23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time 2025 - The cost of discipleship...and what is gained

 

From now to the end of the liturgical year, our second readings will take us through each of St. Paul’s letters to individuals. So, starting today with St. Paul’s shortest letter, the one-chapter epistle to Philemon, over the next few weeks until Advent, we’ll then read from the apostle’s letters to St. Timothy and finally St. Titus. Today is the only day in the three-year cycle of readings that we read from Paul’s letter to Philemon. So, we should spend some time with it, shouldn’t we?

Around the year 60, Paul was arrested and imprisoned in Rome. Imprisoned with Paul was a slave who had been arrested for running away from his Master. The slave’s name was Onesimus. Imprisoned together, Paul got to know Onesimus; he shared the Gospel with him, baptized him, and formed him in the Christian Way. When Onesimus’ prison sentence had concluded, he was to return to his master, named Philemon, to whom Paul composed the letter we read from today. In this letter, Paul urged Philemon, who himself was a Christian, to free Onesimus from his bond of slavery, and allow Onesimus to return to Rome to assist Paul in his ministry.

This 2000 year old letter is an important testimony to the Christian belief in the equal human dignity of all persons—and the equality and unity of the baptized. 

According to the law of the land, Onesimus was Philemon’s legal possession. But, Paul urged Philemon to recognize that Onesimus was more than a possession, he was a brother. “Do what is proper” Paul urged Philemon: release him.

Now, consider what Paul was asking Philemon to do. Paul was urging Philemon to change his way of thinking and to give up something that he valued. Paul’s request was going to cost Philemon something. Philemon would have to change his lifestyle, change his household, change the way his family operated. Philemon no doubt relied on people like Onesimus. And now Paul was asking him to give something up that he relied on—to sacrifice comfort, societal norms, and his own preferences for the sake of the Gospel and because it was the right thing to do.

Paul knew that this request was going to be difficult—and costly to Philemon—but Paul made this request because it was the right thing to do.

In the Gospel this weekend the Lord speaks of how following him is costly to us--the cost of discipleship. Unless you give up family, you cannot be my disciple. Unless you carry the cross, you cannot be my disciple. Unless you renounce all of your possessions, you cannot be my disciple.

Discipleship has a cost—a cost from each of us. No one can pay it for you. It’s yours. Your responsibility. Your sacrifice. 

This is a hard message for us. Just like it was a hard message when Jesus taught it back then. St. Luke tells us in today’s passage that great crowds were following Jesus. A great number of people were with him. Moms and dads and kids and grandparents all walking together.

But then Jesus turns around and faces them, and addresses these moms and dads and kids and grandparents and says, “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.”

This crowd of families just like you were walking with Jesus, but he says, if you want to follow me any further, if you want to follow me to my ultimate destination, it’s going to cost you something, something dearly. Your loyalty to family needs to come second, from here on out. Oh, by the way, your very life too, your impulse of self-preservation. You have to be willing to embrace the cross, to endure crucifixion—suffering and death. 

At this point in St. Luke’s Gospel, Jesus has set his face toward Jerusalem. He was walking toward Jerusalem, on a sort of death march toward his Passion. And did any of these people end up following him there? Were any of them crucified with him on Calvary? Nobody, except two thieves. Not anyone from this great crowd, not his most beloved disciple. Some stood and watched and wept. But Jesus went alone, where fallen humanity was too fearful to go.

It’s not until after his resurrection when it finally clicked for us—when we understood--when the courage to follow Him unto death was truly bestowed upon us. 

Why should I give-up family loyalty and material wealth in order to follow him? Because it leads to resurrection and life everlasting. We don’t lose hope and turn away from God when we are presented with our crosses because we know God brings about tremendous good through them. Joy and life and profound transformation are discovered when we are faithful. When we go beyond our comfort zones to engage in the works of charity and to share the Gospel, when we resist temptation and willingly do penance—lives are transformed—minds and heart are filled with glory and light. We see it over and over in the lives of the saints.  St. Clare, left the luxury and wealth of her home, she left her family, despite their opposition, in order to devote her life to Jesus through radical poverty, like that of St. Francis. 

Ordinary people—transformed—filled with glory—because they were willing to follow Jesus when it cost them something. 

If the practice of the faith isn’t currently costing you something, you might not be heading in the direction the Lord is trying to lead you. And if that’s the case, pray for courage, pray for strength, ask him to help you, ask him to lead you where you are to fearful to go, if it be the will of God.

Because when you trust him, and follow him beyond your wants and fears and ingrained habits and prejudices and plans for your life, you will gain so much more: freedom, joy, blessing and life everlasting for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

5th Week of Easter 2025 - Monday - Being taught by the Holy Spirit

 Already we draw near to the end of the Easter Season and the great feast of Pentecost. Our Scripture readings have even begun to signal the coming feast of the Holy Spirit. 

In the Gospel today, the Lord announces, “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name—he will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I told you.”

The Holy Spirit helps each Christian to be open to being taught continually by God and following in the footsteps of Jesus—of truly being his disciple.

The Holy Spirit helps us to remain humble enough to recognize that we do not have all the answers ourselves. He helps us to remain open to being corrected, instructed, guided in the ways of life, in the teachings of Jesus.

A Christian who has shut himself off from learning is no doubt obstructing--is no doubt hindering--the work of the Holy Spirit in his life. 

Rather, the Holy Spirit reminds us of the need to engage personally with Scripture, and  setting aside time for prayer and reflection, deliberately creating space in our lives for the Holy Spirit to speak to us and remind us of Christ’s words.

Furthermore, the Holy Spirit helps us to put the truths of our faith into action. It is not enough merely to know the teachings of Jesus intellectually—we must strive to embody them in our daily lives. When Jesus commands us to love our neighbors, to forgive others, and to serve those in need, the Holy Spirit empowers us to fulfill these commands concretely and generously.

The Holy Spirit, helps us to remember the teachings of Jesus especially when we need them most. When we are facing a difficulty, temptation, or trial, when we are confused about how we are to act as a Christian, the Holy Spirit reminds us of the Gospel: the demands of discipleship, the closeness of God, the perfection for which we are to strive. 

The Holy Spirit also helps us remember Jesus’ teaching when others need us to respond to their sufferings. He reminds us “that which you did for the least of my brothers, you did for” Jesus. 

As we prepare to celebrate Pentecost, let us consciously renew our openness to the Holy Spirit. May we humbly commit ourselves more deeply to the life-long process of being taught, reminded, and transformed by the Holy Spirit, so that our lives may continually reflect the teachings of Jesus, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

 

As we prepare to celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, let us open our hearts to God’s grace and ask for the Spirit’s guidance in our lives.

For all Christians, that we may remain humble and open to the Spirit’s instruction, constantly growing in our understanding and practice of the faith, let us pray to the Lord.

For all who are struggling with confusion, doubt, or temptation, that the Holy Spirit may remind them of Christ’s nearness and strengthen them in holiness and hope, let us pray to the Lord.

For those who teach the faith—parents, catechists, clergy, and educators, that the Holy Spirit may guide their words and example, helping others to encounter Christ through them, let us pray to the Lord.

For the sick, the dying, and those in need of comfort, that the Holy Spirit, the Consoler, may fill them with peace and strength, let us pray to the Lord.

For our beloved dead, that the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead may bring them into eternal life, let us pray to the Lord.

Father, send your Holy Spirit into our hearts to teach us, remind us, and transform us in the image of your Son. Hear the prayers we offer today and grant us the grace to live as faithful disciples of Jesus. Through the same Christ our Lord.

31st Week in Ordinary Time 2024 - Wednesday - Grace, Free Will, and the Cross of Discipleship

 Today's readings highlight a profound mystery of our faith – the dance between divine grace and human free will, and the true cost of following Jesus.

"Work out your salvation with fear and trembling," St. Paul tells us today, "for God is the one who, for his good purpose, works in you both to desire and to work." 

At first glance, this might seem paradoxical. Are we to work out our salvation, or is it God who works within us? The answer is both. 

