5th Week of Lent 2024 - Friday - The light of faithfulness to God

 In the 10th Chapter of the Gospel of John, Jesus comes to Jerusalem on the Feast of the Dedication, which is known today as Hanukkah. The Feast of the Dedication commemorates the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple during the second century before Christ, after it had been desecrated by the Seleucid ruler Antiochus Epiphanes. The festival celebrates the triumph of light over darkness and the restoration of Jewish worship in the Temple. When the Maccabees sought to light the Temple's menorah—the seven-branched lampstand—they found they only had enough oil for it to remain lit for one day, but miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days—hence the celebration of light overcoming the darkness.

And it was on this feast, that Jesus, standing in the Portico of that very temple, declares, “The Father and I are one.” And this morning we here the reaction to his words: “The Jews picked up rocks to stone Jesus.” And their reaction is understandable. And if anyone else besides Jesus uttered those words, their action would be justified—the punishment for blasphemy was stoning. But for Jesus, those words, were true—not blasphemy, but revelation.

And consider the significance of his revelation on the Feast of the Dedication. Just as the Feast of Dedication celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, Jesus, is proclaiming his role in bringing God’s light to the world. Just as the Temple radiates with the light of God—Jesus IS the Temple.

And just as the Feast of Dedication celebrates the importance of remaining faithful to God and persevering in the face of opposition, Jesus remains determined and faithful to God His Father, despite the hostility he faces, both in this passage, and ultimately, in his Passion which we celebrate a week from today.

One week from Good Friday, we are challenged by this reading to continue to seek purification from all that keeps us from shining with the light of God. We pray for our catechumens and candidates, for their purification and enlightenment. And then also, we a challenged to embrace faithfulness to God, like our Lord, in the face of the hostility we encounter—from the world, from the devil, from our own disordered passions and fears. 

May the Light of God and the faithfulness of Jesus be seen and detected in our final Lenten penances and preparations for the sacred triduum, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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That God may be pleased to increase faith and understanding in the catechumens and candidates who approach the sacraments of initiation in the coming Paschal Solemnity. 

For those without faith, those with hearts hardened toward God, and for those searching for Him.

For strength to resist temptation, and the humility to sincerely repent of sin.

That through fasting and self-denial, we may be ever more conformed to Christ.

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

Mercifully hear, O Lord, the prayers of your Church and turn with compassion to the hearts that bow before you, that those you make sharers in your divine mystery may always benefit from your assistance.

1st Week of Ordinary Time 2024 - Wednesday - Speak Lord, your servant is listening

 As I explained yesterday, from now until Lent we will be reading sequentially through the initial chapters of the Gospel of Mark. We will hear of the Lord’s healings and teachings and miracles and exorcisms.

We will also be reading a lot from the historical books of the Old Testament up until Lent: I & II Samuel, I & II Kings.  

I Samuel opens in a dark time in Israel's history. We even see those themes in today’s reading: revelations and visions from God were uncommon and infrequent, Eli’s vision was so weak he couldn’t see, and Samuel is stumbling in darkness, straining to discern the voice of God.

These dark days in Israel were partially a result of their unfaithfulness. 

Prior to the Conquest of Canaan, the Israelites were commanded by God, “faithfully keep and obey all these orders which I am giving you, so that you and your children after you may prosper for ever, doing what is good and right in the eyes of God.”

And yet at the conclusion of the conquest, the Book of Judges records the troubling statement that everyone was doing what is "right in his own eyes". The Israelites were in direct violation of their covenant obligation to act as God commanded.

When an individual insists on only doing what is “right in his own eyes” – his spiritual blindness brings him misery. When a whole nation is doing that, it’s so much worse. This explains a lot of the misery in our world today, a lot of the darkness—when we only do what is right “in our own eyes”—turning our eyes and ears and hearts away from the Lord—failing to raise our children in the ways of the Lord—there is misery on a global scale.

Anyway, God is so good, that in times of misery and darkness, God raises up prophets, workers, teachers, priests, to bring individuals and nations back to God. And that’s what we find God doing in today’s reading. We read of the call of Samuel, God raising up Samuel who will be sent as a prophet to Israel. Notice, that as the story begins, Samuel is so spiritually hard of hearing that he is unable to recognize that it is God talking to him. Wisely, he learns from Eli to humble himself and surrender to whatever God wishes to tell him. Samuel goes on to play a very important role in the history of Israel; when Samuel spoke, all of Israel listens, but only because Samuel first learned to listen to God.

As I’ve said before, God has chosen us to be his prophets in this dark age. It is a vocation and mission each of us has received at baptism. Like Samuel, this is a call we might only come to realize gradually, but God IS calling us to call the fallen back to wholeness in God. But first we must learn to listen to God, through prayer, through the discernment of truth by meditating on God’s word. May we each respond to God as Samuel did, “speak, Lord, your servant is listening” for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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

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

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

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

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

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

2nd Week in Ordinary Time 2022 - Wednesday - Interacting with Pharisees (part two)

 
As I mentioned yesterday, chapter two and the beginning of chapter 3 of St. Mark’s Gospel contain a series of five vignettes in which Jesus performs a miracle or reveals something about his identity, and the pharisees, scribes, and onlookers react with disapproval, suspicion, and contention. 

Today’s healing of the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath is the last of these five vignettes, and following this Sabbath miracle, the pharisees begin to conspire with the Herodians to kill Jesus. 

