14th Week in Ordinary Time 2026 - Friday - Missionary Instructions

 

Chapter 10 of Matthew’s Gospel, from which our weekday Gospel readings have been taken the past few days, is often called Jesus’ “Mission Sermon”. He gave his Sermon on the Mount back on chapters 5 through 7, giving instruction about how to live a holy life, that attitudes and dispositions that we are to cultivate throughout our short time on earth. But in his Mission Sermon the Lord gives instruction about a particular task—the mission of spreading the Gospel.

It is the task of the Church, it is our task, to “make disciples of all nations, teaching them to observe all the Lord commands.” And for this task, the Lord, as we heard today, gives specific instructions.

First, he explains, he’s sending us like sheep amidst wolves”. The mission of the Gospel is a peaceful mission in a hostile world. Sheep possess no claws, fangs, or armor. The mission of the Gospel is not carried out through physical force. We are to carry out our mission entrusting ourselves to the protection and providence of the Good Shepherd.

Second, “be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves” Christians must not be naïve about the world. We must recognize deception, temptation, and hostility, and act with prudence. Yet our prudence must never become dishonesty or manipulation. We must remain innocent, sincere, and free from malice.

Thirdly, “do not worry about what you are to say”. Fear must not keep us from our missionary task. By all means, study the faith to the best of your ability. Study the Word of God so that it is so rooted in you, that you are able to converse about it, to stranger and kings.

Fourth, Jesus warns that the Gospel may cause division even within families. When one person embraces the faith and another rejects it, painful conflict may result. Nevertheless, we are called to give good Christian example through patience, prayer, and charity to all who disagree with the Church, including our family members.

Finally, Jesus teaches that the persecution of the Church will continue until his return. Christians should not be surprised when the Gospel is mocked, opposed, or punished. Such opposition does not mean the mission has failed. It places us in communion with Christ himself and with the martyrs who faithfully endured before us.

The Lord does not promise that the mission will be easy. But, He promises that his Spirit will remain with us and that those who persevere to the end will be saved.

May we take the Lord’s instruction to heart—may it shape our days—for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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Let us offer our prayers to God, who sends his Church to proclaim the Gospel to all nations.

For the Church throughout the world: that she may proclaim the truth of Christ with courage, humility, and unwavering charity, let us pray to the Lord.

For Christians who are persecuted because of their faith: that the Holy Spirit may strengthen them, give them the words they need, and preserve them in fidelity to Christ, let us pray to the Lord.

For families divided by religious belief or practice: that patience, prayer, and loving witness may bring them unity in the truth, let us pray to the Lord.

For our parish community: that we may embrace our missionary responsibility and make Christ known through lives of holiness, prudence, sacrifice, and love, let us pray to the Lord.

For the sick, the suffering, and all who feel abandoned: that they may experience the protection and consolation of Christ the Good Shepherd, let us pray to the Lord.

For the faithful departed: that, having persevered in faith, they may be welcomed into the joy of God’s eternal kingdom, let us pray to the Lord.

Almighty Father, you call us to proclaim your Son in a world that often resists his truth. Strengthen us by your Spirit, preserve us in faith, and grant what we ask according to your holy will. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

14th Week in Ordinary Time 2026 - Wednesday - Patience in the apostolic mission

 

What a fascinating juxtaposition of readings today.

On one hand, we have the minor prophet Hosea describing the sad state of spiritual affairs in the northern kingdom of Israel. Recall, northern Israel had separated from Judah—politically and religiously. The North set up its own religion: it had this strange practice of worshipping both Yahweh AND the various pagan gods. And for a time, as Hosea described, northern Israel  experienced some prosperity. But, the more prosperous Northern Israel grew, the more corrupt the people became and the more they failed to be grateful to God for His blessings. The went from having a divided heart, to a heart that failed to acknowledge the one true God at all.

And for this, as Hosea prophesied, they lost God’s Divine Blessing, became subject to their enemies, and would be destroyed.

Contrast that reading, to the Gospel passage today—the naming of the twelve—their initial commission to preach the Gospel to Israel, which later in Matthew’s Gospel, would become a commission to preach to all nations—which is the mission of the Holy, Catholic, Church.

