7th Week of Ordinary Time 2025 - Wednesday - Unity

 

The final section of John’s Gospel right before the beginning of the Passion of the Lord is a prayer that Jesus offers to the Father.  Scholars call it “The High Priestly Prayer” of Jesus.

In that prayer, as we heard today, Jesus prays for unity—that the unity he has with the Father, might be shared by his followers.  “that they may be one just as we are one…”

Unity. Unity has been attacked from the beginning of creation. The fallen angels, who were created to serve the will of God rebelled, breaking their unity with the Trinity, and were cast out of heaven. Adam and Eve created to live in harmony and obedience to God, turned away from God’s will, marring our human nature and were cast out of the earthly paradise. From that time, the peoples of the earth have been afflicted with disunity that has brought murder—brother against brother, tribe against tribe, nation against nation.

One might say, the mission of the Son of God, was one of unity—the Son came to teach us how to live in unity, and died to reconcile us to one another and to the Father. 

The Church was established as that new union—Christians are united to God and one another through the Son and the Power of the Holy Spirit. Unity is a common theme of Jesus’ teaching, and Scriptures.

Psalm 133:1, which states, "How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!" and Ephesians 4:3, which encourages making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. “Make my joy complete” writes St. paul to the Philippians, “by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind”. To the Corinthians, Paul writes, “Mend your ways, encourage one another, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.”

The teaching authority of the Church, the Pope and the Bishops—the Magisterium—certainly helps us preserve the unity intended by Jesus. Doctrinal truths and moral truths. Doctrinal truths help us have unity of belief. Moral truths enable us to have unity of action. 

Our unity enables us to be faithful to the mission of the Gospel. To quote Pope St. John Paul, “[The Church] is sent to the world to announce and witness, to make present and spread the mystery of communion which is essential to her, and to gather all people and all things into Christ, so as to be for all an 'inseparable sacrament of unity'”

Christ called us to unity and prayed for our unity, so that his joy might be in us, and our joy might be complete. May we be vigilant on all sinful attacks on unity, including our own selfishness, and faithful to all that unity requires of us for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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As Jesus prayed that we might be one, as He and the Father are one, let us lift our voices in prayer for the unity of the Church and the world.

For the Church, that she may be a living sign of unity in a divided world, and faithfully proclaim the Gospel of reconciliation and peace.

For the Pope, bishops, and all entrusted with the teaching office of the Church, that they may guide the faithful in truth and charity, preserving the unity of faith and morals entrusted to the apostles.

For all Christians, that we may overcome division and grow in mutual understanding, love, and shared witness to the Risen Christ.

For unity in our families, parishes, and communities, that the Holy Spirit may heal wounds caused by conflict, pride, or selfishness, and help us to live in peace and harmony

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 the faithful departed, that they may be gathered into the eternal unity of the Kingdom of Heaven, rejoicing in the presence of the God of love and peace

Heavenly Father, you sent your Son to gather your scattered children into one. Hear the prayers we offer in His name, and by the power of your Holy Spirit, make us faithful instruments of unity and peace. Through Christ our Lord.

25th Week of Ordinary Time 2024 - Tuesday - The Adelphoi of Jesus

 Family ties were of the utmost importance in Jesus’ day, as they continue to be in our time to some degree.

In the Gospel today, we hear how during the course of his public ministry, the Lord Jesus was approached by his mother and those whom our english translation calls his brothers, though the Greek word in Luke’s Gospel is adelphoi, which could also refer to Jesus’ other relatives, like cousins and uncles and even close family friends, coworkers, neighbors, and members of ones religious community, as we use it today, when we use the word brethren. 

When, Jesus’ adelphoi show up, it would have been pretty much expected for him to stop what he was doing and go out to meet them. And yet, the lord takes the opportunity to teach: “My mother and my adelphoi are those who hear the word of God and act on it.” In other words, there is a bond deeper than even biological ties—the bond between those who strive to do the will of God. The Lord foreshadows here the bond—the unity –of the baptized. 

Through Baptism—Christians enter into a supernatural bond with God and one another—a bond of those who have God as Father and Jesus as brother. The Church is the family of God.  To quote Pope Francis, “The Church is not an organization born out of an agreement between some persons but the work of God—the supreme act of love on the Cross, The Church is born of God’s desire to call all men and women to communion with him, to friendship with him, even further, to participate as his children in his very divinity.” 

This deeper bond of the baptized, the family of God, challenges us to look beyond earthly relationships—and find our deepest identity as children of God. This unity is not just symbolic but calls for a real commitment to live in communion with one another, supporting and loving each other as true brothers and sisters in Christ. It calls us to forgive, to be merciful, and to be self-giving, just as Christ has shown us. As members of this divine family, we are called to be witnesses of God’s love in the world, extending that love to all we meet, especially those in need. In this way, we live out our identity as God’s children, bound together not by blood, but by grace.

We do well to pray for a strengthening of the bonds among Christians, to pray for one another, that we may love God and each other, responding to the word of God with generous hearts, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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For all Christians, that through the grace of Baptism, we may be strengthened to live in communion with one another, forgiving, being merciful, and witnessing God’s love to the world. 

For families, that they may be places where the love of God is experienced and shared, and that they may grow in holiness, reflecting the unity of the family of God, 

For those who feel isolated or estranged from their families, that they may find comfort and belonging in the Church, the family of God, and be drawn into a deeper relationship with Christ,  .

For the sick, the poor, the lonely, and all those in need, that we may extend the love and compassion of Christ to them, and work to build a world where all are treated with dignity and respect, 

For the deceased members of our families and parishes, that they may rest in the eternal peace of God’s kingdom.

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.

23rd Week of Ordinary Time 2024 - Tuesday - Dealing with divisions gracefully

 Thanks to St. Paul’s extensive correspondence with the Corinthians, we are better informed about the church at Corinth than probably any other first-century church. In 1 Corinthians in particular, Paul treats a wide range of issues affecting the community of believers, including disunity, food offered to idols, sexual sin, and class divisions at the communal celebration of the Eucharist.

This morning, we read how the Corinthian Christians were not only quarrelling among themselves, but they were also turning to the secular courts to resolve their problems. And this was problematic for a number of reasons. Firstly, the Corinthian court system had a widespread reputation of corrupt judges given to bribery, and the Christians coming to court were availing themselves to this system of corruption. Secondly, the Corinthians were failing to follow the Lord’s direct teaching on this matter. If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately, if that doesn’t work, bring other a few fellow Christians to help mediate. If that doesn’t work, bring it to Church authorities. 

So, Saint Paul urges the Corinthians to deal with their problems internally, making use of the gifts of wisdom and justice within the Church. Instead of turning to the corrupt institutions of the world to solve our problems we are to learn to rely on God.

Now, Christians, are not expected to be totally free from disputes and disagreements; life is complicated, after all—men of good will can disagree about reasonable things. 

But we are to guard against our disagreements becoming ugly and infected with worldly malice. Rather, even the way we deal with disagreements is to be done gracefully, patiently, charitably. The world should be able to point to the Church and say, “See how they love one another, look how they forgive each other, look how they are patient with one another.”  

Jesus came to unite a humanity divided by sin—he came to reconcile us to God and to one another and heal the wounds of sin and division.  The new family of God’s children, the Church, is to live in unity and peace. And, it’s no coincidence that our Gospel this morning is the calling of the twelve apostles. The apostolic teaching, the authority of the bishops, is to be a source of unity for us. Unholy disunity and division occurs when we stray from the Apostolic Faith.  

But when strive to fulfill our vocation to unity, adhering to the faith, practicing patience, charity, and mercy, we become beacons of eternal salvation.

