22nd week after pentecost 2023 (EF) - Monday - Last EF Mass at St. Ignatius of Antioch

 A reading from the epistle of St. Paul to the Philippians

Brethren, I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right that I should think this way about all of you, because I hold you in my heart, you who are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the Gospel. For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value, so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God. 

A continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Matthew

[At that time], the Pharisees went off and plotted how they might entrap Jesus in speech. They sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. And you are not concerned with anyone's opinion, for you do not regard a person's status. Tell us, then, what is your opinion: Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?" Knowing their malice, Jesus said, "Why are you testing me, you hypocrites? Show me the coin that pays the census tax." Then they handed him the Roman coin. He said to them, "Whose image is this and whose inscription?" They replied, "Caesar's." At that he said to them, "Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God."

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As I have shared, it has been a great honor being able to celebrate the Extraordinary Form with you these last few years.

And I couldn’t think of better readings for our final Extraordinary Form mass than the ones God’s providence has provided for us today. For they contain wonderful lessons for the future.

In all of life’s challenges, joys, blessings, crosses, losses and successes, we must give to God what belongs to God. We must love God with our whole, heart, mind, soul, and strength, obey his commandments and cultivate the divine life within us. Only when we give to God what belongs to God will we possess the strength of faith needed to face life’s challenges, not to mention the great challenges the Church will inevitably face in the coming days. When we give to God what belongs to God we receive so much more than we give, for God is not outdone in generosity. We receive peace, patience, fortitude, and courage.

Here is a vital lesson for the discouraging times in which we live. That no matter what, no matter the losses we experience, even the loss of cherished things, we must never stop rendering to God what belongs to God, especially love, worship,
and obedience.

The epistle also contains a vital lesson. Having witnessed the faith of this community over the past few years, I can echo those words of St. Paul in the epistle: “Brethren, I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.” There is great hope for the Church of Cleveland, God has begun good work in your souls—the spark of supernatural faith has already been kindled. Continue to fan it into flame, protect it from worldly influences, and the attacks of the enemy, especially from discouragement. 

I don’t know about you, but while some parts of the Church seem to be falling asleep, there are also parts of the Church which seem to be waking up. And that’s exciting and wonderful. 

I do not know how much I will be able to assist with the remaining Latin Masses in the Diocese, but please know that this community has left an unforgettable mark on my heart, and you will be in my prayers often. And this is my prayer, to echo, again, St. paul in our epistle this evening, that your love may increase ever more and more” for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

29th Week in Ordinary Time 2023 - Friday - I do not do the good that I want

 With piercing insight into the human experience, St. Paul wrote about the Christian’s ongoing struggle with sin. It is a struggle we all face: most of the time, we know what we should do, we recognize the desire to do it, yet we frequently fail. There is a glaring discrepancy between our intentions and our actions, a moral disconnect. 

The reason for this disconnect—is that even though we are baptized—we still experience the effects of fallenness. We continue to wrestle with the agitations of sin—with the frailties and inclinations to sin experienced by all the descendants of Adam. 

Baptism brings the forgiveness of sins. The guilt of sin is remitted in baptism, but concupiscence remains. We are reborn as children of God, but the memory of the old man remains, and not just the memory, but some of his frailness, so that by struggling against it, sanctity and virtue might be produced in us.

Christians sin. And we admit that. It’s the first step of Christianity: admitting I’m a sinner in need of a savior. That admission begins every time we gather for Mass.

Yet, admitting our sins doesn’t mean justifying our sins. We are to make no provision for the flesh. We are to root out sin as best we can, with God’s help, through sacraments, and sacramentals, with examinations of conscience, penances, fasting, and mortification. But when we fall under the influences of the flesh, which is nearly inevitable for most of us, we repent. We go to confession. We beat our breast before God. We do penance. 

We must also not allow ourselves to become too discouraged over sin. We are weak. And that doesn’t cause God to love us any less. Yes, there is a failure to rely on God’s grace when we sin. But, the sooner we recognize that, the sooner we can repent and try again. This time, maybe with our pride put in its place.

Humility about our own sinfulness also produces patience with others. Humility leads us to extend the same patience with others—in their sins—that we would want for ourselves, as the Lord says, “the measure with which we measure, shall be used against us.”

When we humbly and sincerely approach the mercy of God, we begin to experience the freedom, joy, and peace that comes from God for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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That all Christians may know the grace of sincere repentance and seek to grow in virtue and the fruits of the spirit.

