Pentecost 2025 - 7 Gifts of the Spirit

 Last week, on the feast of the Ascension, in our scripture readings, we heard Jesus instructing his disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit, the promise of the Father. Well, the waiting is over, we celebrate now the promise fulfilled: the sending of the Holy Spirit upon the Church 50 days after the Lord’s resurrection 

The Holy Spirit, as we proclaim in our creed each week, is the Lord, the giver of life. Through the power of the Holy Spirit souls are brought to new life in the Sacrament of baptism; they are strengthened in confirmation, healed in the sacraments of reconciliation and anointing of the sick, nourished in the Sacrament of Holy Communion, and empowered with special graces for unique vocations in the sacraments of marriage and Holy Orders.

The Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, helps us to truly live by bestowing upon us special gifts, you may have memorized the list of them as you prepared for your Confirmation. The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. The Catechism says, these gifts belong in their fullness to Jesus Christ. Meaning if you wanted to see what wisdom looks like, sounds like, and acts like, look at Jesus. If you want to know the highest form of counsel, piety, and fear of the Lord, look to Jesus. 

So let’s consider each of the gifts. How was Jesus’ life filled with wisdom? Well, what is wisdom? Wisdom seeks what is of the highest importance. To be wise is to recognize that our highest priority in this life  isn’t career or wealth, pleasure or power, but getting our souls to heaven and becoming the person God made us to be: saints.

Jesus taught us not only to be wise, teaching us to “seek first the kingdom of God”,  but his wisdom was evident. He embraced the greatest suffering imaginable the weight of our sins as he hung upon the Cross, in order to achieve the highest good, our salvation. We are fully alive when we, wisely, we embrace the cross with Christ in order to obtain our highest good.

The second gift is understanding. The gift of Understanding enables us to penetrate the mysteries of God and see the deeper meaning of God’s plan. Jesus’ understanding is manifest in his ministry. He explains the deeper meaning of the Scriptures, helping others understand God’s plan of salvation. 

With Understanding comes patience and gratitude. Think of how understanding has changed your experience of Mass. As a young person you may have been restless and impatient for mass to be over, but recognizing what is really going on here, understanding that the Eucharist is truly Jesus Christ, that changes things. That understanding enables us to more fully engage in the Mass and appreciate the great gift Jesus has left us, and to encourage others to join us here.

The third gift of the Spirit is Counsel . Counsel means knowing and choosing what is right in difficult situations. Jesus always chooses the Father’s will, even when he was tempted. In the desert, He rebuffs Satan’s temptations with clarity. We are fully alive when we follow not the counsel of the world or the devil, but the counsel of God. 

Like all the gifts, counsel is for ourselves, but also for others. For example, a friend confides in you that they are considering making a terrible decision, like abortion. The Gift of Counsel enables you to speak with compassion, truth, and hope—encouraging them to choose life and offering concrete support.

The fourth gift is fortitude. Fortitude is the courage and strength to  do good and endure difficulty for the sake of what is right. Jesus endured opposition, rejection, betrayal, scourging, and crucifixion without faltering in His mission. He exhibited courage in confronting hypocrisy and injustice, even when it meant risking His life. In His Passion, He reveals fortitude in its purest form—persevering in love to the end.

Fortitude enables us to work for justice despite opposition, to witness to the faith in the face of mockery or persecution, or to persevere doing what is right despite hardship—like taking care of an elderly parent despite their complaints. To be fully alive is to be full of Courage and Strength for doing what is right when it is hard.

The fifth gift of the Holy Spirit is knowledge – Knowing the things of God and how to remain in right relationship to God. Jesus helps people to know the presence of God in their midst. 

This gift helps us to know what is good or bad for our soul and to discern God’s will. Think of a young person discerning that her social media habits are fueling vanity and envy. So, she chooses to limit her use to protect her spiritual health. Or any of us for that matter, when facing temptation, calling to mind the teaching of Jesus and the teaching of the Church. We are fully alive when we have that ability to rightly discern between good and evil.

The sixth gift is piety--filial reverence and trust in God as a loving Father. Jesus refers to God as Abba, Father, and teaches His disciples to do the same. Jesus is faithful in prayer, obedient to the Father’s will, and models loving trust even amid suffering. His entire life is an offering of reverent love for the Father. We exercise piety when we cultivate heartful devotion for God and the things of God.

