Gratitude and Thanksgiving for Christ our King

I had the opportunity to serve Masses that were celebrated by Fr. Joe and Fr. Vince on the Feast of Christ the King.   Both of them focused on thanksgiving and gratitude.   Fr. Joe shared that he was thankful for the faithfulness of his parents.   He spoke of the non-negotiable of their commitment in love to one another even through all the ups and downs of their marriage.  He compared this to the non-negotiable faithfulness of Jesus to the will of the Father in the Gospel.  Even though Jesus was challenged by the leaders, guards, and the criminal hanging on the cross next to him he was faithful in following God’s will.  The good thief recognized this and asked for Jesus mercy.   As a result Jesus told him he would be with him in Paradise. The relationship Jesus had with the Father in following his will is one that we need to be grateful for.  What are some relationships that we are grateful for?  Family parents, family, friends who have been faithful in there love for us and of course our Lord.  

Father Vince asked about what we liked about Thanksgiving and it led to the food, of course.    What makes the food so good: ingredients to enhance the flavor of the food.  He gave us examples with containers of salt, pepper, honey, garlic, and onion as some good visual aids.  He then asked what do we need to enhance our life? The answer was the joy of Jesus.  We get this every time we come to Mass.  We start off being filled with joy through God’s mercy forgiving our sins at the start.  We joyfully sing the Gloria following this.   We then hear the Word of God and sing with joy as we prepare for the Eucharist, which means “thanksgiving”.  We then receive the presence of our Lord in the species of bread and wine and sing with joy.   We close with a blessing and conclude with “Thanks be to God”. Father Vince told us we have to look forward to an Apostolic Letter coming this week, “Joy of the Gospel”, that would be a guide for us in the year of the New Evangelization. We have much to be thankful for in the joy the Jesus, our King, brings us.

Sculpture of Jesus as homeless man

We have an opportunity to meet Jesus in the people that are served in the ministries that help out those who are poor and struggling. Our food pantry and Thanksgiving food distribution provides real concrete ways to do this.   If you are in downtown Indianapolis or any major city you'll encounter homeless people on the streets.  We need to help to see Jesus in them as well.  An artist from Toronto recently presented Pope Francis with a sculpture of Jesus as a homeless man on a park bench.  The only way you can tell it is Jesus is from the marks on his feet. Wouldn't it be great if we could have a similar statue in downtown Indianapolis? 

11-20-2013 (Vatican Radio) A striking sculpture of Jesus, depicted as a homeless man sleeping on a park bench, was presented to Pope Francis following the general audience in St Peter’s Square on Wednesday. The unusual art work was brought over from Canada by sculptor Timothy Schmalz who has been exploring the contemporary face of Christian art for over two decades. Read and listen to more

If you persevere in your faith you too can be a Malachi!

Father Vince started out the homily calling out, “Malachi! Malachi!, where are you?”     He told us that the name Malachi means “my messenger”.  Malachi was a prophet, a messenger for God.   Father Vince said that many in our culture have turned away from God and we need more people like Malachi to tell the story about Jesus.   Many have never heard the story of Jesus.   Some have turned away from God due wounds suffered in their lives cause by broken relationships (divorce, death of a loved one) or hardships (illness, financial struggles).  Before these people listen to story about Jesus they need to have their wounds healed. The Church is both a mother and a teacher.  As a teacher it helps to inform about the faith and the way to live.  Some people may struggle with Church teachings and not feel that the Church is a place to go for healing.  The Church as a mother is one who accepts and loves all her children and wants to care for them and bring them back into relationship with her.   Pope Francis has been leading the way to emphasize the Church as mother by welcoming all.   He is doing this to help heal the wounds of those who have been away from the Church.  If a person’s wounds are not healed they are not going to be concerned about Church teachings. An analogy Pope Francis gave regarding this was a medic in an army field hospital.  If a person’s arm is bleeding the medic is going to put a tourniquet on it and not going to talk about cholesterol levels.  The Pope has not changed Church teachings, but he is emphasizing what’s primary: Jesus Christ as savior! Father Robert Barron has provided some insight into Pope Franicis in a recent Youtube and also wrote a commentary published by Catholic News Service.

