Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Aug 31 - Homily for Today

+ The gospel passage today talks of Jesus as comforter and healer – and such he was. And although this was an important part of his daily works, it was not the most important:  effecting internal change and conversion was far more important than external manifestations of good health and wellness. In the end, everything must be lined up: the salvation to be wrought by his inevitable death and resurrection; and the readiness of mankind to receive the graces and blessings thereof. May we today ask for the kind of health and wellness we truly need so that we will be thus ready: and that is spiritual health and well-being.

The first reading is very interesting and complementary: St. Paul tells the Corinthians that the work of conversion may employ men, but it is God who causes the real changes and brings about the final effect of reconciliation. It is very important to remember that the apostles and priests of the church are “God’s co-workers” and the people are the very “field of God,” the “building of God”: the work of the worker - if they cooperate and by their act of faith count themselves into the project at hand: their salvation!

The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor and to proclaim liberty to captives: and I have sent my closest friends to do the same: may all in the world get the benefit of our work this day by believing!


Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Aug 30 - Homily for Today

+ St. Paul clearly relates the existence of the two levels of spiritual reality: the natural and the supernatural. The natural spiritual is the spirit of the world, the spirit that exists in man as he participates in the life of animals, a spirit that because of man’s rationality has at least some chance of being a productive spirit. It is a vivifying spirit, but not a totally responsible or account-giving spirit. On the other hand, for those baptized into the Body of Christ, there exists within them also the very Spirit of God – the Holy Spirit, that is freely given so that we can understand not only fully and clearly the things of the earth, but also the things of God, the things that can only be taught by the Spirit Himself. “For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to counsel him” – other than his own Spirit? It is amazing – for we have the very mind of Christ as his free gift to live our days and nights!

The gospel passage shows us how a man can be afflicted with a profaned spirit, but a spirit who recognizes the pristine spirit of God and spontaneously declares its reality; it also shows how Jesus – the source and container of the pristine and divine spirit -  can easily order such unclean spirits to dissipate: which they do immediately at his command.

We pray that Jesus dismisses any lingering problematic spirits from us today, and through the intercession of the angels and saints, and his own Blessed Mother Mary, keeps them away from us so that we can focus our attention where it really matters: others and the building of the Kingdom.

A great prophet has arisen in our midst and God has visited his people!


Monday, August 29, 2016

Aug 29 - Homily for Today

+ St. John the Baptist was a cousin of Jesus Christ, son of Zachary, a priest of the order of Abia, whose job in the temple was to burn incense; and of Elizabeth, a descendent of Aaron. John was a Prophet – the last of the great prophets of the Old Testament, for he literally pointed to Christ on the banks of the Jordan and said: Behold, the Lamb of God, it is he who takes away the sins of the world: follow him! Before this time, John converted many to a way that would propel them towards Christ when he did in fact arrive: and he baptized men and women for the forgiveness of their sins (which would be fully effected by Christ’s death and resurrection). And, of course, he baptized Jesus himself, not that he had any sins, but as a sign that baptism would be required of all future members of his church, and as a way to inaugurate his own public ministry among the people of Israel.

Now that Jesus ministry had begun, John’s job was pretty much finished except for his greatest act of faith and love for his cousin that he could make: his martyrdom. He was imprisoned because he had condemned King Herod Antipas for his marriage to Herodias, which was both adulterous and incestuous. She was not only his niece, but also the wife of his brother, who was still alive. At Herodias’s insistence, Herod imprisoned John. Later, during a banquet the king made a public promise that he could not retract: telling Heordias’s daughter, who danced provocatively in front of him, that he would give her anything she wanted. Herodias told her daughter to ask for the beheading of John in prison. And so John the Baptizer “lost his head” to “save the king’s face” in front of his guests.

This feast is celebrated by both the Eastern and Western Churches – in which John has always been held in very high esteem.

The first reading makes a seeming contrary prophecy: they will fight against you, but not prevail over you, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord. Did John the Baptist, therefore, win or lose in his confrontation with King Herod? He won, of course: even though one loses his physical life for the sake of the Kingdom, God delivers the soul intact and joyful to him as a specially granted reward. To give one’s life for Christ and his Kingdom is the greatest of all gifts one can give to God, and he accepts it as such and rewards the giver with a crown of glory!

May we be willing today to give and give for Christ the true King and his reign, and receive blessings and rewards assured us by the Father’s own promises!

Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.


Sunday, August 28, 2016

Aug 28 - Homily for Today

+ 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!



Saturday, August 27, 2016

Aug 27 -Homily for Today

+ St. Monica was born in Tagaste (modern Algeria, Northern Africa) in 322. She was given in marriage to a bad-tempered, adulterous pagan named Patricius. She is the mother of three sons one of whom is St. Augustine of Hippo, whose writings about her are the primary source of our information about her. She prayed constantly for the conversion of her husband (who converted on his death bed), and of her son (who converted after a wild life). Augustine (whose feast day we will celebrate tomorrow) was the spiritual student of St. Ambrose of Milan. After Augustine’s baptism in Milan, he and his mother set out for Ostia, but she died on the way in 387. She was fifty-five. Monica is reported to have said to her son before her final illness that she had fulfilled her life’s purpose in seeing him converted and baptized.

