29th Week in Ordinary Time 2024 - Monday - Dives in Misericordia (Rich in Mercy)

 Having concluded our reading of St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians, our readings at weekday Mass will be taken from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, until the end of the month.

Paul’s letter to the Galatians was primarily corrective—addressing particular grave errors of the Galatian community.  

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, written while in prison in Rome around the year 60, is a more universal letter. It circulated among the various communities in the region of Asia Minor and doesn’t mention specific problems or controversies of any local church.  Rather, it is a profound and exalted meditation on the mystery of God’s plan to save all men through Christ and incorporate us into the Body of Christ, the Church.

We heard this morning, “God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us, even when we were dead in our transgression, brought us to life with Christ (by grace you have been saved).” 

In 1980 Pope St. John Paul issued an encyclical “Dives in Misericordia”. Rich in Mercy, drawing its name from that verse of St. Paul, the encyclical focuses on God's mercy as revealed through Jesus Christ offered to all people. 

In it, the Pope emphasizes how mercy, as a fundamental attribute of God and a core element of Christ's messianic mission, restores human dignity and brings sinful man back into relationship with God.

God’s mercy offers us a fresh start. His forgiveness liberates us from the burden of guilt and allows us to rediscover our true identity as children of God. Mercy forgives us of sin and leads us away from all those forms of evil which degrade us. Moreso, the mercy of Christ reveals us to ourselves. God’s mercy, shown to us in Jesus Christ, shows us who we are meant to be. As the Pope says, “Christ reveals man to himself and brings to light his lofty calling." God's mercy reveals to us our true potential and calling.

Saved and transformed by God’s mercy, we are to be merciful toward one another. We are to practice forgiveness, active compassion, and the recognition of the dignity of every human person.  We are to engage in the works of mercy: feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and visiting the sick and imprisoned. We are not only to engage in mutual service, but outdo each other in charity. 

The Church’s duty is to create a culture of mercy. May we start here in our neighborhood, in our parish, in our families and toward strangers—that the mercy of Christ which has saved us, may continue to save and transform all aspects of life and society to create a civilization of love, where mercy reigns, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

- - - -  

For the Church, that she may faithfully proclaim and embody God's mercy in all her ministries and interactions, let us pray to the Lord.

For world leaders, that they may be inspired by God's mercy to work for justice, peace, and the alleviation of poverty and suffering, that all our interactions and structures may reflect the merciful love of God revealed in Jesus Christ, let us pray to the Lord.

For our parish community, that we may become a beacon of mercy in our neighborhood, actively practicing forgiveness, compassion, and recognition of human dignity, let us pray to the Lord.

For those burdened by guilt or sin, that they may encounter the liberating forgiveness of Christ and rediscover their dignity as children of God, we pray to the Lord.

That the sick, suffering, and afflicted may always know the mercy of God in the charity of the Christian Church. 

That all those who have died, through the mercies of God, may rest in peace in the hope of the resurrection, especially…

Merciful Father, hear our prayers and grant us what we truly need in order to be  living witnesess of your mercy in Christ. We ask this through the same Christ our Lord.

September 9 2024 - St. Peter Claver - If you can't feed 100 people, then just feed 1

 In the age of the explorers and conquistadors, many young men left Europe for the Americas in order to seek out a fortune. Peter Claver, a young Jesuit priest, rather, left his native Spain, to build up treasure in heaven, in Cartegena, a port city in modern day Columbia. The Collect prayer refers to Peter Claver as “a slave of slaves” for he ministered to the African slaves who were brought there to work in the fields and the mines. 

When the slave ships entered the port, Peter Claver would board the ships to care for the sick and malnourished. And when the slaves were herded to the slave-market, Peter, would bring them medicine, food, bread, and other items that would help them survive in this new land.  

With the help of interpreters, he gave the slaves basic instructions in the faith; he assured them of their human dignity and the salvation that awaited them in God's kingdom.  During the 40 years of his ministry in Columbia, it is estimated that Claver baptized more 300,000 slaves.  

Peter Claver remarked more than once how it took everything in him at times to go down into the disgusting conditions of the slave-ships filled with filth and stench.  He reminds us that true loving service isn’t always pretty, neat and clean—we might even experience revulsion at the conditions in which the destitute live.  But loving service means being faithful to the duties of mercy despite our personal feelings.  

On this Memorial we read from Matthew 25, the Lord’s teaching on the final judgment, a reminder that service of those in need is never a waste of time. In each slave, to whom he ministered, Peter Claver ministered to Christ himself. And for this, he is counted among the blessed. In the words of Mother Theresa: "At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great things we have done. We will be judged by "I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was naked and you clothed me.

We might not be called to enter into the filth of slave-ships, but we are certainly called to enter into the lives of others to help someone other than ourselves today. Again, in the words of Mother Theresa, “If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one."

May we use the time we have been given today, to serve Christ in those who suffer, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - -  

That all Christians may be diligent in bringing the truth and goodness of the Gospel into every sphere of society.

For an end to slavery, human trafficking, and all forms of inhumane oppression; and for the protection and respect of all human life.

For those whose lives are marked by suffering, illness, or grief, that they may find hope in the promises of Christ.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, and for N., for whom this mass is offered.

