June 2 2025 - Sts. Marcellinus and Peter - Martyrs of the Roman Canon

 In the celebration of the Mass, one of the reasons that I like to use the Roman Canon, the first Eucharistic prayer, is because it contains those two lists of saints. Following the invocation of the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph, the priest lists of the apostles, then the first popes of rome, then a number of the Roman martyrs including a martyred deacon, a lay catechist, and two sets of martyred siblings.

After the consecration, there is another set of martyrs beginning with those whose names we find in the scriptures: John the Baptist, Stephen, Matthias, and Barnabas. Then our own patron, Ignatius of Antioch, martyred in Rome, followed by another Pope, Alexander the first, fifth Pope of Rome, and then the two saints we honor today: Saints Marcellinus and Peter.

As you know, for the first three hundred years of our faith, our faith was persecuted throughout the Roman Empire. Some of those persecutions were fiercer than others. Well, around the year 284, the most severe of the persecutions was led by the Emperor Diocletian--known as the Great Persecution. Around 3,000−3,500 Christians were executed under the authority of Imperial edicts.

Around 303, the Great Persecution reached its fiercest point. And it was then that the two saints honored today were killed. The first was Peter. Peter had been instituted in the minor Order of Exorcist. And while in prison, Peter performed an exorcism on the daughter of the prison-keeper. This demonstration of Christ's power over demons is said to have brought about the conversion of the daughter, the prison-keeper, his wife, and the entire household--all of whom were baptized by the second saint honored today, the Roman priest Marcellinus.

And the conversions continued. The pair were so successful in converting their fellow prisoners, that the Roman authorities didn’t want to risk a public execution, lest their deaths inspire even more conversions. So Marcellinus and Peter were taken to a forest in the middle of the night, forced to dig their own graves, and beheaded.

I don’t usually use the first Eucharistic prayer on weekdays. But I will today, in honor of these two heroes of the faith, whose courage inspires us to spread the Gospel, to witness to the Lord, to become instruments of God, whether in prison, or in whatever circumstances we find ourselves. Saints Marcellinus and Peter, pray for us. That we may become worthy of the promises of Christ.

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Trusting in the Lord who strengthened Saints Marcellinus and Peter in time of trial, let us offer our prayers for the needs of the Church and the world.

For the holy Church of God—that, inspired by the martyrs, she may hold fast to the apostolic faith and proclaim Christ with confidence even amid opposition. 

For civil leaders and those in authority—that they protect religious freedom and uphold the dignity of every person, and for all who are persecuted for their Christian witness today, may they be defended by God’s grace and become shining signs of hope.

For those entrusted with the ministry of exorcism, may they serve as courageous instruments of God’s deliverance of the oppressed, and for the conversion of sinners and the strengthening of the lukewarm—that the witness of the martyrs may rouse hearts to repentance, baptismal renewal, and zeal for evangelization. 

For those imprisoned, forgotten, or isolated, for the sick, the suffering, and all the afflicted—that Christ, who conquered sin and death, may grant them strength, healing, and peace.

For our beloved dead—may they be welcomed into the company of the saints and behold God face-to-face. 

God of strength and mercy, You sustained Your martyrs Marcellinus and Peter in the hour of trial; hear our prayers and grant that, like them, we may remain faithful witnesses to Your Son, who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

22nd Week in Ordinary Time 2023 - Tuesday - Nazareth vs. Capernaum

 For the first nine weeks of Ordinary Time, the weekday Gospel readings are taken from the Gospel of Mark. And then for about 12 more weeks, the Gospels are taken from Matthew. From now until the end of the liturgical year, we read from the Gospel of Luke. 

Yet, we don’t start with chapter one of Luke’s Gospel, for those are read throughout the advent and Christmas seasons. So we begin at the beginning of Our Lord’s public ministry, about 30 years after his birth, in Luke chapter 4.

And chapter 4 begins with the Lord in Nazareth, the place where he grew up, and he enters the synagogue on the sabbath, reads from the prophet Isaiah, basically claiming to be the fulfillment of the Messiah prophecy, and is then driven to the edge of the cliff by the townsfolk and almost killed. 

Today, the Lord comes to another synagogue, to the town of Capernaum, about 25 miles to the northeast. It’s the sabbath again, so perhaps only a week has gone by. 

And again he teaches. But, unlike the people of Nazareth who were filled with fury, the people of Capernaum were filled with astonishment. And then he performs an exorcism. 

In an atmosphere where Jesus is accepted and believed and listened to, demons are driven out. Where he is rejected, man allows the demons to remain in control, and push Jesus to the edge of their lives.

The task of the Christian is to bring Jesus into the lives of the peoples of our world, into their families, and homes. Will they reject him, like they did at Nazareth, or will they accept him and allow him to cast out their demons like in Capernaum? Well, we don’t find out until we are faithful to our task of bringing him into the synagogues of their lives. But we can’t be afraid to bring Jesus into someone’s life because the reaction might be a Nazareth and not a Capernaum. 

Nor can we give up on someone just because a demon shows up that is initially hostile. We must spend enough time with folks where we give Jesus the time to cast the demon out. 

There’s certainly some missionary instruction in today’s Gospel, and some of us are called to be missionaries. The missionary mustn’t be afraid of demons, rather, the manifestation of the demon is a sign that the Lord wants to cast it out. When the demon bares its teeth and calls for Jesus to be silenced, you don’t run away. You rebuke that demon in the name of Jesus, and pray for it to be cast out. Then the healing can begin, and the conversion to Christ.

