Saints Sergius and Bacchus Chapel
Palm Springs, California
Homilies for Sundays and Special Feast Days
The Greek word Jesus uses for “meek” — praus — is the word for a tamed horse: strength controlled and directed, not weakness. Zechariah’s king, the Father’s little ones, and Christ’s easy yoke all point to the same radical truth: let go, trust God.
What keeps us from opening our hearts to others? Fear — fear of not living up to expectations. But baptism has already put that old, anxious self to death. The freedom we live in now bears two fruits: discernment and hospitality. Even a cup of cold water, attentively given, carries immense value.
“Fear no one,” Jesus tells the Twelve. Not a promise of immunity from harm or pain — but the assurance that we’re never truly alone. The Father is involved in every sparrow’s fall, and the same Word who suffered on the cross is one with our suffering still.
“Responsibility” — responsibility begins with the inability to turn a blind eye to others’ pain and sorrow. A Christian is not compassionate because they feel like they’re supposed to be, but because, like Jesus, they cannot do otherwise.
“I love you so much, I could just eat you all up.” If you’ve ever had that experience, then today’s feast of the Body and Blood of Christ should make perfect sense to you.
“It is the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, echoing the love of God the Father, drawing us into the communion of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of love and unending life.”
“Send forth your Spirit, and we will be recreated, and you will renew the face of the earth.”
“The divine elevator is broken... it doesn’t go up there anymore. Well... in fact it never did.”
“The Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows him.”
“I no longer call you slaves... I have called you friends.”
“Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.”
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