God's grace is the initiating force—the unmerited gift that empowers us to seek Him. It's His grace that stirs our hearts, giving us both the desire and the ability to do what is good. Yet, He doesn't override our free will. We are invited to cooperate with His grace, to actively participate in our own salvation. This cooperation involves effort on our part—hence Paul's exhortation to "work out your salvation with fear and trembling." This isn't a fear born of terror but a reverent awe at the magnitude of God's gift and our responsibility in responding to it.

In the Gospel, Jesus presents a stark message about the demands of discipleship: "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple." 

To apply the lesson from St. Paul “carrying our cross” involves both human effort and reliance on God’s grace. The choice to carry our cross is ours, and our human strength is involved, but that feeble human effort is sustained and strengthened by God’s grace. We aren’t carrying our crosses alone. God is with us at every step.

Let us pray for the courage to embrace the cost of discipleship, trusting that God's grace will sustain and guide us. May we respond generously to His call, allowing His grace to work through our free will, and thus become true disciples who reflect His love to the world, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

- - - - 

I would like to share a message from our bishop, which he posted online this morning, in light of yesterday’s election. His excellency writes:

“We are truly blessed to live in a democratic nation where we can participate in free elections to choose our government leaders. So many people across the globe do not have the opportunity to do so, and we should never take this fundamental right for granted.

Whether your chosen candidates won or lost, never forget that we are all brothers and sisters, created in the image and likeness of God. We are all neighbors, who more than ever, need to come together, united in peace. We must work for the common good, prayerfully, respectfully, and thoughtfully. We must put divisiveness behind us and move forward, together. May we approach one another with open hearts and minds, listen more, and talk less. It is only then that we can engage in meaningful, honest, and civil dialogue with our neighbors, friends and families, who might have opinions different from our own.

Please join me in praying for our newly elected leaders, asking that God grant them wisdom and courage to lead with compassion and justice. Let us pray that they demonstrate respect, kindness and generosity to all people. Let us pray that they uphold the God-given rights we are privileged to possess as U.S. citizens, especially the most fundamental right to life. And let us ask, through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, Queen of Peace, that our Lord fill us with a spirit of faith, hope and love, that we may be peacemakers in our homes, in our communities, and in our great nation.”

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For the Church, that we may faithfully respond to God's grace as we carry our daily crosses, cooperating with His divine will in building up the Kingdom. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our newly elected leaders, that God may grant them wisdom, courage, and compassion as they serve the common good of all people. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our nation in this post-election period, that we may heal divisions, engage in respectful dialogue, and work together as brothers and sisters created in God's image. Let us pray to the Lord.

For those struggling with the demands of discipleship, that they may find strength in God's grace and support in our Christian community. Let us pray to the Lord.

For those facing heavy crosses of illness, loneliness, or hardship, that they may experience God's sustaining presence and our compassionate care. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our parish community, that we may grow in our ability to recognize and cooperate with God's grace in our daily lives, becoming true disciples who reflect Christ's love to the world. Let us pray to the Lord.

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, that they may experience the fullness of God's grace in eternal life. Let us pray to the Lord.

Merciful Father, you call us to discipleship and provide the grace we need to follow your Son. Hear these prayers and help us to respond generously to your call. Through Christ our Lord. 

Divine Mercy Sunday 2024 - Disciples of Peace and Mercy

 Five times in our Gospel reading today, we find the word, “disciples”—the disciples of Jesus—“the disciples were locked in the upper room”—“the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord”—“the disciples said to Thomas, “we have seen the Lord”. 

The English word, “disciple” comes from the latin—discipulus—a student. To be a disciple of Jesus is to be a student of the greatest of teachers—we are to study his life, his lessons, and his mind and heart. 

In Jesus’ time, a disciple was called, in Hebrew, a talmid, which can refer to a student, but more accurately refers to an “apprentice”. While a student learns head knowledge in order to know what the teachers knows, an apprentice works with the teacher to learn what the teacher does so he or she can imitate what the teacher’s activity in the world. And in Jesus’ day talmidim didn’t just attend a class or read a book to gain knowledge from their rabbi—they left their jobs and families and communities to follow their rabbi and watch how he lived. They wanted to be just like their rabbi—in all things.

The Lord’s call to follow Him—to be his disciple—reverberated throughout Lent and now in Easter.

At the Last Supper, Jesus spoke about discipleship. He said, “This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Notice, the Lord didn’t say, “this is how everyone will know that you are my disciple, if you can properly recite your Baltimore catechism”, but rather, “if you love one another.” Now of course, love and discipleship often includes passing on the catechism to the next generation of Christians, but knowledge of the catechism does not exhaust our call to discipleship, rather...

 “As I have loved you, so you also must love one another.” We know that when our Lord was talking about Love—he wasn’t just talking about a feeling. Being his disciple isn’t just about having bubbly feelings about each other. “There is no greater love, than to lay down your life for a friend.”

And so Good Friday was the ultimate lesson in discipleship. We, disciples of Jesus Christ are called to love one another, with Christ-like love, that loves God and loves others, all the way to the Cross.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus showed his disciples proof of his love. Entering the upper room, in the midst of his disciples—he shows them, his wounds. This is how everyone will know you are my disciples: will you bear wounds for others—you are to engage in sacrificial self-giving for others.

When he showed his wounds, he wasn’t pointing them out as if to shame his disciples, or to announce his vengeance, his retribution. “Look what you did, now it’s time for you to pay”. Rather, he points to his wounds, and says, “peace”. From the cross, Jesus pronounced, not wrath, but forgiveness: “father, forgive them, for they not know what they have done”. And after his resurrection, he announces, peace.

“Love one another, as I love you.” In the course of the Christian life, we are to engage in Christ-like self-sacrificial love for others, AND we are to practice mercy by extending peace to all, even those who hate us. We cannot love without extending mercy. 

Be merciful, Christ teaches, as God is merciful. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

In our lives, we are often hurt by others, sometimes deeply. To practice Christ-like mercy, we are called to forgive those who injure us, not holding onto grudges or seeking revenge. Mercy isn't a sign of weakness but a profound strength and a reflection of God's mercy towards us.

Jesus’s mercy was evident toward the hungry, sick, and the sorrowful. Practicing Christ-like mercy involves recognizing the physical and emotional needs of those around us and responding generously. We are to offer a listening ear when others are going through a tough time, and doing what we can to help the needy. 

In Matthew 25, Jesus identifies Himself with the stranger, saying, "I was a stranger and you welcomed me." Practicing mercy involves opening our hearts and communities to those who are different from us, whether they be newcomers, people from different cultural or religious backgrounds, or those who feel marginalized and alone. By extending hospitality and friendship, we make tangible Jesus' love and mercy.

Jesus taught us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. This radical call to mercy involves lifting up in prayer those we may find difficult to love, including those who oppose us or hurt us in some way. Through prayer, we open our hearts to God's transforming love and allow Him to work through us to extend mercy to those living far from God.

In a world marked by division and conflict, practicing Christ-like mercy means being agents of peace and reconciliation. Christian disciples are called to mediating conflicts in our families or communities, working towards justice and peace in our societies, and seeking to build bridges rather than walls. 

Finally, Jesus' ultimate demonstration of mercy was through His sacrificial love on the cross. We are called to live lives of sacrificial love, putting the needs of others before our own, and being willing to bear wounds for the sake of love. Christian disciples are called to make personal sacrifices for the good of our families, communities, and even strangers, mirroring the self-giving love of Christ.

In embracing the practice of mercy, we become true disciples of Christ, reflecting His love and mercy in a world in desperate need of both. As we go forth from this Divine Mercy Sunday, let us carry in our hearts the call to be merciful as our Father is merciful, and to spread the joy of the Resurrection through our words and deeds of love, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

2nd Week of Easter 2023 - Tuesday - Easter knowledge vs. Gnosticism

 

Last week, throughout the Easter Octave, we read from each of the four Gospel writers, their accounts of Jesus' resurrection, and Jesus' post-resurrection appearances to his disciples.

