Monday, June 30, 2008

Homily – 06-30-2008 – The First Holy Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church

Today's Feast of the First Holy Martyrs of the Holy Church of Rome is an enormously important feast. It follows upon the heels of the celebration, yesterday, of the Martyrdom of Saints Peter and Paul. Their deaths took place during the persecution of Nero (in the 60's – the first century) and with the martyrs' death's of Peter, Paul, the rest of the apostles and many others they form the credible "field of red" on which the Church of Jesus stands!

If there were no Christian martyrs – there would be no viable and believable Church! It is only when one is willing to put it all on the line is anything given true, lasting, genuine and authentic meaning! And it is not just any putting on the line: it is putting it all on the line for your friends AND your enemies: yes, this includes the very ones who are persecuting you and putting you to death!

Jesus told us that there is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. He also told us to love our enemies – to consider them our friends. Therefore, we must lay down our lives always for the spiritual welfare of our enemies!

This is a very difficult thing to do. It seems like no human being could ever do such a thing. On our own, with our own resources, this is true. But by the power of the working of the Holy Spirit it can be done: and it can be done courageously and even joyfully!

The Holy Spirit of God – if we pray constantly for a deeper and deeper release of his gifts – can enable us to KEEP OUR EYES FOCUSED ON CHRIST! KEEP OUR EYES FOCUSED ON JESUS AS OUR EXAMPLE OF HOW TO DEAL WITH OUR ENEMIES! KEEP OUR EYES FIXED ON HOW HE ACTED AND REACTED WHEN HE WAS BEING NAILED TO A CROSS: "Father, forgive them, for they really do not know what they are doing!"

With the help of the Holy Spirit – nothing should be able to separate us from life in Christ or his love – his expansive, comprehensive and all-embracing love!

The gospel passage paints a bleak picture of what the world could be like without God. Rome at the time of Peter, Paul and the early Christians was such a place. But these Christian heroes persevered in their faith while Rome was literally burning to the ground around them. The Emperor Nero, who most likely set the fires himself, falsely accused the Christians for setting them – arrested them – and killed them in horrendous and gruesome ways!

But these protomartyrs now shine like the stars of heaven! And they pray constantly for us – so that we can endure the trials and the persecutions that just naturally come along with being a Christian. They know – and want to communicate to us – that NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD THAT COMES TO US IN CHRIST BY THE WORKING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT! We have all we need to conquer the world – and reign forever with Christ in heaven! – if we KEEP OUR EYES FIXED ON JESUS and his Way of Life!

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven!

Sunday, June 29, 2008

Homily – 06-29-2008 – Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul

My name is Peter. My name used to be Simon.

I was born in Bethsaida. My father's name is Jonah. I have a brother named Andrew. We are fishermen.

A man named Jesus came by one day on the beach and invited my brother and me to follow him. We dropped everything and followed him. We followed him around for three years.

This man Jesus was unlike anyone we had ever met. He was a rabbi and his preaching and teaching went to our very hearts. He performed many impressive miracles to help explain what he was preaching and teaching about. He was clearly someone special.

Jesus was the most loving man I had ever met – and his love was contagious. But he kept talking about going up to Jerusalem one day to suffer and die at the hands of our own people and then to be put to death by the Romans – because he loved everyone so much. I tried to talk him out of it – but he became very upset with me and even called me a satan for trying to stop him from doing his duty!

One day when the group of us was walking he asked us who everyone was saying that he was. We all had different answers, but somehow I heard myself say: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus turned to me and smiled and said: "Simon, Son of Jonah, no mere human being has revealed this to you, but it was my heavenly Father." It looks like he has made his choice. And so I say to you, now, "you are Peter (Rock) and on this "rock" I will build my church and the gates of the netherworld (hell) will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven." I had no idea at the time what he was talking about. But in time it all happened just as he said it would.

The week before he died, Jesus took me and James and his brother John up a high mountain and something amazing happened: everything turned all white and glowing, very white and very glowing; and we heard a voice say: "This is my beloved Son on whom my favor rests, listen to him!" We never forgot what we saw!

The night before he died he did something strange: Jesus took bread and wine at a supper we were having and said: THIS IS MY BODY which will be given up for you; THIS IS MY BLOOD which will be poured out for you. Then he said for us to DO THIS IN HIS MEMORY! It was a while before we truly understood what he was giving us – and what he was asking us to do!

That night I and James and John fell asleep in a garden when he asked us to pray with him. Then later on I denied THREE TIMES that I even knew him. I was so shocked and ashamed after that that I cried my eyes out all night long.

The next day I was in hiding when Jesus died on the cross! I thought they would come to get me too!

But three days later – on a Sunday morning some women came to us all excited with some news that JESUS WAS ALIVE! just as he said he would be! We didn't take them too seriously for a while. But that night Jesus came among us while we were in a locked room (the place where we ate the supper with him) and he said to us: PEACE! then he breathed on us and said RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT, GO AND FORGIVE SINS!

And so it was true, he was alive – and for the next 40 days he prepared us 11 for the day which he would go back to heaven – where he came from in the first place. During that time, one day he asked me THREE TIMES if I loved him; and THREE TIMES I said to him YES, LORD, YOU KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU! to which he said: FEED MY LAMBS, TEND MY SHEP, FEED MY SHEEP! It was clear now that I would truly be in charge of the band of 11 (but soon again to be 12) brother Apostles. And that I would be a key figure in the foundation of the Church that would come to life on the day of Pentecost – which would endure until the end of the world.

On that glorious Pentecost Day – while we were praying with Mary, Jesus mother, in that same upper room where we ate Jesus' Last Supper – the Spirit of God – the Gift of Jesus and His Father came upon us with the sound of a roaring wind; and there were tongues of flame coming to rest on our heads. We were filled with powerful gifts of the Spirit so that we could go and do what Jesus told us to do on his Ascension Day – to baptize and to preach and to teach – everyone – to perform signs and bring the Good News of salvation and the arrival of God's Kingdom - to the ends of the earth.

I spent my time doing that with the Jewish people. I did everything I could to convince them that the long-awaited Messiah had come in Jesus – the long wait was over. And that the deliverance that he brought and the establishment of a kingdom was not an earthly one like they expected – it was rather a much more important spiritual one that would affect absolutely everyone – forever!

After ten years of doing this more or less successfully – shortly after James, the first of our group, was martyred for Jesus in the Roman persecutions of Christians – I too gave my life for him and was crucified. But I asked to be turned upside down in my crucifixion because I was not worthy to die exactly the same way that my Master, My Lord, My Best Friend Jesus did. And this favor was granted me.

Thank you for celebrating my life, my faith, my position in the Church of Jesus and my death this day. You are all in my prayers daily! "Peace to all of you who are in Christ!"


 

My name is Paul.

I was born in Tarsus. My name used to be Saul. I am a Roman citizen, though also a Jew and studied under Rabbi Gamaliel – a famous teacher in Jerusalem. I professed myself to be a Pharisee. I prided myself on knowing the Jewish legal prescriptions and defended the Jewish faith stalwartly.

I happened to be present when a deacon of the Christian church,, Stephen, was being stoned to death – the first martyr for the sake of the New Way. I did nothing to stop it.

Then one day, my life changed while I was making my way toward Damascus to further thwart the spread of Christianity. There was a blinding light! I fell to the ground! And a voice came that said: "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" I knew that it was Jesus speaking directly to me!

I was led into Damascus to the house of a disciple of Jesus named Ananias. I was deeply filled with the presence of Jesus and the Holy Spirit and I asked for baptism immediately and I was baptized and my name became Paul.

It was very clear that Jesus had taken possession of me and that my life's work would be unlike anything I had ever dreamed it would be. All of my energy and talent was suddenly directed the opposite way! The first thing I did was to give public testimony before King Agrippa. This set the stage for the rest of my life.

Jesus knew exactly where he wanted me to be and what he wanted me to do. As Peter – was head of the Church, residing in Rome – whose task was to convert the children of Israel; my duty would be to bring the Gospel message to the rest of the known world. To this end I made three missionary journeys – the territories included Ephesus, Galatia, Corinth, Antioch, Thessalonica and Macedonia.

