Homily Reflection - Solemnity of the Holy Trinity - Something So Great

Something So Great Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40; Psalm 33:4-5, 6, 9, 18-19, 20, 22; Romans 8:14-17; Matthew 28:16-20

(This reflection was inspired by some great blogs by priest and protestant ministers)

The late Monsignor Edmund Moore began his homilies highlighting different parts of the readings. For Trinity Sunday, I’ll do the same. From the first, second, and Gospel readings we hear:

“Ever since God created man upon the earth…,”   “…the Spirit itself bears witness.”   “Behold, I am with you always until the end of the earth.”

I chose these thoughts because God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) has always been and always will be.

Let us pray “In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.” 

This is the prayer of the Holy Trinity and probably the first prayer we ever learned and it stands for something so great.

This  prayer is to the Holy Trinity.

Almost every one of us made the sign of the cross or thought about it. It’s an automatic thing done without thinking - the prayer and sign of the cross. Maybe we pray without thinking about all its meaning.

First always make the sign of the cross reverently and respectfully and pray the prayer properly. It’s not “Father, Son, Holy Spirit.” It’s “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

This prayer is sacramental.

It helps us in our worship. It begins Mass and ends Mass. Our salvation is represented by the sign of the cross of Christ. Then with the prayer, we open our hearts to the Holy Trinity, our God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

This prayer is about communion.

In the bible, the word “name” means “the presence” or “the heart” of a person. So praying this prayer, we pray for the presence and a communion with God.

In this prayer, the Trinity is a communion.

The Triune God is a communion of three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We were created in their image. Not just Christians but all humanity bears the image of God, an image of communion. This is from where we come and this is where we seek to return.

In this prayer, the Trinity is community.

True communion forms community. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit share mutually in the Holy Trinity as a community of equals being one God. The church must also be community that expresses to all equality, mutuality, and sharing.

In this prayer, the Trinity is inclusive.

The church must always strive to emulate the inclusiveness of the Trinity. In unconditional love everyone is welcomed: male or female, rich or poor, saint or sinner, and every ethnicity. The first thing someone visiting our community should see is a well-worn welcome mat not a grand doorway or ornate wall.

In this prayer, the Trinity is our faith.

It separates us from our Jewish ancestors. It’s a mystery that’s hard to understand; but one we accept meekly because it is given to us by Jesus Christ himself. "Go, make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” We are to bring the Gospel and community of the whole world.

We are the Church made in the image of God.

Celebrating the Holy Trinity with a short prayer and gesture is too significant to disregard. It celebrates the communion of the Trinity, a communion that is God. It celebrates our communion with God and communion of community of God.

The Gospel shows us the Trinity. God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit has always been in the world and always will be. 

I’m ending by highlighting three different thoughts to celebrate our communion with the Holy Trinity. They are from the Psalm, first, and second reading:

“Blessed the people the Lord has chosen…,”   “…to be children of God.”   “Did anything so great ever happen before?”

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Reflection - May Healing Prayer Service - Filling the Hole

Filling the Hole: Facing Suffering with Hope & Faith

Colossians 1:23

We live in a world full of suffering from injustice, illness, and the perils in the world. It seems we are given an impossible task and the presence of these in the world causes anxiety and worry.

As Christians, we are not to be anxious or worried. Instead, we are to be firmly grounded and steadfast in our faith. In weakness, we can become shaken, loose our footing and fall into a hole of anxiety and worry.

In St. Paul’s letter to the Colossians he tells how to be firmly grounded, steadfast, and unshaken; by putting your hope in the Gospel. In this we can connect to the One who is unmovable, through Jesus Christ.  It is faith and hope that must be the anchor at our center. Faith and hope must be inside us because in these the Holy Spirit resides.

It is faith and hope that are the origins of our prayer life. They are the refuge of peace from where we face the sufferings of illness, injustice, and the perils of the world.

There is a story about St. Augustine walking on the beach contemplating the mystery of God, the Trinity. He sees a boy in front of him who had dug a hole in the sand and was going out to the sea and bringing some water to pour into the hole. The boy kept doing it again and again.

St. Augustine asked, “What are you doing?” The boy answered, “I’m going to pour the entire ocean into this hole.”