With the help of God’s grace, may we work for unity today, healing the wounds of sin and division among us, pointing out to all who dwell in the darkness of sin and unbelief to the light of Christ, our salvation, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For the Church, that we may always strive for unity and resolve our conflicts with wisdom, patience, and love, reflecting Christ's reconciling work in the world. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our Pope, bishops, and all Church leaders, that they may guide us in the apostolic faith and be instruments of unity within the Body of Christ. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our parish community, that we may grow in our ability to forgive one another, to show mercy, and to seek reconciliation when conflicts arise. Let us pray to the Lord.

For those in the legal profession, that they may work for true justice and be guided by moral integrity in their practice. Let us pray to the Lord.

For all Christians experiencing division or discord, that they may find peaceful resolutions through prayer, dialogue, and adherence to Christ's teachings. Let us pray to the Lord.

That the sick and the suffering may know the strength and consolation of the Holy Spirit in their afflictions. Let us pray to the Lord.

For those who have died, especially members of our parish community, that they may be united with Christ in the eternal peace of heaven. Let us pray to the Lord.

Heavenly Father, hear the prayers of your pilgrimage Church, grant us what we truly need to remain faithful to your Son in all things. Through Christ Our Lord.

July 29 2024 - Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus - Sibling Saints

 

We honor today three sibling saints who honored and served the Lord during his earthly ministry. In the household of Bethany, the Lord Jesus experienced the family spirit and friendship of Martha, Mary and Lazarus. Martha generously offered him hospitality, Mary listened attentively to his words and Lazarus, who promptly emerged from the tomb at the Jesus’ command, no doubt offered gratitude and friendship during Jesus’ later stay at Bethany.

These three saints offer several lessons in growing in sanctity. Like St. Martha, we are to serve others in practical ways, including generous hospitality. Like St. Mary, we are to listen attentively to the Lord, pondering his words, taking them to heart, spending time in his presence, particularly in Eucharistic adoration. And like St. Lazarus, we are to obey the Lord to come out of our metaphorical tombs and live in a state of gratitude.

St. Martha is a patron saints of homemakers and domestic workers. St. Lazarus is the patron of gravediggers. And St. Mary of Bethany, a model of listening to the Lord, is patron of spiritual studies.

In the Gospels, Jesus himself foretold a time when families and households would be divided over him. “From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. Father against son . …daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law” and so on. 

So many families in our modern-day experience division due to rejecting Jesus and his teachings. So we do well to, invoke Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus for our divided families. For these sibling saints show us that family unity is possible when there is mutual love and faith in Jesus. 

These sibling saints, enjoyed a real, personal, and human friendship with Jesus. In so many ways, this is exactly what Jesus wants with each of us. He wants us to know the sound of his voice, to spend time with Him, converse with Him, and trust Him in good times and bad. His light fills our lives when we draw close to him in prayer, service, and trust.

We grow in friendship with the Lord by inviting Him into the home of your souls every day and throughout the day. May these three sibling saints help us to deepen our Love for the Lord for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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For the Church, that like Martha, we may serve others generously and offer hospitality to those in need. Lord, hear our prayer.

For all who seek truth, that like Mary, we may listen attentively to God's word and spend time in His presence. Lord, hear our prayer.

For those struggling with doubt or despair, that like Lazarus, we may respond to Christ's call to come out of our tombs and live lives of gratitude. Lord, hear our prayer.

For families divided by disagreements over faith, that through the intercession of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, they may find unity in Christ's love. Lord, hear our prayer.

For all of us, that we may cultivate a deep and personal friendship with Jesus, inviting Him into our hearts and homes each day. Lord, hear our prayer.

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 human trafficking, natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for the unborn, 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.

Loving Father, we thank you for the example of Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, who showed us different ways to love and serve your Son. Grant us what we need to know the benefit of their heavenly intercession and follow their holy example. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2024 - Last Supper and Eucharist foreshadowed

This weekend, we begin a five-week stretch of reading from chapter 6 of St. John’s Gospel in which the Lord feeds the large crowd through the miracle of multiplication then teaches them about the Bread of Life. This passage introduces us to concepts the Lord will realize at the Last Supper when he institutes the Eucharist.

Many non-Catholics deny that the Gospel of the miraculous multiplication has any connection with what Catholics the Sacrament of the Eucharist. But the connections are overwhelming.

First of all, notice that John records Jesus performing this miracle on Passover. Passover—the same jewish feast on which Jesus institutes the Eucharist at the Last supper.

Secondly, note that for this miracle Jesus sits down with his disciples on the mountain, just as later he sits with disciples on Mount Zion to celebrate the Last Supper. His posture is a connection with the Last supper.

And not only his posture, but note that commands the people to recline. At the last supper we read of St. John reclining on the breast of Jesus. It’s the only other time that posture is highlighted in the entire Gospel. 

Fourthly, note that at the heart of the miracle account, John describes Jesus multiplying the loaves by utilizing specific actions. he takes the loaves and gives thanks—identical actions to those at the Last Supper. And recall that the Greek word for giving thanks is “Eucharisteo”, which was the early church word for the celebration of the Mass.

John also describes the remains that were left over after the multiplication—the klasmata—in the Greek—the parts broken off—which echoes the Last Supper accounts of Jesus “breaking the bread” into fragments.

In the teaching that follows throughout the remainder of John chapter 6, which, again, we’ll be reading over the next four weeks, we’ll see even more themes that are repeated in the Last Supper. For example, in two weeks, we’ll hear of Jesus teaching about the need to eat his flesh and drink his blood in order to have eternal life. Jesus foreshadows his own changing of bread and wine into his flesh and blood at the last supper and commanding his disciples to do this in memory of him.

With so many clear connections to the Last Supper and our church doctrine on the Eucharist, why do non-Catholic fail to get the point? Why do these insist on a non-Eucharistic reading of John Chapter six? It’s likely because they have separated themselves from the Church’s celebration of the Eucharist. They have done away with bishops who can ordain priests who alone can confect the Eucharist. So they falsely interpret the scriptures based on their separation from the deposit of faith.

But the Catholic Church, going all the way back to the apostolic age, has taught the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Consider the words of St. Justin Martyr from the year 150, whose feast day was back on the first day of June.

And this is a bit of a long passage, but it’s so fascinating. St. Justin writes, “And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together in one place, and the memoirs of the apostles (the Gospels), or the writings of the prophets (like our first reading) are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the presider verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things (as I’m doing now, in the homily). Then, we all rise together and pray (like we’ll do in the general intercessions), and…when our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the presider in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings…and the people assent, saying “Amen”; and there is a distribution to each, and a partaking of the eucharisted substances, and to those who are absent, a portion is sent by the deacons.

So already in the year 150, we see the structure of the mass that we celebrate today.

And this food is called among us eucharistia, of which no one is allowed to partake but the man who believes that the things we teach are true…For not as common bread and common drink do we receive these; but…we have been taught that the food which is blessed by the prayer of His word…is the flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh. For the apostles, in the memoirs composed by them, which are called Gospels, have thus delivered unto us what was enjoined upon them; that Jesus took bread, and when He had given thanks said, “Do this in remembrance of me, this is my body” and that, after the same manner, having taken the cup and given thanks, He said, “This is my blood” and gave it to them alone."

So the doctrine of the real presence, is also clearly articulated in 150, just a few decades after the death of the last apostle.

Now consider what our second reading from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians adds to the conversation here. In the second reading Paul urged the Ephesians to strive for unity. This is why denominationalism and schism are not from God—Christians are not to separate ourselves from the teachings of the apostles. St. Paul urges unity, because Jesus at the last supper taught his apostles to remain as one, as he and the Father are one. 

And it is not a coincidence that the Lord’s own teaching on unity occurred while he was instituting the Sacrament of the Eucharist. The Eucharist is the great sacrament of unity in which all people of all places are invited to believe and partake. Now of course, you should not partake, as St. Justin said, if you do not believe, if you are not part of the communion of the Catholic church. 

This is why we have the RCIA process each year. Every year hundreds of thousands of non-Catholics around the world hear the Lord calling them to the communion he emphasized at the last supper in order to be fed with the Bread of Life. 

