What do you believe and Why - Homily 16th Sunday OTC

(Readings)

What do you believe and why? Sounds like a simple enough question.

At every mass, we proclaim what we believe in the Nicene and Apostle’s Creed.

“I believe in God the Father, creator of heaven and earth and in Jesus Christ his only son, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.”

If you were asked that question outside of church what would your answer be? Would your answer include God, Christ, or any reference to faith?

I heard a preacher (T. D. Jakes) who I think had it right when he said people wear churchy clothes. They do and say churchy things. And, they go to churchy places. People will worship the Lord on Sunday and forget all about Jesus by Monday.

Friday night at dinner with my family and friends, some conversations had gotten silly. Two young men were discussing twinkies.

So, I asked this question. What do you believe and why?

One answered, I believe that twinkies are the best, they are so good.

I asked “What if you could choose a better way?”

He answered, nothing is better than a twinkie, unless it’s a fried twinkie.

He was being silly in that answer he gave to this Deacon. But, even for those in the presence of Jesus, that question is hard to answer.

In the readings from Genesis, the LORD blessed Abraham and said that his wife Sarah would bear a son. And even though Abraham and his wife Sarah were advanced in years, Abraham believed.

Sarah believed it was funny and laughed.

In the gospel, we have two sisters that have very different beliefs: Martha and Mary.

Martha, what do you believe and why? Martha believed in the loving kindness expected of good hosts and households of their time. Just like Abraham, she rushed about to make sure that the LORD was welcomed, was comfortable, and fed well.

Because of this, she was worried and anxious about many things. If everything wasn’t perfect, would people speak badly of her hospitality, family or manners? What if they ran out of wine or food?

Mary, what do you believe and why? Mary believed the most important thing was to be in the presence of Jesus. Why; because, He was the most important person in the room. He was the most important person she knew. She chose him, the better part to listen to his word and look upon the face of God.

The truth is they were both doing what was important.

All are called to serve like Martha. Just don't make a fuss or draw attention to it. Martha was worried about making sure there was enough food for the one who had turned water into wine and fed 5 thousand with a couple of fish and a few loaves of bread.

But, Mary focused on Jesus. Mary wanted to be near to the LORD and to adore the one who would change bread and wine into his body and his blood to feed us to eternity.

Most of the time, we tend to be like Martha.

Sometimes, I get too busy or hurried to take a quiet time for my holy hour of prayer, reading, and contemplation with Jesus. I get a phone call or someone is in need and rush off to serve. But when I miss that time with Jesus, it shows in my day and in my life.

Like Martha most tend to on things other than Jesus in their busyness of life. It’s like we have our churchy clothes; we do and say our churchy things and come to our churchy places. But, on Monday faced with all the anxieties of life, we forget the LORD.

Jesus told is disciples “Do not worry about your life, what you’ll eat, or about your body or what you’ll wear. Life is more than these things.”

In his letter to the Colossians, St. Paul tells us what he believes.

He believed he shared in the suffering and afflictions of the LORD for all believers, the Church. He was sent as a minister and servant of the LORD to bring the word of God. Why; because God chose to make the riches of his glory in Christ known to all.

Believe in the riches of God’s glory: Abraham believed and nine months later so did Sarah. And through Jesus Christ, Mary believed and Martha beleived. And Paul preached it.

If someone asked you what you believe and why; what would your answer be?

Yes we have the creed, but St. Paul sums up the creed: If we are believers, we proclaim Christ. It is Christ in you that is the hope for the riches of God’s glory.

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

Crossing to the Other Side of the Road - Reflection 15th Sunday OTC

(Readings)

We live in a time of troubles.

In this time of trouble think of the poor traveler on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho, beaten up by the world and left beside the road. We can’t find healing in those we would normally trust.

The Priest and the Levite distanced themselves from the robber’s victim. They went to the other side of the road. I heard it said they did not want to make themselves unclean with the blood of poor soul lying beaten on the road. If they were unclean they could not complete their priestly and temple duties.

To love of neighbor is to care for their today and for their eternity.

But let us look at that victim on the road as Jesus himself. He laid their broken and beaten. And those who should have run to his aid turned their eyes away and cross to the other side of the road.

It was the one you would not expect that came to him. He came to the victim and touched him with a healing touch. Even though it was a sacrifice of his time, his mount, and his silver, this Good Man brought the victim to others so that together they could make Him strong again. .

This parable describes a time of trouble.  Today still, we live in a time of troubles.

It seems many have lost sight of the true Christ.  Instead of worshipping God, people turn to worship the world and their place in the world.  In this fault, people can turn to worship the messenger instead of the message.  See this in super star evangelist and preachers. Their followers fawn over them. They do no wrong. Some say they are Christ-like; some say they are Christ.

