13th Sunday of Ordinary Time 2024 - Death, Life, and Interruptions

 Interruptions. Most of us hate to be interrupted. We’re in the middle of preparing a meal, and the phone rings; in the middle of our prayer time, and there’s a knock on the door; making good time in our commute to work or to a vacation locale, and there’s a traffic jam; we finally have time to relax after a long day or a long week, and there’s an emergency we need to attend to. Interruptions. They are so frequently inconvenient, it’s almost comical. 

Did you notice that our Lord was interrupted in our Gospel this weekend. The Lord is on his way to heal the sick daughter of Jairus when he is interrupted by the woman with a hemorrhage. This is a common feature in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus is constantly being interrupted. But one might say that the intertwining of the two miracle stories, one story of Jesus being interrupted to perform a miracle, teaches us that even interruptions are part of God’s wise providential plan for our lives, even when we are interrupted by good and holy things like prayer or caregiving.

The interruption by the woman with the hemorrhage delayed the Lord’s trip to heal Jairus’ daughter. And because of the interruption it appears Jesus arrives too late. But there is never a “too late” for God. What was originally going to be a miracle of healing became something much more—a miracle of raising the dead. The interruption became an opportunity for God’s glory to shine even brighter. 

So too with the interruptions we face. In response to those forces that are beyond our control, we need to remind ourselves of the one that IS in control, and to seek God’s will in the present, without worrying so much about the future. Interruptions of our plans are part of God’s providential plan. So, we should teach ourselves to say the essential prayer, “thy will be done” to those many little interruptions we so naturally resent and even to the big ones.

For, God does not ask us to succeed in finishing and accomplishing our enterprises, only to do our duty of being faithful to him at each present moment. Our plans and God’s plan coincide only sometimes—perhaps, rarely. As one comedian put it, if you want to give God a good laugh, tell him your plans.

Our job is to give ourselves over more and more to God’s plan—to surrender in times when we face even tragedy and death. Death, we heard about death in our first reading today. Scripture often tackles the reality of death. 

But if the resurrection of Jesus teaches us anything, it’s that God is in control and can bring about a greater good even from something as terrible as death. 

And death is a reality that each of us grapples with. Our lives are measured by time, in the course of which we change, grow old and, as with all living beings on earth, we die. Mindfulness of the limited time we have on earth lends urgency to our lives. Remembering our mortality helps us realize that we have only a limited time in which to bring our lives to fulfillment. We are to make use of the time we have been given in this earthly life to work out our salvation and to seek the perfection for which we were made.

But where did death come from? Death is a consequence of sin. As we heard in our first reading today, “God did not make death, nor does he rejoice in the destruction of the living…For God formed man to be imperishable” We would have been immune from death had Adam and Eve not sinned. God, in whose image we are made is the God and author of life. He is the Creator. He made us for living communion with Himself. Human death entered the world by our choosing death. God wanted life for us. God is pro-life. But we chose death, introducing death into creation. But, with the time we have on earth, we must choose life. For ourselves and others. 

You might say, “well if God didn’t make death” why do plants and animals die. Even nonliving things come to an end: rocks become sand after millennia of wind and waves. Even after eons stars and galaxies die. 

But human death is different than all other death. God did not make it. He made man to live forever. Death is a consequence of the fall of man, not a consequence of the creation of God. 

The first reading said, it was by the envy of the devil, that death entered the world. It was the plan of the devil to obscure the plans of God for us. And we bought into it. The sinful misuse of our God-given ability of choice brought death into the world to the delight of the devil. 

But again, God is greater than our plans and even the plans of the devil. For through Jesus Christ, death is transformed. Jesus, the Son of God, himself suffered the death that is part of the human condition. Yet, despite his anguish as he faced death, he accepted it in an act of complete and free submission to his Father's will. By his death he has conquered death, and so opened the possibility of salvation to all men.

Death is the end of man's earthly pilgrimage, of the time of grace and mercy which God offers us so as to work out our eternal destiny. Will we pursue eternal life through Christ or eternal death by turning away from Him. But again, through Jesus death is transformed. For those who die in friendship with Christ, death is a simple closing of our physical eyes, that the eyes of our soul can come to behold the face of God in eternity. 

 When we have made our peace with God, and have faith that the love of Christ is greater than death, it becomes easier to remain peaceful and trusting in God in the face of those smaller interruptions. The traffic jams, the inconvenient social calls become opportunities to turn to God, to trust God in those circumstances which are beyond our control, to deepen our conviction to pursue God over our own selfish aims, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

June 28 2024 - St. Irenaeus - Apostolic Tradition and Unity with God

 

In the top middle stained-glass window in the east nave here at St. Ignatius is a depiction of St. John the Apostle consecrating two bishops: on the right is St. Ignatius our patron, and on the left is St. Polycarp. The bishop St. Irenaeus, whom we honor today, was a student of bishop Polycarp. And so he was still very close to the apostolic origins of the church. And that theme of apostolicity—that we are recipients of the faith taught by Jesus Christ to the apostles—was prominent in his writings and pastoral work.

For the time in which Irenaeus was bishop of Lyon, the gnostic heretics were threatening the unity of the Church. The Gnostics claimed to possess secret knowledge of God that was superior to the faith taught by the Apostles.  In other words, they thought they knew better than the Church.  

But good bishop Irenaeus rightly pointed out their error. For, Christianity is not a personal creation or private revelation. It’s not something for intellectuals and academics to recreate. To do so would be to deviate from Apostolic Tradition which Christ wants us to receive, believe, and live out.

Irenaeus demonstrated the importance of faithfully adhering to the true doctrine that could be traced back to the apostles through the succession of bishops, and even emphasized the authority of the Church of Rome.

Back in 2007, Pope Benedict was giving weekly catechesis on the Church Fathers. Listen to what he had to say about the great St. Irenaeus, who Pope Francis declared as a doctor of the Church in 2022. 

Pope Benedict wrote: “Irenaeus was first and foremost a man of faith and a Pastor. Like a good Pastor, he had a good sense of proportion, a wealth of doctrine, and missionary enthusiasm. As a writer, he pursued a twofold aim: to defend true doctrine from the attacks of heretics, and to explain the truth of the faith clearly.”

Unity and peace in the Church and unity and peace with God do not come from knowing better than the Church, but receiving and practicing the whole Truth, in obedience to the Word of God and Apostolic Tradition.  

May St. Irenaeus help us to foster authentic Christianity unity on earth through faithfulness to Christian Truth, that we may come to communion with God in heaven for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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Let us turn to God in prayer, asking for the intercession of St. Irenaeus, as we strive to faithfully adhere to the teachings of Christ and the Apostles.

