29th Sunday in Ordinary Time @ St. Apollinaris Church

HOMILY - 29TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME
OCTOBER 15-16, 2016
4:30 PM (SAT), 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 5:30 PM (SUN) ORDINARY FORM MASSES

Called by many the best film of 1982, the movie titled “An Officer and a Gentleman” went on to become the third highest grossing picture of that year.

The story follows the training of a young Naval Aviation Officer and the merciless hazing he experiences at the hands of his Marine Drill Instructor.

Despite this, much of the training portrayed in the movie is relatively accurate, including the obstacle course with the twelve-foot wall, water survival and physical endurance tests, as well as the high-altitude or hypo-baric chamber.

This latter evolution is an enclosed room that simulates the effects of high-altitude on the human body, especially demonstrating the effects of low air pressure or hypoxia – that is low oxygen levels.

As the air is pumped out of the chamber, individuals are asked to perform trivial tasks. At some point, the tasks become increasingly difficult or time consuming. This is where a particular test subject has exceeded their own point of useful consciousness. Beyond this, an individual may pass out, becoming unconscious as their body shuts down to conserve limited resources.

The principal purpose for this training is to familiarize pilots, air crewmen, and flight personnel with the effects of hypoxia. The actual symptoms vary form person to person, and so it is essential that each individual be familiar with and recognize their own particular circumstances in order to avoid in-flight difficulties which might require oxygen supplementation.

Today is the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

At the beginning of today’s Gospel from St. Luke’s 18th Chapter, the parable is introduced by explaining that our Lord wanted to convey to his disciples

the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary.

Interestingly, the word here rendered as “becoming weary” appears a total of six times in the New Testament, and is more often translated as “faint.”

Prayer is essential to our Christian life. And while some times it might seem like a chore, Jesus wanted to emphasize to His disciples … and to us … that is absolutely necessary … lest we grow weary … or faint for lack of it. Prayer is, in this sense, our spiritual oxygen. If St. Luke were to say that Jesus told the disciples to breathe always so as not to faint, we might chuckle … but like respiration is to our physical bodies, prayer is equally important for our souls … and must be constant, regular, and properly enriched.

Hold your breath for a short time, and you get light-headed. If you travel to a high enough altitude, or work in an enclosed space where the air is too thin … you might experience hypoxia and even pass out.

The same can be said about prayer. Without it, our spiritual life grows weak and may even cause us to fall into serious sin – resulting in spiritual death. We, too, must be careful not to spend too much time in environments that deprive us of prayer and prayer’s effects. Bad company, sinful entertainment, or excessive attachment to worldly pleasures … can distract us from prayer and orient us away from God.

As for the parable, it is important here that we realize that while the widow in the story suffered multiple deprivations that kept her from being considered worthy of receiving justice. As far as grace and our own relationship with God, we are not poor nor are we alone; but rather are children of God and rich in His grace.

While the widow in the parable’s only chance at a fair settlement was to embarrass the unjust judge, too often we sell ourselves short … and sell God short … by ignoring or forgetting that we are beloved sons and daughters of the most high God, who is our Father and extraordinarily wealthy in superabundant spiritual and material gifts … most especially gifts of grace, and mercy, and love.

We must recognize our rightful place in the household of God, and constantly draw in the power of the Holy Spirit … every moment of every day … in order to properly nourish our souls through adequate prayer.

As we approach this altar to receive the Sacred Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, let us ask for the graces to more deeply engage ourselves in prayer … and right now, the prayers of this Holy Mass. As we hear the words and respond to their familiar ring and rhythm, may we be enriched by the treasures of God’s presence in both Word and Sacrament.

Let us breathe in the rich atmosphere of God’s love and mercy and grace … readily available to us in superabundance … as we pray together this great prayer-of-prayers … as we continue this liturgy.

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