And that’s true in our own life, when an old demon, an old temptation, bears its teeth, remain calm, and pray for the Lord to cast it out.

May our lives, our parish, our neighborhood be places where the Lord is encountered and believed, may his authority over the powers of darkness cast out demons and bring the light of faith, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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For a flourishing of spiritual gifts needed for the missionary work and evangelizing mission of the Church.

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

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

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

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

June 2 2023 - Sts. Marecellinus and Peter - Martyrs of the Great Persecution

 

As you likely know, for the first three hundred years of our faith, our faith was persecuted throughout the Roman Empire. Some of those persecutions were fiercer than others. Well, around the year 284, the most severe of the persecutions was led by the Emperor Diocletian--known as the Great Persecution. Thousands of Christians were executed under the authority of Imperial edicts.

During the Great Persecution, clerics and laity were rounded up, imprisoned, tortured, and killed, the churches we had managed to erect were burned, along with our scriptures and ritual texts. The goal of the persecution was to finally force Christians to relinquish their faith and to submit to the Roman pagan religion, including the worship of the emperor himself as a divinity. And the persecution was empire wide, from Palestine, Syria, including Antioch to Greece and of course in Rome. 

Many of the martyrs of the Great persecution are still honored with great devotion today: Sebastian, Agnes, Vitus, Lucy, Cyrsogonus, Cosmos and Damian, Januarius, Catherine of Alexandria.

Around 303, the Great Persecution reached its fiercest point. And it was then that the two saints honored today were killed. The first was a Roman exorcist by the name of Peter. While in prison, Peter performed an exorcism on the daughter of the prison-keeper. This demonstration of Christ's power over demons is said to have brought about the conversion of the daughter, the prison-keeper, his wife, and the entire household--all of whom were baptized by the second saint honored today, the Roman priest Marcellinus.

After this, both Marcellinus and Peter were called before a judge who was determined to enforce the emperor's decree against the Church. When Marcellinus testified courageously to his faith in Christ, he was beaten, stripped of his clothes, and deprived of food in a dark cell filled with broken glass shards. Peter was also returned to confinement.

But the conversions continued. And they were so successful in converting their fellow prisoners, that the Roman authorities didn’t want to risk a public execution, lest their deaths inspire even more conversions. So Marcellinus and Peter were taken to a forest in the middle of the night, forced to dig their own graves, and beheaded. 

It is said that the executioner was so moved by their courage that he sought out baptism, and later shared with Pope Damasus the location of the martyrdom, so a church could be built there. 

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of taking part in the celebration of the Sacrament of confirmation with about 40 young people, and so many of them chose as their confirmation patrons, the names of those early Christian martyrs. 2000 years later, young people, still look to the martyrs of the early Roman church as inspiration for living out the Christian faith. 

Why? No doubt, their courage in the face of hostility is perennially inspiring. All of us face some sort of adversity, and the martyrs show us what courage looks like, they show us that courage is possible, withstanding adversity, persevering throughout an earthly trial is possible. Their love for Jesus Christ and the Church is also contagious. 

May Marcellinus and Peter and all of the martyrs of the Roman Church help us to courageously confess Christ in our own day and place, remaining true to Him in word and deed, loving Him with all of our heart, mind, and strength, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For openness to the Holy Spirits gifts, that we may be always bold and clear in spreading and defending the Gospel.

That the faith of the martyrs may give us courage in times of persecution.

For our young people beginning summer vacation, that they may be kept close to the truth and heart of Jesus.

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

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

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

A reading from the book of the prophet Joel

Thus says the Lord God: Children of Zion, delight and rejoice in the LORD, your God! For he has faithfully given you the early rain, sending rain down on you, the early and the late rains as before. The threshing floors will be full of grain, the vats spilling over with new wine and oil. You will eat until you are fully satisfied, then you will praise the name of the LORD, your God, Who acts so wondrously on your behalf! My people will never again be put to shame. Then you will know that I am in the midst of Israel: I, the LORD, am your God, and there is no other; my people will never again be put to shame.

A continuation of the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke

One day as Jesus was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem, and the power of the Lord was with him for healing. And some men brought on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed; they were trying to bring him in and set [him] in his presence. But not finding a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on the stretcher through the tiles* into the middle in front of Jesus. When he saw their faith, he said, “As for you, your sins are forgiven.” Then the scribes and Pharisees began to ask themselves, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who but God alone can forgive sins?” Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them in reply, “What are you thinking in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? l But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.” He stood up immediately before them, picked up what he had been lying on, and went home, glorifying God. Then astonishment seized them all and they glorified God, and, struck with awe, they said, “We have seen incredible things today.”

1st Week of Ordinary Time 2022 - Tuesday - The end of the devil's reign

 From now until the beginning of Lent on March 2, 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 10—beginning with the commencement of the Lord’s public ministry, which we heard yesterday, through his transfiguration and the first predictions of his Passion.

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 it 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.

In today’s Gospel passage we see one of the major themes of the Gospel on display, Jesus in confrontation with the powers of hell. 

“Have you come to destroy us?” asks the demon. “Why yes, yes he has”. 

The Lord’s appearance, his public ministry, marks the beginning of the demise of the kingdom of satan established at the fall of adam and eve. Satan’s rebellion against God led man astray and into sin, causing man’s disfigurement by sin, a darkening of his intellect, a weakening of his will, and a diminished unity of body and soul, a worst of all, death. 

