August 29 2025 - The Passion of Saint John the Baptist - The Precursor

St. John the Baptist plays a prominent role every year in our Advent preparations for Christmas. John is the great preparer, proclaiming “Prepare Ye, the way of the Lord.” John is a precursor or forerunner for the Lord in a number of ways.

The angel Gabriel told Zechariah that John would go before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord.” So, John’s very conception and birth were oriented to his role as Jesus’ herald.

John’s ministry of preaching and baptism prepared people for Jesus’ ministry. “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I…he will baptized with the Holy Spirit and with fire”

Today, we read the Gospel of John’s martyrdom. In his martyrdom, he foreshadows Christ’s own suffering and death. Just as he heralded Christ’s birth, he also precedes Him in dying unjustly at the hands of corrupt rulers.

The Old Testament prophets foretold how a Precursor would precede the coming of the Lord. Speaking through Malachi God said, “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me.” Jesus himself references this prophecy about John as the forerunner.

St. Augustine, whose feast we celebrated yesterday, spoke about John as the forerunner and precursor. Augustine wrote, “John was the voice, but the Lord is the Word. John is a friend, but the Lord is the Bridegroom. John was placed at the frontier of both Testaments: he pointed out the coming Christ, and by dying before Him, he was His precursor in death.”

So it is clear, through scripture and the Church Fathers that God made John the Forerunner, but WHY? Why did God choose to act this why? He didn’t need a forerunner, yet he chose to arrange salvation history in this way.

All throughout salvation history, God prepares before He acts. Before the Flood, God prepared Noah by warning him and telling him to build the ark. Before the giving of the Ten Commandments, the people were to prepare themselves through consecrations, washing, and abstaining. Before David is made King, Samuel is sent to anoint David. Before serious judgments like the Babylonian exile, God sends prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel to call Israel to repentance.

God gives us a chance to ready ourselves, to turn our attention to the activity of God. God is no doubt preparing each of us right now for something later. God prepares us for heavy crosses by sending us little ones first. God prepares us to teach the faith, by giving us opportunities to learn it ourselves. God prepares us for acts of generosity, by blessing us with good things now, so we can give them away later. God prepares us to be the saints of the 21^st century, by drawing us to honor the saintly witnesses of those who have gone before us.

May we prepare well for all that God has in store for us, through repentance, and study, and gratitude for our blessings, and readiness to serve his Holy Will for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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With trust in God’s great providence, we entrust our needs for the good of the Church and the world.

For the Church: That, like St. John the Baptist, she may always prepare the world to receive Christ by proclaiming the truth with courage and humility.

For world leaders and rulers: That they may govern with justice and integrity, and not follow the example of Herod who shed innocent blood, but instead protect the dignity of every human life.

For those who suffer persecution or injustice: That, they may remain steadfast in faith and know the consolation of God’s presence.

For those experiencing any kind of hardship or sorrow, isolation, addiction, or disease: may they know God’s strength and peace and the assistance of the Christian people.

For our beloved dead, especially those who bore witness to Christ in their lives: That, like John the Baptist, they may rejoice to behold the Bridegroom in eternal life.

God our Father, you sent St. John the Baptist as the forerunner of your Son, to prepare a people fit for the Lord. Hear our prayers and prepare us by your grace for the glory of eternal life. Through Christ our Lord.

 

 

12th Week in Ordinary Time 2025 - Wednesday - Authentic vs. False Prophets

Yesterday, we celebrated the birth of the great prophet of the Lord, St. John the Baptist. 

Sometimes we think of a prophet as one who can foretell the future. But that is not really the biblical understanding of the role of the prophet. Rather, a prophet is one who has the ability to point to the Truth in the present. 

In today’s Gospel, the Lord Jesus warns his followers to beware of false prophets. “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them.” If true prophets point us to truth, false prophets lead us away from the truth.

John the Baptist was a true prophet because he pointed to the truth that Jesus is the Lamb of God, the Son of God. John was a true prophet because he called people to acknowledge the truth that they had sinned and needed a Savior.

False prophets do the opposite. Ultimately, they point us a way from Jesus. But often, they do so subtly. They say, follow your feelings. It’s your body, you can do whatever you want with it. You don’t need a Savior, you’re fine just the way we are. 

False prophets absolutely permeate our culture. “By their fruits you will know them.”  We see the fruits of these false prophets all around us: broken marriages, the destruction of unborn life, widespread confusion about gender identity, addiction, corruption in government and institutions, ignorance of Scripture, and falling away from right religion. These are not the signs of God’s kingdom, but of a world led astray by voices that do not speak for Christ.

Now, the Lord issues this warning to his followers because he knows that we have a tendency to gravitate toward voices who tell us what we want to hear, that encourage us to justify giving in to temptation and deviating from the path of righteousness because righteousness is hard, bearing the cross is hard.

But, as followers of Jesus, we must cling to the true and the good even when it is difficult. We must form our minds through prayer, Scripture, and sound teaching, so that we may not be deceived. 

Let us pray for wisdom, courage, and fidelity, that we may recognize the true voice of the Shepherd and reject the lies that lead to ruin, and help others to do the same, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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Let us turn to the one true Shepherd, Jesus Christ, and offer our prayers with hearts open to truth and grace.

For the Church throughout the world: That she may continue to form faithful prophets who speak the truth of Christ with boldness and compassion in every age.

For leaders in government, education, and media: That they may act with integrity and resist the temptation to mislead or manipulate, always seeking the good of those they serve.