For example, a family gathering together once a week to pray the Rosary, not out of obligation but from a desire to honor and love God together. Or coming to church on Saturday to spend time in adoration, simply to spend time in the presence of the Lord manifests piety. We are fully alive when we desire God and what to live lives pleasing to God.

And lastly, fear of the Lord—we are fully alive when we allow the Spirit to teach us to hate sin and to become humble in God’s presence. Jesus, taught us to hate sin, to seek conversion and drive out corruption from our lives. In the Temple, He drives out the money changers, zealous for the holiness of God’s Temple. 

The Holy Spirit helps us to hate gossip and lying, not simply because they are socially rude, but because they offend God. He teaches us to guard ourselves from perverted images on the internet, lest you fall into sin, manifests fear of the Lord. This gift makes us fully alive by hating what is evil, rightly protecting ourselves from what corrupts us and others.

Dear ones, the Holy Spirit was not poured out on the Church merely so we could decorate our altars with red once a year. The Holy Spirit was poured out so that we might become fully alive—with the very life of Christ.

As I quoted last week, St. Irenaeus wrote, "The glory of God is man fully alive." But not just biologically alive. Not just scrolling and surviving and chasing the next comfort or pleasure. Fully alive means burning with the fire of the Spirit—filled with wisdom, courage, purity, purpose, and joy. Fully alive means no longer being ruled by fear, sin, or confusion, but walking in step with the Spirit, living in truth and love.

It should be a common occurrence for us to ask the Holy Spirit: Which gift do I need to grow in most? What part of me is still half-asleep, half-committed, half-alive? And then pray: Come, Holy Spirit. Awaken me. Fill me. Make me fully alive in Christ— for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

June 28 2023 - St. Irenaeus, bishop, martyr, doctor - Knowledge and Error

 

Without a doubt, St. Irenaeus is one of the greatest theologians of the early Church.  St Irenaeus was a disciple of St. Polycarp, who himself heard St. John the Apostle preach and was consecrated bishop by St. John along with our patron, St. Ignatius of Antioch.  

Like St. Cyril whom we honored yesterday, Irenaeus was called to uphold the truth of Christ that comes to us from the Apostles. Irenaeus was bishop two and a half centuries earlier, and he faced what is probably the first major heresy the Church had to confront: Gnosticism.  

The word ‘gnostic’ comes from the greek word for knowledge, as in the words cognizant and recognize.  Gnosis—knowledge is a good thing.  It is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Zechariah sings how God gives his people knowledge of salvation. We have a strong philosophical tradition which confirms the role of knowledge in understanding our faith.

The Gnostics claimed to have secret knowledge of God that was superior to the faith taught by the Apostles. In other words, they thought they knew better than the official teaching of the Church.  

Gnosticism is the basis of every heresy, in a sense. To claim, I know better. I know better than the clear pronouncements of Church Councils. I know better than the Church Fathers. I know that my interpretation of Scripture is more accurate than 2000 years of consistent teaching. 

What sin does that sound like? Sinful Pride of course. The pride of satan in the garden claiming, I know better than God, trust me, not Him. The pride of Original Sin and every sin. 

Again, Gnosis is good. Knowledge is good. We are meant to cultivate our minds, to seek understanding about the natural world, and to use that knowledge to foster unity and concord, to seek knowledge about God and the Church and the Christian Faith to the extent that our intellect allows. 

But, if we arrive at a conclusion which contradicts Church teaching, the teaching of the Apostles, we’ve made a mistake. And those errors, if followed can have disastrous consequences, eternal consequences. We risk not only the loss of our own souls, but leading others astray.

But, knowledge, real knowledge conforms our minds to Christ who is Truth. Jesus said, “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Christians seek to know the Truth. And that brings us freedom: freedom from the burden of being the sole arbiter of truth, freedom from moral error which keeps us trapped in sin, freedom to preach confidently. We share the Gospel with non-believers because we are confident in the knowledge of God. 

That knowledge enables us as St. Paul says, to “be gentle with everyone, able to teach, tolerant, correcting opponents with kindness.” And through that gentle, yet confident teaching, “It may be that God will grant them repentance that leads to knowledge of the truth” and freed from the Devil’s snares.

