Homily, Fourth Sunday of Advent: Listening and saying yes to God

         Today starts the fourth week of Advent. We’ve all been preparing for the Lord’s coming at Christmas. We may have been busy getting ready for Christmas putting up decorations, buying presents, and figuring out how to celebrate the holiday safely. Some of us have had to cut back this year and won’t be able to be with our loved ones. Christmas this year seems a bit different from the past and may be a bit challenging.   With all the challenges we’ve gone through this year, it may be good to reflect on why God sent his Son to be with us, pondering in our hearts like Mary did. 

        In today’s Gospel the angel Gabriel is sent by God, to announce to Mary that she would

conceive a child.  The angels greeting, “Hail, full of Grace.  The Lord is with you.”, is troubling for Mary. This usual Hebrew greeting would be, shalom, meaning, “peace be with you”.    The greeting she hears, Hail, is in Greek and means rejoice or Joy.    The second part of the greeting: “full of grace!” is also related to joy.  Why would Gabriel use this greeting?  Because joy and grace belong together announcing the good news of the Gospel.  Mary ponders this greeting, reflecting on it in her heart on what it means.

The angel then tells her, “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son and you shall name him Jesus” and “The Lord will give him the throne of David his father,  and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of this kingdom there will be no end”.  The angel is rejoicing in the gift of the Holy Spirit that brings about the conception of Jesus, a name that means: GOD SAVES.  This greeting is a sign that salvation is coming for all people, both Jews and Gentiles.  THIS is truly GOOD NEWS.  

Mary reflects in her heart on the angel’s greeting and seeks to understand what it means.  Mary was betrothed to Joseph, a step on the way to marriage. Having a child before marriage was definitely not in her plans. This could jeopardize her marriage plans and even be a threat to her own life. This would be troubling for Mary.  Gabriel consoles her by saying, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God”.   

Mary’s pondering leads to a question.   She’s in dialogue with God’s messenger and listening to him. This is a good model for us to follow, in our prayer life. Prayer is dialogue with God.  It’s not just about asking God for something, but also having a conversation and listening to God. We can learn from Mary to reflect in prayer when faced with troubling situations, and to try understanding them in God’s overall plan. 

Mary seeks to understand how it’s possible for her to conceive a child without being with a man.  The angel answers Mary, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.   Therefore, the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God”.  To reassure Mary the angel tells of her cousin, Elizabeth, who was childless, beyond childbearing age, and now is six months pregnant. He finishes with “nothing will be impossible for God.”

Mary pondered and chose to say YES: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.  May it be done to me according to your word”.   Mary was free to say yes or no, just like we are.    It’s amazing that exalted God, who created humanity, would rely on a humble young woman’s response to restore humanity.   This yes set-in motion the reversal of Adam and Eve’s no to God and brought about the salvation of humanity through the birth of Jesus. 

It’s said that Mary’s yes to God allowed her to conceive through her ears.   What seemed to be a troubling situation for Mary, turned into the most joyful event for all of humanity. By pondering in her heart in dialogue with God she came to understand God’s will for her.

This year with the pandemic we’ve all had plans that did not turn out as expected. We all know people who have gotten sick or have died, many have lost jobs, and significant events in our lives have been canceled or postponed.   We’ve all struggled with isolation and being away from loved ones.     We definitely did not plan what we’re going through, and it’s been troubling for all of us. In this time of trouble, have we pondered in our hearts like Mary asking God what this all means? It may be a call for us to be in relationship with God listening his will for us, to be saved by his Son Jesus.  We will soon be celebrating the birth of our savior, Jesus, whose name means “God Saves”. The exalted God chose to be born humble that he might disclose majesty through this very humility.  He chose to be born as a baby to live among our imperfect humanity in order to save the world.

Let’s use the last few days of Advent to ponder in our hearts and have a dialogue with God just as Mary did. May we be open to God’s will and grace for each of us, especially to be saved by his Son. St. Augustine said that Mary first conceived Christ in her heart by faith before she conceived him in her womb.   As we approach the birth of Christ, may we seek to have this same faith and to say yes to follow God’s will.   May the Eucharist we are about to receive gives us the strength us to respond as Mary did. 

 

 

Homily for the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe: Serving our Shepherd King by being his sheep who serves others

 Today we celebrate to Solemnity of Christ the King.  We are at the end of the Church year in a church calendar.  Next week starts the season of Advent.   As we get near the end of the year the readings are focused on the end times, when Christ returns.   Our Lord and Savior will come in Glory, which is something we should all look forward to.   When he comes the Kingdom of heaven will be fully realized.   Why was the Solemnity of Christ the King instituted?   It was done recently by Pope Pius XI in 1925 as a reminder of the spiritual loyalty of the Christian faithful of who their true King is, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  He did so to battle the ideologies that were emerging at the times in Europe and Russia.   

The concept of a king may be foreign to us who live in the United States.  We battled for our independence from a King over two hundred years ago.  Our form of government is a republic, and we have the privilege to elect our leaders. We just recently went through that.  If we don’t like our leader, we can always vote to change them.  In a Kingdom the subjects are supposed to be loyal to their king, whether they like the king or not.  This can be a challenge for us in our American understanding of a leader.

