Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Homily – August 31, 2010 – Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time - Tuesday

+ What made Jesus a great prophet is that he spoke with a different kind of authority – a quiet authority, a genuine authority, an authentic authority – obviously based on something very valid, very true, and very reliable. And that, of course, was the will and words of God his Father. He was those will and words, so he, therefore, was very "believable." Jesus' power over unclean spirits was almost an afterthought – of course, the Spirit of the Living God would have power over any lesser spirits – especially, destructive ones.

But Jesus was not just a great prophet, who also did marvelous things: he was also Son of God whose act of self-sacrifice to the point of death on a Cross brought about the greatest miracle of them all: the true, authentic and genuine forgiveness of sin. For us, who have accessibility to the Sacrament of Penance, we sometimes take for granted the fact that our sins – that which really and truly chokes and even kills the Divine Life within us - can truly be forgiven by God. All God requires is that we be truly sorry for them, that we confess them to a priest of his Church, and do penance for them as assigned by him. But we ought never to take so great a blessing for granted. Without Jesus' sacrifice there would be no forgiveness, and we would have been enemies of God – forever – never having the possibility of living forever with him after our deaths.

The first reading today tells that it is the Spirit of God who not only takes our sins away in the confessional, but also gives us the very power to believe that it can be done in the first place. Our natural minds can only take us so far. They can never bring about the required forgiveness of the great Sin against God, and other lesser sins. But the supernatural power of God's own Holy Spirit can do all things related to our reconciliation both with God, with the Church and with ourselves.

May we rejoice today in the fact that the great prophet, risen in our midst, is also the great Savior and Reconciler of our souls with God.

Blessed be God forever. Amen.

Monday, August 30, 2010

Homily – August 30, 2010 – Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time - Monday

+ So many times we hear this gospel passage and understand the lesson Jesus is teaching: those who are good, and speak truth are sometimes rejected by the people closest to them – but when it actually happens, it is not all that easy to experience. No one likes to be rejected or ridiculed, or taken to the top of a cliff with the intention of being thrown off. But, if one truly is doing what one has been called and empowered by God to do, then the strength will be there to do whatever that entails – until the very end.

St. Paul in the first reading today tells how he came "with fear and trembling" among the Corinthians to announce to them God's design to be active in their lives. They would recognize it as coming from God, because what they would hear would not be any worldly wisdom or clever political turns of phrases meant to bedazzle them with talk of God. But it would really be God talking to them, through the human instrument of Paul, who knew he was weak and told them so. He would tell them of Christ Crucified – not a popular approach to an intellectual group of people.

But in doing this, Paul, like Jesus, like so many anointed preachers throughout the ages since would bring glad tidings to the spiritually poor, bring freedom to spiritual captives, and recovery of sight to the spiritually blind, letting the spiritually oppressed go free. And these are the ones trapped, blinded and oppressed by the sinfulness of their lives. The Cross of Christ Crucified sets sinners free! And this is not foolishness at all!

May we today allow ourselves to be set free of any encumbrance that sin can apply to our lives – so that we can live the day with great joy – as we go about helping Jesus set as many as we can free to do the same: by our ministry of compassion and helpfulness to them – and by encouraging any and all we come upon to use the great sacramental system of the Church -which Jesus gave us to tap into his love, his mercy, his forgiveness and his peace!

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor!

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Homily – August 29, 2010 – Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

+ The opening prayer for Mass today focused on God's many gifts: "every good thing comes from you, Almighty God!" Among those good things are late summer flowers, fresh farm produce, and the last days of summer vacation. Surrounded by such abundance and bounty and beauty, it is easy to trust in God's "constant care and protection" – also a phrase from that same opening prayer.

Today's readings suggest the proper attitude of those who have received so many gifts: HUMILITY! This humility has nothing to do with "groveling before the Almighty," but is instead a certain "down-to-earth-ness." The root of the words "humble" and "humility" is "humus": meaning "earth." A humble person is "earthy!" The true activity of the virtue of humility keeps us from reaching beyond ourselves, from excessive, unfounded pride; from lording it over others and thinking that rules just don't apply to us, no matter what our social or economic position might be. Humility reminds us of our oneness with the less fortunate – "the poor, the cripple, the blind, the lame" – whom Jesus commands us to invite to our tables. THE TRULY HUMBLE PERSON KNOWS THAT EVERYTHING IS GOD'S GIFT!

Of course, humility is not a highly treasured characteristic in our culture. How can we possibly "get ahead" if we don't exalt ourselves? It is only right that I should sit at the places of honor at fancy corporate banquets – I have certainly "earned" the right. Yet Jesus reminds us once again that God's standard of success is different from the world's – in fact, it is the opposite. The second reading gives us a taste, though, of the heavenly glory we stand to inherit when we are willing to set aside earthly standards and earthly fame: we will inherit "the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and countless angels [and saints] in festal gathering."

May we pray for the gift of humility daily – especially the greater among us, the ones with larger responsibilities. May we conduct our affairs with holy detachment, expansive love and "earthy" humility so that we may be able to appreciate and rejoice in the "proverbs of the wise," have the "mind of a sage" and have a place reserved for us in the new and eternal Jerusalem!

Take my yoke upon you, says the Lord, and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart!

