Homily Reflection 21st Sunday - Excuse Me; I'm not going out there!

Excuse Me; I’m Not Going Out There!

Joshua 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b;  Psalm 34:2-3, 16-17, 18-19, 20-21; Ephesians 5:21-32 or 5:2a, 25-32; John 6:60-69

We have two dogs, spoiled like children. One is 3. The other is 11. The young one is excitable; the older is laid back. The young one is nervous and scared of most things. The older dog is calm. The young dog is a pest. Let’s run. Let’s wrestle and play. The old dog endures it. 

Some nights, a stranger visits our yard. The dogs get excited. The old dog wakes me up with a poke from her paw. I imagine her wine as “Wake up! Come and see! Something’s here!” The old dog runs out the door barking. “Something’s here! Come and see! Something’s here!”

The young dog is all excited and runs out. Shocked by the darkness, she stops, turns around, and runs back inside. She’s afraid of the dark. Sitting on her heels, me between her and fear, she looks up with an expression that says: “Excuse me; I’m not going out there.”  

This is supposed to be a funny story but look closely. We can see Christians in this example.   

As Catholic we live among Christians of younger traditions. I’ll refer to them from now on as the young ones.

Catholics don’t get excited by much. We’re patient. But, the young ones are always excited about saving us. They’re concerned for our souls. Those poor Catholics are lost. The Catholic Church is confused. It’s not the Church Jesus founded. Catholics don’t believe in the Bible. Catholics do things, standing, kneeling, crossing themselves, it’s not Biblical.  

On the Eucharist and the real presence, the young ones sit back on their heels, “Excuse me; I’m not going out there!”  But, Catholics can get excited about the Eucharist. “Wake up! Come and see! Christ is here! “

If you are like the young ones and doubt, I hoped you paid attention to the readings. Paul writes to be faithful to Christ and the Church. Our Catholic faith lives the words of Joshua, “As for me and my house we will worship the Lord.”

These readings are about the Eucharist. Something the young ones believe Catholics have wrong. The young ones don’t believe in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. To them, it’s the Lord’s Supper, a symbolic memorial to Jesus. They believe that’s what Jesus wanted.

It’s not what Jesus tells us. Last week we heard Jesus’ instructions to “eat His flesh and drink His blood.” The Greek word John actually used was “gnaw.” I like chew on it.  Chew on Jesus; Chew on who Jesus is; Chew on what he means to you; Chew on the Christ that becomes part of you.

We shouldn’t be surprised that the young ones criticize and can’t accept this. Jesus’ disciples couldn’t accept His words either. They grumbled and criticized. His words were extreme. The words were different and controversial. “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”

The disciples knew his words weren’t symbolic. They took His words literally. 

And, Jesus explained his words. He didn’t say this is a parable you don’t understand. He asked “Does this shock you?”

It was not the shocking description of a memorial meal but an invitation to an intimate and personal relation with the living Christ. “Does this shock you?” It shocked his disciples; many no longer accompanied him.  

Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” Peter said, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”

This was Peter who Christ used to build his Church. This was was the same Peter to who every Pope, Catholic Bishop, Priest, and Deacon can trace the authority of his ordination. It was Peter and his successors in the Church that have kept the faith, defended it against heresy, false tradition and teachings; always remains faithful to Christ, celebrating the real presence in the Eucharist, and preaching the promise of eternal life.

Despite how the young ones interpret it, the Bible is Catholic. It contains the traditions, teachings, beliefs and sacraments of the Catholic faith. It is the teachings of those in the upper room, the ones Jesus breathed upon to receive his Spirit; the ones guided by the Advocate, the Paraclete that brings truth always. It’s the teaching traditions of the apostles, beginning with the 12 who stayed.

• They believed His words were Spirit and life.
• They believed the promise of eternal life.
• They believed in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, His flesh and His blood under the species of bread and wine. 
• They believed what Jesus said and believed Jesus meant what He said.

We believe it too. We believe the Lord is here in the Eucharist. We believe God loves us: old ones, young ones; those who left and those who stayed; the ones who would not believe, those who betrayed him, the sinners, the lost, and everyone else.  We believe God loves all of us. We believe God forgives all of us.

In all that we believe as His Church, Jesus is still asking, “Does this shock you?” It shocks many.  

Brothers and Sister, live your Catholic Faith. Stand up proudly for what you believe. Love one another as Christ loves us. Come to mass. Celebrate the sacraments. By your life, words, and actions accompany Christ as faithful members of his body.

Finally, what did I learn from my dog as she sat there with me between her and fear. It’s like our relationship with Jesus.  No matter what scares you, Christ is between you and your fears. Jesus is with you always.

Don’t be shocked. Don’t sit back on your heels afraid thinking “Excuse me; I’m not going out there.”  Get excited. Go out and shout to the world, “Wake up! Come and see! Christ is here!”

Christ is here in Eucharist, in the Church, and in each one of us.

Sunday Reflection - 20th Sunday - Everyday Wisdom

Everyday Wisdom

Proverbs 9:1-6; Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7;  Ephesians 5:15-20;  John 6:51-58

Over the years I’ve invited people to a Bible study who are afraid to come. They’ll tell me that they just can’t understand the Bible. No matter how much they study the bible, they didn’t get or understand a lot of it. Maybe, a lot of us are like this.

