November 10 2023 - Pope Leo the Great and the Barbarians

 Today we honor the first Bishop of Rome to have been called Leo, a name used subsequently by 12 later Popes, the latest being Leo XIII at the turn of the 20th century.

Leo was a native of Tuscany. Around the year 430, he was ordained a deacon of the Church of Rome. 10 years later, he was sent by Pope Sixtus III on a diplomatic mission to Gaul to resolve a difficult conflict. While Leo was carrying out this mission of Peace, Pope Sixtus died. Leo was elected Pope to succeed him, and his Pontificate lasted for 21 years, which is quite long for a papacy, the ninth longest, in fact.

Constant barbarian invasions and the gradual disintegration of the Roman Empire, certainly made the papacy of Pope Leo the First a challenging one. And yet, his papacy was so effective, and his holiness so evident, that he is the first Pope to be given the title, “The Great”. Leo Magnus, Leo the Great.

In 452, the Pope received reports that Attila the Hun was invading northeastern Italy with his horde of barbarians. So, the 52 year old Pope rode on horseback to meet the barbarian leader and pleaded with Attila to call off his invasion. The leader of the Huns, impressed by the Pope, left Italy.  Unfortunately, a few years later, another barbarian horde, the Vandals, attacked and sacked Rome. Again, the Pope, defenseless went forth to meet the invader to implore him to desist. The Vandal leader promised to spare the great Basilicas of St Peter, St Paul and St John Lateran, in which the terrified population of Rome sought refuge and were spared.  

We live in barbarous times, again no? The barbarians may not be riding in on horses and laying waste to our beautiful structures and ransacking our treasures. Rather, modern culture—through mass media and even the so-called education system, breeds attitudes which are antithetical to culture and civilization itself. (As a priest friend of mine recently said) and the barbarians are not just at the gates, they are in the seats of power collecting their spoils of war from good honest people. They traffic human beings and murder babies. And they are proving to be quite resistant to the Gospel.

And yet, we ride out to meet them, not with swords of steel, but with the sword of the Spirit and the Word of God. For maybe, some of them will be converted. And after, they have laid waste to our land, the Church will remain, as our Lord promised in the Gospels, “the gates of hell shall not prevail”—the Church has endured barbarians before, and we’ll do it again. Our task is to keep the faith until the Lord returns, to keep the flame of faith alive during the difficult times, and to spread it as we are able, to stave off cultural decay as we can, to turn away the barbarians from their destructive ways as we are able through pleas of peace, to preserve the faith when peace is rejected, and keep our souls from sinful discouragement, to witness to the truth of the Gospel with our lives and work always for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For Pope Francis all Bishops and clergy: that they may always lead us in fidelity to the saving Gospel of Christ. 

In reparation for sins against the innocent unborn, for an overturning of laws which disregard human life and dignity, and for courage in bearing witness to the Gospel of Life.

For the strength to be faithful to all of the Lord’s commands and the grace and humility to repent of our failings.

For the impoverished and sick and those experiencing any sort of trial: that Jesus the Bread of Life will be their sustenance, and that Christians will be instruments of God’s mercy for all those in need.  

We pray in a special way during this Month of November for all of the faithful departed; for the deceased members of our family, friends, and parish, for deceased clergy and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.

31st Week in Ordinary Time 2023 - Adultery, Abortion, and Carrying our Crosses

 In the epistle this morning, St. Paul reminds Christians to keep the commandments of God. In the wake of the passing of issue 1 last night, two of the commandments are particularly glaring: you shall not commit adultery and you shall not kill. 

The abortion industry, which thrives on the killing of the unborn, thrives in large part because of our nation’s disregard of God’s prohibition of adultery. Rampant adultery, pre-martial and extra-marital sex, leads to so-called unwanted pregnancy, which leads to the justification of abortion.

The Church has a great task to work for the reversal of these diabolical attitudes, to do penance for the sins of our world, and to preach the Gospel in its fullness.

This is not a pleasant task. It is part of our cross. And this morning, the Gospel reminds us that “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Christ cannot be his disciple.” 

The cross of our times, one that we share, is to preach the Gospel and live our Faith in a nation that is growing increasingly hostile to the message of Christ. We do not choose the times in which we live, but we can choose how we live in our time. And our choice must be to carry our crosses faithfully. 

May God help us, sustain us, strengthen us, and give us courage to carry our crosses in union with Christ for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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In reparation for sins against the innocent unborn, for an overturning of laws which disregard human dignity, and for courage in bearing witness to the Gospel of Life.

For the strength to be faithful to all of the Lord’s commands and the grace and humility to repent of our failings.

For the impoverished and sick and those experiencing any sort of trial: that Jesus the Bread of Life will be their sustenance, and that Christians will be instruments of God’s mercy for all those in need.  

We pray in a special way during this Month of November for all of the faithful departed; for the deceased members of our family, friends, and parish, for deceased clergy and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2023 - Caesar, God, and Issue 1

 The Lord was born into a very contentious political situation 2000 years ago. Much like our own day there were several political factions in the kingdom of Israel.  One of the groups was known as the Zealots.  Today, if someone called you a zealot it would mean that they possess a great passion for some subject or issue.  Well, the Zealots of the 1st century were passionate about their national and religious identity. They wanted to overthrow the Roman occupying force; for the Zealots saw the Romans as idolatrous and immoral tyrants who needed to be run out of Israel, for God had given the holy land to the Jewish people, not to the Romans.