“That is impossible, the whole ocean will not fit in the hole you’ve made” said St. Augustine.

The boy replied, “You cannot fit the mystery of the Trinity and God in your tiny little brain.” The boy vanished; St. Augustine had been talking to an angel.

Trying to answer why things happen is like trying to fill that hole. It seems impossible. We don't control creation. We'll never truly understand the mystery of God; but, we have been given faith and hope. In these, Christ Jesus gave us strength to face the sufferings of our world and fill the holes in our lives.

Homily Reflection - Pentecost Sunday - Is That Us?

Is That Us?

Acts 2:1-11; Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34; 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13;  John 15:26-27; 16:12-15

At 8:30 Sunday morning, I received an email, “Happy Anniversary Deacon! Can you give the Homily today?” All I could say was “Come, Holy Spirit come!”

What came to me was a story of a man who lived a meager life. Living alone and dining on oatmeal or watery soup, he wore ragged clothes and worn-out shoes. People assumed he had nothing; but, when he died, it was found he had millions of dollars hidden away.

That person had the ability to live an abundant life, but maybe he was too scared to live it. He never shared himself or what he had. That poor person lived a life with abundance but it scared him.  

Is that us?  

The Bible is full of stories about the Spirit of God. In the Old Testament, the Spirit of God was there in times of need. The spirit of God was with Abraham and Jacob. It guided Moses and led the Israelites out of Egypt. The spirit of God was with Samson and Gideon, judges and warriors. The Spirit of God called Samuel and anointed David. The Spirit of God came when it was needed the most.

Then Jesus came into the world and sent the Holy Spirit to be with us always. “I will send the advocate who will be with you. I will send my spirit upon you.”

Now, the Holy Spirit is with us always. This is proved in our faith as Christians. “No one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.”

We can be scared of the Holy Spirit. We learn about the Holy Spirit in images of a dove, wind, or fire. Great images, but only representations of the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit is God and we should not be scared. It is the Holy Spirit of God through Christ in us that lets us proclaims we are Christians.

Maybe we’re scared by the Holy Spirit and being charismatic. We hear that the Holy Spirit in us makes us able to speak tongues. It says it in Acts; but, I don’t speak in tongues – maybe I’m not a good Christian. That’s not true.

We are all part of the body of Christ. Each has a different gift. That is what being charismatic is about. Each and every Christians is charismatic. It’s about God’s gift that the Holy Spirit encourages you to use.

Look at the saints. They were all charismatic; but, I do not know if they all spoke in tongues. The saints were soldiers, doctors, lawyers, kings and queens, mothers and fathers, hermits, deacons, priests and popes. They were young and they were old. They were educated and smart and some were not. Yes, some spoke in tongues, healed the sick and some were said to have even more remarkable and special gifts.  Most just led holy lives, the charism they had was love: the ability to see the face of Christ in every one.

Is that us?

Don’t be scared, as Christians we’re all charismatic, living and sharing the gifts of the Holy Spirit. In this remember:

·      The Holy Spirit is the Advocate that brings us Christ,

·      The Holy Spirit is Truth that gives understanding.

·      The Holy Spirit is Strength from God sending us to the world.

·      The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Glory that lives in us.

Today is the feast of the Holy Spirit - Pentecost. Pentecost is the birthday of the Church when we received the gift of the Holy Spirit to be with us always. Isn’t it great to get gifts on a birthday? Don’t be too afraid to share your gifts.

The gift of the Holy Spirit lets us know Jesus Christ is Lord. Look at yourself, discover your gifts, and share the Holy Spirit that lives in you.

Reflection for Ascension Sunday/7th Sunday of Easter - A Work in Progress

A Work in Progress

ACTS 1:1-11; EPH 4:1-7, 11-13; MK 16:15-20

Jesus told his disciples, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” How do we do that in a world where more and more people are saying they have no faith? By ascending to the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Two mothers are on a play date. One child was rambunctious, a little more aggressive and bossy than the other children. The mother, exasperated says, “That child’s a work in progress.”

The other mother smiled, “We are all works in progress.”

