2nd Week of Ordinary Time 2024 - Friday - David's humility, mercy, and peace

 Continuing our reading from the first book of Samuel, we hear of a very strange story today. To review, the anointed King Saul had hardened his heart toward God and was deemed unworthy of the kingship of Israel. So God sent Samuel to Bethlehem, where Samuel anointed the shepherd boy, David.

In his guilt, Saul sought out a skilled harpist to ease his troubled heart, and his servants located one—the very same shepherd boy that had just been anointed, David of Bethlehem. David enters into Saul’s service, and Saul comes to trust David so much that Saul makes David his personal armor-bearer. It is during this time of service of Saul, that David, guided by his faith in God, defeats the philistine giant Goliath.

David grows in fame and admiration among the people of Israel, and Saul begins to grow jealous. Desiring to keep his enemy close, Saul offers David the hand of his daughter as a bride. The two marry, and David becomes royalty. Saul sends David to the front lines of battle, and David is so successful that Saul’s jealousy escalates into hatred and he attempts to kill David with a spear. 

So, David flees into hiding, and as we heard today, as Saul is in pursuit of David, Saul, has a call of nature, and goes to relieve himself in the very cave where David was hiding. David had a chance to kill Saul. Davids cohort even urges him to take Saul’s life. But David spares Saul out of reverence for his holy anointing. Even though Saul was a bad king, and killing Saul would enable him to assume kingship of Israel, David’s faith and reverence for God guides his decision to spare Saul.

David announces his presence, giving up his advantage, and approaches Saul in a spirit of humility. And realize, Saul could have commanded his troops into the cave to slaughter David right there. Guided by faith, David makes himself vulnerable to a man who wanted him dead. David's speech moves Saul emotionally and he remembers the affection he once had for David. For the first time in many chapters, Saul calls David by name, a name he once used in friendship. And maybe it’s out of self-pity, or maybe it’s out of remorse that he had become obsessed with killing an innocent man, but Saul breaks down in tears, and the two are reconciled. 

David’s humility and faith transformed this hostile relationship—a hostility that could have had devastating effects on Israel—a civil war between the supporters of David and the supporters of Saul. David’s humility and faith healed a national division, and a broken friendship. Through David’s humility and faith, God delivered Israel and Saul from evil. 

How might God be calling you to imitate David’s example? How might God be calling you to humble yourself—to trust in God—in order to bring about the healing of division or some other good that God desires? Is there anyone in your life toward whom you might be called to imitate David’s humility and mercy? 

May we be guided by humility, mercy, peace in all of our relationships. For Jesus proclaims “blessed are the humble”, “blessed are the merciful”, “blessed are the peacemakers”. Humility, mercy, and peace are blessed. May we seek that blessedness for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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To God the Father Almighty we direct the prayers of our heart for the needs and salvation of humanity and the good of His faithful ones.

For the holy Church of God, that the Lord may graciously watch over her and care for her.

For the peoples of the world, that the Lord may graciously preserve harmony among us.

For all who are oppressed by any kind of need, that the Lord may graciously grant them relief.

For ourselves and our own community, that the Lord may graciously receive us as a sacrifice acceptable to himself.

For our beloved dead, for the poor souls in purgatory, and for X, 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.

2nd Week of Advent 2022 - Monday - What does love look like?

 In the fourth century, Saint Augustine wrote, “What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men.” 

In the Gospel, Christian love is beautifully illustrated in the companions of the paralyzed man. Aware of their friend’s misery, they use their hands and feet to overcome obstacles to bring their hurting friend to the Lord. The charity of the friends becomes an opportunity for new life for the paralyzed man. 

To grow in Advent charity, our eyes, ears, hands, and feet are to be placed in greater service of God, greater service of those in need. 

Pope Benedict XVI wrote his first encyclical on Love. Love, which is not a sentiment, not an emotion, but an action which seeks the healing and the wholeness of others. 

My favorite line from any papal encyclical in the past 20 years, and probably the only line from a papal document I can quote from memory comes is this: “Love is the light—and in the end, the only light—that can always illuminate a world grown dim.”

Whose dark world will you make brighter today? Whose paralysis will you bring to the Lord? How will you be a true loving friend today, by bringing someone to Jesus in your words and deeds? Who needs the use of your hands, feet, eyes, and ears in order to begin a new life with Christ as Lord?

This Advent day is an opportune moment to thank God for all those who through their efforts, their friendship have brought us to Jesus. And also to consider how we like the friends of the paralytic, to go out of our way, to exert real effort, perhaps even to break social convention, to do something others might consider crazy, in order to help others come to Jesus

May our love increase, and may the light of Christ’s love be evident in us, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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We raise up our prayers of petitions, as we await with longing the Advent of Christ the Lord.

