Monday, June 27, 2016

Jun 27 - Homily for Today

+ Today we notice a very subtle distinction in the gospel passage. Sometimes we think that it is only priests and nuns who are “called” by the Lord Jesus to discipleship. Actually, God “calls” those whom he wishes to be disciple/members of his Body the Church. In both cases it is he who chooses and calls us, and not we who choose him. Those who are not “called” in this way can be considered “observers,” “curiosity-seekers,” tag-alongs – but it is only when the Lord himself turns and looks at the follower and beckons that he truly becomes a disciple, a student, a member of the inner circle: the communion of faith.

In the gospel passage today a mere follower says to Jesus – “I will follow you wherever you go!” He says this as a “tag-along,” because he did not fully understand what he was asking. Jesus says: What you are asking is a very difficult thing! If you follow me you will have no “den,” no “nest” of your own, “no place to lay your head” comfortably! Another tag-along confirms his lack of understanding by saying to Jesus: “Oh, that’s OK, and, hang on for an hour or so, so that I can go and bury my father.” Jesus then says: If you are going to follow me, then follow me and let the dead bury the dead… meaning let the spiritually dead take care of their own: follow me and I will share with you spiritual life: a life and a joy that will last forever!

The question we consider today is this: has Jesus truly looked at us and called us yet, or are we more part of the rag-tag crowd of onlookers? It doesn’t have to be a long, sustained look, a “glorious glimmer of a glance” would do – but have we ever, in our heart of hearts “seen the face of God” – if so, then our discipleship is pure and authentic; if not, then we can always pray for it to be so. It is not that God does not want to look at us, it’s more are we ready to understand what we see! May we, with the Holy Spirit’s help understand today!

If today you hear his voice and see his face, harden not your heart.


Sunday, June 26, 2016

Jun 26 - Homily for Today - Sunday

+ Even though the message of the readings is short today, it is a hard message, and it shall not be softened. Following Jesus is not meant to be an easy thing – in any way, shape or form – but it is meant to be extremely rewarding for those who go all the way with him – all the way to Jerusalem – all the way to the Crosscarrying their own!

Jesus resolutely made his way to Jerusalem – knowing exactly what awaited him there. Jesus determinedly reached out for what would bring salvation to all of mankind including us. Jesus perseveringly refused to be distracted in any way from his goal and the glory that it would give to his Father. Are we still with him?

Both the first reading and the gospel talk about discipleship – about leaving behind and going forward with Jesus – but both warn us that this turning must be decisive, immediate and uncompromising: Go back” – Elijah answered Elisha called to discipleship – “why do you want to go back when God is calling you NOW?” And in the gospel: “Bury your father? Let the dead bury their dead.” “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.”

When we choose God, when we choose Jesus, when we choose to be members of his Mystical Body, the Church – we are turning away from darkness and sin – we are turning away from anything that would lead us back into that place of shadows and terror – we are turning away from all that has to do with death and destruction. And we are turning instead to life – to light – to love! Do our daily choices reflect this major choice that ought not to be withdrawn?

In the second reading, St. Paul tells us that it is for freedom that Christ has set us free, so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery, the yoke of sin, the yoke of death. LIVE BY THE SPIRIT and you will truly be alive both in your body and in your spirit. And you will have dismissed from your vocabulary and your actions that which is contrary to the Spirit of God that does indeed dwell within you by your baptism and confirmation!

How radical is your discipleship, how radical is mine? How powerfully does the Spirit live in us? How far along the road to perfection in the spiritual life are we? Either we are heading towards the fullness of spiritual life, with our cross on our backs; or you are heading towards the fullness of spiritual death, crossless but also ultimately lifeless! Jesus’ death on the Cross made it so that we don’t have to endure that punishment, that separation that unending pain and torture – if we don’t want to! It is entirely up to us – but just remember: real discipleship is all or nothing! But the payoff is complete, never-ending, bliss. Who would not want that?


Speak, Lord, your servant is listening; [I believe what you are telling me!] you have the words of everlasting life!

