Homily: Friday of the 30th Week in OT - Filled with the fruits of righteousness

Today we heard from the letter of Paul to the Phillippians.  The Letter to the Phillippians is unlike some of Paul’s other letters.  It is not a very detailed explanation of the faith like the Letter to the Romans.  Nor does it deal with addressing the moral problems of a particular community like Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians.  Instead, Paul writes a personal, pastoral, intimate letter to the community at Phillipi on the theme of holiness.  Holiness.  Sanctity.

What does it mean to be holy?  To have the life and love of God working within us, motivating us, animating us, purifying our mind, cleansing our heart, broadening that heart in charity, strengthening us in the virtues.

“This is my prayer”: writes St. Paul to the Philippian Christians, “that your love may increase more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value, so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.”

To grow in holiness is to grow in love.  And this is a love that is grounded in knowledge and perception of what is of real and lasting value.  Paul writes these words while in prison.  He has a unique perspective on what is truly of value in life.  It’s not a house, it’s not fancy clothes and jewelry; rather it’s being filled, as he says, “with the fruits of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ”.

The fruits of righteousness come from living in right relationship to God through Christ.  Charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity

We must be more concerned with filling our lives with these things than filling our bank accounts, or filling our stomachs.

This is my prayer, Paul says, that you may increase in these things. Notice Paul is praying for an entire Christian community.  Not just for the bishop and priests, not just for those particularly holy souls, but for all the Christians.

Every Sunday, a Pastor celebrates a Pro Populo Mass, a Mass for the people of the Parish, and the Bishop offers a Mass for the people of the Diocese.  Like Paul, they prays that each of us have the sort of union with Christ that bears fruit.

What a beautiful passage to reflect upon as we celebrate tomorrow All Saints Day, those whose lives continue to bear great fruit for the kingdom of God.

May our hearts be fertile soil for the great grace God desires to give us through Word and Sacrament today, that our lives bear fruit in his service for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: Wednesday of the 30th Week in OT - "Strive to enter through the narrow gate"

“Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.”

The Greek word translated “strive” in this morning’s Gospel is agonizomai, from which we get the English word agonize. The implication here is that those who seek to enter the narrow gate must do so by struggle and strain, like a running athlete straining toward the finish line, all muscles taut and giving his all in the effort.

I don’t think it is a coincidence that Jesus’ passion begins with the “agony” in the garden, where he strives, and agonizes, to do the Will of the Father. 

The narrow gate of faithfulness is difficult for us because of our human pride, our attachment to sin, our attraction to worldliness and sensual delight, and of course the opposition of Satan.

Despite the difficulty and opposition, Jesus urges us to strive to enter the narrow gate.

Notice Jesus doesn’t say, stand at the gate and look at it, and complain about how narrow it is, how small it looks.  Some Christians look at the commandments of God and teachings of the Church and reject them, claiming that they are too narrow, too rigid, outdated.  They seek to refashion the gate, and make it wider.  But that’s not what Jesus asks.

Entering the narrow gate requires us to change.  Sometimes we are clinging to things that just can’t pass through the narrow gate: our selfish clinging to worldly delights, our grudges, our fears.  We are called to make the adjustment to our minds and hearts, to let go of all that keeps us from following Christ more wholeheartedly. 

Through the Eucharist we celebrate today, may God give us the strength to strive to follow the way of Christ amidst all obstacles and worldly temptations for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: October 28 - Feast of Simon and Jude, Apostles - "Household of God" - Dignity of Life School mass

When Catholics come together for Holy Mass, it is wonderful.  Young people come together with old people, people of diverse ethnic heritages come together, people from all different walks of life come together, rich people come together with people who’ve fallen on tough times, Cleveland Browns fans even come together with Pittsburgh stealers fan.  With all of our differences, we come together at Holy Mass, to show that our unity of faith is more important than any of our differences. 

In our first reading, St. Paul wanted to make this clear to the early Christians.  He said, as Christians, you are no longer strangers, but members together of the household of God.”   All Christians are part of God’s family united in Jesus Christ.

Paul goes on to say that God’s family, the Catholic Church, is founded upon the Apostles. Today we celebrate two of those Apostles, the Apostles St. Simon and Jude. The Apostles were appointed by Jesus to proclaim the Gospel and exercise leadership in the Church.  The bishops and especially the Pope continue to exercise that Apostlic Ministry through the ages—and their leadership is so important.  When we start believing things opposite of what is taught by the bishops, it is like walking out on your family.

Yet, even as important as the apostles and their successors the bishops are to the Church, St. Paul says that Jesus Christ is the capstone.  Without him, everything comes crumbling down.  Through Jesus, St. Paul says, the whole structure is held together.

Today, on as we celebrate this dignity of Life Mass, we of course remember the important role that families have in the Church.  Parents help raise their children to be faithful followers of Jesus Christ, teaching them, primarily by their own example.  When we are faithful to God, we are built together, as St. Paul says, into a dwelling place of God. 

Is your family a dwelling place of God?  Do you pray together? Do you go to Mass every week together?  Do you go to confession? 

There is always a serious danger, that instead of making our families dwelling places for God, we put sports, or money, or entertainment at the center.  A family will quickly begin to fall apart, when God is not at the center of your family life.  Yesterday, in Rome, Pope Francis warned Christians about having a lukewarm faith.  Lukewarm Christians are more focused on the things of the world than the things of God.  They pretend to be Christian while engaging in what Pope Francis called, hypocritical, empty, frivolous and even obscene behavior.  Rather, Pope Francis said, Christians must seek to be filled, not with the darkness of the world, but with the light of God, who seek to serve the Lord and spread the light of Christ everywhere we go.

Today, we have the great joy of celebrating the Sacrament of Baptism. Lucia and Sierra will be baptized today.  They will become living stones of the Temple of God, the Church.  They will be cleansed of original sin, made sharers in the mission of the Church to spread the truth of the Gospel.  We pray for them especially today, that they may be filled with love and life and light of God.

May all of us here be good examples of faith-filled Christians for them; may we all walk as children of light for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: Monday of the 30th Week in OT - "Be Imitators of God"

Saint Paul encourages us this morning to be imitators of God.  