Through the example of the bishop, martyr, and Doctor of the Church St. Irenaeus may we be grounded and confirmed in true doctrine for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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To God the Father Almighty, may every prayer of our heart be directed, for it is His will that all humanity should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.

For the Church during this time of Eucharistic Revival: for a deeper love and reverence for the Bread of Life; that the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist will help us to live out our vocation to holiness with greater zeal, self-sacrifice, and trust in God.  

That during this month of June dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus: we may make reparation for the many blasphemies committed against God and the Church, and that the afflicted may know God’s compassion in all of their trials.

For all those who reject the faith, for those who show contempt for the holy word of God and the Catholic Church, for their openness to the Truth, and that all Christians may be committed to spreading the faith boldly, patiently, and clearly.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, 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, and for…

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.

7th Week of Easter 2023 - Tuesday - Eternal life consists in knowing the One True God

 For two weeks now, our Gospels readings for weekday mass have been taken from St. John’s account of the Last Supper beginning in John chapter 14. And now we’ve come to the final chapter of that account: John chapter 17. To conclude the last supper, his final evening with his disciples, the Lord offers a prayer. It is a very profound prayer, times called the High Priestly Prayer, in which the Lord does what all priests do, they pray on behalf of others to God, they pray that God's children and God might be one, priests pray that they may be joined to God, that they may share the life of God, that they might know God. 

Always the teacher though, the Lord offers a prayer that teaches, as well. He leads us deep into the truth about his relationship with the Father. He reveals—he teaches, expanding on themes that he has only hinted at in preceding chapters and discourses. 

The Lord prays and teaches at the same time. We had a professor in seminary, Fr. Larry Tosco, our best scripture professor, may he rest in peace who would do the same thing. Seminarians would take notes during his prayer at the beginning of class because of their profundity. 

Prayer to God and learning about God are closely related endeavors. In fact, what does the Lord say in his High Priestly Prayer, “eternal life consists of knowing God”. The Lord uses that word a lot in his prayer, “to know”. The Greek word is ginosko. 

Ginosko is the same word that Mary utters at the annunciation, when she says, how can I be pregnant, for I have not known relations with a man. That word ginosko can mean both knowing an idea or a fact, and also having intimate relationship that is open to new life. 

And the Lord seems to equate those two connotations: heaven, eternal life consists of knowing God, believing in Him, encountering Him as real—the source and foundation of reality in fact—and also knowing Him in intimate relationship. 

And that heavenly relationship can begin in this earthly life—as we are open to God’s revelation of Himself to us—through Christ. To know Christ is to know God is to begin new and eternal life.

May we continually seek to know God, this day, with minds and hearts open to his truth and his life, who is Jesus Christ, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

 

For an increase in the gifts of the Holy Spirit among all Christians, and for all who are persecuted for the faith. For those who do not believe in God and for those who have fallen away from the Church.

For those priests of the diocese who celebrate their jubilees today with the Bishop, in gratitude for their service, and for continued blessings on their ministry. For the sanctification of all priests and an increase in vocations to the ordained priesthood.

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.

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

That all of our beloved dead and all the souls in purgatory may come to the glory of the Resurrection.

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

January 28 2022 - St. Thomas Aquinas - Learning how to think about God

 Prior to the second Vatican Council, men being trained for the priesthood were immersed in the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas more than any other philosopher and theologian. And this is partially because St. Thomas had the gift of presenting a clear and cohesive vision of reality in which God was at the center—a reality which is not only knowable by mankind, but also capable of being expressed by Word.

Why is this sort of study important for priestly formation. Our priests are tasked with helping us understand our lives with God at the center, and they need to be able to articulate this to kindergarteners, construction workers, phDs, stay at home moms and widows. And Thomas Aquinas’ thought is so clear and cohesive, that he helps you learn how to think and learn how to think about God.

If you want to learn how to think about God, read Thomas Aquinas, especially his Summa Theologica. I know many people who like to take a little daily dose of Thomas; like taking a knife to a whetstone, a little Thomas every day keeps the mind sharp.