As a deacon I have certain things I do. Every day, I pray. Every day, I read a little bit of the Bible and study. I usually do these early in the morning, and late in the evening.  I put daily verses and prayers on facebook or email. I share short pieces of the Catechism on Twitter. These are part of my studies and I pray that I get them right.   

We live in a culture where wisdom and intellect is paired with how we think, book smarts, and a formal education. This comes from the ancients Greeks; a people of philosophy, who liked to sit around, ponder and argue ideas. This sounds like bible study. We tend to forget that wisdom is more. I said I pray that I get it right; but no matter how much I study to understand. I don’t always get it right. Someone or something can always open my eyes more fully to the Lord’s wisdom.

In Hebrew, the word for wisdom is more a tactile thing. The word is “chokmah” (hokhmah.) It’s the wisdom we find every day in God’s creation. Wisdom is the building of the house, the setting of the pillars, the preparing of the meal, and even the eating of the meal. True wisdom comes from God. Sharing in creation is sharing wisdom.

In this proverb, wisdom is found in action. Ultimately wisdom is abandoning foolishness (simpleness, ignorance or errant thoughts.) To do this, Wisdom calls for action “come and eat my food.”

Brothers and sisters, this proverb points us to Jesus Christ. The house is the Church that Christ built; the seven pillars are the sacraments. Each of us is called to the table of thanksgiving. All of these things are visible concrete actions of Christ, of wisdom.

Paul warned believers to watch how you live – don’t be foolish or ignorant but know the will of the Lord. This was his call to the action for believers. How many of our fellow Christians have forgotten this?

Jesus tells us: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.... Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.  Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him…. whoever eats this bread will live forever.”

Sometimes it is hard to understand what Jesus asks of us. The words that Jesus speaks will cause many of his followers to leave him. Trying to understand by studying the bible is a good but hard if all we do is sit back and think. The true wisdom comes by living what Jesus taught. Taking Jesus and chewing on him making him part of us.

Wisdom is the action in our lives that bring Christ. We become one with Christ through the Eucharist, the sacrament that is the meal of the risen Christ. God is alive. God is in us. What a great call to action!!

That call to action opens our eyes to the Lord’s wisdom maybe more than the reading and study. It’s that tactile form of Wisdom. I understand what Christ asks of me when I bring communion to a patient in a dementia ward than in studying the bible. In this I find Jesus who calls me to his table and eat the bread of life. I chew on Him; He nourishes me; He remains in me. This is truly studying his word.

Wisdom found in every day. May we build his house, set his table, and call others to eat. May we have every day wisdom of the Lord Jesus Christ in our lives.

Sunday Reflection 19th OT - Don't Worry, God will make it Better!

Don't Worry, God will make it Better!

(Who’s on Your Cross?)

1 Kings 19:4-8; Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9; Ephesians 4:30-5:2; John 6:41-51

I went to a memorial service this week for a long-time friend. Sherry was a gracious, optimistic, and a most Christian person. She could find a bright spot in every situation and always had words of encouragement.  She could build a person up, no matter how dejected they were. In a bad situation, she would say, “God will make it better!” And when a situation improved, she would praise God saying “Isn’t it a blessing.” Sherry worked at the University for 30 years touching the lives of students, parents, other employees, and even visitors. People's spirits were raised up by her “Don’t worry, God will make it better!” as she taught them to recognize their blessings.

She lived the Psalm: “Taste and see the goodness of the Lord. I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth.” It takes a special person to be like this.

Elijah needed this. He had lain down to die. Elijah was in such a bad place that he prayed, “take my life Lord!”  Elijah was sitting under a broom tree in the desert, murmuring his discontent.  Elijah didn’t believe God would make things better.

The people murmured against Jesus. A murmur is that mumbled or quite expression of discontent hovering in the background. If we listen closely; it is still heard today. We do it ourselves saying, “Things are bad and and getting worse.” The evil in the world uses these murmurs to grow the things St. Paul warns us about - bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, reviling and malice. Murmurs of discontent denying people dignity and respect; murmurs that deny people freedom and safety. Murmurs building anger, bitterness, and malice. Murmurs spoken against God’s creation that needs our care. Even those who call themselves Christians murmur.

Open the newspaper or the internet and you see racism, hatred, bitterness, injustice, and disrespect. Most is disguised as patriotism, heritage, national safety, justice, or one of many other things we could call good. It calls us to circle our wagons, lock down the churches, and makes us forget Jesus.

I am going to say something many of you may not like. We do not have a flag on our altar. We come to worship God, through Jesus Christ. It should not be conservatives or liberals, democrats or republicans speaking to our hearts but the Holy Spirit. It’s not the President or a Supreme Court judge or a member of Congress that looks down from the Cross. It is the Lord, the one who whispers the words “Father forgive them.”

Words drowned out by the murmur. We live too short a time to be in a murmur of discontent.

The Angel of God quieted Elijah with bread from heaven; Jesus quiets the murmur in those who truly live by the bread of life; the bread of life that hung on the cross. He is “Our God and He makes things better.”  The bread of life is Jesus, God who teaches us. Jesus is the bread of life God sends to us. “Everyone who listens to my Father and learns comes to me.”

Through the bread of life, we can be kind to one another, compassionate, and forgiving, just as God has forgiven us. Be imitators of God and live in love. Look at life and if it’s bad remember “God will make it better!” If it’s good remember, “Isn’t it a blessing!”