Saturday, June 25, 2016

Jun 25 - Homily for Today

+ We have two powerful readings today at the mass. In the first reading today from a book rightly entitled “lamentations” – we hear the tragic story of the deported and banished children of Israel: those who insisted on having it their own way, who insisted on navigating their own course, who insisted on being their own god. And the Lord God – the real one – was forced to visit his wrath on them out of justice, out of fairness, but not without countless and ceaseless exhortations and warnings.

It was heartbreaking to see children fainting away due to lack of food and proper nourishment. God’s heart was broken in seeing all this. “To what can I compare you?” God (the Father) cries out, “what have you left me with to comfort you?” “great as the sea in your downfall – who can heal you?” – you have tied my hands – and I am overwrought with sorrow.

So many of the circumstances of our day tie God’s hands, and he weeps incessantly as he watches us destroy the wonderful balance in the world that he has so painstakingly ordered; he sees the ravages of disharmony that blind-sighted, conscienceless, self-seeking, self-agrandizing, 
people inflict wherever they go, whatever they touch.

          “Cry out to the Lord: moan, O daughter Zion! Let your tears flow like a torrent day and night: let there be no respite for you, no repose for your eyes. And in this way, your prayer will be heard and God will send a healer to you.

That healer is seen in the flesh in the gospel passage: Jesus, is so ready to heal but the one requirement is FAITH, without belief in Him as one from God, and as having the power to do it, he can do nothing: his hands too are tied! Jesus is amazed at the centurion’s faith – and understanding on how the whole intercessory process works: and we have put forth the infamous words that are now restored to the mass just before receiving the healing and forgiving Lord into our selves at Holy Communion: “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.” And he was healed. And we are healed, we are forgiven our venial sins, and we are refreshed and set free to live another day in peaceful joy, helping others who need God’s help.

May we live this day in joyful expectation of good things to come: because we have faith in the Crucified and Risen One – who did it all for us – all of us!


Friday, June 24, 2016

Jun 24 - Homily for Today

+ Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Birth of St. John the Baptist. John, of course, was a cousin of Jesus, the son of Zechariah, a priest of the temple in Jerusalem whose task it was to burn incense; and of Elizabeth, a cousin of the Blessed Virgin Mary. As we see in the gospel passage Zechariah’s tongue was released from silence only after the birth of his son, whom he communicated would be named John – because he doubted the angel’s word that his wife would bear a son in her old age, and that the child would be filled with the Holy Spirit from the moment of his birth.

John was the greatest of all the Old Testament Prophets because he was the last one of them: who literally had the exalted privilege and honor of literally pointing to Jesus, as he walked along the banks of the Jordan when he began his public life, and saying: Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world! Behold the Lamb of God, indeed – these very words are now restored to the celebration of Mass as the priest holds the Body of Christ before you to look at to see just before receiving him in Holy Communion.

And so John’s main job in the history of salvation was not just to point: but to prepare for the one who would be pointed to: to prepare the way of the Lord – by preaching a message of repentance for sin: only when the heart is clean can a person be open enough to receive all the God has to offer through his beloved Son – for salvation! John converted many to this stage of salvation, and then later encouraged them to follow the Lamb, Jesus, who is the true Messiah – the one they had been waiting for these many centuries – who would take them the rest of the way!

When Jesus finally did come on the scene he came to John at the Jordan to give credence to what John was doing, but also to be baptized himself, but not for himself (as he had no sin), but rather for us – to show us that one day baptism and confirmation would be needed by his disciples to bring them into his new and mystical body of His – the Church!

Later, John was imprisoned by King Herod because he told him that it was unlawful for him to marry his sister in law, Herodias. Herod knew that John was right, but when the opportunity presented itself the Baptist literally lost his head so that the King could save face at a dinner party in front of his guests. It was only fitting though – that the very last Old Testament Prophet would give his life as a martyr for Christ – whom he knew to be the Way, the Truth and the Life eternal that he and everyone else was seeking for!

