Immaculate by Baptism - Reflection 2nd Sunday of Advent

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Today, December 8th, is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. The Immaculate Conception is the fact the Blessed Virgin Mary was conceived without original sin. The Immaculate Conception was not Jesus’ birth. It was about what was needed before Christ became man. It was about a holy and pure vessel given to us to carry Christ.

This is also the second Sunday of Advent; John the Baptist Sunday. The gospel tell us about him. He lived off locust and honey. He wore a camel skin loin cloth and tied it with a leather belt.

He went about in the desert preaching, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"

He was a voice crying out in the wilderness.

Like Mary, He was one  prophesied and needed before the coming of the LORD.

Mary was born into the wilderness of a world t full of sin. It was sin come to us from our first parents. The sin of disobedience, pride, and worldliness that we all suffer from and it was also the sin of listening to the things that tempts us to turn away from God. 

Today we are victims of that sin. When Mary was conceived and came into the world, people were victims of that sin.

When John the Baptist preached, people were victims of that sin. 

We are all sinners.

How many worshiped at the altar of LSU football yesterday?

I was there.

As we drive about in our car, how many see homeless, hungry, men and women who would take such joy to come in and sit in a warm house, watch television, and eat all those football game day snacks.

And we in our cars just speed on by.

It's not that we think we are better than them, though some do. It's not that we think that they are swindlers just out to get  money, though some do. It’s not so many things. The one thing probably true in this for many of us is we are scared.

Scared because of where we are physically and in our life. Scared because we imagined what could happen. Scared because that person we speed by on a dark night could be us.

That’s how close we are to each other in this world. That’s how our lives are interdependent on one another. Are we homeless or not? The interdependence of people lives in justice and dignity are just a few steps away from being inside that speeding car or outside.

Because of fear, we turn our back on that interdependence and are unable to welcome those outside of us in the love and generosity of Christ.  

Interdependence  requires us to open ourselves, our hearts, and our lives not because we are brave or empathetic or generous but for the glory of God. Because in God is the spirit of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. He is where we discover a spirit of counsel and of strength.

It is where we find the spirit to understand how we are all interdependent on one another as is all of humanity.

John may not have realized the interdependence between him and the messiah to come. But there was some things he did know. John knew about interdependence. He was a voice of one crying out in the wilderness. He knew the interdependence of the baptism he proclaimed and the forgiveness of sins. He knew the interdependence of the relationship of people around him.

And,  if John saw us here in this church, would he see Sadducee and Pharisee. Would he call us out? Would he slay the wickedness in us?

Would he tell us - Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance?

We can fail at that. We were not born without original sin.  We have that inside of us from our first parents. The sin of disobedience, pride, and worldliness that we all suffer from and it was also the sin of listening to the things that tempts us to turn away from God.

The answer the LORD gave to us was to be like Mary. To be washed clean of sin by the baptism that John the Baptist preached.

God wants to be free of sin. God wants us to be an immaculate and pure vessel for the Christ that is in us; made immaculate in baptism

Not by appearance shall he judge, nor by hearsay shall he decide, but he shall judge the poor with justice, and decide aright for the lands afflicted.

Jesus wants us to come to him. Come today. Come to be reconciled.

Come to be filled with the spirit of courage, knowledge, and strength needed to bring to the interdependence between each and every one of us.

There will always be those dependent on us. There will always be those dependent on us to know Christ. There will always be those dependent on us for a better life, for justice, dignity, and for love.

If each of us examines our life, we will see we need the same.

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

Amen

Wish I Could - Reflection1st Sunday of Advent

(Readings)

The closing verse from the Old Testament scripture reading from the prophet Isaiah is this “Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!” And from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans, “Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light….”

I remembered these scriptures as my ministry took a different path this week. I was asked to give the invocation at the Christmas party for the “Wish I Could of Northeast Louisiana Foundations.” wishicould.org

The organization grants wishes to terminally ill children from the ages of three to eighteen years old in northeast Louisiana. It is believe to be the only children’s wish granting organization in Louisiana, north of Baton Rouge.

A dear friend and member of our Church family, Don O’Toole, has organized and acted as master of ceremonies for this Christmas Party for the Wish I Could family for over 32 years.

He shared with me that one time he was challenged that if these were terminally ill children, why did so few die every year. His answer was, “a lot of prayers.”

