistic, apathetic to spiritual matters, superficial, unjust and selfish.

Brothers and sisters, today when we arrive home, let us exercise our authority with the spirit of service. There are so many small details of service that would make our children happy! From us, they will learn the virtues of living together with humility, generosity, respect, and kindness. Let us give it a try, and we will be amazed at the results. Amen.