Over and over and Scripture, God explains that he wants his people to “Be Holy, as He is Holy”.  Over and over in Scripture we see God seeking to purify his people from wickedness, idolatry, and impurity, and so St. Paul urges the Ephesians to strive for purity because God is pure.

Over and over in Scripture God is showing his patience and mercy, even while we resist his Holy Will; St. Paul urges us to be full of patient mercy because God is full of patient mercy. Over and over, God is giving the hard-hearted second chances, he invites them over and over, and so must we.

In the Gospels of course, we see Jesus approaching the outcast, the widow, the leper and showing them God’s abundant love, and so must we.

St. Paul writes that Christ offered himself as a sacrificial offering to God, and so Christians, who seek to be imitators of Him, are to offer their lives as sacrificial offerings to God.

The pattern of how we are to live is to imitate what God has done. 

Over in the school for the past two weeks, I have been talking to the kids about the Saints in preparation for the Great Solemnity of All Saints Day.  The very word Saint means “holy one”.  The Saints have become Holy through their imitation of Jesus Christ: putting on his mind, his attitude, his heart—learning to live in the power of His Spirit—learning to love with His Sacred Heart.

Each of the Saints has responded wholeheartedly to this invitation to be Holy as God is Holy. And Jesus extends that invitation, not just to nuns in convents and priests in public ministry, but to every Christian.  Every day, our living God is whispering that invitation to our hearts, “Be Holy, As I am Holy”. 

The Lord pours himself out in the Eucharist for us today.  He is broken and poured out on the cross for us, that we may be poured out for others.  Through the Eucharist may we become a sacrificial offering to God in all things for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: Priesthood Sunday 2014 - A Fullfilling Life

A few years ago I came across a very interesting article in Forbes magazine—the leading business and finance journal.  The title of the article was “The 10 Happiest Jobs”.  Among the list of those who have the highest job satisfaction are firefighters, special education teachers, psychologists, physical therapists, and machine operators because they get to play with giant toys like bulldozers and backhoes and the like. 

The author also listed the “10 most hated jobs”, a lot of them had to do with computer technologies, actually.  But, according to the National Organization for Research at the University of Chicago, and reported in this very reputable business journal, those with the number one “happiest job”  are…clergy.  Priests, ministers, rabbis.  The author even added, “the least wordly are reported to be the happiest of all.”  Profound truth there. 

Since 2003, the last Sunday of October for us Catholics in the United States is known as Priesthood Sunday.  Many priests in our own diocese have been businessmen, lawyers, doctors, teachers, soldiers, boat racers, chemists, electricians, dentists, who only a little later in life heard God calling them to discern a priestly vocation.  This week I saw an interesting youtube video about a man who was a professional tap dancer on broadway, who fell away from the practice of his Catholic faith.  But through a persistent Catholic friend, he returned to the Sacraments and came to discover this deep yearning to serve God as a priest. 

Some priests hear the call to priesthood in the early years of life.  Many priests have even said, “the only thing I’ve ever wanted to be, ever since I was a young boy, was a good priest.”  Sometimes the call comes a little later.  I first became aware of the calling during my first year of college at John Carroll, but two of my classmates entered seminary right out of high school. 

Some are called a little later in life.  I served with a priest in my first parish assignment who was married and had four daughters, but after his wife passed away, felt called to discern priesthood in his late 40s.  Thanks be to God he did because he continues to inspire and serve the people of this diocese.

I think it is the duty of every single Catholic young man to at least ask the question, in prayer, “God, are you calling me to be a priest?”  And I think it is the duty of every parent to ask God in prayer, “God, are you calling my son to be a priest, what can I do to help him hear your voice, to hear your call?”  That goes for grandparents, and aunts and uncles, and godparents as well.

Yesterday, at the Cathedral, Bishop Lennon ordained 4 men as transitional deacons who will, next May, God willing be ordained priests.  In fact, the diocese of Cleveland has over 70 men preparing for priestly ministry.  Our diocese has more vocations than some European countries!  Men who could be doctors, lawyers, engineers, professional athletes or musicians.  Men who could no doubt be wonderful husbands and fathers.  Yet, God is calling them to be spiritual fathers.  Father-Priests to bring the supernatural life of God’s grace into the souls of his faithful. 

On this priesthood Sunday, we pray for priests. Because we need priests! .

Priests to baptize, priests to hear confessions and absolve sins, priests to celebrate the Eucharist, priests to help hardened sinners return to Christ, priests to help families live the Gospel.  We will need priests until the end of time, to carry out the ordained ministry according to Christ’s plan for his Church.  And each of us has a role to help the young men of this generation to hear God’s call.

Just being here at St. Clare for 5 months I know we have many good young men in our parish. 

To be honest when I first entered seminary, I don’t think my own mother was too happy about it.  But, as she visited the seminary, met the other seminarians, met the wonderful happy priests at the seminary, she came to realize that her son could have a happy life as a priest. 

There is a tremendous pressure on our young people from the culture, which tells them they can’t be 

happy unless they are married or they make a lot of money.  I think this is why we are a little over obsessed with athletics these days.  Every parent wants their child to be the next Lebron James, or Johnny Football.  But no amount of worldly fame or Nike endorsements can compare to the happiness that comes from a life of service of God’s Church.

The most joyful people I’ve ever met, are those who have dedicated their lives to serving others. Those who dedicate their lives to service have found the secret to the joy and fulfillment that we all long for.  It’s no coincidence that our culture which in many ways is very selfish and self-absorbed is also the most depressed in our nations history.  Because depression and selfishness often go hand-in-hand.

In the Gospel we heard today that the greatest command is to love God, with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength.  Most of our unhappiness comes from our failure to love God as we should.  All too often we buy into our culture’s lies which tell us that things and possessions will make us happy.  So St. Paul urges us in the second reading to turn away from idols and turn to serving the living and true God. 

All Christians are called to bring their hearts to God, to allow God to set their hearts on fire with burning charity.  Whether you are the pope, a parish priest, a parent, a single person, a consecrated virgin, all are called to be purified of all selfishness, and worldliness, that keeps us from loving as we should. 

