24th Week in Ordinary Time 2025 - Wednesday - Pillar and foundation of truth (school mass)

 

If someone told you 2 + 2 = 5, would you believe them? Why not? Because you know the truth. Or if someone said the sun is cold, you’d know that’s wrong.

In the first reading today, St. Paul wrote to a young bishop, named Timothy, and explained that the Church—the Church established by Jesus—is the pillar and foundation of truth, meaning the Catholic Church makes sure we don’t get tricked about what is true about God, about love, about how to live rightly in the eyes of God. The Church is like a giant light that shines so we don’t get lost in the dark.

In the Old Testament there is the story of Moses leading the Israelites through the desert on their way to the promised Land. They had to travel hundreds and hundreds of miles, on foot, with no map, no GPS, no google maps to guide them. But God created a pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night to guide them, so they wouldn’t get lost.

St. Paul, in calling the Catholic Church the pillar of truth, certainly wants us to think of that Old Testament story. Like that pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night guiding the Israelites through the desert on their way to the promised land, God has erected the Catholic Church as the pillar of truth, so that we may be guided to the promised land of heaven. 

This is why we have priests and bishops and Popes and trained teachers, who teach us about Jesus and what it means to follow Him. Because God doesn’t want us lost in the desert. He wants us to make our way through this life with clarity about how we are to live, with truth to guide our actions and decisions and behavior. 

So when you come to Mass, when you listen to your teachers, when you read the Bible, the Church is helping you learn the truth about God—the truth that God wants you to know.

For, Jesus didn’t want His truth to get lost or forgotten, so He gave us the Church. And just like that pillar of fire—shining with light in the darkness-- the Church shines with the light of God’s truth for the world that Jesus is real, that He loves us, that he truly is the Son of God, that He saves us, and that He is with us. 

In the Gospel today, Jesus described the people of his generation who turned their backs on the truth about who he was. So, too, in our own generation many people turn their back on God. Nonetheless, we have the responsibility of learning the truth, making God’s truth the foundation of our lives, living the truth, teaching the truth, shining with the truth of God for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

January 26 2022 - Sts. Timothy & Titus - Coworkers in the Vineyard

 Following the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul yesterday, today we commemorate two of Paul’s close co-workers in the vineyard of the Lord: Timothy and Titus.  

Sometimes, when we think of St. Paul, we think of him single-handedly converting Asia Minor and Greece, but not so. Paul had friends, coworkers, companions. 

On his second missionary journey, Paul recruited young Timothy, from his native town of Lystra in Asia Minor. Timothy accompanied Paul, and was trained by him. Paul sent Timothy on two important missions of his own, one to Thessalonica, another to Corinth. Timothy stayed with Paul in prison. Paul also mentions Timothy as cosender of six of his letters: I & II Thessolonians, II Corinthians, Philippians, Philemon, and Colossians. 

When Paul writes to Timothy, he writes as a spiritual father to a spiritual son, yes, one having superior experience and wisdom, but also as a brother and collaborator in the vineyard of the Lord.

Titus was a gentile disciple and close friend of Paul, also accompanying and assisting Paul in his missionary activity.  Titus was with Paul at the Council of Jerusalem, and when Paul was having trouble with the community at Corinth because of community division, erroneous faith and rampant immorality, Paul sent Titus bearing his letter to the Corinthians, and Titus embraced them with the love of the true pastor’s heart.  This was probably one reason, why Paul felt so assured at naming Titus bishop of Crete, which was also riddled with error. He too would be martyred—he was beheaded by his adversaries on Crete in AD 97.

As they shared in the missionary activity of the Church, Timothy and Titus now share a feast day, reminding us all that we share our work in the vineyard of the Lord. Christians are so much more effective in spreading the Gospel when we are working together. 

For, by its very nature, the life of Christian holiness involves a dynamic openness and collaboration with others. The Church exists to give glory to God and to continue Christ’s work of salvation, and this is a communal effort. 

