Homily: October 31 - All Hallow's Eve

Romans 8:31-39 View Readings

Psalm 109:21-22, 26-27, 30-31

We have reached once again the end of another month of the calendar year—October, the month dedicated to the rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Tomorrow, we shall celebrate, with great solemnity All Saints Day.  The saints are the holy ones, the ones made holy by God, the hallowed ones.  Therefore today, is “All Hallow’s Eve” from which we derive the word “Halloween”. 

I don’t think the ghoulish masks and the focus on the macabre needs to necessarily be a turn-off for Catholics.  Every great Catholic cathedral had stone gargoyles atop its buttresses.  Illuminated manuscripts, like the Book of Kells created by such saints as Saint Columbkille were also full of little ghouls drawn into the margins. 

We began dressing up like skeletons and witches and vampires, not because we want to emulate these powers of evil, but to show that we are not afraid of them.  Because the grace of God dwells in the faithful Catholic, the light of faith shines for us, even in the scariest of basements, we know that Christ has conquered the death and the devil.

We rejoice as we say, along with Saint Paul in the reading from Romans today, “If God is for us who can be against us…neither death, nor angels, nor powers, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Yes, the enemy continues to tempt us and seek the ruin of souls; he distracts us in prayer, he urges us to focus on the faults of others, he incite us to laziness, and lust, and greed, and to entitlement, sometimes he comes as an angel of light tempting us with pursuits which appear good and holy in the beginning, but which provoke our pride. 

The enemy tries to convince us that we are unloved and unlovable, but Paul insists today that our sins are never too great for God to forgive, that God has spared nothing in proving his love for us, in sending His Son to shed his blood for us to cleanse us from everything that keeps us from loving and serving God.

And that amidst every hardship, distress, persecution, famine, peril, Christ’s love is greater and stronger.  

Nothing can separate us from his love.  Indeed, it is often in times of hardship and peril, that we come to experience God’s love most deeply for in those times we see our need for him most clearly.

May we use our human freedom to serve the God who loves us today to becomes the saints he made us to be for His glory and the salvation of souls.

Homily: 30th Week in Ordinary Time - Tuesday - Groaning in labor pains

Romans 8:18-25 View Readings	Psalm 126:1-6	Luke 13:18-21 Similar Reflections

At about the halfway point of Saint Paul’s Letter to the Romans we have one of the most beautiful and descriptive passages from this epistle this morning.

In today’s reading, Paul explains that all of creation is “groaning with labor pains” for the return of Christ.  For Paul, the pain and sufferings that we endure in this life are real—the long days of toil, the illnesses, tragedies of seeing loved ones die, the suffering of the cross we must all endure is very real, yet Paul says here, all these sufferings cannot compare to the coming glory for those who have faith in Jesus Christ.

He saw all these sufferings like those of a woman in childbirth.  She experiences pain—but with the expectancy of life.  Her pain is couched in hope, and she has confidence that her great suffering will at last bring about that for which she has waited for such a long time.

Saint Theresa of Avila, whose feast we celebrated at the beginning of this month, said, ““In light of heaven, the worst suffering on earth will be seen to be no more serious than a night in an uncomfortable hotel room.” 

Suffering does not get the last word for Christians.  That is the good news of Easter, the faith which Paul poured out his life. 

Though we have tasted so much of the freedom that comes through the grace of adoption, we still await in sometimes agonizing yearning for the full freedom of the children of God in heaven.  So we mustn’t lose hope, and just as a pregnant woman must wait patiently for the child, so must we, bearing our sufferings patiently, trusting that God is with us, that he prepares us by our sufferings for full and eternal glory. 

On Friday, we will celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints.  They saints teach us how to life, they teach us how to suffer, they teach us how to love of God. 

Saint Faustina, “suffering is a great grace; through suffering the soul becomes like a Savior; in suffering love becomes crystallized; the greater the suffering, the purer the love.”  That is a hard saying, we might not have the spiritual awareness yet to see our suffering as a great grace, but we ask the Holy Spirit to teach us how to suffer, that our love for Christ might be purified and our joy might be complete for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: October 28 - Saints Simon & Jude, Apostles

It is not entirely clear why we celebrate Simon and Jude together, perhaps because both of them for a time preached the Gospel throughout Persia.  Most biographers tell us that we do not know much about the apostles Simon and Jude.  Only God knows the complete details about their lives.  Yet, we know all we need to know about them, don’t we?  By the simple fact that we celebrate their feast as Saints, we know that they loved God above all things and were faithful to their mission as Apostles.

They were chosen by our Lord as apostles to establish the Church throughout the world.  They both were zealous in preaching the Gospel in a pagan land.