Friday, August 27, 2010

Homily – August 27, 2010 – Sts Monica & Augustine

+ As we celebrate the Feast today of two saints of the fourth century: a mother, St. Monica of Tagaste, North Africa (modern Algeria); and her son, St. Augustine, also born in Tagaste – we reflect upon the powerful impact these two had and continue to have in the history of the Catholic Church.

In his youth Augustine led a wild life. There is no other way to describe it. He lived with a Carthaginian woman from the age of 15 through 30 and was familiar with all of the distasteful and addictive habits of youth. He fathered a son whom he named Adeotadus, which means the gift of God. He was taught rhetoric at Carthage and Milan, Italy. After investigating and experimenting with several philosophies, be became a Manichean for several years; it taught of a great struggle between good and evil, saying basically that the material world was evil, and the world of the intellect and mind was good. This, of course, is not true: both are created good. This philosophy featured a lax moral code, and so a summation of his thinking at this time comes from his Confessions: "God, give me chastity and continence – but not just now."

Augustine finally broke with the Manicheans and was converted by the prayers of his mother, St. Monica; and the help of St. Ambrose, the Bishop of Milan, who baptized him. On the death of his mother he returned to Africa, sold his property, gave the proceeds to the poor and founded a monastery. Thus he became a monk, a priest, a preacher, and later the Bishop of Hippo in 369. He founded religious communities, fought the heresies of the day including: Manichaeism, Donatism, and Palagianism. He oversaw his diocese during the fall of the Roman Empire to the Vandals. Because of the insight and clarity and obvious divine origins of his writings he was declared Doctor of the Church – one of the four originating Western Doctors (who included also Ambrose, Jerome and Gregory). His later thinking can be summed up in a line from his writings: "Our hearts were made for You, O Lord, and they are restless until they rest in you." This is one of the most profound sentences in all of theology! St. Augustine died in the year 430 at Hippo.

St. Monica, the beloved mother of Augustine, who prayed thirty years for his conversion, was raised in a Christian family but given in marriage to a bad-tempered, adulterous pagan named Patricius. In addition to praying so long for Augustine, she prayed too for the conversion of her husband, who did convert on his deathbed. She died in 387. A pillar of power is the example that St. Monica gives to anyone who is intensely praying for the conversion to God of anyone for any reason! God hears each and every prayer – and sometimes it becomes a "second vocation" in life to pray for those who are "difficult cases." Monica's ceaseless prayers yielded one saint: one of the greatest in all of Church history; and no doubt a very grateful citizen of heaven, who almost missed the boat except that his good wife just would not give up on him!

Our first reading today reminds us that if we love one another, for the love of God, for his sake, then he will live in us, and we will be able to experience the reality of God as he is in himself! This is the experience that drew St. Augustine to conversion: the reality that God is so beautiful, and wonderful and marvelous and true – that he could not imagine life without a very close relationship and friendship with him. The gospel passage relates the tender story of Jesus giving back to a grieving mother a son whom he raised from the dead for her. Jesus raised St. Augustine from a kind of spiritual death – and because his mother prayed and begged for his life for a very long time – he was given back to her – so that he could do God's amazing will in his life and she could die in peace – having fulfilled his will for her.

With all my heart I seek you, Lord, let me never stray (again) from your paths!

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Homily – August 26, 2010 – Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time - Thursday

+ Stay awake! For you do not know when the Son of Man will come. These two phrases come from the gospel passage every year on this day, and I always get the same reaction when preparing the homily: it's
still August, barely, and already this reading makes us think of the first two Sundays of Advent which are not for another four months – when we consider the second coming of Jesus, as the first part of that season's introductory period!

But, on the other hand, it is always, a good time to hear about the second coming of Jesus – because it really could happen at any time – at all! Hopefully, each and every year, if we have tried to follow along with the spiritual growth program that the parish tries to provide, we will be that much better prepared in case it happens, today. And if we have supplemented this by our own increase of personal prayer, study, reflection and sharing of our faith with others – then we will be even more prepared.

But if we have learned the absolute necessity of translating all the prayer and reading, and worship and rosaries, and confessions and time spent in the Adoration Chapel (next door) (next to St. John's Church) – into selfless, loving service to others who are in need: a real concrete getting out of ourselves and our comfort zones and actually volunteering to help in any number of ways, in any number of venues including our own church and parish – then we will really be ready!

Happy the person the Lord finds "watching in action'- the action of helping someone else who has a true need at that particular time…he will be welcomed into the joy of the Lord forever………but the lazy ones will find out what wailing and grinding of teeth really means! It's up to us!

Make your pastor proud of you because of your faith and good works, like St. Paul was so pleased with the Corinthians at the outset of his relationship with them because of their amazing Christian faith, witness, but most of all practice!

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts!

Amen!

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Homily – August 25, 2010 – St. Louis, King of France

+ St. Louis was son of King Louis VIII and Blanche of Castile. He was king of France and Count of Artois at age eleven; his mother ruled as regent until he reached 22, and then he reigned for 44 years. Louis IX made numerous judicial and legislative reforms, promoted Christianity in France, established religious foundations, aided mendicant orders, propagated synodal decrees of the Church, built leper hospitals and collected relics. He ruled France at a time of great cultural achievement, symbolized in the building of great Gothic cathedrals, and the development of universities. He was personally a deeply religious man – becoming himself a Trinitarian tertiary. Before his reign as king, he married Marguerite of Provence at age 19, and was the father of eleven children. He supported Pope Innocent IV in war against Emperor Frederick II of Germany. He led two Crusades and died on the second one, contracting typhoid fever, on August 25, 1270 at Tunis. His relics were placed in the Cathedral of St. Denis in Paris, but destroyed during the French Revolution.

