5th Sunday of Easter 2024 - "Apart from me you can do nothing"

 Back on the 4th Sunday of Lent, I shared some insights from the celebrated 20th century Catholic author JRR Tolkien, the author of books like the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit. I shared how Tolkien believed that fairy tales and myths have been so powerful throughout the centuries because we love stories of good conquering evil. We love when we hear a story of an unexpected joyous turn of events—where grace and goodness triumph over sorrow, failure, and death. We love tales of courage and self-sacrifice.

And the Christian story is so compelling and joyous because it is the ultimate tale of the triumph of Good over evil, and it actually happened. Through the self-sacrifice of Christ, God has brought sinful humanity from the brink of ultimate defeat—the loss of our souls forever—to share in the victory of Christ. And again, the Christian story is not just a man-made myth or a fairy tale—Christ is truly risen.

Well, this last week, I celebrated mass with our school children. And I shared with them how since I was a young boy, I have enjoyed reading stories and watching movies like those written by Tolkien. How in his first book, called “The Hobbit”, this unlikely character Bilbo Baggins goes on a long journey with a group of long-bearded dwarves to recover a magical treasure from the clutches of an evil dragon named Smaug. The journey was treacherous and the dragon was formidable, but in the end Bilbo succeeds in recovering the treasure, not because he was physically stronger than the dragon, but because he and his friends were courageous and they used their minds to outwit the evil beast.

And I brought up the story of Bilbo and the dragon, because Tuesday was the feast day of St. George. And you may know that there is an ancient legend where St. George overcomes a dragon. According to the Legend a dragon was terrorizing a village, demanding tribute of trinkets and livestock, and when the villagers ran out of treasures and animals to appease the dragon, the cruel creature demanded the blood of a princess. So, the valiant Christian solider George, comes to the maiden’s rescue and courageously goes to face the foul and dangerous beast—slaying it with his mighty lance. 

St George has been venerated by the Church for 1700 years. Churches, Kings, Cities, States, Countries, and Beatles have been named after George. Pope Francis whose birthname is Jorge is named after the great saint. For not only courageously confront a literal dragon, at least according to legend, he also stood up to the Roman Emperor Diocletian.  Around the year 303 George was martyred for courageously refusing to renounce his Christian faith and offer sacrifice to the Roman gods.

St. George is always a wonderful saint to celebrate. For he models for us courage in defended the weak and the poor from the powers of evil, and that courage witnessed in standing up to the Roman Emperor—proclaiming with his life that Jesus Christ is true God, and that eternal life is obtained by becoming Jesus’ disciple.

St. George is also an important saint to invoke and emulate as we face our own dragons. Each of us face our own dragons, don’t we? Dragons such as selfishness, impulsiveness, laziness, resentment, disordered desires and ideas, foolishness. Dragons that want us to cower in fear instead of sharing the Gospel. Dragons that demand the tribute of our time, talent, and treasure instead of giving them to God.

But George’s story is so powerful because it is a reminder that when the life of Christ is within us, dragons can be defeated. 

Tolkien wrote that we tell legends and fairy stories to children not to prove the existence of dragons. Children, he wrote, know that dragons are real. Those stories help children learn that dragons can be defeated. 

And St. George triumphed over the dragon through the power of goodness, courage, and self-sacrifice. George’s life is a reflection of our Lord’s own triumph—his crucifixion and resurrection are the ultimate triumph of goodness over evil. Jesus has defeated the greatest of dragons—saving all of humanity from the clutches of Satan. And the Lord’s work isn’t done. For he wishes to continue to slay powerful dragons in the world through us—to bring deliverance and peace through us. 

But the great dragons of our own time cannot be defeated apart from Christ. “Apart from me you can do nothing,” he teaches in the Gospel this weekend. So, we must remain attached to Christ through constant prayer, and adherence to church teaching, and the sacramental life, and moral righteous living, and works of charity.

Now, the secular world foolishly believes that it can defeat the evils afflicting humanity without God. But biblical illiteracy, separation from the Church, dismissal of Church teaching, all allow the dragons—like war, perversion, broken families, drug epidemics—to multiply, despite our best efforts.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen, writing on the topic of war, points out that the secular institutions can issue peace treaty after peace treaty, but unless individuals put an end to the civil war within their own souls—where we pridefully oppose the goodness and holiness that God wants for us—humanity will continue to be afflicted with war and the greed and injustice that lead to war. Unless our own dragons are dealt with by the power of Christ—we will have no hope for real peace in the world. 