That’s something we all need to realize. In the Father's eyes, we’re all works in progress - not finished, still far from being perfected. Even the disciples were a work in progress. Jesus taught them, gave direction, change their thinking, and they still got it wrong. Jesus’ work in progress, he never quit on them (or us) sending the Holy Spirit to continue that work

St. Paul says “Live in a manner worthy of the calling.” To get to the point where we can live the way Jesus wants us is another continuous work in progress. We have to constantly strive to live the Christian virtues Paul describes: patience, kindness, love, humility, and peace. These will always be a work in progress.

It’s like tuning a guitar. You practice constantly to be able to sit down to play. You want beautiful music, but something is wrong. The music is not right, the notes and chords are out of tune. To play beautifully, you have to tune the guitar by putting the strings ia a perfect position. It must be done over and over, because playing will stretch the strings from a perfect. You have to re-tune.

That’s what living a Christian life is about. Many practice. We know what we need to do. We act a certain way; but, we get out of whack. Living a virtuous Christian life is not a habit, but something to always work at, correct, and tune. It’s always a work in progress.

Maybe this is why so many have no faith. We live more and more in a world becoming a broken place; a work in progress that's been abandoned. Brokenness is a song never to be played; it’s a life that will never know fullness.

Living life in a manner worthy of our calling is no longer important. This has broken individuals, families, and communities. This brokenness is outlined in an article about why people are leaving the Church found here. People identify themselves as "None", a person without faith. 

A “None” is a person searching for healing. They look to churches and find broken communities living a misunderstanding of Christian virtues. And, those that identify as "None” find no healing. Brokenness creates more brokenness. To often these broken communities express Christ's message and God’s love in vessels of fear and eternal threats.

This is not what God wants. It's not the Gospel of Jesus. Only God can recreate the broken. Love, acceptance, and forgiveness heals and creates something out of a “None.”

The readings are about moving closer to the perfection of Christ, bringing the Gospel to the ends of the earth. It is how to heal the broken and finish the work in progress. Taking the tools Christ gives us to live a life worthy of our calling in love, acceptance, and forgiveness.

The Lord works in us to build up the body of Christ, the Church. Until we all attain ultimate unity in our faith, each one of us is a work in progress. On the Feast of the Ascension, all of us, the unfinished works in progress should work ourselves a little closer to perfect through Christ Jesus.

Sunday Reflection 6th Sunday of Easter - The Story of You

The Story of You

Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48;  1 John 4:7-10;  John 15:9-17

Several things influenced my reflection this week, all different. First, today is Mother’s day. The second thing was a movie. Third was a friend’s death. Last was words spoken in a personal introduction. These focused my thoughts on Jesus’ words of love, “Remain in me as I remain in you.”

Mother’s day is about unconditional love. We hear unconditional love in the Acts of the Apostles. Unconditional love John says is “not that we love him, but that he loved us.” Unconditional love usually associated with a mother’s love, based on nothing but us. It’s the love God has for us. God the Father loves us like a mother. Let’s look at the two.

Mother · Always there for her children · Defends children against all, die for them · Fixes scraps, kisses hurts, mends broken heart · Loves children even if they hurt/neglect her · Loves children with unconditional love

God · Always there for us, · Jesus died for us, for our sins · Forgives us - fixes us no matter what we do · Loves us when we hurt/neglect him by sin · Loves us with unconditional love

The movie told the story of a mother. She’s talked into going on an adventure. Self-conscious of scars and stretch marks, she sees ugly and is overwhelmed when asked to go for a swim. Then, one who loves her says she’s beautiful. He sees beauty in the scars and stretch marks; they’re part of her. He says “These scars are the story of your life.”

God knows from beginning of time, the story of you; a story that carries scars of sin and mistake. God looks at these and thinks you're beautiful. He still wants to be part of the story, “Remain in me as I remain in you.”

A friend died; he was younger than me. I remember him as a teenager sleeping on the floor of my parent’s house. His was a story with let’s say – adventure; so, he picked up lots of scars. He shared these adventures and scars with my brother. Growing older, facing illness and his mortality, his story changed. A lawyer, he worked with the poor, often without charge. He taught Sunday school to kindergartners and lived a life with prayer. The story of his earthly life ended at 50.

At the funeral, my brother asked about forgiveness. God knows the things we did were bad. Will God forgive him? I told him God’s unconditional love is forgiveness no matter how bad we’ve been. This is the salvation of Jesus. I told my brother to be happy, our friend’s story ended in Christ. “Remain in me as I remain in you.”

