Throw Open Your Arms (Receive Him with Joy) - Homily 31st Sunday OT C

31^st Sunday OT- C

This is a re-write of a homily from several years ago.

I love to see the children come forward for the Children’s Liturgy. They are so excited. They are all skipping and jumping and smiling. Their understanding of God is so clean, pure, and innocent.

Just ask them about God. They will tell you about God in their simple truth.

We should look at our faith with such simplicity. The story of Zacchaeus is a good one to look at from a simple point of view.

The name Zacchaeus means “clean, pure, and innocent.” (http://www.name-doctor.com) But somewhere, somehow, and at some time, Zacchaeus had lost his way

So look at the story again:  In Jericho, there was clean, pure, and innocent man who had lost his way. He was the chief tax collector, a wealthy man, and was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way.

Jesus looked up and said, “Clean, pure and innocent man come down quickly, I must stay at your house.”

And he came down quickly and received him with joy.

The crowd grumbled, “He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.”

The clean, pure and innocent man stood there and said to the Lord, “Behold, half of my possessions, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.”

And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house….For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.

Zacchaeus climbed that tree to find grace. Despite all that was against him, he found Jesus. Grace was seeking him out.

Jesus came to save a clean, pure, and innocent man who had become lost.

No one told Jesus who Zacchaeus was. There was no formal introduction. Jesus saw him and knew him as Zacchaeus, a clean, pure, and innocent man. He didn’t see a tax collector or a sinner; but, instead he saw the person God created and said was good.

When Jesus said I must come to your house,  it was an act of love.

The clean, pure and innocent man, who was once lost, receives him with joy.

We can probable all picture Zacchaeus throwing open his arms wide and embracing Jesus. I see tears of joy brought by the love and forgiveness Jesus brings to Zacchaeus. You spare all things, because they are yours, LORD.

Be like Zacchaeus, seek Jesus.  Rise above the world around us.

God forgives us. That forgiveness overcomes everything that keeps us from God.  

Throw open your arms and receive Jesus with joy.

People find this hard. People see the sinners we are instead of the clean, pure, and innocent creation of God we once were.  

In our simplicity many think that if God is so great then we don’t matter. To God the whole universe is nothing more than a grain of sand or a drop of morning dew.

God is so big and infinite that He has mercy for each of us. God is so great and so good that we do matter. He has mercy on all, because God can do all things; even overlook people's sins that they may repent.

The Catechism teaches: God …, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life. For this reason, at every time and in every place, God draws close to man. He calls man to seek him, to know him, to love him with all his strength.  (CCC 1)

Despite all that was against him, Zacchaeus found Jesus.  A clean, pure and innocent person seeks Jesus.  And, Jesus came to save those clean, pure, and innocent people who have become lost.

Through baptism, we are born again - clean, pure and innocent children of God so that our God may make us worthy of his calling and powerfully brings to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you and you in him.

Throw open your arms and receive him with joy.

Be good, be holy and preach the gospel by the way you live your life and love one another. Amen.

Wisdom of Ages - Reflection 30th Sunday OTC

(Readings)

Growing older, many reminisce about younger days and the exploits of youth. Some things, we are proud and others we had rather forget.

Wisdom often comes with age. If only we could go back and relive those times with the wisdom we have now!

If only we could relive our lives with the wisdom found in this verse from Sirach (7:3): “In whatever you do today remember your last day. You will sin no more.”

 If only the world knew those words today.

So few people are in church and there are many reasons. One reason is laziness.

Another is self-exaltation. People who think they don’t need Church.  Some who were raised Catholic and have made confirmation think they know everything they need to know; above us poor sinners.

Others identify as spiritual non- religious. Persons who have abandoned organized religion because the Church is full of sinners. The Pope is wrong. Priests are wrong. People in the pews are wrong. A person does not need religion or Church to grow closer to God. It’s full of all those sinners.

In self-identity, they exalt themselves.

The truth is these mortal bodies live but one life; have but one death; and all have suffering. And, we are all sinners. People fail to remember that every person will have a last day.

