Friday, April 30, 2010

Homily – April 30, 2010 – St. Pius V

+ On this last day of April we celebrate the feast of St. Pius V, Dominican and Pope, who lived in the sixteenth century and had the duty of enforcing the counter-reform decrees of the Council of Trent. His zealousness as a young Dominican earned him great status and power within the Church and eventually led to him being elected pope. It was a time when an enthusiastic and focused mind was needed to hold the Church together as the so called "reformers" were busy dismantling the unity of the Body of Christ. He was instrumental in publishing a new Roman Catechism, Breviary and Missal used for Mass – up to the Second Vatican Council. All of these at that time stood in need of overhaul and revision again – which was among the primary tasks of that council. Further restatement and updating of these is still underway – with the publication of the new Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Roman Missal even as we speak – which will impact very strongly the way we celebrate Mass beginning late next year. Pius V, as a Dominican, insisted on wearing his white habit as pope, and thus comes the tradition of all popes since him wearing white. White is appropriate so long as it has some symbolic value, but here it is always in danger of the symbol being "holier than thou;" which is a false symbol. The pope, any pope, is as much a sinful man as any other – and this must never be forgotten. And this goes for bishops and priests as well. Otherwise, as we heard in the gospel passage yesterday – we make God a liar when we parade around as apparently sinless.

We are all, not only pope and bishops and priests, stewards of the mysteries of God – the great reality of his being and his breaking into history as one of us, for us and our salvation. May we, this day, help the pastors of the church feed the flock, by tending the needs of one another as we have been commissioned by the chief and good shepherd himself to do!

I am the good shepherd says the Lord; I know my sheep and mine know me.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Homily – April 29, 2010 – St. Catherine of Siena

The 25th child of a wool dyer in northern Italy, St. Catherine started having mystical experiences when she was only 6, seeing guardian angels as clearly as the people they protected. She became a Dominican tertiary when she was 16, and continued to have visions of Christ, Mary, and the saints. St. Catherine was one of the most brilliant theological minds of her day, although she never had any formal education. She persuaded Pope Gregory XI to go back to Rome from Avignon, was forceful in achieving a reform of the clergy of the day, and when she died, she was endeavoring to heal the Great Western Schism. Catherine saw clearly that the Church was both the sweet Bride of Christ, but also greatly blemished in its human existence and in need of great purification. Her spiritual director was Blessed Raymond of Capua. Her letters and a treatise called "a dialogue with God the Father" are considered among the most brilliant writings in the history of the Catholic Church. She died in 1377 at the age of 33, and her body was found incorrupt in 1430. She was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Paul VI in 1970.

Our readings today tell us that for those who seek to know the Lord, he may be found – not so much at the demand of the seeker, but at the grace of the one being sought: no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him. We must remember that we are the burdened and the laborsome sheep of God's flock who will find rest in him – if we go to him and trust in his mercy! And he will give it – because we are associated (by Baptism) with the Blood of his Son – which frees us from sin and makes us very pleasing in his sight! This gives us the right to have fellowship with one another and with him.

We pray this day that we may be a part of the sweetness of the Church, rather than its corrupted, cancerous cells that most certainly still exist today. It is only by the grace of God that this can happen: God give us this grace, now!

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Homily – April 28, 2010 – Fourth Week in Easter - Wednesday

+ Jesus today continues his discourse on his relationship with the Father in heaven. This is what makes Jesus unlike any other teacher, or prophet or priest: everything he says and does is not his own, but is readily admitted to be the work of another: MY FATHER, WHO IS IN HEAVEN!
And when you hear me, you are hearing him; and when you believe in my works, you are believing in him who is the originator of the work. And the work has everything to do with you eternal salvation. This life is short, but the "eternal now" that is coming is real: where you will be spending it depends entirely on how you respond to the proclamation of this message: JESUS IS BOTH LORD AND MESSIAH: HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION ARE THE MEANS OF YOUR REDEMPTION: BELIEVE, BE FED AND BE SAVED!

In the first reading we see Barnabas and Saul being sent from Antioch back to Jerusalem. They would begin their three missionary journeys from there – sent by the Holy Spirit – to proclaim the marvelous work of God the Father and the Son on behalf of the whole world.