That bishops, priests, and deacons may be inspired by the example of St. Irenaeus to defend true doctrine with clarity and compassion, fostering unity and peace within the Church, protecting the transmission of the faith from heresy, and guiding all people to the truth of Christ. Let us pray to the Lord.

That those tasked with spreading the Gospel may be emboldened by the example of St. Irenaeus, sharing the faith with enthusiasm and clarity, and bringing many to the fullness of truth in Christ. Let us pray to the Lord.

That those who have been misled by erroneous beliefs may find their way back to the truth of the Gospel, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the loving support of the Christian community. Let us pray to the Lord.

That scholars and theologians may approach the study of faith with humility and a sincere desire to deepen their understanding of the truths revealed by Christ, without deviating from the Apostolic Tradition. Let us pray to the Lord.

For the sick, the impoverished, the lonely, those suffering from mental illness, those most in need, and those near death: may God, through the mercy of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, be close to them in their trials

That through the intercession of St. Irenaeus, we may foster authentic Christian unity and peace in our parishes, families, and communities, reflecting the love and truth of Christ in all our interactions. Let us pray to the Lord.

Almighty God, through the intercession of St. Irenaeus, strengthen our faith and unity. Help us to remain faithful to the teachings of Christ and the Apostles, and grant us the grace to live out these truths in our daily lives. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

12th Week in Ordinary Time 2024 - Wednesday - Rediscovering God's Word and Authentic Prophets

 Almost a hundred years had passed from yesterday’s old testament reading about King Hezekiah going into the Temple, kneeling down, and pleading to God to deliver his people from the Assyrians. 

In today’s reading, now Josiah was king. His father King Amon had returned idol worship to Judah and abandoning God and His covenant. Chronicles says that Amon “did not humble himself before the LORD…on the contrary, Amon only increased his guilt.” Amon was such a bad king that his royal officials assassinated him, placing Josiah on the throne of Judah.

And unlike his father, Josiah sought to be true to the covenant, “He did what was right in the LORD’s sight, walking in the way of David his father, not turning right or left.”

And today we read how the high priest rediscovers the scriptures, and Josiah tears his clothes out of shame for how far his fathers had fallen from God. And then Josiah gathered all the people and reads the entire book to them. The king helped the nation rediscover its relationship with God and faithfulness to the covenant. He of recommitted himself and the nation to their religious obligations. So that they may know God’s friendship, his divine favor, and protection.

Josiah echoed the sentiments in today’s psalm, written by David centuries before, “Instruct me, O LORD, in the way of your statutes, that I may exactly observe them.”

In the reading from the sermon on the mount, the Lord is warning his followers to beware false prophets. 

How can we discern between authentic prophets and false prophets? In light of the first reading and psalm, True prophets point us to the faithful practice of our God-given religion; false prophets l water down the faith and seek to recreate the Church according to the principles of the world. True prophets help us to rediscover and live out the truth of Christ’s teachings, false prophets preach, what St. Paul calls, “an empty seductive philosophy.”  True prophets teach us to bear our crosses, faithfully; false prophets urge us to cast away our crosses and base our decision on feelings, pleasure, power, and wealth.

“By their fruits you will know” the false prophets. And we do know the fruits of the false prophets of our age: broken marriages, abortion, perversion, corruption in government, biblical and doctrinal illiteracy, grievously low church attendance, the dehumanization of the poor, and the loss of the sense of sin. So many rotten fruits from turning away from the authentic teaching of Christ.

Rather, Christ teaches us that we are blessed—we come to know the fullness of life—when we humble ourselves, and aim to obey all he teaches, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. 

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For the Church, that like King Josiah, our leaders may help us rediscover the fullness of our faith and recommit ourselves to living out Christ's teachings faithfully. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our society, that we may turn away from the rotten fruits of false teachings and instead embrace the life-giving words of Christ. Let us pray to the Lord.

For those who have fallen away from the faith, that like the people of Judah in Josiah's time, they may rediscover the beauty and truth of God's word. Let us pray to the Lord.

For those who are suffering, especially the poor and marginalized, that we may see Christ in them and respond with compassion and justice. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our community, that we may grow in biblical and doctrinal literacy, deepening our understanding and love for our faith. Let us pray to the Lord.

For the grace to bear our crosses faithfully, finding in them a path to draw closer to Christ and His saving love. Let us pray to the Lord.

For all who have died, may they rejoice forever in the presence of the Lamb of God, especially X….

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

12th Week in Ordinary Time 2024 - Tuesday - Laying your troubles before God

During the reign of Hezekiah, King of Judah, in the late 8th century BCE, the Assyrian Empire, under King Sennacherib, was expanding aggressively. After subjugating various neighboring nations, Sennacherib turned his attention to Judah, laying siege to fortified cities and eventually threatening Jerusalem itself.

And what was Hezekiah’s response to this threat? Instead of cowering in fear or surrendering or engaging in a violent military solution, which probably wouldn’t have gone well anyway due to the size of the Assyrian army, King Hezekiah takes the matter to the Temple, spreads out the letter from Sennacherib, the Assyrian King, before God, and prays for deliverance. 

Hezekiah’s prayer acknowledges God’s sovereignty over all the kingdoms of the earth and God’s power over all the creations of man, contrasting the true God of Israel with the false gods of the nations destroyed by Assyria. God is not like the idols made by human hands. The living God who controls the fate of nations.

The prophet Isaiah then assured Hezekiah that God has heard his prayer and will save Jerusalem.

The climax of the story is the miraculous intervention by the angel of the LORD, who strikes down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers, leading to Sennacherib’s retreat to Nineveh where he is eventually murdered by his own sons. This dramatic turn of events serves as a powerful testament to the belief that God actively intervenes in human affairs to protect His people, especially when they show unwavering faith.

This story is an example of the power of prayer and the efficacy of turning to God in times of crisis. When we are facing an Assyrian army of our own, we must turn to God for guidance and trust in God’s providence. 

Hezekiah demonstrated humility by acknowledging his limitations and seeking divine help openly. Strength lies in honestly recognizing our vulnerabilities and being open to seeking help and counsel from others and the wisdom of the scriptures and saints.  

Hezekiah righteous leadership and commitment to his faith were key factors that led to divine favor and protection. So, too, our faith matters. Our prayer matters and brings similar divine favor and protection to our loved ones and the church. 

