HOMILY – FURMAN UNIVERSITY

2^ND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – C

JANUARY 14, 2007 – 8:30PM  MLK JR. HOLIDAY

May the Lord give us His peace.

A new name,  same Spirit,  draw some out.

A new name.  The Book of the Prophet Isaiah speaks powerfully.  You are no longer away, no longer alone, no longer awash in suffering.  I give you a new name Isaiah says for God.  Speaking for God he calls God’s people “A glorious crown, a jewel in that crown, my delight! Espoused.  These are significant titles.  It is one of those times in salvation history when God intervenes and begins the broken relationship again, the breakdown healed, the gap filled.  You are new to me.

God is like that.  Over and over giving a way out of suffering, a way into well-being.  It is no small thing to be espoused to God, to shine like a jewel to Him.

It may not be the way we feel.  God lets us know that is the way God feels.  You are given a new name, you are new, God rejoices at what is possible with Him.

Same Spirit.  I am sure at this point you recognize that your theory about yourself is true, the theory that you are good, the theory that you have gifts.  Furman has declared it in accepting you, many are involved in wanting to pay for the time here.

Each gift comes from the development of the raw material you were given, and each gift is developed because of the perceptive ability you have been given, the coaching, the information.  Almost all of that was given to you from outside you.

Paul shares with his Corinthian hearers – “One and the same Spirit produces all of these in everyone.

It is like we are born from the same stuff.  The one Spirit branching forth in gifts.

The Spirit of God wills this to be.  The gifts, the manifestation of His Spirit is given for some benefit – hence the apostolic life of the Church – and our local one to El Salvador, to St. Anthony’s to tutor and to provide meaningful after care.  Many benefit.  It is like a spiritual vine from a trunk that is rooted in God’s gifts.

The leaves are health care, provisions of food, dentures to eat it with, clothing and soap to clean them with, fuel for burning to warm the body and soul, and a ready presence to be with so no one is alone, come what may.  Your gifts will make even more detailed service – government, music, education, chemistry, information technology, studies about women, arts, economics, military, sociology, biology and so much more detailed service.  All from one Spirit giving us both the content and the means to process it, the call to serve with it.  This can offer insight into the Church’s condemnation of war or abortion or any other affront to human being.

Draw some out.  As if getting a new beginning and being fed and led by the same Spirit were not enough – and they are – Jesus after touching common water says, “Draw some out.”

That common water is you and me those around us – His people.

“Draw some out” He says.  Let the Spirit out, raise the walking dead, show them their dignity as life giving Spirit.  Just like a glass of fine wine can make even a stiff rosy enough to dance, so can the Spirit of God lift us and set us to serve in that glow.

You are called a new name – espoused.

His Spirit with in you and those around you.

Let there be MINISTRY!  A drawing out of the good within and

For those around you.  You are animatur!

Come to life, bring everyone with you.

Gifts given for some benefit.