4th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Adore, Bow Down, and Kneel before the Lord

 Many of you know that our beautiful church of St. Ignatius of Antioch was not the first church building built on this property. In 1903 a brick structure was built which was a combination church and school. Within a decade it was evident that the church wasn’t going to be big enough for the quickly growing parish. The population of the neighborhood was growing due to urban flight from the city for a number of reasons. For one, your great grandparents generation came out here as the city began filling up due to new immigrants coming to Cleveland, some from Europe and some from the American South. Secondly, due to new factories, the big industrialized steel cities didn’t smell to good, and to move out to West Blvd. was a break from crowded smelly city life. Thirdly, a new church needed to be built because the family was growing, bigger families needed more pews. But also, the catholic family was growing because the Catholics were successful in sharing their faith with their non-Catholic neighbors.

So, ground was broken for the new church of St. Ignatius on April 4, 1925, with a lower church and upper church—big enough to house this booming Catholic population. Some of you may remember when mass was celebrated downstairs in the lower church and busses would pick up parishioners from around the neighborhood, as the parking lot never could quite accommodate all the Sunday worshippers in those days. 

I wish I could take you on a tour of the lower church, but’s it just not safe enough to be wandering around down there. Maybe one day, we’ll be able to afford a renovation to make the lower level usable at least for a gathering and meeting area. The lower level was accessed by the outside stairwells, and entering the church, you’d first be probably be struck at first by the pillars topped with these beautiful carved capitals depicting the four evangelists. 

And then kneeling down at your pew, you’d see, written in latin above the sanctuary, the words of our responsorial psalm today, the sixth verse of Psalm 95: Venite, adoremus et procidamus et genua flectamus ante Dominum. Come, let us adore and bow down and bend the knee before the Lord. 

Every time you’d come to church, you’d see this reminder, of what made this building different from the skyscrapers downtown and even the family home. It is here that God is worshiped. It is here that we show our faith and our love for God, by bending the knee, by kneeling before him and adoring him in the Blessed Sacrament.

Parish council shared with me that there was once an attempt to remove the kneelers from church, and and I’m so glad there was some resistance by the parishioners, because kneeling before God in God’s house, is a constitutive part of Catholic worship, a posture of humility we see already practiced by our Jewish ancestors. 

This is why kneeling at the Communion rail—kneeling for Communion—was custom for Roman Catholics, for well over a thousand years, closer to two thousand, than one. As an acknowledgement that you were kneeling down before the Lord himself present in the Sacrament.

As many of you know I’ve begun to offer on a weekly basis, on Monday evenings,  the Latin Mass, for the Mass which fed and nourished the souls of your grandparents is being rediscovered by new generations of Catholics. This Monday night, in particular, I will be celebrating the Solemn High Mass for the Feast of St. Ignatius of Antioch, which is February 1st on the old calendar. If it’s been a few decades or you’ve never experienced Solemn High Mass, come check it out on Monday evening. You might not understand everything that’s going on…but that’s okay, do we ever? But you can come and adore and bow down and kneel and pray. 

Friday night, I assisted at a solemn high mass, at St. Paul’s Parish down in Akron, at the conclusion of their week of Eucharistic devotions. The pastor, Father Matt Pfeiffer, my good friend and classmate, shared a story during the homily, Friday night, a story from our seminary days. The seminarians make a winter retreat before the beginning of the spring semester every year, and we were at a retreat house down in Columbus. There’s a saying amongst seminarians that God doesn’t call the perfect, he perfects the called, and this little aphorism was on full display on this retreat. There was a pair of seminarians who just didn’t get along—huge personality differences—they just couldn’t see eye-to-eye. They argued, often. And on the last day of the retreat, in a moment of real vulnerability, one of these seminarians opened up, and shared with the group, he said, it’s no secret that this other seminarian and I don’t get along, but last night, I went to the chapel, to kneel down and pray before the blessed sacrament, and I was there for some time, and when I looked over across the chapel, there, kneeling in adoration, was, Michael. And I realized, that despite our differences, both of us loved the Lord, in faith and adoration we were united.

And that’s what being Catholic is all about, isn’t it? Despite our difference, we adore, we bow down, and we kneel in the unity of faith. Despite our differences, we set them aside when we walk through these doors. White, black, rich, poor, conservative or progressive. This place has always been that way, where the very diverse people from the neighborhood, could come and kneel and worship. 

There’s been a lot of talk about unity these days. But any unity that is not based on living under God, or rather, kneeling before him, is artificial, and will never last. Honestly, I don’t think it’s a coincidence, that the civil unrest that we are experiencing in this country at this moment in history comes at a time when mass attendance amongst Catholics, church attendance in general, is at an all time low. For how can we have unity, if we do not rightly acknowledge and come to kneel before the source of that unity. 

Any national revival of civility, neighborly trust, or honesty in business, will only come as a result of spiritual and moral revival. And that is not something the government can mandate or enforce or fabricate. For without God, man can only impose an unholy uniformity through force and coercion, a counterfeit imposter of the sacred and charitable bonds of unity through Christ. 

You want to trust your neighbor again, kneel beside him in the eucharist. You want civility to reign even among people you disagree with politically? Kneel beside them. You want peace in your families, ensure you are kneeling together, and adoring the Lord together. 

To kneel before the Eucharist is to submit your life to Him, to renounce everything that does not come from him, anything unclean, as we heard in the Gospel, is to exorcized and expelled from our lives, any belief contrary to His teaching and the teaching of His holy church.

Those words, “Come, let us adore, and bow down, and worship” are an invitation that the Word of God makes to us, that we may know his peace and unity in this life as a foretaste of heaven. And yet, it is also a command, to carry that invitation to those we meet out in the world, to the unbeliever, to those who kneel before the false gods of the world, or only worship their own ego. We are sent by the Word of God into their lives, that, with God, we may be one, and know his peace and rest in his presence for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

3rd Week of Ordinary Time 2021 - Friday - Endurance to do the will of God

 Since Monday of the first week of Ordinary Time our first reading from daily mass has been from the letter to the Hebrews, and we’ll continue to hear from it until the Saturday before Ash Wednesday.    In the New Testament you can find the Letter to the Hebrews immediately after the thirteen Pauline letters.  No one but God knows who wrote this letter.  A passing reference to Saint Timothy seems to suggest that it was written by someone in the circle of Saint Paul and his assistants, but it’s authorship is ultimately unknown.

It seems to be addressed to a group of Jewish Christians who were undergoing persecution for their new faith, but we do not know where this group of Jewish Christians lived; it could have been Rome, Jerusalem, Ephesus, Alexandria, Antioch, we don't know.  

What we do know, as is evidenced in today’s reading, is that these Jewish Christians had and were continuing to face ongoing persecution. And so today's reading is urging them not to give up faith. Don’t draw back from Christ, don’t give up the faith, “for those who keep faith will possess life”. 

Hebrews also gives some very good advice for all of us, who aren’t necessarily being openly persecuted, but those who strive to do the will of God, which isn't always easy--perhaps to keep a commitment to praying daily, or fasting more. “You need endurance to do the will of God”. 

Yes, in our weakness we need to learn to rely on God’s grace. But real spiritual growth, real effectiveness in ministry, requires something on our part. Endurance. How can the Christian keep on going amidst spiritual difficulties, how does one hang in there once the initial enthusiasm is gone? Endurance.

When the going starts to get tough in the vineyard of the Lord, what can we do to boost our Christian endurance? A number of things. Firstly, call to mind scriptures like this, remind yourself, that God never promised that things wouldn’t get tough, and that endurance can carry us far. Secondly, call to mind why you’re doing what you’re doing in the first place. I’m going to pray because I want to seek the Lord, I want to know the Lord, I want to encounter the Lord, I want to grow in holiness. Thirdly, call to mind the example of the Lord’s own endurance, particularly on his way to Calvary, carrying the cross, amidst the mockery and harassment of the onlookers. Consider how even the Lord himself must have drawn refreshment by meeting his mother on the via crucis. Fourthly, ask for help. God sustain me. God help me. God carry me over this slump, help me to remain faithful to my commitments. When we do so, God causes the mustard seed of our human endurance put forth large sturdy branches that even others will benefit from.