There are those who exalt themselves above even this reality. Businesses cater to people who feel they should live forever. They freeze their bodies or heads to be resurrected in the future. They believe they don’t even have to die.

That is extreme; but, the truth is many exalt themselves to a point of injustice to the poor, hungry, sick, and even sinners. Sadly, the world sees this evidenced in people who call themselves Christians. Some even think this is the way it should be.

There are Christians who think God should favor them. God should only hear their prayers. Jesus is only their LORD and Savior. Jesus came only for them.

Just this this past week, I was told: “I am not like other (unnamed denomination), I think Catholic’s go to heaven.”

There are preachers who preach this. There are pastors who pronounce these words. There are Christians who believe these teachings.

That is wrong. They have forgotten the good news of the Gospel. That good news that God the Father sent his son, Jesus Christ for the salvation and redemption of the whole world. Jesus did not come for those who think they are special.

The LORD is a God of Justice who knows no favorites. All who come to God in prayer and pour out their poverty like libations before the LORD, the LORD God will hear.

The LORD hears the cry of the oppressed. He confronts the evil doers. He is close to the broken hearted. The LORD God rescues those in distress. He stands by us and gives us strength. Those crushed in spirit he saves. He redeems his servants and those who take refuge in him.

St. Paul writes “In justice He will rescue us from every evil threat, even from the lion’s mouth to bring us safely to His heavenly kingdom.”

All we have to do is pray about it.

But, prayer must come from a humble heart and not one that has exalted itself above the poor; even the poor sinner. The one who serves God willingly is heard; and, the most high responds justly and affirms the right.

So we hear Jesus parable to those convinced of their own righteousness and who despised everyone else. It is a parable for today and those who exalted themselves above the injustice of the world.  There are self-righteous, so lets us change the characters in the parable.

Two people went up to the temple area to pray; a Christian and a sinner.

The Christian takes up his position and prays, O God, I thank you that I am not like everyone else -- greedy, dishonest, adulterous -- sinners.

The sinner stands off at a distance, too ashamed to raise his eyes to heaven, but with remorseful heart prays: Please God, be merciful to me a sinner.

Jesus asks which one is justified; not the self-righteous, for whoever exalts himself will be humbled and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.

Now, return to wisdom from the book of Sirach. “In whatever you do today remember your last day. You will sin no more.”

The Church and religion, the wisdom of ages, has been full of sinners since Adam, God hasn’t given up on it yet. It is never too late to humble ourselves before God. The LORD hears the cry of the poor.

Be good, be holy, and preach the Gospel by the way you live your life and love one another. Amen.

Prayer Warriors - Homily 29th Sunday OTC

(Readings)

As we sing the Gloria at the beginning of mass, I know what Moses meant when he said to Joshua choose certain men. God did not gift me with the best singing voice. I am out of tune and my tone is flat. But, during the Gloria I am surrounded by beautiful and joyful voices singing praise and glory to God.

First there is the entire Church community lifting their voice in praise to glorify God. To the left of Father is Ava, our altar server, who has a beautiful voice. To the right is our Cantor and musicians (Cathy, Jennifer, and Daniel) talented and gifted with wonderful voices. And next to me is Father Paul. I will say he sings better than I do.

Every week, I fight a battle of tone and tune to make a joyful noise to the LORD. I am blessed because my community loves me anyway.

Moses told Joshua to gather certain men to prepare for battle with the enemy who had come to wage war against Israel.

What enemy do we fight?

Some thing or someone or some circumstance is probably waging war against each of us. It attacks day and night. It hits with fear, uncertainty, or pain. This battle  is not from God. It is the enemy waging war against us.

It may be a financial battle. Maybe I'm in over my head with bills and expenses. I've lost my job. Medical bills are piling up. Collection agencies are calling and calling and calling.

I may be an emotional battle. Life is not where I want it to be. Maybe there is a marital crisis or a breakup or a divorce. Maybe loneliness attacks. We question who we are and why we are and where we are in life.

Maybe the battle is with health issues. The attack is cancer or heart problems or dementia or aging. It is our health or the health of our spouse, children,  parents, or friends.  