Just days before Sherry slept in the Lord, a friend visited in tears, despondent as her friend neared the end to her worldly life. Sherry looked at her and with a smile said, “God’s going to make it better and it will be a blessing.” Sherry went to be with the Lord and God did make it better and God did bless her.

Sunday Reflection 18th Sunday - Monkey Mind

Monkey Mind

Exodus 16:2-4,12-15; Psalm 78:3-4,23-24,25,54; Ephesians 4:17,20-24; John 6:24-35

I am going to start this reflection with some oriental wisdom called the monkey mind. St. Paul called it a futile mind.

The monkey mind is this: The human mind can be like it’s filled with monkeys, jumping around, screeching, chattering and carrying on endlessly. Our emotions are different monkeys in our mind. It is said monkey mind overtakes an entire society.

I know I’ve been there with stuff screaming, screeching and jumping around in my head; so many different things fighting inside of me. Fear has been especially loud pointing out the unknown hidden things to worry about.

Faith calms a fearful and futile monkey mind. Paul tells us “Truth is in Jesus.” He writes do not live in the futility of your mind or deceitful desires.

The whole Israelite community was full of fear and deceitful desires. They grumbled. Afraid of the unknown, they desired to go back Egypt and slavery. They complained of hunger.

Hunger is “a strong desire or craving.” You can hunger for food, success, revenge, love and truth. Our emotions mostly desire and crave truth.

From hunger, the multitude followed Jesus. Looking to him not for the signs of the messiah; but, because they ate. They wanted to make Jesus king because he had quieted a hunger.

The Israelites left Egypt. No one made them leave. They saw the plagues and the signs that God set upon Egypt. They saw the miracles of God. They saw the parting of the Red Sea and the destruction of Pharaoh’s army. They saw the Angel of God the led the way. They had no faith; all they saw was the hunger and hardships, the violence and the vastness of the unknown about them. The Israelites had all these hungry emotions inside the mind of the community. The strongest was fear.

The multitude following Jesus saw or heard of his miracles, healing and casting out of demons. They heard Jesus teach. They were part of the miracle that fed 5000. They had no faith; all they saw was oppression in the rulers, hunger and hardships in life and a violent vast unknown existence. The multitude hungered from fear.

Two sets of people existing and seeking the answer to their hunger. Today, our society is the same. This world has put so many things screaming, screeching and jumping in our heads. It is a world existing in fearful hunger from a lack of faith.

It’s not necessary. If we lived as Jesus taught us and follow the commandments of God, if we just look around to see the miracles God works in this world despite the evil and lack of faith, we could quite the fearful and futile monkey mind.  

This is faith. Through faith, God gives himself to us to quite the hunger.   

Paul tells us to put away our former way of life; renew the spirit of your mind. God calmed the Israelite community with manna, bread from heaven. Jesus calmed the multitude breaking the loaves and feeding them. God can calm us if we look to him to feed us.

Fear is all about hunger. We hunger for peace. We hunger for comfort. We hunger for safety. We hunger for an absence of conflict. We hunger for justice and dignity. We hunger for much in our fear.  Faith calms the fearful and futile mind. Faith renews the spirit of our mind.

Faith in God, Jesus Christ, can rid us of hunger. Christ quiets the hungers that exist in our lives. Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”

If your mind is jumping around, screeching, and chattering endlessly from something missing, maybe it hungers for truth. Truth is in Jesus. Brothers and Sister come to the Bread of Life.

Sunday Reflection, 17th Sunday - "5 Barley Loaves"

Five Barley Loaves

2 Kings 4:4244; Psalm 145:10-11,15-18; Ephesians 4:1-6; John 6:1-15

Elisha was brought barley loaves. The boy in the crowd had five barley loaves and two fish. In each reading five barley loaves, why are they so important?

Barley was a common grain used as fodder for horses, feed for cattle and bread for the poor. It grew during winter in poor soil. This grain represented overcoming the impossible. In the book of Judges, Gideon’s victory over the enemies of Israel is foretold in a dream. A barley loaf tumbles into the enemies’ camp at night and knocks down their tents. In the book of Second Kings, Elisha throws barley meal into a stew to overcome poison to feed the hungry. Barley was the sin offering required for jealousy and wrongdoing.

A man from Baal-shalishah came bringing barley loaves. He was from the Northern Kingdom, where the rulers, the priests, and the prophets had forgotten God. They built temples and named cities for the god Baal. They were not feeding those hungry for the true God.

He comes to the man of God, Elisha, with barley loaves. Some were still faithful to God. It was an offering from those who had not forgotten the true God. Even though the powerful in Israel had sinned and done wrong, many still worshiped the one true God.

The barley loaves represented something else. The loaves were a sacrifice for all the wrongdoings and forgotten promises of people of the covenant. A poor man brought 20 barley loaves for the forgotten promises and wrongdoings of the people. Twenty in the bible is a symbol for redemption. The man of God takes and multiplies this sacrifice for the many.

So many were following Jesus - the poor, the sinners, the sick, and the lost. Five thousand men but there were also women and children. A boy was there with five barley loaves and two fishes. It was all he had.

So many were following Jesus that it was asked what good was five barley loaves and two fishes. Jesus knew.

The temple officials had not fed them; forgotten what God had asked of them.  They had forgotten to bring God to the poor, to the sinners, to the sick, and to the world.  They were not feeding those hungry for God.

Again, these five loaves represented the Torah and the promise of God. They implied the original covenants between God and his people; but, now more. The two fish would make the meal complete. The two fish stood for the comparison between the old and the new.