And keeping the mind sharp is important for all of us. Prudence, wisdom, knowledge, understanding, these are gifts that God wants to give us, spiritual fruits that God wants to grow in us, but they just don’t appear magically. You have to drink from the font of wisdom in order to obtain wisdom, you have to read in order to obtain knowledge, if you have to exert effort into understanding the meaning of things, it just doesn’t happen. 

And when we grow in wisdom and knowledge and understanding of the truth, we grow in likeness of God, who is full of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding—the source.

Pope St. John XXII, speaking about St. Thomas, said before his canonization on July 18th, 1323 that “his life was saintly and his doctrine could only be miraculous … because he enlightened the church more than all the other doctors. By the use of his works a man could profit more in one year than if he studies the doctrine of others for his whole life.”

St. Thomas helps us to put our lives in perspective, to see the things of the world and the things of God as they are, he teaches us to seek first the kingdom of God, that the highest wisdom comes from sitting at the feat of God, kneeling in front of the presence of God for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all Church leaders will faithfully proclaim Christ’s love and truth to the world.

That our parish families and the families of all of our school children will be places where the Christian faith is believed, followed, taught, and cherished. And for the students, teachers, staff, and alumni of St. Ignatius of Antioch School and all of our Catholic Schools.

For the grace to grow in wisdom, knowledge, prudence, and understanding, and put these gifts into practice in our daily lives.

For the sick and suffering among us, for those who care for them, and for all of our beloved dead, especially X, for whom this mass is offered.

2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time 2022 - Different kinds of spiritual gifts

 Having completed the sacred seasons of Advent and Christmas, we’ve entered, once again the liturgical season known as Ordinary Time. During ordinary time we focus, not so much on the extraordinary events in the life of Jesus—his birth, his passion and death and resurrection, like we do at Christmas and Easter, but on the ordinary life of the Church, our everyday life as followers of Christ.

What should ordinary life as a Christian look like?  Our Lady, the Blessed Virgin Mary in today’s Gospel gives us a very important first principal: “Do whatever he tells you.”  There’s the ordinary task of the Christian, there’s a summary of the work of the Church: “Do whatever he tells you.” Obey Christ.  Fulfill the mission he’s given.  Do his work.  Follow his will.  And when we do that, Jesus is able to transform ordinary water into extraordinary wine—he is able to transform the ordinary works and words of our life, into the rich, extraordinary works of God.  

The trouble is, of course, that we all too often obey our selfish impulses, our fears and anxieties, our preconceived notions about how the world should work, our prejudices, we listen to all of these voices, instead of the one voice that should matter, and so the ordinary water of our lives remains just water, the ordinary remains ordinary; the gifts go unused, the talents buried, the light hidden. 

“Doing whatever he tells you” means putting the gifts God has given us into practice. And in our second reading, St. Paul enumerates a number of those gifts which make our ordinary Christian life quite extraordinary.

“To each individual, the manifestation of the Spirit is given to some benefit.”  God gives every baptized member of the Church special gifts for the renewal and building up of the Church.  These gifts are not just for the Corinthians 2000 years ago, they are gifts not just for the clergy, not just for people involved in formal missionary activity in foreign lands, they are not just rare graces you might receive at charismatic prayer meetings.  But to you and me and every baptized member of the Church, God has given gifts that his Holy Spirit might be manifested NOW, in this neighborhood, in this parish, in our families, that souls might be brought more deeply into His divine life and the life of the Church.  

Saint Paul enumerates these gifts: wisdom, knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, mighty deeds, prophecy, discernment of spirits, varieties of tongues, interpretation of tongues: all meant for building-up the Church..  

Let’s look at some of these. First, Paul listed Wisdom. Saint Thomas Aquinas called wisdom, “the view from the hilltop”.  The wise person sees life from the high vantage point—that is, he puts in life in order in light of eternity. Wisdom means putting your life in order, getting your priorities straight. And all Christians are meant to do that. Wise Christians looks to the scriptures, looks to the saints, looks to our Church teachings to guide their lives, not the fleeting, fickle, foolish impulses of our emotions or sentiments or the foolish opinions and values and errors of the age. The Church needs wise Christians who are prudent, practical, rational, and judicious, who act as a guiding light for our culture.