For the rest of the Easter Season, we will be reading from the Gospel of John—the discussion with Nicodemus this week from chapter 3, and onto chapter 6—the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and the great Bread of Life discourse next week.

Early on in his public ministry, in his first visit to Jerusalem, recorded by John, the Lord encountered the Pharisee Nicodemus. The Lord’s ensuing conversation with Nicodemus is quite different from the later encounters with the Pharisees, especially those of Holy Week. Nicodemus, though he is a “teacher of Israel” as Jesus calls him, takes the position of the student. Unlike the other Pharisees, Nicodemus possesses and displays a genuine openness to be taught by Jesus. 

Nicodemus approaches Jesus at night time, symbolic of Nicodemus’ ignorance. But in this case, it is an ignorance that is open to illumination, the light of the truth of the Gospel.

We must be open to be taught by God, taught by Jesus. 5 years ago, Holy Father Pope Francis issued an apostolic Exultation called “Gaudete et Exsultate” Rejoice and be Glad. Rejoice and be Glad: On the universal call to holiness. In it, the holy Father exhorts us to openness to be taught by Jesus.

But he also warns against one of the perennial enemies of discipleship, that of Gnosticism. The Pope defines Gnosticism as “a purely subjective faith whose only interest is a certain experience or a set of ideas and bits of information which are meant to console and enlighten, but which ultimately keep one imprisoned in his or her own thoughts and feelings”.

So many of the Pharisees in the Scriptures only entertain Jesus as Long as he confirms their old ideas. Similarly, in our own day, there are Christians who only listen to the Church when it suits them, only turn to the words of Jesus when they seek consolation. There is no attempt to understand difficult moral teachings or grow in knowledge of the beautiful and timeless truths of our faith. This is what Pope Francis calls, “superficial” Christianity. “I’m only a Christian as long as it makes me feel good—when Church teaching conforms to my subjective ideas about reality.”

Nicodemus shows us what genuine openness to Jesus looks like. He questions Jesus, but with an openness to be genuinely taught. He unfurls the sail of his understanding, and allows God’s Spirit, God’s knowledge, to fill and direct his life. 

The Christian is perpetually a disciple, a student. And we must perpetually be open to the teaching God wants to teach us. And I’m not just talking about doctrine. But a genuine openness is always need in learning how to be generous, learning how to be kind, learning how to be patient, learning how to break sinful habits, learning how to share the Gospel in our own simple way, learning how to discern our gifts and put those gifts into practice for the building up of the Church for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - -  

God the Father was glorified in the death and resurrection of his Son. Let us pray to him with confidence.

God the Father bathed the world in splendor when Christ rose again in glory, may our minds be filled with the light of true faith.

Through the resurrection of His Son, the Father opened for us the way to eternal life, may we be sustained today in our work with the hope of glory.

Through His risen Son, the Father sent the Holy Spirit into the world, may our hearts be set on fire with spiritual love.

May Jesus Christ, who was crucified to set us free, be the salvation of all those who suffer, particularly those who suffer from physical or mental illness, addiction, and grief.

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.

First Friday Holy Hour - December 2022 - The privilege of discipleship

 

In the Gospel of Matthew, the Lord Jesus speaks about the privilege of discipleship, the privilege of being a Christian, rather than being born prior to his coming. He says, “blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”

The prophets longed to see what we get to see, and hear what we get to see. The prophet delivered promises to God’s people, but were not in their lifetimes able to witness the fulfillment of those promises.

In the reading from Isaiah today, the prophet lists a number of such promises: the deaf shall hear, the eyes of the blind shall see, The lowly will ever find joy in the LORD, and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

We are the deaf who are now able to hear the Word of God Himself. Whenever the Sacraments are celebrated, that is Jesus Himself saying this is my body, this is my blood, I baptize you, I confirm you, I absolve you, I anoint you. 

We are the blind who are now able to see God, kneeling now, before his very flesh and blood made present, made visible to us. 

We are the lowly, the ones who have responded to the Lord’s invitation to humble ourselves, to trust in God who is beyond human power and understanding. And we are now able to experience a joy that the prophets could never imagine, the indwelling presence of the Holy Trinity within the human soul through the grace.

And we are the poor who are able to rejoice like no other people, able to rejoice in the victory of God over the powers of sin and death. 

What an awe-filled mystery that we are able to participate in—to come here on a normal weeknight, to keep the name of God holy, as much of the world passes us by, the revere God in an increasingly irreverent world, to be in awe, in the midst of a board, overly stimulated generation.

May this holy hour deepen our faith, our hope, and our love, as we await the celebrate of Christ’s first Advent at Christmas, and the hastening of his final Advent at history’s end, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

13th Week in Ordinary Time 2022 - Monday - Follow Him Wherever, However, Whenever

 The Gospel this morning should sound familiar. Our Gospel reading yesterday, for the 13th Sunday in ordinary time contained St. Luke’s account of a few of responses to follow Him after the Lord resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem

This morning we heard St. Matthew’s account of a few of these responses.

For Luke, the half-hearted, misguided responses to the invitation to discipleship were in reaction to setting his face toward the cross. “I will follow you wherever you go” would have to include the cross. 

In Matthew’s version, this morning, the responses were in reaction to the Lord preparing to get in a boat and crossing to the other side of the shore of the Sea of Galilee. And this is significant. He was not setting his face to Jerusalem so much as he was setting his face to the Decapolis, a largely Gentile settlement. This crossing of the sea here would separate the boys from the men, in a sense, dividing the only nominally interested crowd from the true disciples who were willing to leave their homes and follow Jesus into foreign lands. 

This incident is certainly a foreshadowing of the Great Commission in which the Lord sends his apostles to the all the ends of the earth to preach and teach and baptize. True disciples will have to go much farther into Gentile territory than just the other side of the sea of Galilee!

In today’s passage two men express their desire to go with Jesus, but one exhibits naïve enthusiasm and the other procrastination.

The first says he will follow the Lord wherever he goes, but Jesus warns that true discipleship entails a radical change in lifestyle. To follow the master is to imitate his total willingness to go wherever his Father sends—and so the disciple may be called to an austere itinerate ministry just like Jesus. Are you willing to truly go wherever you are sent by God? The answer must be yes.

The second man in response to the invitation to discipleship offers an excuse—he points to his familial obligations—a son’s responsibility at home to care for his aging father, the son’s duty in the Jewish burial custom of reburying his father’s bones one year after his father’s death. But the Lord says, “let the dead bury the dead”—true discipleship transcends familial obligations. Discipleship is the higher priority. Don’t put off discipleship because of attachments or earthly responsibilities—even good ones like family. 

This Gospel certainly causes us to examine our priorities, our attachments, and our excuses. Am I open and willing to follow the Lord wherever, whenever, however, he may call me? Out of my comfort zone? Am I willing to have my priorities readjusted by God? May the Holy Spirit continue to shape and form us in our Christian Discipleship for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - - 

For the flourishing of spiritual gifts in the universal Church and our parish, for the sanctification of our parishioners, the conversion of the faithless, and the grace to be instruments of unwavering hope, mercy, love and compassion for all people. {Cantor will sing}

May Immaculate Mary, Mother of the Church, graciously help us to build a culture of life and a civilization of love, together with all people of good will, to the praise and glory of God, the Creator and Lover of Life. {Cantor will sing}

For an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated religious life, for a strengthening of all marriages, and for single Catholics’ devotion to good works for the kingdom of God. {Cantor will sing}

For those experiencing any kind of hardship or sorrow, isolation, addiction, or disease: may they know God’s strength and peace and the assistance of the Christian people. {Cantor will sing}

That those who have died may share the eternal life that Jesus promised to those who believe in Him; for the deceased members of our family and friends, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, and for…

2nd Week of Easter 2022 - Tuesday - Learning how to learn again

 Last week, throughout the Easter Octave, we read from each of the four Gospel writers, their accounts of Jesus' resurrection, and the Lord’s post-resurrection appearances to his disciples.