Heavenly Father, hear the prayers of your pilgrimage Church, through the intercession of St. Peter Claver and all the saints, grant us what we truly need to remain faithful to your Son in all things. Through Christ Our Lord.

November 17 2021 - St. Elizabeth of Hungary - Christ disguised as a leper

 Today the Church celebrates St. Elizabeth of Hungary. Elizabeth was born in the year 1207, right about the time St. Francis of Assisi founded the Franciscans, and she too is one of church history’s great examples of charity. 

As daughter of the King of Hungary, and betrothed to the Noble Landgrave of Thuringia, Elizabeth had at her disposal substantial wealth, which she used to care for the poor.

During a severe famine, she exhausted the treasury and distributed her entire store of corn to the poor. She built a new hospital, tending to the sick, feeding them, often by hand—sometimes 900 patients every day. She provided for the welfare of orphans and helpless children. 

When many criticized her material benefactions as being excessive, her husband said that her charities would bring upon the whole realm divine blessings. But even he sort of reached his limits when she brought a leper into their castle to quarantine him from the rest of the populace. 

Interesting story though: as Elizabeth’s husband went to have the leper removed, he discovered that the leper had the holy stigmata, and that his saintly wife was truly taking care of Christ in the sick and poor. 

Through his wife, he learned how we Christians are called to take risks in revering and caring for Christ, seeing Him and loving Him, in our neighbor, including the most revolting. In the works of mercy, we care for Christ, and we also help others discover Christ disguised in the leper.

“What good is it if we only show charity to those who show charity to us” we hear in the Gospel today. Rather, as we see evidenced in the life of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Christians are to show charity to those who cannot repay us, the poor, the sick, and the dying. We are to “lend expecting nothing back” in giving of our time, talent, and treasure.

St. Elizabeth is revered as the patron saint of third order Franciscans, but no doubt, she has something to teach us all for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - - -  

For blessings upon the Bishops gathered in Baltimore for their annual meeting this week, that their conversations, prayers, and deliberations for the good of the Church may be blessed. 

For our consecrated religious, and all third order Franciscans under the patronage of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, may they be strengthened in their works of charity and sustained in their witness to Christ’s saving Gospel.

That families experiencing division may know the peace and reconciliation that comes from Christ.

For all those struggling with addiction, mental illness, chronic sickness, unemployment, or ongoing trials of any kind, for those who grieve the loss of a loved one, or for those who will die today: that they will be fortified and blessed with God’s special favor and consolation.  

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased clergy and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

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

May 31 2021 - Memorial Day Visitation

 Memorial Day coincides this year with the Feast of the Visitation, when Our Lady, upon hearing of the pregnancy of her kinswoman Elizabeth, went in haste to the visit her.

Visitation is certainly at the heart of our Faith. We are to visit the Blessed Sacrament. We are to visit the sick and imprisoned. We are to visit the graves of loved ones. We are to visit the lonely and afflicted to bring them comfort. Though Mary was undergoing her own trials—unwed, pregnant, chosen by God, she left the comfort of her home in Nazareth, in haste. She detected a need, and she acted without fearful hesitation. 

And Elizabeth wasn’t just a drive across town.  She lived in the hill country of Judea—about 60 miles from Nazareth—through bandit infested hill country.  A difficult journey for anyone, especially for a teenage mother traveling by herself.

But anxiety did not hinder the blessed Mother from making the charitable visitation. Mary was concerned that Elizabeth’s pregnancy would be difficult for she was advanced in years.  So, prompted by love and charity, she put Elizabeth’s needs ahead of her own.

There’s always an excuse not to make visitation—to visit the lonely, to visit the blessed sacrament. But Our Lady shows us the generous spirit that should animate us, the self-forgetfulness. 

Memorial Day is certainly a day for Visitation. It is common today to visit the graves of our servicemen and women who died defending our freedom. I know in my hometown, a parade will process from the veteran’s memorial in the town square to the cemetery to honor and pray for our beloved soldiers. My grandfather, a world war II veteran took part in the parade every year, to remember his fallen comrades. In fact, my mother and nieces are keeping the family tradition alive and taking part in the parade this morning.

It is important to visit the memories of our beloved heroes. To remember to pray for their souls. And to remember the values for which they died. 

It was on Memorial Day last year, that we were able to return to the public celebration of Mass after the long period of quarantine. With a spirit of profound gratitude for all who made it possible for us to be here today, we pray for our beloved war dead, and pray that we may, like them, hunger and thirst and work for justice and peace, for the spread of God’s kingdom, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - - -  

Let us pray to our Heavenly Father, confident that He is generous to those who call upon Him with faith.

That Our Lady’s example of generous charity may inspire us to engage more fervently in the works of mercy and the preaching of the Gospel. 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.

On this Memorial Day, we pray that our nation may live with ever-greater gratitude for the sacrifice of those who fought and died for our freedom. Let us pray to the Lord.

For the protection of all those who serve in our nation’s military, and for all wounded servicemen and women, for all those widowed and orphaned because of war. Let us pray to the Lord.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for the deceased members of our family, friends, and parish, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom, and for N… Let us pray to the Lord.

We pray, O Lord our God, that the Virgin Mary, who merited to bear God and man in her chaste womb, may commend the prayers of your faithful in your sight. Through Christ Our Lord.