For those led astray by the confusion and moral darkness of our time: That through prayer, sound teaching, and Christian witness, they may come to know the truth that sets us free in Christ.

For the sick, the poor, and the suffering: That they may be comforted by the presence of Christ and supported by the love and prayers of His faithful disciples.

For the faithful departed: That having followed the voice of the Good Shepherd in this life, they may be welcomed into eternal peace and joy.

Father of truth and mercy, grant our prayers and all that we need remain faithful to your Son in all things. Through the same Christ our Lord.

June 24 2025 - The Nativity of St. John the Baptist - The breaking of divine silence

 When the Church celebrates the feast day of a saint, we are usually celebrating the day of the saint’s death. For example the feast of the martyr St. Charles Lwanga earlier this month was on June 3, because St. Charles was martyred on June 3, 1886.

Only three times during the year does the Church celebrate a birthday: for Jesus, for His mother…and for John the Baptist. So, the Baptist is certainly in illustrious company. That we celebrate his birthday serves to remind us just how important John is to our salvation history. Scripture doesn’t tell us of the birth of Mary or Joseph or any of the evangelists. But it records the events surrounding the birth of John.

And why? Because John’s birth marks the beginning of a great turning point in salvation history. John’s birth signals that God is on the move—that His promises, long awaited, are now being fulfilled. For roughly 400 years—since the last of the Old Testament prophets, Malachi—no new prophetic word had come to Israel. The voice of God seemed silent. The people clung to the promises of old, but many wondered if the Lord still spoke to His people.

The silence of God’s voice among His people is symbolized by the muteness of Zechariah in today’s Gospel. But with the birth of John, Zechariah’s tongue is loosened. 

John’s birth represents the breaking of the divine silence, and John’s voice will be the first prophetic voice heard in centuries: “Prepare the way of the Lord.” He will stand in the desert the last and greatest of the prophets, and the one who will point out the Messiah Himself: “Behold the Lamb of God.” John heralds the coming of God’s Word made flesh: the definitive Word of God, the perfect fulfillment of all of God’s promises—Jesus Christ. 

Today, we fittingly herald that there are 183 days until Christmas. And the best way to prepare for Christmas, and for the coming of the Lord at the end of time, is to spend our days like John, whose entire life was aimed at pointing to Christ, to the Lamb. 

May we, like John, be heralds of the Gospel every day—in our words, our activities, our moral decisions, in our prayer. May we decrease, so that Christ may increase in us, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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As we celebrate the birth of St. John the Baptist, the great forerunner of Christ, let us turn to God in prayer, asking for the grace to follow John's example and prepare the way for the Lord in our hearts and in the world.

For the holy Church of God: That she may, like St. John the Baptist, boldly proclaim the coming of Christ and prepare the hearts of all people to receive Him.

For the leaders of nations and all in authority: That they may listen for the voice of truth, seek justice and peace, and govern with integrity for the common good.

For all who feel as though God is silent in their lives: That the example of Zechariah and the birth of John may increase their faith.

5. For the sick, the poor, and the suffering: That the light of Christ may shine through the darkness of their afflictions, and that they may be comforted by the love of God and the care of others.

For the faithful departed: That, having prepared the way for Christ in this life, they may be welcomed into the joy of His eternal Kingdom.

Heavenly Father, You sent St. John the Baptist to prepare the way for Your Son. Hear the prayers we offer on this joyful feast, and grant that we, too, may prepare Your way with faith, courage, and love. 

June 24 2024 - Nativity of St. John the Baptist - The prophetic role of Christians

When the Church celebrates the feast day of a saint, we are usually celebrating the anniversary of the saint’s death.  

But the Church also celebrates the days of nativity—the birthday— of three persons: Jesus, of course, on the feast we call Christmas; the Blessed Virgin Mary, on September 8th, nine months after the feast of her Immaculate Conception; and Saint John the Baptist.  

St. John the Baptist is fittingly honored and contemplated by the Church, certainly for the great role he played in salvation history. 

In the second reading from the book of Acts, we heard how St. Paul elaborated on the role of John. Paul explained that “John heralded” the coming of the Savior. His was the lone voice in the wilderness pointing others to Christ. 

In this way, John fulfilled the role of prophet. Like the prophets of old, John called Israel to repentance in preparation for the coming of the Messiah. Isaiah called Israel to “Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good.” Jeremiah urged Israel, “return, faithless Israel” to the Lord, for God is merciful.  Ezekiel preached “repent and turn from your transgressions” for God desires “not the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live”

And this was John’s message, repent, wash yourselves, the Messiah is coming. In this way John was prophetic, in the biblical sense. And since John was active just before and during the early part of Jesus' ministry, this makes him chronologically the last prophet. With Jesus' arrival, the need for prophets to foretell his coming was no longer necessary.

But the Church rightly teaches that every baptized member of the Church has a prophetic role in the world. Each of us in our own way are to point others to Christ. John, in a sense, is a special patron of all Christians. We are all to learn from him, and imitate him, in witnessing in word and conduct of life, that Jesus is the Messiah, and that all people are to turn away from sin and follow him.

The Baptist practiced self-denial—living in the wilderness, wearing camel's hair, eating locusts and wild honey—for himself to spiritually prepare for the prophetic ministry God planned for him. So, too, each of us does well to intentionally take on some form of Christian asceticism, as a way of being mindful and ready to do the Lord’s work. Our Friday penitential abstinence from meat or other penance is one form of that ongoing ascetism of the Christian life that fuels us and keeps us focused. 