These five barley loaves represented a sacrifice for forgiveness of their sins, broken promises and wrongdoing. Jesus himself would take away our sins.

In both readings the barley loaves were multiplied. They provided food for many. The man of God, Elisha, multiplied five loaves to feed a hundred. The Son of God, multiplied the five loaves to feed a multitude.

Everyone there knew the story of Elisha. The multitude saw the greatness in Jesus and wanted to make him King.

Jesus wanted to remain as humble as the barley loaf, food for the poor, the sick, the sinners, and the world. Jesus was to be a sacrifice for our sins. He is the final covenant and the fulfillment of God’s promises. He is the risen Christ whose body is the bread we share in the Eucharist. 

Lastly, in the Bible the number five is used as a symbol of God’s grace. These are two stories about God’s grace.

Most of us probably never thought about the five barley loaves. But, God can use the simplest of things to teach us so much. A simple grain used to nourish bodies, nourish spirits, and nourish faith. Two stories showing us it is the hand of the Lord the feeds us; feeding those hungry for God. Two stories about five barley loaves that show God’s grace through Jesus Christ is over all and through all and in all.

Sunday Reflection 16th Sunday - Voices

Voices - We’re not as Smart as Sheep

Jeremiah 23:1-6 Psalm 23:1-3, 3-4, 5, 6 Ephesians 2:13-18 Mark 6:30-34

(With influence by the voice of Fr. Ron Rolheiser, OMI  )

I’ve always heard how dumb sheep are from the voices of characters on television westerns when I was young.

From the voices of priests and the Bible, I heard a good shepherd knows his sheep.  He is there when his sheep need him or in danger or get lost. The sheep know this and they know the shepherd. They know his voice.  

Other voices in my life have told me that a shepherd can look out at all those white wooly sheep and tell them apart.

Before sheep farming became a big business, shepherds would come at night to a common enclosure for protection. The next morning going their separate ways, each shepherd would call to their sheep and the sheep would follow their shepherd’s voice.  And they couldn’t be fooled; others shepherds would try to imitate another shepherd’s voice to steel sheep, but the sheep would only come to the voice of their shepherd. In the mix of voices calling sheep, even the false voices calling to them, a sheep followed the voice of his protector, its good shepherd.

My inner voice tells me that we’re a lot like sheep; but, maybe we’re not as smart as sheep. We don’t always recognize the voice of Jesus, the Good Shepherd. We don’t recognize the voice of God.

We live surrounded by voices. Voices found on television, radio, internet, and news sources. Voices heard from spouses, children, friends, teachers, and employers. Voices come to us that are jealous, envious, petty, angry, and hateful. Voices invite us to greatness if we follow the trends, buy this or that. Voices call out hatred and anger disguise as good. Voices call out love and forgiveness; and, these may be disguised as well. Voices calling right and voices calling wrong. So many voices speaking the way of the world as vital and important, but always, the voice with ultimate truth is God’s.

In all these voices, which is God’s voice? How do we recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd? There’s no easy answer, so many times all these voices are disguised as the voice of truth.  The voice of God is always true and always good.

The prophet Jeramiah warns the people of Israel that the priests have called to the people with voices that are not of God. Voices disguised as truth have ultimately misled the sheep and scatter the flock; driven them away. Their voices were confusing and wrong. Through Jeramiah’s voice, God calls his sheep promising he will send a shepherd.

Jesus, whose heart was moved with pity seeing a people without a shepherd. Jesus is the good shepherd who teaches many things. His voice is comforting, protecting, and good. It calls for us to follow the shepherd. We hear His voice and it teaches us many things that can tear down dividing walls set up by the voices of all the others. 

So we go back to the question - how do we know God’s voice? How do we recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd?

Sometimes the best we can do is to trust in our gut feeling that comes from our morals, beliefs, and traditions. Remember that the voice of God is always good.

Remembering what Paul said that is was a voice of peace that reconciles us to God.  It is a voice that tears down dividing walls. The Gospel found in many things.   

Jesus taught many things like listening for the voice of God:

• The voice of God recognized in life, joy, health, and humor and at the same time recognized by the dying, suffering and the poor in spirit.
• God’s voice that calls us higher, sets us apart, and invites us to be holy and at the same time calls us to humility.
• God’s voice that is heard in our enjoyment and gratitude for life, as it asks us to deny ourselves.

These are ways in which we hear God’s voice.  

Jesus Christ the word of God, the Good Shepherd, the voice of peace that calls to the scattered sheep.

Hear his voice. Hear his words. Follow his voice and come to God.

Homily Reflection 15th Sunday - The Ordinary Person's Divine Commission

The Ordinary Person's Divine Commission

Amos 7:12-15 Psalm 85:9-10, 11-12, 13-14  Ephesians 1:3-14 or 1:3-10 Mark 6:7-13

Some of the most beautiful and poetic words in the entire Bible are in today’s Psalm. “I will hear what God proclaims – for the Lord proclaims peace. Kindness and truth shall meet, justice and peace shall kiss.” These words are beautiful and appropriate because hearing God is a theme in today’s scriptures.

The first reading occurs after the splitting of the Kingdom of Israel. There were 2 kingdoms. The Southern Kingdom had 2 tribes, the city of Jerusalem, and the Temple. The Northern Kingdom, was the 10 other tribes. Powerful, wealthy and worldly, it had its own temple and Gods. Prophets and priests told the king everything he wanted to hear. (This could be a profitable career.)