Paul writes, “Endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. And hope does not disappoint.” 

In our spiritual lives and in our holy labors may we practice the Christian endurance that deepens our hope and spreads hope to others unto eternal life, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For a deeper openness to God’s will, readiness for service, attentiveness to those in need, endurance to do the will of God, and peace in our world and our hearts.  Let us pray to the Lord.

For a new springtime of justice: that all people of good will may work together against the increasing threats to civility, religious liberty and human life.  Let us pray to the Lord.

For those who struggle because of addiction, discouragement, mental illness, chronic sickness, unemployment, or ongoing trials of any kind:  that the new wine of God’s grace through Christ will bring them consolation and peace.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, For the deceased members of our family, friends, and parish, for the souls in purgatory and for…N. for whom this mass is offered.

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

January 27 2021 - St. Angela Merici - Let love for others be intense

 Angela Merici was born on March 21, 1474.  Out of love for Jesus, she consecrated herself to him before she was ten years old and persuaded her sister to do the same—promising never to get married and to live a life of prayer and service.  As she grew in age, she became concerned by the lack of religious training of the young people, so she took it upon herself to give regular instruction to the young neighborhood girls.  She was joined by neighborhood women with similar ideals.

It wasn’t until the age of 61 that she, and 28 other women formed the Order of Ursulines, the first teaching order of religious sisters in the history of the Church. St. Angela and the Ursulines were dedicated to re-christianizing family life through solid Christian education, especially for young girls who were the future Christian wives and mothers.  The Company of St. Ursula spread throughout Italy and France and eventually through all of Europe.  They were the very first Catholic nuns to land in the new world.  

Before Cleveland was even a diocese, Father Amadeus Rappe, who would become the first bishop of Cleveland was chaplain to the Ursulines in the town of Boulogne-sur-Mer in France. When in 1847, he became the first Bishop of Cleveland, it was among his top priorities to establish schools.   So, he invited the Ursulines from Boulogne-sur-Mer to begin a foundation in Cleveland and to start the Catholic school system in north eastern Ohio. 

St. Angela knew the importance of passing on the faith, taking serious efforts in the lives of children to instill in them faith in Jesus Christ.  She was a woman of action whose efforts changed Church history, When she saw the ignorance of the children in her neighborhood, she didn’t just wring her hands or complain, she went out and taught them.

Like St. Paul who we celebrated on Monday, timothy and titus who we celebrated yesterday, St. Angela knew the importance of passing on the faith to the younger generation, and did something about it. She emulates many of those virtues St. Peter writes about in his first letter: sober minded, hospital, loving of others with intensity, a steward of God’s manifold grace, one who despite her challenges, served God with the strength that God supplied. Her concern for the young was a concern for the Lord Himself. She loved others intensely because she loved him intensely.

May we do the same, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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As we celebrate Catholic Schools Week, next week, we pray for all students in Catholic schools, that the Spirit of God may grant them the gifts of wisdom and understanding, and that teachers may share their knowledge with gentleness, patience, and competence. 

For parents, the first teachers of their children, that by their faith and love, they may be blessings to their families, and for a strengthening of all families in faith. 

In Thanksgiving for the Ursuline Order, for their efforts to instill faith in our Diocese over the decades.

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

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

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

January 26, 2021 - St. Timothy and Titus - The harvest is abundant, the laborers few

 Following the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul yesterday, today we commemorate two of Paul’s close co-workers in the vineyard of the Lord: Timothy and Titus.  Today’s two saints give us a glimpse of life in the early church: zeal for the apostolate, devotion to Jesus, and the deep bonds of friendship that sustained them.

Timothy was Paul’s dearest disciple.  St Paul calls him, his beloved child, devoted to him “like a son to his father.”  Biologically, Timothy was the son of a jewish mother and a pagan father. Paul, however, was spiritual father, to Timothy: directly instrumental in Timothy’s conversion from paganism.  

When Paul visited the city of Lystra, Timothy, about twenty years old, joined him and went on to assist Paul in the establishment of the major Christian communities. Timothy also stayed with Paul during his first Roman imprisonment. Timothy himself was later imprisoned for spreading the Gospel, and as bishop of Ephesus was martyred, clubbed to death by a mob for protesting against the orgiastic worship of the goddess Artemis.

Titus was also a close friend and disciple of Paul, also accompanying and assisting Paul in his missionary activity.  Titus was with Paul at the Council of Jerusalem, and when Paul was having trouble with the community at Corinth because of community division, erroneous faith and rampant immorality, Paul sent Titus bearing his letter to the Corinthians, and Titus embraced them with the love of the true pastor’s heart.  This was probably one reason, why Paul felt so assured at naming Titus bishop of Crete, which was also riddled with error. He too would be martyred—he was beheaded by his adversaries on Crete in AD 97.

“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few.” The dynamic between Paul and Timothy and Titus show us how the Lord often attracts laborers for the harvest. A devout Paul, dedicating his life to the Gospel, willing to suffer for it, begins to attract spiritual sons, who are willing to do the same.

Our task then is clear. To be like Paul for the Timothy’s and Titus’ of the next generation. To live the faith so admirably that it becomes attractive to Pagans and unbelievers. To suffer for it, to show the value of the Gospel in contrast to the empty promises of the world. Our job is not to save the planet, or our nation-state, or our economy, but to save souls, not to secure a comfortable place in the world, but to build up treasure in heaven. Sure, it’s no sin to go fishing every once in a while, but certainly never to the serious neglect of our duty to become fishers of men.

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That our bishops may be courageous in stirring up the flame of faith and defending the Church from error.

For an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life, that young people may live in faith-filled homes where the Gospel is cherished, studied, and lived-out. 

For the grace to set good Christian example, and to courage to share the faith with non-believers and the lapsed.

For all of the sick and suffering, for the grace to unite their sufferings with Christ and to know His consolation and peace.

For our departed loved ones and all of the souls in purgatory, and for N. for whom this Mass is offered. We pray to the Lord.

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

January 25 2021 - Conversion of St. Paul - The Humility to Change

 Often we think of conversion as going from a wicked life to a good life, a sinful life to a righteous life.  Many saints did experience that type of conversion: St. Augustine converted from a life of debauchery, theft, violence, and vandalism, to a life of holiness.  Before their conversion to Christ St. Matthew the Apostle was an extortionist, St. Camillus de Lellis was a Con Man, St. Columba started a war, St. Christopher was said to have worshipped the devil, and even St. Francis of Assisi speaks of a youth wasted in sinful behavior.

St. Paul’s conversion initially looks this way.  He did after all go from a life of persecuting and killing Christians to a life of promoting Christianity and making new Christians. Yet, from his youth St. Paul sought after holiness through rigorous adhesion to the Mosaic law. And so, he devoted himself to persecuting and killing Christians because this is what he believed the law demanded.  After all, the early Christians were a Jewish sect who claimed that Jesus was the long awaited for Divine Messiah. To Paul, like to the scribes and Pharisees who condemned the Lord to death for his claim of Divinity, the Christian claim was blasphemous and deserving of death.

But on the road to Damascus, in the middle of his fury, all that changed.  The Risen Christ appeared to Paul, and shone a ray of his divine light into the darkness of Paul’s mind.  “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting”. 

The Lord revealed to Paul that He wasn’t simply a dead criminal who started some heretical sect.  He was risen. He was alive.  What the Church actually said about Jesus was true. And to persecute the would mean to deny and persecute Him.

At that moment, though, Paul still had a choice—to kneel before the Lord would mean to turn from his former way of life, he would have to call brother and those whom he persecuted and risk the same hostility of the jewish authorities that had impelled him. 