Politically opposite the Zealots were a group of Jews called the Herodians—the party of King Herod. Herod was part-jew and part-pagan. He wasn’t very religious, his court was filled with grave immoralities. Herod was in many ways the puppet of the roman emperor.  Rome said jump and Herod asked, “how high?” The Herodians would do anything to stay in power, even to betray their country, religion, and people.

A third group we hear about a lot in the Gospels were the Pharisees known for their strict, scrupulous observance of tradition. And it was the Pharisees who were really running the religious show in 1st century Judea. The Pharisees were willing to go along with whoever was in power as long as they retained the freedom to practice their religion as they saw it. For the majority of the Pharisees, religion was a façade. They wanted religious authority for the purpose of control and financial gain. 

In the Gospel today, we heard how the “Pharisees went off and plotted how they might entrap Jesus”. Why would they do such a thing? The Lord exposed their deception. The Pharisees wanted to appear to be these holy religious authorities, but Jesus exposed their lie—that they were more concerned about appearances than actual holiness.

So the Pharisees plotted and conspired with their political enemies, convincing the Herodians that Jesus was a threat to them as well. Do you see the irony? The pharisees who claimed to be concerned about holiness and religious purity join forces with this group of morally and religious lax Jews. 

So, these strange bedfellows approach Jesus, and they call him “Teacher”—brash hypocrisy, as they don’t really come to Jesus to learn from him, but to trap him. Then they say to him, “Tell us, then, what is your opinion: Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?" Now, there were a number of taxes Jews had to pay.  We hear elsewhere in the Gospel about the temple tax: the tax the people had to pay to support the temple and the priests of the temple.  And they had to pay the census tax: a tax most Jews resented paying, as it financed the roman occupying force. St. Matthew, remember, before he followed Christ, was a tax collector, a jew who collected the census tax on behalf of Rome.

So this question posed to Jesus about taxes was a real loaded question. It seemed that no matter how he answered the Lord was going to make a political enemy of one of these groups.

So, you can see the consequences of Jesus’ answer.  If he said no, the Herodians would report him to the Roman authorities for encouraging insurrection. If he said yes, the Zealots would condemn him for being an enemy of the nation of Israel, and the Pharisees would condemn him for a being an idolater. It appeared to be the perfect trap.

And then Jesus the teacher gives his answer.  And the Lord’s answer is how we Christians understand our relationship to whatever civic authority is over us. 

“Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God”.  It’s an amazing answer, demonstrating that religious truth runs deeper than political alliances. The Lord’s teaching here demands that each individual be honest about what we really owe to God and what we really owe to the government. You and I have a personal responsibility to live up to the demands of justice. 

Do we owe religious worship and unquestioning obedience to civil authorities or to politicians or political parties? No. What if they demand it? Double no. 

Christians are to be neither Zealots, Pharisees, or Herodians. We aren’t to overthrow the government and make the Pope king, as the Zealots might propose. We aren’t to compromise our faith for political expediency like the Herodians. Nor are we to withdraw totally from worldly affairs like the Pharisees, lest we wake up one day with our freedoms stolen by fascists and tyrants. 

Now, the Lord is not saying that God and Caesar are equal. As Christians, our first loyalty is to God. And as long as we don’t have to compromise that first loyalty, we are to justly give to Uncle Sam his due, as my grandfather used to say, for providing for our domestic security, paving the roads and whatnot. Justice demands obedience to Caesar as long as Caesar does not demand we violate objective morality or right religion.

We are also to participate in civic life as justice demands. Pope Francis said, “We need to participate (in civic life) for the common good.” He said, “Sometimes we hear: a good Catholic is not interested in politics. This is not true: good Catholics immerse themselves in politics by offering the best of themselves so that the leader can govern." 

Moreso, the nation needs our prayers and our example of holiness and virtue. Our first president George Washington held that without religion, liberty could not be maintained.  He said, "Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable.”  

We are being good Christians when we engage rightly in civic life. Sometimes that involves simply paying our taxes, and sometimes that involves demanding political accountability if those taxes are being misused or if government corruption is evident. Sometimes, our church leaders, even need to rally us, as our bishops are doing in regards to Issue 1, this November. In this case they offer very clear instruction that Catholics must vote No on issue 1 this November, in defense of the unborn, and to protect parents’ rights against the infringement of Caesar.  

This week, we received from the bishop some yard signs, regarding issue 1, which I've put around church property. Extra signs are available at the church exit. Feel free to put one up in your yard.

I’ve been asked about the legality of placing the signs on church property. While churches are prohibited by law from publicly supporting or opposing individual candidates for elected office, we are not prohibited from supporting or opposing political issues. So our yard-signs, provided by the diocesan bishop, who is well aware of the law, are not criminal; they are the least we can do to oppose this attack on life and liberty, especially in light of some of the propaganda out there which is serving to confuse voters. 

“Faithful citizenship”, promotes Gospel values in the public sphere, opposes unjust laws and policies which violate human dignity, opposes government corruption, and works to safeguard liberty against tyranny. 

In this holy Mass, we give to God what belongs to God, our prayers, petitions, praises, obedience, and divine worship, may what we do here overflow into every facet of our lives, that we may live in righteousness, justice, goodness, and peace, for the glory of God and the 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 22 2020 - Legal Protection of the Unborn - Justice brings peace

Throughout our nation today, Catholics engage in prayer for the restored legal protection of the unborn.  This liturgy for life and justice calls for the wearing of purple vestments: purple, the color of grief and prayerful penance.  We grieve the abundance of sin and murder considered “legal”, occurring on a daily basis for 47 years.