Many begin to worship the person instead of the one true Trinitarian God.  Idolatry is putting something or someone before God or equal to Christ.  Remember, the person is only God’s vessel in the world.

As a Deacon, I am a vessel that proclaims the Word of God to the world. I should not seek glory or fame or advancement in position and fortune by my service to God and to the Church. This is a truth that holds for priest and preachers and religious no matter if they are Catholic or Protestant.

St. Paul writes of Jesus Christ in his letter to the Colossians, “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church.”

Forgetting this, one can turn one away from God. A person no longer serves God or the Church when they put self before God; like the Priest and the Levite in the parable of the Good Samaritan who forgot they were called by God to do God’s work.

Turning their eyes away from the needs of others and thinking only of self, they crossed to the other side of the road. Many in these times of trouble do the same thing.

By baptism, each is called to do God’s work above and beyond self. It is a promise all consecrated religious and ordained clergy take when they profess vows of obedience to God and his Church. It is obedience to the Bishop or a religious superior in their vows made to God.

As a Deacon, I made a vow to be obedient to my Bishop and assist the priests. I am to serve the people of the diocese, especially in my parish. And, I am to defend the faith, the church, and the Bishop. I have also taken a vow of chastity. If I were to become single again through death or some other misfortune, I have pledged myself and my chastity to God.

But, I also took another vow before God at my marriage. I promised God, I would be true to my wife and to love her in sickness and in health, for richer for poor, and till death do us part.

People ignore the vows they made to God.  Some don’t even see marriage as a true sacrament. More and more don’t think marriage is even important enough to make their vows as promise to God.  Even those that do may abandon their vows. And one person or both will put self before their marriage, their relation with their spouse, and their promise to God.

Sadly, the same happens with priest, deacons, and religious.  They too can abandon the vows they made to God at their ordination.

In our vows to God, some have become jaded. Too often, people of faith are not offended by infidelity or divorce that breaks the marriage vows made to a spouse and to God.

Some are jaded to the point that they are not offended by infidelity or divorce from the vows made to God by a priest, deacon, or religious. Infidelity and divorce manifest in the abandonment of any vow including chastity or poverty or prayer or obedience.  

We live in a time of trouble.  We live in a time when many have forgotten the sacraments. We live in a time when some abandon the vows made to God. We live in a time when people turn their eyes away from what God has asked and cross to the other side of the road.

But, God never forgets his promise. Jesus vow to us from the cross, Father forgive them.

It is times like these we must remember the greatest commandment "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself."

To love of neighbor is to care for their today and for their eternity.

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

Declare Peace - Reflection 14th Sunday OT C

(Readings)

There is a whole lot in the gospel of the sending of the seventy-two. One message is peace. So many are anxious about this world; it is the time to bring peace. It is a time for us to find peace.  

Peace is found in different ways. Most think of peace as absence of war and violence. There is also peace in a society free of civil unrest. Peace is found in family, friends, and communities were love abounds. Yet, we forget that true peace begins must begin in one’s self.

The truth to peace is no secret; but, it is a truth that is hard for the world. Peace is found in answering God’s call to share the good news that is the Kingdom of God.

It is a peace of inner tranquility and freedom.

That is the peace we must find it our self though Christ. Then we are to bring it to those around us in the community and society we live; sharing the peace that is a relationship with God through Jesus Christ with one another person. Realizing and sharing the peace found in the Kingdom of God. By that, one person can bring true peace to the world.

Jesus sent out seventy-two others in pairs to proclaim the Kingdom of God. He instructed them share their peace.

Sharing peace is promoting justice. Justice is respects the dignity and personhood in everyone. Since we are to share peace we must bring justice. Justice found in the truth each and every person is made in God’s image and is loved by God.

The virtue of this truth gives the justice of dignity. Dignity is the justice of recognizing the image of God in each person. Peace and mercy come to all who follow this rule.

Justice for all is not always popular. Peace is hard even for clergy and religious. All fall to the temptation and allurement of the world. It is hard to find peace when the world tell us it is not Jesus but stuff that will brings peace.

Temptation tries those with the closest relationship with God. It tempted Adam. It tempted Eve.

Jesus warned his disciples about this, “Do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven."

Peace is not found in possessions, but in prayer. Peace is not success feeding your ego; but, it is surrendering to the Holy Spirit. Peace is not found in any relationship made of this world; but, it is found in a relationship with Christ. Peace is found in recognizing truth, justice, and dignity. Friends, these are the building blocks of the Kingdom of God.

Jesus entrusts us with the same message given to the seventy-two. “Know this: the Kingdom of God is at hand.” That is a message we should declare to all, beginning with our self. .

But he also gave this this message, “Into whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this household.'” The household begins in each and every one of us.

Be good, be holy, and preach the good news of the Kingdom of God by the way you live your life and love one another. Amen.