August 14, 2026 - St. Maximilian Kolbe - No greater love

 

St. Maximilian Kolbe was born in Poland in 1894, entered the Franciscans at the age of 16, and was ordained 8 years later. In his first years of his priesthood he taught in the seminary in Krakow, the same diocese from which Pope John Paul would be ordained about 30 years later. In January 1922, he founded a monthly religious devotional called “Knight of the Immaculata” and operated a religious publishing press. Between 1930 and 1936, the saint undertook a series of missions to East Asia. In 1938 he would be recalled to Poland by his superiors. A year later, on 19 September 1939 he would be arrested by the Nazi’s for the first time, when the town in which he ministered was captured by the germans. Two years later, he was arrested again, and this time sent to the concentration camp at Auschwitz.

You’ve probably heard the story, how while in Auschwitz, several prisoners managed to escape.  As punishment, 10 men were selected to die.  When a married man with a family was among them, St. Maximilian asked to take his place.  The stunned Nazi officer agreed to the exchange.  St. Maximilian and the other nine men were stripped, locked in a cell, and left to starve to death.  After two weeks, some, including St. Maximilian were still alive.  They were given lethal injections of carbolic acid, and their remains were thrown into an oven.

“No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends.” St. Maximilian death was not a sudden, last-minute act of heroism. He had cultivated Christ like love for souls throughout his priesthood, throughout his life, just as each of us are called to do. To cultivate love.

“Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth,” writes St. John.

Every day we are given opportunities to cultivate love, to die to self in order to live for others: to be patient when we are irritated; to forgive when we have been hurt; to give our time when we would rather be left alone; to pray for someone who has wronged us; to notice the lonely, the suffering, and the forgotten; to make sacrifices for our families, our parish, and those entrusted to our care.

Holiness is not granted by God waving the holiness wand over our head. Holiness is formed through daily choices. Every time we choose charity over selfishness, mercy over resentment, generosity over comfort, Christ’s love takes deeper root within us.

Through the intercession of St. Maximilian Kolbe, may God teach us to cultivate that love each day, so that when love demands sacrifice from us, great or small, we will be ready to give ourselves freely for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

 

 

That all members of the Church, laity and clergy, will be committed to self-sacrificial service in their daily lives.

For an end to indifference to God and human dignity in our government institutions, universities, businesses, and personal attitudes.

For an increase in devotion to Our Lady, that through our love for her, the Church may obtain a renewed zeal for souls.

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. We pray.

O God, who 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.

 

 

 

8th Week of Ordinary Time 2026 - Wednesday (Last school mass) - Summer Growth

 

Well, we have come to our last school mass of the school year. Soon you will be able to relax a little bit and enjoy your hard-earned summer vacation.

As you see by my vestments, the Church is back to the season of the year called Ordinary Time. During Ordinary Time the priest wears the color green to symbolize growth. Green is the color of growing things.

The Green of Ordinary Time represents the new, vibrant life and spiritual growth that is to occur within Christian souls during this time of the Church’s Year.

Much of Ordinary Time coincides with the growing summer months in this part of the world. Farmers have planted their seeds, the summer wheat and corn and vegetables will be growing throughout the summer through harvest time. All of you will continue growing through the summer months; many of you will show up to school next fall a several inches taller.

During summer vacation, no doubt, God wants all of you to continue to grow, not just your bodies of course, but your minds and hearts. Now our bodies will grow without much effort, all we have to do is eat right, sleep right, and exercise rightly. But as you it takes much more effort for our minds to grow. And it takes more effort for our hearts to grow.

For our minds to grow, we have to read and study. So, this summer, please, I beg you, and I know I beg you on behalf of your teachers, don’t let your mind go to waste by spending all summer playing video games and scrolling through social media posts. Yes, you’ll have a lot more free time over the summer than you do during the school year, please read books, please limit screen time, spend time outside learning about nature. Summer can even be a time to be able to study a subject you didn’t have time to study during the school year or study and develop a skill, an art. Grow your mind when you have the opportunity.

But, also, this summer, God will want your hearts and souls to grow. And our hearts and souls grow through the choices we make. The choice to be patient, the choice to be kind, the choice to make peace with someone we’ve been arguing with, the choice to forgive, the choice to remain faithful to God when we’re being tempted, the choice to be generous, the choice to turn away from being selfish.

“Love one another intensely from a pure heart”, St. Peter said in our first reading today. And to love is choice. And when that choice is made our hearts and souls grow as God intended.

Dear ones, I pray your summer is restful and rejuvenating, but I also pray that you may continue to grow, that your hearts might become ever more like the heart of Jesus, full of love. Love for your families, love for your country, love for your fellow Christians, love for all people, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

- - - - 

 

For the Church: that during this season of Ordinary Time, all Christians may continue to grow in holiness, charity, wisdom, and faithfulness to the Gospel. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our nation, especially as we celebrate 250 years of the birth of our nation this summer: that leaders may seek the common good, protect the young, serve families, and work for peace and authentic justice.

For all students beginning summer vacation: that they may use their time well, grow in knowledge and virtue, limit distractions, enjoy God’s creation, and choose each day to love one another from a pure heart.

For the students, teachers, staff, and families of our academy: that this summer may be a time of rest, renewal, safety, and growth in mind, body, heart, and soul

For those who are sick, lonely, poor, afraid, or burdened in any way: that they may know the help of God always, and that we may be attentive and responsive to those whom we have an opportunity to help.

That those who mourn may be comforted by the promise of the Resurrection, and for the repose of the souls of our beloved dead.

Heavenly Father, you have planted the seed of faith within us. Help us to grow in wisdom, virtue, and love throughout these summer months. Hear the prayers we offer today, and grant them according to your holy will. Through Christ our Lord.

6th Sunday of Easter 2026 - Deeply in love with Jesus Christ

 

There’s a catholic philosopher and author I very much enjoy named Dr. Peter Kreeft. Dr. Kreeft is a professor of philosophy at Boston College. He’s a convert to Catholicism from Calvinism, and the author of over eighty books, including a spiritual autobiography that came out a few months ago. I got to meet Dr. Kreeft and have dinner with him when he came to give a lecture at our seminary about 10 years ago.

Dr. Kreeft tells the story about a time he was invited to give a talk at a small monastery up in Connecticut.  And at the end of his visit, the monastery’s holy abbot approached Dr. Kreeft and said, “I’d like to ask you a question, Doctor. And it’s the same question we ask every visitor to our monastery. And the question is, “If you could ask God to give any gift possible to these monks, what would you ask for?”

Dr. Kreeft, thought about it for a moment, and said, “I would ask God to make every single one of you fall totally in love with Jesus Christ for the rest of your life. That is the gift for which I would ask.” At his answer, the abbot smiled and some of the monks began to chuckle.  Not thinking it was a terrible answer, Dr. Kreeft asked the abbot why the monks were laughing at him. And the abbot said, we are not laughing at you or your response, it’s just that last month, Mother Theresa visited us, and she gave the exact same answer: that you may fall totally in love with Jesus Christ.

Why would Dr. Kreeft consider this the greatest gift you could wish for someone? Why do Mother Theresa and the Saints consider falling totally in love with Jesus Christ the greatest of all gifts? Why would they say that if you could give one gift to your spouse or child, one gift to your neighbor, one gift to a stranger, to the sick, imprisoned, or orphan, the best gift you could want for them is to love Jesus Christ? What’s behind this answer? I promise it’s not false piety. They are serious, dead serious. It’s what I want for all of you more than anything.

