16th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2024 - The Lord is my shepherd

 In the scripture readings this weekend, we read of several instances of shepherds. 

In the first reading, Jeremiah criticized the shepherds of Israel—the kings and priests who were misleading the people. Instead of shepherding God’s people according to God’s law, these wicked shepherds were misleading and exploiting God’s people for their personal profit. Bad shepherds!

But our responsory sang of the Lord as the good shepherd of his people—the divine shepherd who leads and feeds and gathers and protects.

And in the Gospel, St. Mark describes the crowd as sheep without a shepherd. So Jesus begins to teach them. If we were to continue reading from St. Mark, we would read how the good shepherd then feeds the flock through a miracle of multiplying loaves of bread and fish.

God is a shepherd. Jesus in the Gospels even describes himself as the good shepherd. Our leaders are shepherds—they might be good shepherds, they might be bad shepherds. And we are shepherds. Every Christian is a shepherd, we are to shepherd souls to God. We are to feed, teach, gather, and protect those in our care and those wandering through dark valleys. The question is: will you, personally, be a good shepherd or bad shepherds. Will you lead people to God or abandon them to sin and error. May God help us to be good shepherds.

One of the great shepherds of my life was my grandfather, my mother’s father—Joe DeRubertis. Grandpa DeRubertis was a shepherd in many ways. He was such a leader of our family life and teacher of our history and culture and practical knowledge. So often we would be gathered at his table and sheltered under his roof.

My grandfather was one of four children of Italian immigrants. He was born here in Cleveland after his parents—Carmella and Luigi—come over from Campobasso through Ellis Island. His father, my great grandfather DeRubertis, built houses, and eventually saved up enough money to buy a farm out in Madison. And so my grandfather inherited that strong work ethic and practical skills of building and farming that he passed on to his family. Grandpa was very proud of his Italian heritage—and so there was always pasta, and homemade sausage, and homemade sauce, and wine and cheese, and music and certainly passed on his…appreciation of these fine things to us. And having served in the United States Army during World War II, he also passed on a deep love of country and civic responsibility. He’s probably why I get so teary-eyed on the civil holidays and can can’t sing our patriotic songs without getting choked-up. 

And grandpa was also a man of devout faith. I’ve shared before how he and grandma would go out of their way to pick me up and bring me to mass every Sunday morning. This weekend’s psalm was also very near and dear to my grandfather’s heart. He commissioned a calligrapher to write out the 23rd Psalm in beautiful calligraphy and he gave out dozens of copies of the work to friends and family, one of which hangs in my quarters over in the rectory. 

He really was one of the great shepherds—like the divine shepherd described in the psalm. Grandpa sheltered us, fed us, taught us, he gathered us. He’s no doubt one of the reasons why I’m a priest today—trying my best to shepherd you all. 

Grandpa’s been gone for 10 years now, and it’s sad to see how the family has scattered some—the absence of the shepherd has led to everybody going their own ways. But that is one reason why our faith is so important. Whether you had a strong family life or a weak or broken one, faith is so importance, because we are all members of a very scattered humanity. Especially these days, as the social fabric has deteriorated, next door neighbors might not have much to do with each other. The Good shepherd gathers his people—gathers all of us no patter our past—to be a people marked by faith and divine worship and love of Him and neighbor.

And this is one reason why the Good Shepherd has commanded his people to gather every week for Church, no matter what. It’s a divine commandment to keep holy the Lord’s Day. It’s a not a suggestion. The Lord doesn’t issue this command with a wink and a nod. Neither vacation nor sporting event, neither house guest nor family reunion, dispenses us from the shepherd’s law. Refusing to fulfill the Sunday obligation to come here to the shepherd’s house, to refuse that even once, is a serious sin that must be confessed in sacramental confession.

But again, why does the shepherd gather us? Well, to feed us, and teach us, and form us, and protect us, and lead us to the everlasting banquet. He wants us here because he longs for us. He longs for communion with us. He longs for us to become the people he made us to be. And that starts here. At the restful waters, he refreshes us from the weariness of living in this modern world. It’s here that he gives us divine protection from all the forces that assault us every day. He leads us away from idols and artificial substitutes which leave us empty and sad, and he feeds us with the Bread of life.