Archbishop Fulton Sheen once said, “If I were asked if I had my life to live over again, would I live the priesthood as I have, the answer is: ‘No, I would try to love Christ more.”  I think every priest goes to sleep at night with the thought that he could have loved Christ and his people more that day.  And isn’t that true for all of us, our greatest regrets should be that we did not love God and neighbor as we should have.

We pray especially this weekend for all priests.  That their hearts may be transformed to become like Christ’s own priestly heart. 

I certainly extend to anyone here an invitation to meet to talk about your vocation.  I helped one young woman discern a vocation to join the Franciscan Sisters in Steubenville.  Perhaps, God has been knocking on the door of your heart recently concerning a priestly or religious vocation.  Give me a call, send me an email.  The time you spend considering how you may serve the Lord will never go unrewarded. If today you hear God’s voice, if you hear the voice of the master of the harvest calling you to serve, harden not your heart. 

So if the Lord is knocking on our hearts, whether that be to consider a religious vocation or urging us to reconcile with an estranged family member, to forgive a neighbor, to go and make friends with the lonely widow across the street, or to go and visit the convent or seminary for a weekend, we need to answer that call.  God calls us to be his instruments of compassion, and mercy, and truth.

May each of us be more attentive to the ways God is calling us to service for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: St. Anthony Mary Claret - Missionary Bishop

Today we celebrate St. Anthony Mary Claret, saint of the 19^th century, bishop and missionary.  St. Anthony Mary Claret was known for his zeal as a preacher; he would preach two to three sermons a day, and founded the order of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, or the Claretians.

Pio Nono, Blessed Pope Pius IX became aware of Anthony Claret’s apostolic dynamism and appointed him to the very difficult position of Archbishop of Santiago, Cuba. 

The first official act of the new Archbishop was to consecrate his diocese to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. He then began the systematic reconstruction of the Diocese by personally conducting retreats for all the Clergy, and his missions for the faithful of the extensive and extremely difficult territory. He instituted a Seminary for native clergy and founded an order of teaching Sisters. He published a simple illustrated catechism and devised a system for teaching religion which was later approved by the Vatican Council for the entire Church. He established cooperative Farms, Parish Credit Unions, and  Boys' Town and Girls' Town.

He fought the injustices of wealthy European land owners, and defended the rights of the working classes.  This made enemies, unleashing a host of bitter attacks upon the Holy Archbishop and all he stood for. Every available means was used to discredit his name, and render him inactive. His enemies rested only when they had succeeded in having him banished from the country. And even then, their relentless persecution followed him into exile.

From his exile in Paris, the Archbishop traveled to Rome for the first Vatican Council.  Soon after he suffered a stroke, and died in a Cistercian Monastery.

Saint Anthony Claret described the ideal Claretian in these words, "A son of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is a man on fire with love, who spreads its flames wherever he goes. He desires mightily and strives by all means possible to set everyone on fire with God's love. Nothing daunts him: he delights in privations, welcomes work, embraces sacrifices, smiles at slander, rejoices in all the torments and sorrows he suffers, and glories in the cross of Jesus Christ. His only concern is how he may follow Christ and imitate him in praying, working, enduring and striving constantly and solely for the greater glory of God and the salvation of humankind."  Beautiful directive we all do well to emulate.

Through his intercession may we be set on fire with zeal for spreading the Gospel for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: October 22 - Saint John Paul II - "Deeply United to God"

Today is the first time since he recent canonization that the Church celebrates the Feast of Pope Saint John Paul II.  His feast is celebrated on the 22nd of October, the anniversary of his papal inauguration in 1978.  On that day, the new Bishop of Rome began a ministry that would change the world.

His papacy lasted 26 years, 5 months, and 17 days, the third longest papacy in history.  He traveled the world more than any Pope in history, visiting 129 nations during his pontificate, he was the first pope to visit the White house.  He spoke latin fluently, but could also converse in Slovak, Russian, Italian, French, Spanish, Portoguese, German, Ukrainian, English, and of course, his native Polish.  He holds the record for the one human who gathered the most people together in one spot.  At the 1995 World Youth Day in the Phillippines, 5 million people attended Mass celebrated by His Holiness—the largest human gathering in history, in fact, he was seen by more people than other person in history.  He published the first official Catholic catechism since the Council of Trent.  He had one of the most prolific pontificates in history, publishing, 14 encyclicals, 15 apostolic exhortations, 11 apostolic constitutions, 45 apostolic letters and 28 motu proprios.  And he canonized more saints than any other Pope in history.  He played a decisive role in the downfall of communism in eastern Europe

The list of accomplishments goes on and on.  His personal holiness could be felt by those around him.  If you ever had the eyes of Pope John Paul II on you, you could sense his deep love for God.  He was a mystic.  His prayer life, his love for God, his devotion to the Blessed Mother infused his life, and radiated from him.

At his canonization, Pope Francis said of him, that John Paul II was “not afraid to look upon the wounds of Jesus, to touch his torn hands and pierced side.”  He “bore witness” to Jesus’ mercy for us.  John Paul instituted Divine mercy Sunday and was Canonized on Divine Mercy Sunday.

In the collect we pray that, instructed by John Paul’s teaching, “we may open our hearts to the saving grace of Christ”.  He was a prolific writer, yet his greatest teaching is in his witness to Christ.  At his Beaitification, Pope Benedict XVI said, John Paul “remained deeply united to God amid the many demands of his ministry.” Even as he was stripped of good health in his final months, he remained a “rock of faith”.  May we learn from his example, of deeply united ourselves to God, through prayer and service, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: October 20 - St. Paul of the Cross - Manifesting the wonders of the Cross

The saint we honor today was born the son of a wealthy merchant near Genoa Italy, in 1694.  He received his early education from the Capuchin Franciscans.  Even as a young boy he was marked with great sanctity.  Not only did he excel in his studies, but he was deeply reverent, and devoted to prayer, especially to Holy Mass.

Shortly after his confirmation, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Him in a vision wearing an all-black habit.  This became the habit of the order he would found, called the Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ, known today as the Passionists. 

