November 15 2024 - St. Albert the Great - Effectively using the time we've been given

As we near the end of Ordinary Time, our daily scripture readings are taken from those portions of the Gospels where Jesus is nearing the end of his earthly ministry. His preaching, teaching, and miracle working had taken him throughout Galilee, but now he nears Jerusalem, that city where he would accomplish what he was born to do, to die on the cross for our salvation.

As the Lord neared Jerusalem, his teachings and preachings got very serious. As we read in today’s Gospel, Jesus explains what is at stake: at the end of the age God’s angels will separate the wicked from the righteous. The righteous—those who turn away from sin and seek God’s help—will be gathered into the eternal kingdom of God. The wicked—those who remain in sin, who refuse God’s help, who refuse heed Jesus’ message—will be cast into eternal fire. 

This is why there is such an urgency to Jesus’ message. There are consequences for what we believe and how we act—how we use our time. 

The Saint we honor today, St. Albert the Great, believed in using every moment he had to pursue knowledge and goodness. 

He was born at the beginning of the 13th century and became an expert student and author on many academic topics including rhetoric, mathematics, astronomy, ethics, economics, politics, metaphysics, and so many of the natural sciences from physics to chemistry, minerology, botany and zoology.  And of course, he studied, what he would have called the highest science, or the queen of the sciences, the study of God, theology.

St. Albert shows us that when our lives are properly ordered—when we turn away from wickedness and selfishness—we are free to pursue what is good and holy. St. Albert didn’t like to waste his time on selfish things. He cultivated his mind—he learned all that he could about the world and about God for the sake of others. 

Now each of us have our own gifts—not all of us are in the end called to pursue a rigorous academic career—but that doesn’t excuse any of us from seeking heaven and serving our neighbor in charity with all of our hearts. 

Each of us are wonderfully made, and God gives to each of us all the opportunities to turn away from wickedness and selfishness, and to use the time we’ve been given we need to fulfill the mission he has for each of us. May St. Albertus Magnus help us put our own ingenuity, creativity, energy, and interests in service of the Gospel for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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As we celebrate the feast of St. Albert the Great, let us turn to God, the source of all wisdom and goodness, and offer our prayers for the Church and the world.

For the Church: That, inspired by the saints, we may be dedicated to the pursuit of holiness, wisdom, truth, and charity. Let us pray to the Lord.

For scholars, scientists, and theologians: That they may use their gifts to deepen our understanding of God’s creation and contribute to the common good with humility and love.Let us pray to the Lord.

For those who struggle with sin and selfishness: That they may turn to God’s mercy, find the courage to change, and seek what is good and holy in their lives. Let us pray to the Lord.

For students and educators: That they may be inspired by the example of St. Albert to pursue knowledge with diligence and use their learning to serve others and glorify God. Let us pray to the Lord.

For all who are sick, suffering, or in need: That they may experience the compassion of Christ through the care and charity of Christians. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our community: That we may use our gifts, ingenuity, and energy to fulfill God’s mission in our lives and serve our neighbors with love and dedication. Let us pray to the Lord.

During this month of November, we pray in a special way for all of the faithful departed, that they may be gathered among the righteous into the eternal kingdom of God, especially N. 

Almighty God, you gave St. Albert the Great the wisdom to study your creation and the grace to live a life of holiness. Hear the prayers of your people and guide us to use our gifts for your glory and the salvation of souls. Through Christ our Lord.

31st Week in Ordinary Time 2024 - Friday - Imitators of the holy ones or Enemies of the Cross

Throughout the Scriptures, the Word of God helps us to understand the difference between good and bad. In the first pages of Scripture, we see God imposing order over the forces of chaos, separating light from darkness. In the Garden, Adam and Eve have a choice between trust and disobedience. Deuteronomy speaks of the way of life and the way of death. Jesus speaks of two gates, one that leads to destruction, the other that leads to life. Jesus teaches how at the Judgement God will separate the sheep from the goats. 

In today’s passage from Paul’s letter to the Philippians, the Apostle differentiates between two types of people: Brothers and Sisters in Christ who Imitate Paul's Example, and the Enemies of the Cross of Christ.

The enemies of the Cross live in ways that are contrary to the message and sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Their lifestyle negates the principles of self-denial and sacrificial love that the cross represents. They are driven by earthly appetites and sensual desires. Their focus is entirely on worldly matters—material possessions, status, and temporal pleasures. And Paul explains, their end is destruction. 

The Brothers and Sisters of Christ, on the other hand, align their lives with the teachings and example of Christ. They are not focused soley on the world, because they believe their ultimate citizenship is in heaven, and this earthly life isn’t simply for satisfying bodily urges and appetites, but preparing for eternity. 

Paul urges the brothers and sisters in Christ to remain steadfast in their faith because we live in the midst of a lot of bad examples who engaging in behaviors contrary to Christ’s teaching, promoting immorality, selfishness, and rebellion against God's commands. 

So Paul says, look to the holy ones in order become not earthly minded, but heavenly minded, focusing on eternal truths, spiritual growth, and the coming of Christ.

At the beginning of the month of November, we celebrated the feast of the Saints, those holy ones whose examples we need to keep every in focus. These citizens of heaven teach us how to live with God’s kingdom as our primary allegiance rather than allegiance to worldly systems and values---those opposing the message of the Gospel.

Paul’s exhortation encourages us to examine our lives to ensure that we are not conforming ourselves to this age, as he writes to the Romans, but we are seeking the renewal of our minds and hearts and souls to seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness. 

May the Holy Spirit help us to imitate the saints in following Jesus Christ for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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Trusting in God's mercy and guided by His Word, let us bring our prayers before Him, seeking the grace to live as faithful disciples.

For the Church: That all members may imitate the example of Christ and the saints, standing firm in faith and resisting the allure of worldly values.

For our leaders: That those in positions of authority may promote justice and moral integrity, helping to build a truly righteous society.

For our community: That we may support one another and set good example for each other in seeking the renewal of our minds and hearts, focusing on eternal truths over temporal pleasures.

For the youth: That they may be inspired by the lives of the saints to choose the path of righteousness and self-denial.

For those facing heavy crosses of illness, loneliness, or hardship, that they may experience God's sustaining presence and our compassionate care.

We pray in a special way during this Month of November for all of the faithful departed; for the deceased members of our family, friends, and parish, for deceased clergy and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom, that they may experience the fullness of God's grace in eternal life. 

Heavenly Father, hear the prayers of Your people. Grant us the grace to turn away from earthly distractions and to embrace the path that leads to eternal life. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

4th Week of Lent 2024 - Wednesday - Divine Sonship of Jesus Christ

 Following the fourth Sunday of Lent, we read during the weekdays predominantly from the Gospel of St. John. 

Like each of the evangelists, St. John details the miracles and teachings of Jesus, culminating in his self-sacrifice on Calvary and his resurrection. Compared to Mathew, Mark, and Luke, however, St. John often emphasizes the divine nature of Jesus, his consubstantiality with the Father, how he and the Father are united in nature, and also in their desire to save humanity.

Why did St. John convey this unique perspective? While the Gospels of Mathew, Mark, and Luke were written to explain the life and teachings of Jesus to a more general audience, including Jews and Gentiles with varying degrees of understanding of Jewish traditions, John's Gospel seems to address a community that was already familiar with Jesus' life and teachings. John’s intent was to deepen the understanding of Jesus' divine nature and to reinforce the faith of the believers. Since, John was writing a little later than the other 3 gospel writers, around the turn of the 1st century, his audience was already facing the spready of heresies about Jesus’ divine identity, prompting John to emphasize the spiritual and divine aspects of Jesus.

Today’s Gospel passage is emblematic of St. John’s high Christology, as scholars say, an example of St. John emphasizing Jesus’ divine nature and the consequences for his teaching.  The passage begins with Jesus claiming to share his Father’s work—his work and his Father’s work are the same. And immediately, St. John tells us that the reactions to this bold statement were dramatic. “For this reason they tried all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the sabbath but he also called God his own father, making himself equal to God.”