Just as the 12 relied heavily on the presence of the Spirit to make them strong, courageous and articulate when necessary – so did I also rely on the Spirit. I may be well educated, but I am not all that eloquent a speaker. Yet, it is in my weakness that the power of God can shine forth and Jesus can get his work done using me! And it did shine!

The one thing that ended up happening is that a lot of the letters that I wrote to the Christian communities that I had visited in my journeys actually became part of the Bible – part of a new part of the Bible called the New Testament. I kind of felt the Spirit of God helping me to form words and ideas when I was writing those letters. I also wrote an account of the activity of the apostles in general in setting up the infant Christian communities.

I endured all kinds of treatment in delivering the gospel: both good and bad as I made my journeys. I was treated very well – but also very badly: I was beaten, I was stoned, I was starved, I was shipwrecked, and I was imprisoned several times. Yet, I never gave up hope, and never stopped doing my duty. I kept running the race, as I called it, straining on to get the prize which I know will be life everlasting with Jesus. I love Jesus so much now that I feel that he is living his life completely and directly in me. Would that everyone can have this same experience! And they can, if they just repent of their sins and let Jesus possess them as I did

I am now in prison in Rome because I am a Roman citizen. I rejoice that soon I will be able to die for Christ as I had always longed to do. I know that whether I live or die I am his, so it makes no difference to me. It is the time of the Emperor Nero and the Church is suffering greatly – I am happy to suffer with my fellow Christians. It is my hope that I can be buried at the tomb Peter, my fellow bishop, my fellow Christian, my great and dear friend.

Thank you for celebrating my life and death this day. "May the grace of our Lord Jesus, the love of God the Father and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all" – always!

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Homily – 06-28-2008 – St. Irenaeus

Saint Irenaeus was born around the year 130. Educated in Smyrna, he became a disciple of Saint Polycarp, bishop of that city. In the year 177 he was ordained a priest at Lyons in France and shortly thereafter was made bishop of that city. He composed works defending the Catholic faith against errors of the Gnostics (who said that body was evil and that salvation through knowledge was available only to the elite), and it is said that he received the martyr's crown around the year 200.

Jesus, in the gospel passage today, prays for the Apostles and their successors who would be the bearers of his message, born of a personal experience with him: knowledge through unity with him and each other, unity in a bond of peace!

In the first reading, St. Paul tells Timothy, a priest he himself ordained, to pursue faith, love and peace in his work – and to simply present the truth of the gospel message – not entering into foolish and ignorant debates. The heretics that St. Irenaeus was dealing with sported such foolishness and debates. St. Paul told Timothy (and indirectly Irenaeus), however, to treat such errant brothers with kindness and gentleness – with the true charity from the heart! Thus, the credibility of the message itself would be preserved, and the wayward person may truly consider a change of mind and a conversion of heart!

If you a speaking truth – you don't have to yell – you don't have to harass – you don't have to belittle your audience – as do those who do not speak the truth!

The mouth of the just murmurs wisdom – and he murmurs it quietly, gently, yet o so persuasively!

Friday, June 27, 2008

Homily – 06-27-2008 – St. Cyril of Alexandria

Today we celebrate the feast of St. Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop and Doctor of the Church. He was born in 370 and lived a monastic life. He was ordained a priest and succeeded his uncle as bishop of Alexandria in 412. He had a preeminent role at the Council of Ephesus; he fought bravely against the doctrines of Nestorius, which denied the real joining of the two natures, one human and one divine into one person in Christ, thus denying also that Mary was the Mother of God; he wrote many learned works explaining and defending the Catholic faith. He died in 444.

The readings today reflect the life and ministry of Cyril. He truly was salt and light. His presence and his work made a difference in the world in which he lived, in the Church he loved so much. The flavor of his example and the illumination of his defenses and writings did much to secure the quality of the faith that was being challenged at the time. Cyril was one who staunchly defended the smallest letter of the complete law: which now included Jesus' New Law of LOVE.

In the first reading we see Paul encouraging a young priest named Timothy to be faithful to his work and trusting in the one who empowers it: the Blessed Trinity of loving Father, merciful Son, energizing Spirit. When the time comes and people reject sound doctrine he must provide a sure and reliable message of hope: the Gospel of Christ! It will speak for itself and will attract those destined to be saved by it – if the evangelist and preacher is true to his vocation. Paul was true to his, Timothy to his, Cyril to his – and so the faith has survived and flourished – and today it flavors and enlightens the lives of those chosen to receive it and to transmit it to others – you and me.

Let us forever sing the goodness of the Lord – because he is faithful, he is merciful, he is Savior!

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Homily – 06-26-2008 – Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time - Thursday

Today we see the long-time-coming arrival of the Messiah progressing in a circular fashion: there seems to be steps forward and steps backward, while the whole time God is having his way in preparing the people, preparing minds and hearts to receive his Son when at last he will come.

Today we see the only remaining faithful tribe of the Lord: Judah, being dismantled and taken into captivity in Babylon. The purification process for this tiny seed of faith needs to be further tested and shaped.

Even though things seem bleak for them, God's people still sense that they are somehow in his care and that things will turn out alright for them in the end. They long to be back in their own land, but, in their mourning, they put their trust in God and he will hear their cry and he will answer!

The lesson that God was trying to instill in them, however, was faithfulness to His word. God promised to be their deliverer – and he would keep this promise – always and in many ways. But it was to those who trusted in the promise and the one who made it who would be blessed indeed – and they would live deeply within the heart of the one who made the promise.

In the gospel passage Jesus puts it another and conclusive way: it is not enough to simply listen to the word of God – putting it into practice is vitally necessary as well. Build your house on rock – put your life's work and activity in the same path as your attentiveness and reception of God's message – then when you cry: LORD, LORD, help me with this! help me with that! you will be heard and you will be helped – and you will experience the amazing presence of God the Father, Son and Spirit dwelling deep within your heart, deep within your mind, deep within your life!

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Homily – 06-25-2008 – Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time - Thursday

Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves! Jesus said it long ago – and in this very reading proclaimed by his Church today, he says it again: beware of those who come with their own agenda, their own message, their own isolated way of doing things that are not really part of total package that only he and those who are in covenant with him can deliver.

But how can we know the false from the true prophet – spokesman - for God? We will know them by how closely their message is to the gospel message of love and hope and peace; and how well they themselves live out that message. We will know them by their fruit! A person living a chaotic life filled with all kinds of contradictions and inconsistencies can hardly be a reliable mouthpiece for God. A person trying to convert his chaotic life filled with contradictions and inconsistencies and is used by God to speak both for his own benefit and the benefit of others is the true prophet.

Being a true prophet does not mean that one has to be perfect – but it does mean that the focus has to be on God and his merciful action that is carried out in the prophet. God wants us to KNOW THE WAY to get through the day! The true prophet – cooperating with God speaking – can point out the way!

In the time of King Josiah, in the reading from the Book of Kings – Shaphan acted as a true prophet of the Lord by allowing God to use him to deliver a very important message to the king and the people of Judah. It was time to make a new covenant of friendship with God – so that salvation history could continue – and that one day the greatest of all prophets and spokesmen of God could arrive on the scene: JESUS – the very WORD OF GOD MADE FLESH! Not only would he be a prophet, he would also establish with God the Father, in his blood, a
new and everlasting covenant! it would guarantee our redemption and the forgiveness of our sins!

O Lord, teach me the way of your decrees today! Make me sensitive to the true prophet who can deliver the contents of those decrees to me – and help me to be a true prophet bringing that content to others!

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Homily – 06-24-2008 – The Nativity of St. John the Baptist

What is so astounding about the birth of St. John the Baptist is that it was the first streak of dawn in an entirely new and long awaited day for humankind! In the darkness that had enveloped men, women and children since the days of Adam and Eve – there had been one chief promise made by God to make things right – to reconcile the situation between himself and Fallen Mankind. But while there was a promise – the people still had to wander in darkness of the ability to truly grasp God as he really is, to know him, to understand him, to love him, to serve him they way they knew – at times – that they should.