There are so many things that attack us and those we love. There is so much and so many that wage war against us. So we listen to the words of scripture.

Moses tells Joshua to prepare himself for battle by picking out certain men. Moses is telling Joshua to surround himself with people of faith. And, Moses stood above the battle field  with his arms raised, praying over Joshua and those men. As long as Moses held his arms up in prayer, the Israelites were winning. When he grew tired and his arms fell, the enemy was winning.

But, Moses had surrounded himself with certain people - Aaron and Hur, men of faith and priests of God. When Moses became weary and his prayers and arms fell to fatigue. Aaron and Hur held him up, one on each side. They joined Moses in prayer to give him strength.  And, Moses was able to pray without ceasing.

In the battle against the things that wage war against us, we should surround ourselves with certain people of faith. Using a term started by our protestant brothers and sisters, surround ourselves with prayer warriors.

These are the warriors who (as told in Timothy) will help us to remain faithful to what we have learned and believe. In this, we have the two great things to prepare ourselves for a battle against the enemy. These are faith in Jesus Christ and the scriptures inspired by God. By knowing these things we will be equipped for every good work. 

Know the strength and power of prayer. Know the love of Jesus Christ. Our armament is prayer. Our shield is the love of Christ. Our help is from the LORD who made heaven and earth our defender and our protection.  

In these, we are ready for battle. Most battles will be long hard fights. Be persistent in faith and prayer, whether it is convenient or inconvenient. Pray when rested. Pray when tired. Pray when time is abundant time and pray when time is rushed. Be surrounded with certain people to hold us up and strengthen our faith and prayers. Surround ourselves with prayer warriors.

Scripture tells us that God’s will is not our will.” And “God’s ways are not our ways.” Our prayers are not to change God’s will; but to prove God’s will. And, God’s will is that we know him and love him. By God’s will, we know God’s mercy.

Most importantly, pray without ceasing.

And, the LORD God who loves us will hear the prayer of His chosen ones (certain people, people of faith, prayer warriors) who call upon him night and day. God will see that justice is done, if, He finds faith in those prayers.

That is why we surround ourselves with certain people of faith; people persistent in faith and prayer. People, who will hold us up, support our faith and what we believe and have learned when we grow weary.

Friends this is a call for us to have that faith. It is a call to teach our families the strength of persistent faith and prayer. Pray for those who battle the enemy. Pray for our families and community. Pray for the Church.

Be prayer warriors. Be a certain people of faith that fights battles for our own. Pray without ceasing.

Pray for me. I will always pray for you.

Be good, be holy and preach the gospel by the way you live your life and love one another. Amen.

God's Will Be Done - Homily 28th Sunday OT C

(Readings)

I pray for those who ask for me to pray for them, for those who are sick and ask for prayers. Several people in our church family need our prayers. I have friends and family members are battling cancer.

I pray asking for healing, hope, peace, and God’s mercy in the struggles they face; and every prayer is a petitions God’s will be done.

Many pray daily if not multiple times a day: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name. Thy Kingdom come; thy will be done….

Sometimes it takes a crisis to know God’s will.

The Syrian General Naaman was stricken with Leprosy. He was in the need of prayers seeking to be healed. A Jewish servant told him the LORD God of Israel’s prophet Elisha could heal him.

Naaman didn’t believe in the LORD God. He didn’t believe Elisha could heal him. He thought to jump into the Jordan River 7 times was ridiculous.  Are not the rivers of Damascus better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be cleansed?” He turned in anger and left.

Naaman must have been a decent man, a lot of people were praying for him. He had a change of heart. Using the prophet Elisha, God healed Naaman.

Naaman was a foreigner, not a believer in the LORD. He scoffed at what he was told to do. Yet, it was God’s will that he be healed. And, Naaman came to know the LORD God and glorified him.

The Gospel tells us the time Jesus healed the lepers. Jesus said go and show yourself to the priests.

Scripture says he healed 10, but only one returned. One did not go. He was a foreigner. Because he was a foreigner, probably a Samaritan, he couldn’t show himself to the priest. Yet, it was God’s will that the Leper was healed. The Leper returned to Jesus, fell at his feet, and glorified God.