May we each do our all for the Lord every day, even preparing the way for his coming into hearts who do not yet know him, or who may have forgotten about him, or who just seem lost! Jesus came to save the lost! Jesus came to save us all!

Amen!


Thursday, June 23, 2016

Jun 23 - Homily for Today

+ Today’s reading cut to the chase! The emphatic theme is “doing the will of God.”  God’s will is supreme, it is infiltrated and saturated into everything. Everything exists because it subsists in the very word of God speaking! Everything has its own built in purpose and hidden agenda as well. It is the working out of the word-spoken which must be accomplished for the smooth ordering of our days and nights.

It is the one who does the will of the Father who will enter the Kingdom of heaven – and who will be a real part of that Kingdom in this life as a preparation period. Christ’s words are to be listened to and acted upon because the Word of God is the consistency of all things.

The Babylonian Exile described in the first reading is the result of the people’s being disobedient to God’s Word.

When you stop to think about it, who would not want to freely and lovingly participate in God’s plan, purpose and agenda for the day. So many times we get it so wrong when we try to “drive the bus.” We will have more freedom to do our duties in our states of life, as disciples and religious, if we follow every instinct given by Holy Spirit – and live entirely for the sake of others – in imitation of the Lord Jesus who emptied Himself and took the form of a slave – and who followed the inspirations of Spirit.

Thank you Lord, for loving us so, to death; and then to life again – the very life you are so willing to share with those who simply get out of their own way and ask for it.


Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Jun 21 - Homily for Today

+ Aloysius Gonzaga was a member of the Society of Jesus who died in his early twenties and is the patron saint of young people and of students in Jesuit colleges and universities.

 He was born in 1568 into a high-ranking family in Castiglione, in Lombardy, Italy and following the wishes of his father he was meant to go into military service, but on a family trip to Spain in the company of the empress of Austria in 1581 he decided to become a Jesuit. His family could not dissuade him and so Aloysius renounced his inheritance and entered the Jesuit novitiate in Rome in November of 1585.

He was inclined to austere penances, but obedience and poor health (a kidney disease) curbed this penchant a bit and gave him time for real prayer and meditation on the spiritual realities of life. His spiritual director, St. Robert commented that Aloysius’ example of piety was so extreme that others should not be encouraged to follow it; but it was his dedication to his studies, and his few years of nursing the sick in a Jesuit hospital during an outbreak of plague that qualified him for sainthood. He himself contracted the disease and died at the very young age of 23.

Aloysius understood the meaning of the gospel mandate of loving God, loving neighbor and loving self – and is a model for young people everywhere because he himself enjoyed being a child of God who experienced that love more and more deeply every day that he forgot himself and lived only for others. May young people in the world today find a true companion and model in St. Aloysius Gonzaga!


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

Monday, June 20, 2016

Jun 20 - Homily for Today

+ Jesus’ teaching on judging is a difficult one for us as human beings, because, in our tainted human estate, we like to follow more an animal instinct of retaliation than of reasoned and holy thinking! We must try with God’s help to regard others as God regards all of us – imperfect and sinful souls – who, while prone to make mistakes – can, with the added impetus of divine grace now, rise above animal instincts and appetites and administer true and right judgment and charity: we must remove the enormous beam of self-righteousness, and see things from the vantage point of humility, poverty and littleness!

It is only then that we can truly be useful to one another in building up the Kingdom of God, in increasing God’s family, in seeing to one another’s needs out of true and heartfelt charity!

In the first reading today we see that God is not happy with the ones whom he brought up out of the land of Egypt with a show of force and power, who subsequently embraced evil instincts again and rejected His commandments and statutes; he ended up disbanding all of the tribes of his own making except one: one who was more faithful than not: the tribe of Judah, from which would come his Son as God-made-flesh – so that we would have a present and true voice of truth and right judgment all our days – and for all times! We can therefore reject our own willful ways and choose God’s ways again, and again – so that our lives become more and more blameless every day and we become more and more qualified for eternal reward for our good words and deeds!