Here at St. Ignatius RCIA, which will be called OCIA henceforth, the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults, will begin mid-September. So get praying now for that non-Catholic friend who is searching for a spiritual home. Perhaps say a novena for them, or a daily rosary for them, or make a holy hour for them, come and kneel before the Blessed Sacrament and pray that they can respond to Jesus’ invitation. And then, give them the OCIA flyer in a few weeks. Tell them that you’ll accompany them, if they’d like—how they’ll no doubt find the thing that they have been looking for, here. 

Last week, I asked you all to read through and try memorizing the 23rd Psalm. I’d love to hear how that went for you. But, consider how even that Psalm foreshadows the Eucharist. How our Divine Shepherds walks with us through the dark valleys and leads us to the table at which he feeds us for our earthly journey that we make come to the eternal banquet of heaven. There are so many souls whom he wants to lead here, to the table of the Eucharist. By our Eucharistic celebration may become effective instruments of our shepherd, instruments of Eucharistic faith, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

June 28 2024 - St. Irenaeus - Apostolic Tradition and Unity with God

 

In the top middle stained-glass window in the east nave here at St. Ignatius is a depiction of St. John the Apostle consecrating two bishops: on the right is St. Ignatius our patron, and on the left is St. Polycarp. The bishop St. Irenaeus, whom we honor today, was a student of bishop Polycarp. And so he was still very close to the apostolic origins of the church. And that theme of apostolicity—that we are recipients of the faith taught by Jesus Christ to the apostles—was prominent in his writings and pastoral work.

For the time in which Irenaeus was bishop of Lyon, the gnostic heretics were threatening the unity of the Church. The Gnostics claimed to possess secret knowledge of God that was superior to the faith taught by the Apostles.  In other words, they thought they knew better than the Church.  

But good bishop Irenaeus rightly pointed out their error. For, Christianity is not a personal creation or private revelation. It’s not something for intellectuals and academics to recreate. To do so would be to deviate from Apostolic Tradition which Christ wants us to receive, believe, and live out.

Irenaeus demonstrated the importance of faithfully adhering to the true doctrine that could be traced back to the apostles through the succession of bishops, and even emphasized the authority of the Church of Rome.

Back in 2007, Pope Benedict was giving weekly catechesis on the Church Fathers. Listen to what he had to say about the great St. Irenaeus, who Pope Francis declared as a doctor of the Church in 2022. 

Pope Benedict wrote: “Irenaeus was first and foremost a man of faith and a Pastor. Like a good Pastor, he had a good sense of proportion, a wealth of doctrine, and missionary enthusiasm. As a writer, he pursued a twofold aim: to defend true doctrine from the attacks of heretics, and to explain the truth of the faith clearly.”

Unity and peace in the Church and unity and peace with God do not come from knowing better than the Church, but receiving and practicing the whole Truth, in obedience to the Word of God and Apostolic Tradition.  

May St. Irenaeus help us to foster authentic Christianity unity on earth through faithfulness to Christian Truth, that we may come to communion with God in heaven for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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Let us turn to God in prayer, asking for the intercession of St. Irenaeus, as we strive to faithfully adhere to the teachings of Christ and the Apostles.

That bishops, priests, and deacons may be inspired by the example of St. Irenaeus to defend true doctrine with clarity and compassion, fostering unity and peace within the Church, protecting the transmission of the faith from heresy, and guiding all people to the truth of Christ. Let us pray to the Lord.

That those tasked with spreading the Gospel may be emboldened by the example of St. Irenaeus, sharing the faith with enthusiasm and clarity, and bringing many to the fullness of truth in Christ. Let us pray to the Lord.

That those who have been misled by erroneous beliefs may find their way back to the truth of the Gospel, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the loving support of the Christian community. Let us pray to the Lord.

That scholars and theologians may approach the study of faith with humility and a sincere desire to deepen their understanding of the truths revealed by Christ, without deviating from the Apostolic Tradition. Let us pray to the Lord.

For the sick, the impoverished, the lonely, those suffering from mental illness, those most in need, and those near death: may God, through the mercy of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, be close to them in their trials

That through the intercession of St. Irenaeus, we may foster authentic Christian unity and peace in our parishes, families, and communities, reflecting the love and truth of Christ in all our interactions. Let us pray to the Lord.

Almighty God, through the intercession of St. Irenaeus, strengthen our faith and unity. Help us to remain faithful to the teachings of Christ and the Apostles, and grant us the grace to live out these truths in our daily lives. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

10th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2024 - Fellowship, unity, and guarding against division

I’d like to first begin by repeating the sentiments I’ve expressed in the bulletin this weekend. Thank  you to all who took part in the parish picnic last week: members of parish council and volunteers who helped with the planning and set-up, all who brought food, and those who simply attended adding to the fellowship we were able to enjoy. 

Fellowship is a vital dimension of the Christian life. One might call it one of the pillars of our faith. Nowhere in Scripture do we get the impression that the mission of the Church relies solely on a single person. God Himself is not a single person. So Christians are not meant to be lone rangers.

Yes, each of us are to cultivate a personal relationship with God—learning to listen to him, to talk to him, to recognize him in the details of your life—cultivating a deep personal love for Him in your heart. And that’s something that I can’t do for you. The personal relationship with God requires individual effort. 

While we are all to personally nurture that personal relationship with God, we are also part of a community of believers. Jesus founded a church, called groups of people together to work together and worship together. 

A parish, like St. Ignatius of Antioch parish, is not simply a building or set of buildings in which individuals gather for simply my personal moment with Jesus and then i go home. A parish is a sort of headquarters, in which we plan and engage in the mission of the Church given to us by Christ together. A parish is a unique Christian community with unique gifts and challenges.

Throughout his new testament letters, St. Paul is uniqueness of the various Christian communities he visited: the Philippians, the Galatians, the Ephesians, the Thessalonians, the Corinthians. Like our own, each of those communities had its unique gifts and unique challenges.

Paul praised the Philippians for instance, for their generous support of the Church. And for their strong sense of partnership—they grasped the notion of cooperation in the spread of the Gospel. Yet they were not without challenges. Paul had to address disunity and rivalry among the Philippians. 

The Galatians too had their gifts—Paul describes how they experienced a tremendous outpouring of the holy Spirit and miracles, even, were evident. Yet Paul had to address how members of the Galatian church were being swayed by a "different gospel," as he called it—some members were insisting that gentiles had to be circumcised if they were to be saved. And where does Jesus teach that? So Paul had to correct their sacramental theology—that baptism alone is needed for salvation. 

So, too, the Ephesians. Paul praised their strong faith in Christ,  and their love for the saints. He thanked God for their profound spiritual blessings that were evident among them. Yet, the Ephesians had challenges. Paul challenged them to grow in unity and maturity, to put off their old way of life and put on the new one. He detected some willful ignorance in them, hardness of heart, callousness, licentiousness and impurity.

And then there were the Corinthians! The Corinthians, Paul wrote were enriched in speech and knowledge, and they had a variety of spiritual gifts. But just because they knew the faith and were eloquent in explaining it, didn’t mean they were living it. There were divisions and quarrels among them. They tolerated sexual immorality among them. They had disagreements about marriage and food offered to idols. They also had arguments about theology.  They had issues with disorder in worship. Their culture divisions, political divisions, theological divisions, and spiritual divisions were threatening their mission and their souls.

So, to address their many divisions, Paul gave them theological guidance and practical advice. He stressed the importance of right teaching, but also the need to act in accordance with that teaching. He reminded them that their primary identity was in Christ, not in any human leader. He urged them to build their lives not on the wisdom of the world, but the wisdom of God—that true wisdom is found in the message of the cross, not in human eloquence or philosophy. Since division is often a rotten fruit of pride and selfishness, Paul called the Corinthians to practice Christlike humility and love. He gave them practical instructions on how to handle their disputes and disagreements, and instruction on how to conduct orderly liturgies. 

