March 31 - Homily Tuesday of Holy Week

Our readings today tell of three things: the glory that awaits Jesus for seeing through his task of redemption for the likes of us; and the two types of potentially redeemed: the kind who betray Jesus (like Judas) in a very cold and calculated sort of way: not seeing past their own selfish vision and who never see the error of their ways; and the kind who deny Jesus (like Peter) but who later recant and are forgiven!

All of us betray and deny Jesus at times: Jesus who came to be a light to the nations and the glory of Israel. This day of Holy Week let us reflect all day on how easy it is to go “another way,” to choose being “children of Adam” rather than children of God, to bask in “self-made counterfeit light,” rather than the glory of the Lord that we are called to live within. And let us choose to go the harder way with Jesus; to be children of the Father, with Jesus; to be filled with the light and glory which is our inheritance!

Hail to you, our King, obedient to the Father; you were led to your crucifixion like a gentle lamb to the slaughter.

March 30 - Homily Monday of Holy Week

On this Monday of Holy Week we continue our reflective observance of the events of Jesus’ last week on earth!  Isaiah reminds us in the first reading that Jesus came to be a light for the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon those who live in darkness, this by being a servant of God who was meek and humble, not crying out, not shouting, who was very sensitive to the needs of all – who brings justice to the nations.

In the gospel passage – this suffering servant of the Lord, having arrived triumphant in Jerusalem for the Passover, visits his dear friends Martha, Mary and Lazarus. It was Mary here who prophesied the Lord’s upcoming death and burial by anointing his feet with costly perfume. Judas reveals his true nature by complaining that this was a waste of money that could be used to feed the poor – but Jesus tells Judas to leave her alone because there will always be the poor, but there would not always be Jesus present as he was then.

Let us continue then this week, in our prayer and in our reading of scriptures - our own study of and contemplation of the prophecies that were being fulfilled about Jesus the Messiah, Jesus the Lord, Jesus the Savior of the world - remembering that ALL HE DID, HE DID FOR US AND FOR OUR SALVATION!

Hail to you, King Jesus: you alone are compassionate with our faults!         

March 29 - Homily for Palm Sunday

[We are now at the end of our Lenten journey and we begin the observance of the holiest week of the Church year.  Though we have been here many times before, we are invited to make this year different than all the rest: because we have a deeper interest in the events, because we have both a better understanding of them, and because they pertain to us very personally and really: all of the things that Jesus did, he did for us and for our salvation! (for me and my salvation.)]

On this day when we recall the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem let us see it for what it was: he was finished now eluding the crowds of Jews who were out to get him, he is no longer in hiding: he is very much visible, marching into his city, to claim his position as King: King of the Jews; as Lord of all lords and Savior of all mankind.

The crowds of people who lined his route were inspired by the Holy Spirit himself to make a magnificent spectacle out of this entry, waving palm branches – HOSANNA TO THE SON OF DAVID they shouted: BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD – for this is who he truly was.

May we take from this celebration today these three titles of Jesus to ponder during the coming days of Holy Week:

·        JESUS IS LORD, Jesus is Lord (not Caesar, not any governor, not any president, not any prime minister of any year, century, or millennium), Jesus is the one and true Lord of lords;

·        JESUS IS KING – Jesus is King of the Jews, he is king of all nations – and his kingdom will have no end – and all – sooner or later – all the kings of the earth will one day obey him; and lastly,

·        JESUS IS SAVIOR. Jesus is Savior of the World – no one else in human history was qualified to do what he did: reconcile God and Man – because he was both God and Man at the same time, in the same Person: everything that Jesus said and did then, HE DID NOT DO FOR HIMSELF – but HE DID IT FOR US AND FOR OUR SALVATION!

This is why it is only right and just that we take the time, lots of time this coming week, to think about these things, to reflect on them, and to adore and worship the One to whom they refer:

Jesus of Nazareth, Son of Mary, Foster-son of Joseph and Son of God! LORD, KING, SAVIOR!

HOSANNA TO THE SON OF DAVID!