What’s the connection between these two readings? The Gospel reminds us of our mission, and the first reading reminds us to whom we are being sent.

We have been commissioned to preach the Gospel to a world with a divided heart, prone to forgetting about God in times of prosperity, vulnerable to bringing itself to the verge of collapse. These are the people to whom we are sent.

And that mission requires courage. It takes courage to speak of God to a world that often does not want to hear His name, courage to witness to the truth when hearts are divided and confused, courage to remain faithful when others have grown indifferent, cynical, or hostile.

But, courage must also be joined to patience. The divided heart is not usually healed in an instant. Conversion often takes time. People caught in confusion, sin, resentment, or unbelief may resist grace before they receive it. Hosea preached to a people who were slow to listen. The apostles themselves would often be rejected. And yet the Lord still sent them.

So, too for us. We must not give up on those who seem far from God, or discouraged because the world is confused—the word of God describes it as such. The Lord knew exactly what kind of world He was sending His apostles into. And He knows exactly what kind of world He sends us into.

Our task is not to give up when things get hard. Our task is to be faithful: to speak the truth with charity, to bear witness with courage, to pray for the lost, to invite patiently, to trust that grace can work in hidden ways. May the Lord give us apostolic courage without bitterness, patience without cowardice, and hearts undivided in His service, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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For the Holy Church of God: that she may remain faithful to the mission entrusted to the apostles, preaching the Gospel with courage, charity, and patience, let us pray to the Lord.

For the nations of the world: that in times of prosperity they may not forget God, but seek justice, peace, and the protection of the vulnerable, let us pray to the Lord.

For the conversion of all whose hearts are divided by sin, confusion, resentment, or unbelief.

For all missionaries, evangelists, catechists, parents, and teachers: that they may not grow discouraged when their witness is resisted, but may persevere with apostolic courage, let us pray to the Lord.

For the sick, the suffering, the discouraged, and all who feel far from God: that they may encounter the compassion of Christ through the prayers and witness of His Church, let us pray to the Lord.

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 1 2025 (school mass) - St. Therese of Lisieux - The Little Way and the Mission of the Church

 The month of October begins with the feast day of a beloved saint of the Church, St. Therese.

Therese was born and raised in a profoundly religious home—where the Catholic faith was devoutly practiced and cherished. Therese’s parents, Louis and Zellie have also been declared saints due to the evidence of their profound holiness. All four of Therese’s older sisters became nuns. And from a young age, Therese also had a burning desire become a nun as well—to dedicate her life to prayer in the Carmelite Convent. 

And so at the age of fourteen, Therese traveled with her father to Rome to meet the Pope, to personally ask his permission for Therese to enter the Carmelite convent in the city of Lisieux. And it was granted.

The Carmelite convent that Therese entered had a very strict rule of life. The nuns lived a hidden life of prayer, silence, and sacrifice. the sisters ate simple meals, they wore a plain habit, like St. Clare is wearing in her statue. The nuns did not interact with people from the outside world, not even with members of their family, and they were not allowed to leave the convent grounds. Even their conversations were limited, because silence helped them to listen more closely to God’s voice.

Their days were carefully ordered, beginning very early in the morning with prayer, Mass, and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. They prayed the Liturgy of the Hours together several times each day, lifting up the needs of the whole Church. When they weren’t in the chapel, they worked quietly at simple tasks like cooking, sewing, cleaning, and gardening.

But St. Thérèse didn’t see this way of life as gloomy or depressing. Therese and her sisters chose a simple, quiet life, in order to focus their minds and hearts on Jesus, and to do a very important work for the Church—praying. While we are engaged in working for Jesus and spreading the Gospel out in the world, Therese and Carmelites like her pray for us—that we can be faithful and have the strength and wisdom we need for our duties.

Therese prayed for the success of the mission of the Church—to go to all nations and make disciples of Jesus. That’s the mission of the Church. That’s why I’m here. That’s why Corpus Christi Academy exists. That why St. Clare parish exists. That’s why the diocese of Cleveland exists. We have a mission. To help people know, love, and follow Jesus Christ to the best of their ability.

