December 31 2024 - The Eternal Word accompanies us through time

 December 31 is a retrospective day for many people.  A day to look back on the experiences of the year: to recall God’s blessings and interventions in our lives and to give thanks and to look forward that next year be better than the last.  

Pope Benedict XVI wrote: “It is our duty, as well as a need of our hearts, to praise and thank the Eternal One who accompanies us through time, never abandoning us, and who always watches over humanity with the fidelity of his merciful love.”

How has the Lord accompanied us through 2024?  Three hundred sixty-five days this year, Jesus has offered himself to us—in his teaching, in his Sacraments, most especially in the Eucharist.  365 days he has offered to forgive our sins, and invited us to make a new beginning in the life of grace—turning to him for strength in times of temptation, turning to him for guidance in times of confusion. In the darkest moments of 2024, he was there. Did we turn to him? Did we turn to the Christ, or did we turn to the voices and empty promises, of those St. John calls in our first reading, the anti-christs.

“Many anti-christs have appeared” John writes. What constitutes an anti-Christ? Any person, any philosophy, any institution who stands in opposition of Christ and the good news he offers, would be considered an anti-Christ. 

And just as many anti-Christs appeared in the early Church, anti-Christs are in abundance in the modern day. And the modern anti-christs continue to oppose Christ by swaying us to be selfish, to ignore God’s commandments, to hold on to grudges, to snub the poor. They seek to convince Christians to leave the Church, to dismiss godly wisdom, and persuade non-believers to look elsewhere for salvation. But they only offer the short term salvation of instant gratification, rather than authentic salvation that endures unto eternity. 

As we conclude one year and enter another, we do well to reflect upon and give thanks for the blessings of the year. But we also pray to God to gird us to continue the spiritual battle ahead and our Gospel mandate. 

Whatever may happen in 2025, Christ’s “light shines in the darkness; the darkness has not (and will not) overcome it.” 

Again, let us praise and thank the Eternal One who accompanies in time, and let us face today and tomorrow with the grace and truth he brings, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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Mindful of God’s faithfulness, let us offer our prayers and petitions with grateful hearts:

For the Church That all believers may enter the new year with renewed faith, bearing witness to Christ’s light in a world often darkened by selfishness and division. 

For those who lead and govern, that in 2025, government and civic leaders may be guided by the wisdom of God, promoting policies that uphold the dignity of every human person and protect the common good.

For all who have experienced hardship this past year That those who have suffered loss, disappointment, or confusion may find in Christ the healing and hope

For protection from modern “anti-christs”, that the Lord may strengthen us to recognize and resist voices that entice us toward selfishness, grudges, and neglect of the vulnerable, so we may remain steadfast in the truth of the Gospel.

In thanksgiving for God’s blessings, that our hearts may overflow with gratitude for the ways the Lord has accompanied us, forgiven our sins, and offered His grace throughout this past year.

For those struggling with illness, addiction or harmful habits: That they may find healing, support, and freedom in God’s grace, and discover the lasting peace Christ desires for them.

That those who have gone before us in faith may rest in the eternal embrace of our Merciful Father.

Presider: Loving and eternal God, you have guided us through the days and seasons of this past year. Hear our prayers as we entrust to you all our joys, sorrows, and hopes for the year ahead. May your grace strengthen us in the truth of Christ, whose light shines forever. 

December 27 2021 - St. John the Apostle & Evangelist (and his student Ignatius of Antioch)

 In the eastern narthex here at St. Ignatius of Antioch, the middle set of stained glass windows depict the life of our parishes patron St. Ignatius. And the very top stained glass window contains three figures. St. Ignatius, St. Polycarp, and the saint we honor on this third day of the Christmas Octave, the principal patron of the Diocese of Cleveland, St. John the Apostle and Evangelist.

These three saints are depicted together, for it is said that Polycarp and Ignatius were both students of the beloved disciple (and this is how they are depicted, as if sitting at the foot of the master). They were also both consecrated bishops by St. John around the year 66 A.D. Polycarp was made bishop of Smyrna, and Ignatius, of course, was made the third bishop of Antioch, where he remained for about 40 years, at which point he was arrested and marched to his martyrdom in Rome.

On his way to martyrdom, Ignatius wrote his famous epistles, and you can really tell he had spent time with the Apostle John, for John’s influence runs through the epistles of dear Ignatius.

Ignatius writes of “the timeless, eternal, invisible Word made visible” drawn, concepts we find in beloved John’s prologue. Ignatius presents the Lord many times as the Divine Physician, the Son of God, True God, the Divine Word, the Logos, as does John. 

St. John impacted St. Ignatius deeply, and he is meant to impact all of us, deeply. No doubt, the love, the knowledge, the understanding that Ignatius derived from John, enabled him to teach and guide the flock at Antioch, and gave him conviction and courage when facing the Emperor, and provided him bravery and resolution as he faced his martyrdom.

So we do well to meditate on the writings of John often. For John, laid his head on the breast of our Savior, and helps us to do the same. When we meditate on John’s gospel, we can hear the Lord’s own heartbeat. 

We can hear his love for the Father and the Lord’s love for his blessed Mother, his love for his apostles, his deeper mercy for sinners, and his love for us. 