In the Gospel, the Lord speaks of two ways: one that leads to destruction and one that leads to life. Hezekiah shows us the way of life today: trusting in God, living righteously, praying with conviction and humility, heading the wisdom of the prophets. May we follow the example of such holy ones for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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For the Church, that we may always turn to God in times of crisis and demonstrate unwavering faith in His providence. Let us pray to the Lord.

For world leaders, that they may govern with righteousness and humility, seeking divine wisdom in their decision-making. Let us pray to the Lord.

For those facing overwhelming challenges, that they may find strength in prayer and trust in God's power to intervene in their lives. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our community, that we may resist the temptation of false idols and instead place our trust in the living God who controls the fate of nations. Let us pray to the Lord.

For all who feel threatened or besieged, that they may find courage in the example of King Hezekiah and seek God's protection. Let us pray to the Lord.

For each of us, that we may choose the path that leads to life by living righteously, praying with conviction, and trusting in God's guidance. Let us pray to the Lord.

For the grace to recognize our own limitations and vulnerabilities, and the wisdom to seek help from others and from the teachings of the saints. Let us pray to the Lord.

For all who have died, may they rejoice forever in the presence of the Lamb of God, especially X….

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

June 24 2024 - Nativity of St. John the Baptist - The prophetic role of Christians

When the Church celebrates the feast day of a saint, we are usually celebrating the anniversary of the saint’s death.  

But the Church also celebrates the days of nativity—the birthday— of three persons: Jesus, of course, on the feast we call Christmas; the Blessed Virgin Mary, on September 8th, nine months after the feast of her Immaculate Conception; and Saint John the Baptist.  

St. John the Baptist is fittingly honored and contemplated by the Church, certainly for the great role he played in salvation history. 

In the second reading from the book of Acts, we heard how St. Paul elaborated on the role of John. Paul explained that “John heralded” the coming of the Savior. His was the lone voice in the wilderness pointing others to Christ. 

In this way, John fulfilled the role of prophet. Like the prophets of old, John called Israel to repentance in preparation for the coming of the Messiah. Isaiah called Israel to “Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good.” Jeremiah urged Israel, “return, faithless Israel” to the Lord, for God is merciful.  Ezekiel preached “repent and turn from your transgressions” for God desires “not the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live”

And this was John’s message, repent, wash yourselves, the Messiah is coming. In this way John was prophetic, in the biblical sense. And since John was active just before and during the early part of Jesus' ministry, this makes him chronologically the last prophet. With Jesus' arrival, the need for prophets to foretell his coming was no longer necessary.

But the Church rightly teaches that every baptized member of the Church has a prophetic role in the world. Each of us in our own way are to point others to Christ. John, in a sense, is a special patron of all Christians. We are all to learn from him, and imitate him, in witnessing in word and conduct of life, that Jesus is the Messiah, and that all people are to turn away from sin and follow him.

The Baptist practiced self-denial—living in the wilderness, wearing camel's hair, eating locusts and wild honey—for himself to spiritually prepare for the prophetic ministry God planned for him. So, too, each of us does well to intentionally take on some form of Christian asceticism, as a way of being mindful and ready to do the Lord’s work. Our Friday penitential abstinence from meat or other penance is one form of that ongoing ascetism of the Christian life that fuels us and keeps us focused. 

John fearlessly confronted King Herod Antipas about his unlawful marriage. He was fearless. He was holy. He was humble. His life was centered on Christ. May ours be the same…for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

 

For the Church, that like John the Baptist, we may boldly proclaim Christ in word and deed, and that all of the baptized may live out their prophetic calling with zeal and dedication.

For world leaders, that following John's example of standing up to corruption, they may be aligned with the will of God in their duties. 

That prophetic voices in our time may be heard and heeded as they call us to repentance and renewal in our personal and communal lives. 

For our parish community, that we may embrace our prophetic role, witnessing to Christ's love and mercy in our families, workplaces, and neighborhoods.

For those who face persecution for their faith, that they may be strengthened by the example of John the Baptist's unwavering commitment to God's truth. 

For all who have died, especially those who, like John, have given their lives in witness to the truth. May they rejoice forever in the presence of the Lamb of God

God our Father, you sent John the Baptist to prepare the way for your Son. Hear our prayers and help us to follow John's example of humility and courage as we strive to make Christ known in our world. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

11th Week of Ordinary Time 2024 - Tuesday - Sins of parents and leaders and seeking perfection

 Yesterday, from the first book of Kings, we read of the many sins of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel in conspiring to have the vineyard owner Naboth killed, so they could steal his land. Today, we read how they even denied Naboth proper burial—truly despicable behavior for a king and queen.

Then we read how God sent Elijah to confront Ahab to pronounce God’s great displeasure and judgment upon him. Now, Elijah was not some stranger to Ahab. By this time Ahab knew Elijah's credentials. Ahab had enough wisdom to recognize that this was very serious, and so he humbles himself and repents. And God judged Ahab’s repentance sincere, and extended his mercy.

No sin is too great that it cannot be forgiven. God’s acknowledgement of Ahab's repentance is one of many signs throughout the Old Testament of God's mercy to a repentant sinner—even a covetous, idolatrous, conspiring, murderous, thieving king like Ahab. 

However, Elijah announces that there will still be earthly consequences for Ahab and Jezebel’s sins. Although Ahab's repentance was genuine, repentance does not erase the temporal consequences of our actions. The sins of parents can have long-lasting consequences on their progeny and the actions of leaders can have long-lasting consequences on their nation. This story serves as a lesson about the importance of righteous parenting, leadership and the enduring impact of sin.

The Word of God emphasizes the need for future generations to learn from the mistakes of their predecessors and strive for righteousness. 

In light of the first reading, the Lord’s teaching in the Gospel today carries an interesting lesson. Jesus teaches, “be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect." Oftentimes, children learn terrible habits from their parents. The sins of parents, the fractures in their marriage, their personal vices, their acts of selfishness can have terrible ripple effects in the lives of their children—effecting how their children relate to the world, to others, and to God. 

And so the Lord’s teaching, “be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect” means that children should strive to break the familial cycles of sin—to unlearn the sinful habits of their parents. Don’t simply imitate your biological Father, strive for the perfection of your Heavenly Father. 

The teachings of Jesus are to supersede, replace, and perfect our family’s ways of doing things, especially those behaviors which contradict the commandments of God. 

Thank God for the good holy example of good parents. But we know that there are some Ahab’s and Jezebel’s out with kids. May we set good Christian example for those children and for those Ahab’s and Jezebel’s because they can repent too. May we all seek the perfection of soul God desires for each of us through Christ, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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That during this month of June, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, all Christians may witness to the tender love of Christ through our prayer, fasting, and works of charity. 

