13th Week of Ordinary Time 2025 - Wednesday - Truth and Action

 During these normal weekdays of Ordinary Time, we read sequentially through the Gospels from the beginning of the Lord’s public ministry to right before his Passion.

Reading through the Gospel of Matthew, we notice a structure that repeats throughout the book. The Lord gives a teaching, then there is action. Teaching and action. Teaching and action. The Lord teaches in parables, conveying truths about discipleship, and then he goes out and acts—performing miracles and exorcisms, bringing comfort and deliverance to the afflicted. Through his actions, Jesus demonstrates that he’s not some charlatan who only offers empty words. His words are backed up by action. 

Why should you believe him? Why should you heed his words—his warnings, his challenges, his moral guidance? His actions back up his words. Certainly, an important lesson for all of us. That as Christians, we are to preach and teach in Christ’s name, but our actions must back up our words.

Catechesis, evangelization, religious instruction, counseling the doubtful, instructing the ignorant, sharing the Gospel, must all be backed up by action—works. Works of charity. Works of mercy. Concrete penances.

The Word of God attests to this. “Faith without works is dead” writes, St. James. You’ve no doubt heard the aphorism attributed to St. Francis, friend of our patron, St. Clare. “Preach the Gospel, always, sometimes use words”. If Francis didn’t actually say that, he might as well have because his life was one of constant works of mercy and penance. His evangelical poverty gave credence and testimony to his words. And the same must be for all of us. 

Teaching and Action. Words and Works. Since the end of the Easter season, we had been reading from one of those long teaching sections, the Lord’s famous Sermon on the Mount, comprising chapters 5 thru seven of Matthew. But this week, we began reading from one of those action sections, chapter 8.  Like those other many action sections, we find the Lord performing healing miracles and exorcisms—works that bring deliverance to others.

Today we heard how the Lord delivered to demon possessed men from their bondage. And you might think, what power do I have to exorcize demons? Well, again, those works of charity can break bonds in people’s lives. When they witness us feeding the hungry, visiting the sick, that softens there heart to Christ.

But on the other hand, we don’t have the power to cast out demons on our own. This is why that teaching part is also important. When we cultivate the Truth of Christ in our hearts, by listening to the Teacher in our own faith formation, when we allow him to teach us in our daily meditation and prayer and our reception of the sacraments, then his life within us grows, so that when we encounter the demon possessed soul, he’s the one that does performs the exorcisms, he’s the one that casts out demons, through us.

Lord, make us instruments of your peace, your goodness, and your life, cultivate your life within us through your truth, and make us people of divine action, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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We bring our prayers of petition to the Lord.

For the Church: That she may faithfully teach the truths of Christ and live them out through works of charity, mercy, and justice, giving powerful witness to the Gospel in every place and age.

For those bound by sin, addiction, or spiritual oppression: That through the power of Christ and the witness of Christian charity, they may find freedom, healing, and new life.

For all victims of war, for peace in the Holy Land, an end to the violence and the consolation of the suffering. May God come to the assistance of the communities and families devastated by terrorism and war; and may world leaders work together for peace.

For the sick, the poor, and the suffering: That they may be comforted by Christ’s presence and aided by the loving works of His disciples.

For the faithful departed: That, purified by God’s mercy, they may rejoice forever in His Kingdom of peace and light. Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord Jesus, you came to teach us the way to the Father and to deliver us from all evil. Hear our prayers and make us faithful disciples who live your truth through loving action. Through Christ our Lord.

2nd Week of Advent 2021 - Friday - "Wisdom is vindicated by her works"

 Throughout the Gospels, we see many different responses to the Lord and his call to conversion. Some, like the Apostles, drop everything they are doing to follow Jesus—they put their earthly business on hold, even walking away from it entirely, in order to follow Jesus. Some, fall at his feet to be healed by him, some climb trees to see him, some go to extreme lengths to bring others to him, like the men who lower their friend through the roof to get near him.

And then some, we know question him, try to trap him in logical arguments, and try to prove him wrong, to be a fool or liar or a madman. Some, of course, will seek to silence him and conspire against him to put him to death, as they know that his truth is a threat to their worldly power. In the Gospel today, we hear how some called him a drunkard and a glutton, seeking to discredit him.

Jesus lamented the hardness of heart he encountered in his ministry. When people do not want to listen to the truth, they will easily enough find an excuse for not heading it. They often don’t even attempt to be logically consistent in their criticisms. Instead of looking for reasons to believe, they’ll look for any reason not to believe.

“But wisdom is vindicated by her works” the Lord says in the Gospel. The hard-hearted, spoiled, cantankerous, illogical criticism of the unrepentant and faithless is proven wrong by the goodness of Jesus and how that goodness fills the lives of his holy ones.

