Homily Refection: Remaining in Him - 15th Sunday OTC

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/071325.cfm

Praise God! Praise Be to Jesus Christ—now and forever. Amen.

Come, Holy Spirit, Come.

This week, I witnessed how words, spoken with sincerity, can uncover deep misunderstandings. A guest at a funeral memorial I officiated said, “We were Catholic, but my momma found Jesus.” That statement echoed in my heart. I prayed for grace—not to argue, but to love. And to proclaim the truth.

Jesus did not step into history only to vanish. He established His Church—not as an institution, but as His living Body. At every Catholic Mass, Jesus shows up—not symbolically, not metaphorically—but truly and substantially: Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.

We don’t need to find Jesus somewhere else. We need to remain in Him. To dwell in His Church. To kneel at His altar. To receive Him in His sacraments.

Baptism and Confirmation are not optional moments—they are encounters with divine fire. They mark us forever as priests, prophets, and kings, sealed by the Holy Spirit, who already dwells within us.

As Moses pleaded, “Return to the Lord with all your heart and soul,” we are reminded: our home is here. This is the place where His voice still speaks, His grace still flows, and His mission still calls.

Saint Paul declares: Christ is the Head. The Church is His Body. To walk away from the Church, hoping to find Jesus elsewhere, is to step outside the very place He resides.

So let us reclaim our reverence. Let us stand at the foot of the Cross. Kneel at the altar. Let our prayers rise—not into the void—but to the One who waits for us in the Tabernacle.

And just as the Good Samaritan brought mercy to the wounded, let us go and do likewise. But let us remember—the true source of that mercy is the living Christ, present in His Church.

Remain in Him. Revere Him. Receive Him.

Be good. Be holy. And let your life bear witness to the world: Jesus is not lost. He is here.

Praise God. Praise Be to Jesus Christ—now and forever. Amen.

Living Praise: A Path of Bold Discipleship; An Ignatian Example - July 12, 2025

 https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

Our very existence is a gift from God. This isn't merely a theological statement—it’s a profound truth that anchors all authentic worship. It means praise is not confined to Sunday mornings or formal prayers; it flows from the wellspring of our being—in every breath, every step, every heartbeat. Worship rises from our lips, our lives, and our hearts, in every moment we live with awareness of the Divine.

This, at its core, is the essence of Ignatian spirituality: to find God in all things. It is the daily practice of recognizing God's presence saturating our reality—in every encounter, every challenge, every joy. Such awareness awakens us to a deeper truth: no human can take the place of God. As no student is above the teacher, no disciple stands above the Master. Our highest aspiration is not self-promotion or worldly acclaim, but radical transformation—a lifelong journey of becoming more like Christ.

This demands genuine interior freedom. It calls us to loosen our grip on anything that hinders our surrender to God's will. Through ongoing discernment, we attend to the "motions of our soul"—our desires, thoughts, and emotions—aligning them with what leads us deeper into God’s love. We seek the magis, the “more,” in every choice.

We are not to be afraid. Faithful discipleship may attract misunderstanding—even rejection—but it also draws us closer to the One who was rejected before us. We are called to be contemplatives in action, grounded in grace and alive in the world, recognizing God’s presence even in the mundane, the difficult, and the thankless.

And we are not without hope. "Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known." Truth will rise. What we hear whispered in the intimacy of prayer, through the Examen and quiet reflection, we are called to proclaim boldly—to be authentic witnesses. To live our faith with courage, trusting that lives shaped by praise and purpose will radiate the light of God's glory into the world.

Further Exploration:

For a deeper dive into the practice of seeing God everywhere, you might find this video helpful: God in All Things

Sacred Urgency: Responding to God's Call with Purpose and Readiness - July 11, 202

A reflection on today's scripture through the lens of Ignatian Spirituality

In the busyness of modern life, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed. We often rush from one task to the next, constantly trying to keep up with responsibilities and obligations. But how much of this busyness truly aligns with what matters most? The scriptures offer us a powerful reminder of what it means to live with sacred urgency — a call to respond immediately and purposefully to God’s will.

Consider the profound moment when God calls out to Jacob: “Jacob! Jacob!” This isn’t a casual greeting; it is a divine summons that demands an immediate response. Jacob’s reply is swift and unhesitating: “Here I am.” The directness of God's call and Jacob's prompt answer serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of being ready and attentive to God's voice.