For our young people on summer vacation, that they may be kept safe from the errors of our culture and kept in close friendship with Jesus through prayer and acts of mercy.

For all married couples, that they may be faithful to the Gospel in every dimension of their married life—and that single and celibate Christians may witness to the sacrificial, all-embracing love of Christ for all.

For the sick, the impoverished, the lonely, those suffering from mental illness, those most in need, and those near death: may God, through the mercy of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, be close to them in their trials

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

11th Week of Ordinary Time 2024 - Monday - The sins of Ahab and Jezebel

Along with our readings from the Sermon on the Mount, we have been reading lately from the Old Testament book of Kings. Last week we heard how Elijah condemned King Ahab’s promotion of pagan worship through Israel.  King Ahab, influenced by his pagan wife Jezebel, actively promoted the worship of Baal in Israel, building pagan altars and temples in direct violation of the command to have no other gods before the God of Israel.

Today, we read of the twisted morals of this corrupt royal couple. 

First we heard of King Ahab’s covetousness. In violation of the 10th commandment Ahab coveted his neighbor’s property. When Naboth refused to sell or trade his ancestral land to Ahab, the king became sullen and angry. Almost comically, 1st Kings describes Ahab whining from his bed and refusing to eat when he didn't get what he wanted.  His wife, Jezebel, enabled and encouraged his sinful attitude, and then enacted a corrupt plan to obtain the object of Ahab’s covetousness. 

Jezebel orchestrated false accusations of blasphemy against Naboth by recruiting two scoundrels to serve as false witnesses, in violation of the 8th prohibiting bearing false witness.

Then, based on the false charges, Jezebel arranges for Naboth to be stoned to death. This violates the 5th commandment, "You shall not murder".

Then, after Naboth's death, Jezebel tells Ahab to take possession of the vineyard he wanted, stealing his neighbor’s property, breaking the 7th commandment.

All in all, the royal couple used their authority to pervert justice, oppress the innocent, and facilitate sin. 

Ahab and Jezebel’s actions reveal hearts hardened against God and a willingness to use deceit, injustice and violence to gratify selfish desires. Here is a cautionary tale of how sin perverts and destroys.

Don’t be like Ahab and Jezebel. Don’t rationalize sin. Don’t give yourself license to violate the commandments. Don’t think yourself so high, mighty, or educated that the commandments of God don’t apply to you. Sin is destructive no matter who you are.

Rather, our continued reading of the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel, illuminates the way of life God wants for us: a life of radical interiorization of God’s love and mercy—charity that goes beyond social conventions. Instead of returning “evil for evil”, we are to return “good for evil”. We must be zealous, not in seeking selfish pursuits, but in cultivating holiness within ourselves, and helping others to do the same.

During this month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we pray that following the Lord’s teachings, imitating his example, through prayer and reception of the sacraments, our hearts may be filled with truly charity like his, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

 

That during this month of June, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, all Christians may witness to the tender love of Christ through our prayer, fasting, and works of charity. 

For our young people on summer vacation, that they may be kept safe from the errors of our culture and kept in close friendship with Jesus through prayer and acts of mercy.

For all married couples, that they may be faithful to the Gospel in every dimension of their married life—and that single and celibate Christians may witness to the sacrificial, all-embracing love of Christ for all.

For the sick, the impoverished, the lonely, those suffering from mental illness, those most in need, and those near death: may God, through the mercy of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, be close to them in their trials

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

11th Sunday of Ordinary Time 2024 - Parables of Growth

 One of the hallmarks of the Lord’s preaching and teaching is his use of parables. Through parables, the Lord drew upon images, ideas, and customs from the everyday life of 1st century Israel—like farming and family. 

Farming images--Seeds, plants, and trees feature significantly in our scripture readings this weekend—fittingly—as Ordinary Time is aimed at being a season of growth for us. The color green worn by the priest during Ordinary Time reminds us of the spiritual growth that each of us has the responsibility of cultivating within ourselves during this liturgical season. 

In the first reading, Ezekiel’s prophecy contains a very surprising image of growth—a majestic sprawling tree. And I say it was a surprising image because Ezekiel was prophesying during the time in the history of Israel when the tree of King David’s royal dynasty appeared to be dying. Half the tree, half the kingdom, had already been decimated—Northern Israel had been conquered by Assyria, and the southern region was also in serious trouble, Babylon had exiled many and demolished the royal city of Jerusalem.

The tree of David looked like it had just about had it. But in the midst of this quite depressing time, Ezekiel is tasked by God to gives a prophecy of new life: God will preserve the dynasty of David and it will grow once more. 

Now many must have scoffed at Ezekiel’s prophecy. For the ancient Near East had seen many nations annihilated and many royal dynasties exterminated and forgotten by history. And never had it been known for a royal house to be dethroned, exiled—and then established, let alone flourish to become tree that would encompass all the nations of the world. So, Ezekiel’s prophecy was a promise that was going to do something amazing.

And we know, that  prophecy has been fulfilled in Christ Son of David. And the new Israel, the Church. is that tree that encompasses and embraces the nations of the world. And yet, Ezekiel’s promise is new life is also relevant to our individual spiritual life.

We are never too old, or too sinful, that God cannot bring about new growth in us—new life in us. There is no one out there that is so lost, so severed from God, that they cannot repent and come to life.

The communion of saints is full of men and women whose early lives were so full of sin that you never would have expected their conversion. But through the prayers of the Church, the wisdom and holy example of Christians, and the grace of God, they came to faith and the flourishing of great sanctity.

If you simply looked to the early life of St. Augustine, St. Mary Magdalene, St. Francis of Assisi—if you met them as teenagers, you’d think, these people are doomed. St. Olga of Kiev was a cruel, ruthless, murderous ruler before her conversion. Blessed Bartolo Longo was an ordained “satanic priest” before returning to the Catholic Faith and eventually becoming a third order Dominican. They are living without God. And they aren’t just not going to church on the weekends. In the Communion of Saints there are former murderers, thieves, and literal devil worshippers.

Just as God brought new life to the seemingly dying dynasty of David, he offers life to all people, including those people whose lives look like a rotting tree. He converts atheists all the time, and so he can certainly bring about new life in our neighborhood and in our souls.

In the Gospel, Jesus uses the image of the growth of a seed to explain what he calls “the kingdom of God” –--God’s reign as king both in our individual souls and in the Church. And he explains that at times the growth of that seed is imperceptible, it seems like it is dormant, and nothing is happening. And then sometimes that small seed flourishes to an amazing degree. 