What was their problem with Jesus’ miracle? They claimed he was once again violating the sabbath. But, Scripture is very clear that even on the sabbath when manual labor is forbidden, it is still lawful, in fact, laudatory, to help people. It’s even commanded. Deuteronomy says, “You shall not see your countryman’s donkey or his ox fallen down on the way, and pay no attention to them; you shall certainly help him to raise them up”. Mercy outweighs rigid adherence to the Law.

Because of their hardness of heart, the pharisees intellects had become darkened, their wills perverted. And, in reaction to Jesus’ good act, the Pharisees conspire to perform an evil act on the Sabbath, murdering Jesus. And so fierce is their wrath that they join forces with political opportunities whom they would normally avoid at all costs: the Herodians. 

The Pharisees are a prime example that the darkening of the intellect and the perverting of the will stem from self-righteousness and sin. We literally cannot think straight when sin has taken root in our hearts. The prideful will justify morally reprehensible acts, they will seek to silence truth, deface beauty, and punish goodness. Their twisted minds will often latch onto one apparent good, like the avoidance of work on the sabbath, 

 to the exclusion of greater goods, avoiding murder and worshipping the son of God. To those who have become accustomed to darkness, light become obnoxious to them, even painful and hateful. Those who surround themselves with worldly errors and indulge the deceits of sin grow further and further from God.

But just has God sent his son into the midst of the Pharisees, like God sent the youth David into battle with the Philistine giant, God sends us to perform mighty deeds, and hidden acts of charity, to speak powerful words of truth and whispers of compassion. Because as long as the modern pharisees and philistines  draw breath they can be reached, their souls are not beyond hope. We are sent to rescue the lost sheep, those who desire salvation and eternal life with God, even those who don’t recognize that yet—to bring the light of Christ into the darkest of places, the darkest of souls.

So may we be faithful in our God given task, in living out the Christian faith, and spreading the Gospel in this day and age, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For the holy Church of God, that the Lord may graciously watch over her, care for her, and give her strength and courage in her mission.

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

For all who are oppressed by any kind of need, that the Lord may grant them relief and move Christians to come to the aid of the suffering.

For an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated religious life, for all monastics and hermits, and that all Christians may seek the perfection for which they were made.

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

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

December 21 2021 - Winter is past, the Sun is Rising

On this darkest day of the year, the first day of winter, we hear a surprising message from the Song of Songs: “winter is past, the rains are over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth”.  Those of us who live in Northeastern Ohio know that the snows are just beginning, the flowers won’t be seen for several months. Yet, the Church proclaims this day as a spiritual springtime, a time of new growth, a time where light begins to appear again.

The Gospel reading as well is full of life and vibrancy: the pregnant Virgin Mother going in haste to visit her once barren cousin Elizabeth, the baby John the Baptist leaping in his mother’s. There is singing, there is the joyful expectancy of the two mothers, there is praising of God. 

These readings remind us of the importance of walking by faith. Naturally, to our senses, it may be cold and the darkest day of the year. But we walk by faith, not by sight. Supernaturally, our hearts are burning with the fire of live as Christmas draws near.

Some people experience a deep depression this time of year, as the sun is seen less and less. Christians, though are called to rejoice in spite of the darkness of the world. We turn our faces to the light of the true sun. 

The O Antiphon, on this darkest day of the year, sung at vespers speaks of the sun that rises from the east: O Oriens, splendor lucis æternæ, brightness of light eternal.  come and enlighten those sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death. Christ is the Oriens, the eternal light and sun of justice who rises in just a few days. 

Today, may we bask in the light of our coming savior through our prayer and charity towards those in need, may we bring his light into the dark corners of the world, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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We raise up our prayers of petitions, as we await with longing the Advent of Christ the Lord.

That those in the darkness of error and faithlessness may be enlightened by the light of Christ through the witness of the Church

For the protection of the unborn, and the overturning of all laws lacking respect for the dignity of human life.

That those struggling with winter depression or addiction may find peace and joy in Christ.

That Christ may banish disease, drive out hunger, ward off every affliction, and strengthen all who suffer persecution for the sake of the Gospel.

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. 

 

December 14 2021 - St. John of the Cross - "O night more loving than the rising sun"

 In the course of the Christian life, there are times when the brightness of God’s closeness sustains us and strengthens us—when it is easy to pray and a delight to pray—when God’s will is relatively easy to discern and follow, when God’s presence is unobscured by our anxieties. But there are also times in the spiritual life—in the Christian life—of inevitable dryness, where the God seems far away, distant, even absent.  

Today’s Saint St. John of the Cross understood darkness. After joining the Carmelites, it became clear that many of his brother monks were not all that interested in prayer, penance, and spiritual growth. They became so annoyed with John that they imprisoned him in a tiny cell.

John took advantage of the darkness and the quiet and the solitude of imprisonment to seek Christ, and composed some of the most beautiful mystical poetry in history. 

And though I suffer darknesses
in this mortal life,
that is not so hard a thing;
for even if I have no light
I have the life of heaven.
For the blinder love is
the more it gives such life,
holding the soul surrendered,
living without light in darkness.

For when once the will
is touched by God himself,
it cannot find contentment
except in the Divinity;
but since his Beauty is open
to faith alone, the will
tastes him…which is so gladly found.

What a wonderful saint to honor and imitate during Advent. For during Advent when practice a sort of spiritual solidarity with Ancient Israel, waiting and longing for Christ in the darkness. For centuries, many thought that God had abandoned his people. The faithful remnant, kept the hope allowed, continued to pray and meditate on the Scriptures and the promises of the Messiah.