The first reading then, from Isaiah the prophet, speaks of the coming reality of two lights – a dimmer light, and then a brilliant light! John the Baptist was the dimmer of the two, because he was just the very first hint of dawn – which would be the arrival of Jesus, who would become the DAYSPRING, by his Death and Resurrection. He may have been the dimmer light, but he was not a dim character. The fact that John was this precursor – this forerunner – this very last of the Old Testament Prophets - who would have the privilege of literally pointing at Jesus coming to him for baptism and say: LOOK EVERYONE! THERE HE IS! THERE IS THE LAMB OF GOD – WHO TAKES AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD! THERE IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD! – makes John the Baptist an enormously important figure in salvation history – and today we celebrate his birth!

Both Jesus and John were prenamed by an angel; both Jesus and John belonged to the same family of the line of David; their mothers were cousins, in fact; both Jesus and John would give their lives for the sake of ushering in the Kingdom of God the Father! Both Jesus and John recognized each other while they were still in their mother's wombs – and both leapt for joy at the nearness of salvation.

May our hearts this day leap for joy as we receive the same Jesus in Holy Communion. He wants us to rejoice, find hope and experience peace while he is near!

And as John prepared the way for Jesus, perhaps today, we can lead others – the people we will run into today - to consider making Jesus their true and lasting friend: people who need Light in their lives, a Lamp for their path, one who can absolve them of their sins. We can do this by the example of our LOVING ONE ANOTHER – being lights for each others' paths – and by asking God for the forgiveness of our own sins!

Monday, June 23, 2008

Homily – 06-23-2008 – Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time - Monday

Our gospel passage today tells that it is perfectly alright for us to point out to other people their faults and failures – in a charitable way – ONCE WE HAVE DEALT WITH OUR OWN FAULTS AND FAILURES SUCCESSFULLY and as completely as possible. And since this is usually a life-long project – our "fault-finding" and "failure exposing" expeditions with others ought to be few and far between.

Jesus says here, in any case: STOP JUDGING! first of all because it is just not charitable or productive for anyone involved; but not only that, YOU YOURSELVES WILL BE JUDGED IN EXACTLY THE SAME WAY THAT YOU DO JUDGE OTHERS! And he means that very sincerely!

On that great Judgment Day, that is surely coming, Jesus will be looking for two things: how much did you really LOVE ME IN OTHERS?; and, how JUDGMENTAL were you?, because now you will receive the SAME KIND OF JUDGMENT!

Oftentimes we are so quick to criticize – especially when situations, events and people are such easy targets! But we must always STOP and remember when we ourselves may not have always been as spiritually informed as we are now, how we may not have had as much training in the faith, and practice in its ways to be the more spiritually mature people that we are now – in other words, we must think back at the times when we messed things up too, and thought, said and did things that were not on the Christian target.

In the first reading today from the Book of Kings, eleven out of the twelve tribes of Israel were very much off-target – they FORGOT THE GOD WHO SAVED THEM, who did marvelous, miraculous and wonderful things for them . They wandered away from God – they sinned – over and over again – and so he said to them: FINE, WANDER, GO AWAY – GET OUT OF MY SIGHT! He said this to the eleven – only the tribe of Judah, which was truly faithful, was left.

May we imitate that tribe of Judah today! May we remain faithful to God! May we put his teachings into practice by the working of the Holy Spirit within us! May God be pleased with us – because we are getting better at not judging others and truly trying to love them as we have been loved!

Help us with your right hand, O Lord, and answer us!

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Homily – 06-22-2008 – Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The gospel passage today is primarily directed at the Twelve Apostles. Jesus is warning them that the preaching they will do in his name will be an intrinsically frightening thing to many; and that only faith in a revealing and judging God can overcome that fear!

And so he tells them to go and proclaim in the light, and from the rooftops, the message of salvation that he is delivering to them in close quarters, in the darkness: the message that says that because God loves his people so very much – everything will work out in the end for those who trust in him absolutely and completely; and conversely, it won't for those who don't!
He tells them that God cares about each and every sparrow that he has created – and if cares that much about a sparrow think how much he cares about us – his beloved children!

When the gospel message of TRUTH: meaning "life in the Spirit of God," is proclaimed, it can be a very revealing thing! It can reveal exactly where we stand with God, with one another and ourselves. It is meant to be both challenging and comforting at the same time. For by the power of the Holy Spirit, what is negative can be transformed into what is positive: death can be transformed into life; darkness can be transformed into light; hatred can be transformed into love; sin can be transformed into forgiveness and selfish self-centeredness can be transformed into selfless self-giving. And this transformation is available because it has already taken place by the astounding Death and Resurrection of Jesus the Christ: Son of God and Son of Man.

In our second reading today St. Paul tells the Romans that the gift of reconciliation was no match for the transgression: that is, the disobedience of Adam that made it necessary. The gift of God's graciousness in Christ Jesus far surpasses the precipitating factor. The overwhelming flood of God's mercy and newness of life is amazing: and it is for all of us: who simply believe that it is so (in Jesus) and we try to live like we believe it!

Jeremiah, in the 1st reading, was a young prophet – a teenager – who was given a very difficult job by God – to tell God's people that they were displeasing him very much and that they had better mend their ways or else suffer the consequences. He could sense that everyone was very unhappy with him and were against him personally – as if it were his own words and message. Jeremiah was scared! But he prayed fervently and trustingly and the Lord God helped him do his job of speaking up though circumstances were dangerous for him.

Today God calls us – we, who are also "prophets by our baptism" – to speak up and out, whenever necessary, to make the world a better place and to help people in general understand that "the world to come" is the one that really counts, the real goal – and that the work we do in this world on any day ought to be always a preparation in some way for that one! Sometimes this might make us as unpopular as Jeremiah!

But if we pray and ask for God's help like he did– he will give it – and the gospel message of TRUTH grounded in Jesus who is TRUTH-IN-THE-FLESH – will be proclaimed! God will be pleased with us! And the coming Kingdom of God will be that much closer and already more visible!

Answer us, O Lord; for bounteous is your kindness and strong is your help!

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Homily -06-21-2008 – St. Aloysius Gonzaga

Today we celebrate the feast of a "favored son of the Jesuit Order" – Aloysius Gonzaga. He was born of the princely family of Castiglione in 1568, near Mantua in Lombardy. He was instructed in the faith by his pious mother, and early on manifested an inclination to religious life. After delivering his share of the ancestral dominion to his brother he entered the Society of Jesus. He sought perfection by way of austere penances. While serving the sick during the plague, he himself contracted the disease and died in 1591 at the age of 23.

The things that Aloysius did were done because of his belief in the reality and dynamics of the love of God: especially as it expressed in the new law of loving that Jesus demonstrated and then commanded us to do! If you want to truly experience my presence and the presence of my father, if you truly want to know what being a human being among other human beings is all about – then LOVE ONE ANOTHER, as I have loved you.

This same thing Jesus proclaims in his answer to the scholar of the Jewish Law who was testing him: he tells him that the greatest commandment is to love God first, with all you've got; then to love others as you love yourself to prove that love! Everything is based on this, Jesus assures us!

Aloysius loved God by loving others, especially the sick! We are called to love God by loving others as well – all those who need God's comfort and care and assurance. If we do this in a particularly single-minded way we can even develop our own experience of perfection to a greater degree than what might be ordinary, and we will know a greater fullness of joy in God's presence and delights at his right hand!

I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you!

Friday, June 20, 2008

Homily – 06-20-2008 – Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time - Saturday

You would think that the goings on in the first reading today was the plot of a modern day TV show: the drama, the murder, the concealments, the revenge, the oaths taken in the name of the Lord and the preservation of a line of descendants.

What is actually going on here is the unfolding of God's promise to King David – a promise from which he will never withdraw: Your own offspring I will put upon your throne…His enemies I will clothe with shame, but upon him my crown shall shine! God is always faithful to his promises!

The greatest thing that God has promised each of us is FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS, and ETERNAL LIFE IN HEAVEN if we choose to live the life of beatitude now, the life composed on the 'transformation of opposites' that is effective because of the death and resurrection of Jesus – the primary and preeminent descendant of David! Jesus is The King of Kings! He is The King of Peace! He is The King of Mercy! The poor are blessed! The lowly are raised up! Those who mourn for their sins are comforted! Those who are persecuted for their membership in Christ are rewarded with eternal life! TAKE UP YOUR CROSS, Jesus tells us, AS I DID MINE – and you will share in the newness of life that the Spirit will give!