Jesus then doubles down, and claims that he can do nothing apart from the Father and does whatever the Father does, indicating a unity of action and will between the Son and the Father. That the Father has granted the Son authority to give life and to execute judgment, and goes so far to say that they should all should honor the Him with the same honor as they give to the Father. And then the real kicker: Jesus claims power to resurrect the dead and give eternal life.

This passage is helpful for us to understand the reasons for the hostility Jesus experiences, but also it offers several good lessons for Lent.

Lent is a time to deepen our understanding and appreciation of who Jesus is. He is the Divine Savior sent by the Father out of love for us, to do what we could not do for ourselves, save us from our sins. Jesus models perfect obedience and submission to the Father's will. And during Lent, we are called to imitate Christ's example by aligning our own will with God's and seeking to do what pleases him. Jesus emphasizes that he can do nothing apart from the Father. This reminds us of our own need to rely on God's strength and guidance, especially as we seek to grow in holiness during Lent. As Jesus speaks of the coming judgment, we are reminded of our own accountability before God. Lent is a time for self-examination, repentance, and seeking to live a life pleasing to God.

And finally Jesus' discourse highlights his authority over life and death and his role in the final resurrection. Lent is a time to focus on eternal realities and to live in light of the resurrection hope we have in Christ.

By reflecting on Jesus' divine identity and his relationship to the Father we honor Jesus as the divine Son, submit to his authority, depend on his power, and live with an eternal perspective as we prepare to celebrate the paschal mystery of his death and resurrection for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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As the Solemnity of Easter approaches, dear brethren, let our prayer to the Lord be all the more insistent:

That God may be pleased to increase faith and understanding in the catechumens and those to be fully initiated in the coming Paschal Solemnity

For Peace throughout the nations of the world most threatened by hatred, division, and violence, for the protection of the unborn and the safety of the men and women in our armed forces.  

That all families will commit themselves to fervent prayer this Lent so as to grow in greater love and holiness.  

For the physical, emotional, and spiritual healing of all people, especially the spiritually blind and hard of heart.  

For all those who have died, for all the poor souls in purgatory, for those who have fought and died for our country’s freedom, and for…  

Have mercy, O Lord, on the prayers of your Church and turn with compassion to the hearts that bow before you, that those you make sharers in the divine mystery may never be left without your assistance. Through Christ our Lord.

27th Week in Ordinary Time 2023 - Friday - The day of the Lord is coming

 We read today from the very short book of the prophet Joel.  The Book of Joel is only four chapters long and can easily be read in a single sitting, yet his message is profound, and as relevant as ever.

Joel prophesied in Judah, in Jerusalem, around the year 500, after the return from the Babylonian exiles.

Though they had just returned from exile, Joel tells the people, don’t get too comfortable; getting too comfortable, too complacent, too familiar with worldly ways is how we got in trouble in the first place.  So, Joel calls for fasting and penance and all-night prayer vigils—to gather in the house of the Lord, with the elders: sound the alarm; blow the trumpets…why? Because the day of judgment is coming.

Joel goes on to described the calamities and natural disasters which are only a foreshadowing of the eternal suffering that awaits those who fail to repent—those who exclude God from their lives.

You got to love these prophets. They keep us rooted in reality—the reality that we must maintain the priority of faith. That more important than any of our earthly endeavors is the orienting ourselves to God, preparing for eternity, being vigilant against worldly distractions. Why? Because there are eternal consequences if we don’t. 

“The Lord will judge the world with justice” we sang in our Psalm. 

Again, some relevant ideas there. The nations are sinking into the pit they have made for themselves—including our own nation—sinking fast. And God sits ready to judge with justice. But amidst that, the Psalm explains how the faithful soul is still found giving thanks to God, declaring his wondrous deeds, rejoicing and exalting in God, and singing his praise.

The faithful soul is not prone to discouragement. We know the world is falling apart, and we are not discouraged, because that’s the way of things. How do you know if you’re soul is prepared? The world falling apart doesn’t bother you that much. You’ve confessed your sins, your heart is oriented toward God, and that gives the faithful soul an immense freedom from fear. As things fall apart we can still sing God’s glories, and thank God for his blessings. 

“Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste” the Lord says. Of all the kingdoms of the world, there is only one that will survive: the kingdom of God. Though the mountains may fall, and nations crumble, the Lord promises peace and eternal life to his faithful ones.  Confident and trusting in the Lord amidst all the chaos of our lives, may we be found faithful today in his service for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That hearing the call to repentance preached by the Church, all men may turn away from their sins to the mercy of Christ.

For peace in the Holy Land, an end to the violence and suffering, and healing for those whose lives have been tragically disrupted. May God’s peace the communities and families devastated by the horrors of terrorism and war.

That our young people may take seriously the missionary call of Christ, that they will turn away from the evils of our culture to spread the good news of Christ’s eternal kingdom.

For all whose lives are marked by suffering, may they come to know the healing and peace of Christ.

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.

29th Week in Ordinary Time 2021 - Wednesday - Is this parable meant for us or everyone?

 “Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?”

This parable about consequences for servants being negligent in their duties seems to be aimed particularly at the apostles. After all, they have some serious responsibilities in caring for the master’s house, the Church. 

The bishop, St. Ambrose wrote, that this parable: seems to be set before priests, whereby they know that they will suffer severe punishment…if intent on worldly pleasure, they have neglected to govern the Lord’s household and the people entrusted to them.”

And yet, are there really any parables in the Gospels that aren’t applicable to everyone? If we are reflecting on a parable, and think, he’s probably not talking about me, you better read it again.

By virtue of our baptism, we all have a certain responsibility in the Lord’s household. We are all servants with responsibilities. Spouses have responsibilities for each other and for their children. Consecrated religious have responsibilities to fulfill their vows. Single people have to keep the commandments just like everyone else. So, this parable, like all the parables, are meant for everyone.

Now, there are a lot of Christians these days, perhaps even bishops, the successors of the apostles, who believe they will get special treatment on judgment day—a free pass, perhaps, for all the hard work, for their sparkling personalities. There’s a tendency to act as if we are special, or above the laws of God. 

St. Paul clarified this point in his letter to the Romans, when he said each and everyone will give an account to God at his judgment. God’s love for us is universal, the invitation to repent and believe is universal, but so is the fact that all will be judged.

We will be judged on the basis of our faith in the Lord, the measure of our love for Him, our neighbors, the poor, and our enemies. Did we extend mercy as we have been shown mercy? We will be judged based on our knowledge of the Lord's wishes and the particular tasks he gave us. And, we will be particularly judged based on how we used the talents the Lord has given to us.

This parable is certainly a call to conversion, a call to ensure that our single endeavor is to live for their lord in faithfulness to responsibilities he has given to us and the time that we have been given, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That religious indifference in our country and around the world may be transformed to radical commitment to the Gospel of Christ.

For the transformation of all attitudes which lead to war, violence, racial hatred, and religious persecution.

For the conversion of Atheists, hardened sinners, the religiously indifferent, lapsed Catholics, and the conversion of all hearts.

“That our parishes, animated by a missionary spirit, may be a place where faith is communicated and charity is seen.”

That the love of Christ, the divine physician, may bring healing to the sick and comfort to all the suffering. 

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.

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2021 - To inherit eternal life

 

“Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” We heard this question from the lips of a young jewish man in the Gospel today. It’s an important question. And one of the great concern many priests and probably many of you have is that so few of today’s young people and so few of our family members consider this question important.  It’s certainly one of the symptoms of the secularism and materialism of our age: this indifference to eternity.

Many ask questions  like, “what must I do to get into Harvard, what must I do to be a famous athlete, what must I do to make my first million by the age of 30?” Some sadly, are concerned only with, “what must I do to have as much pleasure as I can?”  These are all valid questions if one is merely concerned with earthly happiness and temporal success.  But, there is something more, something more important. Not just temporal reality, but ultimate, eternal reality. It’s quite possible, the Lord says elsewhere, to have all of these earthly desires fulfilled, while losing one’s soul: what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, but to lose one’s soul. Our eternal soul is of incomparable value to any earthly reality.

