Pseudo-Homilies 25 – The gentle breeze

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A God revealing Himself. Last time we discussed a shock-and-awe-some sign: like ancient patriarchs, the three apostles were afraid and prostrated themselves to the ground when they heard the voice from heaven, the voice of God; yet initially, faced with the glistening cloud from God, Peter seemed quite excited by the experience, surprisingly confident and in the zone, since he proposed to stay, enjoy the moment, make it last, make three tents. Peter’s exuberance is also found in the Gospel read on this particular Sunday: after initially being taken aback and even scared by the arrival of Jesus who was walking on water, he…

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Pseudo-Homilies From a Layman -10- Peter the Shepherd

Fourth Sunday of Easter – Year A   Today’s liturgy, as is often the case, develops two parallel themes: Jesus Christ expressing himself through a metaphor set in the world of sheep farming; Peter who takes center stage, both in the 1st and 2nd reading, as the guide of the Apostles and, as a consequence, of the Church.   I found myself wondering: given that talking about sheep and shepherds at the time of Jesus was an effective way to help the audience visualize ideas through familiar themes, does it still make sense for us, as we’re so far removed from the rural world? It’s become difficult to feel at…

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