Homily: Holy Family 2016 - Four tasks for holier families

The Second Vatican Council was prophetic in many ways.  The Council fathers saw the growing materialism, the breaking down of families, increased number of divorce, and they sought to brace the Church for the upcoming cultural revolutions.  The Feast of the Holy Family was a direct result of Vatican II, it was added to the liturgical Calendar that we might celebrate the dignity of the family and that our savior was born as a member of a family. 

It is typically celebrated the Sunday after Christmas, but when a Sunday does not occur between December 25 and January 1, the feast is celebrated on December 30.

Saint John Paul II, who was present as a bishop at the Second Vatican Council never tired of reminding the Church that the future of humanity depends on marriage and the family.

Saint John Paul wrote a wonderful document on the family called Familiaris Consortio. He wrote:

At a moment of history in which the family is the object of numerous forces that seek to destroy it or in some way to deform it… the Church perceives in a more urgent and compelling way her mission of proclaiming to all people the plan of God for marriage and the family.

And within this document, he gave four tasks for the family, so that families may become what God made them to be.

One, the persons of the family must always seek to grow in communion with one another. Husbands and wives, parents and children must seek to deepen the bonds of love that join them.

Two, Saint John Paul called upon families to be at the service of life. He encouraged spouses to be generous in bringing new life into the world, as well as being diligent in raising those children in the faith.

Three, he called upon families to contribute to society. Families should foster deep bonds of communion with other families, and work to ensure the protection of families through political means.

Finally, he called upon families to share in the life and mission of the Church. Families should come together for the Sacraments of course, but also joining together for prayer, scripture study, faith study, charitable works and evangelization.

Perhaps in these four tasks there is an examination of conscience for each of us: how to I build, strengthen and heal the bonds of love within my family? How do I help my family serve life? What can my family do to strengthen communion with other neighborhood families? and how can my family better share in the life and mission of the Church?

May our families be inspired by the example of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, the Holy Family. As Saint John Paul said, “and may it be they who open your hearts to the light that the Gospel sheds on every family” for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

That the many ministries of the Church may strengthen family life throughout the world,

we pray to the Lord...

That governments may protect the institution of marriage, made by God as the union

between one man and one woman, we pray to the Lord...

That the family may become ever more the sanctuary of life, where all are welcomed as a

gift rather than a burden, we pray to the Lord...

That families burdened by divorce, abuse, or alienation may seek and find the help of the

Holy Family, we pray to the Lord...

That our family members who are ill may enjoy the consolation of the Lord and the

presence of their loved ones, we pray to the Lord...

That our family members who have died may be welcomed into eternal life…and for X. for whom this Mass is offered,  we pray to the Lord...

Homily: Dec 29 2016 - St. Thomas Becket - Christmas Courage

In the Incarnation, Jesus became like us that we might become like Him.

Today the Church commemorates St. Thomas Becket. A man, who like Christ, died for the Church.  In 1162 he was chosen as bishop of Canterbury.  He was assassinated on December 29, 1170. So evident was this martyred bishop’s holiness that he was canonized just three years after his death by Pope Alexander III. 

What happened? How is a bishop assassinated in his own cathedral?

Thomas was a good friend of the king of England, King Henry II, and it was the King who nominated Thomas as archbishop of Canterbury.  But archbishop Thomas was a man of integrity and he served God first—this did not please the King. The king wanted a pawn, not a faithful bishop.  In a fit of rage over Bishop Thomas’ opposition to the kings plans to infringe upon the freedom of the Church, the King ordered his assassination.

For the freedom of Mother Church to teach the truth, Becket sacrificed everything.

He said to the hired killers: “I am ready to die for God.  I am ready to die for the defense of justice. I am ready to die for the freedom of the Church. Would only that my lifeblood might purchase Her peace and freedom”.

Like so many of the saints, like Christ himself, St. Thomas Becket was “a sign of contradiction” For though he teaches the world what is most important in life: truth, goodness, and beauty, the world hates him for it.

As we have been reading in the first letter of St. John, though we seek to shine with the light of Christ, the world prefers darkness, but that does not excuse us from our vocation.

To celebrate a saint like Thomas Becket during Christmas time reminds us that Christ was born for us, even though he would suffer, his love being so great; and being born to eternal life in him, we must love Him enough to suffer for Him and goodness’ sake.

So we pray fervently today that like St. Thomas Becket the grace to be true lovers of Christ true lovers of Mother Church and to defend Her as much as we have the strength.  We pray especially for bishops and priests to be champions of Mother Church and her rights at any cost.  And that when we are called to choose between faith or the world, we may choose rightly, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: Dec 28 2016 - Holy Innocents, Marytrs - Dispelling the darkness

So much of our Christmas celebration is full of joy over the birth of the Christ child: we share in the joy of the holy family, the joy of shepherds and magi, and the angelic hosts singing “glory to God in the highest.” And yet always looming has been the shadow of the Cross. Christmas is not simply about how cute and cuddly Jesus was as a baby. It's about our dire and desperate need for a Savior from sin, death, and hell.

We are reminded too, by this morning’s Gospel, the hostility toward Christ even as a new born babe. Herod was “greatly troubled” when Magi from the east came seeking the whereabouts of the newborn king of the Jews whose star they had seen. 

Herod tried to deceive the Magi, when he claimed he wished “do homage” to the newborn king.  When the Magi did not return, Herod, infuriated, ordered the massacre of all boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old or younger. The Church honors these Holy Innocents as martyrs for the faith.  They died for Christ

Herod’s extreme brutality and grasp for power at the threat of the loss of his throne reminds us of the many Herods throughout history: those who will stop at nothing to safeguard their own personal kingdoms.  Christ came to convert the Herod’s of the world, even the bit of Herod that is found in each one of us--the part of us that refuses to give up our thrones. We must expose the Herods to the light of Christ's life and love.

We also recall today for all those Christians around the world who continue to be persecuted for the name of Christ, innocents who are slaughtered as the powers of sin and selfishness continue to manifest around the world.

Christmas is a time of great prayer for those parts of the world and parts of our hearts which are still shrouded in darkness: and belief that the radiance of the light of the Christ child can dispel all earthly wickedness and selfishness, and our own call to be faithful in spreading that light, being bearers of the light of God’s truth and goodness and beauty to the world for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - - - 

This morning at 6:00am, the Holy See made public that Bishop Lennon has been granted retirement as Bishop of Cleveland and Bishop Daniel Thomas, Bishop of Toledo will serve as the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese until such time that the Holy Father makes a permanent appointment. Bishop Lennon’s health has not been good for some time, in late November he requested early retirement citing his ongoing health challenges. A full announcement is available on the diocesan website and there will be a press conference at 10am. Please keep Bishop Lennon, Bishop Thomas, and the Holy Father in your prayers, as new leadership for the diocese is discerned.