Paul had to admit that he was wrong about who Jesus really is and what holiness actually consists of. Paul exhibited the humility that is required of every Christian, the willingness to turn away from all that is not of Christ in order to pursue Him more faithfully.  To leave behind even house, family, lands, and possessions, if it means coming to possess the truth, the pearl of great price, the gift of salvation through Christ.

May the example and heavenly intercession of St. Paul, help us to practice the humility, courage, and fortitude necessary to experience the conversion and holiness the Lord desires for each one of us, that we may be every more faithful to the Lord’s great commission  to “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature,” for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That our bishops may be graced with Saint Paul’s zeal in preaching and teaching the Word of God. Let us pray to the Lord.

That our parish may build up missionary disciples equipped for the sharing of the Gospel. Let us pray to the Lord.

For the conversion of all hardened sinners and all persecutors of the faith, that the Lord may touch their hearts and remove the blindness from their eyes. Let us pray to the Lord.

For all who have suffered as a result of violence or abuse, all of the sick and suffering, especially victims of natural disaster, poverty, and addiction, may they be comforted and supported by God’s healing love. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our departed loved ones and all of the souls in purgatory, and for N. for whom this Mass is offered. Let us pray to the Lord.

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

 

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time - Celebrating, Studying, and Sharing the Word of God

 

Back in September of 2019, Holy Father Pope Francis issued a Motu Proprio declaring the 3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time as Sunday of the Word of God, directing us to consider how, in the life of the Church, the Scriptures are to be celebrated, studied, and shared. So let’s talk a little bit about the Scriptures.

The life of the Church is marked, changed, guided, infused, inspired and transformed by the Scriptures though which God has spoken and continues to speak. The Lord never tires of speaking to us through His Word and the Church never tires of listening that we may grow in love and faithful witness.

It is by the Scriptures that we come to understand the works and words of God throughout salvation history. It is by the Scriptures that we come to understand ourselves, our need for salvation in this fallen world, the promise of salvation through Christ. We come to know who God is when we take-up and read. We come to know who we are, and who we are meant to be in God’s plan.

In his book “The Lamb’s Supper”, catholic author and theologian Scott Hahn talks about the misconceptions he had about Catholicism prior to his conversion. He was under the impression that Catholics did not truly value the scriptures. And then, one day, he felt drawn to attend mass, to see for himself, and what he found wasn’t that we did not value the scriptures, in fact, just the opposite. The scriptures infuse every line of the Mass.

The words of the sign of the cross at the beginning of mass are taken directly from the lips of Jesus in Matthew Chapter 28 (Go and baptize, ‘in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit). The greeting “the Lord be with you” is repeated often by St. Paul. Calling upon the Lord’s mercy in the penitential rite, not only draws upon the words of the repentant tax collected in Luke 18, but finds us beating our breast, humbling ourselves in ritual imitation of the sort of humility that is praised by the Lord Himself. The Gloria contains the words the Angels sing on Christmas in Luke chapter 2. And that’s just the introductory rite of mass. 

We then dedicate an entire portion of the Mass—the Liturgy of the Word--to listen attentively to the Scriptures and to sing psalms in response. The homily breaks open the scriptures so that we can understand them better and better apply them to our lives. 

The Creed is then recited which is a concise synthesis of the faith conveyed in the scriptures. And the Eucharistic prayer is one phrase from scripture after another woven into a tapestry of petition, praise, and gratitude, as we literally do what Jesus told us to do at the Last Supper, as recorded by Matthew, Mark, and Luke. After receiving the Word made flesh in the Eucharist, We are sent out into the world with words from scripture “go in peace”, spoken by our Lord to the women in Luke chapter 8, “daughter your faith has saved you, go in peace”

We are sent out to be fishers of men, as we heard in the Gospel this weekend. And one might say that our effectiveness as fishers of men is contingent upon the Word of God. Our knowledge of it, and to the extent that it infuses and directs our lives. 

And so we need to study the Word of God, as the Holy Father directs us. As scripture itself directs us. Joshua chapter 8 says, “Keep this Book always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words”, says the book of Revelation, “and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it.” Paul instructs Timothy, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” So we do well to study, meditate, seek to understand the scriptures as best we can so that we can be equipped for the work God has for us.

Scripture is not always easy to understand. Read it anyway. Study it anyway. Catholic Scriptures Studies like “The Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture” and books by excellent Catholic scripture scholars like Scott Hahn and, Jeff Cavins, study Bibles like The Navarre Study Bible and The Word on Fire Study Bible published by Bishop Robert Barron are excellent tools. Fr. Mike Shmitz, a catholic priest from Duluth Minnesota, has the high rated podcast right now, with his series “The Bible in a Year”, and can be accessed for free. We have a bible study, in fact, every week, here at St. Ignatius, on Monday nights at 7pm in the school cafeteria.

Studying the scriptures in light of our Catholic Faith has never been more accessible. But that means taking a little time every day with our bibles in our laps or iphones or headphones, to hear the word, study the word, and meditate on the word.

Lastly, the Holy Father directs us to consider how the Word of God may be better shared. Having heard and celebrated the Word at Mass, having meditated upon it and studied it in our personal lives, we become more and more competent in sharing it with others.

For anyone that has access to social media, perhaps on a weekly basis, share a line from scripture that challenged you or inspired you that week, and share why. Don’t be afraid to share. Your time praying with, studying and meditating upon scriptures will touch others. For example, you can post to social media: I was going through a rough time this week, and this line from the Psalms spoke to me, here’s why. I was confused about how to handle a particular situation, and this parable resonated with me, here’s why. I came to a deeper understanding of Catholic moral or theological teaching because of this line from St. paul, here’s why.

And if you can’t do that with social media, how about, doing the same in person, perhaps with a family member who doesn’t go to Church. Write them…gasp…a letter. I was praying with this line of Scripture and it made me think of you, here’s why. The Lord is sending us like Jonah in the first reading, to speak the word of God to the inhabitants of Nineveh, to the sinful cities, and the lives of the confused and searching. And we must accept this calling, for we, might be the only prophet God wishes to send into some people’s lives.

“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men. Then they abandoned their nets and followed him.” Becoming fishers of men, for all of us, likely means, making time to draw close to the Lord to listen to him, that he may equip us for the work he has for us, drawing others to Himself.

 May we continue our worship today thanking God for the Word which is a lamp to our feet and a light unto our path, the word which is more valuable than silver or gold, the pearl of great price, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

January 22 2021 - Legal protection of the Unborn - Priorities

 

While the Church has deep concerns about the "many threats to human life and dignity in our society," including euthanasia, the death penalty, immigration policy, racism, poverty, care for the environment, criminal justice reform, economic development and international peace, the protection of innocent life in the womb is, as Pope Francis rightly explains, “the preeminent priority”. 

Archbishop Gomez, President of the USCCB, on Wednesday, again basically quoting Pope Francis, wrote that the Church cannot stay silent when nearly a million unborn lives are being case aside in our country year after year through abortion. 

This is "a matter of social justice.” Archbishop Gomez said,  “We cannot ignore the reality that abortion rates are much higher among the poor and minorities, and that the procedure is regularly used to eliminate children who would be born with disabilities”

Catholics throughout our nation today, engage in prayer for the restored legal protection of the unborn, and renew our commitment to improving those social factors which often lead to abortion. For Catholics this is not an either/or, but a both/and. Both protect the unborn and work to alleviate social and economic factors which lead to abortion. 

Vatican II declared, “God, the Lord of life, has entrusted to men the noble mission of safeguarding life, and men must carry it out in a manner worthy of themselves. Life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception: abortion and infanticide are abominable crimes.”

Isaiah, in today’s reading Laments that it is as if he has been toiling in vain, that it seems like he has spent his strength on nothing. But he immediately recalls that the Lord does reward all our efforts in his service. In working for the legal protection of the unborn, with the ever changing political scene in this country, it seems like every time there is a step forward, there are two steps back. But our labors are not in vain. Hearts are being changed. Babies are being saved in answer to our prayers and efforts.