Believing this is the same as storing treasure in heaven! Earthly treasures will only corrode and decay and be subject to stealing and destruction – but a heavenly treasure: a deep desire to live life fully in Christ Jesus will merit an amazing reward! God promises! and he always keeps his promises!

A very simple way we can tell if our treasure is where it is supposed to be is by looking at ourselves in a mirror! If our eyes are clear and bright – then we are filled with the Holy Spirit and our treasure is in heaven; if our eyes are dull and sad then perhaps our treasure is only on earth: we are weighed down by unnecessary concerns and we are being deprived of what is God's gift by our own lack of cooperation!

Today let us choose to let God possess us completely – and thus may our thoughts, words and actions show that we appreciate what he is doing and that we do cooperate with him as completely as we can both in making this a better world, and in preparing this world for its completion when Christ comes again!

Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Homily – 06-19-2008 – St. Romuald

St. Romuald was an 11th century monk – who, even though he lived a simple and unassuming life – was nonetheless an inspiration for many and an instrument in the reformation of monastic life in his day. He was born in Ravenna, Italy and embraced a hermit's life; and for many years traveled through various lands seeking solitude and establishing monasteries while directing himself to a life of perfection by the practice of virtues.

The readings today for Mass are particularly suited to a celebration of Romuald's life. Just as St. Paul tells the Philippians in the first reading that the only important thing to him was getting to know Jesus, the Lord, as best he possibly could – considering everything else as rubbish – so was this also the primary occupation of Romuald. When one lives a life as completely and perfectly as one can in the Lord Jesus, there is every reason to have hope in each and every situation as it comes along – no matter whether it is a positive or negative circumstance: the power of the resurrection is always there to make everything turn out best – for those who love God and trust him unfailingly.

Paul, Romuald and we ourselves are called to strain forward to reach the goal of everlasting life – the prize offered by association and imitation of the life of Christ Jesus the Lord.

This life in Christ, however, as the gospel passage tells us - to be really and truly effective and all that it can be - is a matter of absolute and total commitment: anything less will produce partial, ineffectual and faulty results. And so in the reasoning set out today by Jesus, he says, make sure you really want to commit to this life – or else you will not only be made fun of by others on an earthly plane, but you will be embarrassed before God himself – like the person, who, in building a house, totally miscalculates the resources needed and doesn't have enough to finish the project; or the king who miscalculates how many soldiers he will need to win a military campaign.

And so Jesus says IF YOU REALLY WANT TO BE MY DISCIPLE – if you really want me to possess you completely – then you have to make room for me – and for this operation to work correctly I will have to fill ALL OF YOU – therefore taking the place of honor that you might give father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, even yourself. THIS IS YOUR SHARE IN MY CROSS – this making complete room for me. And if you carry your cross willingly and generously, as I did mine – then your reward will be great both here in this lifetime and in the kingdom to come – you will have an abundant share in my resurrection!

And you will find peace – the peace that you and everyone are searching for! This is God's will for you – being a disciple of his Son; and in his will is found peace!

In you, Lord, we have found our peace!

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Homily – 06-18-2008 – Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time - Wednesday

It was important, even in Old Testament times, for the people of God to feel a true sense of continuity or connectedness between generations and from one religious leader to another. The first reading today tells about the "passing on of the mantle of power" of Elijah to Elisha, who was also chosen by God to continue the work of Elijah – as prophet!

We see both Elijah and Elisha's connection with Moses and the very formation of God's people by the mention of water: the waters that God parted for all three: Moses, Elijah and at the end of the passage, Elisha. The water itself represents both death and new life!

Prophecy was very important in this day in the age of the Israelite community: prophecy meaning not necessarily foretelling the future, but rather a simple communication of God's will and word through people he has chosen to do so. Prophets were very often selected for difficult and unpleasant tasks – such as sternly warning the people of God to mend their ways or else suffer the consequences that God would, out of justice, be forced to inflict upon them. God is a merciful God to the enth degree, but he is also just: it is only fair to everyone involved!

And so, when Elijah was taken up to heaven in a flaming chariot – symbolizing the power of the Holy Spirit of prophecy that filled him – his successor Elisha received, as he had requested, a double portion of that Spirit – so to be equipped to do his God-given task! The double-portion is usually given to the first-born son. Here it refers to the giving of the Spirit to the one specially appointed by God.

In the gospel passage Jesus relates how any of us – who are also filled with the Holy Spirit, with the very love of God himself, with the grace of Jesus – should conduct ourselves: in a quiet, determined yet joyful way: NOT BEING SHOWY OR OSTENTATIOUS like the scribes and the Pharisees of Jesus' day! Three things were very important in the life of a good Jewish person: giving alms, praying, and fasting. God himself told us that these things were essential to maintaining a healthy spiritual life. Doing them in an unshowy, secret way is the proper way to do them. Then, God who sees in secret will reward us. NO ONE LIKES A SHOW OFF, ESPECIALLY NOT GOD!

And so, when we, like Elijah, Elisha, Jesus, his disciples and all who have gone before us have done good and proper religious deeds in a quiet and unassuming way – we can rest assured that God is pleased with us and will bless our efforts and multiply the results of our prayer!

Love the Lord, all you his faithful ones! The Lord keeps those who are constant, but more than requites those who act proudly. Let our hearts take comfort as we hope in the Lord!

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Homily – 06-17-2008 – Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time - Tuesday

Today we have yet again two interesting readings for Mass. They both continue from where they left off yesterday. The first reading is about King Ahab and Jezebel; the second is about Jesus' Sermon on the Mount.

It is very clear in the first reading that God is not pleased with the means that Jezebel and Ahab used to obtain a desired vineyard. I believe God used the word: "murder" to describe what happened. Thou shalt not kill was a law very much in effect (as God gave it to Moses and the people of Israel) and God himself, in this case, would carry out a just judgment and punishment in its regard.

It is interesting to note that because Ahab humbled himself before God (tearing his garments, putting sackcloth over his bare flesh, fasting, sleeping in sackcloth and going about subdued) – God said that he would not bring the evil punishment in his time – but rather in the time of his son.

We must be clear here though – God does not create evil nor will it for its own sake – but he does permit and allow it for a good purpose: most always for the purpose of a testing of faith! His power is always stronger than the power of evil – and he can strengthen those who pray to him to be able to "pass any test" of faith involving evil that might come our way. Jesus told us to pray this way in his own prayer: "lead us not to the test, but deliver us from evil."

In the gospel passage Jesus explains that a completely transformed and new creation – one baptized into his death and resurrection – would indeed be able to deal with whatever comes along – good or evil – loving neighbors and enemies alike IN THE SAME WAY! Praying for persecutors in the same way you would pray for your best friends. Why? Because we all exist IN GOD'S LOVE. He makes the sun rise on the good and the bad; he makes it rain on the just and the unjust. And if he can deal thusly with people; so can we. Jesus says that if we exist – as we truly do – in the depths of God's love – then we exist in PERFECTION: and he tells us then to be perfect, as our Father in heaven is perfect. We do this preeminently by loving everyone – by being helpful and useful and friendly to all we meet!

Sometimes we do have to suffer not only because of our own sins, but because of the "sins of our fathers" as well – that is only justice. King Ahab's son will have to deal with that in subsequent readings in the Book of Kings; but he will have the opportunity to let love be stronger than what he has to deal with – just as love, just as God's perfection, within us, can be stronger than anything we have to deal with today!

Be merciful, O Lord, (to all of us), for we have sinned – someway, somehow! – and we know that you can bring us love, perfection, forgiveness and healing.

Monday, June 16, 2008

Homily – 06-16-2008 – Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time - Monday

We have two very interesting readings for Mass today. The first reading is about "the way we were," – and the second is about "the way we could be if we really tried very hard."

The first reading: the story of how Jezebel deceived her husband, King Ahab, so that he would have to put to death the one who would not sell him a vineyard - is intended to give us the devious nature of life before Jesus – the moral life that Jesus would come to redeem and transform.