The word of God is living and effective, able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart! 

Sunday, June 19, 2016

Jun 19 - Homily for Today

+ The gospel passage today has two parts: Jesus elicits from Peter a pronouncement that he is the Christ of God, when asking Peter who he says that Jesus is; then Jesus goes on to describe what would happen to the Son of Man – who is also himself. Jesus is the Christ of God and the Son of Man – he is true and fully God, and true and fully man. This is the unique and irrevocable combination that can never be repeated, for there is only one actor in this great drama of human salvation: the suffering, rejected, killed and resurrected God-Man.

After making this point, Jesus goes on and says that if you want to find the newness of life that will be available to you (when I am lifted up from the earth), then you will have to deny yourself (like I set aside my divinity) take up your own particular, custom-made cross and follow me. It is only by such imitation, that you can share in the fruits of my labor.

In the first reading from the Prophet Zechariah, we see the wonderful reference of God’s willingness to pour out on the house of David (and his descendants) and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and petition: there will be one who is pierced, and the people will look on him whom they have pierced (with a lance) and they shall mourn for him as one mourns for an only son (as he will truly be the Son of Man), and they shall grieve over him (because they know that their offenses have caused what they see before them).

But there will be also in that place a fountain to purify from sin and uncleanness – a fountain springing from the heart of the very pierced one himself.

We, who are baptized into Christ Jesus, baptized in that fountain, who are clothed with him, must consider ourselves as fully united in him, in our mourning, our grieving, our hope, and our joy that comes from total participation in the Death/Resurrection dynamic that he inaugurated for all of us!

And so, I think that the basic message for the day is JOY and GLADNESS: if we die with the Lord, we will live with the Lord – not just later on but right here, right now! And we will have something worthwhile – a good word to share with other people – that it is possible for them too!

We are all thirsting, thirsting – may we understand that it is the merciful God that we are thirsting for and the bath of grace and life that flows from his Most Loving and wounded, Sacred Heart.

Amen.


Friday, June 17, 2016

Jun 17 - Homily for Today

+ Jesus offers us some very practical time-saving, stress-relieving advice today: do not make your treasures anything on earth because in addition to it never “being enough” for you, it will change once you get it in your possession. It will fade, and decay, it will rust and mold. It could be permanently “borrowed” or stolen. No, do have treasure, but make it of the spiritual nature and housed in heaven where it suffers not the effects of natural decomposition and human greed.

Where you heart is will be your treasure: make your friendship with God, and helping others during the day, the chief desire of your heart, your treasure and God will reveal himself to you more and more every day and you will see the depth of the beauty of the gift he is giving you: and your heart will rejoice.

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



Thursday, June 16, 2016

Jun 16 - Homily for Today

+ In our first reading today we see Elisha getting what he asked for:  a twofold portion his Elijah’s spirit; Elijah who was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind of fire. Elijah was indeed a great prophet, demonstrating the power and activity of God in the lives of the people: to once and for all times get their full attention and devotion. But it seems that after him, Elisha showed even more power in his fearlessness among people, and in his ability to bring all kinds of healings and restorations as did Elijah, who foretold the coming of Jesus, the Divine Physician. God still works his wonders among his chosen ones for God’s glory and their well-being.

In the gospel passage Jesus teaches his disciples an astounding way to communicate with God his Father. He tells them they can call him Father too, for his wants to be intimately involved in their lives, to cause fullness of health and life in them all their days. The prayer is as much about us as it is God. If God lives in heaven, it is so that one day we can live there too. If his name is holy, it is to draw us into his holiness when we speak it. If his kingdom is to come, it will come in us, in our cooperation with him in building it. If his will is to be done on earth, then it will be as we give him permission to use us as he wills each day.

Giving us daily bread is all about Eucharist first, off, then all other material needs that we have, not wants but needs. But forgiveness of others is absolutely essential to make the whole thing work. We will NOT be forgiven our sins unless we forgive other theirs who sin against us. We must ask to be safe from temptation and evil. We will be tried, but evil will not prevail so long as we believe in our heart of hearts that God is our loving Father and he will never fail us! It is so! It is true! Thanks be to God!  


Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Jun 15 - Homily for Today

+ Our gospel passage today is actually a repeat of that of Ash Wednesday. Perhaps the reason for this is that any day is a good day to be reminded about the basics: our basic attitude of doing things for the right reason. The three great religious activities mentioned in the passage apply as much to today as to the ancient world in which we see them here. Almsgiving, prayer and fasting can always help not only the spiritual growth of the individual who does them, but also the people for whom they can be done as a sacrificial offering.

But when they are done, they must be done in an unassuming way, and not like Pharisees and hypocrites who love to do these things to be seen, so they will win the admiration of the people, and places of honor at banquets and the best foods and wines.

And so alms-giving (helping the poor with monies and goods) must be done quietly, even anonymously if possible: we must recall that when we help people, we are helping Christ himself: and he will reward and repay us beyond anything we can imagine. Private prayer (as opposed to community worship) needs to be done in the secret places of our hearts, in the inner recesses of our homes, in our prayer corners or chapels; in this way the flow of communication between God and us can be free and abundant. Fasting (giving up of certain foods and the like) should be done quietly as well: a gloomy “giver-up-er” gives a bad impression to everyone: if penance does not produce joy, then it is not being done right!

It doesn’t have to be Lent for us to practice these Christian activities: they are the key to right living and good results any season of the year.

Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him          and we will come to him.


Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Jun 14 = Homily for Today

+ It seems that of all of Jesus’ restatements of the Old Law, this one seems the hardest to do, mainly because we each have so much experience with it; we each are in a never-ending series of conflicts with other persons, or other groups of persons. Jesus tells us to love our enemy, basically, as much as we love our neighbor and ourselves: this seems like an impossible task as we look at the opposition that it pits us against; but the key to certain victory in this regard is in the last sentence of the gospel passage: be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect!

What is amazing here is that this statement is not just a command, it is also empowerment for execution, it is the very outfitting of us to do what is said: God’s word is always effective and powerful, it quite literally does what it says: that is why we have to read it daily, study it and find out exactly all of the wonderful powers that are already ours for the discovering.

And so, we have placed within us the very power to be perfect, to do seeming contrary things, to do really impossible things: like loving our enemies and persecutors. The main reason that we must do this is because God does: he loves both the just and the unjust, the good the bad, the pleasant and the mean: why? to affirm the good and to offer a never-ending palm-branch of peace and conversion to the wayward: if God can do that, and we as Christians truly are supposed to be living our entire lives IN GOD, then we can do it too; it is only when our base humanness, our un-supernatural selves gets the better of us, that we fail in our resolve to do this.

And so today, let us rethink our position with opponents, wish them the same good things that we would want for ourselves, pray for them, and pray constantly for the completion and fulfillment of the Kingdom of God – where all will be evened out and everyone will get what is coming to them: and we will get many points for trying to be as perfect as we could be, as our heavenly Father is perfect!


Monday, June 13, 2016

Jun 13 - Homily for Today

+ After St. Francis himself, St. Anthony of Padua is one of the most famous Franciscans in Church history. Born in 1195 in Lisbon, Portugal, Anthony’s wealthy family wanted him to be a great nobleman, but for the sake of Christ he became a poor Franciscan priest.

 At first being a canon regular, when the remains of Saint Bernard and his companions, the first Franciscan martyrs, were brought to be buried in his church, Anthony was moved to leave his order, and enter the Friars Minor, and go to Morocco to evangelize. But, shipwrecked at Sicily, he joined some other brothers who were going to the church in Portiuncula. There he lived in a cave at San Paolo, leaving only to attend Mass and sweep the nearby monastery.

One day when a scheduled speaker failed to appear, the brothers pressed him into speaking. He impressed them so much that he was thereafter constantly travelling, evangelizing, preaching and teaching theology through Italy and France. In refuting heresy Anthony was called “the hammer of heretics;” at the papal court his preaching was described as a “jewel case of the Bible;” he was commissioned to write several sermon series.