That Christ may fill the Pope, our Bishop, and all the clergy with spiritual gifts and graces and for an increase in charity among all the people of God, that cleansed of every vain and selfish desire we may be instruments of the love of God. 

That Christ may guide the minds of those who govern us to promote the common good according to His Holy Will.

That Christ may banish disease, drive out hunger, and ward off every affliction.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Almighty ever-living God, who bring salvation to all and desire that no one should perish, hear the prayers of your people and grant that the course of our world may be directed by your peaceful rule and your Church rejoice in tranquility and devotion. Through Christ our Lord.

1st Week of Ordinary Time 2022 - Friday - Good Christian Friendship

 On Wednesday, we read from St. Mark’s Gospel how the Lord healed Simon Peter’s mother-in-law. The whole town began to gather at his door, and he began to heal them and cast out demons. The Lord then embarked on a short tour around the towns and villages of Galilee doing the same. 

In today’s Gospel he has returned to his home base, in the fishing village of Capernaum, where he began to preach from the stoop of his doorway.  

While he preached, these men wanted to bring their paralyzed friend to Jesus to be healed.  Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they climbed up onto Peter’s roof, opened up the roof above him, and lowered their paralyzed friend down through the hole in the roof.  Peter I’m sure let out a long sigh at that point…

The Lord reveals something profound about himself in this encounter. That not only does he have the power to cure paralysis, he has the power to look into a man’s heart and forgive his sins. Something, only God can do. He is God. And this healing miracle serves as a sort of Theophany—in which God reveals Himself. To those who are paying attention—Jesus reveals he is God incarnate in the midst of his people.

While this Gospel passage certainly reveals something about Jesus’ identity and mission, I’m always deeply impressed by the four men who climb Peter’s roof in order to bring their friend to Jesus.

These four men, in a sense, foreshadow the Church, who will have the mission of bringing souls to Christ. In my hometown, there is a Christian community called the Friends church, and they take very seriously this duty of bringing their neighbors to church with them. And they have been wildly successful, and have had to expand their church multiple times.

If only the Catholics in my hometown were as good of friends as the Friends.

The Christian has the duty of being like those four friends in the Gospel, working together. Notice it’s not just one person, a lone wolf, but four people, working together to bring their friend to Jesus.  We are to be good friends who go to serious lengths. When’s the last time you climbed a roof, done something kind of risky, in order to bring someone to Jesus. Christians are to take risks to help people encounter Jesus. 

We need to be good friends, and we need good friends. Not people who will keep us out too late on Saturday night so that we are too tired to go to Mass on Sunday. Or people who will introduce new vices into our lives. But friends who will encourage us in holiness. 

But we need to surround ourselves with the sort of friends that would go to the length that the four men did in the Gospel, to break through a roof in order to bring their friends to Christ.  True friends care about your eternal soul, not just having a good time or enabling your sinful habits. A good friend will tell you when you’ve been selfish and need to go to the Sacrament of Confession.  

May we be good Christian friends, may we know the help of good Christian friends, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That the preaching and teachings of the Pope, Bishops, and clergy may be a source of strength and guidance for the Holy Church and deliverance from the evils of the enemy. And that Christians may work together in bringing the spiritually paralyzed to Christ.

That those in civic authority may submit their minds and hearts to the rule of Christ, the Prince of Peace and Hope of the nations.

For an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated religious life, and that married couples may be generous and faithful in raising children according to the law of Christ and his Church. 

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, those facing religious persecution, immigrants and refugees, 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.

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.

October 18 2021 - St. Luke - The Holy Evangelist

 

St. Luke, as you likely know, was not one of the twelve apostles or one of the Lord’s original disciples; Luke was a Gentile convert.  He may be the only non-Jewish writer of any of the books of the entire Bible, of which he wrote two: his Gospel and the Book of Acts. Luke spoke and wrote classical Greek, but he could also converse and write in Hebrew, Aramaic and Hellenistic Greek. He was a linguist, and a very learned man, Paul calls him “the beloved physician” as he was trained in the science and medicine of his day.

The opening lines of his Gospel show his scientific attention to detail and also his love for Christ. He says, “many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled…but I have decided to investigate everything anew.” So Luke goes to the eyewitnesses of the Lord’s works and deeds: the apostles, perhaps mary Magdalene, martha and mary, zacchias, and cleopas who appear in his Gospel, perhaps even Our Lady, for Luke includes so many details from the Lord’s infancy not found in any other Gospel. 

A few years ago, an excellent film was released about St. Paul, titled, “Paul, Apostle of Christ”. The movie shows Luke, played by Jim Cavizel, is at the side of Paul who is in prison. In second Timothy, Paul explains that Luke alone came to his side while in prison. There Luke learns the details of Paul’s life, which he details in the Acts of the Apostles.