Our readings today tell of the life-dynamic of St. Louis, King of France. It was a Christian life-dynamic through and through. He lived the gospel command to love God first with all one's might, and then our neighbor as one's self.
It is in loving others, and only in loving others, providing for their needs, protecting them, caring for their wounds that we prove our love for ourselves and God. Isaiah prophesied about Jesus who would release prisoners and break every yoke, clothing the naked and being loyal to your own. Light would rise when one does these things in the name of God! The same goes for those followers of Jesus who renew their strength and produced guiding light daily by loving selflessly after his example and with the grace to do it that he gives.

St. Louis, King of France, may we imitate your life-giving Christian ways; may we tend the poor, minister to the rich and bring about the glory of the one true Kingdom that will last forever – the reign of Jesus Christ, the one eternal King!

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Homily – August 24, 2010 – St. Bartholomew

+ St. Bartholomew, whose feast we celebrate was either the Nathanael of the gospel passage or he wasn't; which means that either we know at least something about him; or else we know nothing at all - other than the fact that he truly was one of the Apostles of the Lord – as his name is always listed among the twelve close friends of Jesus.

If he is Nathanael then he was a close friend of St. Philip who was originally a disciple of St. John the Baptist, but later became an Apostle of the Lord at Jesus' invitation. And Nathanael is always mentioned in connection with Philip. It was Philip who brought Nathanael / Bartholomew to Jesus as we read in the gospel passage today. Jesus was impressed with Philip's find and remarked on his humility and innocence. Jesus told him that he would see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man (indicating the vision he would see when he suffered a martyr's death for him).

Bartholomew may have written a gospel, but it became lost; it is mentioned in other writings of the time. He may have preached in Asia Mino, Ethiopia, India and Armenia, leaving behind assorted writings and local tradition says it was Bartholomew.

In any event we celebrate the feast today of one of Jesus' best friends – handpicked to be the spiritual foundation of the Church of which we are members today. We too are called to be friends of Jesus, friends of one another in Christian community, and friends with all in the world who need our witness, our prayers and our gospel of hope, especially in the difficult times in which we live. May we spend the day giving ourselves for God!

Your friends make know, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom!

Monday, August 23, 2010

Homily – August 23, 2010 – St. Rose of Lima

+ St. Rose of Lima is the first canonized saint of the Americas. Born in Lima, the capital of Peru, she was baptized Isabel de Flores. An Indian maid was struck by the infant's beauty and declared in a phrase that is still common in Spanish, that she was "como una rosa" ("like a rose"), and her mother agreed that this is how she was to be known. As an adolescent Rose took Catherine of Siena as her model, not only for her mystical experiences, but also for her acts of severe penance. She was so devoted to her vow of chastity that she used pepper and lye to ruin her beautiful complexion so she would not be attractive to men. She lived and meditated in a garden, raising vegetable and making embroidered items to sell to support her family and help the poor. She became a Dominican tertiary in 1606. She was a mystic, a visionary and received the invisible stigmata. She suffered from assorted physical and mental ailments. She was the founder of social work in Peru – thus, all in all making her a fitting candidate for sainthood in the Church. She died on August 24, 1617 at Lima of natural causes at age 31. She was canonized by Pope Clement X in 1671.


 

The readings today fit the saint. St. Rose of Lima made the Lord her entire boast. She never wanted to take credit for any of the good works that were accomplished through her. Her humility was outstanding and God visited her in person to bring her joy and consolation in her trials. Rose found in Jesus, his Church, in her ministry to the poor the treasure that is the Kingdom of God. And she willing "sold everything" she had to "buy the treasure" to "buy the pearl of great price." May we today value highly and deeply the amazing treasure we have in our restored relationship and friendship with God. The reconnected relationship that now makes our eternal salvation possible. And may we do all in our power today to preserve and protect this relationship – moving away from anything and anyone that would interfere with it.

St. Rose of Lima pray for us, as we share in your discovery of a great treasure!

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Homily – August 22, 2010 – Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

+ Perhaps a very valid and burning question is: considering the state of the world, considering the state of the Church, considering what justice demands: LORD, WILL ONLY A FEW BE SAVED? This is most definitely a "loaded question" and a serious one! More appropriately the question might read: LORD, WILL I BE AMONG THE ONES WHO ARE SAVED ON THAT LAST DAY?

Jesus, in the gospel passage, wisely does not answer the question directly. He does not say: YES, or NO! Because, he actually doesn't really know! Since, we each cooperate in our own salvation – the final tally is still very much up in the air. It is up to us in the final analysis to either seek "the real way, the real truth and the real life" or not! Strive to enter through the narrow gate: Jesus advises in the gospel passage -
which is only for the spiritually disciplined and strong – this includes those who have "endured trials because of their faith." Being in the right place at the right time at the end of our lives will not guarantee us entrance into the kingdom (just shouting Lord, Lord, here I am! will not be enough); but being a humble person, who tried to live the best he could, a life of prayer / action / joy for others will lead straight to the fore-gate of God's throne!