September 21 2020 - St. Matthew - Becoming Vessels of Mercy

Matthew was a rather unlikely character to be called by Jesus as an apostle, but then again, one could say that about the group of unremarkable fishermen.  Matthew was a Jew who collected taxes from his fellow Jews on behalf of the occupying Roman forces.  

The Jews considered the occupation of a tax-collector an outrageous disgrace, as they were known cheating their own kind and working for the enemy; tax collectors were named in one breath along with murderers, assassins, thieves, robbers, criminals, and prostitutes. People were shocked to hear Jesus call such a man into his band of intimate followers.   Shocking, too would have been the Lord’s teaching that tax-collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God” before the Sadducees and Pharisees, those who considered themselves to be good pious Jews.

The Call of Matthew, the tax-collector, is a reminder that all people, from all walks of life, no matter your sinful past, are called to follow Jesus in the ways of righteousness. Tax-collectors and prostitutes were entering the kingdom of God before the Sadducees and Pharisees precisely because they were willing to give up their former lives, their preconceived

notions about God, and their sins and follow Jesus. 

As the Lord entered the house of the tax collector in order to invite Matthew to conversion and discipleship, the Lord sends us into the houses and lives of our neighbors and fallen-away family members who do not follow Christ, to invite them to new life of Christ. 

This certainly requires great humility on our part, that we may never appear self-righteous. Our effectiveness in calling others to Christ, is proportional to our identification with Him and union with Him in grace and mercy. “I require mercy, not sacrifice” is the call for each one of us to embody mercy. 

The Sadducees and Pharisees did not understand Jesus and recognize him as God because they did not understand mercy. They were unwilling to become vessels of mercy.

But when we cultivate mercy, through works of charity animated by faith, “with all humility and gentleness, with patience,” as St. Paul writes we become effective instruments of the Lord in calling sinners to righteousness, in building up the Church, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - - -  

That the members of the Church may seek every deeper union with the Lord through the works of mercy, humility, gentleness, and peace. Let us pray to the Lord.

For all those trapped in cycles of sin or addiction, that they may heed the Lord’s invitation to forgiveness and freedom.

For an end to indifference to God and human dignity in our government and educational institutions, businesses, and personal attitudes.

During this month of September, dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows, we pray for all those who grieve, and that we may grieve sufficiently for our sins.

That the love of Christ, the divine physician, may bring healing to the sick and comfort to all the 

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased priests and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom. We pray.

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

1st Week of Lent 2020 - Monday - "You did it for me"

On Ash Wednesday, our Gospel reading from the Sermon on the Mount every year, calls us to the Lenten Observances of Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving. Our Gospel today, certainly touches upon the third of the Lenten practices—Almsgiving—and emphasizes not only are we to give to the poor, but we are to recognize something about the poor. In some mysterious way, when we give to the poor—the hungry, naked, thirsty, and alienated, we give to Jesus Himself: “That which you did for the least of my brethren, you did for me.”

The Lord identifies with every human person who suffers and is in need of compassion—regardless of age, sex, nationality, or creed. Being their creator, his image is pressed upon every living person. Our love for God and love for neighbor are intrinsically bound. Our love for God impels us to care for those created in his image.

It is not easy to see Jesus in the unwashed, addicted, homeless. It is not easy to see Him in the lonely, hardened, bitter widower or widow. But our Lenten practices help us to see Jesus in all. Our Lenten prayer, if it is genuine, opens the eyes of our hearts not just to God, but to the needs of those created in his image. Our Lenten fasting, frees us from our attachments to food and other created things, that we might more freely give of ourselves in service to the Gospel and to the poor.

For those who have difficulty finding God in prayer, yes they should persevere in prayer, but they should also seek the Lord in service.

Mother Teresa often called the poor “Jesus in disguise.” Consider her powerful words references our Gospel passage today: “In order to help us deserve heaven, Christ set a condition: that at the moment of our death you and I, whoever we might have been and wherever we have lived, Christians and non-Christians alike, every human being was has been created by the loving hand of God in his own image shall stand in his presence and be judged according to what we have been for the poor, what we have done for them…”
 
- - - - - - - -

For the needs of the poor, the hungry, the homeless, those who are sick, unemployed, or suffering from addiction, mental, or physical illness, imprisoned, and those most in need: that the Lord in his goodness will be close to them in their trials.  We pray to the Lord.
For mercy for the most vulnerable of our human family, the unborn; that their mothers may choose life and be supported by a culture of life.
For the young people of our Church. May they be strengthened to be witnesses to the Gospel of mercy and work for a future that embodies a genuine culture of mercy.
For those preparing to enter the Church at Easter: that they will be profoundly blessed in their preparation for full initiation into the Body of Christ.  We pray to the Lord.
For the Holy Spirit’s guidance in the selection of Cleveland’s next bishop, and that our next Bishop may be a man of true faith and conviction for the Gospel.
For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, for all the poor souls in purgatory, and N. for whom this Mass is offered.
Grant, we pray, O Lord, that your people may turn to you with all their heart, so that whatever they dare to ask in fitting prayer they may receive by your mercy. Through Christ Our Lord.