The gospel passage relates how Jesus himself does in fact transform the Old Law –the old way of thinking, the old way of doing things – and gives us the command and the power to live his new law - his new way of thinking, his new way of acting. In this continuation of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells his disciples that "an eye for an eye" was a good thing at one time: for it at least brought about a fair retaliation for misdeeds, instead of a grossly unequal and uneven sort of revenge; but – he is saying that

if you listen to me, if you live what I am saying to you now and someday, if you are baptized into the forgiveness of your sins, you will become ENTIRELY NEW CREATIONS IN ME – and therefore, your response to aggression will be unlike any response you ever thought possible: when someone strikes you on one cheek, you will automatically give him the other; if someone wants your shirt, you will give him your coat as well; when someone asks you to go one mile to do something for them, you will go two – you will give to those who ask, and not turn your back on anyone who wants to borrow!

But how difficult it is for us always to really and truly and wholeheartedly believe all that BEING A NEW CREATION can really mean for us! How hard it is some time for us to do these things!

Maybe today we can think about it! There is a NEW LAW: and it is the LAW OF LOVE! When we experience the service of loving others as we would want to be loved ourselves – then we are proving our love for God – and we are BEING NEW CREATIONS: for the power to do these difficult things, which seems to pull us and extend us beyond our limits, is none other than the power of the Holy Spirit – who will make the burden and the yoke of Christ's New Law easy and light! These unpleasant tasks will grow wings and carry our souls aloft while we trod the path behind Jesus here below, with great joy in our hearts, until he leads us safely home to be with him and his Father, forever!

Hearken to our words, O Lord – heed our call for help this day!

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Homily – 06-15-2008 – Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

On this Father's Day we reflect upon God's fatherly care for us – his dear children. He bore our ancestors in faith up
as on eagle's wings and brought them to where he wanted to relate to them; he has borne us up as well, their descendants in faith – and placed us here and now – so that he can tenderly care for our needs as well.

The responsorial refrain today puts it another way: we are his people: the flock he shepherds. He is strong and protective of us; he is kind and gentle and soothing and nurturing as well – very much like a mother might be!

St. Paul tells the Romans that if God has reconciled us and saved us from eternal death when we were still his enemies: how much more will he be delighted to give us newness of life that is a share in Jesus' own newness of life: that is, the life of the Resurrection. Just as a father gives life: God originates life, fathers it and gives it to those he wants to have it out of pure, unmitigated, overwhelming LOVE! In such a way he has loved each and every one of us! He is our "Papa!" He is our "Daddy!"

One thing is clear from revelation – which is accessed and understood by faith: at one time there was NOTHING at all – except God: God as Father who eternally loves his Son, by the working of Spirit.

This eternal exchange of love is a correct definition of the Triune God!

Because it was so "before the beginning," God always was, is and will be Father! The object of his love will always be the Son, divine in nature, who took on a second (human) nature, later on, out of extreme compassion and love for us; and the object of the Son's entire attention will always be the Father and his will; the Spirit who is the holiness and perfection of God was, is and will always be the energizing force and power that makes the love between the Father and the Son flow, and thus makes the Trinity
alive!

What is astounding is that this very Trinity wants to be in relationship with us! The Father of the Son, wants to be our father too; and the Son, himself wants to be our Brother, who saves us from eternal punishment; and the Spirit wants to be our guide through life; and to fill us and make us holy and perfect just as the Father and the Son are holy and perfect!

To get this news out: the fact that the very Kingdom of Heaven, the very Kingdom of God the Father is at hand - it is right here and right now breaking into human history in the person of Jesus! Jesus chose disciples and apostles to carry that message far and wide! Proclaim the Kingdom of my Father, and perform great signs so that you are believed – and pray, that at least some of your listeners will hear clearly what you are saying, and turn towards me, turn towards my Father, turn towards the Kingdom – and one day – through the waters of Baptism become truly adopted children of God who will be our
Father, as I have taught you to pray, and true brothers and sisters of me – and all else who believe.

This is a wonderful message for Father's Day! We are God's chosen possession! We are his people, the sheep of his flock! But most especially of all, we are the Father's adopted sons and daughters!Really and truly spiritually adopted in a way which will make all the difference in where we will spend eternity!

Happy Father's Day GOD!

Thank you so much for loving us so – and for constantly providing for all our needs! See us safely home to you, where with Mary, our Mother, we will rejoice in your house with all of our brothers and sisters forever!

The Lord's kindness endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations!


 


 


 

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Homily – 06-14-2008 – Tenth Week in Ordinary Time - Saturday

Jesus continues his clarification and intensification of the Old Testament Law (thus creating the New Testament Law) today by taking another prescription and fulfilling its meaning in a deeper way: this time it is about vowing something to God.

The people of Israel were quick to make vows but not so quick in keeping them; they were quick in calling upon God in trivial ways to ensure their own success in business and the like; they were quick to make outright false oaths for their own benefit and self-aggrandizement.

Jesus tells them to stop doing this. An oath is a very sacred thing, and should be regarded and used as such. God indeed, made oaths and promises of faithfulness – for example, to Abraham and his descendants, to have mercy on them and to be their God and protector and provider. It is acceptable and right to make very limited amounts of sacred oaths if they are absolutely necessary. But Jesus would rather have it that we did not use God's name or call him to witness the trivial and the mundane – the secular and the common.

Simply giving your word, saying YES if you mean yes, and NO if you mean no, should suffice for everyone involved.

Words are very important and should be used as such. Jesus taught us the value of words – being LIVING WORD himself. We ought to regard words as we regard Jesus himself, and use them to make him more present in the world. Using words in a simple, direct and kind way can go very far – and it can give the oaths we do make much more significant and meaningful.

In the first reading today, Elijah did not even use words to call Elisha to come follow him; all he did was to put his cloak over him. Sometimes, in fact most of the time, actions speak louder than words. Let our actions today speak volumes about our trust in God, our willingness to follow the path of discipleship of Jesus and our commitment to communicating the gospel message in a simple, direct and kind sort of way to everyone we will meet!

Incline our hearts, O God, to your decrees; and favor us with you law!

Friday, June 13, 2008

Homily – 06-13-2008 – St. Anthony of Padua

Saint Anthony was born in Lisbon, Portugal near the end of the twelfth century. He joined the Canons Regular of Saint Augustine, but, shortly after ordination to the priesthood, transferred to the Friars Minor to devote himself to spreading the Faith among African peoples. He had his greatest success, however, preaching in France and Italy and converting heretics. He was the first member of this Order to teach theology to his brothers. His sermons are notable for their learning and gentleness. Saint Anthony died in 1231 and was canonized less than a year after his death!

The readings today are certainly suited to the celebration of his life! The first reading from the Prophet Isaiah reminds us that "the spirit of the Lord" and "anointing" was not only to be upon Jesus, so that he could "bring glad tidings to the lowly, heal the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to captives, release to prisoners, to comfort those who mourn" – but so would the same spirit be upon those whom Jesus would send – his apostles, disciples, teachers and preachers throughout the ages – and not only them: but all who because of them would bear the name of Christ, and could trace the path of the anointing of Confirmation chrism on their foreheads!

In the gospel passage Jesus does in fact send out the beginnings of this vast army – who were to make a real difference in the world, by allowing the gift of himself and his Father: the Holy Spirit – to be released and given - so that the fullness of life and happiness that can come only from God can begin!

We pray today that the master of the harvest continues to send forth laborers to proclaim liberty, to heal, to comfort! We pray that when this involves us, we make a generous offering of self, so that God's will can be done through us!

The Kingdom of God is at hand! It is very surely and truly at hand! May we let it make a big difference in our lives today – so that a big difference can be made in the world around us!

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Homily – 06-12-2008 – Tenth week in Ordinary Time - Thursday

It is so very important for us – who have been baptized into the very life of Christ Jesus – to be as authentic, genuine and identifiably "Christian" as we can possibly be; otherwise, we are inauthentic, ungenuine and identifiably fraudulent in regards to our membership in him.

A true Christian thinks, speaks and acts LIKE CHRIST! not of his own power, but by the power of the Spirit dwelling within. Disharmony, disunity, alienation, unkindness, ill-treatment are not signs of membership in Christ's Mystical Body. These are things that we have control over; these are things that we must keep a watch over; these are things that we must correct as soon as we see them gone awry.

