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Book: Christ in Ten Thousand Places: Homilies Toward a New Millennium Author: Walter J. Burghardt, S.J. Paulist Press, NY pp. 277 Excerpt from Introduction: Back in 1994, a gifted preacher John Buchanan remarked perceptively to a group of fellow preachers gathered in Chicago by the editors of the journal The Living Pulpit: Part of what the preacher is about is knowing what the issues are, the questions being asked, which define a culture in a given time and place. The preacher must read and listen and see and participate in the world in which the congregation lives. We need to know what is being written by novelists, poets, journalists, essayists. Kathleen Norris in her best seller Dakota says that Lemmon, South Dakota, is so small that the poets and preachers have to hang out together. Read, listen, see, participate. Four verbs that declare with rare succinctness the experience that lies behind an effective sermon, behind all effective communication. In this way alone can a preacher get beyond abstractions, beyond generalizations, beyond pious pap for the multitude. In this way alone does a preacher touch "this' congregation, "this" culture or "these" cultures, the justice issues of "this" acre of God's world, where "these" men, women, and children hurt, where "they" find their joy, what "they" hope for. Yes, many injustices overleap a particular area, are far from parochial, and their extent should be impressed on a parish that is linked in ever-widening concentric circles to a diocese, to a church universal, to a world, a humanity that is our broader parish. In this context of diversified experience, I am delighted to borrow my title from a sonnet shaped by a unique master of rhythm, the Jesuit Gerard Manley Hopkins. Untitled, the sonnet begins "As kingfishers catch fire" and closes as follows: . . . Christ plays in ten thousand places, Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his To the Father through the features of men's faces. Excerpt from Book: Justice begins with Isaiah, "Peace is a work [an effect, an enterprise] of justice" So too Vatican II. But what is the justice that brings peace into being? Ethical justice and legal justice can give us order, security, prosperity. We have to give each man, woman, and child what each deserves, what each has a right to expect, because it has been written into law or can be proven form philosophy. Without this much, life on earth turns into a jungle, where "might makes right," where the prize goes to the powerful, to the swift, the shrewd, the savage. Vatican II recognized this: A firm determination to respect other humans and peoples and their dignity, as well as the studied practice of brotherhood, are absolutely necessary if peace is to be established. Consequently, peace is likewise the fruit of love, which goes beyond what justice can provide. Yes, if by justice you mean ethical and legal justice. What Vatican II did not say, probably did not see, is that love does not go beyond what "biblical" justice can provide. For biblical justice "is" love. Biblical justice is fidelity to relationships, to responsibilities, that stem from a covenant. What relationships, what responsibilities? To God: Love God above all else. To people: Love each human being like another self, as an image of God, especially the less fortunate. To the earth: Treat things, handle each facet of God's creation, with respect, with reverence, as a gift of God. Table of Contents: From Advent to Easter 1. Blessed is the woman who has believed 2. Forgive, and you will be forgiven 3. The stranger: yesterday and today 4. Prophet accepted, prophet rejected 5. Born blind, how does he now see? 6. Love heals 7. I'll never believe unless 8. By this all will know you are my disciples. 9. Let not your hearts be fearful? 10. In her short life never felt love 11. You too should bear witness 12. Ordinary times . . . or extraordinary? 13. Hebrew prophet, Christian preacher 14. New wine in old wineskins? 15. Who are we? What are we to do? 16. That the power of Christ may dwell in me 17. Go home, tell your friends 18. You shall be catching people 19. Peace is a work of justice 20. Let go and let God 21. "Weightier matters" of the gospel? 22. The parish: community of salt and light 23. Power made perfect in weakness 24. To heal is to make whole 25. Who is this? 26. Perfect hostess or perfect disciple? 27. What do you have that you did not receive? 28. Save our children/increase our faith A Feast and Memorials 29. Greater love than this no one has Trinity Sunday 30. You too a sword shall pierce Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows 31. You are God's building Dedication of the Lateran Basilica 32. From Bohemia to Philadelphia Memorial of St. John Nepomucene Neumann 33. The king's good servant but God's first Memorial to St. Thomas More 34. Mohawk and Christian or Mohawk/Christian? Memorial of Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha 35. Always given up to death for Jesus' sake Memorial of North American Martyrs Wedding Homilies 36. It takes so much more to have a marriage 37. A miracle, a mystery, a mind-set 38. In God's image to God's likeness 39. You cannot love like Jesus unless . . . 40. Love that gives life Medley 41. Come, Holy Spirit, Kindle in me . . . fire Homily on the Holy Spirit as Fire 42. Covenant with the law, covenant with the Lord Homily for a Red Mass 43. Clothe yourselves with a compassionate heart Homily for a medical school graduation 44. Remake America for our children Institute for Child Advocacy Ministry |