That young people be inspired to respond generously to God’s call to sanctity, and for vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

For all the sick and suffering, and for all those in hospitals, nursing homes, and hospice care, for all those who will die today, for their consolation and that 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 family, friends, and parish, for the deceased clergy and religious of our diocese, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom. 

God of mercy, hear our prayers, ease the sufferings and comfort the weakness of your servants, and bring us to eternal life, through Christ our Lord.

October 23 2023 - St. John of Capistrano - From prison to priest

 After a thorough education in law, at the age of 26, John of Capistrano became governor of the Italian city of Perugia.  After war swept through his region of Italy, John went to his enemies to broker peace, but his enemies threw him into prison.  But there, something remarkable happened.  He experienced a deep conversion to Christ. 

As a result of his conversion, around the year 1406, John entered the religious life as a member of the Franciscan Order, itself already 200 years old.  

After his conversion, Friar John became one of the greatest preachers of the 15th century.  He was instrumental in the conversion of many heretics and many who were obstinate to the faith. He truly believed that there could be no lasting human society unless first and foremost Christ was enthroned as King, and those principles which Christ came to teach were embraced.

He also spoke about the importance of all of the baptized to lead lives of holiness.  Listen to his words: “those who are called to the table of the Lord ought to glow with the brightness that comes from the good example of a blameless and praiseworthy life.  They must completely remove from their lives the filth and uncleanness of vice.  Their upright lives must make them the salt of the earth for themselves and for the rest of the human family. The brightness of their wisdom must make them the light of the world that brings light to others.  Jesus declared ‘You are the Light of the World’! Now, a light does not illumine itself. But instead it diffuses its rays and shines all around upon everything that comes into its view.  So must it be for your glowing lives.”

In the Gospel for today’s memorial, there Lord makes three invitations, but those invitations are met with excuses. Many of us have our own secret excuses we make to the Lord who invites us to greater holiness. The saints urge us to trust the Lord, to stop making excuses, that we may come to experience the life God wants for us. Our excuses are prisons, keeping us from the freedom and joy of the Children of God.

St. John of Capistrano: an example to us all, of our vocation to holiness. As we draw near to the table of the Lord to be fed with His Body and Blood, let us seek to be that light of the world which draws all men to Christ, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For unity in the Church, faithfulness to right teaching, detachment from worldly vices, generosity in the works of charity, and courage in the Church’s evangelizing mission. 

Through the intercession of St. John Capistrano, that the imprisoned may come, like him, to conversion to Christ, and seek a life of holiness.

For all victims of war, for peace in the Holy Land, an end to the violence and suffering, and healing for those whose lives have been tragically disrupted. May God come to the assistance of the communities and families devastated by the horrors of terrorism and war; and may world leaders work together for peace. 

For those experiencing any kind of hardship or sorrow, isolation, addiction, or disease: that they may know God’s consolation, healing, and grace.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, the deceased members of our families friends and parishes, for those who fought and died for our freedom, and for N. for whom this mass is offered.

Graciously grant our petitions, we beseech thee, O Lord; may your grace sustain us always in your service, through Christ Our Lord.

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2023 - Caesar, God, and Issue 1

 The Lord was born into a very contentious political situation 2000 years ago. Much like our own day there were several political factions in the kingdom of Israel.  One of the groups was known as the Zealots.  Today, if someone called you a zealot it would mean that they possess a great passion for some subject or issue.  Well, the Zealots of the 1st century were passionate about their national and religious identity. They wanted to overthrow the Roman occupying force; for the Zealots saw the Romans as idolatrous and immoral tyrants who needed to be run out of Israel, for God had given the holy land to the Jewish people, not to the Romans.

Politically opposite the Zealots were a group of Jews called the Herodians—the party of King Herod. Herod was part-jew and part-pagan. He wasn’t very religious, his court was filled with grave immoralities. Herod was in many ways the puppet of the roman emperor.  Rome said jump and Herod asked, “how high?” The Herodians would do anything to stay in power, even to betray their country, religion, and people.

A third group we hear about a lot in the Gospels were the Pharisees known for their strict, scrupulous observance of tradition. And it was the Pharisees who were really running the religious show in 1st century Judea. The Pharisees were willing to go along with whoever was in power as long as they retained the freedom to practice their religion as they saw it. For the majority of the Pharisees, religion was a façade. They wanted religious authority for the purpose of control and financial gain. 