Homily: Dec 27 2016 - St. John - Apostle & Evangelist - "Abiding in Love"

Icon by Ann Chapin

Today we celebrate St. John the Apostle and Evangelist, the principal patron of the Diocese of Cleveland.  Our Cathedral is dedicated to this former fisherman who saw the Lord face to face, who laid his head on the Lord’s breast, who heard his words, and in turn proclaimed the message to the world.  

The Apostles were people like us: they walked and talked and slept.  They accompanied the Lord in His public ministry while still on earth.  Yet, like us, their journey with the Lord was also an interior one, they had to learn to trust, to have faith in moments of darkness; their learning how to love like the Lord, and to suffer for the sake of the kingdom, was not without difficulty.

But because they learned the lessons, finished the race, and were faithful to the end, they are our guides teaching us how to walk with Jesus, how to love Jesus and love like Jesus.

The writings of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist, his letters and Gospel are saturated with the love of God.  “God is love,” John writes, “he who abides in love abides in God and God abides in him.” 

John of course is not the only New Testament author to speak of love, but he is the only New Testament writer to give us definitions of God: John writes “God is love”, “God is spirit”, “God is light”.  John is not merely asserting that “God loves” as if God sometimes exercises love and sometimes does other stuff…and John is certainly not deifying human emotion, like our culture does.  John is saying that all of God’s activity is essentially love, born from love and impressed with love: all that God does, he does out of love and with love, even if we are not always immediately able to understand that. 

Such a fitting saint to honor during the Christmas season. For it is from His Gospel we hear that the Word of God became flesh and made his dwelling among us, out of love for us.

Because we are loved by God, the only adequate response is to love in return: to love him, with our whole hearts and minds, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

John the Apostle laid his head on the breast of the Lord, putting his ear to His heart.  And we are to do the same, every day, through quiet reflection upon the words and deeds of Christ.  Putting our ears to the heart of the Lord, means listening to his great love for each of us and the love we are to have for one another.

And so we are challenged by our Saint today, called often “the Apostle of Love” to consider, how deeply do I want to know Jesus and to love him?  How seriously do I take the commandment to love my neighbor and love my enemy?   Who have I failed to love as I should?

May our apathy, our selfishness, our fear be transformed into love for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: Christmas 2016 - Jesus Christ is the Center of Time

If I asked you “where do you live?”: you might answer, Lyndhurst, or Mayfield Heights; you might say, off of Brainard; perhaps you are visiting family from out of town, and to you we say welcome.

But, if I asked you “when do you live?” that’s a different question. Different civilizations throughout history would answer that question in different ways. Many cultures would begin counting the years based on the founding of their city, or on the reign of the king or emperor:it’s 4713 on the Chinese calendar, 5777 on the Hebrew calendar, stardate 47634 if you are a star date fan.

In about the year 530 AD, there lived a Catholic monk named “Denis the Little” who was very concerned about time. Years were then measured from the beginning of the reign of the emperor Diocletian, two-and-a-half centuries earlier. Denis the Little believed that it was inappropriate to date the years by the reign of one of the most notorious persecutors that the Church had ever known. Diocletian’s persecution of the Church was one of the bloodiest and most severe.

Rather, Brother Denis, as do we all, believed Christ is the Lord of History. And so he calculated the years from the most important event in human history, the birth of Our Lord. By the simple act of counting the years from the birth of Christ Brother Denis gave the Western world the system for numbering the years that is still used today.

The centuries before Christ, BC, count up to his birth, and the centuries after count from his birth. We celebrate his birth now on Christmas Anno Domini 2016, the Year of Our Lord 2016.

Our Liturgy even focuses on how Christ is born in time. Christmas Mass began today with the chanted proclamation of the time of Jesus’ Birth of Jesus Christ, “the forty second year of the reign of Caesar Octavian Augustus” and so on. The liturgy begins recalling that Jesus Christ, Son of God was born at a moment in human history. Jesus is not a figure from a man-made myth. God truly chose to take human flesh to dwell among us, at real moment in human history—in what St. Paul calls the “fullness of time”—all of history, all of creation had prepared for this moment.

The Jewish people awaited the coming of the Messiah with great anticipation. Rome had unified much of the world, ease of travel and a common language which would facilitate the spreading of the Gospel.

“Christ is the center.” Pope Francis said recently. “Christ is the center of creation, Christ is the center of his people and Christ is the center of history…

And that Christ became the center of history and humanity means that each one of us can bring our joys and hopes, our sorrows and troubles to Him. When Jesus is the center of our lives, there is a light that shines even in the darkest times of life; he gives us hope…” That God became one of us means that we are never alone. He makes Himself accessible, and available to every person of every place of every time, and invites every human person to a deep intimate personal relationship with Him.

I think this is one of the reasons Christmas is so meaningful to us. Christmas means that whatever you are going through, God is with you. Whether you are struggling with a troubled marriage, a difficult childhood, a depressing job or unemployment, God is with you. If you have unwanted temptations or deep guilt over past sins. God is with you. If you are devout and pious or seriously clueless about the spiritual life and Christian faith, God is with you.

He is with us because he chose to take our flesh and dwell among us. And so whatever we are going through, God is inviting us to find strength, peace, and meaning in Him, he invites us to make Him the center of our life, to allow His light to radiate from the inside-out.

Because Christ is to be the center of the life of the Christian believer, the Pope said, “the attitude demanded of us as true believers is that of recognizing and accepting in our lives the centrality of Jesus Christ, in our thoughts, in our words and in our works...As Christians, our thoughts are to be Christian thoughts, our works are to be Christian works, are words are to be Christian words...” we know all too well how when Christ ceases to be the center of our thoughts, works, and words, when the center is lost, it is it is replaced by something else, and only harm can result for everything around us and for ourselves.”…how easy it is to allow worldly endeavors and anxieties to replace the practices and attitudes of our Christian faith.

Christmas is an invitation to all of us to make Jesus Christ the center of your life again.  Make him the center of your days, by beginning every day prayerfully seeking God’s assistance in all of your daily challenges and ending every day prayerfully thanking God for your blessings and forgiveness for all of your transgressions. Make Jesus the center of your week, by returning to the practice of weekly Mass. Schedule the week around making sure you get to Mass, as we are commanded and obligated to do as Catholics. And to make Christ the center of your year, by celebrating today with great joy and thanksgiving to God who “desired to sanctify the world by his merciful coming.”

Like the Shepherds in the Gospel, bring him your adoration every day and every week, that you may know the grace of making him the center of your family, and of your life, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ from the Roman Martyrology

The Twenty-fifth Day of December,
when ages beyond number had run their course
from the creation of the world,
when God in the beginning created heaven and earth,
and formed man in his own likeness;
when century upon century had passed
since the Almighty set his bow in the clouds after the Great Flood,
as a sign of covenant and peace;
in the twenty-first century since Abraham, our father in faith,
came out of Ur of the Chaldees;
in the thirteenth century since the People of Israel were led by Moses in the Exodus from Egypt;
around the thousandth year since David was anointed King;
in the sixty-fifth week of the prophecy of Daniel;
in the one hundred and ninety-fourth Olympiad;
in the year seven hundred and fifty-two
since the foundation of the City of Rome;
in the forty-second year of the reign of Caesar Octavian Augustus,
the whole world being at peace,
JESUS CHRIST, eternal God and Son of the eternal Father,
desiring to consecrate the world by his most loving presence,
was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
and when nine months had passed since his conception,
was born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem of Judah,
and was made man:
The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh.