Above all, Paul emphasized that love should be the guiding principle in all things. He presented love as the antidote to the rivalry and pride that were causing divisions—"love is patient, love is kind, love is not jealous: it is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

Paul, the keen pastor, addressed the divisions in those early communities, like Corinth, because, like our Master in the Gospel, Paul knew that a house divided against itself will not be able to stand. Christian friendship, fellowship, faith, communal worship, unity of belief strengthen the church, where selfishness, isolation, ignorance, liturgical impiety, and attachment to the values of the world cause disunity, division, and a weakening of a community.

I focus on this issue of unity this weekend, again, because it has been so good to see the parish come together in a number of ways the past few weeks. The Light for love event was such a beautiful example of different members of the parish with different spiritual gifts working together in an evangelical effort. And also, the parish picnic. And the garden club and SVDP. The more we can work together, the better.

I also focus on this issue we are head toward a season wrought with challenge. Election season is just around the corner. And I know this parish has a wide spectrum of political views. But in the Spirit of St. Paul I urge you, please do not allow political differences, and emotions surrounding political opinions keep you from working together, loving one another patiently, praying with each other and for each other. 

There are people who have walked away from the Church and the sacraments because their political views were irreconcilable with church teaching. Don’t make that mistake. Don’t let politics divide you from Christ—and cause division in this parish.

As things get heated up in the world these next few months, we’ll need to fortify ourselves. Fast for peace, make frequent sacramental confessions, and visits to the blessed sacrament, pray for the holy spirit to guard us against division and show us ways to work together, pray together, and love one another. 

Remember, the words of Paul: “what is seen is transitory, but what is unseen is eternal.” Our task, isn’t to fix the world, it’s unfixable, but to draw souls to Christ, to unity with Him and His Body the Church, to the kingdom that is eternal, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

7th Week of Easter 2024 - Wednesday - Unity through loving and joyful obedience

We have been reading for two weeks from Jesus’ Farewell Speech at the Last Supper, chapters 14-17 of the Gospel of John. 

Throughout the discourse, the Lord emphasizes the relationship between love and obedience. He repeatedly calls on his disciples to demonstrate their love for him by obediently keeping his commandments. 

We seek to faithfully observe the commandments of God out of love, for faithfulness is pleasing to God. And so we zealously seek to rid ourselves of infidelity, to muzzle our unfaithful tongues, discipline our willful spirits, and restrain our disordered appetites. And the Christian does so zealously, happily, and enthusiastically. Again because loving fidelity is pleasing to our Father. We show our love and practice love by keeping God’s commandments. 

A devotion to keeping God’s commandments—to following the rules of our Father’s household—is not pharisaical religion. Rather, it is a participation in the salvific sacrifice of Christ—who obediently accepted death, death on a cross—out of love for His Father.

In his rule, St. Benedict writes, “The first degree of humility is prompt obedience” To be poor in spirit like Christ, to hunger and thirst for righteousness, means to desire a practice obedience.

The great doctor St. Francis de Sales writes, “Obedience is a virtue of so excellent a nature, that Our Lord was pleased to mark its observance upon the whole course of His life; thus He often says, He did not come to do His own will, but that of His Heavenly Father.” 

Obedience is the means of aligning one's will with God's will, which is central to Christian discipleship. For we are to follow in the footsteps of the obedient Son of God. We are to surrender personal preferences and desires to fulfill a higher purpose—God’s Holy Will. “Not my will, but Thy will be done”. 

Obedience to God is the glue that unites Christians. At the conclusion of his Farewell speech, the Lord prays that his disciples be one, just as he is one with the Father—a oneness that is manifest in the Son’s obedience to the Father. 

Thomas Aquinas writes, “Obedience unites us so closely to God that in a way transforms us into Him, so that we have no other will but His. If obedience is lacking, even prayer cannot be pleasing to God.”

Faithfulness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. If faithfulness is not evident in our decisions, our connection to the Holy Spirit is damaged and compromised. Joylessness in the Christian life is almost always a sign that disobedience has taken root. For sinful disobedience causes the other spiritual fruits, like joy, peace, patience, and self-control to wither.

May the Holy Spirit, whose descent upon the Church we prepare to celebrate at Pentecost, draw us into ever deeper unity with the Father and with one another, through a sharing in the loving obedience of the Son, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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That the ordained and all members of the Church throughout the world may be a more visible sign of the love of God for humanity, calling all people to new life and communion with Him; and that our parish may bear witness with great confidence to the Resurrection of Christ and his tender love for sinners and for the poor

For those who do not believe in God and for those who have fallen away from the Church.

For an increase in the gifts of the Holy Spirit among all Christians, and for all who are persecuted for the faith.

That during this month of May, all people may turn their hearts to the Blessed Virgin Mary, seeking her aid and imploring her intercession with increased and fervent devotion, imitating her example of Faith, Hope, and Love. 

For the sick, the suffering, those in nursing homes, hospitals, and hospice care, for the underemployed and unemployed, for the imprisoned, those with addictions, for those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, that the Spirit of Consolation may comfort them.

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

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

31st Week in Ordinary Time 2022 - Monday - Strive for Unity

 St. Paul, in his mission to build up the Church, both sought to convert non-believers and also strengthen the faith of those who had already begun to believe.

Scripture contains fourteen letters attributed to St. Paul in which he helps to lead Christians deeper into union with Christ. But each of those letters has its own unique themes and goals. The letter to the Philippians is neither a treatise on systematic theology, like Paul’s epistle to the Romans, nor is it a practical, moral letter answering many specific questions and local problems, like I Corinthians.  Rather, Philippians is a pastoral letter in which Paul expresses his love for the Philippians and shepherds them to a deeper love of Christ and each other.

And he states this pretty clearly in today’s reading, “complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love”

Through faith and baptism Christians are joined together and joined to God. Unity of divided humanity has been brought about by God through Christ. But…unity also requires work on our part.

The Catechism speaks of this when it says, “Christ always gives his Church the gift of unity, but the Church must always pray and work to maintain, reinforce, and perfect the unity that Christ wills for her (CCC 820).”

We are united to God through Christ. And we are united to each other through Christ so much so that every Christian who has ever lived in any part of the world is called our brother and sister. Our unity is part of Christ’s victory—he died to rejoin what was severed in sin—a loss of unity with God and each other. And that unity heals and restores what was lost. And by our unity, we witness to the world of what God has done for us through Christ.

We have a vocation—to be one—to be united in faith and united in love, as St. Paul explains today. And this requires that we cooperate with the grace of God—through real effort and will on our part. Again, the Catechism lays this out nicely:

Permanent renewal in unity, the catechism says requires constant “conversion of heart” on the part of the faithful, seeking to live holier lives according to the Gospel." It is the unfaithfulness to the Gospel which continues to cause divisions, so we must seek constant conversion.

Unity requires common prayer. The family that prays together stays together, and that’s true for the Church. But also people who are experiencing division also need to pray together, for change in heart, and unity, comes through seeking God’s will in prayer. 

Unity comes through fraternal knowledge of each other. Christians should seek to know each other, share our lives with each other, and our needs and trials with each other. We can’t know everyone perfectly, but people who pray together should share their life stories with each other. Spaghetti dinners and clambakes and parish picnics and nametag/donut Sundays and opening up your homes for small prayer groups serve this purpose. 

There shouldn’t be a single person who comes into this church building for more than a few weeks, who would say, “no one knows me, no one reached to me”. If you see a stranger, please greet them.

Concern for achieving unity "involves the whole Church, faithful and clergy alike” may each of us respond to God’s grace in fulfilling Christ’s Last Supper prayer, that we may be one as he and the Father are one, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That the Gospel may be for divided humanity the source of unity and peace, and for a healing of sinful divisions within the Church.

That those seeking political office in the upcoming Election will be dedicated to authentic justice, peace, and the good of all.

