13th Week of Ordinary Time 2025 - Wednesday - Truth and Action

 During these normal weekdays of Ordinary Time, we read sequentially through the Gospels from the beginning of the Lord’s public ministry to right before his Passion.

Reading through the Gospel of Matthew, we notice a structure that repeats throughout the book. The Lord gives a teaching, then there is action. Teaching and action. Teaching and action. The Lord teaches in parables, conveying truths about discipleship, and then he goes out and acts—performing miracles and exorcisms, bringing comfort and deliverance to the afflicted. Through his actions, Jesus demonstrates that he’s not some charlatan who only offers empty words. His words are backed up by action. 

Why should you believe him? Why should you heed his words—his warnings, his challenges, his moral guidance? His actions back up his words. Certainly, an important lesson for all of us. That as Christians, we are to preach and teach in Christ’s name, but our actions must back up our words.

Catechesis, evangelization, religious instruction, counseling the doubtful, instructing the ignorant, sharing the Gospel, must all be backed up by action—works. Works of charity. Works of mercy. Concrete penances.

The Word of God attests to this. “Faith without works is dead” writes, St. James. You’ve no doubt heard the aphorism attributed to St. Francis, friend of our patron, St. Clare. “Preach the Gospel, always, sometimes use words”. If Francis didn’t actually say that, he might as well have because his life was one of constant works of mercy and penance. His evangelical poverty gave credence and testimony to his words. And the same must be for all of us. 

Teaching and Action. Words and Works. Since the end of the Easter season, we had been reading from one of those long teaching sections, the Lord’s famous Sermon on the Mount, comprising chapters 5 thru seven of Matthew. But this week, we began reading from one of those action sections, chapter 8.  Like those other many action sections, we find the Lord performing healing miracles and exorcisms—works that bring deliverance to others.

Today we heard how the Lord delivered to demon possessed men from their bondage. And you might think, what power do I have to exorcize demons? Well, again, those works of charity can break bonds in people’s lives. When they witness us feeding the hungry, visiting the sick, that softens there heart to Christ.

But on the other hand, we don’t have the power to cast out demons on our own. This is why that teaching part is also important. When we cultivate the Truth of Christ in our hearts, by listening to the Teacher in our own faith formation, when we allow him to teach us in our daily meditation and prayer and our reception of the sacraments, then his life within us grows, so that when we encounter the demon possessed soul, he’s the one that does performs the exorcisms, he’s the one that casts out demons, through us.

Lord, make us instruments of your peace, your goodness, and your life, cultivate your life within us through your truth, and make us people of divine action, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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We bring our prayers of petition to the Lord.

For the Church: That she may faithfully teach the truths of Christ and live them out through works of charity, mercy, and justice, giving powerful witness to the Gospel in every place and age.

For those bound by sin, addiction, or spiritual oppression: That through the power of Christ and the witness of Christian charity, they may find freedom, healing, and new life.

For all victims of war, for peace in the Holy Land, an end to the violence and the consolation of the suffering. May God come to the assistance of the communities and families devastated by terrorism and war; and may world leaders work together for peace.

For the sick, the poor, and the suffering: That they may be comforted by Christ’s presence and aided by the loving works of His disciples.

For the faithful departed: That, purified by God’s mercy, they may rejoice forever in His Kingdom of peace and light. Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord Jesus, you came to teach us the way to the Father and to deliver us from all evil. Hear our prayers and make us faithful disciples who live your truth through loving action. Through Christ our Lord.

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2021 - Holy Works In His Name

Remember a few weeks ago in the Gospel when Peter attempts to correct Jesus on the road to Caesarea Philippi? Peter had rightly professed that Jesus is the Christ, but then Peter objects when the Lord explains that he must go to the cross to suffer and die? Peter didn’t get it, he didn't get the cross, so the Lord corrects him, and thereby gives a lesson to all of us. 

Today, we heard a similar dynamic play out between one of the apostles and our Lord. This time it’s the Apostle John who seems to be missing something. He begins to grumble and complain that someone outside of the band of apostles was casting out demons. “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.”

John’s protest echoes the objection of Joshua in our first reading, that Eldad and Medad were prophesying, although they had not been with the other seventy elders gathered by Moses. 

Moses replies much like the Lord,  manifesting the wish that everyone enjoy the gifts of the Spirit. 

Likewise, when the apostle John complains about this exorcist, casting out demons in Jesus’ name, the Lord corrects John, saying, don’t stop him. He’s doing good works in my name.  Not just apostles are called to do the work of Jesus, but all Christians.