St. John of the Cross helps us to look for God in our own experience of darkness and isolation. When God seems distant, when hardships grow great, when the brokenness of the world seems beyond repair, when so many seem to be falling away from the Church, instead of losing hope, we must recommit to seeking God in the darkness. God in fact allows us to undergo spiritual darkness, spiritual trial, that our faith, hope, and love may be grow. 

For spiritual night can lead to an ever deeper experience of God; as John of the Cross wrote, “O night, that was more loving than the rising sun, o night, which joined the lover, to the beloved one” for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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We raise up our prayers of petitions, as we await with longing the Advent of Christ the Lord.

That through self-denial and embrace of the cross the Christian people may experience ever-deeper union with Christ this Advent.

For the members of the Carmelite Order, that their life of prayer and penance will be for the Church a source of renewal and strength.

For an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life and a strengthening of all marriages in holiness.

That Christ may banish disease, drive out hunger, ward off every affliction, and strengthen all who suffer persecution for the sake of the Gospel. And in a special way we pray for all victims of natural disaster and adverse weather, especially the victims of the recent tornados in our country.

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.

2nd Sunday of Advent 2021 - "Take off your robe of mourning and misery"

 

It was the worst of times….and the worst of times…During the most disastrous time in Israel’s history, the time of the Babylonian exile, lived the author of today’s first reading: the prophet Baruch.  The armies of the Babylonians had swept through Judea, killing many, laying siege to Jerusalem and destroying the city, burning the temple to the ground, and carrying-off the elite of the nation into slavery.  

Think of how horrific this must have been.  The chosen people, living in the heart of the kingdom, David’s city, and watching the temple built by Solomon be destroyed.  The Temple was supposed to be the spiritual center where one day all people of the world would come to worship in harmony.  Jerusalem is sacked, the nation destroyed, the temple burnt to the ground, priests and civic leaders carried away.  Think of something like the United States being conquered, Washington DC being destroyed, the capital and the white house burnt, our government leaders taken into slavery AND our churches demolished and priests and bishops arrested and taken away.  That is the background for the first reading today.  It seemed to the Israelites as if God had abandoned his people.

And what was the prophet Baruch’s message? Standing in the rubble of Jerusalem, the prophet says, don't be sad. “Jerusalem, take off your robe of mourning and misery; and look to the east.”  Why the east?  The east is the direction of the rising sun. 

So Baruch is saying don’t mourn. It looks dark right now.  But you will see God arise and set captives free, establishing justice, restoring the glory of Israel. 

And that theme of hope recurs over and over in the Old Testament: that in life’s darkest moments, when things look bleakest, we must trust that God has not abandoned us, that he will ultimately fulfill his promises to deliver us from evil. 

Just about 50 years after Baruch’s prophecies, in the year 538 BC, the Babylonians fell to the Persians, and the Persian King Cyrus freed the exiles, and allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple.

Now fast forward, five hundred years. It was the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar,

when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas.

Again, another dark time in Israel’s history.  Tiberius Caesar the successor of Caesar Augustus was a ruthless dictator—oppressive, violent, capricious.  Pontius Pilate, a name we know pretty well was Tiberius’ equally ruthless and violent local representative in Judea.  Governor Pilate was only too willing to crucify Jews by the thousands; he raised the Roman insignia in the Temple, which was blasphemous.  Herod, the tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother, were fearsome, hateful, ruthless, collaborators with the Roman Government. 

Annas and Caiaphas the Jewish high priests, as leaders of God’s flock were supposed to be men of righteousness, but they used their religious power for political gain, and instead of conducting the worship of the Temple in righteousness according to God’s commandments, they had allowed corruption to sink into Temple life.

St Luke sets the stage—he calls to mind this corrupt and vicious hierarchy which governed political and religious life in the first century.  And after describing these dark circumstances, Saint Luke tells us that God made his instrument not one of these high and mighty men. God used as his instrument this nobody, John, in the desert.  Not a mighty ruler, but a man eating locusts in the desert.  

And John’s message?  God is about to act again.  To all of you who are oppressed, beaten down, hoping, waiting, tired of the violence, the corruption, and the suffering: 

"Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God."

A change is coming, a revolution is on its way.  The destruction of the old oppressive powers is at hand.  God is about to act. So, “Prepare, ye, the way of the Lord.”

How are the people to prepare?  John called them to a baptism of water and repentance.  A baptism of water in the river Jordan, calling to mind the passing through the waters of the Red Sea, when God led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt.  God is going to free you, just as he freed the Israelites from slavery, leading them into a promised land. 

And John called them to repentance. The word he uses for repentance is metanoia, the greek word, that meant to change your mind, change your heart, change your attitude, change your behavior, so that it is in keeping with the God’s commandments. You can’t and won’t be prepared for God to break into your life without repentance.

The world of Tiberius Caesar, the oppression of Pilate, the religious malaise of Annas and Caiaphas had stunted their hopes, and the chosen people had fallen into mediocrity.  And John was saying, get your hearts and minds ready, because God is about to act, the in breaking of the kingdom of God in your midst.  

During Advent we consider how God has already begun such good work in us, bringing us goodness, freedom, and peace, but also how God, as St. Paul said in the Epistle, wants to bring that good work to completion. He wants to strengthen us in virtue, he wants to drive out hopelessness, he wants to conquer addiction, he wants to transform selfishness into Christ-like self-donation. But we have to do our part. “Prepare the way of the Lord” requires some work on our part. 

If you can’t identify some crooked aspects of your life that need to be made straight, look again. If you can’t identify some valleys of selfishness that need to be filled in with generosity, look again. If you can’t identify some rough parts of your personality that need to be smoothed over, look again.  