6th Week of OT 2020 - Friday - Faith without works is dead

One of the great encyclicals of Pope St. John Paul II is his encyclical on the fundamentals of morality called Veritatis Splendor, The Splendor of Truth. Every Catholic theology student studying moral theology will no doubt spend a lot of time with this powerful document. As one Catholic writer wrote, “there are encyclicals and then there are encyclicals” and the encyclical Veritatis Splendor is certainly one of the most important papal texts of modern history, in which the Holy Father gives a clear and systematic treatment of Catholic Moral Teaching.

Our choices in this life matter, our moral choices matter. And for Christians our moral choices flow from that fundamental choice to believe in Jesus Christ. Yes, that one choice, to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God matters. But for Christians, every choice matters, every action matters. Every free choice either promotes human flourishing or hinders. Every choice builds up the kingdom or dismantles it. Faith must be lived out in our actions.

The Holy Father writes in Veritatis Splendor, “It is urgent to rediscover and to set forth once more the authentic reality of the Christian faith, which is not simply a set of propositions to be accepted with intellectual assent. Rather, faith is a lived knowledge of Christ, a living remembrance of his commandments, and a truth to be lived out. A word, in any event, is not truly received until it passes into action, until it is put into practice. Faith is a decision involving one's whole existence. It is an encounter, a dialogue, a communion of love and of life between the believer and Jesus Christ, the Way, and the Truth, and the Life . It entails an act of trusting abandonment to Christ, which enables us to live as he lived, in profound love of God and of our brothers and sisters.”

The Holy Father certainly helps us to appreciate the teaching of St. James this morning on the nature of faith. Faith without works is dead. Without works, without the works of charity, without concrete acts of goodness, without obedience to the commandments of God and repentance from sin, without actions which flow from that communion with God, without actions reflecting the splendor of his truth, we are just play-acting. Faith must be evident in our choices or it’s not really faith.

It is by this faith that we are justified, we are made just, we are made righteous and holy. May faith lead us to the profound concrete acts of love of God and of our brothers and sisters for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - - - -
 
For the spread of the Christian faith throughout the world and in our neighborhood, that faith may be evidenced in the holy works of the members of our parish.

That the Holy Spirit may direct the appointment of a new Bishop for the Church of Cleveland.
That young people may seek Christ amidst all the filth and evils of the world, and for the protection of innocent human life from evil.
For healing for all those suffering disease, especially diseases without known cures, for the people of China and all people afflicted by the Coronavirus, and all who are oppressed by any kind of need, that the Lord may graciously grant them relief, and For the Holy Father’s prayer intentions for this month: that the needs of migrants and victims of human trafficking may be heard and acted upon.
For the dead, for all of the souls in purgatory, and for X, for whom this Holy mass is offered.
O God, our refuge and our strength, hear the prayers of your Church, for you are the source of all goodness, and grant, we pray, that what we ask in faith, we may truly obtain. Through Christ our Lord.

28th Week in OT 2019 - Wednesday - Faith and Good Works

On Monday, we began the great letter of Saints Paul’s to the Romans.  Excluding feast days and solemnities, the first reading for weekdays will be from this particular Pauline epistle until the first week of November.

The letter to the Romans wasn’t the first of the epistles to be written, but it is the first letter we come across in our bible—right after the book of Acts.  It is the longest of the letters, and perhaps the most important.  It was written to Christians in Rome, the capital of the world, and it is the world’s first systematic, logically organized Christian theology.

Paul is writing to this community, whom he has never met, in order to build them up and strengthen their faith. Why? Because as he states, “the one who lives by faith will live.”  In other words, faith in Jesus Christ leads to everlasting life.

In the introduction to the letter which we we heard on Monday, Paul lists his credentials:  I am Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God.  Here is a man who has given himself entirely to God in faith in order to instill faith in others.

Paul then goes on to explain the universal need of salvation, how through wickedness and sin, we lost the glory of God. He continues to elaborate today that God judges rightly and impartially.

Man forms his judgments about the world and his neighbor based on incomplete truths. He is often motivated by envy and arrogance. We hold others to standards that we do not keep for ourselves. But not God. God’s judgment, Paul writes today is impartial. It doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or Gentile, old or young, rich or poor, “God will repay everyone according to his works…those who persevere in good works” will inherit eternal life.

Paul connects faith in Christ Jesus and good works, much like St. James in his epistle: “faith without works is dead” and as we proclaimed in the Psalm “Lord, you give back to everyone according to his works.” We do not come to eternal life through works alone, but authentic and saving faith must translate into humble acts of kindness and charity and obedience to the commandments of God.

Faith has led us here to the celebration of Holy Mass, the great work of prayer for the needs of the world and needs of the Church. May we go forth into the world today committed to acts and works of mercy, living in the truth of Christ, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - - -
 
That all Christians may be dedicated to the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.

That we may be attentive to the needs of the poor, the hungry, the homeless, those who are sick, unemployed, or suffering from addiction, mental, or physical illness, imprisoned, and those most in need.

For mercy for the most vulnerable of our human family, the unborn; that their mothers may choose life and be supported by a culture of life.

For the young people of our parish. May they be strengthened to be witnesses to the Gospel of mercy and work for a future that embodies a genuine culture of mercy.

For Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of October, “that the breath of the Holy Spirit may engender a new missionary ‘spring’ in the Church.

