13th Week of Ordinary Time 2024 - Friday - "I desire mercy"

 Earlier in the week, we considered how the prophet Amos was sent by God to the northern kingdom, particularly those with economic, social, and political power, taking them to task for their mistreatment of the needy, poor, and afflicted—enriching themselves at the expense of the vulnerable.

In today’s reading we hear about how the greedy merchants were eager for the religious feasts to be over so that they could return to their unethical business practices. They would “add to the weights, and fix their scales for cheating”. In other words, they would falsify the volume of their product and the price of the product, so that the buyer would be doubly cheated. 

This passage is certainly a warning from the word of God for all those engaged in business. However, Amos also describes how these sins against the poor were bringing destruction to the kingdom. Theft and exploitation and greed are antithetical to the order of God. 

In its section on the seventh commandment’s prohibition of theft, the catechism talks about how “those responsible for business enterprises have a responsibility to society for the economic and ecological effects of their operations. They have an obligation to consider the good of persons and not only the increase of profits.”

Now, most of us do not own our own businesses, but there is certainly a lesson here for all of us. You don’t have to own a business to be tempted by greed or covetousness or pure self-interest. Only thinking about yourself is bad for you and for everybody. Rather, the individual and society thrive when each of us aims at the highest good for ourselves and others. Christ-like sacrificial self-giving which alleviates the burdens of others and works for their betterment, is good pro omnibus et singulis—for all and for the individual.

Catechism says, “God blesses those who come to the aid of the poor and rebukes those who turn away from them: "Give to him who begs from you, do not refuse him who would borrow from you"; "you received without pay, give without pay." It is by what they have done for the poor that Jesus Christ will recognize his chosen ones.”

This is why in the Gospel, the Lord tells the pharisees to go and learn the meaning of the words, “I desire mercy”. 

When we engage in works of mercy-- coming to the aid of our neighbor in his spiritual and bodily necessities—instructing, advising, consoling, comforting, feeding, clothing, healing, and visiting the lonely, we transform lives and the fabric of our society. May we be found in all of our dealings to be honest, generous, and merciful for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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For all Christians, that we may heed the call to show mercy and compassion in our daily lives, recognizing Christ in the face of the poor and marginalized. Let us pray to the Lord.

That the values of the kingdom of God may guide our government leaders and legislators, our families, businesses, civil institutions, and all our domestic affairs. 

For those suffering from poverty and exploitation: may they find relief and support through the work and charity of the Church and people of good will, and for the conversion of the greedy and selfish.

That our parish may continue to respond generously to the needs of our neighbors. 

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.

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

29th Week in OT 2019 - Monday - Faith or Greed

Our two readings provide a stark contrast this morning. On one hand, St. Paul enjoins us to imitate the faith of Abraham. When he and his wife Sarah were late into their 80s, God promised this barren couple an abundance of offspring, their descendants would be as numerous as the stars. And long after most people are hoping to be well into their retirement, God sends them on a journey of trust, far from home, to the promised land. Despite their barrenness, despite their old age and infirmity, despite having no idea where God would lead them.

St. Paul says today that Abraham glorified God and was fully convinced in the promises of God. This is why Abraham is a perennial model of faith for us. Abraham trusts that God will bring new life where barrenness seemed to reign, supernatural strength in the face of seemingly physical limitation. St. Paul pleads with the Roman Christians, and all of us, to trust in God’s goodness and promises and to praise God even in the midst of trial.

Contrast the faith of Abraham with the greed of the rich fool in the Gospel. The rich fool thinks only in terms of financial well-being, he lives a sort of Godless existence. Money is his God, earthly treasure is his life’s pursuit. He does not consider his eternal welfare, for he lives only for a safe, secure, earthly existence.

“Take care”, Our Lord teaches, “to guard against all greed, for life consists of more than possessions.” Life, right living, righteousness, involves being oriented not simply to the accumulation and protection of physical goods, but allowing God to lead us to what is spiritually good. Not simply storing things and possessions up at home, but allowing God to lead us beyond the walls of comfort, to undiscovered countries, allow God to breath new life in places where barrenness reigned supreme.

Lots of souls out there, living only for the earthly, devoid of faith, unaware of God inviting them to something more. May God speak to them through our lives, through our righteousness, through our radical trust and faith amidst trials for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/102119.cfm

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For courage to preach the Gospel in season and out, for the sanctification of the clergy, and the flowering of spiritual gifts amongst the laity.