This is why St. Therese took up this very strict way of life. Because she believed in the mission of the Church, and wanted to do everything she could to support it—which included praying many hours a day, fasting, doing penance, and doing small sacrificial things with great love. 

And this is another reason why St. Therese is so beloved by Catholics. She reminds us that often, the most powerful thing we can do for the mission of the Church—is to do small things with great love. Our conversations, teaching in the class room, learning in the class room, how you behave, how you treat people in the lunch room, on the playground, on the sports field, at work, the stranger, the person who annoys you, in everything we do, we are to pour into it, the love of God. May St. Therese help us to do all things with great love for the mission of the Church for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

December 3 2024 - St. Francis Xavier - The Advent Mission

 On just the second weekday of Advent this year, we wear not Advent purple, but white, as we celebrate the obligatory memorial of a saint of the Church, St. Francis Xavier: a reminder, that the purpose of the season of Advent is to make us saints. The purpose of the Advent solemnity—Advent prayer, Advent charitable-giving, is to make us saints, to curb and convert our selfishness and self-absorption, into Christ-like selflessness and concern for the Other.

St. Francis Xavier was filled with zeal for what we might call, the Advent mission—helping others prepare their hearts to receive Christ. Francis Xavier was a Jesuit priest sent by the founder of his Order, St. Ignatius of Loyola, to evangelize pagan India. There he worked in hospitals, taught the catechism, and preached the Gospel. He also traveled to many of the islands around India, and as far as Japan and the Philippines, and is called the first apostle to the Philippines.  

In the course of only 10 years of missionary work, he baptized over 80,000 people. 

Francis Xavier engaged in missionary work because Christ himself was sent as a missionary by the Father for the work of salvation. This is the Advent mission—to prepare our hearts to receive Christ and to help others prepare their hearts as well. 

Consider how our readings today speak to the missionary dimension of the Christian life.

In our first reading, Isaiah speaks of a world transformed by the coming of the Messiah, a world where natural enemies live in harmony, and peace reigns over the earth. The Messiah was sent as a missionary to inaugurate a new reign of peace. St. Francis Xavier continued that mission, and all Christians are called to continue that mission, of leading souls to the peace of Christ. 

The psalm deepens this theme by extending the reign of God’s justice and peace. “He shall rescue the poor when he cries out, and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.” St. Francis Xavier cared for the sick and the poor, he preached to the unevangelized to help rescue those in the poverty of sin. Likewise, we extend the reign of the Prince of Peace, when we teach and preach and attend to the poor and afflicted.

In the Gospel, Jesus rejoices that the mysteries of God are revealed to the childlike. Here again is the missionary work—to reveal to the childlike the mysteries of God. But at the same time, we must maintain that childlike spirit—that joyful trust in the Lord which is cultivated through Advent prayer and Advent charity.

It was this childlike faith—a trust in the Father’s plan and a willingness to go wherever the Spirit led—that made St. Francis Xavier such a powerful missionary. He rejoiced in his share of Christ’s mission, seeing each soul brought to baptism as a fulfillment of the Father’s gracious will.

The word of God, and the holy example of this missionary saint, should deepen our desire to share the peace and goodness of Christ with others. May our hearts burn with zeal for the spread of Christ’s kingdom—his justice and peace, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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Confident in the Lord’s love and inspired by the example of the saints, let us offer our prayers and petitions for the needs of the Church and the world.

For the Church, that during this Advent season she may inspire all the faithful to embrace missionary zeal, preparing their hearts and the hearts of others to receive Christ.

For an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated religious life, for the Jesuit Order’s faithfulness to the mission of Christ, and through the intercession of St. Francis Xavier, all missionaries and those who proclaim the Gospel, may may be strengthened by the Holy Spirit to carry forward the mission of Christ with courage, faith, and love.

For peace in our world, that the reign of Christ’s justice and harmony, foretold by the prophet Isaiah, may be realized in every nation and among all people.

For all who have yet to encounter the joy of the Gospel, that through the witness of faithful Christians, they may come to know the peace and goodness of Christ.

For those who are poor, sick, or afflicted, that they may experience the healing and comforting presence of Christ through the care and compassion of His followers.

