September 9 2020 - St. Peter Claver - Meet people where they are with the truth of the Gospel

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus gives his most famous sermon—on top of a mountain. For Matthew depicts Jesus like Moses who atop Mt. Sinai received the Law of the Old Covenant from God. Matthew tells us that Jesus gave this sermon to those who already had come to believe in him, a group of Jewish disciples. This sermon would detail how Christians were to conduct themselves as members of the Church—the New Israel. So Matthew depicts Jesus as the New Moses delivering the New Law to the New Israel.

In Luke, as we heard today, Jesus gives his first major sermon, not from the top of a mountain. In fact, St. Luke tells us that Jesus came down from the mountain, after a night of prayer, already having named his 12 apostles, and begins to teach a large crowd on a stretch of level ground, what is called, his Sermon on the Plain. Here Luke emphasizes that the Lord’s teachings are meant for all—not just those on top of the mountain, but all peoples, of all times, of all places are called to learn from Him and believe in Him.

He comes down the mountain into the lives of ordinary people. What a beautiful detail. For the Lord gives us here an example to follow. Our preaching is not meant just for inside the Church at Mass. That’s important of course. Good preaching at Mass from the ordained needs to shape and form and guide the people of God. But the Word of God, the Gospel, needs to be carried out into the world, down the mountain, on the same level as the ordinary folk.

Bishop Perez used to always say, we need to meet people where they are with the truth of the Gospel to invite them into the life of Christ. We meet people where they are, like Jesus, coming down from the mountain onto the plain. We need to share with them the truth of the Gospel. That doesn’t mean watering down or changing the Gospel, but it does mean using concepts they’ll understand, with attentiveness to the concrete details of their life, their struggles, challenges, worries, and hopes. And we need to invite them into the life of Christ. Yes we meet them where they are, but we are tasked with inviting them into something new—to conversion of mind, and heart, belief in Christ, and participation in the life of the Church.

And that’s not something, of course, that only the ordained or tasked with. The ordained are tasked with preaching at Mass. But the entire Church needs to be that presence of Christ out in the world, sharing the Gospel with unbelieving friends, neighbors, and strangers.

Today’s saint, Peter Claver, was a young Jesuit, who left his native spain, to live among the slaves of the new world. He cared for them, brought them medicine, food, bread, and other items that would help them survive in this new land, and of course, the Good news of the Gospel. He became a slave among the slaves. Sharing the Gospel in the world always means humbling ourselves, coming down and meeting people where they are, with the truth of the Gospel.

May we be faithful to this task today and all days, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all Christians may be diligent in bringing the truth of the Gospel into every sphere of society, and for all those who harden their hearts toward God, for those who have left the Church, for all those in serious sin, for their conversion and the conversion of all hearts.

For our young people on their first day of school today, that they may be blessed with openness to the goodness and truth of the Gospel, for harmony in their classrooms despite this year's many challenges, and for peace in their families.

For an end to slavery, human trafficking, and all forms of inhumane oppression, for the protection and respect of human life.

For those whose lives are marked by suffering, illness, or grief, that they may find hope in the promises of Christ.

For the repose of the souls of the dead, for all of the souls of purgatory, and for N. for whom this mass is offered.

Heavenly Father, hear the prayers of your pilgrimage Church, grant us what we truly need to remain faithful to your Son in all things. Through Christ Our Lord.

2nd Week of OT 2020 - Friday - Apostles and Bishops and Us

The calling forth of the Apostles is a fitting scripture reading for us to reflect upon, particularly in light of yesterday’s news that Bishop Perez has been called forth by the Holy Father to be the next Archbishop of Philadelphia.

The word Apostle, comes from the Greek, Apostolein. Which means “to send”. We can see the English word “post” in there, like a postage stamp is used to send things, or a post office, a place where you send things, or simply to post, is “to send” something.

An apostle is first summoned by Christ. He is called from the world. He is called from the greater number of disciples. He is summoned to have a special intimacy with the Lord and to receive a special mission. In the case of the Apostles during the earthly ministry of Jesus, the Lord gives them a special mission of preaching and driving out demons. They are to do what he has done, what they have seen and witnessed him doing. In a sense, he’s already gone before them, showing them that the task is possible.

In their preaching, they shall use the words that they have heard him using, calling sinners to repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand, to turn away from their sins, to change their ways, that their lives may better reflect the values of God.

