Preacher’s Sketchbook:

Each week, a Dominican member of the Province of St. Joseph’s Preaching Advisory Board prepares this Preacher’s Sketchbook in anticipation of the upcoming Sunday Mass. The idea of the Preacher’s Sketchbook is to take quotations from the authority of the Church–the Pope, the Fathers of the Church, documents of the Councils, the saints–that can help spark ideas for the Sunday homily. Just as an artist’s sketchbook preserves ideas for later elaboration, so we hope the Preacher’s Sketchbook will provide some ideas for homiletical elaboration.

St. Athanasius, Discourses Against the Arians

Not to know when the end is or when the day of the end will occur is actually a good thing. If people knew the time of the end, they might begin to ignore the present time as they waited for the end days. They might well begin to argue that they should only focus on themselves. Therefore, God has also remained silent concerning the time of our death… The Word has concealed both the end of all things and the time of our own death from us, for in the end of all is the end of each, and in the end of each the end of all is comprehended. That is so that, when things remain uncertain and always in prospect, we advance day by day as if summoned.

St. Jerome, Homily on Psalm 83 (84)

There certainly is much truth in a certain saying of a philosopher, “Every rich man is either wicked or the heir of wickedness.” … How did wealthy Zacchaeus enter the kingdom of heaven? He gave away his wealth and immediately replaced it with the riches of the heavenly kingodm. The Lord and Savior did not say that the rich wold not enter the kingdom of heaven but that they will enter with difficulty.”

St. Augustine, Exposition of Six Questions Against the Pagans

Salvation through [Catholic] religion [is that] through which true salvation is promised and truly promised.

St. Augustine, Letter 199

It is not the one who asserts that [Jesus] is near nor the one who asserts that he is not near who loves the coming of the Lord but the one who rightly waits for him…

St. Augustine, Sermon 174

It is as if [Zacchaeus] were saying [to Christ], “The reason I am keeping back half [of my possessions] for myself is not in order to have it, but to have something from which to pay people back.”

Maximus of Turin, Sermons 95-96

There is no crime in possessions, but there is crime in those who do not know how to use possessions.

St. Cyprian, Works and Almsgiving

He that possesses the true faith keeps the fear of God. Moreover, he keeps the fear of God by showing mercy to the poor.

Resources

Sunday Preacher’s Resource

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time (2007)

Readings

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Additional Preaching Resources

The Year of Faith: Annus Fidei website (Holy See) and the USCCB Website.
The Holy See: Ordinary Time
Fr. Thomas Rosica (Salt and Light Media)
The Torch
Fr. Francis Martin Website
Biblius Clerus, a resource of the Congregation for the Clergy
The Catena Aurea of St. Thomas Aquinas, O.P., for the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John

Preacher’s Sketchbook: 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time