The Lord goes on to explain that good deeds done in his name are holy, no mattering who does them. There is no holy work, including the giving of a glass of water, that passes unnoticed by God when done in generosity and without selfish calculation. Every act of forgiveness, every donation to a Christian cause, every penny put in the collection basket, every piece of clothing given to the poor, every kind letter or visit paid to someone who was sick, in prison, or alone, every prayer offered up for those in need, every word of comfort, instruction, and guidance, every single action that we perform in our Christian efforts to love God and neighbor is noticed, remembered, and delighted in by our Lord Jesus Christ.

The work of the Church isn’t exclusive to the work of the Apostles, the bishops. Every Christian is given a share in the mission, and is called to works of charity. Remember, we heard, last week, that those who claim to have faith, but do not perform works, their faith is dead. 

On Monday, the Church celebrates a saint who took this call to holy works very seriously, the great St. Vincent de Paul, who labored in the streets of Paris, ministering to the hungry and homeless, war refugees, the neglected elderly, and orphans. He saw there was a problem, and knew that he couldn’t wait for someone else to do the work.  So he established houses for the poor, crippled and sick, personally caring for the patients who had the most contagious diseases. He would dress their wounds and nurse them to health. And this dear holy priest has inspired generations of Catholics—clergy and laity alike, to labor for the poor.

After Communion today, a member of our parish chapter of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul will share a bit more about what they’ve been doing in the name of Christ in our parish and neighborhood.

After explaining how the mission of the Gospel is so much bigger than just the Twelve Apostles, the Lord gave one of us sternest, strongest condemnations in the entire New Testament. He talks about scandal. Those who cause little ones to sin, should have a millstone tied around their necks and thrown into the sea. It would be better to have your hand cut off, then experience the punishment of those who lead people, especially little ones, the impressionable, away from following Jesus Christ.

St. John was almost guilty of scandal. He was about to stop this devout exorcist from casting out demons because he wasn’t one of the Twelve. This is the definition of scandal, when someone in authority, like an apostle, a bishop, a priest, a parent, a catechist, or even just a fellow Christian hinders the holy works and inspirations of others.

Again, this is a lot like when the Lord called Peter Satan. When Peter said, you mustn’t allow yourself to suffer, it was akin to Satan opposing the holy will of God to save us from hell. And so the Lord rebukes Peter, he rebukes Satan for opposing the salvific plan of God.

So, too, here with St. John. When John wants to stop this exorcist from engaging in good, holy, work, inspired by Christ’s Gospel, he is setting himself at odds with God. Which is why the Lord explains that fiery Gehenna is reserved for those who oppose holy charity. 

I love the tension in this Gospel. On one hand, we need to be extremely generous and patient with fellow Christians, encouraging them in holy work, even when they might be a bit different from us. On the other hand, the individual Christian needs to go to extreme lengths to not cause scandal, to not lead others away from Christ by our own words and actions.

On one hand, be deeply, profoundly patient with others, and focus on the good that they are doing, on the other hand, be deeply, and profoundly vigilant about not scandalizing people by setting bad example or teaching error, especially to children. For we will be held accountable for this. 

And the best way to avoid scandal is to be diligent about the works of charity, just like St. Vincent de Paul, and so many holy saints, up and down the centuries. 

Like Peter, St. John finally got the lesson which had eluded him during the Lord’s earthly ministry. As an old man, you know, St. John had been exiled to the island of Patmos. And every Sunday, the Christians of patmos would go up the mountain, and carry old St. John to Church, where he would celebrate the Eucharist and preach to Christians there. And it is said that every Sunday, St. John would give them same homily, “my little children, God loves you, now love God and love one another.” Sunday after Sunday. When someone finally asked him, St. John, why do you give the same homily over and over, St. John replied, I repeat it over and over because the master repeated it over and over, god loves you, now love God and love one another, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2021 - Take up your cross

 The author of today’s Gospel passage, St. Mark, was not a member of the Twelve Apostles. There’s a little dispute over when he encountered the Gospel One tradition states that he was among the 70 disciples sent out by Jesus during his Galilean ministry, another tradition, held by the third century church historian and bishop St. Eusebius, states the Mark became Christian through the post-resurrection preaching of St. Peter. Peter, after all called him “my son Mark” in his first epistle. So, likely, St. Mark got his information about Jesus from Peter; some ancient writers even called Mark’s Gospel “Peter’s Gospel” for that reason.  

So even if St. Mark was not an eye-witness to Jesus, his Gospel, which we’ll be reading through for the duration of the church year, is based on an eye-witness account, that of the prince of the apostles, St. Peter. 