For the souls of the faithful departed, that they may rejoice forever in the glory of God’s kingdom.

Heavenly Father, through the intercession of St. Francis Xavier, grant us the grace to embrace our Advent mission, deepening our faith and extending Your love to the ends of the earth. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

October 1 2024 - St. Therese of the Child Jesus - Humble service, penance, mission

 In her diary, St. Therese wrote: “I ask Jesus to draw me into the flames of his love and to unite me so closely to him that he lives and acts in me.  I feel that the more the fire of love encompasses my heart, the more I shall say: "Draw me," and the more will those souls who are near to mine "run swiftly in the sweet odor of the Beloved."  

And draw her into the flames of his love, the Lord did. In the course of her short life, Therese acquired a burning love of Christ. And yet, unlike some of the other mystic saints, Therese did not experience mystical levitations or visions, that we know of. 

Rather, she was drawn into profound love through humble acts of service and the quiet, patient acceptance of suffering. 

At the age of 15, having received the blessing of faith and virtue from her parents, Therese was given permission to enter the Carmelite convent where her two older sisters had already entered.  She lived only 11 years as a Carmelite nun before dying at the young age of 26 from tuberculosis.  

And yet during that time, she developed a profound spirituality of humble service—known popularly now as “The Little Way”

In those short years in Carmel, Therese described coming to share the Lord’s deep ardor for the salvation of souls. She writes, “I experienced a great desire to work for the conversion of sinners, a desire I hadn’t experienced so intensely before.” She offered her life as a sacrifice for priests and other missionaries, offering constant penances and prayers for the sake of others. She wrote that her mission as a Carmelite, was to offer prayers and penances that would spiritually form and support  “evangelical workers who would save millions of souls”.

There are three pretty good lessons for all of us, no? To seek the sanctification of our souls through humble acts of service, patient acceptance of suffering, and doing whatever we can for the mission of the Gospel. By doing so, we, like Therese, have the opportunity to be drawn deeply in the fire of Christ’s heart, in his love, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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For blessings upon the members of the Carmelite Order, and that their witness of prayer and penance may continue to draw souls closer to Christ.

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

That the sick and the suffering may know God’s healing and know the love of God in their trials.

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

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.

25th Week in Ordinary Time 2024 - Wednesday - Humbling seeking what we truly need

 There is a common theme in our readings today. It was subtle in the Old Testament reading, and only slightly more explicit in the Gospel. It involves trust, trusting in God.

In the reading from Proverbs, this humble soul makes a heartfelt prayer to God requesting only the things he believes are essential for living a righteous and fulfilling life: “Put falsehood and lying far from me, give me neither poverty nor riches; provide me only with the food I need, lest, being full, I deny you.” Notice the two things he asks for.

The first request is for personal integrity. The speaker asks God to keep dishonesty and deceit away from him. This reflects a desire to live truthfully, both in words and actions, avoiding the moral corruption that comes with lying. 

Dishonesty erodes our integrity. Lying often involves shifting blame or avoiding accountability, which prevents learning from mistakes. It leads to isolation—becomes no one trusts a liar. Falsehood brings separation from God—who is Truth itself. Small lies can lead to larger deceptions, gradually desensitizing individuals to wrongdoing. Once lying is rationalized, it becomes easier and easier to justify larger sins. This humble request to be kept from falsehood is fundamental to living a blessed life. 

The second request is about material wealth. The prayer asks for a balanced provision—neither extreme wealth nor extreme poverty. Each of those extremes come with their own sets of temptations and challenges. Rather, the prayer asks for just enough for sustenance. This is akin to asking God for our “daily bread” as Jesus taught his disciples in the Lord’s prayer.  

Both requests—the request for integrity and for daily bread—entail a trust that the Lord will provide what he needs.

In the Gospel, Jesus sends out the twelve with just enough for their mission. And notice, he sends them out to preach and cure and cast out demons, without any form of material support: without food, without money, or even a change of clothes.  But he did equip them spiritually for their mission. Having spent powerful, life changing time with Jesus—hearing his teaching, witnessing his divine authority in the miracles he performed, he equipped them with Faith and the Word of God. 