Anthony was a gifted speaker and attracted crowds everywhere he went, speaking in multiple tongues; legend has it that even the fish loved to listen. He was a miracle worker. One source of the well-known patronage for the recovery of lost objects comes from a legend that, long after Anthony’s death, his old prayer book that was kept as a treasured relic, one day disappeared; people prayed to him for help to find the book, and suddenly a novice found it and returned it: he later admitted that he has “borrowed” the book and returned it after receiving a vision of an angry Anthony!

Anthony died in 1231 of natural causes and was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1946 receiving the title: Evangelical Doctor.

St. Anthony delivered the gospel in all its force to any who would listen, men and animals alike! He is loved to this day by all who hear him!

Amen! Amen!



In his sermon notes, St Anthony writes: ‘The saints are like the stars. In his providence Christ conceals them in a hidden place that they may not shine before others when they might wish to do so. Yet they are always ready to exchange the quiet of contemplation for the works of mercy as soon as they perceive in their heart the invitation of Christ.”


Sunday, June 12, 2016

Jun 12 - Homily for Today

+ Our readings today are about sin!  Our immediate response when hearing this word is sometimes to cringe, and to say: “well, I do not really sin, I make mistakes and am not perfect, but sin seems to be too harsh a sounding word for what I do.

The first point here is to stop rationalizing! We all sin, every one of us – all people everywhere sin. We are human, we are broken, we are weak, and sometimes, yes, we sin – knowingly and willingly – though maybe not always with big fanfare – but really and truly, if only subtly and “in secret!”

But with God there is nothing secret, he knows all about us, he knows our thoughts – he hears us speak – he watches our movements and our actions: not to judge them: but just to watch them: he is just watching to see how usefully and wisely we use the intelligence he gave us – how we are putting our faith into practice: we who bear the name Christian.

Our first and third readings talk of two great sinners. The greatest -David who was King of Israel - sinned by murdering Bathsheba’s husband Uriah and then marrying her who was already pregnant with his own (David’s) child. And in the gospel passage, there is the “sinful woman,” no doubt a prostitute who had sinned much, but who, in Jesus’ presence, felt a great desire simply to be near him, to touch him, to show her sorrow for sin by bathing his feet in her tears, and wiping them with her hair.

The Pharisees present at the dinner who no doubt felt themselves above the law, above sin, the self-exalted ones said to one another: “doesn’t he know she is a sinner?? how can he allow this to happen!” Obviously they missed the whole point of Jesus’ entire mission: he came to save what was lost – to redeem sinners, who included everyone – even them!

And so Jesus turns the situation into a teaching matter and explained to Simon the Pharisee (his host):  this woman was deeply grateful and felt a great sense of relief for the removal of her great sin, that was simply forgiven by Jesus, in an instant by his simple words: you are forgiven: and then telling her to go and live in peace from now on and without sinning – because she loved much – and demonstrated it!

In the first story too, with David, through the Prophet Nathan who in a sense “heard David’s confession” of guilt and sorrow for sinning so much against God by his adulterous and murderous conduct, after David’s confession, conveyed the Lord’s forgiveness by simple words as well. “Yes you have sinned, o mighty David, but the Lord has forgiven you – you shall not die!”

Let us take from these examples today great consolation and hope that when we do sin – we too can express our sorrow to God directly to him at first and then by means of the Sacrament of Penance if the sin is serious: and because of our faith: we too, like David, and the prostitute of the gospel passage – shall be forgiven – and we shall hear God’s own words of forgiveness and our lives will be changed significantly!

It is so easy for God to forgive – now because of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection – all it takes is our sorrow and our willingness to ask for it! May we do so often – daily by our examens – and sacramentally when we need to!

Lord, forgive the wrong we have done!