We pray and do penance for a restoration of justice, for grave injustice is perpetuated legally allowed against the unborn, the denial of their right to life. The legal allowance for abortion is contrary to our nation’s founding documents which sees life as an inalienable right endowed by the Creator to every human being. And of course, abortion is repugnant to the Gospel, a clear violation of the fifth commandment. The Catechism says, “Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception.”

Pope Francis, speaking to U.S. bishops, said recently that working for the overturning of unjust laws which deny the right to life for the innocent unborn is a “preeminent priority”.

The Prophet Isaiah says, “justice will bring about peace.” Peace, which our nation is sorely lacking in so many ways, can only be obtained when we work to right injustices, and so we work and pray today to right this preeminent injustice.

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.”

We 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 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

32nd Sunday in OT 2019 - Courage in the face of suffering

I attended a prayer group recently, and the group began with an icebreaker question: what is your favorite inspirational movie? A fun, yet poignant question! The first person his favorite inspirational movie is Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ,” though he had to admit that some of the graphic violence is hard to watch. The second person mentioned a movie I had never heard of, called “Glory” about the U.S. Civil War’s first all-black volunteer company, the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, detailing the prejudices they faced from both their own Union Army and the Confederates, and the sacrifice they made for the cause of freedom and national unity. The third member of our group mentioned the movie “Unplanned”, the story of Abby Johnson, a former director for planned parenthood, who is confronted with the grizzly evil of abortion, joins the ranks of the pro-life movement and the ensuing backlash she experienced.

I have a hard time with the topic of “favorite movies” because I really do enjoy a good film, but I immediately thought of the movie “A Man for All Seasons” the story of St. Thomas More who stood up to King Henry VII when the King rejected the authority of the Catholic Church’s teaching on divorce. Sir Thomas More, as you might know, was Chancellor of England and a good friend of the Kings. The movie wonderfully depicts St. Thomas More’s jovial personality, his cunning mind, strong family life and devout faith. But when the King demanded that Catholics, clergy and laity alike, bow to his claim that he was the head of the Church in England and therefore able to refashion Church doctrine, Thomas More refused to acknowledge the king’s claim. For this he was stripped of his office, arrested, separated from his family, imprisoned in the tower of London, and eventually beheaded. Here’s a man who refused to compromise his faith when faced with the pressures of family, friends, and political authorities. He is certainly an inspiration to Christians of every age.

And reflecting on the four movies shared by members of our prayer group, I don’t think it is a coincidence that all four movies share a common theme: “self-sacrifice”. The self-sacrifice of Christ of course in the passion movie, the self-sacrifice of the black infantrymen willing to fight against prejudice and even to die for those who hated them in “Glory”. The self-sacrifice of Abby Johnson, having her name dragged through the mud, receiving death-threats for exposing the evils of planned parenthood and the abortion industry. Movie Theater owners in fact have received death threats for showing her movie. And the self-sacrifice of Thomas More, a martyr for the truth of the Christian Gospel. Stories of self-sacrifice are most inspirational.

Our first reading from Second Maccabees certainly recounts an inspiring tale of self-sacrifice. Around two-hundred years before the birth of Christ, Greek culture had spread to Israel. Many of Israel’s leaders had allowed Greek cultural values and the promise of political power to replace their faith. The Greek King ruling over the Jews had tried to eradicate Judaism. If you were caught practicing the tenets of Judaism, you would be put to death. And in our reading today, seven brothers with their dear mother were arrested and tortured with whips and scourges because they refused an order of the Greek King inducing the Jews to eat pork in violation of Jewish law.

This family courageously refused to betray their faith even to the point of physical maiming and death. Why? Why didn’t they just give in?

Well, listen again to what one of the sons says to his executioner: “you accursed fiend,” he says, “you are depriving us of this present life, but the king of the world will raise us up to live again forever.” Yes, you are killing us, but the Lord will raise us up! 

They understood that the choices we make in this life affect our eternity. Our faith matters. The practice of our faith matters. Faith leads to eternal life, disobedience to death.

The next son, holds out his hands to his executioner who is going to cut them off.  He says, “it was from heaven that I received these…from God I hope to receive them again.”  This cruel executioner is going to cut off his hands, and the son says, fine, God gave them to me, and one day, God will give them back to me.  He believes that that even this present body is less important than eternal life.

The last brother, as he dies, says, “it is my choice to die at the hands of men, that God who gives life will raise me up.”

This family of faithful Jews foreshadow the self-sacrifice of Christ; they are certainly proto-martyrs, embodying what the Lord taught a few Sundays ago, “Those who lose their life for my sake, will gain it.” To be faithful to Christ is to do what these young men did, to keep our minds and hearts fixed on God and on his promises especially in the face of trial.

There are moments when our relationship with God will cost us. Depriving ourselves of some bodily pleasure because pursuing it would be sinful costs us something. Depriving ourselves of material gain because pursuing it would be to cheat or to steal costs us something. Deprive ourselves of some position of power because pursuing it would involve lying or exaggerating the faults of others costs us something. Refraining from sinful gossip when it would bolster our social status costs us something.  Going to mass every week, even when my family or my hobbies make demands on my time costs us something. Contributing to your financial needs of the parish, the needs of our neighborhood poor, committing time to prayer, all costs us something. And don’t we gain so much more, when we are generous with God and trust his plan?