The Gospel this week speaks of the end times and troubles that may cause people to fear, but if they know about Christ’s mercy and his resurrection it can give them hope.  Malachi proclaimed: “But for you who fear my name, there will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays”.  The prophet was pointing to Christ.   People need to hear this message, especially those who are hurting.   The New Evangelization this coming year will provide opportunity to share this with those who have been away.

Father Joe started out the homily with the last line from the Gospel, “By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”   He shared a story about traveling back from Rome with Archbishop Buechline shortly after 9/11.  The Archbishop asked if he was scared to travel.  Father Joe told him no because if it was God’s will that he be called home, then he would accept it.  The Archbishop replied, “But are you ready?”  He told us that he wished the Archbishop would focus on the drive rather than asking more questions.  But this made him think. 

Father Joe then shared a story about a seminarian that helped with the thought of “perseverance that will secure your lives”.   The seminarian had made a confession and said he was praying about a particular sin he was struggling with.  Father Joe asked if the seminarian asked God to make the sign go away, but his answer was no.  His prayer was for God to give him the grace to live with the sin he struggled with.  Father Joe thought this was a mature answer.  Many of us struggle with confessing the same sin and may feel what’s the use in going back to confession with the same sin.   With that thought many people quit going to confession.   That’s what the devil wants us to think.   Father Joe recommended to persevere in our faith, and come to Jesus asking for forgiveness.  We need Jesus especially in our struggles.  In closing Father Joe suggested a good prayer to help with our perseverance.   A model he offered to pray nightly was to take time to pray to God with gratitude for what we have been given in our lives, in petition for those who need prayer, and in contrition by examining where we have fallen and asking for God’s grace to help with our faults.   If we do this on a regular basis it will help to “perseverance so you will secure your lives”.

May your week be blessed!

Reflection on homily for 32nd Sunday Cycle C: Focus on heavenly things and respond in Christian charity

Father Joe told a story about a woman who was newly retired and ready to volunteer her time to help someone in need.  She asked her pastor if someone could use some help and he recommended an older woman who had trouble getting to church.  She gladly agreed to pick her up and drive her to church for Mass.  After some time the pastor asked the woman how it was going.  She answered that the older woman had sued her after falling when getting out of her car.  The pastor assumed that the relationship had ended, but to his surprise he found out the woman was still continuing to drive the older lady to church.  She said that she wasn’t going to let the older woman’s demeanor get in the way of her acting with Christian charity.   She was focused on heavenly things and not letting the earthly trials distracts her. 

 The Sadducees in the Gospel were focused on earthly things and trying to trip up Jesus with their questions about whom the woman would be married to after all her husbands died.  Since the Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection, they were not thinking about how our lives would be different in heaven.  Their questioning was not of pure intention.   Jesus responded back in Christian charity and gave them an answer about the resurrection of the dead and life in heaven.   He even pointed out a familiar passage from Moses to help them understand. 

            Both situations made me think about this week on how the need to treat others with Christian charity by being pure in my intentions when asking someone questions and also to respond in love even when the others may not be treating me the same way.  If I think of earthly things this will be hard, but if I think of my heavenly destination and the resurrection of the dead it possible.  With the help of Jesus of course!  May God bless you this week!

Do you want to be up close to a miracle? Be an altar server!

As Catholic's we can be in the presence of a miracle daily by going to Mass and receiving the Eucharist. Our children and young adults have an opportunity to participate in this miracle in a special way by being altar servers and MC (master of ceremonies). These two ministries assist the priest and deacon at Mass by carrying in cross and candles, leading the Gospel procession, bringing sacred vessels to prepare the altar, bringing gifts to the altar, bringing water and towel for hand washing, and returning items to credence table after Communion is finished. They also lead the assembly by their reverence in being prayerful and attentive during Mass.  Participating in this important ministry can also be a great way for these young people to begin discerning a life of service to the church as a priest, deacon, or religious brother or sister. It also fosters their faith and love of the Church as they grow into adults. Many of these young people will be parents in the future through this service and will pass on their love for the faith to their children.

Please encourage you child to consider service in this ministry.  A few videos they might enjoy watching are:

Enjoy watching these and God bless!

Deacon Steve's homily for 31st Sunday Ordinary Time - C: Go out on a limb to see Jesus

Several years ago, my wife and I were touring Rome and we went to St. Peter’s Square for the Wednesday Papal audience.  The crowds were large, we were seated about half way back, and it was really difficult to see up front.  We waited for quite awhile when suddenly the Pope arrived for his audience.   Everyone was standing and everyone strained to see the Pope.   There was excitement in the air knowing that this holy man was so near. I remember looking around and seeing several people looking out windows, standing on steps, and standing on their chairs to get a glimpse of Pope JPII.   I myself stood on chair so I could see.   What a feeling it was to see the Pope ‘live’ for the very first time.