Saturday, June 11, 2016

Jun 11 - Homily for Today

+ St. Barnabas was (of course) a Jewish convert, coming to the faith soon after Pentecost, taking the name Barnabas (he was born in Cyprus and given the name Joseph). Though not one of the chosen Twelve Apostles, Barnabas is mentioned frequently in the Acts of the Apostles and is included among the prophets and doctors at Antioch, and is considered an Apostle. We know him as the companion of St. Paul who introduced him to the Twelve. Like Paul, Barnabas believed in the Church’s mission to the Gentiles, and worked with him in Cyprus and Asia, but split with him over a non-theological matter. He evangelized in Cyprus with St. Mark and founded the Church in Antioch. He was martyred in 61 at Salamis; and at the time of his death he was carrying a copy of the Gospel of St. Matthew that he had copied by hand. His name, Barnabas means, son of encouragement and consolation, because he was always cheerful and had a gentle and sunny disposition!

Our first reading from the Acts of the Apostles situates Barnabas at the Church in Antioch; it also describes how during a worship service the Holy Spirit instructed the congregation to set aside for him Saul and Barnabas for the work to which they have been called. After completing the prayer and fasting, the community laid their hands on them and sent them off!

The gospel passage gives us in outline form the traveling instructions for apostles: taking nothing with you, as the laborer is worth his keep, cure the sick, raise the dead and proclaim as present in the midst of the people the very Kingdom of heaven: use the offering of peace as the litmus test for reception: if the household or town accepts your greeting of peace, stay there and encourage them with truth and the gospel; if they refuse your peace and ridicule and insult you, leave them and take God’s blessing with you: at a later time they shall be held accountable at the very throne of God himself!

Of course the object of all this evangelizing and peace making is to ensure that what the Lord had said would be true: “I am with you always, until the end of the world.” He is with us when brave disciples speak his word and do what he did! LOVE! May we be brave and courageous disciples today!

The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.


Sunday, June 5, 2016

June 5 - Sunday Homily

Our readings today are about signs and wonders that accompany the proclamation of the Gospel of the LordIt seems to be God’s way – looking throughout Scripture – to get people’s attention by using some pretty spectacular signs and wonders. After all it is easy for him to do – he is God; but he just does not do them to be showy, but rather to awaken or strengthen faith!

In the first and third readings today the dead are raised which is a spectacular thing, but of course the raising simply restores them to the life they knew – and they would have to die again at God’s “appointed time.” But what is signified more deeply here is the resurrection that will occur in which things are very different – a resurrection that would be available to everyone after Jesus suffered torture and death and experienced this new kind first himself.

Everything that Jesus ever did, he either did for us, or to show us how to do something ourselves. And so here he is telling his audience then and now: if you stay close to me, if you follow me, if you listen to my words, if you put them into practice the best you can – then, resurrection to a newness of life, and eternal life will be yours! And is not the most spectacular sign of all!

In our second reading today Paul tells of a newness of life that comes after Jesus comes to us, calls us, and send us out to do important work that only we can do (this is what happened to him): but it is empowered by the same Spirit who raised Jesus from and dead and will raise us as well!

May we pray today for continued outpouring of the Spirit so that God can use us for doing exactly as he wills this and every day of our lives!

Amen!



Thursday, June 2, 2016

Jun 3 - Homily for Today

+ The visual image we have of today’s Solemnity is the Sacred Heart of Jesus the Christ. The caption of the photo placed on the altar today reads: “As God Becomes the Flesh, So too the Flesh shall become God.” This says it all: Jesus, the reality of God who took on human flesh is everything there is to know about God the Father: for he is the exact re-presentation of the Father; the purpose of his coming to earth was to ensure that we, as fallen human beings, could once again become God – which was in the plan all along, from the time of Adam – though this time from God’s gift, rather than from man’s grasping at becoming God.

GOD IS LOVE; therefore, God is nothing but a giant Heart, full of love, full of gentleness, patience, kindness, compassion, mercy and truth; Jesus re-presents that Heart: and above that, His own human heart exists entirely for us. The Word of God did not need a body, he did not need a human heart; but He chose to take them on so that we could be forgiven of sin, so we could be healed of our defections. This is the totally selfless meek Heart we honor, adore and worship today in this feast.