God is at work in the heart of every person on this planet to bring them to faith. It may look like the seed is dormant, that God isn’t evident in their lives. He is working in their relationships, and every time they glimpse up at the tower of St. Ignatius, and see our garden club hard at work or our parishioners feeding the hungry at the food pantry. 

Truly, when non-believers can see the difference our faith makes, they are being drawn to Christ. When they see patience, joy, peace, kindness, gentleness and self-control in us, they are being drawn to life.

Now the second reading didn’t explicitly use the image of a plant or tree, but St. Paul makes clear that the point of this earthly life is to grow into the people God made us to be so that we can enjoy eternal life in heaven. We have a longing for heaven, and to get there, we must cultivate faith, hope, and love. God is the farmer, and we are seeds, planted in the earth that we may grow to heavenly life until the time of the harvesting. God is planter and harvester. As the Lord says in the Gospel,  “And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.” 

Each of us will face the sickle, the end of our earthly life. As St. Paul teaches, “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil” so we should get busy cultivating the life of holiness taught and modeled by Christ.

Notice, too, the warning implicit in Paul’s words, “we walk by faith, not by sight”. In this earthly life, there are plenty of people who look to be happy, who seem to prosper. But Hollywood celebrities and professional athletes end up in the gutter all the time. Wealth, status, prestige, and privilege do not bring authentic fulfillment. The rich and powerful often lead empty, corrupt, perverted lives because they are not rooted in Christ. The scientific wonders of our technological age can never replace the need for God, the need to pursue heaven by cultivating divine life through prayer, right belief, the sacraments of the Church, and the acts of charity. 

As we make our way through this liturgical season of Ordinary Time, a season full of opportunities for spiritual and moral growth, may each of us consider: “where is the Lord calling me to grow this season”, “what spiritual fruits are absent in my life”, “what saint should I seek to emulate this summer”, “how is the Lord challenging me to grow in my prayer life, my moral life, my engagement in the works of charity, in working together with fellow Christians”, “who are the souls whom I should pray for more intentionally for their spiritual well-being or their return to the sacraments”?

May we be courageous in pursuing the life of the soul God wants to grow in us, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. 

10th Week of Ordinary Time 2024 - Friday - Reorientation of sinful desires

 As I mentioned at the beginning of the week, we have begun to read through the Lord’s great sermon on the mount from the Gospel of Matthew. 

Jesus' teaching on adultery and lust in today’s passage is part of the larger context of the Sermon on the Mount, where the Lord teaches His followers to cultivate righteousness that goes beyond external observance of the law. Christians aren’t simply to follow the commandments mindlessly, rather our obedience to God comes from a true reordering of values, a reorienting of desires, authentic interior transformation, and the cultivation of a heart that is fully devoted and aligned to God.

Jesus' words about adultery and lust are part of His call for that complete reorientation of our lives towards God. Again, this reorientation involves not merely external compliance but a deep, interior transformation that affects every aspect of our being, including our desires, thoughts, and relationships. Purity, faithfulness, and sacrificial love are good not simply because they keep us from sin, but because they are good in themselves and mirror God’s being. 

So how is this radical reorientation to come about? Our first reading and Psalm give us a hint. They both point to the need to cultivate a rich spiritual life centered on God. 

In the first reading from the first book of Kings, Elijah learns to hear the voice of God not in the fierce rock-crushing, mountain-rending wind, the earthquake or the fire, but in the tiny whispering sound. Elijah reorients himself to God through quiet listening. 

Similarly, the Psalmist expresses a deep longing to see God's face and be in His presence. He recognizes the need to reorient himself from the activities of normal earthly life to actively pursue God. 

Like Elijah, the inner transformation that Jesus desires for us, the reorientation we need comes through quieting our hearts and minds to discern God’s presence and voice through prayer. Like the Psalmist, we must intentionally turn away from earthly activities, to seek the face of God. We must actively create space for silence and attentive listening to God's voice and God’s face.

The reorientation of our lives is only possible through the cultivation of a rich spiritual life. When we seek God's presence in prayer, meditation, and the sacraments, we open ourselves to the transformative power of God’s grace. As we grow closer to God, our desires begin to align with His will, and we find the strength to resist the temptations that once held us captive.

Moreover, a deep spiritual life enables us to see others through the eyes of God, recognizing their inherent dignity and worth. This counteracts the objectification and commodification that often fuel sinful desires like lust.

Let us pray for the grace to cultivate a rich spiritual life, one that transforms our desires and open’s us to the guidance of God’s Spirit who impels us to live as faithful witnesses to God's love in the world, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

- - - -  

That during this month of June, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, all Christians may witness to the tender love of Christ through our prayer, fasting, and works of charity. 

For our young people beginning summer vacation, that they may be kept safe from the errors of our culture and kept in close friendship with Jesus through prayer and acts of mercy.

For all married couples, that they may be faithful to the Gospel in every dimension of their married life—and that single and celibate Christians may witness to the sacrificial, all-embracing love of Christ for all.

For the sick, the impoverished, the lonely, those suffering from mental illness, those most in need, and those near death: may God, through the mercy of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, be close to them in their trials

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

10th Week in Ordinary Time 2024 - Wednesday - The Choice between God and Baal

 

“If the LORD is God, follow him; if Baal, follow him.”

In the first reading, Elijah challenges the people of Israel to choose between the Lord and Baal—between the one true God and the pagan idol. The subsequent dramatic demonstration of God's power through the prophet Elijah compared to the impotence of the false god Baal and his prophets is a powerful illustration of the need to make the right choice. Choosing God over the false idols of the world is the most important choice we can make in this life. 

False gods abound in our modern day. They might not have names like Baal, but we know that false gods—like prestige, pleasure, and prosperity—are promoted by internet celebrities and worshipped by the masses. 

Consider how Baal worship became prominent in the northern kingdom of Israel. It was promoted by the King, who should have known better. King Ahab, influenced by his pagan wife Jezebel, actively promoted the worship of Baal in Israel, building pagan altars and temples in direct violation of the command to have no other gods before Yahweh, not to mention his duties as king spelled out in the Scriptures. 

And Israel’s descent into error was quick. They had gone from a united kingdom a hundred fifty years earlier, with David dancing before the ark of God, and Solomon building God a temple, to a divided kingdom and the erection of pagan altars and human sacrifices. And how did this fall into idolatry occur? Rejection of God’s commands, the failure of parents to drill into their children the need to love God with their whole hearts, minds, souls, and strength, rejection of right religion on the national and individual levels. The Lord has strong words in the Gospel today for those who “whoever break the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so.”