Friday, at a meeting with our Priest, I was introduced to the new student vice-president at Catholic Campus Ministries. Father said, “She is a beautiful soul.”

It all came together. We are beautiful souls; Christ remains in us. We live an adventure picking up the scars of sin. We see ourselves as ugly, unworthy of being loved, but that’s not what God sees. God sees the beautiful soul he created living the story of you. 

God loves us like a mother, unconditionally, scars and all. God sees beautiful, forgiven by the Christ in us. God desires for us to remain in him through Jesus Christ. The truth to be found is that the story of you begins in God and through grace, ends in God. “Remain in me as I remain in you.”

On this Mother’s day, remember the beautiful story of the soul found in your mother. Mothers see a beautiful story of you; just as God does.  

Homily Reflection: 5th Sunday Easter - Hot Biscuits and Muscadine Jelly

Hot Biscuits and Muscadine Jelly

 Acts 9:26-31;  Psalm 22:26-27, 28, 30, 31-32; 1 John 3:18-24;  John 15:1-8

Years ago, across the street from my house was an old pecan grove, abandoned and wild; the trees branches were full of grape vines. I just knew that I would have a natural source of grapes in the fall. I thought of this fruit was comforting with memories of hot biscuits and muscadine jelly. But no luck, there were grapes, but, they were tiny, hard, and bitter.

Then, I learned about growing good grapes and there’s nothing natural about it. Grape vines grow in the woods. They climb trees and bushes. Left alone with plenty of water, grape vines go wild, sending fast-growing tendrils to capture everything in reach; so, it can climb.

If the vine is left alone, it makes small tart grapes. They aren’t good fruit.

The vine likes the wild. It will make beautiful leaves and long reaching branches, growing bigger. The nature of the vine says, “What a good place to be a vine.” It doesn’t put too much into making grapes.

To make good fruit, the vine must struggle.

If water’s restricted and nutrients scarce, if pruning’s hard and it’s crowed by other vines, nature says, “This is not a good place to be a vine.” So, instead growing big leaves and sprawling tendrils, it focuses on survival. Roots grow deeper. It must find a better place to be a vine. The plant makes its fruit more desirable so its seeds will be spread. To insure this, the grape vine makes bigger, better grapes. In this struggle, the branches on the vine make much good fruit. This is the way the best vine grower cares for his vines.  

God planted a vine in the human heart. It either grows in the care of the vine grower or grows in sin. Growing it sin, the vine in our heart goes wild overtaking our lives, producing little fruit. The fruit it does produce are the hard and bitter things found in the human heart: sin, shame, hate, pettiness, greed, selfishness, pride, resentment.

An unusual source for theological inspiration is Saints TE, Benjamin Watson. He wrote this about the violence in Baltimore:

"Our problems are holistic and common to the human heart. Hatred, prejudice, exploitation, pride, self-righteousness, secrecy, and rebellion, manifest itself in the explosions we've seen over the last year, the last century, and the last millennia."

Watson is telling us, the world is full of wild vines growing in sin. A world tempted by evil.  This is the same evil that tempted Jesus in the desert.

Wild vines are trying to overtake the vineyard; but that’s not what God the Father wants.

God sent the good and true vine in Jesus Christ. By God’s grace, we are part of that vine. The true vine made strong in the struggles found in those temptations, "the way of the cross," and his death on the cross.. God’s love prunes the good vine, breaking away the dead branches and bitter fruit. So in Christ, we bear the good fruit of the Holy Spirit, which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Look at your life, what fruits do you bring to the world? 

Benjamin Watson, a true witness for Christ who happens to be a pro-athlete, brings abundant fruit to the world in a message shared on CNN,

"Be the example.... Show the world that hearts can be changed, not just through peace but also through the love of Christ."

These words are a testament to his confidence in God, the vine grower. I find this fruit truly comforting way better than hot biscuits and muscadine jelly.