Sadly they do loose children to the illness that they fight. But prayer is a powerful ally. In fact, this past year was the first year that no children lost the battle with the diseases they fight.

I saw no sadness or despair in the volunteers, families, or children. I did see smiles and hugs and good time. I saw Christ’s love in the many different people who came to give them a happy day.

And at the beginning of the party, we began with a prayer. Here is my prayer and blessing for them-

Lord God Creator of All, as the Make a Wish Community comes together look down with favor and spread the blessing of Your Love over all. 

Bless these children, their families, and those who give from their hearts and love to bring wonders, miracles, and happiness.

Thank you for the grace and hope that brings smiles and happiness every day in the gift that are these precious children.

Thank you for the blessing of being created one human family. These children are our children. We are all brothers and sisters: may all peoples realize this to bring about a better world and future for our children.

Thank you for the fragile gift that is life. Thank you for yesterday, today, tomorrow and for the whole of our lives. Help us to entrust our life to You: the past to Your mercy, the present to Your love, and the future to Your providence.

Bless us with a life of charity, love, and joy found in sharing with others.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for being with us in our joy and being our comfort in sadness. Watch over us in the coming year to return again a whole community.

Bless the Make a Wish Community may their love shared be triumphant. May we live this and every day conscious of all we have been given. 

We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

This Christmas Party was a great way to begin advent. It is a way to begin to climb the LORD’s mountain. Remember,  “be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come."

If you would like to support the Wish I Could of Northeast Louisiana Foundations you can find the website here: wishicould.org

Don told me I should have ended my prayer the way I end my homilies and reflections. I told him they were living the example. But, for the rest of us: Be good, be holy and preach the gospel by the way you live your life and love one another. Amen.

Jesus is KIng of Everything - Reflection Jesus Christ King of the Universe

Jesus is King of Everything

http://usccb.org/bible/readings/112419.cfm

Watch all that is going on in the world. Violence, unrest, and disobedience is usually at the root of all that is happening. People rebelling against worldly kings and rulers. 

Some celebrate that these things are happening. Others fear these things.

Some think that these things prove that God does not care; but, He does care. 

One of the ways the Church celebrates the fact that God care is the feast it celebrates today, the last Sunday of the liturgical year. That celebration is the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.

I know Jesus is the King of the Universe because my 6 year old grandson has said this. He told his mom, “ Mom you know, Jesus was the King of everything.” 

She asked him how he knew this.

He said Jesus told him.

Now, he probably heard it in PSR or the Children’s Liturgy service at mass. But, it made such an impression on his heart - Jesus did tell him.

The Jesus that spoke to this child was the same Jesus who proclaimed the Kingdom of Heaven. The same Jesus said to come to him like little children. The Jesus Christ speaking to this child’s heart is the same word of God, King of Everything that took his throne upon a cross.

Friends, the world does not promise or give a heavenly kingdom. But our loving and caring God has given us this kingdom.  He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

To realize this kingdom, open eyes and open hearts. He can send a child to proclaim that Jesus Christ is King of Everything.

God asks us through our Baptism to do the same. Proclaim in all we do, Jesus Christ is the King of the Universe. Give thanks to the Father, who has seen fit for us to share this kingdom. It is the truth behind the fact that God cares.

Jesus Christ King of the Universe who is before all things and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning of all things….

If we fail to proclaim that Our Lord Jesus Christ is King of the Universe our churches will be empty and the sacraments will be forgotten. All the ugliness in the world will be all that many see. It will continue because we fail to proclaim our good and loving King.

But, we are here celebrating our God and our King, Jesus Christ. That is a start. Now, go out and tell someone who is not at mass today, Jesus Christ is King of Everything. Tell someone who needs to hear a message of hope and God’s grace.

It is a simple message - Jesus Christ is King of Everything. Then, let Jesus speak to their hearts.

Be good, be holy, and proclaim by your life that Jesus Christ is your King and King of the Universe. Amen.

Smile, Time is Short - Homily 33rd Sunday OTC

http://usccb.org/bible/readings/111719.cfm

As I was preparing for mass, making sure their was altar servers and other ministers to serve mass, a dear lady said to me “smile Deacon.”

Friends, we all have something to smile about today. We are here to worship God, to experience the Holy Spirit and to be untied with Jesus Christ as we share Holy Eucharist. This is joy. This is happiness, It is something to smile about about.

