14th Week of OT 2020 - Wednesday - The false gospel of prosperity

There is a strange teaching coming from a number of televangelists these days, it’s known as the “prosperity Gospel”. The claim is that God blesses us with material wealth, or things will start to go our way, when our faith is strong. Riches and material wealth become a sort of proof that we are on the right path.

This prosperity Gospel however is pretty inconsistent with the scriptural message. In the first reading today, the prophet Hosea addresses the Northern Kingdom. Remember, after David & Solomon, the kingdom became split, divided. The Northern Kingdom called itself Israel—having its own king, its own laws, its own temple, its own interpretation of the law. In fact, the Northern Kingdom was more “tolerant” to use a modern term, of the false religions. Altars and temples to the false gods were erected in multitude. Soon, many Jews were also worshiping the false gods and returning to the polytheism of pagan Egypt, and falling back into the pagan morality. But for a time, the Northern Kingdom grew prosperous.

Well, we hear Hosea in this morning’s reading, preaching to the Northern Kingdom how about luxurious they’ve grown-- the more Israel prospered, the more altars and sacred pillars to false gods were set up. Hosea, sent by God, makes known God’s displeasure for all of this idolatry and division, and so Hosea announces the consequences to the Northern Kingdom if they fail at ridding the idols from their midst and returning to the true faith.

“God shall break down their altars and destroy their sacred pillars.” And life will become so miserable, and God’s judgment so mighty, that they will cry to the mountains to cover them from God’s wrath.

The lesson is that, sure, an individual or a  nation might prosper for a time after separating itself from God. But prosperity is not a sign of God’s blessing, in fact, prosperity will not last long, when you separate from God’s Holy Will.

In the Gospel, the Lord calls forth the Apostles to be the foundation stones of the New Israel, the New United Kingdom of God. The Apostles, who are initially sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, will later be sent to all the scattered peoples of the earth, those downtrodden and abused by the mighty, to be gathered into One Faith, One Church, One Lord, One Baptism.

Sure, there are some individuals and nations who will prosper outside of the Church. But that prosperity will not last. We are certainly seeing in our own time, the effects of what happens when we stray from God: civil unrest, broken families, war, the prevalence of perversion, altars to false idols beginning to spring up everywhere.

Our job then is to ensure that we are not spending our life seeking to grow prosperous in the eyes of the world—pursuing worldly luxury and decadence, but in the eyes of God—in virtue, and holiness, and faith, hope, and charity, and to utilize whatever prosperity with which we have been blessed for the building up of the true kingdom, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That the Bishops, the successors of the Apostles, may use their authority wisely and courageously in standing against the evils of this world, and that the future Bishop of Cleveland may be a man of true faith.

For all those under the sway of evil, error, and corruption, for their deliverance by the power of Christ through the prophetic witness of the Church.

For the protection of young people from the corrupting influences of the world, for Christians families, and for the conversion of the faithless.

For the sick, suffering, and sorrowful, for miracles for hopeless causes.

For the souls in purgatory, and for N. 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.

5th Week in OT 2018 - Friday - Healing divided kingdoms and divided hearts

Scripture portrays Solomon's reign as the high point of Jewish political and economic history. King Solomon’s riches and wisdom surpassed all the kings of the earth. His kingdom was so formidable that for years he never even had to fight a war.

In a prophetic gesture, Ahijah the prophet ripped his coat into 12 pieces to show how Solomon's seemingly invincible kingdom would be torn to pieces. Ahijah's shocking prophecy soon proved true when civil war divided the country after Solomon's death.

Jesus teaches that “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste.” President Lincoln quoted this verse when speaking about our divided nation during the civil war. The most established, endowed, seemingly impregnable, and developed organizations and systems will quickly collapse if the hearts of people are not entirely with the Lord. Sin has a terrifying power to bring division in any human endeavor--in governments, dioceses, parishes, families, and marriages. 

In less than a week we begin the season of Lent. The devil fears Lent because it can be a time of great spiritual healing, where the causes of division in our organizations and in our hearts are uprooted and mended by our Lenten prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

Throughout the Gospels Jesus healed people physically as a sign of the deeper spiritual healing he came to bring to all mankind. He opened the ears of the deaf and freed the tongues of the dumb and speech-impaired as a sign that He would open our ears so that we can have a greater faith and open our mouths to proclaim that faith.

The Lord will heal the wounds of sin and division, he will heal our spiritual deafness, dumbness, blindness, our spiritual paralysis, he will make our families and parishes endure, if we let him, if we allow him to reign over our hearts.

We can open ourselves to receive deep spiritual healing and transformation by engaging rigorously in the Lenten practices, by repenting of sin, and committing to living and sharing the Gospel for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For the Holy Father’s prayer intention for the month of February, that those who have material, political or spiritual power may resist any lure of corruption.

For those who have fallen away from the Church, for those who have fallen into serious sin, for those who have lost faith in God, for those who reject Church authority, for all troubled marriages, for the healing of all sin and division.

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

February 8 2018 - St. Jerome Emiliani - Solomon's folly and the wisdom of the Saints

Although he had faithfully completed the construction of the Temple, and led the solemn procession of the Ark into the Holy of Holies, with which the Lord was well pleased, and although he was known internationally for his wisdom, we hear today how King Solomon turned his heart to strange Gods, a violation of the first commandment of the Sinai covenant.

We hear how, instead of following the plan of God established from the beginning, that a man shall have only one wife, Solomon had many foreign wives, 700 of them, and he funds to the building of temples to their pagan gods by overtaxing God’s people.

Solomon’s idolatry, and his lust for women and power is going to have terrible consequences for Israel. The twelve tribes, united under the one kingship, are going to be divided into northern and southern kingdoms, leaving Israel vulnerable to foreign enemies. The 10 tribes of the Northern Kingdom will be carried off into exile by the Assyrians and will completely lose their religious and cultural identity. Later, the last two tribes will be exiled in Babylon, the holy city will be ransacked, the temple will be destroyed. God’s chosen people will enter the darkest time of their history basically because of Solomon.

Solomon, the wisest man in the world, became a fool, when he blatantly disregarded the commandments of God.

Contrast the foolishness and resultant devastation of Solomon with the wisdom and the lasting legacy of one of the saints honored by the universal church today, St. Jerome Emiliani.

Jerome was born into a wealthy noble family of Venice. After a bit of a misspent youth, as a young man, he entered military service, still very worldly, irreligious, and pleasure-seeking.  While defending the city-state of Venice, he was captured and chained in a dungeon.  In prison Jerome had a lot of time to think, and he gradually learned how to pray.  He was able to escape imprisonment, and he claimed to have been freed through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  He made a vow to dedicate himself to her service.

After being ordained a priest, a plague and famine swept through northern Italy.  Jerome began caring for the sick and feeding the hungry at his own expense.  While serving the sick and the poor, he resolved to devote himself entirely to others, particularly to abandoned children.  He founded three orphanages, a shelter for repentant prostitutes and a hospital.

He founded the Clerks Regular of Somasca who to this day continue the holy work of their founder: the care of orphans, the disadvantaged and the poor, the treatment of at-risk youth, and the rehabilitation of drug addicts in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

Two ways, the way of death and the way of life are presented to us today. By God’s grace may we choose the right path, faithful to his commands, generous with the gifts he gives for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For the Holy Father’s prayer intention for the month of February, that those who have material, political or spiritual power may resist any lure of corruption.

For the grace to discern the will of God in our own lives, how to serve him faithfully and generously.

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