1st Week in Ordinary Time 2025 - Wednesday - Healing for the body, light for the mind, deliverance from evil

 After the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord this last Sunday, our weekday readings this week all through Lent, take us through a sequential reading through the beginning chapters of St. Mark’s Gospel. Monday, we read of Jesus beginning his public ministry preaching “This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.” He then called the fishermen, peter, james, Andrew, and john, to be his first followers.

Yesterday, we read of Jesus coming to Capernaum and commanding and casting out the unclean spirit.

Today, continuing still through chapter 1 of the Gospel of Mark, Jesus brings physical healing to Simon Peter’s mother-in-law, and then many people, and drove out many demons, and then goes on to preach throughout Galilee. 

Throughout Mark's Gospel, Jesus is portrayed as the Messiah who brings about the Kingdom of God through his words and deeds. He is a man-of-action who backs up his teachings with miraculous work.

He brings life to the body, light to the mind, deliverance from the powers of evil. Those of us who follow him now, recognize that he continues to do these things in our lives and in our world.  

He brings life to our bodies. Even though we continue to experience physical illness, the ailments of age, we are not discouraged by these things. United to Christ, our physical struggles bring about an increase in trust in God, and reminder that this passing earthly life is an anticipation of the resurrection.

He gives light to our minds through the truth of his teachings which guide us, they help us to know our purpose, they help us discern between right and wrong, they help us to recognize the futility of living only for the things of the world, they help us to cooperate with God’s grace which enables us to become the people God made us to be.

And, he delivers us from the powers of evil. He helps us to be free from the bondage of sin, he helps us to be faithful to God in times of temptation, he helps us destroy the works of the devil in our society. 

And doing all these things for us personally, he transforms us to be instruments in his hands, to encourage the afflicted, to instruct the ignorant, to preach his Gospel, to help other break the bonds of sin in their own lives.

What we see Jesus doing in the Scriptures, we see him doing in our own lives, and he sends us out to be his instruments in the world. “Very truly I tell you,” he says in John’s Gospel, “whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these.”

As we read through the Scriptures during Ordinary Time, may we come not only to a deeper understanding of who Jesus is, and appreciation for what he has done for us, but come to a deeper cooperation with Him, in who we are called to be, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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With confidence in Jesus Christ, who proclaims the Kingdom of God and brings healing, light, and deliverance, let us offer our prayers to the Father:

For the Church, that she may faithfully proclaim the nearness of the Kingdom of God in both word and deed, and that through her ministry many may come to repentance, healing, and new life in Christ, let us pray to the Lord.

For those who suffer in body, especially the sick, the elderly, and those burdened by chronic illness, that united to Christ they may find strength, hope, and trust in God’s promise of resurrection and eternal life, let us pray to the Lord.

For those struggling against sin and temptation, that Christ, who drives out the powers of evil, may grant them freedom, perseverance, and the grace to live as faithful disciples, let us pray to the Lord.

For our society, that the works of the devil—violence, deception, injustice, and division—may be overcome by the transforming power of the Gospel, and that we may be instruments of peace, truth, and mercy, let us pray to the Lord.

For the faithful departed, that having shared in Christ’s sufferings in this life, they may now share fully in His resurrection and glory, let us pray to the Lord.

For the prayers we voice in our hearts, and for X, for whom this mass is offered.

Heavenly Father, you sent your Son to proclaim the Kingdom and to heal your people. Hear the prayers we offer in faith, and make us willing instruments of your saving love, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

4th Week of Lent 2025 - Friday - A spotlight into the darkness of our hearts

 During the final weeks of Lent, the weekday scripture readings detail the growing hostility towards Jesus culminating in his crucifixion.  Why do Jesus’ enemies hate him so?  

Our first reading from the book of Wisdom depicts a group of the wicked-hearted conspiring to condemn a just and holy man to a shameful death. Why? What has he done to offend them so? They claim: “he is obnoxious to us” because he corrects us, he points out our violations of the law, he judges us debased. A line from John’s Gospel says, “everyone who practices evil hates the light”.   

This passage helps us to understand the psychology of those who opposed Jesus and conspired to have him killed. 

His teaching, His actions, His holiness—was like a bright, spotlight shining into the dark corners of their hearts, exposing pride, envy, hypocrisy, and corruption. Instead of responding with humility and repentance, they responded with resentment, hostility, and ultimately violence.

Yet, it would be a mistake to consider this hostility as something limited only to the historical enemies of Christ. We, too, must examine our own hearts. Are there parts of us that resist the light of Christ’s truth? Are there moments when we feel uncomfortable, even hostile, because Jesus challenges our sins, our bad habits, and our selfishness?

Lent invites us precisely into this examination, urging us to confront these hidden corners of darkness within ourselves. Rather than turning away in resentment or denial, we are called to respond with humility, openness, and repentance. When we allow the light of Christ to enter our hearts fully, we are not condemned but healed, forgiven, and restored.

As we approach Holy Week, let us pray for the grace to welcome the transforming and purifying light of Christ. Let us allow His truth to penetrate deeply, that our lives may bear witness to His holiness, compassion, and love—for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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Trusting in God’s mercy and grace, we humbly present our prayers and petitions, seeking the transforming and purifying light of Christ.

For the Church throughout the world, that during this Lenten season, all members may courageously confront their personal darkness, allowing Christ’s light to heal, forgive, and restore them. Let us pray to the Lord.

For all leaders and those in authority, that they may be guided by humility, justice, and integrity, resisting the temptations of pride, envy, and corruption. Let us pray to the Lord.

For those experiencing hostility, persecution, or opposition because of their faith, that they may find strength and comfort in Christ’s own sufferings and remain faithful witnesses to His truth. Let us pray to the Lord.

For individuals struggling or unwilling to confront sin and selfishness in their lives, that this Lenten season may inspire a spirit of honest self-examination, openness, and true repentance. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our parish community, that the coming celebration of Holy Week may deepen our understanding of Christ’s passion and sacrifice, leading us to greater love, compassion, and holiness. Let us pray to the Lord.

For those who suffer physically, emotionally, or spiritually, that the healing and comforting presence of Christ may touch their lives, bringing hope, peace, and renewal. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our deceased loved ones, that they may be welcomed into the fullness of eternal life, forever basking in the light and love of Christ. Let us pray to the Lord.

Heavenly Father, shine your light upon us, that we may recognize our need for your mercy and experience your transformative grace. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

December 13 2024 - St. Lucy - The light of the consecrated virgin martyr

 

The Church has honored Saint Lucy for almost fifteen hundred years.  Her name, Lucy, Lucia, comes from the latin word “Lux” which means, light of course, and her light continues to shine for us in many ways.

There are a few different legends about St. Lucy’s martyrdom. maladies. In one story, Lucy, arrested for her Christian faith, had her eyes gouged out by soldiers prior to her death. In another story, it was Lucy herself who removed her own eyes, as a way to protect her virginity which she had consecrated to Christ. No matter which version of her martyrdom is accurate, it is not hard to difficult to understand why St. Lucy is the patron saint of eye maladies and blindness.

Like St. Cecilia, St. Agnes, and St. Agatha, we honor St. Lucy as a consecrated virgin.  

As a consecrated virgin, Lucy gave her life entirely to God, consecrating her heart and body to Him. Her purity was not simply an avoidance of sin but an active, joyful embrace of a life wholly directed toward God’s will. In Advent, we, too, are called to purity—not only in body but in mind, heart, and intention. This purity allows us to see God more clearly and reflect His light to the world.

The light of St. Lucy’s martyrdom reminds us, too, that true discipleship often requires sacrifice. Her willingness to endure suffering for the sake of the faith shows us that the light of Christ shines most brightly in acts of self-giving love. According to legend, St. Lucy brought food and aid to Christians hiding in the Roman catacombs, wearing a candle-lit wreath on her head to light her way and leave her hands free to carry as much food as possible. During Advent, we are called to shine with the light of charity in acts of selflessness in our daily lives.