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased priests and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

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

September 9 2019 - St. Peter Claver - A slave of slaves

In the age of the explorers and conquistadors, many young men were leaving Europe for the Americas in order to seek out a fortune. Peter Claver, a young Jesuit priest, rather, left his native Spain, to build up treasure in heaven, in Cartegena, a port city in modern day Columbia. The Collect prayer refers to Peter Claver as “a slave of slaves” for he ministered to the African slaves who were brought there to work in the fields and the mines.

When the slave ships entered the port, Peter Claver would board the ships to care for the sick and malnourished. And when the slaves were herded to the slave-market, Peter, would bring them medicine, food, bread, and other items that would help them survive in this new land.

With the help of interpreters, he gave the slaves basic instructions in the faith; he assured them of their human dignity and the salvation that awaited them in God's kingdom.  During the 40 years of his ministry in Columbia, it is estimated that Claver baptized more 300,000 slaves.

Additionally, Peter Claver preached Christ’s Gospel message to the sailors, and tradesman, the imprisoned, and those condemned to death, and to the rich. On many occasions, he was ill-received by the plantation owners and their wives, who looked upon his ministry among their slaves as a waste of their time.

On this Memorial we hear from Matthew 25, the Lord’s teaching on the final judgment, a reminder that service of those in need is never a waste of time. In each slave, to whom he ministered, Peter Claver ministered to Christ himself. And for this, he is counted among the blessed. In the words of Mother Theresa: "At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great things we have done. We will be judged by "I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was naked and you clothed me.

We might not be called to baptized 300,000 slaves. But we are certainly called to help someone other than ourselves today. Again, in the words of Mother Theresa, “If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one."

May we use the time we have been given today, to serve Christ in the poor, in the midst of their daily suffering, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - -
 
That all Christians may be diligent in the works of charity, and generous with our time, talent, and treasure in serving those in need.
For an end to slavery, human trafficking, and all forms of inhumane oppression, for the protection and respect of human life.
For those whose lives are marked by suffering, that they may find hope in the promises of Christ.
For the repose of the souls of the dead, and for N. for whom this mass is offered.
Heavenly Father, hear the prayers of your pilgrimage Church, grant us what we truly need to remain faithful to your Son in all things. Through Christ Our Lord.

6th Sunday of Easter 2018 - No Greater Love

At the Last Supper, Jesus gave to the apostles the commandment to love. So during the Easter season, we read extensively from the Acts of the Apostles so many wonderful stories of the Apostles faithfulness to the Lord’s command to love, all of their efforts to spread the kingdom of Christ’s love—how they endured imprisonment and torture and the threat of death that we might be saved, that Christ’s saving Gospel might be spread.

It is always beneficial and fruitful to meditate on the example and the virtues of the apostles—their miraculous works and their sufferings; for they teach what loving Jesus looks like
On the third of May, this last week, the Church celebrated the feast of two apostles, Saints Philip and James. And on Thursday, I preached about these two apostles, but I wanted to go into a bit greater depth, today, particularly into the great example of the apostle Philip, who is such a marvelous example of fidelity to the commandment to love—his very name, in Greek means “the one who loves”

In the Gospels, we first meet Philip when he begins following the Lord. And it really is love at first sight for Philip. We read in John Chapter 1 how Jesus was in Galilee and the Lord simply says to Philip, “follow me”. No arguments, no proofs, no signs, Philip simply follows the Lord. And in the very next verse, Philip is joyfully running over to Nathanael, proclaiming, “we have found the Lord the one Moses had spoken about in the law and the prophets.” When you really love someone you are willing to tell others about them.

So we follow Philip’s example of loving, joyful witnessing. We are to share with others—relatives, friends, strangers—how loving Jesus Christ has changed our lives. Witnessing to the power of our Christian faith shouldn’t terrify us; it should be a common practice for us. For there is power in that sharing, sharing how being a Catholic, how the sacraments, how prayer, how being involved in acts of charity, has changed you. How your lives are different because of Jesus. One of the ways Jesus wants to draw people to himself, is through your joyful sharing of your encounters with Him.
We read about another encounter between the Lord and the apostle Philip at the last supper, in the passage immediately preceding today’s Gospel. Jesus utters those beautiful words, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

And Philip turns to Jesus and utters a request: “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” The Lord gently rebukes Philip here because Philip doesn’t seem to grasp entirely what Jesus is teaching. Jesus didn’t come to grant a heavenly vision, a miraculous sign that would once-and-for-all prove the Father’s existence. Because he loves Philip, the Lord corrects Him. To love the Lord, is to be willing to be corrected by Him, stretched by Him, challenged by Him, drawn out of your comfort zone by Him.

After the last Supper, the Scriptures are silent about Philip, except for telling us that he burst out of the Upper Room with the rest of the Apostles on Pentecost preaching the Good News. Ancient Christian legend, however, details how Philip preached and performed miracles in Galilee, then went to Greece, and finally to a city in Phrygia, in modern day Turkey, called Hieropolis.
Hieropolis was known for its temples to the pagan gods, particularly to a pagan snake-God. And upon Philip’s arrival in Hieropolis, the snakes filling this Temple began to go crazy, hissing wildly and biting people. This reminds us of the scripture that says, the devil is in a great fury for he knows his time on earth is short. Often the devil causes disturbances in families and parishes right when they are on the verge of growing in holiness or performing sacred works for the Lord because he knows he is about to lose some territory.