The reading from Ezekiel give us an image of a king who cares for his people.  The image given to us is that of a shepherd king.   This was not what most of the Kings were like in Ezekiel’s time.   Many of the kings were self-serving and only concerned about themselves. The people of Israel needed hope of a leader who would be merciful and just. A shepherd is one who cares for his flock and will give his life to defend them.   The shepherd will rescue the sheep and seek out the lost that are scattered.  He will lead them to pastures to feed them.   The injured and sick he will heal.   This shepherd king surely cares for his people.   While this king cares for his people, he is also one who will pass judgement.   We’re told that shepherd king will judge between one sheep and another, between rams and goats.   

This is a reminder that there will be a judgement by our Lord.

The image of the sheep and goats is a good one.  Have any of you ever been to a petting zoo?    I’ve taken my children their when they were young.   One of the common things to do is to feed the goats.  After you get some food from the dispenser the goats start coming over.  It starts with one, but usually ends up with many goats all trying to make their way in to get some food.  There is usually a bully who nudges his way in front of all the smaller ones, even chasing them away.  It kind of gets annoying after a while.  The image of the goats is that they only seem to want something and don’t want to give.

In contrast sheep are usually more docile and humbler. They follow the shepherd leads.   The sheep offer the shepherd their gift of wool that continually grows throughout their life. The wool is made into cloth for clothes and blankets.   This image of the sheep is that they are giving of themselves.  Jesus uses these images in the Gospel in comparing the subjects in the Kingdom.  

Jesus tells his disciples that there will be a judgement coming when the Son of comes.  

It will be like when a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, the right on the sheep and the goats on the left. Those on the right will be the sheep.  They were giving of themselves to the king living the Beatitudes.   They cared for the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty, closed the naked, welcomed the stranger, cared for the sick, and visited the imprisoned.   When they cared for the King’s subjects, they cared for the King, Jesus, who came to them in each person who was cared for. The sheep would receive their eternal reward. The goats are the ones who did not care for the those in need in the Kingdom.  In their negligence they did not care for the King, and for this they would go off to eternal punishment.  

Our Lord, Christ the King, left us his Church to help us become the disciples that are the sheep that will be invited to the eternal reward.  We are fed by his Word and the Eucharist to give us Grace to serve as his disciples.  As his disciples we can serve those who are hungry, thirsty, sick and in prison through the ministries we have in our church.  The Harvest Food Pantry and Thanksgiving food distribution helps us feed the hungry and thirsty.  Our Care and Jail ministry volunteers visit those in sick and in prison.  Our donations to the Christmas store clothe the naked.  All our individual efforts in the little ways we show love to our neighbor help us care for our King, who we see in each person we help who is in need. 

So, as we celebrate Christ the King, our shepherd King, who cares and nourishes us, let us strive to serve as his loyal subjects in his Kingdom.  We can do so by caring for those in need, seeing the face of Jesus in each person we care for.  By doing so we can be like the sheep who received their eternal reward to be with our Lord and Savior.

 

 

Homily, Third Week of Ordinary Time: The law of love can change our troubled world

 We have all been through some challenging times over through past year. There has been the pandemic that has isolated many of us to keep us healthy.  Then there was the civil unrest due racial tensions in many communities including our own.   The leaders of our government are engaged in a contentious and uncivilized battle in national elections. There is quite a bit of division in our country and it can be discouraging. What are we to do?  St. Paul gives us some good advice: Receive the word in great affliction, with Joy from the Holy Spirt, so that you can become a model for all.

The Word we hear in the first reading from Exodus and Matthew’s Gospel are linked closely by showing love of neighbor.  In Exodus the people of Israel were given instructions by God of how to treat people who were in distress, aliens, widows, orphans, and the poor.   The people of Israel had all been aliens themselves in exile and had prayed to God to be restored to their homeland. God reminds them that he hears the cry of those in need and cares for them in his compassion. 

Jesus is challenged by the Pharisees in the Gospel.  There were 613 laws in the

Jewish faith and all were considered of equal importance.  It was impossible to keep them all. The Pharisee wanted to know which was most important.  Jesus boiled it down to two.   First to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind.  The second was to love your neighbor.    Jesus told them this summed up the entire law and the prophets.   

The Pharisees made it so hard to be in good relationship with God by keeping so many laws.  Jesus made it simple, by showing love, which is what God is. How do we show our love for God?  By spending time with him.   Jesus instructed us to love God with all our hearts, souls, and our mind.   Matthew’s version is a little different than the other Gospels, in Jesus telling us to use our mind, rather than strength.   By using our mind spending time reading God’s word in Scripture we can come to know our Lord and how he calls us to live as his disciples.  When we really love someone we want to know everything about them.   We don’t just spend a few minutes every now and then.  We want to know what they like, how they think, and what make them happy so we can show our love for them.  The more time we spend with reading God’s word, the more we can come to love Jesus.