Similarly, in pursuing our vocation to holiness and our share in the mission of the Church —in living a blessed life on earth that leads to beatitude in heaven—we do well to seek only what we truly need: the grace of living honest humble lives, the grace to trust that the Lord equips us sufficiently for the task before us. 

May we entrust our needs to the Lord today—for all that we truly require for holiness and for heaven, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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That all members of the Church may strive for personal integrity and holiness, living truthfully in word and deed.

That those in positions of authority may govern with honesty and justice, rejecting deceit, corruption, and working always for the common good.

That those experiencing poverty or abundance may avoid the temptations associated with their circumstances, and that we may seek only what we truly need, trusting that the Lord equips us sufficiently for our mission and supporting one another in faith.

That those who are burdened by illness or hardship may find comfort in God's provision and the support of the faithful community.

That the departed may be received into God's eternal embrace, especially…

Heavenly Father, we entrust our needs to You, confident in Your loving providence. Hear our petitions and grant us what we truly need. Through Christ our Lord.

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2024 - Eucharistic Missionaries

 Back in 2022, the Church in the United States began a multi-year initiative of Eucharistic Revival. In the first phase of the Revival, each diocese had gatherings of the faithful. So back in June of 2022, members of the faithful, clergy and religious from the various parishes and institutions gathered with the bishop for a eucharistic procession and mass at the cathedral. We had four members from our parish attend that event launching the Eucharistic Revival.

I’ve continued to meet with those parishioners regularly. Our Light for Love program, in which we opened up the church for the evening, and invited passersby into church to pray with us in front of the blessed Sacrament was just one event that was born out of that diocesan eucharistic synod.

Following the launch of the Revival, each diocese around the country then began to prepare to send representatives to the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, which was held last month. It was the first National Congress in 80 years! 

And what a week it was! There were about four to five hundred Catholics just from our diocese, including 8 from our parish, who joined the 50 to 55 thousand Catholics from around the country for the Congress. It was truly incredible to join so many of the faithful for prayer and worship and faith formation. And even though some of the music was…not quite my style…to join so many souls in prayer for an outpouring of grace—for the Holy Spirit to deepen our love and appreciation for the Eucharist—was truly a awe-inspiring. God is at work to invigorate Catholics in our nation that we may be a light shining in the darkness.  I do hope that our Eucharistic Missionaries will be able to share with you their experience in the coming months.

The Eucharistic Congress began the final phase of the Eucharistic Revival—what the Bishops are calling the Year of Mission which will last until July of 2025. The Year of Mission. Mission, of course, comes from the latin word – missa, which means to be sent. And it is the Bishops’ desire that for the next year we seek to deepen our sense of mission—that especially through the Eucharist God missions us, he sends us into the world. God strengthens us through the eucharist for a purpose, for a reason.

We gather for Mass every week, not simply out of obligation, but because through the Mass God does something—in us, with us, through us. At Mass, we encounter Jesus Christ—we receive him— as food for the journey, the journey out of the doors of the church, into the world, in order to witness, to draw souls to Christ.

The very word Mass, comes from the same latin word, missa, mission. Jesus gathers us in order to sent us out.

In the first reading, the prophet Elijah is being sent by God on a very long mission—a forty day journey to the mountain of God, Mt Horeb—and what does God say to Elijah--"Get up and eat, else the journey will be too long for you!" 

Similarly, in our journey to the mountain of God, heaven, Jesus gives us his flesh to be our food for the journey—because our human strength is insufficient. The Eucharist is the strength we need—it is the spiritual food for the spiritual journey—the journey of being a disciple of Jesus Christ every day—carrying our cross, forgiving our enemies, bearing wrongs patiently, and being attentive to the needs of others, sharing the truth.

The Eucharist strengthens us for the journey, but there are also a lot of things that weaken us on our missionary journey—which can even cause us to fail to finish the race. St. Paul lists some of them in our second reading: “All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice.” Why MUST they be removed? Because they weaken us, they cause us to stumble in the journey. These attitudes, these choices, must be set aside, or else we will not progress in the spiritual life; they diminish the life of God in us.

The Church teaches that Mass is the most important thing we are to do every week. And likely, many of us are not getting as much out of Mass each week, because we are unwilling to let go of those habits and attitudes that the word of God urges us to let go of. 