For the rest of the Easter Season, we will be reading from the Gospel of John—the discussion with Nicodemus this week from chapter 3, and onto chapter 6—the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and the great Bread of Life discourse next week.

In his first visit to Jerusalem during his public ministry, Jesus encountered the Pharisee Nicodemus. This encounter is quite different from the later encounters with the Pharisees, especially those of Holy Week. Nicodemus, though he is a “teacher of Israel” as Jesus calls him, takes the position of the student. Nicodemus seeks to understand who Jesus is and why he has come. And this sets him apart from the other Pharisees in the Gospel whose minds and hearts remain closed to Jesus.

There are many in our culture who treat Jesus and the Church with Pharisaical intellectual snobbery. “What could Jesus or the Church possibly have to teach me?” Even many “adult Catholics” refuse to crack open the Bible or the Catechism believing that they know it all or have nothing to gain from coming to deeper understanding of the faith. The Church is “Mater et Magistra”, Mother and Teacher, and too many of us refuse to sit in mother's lap and learn.

The Christian, however, is perpetually a disciple—a student. The Lord doesn’t want lip-service or flattery from us, he wants to teach us how to live.

The renewal that God may want for us this Easter may be to learn how to learn again: how to be open to being taught, how to encounter the timeless wisdom of Jesus in the Scriptures in a new way. 

I encourage you to read John chapter 3 today, to get a sense of this whole conversation. You’ll notice something right off the bat: as the conversation ensues, Nicodemus' remarks get shorter and shorter, while Jesus' answers get longer and longer. Recognizing who Jesus is, Nicodemus quiets down and allows Jesus to teach Him. In our daily meditation, we are to do the same. We are to open up the scriptures, and allow the Divine Word to speak to us, to teach us and challenged us, to guide and form us, for the glory of God and salvation of souls. 

- - - - - -  

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

For the shepherds of our souls, the pope, bishops, and clergy, that they may govern wisely the flock entrusted to them by the Good Shepherd leading us faithfully in the Gospel mandate.

For the whole world, that it may truly know the peace of the Risen Christ.

That our parish may bear witness with great confidence to the Resurrection of Christ, and that the newly initiated hold fast to the faith they have received. 

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.

8th Week in Ordinary Time 2022 - Tuesday - "We have left everything to follow you"

 In yesterday’s Gospel passage from St. Mark, we heard of the rich man who goes away sad after his encounter with Jesus. He had asked the Lord what it takes to inherit eternal life, and the Lord instructed the rich man to go and sell his possessions and follow him.

Due to his unwillingness to detach from his possessions, the rich man departs from Jesus, not with the joy of discipleship, but with sadness. There is always sadness when we are unwilling to follow where Jesus beckons. 

In reaction to the rich man woefully departing from the presence of Jesus, Peter chimes in: “well, we have left everything to follow you.”

Have you Peter? Have you really? The more I read the Gospel of Mark, the more I’m convinced that we should be a little suspicious whenever Peter speaks. For with that question, it seems Peter is all too enthused to attempt to draw a contrast between him and the rich man, a little like the Pharisee, who says, thank goodness I’m not like that tax collector of there, “I’m holy, I’m enlightened.” Meanwhile, it was the tax collector who was not far from the kingdom because he acknowledged his sinfulness.

Peter, don’t you know that you can’t fool Jesus? The Lord can see into your heart and right through your antics?

Knowing that Peter could use a bit of humility and self-reflection, the Lord responds to Peter by explaining what it means to really follow him: his disciples are to give up “house and brother and sister, mother and father, children and lands for his sake and the sake of the Gospel.” Our possessions, our inheritances, our most intimate familial relations, even our own lives, are to be subordinate to doing the will of God and our Gospel mission. 

We know that conversion hadn’t really taken root, that Peter was not fully abandoned to the will of God, as in just a few chapter we’ll find Peter denying his Lord. 

Now we shouldn’t give Peter too hard a time, for the Gospel narrative is an unfolding drama, an unfolding of the revelation of who Jesus is, fully revealed in his death and resurrection. 

For we know that Peter, after resurrection embraces true discipleship wholeheartedly. He suffers for the Lord, and dies for his Lord, but not before writing the powerful words from our first reading: “Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, live soberly, and set your hopes completely grace”…above all “seek holiness”, not compliance with your former way of life, your former attachments, but above all holiness.

During the holy season of Lent beginning tomorrow, may our Lenten penances aid us in acknowledging this parts of our lives where we have failed to follow the Lord. May we be assisted in living soberly, abandoned to grace, seeking above all holiness for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

 

For “an immediate end to the hostilities in Ukraine, for a restoration of peace and for the safety of all Ukrainian citizens. And for the Ukrainian community in Northeast Ohio, that their friends and family members in their beloved homeland be kept out of harm’s way.”

That the upcoming season of Lent may be a time of profound renewal for our parish and the Church as we engage in the penitential practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

For the conversion of those who reject the Gospel, for grace to break through to hearts hardened toward God, for the protection of young people from the errors and perversions of our culture.

For those who struggle because of addiction, mental illness, chronic sickness, unemployment, inclement weather, or ongoing trials of any kind.

For the dead, for all of the souls in purgatory, and for X, for whom this Holy mass is offered. 

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

31st Week of Ordinary Time - Wednesday - Discipleship: Everything to lose, everything to gain

Three times in the Gospel this morning Jesus lays down the conditions for discipleship.  Strikingly, Jesus says that we must hate our fathers and mothers, spouses and children, and hate even our very lives, that we must carry the cross, and that we must renounce all our possessions.

First, the one who will be a disciple of Jesus must “hate” father, mother, spouse, and children. The word ‘hate’ seems at odds with the Lord’s teaching elsewhere to love one another, not to mention the third commandment, to honor one’s father and mother. Without a doubt, the Lord uses hyperbole here, common for Jewish rabbis, to emphasize the radical commitment of discipleship. To be a disciple of Jesus, He must come first—before family, nation, ethnicity, race, politics, or any other earthly relationship. Christian Discipleship come first, before all else, or it’s not really Christian discipleship.

The second condition is that the Christian disciple must “carry his cross”.  Discipleship entails hardships: of proclaiming unwelcomed truths, of real personal sacrifice for the sake of the kingdom.  Following the Lord will often entail suffering, persecution for his sake, mockery from the world. Many people claim that anything worth doing is worth suffering for, but many are unwilling to suffer in order to follow Jesus’ teachings and the teachings of the Church. But discipleship requires the cross—change, effort, cost no matter how great that cost might be.

The third condition for discipleship is the renunciation of all possessions. This does not mean that we must become socialist and renounce private possessions, BUT, it does mean that everything we have is first at the disposal of God. In a sense, my possessions are not my own. They belong to God, and has put me in charge of using  my possessions at His discretion

Discipleship sounds costly.  And it is.  The cost of discipleship is everything. But through discipleship we gain eternal life and merit glory. If we are counted among his disciples on earth, we will be counted among the Blessed in heaven. Rejecting discipleship we have everything to lose, but embracing discipleship we have everything to gain.

The Saints who we celebrate this week show us why discipleship is so important. Through discipleship we cultivate love. And the degree of love we cultivate here on earth, corresponds to the degree of glory the disciple will experience in eternity, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For an increase in faith, hope, and love among all of Jesus’ disciples, and that following the Lord’s teaching, we may take up the missionary call to make disciples of all nations.

That all newly elected officials may head the Lord’s teachings in their civic duties, personal and private lives, and labor always for the good of all.

That we may be ever more attentive to the needs of the sick, the poor, the despairing in our midst: for their comfort, relief, strength, health, and peace.

We pray in a special way during this month of November for all the faithful departed, for all the souls in purgatory, for our parishioners and benefactors who died this last year, for those who fought and died for our freedom and for X. for whom this mass is offered.

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.