How do we show our love for our neighbor?  If we keep in mind that each of us is made in the image of God it can help us to love them.   By seeing Jesus in each person we can come to love them.   Jesus went through the same suffering and pain that many of us go through to save us. We all know that some people are a challenge and it may be hard to love them.   This is impossible in our human weakness, but we have received help to do so.  The grace of the Holy Spirit in baptism and confirmation gives us the strength to love as God does.   The Eucharist we receive as our spiritual food helps us to become like Jesus.   When we turn from Jesus in sin Confession helps us to return to a right relationship with God to be in union with him. Through the sacraments it helps us to love others as God loves us.  

God’s love is directed toward caring for the needs of others.   If we think of love as how we can be of service to others, we can love as God loves.    This is a love that brings about unity.    By being models of God’s love and doing it we joy we can help bring the change to help our troubled world in the place we have the most influence, in our families and with our friends.  By doing so we can spread this love and draw others to be disciples of our Lord Jesus showing our love for God and neighbor.

 

 

 

Amazing Grace how sweet the sound 

that saved a wretch like me.    

I once was lost but now am found.  

Was blind but now I see.

 

This familiar Christian hymn was composed by John Newton in the mid 1700’s. John was a notorious slave trader and he lived a life of immorality. In his own words he, “made it a study to seduce and tempt others to a life of debauchery”.    Early in John’s life his mother taught him Scripture, but she died when he was only seven.   His father, a merchant navy captain, took John with him, traveling the seas which led to the sinful practices in his life that were far away from God.

 

On one of the journey’s a huge storm had raged for 11 days.   The ship was battered, and one

side was almost completely destroyed. John, so exhausted from the storm, had to strap himself to the helm to keep safe.   Fighting the raging storm for eleven hours and fearing for his life John had much time to think about.  He realized his life was a wreck that was going down like the ship in the storm.   Recalling a Scripture, he learned from his mother it brought a change in his heart:

 

But since you refuse to listen when I call

and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand, 

I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you; 

Then they will call to me, but I will not answer.

 

John felt he was beyond hope and being saved.

 

As I prepared for this homily the first reading really stood out to me:

 

Seek the LORD while he may be found,

Call him while he is near.  

Let the scoundrel forsake his way, 

and the wicked his thoughts: 

let him turn to the LORD for mercy;

To our God, who is generous and forgiving.

 

The Prophet Isaiah prophesy was directed the lost sheep of Israel who were far from God to come back into a relationship with Him.   God’s response was one of mercy rather than vengeance for their misdeeds. 

 

I think all of us here are seeking the Lord, but we all know people who are not.   Many of them are our own family, friends, and co-workers.    How can we help them to seek the Lord?   How has God placed others in our lives to invite them to work in God’s vineyard? This may be hard for some of the people we know. They may be bitter from a past hurt and have turned away from God.    We may have a strained relationship with some of them due to disagreement that has gone unresolved.   They have traveled down the path of sin and destruction and their lives seem beyond hope of ever returning to a relationship with God.  Our thoughts may be like the first workers in the vineyard who answered the call and toiled the longest.    We’ve been close to God all our lives and receive our eternal reward for working hard in the vineyard. Why should someone who has been away from God for years living in sin receive the same reward when they’ve put little effort into it?   This seems unjust in our human way of thinking. 

 

But as we heard in Isaiah:

 

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, 

Nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.

 

God generously offers his grace of mercy and forgiveness to those who seek him.  

When we call out to God it brings him great joy, especially for those who have been far away from him. He wants to be in relationship with us. This is amazing grace. This can be very hard for us to understand, but its’ Gods way.    

 

How can we be instruments of God’s love and mercy helping others to seek him out?   First, we can continue to seek the Lord ourselves and live following his ways.  Second, we can invite others to be in relationship with God.   One good way to start is to pray for those who don’t have that relationship.   For some people that may be the only thing we can do, but it’s the most important thing.   We may not be in a good relationship with them and can’t be the one has a direct influence on them.  But we can pray to God to place others in their lives who can do so.

  

If we do have relationship with them the best thing, we can do is be their friend, spending time with them, and getting to know them. This may be a challenge if their life is contrary to God’s ways. But if we seek out common interests that are appropriate, we can do this. It may be as simple as setting up a time to talk about a common interest as a sport, hobby, or their work. By spending time with them it shows that you care about them. A starting point to introduce God may be to offer a prayer for them if they are struggling with an issue in their life.  This may lead to an opportunity where eventually you can share your relationship with God and invite them to be in relationship as well. They may not have had anyone who has ever done so. We can be God’s instruments of mercy and forgiveness to invite others to work in the vineyard.

 

Returning to John Newton’s battle at sea, it seemed he was beyond saving.  But as the storm raged on, John’s thoughts turned to Christ transforming his life.  John turned to studying the Bible, prayer, and reading Christian literature. He tried to be a good example as a disciple of Christ for the sailors and slaves on ship.   He left slave-trading and later felt a call to ministry where he ministered for over 42 years preaching the Gospel of Christ in England.   He composed many hymns to support his ministry, one them being, “Amazing Grace”, which was a personal account of his own transformation. 