In a world often marked by spiritual blindness and moral confusion, St. Lucy radiating with the light of Christ shines in our present darkness. 

Purity, discipleship, courage, self-sacrifice, self-giving are the lights our world desperately needs. May her example inspire us to live as children of the light, preparing our hearts to welcome Christ, the true Light of the World, this Christmas, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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Trusting in God’s light, let us bring our prayers before the Lord.

For the Church, that she may be a radiant beacon of Christ’s light in the world, guiding all people toward truth and salvation.

That our president and all civil servants will carry out their duties guided by the light of truth, justice, and respect for the dignity of every human life.  

For all who suffer for their faith, that they may find strength in the courage of the martyrs and remain steadfast in their love for Christ.

For those struggling with physical or spiritual blindness, that through the intercession of St. Lucy, they may be healed and come to see the light of Christ more clearly.

For consecrated virgins and all who have dedicated their lives to God, that they may be strengthened in their vocation and shine as witnesses to His love and purity.

For those experiencing darkness or despair, illness, or affliction, that they may be comforted by the hope of Advent and the promise of Christ’s coming.

For our departed loved ones, especially those who have lived lives of faith and service, that they may rejoice forever in the light of God’s presence. 

Heavenly Father, You are the source of all light and life. Through the intercession of St. Lucy, hear and answer our prayers, that we may walk always in Your light and prepare our hearts to welcome Your Son. Through the same Christ Our Lord.

5th Week of Lent 2024 - Friday - The light of faithfulness to God

 In the 10th Chapter of the Gospel of John, Jesus comes to Jerusalem on the Feast of the Dedication, which is known today as Hanukkah. The Feast of the Dedication commemorates the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple during the second century before Christ, after it had been desecrated by the Seleucid ruler Antiochus Epiphanes. The festival celebrates the triumph of light over darkness and the restoration of Jewish worship in the Temple. When the Maccabees sought to light the Temple's menorah—the seven-branched lampstand—they found they only had enough oil for it to remain lit for one day, but miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days—hence the celebration of light overcoming the darkness.

And it was on this feast, that Jesus, standing in the Portico of that very temple, declares, “The Father and I are one.” And this morning we here the reaction to his words: “The Jews picked up rocks to stone Jesus.” And their reaction is understandable. And if anyone else besides Jesus uttered those words, their action would be justified—the punishment for blasphemy was stoning. But for Jesus, those words, were true—not blasphemy, but revelation.

And consider the significance of his revelation on the Feast of the Dedication. Just as the Feast of Dedication celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, Jesus, is proclaiming his role in bringing God’s light to the world. Just as the Temple radiates with the light of God—Jesus IS the Temple.

And just as the Feast of Dedication celebrates the importance of remaining faithful to God and persevering in the face of opposition, Jesus remains determined and faithful to God His Father, despite the hostility he faces, both in this passage, and ultimately, in his Passion which we celebrate a week from today.

One week from Good Friday, we are challenged by this reading to continue to seek purification from all that keeps us from shining with the light of God. We pray for our catechumens and candidates, for their purification and enlightenment. And then also, we a challenged to embrace faithfulness to God, like our Lord, in the face of the hostility we encounter—from the world, from the devil, from our own disordered passions and fears. 

May the Light of God and the faithfulness of Jesus be seen and detected in our final Lenten penances and preparations for the sacred triduum, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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That God may be pleased to increase faith and understanding in the catechumens and candidates who approach the sacraments of initiation in the coming Paschal Solemnity. 

For those without faith, those with hearts hardened toward God, and for those searching for Him.

For strength to resist temptation, and the humility to sincerely repent of sin.

That through fasting and self-denial, we may be ever more conformed to Christ.

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

Mercifully hear, O Lord, the prayers of your Church and turn with compassion to the hearts that bow before you, that those you make sharers in your divine mystery may always benefit from your assistance.

First Friday Holy Hour - February 2024 - O Luminous Eucharist

 Forty days have passed since we celebrated the joyful Feast of the Nativity of the Lord. The Liturgy itself tells us that today, the Feast of the Presentation, we celebrate that blessed day when Jesus was presented in the Temple by Mary and Joseph. Outwardly he was fulfilling the law, but in reality he was coming to meet his believing people. Prompted by the Holy Spirit, Simeon and Anna came to the temple. Enlightened by the same Spirit, they recognized the Lord and confessed him with exultation. 

Light. This feast has many references to light. The Gospel reading speaks of light. Jesus is the light of revelation—revealing to the nations of the world—that God has come to save all of us.

Candles are blessed and lit at the beginning of mass for the presentation, they are signal flares to the world, that all those who are looking for salvation can find it, in Christ. 

What a fitting day for us to kneel in the light of the Eucharist. Devotees of the rosary know that the institution of the Eucharist—the eucharist which we kneel before this evening—is the fifth and final mystery of light. When Pope St. John Paul II gave us the luminous mysteries of the rosary—he wrote how the Eucharist is a light—it reveals, it testifies, it sheds light that Christ is with us till the end. He is with his Church. And he loves his church. 

The Eucharist reveals the heart of Christ which is given in love to us, to save us, to separate us from sin and unite us to God. We kneel before the Eucharist to bask in the glow of the light of Christ’s love. And we do so, that when we present ourselves to receive the Eucharist, we may be filled with that same light, that his light may be detected in us, and radiate from us.

St. Peter Julian Eymard, that great saint of the Eucharist writes: “The Eucharist is the sacrament of love par excellence. Certainly the other sacraments are proofs of God’s love for us; they are gifts of God. But in the Eucharist, we receive the Author of every gift, God Himself. So it is in Communion especially that we learn to know the law of love that our Lord came to reveal. There we receive the special grace of love. There, finally, more than anywhere else, we acquire the practice, the virtue, of love.”

“O lumunious Euharist, may this time with you truly enlighten us, in the way of God’s love, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.”

August 6 2023 - Transfiguration - Jesus Christ is God and King

This week I watched a brilliant little film with a priest friend of mine. Neither of us had heard of it before, and so we gave it a chance, and it was pretty good. It was called “The Coldest Game”. The movie takes place during the Cold War between America and Communist Russia on the very eve of the Cuban Missile Crisis in October of 1962. The main character, this American math professor and former international grand master chess champion is tapped by the US government to represent the united states in a chess match against the soviet world champion. 

As the movie progresses, the math professor realizes that there’s more going on than a game of chess. He discovers that the government agents who brought him to the tournament are using this trying to gain intelligence from a Russian spy regarding the soviet’s intentions with their ballistic missiles equipped submarines off the coast of Cuba.

I wasn’t around in 1962, but historians tell us that the Cuban Missile Crisis was the closest the Cold War came to escalating into a full-scale nuclear war—which would have basically meant annihilation for the human race.

And, this math professor realizes what is at stake. H was around when the atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during world war ii—and the great threat nuclear war poses for our planet.

For many who grew up in the 1950s and 60s and throughout the Cold War, the threat of Nuclear Conflict was constantly looming. The basement for this church was a bomb shelter, we still even have the bomb shelter sign on the church exterior. The anxiety over nuclear annihilation was felt by many. 

The Church over the past 60 years has worked to diminish the possibility of nuclear war through her teachings and in her diplomatic activity. And thanks be to God there were treaties signed between the US and Russia to limit the possibility of nuclear war, like the one limiting intermediate-range ballistic missiles like those at play during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Sadly, due to Russia’s supposed lack of compliance with the that treaty, the USA has pulled out as well. Several other nations have access to nuclear weapons.