Jesus tells us in the gospel passage that the Old Law was and is still effectual: killing is wrong! But he takes it one step further and says that according to the New Law that he is introducing: the component parts of killing are wrong too; then anger that is involved, the jealousies that are involved, the rivalry that is involved; the dissensions that are involved.

Jesus wants to be truly kind and fair with one another; he wants us to treat each other as we would want to be treated; he wants us to be full and active members of his body, enjoying all of the spiritual benefits that comes with such membership! We can't do this well if there is any blockage in the "channels of charity!" Therefore, he says, and means - at any time at all: but especially when you prepare to come to worship: (when you prepare to come to Mass): if the channels between you and any others are not clean and clear: take care of this business first: be reconciled, so that your offering, your gift, your sacrifice will be acceptable once you get to Church – and you place your life on the paten to be offered and transformed into newness of life by the words of consecration!

When the channels are open, not only are our sacrifices acceptable, but our prayers have a better chance of being heard and responded to more quickly: as Elijah's prayer for rain was answered, in the first reading today. It rained very hard at his request; he must have been a very holy man!

We too are called to holiness, we too are called to be vital and effective members of Christ's Body – even before we receive him in Holy Communion, we too are called to be authentic, genuine and real human beings!

Lord, help us to be these things today – and let our praises please you this, and every day!


 

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Homily – 06-11-2008 – St. Barnabas

We see the missionary activity of the early Church in the infancy stages of its formation in our celebration today! After Pentecost, the Apostles indeed did start to go out "to the ends of the earth" to proclaim the gospel: "The Kingdom of heaven is at hand;" they cured the sick, they raised the dead, they cleansed lepers and drove out demons! They trusted in the Lord who sent them to provide for their material needs so that they could accomplish his work. Among them was Barnabas – not one of the original 12, but an Apostle none the less because of his association with Paul and the others.

Barnabas (whose name originally was Joseph) was born in Cyprus. But he was a member of the faithful Christian community of Jerusalem. He was present at the first Council of Jerusalem. He also was a companion of Paul on his first missionary journey. In fact, he brought Paul to Antioch, and remained with him there for a year while they instructed and met with the local Church. It was in Antioch, during this time, that the community was first known as "Christians." He later returned to his own country and was martyred there.

Barnabas was known as the "son of encouragement" most likely because of his pleasant disposition. He was, therefore, an asset to spreading the faith among people whose dispositions were sour for many reasons – mostly because their lives lacked depth of meaning and true joy!

The early Church – and even the Church of today – is meant to be a sign of joy, hope and peace in a world that so desperately needs these things -because the worldly, secular, materialistic environment in which we live can so easily drown them out!

May the Church today – standing on the shoulders of the blood of the martyrs be a true sign in the world that from death comes life; from darkness comes light; from hatred comes love!

The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power! May our nation benefit from his saving power, rather than an irrational belief that we can save ourselves by our own power!

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Homily – 06-10-2008 – Tenth week in Ordinary Time - Thursday

Today we have the wonderful first reading from the book of Kings where we see that the One God is better than any lesser god. The events on Mount Carmel were truly amazing. Elijah, the prophet of the LORD, the One God appealed to the people to settle the issue once and for all: if the LORD is God, then follow him; if Baal, then follow him.

Then, he set up a demonstration. Altars were built, animal sacrifices were prepared, but no fires were lit. Elijah asked the prophets of Baal (450 of them) to pray to Baal to come and light the fire for them. They prayed and waited for a very long time and nothing happened. No fire appeared.

Then Elijah ordered that a stone altar be built for the One God, upon which he arranged a young bull on the wood. Then he poured water on the wood three times. This caused water to flow from the altar and fill a trench around the altar. Then Elijah prayed once: Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things by your command. Answer me, Lord!

Then, the Lord's fire came down and consumed the burnt offering, wood, stone and dust and it lapped up the water in the trench. Seeing this, all the people fell prostrate and said, "The Lord is God! The Lord is God!

God answers our prayers, he fulfills his laws, he brings his promises to completion.

When we obey him great things can happen for us and those we love. Until the time of the major transformation at the Last Day we are content to live God's law of love that comes from the mouth of Jesus – and is demonstrated by his deeds: as he is the altar, the sacrifice and the priest who offers the sacrifice – for us – and for our salvation – and the Holy Spirit is the fire that consumes the sacrifice, purifies it and makes it acceptable to God.

Keep us safe, O God, you are our hope! You will show us the path to life, fullness of joys in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever!

Monday, June 9, 2008

Homily – 06-09-2008 – St. Ephrem

Today we celebrate the Feast of "The Harp of the Holy Spirit," St. Ephrem, the Syrian. He was born of a Christian family at Nisibis around the year 306. Ordained a deacon, he exercised this office throughout the country and in Edessa, where he founded a theological school to counteract heresies that were rampant at the time. Despite his ascetic life he did not relax his ministries of preaching and writing books to confute the errors of the time. He was most eloquently inspired to write poems and hymns to refute heresy which also proclaimed its message by the same means. He wrote some 500 hymns – many of which were used at the celebration of Mass. For this reason he became known as the "harp of the Holy Spirit" – and music became a very valid and useful tool to fight heresy.

The first reading today tells us that when the word of Christ; that is: when Christ himself, dwells within us, then we are compelled to teach and admonish one another, and to sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in our hearts. Whatever we do – in word and deed – must be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him!

In the gospel passage we see Jesus telling his disciples to be authentic, genuine and real – to let their outside and inside match. The fruit of the tree demonstrates the kind of tree it is – whether good or bad – whether useful or detrimental. Living our life as his disciple, we must be bearers of good fruit because we are a part of him who is the very best tree! How could it be otherwise?

St. Ephrem took to heart the words of the first and second readings today: he threw himself into his work of defending the Church of God – and was thus named a Doctor of the Church in 1920; he bore good fruit, he bore great fruit because he was securely a part of the vine which is Christ!

May we this day imitate him in defending the Church of God – singing his praises – and bearing good fruit by our holy actions of loving to service to those who are our brothers and sisters, and those who are always invited to become our brothers and sisters!

The mouth of the just murmurs wisdom!

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Homily – 06-08-2008 – Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The gospel passage today reminds us that Jesus came for one purpose only: to redeem sinners! He came to call sinners to righteousness! He came to call God's chosen people to holiness! In other words – he came to call us – you, and me – to an amazing new kind of relationship which involves our transformation and ultimate perfection! This transformation involves faith and action!

Both our first and second readings today refer to the Old Testament. In the second reading Abraham indeed becomes "the father of many nations" by his very act of believing that God could make him such – even though he was 100 years old – and his wife Sarah was well past child-bearing age! And because nothing could deter his faith in God fulfilling his promise – it came to pass – and he was the first one to be truly called a righteous man (in Old Testament times) – his righteousness existing in light of the death and resurrection of Christ which would come much later on! He was the first to believe in an all-powerful, all-loving, all-caring God – who could do what he said: even raising his Son from the dead for our essential justification!

When we believe in Jesus – we are children of Abraham – the first to believe. And our belief is credited to us as righteousness, and justification as well – so long as it includes the activity of putting that faith into the action of service for the needs of other believers and non-believers alike!

In the first reading from Hosea, God tells his people that he is not interested in their animal sacrifices and holocausts, he would much rather have them seek knowledge and understanding of who he is and who they are in relation to him; and be a loving person among a community of loving persons who are trying to make a real difference in the world.

Action coupled with belief allows the light of God's power and presence to shine forth and the cloudy dew of confusion and half-hearted measures to be dissipated.

What we ought to see in the clear light of God's day is that God is God and we are not! God is God and we fall short – so very often, and so very short! We ought to see that God is Merciful and Loving Father, and we are called to be reconciled, renewed, peace-filled children! We ought to see that Jesus is calling us to repentance and conversion – this and every day of our lives! We ought to be able to see that no one is exempt!

St. John tells us (in another place) that if we say we have no sin then we are liars! If we say we have no sin – then we are saying that Jesus death was meaningless – for in his intention for undergoing it he included everyone – including us!