As the month of October comes to a close, may the rosary of Our Lady be a source of great graces for the Church and for the world. 

For the impoverished and sick and those experiencing any sort of trial: that Jesus the Bread of Life will be their sustenance.

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

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.

June 28 2022 - St. Irenaeus - Doctor of Unity

 On January 21 of this year, Holy Father Pope Francis issued a decree declaring St. Irenaeus as a Doctor of the Church. St. Irenaeus is the first Doctor of the Church believed to have been a martyr, and, having died around 202, he holds the distinction of being the most ancient of the Church’s now-37 Doctors of the Church. 

As Bishop of Lyon, in addition to his administrative duties, Irenaeus took up the project of addressing the heresies that were threatening the unity of the Church. This is why Pope Francis called declared Irenaeus, the Doctor of Unity.

And the heresy that was most prevalent at the time was Gnosticism. The Gnostics claimed to have secret knowledge of God that was superior to the faith taught by the Apostles and they looked down on anyone who did not believe or act the way they did.  In other words, they thought they knew better than the Church.  

Bishop Irenaeus preached and taught and wrote against the gnostics of his day, but that old heresy has shown its face in every age of the Church.  How many times have you heard the following:  “Jesus doesn’t really care if I go to Church every week.”  “I don’t need to confess my sins to a priest.”  “Jesus doesn’t mind if I live with my girlfriend or we use contraception, we’ve prayed about it.”

Christianity is not a personal creation, or secret knowledge, or private revelation. It’s not something for intellectual to recreate every century that allows us to deviate from Apostolic Tradition due to changing societal mores. 

The true Gospel is the one received in an uninterrupted line from the Apostles. Irenaeus himself was a student of St. Polycarp, who was a student of the Apostle John, who himself laid his head at the heart of the Savior. 

One characteristic of these Gnostic groups is that with all of their supposed special knowledge of God, they quickly became fragmented and divided, always breaking off from one another, as has happened in all of the protestant denominations and even in some Catholic parishes.  Unity and peace in the Church and unity and peace with God do not come from knowing better than the Church, but receiving the whole Truth, in obedience to Apostolic Tradition.  

In the Gospel for the feast of Irenaeus, we read of the Lord praying at the last supper, that his followers may be one, as He and the Father are one. May St. Irenaeus help us to be faithful to fostering authentic Christian unity on earth that we may come to communion with God in heaven for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

 

That our bishops and clergy may be zealous in preaching and teaching the truth of the Gospel, and for a healing of division in the Church. 

For an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated religious life, for the sanctification of marriages, and for increased commitment on behalf of all the faithful to the works of mercy and the evangelizing mission.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, 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 the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, for the deceased priests and religious of the diocese of Cleveland, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

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

Pentecost 2022 - Unity

 

On Friday, the Holy Father, met with a delegation of young priests and monks from the Eastern Orthodox Churches—so the Greek Orthodox, Ukrainian Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox and so on. And that is quite the feat, as the Orthodox Churches, historically have not always had the most cordial of relationships with Rome nor with each other. So to get everyone in a room together, in Rome, is already a Pentecost miracle. But then the Holy Father took the opportunity to speak to this disparate group, about one of the important themes of Pentecost: unity. “Strive to preserve the unity of the spirit” St. Paul writes to the Ephesians. The Lord himself prayed for the church’s unity at the Last supper, “I pray Father, that they may be one, as you and I are one.”

The Holy Father offered four insights about what Pentecost teaches us about unity. 

Firstly, the Holy Father said unity is a “gift…a fire from on high”. Unity is a gift from God. With all of our divisions in the human family and even in the Church, the Holy Father says, yes, we need to take great efforts to work for unity: prayer, dialogue, disposing ourselves to what God wants for us, but unity, says Pope Francis, is primarily “not a fruit of earth, but of heaven. It is not primarily the result of our commitment, OUR efforts and OUR agreements,” he says, “but of the working of the Holy Spirit, to whom we need to open our hearts in trust, so that he can guide us along the path to full communion. Unity is a grace, a gift.”

So, yes, we need to do our part, but in the end, all human efforts fail, they are insufficient, for the unification of divided humanity is ultimately the work of God. Jesus came to reconcile us to one another and to the Father, something that we could not and cannot do on our own. No amount of secular human progress will create unity. We need God if we hope to live in unity.

A second lesson that Pentecost teaches us is that unity God wants for us is not necessarily uniformity,” he said, “much less the fruit of compromise or fragile diplomatic balances of power. Unity is harmony in the diversity of the charisms bestowed by the Spirit. For the Holy Spirit loves to awaken both multiplicity and unity, as at Pentecost, where different languages were not reduced to one alone, but were taken up in all their variety. Harmony is the way of the Spirit, for, as Saint Basil the Great says, the Spirit is harmony.”

One of the things I love about St. Ignatius is our harmonious  and diverse unity. On any given Sunday we have folks from the neighborhood, folks who’ve moved away, life-long parishioners, and neophytes, catholics from various ethnic backgrounds, economic strata, and professions. Parishioners with so many different gifts. And we offer two forms of the holy mass, the ordinary form in English, and the old rite, both in harmony, hopefully mutually enriching each other, teaching each other, both bringing about a diversity of charisms from the Holy Spirit. 

A third lesson of Pentecost, the Holy Father explains,  is that unity is a journey. “Unity is attained along the way” he says, “it grows by sharing each step of the journey, by facing its joys and struggles, and experiencing its unexpected surprises. As Saint Paul told the Galatians, we are called to walk by the Spirit. In the words of Saint Irenaeus, whom the Holy Father named as the Doctor of Unity, the Church is tõn adelphõn synodía, in the Greek, “a caravan of brothers”. In this caravan, unity grows and matures: a unity that – in God’s quiet way – does not suddenly appear as an overwhelming miracle, but quietly emerges in the patient and persevering progress of a journey made together.” What a beautiful image. A caravan wherein each of the members are seeking growth in our unique virtues, but growing in holiness, together.

Are we here at St. Ignatius, or in the Diocese of Cleveland, “perfectly one”, as the Lord, prayed for at the Last Supper? Not quite. Are we “of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing” as St. Paul taught the Philippians. Not quite. But Paul said, strive to be of the same mind, meaning, it is an effort, a journey, as the Holy Father says.. As I preached about last week, our unity comes from our personal assent to the truths, the dogmas of the faith, and our worship of the one true God. But we have some ways to go, don’t we.

Lastly, the Holy Father explains that unity “is closely tied to the fruitfulness of the Christian proclamation: unity is for mission.  Jesus prayed for his disciples that they “may all be one… so that the world may believe” (Jn 17:21). At Pentecost, the Church was born as a missionary Church. Today too, the world is waiting…to hear the Gospel message of charity, freedom and peace. It is a message that we are called to bear witness to with one another, not against one another or apart from one another.”

Unity is for mission. St. Ignatius of Antioch has a mission to the neighborhood, to the fallen away Catholics, and angry or hurt Catholics, the unchurched, the drug-addled, the freemasons, the protestants, the muslims. It’s not just my mission folks. It’s our mission. Our communal mission from God. And I pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to send us insight into how to fulfill that mission, and strength for that mission. 

Please pray for your parish throughout the week. If you cannot come to daily mass throughout the week, make sure you lift your parish up to God, and your pastor. These are complex times aren’t they? Confusing times. But God chose us to be here now, in 2022, for the work of the Gospel. May we be one in our mission.