Why do I bring any of this up on the feast of the Transfiguration? Because amidst all of the anxiety inducing chaos and corruption and war and the threats of war right now, what is revealed in the Transfiguration is that Jesus Christ is God, and God is in charge. And that if the world wants peace, it needs Jesus Christ, to acknowledge that He is the beloved Son of the Father, and that we must listen to Him. The Feast of the Transfiguration is like a combination of Trinity Sunday and Christ the King. Because the Transfiguration celebrates that Jesus Christ is God and King.

In the book of the prophet Daniel we read of how God, the Ancient One, sits on his throne, “His clothing bright as snow, and the hair on his head as white as wool; his throne was flames of fire, with wheels of burning fire.” And how does Matthew describe the Lord Jesus’ transfiguration? Jesus takes his disciples up the mountain, like the mountain upon which God sits as King enthroned in his Holy Temple, “And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light.” Jesus Christ is God. The great prophets Moses and Elijah attend to Him as servants around his throne. 

And this Truth is so vital for us to remember. Which is why St. Peter in his epistle writes how the Church must draw great strength from the Transfiguration. “You will do well to be attentive to it,” he writes, “as to a lamp shining in a dark place.”

Why? St. Peter knows, God knows, how our earthly journeys involve a lot of darkness. Sometimes, it seems like our earthly journey is nothing but darkness. There are periods of history which are darker than others—dark because the light of faith is obscured and eclipsed by the world. And we need the light of faith—faith that Jesus Christ is God and we must listen to Him.

There are dark and filthy philosophies at work in our society which are succeeding in corrupting minds and hearts—hardening hearts against God and the Truth of the Christian Gospel. Darkness pervades this neighborhood and this city: real moral decay caused by faithlessness, so many turning to drugs instead of turning to God. Jesus Christ is not enthroned in the hearts of many people in this neighborhood. He has been dethroned in the hearts of many people who were baptized in this very church. 

And perhaps that dethronement occurred as a result of scandal, or mediocre catechesis, or the corrupting influences in modern society, but part of our enduring parish mission is to assist souls in making Jesus Christ King of their hearts again or for the first time. 

And that mission is facilitated by the light of faith shining more brightly in each of our lives. Each one of you are sharers in the mission of this parish. It’s no accident you are here. Because you are chosen by God for a share of the mission of shining the light of faith in this very dark time in history. 

And so I’m asking you to consider, what would it look like if you allowed the light of faith to shine a little more brightly. What would it take for the light to shine more brightly in your life? 

I have a couple of recommendations. 1) If you are able, come to mass on a weekday or two. When we are gathered together in prayer, our individual lights become a bonfire. 2) Come to Eucharistic Adoration at least once a month on Saturdays or on First Friday evenings. 3) Increase the number of times per year you are going to the Sacrament of Confession—it will dissipate the smoke of Satan in your life. 4) Friday is a day in which all Catholics are bound to do some act of Penance. Get serious about that. Abstain from meat on Fridays if you are able. 5) Say grace before every meal, in private or public. 6) Meditate on Scripture every day. A day should not go by without meditating on the Truths of God contained in God’s Word. 7) Put a crucifix in your house so it can be seen by anyone who visits. 8)  Begin and end every day with prayer: a prayer in the morning asking God to guide your day, to fill your day with His light, and then pray the hail mary; and then a prayer at the end of the day, before laying down to bed, in which you make a brief examination of your conscience and repent of your sins and thank God for the blessings. And then pray the hail mary, or the hail holy queen. 

If it feels like the darkness is encroaching in your life, increase the light by strengthening your faith. Pope Francis writes, “Faith is not a light which scatters all our darkness, but a lamp which guides our steps in the night and suffices for the journey.”

In the beautiful and faith-filled words of Pope Benedict: “in spite of all darkness God ultimately triumphs in glory. Faith, which sees the love of God revealed in the pierced heart of Jesus on the Cross, gives rise to love. Love is the light—and in the end, the only light—that can always illuminate a world grown dim and give us the courage needed to keep living and working. Love is possible, and we are able to practice it because we are created in the image of God. To experience love and in this way to cause the light of God to enter into the world.” For the glory of God and salvation of souls.

December 21 2022 - O Rising Sun, splendor of eternal light

 

On this darkest day of the year, the first day of winter, the church in her wisdom gives us this reading from the song of songs proclaiming, “For see, the winter is past, the rains are over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth”.  We are able to say this as we are called to live by faith, not by sight.  

The world may be at its coldest and darkest and most barren, but God’s Word enables us to detect another reality: of supernatural warmth, light, and fruitfulness due to the nearness of God. 

The sun is rising. The church sings: “O Oriens, splendor lucis aeternae, et sol iustitiae: veni”. O rising sun, splendor of eternal light and sun of justice, come and illumine those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death.

The O Antiphon is a direct reference to Micah chapter 7 verse 8: “Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.” It is also a reference of course to Psalm 23, “though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for God is at my side.” 

Again, Christ is the fulfillment of these old testament verses. He is the light, which enlightens everyone, light for the whole human race, who dwells in the darkness of the ignorance of God. And he is the light that is with us always, even in the face of evil and death. The birth of Christ signals that man is not abandoned to suffering and mortality; there is something more, there is something beyond finitude. His birth is the beginning of a new creation, in which God says once again, let there be light. The light of the Christian faith enables us always to begin anew—to live in newness, in which we are continually recreated by God.

What a powerful message the Church joyfully proclaims at a time when many people begin to feel the extremes of seasonal depression, stressed finances, family turmoil, injustice, and sickness. Knowledge of Christ brings consolation, patience, peace, strength, endurance, and even physical health, for even science shows the physical benefit of being filled with hope and faith and joy.

John the Baptist, in the darkness of his mother’s womb, leaps for joy at the nearness of the Christ child. May we, who sit in the darkness of the world do the same, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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We raise up our prayers of petitions, as we await with longing the Advent of Christ the Lord.

That those in the darkness of error and faithlessness may be enlightened by the light of Christ through the witness of the Church

For the protection of the unborn, and the overturning of all laws lacking respect for the dignity of human life.

That those struggling with winter depression or addiction may find light and peace and joy in Christ.

That Christ may banish disease, drive out hunger, ward off every affliction, and strengthen all who suffer persecution for the sake of the Gospel.

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. 

 

December 13 2022 - St. Lucy, virgin & Martyr - Let there be Light!

 Light. Light features prominently in our faith. The first thing God created was light. God’s first words in the Bible are “Let there be light”. 

Psalm 119 describes God’s word as a light for our feet and a lamp unto our path.

Isaiah foretells of a time when the people walking in darkness will see a great light; when upon those living in the land of the shadow of death, light shall dawn.

Psalm 27 says, “The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom should I fear”? 

Light. Light enables us to see. It helps us to avoid the dangers which would lead to our demise.  “All things become visible when they are exposed by the light” St. Paul says. We are to walk by the light of God which enables us to avoid deadly sin and make our way to the unapproachable light of heaven. 

Light enables us to detect what is Good, what is True, and what is beautiful. By God’s light, we can see what is good and what is bad for us. By God’s light we can see what is true and what is erroneous. And By God’s light we can detect the many facets of his beautiful creation. Light enables us to behold the beauty of created things, for God has poured his beauty into Creation, and gives us light to appreciate. Ecclesiastes says, “The light is pleasant, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun.”

Light is also utilized by the Church in her liturgy. Candles are light on the altar for the celebration of holy Mass, so that we can see the mysteries we are celebrating. The paschal fire and the paschal candle are lit at easter time to symbolize the new creation of Christ’s resurrection. And light is used during Advent, our Advent Candles are lit on Advent Sundays to help us prepare well for the celebration of Christ—the light who comes into the world at Christmas. In the Gospel of John begins talking about Light, that John the Baptist himself was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light: that the true Light who gives light to every man was coming into the world.”

Today we celebrate St. Lucy. Her name, Lucy, Lucia, comes from the latin word “Lux” which means, light of course. Her life was filled with the light of Christ. In the saints, the Lord’s teaching that his followers are to be the light of the world, is fulfilled. The Lord’s light shined in the life and soul of St. Lucy. 