This is one reason why livestreaming Sunday Mass from our couches can never become the norm. Not only are we deprived of the Eucharist, but from gathering together with our brothers and sisters in Christ, who are our collaborators in the vineyard. St. John Paul writes, “communion and mission are profoundly connected with each  other, they interpenetrate and  mutually imply each other to the point that communion represents both the source and the  fruit of mission: communion gives rise to mission and mission is accomplished in communion.”

We should always be open and looking for opportunities to work together for God, bringing our unique gifts to complement the gifts of others. That’s what parish is supposed to be. A place of communal worship and communal mission.

Through the holy example and heavenly intercession of Saints Timothy and Titus and the whole communion of saints, may we be faithful in working together for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That our bishops in union with the Pope, may share a profound zeal for faithful preaching and teaching, stirring up the flame of faith in the life of the Church. Let us pray to the Lord.

That our parish may build up missionary disciples equipped for working together for the spread of the Gospel. Let us pray to the Lord.

For the conversion of all hardened sinners and all persecutors of the faith and those in error, that the Lord may touch their hearts and remove the blindness from their eyes. Let us pray to the Lord.

For all who have suffered as a result of violence or abuse, all of the sick and suffering, especially victims of natural disaster, poverty, and addiction, may they be comforted and supported by God’s healing love. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our departed loved ones and all of the souls in purgatory, and for N. for whom this Mass is offered. Let us pray to the Lord.

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

September 17 2021 - St. Robert Bellarmine - Sound Words and Religious Teaching

In today's first reading, we hear about how it is important that people are taught correctly regarding religion.  When I was a seminarian, a few years before ordination, the seminaries of the U.S. had a week-long apostolic visit from a team of bishops, priests, religious sisters and lay people, appointed by the Vatican. The team had been tasked by the Pope to investigate and ensure that we as seminarians were being properly taught and formed in our role as future priests, that our theology and moral ethics truly reflected what our Church teaches.  

Even in Cleveland, there were some changed that were made in response to that investigation in our seminary and in the seminaries throughout our country. For, there’s always a danger that secular attitudes toward morality might seep into the seminaries. So the Church certainly has a serious duty to train the teachers well, lest they teach what is false and malform the people. Malformed priests put souls at risk. Malformed pastors can malform their parishes.

In the first reading, St. Paul explains outlines this task to teach right doctrine to Timothy, the new Bishop of Ephesus. “Teach and urge these things. Whoever teaches something different and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the religious teaching is conceited, understanding nothing”. This is a perennial duty of Bishops to ensure that right teaching, right religion is being taught in their diocese. 

This task is always difficult, there are always worldly pressures, especially when the culture, the secular world is going in a very different direction than the Church, as it is today. In his second letter to Timothy, Paul urges Bishop Timothy, make sure you are teaching the truth and preaching the Gospel in season and out of season, when the culture is lenient and when the culture is hostile.

Today’s saint, St. Robert Bellarmine was one of the great teachers of his age. He was a lecturer at the Gregorian University in Rome, and became will known for tackling the controversial issues of his day. His lectures can be read in a three-volume work called the Disputations on the Controversies.  

God gave Robert Bellarmine, doctor of the Church, wisdom and goodness to defend the faith--to vindicate the faith, as the collect said--and to help others understand it.  St. Bellarmine wrote: “if you are wise, then know that you have been created for the glory of God and for your eternal salvation.  This is your goal; this is the center of your life; this is the treasure of your heart.  If you reach this goal, you will find happiness.  If you fail to reach it, you will find misery.”

This is why right teaching is so important: Truth needs to be taught clearly that we may conform our minds and hearts and lives to God. For only “the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the religious teaching” can lead us to the happiness for which we were created, and enable us to strive and to live for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That the Pope, Bishops, and Clergy may be well-formed in sound doctrine and teach that doctrine with clarity and courage.

For an end to indifference to God and human dignity in our government and educational institutions, businesses, and personal attitudes.