The reason Dr. Kreeft, Mother Teresa, and the saints say that the greatest gift is to fall totally in love with Jesus Christ is precisely what today’s Gospel reveals. In this passage, Jesus shows us what loving him actually means, and what flows from it.

First, notice that Jesus treats love for him as the center of the Christian life: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” He does not say merely, “If you admire me,” or “If you find my teaching interesting.” He speaks of love. Why? Because Christianity is not merely a moral system or a set of religious ideas. It is a living relationship with Jesus Christ. To love him is the heart of everything.

And then Jesus shows why that love is the greatest gift. Whoever loves Jesus is drawn into the very life of God. “The Spirit of Truth will be with you” “He remains with you, and will be in you.” You are in me and I in you.” “Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father.” “I will love him and reveal myself to him.” This is extraordinary. To love Jesus Christ is not merely to become a better person, though it does make us better. It is to enter into communion with the Blessed Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. To have a living relationship with God who Is a Communion of Love.

That is why the saints are so serious about this. If a person falls in love with Jesus Christ, then obedience ceases to be mere external rule-following. His commandments are no longer just burdens imposed from outside. Love transforms obedience into a participation in the life of God. Love makes life possible.

And Jesus promises even more: “if you love me, I will not leave you orphans”. Those are deeply consoling words, because one of the deepest fears in the human heart is the fear of being abandoned. Have you ever loved someone who didn’t love you back? It hurts.  Have you ever given your heart, your loyalty, your trust, only to be ignored, rejected, or abandoned? The human heart longs for more than the wound of loneliness and abandonment. Again, we were made for communion, for love that endures.

And so Jesus speaks addresses this directly: I will not leave you orphans. In other words: I will not leave you alone, to fend for yourself. I will not leave you to wander through life aimless, confused, in darkness, trying to make sense of everything by your own strength.

“I am with you always” the Lord says, and he is through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The one who loves Christ receives not merely good advice, or an inspiring example from the distant past, but the living presence of God dwelling within him. The Holy Spirit is with those who love Jesus Christ, reminding us of all that Jesus teaches, because God knows, we are prone to forget. The Holy Spirit comforts us, because God knows, we are prone to suffering and trial. The Holy Spirit convicts us because God knows how easily our fervor for pursuing holiness can diminish.. The Holy Spirit guides because God knows how easily we become lost amidst the confusion and chaos of the world.

Loving Jesus Christ is the key to everything worth having. It’s the key to a happy marriage, it’s the key to a healthy priesthood, it’s the key to withstanding the social pressures that bombard the young, particularly on social media. It’s the key to discovering who you were meant to be, to unlocking the potential of your mind and heart and unique soul.

When we understand the importance of loving Jesus Christ, we come to understand what motivated the saints to serve God with such heroic virtue. Love of Jesus: it’s what impelled St. Francis to embrace the leper even though he was initially repulsed, it impelled St. Vincent de Paul to care for the plague victims at the risk of his life. It impelled St. Francis Xavier Cabrini to leave her native Italy to serve the immigrants here in the United States, and St. Junipero Sera and St. Rose Philippine Duchesne to educate and serve the Native Americans, and St. Mother Theresa to serve the poorest of the poor, St. Maximilian Kolbe to take the place of the concentration camp prisoner about to be executed.

Love of Jesus Christ transforms ordinary people to do extraordinary things, and it can for us as well, if we let it, if we make loving Jesus our greatest aim.

How can we grow in our love for Jesus? “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” This is where today’s Gospel begins: Breaking the commandments is not just breaking rules, sin turns the heart away from the beloved. Sin extinguishes the fire of love. Obedience, however, proves love, reinforces love, seeks the beloved in the face of obstacles.

Prayer, of course, increases love because love requires presence. You do not fall in love with a person you never spend time with or talk to or listen to or spend time pondering.

Charitable service increases love. Jesus identifies himself with others: “whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” Service trains the heart away from selfishness, which is the great enemy of love. It stretches the soul. It makes us imitate the one who “came not to be served but to serve.”

The Sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Confession increases love: for confession restores the union that what was weakened or lost by sin; in Communion, we become what we receive, Jesus Christ who is love incarnate.

We come to holy mass seeking to love, to express love, to grow in love, to fall deeply in love with Jesus, that love may guide us every day, in all of our relationships, in our brokenness, in our trials, that love may heal us, sustain, transform us, animate us for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

The Most Holy Trinity 2025 - The Central Mystery that shapes our lives

 In seminary, we spent an entire semester considering the theological writings on the Holy Trinity. We studied the scriptural foundations of the Doctrine of the Trinity, and the writings of the early church fathers from the east and the west, the medieval theologians, especially the summa theologica of st. Thomas Aquinas, modern theologians like Karl Rahner, papal documents and saintly reflections.

About three quarters into the semester, I remember one of the permanent deacons taking the class raising his hand and asking, “when is any of this going to be applicable to parish life and preaching?” In other words, “how are the Trinitarian reflections of the Cappadocian Fathers like St. Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzan, or the intricate arguments of Thomas Aquinas, or the run-on sentences of Karl Rahner going to actually help us in parish ministry or even the Christian life?”

I can’t remember how the professor answered, but the deacon’s question has stuck with me all these years. Why is seeking to understand the Trinity important? How is this supposed to affect my life? And I think that’s the point. As God’s faithful ones we ought to see understanding of the subject of our Love—God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—and to allow that understanding to shape our life. 

Who. Is. God. The answer to that question will shape your life.

It even shapes the lives of Atheists. Atheists treat God as a man-made myth, a lie that believers tell themselves in order to give explanation to the unexplainable. And so they develop an ambivalence toward religion and often a hatred us. 

The question, “who is God” shapes the lives of those who believe in God, but don’t want anything to do with Him. They go from one unsatisfying pursuit of pleasure to the next, because they do not acknowledge that God can be found.

But Christians believe that God not only exists, not only can He be found, not only has He communicated with us and revealed himself to us, but we possess an understanding that God wants us to know him and love him and have our life shaped by our relationship with Him and the truths he has revealed.

Who God is and what God has done is meant to shape our lives. 

Today, on Trinity Sunday, we consider that God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a communion of love. In creating the human family, God looked at his own inner life to find the design for humanity. God’s inner life is a loving, life-giving community: the Father and Son love one another, and from their love proceeds the Holy Spirit. If God is communion of love, than humans are made for love and communion and harmony and relationship and peace.

This truth is right there on the first page of the Bible, in chapter 1 of the Book of Genesis: God says, “Let us make man in our image”. A plurality of persons, a community of persons, sharing a nature, says let us make man to be like us. 

God is the source of life, God is love, God is a unity of holiness, and so that means we are made to seek life and love and unity through holiness. 

“Let us make man in our image” also points to the gift of will. God chose to make us—to give us life. And so too, we are able to make choices—to exercise free will, to pursue our highest good, or not. We can choose life or death—goodness or sin—love or selfishness—our highest good or depravity.

Now, the abuse of that free will has gotten us into trouble. Adam and Eve’s choice to separate themselves from the communion of love and obedience has caused ripple effects in every human life and mind and soul.

But even when we abuse our free will, in original sin or every other subsequent sin, God reaches out to reconcile because God desires communion with us. God so loved the world, that he sent the Son, to reconcile us to himself and to each other, and so that means we are to be people who like him, seek to heal wounds, and invite, and reconcile. 

So that students’ question: When will any of this matter?—the answer is: “always” in everything we do. Every sacrament we celebrate flows from who God is, what God desires for us, because he desires life and holiness and communion for us. Every teaching of the Church, every commandment is Scripture, every moment that we are given in this earthly life—all of it is shaped by who God is. 