Our readings today are particularly suited for St. Monica. The first reading speaks the beauty of a virtuous wife as the radiance of her home: like the sun rising in the Lord’s heavens. The gospel passage spoke to Monica about the moral resurrection of her own son, Augustine, when Jesus raises the deceased only son of a widow in Nain. The widow, like Monica, asked the Lord in faith to have mercy on her son; Jesus does not refuse a mother’s prayer for her children.

In you, Lord, I have found my peace!



Friday, August 26, 2016

Aug 26 - Homily for Today

+ Our first reading today reminds us that true knowledge of the things of God comes not to the “wise in worldly ways” – but rather to the simple ones who have faith. That is why Jesus used parables such as the one in the Gospel passage to teach crucial and vital spiritual principles. This story today was easily understandable on the surface by everyone: the story of wise and foolish virgins, waiting with their lamps simmering for the arrival of the bridegroom. These wise ones however were the ones gifted with faith, (being able to see below the surface), who cooperated with the gift, who used it and thus were prepared for the groom when at last he arrived at an unspecified time in the middle of the night. The foolish ones then were left out in the dark and counted as unknown by the groom when he came.

May we be vigilant today, may we keep the light of truth burning in the inner resources of our souls, using the oil of faith that we have wisely pre-purchased, so that we will be always ready for any kind of visit that the Lord wishes to make with us at any time of the night or day!

He loves justice and right; of the kindness of the Lord, the earth is full!



Thursday, August 25, 2016

Aug 25 - Homily for Today

+ Our readings today correspond with one another in a subtle sense:  in the first reading St. Paul writes to the Corinthians reaffirming the great spiritual gifts that they have received for accepting membership into the Body of Christ, the Church, telling them that they now lack no spiritual gift necessary for salvation; he then encourages them to stand firm to the end, irreproachable, as they wait for the Day of the Lord;

the gospel passage speaks of attentiveness and remaining vigilant for that coming day of the Lord – of which no one knows the exact day nor hour; therefore live like it could be at any time at all, then your house will be in order when at last he does come – and you will escape punishment; and there will be punishment for those who – having been given countless opportunities at being consummately ready – are not thus prepared: the wailing and grinding of teeth will be real, though in a spiritually corporeal sense.

May we today live like God is a very welcome and happy part of our lives, or actually the other way around, we ought to live like we are a grateful and joyful part of his life – then we will be ready whenever the final moment arrives and we will welcome it with peace and saintly resignation!

Stay awake! For you do not know when the Son of Man will come.


Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Aug 24 - Homily for Today

+ St. Bartholomew was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus (most likely the one also known as Nathanael).  Born in Galilee, he was originally a close friend of Philip who brought him to Jesus. He also may have written a gospel which is now lost: it is mentioned in other writings of the time. He may have preached in Asia Minor, Ethiopia, India and Armenia. He was martyred in Albanopolis, Armenia by being flayed alive. His relics are at St. Bartholomew-on-the-Tiber Church in Rome; and in the cathedral in Canterbury, England. His patronage is against nervous and neurological diseases, twitching, leatherworkers, shoemakers, tanners and trappers.

Our gospel passage today is of the calling of Nathanael who is brought to Jesus by Philip. Jesus likes what he sees and knows that he will be a good, holy and honorable disciple to the end; and that he will see the great things of the Kingdom beyond all imagining!

May we persevere like Nathanael/Bartholomew and trust in God’s never-failing help when difficult times come our way: for it is in facing them with faith, and with never-ending hope, that the glory of the Son will always shine afterwards!

Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.


Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Aug 23 - Homily for Today

+ It is clear in the gospel passage today that a primary duty in our life is to avoid hypocrisy. Our outsides need to match our insides. Therefore, it is pointless to dress up and show off the outside of our lives if the inner desires of our actions and motivations are not oriented toward love of God and neighbor without counting the cost.

Sometimes it is easy to get on our high-horse and tell people what they ought to be doing: but if our possibly useful information does not come from the heart, from love, from our own experience – then we run the risk of being in the group that Jesus constantly berates and is angry with: the spiritually blind guides that are supposed to be God’s instruments of care and compassion in the lives of others.

As we wait for the coming of the Lord – which could be at any time – the point of the first reading being – be prepared yes, ask for his coming, yes, have the wedding garment of right motivation and living on us – but don’t waste your energy saying that it has already arrived; that exact moment is not ours to announce. When it is finally arrived it will be clear and it will be powerful.

And it is at that moment that the true treasure inside our hearts will be revealed – and for our sakes – it had better match the outside of our good deeds done for love of God.

The Lord will come to judge the earth – at his appointed time – but for this we should always be ready by following the suggestions laid down by our forefathers in the faith!


Monday, August 22, 2016

Aug 22 - Homily for Today

+ Today we celebrate the memorial of the Queenship of Mary, one week after the Feast of her Assumption into heaven. Mary has been considered “queen of heaven” since the fourth century, in art and in poetry. She was portrayed in royal attire, enthroned with her child Jesus who was himself given “the throne of David to rule over the house of Jacob forever,” a kingdom of which there will be no end.