In the end, there will be those who refuse to see the boundless goodness of the saints: they refuse to see the selfless generosity of mother Theresa, st. francis, the profound wisdom of Thomas Aquinas, st. Augustine, st. francis de sales, the profound courage of st. Thomas more. The wisdom of Christ shines brightly in the lives of his holy ones. 

The season of Advent is an opportunity for us to burn brightly with the wisdom of christ, to show forth acts of goodness and righteousness and courageous and self-less generosity to those who will not be convinced by logical arguments. Concrete acts of mercy have a way of piercing through pride and hard-heartedness. So, Advent stirs up a sort of holiness in us that can be seen by the lost and despairing. We are to become like the lights of the advent wreath, burning quietly, but shining with the light of Christ’s goodness and love for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

 

That the Holy Father, all bishops and priests, religious and laity may shine with the Light of Christ’s love for the lost and despairing.

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

For those who have fallen away from the Church, who have become separated from God through error and sin, for those who reject the teachings of Christ, for their conversion and the conversion of all hearts.

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

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

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

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 Sunday in Ordinary Time 2021 - Active in Bringing Christ to the World

On Saturday I had the great honor of presiding over the diocesan celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Legion of Mary down at the Cathedral. We celebrated Mass and processed with the Eucharist throughout downtown.

For those of you not familiar with the purpose of the Legion of Mary, it is a lay apostolate founded by a Mr. Frank Duff in 1921 in Dublin Ireland. Members engage in works such as door-to-door evangelization, visitation of shut-ins and the homebound, prison ministry, distribution of Catholic literature and sacramentals in parishes and county fairs, encouraging fallen away Catholics to return to the Sacraments, driving the homebound to Mass and parish events, leading rosaries with the grieving at funeral parlors and cemeteries, organizing novenas. 

At my home parish, Legion of Mary members visited by grandmother as she lay dying, praying the rosary with her, and bringing her much consolation.

During COVID, Legionaries adapted to the difficult situation by hosting Virtual Events, continued contact with the sick and isolated, writing letters and sending cards. Auxiliary members, not able to engage in the active work, support the apostolate through their daily prayers and penances.

I recommend joining in this wonderful group of apostolic work which looks to the holy example and intercession and guidance of Our Lady for spreading the reign of Christ through Mary.

I bring up the Legion of Mary, not just because the events downtown today, but because they are a wonderful example of some of the lessons from our Scripture readings this weekend.

In the first reading, we hear of God telling Isaiah to proclaim to those whose hearts are frightened:  Be strong, fear not!

A lot of those works of the Legion—visiting the imprisoned, encouraging the fallen away to return to the Sacraments, praying with the dying, these are thing that intimidate many people. I remember in seminary the first time visiting the Cuyahoga county jail, it’s scary. Walking into the room of a dying person, brings you face to face with death. And so Isaiah, in a sense, is speaking to all of us facing fear, especially when doing the work of God—the works of charity. We are not to be afraid of doing good, good works, going to those intimidating place to bring God’s presence there.

The nice things about belonging to a group like the Legion of Mary, intentionally created for these works, is that having fellow legionaries at your side engaging in these intimidating activities, can embolden you. Again, this is why I encourage membership in this group, because membership can help you have the courage to do things you wouldn’t normally do on your own. The Lord sent his disciples out two by two, because doing these things alone can be intimidating, and so part of being a member of the Church is knowing that there are people who support you, you will walk with you into the darkness, so to speak, in order to bring the light of God. 

After telling them not to be afraid, Isaiah announces to the people that God is drawing near, God is going to be with His people in a way that he never was before, and that is source of our courage. When was I most afraid in my ministry? In my first assignment, I got a phone call, that a young boy had drowned in the swimming pool of his aunt and uncle. A terrible thing, only 3 or 4 years old. And I was asked to be there, as the parents were going to see their dead child for the first time. 

I wanted to run away, but I recalled that this was one of the reasons I had been ordained, to be at the side of the grieving. There was going to be terrible terrible grief in that hospital room, and I knew that I had to overcome my fear, and recall that I needed to bring Jesus into that room. If just by the presence of priest, standing quietly, offering words and prayers of consolation. It was fearful, but those times when the Lord had come close to me, in the confessional, forgiving my sins, in the sacrament of the Eucharist, in my ordination, I knew that he was giving me the courage I needed for ministry.

Isaiah foretells of the time when God will open the eyes of the blind, and clear the ears of the deaf enable the lame to leap and the mute to speak. And that time is now. God accomplishes these things through the Church.