When we speak of inspiring movies or inspiring scripture passages or inspiring stories from the lives of the saints, what are they inspiring us for? The inspire us for those moments when we have to make the choice. Will we do what is right, even when it brings us suffering, or not? Will we witness to our belief that God’s promises are real, that there is something beyond this earthly life, or not? The veterans our nation honors on Monday, veterans day, are so inspiring to us because they were willing to put their lives on the line for us, they we might enjoy freedom and peace.

There are many people who dismiss God as a distant cosmic force that has little bearing on every day life. But Christians, by living out our faith when it is costly to us, shows that God is more real than anything else.

Our own parish patron Saint, Ignatius of Antioch, realized this truth. When Bishop Ignatius had to choose between faith and escaping suffering and death, he chose faith. Ignatius wrote: “All the pleasures of the world, and all the kingdoms of this earth, shall profit me nothing. It is better for me to die on behalf of Jesus Christ, than to reign over all the ends of the earth. ‘For what shall a man be profited, if he gain the whole world, but lose his own soul?’ Him I seek, who died for us: Him I desire, who rose again for our sake.”

Ignatius understood, as has every martyr, that if we are only concerned with this prospering in this world something in us is already dead. Rather, the Christian is to witness that the life to come is to be obtained by those who love God more than this present life.

May we witness to that faith in everything we say and do today and all days, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

January 22, 2019 - Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children

Several times in the Gospels Jesus asks those who had spent years studying the Scriptures if they've ever read a certain passage. He asks the Pharisees today, "Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry?” Jesus, of course, knew that the Pharisees had indeed read that passage before. However, He also knew they had not grasped the full meaning of the passage, they did not realize how the Scriptures were being fulfilled through Jesus.

They had read the scriptures, but had failed to allow God’s word to take root in their souls, to give them fresh eyes for seeing, fresh minds for understanding and believing. So they were unable or unwilling to believe in Jesus and hardened their hearts toward Him.

A similar hardness of heart afflicts our nation. A hardness of heart which is unwilling to respect human life.

46 Years ago today, the Supreme Court made a decision which has led to the death of ten times more babies than the deaths of U.S. soldiers in all of our nation’s wars including the Civil War, the World Wars, the Vietnam War, and the War on Terror.

Even with science increasingly clear that human life begins with conception, hearts continue to grow harder toward life. I remember as a kid, the slogan was “make abortion safe, legal, and rare”. Now the slogan is “shout your abortion”. They revel in the fact that they have murdered a life.

So throughout the United States today, U.S. Catholics engage in prayer for the restored legal protection of the unborn.  This liturgy for life and justice calls for the wearing of purple vestments: purple, the color of grief and prayerful penance.  We grieve the abundance of sin and murder occurring on a daily basis for 46 years.  And we do penance for the abortionists, for the parents, for the politicians, for all those who further the culture of death, even those who do not repent. We do penance because we love life and we hope for their salvation. And we commit ourselves to praying and working for authentic justice for the unborn.

We pray that the truth of the Gospel of Life will take root in the hearts of every member of the human family, that it will dispel all darkness, and all hardness toward innocent human life, all unwillingness to respect life.

May every life be cherished and held sacred for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - - - - -
 
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 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

2nd Sunday in OT 2019 - Buddhist Detachment & Christian Morality

I was watching a documentary last night that contained an old Buddhist story, I think you might like. There was an old farmer who had a prized horse. And one day the horse ran away. And the farmer’s neighbor comes over to commiserate—to offer his condolences. He says, “I’m so sorry. I heard about your horse.” And the old farmer says, “who knows what is good or bad?” And the neighbor is confused because this is the farmer’s prized horse, after all. So the neighbor bids his farewell. Well the next day, the horse returns and he brings with him 12 wild horses from the countryside. Now the farmer is rich in horses. And the neighbor comes over and says, “Congratulations, you have all these horses.” And the old farmer says, “Who knows what’s good or bad?” And the neighbor is confused again. And then the next day the old farmer’s son is taming one of the horses and is thrown off the horse and breaks his leg. And the neighbor comes over again to commiserate, and the farmer says, “who knows what’s good or what’s bad”. And then the next day the army comes through the countryside and they are conscripting able-bodied young men to go off and fight in the war, and the farmer’s son is spared. And this story can go on and on and on.

Though this is a Buddhist story, there is some Christian truth. The Christian is to be detached
in a sense. We don’t know what the events of our life will hold. As they say, when God closes a door he opens a window. Being fired from one’s job, for example, might open up a new opportunity that is in the end more lucrative or more meaningful and fulfilling. The Christian martyrs, like our own St. Ignatius, they saw meaning behind what most people would consider evil: their suffering. St. Ignatius even told the Christians of Antioch not to try to rescue him from being brought to Rome for his martyrdom, so confident was he, that God could bring about something good through his suffering, just as God brought about the greatest good through the greatest suffering, our human salvation through the suffering and death of Jesus.

So, like the old farmer, Christians are called to practice a certain level of detachment. We aren’t to curse God when things don’t go our way. We are to trust God’s providence. Like Old Job would say, “the Lord giveth, the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord.”