The Liturgy began today with this prayer, Lord grant us the constant gladness of being devoted to you for it is full of lasting happiness. Or as I like to say, be good, be holy, and preach the gospel by the way you live your life and love one another. The is the message the Holy Spirit has blessed to share in m ministry; sometimes, I get to share it in a homily. 

In Deacon formation, one of the things taught in homiletics (for country folks, preaching class) was to be open to the Holy Spirit. Read the scripture, pray, and be open to the message God places in your heart.

But, keep the message less than 7 minutes because that is how long an adult pays attention. Fr. Paul’s guidance is to keep the homilies short. And, today we have our Thanksgiving celebration.

Time is short and we must prepare for what is to come.  If the Spirit of Christ has placed this message in my heart, it will be heard no matter how many words are used.

The message that came to my heart was: Take these scriptures and tell everyone to live the life of charity and love that is possible through Jesus Christ by. Being good, being holy, and preaching the gospel by the way you live your life and love one another.

And then this - hurry, time is getting short; prepare for times to come.

Time is short; so, it is time to be examples for others. Be open to the Holy Spirit to share the good news. Live your life for Christ and the simplest, smallest acts will carry a powerful message. Jesus tells us, “When you give testimony..., I myself shall give you wisdom... and all will be powerless to resist or refute it.”

As we prepare for the coming of Jesus, it is time to be good, be holy, and live the good news of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit will speak through our witness.

That is where many find problems, they are not open to the Holy Spirit. They don't want to hear the spirit of God speaking to their hearts. They don’t want to hear us.

True Christian witness is not readily welcomed in the world today.

Instead, the Church is filled with those St Paul described. They like what the church offers, they want what the church gives. They eat but they don't work. Some might not even believe in the divinity of Jesus. They worship the networking and status of their Church membership.

And they will not know the constant gladness of being devoted to the LORD.

Worldliness has made it acceptable to complain a homily is too long and and be angry mass ended after the kickoff or fuss at the priest because you didn’t beat the dinner rush. Maybe this is what Jesus spoke about and said; days will come when the foundation of faith will be attacked, stone upon stone thrown down. 

Believers will be seized, persecuted and lead to trial  because of Jesus' name. There will be some who say they speak for Christ or they are Christ. 

Friends, the world is turning away from God and His word, Christ Jesus.

Pope Benedict XVI warned the Church of the future would become small; the world will turn many away from God. He wrote even Priests and Bishops by their actions and words will cause many to question faith. 

Do not be deceived by the world. 

Instead, imitate the apostles. Be filled with the Spirit. Tell the world, the Lord is coming again. 

You don't have to be a great speaker, be you and share the good news by a kind word, a smile, and act of kindness. Live a life of charity and love. Be a model for those who have failed in their faith and a witness to those who have no faith.

Time is short for “Lo the day is coming.” The day is coming when the sun of justice, Christ Jesus, will return.

Do not be afraid. Stand erect and raise your hands. Redemption is at hand. Prepare and make ready the Church, Christ is coming again. Prepare for the coming advent. 

Smile and pray these words, Lord grant us the constant gladness of being devoted to you. Amen.

Will He Deny Us - Reflection 32nd Sunday OT-C

http://usccb.org/bible/readings/111019.cfm

God promised us through Christ Jesus a resurrection to eternal life. This promise is From God who is God of the living and not the dead. Despite God’s love for us, sometimes those alive in this mortal body can sentence themselves to death.

From St. Paul’s second letter to Timothy: If we have died with him we shall also live with him;  If we hold out to the end we shall also reign with him. But, if we deny him he will deny us.

The world continues to deny him.

We should not be surprised. It is a fact that has always been. If the readings today speak of anything, they speak to this world where everything challenges God.

Society is telling us if we don’t challenge what our faith tells us is God’s moral law then we are corrupt and evil.

If what we do is because of our beliefs in an all-powerful yet loving God we are labeled as haters.

We are told our choices are wrong. Our politics are wrong.  Our beliefs are wrong. We are told our lives are wrong.

It happened to seven brothers who with their mother was arrested. They were tortured to force them to violate God's law.

The government tortured the brothers one by one. Each stood up for their beliefs. Each stood up for God. Each stood up for God’s promise.