Even when she was struck blind as part of her tortures for following Christ in a time of persecution: Lucy was still able to see. The light of Christ truly enabled her to walk by the light of faith, not simply by sight of the physical eyes.

We all need the help of the saints in order to be like those wise virgins in the Gospel who keep the light of their lamps ready for the Lord's return.

There is a beautiful and simple prayer called the St. Lucy prayer that goes like this: 

Saint Lucy, you did not hide your light under a basket, but let it shine for the whole world, for all the centuries to see. We may not suffer torture in our lives the way you did, but we are still called to let the light of our Christianity illumine our daily lives. Please help us to have the courage to bring our Christianity into our work, our recreation, our relationships, our conversation -- every corner of our day…for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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We raise up our prayers of petition, as we await with longing the Advent of Christ the Lord.

That Advent repentance and devotion may prepare us rightly for Christmas joy.

That our president and all civil servants will carry out their duties with justice, honesty, and respect for the dignity of every human life.  

For the conversion of those who reject Jesus and His Church, those who have fallen into serious sin, and those who have fallen away from the Church. 

Through the intercession of St. Lucy, we pray for all those who suffer blindness and eye disorders, and for safety from accidental loss of vision, and for all of the sick and suffering.

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

Almighty ever-living God, who brings salvation to all and desire that no one should perish, hear the prayers of your people and grant that the course of our world may be directed by your peaceful rule and your Church rejoice in tranquility and devotion. Through Christ our Lord.

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2022 - Filled with God's light

 

This last week, I was able to spend a few days down in southern ohio with a group of priest friends. We spent our days hiking, reading, and praying. The cabin in which we stayed was very remote, it had a mile long drive up a forested hill, so it was a bit quieter than my lodgings here on west blvd. But more dramatically than the quiet was the dark. The night sky was completely devoid of light pollution; what a blessing it was to be able to look up and see the stars. 

I felt a little bit like Dante, who I’ve been reading all summer, as I’ve mentioned. For, at the end of each of the books of the Divine Comedy, Dante looks up into the heavens to see stars. At the very center, he very middle line of his 14,233 line epic poem, line 72 of canto 17 of the purgatorio, Dante looks up and sees stars surrounding him on every side. 

Contrast that to how the poem begins: in the middle of his life, Dante finds himself shrouded in darkness, in the middle of dark wood, confronted by the dark guilt of his vicious sins—lust, wrath, and avarice. He’s lost and confused, and he can’t see the light. One of the reasons of his journey into the underground of hell, is to help him understand what will be lost if he allows himself to remain in the darkness. He will be deprived of the stars and the light of God forever.

In the Gospel today, Jesus tells the parable of the rich man who dies and because of his unrepetance, his refusal to see in this life will be deprived of the sight of God in eternity. He refused to see rightly. He refused to see poor Lazarus on his doorstep. He refused to see his duty toward the man in need. 

Now recognize: the rich man is sent to hell not simply because he was rich. We aren’t told that he earned his money in an immoral way. He wasn’t selling guns to terrorists or involved in human trafficking. Nor, are we told that he was particularly malicious toward Lazarus--he didn’t mock Lazarus, send his dogs to assault him, or abuse him physically or emotionally. In the parable—it seems that the rich man is sent to Hell because he was so blind that he didn’t even see the struggling dying man at his front door. His self-absorption and his riches blinded him. 

Throughout the Gospels, it becomes very clear that we will be judged on how we treat others. And not only by the direct sins of malice, our sins of omission, our failures to love God and neighbor, and to show mercy, have eternal consequences.

But what about Lazarus? What made him worthy of heaven? Is it simply because he was hungry? After all, we aren’t told of a single good deed he ever performed. He’s not praised by Jesus like the poor widow for giving what little he had to others. We are simply told his name. But that is actually something quite profound.

In all of the parables of Jesus, the parable of the prodigal son, the dishonest steward, the good Samaritan, the wise and foolish virgins, the persistent widow, this is the only parable in which a character in the story has a name. And so we should take note. The name “Lazarus” is the Greek version of the Hebrew name “Eliezer” which means “God is my help.” 

If his name is any indicator of his personality and his spiritual, Lazarus was not just a poor man, but a man who believed and trusted in God. Lazarus therefore embodies the first and most important of the beatitudes: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”. We are all to be like Lazarus—our whole identity should be based on recognition of the need for God’s help. To be filled with the light of God we must recognize our utter need of God.

The rich man in the parable is rich in everything except what matters most. He lacks the one thing that really matters: having a mind and soul turned toward God. Had his soul been turned toward God, he would have noticed the poor man dying on his front door and done something about it. 

The rich man has walled himself into the darkness of his mansion. His sight is not set on God, nor the other, and so he is filled with darkness. Elsewhere, the Lord teaches “The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light; but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness. And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be.” The rich man fails to see rightly, he fails to be filled with the light, and so he will be banished to the darkness forever.

Now most of us don’t live in mansions; but we are certainly challenged by this Gospel. Is my life filled with the light of God. The Lord says in John’s Gospel, “He who says he is in the light and hates his brother is in the darkness still, but He who loves his brother abides in the light.” To be filled with the light of God we must also learn to see our brother as God sees him, with perfect love.

Additionally, St. Paul explains in our second reading this weekend, how Christians must “pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.” Are these spiritual fruits evident in you? They are necessary if you wish dwell in the light of God. 

Pursue Righteousness, Our feelings, our ideas, the passions of our bodies, do not always conform with righteousness. And, so righteousness often involves a real struggle. Our culture says give-in to every appetite, indulge in every craving, follow every inclination, believe whatever you want. But that’s not the way of life. Are you pursuing righteousness with real effort?

Next Paul says, Pursue Devotion. The Greek word here is Eusebia, a great word. Are you devoted to God? Is your devotion to God evident in your speech, in your actions, in private, in public? Devotion to God demands ardent affection for him—a yielding of the heart to him with reverence in prayer, meditation, and works charity. 

The daily examination of conscience, at the end of the day examining your choices, attitudes, behaviors, again, is a vital spiritual exercise. Before bed, we do well to identify where have I, like the rich man in today’s Gospel failed to see rightly; what habits, what attachments are keeping me from seeing what God wants me to see? In the first reading, Amos condemns the complacent? Where have I been complacent toward injustice, with selfishness?

That daily examination is indispensable in getting serious about your spiritual life. For through it, God sheds his light into our hearts, and helps us to see those dark places that he wants to convert.  

May our celebration of the Eucharist today, help us to see rightly in this life, to be filled with the light and love of God, that we may come to share in the beatitude of God in eternal light, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

February 2 2022 - Feast of the Presentation - Canticles of Light

There are three canticles from the infancy narratives of Luke that are prayed every single day by the Church as part of the liturgy of the hours. 

The first canticle in the infancy narratives was sung by Zechariah on the occasion of the birth of his son, John the Baptist. Every morning, in the liturgy of the hours, the Church prays this canticle of Zechariah: “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to his people and set them free.”  The language of the Canticle of Zechariah reads like an Old Testament prophecy, speaking of the salvation yet to come…

The second canticle in the infancy narratives was sung by Mary on the occasion of her visitation to Elizabeth.  The Church lovingly prays Mary’s Canticle--her Magnificat—every day during evening prayer.  Our Lady’s Canticle also borrows from the Old Testament canticle of Hannah, who also foreshadows our Lady, singing of being made the mother of a child who would become God’s instrument for salvation—Hannah being the mother of the prophet Samuel, and Our Lady being the Mother of Salvation Himself.