Speaking of being fed by the Lord, over the next five weeks, starting next Sunday, we are going to take a summer break from the Gospel of Mark in order to read from the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John—the Lord’s feeding of the five thousand and his discourse on the Bread of Life. 

But, today’s scripture readings—wet our appetite—they are a very good introduction to get us thinking about the Bread of Life. Particularly that 23rd Psalm. The Lord is at our side through the dark valleys in order to lead us to the banquet. He walks with us during the dark times, even in the sight of our foes, and leads us here—to the table. He leads us to the table where we can be refreshed and strengthened with food from heaven—the food which enables us to come to dwell in the house of the Lord forever. In the Eucharist, Christ the Good Shepherd has made himself into the food for the journey that guards our souls from earthly trials unto eternal life.

This upcoming week, I invite you to try something. I want you to try to emorize the 23rd Psalm. You’ve memorized the hail mary, you’ve memorized the Our Father. Memorize this passage from scripture. It’s one of those passages that’s so good to be able to recall during those difficult moments of life. When you memorize scripture, you internalize it, it becomes part of you. And this psalm can give you a great confident in the shepherd’s closeness to you. Learning the words of “The Lord is my shepherd” will help you to better know the shepherd, and where exactly he’s leading you, and leading us. 

Try it. For it will help you to become the shepherd God made you to be—for your family, for your neighbors, for your fellow parishioners—those who need you to be the shepherds God made you to be.

In the Gospel, Jesus says, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” And that’s an invitation—an invitation that he makes to each one of us, to withdraw from the noise of the world, and be refreshed. And going to a quiet place, with some scripture, like the 23rd psalm, and reflecting on it, even memorizing it, will bring you calm and peace, like nothing else. 

The Lord desires every day to lead us to restful waters and to the table of life. May we follow where our shepherd leads us in all things and in every way for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

5th Week of Lent 2024 - Monday - Susanna, the sinful woman, and the Shepherd

Our two readings this morning—that of Susanna and the woman caught in adultery are linked by the beautiful responsorial Psalm—psalm 23rd—the great shepherd psalm—in which our merciful God is depicted as a shepherd who provides guidance, protection, assurance, and deliverance.

Psalm 23 begins with the powerful affirmation, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want." In these words, we find solace in the shepherd's provision, knowing that God cares for our every need. Similarly, Susanna and the adulterous woman both experience God's provision and care in their moments of desperation. Susanna finds vindication and deliverance from false accusations, while the adulterous woman encounters the merciful forgiveness of Jesus, who protects her from the stones of condemnation.

As the psalmist declares, "He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake." In Susanna's story and the encounter with the adulterous woman, we witness the transformative power of God's mercy and forgiveness. Both women experience restoration and guidance as they encounter the divine presence in their darkest moments. Through the prophet Daniel and the compassionate words of Jesus, they are led on the paths of righteousness and offered a new beginning.

Psalm 23 continues with the comforting assurance, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." In Susanna's trial and the Woman Caught in Adultery's moment of condemnation, they find themselves in the valley of darkness, facing imminent danger and death. Yet, God's presence is their comfort and strength. Through Daniel's intervention and Jesus' merciful intervention, they are delivered from harm.

Finally, Psalm 23 concludes with the proclamation, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Encountering the Lord’s mercy, both women are able to begin a new life, especially the woman caught in adultery. She is invited by the Lord not to return to her former life of sin, but to “go and sin no more”—to a life in which she strives to live free of sin—as all Christians are called to do.

May our Lenten journey help us and all people to encounter more deeply the shepherding care of the Lord—in times of trial, his deliverance, in times of sin, his mercy, and the promise of eternal life with him forever, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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That God may be pleased to increase faith and understanding in the catechumens and candidates who approach the sacraments of initiation in the coming Paschal Solemnity. 

For those without faith, those with hearts hardened toward God, and for those searching for Him.