Therefore, being "strong enough" as Jesus would have it, means being willing to accept our utter weakness and total dependence on God for everything we need to live our lives. And then, to live outstanding lives in the service of God! When we acknowledge ourselves as weak, it is then that we are truly strong to do his will!

The second reading today tells us the discipline that is needed to form us in our spiritual weakness. Weak does not mean incapacitated! Weak simply means it can only be God's wisdom and will and ways that can make us truly strong enough to battle our way through this world's wiles (and there are so many of them out there beyond these walls), and strengthen our drooping hands and weak knees, guiding us along straight paths, where our disjointed feet may be healed – so that we may honor God and give him glory by the lives of holiness and helpfulness that we lead!

All nations are invited to salvation – not "just a few" – as our first reading tells us; but these same nations must present themselves before the Lord with docility, humility and openheartedness and willingness to be formed and disciplined by a loving Father – just as we must. We are all called to holiness - and when we demonstrate that we are beginning to truly be holy people, then God will be glorified as is his due, and we will be that much closer to attaining our place with him as a community of love, justice and peace residing deep inside his amazing heart!

God bless you!

Friday, August 20, 2010

Homily – August 20, 2010 – St. Bernard of Clairvaux

+ St. Bernard of Clairvaux is an enormously large saint in the Catholic Church: he was one of the greatest monastic leaders and theologians in its history. He has sometimes been referred to as "the last of the Western Fathers of the Church." Born to an aristocratic family near Dijon, France, he became a monk at age twenty-two at a poverty-stricken, reformed monastery at Citeaux, located a few miles from his family's estate. It had the strictest monastic Rule of the time. He persuaded about thirty of his relatives and friends to join him there. Three years later he was made abbot of a new foundation at Clairvaux, a post he would hold for the next thirty-eight years. At first, and by his own admission, he was too strict on the monks, but later relented. The monastery prospered, establishing other foundations in France, Britain, and Ireland. By the time of his death there were some seven hundred monks at Clairvaux alone.

In spite of his commitment to a life of solitude and seclusion from the world, Bernard was extremely active in the affairs of the Church. He secured approval for the new order of Knights Templar, whose Rule he had written, dedicated to supporting the Crusades and to the care of the sick and of pilgrims. He was involved in Church politics, always defending the Holy See in Rome. He preached against heresies. He wrote classic treatises such as On Loving God. His best known work is his eighty-six sermons on the Canticle of Canticles (The Song of Songs in Scripture), which ranged from reflections on the practical life of a monk to the mystical union between Christ the bridegroom and the Church as the bride. He was also influential in promoting devotion to the humanity of Christ and to the Blessed Mother. Bernard died in 1153, was canonized in 1174 and declared a Doctor of the Church in 1839.

The readings today fit well the feast: Sirach speaks of one who is practiced in the law (of God) who will come to wisdom: which will in turn nourish him with the bread of understanding, will hold him up when his spirit is drooping, will fill him with joy and gladness, giving him an everlasting name as an inheritance. The gospel passage is from the priestly prayer of Jesus who prays for his Apostles and their helpers who would go out and down throughout the ages to make known the will and ways of God – for the sanctification of souls and the glory of the Father. When they have done this, they will share in the reward and joy that God has prepared for them as faithful servants and friends of his Son.

St. Bernard of Clairvaux, pray for us this day, that we may revel in the Lord's gift of wisdom, and labor for the good of souls – including our own – just as you did!

Remain in my love, says the Lord; whoever live in me and I in him will bear much fruit!

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Homily – August 19, 2010 – St. John Eudes

+ John Eudes was a farmer's son, born in 1601, who attended the Jesuit college at Caen, France at age 14. He joined the Congregation of the Oratory of France, studied at Paris and was ordained a priest in 1625. He ministered to plague victims. He was also a missionary and preacher working well over 100 missions. In 1637 he published The Life and kingdom of Jesus in Christian Souls which went into sixteen editions in his lifetime. For him Jesus is the source of all sanctity and Mary is the model of the Christian life. He also promoted devotion to the Sacred Heart and urged the establishment of a feast day – which was not approved in 1765. It was a time of weak religious practice among Catholics and of poorly educated, weakly motivated and unvirtuous diocesan clergy. He tried to establish a seminary in Caen, but was met with opposition within his own order. So he left the Oratorians and founded a society of diocesan priests, without vows, calling it the Congregation of Jesus and Mary (Eudists). These priests were dedicated to the formation of new diocesan priests in seminaries. Six seminaries were established in France for this project by 1670. He also founded a religious society of women, the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Refuge, under the Rule of St. Augustine and dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Mary. It was intended to provide a refuge for former "women of the streets" who wished to rehabilitate and to do penance. John Eudes died at Caen on August 19, 1680, was beatified in 1909 and canonized in 1925.

With St. Paul of the first reading today, John Eudes, in humble adoration comprehended the riches of the glory and the strength that comes from the Holy Spirit alone to do God's work and will. And Jesus himself in the gospel passage tells how he reveals to simple, humble priests like John Eudes, what is truly important in life, and he provides strength for the accomplishement of the Father's will, with his own grace, for God's greater glory!