These scriptures tell that God healed two foreigners, ones not of his chosen people. God healed those that the Israelites and Jewish people would not consider worthy to be healed. Yet, these foreigners came to know and love the LORD God.

It’s God’s way. It’s God’s will that all the nations know his saving power. That is why we pray: God’s will be done ….. We just need to realize the truth of God’s will.

God’s will is not that we are healed. God’s will is not that we sin no more. God’s will is not that we become wealthy or powerful or popular.

God’s will is far more achievable than any of those things. God’s will is that we know him. And, God‘s will is that we love him.

And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. (Mark 12:30)

People think there is more to it than that. They think keep praying, asking for things, and God becomes a secret weapon for what we think and need.

During the Civil War a minister said to Abraham Lincoln, “Mr. President, let us pray God is on our side”. Lincoln’s response was “No, let us pray that we are on God’s side.”

Our faith is not the tool to get God to do what we want but an invitation to open ourselves to God’s will.

It surprises many that God’s will is not about our wants.

Let not the wise boast of his wisdom, nor the strong boast of his strength, nor the rich man boast of his riches; But rather, let those who boast, boast of this, that they know me… (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

God’s will is not our wants.

When we pray, God’s will be done. We pray to know God and to love God in Jesus Christ. We are praying this not only for us but for all nations and peoples.  

Finally, St. Paul teaches that to know God and love God leads eternal life. If we have died with him we shall live with him; if we persevere, we shall reign with him.

And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. (John 17:3)

The prayer for God’s will be done is a prayer for salvation. Friends for each of you, God’s will be done.

Be good, be holy, and preach the gospel by the way you live your life and love one another. Amen.

Seeds- Scripture Reflection - 27th Sunday OTC

(Readings)

Each Sunday, before mass, the PSR teachers plant a little seed of faith in our children. Think about that and remember all those who touched us on our path of faith.

Someone planted a seed of faith in each of us who proclaims faith. Maybe, it was our parents. Maybe, faith grew from the witness of a catechism teacher or a friend or even when a complete stranger shared some act or example of their faith. Those acts of faith stirred a flame. Someone introduced us to the gift of God that is in us and to Jesus Christ.  Someone planted our seed of faith.

The PSR teachers and Children’s Liturgy minister are doing the same. As a community of parents, extended family, friends, and believers, each and every one of us should be encouraging and feeding the seeds of faith planted among us.

But, it can be hard to keep that flame burning.

The enemy is constantly trying to extinguish the flame. Look at the experience of our little church community the past few months. The flame is smothered by the experience of so many people in the world. And because of the work of the deceiver in the world, people blame God.

Look at the world and God does not intervene. Looking at the suffering, crisis, ruin, and strife all about us; people cry out, why Lord!!

Clearly, the news media revels in the ruin of society, moral corruption, and even humankind. All these make many, even persons of faith, hard of heart.

Many will cry out, God to take care of all that is wrong and bad. God fix all that is not in my favor. God solve all the problems in the world, especially, those problems that affect me. God, why don’t you do what we want? Change my own little world.

If God doesn’t do this, we get mad at God, at his church, and his people. We want God to do what we want.

That is why atheist point out that the God of most Christians is a magic invisible genie that grants our wishes. And, we want our wishes granted NOW!!!

And when it doesn’t happen like they want, hearts harden. People leave the Church. They give up on God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit. They give up on the community of believers that is their support. They leave the ones who stirred a flame of faith within them.

Like little kids on the playground, many take their ball and leave.

Because most that live in this world want to make God our servant and slave. People are mad at God our creator because he does not bow down to us.  It has always been that way. It is one of our shortcomings.

We are rash and without integrity. Scripture calls us hard hearted. The small seed of faith cannot flourish planted in a hardened heart.  You can’t stir a flame from a cold heart. 

There is hope in the crisis. That hope is in our hands or more appropriately in our hearts. It is the faith of those who truly believe.