Amos from the south goes north proclaiming prophesy of God. They didn’t like what Amos had to say and asked him to leave.

Already, in the Gospel of Mark we learned how Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath. The temple priests didn’t like what Jesus had to say. They asked him to leave and plotted against Jesus.

So, Jesus went and found the 12, his apostles.

Amos and the 12 are proof that God does extraordinary things with ordinary people.

Amos was a shepherd and tender of sycamore trees. He was a migrant worker. Alone, he contemplated God and was given a divine commission, prophesy repentance.

The 12 apostles were common folk. Seven were fisherman and one a tax collector. Two were zealots. One was probably not Hebrew. Another was greedy and betrayed Jesus. They were ordinary.

Jesus sent them 2x2. Take nothing except your staff, the sandals on your feet, and a single tunic. Jesus gave instructions, a divine commission: heal the sick, cast out demons, and preach repentance.

God was doing extraordinary things with ordinary people, giving them a divine commission.

Paul writes about our divine commission. God chose us before the foundation of the world. God destined us to be in accord with the ONE, to bring Christ to the world. We exist for the praise of His glory. We are to work for justice, peace, and to be channels of grace. We are to proclaim the Kingdom of God. 

Amos had nothing, the 12 took nothing; yet, they walked with God trusting in His divine grace. A grace found in prayer, contemplation, and their friendship and gratitude with God.

Our problem is the idea of taking nothing. Our stuff gets in the way of nothing. The freedom to walk with God doesn’t come from our stuff but through prayer and contemplation. Through prayer and comtemplation friendship and gratitude follow. We become friends with Jesus. We recognize the Holy Spirit in the whispers to our heart. We are grateful for God's grace in our life.

Until we get to this point, we tend to be complacent (an I don’t care attitude). The blind leads the blind in a world where our stuff gets in the way: the stuff where our morals are establish by pop culture; the stuff where leaders make decision without regard for justice and human dignity but, for their own glory; the stuff of ministers who don’t preach Christ but preach what the world what it wants to hear.  

God calls us from complacency to action.

I didn’t have a story as an example of my point until Friday when my wife took me to lunch.  Driving on an empty parking lot another car came across aisles and parking spaces straight for us, heading to the exit.

“Look!! That car is going to hit us.” And Janet hits the horn. She tells the driver of the other car to pay attention and lists all the things the driver did wrong. The driver of the other car never slowed and couldn’t benefit from Janet’s critique.

I said, “Don’t be so upset. You saw the car coming; you could’ve just moved out of the way.” But, Janet continued her analysis of the other driver’s lack of etiquette.  

I finally said, “Stop fussing, that driver can’t hear you.” Janet looked at me and said, “I’m not fussing at them, I fussing at you.” 

Did I say that I love my wife?

As Christians, we are challenged to move beyond our complacency. Janet moved to someone who would listen to her. Jesus said, "if they will not listen leave there."  Move from complacency by rooting yourself in Jesus Christ who sends each of us to preach repentance, proclaim the Kingdom of God, and continue his mission of salvation.   

God can do extraordinary things with ordinary people.

God works through us. Be open to the whisper of the Holy Spirit speaking to your heart. Bring Christ to the world and to proclaim the Kingdom of God where kindness and truth shall meet, justice and peace shall kiss.

Brothers and sisters, this is our divine commission.

Sunday Reflection: 14th Sunday OT - Sometimes We Need a Top on the Shoulder

Sometimes We Need a Tap on the Shoulder

Ezekiel 2:2-5; Psalm 123:1,2,3,4; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10; Mark 6:1-6

Years ago, I worked with a second generation millwright. His father had been a millwright at the same plant.  

A millwright keeps the plant running smooth. He knows the machines; when they need maintenance, adjustment, or just a swift kick. The smallest sound the machine makes talks to him.

Over the years, the number of plants and employees continued to grow. Engineers and professionals were hired to maximize production and profit. I was the safety manager.

One day, I found the managers and engineers walking a dangerous path on the conveyor that fed the wood press; and, it was on. If someone fell, they could be pulled into the machine and killed.

I said, “Stop!” 

They said, “No! This was adjusting the machine. If it didn’t run correctly, the company could lose millions of dollars a day. If I didn’t like it, leave."  

The millwright tapped my shoulder, “I can fix it.”  

I said, “The engineers can’t fix it, how can you?”  

He simply said, “My job is fixing these machines. My father fixed these machines and taught me how. His best advice was read the operator’s instruction manual. They’re too smart to do that. The instructions explain that to fix this problem requires only adjustments at the control panel.”

He continued, “They think they’re smart; but, they haven’t read the instructions.”

For safety, I brought this to management’s attention. The response, “He’s a millwright. What does he know?”  I convinced them to read the instruction manual. The millwright’s wisdom fixed the machine.

We can be too smart for the truth. God called His people “hard headed and rebellious.”

We say, “Where did He get this wisdom?”

Not me, I’ll never ask that!!  

How many completely follow the instructions: love all our neighbors; never lie, covet, steal; honor our parents; love God with all we are? Or, do we make up our own rules - confession, anyone?

This is life! In it, we walk a path that can be dangerous. Our country and the world are led by people who walk this same path. Forgetting the instruction manual, we make up the rules to allow us on chosen path.