Reflection - 4th Sunday Easter - Sheep Making Informed Decisions

Sheep Making Informed Decisions 

Acts 4:8-12; Psalm 118:1, 8-9, 21-23, 26, 28, 29; 1 John 3:1-2; Gospel: John 10:11-18

From today’s readings we learn that Jesus is the Good Shepherd and Jesus is the Cornerstone. The parable of the Good Shepherd and the reading from Acts are put together for a reason. The overall message is that Jesus will not abandon us and he will not be moved.

In these readings, let’s look at us. People don’t know the Shepherd’s voice or they’ve rejected the cornerstone.  It’s because we tend to be like sheep.

Sheep live a flock mentality - for protection, for comfort, and for blending-in. Sheep don’t want to stand out in a crowd. Most of us don’t want to either.

Temptation can make sheep wander. A lead sheep will see greener grass to eat, a hillside to explore, or the promising pleasure of a shady spot. The lead sheep follows this temptation and the flock follows for protection, comfort, and blending-in.

That’s why the shepherd is important. He is the cornerstone of the flock. It’s built around him. He keeps them together, on the right path, in the right pasture, and in his protection. Sheep know the shepherd by his voice and presence. They want the comfort of the shepherd’s protection; but, they still wander away and can become lost.

We’re sheep for the same reason. Temptation catches an eye of someone influential and we follow. The temptation of greener grass, new things to explore, or something pleasurable leads them astray and it becomes the popular trend.  Temptation pulls us from the shepherd and all he offers. When temptation pulls us from the cornerstone; we are lost.

There are three sources of temptation: the world, the flesh, and the devil. But, we don’t recognize temptation. We’re not sheep. We are intelligent educated beings. We make mature informed decisions, like: 

• We don’t believe all the Church tells us; we decide what we believe.
•  All Churches are the same.
•  It’s not really the body of Christ.
• I want a church that doesn’t offend me.
•  I don’t get anything from Church; I want to be entertained.
•  Why believe the bible, it just stories. 
• My life style isn’t hurting anyone. 
• It’s my body; I’ll do what I please.
• It’s a fetus, a lump of cells, it’s not a baby.
• They’re not like us - they’re old - they’re poor- they’re not relevant

Adam and Eve made an informed decision. Pontius Pilate made an informed decision. Hitler and the Nazi’s made informed decision. Terrorist make informed decisions to kill and persecute Christians, enslave and rape the innocent. The devil is informing the sheep.  

In the desert, Satan tempted Jesus with an informed decision. He informed Jesus about the world, the flesh, and with lies in temptation. Satan informed Jesus of his authority in the world; but, Jesus had the strength to resist temptations.

We don’t have the strength of Jesus. We’re just sheep that hear the empty promises of the world, see the desires of the flesh, and the lies and information of the devil. We go astray.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd and cornerstone. He gave his life for all of our salvation, so that we know him.  No matter how lost, how tempted, or how much we have strayed; deep inside, we still know his voice. We still know he is our salvation.  We just need to be the lead sheep and follow him.

Reflection 3rd Sunday Easter - Peace be with You

Peace be with You -  Acts 3:13-15, 17-19; Psalm 4:2, 4, 7-8, 9; 1 John 2:1-5a;  Luke 24:35-48

A man and God are having a conversation. The man says “Lord what is a million years like for you?” God answers, “A million years is but a second to me.” The man thinks about it and then asks, “Lord, what then is a million dollars to you?” God answers, “That is like a penny to me.”  The man smiled and asks one more question “Then Lord, May I have a penny?” God answered him, “Of course my child, in just a second.”

I thought about this story during my reflection on these readings. Not thinking about what is time or about what is money; but, what is peace to God? Look at the world we live in.

The Bible tells us that from the beginning, Jesus brought peace. “Peace be with you,” the greeting to Mary. “Peace be with you,” the greeting to the shepherds in the field. Last week, the Gospel told how the resurrected Christ appeared in the room behind closed doors with, “Peace be with you.” Today, the Gospel tells the same.

Can you imagine that room? Two disciples had just seen Jesus and ran as fast as they could from Emmaus to Jerusalem to the eleven. It was a room full of excitement, anxious chatter, and probably confusion. Then Christ Jesus comes and soothes them saying simply, “Peace be with you.”

The word Jesus used would have been “shalom.” It means “peace be with you.” Shalom is peace. It’s welcome. It’s hello and goodbye. But Jesus’ shalom is so much more.

