Roc Homily for the Twelfth Sunday Ordinary Time 2016

This is the strangest Fathers Day homily I’ve ever done.  It’s challenging because, with this gospel passage, Jesus began to instruct his disciples about the meaning of his messiahship – “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”  And, guys, it’s humiliating to be taught.  Right?

After about 40 or 50 years of age, we guys start to realize that building our own fortress and defending it against all comers, life gets to be hollow.  And that’s the very signal that it’s time to learn… if we are willing to learn something new – discipleship!  (“Those who wish to save their lives will lose them…”)  “Why is Jesus so crazy?”  That’s our starting point for learning from this un-tameable Messiah.

Happy Fathers Day Challenge!  –roc,sj