14th Week in Ordinary Time 2024 - Monday - God, the Divine Lover

 Last week, our first readings were taken exclusively from the prophet Amos. Remember, Amos, born in the south, was called by God up to the northern kingdom of Israel, to preach during the reign of Jeroboam II, a time of prosperity, for some. The rich were getting richer by exploiting the poor. Idol worship also was prevalent during this time.

Today we began reading from the prophet Hosea. Now Hosea was a native of the north during this period of exploitation and social injustice and idolatry. Hosea’s ministry overlapped with the tail end of Amos’ prophetic campaign. 

And Hosea will pick up right where Amos left off: condemning injustice and religious deviance. Like Amos, Hosea called for repentance and a return to true worship of God and warned of impending judgment if the people didn't change their ways. 

While their message was similar, Hosea would adopt a different approach—his approach was much more emotional. Hosea described God and Israel as lovers, but Israel had turned her back on God her faithful husband and began an adulterous affair with the idols of the world. 

And although  he has been betrayed, Hosea portrays God as loving, faithful, longsuffering, who, while deeply betrayed by Israel's unfaithfulness, God pursues reconciliation.

So, in our reading today, we hear how God describes his plan to lead Israel into the desert that place where he provided for Israel during the exodus and He will appeal to her heart—he will remind Israel of the tender, personal communication, they once shared—he will make a heartfelt plea for Israel to return to the loving and forgiving arms of her husband. God hopes that the love that they had in the beginning would be rekindled—the early days of Israel in which Israel was faithful and zealous for God.

This passage shows that God continues to pursue a relationship with us even when we've been unfaithful. God is always ready to welcome us back when we’ve sinned. So too, God desires a personal, deeply felt relationship with us—he desires to speak to our hearts in prayer every day. A genuine relationship with God involves a deep, experiential knowledge of Him. This includes intellectual understanding of his ways, but a personal, lived experience of God in the concrete details of our life.

It's never too late to start anew in our relationship with God, rekindling the passion and commitment we may have lost. We do well to examine our personal relationship with God from time to time, and ensure that we are striving for a deep connection with God based on love. A healthy relationship with God affects all aspects of our lives - our moral choices, our emotions, our leisure activities, our involvement in our parish and politics. Everything. 

May we know God’s deep abiding presence with us by turning away from our sins and living in the embrace of his love for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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For the Church, that we may always be open to God's loving pursuit and respond with faithfulness and zeal. Let us pray to the Lord.

For those who feel distant from God, that they may experience His tender call and find the courage to turn to His embrace. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our society, that we may recognize and address the exploitation of the poor and vulnerable, fostering justice and compassion and that our world, often torn by conflict and division, may experience God's reconciling love and work together for peace and unity. Let us pray to the Lord

For all believers, that we may deepen our personal relationship with God through sincere prayer and lived experience of His presence and for those struggling with idolatry in various forms, that they may turn away from false gods and find true fulfillment in God's love. Let us pray to the Lord.

For the sick, the impoverished, the lonely, those suffering from mental illness, those most in need, and those near death: may God, through the loving mercy of the Precious Blood of Jesus, be close to them in their trials.

And that all those redeemed by the Precious Blood of Jesus may come to the glory of heaven, especially X for whom this mass is offered.

Loving and faithful God, you pursue us with unending love, even when we stray from Your paths. Grant us what we truly need to remain in right relationship with you and to be faithful in serving your Holy Will. Through Christ our Lord. 

7th Week of Easter 2024 - Wednesday - Unity through loving and joyful obedience

We have been reading for two weeks from Jesus’ Farewell Speech at the Last Supper, chapters 14-17 of the Gospel of John. 

Throughout the discourse, the Lord emphasizes the relationship between love and obedience. He repeatedly calls on his disciples to demonstrate their love for him by obediently keeping his commandments. 

We seek to faithfully observe the commandments of God out of love, for faithfulness is pleasing to God. And so we zealously seek to rid ourselves of infidelity, to muzzle our unfaithful tongues, discipline our willful spirits, and restrain our disordered appetites. And the Christian does so zealously, happily, and enthusiastically. Again because loving fidelity is pleasing to our Father. We show our love and practice love by keeping God’s commandments. 

A devotion to keeping God’s commandments—to following the rules of our Father’s household—is not pharisaical religion. Rather, it is a participation in the salvific sacrifice of Christ—who obediently accepted death, death on a cross—out of love for His Father.

In his rule, St. Benedict writes, “The first degree of humility is prompt obedience” To be poor in spirit like Christ, to hunger and thirst for righteousness, means to desire a practice obedience.

The great doctor St. Francis de Sales writes, “Obedience is a virtue of so excellent a nature, that Our Lord was pleased to mark its observance upon the whole course of His life; thus He often says, He did not come to do His own will, but that of His Heavenly Father.” 