But, so many of the Saints bear testimony to the transformation that comes through union with Christ and the good we can do when united to Him. St. Paul in our first reading, went from being a passionate anti-Christian, a hunter of Christians, an agent of the great dragon, to a passionate and courageous preacher of Truth--one who suffered for Christ and his saving Gospel.

The conversion of St. Paul is a reminder that we should pray and work for conversion of those who are hardened toward Christ and his Church. For if Paul can experience conversion, anyone can, by the grace of God. We exclude no one from the call to conversion. And likely, the most effective means of the conversion and spread of the Church, is when we are more deeply united to Christ in the humble works of charity, in sharing the gospel calmly, patiently, but of course, honestly. 

What can I do this week, to draw closer to Christ so to bear fruit that will last? What dragons in my own mind and heart, have I been too lazy or afraid to allow Christ to conquer? 

How do we know we remain in him? If we keep his commandments and love one another. May we be generous in our faithfulness and in our love for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

April 23 2024 (school mass) - St. George and the Dragon and Christ's Easter Victory

Since the time I was a boy, I have enjoyed reading and watching the films based on the stories of the author JRR Tolkien. You may have read or seen them. He wrote a book called “The Hobbit” in which Bilbo Baggins goes on a long journey with a group of dwarves to recover a magical treasure from the clutches of the evil dragon Smaug. And they succeed, not because they are physically stronger than the dragon, but because they are courageous and use their minds to outwit the evil beast.

Today on the calendar of the Church is the feast day of a saint named St. George. And there is an ancient legend were St. George overcomes a dragon. According to the Legend a dragon was terrorizing a village in modern day Libya, demanding tribute of trinkets and livestock, and when the people ran out of treasures and animals to feed the dragon, the cruel creature demanded the blood of a princess. The valiant solider George, a Christian came to the rescue and slew the dragon. The town and the grateful young lady were saved.

St. George was later martyred by the Roman Emperor Diocletian around the year 303 for refusing to renounce his Christian faith and offer sacrifice to the Roman gods.

St. George is a wonderful saint to celebrate—he courageously defended the weak and the poor from the powers of evil, and he courageously witnessed to our Christian faith that Jesus Christ was crucified and is risen, and the eternal life is obtained by becoming Jesus’ disciple.

George is a fitting saint to celebrate during the Easter season when we celebrate Jesus’ glorious resurrection from the dead. Because in the story of St. George we see an echo of Jesus’ own triumph.

For as St. George triumphed over evil through the power of good, courage, and self-sacrifice, it is a reflection Jesus' own triumph—his crucifixion and resurrection are the ultimate triumph of goodness over evil. He has defeated the greatest of dragons—saving all of humanity from the clutches of Satan who desires the corruption and eternal damnation of our souls.

Jesus Christ is risen from the dead. He has defeated death through the power of self-sacrifice and love, and we, like St. George are called to imitate Him. For each of us have dragons to face—dragons such as selfishness, impulsiveness, laziness, resentment, disordered desires and ideas, like greed, and foolishness. And the Wisdom of God, and the Love of God, and the Power of God, Jesus Christ risen from the dead will help us to slay those dragons, that we may walk with God in this life and live with God forever in heaven, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

 

Gospel

Lk 9:23-26

Jesus said to all,

"If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself

and take up his cross daily and follow me.

For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,

but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.

What profit is there for one to gain the whole world

yet lose or forfeit himself?

Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words,

the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his glory

and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels."

34th Week in Ordinary Time 2022 - Wednesday - The war between Lamb and Beast

Throughout the visions contained in the book of Revelation, it becomes clear that history involves a battle: a war of good versus evil. In chapter 12 of Revelation, we hear of the dragon—"the dragon with seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadems.” And the dragon wages war against the women and her offspring. Think of Mary and her children, the Church. 

In chapter 13, Revelation introduces two beasts, demonic lieutenants of Satan. And the beasts worship the dragon because it gives them power. And the beasts blaspheme against God. And they too, wage war against the holy ones of God. 

But then in Chapter 14, we meet not a hellish dragon, or a demonic beast, but the innocent Lamb and the holy ones who follow Him wherever he goes. 

Today’s passage describes a vision of the Lamb who has waged war and is victorious over the beast and its followers. And surrounding the Lamb are, the Lambs followers, who share in his victory. These are the martyrs and the holy people who remained faithful to the Lamb unto death throughout the great battle—the great struggle—the great war that is this earthly life. 

And the followers of the Lamb sing a victory song to celebrate God’s triumph over his adversaries that is about to unfold as God brings history to an end. 

The battle is real. Our sinful condition means that our earthly life involves choosing sides—will we give in to sin, to the influence of the dragon whose evil permeates the whole world—will we join the beasts of hell in their vicious attacks on goodness, truth, and beauty? Or will we join the Lamb who delivers us from sin, who clothes his followers in righteousness?