So the question beginning this Gospel, is a good question, the most important. “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 

When asked the big question by this young man, the Lord begins his answer by enumerating the commandments, specifically the commandments from the second tablet of the law of Moses, the ones that have to do with morality--the “thou shalt nots” thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not commit adultery.  You want to attain eternal life? How you treat people matters. The moral choices you make matter. There is an inextricable link to the moral choices we make in this life and how we will spend eternity. 

St. Paul repeatedly takes us this theme in his epistles. To the Corinthians Paul writes that “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive good or evil, according to what he has done in the body” And in our second reading today, Paul speaks about this accounting. All people of all time will have to render an account of our actions, our choices. Those who walked in righteousness will go on to their eternal reward, the Lord says in Matthew 25, while the wicked will go on to eternal perdition.

The Catechism synthesizes this teaching saying, “eternal retribution” will be “received by each soul at the very moment of death…either with entrance into the blessedness of Heaven…or immediate and everlasting damnation” What we do in this life matters. 

There is of course forgiveness for our immorality, for our sins, through Christ and Christ alone. For those who seek forgiveness, and seek conversion from immorality, forgiveness is given. But like the young man in the Gospel today, Christians must seek obedience to those “thou shalt nots” and seek constant conversion from sin. 

After the Lord enumerates the commandments, the young man confidently tells him, “Teacher, I’ve observed all these from my youth”.  Not only is this young man asking the right questions, seeking answers from the right person, he has brought his life into conformity to the wisdom and truth of God. He shows that he is serious about eternal life. 

The Lord then acknowledging that in this young man, the fundamental are in place, the aspirations are right. And then St. Mark offers one of the most beautiful lines in his entire Gospel, did you catch it? “Jesus looking at him, loved him”. This is the only time in the Gospel of Mark, that Jesus is said to have looked with love on an individual. This is a very special moment. This is the gaze of divine love with which Jesus looks upon all of us—the burning love of the Sacred Heart he has for each one of us. God looks upon us, he wants salvation for us, he wants eternal life for us..

This is the gaze of divine love that has captivated the hearts of generations of Christian to live for Christ; this love has captivated the saints to pour their lives out in service, to spend their lives growing in the experience of that love through prayer, penance, and charitable works. It is the love that captivated the holy martyrs, who recognized in that gaze, the most important thing in the world, that which is worth dying for, knowing, loving, and being loved by God in this life and for all eternity.

Sadly, like so many today, it seems this young man in the Gospel was too preoccupied with his earthly treasures to detect Jesus’ love for him.

“You are lacking in one thing” Jesus says…what’s that one thing? It wasn't obedience to the commandments, he had that. The Christian life requires more than this. The young man lacked faith that corresponds with the willingness to give up earthly things to obtain heaven. He is unwilling to let go of his old way of life to follow Jesus. We go from hearing the most beautiful words in the Gospel, to the saddest words: Jesus called the man to holiness, but at this statement, the young man’s face fell, and he went away sad. 

When Jesus calls us and we do not follow, sadness and regret, will always ensue, that’s true for this life, and that’s true for eternity. Eternal sadness, eternal regret is the consequences for rejecting God’s invitation, which he will not force upon us, or else it is not an invitation.

But we never regret following Him, accepting his invitation on the great adventure of Christian discipleship. We never regret refusing to settle for spiritual mediocrity, seeking conversion from selfishness, impurity, pride, and anger. We never regret the time we set aside each day to meditate on his holy word, listening to his voice, seeking his face, engaging in holy works prescribed by Him. 

Even when there are social consequences for being a following Jesus and remaining firm in his truth, there are no regrets, only perhaps, that we weren’t more fervent.

As the Lord invited the young man to give up his possession to follow him, the Lord invites us to give up the things, the possessions, the habits, which might obstruct our entrance into eternal life. We do well to identify the earthly attachments, the vices, the sinful habitual behaviors and ways of treating people, and the fears, that keep us from the life of freedom and joy the Lord wants for us.

He looks upon us each of us with ineffable love and invites us to follow Him on the great adventure. May we set aside all that keeps us from growing in the life of grace, all that is hindering us on the path of wisdom and love, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Christ the King 2020 - The King in disguise

 Today the Church celebrates with great joy the Solemnity of Christ the King. It is the last Sunday of the liturgical year and, in many ways, the culmination.  All of the seasons and feasts point to this reality: that Jesus Christ is the King of the Universe, the Lord of all.  All of time, all of history, is heading toward this climax when Christ will be revealed as the universal King of Kings. 

Although this feast wasn’t officially on the Church calendar until 1929, it’s been a doctrine of the Church since the very beginning—Israel referred to God as Heavenly King long before they had an earthly King. In fact, we Americans are a bit like ancient Israel in that way. We do not bend our knee to any earthly king, and yet we resoundingly hail Christ as Our King.

For a little cultivation of mind and soul, a few years ago, I read Shakespeare’s Henry V.  Act IV of Henry V, takes place the night before the great battle of Agincourt, and King Henry does something surprising. He disguises himself as a commoner. The king dressed in peasant garb walks among his soldiers, he calls brothers, and raises their spirits for the upcoming battle.

Sound familiar?  The King of the Universe became one of us.  And it wasn’t just an act; God really became man and sent the Church on a campaign to bring the Gospel to all of the corners of the earth.  

There is another famous story about royalty disguising itself as the commoner, a story I heard as a young boy, the story of the Prince and the Pauper.  The prince and a poor commoner trade places, the prince goes and lives in the streets, begging for food, and the pauper lives in the castle and is treated like royalty.  While he is living in the streets, some treat the prince with kindness, some ignore him, some even spit on him.  At the end of the story, the prince comes back to the castle, sits on his throne and rewards those who cared for him, loved him, helped him, when they did not know he was the prince.

That lesson should sound familiar as well as it sounds a lot like Matthew’s Gospel this weekend!  In Matthew’s 25th chapter, the Lord teaches us that those in need are really him in disguise. For the rest of history he is disguised in ever hungry, naked, thirsty, homeless, imprisoned person we meet. And we will be judged—we will be separated into two camps—when he returns in glory—by our treatment of the least. 

Last Wednesday, on the 11th of November we celebrated the feast of St. Martin of Tours, whose image is depicted in one of our stained glass windows here at St. Ignatius. St. Martin of Tours lived in the 4th century.  He was a soldier, but also a Christian.  And one very cold day, much like today, Martin came across a poor, nearly naked man, lying at a city gate, begging for help.  Martin had no money, so the story goes that he took his red soldier’s cape, and cut it in half, and gave it to the poor man, to keep warm. That’s what is being depicted in the stained glass window. 

Not depicted is what happened shortly after. Martin had a vision of the Christ Child, seated on his throne, wearing half of Martin’s red soldier’s cape.  An angel asked the Lord, why are you wearing that cape, were did you get it from?  And the Lord responded, “My brother Martin gave that to me.”  When we care for the poor, we care for Christ.

St. Mother Theresa of Calcutta said, “at the end of life, we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great things we have done, we will be judged by, ‘I was naked and you clothed me, I was hungry and you fed me.”  But then she broadens the concept, “hungry not only for bread, but hungry for love; naked, not only of clothing, but of human dignity and respect, homeless not only of a room of bricks, but also homeless because of rejection…this is Christ in disguise.”  

The catechism validates Mother Theresa’s words, when it says, “On Judgment Day at the end of the world, Christ will come in glory to achieve the definitive triumph of good over evil…when he comes at the end of time to judge the living and the dead, the glorious Christ will reveal the secret disposition of hearts and will render to each man according to his works and according to his acceptance or refusal of grace.”    

Praised be to God, this parish has a such long history of taking this Gospel quite seriously. And I hope that can continue for a long time. It takes a lot of work and time. But please know that if you, or a group of fellow parishioners, have some idea of how you would like to serve the needs of our neighborhood or the needs of the parish, I will help you develop that. That’s what I’m here for.

Our everyday encounters, as St. Paul says, carries an “eternal weight of glory”—our treatment of the waitress, the cashier, the political rival, the belligerent family member at the thanksgiving dinner table—our decisions, our words, how we treat people, will be recalled on judgment day—when the disguise is taken off, and we will be judged according to the measure of our charity or lack thereof.