Anyway, Philip goes around town and begins healing people of these deadly poisonous snake bites. He then prays for the Lord to deliver the pagans from this false snake-god religion, and at the request of Philip’s prayers, God strikes down this large temple serpent. Many people converted to Christ through Philips preaching, including the wife of the governor. This angered the governor and the pagan priests. So they arrest Philip and crucified him on the steps of the temple.  But, during his crucifixion there was a terrible earthquake. From his cross Philip prayed for the salvation of those who crucified him. The temple was destroyed and the people were saved. And after his death, many came to believe in the one about whom Phillip preached, Jesus the Christ.

So a few lessons here. First, Philip gives a wonderful example of Christian charity. He went around healing people. In this story, he heals them before he even starts preaching.

The Christian is always to be about the works of charity. It doesn’t matter if they eventually come to convert or not. We are to be about the work of feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, healing the sick, because we are followers of Christ. In this way we are faithful to Christ’s command to love.
Secondly though, we must not be afraid to preach the truth even in the face of other competing religions and worldviews. Just because our culture is infatuated with promiscuity and perversion, doesn’t mean we stop preaching the truth about chastity, modesty, and purity. Just because our culture is infatuated with technology and instant gratification, doesn’t mean we stop preaching the truth about simplicity, self-discipline, silent prayer. We show our love by sharing the truth with them, lest souls continue down paths which lead to eternal separation from God.

Thirdly, Philip was willing to suffer and even to die so that others might know Christ. Christianity isn’t for wimps, or, maybe it is. Maybe it aims to give wimps like us courage, to be bold in our faith, fortitude to withstand the overwhelming temptation of the flesh, and the guts and the steel to make sacrifices so our saving faith might be spread.

May the Lord find us, like Philip, ready to follow Him to the ends of the earth, to use us as his instruments of charity and deliverance. And may Holy Mass today deepen our love for the Lord, and our conviction to proclaim and to live our faith boldly for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Friday - 24th Week in OT 2017 - Truth and Mercy must remain united

Since last Thursday until this Saturday the first readings have been from St. Paul’s first letter to Timothy.  Timothy was a young convert who came to the Faith via Paul’s preaching and teaching.  And he became the bishop of the important city of Ephesus when he was still pretty much a young man.  Paul wrote this letter to him personally for encouragement and advice on how to administer this great responsibility.

About 30 years later, St. John would address part of the Book of Revelation to the Church at Ephesus, and it is really interesting to compare the state of the Church in Timothy’s time and the state of the Church when John wrote to them.

Ephesus was the most prestigious cultural, commercial, and most important political center in Asia minor. It was known for having many temples, including a very prominent temple to Artemis. We know from the book of Acts that even though Christianity was opposed by the merchant class in Ephesus, the new faith spread quite rapidly.

When St. John wrote to the Ephesians in the book of Revelation, he praises the them for remaining in the truth. Particularly, for opposing the false teachings of the Nikolatians. The deacon Nicolaus, from the book of Acts, apparently hadn’t turned out to be such a good choice. Nicolaus had been falsely teaching that it was okay for Christians to try to blend in with the culture, taking part in pagan temple worship and the…temple prostitution.

So when we hear in the reading today, Paul urging Timothy to protect his flock from false teachers, it seems like Timothy had heeded, at least the first part of Paul’s instruction.

However, St. John reveals that the Ephesians were failing to live up to a very important Gospel tenet. He says that they had “abandoned their first love” and had given up on the good works, the works of mercy, which are so fundamental to the Christian life.

So the Ephesians were outstanding in holding to the truth, they knew their catechism, but they were neglecting the works of mercy. Perhaps, they had allowed that love of money, which St. Paul warned them against, to keep them from the charity we are called to be Christ.

As Catholics, we don’t choose between Catechism and Charity. We must be both wholly committed to right doctrine AND wholly committed to the works of mercy. "Gracious love must meet truth; righteousness and peace must kiss" Psalm 25 says. Pope Francis, is keenly aware of this, as is evidenced in his prayer intention for the month of September. Truth and Love are united in Christ, the Saints always hold fast to both, and so must we, if we wish to be effective in the building up of the kingdom, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - - - -
 
That all Christians may hold fast to right Christian teaching and engage in right Christian action.

For those who have fallen into error, for Catholics who have grown lukewarm in their faith, for those who have left the Church, for their conversion and the conversion of all hearts.

For Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of September: “That our parishes, animated by a missionary spirit, may be places where faith is communicated and charity is seen.”

That the love of Christ, the divine physician, may bring healing to the sick and comfort to all the suffering.

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased priests and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

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

July 13 2017 - Encountering Jesus

On Tuesday, I had the opportunity of meeting our future Bishop, His Excellency Bishop Nelson Perez. A number of the clergy were able to concelebrate with him and Bishop Thomas at the Cathedral, and then had lunch with him at the Cathedral rectory.

Though Bishop Thomas presided at the Mass, Bishop Perez preached on encountering Christ. He said, as Christ is filled with compassion and mercy, so too is the heart of the Church. The Lord meets us where we are. Whether we are trapped in sin or steadily progressing in sanctity. Whoever you are, you can “encounter” the Lord wherever we are. Pope Francis has spoken on that theme of "encuentro" - “encounter”, as well,  and I think our new bishop will continue to expand on that theme as well.