Like St. Peter, St. Mark eventually traveled to Rome, and wrote his Gospel there around the year 60 A.D.  St. Mark’s Gospel is the shortest of the four Gospels: it is clear, precise, orderly, and direct—certainly pleasing to the Roman ear. 

The ancient Romans, to whom Mark wrote, were in many ways like modern Americans.  They were a practical, pragmatic people who emphasized deeds more than words, action more than theory.  The Romans got things done.  They conquered the known world.  And since his audience, the Romans, admired people who got things done, St. Mark emphasized these aspects of Jesus’s life. Throughout Mark’s Gospel, the Lord is confronting and expelling demons, curing contagious diseases, undergoing the terrible sufferings of his Passion, only to rise again victorious over sin and death. 

In the Gospel today, Jesus affirms, explicitly and uncompromisingly—very clearly, so even Romans could understand—that he and all of his followers must "take up the cross"—talk about action. For following Jesus is about more than calling oneself a Christian, to quote same James, “faith without works is dead.” And, the Lord goes so far to say that those who refuse to take up the cross “will lose their lives”—they will lose the promise of eternal life in heaven. Again, you can’t call yourself a Christian without the works that back-up that claim. 

The Lord gives this stark teaching in response to Peter really sticking his foot in his mouth. The Passage begins with Peter seemingly understanding that Jesus is the Messiah—the promised one—the one anointed by God to save us from our sins and restore unity to the fallen human race and restore humanity to right relationship with God. 

But then the conversation takes a turn: when Jesus tells the group that the Christ must suffer greatly, be mocked, and killed, Peter, the disciple, attempts to correct Jesus, the teacher. Big mistake. But who could blame him. Peter doesn’t want Jesus to go to the cross, because Peter doesn’t want to go to the cross. In fact, throughout the Gospel, Peter is often running away from the cross. In the Passion story, Peter denied Jesus three times, so he wouldn’t be arrested and crucified with the Lord.  On the Mount of Transfiguration, when Jesus is talking to Moses and Elijah about going to Jerusalem where he would suffer and die like the prophets before Him, Peter says, no, Lord, let’s just stay here. Peter doesn’t want the Lord to be subject to suffering, because Peter doesn’t want to have to suffer. And again,…who can blame him. Most of us spend a lot of time and energy avoiding or at least minimizing suffering.

“Get behind me Satan”, the Lord says to Peter. You can imagine Mark’s surprise when Peter recalled the events in today’s Gospel: “He called you what?” Why does the Lord offer this sharpest of rebuke? This passage gets to the heart of who Jesus is and what he’s all about. The Lord Jesus wasn’t just a teacher, he wasn’t a community organizer, he wasn’t political leader, he didn’t come to simply encourage humanity to work for social justice. Of course, it’s good to feed the hungry, it’s good to stand up for someone being bullied, it’s good to speak up for the vulnerable. But the Son of God took flesh in order to accomplish something we couldn’t do on our own, the greatest good imaginable: he embraced unimaginable suffering, the greatest suffering, to obtain, to purchase our salvation. 

So when Peter said, you mustn’t allow yourself to suffer, it was akin to Satan opposing the holy will of God to save us from hell. Of course Satan doesn’t want Jesus to suffer and die. The Lord’s Passion freed us from hell’s grasp. And so the Lord rebukes Peter, he rebukes Satan for opposing the salvific plan of God. 

And then the Lord teaches his disciples, that we must, like him, bear our crosses. Fulfilling the will of God is not easy. There is a weight to it, a cost to it. And we know this: it’s good to feed the hungry and clothe the naked. But, we often draw a line, don’t we? We willingly engage in these good works…to a point: and that point usually is, when it costs me something, when I will have to sacrifice something I enjoy or can utilize—cash, leisure time, my favorite television show, my reputation among less religiously fervent peers or family members. When I have to sacrifice these things to build up the Church and to do good works, well, most of us like to leave the hard work to someone else. 

This is a difficult Gospel. Perhaps the most difficult. It was certainly difficult for Peter, so we are, at least, in good company. Peter continues to run away from suffering throughout the Gospel—we run away often. We allow Satan to whisper in our ears, “the cross is too heavy, leave it to someone else, God can’t possibly be asking you to carry this cross, you can carry the next one”. 

But, the Christian life is about learning to carry crosses for the sake of the Kingdom. And just as our Lord brought ineffable goodness from his cross, so to with us. Lives our touched, souls are saved, miracles are wrought, saints are made through the cross. 