When you and I respond today to the gospel message that we hear; when we try the best we can to integrate it into all we think and say and do in a day: we tell God that we "get it;" we are being faithful children of the Father, loving brothers and sisters of Jesus our Shepherd, our Friend and our Lord and ministers in our own right of his marvelous love and life!

I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Homily – April 27, 2010 – Fourth Week of Easter - Tuesday

+ Last Sunday was Good Shepherd Sunday, when we recalled the effective relationship that Jesus wants to have with you, the sheep of his flock. He wants to be the one to lead you and guide you through life. He wants his voice to be the one voice you recognize and are drawn to. He wants to be the one to protect you, nourish you and refresh you – both in this life and in the next. That he can do this 2000 years after his physical presence on earth is good news because he has filled me with the Spirit of his own ministry at my ordination to his priesthood (which I will celebrate the 35th anniversary of next Monday); he has thus configured me to himself as Head and Shepherd of the Church. He leads you through me, my brother priests and bishops – and other duly installed parish leaders and ministers. It is our responsibility to simply be empty vessels through which his love and mercy and grace flow for you and for your salvation!

In the first reading, we see Barnabas arriving at Antioch where he was instrumental in bringing the gospel message to those for whom it was intended, Gentiles though they were. The grace of God abounded there and it was clear that God had in mind favoring all people everywhere with the possibility of redemption. Later Barnabas went to Tarsus and found Saul and brought him back to Antioch. And together they met with the Church there for a year, and the community was first called: "Christians."

The grace of God – the Holy Spirit – blows where it wills – and it accomplishes what the Father has in mind – the best – when we each are open to the particular vocation that God has in mind for us, be it configured to the Shepherd himself, or configured to the sheep.

May we respond generously to God's graces and blessings this holy day as shepherd or sheep! God bless you!

Monday, April 26, 2010

Homily – April 26, 2010 – Fourth Week of Easter - Monday

+ The gospel passage today is very clear. Jesus is the gate of the sheep who are his flock - in our case: his Church. He leads into the pasture those he and his Father chooses; and they are free to come and go as they please. These sheep feel safe because they constantly hear the gentle, encouraging, soothing voice of him who is their shepherd, their risen Lord, their friend.

May we so attune our ears to listen for his voice constantly throughout our day and thus feel safe, secure and protected – as we are led to fields and streams of nourishment and refreshment. Athirst is my soul for the living God.

In the first reading today, Peter, the handpicked first leader of the flock of the Church declares that anyone, from any tongue and any land: Gentiles, are eligible to be sheep of this flock! The same Holy Spirit that fell upon the Apostles and thousands on the day of Pentecost fall upon the Gentiles now gathered with Peter. He could not deny them the same rights, privileges and duties that any of those had who were incorporated into this newly formed Mystical Body of Christ: the Church! God has then granted life-giving repentance to the Gentiles too!

The thirst of the Gentiles can now also be quenched at the same source as the Jews: the streams of grace flowing from the side of the Crucified and Risen Lord Jesus!

Athirst is our souls for the living God!

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Homily – April 25, 2010 – Fourth Sunday of Easter

+ This Sunday has been traditionally known as "Good Shepherd" Sunday. And immediately our thoughts turn to a familiar pastoral, country, image of Jesus, crook in hand, standing in a meadow, amidst a flock of attentive sheep. This is a useful image, it is a true image, but the full import of it has many layers and should not be taken at face-value only.

The first sub-layer is that we must keep in mind that it is both God the Father, and the Son who are the Shepherd, and not just the Son. Jesus begins now to tell us, as he will tell us repeatedly the next several weeks that he and the Father are one, they are of one substance, they are of one will, they are of one mind: one, though not identical. And so both Father and Son are shepherd of the flock of sheep, the community of believers that are formed by the sending of the Spirit (the Gift of the Father and the Son) at Pentecost– and which is increased every time someone is baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the same Holy Spirit.

The second sub-layer is that the sheep, this community, is not just a small and limited number of persons – but as our first and second readings both tell us today – it extends to all peoples and nations and tongues everywhere. Salvation is not just for Jews, it is for Gentiles as well. The flock is meant to be a global communion of mind and heart centered on the vision of the Worthy Lamb that was slain for our redemption!