Faith does not give us cowardliness to run from the challenges; but, it gives a spirit of courage, love and self-control in Christ Jesus. It gives strength for hardships through the richness of trust and help of the Holy Spirit.

True believers will fight the hardness that comes naturally to our hearts. Each of us had a mustard seed of faith planted deep inside of us when we were a child or an adult new believer. Some have faith that comes from being longtime friends of Jesus. If we as believers take that little seed of faith, wonders will be done.

Take it to the unrealized, tedious and underappreciated things the world ignores. As a people of faith, all we do in love of Christ is the right thing. As God’s adopted children, we honor, respect, and care for all our heavenly Fathers creations.

As true believer, what He commands of us gives the power to overcome all the hardships experienced in this world. We overcome all the lies of the deceiver by sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ by in our lives and in our actions. In these things God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit is there with us and in us and through us.

All we need is in us is a small seed of faith and the fertile loving heart of Jesus Christ.  The world is made better through us, by the unseen and ever present word of God.

God’s said through the prophet Habakkuk, “God’s vision has its time, presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint; if it delays, wait for it…”

In those words is the promise of the seed of faith planted in each believer. The seed of faith that moves mountains to change the world may be the one we gave to our children. Keep their faith and our faith growing in a fertile heart enriched by the love of Christ.

Be good, be holy and preach the Gospel by the way you live your life and love one another. Amen.

A Song of Faith - Homily 26th Sunday OT-C

(Readings)

A friend of mine shared a beautiful video this morning of a choir from his native country. It was over 60 voices sharing a song of faith “Do you believe?” The title is African Credo.

My friend was born in Nigeria.

I share that because St .Lawrence has been blessed with priest and ministers from all over the world. There have been shepherds from the US, Nigeria, and Kerala. Missionaries who share their ministry within our Diocese come from India, Asia, Africa, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Europe.  As Fr. Biju leaves us we thank him from bringing us his witness. We thank him for sharing his voice in a song of faith that is his life.  

Fr. Biju shows us the closeness of this world made possible in Jesus Christ.

Last weekend, I traveled with my mom and step dad to his sister’s funeral. She died in Christ after a long life of 92 years. She had 5 sons. In her extended family, I saw the world.  Her descendants shared African American, Asian American, and Native American heritage.

Over 70 family members there; but, there was also her family of faith from the small Baptist Church in Muskogee, OK, were she had been a member for 65 years.

She touched many lives in 92 years.

One of the things about Mrs. Mollie is her ministry was simple. Any time food was needed - church, needy family, a disaster, funeral, or celebrations - she answered. Even if out of town visiting he half a country away, distance did not stop her from making sure food was there when needed.

True closeness in this world is sharing the Christ in us and sharing his love. When I heard the song this morning, “Do you believe?” I thought of Mrs. Mollie.

I thought of the priests from all over the world to share the Eucharistic table. They preside over the meal of Christ’s body and blood and give all they are to serve Christ. They give up worldliness. They live a life of poverty. They surrender control of their life. They give up seeking their glory to bring to us God’s glory. The share their voice in a song of faith that is the life they live.   

That is a stark contrast to our readings. They begin: Thus says the LORD the God of hosts:  Woe to the complacent ….  they shall be the first to go into exile,

That is Jesus’ warning in the parable of the rich man and the beggar, Lazarus. Remember, Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees. They were the rich man, wealthy in possession; and, they thought themselves rich in faith.

They were riich men who walked about in fancy clothes; Rich men who could boast their faith; Rich men who boasted the law. They gave to the temple from their wealth. They prayed from their places of comfort. They observed almost to the letter the rigid purity laws of the temple.

In that rigid faith, the rich man ignored Lazarus. He was unclean. He was full of sores, only the dogs ministered to him. The rich man was so rigid he failed in what was truly important to God. He was complacent and was the first to go into exile.

He raised his eyes from his torment in the nether world and saw Lazarus at the side of Abraham and begged for pity from the torment of the flames.

There is so much to unpack in this parable.