For Christ to truly be King of our lives, we must recognize that the King desires our service, especially when he dresses in disguise. Most of us are on our best behavior when we come into church, because we are in the Eucharistic presence of Christ, but that behavior, that generosity, always needs to extend beyond these walls, out in the world, in setting good Christian example by our words and deeds, sharing the good news of salvation with the brokenhearted, and even simply meeting the very common, simple needs physical needs of the stranger, for the Lord comes disguised as the stranger, and demands our respect, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

November 2020 - First Friday Holy Hour - Eucharistic Adoration and the Holy Souls in Purgatory

In the Gospel for today, the Lord tells a parable about how the so-called dishonest steward works to settle his accounts with his master. In a sense, this parable reminds of how we will all be required to make an accounting at the end of our life of how we used our time—did we squander it, did we use it to glorify God?

The parable challenges us to get our lives in order, to make sure our priorities are straight, that we are putting our time, talent, and treasure in the service to God, rather that pursuing our own selfish endeavors. 

During the month of November, we pray in a special way for the souls in purgatory who at the end of life, were found in need of further purification from the effects of sin in their life. Yes, they died in friendship with the Lord, but in that great accounting, there was found need of purgation. And during this month, we pray for them, knowing that our prayers truly help them.

Most efficacious is the celebration of Mass for a soul. Once during the celebration of mass, St. Bernard saw an unending stairway leading up to heaven. By means of it angels ascended and descended, carrying from Purgatory to Paradise the souls freed by the Sacrifice of Jesus—the sacrifice which is renewed at the altar during every celebration of Mass.

Eucharistic adoration too, is a powerful form of prayer, in assisting the holy souls. Kneeling before the Blessed Sacrament, St. Peter Damien proclaimed: “O HOLY HOST, YOU THAT BREAKS DOWN THE GATES OF PURGATORY AND OPENS THE DOOR OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN TO THE FAITHFUL!"

Kneeling before our Eucharist Lord, this evening, we do well to bring to him the souls of our loved ones, bring them to him by name. For from the Sacred host, streams of alleviating grace flow into Purgatory, bringing unspeakable relief and assistance to the Church suffering due to the effects of sin.

And, when it is time for the great accounting of our lives, when we appear before the judgment seat, we can be sure that speaking on our behalf will be all those souls who we prayed for, who were able to reach their heavenly destination thanks to our prayers and penances. 

Eternal rest, grant unto them, o Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. For the glory of God and salvation of souls. 

31st Week in OT 2020 - Friday - Imitate the holy ones

Paul’s exhortation might sound strange to our ears. “Be imitators of me”, he says. We are certainly reluctant to present ourselves as moral or religious examples for others. But in the ancient Greco-Roman world it was a common and acceptable practice for teachers to point to themselves as examples.

And really, it is human nature, to look for examples to imitate; and teachers know that their role inevitably makes them examples…for better or for worse.

Moreover, our own culture holds up examples all the time: a recovered alcoholic will tell their story to encourage other alcoholics toward sobriety. Exercise enthusiasts will speak of the new energy they’ve gained from a particular exercise program in order to prompt their sluggish friends to join a gym. Or upon finding a successful diet, we’re very quick to tell others about it.

Christians, like Paul, need to set good example for others and need to be enthusiastic about telling people about the difference believing in Christ means in our life. We don’t just tell people they need to go to Church, but why they need to go to Church, what we get out of going to Church. We don’t just tell people they need to pray the rosary, but why they should pray the rosary, what we’ve personally gotten out of praying the rosary. Why should we read the Bible? Because there are many misconceptions floating around in our culture about the Bible, and the Bible gives us deep insight into the mystery of God and how to conduct one’s life with wisdom and how to bear the fruits of the Spirit!

Having reminded the Philippian Christians whom they should take as their models, Paul warns them of those they should not imitate—do not imitate those who “conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ.” Our culture holds up some pretty vile people as role models—people who have made earthly fame, earthly power, earthly riches, the god of their lives. And we must be very careful, that we are not envying these people, or allowing our minds to become occupied with earthly things as they are. 

Because in the end, and Paul is very clear about this, earthly life will end in one of two ways: salvation or damnation. If we have spent our life pursuing earthly things, it will end in destruction. But modeling our lives after the saints, spending our lives seeking to be models of faith for others, we show that our eternal citizenship is in heaven. 

May we repent of all earthly thinking and earthly pursuit, and recommit to imitating the holy ones, conforming ourselves to Christ in this life, that we may be conformed to him forever in heaven, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all Christians may grow in their imitation of the saints. Let us pray to the Lord.

That our young people may be blessed to be raised in faith filled homes, that they may be protected from the evils of our culture, and be granted a firm knowledge of their vocation to holiness. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our nation, beset with such vast corruption, might look to the Son of God, believe in him, and seek the life that only he can offer. Let us pray to the Lord. 

That Christ the Good Shepherd will draw close to all who suffer, the sick, the needy, victims of injustice, and the dying.

We pray in a special way during this month of November for all the faithful departed, all deceased members of St. Ignatius of Antioch Parish, our deceased family members and friends, deceased clergy and religious, those who fought and died for our freedom and for 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.

All Souls 2020 - Mourning and Praying for the Dead

A few years ago, All Souls Day fell on the first Friday of November, and so I was visiting and bringing Holy Communion to homebound parishioners. My first stop was to a woman named Josephine, and elderly woman with a thick polish accent, to whom I had been bringing Communion for several years.  

I asked her if she had any particular intentions she would like to offer as she received Holy Communion, and she said, since today is the Feast of All Souls she would like to pray for her husband and her father who were arrested and killed in the Concentration Camp at Aushwitz during World War II.  After we prayed, and she received Holy Communion, she asked if I would like to see a picture of her father.  I said I would.

She went into the bedroom and brought out a rectangular photograph of very thin man, dressed in a prison outfit, in three poses: a profile looking to the right, one where he was looking up and to the left, and the middle one, he was looking directly at the camera with a haunted expression.

I thought of the horrors he witnessed—they seemed reflected in his eyes--and I had to sit down.  

Josephine then said, Father, I try to think of good memories, but so often I am overwhelmed with sadness.  Why do we always remember the hurtful things?

After a moment, I said, I think it’s important not to forget our loved ones, as hurtful as their memories are, so that we can pray for them, and to pray that terrible things like war and genocide never happen again.

She said, “All Souls Day is always a very sad day for me, but it is also the anniversary of our coming to this country and escaping those horrors.”  How fitting, I thought because that’s what All Souls is all about. Today we pray that our loved ones arrive at their heavenly homeland. 

Today can be a sad day, it might be a sad month, for the whole month is dedicated to praying for the souls of the dead—remembering the faithful departed whom we loved in this life can evoke strong emotions. And that’s not bad. For the Lord promises comfort to those who mourn: blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. We are comforted by the knowledge that our prayers truly help our departed loved ones. Every moment of sorrow, is a moment to turn to the Lord, and to know the comfort that can only come through Him.

When are overwhelmed with grief for our loved ones the best thing to do is to turn to God in prayer for their souls and to renew our hope in the resurrection. As Saint Thomas Aquinas said that the greatest act of love we can perform on behalf of the dead is to pray for them.  

And yet, we simply don’t pray, today and this month, for those who were good, we pray for all souls. No matter who they were in life, how they acted, who they loved or hurt, we pray for all of the souls in purgatory, that they may be open to all of the purification they need in order to enter eternal life with God. If there is a soul, who may have hurt us or hurt a family member, that we cannot bring ourselves to pray for, we should work on that today, and this month. Praying for our enemies, truly praying for their greatest good, their conversion to Christ, shows that we are not bound by malice or hate for them, but are concerned for all souls.

The scripture readings for this holy day speak of a time when the dead, when all souls shall be gathered before Christ, to be judged, but in the meantime, we continue to pray for all, to work for the good of all, the conversion of all, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That Christ, Son of the Living God, who raised up Lazarus from the dead, will raise up to life all the dead who have been redeemed by his precious blood.  We pray to the Lord.