This interaction teaches us that sacred urgency is not about hasty action or frantic busyness; rather, it is about being attuned to God's presence and direction in our lives. God’s call often requires an immediate response — a “here I am” that reflects a heart ready to act according to divine guidance. In our own lives, this may look like recognizing opportunities to serve, offering help when needed, or stepping out in faith, even when it feels uncomfortable or uncertain.

In the New Testament, we hear Jesus charge His Apostles with an urgent mission: “Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.” These words are not just a command for the Apostles of that time; they resonate with us today, calling each of us to a mission of purpose and immediate action.

The urgency of being “sent” underscores the importance of engaging with the world with both discernment and integrity. The image of “sheep in the midst of wolves” paints a stark picture of the challenges the Apostles would face, emphasizing that their mission would not be easy. Yet, the charge to be “shrewd as serpents and simple as doves” calls for a balance between wisdom and purity — a call to navigate a complex and often hostile world with both insight and an unwavering commitment to truth.

This instruction teaches us that sacred urgency is not about acting recklessly or without thought. It is about purposeful engagement, where each action is guided by discernment and faith. The urgency in being “sent” is a reminder that we each have a divine mission — one that requires wisdom, courage, and purity in a world that may not always understand or welcome our message.

What does Sacred Urgency look like in our lives? Together, these passages from the scriptures reveal the essence of sacred urgency:

1. Readiness: Being prepared to respond when God calls, just as Jacob was ready to answer with a simple, “Here I am.”

2. Purposeful Action: Recognizing that we are “sent” with a divine mission that demands immediate attention. Like the Apostles, we are called to fulfill a purpose in the world now, not later.

3. Wise Engagement: Navigating the complexities of life with both insight and integrity, embodying wisdom (“shrewd as serpents”) and purity of heart (“simple as doves”).

The question then becomes: What “Jacob! Jacob!” moment might God be presenting to you right now? Are you ready to respond immediately, with a heart that says, “Here I am”? And in the challenges of your own mission, how are you being called to be both shrewd and simple — to navigate the world with discernment while maintaining purity of purpose?

Sacred urgency isn’t about doing everything or doing it quickly. It’s about being ready when God calls, understanding that every moment is an opportunity to live out our divine purpose with intentionality. When we embrace this urgency, we align our actions with what truly matters and find ourselves living lives of deeper meaning and fulfillment.

Sent Ahead, Sent Out: Finding God in the Sending - July 10, 2025

An Ignatian Reflection on finding God in the sending

In the woven fabric of Holy Scripture, some threads shimmer with a quiet urgency—reminding us that we are not where we are by accident. Two such threads, separated by centuries but united in spirit, come together in the stories of Joseph and the Apostles. One looks back on suffering and sees providence. The other looks forward to mission and sees urgency. Together, they speak to us today.

In Genesis 45, Joseph sands before his brothers who had betrayed him. Instead of vengeance, he offers vision:

“It was really for the sake of saving lives that God sent me here ahead of you.” — Genesis 45:5

Joseph reframes his pain. He doesn’t deny the betrayal or the years of suffering, but he sees them through the lens of divine purpose. God didn’t cause the harm—but God used it. Joseph was sent ahead not to survive, but to save. His presence in Egypt becomes the means by which others are fed, forgiven, and restored.

Centuries later, Jesus sends out his Apostles with a mission that echoes Joseph’s:

“As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.” — Matthew 10:7–8

The Apostles are not sent with wealth or weapons, but with healing and hope. They are to give freely, because they have received freely. Their mission is not to build empires, but to restore lives. Like Joseph, they are sent into a world of hunger—spiritual, emotional, physical—and called to be vessels of God’s abundance.

In the spirit of Ignatian spirituality, both Joseph and the Apostles invite us to reflect on our own lives through the lens of mission and grace.

• Discernment: Where has God already gone ahead of you? What situations—however difficult—might be part of a larger story of redemption?
• Generosity: What have you received without cost? How might you give it away with the same freedom?
• Mission: Who in your life needs healing, hope, or simply your presence?

The Ignatian Examen teaches us to look back with gratitude and forward with purpose. Joseph’s hindsight becomes holy insight. The Apostles’ sending becomes sacred urgency.

You may not feel like Joseph. You may not feel like an Apostle. But you are sent.

You are sent into your family, your community, your workplace—not by accident, but by grace. You carry the Kingdom. You carry healing. You carry hope.

And someone’s life may be preserved because you showed up.

“God sent me ahead of you…”
“As you go, proclaim…”

May we live as those sent—freely, faithfully, and full of hope.