Obedience is the means of aligning one's will with God's will, which is central to Christian discipleship. For we are to follow in the footsteps of the obedient Son of God. We are to surrender personal preferences and desires to fulfill a higher purpose—God’s Holy Will. “Not my will, but Thy will be done”. 

Obedience to God is the glue that unites Christians. At the conclusion of his Farewell speech, the Lord prays that his disciples be one, just as he is one with the Father—a oneness that is manifest in the Son’s obedience to the Father. 

Thomas Aquinas writes, “Obedience unites us so closely to God that in a way transforms us into Him, so that we have no other will but His. If obedience is lacking, even prayer cannot be pleasing to God.”

Faithfulness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. If faithfulness is not evident in our decisions, our connection to the Holy Spirit is damaged and compromised. Joylessness in the Christian life is almost always a sign that disobedience has taken root. For sinful disobedience causes the other spiritual fruits, like joy, peace, patience, and self-control to wither.

May the Holy Spirit, whose descent upon the Church we prepare to celebrate at Pentecost, draw us into ever deeper unity with the Father and with one another, through a sharing in the loving obedience of the Son, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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That the ordained and all members of the Church throughout the world may be a more visible sign of the love of God for humanity, calling all people to new life and communion with Him; and that our parish may bear witness with great confidence to the Resurrection of Christ and his tender love for sinners and for the poor

For those who do not believe in God and for those who have fallen away from the Church.

For an increase in the gifts of the Holy Spirit among all Christians, and for all who are persecuted for the faith.

That during this month of May, all people may turn their hearts to the Blessed Virgin Mary, seeking her aid and imploring her intercession with increased and fervent devotion, imitating her example of Faith, Hope, and Love. 

For the sick, the suffering, those in nursing homes, hospitals, and hospice care, for the underemployed and unemployed, for the imprisoned, those with addictions, for those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, that the Spirit of Consolation may comfort them.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

27th Week in Ordinary Time 2023 - Friday - The day of the Lord is coming

 We read today from the very short book of the prophet Joel.  The Book of Joel is only four chapters long and can easily be read in a single sitting, yet his message is profound, and as relevant as ever.

Joel prophesied in Judah, in Jerusalem, around the year 500, after the return from the Babylonian exiles.

Though they had just returned from exile, Joel tells the people, don’t get too comfortable; getting too comfortable, too complacent, too familiar with worldly ways is how we got in trouble in the first place.  So, Joel calls for fasting and penance and all-night prayer vigils—to gather in the house of the Lord, with the elders: sound the alarm; blow the trumpets…why? Because the day of judgment is coming.

Joel goes on to described the calamities and natural disasters which are only a foreshadowing of the eternal suffering that awaits those who fail to repent—those who exclude God from their lives.

You got to love these prophets. They keep us rooted in reality—the reality that we must maintain the priority of faith. That more important than any of our earthly endeavors is the orienting ourselves to God, preparing for eternity, being vigilant against worldly distractions. Why? Because there are eternal consequences if we don’t. 

“The Lord will judge the world with justice” we sang in our Psalm. 

Again, some relevant ideas there. The nations are sinking into the pit they have made for themselves—including our own nation—sinking fast. And God sits ready to judge with justice. But amidst that, the Psalm explains how the faithful soul is still found giving thanks to God, declaring his wondrous deeds, rejoicing and exalting in God, and singing his praise.

The faithful soul is not prone to discouragement. We know the world is falling apart, and we are not discouraged, because that’s the way of things. How do you know if you’re soul is prepared? The world falling apart doesn’t bother you that much. You’ve confessed your sins, your heart is oriented toward God, and that gives the faithful soul an immense freedom from fear. As things fall apart we can still sing God’s glories, and thank God for his blessings. 

“Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste” the Lord says. Of all the kingdoms of the world, there is only one that will survive: the kingdom of God. Though the mountains may fall, and nations crumble, the Lord promises peace and eternal life to his faithful ones.  Confident and trusting in the Lord amidst all the chaos of our lives, may we be found faithful today in his service for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That hearing the call to repentance preached by the Church, all men may turn away from their sins to the mercy of Christ.

For peace in the Holy Land, an end to the violence and suffering, and healing for those whose lives have been tragically disrupted. May God’s peace the communities and families devastated by the horrors of terrorism and war.

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 they 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.

3rd Week of Lent 2023 - Wednesday - Scrutinizing sin, yet trusting in God's mercy

 In the early centuries of the Church, the Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent was the day on which the first of the Scrutinies was celebrated.  The three scrutinies are solemn rituals which help to both purify and enlighten and strengthen the catechumens as they prepare for the Easter Sacraments.