During this month of September, dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows, we pray for all those who grieve, and that we may grieve sufficiently for our sins.

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

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.

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

23rd Week in Ordinary Time 2021 (First School Mass) - Abundant Graces through Christ

Happy New School Year everybody. For our new students, I am Father Estabrook, the pastor of St. Ignatius. I’ve been pastor here since December of 2018. This may be the first time some of you have been inside the church building. So, I’d like to say a word about this magnificent edifice. 

In the early 1900s, Catholics who lived downtown were moving out of the city out to this area, which was a cornfield at the time. Looking northward from this property, you could see all the way to Lake Erie. In 1902 there were just about 250 Catholic families in this neighborhood. And so they planned and built a school and a church building, along Lorain ave. Over the next 20 years, that number of Catholics grew and grew and grew that they needed to build a new school building, the boulevard building, and they started construction on this building, modeling its architecture after some of the beautiful basilicas of Rome.

They wanted a church building that inspired people, that helped them to remember that they were connected to the Church in Rome, and were they could gather with their families week after week to worship God. They poured their love of God into building this place, and it still stands 100 years later. Everyone that contributed to the building of this place is dead, though their great great great grandchildren are still in this neighborhood. But they built this place to last, to endure the changing of times and seasons, in order to have a timeless place, where you could feel and kneel down in the presence of God.

In the first reading we hear two names, Paul and Timothy. Paul tells the story how he came to believe that Jesus was the Son of God who died for our sins. He didn’t initially believe this. In fact, he was a persecutor of Christians. He hated Christians. But he had a change of heart and change of believe when Jesus appeared to him, and since then, he’s been trying to spread belief in Jesus and build up the church. 

And he is writing to Timothy today because Timothy was the new bishop and pastor of a community of Christians, much like St. Ignatius. Paul wants Timothy to trust in the abundant graces that comes from following, believing in, and loving Jesus. When Christians are faithful to Jesus, when they work together, when they root out sins from their lives, when the make Jesus the most important part of their life, they can do amazing things. They can build churches like this, they can work miracles, they can endure with amazing strength all of life’s difficulties. And most importantly they will be granted life after death and live forever with God.

Paul wants Timothy to help his community truly believe this, truly live out the Christian faith, much as my bishop, Bishop Ed Malesic has sent me, here to this parish, to do the same, to help the Catholics of this place to be faithful, and to help others come to make Jesus the most important person in their lives.

That’s my prayer for all of you as we begin this school year, and that’s my prayer for you always, that you, like St. Paul, and so many Catholics throughout the centuries, may know the abundant graces that comes through faith in Christ, that you may come to do amazing things through him, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

January 26, 2021 - St. Timothy and Titus - The harvest is abundant, the laborers few

 Following the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul yesterday, today we commemorate two of Paul’s close co-workers in the vineyard of the Lord: Timothy and Titus.  Today’s two saints give us a glimpse of life in the early church: zeal for the apostolate, devotion to Jesus, and the deep bonds of friendship that sustained them.

Timothy was Paul’s dearest disciple.  St Paul calls him, his beloved child, devoted to him “like a son to his father.”  Biologically, Timothy was the son of a jewish mother and a pagan father. Paul, however, was spiritual father, to Timothy: directly instrumental in Timothy’s conversion from paganism.  

When Paul visited the city of Lystra, Timothy, about twenty years old, joined him and went on to assist Paul in the establishment of the major Christian communities. Timothy also stayed with Paul during his first Roman imprisonment. Timothy himself was later imprisoned for spreading the Gospel, and as bishop of Ephesus was martyred, clubbed to death by a mob for protesting against the orgiastic worship of the goddess Artemis.

