3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time 2025 - Discovering ourselves through God's Words

 After having fasted and prayed for 40 days in the desert and facing the temptations of the devil, Jesus traveled to the synagogue of his hometown at the beginning of his public ministry. And there, as we heard in the Gospel today, the Lord read from the scriptures, a passage from the prophet Isaiah about the miracles that would accompany the arrival of the Messiah. 

Certainly, this is a fitting scripture passage for this particular weekend, as, a number of years ago now, Pope Francis designated the third Sunday of Ordinary Time as Word of God Sunday. We hear of Jesus himself reading from the Word of God. 

The scriptures play an important role in the life and ministry of Jesus. Again, as we heard today, he read and quoted from them publicly, as we do, every time we celebrate any of the Church’s liturgies. The Lord was raised in a family which cherished and lived out God’s word. The Holy Family celebrated the feasts prescribed by the scriptures, they adhered to the moral teachings found in its pages, they looked forward to the fulfillment of the prophecies of scripture, and they recited its beautiful poetry prayerfully in different moments of their lives.

Recall how Mary, upon visiting Elizabeth recited a lengthy passage of scripture, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, for he has cast down the mighty from their thrones and lifted up the lowly”. Our Lady was reciting by heart a passage of the first book of Samuel—when Samuel’s mother, Hannah, praised God when she discovered she had been blessed with child after a period of barrenness. 

Jesus spoke about the scriptures in the course of his ministry, and he assumed that his audience was familiar with the Scriptures. On the Sermon on the Mount he says, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven” 

So our Lord was immersed in Scripture, his family recited it, he recited it. The scriptures were the lens through which God’s people view the world, view history, and understand themselves and who they are called to be. 

Knowing this, it is not surprising to hear of our Lord opening the book of the prophet Isaiah in today’s Gospel, and explaining to people how this Scripture applied to what he was doing in their midst. 

Through the prophet Isaiah, God promised that there would be miraculous signs surrounding the coming of the Messiah: glad tidings would be preached to the poor, liberty to captives, recovery of the sight to the blind. And in his hometown synagogue, Jesus makes the claim that those promises were being fulfilled in Him.

Jesus explains to the people that what they see him doing is a result of his faithfulness to his Father, in obedience to His Father. He is living out the vocation, if you will, of who he is, and the work he was sent to accomplish.

Jesus shows us that the purpose of our existence is to live out God’s plan for us. This is what Jesus did…he lived out his Father’s plan for him to preach the Good News and to save us from our sins through his suffering, death, and resurrection. And the Word of God is clear, this is the vocation of every Christian: to live out God’s plan for our lives.

If the Word of God explains to us who we are and who we are meant to be, the big question is, are you doing that?  Are you pursuing the person God made you to be? Are you becoming the person that you hoped you would become—that God hopes you will become? Are the choices that you’ve been making lately helping you to develop your mind, your heart, and your soul?

In thinking of my own priestly calling, and I think I speak for most priests here, that our priestly calling never came in the form of a clear, undeniable message from God that his plan was that we should become a priest.

Rather, the priestly calling came as a result of listening to God’s Word and discerning how I could best pursue its promises. My own calling came at a point in my life when I was really trying to figure out how can I pursue the things of God,  And that question, led me to the seminary, where I was able to pursue God—in prayer, study, and service.

I can even tell you one of the scripture passages that led me to even begin asking that question. In Romans chapter 12, St. Paul says, “Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.” And where do we find what is good and pleasing and perfect? The Word of God. Read the Word of God. Meditate upon it, consider what it means for the direction of your life, the choices you are making, the way you are treating people. The Word of God enables you to discern the will of God for your life. 

This is no doubt, why so many people in our modern age wander aimlessly, from empty pursuit to empty pursuit. It’s because they have not taken the Word of God seriously—so many are biblically illiterate. They have no power to discern God’s will over their own because they unaccustomed to the divine logic found in the pages of Sacred Scripture.

In the first reading, Ezra the priest, read the scriptures to a group of Jews who only just returned from exile. For over a hundred years, the Jews had lived and worked in Babylonian Exile. There, you can be sure that they did not have the opportunity to read or hear from their scriptures. They were cut off from their traditions, their history, their rituals, and their stories. They didn’t know who they were, or who God called them to be. They grew up only knowing the false gods and practices of Babylon—a culture which practiced child sacrifice, polygamy, and other corrupt practices.

Well, after a hundred years, God saw to their deliverance from Babylon. But returning to Jerusalem, what they found broke their hearts. They found Jerusalem, the once great city of God—devastated—the walls breached and broken, the great temple destroyed.

But then we hear of Ezra, gathering the men, women, and children. And he begins to read to them from the Word of God. He stood on a raised platform, and from morning until midday Ezra read the Torah from beginning to end:  Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy.  For hours and hours the men, women, and children listened to their story, their family history, the laws which God had given them. They raised their hands in the air, and proclaimed, “Amen, Amen”.  And they bowed down to the ground and wept discovering who they were for the first time: they were the people chosen by God to manifest his greatness.

The story of Ezra and the people of Israel reconnecting with the scriptures, is a wonderful image of what the Church does every time we gather for public worship and the role of the scriptures in our private lives and our families. They help us rediscover every week, every time we open them, to who we are, and who God made us to be.

May we, in the words of St. Augustine, tolle et lege, take up and read, meditating upon its words day and night, that we may prosper in the sight of God, and discover his vocation and love for each of us, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

3rd Week of Advent 2024 - Monday - Star and Staff

 During the first two advent weeks, we read predominately from Isaiah, the prophet of the Babylonian exile, and his promises to captive Israel of the coming Messiah. Well, our old testament readings over the next week will include a smattering of prophecies from the Old Testament; for Isaiah was neither the first nor the last of the prophets to foretell the Messiah’s coming.

We read today from one of the most ancient books of the old testament, from the Pentateuch book of numbers, one of the five books of moses. Numbers describes the wilderness experience of the Israelites as they wandered 40 years in the desert after departing Mt. Sinai. And after wandering for 40 years, the Israelites come to the plains of moab, on the east bank of the Jordan river. And there, a group of Israelite elders encounter a Moabite prophet named Balaam, son of Beor. And it is through Balaam, this non-Israelite, as we heard this morning that the God of Israel issues one of the very first prophecies of the Messiah in the Old Testament.

Balaam prophecies of a king who will defeat the enemies of Israel, who will know the thoughts of God, whose wells shall be over-flowing. 

Then, Balaam speaks of the king’s birth: “A star shall advance from Jacob, and a staff shall rise from Israel.” Here of course is a prophecy of the star of Bethlehem which would guide the Magi to the newborn Messiah. 

The “staff” signals that the Messiah would come from the lineage of a king of Israel—certainly an interesting prophecy, since Israel would not even develop a monarchy for hundreds more years. Additionally, to many of the ancient peoples, like the Moabites, stars were themselves considered divinities that watched over the earth. The coming of a star, then signaled a divinity being involved in the rise of this king. 

Little did Balaam or Moses know that this was in reference to the fact that the Messiah-King would also be God himself in the flesh. 

A star which would lead them to the presence of the one true God-made-flesh, the king of kings that would defeat the most ancient foes of Israel—sin and death. 

In the Gospel passage, the chief priests and elders question Jesus about the authority by which He acts and teaches. While they are unable—or unwilling—to recognize His divine commission, the earlier reading from Numbers reminds us that true authority comes from God and that God’s chosen one was prophesied long ago. The star from Jacob and scepter from Israel signify that God will raise up a ruler with legitimate authority, one who does not need to rely on human endorsement. Jesus, in refusing to disclose the source of His authority to the questioners, indirectly highlights that His authority is neither borrowed nor dependent on human recognition. Instead, it is rooted in the divine plan revealed through the centuries. 

In these final Advent days, let us grow in wonder and awe at the God’s plan to deliver us, and deepen our love for Jesus the Messiah, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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For the Church: That in these remaining days of Advent, the Church grow in  greater wonder and awe at God’s saving plan.

For all peoples and nations and that leaders may be guided by divine wisdom, working to bring about justice, peace, and the dignity of every human person, as they acknowledge the true authority that comes from God alone.

For those who struggle to believe: That the star of God’s truth may shine upon all who wander in doubt or darkness, leading them to encounter the Messiah who fulfills the deepest longings of the human heart.

For our parish: That as we reflect on the divine authority and kingship of Christ, we may grow in reverence, deepen our love for the newborn King, and await His coming with joyful expectation.

For those who are sick, weary or burdened: That in moments of hardship and uncertainty, they may draw strength from the promise of a Messiah-King who defeats sin, brings overflowing blessings, and comforts those who suffer.

For the faithful departed: That they may be welcomed into the fullness of God’s kingdom, especially, N. for whom this mass is offered. 

Gracious Father, you have guided your people through centuries of waiting and longing. Hear our prayers today, and lead us ever closer to your Son, the Messiah foretold by prophets and revealed in the humble stable of Bethlehem. Through Christ our Lord. 

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2024 - Chosen to share the word of truth

This last week, I joined about 227 priests for a conference down in Wheeling, West Virginia hosted by the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology. For a couple hours of each day, Biblical Theologians like Dr. Scott Hahn and Dr. John Bergsma offered fascinating cutting-edge lectures on biblical topics. Each morning, Dr. Bergsma would lead us through the Old Testament foreshadowings of the Holy Spirit, and in the evening Dr. Hahn was lead us through the Scriptures, unpacking the biblical concept of prophets and prophecy.

Spending several days just immersed in the Scriptures together with brother priests from all over the country was really good for the old mind, heart, and soul. 

This coming week, I’ll be making pilgrimage with several parishioners and a hundred or so Catholics from the diocese of Cleveland, to join several thousands of fellow pilgrims from around the country in Indianapolis for the historical National Eucharistic Congress. I’ve put details regarding the Congress in the bulletin, and I ask that you keep me, the parish delegates and diocesan delegates in prayer this week. I hope to invite our delegates to share their experiences with the parish in the next few months of being sent on pilgrimage by the bishop. 

In the first reading, we hear about how the prophet Amos had been sent by God to a place called Bethel. He wasn’t raised in Bethel, which is in Northern Israel. Amos grew up in the south, in Judah. And Amos didn't have special prophetic training--he wasn’t raised in the Temple; he wasn’t attending a special training course or formal formation program for prophets. He was a shepherd and fruit farmer. As we heard in the reading, “I was no prophet, nor have I belonged to a company of prophets; I was a shepherd and a dresser of sycamores.” 

But God sent the ordinary man, whose grow up in a simple family of agricultural workers to prophecy to the king of the north.

And God sent Amos at a very interesting point in Israel’s history. It was a time of relative prosperity, economic growth and military success. But it was also a time of rampant social injustice and religious corruption. The king and the national business elite, we might call them, were growing in wealth by exploiting the poor. Business owners were fixing their scales, cheating their customers.  The king allowed the idolatrous practices of the Canaanites to pervert the religious worship of the nation mandated by the one true God. 

And so God sent Amos to warn the king, to warn the leaders, to warn the people, to repent or there would be consequences. And was Amos’ message well received? Well, we heard today how the corrupt and idolatrous priest of Bethel, Amaziah, told Amos to leave and never come back, for God is not in charge here, but the king. The corrupt clergyman takes the side of the king over God!

The Word of God was not welcome in Bethel. The prophet is often tasked with sharing unpleasant unwelcome messages. The king doesn’t like to hear that he is not in charge of the universe. The prophet speaks truth to power, calling sinners to repentance, to bring their lives back into alliance with the one and only power that matters—God. If your life is not in line with God, you will bring ruin to yourself, to your family, and your nation. But that message is not welcome by those who cling to their earthly power and positions of privilege.

And to speak truth to power, God chose the ordinary farmhand, Amost as his prophet, just like Moses, who was a simple shepherd, and David, who was a simple shepherd, and the apostles, who were simple fishermen. What’s the lesson? Trust God. He calls ordinary people—manual laborers—not just people like us, but us, he calls us to deliver powerful messages rooted in the Word of God.

Recall that in our baptism, each one of us has become an anointed prophet. You and I have the task of being prophets. Well, what is a prophet? Remember, in the biblical sense, a prophet is not just someone who foretells the future. Christian prophets aren’t fortune tellers with the ability to predict the outcome of the World Series. But in Scripture what do we see the prophets doing? We them diagnosing the spiritual illnesses of kings and peasants, friends and family, and pointing them to God who alone can heal them. The prophet is the spiritual diagnostician who recognizes when someone or some institution is not in line with God, and says something—he does something. The prophet speaks the truth in love. 

Now, as a priest, certainly, I have a prophetic role, liturgically, I share in my homily, what the Lord has placed on heart through prayer, reflection, training and experience. And also in spiritual direction and counseling and the other different facets of priestly ministry, I have a prophetic role here in the parish. But ya’ll do to! Not necessarily liturgically, your prophetic role is fulfilled in gatherings of family, friends, and coworkers. When you take a family member out lunch and share your concern because they have not baptized their children and are not going to mass, that’s a prophetic action very pleasing to the Lord. When you share with a friend who has become consumed in materialism or fallen into new age or protestant error, that they would do well to come home to the faith, that’s prophetic. When you ask a coworker to stop taking the Lord’s name in vain and blaspheming in your presence, that is prophetic. And that’s part of our role in the Church.

The prophet Joel foretold a time when the spirit of prophecy would be poured out on all flesh. And it happened! Through baptism. All who are baptized are prophets. As Paul says in our second reading, In him we were also chosen, destined. We who have heard the word of truth, are to share it.

Now, scripture says, that prophecy is not a matter of personal interpretation. In other words, prophecy is not about sharing your opinion; it’s about sharing but the Word of God. And so we do well to be immersed in God’s word—the Scriptures--and the doctrines of our faith which apply God’s word to particular topics and circumstances. Read the bible every day. Read Catholic biblical commentaries. Catholic scripture studies. Podcasts that break open the scriptures. That you might be immersed and rooted in God’s word. Tolle et lege, take and read. So that you can be equipped with what you need for your prophetic mission.

In the Gospel, the Lord tells the apostles to take nothing—barely anything—for their prophetic journey: just the sandals on their feet and the word of God in which he had formed them. They were to trust Jesus—that he had given them everything they needed for the task for which he had appointed them. Trust God, that what you need is to be formed in the Word of God, so that you can help souls who are lost return to the Father, to repent, and be free of their demons. Some, like the corrupt priest in the first reading might not welcome the truth, but some people will, and there life will be changed for eternity because you had the care and courage to share the truth with them for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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As you may have heard, seen, or read, yesterday, at a presidential campaign rally in Butler, PA, there was an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. It appears that the the former president suffered a bullet wound to the ear, while a member of the audience was killed by a stray bullet, and another was injured.

This is a sad, but, sadly not a surprising act, as the level of violent rhetoric in our nations political life has been on the rise. Please pray for our nation, for president trump and his family, for the safety of our political leaders, and for an end to domestic terrorism and the attitudes and actions which breed it.

Yesterday, July 13 was the anniversary of the third apparition at Fatima, when our Lady appeared to the three shepherd children, and introduced herself as Our Lady of the Rosary. The first apparition was on May 13, the same day that Pope John Paul II survived an assassination attempt in St. Peter’s square. Please pray the rosary for peace, safety, and deliverance from evil. Following the final blessing, we will offer special prayers (Leonine prayers) for our nation and for the repose of the victim.

Holy Saturday 2024 - Morning Prayer - He will raise us up

Eight centuries before Christ, the kingdom of Israel was in political, social, and moral decline. Israel had turned away from worshiping the true God and instead embraced the pagan practices of neighboring nations, particularly the worship of Baal. Israel also allowed injustice to run rampant; the nation was marked by oppression of the poor, corruption among the leaders, and a lack of justice in the courts. 

In response to Israel’s idolatry and injustice, God sent the prophet Hosea to call Israel to repentance.  Hosea urged Israel to turn back to God and forsake their idolatry and sinful ways. Hosea emphasized God's love and desire to restore his relationship with his people, but also made it clear that continued rebellion would lead to punishment and exile. 

And even though Israel would be afflicted with these consequences of unfaithfulness, Hosea, like many of the prophets, prophecies about God’s promises to save his people. And this morning we heard of that promise: In their affliction, they shall look for me: “Come let us return to the Lord, For it is he who has rent, but he will heal us; he has struck us, but he will bind our wounds. He will revive us after two days; on the third day he will raise us up, to live in his presence.”

What a poignant passage, particularly in light of the commemoration of the Lord’s passion yesterday, on Good Friday. 

In Hosea's time, the Israelites rejected God's message delivered through the prophets, persistently turning to idolatry and disobedience. Similarly, on Good Friday, Jesus, who embodied God's message of love and salvation, was rejected by the religious leaders and the people who cried out for his crucifixion.

The Israel of Hosea's day was characterized by social injustice, corruption, and a lack of moral integrity. Similarly, Jesus faced an unjust trial, false accusations, and a corrupt political system that ultimately led to his wrongful execution.

Despite Israel's unfaithfulness, Hosea's message emphasizes God's persistent love and desire to redeem his people. The promise of restoration and healing in the passage of Hosea this morning foreshadows God's ultimate plan of redemption through Christ. Jesus' death on Good Friday and his subsequent resurrection on Easter Sunday represent the fulfillment of God's plan to save and restore humanity.

For notice, the passage doesn’t just speak of one man being raised on the third day, it says, he will raise US up. Easter, yes, of course, celebrates Christ’s resurrection. But also, the new life and relationship with God, that we fallen sinners, are able to have with God, through Christ, as members of His Body, the Church.

And yet, we still have a few hours of prayerful waiting before we celebrate Easter.  We do well to continue to ponder the events of Good Friday, our own sinfulness for which Christ died to redeem us, and also those hope-filled prophecies throughout the scripture of restoration, renewal, new life, transformation, that comes through the resurrection of Christ the Lord, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

February 2 2024 - Feast of the Presentation - Jesus Christ is the one whom you seek

Throughout the Advent season, the Church considered many of the prophecies found in the Old Testament concerning the birth and role of the Messiah.

Isaiah prophecied how “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Emmanuel” he is God with us. 

Isaiah also prophecied how the Messiah would be “called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” This prophecy emphasizes how the Messiah would be a kind and wise ruler and bringer of peace. 

Micah prophecied about how Bethlehem would be the Messiah’s birthplace—Bethlehem, Hebrew for the house of bread, hinting at how the Christ would give himself in the Eucharist—the bread of life.

Through the prophet Haggai, God said, “I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory.” The Messiah would be acknowledged by all the nations of the earth and show that the power of God is greater than any nation or earthly government.

Now, forty days after the celebration of Christmas, the birth of the Messiah, Christ the Lord, the liturgy presents us with another prophecy from the prophet Malachi. 

Malachi prophecied, “And suddenly there will come to the temple the LORD whom you seek”. I like the word, “suddenly” there. For it speak of the humility in which Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to the temple. The God of the universe born a humble babe in the poor Bethlehem stable is brought into the Jerusalem Temple without fanfare or royal procession. He is simply carried in love in the arms of his loving mother, next to her obedient heart. For it was out of obedience to the Mosaic Law that the Divine Savior was brought to the Temple. It would be in an atmosphere of obedience that he would be raised.

And Malachi also describes him as one “whom you seek”. Malachi prophecied during a time of moral and spiritual decline among the Jews. There were faithful Jews who awaited the coming of the Lord. But also, in a way, Malachi, writing in a time of idolatry and spiritual decline, is saying that deep down, all sinners seek God. They are seeking happiness in all the wrong places. They are seeking happiness in sin, and this is why they  always come up empty and dissatisfied. 

Today, as part of the liturgy, the Church blesses candles, candles which are a symbol of the light of Christ—they are signal flares to the world, that all those who are looking for happiness can find happiness here, in Christ. 

We bless candles, to remind us, that our vocation is to be like those candles, signals to the world, that salvation is found in Christ for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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On this special day of prayer for the consecrated religious, we pray that those consecrated to God by the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience may live their baptismal promises more intensely and have the grace to persevere in their commitment to the Lord and serve with open hearts and willing spirits. And in gratitude for the consecrated religious who have served this parish and our diocese, for an increase in vocations to the consecrated life. 

During this Catholic Schools week, for all young people, for their teachers and catechists and parents who are the first teachers of the faith, and that the truth of the faith may be learned, cherished, and practiced in every Catholic school and Christian home.

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

December 18 2023 - King of Kings & Emmanuel

 Yesterday, began “late Advent” the seven days leading up to Christmas.

Where the first part of Advent focused on the coming of Christ and the need to prepare our hearts and lives for his coming, Late Advent focuses on the identify of the Christ Child, particularly as he is the fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel.

Several promises are contained in our scripture readings today.

Firstly, in the Jeremiah reading, we hear the promise of a righteous king from the line of David. The Davidic kings were not always righteous men, they were sometimes even quite despicable. Some of them were outright idolators, whose false worship brought terrible ruin to Israel. Injustice ran rampant under these immoral, greedy, blood thirsty kings. Yet, Israel possessed a hope in God’s promise of a king who would establish justice, whose kingdom would last forever.

The child born at Christmas is that promised king. The king of kings of who establishes the “eternal and universal kingdom, a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love, and peace.” The Church established by the Christ is the beginning of that Kingdom over which Christ our head rules. And the truth, life, holiness, grace, and justice, love, and peace of that kingdom can be seen in the life of the Church.

In the Gospel, we heard how the Christ child would be the fulfillment of another promise, two promises, actually. “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel.” The first promise is that, a virgin would bear a son. The king of kings would be born of a virgin. That’s how you’ll know him. And the second, is that he shall be called Emmanuel—God is with us. 

Now, Israel believe this child would just be a sign that God was with his people. But we know, that he is more than that. He is not just a sign that God is with his people, he is God with us. He is God incarnate. God takes flesh in Christ, and fulfills his promises in a way that is greater than Israel first conceived. 

Over these final Advent days, cultivate a real appreciation for the ways God fulfills his promises in Christ and their relevance for the life of the Church and for the good of mankind. This will help you to deepen your love and gratitude for him, and to share the good news of his birth with others for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

 

As we await with longing the Advent of our Lord Jesus Christ, we raise up our prayers of petitions.

That Christ may visit his holy Church and always find her repentant of sin and watchful in prayer.

That Christ may fill the Pope, our Bishop, and all the clergy with spiritual gifts and graces.

That Christ may guide the minds of those who govern us to promote the common good according to His Holy Will.

That Christ may banish disease, drive out hunger, and ward off every affliction.

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

Almighty ever-living God, who bring salvation to all and desire that no one should perish, hear the prayers of your people and grant that the course of our world may be directed by your peaceful rule and your Church rejoice in tranquility and devotion. Through Christ our Lord.

1st Week of Advent 2021 - Wednesday - Fulfillment of prophecies of old

 There is a beautiful interplay between the first reading and the Gospel throughout the weekdays of Advent. In the first reading there is a prophecy about the Messiah, from Isaiah these first two weeks. Then in our Gospel reading, we catch a glimpse of how that old testament prophecy is fulfilled in Jesus.

For example, on Monday, Isaiah prophesied how “All nations shall stream toward” God, not just the Jews, but all nations shall be instructed by God, and their swords will be beaten into pruning hooks.

Then in the Gospel, we heard of a sword carrying, non-Jewish Roman centurion, who approached Jesus seeking healing for his servant. 

Today, we hear the prophecy of God’s holy mountain, upon which death will be destroyed, the tears of the miserable will be wiped away, and the hungry will feast. And then in the Gospel, Jesus fulfills that very prophecy driving away the powers of death in the lame, blind, and deformed. And he then feeds the multitude through this miraculous multiplication of loaves, after which there is more food left over than when they started. 

As these prophecies were being fulfilled in the earthly ministry of Jesus, you can bet that people were getting excited. The apostles followed him with vigor as they began to recognize who he was. Jews and Gentiles began to recognize that God was at work. Jesus was stirring things up, calling the slumbering to wake up, repent, change your ways, get ready, the kingdom of God is at hand. 

So, too, in this age of the Church Advent should stir something in us. It has the power to enflame the lukewarm, inspire faith in non-believers, rouse the negligent, call sinners to repentant, and deepen the faith of even the saintly. 

But the power of Advent needs to emanate outside of the walls of our churches in the preaching and good works of the faithful. In our generosity toward the miserable, in the softening and warming of our hearts toward the poor and lame, outside of these walls souls can be touched and transformed. 

May we cooperate generously with the myriad ways our Lord wishes to draw souls to Himself for the glory of God and salvation of souls. 

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We raise up our prayers of petitions, as we await with longing the Advent of Christ the Lord.

That through the witness and work of the Church, Our Lord will bring hope to the hopeless and joy to the joyless.

That world leaders may look upon the Son of God, believe in him, and seek the peace and justice that only he can bring.

That Christ may heal every disease, drive out hunger, feed every authentic hunger, ward off every affliction, and bring peace to the suffering.

For the deceased of our parish, family and friends, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for Edward Yurick. for whom this Mass is offered.

Almighty ever-living God, who bring salvation to all and desire that no one should perish, hear the prayers of your people and grant that the course of our world may be directed by your peaceful rule and your Church rejoice in tranquility and devotion. Through Christ our Lord.

1st Week of Advent 2020 - Tuesday - A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse

 

When giving tours of our magnificent church, I’ll often ask people to try to figure out what is being depicted on the ceiling. And often times, they’ll look at the figure depicted right at the base of the sanctuary, and think that it’s Jesus, maybe coming out of the tomb after the resurrection. And I always say, “no, it’s not Jesus, but he bears a certain family resemblance”.

At the base of the sanctuary, of course, is Jesse, who we hear about in our first reading today from the prophet Isaiah. And I say that he bears a certainty family resemblance because, he is a progenitor of the family tree of Jesus. And so our ceiling depicts the family tree of Our Lord, in fact, there he is all the way near the entrance of the church, blessing us as we come in from the world and blessing us as we go out into the world to proclaim the good news.

So, the stem that sprouts from the stump of Jesse is beautifully depicted on our ceiling, one of the most unique ceilings in the world. I’ve never seen another like it. It is certainly reminiscent of the Jesse tree stained glass window of Chartres Cathedral which is also the inspiration for the stained glass windows which adorn our Cathedral of West Boulevard.

The Jesse Tree certainly connects us with Isaiah’s prophecy, and reminds us that Israel was waiting and longing for this prophecy to be fulfilled, waiting for the tree to bloom, ushering in the age of the Messiah—who would bring peace and justice and reconciliation with God.

Also, consider the context in which Isaiah gave this prophecy. Remember, Israel was in exile. It was the darkest point in Israel’s history. It appeared that the royal line had been severed. To anyone who was paying attention, God’s promise of a flourishing tree of Justice and Peace looked more like a dead stump in the ground. And yet, Isaiah offers this prophecy of hope. That no, the tree is not dead. God’s promise remains intact. Justice will come. Peace will come. Be patient. Have faith.

So, too with us. Every Advent is an opportunity to renew our patience, our faith and our hope. No matter how devastated the world appears. God is still at work. There will be justice for the oppressed. There will be peace. There Lord came 2000 years ago. The age of the Messiah has begun, and it will come to fulfillment when he returns in glory, so we ready our hearts, we ready our souls, we contemplate the truths that the Lord has revealed to the childlike, those who trust in God with childlike wonder, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

 

We raise up our prayers of petitions, as we await with longing the Advent of Christ the Lord.

That through the courageous witness of the Christian Church, Our Lord will bring hope to the hopeless and joy to the joyless.

That world leaders may look upon the Son of God, believe in him, and seek the peace and justice that only he can bring.

That Christ may heal every disease, drive out hunger, ward off every affliction, and bring peace to the suffering.

For the deceased of our parish, family and friends, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Keep us alert, we pray, O Lord our God, as we await the advent of Christ your son, so that, when he comes and knocks, he may find us watchful in prayer and exultant in  his praise. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

 

3rd Week of Advent 2019 - Monday - A star shall advance from Jacob

During the first two advent weeks, we read predominately from Isaiah, the prophet of the Babylonian exile, and his promises to captive Israel of the coming Messiah. Well, our old testament readings over the next week will include a smattering of prophecies from the Old Testament, for Isaiah was neither the first nor the last of the prophets to foretell the Messiah’s coming.

We read today from one of the most ancient books of the old testament, from the penteauch book of numbers, one of the five books of moses. Numbers describes the wilderness experience of the Israelites as they wandered 40 years in the desert after departing Mt. Sinai. After wandering for many years, the Israelites come to the plains of moab, on the east bank of the Jordan river. And there a group of Israelite elders encounter a Moabite prophet named Balaam, son of Beor. And it is through Balaam, this non-Israelite, that the God of Israel issues one of the very first prophecies of the Messiah in the Old Testament.

Balaam prophecies of a king who will rule, who will defeat the enemies of Israel, who will know the thoughts of God, whose wells shall be over-flowing.

Then, Balaam speaks of the king’s birth: “A star shall advance from Jacob, and a staff shall rise from Israel.” In ancient times, stars were considered to be gods and goddesses. Little did Balaam or the Israelites know that this was one of the early references in their history to the coming of the God-man. This star, prophecied about in the time of Moses, was the one Magi from the east would follow to Bethlehem well over a thousand years later. A star which would lead them to the presence of the one true God-made-flesh, the king of kings that would defeat the most ancient foes of Israel—sin and death.

In the Gospel, his audience at the temple asks Jesus by what authority he speaks. He had no need to answer their question, for Balaam had already answered it hundreds of years before. He speaks with the authority of the King of Kings, the authority of God.

Like the Israelites in the wilderness, there are many who continue to wander through this world, looking for God. There are many who seek the one of whose authority they can base their lives. May we be stars for them, pointing them to Jesus, the Messiah, who will cause a spring of the water of eternal life to over-flow within them, if they will but place their faith in him, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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We raise up our prayers of petition, as we await with longing the Advent of Christ the Lord.
That the Holy Father, all bishops and priests, religious and laity may shine with the Light of Christ’s love for the lost and despairing, and that non-believers and fallen away Catholics will look to the light of Christ emanating from his Church, and place their faith in Jesus the Messiah.

That world leaders may look upon the Son of God, believe in him, and seek the peace and justice that only he can bring.

That our young people will turn away from the evils of our culture to spread the good news of Christ’s eternal kingdom.

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

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

Almighty ever-living God, who brings salvation to all and desire that no one should perish, hear the prayers of your people and grant that the course of our world may be directed by your peaceful rule and your Church rejoice in tranquility and devotion. Through Christ our Lord.

1st Week of Advent 2019 - Wednesday - Fulfillment of Prophecy Past Present and Future

Yesterday, we heard Isaiah’s prophecy of the heir of the Davidic King who will usher in an era of lasting peace. And then in the Gospel, Jesus explained how he was that heir, how the prophets and kings of old longed to see what he was now accomplishing. So, we had a prophecy from Isaiah, and then Jesus explained how he was the fulfillment of that prophecy.

Today, our readings follow the same pattern. In Isaiah we hear of the promises of a mountain upon which God will provide for all peoples, a feast of rich food and choice wines, that on this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, he will destroy death, he will wipe away tears, on that day we will behold our God.

And then in the Gospel, Jesus is fulfilling those promises: Jesus atop a mountain miraculously cures the mute, the lame, the blind, the deformed, and then he feeds this great multitude, miraculously multiplying seven loaves of bread and a few fish, and has an abundance of food left over.

Jesus continues to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah during this age of the Church: in the Sacraments the sick come to him for healing in the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, those spiritually sick and even dead in sin, come to him for healing and new life in the Sacrament of Confession, and he feeds us with supersubstantial food, his body and blood in the Eucharist.

And Our Lord heals the sick and feeds the hungry through the charitable work of Church. Hospitals were invented by Christians seeking to be the healing hands of Christ in the world. And the Church continues to be the greatest of charitable institutions in feeding the starving and clothing the naked of the world.

And yet, these readings still point to the future, to the second Advent and coming of Christ at the end of the age, when we will eat and drink at the eternal banquet feast of heaven and be clothed with glory forever, where there will be no more death or disease, and every tear will be wiped away forever.

Advent certainly helps us appreciate the ways in which the prophecies of old were fulfilled in the earthly ministry of Jesus 2000 years ago, how they are fulfilled now in the present, and how they will be fulfilled in eternity. So what needs to change in us, that we may be more perceptive of God at work in our midst, and more participative in God’s work now, and what needs to change that I may ready myself for the ultimate fulfillment of these promises in eternity?

May the light and life of Christ’s Advent shine in us today and forever for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
 
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We raise up our prayers of petitions, as we await with longing the Advent of Christ the Lord.
That through the witness of the Christian Church, Our Lord will bring hope to the hopeless and joy to the joyless.
That world leaders may look upon the Son of God, believe in him, and seek the peace and justice that only he can bring.
That Christ may heal every disease, drive out hunger, feed every authentic hunger, ward off every affliction, and bring peace to the suffering.
For the deceased of our parish, family and friends, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.
Almighty ever-living God, who bring salvation to all and desire that no one should perish, hear the prayers of your people and grant that the course of our world may be directed by your peaceful rule and your Church rejoice in tranquility and devotion. Through Christ our Lord.

Tuesday - 26th Week of OT 2017 - Divine love shining through perfect humanity

Luke is the favorite gospel of many people. In fact, it has been called "the most beautiful book ever written". In elegant and articulate style, Luke gives the reader a powerful and emotional picture of  Christ. St. Luke presents Jesus as the Great Physician, healer of body and souls. More than any other Gospel writer, Luke calls Jesus “the Son of Man”, and not so much deemphasizes Jesus’ divinity, rather, shows Jesus’ divine love shining through his perfect humanity. Luke repeatedly shows Jesus’ compassion for the poor, the needy, the sick, the sorrowing, the sinful women rejected by society, the despised Samaritans, tax collectors, beggars, lepers, and even the dying thief, crucified at his side.

In the early infancy narratives, Luke sets the tone for much of the Gospel: Jesus’ birth is met by thanksgiving, rejoicing, and prayer by some, yet there is also clear foreshadowing, that Jesus will be rejected and will suffer.

After the infancy narratives, after years of the hidden quiet life in Nazareth, Jesus embarks on his public ministry, announcing the coming of the kingdom of heaven, which is marked by miracles of healing and powerful preaching. Today’s short passage is the turning point in the Gospel. From his public ministry through Galilee, Jesus resolutely turns to journey to Jerusalem, he sets his face to journey to suffering and death.

For the rest of the Gospel, much of what Jesus says and does is in reference to what will happen when he gets to Jerusalem, the meaning and importance of what he does there.

And, there in Jerusalem, Jesus fulfills the prophecy we heard in the first reading from the prophet Zechariah: “Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem”. That prophecy is fulfilled in the celebration of the Mass, where men and women of every race and tongue stream to Jerusalem, to the foot of the cross, where the love of God and the goodness of God are made manifest. The divine physician brings healing at the Eucharist, “the Son of Man’s” divinity shines through his perfect humanity in his self-giving on the cross and in the Eucharist.

It is at the Eucharist that compassion is shown to the poor, those rejected by society are gathered in, the repentant sinner is shown mercy. The celebration of Holy Mass is the gathering of all nations on that Holy Mountain, at which the Lord wipes away tears from all faces, who gathers and mends all of broken humanity, and feeds the hungry with the richest of foods.

Let us turn resolutely to the Lord who goes to the cross for us, who embraces suffering and death for us, who feeds us with his body and blood, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For the holy Church of God, that the Lord may graciously watch over her and care for her.

For the peoples of all the world, that the Lord may graciously preserve harmony among them.

For all who are oppressed by any kind of need, that the Lord may graciously grant them relief, especially the victims of the mass shooting in Las Vegas and their families.

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 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. We pray.

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.