One reason to make a good holy hour each week, or to make a regular confession, is to humble ourselves before the Lord in order to let go of things that you need to let go of. So often, we are confused about God’s plans for us, or we don’t see the improvement of our relationships with family and friends as we’d like, or we’re bored or unfulfilled. It’s because of those things we are unwilling to let go of. 

But when we trust the Lord to lead us out of those toxic, sinful habits and attitudes, we come to enjoy a freedom, a reconfiguration and realignment, and a discovery of the mission for which God made us—which is the source of joy that nothing in the world can provide.

Speaking of mission and missionaries, today we welcome a true missionary, a sister of the missionaries of the holy rosary, and we will have the opportunity to support the missionary religious orders like hers in our second collection. I now invite sister to the ambo.

1st Week of Lent 2022 - Wednesday - Stop fighting God

 

In his Lenten reflection this morning, Bishop Malesic called the story of Jonah, “the story of a man who did all he could to go in the opposite direction that God had determined for him.” And then the Bishop asks, “Isn’t that the case for many of us?  We know where God wants us to be. We know what God wants us to do?  But we run away in the opposite direction. [But] the story of Jonah reminds us that God will not give up on us.”

Sometimes, it takes a storm to wake us from our spiritual sleep. Perhaps we might even need to be swallowed by a whale in order to be brought to the place where God wants us to be.

Sometimes, what we might describe as terrible forces or sets of circumstances, is God, trying to alert us to the state of our souls, that we’ve been fighting against God, and what God wants for us. We might even have a brush with death in order to reawaken us to the fact that we will stand judgment for our lives and the need to repent. God uses every event of our lives to draw us deeper into relationship with Him, if we are paying attention.

In the first reading, having finally awakened to his prophetic calling through all of these strange and unfortunate events and repented, Jonah is led by God to Nineveh to help them repent. The one who has been awakened by God and repented and granted vision and the words to speak is always sent to help others do the same. 

And, what happens when Jonah, finally surrenders and accepts his prophetic mission? The entire city of 120,000 pagans—nobles and peasants alike—repent, and open their hearts to the God of Israel. God works in mysterious ways to wake us up, that we may become an instrument of purification and enlightenment in the world.

During this Lenten season, we like Jonah are called to repent and surrender to God, recognizing that God has not given up on us, nor has he given up on any of the people of the world, to whom he wants to send us.

May our repentance be sincere. May we stop fighting God, who desires what’s best for us. May our we turn to God with all our hearts and become instruments in the world of faith, hope, and love for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For “an immediate end to the hostilities in Ukraine, for a restoration of peace and for the safety of all Ukrainian citizens. And for the Ukrainian community in Northeast Ohio, that their friends and family members in their beloved homeland be kept out of harm’s way.”

During these 40 days for Life, we pray for the unborn and for a change in laws, policies, and attitudes which devalue the sanctity of life.

For those preparing to enter the Church at Easter: that they will be profoundly blessed in their preparation for full initiation into the Body of Christ.  .

For the needs of the poor, the hungry, the homeless, those who are sick, unemployed, or suffering from addiction, mental, or physical illness, imprisoned, and those most in need: that the Lord in his goodness will be close to them in their trials.  

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, for all the poor souls in purgatory, and N. 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. Through Christ Our Lord.

Dec 03 2018 - St. Francis Xavier - The Advent Mission

This first weekday of Advent this year, we wear not Advent purple, but white, because we celebrate the obligatory memorial of a saint of the Church, St. Francis Xavier: a reminder, certainly, that the purpose of the season of Advent is to make us saints. The purpose of the Advent solemnity, Advent prayer and quiet reflection, Advent charitable-giving, is to make us saints, to curb and convert our selfishness and self-absorption, into Christ-like selflessness and concern for the Other.

St. Francis Xavier is an ideal exemplar of Advent faith, one who helped others prepare their hearts to receive Christ. Known for his great zeal and great learning, Francis Xavier used that zeal and learning to bring souls to Christ. Because of his competency and holiness, he was sent by the founder of his Order, St. Ignatius of Loyola, to evangelize pagan India. There he worked in hospitals, taught the catechism, and preached the Gospel. .  He also traveled to the many islands around India, and as far as Japan and the Philippines, and is called the first apostle to the Philippines.