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2021 - Discipleship lessons from Blind Bartimaeus

The 10th Chapter of Mark is a long chapter, the longest in the entire Gospel until we get to the Passion narrative in chapter 14. We’ve hearing from chapter 10 all month. It began, you might remember with Jesus’ teaching on marriage and divorce, then we heard of the rich young man who goes away sad when challenged by the Lord to leave his possessions and follow Him; had we not celebrated our patronal feast last weekend, we would have heard the story of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, vying for a high position in the Lord’s kingdom. This week we conclude chapter 10 with a beloved story, the healing of blind Bartimaeus. This is the very last healing miracle in Mark’s Gospel, and a very significant one, at that.

In this miracle story, we get a lot of details leading up to the miracle: Mark includes where Bartimaeus was standing, what he was doing when the Lord made his way out of Jericho, how he got the Lord’s attention, the annoyance of the other members of the crowd, the exuberance with which Bartimaeus leaped up, shedding his cloak so that nothing may hinder, the tender dialogue between Jesus and the blind man, and then Bartimaeus’ response of gratitude. All this in six verses!

Consider this story in light of the other stories in this chapter. Where the Pharisees harden their hearts against the teachings of Jesus and his identity as Messiah at the beginning of the chapter, Bartimaeus acknowledges Jesus as the Son of David and recognizes that Jesus has the power of God within him. Where James and John seek a position of power to lord over others, Bartimaeus approaches Jesus as a beggar, seeking nothing but healing. Where the rich young man refuses to follow Jesus and goes away sad, Bartimaeus joyfully follows the Lord on the way.

Bartimaeus is a model of the true discipleship that seems to elude just about everybody else in Mark’s Gospel, including Peter and the Apostles. Since he is a model of discipleship, what do we have to learn from him?

Firstly, we must recognize that like him, before meeting the Lord Jesus we are blind. Without Jesus, we are standing on the side of the road, not knowing which way is which, blind and not going anywhere. We might not be physically blind, but without Jesus, something is missing, we are without the light that is meant to guide our earthly lives. St Paul writes to the Corinthians: “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel.”

Through sin, Satan has placed a blindfold on the eyes of the world. And even among the baptized, he is always trying to get us to put the blindfold back on, so that without the light of the Gospel, we walk not toward heaven, but toward hell. Sadly, there are members of the baptized who have let him, or perhaps have blindfolds because their parents had them baptized but never raised them to see Jesus and follow Jesus. But there are people in the world, in our neighborhood, in our workplaces, who like Bartimaeus, are blind, but want to see. So we need to ensure that the light of Christ is shining brightly in our lives. 

Secondly, Bartimaeus models for us what it means to prioritize faith. He makes looking for Jesus his highest priority. And he does so with a sort of courageous recklessness. On the side of the road, he starts making a commotion. He doesn’t care what people think of him, he wants to get Jesus’ attention, he wants to encounter Jesus, and he pursues Jesus with a praiseworthy singlemindedness. When people tell him to quiet down, he cries out all the more for Jesus. He might have been labeled as a fanatic, or a zealot, or obnoxious; he doesn’t care. He cries out and keeps crying out “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” with perseverance, intensity, and passion. Bartimaeus recognized that searching for Jesus must be our highest priority. And so must we. As Christians, are days and our weeks are to be structured around Jesus. Seeking him in prayer, engaging in the works he commands. Sunday Mass without compromise. Daily prayer without excuse.

Thirdly, Bartimaeus shows us that we must throw off our cloaks to approach Jesus. The thick, heavy cloak of the people of Israel was among their most prized possessions. It was protection against the rapid and frequent temperature changes, insulation against the harsh Judean winds, and at night it doubled as a blanket, especially for the poorer residents of the Holy Land, like Bartimaeus.

For these reasons, the Fathers of the Church have seen in this cloak a symbol of self- sufficiency, a symbol of our deep-seated tendency to think that we are capable of solving all of our problems on our own.

The cloak symbolizes all those things that we wrongly depend on for happiness, that we tend to idolize: good looks, intelligence, athletic ability, money, good education, success, popularity. You’ll never regret giving up television in order to pray and engage in charity, like taking part in our parish St. Vincent de Paul group. Don’t be afraid to rearrange things, to make prayer and charitable service a more deliberate part of your life.

Fourthly, notice how Bartimaeus is specific in his prayer. I want to see. Daily, we need to make specific petitions to the Lord. Bring to prayer that sick family member, pray by name for that clueless politician, for the return of lapsed Catholics, and like Bartimaeus, don’t give up and enunciate your petitions clearly: Master I want my son to be saved from addiction. Master, I want peace in my family. Master, I want healing for my friend. Master, I want a good job. 

Lastly, having persisted in crying out to the Lord, throwing off his cloak, clearly enunciating his request to the Lord, he is healed, and then in gratitude, he abandons all that he has to follow Jesus.

There are a lot of people who cry out to God, they pray for healing, for peace, but when the prayer is answered, they go their own way. They are like the nine lepers, who healed by Jesus, fail to recognize and show gratitude to Jesus. Or the lame man at the pool of Bethesda. He received healing then went on to a life of sin. There are those who pray in desperate moments and then when the crisis is passed they return to their virtually faithless lifestyle.

But, not Bartimaeus. “Bartimaeus received his sight and followed Jesus on the way.” His physical blindness was healed, but more importantly the eyes of his heart were enlightened. Bartimaeus is the only recipient of a healing whose name is recorded by St. Mark, certainly suggesting that Bartimaeus continued to follow the Lord after his healing, and was a disciple known to the early Church. 

I recommend some time this week, opening your bibles back to chapter 10 of Mark’s Gospel, reading through this story again, and asking the Lord to help you identify your blindnesses, how you can better seek Him in your life, what cloak, what safety blanket, you need to throw off, in order to follow the Lord with greater trust, and shine with the light of the Lord for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

9th Week in Ordinary Time 2021 - Friday - The healing of Tobit's Blindness

 Last week our first readings came from the Book of Sirach; this week they’ve been from the Book of Tobit. But because of all the wonderful feast days of the saints, we haven’t really been reading from Tobit. 

So firstly, who is Tobit anyway? Tobit describes himself in the first chapter of his book as a Jew from northern Israel taken to Nineveh in slavery by the Assyrians. He was a very successful businessman, he was faithful to all his religious duties and generous to the poor, married to a beautiful and pious wife.

One day, through a strange act of providence, he went blind—bird droppings fell into his eyes and blinded him and he developed cataracts. For 4 years, he goes to doctors, and his blindness only gets worse. His life becomes unraveled. His marriage becomes rocky. Tobit becomes so despondent that he wants to die. He reminds us a lot of Job. He seems cursed. His faith was certainly being tested.

And yet, through their sufferings, both Tobit and Job come to a deeper understanding of God. In many of the speeches of Tobit and Job, why find them crying out to God, “Why me?” What did I do wrong to deserve this suffering? I diligently obeyed God’s rules, why is this happening to me? Both Tobit and Job seemed to be operating under this very prevalent idea, that If I obey all God’s rules, He will bless me with earthly prosperity. 

But, both Job and Tobit come to discover that God is worthy of worship and adoration and love not just when things are going well in our lives, but also when things aren’t going well. 

This realization, this deepening of faith in Tobit and Job, is a foreshadowing of the Lord’s teaching in the Gospels on the cross. Jesus promises his disciples a share in the cross. Each of us will bear a cross, many crosses in life—temptations and sufferings and setbacks and losses and bodily ills. 

The Christian disciples is called to a much more radical faith, than of those who only praise God when things go well, or who only worship God in hopes of earthly prosperity. We are to be bearers of the cross, who trust in God’s providence, who worship God even when we are sharing deeply in the sufferings of Christ. 

When he finally comes to trust in God’s providence, Tobit receives a healing from God. His son returns with medicine—his cataracts are able to be removed—reminding us of the scales that fall from the eyes of St. Paul—when he comes to faith in Christ Jesus. 