John fearlessly confronted King Herod Antipas about his unlawful marriage. He was fearless. He was holy. He was humble. His life was centered on Christ. May ours be the same…for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

 

For the Church, that like John the Baptist, we may boldly proclaim Christ in word and deed, and that all of the baptized may live out their prophetic calling with zeal and dedication.

For world leaders, that following John's example of standing up to corruption, they may be aligned with the will of God in their duties. 

That prophetic voices in our time may be heard and heeded as they call us to repentance and renewal in our personal and communal lives. 

For our parish community, that we may embrace our prophetic role, witnessing to Christ's love and mercy in our families, workplaces, and neighborhoods.

For those who face persecution for their faith, that they may be strengthened by the example of John the Baptist's unwavering commitment to God's truth. 

For all who have died, especially those who, like John, have given their lives in witness to the truth. May they rejoice forever in the presence of the Lamb of God

God our Father, you sent John the Baptist to prepare the way for your Son. Hear our prayers and help us to follow John's example of humility and courage as we strive to make Christ known in our world. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

May 31 2022 - Visitation of Blessed Virgin Mary - Pro-life Joy and Compassion

 

On the final day of this Marian Month of May, we celebrate the joyful feast of the Visitation, a celebration of life. 

For me, today’s Gospel is one of the great Pro-Life passages from scripture. We heard today, John dancing and leaping in the womb of Elizabeth like David joyfully dancing before the Ark of the Covenant when he first encounters his unborn cousin, Jesus, only days old in the womb of Mother Mary.

The infant John the Baptist in his mother’s womb is a powerful pro-life model for us, as John recognizes that Jesus was truly human from the moment of his conception and he leaps for joy over life. Some might claim that it is “above their paygrade” when human life exists. But both Scripture and modern science are clear that human life begins at conception. And we therefore have a duty to reverence it, to protect it, to rejoice over it. 

Mary, going in haste, to help the pregnant, elderly, Elizabeth, models for us that even overwhelmed with burdens of our own, we are all to have a special care for pregnant mothers, especially pregnant mothers in difficult circumstances. We are to devote to them our time, talent, and treasure in helping them nurture and bring-forth life.

Mary would also stay with Elizabeth until the birth her baby, accompanying her through childbirth, and through those difficult days as a first-time mother. Mary reminds us to have a special care for mothers and children throughout pregnancy and afterwards as well.

The Second Vatican Council, in its Decree on the Church in the Modem World, Gaudium et spes, reiterated the Church's ancient and consistent teaching that “from the first moment of conception life must be guarded with the greatest care while abortion and infanticide are unspeakable crimes” His Holiness, Pope Francis, in keeping with his predecessors, has likewise been quite clear and emphatic in teaching on the dignity of human life in the womb.

Compassion and joy fill those who embrace Church teaching on reverence for life, and who engage in what Pope Francis calls “self-forgetful service of our neighbor” and the needs of the poor in the works of mercy.

May the heavenly intercession of St. John, St. Elizabeth, and Holy Mary and the life and grace of Our Lord help restore reverence and care for human life and make us self-forgetful in charity, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That the leaders and members of the Church may fulfill with joy their calling to proclaim, celebrate, and serve the Gospel of Life.

That God may protect all unborn babies, and keep them safe from the scourge of abortion, and for the safety and welfare of all pregnant mothers, and that all mothers and fathers will know the assistance of the Christian Church in nurturing and raising their children. 

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 23 2020 - E-R-O C-R-A-S

 

Just two days prior to Christmas, we read from the prophet Malachi. Malachi was the last of the Old Testament Prophets. Like Isaiah and Jeremiah before him, Malachi foretold how a Savior would come to redeem us and usher in the kingdom of God’s peace.

He also spoke of the events that would occur just prior to the arrival of the Messiah. There would be a forerunner to prepare his way, a messenger to point out to God’s people that the Messiah is coming soon. And in the Gospel, we read about the birth of the forerunner, John, who would preach from the banks of the Jordan, calling Israel to repent, to prepare their hearts for the imminent arrival of the Savior.

The final O Antiphon today sings of the Messiah as Emmanuel, the awaited Savior of the nations. All the nations of the earth look for him and long for him. Christians among every nation on the planet prepares today for the celebration of the Saviors birth. But also, the antiphon is saying that even those who do not believe in Christ, still long for him—they are looking for him in all the wrong places, worshiping false idols, engaging in immoral actions which are unfulfilling substitutes for right worship. And so Christians, like John the Baptist, have this mission, this duty to announce to the nations that the One whom they long for, his Christ. And judging how hard headed and obstinate the current generation seems—we need to be clear and persevering and also subtle and creative in this mission.

That’s why I love singing those O Antiphons, they are clear of who the Messiah is and what he comes to do. But there is also a subtle hidden meaning inside the O Antiphons. If you take the first letter of each of those latin titles for the Messiah – S for Sapientia, the wisdom of God, A for Adonai, R for Radix, the Root of Jesse, C for Clavis, the Key of David, O for Oriens, the rising star, R for Rex, the King of the Nations, and E for Emmanuel, and then you reverse the order, the letters spell out the words Ero Cras—which means—I will be here tomorrow. Creative and Clear at the same time, just like we are supposed to be, in announcing the coming of the Messiah, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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Please respond to each of these petitions, “Come Lord Jesus”

May Christ, the Wisdom which comes from the mouth of God, guide us in knowledge and love.

May Christ, Adonai, leader of the House of Israel, bring deliverance to all of the oppressed.

May Christ, the Root of Jesse, come to the aid of nations and leaders of nations to walk in the ways of peace.

May Christ, Key of David, free all those captive to sin. 