This feast was established by Pope Pius XII in 1954 after it was initially promoted by Catholic Mariological congresses in Lyon, France, Freiburg, Germany, and Einsiedeln, Switzerland and Pro Regalitate Mariae, an international society to promote the Queenship of Mary, in Rome.

It is only fitting that after Mary took her place near Jesus, her Son the King, that she should be crowned by the heavenly Church as their queen and ours. With such a radiant regent interceding for us, how could our confidence in her motherly prayers ever fail? She is mother of God because of her willingness to empty herself of herself; she is queen of heaven (and earth) because she faithfully kept that posture her entire earthly life. May we imitate her poverty and her humility this day, and experience the great depth of her joy at being raised up by her Son, and his Body, the Church, of which she is the fullness and exemplar of membership!

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us always, until we see you face to face in our eternal home with you!

Amen.


Sunday, August 21, 2016

Aug 21 - Homily for Today

+ 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 the walls of this place). He alone can 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!

Saturday, August 20, 2016

Aug 20 - Homily for Today

+ Today we celebrate the feast of St. Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church. Bernard was born to French nobility in Dijon, in 1090. When he was 22, fearing the ways of the world, he, four of his brothers, and 25 friends joined the Benedictine abbey of Citeaux (it had the strictest monastic rule); his father and another brother joined soon after. Three years later Bernard was named 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 160 daughter houses throughout Europe, and by the time of his death there were 700 monks at Clairvaux alone. What was so appealing to the monastic way of life was the blessed assurance that seeking God alone was not only theoretically possible but also practically fruitful. The great contribution of the monks has always been and always will be hope for the Church and the world, and a source of powerful prayer for all of the world’s ills.

Bernard was also very active in the life of the Church outside the monastery walls; he fought against heresies, and helped interdisciplinary problems within the Church itself, he was adviser to Pope Eugene III who had been one of his monks, he was a famed spiritual writer and preacher who made a great impact on the Western Church: he is rightly called the last of the Western Doctors of the Church.

Every morning Bernard would ask himself, “Why have I come here?”, and then remind himself of his main duty – “to lead a holy life!” He died after having led a very holy and exemplary life on August 20, 1153.

Bernard was truly a dear friend of Jesus referred to in the gospel passage – who was deeply united with his Savior, his Master and his Lord – and he encourages others to seek and find that same friendship! It is available to all! 

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


Friday, August 19, 2016

Aug 19 - Homily for Today

+ We have two powerful and interrelated readings today.  The first from the Prophet Ezekiel is the memorable story of the “dry bones.” Son of man, can these bones come to life? Only you God know if they can, and how they can!” And they did come back to life because it was the will of God. Even if our waywardness and sinfulness disintegrates our souls and even our bodies into a pile of dry bones – God can and will bring them back to life as easy as not. Through the words of the Prophet the dry bones were given spirit and life – and the dead rose and were reconstituted miraculously from their premature graves. And that same spirit will settle in the land with the resurrected people and will be their constant source of refreshment and life. How wonderful!

In how many ways is this a prophesy of God’s dealings with us. In ways great and small – according to his will and way – we become as dry bones – but by our willingness to accept the gift of God’s spirit – we come back to life over and over again – in ways small and great! And for this never-failing dynamic we are o so grateful and filled with praise to the God who provides it out of love for us.

The Gospel passage today relates that it is our duty – once given life – and then new life – by God – to love him with all our hearts always and to love others as we love ourselves – but this passage is always preceded by the reality and presence of another dynamic of God first loving us, first choosing us, first creating us, first sustaining us, first doting over us as only a loving Father could. And if it is true of ourselves, it is also always true of others.

We are all precious to God, and honorable in his sight – no matter what we may have done – and the love of his Sacred Heart for us is as deep as the ocean and high as they sky!  This should have everything to do with the way we regard one another. Mutual respect and honor should be our watchwords.


Thank you Lord for teaching us today your path, and for guiding us in your truth.

Thursday, August 18, 2016

Aug 18 - Homily for Today

+ Our readings today are about refreshment, regeneration, rebirth that is always in store for God’s people even when they willfully turn away from him and try to go it their own ways. It is just amazing how God respects us as individuals and will not force our attention, focus or energy – we are perfectly free to choose the right, the good, the beautiful and the truthful. While making opposite choices are possible – they go against the basic inclination and guiding star and moral compass of conscience.

Yes, God allows us to learn by trial and error – but we must – when our consciences urges us – strive for the nobler, the higher, the decisions that are truly inspired by God – and not of the spirit of the world.

In the first reading we see how God is so willing now to take his wayward children back – because their consciences are working properly now – and he will sprinkle clean water on them, and cleanse them from all their impurities and idols. He will remove their hardened and atrophied hearts – due to willfulness and sin – and he will give them new hearts of flesh – hearts modeled after the fore coming heart of his own Son, Jesus. And then we shall live by his statutes and commandments, rather than by our own whims and fancies.