For strength to resist temptation, and the humility to sincerely repent of sin.

That through fasting and self-denial, we may be ever more conformed to Christ.

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

Mercifully hear, O Lord, the prayers of your Church and turn with compassion to the hearts that bow before you, that those you make sharers in your divine mystery may always benefit from your assistance.

2nd Week in Ordinary Time 2024 - Tuesday - The heart of a shepherd

 Over the last week, we have read in our first readings the call of Samuel and the defeat of the Israelites at the hands of the philistines and the loss of the ark. Samuel rallys the Israelites and takes lead of their army and subdues the philistines. After a period of some relative peace in Israel, the Israelites go to Samuel, in his own age, and ask for a king. And this was a disappointing request because it illustrates israel’s failure to allow God to be their king.

But God tells Samuel to give in to this request, and they receive what they asked for. A man named Saul from the time of Benjamin is anointed king—a king of some successes and some failures, but ultimately he is disobedient with God. Yesterday, we heard how Saul’s disobedience—his rebellion against God—has leads to him being rejected by God.

So, today’s reading opens up with Samuel being sent by God to Bethlehem, he encounters Jesse of the tribe of Judah, and Samuel chooses, not the strong first born son of Jesse, but the scrappy red-cheeked youngest of Jesse’s sons as the new king, the shepherd boy David.

God wants a king who doesn’t just appear to be strong, or simply physically strong—God is not interested in physical attributes but in interior purity of heart.

This isn't the first time God shows special favor to shepherds: Abel, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses were shepherds. Shepherds make good kings. And God’s favor of David is certainly evident, for as he is anointed, God’s Spirit rushes upon David. 

David, the anointed shepherd king, foreshadows of course, Christ our Lord and king, who identifies himself as the Good Shepherd in the Gospels.

God loves shepherds. Shepherds love for their sheep is not unlike God’s love for us. After all, David will later compose that most-loved psalm 23, “the Lord is my shepherd”.

But if God loves shepherds, and Jesus is the good shepherd, and we are to imitate Jesus, then we do well to consider what it means to become more shepherd-like. We are to cultivate gentle-loving care for sinners, courage in retrieving the lost sheep from evils of the world, diligence and focus, purity of heart, who considers the good of the flock, the church. With the heart of a shepherd, we are to protect, guide, and nurture, and lay down our life for the ultimate spiritual good of others for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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

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

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

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

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

For our beloved dead, for the poor souls in purgatory, and for X, for whom this Mass is offered.

O God, our refuge and our strength, hear the prayers of your Church, for you yourself are the source of all devotion, and grant, we pray, that what we ask in faith we may truly obtain. Through Christ our Lord.

September 27 2023 - St. Vincent de Paul - "His heart was moved with pity"

 “His heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned like sheep without a shepherd”. Our Gospel this morning gives us a glimpse into the very heart of Christ. 

Our Lord, Man and God, sees the crowds coming to him; lost, broken, hurting, and crying out for their shepherd, and his heart is moved to “pity” over their troubled, wretched condition. Yet, his pity was not simply because of their physical ills, but their spiritual condition. They did not know how close God was to them, they did not know that God had become one of them to shepherd them to eternal pastures. 

The vocation of the Christian, my task and yours, is to imitate the Lord in drawing close to those who suffer, and through compassion, to remind them—to reveal to them that God is close to them.

The saints, like St. Vincent de Paul, are so revered and honored by the Church, because they remind us of that great vocation. For they have so decreased their egos and their selfishness, through prayer, self-forgetfulness and charitable works, that they become great instruments of God’s compassion.

In Paris, St. Vincent de Paul ministered to the homeless, war refugees, neglected elderly men, women, and children, and those who had been spiritually abandoned. He set up many houses for the poor, crippled and sick and personally cared for the patients who had the most contagious diseases. He would dress their wounds and nurse them back to health.

St. Vincent explained, “It is not sufficient for me to love God if I do not love my neighbor…I belong to God and to the poor.”    