The Catechism speaks of this battle saying the dramatic situation of “the whole world [which] is in the power of the evil one” makes man’s life a battle: The whole of man’s history has been the story of dour combat with the powers of evil, stretching, so our Lord tells us, from the very dawn of history until the last day. Finding himself in the midst of the battlefield man has to struggle to do what is right, and it is at great cost to himself, and aided by God’s grace, that he succeeds in achieving his own inner integrity.”

The battle is real, my friends. And the battle to do right—the battle for holiness—the battle to win souls—costs us something, as it cost the Lamb—we will be hated by all—handed over by parents and friends, as the Lord tells us in the Gospel today. But sacrifice for God—for the Lamb—is rewarded with an eternal share in his victory. 

Revelation says, “The devil is in a great fury, for he knows his time on earth is short”. And evil in the world is not a sign that evil wins, but that it is making it’s last, furious grasp for souls. May we work and pray assiduously for the deliverance of those who remain in Satan’s grasp through error and sin, pleading for their deliverance through the blood of the Lamb—Christ the Lord—for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

 

Lord, sanctify your bishops and priests, and grant them courage to preach the Gospel in its fullness.

Make the lives of parents examples of faith to inspire their children to seek first your heavenly kingdom. 

Bring all those who have fallen away back to the sacraments, help them to repent of their sins and desire the life that can only come from you.

That the Wisdom of Christ may preside over our thanksgiving gatherings tomorrow, for safety for all travelers, and protection from food-born illnesses. 

Bring comfort to the sick and suffering, charity and care to the destitute and down-trodden, be present through your church to the miserable. 

Welcome into your kingdom all the faithful departed, those whose names are written in our parish necrology, all clergy and religious, and X for whom this mass is offered.

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.

October 23 2017 - When our possessions possess us

A constant theme in the writings of one of my favorite authors, the Catholic writer J.R.R. Tolkien, is that of the corrupting nature of greed and hoarding. He writes of Dragons with insatiable hungers for hoarding treasure, dwarven kings who bring ruin to their kingdoms over an obsession for jewels, entire wars fought over the possession of a single ring.

Writing in the early 20th century, Tolkien saw the growing Industrialization and materialism of Europe and America as a corrupting influence in Western Culture. And his stories serve as cautionary tales. Much like the Gospels.

Today we hear of the man who hoards, who stores up more and more for himself that he may “eat, drink, and be merry” without a care in the world. Yet, at the time of his judgment, God calls him a fool, for neglecting his spiritual duties for the sake of his earthly well-being.

As Christians called to live “in the world, but not of the world” our relationship with the material goods of the earth is delicate. We must certainly provide for our own basic needs, the needs of our family, and help our neighbor as we can, but we must also not allow the pursuit of creature comforts, luxuries, or worry about the future preoccupy us.

Fr. Klasinski has reminded us often that there is nothing wrong with having possessions, as long as our possessions do not begin to possess us.  Our possessions can begin to have a demonic influence in our life, when used improperly, instead of being used properly and bringing us closer to God, they are used improperly and lead us away from God.

I think of another literary character who speaks of his alcoholic father. He says that every time father would take a drink from the bottle, it was as if the bottle were taking a drink out of him. Greed, the improper use of material things, is rather vampiric. As we thirst for more and more things, we become less and less human.

Rather, we are called to a proper stewardship of the goods of the earth, appropriating property for our needs, those of our family, and the care for the poor. But always keeping in mind that the excessive accumulation of earthly goods can lead us to be very poor in the riches of heaven.

The Saints, like St. John Capestrano, teach us what being rich in spiritual things looks like, how to order our lives rightly, and to remove the filth and corruption of greed and vice.

As we draw near to the table of the Lord today, may we do so with gratitude for the blessings which fill our lives, with the desire to be good stewards of earthly goods, to right the wrongs in our life, and to seek first the kingdom of heaven for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - - - -
 
That we Christian stewards may continue to grow in gratitude to God for all that we have received, and use our time, talent, and treasure for the good of all.

That all those who take part in political and social life will promote evangelization, will work for the true common good, defend religious liberty, and protect the unborn and innocent.  We pray to the Lord.

For Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of October: That all workers may receive respect and protection of their rights, and that the unemployed may receive the opportunity to contribute to the common good.

For all those struggling with addiction, mental illness, chronic sickness, unemployment, or ongoing trials of any kind: that they will be fortified and blessed with God’s special love, favor, and peace.  We pray to the Lord.

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.