The eyes of the blind are opened when Christians help non-believers are the lukewarm to understand the truths of our faith. The ears of the deaf are cleared when Christians patiently explain our faith to those who are resistant to the Gospel, who have stuffed the errors of the world into their ears.

The lame are able to leap when we help sinners develop virtue in their lives, but also when we help those crippled by grief and addiction and depression and unemployment, to get on their feat again. The mute are given the gift of speech, when Christian parents and catechists teach young people, the next generation of Christians, to boldly proclaim and explain the faith out in the world. 

One of the things I love about the Legion of Mary, is that its members recognize that the amazing works that they are called to engage in are only possible when there is a vibrant interior life and love and devotion of the Blessed Virgin. You want the courage to be the healing hands of Christ, you best draw near to Him and His mother in prayer. And Legion of Mary members know that when you are consecrated to Our Lady, when she is your mother, when you have recourse to her in all your works, she will help you do the works of her Son like no one else.

And that true for all Christians. Our Lady wants to help each of us spread the reign of her Son. She wants to draw Christians together in small groups like the Legion, or small groups of Christian families, or groups of widows, mothers, or small groups of men, to help us discern and make us of those diverse and varying gifts, to work together for the building up of the kingdom and spread of the Gospel in our neighborhood and families.

The Church surely isn’t built up, nor is the Gospel spread, by us doing nothing. 

In a few moments, the Lord will fulfill the prophesy of Isaiah in yet another way. He will become present under what appears to be simple bread and wine, but underneath those appearances will be our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ who comes to do all those things Isaiah promised he would do. 

He comes to us to heal our blindness to his goodness, our deafness to his word, our lameness to walking in virtue, and our muteness in preaching the Gospel. He comes once again to declare Ephphatha to each of us, that we may be opened once again to his divine life in our souls, in order to carry his presence out into the world, for the glory of God and salvation of souls. 

4th Week of Lent 2018 - Thursday - It's no secret

In the Gospel of Mark, we often read of Jesus guarding his identity. For example, when he asks the disciples that famous question, “who do you say that I am?” and Peter replies, “You are the Messiah”, Jesus warns the disciples not to tell anyone about him.

Again, after healing the leper, Jesus tells the leper, “tell no one who I am, but go and show yourself to the priest.”

Scholars call Jesus’ elusiveness about his divine identity in Mark’s Gospel, the Messianic Secret. Many, in Jesus’ times, were looking for the Messiah to be a political revolutionary, who would launch a military campaign against the enemies of Israel. So, likely Jesus was mysterious at times about his identity so not to feed into this earthly notion of Messiahship. He had a job to do—the Father’s Will—and these erroneous preconceptions about the Messiah mustn’t get in the way.

And perhaps, the mysteriousness of Jesus’ identity in Mark, could have brought some comfort to the Christians of Rome, for whom the Gospel was originally written. For they had to often be a bit secretive or mysterious about their Christian identity, lest they be arrested and sent to their death. But there is a point, in Mark, where the Messianic Secret is unveiled. During His Passion, Jesus is asked by the high priest, “are you the Messiah, the son of the Blessed One?” And Jesus answers, “I Am.” His identity is further revealed, as the obedient Son of the Father, as he lays down his life on the cross.

Well, in John’s Gospel, the secret is unveiled from the beginning. As we read today, John portrays Jesus standing before large groups of Jews, saying things like, “my works testify to who I Am, why the Father sent me, His Son.” John’s Gospel is unambiguous about the identity of Jesus from the prologue: From the beginning the Word was with God, and the Word was God; Jesus is the Word made flesh, the source of life and truth for mankind; and only those who rightly believe in Him and his Truth and His Works can rightly be called “God’s children”.

And we read from John, especially in the latter part of Lent, because this is the time for unambiguous conviction, that Jesus has the power to cleanse us of our sins and transform our lives. Lent is the time that we are to show that we are God’s true children, by performing good works, fasting and prayer.
Our Lenten tests prepare us for Easter testimony. In a sense, we are to be the works of Jesus, testifying to his divine identity, to his power to transform lives, and his mission to bring forgiveness and eternal life to the repentant, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That God may be pleased to increase faith and understanding in the catechumens and candidates who approach the sacraments of initiation in the coming Paschal Solemnity.

That those in need may find assistance in the charity of faithful Christians and that peace and security may be firmly established in all places.

For strength to resist temptation, and the humility to sincerely repent of sin.

That through fasting and self-denial, we may be ever more conformed to Christ.

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

Mercifully hear, O Lord, the prayers of your Church and turn with compassion to the hearts that bow before you, that those you make sharers in your divine mystery may always benefit from your assistance.