March 27 - Homily for Today

The Prophet Jeremiah has in his own life the experience of being denounced and stalked by his own friends: “all those who were my friends are on the watch for any misstep of mine; perhaps he will be trapped; then we can prevail, and take our vengeance on him!” This is a sure prophecy of what would happen to Jesus at a later time: in the gospel passage today we see the Jews trying to trip Jesus up because they fail to understand his unique and real relationship with his heavenly Father: the one sent by him into the world to reconcile us, the one who has the right to be called true Son of God (because that is exactly what he is). Jesus tells them then if they do not believe what he says about himself as Son of God – they should at least believe that he is unique and from God because of the quality of the works that he does: his spiritually revolutionary preaching, and his miracles that have no other explanation than originating in God himself.

But these prejudiced and stiff-necked people reject any claim that Jesus makes on being in a special relationship with the very God of their fathers: and they try to arrest him – but as it was not yet his exact hour to finally be handed over, he escaped from their power and went back across the Jordan to the place where John first baptized, and there he remained. There many came to believe in him for they realized that everything John said about this man was true.

We have a unique and special invitation to listen to Jesus speak at this Mass and to witness his greatest sign of all: the changing of bread and wine by the priest into his Real and True Body and Blood as supernatural nourishment for our spiritual lives for which we are responsible for growth and maturity! May we appreciate what happens here to the maximum – for it is astounding as it is breathtaking!

We love you, O Lord, our strength, O Lord, our rock, our fortress, our deliverer.

March 26 - Homily for Today

In the gospel passage today Jesus is trying to make the point that those who keep the covenant and commandments that his Father made with Abraham (and his descendants) are also obeying him because he was also present at the time those covenants and commands were given – and that their reward will be everlasting life. The Jews however are not convinced of his legitimacy and they mock him saying: You are not yet fifty years old, how could you have seen Abraham and been with him when God spoke with him?

Jesus, in an exasperating way, raises his voice and cries out: Listen to me! before Abraham came to be, I AM. I am eternal! I am with God always! I am present in all my Father’s dealings with the human race. So they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area: to await his hour when more than stones will be thrown at him.

In the first reading we see the historic covenant made between God and Abram: it was the cause of the changing of his name to Abraham, and it was the cause of many graces and blessings on him and his physical and spiritual descendants; but the other end of the deal must never be overlooked: he would be their God, but they must obey the commands of the covenant – all of them: and thus they would be eligible for countless blessings.

May we the children of Abraham, the children of God be quick to obey with our spiritual fathers: imitate their example, and win the prize that they won for us by their obedience: life on high forever, with God, his Son and the communion of saints!

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts

March 25 - Homily for Today

It is actually fitting toward the end of the Lenten Season to celebrate the great Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. For the activities of the Lenten Season could not have taken place without the event of the Annunciation of the Angel Gabriel to a humble maiden of Nazareth named Mary. God has prepared a worthy, and sinless dwelling place to first receive his Word-made-flesh: the womb of this humble virgin. But the freedom of the virgin was to be preserved, and so the dialogue between the Archangel Gabriel and Mary causes the overshadowing power of the Holy Spirit to come upon Mary, who freely declares herself a humble handmaid of the Lord, ready to do his bidding according to his plan and design.

And so Jesus began to exist in her womb: the very God of gods was now living in a loving, protective and nurturing environment: and she would love, protect and nurture him his whole life long – until it ended, as it was foretold, in a tragic death on a hill outside Jerusalem. But again it would include a resurrected presence of Jesus later on, in which she always hoped and prayed for.  This whole process was done for love, for love of us, all humans who ever lived: to save us from our sins, to restore our broken friendship with God, and be the source of our eternal life in heaven.

When we appreciate the humility and cooperation of the Virgin, when we understand the amazing love of the Savior, we are moved to live out in our own lives our baptismal call to be holy and sinless and happy and helpful people – for these are all possible now, thanks to the simple: “Fiat” “Yes,” “let it be done to me according to your word,” of the Blessed Mother of God!

Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.