In this Gospels, Simon is called the Zealot.  So it is very likely that Simon was among that political group of Jesus’ time wanting to overthrow the Roman occupying force.  It is striking to think that among the twelve apostles, you had a number of fishermen, a tax collecter (Matthew) who worked for the Romans, and a Zealot (Simon) who wanted to overthrow the Romans.  

Some biographers claim that St. Jude, a cousin of the Lord Jesus, was neither a fisherman, tax-collector, or zealot, but a farmer.  In fact, according to an ancient source, Nicephorus Callistus, this apostle was the bridegroom at the wedding feast of Cana.  This Jude is the apostle who authored the New Testament Letter of Jude, and it truly is a farmers letter.  It is a very short book, only 25 verses.  It is blunt, bold, and powerful, like a good farmer. 

Both of these Apostles were courageous in their preaching of the Gospel.  The legend of their death states that they were in the city of Suanir in the Persian Empire, as they had been preaching there for thirteen years, having won thousands of converts.  Upon entering the city, they were told they must offer a pagan sacrifice in the temple of the sun and the moon.  They explained that the sun and the moon were only creations of the one true God, whom they preached.  They drove demons out of the pagan temple, and two black, hideous evil spirits, began howling and blaspheming.  The Persians assailed the two apostles.  And Jude said to Simon, “I see my Lord Jesus Christ calls us.”  And they were killed by the angry group.

We rejoice today at the courage of these men, and ask them to draw us ever deeper ourselves into the service of the Lord and his Holy Gospel, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: 29th Week in Ordinary Time - Friday - Jesus sets captives free

Romans 7:18-25 View Readings

Psalm 119:66, 68, 76-77, 93-94

Luke 12:54-59

Each of us has struggled with what Paul describes in his letter today: how come when I know what is right and resolve to do what is good, I find myself again and again doing just the opposite?  We know what Paul is talking about when he says, “For I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil I do not want.”

Each of the Saints all suffered with this same tendency—this war between the flesh and the spirit.  It’s as if two natures are fighting within each of us, isn’t it?—the true and the false, the good and the evil, the deadly and the vivifying. 

Even though we are redeemed by Christ—washed clean in the saving waters of Baptism—we still wrestle and struggle with a part of our fallen nature that still wants to turn away from God.  Tradition calls that tendency concupiscence.  It’s one of the consequences of sin that we will never be free of on this side of eternity.  Concupiscence, is the tendency that each one of us still has to reject grace, to backslide into sinful choices, sinful attitudes, sinful behaviors—that tendency to withdraw from communion. 

But as Christians, we just don’t throw up our hands and surrender to concupiscence—because God gives us grace to fight and to remain faithful.  Even though it feels like we are prisoners to our emotions, to our week wills, and to the cravings of our bodies, Jesus shows us that we can find freedom by clinging to God.  Jesus came to set captives free.

The Catechism teaches: "The way of perfection passes by way of the cross. There is no holiness without renunciation and spiritual battle.  Spiritual progress entails the self-denial and mortification that gradually lead to living in the peace and joy of the Beatitudes."

The spiritual disciplines of Lent, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, can be practiced all year round to build up our spiritual muscles against concupiscence.  Holding back a cutting remark, resisting the urge to share that juicy piece of gossip, lead to greater custody of the tongue, and helps us to use our words in ways that consistently glorify God. Persevering in prayer despite a time of dryness can prepare us for greater spiritual challenges in the future.

Today, amidst the great civil war which battles within each of us, may we know the freedom and strength which comes from Christ, that we may be faithful to the promises of our Christian Baptism, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: 29th Week in Ordinary Time - Thursday - Setting Hearts on Fire

Romans 6:19-23 View Readings

Psalm 1:1-4, 6

Luke 12:49-53

Very often the words of Jesus Christ calm us, comfort us, help us to know the loving nearness of God.  Yet, today’s Gospel shakes us up a little.  We hear Our Lord speak with great passion that he has come to set the world on fire, and how he wishes it were already burning!  There is an urgency here.  Jesus is on a mission to enflame hearts with fiery love for God.

Our Parish Retreat has concluded, hopefully it has helped to reignite and renew the flame of faith in our parish. 

On the road to Emmaus, the disciples who encountered the risen Lord, proclaimed “Were not our hearts burning inside us as He talked to us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?"

It was not mere words about Jesus that caught their hearts on fire, but it was the encounter with the risen Lord himself.  They encountered Him.  I think the effectiveness of our parish retreat can be measured to the extent that it helps people encounter Christ, and that it helps us decrease and Christ increase.  Its purpose was not to entertain, but to help us encounter Christ once again, and to learn to encounter him in our daily difficulties—in the carrying of our crosses. 

We are to be the torch God uses to set other hearts on fire.  And that’s why there is an urgency in the Gospel today, because he wants our lives on fire, not mediocre and lukewarm, but on fire, that we can spread that fire throughout the world.