In the gospel passage we see Jesus warning those who live in the world to be ready at any moment to give an accounting of self and operation of conscience. At any moment we might be summoned to appear at the great wedding banquet that surely awaits us all. And there we had better be wearing the festal garment of right choices, right desire, right living.

Or we will not be admitted – and will be sent out into the everlasting darkness – where there will be weeping, wailing and the grinding of teeth.

Oh yes, many are invited to the banquet – but only those who take the invitation seriously and live like they believe it – will actually see the inside of the banquet hall.

May we be among the sensible ones today – and let us help others get in touch with the hearts and consciences so that they can join us for that scrumptious feast that will last forever.


Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Aug 17 - Homily for Today

+ The “generous” landowner pays those who come last the same as those who came first because he senses that they need the money. It is that “freedom” in the face of human need that makes him “like the Kingdom of heaven.” For the Divine Shepherd lives to “strengthen the weak, heal the sick, bind up the injured, bring back the strayed, and seek the lost.”

Probably was of the most despicable passage in the Old Testament that Jesus was well aware of and irked him to the core was the one we read today from the Prophet Ezekiel where the Lord blasts bad shepherds of the sheep who pasture and pacify themselves rather than the sheep; who feed off their milk, wear their wool, slaughter their fatlings; who do not strengthen the weak nor heal the sick nor bind up the injured; who do not bring back the strayed for seek them lost, but lord it over them harshly and brutally.

There were most definitely such shepherds in the time of Ezekiel. And the Lord swears that he is coming against these shepherds. He will claim his sheep from them and put a stop to their shepherding and he will shepherd them himself! The Lord God will look after and tend my sheep.

Sometimes find ourselves in the role of the sheep who have been badly shepherded by authority figures over us. But sometimes we find ourselves as shepherds who could have done things a little differently and with a purer motive of love of God first and then for the brothers and sisters he places in our path each day. In either case we find great comfort and hope in the fact that God is indeed interested in us individually and personally – and that his justice can be stirred to wrath when we are mistreated.

With the Lord as our true shepherd, sometimes our only shepherd, we have no want and nothing to fear. We are safe, looked after and cared for – all the days of our life!


Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Aug 16 - Homily for Today

+ After hearing about the plight of the rich young man, the disciples were discouraged and felt sorry for themselves. “Then who can be saved – we all like some of our possessions!” But Jesus encourages them by saying that “all things are possible with God.” And he tells them that though it is very difficult for a camel to get through some of the low-fitted narrow city gates –they do get through – and so even many rich people will get to heaven so long as their possessions don’t own them.

Peter then in an attempt to justify himself and his friends says to Jesus – “Hey, we have given up everything to follow you! What are we going to get for it?” And Jesus assures him that he will indeed get places of great honor in the age to come. Giving up family, friends and lands for his sake will always be a cause for great reward from God.

“The last and the first and the first and the last” may have something to do with those who comprehend these things – and attempt to put them into practice.

May we today be satisfied with being poor so that we might become rich in Christ Jesus our Lord – our Brother and our Friend.


Monday, August 15, 2016

Aug 15 - Homily for Today

+ Today we celebrate a great feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The wording of the Dogma of the Assumption made by Pope Pius XII on this date in 1950 proclaiming this fact is this: “when the course of her earthly life was finished,” the Blessed Virgin Mary “was taken up body and soul into the glory of heaven.” This definition does not take a position on the long-disputed question of whether Mary actually died.  There are sound arguments on both sides of this debate, with the opinion favoring the fact that she did die, if only momentarily, or for a short while, being by far the stronger: this is supported not only by Scripture, but also the writings of the early Fathers of the Church.

Mary experiences this assumption into heaven to be the first to fully participate in her Son’s redemption; to be our hope and our model of right Christian living that will lead to where she and her Son have gone; and to become the True Mother of the Church – the tender, consoling, loving mother of all who yearn for salvation and need a mother’s helping hand to guide them.

The feast began in the East in the fifth century and in the west by the seventh.

O blessed Lady, clothed with the sun, with the moon under your feet, and on your head a crown of twelve stars – pray for us this day! Pray for us as we, along with all generations, call you blessed and see you as our life, our sweetness and our hope!

All you angels of heaven: exult, as the Mother of the King takes her place at his side – to intercede for us – to pray for the sanctification of the Church and the world!


Sunday, August 14, 2016

Aug 14 - Homily for Today

+ This gospel passage always seems to surprise us: why would God-shalom, the God of Peace, say he has come not for peace but rather for division – to “stir things up,” using the language of Pope Francis. Well, that is exactly the point: in order for the people of God to break away from the mold of slavery that they insist on keeping themselves entrapped in, Jesus says: “Come on, let’s get with it! I wish that the purifying and purging power and fire of the Holy Spirit were blazing all over the earth. But I know that this cannot happen until I experience the fire of my Passion and Death for you people who are so loved by God.”

