13th Week in Ordinary Time 2024 - Tuesday - Trusting Christ in the Storm

Yesterday we started reading from the book of the prophet Amos.

Amos was not a professional prophet but a shepherd and fig farmer from Judah. He was called by God to prophesy during a time of relative prosperity for both the Northern and Southern kingdoms. It was a time of economic growth and military success, but a time of rampant social injustice and religious corruption. The rich became richer while the poor were often exploited, and the north, especially, was incorporating idolatrous elements of the pagan Canaanite religion into their religious worship.

Despite being from the Southern Kingdom of Judah, Amos primarily prophesied in the Northern Kingdom, warning the people to prepare for God’s judgement, boldly indicting kings, priests, and leaders for their failure to lead the people in the ways of God.

In today’s passage, Amos asks a series of powerful rhetorical questions to help the people understand the reason they have brought themselves under God’s judgment. Does a lion roar unless there is prey? Is a bird not brought to earth unless it is snared? So too does a city experience evil unless it has turned away from God?

Amos is pointing out a very simple cause and effect relationship between our actions and the evils we bring upon ourselves. Even though there is prosperity for a time, when a city turns away from God, there will be consequences. And Amos’ message is timeless. That cause and effect relationship is at play in every city and nation and household and parish. There may be prosperity for a time, but when family members, parishioners, citizens, priests, bishops, and civic leaders turn away from God, there will be blood, there will be hell to pay.

The good news, the message from the Gospel, is that those who trust in Christ, who are in the boat with Christ and live in close friendship with him, and trust in him, have nothing to worry about. O sure, the world will crumble, the storm will wreak havoc, but the disciples of Christ will survive the storm with their souls in tact. 

Many literally sell their souls for earthly gain, for earthly prosperity, and they, who have sown the wind, shall reap the whirlwind. But those who live with Christ as Lord, who eat his flesh and drink his blood, and follow his teachings, and seek union with him through prayer, shall withstand the storm, and bear fruit that will last unto eternity.

So don’t be afraid when you see the world going to hell. It’s often a result of evils and forces beyond your control. What you can control, is whether or not you put your trust in Christ. Trust in Him and you will experience peace in the midst of the greatest storms, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

- - - - -  

For the Church, that we may be bold witnesses like Amos, speaking truth to power and calling all people to authentic faith and justice. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our civic and religious leaders, that they may govern with wisdom and integrity, prioritizing the common good over personal gain. Let us pray to the Lord.

For those suffering from economic exploitation and social injustice, that they may find advocates and assistance in their time of need. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our community, that we may resist the pagan influences of the world, and instead cultivate a deep and sincere relationship with God. Let us pray to the Lord.

For all who are experiencing storms in their lives, that they may find peace and strength in Christ, the master of wind and sea. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our parish, that we may be a beacon of hope and a place of refuge for those seeking God amidst the chaos of the world. Let us pray to the Lord.

For those who have lost hope in the face of societal decay, that they may be reminded of God's enduring presence and love. Let us pray to the Lord.

For the grace to bear fruit that will last unto eternity, living as faithful disciples of Christ in all aspects of our lives. Let us pray to the Lord.

For the sick, the impoverished, the lonely, those suffering from mental illness, those most in need, and those near death: may God, through the loving mercy of the Precious Blood of Jesus, be close to them in their trials.

And that all those redeemed by the Precious Blood of Jesus may come to the glory of heaven, especially X for whom this mass is offered.

Almighty and ever-living God, You spoke through Your prophet Amos in times of prosperity and corruption, and You calm the storms through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Grant us the wisdom and all we truly need to heed Your warnings and the courage to stand firm in our faith. Through Christ our Lord.

4th Sunday after Epiphany 2023 (EF) - Christ asleep in the boat

On February 28, 2013, Pope Benedict XVI gathered at St. Peter’s square with thousands of pilgrims for his final public audience after announcing his resignation.

And at that final public audience, Pope Benedict reflected a bit on his pontificate as a whole. He shared how over those 8 years there were ups and downs, successes and challenges. He said overall he often had a clear sense of the Lord’s closeness, that he felt the Lord with Him in his work, and how there were many moments of light and joy.

He said, "The Lord gave us days of sun and of light breeze—days in which the fishing was abundant.” Hopefully, you can relate. That experiencing the Lord’s presence in your life, there are days of warmth and light and consolation, of successes in the vineyard of the Lord, days when family life just sort of clicks, meaningful, fulfilling days filled with grace.

But then, Pope Benedict said, “There were also moments when there were stormy waters and headwinds...” Likely, we can relate to that too. Life is stormy. There are difficult days where our plans are thrown off course before we leave the house in the morning, days of chaos, days where the world seems bent on breaking us, where there is friction with coworkers and even with loved ones, days of disappointment, days perhaps when it seems the powers of hell have their sights set on us.