And they are to engage in spiritual warfare with the powers of darkness, driving away the entities and attitudes and forms of spiritual slavery through the power of God, the power given to them from God himself.

Having spent time with the Lord, having received their marching orders, the Lord then sends them out into the unknown. There they will encounter hostility, as he has encountered it. They will have to answer questions, make decisions, speak words some—many—are not willing to hear—helping them break from the sinful habits of the past in order to prepare for a future with God.

At the age of 32, St. Francis de Sales, whom we honor today was ordained a bishop. For 20 years, he labored zealously for the conversion of the Calvinists, administrated his diocese, and also found time to write his spiritual opus, The Introduction to the Devout Life, which hasn’t gone out of print in 400 years.

We certainly invoke the intercession of the bishop St. Francis and all those apostle saints and bishop saints, for Bishop Perez, called forth from Cleveland to fulfill the Apostolic mission within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. We recognize that we too, in our own way, are called to be with the Lord, that we may preach and drive out demons in the unknown territories of our lives. May we receive all the help we need from God for that purpose, 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, and turn to the Lord in their sins with sincere contrition.

For Bishop Perez, for the churches of Philadelphia and Cleveland, for our future bishop, whomever he may be, for faithfulness to the Apostolic mission.

For the safety of all at the March for Life today, and that the witness to the dignity of human life may bring about greater protection for the unborn and conversion 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

3rd Sunday of Advent 2017 - Joy and Liberation

This last week, Bishop Perez celebrated Mass for about 50 inmates at the Cuyahoga County Jail. Our diocese has a fairly strong outreach to the imprisoned: mindful of the Lord’s teaching, “when I was imprisoned, you visited me.” Visiting those imprisoned, spending time with them, bringing them the Sacraments of the Church, is an important ministry, helping the imprisoned to remember that God has not abandoned them.

Whatever the circumstances leading up to their imprisonment, a knowledge of God’s love and God’s presence can help them find redemption and hopefully make a positive return to society.
So Bishop Perez celebrated Mass this week in anticipation of Christmas, just a week away. And he shared a little reflection on the Christmas story. He noted that the beautiful depictions of the Nativity scene we see on Christmas Cards, are not entirely accurate. Jesus was born in a cold, dirty cave, into a “real mess” said the Bishop.

Bishop likened the situation of the Holy Family on Christmas to some of the prisoner’s situations, which might also be described as a “real mess.” But the Christmas message is that it is precisely into the real mess of our lives that the Christ Child desires to be born: into the messiness, into the challenges and hardships, into the illnesses and financial concerns, into the addictions and family divisions. And the Bishop prayed that “As you confront what you are confronting, may you come face-to-face with the Christ Child.”

This week also the Church celebrated the feast of a saint who was himself imprisoned. St. John of the Cross was imprisoned, nearly starved, and publicly flogged by his own religious community. Not for committing a crime, they opposed and imprisoned St. John for attempting to reform his community according to the rule, the statutes, of his religious order. St. John saw that his community had abandoned the austerity, the poverty, and the discipline called for by the Carmelite Rule, but when he called for reform, he was silenced and imprisoned.  Some people don’t like to be told that they are not being faithful to God!

In prison St. John came to know the cross quite acutely; for there he learned to unite his sufferings with the suffering and death of Jesus, as he sat month after month in his dark narrow cell.
But, he did not blame God for his situation, he did not become bitter because of the injustice. His sufferings did not diminish his desire for holiness. Rather, his desire for union with God increased. He passed the time reflecting on the Scriptures which he had memorized and composing poetry. In the darkness of the prison, he bloomed into a great mystical poet and theologian, and even enjoyed a depth of prayer that could be described as ecstatic. In the dark dank prison cell he discovered joy, the joy of the cross.

We, present here today, are not imprisoned, like the inmates of the County Prison or like St. John of the cross, but there’s likely a measure of messiness to each of our lives, or perhaps we feel imprisoned by circumstances beyond our control. And Advent helps us to prepare for new ways to encounter Christ in whatever we are facing.

The third Sunday of Advent is traditionally called Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is Latin for rejoice. During this holy season we look forward in joy for the coming of our savior. On this Gaudete Sunday, St. Paul give us what sounds like an insane teaching: rejoice in the Lord always, In all circumstances give thanks. Paul writes these words just about 10 years before he himself would be imprisoned because of his preaching of the Gospel of Christ. Rejoice always. Really? Even in prison? Unemployment? Marital difficulties? Even when I seem to be failing at all life’s demands? I think Paul would, yes, rejoice always.