In the Gospel today, we heard how the “Pharisees went off and plotted how they might entrap Jesus”. Why would they do such a thing? The Lord exposed their deception. The Pharisees wanted to appear to be these holy religious authorities, but Jesus exposed their lie—that they were more concerned about appearances than actual holiness.

So the Pharisees plotted and conspired with their political enemies, convincing the Herodians that Jesus was a threat to them as well. Do you see the irony? The pharisees who claimed to be concerned about holiness and religious purity join forces with this group of morally and religious lax Jews. 

So, these strange bedfellows approach Jesus, and they call him “Teacher”—brash hypocrisy, as they don’t really come to Jesus to learn from him, but to trap him. Then they say to him, “Tell us, then, what is your opinion: Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?" Now, there were a number of taxes Jews had to pay.  We hear elsewhere in the Gospel about the temple tax: the tax the people had to pay to support the temple and the priests of the temple.  And they had to pay the census tax: a tax most Jews resented paying, as it financed the roman occupying force. St. Matthew, remember, before he followed Christ, was a tax collector, a jew who collected the census tax on behalf of Rome.

So this question posed to Jesus about taxes was a real loaded question. It seemed that no matter how he answered the Lord was going to make a political enemy of one of these groups.

So, you can see the consequences of Jesus’ answer.  If he said no, the Herodians would report him to the Roman authorities for encouraging insurrection. If he said yes, the Zealots would condemn him for being an enemy of the nation of Israel, and the Pharisees would condemn him for a being an idolater. It appeared to be the perfect trap.

And then Jesus the teacher gives his answer.  And the Lord’s answer is how we Christians understand our relationship to whatever civic authority is over us. 

“Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God”.  It’s an amazing answer, demonstrating that religious truth runs deeper than political alliances. The Lord’s teaching here demands that each individual be honest about what we really owe to God and what we really owe to the government. You and I have a personal responsibility to live up to the demands of justice. 

Do we owe religious worship and unquestioning obedience to civil authorities or to politicians or political parties? No. What if they demand it? Double no. 

Christians are to be neither Zealots, Pharisees, or Herodians. We aren’t to overthrow the government and make the Pope king, as the Zealots might propose. We aren’t to compromise our faith for political expediency like the Herodians. Nor are we to withdraw totally from worldly affairs like the Pharisees, lest we wake up one day with our freedoms stolen by fascists and tyrants. 

Now, the Lord is not saying that God and Caesar are equal. As Christians, our first loyalty is to God. And as long as we don’t have to compromise that first loyalty, we are to justly give to Uncle Sam his due, as my grandfather used to say, for providing for our domestic security, paving the roads and whatnot. Justice demands obedience to Caesar as long as Caesar does not demand we violate objective morality or right religion.

We are also to participate in civic life as justice demands. Pope Francis said, “We need to participate (in civic life) for the common good.” He said, “Sometimes we hear: a good Catholic is not interested in politics. This is not true: good Catholics immerse themselves in politics by offering the best of themselves so that the leader can govern." 

Moreso, the nation needs our prayers and our example of holiness and virtue. Our first president George Washington held that without religion, liberty could not be maintained.  He said, "Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable.”  

We are being good Christians when we engage rightly in civic life. Sometimes that involves simply paying our taxes, and sometimes that involves demanding political accountability if those taxes are being misused or if government corruption is evident. Sometimes, our church leaders, even need to rally us, as our bishops are doing in regards to Issue 1, this November. In this case they offer very clear instruction that Catholics must vote No on issue 1 this November, in defense of the unborn, and to protect parents’ rights against the infringement of Caesar.  

This week, we received from the bishop some yard signs, regarding issue 1, which I've put around church property. Extra signs are available at the church exit. Feel free to put one up in your yard.

I’ve been asked about the legality of placing the signs on church property. While churches are prohibited by law from publicly supporting or opposing individual candidates for elected office, we are not prohibited from supporting or opposing political issues. So our yard-signs, provided by the diocesan bishop, who is well aware of the law, are not criminal; they are the least we can do to oppose this attack on life and liberty, especially in light of some of the propaganda out there which is serving to confuse voters. 

“Faithful citizenship”, promotes Gospel values in the public sphere, opposes unjust laws and policies which violate human dignity, opposes government corruption, and works to safeguard liberty against tyranny. 