May Christ, the Morning Star, enlighten those who dwell in the shadow of death.

May Christ, King of the Nations, reconcile all divisions caused by sin.

May Christ, Emmanuel, God with us, bring comfort to all those who mourn, and salvation to N. 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.

 

2nd Sunday of Advent 2020 - Advent Courage

Above the front steps of our beautiful church are statues of the four Gospel writers: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Do you know which one is which? You can indeed tell them apart by the symbols associated with them. St. John, is depicted with the eagle, because his Gospel begins soaring in the heavens, “in the beginning was the word, and the word was God, and the word was with God”…in heaven. The symbol for the Gospel of Luke is an ox, because Luke’s Gospel begins with the story of Zechariah, the Levitical priest, who would offer such oxen as sacrifices in the Temple. The symbol for Matthew is a human or a human face because Matthew’s Gospel begins with the human genealogy of Our Lord—Matthew traces the human generations of the Lord all the way back to Abraham. The symbol for Mark also derives from the beginning of his Gospel. Mark’s symbol is a lion because his Gospel begins, as we heard moments ago, with the voice in the wilderness roaring out like a lion, the call to prepare the way for the Lord. 

Remember, St. Mark was originally writing his Gospel to the ancient Romans—who valued symbols and persons of strength. So, the lion, a symbol of boldness, fierceness, courage, strength, sovereignty, and justice, would have resonated with Mark’s Roman audience, especially this bold character whom we meet in the Gospel’s opening lines: John the Baptist, this sort of ferocious character, this wild man roaring the call to repentance out in the desert.

John, is fierce, he’s courageous. He doesn’t fear the opinions of onlookers who might ridicule him for the way that he was dressed; he doesn’t fear the repercussions for boldly proclaiming that the Messiah was near. Later in the Gospel, we find John the Baptist boldly calling out the sinful adultery of King Herod. And he arrives on the scene to point to one who is even mightier than him, who will baptize, not with water, but with fire and the holy spirit.

So, on this second Sunday of Advent, we are presented with this bold, courageous lion, John the Baptist, as a figure to consider and emulate.

I don’t know about you, but the characteristics, I typically associate with Advent are attitudes like patience, passivity, waiting, calmness, and peace. And yet, I propose, that each of us, could use a little bit of the spirit of the lion, John the Baptist, in our Advent preparations.

Last, Sunday, Pope Francis convoked a consistory in which he created 11 new cardinals, and of course he preached to them, giving the new cardinals their marching orders. And in his homily, the holy father spoke about how Christian courage is an important antidote to the mediocrity, lukewarmness, and indifference which threaten the Christian life. He said, “Without making an effort to love God daily and awaiting the newness he constantly brings, we become mediocre, lukewarm, worldly. And this slowly eats away at our faith, for faith is the very opposite of mediocrity:  it is ardent desire for God, a bold effort to change, the courage to love, constant progress…Faith is not water that extinguishes flames, it is fire that burns; it is not a tranquilizer for people under stress, it is a love story for people in love. That is why Jesus above all else detests lukewarmness.”

Again, think of that symbol of the lion. A lion is anything but mediocre, lukewarm. He’s fierce, he’s bold, he’s not timid or tamed or constricted by the ways of the world. 

So, too, the Christian is to be a sort of lion: bold in our proclamation of the Gospel, and courageous in pursuing the love of God in our personal life. 

In addition to his remarks to the new cardinals, Pope Francis spoke about Advent courage in his Sunday Angelus message. He said “Confidently waiting for the Lord allows us to find comfort and courage in the dark moments of our lives…“The Lord never abandons us; He accompanies us through the events of our lives to help us discover the meaning of the journey, the meaning of everyday life, to give us courage when we are under duress or when we suffer. In the midst of life’s storms, God always extends His hand to us and frees us from threats.”

Now, a lion is courageous and bold because, well, he is at the top of the food chain, isn’t he? His physical prowess is superior to the other beasts. So, notice what the holy father says is the source of our Christian courage—certainly not physical strength, rather the source of our courage is that the Lord accompanies us every day, always and everywhere. 

John the Baptist boldly proclaimed Christ because he was guided by the hand of God. God had chosen him, and he knew God was with him for this special mission.

So, too with us. In resisting those powers of darkness that seek to lull us into spiritual slumber, we are able to take courage because God is with us. God has chosen us and called us to boldly proclaim the Gospel in this very strange era of 2020. How do you know that you can overcome the temptations of your life? Because you’re a Christian. How do you know that you can remain faithful to God in these most complex, confusing times? Because you are a Christian. And God is with you.

In a very real sense, we light the candles of our advent wreath, not simply to count weeks before Christmas, but as a reminder that we need to be set on fire. Beyond gentle images of beautiful angels, lowing cattle, and an expectant mother, these first weeks of Advent present us with these bold characters like Isaiah and John the Baptist, to help set us afire with courage. And so, we do well to examine…where have I become spiritually lukewarm, spiritually mediocre, spiritually lazy, spiritually fearful? 

In the collect prayer at the beginning of mass last week, we asked God to give us the resolve to run forth to meet Christ at his coming. And this week’s collect prayer spoke of setting out in haste to meet God’s son. 

Spiritual Resolve, haste, courage, boldness, do you see these characteristics in your spiritual life? If not, make good use of the time you have left. Run forth with righteous deeds, resolving daily to engage in acts of charity for others, yet boldly set aside time daily to run forth to meet Christ in prayer, and courageously examine your conscience for any sins that need to be repented of, or confessed in the Sacrament of Confession, and do not be afraid, like John the Baptist, to appear a little strange to the rest of the world, in bravely pointing others to God for the glory of God and salvation of souls. 