After the death of Paul, Luke wrote his Gospel and the Book of Acts, likely from Rome, then went on to spread his Gospel in Italy, Dalmatia, Gaul, Macedonia, and Egypt. In March of 84 AD, he was crucified to an olive tree in the city of Thebes, in central Greece.

Of all the passages from his Gospel, we read on his feast the passage of the sending of the 72 disciples. Luke recognized that the announcing of the kingdom, the spread of the Gospel, belongs not just to the Apostles, but to all who call themselves Christian. 

Luke was studious and meticulous with his narrative of Christ and the apostles. We, too, are to exercise care in how we speak to and write about others. We should be careful that we always "speak the truth in love." Luke was thorough and comprehensive, unwavering in his commitment to the truth. He didn't assume things. He carefully checked things out. Certainly an important lesson in this era of fake news. Luke was a learned man, as a physician and author. Likewise, Christians should cultivate their minds, seeking to educate ourselves, never assuming we already know everything. He was faithful to Paul as a trusted and loyal friend, standing by him in good times and bad. We, too, can aspire to this kind of faithfulness and loyalty. Most important, Luke was faithful to God, to Jesus, to His teachings and to the apostles.

In seeking holiness, we do well to cultivate our entire selves, mind, body, and heart, in order to place all that we have and all that we are in the service of the Gospel, like St. Luke, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all Christians may be faithful to their vocation to spread the Gospel in word and deed.

During this month of October, dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary, Catholics may take up this devotion with renewed vigor and trust in Our Lady’s never-failing intercession.

That on this feast of St. Luke, patron of medical doctors, all doctors may have a reverence for life, and for the conversion of all who do not believe.  

For all the sick and suffering, and for all those in hospitals, nursing homes, and hospice care, for all those who will die today, for their consolation and that of their families.

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, for the deceased clergy and religious of our diocese, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom. 

God of mercy, hear our prayers, ease the sufferings and comfort the weakness of your servants, and bring us to eternal life, through Christ our Lord.

July 15 2020 - St. Bonaventure - To know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge

Knowledge is a wonderful thing. We are born into this world knowing nothing but our instincts. We know enough to cry when we are hungry, or uncomfortable, or lonely. And there is a joy, when a child begins to learn—how to walk, how to talk. I remember visiting the library as a very young child, but not knowing how to read, the books there were basically useless. But the joy of learning how to read gave me access to the contents of those countless books. Even children who have a rough time with formal education find a joy in grasping new concepts and facts in school.

And of course knowledge helps us to make our way in the world: we learn how to take care of ourselves, how to cook, clean, use money, it enables us to pursue really good things, and can help us alleviate the sufferings of others.

On these feast of the Franciscan Saint Bonaventure, great doctor of the Church, learned in the ways of God, who teaches us so much about God, we have a reading from St. paul’s letter to the ephesians, in which the Apostle speaks of the most important knowledge of all.

Of all the things that we will ever learn or ever know, there is one thing that rises in importance above every other thing: it is the knowledge of Christ and His love.

St. Paul prays that Christians “may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Knowledge of the love of Christ fills us with the fullness of God.

The knowledge of an object or of a science is one thing, but knowledge of a person, the knowledge family members have of each other, the knowledge spouses have of each other. This brings great fulfillment. But higher still is knowledge of the love of Christ. Because it brings us a fulfillment that nothing else in the world can provide.

Knowledge of Christ’s love does not come simply through reading books. It comes experientially, spending time in his presence through prayer, following his example of charity and obedience to the will of the Father, and following in his footsteps by taking up our crosses. It comes sacramentally, for through the Sacraments we encounter Him, his mercy, his love, his strength. The Lord longs to share the knowledge of his love with us, but we must humble ourselves, and seek to love him more than our sins, more than the world, more than our very lives.

Having encountered this love, we seek to bring others who are outside of this knowledge, outside of this experience, into the Church, into relationship with God through Christ, that they may know it, too. For those outside of the Church are deprived of that which makes life worth living.

Bonaventure said, "If you learn everything except Christ, you learn nothing. If you learn nothing except Christ, you learn everything."

May we know the constant assistance of St. Bonaventure and the heavenly court in obtaining and sharing this surpassing knowledge which fills us with the fullness of God for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all Christians may have a burning love for the Crucified-and-Risen Lord, and that love may be seen in the priorities of their life.

That the work and ministry of all Franciscan organizations and charitable institutions may bear fruit for the spread of the Gospel.

For the purification of our minds and hearts from the errors of the culture and from the lure of worldly attachments.