"It is my choice to die at the hands of men with the hope God gives of being raised up by him; but for you, there will be no resurrection to life."

Over two thousand years ago, these brothers were tortured to get them to renounce God and God’s law. The reading today is the reading for general audiences. The entire description of their torture can be found in Maccabees.

It could and does happen today in some form or another. It is just called something different. In parts of the world, Christians are crucified for their faith. In our country, Christ is tortured. God’s laws are violated.

The abortion debate has changed from does life begin at conception to does life begin even after the actual birth.

In Texas, a jury awarded a mother the ability to force gender reassignment therapy on her son. She was a specialist in gender dysmorphia and identified her son as a girl, even though her son said he was a boy.

Soft core pornography bombards us from television, commercials, and video games. And the world struggles with pornography addiction.

All this disrespect for life, addiction to pornography, and acceptance to the depravity of modern society has blinded societies eye to what is right by God’s natural law. There is increased threats of human trafficking and a world rampant with in sexism, misogyny, and racism. A world that says these things are bad from one side of its mouth and encourages it out of the other.

Then the blame is placed on those who believe that what God created is right. God created a man to be a man and a woman to be a woman. They are not the same. God made us distinct and different for a reason.

We are to procreate. We are to respect the life of our children and our elderly. We are to take care of our widows and orphans. We are to take care of those less fortunate than us.

This is God’s plan. It is not the world’s plan. 

Jesus tells us this in the gospel. Life is not about the promises we make to each other in this world. It is about eternal life, the promise God has made to us.

Most who try to tell us right in the world have no faith. They have no faith in people and no faith in God. They don’t know the word of God. They don’t know the history of sin in the world. Or in truth, they ignore it.

It is up to believers, people of faith, to bring the word of God to the world. 

Brothers and sisters, pray the word of the Lord may speed forward and be glorified. Pray that we may be delivered from perverse and wicked people, for not all have faith.

As the last of the seven brothers from readings in the book of Maccabees died, he said this to his tormentors: Do not think you will go unpunished for having dared to fight against God.

It is something the world should remember - if we deny him he will deny us.

People of faith remember the Lord God is looking on and truly has compassion. The Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.

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

Throw Open Your Arms (Receive Him with Joy) - Homily 31st Sunday OT C

31^st Sunday OT- C

This is a re-write of a homily from several years ago.

I love to see the children come forward for the Children’s Liturgy. They are so excited. They are all skipping and jumping and smiling. Their understanding of God is so clean, pure, and innocent.

Just ask them about God. They will tell you about God in their simple truth.

We should look at our faith with such simplicity. The story of Zacchaeus is a good one to look at from a simple point of view.

The name Zacchaeus means “clean, pure, and innocent.” (http://www.name-doctor.com) But somewhere, somehow, and at some time, Zacchaeus had lost his way

So look at the story again:  In Jericho, there was clean, pure, and innocent man who had lost his way. He was the chief tax collector, a wealthy man, and was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way.

Jesus looked up and said, “Clean, pure and innocent man come down quickly, I must stay at your house.”

And he came down quickly and received him with joy.

The crowd grumbled, “He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.”

The clean, pure and innocent man stood there and said to the Lord, “Behold, half of my possessions, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.”

And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house….For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.

Zacchaeus climbed that tree to find grace. Despite all that was against him, he found Jesus. Grace was seeking him out.

Jesus came to save a clean, pure, and innocent man who had become lost.

No one told Jesus who Zacchaeus was. There was no formal introduction. Jesus saw him and knew him as Zacchaeus, a clean, pure, and innocent man. He didn’t see a tax collector or a sinner; but, instead he saw the person God created and said was good.

When Jesus said I must come to your house,  it was an act of love.

The clean, pure and innocent man, who was once lost, receives him with joy.

We can probable all picture Zacchaeus throwing open his arms wide and embracing Jesus. I see tears of joy brought by the love and forgiveness Jesus brings to Zacchaeus. You spare all things, because they are yours, LORD.

Be like Zacchaeus, seek Jesus.  Rise above the world around us.

God forgives us. That forgiveness overcomes everything that keeps us from God.  

Throw open your arms and receive Jesus with joy.

People find this hard. People see the sinners we are instead of the clean, pure, and innocent creation of God we once were.  