St. John Eudes pray for us!

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Homily – August 18, 2010 – Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time - Wednesday

+ We have two powerful and instructive readings today: the gospel passage is about God's way of thinking that does not always correspond with man's; the first reading is about God's way of thinking that does correspond with man's.

In this first reading: God himself, through the Prophet Ezekiel, relates his extreme displeasure at shepherds who are interested only in themselves and not the sheep. Woe to such shepherds of Israel who have been pasturing themselves! You have fed off their milk, worn their wool and slaughtered the fatlings, but the sheep you have not pastured. You did not strengthen the weak nor heal the sick nor bind up the injured. You did not bring back the strayed nor seek the lost, but your lorded it over them harshly and brutally. So they were scattered for the lack of a shepherd and became food for all the wild beasts. But thus says the Lord, I am coming against these shepherds. I will claim my sheep from them and put an end to their shepherding of them. And I myself will look after and tend my sheep! This I will do by sending my own Son as Chief Shepherd; and he will send his best friends to do this shepherding until the end of time. This kind of logic, reasoning and thinking of God's is easy for us to go along with! Now, it is still the task of the shepherds of the Church to be faithful to their calling and ministry: TO PUT THE FLOCK FIRST, RATHER THAN THEMSELVES! THE FLOCK AND ALL OF ITS NEEDS, ALWAYS FIRST!

The gospel passage is about God's generosity and mercy and the distribution of his graces and benefits: even to those who come by it rather late in the history of salvation! The parable, however, goes against human reasoning; and the modern American work ethic: "if I work harder and longer, then I should get more, and I should get mine first." But God, the employer, says: No! I choose to bring the last up first, and to give them the benefits of a full day's work: I choose to give them the fullness of redemption as surely as I would give it to those who for centuries have chosen my will and cooperated in their salvation! And this, thanks be to God, is how all of us receive salvation: we are the last on the scene: but we have it as good as those who were walking right along with Jesus, and listening to his words, and eating the bread that he provided! It is wonderful: God's way of thinking – it is wonderful when ours corresponds with it; and it is wonderful when it doesn't!

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want!

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Homily – August 17, 2010 – Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time - Tuesday

+ The message of the readings today is quite clear – those who pile up for themselves riches both in ego and in material wealth – are bound to be forgotten by God for all eternity. Those who say: Look at me! Am I not like a god! Look at all that I have produced by my wisdom and intelligence; look at all that I have traded for and procured! But the Lord says to such a man: No, you are not a god, you are a man – and you shall die an unpleasant death and not inherit the good things that I have promised my children.

And in the gospel passage, Jesus says to his disciples that it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven. In the same passage, he reminds them that when God is superior in the lives of his children – and when such children give up all that they possess to receive all and only what God wants them to have – then they will be truly rich – they will be truly blessed – they will be the last in the view of the world, who are truly first in the Kingdom of heaven.

May we today – be poor in spirit – poor in our egos, poor even in our pocketbooks – so that all that matters to us is Christ and his reign, Christ and his gifts, Christ and the life he has to share with us!

Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich so that by his poverty we might become rich!

Monday, August 16, 2010

Homily – August 16, 2010 – St. Stephen King of Hungary

+ St. Stephen of Hungary lived between the years 975 and 1038. He united and Christianized the Magyars, who had settled in Hungary at the end of the ninth century. He was baptized Stephen at the age of ten when his father became a Christian. He married at the age of twenty and succeeded his father as leader of the Magyar people two years later, in 997. He consolidated his political power over rival leaders and established Christianity as the religion of his country. Pope Sylvester II gave him the title of king and a crown in 1000, when Hungary became a nation. By then he had already founded various dioceses and monasteries, the most famous of which was the primatial see of Eszterhom and the monastery of Pannonhalma. He reduced the power of nobles, abolished tribal divisions and reorganized political structures, thereby forming the Hungarians into a single kingdom. He imposed a narrow and strict form of Christianity on the nation as well. He was devoted to the poor and often distributed alms to them in disguise. After his death in 1038, miracles were attributed to him at his tomb.

Our readings today speak well of Stephen's Christian life. As Moses governed the people of Israel and urged them strongly to love God with all their might – so did Stephen to the people of Hungary. Just as the parable Jesus told in the gospel passage shows the reward of those who take the gifts that God gives them and uses them for his glory and the welfare of his people – so too did Stephen use his talents as political and religious leader for the glory of God and the welfare of the people of Hungary.

Blessed indeed is the man who fears the Lord, and does what is pleasing in his sight for the glory of God – and the good of all people!

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Homily – August 15, 2010 – Solemnity of the Assumption

+ Today we are in the height of summer and we pause to celebrate a feast of the Virgin Mary. We celebrate "the gathering of the Blessed Virgin Mary into the harvest of salvation." Christ her son was the "firstfruits" of this glorious company, as we heard in our second reading. Today's feast recalls that his Blessed Mother shared from the very moment of her death in that same fullness of life that she witnessed on Easter Day – and her body and soul rose from this earth to take its place beside her Son, the King of the Universe. Today's feast is ecumenical in its reach, as well: Orthodox Christians celebrate Mary's Dormition, or "falling asleep," while many Protestant communities honor Mary today as "Mother of the Lord." Our Roman Catholic tradition, however tells us on the other hand, that Mary actually died and not just fell asleep; and, of course that Mary is not just the Mother of the Lord (that is "Jesus the Man"), she is truly Mother of God – as his Divinity - his being Son of God - cannot be separated from his being also Son of Man at the same time. And so, if she is Mother of the Man, she is also Mother of God.