Shalom from Jesus brings well-being and wholeness. It’s a blessing of completeness and prosperity. It is shalom that came from the peace and love Jesus taught.

The resurrected Christ brings shalom (well-being, wholeness, and completeness) between humanity and God. He brings it to a humanity that denied him; humanity that ran when trouble came and a humanity that didn’t understand. And Christ brings shalom to the humanity that Peter preached to at the temple; the ones who chose another and put Jesus to death on the cross.

All of these are the same people I am today when I deny him by looking away; not seeing the poor, the hungry, the sick, or those in prison. The same people I am today, when I choose another by finding it convenient to miss mass; but, inconvenient to stay past the hour. The same people who crucify with time to text or gossip; but, no time to stop and pray.

Shalom “peace be with you,” is what Jesus brings. He brought its promise to the world as a child. “Peace be with you” was the promise and blessing to the Virgin Mary. Shalom a promise and blessing to poor outcast shepherds.

The risen Christ brings shalom to the world. He brings it to those behind closed doors like scared, hiding, and persecuted disciples. He brings shalom to those trying to understand and know his truth.  

The risen Christ brings shalom of restoration, completeness, and goodness. He brings shalom “peace be with you” as God’s grace and righteousness. Shalom is in our justification and redemption. Shalom is the forgiveness of sins. These bring wholeness, soundness, tranquility, fullness, rest, perfection and harmony. Shalom of Christ is peace. It is a complete peace.

We really cannot find adequate words for the divine; because what Christ brought to that room and to us is all these words I have used and much, much, more. Like the man who asks God for just a penny, a little bit of God’s peace is more than we could hope for in our lifetime. The difference is God does not say, in second, because he has already given us peace. Christ brings divine shalom of God; Christ Jesus is God and He brings the peace of God to each and every one of us who believes in him.

The coming of Christ Jesus to our lives, brings shalom, great peace and blessing; just like to Mary or the shepherds, just like to those first disciples. He brings shalom in the Eucharist; found by the two disciples in the breaking of the bread. He brings great peace in the forgiveness of reconciliation. He brings peace in quietness of prayer, adoration, and reflection.

Our Lord always brings shalom “peace be with you.” We are told by our faith that if we seek Him, He will come to us. Shalom, May you find the Peace of our Lord Jesus Christ and may He be with you always.

Scripture Reflection Divine Mercy Sunday - For Us and for the Whole World

For Us and For the Whole World

Acts 4:32-35;  Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24; 1 John 5:1-6;  John 20:19-31

Today, we celebrate the Mercy of God - Divine Mercy Sunday. God’s Mercy is found in the lovingkindness that He gives to us in a bad situation, like sin.

And people ask, what does Divine Mercy have to do with today’s readings? Everything, from 1 John “Whoever is begotten by God conquers the world. And the victory that conquers the world is our faith.” Our faith, belief in Jesus the Son of God, is the fount of God’s mercy?

From the Acts of the Apostles, we learn about the first Christian community. It was a community where mercy truly existed and where each and every person shared in God’s merciful love. It was a community of equals; a community where everyone was taken care of by their neighbors. “There was no needy person among them.” The way we treat other people is a manifestation of God’s mercy through our lives.

I try to share God's mercy in my job. Part of my job is to do safety training. I do this training for several reasons. 

One, some people don’t care about other people, like the foreman who tells a person to risk their life when they know that a job or task is unsafe. It's not necessarily the company; but, it may be the culture that rewards unsafe acts. The foremen believe making a bonus is more important than the safety of the employee.

Scripture tells us you cannot serve both God and mammon. 

Two, the government says that companies have to provide the training. Training helps to provide a safe workplace and gives instructions on how to have a safe workplace.

We live in a time were the government wants to control and make rules for even for the Church. It is behind political ideals. The government wants control over Church run institutions. Politicians want to be seen as saviors to the masses. Government can never master charity, which is the love of our neighbor and based on the love of God. God’s mercy is the ultimate lovingkindness. Sharing God’s mercy is the ultimate charity. Our government will never have God’s mercy or true charity.

Three, I teach because it is part of my ministry to the workplace.