We pray that we may respond generously to those in need for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

 

That all Christians may grow in charitable attentiveness to the needs of the poor in our midst.

That all those searching and longing for Christ may find him through the witness of His Holy Church.

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

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

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

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

20th Week of Ordinary Time 2022 - Wednesday - Woe to the Shepherds

 On the fourth Sunday of Easter every year, we celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday. The Lord Jesus describes himself as the good shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep.

Shepherds are found throughout the Scriptures. The Old Testament psalms describe God as a shepherd leading his flock to nourishing, restful, safe places.  Abraham was a Shepherd, as was Jacob.  Before he became King, David was a shepherd boy. All the way back in the first book of the bible, Abel was a shepherd before he was killed by his brother Cain.

 Good Shepherds feed, protect, and guide their flock. But in our reading from Ezekiel this morning, we hear not of good shepherds, but bad shepherds. Ezekiel gives this prophetic condemnation of the shepherds of Israel who are failing in their task at every turn. And they are failing not out of an excusable incompetence or forces beyond their control. The selfishness and greed and lusts of these bad shepherds is contributing to the scattering of God’s flock.

Several of the prophets at different stages in Israel’s history take aim at the complacent shepherds: Jeremiah, Isaiah, Zechariah. And of course the Lord himself is critical, and offers warnings, to the pharisees, Sadducees, chief priests, and scribes who were leading Israel away from God and using their positions of power for their own benefit.

I’m not going to lie: this passage should make the clergy tremble. It makes me tremble. Each of us will be held accountable by God for our sins, especially those sins which keep us from fulfilling our God-given vocations—vocations that we swore to uphold—to gather in the lost sheep, and to protect those in our fold. The shepherds of the church are not beyond reproach by God. 

Now, there are certainly those outside the Church, as well, who are in leadership positions: they lead people, teach people, govern people. And there are some good shepherds out there. But there are also some very very bad shepherds, who are misguiding our youth, instilling in them values and ideas which are repugnant to the Gospel and natural law. And many parents, who themselves are called to be shepherds, who have allowed their children, basically to be brain-washed. And we will all be held accountable.

But the good news, the good news in our gospel today, is that conversion is possible at every stage of life: in the morning, at noon, in the evening, our at the last hour of the day, even with our final breath, our generous God, offers undeserved mercy, to those who will admit that they have strayed. 

Bad shepherds—whether parents, teachers, politicians or priests are invited to change—to take up once again the mantle of a righteous leader—who like the good shepherd will lay down their life for the flock entrusted to their care. 

Pray for the shepherds—daily--of Church, nation, and families. For the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That the love and faithfulness of the Good Shepherd will fill the hearts of the clergy, and for the protection of God’s flock from all error. Let us pray to the Lord.

That government leaders around the world may carry out their duties with justice, honesty, and respect for freedom and the dignity of human life.  Let us pray to the Lord.

For the Church’s missions amongst the poor and unevangelized throughout the world, that the work of Christ may be carried out with truth and love. Let us pray to the Lord.

For the grace to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, to love our neighbors and enemies and those who persecute us, and to share the truth of the Gospel with all.  Let us pray to the Lord.

For all those who share in the sufferings of Christ—the sick, the sorrowful, and those who are afflicted or burdened in any way.  Let us pray to the Lord.

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. Let us pray to the Lord.

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.

April 26 2021 (EF) - Sts. Cletus & Marcellinus - Shepherds and Martyrs

 We celebrate two martyred Popes today: Cletus and Marcellinus, both memorialized in the Roman Canon. Cletus was just the third bishop of Rome, succeeding St. Linus, martyred in the early Roman persecutions in the year 89. Marcellinus, the 29th Pope, was martyred about 200 years later, in the empire-wide persecution of Diocletian. 

The ancient collect for this Mass calls upon God as Pastor Aeternus, the Eternal shepherd, to watch over his flock and protect it, as he gave Cletus and Marcellinus the grace of being faithful shepherds to the end.

