29th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Perseverance

Please note, when reading this homily, keep in mind that it will be preached at our Cluster's Life Teen Mass.



About 5 years ago, a very wise priest was about to address a group of men considering becoming deacons. He asked us this important question.

What is your most important vocation/calling in life?

Because I believe it was one of the most important questions ever asked, I would like to begin by asking you the same.

Many, like yourselves, answered everything but God’s call to holiness. Each of us are called to be the best person, the best Christian we can possibly be. If we actively respond to God’s call to holiness – then we can be the best teenager, student, son, daughter, friend, priest, religious or what ever.

Jesus has told us, be perfect as your heavenly father is perfect.
Holiness is a task – we have to work at it. We can not grow weary.

Being the best at anything today requires much practice, knowing where to go for help and most of all, perseverance.

Why is perseverance so important? We all love a sense of accomplishment. To quote a popular cliche. When the going gets tough the tough get going.

Faith has a lot of competition in the world.

You may experience peer pressure from friends, some might say, “Why do you have to go to mass on Sunday evenings? Let’s all go hangout by the shore.”

As students, you are probably always so busy with school work. Perhaps loaded up with AP classes, involved in all kinds of activities and sports programs.

Then there’s television, especially reality TV shows that keep telling you to value only materialistic things. Money, power and success is where its at!

Society and Role Models - Kathy Griffin Comedian, who doesn’t believe it’s necessary to thank Jesus for her award. “He had nothing to do it.” The sad news about Kathy’s comments, many young people laughed along with her.

Today’s readings tell us that diligence and perseverance are noble and praiseworthy in the eyes of God.

They tell us that God has placed a calling on each of our hearts. God wants us to use the gifts He has given us no matter what challenges or worldly obstacles that are placed in our path. We need to be prepared to meet those challenges head-on and remove those obstacles.

In the first reading, Moses had to keep his arms raised beyond pain to protect the Israelites. Sometimes, we have to do things, even if it hurts as long as we do what is right. Other times we have to help and support each other on their faith journey. Moses had the support of Aaron and Hur. Who do we support?

In the Gospel, we heard about the widow who nagged the judge until he saw things her way. God does not want us be nags, but, like the widow, He wants us to be persistent in our prayer life.

Prayer as you know is not just asking all the time. Prayer does not always result in a request granted. Perseverance in prayer strengthens our faith. It enables us to see beyond our own particular needs and know that we are all part of a larger plan of spending eternity with God.

Prayer is about listening! At times, we are not good listeners.

It amazes me every time I am on the express bus, there is always some talking constantly from the moment we leave mid-town Manhattan until we come into Bay Ridge Brooklyn.

I often feel sorry for the person on the other end of the phone.

St. Paul tells us to listen to the voice of God speaking directly in the Bible. He tells us to remain faithful to what we have learned and believed.

Why? So we will not to be swayed by all the false teachings that surround us. The Bible expresses God’s will for salvation, a message that every one of us needs to hear and obey.

Bibles are useful for teaching and for training in righteousness. They are not show pieces in the home, they are meant to be used!

Getting back to our original question. We can begin answering our call to holiness by listening to God speaking to us in the scriptures.

We can begin answering our call to holiness by deepening our prayer life.

Perseverance and persistence requires discipline. Like cardio exercise and weight training you have to do it on a regular basis. Once a week is not enough.

We all carry all kinds of electronic devices. We use cell phones to stay in touch with our families and friends.

We use blackberry’s to stay in touch with co-workers and employers. Did you ever think about carrying a pocket size bible to stay in touch with God? I understand you even download passages from the bible or your favorite prayers on your iPod.

As we continue to celebrate this Eucharist – the gift of God’s love for us. Let us leave here this evening thinking about how we can better respond to God’s call of holiness.

May we open our ears and our hearts to God speaking to us in sacred scripture.

May we become more persistent in our prayer life and remain steadfast in hope that every prayer spoken or in the silence of our hearts, is heard by God.