That Christ, consoler of all who mourn, who dried the tears of the family of Lazarus, the widow’s son, and the daughter of Jairus, will bring comfort to all those who mourn for the dead.  We pray to the Lord.

That Christ, our Savior, will destroy the reign of sin in our earthly bodies, and grant us eternal life.  We pray to the Lord.

That Christ, our Redeemer, will look on all those who have no hope because they do not know him, and bring them to faith in the resurrection and in the life of the world to come.  We pray to the Lord.

For all those who have died. For our beloved dead who we pray for in a special way today, this All Souls day and during the month of November, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for those who have fought and died for our country’s freedom, and for N. for whom this Mass is offered. Let us pray to the Lord.

16th Sunday in OT 2020 - Weeds & Wheat, Who am I to Judge

When we think of the saints, we often think of people whose holiness was evident from a very young age. St. Bernadette, was a very holy and humble young girl, St. Catherine had visions and conversations with Jesus, Mary and other saints from a very young age. St. Maria Goretti, as a young girl consecrated herself to the Lord, and courageously protected her chastity to the point of death, the polish St. Stanislaws Kostka’s holiness was quite evident when he entered the Jesuit order on his 17th birthday.

Not all the saints exhibited holiness from their youth. St. Francis we know galivanted around town, spending his father’s money on women and drink. St. Augustine had a saying to describe his life before his conversion at the age of 40, he said, “It was foul, and I loved it.” And even after his initial conversion he described his half-hearted commitment to chastity in a little prayer, “Lord give me chastity, just not yet.”

St. Camillus, whom the Church celebrated this week on Friday, was another saint whose conversion came later in life. As a lad, Camillus gave his parents nothing but trouble.  He got into fist-fights with neighborhood boys, he skipped school, he learned his prayers, but refused to say them; he was so quick to unleash his violent temper that his mother was actually afraid of him.

At the age of seventeen, Camillus joined his father as a mercenary soldier, and he quickly picked up a lot of the vices of the military camps—swearing, gambling, drinking, and visiting prostitutes.  He and his father, Giovanni, even teamed up as a con artist team, swindling their fellow soldiers.  The father and son conmen went from camp to camp, cheating at cards, and whatnot, until Camillus’ father fell seriously ill.

To Camillus’ surprise, on his deathbed, his father sent him to fetch a priest. And after Giovanni made a good confession, repenting from all his sins and crimes, he received Holy Communion and died.
This was a turning point in Camillus’ life…sort of. He was deeply touched by his father’s deathbed conversion.  If his father, a life-long gambler and conartist could have faith, then so could Camillus.  One of his uncles was a Franciscan, so Camillus thought he might give religious life a try.  But that didn’t last long; he soon fell into gambling again. And this time his luck really ran out—he lost everything and became homeless.

God’s grace broke into his life when a local business owner gave him a job doing menial construction work.  Here Camillus began to acquire two virtues he had never cultivated before: self-discipline and responsibility.  Through work he realized his dignity.

When his construction job was done he set out for Rome to work at the famous Hospital of San Giacomo.  There, he found great worth in nursing the sick and giving the desperately ill a clean, comfortable place to die. Doing this holy work, he discovered his vocation and was ordained a priest. He spent the last thirty years of his life dedicated to the sick.

What a conversion!  At many points in his life, it seemed unlikely that Camillus would even find God, let alone develop faith, humility, or compassion. Perhaps, there are some of us here, who like Camillus, were on the wrong path at some point in life. But somehow, God broke in. Maybe like Camillus we were given a chance by an employer, or we saw how much suffering we were bringing to our loved ones. If not yourselves, likely everyone here knows someone who seems trapped in an endless cycle of poor decisions.

But, the life of Camillus and our Gospel this weekend reminds us that we must be patient.  Everyone we meet might be one act of kindness away from getting back on the right road toward God. 
Our Lord tells us that weeds and wheat often grow in the same field.  Even expert farmers have a difficult time telling the difference between the two while they are still growing.  It is only at harvest time when the two can be distinguished. So we must be patient with everyone who is struggling. We must never write anyone off as incapable of conversion. St. Camillus’ sins are nowhere near the worst of those whose lives were turned, who turned out not to be weeds after all.

Like the wealthy employer who gave St. Camillus the job which was the turning point in his life, we too are called to be instruments of God’s grace in the lives of others.

A number of years ago, rather early on in his pontificate, there was a media storm around a comment Pope Francis made. The Holy Father was asked about the eternal consequences of a priest who had forsaken his vows and was living in a way contrary to the Gospel. And the Holy Father declared, “Who am I to judge?” In this pronouncement, the Holy Father was articulating a truth that is very clear in scripture and tradition. St. James writes in his epistle:  “There is only one lawgiver and judge.  He is the one able to save and destroy.  So, who are you to judge your neighbor?”

St. James is saying that neither the Pope, nor any Christian, can point to anyone and say, that person is definitely going to Hell because of their sins.  That person is definitely a weed. Such a judgment is reserved to God alone.  Again, the weeds and wheat will be sorted out on judgment day by God, the one and only judge.

But to be clear, Pope Francis is not saying that because only God can judge us we can live however we want. He’s not saying we can ignore God’s commands, throw away the Catechism and disregard Scripture because all roads lead to heaven. He’s not saying we should disregard the Lord’s mandate to preach the Gospel to everyone. No, he is saying nothing of the sort. He’s just saying, he’s not the one who makes the rules and none of us are either.

Our Gospel this weekend is very clear that there are eternal consequences for rejecting God’s law.  There will be a separation at the end of time: weed from wheat, sheep from goats, the saved from the damned, those who accepted God’s grace from those who rejected it.

And so, we must strive to live in conformity to the truth revealed in Christ, and to be very careful about how we treat those who have not accepted the fullness of the Gospel. We must strive for righteousness, call others to righteousness, but to be very patient with those who initially refuse that call. Because it ain’t over till it’s over, for them, or for us. We must persevere to the end, and remain hopeful and work and pray for the conversion of those who have not yet converted. And remain patient with God who works on his own time table.

And speaking of patience, as you may have seen on the internet or on television, the Holy Father has named a new bishop for the Diocese of Cleveland. Thanks be to God! Currently the bishop of Greensburgh Pennsylvania, until he is installed as our bishop in September, Bishop Edward Malesic. If you haven’t had the chance, you can watch the Bishop’s press conference on the diocesan website or on youtube. I also put a link to it on my personal facebook page.

In the press conference, the good bishop humbly acknowledged that most of us have never heard of him before. Likely, when we heard of the appointment a lot of us googled his name and his accomplishments. I know I did. He then said, he also googled the diocese of Cleveland and even some Cleveland priests, which made me kind of nervous, as I’ve been posting my homilies online for the last 7 years. I think they are pretty devoid of heresy, but if you happen to detect any, please let me know so I can…do a little revision before the bishop digs too deep.

Upon hearing of his appointment Wednesday night, I listened to a few of HIS homilies on the Greensburgh’s website and boy am I deeply impressed and excited.  My first impression is that Holy Father Pope Francis has sent us a great gift. Here is a man who will help us to know the grace of Christ, to respond to it, who will help us reach out to souls like Camillus and Augustine, to reach into the lives of those who seem lost, to bring Christ to them and to bring them to Christ.

His Excellency will be installed as our 12th Bishop on the 14th of September, the Feast of the Exlatation of the Holy Cross. It will be good to have someone at the helm again, but I think his spiritual leadership will be a tremendous blessing for us.
May he know the constant support of our prayers, and may we will know the guidance of the holy Spirit, that in whatever vocation to which we have been called, we may bear good fruit, we may judge rightly what is the will of God, that our lives may be holy, and pleasing, and perfect for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

1st Week of Advent 2019 - Monday - The Messiah in God's Plan of Salvation

Throughout the season of Advent we will read extensively from the book of the prophet Isaiah.  Isaiah speaks about many of the same themes as Jesus: the need for repentance, salvation, mercy, judgment, justice, and the need for faith. Most important for the season of Advent though are Isaiah’s prophecies of the Messiah and how he will usher in the eternal reign of God.