Second, Paul lists the gift of “knowledge”.  The Catholic faith has produced the greatest and most knowledgeable thinkers of all time: Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Dante, John Henry Newman, not to mention great scientists like Louis Pasteur, Alexander Fleming inventor of Penicillin, Galileo, Copernicus, Marie Curie, Catholics invented Universities.  It was a Roman Catholic priest, George Lamaitre who first proposed the Big Bang Theory! These men and women remind us that our knowledge is meant to be at the service of the Church and the human race. 

Are you knowledgeable in science, math, history, philosophy, theology, sports?  Your knowledge has been given to you as a gift, not simply to make a lot of money or to show off—no to lord it over others, but to be put in the service of God. I met a gentleman the other day, with a background in mechanical engineering and pipe fitting.  He is now helping poor Hispanic communities bring their buildings up to code. How can you use your knowledge to help others—to build up the Church?

The next spiritual gift Paul mentions is “faith”. Now all of us here have faith, more or less. Paul here is speaking of faith that is contagious. Have you met someone with really contagious faith? You talk with them and they draw you deeper into the life of the Church, they speak about prayer and you want to go home and pray, they speak about their guardian angel, and you think, yeah, I need to become better friends with my guardian angel, or they speak about confession, and you think, yeah, I haven’t been to confession in a while. 

There are non-believers languishing outside of the Church because of our failure to exercise the gift of faith—to allow our faith to be contagious. Is your faith contagious? If not, why not?

Paul mentions next, “gifts of healing”.  All of the baptized are empowered to pray for healing.  Every Sunday we always have a petition for the sick and the suffering, and each of us instinctively turns to God when we are sick or have a sick family member.  I think there are a lot of people in the Church who have been given the gift of psychological healing: people who almost naturally bring calm and peace, who can sooth inner turmoil, who can calm troubled psyches and souls.  

The gift of healing particularly can become unlocked when we ourselves have received healing.  Those who have overcome an addiction often finds that they can help others still struggling.  If you have been healed, likely the Lord is calling you to help someone who needs healing, someone who is grieving, or suffering from an emotional trauma, or just needs someone to talk to.

Finally, the gift of discernment is very important.  You might not have the gift of healing, wisdom or knowledge, but discernment is meant to help others discover their gifts.  To discern the work of the Spirit in others is no small thing.  God uses those with the gift of discernment to help others identify their gifts. You detect someone who is suffering emotional turmoil and you lead them to the one with the gift of healing.  You detect someone who is doubting the faith, and you bring them to the one with the gift of faith or knowledge.  You detect a family situation that requires outside help, perhaps a troubled marriage, and you get that troubled marriage the help it needs.  You detect that a particular young person is being called to religious life or to the priesthood, or that a fellow parishioner should consider joining the choir or becoming a lector or Eucharistic minister or deacon or catechist, you help point them in the right direction, and that is invaluable.  The person with discernment helps me to see something about myself that I cannot see.

At the beginning of this new year, far better than a new year resolution to eat fewer potato chips or something, is to consider how God is calling you to develop and share your gifts this year, for the building up of the Church, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

July 15 2020 - St. Bonaventure - To know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge

Knowledge is a wonderful thing. We are born into this world knowing nothing but our instincts. We know enough to cry when we are hungry, or uncomfortable, or lonely. And there is a joy, when a child begins to learn—how to walk, how to talk. I remember visiting the library as a very young child, but not knowing how to read, the books there were basically useless. But the joy of learning how to read gave me access to the contents of those countless books. Even children who have a rough time with formal education find a joy in grasping new concepts and facts in school.

And of course knowledge helps us to make our way in the world: we learn how to take care of ourselves, how to cook, clean, use money, it enables us to pursue really good things, and can help us alleviate the sufferings of others.

On these feast of the Franciscan Saint Bonaventure, great doctor of the Church, learned in the ways of God, who teaches us so much about God, we have a reading from St. paul’s letter to the ephesians, in which the Apostle speaks of the most important knowledge of all.

Of all the things that we will ever learn or ever know, there is one thing that rises in importance above every other thing: it is the knowledge of Christ and His love.

St. Paul prays that Christians “may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Knowledge of the love of Christ fills us with the fullness of God.

The knowledge of an object or of a science is one thing, but knowledge of a person, the knowledge family members have of each other, the knowledge spouses have of each other. This brings great fulfillment. But higher still is knowledge of the love of Christ. Because it brings us a fulfillment that nothing else in the world can provide.