Titus was also a close friend and disciple of Paul, also accompanying and assisting Paul in his missionary activity.  Titus was with Paul at the Council of Jerusalem, and when Paul was having trouble with the community at Corinth because of community division, erroneous faith and rampant immorality, Paul sent Titus bearing his letter to the Corinthians, and Titus embraced them with the love of the true pastor’s heart.  This was probably one reason, why Paul felt so assured at naming Titus bishop of Crete, which was also riddled with error. He too would be martyred—he was beheaded by his adversaries on Crete in AD 97.

“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few.” The dynamic between Paul and Timothy and Titus show us how the Lord often attracts laborers for the harvest. A devout Paul, dedicating his life to the Gospel, willing to suffer for it, begins to attract spiritual sons, who are willing to do the same.

Our task then is clear. To be like Paul for the Timothy’s and Titus’ of the next generation. To live the faith so admirably that it becomes attractive to Pagans and unbelievers. To suffer for it, to show the value of the Gospel in contrast to the empty promises of the world. Our job is not to save the planet, or our nation-state, or our economy, but to save souls, not to secure a comfortable place in the world, but to build up treasure in heaven. Sure, it’s no sin to go fishing every once in a while, but certainly never to the serious neglect of our duty to become fishers of men.

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That our bishops may be courageous in stirring up the flame of faith and defending the Church from error.

For an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life, that young people may live in faith-filled homes where the Gospel is cherished, studied, and lived-out. 

For the grace to set good Christian example, and to courage to share the faith with non-believers and the lapsed.

For all of the sick and suffering, for the grace to unite their sufferings with Christ and to know His consolation and peace.

For our departed loved ones and all of the souls in purgatory, and for N. for whom this Mass is offered. We pray to the Lord.

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

27th Sunday in OT 2019 - Increase our Faith

Have you ever cried out to God in words similar to those of the prophet Habakkuk in our first reading, “How long, O LORD?  I cry for help but you do not listen!” How long must I suffer? I many times must I go through this particular trial?

What trial was Habakkuk lamenting? Well, scholars continue to debate this topic. Some think Habakkuk lived just prior to the Babylonian attack on Jerusalem. If that’s the case, the holy prophet would be lamenting the evil and iniquity of so many of his fellow Jews who were forsaking the covenant, and that God would likely allow the Jews to be conquered by some foreign power as he had in the past.

Some scholars think that Habakkuk lived right after the Babylonian attack, and was crying out to God because of the devastation of Jerusalem wrought by the Babylonian invaders.

And some scholars think that Habakkuk may have lived several centuries later, during Alexander the Great’s conquest of the near East. Again Habakkuk's words would be interpreted as a chastisement upon Israel for abandoning the faith.

Whoever Habakkuk was, and whenever he lived are ultimately ancillary to the profound message of this book, the heart-wrenching longing for God to intervene in the experience of suffering: “How long, O LORD?  I cry for help but you do not listen!” How long must I suffer?

The good news is that God does not abandon Habakkuk in his suffering. He receives a word of hope from God: Don’t give up. Be patient. Persevere in faith. God’s justice will ultimately prevail. If you were to read on in the book of Habakkuk, which is only three short chapters long, God gives Habakkuk a vision of a series of punishments for the wicked, robbers, embezzlers, deceivers, exploiters and extortionists, tyrants, deviants and idolaters. The book is pretty doom-filled, but it speaks to our very deep desire, a desire that each of us experience at our core, for justice, for God to rescue those who suffer, vindication for the innocent, and an end of oppression and pain, and bolsters our faith in the promises of God.

Our second reading addresses the need for perseverance as well. St. Paul urges the bishop Timothy to stir into flame the gift of faith. That amidst all of the difficulties the Church was experiencing Timothy needed to stir up the faith of his people and in his own soul that God’s power may fill them. To stir up the faith, that’s an important task for each of us. For we know, all too well, how many for baptized Catholics that flame has been virtually extinguished. They do not attend Mass. They do not pray. They do not engage in the works of mercy. Sin seems to have taken sway in their lives.