And not only does Jesus come and challenge the devil’s claim on mankind, he signals the end of the devil’s reign through a series of exorcisms and miracles that will culminate in the ultimate victory of the cross.

This powerful drama plays out on the pages of the Gospel of Mark, but it is also meant to play out in our own lives.

During Ordinary time, the Lord wishes to march again into our lives, as he marched into the synagogue in Capernaum, and muzzle and bind and cast out the devil’s that plague us. Ordinary Time is anything but ordinary, for the Lord  works powerful miracles of deliverance as we seek to conform our lives to his teaching and open the ordinary dimensions of our lives to his grace.

May we cooperate fully, 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.

22nd Week in Ordinary Time 2021 - Tuesday - Release from demonic captivity

 “Have you come to destroy us?” the demon asked.  Had Jesus come to destroy Satan and Satan’s kingdom?  Absolutely!  So Jesus commanded the demon to come out of the man it had been possessing, and it did. 

In Yesterday’s Gospel, standing in the synagogue of Nazareth, Jesus claimed that he had come to bring release to the captives. Who are the captives? Us! Those held captive by the powers of sin and death and immorality and the devil—powers which keep us from living in the freedom God designed for his children.

The kingdom of Satan is set up to enslave and to damn. Jesus enters into history, engages in his ministry culminating in his passion, death, and resurrection, to free and to save.

So throughout the Gospel of Luke, we see Jesus freeing people—freeing people from the powers that bind humanity: from hunger, disease, blindness, deafness, muteness, paralysis, fear and cowardice, pride, moral and theological error, from literal demons, and ultimately from death. 

When we encounter Jesus and place our faith in Him and walk in the light of his truth, we gain freedom. Sadly, we see so much of humanity still captive and captivated by the powers of Satan. And we know, too, that through our own personal sins, we have fallen again and again back into captivity. 

Which is why we continue to seek freedom from our own captivities through the cultivation of virtue, the reception of the Sacraments, and works of charity, and why we generously share the Gospel of freedom with others. 

Notice too how the unclean spirit afflicted this religious gathering, in the synagogue. So, too, the devil loves to cause trouble within the Church. It is a great victory for him, when he can cause sin and division within the church, in the church hierarchy, among priests, on the diocesan level, in parishes, and small groups in parishes, and families. And so at every level of the Church, we should pray for deliverance and protection from the works of darkness, we should invoke Our Lady, St. Joseph terror of demons, St. Michael, and intentionally work to fortify ourselves against Satan’s powers, that at every level of the Church we make know that freedom the comes from heaven, that we may be faithful to the mission given to us by Christ, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all members of the Church, laity and clergy will be effective instruments for driving out demons and reclaiming souls for Christ.

For an end to indifference to God and human dignity in our government and educational institutions, businesses, and personal attitudes.

For resolution to the atrocities in Afghanistan, for the safety of our military and innocent bystanders, for captive Christians, and for an end to all terrorism.

For victims of extreme and inclement weather and those experiencing any kind of hardship or sorrow, isolation, addiction, or disease: may they know God’s deliverance, strength and peace 

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

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

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time - The priority of the spiritual over the physical

 

Imagine, with you, that you are peter, james, john or Andrew in the Gospel today. Now mind you, this passage is very early on in the Gospel of Mark. You’ve known Jesus for less then a week. You may have heard something about him being called the Lamb of God by out preacher out in the desert, but you aren’t really sure what that means. He’s told you that he’s going to make you a fisher of men, but you don’t really know what THAT means. He’s indicated he needs a place to stay, so you’ve invited him to come to Capernaum, your home town, and just this morning, he did the most amazing thing you ever saw: he walked into the town synagogue, and a demon began hissing and cursing at him, and called him the Holy One of God. He then commanded the demon to be silent, and cast it out, amazing everyone present.

Leaving the synagogue you go to Peter’s house, and Jesus does something else you’ve never seen. He heals Peter’s sick bed-ridden mother-in-law. Then at sunset, his fame having spread throughout the region because of the exorcism, droves of sick people come to him, and he heals them too and drives out even more demons. Who is this person?

I bet it was quite difficult for Peter, James, Andrew, and John to sleep that first night: replaying the scenes of the preceding day, the anguished haunted faces of the demon possessed becoming serene, the deathly ill suddenly regaining health. Questions bouncing around in their head, possibilities for the future. What’s going on here? What does he want from us? Is there a limit to his ability to heal? What’s tomorrow going to bring?

You finally drift up to sleep, and upon waking, He’s gone. Where is he? Where’s the miracle man. Everyone goes out to look for him. He has a lot to answer for, and there will be, no doubt, more people demanding healing. 

And then he says something surprising: he says, let’s get out of here. No more healings today. Because that’s not why I’ve come. I’ve come to preach.

Your first thought might be “come from where?” He’s from Galilee, we’re in Galilee. He speaks with the accent of Galilean. Again, what is he talking about. And what does he mean? Where has he come from? And how is preaching more important than casting out demons and healing the sick? What could be more important than that?

If the first great question in the Gospel of Mark is “who is this person?” The second, is certainly, “how is preaching more important than healing the sick?” How is preaching a greater priority than curing people who are dying? If he has the power to do that, why doesn’t he do that?

