November 4 2024 - St. Charles Borromeo - Preach by the way you live (Patron of Seminarians)

 Today we celebrate the feast of St. Charles Borromeo, a luminary of the Church whose life and ministry continue to inspire us toward holiness and renewal. Born into nobility in 1538, Charles Borromeo chose the path of humble service over the comforts of his lineage. At a time when the Church faced significant challenges, he became a leading figure in the Counter-Reformation, dedicating himself to the spiritual and pastoral renewal of the clergy and laity alike.

In one of his insightful homilies, St. Charles addresses the very struggles we often face in our spiritual journey. He acknowledges our weaknesses but reminds us that God has generously provided the means to overcome them: "I admit that we are all weak, but if we want help, the Lord God has given us the means to find it easily." He emphasizes the importance of penance, prayer, and the avoidance of distractions that pull us away from our focus on God.

St. Charles also highlights the necessity of meditation and reflection: "We must meditate before, during, and after everything we do." In a world filled with noise and constant activity, he calls us to cultivate an inner silence where we can encounter God. This deliberate focus enables us to serve others more effectively while nurturing our own spiritual well-being.

As the Archbishop of Milan and a key participant in the Council of Trent, St. Charles was instrumental in implementing reforms that would shape the future of the Church. He established seminaries for the proper training of priests, emphasizing that those who lead must first be grounded in deep personal holiness. His impact on Church life is profound, leaving a legacy of dedication to education, pastoral care, and ecclesiastical discipline.

He offers firm teaching to those engaged in ministry: "Be sure that you first preach by the way you live. If you do not, people will notice that you say one thing but live otherwise." This is a powerful reminder that our witness is most authentic when our actions align with our words. Whether we are clergy or laypersons, our lives are a testament to the faith we profess.

Let us consider how we can apply his wisdom to our own lives. Are we nurturing our spiritual lives through prayer and meditation? Do we align our actions with the Gospel we profess? Are we instruments of renewal in our communities?

Let us take to heart St. Charles's exhortation: "Do not neglect the parish of your own soul." In caring for our souls, we become better equipped to serve others, to face daily challenges, and to participate in the ongoing renewal of the Church.

May we, inspired by St. Charles Borromeo, strive to deepen our relationship with Christ, so that we may "show his face to the world” for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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Inspired by the example of St. Charles Borromeo and confident in divine providence, let us know offer our prayers of petition:

For the Church, she may be constantly renewed and show Christ's face to the world through works of mercy and authentic witness,

For Pope Francis, bishops, and priests, that following the example of St. Charles, they may lead by personal holiness and be strengthened in their ministry through meditation and prayer,

For those preparing for priesthood and religious life, that through the intercession of St. Charles Borromeo, patron of seminarians, they may grow in wisdom, knowledge, and devotion,

For those facing weakness and spiritual struggles, that they may find strength through prayer and the sacraments.

For our parish community, that we may heed St. Charles's call to meaningful prayer and meditation, avoiding distractions that pull us away from God,

For those who suffer from plague, pandemic, or serious illness, that through the intercession of St. Charles, who cared for the sick during the plague of Milan, they may find healing and comfort,

We pray in a special way during this month of November for our beloved dead: for the repose of all of the souls in purgatory, for our deceased parishioners and benefactors, let us pray to the Lord.

God our Father, through the intercession of St. Charles Borromeo, grant us the grace to live what we believe and to be instruments of renewal in your Church. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

24th Week in Ordinary Time 2024 - Wednesday - Quit playing games with God

 

There is a famous book on human psychology, published back in the 1960s called Games People Play.  The book isn’t talking about board games like monopoly or trivial pursuit, or children’s games like hop-scotch or kick the can.  The book explains the often selfish and manipulative "games" adults play with each other in their interpersonal relationships. Think of a boss who throws tantrums in order to get his employees to do his bidding, or a beautiful woman using her physical attributes to get what she wants. 

We even play games with ourselves: the little lies we tell ourselves in order to justify certain behavior.  “I’m so stressed, I deserve to eat an entire carton of cookie dough ice cream. Or, I had such a hard day, I deserve to have six whiskies.” Or think of the way we point out people’s flaws so we can justify not associating with them, or helping them.  

In the Gospel today, Jesus talks about playing games with God.  He describes the behavior of his generation, as a bunch of children playing games in the street instead of taking the word of God seriously. Instead of heading the preaching of John the Baptist, they claim he is possessed by a demon. Instead of heading the preaching of Jesus, they claim he is a drunkard and a glutton. They create a lie about Jesus, and then believe that lie so they don’t have to change their behavior. 

In our own time, we often find ourselves playing these same games with God. We might rationalize our actions or decisions by telling ourselves, "God will understand," or "It’s not that big of a deal." We make excuses to avoid confronting the hard truths about our lives, our relationships, and our spiritual commitments. Just like the people in the Gospel, we create distractions or false narratives to justify staying in our comfort zones, rather than embracing the call to conversion and growth.

But what if we stopped playing these games? What if we approached our relationship with God and our fellow human beings with honesty, vulnerability, and genuine openness? Jesus calls us to a life of authenticity, where we no longer hide behind excuses or manipulate others for our own gain. To drop the games, the masks, and the excuses, and to encounter Him with open hearts. He invites us to face the truth about ourselves, even when it's uncomfortable, and to grow in genuine love and compassion.

Remember, God sees through our games and loves us anyway. He longs for us to come to Him as we truly are, with all our flaws and struggles. In doing so, we open ourselves to His transforming grace and find the deep peace and joy that come from living in truth and love.

Only when we stop making excuses and face the truth of the Gospel can we experience the fullness of the life God desires for us for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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For the Church, that we may be a community of authenticity and truth, rejecting manipulation and embracing genuine love. Let us pray to the Lord.

For world leaders, that they may set aside political games and work honestly for the good of all people. Let us pray to the Lord.

For those struggling with addiction or unhealthy behaviors, that they may find the strength to face their challenges without excuses. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our parish community, that we may grow in honesty and vulnerability in our relationships with God and one another. Let us pray to the Lord.

That the sick and the poor may know the compassion and charity of the Church and the closeness of God in their afflictions.

For those who have died, that they may be welcomed into the fullness of God's truth and love in eternal life. Let us pray to the Lord.

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 our petitions. Grant us what we truly need to pierce through the hardness of our hearts, so that we may live in the fullness of the life of Christ. Through the same Christ our Lord.