We can only imagine what those difficult days were like for the Pope. When members of the clergy, members of his staff, really let him down, where foreign governments resisted the efforts of the Church in spreading the Gospel and working for justice. Who knows the resistance he faced, the headwinds, from the enemies of the Church both internal and external, human and demonic.

But then, Pope Benedict said something, and I remember being surprised when he said it. He said there were days when it just felt like the Lord was asleep.

The holy father was of course drawing this image from today’s Gospel, for this 4^th Sunday after epiphany, in which the apostles become overwhelmed as the Lord slept during the crossing of the stormy sea.

Perhaps you can relate to this as well. You offer up prayers and supplications, you ask God for help, and, there is silence. God doesn’t act in the way we think he should. Stirring a family member to return to Church, or for the conversion of some wayward soul. When it doesn’t happen, in our time frame, it feels perhaps, as if the Lord is asleep.

Based on the Lord’s response to the apostles plea, it always seems like there was test here that the apostles pretty much failed. Of course we need to cry out to God for help. Amidst the raging storms of life, we need God’s help. We need his guidance, we need his grace to grant us courage. Scripture even instructs us to call out to God in times of trouble: Psalm 50, says, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you.”

I think the failure of the apostles, though, is their doubt in the Lord’s care for them. “Teacher do you not care that we are perishing?” they ask. Of course he cared. How could he not? How could they doubt that?

And so the Lord says, “O you of little faith.” As if to say, guys, you can do better, you need to trust more deeply, you need greater faith if you are going to be able to survive the great mission I have in store for you.

After admitting that there were days when it felt like the Lord was sleeping, Pope Benedict said, "But I always knew that the Lord was in that boat and I always knew that the boat of the Church is not mine, is not ours, but is his and he will not let it sink…I never felt alone.”

Here you can sense that Benedict was not a man of little faith, but of great faith. Yes he experienced storms. Yes, he experienced perhaps silence from the Lord, but he trusted, trusted that God is in charge.

Does it sometimes seem that the Lord is sleeping? Fine. But don’t draw the conclusion, the foolish conclusion that he doesn’t care, or that he doesn’t exist. This passage is proof that in the life of the disciple there will be times when the Lord isn’t doing what we want Him to do. Our job is to trust, and to surrender, to have faith that his care for us is without limit, that he gives us what we need, for the success of the mission, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

A reading from the epistle of St. Paul to the Romans

Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; you shall not kill; you shall not steal; you shall not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this saying, [namely] “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.

A continuation of the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew

At that time, Jesus got into a boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by waves; but he was asleep. They came and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?” Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was great calm. The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey?”

 

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2021 - Stormy Seas and Fathers

 In Scripture, the roaring untamed sea is often a symbol of the destructive, chaotic powers of nature beyond the control of man. 

The very first page of the Bible speaks of “Tohu wa bohu” in the Hebrew, the primal chaotic waters. Yet, those untamed waters are quickly brought under the control of the Most High God and Lord of Creation who brings light and life out of the darkness as he breaths forth his Spirit and calls creation into being.

The book of Exodus contains another frightening body of water. As Pharoah’s chariots and charioteers close in on the Israelites, God’s people are trapped by the uncrossable Red Sea. It is not until God intervenes, demonstrating again that He is the Lord and Master of Creation, that the Israelites are able to cross the untamable sea, on their road toward freedom.

In today’s Gospel, the apostles become trapped and tossed about on a stormy sea. Again, the stormy waters stand for the chaos of life beyond our control—all those difficulties both interior and exterior, physical and psychological that beset us—the dark depths always threatening to swallow us up. 

Throughout the centuries Church fathers have explained that the boat traversing through the stormy sea in the Gospel today stands for the Church through the ages—the Barque of Peter making her way through the centuries amidst persecution and warring nations, the violent winds of worldly error.  The waves crashing against the boat, the winds whipping around them are symbolic of everything that besets the Church, and besets the individual Christian. 

In the course of the Christian life, the disciples of Jesus have to face chaos, anxiety, darkness, and bafflement .

The storm in the Gospel today must have been of unique severity, after all the apostles were experienced fisherman, experienced sailors on the Sea of Galilee. It was their home turf—well, their home “surf”—so to speak. They knew these waters well, they’d fished there before, with their fathers and their fathers before them.  They knew its changes and dangers. And for these experienced boatmen to have been so terrified speaks to how terrible this storm must have been. For in the midst of their terror they cry out “Lord, save us.” 

Those were the right words. Scripture is filled with such cries the Psalms especially:  Out of the depths I call to you, LORD; Lord, hear my cry! Says Psalm 130.  Scripture even instructs us to call out to God in times of trouble: Psalm 50, says, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you.”