When we know who God is, we come to know who we are, and how we are meant to live. As the Catechism puts it, “The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of Christian faith and life. It is the mystery of God in himself. It is therefore the source of all the other mysteries of faith, the light that enlightens them. It is the most fundamental and essential teaching in the 'hierarchy of the truths of faith'.  The whole history of salvation is identical with the history of the way and the means by which the one true God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, reveals himself to men 'and reconciles and unites with himself those who turn away from sin'.

God is Trinity, and we are meant to live Trinitarianly—always. We are to live Trinitarianly on earth, so that we may come to share in the Trinitarian life of God in heaven, in eternal glory. 

This is why we begin each prayer in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and end every prayer in the same way because it acknowledges that everything we are doing flows from Him, is to be guided by Him, is to be done in union with Him, and directed back toward Him. 

This is why the task of the Church is Evangelization because we recognize that all people are called to share in the divine life. God made us for life and sends us into the world to invite others to communion with Him.

And so, brothers and sisters, we don’t study the Trinity merely to pass a theology exam or fill a homily with lofty ideas. We contemplate the Trinity so we can live in communion with God in this life more fully, and become what we behold—a people of unity, holiness, and self-giving love.

May our homes mirror the unity of the Trinity. May our parish reflect the life of the Trinity. May our lives be filled with the love of the Holy Trinity To Him be glory and praise, now and forever, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

2nd Week of Easter 2025 - Wednesday - For God so loved the world

 

The Gospel of John is often times referred to as the Gospel of Love. The theme of love lies at the heart of the Fourth Gospel, pervading every aspect of the book. John’s Gospel finds Jesus constantly teaching about love, speaking about love, commanding his disciples to love.

Jesus’ actions are manifestations of God’s love for us, he tells us to love one another as He has loved us. He makes known the love of God and directs his disciples to love God and our neighbor. Jesus himself tells us that he loves us. “I love you” are on the very lips of Jesus himself: “as the Father loves me, so I love you.”

Today, we heard the very first instance of the word love in John’s Gospel. In the conversation with Nicodemus, in Chapter 3, verse 16, we read the verse: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.”

This verse is treated by many as a sort of summary of the Gospel of Love. God desires our salvation because he loves us, and salvation is found in Jesus Christ. God sent his Son because God wants eternal life for us because he loves us.

During the Easter Season we consider how we are called to witness to God in our words and deeds. But we are not witnessing to some abstract notion of God—a faceless, nameless, cosmic force. We witness to the love of God made manifest in Christ Jesus risen from the dead.

This is a God who desires the salvation of even the most debased of sinners because he truly loves. He wants what is best for each of us: the flourishing of our minds and souls and our salvation.

But love is not forced. So, the question posed by the Gospel of John is: will you allow yourself to be loved by God by following where he leads, by believing in the Truth he reveals, by changing those behaviors and ideas that cause you to be less than what you were made to be.

Answering that question in the affirmative, we begin to love what God loves, and we recognize that we have a role to play in spreading the kingdom of his love in word and deed by witnessing to the one who offers eternal life and sets souls free.

The experience of Easter is to be immersed in the love of God, to be transformed by the love of God, to become instruments of the love of God for the glory of God and the salvation of sous.

- - - - -  

Rejoicing in God's boundless love revealed in Christ Jesus, we offer our prayers and petitions to our Heavenly Father.

For all Christians, that we may experience deeply the love of God and courageously witness to it in our daily lives.

For peace in our families and communities, that the love of Christ may inspire reconciliation, forgiveness, and unity among us.

For the Holy Spirit’s guidance of the College of Cardinals as they prepare for Conclave and the next Papal election.

For the sick, the suffering, and all who feel forgotten or unloved, that they may experience the comfort and healing touch of Christ’s compassion.

For our beloved dead, that they may fully experience the eternal life promised through God's infinite love.

Heavenly Father, your love for us is eternal and unfailing. Hear our prayers, and help us to be living witnesses of that love to all we encounter. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

 

Holy Week 2025 - Tuesday - Greed, Grace, and the Glory of the Cross

 

When Jesus announced that one of his disciples would betray Him, the 12 were befuddled. How could one of their own be responsible for betraying the master? Each of the apostles had their flaws, of course. Some were a bit hotheaded or slow to understand Jesus’ mission and identity. But, who would willingly and knowingly place their own will in competition with Christ’s? No one would be that arrogant, would they?

The Apostle Judas was likely a very capable young man. He was given a position of some importance, to carry the money purse. He was trusted by his fellow apostles. He had been sent out, by Jesus, just like the others: to heal the sick and cast out demons and preach repentance and the coming of the Kingdom of God. He was trusted, loved, he was called “friend” and “brother.” 

How did Judas go from trusted apostle to committing the worst of betrayals?

Yesterday, we heard how Judas objected to the extravagant display of affection for Jesus, when Mary anointed the Lord’s feet with expensive oil and dried them with her hair. The oil, Judas explained, could have been sold for much and the money given to the poor. St. John tells us, his objection was not because Judas actually cared for the poor, but because he was a thief—he stole, he was greedy.

Was Judas always a thief? Did Jesus call him as an apostle knowing his tendency to skim a little something for himself? It could be. Jesus after all called Matthew a tax collector. Tax collectors were known for extortion.

Or was Judas becoming a thief a slow descent into corruption through a series of justifications—giving-in to one weakness after another.

If it can happen to an apostle, it can happen to us. And it probably already has. During holy week, we aren’t meant to point fingers at Jesus’ enemies and say, thank goodness I’m not like them. Rather, this week, we point our fingers at ourselves, we beat our breasts as Jesus goes to the cross, knowing that it is our fault, our fault, our most grievous fault.

And yet, he goes to the cross for you and for me out of love.

Judas’ greed is contrasted in the Gospel with the lavish love of Christ—which is evident not in lip-service. He doesn’t simply tell us he loves us. He shows us. He suffers for us. Judas stole from the poor, Jesus dies for the poor. Judas betrayed his friend, Jesus dies for his betrayers.  

Unlike Judas, however, in these final days of Holy Week, we acknowledge our need for a savior with ineffable gratitude that is meant to change us to become more like Christ. May we respond as we should to the unmerited grace of redemption for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

- - - - - - - 

As we journey with Christ to the cross, let us bring our prayers before the Father, trusting in His mercy and seeking the grace to follow Jesus with integrity and love.

For the Church throughout the world: that during these sacred days she may lead all people to deeper repentance and a more faithful following of Christ, who gave himself up for us. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our Bishop, priests, and all of the faithful who will gather this evening for the Chrism Mass, and that the Charity of the Church of Cleveland may overflow like precious oil.

For those who, like Judas, have wandered from the path of truth through sin or scandal: that they may encounter the mercy of Christ and return with contrite hearts to the love of God.Let us pray to the Lord.

For those struggling with greed, dishonesty, or selfishness: that the example of Christ’s sacrificial love may inspire true conversion and generosity. Let us pray to the Lord.

For the poor, the forgotten, and the betrayed: that they may know the compassionate love of Christ, who suffered for them and never abandons them. Let us pray to the Lord.

For those preparing to be received into the Church at Easter: that they may be strengthened in faith and filled with love for Christ who calls them his friends. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our beloved dead: that through the mercy of Christ who died for all, they may be raised to new and eternal life. Let us pray to the Lord.