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

2nd Week of OT 2018 - Tuesday - Envy Kills

When David returned from slaying the giant Goliath, King Saul became jealous of his servant’s fame.  He allowed anger and resentment to shape his behavior, and he began to plot to kill David, the Lord’s anointed.  It’s not the first time we hear about envy in Scripture. In fact, it goes back to the very beginning.  Adam and Eve were envious of God, and so they ate of the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in disobedience to God, and committed the first sin which would mark the race of man for all generations.

Cain was envious of his brother Abel. He let that envy turn to rage, and committed the first homicide and fratricide—murdering his brother.

The Scribes and Pharisees seemed to envy Our Lord’s authority. They refused to put their jealousy to death, and instead, they put God to death after brutally torturing Him.

Envy is listed as one of the deadly sins. It was the motive for the first murder and the worst murder. Archbishop Sheen states that, What rust is to iron, what moths are to wool, what termites are to wood, that envy is to the soul - the assassination of brotherly love.

John Vianney said, “I do not believe there is a more ugly and dangerous sin than envy because it is hidden and often covered by the attractive mantle of virtue or friendship…people will employ a hundred and one devices to conceal their envy from others.”

Envy says that if I can’t have it, you shouldn’t have it either. Cain didn’t have God’s favor, so Abel shouldn’t have it either. Saul didn’t have God’s favor, or the adulation of the people, David shouldn’t either. St Paul places envy among the works of the flesh and declares that “those who do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God”

Envy often leads to explosions of rage, but I think it can just as easily lead to lives of quiet rage, and much misery. Envy has been called “the most joyless of the Seven Deadly Sins.” Envy causes us to be overly competitive and overly comparative. Achieving the object of our envy may bring a temporary pleasure, but that pleasure is fleeting and tainted and filled with regret.

In the first reading, it was the empathy of Johnathan which helped to asway the envy of Saul toward David. Johnathan, the true friend, stuck up for David, and it appeared to change Saul’s attitude. Calm, compassionate and rational thinking helps to cure the disease of envy. Generosity is especially the opposite of envy. Whereas envy brings only sorrow and pain, generosity is the seedbed of joy.

May we be delivered from all envious thoughts and pursuits, and may generosity and joy be spread among us, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all members of the Church may live out their baptismal call with greater conviction and faithfulness.

That those in civic authority may submit their minds and hearts to the rule of Christ, the Prince of Peace and Hope of the nations.

That the March for Life in Washington D.C. this Friday will help to transform our culture and inspire many to adhere to the Gospel of Life.

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

Homily: Jan 2 2017 - Sts Basil and Gregory Nazianzen - Authentic Friendship

Today, the Church honors two of the great Cappadocian Fathers, Basil and Gregory Nazianzen. Both were distinguished theologians and champions of the faith in the fourth century, developing and defending our most holy doctrines of God as Trinity.

In the West, Basil and Gregory are recognized as Doctors of the Church, while in the East, they are—along with St. John Chrysostom—recognized as the Three Holy Hierarchs.

As bishops and doctors of the Church, Basil, Gregory, and John were really the backbone of Catholic Orthodoxy during a period of doctrinal struggle and confusion.

Gregory presided over the ecumenical council held at Constantinople, whose great achievement was the completion of the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed that the Catholic Church recites each Sunday.

We could speak endlessly on their towering doctrinal achievements and developments, but I’d like to speak about their friendship.

Basil and Gregory began their friendship while away at school in Athens. Their love for the faith and their love for Christ joined them. Together they produced a work called the Philokalia, coming from the two greek words for “Love” and “Beauty”.  

Listen to the words Gregory wrote about his friendship with Basil.

“Not only did I feel veneration for my great Basil because of the seriousness of his morals and the maturity and wisdom of his speeches, but he induced others who did not yet know him to be like him…the same eagerness for knowledge motivated us…It seemed as if we had one soul in two bodies.”

It is important, in the Christian life to have such friends. I’m blessed with several priest friends who I meet with on a regular basis. We encourage each other in our priestly ministry, we bounce ideas off of each other for homilies and for projects around the parish, we share good meals with each other and from time to time, a fine cigar.

I think the Christian life is impossible without good friends. Jesus himself surrounded himself with the twelve, who he called, not servants, but friends.

C.S. Lewis said, “To the Ancients, Friendship seemed the happiest and most fully human of all loves; the crown of life and the school of virtue. The modern world, in comparison, ignores it.”

Good spiritual friends encourage you to be a better you, the best you. The true measure of authentic friendship: a good friend helps you to serve God with more of yourself. They help us to love and appreciate truth and beauty. True friends help to bring out those qualities in you which are effective in building up the kingdom of God, they help us to become saints.

Today, let’s thank God for the friends in our life who help us to become as holy as we should, and pray that we can be good Christian friends to others, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.