As I reflected on today’s gospel reading I thought about that day at St. Peter’s Square.  I would imagine that the crowds were thick waiting to get a glimpse of Jesus. The people of Jericho had heard of this man, a man from God, who had performed healings and other miracles. I am sure that there was excitement in the air and the people wanted to get a glimpse of him.

In last week’s Gospel, Jesus told a parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. This was a lesson on pride and humility. In this week’s Gospel, the parable comes to life and Jesus actually sees a tax collector. His name was Zacchaeus, a wealthy man, who was a tax collector by trade.  He wasn’t just any tax collector, he was the chief tax collector, the tax collector of the tax collectors. Tax collectors were hated and despised by the people because they cheated and over taxed them.

But Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus. Perhaps he had heard about Jesus when Jesus sent his disciples in pairs ahead of him.   He had to see this man, Jesus.   But he was too short to see over the crowds.  Now I can relate to that.  That’s how I felt at St. Peter’s Square when I finally stood on a chair.  So what does Zacchaeus do?  He climbs a sycamore tree, and he goes out on a limb, so he can see Jesus.

© Henry Martin

My friends, let’s put this in perspective. This man Zacchaeus was the chief tax collector.   He was probably a senior citizen, not in the best of shape, and wearing his finest clothes.       How many people do you know who are elderly and wearing their Sunday best that could climb a tree?   I don’t know many people that could do that. But Zacchaeus was on a mission.  For some reason he was being drawn to Jesus. Something inside of him was leading him to Jesus and he would do anything to see him. Maybe it was his conscience, maybe he was searching for peace, or maybe it was by the grace of God that he sought Jesus.  Whatever it was, though, he went to great lengths not only to see Jesus but to also be seen by Jesus.

When Jesus sees him in the tree he says: "Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house." I wonder if Zacchaeus expected that to happen?  By seeking out Jesus, Zacchaeus acknowledged his sinfulness and Jesus forgave him by inviting himself to his home. This little man who had made a living cheating people went out on a limb and was transformed by Jesus. He recognized his sins, and volunteered to repay all the people that he cheated.   He says to Jesus: "Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over." On that day and through his contact with Jesus, Zacchaeus undoubtedly grew into his name;  For his name means “pure one” or “righteous one.”

Dear friends, the church reminds us in this gospel reading that we, too, can experience the same transformation that Zacchaeus did. We, too, can become ‘pure’ and ‘righteous’. We hear Jesus say in the last line of today’s gospel: “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.” That is the Good News of Jesus Christ. That in him we can once again live in right relationship with God, And whenever people trust him enough, as Zacchaeus did, they experience deep and lasting peace.

There is no doubt that Zacchaeus found great satisfaction in giving back the money he had extorted through unfair taxes.  Jesus wants to bring us back into right relationship with God. And to give us the courage to live as we should live, so that we can experience the satisfaction we were meant to experience. Like Zacchaeus, all of us are searching for joy, peace, and happiness in our lives.  We, too, can find those things by seeking out Jesus, by going out on a limb to see our Savior.  

This week let’s follow our hearts and seek out Jesus in prayer, in scripture, and in the sacraments. Let’s remember that there is no better place to do that than right here at this mass, where Jesus is present:

in our priest who represents Christ in persona Christi,

in the words of Scripture,

in the singing and praying of all of us, and most intimately in the Eucharist.

          In just a few minutes, we’ll come forward to receive our Lord in Holy Communion.  Let’s ask God for the grace to respond as Zacchaeus did, and to allow Jesus to transform our lives.

God bless!

Homily for 31st Sunday, cycle C: What obstacles are keeping you from seeing Jesus?