This passage certainly serves as a reminder to the Church, of the need to hold fast to the Lord and His Word, to make no allowances for pagan idols in our lives, to guard our children from the errors of the culture, to ensure that we are choosing God over those pagan idols in every decision we make.

And again, in a world with so many false Gods, we do well to pray assiduously for deliverance of those who fall sway to the many forms of modern paganism, that they can come to acknowledge the exhaustion, unhappiness, and futility of worshipping false gods, and the truth, goodness, and life of worshipping the One True God, Father Son and Holy Spirit, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

- - - -  

That during this month of June, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, all Christians may witness to the tender love of Christ through our prayer, fasting, and works of charity. 

For our young people beginning summer vacation, that they may be kept safe from the errors of our culture and kept in close friendship with Jesus through prayer and acts of mercy.

For all married couples, that they may be faithful to the Gospel in every dimension of their married life—and that single and celibate Christians may witness to the sacrificial, all-embracing love of Christ for all.

For the sick, the impoverished, the lonely, those suffering from mental illness, those most in need, and those near death: may God, through the mercy of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, be close to them in their trials

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

June 11 2024 - St. Barnabas - Son of Encouragement

 We celebrate today the feast of St. Barnabas. In the first reading today from the book of Acts, we heard how Barnabas encouraged people to remain faithful to Jesus. In times of challenge, Christians are to encourage each other. And that word, to describe the activity of Barnabas, was likely chosen very carefully. 

For earlier in the book of Acts, St. Luke writes that the name Barnabas means “son of encouragement”. His birth name, as a levite Jew, was Joseph. But the apostles named him “Barnabas”. And it sounds like Barnabas took that name seriously, encouraging Christians to remain faithful. 

We live in a broken world. Our bodies break down, our plans falter, our dreams die, our resolves weaken, our perspective dims. Dwelling on the state of our world can lead to despair. There’s plenty of reason to tend toward discouragement just from the world, but even the scriptures are clear that we will experience suffering, persecution, and trials of various kinds. 

But the Word of God teaches us to guard against discouragement. In the Gospel of John, Jesus warned that “in this world you will have trouble.” But then he offered a much needed word of encouragement: “But take heart; I have overcome the world”. In times of discouragement we are to meditate upon the victory of Christ over sin and evil and death.

But not only are we to personally meditate on the Word of God to fight off discouragement. We are to encouragement each other. The Letter to the Hebrews says, “Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”

We all have the vocation, therefore, of being St. Barnabas’ to teach other. We are to encourage each other, as brothers and sisters in Christ to remain faithful to the Lord when we begin to doubt or when facing a terrible temptation.

When encouragement is absent from the life of a church people will feel unloved, unimportant, useless, and forgotten. So we are to encourage that they are loved by the Lord, that they are needed in the life of the Church, and that they are wanted.

Someone in this parish is likely waiting for your encouragement to really take an active role in the work that is being done here.  Or perhaps, some young person is waiting for your encouragement to take that next step in considering the Lord’s call to a religious vocation or to the priesthood.  Making an intention every day to send someone an encouraging note, email, text, or phone call is never a waste of time.

Each of us can make an invaluable contribution to renewing our parish and building up the Body of Christ, not only through prayer, but by actively encouraging our brothers and sisters to be faithful to the Lord in the mission of the Gospel for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

- - - -  

That during this month of June, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, all Christians may witness to the tender love of Christ through our prayer, fasting, and works of charity. 

For our young people beginning summer vacation, that they may be kept safe from the errors of our culture and kept in close friendship with Jesus through prayer and acts of mercy.

For all married couples, that they may be faithful to the Gospel in every dimension of their married life—and that single and celibate Christians may witness to the sacrificial, all-embracing love of Christ for all.

For the sick, the impoverished, the lonely, those suffering from mental illness, those most in need, and those near death: may God, through the mercy of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, be close to them in their trials

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

10th Week in Ordinary Time 2024 - Monday - Fulfillment of promises and longings

 Having come to the end of our readings through the public ministry of the Lord prior to his passion from the Gospel of Mark, our daily ordinary time weekday Gospel readings from now until September will be taken from the Gospel of Matthew. We’ll read sequentially from the beginning of the Lord’s Sermon on the Mount, as we heard this morning, to the final parables prior to his arrest. We’ll then read from Luke’s Gospel until the end of the liturgical year.

This gospel was written by a Jew, Matthew the tax-collector, for a Jewish Christian audience. The structure of the Gospel even reflects its Jewish origins. There are five discourse sections sandwich between 7 narrative sections. Those five narrative sections mirror the five books of Moses and portray Jesus the New Moses giving the New Law for God’s people. 

Because the Gospel was written by a Jew for the Jews, Matthew, utilizes far more Old Testament quotations and references than the other Gospel writers. Matthew’s Gospel begins with Jesus’ genealogy tracing Him back to David and then to Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation.

Again, writing to Jews, Matthew portrays Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s promises to the Jewish people—promises of salvation and justice and peace and glory. 

In today’s reading, Jesus promises that all of those longings—longings for the kingdom, longings for righteousness, for peace, longings to see the face of God—can be found in heading his teachings. You will obtain the kingdom of heaven, if you become humble. You will come to see the face of God, if you become pure of heart. You will obtain mercy if you show mercy.

Jesus is the fulfillment not only of God’s promises to the Jewish people, he is the fulfillment of our hearts deepest longings.  He fulfills our longings for truth, for goodness, for beauty, and for peace. But he is clear. We must pursue Him. We must pursue beatitude. It requires effort and conversion and embrace of the cross.

Beatitude is not obtained by passive complacency, or by those who resist the change of mind and heart that he teaches. Again, if you want mercy, you must show mercy. If you want peace, you must make peace. If you want purity of sight, you purify your heart. If you want truth to reign on earth, you must be willing to suffer for it. If you want the highest heaven, you must become lowly—poor in spirit. 

God’s promises coincide with our deepest longings. May we seek that fulfillment we long for in Christ, actively, intently, with all the effort we can muster, and with the help of God, so to obtain the life he promises, for the Glory of God and the salvation of souls.

- - - - -  

That during this month of June, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, all Christians may witness to the tender love of Christ for sinners through our prayer, fasting, and works of charity. 

For our young people beginning summer vacation, that they may be kept safe from the errors of our culture and kept in close friendship with Jesus through prayer and acts of mercy.

For all married couples, that they may be faithful to the Gospel in every dimension of their married life—and that single and celibate Christians may witness to the sacrificial, all-embracing love of Christ for all.