Yet today, Isaiah’s passage isn’t so much about the birth of a child to a virgin-maiden, but of the work of the Messiah to usher in the eternal kingdom of peace. The Messiah will come with a “blast of searing judgment” upon the wicked, Isaiah says today. Zion, the assembly of God’s holy ones will be purged of defilement. And the Lord will grant shelter and protection to the holy ones. Isaiah’s vision here is certainly consistent with John’s vision in the book of Revelation.

These early Advent days urge us to reflect not so much on the first coming of Christ, at Bethlehem but the second coming at the end of time; not so much the first Advent, but the second. But this is to help us keep in mind who the Christ-Child is, what he comes to do, how he fits into and fulfills the eternal plan of God, and the consequences for not believing in Him and following Him. How he fulfills our deepest longings.

For each of the readings speak of restoration, healing, shelter, peace. The longing to be safe and secure from our enemies, is one of our deepest human needs. This promise of be gathered within the secure walls of our Father’s house, recalls the safe walls of the garden Paradise from which we were expelled, but to which we will are joyfully readmitted through Christ.

The healing of the dreadfully suffering paralyzed man in the Gospel, too, speaks of  the ultimate healing and restoration that comes through Christ for those who believe in Him.

We pray during this Advent season that we will come to recognize Jesus as Messiah in a deeper way, that we will allow him to cure our paralyses, and bring conversion to those parts of us which are set in opposition to God, free us from our captivities, wash away our filth, and strengthen our communion with God and the Church. 

We pray too that we may be God’s instruments in the world this Advent, that we can bring others to recognize Jesus as savior, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
 
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As we await with longing the Advent of our Lord Jesus Christ, we raise up our prayers of petitions.

That Christ may visit his holy Church and always find her watchful in prayer.

That Christ may fill the Pope, our Bishop, and all the clergy with spiritual gifts and graces and For Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of December, “That every country take the measures necessary to prioritize the future of the very young, especially those who are suffering.”

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.

31st Sunday in OT - 2019 - God is the lover of souls

“O Lord and lover of souls, your imperishable spirit is in all things!” What a profound statement of faith from our first reading from the Book of Wisdom today.

I’d like to consider 5 points this powerful, profound line of scripture. …“O Lord and lover of souls, your imperishable spirit is in all things!”

First, we’ll consider how it speaks to what we are. Secondly, what we are not. Thirdly, what that means in daily life. Fourthly, what it requires of us. And finally, its ultimate import.
So, firstly, this line speaks of who we are. God’s imperishable spirit is in us. We are endowed by God with what philosophers, theologians, poets, and scripture call “a soul”, an immortal, rational soul. We are made by God with a body and a soul.

Harkening back to the very first book of the bible, we read in Genesis, that in contrast to all the other elements of the created universe: the stars, the rocks, the plants, the animals, God uniquely breathed life into the man and woman. in divine image he created them; male and female he created them. When God looks upon us, he sees a reflection of Himself, we are made in God’s very image and likeness. And therefore, we are capable of understanding the order of the universe. We possess the powers of intellect and free will, and the use of reason capable of recognizing our purpose of pursuing the true, the good, and the beautiful.

“O Lord and lover of souls, your imperishable spirit is in all things!”

Secondly, then, we are reminded of what we are not. Since, we have God’s very spirit within us, we are not irrational animals, we are not some consequence of random cosmic forces, we are not bound to follow every urge, appetite, or impulse we experience. Nor are we merely mortal—we share something of the immortal nature of God. Nor, are we inconsequential to God, we are not accidents. Our existence is part of God’s plan. And there is something about us that loveable even when we have misused our free will in sin.

In the Gospel today, the Son of God, Jesus, sees Zacchaeus in the tree. What does he see when he sees Zacchaeus? Does he see a cheat, a crook, an extortioner, a collaborator with the foreign enemy? Zacchaeus was all these things. But Jesus, lover of souls, saw something deeper than all of Zacchaeus’ physical and moral shortcomings—something that was loveable in Zacchaeus and is loveable in all of us, something worth dying for.

“O Lord and lover of souls, your imperishable spirit is in all things!”

Thirdly, what this means for all of us in day to day life, is that if we believe that we have God’s imperishable spirit within us, and by the way, so does every other human being on this earth, if we believe that, we must treat ourselves and others with dignity and respect, we must foster what Pope Paul VI called a “civilization of love”, what Pope John Paul II called the “culture of life” that cherishes and protects every human person from the moment of conception until death.
The very essence of our moral theology and our call to social action is the dignity of every human person—the responsibility we have for our souls and that of our neighbor. To neglect one is to neglect the other.

“O Lord and lover of souls, your imperishable spirit is in all things!”

Fourthly, what does this require of us? What does this entail? If our soul has value in God’s eyes, we must cultivate and care for it. We are usually pretty good at caring for our bodies. Most of us don’t totally indulge every bodily appetite. Most of us observe some semblance of eating right, exercise, caring for our bodies when they become ill, diseased, or broken down.

But, the care our souls, on the other hand, is certainly not one of the hallmarks of our culture. And yet it is the lack of care for the immortal soul which is at the root of most of our exhaustion, unhappiness and societal evil. We pursue so many idols: wealth, bodily pleasure, and power, and our lives our sorrier for it.

I am reminded of a powerful article written by Bishop Lennon, who passed away this week. Bishop Lennon wrote how Christians, rather than pursuing idols the idols of the world are to place “God at the center of our weekly schedules and activities, meals, chores, conversations, parenting, work, vacations, civic responsibilities, decisions, problems, crises accomplishments, and losses.” By doing so, the bishop said, “our whole lives become charged and changed by God’s presence”. Rather than unhappiness and exhaustion from pursuing idols and neglecting our souls, our life becomes filled with power and patience and resiliency and joy even amidst our many trials.

To assist us in making sure we are taking the time to cultivate our souls and placing God at the center of our lives, the Stewardship committee has put together a wonderful Time Commitment Card. We invite you to take one of these Commitment Cards home with you and pray with it throughout the week. How might God be inviting you to make a greater return of your time to Him that he may strengthen you and speak to you?

After praying with the Commitment Card throughout the week, next weekend we will collect the cards and place them before the altar. So please take a commitment card home with you today, they are located at the ends of the pews. Pray with them, ask God to help you commit to some healthy prayer habits that will nurture your soul, and bring them back to church next weekend. No need to put your name on the card or anything, your commitment is between you and God.

God is a lover of souls and wants to see your soul flourish in virtue and grace. As, St. Paul writes in our second reading, “that our God may make you worthy of his calling and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith”

Finally, why does any of this matter?

It is clear that we have the imperishable spirit of God within us. God made us to live forever, to be united with Him forever in eternity.

But scripture is also clear that what we do with our time and our choices and our free will matters—what we do with that imperishable soul matters.

For those who die in God’s grace and friendship, who have become perfectly purified from sin, their destination, immediately after death, is heaven. These are the saints, those who names we know, and those whose names we don’t, whom we celebrated in a special way on All Saints Day.

For those who died in God’s grace and friendship, but have been imperfectly purified of sin, that is, who have not given the whole of their lives and minds and wills and souls to God in this life, that’s most of us, we are destined for heaven, but have some purification after death in Purgatory. We pray in a special way for the souls in purgatory during this month of November.

And those who freely choose to live and persist in grave sin, those who allow the powers of selfishness and sin to consume them in this life, their imperishable soul will suffer what Jesus himself calls “the unquenchable fire”.

By the way, I will be taking up for my second Friday faith formation these topics of heaven, hell, death, soul, and purgatory. So, consider joining us in the school cafeteria for a discussion of these topics on friday at 7pm.

Knowing these truths is Good News. For with God’s help we can preserve our souls from evil and open our souls to the life God wishes to give us. God is the lover of souls and invites each of us, urges us  through His Word, to concern ourselves with what matters most in life, the cultivation of our souls in grace, in virtue, in imitation of the Good Shepherd, the Son of Man who came to seek and to save what was lost for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

4th Week of Easter 2019 - Wednesday - Father, Faith, Light, Judgment

The Gospel of John is divided into two parts: the Book of Signs and the Book of Glory. In the Book of Signs, comprising the first twelve chapters of John’s Gospel, Jesus’ identity is revealed through seven specific signs—his power and glory and divine identity are revealed as he changes water into wine, as he feeds 5000, as he walks on water, as he raises dead Lazarus.