The tree climbing in today’s Gospel reminds me about my neighbor’s son, Brian, from about 20 years ago.  Brian was born premature and was a lot smaller than other kids his age.  He didn’t play many sports because of his size, but the one thing he liked to do was climb the big pine tree in his front yard.  He didn’t just climb up a short way, but almost 50 feet to the top.  His dad would just look up at him and smile.  He knew of the struggles his son had early in life and letting him climb to the top tree was an accomplishment for Brian.  I was not too thrilled about it, because my daughter, Nicole, also liked to climb trees and would join Brian at the top.  I was ok with 10 feet up the tree, but not climbing to the top, which was due to my own fear of heights.   Nicole had no fear, so I would warn her not to go up so high.  Of course kids always listen to their parents… right?   I’d find Nicole, many times at the top of the tree with Brian.   Brian’s dad told me not to worry, and eventually I got over my fears.  I would just look up, smile, and pray that God kept them safe.   

Jesus must have looked up and smiled as well when he saw Zacchaeus high up in the tree.   The Gospel tells us that Zacchaeus was short and he wanted to see Jesus.  He needed to see over the taller people who were obstacles, so he climbed a tree to get a better look. Zacchaeus took action to overcome his problems because he just had to see Jesus.  Can you imagine a grown man climbing a tree? What a spectacle! The people in Jericho must have thought Zacchaeus was crazy.

They also thought he was a sinner because Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector and wealthy. Tax collectors worked collecting money for the Romans occupiers plus some extra for themselves.   As a chief tax collector Zacchaeus had agents working for him, which made him wealthy without doing much work. Wealth gained in this manner was considered being greedy.   Today’s view on wealth is quite different.  If you work hard and honestly and acquire wealth it’s ok this is the land of opportunity.  But, during Jesus’ time they understood there were only so many resources available. If you had abundance of anything you must have taken it away from someone else. This is why people thought Zacchaeus was a sinner.

So when Jesus called Zacchaeus to come down from the tree to go to his house it must have seemed scandalous. How could Jesus do this?   Jesus came to cure the sick, heal the lame, and comfort the widow, but not for a greedy sinner!    But, it’s exactly what Jesus planned to do.   Jesus tells us, “The Son of Man has come to seek and save what was lost”.   Jesus came to seek out and save the lost, whether they are rich or poor.  

In this situation though, Zacchaeus took the initiative by climbing over his obstacles to seek out Jesus.  In doing so Jesus saw him and came to his house right away. Zacchaeus is changed when he encounters Jesus.  He offers half his possessions to the poor and will restore anyone he’s extorted four times over. Jewish law only called to restore what taken from another plus another twenty percent. Zacchaeus had truly repented. Jesus recognizes this change telling him, “Salvation had indeed come to the house of Zacchaeus.”

Are we all a little bit like Zacchaeus?  Don’t we all have obstacles in our lives that keep us from seeing Jesus?  We are constantly under pressure from all directions for demands of our time and attention that keep us away from Jesus.    Maybe it’s the demands at work to make more money, the need to be constantly entertained, overpowering addictions, or even our own pride thinking we can take care of things ourselves.  Are we willing to go out of our way like Zacchaeus to seek out Jesus or do we just fit him in when it’s convenient?  

The Church provides us with ample opportunity to seek out Jesus so he can save us.  We are blessed to be able encounter him in the Eucharist every week and even more often if we choose.  Whether we receive the Eucharist at Mass or adore His presence, his grace strengthens us to overcome the obstacles in our lives.  We also have the healing sacraments of reconciliation and anointing of the sick that can help as well.   In prayer and reading Scripture, we can engage with him daily.   We just need to make plans to seek him out. 

I recently had a tremendous opportunity to witness 30 lost men who were seeking out Jesus at a Kairos retreat in the Plainfield Correctional facility.  These men have many obstacles in their lives to keep them away from Jesus: fear of violence, addictions to drugs, loss of freedom, and loneliness.  At the start of the retreat one of the men reluctantly said that he agreed to come since he had been to prison many times. He had tried many things in his life but he kept having the same problems. He wanted to see if Jesus might be the answer.  Amazingly by the end of the retreat this same man said it was hard to believe that he came all the way from Florida to be arrested and imprisoned in Indiana, so he could have the best experience of his life.   He sought out Jesus because he was lost and Jesus came to seek and save him.  I hope and pray he continues seeking him.

So what are the obstacles keeping us from seeking Jesus? Before it gets too busy with the holidays maybe it could be a good time to pray and ask God what obstacles we need to climb over to see Jesus.   If we take some quiet time and pray with humility like the tax collector, “God be merciful to me, for I am a sinner” and be persistent in prayer like the widow, then God will show us the way.   May God bless you.