And so in the passage he is just inferring that there will be a lot of “stirring up” among family, friends, and co-workers, and school-mates!” Those who allow themselves to be “touched by God’s Spirit” – to be “set on fire” with Truth, and Love, and a Desire to Serve People – for no other reason than because they love God - will distance themselves from everyone else – and then the conflicts will begin. But it at this point that we must recall the other side of the coin: that the end result will be peace, real peace, the peace that Christ alone can bring and the world cannot give. If we keep our sights on that fact: then all the bickering and arguing and debating that will ensue will all be worth it!

In the second reading St Paul calls the goal-focusing: “keeping our eyes on the finishing line of the race of faith that we are running” – where Jesus is waiting to welcome us and reward us with a crown of glory!
 We are fortunate in our country that not many of us have to pay the ultimate price for witnessing to this faith, but we are called upon to do it in maybe lesser but just as significant ways on a smaller scale: staying in there and rubbing shoulders with the ignorant and poor who “just don’t seem to appreciate what we are doing for them” is a martyrdom all its own.

God saved Jeremiah (of the first reading) from his narrow escapes with death many times – he will do the same for us: if we trust – and just do what he says, when he says it!


Amen!

Saturday, August 13, 2016

Aug 13 - Homily for Today

+ St. Pontian (pope 230-35) is the first pope to have abdicated, or resigned, his office; and St. Hippolytus was not only the first of thirty-nine anitipopes, but also the only antipope to be recognized as a saint, with a feast on the General Roman Calendar. Pontian was a Roman by birth, son of Calpurnius. All except the last few months of his pontificate had been peaceful because the tolerant emperor Severus was still reigning. After succeeding Severus as emperor in March 235, Maximinus Thrax abandoned his predecessor’s policy of toleration and launched a violent campaign against Christian leaders. He arrested Pontian, the pope, and the antipope Hippolytus, leader of a schism in the Roman church. Both Pontian and Hippolytus were imprisoned in Rome and then exiled to Sardinia to work in the mines.

Since deportation was normally for life and few survived it, Pontian abdicated to allow a successor to assume the leadership of the Roman community as soon as possible. According to the fourth-century Liberian Catalogue, Pontian abdicated on September 28, 235, the first precisely recorded date in papal history. Neither Pontian nor Hippolytus survived the harsh treatment and conditions on Sardinia. Pontian died less than a month after his resignation. It has been suggested that Pontian and Hippolytus were reconciled while in prison or in exile and that when Pontian abdicated, Hippolytus also renounced his claim to be Bishop of Rome and urged his followers to end their schism. Unity was thereby restored to the Roman church!

The readings for Mass today are marvelously fitting: “Beloved, do not be surprised that a trial by fire is occurring among you…rejoice to the extent that you share in the sufferings of Christ so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice exultantly. “ “If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first…they will also persecute you as they did me, because they do not know the one who sent me (my Father in heaven).”

We must embrace our trials, tribulations and sufferings, our red crosses in life, as they come to us, either sent by God, or allowed by him, for they always will be turned into gold crosses of victory – for those who believe that Jesus is the Christand that he took on all of our suffering, so to transform them!

St. Cyprian said of Sts. Pontian and Hippolytus: “With what praises can I extol you, most valiant brothers? What words can I find to proclaim and celebrate your brave hearts and your persevering faith? Examined under the fiercest torture, you held out until your ordeal was consummated in glory; it was not you who yielded to the torments but rather the torments that yielded to you.”

Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler’s snare.


Friday, August 12, 2016

Aug 12 - Homily for Today

+ Our readings today celebrate God’s never-failing love! The first reading beautifully describes for us the desire of God to re-establish his covenant with his wayward children as exemplified by beloved daughters. It breaks his heart when the loving relationship that he sets up is abandoned for lesser goods and idols. But God is so very patient, and can wait for a very long time for such children to come to their senses so that he can show them his compassion, mercy and willingness to grant pardon.

The gospel passage is actually a “trick question” that the Pharisees pose to Jesus to trip him up on a point of the Mosaic Law regarding marriage. Since he is the Law, Jesus easily tackles the problem and tells them, that in this case, the laws of marriage in fact hold, they always hold, but in certain circumstances charitable applications of the Law would allow for certain temporary alterations.

In our day and age, it is important to restate with Jesus that the “laws of marriage hold” – the union of a man and a woman so that they can become one flesh – and bearers of the joy of offspring that might be gifted them from God.

O God, you are ever ready to turn your anger away from us, may we be willing to then turn our face toward you and bask in the radiance of your Light and Life!


Thursday, August 11, 2016

Aug 11 - Homily for Today

+ St. Clare of Assisi was born, July 16, 1194. Her father was a count and her mother the countess Blessed Orsolana. Her father died when she was very young. After hearing St. Francis of Assisi preach in the streets, Clare confided to him her desire to live for God, and the two became close friends. On Palm Sunday in 1212 her bishop presented Clare with a palm, which she apparently took as a sign. 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.

Clare founded the Order of Poor Ladies (Poor Clares) at San Damiano and led it (also never leaving it) for 40 years. Everywhere the Franciscans established themselves throughout Europe, there also went the Poor Clares, depending solely on alms, forced to have complete faith in God to provide for their needs, through people’s kind hearts and generosity; 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, throughout the world and in our own United States.