The three scrutinies are now celebrated on the third, fourth, and fifth Sundays of Lent with those who are preparing to enter the Church at Easter.  The First Scrutiny was celebrated here at St. Ignatius of Antioch at the 11am Mass this last Sunday. 

The word "scrutinize" means to examine in minute detail, and in the scrutinies, the Church prays that every last minute detail of the lives of the Catechumens may be handed over to Christ.

In the Gospel today, the Lord speaks of how his followers are to follow the smallest letter and the smallest part of the letter of the law, even the least of the commandments are to be followed. 

We are to scrutinize our behaviors, attitudes, and decisions in light of the Word of God in its entirety, including the challenging parts! And we are to seek conversion for all that is sinful, even minutely sinful. For the Lord desires to deliver us from sin, even the smallest amount of it. For not the smallest amount of sin will enter into heaven, not the tiniest amount. And we must cooperate with God in this matter to the furthest extent of our strength and our being.

The ritual book for the scrutinies says that the purpose of the scrutinies is to "heal all that is weak, defective, or sinful in the hearts of the elect" and "to give them strength in Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life".  And that’s something each of us need to seek, every day: to turn to the Lord to heal anything that is defective or sinful in our hearts.

Catechism says, “In order to reach perfection the faithful should use the strength dealt out to them by Christ’s gift, so that . . . doing the will of the Father in everything, they may wholeheartedly devote themselves to the glory of God and to the service of their neighbor. Thus the holiness of the People of God will grow in fruitful abundance, as is clearly shown in the history of the Church through the lives of so many saints.”

We should be scrutinizing but not scrupulous. While we should bring our sins before God every day and seek conversion from them, we must not lose sight of God’s immense love for us, and his patience with us. An examination of conscience should be done in the light of God’s immense love. 

In the first reading, Moses says that he teaches the people the statutes and decrees of God “that they may live”. May we, too, seek faithfulness to every statutes and decree of the Lord, handing over every dimension of our life to Christ, to be healed, strengthened, purified, enlightened, sanctified and blessed, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That obedience to all the commands of Christ and the statutes and decrees of 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, for the repose of the soul of dear parishioner and staff member Rich Wild, who died yesterday, 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.

14th Week in OT 2020 - Friday - Persevere to the end

After giving instruction to his disciples in his Sermon on the Mount, the Lord, as we heard on Wednesday, names apostles. The word apostle comes from the Greek ‘apostolein’ which means, to send out. So after naming these apostles, the Lord sends the twelve out into Judea to preach, heal, and cast out demons. In addition to the basic instruction of what they are to preach, the Lord takes the opportunity to speak about the inevitable resistance his followers will experience. We heard that instruction today, “I’m sending you out as sheep amidst the wolves…you’ll be arrested and brought before governors and kings, you will be hated by all.”

The Lord’s prediction has certainly come true throughout the centuries of Christianity. The apostles experienced this hostility and resistance, St. Paul certainly did, and so did countless numbers of the faithful.

Resistance to the Gospel, hostility from the world, should not surprise us. Persecution is not a sign that God is displeased with us; rather, it is a sign that we are doing well, that we are being faithful to what the Lord commanded us to do. So we mustn’t back down when things get tough, when the worldly oppose the Gospel.

I saw a quote from a holy religious sister last week, she said, “The Christian should expect to be regularly crushed under the inexorable wheels of history until Jesus comes again. We are not here to be relevant, powerful, and understood. Our challenge is to simply remain faithful to the Gospel, to love our enemies, and to persevere in faith.”

Wonderful words. We should expect to be crushed—to be opposed. Whatever the origin of the Coronavirus, and whatever its actual infection rate, we are certainly seeing the powers of the world take advantage of this opportunity to place unreasonable restrictions on Christians. In certain parts of the country there are more restrictions on Churches than restaurants and bars, let alone strip joints and abortion clinics. And in response to this, many Christians, many bishops, have simply backed down.
But the Lord didn’t instruct us to back down, but to persevere. “Whoever endures to the end will be saved.”

It is evident that the powers of the world are launching a serious attack against the Church, hostilities are just ramping up. So we must pray for each other, pray for our bishops, pray for fellow Christians to take courage, to endure to the end, to continue to preach, heal, and cast out those demons. We are surrounded by wolves, but the Lord is our fortress and our shield. By his grace may we keep the faith, run the race, and persevere to the end, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all bishops and clergy will lead the Church in faithfulness to the Gospel mandate and in the practice of every Christian virtue.
For all those who have fallen away from the Church, those who have fallen into serious sin, for non-believers, atheists, and those in error, for their conversion, and the conversion of all hearts.
For Christians experiencing persecution for the faith, that they may hold fast to the Lord in their sufferings.
For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, for victims of abuse and scandal, for the imprisoned and the addicted, for all those recovering from or undergoing surgery today, and for the consolation of the dying.
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

12th Week of OT 2018 - Tuesday - Two Ways, Narrow & Broad

A very early Christian text, written around the turn of the first century, known as the Didache—the teaching of the twelve Apostles—speaks of two ways: the way of life and the way of death: the very first lines of the Didache are: “There are two ways, one of life and one of death, and there is a great difference between the two ways.” 