In our simplicity many think that if God is so great then we don’t matter. To God the whole universe is nothing more than a grain of sand or a drop of morning dew.

God is so big and infinite that He has mercy for each of us. God is so great and so good that we do matter. He has mercy on all, because God can do all things; even overlook people's sins that they may repent.

The Catechism teaches: God …, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life. For this reason, at every time and in every place, God draws close to man. He calls man to seek him, to know him, to love him with all his strength.  (CCC 1)

Despite all that was against him, Zacchaeus found Jesus.  A clean, pure and innocent person seeks Jesus.  And, Jesus came to save those clean, pure, and innocent people who have become lost.

Through baptism, we are born again - clean, pure and innocent children of God so that our God may make us worthy of his calling and powerfully brings to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you and you in him.

Throw open your arms and receive him with joy.

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

Wisdom of Ages - Reflection 30th Sunday OTC

(Readings)

Growing older, many reminisce about younger days and the exploits of youth. Some things, we are proud and others we had rather forget.

Wisdom often comes with age. If only we could go back and relive those times with the wisdom we have now!

If only we could relive our lives with the wisdom found in this verse from Sirach (7:3): “In whatever you do today remember your last day. You will sin no more.”

 If only the world knew those words today.

So few people are in church and there are many reasons. One reason is laziness.

Another is self-exaltation. People who think they don’t need Church.  Some who were raised Catholic and have made confirmation think they know everything they need to know; above us poor sinners.

Others identify as spiritual non- religious. Persons who have abandoned organized religion because the Church is full of sinners. The Pope is wrong. Priests are wrong. People in the pews are wrong. A person does not need religion or Church to grow closer to God. It’s full of all those sinners.

In self-identity, they exalt themselves.

The truth is these mortal bodies live but one life; have but one death; and all have suffering. And, we are all sinners. People fail to remember that every person will have a last day.

There are those who exalt themselves above even this reality. Businesses cater to people who feel they should live forever. They freeze their bodies or heads to be resurrected in the future. They believe they don’t even have to die.

That is extreme; but, the truth is many exalt themselves to a point of injustice to the poor, hungry, sick, and even sinners. Sadly, the world sees this evidenced in people who call themselves Christians. Some even think this is the way it should be.

There are Christians who think God should favor them. God should only hear their prayers. Jesus is only their LORD and Savior. Jesus came only for them.

Just this this past week, I was told: “I am not like other (unnamed denomination), I think Catholic’s go to heaven.”

There are preachers who preach this. There are pastors who pronounce these words. There are Christians who believe these teachings.

That is wrong. They have forgotten the good news of the Gospel. That good news that God the Father sent his son, Jesus Christ for the salvation and redemption of the whole world. Jesus did not come for those who think they are special.

The LORD is a God of Justice who knows no favorites. All who come to God in prayer and pour out their poverty like libations before the LORD, the LORD God will hear.

The LORD hears the cry of the oppressed. He confronts the evil doers. He is close to the broken hearted. The LORD God rescues those in distress. He stands by us and gives us strength. Those crushed in spirit he saves. He redeems his servants and those who take refuge in him.

St. Paul writes “In justice He will rescue us from every evil threat, even from the lion’s mouth to bring us safely to His heavenly kingdom.”

All we have to do is pray about it.

But, prayer must come from a humble heart and not one that has exalted itself above the poor; even the poor sinner. The one who serves God willingly is heard; and, the most high responds justly and affirms the right.

So we hear Jesus parable to those convinced of their own righteousness and who despised everyone else. It is a parable for today and those who exalted themselves above the injustice of the world.  There are self-righteous, so lets us change the characters in the parable.

Two people went up to the temple area to pray; a Christian and a sinner.

The Christian takes up his position and prays, O God, I thank you that I am not like everyone else -- greedy, dishonest, adulterous -- sinners.

The sinner stands off at a distance, too ashamed to raise his eyes to heaven, but with remorseful heart prays: Please God, be merciful to me a sinner.

Jesus asks which one is justified; not the self-righteous, for whoever exalts himself will be humbled and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.

Now, return to wisdom from the book of Sirach. “In whatever you do today remember your last day. You will sin no more.”

The Church and religion, the wisdom of ages, has been full of sinners since Adam, God hasn’t given up on it yet. It is never too late to humble ourselves before God. The LORD hears the cry of the poor.