The Buddhist story however seems to only give insight into the events that happen around us. What it doesn’t address is human choice, human free will, that choices that I make. “Who knows what’s good or bad” applies to the events that happen to us and around us. The farmer had no choice that his horse ran away—so who knows if it was good or bad. However, the choices that we make, the exercise of free-will, that’s different. The Judeo-Christian tradition, our scriptures, the teachings of our Lord and the theologians are very clear that choices are either good or bad, and we can know the difference.
Some choices are so clearly in violation of the natural moral law, they are called objectively evil, objectively sinful: it doesn’t matter who does them, or the circumstance, they are always evil. One example, is the intentional destruction of innocent human life in the womb. And thousands and thousands and thousands of Christians and people of good-will marched upon our nation’s capital on Friday to bring an end to this national tragedy—this embarrassment to history--the legal allowance to murder unborn babies because they are unwanted by their parents. Christians are called to be the moral conscience of a place.

So some choices are clearly wrong. Sometimes it’s not always easy to know what is right or wrong. So God has given us through the Scriptures and through the teaching of his own lips, clear moral teaching. The 10 commandments, the sermon on the mount help to illuminate for us the right way to live, the way that leads to the flourishing of the human soul, the way that leads to everlasting life.

Our Gospel today contains some very important moral teaching from the lips of our blessed mother. Mary doesn't speak often in the Sacred Scriptures, but every time she does speak her words overflow with wisdom: "Do whatever he tells you." That is what is good, always. The teachings and commandments of Christ are always good. They aren’t always easy, but they are always good.

In the case of the wedding at Cana, the command was to bring Jesus jars of water, a strange request. But, when happened when the stewards were faithful to the command of Christ: goodness and power and glory were manifest.

“Do whatever he tells you” means that we can have unbounded confidence in Jesus. His teachings flow from a heart full of goodness, mercy, and love that understands humanity better than we understand ourselves. He wants what is best for us——he came to reconcile sinful man with God, to save sinful man from error and death. And when you trust him he will lead you to all truth. The compelling thing about Christian truth, besides the fact it comes from God himself, is that it is logically consistent, it holds up to greatest rational scrutiny. It is truly Catholic—universally intelligible to all people of all places of all times.

So we trust in Christ and those who he has established to speak and teach in his name. We are to have unbounded confidence in Him and in the teachings of His Church. For he himself said, “he who hears you” speaking to the Apostles, “hears me”. And “he who rejects you rejects Me.” He’s given His authority to the church in matters of faith and morality. And so when the Church clearly teaches that a particular human action is a sin, we trust that teaching and adapt our lives accordingly.

The true test of our confidence in God's goodness and power is our obedience to his will. To “do whatever he tells us”. And what does he tell us? To feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to carry our crosses, to love our enemies, to forgive unreservedly, to build our lives and families on the solid foundation of his teaching, to believe in all the all the truths which the holy Catholic Church teaches, because God has revealed them, who can neither deceive nor be deceived.

Believing in good and bad is becoming increasingly unpopular. Naming actions as good or bad is labeled as intolerant or bigoted. But our Gospel today shows us, that when we say yes to Jesus, as incomprehensible as that is to the world, bringing 80 gallons of water to be changed into wine, when we say yes, to whatever he tells us, he does something amazing, something that reveals the goodness and power and glory of God that leads hearts to salvation through belief in Him.

May we be faithful to all the Lord and His Holy Church teaches and commands, may we do “whatever he tells us” for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

1st Week in OT 2019 - Friday - Spiritual Paralysis and the March for Life

The Gospel of the healing of the paralytic is one of those passages that Christians really take to heart and shapes Christian identity. We Christians are to be like the friends of the paralytic: to not only bring others to Jesus, but to go out of our ways, even in dramatic fashion to bring others to Jesus. The friends in the Gospel  climb the roof and lower the paralytic down—that’s how dedicated they were, that’s how much they cared.

Each one of us would do well to think of someone in our life who just seems paralyzed—they are paralyzed because they do not know the healing and love of Jesus Christ. And we should be bringing that person to Jesus in our prayer every day, and asking the Holy Spirit to guide us in how else we are called to bring that person to the Lord.

This morning in our nation’s capital tens of thousands of Christians and people of good-will are marching for those who cannot march for themselves. They are bringing the unborn to the popular consciousness and the consciousness of our politicians to bring about a change of heart. They are marching to bring a national tragedy to an end—an embarrassment to history--the legal allowance to murder unborn babies because they are unwanted by their parents. In a sense, they are marching to heal a national paralysis—the inability to get up and do what is right—to protect innocent life—they are bringing the paralyzed to Jesus, and may they be blessed and protected for their efforts.

Spiritual paralysis can afflict every one of us—when we allow the attitudes and errors of the world to keep us from doing what is right, when we allow spiritual sloth to keep us from prayer, fear to keep us from reaching out to those in need, preoccupation with worldly endeavors to keep us from pursuing the works of God.

May we be committed to bringing others and bringing ourselves to the healing of Jesus, that He may raise us up to walk in the ways of righteousness, justice, goodness and peace, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all members of the Church may live out their baptismal call with greater conviction and faithfulness.

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.

That the March for Life in Washington D.C. will help to transform our culture and inspire many to adhere to the Gospel of Life.

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

May 31 2018 - Feast of the Visitation - Pro-life witness of the Gospels

On the final day of this Marian Month of May, we celebrate the joyful feast of the Visitation, a celebration of life.

For me, today’s Gospel is one of the great Pro-Life passages from scripture. We heard today, John dancing and leaping in the womb of Elizabeth like David joyfully dancing before the Ark of the Covenant when he first encounters his unborn cousin, Jesus, only days old in the womb of Mother Mary.

John is a powerful pro-life model for John recognizes that Jesus was truly human from the moment of his conception. Some might claim that it is “above their paygrade” when human life exists. But Scripture and modern science show that human life begins at conception. And we therefore have a duty to reverence it, to protect it, to rejoice over it.