The third sub-layer is that God the Father and the Son still call qualified and willing ministers, both men and women, to shepherd the flock, to lead and guide the community, to ensure that sacramental graces promised will be available until the end of time. There is a preplanned, well-thought-out and viable "hierarchy of ministerial service" which basically includes everyone here today to one degree or another. God entrusts, "shepherding," not only to priests, bishops and popes, but also to deacons, Pastoral Associates, lay ministers ( Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers), Altar Servers, Choir, Ushers, Greeters, and all who volunteer and work in any parish organization or venture. Shepherding can also be an aspect of the job of parent, older brother or sister, grandparent, aunt, uncle; teacher, policeman, or other helping professional.

But one thing needs to be made very clear, and that is, all shepherds, from the policeman to the pope himself and everyone in between, are not gods or superhuman persons. They are representatives of God who are each as potentially sinful as the next person is: I would dare say that there is no one among them without "the proverbial skeleton or two crumpled deeply in the back of the closet;" and you must remember, when you are prone to judge rashly or prematurely, anyone at all, but especially your shepherds: "the skeletons you may have stashed away in your own."

There was only one truly, entirely and completely GOOD and SINLESS SHEPHERD and that was JESUS. All of us others are entirely dependent on his grace, and mercy and forgiveness to be able to do anything at all of service for him and his Church and the world. We must remember this!

We pray today for vocations for all ministries in the Church, but in particular for those of priesthood and religious life, trusting that God will be faithful to his promise to never leave the flock wandering alone. And may we take the pressure off potential candidates by encouraging them with our understanding that they need not be "inhumanly perfect" in order to be our leaders, we just need them to be as holy as they can be, loving and willing to serve. Jesus
simply wants shepherds after his own heart, the kind he can call his friends. May we pray for such shepherds to rise and be called forth from our midst – perhaps even from our own parish!

"I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my sheep and they know me!"

Friday, April 23, 2010

Homily – April 23, 2010 – St. George

+ St. George was a 4th century Christian soldier who, as legend has it, slayed a dragon to save a beautiful woman. The truth of the matter is that George was a soldier in the army of Emperor Diocletian, the Christian killer, who turned against the emperor and scolded him for killing Christians. In his betrayal of Diocletian it was a though he was trying to kill a dragon – the presence of evil in that particular part of the world – to save a beautiful woman – the Bride of Christ, the Church. This action however cost George his life, as Diocletian was neither fond of traitors nor Christian-sympathizers.

There are many evils or dragons in the world today – both external to us, and internal as well; and both personally, and corporately as the Bride of Christ. It is up to us – armed with the spiritual power of the sacraments: especially of Confirmation and Eucharist – to successfully fight them off – and conquer them – daily, if necessary. And by God's grace, and our cooperation we shall be successful as was St. George.

Whoever loses his life, either symbolically or really, for the sake of Christ will surely find it! All those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing. And all things shall eventually be made new in Christ who is the Beginning and the End: the victor shall inherit the gifts God has carefully chosen for him.

Let us rejoice in God's blessings this day!

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Homily – April 21, 2010 – St. Anselm

+ St. Anselm was a 12th century archbishop of Canterbury and major theologian of the Church. He was equal to the task of being embroiled in temporal feudings and dealings with kings of England, and was loyal to the pope in a time of anti-popes and failed allegiance to the Holy See. Anselm never wavered, however, from the word of God's teachings and the built the house of his theological understanding on rock – and it has never failed. He wrote on topics such as: defining theology as "faith seeking understanding," his famous argument for the existence of God as "an idea greater than which no other idea can be conceived," and the description of Christ's death on the cross as an act of satisfaction, returning to God the honor stolen by human sin, and at a Church council he defended the double procession of the Holy Spirit "from the Father and the Son" (rather than "from the Father through the Son"). But what Anselm also knew beyond any doubt was that it was knowledge of the person of Jesus and his love for all of us that was of more value than any knowledge of simple facts; facts can only take one so far, but grace can fill us with God presence and a personal relationship with him. Anselm was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1734.

May Christ dwell in our hearts today through faith; that, rooted and grounded in loving actions, we may have the strength to comprehend with all the holy ones with is the breadth and length and height and depth of God's love for us!

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Homily – April 20, 2010 – Third Week of Easter - Tuesday

+ Our first reading today is one of the most dramatic in all of scripture: it is the stoning of St. Stephen by overzealous Jewish religious leaders, while Saul, who later becomes St. Paul looks on and does nothing to help him. There is nothing saintly about this Saul right now, but this makes his conversion later on all the more amazing and noteworthy. It gives hope to us all, that God can take a person like Saul, who had his spiritual radar tuned to the wrong channel, and retune the radar so that he receives the message of God loudly and clearly and even sets out on a new mission to proclaim the message to the entire known world. God can take us, with our permission, at any age, and redirect our efforts entirely for his benefit. This is good news!