God of mercy, in your Son Jesus you have revealed your love even to those who betray and abandon you. Hear the prayers we offer in humility and gratitude, and grant us the grace to walk more faithfully in the footsteps of Christ. Through Christ our Lord.

 

2nd Sunday of Lent 2025 - More than a superficial faith

 There’s a story about a wealthy king who wanted to find a bride. And not just any bride, the king wished to marry a woman who would love him, not for his wealth and power, but for who he was as a man. He knew that if he rode through the streets in his royal robes, with trumpets announcing his intentions, his quest would be compromised. This would attract a superficial bride.

So, he set aside his crown and dressed as a simple peasant. He lived among his subjects, working alongside them, and shared in their struggles. And in time, he met a woman who loved him not for what he owned, but for who he was. Only then did he reveal his true identity.

In today’s Gospel, Peter, James, and John are given an extraordinary grace: they see Jesus transfigured in dazzling white, standing with Moses and Elijah. It is a revelation of His divine glory, a brief unveiling of who He truly is. And yet, Jesus does not remain in that state. He does not go back down the mountain glowing, proving to the crowds that He is the Son of God.

We might wonder: why not. If he wished to attract disciples, why didn’t Jesus appear like that all the time? Why doesn’t He display His full power to the whole world and remove all doubt?

While it seems logical that if Jesus displayed His divine glory all the time, people would believe, but the Scriptures repeatedly show that miracles and divine manifestations do not automatically lead to lasting faith, hope, or love.

The Israelites in the Wilderness saw the parting of the Red Sea, manna from heaven, and God's presence on Mount Sinai, yet they still doubted and turned to idolatry.

Many who witnessed Jesus healing the sick, feeding thousands, and even raising the dead still did not follow Him. In John chapter 11, the chief priests and Pharisees respond to the resurrection of Lazarus not with faith, but with a plot to kill both Jesus and Lazarus.

If people could witness these direct interventions of God and still reject Him, then even if Jesus appeared in transfigured glory to the whole world, many would still dismiss it as an illusion, exaggeration, or something that could be explained away.

God desires a relationship with each of us, not based on mere compulsion or overwhelming evidence, any way, but on our choice to believe, and hope, and love Him.  If God simply overpowered us with His glory, it might force knowledge of his existence, but we would lose our ability to have faith. "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe" Jesus says after his resurrection.

The Transfiguration was a moment of divine revelation, but it was not the ultimate proof of Jesus' deepest identity. For ultimately, He is the one sent by God not to overpower humanity through undeniable proof of God’s existence, but rather to show the depths of God’s love to those with eyes to see and ears to hear.

Jesus did not walk around permanently transfigured in dazzling light because that dazzling light would have veiled and obscured—his identity as incarnate love willing to undertake supreme suffering for his beloved. 

His identity is revealed most fully, not in the transfiguration, but in the crucifixion. His identity is love. God is love. And there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 

Notice that this was even the topic the Lord was discussing with Moses and Elijah while he was transfigured. He spoke of how he had to go to Jerusalem to suffer and die to deliver us from the slavery of sin and death. But he goes willingly because he loves us and wants to see us free.

If God’s goal was simply to make us believe in Him, he could have done so easily. Just like the king in the story could have easily found a bride through crown and treasury. But Jesus desired a bride who would love Him with true love. And he goes to the cross to show His love for us, his bride. 

And of course he goes to the cross to give us an example to follow—to in fact show us the road to heaven—the road we must follow. We must take up our cross and follow him in all things. 

To be Christian is not simply to walk around with the idea that God exists in our heads. Rather, to be Christian—to be heirs of the kingdom—is to conform ourselves in thought, word, deed, in obedience to God, to Jesus Christ—to love as he loves—to work for the good of others at cost to ourselves. True love is costly, as our Lord shows us. But we have been redeemed so that we may be transformed into love with Christ.

How are we to experience this transformation? Again, I stress the importance of our Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving during this season. Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving signal our openness to the transformation God wants for us.

Prayer: it’s not just about asking for things; it is about aligning our hearts with God’s will. Through prayer, we allow God to reveal Himself to us—not in overwhelming signs, but in the quiet of our hearts, where He gently calls us to trust Him.

Fasting: it’s not simply an act of self-denial or discipline; it is a concrete way of expressing our hunger for something greater than what the world offers. When we give up certain foods, comforts, or habits, we remind ourselves that our deepest satisfaction is found in God alone.

Almsgiving is not the cold fulfillment of a religious obligation, rather it shifts our focus from self to others. When we give to those in need—not just from our excess, but in a way that costs us something—we imitate Christ-like love. Our almsgiving signals that we are allowing Christ’s love to transform us into people who give of themselves as He did.

Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are not ends in themselves. They are signs of our willingness to be changed. Through them, we tell God: “I want to know You” “I want to be freed from what holds me back” “I want to love as You love”.

Again, it is not through some undeniable sight of Christ’s divinity that God transforms us. But choosing those actions to become like Jesus in his self-giving. By choosing to pray, fast, repent and engage in works of charity, our spiritual sight is made pure to know God’s presence with us in this life and to behold God’s glory in eternity for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

February 10 2025 - St. Scholastica - Those who love more can do more

 

Today we celebrate the feast of St. Scholastica twin sister of St. Benedict.  

Benedict was studying in Rome when he heard God calling him to devote all of his life to serving God. He organized several communities of monks who also felt called to religious life.  The most famous of Benedict’s monasteries was at Monte Cassino, in Italy.  

His sister, Scholastica also felt called to the religious life, and the two siblings helped each other start a community for religious women about five miles south of Benedict’s monastery.

Because they were so dedicated to their holy way of life, they were only able to visit together once a year, and only for a short while, for they both had to return to their communities according to their rule of life.  

One year, they met at a residence half way between their two communities to spend the day praying and  speaking of God and the spiritual life.

When Benedict said he had to return to the monastery, Scholastica begged him to stay and talk awhile longer. Benedict refused, saying that his rule required that the monks be in their monastery at night. Heartbroken, Scholastica folded her hands, put her head on the table, and quietly wept and prayed. As she prayed, a storm began, so terrible that no one could venture out. "What have you done?" Benedict exclaimed to his sister. She explained that since he had refused the favor, she had turned to God instead, and God granted it. Benedict and Scholastica continued their conversation and prayer until morning.  And then both returned to their monastery.

Three days later, Scholastica died, and Benedict found himself grateful for the power of her prayers to direct the weather, even if it was against his will. 

During my recent trip to Florida, I found myself invoking Scholastica for better weather than the grey January cold sweeping the state. The sun did peek through the clouds a few times.

In his account of the story of Benedict and Scholastica, St. Gregory the Great said, “Since God is love, then surely he can do more who loves more.”  Scholastica, due to her great love for God and family was able to do something truly miraculous, but when we are motivated by love, we are able to do things beyond our normal inclinations.

We are able to help calm the storms of people’s lives and lead them to the peace of God. 

May St. Scholastica pray for us, that we may be animated by the love of God and neighbor for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

- - - -  

Trusting in the intercession of St. Scholastica, who was filled with love for God and neighbor, let us bring our prayers before the Lord.

For the Church: That all parishes and religious communities, may be places of deep prayer, holiness, and service to God

For siblings and families: family members may support one another in faith and grow together in God’s grace. 

For those suffering through storms—whether physical storms or the storms of life: That they may find calm and hope through the loving intercessions of the saints and the nearness of God. 

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, for all the souls in purgatory, and for N….