Of course, we don’t rejoice over the hardships and injustices themselves—over the unfortunate events and family divisions. St. Paul is saying, Christians are able to rejoice despite these trials because the Lord is near.

I think this is one dimension of the “liberty to captives” that Isaiah prophesied about in our first reading: that Christians are never truly captive, we are never truly alone, never truly abandoned because the Lord is near, and he gives us the freedom to be faithful despite our temptations and hardships.

Another dimension of this liberty that Jesus the Messiah brings is that he actually does help us mend the broken relationships, he helps us overcome the imprisoning sinful tendencies, he heals the wounds of sin and division in our life when we let him. Sometimes the working of grace doesn’t happen as quickly as we would like, or in the manner we first expected. Sometimes the Lord urges us to change our unrealistic expectations or to work harder for the peace we long for or to trust and fast and pray more deeply.

St. Paul writes about joy over 20 times in his New Testament letters. Joy is to be the defining characteristic of the Christian. Joy comes not from being free of crosses, but being filled with the life of the Lord despite those crosses, uniting ourselves to Jesus through those crosses. Joy comes from knowing the Lord and experiencing his nearness. The imprisoned Christian can be more full of joy than the spoiled Atheist in the midst of his mansion and earthly treasures.

If anyone here is experiencing a joylessness this Advent season, I encourage you to seek the Lord’s presence more deeply in prayer, in scripture, in the eucharistic chapel, in service of the poor. Joylessness is often a result of taken our focus off the Lord and onto the non-essentials and worldly pursuits. So repent of those times you’ve allowed selfishness or anxiety distract you from the closeness of the Lord, that you may be filled with his life and joy, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Tuesday - 22nd Week of OT 2017 - Miracles happen through encountering Christ

At last night’s Vespers Service at the Cathedral proceeding today’s installation, Bishop Perez spoke about how miracles occur when we encounter Christ—how Jesus met people where they were and confronted them with the power of His Truth. How each of us could speak of a time in our life, when Christ became real for us, and how that changed our life forever.

Jesus’ miracle working is perfectly on display in this morning’s Gospel: the man, afflicted with unclean spirits is cleansed through an encounter with Christ.

In Jesus’ culture, the unclean ones were to be avoided, shunned, lest they spread their corruption, their insanity, their demons. But Jesus goes to even to the unclean, and through His authority and power as God, cleanses them in his mercy.

Several lessons become clear from this Gospel. One: there is no soul so unclean, that it is not invited to encounter the mercy of God through Jesus Christ. This is a simple and profound truth that we reflected upon quite thoroughly during the Year of Mercy. Yet it is a truth that we need to repeat especially to troubled souls who are deeply afflicted by the severity of their sins and demons.

Two, as the demons were expelled, they came out of the man without hurting him. Turning our lives over to Jesus does not hurt as much as we think it will. Conversion involve a cross, but the end result of being cleansed of demons, brings a lightness, a wholeness, and a joy that outweighs the demonic slavery. We should not fear conversion.

Three, the Church is both sent and equipped for the ministry of casting out the unclean spirits of our world. Jesus cast out demons through his power and authority, and not only is that power and authority given to the Church, but the Lord sends us out to use it, to help souls encounter Christ by sharing with them the power of his Truth, will help set souls free. We must not fear new faces nor new places in spreading the mercy of Christ.

May the Lord open our minds and hearts to the power and authority of his mercy. May we reject those interests that lead us away from communion with Him and may he renew our minds and revive our love and commitment to His Gospel, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For Bishop Nelson Perez, on this, the day of his installation as 11th Bishop of Cleveland, may he be preserved always in His ministry and aided by the Holy Spirit in uniting and shepherding the diverse peoples of this diocese in Catholic faith, hope, and love.

For all those afflicted with demons, those who are overwhelmed with the Spirit of the World, that, through the ministry of the Church, they may know the cleansing power and mercy of Christ.

For Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of September: “That our parishes, animated by a missionary spirit, may be places where faith is communicated and charity is seen.” We pray to the Lord.

For the sick and afflicted, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, for victims of natural disaster and inclement weather, especially the people of Houston Texas, those who suffer from war, violence, and terrorism, for the mentally ill, those with addictions, and the imprisoned, for those who struggle to live the call of Christian chastity, for the comfort of the dying and the consolation of their families.

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased priests and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom. We pray.

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.