Now I’ve known many people where a nearly extinguished faith has become rekindled. They’ve seen the power of God at work through a vibrant Christian community. They’ve experienced the love of God in the compassion shown them by Christians. Sometimes, it was a traumatic event in their life that led to a sort of spiritual awakening, a death of a loved one, the reality of grief, that helped them discover the need for God.

In those delicate times though of spiritual reawakening, much prayer and involvement in a community of fellow Christians is needed, lest the flame of faith dies out again.

So what about us, what’s the temperature of the flame of faith in your life. Lukewarm or blazing?
During my seminary studies, I remember visiting the seminary library one day, and a book on St. Theresa jumped out at me. I opened the book to a random page, and I’ll never forget the quote. St. Theresa writes, “Comparison is death to the spiritual life.” And what she meant by that is when you compare your life to others, that can lead to real spiritual danger. For on the one hand, if I compare myself to someone that isn’t living the faith at all, whose faith has been extinguished, then I won’t grow spiritually, because I’ll think to myself, I’m holier than that guy, so I must be okay. But then on the other hand, you compare yourself to a saint, like St. Francis, and you think, I’ll never become that holy, so I might as well not do anything.

So for Theresa, this unhealthy spiritual comparison leads to a real spiritual mediocrity, faith, instead of being stirred-up is stifled. Rather, the truth is in the middle. Not comparing myself to the wicked, not comparing myself to the saints, I am personally challenged to consider what do I need to do personally to grow in holiness in the concrete details of my life.

In order to fan the flame, St. Paul tells Timothy to take as his norm the sound words that he heard, the Gospel, the Scriptures. To reflect upon and take as your standard, not the philosophies of the world, not the politics of the day, not the excuses of the spiritually lazy, but soundness of the Gospel.
Here is the injunction for every Christian to familiarize ourselves, to study and ponder and meditate upon the Scriptures. When we read the Scriptures, and when we allow them to speak to us, God stirs up our faith. An unopened bible serves no one. A bible collecting dust on a coffee table sets no spiritual fires. So open your bibles daily—read, reflect, and put into practice what you discover there.

Perhaps, take the daily mass readings which are published in our bulletin, and use them as your daily meditation. Ask God when they mean for the concrete details of your life? For example, using our second reading, ask, What does it mean for me to stir into flame the gifts God has given me. What does it mean for me to have a courageous faith, what does it mean to guard the riches of God that dwell within me? What have I considered as impossible that God wants to make possible in my life?
In the midst of death, the Word of God gives us life. In the midst of injustice, the Word of God gives us patience and the strength to work for change. In the midst of spiritual dryness or confusion, the Word of God is a lamp that grants light unto our path.

The apostles say to the Lord in the Gospel, “increase our faith”, is that a request you are willing to make? What would it mean, practically, if your faith were greater?

The apostles made this request of our Lord immediately after his teaching that if their brother sins against them seven times in a day, they need to forgive him seven times a day. They knew that that level of mercy, the ability to love and forgive with the heart of God, required great faith.  So they prayed, “increase our faith”. Is there someone who you would be able to forgive if your faith was greater?

Faith enables us to persevere amidst great trials, it helps us to see God working in the great moments of darkness and suffering, it helps us to perform great works for God which we deemed impossible, it enables us to forgive the greatest of insults, it makes possible tremendous growth in holiness and the working of miracles. Lord, increase our faith, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

24th Week in OT 2019 - Wednesday - Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth

I came across a small booklet at my home parish in Madison, many years ago. It was titled, “Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth”, those two epithets in reference, of course, to the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.

As God guided the Israelites on their exodus from Egypt by giving them a pillar of fire to light their way across the dark wilderness  (Exod. 13:21), today God guides us through his Catholic Church.

And in this age of countless competing religions, each clamoring for attention, one voice rises above the din: the Catholic Church, which St. Paul calls “the pillar and foundation of truth” (1 Tim. 3:15) in our first reading today.