Homily: Dec 23 2016 - To turn hearts toward the other

Two days before Christmas, the Church reads to us from the prophet Malachi.  Malachi was the last of the Old Testament Prophets, appearing on the scene 300 years after the prophet Isaiah, but still about 400 years before the birth of Christ. 

Malachi prophecies about the events right before the coming of the Messiah, one, like Elijah would come, as a precursor to the Messiah.

And in the Gospel we heard recounted the birth and circumcision of John who would be that precursor, forerunner to Christ. John the Baptist preached the call to repentance, metanoia, a change of heart, as a way of preparing for Christ, just as Malachi had prophesied. He would help the people prepare for the Messiah, as we heard, by turning the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers.”

What does that mean? It means we best prepare for the Messiah by turning away from what is trivial, superficial, and spiritually harmful, to what is most important to the life of the soul.

Malachi speaks of this mutual concern between parents and children. That Christian parents will concern themselves with what is most important for their children, and children will concern themselves with what is most important for their parents. They will each concern themselves with giving the greatest good to each other, the gift of God. Parents will begin to ask themselves, “how can I most bring God to my kids” and kids will ask themselves, “how can I most be a sign of the presence of God for my parents, how can I help them to be as holy as God made them to be”

There is a challenge posed to us just two days before our celebration of the Messiah’s birth. To refine and purify, as Malachi would say, our Christmas celebrations: to not get so wrapped up in wrapping paper, that we miss what is most important of this season. At Christmas, we celebrate one who is born into straw poverty, to help us learn how to love with pure Christ-like love; with joy found, not in material things, but in the pure gift that comes from God.

May these final days bring Metanoia, change of mind and heart for all of us, that turned to Him with hearts purified and refined of worldliness, we may rejoice at his saving birth for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: Dec 22 2016 - Advent humility prepares us for Christmas joy

These final days of Advent are particularly Marian. Her faith, her wonder, her humility help us to prepare well, with faith, wonder, and humility, for the celebration of the Nativity. Yesterday, we read heard how, though she had just had the most unique and profound experience of God in human history, she in haste goes in charity to help her cousin Elizabeth. When Mary arrived, we heard of the incredible wonder of Elizabeth, that the Mother of Her Lord should come to her, a wonder that even filled John the Baptist in utero, who leapt in joy.

Today continues that story; when Mary witnesses the reaction of Elizabeth and her baby, Mary explodes in a song of wonder and praise. As Mary made that 60-mile trek from Nazareth to the hill country to visit Elizabeth, imagine how that wonder and praise began to bubble-up in within Mary. As she began to attempt to understand her profound and unique vocation, to be Mother of the Son of God, how did she even start to understand what just happened to her? As a woman of faith, no doubt, her reference was God’s word.

She is like Hannah, so joyful over God’s intervention, she is like Sarah amazed at what God has done, Mary is the tabernacle in the wilderness, carrying God’s presence, she is the burning bush which burns with fire but is not consumed, she is the ark of the covenant, carrying within it signs of God’s power and law, and of course she is the virgin foretold by Isaiah, who Son shall be Emmanuel.  

Mary is the culmination of the whole history of the ancient Hebrews. She is the perfection to which all of faithful Israel aspired through the long centuries of preparation for the coming of the Messiah, beginning with the promise given to Abraham.

This is one reason why it is so important to read God’s word, it gives our life a reference. It helps us to understand where we fit in to God’s plan. It gives us the vocabulary for praising God.

And upon reflection and meditation upon how salvation history was coming to fulfillment in her, whose praises does she sing in the Magnificat? She bursts forth with praise of God. It is God who casts down the mighty and lifts up the lowly, it is God who saves.

In the final days of Advent, perhaps our Christmas preparations require us to meditate on what God has done in our own lives: how has God humbled us in our pride, and lifted us up in our lowliness, how has God fed us when we were hungry and sent us away when we were rich and spoiled? And then to do something possibly uncharacteristically: to sing his praises for His activity in our lives, and finally, to contemplate in wonder and awe over what he accomplishes in our lives and at Christmas. For if we are not filled with wonder and praise for God on the feast of Christmas, have we really prepared for it?

Mary’s holiness, her profound joy, her wonder and awe stems from her profound humility in recognizing what God had done for her. Becoming humble like her is the best way to prepare for Christmas. So, like her, may we humbly, yet joyfully come to appreciate the great things God has done for us and for all mankind for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: Dec 20 2016 - Four short lessons of faith

We hear the annunciation story 3 or four times throughout Advent each year: once on the Immaculate Conception, again on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, depending on the year we might hear it on the 4^th Sunday of Advent, and now, in late Advent every year on December 20^th.

The Church celebrated the feast of the Annunciation nine months ago; nine months, the term of a pregnancy. That Holy pregnancy is coming to term in just five days—that holy pregnancy which is marked by Mary’s deep faith.  As we now imminently prepare for Christmas, let us reflect on four different aspects of Mary’s perfect Advent faith.

First, her faithful “search”. When the angel announces God’s plan, Mary asks, “how can this be?” She does not doubt the Angel’s message, like Zechariah. She seeks to understand God’s plan for her. Each of us do well to search these next few days—to ask, “God, how can I be more faithful to your plans for me? How are you calling me to be more faithful in the concrete details of my life?” 

Faithfulness requires the ardent, patient, and generous search for the will of God and the face of God.

Secondly, Mary’s “acceptance” of God’s plan. Mary’s response to the angel’s message is simply, fiat, “Let it be done.” Her acceptance of God’s will is courageous, she take it up enthusiastically, knowing and trusting that God’s will is her greatest good. In your faith life, where do you need to be more courageous and enthusiastic? Mary abandons herself to God’s will, not with sad resignation, but with joyful openness.

A third dimension of Mary’s faithfulness is her “consistency”—after saying “yes” to God’s will, she begins to adapt her life in faithful obedience to God’s plan. For Mary there is no break between what she practiced and what she believed. Her faith is consistent throughout every dimension of her life. What are the parts of my life where I have yet to conform to God’s will?

Finally, we should emulate Mary’s “constancy”. When we make a new spiritual commitment, it is easy to be consistent for a day or two. But to remain constant in that commitment, day after day, week after week, that is where truly holiness lies. In what spiritual practices am I called to be more constant? All faithfulness must pass the most exacting test: that of duration.