If God can break into history in the dark time of Caesar, Pilate, Herod, Caiaphas and Annas, he can break into our lives. The Gospel, however, exposes these men to be on the wrong side of history, for they rejected Christ when he came. But that doesn’t mean we have to be.

May we prepare the way for the Lord to come more deeply into our lives, by repenting as John tells us, by renewing our hope in Christ by taking God’s promises to heart, that the good work God has begun in us may be brought to completion, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

August 6 2021 - Transfiguration - Luminous Mystery Par Excellence

 

In the Year of the Rosary 2002, Pope St. John Paul II made history.  He proposed five new mysteries to the devotion of the Holy Rosary, the five luminous mysteries.  So, in addition to the 15 joyful, sorrowful, and glorious mysteries, now, we would add meditation upon Jesus Baptism in the Jordan, his self-manifestation at the wedding at Cana, his call to conversion through the preaching of the Kingdom, his Transfiguration, and the institution of the Eucharist.  

Pope St. John Paul explained that each of these luminous mysteries “is a revelation of the Kingdom now present in the very person of Jesus,” and that “The mystery of light par excellence is the Transfiguration, traditionally believed to have taken place on Mount Tabor. The glory of the Godhead shines forth from the face of Christ as the Father commands the astonished Apostles to "listen to him" and to prepare to experience with him the agony of the Passion, so as to come with him to the joy of the Resurrection and a life transfigured by the Holy Spirit.”

Jesus’ face radiating his majesty as the Son of God was burned into the minds of Peter, James, and John, who would play such important roles in the early Church. This event shed its light upon who Jesus was, his mission, and also who his followers were called to be and how they were called to follow in his footsteps.

“To look upon the face of Christ,” the saintly Pope said, “to recognize its mystery amid the daily events and the sufferings of His human life, and then to grasp the divine splendor definitively revealed in the Risen Lord...is the task of every follower of Christ" 

Why is this our task?  Because we need the light of Christ to guide us through the trials of life, just like they guided Peter, James and John in the trials of the early Church.  We need to remember who He is, so that we remember who we are called to be. When we contemplate the glorious divinity of the Lord, we are filled with his light, and become ready to face the trials of our life and the difficult task of witnessing to the Gospel and building up the Church in our own dark age.  

Like the apostle, each of us has to walk through dark valleys at times, sharing in the agony of the Passion, and yet this luminous mystery is a light in the darkness, a foreshadowing of the resurrection for Christ’s faithful ones. 

So, by the Transfiguration of the Lord may we be filled with the light of Christian Hope, and radiate that light for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That Holy Church may radiate the light of the transfigured Jesus through her preaching, teaching, works of mercy, and suffering for the sake of the Gospel.

That the Holy Father and all the ordained may find in the Transfiguration the strength and courage needed to bear the crosses which their mission entails.

For those who doubt or deny the divinity of Christ: May the Transfiguration help them believe that Jesus is true God and true man. 

That those whose lives have been disfigured by vice may find in the transfiguration the inspiration they need to begin a new life. 

For those experiencing any kind of hardship or sorrow, isolation or illness: that the glory of the Transfiguration may bring them hope and consolation.

For the deceased members of our families and parish, for all deceased priests and religious, and all the souls in purgatory, that they may come to the destiny revealed in the Transfiguration of the Lord, and for N. for whom this Mass is offered.

Heavenly Father, hear the prayers of your pilgrimage Church, and grant us what we truly need that we may follow your Son in His Passion and Death and become heirs of his glorious Resurrection. Through the same Christ Our Lord.

2nd Week of Easter 2021 - Wednesday - The invitation to believe

 “God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” This most popular verse of John’s Gospel should sound familiar, for we heard a very similar verse quite recently. On Divine Mercy Sunday, following the account of Our Lord’s post-resurrection appearance in the upper room John explains the very purpose of his Gospel: “But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.”

Through Belief we come to life. No other gospel accentuates belief like John's. The Greek verb used for belief, pisteuō is found 98 times in his gospel. After Jesus’ first miracle, the wedding at Cana, John’s notes how the disciples “began to believe in Him.”  After the Lord cured the royal official’s son, John records how the official “and his whole household came to believe.”  When Jesus gave sight to the blind man, his response was “I believe, Lord.”  

That Greek word is interesting, it has a different connotation than the latin word: credo, which comes means to credit, to affirm, to put one’s heart into a thing. That’s a good word too, don’t get me wrong. We need to affirm with our heart that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. But, the word John uses in the Greek pisteuo, comes from the word peitho, which means, to persuade. To believe in God and in Jesus Christ, means allowing God to persuade me to follow him. 

I like the different connotation there. The latin credo is a strong word. I believe. With my heart I affirm it. I put the stamp of approval on it. The Greek word though, puts the emphasis on God. God is the one beckoning, inviting, persuading me. He has sent his Son, as a sign of his love, inviting me to follow. He is worthy of belief. He is compelling. He has something to offer. 

The passage today speaks of condemnation for those who refuse to believe. For there is something terribly sad about the one who has refused to be led by God. If Jesus, God in the flesh isn’t worth following, what is, who is? The refusal to believe in Jesus, in a sense, is a refusal to be led by Goodness and Truth and Life. 

And so, yes, there is condemnation for that; there are eternal consequences to saying no to the light of Christ, to saying, I will not be persuaded by that which is most worthy. John stresses the importance of belief, because he is realistic about what is at stake. Belief leads to eternal life, but the refusal to believe—refusal to accept the invitation to life--to be persuaded by the light of God will end in eternal darkness. Will you turn and face and follow the easter light or not? And sadly, as John says, there are people who prefer darkness to light, and in the end their sad state will be exposed.