Most importantly, we will hear in our preface before the Eucharistic Prayer in just a few moments: Mary is the image of the Church; where God has taken her, we (who are the Church – the Mystical Body of her Son) hope to follow. This is no simple wishful thinking, but this hope is based on the promise obtained by the reality of the redemption wrought by Jesus her Son in his death and resurrection – just so that we could be with him and her and all the saints and angels forever in our Father's House!

O Mary, our Mother – splendorous woman, clothed with the sun, having the moon beneath your feet – pray for us all, now and at hour of our deaths, so that we may enjoy your company in that great experience of living in God's heart forever!

God bless you!

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Homily – August 11, 2010 – St. Clare of Assisi

+ St. Clare of Assisi became a friend of St. Francis of the same town after hearing him preach. Her father was a count and her mother a countess. On Palm Sunday in 1212, her bishop presented Clare with a palm, which she apparently took as a sign. And with her cousin Pacifica, Clare ran away from her mother's palace during the night to enter religious life. She eventually took the veil from St. Francis at the Church of Our Lady of the Angels in Assisi, Italy.

Clare founded the Order of Poor Ladies (Poor Clares) at San Damiano, and led it for 40 years. Everywhere Franciscans established themselves throughout Europe, there also went the Poor Clares, depending solely on alms, forced to have complete faith on God to provide through people. This lack of land-based revenues was a new idea at the time. Clare's mother and sisters later joined the order, and there are still thousands of members living lives of silence and prayer.

Clare loved music and well-composed sermons. She was humble, merciful, charming, optimistic, chivalrous, and every day she meditated on the Passion of Jesus. She wanted very much to give her own life like the Franciscan martyrs of Morrocco did in 1221, but she was restrained. However, once when her convent was under attack she displayed the Blessed Sacrament in a monstrance at the convent gates, and prayed before it, and the attackers left; the house was saved and the image of her holding a monstrance became one of her emblems. Her patronage of eyes and against their problems may have developed from her name which has overtones from clearness, brightness, brilliance – like healthy eyes. Toward the end of her life, when she was too ill to attend Mass, an image of the service would display on the wall of her cell; thus the patronage of television. She was ever the close friend and spiritual student of Francis, who apparently led her soul into the light at her death!

The readings for today's Mass are certainly well chosen for the feast: Clare ever strained for the greatest goal of life on high with Christ Jesus, her Lord. God was her entire inheritance, therefore she did not need the wealth of an earthly inheritance from her father. And from the gospel: those who give up everything to follow Christ – especially in Clare and her Ladies case – in silence and prayer - will inherit a large number of brothers and sisters and eternal life besides. May we today and perhaps each day, imitate Clare and her Ladies and spend some time silence and in prayer – simple, open prayer of abandonment to the will of God – and see what happens!

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Homily – August 10, 2010

+ Today we celebrate the feast of one of the most famous martyrs of the Roman Church: St. Lawrence. On August 6 of 258 Pope Saint Sixtus II and six deacons were beheaded in Rome, leaving Lawrence, also a deacon as the ranking Church official in Rome. While in prison awaiting execution Sixtus appeared to him and reassured Lawrence that he was not being left behind, they would be reunited in four days. This gave him an opportunity to disperse the material wealth of the church before the Roman authorities could lay their hands on it (while hiding valuable church documents). On August 10, Lawrence was commanded to appear for his execution, and to bring along the treasure with which he had been entrusted by the pope. When he arrived, the archdeacon was accompanied by a multitude of Rome's crippled, blind, sick and indigent. He announced that these were the true treasures of the Church. Later, as legend has it, Lawrence was killed on the gridiron – where he is said to have told his executioners to turn him over because he was done on the one side. There is another tradition, however, that Lawrence was beheaded in the fashion of the other deacons and the pope on August 10. In any event, Lawrence became an outstanding example of martyrdom: the living expression of today's gospel passage: the grain of wheat that must die in order to produce much fruit, one who loses his life in order to find it, one who hates his life in this world to preserve it for eternal life. He certainly was honored by the Father in heaven; but also by the Church on earth. Five basilicas were dedicated to his memory in the city of Rome alone.

Our first reading tells us that when we have to do something great for him, God multiplies the graces we need – he strengthens us beyond what we can even possibly imagine – so we can do his will. He wants us to be cheerful in our obedience – and joyful in our share of the crosses of life. Then we can be assured of the richness of his eternal blessings as the just reward for our labors on his behalf!

Monday, August 9, 2010

Homily – August 9, 2010 – Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time - Monday

+ The short gospel passage today has two themes: the announcement again of Jesus' upcoming death and resurrection – which he constantly keeps in his own mind, and now wants to somehow get fixed in the minds of his disciples. These were necessary things for him to go through in order for us to be released from the spiritual prison that we all were confined to by sin.

The second is both the humility involved and the proper rendering that is involved in dealing with rightful civil government. Since Jesus was not entirely a citizen of this earth, he really did not have to pay the tax, technically – but, because "he became one like us" to free us from the prison of sin – he consented to pay the tax "as a foreigner" would. Thus Jesus shows his humility and willingness to give to Caesar what was rightfully his for the common good of society.