Mary’s faith always points us to the deepest reality of our celebrations. As Mary is semper fidelis, always faithful, may she increase our faith, that we may prepare our hearts well for the Christmas festivities for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: December 19 2016 - Quiet and Faithful Waiting

We return to one of the important Advent themes today: the patient waiting of God’s faithful ones. In the first reading we heard of Samson’s mother and father waiting for a child. They remind us of the Jews enslaved in Egypt, or the Jews captive in Babylonian exile, who waited and waited for deliverance—the faithful remnant who trusted that God would be faithful to his promises of salvation.

Zechariah and Elizabeth, too, had waited and waited for a child, even to the point where Elizabeth had been disgraced for her barrenness. At that time, remember, that children were considered as great blessings from God, and to experience barrenness was considered a curse.

Yet, the times of barrenness, the times of waiting, are not so much curses, as opportunities for God to test and strengthen our faith. In times of waiting, God purifies us of superficial desires, and increases our desire for the one thing that really matters: salvation, union with God.

I think the purification that waiting brings is seen in the punishment Zechariah undergoes for his doubt. When the angel announced that he and his wife would conceive, Zechariah initially doubted. Because of his doubt, the angel prescribed a punishment or a penance. Zechariah doubted the Word of God, so he himself was struck mute. But his muteness was medicinal. During those nine months, as he saw his wife show signs of pregnancy, he would ponder again the word of God, to renew his trust in it.

Muteness, silence is one of the wonderful aids for growing in holiness. This 4^th Week of Advent which is characterized by peace should be a quiet week, a week of reflection, pondering the promises of God, treasuring God’s word, like Mary, in our hearts.

This is a good week to make an extra visit to the adoration chapel, to schedule extra quiet time with the Scriptures. To put away the superficial distractions in order to focus on the one thing that matters most. To nurture a peace and calm and quiet akin to the silent night on which Christ is born.

Such silence, quiet, and peace will help us treasure Him above all else, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: 4th Sunday of Advent 2016 - "He shall be named Jesus"

One of the important and moving moments in parenting is choosing a name for their newborn. Now there are baby naming books and websites to help parents make that monumental choice of naming their children; for no doubt want the name to mean something, to signify how important this new life is to them.

It may be a name that honors a family member. My middle name, Edward, has been in my family since 1842.  Parents may also desire to give a child a special bond with a particular patron saint; I’d tried everything in my power to convince my sister to name her second child after the great saint Athanasius. But names are important: as the child grows, their name will help them develop their identity, others will come to know them by their name.

Well, God the Father was also careful about naming his Son.  He didn’t leave it up to chance or to Mary and Joseph’s creativity.  The Angel Gabriel told Mary that her child was to be named Jesus. As we heard in the Gospel today, the angel appears to Joseph in a dream, and delivers the same message.
The Name of Jesus is repeated almost a thousand times in the New Testament.  It is the name given to the Christ child, the incarnate Son of God.  St. Paul says, so great is this name that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bend; in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

We even have a special feast day in the Church celebrating the Holy Name of Jesus, on the 3rd of January, while we are still in the Christmas season.  Also, we are directed by the Church’s liturgical documents to bow our heads slightly at the name of Jesus when it is pronounced in the liturgical prayers.

Psalm 8 proclaims: “O Lord, our God, how majestic is your name in all the earth.”  And something we take very seriously is keeping the name of the Lord Holy.  After all, it’s the second commandment, “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.” So we reverence His name, we refrain from the grave sin of blasphemy, we don’t just throw it around and treating it like it doesn’t mean anything.

We bow our heads, we reverence the Holy name for the name of Jesus not only identifies a person, but his mission.  The name of Jesus, in Hebrew, literally means, “God saves”.  The name of Jesus reveals his mission.  Jesus isn’t merely an Old Testament prophet come to earth to announce God’s plan of saving mankind from sin and evil.  He comes in order to enact that plan; Jesus is God who saves us.  He fulfills the Divine mission, sent by God the Father to save us from our sins.

To know someone by name, to call someone by name is to begin to grow in intimacy with that person. I think the name of Jesus is repeated so frequently in Scripture is because we are meant to use his name often, to call upon him in prayer to save us from our temptations and earthly trials.

St. Bernard wrote, the name of Jesus is the cure for all diseases of the soul. Are you troubled? speak but the Name of Jesus, the clouds will disperse and peace will descend anew from heaven. Have you fallen into sin? so that you fear death? invoke the Name of Jesus, and you will soon feel life returning. No obduracy of the soul, no weakness, no coldness of heart can resist this holy Name; there is no heart which will not soften and open in tears at this holy name. Are you surrounded by sorrow and danger? invoke the Name of Jesus, and your fears will vanish.

The Catechism says, the invocation of the holy name of Jesus is the simplest way of praying.  Christians throughout the centuries have adopted the practice quieting down and simply contemplating the Holy Name of Jesus.  I began this practice while in seminary, I particularly employ it when I’m waiting in line, or in a doctor’s office…simply repeating while I wait, over and over the name of Jesus. You will find your feelings of impatience quickly disperse.

We encounter in the readings this weekend a second name.  In the first reading from Isaiah, and in the Gospel, we hear that the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.  Emmanuel.  Emmanuel in Hebrew means, “God is with us” or “God is among us”.  If the name “Jesus” referred to Christ’s mission, what he came to do.  “Emmanuel” refers to his identity, to who he is.

And the two names are closely related.  The only reason that Jesus is capable of winning salvation for the human race is because he is both truly man and truly God.  Jesus isn’t just another special holy person, like Mohammed, or Buddha, or the Dali Lama.

He alone was able to reestablish our right relationship with God from whom we were cut off because of original sin.  We needed God to save us; salvation was not something we could achieve on our own.

Finally, in the Second reading, we hear still a third name.  As Saint Paul summarizes to the Romans Christ's amazing mission he refers to Jesus as our "Lord."  We call Jesus, “Lord” to acknowledging that he is much more than just one of history’s great religious leaders.  By calling him “Lord” we express our conviction that he is the ruler of our life; that we owe him our deepest loyalty. When we call Jesus lord, we freely choose to submit to his authority, to be he followers, to be Christians in this world, 2010 years after his birth.

Today, Jesus, Emmanuel will come to us once again in Holy Communion.  As he is lifted up by the priest for all to see, may we repeat in our hearts as centuries of Christians have done, “Jesus, you are my lord and my God.”

The fourth week of Advent is characterized by peace. Remember in the business of the week ahead, that Jesus alone can bring peace to our trouble world. Jesus alone can bring peace to our anxious hearts. Come Lord Jesus Come, Bring Divine peace to our world and hearts. For the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: Friday - 3rd Week of Advent 2016 - "A burning and shining lamp"

Tomorrow, December 17, begins what is often called “Late Advent” or “Deep Advent”; the Scripture readings and orations begin to take on slightly different tones and themes. Where the first part of Advent proclaims joyfully that the Christ is coming, this last part of Advent begins to focus on who is coming, the identity of the Christ child.