Loving Father, You granted St. Scholastica the gift of deep prayer and unwavering trust in Your love. May her example inspire us to seek You with all our hearts, that we may live lives of holiness and charity. We ask this through Christ our Lord. 

7th Week of Easter 2024 - Friday - Do you love me?

 

On these last two weekdays of Easter, our Gospel reading comes from the very last chapter of John’s Gospel.  As I mentioned recently, Saint John’s Gospel has often been called, “the Gospel of Love.”  Naturally, the final story of the final chapter of John’s Gospel is a conversation about love.

“Do you love me?” Jesus asks. 

That question isn’t answered with a simple yes or no. That question is answered in the decisions we make today. It is answered in our faithfulness to our respective vocations as priest, spouses and parents, religious, single. It is answered in how we treat people, the time we offer them, the works of charity in which we engage in our community—feeding the hungry and instructing the ignorant—. It’s answered in our fervor in prayer, our willingness to do penance, our embrace of suffering for the good of others.

For Peter, loving Jesus meant “feeding his sheep”—a very specific, unique ministry within the Church. His love for Jesus would be proven if he was faithful in leading, shepherding, governing, teaching the flock of Christ, the Church. 

Similarly, our love for Jesus is proven in our faithfulness to shepherding those he has given us to shepherd, feeding those he has given us to feed, teaching those he has given us to teach. “Do you love me?” don’t just respond with your lips, respond with your choices, your faithfulness to responsibilities, your faithfulness to God in moments of temptation, your patient endurance and acceptance of the crosses God has given you.

We show our love for Jesus when we do the tasks we’ve been given without grumbling or arguing, with diligence and care. We show our love for Jesus when we seek him out in the poor and needy in order to clothe and console Him. 

When Jesus asks us, “do you love me”, he’s not looking for lip service, but actual service. May we show our love for Jesus in a million ways today, in our words and choices, with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

- - - - -  

Let us pray to our Heavenly Father, confident that He is generous to those who call upon Him with faith.

That the ordained and all members of the Church throughout the world may be a more visible sign of the love of God for humanity, calling all people to new life and communion with Him; and that our parish may bear witness with great confidence to the Resurrection of Christ and his tender love for sinners and for the poor

For our President and all elected government representatives, may the Holy Spirit grant them wisdom and guide them to promote domestic tranquility, national unity, respect for religious freedom, and a greater reverence for the sanctity of Human Life. Let us pray to the Lord.

Like the apostles gathered with Our Lady in the Cenacle, may the Church grow in Marian devotion this month, especially in devotion to the Holy Rosary. Let us pray to the Lord.

For those experiencing any kind of hardship or sorrow, isolation, addiction, or disease: that they may know the peace and consolation of the Good Shepherd. Let us pray to the Lord.

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 those who have fought and died for our freedom, and for …for whom this mass is offered. Let us pray to the Lord.

Gracious Father, hear the prayers of your pilgrim Church, grant us your grace and lead us to the glory of your kingdom, through Christ Our Lord.

Divine Mercy Sunday 2024 - Disciples of Peace and Mercy

 Five times in our Gospel reading today, we find the word, “disciples”—the disciples of Jesus—“the disciples were locked in the upper room”—“the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord”—“the disciples said to Thomas, “we have seen the Lord”. 

The English word, “disciple” comes from the latin—discipulus—a student. To be a disciple of Jesus is to be a student of the greatest of teachers—we are to study his life, his lessons, and his mind and heart. 

In Jesus’ time, a disciple was called, in Hebrew, a talmid, which can refer to a student, but more accurately refers to an “apprentice”. While a student learns head knowledge in order to know what the teachers knows, an apprentice works with the teacher to learn what the teacher does so he or she can imitate what the teacher’s activity in the world. And in Jesus’ day talmidim didn’t just attend a class or read a book to gain knowledge from their rabbi—they left their jobs and families and communities to follow their rabbi and watch how he lived. They wanted to be just like their rabbi—in all things.

The Lord’s call to follow Him—to be his disciple—reverberated throughout Lent and now in Easter.

At the Last Supper, Jesus spoke about discipleship. He said, “This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Notice, the Lord didn’t say, “this is how everyone will know that you are my disciple, if you can properly recite your Baltimore catechism”, but rather, “if you love one another.” Now of course, love and discipleship often includes passing on the catechism to the next generation of Christians, but knowledge of the catechism does not exhaust our call to discipleship, rather...

 “As I have loved you, so you also must love one another.” We know that when our Lord was talking about Love—he wasn’t just talking about a feeling. Being his disciple isn’t just about having bubbly feelings about each other. “There is no greater love, than to lay down your life for a friend.”

And so Good Friday was the ultimate lesson in discipleship. We, disciples of Jesus Christ are called to love one another, with Christ-like love, that loves God and loves others, all the way to the Cross.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus showed his disciples proof of his love. Entering the upper room, in the midst of his disciples—he shows them, his wounds. This is how everyone will know you are my disciples: will you bear wounds for others—you are to engage in sacrificial self-giving for others.

When he showed his wounds, he wasn’t pointing them out as if to shame his disciples, or to announce his vengeance, his retribution. “Look what you did, now it’s time for you to pay”. Rather, he points to his wounds, and says, “peace”. From the cross, Jesus pronounced, not wrath, but forgiveness: “father, forgive them, for they not know what they have done”. And after his resurrection, he announces, peace.

“Love one another, as I love you.” In the course of the Christian life, we are to engage in Christ-like self-sacrificial love for others, AND we are to practice mercy by extending peace to all, even those who hate us. We cannot love without extending mercy. 

Be merciful, Christ teaches, as God is merciful. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

In our lives, we are often hurt by others, sometimes deeply. To practice Christ-like mercy, we are called to forgive those who injure us, not holding onto grudges or seeking revenge. Mercy isn't a sign of weakness but a profound strength and a reflection of God's mercy towards us.

Jesus’s mercy was evident toward the hungry, sick, and the sorrowful. Practicing Christ-like mercy involves recognizing the physical and emotional needs of those around us and responding generously. We are to offer a listening ear when others are going through a tough time, and doing what we can to help the needy. 

In Matthew 25, Jesus identifies Himself with the stranger, saying, "I was a stranger and you welcomed me." Practicing mercy involves opening our hearts and communities to those who are different from us, whether they be newcomers, people from different cultural or religious backgrounds, or those who feel marginalized and alone. By extending hospitality and friendship, we make tangible Jesus' love and mercy.

Jesus taught us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. This radical call to mercy involves lifting up in prayer those we may find difficult to love, including those who oppose us or hurt us in some way. Through prayer, we open our hearts to God's transforming love and allow Him to work through us to extend mercy to those living far from God.

In a world marked by division and conflict, practicing Christ-like mercy means being agents of peace and reconciliation. Christian disciples are called to mediating conflicts in our families or communities, working towards justice and peace in our societies, and seeking to build bridges rather than walls. 

Finally, Jesus' ultimate demonstration of mercy was through His sacrificial love on the cross. We are called to live lives of sacrificial love, putting the needs of others before our own, and being willing to bear wounds for the sake of love. Christian disciples are called to make personal sacrifices for the good of our families, communities, and even strangers, mirroring the self-giving love of Christ.

In embracing the practice of mercy, we become true disciples of Christ, reflecting His love and mercy in a world in desperate need of both. As we go forth from this Divine Mercy Sunday, let us carry in our hearts the call to be merciful as our Father is merciful, and to spread the joy of the Resurrection through our words and deeds of love, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

3rd Week of Lent 2024 - Friday - Return to God and be made whole

One of the most prevalent themes and messages of the Bible is that of returning to God. “Return to God with your whole heart” Joel says. In fact, the call to return to God is the constant call of the prophets.