But start with Paul’s words “if you are of God, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. Compete well for the faith; Lay hold of eternal life to which you were called…”

That was the rich man’s failure. He lived such a rigid life he forgot to live as God instructed. He failed to live as a believer; but, live a life that was an adjective filled description of a believer.

He was so complacent by the way he lived his life, he failed to see the life of one in need. He failed to see the life that was Lazarus. He failed to see the life that was his own.  

In exile, the rich man begged for Lazarus could go back and warn his brothers to change.

“If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead." Jesus knew that those set in their ways would not listen - even rising from the dead would persuade them.

We too can fail to pay attention to the example given us. We can become so rigid in our life and our habits to live by the example of Christ.    

Rigid in living the life the world expects. Rigid in being the Christian everyone else expects.  Living the life everyone thinks is Christian our hearts and hands can become too rigid and stiff to lay hold of the eternal life to which we are called ….

My friends, “Do you believe?”  The next verse of that song is “Oh yes, I believe.”

Live as Christ calls us to live. Sing a song of faith that is your life. Thank you Fr. Biju for bringing to us the song of faith that is your life.   

Be good, be holy, and preach the gospel confessing Christ by the way you live your life and love one another.  Amen.

Morally Lazy - Homily 24th Sunday OT-C

(Readings)

Society is morally lazy It accepts sinfulness as normal in the world.

Deacons often have to help prepare couples for marriage. One thing marriage prep reveals is most couples are already living together.

Recently a couple came for marriage prep wanting a full mass for their wedding. The reason they wanted a full mass was because their faith was important to them. Their faith was important; but, they lived together.

I explained the first thing to do was stop living together and go to confession. It was like I asked them to sin instead of asking them to stop sinning.

I reasoned one of them could get an apartment or live with parents or stay with friends until after the wedding.

They had excuses. We can’t afford it. We’ve lived together for years, my parents live too far away. Everyone would think something was wrong in our relationship if we moved apart.

Moral laziness is when it is easier for us to sin than to do what is right. It is seeing sin and accepting it.

That is what we find in the First Reading. The Israelites have just been freed from slavery in Egypt by all the miracles that God did for them. Instead of giving thanks to God, they collected their gold and precious metals to melt and mold into a golden calf and declared it their God.

God saw and said they were depraved.

They had become morally lazy and God was angry. He said to Moses – These people are hopeless (a stiff necked people.) I will destroy them and make you a great nation.

Moses begged God for mercy.

God was merciful. But, God wanted Moses to be merciful. If you don’t see the sinfulness in what others are doing, you can’t be merciful. If you can’t see the wrong, you too have become depraved; morally lazy.

If Moses didn’t see anything wrong with the way the people were acting, then Moses would have been morally lazy as well; but, he was not.  

Moses does not try to excuse the Israelites behavior. He doesn’t try to accept it as not being sinful.

Moses was merciful. Moses begged God to forgive them because of who and what the Israelites once were: God remember Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They were your servants; pleasing to you!

For the sake of what the Israelite people were in the past, have mercy on them. Moses was pleading with the LORD, these people were good and they can change to be good again.

And, God was merciful.

The Second Reading is about mercy too. Paul explains that he once was a persecutor of Christ’s people and God’s had mercy to him. He doesn’t make excuse for his once evil ways. That would have made him morally lazy.

Instead, Paul says despite all his sins; God had mercy on him anyway, because God saw the man Paul could become.

For the sake of the man Paul would be, God had mercy on him.

Society has become morally lazy. We live in this society where we are like the loss sheep or the wayward son. We wander off because we think a life of moral laziness or a life of dissipation is what we really want.

We’ve all been to that place. I’ve been there at one time in my life.  

But ignoring the wrong in the world around us is laziness, too. When you look at family or friends or even the leaders in our community and the world, see clearly the truth of sinfulness and immorality for what it is.

We live in a world where society no longer respects life or cares for the poorest of the poor or has mercy for others and forgives. If we don't recognize this we are morally lazy. 

Then there are those who are morally lazy like the faithful son. He did not have mercy and forgive.