The O Antiphons of “Late Advent”, for example, each ascribe Old Testament names and titles to the one who is born on Christmas Day. Jesus is the fulfillment of all of those Old Testament prophesies: He is the Rod of Jesse, He is the Key of David, He is the Rising Star from the East, He is Adonai in the Flesh, He is Emmanuel—God With Us. These ancient prayers of the Church show how the Old Testament pointed forward to Jesus; how God prepared the human race for His own coming in the flesh.

For nearly a week, we have heard daily of a biblical figure who pointed to Jesus: John the Baptist. John the Baptist is a lot like those O Antiphons: he dresses and acts and speaks like a prophet from the Old Testament, while testifying, pointing directly to the promised One: he helps Israel transition from the shadows of prophecy to the reality of God-in-the-flesh.

In the Gospel today, Jesus explained how “John testified to the truth.” John bore witness that Jesus was “The Lamb of God”, “the Son of God”, the one anointed with the Holy Spirit. Because John witnessed to the truth Jesus called him “a burning and shining lamp”. Could he say the same about us?

Isaiah gives us wonderful instructions for becoming burning lamps for Christ: “observe what is right, do what is just”. Sometimes I think we underestimate the power of Christian Witness. Jesus himself teaches us to set good example for others. He says, “Thus let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and they should glorify your Father in the heavens.”

Observing what is right, doing what is just, performing good deeds, engaging in acts of mercy, these works are not for the purpose of gaining honor for ourselves, but to point to the one who has set us on our way. If the Holy Year of Mercy taught us anything, it is that the works of mercy are to be a consistent part of our normal Christian life. And by our works of mercy we witness to the One who IS Mercy.

As the light of the sun is seen less and less during these late December days, let us shine forth with the light of the Son of God by praying a little harder, giving a little more, striving to walk in the ways of righteousness and justice for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: Thursday - 3rd Week of Advent 2016 - The barren shall be fruitful

Throughout the Old Testament, Israel is compared to an unfaithful bride who has broken her marriage covenant with God her husband. Israel had committed spiritual adultery over and over, turning to false Gods and to the immoral practices of the pagan nations. Because of her spiritual unfaithfulness, the prophets say that she will be spiritually barren. She will not bear the life within her that God wants for his bride.

This spiritual barrenness occurs when any of us turn away from God in sin. Selfishness, pride, lust, greed, gossip, hate…these things do not give us life, in fact, they take it from us. When selfishness rules our life, we fail to spread the peace of God’s kingdom as we should—we become barren.

The reading from Isaiah today comes from the last section of his book, called the book of consolation, in which Isaiah speaks of the restoration of Israel—the new life Israel will experience when the Messiah ushers in the eternal kingdom. Isaiah compares the joy of the new kingdom to a once barren wife who will beget numerous children. The family will need to expand their tents, there will be so many children.

Isaiah foretells both the eschatological, the coming of the kingdom at the end of time. When the Messiah comes and the end of time, the eternal kingdom will be a place of unspeakable joy—joy which comes from a union with God we have never experienced.

But, we Christians know, that the kingdom has already begun. Isaiah also foretold the time of the Church. The ecclesiological sense of this reading, foretells of the numerous children of Christ’s Church, the spiritual fruit and life born by Christians who believe in Christ, who receive his Sacraments, who practice his teachings, and perform the acts of mercy.

How would you rate your own spiritual life right now? Barren or fruitful? If it is fruitful, thanks be to God; perhaps there are new spiritual fruits he wishes to bring forth through you this Advent and this Christmas. If you are barren: if you are not bearing the fruits of gentleness, joy, self-control, peace, and kindness…if you are barren of these things, what needs to change? Likely, what is needed is repentance, deeper prayer, and more frequent charity.

New life is possible because in our barrenness we were not abandoned by God; God speaks the words from Isaiah today, “My love shall never leave you” even to the most hardened sinner. New life is possible through repentance, through faith, turning away from loving the things of the world, in order to love the things of God.

May the Lord bring about inner transformation in each of us, that we may bear new life, new fruit for the building up of the kingdom, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: Dec 13 2016 - St. Lucy - Beholding things eternal

The Church has honored Saint Lucy as a virgin martyr for almost fifteen hundred years. 

Like St. Cecilia, St. Agnes, and St. Agatha, we honor St. Lucy as a consecrated virgin.  Consecrated virginity was a counter-cultural sign in the Roman Empire when she lived, and it continues to be this way today. 

The virgins remind us that we are not to live for this world alone, and that all of us, whether priests, married, single are to dedicate our entire selves to God.  All of our gifts, physical, mental, spiritual, time , talent, and treasure, are to be given back to God for the building up of his kingdom.

Where our culture worships promiscuity—the virgins teach us of the great joy of purity and chastity, and remind us that happiness is found in embracing Christ. 

Where our culture worships physical beauty, the virgins teach us that physical beauty is inferior to spiritual beauty.  And that the human soul is made beautiful by imitating Christ, who himself was a virgin consecrated to His Father’s Will.

Our Catholic History is full of extraordinarily courageous women like St. Lucy, who teach us by their grace, their strength, and their love of Christ.  Her name, Lucy, in Latin, means "Light" and is regarded as the patron saint of the blind.  

The collect prayer for her feast asks for her help so that we may “behold things eternal.” We are so often distracted by temporal, passing things. Instead of nurturing our souls, growing in charity, we become enamored with the trivial and spiritually blind to that which matters most.

Perhaps we do well to identify this things and activities which vie for our attention, which distract us, which all too often draw our gaze away from Christ. Perhaps we would do well to fast from these things for the rest of Advent.

St. Lucy is another wonderful Advent saint, who helps us prepare to gaze upon the loveliness of Christ by focusing more intently upon Him.  May St. Lucy truly help us turn more deeply to behold things eternal for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: Dec 12 2016 - Our Lady of Guadalupe - "Mother of the author of Life"

Our Lady of Guadalupe is the Patroness of the Americas and of the Right to Life Movement.  When Our Lady appeared to St. Juan Diego, Mexico was one of the most depraved cultures in human history.  The number of human sacrifices by the Aztec culture is virtually incalculable. 

Yet, Mary came bearing the message of her Son and a message of life.  Mary to Juan Diego said: “My dearest son, I am the eternal Virgin Mary, Mother of the true God, Author of Life, Creator of all and Lord of the Heavens and of the Earth...and it is my desire that a church be built here in this place for me, where, as your most merciful Mother and that of all your people, I may show my loving clemency and the compassion that I bear to the Indians, and to those who love and seek me...”

A Church was built.  The Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City is the most popular pilgrimage site in North America, and second in the world only to St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. 

What was then an almost entirely pagan culture almost entirely converted to Christ.  According to a contemporary chronicler, nine million Aztecs became Catholic in a very short time.  It is only in recent decades that the faith in Mexico has begun to revert, as the culture of death, which is so prevalent in our culture, attempts to regain its lost territory. 