We stray from Jesus’ words. We ignore the path and argue with the guidance given to us by the Church. We forget the authority given to Peter and the apostles; through these comes the authority given the Church.

To justify straying from Christ and His Church, we can find reasons and justify them. We say its freedom, equality, and justice; but, these are found in our human thoughts and weaknesses. We forget true freedom, equality, and justice that God teaches through Christ and the Church.

There are no new paths. The way the path is presented and how we perceive is what’s new. We get excited and forget the instruction manual.

Where did He get that wisdom? Is He not the carpenter, the son of Mary?  Yes and He is the Word of God, the instruction manual. We profess that we believe in him. We come to the Eucharist to be one with Him.  

“A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.” Many will walk out the door of His house and return to their life and walk a different path.

In this country, we are blessed with freedom to read the instruction manual. We need to read it; the experts need to read it. The instructions will help keep us safe.

It is in our weakness that we are strong.  Our everyday little things bring God to the world: our prayers, our words and actions, the sacraments. When we see things not exactly running right, maybe we need to be like the millwright. Tap someone on the shoulder and say “I’ve read the instructions, let me tell you about them.”

Sunday Reflection: Thirteenth Sunday - Speaking Jesus

Speaking Jesus

Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23-24; Psalm 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11, 12, 13; 2 Corinthians 8:7, 9, 13-15; Mark 5:21-43

I have a childhood friend whose father met his mother while stationed in South Korea. He lived in Korea until he was seven. In the Air Force, his father was sent all over the world, eventually retiring at England Air Force Base at Alexandria.

As a child all my friend knew was Korean. His family, friends, and even his father spoke Korean. His mind functioned in Korean.

Moving to the US, he was bullied, mocked, and ostracized. He looked, spoke, thought, and lived different than others. Teachers thought him slow, because it took a while to answer questions. They would ask a question: he would translate into Korean, think about it in Korean, translate his answer to English, and give it. He was seven

One day, a teacher asked him a question and he understood it, in English. The answer came to him, in English.  From that point on, his thoughts were English. He was an American. He was the same person on the outside, still the same face; but, changed on the inside, where his heart was, the way he thought. He was no longer homesick for Korea.

He said his “WHO” had changed.

Forty years later I understand that, it’s like the Gospel. Two people changed. Their “WHO” became Christian before there were Christians.  

First, what does it mean to be a Christian? Being a Christian means that you change on the inside—no longer controlled from the outside. It means your heart has been changed by the presence of God.  Christ is our Lord and Savior. We turn to him in our needs. Christ is the center of our faith.

The woman who had been bleeding for 12 years knew she had to find Jesus. She had heard the rumors. She knew the prophesy and the teachings. She had to touch his clothes. In an instant, she was changed. Changed from the inside, no longer controlled by the outside, no longer controlled by what people saw. The power that came from Jesus healed her and changed all that.

Jesus called her. She ran to him. She fell down before him and confessed. This is someone who believes Jesus Christ is their savior

Jarius, the synagogue official, left what he knew to find Jesus. He put all his faith in this rabbi that people were talking about. The one peopled whisper may be the messiah.

On the outside people saw Jarius the synagogue official who upheld the law of Moses. What they didn’t see was the change on the inside. The faith to know that Jesus was the messiah. It was all made evident in his pleading, “Please Come.”

“Please come” despite the disbelief of others. “Please come“ despite the ridicule. “Please come” even though others say there is nothing you can do. “Please come” words of faith prayed by someone who believes.

Two people came to this man Jesus, the one who overcomes suffering and death. This man is the messiah, the savior, the son of God. This man is Jesus Christ is our Lord and our God.

From the Book of Wisdom we read “God did not make death” and suffering. These came from “the envy of the devil.”  St. Paul says the relief from this envy, “...is by the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ…”

Too many of us still think in in ways that come from “… the envy of the devil.” Thoughts that can bring suffering and death. Maybe we can learn from my friend; better yet, learn from the two people in the Gospel. Stop trying to understand God in human thinking, think Jesus, speak Jesus Christ.

We need to change on the inside, where our hearts are, change so everything we think and speak is in Christ Jesus. Then we are really Christians. 

Sunday Reflection 12th Sunday Ordinary Time - Follow that Boat

Follow that Boat

Job 38:1, 8-11; Psalm 107:23-24, 25-26, 28-29, 30-31; 2 Corinthians 5:14-17; Mark 4:35-41

Such exciting readings; close your eyes you can see the storms and waves. God tells Job that it is He who controls the sea and waves. In the Psalm, sailors call on God to quiet the storm. And in Mark, the words of Jesus “Quiet, be still!” Close your eyes and see that God is in control.

But in the Gospel of Mark we hear, “Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him.”

In the storm, wind, and waves, people may forget this verse. It is not in any of the other Gospels, only in Mark. The Gospel that begins with Jesus’ baptism and immediately put Him in a storm; tempted by Satan.

In Jesus’ ministry, He was constantly under pressure. He was always surrounded by crowds; pressed by a mass of humanity seeking healing and threatened by mobs of those who feared him. He healed the sick, cast out demons, and defended himself to the Scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, and even his own disciples.

At this point in the Gospel, the crowd was so thick; the only avenue to escape was a boat. He gets in the boat, just as he was, exhausted. So exhausted, he falls asleep on the floor of a fishing boat. Maybe, if he was lucky, he had a smelly fishing net for a pillow. He was so exhausted he was sleeping through the storm.