The third canticle in the infancy narratives, we heard at the conclusion of today’s Gospel—the Canticle of the temple priest Simeon, called often, the Nunc dimittis because it begins in the Latin: Nunc dimittis servum tuum Domine, secundum verbum tuum in pace. Now, Master, let your servant go in peace, according to your word.  Simeon’s Canticle is sung in the very last hour of the day in the Church’s Night prayer.  

A fourth canticle from the infancy narratives isn’t prayed every day, but only on feast days. The great song of joy—the gloria in excelsis Deo—the angelic canticle at the birth of the Son of God.

But again, the Canticle of Simeon, sung at the end of the day, every day, is found in the gospel for today’s feast, the Presentation which, in the old calendar concluded the Christmas Season. Simeon, having waited his whole life to glimpse the savior, now can die in peace. And Simeon acknowledges that the Christ child is a light, not just for the Jews for the Gentiles, for the whole world.

The light of Christ is to shine in the Church not just during the Christmas season, but always. His light is to be visible, manifest, and encountered in the choices, attitudes, and behaviors of the members of His Church.  

Today is a good day for reflecting on the many ways the light of Christ shines in your life, like Simeon thanking God for the Christ Child. Thank God today for the truth, the beauty, the goodness you’ve experienced. Thank God for the people, parents, grandparents, teachers, priests and religious, who shared the light of faith with you, and pray for them, especially those who’ve passed into eternity. 

Also, today ask God to help you see ways he might be calling you to share his light with others, with the next generation, with people in whose life the light of God has grown dim, with non-believers.

Zechariah, once blind, saw the light slowly beginning to rise, and sang a canticle of praise. Our Lady, also, witnessed the light break into her life, shared that light with her cousin, and sang. Angles sang of the light of Christ at his saving birth. And Simeon, as his life neared its end, sang of that light, which gave him so much hope for heaven and the salvation of the world.

May our life become a song of praise, a song of light, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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On this special day of prayer for the consecrated religious, we pray that those consecrated to God by the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience may live their baptismal promises more intensely and have the grace to persevere in their commitment to the Lord and serve with open hearts and willing spirits. And in gratitude for the consecrated religious who have served this parish and our diocese, for an increase in vocations to the consecrated life. 

During this Catholic Schools week, for all young people, for their teachers and catechists and parents who are the first teachers of the faith, and that the truth of the faith may be learned, cherished, and practiced in every Catholic school and Christian home.

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

2nd Week in Ordinary Time 2022 - Wednesday - Interacting with Pharisees (part two)

 
As I mentioned yesterday, chapter two and the beginning of chapter 3 of St. Mark’s Gospel contain a series of five vignettes in which Jesus performs a miracle or reveals something about his identity, and the pharisees, scribes, and onlookers react with disapproval, suspicion, and contention. 

Today’s healing of the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath is the last of these five vignettes, and following this Sabbath miracle, the pharisees begin to conspire with the Herodians to kill Jesus. 

What was their problem with Jesus’ miracle? They claimed he was once again violating the sabbath. But, Scripture is very clear that even on the sabbath when manual labor is forbidden, it is still lawful, in fact, laudatory, to help people. It’s even commanded. Deuteronomy says, “You shall not see your countryman’s donkey or his ox fallen down on the way, and pay no attention to them; you shall certainly help him to raise them up”. Mercy outweighs rigid adherence to the Law.

Because of their hardness of heart, the pharisees intellects had become darkened, their wills perverted. And, in reaction to Jesus’ good act, the Pharisees conspire to perform an evil act on the Sabbath, murdering Jesus. And so fierce is their wrath that they join forces with political opportunities whom they would normally avoid at all costs: the Herodians. 

The Pharisees are a prime example that the darkening of the intellect and the perverting of the will stem from self-righteousness and sin. We literally cannot think straight when sin has taken root in our hearts. The prideful will justify morally reprehensible acts, they will seek to silence truth, deface beauty, and punish goodness. Their twisted minds will often latch onto one apparent good, like the avoidance of work on the sabbath, 

 to the exclusion of greater goods, avoiding murder and worshipping the son of God. To those who have become accustomed to darkness, light become obnoxious to them, even painful and hateful. Those who surround themselves with worldly errors and indulge the deceits of sin grow further and further from God.

But just has God sent his son into the midst of the Pharisees, like God sent the youth David into battle with the Philistine giant, God sends us to perform mighty deeds, and hidden acts of charity, to speak powerful words of truth and whispers of compassion. Because as long as the modern pharisees and philistines  draw breath they can be reached, their souls are not beyond hope. We are sent to rescue the lost sheep, those who desire salvation and eternal life with God, even those who don’t recognize that yet—to bring the light of Christ into the darkest of places, the darkest of souls.

So may we be faithful in our God given task, in living out the Christian faith, and spreading the Gospel in this day and age, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For the holy Church of God, that the Lord may graciously watch over her, care for her, and give her strength and courage in her mission.

For the peoples of the world, that the Lord may preserve harmony among us.

For all who are oppressed by any kind of need, that the Lord may grant them relief and move Christians to come to the aid of the suffering.

For an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated religious life, for all monastics and hermits, and that all Christians may seek the perfection for which they were made.

For our beloved dead, for the poor souls in purgatory, and for X, for whom this Mass is offered.

O God, our refuge and our strength, hear the prayers of your Church, for you yourself are the source of all devotion, and grant, we pray, that what we ask in faith we may truly obtain. Through Christ our Lord.

December 21 2021 - Winter is past, the Sun is Rising

On this darkest day of the year, the first day of winter, we hear a surprising message from the Song of Songs: “winter is past, the rains are over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth”.  Those of us who live in Northeastern Ohio know that the snows are just beginning, the flowers won’t be seen for several months. Yet, the Church proclaims this day as a spiritual springtime, a time of new growth, a time where light begins to appear again.

The Gospel reading as well is full of life and vibrancy: the pregnant Virgin Mother going in haste to visit her once barren cousin Elizabeth, the baby John the Baptist leaping in his mother’s. There is singing, there is the joyful expectancy of the two mothers, there is praising of God. 

These readings remind us of the importance of walking by faith. Naturally, to our senses, it may be cold and the darkest day of the year. But we walk by faith, not by sight. Supernaturally, our hearts are burning with the fire of live as Christmas draws near.

Some people experience a deep depression this time of year, as the sun is seen less and less. Christians, though are called to rejoice in spite of the darkness of the world. We turn our faces to the light of the true sun. 

The O Antiphon, on this darkest day of the year, sung at vespers speaks of the sun that rises from the east: O Oriens, splendor lucis æternæ, brightness of light eternal.  come and enlighten those sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death. Christ is the Oriens, the eternal light and sun of justice who rises in just a few days. 

Today, may we bask in the light of our coming savior through our prayer and charity towards those in need, may we bring his light into the dark corners of the world, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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We raise up our prayers of petitions, as we await with longing the Advent of Christ the Lord.

That those in the darkness of error and faithlessness may be enlightened by the light of Christ through the witness of the Church

For the protection of the unborn, and the overturning of all laws lacking respect for the dignity of human life.

That those struggling with winter depression or addiction may find peace and joy in Christ.

That Christ may banish disease, drive out hunger, ward off every affliction, and strengthen all who suffer persecution for the sake of the Gospel.

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. 

 

September 20 2021 - St. Andrew Kim and Companion martyrs - Do not hide your light

 In his parable of the Sower, the Lord explains how his disciples are called to hear the word of God with openness to its transformative power. Unlike the seed that is sown among thorns, where it is choked, or among rocky soil, where it fails to take root, we need allow the word of God to take root and grow and bear fruit in our lives.

Today’s Gospel immediately follows the Lord’s Parable of the Sower, and in this parable the Lord takes his teaching one step further.