So, we continue to pray that the truth of the Gospel of Life will take root in the hearts of every member of the human family and that we may be found diligent in praying and working for the safeguarding of life for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That the leaders and members of the Church may fulfill with joy their calling to proclaim, celebrate, and serve the Gospel of Life, we pray to the Lord…

That God will give our new president, and all of us, the grace to seek the protection of innocent life in the womb and the common good with all sincerity. 

That Court decisions which permit the destruction of innocent life may be resisted and reversed, we pray to the Lord…

That God may protect all unborn babies, and keep them safe from the scourge of abortion, we pray to the Lord...

That all women facing difficult or unplanned pregnancies may receive compassionate care and the support they need, let us pray to the Lord.

That all medical professionals involved in the practices of abortion, infanticide, and euthanasia, may experience conversion of mind and heart and cease these activities, we pray to the Lord…

For all women who have had abortions, that they may seek out and experience God’s tender mercy, we pray to the Lord.

In thanksgiving for the many children who have been saved from abortion through the efforts of the pro-life movement, we pray to the Lord…

For all the dead, for all the souls in purgatory, for the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and for X, for whom this Holy Mass is offered.

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

January 20 2021 - St. Sebastian - Soldier Martyr

Saint Sebastian was a Christian who joined the Roman army in the third century. Because he was a highly capable soldier, he moved up the ranks quickly and became a Praetorian Guard for the Emperor Diocletian. Secretly, though, he spent as much time as possible evangelizing his fellow soldiers and would secretly visit the Christians who were arrested and sentenced to death. He was eventually discovered. By order of the Emperor Diocletian,  Sebastian was to be put to death by being shot with arrows.  He was shot by numerous archers.  But miraculously, he did not die. 

Artistic depictions always show the handsome young soldier, chained to a Roman column or a tree with arrows sticking out of him.  Having been left for dead, he was nursed back to health by another Saint, St. Irene.  One day, Sebastian heard that the Emperor was going to be passing by. When he did, Sebastian denounced the Emperor for his cruelty to Christians.  This time the sentence of death was carried out, and Sebastian was beaten to death with clubs.  His relics are kept at the Basilica of St. Sebastian in Rome.

Here is a martyr of tremendous courage and perseverance.  Perhaps this is why he is the patron saint of Athletes.  His courage and perseverance from 1700 years ago has left a lasting impression on history, and reminds us of the greatness that Christians are capable of and called to. 

Who are the pagan soldiers you are called to preach to and convert? Who are the Christians imprisoned you are called to visit? Who are the emperors you are called to denounce? What are the arrows that you are called to bear patiently, with fortitude and grace, and the sufferings you are called to offer up?

May the Holy Spirit help us to emulate the virtues of St. Sebastian and the great martyrs--who fear not those who could kill their bodies, but for their eternal soul and the souls of others. To obey God , to have compassion for unbelievers and prisoners, and not to fear the wrath of corrupt men, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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On this inauguration day, we pray for our nation and for the president-elect and his administration. 

As prayed by Archbishop John Carroll for the inauguration of our nation’s first president, we pray, that the God of might, wisdom, and justice, through Whom authority is rightly administered, laws are enacted, and judgment decreed, assist with Thy holy spirit of counsel and fortitude the President of the United States, that his administration may be conducted in righteousness, and be eminently useful to Thy people over whom he presides; by encouraging due respect for virtue and religion; by a faithful execution of the laws in justice and mercy; and by restraining vice and immorality. Let us pray to the Lord.

That the light of God’s divine wisdom direct the deliberations of Congress, and shine forth in all the proceedings and laws framed for our rule and government, so that they may tend to the preservation of peace, the promotion of national happiness, the increase of industry, sobriety, and useful knowledge; and may perpetuate to us the blessing of equal liberty.

We pray for all judges, magistrates, and other officers who are appointed to guard our political welfare, that they maybe enabled, by Thy powerful protection, to discharge the duties of their respective stations with honesty and ability.

We recommend likewise, to Thy unbounded mercy, all our brethren and fellow citizens throughout the United States, that they may be blessed in the knowledge and sanctified in the observance of Thy most holy law; that they may be preserved in union, and in that peace which the world cannot give; and after enjoying the blessings of this life, be admitted to those which are eternal.

2nd Week in Ordinary Time - Tuesday - The Remedy for Discouragement

In my Sunday homily, I reflected a bit about discouragement. Discouragement, that feeling that my hard work is wasted, that the forces of evil are too great, can be paralyzing.  Injustice, the injustice experienced by those who love God and wish to serve God, and are hated for it, and persecuted for it, can be a terrible source of discouragement. 

The opening line from our reading from the letter to the Hebrews today offers an important remedy for discouragement. “God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love you have demonstrated for his name by having served and continuing to serve the holy ones.”

The author of the Hebrews epistle is writing to a group of converts from Judaism who have already begun to experience some serious resistance in their living our the Christian faith; and yet, for now, their faith has endured, they’ve resisted faithfully writes the author, “to the point of shedding their blood” for the Gospel. But knowing that the long, drawn-out hostility from the world, can wear on the strongest Christian soul, so he writes this letter to embolden, and encourage.

And he writes today, God does not overlook your work, your sufferings, your labors. God sees it, and will reward it. Likely, not in this life. But certainly in eternity, we merit a greater share in heavenly reward, through our service to God. The soul that suffers much and endures much and serves much and demonstrated much love shall be rewarded much in heaven.

In times of discouragement, the promise of heavenly reward, helps to fend off the sluggishness and inactivity that can begin to creep in when we face resistance.

Sometimes the forces that oppose us are so great, it is like we are being tossed about like a small ship on the waves of a terrible sea, and so the Hebrews author evokes that powerful symbol of the anchor. “This we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm, which reaches into the interior behind the veil.” The anchor are the promises of God. And his promises are not empty. He is no liar. His promise of life and glory is validated by the resurrection of Jesus. He is risen, just as he said he would. 

So, another remedy for discouragement, and really the only remedy, is to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. Through prayer and service and penance with our eyes and hearts fixed on Him. For, He is the light that shines in the darkness. He is the promiser and the fulfillment of the promise. He is the one who suffers with us and the reward for those who suffer. He is the source of justice, the distributor of justice, he is justice itself. 

May the hope of eternity with Him banish our discouragement and spurn us on to persevere in our holy labors for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For a deeper openness to God’s will, readiness for service, attentiveness to those in need, and peace in our world and our hearts.  Let us pray to the Lord.

For a new springtime of justice: that all people of good will may work together against the increasing threats to civility, religious liberty and human life.  Let us pray to the Lord.

For those who struggle because of addiction, discouragement, mental illness, chronic sickness, unemployment, or ongoing trials of any kind:  that the new wine of God’s grace through Christ will bring them consolation and peace.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, For the deceased members of our family, friends, and parish, for the souls in purgatory and for…N. for whom this mass is offered.

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

2nd Week of OT 2021 - Monday - Christ the Bridegroom and High Priest

 

In the time of Jesus, Jewish law required fasting once a year, on the Day of Atonement, which we know as Yom Kippur, and a few other minor fast days. Above and beyond what the law prescribed, the Pharisees practiced fasting twice a week. Jewish rabbis and their followers would practice increased fasting as well. The disciples of John the Baptist, too, apparently imitated John’s ascetic lifestyle, fasting as a sign of repentance and in preparation for the coming of the Messiah. So there was a sort of religious attitude toward fasting in Jesus’ day that the more one fasted, the holier one must be. 

In contrast, Jesus and his disciples are seen not only feast with sinners but failing to observe the days of fasting prescribed by the law. 

In reply to those voicing criticism concerning his practices, the Lord takes the opportunity to reveal something about his identity. These meals that he has been sharing, these feasts, are no mere ordinary gatherings for physical sustenance. When he gathers with his associates, his friends, and with sinners, he is a bridegroom with his wedding guests. 

What is more important, in the course of his public ministry than fasting, is revealing that he is the long awaited for Messiah—who will fully restore the nuptial bond between God and his people lost by sin.

