We present here three homilettes offered by Father Gregory Havill, O.S.B. The morning weekday Mass at the Abbey, typically beginning at 7:20 a.m. and available online, is often occasion to hear brief homilies presented by the various members of the monastic community. Fr. Gregory keeps his homilies on file, and includes with them images he associates with their themes. The images included here are his own.
(“Homilette 85”)
(“Homilette 48”)
In the first reading for today’s Mass (James 5: 1-6), St. James doesn’t mince his words. “You have lived on earth in luxury and pleasure; you have fattened your hearts for the day of slaughter. You have condemned; you have murdered...” Saint James uses the example of the rich who cheat their workers. He assures us that these laborers, when they cry out, are seen and heard by God. In our Gospel (Mark 9: 41-50), Jesus doesn’t mince his words either. He warns us to do whatever is necessary to force ourselves to stop committing sin, to avoid sin at all costs. In our world relativism has become so ubiquitous that sin is no longer seen to be real. If we don’t remain absolutely vigilant, this mentality slips into our own attitudes so delicately and quietly that we hardly notice. We were born with the natural law written in our hearts. Even people of little or no faith understand what conscience is. Jesus tells us that this is the case even for those in Gehenna, “where the worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.” That represents conscience which will convict us and will never end or be quenched.“Homilette 46”)
For the Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas (January 28)