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Dietary supplements lead to dangerous excess

18 Oct 2015 - Preaching the News for Sunday

This Sunday’s gospel is all about misguided competition, as disciples lobby to be exalted in heaven and Jesus calls them to instead be servants on earth. Misguided competition among young people to be ever-thinner and more energetic has led to dangerous abuse of dietary supplements, a new study reveals. Illnesses and injuries caused by such products lead to more than 20,000 emergency room visits a year, the study estimates. Many involve young adults who suffer cardiovascular problems after taking supplements marketed for weight loss and energy enhancement. The rapidly growing $32 billion a year industry has attracted increased scrutiny in the past year and prompted calls for tougher regulation. Homily hint: Our competitive society takes its toll on the most vulnerable, those raised to believe they must cut corners and sacrifice their health to look good and get ahead. Let’s emphasize wholesome living and healthy habits rather than quick-fix drugs with potentially life-threatening risks. For more on dietary supplement abuse, see: Dietary Supplements Lead to 20,000 E.R. Visits Yearly, Study Finds

drug abuse health risks competition

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23 Jan 2011 - Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

Many have commented on how our society is sorely divided. The same is true of many parishes. The letter to the Corinthians reveals that our current predicament isn't a new phenomenon. Early on in the history of our faith there were rivalries. Whereas the early Christians argued, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Cephas," we now hear, "I'm a 'Call to Action' Catholic," or "I'm a Magisterium Catholic," etc. The way out is not to focus first on the differences but to always begin with Christ, who, as our responsorial psalm says, is "our light and our salvation."

Unity competition Community

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Homily stories

20 Sep 2009 - Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

There are some who play because they have a sheer love of the game. But they are few and far between. And then there are those who play to win. And for too many, that means winning at all costs. Is there any wonder why we find ourselves in such a competitive world? At work, in the gym, with our neighbors and friends, sometimes the competition can overwhelm us. Who will get the new position at work? Why do I have to win the tennis game? Does my car have to be better than the one in the next driveway? Where does it all begin? Go to the park and watch children playing. It doesn’t matter the game—soccer, T-ball, football, whatever. Watch some of the coaches. Listen to some of the parents. It has become “win at all costs.” Is there any wonder that when these children grow up all they will know is competition? The irony is, when you leave children alone to play, they seldom put the pressure on themselves that adults do. They remain children. Having fun is more important than winning. Jesus holds up children as examples for us. The more we take unhealthy competition out of our lives, the more we will be able to enjoy what we are doing, grow from it, and, as Christians, help one another so we can all succeed.

Authors Father Dominic Grassi

Children play competition

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18 Oct 2009 - Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

Power, status, and self-worth. Everyone—including the people whom you will lead in liturgy this weekend—finds them important and probably even struggles with them in families, jobs, and souls. And the lectionary readings deal with these issues head on. Mindful of the pressures people face to take control of their lives and surroundings, to seek positions of prestige, to compete with another, and somehow to feel worthy through it all, you have some powerful messages to deliver to them. In Jesus’ kingdom, greatness and being “first” come from service to others. Because the Lord has experienced human suffering, weakness, and temptation, and has offered himself to redeem them, we can approach God’s merciful presence with confidence, not shame. The readings this weekend also provide a “teachable moment” about how the Mass is a sacrifice, a way to connect the offering of Jesus with the self-offering we make by participating in the Eucharist, and with how these sacrifices take the form of service. (In making these connections you’ll also be linking the Liturgy of the Word with the Liturgy of the Eucharist.)

Service sacrifice competition power

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Homily stories

18 Oct 2009 - Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

There are many symbols that reflect our society, some for better and others for worse. The professional athlete is one of those symbols that seems to endure generation after generation. Children still look up to them. Wheaties still puts them on their cereal boxes. And all the sports channels give interview after interview. They become our heroes, to be emulated and imitated. What does it say, then, when athletes are found with corked baseball bats or steroids or illegal golf clubs? It tells us that we live in a society that condones winning no matter what the cost, the importance of being No. 1 over simply doing your best, that being guilty only happens when you get caught. And we shrug it off, saying that this is just the way things are. It is no wonder that young and impressionable people have become so incredibly competitive and the rest of us so jaded that nothing surprises us any more. The gospel of Jesus stands as a strong counterpoint to the message that is being given. The gospel tells us we must put others first, put their needs ahead of our own, not worry about who is No. 1. It was a radical message when Jesus first spoke it, and it remains so today in our competitive, win-at-any-cost society.

Authors Father Dominic Grassi

symbols heroes competition sacrifice

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Homily stories

23 Sep 2018 - Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

There are some who play because they have a sheer love of the game. But they are few and far between. And then there are those who play to win. And for too many, that means winning at all costs. Is there any wonder why we find ourselves in such a competitive world? At work, in the gym, with our neighbors and friends, sometimes the competition can overwhelm us. Who will get the new position at work? Why do I have to win the tennis game? Does my car have to be better than the one in the next driveway? Where does it all begin? Go to the park and watch children playing. It doesn’t matter the game—soccer, T-ball, football, whatever. Watch some of the coaches. Listen to some of the parents. It has become “win at all costs.” Is there any wonder that when these children grow up all they will know is competition? The irony is, when you leave children alone to play, they seldom put the pressure on themselves that adults do. They remain children. Having fun is more important than winning. Jesus holds up children as examples for us. The more we take unhealthy competition out of our lives, the more we will be able to enjoy what we are doing, grow from it, and, as Christians, help one another so we can all succeed.

