Time for a U-Turn - Homily 3rd Sunday of Easter

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I would like to tell you about a U-turn.  (thanks Jenaye Hill for the inspiration).

Two disciples were walking on the road to Emmaus from Jerusalem on the Sunday of the resurrection talking about everything that was going on.

That discussion was probably intense. The gospel says they were conversing and debating as they traveled.

Jesus comes to walk with them and asks what they are talking about. With that question, the disciples stopped and became depressed.

Cleopas turned and looked at Jesus. Not recognizing him, he said “Man where have you been not to know the things that have happened in the past couple of days?”

Jesus answered, “What sort of things?”

The two disciples were traveling down the road to their home in Emmaus from Jerusalem. It was probably a road they had taken many times. It was a familiar road. It was a well-traveled road.

Yet, they were lost. They were sojourning in misery, abiding in disappointment. They were returning home to the place they were at before they knew Jesus.

They felt separated from Christ Jesus. God had left them.

That may have been some of what they debated. They missed Jesus. They were scared; so, they had left Jerusalem to return home.

Maybe they debated on who was the advocate (the Paraclete) Jesus promised. Would He open the doors to Jesus’ kingdom?

Instead, Jesus showed up to open their hearts and eyes. Jesus didn’t let it happen right away. He decided they needed to make a U-turn. 

He wanted them to learn something. The disciples had been told before by Jesus of all the events that were to happen; but, they had not believed. So as they walked along, He interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures.

He wanted them to learn to trust God's promises.

At the end of the day, the two invited Jesus to eat with them. When Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them; their eyes were opened and they recognized him.

They made an Emmaus road U-Turn (thanks Jenaye Hill for the inspiration).

Their eyes were opened before the apostles. Not being disrespectful to any priest but Jesus opened their eyes before he open they eyes of the priesthood He had just established.

Since they didn’t have cellphones, Facebook, Instagram, or twitter, they ran back to tell the apostles.

A lovely lady I know does not use social media so almost every week I get a message asking “is mass open this week?”

She wants to come to mass and feels lost without it; but, she is not lost. She knows where she wants to be and waits for the Bishop to open the doors.

Watching this, you’re probably not lost; but, many might have heads down feeling dejected or disappointed because of everything going on. Some may feel Jesus has left us abandoned.  

This pandemic is making a time of abiding quiet and isolation. This is a time of sojourning. It is a time many might fail to trust in God’s promises. For many, belief has become weak.

It is time for an Emmaus road U-turn.

At this time (more than any other time many have experienced) we must dwell in hope. It is a time to open hearts and eyes to realize we have been ransomed be the precious blood of Christ.

This pandemic is like the Emmaus road; so, walk with Jesus. He will open our eyes because faith and hope are in God.  Thank God for U-turns.

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

Divine Mercy Sunday.

Today is Divine Mercy Sunday.

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In the 1^st letter of St. Peter this truth is shared.  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope…

His great mercy is the compassion, love, and forgiveness shown to us sinners by the one who has power to punish us.

Most of us learn about mercy from our parent. All the things as children, teenagers, and even adults we’ve done; they love us and forgive us.  

Friends through Jesus Christ, we are the adopted children of God. Through Jesus Christ, God’s loving mercy overflows on us; from that comes Hope.

Even in this time of everything going on around us, pandemic, quarantine, being separated from the Eucharist and community; because of Jesus Christ’s love and sacrifice for us, there is hope.

Trust in Jesus and his endless Mercy.

St. Faustina wrote: When I see the burden is beyond my strength, I do not analyze and probe; but, run like a child to the heart of Jesus.

The world promotes doubt: but, look and see the miracles around us.

Run like a child to the heart of Jesus. Put our finger in the nail marks. Place our hands in the wounds on his side. Feel the blood and water which gush forth for the salvation our souls.

In this time with everything going on around us, run to Jesus, offer an act of contrition, perform a spiritual communion.  And say, “Jesus I trust in you.”

Not just on this Divine Mercy Sunday, but every day. Amen.

Something in Common - Homily Easter Sunday

(My first Easter reflections Easter 2015 - Repeat)

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Alleluia This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad. Alleluia - Happy Easter.

It was still dark and they ran to the tomb - Mary, Peter, and the disciple Jesus loved. Peter was older and maybe a litter heavier so didn't get there first: but, he was the first to go in and found the tomb empty, the burial cloths rolled up. Then the other disciple went in: They saw and believed but they didn’t understand.

But the Gospel does not include the next verse.  “Then the disciples returned home.”

They just returned home. It doesn’t tell us what they believed, did they believe the body was stolen or that Jesus had risen?

This is the Gospel of John, the disciple Jesus loved. John saw and believed and then he writes, they did not understand. They just returned home.

The disciples loved Jesus. They followed him and hung on every word, every miracle, and teaching. Most of the time, they didn’t get it. They believed in him but they didn’t always understand him.

We have an advantage and something in common with the disciples.