Mary, too, is a powerful pro-life figure. For even with the great burdens she now faced, she goes in haste, to help the pregnant, elderly, Elizabeth. Mary is a pro-life model for us all, showing us that we even with all the burdens we face, we are all to have a special care for pregnant mothers, especially pregnant mothers in difficult circumstances. We are to devote to them our time, talent, and treasure in helping them nurture and bring-forth life.

Mary would also stay with Elizabeth until the birth her baby, accompanying her through childbirth, and through those difficult days as a first-time mother. Mary reminds us to have a special care for mothers and children throughout pregnancy and afterwards as well.

I reflect on the pro-life dimension of this scripture in light of the terribly sad news of Ireland’s vote to overturn its pro-life laws. Only one in three citizens of Ireland voted to protect life. The other two-thirds join the many Americans who see abortion as a solution, as a way of empowering women, as a way to riches and happiness.

But as St. Theresa of Calcutta often taught, “It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you live as you wish… The greatest destroyer of love and peace is abortion, which is war against the child. The mother doesn't learn to love, but kills to solve her own problems. Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want.”

May the heavenly intercession of St. John, St. Elizabeth, and Holy Mary help restore reverence and care for human life, especially the protection of the unborn. May they help us witness to the Gospel of Life for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
 
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That the leaders and members of the Church my fulfill with joy their calling to proclaim, celebrate, and serve the Gospel of Life.
That God may protect all unborn babies, and keep them safe from the scourge of abortion, and for the safety and welfare of all pregnant mothers, and that all mothers and fathers will know the assistance of the Christian Church in nurturing and raising their children.
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 22, 2018 - For the legal protection of the unborn

45 Years ago today, the Supreme Court made a decision which has led to the death of ten times more babies than the deaths of all U.S. soldiers in all of our nation’s wars including the Civil War, the World Wars, the Vietnam War, and the War on Terror.

So throughout the United States today, U.S. Catholics engage in prayer for the restored legal protection of the unborn.  This liturgy for life and justice calls for the wearing of purple vestments: purple, the color of grief and prayerful penance.  We grieve the abundance of sin and murder occurring on a daily basis for 45 years.  And we do penance even for those who do not repent.  And we commit ourselves to praying and working for authentic justice for the unborn.

Today we reaffirm our belief that abortion is wrong and that life is a gift from God, and we recognize the call of Catholics to be involved in political activity to work for the protection of the unborn: to work for the overturning of Roe v. Wade, to insist that our civil representatives work for pro-life legislation, and to work and create a world where every child is welcomed and cherished, where every life is sacred.

So, today, please keep the protection of the unborn in your constant prayers, and consider ways that you can contribute to the call.

The Gospel today speaks of the divided house of Satan. The Pro-choice, pro-abortion house is a divided house, because it treats one life as more important than another, it diminishes the value of life, it is a house built on a lie, built by the Father of Lies. Roe v. Wade will continue to cause division in our nation, as long as it exists, because Catholics and the other faith who recognize the truth of the sacredness of life will never give up, and we will never stop insisting that our civil representatives be pro-life.

The sooner life is protected in our nation, the sooner many of our other national wounds can begin to heal.

We hope and pray today, in the words of the Psalm, that “Justice" justice for the unborn, justice for all, "shall flourish in our time, and fullness of peace forever”.  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 Court decisions which permit the destruction of innocent life may be resisted and ultimately 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…

December 28 2017 - Feast of the Holy Innocents

Historically, Herod was well known for his cruelty. He was believed to have engineered the death of a rival prince. Fearing the schemes of his own sons who Herod believed to be planning to usurp the throne, he had them executed as well. Caesar Augustus, who was no stranger himself to murder and intrigue, was said to have commented that, “I would rather be Herod’s dog than his son.”

Knowing his paranoia and cruelty, it is not surprising that Herod felt threatened by the rumor of the birth of the promised Messiah in Bethlehem. If these rumors were true, such a revelation meant the end of Herod and his dynasty. When he was unable to discover the identity of this child, we heard today how Herod ordered all the young children in the region around Bethlehem to be killed.

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 stop at nothing to safeguard their own personal kingdoms. 

Cruel King Herod represents all the powers that stand against Christ. Yet, when we are honest with ourselves we must admit that hostility to Christ exists not just out in the world, they lurk within us all. There are parts of ourselves that want nothing to do with Christ: they are the parts of us that resist conversion.

Yet this feast is not focused on the hostility of Herod, but on the witness of the innocents. The Lord Jesus, who was born in order to die for others, begins his life with others dying because of him. Those young children slaughtered by Herod are counted amongst the ranks of the glorious martyrs, whose blood is shed in witness to the Lordship of Christ.

The sacrifice of the Holy Innocents was not in vain. From heaven, no doubt they pray for us now. They pray for the conversion of the Herod’s of our modern day, who put innocent life to death. And, they pray for our conversion as well, especially those parts of us that resemble Herod’s hostility to holiness. They pray that our “Herodness” may be changed into holy innocence, that the darkness in our world may be converted to light, that error may converted to truth, and cruelty be converted to compassion, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That the witness of the Church may help all nations come to believe in the Lordship of Jesus.

That our president and all civil servants will carry out their duties with justice and honesty, and for the reversal of any law which permits or leads to the destruction of innocent human life, and that God may protect all unborn babies, and keep them safe from the scourge of abortion, we pray to the Lord.
For an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life and a strengthening of all marriages in holiness.