Here the Lord intimates the priority of the spiritual over the physical. Preaching the truth of the Gospel is more important, it is the reason he has come. To “preach” in St. Mark’s original Greek is the Greek word “kérussó”—to preach, to proclaim, to herald, to announce, to establish through his Word—the kingdom of heaven. This is the priority: to preach and establish the kingdom of God for the conversion of those held sway by the kingdom of darkness. And in the end, that is everybody. To preach and invite all people of all places and all times to conversion—to faith and new spiritual life though him. 

All those healing miracles, while yes, they show us the love that God has for all the physically sick, they indicate God’s love for the spiritually sick, all of us. Moreover, all those physical healings symbolize on the physical level what Jesus has come to do on the spiritual level. The healing miracles—the healing of the mute, the blind, the deaf, and the leper—are physical analogues of what he’s come to do spiritually. He has come to heal the spiritually mute—those unable to speak the Word of God due to ignorance or fear; he’s come to heal the blind—those who do not see God at work in the world, and those who do not see the dignity of the human person; he has come to heal the spiritually deaf—those who turn a deaf ear to the truth of God and the call of the poor; and he has come to heal the spiritual leper—those who have contracted the deadly spiritual malady of sin that has separated us from God.

Why is there a priority of the spiritual over the physical? Because the spiritually dead will be separated from God for ever. While those who are reborn by grace, those alive in the spirit—they will remain united to God forever, even though they may experience physical death, they will live forever.

Hence the importance of maintaining and nourishing our spiritual lives. Repenting of sin and confessing our sins. Receiving the bread of life, the Eucharist. Engaging in prayer and good works and spreading the Gospel even when there is a physical price to pay for these things. For the spiritual takes priority over the physical.

In less than two weeks, we will begin again the holy and penitential season of Lent, the time of the Church year for identifying those habits, attitudes, behaviors, and attachments that keep us from living for Christ. We identify the physical pleasures and comforts that, however good, we fast from and abstain from, to remember that in this earthly life, I am not meant to live for the physical and the earthly, but to pursue the spiritual and the heavenly. 

I think it is so important for us to be immersed in the history of the apostles and saints and martyrs, because we encounter, in the holy ones, men and women, of every race and age, who have recognized the need to live for God. The apostles imprisonment and  torture to preach the Gospel, and counted it a joy to persecuted for the sake of the name of Jesus. The martyrs of the early Church, like St. Ignatius who when offered the opportunity to save his physical life by offering a tribute to a pagan god refused, as it would violate the first commandment? Would you die for the first commandment. What does it profit a man to preserve his earthly life, or gain the whole world, but lose his soul?

In the martyrs and the saints, the Lord takes very weak and very ordinary people and transforms them into heroes of our faith, again to show us, the importance, the priority of the spiritual over the physical. So much so that Paul, as we heard in the second reading today, counts all things as loss—woe to me, if I do not prioritize the preaching of the Gospel over all else…for if I don’t preach it, I don’t have a share in it. If I don’t preach it, I don’t have a share in it. That line should cause us to do some serious reflection on our priorities, no? If I don’t preach the Gospel, I don’t have share in it. Does my life, do my words, do my actions, does my lifestyle, speak of—does it preach—the Gospel of Christ? Does the way I act in public and private stem from and point to the Gospel?

Paul hints at the radical nature of Christianity. Radical, not meaning not crazy or irrationally zealous, like it’s sometimes used, but radical coming from the word radix which means, root. Christianity requires reorientation to God all the way down to the root of our human nature. Again, this is why Paul, imprisoned, sentenced to die, having spent his remaining days preaching the Gospel, so transformed by grace, is able to say, it is no longer me, but Christ, who lives in me. 

When faith is prioritized over all else, it shapes and changes and transforms all else, into the work of Christ—preaching and establishing the kingdom—just as he did 2000 years ago, he continues this work, through us for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

4th Week in Ordinary Time 2021 - Monday - Deliverance from the Demonic

 The episode from today’s Gospel describes Jesus’ first excursion into non-Jewish territory, and it begins in a similar way as his public ministry among the Jews: with an exorcism—the casting out of an unclean spirit—a demon.

Mark’s description of the Gerasene demoniac shows how demonic influence seeks to distort and destroy the image of God in us.  We see this man living away from his family, wild-eyed, shouting, bearing the marks of self-mutilation. The human instinct of self-preservation and health is distorted and overridden by this demonic force.

So too, when we are given over to the powers of addiction, lust, greed, and wrath—when we allow ourselves to be possessed by the spirits of sin—our goodness becomes distorted, an ugly, unclean power begins to fill us.  

St. Mark even shows the futility of society’s efforts to deal with the demonic problem.  The most they can do is attempt to restrain the man physically, and even that is ineffective; the demon fills the man with a strength which breaks the shackles and chains.  Similarly, the world attempts to free man from his demons through silly pop psychology, self-help programs, pagan or esoteric spirituality, “new age techniques” or political promises. Many claim that science is the cure of all man’s ills.  

But Jesus shows, that in the end, it is only the power of the Most High which can free us from our demons.  For the cause of the demonic relationship is a rupture of the relationship with God and family.  

This is why, after the exorcism, Jesus sends the man back to his family to announce the Lord’s mercy. “Go home to your family and announce to them all that the lord in his pity has done for you.” Jesus restores the relationship with God and heals the rifts of family division.