Today’s Gospel contains the final passage of that first part of the Book of Signs and Jesus takes the opportunity to summarize his teaching and explain the purpose of those seven signs prior to the second part of the Gospel, which begins with the Last Supper.

Why has he performed these signs? Why is he here? He explains his purpose in terms of his relationship with the Father. He has come not to do his own will, but the will of the Father. He who sees Him, sees the Father. He and the Father are One. His works and signs reveal the glory and power of His Father. To respond to Jesus with faith, to become his disciple, is to enter into a new relationship to God the Father.

Jesus didn’t come simply to dazzle people or coerce them to pay Him homage; he performed signs and teachings to bring people to faith, to reveal the Father’s heart. He wants all of us to recognize the light of God, even in the midst of sin and darkness. Right? He says today, “I have come as light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.” Having been sent by the Father, Jesus comes into a world that is fallen and in the spiritual darkness of sin to reveal that God the Father has not abandoned sinners, but desires their salvation.

Finally, Jesus speaks today of judgment. A person’s final judgment and eternal destiny is being determined by their present response to Jesus. Our response to Jesus carries such weight because of his relationship to the Father as his obedient Son and perfect envoy.  There’s no fuller proof of what God wants from us in this life than Jesus Christ.

The Easter season continues to challenge us to believe in Christ more deeply, to enter into His relationship with the Father more fully, to allow his light to shine in us for brightly, that we may be prepared for judgment and equipped to spread his Gospel for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
 
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Filled with Paschal joy, let us turn earnestly to God, to graciously hear our prayers and supplications.
For the shepherds of our souls, that they may have the strength to govern wisely the flock entrusted to them by the Good Shepherd.

For the whole world, that it may truly know the peace of the Risen Christ, especially for all victims of religious violence.

For our parish, that we may bear witness with great confidence to the Resurrection of Christ.

For our brothers and sisters who suffer, that their sorrow may be turned to gladness through the Christian faith.

That all of our beloved dead and all the souls in purgatory may come to the glory of the Resurrection.

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the desires of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our lord.

3rd Week of Lent 2019 - Wednesday - Simply Obey

Both Moses in the Old Testament Reading and Jesus in the Gospel extol a very important moral virtue this morning: obedience; particularly obedience to the commandments of God.

Summing up the entire spiritual life, Saint Francis de Sales, Patron Saint of Spiritual Directors said: “Simply Obey.  God does not ask anything else of you.”

Obedience to the commandments keeps us in right relationship with God, and obedience to the inspirations of His Holy Spirit make us instruments of his grace in the world.  The word obedience comes from the latin word for turning your ear and harkening to the voice of another.  Communion with God and communion with the Church requires obedience to God’s commands and the teachings of the Church.

All of our Lenten fasting and almsgiving is really at the service of helping us to be more obedient to the commands and inspirations of God.  Fasting can strengthen our wills against disordered tendencies, and almsgiving flows out of that command to love our neighbor as ourselves. Prayer helps us to love God and to hate offending him through disobedience.

Obedience and disobedience have eternal consequences. As Jesus teaches today: whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven, and whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.” Adam and Eve jeopardized the eternal life of all of humanity through an act of disobedience. Satan and a third of the angels were expelled from heaven for disobedience. Our own souls will be judged by this measure: did we simply obey, or not.

Simple obedience is not always easy; for we have often allowed rebelliousness to run rampant in our hearts; we have fabricated quite sophisticated justifications for our bending and breaking of the rules; we act as if the rules are for others. But True Faith is the call to simple obedience.

The Lenten journey leads us to encounter Christ who is totally obedient to his Father’s will; the Sacred Heart is an obedient heart, it is the heart of one which has surrendered everything to the Holy Will.  Let us truly harken to the Great Command to love God with our whole hearts, minds, and strengths. By God’s grace may we be free from all that keeps us from following the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter of God’s law and from faithfulness to God’s inspirations for his glory and salvation of souls.

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That obedience to all the commands of Christ and the Church may mark the life of every Christian.
That all families will recommit themselves to fervent prayer this Lent so as to grow in greater love and holiness.  We pray to the Lord.
That this Lent we will be faithful to fasting and to all the ways that the Lord sanctifies us.  We pray to the Lord.
For generous giving for the needs of the poor, the hungry, the homeless, those who are sick, unemployed, victims of natural disaster, terrorism, war, and violence, the grieving and those most in need.  We pray to the Lord.
For all those who have died, for all the poor souls in purgatory, for those who have fought and died for our country’s freedom, and for [intention below], for whom this Mass is offered.  We pray to the Lord.
Mercifully hear, O Lord, the prayers of your Church and turn with compassion to the hearts that bow before you, that those you make sharers in your divine mystery may always benefit from your assistance.

1st Week of Lent 2019 - Friday - Justice, Mercy, and the Need for Repentance

Our readings underscore today the justice of God, that God is a just judge: the just, the virtuous shall at the end of this life receive eternal life, and the wicked and unrepentant shall go on to eternal perdition. And they underscore the mercy of God: “If the wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed, if he keeps all my statutes and does what is right and just, he shall surely live, he shall not die.”

What separates the saved from the damned in the readings today? Repentance. Lent is a powerful call to repentance, and repentance is a matter of life and death.

Justice is when you give that which is deserved. Justice demands parents feed and nurture their children. Mercy gives beyond what is deserved. As a matter of justice, all sinners deserve death. They’ve chosen by their own free will to separate themselves from God, and so they deserve the consequences of that separation.

The Psalmist is a little overwhelmed by God’s justice today. “If you, O LORD, mark iniquities, LORD, who can stand?” The Psalmist is overwhelmed that God knows, each and every one of our iniquities throughout our whole life, and that every deed from our whole life will be brought up on the day of judgment, and we will have to give an accounting for them.

But then the Psalmist recalls God’s forgiveness: “But with you is forgiveness”. God has announced his mercy: He Himself will pay the price of our sins, and that he will forgive those who repent.

During Lent, we show our repentance, our sorrow for sins, our desire to convert from each and every one of our sins, through prayer, fasting, and charity. We make a Lenten confession and confess those sins. By doing so we “Cast away from all the crimes we have committed, and make for ourselves a new heart and a new spirit. (Ez 18:31).”

We make a grave mistake in saying, “it doesn’t matter how I live, because God is mercifull”. No. It does matter. Repentance does matter.

Jesus said to his disciples: "I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.” The Pharisees were so self-assured that they did not recognize their sinful pride and their sinful coldness toward the poor. They failed to repent of their pride, their lust, their wrath, selfishness, and for that Jesus announced eternal consequences.

So may we take advantage of this time of mercy, truly examine our hearts and our motivations, not according to the standard of the world, but the standard of Christ, that not a sin of our life will go unrepented of, that the Lord will not find us unrepentant, but full of contrition, trusting in His word, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For the whole Christian people, that in this sacred Lenten season, they may be more abundantly nourished by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

For the whole world, that in lasting tranquility and peace our days may truly become the acceptable time of grace and salvation.

For sinners and those who neglect right religion, that in this time of reconciliation they may return wholeheartedly to Christ.

For ourselves, that God may at last stir up in our hearts aversion for our sins and conviction for the Gospel.

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.

October 13 2017 - The Day of the Lord is Coming (Miracle of the Sun at Fatima - 100th Anniversary)

100 Years ago, today, somewhere between thirty-thousand and one hundred thousand people witnessed the great miracle of the sun in Fatima, Portugal.  Thousands of witnesses saw the sun leave its place in the sky, begin to spin like a top, “spinning like a ring of fireworks”, one account said and come barreling toward the earth. And then, just as quickly as it came toward the earth, it returned to its spot in the sky and stopped spinning.