The Holy Father concluded his thoughts, “Dear brothers, may the cross of Christ be the compass that directs us on our journey towards full unity. For on that cross Christ, our peace, reconciled us and gathered us into one people” 

May we draw close to the cross of Christ every day, to be set alight with spiritual fire, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

November 12 2021 - St. Josaphat, martyr - Unity with God, Church, and Neighbor

 At the last supper, the Lord prayed for his followers—he prayed for the Apostles present with him in the upper room, and he prayed for the Church—that through the ages she would remain united in faith and love. "Holy Father, I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may be one.” While his death was looming, the most terrible of sufferings anyone had ever or would ever suffer, he was thinking of us and praying for us, for our unity in the truth of the Gospel, ““Your word, father, is truth…consecrate them in the truth”

The unity of the Church is always threatened by sin and error. And so we find the holy saints throughout history seeking unity with God through mortification, unity in the Church through right teaching, and unity with neighbor through charity. There can be no sanctity without mortification, right teaching, and works of charity.

St. Paul, of course, often wrote to the fledgling communities about avoiding anything that led to division. “With diligence preserve unity” he writes to the Ephesians, for “there is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

St. Josephat spent his life laboring for the unity of the Church and was a martyr for Church unity because he died trying to bring part of the Orthodox Church into union with Rome.  He’s known as the apostle of union because he gave us life working for the unity of the Church. 

He was born into an orthodox family in 1580, but as an adult he joined one of the eastern churches that had recently returned to full communion with the Roman Catholic Church. Through education, reform of the clergy and personal example, Josephat succeeded in winning over the majority of the Orthodox in his diocese to full communion with Rome.  But those who opposed Church unity and communion with Rome plotted his death, and he was martyred in 1623. With furious cries of “Kill the Papist!”, He was struck on the head and shot and thrown into the river— killed by a mob who opposed his efforts.  

Like his Lord, Josephat died for unity. For the Lord indeed died that our unity with God destroyed by sin might be restored, and that the wounds of sin and division in the human family might be healed. As we know there are great divisions in our nation, there are many family members estranged from one another, there are many who have set themselves at odds with God through sin. Division caused by sin and pride always brings unneeded suffering, sadness and diminishment.

Through the intercession of St. Josephat and all the saints, seek that unity God desires for us, unity with Himself, unity with the Church, unity with neighbor for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For the healing of the wounds of all Christian division and for success in the work of evangelization.

For perseverance in carrying our crosses in fidelity to the Lord Jesus.

For safety for travelers and for the homeless and destitute affected by cold and inclement weather.

That we may be attentive to the needs of the sick, the poor, and the despairing in our midst.

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

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

23rd Week in Ordinary Time 2021 - Tuesday - Restoration through Christ and His Apostles

 Making our way through the Gospel of Luke at these weekday Masses, one of the themes that has been evident from the start is that of restoration. The Lord has come to restore what was lost through sin, what has been damaged through mankind’s involvement with evil. 

We’ve seen the Lord cast out a demon in the synagogue of Capernaum, restoring him to freedom, bringing a sort of restoration to the synagogue community itself, whose prayer and gathering had been thrown into chaos by this demonic activity. The Lord has worked many healing miracles so far, restoring many to health. He is restoring man’s conscience—his moral and religious conscience—a conscience weakened and clouded by error and sin—in his call to repentance and belief in His Gospel.

The theme of restoration is also at work in today’s Gospel about the establishment of the Twelve as the Apostles of his Church. The number Twelve of course has profound biblical significance—through the twelve apostles, the Lord Jesus is regathering the twelve tribes of Israel in fulfillment of Israel’s hope for ultimate restoration. Israel, scattered, oppressed by the political powers of the world, and inundated with sin hoped to be restored by God as a holy nation, a royal priesthood, through the ministration of the Messiah. 

In building his Church on the twelve Apostles, Jesus was fulfilling Israel’s hopes of restoration and ushering in the final stage of human history. This is the era of the Church—the New Israel in which all humanity is gathered in union with God through Christ and restored through his teaching and grace.

In the Church we see individual restoration—in the call to conversion from sin and a healing of our vices, a personal restoration of our estrangement from God. We also see the communal restoration—foreshadowed by uniting of the Twelve Tribes of Israel into a united people—humanity divided is reconciled with each other through Christ.

As Catholics, we know well that the bishops, the successors of the apostles continue to exercise a very important role in the life of the Church—to help us remain united in faith, hope, and love throughout all the challenges faced in our modern world. Sadly, disunity and division continue to occur when we stray from the apostolic faith, when individuals and groups stray from apostolic unity and also when the apostles are negligent in their duties.

So we pray for the Church and pray for the bishops that the Lord may continue to restore us through the Gospel—to restore our humanity, to restore the unity God designed for humanity from the beginning, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

 

For Pope Francis, successor to the apostle Peter, our diocesan Bishop Edward Malesic, and all the Bishops and Clergy, that they may lead the Church in Spirit and Truth and in faithfulness to all that Christ teaches. 

For those who have strayed from the flock of Christ, for those who have fallen to the empty, seductive philosophies of the world, for their return to the life of grace.

For the sick and afflicted, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, for victims of natural disaster and inclement weather, those who suffer from war, violence, and terrorism, for the mentally ill, those with addictions, the imprisoned, the unchaste, 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.

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Adore, Bow Down, and Kneel before the Lord

 Many of you know that our beautiful church of St. Ignatius of Antioch was not the first church building built on this property. In 1903 a brick structure was built which was a combination church and school. Within a decade it was evident that the church wasn’t going to be big enough for the quickly growing parish. The population of the neighborhood was growing due to urban flight from the city for a number of reasons. For one, your great grandparents generation came out here as the city began filling up due to new immigrants coming to Cleveland, some from Europe and some from the American South. Secondly, due to new factories, the big industrialized steel cities didn’t smell to good, and to move out to West Blvd. was a break from crowded smelly city life. Thirdly, a new church needed to be built because the family was growing, bigger families needed more pews. But also, the catholic family was growing because the Catholics were successful in sharing their faith with their non-Catholic neighbors.

So, ground was broken for the new church of St. Ignatius on April 4, 1925, with a lower church and upper church—big enough to house this booming Catholic population. Some of you may remember when mass was celebrated downstairs in the lower church and busses would pick up parishioners from around the neighborhood, as the parking lot never could quite accommodate all the Sunday worshippers in those days. 

I wish I could take you on a tour of the lower church, but’s it just not safe enough to be wandering around down there. Maybe one day, we’ll be able to afford a renovation to make the lower level usable at least for a gathering and meeting area. The lower level was accessed by the outside stairwells, and entering the church, you’d first be probably be struck at first by the pillars topped with these beautiful carved capitals depicting the four evangelists. 

And then kneeling down at your pew, you’d see, written in latin above the sanctuary, the words of our responsorial psalm today, the sixth verse of Psalm 95: Venite, adoremus et procidamus et genua flectamus ante Dominum. Come, let us adore and bow down and bend the knee before the Lord. 

Every time you’d come to church, you’d see this reminder, of what made this building different from the skyscrapers downtown and even the family home. It is here that God is worshiped. It is here that we show our faith and our love for God, by bending the knee, by kneeling before him and adoring him in the Blessed Sacrament.

Parish council shared with me that there was once an attempt to remove the kneelers from church, and and I’m so glad there was some resistance by the parishioners, because kneeling before God in God’s house, is a constitutive part of Catholic worship, a posture of humility we see already practiced by our Jewish ancestors. 

This is why kneeling at the Communion rail—kneeling for Communion—was custom for Roman Catholics, for well over a thousand years, closer to two thousand, than one. As an acknowledgement that you were kneeling down before the Lord himself present in the Sacrament.

As many of you know I’ve begun to offer on a weekly basis, on Monday evenings,  the Latin Mass, for the Mass which fed and nourished the souls of your grandparents is being rediscovered by new generations of Catholics. This Monday night, in particular, I will be celebrating the Solemn High Mass for the Feast of St. Ignatius of Antioch, which is February 1st on the old calendar. If it’s been a few decades or you’ve never experienced Solemn High Mass, come check it out on Monday evening. You might not understand everything that’s going on…but that’s okay, do we ever? But you can come and adore and bow down and kneel and pray. 