The Passionist rule included dime daily for seclusion, penance, and several hours of contemplation of the Passion of Christ.  They wore long black tunics made of rough cloth with the words “the passion of Christ” inscribed within a white heart. 

Paul of the Cross became a very popular preacher, traveling bear-foot throughout Italy, preaching the Passion of Jesus.  He attracted large crowds and was responsible for many conversions and miracles. 

Passionists to this day visit parishes and seminaries preaching and helping us more deeply conform ourselves to Christ’s passion.  Paul of the Cross is one of the patron saints of evangelists.

There are many amazing stories from his life.  One time while he was preaching, it began to rain, but not a drop fell upon him or anyone that remained close enough to listen to him.  Another time, at the close of a parish mission, a child had an terrible accidental fall and died.  The distraught parents brought Paul of the Cross to the lifeless child, and he prayed silently over the child, and its life was restored.

Paul, also had visions of the souls suffering in Purgatory, and one time his guardian angel actually took him, in spirit, to purgatory where he was allowed to experience what the holy souls there had to suffer.  After this extraordinary grace, he offered all of his sufferings for their satisfaction and encouraged others to do the same. 

After Paul’s death there were numerous miracles attributed to his intercession which were used as evidence in his Canonization Process.

St. Paul wrote, “It is very good and holy to consider the Passion of our Lord and to meditate on it, for by this sacred path we reach union with God.  In this most holy school we learn true wisdom.” 

Paul contemplated the supreme love that God showed us in the Passion of His Son, God gave Paul mystical insight and wisdom and special gifts of grace.  His life was marked out by a spirit of penance, a love of poverty, and a desire for prayer and solitude.  As he proclaimed the rich harvest of salvation, his words and example brought back to God countless sinners who had strayed from him.  Through his intercession may we keep before our eyes always the Passion of Christ for the glory of God and salvation of souls. 

Homily: 29th Sunday in OT - "Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar"

You of course have heard the saying that the two things you don’t talk about in polite society are religion and politics.  Well, Jesus this morning talks about both.

Jesus was born into a very contentious political situation. Much like our own day there were many different political groups and attitudes in early 1st century Palestine.  One of the groups was known as the Zealots.  Today, if someone called you a zealot what would that mean?  That you had great passion for some subject or issue.  Well, the Zealots of the 1st century were passionate about their national and religious identity, and they wanted to overthrow the roman occupying force because they loved Israel.  They believed the Jews should organize to overthrow the Romans, who they saw as an idolatrous and immoral force, imposing their ways and their rule upon the Jews.  Afterall, the promised land had been given by God, not to the Romans but to the Jews.

Politically opposite the Zealots were a group of Jews called the Herodians.  The Herodians swore fidelity to King Herod. Now, Herod was part-jew and part-pagan. He was not solid in his faith, and in many ways had become the puppet of the roman emperor.  The Herodians would say anything, do anything to stay in power, even betray their country and religion.

And the third group we hear about a lot, actually, were the Pharisees who were very religiously observant Jews.  They were willing to go along with whoever was in power as long as they had the freedom to practice their religion as they saw it.

So in the Gospel today we heard how the “Pharisees went off and plotted how they might entrap Jesus”.  They plotted with the Herodians—two groups that really had nothing to do with each other plotted against Jesus: they wanted to embarrass or discredit him or provoke him to do something that would get him arrested by the Romans.

So, they came to Jesus with a question: “Teacher” they called him.  But that was hypocrisy because they didn’t really come to Jesus to learn but to trap him.  They said, “We know that you are a truthful man  And, Jesus, you are not concerned with anyone's opinion, for you do not regard a person's status.”  Now, Jesus had a reputation for being objective, he doesn’t just accept a person’s opinion because of their political status.  Jesus transcends all of the party lines.

Then they say to him, “Tell us, then, what is your opinion: Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?" Now, there were a number of taxes the people had to pay, like we have to pay today.  They had to pay the temple tax to support the temple and the priests of the temple.  And the census tax was the tax the jewish people had to pay to the roman occupying force.

What would the Zealots think about paying this tax?  They would be absolutely against it because it funded the occupying enemy army and government. The Herodians would have been absolutely for it. And the Pharisees would have paid the tax, but not liked it very much.

Many group would be affected based on how Jesus answered this question. If he said yes we should pay it, then the Zealots would condemn him and the Pharisees would be suspicious of him.  If he said no, then the Herodians would probably report him to the Roman authorities.  So, they are trying to put Jesus in a lose-lose situation.

And then he gives his answer.  And his answer is how we determine what is expected of all of us as Christian disciples living in our relationship to whatever civic authority is over us.

Jesus says to them, “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God”.  He doesn’t say yes, pay Caesar or no, don’t pay Caesar.  It’s a great answer, because it really demands that we respect legitimate authority while also fulfilling our obligations to God.

Render unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar.  We have a lot of responsibilities to our country.  One of those responsibilities is paying taxes.  So, we can’t just go about evading our taxes or committing tax fraud.  Tax money is supposed to serve the common good—to do for the group what we can’t do for ourselves individually—pay for our roads, our sewers, support our schools, support our military.  For any Christian to say that he doesn’t owe the community ‘anything’ would be very wrong.

We need to be good Patriots.  Patriotism is an important Christian virtue.  That doesn’t mean we have need to claim that everything our government does is okay.  As we know, laws are sometimes enacted which are repugnant and contrary to God’s commandments.  In that case we have a God-given right and responsibility to oppose evil and malicious laws.

True patriotism is when we pray for our country, our president and government leaders, and work to shape our nation in conformity with the commandments of God.

As Christians we aren’t called to act like the Zealots and overthrow the government and make the Pope king. Neither are we to act like the Herodians, compromising our faith and claiming  that anything the government does must be right.  Nor do we act like the Pharisees who say, just allow me enough freedom to practice my faith. Because we might wake up one day with our freedom taken away by a tyrannical government.  It’s happened before in Christian history, and it could happen again if we are irresponsible.