In the gospel passage, Jesus tells the crowds who are looking for a sign like that of manna given by God to Moses in the desert that what they need to be looking for is a sign that is deeper and wider than that simple sign so long ago: they need to be looking for the real bread from heaven that is himself for the life of the world. Hungering and thirsting after him, who is Bread of Life, True Manna from Heaven, will sustain them both in this life and the next!

May we today go to Jesus the bread of life, eat, and never be spiritually hungry again!

Monday, April 19, 2010

Homily – April 19, 2010 – Third Week of Easter - Monday

+ In this gospel passage today, Jesus tells those who came looking for him that they came not because of the sign of the miraculous feeding of the five thousand from a few loaves, but because there was something different about the bread itself that they ate – it satisfied a deeper spiritual longing and hunger in them. This, of course, being a sign of the coming great institution of the Eucharist – which would be the Lord's own Body and Blood - providing the deepest and most abiding spiritual nourishment and strength for all who would eat it. He tells these onlookers to thirst for the food that endures forever, and then to do the work of God, which is to believe in the one he sent, himself, Jesus of Nazareth!

As a testimonial of one who feasted on the Lord's Bread and who gained the very strength of the Spirit, we see Stephen, in the first reading today, dispensing truth about the death and resurrection of Jesus – the Nazorean who indeed did claim to destroy the temple and change the customs that Moses handed down to them – and rightly so, with the authority he had to do it as Son of God. While he was being interrogated by the Sanhedrin the face of Stephen was like that of an angel because God protects in adversity those he chooses to proclaim and defend his truth in a hostile environment!

May we this day be fed by the Bread of Angels, and fearlessly speak the truth of the reality of God's presence and action in our lives – no matter what the environment.

Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Homily – April 18, 2010 – Third Sunday of Easter

+ In our gospel passage today we see Jesus busy preparing his Apostles for his departure from them and their role in carrying on what is now begun: a community of believers in his person, his resurrection and his teachings. From the description of the large number of fish that the Apostle/Fishermen caught at Jesus' encouragement, it seems clear that Jesus is projecting a rather "large catch of souls" for this new living organism called "church." Just as Jesus prepared the Last Supper for his Apostles and instituted the Eucharist as a rite of giving thanks and breaking bread for spiritual nourishment; so today we see him also preparing a meal, this time a breakfast, for his Apostles, also consisting of broken bread, and now fish. The spiritual sustenance of his Risen Body and Blood would preserve the faith of believers for all time. The fish are a symbol of himself as "food for souls." Lastly in the passage, Jesus makes it clear that the ultimate leadership in this new community of faithful would reside in one man (Simon Peter) and his successors. He makes love:
the charity of service, the precondition for such leadership. Three times Jesus asks Peter for a confession of love, charity and service before he entrusts the spiritual feeding of the whole flock to him, his successors and their helpers.

God so painstakingly thought out and executed our salvation; and now we are entrusted with the task of carrying the message of its climax, the Resurrection of his Only-Begotten Son, to the ends of the earth. And yet there seems to be still in the world today two camps, like those of the Sanhedrin and the Apostles in the first reading today. The Sanhedrin were not only instrumental in killing Jesus the first time, but after his resurrection they were intent on killing any stories about his resurrection to squelch the newly found community of believers; Peter, John and the other Apostles were intent on the other hand to spreading the truth about the death and resurrection of their Friend, their Teacher, their Lord, their God. They could not help but be bearers and proclaimers of such astounding news: HE IS RISEN! HE IS REALLY RISEN UNTO A NEWNESS OF LIFE THAT NO ONE COULD HAVE POSSIBLY IMAGINED OR DREAMED UP.

In our world there are those who insist that God is dead, in fact not even just dead, but completely irrelevant and out of the picture; and that Jesus was no more than a good man, one among many such good men in history who had revolutionary ideas and came to a tragic end. These want to squelch any attempt to keep the possibility of a persuasive story of Jesus' resurrection alive. But this is one story that cannot be squelched; there is no power in heaven or earth that can stop the gospel message from being proclaimed for those who want to hear it! May we be among those who not only want to hear it, but receive it into our heart and proclaim it with our lips and demonstrate it by the lives we lead. And what we proclaim is nothing short of this (from the second reading today):

The resurrected Christ is the worthy Lamb that was slain! Power, riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and blessing are his now and forever!