Friday night, I assisted at a solemn high mass, at St. Paul’s Parish down in Akron, at the conclusion of their week of Eucharistic devotions. The pastor, Father Matt Pfeiffer, my good friend and classmate, shared a story during the homily, Friday night, a story from our seminary days. The seminarians make a winter retreat before the beginning of the spring semester every year, and we were at a retreat house down in Columbus. There’s a saying amongst seminarians that God doesn’t call the perfect, he perfects the called, and this little aphorism was on full display on this retreat. There was a pair of seminarians who just didn’t get along—huge personality differences—they just couldn’t see eye-to-eye. They argued, often. And on the last day of the retreat, in a moment of real vulnerability, one of these seminarians opened up, and shared with the group, he said, it’s no secret that this other seminarian and I don’t get along, but last night, I went to the chapel, to kneel down and pray before the blessed sacrament, and I was there for some time, and when I looked over across the chapel, there, kneeling in adoration, was, Michael. And I realized, that despite our differences, both of us loved the Lord, in faith and adoration we were united.

And that’s what being Catholic is all about, isn’t it? Despite our difference, we adore, we bow down, and we kneel in the unity of faith. Despite our differences, we set them aside when we walk through these doors. White, black, rich, poor, conservative or progressive. This place has always been that way, where the very diverse people from the neighborhood, could come and kneel and worship. 

There’s been a lot of talk about unity these days. But any unity that is not based on living under God, or rather, kneeling before him, is artificial, and will never last. Honestly, I don’t think it’s a coincidence, that the civil unrest that we are experiencing in this country at this moment in history comes at a time when mass attendance amongst Catholics, church attendance in general, is at an all time low. For how can we have unity, if we do not rightly acknowledge and come to kneel before the source of that unity. 

Any national revival of civility, neighborly trust, or honesty in business, will only come as a result of spiritual and moral revival. And that is not something the government can mandate or enforce or fabricate. For without God, man can only impose an unholy uniformity through force and coercion, a counterfeit imposter of the sacred and charitable bonds of unity through Christ. 

You want to trust your neighbor again, kneel beside him in the eucharist. You want civility to reign even among people you disagree with politically? Kneel beside them. You want peace in your families, ensure you are kneeling together, and adoring the Lord together. 

To kneel before the Eucharist is to submit your life to Him, to renounce everything that does not come from him, anything unclean, as we heard in the Gospel, is to exorcized and expelled from our lives, any belief contrary to His teaching and the teaching of His holy church.

Those words, “Come, let us adore, and bow down, and worship” are an invitation that the Word of God makes to us, that we may know his peace and unity in this life as a foretaste of heaven. And yet, it is also a command, to carry that invitation to those we meet out in the world, to the unbeliever, to those who kneel before the false gods of the world, or only worship their own ego. We are sent by the Word of God into their lives, that, with God, we may be one, and know his peace and rest in his presence for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

29th Week in OT 2020 - Friday - Humility, Gentleness, Patience

From prison, Paul pleaded with his Christian brothers and sisters to "live a life worthy" of their calling.  

Paul then describes the type of conduct he is urging: humility, gentleness, patience. Let’s look at these three virtues.

For Paul, humility means regarding others as more important than ourselves.  To imitate the Lord’s humility, early Christians would wash each other’s feet, as Jesus did at the last supper. We are to stoop low in order to serve others. 

Next, Paul urges gentleness.  Here is another virtue evidenced and extolled by our Lord: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart.” What is gentleness? Gentleness involves calm, reasonable restraint. It avoids physical or emotional outbursts and harshness. It is careful not to bruise others. 

Thirdly, Paul says, be patient. The scriptural word for patience literally means, to be “long-tempered” as opposed to short-tempered. The Psalms describe God as “slow to anger”. Christians are to be “slow to anger”—putting-up with the faults and idiosyncrasies of others—even when we are bruised in the process.

Paul then explains the reason for these virtues: humility, gentleness, and patience help us to maintain unity which should be a hallmark of our relationships and of our Church.  Think of how many relationships are broken because humility, gentleness, and patience are not practiced—because self-restraint and patience are not practiced in speech and in deed. 

A marriage, a family, a parish, or a diocese, even, can become more and more divided when the call to practice these virtues is ignored. And it’s not easy. Our culture promotes not humility, gentleness, and patience, but arrogance, harshness, and pettiness. 

But when we practice these things, we exhibit a peace that the world does not know. We become a calm and peaceful harbor in which souls can discover Christ. 

But to do so, we must exert real effort to cultivate these virtues and to pray for these virtues. We must practice self-restraint and look for opportunities to stoop down in service. But when we do, we become ever-more effective instruments for the building up of the Church for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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On this day of prayer and fasting for priests, we pray for the sanctification of our priests, that they may have the endurance to remain faithful to their calling amidst so many challenges. Let us pray to the Lord.

For healing of all sinful division in our families, parishes, and diocese. Let us pray to the Lord.

For the transformation of all attitudes which lead to war, violence, racial hatred, and religious persecution.

That, during this month dedicated to the Holy Rosary, many Christians will discover new and deep devotion to Our Lady’s powerful intercession and maternal care for the Church

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

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for the repose of the souls of all those who made our reception of the faith possible. 

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.

7th Week of Easter 2020 - Wednesday - Consecrated in the Truth

The final section of John’s Gospel right before the Passion is a prayer that Jesus offers to the Father.  Scholars call it “The High Priestly Prayer” of Jesus.

We heard the beginning of this prayer yesterday. Jesus prays for his disciples because just as he is going to suffer in his Passion, they are going to suffer in their mission to spread the Gospel.
In today’s Gospel passage, the Lord’s High Priestly Prayer continues; the Lord continues to pray for his disciples. And what does he pray for today? “Father, keep them in your name, that they may be one as we are one.” The Lord prays for their unity, their unity with God and their unity with each other. On the night before he died, Jesus was praying for us, for our unity. Our unity in the truth of the Gospel, the truth that comes from God: “Your word, father, is truth…consecrate them in the truth” he prays. To be consecrated, is to be set apart from the rest. To be consecrated in the truth, we are set apart from the rest of the world that is divided due to error and hard-heartedness and pride that thinks they know better than God.

When Jesus speaks of the coming of the Holy Spirit, he calls the Spirit, the Spirit of Truth. “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth.” The Holy Spirit, whose descent upon the Church we celebrate in a few days, is the greater unifier of the Church, and He unifies us to believe the truth, live the truth, and profess the truth, of the Gospel.

The Holy Spirit will always help us to believe the truth, live the truth, and profess the truth. If we let Him.

You may have noticed that in the acts of the Apostles, St. Paul is giving a sort of farewell address as well. And in the passage from Acts today, St. Paul speaks about unity and truth, “I know that after my departure savage wolves will come among you, and they will not spare the flock. And from your own group, men will come forward perverting the truth to draw the disciples away after them.”

Nothing causes disunity like the perversion of truth. Nothing draws disciples away from the unity of the Church like the perversion of truth. St. Paul even recognizes that there are sometimes people within the Church who pervert the truth. “So be vigilant” he says. Hold fast to that which is good. Have the same mind as Jesus Christ.

Truth isn’t determined by a majority vote, it’s not determined by Twitter, Fox News or CNN. The truth of how we are to live, how we are to conduct ourselves, comes from God. “Your word, father, is truth.” So we read the Scriptures, and re-read them, and re-read them that we might conform to the truth found within them. We read and study our catechism, and re-read it, and re-read it, to more deeply understand the truth explained in it. Because the truth is the only hope we have, the Truth which sets us free from our self-destructive tendencies, the truth which illuminates our path in troubled times, confused times, and dark times. May we be consecrated in the truth, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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

For Pope Francis, and all the bishops: may they rightly lead the Body of Christ in the fullness of Christian truth. And that the Holy Spirit may guide the Holy Father in choosing a new bishop for the diocese of Cleveland, a bishop who is convicted of the Truth!