For those oppressed by hunger, sickness, addiction, or loneliness, that through the mystery of the Nativity of Christ, they may find relief in both mind and body.

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

Homily: Jan 23 2017 - Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children - "The first human right"

As we have been asked by our bishops, today we observe a day of prayer and penance for the legal protection of the unborn—legal protection which was stripped of those most innocent among us, 44 years ago.

The legalization of abortion is directly repugnant to the founding documents of our nation, which recognizes “life” as the very first inalienable human right. They very purpose of law is protect our human rights. Pope Francis clearly taught recently the same, saying, “The right to life is the first human right. Abortion is killing someone that cannot defend him or herself.”

Those who deny the unborn’s right to life often suggest that, after forty-four years, the decision of Roe v. Wade will never be overturned, as if to discourage faithful Christians from pro-life efforts. They argue that pro-life Christians just need to “get with it”. But the defense and promotion of human life is a perennial duty of the Christian Church. Many, many hearts have been converted through the faithful witness of the Church.

Saint John Paul wrote: “To defend and promote life, to show reverence and love for it, is a task which God entrusts to every man” We certainly applaud and pray for the efforts of the hundreds of thousands who travel to our nation’s capital to witness to the fact the Gospel of life is not irrelevant or outdated. We certainly consider what we can do to defend and promote life in our extended families and our community. Perhaps this year, you might consider praying at the abortion clinics, or supporting charities which come to the aid of women and families in emotional and financial trouble, like Womankind.

Pope Francis said, “All too often, as we know from experience, people do not choose life, they do not accept the ‘Gospel of Life’ but let themselves be led by ideologies and ways of thinking that block life, that do not respect life, because they are dictated by selfishness, self-interest, profit, power and pleasure, and not by love, by concern for the good of others.”

Here Pope Francis condemns ways of thinking, attitudes, ideologies, motivations, that “block life.” When abortion is seen as a solution to a problem instead of a greater problem and a grave sin, we have a duty to share the truth, clearly and boldly.

May the Church be found ever faithful in her call to defend and promote life for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
 
---Petitions---
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 the Church, the People of Life, may bear joyful witness that each human life comes from God, belongs to God, and is meant to return to God, we pray to the Lord.
That Court decisions which permit the destruction of innocent life may be resisted and ultimately reversed, 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…
That God may protect all unborn babies, and keep them safe from the scourge of abortion, we 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.

Homily: Thursday - 25th Week of OT 2016 - Vanity of Vanities

Early in Luke’s Gospel we hear how the Tetrarch Herod had John the Baptist executed. John had spoken the Word of God clearly: Herod’s marriage to his sister-in-law was illicit. John called Herod, as he had to so many, to repentance. But, instead of turning away from his sin, Herod killed John, hoping that the message would be buried with the messenger.

To Herod’s consternation, however, the message lived on—even more powerfully—in Jesus and his disciples. St. Luke tells us, “Herod was deeply perplexed” when he heard about Jesus preaching the same word as had John. Perhaps Herod did not understand how or why someone else would take up John’s mantle, so to speak, in proclaiming the call to repentance.

Jesus, we know appeared before Herod, after he is arrested. But, instead of learning from his experience, that God desires his conversion, Herod chose to be part of Jesus’ crucifixion. Imagine what Herod thought when news of Jesus’ resurrection reached him!

Sometimes, we, like Herod, don’t want to hear the Word of God. The world certainly does not want to hear the Word of God. God’s word challenges us, it calls out our illicit behaviors, it calls us to repentance, and sometimes we don’t want to give up our sins. So we run away from the Gospel. The world seeks to have the Gospel silenced. 

Christianity is labeled as bigoted, intolerant of certain lifestyles. Think of the great hostility the Church faces in calling for the protection of the unborn and end to abortion! Abortion and contraception enable illicit sex on demand. And so the Church is hated because she teaches the Gospel of Life, even though the Gospel is the only road to heaven.

She is hated because, like Qoheleth in the reading from Ecclesiastes, she reminds us that all of our foolish, selfish, sinful pursuits, are “vanity of vanities”. Qoheleth, in his wisdom, looks back on all of his vain, earthly pursuits, and recognizes that they did not profit his soul.

St. Paul tells us, “put to death, the parts of you that are earthly”… put to death: “immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry.” Why? Because these things, instead of giving us life, take it from us, instead of leading us to God, lead us away from Him.

God desires that we come to share in his very life. He want to make us like himself, full of generous self-giving and limitless charity, to glorify him in seeking and living out His will.

With the help of the Holy Spirit, may we continue to seek to put to death all of our vain pursuits, engage in only those endeavors which profit our souls, seeking the spiritual life God wants for each one of us, for the glory of God and salvation of souls. 

Homily: 23rd Sunday in OT 2016 - Comfort the afflicted, afflict the comfortable

One of my favorite quotes from the great G.K. Chesterton is that “Christianity is a faith that comforts the afflicted… And afflicts the comfortable.”

Our faith comforts us, as it helps us know that God offers his mercy to every sinful soul. Every soul that has turned away from goodness, every soul that has given in to temptations of selfishness, lust, every person that has ever lost control and hurt the ones we love. God loves the poor wretched sinner. And that is comforting.