 

As we continue to seek the Lord and receive the Eucharist, lets pray for the grace help others to seek him as well.   Regardless of when we turn to the Lord or the sins we’ve committed, God will be generous in his mercy and forgiveness if we turn to him in sincerity with a contrite heart.  God’s grace is abundantly offered to all who seek the Lord.  

 

 

 

 

Entrusted with the Key to proclaim Christ - Homily, Week 21 Ordinary Time, Cicle A

 I have quite a few keys. In fact, I have so many keys that, I have two separate key rings. Keys are used to safeguard access to places that are important to secure, like your house, car, or safe deposit box. Keys are also given people who are trusted and have authority. I have a few of those keys for my job with the Archdiocese. Sometimes those keys come with the responsibility of making the right decisions. I pray for the Wisdom of the Holy Spirit to guide me in making the right decisions    

    In the Gospel today, Jesus gives Peter the key to the Kingdom of Heaven.  Why did the Lord give Peter this key?  Because Peter acknowledged Jesus as the Christ and the Son of God, revealed to him by the Father. Before this, Peter is known as Simon, but Jesus changed his name to Peter, which means rock to signify Peter’s role in leading the Church.  The Church is the kingdom of heaven on earth and Jesus entrusted Peter with the authority to lead his Church. Peter was called by God for this special role.   He did not ask for or volunteer for this role.   Jesus told Peter, that the gates of the netherworld would not prevail against the Church.   Today, 2000 years later, throughout all the trials and tribulations, the Church still stands to bring salvation to those who profess that Jesus is Christ and the Son of God.

What and who is the Church?   It is all of us who are called to proclaim the kingdom heaven to the world. In order for Kingdom thrive it needs a leader; otherwise those who oppose the kingdom will lead it astray.  Of course, Jesus Christ is our King, but he has also appointed Peter as his leader here on earth carry out his mission of salvation.   

When Jesus gave the keys to Peter, he gave him authority telling him, “whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”Jesus trusted Peter, even though he knew of his human flaws. If you read a few lines after today’s Gospel, Jesus chastises Peter because he doesn’t yet understand why Jesus must die on the Cross.  Peter also denies Jesus three times at his crucifixion as predicted by Jesus. Jesus did not expect Peter to be perfect in his leadership, but to be faithful. After the resurrection, Jesus forgives Peter asking him three times if he loves Jesus.  Peter confirms his love with Jesus telling him, “to Feed my lambs” and “Tend my sheep.” Affirming his leadership role for the Church

Peter’s successors, the Pope and bishops, carry out their responsibility in leading the global Church on earth. Within each diocese the bishops carry out a similar role in continually revealing who Christ is, the Son of God, through their teaching and administering the Sacraments.  Pope Francis and Archbishop Thompson are the two leaders we look to in leading the Church for us today. They are called by God to fulfill this role.  Will they make some mistakes? Like Peter, they are human, and they will make mistakes. But also, like Peter, they are faithful in proclaiming Jesus as our Savior. We can help and support them through our prayers.

The key of authority given to our bishops make the Sacraments possible.   These Sacraments sustain us and to help build up the kingdom of heaven. Our bishops are the only ones who can administer the sacrament of Holy Orders, ordaining bishops, priests, and deacons, and in doing so make possible all the other Sacraments, most importantly the Eucharist.   They also lead and teach us faith and morals of Christian living so we can bring others to faith in Christ.  They have a tough job to do in today’s world as many disagree with them, even many Catholics. We need to keep in mind Jesus called and entrusted Peter to lead His Church and this includes his successors, the Pope and our Bishops.  Please pray for Pope Francis, Archbishop Thompson, and all our bishops with the keys they’ve been entrusted with to lead the Church in revealing Christ as the Son of God and savior to the world.

In closing, I’d like to share a prayer that I pray daily for Pope Francis:

 

Lord, source of eternal life and truth, give to your shepherd, Francis, a spirit of courage and right judgement, a spirit of knowledge and love.  By governing with fidelity those entrusted to his care, may he, as successor to the Apostle Peter and Vicar of Christ, build your Church into a sacrament of unity, love, and peace for all the world.  We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your son who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen. 

Homily 17th Sunday of Ordinary Time: Seeking treasured beer cans and the wisdom to discern God's will

 Have any of you ever been on a treasure hunt?    I have been in my younger days.   In my

early teens my friends and I were would spend hours searching for the treasure of the times in the mid 1970’s: rare beer cans.    We would find these old beer cans and set up displays to show off to our friends.  Would you believe there were even traveling shows you could to exhibit your collection and trade to enhance your collection.   We used to spend hours searching along roadsides and forests in parks or golf courses to find these treasures.     I’ll never forget the thrill of finding the most treasured prize of my collection, an Ortel’s 92 cone top beer can.  This was the most prized possession, and I would never trade it because it was so important at the time.  