The theme of two ways has been taken up again and again by the Saints and teachers of Our Faith throughout the centuries.  St. Paul speaks of the way of the flesh vs. the way of the spirit. 

St. Augustine, in his book City of God presents all of human history as a conflict between two cities, two types of people: the City of Man and the City of God.

The Didache, St. Paul, St. Augustine, and so many saints, echo the teaching we find in the Gospel passage today where the Lord speaks of two ways: a narrow way and a broad, wide way.

The way of the flesh, the way of death, the way of indifference to God is broad and wide, and many follow it.

The way of the spirit, the way of life, the way of faithfulness is narrow: few walk it.

If the one way leads to death, why do so many walk the road that leads to perdition? For one, they ignore the warning signs: the broken relationships, the growing inner emptiness. It’s walked by so many because it’s tempting, it’s easy. You get to be like everybody else. It takes less mental energy just to walk in the same direction as the people you see on tv. And at the same time you can believe anything you want. You can make yourself into a god. No fruit is forbidden. No heavy crosses, no penances.

There are people headed in the wrong direction that we will meet today. And the only sign-post that they are headed toward eternal perdition, might be us, walking in the opposite direction.

The way that Christians love each other, our sanctity, our integrity, it might be mocked by some, by many, but shouldn’t we be willing to be mocked, to save souls from hell?

Our vocation today is to continue to walk the narrow way that leads to life, but that includes witnessing to the truth of the Gospel, perhaps even being a stumbling block, or an object of derision for those walking the wrong way. A priest once said, we might be the only Gospel they encounter today. So may we be faithful to proclaiming it, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That Pope Francis and all bishops and clergy will help defend the Church against error, and lead her always in the pathways of truth, righteousness, and charity.

For the conversion of all those who perpetuate error or set bad Christian example for young people and those of weak faith, for those who have fallen away from the Church, and for those in mortal sin.

For the grace to spread the Word of God with clarity, patience, and courage.

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

September 28 2017 - Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, martyr - "If I had a thousand lives to offer..."

Saint Lorenzo Ruiz is the first canonized Filipino martyr.  He was born in Manila around the year 1600 to a Chinese father and a Filipino mother, who were both Christians.  As a young boy he was educated by Dominican priests and served as an altar boy.  He became a professional calligrapher, transcribing documents in beautiful penmanship, and he was a member of the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary.  He married and was a devoted husband and father of two sons and a daughter.

His life took an abrupt turn when he was unjustly accused of murder.  The threat of arrest led Lawrence to flee his home.  He sought asylum with several Dominican priests who were going to Japan to do missionary work.

However, Catholics were being persecuted heavily in Japan.  All those who professed the Catholic faith, and especially missionaries were being jailed and even being sentenced to death by the Japanese.  Lorenzo along with the missionaries were arrested shortly after arriving in Japan and were subjected to unspeakable tortures.  He was killed by being hung upside down and exsanguinated.

As he was dying he said, “If I had a thousand lives to offer, I would offer them to God. So, do with me as you please."  Lorenzo was martyred for his faith, along with 15 Dominicans from Spain, Italy, France, Japan, and the Philippines.

In the Gospel, Herod the Tetrarch is greatly perplexed when Jesus persists in his mission even after John the Baptist had been beheaded. The powers of the world are perplexed by Christ. The Japanese torturers could not understand why Saint Lorenzo and his companion Christians willingly suffered for Christ. “The world does not know us, because it did not know him”.

The world does not understand why we remain true to the teachings of Christ amidst the changing moral values of the world.  It does not understand why Christians in the third world will often walk 3 or 4 hours to Church in Sunday day to celebrate Eucharist. It does not understand why we undergo the embarrassment of confessing our sins to a fallible priest. It does not understand why we fast and do penance and seek the mortification of the flesh. It does not understand why we sacrifice so much of our time and talent and wealth to help people we don’t even know.

And in the world’s lack of understanding, we say, along with Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, “if I had a thousand lives to offer, I would offer them to God.” In our temptations and our hardship, may we be found faithful to Christ for the glory of God and salvation of souls. 

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That religious indifference in our country and around the world may be transformed to radical commitment to the Gospel of Christ.

For the transformation of all attitudes which lead to war, violence, racial hatred, and religious persecution.

For the conversion of Atheists, hardened sinners, lapsed Catholics, and the conversion of all hearts.
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.”

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 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.