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 would get up late at night to tuck in her sisters who’d kicked off their blankets. When she learned of the Franciscan martyrs in Morocco in 1221, she tried to go there to give her own life for God, but was restrained. Once when her convent was about to be attacked, she displayed the Sacrament in a monstrance at the convent gates, and prayed before it; the attackers fled in fear, 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 her 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! Clare died on August 11, 1253 of natural causes.

In the gospel passage today, which no doubt St. Clare was very familiar with, Jesus tells St. Peter that those who give up everything to live for God, will receive a hundred times more – even in this life – and will inherit eternal life: the grandest inheritance and prize of them all!

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


Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Aug 9 - Homily for Today

+ The first reading to points out that it has been the penchant of Fallen human nature to want to think of itself as a god! This was the whole point of the sin of our first parents: they were enticed to make a decision that they were told by the serpent would make them gods. Unfortunately, they succumbed to the temptation and made a choice that had irrevocable and damaging results. They would not be gods – and God would deal with them with divine justice, but fortunately for all of us, divine compassion and mercy.

You see it always was God’s plan for us to be like him: he made us in his very image. Yes, we were to be god-like, but we were no to replace him in our lives.

It is a basic and essential lesson to learn that there is only one God and we are not him.

In the gospel passage Jesus talks about those who carry around the god-like burdens of richness and wealth – it will be difficult for them to enter the Kingdom of heaven. When we convince ourselves that we are the creators of our own richness and wealth, then we are in trouble. Everything is a gift from God. And our participation in his richness depends entirely on our willingness to be poor, humble servants in our own sight, so that he can fill us with whatever he wants us to have for each and every day that he gives us to live.

When we let God truly be in charge – then everything works out for the best. It always has! It always will!


Jesus became poor so we could be rich! He is our treasure. Amen.

Monday, August 8, 2016

Aug 8 - Homily for Today

+ St. Dominic was born in Calaruega, Spain, in 1170.  While pregnant with him, his pious mother Joan had a vision that her unborn child was “a dog who would set the world on fire with a torch it carried in its mouth;” a dog with a torch in its mouth became a symbol for the Order which he founded, the Dominicans. At Dominic’s baptism, his mother saw a star shining from his chest, which became another of his symbols in art, and led to his patronage of astronomy.

Dominic studied philosophy and theology at the University of Palencia; then became a priest canon of the cathedral of Osma, Spain. This was run by the Augustinians. Dominic worked for clerical reform; and had a life-long apostolate among heretics, especially the Albigensians (Cathars) the “perfect ones” who saw matter as evil and that perfection required almost impossible- to-live-by spiritual austerities. His Order, the Dominicans were founded to convert the Albigensians. Their motto was “to praise, to bless, to preach!” At one point the Crusades were established by the Dominicans to keep the teachings of the Holy Church pure and true.

After a while, Dominic became discouraged at the progress of his mission: no matter how hard he worked, heresies remained. Then he received a vision from Our Lady who showed him a wreath of roses – the prefigurement of the rosary. She told him to pray this prayer daily for an increase of faith, and the victory over its enemies. The actual “invention” of the rosary most likely happened before this time, but Dominic certainly spread devotion to it. The same rosary today still has the same power of intensification of faith, and ought to be used for that purpose.

 Legend has it that St. Dominic received a vision of a beggar who, like Dominic, would do great things for the faith. Dominic met this very man the next day. He embraced him and said, “You are my companion and must walk with me. If we hold together, no earthly power can withstand us.” The beggar was St. Francis of Assisi.

St. Dominic died at noon on August 6, 1221 at age 51, mostly from exhaustion from his spiritual labors. He was canonized just 13 years later in 1234 by Pope Gregory IX.

Yes, the Dominicans are great preachers. But the word of God cannot be preached unless it is first proclaimed. Unless the word of God is heard it cannot stir the heart and the soul – it cannot lead to conversion and increase of faith – it cannot bear fruit unto eternal life. May we be both proclaimers and hearers of the word of God, that it might be an agent of transforming others, as well as ourselves!

Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations!


Sunday, August 7, 2016

Aug 7 - Homily for Today

+ 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; 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!

Saturday, August 6, 2016

Aug 6 - Homily for Today

+ Since historically this event took place about a week before Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, it was thought of mostly in terms of a Lenten placement. Jesus would soon be going to the Cross – which was his one chief goal and mission in life – he looked forward to it, for it would be for us and for our salvation!

But before he would do that he thought it necessary to do three things: reinforce his teaching about who he really was: his true identity; bolster the faith of those who would be leaders of his new Church that would be launched later on; and lastly to give all members of his Church from then on the blessed and amazing assurance that His glory would also be ours, his resurrection would be ours, his radiant glorified body would be ours one day in the Kingdom.

This is also the second time that God the Father is actually heard using human words: from a cloud, during those moments when Jesus revealed his radiant glory in the presence of Peter, James and John, and also Moses and Elijah, the Father proclaimed: “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased! Listen to him!” O yes, we must listen to everything Jesus says in his words and actions! For he is the One True Way, the Truth and Life for which we all yearn! Then our words and actions must resemble his more and more every day.