2nd Sunday of OT 2020 - "Behold the Lamb"

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”

That phrase, that title, “Lamb of God” evokes a number of ancient biblical ideas.

Firstly, in the Old Covenant, twice a day, on behalf of the nation of Israel, priests would sacrifice a lamb to God. The sacrifice of the lamb was prescribed by Moses as a way of asking God to forgive the sins of the world. As a way of recognizing that God and God alone has the power to forgive sins.

Secondly, that phrase “lamb of God” recalls the Jewish Passover feast. Once a year, on the feast of Passover, not just the priests, but every family, would sacrifice a lamb to recall their liberation from Egypt in the days of Moses. Remember the story? While enslaved in Egypt, God called for the Hebrew people to put the blood of a lamb on their doorposts, that the Angel of Death might Pass-over their homes. Thus the Passover lamb signified God’s powerful and salvific love, his mercy for the oppressed.

Thirdly, the lamb going silently and docilely to be slaughtered is one of the images used to describe the Messiah by the prophets, particularly Isaiah. The Messiah, faithful and docile to God’s Plan of Salvation, would take Israel’s sins upon himself. He would become the expiation through his obedient suffering.

Fourthly, the “lamb of God” evokes an even older story than Isaiah’s prophecy, a story even older than the Exodus. In the story of Abraham, leading his son Isaac up mount Moriah. Abraham had heard God calling him to offer a sacrifice, to show his trust, and love, and fidelity. And As Abraham and Isaac climb Mt. Moriah, Isaac asks Abraham, “father, where is the lamb” and Abraham responds, “God will provide the lamb”. Upon reaching the summit of Moriah, Abraham binds Isaac, his beloved son. And with sacrificial knife raised, God stopped the knife of Abraham. God did not desire the death of Isaac, but rather, would Himself provide the lamb. And so for centuries and centuries Israel awaited God to provide the lamb.

So, imagine, the electricity, the excitement, when John the Baptist on the banks of the river Jordan in front of hundreds if not thousands of people, sees Jesus, and says, there is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world”. A people who had waited season after season, year after year, century after century, asking, like Isaac, “Father, where is the lamb?”

And for John the utter those words, to this people, who hoped and waited and understood the significance, must have been…an ineffable experience, touching upon Israel’s deepest longings and understanding of God.

And that we have adopted this phrase, and repeat it so often during our liturgy, is quite significant. St. John the Baptist’s inspired exhortation echoes throughout our sacred liturgical rites. Jesus is called the “lamb of God” near the beginning of Mass in the Gloria, that song of the angels proclaiming God breaking in to human history. Before we receive Holy Communion, three times, the congregation sings “lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world”, expressing our longing for him, for the mercy and peace that only He can bring. And then the priest holds up the consecrated host and consecrated chalice and says, “behold, the lamb of God”, here He is, look at him, behold him, here is the one who takes away our sins under the appearance of bread and wine.

Our use of that phrase recalls all of those Old Testament stories and our belief that Jesus Christ fulfills what the Old Covenant foreshadowed. For when we celebrate Mass, we become present in that moment when God provides the lamb, as foretold in the story of Abraham and Isaac. We become present when the faithful lamb takes the sins of the world upon himself, and suffers death for our salvation, as prophecied by Isaiah. We become present when the blood of the lamb is shed, that the powers of death might Passover God’s people that they might be led out of slavery to the powers of sin and death, as in the Exodus story.

When we celebrate Mass we are mystically present on Calvary, on a Friday, strangely called, “Good Friday”, when the lamb hangs upon the Cross. When we are gathered for Mass at the foot of the altar, we become mystically present at the foot of the cross, as the lamb of God offers himself to God.

Yet, not only do we behold him, not only do we gaze upon him with love and thanksgiving, and praise him and honor the Lamb for his sacrifice. “Blessed are those called to the supper of the lamb”. The lamb sacrificed for the Passover was to be consumed. And so we receive the Lamb of God at Mass, broken and poured out for us, we consume him, so that as St. Augustine says, “we may become what we receive.”

On the shores of Galilee, after his resurrection, the risen Lord tells Peter, “Peter, feed my lambs”. The Lord refers to us as lambs, hungry lambs who need to be fed. We are hungry for God, we are hungry for the spiritual nourishment that only he can bring, the peace that only he can give, not as the world gives, but as he gives. We long to know that he is with us, that we are not abandoned to the uncaring coldness of the world, but we receive from God what we need in order to come to eternal life.

And we are fed at the Eucharistic Table, again, that we may become what we receive, that we may become like the one True Lamb in Spirit and Truth. We worship the Lamb, we receive Him, that we may become like Him. That his heart, obedient to the Father, may beat in our breasts, that his faith, his trust in the father’s will, his willingness to suffer for the good of others, may animate us. We fall prostrate before the Lamb, that we like him may be broken and poured out for others, for the building up of the church, for the spread of the Gospel, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

12th Week in OT 2019 - Wednesday - Beware of false prophets

On Monday we celebrated the nativity of a true prophet, John the Baptist. The biblical understanding of a prophet, isn’t someone who can foretell the future, but rather, someone who has the ability to point to the Truth in the present. John the Baptist was a true prophet because he pointed to the truth that Jesus is the Lamb of God, the Son of God, the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. He called people to acknowledge the truth that they had sinned and needed a savior.