That our civil representatives may use their authority to lead and build our nation in godly ways, for the protection of the unborn and religious freedom.

For all those who harden their hearts toward God, for those who have left the Church, for all those in serious sin, for their conversion and the conversion of all hearts.

That young people be inspired to respond generously to God’s call to sanctity, and for vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

For the sick and afflicted, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, for victims of natural disaster and inclement weather, those who suffer from war, violence, and terrorism, for the mentally ill, those with addictions, the imprisoned,  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 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.

18th Sunday in OT 2019 - Put Greed to Death

The book of Ecclesiastes was written about 300 years before the birth of Our Lord and is part of the Old Testament known as the Wisdom literature, along with the book of Proverbs and Psalms. The Jewish people read from the book of Ecclesiastes every year during the festival of Sukkot, the festival of Booths, at the end of autumn, when they celebrate the fall harvest. In the midst of the abundance of earthly things, they read “vanity of vanities all things are vanity”—a reminder that the things of the earth pass away, they are as ephemeral as a breath.

Ecclesiastes reminds all people that the purpose of life isn’t simply to toil for earthly things; in fact, that in the end our earthly pursuits aren’t really that important. It’s a travesty to spend all your life, all your time, to just make a bunch of money and then die, to pass it onto children who will just squander it. Rather, through the seasons of life, we are to cooperate with God that God may place the timeless into our hearts and reorient us from the earthly to the eternal, we are to pass on to future generations not just wealth, but wisdom, to help them value wisdom more than wealth or earthly accolades.

When confronted someone from the crowd who is clearly overly concerned with earthly matters, Our Lord in the Gospel this today teaches, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” Greed—the love of money—the love of possessions—is a powerful motivating factor for a lot of people, in ancient Israel, in Jesus’ day and in our own. We commit Greed when we overvalue the things of the earth and undervalue the things of God.
And in order to reinforce this command, Jesus goes on to tell a parable, known as the parable of the rich fool. “There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. He asked himself, ‘What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest?’

Notice, right from the start of this parable that the only person this rich farmer talks to is himself. He’s not seeking the timeless wisdom of God, he only keeps his own counsel. He only listens to himself. Here’s the first indication that he’s a fool. As the book of Proverbs says: Those who trust only in themselves are fools.

Notice, too, that the reaction of this farmer to the abundance of his crop is not gratitude but an impulse to hoard. He identifies his crops as his possession to be hoarded for himself. I will build bigger barns to store my grains and my goods. He foolishly does not see the good things that he has as gifts from God, the source of all blessing. He foolishly dismisses the wisdom of Proverbs which teaches that are are to give the firstfruit of our labors to God. This foolish farmer has not even considered his duty toward God, nor his duty toward the needy in his community. He sees his abundance only in greedy, selfish terms. His goods will enable him and him alone to eat, drink, be merry, and rest for years to come.

But, then he gets a surprise, doesn’t he? God has overheard his interior monologue. God knows the selfishness in his heart. God says, ‘You fool!” forget about those years and years of merriment you have planned for yourself, “this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’ The farmer’s greed has resulted in a sort of death of soul—greed after all is listed as one of the 7 deadly sins, causing the death of grace in our souls, the death of the love of God in us.

Jesus then drives the point home, by teaching: “Thus will it be for all who store up treasure for themselves but are not rich in what matters to God.” So, in order to avoid the spiritual death of the greedy, we do well to consider what does it mean to be rich in what matters to God?

Well, the last few weeks we have heard wonderful stories about what matters to God. Three weeks ago, we heard the story of the Good Samaritan. What matters to God is that we exercise charity to all, we expand our definition of a neighbor to include those whom the rest of the world overlooks. What matters to God is that we become Good Samaritans to all. Two weeks ago, we heard of Jesus’ visit to the home of Martha and Mary. When Martha complained about being overwhelmed with earthly matters, we heard what mattered most to Jesus is that Mary was concerned with heavenly matters, she nurtured that intimate relationship with Him by listening to his words, sitting in his presence, that’s what matters to God.

And then last week, we heard how Jesus taught his disciples to pray. He taught his disciples the perfect prayer, the Our Father. What matters to God is that we seek His Will over our own, that we approach him with open-hands daily instead of relying on our own self-sufficiency, that we practice unconditional forgiveness, and seek God’s protection and deliverance from all evil.
One of the points of today’s parable is that God is not impressed by the quantity of our assets. What impresses God is the quality of our lives, the quality of our souls, whether our lives are filled with his truth, goodness, and beauty, or not.