Not only do we need to clear the debris, the thorns from our life, so that the word of God may grow, not only do we clear our souls of rockiness, that is hardness and resistance to his teaching, not only do we need to make sure that our hearing of the word of God is much more than surface level, in today’s Gospel, the Lord gives us this image of a lamp, a light. When we have properly heard the Word of God and taken it to heart, our lives begin to be filled with light. Where there was once darkness there is now light, like in the creation story, when God says, let there be light, when we’ve allowed the Lord’s teachings to be planted in us, new light is born.

The person when hearing God’s word, embraces and understands it, they are filled with a light that others can see. You can see the difference the Gospel makes in the lives of people who are living it. And you can see the lack of light when people are not. 

“No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather, he places it on a lampstand.” Those who have been filled with the light of the Gospel, need to make that light known. 

Today we honor a saint who did just that. St. Andrew Kim, the first native-born Korean priest, risked his life smuggling missionaries into Korea, so that his native countrymen might have the Word of God preached to them. For this he was arrested, tortured and killed.

St. Andrew truly shared the light that he had received. In fact, he realized that this is the most important thing a Christian can do. It is worth risking your life for, it is worth dying for. Because the Gospel sets men free. It brings them to Christ the Savior. The preaching of the Gospel is a matter of eternal life and death. Souls are at stake.

St. Andrew believed this, he lived this. 

This is why we continue to support the mission of the Church as best we can, and its why we continue to open our hearts to the transformative power of the Gospel, that we may shine with the light of Christ, and share that light with all, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For all Christians facing persecution for the faith, that their sufferings may bring about the conversion of hardened souls to Christ.

For the good Korean Catholics of our diocese, that they may continue to be a blessing to our local Church.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, 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 the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, for the deceased priests, deacons and religious of the diocese of Cleveland, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

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.

August 6 2021 - Transfiguration - Luminous Mystery Par Excellence

 

In the Year of the Rosary 2002, Pope St. John Paul II made history.  He proposed five new mysteries to the devotion of the Holy Rosary, the five luminous mysteries.  So, in addition to the 15 joyful, sorrowful, and glorious mysteries, now, we would add meditation upon Jesus Baptism in the Jordan, his self-manifestation at the wedding at Cana, his call to conversion through the preaching of the Kingdom, his Transfiguration, and the institution of the Eucharist.  

Pope St. John Paul explained that each of these luminous mysteries “is a revelation of the Kingdom now present in the very person of Jesus,” and that “The mystery of light par excellence is the Transfiguration, traditionally believed to have taken place on Mount Tabor. The glory of the Godhead shines forth from the face of Christ as the Father commands the astonished Apostles to "listen to him" and to prepare to experience with him the agony of the Passion, so as to come with him to the joy of the Resurrection and a life transfigured by the Holy Spirit.”

Jesus’ face radiating his majesty as the Son of God was burned into the minds of Peter, James, and John, who would play such important roles in the early Church. This event shed its light upon who Jesus was, his mission, and also who his followers were called to be and how they were called to follow in his footsteps.

“To look upon the face of Christ,” the saintly Pope said, “to recognize its mystery amid the daily events and the sufferings of His human life, and then to grasp the divine splendor definitively revealed in the Risen Lord...is the task of every follower of Christ" 

Why is this our task?  Because we need the light of Christ to guide us through the trials of life, just like they guided Peter, James and John in the trials of the early Church.  We need to remember who He is, so that we remember who we are called to be. When we contemplate the glorious divinity of the Lord, we are filled with his light, and become ready to face the trials of our life and the difficult task of witnessing to the Gospel and building up the Church in our own dark age.  

Like the apostle, each of us has to walk through dark valleys at times, sharing in the agony of the Passion, and yet this luminous mystery is a light in the darkness, a foreshadowing of the resurrection for Christ’s faithful ones. 

So, by the Transfiguration of the Lord may we be filled with the light of Christian Hope, and radiate that light for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That Holy Church may radiate the light of the transfigured Jesus through her preaching, teaching, works of mercy, and suffering for the sake of the Gospel.

That the Holy Father and all the ordained may find in the Transfiguration the strength and courage needed to bear the crosses which their mission entails.

For those who doubt or deny the divinity of Christ: May the Transfiguration help them believe that Jesus is true God and true man. 

That those whose lives have been disfigured by vice may find in the transfiguration the inspiration they need to begin a new life. 

For those experiencing any kind of hardship or sorrow, isolation or illness: that the glory of the Transfiguration may bring them hope and consolation.

For the deceased members of our families and parish, for all deceased priests and religious, and all the souls in purgatory, that they may come to the destiny revealed in the Transfiguration of the Lord, and for N. for whom this Mass is offered.

Heavenly Father, hear the prayers of your pilgrimage Church, and grant us what we truly need that we may follow your Son in His Passion and Death and become heirs of his glorious Resurrection. Through the same Christ Our Lord.

10th Week of Ordinary Time 2021 - Tuesday - Salt and Light

 We continue today to read sequentially through the Lord’s great sermon on the mount—today’s passage immediately following the Beatitudes. 

Practicing the beatitudes enables disciples of the Lord to be “Salt of the earth” and “light of the world”. Jesus’ disciples aren’t going to be sitting around in contended beatitude while on this earth. We are given work to do, we’re given a new purpose. 

In the ancient world, salt had a number of uses. So, too, Christians are to have a number of jobs.

First salt is used as a seasoning. So, too, Christians are to be a sort of seasoning to an otherwise bland world.  There is nothing more interesting, no one more full of life than a true Christian saint filled with the life of Christ. Something each of us are to aspire to.

Salt is also a Preservative: In the days before refrigeration, salt made preserving food possible for times of famine. Christians will have the job of preserving what is good and holy in creation, opposing spiritual decay. Salt is also needed for life. You cannot survive without some salt. Similarly, Christians need to be salt in this way. The health of a society can be measured by its Christians living faithfully according to the precepts of our faith.

Salt is also a Purifier: The salt in the oceans of the world that act as a natural cleaning agent, and most water purification systems use salt as a "purifier." Christians are to be the world’s purifiers: opposing the corrupting powers of malice and perversion and greed, purifying the mind and heart of society by preaching the word and calling to conversion.

Finally, just like it’s used on our roads, in ancient times salt was also used to prevent people from slipping on slippery paths.  Christians are called to help souls from slipping into damnation—promoting the teachings of Jesus which give stability to civilization.

Christians are also called to be the light of the world, we are to be out in the world, shining with good deeds, so that the nations might trace our good deeds back to our God who inspires them. 

What a wonderful vocation: to be salt and light. But the Lord, in this passage also gives his first warnings. Salt can lose its flavor, light can be hidden under a bushel. Christians must not allow these things to happen. You must chose to be faithful to your vocation every day. Living the beatitudes is a choice, being the salt you are called to be, and the light you are called to be requires an intentional decision: study, prayer, effort, courage, and patience.

May our Christian saltiness, our brightness, and the beatitude of the Lord increase in us today and all days, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For the whole Christian people, that the beatitudes of Christ may animate our lives. Let us pray to the Lord. 

For our President and all elected government representatives, may the Holy Spirit grant them wisdom and guide them to promote authentic and lasting peace in the world, an end to terrorism, respect for religious freedom, and a greater reverence for the sanctity of Human Life. Let us pray to the Lord.

For blessings upon the priests of the diocese who begin new assignments today: may their ministry be blessed with the goodness, truth, and beauty of the Lord. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our young people beginning summer vacation, that they may be kept close to the truth and heart of Jesus, that young people may live in faith-filled homes where the Gospel is cherished, studied, and lived-out. Let us pray to the lord.

For all of the sick and suffering, for the grace to unite their sufferings with Christ and to know His consolation and peace.

For our departed loved ones and all of the souls in purgatory, and for N. for whom this Mass is offered. We pray to the Lord.

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

2nd Week of Easter 2021 - Wednesday - The invitation to believe

 “God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” This most popular verse of John’s Gospel should sound familiar, for we heard a very similar verse quite recently. On Divine Mercy Sunday, following the account of Our Lord’s post-resurrection appearance in the upper room John explains the very purpose of his Gospel: “But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.”