         In today’s Gospel Jesus parables relating the kingdom of heaven tp someone who finds treasure and gives up everything they have in joy of finding it.  What was of such value that they would give up everything for it?  The reading from the Book of King’s about Solomon can shed some light.   Solomon was very young when he had inherited the Kingdom of Israel from his Father King.    He most likely had everything a person could want at the time.  In a dream God comes to him offering to grant him something.   He could have asked for riches, fame, or power, but in his humility,  Solomon asked for an understanding heart to decide right from wrong to govern his people. God was pleased with Solomon and granted him this request.

If we were given the same opportunity what would we ask for?   God gives us the freedom to choose the treasure that we desire.    We are all given a unique purpose by God on our life’s journey.   When we discover this purpose of who God it will bring us true joy.   Sometimes we may get distracted with other things that may give us happiness, that may fade away, and we will yearn for something else.    We will experience high points and low points throughout our lives, and it may seem like we are on the wrong path.   When this happens we need to keep St. Paul wisdom in mind: “We know all things work out for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”

What is that purpose that God has called us?  To be Holy!  Each one of us is called to be Holy in our state in life.  Holiness leads us to have faith that Jesus Christ that saved us through His sacrifice which promises us to be glorified with him in eternal life.  This is the treasure buried in the field and the pearl sought out that brings great joy and everything is given up in finding those treasures.   

      We can gain the Kingdom of Heaven by seeking an understanding heart from God to discern what he call us for.    Each of us has a unique calling.  Most of us to be married and raise of family, but some may be called to the priesthood, diaconate, religious life, or as a single person with special talents to share with other.  When we discover this purpose and have faith in Jesus it will bring us try joy.  

God comes to us like he did with Solomon.   He seeks us out so we can ask for Him for something.   But this can only happen if we take time to rest with God in prayer.  If we are constantly seeking the treasure of riches, entertainment, or pleasure with no time for God we may experience happiness, but not true joy. 

By spending time in God’s word and in worship it will help foster the environment for us to enter more richly into prayer with God.   In doing so it will help us rest in prayer with God so we too can receive a wise and understanding heart like Solomon and become who God has called us to be.    

I spent a lot of time and effort spent on my beer can collection, but as the years went on it just wasn’t that important.  I didn’t pay much attention to the collection and found out when I left for college my parents had thrown them out.  Kind of like the angels who threw out the fish at the end of the age in the Gospel. I pray for all of us that we will seek to spend time with God in prayer so we can receive this wisdom to discern what brings us true joy, a life of holiness with faith in Jesus with the promise of eternal life. 

Homily Solemnity of Corpus Christi: Seeking Eternal Life and the food that nourishes

          We have had many first Communions this week and all of our young boys and girls are so joyful to receive!  They respond in faith that the bread and wine are changed into Jesus Body and Blood. We have all been away from receiving communion for a long time due to the stay at home order from the pandemic.   I hope that we all receive the Body and Blood with joy as our first Communion children did.

Today’s Gospel is one of my favorites, the Bread of Life discourse from John chapter 6.  This section follows the miracle of the feeding of the thousands and the multiplication of the bread and fish. This miracle satisfied many people for their immediate hunger, but Jesus has a food that will satisfy for the long term and bring something we all long for: Eternal Life.  I would encourage you to read all of John 6.

The Gospel of John is the only one that does not have the institution of the Eucharist at the last supper.  Mark, Matthew, and Luke all have this where Jesus establishes the sacrament of the Eucharist changing the break and wine into His body and blood. He also established the ministerial priesthood ability to perform this sacrament as they act in the Person of Christ.    

As we John’s Bread of Life discourse with our hindsight of the Last Supper, and his

death and resurrection it really gives it meaning.   If we eat Jesus flesh and blood it will give us life.   His Body and Blood give us life now by receiving him into our bodies, where we receive his divine nature in the Sacrament of the Eucharist.  This gives us Grace that provide supernatural strength to be His eyes, hearts, hands, and feet in the world.   We become one with Jesus and have the power to overcome challenges in the world by making Jesus know through our showing love of God and our neighbors.   

By eating His Body and Blood we are promised Eternal life.  We can live forever!    We will be resurrected on the last day just like our Lord. How awesome is that! In the Gospel today Jesus tells us these seven times.  He means what he says and says what he means.   

The disciples did not have the hindsight that we did in knowing the rest of the story about Jesus death and resurrection.    When they heard the Bread of Life discourse, they did not fully understand what he meant by eating his flesh and drinking his blood they would have eternal life.  Eating anything with blood in it was forbidden in Jewish faith tradition.  To some Jesus was saying something that was totally contrary to the teachings of their faith.  If you read on later in chapter 6 it says many of disciple disciples left because they didn’t agree with what Jesus was teaching.    But there were some who did stay on.  Why did they stay?  Because they had faith in Jesus that he was the Christ, which means the Messiah, and the Son of God. They had witnessed the miracles of healings feeding of thousands and realized that Jesus was someone special.  They did not fully understand, but had faith that Jesus was the promised Messiah, and they stayed with him.   They would eventually understand after his death and resurrection, where Jesus appeared alive in his Glorified Body and shared Eucharistic meals with them.