For our President and all elected government representatives, may the Holy Spirit grant them wisdom and guide them to promote domestic tranquility, national unity, respect for religious freedom, and a greater reverence for the sanctity of Human Life.

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

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

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

2nd Week of Easter 2019 - Tuesday - Unity of Believers

Early in the Easter season, our attention is drawn by our readings from the acts of the apostles to that early group of Christians, living in Jerusalem, just weeks and months after the resurrection of Jesus. We hear today about the profound unity of this group of Christians, unity which is to serve as a model for Christians of all ages.

Their unity could be seen in their concern for one another, their administration of their material goods, their evangelization efforts, their deference to the apostles, and their unity of belief. “They were of one heart and mind.”

Could we say the same here at St. Ignatius of Antioch? In the diocese of Cleveland?
In some ways, yes, I think. The communal charity of the early Church was seen in their willingness to sacrifice for each other, to use their own goods for the good of the other. This parish has a long history of profound charity. And our diocese, year after year, runs the largest Catholic Charities, not just in the country, but in the world.

And such charity does not come from being compelled. The Church is not Communist in the sense that her functions are compelled by a Communist Dictator. Rather, our Christian Charity here is born from love and freedom.

Unity in the community of Christians, is hard work, just like unity in a marriage. And we are always being challenged, aren’t we, to grow in unity. Are we of one heart, always, with the universal Church, with the Bishop, with the Pope, with the Magisterium? If not, why not? What needs to change in us?
The Lord Jesus in the Gospel today describes the Holy Spirit like a wind, that blows in particular directions, and those “born of the Spirit” through baptism, are to follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Are we of one heart in discerning and following the inspirations of the Holy Spirit within our parish and community? If not, what needs to change?

A community of believers of one mind and heart, certainly requires individuals who make every personal effort to work for that unity.  One of the things the Lord Jesus came to overcome through his death and resurrection are the divisions which hinder God’s people from following the Divine Will. May the power of the Lord’s Resurrection heal our wounds of sin and division, and lead us in the ways of the Spirit, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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Filled with Paschal joy, let us turn earnestly to God, to graciously hear our prayers and supplications.
For the shepherds of our souls, that they may have the strength to govern wisely the flock entrusted to them by the Good Shepherd.
For the whole world, that it may truly know the peace of the Risen Christ, especially for all victims of religious violence.
For our parish, that we may bear witness with great confidence to the Resurrection of Christ.
For our brothers and sisters who suffer, that their sorrow may be turned to gladness through the Christian faith.
That all of our beloved dead and all the souls in purgatory may come to the glory of the Resurrection.
O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the desires of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our lord.

Holy Thursday 2019 - School Prayer Service - Lessons from the Last Supper

We’ve come now to the final hours of Lent. And in just a few hours the Church will gather for the Evening mass of the Lord’s Supper, where Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, where he turned bread and wine into his body and blood, where he made his apostles the first priests of the Church, and where Jesus prays, for his disciples.
Jesus,  at his last supper knew he was about to die.  Like a man on his deathbed, he will speak the words that he wants his disciples to remember, the lessons, he wants them to learn.  We hear and see at the Last Supper what is most important to him, what he values most—the priorities of his entire life.  And what are they?  I submit to you, they are three.

First of all, he is going to show us the priority of humility and loving service.  This was just proclaimed in the Gospel.  Consider what happens when Jesus washes feet. God, the creator of the universe, washed the dirty, smelly feet of the disciples who walked on those dusty, muddy, manure-ridden streets of Jerusalem.  God washes feet.

And Jesus says, “I have given you a model to follow”.  Jesus mandates that that we are to serve God and our fellow man in all humility.  Not shunning those dirty, hard, humiliating tasks, but performing them out of duty and love.   Here God shows us how we are to live. Not to trample your neighbor, not to hate your neighbor, but to kneel down before him in service.  So lesson number one: loving, humble service.

The second: At the Last Supper, Jesus gives us the eucharist. Jesus knows he is going to die, and so he turns bread and wine into his body and blood. And he makes his apostles priests, so that they can continue to make the Eucharist available for all of time.

Jesus doesn’t want us to simply remember what happened all those 2000 years ago. He wants to be with us now. This is why when we come into a Catholic church we bend the knee to the tabernacle. To acknowledge that we believe that Jesus is here now. And anytime we want. We can come to Church and know that Jesus is here. We can speak to him, we can kneel in his presence and pray to him. We can know that God loves us and cares for us and wants to be part of our lives. He wants to nourish our souls like food nourishes our bodies so that we can become the people he made us to be.

Finally, at the last supper Jesus prayed. Chapter 17 of St. John’s Gospel contains the longest prayer of Jesus to be recorded in Scripture. The prayer he prayed at the Last supper. In this prayer, he lifts his eyes to heaven, as he will hours later on the cross. And he prays: “Father, the hour has come: glorify your Son so that your Son may glorify you since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent”. Jesus’ mission is to help us know God and believe in God, that we may have eternal life.

He then prays: Father, I am giving up my life, that they may be one, that they may be one. Humans have many reasons to be divided. Different color skin, different parents, our families are from different countries, we have different ideas about how the world should work. But Jesus prayed that we may be one. Unity through him, peace through him, eternal life through Him.

May we use the time we have been given to think about how God is calling each of us to grow in those three lessons of Jesus: how we can grow in humble service, how we can open our hearts to the ways God wishes to feed our souls, and how we are called to be one, to work together to bring about God’s kingdom…for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

3rd Week of Lent 2018 - Thursday - A divided house cannot stand

There are three accounts in the Gospels in which Jesus states that a kingdom divided against itself is laid waste or a house divided cannot stand (Luke 11:17; Mark 3:25; Matthew 12:25). All three instances of this statement are spoken in response to the Pharisees’ accusation that Jesus was casting out demons by the power of Satan.

Jesus points out that their claim is ridiculous, that the Pharisees themselves were divided. They claimed to serve God, and yet, their error,
their self-serving traditions, exposed their interior division.
Scripture speaks often about the danger of division. St. James writes that the double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. The Christian who is divided in his loyalty between the Gospel and the world will experience instability, insanity, in a sense.

St. Paul writes to the Corinthians, a community riddled with division: division in belief and division in practice. Many Christians in Corinth failed to reject immoral practices like drunkenness, lust, theft and extortion, and this was bringing ruin to the community. St. Paul writes to Timothy, that servants of the Lord should not be quarrelsome. Quarrelsomeness which pits brother against brother, spouse against spouse, parent against child, destroys the peace and harmony which should mark Christian communities and Christian families.

Rather, God commands unity of believers and also single-heartedness within the individual Christian. Unity of belief is to be a mark of the Church. Cafeteria-Catholicism, where one picks and chooses which doctrines to believe, which moral teachings to follow, certainly undermines the Church’s credibility in the present age. But it also undermines the power of the Gospel to bring peace and strength and joy to our hearts.

The season of Lent impels us into the desert with Jesus, to engage in the prayer and fasting which brings about the single-mindedness which should characterize the Christian life, which characterized the faithfulness of the Son of God in the mission given to Him by his Father.

St. John Paul, in the encyclical Evangelium Vitae, the Gospel of Life, writes that "Prayer and fasting are the first and most effective weapons against the forces of evil." Prayer and fasting are life-giving practices because they expose us to the source of life, God Himself. They heal us of our interior-dividedness, and transform us into ever-more effective instruments of peace and love in the Church and in the world, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For the whole Christian people, that in this sacred Lenten season, they may be more abundantly nourished by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

For the whole world, that in lasting tranquility and peace our days may truly become the acceptable time of grace and salvation.

For sinners and those who neglect right religion, that in this time of reconciliation they may return wholeheartedly to Christ.

For ourselves, that God may at last stir up in our hearts aversion for our sins and conviction for the Gospel.

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

Grant, we pray, O Lord, that your people may turn to you with all their heart, so that whatever they dare to ask in fitting prayer they may receive by your mercy.