When Alexis de Tocqueville, the great politlcal thinker and historian visited the United States in 1831, he was astonished by the commitment the Christian people had in working for and maintaining Democracy.  It astonished him how all the Christian denominations came together to work for a just and virtuous society.

Our first president George Washington held that without religion, liberty could not be maintained.  He said, "Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable.”  Without morality, without virtue and religion, freedom and justice will quickly disappear.

Separation of Church and State does not mean separation of politics and faith.  Our faith must inform our political involvement.  We most promote and defend laws which are reflective of God’s laws, particularly those that defend basic human rights, especially the right to life.

For really, every decision we make, whether political or otherwise, must be formed by our faith.  For the Christian, every decision is a religious decision: how we spend Sundays, how we educate our children, how we reach out to those in need, how we vote, how we respond to the evil we see in our society or in our hearts, what television shows we’ll watch, what internet websites we’ll visit.  With every choice we must first ask ourselves, is it in keeping with our faith.

As we heard in our second reading, “For our gospel did not come to you in word alone, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with much conviction.”  Religion is not just about giving God lip service, but in allowing Him to transform us, and fill us with conviction for doing his Holy Will for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: October 17 - St. Ignatius of Antioch - "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body"

In the year 70, just 35 years or so after the death and Resurrection of our Savior, Ignatius was made the third bishop of Antioch which today is located in Turkey.  Antioch, as we know from the Acts of the Apostles, was a flourishing Christian community.  Its first Bishop was the Apostle Peter, before he was Bishop of Rome, and it was there that the disciples were “for the first time called Christians”. 

After serving in Antioch for over 35 years, Ignatius was arrested during the persecution of Trajan and sentenced to death in Rome.

Ignatius was actually a direct disciple of St. John the Apostle.  And this made his letters quite valuable to the early Church.  Throughout his letters we find teachings on the Eucharist, the primacy of the Bishop of Rome, the role of bishops, generally, and the priesthood.  These letters used to be read alongside of the Scriptures when the early Christians gathered for Holy Mass. 

To my knowledge, no Church Father has expressed the longing for union with Christ and courage in the face of martyrdom.  Ignatius wrote to the Romans: “It is better for me to die on behalf of Jesus Christ than to reign over all the ends of the earth…Him I seek, who died for us: him I desire, who rose again for our sake…Permit me to be an imitator of the Passion of my God!”

The Church historian Eusebius of Caesarea wrote that “Ignatius was sent from Syria to Rome and became food for wild beasts on account of his testimony to Christ.  And as he made the journey through Asia under the strictest military surveillance, he fortified the parishes in the various cities where he delivered homilies and exhortations and warned them above all to be especially on guard against the heresies that were then beginning to prevail and exhorted them to hold fast to the tradition of the Apostles.” 

The words of Ignatius are read at Mass before Holy Communion today, “I am the wheat of Christ to be ground by the teeth of beasts, that I may be found to be pure bread.” 

Ignatius took very seriously the words of the Gospel today.  Our Lord says, “do not be afraid of those who kill the body.”  He did not give up the faith or compromise the faith when threatened with martyrdom.  Rather, he saw martyrdom as a supreme witness to Christ and a way of imitating Christ for the edification of the Church. 

May we, likewise, long to offer our lives in union with Christ; may our love for Him be purified of all fear and selfishness, that we can offer to all a witness of the saving Christian faith for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: October 15 - St. Teresa of Avila - Doctor of Prayer

Teresa was born at Avila, Spain in 1515. At the age of 20, she was so greatly moved by reading the letters of St. Jerome that she decided to become a nun at the Carmelite monastery of the Incarnation at Avila.  After reading the Confessions of St. Augustine and being deeply impressed by an image from the Passion of Jesus—scourged, bound, and crowned with thorns standing before a hostile crowd before his crucifixion, Teresa, at the age of 40, resolved to dedicate herself seriously to the practice of prayer.

Initially, she had some difficulty sitting through prayers. However, in the course of time, she became absorbed in deep contemplation. She was so filled with divine contemplation it is said at times her body would spontaneously levitate.  At times she felt overwhelmed with divine love and felt that the illumining grace of God would wash her soul away.  There is a famous and beautiful marble sculpture by Bernini in the Church of Santa Maria della Vittoria in Rome, Italy called St. Teresa in Ecstasy: an angel holds an arrow over her heart ready to pierce it with Divine Love.

St. Teresa’s beautiful book entitled The Interior Castle describes the Christian soul’s journey in union with God.

Forty years after her death, she was Canonized by Pope Gregory XV.  In 1970, Pope Paul VI bestowed upon her the title “Doctor of the Church” along with Saint Catherine of Siena making them the first women to receive this distinction.  Teresa is revered as the Doctor of Prayer.  Her definition of Contemplation is used in the Catechism: “Contemplative prayer in my opinion is nothing else than a close sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with him who we know loves us.”

The mystical life of prayer is offered to all, yet we must dispose our souls to grow in union with God.  We must set aside the time for contemplative prayer, and seek God arduously.

Fr. Thomas Dubay wrote a wonderful account of Teresa’s contributions to our understanding of prayer, called The Fire Within.  He writes, “Genuine prayer, does not happen without effort.  Depth of communion with the indwelling Trinity occurs only in a person intent on living the Gospel totally, one who is humble and patient, temperate and obedient, pure and kind, free of selfish clinging.  It is not accidental that our very best explanations of contemplative prayer have their origin in men and women of marvelous sanctity.”

Through the intercession of St. Teresa, may we have the courage and strength to hand over more and more of our lives to God, to surrender to God that we may be purified of all “illusory desires”, to be united with him in all things, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: Monday of the 28th Week in OT - Something greater than Jonah here!

In the Gospel, Jesus says, this generation is an evil generation.  Why?  Because it was so resistant to repentance!  It didn’t want conversion, it wanted signs, it wanted a magic show, it wanted to be entertained.  Sounds familiar!

The people of Nineveh, wicked as they were, heard the word of God preached by the prophet Jonah, and repented.  How wicked were the Ninevites?  The Ninevites frequently brutalized and butchered large numbers of people. They were pagans; they did not acknowledge the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  When a prophet of Israel came preaching to them, they were the least likely to repent.