We pray today that those whom we encounter on the road will encounter the fire of Christ alive in our hearts.  That they can meet Christ in us today as we seek to share and heal and preach and serve, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

  

October 22 - Blessed John Paul II - Apostle of Mercy

It was only back in April of 2011 that this optional memorial of Blessed John Paul II was added to the Liturgical Calendar.  And today is the last time we will ever celebrate it because Pope Francis has set the date for the canonization of Saint John Paul II to be the 2^nd Sunday of Easter 2014, Divine Mercy Sunday.

Divine Mercy Sunday is but one of the many gifts left to us by Pope John Paul II.  The message of God’s mercy to the fallen, to the heartbroken, to the sinner, is of course not a new concept.  We are loved even when we are unlovable because of our sins—now matter how sinful, we are called to be forgiven by God. 

Divine Mercy Sunday was instituted only back in the year 2000 by Pope John Paul II, inspired greatly by the life and Diary of Saint Faustina Kowalska, the little polish nun who wrote so tenderly of God’s mercy, who received that vision of Our Lord who appeared to her at told her to make known the devotion to his mercy, and to pray for the conversion of sinners by praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

Last year, on this date, I was honored to celebrate Mass for the workers of Bethesda House of Mercy, an organization here in the Diocese of Cleveland, who minister to those wounded after having an abortion.  That wonderful organization witnesses to the dignity of human life and also to the power of Christ’s mercy by caring for those who suffer.

Blessed Pope John Paul’s pontificate was rich in announcing God’s mercy—announcing that God’s mercy can be known, experienced, and received through the Church.  In one of his most important encyclical letters, Evangelium Vitae, The Gospel of Life, he wrote:

"I would like to say a special word to women who have had an abortion. The Church is aware of the many factors which may have influenced your decision, and she does not doubt that in many cases it was a painful and even shattering decision. The wound in your heart may not yet have healed. Certainly what happened was and remains terribly wrong. But do not give in to discouragement and do not lose hope. Try rather to understand what happened and face it honestly." 

"If you have not already done so, give yourselves over with humility and trust to repentance. The Father of mercies is ready to give you his forgiveness and his peace in the Sacrament of Reconciliation”

Powerful words for all of us.  That God never abandons us, but that God embraces all those who come to the fount of his mercy.

We thank God for the wonderful Pope, who was and continues to be an apostle of mercy for us, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: October 19 - St. Isaac Jogues and companion martyrs

 

Today is the Feast Day of Saint Isaac Jogues, St. John de Brebeuf and 6 french Jesuit companions, the first martyrs of North America to be canonized by the Church.  In1636 the Jesuit Priest Isaac Jogues traveled to Quebec to preach the Gospel to the Huron Indians.  The Hurons were a pretty peaceful group, and many Hurons were converted to Christianity through the preaching and charity of Isaac, John, and their companions.  However, the Hurons were constantly attacked by the Iroquois.  During one attack, Father Isaac was captured by the Iroquois and imprisoned for 13 months.  He and his companions were led from village to village, beaten, tortured, and forced to watch as the Huron converts were mangled and killed by the Iroquois.

Fr. Isaac was able to escape from imprisonment and he returned to France.  He had to receive special permission from the Pope to continue to celebrate Mass because several of his fingers had been cut, chewed, or burnt off.  Many people, including the Pope, were inspired by Fr. Isaac, because they saw his willingness to suffer and die for the faith. 

Fr. Isaac could have stayed in Europe, live safely, and die peacefully.  But, in 1646, the Iroquois signed a peace treaty with the Hurons, and Fr. Isaac thought it a good opportunity to begin preaching to the Iroquois.  However, on his way to evangelize the Iroquois he was captured by a war party of Mohawk Indians, and on October 18, 1646, Father Isaac was tomahawked and beheaded.  His companion was killed the next day.

Many Iroquois saw his courageous faith as proof of the authenticity and power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Many Iroquois converted to Christianity and welcomed missionaries with open arms.  Moreover, the faith began to grow amongst the Mohawks as well.  We say the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church, and from the Mohawks came another figure of holiness—Saint Kateri Tekakwitha—known as the Lily of the Mohawks for her purity and devotion to the will of God.

St. Isaac wrote a letter before his death.  He wrote: “Our single endeavor should be to give ourselves to the work of the spread of the Gospel and faithfulness to God, and to not let our own desires get in the way of doing God’s work.”

For the Saints, the work of spreading the Gospel is not to sit idly by, cross their fingers and hope for the best.  They actively pursue the salvation of souls—they actively strive to bring others to Christ, so that they may know Jesus in this life and in the life to come. 

May the courage of our own North American Martyrs fill us with fervor in continuing to work for the spread of the Gospel in our land and around the world for the glory of God and salvation of souls.