For those souls who resist belief, may we pray and offer compelling reasons to believe in Jesus in our words and deeds, for as long as they draw breath in this life, they are not without hope. For the Lord wishes to use us, to use our easter joy and integrity of life and good works—to persuade all those who would believe to himself, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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Filled with Paschal joy, let us turn earnestly to God, to graciously hear our prayers and supplications.

For the shepherds of our souls, that they may have the strength to govern wisely the flock entrusted to them by the Good Shepherd.

For the whole world, that it may truly know the peace of the Risen Christ, especially we pray for the conversion of those who refuse belief in God and Jesus the Christ, His Son.

For our parish, and for the newly initiated, that we may bear witness with great confidence to the Resurrection of Christ.

For our brothers and sisters who suffer, that their sorrow may be turned to gladness through the Christian faith.

That all of our beloved dead and all the souls in purgatory may come to the glory of the Resurrection.

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

Christmas 2020 - Celebrating the Nativity Despite the Encroaching Darkness

Despite the great turmoil out in the world this year (and the crummy weather), it is a great joy to be able to celebrate the birth of our savior with all of you either in person or virtually via live stream. 

The celebration of Christmas has interesting history. Soon after the end of the last great Christian persecution, about the year 330 AD, December 25 was designated for the celebration of the birth of Christ. Prior to that, predating the liturgical feast of the Nativity by at least a hundred years, Christians would gather every year for the Epiphany, when the wise men from the east brought gifts to the newborn savior. So, initially, Epiphany was a sort of proto-christmas In fact, it’s still on the feast of the Epiphany in many parts of the world is when gifts are exchanged, not today. Anyway, after Christianity was legalized in the Roman Empire, the Popes designated December 25 as the liturgical feast to specifically celebrate the blessed hour and moment at which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin at a stable at midnight in Bethlehem in the piercing cold.

The popularity of the feast of Christmas spread as Christianity spread throughout the known world: Christmas came to Ireland through St Patrick around 461 AD, to England through St Augustine of Canterbury around 604 AD and to the German tribes through St Boniface in 754 who basically invented the Christmas tree. The Irish monks St Columban and St Call introduced Christmas to Switzerland and Western Austria in the 600s; the Scandinavians received it through St Ansgar around 865 AD. It was brought by the brothers St Cyril and Methodius to the Slavic people in 885 AD and to Hungary by St Adalbert in 997.

By about 1100 all of the nations of Europe had accepted Christianity and Christmas was celebrated everywhere with great devotion and joy. The period from the 12th to the 16th centuries saw the development of the many beautiful Christmas traditions we now hold dear. Carols and Christmas plays were written. Devotion to the Christmas Creche of course was spread by St. Francis and the Franciscans. In fact, things got so festive, that the Pope had to dial things back a bit, he had to outlaw dancing in church on Christmas, and dressing up in outlandish costumes and playing practical jokes in church.

The Protestant Reformation brought some changes to the Christmas traditions of Europe. There were some beautiful Christmas carols that came from the Protestants. But then came the English puritans. And the puritans wishing to purge any last vestige of Catholicism from their spiritual lives denounced Catholic Christmas overly worldly and heretical, and so they launched a sort of anti-Christmas campaign in England. For a short time, as they held significant power in England, the puritans outlawed Christmas in 1642. Most people ignored the ordinances.

The Puritans finding England hostile to their anti-Catholicism, sailed for these shores. And as you might have guessed, when the Puritans came over to America, they did everything they could to suppress any vestiges of Catholic Christmas. Christmas was banned in Massachusetts in 1659. And those puritan, anti-Catholic sentiments really persisted for many years in this country. In many places there could be no Christmas trees, wrapped presents or caroling. It was not until 1870 that Christmas was designated as a federal holiday. 

We can thank our german and irish and Italian Catholic immigrants for flooding this country and bringing with them all of the wonderful Catholic traditions, including of course, Christmas mass, and beloved carols, like Silent Night, translated from the original german in 1859. 

St. Ignatius of Antioch Parish was founded in 1903 to be a home for all those immigrants who flooded Cleveland at the end of the 19th century. And, in many ways we are the descendants of those who saved Christmas in this country, infusing a very protestant and even puritan culture, with the beautiful traditions of Catholicism. And in a sense, we continue that mission don’t we?

For in 2020, For the first time in our lives, millions of Americans are being pressured by the government not to attend church for Christmas. In some states, heavy restrictions are being implemented. Will they be lifted? Maybe. Maybe this is one more phase of the war on Christmas, the war on Christ. Every year we hear stories of Christians gathered for Christmas in Africa, Syria, Iraq, and Turkey who fall victim to violent attacks and bombings. In the Middle East, more than 1 million Christians in Saudi Arabia are unable to participate in worship. Even the Vatican seems a bit reluctant to address the government infringement upon the Church in China, likely for fear of the Chinese Communists launching a new campaign of martyrdom. 

The powers of darkness hate Christmas, the powers of darkness will always be bent upon stifling Christmas. Even in these last decades, we’ve seen materialism take on greater and greater importance. Even to turn St. Nicholas, a catholic bishop who preached the true humanity of Christ, into this neo-pagan god of winter. Santa is more beloved than the Christ Child by a great portion of the population. And that’s not right. But it makes our gathering to worship the Son of God being born in the piercing cold of midnight so important. 

We need to know that God is with us, in this troubled, frightened, war-torn, disease-ridden world. And Christmas celebrates that a savior is for born for you who is Christ and Lord. In the immortal words of that great theologian, Linus Van Pelt: “That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.” “A savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord.”