That image of the Shepherd should still be fresh in our minds, just having celebrated Good Shepherd Sunday a week ago.  Both Cletus and Marcellinus willingly accepted martyrdom, imitating the love of the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep, that the Church might have abundant life.

The martyrs are in a sense always the greatest of shepherds. As shepherds, the martyrs by their deaths lead us, guide us, and direct us to the one true shepherd and giver of life. As shepherds, the martyrs protect us from worldly errors. They die in order to help us believe in the heavenly realities. They help us to possess true conviction that suffering and death do not get the last word for followers of Christ. 

As good shepherds, the martyr leads us to the green pastures of Christ, they feed and nourish and bolster and strengthen our faith, they carry us on their shoulders into the bosom of Christ. 

We certainly never err in flocking to the martyrs, in beseeching their prayers and imitating their virtues, for they will always help us to remain faithful members of the flock of Christ.

There will be times when we are called upon to give witness to Christ, particularly when it will bring upon us the scorn of the world or perhaps the ridicule of coworkers or family. But may the martyrs grant us courage and conviction and a deep love of Christ which overcomes all fear, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

October 22 2019 - Pope St. John Paul II - Love of the Shepherd

As many of you know, I was able to study in Rome in the year 2004. I was still five years away from ordination, but during those months I was certainly confirmed in my vocation and my desire to serve the Church in many ways. This was especially true on the morning of Holy Thursday, as we gathered for the Chrism Mass at St. Peter’s basilica. I had a great seat, right on the aisle, I would be able to see Pope John Paul II as he processed to the altar. I had seen the holy Pope from a great distance before at World Youth Day in Toronto, and several times during that semester as we gathered from Wednesday Audiences and the Sunday Angelus’, but this was as close as I’d ever be. And I swear as this frail Pope processed toward the altar, he looked right into my eyes and it was as if Jesus Himself were looking at me in love. And I got an overwhelming sense that my path toward the priesthood was the right one.

Many people still speak of powerful encounters with Pope John Paul and the miracles that surrounded him. But I’ll never forget his loving gaze.

The Gospel for this memorial retells the Lord’s invitation to Peter to love him. No doubt, St. John Paul, a successor of Peter, loved the Lord immensely. And his love of the Lord enabled John Paul to truly feed the Lord’s flock with a shepherd’s heart. The love of the shepherd emanated from the holy Pope, it shined from his eyes and his embrace of the poor in his world wide travels, logging over 725 thousand miles in travels, visiting corners of the globe that no Pope had previously visited, proclaiming, as we said in our psalm, “God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.” He was truly a missionary Pope that taught us to be courageous in spreading the Gospel.

“Do you love me” the Lord asks to each of us. Then “feed my sheep.” May each of us take up the invitation to love and to feed with the truth, goodness, and beauty of the Holy Gospel for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That through the teaching, preaching, and pastoral care of the Church all Christians will grow in their love of the Lord Jesus.  We pray to the Lord.

That we may all benefit from the heavenly intercession of Pope St. John Paul II, especially in this time of “spiritual turbulence.”

For all missionaries who seek to bring the Gospel to the margins and marginalized.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

For 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 clergy 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.

Christmas 2018 - Is Die Hard a Christmas Movie?

There’s a story about a New York City Police Detective who traveled to Los Angeles one Christmas in the hope of reconciling with his estranged wife. While he was attending her office Christmas party, the office was taken over by terrorists looking to steal $640 million in bonds from the company vault. The terrorists did not anticipate the competence or commitment of Police Detective Lieutenant John McClane, who foils there plans. On Christmas Eve, on a night just like this, John McClane defeated the terrorists, and saved the hostages including his wife, Holly.

Does the plot of this story sound familiar? It’s from the 1988 action film Die Hard starring Bruce Willis. And there has been a debate on the internet these past few years, of whether or not Die Hard is a Christmas movie, a Christmas story or not.

Well what makes a Christmas story? Compare Die Hard, perhaps, to Christmas Classics like “it’s a Wonderful Life” or Charles Dicken’s “A Christmas Carol.” In A Christmas Carol, the cold, miserly heart of Ebeneezer Scrooge is softened as God intervenes in his life in a surprising way. Through the 3 ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future, Scrooge comes to discover the true meaning of Christmas: humility, generosity, empathy for Bob Cratchet and his crippled son Tiny Tim, and a deepened empathy for all mankind.