Reminded of the real possibility of the human soul to turn away in demonic fashion from that which is Good—God, family, self, and society, we pray for deliverance. Trusting that the Lord continues to exercise this power to restore the human soul, to redirect it to its highest good, to heal and restore what is lost in sin, may we commit to being his instruments of deliverance and exorcism, through preaching and teaching and works of mercy 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.

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

1st Week of OT 2021 - Wednesday - "For this purpose have I come"

 “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.” Imagine you are peter, james, john or Andrew. You’ve followed Jesus to Capernaum and seen him exorcize a demon and begin to perform these miraculous healings. He’s told you that he’s going to make you fishers of men, but you don’t really know what that means. You don’t quite understand where this whole thing is going yet, and he tells you that we’re not just going to stay here in Capernaum, we are going to proclaim the Gospel to the surrounding villages and all of Galilee—this is the reason I have come, for this purpose, to proclaim this kingdom all throughout this land.

Your first thought might be “come from where”? He speaks with the accent of Galilean, he’s still in Galilee. So where did he come from? The Lord knows that the small band is probably not quite ready for the whole truth, so he hints that he has come from heaven. This little phrase hints at the preexistence of the second person of the Trinity with the Father—it hints at the Lord’s divine nature. He has come. He has arrived. So the reader of the Gospel of Mark, hearing it for the first time, would be asking along with the disciples, “who is this guy?”

The reason why he has come is to “preach” to proclaim—the Greek word is “kérussó”—he has come to herald, to announce, to proclaim, and to drive out demons. To preach the kingdom of god and to release people from the kingdom of darkness. 

The truth of the Gospel is preached to enlighten the minds of the people so that the demons can no longer maintain their hold. Because the devil lurks and takes roots in error and lies. But like his combat with the devil in the desert, the devil’s lies and power are overcome by truth and obedience to God. 

Again, ordinary time means putting this stuff into practice in the ordinary circumstances of our lives. So, we continue to ponder and meditate upon the identity of Jesus with the apostles, we continue to listen to his truth, allowing his truth to weaken and cast out the errors and lies of the enemy which have taken root in our life. Where have we made allowances for sin and selfishness? Where have we allowed worldliness to take priority over pursuing the things of God? Where am I obstructing the flowering of sacramental grace?

For this has he come, to preach the Gospel to us, and to cast out demons in us, 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 and deliverance from the evils of the enemy.

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.

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.

27th Week of OT 2020 - Friday - Seven demons worse than the first

The Gospels contain many instances of Jesus performing exorcisms—casting out evil spirits. These many instances of exorcism indicate that a primary aspect of Jesus’ ministry is to deliver us from bondage to evil. Why? Because evil dehumanizes us—it defaces our human dignity. The human mind and heart were not made to be dominated by forces like Lust, Pride, Envy, Greed, Wrath, Addiction. 

This is why we often see in the gospels the demon possessed displaying inhuman characteristics. Think of the Garasene demoniac bound in chains like an animal, screaming and gashing himself with stones. Or the possessed boy unable to speak—speech being one of the human faculties which differentiates us from the beasts.

The Lord Jesus, over and over in the Gospels, casts out evil spirits which dehumanize us; He has come to liberate us from the powers of sin and evil which keep us from living in the freedom of the children of God.

Yet, today’s Gospel provides a lesson of paramount importance regarding our liberation through Christ. What do we do once we have been freed from evil. What do we do once we’ve encountered Christ? Once we’ve been baptized? Once we’ve been liberated by Christ in the Sacrament of Confession?

The Lord teaches about a certain danger inherent in the spiritual life. If you do nothing, following your deliverance, it is likely you will be worse off than before your deliverance. It’s like a gardener who pulls up all the weeds from his garden, but then doesn't plant any crops. The weeds grow right back and in great numbers. 

This is why we see so many fallen away Catholics engaging in terrible behavior. Yes, they were freed from evil through baptism. They might have even gone to Catholic School for a while. But falling away from the faith, falling away from the Sacraments, their hearts turn hostile to God, and the begin to justify one sin after another. They stop hungering and thirsting for righteousness, and end up settling for so much less. Even priests, bishops, consecrated religious, can end up in terrible spiritual states because they begin to justify sin. It's usually through the cracks of pride--that these new demons enter our lives.

Rather, we need to always be pressing forward in the spiritual life—seeking growth, cultivating and making use of the spiritual gifts, as St. Peter writes, growing in grace and the knowledge of Our Lord. There are no plateau’s in the spiritual life, we are either pushing forward, climbing the mountain, growing in holiness, or we are falling back into old sinful habits or forming new ones. And those new ones might be worse than the old ones. 

The Lord wishes to produce abundant life in us, to perfect his love in us, to complete his joy in us. But we must cooperate daily, repent daily, humble ourselves daily, exert effort daily to grow in grace for the glory of God and salvation of souls. 

 

That the clergy and the lay faithful may be vigilant against the tactics of the enemy to corrupt and destroy the Church, for a purification from all corruption within the Body of Christ. Let us pray to the Lord.

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

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.

22nd Week in OT 2020 - Tuesday - Driving out Demons

 After the attempt on his life in his home town of Nazareth, the Lord commences his public ministry and enters the town which will be his headquarters for the next three years, Capernaum. And what’s the first thing he does when he arrives? He drives out a demon. 