The suffering, those in need, are to encounter the Lord, through us. This is why, in the Gospel, he sends his disciples out: to preach, to call to repentance, to cure the sick, raise the dead, cleans the lepers, and drive out demons. Those in need are to encounter the Lord’s mercy and compassion through us.

Going out and doing these things, being engaged in the works of mercy, is not just icing on the cake, these aren’t just activities to pass the time when we don’t have other things going on, they are our way of life. We are a missionary Church.

Missionary comes from the latin word, missio, which means  ‘sent’—the greek word of course is apostein, from which we get the word, apostle. We are missioned, we are sent by the Lord, to do these things in his name, whether you are a prince or a pauper, a king or a farmer.

July 13 is the feast of a saintly King who took seriously the Lord’s command. King Henry II was Holy Roman Emperor became a saint, by acting justly, spreading the faith using the opportunities God gave him.

It was his custom to undertake nothing without prayer and often saw angels and martyrs guiding him—protecting him and his army who from the barbarian hoards which sought to ravage and pillage his land.   He promoted monastic reform where needed, believing monasteries to be indispensable centers of prayer and focal points for the civilization of people.  When Saint Henry was not ruling over his empire and leading his army to stabilize Europe, he was cultivating a holy marriage with his wife, St. Cunegunda.

His people encountered through his justice, through his protection, through his cultivation of the faith, through his holy marriage.

May St. Henry’s prayers help us to help others encounter Christ for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - -
 
For Bishop Nelson Perez, the next shepherd of our diocese;  for our Apostolic Administrator, Bishop Daniel Thomas;  for Bishop-emeritus Richard Lennon; that the Holy Spirit will continue to enlighten and empower them with grace, confidence and hope.  We pray.

That all Christians may take seriously the vocation of helping others encounter Christ. We pray.
For all earthly kings and government representatives, that they may use their temporal power responsibly for the true good of all. We pray.

That Christian spouses may reflect Christ’s love to each other and that they may be a sacrament of Christ’s love to the world.

That our young people may take seriously the missionary call of Christ, that they will turn away from the evils of our culture to spread the good news of Christ’s eternal kingdom.

That the love of Christ, the divine physician, may bring healing to the sick and comfort to all the suffering.

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased priests and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

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

Homily: Friday - 3rd Week of Advent 2016 - "A burning and shining lamp"

Tomorrow, December 17, begins what is often called “Late Advent” or “Deep Advent”; the Scripture readings and orations begin to take on slightly different tones and themes. Where the first part of Advent proclaims joyfully that the Christ is coming, this last part of Advent begins to focus on who is coming, the identity of the Christ child.

The O Antiphons of “Late Advent”, for example, each ascribe Old Testament names and titles to the one who is born on Christmas Day. Jesus is the fulfillment of all of those Old Testament prophesies: He is the Rod of Jesse, He is the Key of David, He is the Rising Star from the East, He is Adonai in the Flesh, He is Emmanuel—God With Us. These ancient prayers of the Church show how the Old Testament pointed forward to Jesus; how God prepared the human race for His own coming in the flesh.

For nearly a week, we have heard daily of a biblical figure who pointed to Jesus: John the Baptist. John the Baptist is a lot like those O Antiphons: he dresses and acts and speaks like a prophet from the Old Testament, while testifying, pointing directly to the promised One: he helps Israel transition from the shadows of prophecy to the reality of God-in-the-flesh.

In the Gospel today, Jesus explained how “John testified to the truth.” John bore witness that Jesus was “The Lamb of God”, “the Son of God”, the one anointed with the Holy Spirit. Because John witnessed to the truth Jesus called him “a burning and shining lamp”. Could he say the same about us?

Isaiah gives us wonderful instructions for becoming burning lamps for Christ: “observe what is right, do what is just”. Sometimes I think we underestimate the power of Christian Witness. Jesus himself teaches us to set good example for others. He says, “Thus let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and they should glorify your Father in the heavens.”

Observing what is right, doing what is just, performing good deeds, engaging in acts of mercy, these works are not for the purpose of gaining honor for ourselves, but to point to the one who has set us on our way. If the Holy Year of Mercy taught us anything, it is that the works of mercy are to be a consistent part of our normal Christian life. And by our works of mercy we witness to the One who IS Mercy.

As the light of the sun is seen less and less during these late December days, let us shine forth with the light of the Son of God by praying a little harder, giving a little more, striving to walk in the ways of righteousness and justice for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: 23rd Sunday in OT 2016 - Comfort the afflicted, afflict the comfortable

One of my favorite quotes from the great G.K. Chesterton is that “Christianity is a faith that comforts the afflicted… And afflicts the comfortable.”

Our faith comforts us, as it helps us know that God offers his mercy to every sinful soul. Every soul that has turned away from goodness, every soul that has given in to temptations of selfishness, lust, every person that has ever lost control and hurt the ones we love. God loves the poor wretched sinner. And that is comforting.

Yet that same faith, stirs us out of our ambivalence and moves the sinner to examine his life, to repent of his sins, and that is not always pleasant—it afflicts the comfortable. Over and over in the Gospels, the Pharisees show great hostility to Jesus because he exposed their hard-hearts—they weren’t as holy as they thought they were. So Christ’s message afflicts the comfortable—the complacent; it challenges us, it humbles us, but by doing so, it calls us to something greater—authentic holiness, the life of grace.