Our Lady of Guadalupe shows herself to be a lover of humanity and a lover of life.  She is depicted with a ribbon around her waist, indicating that she is with child.  She is also depicted standing on a moon.  The Aztecs, along with worshiping the sun, worshiped the moon.  History shows that cultures which worshiped the moon are very depraved.  And so Mary, standing on the moon, as if crushing it, points to the victory of Jesus Christ over the powers of death. 

This is an important Advent feast, to remind us that we prepare during Advent to celebrate the birth of Christ the Savior, victor over the powers of sins and death.

Saint John Paul II, his great Marian Document, Redemptoris Mater, writes:  For Mary, present in the Church as the Mother of the Redeemer, takes part, as a mother, in that monumental struggle; against the powers of darkness" which continues throughout human history.

And so throughout Advent we do well to invoke Our Lady in our prayers for the conversion of our culture which is well on its way to a total collapse into sin and depravity.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Additionally, the Bishops have asked that today we offer special prayers for migrants and refugees, and so the we will remember this intention in our petitions this morning.

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -

That the Church, like the Virgin Mary, may bring Christ into the world with joy, and be

joined with him in endless life

Through the Intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, we pray that all government leaders may be awakened to the supreme dignity of each human life, and that all people of our nation may work together for and end to the culture of death.

For all mothers, that they may find in Mary the example and strength to carry out their

Vocation.

For migrant workers, that they may labor in safe and just conditions, we pray to the Lord.

 

For all refugees who are forced to flee from their homes, that God bring peace to them and their country of origin.

That the sick may draw strength, consolation, and healing by turning to Our Lady, who

intercedes for us from her place in heaven. 

Homily: 3rd Sunday of Advent 2016 - Preparing for True Christmas Joy

The third Sunday of Advent is traditionally called Gaudete Sunday – Gaudete is Latin for rejoice – during this holy season we look forward in joy for the coming of our savior.

Even though the winter weather is a bit of a downer, and even though consumerism permeates the season; the decorations, images, and music still serve as excellent reminders of the true source of joy of the season—we celebrate Christ.

For example, the evergreen wreaths and Christmas trees remind us of the undying love of God, always green and fresh, even in the middle of darkest, coldest winter. That God loves us, even in the dark times of our life, fills us with joy.

The lights and glittering bulbs remind us that Christ's light came to conquer the darkness of sin and ignorance, and that more beautiful than the most elaborate Christmas light display is the human soul which shines with the light of Christ.

The symbol serving as the greatest reminder are the manger scenes. Many of you have started to assemble your manger scenes in your homes or even your yards: a wonderful way of reminding the surrounding neighborhood of the sacred event we prepare for this season.

In many places Catholics wait until the feast of the Immaculate Conception to erect their manger scenes, and many have the custom of not laying the figure of the baby Jesus in the manger until Christmas eve. Whatever your custom, our manger scenes remind us that God truly became one of us, born a babe in Bethlehem’s plain, son of God and son of Mary, born to save us from our sins.
And this is the cause of our joy, that we are saved. He is the proof that we are not abandoned by God to the evil and violence and selfishness of the world. He is the proof that sin does not get the last word, that God does come to deliver us, that sin isn’t allowed to reign in us; that God does come to fill us with light and joy and peace.

Many of our neighbors, colleagues, and family members, unfortunately have forgotten this truth; they get wrapped up in the superficial, they can’t see who the lights, the trees, the decorations, the presents, point to.

In the Gospel, we heard of a man whose entire life was focused on pointing to Christ. John the Baptist had been imprisoned for preaching about Jesus. He wasn’t a fool or a madman, he knew that preaching about Jesus had political repercussions. But he was a man of faith, who believed that preaching about Jesus Christ was worth dying for.

John knew that if you weren’t prepared for Jesus by turning away from sin, you might just miss him…just like so many in our culture do today.

News of John’s imprisonment spread to Jesus, and upon hearing John was facing imminent death, Jesus, as we heard in the Gospel, spoke to the crowds about John. Who did you go out to the desert to see? Jesus asked. Remember, John had drawn people out to the desert from miles around. This was no small feat. Many traveled great distances; the terrain was difficult; provisions had to be hauled along; and for most, the trip home, was a grueling uphill climb out of the Jordan valley.

What brought you? To see a reed swayed by the wind? Jesus asked. In other words, did you go out to see a people pleaser, to listen to someone who is easily swayed by public opinion and who relays back to the public only what they want to hear? Did you come out to the desert simply to be entertained? Similarly, why did you come to church today? Simply, to be entertained? I think not. There are certainly more entertaining venues than this.

Jesus, then dug a little deeper: did you go out to the desert just to see someone dressed in fine clothing? Some people are very attracted by wealth, celebrity. They dream about becoming best friends with Hollywood movie stars. John’s concern wasn’t about forming a cult of adoring fans.
Jesus, then revealed the real reason so many went to see John: they longed to hear the words of the prophet. Our deepest longing is for God, and John was sharing with them, how best to prepare for God. You want joy, you want peace, you want deliverance? Prepare your hearts for God.

When we come to Church a deep desire in us is fulfilled, whether we recognize that or not; a desire to give to God the worship we owe Him, the desire to open our minds and hearts to be formed by God, our souls to be nourished by God. This is why people were going out into the desert, this is the reason they went to so much effort and were attracted by this very strange preacher, who ate locusts and dressed in camel hair.

This Advent we recognize the need to focus more deeply on the message of John the Baptist; that if we truly desire to experience Christmas joy, we must prepare our hearts well, by repenting of our sins, by engaging in daily prayer and meditation and acts of mercy.

But also, we recognize that we are called to be like John, to call others to focus on what really matters. Perhaps it means putting up a manger scene in your yard or house for visitors to see; perhaps, you might invite a fallen away Catholic to our Advent penance service, to speak to them about the importance of living the faith and confessing their sins and going to mass.

John was willing to suffer for Jesus, to be imprisoned and even to be martyred. It may surprise you, and it’s somewhat of a paradox, but that willingness to suffer for Jesus is the key to deep Christian joy.

Rejoice, the Lord is close! Prepare your hearts well for his coming, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: Dec 9 2016 - St. Juan Diego - God chooses the meek

St. Juan Diego is another wonderful Advent saint; he shows us that charity, love, and faithfulness often take us outside of our comfort zones, but when we trust God, wondrous things are possible.  

When the Blessed Mother appeared to him and told him that he had been chosen to be her messenger to the bishop, Juan Diego insisted that he couldn’t do it: he was not one of the great or important persons, he was too insignificant to take such a message from the Mother of God to the bishop.

But the Virgin Mother of Guadalupe insisted that he could do it. The Virgin answered Juan Diego’s protests of unworthiness, saying, “Yes, you are the least of my children”, and that is precisely why you are being chosen.

In choosing the lowly Juan Diego, Our Lady followed a long line of stories in Scripture where God chooses the lowly, the barren, the tongue-tied, the meek, to do his work. God sends the powerless to confront the powerful. As St. Paul wrote, “God uses the meek to confound the proud.”