The collect for today’s Mass speaks of how, God, through the apostle John has unlocked for us the secrets of the Word, and asks God to help us grasp with proper understanding what he has brought to our ears. What a powerful prayer! 

And what a fitting saint to celebrate so near to the feast of the Lord’s birth, for St. John unlocks for us the secret hidden to many. That the Christ child is not an ordinary child, he is the Word Made Flesh come to save us from our sins.

Like St. Ignatius of Antioch, may we all become students of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist, to learn ever more deeply the love and knowledge of Christ, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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We bring forth now our prayers of petitions.

For the Church of Cleveland under the patronage of St. John, apostle and evangelist, and particularly for Bishop Malesic, that together we may witness faithfully and tirelessly to the truth of the Gospel

For Christians who are persecuted throughout the world, especially those who face martyrdom, that they may have a faith that is constant and pure.

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

3rd Week of Lent 2021 - Wednesday - Words on the Threshold

Having led the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery, and delivering unto them the 10 commandments, then having traveled 40 years in the desert, Moses finally brings the Israelites to the threshold of the promised land. 

In the powerful book of Deuteronomy, Moses stands at that threshold and speaks, as we heard in today’s reading, the words, and statutes and decrees, that will enable them to live, to survive in this new land. The name of the 5th book of Moses, Deuteronomy, comes from the Hebrew word, debarim, which means “the words”— that is, the words, the laws—that will enable the Israelites to live as the people God was calling them to be.

In the Gospel, the Lord references these words, these commands and laws, “I haven’t come to do away with the law”, he says, and not letter of it, not the smallest part of a letter of it, not even the little dot over the i. 

Sometimes you hear the strange idea that because Jesus died for us, that frees us from having to follow God’s laws. That because we are forgiven of our sins past, present, and future, we aren’t bound to follow any sort of law or rule of conduct. That’s certainly not the biblical message, nor the teaching of the Church.

The Law of Moses was for the purpose of teaching people to live in righteousness, in right relationship with God. Right relationship, righteousness, involves our moral conduct—doing good and avoiding evil.

Regarding the law of Moses, the Old Law, the Catechism says that the law of Moses, was a “preparation for the Gospel” which of course also involves moral conduct, in fact, the Lord Jesus, has raised the bar of moral conduct for us Christians in many ways.

Not only are we to follow the moral law found in the Old Testament, but we are to strive for the way of perfection of Jesus Christ. I have not come to abolish the law, the Lord says, but to complete it. Catechism says, “the New Law or the Law of the Gospel is the perfection here on earth of the divine law, natural and revealed.”

Smack dab in the middle of Lent, we have the readings about moral conduct, no doubt, because Lent is about helping us right what is wrong in our lives, to help us identify this sins that we have not quite turned away from, and to strive for the perfection that is Jesus Christ—the word made flesh. Hence, making good Lenten examinations of conscience and a good Lenten confession.

Lent is a threshold. Like Moses standing at the threshold of the promised land, we are invited to examine our conduct, and to bring our conduct, and our hearts into deeper union with the law of love taught by and fulfilled by Our Lord, that we may live, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That obedience to all the commands of Christ and the Church may mark the life of every Christian. 

For all those preparing to enter into Christ through the saving waters of Baptism and those preparing for full initiation this Easter, may these final Lenten weeks bring about purification from sin and enlightenment in the ways of holiness.

For those who have fallen away from the Church, who have become separated through error and sin, for those who reject the teachings of Christ, for their conversion and the conversion of all hearts.

For those experiencing any kind of hardship or sorrow, isolation, addiction, or illness: may they experience the healing graces of Christ. 

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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.

December 31 2019 - The Last Gospel

Prior to the reforms of the Second Vatican council, mass would conclude with a reading from the prologue of Saint John’s Gospel , as we heard just proclaimed: “In principio erat Verbum, et Verbum erat apud Deum, et Deus erat Verbum...”, it was called the Last Gospel because it was part of the concluding rite of the Mass.  Well, it is the last Gospel of the year for us on this last day of the year 2019. 

The Last Gospel calls our attention to the beginning, the Eternal Word who was with God before time began and at the beginning of the world, through Him the world was made. The Last Gospel calls our attention to the beginning of our salvation, the birth of the Eternal Word made flesh. He who is beyond the comprehension of man becomes man to enlighten and save us.

Three hundred sixty-five days this year the Word sought to enter into our humanity, into our lives, that His light and His glory might be manifest in us, that the invisible might be made visible through us.

I think the last day of the year is always a reflective day, because it urges us to consider, did I allow the Eternal Word to become flesh in my life or not? How did I keep his light from shining, his glory from emanating.

2020 will begin, tomorrow, liturgically with the Feast of Mary, Mother of God in whose womb, the Word made his first humble dwelling.  We turn to her motherly intercession, that she may accompany us, and nurture us as we might become like her.

On this last day of 2019, we thank God for all he has achieved in us, and anticipate with open hearts what he still desires to achieve through us, with us, and in us this upcoming year. May we be more attentive and responsive to the needs of those around us.  And may we resolve this new year to be, like Mary, more open, more obedient, more humble to the Word of God for His glory and the 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.

For the safety of all those celebrating the New Year this evening, safety from physical harm and preservation from sin.

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