Through Belief we come to life. No other gospel accentuates belief like John's. The Greek verb used for belief, pisteuō is found 98 times in his gospel. After Jesus’ first miracle, the wedding at Cana, John’s notes how the disciples “began to believe in Him.”  After the Lord cured the royal official’s son, John records how the official “and his whole household came to believe.”  When Jesus gave sight to the blind man, his response was “I believe, Lord.”  

That Greek word is interesting, it has a different connotation than the latin word: credo, which comes means to credit, to affirm, to put one’s heart into a thing. That’s a good word too, don’t get me wrong. We need to affirm with our heart that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. But, the word John uses in the Greek pisteuo, comes from the word peitho, which means, to persuade. To believe in God and in Jesus Christ, means allowing God to persuade me to follow him. 

I like the different connotation there. The latin credo is a strong word. I believe. With my heart I affirm it. I put the stamp of approval on it. The Greek word though, puts the emphasis on God. God is the one beckoning, inviting, persuading me. He has sent his Son, as a sign of his love, inviting me to follow. He is worthy of belief. He is compelling. He has something to offer. 

The passage today speaks of condemnation for those who refuse to believe. For there is something terribly sad about the one who has refused to be led by God. If Jesus, God in the flesh isn’t worth following, what is, who is? The refusal to believe in Jesus, in a sense, is a refusal to be led by Goodness and Truth and Life. 

And so, yes, there is condemnation for that; there are eternal consequences to saying no to the light of Christ, to saying, I will not be persuaded by that which is most worthy. John stresses the importance of belief, because he is realistic about what is at stake. Belief leads to eternal life, but the refusal to believe—refusal to accept the invitation to life--to be persuaded by the light of God will end in eternal darkness. Will you turn and face and follow the easter light or not? And sadly, as John says, there are people who prefer darkness to light, and in the end their sad state will be exposed.

For those souls who resist belief, may we pray and offer compelling reasons to believe in Jesus in our words and deeds, for as long as they draw breath in this life, they are not without hope. For the Lord wishes to use us, to use our easter joy and integrity of life and good works—to persuade all those who would believe to himself, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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Filled with Paschal joy, let us turn earnestly to God, to graciously hear our prayers and supplications.

For the shepherds of our souls, that they may have the strength to govern wisely the flock entrusted to them by the Good Shepherd.

For the whole world, that it may truly know the peace of the Risen Christ, especially we pray for the conversion of those who refuse belief in God and Jesus the Christ, His Son.

For our parish, and for the newly initiated, that we may bear witness with great confidence to the Resurrection of Christ.

For our brothers and sisters who suffer, that their sorrow may be turned to gladness through the Christian faith.

That all of our beloved dead and all the souls in purgatory may come to the glory of the Resurrection.

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the desires of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our lord.

February 2 2021 - Feast of the Presentation - Light of Christ, Fill our Lives

 

Many of you know that I was able to live and complete my college studies in Rome. One of the first things I did when I got to Rome was to visit St. Peter’s Basilica. And if you’ve never been there, it is difficult to convey the grandeur and the beauty of that magnificent edifice. 

A few days after I arrived in Rome, it was on this day, the feast of the Presentation, that I was able to attend my first papal liturgy at St. Peter’s. And that too was quite the experience. For on the Feast of the Presentation, the consecrated religious of Rome go to St. Peter’s to renew their vows in front of the Pope. So as we made our way to the basilica the streets and buses were filled with nuns and monks and religious brothers and sisters in their habits.

And as we entered St. Peter’s I got to witness that “mostly controlled chaos” that the Italians are so well known for. But then, the music of the liturgy started and chaos was brought into order. And then to my great surprise, the lights of the basilica, that I didn’t even know existed, came on to full blast. And all the art, and ornamentation, and colors of the marble, were all illuminated, and it was quite breathtaking. 

And I remember thinking how not many years before that, the light of Christ was quite hard for me to see, in the angst of my teenage years. And now, there I was standing in St. Peter’s Basilica filled with light and truth and beauty, amidst all of these good religious men and women who were offering their lives to God, so grateful that the light of the Catholic faith was shining in my life.

I think today is a good day for reflecting on the many ways the light of Christ shines in your life, like Simeon thanking God for the Christ Child. Thank God today for the truth, the beauty, the goodness you’ve experienced. Thank God for the people, parents, grandparents, teachers, priests and religious, who shared the light of faith with you, and pray for them, especially those who’ve passed into eternity. Also, today ask God to help you see ways he might be calling you to share his light with others, with the next generation, with people in whose life the light of God has grown dim, with non-believers.

For the light that we are given, as Christ teaches in his sermon on the mount, is not meant to be hidden, but is to shine brightly before others, shared with others. 

In 1997, St. John Paul II designated the feast of the presentation as world day of prayer for those in consecrated religious life. So we will offer prayers for the consecrated religious who are such a great light in the Church. May we join them in responding more devoutly today to the Lord’s invitation to turn away from the darkness of error and sin toward the light of Christ, to bear that light courageously and generously for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For those consecrated to God by the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience that they may seek to live their baptismal promises more intensely and have the grace to persevere in their commitment to the Lord and serve with open hearts and willing spirits. We pray to the Lord…

In gratitude for the consecrated religious who have served this parish and our diocese, for an increase in vocations to the consecrated life. We pray to the Lord…

During this Catholic Schools week, for all young people, for their teachers and catechists and parents who are the first teachers of the faith, and that the truth of the faith may be learned, cherished, and practiced in every Catholic school and Christian home.

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

January 4 2021 - St. Elizabeth Ann Seton - Becoming an Epiphany for others

 Two hundred years ago, Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton founded the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph, the first new community for religious women to be established in the United States.  Her new community would also staff the first free Catholic School for girls in this country.  1000s of women over the last two hundred years have dedicated their lives through consecrated service in Mother Seton’s religious communities, and multitudes more have been educated, cared for, served in her schools, social service centers, and hospitals throughout this country and throughout the world.

Elizabeth Seton was the first person native to American soil to be canonized, and she wasn’t raised a Catholic; rather, as you might know, she was the daughter of a wealthy Episcopalian family from Manhattan New York.  She married a wealthy businessman at the age of 19, and raised 5 children in wealthy New York social circles.  A dispute between the United States and the French Republic led to her husband losing his business and falling into bankruptcy. The Setons lost their home, and the stress caused her husband’s tuberculosis to worsen. The Setons were taken in by a good Italian family, but within 6 weeks, her husband was dead. 

Widowed and destitute, Elizabeth, with her children, continued to live with the Catholics who shared their simple faith with her. She was so touched by their goodness and their faith, particularly to the Eucharist and the Blessed Virgin, that she decided to convert to Catholicism, despite the stern opposition from her Episcopalian friends. 

Here’s a woman who became Catholic and ultimately a saint because she was treated with great kindness by Catholics at a moment of great tragedy—by ordinary Catholics who were simply living their faith with deep devotion.

Yesterday, we celebrated the feast of the Epiphany, in which the goodness and light of the Lord is revealed to the nations. The Lord continues to reveal his goodness and light through his Church, through Ordinary Catholics living out their faith with great devotion. Because of that Italian catholic family, shining with the light of the Lord, a saint was born, through whom the Lord has taught and healed multitudes. 

Mother Seaton became an epiphany for others, and we are called to do the same, through acts of goodness and charity and devotion. But, this means going out of our way when we hear that someone has fallen on rough or tragic times—for it is in those dark times, that we are called to bring the light of Jesus, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all Christians may grow in charitable attentiveness to the needs of the poor in our midst.

That all those searching and longing for Christ may find him through the witness of His Holy Church.