The Word has been made flesh and has made his dwelling among us. He is born for us and so struggles with us, he grieves with us, he suffers with us, and he whispers “do not be afraid” when the powers of darkness begin to encroach upon us. The light of Bethlehem overcomes the darkness of the world. The love of Bethlehem overcomes the piercing cold of selfishness.

Across two thousand years, Christmas brings joy and hope and consolation. No matter who you are, no matter where you live, no matter what your circumstances, this what matters: “A savior has been born for you” “The Word is made flesh” And that’s something worth celebrating. 

And Catholics celebrate, not simply as popular culture dictates or how any world government deems what is appropriate, we celebrate as Catholics have celebrated for 2000 years, with as much beauty, and music, and food, and family, and decorations, we can muster, and of course holy mass—Christ Mass—for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Monday after Epiphany 2020 - "Light has arisen"

“The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death, light has arisen.”

Despite the great Christian joy of Christmas, the Christmas season can be a time of great darkness: winter depression grows, loneliness is deeply felt, grief from past mistakes and sins often resurfaces.   Family tensions can flare-up around Christmas gatherings. I just saw a report that the divorce rate surges after Christmas.  “How things are” is found to be very far from “how things should be.”

Yet, at this very time, when darkness overshadows so much, the Church proclaims the true Hope of the World: Christ is the light shines in the darkness.

Yesterday, we celebrated the Epiphany of the Lord, the revelation, the shining forth of Jesus as savior of the world.

On this Monday after Epiphany, the passage of Matthew Gospel describes Jesus starting his mission in Galilee.  Jesus’ Galilean ministry is a sort of Epiphany—Jesus preaching and teaching and healing manifests God’s light to a people in darkness.

He calls those in darkness to the light of repentance and discipleship.  Repentance and discipleship are the remedy for the darkness of the season. Christ is the remedy for our demons, our lunacy, our paralysis, our brokenness. In the light of Christ, our false hopes and the empty promises of the busyness and materialism of secular Christmas are exposed as illusions. And the true path to happiness, Christian discipleship, is illuminated.

The Gospel also tells us that the sick were brought to him.  If there is anything we still need to repent of, the Holy Spirit works to bring us to repentance and Jesus’s divine mercy.  But also, the Holy Spirit works to use as instruments to bring the physically, emotionally, and spiritually sick in our family and in our community to Jesus’ divine mercy, through our words, example, and actions.

May we be docile and obedient to all the Lord asks of us today, that we might be witnesses of his light, that his light may continue to shine on a people overshadowed by death, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
 
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We bring forth now our prayers of petitions.

For the conversion of all those who have turned their hearts from Christ, for those who have fallen into serious sin, for a strengthening of all of the faithful in virtue. And That God may bring the faithless to believe in His Son and increase the faith of those struggling to believe.

For Christians who are persecuted throughout the world, especially those who face martyrdom, that they may have a faith that is constant and pure. And for Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of January: that Christians, followers of other religions, and all people of goodwill may promote peace and justice in the world.

For those oppressed by hunger, sickness 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

December 2019 - First Friday Holy Hour - Light in our Darkness

During the Advent Season daylight is seen less and less, the darkness comes earlier, the weather grows colder.  Remember back in summer—the long wonderful days of summer, sunlight until 9pm?

As we near Christmas, the days get darker and darker, and in response so many of our Advent prayers and liturgies call to mind the promises of God’s light.  We watch for “the dawn from on high to break upon us”, we watch for the coming of the Lord, the coming of the Messiah. Isaiah prophecies that the coming of the messiah will bring so much light that “out of the gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind will see”.

One of the recurring themes in the Gospel is Jesus bringing light to the eyes of the blind.

What beautiful words, we hear in the Gospel today, “He touched their eyes…and their eyes were opened.” What a wonderful thing to ponder, as we kneel before the Lord in the Holy Eucharist this evening.

We wouldn’t be here tonight if the Lord had not already touched the eyes of our soul bestowing the gift of faith. As St. Thomas rightly puts it: what our physical senses fail to detect, faith rightly perceives. We perceive through faith that the Lord is truly present. We see rightly with our souls that he is here. Blessing us with his presence.

And he sees us. As he looks out upon the Church from the thousands of altars around the world, he sees souls coming to him to be healed, souls looking to him for guidance and strength, souls looking to him to be their light in the darkness and chaos of this fallen world.

Lord heal our blindnesses, Lord scatter our gloom and darknesses, Lord clarify our confused paths. Surround us, protect us, and enfold us in your light.

Through our Advent prayer, may the have pity on us, and touch the eyes of our hearts, deepen our faith, and strengthen us in his service for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

5th Week of Lent 2019 - Monday - Power Struggle

The Daily Scripture readings for the first half of Lent helped us to focus on our Lenten penances: the prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and repentance needed to help us prepare well for easter. Now in the second half of Lent, our scriptures focus on Jesus and the types of opposition he faced, and how we are to imitate Him in the Christian life.

In the first reading, innocent Susanna is unjustly condemned. Susanna, like Christ, is totally innocent, yet she is brought up on trumped up charges by those in positions of power. Susanna, like Jesus on the Cross, cries out to God, making an act of trust, she surrenders herself into the hands of God, much like Christ who says, “Father, into your hands, I commend my spirit.” 

In the Gospel, the Pharisees claim that Jesus lacks anyone to verify his divine identity. Yet, these same pharisees will conspire at Jesus’ trial, they will bring in false testimony in order to condemn Him to death.