In the course of only 10 years of missionary work, he baptized over 80,000 people. The Church of the Gesu in Rome, contains the incorrupt relic of Francis Xavier’s right arm, with which he blessed and baptized so many.

Advent reminds us that Jesus was sent as a missionary by the Father for the work of salvation. As Patron Saint of Missionaries, St. Francis Xavier no doubt prays that all of us will cooperate with the grace of conversion in our own lives and seek to be instruments of that grace in the world.

In the Gospel, we heard how centurion became an instrument of healing for his servant when the centurion humbled himself before the Lord Jesus. What acts of humility is God calling us to make this Advent, that we may be instruments of healing? What acts of courage and trust is God calling us to make, to make us more effective missionaries of the Gospel, of God’s love? What areas of spiritual paralysis in ourselves does the Lord want to bring healing to this Advent?

May we respond generously to the Lord’s call today and throughout this Advent season, to herald and be instruments of Christ’s Advent into souls, that we may become the saints we were made to be, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For Pope Francis, Bishop Perez, and all ordained ministers, that their ministry may be effective in leading the Church in Christian faith, hope, and charity.

That world leaders may look upon the Son of God, believe in him, and seek the peace and justice that only he can bring.

That our young people will turn away from the evils of our culture to spread the good news of Christ’s eternal kingdom.

For an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated religious life, for the Jesuit Order’s faithfulness to the mission of Christ, and through the intercession of St. Francis Xavier, for the sanctity and safety of all missionaries.

For all whose lives are marked by suffering, disease or sorrow, 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.

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.

Easter Octave 2018 - Tuesday - Grace-filled encounters with the Risen Christ

Listen again to the words of the Entrance Antiphon for this Tuesday within the Easter Octave: “He gave them the water of wisdom to drink; it will be made strong in them and will not be moved; it will raise them up for ever, alleluia.”  These three beautiful lines remind of us of the three sacraments of initiation which the neophytes receive on the easter vigil. The water of baptism, the strengthening oil of confirmation, and the Holy Eucharist, of which Jesus says, “whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”

Remember, during these first days of easter, the Church shows special care for the newly initiated. They would attend daily mass often garbed in their baptismal garments, and afterwards, they would meet with their catechists to continue to unpack what they experienced at the Easter Vigil.

And not so much “what" they experienced but, “WHO” they experienced. For the Sacraments are “grace-filled encounters with the Risen Christ.”

Mary Magdalene in the Gospel today serves as a sort of model for all those who encounter Christ--for those who encountered Christ for the first time at Easter, and for all of us.

Firstly, when Mary Magdalene “encounters Christ” in the garden,  at first she does not recognize Him. Often we do not recognize the ways Jesus appears to us. Even in the Sacraments, for the un-initiated, all you see is water, oil, bread, or a grizzled old priest.

But as the Catechism teaches, in the sacraments, it is Christ who baptizes, Christ who confirms, Christ who feeds us with his body and blood, Christ who heals the sick, Christ who absolves our sins, Christ who unites in marriage.

Next, Mary’s tears are changed for sorrow into joy as she begins to understand and believe that Christ is alive. Similarly, as we grow in faith, as we allow the grace of the sacraments to grow within us, sorrow over earthly realities is transformed into joy over heavenly ones.

Finally, Jesus tells Mary “stop holding onto me.” Each of the Sacraments, particularly those of initiation, help us to stop living in the past, as they help us to embrace the present mission Christ gives us. Mary is sent to bring the good news to the rest of the disciples, and so are we.

This Easter Season, may the grace of the sacraments continue to be unleashed in our lives: the wisdom that comes from turning away from the world and turning to the Risen Christ in baptism, the strength and fortitude for resisting temptation and spreading the Gospel that comes from confirmation, and the new life that comes to us under the appearance of bread and wine in the Eucharist, 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.

For our own community, that it may bear witness with great confidence to the Resurrection of Christ, and that the newly initiated hold fast to the faith they have received.

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.