“Great is Artemis of Ephesus” cried the rioting crowd of Ephesus when Paul challenged their idolatry with the Gospel. The pagan peoples throughout the centuries have all claimed greatness for their various gods. But Paul counters the pagan cries with “Undeniably great is the mystery of devotion”, that is Christ. For the Christian God does not remain hidden in some unreachable realm, but he has “manifested in the flesh”. He is visible.

So too, his Church, the pillar of fire, the pillar of truth is visible. The power of her holiness can be seen in the saints, the power to transform lives of dissipation into lives of heroic sanctity.

And as pillar of truth, the Church clearly teaches the truth of the Gospel without compromise with the errors of the world. And she has clear, visible structures to oversee and govern this teaching mission: her hierarchical structure, the teaching magisterium, the pope, and the Apostles who order and lead with authority coming from Christ Himself.

Any merely human organization with such members would have collapsed early on. And her vigor, with over a billion members, one sixth of the human race, is not simply a testimony to the cleverness of the Church’s leaders, but to the presence of the Holy Spirit, guiding her and protecting her.
As a pillar of truth, she is often in conflict to those who belong to the world, as the Lord describes in the Gospel today, the people of this generation who, like children in the marketplace yell out calls of mockery and disdain.

But we know that through Holy Church, we have union with God Made Flesh, Jesus Christ, Our Lord, our assurance of eternal life, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That our Holy Father, all the bishops, priests, and deacons of the Church will courageously preach the Truth of the Gospel in its fullness.
For the purification of Holy Church from all error and heresy, especially among those who preach and teach.
That the fire of the Holy Spirit may be evident in all members of the Church, and in this parish community.
For mercy and peace for all those who suffer: for the sick and diseased, for those undergoing surgery this week, for the destitute and despairing, for all victims of war, violence, and abuse, and for those who will die today and the consolation of their families.
For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, and for N., for whom this mass is offered.
O God, who know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.

9th Week of OT 2018 - Thursday - Imparting the Truth without deviation

Last night, I attended the installation of the new pastor of St. Patrick Church in Ohio City, Fr. Mike Gurnick. Bishop Perez reflected on the importance of vibrant parishes in the life of the Church, and the pastor’s role in leading, nurturing, strengthening, comforting, and challenging his parishioners. Bishop Perez drew from the words of Pope Francis, in his 2013 apostolic exhortation Evangelium Gaudium.

Pope Francis writes, “The parish is not an outdated institution; precisely because it possesses great flexibility, it can assume quite different contours depending on the openness and missionary creativity of the pastor and the community. While certainly not the only institution which evangelizes, if the parish proves capable of self-renewal and constant adaptivity, it continues to be “the Church living in the midst of the homes of her sons and daughters”.

With the Holy Father’s words in mind, the bishop reflected how the parish is a place of arrival and gathering. We gather from our homes, some of us from foreign lands, as God’s people, to hear the Word of God preached and to experience the presence of Christ in the Sacraments. But the parish is not simply a place of arrival, it is a place of sending. We go out from her to bring the word of God to others.

St. Paul writes to Timothy, as we heard in the first reading today, Timothy, who is a pastor. The letters to Timothy are even known as the pastoral letters, because Paul is giving pastoral advice to Timothy for ordering his flock.

“Remind the people” Paul says, of who they are, that since they have died with Christ, they are to live with him, and if we deny him, he will deny us.

That’s a challenging message. That in everything we do, we are to reflect that Christ is Lord. Timothy was to prepare the people for the real possibility that they will be pressured to deny Christ. Pressured by who? By the culture. By the anti-Christian culture. They will be pressured to forsake Christ, to hide their Christian faith, to pretend just like they are everyone else.

But Paul, like Pope Francis, like Bishop Perez, reminds us that we are not to abandon the word, leaving the Word here in within the walls of the church building, but as missionary disciples, we are to carry the word, and infuse the culture with the Word.