There is a power struggle in both of these readings. Lustful men wish to use their earthly power to have their way with Susanna. The Pharisees lust for power will lead them to seek to silence the Eternal Word. Jesus exposes that the Pharisees’ lust for power is greater than their love for God. And so they engage in dark conspiracy to put Jesus to death.

Even when dark powers conspire against us, when we walk in the dark valley, as we recalled in the Psalm, our faith reminds us that God is with us. The vindication of Susanna, through the prophet Daniel, hints at Jesus’ own vindication at Easter. Though the dark powers conspire against him, even though it seems even to his disciples that darkness has won, light shall overcome.

In the Christian life, we will face dark opposition from the world, from the devil, and even from our own sinful inclinations, the disordered affections of our flesh. The powers of darkness conspire against us for the ruin of our souls, to silence us from speaking the truth, to discourage us from the work of God. But the light of Christ will overcome when we are faithful, when like Susanna we trust and call out to God, like the Psalmist who trusts that God is at his side in the darkest of hours.

May our Lenten penances continue to toughen us up for the battle, may the help us to be ever more attentive to God’s presence in our lives, that our lives may shine with the light of the victorious Christ for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
 
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For an increase in faith for the catechumens and candidates who approach the sacraments of initiation in the coming Paschal Solemnity.

That the Church might be delivered and protected from all spirits of error, heresy, schism, and unbelief and for faithful bishops, priests, and lay faithful who experience persecution because of their commitment to the Gospel.

For strength to resist temptation, and the humility to sincerely repent of sin.

That through fasting and self-denial, we may be ever more conformed to Christ.

That those in need may find assistance in the charity of faithful Christians and that peace and security may be firmly established in all places.

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

Mercifully hear, O Lord, the prayers of your Church and turn with compassion to the hearts that bow before you, that those you make sharers in your divine mystery may always benefit from your assistance.

December 24 2018 - To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death

Today's Gospel is the Canticle of Zechariah, also called the "Benedictus" because of its opening line in Latin, “Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel”—“Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel”. This song of thanksgiving is prayed every day in the Church's Liturgy of the Hours, as part of the Church’s morning prayer.

The Benedictus is fittingly proclaimed today, on Christmas Eve morning Mass, for is the prayer of the faithful, hopeful soul, Zechariah who  anticipates the rising sun of God just about to break over the horizon of the history of Israel. Zechariah, sees in the birth of his son, John the forerunner, a sign of hope, that the Messiah must be coming soon. And in his Canticle, Zechariah celebrates how the good things God was doing in his family were part of God’s larger plan for Israel and for the salvation of the human race. What is our Canticle? Could we sing a similar song? Do we have the eyes of faith to see how God is working in our families, to save the souls of our family members, to use our family members as his instruments for his plan for human salvation?

Zechariah recognizes that his son John is the “prophet of the Most High” who will “go before the Lord to prepare His way”. But, aren't we all called to do the same, especially in the context of our family gatherings this Christmas: to be prophets pointing to Christ. How does God want to loosen our tongues to proclaim His praises in the context of our families, like he did to Zechariah?

The Lord certainly desires “to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death”, in our world, and in our families. And he wants to do so through us. May we bring the light, the joy, the beauty of his saving birth, into our Christmas gatherings and celebrations today and always, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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Rejoicing in the Lord's nearness, we raise up our prayers of petition.
 
May Christ, the Wisdom which comes from the mouth of God, guide us in knowledge and love.

May Christ, leader of the House of Israel, bring protection to all of the oppressed.

May Christ, the Root of Jesse, come to the aid of nations and leaders of nations to walk in the ways of peace.

May Christ, Key of David, free all those captive to sin.

May Christ, the Morning Star, enlighten those who dwell in the shadow of death.

May Christ, King of the Nations, be the desire of the entire human race.

May Christ, Emmanuel, God with us, bring comfort to all those who suffer and who mourn, and for the deceased priests of the diocese of Cleveland, for whom this Mass is offered.

25th Week of OT 2018 - Monday - Lumen Fidei - Light of Faith (Nursing Home Mass)

In the Gospel, Jesus stresses the importance of allowing the light he gives us to shine forth for others to see.

The idea that God’s word light is found throughout Scripture.  Psalm 119 says, “God’s word is a lamp to our feet and a light to my path.”  Light, pushes back the darkness so we can see.  As young children, many of us had night lights in our room.  There’s something very comforting about a little light shining in the darkness.

Pope Francis’ first encyclical back in June of 2013 was called Lumen Fidei, on the light of Faith.  Its opening line, “The light of Faith: this is how the Church’s tradition speaks of the great gift brought by Jesus.” 

The light of faith helps us to avoid the dark errors of sin and to walk the path of righteousness.  But also, by the light of Faith we come to know about God and we come to know about ourselves. 
The Pope writes, “The light of faith is unique, since it is capable of illuminating every aspect of human existence.” Faith helps us to understand the confusing matters of our life, by helping us see from the perspective of God. Even our human suffering is made comprehensible by faith.

Sadly, our modern culture seeks to remove faith from every conversation. Faith in God is treated as a relic from the past, young people are not being formed in the faith, and so the darkness of sin begins to corrupt every human institution: healthcare, politics, the educational system.

 Therefore, as the Pope writes “There is an urgent need,” “to see once again that faith is a light, for once the flame of faith dies out, all other lights begin to dim.”  “An urgent need” he says, like Jesus, to not hide the light of faith under a bushel, living by faith, gathering to practice our faith, spreading our faith in word and deed.