And yet, Jonah’s prophetic word pierced their hearts, and they repented en masse.

At the preaching of Jesus there were many who failed to repent, and he was much greater than Jonah.

Saint John Paul II said that we live in a generation which has lost the sense of sin.  Pope Francis echoing the words of John Paul recently said, “When you lose the sense of sin, you also lose the “sense of the Kingdom of God.”  In the words of John Paul, when we lose the sense the sense of sin there is a failure “to acknowledge that in every man and woman there is a wound” which only God can heal. 

The failure to repent is a failure to acknowledge the need for God.

And we Christians of the 21^st century are sent by the Lord, like Jonah, into a culture which has very much lost its way—to these modern generations we don’t know who they are or where they are supposed to be going.

But when we are faithful to this prophetic task, there will be those who do respond very positively, like the Ninevites.  There are some people who would consider becoming Catholic or returning to the Sacraments if we just nudge them in the right direction.

When people are in sin, encouraging them to repent is not unkind or cruel or “judgmental”. It is an act of love, because only in this way can they correct their lives and receive eternal life.

May we be faithful to witnessing to the power of repentance and conversion, by first repenting of all those ways turned our own hearts away from God.  Then, filled with God’s tender mercy for sinners, may we offer a faithful prophetic witness for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time - God's invitation

Most of us like to receive invitations: to parties, to graduations, grand openings.  To receive an invitation to anything is a bit of an honor.  Someone enjoys our presence enough to invite us to be with them.  Another nice thing about an invitation is that we are free to accept or decline it.  A family birthday party might seem more of a duty than an option, but we are still free to accept the invitation or not.

Throughout Scripture, God is encountered as one who invites.  God invites us to friendship with Him.  God invites us to trust Him.  God invites us to eternal life in heaven.  God issues invitations par excellence.  His only Son, our Beloved Lord Jesus Christ, is sent as a sort of living incarnate invitation, inviting us to follow Him in all things.

Jesus often speaks of the invitations coming from God his Father.    In the Gospel today, Jesus tells a parable comparing his Father to a king sending an invitation to a lavish wedding party.  Yesterday, I was able to celebrate a wedding for a cousin at St. Peter’s Parish in Cleveland, and afterwards there was a beautiful wedding party. 

The lavish wedding banquet: rich food, sweet wines, song, music, and dance.  What a wonderful image, that Jesus uses to describe heaven. Some of these elements are even part of the Holy Mass, which is to be a foretaste of heaven. 

What an honor to think that we have received an invitation from God our Father, what an honor that God wants us, God invites us to be in his Holy Presence and to experience the eternal joys of the wedding banquet of heaven. 

In Jesus’ parable, it is pretty clear that some reject the invitation, some accept the invitation.  Firstly, what a sense of awe, that we have the freedom, we have the choice, to say “yes” or “no” to God’s invitation.

And it truly is a choice.  For God does not force Himself on anyone.  He does not force salvation on anyone.  He does not force His commandments on anyone.  And he doesn’t even force Heaven on anyone.  He invites.  And it is us up to us to accept his invitation, on his terms, or not.

God’s invitation was a theme that ran throughout the papacy of Pope Saint John Paul II.  God invites us, the Pope said to draw water “with joy at the fountain of salvation…”.  God invites us, the Pope said, to change our sinful habits, to become the people God made us to be.  God invites us, into a loving and intimate relationship with Himself through prayer, to “spend time in spiritual conversation, in silent adoration, in heartfelt love before Christ present in the Most Holy Sacrament” of the Eucharist.

God does not force, but invites because the one thing God wants for us is Love.  And Love is a free choice.  You cannot force someone to love you.  Love can only be freely given.

Now, I don’t know about you, but sometimes I wish God was a little more direct.  If he wants the 80% of Catholics who don’t go to Mass every week to return to Church, why doesn’t he appear to them, and tell them directly. 

Or when I’m having a heated conversation with an Atheist, why doesn’t God show himself in an undeniable way?

We have a gentle, inviting God who prefers whispering to yelling.  He’s into nudges, not pushes.  He invites.  Faith is a choice, love is a choice.  Heaven, is a gift that we have a choice to accept, or not. 

For, let us be under no delusion.  If we have received the invitation, and we reject it, there will be eternal consequences.  For God will respect the decision to reject his invitation definitively. 

So what do we do about those family members who appear to be rejecting the invitation?  Family members who are in adulterous situations, or who aren’t coming to Mass.  We cannot change them.  We cannot force them to be here.  So what can we do?

For one, we can nudge, we can gently remind them of God’s invitation.  Though our society tells us never to discuss religion, Our Lord urges us to go out to all nations, to share the Gospel, to invite.  So we can gently remind family members of God’s invitations in our conversations.

Secondly, every one of us should be praying on a daily basis for family members who appear to be rejecting God’s invitation.  For prayer is so powerful.  There are miracles God wishes to perform as answers to our prayers. 

Also, mortification, fasting.  Fasting, has been a powerful spiritual instrument in the history of the Church, practiced by the saints, as a means of bringing about conversion.  To fast, perhaps, on bread and water, once a week, for the conversion of a family member, has incomparable power. 

But, perhaps the greatest thing that we can do, to be filled with the Joy of the Gospel.  The witness of one who is filled joy because of their love of Christ and His Church is so powerful in spreading the Gospel.  I never met Mother Theresa, but I met some of the sister who met her and emulated her care of the poor.  They were brimming over with joy, they are like super magnets drawing others to Christ.

In a recent document, Pope Francis warned Christians about having “una cara de vinagre” a face of vinegar.  Meaning, don’t be a sourpuss because it does not attract people to the Gospel.  Or in Italian we have a word, “scostumato”, a Christian who is “scostumad” as my grandmother would say, betrays an ugliness by their actions, not an attractive attitude for a Christian.

The Pope offers a real challenge here, because the pilgrimage of the Christian is hard.  We are pilgrims on a hard journey.  And sometimes our own crosses feel terribly heavy.  In those times, we are called to turn to prayer and trust all the more, so that we can be refreshed by God, and witness to his saving help.