15th Sunday in OT 2017 - Making the soul fertile ground for encountering Christ

You’ve probably heard the news that Holy Father Pope Francis has appointed a new bishop, His Excellency Bishop Nelson Perez to the diocese of Cleveland. I was able to meet Bishop Perez on Tuesday. A number of the clergy were able to concelebrate with him at the Cathedral, and then had lunch with him at the Cathedral rectory.

My first impression is that Bishop Perez is an extremely relatable, congenial man. If you have the means, you should check out on the internet the interview he did on Fox 8. Very relatable. I think he will be refreshing to our diocese, surprising, and also challenging.

At the Mass on Tuesday, Bishop Perez preached on an idea that has come up often in the preaching of Pope Francis over the last few years, that of “encounter”, or “encuentro” in Pope Francis’ native-tongue. Bishop Perez explained how as Christ is filled with compassion and mercy, so too must mercy and compassion be at the heart of the Church, and in the heart of every Christian. And whether we are trapped in sin or steadily progressing in sanctity, we are able to encounter the Lord. In his mercy, the Lord meets us where we are, and calls us to holiness and deeper faith.

The Gospel on Tuesday was all about how the Lord sends his disciples out into the world to preach the Gospel and to perform the works of mercy. Through preaching and living the Gospel, each one of us is called to go out and help others encounter Christ.

Parents are to help their children encounter Christ, spouses are to help their mates encounter Christ. A good neighbor helps us encounter Christ through their kindness and charity.

Tuesday was also the feast of St. Benedict, a very fitting day to preach about “encounter”. St. Benedict is truly one of the most important saints in Church history.  Benedict was born into a rich Italian family in the year 480 and went to complete his studies in Rome.  Around the age of 20, became a hermit; he went to live in a cave for three years in Subiaco, Italy.

Why would a wealthy, academically gifted young man go to live in a cave? For one, he sought what we all seek: happiness! He believed that he could be happy seeking Jesus Christ in the silence and solitude of a cave. He was right. He encountered Christ in a place that very few people choose to look.

Because of his sanctity, Benedict quickly attracted many followers, who like him wished to withdraw from the world in order to strive after holiness through a life of work and prayer.  To house his company, Benedict built twelve monasteries, and around the year 550, he left Subiaco to start the monastery at Montecassino.  It is there that he wrote his famous Rule, “The Rule of St. Benedict”
 Benedict lived in a time when the classical world was breaking apart—bloody wars were tearing down the civilization of the Greco-Roman world.  Barbarians were sweeping through Europe. These were the dark ages. European culture was crumbling. Yet within the Benedictine Monastery a different culture of work and prayer and learning and love of God and encounter with Christ prevailed.  The monasteries became beacons of hope for the people of Europe.

Amidst the barbarian armies and the crumbling culture, Benedict’s monasteries became potent force in rebuilding Europe.  The very first universities sprung up from the monastic schools.  So, if you went to college, or benefited in some way by someone that did, you can thank St. Benedict.
Fast forward 1400 years to the 1950s.  The Bishops of the Second Vatican Council saw danger looming on the horizon again: a new modern barbarism spreading throughout the world, a godlessness threatening the very foundations of civilization.

And, in the documents of Vatican II, the holy bishops stressed that not only monks and priests and nuns and bishops are called to strive for holiness, but all Christians should develop vibrant prayers lives and to generosity in charitable service.

In the monasteries, Benedict’s lived out a rhythm, a harmony of work and prayer; yet the ultimate aim of the monk’s was to seek God. Benedict wrote: Nihil amori Christi praeponere—Prefer nothing to the love of Christ.  Holiness consists of this: preferring nothing to the love of Christ.

So many of our worldly pursuits keep us from real happiness because they keep us from encountering Christ. Sadly, so often, we prefer our cell phones to Christ, our credit cards to Christ, our vices to Christ. We prefer gossip over prayer, lust over purity, and greed over self-giving.

St. Benedict is often depicted in art with a finger pressed to his lips because he so valued silence.  Silence was such an important part of his rule because in silence we learn how to listen to the quiet voice of God. Silence is often indispensable in encounter the love God has for us.

The Christian Philosopher Svoren Kierkegaard said if he were a doctor he would prescribe as a remedy for all the world’s disorders, “silence”.  St. Benedict would no doubt agree.