May we walk always as children of light, and bear the light of faith for all to see, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
 
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That Pope Francis and all Bishops and Clergy may humbly and faithfully pass on the Gospel of Christ in all its fullness.
That young people may be kept safe from the poisonous attitudes of the world and that they and their families may be kept in close friendship with the Lord Jesus and his Church.
For the conversion of hardened sinners, those who have fallen away from the Church, and for an increase in virtue for all peoples.
For the sick and afflicted, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, for victims of natural disaster and inclement weather, those who suffer from war, violence, and terrorism, for the mentally ill, those with addictions, the imprisoned, the unchaste, 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 and for Tony & Betty Kuhel for whom this Mass is offered. 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.

Homily: 3rd Sunday in OT 2017 - Jesus, a light for those in darkness

On this 3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, our Gospel reading takes us back to the fascinating beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. After being baptized in the river Jordan by his kinsman John the Baptist, Jesus had gone out into the desert to fast and to do battle with the powers of darkness. There Our Lord resisted the temptations of the devil Himself.

The very first detail St. Matthew narrates, after Jesus emerges from 40 days of spiritual desert warfare, is that Jesus hears of John the Baptist’s arrest. It’s about 10 chapters later that Matthew explains why John was arrested. But we know why: to silence Him! John had preached against the corruption and immorality of his local government rulers, King Herod and his wife Herodias, and he was arrested to silence Him. For preaching the word of God, John was arrested and imprisoned and ultimately martyred.

Well, upon hearing of John’s arrest, what does Jesus do? Where does he go? He goes to Galilee. Now, this is not some random destination. John was arrested by Herod, and Jesus goes directly to the territory ruled over by Herod. Jesus walks right into the darkness, right into the land where God’s Word had begun to be stifled. Jesus goes to the heart of darkness, if you will, to bring the light of God’s kingdom.

Matthew explains Jesus’ going to Galilee to begin his ministry was a fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah from our first reading: a people in darkness seeing a great light. Jesus chooses this place of darkness to begin building his Church—a turning point in history.

Matthew compares Jesus’ venture to Capernaum, on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee, to a time in Israel’s past, when the tribes of Zebulun and Napthali occupied that same shore. Eight centuries earlier, the tribes were overrun by Israel’s enemies, the Assyrians. The invading Assyrians caused great disruption and devastation to God’s people, ultimately exiling 10 of the 12 tribes.
So Matthew evokes this painful memory of darkness and death to explain Israel’s condition under Herod and the Roman Empire, but then he continues the prophecy; he speaks the light shining in the darkness. The light would begin to shine first in the land of Zebulun and Naphtali; the place where the first tribes were carried off, would be the place which would first experience the dawning of the light of God. And so Matthew, alluding to this Old Testament prophecy was saying that Jesus’ coming to Capernaum was just that…the beginning of something new, a new era, a new age for the kingdom of God, when the a new light was beginning to shine after a period of darkness. Jesus calling of the new 12 is a reconstitution of Israel, the 12 tribes that had been dispersed and lost and overshadowed by death.

Jesus is the light for those overshadowed by darkness in every age. For the early Church ravaged by the hateful persecutions of Emperors like Nero, Diocletian, Decius, he was the light, granting courage and the promise of eternal life for those who suffered. And in our own day, Jesus is the light to a people overshadowed by the perverse values of the culture of death, by a growing shadow of anti-religious sentiment, and secularism.

When we are filled with the light of Christ, the darkness of our earthly temptations and sufferings are dispelled, and even in a dark age, we can know blessings of peace and joy and healing and fulfilment—“abundant joy and great rejoicing” as Isaiah says.

How can we better experience these blessings God wishes to give us through Christ? How can more completely be filled with the light of Christ? First and foremost, we have to open the dark places in our hearts to the light of Christ. As St. John Paul II said, we need to throw open the doors of our hearts to Christ.

And this is rarely easy or comfortable. Turning our eyes to the light after a long period of being accustomed to darkness usually stings a little bit. Who here likes to look deep down in one’s heart and admit that there is some selfishness that lives there, there’s impatience, and laziness, and lust. There’s arrogance in dealing with family members, there’s egotism.

Self-examination is like going to the dentist. We don’t like it when the dentist begins to drill deeply beneath the surface, but he does so, even risking striking a nerve from time to time, in order to root out the cavity, to root out the corruption.

So too in the spiritual life, digging deep, rooting out corruption, examining one’s motives, one’s attitudes. The saints recommend the daily examination of one’s conscience. Before retiring to bed, to replay our day, our conversations, our interactions, our decisions; to admit our failings, to thank God for our blessings, to consider what we should have done differently, and to ask God’s mercy for our sins.

This daily accountability to God is a powerful aid for spiritual growth. It exposes the dark places to the light so healing and transformation can occur. God heals from the inside-out.

On the other hand, as Christians we aren’t just a bunch of navel-gazers. We allow the light of Christ to shine through our deeds by becoming as St. James says, not just hearers of the word but doers of the word. Concrete acts of service and charity, getting involved with volunteer work, these activities have a transforming effect. There are tons of volunteer opportunities in Cleveland, the food banks, the homeless shelters.

The Knights of Columbus, the parish council, the choir, St. Vincent de Paul, social justice committee, Cleveland Right to Life, these groups can be great opportunities for spiritual growth, to be exposed to and to shine with the light of Christ.

This year, 2017, try something new. A new way of praying, a new way of serving.
Again, “Do not be afraid. Open wide the doors for Christ,” St. John Paul said. Do not be afraid to allow the light of Christ to dispel the darkness in your families and in your hearts, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.