Everyone sins! And everyone is in need of God's Mercy and Love and Forgiveness! And my dear friends: virtually no one goes to Confession on a Saturday afternoon anymore!

Water and blood poured out from the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus after dying for our salvation (June is the Month of the Sacred Heart) so that a magnificent transformation could take place in our lives: so that we could become entirely new creations! Our baptism begins that transformation process – but when we sin after Baptism – it is the Sacrament of Reconciliation – Confession – that cleans our pipes, unclogs the channels, and gets the life of grace flowing to the maximum through us so that that process can continue, that our faith-based service to others can resume, and we can be all that we are meant to be!

I would be more than happy to come here one Saturday morning a month to "clean pipes," to "unclog channels," to get the life of grace flowing again to its maximum level" - to celebrate the Sacrament of Penance – if someone would only come. I would think that being returned to the amazingly new spiritual condition that one had on the day of one's Baptism would be something worth participating in on a regular basis! I would even be happy be give an in-depth class (or catechetical teaching) on the full meaning of the sacrament as well – if there was sufficient support for this!

The Mercy of God is boundless – he wants us to experience it – so we can transmit it to others – so that his love can transform the world! and lead us all into everlasting happiness! Let us accept his mercy, let us accept his love, let us accept his forgiveness. It makes him so very happy to offer these things to us! and to have us receive them.

To the upright, I will show the saving power of God!

Help us Lord to become upright and to stay upright!


 

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Homily – 06-07-2008 – Ninth Week in Ordinary Time - Saturday

In today's gospel passage, Jesus is very clear about hypocrisy: he doesn't like it at all. Those who are insincere and full of self and use religion as a vehicle for their own gratification and glorification "will receive a very severe condemnation." In the same passage he also relates that the widow who put into the treasury two small coins worth a few cents – put in not only all she had to live on – but she put her entire trust in God that he would take care of her – she put in her faith – and this faith and trust did not go unrewarded. As promised, the lowly do in fact get exalted; while the rich scribe-like people will be humbled!

In the first reading, St. Paul urges Timothy, to fulfill his ministry of evangelist and teach with great humility and courage and perseverance! He tells him to proclaim the word both when it is convenient and inconvenient. He tells him that the time will come when people will believe their own fabrications and tales, rather than the truth. He, Timothy, must not be caught in that trap – and it is his duty to lead others away from it by offering them the real Truth: the Word of God: Jesus the Christ!

He tells Timothy to give himself completely to the task at hand – as he himself has done and continues to do – being poured out like a libation. He has run the race; he has kept the faith – and soon the crown of righteousness will be given him for his faithfulness and obedience!

May we have that same hope – based on a life lived in humility, courage and perseverance – a life of faith and trust in God who will provide for all our needs if we abandon ourselves entirely to his will and love!

I will sing of your salvation, O Lord!

Friday, June 6, 2008

Homily – 06-06-2008 – St. Nortertine

Today we celebrate the feast of the founder of the Premonstratensian Order – St. Norbertine. This 12th century German bishop had a conversion experience much like that of St. Paul: lightning struck near him and his horse threw him to the ground where he lay stunned for several hours. When he awoke his first words were: "Lord, what do you want me to do?" and he heard a voice in his heart say: Turn from evil and do good! Seek peace and pursue it!"

After this Norbert retreated in a monastery and turned from his capricious, worldly way of life and was soon ordained a priest. His life became so authentic, genuine and Christ-like that he later was elected bishop and then archbishop of Magdeburg. He was renowned for preaching and caring for the poor. With several companions he founded the Premonstratensian Order for which he also founded monasteries. At the end of his life he did what he could to convince one of two reigning popes to resign – during a schism that had erupted because of this dual election. He died in 1134.

The first reading today ties in nicely with the spirit which moved St. Norbert. Living in a time when there were still very many pagan tribes who were truly the "lost sheep" of God's creation – the ministry of St. Norbert demonstrates God living out the passage from Ezekiel which says that: I, God, myself will look after and tend my sheep. As a shepherd tends his flock when he finds himself among his scattered sheep, so will I tend my sheep. I will rescue them from every place where they were scattered when it was cloudy and dark. In good pastures will I pasture them. I will give them rest. The strayed I will bring back, the injured I will bind up, the sick I will heal but the sleek and strong I will destroy, shepherding them rightly!

After the heart of Jesus the Good Shepherd who is the real object of this passage – those who Jesus chooses, appoints and sends out (like St. Norbertine of Madgeburg) – also will do the same!

In the gospel passage Jesus reveals to us how the power behind his shepherding works: it is strict adherence to the Father's will. It is single-mindedness and purity of heart! He was able to be a good shepherd because his mind and heart were entirely centered upon his Father, and his Father's will for the unity of the human race. Jesus tells us that turning our focus away from our fathers and mothers, our wives, our husbands, our children, our brothers and sisters – even our own lives – and placing it entirely on the Father and his will is the most productive way to live! This obviously involves a cross – because what he is asking us to do seems an unnatural, painful thing for us to do!

But our faith can tells us that Jesus is correct in his request! And when we actually do what he says: then we can know that it is correct! We can experience the joy, the hope and the peace that comes from being a true disciple!

When the Lord is our shepherd there is nothing we shall want! There cannot possibly be anything of greater value than what God wants to give us, the way he wants to give it!

Thank you God, for loving us so – and for leading us into eternal life!

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Homily – 06-05-2008 – St. Boniface

Today we celebrate the feast of "the apostle to Germany" – St. Boniface. He was an 8th century bishop who very much had the heart of the Good Shepherd. He was very pastoral, loving and caring to those under his care!

He was born in England about the year 673. He was first professed in the Benedictine monastic life at Exeter but in 719 went to Germany to preach the Gospel. He made many converts and was consecrated bishop, ruling over the church at Mainz. He attracted many companions by whose help he founded or restored dioceses in Bavaria, Thuringia and Franconia. He also convened council and promulgated laws. While preaching the Gospel to the Frisians – who were a life-long concern and object for his pastoral care – he was killed by pagans in 754.

The first reading today gives us the constant theme of Boniface's preaching and teaching: the basic, fundamental and so very necessary need for repentance and conversion. He relied on the power and strength of the Holy Spirit to accomplish this work through him – and it happened, both in season and out of season!

We thank St. Boniface for his example of fully giving himself to his life's work in the Church – and for being a vehicle for many to experience the gentle, compassionate and nurturing love of the Good Shepherd. In giving his life for the faith – he proved his dedication to God in an extraordinary way – we ask his prayer today so that we too might give our lives completely the Christ who always gives his live completely for and to us!

He went out into the world – and he told the Good News! and the news endured!

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Homily -06-04-2008 – Ninth Week in Ordinary Time - Wednesday

The first reading today is directed at me as a priest; the second reading is directed at all of us as candidates for resurrected eternal life.

In the first reading St. Paul writes to his beloved friend Timothy whom he ordained to the priesthood by the imposition of hands – telling him to stir into flame the gift of God that he has received by this imposition! This stirring into flame means knowing and believing that the gift of the Holy Spirit received is not of cowardice but of power and love and self-control.

The ministers of God must be courageous in doing their work; generous and faithful to the Gospel message they carry and to which they themselves adhere, for it is a message concerning the appearance of our savior Christ Jesus, who destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light! Suffering for the sake of the gospel is always the honorable and necessary thing to do – not being ashamed of it, confidently proclaiming it by word and deed!

I invite the Holy Spirit to stir into flame more deeply in my own life the qualifications that I need to be a good priest – who remembers the day when hands were imposed on my head.

In the gospel passage we see Jesus reminding us of the full range of the effects of belief in the gospel message. It is a belief that can accompany us throughout our lives here on earth – but then, most assuredly into a newer and different kind of life – eternally, in heaven.

Jesus is engaged in a discussion with the Sadducees who do not believe in the resurrection of the dead. The question they pose to Jesus is to trip him up. They are asking him to prove from Scripture that there is a resurrection (from the Pentateuch – their original Bible). The story of the seven husbands is actually a perfect setup not for their case but for Jesus' correct answer!

The life of heaven is of a different sort than that of earth. It is not simply a continuation for the same thing. It is first a complete transformation of the first – with then an eternal dimension that is simply a part of the newness! Therefore, earthly standards do not apply in heaven – as such. There is no marriage in heaven! The woman will have no husband! And all will be there – and all will be alive. For when God creates life – it is forever!