Through Zechariah God declares, "Return to me and I will return to you.” The call to return is central to the prophet Hosea’s message, as we heard today, “Return, O Israel, to the LORD, your God; you have collapsed through your guilt.”

Hosea wants Israel to recognize that it has stumbled and fallen into spiritual and moral decay due to its disobedience to God. The weight of sin has caused Israel to collapse—like a house whose roof has fallen in, or a body collapsing because it is exhausted and fatigued and sick and burdened or staggering drunk. The call to return to God is the invitation to allow God to raise you up, to restore your strength, to restore the foundations of your house, of your life, to set you back on your feet after you’ve fallen. 

“I will heal their defection, says the LORD, I will love them freely; for my wrath is turned away from them. I will be like the dew for Israel: he shall blossom like the lily.” Notice that the return to God involves healing and a deepened experience of love and freedom, refreshment, renewal, and new growth. Why would we ever deprive ourselves of the benefit of returning to God to be made whole again?

In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to the scribe about the great commandment to love God and neighbor. 

Returning to God allows us to love as we were designed to love. God is the ultimate source of love. When we are in right relationship with Him, we are more connected to His love, which then overflows into our relationships with others. The more we abide in God's love, the more capacity we have to love others.

When we have returned to right relationship with God, the we experience His loving forgiveness and grace enables us to extend forgiveness and grace to others. It allows us to let go of resentment, bitterness, and judgment, fostering reconciliation and harmony in relationships.

Jesus exemplified perfect love through His sacrificial service. Returning to a right relationship with God aligns us with the example of Christ, who came not to be served but to serve. When we prioritize our relationship with God, we are empowered to serve others selflessly, meeting their needs and seeking their welfare.

As we journey through this Lenten season, let us heed the timeless call to return to God with our whole hearts. Just as the prophets of old urged Israel to turn back to the Lord, so too are we beckoned to recognize our stumbling, our spiritual fatigue, and our guilt, and to seek restoration in the loving embrace of our Heavenly Father.

Let us embrace this season of return as an opportunity for spiritual rejuvenation and growth, trusting in God's faithfulness to heal our wounds, to refresh our spirits, and to lead us into a deeper communion with Him. May our return to God be marked by a renewed fervor to love Him with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbors as ourselves, thereby fulfilling the greatest commandment and bearing witness to the transformative power of God's love in our lives.

 

First Friday Holy Hour - February 2024 - O Luminous Eucharist

 Forty days have passed since we celebrated the joyful Feast of the Nativity of the Lord. The Liturgy itself tells us that today, the Feast of the Presentation, we celebrate that blessed day when Jesus was presented in the Temple by Mary and Joseph. Outwardly he was fulfilling the law, but in reality he was coming to meet his believing people. Prompted by the Holy Spirit, Simeon and Anna came to the temple. Enlightened by the same Spirit, they recognized the Lord and confessed him with exultation. 

Light. This feast has many references to light. The Gospel reading speaks of light. Jesus is the light of revelation—revealing to the nations of the world—that God has come to save all of us.

Candles are blessed and lit at the beginning of mass for the presentation, they are signal flares to the world, that all those who are looking for salvation can find it, in Christ. 

What a fitting day for us to kneel in the light of the Eucharist. Devotees of the rosary know that the institution of the Eucharist—the eucharist which we kneel before this evening—is the fifth and final mystery of light. When Pope St. John Paul II gave us the luminous mysteries of the rosary—he wrote how the Eucharist is a light—it reveals, it testifies, it sheds light that Christ is with us till the end. He is with his Church. And he loves his church. 

The Eucharist reveals the heart of Christ which is given in love to us, to save us, to separate us from sin and unite us to God. We kneel before the Eucharist to bask in the glow of the light of Christ’s love. And we do so, that when we present ourselves to receive the Eucharist, we may be filled with that same light, that his light may be detected in us, and radiate from us.

St. Peter Julian Eymard, that great saint of the Eucharist writes: “The Eucharist is the sacrament of love par excellence. Certainly the other sacraments are proofs of God’s love for us; they are gifts of God. But in the Eucharist, we receive the Author of every gift, God Himself. So it is in Communion especially that we learn to know the law of love that our Lord came to reveal. There we receive the special grace of love. There, finally, more than anywhere else, we acquire the practice, the virtue, of love.”

“O lumunious Euharist, may this time with you truly enlighten us, in the way of God’s love, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.”

December 27 2023 - St. John the Evangelist - Incline your ears to the heart of Christ

 St. John the Apostle is often depicted in art with his head resting on the breast of Christ, as he does at the Last Supper. Among the apostles, it was John alone who remained at Christ’s side at the crucifixion. John was among the first-called, along with his brother James, and the brothers Peter and Andrew. John’s Gospel describes John’s own closeness with the Lord, and so it is fitting that we celebrate the evangelist’s feast in such proximity to the Lord’s birthday.

St. Ireneaus, bishop of Lyons around the year 200, reported with assurance: “John, the disciple of the Lord, who rested on the heart of Jesus, wrote a Gospel when he was in Ephesus.” Ireneaus was a disciple of St. Polycarp who was made bishop of Smyrna by St. John himself, as is depicted in the top middle stained glass window in the eastern transept here at St. Ignatius. Remaining so close to the Lord throughout the Lord’s public ministry, it is no wonder that John’s Gospel is among the most mystical books of the Bible, filled with such intense insight into the divine identity of the Lord and his love for sinful humanity. 

The writings of St. John his letters and Gospel are saturated with the love of God. Throughout his Gospel, John identifies himself, often not by name, but by the beloved disciple. Consider that! His name was secondary to the fact that he knew that he was loved by Jesus. That is such an important lesson for Christians to “take to heart”. Do you know that you are loved by Jesus? DO you know that you are loved by God? 

Love is the key to understanding the Gospel. Love is the divine motive for the incarnation. Love is the divine motive for the Lord’s teaching and miracles. Love is the divine motive for the Lord taking upon himself the weight and suffering of the cross. Love is the divine motive for sending the apostles into the world.

John records the Lord saying, “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.”

John teaches us to incline our ears to the heart of Christ, to learn of his love for us, that we may in turn, love one another. 

St. John is the patron of the diocese of Cleveland, and he is a powerful example to all of us: of zealous love for the Lord, temper under control, mystical prayer, devotion to the Blessed Virgin, tireless pastor, who used his intellectual gifts to combat the errors plaguing his flock and bestowing to the Church of all ages, a portrait of piercing insight of the Lord Jesus. May we know continuously the example and heavenly intercession of so great a patron saint for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

 

We bring forth now our prayers of petitions.

For the Church of Cleveland under the patronage of St. John, apostle and evangelist, and particularly for Bishop Malesic, that together we may witness faithfully and tirelessly to the truth of the Gospel

For Christians who are persecuted throughout the world, especially those who face martyrdom, that they may have a faith that is constant and pure.

For those oppressed by hunger, sickness or loneliness, that through the mystery of the Nativity of Christ, they may find relief in both mind and body. 

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

October 20 2023 - St. Paul of the Cross - The Cross is the School of Love

 The saint we honor today was born the son of a wealthy merchant near Genoa Italy, in 1694.  He received his early education from the Capuchin Franciscans.  As a young boy he was marked with great sanctity.  Not only did he excel in his studies, but he was deeply reverent, and devoted to prayer, especially the Holy Mass.  Shortly before his confirmation, he had a miraculous vision: the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Him wearing an all-black habit.  This became the habit of the religious order he found later in life, called the Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ, known today as the Passionists.  