This feast was celebrated for almost the entire first thousand years in the Eastern Church; it was not until much later, almost the middle of the next millennia that the feast was made part of the General Roman Calendar, by Pope Callistus III in 1457. And now, though it is celebrated in August, it is always the right time to reflect on “the splendor of Mount Tabor” – for it reveals God our Lord, and our future!

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


Friday, August 5, 2016

Aug 5 - Homily for Today

+ Though a minor prophet of the Old Testament, Nahum, whose name means “comforter” – was nevertheless vehement, sublime and bold in his description of the impending destruction of the city of Nineveh. He describes in most vivid colors, its greatness, its clearness, its fullness. And yet our passage from his writings today tells also of the one crossing the mountains, the bearer of good news, announcing peace with the encouragement to celebrate feasts and fulfill vows.

This reference, of course, has to do with the “promise of the Great Preacher and Peacemaker” and indeed the very one who would bring about the Peace and the Good News to be preached about: Jesus Christ, Son of God, Son of Man – the only one qualified to right the wrongs of both the people of God, and the people of the world.

He did this by his own vehement, sublime and bold death on the Cross – which in effect was reflected by the destruction years before of the great city of Nineveh. But these destructions in this passage also invite our own participation in them – our own voluntary participation in the destruction of what is evil and earth-bound in us, its obliteration for the sake of rebuilding a life of peace and reconciliation – both for ourselves and those who will be put in our path each day to help out in this regard. We must take up our cross and follow Christ literally and generously!

We only have one lifetime to orient ourselves as entirely as we can to the image of Christ, and to make it shine forth from our loving and voluntary association with him, and participation in his life of grace.

May we this day – beginning at this mass – thank him for coming across the mountains and announcing the good news of salvation to us – and then by feeding us with his very Body and Blood so that his image in us can become one and the same image that God the Father sees when he looks down upon us.


And we shall be saved – we shall be preserved to life-everlasting, and OUR JOY WILL BE VEHEMENTS, SUBLIME AND FULL!

Thursday, August 4, 2016

Aug 4 - Homily for Today

+ St. John Vianney is a saint of God par excellence. This poor French priest was declared by Pope Benedict XVI in 2009 the patron saint of all priests because of the absolute clarity in the saint’s mind of what the mission and life of a priest of Jesus Christ is all about. An amazingly short summary that he gave is this: “The priesthood (the priest) is the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.” This means that that when you see or hear a priest, you see and hear the sacramentally transformed image and icon of Christ’s own self-sacrificially loving heart.

This puts the priest and the people exactly in their proper place in regard to one another. The priest is not superior to them because of this sacramental imaging and focusing: he is rather made humble, kneeling at their feet to wash them, and to serve their spiritual needs: to attend to their sanctification. When he first arrived at Ars, a tiny village near Lyons, the new Cure stopped to ask a young lad the way to Ars: the boy pointed and said: “Why, it is that way, Father.” Fr. John Vianney then immediately responded, “now you come, and I will show you the way to heaven.” This is the ultimate servant duty of the priest to “show all God’s people the way to heaven.”

John Vianney’s entire theology was based on the Cross of Christ on Calvary. He saw the Eucharistic Sacrifice and the Sacrament of Penance as inseparable, and ordered one to the other. Both apply the enormous merits of Christ’s agony, and suffering and death. And both actually re-present the events of that day on Calvary. The chief sacrament is Eucharist in which we actually eat and drink the Body and Blood of the Lord unto our salvation and future glory; but the Sacrament of Penance clears the way of grave sin, which inhibits the flow of any grace at all in the Eucharistic celebration. Going to communion with grave sin on the soul is not only pointless but it is also sacrilegious and sinful in its own right. This only makes spiritual and sacramental sense. Vianney invited all men and women to examine their consciences and then following the grace of God’s lead to come to confession.

St. John Vianney was the Confessor extraordinaire: he could read hearts and was the St. Francis of the Confessional: a true instrument of restoring the peace of God to tormented souls: all within a matter of minutes. And it had to be so: as his reputation grew as not only preacher and teacher, but also gentle yet firm confessor, people by the hundreds and then thousands came to him to unburden their lives and confess their sins. By the end of his 40-year ministry in Ars 20,000 pilgrims a year would come to be ministered to by this saintly priest of God: the living icon of the love of Jesus’ Sacred Heart.

We thank John Vianney for being but a simple, humble channel of God’s wondrous sacramental grace: not only in the confessional, but also at his most favorite place, at the altar of God, making present the true and real Body and Blood of his Lord and ours, his healer and ours, his God and ours.

We pray today for priests – all of them – that they may come home to the fact that their lives are meant to image the love of Christ’s Sacred and Pierced Heart. What an astounding vocation, to be God’s-love-for-others-in-the-flesh!


St. John Vianney, pray for us.