Deeper faith, deeper trust brought spiritual healing for Tobit, the healing of spiritual blindness. This story helps us to yearn for a healing of all of our spiritual blindnesses which keep us from trusting in God and embracing God’s will for our lives. May we come to see God’s goodness and God’s majesty in the crosses of our lives, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

 

That all members of the Church will discover and offer their gifts wholeheartedly in service of the Gospel. 

For our young people beginning summer vacation, that they may be kept close to the truth and heart of Jesus, that young people may live in faith-filled homes where the Gospel is cherished, studied, and lived-out.

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

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

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

3rd Sunday of Easter 2021 - Love of God perfected in us

 At 10am this morning(yesterday), His Excellency Bishop Malesic ordained 5 men to the transitional diaconate. They are called transitional deacons, as their ordination to the Sacred Order of Deacon is a transitional step on their way to priestly orders. This is in contrast to the permanent deacons, who will remain in the Order of Deacons permanently. The new transitional deacons will serve in parishes over the summer and throughout the next year as they complete their seminary formation. They are certainly in our prayers.

I’ve mentioned it before, but my favorite moment in the ceremony for diaconate ordination, is when the deacon kneels in front of the Bishop who hands the newly ordained the Book of the Gospels. The bishop then charges him: “receive the word of God whose herald you have become: believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.” Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.

What is the significance of this ritual? The Church needs the ordained to be men of Truth, don’t we. Men who know the Scriptures, know the Gospel, and who teach Truth and live the Truth. We want priests who have encountered Jesus in prayer and will help others meet him and live his teachings. 

Right belief is required for right teaching. Right teaching is required for right practice. Without this harmony of right belief, teaching, and practice in our shepherds, the sheep become scattered. So many divisions in the Church come from church leaders failing in their duties to believe rightly, teach rightly, and live rightly. Rather we need good shepherds whose minds and hearts are in union with the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for his flock.

I meet a lot of Catholics these days who simply don’t know their faith. Some of my young couples that I work with in marriage preparation, they cannot name the seven sacraments, some of them don’t know there ARE seven sacraments, nor do they know what sacraments are. They can’t name the 10 commandments or more than one or two books of the bible. I recently asked a young Catholic if she knew what is meant by “the state of grace”, and she said, “oh, like the Taylor Swift song”. I kind of laughed and cried at the same time.

By the way, googling the lyrics of Taylor Swift’s hit single, I wouldn’t recommend listening to it, one does not find an explanation of the necessary condition of soul at death to attain heaven, the soul’s possession of the gift of sanctifying grace which is lost through mortal sin, without which the soul upon death will be severed from the life of God forever.

In the first reading today, St. Peter guided by the Holy Spirit goes into the streets of Jerusalem and begins to preach. “The author of life you put to death but God raised him from the dead”. Peter, once slow to believe, who even denied knowing his master as he carried his cross, now filled with conviction, speaks the Truth.

And he does so passionately, but patiently, he says, he put the author of life to death, and I know, that you acted out of ignorance, just as your leaders did” but now it’s time to believe. He is patient with those who acted out of ignorance. But he’s also very clear. Now it’s time to repent, and convert. 

I remember within my first week or two of seminary. And I remember sitting in my room with the catechism. And my mind was being blown. I’d never encountered the Truth so clearly presented. I had a pretty lousy catechetical education as a young kid. My parents were not at all concerned about the quality of the catechesis I was receiving in my parish PSR program. They did not at all understand that they were tasked to be the primary educators of faith. 

And in seminary I quickly came to discover how inadequate my catholic education had been. So many of the other seminarians, and my seminary professors, knew the faith, very well. And I remember a very pivotal moment, when I was sitting there with my catechism, and I prayed, Lord, if I believe any errors, help me to be free of them. If at any point, I think I know better than the Church, humble me, correct me. Replace my ignorance with your truth.”

Theological knowledge is important. Believe what you read. Teach what you believe. We should always be open to doctrinal correction. If I believe or teach any error, may I be corrected. But the third part of that diaconal charge is also essential. Live what you preach. Live the truth of the Gospel.

“Those who say, “I know him,” but do not keep his commandments are liars, and the truth is not in them,” writes saint John in our second reading. It is not enough to know about God. Head knowledge, theological knowledge isn’t the end-all-be-all measure of the Christian life. The ability to give a theological treatise on grace will not gain us entry into heaven. If we claim to know God and claim to be in right relationship with him but are not keeping his commandments, then we are deceiving ourselves. 

Now of course, sometimes we fall into sin out of weakness. Those falls are easy to confess and repent of. John, rather, is very concerned with the Christians who are allowing sin to take root in their lives and are failing to repent of them.  If you are justifying serious sin, attitudes and activities that holy mother church defines as sin, allowing them to take root, you are deceiving yourself. “Repent, and be converted,” says Peter in our first reading, “that your sins may be wiped away.”

For when we do, and this is good news, they are. God grants mercy and gives us strength to change. Change is scary, but the Lord is with us. He walks with us showing us a new way of living. The one who hears God’s word, who puts that word into practice in his daily life, “the love of God becomes perfected him” writes John. Our love for God increase, and the presence of God’s love in our souls becomes perfected. When we keep his word—through right belief and right practice—God’s love reaches its intended goal, the perfection of our souls. 

The one who goes to confession every two weeks, because he acknowledges the sins of his life, and confesses them because he loves God and wants to grow in perfection, is much closer to the kingdom, than the one who refuses to acknowledge his sins or has justified them and is allowing them to take root.

In the Gospel we see this progression of perfection on display: in the beginning of the story, the disciples are filled with fear, fear stemming from ignorance.  Then as they spend time with the Lord, who teaches them, their ignorance is replaced with understanding. They spend more time with him in conversation. They eat with him. They study the scriptures with him. Their fear is transformed into joy, and the Lord proclaims them and charges them at his witnesses.

Here is a beautiful program of Christian growth for all of us. We study our faith and grow in our conviction that Christ is Risen. We immerse ourselves in the scriptures, allowing God to open our minds to his truth through them. We come to Mass to eat with Him, to be bolstered in our love for Him as we share the Eucharistic meal with Him. And then we are sent out as witnesses—our faith, our relationship with Jesus—having a real, observable difference in our day-to-day lives: our speech, our activities, our relationships, our leisure activities.

Through repentance, conversion, and the embrace of our Catholic faith, may we be free from error and fear; may the love of God be perfected in us, that we may be his true witnesses for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

2nd Week of Easter 2021 - Tuesday - Learning from Jesus the Teacher

 Over the course of four days this week, we are presented with the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus the Pharisee from chapter 3 of St. John's Gospel.

The Pharisees presented themselves as men who knew everything there was to know about the Law and Sacred Scriptures. They always thought they were the smartest people in the room. And so their pride, over and over again in the Gospels, keep them from recognizing the truth of Jesus Christ.

At the beginning of their conversation, Nicodemus called Jesus “a man coming from God as a teacher”. And yet, the Lord knew it was flattery and lip-service, for he doesn’t acknowledge the fake complement. Rather, the Lord rebukes Nicodemus: “you claim to be a teacher, yet you do not understand.”

Nicodemus, initially gave no sign that he was even interested in being taught. However, and this is what sets Nicodemus apart from the other Pharisees in the Gospel, as the conversation ensues, notice how Nicodemus' remarks get shorter and shorter, while Jesus' answers get longer and longer. Instead of offering lip-service, he begins to truly listen. In fact, in tomorrow’s Gospel and Thursday, Nicodemus will remain silent as Jesus, the Word-made-flesh teaches about the love of God, the nature of his mission, and the importance of believing in his message.

There are many in our culture who treat Jesus and the Church with similar Pharisaical intellectual snobbery. “What could Jesus or the Church possibly have to teach me?” Even many “adult Catholics” refuse to crack open the Bible or the Catechism believing that they know it all or have nothing to gain from coming to deeper understanding of the faith. Bishops and priests are not immune to pharisaic closemindedness.  

The Christian, however, must perpetually adopt the posture of student—of disciple. The Church is “Mater et Magistra”, Mother and Teacher, and we are never too old, or too theologically trained to sit in mother’s lap and learn from her. 

