HOMILY – 6^TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME

ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA CHURCH & FURMAN UNIVERSITY

FEBRUARY 14, 2009 – 8, 10, 12NOON & 6:30PM

May our Lord Jesus give us His peace.

Mr. Clean,  acquaintances,  the touch of the Master’s Hand.

Mr. Clean.  Most people like to be clean, not all though.  Pig Pen from Peanuts, Mr. Hankie from South Park, and 9 year old boys prefer no bath.

For the Jews, anyone experiencing any infection, menstruation, ooze or flake was to remain outside the city until the priest could come and judge whether you were Mr. or Mrs. Clean.  It was priestly code to spend a certain percentage of time “at the city gates” tending to the poor/unclean.

No healing, no bandaging, no medicine.  Judgment on the state if things.

Everybody likes clean at some point in their lives.  We hide our dirt, think no one knows, even believe it can be hidden forever, but everyone comes into the light.  There is a priest coming if the current one is not helping.  Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again.  He will come to judge the living and the dead.  At that time, you want to be found ready to come back to the community.  At the gates you want to be Mrs./Mr. Clean.

Acquaintences.  Paul speaks about his life to the Jews, the Greeks and the new Christians.  He says he has been giving Glory to God in a way acceptable, not offending, pleasing.  He has been trying to win them.

Each of us has groups we go around in.  School groups, leisure groups, work groups, family.  Isn’t it interesting that any one of us, if we are people of character, effect all our acquaintances the same way.

If I am a patient man, I lead others to patience, each group.  If I am a generous woman, others will want to give.  Because they’re acquainted with you, bring Christ Jesus too.  Imagine that – you ambassador.

Do the people around you, your acquaintances, know you follow Jesus? Or do you hide?  Pauls’ people knew he did.  “I am not seeking my own benefit, but that of the many, that they may be saved.”  What Paul did for his acquaintances was lead them to Jesus and His ways.  Do we? 

Our acquaintances deserve the best.

The Touch of the Master’s Hand.  "Twas battered and scared, and the auctioneer Thought it scarcely worth his while To waste much time on the old violin, But he held it up with a smile.  "What am I bidden, good folks," he cried,  "Who'll start bidding for me?  A dollar, a dollar - now who"ll make it two? Two dollars, and who"ll make it three?

"Three dollars once, three dollars twice,
 Going for three". . . but no! 
From the room far back a gray-haired man 
Came forward and picked up the bow;
 Then wiping the dust from the old violin,
 And tightening up the strings, 
He played a melody, pure and sweet, 
As sweet as an angel sings.

The music ceased and the auctioneer
 With a voice that was quiet and low, 
Said: "What am I bidden for the old violin?"
 And he held it up with the bow;
 "A thousand dollars! - and who'll make it two?
 Two thousand - and who'll make it three?
 Three thousand once, three thousand twice 
And going - and gone," said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried,
 "We do not quite understand -
What changed its worth?" Someone remarked:
"The touch of the masters hand." 
And many a man with life out of tune,
 And battered and torn with sin, 
Is auctioned cheap, to a thoughtless crowd.


Much like the old violin.

A "mess of pottage," a glass of wine, 
a game and he travels on, 
He's going once, and going twice 
He's going, and almost gone! 
But the MASTER comes, and the foolish crowd,
 Never can quite understand, 
The worth of a soul, and the change that's wrought


By the touch of the MASTER'S hand.

If you wish, You can make me clean!

Jesus touches the leper and he is made clean.

What is our sickness?  Are we ready to approach Jesus, to ask to be clean?

The Master comes.  We stand at the gate.  “Touch me now.”

And it is done.