We are all seeking Eternal life. There are all kinds of products that are on the market that we buy to extend life and restore our youth. I have a few here:

Read labels of Now, fish oil, freeman Clay mask, Amazing grace body crème.

All of them provide nourishment and rejuvenation, but do any them say they will give eternal?    

We have the Words of Eternal Life spoken to us by Jesus in John Chapter 6.    All we need is to have is Faith!  Bring out can of faith.   If we have faith in Jesus words, the Eucharist will give us life, today and the hope of Eternal life for those who believe.  

There are sadly many people today, who don’t believe that the bread and wine is changed into Jesus body and blood, even many Catholics.    Some may be challenged by lack of faith.     This is a time we all really need to Jesus Body and Blood to unite us and to give us supernatural grace to sustain in these challenging times.    Our young children making their first communion are great examples of Faith having in Jesus and that the bread and wine is changed into his Body and Blood.  Pray for the gift of faith to believe that the Eucharist is Jesus Body and Blood.

Homily, Solemnity of Pentecost: Come Holy Spirit, Come

 It’s so good to see everyone here together worshipping at church today. We’ve certainly been through some trying times lately and in need of something to bring us joy.    This Solemnity of Pentecost, the sending of the Holy Spirit, by our Lord Jesus, is something to be joyful about!   It’s a birthday celebration of the Church!

Last week we celebrated the Ascension of our Lord.   Jesus had rose from the dead after spending 50 days with the disciples.   He gave them a commission to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing in the name of the Father, Son, and of the Holy Spirit.   He left them, but told them “I am with you always, until the end of the age.”   How would he always be with them?    Jesus had told his disciples he would send an Advocate and Counselor to be with them.    He was speaking of the Holy Spirit to empower them to do great things.

We’ve all been through some trying times lately.   We’ve been confined to our homes in fear of others being around us.    We had concerns and anxieties of illness and even death.   

This sounds a lot like the disciples in today’s Gospel.  They were gathered together in fear behind locked.   They thought Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah, but he been captured, and crucified.  They thought the same thing may happen to them.   Jesus appears to them, which probably astounded and confused them.    They also may have felt ashamed and scared for having abandoned Jesus fearing retribution.  But Jesus eases their anxieties by telling them twice, Peace be with you.   He not only offers them his Peace, but then sends them on a mission to do the work the Father had sent him, proclaiming the Kingdom of God had arrived.   How were these ordinary men supposed to carry out the work of Jesus, the Son of God?   Through the power of the Holy Spirit.    He sends the Holy Spirit by breathing on them.  He uses his physical nature to impart his divine Spirit to empower them to spread the Good News of his dying and rising, that brings eternal life to those who believe.

Today we would really not appreciate someone breathing on us as it could bring on illness and even death.    But Jesus breath was life giving, sending the third person of the Holy Trinity to be with us always.     His breath gave the disciples the power to do carry on the mission of Church through the Sacraments.   He specifically gives them the power to forgive sins, establishing the Sacrament of confession.   What a great gift to rejoice in and celebrate!

Through the Church we’re provided the Sacrament of Baptism where we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit to become adopted sons and daughters of God.   We also able to receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit through the Sacrament of Confirmation to empowering us to be God’s instruments in the world to make disciples of Jesus.    Our Priests are able to change ordinary bread and wine by the Holy Spirit’s power into the Body and Blood of Christ to make him sacramentally present and spiritually nourish us. 

How does the spirit work in us?  St. John of Alexander tells us the Spirit completely changes the lives of those he dwells in.  It changes the outlook of those only concerned with the world to be entirely focused on God’s kingdom. It turns cowards into men and women of great courage. f  This how the disciples were enablied them to hold firm proclaiming Christ, facing violence and persecution unafraid.  

Each of us are united to Jesus in this same Spirit.   This is how He is with us to the end of the age.   But the Spirit works in each of us uniquely according to the gifts given to us.     Through these many gifts we make up the one body of Christ, spreading the Gospel in each of our different ways. 

As we celebrate Pentecost lets reflect on how the Holy Spirit has united with Christ during these challenging times.   What gifts of the Holy Spirit have been given to you?   Have you been given courage to take care of the sick at work or in your home?   Were you given patience to be confined to home with family, trying to balance work, school, and family life?    Was the gift of faith provided to sustain while being away from Mass and the Sacraments?   Were you a leader of prayer for your family and friends to give them hope? Did you exercise charity and hospitality for your neighbor by contributing to the Harvest food pantry or feeding front line health workers?   Were you to able lift the spirit of those who were isolated and lonely by reaching out to them?   These have certainly been challenging times, but it’s afforded the Holy Spirit to work through us in spreading the Good News of Christ.