Whenever a Catholic comes to a new place, they should do the same. When moving into a new home, one should summon the parish priest to bless it. You don’t know what was going on in that home before you lived there. It’s not likely the place was used for holy purposes. Catholics who travel a lot should bring holy water with them, so that they can bless their hotel rooms. I can guarantee those places were not used for holy purposes. 

Holy water, exorcized salt, blessed crucifixes and images of Our Lady, these help to reclaim territory for Christ, territory in which the demons may have had free reign, who have entered into that place through the sins of previous occupants, who may even have been welcomed in through occult practices or open defiance to the teachings of Christ.

The sacramentals, the blessed objects, not only do they drive away the darkness in a place, but they keep us focused on our identity and mission as Catholics. When we are in a room with a blessed crucifix, we do better at watching what we say, as we should. You should put an image of Our Lady near your television or computer screen, so that she can watch you, to make sure you aren’t watching what you shouldn’t. These objects should not just be decoration, but we should look at them with devotion, renewing our faith when we glimpse them.

These objects, too, placed in the various rooms of your home will help visitors know that they are in a Catholic home, a blessed place, where the angels of God stand guard, a place dedicated to the Lord. They may be one way the Lord pricks the conscience of a fallen away Catholic, or someone with a guilty conscience who needs to go to confession.

The Lord wishes to continue to drive out demons, through us—through the exercise of our faith and our devotional life, as we encounter others in the world, we should be praying for them, that whatever demons which may be darkening their intellect or even possessing them, may be muzzled and driven out. 

May we be effective instruments of this exorcizing mission of Christ for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all members of the Church, laity and clergy will be effective instruments for driving out demons and reclaiming souls for Christ.

For an end to indifference to God and human dignity in our government and educational institutions, businesses, and personal attitudes.

During this month of September, dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows, we pray for all those who grieve, and that we may grieve sufficiently for our sins.

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

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

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

14th Week in OT 2020 - Tuesday - Casting-out spirit of muteness

There are about twenty miracles in Matthew’s Gospel, most of them are healing miracles, though Matthew, like the other evangelists records miracles such as the feeding of the five thousand, the calming of the storm, and walking on water.

Of the healing miracles, there is subset of healings which are coupled with exorcisms—the casting out of demons which was either the cause of the physical malady or at least connected to the debilitation.  In today’s Gospel, a demon possessed man who could not speak was brought to Jesus, and when the demon was cast out the man was then able to speak.

Whenever we are attached to evil, or evil is attached to us, we are always less than we should be. Evil debilitates us. It keeps us from seeing as we should, hearing as we should, speaking as we should, walking as we should. It keeps us from understanding as we should, listening as we should, proclaiming good news as we should, and building the kingdom as we should.

These miracle stories are meant to teach us how the Lord wishes to restore what was corrupted through sin and put it into service of the Gospel.

The healing of muteness is particularly important. We are made in the image of God who speaks creation into existence, the second person of the Trinity is the Word who becomes flesh to save us. And attachments to evil and fear which keep us from speaking rightly mars the image of God in us.
But by healing muteness, casting out the evil which keeps us from proclaiming truth, speaking righteously, we are restored to be the people we were made to be. Through grace, we are freed from the evil attachments which keep us from developing well-trained tongues.

All of us are tongue-tied in some way. Perhaps we refrain from speaking truth to a loved one who is making all the wrong choices because we fear being rejected by them. Or maybe we hesitate sharing our faith with non-believers because we fear being judged by them in some way.  Yes, speaking truth will always have some consequence, some possibility of condemnation. But we were not made to be afraid of speaking truth, or so attached to evil habits that we never learn our faith enough to share it.

Rather, the journey of faith must involve allowing the Lord to loosen our tongues for the spread of the Gospel. So we do well to identify any spiritually unhealthy or unhelpful habits which keep us from learning our faith, or any fears that we have not handed over to the Lord which keep us from speaking what is true, good, and effective for the building up of the kingdom for the Glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That the Holy Spirit may guide the selection of a new bishop for the diocese of Cleveland, that he may be a man of courage, competency, and conviction for the Gospel.

That all of our young people on summer vacation may be kept safe from the poisonous errors and vices of our time and be kept in close friendship with the Lord Jesus through the faith of their families, daily prayer, attendance at Mass, and the practice of the virtues.

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, for victims of abuse, especially children, 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

14th Week in OT 2019 - Wednesday - Power to push back the armies of hell

“Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority”. That word—“authority”—is an important in Matthew’s Gospel.

Jesus is depicted throughout the Gospel having “authority”. His authority over the powers of nature is shown in his many miracles: calming the storm, walking on water. His authority over unclean spirits is seen in his many exorcisms: casting out demons, silencing them. His authority over life and death is seen ultimately in his resurrection.

In Matthew chapter 9, Jesus says that He has “authority on earth to forgive sins”. And in Matthew chapter 28, he says “To me has been given all authority in heaven and on earth”. He has authority because He is the Faithful Son of the Father.

When Jesus gives authority to the twelve, what is he giving them authority to do? To Drive out demons and cure every disease.  They are given the authority to do a lot of what Jesus has been doing since he came out of the Desert and began his ministry.

 The Greek word, for authority, is εξουσια. It’s a great word in Greek having several connotations. Firstly, εξουσια is the power to act, the freedom to decide, that ability of will to choose. Secondly, it’s the power or ability to complete an action.  Thirdly, εξουσια can mean delegated authority, the authorization to do some work.  And fourthly, it refers to jurisdiction or sphere of authority. 
And Jesus is giving this authority to the apostles in every sense of the word. Free will to do God’s work, the ability to do supernatural tasks, they are delegated by the one who has the divine authority, and their sphere of influence will first be to the surrounding towns and to the lost sheep of Israel, but later, it will be to all nations.