For the sick, the impoverished, the lonely, those suffering from mental illness, those most in need, and those near death: may God, through the mercy of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, be close to them in their trials

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

10th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2024 - Fellowship, unity, and guarding against division

I’d like to first begin by repeating the sentiments I’ve expressed in the bulletin this weekend. Thank  you to all who took part in the parish picnic last week: members of parish council and volunteers who helped with the planning and set-up, all who brought food, and those who simply attended adding to the fellowship we were able to enjoy. 

Fellowship is a vital dimension of the Christian life. One might call it one of the pillars of our faith. Nowhere in Scripture do we get the impression that the mission of the Church relies solely on a single person. God Himself is not a single person. So Christians are not meant to be lone rangers.

Yes, each of us are to cultivate a personal relationship with God—learning to listen to him, to talk to him, to recognize him in the details of your life—cultivating a deep personal love for Him in your heart. And that’s something that I can’t do for you. The personal relationship with God requires individual effort. 

While we are all to personally nurture that personal relationship with God, we are also part of a community of believers. Jesus founded a church, called groups of people together to work together and worship together. 

A parish, like St. Ignatius of Antioch parish, is not simply a building or set of buildings in which individuals gather for simply my personal moment with Jesus and then i go home. A parish is a sort of headquarters, in which we plan and engage in the mission of the Church given to us by Christ together. A parish is a unique Christian community with unique gifts and challenges.

Throughout his new testament letters, St. Paul is uniqueness of the various Christian communities he visited: the Philippians, the Galatians, the Ephesians, the Thessalonians, the Corinthians. Like our own, each of those communities had its unique gifts and unique challenges.

Paul praised the Philippians for instance, for their generous support of the Church. And for their strong sense of partnership—they grasped the notion of cooperation in the spread of the Gospel. Yet they were not without challenges. Paul had to address disunity and rivalry among the Philippians. 

The Galatians too had their gifts—Paul describes how they experienced a tremendous outpouring of the holy Spirit and miracles, even, were evident. Yet Paul had to address how members of the Galatian church were being swayed by a "different gospel," as he called it—some members were insisting that gentiles had to be circumcised if they were to be saved. And where does Jesus teach that? So Paul had to correct their sacramental theology—that baptism alone is needed for salvation. 

So, too, the Ephesians. Paul praised their strong faith in Christ,  and their love for the saints. He thanked God for their profound spiritual blessings that were evident among them. Yet, the Ephesians had challenges. Paul challenged them to grow in unity and maturity, to put off their old way of life and put on the new one. He detected some willful ignorance in them, hardness of heart, callousness, licentiousness and impurity.

And then there were the Corinthians! The Corinthians, Paul wrote were enriched in speech and knowledge, and they had a variety of spiritual gifts. But just because they knew the faith and were eloquent in explaining it, didn’t mean they were living it. There were divisions and quarrels among them. They tolerated sexual immorality among them. They had disagreements about marriage and food offered to idols. They also had arguments about theology.  They had issues with disorder in worship. Their culture divisions, political divisions, theological divisions, and spiritual divisions were threatening their mission and their souls.

So, to address their many divisions, Paul gave them theological guidance and practical advice. He stressed the importance of right teaching, but also the need to act in accordance with that teaching. He reminded them that their primary identity was in Christ, not in any human leader. He urged them to build their lives not on the wisdom of the world, but the wisdom of God—that true wisdom is found in the message of the cross, not in human eloquence or philosophy. Since division is often a rotten fruit of pride and selfishness, Paul called the Corinthians to practice Christlike humility and love. He gave them practical instructions on how to handle their disputes and disagreements, and instruction on how to conduct orderly liturgies. 

Above all, Paul emphasized that love should be the guiding principle in all things. He presented love as the antidote to the rivalry and pride that were causing divisions—"love is patient, love is kind, love is not jealous: it is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

Paul, the keen pastor, addressed the divisions in those early communities, like Corinth, because, like our Master in the Gospel, Paul knew that a house divided against itself will not be able to stand. Christian friendship, fellowship, faith, communal worship, unity of belief strengthen the church, where selfishness, isolation, ignorance, liturgical impiety, and attachment to the values of the world cause disunity, division, and a weakening of a community.

I focus on this issue of unity this weekend, again, because it has been so good to see the parish come together in a number of ways the past few weeks. The Light for love event was such a beautiful example of different members of the parish with different spiritual gifts working together in an evangelical effort. And also, the parish picnic. And the garden club and SVDP. The more we can work together, the better.

I also focus on this issue we are head toward a season wrought with challenge. Election season is just around the corner. And I know this parish has a wide spectrum of political views. But in the Spirit of St. Paul I urge you, please do not allow political differences, and emotions surrounding political opinions keep you from working together, loving one another patiently, praying with each other and for each other. 

There are people who have walked away from the Church and the sacraments because their political views were irreconcilable with church teaching. Don’t make that mistake. Don’t let politics divide you from Christ—and cause division in this parish.

As things get heated up in the world these next few months, we’ll need to fortify ourselves. Fast for peace, make frequent sacramental confessions, and visits to the blessed sacrament, pray for the holy spirit to guard us against division and show us ways to work together, pray together, and love one another. 

Remember, the words of Paul: “what is seen is transitory, but what is unseen is eternal.” Our task, isn’t to fix the world, it’s unfixable, but to draw souls to Christ, to unity with Him and His Body the Church, to the kingdom that is eternal, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

First Friday Holy Hour - June 2024 - Sacred Heart and Eucharist

 Today we celebrate the great Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. 

In 1928, Pius XI wrote a beautiful encyclical called Miserentissimus Redemptor, On Reparation to the Sacred Heart in which the Holy Father described veneration of the Sacred Heart of Jesus as the epitome of our entire religion. The sacred heart he wrote, “the sum of all religion” and “the pattern of perfect life.” 

What a bold claim! But, consider: the Sacred Heart represents the entirety of Christ's love and sacrifice. In venerating the Sacred Heart, we are honoring the very core of Jesus' mission - His infinite, redemptive love which led Him to offer His life for our salvation. Thus, the devotion encapsulates the essence of Christianity.

The Sacred Heart is a symbol of the Incarnation. The human heart of Jesus, united to His divinity, is a powerful reminder of the central truth of our faith: that God became man out of love for us. Honoring the Sacred Heart is a way of affirming and celebrating this mystery.