My favorite part of the installation mass, is when the new pastor stands at the altar, and promises, using language reminiscent of today’s reading, “to impart the word of truth without deviation.” The priest, the pastor, imparts truth, so that members of the flock, will be equipped to live and spread that same word of truth in their own lives, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That Pope Francis and all bishops and clergy will help defend the Church against error, and lead her always in the pathways of truth, righteousness, and charity.

For the conversion of all those who perpetuate error or set bad Christian example for young people and those of weak faith.

For the grace to spread the Word of God with clarity, patience, and courage.

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

January 26 2018 - Sts. Timothy and Titus - Apostolic Succession in Scripture and Tradition

If you were a Christian in the 1st century or are a Christian in the 21st century, how can you be sure that you belong to the True Church of Jesus Christ?

The first Christians had no doubts about how to determine which was the true Church and which doctrines were the true teachings of Christ. The test was simple: can the community or the teaching be traced back to the Apostles or not?

In founding the Church, Our Lord Himself marked her with four characteristics, which reflect her essential features and mission. The four marks of the Church are listed in the Nicene Creed: the Church is One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic.

The doctrine of Apostolic Succession—the belief that the apostles handed on to others their authority to teach and govern the church in the name of Christ—is clearly biblical and also unanimously defended by the writings of the early Church Fathers.

Timothy and Titus were both appointed bishops by the apostle Paul. In their respective New Testament epistles, Paul directs Titus as bishop of Crete to go from town to town appointing presbyters, one of the tasks of bishops which continues to this day. He was also to appoint other bishops who would practice what they preached. Paul wrote two letters to Timothy, Bishop of Ephesus. In the first letter, Paul writes to offer personal encouragement and advice on how to administer the great responsibility of being a bishop. In the second Paul tells, Timothy to be courageous in defending his flock from false teachers who were passing on doctrines which were not supported by the apostles.

The bishop is a visible sign that we remain connected to the true Church of Christ, and he helps us to grow in fidelity and sanctity through his teaching and governance. The bishop, St. Ignatius of Antioch, writing early in the 2nd century enjoined priests and lay faithful to be in harmony with their bishop as strings to a harp.

We here in Cleveland are grateful for having been sent a new bishop, Bishop Perez, and are greatly looking forward to his leadership and teaching. We pray for him at every Mass in the Eucharistic prayer, and we do well to remember our bishop in our personal prayers, that he may be a source of Christian unity and sanctification for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
 
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That our bishops may be courageous in stirring up the flame of faith and defending the Church from error.We pray to the Lord.

That through the ministry of bishops, Our Lord will bring an end to division in his Church. We pray to the Lord.

That through our bishops and priests, Christ, the doctor of souls, may bring healing and mercy to sinners and to the brokenhearted. We pray to the Lord.

For all of the sick and suffering, especially victims of natural disaster, poverty, and addiction, may they be comforted and supported by God’s healing love. We pray to the Lord.

For our departed loved ones and all of the souls in purgatory, and for N. for whom this Mass is offered. We pray to the Lord.

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 - 24th Week in OT 2017 - Truth and Mercy must remain united

Since last Thursday until this Saturday the first readings have been from St. Paul’s first letter to Timothy.  Timothy was a young convert who came to the Faith via Paul’s preaching and teaching.  And he became the bishop of the important city of Ephesus when he was still pretty much a young man.  Paul wrote this letter to him personally for encouragement and advice on how to administer this great responsibility.

About 30 years later, St. John would address part of the Book of Revelation to the Church at Ephesus, and it is really interesting to compare the state of the Church in Timothy’s time and the state of the Church when John wrote to them.

Ephesus was the most prestigious cultural, commercial, and most important political center in Asia minor. It was known for having many temples, including a very prominent temple to Artemis. We know from the book of Acts that even though Christianity was opposed by the merchant class in Ephesus, the new faith spread quite rapidly.