This is the cry of the angels in heaven, may this be our cry today!

And, the four living creatures in heaven answered, "AMEN"

May our answer likewise be today: "AMEN!"

Friday, April 16, 2010

Homily – April 16, 2010 – Second Week of Easter - Friday

+ Our gospel passage today, although chronologically taking place before the death of Jesus, was meant to refer to the up and coming institution of the Eucharist (just before his death), and it was also meant to be a reference to the ever-present reality of Jesus among us after his death and resurrection. I will be with you always until the end of the world (in many ways, but especially – sacramentally! My Eucharistic Presence would always be enough to sustain you, nourish you and strengthen you and guide you. It will be your daily bread! It will be the one true focus for your life!

And the company of believers to which you belong will be strong, come what may; and it shall not be able to be destroyed from attacks coming mercilessly from outside of it, or originating shamefully from inside of it as well. Gamaliel, the wise Pharisee was right about that: and in a sense he concurred and affirmed that the gates of hell would not prevail against the Church – for the Church is a gift from God that shall not be taken back.

And so, today may we draw strength from the Eucharist that we share and the Eucharist that we become more fully, after the eating; and may our lives be as sinless and true as we can possibly make them – as an act of thanksgiving to God for all that he continually does for us! And for the rest, let us count on God's merciful love and forgiveness!

One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord, forever!

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Homily – April 15, 2010 – Second Week of Easter - Thursday

+ St. John clarifies for us today the origins of Jesus and his mission among us: he is one sent from God (the Father), and he speaks the words of God. He is not an earthbound individual who spouts his own wisdom and words – everything Jesus has is from God.
He freely gives the Spirit to everyone so that they can both receive and understand his words. His words are spoken in view of the obedience that is required in order to have eternal life. All sin is disobedience to God; all reconciliation therefore is obedience based. Those who believe in Jesus and his Father, those who hear the words of Jesus and count them as coming from God his Father, those who put the words into practice will have eternal life: and those who don't, won't! Peter and John and the Apostles of the first reading were among those who were compelled to obey God, rather than men, in the situation they found themselves in that particular day. May we be among those who do so today! Periods of silence are necessary to keep tuning into the words of God as they resonate in our souls after hearing them at Mass, in our own private scripture reading and many other ways. May we be still and know God in our hearts and in our actions!

You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord; blessed are those who have not seen, but still believe.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Homily – April 14, 2010 – Second Week of Easter - Wednesday

+ Our gospel passage today tells us that God sent his Son, Jesus, into the world to save it, not condemn it. A reason to condemn the world would always be present until the end of time, but the means to save it was not always present; it would be from the time of the sending of Jesus and his redemptive mission that salvation would be possible for those who want it. All it takes is belief in him who was sent. All it takes is the willingness to live life in the light rather than in darkness. All it takes is the guts to live a truthful life.

And all of this, not of our own accord and without help, for any measure of desire and power of accomplishment comes initially directly from God.

Once we find ourselves redeemed – and realize that it is by the Blood of the Risen Christ that this is so – then we must, like the Apostles, accept everything there is to know about Jesus, and teach others the same. It is only by teaching, and preaching and sharing personal experiences that the real faith can be planted and grow. God will protect those who do his work. He will also not protect those who wantonly break faith and think that God looks the other way.

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. When the poor call out, the Lord hears and saves them from all their distress.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Homily – April 13, 2010 – Second Week of Easter - Tuesday

+ We reflect on this weekday of the Easter Season how central Jesus must be in our lives if anything is to make sense. When our focus is Jesus raised up on the cross and risen from the dead, then everything can make sense if we piece things together with the tools that the faith gives us. This implies our cooperation in our own salvation.

In the gospel passage today Jesus tells Nicodemus that his act of cooperation would be to "born (again) of the spirit" so that he may participate in the benefits of the spiritual life which are now (thanks to his death and resurrection) eternal. Nicodemus questions how this can be happen: how is one born again – and Jesus tells him that for those who have faith, those who look up at Jesus crucified, those who believe in his resurrection from the dead – all things would be possible – and eternal life would be given to them because of their willingness to cooperate in God's plan for their salvation.