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Aug 3 - Homily for Today

+ We have two very touching, beautiful and hopeful readings at mass today. The prophet Jeremiah speaks about God who has an age-old love that he loves his people with. He has kept his mercy towards his beloved people. He promises to restore and rebuild them.  

Somehow the Canaanite woman of the gospel passage knew this about God – and she knows that in meeting Jesus Christ she is coming face to face with this God. And so she boldly begs on behalf of her tormented daughter, “Have pity!” And this loving God keeps his mercy toward her. The daughter is restored to health.

We are no less favored children of this same God, we are no less beloved people in his sight. He wishes and will to restore us and rebuild what needs restoring and rebuilding in our lives and the lives of those we love. All he needs from us is a simple act of belief and trust in the Son whom he sent to bring about reconciliation, restoration and rebuilding. Jesus will do the rest if we but turn to him with our whole hearts and humbly raise our tear soaked eyes to him in quiet, persistent prayer.

The Lord will guard and protect us as a shepherd guards and protects his flock!


Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Aug 2 - Homily for Today

+ Our first reading today tells of the “injustice” of God: that is, “injustice” as we humans would have it with our way of thinking. For our kind of “justice” involves more times than notthe eye for the eye, and the tooth for the tooth.” Our justice has to do with “the punishment fitting the crime;” but in this passage from the Prophet Jeremiah, we see God telling the people: even though you have been very disobedient to me, and your wound is incurable, grievous your bruise; even though you have been punished at my hand for all your sins: my justice is to restore you and heal you, to give you back your lands, to punish now your oppressors; my justice is to have you be my people, and me your God!

This certainly is not the way any legal system on the planet would handle any situation; but this is because every legal system seems to have forgotten that it derives its very essence and operative powers from the Divine Lawgiver and his supernatural legislations! May we count ourselves very fortunate indeed to be subjects of the Divine Lawgiver, the Father of all Mercies, whose Law is all about Love and Forgiveness, Healing and Restoration: making any other kind of legal system so much less than it can be.

In the gospel passage Jesus shows his powers over the “laws of nature” – gravity, to be specific – by inviting Peter to come to him across the water. Peter gets out of the boat and does the seeming impossible by walking on the water towards Jesus (who is also standing on the water); but then when Peter starts to think about what is going on, the “impossibility” of it all – major doubt creeps in – and he begins to sink: and he cries out: “Lord, save me!”
And Jesus does reach out, catch and save him, but not without a fitting rebuke: “O you of little faith! Why did you doubt?” This is a fitting example for us who are invited by Jesus to do even “impossible” things in bringing the Kingdom of his Father to all men: we must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and not think about the wind and the waves swarming around us – and we, with Jesus will do great things for God’s glory!  

And then they said to him: “Truly, you are the Son of God!”


Monday, August 1, 2016

Aug 1 - Homily for Today

+ One of the most holy bishops and doctors of the Western Church, St Alphonsus Liguori was born to nobility and its capricious lifestyle, but early in his adulthood he turned away from it and to religious life. A child prodigy, Alphonsus was extremely well educated, receiving doctorates in canon and civil law from the University of Naples by age 16. He had his own legal practice by age 21. He loved music and could play the harpsichord. He declined an arranged marriage, studied theology and was ordained a priest at age 29. Father Alphonsus was preacher and a home missioner around Naples, noted for his simple, clear, direct style of preaching and his gentle, understanding way in the confessional. He wrote on asceticism, theology and history; he was a master theologian. In 1732, Fr. Alphonsus founded the Congregation of the most Holy Redeemer (Liguorians; Redemptorists) at Scala, Italy. (This, two years after founding a similar order for women).

It is no surprise that he was appointed bishop (diocese of Sant’Agata de’ Goti, Italy), by Pope Clement XIII in 1762. He worked there to reform the clergy and revitalize the faithful in a diocese with a bad reputation. He was afflicted with severe rheumatism, and often could barely move or raise his chin from his chest. In 1775 he resigned his see due to ill health, and went into what he thought would be a prayerful retirement. But there was a political issue with the royal government which claimed that the Redemptorists were covertly carrying on the work of the Jesuits who had been suppressed in 1773. Calling on his knowledge of the Congregation, his background in theology, and his skills as a lawyer, Alphonsus defended the Redemptorists so well that they obtained the king’s approval. Bishop Alphonsus lived to be 90 years old and now nearly blind knew that he had done what he vowed to do – never to waste a moment in working for God and his Church.

The gospel passage today talks about what happens to salt when it loses it flavor, it is good for nothing but to be trampled underfoot: St. Alphonsus in a way used this imagery to deal with a worldly minded priest, who resisted all attempts to change: ‘he summoned the priest to his study, and when the priest arrived he found a large crucifix laid on the threshold. When the priest hesitated to step in, Alphonsus quietly said “Come along, and be sure to trample it underfoot. It would not be the first time you have placed Our Lord beneath your feet.”

St. Alphonsus Liguori died on August 1, 1787 at Norcera, Italy of natural causes and for his many writings and great spiritual classics (including his Stations of the Cross that became popular to Catholics everywhere in the 20th century) he was declared Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius IX in 1871.

Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.


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...