As we recognize that we are to be the instruments of God’s invitations, we at the same time recognize God inviting us to be people of greater peace, hospitality, gentleness, and Christian joy.  Every Christian is invited to be a saint.  You, are invited to be a saint, how will you respond?

As we come forward to receive the most Holy Sacrament today, professing all the Catholic Church teaches, may our hearts be open to all the gifts God invites us to receive for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: Friday of the 27th Week in OT - Opposition to Jesus

As oppositions to Jesus grows in the Gospels, Jesus’ critics often pick out the good things he is doing and finds some way to turn them into a criticism.  When Jesus forgave the sins of the paralytic, the Jewish leaders accused him of blasphemy; when a sinful woman anointed Jesus, a Pharisee was upset that he allowed such a woman to touch him.  Jesus is constantly being ridiculed for reaching out and eating with tax collectors and prostitutes.  We heard in the Gospel today the reaction of the Pharisees when Jesus cast a demon out from a man stricken with muteness.  The Pharisees responded with hard hearts, and accused him of using the power of the devil. 

In the present age, the work of the Church is similarly criticized.  When she speaks about the dignity of marriage, she is criticized and called anti-Gay.  When she speaks about the evil of abortion, she is criticized for being anti-woman.  When the Bishops in America warned that the HHS mandate threatens religious freedom, the Church, which invented hospitals, is attacked for being “anti-health care”. A few years ago when Pope Benedict spoke out against certain violent tendencies in Islam, he was criticized for being anti-tolerance.  When Pope Francis spoke wrote about the dangers of unfettered capitalism, “the cult of money and the dictatorship” of an inhumane economy, he was lambasted and called ignorant.

The Church has been labeled anti-progress, anti-freedom, anti-science, anti-fun.  And yet, she is the greatest instrument of true progress, true freedom, and true joy.  Just as Jesus, when he was accused of being an instrument of Satan, is the greatest liberator from Satan.

There will always be irrational resistance towards the Church.  But that doesn't mean we stop working.  Resistance to the Gospel doesn't mean that we have the authority to change it.  We might have to state it more clearly, with greater conviction.  We might simply have to suffer for it. 

We shouldn't be surprised that working for the spread of the truth feels like a constant, uphill battle.  Christ continued his ministry despite the opposition.  And so must we. 

May we repent of all the ways we have hardened our hearts against the Lord and failed to cooperate with his holy work in the world.  May we be faithful in the face of opposition to all the Lord commands, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: October 6 - St. Bruno - "While the world changes, the cross stands firm"

Saint Bruno was the founder of the Carthusians.  Since its founding by St. Bruno, the Carthusian way of life has gone unchanged, following Bruno’s ideal of penance and prayer for almost 950 years. 

The motto of the Carthusians is worth great reflection: Stat crux dum volvitur orbis.  “While the world changes, the cross stands firm.”  While cultures change, while civilizations rise and falls, while technologies spring up to provide conveniences, the cross remains the way to salvation and the road to perfection. 

Carthusians monks and nuns withdraw from the world in order to focus on what really matters, and they remind us to do the same. In the statutes for the Carthusian order we read: “separated from all, we are united to all for it is in the name of all that we present ourselves to the living God.”  Again, we need moments every day, where we truly withdraw from the world to cling to Christ. 

St. Bruno said, “In the solitude and silence of the wilderness...God gives his athletes the reward they desire: a peace that the world does not know and joy in the Holy Spirit."

The Carthusians do not choose solitude for its own sake, but because it is an excellent means for him to attain deep union with God and all mankind.  The world of noise, busyness, and distraction seeks to deprive us of the peace and joy God wishes to give us. 

There are contemplative monks and nuns, not only of the Carthusian order, but many orders, who have followed this vocation: to enter the silence to pray.  They pray for us constantly, that we can be free from all that keeps us from the deep faithfulness God wishes for each of us.

By turning their hearts and minds completely to God, they remind us us that Christ alone is our salvation.

Listen again to the opening prayer, “O God, who called Saint Bruno to serve you in solitude, grant, through his intercession, that amid the changes of this world we may constantly look to you alone.”  For the glory of God and salvation of souls. 

Homily: 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Wicked Tenants and St. Francis

You may have heard this story before, but please indulge me: A severe storm was approaching, and local officials sent out an emergency warning that riverbanks would soon overflow and flood nearby homes.

A certain man heard the warning and began to pray that God would save him from the flood.

Not long after the rains began, the man’s neighbor came to his house, and the neighbor pleaded: “Please come with my family!  There’s room in our car for you” But the man declined, saying “I have faith that God will save me.”

As the storm grew more severe and began to flood the neighborhood, the man stood on his porch and watched the water rise up the steps of his front porch. Another neighbor, this time in a canoe paddled up to the house and called to the man, “Hurry and get into my canoe, the waters are rising quickly!” But the man again said, “No, I have faith that God will save me.”

The floodwaters rose higher pouring water into his living room and the man had to retreat to the second floor. A police motorboat rode up to the house. “We will rescue you!” they shouted. But the man refused, waving them off saying, “Use your time to save someone else! I have faith that God will save me!”

The flood waters rose higher and higher and the man had to climb up to his rooftop.

A helicopter spotted him and dropped a rope ladder. The rescue squad pleaded with the man, "Grab the roap and we will pull you up!" But the man STILL refused, folding his arms tightly to his body. “No thank you! God will save me!”

The ferocious waters destroyed the house and swept the man away and he drowned.

The man appeared before the Holy Trinity, and he said “I put all of my faith in You. Why didn’t You come and save me?”

And God said, “I sent you a warning. I sent you a car. I sent you a canoe. I sent you a motorboat. I sent you a helicopter. You rejected my help at every turn.  What more could you want?”

A good story.  Reminding us that we often do not recognize God’s hand in our lives.  Sometimes we even reject the good things God wants for us. 

And isn’t that what happened in the Gospel?  The vineyard owner sends his servants into the vineyard to obtain his produce.  The tenants reject the vineyard owner’s servants.  Beat them, kill them.  They even rejected the vineyard owner’s son. 