In this holy Mass, we give to God what belongs to God, our prayers, petitions, praises, obedience, and divine worship, may what we do here overflow into every facet of our lives, that we may live in righteousness, justice, goodness, and peace, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

October 20 2023 - St. Paul of the Cross - The Cross is the School of Love

 The saint we honor today was born the son of a wealthy merchant near Genoa Italy, in 1694.  He received his early education from the Capuchin Franciscans.  As a young boy he was marked with great sanctity.  Not only did he excel in his studies, but he was deeply reverent, and devoted to prayer, especially the Holy Mass.  Shortly before his confirmation, he had a miraculous vision: the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Him wearing an all-black habit.  This became the habit of the religious order he found later in life, called the Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ, known today as the Passionists.  

When he was 26 years old, Paul had a series of prayer-experiences which made it clear to him that God was inviting him to form a community who would live an evangelical life and promote the love of God revealed in the Passion of Jesus. It was his life-long conviction that God is most easily found in the Passion of Christ.

“It is very good and holy,” today’s saint said, “to consider the passion of our Lord and to meditate on it, for by this sacred path we reach union with God. In this most holy school we learn true wisdom…love is a unifying virtue which takes upon itself the torments of its beloved Lord. It is a fire reaching through to the inmost soul.”

The Cross is the school of love—how much God loves us, and how our lives are to be redeemed, transformed, and transfigured by imitating that love and growing in that love. Love requires self-donation, love requires daily sacrifice, love requires forgetting ourselves in order to give ourselves more fully to others—there is no greater love than for one to lay down his life for a friend. 

In our moments of weakness and failure, it is easy to grow discouraged and to lose hope. That’s why in our sinfulness it is so important to meditate on how much we are loved by God. He didn’t die for the perfect, he died for us. He embraced us in our most unlovable state. Meditating on the cross of Christ, then, is to be a key which opens up and transforms our hearts and makes them more like the one who embraced the cross for our salvation. 

The love Christ showed on the cross is, as the first St. Paul—St. Paul of Tarsus—wrote in our first reading this morning, is a love which surpasses all knowledge. God’s love surpasses our human understanding, if you think you understand God’s love—his love is greater still. But also, seeking to grasp and experience God’s love is more valuable than any other knowledge we can gain in this earthly life. “More precious than gold, than fire-refined gold” is the law of God’s love. The psalmist is not just speaking poetically here, but rather, calling us to realign our priorities—to seek to truly value God’s love over everything else. 

May the Passion of Jesus Christ be ever in our hearts. May we meditate often on the cross of the Savior, and encounter “the breadth and length and height and depth” of God’s love for us, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

 

For unity in the Church, faithfulness to right teaching, detachment from worldly vices, generosity in the works of charity, and courage in the Church’s evangelizing mission. 

Through the intercession of St. Paul of the Cross, we pray for the spiritual good of the Passionist Orders—and that all members of the Church may be more deeply conformed to the Cross of Christ.

For all victims of war, for peace in the Holy Land, an end to the violence and suffering, and healing for those whose lives have been tragically disrupted. May God come to the assistance of the communities and families devastated by the horrors of terrorism and war; and may world leaders work together for peace. 

For those experiencing any kind of hardship or sorrow, isolation, addiction, or disease: that they may know God’s consolation, healing, and grace.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, the deceased members of our families friends and parishes, for those who fought and died for our freedom, and for N. for whom this mass is offered.

Graciously grant our petitions, we beseech thee, O Lord; may your grace sustain us always in your service, through Christ Our Lord.

 

 

27th Week in Ordinary Time 2023 - Friday - The day of the Lord is coming

 We read today from the very short book of the prophet Joel.  The Book of Joel is only four chapters long and can easily be read in a single sitting, yet his message is profound, and as relevant as ever.

Joel prophesied in Judah, in Jerusalem, around the year 500, after the return from the Babylonian exiles.

Though they had just returned from exile, Joel tells the people, don’t get too comfortable; getting too comfortable, too complacent, too familiar with worldly ways is how we got in trouble in the first place.  So, Joel calls for fasting and penance and all-night prayer vigils—to gather in the house of the Lord, with the elders: sound the alarm; blow the trumpets…why? Because the day of judgment is coming.

Joel goes on to described the calamities and natural disasters which are only a foreshadowing of the eternal suffering that awaits those who fail to repent—those who exclude God from their lives.

You got to love these prophets. They keep us rooted in reality—the reality that we must maintain the priority of faith. That more important than any of our earthly endeavors is the orienting ourselves to God, preparing for eternity, being vigilant against worldly distractions. Why? Because there are eternal consequences if we don’t. 