And other boats were with him. Jesus didn’t dismiss the crowds; he just left and the crowds followed him; trying to be near to him even in the boats that followed him.

Jesus knew the storm with its winds and waves would not harm him, so he slept. The storm was a place of refuge. This storm was an escape from the crowded closeness of the ever-present multitude. The storm was a time of quiet away from the excitement that followed the calm that was Jesus.

We forget this verse, but it is an important part. It’s about the humanity of Jesus.  A weary Jesus is proof of his humanity. We can know he was truly human, because he grew tired and exhausted just like us. Jesus was a man who wept and rejoiced. He felt compassion and even outrage. He did all this because of his human body. It grew tired.

It is a verse that leads us to discover His divinity. God is in control. Only God could quiet the sea with a word. Only, God brings order out of chaos. Creation obeys the creator. From Genesis, the wind of God swept over the face of the waters and then came the Word.

Just like those in that boat, we face troubling storms. So, we pressed ourselves to Christ, crying out for His protection; expecting an immediate end to our troubles. Yet at the same time, we often don’t understand or threaten disbelief like the Scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, and even his own disciples.

Jesus said, “Why are you terrified?  Do you not yet have faith?” Jesus did not see chaos in the storm. God doesn’t see chaos, because God is with us.

Have faith.  Follow that boat. “Whoever is in Christ is a new creation.”

His Word to the storms and chaos in our lives, “Quiet, be still.”

Homily Reflection - 11th Sunday Ordinary Time - A People to People Thing

A People to People Thing

Ezekiel 17:22-24  Psalm 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-16 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 Mark 4:26-34

It’s amazing how God works to build his kingdom. God plants things in you to share and spread, that’s the source of this reflection.

The readings are about the kingdom of God. Ezekiel speaks of God planting a shoot on a mountain. A prophesy of how God’s chosen his people will stand tall and bear fruit for the whole world.

Jesus tells two parables. One is about scattering seeds. The second is about a mustard seed. These two parables Jesus explains are about the kingdom of God. Let me tell you a story about peace and building of the kingdom of God.

First, the mustard seed:

Fr. Philip Cascia was a small town parish priest at St. Anthony’s Parish, in Prospect, CT. (pop.  8000.) He was an advocate for the homeless.

On a trip to Washington DC to lobby for a bill that addressed the issue of homelessness, he had the opportunity to lunch with several Senators. During their mealtime conversation, Fr. Philip made a joking remark about the peace process, ''We'd do better bringing my Catholic high school wrestling team to Russia than if we tried to sneak in Bibles.”

The Senators held him to it and sent his wrestling team to Russia. Wrestling the best in Russia, they were beaten badly; but they accomplished more for peace than diplomacy had. President Ronald Reagan personally asked Fr. Philip to continue the program.

The mustard seed was planted. The seed became Intersport USA; an international exchange program with high school athletes promoting world peace.

Now, the story of the shoot that God planted:

One of Fr. Philip’s first trips was to Vietnam. Before the plane landed, it was intercepted by military jets and escorted to an air base. Soldiers took Fr. Philip to an interrogation room. They insulted and accused him of being a Vatican spy. The soldiers threaten the priest with the fierceness of the soon to arrive commander. When the Vietnamese commanding general arrived, a new verbal assault began. At the most intense moment, the commander stopped and ordered the guards to leave.

Alone with Fr. Philip, the general knelt and kissed the priest’s hand saying, "My mother always prayed that God send me a priest, no matter where I was. When I saw you get off the plane, I knew you were sent by God."

Fr. Philip heard the general's confession. The soldiers returned and the interrogation continued. In the end, the general allowed Fr. Philip to continue on his journey, and even re-fueled the plane.

God can take the small shoot, like the prayers of an unknown mother of a powerful Vietnamese Commanding General and set them on a mountain.  Like a towering mountain cedar, the general’s faith provided shade and protection.  

This mustard seed and shoot were important to each other, both working for the kingdom of God. Meeting this General allowed Fr. Philip to finish his trip. Intersport, USA touched the world.

This organization allowed the young priest to scatter seeds in all the places God sent him. He made over 130 international trips. He wasn’t a politician or a diplomat; he just scattered the seeds God gave. Seeds that sprouted and grew, yielding fruit.

This peace through sports organization represented the United States and reached out to the world. It was responsible for the first raising of an American flag by the Vietnamese government since before the war. Fr. Philip was the first American to receive a Diploma of Appreciation from the Soviet Union.

It was not just an outreach between countries. Fr. Philip was Christ and the Church touching the world. His relationships helped Pope John Paul II visit Cuba. He was in the room during the meeting between Mikhail Gorbachev and Pope John Paul II.

Fr. Philip once said the realization that “People are people, and this is a people-to-people thing” is what helps bring peace.

A priest in a small parish and unknown to most people, he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for planting seeds. They were seeds of peace. They were seeds of the kingdom of God. Seeds that started as a joke but seeds that God made fruitful to grow his kingdom. Fr. Philip Cascia died at the age of 56. 

St. John writes in his 1^st letter “Whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith.”

By our faith and in God’s grace, we have the seed to grow the kingdom of heaven in us. We can plant and nourish it, or scatter it about. Our prayers will nourish the shoots of faith in us and in others. My brothers and sisters, we do all of this by living our faith.  