In the work of God to which all of us are called, we are often tempted to put ourselves down; to think we are not good enough or holy enough to take up a particular way of service. “I’m too poor, too busy, too uncomfortable, too uneducated, too old”. But in choosing Juan Diego, the least of her children, Mary shows that it is our excuses that are not good enough; if the poor uneducated Juan Diego can bear a message for God, so can we.

At the time of Juan Diego, the Aztec culture was in full swing; 10s of thousands of human sacrifices would be offered on the steps of the Aztec pyramids in honor of their pagan gods. Juan Diego, in a sense, started a revolution; an end to an era of death and the beginning of a new era of peace, through the spreading of the Gospel.

God chooses the little ones to do great things in history. Our vocation, our calling, also is to build up the church in this culture, to work for peace in our time.

An important Advent Lesson: to prepare our souls for the coming of Christ, we must never allow fear or excuses to keep us from the charity to which we are called, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: Dec 8 2016 - Immaculate Conception - Mary's Way of Grace

On Monday evenings between Labor Day and Easter I meet with groups of adults wanting to become Catholic. Some of them were baptized in a Protestant denomination; others were never baptized; but each of them possess this growing desire to become Catholic. Some are attracted to the beauty of our rituals, the clarity of our teachings, our faithfulness to the Word of God—each person, no doubt, gains a deepening sense that God is calling them.

Last Monday, I presented to them a lecture on the Blessed Virgin Mary, and I showed them pictures, paintings from throughout the centuries. I showed them Renaissance Painters like Michelangelo, and Fra Angelico, and Leonardo Da Vinci.  The earliest Christians had a deep love for Mary, Jesus had a deep love of his Mother, and so, it is no surprise that much Christian art depicts the Mother of Our Lord.

Particularly, I showed them several different paintings of the biblical passage we heard today, the story of the Annunciation. And one of my favorite depictions of the Annunciation, one that I have showed even in several of the classrooms in the school is by the Italian Renaissance painter named Sandro Botticelli. Botticelli is probably most famous for his painting of the Greek goddess Venus, emerging from the sea shell; and he brings that same mastery of his art to painting Our Blessed Mother.

In his painting of the Annunciation, Botticelli paints Mary ever so gracefully, so fluid, like a ballet dancer; it is amazing how Botticelli is able to depict Mary turning from her reading of the open Bible toward the Archangel Gabriel who greets her, “Hail Mary, Full of Grace”. Where Adam and Eve sinfully and pridefully turn away from God’s plan; Botticelli depicts Mary trustingly and lovingly turning toward God’s plan.

And what’s amazing is how Gabriel appears to be approaching Mary very slowly, very cautiously, like he doesn’t want to scare her. But also, this angel of God approaches Mary, this human woman, so reverently, as if he is more scared of her. The angel is almost trembling as he delivers his message from God.

Typically, in scripture, when an angel approaches a human, the angel has to reassure the human not to be afraid. But Botticelli shows Gabriel nearly fearful, like a scared cat coming out of hiding. Why does he do this? Because Mary was unlike any human he had ever met. Mary was unlike any human God ever made. From the moment of her conception, God made Mary clean of every sin that has ever tainted the human soul.So even in a painting of the Annunciation, Botticelli is able to show the grace that filled Mary's life at every moment.

Through this special grace—the grace of her Immaculate Conception—God prepared Mary for the monumental mission of being the mother of Jesus and the mother of the Church. God gave Mary everything she needed to fulfill her mission in life, but it was still up to her to respond freely and generously to the angel's invitation. And thanks be to God she did. Amazing things, wondrous things happen, when we, like Mary trust God, and make use of the grace he gives to each of us.

Whenever I read the story of the Annunciation or gaze upon Botticelli’s beautiful painting, I hear questions being asked to me, questions God asks each of us: Are you as full of grace as you should be? Are you using the grace God gave you?

Each one of us, when we were baptized received God’s grace. Each one of us, when we receive Holy Communion receive God’s grace. We have been blessed, as St. Paul said in the second reading: “with every spiritual blessing in the heavens.” What have I done with that grace?

So often, instead of protecting and guarding that grace, nurturing it, growing it, using it for the intentions of God’s will, we turn right back to the old sinful ways of Adam and Eve. How often have you used the tongue God gave you to hurt others with your words or to lie? How often have you spent your time on selfish pursuits, instead of using that time to better your mind and heart and help others?

Instead of turning to the example of Adam and Eve, we Christians need to turn  to the example of Mary, who trusted God, who kept herself pure and without blemish, who made serving God the highest goal of her life.

On this great Feast, let us recommit to Mary’s way of grace: turning toward God every day in the sort of prayer we need, practicing the self-control we need, developing habits of generosity as we should, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: Dec 6 2016 - St. Nicholas - The 3 loves of Sinterklaas

I mentioned yesterday that the second week of Advent is traditionally associated with love, with charity. Today’s saint is certainly known for his charity. As Bishop of Myra, in Turkey, he is known for his love for the poor, his love for the truth, and his love for Christ.

Perhaps one of the best-known stories about Nicholas concerns his generosity towards a poor man whose daughters were about to be forced into lives of prostitution, threw bags of gold through the poor man’s windows so he could pay for his daughter’s dowries enabling them to be married.

That story, likely, is the source for the legend of Saint Nick carrying bags of toys for all the good little girls and boys.

Bishop Nicholas was also a great lover and defender of truth. Nicholas stood up for the truth at the council of Nicaea. When the heretic priest Arius claimed that Jesus was not of the same substance with the Father, Nicholas corrected Arius….physically. There are pictures of Nicholas slapping Arius in the mouth for the foul errors spewing from it.

Thirdly, Nicholas is known for his love for Christ; he was arrested, imprisoned, tortured, and martyred in the 4^th century persecutions.

Historically, it was on this day that gifts were exchanged. It was only when Martin Luther began preaching against devotion to the saints, that gift giving became associated with Christmas; so perhaps we can blame the over-commercialization of Christmas on the founder of Protestantism.

In order to reclaim devotion to Nicholas, we, like him, should follow his example of love-the three loves of Sinterklaas. Give help to the poor today, bring someone in error to the truth today, and make an offering of your life for Christ today, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: Monday - 2nd Week of Advent 2016 - Friend of the paralyzed

Of the four weeks of Advent, the first week is characterized by hope, the second by love, the third by joy, and the fourth by peace.

So this second week of Advent , we reflect on God’s love for us, our love for God, and the love we are to practice towards others.

We hear that word, ‘love’ used so often today, in so many different contexts: I love chocolate ice cream, I love classical music, I love my dog or cat or pet canary. Sometimes the word love means really enjoying an activity, “I love canoeing” or having strong positive feelings about a thing or person, “I love my grandma”.

Love of money, love of pleasure, love of fame, love of power, can become something very dangerous for my eternal soul.  Love of ice cream can change, if I eat a gallon of it and get sick.