He is the High Priest, as we heard in the first reading from the letter to the Hebrews, who reconciles God and man, through his flesh, who becomes a “source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.”

So, this Gospel is much more about how often we should fast as followers of Jesus, for as he said, “the days will come when my disciples will fast.” This Gospel is about recognizing that Jesus was much more than a common rabbi, a pharisee, much more than even John the Baptist. 

And again, this is still just chapter 2 of Mark’s Gospel. So imagine you are reading this for the first time, and more and more of Jesus’ identity is being revealed. You’d be thinking, this keeps getting better and better! God is not just doing something of the same old thing, he’s doing something new.

And just as it was 2000 years ago, God wants to do something new in our lives—to bring about new gifts, a flourishing of new ways of showing his glory, new ways of reconciling sinners to himself, new ways of reaching the hardest of hearts, new ways of revealing the love of the Bridegroom for his Bride the Church. May we be attentive to the ways the Holy Spirit wishes to use in in new ways for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For a deeper openness to God’s will, readiness for service, attentiveness to those in need, and peace in our world and our hearts.  Let us pray to the Lord.

For all those preparing for baptism and full initiation: that they may be open to the grace of conversion and the joy of the followers of Christ.  Let us pray to the Lord.

For a new springtime of justice: that all people of good will may work together against the increasing threats to civility, religious liberty and human life.  Let us pray to the Lord.

For those who struggle because of addiction, discouragement, mental illness, chronic sickness, unemployment, or ongoing trials of any kind:  that the new wine of God’s grace through Christ will bring them consolation and peace.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, For the deceased members of our family, friends, and parish, for the souls in purgatory and for…N. for whom this mass is offered.

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

2nd Sunday in OT 2021 - "What to do with the time that is given us"

 A few months ago, I was named by the bishop as spiritual director for the Legion of Mary for the West Side of Cleveland. And last night was our monthly meeting for the officers of the different Legion of Mary groups in the west side parishes. And, I have to be honest, it wasn’t a great meeting. We’ve been using conference calling for a few months, as we cannot meet in person. And we got about 20 minutes into the meeting when we realized that the new conference calling service had limited the number of participants and about half the people weren’t there. We then decided to go back to our old service, which we stopped using because of this terrible static that would cause the meeting to stop. 

At each meeting, we read from the Legion of Mary Handbook, and as spiritual director, I give an allocution on the reading, a short reflection on how the legion of mary principles apply to our current situation. And with all the problems we were having with this conference call, and with all the political turmoil, and COVID and everything, the holy spirit provided the perfect reading. 

The reading from the Legion of Mary Handbook dealt with discouragement. How sometimes in the work of the Legion of Mary, and the work of the Church in general, meets with resistance, as if the entire world were against us, not to mention the powers of hell. It certainly seemed that way last night. There’s also discouragement, isn’t there, when our most devoted labors bear little fruit. You begin to wonder if all the effort is worth it.

Then the reading went on to describe how, the chief danger of discouragement, isn’t from the fact that all these forces are against us. The real danger is that we forget that the chief source of discouragement is often ourselves…we forget that we do not get to choose the time or the circumstances in which we are tasked with laboring for God. We forget that God has chosen us, to labor for him, now, in 2021, with all of 2021’s challenges and problems.

The founder of the Legion of Mary and the author of our Handbook was a layman named Frank Duff. A devout Irish Catholic, whose cause for canonization is underway. And in last night’s reading, Servant of God Frank Duff quoted a religious sister, named Janet Erskine Stuart, whom I had never heard of before. Janet Erskine Stuart was a convert to Catholicism, she converted around the age of 21 from the Church of England, her father in fact, was an Anglican minister. Janet Erskine Stuart certainly faced and overcame discouragement. She knew that her conversion would cost her—family and friends—but she could not deny her call to conversion. 

Three years after her conversion to Catholicism she joined the Society of the Sacred Heart, a religious congregation for women, having communities here in Europe and later here in the US. Janet Erskine Stuart would go on to serve as the fourth Mother Superior of her order. 

Again, here’s a woman who faced some serious challenges in her life: the pressure of family to not follow where Christ was leading her, the challenges of governing a burgeoning religious order as it began to grow internationally. 

And so Frank Duff the founder of the Legion of Mary, so aptly quotes Mother Janet Erskine Stuart in overcoming the danger of discouragement, when she writes “If you look to Sacred History, Church History, and even to your own experience which each year must add to, you will see that God’s work is never done in ideal conditions, never as we should have imagined or chosen.” In other words, the difficult conditions of our work, and the challenges of the age in which we live, should not be a cause for discouragement. 

We Catholics in 2021, would never have imagined, and we never would have chosen, to be Catholic in the age of COVID-19 and the political corruption and turmoil that surrounds us. Who would choose this? Not to mention the growing secularism and scandal which has caused so many Catholics over the past 50 years simply to leave the Church, which causes us still such difficulty in evangelizing non-believers.

And yet, the Legion of Mary Handbook makes this vital point. It says “For it is ever God’s pleasure to show his power by extracting success from unpromising conditions and by accomplishing his greatest projects with inadequate instruments.” We live in what we would call unideal conditions. But God is so great that he can extract great success in these times, and he chooses to use us, we imperfect instruments, for the vital work of the Church, now in 2021.

J.R.R. Tolkien makes a similar point, which immediately sprang to mind. In his Lord of the Rings, his main character Frodo, speaking about the evil of his age, the evil rising in Mordor, and this pressing need to undertake the terrible journey to bring the ring of power to the cracks of Mount Doom, Frodo says “I wish it need not have happened in MY time. "So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

This lesson is even evident in our Gospel today. There is John the Baptist, standing with two of his disciples, and as Jesus walks by, he proclaims, he evangelizes,  “Behold, the Lamb of God.” In the original greek of the Gospel, the text reads, “Ide o amnos tu theu.”  Behold the Lamb of God. The Lamb, the ‘amnos’—was a very special type of lamb, one that would be used in sacrificial offering. And John is telling his disciples that Jesus is the lamb who will be sacrificed for the sins of the world.  Following him, would have consequences. It wouldn’t be easy. With that in mind, they follow him anyway. 

And John’s disciples, which included Andrew, the brother of peter, could have said, “uh, no thanks. I’m looking for truth, but, not enough to suffer for it. Let’s just keep doing what we’ve been doing.” Had he done that, overwhelmed by the fear of suffering, discouragement would certainly have set in. 

But Andrew, whose name, Andreas, means manliness, virtuousness, does something that should be emulated by every one of us. When the Lamb of God comes into your life, you follow him. And you tell others about him. That changed his life. That changed the life of Mother Janet Erskine Stuart. Following Jesus, despite the difficulties, despite the potential challenges, despite the risk, in this unideal moment of history changes those who choose Him over the thousand and one other things that arise .

And this lesson is applicable to our prayer life, passing on the faith to the young, spreading the faith to non-believers, engaging in the acts of charity. If we wait for what we think are ideal circumstances to do the work of God, then we will sit and wait for something that will never come. If you are waiting for some ideal condition to get serious about your prayer life or to study the bible or begin a new charitable endeavor, to enter the convent or seminary, or to develop a new skill for the service of others…it's not tomorrow, when we hope the conditions will be right, it’s now! “Speak, for your servant is listening” in the words of Samuel…this is the prayer of a heart open to doing the will of God no matter what the circumstances. 

Let us dare to utter those same words, with that same openness, trust that God knew what he was doing when he chose us for the work of the Gospel in 2021, and this is the only time that we’ve been given for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

1st Week of OT 2021 - Friday - The power to forgive sins

In just the first chapter of the Gospel of Mark, we learn a lot about Jesus. He is the one of whom the ancient Jewish prophecies foretold, rising up out of the waters of baptism, we learn he is the beloved Son of the Father, in the desert, we learn that he is in opposition to the powers of Satan,. Walking by the see of Galilee, he is the caller of disciples. In Capernaum, he casts out demons and cures the sick—even drawing near to lepers—the outcasts, the unclean.