Jesus tells this parable, in Jerusalem, shortly before his own passion, when he is rejected and killed.  Just like the man in the story who was washed away by the floodwaters, and just like the wicked tenants who will be punished for betraying the vineyard owner, Jesus explains that there are consequences for rejecting those people and those truths God sends into our lives.  When we harden our hearts against God, like the wicked tenants, there are disastrous results. 

Isaiah the prophet, 600 years before the birth of Christ also used the image of a vineyard.  Isaiah preached to a people who had already experienced the ransacking and destruction of the vineyard.  Israel had been invaded by their enemies, the temple was destroyed, the people carried off into captivity. 

Isaiah explained that the reason for their exile was that they had heardened their hearts against the commandments of God.  And this made them vulnerable to their enemies.  Sin brought division.  Sin has real consequences. 

This was true for Israel, this was true for ancient Rome, so obsessed with decadence that they became vulnerable to barbarian invasion.  This is true for America and for all of us.  Replacing religion with sports or entertainment or business has consequences.

St. Francis, whose feast day was yesterday, lived in a time of decadence; Christians grew ignorant of their faith, they were not going to Church, not following the commandments, churches were neglected and fell into disrepair, and Church leaders didn’t seem to be doing much about it.

Francis embraced Gospel poverty and dedicated himself to preaching in order to help rebuild a Church weakened by sin and ignorance and worldliness.  Remember the wonderful story of Francis kneeling in prayer in the crumbling chapel of San Damiano.  As Francis knelt and prayed in front of the crucifix, Jesus began to speak to him, saying, “Francis, rebuild my Church.”.

Francis, initially took this literally; he and his followers began to repair the chapel of San Damiano.  However, the real renewal and rebuilding came through Francis’ preaching and Gospel living--he devoted himself radically to Christ and this brought great renewal of faith. 

The Church of Francis' time was beset by heresy and also luxurious and opulent living amongst the clergy and the aristocracy.  He and his brothers brought tremendous renewal to the Church in Europe.

In 1209, Francis traveled to Rome with his little band of brothers, to meet the newly elected Pope Innocent III; to ask the Pope to officially recognize his group of friars as a genuine religious order.

At the time, there were many heretical groups in Italy, particularly dangerous were the Cathari, who were very hostile towards the institutional Church.  So initially, Pope Innocent was hesitant to approve this group of itinerant preachers calling themselves the Friars Minor.

The night after meeting Francis, Pope Innocent had a dream.  Pope Innocent dreamt he stood looking out over the Lateran Church and watched with fear as the proud and ancient building shook, the tower swung, and the walls began to crack, it was in danger of collapsing in on itself. Suddenly, a small common looking man came towards the Lateran. He was dressed in peasant garb, was barefoot, and wore a rope around his waist for a belt. Rushing to the falling Church, he set his shoulder in under the wall and with a mighty push straightened the whole falling church, so that it again stood aright. The pope then recognized the man as Francis of Assisi.

Pope Francis recognized that authenticity of Francis’ vocation; that Francis would bring great renewal to the Church as he attracted people to the radical commitment to the Gospel.

I don't know if these stories were in the Holy Father's mind when he chose the name Francis.  But we pray for Pope Francis, that he, and along with all bishop, clergy, Church leaders will work for authentic renewal in the Church.

To reject what God sends us, particularly the moral and doctrinal teaching of the Church, always has disastrous results.  But when we are faithful, when we teach our children to accept and profess all the Church teaches, when we seek to perfect ourselves in the virtues, in the practice of Christian faith, hope, and charity, the Church is renewed. 

May we repent of all that we have rejected from God, and be strengthened in holiness through the Sacred Mysteries we celebrate today, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: Friday - 26th Week in Ordinary Time - You might be surprised...

All throughout Biblical History there are consequences when human hearts turn from God’s revelation.  Over and over in scripture we hear that when God’s people turn their hearts from God, there are disastrous results. God’s people become vulnerable to invasion, their kingdom is divided, they are subjected to foreign rule, they are enslaved and exiled from their land. 

Yet, particularly when they were in exile, God sent prophets to preach the message of repentance.  The prophets often employed a harsh, direct tone conveying that there are serious consequences for failing to repent and remaining ignorant or hostile to God’s ways.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus’ tone is much like those Old Testament prophets.  He says “Woe to you Bethsaida, Woe to you, Chorazin!”  Jesus compares the fate of Chorazin and Bethsaida to that of Tyre and Sidon, two Phoenician cities on the Mediterranean coast north of Israel.  They were two of the most wicked cities in history, and Jesus is saying that the fate of Bethsaida and Chorazin will be worse! 

Jesus calls the people of Bethsaida and Chorazin to repentance.  Repentance is at the heart of the Gospel.  Jesus begins his public ministry with the words, “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at Hand”.  If Bathsaida, Chorazin and Capernaum refuse Jesus’ offer to repentance, Jesus announces that there will be disastrous consequences for them.

In delivering these scathing rebukes, the Lord wasn’t just having a bad day.  There is urgency to the message of repentance because failure to repent will have eternal consequences. 

The good news, Jesus says, that Tyre and Sidon would have repented if presented with this message.  These wicked, fallen cities, would have repented had they heard the Gospel.  It would have been shocking to hear that these two cities would have repented and been saved.  We have many modern day Tyres and Sidons who appear wicked and resistant to the Gospel, but which are just waiting for us to present the Gospel in a clear and compelling way.  We might be surprised at just how quickly many would convert if we brought the Gospel to them.

We also have many Bethsaidas and Chorazins who will harden their hearts to the Lord’s saving Gospel.  And when the Lord comes in Judgment, there will be consequences for rejecting the Good News.  But that shouldn’t stop up from spreading it.  No one ever caught any fish by staying at home.

Perhaps those places and people whom we think have no hope for conversion are precisely to whom we need to evangelize.  Fallen away family members, coworkers, neighbors, public schools, government institutions, corporate America.

May we be courageous in proclaiming the urgent call to repentance for the glory of God and salvation of souls.