There’s the story, which you have likely heard, when Peter finally gets it. After the Lord’s Ascension, of course, Peter labors with the rest of the Apostles to spread the Gospel, in Jerusalem, then to Judea, then throughout the empire. And around the year 64, Peter having been bishop in Antioch for some time, comes to preach and minister to the Christians in the Imperial City of Rome. And for a while Peter knowing that he was likely to be arrested and killed for his ministry, showed great courage preaching the Gospel and ministering to the small community of Christians there. 

When he began to agitate the local Roman authorities, the threat of the cross again loomed too close for comfort. So Peter began to flee Rome. But as he began to flee through the city gate, something happened. He had a vision. Before him he saw the Lord Jesus walking through the gate, into Rome carrying the cross.  Peter, falling to his knees asked him, “Domine, quo vadis?  Lord, where are you going?”  And the Lord replied, “I have come to Rome to be crucified, since you will not.”  Peter recognized that he had been fleeing the cross, yet again., and the Lord’s words struck Peter and gave him the resolve to do what he must do. 

Peter returned to his ministry, preaching the Truth of the Gospel, and for this he was arrested, and like our Lord, Peter was crucified; only he asked that he be crucified upside-down because he felt he was unworthy to die in the same way as his Lord. His sacrifice no doubt bolstered the faith of the Roman Christians who would undergo terrible persecution, and has bolstered the faith of the Church for 2000 years because he finally took up his cross.

What will it mean to take up your cross this week? To pray, to fast, to visit the lonely widow next door? Will it be to bear wrongs patiently, without complaint, without seeking to get the last word in when arguing with a spouse, or refrain from talking back to your parents? Will it mean finally forgiving someone who hurt you, or going out of your way to find a intentional act of charity each day, to invite a coworker to pray? Daily upon waking, ask God for the strength and courage to carry that cross, the willingness to pay what is costly for the spread of the kingdom for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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.

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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.

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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.

2nd Week in Lent 2018 - Thursday - The Rich Man's Lack of Trust in God

In the parable of the Rich man and Lazarus, Our Lord is clearly teaching the importance of caring for those in need—materially, emotionally, spiritually. The Rich Man is condemned for ignoring the poor man—the dying man at his gate. The Rich Man couldn’t claim he didn’t know the poor man was there; for from his conversation with Abraham, the Rich Man appears to have even known the poor man’s name.

So the Lord condemns the hardheartedness for the poor, the selfishness and worldliness which leads to the neglect of the poor in our midst.

But then the Lord takes the teaching one step deeper, exposing the reason for the Rich Man’s failure: he failed to head the way of righteousness laid out by Moses and the prophets. Within the Torah and the Prophetic Writings, care for the poor, the dying, the widow, the orphaned is clear.

Jesus is certainly condemning the Pharisees of his day. They loved the spotlight. Trumpets would be blown when the condescended to give alms. They were like our modern-day career politicians who exploit the poor for their own ends. Sure, they’ll feed the poor when the cameras are filming, they’ll talk a big game in order to get elected, but their disdain for the poor can be seen in their policies which essentially abandon the poor and increase impoverishment.

The Pharisees claimed to be experts of the Law and Prophets, yet their lifestyle did not reflect those teachings. They preached but they did not practice. And Jesus teaches, for this, they would experience eternal separation from God if they did not repent.

Following the Lord requires more than simply having the head knowledge, knowing the teachings, even teaching the teachings. We must practice what we preach. St. James says, “Faith without works is dead.” And dead faith in life, will yield death in eternity.

The Lord claims that the Pharisees failed to trust Moses and the prophets. Sometimes we fail to care for the poor because we lack trust. Psalm 62 says, “Trust in Him at all times, O my people! Pour out your hearts before Him.” Our failure to pour out our hearts, pour out our lives in service, exposes a lack of trust.

How can we increase our trust? Psalm 37 says, “trust in the Lord and do good works”.  By giving—by giving of our time, talent, and treasure—our trust increases. Our Lenten almsgiving truly helps the needy and also increases our trust in God.

May the Lord increase our trust and help our unbelief. May our Lenten observances help us to truly practice God’s Word in this earthly life, that we may come to experience eternal life with Him, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
 
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That those despairing of God’s mercy and those presumptuous of God’s mercy may come to know and practice authentic Christian Hope.

That those preparing for baptism and full Christian initiation at Easter may be strengthened in Faith, Hope, and Love through the Church’s prayer and witness.

That we may generously respond to all those in need: the sick, the suffering, the homeless, the imprisoned, and victims of violence.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. 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.