May we today, keeping our eyes fixed on heaven – where our treasure is – where the vision of the likeness of the glory of the Lord (from the first reading) resides: give everyone what is their due: beginning with God, then our brothers and sisters in the Christian community, then everyone else including those who govern us by right!

God has called us through the Gospel to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ – let us revel today in that glory that dwells within us!

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Homily – August 8, 2010 – Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

+ Our gospel passage today is a continuation of last week's passage about "storing up treasure!" The man in last week's story that Jesus told, piled up his treasure in earthly storage bins, very large ones – thus thinking himself well-off, safe and "in good shape" for years to come. But God demanded his life that very night, asking – so now, you foolish man, who is all of this stored up wealth going to go to? The point was that we need to make our treasure where it matters most to God – and that is with him! Today the theme continues: do not be afraid little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom – what an amazing treasure that is! Place your heart here, in mine, he says and your treasure will be secure not only through this life, but well into the next! No thief can reach it here, or moth destroy it; the storage containers cannot wear out here!

"The one condition, however, to place your treasure here, in my heart, is complete and total detachment from the things of the world, so that you will have to live on complete and total trust in me: this trust is called faith: the faith of Abraham (of the second reading today). Abraham lives in my heart, and so can you!" [This does not mean that you cannot own things, but they must not own you, and you must be ready to give them up at a moment's notice – to drop it all when the Lord calls you – (which as our gospel passage tells us can be any time at all) - so that you can reach out for your treasure with open hands and hearts in heaven! Closed fists clawing on material goods will not get anyone anywhere when the Bridegroom comes knocking on the door!]

God, you have chosen us to be your own possession, your own people, your own children! We are fortunate beyond all imagining having you as our Father! May we this day, and the days of the coming week: open our hands and our hearts, and set our goal on seeing your Face one day, fix it there, keep it there – keep this desire above all other desires – so that we may not have anything at all to fear – in this life - or when the next one begins!

May your kindness, O Lord, be upon us who have put our hope in you!

Friday, August 6, 2010

Homily – August 6, 2010 – The Transfiguration of the Lord

+ As our preface for today's Mass, that we will hear in a few minutes, tells us: the Transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain, in the presence of the Apostles Peter, James and John was meant to prepare them for the shocking reality of his crucifixion. Jesus would really be killed on the cross, he who was their friend, their master, their teacher. Jesus knew they needed something powerfully bright and memorable to think back on when the blackness and bleakness of Good Friday finally arrived.

Jesus also was transfigured – demonstrating the fullness of his risen glory – for us as well, so that we can endure our own "Good Fridays" – of any degree – we would have the promise of transformed glory to remember as well.

This transformed glory is not just promised to us as individuals, but to us together as a united community of faith: the Church. Then entire Church is to be strengthened by promised glory – when it goes through rough times – like it is today; and then, led to that glory by the life of grace and goodness available to all.

Just as the transfiguration showed a resemblance of Jesus to fullness of light and life; so too our life in his light shows our resemblance to him as Lord, God and Brother – and that is our goal: for the Father to look down on us, and see Jesus!

The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth!

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Homily – August 5, 2010 – Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time

+ Our gospel passage today is almost comical. St. Peter first gets is very right, and then he gets is very wrong. First he answers the question that Jesus poses as to "who people say I am" by being inspired by God the Father to say: You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. I am sure this response surprised Peter as much as it did Jesus and the rest of the disciples.

Then a few minutes later, when Jesus tells the disciples that he would have to go to Jerusalem to suffer greatly and be killed and then rise again on the third day: Peter hearing only what he wanted to hear blurted out: God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you. At which point Jesus turned around and blurted out: Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do. But Peter was a human being, and so he thought that way; and what is more, for that moment, perhaps Satan did speak to Jesus through Peter, just as he spoke to him in the desert during the three temptations. Jesus' reply here was the same as it was then – Get away from me, Satan! I freely choose to do what I am doing, and I will do it til the very end: until I am resurrected from the dead, after being killed on a cross!

This Peter, this human, who later was filled with the Holy Spirit, and became the true head of the one Church founded by Christ – is a model for us – who at one moment can be filled with God's graces and strengths and can do great things for him; but seemingly at the very next moment can be weak, unfocused, quite contrary and not a very pleasing asset to the Christian community!

But, it is nice to know that God loves us in both instances, and he understands us in both instances, and he offers his love and peace and forgiveness in both instances! We are his children!

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Homily – August 4, 2010 – St. John Mary Vianney

+ We celebrate the Feast today of the Cure of Ars. John Mary Vianney was born to a farm family in Lyons, France in 1786. In his youth he taught other children their prayers and catechism. He had little education and was not a good student but in 1815 he was ordained a priest. His second assignment in 1818 was the parish of Ars-sur-Formans, a tiny village near Lyons, which suffered from very lax attendance. In his parish at Ars, John Mary began visiting his parishioners, especially the sick and poor; he did penance for his parishioners and lead the people by example. He had great devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. He had the gifts of discernment of spirits, prophecy, hidden knowledge and of working miracles. Though he only got about 3 hours of sleep a night, these hours were often disturbed by the attacks of envious evil spirits. Crowds came to hear him preach, and to confess their sins because of his reputation with penitents. By 1844 there were 20,000 pilgrims a year to Ars. John Mary Vianney spent 40 years as a parish priest in that tiny village of Ars – which has certainly been on the spiritual map ever since. He died August 4, 1859, and was canonized May 31, 1925 by Pope Pius XI. In 2009-10 he was held up as the focal point of the Year of the Priest – and named patron saint of all priests – by Pope Benedict XVI.