Through the intercession of Mother Seaton, patron saint of teachers, that all teachers, may share their knowledge with gentleness, patience, and concern for their students.  

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

Christmas 2020 - Celebrating the Nativity Despite the Encroaching Darkness

Despite the great turmoil out in the world this year (and the crummy weather), it is a great joy to be able to celebrate the birth of our savior with all of you either in person or virtually via live stream. 

The celebration of Christmas has interesting history. Soon after the end of the last great Christian persecution, about the year 330 AD, December 25 was designated for the celebration of the birth of Christ. Prior to that, predating the liturgical feast of the Nativity by at least a hundred years, Christians would gather every year for the Epiphany, when the wise men from the east brought gifts to the newborn savior. So, initially, Epiphany was a sort of proto-christmas In fact, it’s still on the feast of the Epiphany in many parts of the world is when gifts are exchanged, not today. Anyway, after Christianity was legalized in the Roman Empire, the Popes designated December 25 as the liturgical feast to specifically celebrate the blessed hour and moment at which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin at a stable at midnight in Bethlehem in the piercing cold.

The popularity of the feast of Christmas spread as Christianity spread throughout the known world: Christmas came to Ireland through St Patrick around 461 AD, to England through St Augustine of Canterbury around 604 AD and to the German tribes through St Boniface in 754 who basically invented the Christmas tree. The Irish monks St Columban and St Call introduced Christmas to Switzerland and Western Austria in the 600s; the Scandinavians received it through St Ansgar around 865 AD. It was brought by the brothers St Cyril and Methodius to the Slavic people in 885 AD and to Hungary by St Adalbert in 997.

By about 1100 all of the nations of Europe had accepted Christianity and Christmas was celebrated everywhere with great devotion and joy. The period from the 12th to the 16th centuries saw the development of the many beautiful Christmas traditions we now hold dear. Carols and Christmas plays were written. Devotion to the Christmas Creche of course was spread by St. Francis and the Franciscans. In fact, things got so festive, that the Pope had to dial things back a bit, he had to outlaw dancing in church on Christmas, and dressing up in outlandish costumes and playing practical jokes in church.

The Protestant Reformation brought some changes to the Christmas traditions of Europe. There were some beautiful Christmas carols that came from the Protestants. But then came the English puritans. And the puritans wishing to purge any last vestige of Catholicism from their spiritual lives denounced Catholic Christmas overly worldly and heretical, and so they launched a sort of anti-Christmas campaign in England. For a short time, as they held significant power in England, the puritans outlawed Christmas in 1642. Most people ignored the ordinances.

The Puritans finding England hostile to their anti-Catholicism, sailed for these shores. And as you might have guessed, when the Puritans came over to America, they did everything they could to suppress any vestiges of Catholic Christmas. Christmas was banned in Massachusetts in 1659. And those puritan, anti-Catholic sentiments really persisted for many years in this country. In many places there could be no Christmas trees, wrapped presents or caroling. It was not until 1870 that Christmas was designated as a federal holiday. 

We can thank our german and irish and Italian Catholic immigrants for flooding this country and bringing with them all of the wonderful Catholic traditions, including of course, Christmas mass, and beloved carols, like Silent Night, translated from the original german in 1859. 

St. Ignatius of Antioch Parish was founded in 1903 to be a home for all those immigrants who flooded Cleveland at the end of the 19th century. And, in many ways we are the descendants of those who saved Christmas in this country, infusing a very protestant and even puritan culture, with the beautiful traditions of Catholicism. And in a sense, we continue that mission don’t we?

For in 2020, For the first time in our lives, millions of Americans are being pressured by the government not to attend church for Christmas. In some states, heavy restrictions are being implemented. Will they be lifted? Maybe. Maybe this is one more phase of the war on Christmas, the war on Christ. Every year we hear stories of Christians gathered for Christmas in Africa, Syria, Iraq, and Turkey who fall victim to violent attacks and bombings. In the Middle East, more than 1 million Christians in Saudi Arabia are unable to participate in worship. Even the Vatican seems a bit reluctant to address the government infringement upon the Church in China, likely for fear of the Chinese Communists launching a new campaign of martyrdom. 

The powers of darkness hate Christmas, the powers of darkness will always be bent upon stifling Christmas. Even in these last decades, we’ve seen materialism take on greater and greater importance. Even to turn St. Nicholas, a catholic bishop who preached the true humanity of Christ, into this neo-pagan god of winter. Santa is more beloved than the Christ Child by a great portion of the population. And that’s not right. But it makes our gathering to worship the Son of God being born in the piercing cold of midnight so important. 

We need to know that God is with us, in this troubled, frightened, war-torn, disease-ridden world. And Christmas celebrates that a savior is for born for you who is Christ and Lord. In the immortal words of that great theologian, Linus Van Pelt: “That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.” “A savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord.”

The Word has been made flesh and has made his dwelling among us. He is born for us and so struggles with us, he grieves with us, he suffers with us, and he whispers “do not be afraid” when the powers of darkness begin to encroach upon us. The light of Bethlehem overcomes the darkness of the world. The love of Bethlehem overcomes the piercing cold of selfishness.

Across two thousand years, Christmas brings joy and hope and consolation. No matter who you are, no matter where you live, no matter what your circumstances, this what matters: “A savior has been born for you” “The Word is made flesh” And that’s something worth celebrating. 

And Catholics celebrate, not simply as popular culture dictates or how any world government deems what is appropriate, we celebrate as Catholics have celebrated for 2000 years, with as much beauty, and music, and food, and family, and decorations, we can muster, and of course holy mass—Christ Mass—for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

December 21 2020 - Christ, the Rising Light

  

Throughout the church year, we do not read very often from the Song of Songs, yet this book has been the favorite of many great Saints.  The Song of Songs has been called “the Great Love Story between God and the Soul”, yet, it is the only book of the Bible that never once mentions the name of God.  But when you read it, with the eyes of faith, you find God everywhere, in the symbolism of this book’s poetry and song-like dialogues.  

Song of Songs is a series of love poems about a Bride and her Groom.  The traditional Jewish interpretation identifies the Groom as the God and the Bride as the people of Israel.  It’s no surprise then how early Christian interpreters saw the Song of Songs fulfilled by Jesus—in his love for the Church. Saint Paul refers to the Church as the Bride of Christ several times.  

In just a few short verses, we realize that the Bride and Groom in the Song of Songs are passionately in love.  And so, what an appropriate reading for Advent, no? For as two lovers joyfully anticipate being in each other’s presence, calling out to each other, speaking their desire for each other, so the Church joyfully and passionately awaits Christ: “Hark! my lover–here he comes springing across the mountains, leaping across the hills.”

He rises over the mountains, much like the rays of the morning sun. Which is why, in the O Antiphon for today, the Church calls out to Christ, “O Oriens” O Rising Sun, O Radiant Dawn, come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death. On this, the darkest day of the year, the day of the winter solstice, the Church announces Christ as the rising light.  

I hope your advent preparations have helped you encounter this God who loves you.  I hope you have encountered Him as light that pierces through the darkness of your life.  Each of us have struggles, anxieties, darkness.  The relationship with Christ may not eliminate the darkness from your life, but in Christ we encounter the light shining in the darkness, a love which accompanies us amidst all of our worldly trials. So we must look for him and listen for him especially in the darkness and quiet of prayer!

Rejoice, the Lord, our Lover is coming to meet us. Let us open our arms and hearts to Him for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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We raise up our prayers of petitions, as we await with longing the Advent of Christ the Lord.

That those in the darkness of error and faithlessness may be enlightened by the light of Christ through the witness of the Church

For the protection of the unborn, and the overturning of all laws lacking respect for the dignity of human life.

That those struggling with winter depression or addiction may find light and peace and joy in Christ.

That Christ may banish disease, drive out hunger, ward off every affliction, and strengthen all who suffer persecution for the sake of the Gospel.

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.