When St. John wrote to the Ephesians in the book of Revelation, he praises the them for remaining in the truth. Particularly, for opposing the false teachings of the Nikolatians. The deacon Nicolaus, from the book of Acts, apparently hadn’t turned out to be such a good choice. Nicolaus had been falsely teaching that it was okay for Christians to try to blend in with the culture, taking part in pagan temple worship and the…temple prostitution.

So when we hear in the reading today, Paul urging Timothy to protect his flock from false teachers, it seems like Timothy had heeded, at least the first part of Paul’s instruction.

However, St. John reveals that the Ephesians were failing to live up to a very important Gospel tenet. He says that they had “abandoned their first love” and had given up on the good works, the works of mercy, which are so fundamental to the Christian life.

So the Ephesians were outstanding in holding to the truth, they knew their catechism, but they were neglecting the works of mercy. Perhaps, they had allowed that love of money, which St. Paul warned them against, to keep them from the charity we are called to be Christ.

As Catholics, we don’t choose between Catechism and Charity. We must be both wholly committed to right doctrine AND wholly committed to the works of mercy. "Gracious love must meet truth; righteousness and peace must kiss" Psalm 25 says. Pope Francis, is keenly aware of this, as is evidenced in his prayer intention for the month of September. Truth and Love are united in Christ, the Saints always hold fast to both, and so must we, if we wish to be effective in the building up of the kingdom, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all Christians may hold fast to right Christian teaching and engage in right Christian action.

For those who have fallen into error, for Catholics who have grown lukewarm in their faith, for those who have left the Church, for their conversion and the conversion of all hearts.

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.”

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

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.

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

Homily: Jan 26 2017 - Sts. Timothy and Titus - "The work left undone"

Following the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul yesterday, today we commemorate two of Paul’s close co-workers in the vineyard of the Lord: Timothy and Titus.  St. Paul wrote to his coworkers in what are called the New Testament Pastoral letters. They are called “Pastoral” because Paul addresses the letters to Timothy and Titus who were pastors, who had pastoral oversight of their respective churches.

After accompanying Paul on a missionary journey, Paul named Timothy the first bishop of Ephesus. And Titus, who had been with Paul at the Council of Jerusalem, was given care of the Island church of Crete.

So Paul writes to Timothy and Titus to discuss their great task of pastoral oversight of their churches: their structural organization, their tasks of teaching governing and sanctifying, ensuring the teaching of authentic Christian doctrine, and exercising pastoral leadership with true love for their flock.

We read from Paul’s letter to Titus this morning, and how in Crete, Titus was to continue to go from town to town appointing presbyters, priests for the local churches. This was one of the tasks of the bishop going back to the 1st century, naming priests for particular parishes. As the letter progresses, Paul teaches Titus to be wary that teachers of false doctrine are not allowed in his diocese, and to admonish those who had fallen away; as bishop, he must encourage families to be faithful, and to teach young people to practice self-control; he was to instruct the people in what we would call today “faithful citizenship” that the faith guide their civic responsibilities, and to encourage the people in good works, what we would call today the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.

It's fascinating to think how the work of bishops and the work of priests are essentially the same as they were nearly 2000 years ago, and that we in diocese of Cleveland, pray now for the Pope to send us a bishop who will have the same characteristics and perform the same tasks as Paul outlined for Timothy.

As the letter said, Paul left Titus to continue the work in Crete which had been “left undone.” The work of the Lord is “left undone” in this place isn’t it. It continues in this place for all of us. Praying for and inspired by great leaders in the faith, may we be faithful to the work to which Christ has called each of us, setting good example and spreading the Gospel for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For our Holy Father, Pope Francis, as he selects the next shepherd of our diocese;  for our Apostolic Administrator, Bishop Daniel Thomas, as he serves the pastoral needs of our diocese while we are in transition;  for Bishop Richard Lennon, as he adjusts to a new stage in his life and ministry; that the Holy Spirit will enlighten and empower all the leaders of our church with faith in the promises of Christ, hope for the years to come, and charity that knows no boundaries.  We pray.