Today’s reading begins just the second chapter of Mark, and something new is discovered about the Lord—he claims the authority and power to forgive sins. Again, imagine you knew nothing of Jesus or Catholic theology. Here is this man claiming a power that only belongs to God—the ability to look into a man’s heart and release him from the burden of guilt. 

Guilt and shame can be paralyzing. An act committed in a moment of selfishness, or in a period of greed, can haunt a person, especially as the impact of one’s sin begins to be realized. For sin often has ripple effects that cannot be predicted. An act of evil can bring ruin to not just one’s self, but one’s family or one’s nation—and the burden of that guilt can lead a soul to such crippling despair that life begins to lose it’s meaning. And in a sense it should—because evil is contrary to life. It’s contrary to the meaning of life and the purpose for which we are made. Evil is always a stifling of our potential—what could have been if we were less selfish. 

And no matter what we do, we cannot release ourselves from the debt of sin. For every sin is an offense against God, a violation of a divine command. So only God can forgive sin. Hence the connection with paralysis in the Gospel today. Sin brings a paralysis of soul, in which we cannot walk in the freedom God wants for us. 

And for Jesus of Nazareth to make this claim to this group of scribes who knew very well that only God can forgive sin, caused them to believe that he was blaspheming. And if he were only a human, they’d be right. 

But the Lord can forgive sin, he does forgive sin; he cures the paralysis of soul that allows us to walk in the freedom of the children of God. There is no burden of guilt so heavy, that cannot be forgiven when humbly confessed, hence the feeling of levity as we walk out of the confession, we literally feel lighter, when we sincerely confess our sins. Who wouldn’t want that?

And yet, many are afraid of the confessional, or refuse to enter the confessional. And perhaps that’s why this Gospel begins with the paralyzed man being brought to Jesus by four friends. Sometimes it takes a number of good Christians, speaking the truth, praying, witnessing the power of the Lord to heal and relieve guilt, to bring a hardened soul to repentance, to lead them to Jesus in the Confessional, to the Lord continues to forgive sins through his priests.

May we humbly repent of our sins, and take up the duty of being good friends to the hardened, perhaps even paralyzed sinners in our life, to lead them to the mercy of Jesus for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That the preaching and teachings of the Pope, Bishops, and clergy may be a source of strength and guidance for the Holy Church and deliverance from the evils of the enemy.

That those in civic authority may submit their minds and hearts to the rule of Christ, the Prince of Peace and Hope of the nations.

For the liberation of those bound by evil, those committed to sin an error, those oppressed or possessed by evil spirits, and for the conversion of the hardest hearts.

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

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

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

1st Week of OT 2021 - Wednesday - "For this purpose have I come"

 “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.” Imagine you are peter, james, john or Andrew. You’ve followed Jesus to Capernaum and seen him exorcize a demon and begin to perform these miraculous healings. He’s told you that he’s going to make you fishers of men, but you don’t really know what that means. You don’t quite understand where this whole thing is going yet, and he tells you that we’re not just going to stay here in Capernaum, we are going to proclaim the Gospel to the surrounding villages and all of Galilee—this is the reason I have come, for this purpose, to proclaim this kingdom all throughout this land.

Your first thought might be “come from where”? He speaks with the accent of Galilean, he’s still in Galilee. So where did he come from? The Lord knows that the small band is probably not quite ready for the whole truth, so he hints that he has come from heaven. This little phrase hints at the preexistence of the second person of the Trinity with the Father—it hints at the Lord’s divine nature. He has come. He has arrived. So the reader of the Gospel of Mark, hearing it for the first time, would be asking along with the disciples, “who is this guy?”

The reason why he has come is to “preach” to proclaim—the Greek word is “kérussó”—he has come to herald, to announce, to proclaim, and to drive out demons. To preach the kingdom of god and to release people from the kingdom of darkness. 

The truth of the Gospel is preached to enlighten the minds of the people so that the demons can no longer maintain their hold. Because the devil lurks and takes roots in error and lies. But like his combat with the devil in the desert, the devil’s lies and power are overcome by truth and obedience to God. 

Again, ordinary time means putting this stuff into practice in the ordinary circumstances of our lives. So, we continue to ponder and meditate upon the identity of Jesus with the apostles, we continue to listen to his truth, allowing his truth to weaken and cast out the errors and lies of the enemy which have taken root in our life. Where have we made allowances for sin and selfishness? Where have we allowed worldliness to take priority over pursuing the things of God? Where am I obstructing the flowering of sacramental grace?

For this has he come, to preach the Gospel to us, and to cast out demons in us, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That the preaching and teachings of the Pope, Bishops, and clergy may be a source of strength and guidance for the Holy Church and deliverance from the evils of the enemy.

That those in civic authority may submit their minds and hearts to the rule of Christ, the Prince of Peace and Hope of the nations.

For the liberation of those bound by evil, those committed to sin an error, those oppressed or possessed by evil spirits, and for the conversion of the hardest hearts.

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

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

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

1st Week of OT 2021 - Tuesday - More than words, words, words

From now until the beginning of Lent on Feb 17, our weekday Gospel readings will be taken from the Gospel of Mark.  

Without skipping any passages we’ll make our way from chapter 1 through chapter 8—beginning with his baptism, which we heard Sunday, up until his feeding of the five thousand, and we’ll then take a break from this chronological reading of Mark’s Gospel until after the easter season, after Pentecost.

But during these short weeks of Ordinary Time before Lent, we will read of healings and exorcisms, parables and teachings and miracles. I love Mark’s Gospel and once memorized and could recite the order of the stories of Mark. 

Mark, being the shortest Gospel, it can be read in a single sitting without too much effort. And often was read in its entirety to the early Church. So if you’ve never read Mark from beginning to end these are good days for such a practice.

St. Mark’s original audience was the ancient Romans who were very much like modern Americans—very practical, pragmatic people who emphasized deeds more than words, action more than theory.  “Words, words, words” complained Polonius to Hamlet who just complained all the time without doing anything. We and the Romans would agree. For the Romans liked to get things done! In fact they conquered the world!

And in mark’s Gospel, Jesus is a man of action—a man who takes on the powers of evil; takes up his cross willingly; he cures diseases and even tames the powers of nature, “all things are subject to Him” as Hebrews stated in our first reading.

In today’s Gospel we see him commanding this demon to be silent. And Shakespeare would have loved the irony here. The Eternal Word made flesh, who is a man of action, exercises his power over evil through a word, and that word is to tell this noisy demon to be silent, and the demon, overwhelmed by the Word’s power, is muzzled, and through the Word, a possessed soul, silenced by the demon, is made free to speak and act again and proclaim God’s praises. 

During Ordinary Time, we seek to imitate the Lord in the ordinary circumstances of our life, and we see from the start of the Gospel, that the Lord is a man of action, who doesn’t just complain about the fallen state of the world, but goes and does battle with evil to bring about the liberation of those captive, oppressed, and confused by evil. 

In order to be effective instruments of the Lord, we must be united with Him in spirit and truth, so we do well to study his word, meditate upon his word, contemplate his word, receive his word in the sacraments, that we may be filled with his goodness, holiness, love, and power for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

 - - - - - - - 

That the preaching and teachings of the Pope, Bishops, and clergy may be a source of strength and guidance for the Holy Church.

That those in civic authority may submit their minds and hearts to the rule of Christ, the Prince of Peace and Hope of the nations.

For the liberation of those bound by evil, those committed to sin an error, those oppressed or possessed by evil spirits, and for the conversion of the hardest hearts.

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

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

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

1st Week of OT 2021 - Monday - Beginning of something new

 

When I begin RCIA in the fall, the participants often have had very little exposure to the Gospels—they may have heard some stories about Jesus’ miracles and certainly his death and resurrection on the cross. So one of the first Gospel stories I share with them is todays Gospel, and that’s kind of fitting, for it was peter, james and john’s first encounter with the Lord too.