It is why we need the message of our readings. God is merciful. No matter how far we wander from him by our sin and laziness, through Christ we are forgiven and able to return to his open arms.

Sin does not make the person. Love does.

A person is made of who they were in the past, an innocent child a mother loved. A person is made of who they can become. Like Paul, we can become glorious in the love of Christ.

Lord, have mercy on all of us. Each of us, have mercy for the rest of us. Have mercy for the person we were and can still be.

Be good be holy and preach the gospel by the way you live and love one another. Amen.

It Takes a Special Heart - Reflection 23rd Sunday OT-C

Readings

Wiki Commons

Great crowds always travel with Jesus until it gets hard. Then many disappear.

Jesus knows that it is hard. It is the reason, Jesus says to pick up and carry your own cross.

Realize what that means. Look at what it involves

Because if you love something more, then we will not be able to love Jesus with all that we are. If we cannot love Jesus with everything we have, it is hard to follow Jesus.

Even family must take second place to the absolute dedication required to follow Jesus. That is a hard thing. That is why the Church requires unmarried and celibate priests. It is a decision of wisdom guided by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus himself said this was a cross his disciples should carry.

And Jesus said to follow him you must hate your father, your mother, and your brother and sisters.

You must hate the earthly shelters that weigh down the mind.  In the ancient world, the family made a person. It was the core of success, wealth, and station in life.

To be a disciple, one had to abandon that family. Jesus demands it.

Jesus required that the vocation of discipleship be discerned. It is the same for every vocation of faith no matter if it is religious life, single life, or married life. The person must discern if it is the correct choice.

The builder must discern if he has enough to complete the build. The leader must decide if he has enough the complete the battle.

To be Jesus’ disciple takes a special heart.

A six year old boy ran in his first cross country race. He was told to just try to stay with everyone. Don’t try to outrun everyone; just finish the race.

As the race began, he was not in the first 1/3 of the racers. He was not in the first 2/3 of the pack. He was closer to the end.. As he tried to stay close to the leading pack even he was pulling away from slower runners.

Looking back over his shoulders he sees the slower boys falling behind. And, he stops. He waves them forward with big gestures of his arms and encourages them forward, and waits for them to catchup.

After the race, he was asked him he did that.

His answer was genuine love. I didn’t want them to give up. I wanted them to finish the race. It is a team effort.

Even though he doesn’t quite get the point of the race; everyone should be proud of that child. He was worried about those he was leaving behind even though he didn’t know them. He doesn’t know what the world expects of him. He only knows the love that is in his heart.

 “This earthen shelter weighs down the mind that has many concerns.”

If we are more worried about winning than helping and encouraging others to finish the race, then are like the crowd that leaves Jesus behind.

As disciples we are to run with others to the final destination. That's our vocation.

That is what priests give their lives to do. That is what religious people take solemn vows to do. That is what a married couple stands before the community of witnesses at the altar of God and vows to do.  

Pray for vocations; because, tt takes a special heart not to leave Jesus because it gets hard. Pray that we can be a community of disciples that culture and grow these special hearts in our community and our children.

Be good, be holy and preach the gospel by the way you live your life and love one another. Amen.

Finding the Real Presence - Homily First Friday Mass and Adoration

(Readings)

Surveys show that many Catholics do not believe in the Real Presence. I think the truth for many may be that the Real Presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament has not been revealed to them.

Christianity (Catholicism especially) is a religion of revelation. It is all about God revealing himself to those who believe.

We a people of God in Jesus Christ believe that God is revealed to us through Christ. We want to know him. We want to discover Christ revealing himself in our lives. 

But how do we get there or how do we tell others to get there?  A basic map is this: scripture, prayer, and being in the presence of Christ. 

Christians know that Christ's presence in the world is revealed by scripture. 

The first reading taken from Paul’s letter to the Colossians reveals that Christ is the same God as the God revealed to the Jewish people. And, the God revealed to the Jewish people is the same God revealed in Christ Jesus to the Christians.

This scripture reveals the old and new. Christ Jesus made it all - Christ Jesus paid it all.