“The Lord will judge the world with justice” we sang in our Psalm. 

Again, some relevant ideas there. The nations are sinking into the pit they have made for themselves—including our own nation—sinking fast. And God sits ready to judge with justice. But amidst that, the Psalm explains how the faithful soul is still found giving thanks to God, declaring his wondrous deeds, rejoicing and exalting in God, and singing his praise.

The faithful soul is not prone to discouragement. We know the world is falling apart, and we are not discouraged, because that’s the way of things. How do you know if you’re soul is prepared? The world falling apart doesn’t bother you that much. You’ve confessed your sins, your heart is oriented toward God, and that gives the faithful soul an immense freedom from fear. As things fall apart we can still sing God’s glories, and thank God for his blessings. 

“Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste” the Lord says. Of all the kingdoms of the world, there is only one that will survive: the kingdom of God. Though the mountains may fall, and nations crumble, the Lord promises peace and eternal life to his faithful ones.  Confident and trusting in the Lord amidst all the chaos of our lives, may we be found faithful today in his service for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That hearing the call to repentance preached by the Church, all men may turn away from their sins to the mercy of Christ.

For peace in the Holy Land, an end to the violence and suffering, and healing for those whose lives have been tragically disrupted. May God’s peace the communities and families devastated by the horrors of terrorism and war.

That our young people may take seriously the missionary call of Christ, that they will turn away from the evils of our culture to spread the good news of Christ’s eternal kingdom.

For all whose lives are marked by suffering, may they come to know the healing and peace of Christ.

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.

27th Week in Ordinary Time 2023 - Wednesday - Are you angry because God is merciful?

 Yesterday, we heard how Jonah was sent by God to announce the destruction of Nineveh—because of their sin and depravity, the city of Nineveh would be overthrown. But upon hearing this, the Ninevites repented en masse—120 thousand people from the peasantry to the nobility repented with fasting, sackcloths and ashes. And the last verse we heard yesterday, said that God, seeing the repentance of the Ninevites withdrew his threat of city-wide destruction.

And you’d think that Jonah would be pleased at the great loss of life that was averted because he faithfully carried God’s message. But today we heard how Jonah was displeased that God withdrew his threat. Remember, the Ninevites were sworn enemies of the Jews. He wanted to see these people wiped out, and so he enthusiastically carried the message of doom, and he became angry because of his narrow vindictiveness. Jonah did not wish the Lord to forgive the Ninevites, but to eradicate them.

In response to Jonah’s anger, God responds with a parable about the gourd plant: Then the LORD said, “You are concerned over the gourd plant which cost you no effort and which you did not grow; it came up in one night and in one night it perished.” 

God’s response to Jonah reminds me a lot of the parable of the workers in the vineyard. “Am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?’ Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

Whoever said that the God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament are different Gods has never really read the Bible that closely. Jonah was faithful in this instance of carrying the message, but he did not understand the heart and mind of God.

To Ezekiel, God says, “Do I find pleasure in the death of the wicked? Do I not rejoice when they turn from their evil way and live?” God desires that the most wicked repent and experience the life of goodness and the life of grace—the life of belonging to the order of his kingdom.

In the Gospel, the Lord teaches his disciples to pray that God’s kingdom be made manifest. St. Paul says "The kingdom of God is righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." And so when we are praying the Lord’s prayer, we are praying for God’s righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit to fill the hearts of all people, of all places. 

For there can be no real lasting peace without repentance and faith in God. So, in praying for the kingdom, we are praying for repentance to fill the hearts of those who are not living according to the standards of God’s kingdom—the standard of Jesus Christ—whose very first words in the Gospel—are repent and believe, the kingdom of God is at hand.

Let us pray and fast and do penance for those whose hearts are hardened to the kingdom and labor for their repentance, and let us rejoice when hearts are converted, and faith is ignited for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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That hearing the call to repentance preached by the Church, all men may turn away from their sins to the mercy of Christ.

For peace in the Holy Land, an end to the violence and suffering, and healing for those whose lives have been tragically disrupted. May God’s peace the communities and families devastated by the horrors of terrorism and war.

That our young people may take seriously the missionary call of Christ, that they will turn away from the evils of our culture to spread the good news of Christ’s eternal kingdom.

For all whose lives are marked by suffering, may they come to know the healing and peace of Christ.

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.