When we find ourselves lost and in the shadow of death—when we are facing the great struggles and storms of life—the Scriptures teach us to call out to God. When in our desperation we feel utterly incapable of helping or saving ourselves, we are meant to turn to Almighty God, and cry, “Lord, save us”  

This Gospel especially teaches us that the Lord hears our cries. The Lord of all creation is in the boat with us. We are never alone. Just as the Spirit of God brought order out of chaotic waters in the book of Genesis, Jesus, the Incarnate Power of God, can bring order, and peace, and calm, and new life—new creation, out of the stormy darkness of our life. I don’t know about you, but that gives me comfort.

This reading always reminds me of a story. When I was younger, my father and uncles together purchased a boat. A beautiful 55 foot antique wooden Chris-Craft that they had docked in Fairport Harbor, about 15 miles west of my hometown of Madison. And, when I was about 8 years old, one summer day, my father announced that he and I would be paddling our rubber raft from the shore just north of our house, and my uncle would be picking us up on the boat. It was a grey day, windy and drizzling when we set off from shore, and not 10 minutes into this little trek, huge dark clouds came out of nowhere. The rain intensified, the waves whipped up. 

But my dad was there. And I felt safe. Come to found out, you’re really not supposed to do that, paddle into an oncoming thunderstorm on lake erie, but, I felt safe. Dad was there, just like Jesus in the boat today.

On this Father’s Day, we reflect on the role that Fathers have in the life of the church, in the lives of our families. No one can replace them. A man in the life of a child cannot be replaced. Our culture might say different, but our culture is of course confused about a great many things.

During this Year of St. Joseph we consider a particular man, chosen by God to have a role in the life of Jesus. A man who was guardian, protector, provider, and leader in the practice of the Faith for his Family.

St. Joseph took great efforts that Jesus lacked nothing he needed for healthy development. Faithfully guarding the Christ-Child’s life when the family was forced to live as refugees in Egypt. Instructing Jesus in his work as a carpenter.

In an age that needs strong, virtuous, faith-filled fathers, we do well to turn to Joseph, Ite ad Ioseph, go to Joseph, as a role model and a heavenly intercessor—that Catholic men may become fathers like the Father of Jesus—strong pillars of faith for their family. 

Many forces in our culture today contribute to the breakdown of the family, minimizing the role that fathers are meant to play in the lives of their children. As the family has broken down, so has the culture. So, our culture, our parish, and our church need men to step up and be active guardians, workers, strong models of virtue and faith. Not as the culture teaches, but as our Faith teaches and St. Joseph models.

Fathers filled with strong-faith are meant to be Jesus in the boat for us who bring calm to the storms of our lives.

Grateful for our fathers, grateful for the many ways that God has comforted us in the midst of the storms of our lives, the many ways that Jesus has quieted the storms and chaos surrounding us and within us, may we continue this eucharistic celebration with all thanksgiving and confidence in God’s saving help. And may the Lord transform us, that we may bring his peace and life-giving word into the lives and storms of others for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

13th Week in OT 2019 - Tuesday - Stormy Weather

Billy Holiday sang, “Life is bare/Gloom and misery everywhere/ Stormy weather, stormy weather/And I just can't get my poor self together/Oh I'm weary all of the time/The time, so weary all of the time.”

Earthly life is certainly not without stormy weather. For Billy Holiday, it was the break-up with her man. Stormy weather. Dissatisfaction with work, or loss of a job and one’s economic stability. Personal illness. Sickness of a child or a parent or a spouse. A marriage or a friendship or a close relationship can end through death or through an argument.  The obligations of life can overwhelm us. We can be the victim of an act of violence or a betrayal or terrible luck.

The storms of life can become so violent that we feel like we are in a boat being tossed about on the seas like the Apostles in the Gospels today. And today’s Gospel immediately follows yesterday’s account of Jesus’ invitation to “follow him” and become his disciples. It is St. Matthew’s way of emphasizing that following Jesus won’t guarantee that our life will be free from stormy weather. But it will guarantee a relationship with the Lord who has all power to calm those storms, to grant peace, and courage amidst the storms.

Our Christian faith enables us to experience peace and courage in the face of life’s storms because the Lord is with us always.

Now sometimes we might wonder if the Lord is asleep in the boat, as our stormy weather ceases to dissipate according to our plans. And in those cases, I believe the Lord is inviting us to trust him, to allow him to calm our inner storms before he calms our outer storms. Where we are still experiencing inner storms: anger, impatience, lust, bitterness, confusion, anxiety, and hurt, we do well to open ourselves to the calming presence of Christ.

Having our inner storms calmed by the Christ, the Christian, then is to be a calm, steady presence in the world—to be a lighthouse amidst the storms, shining with the light of Christ, pointing to Christ for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - - -
 
For abundant blessings for the whole Christian people.
For those who lack faith.
For those who hold public office.
For favorable weather and abundant fruits from the earth.
For the sick and the suffering.
For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed.
O God, our refuge and our strength, hear the prayers of your Church; grant, we pray, that what we ask in faith, we may truly obtain. Through Christ our Lord.