May we be among those today who look up, believe and cooperate with Jesus for our salvation!

In the first reading we see that when cooperators band together, when believers become of one mind and heart then a whole new kind of society emerges – a very caring, kind, compassionate society, group, community! Such is the community that we call the church. The church is God's gift! The church is Jesus' Body! The church is our spiritual home! Very realistically though, it is not perfect – because it is made up of imperfect human beings who make errors, some very grave – whether they own up to the fact or not– but it is also quite simply divine and the only source of the fullness of grace that God wants to make available to his faithful people in their lifetimes.

We pray for the church today, we pray for ourselves who are the church that we may be of the mind and heart of Jesus – as much as we possibly can; own up to our mistakes when we make them, and ask God's merciful forgiveness which he shall most certainly give if we are sincere.

The Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Homily – April 11, 2010 – Second Sunday of Easter

+ Today we celebrate the conclusion of Easter Day! For eight days the church has exulted in the glow of the Resurrected Christ; for eight days the "alleluias" have resounded and the angels have sung of the power of him who is Life over the conquered one (another angel), who heralded death; for eight days believers have renewed their faith in the one source of newness of life and forgiveness of sin!: The Resurrected Jesus Christ! Last week we focused on the "newness of life."Today, we focus on "the forgiveness of sin."

The very first gift of the Risen Christ, on Easter night, as we recount in the gospel passage today, is the offering of Divine Peace, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them" Peace be with you," (this, as opposed to temporary worldly cessation of turmoil and chaos that we sometime call a "peaceful truce" or a benign period of respite in between sessions of more turmoil and chaos); the second gift is the institution of a second sacrament of the Church which would from that time onward be the dispenser of Jesus' hard-won victory of Life and Forgiveness of Sin. The distribution of Divine Mercy and Forgiveness would forever be entrusted to the priests of the Church especially in the Sacrament of Penance,: the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the Sacrament of PEACE! And for those who avail themselves of this wondrous sacrament, no words can describe the PEACE (the real peace) that is experienced as a result of celebrating that sacrament.

Then he breathed on them and said to them – "Receive the Holy Spirit, whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained."

What an astounding institution this sacrament is: the direct application of the Last Supper and the Brutal Death of the Lord on the Cross for us and our salvation!
The whole reason Jesus came to this earth, and was born – was to die and rise, and to breathe forth the very newness of life of God sacramentally in the church that he would found. All of the sacraments emanate from Jesus dead on the cross, with a pierced side, draining blood and water: the blood signifying the forgiveness of all sin, the water signifying the new life of baptism and all the sacraments of the church. These details are noticeable on any crucifix, and most undeniably noticeable on the painting of the Risen Christ in the form of the Divine Mercy Image that Jesus himself commissioned through the cooperation of St. Faustina Kowalska. Faustina was a Polish nun of our own life-time, who was instrumental in allowing the Risen and Ascended Lord Jesus to make his Mercy and Forgiveness known, as a relatively immediate preparation for his Second Coming.

There are three categories of persons who desperately need the divine mercy and forgiveness of Jesus to enter their lives: those who are empty and sad and know they need it; those who have absolutely no clue that they need it at all; and most importantly, those who are lukewarm: those hundreds of thousands, if not millions of persons, who know enough about God and his mercy and forgiveness to both save and condemn them – those who have the chord of truth about the matter striking deep within their hearts, along with an unfortunately louder din of "worldly wisdom," rationalization and pop psychology telling them that they really don't need any of this godly mercy and forgiveness: they can figure it all out themselves, a good self-help book or 12-step support group is really all they need to successfully navigate through life: but to what end: where will they go and what kind of life will they have when this life is over??

Yes, Jesus himself had no tolerance at all for the lukewarm.

On this Divine Mercy Sunday, as John Paul II renamed this Octave Day of Easter: let us pray for those who need a direct application of God's mercy, those who don't think they do, and most especially for those who think they are exempt: these being the most pitiable of all. Let us pray for ourselves who fall into one of these categories – more or less.