Knowledge of Christ’s love does not come simply through reading books. It comes experientially, spending time in his presence through prayer, following his example of charity and obedience to the will of the Father, and following in his footsteps by taking up our crosses. It comes sacramentally, for through the Sacraments we encounter Him, his mercy, his love, his strength. The Lord longs to share the knowledge of his love with us, but we must humble ourselves, and seek to love him more than our sins, more than the world, more than our very lives.

Having encountered this love, we seek to bring others who are outside of this knowledge, outside of this experience, into the Church, into relationship with God through Christ, that they may know it, too. For those outside of the Church are deprived of that which makes life worth living.

Bonaventure said, "If you learn everything except Christ, you learn nothing. If you learn nothing except Christ, you learn everything."

May we know the constant assistance of St. Bonaventure and the heavenly court in obtaining and sharing this surpassing knowledge which fills us with the fullness of God for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all Christians may have a burning love for the Crucified-and-Risen Lord, and that love may be seen in the priorities of their life.

That the work and ministry of all Franciscan organizations and charitable institutions may bear fruit for the spread of the Gospel.

For the purification of our minds and hearts from the errors of the culture and from the lure of worldly attachments.

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

Jan 28 2019 - St. Thomas Aquinas - Catholic Schools Week (School Mass)

[School Mass]

We begin Catholic Schools Week this year celebrating the feast day of one of the great Patron Saints of Catholic Schools, St. Thomas Aquinas.

St. Thomas Aquinas is one of the greatest teachers in human history. Yet, he did not teach mathematics or geography. He did teach reading, in a sense. He taught Christians how to read the Bible, the most important book in human history, for the Bible is the book that deals with the most important subject, the salvation of our souls. Thomas taught that the purpose, end, and goal of the Bible is that “the truth necessary for salvation may be made known to us.”

And this is why Catholic Schools are so important: not just that they teach us math and geography and natural science. Catholic Schools are able and tasked with teaching the most important subject: how to get to heaven, how to live forever, how to become the people God made us to be.

The Bishops clarify the mission of the Catholic school, “The Catholic school is committed to the development of the whole person since in Christ, the Perfect Person, all human values find their fulfillment and unity.”

The mission of the Catholic school is to teach young people how to be perfect by helping them to know, follow, imitate, and open their minds and hearts to Jesus Christ, the Perfect Son of the Father. Math, science, language, art, music, physical education, all these things are brought into harmony by Our Christian Faith and put at the service of Our Christian Faith.

In other words, we learn in Catholic School that if you are going to be an athlete, make sure the Christian faith guides your career. If you are going to be a musician or a politician, or a lawyer or a construction worker or a mom or a dad, a priest or a religious sister, make sure the teachings of Jesus Christ guide you always.

On this festival of one of the greatest teachers in human history, Thomas Aquinas, our gospel passage says “call no person teacher, for there is but one teacher.” Students, this is a challenge for you, that as you sit in class, you listen in the words of your classroom teachers, for the words and lessons of One Heavenly Teacher, listen for the voice of Jesus teaching you how to become the person God made you to be.

Teachers, this is a greater challenge for you, as it’s a challenge for me: to never get in the way of what Jesus wants to teach these young people, but to conform our lives to Him through our own prayer and study, that He may teach them clearly, to know Him, to love Him, to follow Him.

Thomas Aquinas was the best of teachers because he was the best student. He listened to the Word of God, he knew intimately, through prayer and study, Christ the Teacher. May we do the same, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

[Morning Mass Homily Below]

Today begins Catholic Schools Week, and later this morning, I’ll be celebrating mass with our students and teachers. This year Catholic Schools Week begins with the feast day of one of the great Patron Saints of Catholic Schools, St. Thomas Aquinas.

St. Thomas Aquinas is one of the greatest teachers in human history. Yet, he did not teach mathematics or geography. He did teach reading, in a sense. He taught Christians how to read the Bible, the most important book in human history, for the Bible is the book that deals with the most important subject, the salvation of our souls. Thomas taught that the purpose, end, and goal of the Bible is that “the truth necessary for salvation may be made known to us.”