In pointing to the truth, the true prophet often challenges people, pushing them beyond complacency; his message often contains words that people do not want to hear. John was prophetic when he pointed out to the truth of the moral error of Herod, having married his brother’s wife. For this he was arrested and killed. The prophet often knows the consequences for his message. But preaches it anyway because the message comes from God.

We hear from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount today, his warning for his followers to beware of false prophets. “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them.”

If true prophets point us to truth, false prophets preach, what St. Paul calls, “an empty seductive philosophy.”  Where the prophets teach us to bear our crosses, the false prophets urge us to lay them down when they get too heavy, and that IS seductive. Where true prophets point us to faithful practice of our God-given religion, false prophets will water down the faith, seek to recreate the Church according to the principles of the world.

“By their fruits you will know them” and look at the fruits of the false prophets: broken marriages, abortion, sexual perversion, corruption in government, biblical and doctrinal illiteracy, grievously low church attendance, the dehumanization of the poor, drug and alcohol addiction, and what St. John Paul called the "loss of the sense of sin." 

Are there, and have there been false shepherds in the Church? Yes. Our Lord warns us to beware the false prophets in every age. So, we properly guard ourselves against false prophets by studying the Word of God, studying Church doctrine, studying the lives and writings of the saints, the Church fathers, forming our minds through the Truth to detect the false Gospel.

Not to be completely dour, we need to remember that the good fruit of Christ certainly flourishes in our midst as well.  The seeds of sanctity are nourished by authentic Catholic worship, authentic devotion, prayer, authentic Christian education, use of the sacrament of confession, the holy works of mercy.  Christianity does flourish—Christians in our parish and diocese are experiencing the real joy of knowing Christ, and they are coming to that joy not through the watered-down, seductive religion of the false prophets, but through the Truth of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Faith.

May we be discerning of false teaching in our midst, may we protect the younger generations from following the false shepherds of the present age, may we help them to know the One teacher and Lord of Life, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That Pope Francis and all the clergy may witness to the truth of the Gospel faithfully, courageously, and compassionately.

For the protection of the unborn, and that people of goodwill will work together to enshrine the protection of the unborn in law and in the hearts of all.

For the conversion of those who do not believe in God, for Catholics who have left the Church, those guilty of heresy or schism, and for a return to the sacraments of those who have fallen into serious sin.

For the sick and afflicted, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, for victims of natural disaster,  those who suffer from war, violence, and terrorism, all victims of abuse, especially children, 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, for the repose of the soul of St. Joseph Father Larry Tosco, and for N. 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.

2nd Sunday of Advent 2018 - Prepare the Way through Sacramental Confession

At my first parish assignment at St. Columbkille in Parma, concluding Mass every Christmas, the choir would break into a full-voiced, exultant rendition of the Halleluiah chorus—a song praising Christ as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The well-known Halleluiah chorus is just one movement of George Frideric Handel’s Messiah oratorio—which begins, not with loud jubilation, but rather softly—with single voices, singing verses from the prophet Isaiah. Music lovers and aficionado’s would probably tell you that you can barely begin to really appreciate the Halleluiah chorus, only when you’ve allowed those soft melodies to lead you to that point.

Similarly, with Christmas as a whole. Advent is very subtle and soft season, only with hints of Christmas jubilation. Primarily next week, the third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday is rather jubilant, but most of Advent is quiet and reflective. In fact, those eight days before Christmas, beginning December 17, are especially solemn and quiet. We call those days late Advent or deep Advent, like the deep of night during which Christ was born.

Advent beckons to us to seek Christ in the quiet, to listen to the voice crying out in the desert, as we heard in the Gospel today. Many of our contemporaries seek to “get in the Christmas spirit” by listening to Christmas music piped over department store speakers, but Christians prepare for Christmas best, not by way of the bombardment of the senses, but with the contemplation of messages nearly drowned out by modern noise—the promise of God’s desire to come to souls who wait in expectant longing.

What was the message of the voice crying out in the solitude and quiet of the wilderness, in the Gospel today? It was a message of repentance, the call to conversion, to seek the Lord’s help in straightening the crooked parts of our life.

St. John the Baptist preached a message of repentance. The Greek word for repentance, you’ve probably heard before is Metanoia. Metanoia involves a change of heart, a change of mind, a willingness to change one’s life, a willingness to hand over to God the coldness, the impatience, the lust, the self-centeredness that always seeks to take root in us.

Jesus wants to live in you and reign in you.  What’s the obstacle to that?  Us, our sin and our selfishness. How do we open the pathways of our life best to Christ? Through the Sacrament, Christ himself has given us. In the Sacrament of Confession we seek that Metanoia, that change, that encounter with Christ that changes us forever.

As you will read in my bulletin column this week, I will be increasing the availability of the Sacrament of Confession for this season and for the indefinite future. Confessions will be available for a whole hour on Saturdays, from 3:30 to 4:30, and also in between the Sunday morning masses. Additionally, our area’s annual communal penance service will be on Tuesday, December 11 at 7pm at St. Mel’s.

If it’s been more than a few months since your last confession, it’s time! Make a good thorough examination of your conscience, an examination of your life in light of the 10 commandments and all the teachings of Christ and the Church. Allow the Holy Spirit to help you identify some of those crooked parts of your life, that parts God desires to convert and transform.

Envy, callousness, pride, all these things threaten God’s life in us—these attitudes drive out the life of God in us, and confession prepares our hearts for God to once again dwell and live and reign. Confession banishes darkness and reignites the light of Christ in our souls dimmed through venial sin or extinguished through mortal sin.