Yet that same faith, stirs us out of our ambivalence and moves the sinner to examine his life, to repent of his sins, and that is not always pleasant—it afflicts the comfortable. Over and over in the Gospels, the Pharisees show great hostility to Jesus because he exposed their hard-hearts—they weren’t as holy as they thought they were. So Christ’s message afflicts the comfortable—the complacent; it challenges us, it humbles us, but by doing so, it calls us to something greater—authentic holiness, the life of grace.

Christianity comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable.


A woman who took seriously both aspects of the faith is being canonized this weekend in Rome by Pope Francis. 19 years after her death, Blessed Mother Teresa will become Saint Mother Teresa.

Mother Teresa followed Christ into the slums to serve the poorest of the poor. She established a new religious order, the Missionary Sisters of Charity to live among the poor and to care for the dying and the destitute, orphans and abandoned children, alcoholics, the aged, and the homeless. She brought comfort to the afflicted, reminding the poor and afflicted of their dignity in the eyes of God. She became a living icon of mercy and compassion.

The current Archbishop of Calcutta, India, commenting on her canonization this Sunday said, her canonization is “an occasion for people in all walks of life to do something beautiful for God, as Mother Teresa did.”

During this Holy Year of Mercy, Pope Francis has not only called each and every one of us to focus on the works of mercy, but now he has given us a wonderful example to follow in the life of St. Teresa of Calcutta.

I’ve had the great honor of visiting the Missionary Sisters of Charity on several occasions. When I was studying in Rome, I worked alongside the Sisters at a house for destitute men, where the homeless would come for food, clothing, shelter, medical care. The sisters would literally bathe the smelly grime of the streets off these men.  They’d be fed and bathed and treated with dignity and respect.  The sisters were so edifying as they treated these men as they would treat Jesus himself.
Again, I visited the Sisters when I went with Catholic Relief Services to the African Country of Madagascar, where they ran an orphanage—caring for the homeless and abandoned children.

In every chapel of the Missionary Sisters, whether in Rome, or Madagascar, or Calcutta, is a crucifix with the words of Jesus: “I thirst”, words Jesus spoke from the cross. It is a reminder to all of the sisters that when they bring drink to the thirsty they are giving that drink to Jesus himself.

Again, each of us do well to ask the Holy Spirit very devoutly and seriously how we might be engaged in the works of mercy this year. Who are the naked we are called to clothe, who are the hungry we are called to feed, who are the prisoners we are called to visit? Who are the souls we are to pray for regularly? Who are the ignorant we are to instruct? Who are the sinners we are called to invite back to God? In comforting these people, we extend the reign of God’s mercy, we become instruments of the compassion of God.

Mother Teresa, is best known for bringing comfort to the afflicted, she won a Nobel Peace Prize for her work, and more importantly, she became a saint.

But, Mother was also known for afflicting the comfortable, challenging selfish complacent souls to take the Gospel of Christ more seriously.

One priest tells the story about how he picked up Mother from the airport for a speaking engagement. He was familiar with Mother, so he felt comfortable talking about all of the different ministries he was engaged in: traveling around the country, giving lectures and parish missions, teaching, And all the while Mother is quietly praying her rosary beads. The priest continued to elaborate on all of his endeavors and said, with all of this going on, I’m even too busy to pray. And Mother, cuts off the priest, and says, “Father, you must never be too busy to pray”. If you are too busy to pray, you are too busy!

A sister once complained to Mother Teresa about all the time they were spending in the chapel; for each day, Mother Theresa required her sister to spend an hour in Eucharistic adoration before going out into the streets. “We have all this work to do, there are people who are starving and dying while we kneel here in the chapel. An hour of prayer is a waste of time,” the sister insisted. To which Mother replied, “because you believe this sister, you need two hours.”

Mother challenges us to never allow the busy-ness of life to keep us from the most important relationship with Christ, we must never allow all the noise of the world to keep us from prayer. “The fruit of Silence is prayer. The fruit of Prayer is faith. The fruit of Faith is love. The fruit of Love is service. The fruit of Service is peace” she said. If you want peace, you need prayer.

In 1994, Mother Teresa was invited to speak at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington DC. There, in front of republicans and democrats, nominal and practicing Christians, jews, and muslims, she spoke of the poverty of the west, in that we treat people without dignity.

“When I pick up a person from the street, hungry,” she said, “I give him a plate of rice, a piece of bread. But a person who is shut out, who feels unwanted, unloved, terrified, the person who has been thrown out of society." Certainly a challenge to "look to the margins" as Pope Francis would say.

She then spoke of the great sin of abortion… “abortion,” she said, “which often follows from contraception, brings a people to be spiritually poor, and that is the worst poverty and the most difficult to overcome.”

 “It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish” she said. And this attitude justifies abortion goes hand in hand with married couples ignoring Church teaching on the sinfulness of artificial contraception.

Through the use of contraception, husband and wife “destroy the gift of love” she said. Essentially, she is saying that when cannot truly love when we devalue human life and when we devalue chastity. Challenging words for a national prayer breakfast, challenging words, perhaps for some of us, but that doesn’t lessen the truth of the message.

Mother spoke these words of challenge confidently because they are the teaching of the master. We are called to love. And Christian love is not always popular or easy. Love often looks like a cross. It requires self-discipline, going out of our comfort zone to raise up the poor from the gutter, speaking the truth in the face of error.  “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” Challenging words. But we know, deep down, that there is nothing more important than following Christ to the cross.

Through the intercession of Saint Teresa of Calcutta, may we grow in charity, bear our crosses confidently and gracefully, may we know God’s comfort in our affliction, and be stirred out of our complacency for the glory of God and salvation of souls.