Common Stuff - Homily Easter Sunday

Common Stuff
ACTS 10:34A, 37-43; 1 COR 5:6B-8; JN 20:1-9

Each of us has something in common with the apostles from that first Easter morning. What can it be?

Breakfast – not all of us had breakfast; we don’t know about the apostles. Possibly, it is coffee; no coffee for the apostles. In the gospel, they all got up and went for a run. Nope, I didn’t run.

The mother might think, “It’s getting everybody up and dressed to come to Jesus just like Mary.” That’s a good suggestions but I don’t think that’s it.

Maybe, it’s belief. The disciple Jesus loved “saw and believed.” I’m not sure what he believed except that Jesus wasn’t in the tomb. The gospel says “He did not yet understand the scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.”

Mary believed. She believed that someone had stolen the body of Jesus. She ran to the first person she saw and asked what had happened to the body of Jesus.  

Peter believed, probably, that Mary was a hysterical woman.

The gospel doesn’t tell us what Peter believed. He ran to the tomb with a “show me” attitude. What Peter sees makes him think; but, he did not yet understand the Scripture.

Peter doesn’t go and gather the apostles saying let’s start Jesus’ Church. He doesn’t go immediately and preach the Gospel. I think Peter, known to be a hot head, was mad; so he gets his friends and goes fishing.

In three years with Jesus, the apostles heard Jesus prophesy, saw miracles, and recognized Him as the Son of God. Yet, at the empty tomb did they understand, Jesus was risen.

Amazingly, it might not be belief we have in common with the apostles. We believe Jesus has risen. Maybe we can figure it out by the other readings.

Peter who went fishing speaks in the Acts of the Apostles. “He commissioned us to preach and testify that he is the one appointed by God.”

Paul wasn’t one of the original 12, but he persecuted Christ. Paul writes, “Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.”

It seems their understanding was awakened.

That’s it. THEY WOKE UP AND GOT OUT OF BED.

They woke up that Easter morning just like we did this Easter morning. They went to find Jesus. We came to find Jesus. Alleluia! We open our eyes to the promise of Easter morning.

A lot of people have things in common with the apostles. It is true in the United States and all over the world. People get up on Easter morning. They go to find Jesus and find an empty tomb.

Some go home. Some go back to sleep. Some go fishing for something else. Some speak against the Church. We all react different because we believe but we don’t understand.

Belief isn’t easy.

I presided at a funeral for a young man who died in a horrific accident. Speaking with his mother she said that he went to mass some of the time. Mostly, he had fallen away. He was well read and well educated. I wondered if this caused him not to believe.

I asked his mother about her son’s beliefs. She said I know he believed because he was always mad at God.

During my life, I have been mad at God and I know others with the same feelings. We believe but we don’t understand.

So many times we’re still asleep; but, the wonderful thing is we can wake up.

Jesus Christ is risen. He is alive. Because he is alive he comes to us. He comes to us in the love and charity we have for each other. He comes in the justice we bring to the world. He comes to us in the face of the poor, the suffering, the persecuted, and the marginalized.

When people come to St. Lawrence they don’t find an empty tomb but God’s temple alive with Christ.

I pray those looking for Jesus find him. I pray they find Jesus in our faces. I pray they find believers that live and preach the gospel of Christ. I pray those angry with God lose their anger and wake up to his mercy. I pray we all wake up to the promise of Easter.

Christ is risen so everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name. His mercy endures forever, even for those of us who are still asleep.

Y’all be good, y’all be holy. Preach the gospel by the way you live and love. Amen

One Great Story - Holy Saturday Homily

One Great Story
GN 1:1—2:2; ROM 6:3-11; LK 24:1-12

My friend Jennifer tells about a Holy Saturday Mass she attended in Arizona and how beautiful it was. The liturgy readings began and the 1^st reading from Genesis was a beautiful recitation from memory by a religious sister. At the verse God created the stars; a child came out and threw gold glitter in the air.

Picture it. It makes me smile. Thanks Jennifer, that’s a great story.

Tonight I want to tell One Great Story. It’s about our original blessing.

You’re not going to find much on original blessing in the Catechism, PSR or Sunday school books. They focus more on original sin. 

God does it differently. Original blessing comes before original sin in the Bible. We were blessed before we ever sinned. It’s in the first book the first readings of Genesis.

God said let us create man in our image in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Created in God’s image, that’s a blessing.

God looked at everything he had made, and found it very good.  Being found very good by God, that’s a blessing.

Then God blessed them, saying: “Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all the living things that move on the earth.” Amen my brothers and sister, that’s God’s original blessing..

Sin came, our sin, original sin. It wasn’t created by God. God didn’t look at sin and say “It is good.” Sin is a human creation. We brought sin upon our self.

Even though sin entered the world, God’s mercy continued to bless those who believed. It’s one great story, our salvation. And, we don’t have to be perfect to be part of the story.

We have God beside us. God does not give up on us, He is always with us.