This is the Heart that lived a solitary life for 30 years; this is the Heart that was excited about proclaiming a Kingdom of justice, love and peace for all humanity; this was a Heart that was moved to pity for so many, and who performed miracle after miracle to show His own personal care for people; this was the Heart that resolutely made its way to Calvary; this is the Heart that transsubstantiated bread and wine into his very self (including his heart) as a memorial of his Passion that would soon follow; this was the Heart that was pierced with a lance, at the site of crucifixion, allowing the last vestiges of blood and then water to flow from His Divine Heart; this is the Heart that was glorified and became the glowing image of peace and forgiveness for everyone, everywhere from that moment on; this is the Heart we celebrate today; this is the Heart that we love today; this is the Heart extraordinaire that we are called upon to go to, to hide in, be refreshed by and then moved by to reenter our lives calmed, joyful and eager to spread such a marvelous and wonderful love to all we meet, after having experienced it first ourselves!


O Sacred Heart of Jesus, “burning furnace of charity” – fire us up to imitate your self-sacrificial loving nature, this day and every day – and have mercy on us always!

June 2 - Homily for Today

+ The gospel passage today is short and to the point: loving God with all one’s might is the most human thing that one can do, and the most pleasing to him; loving others as you love yourself is next and closely related with it: if we all have been loved into existence and are sustained by that love at each millisecond, then we owe each other and ourselves a lot, in regard to honor, dignity and care. God is in himself a dynamic of giving, and when we freely, enthusiastically and self-sacrificially give of ourselves, we are most like-God, and he sees himself in us and he is delighted with what he sees.

St. Paul tells Timothy and he tells us that we must present ourselves as acceptable to God, a workman who causes no disgrace, who imparts the word of truth without deviation: when the word of truth is a tremendous love story between God and his people – then it is worth every sacrifice it might take to spread it around: may we do our part today!


The friendship of the Lord is with those who fear him, and his covenant for their instruction.   

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Jun 1 - Homily for Today

+ St. Justin, whose memorial we celebrate today, is a very important second century saint. At this time in history of the Roman Empire, and Church history, what was hoped to be an experiment gone awry had staying power: the Romans knew they had a formidable foe in the new Church of Rome, the Catholic Church in its infancy. But though an infant chronologically, the Church was a fierce opponent to the world and its ways, a fierce opponent to the ways of the Emperors who thought themselves to be gods among a great many gods in the pagan pantheon.

It was such a pagan who converted to Christianity at age 30 by reading the Scriptures and witnessing firsthand the heroism and faith of the first martyrs of the Church. These things impressed Justin of Samaria very much. Justin was born to wealthy Greek parents, was well educated and a student of many philosophies. But coming to full maturity he knew that the only true philosophy was the Christian one: he believed that the word of truth came to all people, but that it resided fully in Jesus Christ who was the very essence of the Church of Rome! And so, with his keen mind, deep faith, and oratorical skills, Justin became one of the first apologists of the faith: an explainer and defender, using words both written and spoken!

The cross of Christ – which Justin preached and taught – was a great threat to Rome – the victory of a dead man, who is still alive – was too much for them to comprehend – but this did not deter Justin from doing what he was called to do: stand up for the faith, stand up for Christ, stand up for the Church. We are called to do the same – especially with the repaganization of society that is unfolding in our world every day. We must let our lights shinethe light of faith – so that the entire world can see: and so that we all may give glory to our Father in heaven!

Time and circumstances would lead to the Roman authorities’ attempts to silence Justin – as a threat to the supremacy of the Empire – and so in 165 he was beheaded in Rome. I ask you this question: how far are we willing to go to “stand up” for our faith in the Person of Jesus Christ – God’s only Son, our Lord, our Brother and our Friend?

Justin is considered then above all a great martyr and the first great Christian philosopher.


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...