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!