Our readings for Sunday are here.
These are the poems, my notes, and interpretations of Fr Dennis’ homily from the Mass of
- October 12, 2014 Sun 10AM
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The poems Fr Dennis references this year are:
- Bottled Water by Kim Dower
- Sabbaths 1999, VII by Wendell Berry
In 2014, we reflected on —
Invitation is an act of kindness; God is not obligated to invite. The readings capture the spirit of God’s invitations and our responses to the them over the centuries.
In the gospel (Mt 22:1-14), the first and second invitations are more associated with God of the Hebrew scriptures, as we knew and recorded the conversations with God then. The third invitation is more in keeping with the experiences of the Christian scripture.
- In the Hebrew scripture section (so to speak) of the gospel, the people refused God’s invitation.
- In the Christian scripture section (so to speak) of the gospel passage, people accept God’s invitation. We’re grateful to be in; but conversion needs to be interior (receive the invitation and re-share it externally (the garment represents good works)). It is an example of the repeated theme of the Christian scripture — faith is often witnessed through works.
- However, we can also fit this in with the context of the last few weeks’ gospel readings and their theme of God’s Way is not our way.
- We can’t act in too much certainty about God’s Way (even if we do gain some understanding of the substance of God’s Ways).
- God is God.
- Because we know God’s Way is not about fairness, it is about forgiveness.
Poetry and humor are two vehicles that can help us see beyond our usual expectations of God’s way (or at least catch a glimmer). Kim Dower’s Bottled Water is one such fun attempt; we love a God of “and”s.
In Isaiah — we are meeting God on the mountain top, the traditional symbolic place of meeting God, and the feast is abundant and ready.
- God provides whatever we need for eternity and REST; so we are at ease to know we won’t go hungry or have to procure food … annnnnd …..
- …. how easy it is to feel God’s presence when we are at rest (interior, not just solely or only exterior/physically).
- rl thought of, e.g., both contemplative prayer, like Ignatian imagination and bicycling; or sitting & yoga.
- D2 thought the Wendell Berry poem captured God’s sense of how small a thing can be so pleasing.