The miracle occurred eight months after Our Lady began appearing to the three shepherd children. She introduced herself as “the Lady of the Rosary” and stressed the importance of praying the rosary for world peace, for the end of World War I, for the conversion of Russia, and to pray especially for sinners in danger of hell.

The miracle of the sun was a sign from heaven, a stamp of confirmation on the message of Our Lady: there is a great need of repentance and a need to have faith is Jesus Christ.

I saw an article this morning that claimed the Miracle of the Sun was a turning point in Portugal’s history. Anti-Catholicism and Atheism, which proliferated in the 18^th century, leading to the seizing of many catholic churches and schools by the government, maltreatment of clergy, the outlawing of church bells, the banning of religious festivals. Between 1911 & 1916, nearly 2000 priests, monks and nuns were killed by anti-Christian groups. But the “day the sun danced” was a turning point. The Atheist regime was soon replaced, and a flourishing of faith ensued.

The message of Fatima is as relevant today as ever: the need for repentance and conversion and prayer is a perpetual necessity; and that there can be no real lasting peace in the world, unless the peace of Jesus Christ fills our hearts.

The readings today are all ominous, but in their own way they each resonate with the Fatima message. The power of Christ can cast out demons from a soul and from a nation, and repentance and observance of God’s commands are perpetually needed for the day of judgment is coming, “the day of the Lord is coming” the prophet Joel says; “The Lord will judge the world with justice” we proclaimed in the Psalm.

“Say the Rosary every day… People must amend their lives and ask pardon for their sins.” May we heed Our Lady’s message, praying for ourselves and for those who do not yet know the importance of prayer. Confident and trusting in the Lord and His Mother amidst all the chaos of our lives, may we be found faithful today in his service for the Glory of God and salvation of souls. Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us.

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That our Church Leaders may always help us prepare rightly for the day of Judgment.

For those who have fallen into error, for Catholics who have grown lukewarm in their faith, for those who have left the Church, for their conversion and the conversion of all hearts.

For an increase in devotion to Our Lady’s Holy Rosary, and that we may all come to more fully imitate Our Lady’s faith and purity.

That the love of Christ, the divine physician, may bring healing to the sick and comfort to all the suffering.

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.

16th Sunday in OT 2017 - The problem of evil in the world and in the Church

One of the oldest philosophical problems believers in God have had to address is what is called the Problem of Evil. The problem can be stated very simply: If God is so good, why is there so much evil and suffering in the world? If an all-good, all-wise, all-loving, all-just, and all-powerful God is running the show, why does hatred, injustice, and wickedness seem to flourish? Why do bad things to happen to good people?

How do we Catholics answer this question? How do we reconcile our belief in a good, loving God with all the evil and hatred in the world? Believers typically address the “Problem of Evil” starting with human free will. In the book of Genesis, we read how God creates the light, the water, the earth, the stars, the animals, and pronounces them “Good”. God is not the origin of evil; he did not create anything or anyone evil. Rather, evil enters into creation through the free choice of Man. Evil, discord, war, selfishness, divorce, these things result of man utilizing his free will to rebel against God’s plan.

God created us to love Him, to reflect His goodness, and to be in harmony with Him and with each other, and we said, “no, we’ll do it our own way.” Disease, war, famine, and death enter into creation because of us.

Okay. God is not the origin of Evil, but if He is all-good and all-powerful, why does he allow evil to continue? Well, for one, what good is free-will if it has no consequences. To eliminate the consequences of choices, is basically the same as eliminating the ability to choose. So, to respect our freedom, God allows our choices to play out.

Scripture is clear that the choice of Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit had eternal consequences. But, God in his goodness, immediately after announcing the consequences of sin, announces His plan to redeem us from sin. There, in same chapter of Genesis as we read about the sin of Adam and Eve, God announces the birth of one who would crush the head of evil forever. In the fullness of time, Jesus takes our sins, as if they were his own, and pays our debt with his precious blood. The problem is evil is solved. In Christ, God brings a greater good out of the evil caused by us.
What does the problem of evil have to do with our Gospel today? In the parable of the weeds and wheat, Jesus addresses the problem of evil. Jesus likens the kingdom of God to a field, in which is springing up both weeds and wheat.

The Lord is clear, in the Church, his kingdom on earth, there are both weeds and wheat. There are so many good things going on in the Church, Christians truly surrendering to the grace of the sacraments and becoming the people God made them to be, there is a great amount of wheat. But there also seems to be a great amount of weeds these days. Why does the Lord, the Head of the Church, allow this?

Most of us love the Church very deeply, and sometimes we wonder why there is so much error still around, why are there so many Catholics not going to Church, why don’t the Bishops do something about the liturgical abuses, why doesn’t the Pope do something about the immoralities and heresies amongst the clergy.

Today’s parable addressed the concerns of even those first generations of Christians. Even then, there were Christians who turning away from the Gospel, falling back into sin—Christians who received baptism and Eucharist, but seemed to be filled with vile, immorality, and pride. Paul had to write letters to the Christians in Corinth because some of them continued to engage in perversions like sodomy and incest. He had to write to the Thessalonians because there were rich Christians who refused to celebrate the Eucharist with poor Christians.

Jesus helps us understand that in the earthly Church, in this earthly life there will always be both wheat and weeds. There will be Christians who don’t seem to get it. So, be patient with them. Secondly, it’s not always clear to us how to distinguish between weeds and wheat. Even expert farmers have a difficult time telling the difference between the two while they are still growing.  It is only at harvest time when the two can be distinguished. In the end, the Lord will be the judge, who is wheat and who is a weed.

This week, we celebrated the feast of St. Camillus. For many years, it looked like St. Camillus was a good for nothing weed. At the age of seventeen, Camillus joined a group of mercenary soldiers; soon he was engaging in the vices of the military camp—swearing, drinking, visiting prostitutes.  He and his father, Giovanni, even teamed up as a father and son con artists, swindling their fellow soldiers. It appeared he was on the straight road to hell.

After years of crime, violence and immorality, Camillus’ father fell seriously ill.  To Camillus’ surprise, Giovanni sent his son to fetch a priest. Giovanni made a good confession, repented of his sins and crimes, he received Holy Communion, and died in peace.

This was a turning point in Camillus’ life. His father, a life time gambler, cutthroat, and conman called for a priest in order to die in a state of grace. And this shattered Camillus’ own hardness. Camillus went on to become a priest, and even began a religious order caring for the sick and destitute of Rome.

Sometimes those who appear to be weeds, especially in the foolish years of youth, turn out to be wheat for the Lord. So we must not despair over those who leave the Church or appear distant from God. God is at work in their lives. Just as God can use the witness of Camillus’ father to break the hardness in Camillus’ heart, so too God can use our meager witness, to reach even the hardest hearts, and wake dormant souls out of their complacency

Our job isn’t to be the weed puller, to condemn those who continue to engage in sin. Our attitude towards young, immature or confused Christians should be very gentle.  With the immature we should be patient, knowing that Christian growth occurs in the Lord’s time.

We certainly shouldn’t tolerate false teaching, we shouldn’t invite the enemy into our field to sow seeds of error. We should never encourage people to engage in sin. A few years ago, there was a media storm around a comment Pope Francis made…imagine that.  He dared to utter those dangerous words, “Who am I to judge?”

In his comment, the Holy Father was basically quoting scripture.  “There is only one lawgiver and judge,” writes St. James in his Epistle.  “He is the one able to save and destroy.  So, who are you to judge your neighbor?”

Neither the Pope, nor any Christian, can point to anyone and say, “that person is definitely going to Hell because of their sins.”  Such a judgment is reserved to God alone.  Pope Francis isn’t telling us to throw away the Catechism and ignore the Scriptures because everyone automatically goes to heaven no matter what they do or what they believe. He’s just saying, he’s not the one who makes the rules and none of us are either.

Our Gospel this weekend is very clear that there are eternal consequences for rejecting God’s law.  There will be a separation at the end of time, weed from wheat, sheep from goats, the saved from the damned, those who accepted God’s grace and those who rejected it.

Amidst the evils of the world, we are called to faith, to gentleness, patience, and the willingness to endure suffering for the sake of the kingdom, for the glory of God, and salvation of souls.