The advantage, we don’t have to see to believe. We celebrate Easter Sunday because we do believe. We believe because we have the Gospel. We know what he experienced: celebrations, betrayal, abandonment, pain, suffering and death. We know the passion of Christ from Palm Sunday to His crucifixion on Good Friday.

We believe because we know what’s after the empty tomb. So today, Easter Sunday, we celebrate His resurrection.

Now, the part we have in common - so many don’t understand. This Sunday morning, Christians throughout the world will celebrate his resurrection then simply return home.

We believe, but, do we understand? Do we simply return home?

Returning home is not always a good thing. I’m not talking about the house of wood or brick but what is in our heart. The old saying home is where the heart is. Where is your heart?

I’m about to say ugly words about the heart - home; some are built with anger, prejudice, bias, and the self-centered aspects of human life.

We can all know those places - We find ourselves there sometimes.  It is that old yeast we are to get rid of according to St. Paul. It is found in those with lukewarm  faith. They believe but don’t understand. They’ve gone back home.

Those who say the Lord will never forgive them for what they have done. They believe but don’t understand. They’ve gone back home.

Those who say God spoke to them and everyone else is wrong. They believe but don’t understand. They’ve gone back home.

Those who say, God doesn’t love Muslims or Hindus or Buddhist or Atheist or Homosexuals or anyone who is different. They believe but don’t understand. They’ve gone back home.

People don’t understand, Jesus died for all of us and for all of our sins.

People don’t understand, His promise of eternal life is for all who believe. People don’t understand the tomb being empty means He is alive in the world, for all of us.

Christ is not distant and impersonal. Christ forgive all our sins and hears all our prayers.

We do believe but do we understand that Christ is with us and loves us no matter who our priest or preacher is; or, how we live our lives; or, what sins we have. 

How do we understand - know our faith. How do we understand - know Jesus. How do we understand - know His love.

Believe and understand, prepare your home:

Today and every day, Christ lives and He cares for us. Today and every day, Christ lives and He is close to us. Today and every day, Christ lives and He offers us a relationship real and personal. 

Pope Francis explains it in words I love, “Christ, the everlasting today of God.” My friends, this is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad.

Be good, be holy, and preach the Gospel that we believe. Amen

The Walk - Homily Palm Sunday

Today the Gospels tell of Jesus’ experience during the time we call Holy Week. It begins Jesus riding victoriously on a colt into Jerusalem. Then the Gospel of Mathew continues with betrayal, the last supper, the agony in the Garden, the arrest of Jesus, his trial, and crucifixion.

The Gospel tells us of

•      Jesus who knows what is to come.
•      Jesus understanding it is for the good of all.
•      Him realizing and accepting the Father’s will.
•      The human Jesus and the divine Christ.

It is also the story the people who walked with Jesus and their human failures. Judas Iscariot falls prey to greed and for 30 pieces of silver, betrays Jesus with a kiss. Peter falls to his fear. “My faith will never be shaken.” And he denied Jesus three times. 

Twelve people, Jesus’ disciples and friends are put to the test. All failed by human weakness. Watch & pray you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Today, we can all relate to their test during this time of isolation & quarantine.

I’m lucky to be quarantined with 2 of my 3 grandchildren; a 6 y.o. and a 19 m.o. boys. This is gratifying, consoling, and terrifying. In quarantine, I’ve discovered the 19 m.o. thinks closed doors are to open and contents pulled out, heights are to climb, and punishment is overcome by curling up on Poppy’s lap with a kiss.

I worry a trip to the store brings sickness home. I’m concerned about social distancing at mass. Will I cause my grandchildren or my children or my wife or mother to get sick? I’m tested because Christ called me to follow him. We are put to the test.

Friends, this time is not unique it has been repeated over the years: Plagues, pestilence, wars, oppression and persecution that brings no priest, no mass, no Eucharist, and absence of community.

All of this is part of the story of those who walk with Jesus

Jesus tells us in the Gospel, all of you will have your faith shaken. The Church is tested. Faith undergoes trial. The Gospel is challenged.

In times of no Eucharistic meal; prayer, faith, and devotion to Christ Jesus prevails. When there was no priest to minister, the faithful share prayers, the gospel, and community even in the smallest groups.

The Church (the body of believers) has passed the test fighting fear, greed, laziness, and human weakness with a devoted belief in the Gospel and Jesus Christ, prayer and undying faith.  

This quarantine has many of us feeling deprived. This Holy Week realize this: We are not deprived. Christ Jesus died for our sins. He died for our salvation.

We are not deprived Easter, because He rose from the grave in the promise of eternal life.

During this crisis, when we question God, question one’s self, do I walk with Him: Am I ready to die with Him?

As we pray that God in his mercy takes this cup from us, remember God’s mercy is all around us.

God’s mercy is in the health care workers who sacrifice so much taking care of the sick and dying. His mercy is in the people working to provide food, necessities, and protection. God’s mercy is found even in our leaders whose hearts are open to Him.

God mercy is doing what we should be doing. Ask God’s mercy for our community and the whole world in our prayers and devotions.

More than ever this crisis in the world calls us to be good and holy people, praying for God’s mercy, and for the time we can come together again. 

Amen.