The renewal that God may want for us this Easter may be to learn how to learn again: how to be enriched more deeply by the teaching of the Church, how to encounter His timeless wisdom in the Scriptures in a new way, how to listen for his voice in our encounters with his little ones and the poor.

By the end of their conversation Nicodemus seems to learn this very important lesson: he learns how to stop talking and how to listen. Jesus doesn't want flattery, he doesn't want lip service; he wants to teach us.

May the Holy Spirit help each of us to take once again the posture of the student—the disciple—and learn from Jesus the Teacher, who yearns to instruct in the ways of righteousness and self-sacrifice 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. 

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.

6th Week in Ordinary Time 2021 - Tuesday - Pre-Lenten Preparations

 What perfect readings for this final day of Ordinary Time prior to the penitential season of Lent—the season of purification and enlightenment.

First, Noah’s preparation for the forty day flood.  At a point in history where humanity had turned away from God, had become so mired in sin, “the LORD saw how great was man’s wickedness on earth…that his heart was grieved.”

Today we, like Noah, are called to make preparation for the forty days of Lent. We are to examine the sin in our lives and resolve to repent, and to consider how we will be showing our repentance through acts of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. For throughout Lent, we must make reparation for our own sins, but also the sins of the world, the wicked of the world, to show our love and concern for the souls even of those who reject God and the call to conversion. We do penance for those unwilling to do so for themselves. Who will you pray for, who will you fast for, who will you engage in sacrificial almsgiving for. Fix them in your mind, hold them aloft to God over the next 40 days. Do penance for them, those outside of the ark of the Church—either because of ignorance or willfulness—for their purification, that they, one day, may accept the invitation to come aboard the ark of the Church—to sail to the promised land.

The Gospel, too, is a wonderful pre-Lenten reading, for the Lord sits in a boat, like the ark of noah, with disciples who do not quite understand everything that’s been happening, everything that he’s been doing and teaching. They have eyes and not see, ears and have not heard.

The season of Lent is also for those who are already in the boat of the Church, to come to a deeper understanding and appreciation of everything the Lord has done for us and continues to do for us. Lent is the season of purification, but also enlightenment. As we contemplate all the Lord suffered, his time in the desert, his march to Jerusalem, his ensuing passion and death, we are enlightened with a deeper understanding of the depths of his love for us and what it means to be his disciples, his apostles sent out into the world. 

May we prepare well for the 40 day flood which brings purification and enlightenment as we engage in the Lenten works and contemplate the depths of the Lord’s love and the call to ever more faithful discipleship, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

 

That the season of Lent may bring the most hardened hearts to repentance and bring to all people purification of sin and selfishness and enlightenment in the ways of God.

For those preparing for baptism and the Easter sacraments, that the season of Lent will bring them great conversion to way of Christ. 

That we may generously respond to all those in need: the sick, the suffering, the homeless, the imprisoned, and victims of violence. And for all victims of the coronavirus and their families.

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

Grant, we pray, O Lord, that your people may turn to you with all their heart, so that whatever they dare to ask in fitting prayer they may receive by your mercy. Through Christ our Lord.

28th Week in OT 2020 - Friday - All that is concealed will be revealed

 As the Lord’s public ministry brings him closer to Jerusalem, large crowds of people begin to follow him and listen to his teaching. This morning’s passage begins a long sermon contrasting genuine discipleship with the hypocrisy of the Pharisees.

Beware hypocrisy for “there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed”. The Pharisees were hypocrites because on the outside they acted as if they were upright, but inside they were full of evil. They were quick to point out what they perceived as the faults of others but did not see or repent of their own. Behind a mask of righteousness, the concealed an inner coldness, malice, pride, and lust for power. They were pretenders, play acting at holiness. 

And the Lord explains that in the end, no one will get away with hypocrisy. There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed. God sees to the heart. Jesus saw through the façade, the deception of the Pharisees. And offered them warnings and invited them to repent.

All Hypocrisy will certainly be exposed on judgment day, we will certainly have to answer for any evil deeds and division we sowed in private. There will be some Christians who will be exposed as shams and false prophets on judgment day.

So in this sermon, the Lord is certainly warning his disciples not to follow such false-teachers. After his return to the Father, the Church will be have to be on guard against false teachers, false apostles, he sew division and heresy.  

But, in this warning against hypocrisy, the Lord also wants to ensure that his followers, his disciples don’t fall into this sin. Genuine Christian discipleship isn’t about play acting at holiness, but cultivating genuine authentic love of God and neighbor. We are truly to repent of our sins so that they may be replaced with virtue and righteousness.

Today, we celebrate the feast of St. Margaret Mary, that great visionary who made known the powerful devotion to the Lord’s sacred heart. In 1677, Jesus appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, a Visitation nun in France and revealed his Sacred Heart. She said, “I could plainly see His heart, pierced and bleeding, yet there were flames, too, coming from it and a crown of thorns around it. He told me to behold His heart which so loved humanity. Then He seemed to take my very heart from me and place it there in His heart. In return He gave me back part of His flaming heart.”

Here is the remedy for all hypocrisy. Again the Lord doesn’t want play actors, rather he wants to replace our cold, divisive hearts with his own. And that comes through prayer, devotion, right belief, repentance, and works of charity.

May the burning fire of his sacred heart, burn away all hypocrisy in our lives and in our parish, that we may witness to the transforming and saving power of Christ for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

 

That all Christians may grow in devotion to the Lord’s sacred heart, that sinner may turn to the infinite ocean of God’s mercy, lukewarm souls may grow fervent, and fervent souls may grow in perfection.

That world leaders may look upon the Son of God, believe in him, and seek the peace and justice that only he can bring.

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

That, during this month dedicated to the Holy Rosary, many Christians will discover new and deep devotion to Our Lady’s powerful intercession and maternal care for the Church.

For all whose lives are marked by suffering may come to know the healing and peace of Christ.

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, 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.

September 8 2020 - Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary - God Constructs His Temple

There are many special feast days celebrated in honor of Mary: her Assumption, her Immaculate Conception, the Annunciation, and of course, today, the celebration of her birth.  The feasts of the Our Lady are dear to us because she is our mother.  

But, If you listen closely to all of the prayers of this Mass for Mary’s birthday, you’ll notice that Jesus is mentioned in every one of the prayers. Even the Gospel, wasn’t the story about her birth, but the birth of her Son.  On Mary’s birthday, shouldn’t we just be focusing on her? Can’t Mary just have a day to herself?

Well, what would she say, if you asked her that? Certainly, Mary would never want to be separated from her Son.  Her entire life points to Him.  Mary never is so selfish just to take a day to herself.  Her whole life is focused on giving Jesus to the world.

Saint Andrew of Crete explains how Mary’s birth is cause for joy because it is an important stage in our salvation. He says, “all creation sings with joy, exults, and participates in the joy of this day....for this is, in fact, the day on which the Creator of the world constructed His temple; today is the day on which by a stupendous project a creature becomes the preferred dwelling of the Creator"

She is a Temple, she is THE Temple, in which God comes to dwell. There is an ancient hymn which expresses this profound relationship between Mary and Christ. Listen to a few verses. 

1. Mary the dawn, Christ the Perfect Day; Mary the gate, Christ the Heavenly Way!

2. Mary the root, Christ the Mystic Vine; Mary the grape, Christ the Sacred Wine!

3. Mary the wheat, Christ the Living Bread; Mary the stem, Christ the Rose blood-red!

4. Mary the font, Christ the Cleansing Flood; Mary the cup, Christ the Saving Blood!

5. Mary the temple, Christ the temple’s Lord; Mary the shrine, Christ the God adored!

6. Mary the beacon, Christ the Haven’s Rest; Mary the mirror, Christ the Vision Blest!

7. Mary the mother, Christ the mother’s Son. Both ever blest while endless ages run. Amen.

Her whole life points to Jesus. Her whole life was focused on Him. She was born and made for this purpose, and we are so grateful, for she was faithful to this purpose every moment of her life. This is why Our Lady is the model on which each of us is to base our life, why she is the perfect disciple of Jesus. Everything about her, even her birth, points to him. May we do the same, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

 

To Our Lady’s most powerful intercession, we recommend ourselves and the entire Church.