And this is why Catholic Schools are so important: not just that they teach us math and geography and natural science. Catholic Schools are able and tasked with teaching the most important subject: how to get to heaven, how to live forever, how to become the people God made us to be. This is something that public schools cannot do, which is why Catholics need to support their Catholic schools spiritually and financially.

On this festival of one of the greatest teachers in human history, Thomas Aquinas, our gospel passage says “call no person teacher, for there is but one teacher.”

I’ll be telling the children later this morning that these words are very important for them: that as they sit in class and listen to their classroom lessons taught by their classroom teachers, they need to listen for the words and voice of the One Heavenly Teacher, listen for the voice of Jesus teaching you how to become the person God made you to be.

And I’ll tell the teachers that there is a greater lesson for them, a challenge for them, as it’s a challenge for me: to never get in the way of what Jesus wants to teach these young people, but to conform our lives to Him through our own prayer and study, that He may teach them clearly, to know Him, to love Him, to follow Him.

Thomas Aquinas was the best of teachers because he was the best student. He listened to the Word of God, he knew intimately, through prayer and study, Christ the Teacher. May we do the same, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all Church leaders will faithfully proclaim Christ’s love and truth to the world.

That our parish families and the families of all of our school children will be places where the Christian faith is believed, followed, taught, and cherished.

For the students, teachers, staff, and alumni of St. Ignatius School and all of our Catholic Schools.

For the sick and suffering among us, for those who care for them, and for all of our beloved dead, especially X, for whom this mass is offered.

November 15 2018 - St. Albert the Great - Deeper Knowledge and Love of God

Saint Albert the Great  was considered the most learned man of his time, the 13th century, and, he was the teacher of the greatest theologian of all time, Saint Thomas Aquinas.

Recall the words of this morning’s opening prayer, “O God, who made the Bishop Saint Albert great by his joining of human wisdom to divine faith.”  God makes all the Saints great in holiness, by raising their human virtues to heroic levels. In the saint, the human intellect, human compassion, virtues like prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance which the wise of every age have sought to develop, are made raised to a whole new level through grace, through faith.

This is one reason why all the saints are our teachers. They show us by their example what is possible when a life is united to God. St. Albert, in particular, is one of only 33 people in human history known as a doctor of the Catholic Church—doctor, coming from the Latin word meaning “Learned One”.  He is “learned” not simply intellectually, but in the ways of Christ.

The proper reading from the book of Sirach spoke of how those who fear the Lord, that should be all of us, shall be nourished with the bread of understanding and given the water of learning to drink. Our minds should crave understanding and learning like our bodies crave food and water. Catholics should always be engaged in some kind of intellectual formation.  Now, you don’t have to sit by the fireside every day with Saint Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologica, though you can get it for free on your Kindle!  Though it certainly couldn’t hurt, no one will sharpen the mind like St. Thomas. Nor is learning supposed to replace our daily prayer, but daily learning is our way of life...that's what it means to be a disciple--a learner of the way of Christ.

But understanding and learning about our faith, about the scriptures, about the lives of the saints, musn’t end when our grade school catechesis ends. Minds that don’t crave learning like the body craves bread and water, have perhaps been dulled by too much tv, video games, or nonsense.
Albert was called “the Great” even during his lifetime by his contemporaries because of his immense scholarship and knowledge of philosophy.  Yet, he could only truly be called great by history, by us, because of the greatness of his holiness and love—a holiness that put his life—his gifts, his talents, and struggles, at the service of Christ and his Holy Church.

May the prayers and example of the learned Saint Albert the Great help us to deepen our knowledge and love of God, for the building up of the Church for His Glory and the 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 members 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 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, for whom we pray in a special way during the month of November, 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

Holy Trinity 2018 - To KNOW the One True God

I’ve found that today’s Feast, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, is one of the most difficult to preach on. The Trinity is the supreme mystery of the faith, and how do you put mystery into words. The Trinity is the most sublime and exalted of our Christian doctrines, how do you distill that down into something manageable?

I think there is the temptation for the preacher to turn this homily into a Catechism lesson. I could summarize what the Catechism says about the three divine persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Catechism after all spends about 800 paragraphs on the Trinity, which itself is a distillation of what the Scriptures, Church fathers, Church councils, Popes, and saints have said about the subject for the last 2000 years. And again, I think there is a temptation to make this homily, and our entire treatment of the Trinity, about head knowledge. But our faith is about much more than head-knowledge.
Many languages have two words for knowledge, they differentiate between head-knowledge and heart-knowledge. In German, for instance, the two words are wissen and kennen. Wissen is the head-knowledge, the facts that you get from reading a textbook. Kennen is the heart-knowledge gained from intimate, personal experience.

In espanol, as well: saber is to know the facts about something. Conocer is your relational, experiential knowledge. In italiano, we find the same thing, sapere and conoscere.  Sapere la risposta giusta. - To  know the right answer. But, conoscere un amico nuovo…to know a new friend…by having  spent time with them.

So, this Trinity Sunday, we are challenged to grow in our knowledge of the Trinity. But not just head-knowledge; heart-knowledge too. To grow in head knowledge, we turn to the Scriptures, to the Theologians, to our Catechism. Two books every Catholic should have on their night stand: the Holy Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

For some head-knowledge of the Trinity you can start with Catechism number 234 which says: “The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of the Christian faith and life. It is the mystery of God in himself .It is therefore the source of all the other mysteries of faith, the light that enlightens them. It is the most fundamental and essential teaching in the “hierarchy of the truths of faith.” The whole history of salvation is identical with the history of the way and the means by which the one true God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, reveals himself to men “and reconciles and unites with himself those who turn away from sin.”

Christians do need to have some head-knowledge about God. We should be able to answer some basic questions about God: what does it mean that God is Father and Creator. What does it mean that the Son is consubstantial with the Father. What does it mean that the Holy Spirit is the Lord the Giver of Life. We seek to grow in our ability to explain our faith to non-believers, to seekers, questioners, and doubters. Parents, of course, have the great responsibility of teaching the faith to their children, helping them to understandit and articulate it. And that certainly comes partially from that head-knowledge.

But our faith also requires us to grow in our heart-knowledge of God. “This is why you must now know, AND fix in your heart, that the LORD is God” we heard in our first reading. Jesus at the Last Supper even taught that “Eternal Life consists of knowing the only true God”, and that word ‘knowing’, is the Greek word GiNOsoke, it’s that heart-knowledge, the intimate knowledge two lovers have of each other.

And I believe sharing our heart-knowledge about God is very attractive to non-believers; our ability to speak from the heart about God draws them in. To share with others how we have encountered Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is part of the mission of going and making disciples, we heard about in our Gospel.

Our heart-knowledge about God the Father, comes from encountering God as a loving Father of mercy who accepts us back with open arms when we’ve strayed from his household. It comes from learning to trust in the providential care of the Heavenly Father instead of worrying all the time. It comes from learning to see the Father’s hand guiding the events and relationships of our life. People long to hear about our heart-knowledge of the Father, who provides, guides, forgives, and gathers.

What about our heart-knowledge of the second person of the Trinity, the Son? How is your life different because of Jesus Christ? Heart-knowledge of Jesus comes from listening to his voice, looking into his eyes, encountering the warmth of his heart in daily prayer. It comes from being challenged by Him to repent. It comes from encountering his love-outpoured on the cross, his love-outpoured in the Eucharist. People long to hear about our personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

And finally, our heart knowledge of the Holy Spirit. Yes, we are to share the head-knowledge THAT the Holy Spirit was sent upon the Church at Pentecost 2000 years ago, as we celebrated last Sunday. But people long to hear how the Holy Spirit animates the Church now in 2018. They long to hear how you have experienced the Holy Spirit’s healing presence, his enlightening presence. When have you heard His consoling whisper in a time of grief, or his mighty light at a time of confusion?
The Holy Trinity is mysterious, but as we encounter Him in our liturgical worship in our daily prayer, and in our charitable service, we begin to know with our minds and fix in our hearts that the Lord is God.

The celebration of Mass is the Holy Trinity acting now in history. Breathing new life into the Church, nourishing us with the Eucharist, enkindling our hearts for the work of the Gospel. As we continue this sacred celebration and as you go forth from here into the world, Let God the Father teach you how much he loves you. Let God the Son teach you about how much he loves you. Let God the Holy Spirit teach you about how much he loves you for the Glory of God and salvation of souls.