The Sadducees want Jesus to admit that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are dead! But Jesus does not do that! In explaining the nature of death and resurrection he tells them that God is the God of the living and not the dead! Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are still alive! They are enjoying eternal life in the new way that will soon be available to everyone!

That same newness of life – that same difference in perspective is for us too! What we await is the fulfillment and completion of the whole process of transformation that was inaugurated by the Incarnation of the Word of God: Jesus arrival on earth! It will be brought to a grand commencement on the Last Day – which could be any day!

I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord; whoever believes in me will never die! May we, with our faith and our belief, be ready this and every day for that Great Day.
Amen!

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Homily – 06-03-2008 – St. Charles Lwanga & Companions

Yesterday we celebrated the feast of Sts. Marcellinus and Peter – two first century Christians who proved their love for Christ and his Church by shedding their own blood for him – with the strength provided by the working of the Holy Spirit deep within them. Today we honor 22 African martyrs of the 19th century who were privileged to prove their love for Christ and his Church in the same way – in Uganda, Africa.

Charles Lwanga was a member of King Mwanga's court – but when the King's demands became unreasonable, Charles and 21 companion youth were tortured and killed for the faith! It was a glorious day for the Church in Africa. Pope Paul VI said of them that the African Martyrs add another page to the martryology – the Church's roll of honor – an occasion both of mourning and of joy!...Africa has been washed by the blood of these latest martyrs, the first of this new age…Africa is reborn free and independent!

It is spiritual freedom and spiritual independence that is always of greater worth than material freedom and independence!

In the Office of Readings today we read: We must all remember that we are warriors, fighting on the battlefield of faith. God the Father sees all we do; the angels watch and so does Christ. What honor and glory and joy, to do battle in the presence of God, and to have Christ approve our victory. Let us arm ourselves in full strength and prepare ourselves for the ultimate struggle with blameless hearts, true faith, and unyielding courage.

In the first reading for Mass, the story of the mother and her seven sons is outstanding motivation for us to die at the hands of men – with God-given hope of new life – rather than to give in to unreasonable and unfounded demands to obey a lesser god!

Those who truly live the life of the beatitudes understand that the blessedness of that life is all about saying YES to God – come what may!

Having God first saying YES to us by loving us and creating and redeeming us; we now can say YES to him and to the Redeemer and to the Sanctifier so that they can do what they will do through us – for the life of the Church, the growth of the mystical Body of Christ, for the eternal welfare of all of us who are invited to the great wedding feast of the Lamb in our Father's house!

May we make our YES strong, clear and irrevocable today – and thus give glory, praise and thanks to God – forever!

Our souls have been rescued like a bird from the fowler's snare!

Monday, June 2, 2008

Homily – 06-02-2008 – Sts Marcellinus and Peter

Today we celebrate the feast of two first century martyrs: Marcellinus and Peter. They suffered martyrdom under the persecution of the emperor Diocletian. Sometimes it is difficult to understand how powerful rulers like Diocletian failed to understand how even their efforts at destroying Christianity were actually the best thing that they could possibly do for its survival and growth.

It is the blood of the martyrs that honors Christ the One True Martyr the most! It is from the blood of the martyrs that flows the missionary activity of the Church. It is through the blood of the martyrs that men and women have demonstrated the power of the Holy Spirit truly working within the mystical Body and Blood of Christ the Church to make it alive and flourish!

The first reading from St. Paul's letter to the Corinthians tells us that the life of every Christian is meant to be a life filled with seeming contradictions: glory and dishonor, insult and praise, being treated as deceivers and yet as truthful ones, unrecognized yet acknowledged, dying yet as living, chastised but not put to death, sorrowful yet always rejoicing, poor yet enriching many, having nothing yet possessing everything! And the leaders, the ministers of Christ in addition endure afflictions, hardships, constraints, beating, imprisonments, riots, labors, vigils, fasts – while they by purity, knowledge, patience and kindness allow themselves to be filled and moved by the Holy Spirit in unfeigned love and truthful speech!

Sts. Marcellinus and Peter were such ministers of God! And went to the ultimate extreme of giving their life and blood for Christ and his new way!

In the gospel passage Jesus prays that his Father protects the chosen apostles and their successors and helpers – so that, come what may – they may be filled with joy as they do in fact endure many hardship – as they possess, guard and deliver the truth that comes from God alone!

It is Truth that is the real gift of God! Truth made flesh is Jesus! Truth entrusted to men to be transmitted by the working of the Holy Spirit is the hierarchical structuring of the Church! The truth will endure! Christ will endure! The teaching of the Apostles will endure! and it is sealed by the blood of the martyrs!

Thank you Marcellinus and Peter for trusting God and his power working in you absolutely! and for the gift you gave Christ of your own life's blood! May we be prepared this day to give ourselves for the Church somewhere along the upper end of that continuum of service!

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Homily – 06-01-2008 – Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Baccalaureate Sunday

The readings for today tie in nicely with the educational tone of a Baccalaureate Celebration.

In the first reading Moses is pleading with the people of God to choose the blessing and not the curse that he places before them. At God's command he must place both so that the people can use their free will to choose the blessing and not be forced to do so. The blessing at this point involves the following of a lot of external prescriptions, regulations and laws – this being the concrete way that the people could know that they were being pleasing to God. Not salvation, but comfort comes from following the letter of the "Old Law" – while the events were being prepared for the arrival of Jesus and the
"New Law."

In the second reading we see evidence of such an arrival as St. Paul is speaking to the Romans. Moving far beyond comfort, we now have actual justification of our lives – our moral lives – freely bestowed upon us by redemption wrought through the shedding of the Blood of Christ. Faith in him and in that Precious Blood now suffices for our justification – "apart from works of the law!" But we must be very clear here: "apart from the works of the OLD LAW" and not the "New Law" which Jesus personally gives to us: the law of LOVE: LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU! This is my will, this is my Father's will and this combined with FAITH will get you into heaven!

Those who cry "Lord, Lord" and do their own deeds using the name of Jesus will not be saved on the Last Day: only those who do the will of the heavenly Father will be saved.
Jesus cannot make it any more clear than that! Then he says if you listen to what I am saying a put it into practice – if your FAITH is converted into LOVING ACTION AND SERVICE both in the community of the church and in the world – then, for you, it will be like building a house on rock rather than sand; and no matter what comes along in life – you will be secure – and you will end up where you want to be on the Last Day!

What this has to do with education, graduation and the next step for our graduates is this: Dear graduates, everything that you have been taught your entire lives to this point in school must be combined with everything you have been taught here in church:
reason and faith are necessarily and irrevocably joined together!
Reason alone can only go so far! Reason for example, can deduce that God exists – but reason alone cannot provide a real and substantial connection between you and God; and you and your brothers and sisters in a vital and important way. Faith alone would also be rootless. It would be pie-in-the-sky! Faith needs to be reasonable – and it has to lead to action - service! Faith unlocks the depths of the mysteries of reason – and primes the engines of motivation in our hearts - to do good deeds. And when faith and reason walk and operate hand in hand, some amazing results can take place both in the community of faith, and in the community of society!

It is the will of God for his highest form of creation – you and all of us – to use both. I place before you the challenge of an option today: go it alone, using reason without faith and see how far you get; or go, commence, using both faith and reason and experience how deep your understanding can be and how much you will want to use your findings to do something - to find solutions - to make a better church and a better world both for yourselves and for others. Future leaders in the Church – future leaders in the world will come from you and your classmates; and the generous, loving, thoughtful decisions you make about how you will allow God to lead you through life!

You are the hope of the future. With God as your rock – with faith in Jesus as your anchor – with the wisdom that comes from the Holy Spirit for using the intelligence that God gives you – give God all glory by letting him use you in an awesome way - as he wills! You will be amazed at what happens if you do! Choose the blessing, my dear friends, and not the curse!

I am the vine, you are the branches, says the Lord; whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit!

Happy New Year 202

  A Happy New Year to you all! I hope and pray I am able to keep this blog up to date now that we are entering into the New Year! I would li...