Over this period of being home I was able to watch of series the Wild Goose on Formed by Fr. Dave Pivonka.   It helped me be more aware of the Holy Spirit and its work in my life.    One thing I found helpful was to be more present to the Holy Spirit. Fr. Dave offered a simple prayer on a decade of the Rosary quietly praying, “Come Holy, Spirit”, on each of the then beads, at times throughout the day. This helped to bring about the Peace of Jesus and remind of the Holy Spirit’s presence. 

So, let us rejoice in the Holy Spirit coming on this Pentecost and the birth of the Church.   We are so grateful for the gift of the Sacraments of the Church to sustain, heal, and nourish us, especially the Eucharist that we are once again able to receive.   

Shine your light on the poor and oppressed to attract others to Jesus: Week 5, Ordinary time, cycle A

February 8 was the feast day for St. Josephine Bakhita. I’d like to share the story that led to her sainthood.  In the late 19^th century a young girl from Darfur in Southern Sudan named Bakhita, at the age of 7 was kidnapped and sold into slavery.    This must have been extremely traumatic both for Josephine and her family.   She was sold several times, and

finally came into possession of the Italian consul to Sudan, who later gave her to the Micheili family to be the nanny for their daughter Mimmini.   After a few years Mimmini accompanied by Bakhita, was sent to a school in Venice administered by the Canossian Sister and was.   The loving care of the Sisters drew Bakhita to the Catholic faith, and she was baptized in 1890, taking the name Josephine.   Upon Mimmini’s graduation from the school the Micheili family wanted her and Josephine to return to the Sudan, but Josephine refused.  Since she was the “property” of the Micheili family, she did not have the right to do so. 

In the first reading from Isaiah he prophesies that the Lord calls us to care for the poor and shelter the oppressed.   By doing so the light of hope will shine on those who are in need and the Glory of God will be revealed to them.  The prophesy says that those who care for the poor will have the light shine on them.  This sounds a bit like the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 25 where the Lord as shepherd separates the sheep and goats.  The sheep are those who care for the poor and oppressed, who are represented as caring for Jesus, and will inherit the Kingdom.  The goats are those who did not and will suffer eternal punishment.

There is a strong link between the light Isaiah and the Gospel.  Jesus is speaking to his disciples using images of salt and light.  As salt of the earth, the disciple is to be the flavor that enhances and preserves the lives of others.   Jesus also tells the disciples that they are the light that must shine before others.   Their good deeds shine as lights in the darkness for the poor and oppressed and glorify God the Father.    Their light of their good works attracts others to Jesus, like moths are attracted to light in the summer darkness.

We must shine our lights as well as disciples of Christ.  The Beatitudes in Matthew Chapter 5:1-12, were the readings we normally hear the Sunday prior to today’s Gospel.   The Beatitude are guides that Jesus has given us to be light in the world.  These are the attitudes we are to be in order to shine light on others we encounter. It would be a good idea to take some time read and reflect on the Beatitudes. 

One of the beatitudes is especially relevant to the story about St. Josephine Bakhita:  Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be satisfied.   As Christians the Church calls us to show our love by caring for the poor and oppressed.   Works of mercy to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and house the homeless, are ways to shine our lights.   Fighting for social justice of the oppressed is another way we can also shine out lights.  St. Josephine Bakhita’s story, may sound like something of the past, but unfortunately its not. 

Human Trafficking, the buying and selling of humans, mostly children, is the fastest growing and the second largest criminal industry worldwide.    It’s not isolated to other parts of the world. It’s occurring in our own country and our own community. A few weeks ago, I was told that this is the #1 crime in one of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police districts.  Indiana ranks fourth in the nation in Human trafficking.  I would have never imagined that we would face such an issue in our own State and community.

Where does this occur in our own community?   One example is people smuggled into this country without documentation and forced into labor. 

They are required to work long hours, seven days a week, and cannot seek help because they have no legal documentation and fear retribution against their families. A friend of mine encountered this at a restaurant her family frequented in southern Indianapolis.  They went there once a week and really enjoyed it.  In learning about the issue of human trafficking she started to notice that some peculiar reactions of the workers at the restaurant. She ceased going to the restaurant and reporting it to the legal authorities as suspected of human trafficking.

How can we shine out lights on others and bring about justice for the oppressed and care for the poor?   The issues may seem overwhelming, making us think we can’t make a difference.  But we can make a difference one person at a time, by learning about the issues. I recently went to a movie, Blind Eyes Opened, that exposed the serious issue of Human Trafficking.   The website, blindeyesopened.com, has many details about the issue and how to get involved.  It opened my eyes and shed light on the issue.   

Another good resource focusing on social justice issues is Archbishop Thompson’s pastoral letter, We are One in Christ, which can be found on the Archdiocese web site. It addresses challenges in our culture: violations against human life, the plight of immigrant, migrants, and refugees, gun violence, and drug abuse. It also outlines the Church’s social doctrine related to these issues and provides a study guide to reflect on them.   We may think we are powerless against such daunting issues.   But like St. Paul, who came in weakness, and much fear and trembling, we have the grace of the Holy Spirit that empowers to make a difference one person at a time. With Lent coming in a few weeks it may be a good to reflect on ways we can be lights for the oppressed and the poor by relying on the power of Christ.