Here is the call to leave behind the comfortable: our comfortable lives our comfortable habits, perhaps even our livelihoods; everything needs to be set aside that hinders me from following Jesus Christ; everything that keeps me from knowing him and loving him is to be seen as an obstacle—and something to be cast aside like the nets of the fishermen.

It’s no coincidence that we read of this Gospel as we begin, once again, the season of Ordinary Time—the time of the year that we focus on imitating the Lord and putting his teachings into practice in the ordinary circumstances of our lives. Ordering our lives to conform more with his, again, always means setting aside the comfortable—to follow him more closely.

Thomas Aquinas spoke of a sadness that comes from our unwillingness to seek after our greatest good—he called it acedia—a sort of depression that sets in when we aren’t attending to our spiritual lives as we should.

Rather, than acedia, we are to be filled with the excitement Peter, James, Andrew, and John experienced when the Lord said, “Come after me. I will make you fishers of men.” There is an excitement that comes from a willingness to follow the Lord into the unknown, trusting that whatever he has planned is much better than anything than I could come up with. 

This Gospel represents God breaking into our lives to call us to something new, and God is certainly doing that has we enter into this new liturgical season.

It may be a new spiritual devotion, a new way of service, a new way of offering up our sufferings.  But even in these short weeks before the season of Lent begins, the Lord wants to stretch us, change us, transform us, and fill us with the new wine of the spirit.

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you discover how to follow Christ more deeply today, that he may make you fishers of men for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Baptism of the Lord 2021 - Most important moment in one's life

 A few years ago, on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Cardinal Dolan of New York was reflecting upon an experience he had the previous week. The Cardinal relayed how the week prior, he was up in Buffalo for the funeral of one of his brother bishops, Bishop Bernard McLaughlin who was born in 1912. Bishop McClaughlin had died at the venerable age of 102, he would have been that year a priest of 80 years and a bishop for 47 years. And as the Cardinal approached the casket of his brother bishop, he thought of all the wonderful things that the Bishop had done and accomplished and seen: the abundant gifts that filled his life, the honors he received, and the good work for the Lord of which the good bishop had been an instrument. But as the Cardinal approached the bishop’s casket, and prepared to sprinkle it with holy water, he thought how nothing, nothing that Bishop McLaughlin did compared to what happened to him, what God did for him, when he was two weeks old, when his mom and dad and grandparents carried him to church to be baptized.

Cardinal Dolan thought of this as he was blessing the casket while utter those beautiful prayer from the funeral ritual “In the waters of baptism Bernard died with Christ and rose with him to new life”. The power, the significance of the sacrament of baptism cannot be overvalued. What happens to us at baptism, what God does for us in baptism, is the most important thing that will ever happen to us.

As we consider the significance of Christian baptism on this feast of the Baptism of the Lord, remember…when the Lord allowed himself to be baptized by John in the Jordan, the Lord didn’t need baptism. Rather, he goes down into the waters of the Jordan to set-up and establish the importance of baptism for his followers—for the Church. Jesus didn’t need baptism in order to share in the life of God, because he is God. But we’re not, so we do. We are the ones born with souls shattered by sin—souls incapable of possessing the sanctifying grace of God. We need the Sacrament of Baptism to restore what was broken, to heal what was rent asunder by sin. So, Baptism is of the utmost importance, for through it, God does for us what we cannot do for ourselves; he restores the life of our souls and sets us upon the road to eternal life. 

Last week, we celebrated the great feast of the Epiphany, in which, the light of the Christmas star and the gifts of the shepherds reveal that the babe born at Bethlehem is no ordinary baby. He is king, priest, and Savior.

Well, the early Church saw today’s feast, the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, as a sort of second Epiphany in the life of Our Lord.  

Where in the first Epiphany, Jesus was revealed as king, priest, and savior. Today’s feast reveals him to be God. Much like the Christmas star, and those gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh reveal something of Jesus’ identity, now the Holy Spirit descending upon him in the form of a dove, and the voice of the father from heaven reveal that Jesus Christ truly is the divine Son of God. He is God.

And when we come forward for baptism, we are testifying, we are proclaiming our belief that Jesus is God, that he gives me new life through these saving waters of baptism.

“Who indeed is the victor over the world” asks John in the second reading, “but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God” 

This week, we saw a lot of ugliness in the world—and a lot of irrational rhetoric. But, I did see a wonderful quote that helped put things in perspective for me. Patricia Heaton, one of the rare Catholic Hollywood actresses, from Bay Village, Ohio by the way, said, “ if you’re a common sense person, you probably don’t feel you have a home in this world right now. If you’re a Christian, you know that you were never meant to”. It’s a fitting quote for us today. It’s not saying that we shouldn’t be involved in political life, or we shouldn’t stand up for justice, but it’s a reminder that we must never lose sight of the real reason we are here. We’re not here to transform the world into some sort of utopia through any means, but to prepare our souls for the world to come. To be in the world, but not OF the world, like Our Lord. Sometimes earthly affairs and anxieties cause us to lose sight of our eternal goal. Keeping our eyes on heaven often comes with great difficulty, but the saints show us that this is possible—it is possible to make our souls union with God, our highest priority.

Tomorrow/today at the 11am mass, three souls who have been participating in our parish RCIA program will enter through the Church doors for the Rite of Acceptance. And I will ask them two questions.  I’ll ask them What do you ask of God’s Church?  They answered: Faith. And then I’ll ask “what does Faith offer you” And they’ll answer “Eternal Life.”

What a wonderful amazing thing, that these three people from diverse backgrounds, jobs, and families, will come here, because they believe that through the Church, through the Sacraments of the Church, they will receive eternal life. 

Our very first session of RCIA I asked them, why are you here?  How did the path of your life lead here?  Some said, I want to know more about the Catholic faith.  I want to be Catholic.  I want to share the faith of my family.  I have come to recognize that the Catholic Faith is true.

For many of us: we were baptized as infants and received our religious instruction as children.  But, I think each of us realizes that being Catholic is not just a choice that was made for us, when we were baptized as infants.  It is a choice we make daily--to cooperate with the grace of our baptism daily.  A choice to believe and profess all the Church teaches. A commitment of our lives daily to God’s care.  A choice to avoid the things that are harmful to our souls.  A decision to cooperate with God so that the grace of baptism is not stifled in our lives, but is allowed to unfold and blossom daily.

Again, this ritual that Bruce, Angela, and Amanda will undergo tomorrow is called the Rite of Acceptance. It’s one of the rituals that proceeds their reception of the Sacrament of Baptism and full initiation into the Church. And it’s called the Rite of Acceptance for a number of reasons. One, because they are accepting the teachings, and practice of the Church, they are accepting that the faith of the Church leads to eternal life. Secondly, it’s called the rite of acceptance because the church is accepting them into the order of catechuments; we who are already baptized members of the Church are accepting the responsibility of praying for them, praying for their continual conversion and for their safety as they approach the waters of baptism and sacraments of initiation. Thirdly, it's a sign too, that God accepts them, God accepts them to become his children in the life of grace, He accepts them to receive His very life. So in addition to praying for them at Mass over the next few months, remember them in your personal prayers from time to time; that those preparing for baptism, which will be for them, the most important day of your life, may respond well to God working in their life.

Bruce, Angela and Amanda choose freely to be here tomorrow/today.  But also because God HAS been working in their lives to bring them here.  God has worked through the members of this parish saying yes to our baptismal call, God has been working through the testimony of our faithful parishioners to enkindle in our catechumens the fire of faith.  They are here in answer to our prayers.  So, continue to pray for them as they continue their journey towards full initiation in the Church at Easter.  When you see them at Mass, greet them, let them know that you are praying for them.    

In a few moments we will each personally recite the Profession of Faith.  This is the faith of the Church, this is the faith of the Baptized.  We are proud to profess it.  We look forward to the day that our catechumens will profess it with us as full members of the Church, and that we stand together in the halls of heaven for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Friday after Epiphany 2021 - Whoever possesses the Son has life

 We are situated this week between the last two great feasts of the Christmas season: the feast of the Epiphany, last Sunday, and the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, in just a few days.  