The presence of Christ is revealed to us in prayer. The responsorial psalms are universal prayer. Today, we pray Come with joy into the presence of the Lord: he made us, we are his people, the sheep of his flock.

Our Shepherd is the light of life; it is a light still present. Our God, Christ Jesus is present and at work in the world.

The Gospel compares old and new and reveals a mystery of faith, the Blessed Sacrament.

Jesus says that his disciples are to eat and drink. In another place, Jesus told us to eat this bread and drink this cup. Eat and drink because the bridegroom is still present. He is present in the bread and wine for it is HIS body and it is HIS blood.

Tell all those that do not believe in the real presence: It is revealed over and over again. The gospels testify it. The epistles emphasize it. Our prayers reinforce it.  

His real presence in the Blessed Sacrament is the truth revealed when we eat his body and drink his blood.  The truth revealed in scripture, prayer, and Christ’s presence taken together.

Friends, Come with joy into the presence of the Lord for he made us, we are his. His will reveal himself to us in the real presence in Blessed Sacrament.

Confession & Humility - Reflection 22nd Sunday OTC

(Readings)

Seeing the Gospel in everyday life is easy when befriend men who live Godly lives. One  truly holy and learned friend put this on social media on the Memorial for St. Augustine of Hippo.

“Let no one say I repent before God; I perform it in the sight of God, and He who is to pardon me knows that in my heart I repent.”  Whereupon St. Augustine asks: “Was it then said to no purpose, ‘What you shall loose upon earth shall be loosed in heaven?’ Was it for nothing that the keys were given to the Church?”

“You hold the Gospel of no account. You despise the words of Christ, and you promise yourself what he refuses you. “ – St Augustine of Hippo.

And the comments began arguing the need to confess to a priest.  Being raised a Southern Baptist; this was the hardest sacrament for me to embrace. It may have also been because of the absence of a good priestly confessor.

The idea of confessing to a priest is not only Jesus instructions it is also an issue of humility.  St. Augustine says “You despise the words of Christ, you promise yourself what he refuses you.”

Sirach says - conduct your affairs with humility…; seek not, things beyond your strength.

I think refusing to partake in the sacramental gift of reconciliation and penance one becomes like the wedding guest that sits at the head of the table.

If Jesus rebukes the pride of those racing for the best seat at the table imagine how he feels about those whose pride and ego keep them from the sacrament of reconciliation and penance.

You see the worse kind of pride is the pride of the Pharisee. Standing before the temple the Pharisee prays to God and thanks him for not being like other people, sinners.  But behind him the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’ The pride of the Pharisee is that he had God’s gift and forgiveness and the sinner did not. (Luke 18)

Jesus asks who was forgiven.

And he repeats this phrase from today’s Gospel. “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."

Most will say that this is why we can confess directly to God.  It was one of the arguments against the quote of St. Augustine of Hippo on that Facebook post.

We can confess directly to God, the sinner did and Jesus said that he was the one forgiven. One messages in this parable is to confess with a contrite heart. But, this parable was under the precepts of the old covenant.

It was before Jesus paid the ultimate price for our sins.

It was before He gave the Keys of Heaven to the Church.

It was before he told his apostles, ‘What you shall loose upon earth shall be loosed in heaven?’ What you retain will be retained.”

Friends, God judges us all; and, Jesus is the new covenant.

It is Jesus who gave the sacrament of reconciliation and penance to prepare us for the wedding feast. He gave us this sacrament so we would take our place at the Eucharistic table. It is what we need to recline at the heavenly banquet.

Remember, conduct your affairs with humility…; seek not, things beyond your strength.  That is why I caution - Let no one say I repent secretly before God….

In many cases we are just confessing our sins to ourselves and granting ourselves absolution. It is in those things that we hold the Gospel, the words of Christ to no account and make promise to our self an what he refuses us.

All this is can be cause by a lack of humility. “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."

It is through the humble act of seeking forgiveness of our sins through the sacrament of reconciliation that Christ Jesus gave to us that we are invited: 'My friend, move up to a higher position."

Be good, be holy and preach the gospel by the way you live your lives and love one another. Amen.