Consider what this power to drive out demons really means. Yes, it’s the power to perform exorcisms. But It’s also power to push back the armies of hell, to reclaim territory formerly claimed by the devil. Think of all the areas of society where evil seems to reign, places where murder, corruption, lust, greed, perversion, selfishness seem to hold sway. The hearts of politicians, the minds of the youth, the dark corridors of the hearts of lost souls. God made flesh has given authority to drive these dark forces back.

It’s the power to bring transformation to the corrupt, to bring healing to the most wounded, to bring about miraculous change and conversion. But, it’s up to us to use the authority given to us by the Lord, to be courageous in facing evil, going to the dark places to bring the light of Christ for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That the Bishops, the successors of the Apostles, may use their authority wisely and courageously in standing against the evils of this world.

For all those under the sway of evil, error, and corruption, for their deliverance by the power of Christ.

For the protection of young people from the corrupting influences of the world, for Christians families, and for the conversion of the faithless.

For the sick, suffering, and sorrowful, for miracles for hopeless causes.

For the souls in purgatory, and for N. 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.

4th Week in OT 2019 - Monday - Jesus and the demon-possessed Gerasene

To this day, numerous caves dot the shoreline of the east side of the sea of Galilee in the territory of the Gerasenes.  Even in daylight this would have been an eerie place to be sailing by, for many of the caves were used to bury the dead.  In Jesus’ time, the caves were popularly regarded as a favorite haunt of demons.

As Jesus steps ashore, he is immediately challenged by the demonic powers that seem to hold sway in the area, as if guarding their territorial rights. The moment Jesus sets foot on land, a demon-possessed man emerges from the tombs, wild-eyed, shouting, and bearing marks of self-muti
lation. Unclean spirits have taken over his personality resulting in a life of unbearable torment and alienation. Unable to function in human society, he lives among the tombs, the realm of the dead. This is a picture of what the devil wants for mankind—slavery to the tyranny of evil, not only on this earth, but for all eternity.

Because of original sin, Satan has acquired a certain domination over all human beings; in all of us the image of God is defaced to some degree.  Unholy desires to rebel against God, to forsake the use of reason, to violate our human dignity through sin, tempt each one of us.

Upon seeing this poor soul, Jesus shows his decisive and complete power over the forces of evil.  In the previous passage, Jesus calmed the winds of the storm—over the power of destruction in nature—with a single word. Now this story illustrates Jesus’ power over the forces of destruction within the human person.

Those forces still exist in us—those tendencies towards alienation and selfishness and self-pity. But through Baptism and the Sacraments and the life of prayer and charity we are brought into a new relationship with God, who works through our faith and the faith of the Church to bring deliverance from evil.

We pray today, that in our communion with the Lord, he will step into the territory of our hearts and expel those destructive powers in us, free us from the shackles and chains of sin, that we may live in perfect love towards God and our neighbor, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
 
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That the preaching and teachings of the Pope, Bishops, and clergy may be a source of strength and guidance for the Holy Church.
That those in civic authority may submit their minds and hearts to the rule of Christ, the Prince of Peace and Hope of the nations.
For the liberation of those bound by evil, those committed to sin an error, those oppressed or possessed by evil spirits, and for the conversion of the hardest hearts.
For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.
For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.
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

1st Week of OT 2019 - Tuesday - Binding Evil Spirits and Liberating Captives

On the first weekday of Ordinary Time yesterday, we heard the call of the disciples.  Jesus’ call of his first followers is followed by his first miraculous work in Mark’s Gospel: an exorcism—reminding us that Christ has come to do battle with Satan, to dismantle the powers of darkness, and to unbind those who are bound by evil.

This whole drama takes place while Jesus is teaching in a synagogue. And this demon begins to disrupt Jesus, the works of the devil disrupt, hinder, thwart the work of God. The demon is called an “unclean spirit”. Why are they called “unclean”? “Unclean” is an Old Testament term for a person or thing that is ritually defiled and therefore prohibited from taking part in worship. A demon is an angel that has been cast out of heaven due to its refusal to worship God. And the unclean spirits seek to separate us eternally from the worship of God as well.

“I know who you are–the Holy One of God!” The unclean spirit claims hidden knowledge of Jesus’ identity, a frequent tactic of the demons in the Gospel. But if it intends to catch Jesus off guard, or to gain some control over him, their attempt is futile. For Christ commands them ”Quiet!, phimōthēti” one of the coolest Greek words, literally, “be muzzled”. Imagine leather straps binding, muzzling, the mouth of an ox. Having been muzzled, the unclean spirit shows one last act of defiance by convulsing the man, but helpless before Jesus’ word of command, the demon departs.

Day two of Ordinary Time, and we get a glimpse of the battlefield. Jesus has come to drive out the unclean from our lives, all that defiles human dignity and to restore us to the right worship of God, that we may worship and live “in spirit and in truth”. We do well to study God’s word and study  our catechism: so much uncleanness is cast out when we are exposed to and believe God’s truth. And most likely the undisciplined parts of our egos need to be muzzled, in order to be brought under the direction of the Holy Spirit.