That Our Lady may bring constant guidance and assistance to the Holy Father and the Bishops in their apostolic mission, and aid all who help them in their work. 

That all government leaders may be awakened to the supreme dignity of each human life, and that all people of our nation may work together for an end to the culture of death. 

That through Immaculate Mary, Queen of Peace, hatred, violence, and cruelty will cease in the world.  

That the sick may draw strength, consolation, and healing by turning to Our Lady, who intercedes for us from her place in heaven. 

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

We pray, O Lord our God, that the Virgin Mary, who merited to bear God and man in her chaste womb, 

2nd Week of Lent 2020 - Tuesday - Learn to do the good

At the beginning of the liturgical year, we read extensively from the prophet Isaiah, to prepare for our celebration of the coming of Christ during the season of Advent. Well now, during the season of Lent, it should be no surprise to hear from the great Advent prophet as well, as we prepare for the paschal festivities of Easter during this season of penance and prayer.

We heard from the beginning of the first chapter of Isaiah today, who gives a series of instruction: “Wash yourselves clean! Put away your misdeeds…cease doing evil; learn to do good. Make justice your aim: redress the wronged, hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow.” During Lent, we do well to take these instructions to heart.

Yet, Why does Isaiah instruct us that we must “learn to do good?” St. Basil comments: Since moral understanding is neither self-evident nor clear to all, we must learn to do good deeds through our study of sound doctrine.” Doing good is not always self-evident, it’s not always easy to discern, and it’s not always easy to put into practice. Generosity, forgiveness, self-control, it’s not always clear how to put these into practice, and certainly in the face of temptation we aren’t always even thinking about the need to put them into practice.

But in order to lead the sort of lives that God wants, we need to learn, we need to be properly schooled, we need to take the position of a student, of a disciple.

In the Gospel, the Lord condemns the Pharisees for setting themselves above the rest. They liked to be called father, teacher, master all the while forgetting the need to learn what is truly good in the eyes of God, becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Lent, when we our honest, should humble us and teach us how much we need to learn. Lent does humbly sets us on the path of learning right at its beginning, on Ash Wednesday we recall we are NOT master, we are NOT teacher, “we our dust”. And by our Lenten observances of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, we put our lessons into practice.

They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but that must not be true for us. To be a disciple of Jesus is to be a life-long learner. Learning justice, repentance, courage, balance of priorities, calmness, and generosity. May the Lord find us at his feet, as his humble students today and all days for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That the season of Lent may bring the most hardened hearts to repentance and bring to all people purification of sin and selfishness.

For those preparing for baptism and the Easter sacraments, that they may continue to conform themselves to Christ through fervent prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

For the Holy Spirit to guide the appointment of our next Bishop—that he may be a man of true faith and courage.

That we may generously respond to all those in need: the sick, the suffering, the homeless, the imprisoned, and victims of violence. And for all victims of the coronavirus and their families. And for the Church in China and all places where the Gospel is silenced.

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

Grant, we pray, O Lord, that your people may turn to you with all their heart, so that whatever they dare to ask in fitting prayer they may receive by your mercy. Through Christ our Lord.

4th Week of Easter 2018 - Thursday - Go where you've been SENT

On the evening of Easter Sunday, the risen Jesus said to us: "As the Father has sent Me, so I send you" (Jn 20:21), echoing the words He spoke after washing the disciples feet at the last supper, as we just heard in our Gospel, “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send, receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”

Jesus is the “sent one”, come not to do His own will, but the will of the one who sent Him. So, too Christians, are “sent ones”, following the model of Jesus the master.

The Father sent the Son to reveal His love for the world. In the same way, we are sent to reveal the Father's love.

The Father sent the Son to preach the good news of liberation and restoration to the poor. We likewise, are sent to preach the freedom and wholeness found in Jesus Christ.

The Father sent Jesus to destroy the devil's works. We too are sent to attack the gates of hell and to crush Satan and his empty works under our feet.

The Father sent Jesus to do good works and heal the sick. We, whose lives have been healed, by Christ, our sent out to bring that same healing to the soul-sick.

The Father sent the Son to die and rise; we are sent to die to ourselves, take up our cross daily, and share in Jesus' resurrection.

Christians don't do their own thing or go their own way, this would be selfish. We go where we are sent. We go to the highways and byways and even to the ends of the earth. We are sent out of comfortable complacency into hardship and challenge. We are sent to do the dirty jobs no one else wants to do. We go to the sickest, the poorest, the most repulsive, even to those who do not appreciate us, even to those who hate us on account of Him, as bearers of the mercy of Christ, because to them we have been sent, and we are to do so cheerfully, joyfully, patiently, gently, without grumbling, without resentment, without fear. And when we do go, we find, Christ has arrived before us, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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God the Father was glorified in the death and resurrection of his Son. Let us pray to him with confidence.

God the Father bathed the world in splendor when Christ rose again in glory, may our minds be filled with the light of faith.

Through the resurrection of His Son, the Father opened for us the way to eternal life, may we be sustained today in our work with the hope of glory.

Through His risen Son, the Father sent the Holy Spirit into the world, may our hearts be set on fire with spiritual love.

May Jesus Christ, who was crucified to set us free, be the salvation of all those who suffer, particularly those who suffer from physical or mental illness, addiction, and grief.

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.

6th Week in OT 2018 - Tuesday - Works in progress

Yesterday’s Gospel concluded with Jesus letting out a deep sigh and lamenting over the Pharisees demands for signs and wonders, and even when he produced them, like when he fed the five thousand, they were still unconvinced of his identity.

Today’s Gospel picks up immediately with the disciples also not quite getting it. They had been with Jesus now for some time, they had seen miraculous healings and feedings, and Jesus still detected some blindness, some doubt in them.

Now notice how Jesus hasn’t given up on the disciples. The mere fact that they were still with him, showed their openness to his teaching. They were “unfinished products” and that’s okay. And the fact that Jesus is still teaching them shows his commitment to helping them become free from their inner resistances.

So, too, with us. None of us are “finished products”, we are all “works in progress”; we come to the altar with some blindness, some lack of trust in God, some selfishness. And that we are here is such a good sign of our willingness to be healed, to be taught, to be led by God. God sees the tremendous potential each one of us has, and he provides the teaching and the spiritual nourishment and the boundless mercy, that we can become the people he made us to be.

Here is also a reminder to be extremely patient with each other. When I humbly acknowledge that I’m not the person I’m meant to be, I’m able to be much more patient with my brother, who also speaks and acts out of ignorance, at times. If a brother needs to be rebuked or corrected, we do so very gently, very patiently, to help them grow.

Many look at the Catholic Church with great criticism. They say, “look at all the corruption, look at all the moral failures of her members, the mediocre preaching.”  But still, millions of people join the Catholic Church despite the faults of individual members who fail to live up to what they profess.
Good, thoughtful people join the Church every year because they acknowledge that it is HERE that we find the truth we need to live in right relationship with God. Good, thoughtful people join the Church because they recognize that the only fair way to judge any institution is according to its principles and the example of those who DO live in accord with them.

Jesus saves through His Church! And His Church does produce Saints. Where else than the Church do we find women like Catherine of Siena, Teresa of Avila, Therese of Lisieux, and Elizabeth Ann Seton, or men to compare with Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, St. Ignatius of Loyola, Francis, John of the Cross, Thomas More, John Vianney.  No where but here!

Today, may we be open to the ways the Lord wishes to cure us from our spiritual blindness, teach us in our ignorance, feed us in our hunger, and lead us in the ways of sanctity for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For the Holy Father’s prayer intention for the month of February, that those who have material, political or spiritual power may resist any lure of corruption.

For those preparing for baptism and entrance into full communion with the Catholic Church this Easter, for their continual conversion to Christ and that of the whole Church.

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