Returning to St. Josephine, a court case on her behalf was taken on by the Canossian sisters.   The judge ruled in her favor since slavery outlawed several years earlier in Italy.  St. Josephine entered the school run by Canossian sisters and professed her vows three years later.  She assisted in her community for years through cooking, sewing, welcoming visiting and was well loved by children attending the school.  St. Josephine Bakhita died in 1947 and was canonized a saint in 1980.   She is the patron of human trafficking survivors.

As we continue with Mass let’s thank God for the grace of our Holy Spirit through our Baptism and Confirmation to shine as lights in the world carrying out good works as Christ’s disciple.   May the Eucharistic we receive empower us to be salt and light to overcome darkness in the world, and lead others to Christ.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website on Human Trafficking has more detailed information on the issue. 

Homily, Ordinary Time, Cycle A - Planting seeds and Christian discipleship

Friday morning I went to the Catholic Business Exchange on the Northside of Indianapolis to attend Mass, hear an inspiring speaker, and share fellowship with other Catholics business people.  After the speaker finished I spoke with a guy named Tom who shared a story about how Christian discipleship can impact others.    He told me about a fellow student from law school who he hadn’t heard from in over 10 years.  His friend called him up out of the blue and asked him to go to lunch after all this time.  He remembered him as a social friend but was not particularly close to him.   He wasn’t really sure why he wanted to get together and he hoped everything was ok.    

Turning to today’s Gospel, did it sound a bit familiar?   It may have seemed like a repeat of the Baptism of the Lord, but it’s from the perspective of John the Baptist.   John’s mission, was to prepare for the coming of Jesus.  He was ministering in the desert, through ritual baptism with water calling people to repentance.  Many people were coming to him, and finally Jesus approaches.  John says he didn’t not know who Jesus was, but calls him the “Lamb of God.  How does he know this?  By spending time with God in prayer and listening to him.   John said the one who told him to baptize with water would send the Holy

Spirit come down on the one who would baptize with the Holy Spirit.  John was given the gift of seeing the Spirit like a dove from heaven come down upon Jesus as he baptized him.  

John would recognize this as a sign of God’s peace, like the dove with the olive branch that returned to Noah after the flood.   The destruction was over and peace would reign.  There was an expectation in the Old Testament at the end time that God would send his Spirit into the world to reconcile man to God.   John recognized Jesus as this peace, testifying that he was the Son of God. John completed job that God sent him to do, announcing Jesus as the Lamb of God and Son of God. 

Isaiah prophesied that one would be sent to redeem Israel and be a light to the nations, and Jesus fulfilled this prophecy.   John was sent to prepare the way of the Lord, and announce he was the Son of God.  Paul was sent to be the apostle to the Gentiles.    We to are sent as well as disciples of Christ, strengthened by the  grace of our baptism, to proclaim Jesus as Messiah and Lord.  

How will we know how to do this?  Most importantly by spending time in prayer listening to God.  Through the sacraments, especially baptism, confirmation, communion and reconciliation will strengthen, nourish, and heal us, to prepare us for the mission we are sent.   We can also be open to the people God sends in our lives to impact us, parents, teacher, catechists, ministers, spouses, family, and friends,  Each time we pray we can reflect on how these people are doing God to impact us.   By doing His will it’s leading to be the person that God sent us into the world to be, which is Holy.    

Some of us are sent to be priests, deacons, and religious will be sent to minister in the Church and we need to be open to that possibility.   But many of us are sent into the world as single or married persons to impact the world through our families, friends, work, in recreation and where we volunteer our time.   We are sent to impact those around us by the way we live our lives as disciples of Christ.  

Returning to the story that Tom shared with me at the beginning, he met with his friend for lunch and they spent time catching up on their times in law schools, family, and careers.  But the big news he had to share was that he was in RCIA and would becoming a Catholic at the upcoming Easter Vigil. He said that Tom had a big impact on him.    Even though it was many years ago, he remembered that Tom was Catholic, and the way he lived his life had the greatest influence on him becoming Catholic. Tom didn’t think he did anything special and was far from perfect, but that he has always tried to be true to living out his Catholic faith.   He just planted a few seeds of faith by his Christian way of life that grew over time.  You never know how those seeds will impact others. 

I’d like to close with a paraphrase of prayer, We are prophets of a future not our own, shared with me by our youth minister, Emily Ketzner, that can help us realize on how of life of Christian discipleship can impact others.  

It helps, now and then, to step back and take a long view. 
The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts, it is even beyond our vision.
We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent
enterprise that is God's work. 

Nothing we do is complete, which is a way of
saying that the Kingdom always lies beyond us.
No prayer fully expresses our faith.
No confession brings perfection.
No program accomplishes the Church's mission.
No set of goals and objectives includes everything.
We plant the seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise.
We lay foundations that will need further development..
We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the master
builder and the worker.
We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs.
We are prophets of a future not our own.