Authors Father Dominic Grassi

winning competition Children

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Homily stories

23 Sep 2018 - Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

My daughter, Hannah, was naturally loving, as all babies are. She thrilled her grandparents and aunts and uncles with her willingness to sit in their laps and cuddle with nary a whimper for Mommy or Daddy. But then along came the nanny. She adored Hannah and saw no reason to share her. She wrapped her in big, loving arms and wouldn’t let any outside eyes sneak a peek. She sang to her, read to her, knitted her adorable little hats and sweaters, and prepared delicious homemade meals for her. No one could care for her any better, and she was determined no one else even tried. The nanny was heard whispering in Hannah’s ear, “Everywhere I go people are jealous of me, and now they’re jealous of us, little one. What can we do? We must say, ‘We are the best. Forget the rest.’ ” That’s the problem with jealousy and those who fuel it: Its motivating spirit is ungenerous and stingy. There must always be a best and a worst; a first and a last; a winner and a loser. Like Jesus, Hannah didn’t buy into this worldview. She kept on loving everyone with abandon, long after the nanny received her walking papers, which naturally she chalked up to another jealous person.

Authors Patrice J. Tuohy

jealousy competition winning

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Homily stories

21 Oct 2018 - Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

There are many symbols that reflect our society, some for better and others for worse. The professional athlete is one of those symbols that seems to endure generation after generation. Children still look up to them. Wheaties still puts them on their cereal boxes. And all the sports channels give interview after interview. They become our heroes, to be honored, richly compensated, and imitated. What does it say, then, when athletes are found with corked baseball bats or steroids or illegal golf clubs? It tells us that we live in a society that condones winning no matter what the cost, the importance of being No. 1 over simply doing your best, that being guilty only happens when you get caught. And we shrug it off, saying that this is just the way things are. It is no wonder that young and impressionable people have become so incredibly competitive and the rest of us so jaded that nothing surprises us anymore. The gospel of Jesus stands as a strong counterpoint to the message that is being given. The gospel tells us we must put others first, put their needs ahead of our own, not worry about who is No. 1. It was a radical message when Jesus first spoke it, and it remains so today in our competitive, win-at-any-cost society.

Authors Father Dominic Grassi

professional athletes heroes winning competition put others first

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22 Sep 2024 - Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

Jesus’ disciples wanted to succeed. Well, don’t we all? I don’t like to lose at solitaire, much less at the great game of life. There are established measures for success in every avenue we care to stroll. In school you aim for the “A.” In sports you want to score the point. In elections you want more votes than the other candidate. At work you look for a raise. When you enter the contest you covet the trophy. It’s disingenuous to pretend otherwise. False humility says it doesn’t matter if you succeed or not, yet I want this scripture commentary to hit a home run, and if you’re a preacher you want this week’s homily to rouse hearts and generate enthusiasm. Of course we do. If we were indifferent to the results of our efforts, would we be doing this at all? But we’re also not naive enough to mistake superficial approval as the real measure of a job well done. Once or twice in a lifetime the assembly may give the preacher a standing ovation, but that only means they like what they heard or how it was said. It doesn’t mean the gospel has been proclaimed or that anyone has been won to Christ. What it comes down to is that the sin of the disciples in today’s gospel is not ambition. It’s not wrong for them to want some way to measure that they’re acing this discipleship thing. Who wouldn’t want to be the best apostle? Would they have been following Jesus since Galilee only to be the worst? Jesus, who once told a story extolling the virtues of an unjust steward, views ambition for the Kingdom as a good thing, but as usual his friends are going about it backwards. To be first in the Kingdom is worth striving for. But please understand: To be first, you have to get to the back of the line. Cue the child. It’s especially ironic that the last teaching Jesus gives along the way that day is the second prediction of the Passion. He’s talking crucifixion while his friends are measuring themselves for robes of honor. Getting their attention is not going to be easy. So Jesus draws a handy child into his arms and asks them to value this child as they would value him—as they would value God. Well, for heaven’s sake! A child was worth very little in the ancient world; a child was merely the potential of an adult. People didn’t even make the census count in Israel until they were 20—and then only if they were boys. Children were carried off by illness or accident so easily; no point in putting much stock in their existence until they made it to adulthood. Put the last first, Jesus says. That’s an ambition worthy of discipleship. Related scripture links Images of the Kingdom: Matt. 13 The peaceable Kingdom: Isa. 11:6-9 Nonviolent resistance to evil: Luke 6:27-36 Laying down your life: Luke 9:23-26; John 15:12-25 Catechism links Meekness and power: CCC 520; 544; 1825; 2544-2547 Beatitude and paradox: CCC 1716-1717; 1720-1724 Peace and violence: CCC 2302-2306 Adapted from a previously published Exploring the word.

Authors Alice Camille

ambition discipleship competition

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