And In “It’s a Wonderful Life”, George Bailey, depressed and suicidal over his failure to save his community from the machinations of the corrupt local millionaire, comes to rediscover the light of love which makes life worth living, when God intervenes in his life through the Angel Clarence. Through God’s intervention, George Bailey rekindles his commitment to those enduring Christmas values: family, friends, caring for others, seeking the welfare of one’s community.

A Christmas Carol and “It’s a Wonderful Life” are perennial Christmas classics because they echo the original Christmas story so well: God breaking-in to human history 2000 years ago in an unprecedented way, urging us to welcome the Christ-Child to break in to our lives, that we may live a fully human life, reconciled to God and one another. Christmas is the story of God breaking in to the hearts of the Scrooges of our world, to teach them how to love, that will bring about actual human flourishing. And Christmas is the story of God breaking in to the lives of the George Baileys of the world, those who are weighed down by sorrow and injustice and darkness, to teach them that they are loved, to be filled with light once again.

So, is Die Hard a Christmas movie or is it an action movie that takes place on Christmas? Whatever you decide, the question raises a very pertinent truth. There’s a big difference between a true Christmas story, and a story that happens to take place on Christmas. A true Christmas story involves transformation, a handing of one’s life over to something bigger than yourself, allowing God to be your savior.

Now, what about your story? What about the story of your life, which has brought you here tonight, to this beautiful place. Is your life part of the Christmas story of God breaking in to human history in the person of Jesus Christ or does your story just happen to take place on Christmas? For it is entirely possible to have Christmas music, Christmas decorations, Christmas food, Christmas gatherings, without allowing Christ to be in one’s heart.

I can promise you that God doesn’t want to stay on peripheries of your life, he doesn’t just want you to nod in his direction every once in a while. Jesus doesn’t want to be a Christmas decoration, or a relic mentioned in some old Christmas hymn. He wants to live in your heart. He wants the transformation for you, that we see in Ebeneezer Scrooge, in George Bailey, in the dark of night of a Bethlehem stable.

The Christmas gift that God wants for each one of you is the gift of deeper Christian faith: faith that what happened 2000 years ago in Bethlehem can happen in your heart if you allow it. He will fill your mind with knowledge of His Truth, he will fill your eyes and ears with the glory of his Humble Beauty, and he will fill your hearts with the experience of His Goodness, if you allow it. He will break into your life, if you allow it.

On Christmas Eve a few years ago, Pope Benedict wrote, “God is so great that he can become small. God is so powerful that he can make himself vulnerable and come to us as a defenseless child, so that we can love him. God is so good that he can give up his divine splendor and come down to a stable, so that we might find him, so that his goodness might touch us, give itself to us and continue to work through us.” So love Him. Allow yourself to Love Christ more deeply, that you may follow Him more faithfully.

[5:00pm Christmas Eve] In the powerful Gospel reading for Christmas Eve Mass, we hear that the one to be born of Mary is called, Emmanuel which means “God is With Us”. I pray that this Christmas each of you comes to a deeper understanding of what that means. What it means that God wants to be with you, and urges you to take the journey of humility, the journey of self-emptying, that you may be filled with His Life. I hope that tonight is the beginning for all of you of a new story, of allowing Jesus Christ, Savior, to transform your lives, to be more like His, humble and obedient.

 [Midnight Mass] In the powerful Gospel reading for Midnight Mass we hear of the angel challenging the shepherds not to be afraid of God’s intervention in their lives. “Do not Be Afraid” to make the one who is wrapped in swaddling clothes as the Lord of Your Life, that his favor may rest upon you always. “Do not be Afraid” to take the journey of humility, the journey of self-emptying, that you may be filled with His Life. “Do not be afraid” to begin a new chapter tonight, a new story of allowing Jesus Christ, Savior, to transform your lives, to be more like His, humble and obedient.