The Lord also desire to use us as his instruments for binding evil in the world, for setting captives free. May we be ambassadors of his truth, his goodness, his power, and his love today for all we meet, 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pentecost 2017 - The Holy Spirit fills the Church

Today we celebrate the great feast of the Holy Spirit. In the Bible, the word “Spirit” is used about a thousand times, the Holy Spirit certainly left his mark on the inspired Scriptures. The word “spirit” is a translation of the Hebrew word ru’ach and the Greek word pnue’ma. These words refer to that which gives life to a body—the breath of life.

The body needs the spirit in much the same way a radio or mobile phone needs electricity. As long as electricity runs through the device it will work, when the electricity runs out, the device is unusable, except as a paper-weight.

Having “spirit”, the “breath of life”, is something we humans share with the animals and plants, the living beings. What separates us from the animals and plants, is that part of us that is immortal, the human soul. The soul is that part of us that goes before the judgment seat of Christ when we die, and waits to be rejoined with the body in the resurrection.

We also use the word “spirit” to refer to the purpose that unites a particular group, l’esprit de corps, as the French say. We speak of the “spirit of the American people,”, “team spirit”, “the fighting spirit of the United States Marines”.

St. Paul speaks of the Spirit of the Church in our second reading, but he’s not speaking of a club or group, he’s speaking about something entirely new in the course of history. The Church is not a club, but a living organism; not a building, but a body made up of baptized souls united and filled with the Holy Spirit.

A radio’s purpose is to broadcast news, music, entertainment. The Church’s purpose is to broadcast, as St. Paul says, “Jesus is Lord”. Lebron isn’t Lord, politics isn’t Lord, pop stars aren’t Lords, not even the Pope is Lord, money isn’t Lord, sex isn’t Lord, celebrity and power aren’t Lord. The Holy Spirit enables the Church to proclaim that Jesus is Lord, amidst all the noise and distraction of the world.

The Holy Spirit also animates the Church to engage in many kinds of service: we feed the hungry, we clothe the naked, we call sinners to repentance, and instruct the ignorant, we go out to the lost and forsaken, the addict, the imprisoned, and help them to know the comfort of God. And yet the Church is more than a secular charitable organization, She’s an organism of Love, concerned not simply for earthly welfare, but the eternal soul.

She speaks the truth when no one else will, when the world is against her, in and out of season. She comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable, speaks truth to power, and suffers for the sake of righteousness.

St. Paul also says the Holy Spirit produces many different kinds of spiritual gifts, what are known as the charismata, the spiritual charisms: some members of the Church are blessed with gifts for preaching, gifts for teaching, gifts for comforting, gifts for organizing, gifts for fundraising, gifts for hard-labor, gifts for grand visions, and gifts for minute details, gifts for healing. What is your unique gift? Is it being used to build up the Church?

There are also the seven Spiritual Gifts given to every baptized soul. In each and every member of the Church, the Spirit produces wisdom which helps us desire God over the things of the earth; Understanding, which helps us to grasp the divine truths of our faith, knowledge; which helps us to see God’s plan in the events of our life and use the things of creation in a way that will lead us to heaven; counsel, which helps us to judge how best to act in the circumstances that confront us in our daily life; fortitude, which helps us to remain sturdy against the temptations and challenges in the Christian life; piety, which fills us with love affection for God and enables us to experience joy in prayer and service; and fear of the Lord which helps us to be conscious that the eye of God is watching us always, helping us to be mindful that we will all face judgment for the choice we’ve made in our life.

The seven-fold gifts are given to every Christian, but to grow in them, we must nurture them through the practices of the spiritual life. This is why there are wise octogenarians and foolish octogenarians, young people who are wise for their age, and young people who…well, don’t have a clue.
What is animating your life? The Spirit of God or the spirits of the world. When we are cooperating with the Spirit of God he produces the good spiritual fruits of gentleness, self-control, meekness, patience, and temperance. When we are indulging in the spirits of the world there is recklessness, irascibility, perversion, addiction, greed, anger, envy, jealousy, pride.

How do we become so filled with these worldly spirits? Part of it is how we spend our time: inordinate time with entertainment, social media, insufficient time studying and praying with the Word of God, undue focus on selfish pursuits, rather than service. These things have spiritual consequences.
In the Gospel reading for Pentecost, Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit through whom sins are forgiven. To be free from the spirits of the world, we must turn our souls over to God in the sacraments. In Sacramental Confession we name those spirits that we might be delivered from them.

In the solemn ritual of exorcism, in which a soul held captive by a demonic spirit is liberated through the power of Christ, before deliverance can occur, the demonic spirit must be named. The need for solemn exorcism is extraordinary and rare. But Christians must face and name the unclean spirits which seek the ruin of our souls, by naming them, by bringing them to Christ in Sacramental Confession, by turning away from the near occasions of sin, and by strengthening the weak parts of our souls through prayer and acts of charity.

On this great Feast of Pentecost, as the Easter Season comes to a close and Ordinary Time begins again, we recognize how the Holy Spirit wants to produce new a glorious effects in our lives. He wants to help us take up new modes of serving those in need, the physically poor and the spiritually poor. He wants to produce in us new charisms for the building up of the Church. He wants to deepen in us the seven-fold gifts. He wants to help us to be cleansed of the unclean spirits of the world. He wants to do all these things and more, that we may proclaim to all the world “Jesus is Lord” for the glory of God and salvation of souls.