Helen Keller who was born blind and deaf said, “Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in light.”

For a long time, that is the way God chosen people lived - walking in the darkness of sin with God’s protections

Then God sent his light: The Light of Christ. Jesus Christ, our salvation, came as the light of the world to erase the darkness of sin.

The Gospel starts, “at daybreak on the first day of the week.”

Daybreak, the Son has risen. The light of the world has come. And those who believe know these things:

• The tomb’s empty
• Death’s been overcome
• Jesus Christ is victory over sin,
• The blessing of Christ’s salvation is greater than any our sins have taken away. 

That is why the Easter Proclamation, Exult! It means rejoice my brothers and sisters.

Our baptism in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, washes away the original sin. We reveal our original blessing.  

Imagine that little girl running out and throwing glitter into the air; because, in Jesus Christ, God has thrown the stars in the sky. We are no longer in the darkness of sin.

Rejoice Catechumens. You celebrate tonight your relationship with Christ and his church by receiving the Holy Sacraments. Rejoice!

Rejoice every one! Rejoice because in faith we grow in our union with Him. We are no longer slaves to sin. We are living for God in Christ Jesus. It’s one great story for us all.

Rejoice, the stone is rolled away and the tomb is empty! Rejoice in the resurrection of our savior Jesus Christ. Rejoice because our sins are forgiven and we reclaim God’s original blessing.

In his mercy, God looks at us and finds it very good.  

I’m going to end my homily the same way the Gospel ends.  Go home and be amazed at what has happened.

Amen.

"Do Better, That's It" A Passion Sunday Reflection

Do Better, That’s It

Luke 19:28-40; Isaiah 50:4-7;  Psalms 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24;  Philippians 2:6-11; Luke 22:14-23:56

Sister Augusta is a Daughter of St. Paul and in March 2016, she turned 100 years old. Sister summarizes faith, “We are with Jesus. Jesus is with us. We are with Jesus. That’s it.”

These are simple words given to a convoluted world. A world of whatever goes politics and religious practices, agnostics, and atheist. It’s a world that smiles when it is called post-Christian. It’s quickly becoming a post-justice world; a world that practices injustice under the guise of advancement.

Injustice against people or groups is rampant in this world. It’s injustice that treats people as if they’re nonmembers of the human family. Bias against the color of a person’s skin, cultural identity, or social status denies them dignity. In this world, neighbor harbors hate, bigotry, and prejudice against neighbor.

It’s not Christian no matter how you package it. It’s injustice influenced by sin that even causes Christians to stumble. It’s the injustice Jesus faced. Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

We know we’ve got to do better; but, what is better? Is better what’s best for self? If it’s better for me, it has to be better for the world. It’ll be better for my children. And we make better in our image of better; a better that usually profits us.

It’s better at the expense of our neighbors. Its better whispered from darkness; darkness that whispers against Jesus. Day after day I was with you in the temple and you did not seize me; but this is your hour, the time for the power of darkness.”

The darkness uses the world. Herod and Pilate became friends that very day, even though they had been enemies. There's a political saying, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend". Today, do we know the enemy.

Herod and Pilate were in agreement on Jesus in opposition to the Sanhedrin. Herod and Pilate didn't like the Jewish Temple authorities. And the Jewish  authorities didn't like them. This strengthened their ties. Neither found Jesus guilty, they gave the decision back to the peoples.

The whole assembly brought charges saying, “We found this man misleading our people; and maintains that he is the Christ, a king.” The decision was religious and political.

It fulfilled prophesy of Psalms 2:1-2: Why do the nations protest and the peoples conspire in vain? Kings on earth rise up and princes plot together against the LORD and against his anointed one...

It is prophesy for today. Nations and peoples conspire. Politicians plot against God, humanity, and the Christian faith. The influences of sin, corruption, power, fanaticism, and betrayed trust stain our world and always brings injustice.

Christ’s passion and the cross were to correct wrong. The world hungers for Christ; but, we choose Barabbas. We look to politicians, cultural divas, and those who scream loudest; even if they scream injustice. They make better in their own image.

There are true disciples out there. Jesus said, if they keep silent, the stones will cry out!  Pope Francis lives this; he words testify the Lord GOD is my help, therefore I am not disgraced; I have set my face like flint.

All of us are called to be disciples, humbling and emptying ourselves to God, being God’s servant making the world better through Christ. We won’t find better in politics or celebrity or attention hogs. We bring better to the world when we bring Christ.

How do we do this? According to 100 year young, Sr. Augusta, it’s simple, “We are with Jesus. Jesus is with us. We are with Jesus. That’s it.”

In Jesus, we do better, that’s it!

Y’all be good, y’all be holy. Preach the gospel by the way you live and love. Amen.

Just Doodling - Sunday Reflection - 5th Sunday of Lent

Just Doodling  Isaiah 43:16-21; Psalm 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6; Philippians 3:8-14; John 8:1-11

Dt 9:10 - The LORD gave me the two stone tablets inscribed, by God’s own finger...