But when Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to love God and love our neighbor, he spoke of love in the truest sense.  True love is not just a feeling or emotion that changes.  When Jesus uses the word love he’s talking about something very unselfish.  He’s talking about something that led him to lay down his life—self-sacrifice for the good of another is the stuff that true love is made of.  Self-sacrificial love is certainly something all Christian spouses are called to practice towards each other, and for the person serious about growing in holiness, self-sacrificial love is something to be practiced towards all.

The Gospel teaches us an important lesson about love today.  God’s love seeks to free us from paralysis, most importantly the paralysis of sin—the fear, the envy, the selfishness, the hurt that keeps us from loving as we are called to love.

And, once freed from paralysis, we are meant to exercise the sort of activity characterized by the friends of the paralyzed man, who bring him to Jesus. We are freed from paralysis in order to bring the paralyzed to Jesus. We are freed from sin in order to bring the sinner to Jesus.

Each of us knows someone who is in desperate need of the merciful healing of Jesus.  Like the men in the Gospel, God invites us to be friend to the paralyzed and to make that extra effort in bringing family and friends who have fallen away or lost their faith back to the Sacramental life of the church.  Think of and pray for three or four people today who you are being called to “love” in this unique way—in going extra mile to invite them to be freed from their paralysis through the encounter with the mercy of Jesus Christ, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: 2nd Sunday of Advent 2016 - Advent Waiting

Waiting. We’re not very good at that anymore. Maybe we never were. In this age of instant-gratification, we get frustrated if we have to wait for any length of time. Waiting in traffic, waiting in the doctor’s office, waiting in line at the grocery check-out. Waiting feels like time wasted. And who can afford to waste time these days? We have too much to do. Every second counts.

Advent is a time of waiting, not of celebrating Christmas early. To truly enter into the spirit of the Advent season, we meditate upon all those centuries when God’s people awaited the coming of the Messiah and the fulfillment of His promises. And the Jews didn’t just wait a few months or years…they waited generations, centuries. They waited 2000 years for God to fulfill his promise to Abraham God’s promise to Abraham to send a Lamb of Sacrifice—they waited 2000 years for the one John the Baptist called the “Lamb of God”

Pope Benedict spoke one Advent about the importance of waiting, he said:

“Our whole personal, familial and social existence passes through this dimension of waiting. Waiting is something that is present in a 1,000 situations, from the smallest and most banal to the most 

important, which draw us in completely and in the deepest way. Among these, we think of a husband and wife waiting for a child; of waiting for a relative or friend who is coming from far away to visit us; we think of a young person waiting to know his grade on a major exam or the outcome of a job interview; in romantic relationships, of waiting to meet the beloved person, of waiting for a letter, or of receiving forgiveness... One could say that man is alive so long as he waits, so long as hope is alive in his heart…”

One wonders if we lose something essential of our humanity the more impatient we become. Before the over-commercialization of the season, you didn’t see Christmas decorations in the stores in late October like you do now. We don’t sing Christmas hymns in Church like Joy to the World and silent night during Advent. We don’t put out the nativity scene yet. Because it’s not time, we are still waiting. We light the Advent candles as a sign of keeping vigil—remaining mindful of the one we are waiting for.

Continuing his reflection, Pope Benedict said,” Every one of us especially in this season in which we prepare for Christmas, can ask himself: What am I waiting for? For what, in this moment of my life, does my heart long for? And this same question can be posed at the level of the family, of the community, of the nation. What are we waiting for, together?”

An interesting set of questions the Holy Father asks us. What am I waiting for? For those of you who just thought, “I’m waiting for this homily to be over”…you are getting coal for Christmas. There is something quite profound in that question there: if we are in a hurry to fulfill our religious obligations…have we begun them with the right spirit? I’m not saying we should rejoice when Mass goes an extra five minutes…but I hope you would be upset if we simply rushed through Mass just to “get it over with”.

Waiting, can teach us something important: I’d like to propose five lessons from waiting:

One. Waiting reminds us that we are not the center of the universe. It’s so easy to get caught up in our own plans, convinced that everything we do is absolutely, crucially important. Being forced to wait gives us the opportunity to remember that other people have plans and priorities as well. Waiting is good for ego.

Two. Waiting reminds us that God is in control. When we are tempted to give up hope, or turn to God and say, God, who are you to make me wait, who are you to make demands on me, we remember the words God spoke to Job: Where were you when I made the cosmos? Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? So waiting helps us to remember who is in charge of the universe. Waiting is humbling.

Sometimes, in our prayer lives, when we pray and pray and pray for a particular intention, and we don’t see our petition granted, the temptation is to give up on our prayer, to give up on God. St. Monica, remember prayed 40 years for the conversion of her son…she patiently waited for her heart’s desire.  Sometimes God waits for us to become as humble as we should…before he grants a petition.

Thirdly, Waiting reminds us that life is a gift. God didn’t have to make us. Every day, every hour we have to enjoy the good things of the earth, to enjoy the gift of family and friends, every day we have to work overcome our sinful tendencies is a gift. Forced to sit at a stop light for several precious minutes, I have a choice. I can choose to grumble and gripe about the loss of my precious time, or I can remember that those very minutes were a gift God gave me so that I might have the opportunity to live for his glory. Sure, this wasn’t how I’d planned to use them. But that doesn’t change the gift.

Forthly, waiting reminds us that the present matters. Sometimes waiting frustrates us because we’re too future-oriented, focused on what comes next. We hurry through Mass, we hurry through a meal, we hurry through our prayers, in order to get to the next thing. But when we hurry through our tasks, we fail to savor the present.

Sometimes, I like to go through the Old Testament psalms and pray them very slowly, meditating on the meaning of each word, savoring what God is saying through the sacred text. Reading through the 31,000 verses of the bible is not as important as understanding the meaning of them. In order to understand the scriptures sometimes we need to wait, to chew on them slowly.

Finally, waiting reminds us to live recollectedly. Waiting can be uncomfortable because it forces us to think about what really matters in our lives. It causes us to confront our doubts and questions. And some of us live so un-reflectively that waiting, questioning, doubting, is terrifying. Waiting causes us to confront the fact that we only have a finite amount of time on this earth. And maybe, just maybe, I haven’t been using the time I’ve been given so wisely, pursuing things that really matter.  Waiting reminds us that we are part of something much larger. A story not of our own creation, but God’s.

So next time you are waiting in traffic, or waiting in line at the supermarket, instead of distracting yourself with your smart phone, consider these truths: I’m not the center of the universe. God is in control. This time is a gift. I need to slow down, anyway. For what or for whom do I long for most deeply?

Pope Benedict concluded his reflection on waiting, by pointing to the example of the Blessed Mother. Mary was a women who waited patiently and with grace. And when she did God accomplished something in her life even she didn’t expect. She gives us the final lesson on waiting. When we wait on God with open minds and hearts, he fills us with grace and self-knowledge and peace and joy that we never expected.

Let us learn from her, the woman of Advent, to live with a new spirit of a profound expectation that only the coming of God can fulfill, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.