Our culture abhors silence; it is addicted to stimulation.  We have to constantly have the television or internet going.   The constant stimulation and busyness bring not cheerfulness, but exhaustion and emptiness.  One of the spiritual dangers of having cell phones that can access the internet anywhere, anytime, is that one never learns how to sit in silence.

The cell phones and televisions in every room of the house is a great threat to health and holiness of the family.  I know of many families who therefore have a very healthy rule, that between certain times, all electronics are turned off.  Perhaps between 5:30 and 8pm: no tv, no video games, no cell phones, especially at the dinner table.  Study and conversation build up the family in ways that all of the electronic gadgets cannot possibly.  Perhaps a family rosary must be prayed before the television is even allowed to be turned on.

Through silence, simplicity, and prayer, we make our souls rich soul for the word of God to be planted, as we heard in today’s Gospel.

Parents, if you want your children to be happy, make your family as fertile in faith as possible; don’t teach or pressure our children to have empty lives, to be successful according to the values of our culture, but above all to seek to put their gifts and talents in the service of God. Entering a monastery, where one learns to encounter Christ in simplicity, is not failure. Entering the priesthood, consecrated life, these are not vocations for those who can’t do anything else.

Our seminary here in Cleveland has over 80 young men studying for the priesthood, we’ve seen an increase in young women entering convents, why? Likely because many of our young people, like Benedict, see the emptiness the world offers, and they want something more. And for that they should be encouraged!

But whatever our vocation, each of us, should make time for silence, to make an effort each day to encounter Christ through prayer, to push away the non-essential objects of the world, to prefer nothing to the love of Christ, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

July 13 2017 - Encountering Jesus

On Tuesday, I had the opportunity of meeting our future Bishop, His Excellency Bishop Nelson Perez. A number of the clergy were able to concelebrate with him and Bishop Thomas at the Cathedral, and then had lunch with him at the Cathedral rectory.

Though Bishop Thomas presided at the Mass, Bishop Perez preached on encountering Christ. He said, as Christ is filled with compassion and mercy, so too is the heart of the Church. The Lord meets us where we are. Whether we are trapped in sin or steadily progressing in sanctity. Whoever you are, you can “encounter” the Lord wherever we are. Pope Francis has spoken on that theme of "encuentro" - “encounter”, as well,  and I think our new bishop will continue to expand on that theme as well.

The suffering, those in need, are to encounter the Lord, through us. This is why, in the Gospel, he sends his disciples out: to preach, to call to repentance, to cure the sick, raise the dead, cleans the lepers, and drive out demons. Those in need are to encounter the Lord’s mercy and compassion through us.

Going out and doing these things, being engaged in the works of mercy, is not just icing on the cake, these aren’t just activities to pass the time when we don’t have other things going on, they are our way of life. We are a missionary Church.

Missionary comes from the latin word, missio, which means  ‘sent’—the greek word of course is apostein, from which we get the word, apostle. We are missioned, we are sent by the Lord, to do these things in his name, whether you are a prince or a pauper, a king or a farmer.

July 13 is the feast of a saintly King who took seriously the Lord’s command. King Henry II was Holy Roman Emperor became a saint, by acting justly, spreading the faith using the opportunities God gave him.

It was his custom to undertake nothing without prayer and often saw angels and martyrs guiding him—protecting him and his army who from the barbarian hoards which sought to ravage and pillage his land.   He promoted monastic reform where needed, believing monasteries to be indispensable centers of prayer and focal points for the civilization of people.  When Saint Henry was not ruling over his empire and leading his army to stabilize Europe, he was cultivating a holy marriage with his wife, St. Cunegunda.

His people encountered through his justice, through his protection, through his cultivation of the faith, through his holy marriage.

May St. Henry’s prayers help us to help others encounter Christ for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For Bishop Nelson Perez, the next shepherd of our diocese;  for our Apostolic Administrator, Bishop Daniel Thomas;  for Bishop-emeritus Richard Lennon; that the Holy Spirit will continue to enlighten and empower them with grace, confidence and hope.  We pray.

That all Christians may take seriously the vocation of helping others encounter Christ. We pray.
For all earthly kings and government representatives, that they may use their temporal power responsibly for the true good of all. We pray.

That Christian spouses may reflect Christ’s love to each other and that they may be a sacrament of Christ’s love to the world.

That our young people may take seriously the missionary call of Christ, that they will turn away from the evils of our culture to spread the good news of Christ’s eternal kingdom.

That the love of Christ, the divine physician, may bring healing to the sick and comfort to all the suffering.

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

O God, who 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.