Our first reading reminds us that as Christians, priests and lay, we must call things as we see them and help lead the sinner back to a virtuous life – if only by simply pointing out error. If we do – then we shall have done our duty! What happens to the sinner is up to him! But he must always know there is a place for him to come home to and repent and be forgiven by God and the Church. The gospel passage reminds us of the ever-present need for more vocations to the priesthood and religious life: the harvest is rich, but laborers are few – in fact very few in this day and age: we pray to the Lord of the harvest to send more laborers into the fields – those especially who have the generosity, the heart and the love of St. John Mary Vianney!

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Homily – August 2, 2010 – Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time - Tuesday

+ We have two wonderful scripture readings today to reflect on: the first reading from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah tells us in a very poetic kind of language how delighted God is that his errant people have opened a way for him to return to their hearts so that he can in fact come back to them; and in return they will be welcomed once again back into their own lands – from which – out of justice God expelled them, because of their sins. How often has God had to expel himself from our lives because we just didn't want him being there? But, he is so willing to come back to us, when we once again turn back to him and open the door of our hearts to him!

The gospel passage from St. Matthew is powerful indeed. A Canaanite woman – an outcast from the Israelite community – and therefore a gentile – asks for healing for her daughter who is tormented by an evil spirit. Knowing full well that he will grant her request, Jesus nonetheless tests her faith and says in effect: you are a gentile and are asking a healing that is reserved for the people of Israel – it is not right to take food for the children of God and throw it to dogs! This seems a very harsh and insulting thing for Jesus to say: but the woman passes the test by simply saying– in faith, in fact with great faith: Please, Lord, even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters! Jesus, in hearing this response, is highly impressed and greatly relieved that someone is able to use faith in its proper way and allow it to bring blessing and healing into their life. May we today use our faith rightly – we who are not outcasts (unless we have made ourselves such) but children of God; may we ask for what we think we need, but rely on God to give us what we truly do need – for this day!

As the responsorial psalm refrain tells us: the Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock!

Monday, August 2, 2010

Homily – August 2, 2010 – St. Peter Julian Eymard

+ Saint Peter Julian Eymard grew up in a poor family during the anti-clerical, anti-Catholic aftermath of the French Revolution. He entered the seminary against his family wishes and withdrew later due to an illness that he never really recovered from. But later he returned to the seminary and was ordained on July 20, 1834 in the diocese of Grenoble, France. He joined the Marist Fathers on August 20, 1839. He was a friend of St. John Mary Vianney. He became superior of the Society of Mary in 1845. In addition to his strong Marian devotion, he also had a great devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and founded new religious societies: the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament in 1856 and Servants of the Blessed Sacrament in 1858. His vision of priests, deacons, sisters and lay people dedicated to the spiritual values celebrated in the Mass and prayer before the Blessed Sacrament anticipated many of the renewals brought about by both the first and second Vatican Councils. Peter died in 1868.

Our gospel passage today reminds us that we are branches on the vine that is Christ. The divine life that flows through the veins of these branches is the life of the Eucharist. And anyone who is devoted to the Eucharist will have abundant life and produce much fruit, and will also share the love and protection of the Mother of Vine – the Mystical Rose herself: The Blessed Virgin Mary.

May our devotion to the Eucharist, and to the Blessed Mother Mary increase today as a result of honoring Marist Father Peter Julian Eymard.


 


 

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Homily – August 1, 2010 – Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

+ Our readings today have that "Jacob Marley / Ebenezer Scrooge kind of twist" about them. In "A Christmas Carol," Jacob Marley tells Ebenezer Scrooge that his greed is forging chains that will bind him to this earth. "It is a ponderous chain!" – as Dickens describes it. This indeed is a stark reminder to those who are attached only to their wealth: especially material wealth. All the readings today call us to store up treasure in the one place that really matters mostwith God! If we try to hold on to our wealth in this life, if we become so attached to that which we think we deserve, we can be sure that it will weigh us down – like Jacob Marley's ball and chain - and make us unable to accept the light burden of Christ.

Unless we become detached from our possessions, the readings warn us, we will be unable to accept the gift of salvation. And what a tragedy that would be – both theatrically and in real life.

We need to stand with open hands, and minds and hearts - always ready to receive and share the graces that God, in Christ, offers us through the Holy Spirit. This is the simple but difficult message that we hear in these scripture passages today, and it is also the message that we see played out every day in our world, where so many are living in want. Today, in a special way, as we are fed in the celebration of this Eucharist, let us also call to mind the command that we have from the Lord, to share our wealth, to share what we have with others – who are truly in need! It is never too late to put our Christianity into practice – until the last chime: and then it truly will be "too late" – and we will be held accountable for any possible good deeds NOT DONE! Let us "share the Christmas Turkey" while we still can!

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...