Devotion to the Sacred Heart leads us to a deeper participation in Christ's life and mission. By contemplating His pierced Heart, we are moved to greater love and reparation for sin. We are inspired to imitate His virtues of charity, obedience, and self-sacrifice. In this way, the Sacred Heart becomes a "pattern of perfect life" for us to follow.

And so what a fitting day for us to come to church, to kneel and pray before the Eucharist.

For, the Eucharist is the Sacrament of Christ's love. In the Eucharist, Jesus gives us His Body and Blood, the very life that flowed from His pierced Heart on the Cross. The Eucharist is the ultimate expression of His love, the love symbolized by the Sacred Heart—his Body and Blood given out of love for us. As Pope Benedict XV wrote in his encyclical on the sacrament of Charity: “"in the Eucharist Jesus does not give us a "thing' but himself; he offers his own body and pours out his own blood"

So, Eucharistic adoration is an extension of devotion to the Sacred Heart. When we adore Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, we are in the presence of His Sacred Heart, burning with love for us. 

As we gaze upon him with love this evening, we pray to be more and more transformed to be like him, to be conformed to His Sacred Heart, learning to love as He loves. 

Recall the words of Pope Leo XIII as he consecrated the world to the Sacred Heart. He wrote,  “There is in the Sacred Heart a symbol and a sensible image of the infinite love of Jesus Christ which moves us to love one another.”

May our time with Jesus this evening truly conform our hearts to his for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

9th Week of Ordinary Time 2024 - Wednesday - They will neither marry nor be given in marriage

 In the course of his public ministry, the Lord doesn’t often talk directly about marriage, but when he does, it’s often controversial.

On Friday of the 7th week of Ordinary Time we considered the Lord’s teaching on marriage and divorce. There, the Lord put an end to the debate of the pharisees and the scholars--that aside from those circumstances where lawful impediments exist ,(siblings cannot marry, parents cannot marry their children, etc.) a husband and wife, truly joined in the bond of holy matrimony, cannot be separated, because God has joined them.

In today’s reading, the Lord gives another unexpected teaching: that in heaven, in the resurrection, there is no marriage. So a man and a woman joined on earth in holy matrimony, will not be married in heaven: “When they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage”

Earthly marriage is a sacrament by which spouses are blessed to become a sign of God' steadfast and permanent love for us—Christ’s indissoluble bond with the Church.

Yet, the relationship between souls in heaven will be based on their shared love for God, rather than on earthly bonds. Earthly marriage, though sacred and important, is ultimately a preparation for the eternal union with God in heaven.

While earthly marriage ends with death, the love and grace experienced within a holy marriage are not lost. The sacrament of marriage is a means for the sanctification of the spouses, helping them grow in holiness and preparing them for eternal life. In heaven, the love shared between spouses on earth will be transformed and perfected in their shared love for God.

Whether married or single or celibate, the Lord’s teaching here reminds us all that earthly attachments and institutions, even those as vital as marriage, are temporary. We must live for heaven in mind—serving God in this life, by being faithful to our earthly commitments and vocations like marriage and the priesthood and the universal call to holiness, while always giving priority to God. 

Notice, too how, in this passage Jesus admonishes the Sadducees for not knowing the Scriptures. They lack understanding of God’s will, because they haven’t sought to truly understand God’s Word. To quote St. Jerome, “Ignorance of Scripture, is ignorance of Christ.”

So again, whether marriage, single, or celibate, we are to dispose our minds and hearts so very often, to God’s Word, by reading and reflecting on the Sacred Scriptures to guide our faith and activity.

Through the holy mysteries of our faith, may we be strengthened in that unity with God  through Christ which brings us our sanctification and salvation for the glory of God and salvation of souls. 

- - - - - 

That during this month of June, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, all Christians may witness to the tender love of Christ for sinners through our prayer, fasting, and works of charity. 

For our young people beginning summer vacation, that they may be kept safe from the errors of our culture and kept in close friendship with Jesus through prayer and acts of mercy.

For all married couples, that they may be faithful to the Gospel in every dimension of their married life—and that single and celibate Christians may witness to the sacrificial, all-embracing love of Christ for all.

For the sick, the impoverished, the lonely, those suffering from mental illness, those most in need, and those near death: may God, through the mercy of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, be close to them in their trials

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

June 3 2024 - St. Charles Lwanga - Winning the battle against Lust

 We celebrate today the feast of St. Charles Lwanga, that great Ugandan martyr for chastity. In the mid-1800s, Uganda had a very vicious, lustful king who would force himself on the young boys and young men of his court. Charles Lwanga, who had become a catechist, encouraged the boys to preserve their chastity by refusing the king’s advances. For opposing the King’s lusts, Charles was arrested and burned to death on June 3 1886.

In this age where lust and the corruption of youth through the proliferation of pornography and child trafficking are rampant, we invoke and celebrate and revere St. Charles, for protection from one of the great sins of our age, the sin of lust. 

Right before the turn of the new year, at his Wednesday audiences, Holy Father Pope Francis began a series of catechetical talks on the virtues and vices. He began his cycle of teaching on the importance of safeguarding the heart against temptations towards the deadly sins of gluttony, lust, pride, envy, and wrath, and the importance of striving to cultivate the virtues of prudence, temperance, fortitude and justice. You can read these talks for free on the Vatican website.

The Holy Father offers a powerful teaching on lust, which he says, “pollutes” the call to authentic love. He writes, “to love is to respect the other, to seek his or her happiness, to cultivate empathy for his or her feelings, to dispose oneself in the knowledge of a body, a psychology, and a soul that are not our own, and that must be contemplated for the beauty they bear. That is love, and love is beautiful. Lust, on the other hand, makes a mockery of all this: lust plunders, it robs, it consumes in haste, it does not want to listen to the other but only to its own need and pleasure; lust judges every courtship a bore, it does not seek that synthesis between reason, drive and feeling that would help us to conduct existence wisely.”

“…Winning the battle against lust, against the “objectification” of the other, can be a lifelong endeavour. But the prize of this battle is the most important of all, because it is preserving that beauty that God wrote into His creation when He imagined love between man and woman, which is not for the purpose of using one another, but for loving one another.”

During this month of June, which has sadly become in many places a celebration of lust, may those who struggle with lust be delivered. With the help of St. Charles Lwanga and his martyred companions, may we witness to that chaste Christian love which is truly life giving, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

- - - - - 

That during this month of June, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, all Christians may witness to the tender love of Christ for sinners through our prayer, fasting, and works of charity. 

For our young people beginning summer vacation, that they may be kept safe from the errors of our culture and kept in close friendship with Jesus through prayer and acts of mercy.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord