32nd Week in Ordinary Time 2023 - Tuesday - Wisdom and Slaves of God

 

This last Sunday, our first reading was taken from the book of Wisdom, and we will read from the book of Wisdom all this week.

The book, which is sometimes called, “The Wisdom of Solomon” was not written by Solomon who lived 1000 years before Christ, rather, the book of Wisdom was written just a century or two before Christ by an anonymous Jewish author who seems to have lived in the Greek city of Alexandria, Egypt, the world’s center of Greek learning at the time.

The title was not meant to deceive anyone, but to express the author’s admiration for Solomon and to claim to be a disciple and imitator of Solomon’s wisdom.

The book is a synthesis of ideas from Jewish religion and Greek philosophy and literature. Its main lesson is much like that of the rest of the Old Testament: we need to be faithful to God; when we are faithful, we are blessed; when we are unfaithful, there are consequences.

Today we read a passage that is often chosen for Christian funerals. Just from chapter 2 of the book, the biblical author is spelling out the eternal ramifications of faithfulness. Faithfulness, living by God’s wisdom, living justly, righteously, in a manner that gives proper obedience and honor to God, brings eternal reward: “the souls of the just are in the hands of God and no torment shall touch them.”

Wisdom puts the sufferings of our lives in perspective. Yes, the just will suffer in this life, but for the faithful, that suffering is more like the refinement of gold in a furnace, than a sign of God’s displeasure. We don’t suffer simply because we’ve been disobedient, but because suffering endured for the sake of righteousness cultivates blessedness.

Wisdom also brings consolation. It helps us even see death in its proper perspective. Death is not the end. When a just, faithful person dies, we shouldn’t despair because they go to God.

The Gospel today contained a parable in which the Lord deepens our understanding of the Christian’s relationship with God. In this parable, the Lord explains that a slave does not serve his master because he hopes to be rewarded for it, rather, he serves because it is his nature to serve. So, too for the Christian. Our baptism makes us servants of God, and what motivates us to acts of service, isn’t simply the hope of heavenly reward, but because it is now in our nature to do so, as it was the nature of the Son of God to do the will of the Heavenly Father.

The Christian is elevated in nature, but now also bound, and at the same time freed, to live entirely for God. 

May Divine Wisdom guide all of our actions this day, enabling us to live more freely for God in loving service of the Divine Will, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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For the U.S. Bishop gathering in Baltimore this week for their plenary meeting, for the Holy Spirit to govern their deliberations and conversations and given them courage and apostolic zeal for the true good of souls.

For an end to the violence and poverty that displaces so many people from their homes and homelands, and that migrants, refugees, and strangers in our midst, may know the kindness and compassion of our local Church.

That the Holy Spirit may raise up great saints in our own land, and give us missionary zeal for spreading the Gospel at home and abroad. 

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

We pray in a special way during this month of November for all the faithful departed, for those whose names are written in our parish prayer book, all deceased parishioners and benefactors of St. Ignatius of Antioch Parish, and our deceased family members and friends, deceased clergy and religious, for those who fought and died for our freedom and for N. for whom this mass is offered.

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

September 26 2023 - Sts. Cosmas and Damian - Making our day an offering to God

Cosmas and Damian were twin brothers born at the end of the third century in Syria, not far at all from Antioch, the home of our patron, Ignatius.  They were physicians known as “the moneyless ones”, because they didn’t charge their patients.  They were actually the first surgeons in history to successfully perform a limb transplant—transplanting the leg of a recently deceased Ethiopian onto one of their patients. 

Here are highly skilled, likely highly intelligent men, who could have lived a comfortable life profiting from their medical abilities. But they put their gifts at the service of the poor in the name of Christ. Because of their faith, they were rounded up in the empire-wide Christian persecution of the emperor Diocletian, and beheaded for their faith.

The saints are model Christians for us, show us that our lives are meant to be about sacrificing ourselves for others, living generously for others, pouring ourselves out in service, witnessing to the love of God, and the truth of the Holy Gospel, even with our lives.

The first reading for Cosmas and Damian is a reading we often find at Catholic funerals: “The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them.” What does it mean to be just? The just give to God what belongs to God and gives to neighbor what belongs to neighbor: worship, obedience, praise, prayer, repentance to God, and kindness, generosity, respect, charity, forgiveness, mercy to the neighbor.

None of us, of course are “just” on our own, but we are made just by Christ, and are perfected in justice as we allow the life of Christ to animate us—our decisions, attitudes, work and rest. 

Whether we are spending 8 or 10 hours in the office, or able to spend warm autumn days in the garden, or sitting in the doctor’s waiting room, Christians can make their time an offering to God by being mindful of our Christian identity, lifting up souls to God, considering how we might serve them with our own meager gifts.

When our day is continually offered to God, the events of our day, even the hardships, can become opportunities for spreading the kingdom. When we meet God in our labors, then others can meet Him, through us. 

May all of our time, talent, and treasure be given to God today and all days, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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Through the intercession of Saints Cosmas and Damien, we pray that all doctors, nurses, medical professionals and health care workers may use their training for God’s glory, always respecting the dignity of every human life.

For an end to all medical techniques which violate human dignity, for an end to abortion, euthanasia, and the destruction of human life for medical research.

That the dignity of works may be respected by their employers and by the state, and for the unemployed and underemployed.

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

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

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

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

Memorial Day 2020 - Imbued with the spirit of self-sacrifice

It is so good to see all of you back in the pews after such a long period of quarantine. And what a fitting day to return to Mass: to gather to remember in gratitude the sacrifice and to pray for the souls of those who fought and died for our freedom, which includes our freedom to gather for worship and to practice our faith.

The Church does not have a particular set of readings or orations for this civil holiday, so, again this year, I’ve chosen the readings and prayers from the mass for the faithful departed. From the book of wisdom we hear of God’s promise to the just, and the Lord’s promise to those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.

We remember our heroes today—those who hungered and thirsted for justice, enough to die for it—and not just justice and peace for themselves, but for future generations. We see their death not as misery or tragedy, but as honorable and something worth emulating. Something of their spirit, too, is to permeate our lives, their bravery and courage and concern for the good of the nation and their fellow man is to imbue our civil discourse. The spirit of their self-sacrifice, calling to mind the self-sacrifice of Our Blessed Lord, is to imbue our daily life, our conversations, interactions with strangers, and treatment of the poor.

The honor we show them is perhaps a measure of the spiritual health of our nation. So as, confused and misdirected our nation is, at times, the fact that we still believe that these men and women are worth memorializing, is proof that not all hope is lost.

Today we also recall our duty to not let their sacrifices go in vain. And we commit to not wasting the freedom they died for, we commit to fighting against tyranny and injustice in our own day, and remembering the lessons of the past.

With a spirit of profound gratitude for all who made it possible for us to be here today, we pray for our beloved war dead, and pray that we may, like them, hunger and thirst and work for justice and peace for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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Let us pray to our Heavenly Father, confident that He is generous to those who call upon Him with faith.

For Pope Francis, and all the bishops: may they rightly lead the Body of Christ in faithfulness to all the Lord teaches and commands. And that the Holy Spirit may guide the Holy Father in choosing a new bishop and shepherd for the diocese of Cleveland.

For our President and all elected government representatives, may the Holy Spirit grant them wisdom and guide them to promote authentic and lasting peace in the world, an end to terrorism, respect for religious freedom, and a greater reverence for the sanctity of Human Life.

That the power of Christ’s resurrection may overcome all oppression, prejudice, hatred, addiction and injustice. For those most profoundly impacted by the coronavirus, for the healing of all the sick. For those who selflessly labor for the good of others, for the safety of first responders and medical care workers, police and firefighters. For the protection of all those who serve in our nation’s military, and for all wounded servicemen and women, for all those widowed and orphaned because of war.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for the deceased members of our family, friends, and parish, for those who have fought and died for our freedom, and For the deceased members of  the Masters, Tomasetti & McIlvain families for whom this mass is offered.

Gracious Father, hear the prayers of your pilgrim Church, grant us your grace and lead us to the glory of your kingdom, through Christ Our Lord.

Memorial Day 2019 - The Souls of the Just

On May 5, 1868, In his capacity as commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, General John A. Logan issued a proclamation calling for "Decoration Day" to be observed annually and nationwide, a practice which had already begun in the south. Where Veteran’s Day, in November, honors those veterans who survived their time of service. The purpose of memorial day is to honor our war dead.

Memorial Day asks us to ponder an important question: what do the living owe the dead? Especially if we believe that the dead served us, offered up, as Lincoln once described, “the final measure of devotion, of fidelity.” What do we owe them?

We are quickly becoming a society unable to remember history, disconnected from our roots, set loose from the lessons that our ancestors learned. So, on behalf of those who are so quickly forgetting, we remember those today who are most worth remembering: those who died for us.

The Roman Missal does not have particular prayers and Scripture readings for Memorial Day.  But for this Mass, I chose today prayers and Scriptural readings for the faithful departed. From the book of wisdom we hear of God’s promise to the just. That in eternity not torment shall touch them. The Lord in his most famous sermon, the beatitudes also speaks of eternal reward for those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

We remember our heroes today—those who hungered and thirsted for justice, enough to die for it—and not just justice and peace for themselves, but for future generations.

Today we also recall our duty to not let their sacrifices go in vain. And we commit to not wasting the freedom they died for, we commit to fighting against tyranny and injustice in our own day, and remembering the lessons of the past.

With a spirit of profound gratitude for all who made it possible for us to be here today, we pray for our beloved war dead, and pray that we may, like them, hunger and thirst and work for justice and peace for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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Let us pray to our Heavenly Father, confident that He is generous to those who call upon Him with faith.
For Pope Francis, Bishop Nelson, and all the bishops: may they rightly lead the Body of Christ in faithfulness to all the Lord teaches and commands.
For our President and all elected government representatives, may the Holy Spirit grant them wisdom and guide them to promote authentic and lasting peace in the world, an end to terrorism, respect for religious freedom, and a greater reverence for the sanctity of Human Life.
For the protection of all those who serve in our nation’s military, and for all wounded servicemen and women, for all those widowed and orphaned because of war.
For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for the deceased members of our family, friends, and parish, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom for whom this mass is offered.
Gracious Father, hear the prayers of your pilgrim Church, grant us your grace and lead us to the glory of your kingdom, through Christ Our Lord.