Elsewhere in the Gospel, Our Lord teaches, where your heart is, there your treasure will be also. Do you want to know what a person values? Look at that person’s life, his commitments. On what does he spend his time? On himself, on building himself up in the eyes of the world, in pursuit please? Or does he treasure the things of God?

In the Second Reading, St. Paul says bluntly: “put to death, the parts of you that are earthly:” Here’s the remedy for our tendency to love the things of earth more than the things of heaven.

The parts of us that are obsessed with the goods of this world, put them to death, the parts of us that consider the earthly more important than the heavenly? Nail them to the cross and leave them behind. The things that cause you to forget Christian duty and your Christian identity, sever your relationship with them.

Paul says put to death “immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry.”  Immorality ignores the commandments of God and the teachings of the Church, put an end to it.  Impurity uses one’s body in ways that it is not meant to be used, put an end to it.  Greed wants too much of what it does not need and too little of what gives life to the soul, put an end to it.  Say “no more” to every impulse that seeks happiness in things rather than the newness of life that comes from God.

For that is what God wants for us: to share his very life with us, to make us like himself, full of generous self-giving and limitless charity, to glorify God in seeking and living out His will.

At this Holy Mass Jesus comes once again to renew us in Word and Sacrament, may he continue to free us from the desire for earthly things and increase our hunger and thirst for holiness, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Holy Week 2018 - Tuesday - The Greed of Judas and the Love of Jesus

When Jesus announced that one of his disciples would betray Him, the 12 were befuddled. How could one of their own be responsible for betraying the master? Each of the apostles had their flaws, of course. Some were a bit hotheaded or slow to understand Jesus’ mission and identity. But, who would willingly and knowingly place their own will in competition with Christ’s? No one would be that arrogant, would they?

The Apostle Judas was likely a very capable young man. He was given a position of some importance, to carry the money purse. He was trusted by his fellow apostles. He had been sent out, by Jesus, just like the others: to heal the sick and cast out demons and preach repentance and the coming of the Kingdom of God. He was trusted, loved, he was called “friend” and “brother.”

How did Judas go from trusted apostle to committing the worst of betrayals?

Yesterday, we heard how Judas objected to the extravagant display of affection for Jesus, when Mary anointed the Lord’s feet with expensive oil and dried them with her hair. The oil, Judas explained, could have been sold for much and the money given to the poor. St. John tells us, his objection was not because Judas actually cared for the poor, but because he was a thief—he stole, he was greedy.
Judas’ selfishness and greed became the opening for Satan to enter Judas, to use Judas as his instrument. Satan, who himself betrayed God, who sought to obstruct the plans of God, attempted to use Judas for the same end.

If it can happen to an apostle, it can happen to us. The devil will always try to exploit our selfishness. He uses human selfishness to cause divisions in marriage, friendships, faith communities anywhere there is good, he will try to pervert--through even the small acts of selfishness you try to justify to ourselves.

Judas’ greed is contrasted in the Gospel with the lavish love that should flow from faith, as seen yesterday in Mary of Bethany’s generosity in anointing Jesus, which is seen ultimately, in Jesus’ self-donation on the Cross, his embrace of suffering for us poor sinners.

Judas “cared not for the poor,” only for himself.

In these final days of Holy Week, may we acknowledge our selfishness, our failure to emulate Jesus’ outpouring of love, and pray and do penance for those times, those relationships in which we’ve allowed greed to reign.

We trust the Lord does forgive us, when we repent, as Judas failed to do, because the Lord loves us, and desires not the death of the sinner, but his conversion.

May we open our hearts to growing in the selfless charity of Christ for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For our Bishop, priests, and all of the faithful who will gather this evening for the Chrism Mass, and that the Charity of the Church of Cleveland may overflow like precious oil.

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.

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

For 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.

October 23 2017 - When our possessions possess us

A constant theme in the writings of one of my favorite authors, the Catholic writer J.R.R. Tolkien, is that of the corrupting nature of greed and hoarding. He writes of Dragons with insatiable hungers for hoarding treasure, dwarven kings who bring ruin to their kingdoms over an obsession for jewels, entire wars fought over the possession of a single ring.