[Mass in the morning] In the powerful Gospel reading for Christmas morning, we read from the beginning, the Prologue of John’s Gospel in which we hear of the Eternal Word taking on flesh, God breaking in to human history to become man. No doubt, Christmas can be a new beginning for each of you, if you allow that Eternal Word to make his dwelling in your heart more deeply, to manifest the power of the Eternal taking on flesh to save us from our sins.

We gather to celebrate the greatest story ever told: the story of the Eternal and All-powerful God’s humble self-emptying to become a child, in order to save us from our sins and our darkness, when we were completely incapable of saving ourselves.

St. Paul of the Cross said, “Celebrate the feast of Christmas every day, even every moment in the interior temple of your spirit”. Being a Christian is rooted in loving this Child not just once a year, but every minute of every day: worshiping him, surrendering our life to him. 

May we allow God to transform our lives, to deepen our faith, to illuminate our darkness, that our lives may give evidence of His incarnation, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Monday - 4th Week of Easter 27 - "Shepherds after my own heart"

Today’s Gospel is a continuation of the passage we heard proclaimed yesterday on Good Shepherd Sunday. In it, Our Lord continues to draw upon that powerful Shepherd imagery which permeates the Hebrew Scriptures.

Especially in the Psalms, God himself is represented as the shepherd of his people.  “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want”---Psalm 23. “He is our God and we are his people the flock he shepherds”—Psalm 95.

The Shepherd is simultaneously a leader and a companion. He is a strong man who is capable of defending his flock against wild beasts. He is also gentle with his flock, giving them careful attention (Proverb 27:23), bearing them in his arms, as we hear in the prophet Isaiah: “Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care.” His authority over his flock is based on devotion and love.

Jesus shows himself to be the Good Shepherd. God’s flock, the Church is under his leadership, he leads us to the life giving waters of Baptism and feeds us with the Eucharist. We know our Good Shepherd and he knows us by name, we who he has saved from the robbers and thieves who seek to slaughter and destroy the human soul.

And he is the perfect Shepherd because He gives his life for the sheep.

Throughout the Easter season we’ve been reading from the Acts of the Apostles in which we hear the story of the first shepherds of the Church, those who Jesus appointed, charging them to watch over the Church, guide the Church, lead her, teach her, continue to feed her.

We in Cleveland await a new shepherd, a new bishop, to be appointed. Though the Holy Father has appointed Bishop Thomas as our Apostolic Administrator, and he is doing an excellent job, we miss having a bishop of our own. And we pray that the Holy Father will send us a bishop who will lead and protect and carry our diocese close to his heart who will help us to know the closeness of the One Good Shepherd. For the Lord promised through the prophet Jeremiah: Pastores dabo vobis iuxta cor meum, "I will give you shepherds after my own heart"

May we draw near to the One Shepherd today through word, sacrament, prayer, and acts of charity in imitation of his own love and care for the Church for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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Jesus is Risen from the dead, and leads his flock to eternal blessings. With new trust, we now bring our needs to the Father through him.

For our Holy Father, Pope Francis, as he selects the next shepherd of our diocese;  for our Apostolic Administrator, Bishop Daniel Thomas, as he serves the pastoral needs of our diocese while we are in transition;  for Bishop Richard Lennon, as he adjusts to a new stage in his life and ministry; that the Holy Spirit will enlighten and empower all the leaders of our church with faith in the promises of Christ, hope for the years to come, and charity that knows no boundaries.

For an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated religious life, and for the 8 men who will be ordained priests in the diocese of Cleveland next Friday.

For our young parishioners who received their First Holy Communion this weekend, that they may always be blessed to raised in faith-filled homes and know the closeness of Jesus their Shepherd.

For the poor and homeless, for those who suffer discrimination and rejection, and for all who are ill or undergoing surgery this week.

That those who have died may be led by the Good Shepherd to the waters of eternal life.

Father, you call each of us to serve you with faithfulness and joy. Hear our prayers, and bring us to the joy that never ends. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.