For those who wish to participate, I will lead the Divine Mercy Chaplet immediately after Mass today: a prayer formula given by Jesus himself to release the fullness of the graces of this wonderful feast! Complete changes of heart are not uncommon during the celebration of this feast in its entirety. A plenary indulgence is granted as well for those who receive communion on this feast and who make a good confession within a reasonable amount of time before or after the feast. The indulgence allows for the complete remission of all temporal punishment due to sin: in effect, it opens the gates of heaven wide for us – and keeps them open until the time that we might sin again.

This is the day the Lord has made! We continue to be glad and rejoice in it! And may the Lord in his great mercy, look kindly upon us, forgive us our sins and bring us to everlasting life! AMEN.

Friday, April 9, 2010

Homily – April 9, 2010 – Octave of Easter - Friday

+ As we celebrate Easter Day for the sixth time today we hear of a post-resurrection appearance of Jesus to his disciples, his third since last Sunday. Jesus appears on the shores of the Sea of Tiberius. He finds Peter, James, John, Thomas and Nathanael fishing. He knows that they have caught nothing during the night, so he directs them to cast their net a certain way and they catch a huge quantity of fish! It is at this point that John recognizes Jesus on the shore and shouts out: "It's the Lord" – and then Peter jumps into the lake and swims to meet him on the shore. It was very exciting for Peter, John and the rest to encounter Jesus in his new risen state! They have breakfast together and thoroughly enjoy his company!

My dear people of God – when we come to Mass it is as though we cast our nets of faith into the sea of faith and fill it with what God provides for us: the Word which is his Son, and not baked fish, but broken bread which is his Body. It is meant to be a very exciting experience for us, being here – to have a kind of breakfast together, to thoroughly enjoy his company – before we go out into our day, into our lives – strengthened by the food and fellowship with the Risen Jesus and one another who are baptized into his life – and make a big difference in it. The quality of our daily relationships needs to be ever more joyful, ever more hopeful, ever more peaceful – ever more charitable – or else we have been dieting the wrong way on our visits to church.

In the first reading today we see Jesus referred to as the stone rejected that has become the cornerstone: it is in that capacity that he is the center of our lives and the main motivation behind everything that we do with his power and on his behalf. At this breakfast meal may we make this rejected, Risen Lord Jesus the center of our lives, and may we share his life and love with everyone we meet today!

This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it!

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Homily – April 8, 2010 – Octave of Easter - Thursday

+ As we celebrate Easter Day for the fifth time today we hear of a post-resurrection appearance of Jesus to his disciples. He suddenly appears before them and offers them "Peace:" an unusual reaction to being purposely killed. But Jesus was no ordinary Victim; he was the Victim whose death changed everything for everyone forever. His life and death were prophesied for centuries, and their fulfillment was essential; and now they were accomplished: the Messiah lived, suffered, was put to death, and is raised from the dead. And now, repentance for the forgiveness of sins is to be preached to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. And that is where we come in: me as a preacher of the same repentance, and you as hearers and doers of what is preached for your own good, for your own salvation. When we listen and repent and live a new life – we are witnesses and participants in the power of the resurrection of Jesus, as surely as if we were there 2000 years ago.

In the first reading we hear how Jesus provides a period of refreshment for those faithful believers who await the fullness of the restoration of all things in Christ – the availability of a share in resurrected life is such a promise and experience of refreshment. May we turn from our evil ways and be refreshed by Christ Risen from the dead!

This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Homily – April7, 2010 – Octave of Easter - Wednesday

+ It is very easy for us to recognize the outline for the celebration of the Mass in this gospel passage today for Wednesday in the Octave of Easter. First we have the proclamation and explanation of the Word of God; and then we have the breaking of the bread which is the very Body and Blood of the Risen Lord himself. And just as the disciples in the reading recognized Jesus who once was dead but now was alive – so can we. He here for us to recognize, to spend time with, and to invite into our lives more deeply each day so that we can live the life of Beatitude that he prescribed in his preaching when he was with us.

A life lived in the presence of the Risen Lord can be a life transformed. In his name, our life can be different, as was the life of the man at the Beautiful Gate of the temple who was cured of his malady through the ministry of Peter and John. Jesus wants so much to be an agent of healing and peace and joy – the world, and even the church in which we live is so fraught with ills and inconsistencies - and all he needs from us is simple faith and confidence that he can be for us what he told us he can be: our savior, our healer, our redeemer!

As we continue the celebration of Easter Day for the fourth time today, let us continue to bask in the radiant glory of Jesus' Resurrection; and let us faithfully ask Jesus to share whatever power and grace that he has to renew us this day.