In all I do, I try to teach Jesus. I witness and I share what I have with by brothers and sisters in that work place. Many say we are there to teach because the insurance company doesn’t want them to get hurt. I tell each and every person I teach, I don’t want them to get hurt. I want them to return to their family. I share in mercy what God has given me.

Christ gave the apostles the gift of bestowing his mercy. “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” The sacrament of reconciliation is the mercy of God given through forgiveness. Most of us are not priest, so we do have this charism of mercy.  But we can still forgive, still bring God’s mercy to others through our gifts and talents. Still bring the victory of Christ to others through our faith.

Each and every one of you has something that you can give to the community. Christians bestow God’s mercy in the love of neighbor. This is the mercy found in out faith. The mercy given so that no one knows need. We bring mercy helping others find God, know Christ, and know love.

Today is Divine Mercy Sunday. Let us pray for God’s mercy on us and on the whole world.

Homily Easter Day - Do We Understand?

My friends Happy Easter and as we sang in the Psalms - This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad.  Remember this Psalm for later.

First I’d like to recap today’s Gospel: It was still dark and they ran to the tomb - Mary, Peter, and the disciple Jesus loved. Peter was old and fat and didnt get there first. When Peter got there he went in and found the tomb empty, the burial cloths rolled up. Then the other disciple went in: he saw and believed but they didn’t understand.

This is from the Gospel of John 20:1-9. I think it should have also included the next verse, John 20:10,  “Then the disciples returned home.”

I’m not exactly sure what that disciple saw and believed. They just returned home. Did he believe that the body of Jesus was gone or did he believe that Jesus had risen? This is the Gospel of John, the disciple Jesus loved. He was first to reach the tomb. John saw and believed and then he writes, they did not understand at that time. They just returned home.

If you study the scriptures you will find one thing.  The disciples loved Jesus. They followed him and hung on every word, every miracle, and teaching. But most of the time, they just 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’re here today on Easter Sunday because we do believe. We believe because we have the Gospel accounts of Jesus’s life. We know what he experienced: celebrations, betrayal, abandonment, pain, suffering and death. From this week, we know the passion of Christ from Palm Sunday to His crucifixion on Good Friday. We do 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 celebrate is resurrection then simply return home.

We do believe! 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 bricks but the interior home our ego. I’m about to say ugly words about that home; some are built with anger, prejudice, bias, and the self-centered aspects of human life.

I can find myself there sometimes - We can find ourselves there sometimes. St. Paul calls it in Corinthians - old yeast and we are to get rid of it.

We find it in those lukewarm in faith. They believe but don’t understand. They’ve gone back home.

Those who ask if you are saved – just say this sinner’s prayer. 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.

People don’t understand, for all of us, he had to rise from the dead.

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 does not judge us on if we have said the sinner’s prayer. All our prayers are a sinner’s 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 your faith. How do we understand: know Jesus. How do we understand: know His love.

Believe and understand, prepare for your new 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.” Remember that Psalm we started with? My friends, this is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad.

Homily Easter Vigil - Tell a Story

Most of you know I like stories.  I write short stories and enter them in contests. I tie stories to scriptures in homilies to build a message. At this Easter Vigil, I won’t.

I’m not, because we heard in the readings an outline the greatest story: the story of God’s work in the world.

A story beginning at creation when God looked at everything found it very good. It goes on to the words of the prophets in Exodus, Ezekiel, and Isaiah that describe God’s protection, goodness, and promises. The it tells us of the ultimate good news of Jesus Christ in Romans.

The climax of this story is the gospel, where we find the empty tomb and the promise that, His is risen, Christ is Alive, and “He is going before us.”

My friends this is the best part of the story. This is where we find the excitement of the risen Christ. 

The excitement is in this new promise of the empty tomb. The tomb is not our final destiny.

The excitement is in the promise of our salvation. A salvation where we are forgiven not matter what our sins.

Pope Francis calls it “the excitement of Christ, the everlasting today of God.”

Tonight, three other people will stand before us telling a story. One story is through baptism and two stories through confirmation. These are the stories of the excitement of the risen Christ – the empty tomb, the promise of salvation, and the joy Christ - the everlasting today of God.

No, I am not going to tell you a story, but, I am asking you to tell a story. Tell a story with your lives.  Each of you be a witness; tell your story in Christ to the world.