St. Paul writes “we walk by faith;” “are courageous;” “and we aspire to please God.” In these we share the life we live and the love of Christ.  We scatter the seeds of the kingdom of God; tiny seeds like Fr. Philip’s. Our prayers will nourish shoots of faith, like the Vietnamese mother’s prayers that bore fruit through her son the General.   

Bring peace and the love of Christ to those around us - It’s a people to people thing – the building of the kingdom of God.  

Christian Fiction - "Shortwave"

“Shortwave”

 @deaconbillgoss

Inspiration: John 11:51  (NABRE) “He did not say this on his own, but since he was high priest for that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation”

  

The garbled shortwave broadcast said, “It is over. We hope for a miracle. If you believe in God, pray for us and the whole world.”

*****

The UN medical team had been fighting known pandemics threats (and ones the world never new about) for years. They always helped but not now. People were dying from an unknown.

The first victim on day one grew to victim 22 by day nine. The team came but couldn’t save anyone. Day 34, the village was dead. Day 36, the first team member died, despite protocol and protective clothing.  Day 37, the UN began extreme quarantine procedures.

No help came from governments or the UN. Medical supplies air dropped were no help. The UN Troops enforced quarantine lines by deadly force. Several team members’ lay where they were shot, their friends too sick to retrieve their bodies.

The team tried to contact loved ones; but, all communication was blocked. The outside world was ignorant of the pending world calamity. No reporters or internet or cell phones allowed. But, someone had found a shortwave radio stashed in an empty government building. Just like the one that was their father’s hobby.

A garbled message was broadcast over shortwave hoping someone would hear. Speaking for the team, the leader said weakly, “It is over. We hope for a miracle. If you believe in God, pray for us and the whole world.”

The shortwave radio message was spread by gossip and social media. Prayers were started In bedrooms and at kitchen tables, at churches, synagogues, temples, and mosques. All the dispersed children of God prayed.

*****

Calmly, He walked pass the guards and the quarantine zone. He smiled and spoke to the guards. No one challenged him or remembered what he said. All they knew was His peace. Peace was in His face, words, actions, and His entire being. No one asked any question.

He came with the rising sun at His back. Those who prayed were the first to run to Him. They fell at His feet.

“You believe. See the glory of God,” He said softly and then. “Come to me!”

They rose, alive. First the children came to Him; the innocent always die first. Then those of faith came: religious men and women in the same nursing habits in which they had been buried.  Mothers and fathers came. Those who were left, all that were alive, even those who had not believed came to Him.

His smile was love and hope. He smiled at their faith. He made a gesture, like a short wave. It was full of peace and then He was gone from among them.

Solemenity of Corpus Christi - Chew On It

Chew On It

Exodus 24:3-8; Psalm 116;  Hebrews 9:11-15;  Mark 14:12-16,22-26

I think of all my friends I see at mass, amazingly so different. All of them live in a different circumstance of their life. They come to mass because they believe in Christ.

So ask yourself, what do you believe? What gift did Jesus give to truly let us know him?  It’s something we can touch, something we can have faith in, something that will change us?

A lot of Christians and probably a lot of Catholic Christians would say the Bible. Yes, you can touch the Bible. You can have faith in the Gospel; and, it’s something that can definitely change us. The Bible is a gift from God; but, Jesus didn’t write the Bible.

The gift Jesus left us is the Eucharist; the precious gift of his Body and Blood.

The Eucharist is something you can touch, “He took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them.

It is something we can have faith in, “This is my blood of the covenant, which was shed for many,”

It is something that can change us, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven, says the Lord; whoever, eats this bread will live forever.”

Jesus gave us the Eucharist as an outward and visible sign of God’s grace. It was given to us as a celebration in thanksgiving for God grace.

A lot of Christians will say I believe in the Bible, I believe in Jesus; but, it’s hard for me to believe the Eucharist is the true body and true blood of Christ.

It’s always been something hard to accept; this concept of the Body and Blood of Christ. “My flesh is true food my blood is true drink... When many of the disciples heard this, they found this teaching difficult to accept…. Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.” (John 6:55-66) This was the only time Jesus’ followers abandoned because of dogma.

The world is the same way today. We decide if we want to believe. We make a conscious decision to believe Jesus or not. We follow him or leave him. We don’t understand so we take another path. The mysteries of God are hard to understand but we are to trust in the Lord.

It’s easier to believe what the world tells us. It’s said 71% of former Catholics left the Catholic Church for another denomination saying their spiritual needs were not being met. Others left because the Church doesn’t fit their life style. Many want to map out life from a control room in our head, picking and choosing circumstance. Changing God to a god in an image they need.

 Jesus never changed. Jesus never condemns. He just asks us to believe.

I think of all my friends I see at mass, amazingly so different. All of them live in a different circumstance of their life. They come to mass because they believe in Christ.

Read the Bible, open your eyes and open your heart.  The Gospel converted thousands. It was the Good News of God spread by the apostles, disciples, and deacons in the story of Jesus. They told others about the promise of salvation found in his Body and Blood. They did what Jesus told them to do to prove their love. “If anyone loves me he will keep my word.” (John 14:23)  

On this Solemnity of the most holy Body and Blood of Christ remember the precious gift of the Eucharist left to us by Jesus Christ. It is the Good News of Jesus Christ. We can touch and even chew on it. It becomes part of us to change us and that is something we can have faith in.  

Celebrate the body, blood, soul and divinity of Christ. “We will do as the Lord told us,” because we love him and keep his word.