Writing in the early 20th century, Tolkien saw the growing Industrialization and materialism of Europe and America as a corrupting influence in Western Culture. And his stories serve as cautionary tales. Much like the Gospels.

Today we hear of the man who hoards, who stores up more and more for himself that he may “eat, drink, and be merry” without a care in the world. Yet, at the time of his judgment, God calls him a fool, for neglecting his spiritual duties for the sake of his earthly well-being.

As Christians called to live “in the world, but not of the world” our relationship with the material goods of the earth is delicate. We must certainly provide for our own basic needs, the needs of our family, and help our neighbor as we can, but we must also not allow the pursuit of creature comforts, luxuries, or worry about the future preoccupy us.

Fr. Klasinski has reminded us often that there is nothing wrong with having possessions, as long as our possessions do not begin to possess us.  Our possessions can begin to have a demonic influence in our life, when used improperly, instead of being used properly and bringing us closer to God, they are used improperly and lead us away from God.

I think of another literary character who speaks of his alcoholic father. He says that every time father would take a drink from the bottle, it was as if the bottle were taking a drink out of him. Greed, the improper use of material things, is rather vampiric. As we thirst for more and more things, we become less and less human.

Rather, we are called to a proper stewardship of the goods of the earth, appropriating property for our needs, those of our family, and the care for the poor. But always keeping in mind that the excessive accumulation of earthly goods can lead us to be very poor in the riches of heaven.

The Saints, like St. John Capestrano, teach us what being rich in spiritual things looks like, how to order our lives rightly, and to remove the filth and corruption of greed and vice.

As we draw near to the table of the Lord today, may we do so with gratitude for the blessings which fill our lives, with the desire to be good stewards of earthly goods, to right the wrongs in our life, and to seek first the kingdom of heaven for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That we Christian stewards may continue to grow in gratitude to God for all that we have received, and use our time, talent, and treasure for the good of all.

That all those who take part in political and social life will promote evangelization, will work for the true common good, defend religious liberty, and protect the unborn and innocent.  We pray to the Lord.

For Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of October: That all workers may receive respect and protection of their rights, and that the unemployed may receive the opportunity to contribute to the common good.

For all those struggling with addiction, mental illness, chronic sickness, unemployment, or ongoing trials of any kind: that they will be fortified and blessed with God’s special love, favor, and peace.  We pray to the Lord.

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.

Homily: Monday - 8th Week in OT 2017 - Possessed by possessions?

A few years ago, the Arts & Entertainment channel began airing a show called, “Hoarders”.  The show chronicles people whose accumulation and hoarding of material stuff has become so excessive that it is has become difficult to move through the house; whole rooms of their house have become inaccessible due to this behavior.  In many cases the houses become so unsanitary that children are forced into foster care, or the house is condemned.

There are no doubt many psychological factors involved in compulsive hoarding, but often the show challenges the viewer to examine his own life.  For we can all develop a disordered attachment to material things.

Jesus confronts such a person in the Gospel today, one who has developed a disordered attachment to this things, he has begun to be possessed by his possessions. The rich young man wasn’t an evil person, it seems he kept many of the commandments, but when Jesus invited Him to a deeper relationship with God, the rich young man rejected the invitation, he failed to see Jesus’ invitation as the pearl of great price worth selling everything you have to obtain.

Most of us are not compulsive hoarders, and most of us are following the 10 commandments pretty well. However, each of us are at risk of allowing the preoccupation with earthly concerns to lead us away from our concern for our souls.

When our lives are overly focused on the material, the earthly, we become unhappy and exhausted.  Like the rich young man in the Gospel today, we leave saddened. Likely, so much of the sadness we carry around with us, is because in fact, we have turned away from opportunities to trust in Jesus, to follow him for deeply.

With Lent beginning this week, Our Lord invites us once again to trust in him by engaging seriously in the practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. We will never walk away sad, when we are sincere in our prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

We are reminded once again today that our true joy is not found in the accumulation of earthly things, earthly successes, earthly honors or distinctions, but in abandonment to Jesus, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That the upcoming season of Lent may be a source of renewal and spiritual growth for the entire Christian Church.

That we may guard our hearts from all kinds of greed, be free from everything which keeps us from loving and following Christ with undivided hearts.

For deliverance from any form of avarice which has crept into the hearts of Church or government leaders.

That we may be wise stewards of earthly things in sharing the goods of the earth which come from the rich mercy of God to all those in need.