When he was 26 years old, Paul had a series of prayer-experiences which made it clear to him that God was inviting him to form a community who would live an evangelical life and promote the love of God revealed in the Passion of Jesus. It was his life-long conviction that God is most easily found in the Passion of Christ.

“It is very good and holy,” today’s saint said, “to consider the passion of our Lord and to meditate on it, for by this sacred path we reach union with God. In this most holy school we learn true wisdom…love is a unifying virtue which takes upon itself the torments of its beloved Lord. It is a fire reaching through to the inmost soul.”

The Cross is the school of love—how much God loves us, and how our lives are to be redeemed, transformed, and transfigured by imitating that love and growing in that love. Love requires self-donation, love requires daily sacrifice, love requires forgetting ourselves in order to give ourselves more fully to others—there is no greater love than for one to lay down his life for a friend. 

In our moments of weakness and failure, it is easy to grow discouraged and to lose hope. That’s why in our sinfulness it is so important to meditate on how much we are loved by God. He didn’t die for the perfect, he died for us. He embraced us in our most unlovable state. Meditating on the cross of Christ, then, is to be a key which opens up and transforms our hearts and makes them more like the one who embraced the cross for our salvation. 

The love Christ showed on the cross is, as the first St. Paul—St. Paul of Tarsus—wrote in our first reading this morning, is a love which surpasses all knowledge. God’s love surpasses our human understanding, if you think you understand God’s love—his love is greater still. But also, seeking to grasp and experience God’s love is more valuable than any other knowledge we can gain in this earthly life. “More precious than gold, than fire-refined gold” is the law of God’s love. The psalmist is not just speaking poetically here, but rather, calling us to realign our priorities—to seek to truly value God’s love over everything else. 

May the Passion of Jesus Christ be ever in our hearts. May we meditate often on the cross of the Savior, and encounter “the breadth and length and height and depth” of God’s love for us, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

 

For unity in the Church, faithfulness to right teaching, detachment from worldly vices, generosity in the works of charity, and courage in the Church’s evangelizing mission. 

Through the intercession of St. Paul of the Cross, we pray for the spiritual good of the Passionist Orders—and that all members of the Church may be more deeply conformed to the Cross of Christ.

For all victims of war, 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 come to the assistance of the communities and families devastated by the horrors of terrorism and war; and may world leaders work together for peace. 

For those experiencing any kind of hardship or sorrow, isolation, addiction, or disease: that they may know God’s consolation, healing, and grace.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, the deceased members of our families friends and parishes, for those who fought and died for our freedom, and for N. for whom this mass is offered.

Graciously grant our petitions, we beseech thee, O Lord; may your grace sustain us always in your service, through Christ Our Lord.

 

 

September 15 2023 - Our Lady of Sorrows - A heart united to Christ in love and suffering

Yesterday, on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, the Church turned her heart to the Passion of Christ and the wood of the cross upon which our Lord conquered death.  Today the Church turns her heart to the suffering his His Mother—the heart of His mother which shared in her son’s great suffering. 

In the Collect prayer beginning today’s Mass we prayed, O God, who willed that, when your Son was lifted high on the Cross, his Mother should stand close by and share his suffering.

Love unites the mother with her children. She shares their joys, their excitements, their sorrows and sufferings. The heart of the mother aches in every of her child’s bruises, broken bones, or illnesses.

Our Lady’s heart because of it’s purity, selflessness, devotion to the will of God, and faith loved more deeply and therefore suffered more deeply than any mother in history. Because of her love her heart was pierced with swords of sorrow so intense that one might say she only survived the sufferings of her son through special graces from God. 

Today we turn our hearts to her, that she might teach us how to love and how to suffer with grace. And also to know that because her love for each of us is great, she also knows and shares our sufferings too. For since her heart is united to Christ in love and suffering, she loves what he loves...that includes us.

Pope St. John Paul II wrote: “Turn your eyes incessantly to the Blessed Virgin; she, who is the Mother of Sorrows and also the Mother of Consolation, can understand you completely and help you. Looking to her, praying to her, you will obtain that your tedium will become serenity, your anguish change into hope, and your grief into love.”

It is sad to think of how many Christians do not really grasp the motherhood of Mary, the role that God wants her to have in our lives. For God himself, from the cross, told us, “Behold your mother.”

So we who love her have a duty to help those who do not to come to understand this dimension of the Good News of Christ—the Gospel. For it is part of the Gospel that Mary is our Mother—and comes to our aid in our suffering. 

Older Catholics especially can help younger family members to love Mary. When the grandkids or nieces and nephews come over to visit, pray the rosary with them, teach them of the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady, for the younger generations who do not know Mary are in danger of have stilted, colder hearts, as we all are when we fail to love Our Mother as we should.

During the remainder of the day, let us reflect upon the sufferings of the Mother of God. May the tears of Mary give us more compassionate hearts, and keep us faithful to her Son, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - -  

For the Church in every place; that, by calling to mind the sorrow of the Blessed Virgin Mary upon hearing the prophecy of Simeon, she may offer comfort to all who advance in this life

along a path of obscurity and suffering. 

For the leaders of nations; that, by remembering the sorrow of the Holy Family’s flight into Egypt,

they may be moved to care for refugees and for all who are obliged to flee from war and persecution. 

For parents anguishing over their children; that, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary

and of Saint Joseph who were anguished by the disappearance of Jesus for three days, they may come to deeper trust and confidence in the providence of the Heavenly Father.

For all who bear the cross of suffering; that, like Jesus bearing His cross, they may encounter the Mother of Sorrows on the way, and be sustained by her compassion.

For widows mourning the death of a beloved spouse; that, by turning to Our Lady, the Virgin Widow of Saint Joseph, they may be comforted in their solitude and inspired to go forward with courage and trust in God.

For all priests; that in the daily offering of the Holy Sacrifice, they may discover the nearness of the Mother of Sorrows and, like Saint John, take her into their homes.

For ourselves; that, by remembering the sorrow of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the entombment of her Son, we may be strengthened in hope and learn from her to wait in silence for the light of the resurrection, and for N. for whom this mass is offered. 

May we be aided at your Mercy Seat, Lord Jesus Christ, now and at the hour of our death, by the pleading of the Blessed Virgin Mary, your Mother, whose most holy soul was pierced, in the hour of your sufferings, by a sword of sorrow. Who live and reign forever and ever.

19th Week in Ordinary Time 2023 - Friday - Marriage Matters

 A few years ago, in 2016, Pope Francis issued a document called Amoris Laetitia, latin for “The Joy of Love”. Love, authentic love, brings authentic joy, particularly in the life of Christian families.

Love, practiced and cherished and striven for within the family, is to be a sign to the world of God’s love. Children are to learn that they are loved and how to love within a family. Spouses practice self-sacrificial love within the family.

The Holy Father issued this document on the issues of marriage and family because marriage and family matter. Doing what it takes for a healthy marriage, having a God-centered family, raising children according to the law of Christ, these things matter for the future of civilization and the salvation of souls. The Pope said, “The welfare of the family is decisive for the future of the world and that of the Church.”

We are seeing in our own day how faithless, disordered relationships, rampant promiscuity and unrestricted sexual license bring so much brokenness, so much sadness. Deviating from the plan of God yields joylessness and woundedness. 