God is so eager to wash us and purify us in the Sacrament.  And Advent is the time the Church eagerly runs toward encounters with God. Our Collect for this 2nd Sunday put it well, asking God to not allow any earthly undertaking to hinder us in setting out in haste to meet God’s Son. What an important prayer, as so many people are running toward Christ but, in all honesty, running away from him.

In the confessional, we receive a comfort that nothing in the world can possibly provide. The comfort, the consolation and the joy of hearing from the priest that our sins are absolved. We cannot absolve ourselves, though many try. But, unabsolved guilt will always eat at us until it is absolved, through the means Christ instituted. So, the sooner we go to confession the better. The fear, perhaps, of confessing an embarrassing sin cannot compare to the relief we receive when that sin is confessed.
To hear those quiet, subtle words, I absolve you from your sins…your sins are forgiven…are probably the most consoling words we can hear this side of eternity. For they are a true sign of God’s love for us and his mercy. I don’t know about you, but I’ve often emerged from confession wanting to sing the Halleluiah chorus myself. The angels are certainly rejoicing, for as the Lord himself taught, there is more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine who do not repent.

We willingly undergo acts of repentance, we seek to make straight the paths of our lives so that not only we can walk in the ways of righteousness, but so Christ, the Righteous One may walk the corridors of our lives. He desires to seek out the lost through us, to challenge the complacent and comfort the afflicted through us. And the absolved soul is eminently more hospitable to Christ than the one who does not think he is in need of confession.

I may be belaboring this point, only because I know the Lord wishes to meet many of you in the confessional this Advent. And I hope you respond to his invitation.

For there is no greater way to prepare our hearts, minds, and souls for Christmas, than by taking seriously the call to Advent conversion, metanoia. that in the words of our second reading today: “you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God” and the salvation of souls.

May 31 2018 - Feast of the Visitation - Pro-life witness of the Gospels

On the final day of this Marian Month of May, we celebrate the joyful feast of the Visitation, a celebration of life.

For me, today’s Gospel is one of the great Pro-Life passages from scripture. We heard today, John dancing and leaping in the womb of Elizabeth like David joyfully dancing before the Ark of the Covenant when he first encounters his unborn cousin, Jesus, only days old in the womb of Mother Mary.

John is a powerful pro-life model for John recognizes that Jesus was truly human from the moment of his conception. Some might claim that it is “above their paygrade” when human life exists. But Scripture and modern science show that human life begins at conception. And we therefore have a duty to reverence it, to protect it, to rejoice over it.

Mary, too, is a powerful pro-life figure. For even with the great burdens she now faced, she goes in haste, to help the pregnant, elderly, Elizabeth. Mary is a pro-life model for us all, showing us that we even with all the burdens we face, we are all to have a special care for pregnant mothers, especially pregnant mothers in difficult circumstances. We are to devote to them our time, talent, and treasure in helping them nurture and bring-forth life.

Mary would also stay with Elizabeth until the birth her baby, accompanying her through childbirth, and through those difficult days as a first-time mother. Mary reminds us to have a special care for mothers and children throughout pregnancy and afterwards as well.

I reflect on the pro-life dimension of this scripture in light of the terribly sad news of Ireland’s vote to overturn its pro-life laws. Only one in three citizens of Ireland voted to protect life. The other two-thirds join the many Americans who see abortion as a solution, as a way of empowering women, as a way to riches and happiness.

But as St. Theresa of Calcutta often taught, “It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you live as you wish… The greatest destroyer of love and peace is abortion, which is war against the child. The mother doesn't learn to love, but kills to solve her own problems. Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want.”

May the heavenly intercession of St. John, St. Elizabeth, and Holy Mary help restore reverence and care for human life, especially the protection of the unborn. May they help us witness to the Gospel of Life for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
 
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That the leaders and members of the Church my fulfill with joy their calling to proclaim, celebrate, and serve the Gospel of Life.
That God may protect all unborn babies, and keep them safe from the scourge of abortion, and for the safety and welfare of all pregnant mothers, and that all mothers and fathers will know the assistance of the Christian Church in nurturing and raising their children.
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 19 2017 - Deliverance from spiritual barrenness

In our readings we see a parallel between the birth of Samson, which began the deliverance of Israel from the Philistines, and the birth of St. John the Baptist, which began the deliverance of all of mankind.

Both Samson and John were consecrated to God from the womb, neither was to drink strong drink, or cut their hair, which is why you often see depictions of John the Baptist out in the wilderness with a long-scraggly mane. Both Samson and John’s mothers suffered from barrenness, an inability to conceive, until the intervention of God.

Samson died because of his mission.  John the Baptist died because of his mission.

Why does the Church give us this pair of stories to reflect upon on this late advent day, in preparation for Christmas.

For one, I think, it helps us to trust that God can and does bring about tremendous fruitfulness in what appears to be barren situations. Both Elizabeth and Samson’s mother,  were barren for decades.

Where there is spiritual barrenness in our world and even in our hearts, at times, God is at work to bring about fruitfulness. Our job is to trust God’s promises, like Elizabeth and Samson's mother.

Secondly, we see God breaking into human lives to begin to deliver his people. God does not drop salvation impersonally out of the sky. His deliverance occurs through the conception of children, in this case Samson and John the Baptizer  These baby boys prepare the way for the birth of another Baby, Jesus.

God sends salvation in incarnate, human packages. So we need to be attentive to the people God has placed in our lives, to help us along the way of holiness, and to recognize that we too are to help others be delivered from their sins, particularly through acts of charity and sharing of the truth of the Gospel.