The early Church saw the Baptism of the Lord as a second Epiphany in the life of Our Lord.  

Where in the first Epiphany, Jesus was revealed as the Savior, not just for Israel, but for the entire world.  This Sunday, we will hear how, as Jesus is baptized in the Jordan, much like the Epiphany Star shines upon the babe at bethlehem, now the Holy Spirit descends in the form of a dove, revealing even more of who Jesus is. He is not just a human Messiah, he is the second person of the Trinity, the son of the Father. 

As we heard in our first reading, the Spirit testifies to who Jesus is. He is the Son of God.

If he were not, he would have no power to make us clean. The water and the blood would have no power, if he were just a man. 

Our Gospel reading also sheds light onto the Lord’s identity. The healing of the leper reveals that God does not recoil from our sins and diseases. Yes, he is the holy one of God, the most high, he is life itself, immaculate holiness and divinity. Yet, Jesus, the Son of God, God incarnate, reaches out and touches the leper. Holiness itself draws close to us who have lost original holiness due to heinous sin in order to make us whole and clean and full of life again and like himself.

The broken jar is able to be fixed, it is not irreparable; we are able to possess the life of God again. So much so, that John, in the first reading, says that “Whoever possesses the Son has life; whoever does not possess the Son of God does not have life.” God does not wish us to lifeless because of sin. He entered the world, in the poverty and cold of Christmas, so that he may enter more deeply into our very lifeless souls to be our life. 

Today, we like the leper in the Gospel, do well to fall prostrate before the Lord, and plead, Lord make me clean, in all ways, in every way, make me clean, restore me to life, fill me with your life, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - - - - - 

For Pope Francis and all the clergy: that they will draw many to the mystery of baptism and inspire the faithful to live their baptismal promises with great devotion. 

For leaders of nations: that they will govern with virtue and integrity, helping to build society in conformity with the teachings of Christ.  

For non-believers and for those preparing for baptism: that they may be open to the grace of conversion and the joy of the followers of Christ.  

For the sick, suffering, persecuted, and underemployed, and all those facing hardships.  

For all those who have died, for all the poor souls in purgatory, for those who have fought and died for our country’s freedom, and for X, for whom this Mass is offered.  

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

January 6 2021 - St. Andre Bessette - Abandoned to the Divine Will

Holy Cross Brother Andre Bessette was just canonized in 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI. Here is a wonderful Saint who shows us that we do not have to do big things in order to become holy, but that we are to make every moment of our life, every act, every deed of our day, an act of love for God. 

 For forty years, Brother Andre was the doorkeeper, the porter, for Notre Dame College in Montreal run by the Community of the Holy cross.  He once joked, “When I joined this community my superiors showed me the door, and I stayed there for forty years.”  In that job he answered the phone and greeted the parents of the young people and all those who visited the college seeking material help.  Brother Andre made time for everyone and treated everyone as if they were the only person in the world, as if they were Jesus. 

 At his canonization, Pope Benedict said, “Brother Andre showed boundless charity and did everything possible to soothe the despair of those who confided in him. With little instruction, he nevertheless understood what was essential to his faith. For him, to believe meant to submit freely and lovingly to Divine Will. Everything existed through the mystery of Jesus, he lived the beatitude of the pure of heart, that of personal rectitude. It is thanks to this simplicity, he showed many God.”

Brother Andre had a deep devotion to St. Joseph, who he saw as an icon of a masculinity, courage, and love for the son of God, of a man deeply surrendered to the Divine Will, as he wished to be. Andre convinced his congregation to have a small chapel built in honor of St. Joseph, and it is there, that over the years, thousands of people would come to venerate St. Joseph and to pray with Brother Andre, through whom there have been countless miraculous healings. Thousands experienced emotional and physical healing at that small chapel to St. Joseph. 

Whatever the trial, Brother Andre urged people to pray with confidence and perseverance while remaining open, like St. Joseph, to God’s will.

 Openness to the will of God is the foundation for any healing, any change, any spiritual growth we should hope to experience. Yes, God hears our prayers for healing. As Brother Andre said, “There is so little distance between heaven and earth that God always hears us. Nothing but a thin veil separates us from God.” Yet, it is often a greater good that God gives us the grace and strength to bear our sufferings with trust and abandon to the Divine Will. 

 “Do not try to have your trials taken away from you”, he said, “rather, ask for the grace to endure them well”.

 Brother allowed himself to be fully present to the sadness of others while always retaining a joyful nature and good humor.  In the words of Pope Benedict,  “For him, everything spoke of God and His presence.”  Through his intercession may we receive the healing God wishes for us and follow his example of prayer and love for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - -

That like St. Andre, Christians may grow in attentiveness to all those in need.

 That during this year of St. Joseph, all those in need of healing may be filled with new hope and strength.

That those dedicated to the care of the sick may be instruments of God’s healing.

In thanksgiving for all healing received through the mercy of God.

That those who suffer may experience the peace of Christ.

For the deceased members of our family, friends, and parish, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for all those who have fought and died for our freedom, and for x.

January 5 2021 - St. John Neumann - Education, Brotherly Love, Increase of the Church

 Although he was born in Bohemia in 1811, in what is now the Czech Republic, John Neumann is celebrated as an American saint.  After studying in Prague, John Neumann came to New York at the age of 25 and was ordained a priest just three weeks later.  After several years of working among German speaking immigrants, often alone, he joined the Redemptorist community, the missionary community founded by St. Alphonsis Ligouri.  As a gifted linguist who spoke 8 languages, he was a popular preacher among the many immigrant communities, in Maryland, Virginia, even here in Ohio.

By age 41 he had become the fourth bishop of Philadelphia where he organized the parochial schools there into a diocesan system.  

Today’s opening prayer refers to three tasks accomplished by Saint John Neumann which we hope to accomplish by the help of his prayers.  1) To foster the Christian education of youth, 2) to strengthen the witness of brotherly love (a reference to Philadelphia--the city of brotherly love), and 3) to constantly increase the family of the Church.

Like Saint John Neumann, all of us are to foster the Christian education of youth.  Almost 50,000 children in this diocese attend Catholic schools, and at least that same number are educated in parish PSR programs.  But the number of children attending weekly Mass is abysmal. Faith is so weak in their families that they are like "sheep without a shepherd", as our Lord says in the Gospel today.  We face a very difficult battle in winning the hearts of these children away from the culture. To feed the multitude with the bread from heaven. But that is the task, and the Lord shows that it is possible. So, if there is a young person in your family not going to Church, each of us should ask ourselves, “what can I do to get them to the table?”

Secondly, we must give “the witness of brotherly love”.  Non-Catholics and weak-faithed Catholics should look at us and say in the words of Tertullian, “look how they love each other”.  The brotherly love we have for each other, the charity, the kindness, the patience we have for each other is to attract others to our way of life—the way of Christ.  

And the third task exemplified by John Neumann to increase the family of the Church.  Again not just the work of priests, not just the work of bishops, but the work of the entire church, to continue to draw souls to Christ.  And that is only possible, when we have truly been drawn to Him, when we have left behind all worldliness, when we have sought him with the entirety of our being. 

May Bishop Neumann, “renowned for his charity and pastoral service” spurn us on to holiness through the service of the Gospel of Christ, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

 

For a deeper devotion to the Eucharist among all Catholics, that our Eucharistic worship might inspire non-believers to seek and find the Lord.

That our Catholic schools and PSR programs may be places where the Lord Jesus is sought out and discovered, where faith is instilled and charity is inspired.

For an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated religious life, that many young people may respond generously to the Lord’s call to ordained and consecrated service.

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

For our former bishop, Archbishop Nelson Perez and for the Church of Philadelphia, that through the intercession of St. John Neumann, they may be renowned for their charity and pastoral service.

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

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