Any priest who has worked on marriage annulments can attest to how selfishness, stunted maturity, attachment to worldliness, unwillingness to forgive, poor communication, and secular notions of happiness, all effect marriage negatively.

This is why the Catholic Church takes what the Lord teaches in the Gospel this morning very seriously. Where many of the Christian denominations water down, change, or simply ignore this teaching, the Catholic Church sees this morning’s Gospel as pivotal for civilization’s survival and our faithfulness to the Gospel.

So part of the Church’s mission regarding marriage is to help form individuals in the maturity—in the virtues and self-knowledge—necessary for happy, healthy, holy marriage. This is why we are constantly praying for families to cherish and study and practice and live out the word of God. This is why we take Christian education so seriously, which forms not just the intellect, but the whole person. This is why we try to instill a habit of daily examination of conscience—the daily examination that is needed to really get serious about rooting out selfishness, which is so devastating to family life.

Our culture tells us to abandon the institution of marriage, but the Church says, no. Marriage matters. Marriage is in fact vital for the future of humanity. And faithfulness to God's plan regarding marriage is possible. Because God is real and gives us grace. Pope Francis concludes Amoris Laetitia with encouragement and words of hope. He writes, “May we never lose heart because of our limitations, or ever stop seeking that fullness of love and communion which God holds out before us.” Each of us are certainly called to a life full of love. May each of us strive for that Christ-like love and self-sacrifice which brings joy and life to the world, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - -  

That all Christians may seek to be faithful to the Lord’s teachings and commandments concerning marriage and the family, that Christian families may be filled with love and joy.

For all married couples, that they may be faithful to the Gospel in every dimension of their married life and give all an example of God’s ever-faithful love.  

That the children of our parish and school may be blessed to know the grace of faith-filled families, that they may be shielded from the sins and errors of our culture.

For Pope Francis and for all the bishops and clergy of the Church: that they will be faithful to the preaching the truth of the Gospel especially in the face of secular pressure and persecution.  

That the sick, lonely, elderly, homeless, widowed, and all those experiencing trials or suffering of any kind may be strengthened by God’s love and know His comfort and peace.  

For those who have died, for all deceased spouses; that they may know the eternal peace and joy of the kingdom of heaven.  

15th Week of Ordinary Time 2023 - Wednesday - Revelation of God's Love

 Fire. We find fire throughout the Scriptures. The Holy Spirit descends upon the apostles as tongues of fire on Pentecost. The Lord himself says that he has come to set the world on fire, and how he wishes it were already blazing.

Our first reading today presents us with Moses approaching the bush on fire, but a fire that does not destroy. And from that fire-that-does-not-destroy-or-consume, God reveals Himself to Moses. 

Consider this story in its ancient context. The Egyptians worshipped a god of fire, as did the caananites, the Babylonians, and the persians, as have many pagan peoples throughout history. But notice, though God reveals himself from this burning bush, He doesn’t claim to be the God of Fire. Rather, He reveals Himself as “the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob.” God reveals himself as the God of people. He is not simply the harnesser of fire, demanding subordination from lowly humans lest they be consumed by his powerful flame. Rather, God’s power comes from his fiery love. Unlike the cold, dark, conniving, murderous heart of pharoah, who slaughtered the Israelites because they were growing too numerous in his estimation, God reveals a heart of love that has been moved by the suffering and slavery of his people. 

But the burning bush in which God reveals that He is the God of fiery love is but a foreshadowing. It’s not until God comes in the flesh, in the form of man, that he fully reveals His love. Jesus is God’s fullness of revelation, the revelation of God’s love, God’s desire to free all humanity from death and slavery to sin which keeps us from intimate communion with Him. 

And in the Gospel today, the Lord Jesus speaks of how God reveals Himself to the childlike, a revelation that the wise and the learned are blinded to. Why are the worldly-wise, the clever, blind to God? Because of their prideful self-sufficiency. Even though they came into the world as helpless babies, into a Creation brought into being by God, the wise and the clever take the posture of absolute self-sufficiency. “I don’t need God, I have my wisdom, I have my wits, I have my own power, my own fire, I am my own god!” Their consuming pride keeps them from the light and love of God.

But the childlike—the humble—recognize, “all that I have is a gift from God.” I live, I breath, I am saved, I am sanctified, I am given another opportunity for eternal life because the God of love has poured Himself out in love. And recognizing the need for God, the childlike run toward God like a moth to flame—but unlike the moth, the childlike are not consumed, rather, they are perfected. 

The ancient theologian Origen once said that those who draw near to Jesus in the Eucharist, draw near to fire. Childlike, let us run near to the fire of God, the fire of the Eucharist, the fire that purifies us, enlightens us, illuminates us, and perfects us, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

- - - - -  

That the Holy Spirit may help us to be instruments of grace and conversion, to hardened sinners, fallen away Catholics and to the faithless.  

That our young people on summer vacation may be kept safe from the poisonous errors of our culture, and that their families may be places where the faith is practiced and cherished.

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. We pray.

O God, who 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.

11th Week in Ordinary Time 2023 - Tuesday - Pro omnibus et singulis (For all and for each)

 Throughout his Sermon on the Mount, the Lord expounds what it means to be truly righteous, truly holy—to live in such a way that one is filled with the life of God on earth, that you may enter into the beatitude of God in eternity. 

And so hear today the a portion of his sermon on love. Already he has challenged his disciples to expand their concepts of holiness and generosity, and today’s passage certainly presents a challenge as well. 

The Lord begins with a saying his audience would have been familiar with, a saying that even seems like common sense: “you have heard that it was said, you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” 

It's easy to love one's neighbor. My neighbor looks like me, talks like me, acts like me.  He’ll let me borrow a mule, or a wine press, or a piece of bread if I ask him.  I feel comfortable inviting him over for a cup of coffee.  My neighbor is lovable.

But an enemy, he looks differently, he talks differently, he might not worship the same God as me or vote for the same politicians. In fact, if I think about it, he is undermining the very fabric of society, he’s barely human; therefore, the best thing would be if he were to not exist at all, right?  Hating one's enemy makes sense...and, honestly...it's not all that difficult.

But, Jesus says, listen: the sun rises and sets on the evil and the good alike; God loves the person you perceive as your enemy just as much as he loves you.  For God loves without measure.  

To follow Christ is to love without regard to race or creed. You must seek what is best pro omnibus et singulis—for all and for each individual—neighbor or enemy. And if you are to treat each with love…is there really any distinction at all?  Kindness must not be limited to those who are kind to us.  

For many, perhaps for most, this may be the hardest of all Jesus’ instructions. But, as we heard this last Sunday, “God proved his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” God loves the sinner. He loves those who made themselves his enemies. For a sinner becomes an ally and an agent of evil in his sin—evil which opposes the goodness of God. You have opposed God. I have opposed God in my sin. But he died for all those who opposed him, out of love and utter goodness.

And that very same divine love for all is to make its dwelling in the hearts of Christians and is to animate our lives, our behaviors, our actions, our decisions, our relationships pro omnibus et singulis—for all and for each for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - -  

To God the Father Almighty, may every prayer of our heart be directed, for it is His will that all humanity should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.

For the Church during this time of Eucharistic Revival: for a deeper love and reverence for the Bread of Life; that the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist will help us to live out our vocation to holiness with greater zeal, self-sacrifice, and trust in God.  

That during this month of June dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus: we may make reparation for the many blasphemies committed against God and the Church, and that the afflicted may know God’s compassion in all of their trials.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, for the deceased priests and religious of the diocese of Cleveland, for the poor souls in purgatory, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom, and for…

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.