May we seek the Risen Lord today, and find him where he might be found, and
let us rejoice and be glad!

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Homily – April 6, 2010 – Octave of Easter - Tuesday

+ The celebration of Easter is a true octave or eight day celebration. For eight days beginning on Easter, we continue the celebration of Easter day as though it were the exact same day. The joy of Easter needs at least that long to begin its manifestation that will last throughout the entire Easter Season, and indeed throughout the rest of the Church year, to some degree. There is no more important feast than Easter, for without Easter there would be no cause or reason for joy, or hope, or for peace in our lives. Everything depends on Easter – the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead – and our belief in it.

The first reading today speaks of the corrupt generation that existed at the time of Jesus which did not accept or believe in the possibility of the transformation that Easter inaugurated; but those who did accept and believe were added to the church by baptism. The same thing is true today – we still live in a corrupt generation, in fact, probably the most far reachingly corrupt that ever existed – but the transformative power of Easter is still available for those who believe and are baptized; for those who are already baptized and who renew their belief at this time of the year. This is the day the Lord has made, let us be glad and rejoice in it. Let us be grateful to God for seeing to it that we have the opportunity for salvation; that we have the possibility of spending eternity with him now, where at one time, it had been taken away from us.

And just as Mary Magdalene was given the grace by Jesus to recognize him in his risen presence; so may we pray that Jesus graces us with the same privilege: may he call us by name, and let us see him as he is, radiant and resplendent in risen glory – and available to us for our every need.

Yes, this is the day the Lord has made; this is Easter Day; let us be glad and rejoice in it!

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Homily – April 4, 2010 – EASTER SUNDAY

+ Anyone who has been to at least three of the Masses of which I am the celebrant knows that I always end the Mass the same way: by invoking a blessing of joy, hope and peace, before the final blessing and dismissal: to love and serve the Lord, as we love and serve one another (which is always the same at all of my Masses). You can count on this ritual every time – even today, although there is a special Solemn Blessing before the dismissal because it is Easter. And of course the usual response to my short prayer of blessing is: AMEN! – but I don't always hear it as loudly or enthusiastically at it might be heard. Maybe if I explain where it comes from, a more resounding response can be made from now on.

The source of the Joy, Hope and Peace that I talk about is EASTER! For surely and truly if there were no Easter: if Christ did not rise from the dead in a newness of life, then joy, hope and peace would have been impossible for everyone, forever. This needs to be understood! NO EASTER: NO JOY, NO HOPE, NO PEACE AT ALL! This applies not only to "religious people" – but it also applies to all people everywhere – those with and without religion - everybody. There is only one source of newness of life, there is only one source of the optimistic desire to go on, in spite of everything (and this applies both to the church and to the world), there is only one source of peace that is far more reaching than anyone could possibly get on their own, but which everyone on the face of the earth craves. The source is the Resurrected Jesus. His Risen Presence is available for anyone at all to experience: all it takes is the suspension of the earthly way of perceiving and verifying: the way we know the Risen Jesus is by the SUPERNATURAL EXPERIENCE OF FAITH, which itself is a gift from God, so that we can even begin to believe in the resurrection of his Son. This gift of faith – freely given to all who ask for it - allows us to venture forth in hope – following behind Jesus who loved us so much as to die for us on a Cross. And it is when we do as he tells us and imitate Jesus and carry our own cross out of love for him and his Father, that we experience the power of the resurrection: the power of Joy, the power of Hope, the power of Peace – deep abiding peace – the kind that the world cannot give or take away!

My dear people of God – we are invited today to bask in the radiant light of Easter Glory that shone round the Risen One. There is no need for there to be darkness in the world! There is no need for there to be darkness in your world. His radiance is ours by our baptism into his death and resurrection; and by it we are mandated to carry that glow of hope, and joy and peace into every part of the world that we go. Like the leaven in the second reading today: we, as Catholic Christians, are called to permeate the entire dough of society with right vision, right sense and right decisions, all emanating from the very source of our Christian lives: the Risen Lord Jesus – who will never leave us, or let us down!

It is because of all of this that I invoke an Easter Blessing of Joy, Hope and Peace at the end of every Mass I celebrate. And this is why I ask your heartfelt and convincing AMEN!

This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad. Alleluia!

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...