May we continue to increase our trust in the Lord to bring life to the spiritual barrenness in our world and in our souls and to help us to be his instruments to deliver his people from their sins, 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 God may bring the faithless to believe in His Son and increase the faith of those struggling to believe.

For all expectant mothers and for those who struggle with barrenness, that God may grant them strength and grace.

That children and young people may seek to be consecrated to the Lord in word and deed and become instruments of Christ’s Truth and Love.

That Christ may banish disease, drive out hunger, ward off every affliction, and strengthen all who suffer persecution for the sake of the Gospel.

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.

Friday - 2nd Week of Advent 2017 - Freedom from self-delusion

In yesterday’s Gospel, Jesus proclaimed that “among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist.” He praises John for his humility, his service, his willingness to undergo suffering for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. And then in today’s Gospel, Jesus compare’s John’s attitude, with these noisy, disagreeable children, foolishly parading through the marketplace, mocking Jesus, and missing the point of his presence among them.

Jesus is saying, John gets, but many don’t: John rightly identifies Jesus as the Son of God, others misidentify Jesus as just another charlatan or entertainer; John prepares well for the coming of the Messiah, many remain unprepared, foolishly parading through life, mocking Christ’s message.

This foolishness has continued through the ages, and continues in our own day. Holy Church prepares rightly for the Advent of Christ, the world plays foolish games; Holy Church repents, engages in works of mercy, prayers more fervently, the world acts continues down its road of self-delusion, self-indulgence, and self-destruction.

Yet, there is certainly a challenge for all of us to consider the games we play with God: instead of repenting, instead of praying more fervently, instead of seeking out volunteer service opportunities, what games do we play with God, what excuses do we make?

Our games do not bring peace of soul, gentleness, or joy; they perpetuate restlessness, family division, and addiction. As Jesus says, “Wisdom is vindicated by her works”. God sees through our games, through our self-delusion. But we can be sure that God desires nothing more than to free us from them.

21st century Christians must be very careful, that our attitude towards Advent, our attitude towards Jesus, doesn’t mimic the moral and spiritual laxity of our age, but follows the wisdom of the saints, the humble seriousness of John the Baptist, the solemn surrender of the Blessed Mother.

May our Advent devotions bring us freedom from the foolish and selfish attitudes of our age into a deeper and more authentic faithfulness to the Gospel 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 Advent repentance and devotion may prepare us rightly for Christmas joy.

That our president and all civil servants will carry out their duties with justice, honesty, and respect for the dignity of every human life.  We pray to the Lord.

For the conversion of those who reject Jesus and His Church, those who have fallen into serious sin, and those who have fallen away from the Church.

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 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.

August 29 2017 - The Passion of St. John the Baptist - Marriage Matters

The veneration of John the Baptist has deep roots. Our Lord Himself extols John saying: “among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist.” So when we honor John the Baptist, we follow our Lord’s example.

Why did Our Lord honor John? The Lord extolled him for his courageous witness, his faithfulness to the mission God had given him: preaching repentance, helping souls prepare themselves to accept Christ as Lord. In his preaching mission, John was a precursor to the Lord himself, who preached repentance and faith.

The Baptist’s mission, like Our Lord’s also culminated in a violent death: for speaking the Truth of God, John was beheaded.  John was not ordered to deny Jesus, like so many of the later martyrs, rather, he was ordered to keep silent. Thomas Aquinas explained, “For this reason the Church celebrates the martyrdom of Blessed John the Baptist, who suffered death, not for refusing to deny the faith, but for reproving adultery”

The King had entered into an adulterous relationship, and John publicly condemned this. Even though such relationships are commonplace these days, they are still contrary to the laws of God, the law written into the human heart. Adultery is sinful whether in the 1st century or 21st century.

Like John and like Our Lord, the Church in our time witnesses to the Truth about Marriage. We are attacked for this witness. But we must stand true. For as marriage as an institution disintegrates, so does civilization. Marriage matters: marriages of kings and marriages of peasants, marriages of doctors and lawyers, marriages of construction workers and teachers.

Spouses are called to lifelong fidelity, not only for their own good, the good of their children, but also, the good of society.

Pope Francis recently spoke of the duty of the Church to promote and defend marriage in his recent exhortation: “The Church has always held it part of her mission to promote marriage and the family and to defend them against those who attack them”

How are we called to promote and defend marriage? To certainly pray for happy, healthy, holy marriages, to pray for troubled marriages. The Church is certainly present to spouses in troubled marriages, helping them and guiding them to resources like counseling and marriage retreats to help them work through troubled times. And we speak the truth to those in adulterous relationships and those Catholics who have entered into irregular unions, those married outside the Church. We gently encourage our family members and friends in these relationships to seek to make their lives right with God through the Church.

The Baptist, who suffered greatly, was faithful until the end. His example and his prayers help us to overcome our weaknesses and fears, including our culpable silence, to spread the Truth of the Gospel, for the Glory of God and Salvation of souls.

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For Pope Francis, and all the clergy, and all Christians, that we may witness to the truth of the Gospel faithfully, courageously, and compassionately.

For married couples: that they might give witness to the beauty of their sacrament through their love for each other and in doing so, be an instrument for the conversion of others. And For married couples experiencing difficulties in their relationship: that they may persevere in love and faithfulness to each other.

For healing for all families and children affected by divorce, and for all the divorced who have left the Church, and for those who believe that they no longer have a place in the Church, that they may return and find the compassion and fellowship that awaits them.

For the sick and afflicted, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, for victims of natural disaster, 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.