February 5 was National Doodle Day. Doodles, those little drawings we make without thinking. They reveal our subconscious and inner thoughts. Most of the time, doodles come from boredom.

When we doodle, we draw whatever we like. Our doodles are individual to us and to our lives. Amazingly, different people will doodle similar things and this allows the experts to analyze them.

I doodled. My favorite doodle was a curved road map that went all along the margins of my paper. I put in flowers, trees, cars, airplanes, and direction signs with arrows and zigzags.

I am happy to share that psychologist say flowers and trees show a person who is family centered and warm hearted. The curves reflect harmony and love. The vehicles, arrows, and zigzags are symbols of a determined energized mind that needs to be challenged. 

Another symbol of determination that I would draw in the margins of my note book was a cross.

Early in the morning he arrived in the temple area, and all the people started coming to him, and he sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle. And they questioned Jesus on The Law.

And, Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger. Jesus inscribes in the earth a doodle by God's own finger!

Maybe, he was bored with the scribes and Pharisees always challenging him, trying to catch him by his words or actions contrary to the Law of Moses. But, Jesus was not challenged and caught them in hypocrisy.  

“Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone.”  With these words, Jesus points out that they don’t keep the Law of Moses; and, the finger of God begins to doodle again. 

Jesus did a great thing for the woman. By his words of justice, mercy, and repentance, she can stand by him at the end.

Although it’s not written in the Gospel, Jesus did a great thing for all the people present. By his words of justice, mercy, and repentance, they leave with the task to examine their conscious and draw closer to God. 

The Lord has done great things for us.  Even greater, the Lord does great things for us!

We should try to live the example of this gospel: Come to the Lord, examine our conscious, ask forgiveness and reconciliation, go and from now on do not sin any more.

Like the woman in the Gospel, the Lord allows us to stand near him. The Lord gives the supreme good of knowing Jesus Christ; no matter what rubbish we’ve lived through. We may gain Christ and be found in him. Forget what lies behind but strain towards what lies ahead … the prize of God’s upward calling, in Christ Jesus.

Isaiah prophesied the Lord, Remember not the events of the past … I am doing something new!  He makes us new. By his justice and mercy the Lord continues to do great things for us!

I wonder what Jesus doodled. I’m sure Jesus’ doodle showed determination; maybe, he drew “The Cross.”

Y’all be good, y’all be holy. Preach the gospel by the way you live and love. Amen.

"What is That?" - Sunday Reflection - 4th Sunday Lent

What is That?  Joshua 5:9a,10-12;  Psalm 34:2-3,4-5,6-7;  2 Corinthians 5:17-21;  Luke 15:1-3,11-32

There was a father and a son. By the father, the son was promised prosperity; yet, he desired the world.

The son did not honor his father. He took his inheritance and misspent it. Ultimately, he was punished by his own hand, living in poverty, starving, and near death. He didn’t think he was worthy to return to his father.

Dying from hunger, the son returned to be a servant in his father's house so he could eat. Seeing his son, the father rushed to meet him. He killed a fatted calf to celebrate his son’s return; giving forgiveness and reconciliation to the son.

Instead of being happy by the mercy of the father and the return of the prodigal son, the brother said, “What is that?”  I’ve been the perfect son. You never did this for me.

The prodigal son was not perfect, just forgiven.

After being rescued from Egypt, God led the Israelites to the Promised Land.  But, they weren’t happy. The people didn’t accept the mercy of God. 

They desired things of the world. They praised what they had in Egypt instead of praising God. Instead of honoring God, the Israelites took what God gave them and squandered it. In punishment they brought upon themselves, the Israelites wandered in the desert, always hungry and near death.

Starving they turned to God. God gave them food. They weren’t perfect, just forgiven.

Philosopher Eleanor Stump writes, “When the food first showed up on the ground, the Israelites said, “Mah Na,” words in their language for “What is that?” and manna is what it came to be called.”

What is that? We asked this question a lot about God’s mercy. We can’t seem to accept it. So we throw away the gift that is the riches of mercy from our Heavenly Father.

God never changes. The Father gives himself and in that is the gift of the Son; the gift that is never taken away. He never takes away his mercy.

Paul tells us that God reconciles the world to himself in Christ. God does not count our trespasses.

The problem is we count our trespasses.

Mercy, what is that?  I don’t deserve; because. I am not the loyal son, Pharisee or Scribe. .

Mercy is not what I deserve. But, it is what God gives.

God’s mercy is realized in our reconciliation. It is waiting to feed us the fatted calf and parched grain of reconciliation. Mercy is the Father’s arms and the Promised Land.

Recognize the message of mercy and be open to reconciliation. We are the lost son, tax collector and sinner. We don’t have to be perfect, just forgiven.

God entrusts us with this message of reconciliation. We are his ambassadors to the world.

“Y’all be good, y’all be holy. Preach the gospel by the way you live and love.” Amen