Christianity comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable.


A woman who took seriously both aspects of the faith is being canonized this weekend in Rome by Pope Francis. 19 years after her death, Blessed Mother Teresa will become Saint Mother Teresa.

Mother Teresa followed Christ into the slums to serve the poorest of the poor. She established a new religious order, the Missionary Sisters of Charity to live among the poor and to care for the dying and the destitute, orphans and abandoned children, alcoholics, the aged, and the homeless. She brought comfort to the afflicted, reminding the poor and afflicted of their dignity in the eyes of God. She became a living icon of mercy and compassion.

The current Archbishop of Calcutta, India, commenting on her canonization this Sunday said, her canonization is “an occasion for people in all walks of life to do something beautiful for God, as Mother Teresa did.”

During this Holy Year of Mercy, Pope Francis has not only called each and every one of us to focus on the works of mercy, but now he has given us a wonderful example to follow in the life of St. Teresa of Calcutta.

I’ve had the great honor of visiting the Missionary Sisters of Charity on several occasions. When I was studying in Rome, I worked alongside the Sisters at a house for destitute men, where the homeless would come for food, clothing, shelter, medical care. The sisters would literally bathe the smelly grime of the streets off these men.  They’d be fed and bathed and treated with dignity and respect.  The sisters were so edifying as they treated these men as they would treat Jesus himself.
Again, I visited the Sisters when I went with Catholic Relief Services to the African Country of Madagascar, where they ran an orphanage—caring for the homeless and abandoned children.

In every chapel of the Missionary Sisters, whether in Rome, or Madagascar, or Calcutta, is a crucifix with the words of Jesus: “I thirst”, words Jesus spoke from the cross. It is a reminder to all of the sisters that when they bring drink to the thirsty they are giving that drink to Jesus himself.

Again, each of us do well to ask the Holy Spirit very devoutly and seriously how we might be engaged in the works of mercy this year. Who are the naked we are called to clothe, who are the hungry we are called to feed, who are the prisoners we are called to visit? Who are the souls we are to pray for regularly? Who are the ignorant we are to instruct? Who are the sinners we are called to invite back to God? In comforting these people, we extend the reign of God’s mercy, we become instruments of the compassion of God.

Mother Teresa, is best known for bringing comfort to the afflicted, she won a Nobel Peace Prize for her work, and more importantly, she became a saint.

But, Mother was also known for afflicting the comfortable, challenging selfish complacent souls to take the Gospel of Christ more seriously.

One priest tells the story about how he picked up Mother from the airport for a speaking engagement. He was familiar with Mother, so he felt comfortable talking about all of the different ministries he was engaged in: traveling around the country, giving lectures and parish missions, teaching, And all the while Mother is quietly praying her rosary beads. The priest continued to elaborate on all of his endeavors and said, with all of this going on, I’m even too busy to pray. And Mother, cuts off the priest, and says, “Father, you must never be too busy to pray”. If you are too busy to pray, you are too busy!

A sister once complained to Mother Teresa about all the time they were spending in the chapel; for each day, Mother Theresa required her sister to spend an hour in Eucharistic adoration before going out into the streets. “We have all this work to do, there are people who are starving and dying while we kneel here in the chapel. An hour of prayer is a waste of time,” the sister insisted. To which Mother replied, “because you believe this sister, you need two hours.”

Mother challenges us to never allow the busy-ness of life to keep us from the most important relationship with Christ, we must never allow all the noise of the world to keep us from prayer. “The fruit of Silence is prayer. The fruit of Prayer is faith. The fruit of Faith is love. The fruit of Love is service. The fruit of Service is peace” she said. If you want peace, you need prayer.

In 1994, Mother Teresa was invited to speak at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington DC. There, in front of republicans and democrats, nominal and practicing Christians, jews, and muslims, she spoke of the poverty of the west, in that we treat people without dignity.

“When I pick up a person from the street, hungry,” she said, “I give him a plate of rice, a piece of bread. But a person who is shut out, who feels unwanted, unloved, terrified, the person who has been thrown out of society." Certainly a challenge to "look to the margins" as Pope Francis would say.

She then spoke of the great sin of abortion… “abortion,” she said, “which often follows from contraception, brings a people to be spiritually poor, and that is the worst poverty and the most difficult to overcome.”

 “It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish” she said. And this attitude justifies abortion goes hand in hand with married couples ignoring Church teaching on the sinfulness of artificial contraception.

Through the use of contraception, husband and wife “destroy the gift of love” she said. Essentially, she is saying that when cannot truly love when we devalue human life and when we devalue chastity. Challenging words for a national prayer breakfast, challenging words, perhaps for some of us, but that doesn’t lessen the truth of the message.

Mother spoke these words of challenge confidently because they are the teaching of the master. We are called to love. And Christian love is not always popular or easy. Love often looks like a cross. It requires self-discipline, going out of our comfort zone to raise up the poor from the gutter, speaking the truth in the face of error.  “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” Challenging words. But we know, deep down, that there is nothing more important than following Christ to the cross.

Through the intercession of Saint Teresa of Calcutta, may we grow in charity, bear our crosses confidently and gracefully, may we know God’s comfort in our affliction, and be stirred out of our complacency for the glory of God and salvation of souls.