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

Prayer Warriors - Homily 29th Sunday OTC

(Readings)

As we sing the Gloria at the beginning of mass, I know what Moses meant when he said to Joshua choose certain men. God did not gift me with the best singing voice. I am out of tune and my tone is flat. But, during the Gloria I am surrounded by beautiful and joyful voices singing praise and glory to God.

First there is the entire Church community lifting their voice in praise to glorify God. To the left of Father is Ava, our altar server, who has a beautiful voice. To the right is our Cantor and musicians (Cathy, Jennifer, and Daniel) talented and gifted with wonderful voices. And next to me is Father Paul. I will say he sings better than I do.

Every week, I fight a battle of tone and tune to make a joyful noise to the LORD. I am blessed because my community loves me anyway.

Moses told Joshua to gather certain men to prepare for battle with the enemy who had come to wage war against Israel.

What enemy do we fight?

Some thing or someone or some circumstance is probably waging war against each of us. It attacks day and night. It hits with fear, uncertainty, or pain. This battle  is not from God. It is the enemy waging war against us.

It may be a financial battle. Maybe I'm in over my head with bills and expenses. I've lost my job. Medical bills are piling up. Collection agencies are calling and calling and calling.

I may be an emotional battle. Life is not where I want it to be. Maybe there is a marital crisis or a breakup or a divorce. Maybe loneliness attacks. We question who we are and why we are and where we are in life.

Maybe the battle is with health issues. The attack is cancer or heart problems or dementia or aging. It is our health or the health of our spouse, children,  parents, or friends.  

There are so many things that attack us and those we love. There is so much and so many that wage war against us. So we listen to the words of scripture.

Moses tells Joshua to prepare himself for battle by picking out certain men. Moses is telling Joshua to surround himself with people of faith. And, Moses stood above the battle field  with his arms raised, praying over Joshua and those men. As long as Moses held his arms up in prayer, the Israelites were winning. When he grew tired and his arms fell, the enemy was winning.

But, Moses had surrounded himself with certain people - Aaron and Hur, men of faith and priests of God. When Moses became weary and his prayers and arms fell to fatigue. Aaron and Hur held him up, one on each side. They joined Moses in prayer to give him strength.  And, Moses was able to pray without ceasing.

In the battle against the things that wage war against us, we should surround ourselves with certain people of faith. Using a term started by our protestant brothers and sisters, surround ourselves with prayer warriors.

These are the warriors who (as told in Timothy) will help us to remain faithful to what we have learned and believe. In this, we have the two great things to prepare ourselves for a battle against the enemy. These are faith in Jesus Christ and the scriptures inspired by God. By knowing these things we will be equipped for every good work. 

Know the strength and power of prayer. Know the love of Jesus Christ. Our armament is prayer. Our shield is the love of Christ. Our help is from the LORD who made heaven and earth our defender and our protection.  

In these, we are ready for battle. Most battles will be long hard fights. Be persistent in faith and prayer, whether it is convenient or inconvenient. Pray when rested. Pray when tired. Pray when time is abundant time and pray when time is rushed. Be surrounded with certain people to hold us up and strengthen our faith and prayers. Surround ourselves with prayer warriors.

Scripture tells us that God’s will is not our will.” And “God’s ways are not our ways.” Our prayers are not to change God’s will; but to prove God’s will. And, God’s will is that we know him and love him. By God’s will, we know God’s mercy.

Most importantly, pray without ceasing.

And, the LORD God who loves us will hear the prayer of His chosen ones (certain people, people of faith, prayer warriors) who call upon him night and day. God will see that justice is done, if, He finds faith in those prayers.

That is why we surround ourselves with certain people of faith; people persistent in faith and prayer. People, who will hold us up, support our faith and what we believe and have learned when we grow weary.

Friends this is a call for us to have that faith. It is a call to teach our families the strength of persistent faith and prayer. Pray for those who battle the enemy. Pray for our families and community. Pray for the Church.

Be prayer warriors. Be a certain people of faith that fights battles for our own. Pray without ceasing.

Pray for me. I will always pray for you.

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

God's Will Be Done - Homily 28th Sunday OT C

(Readings)

I pray for those who ask for me to pray for them, for those who are sick and ask for prayers. Several people in our church family need our prayers. I have friends and family members are battling cancer.

I pray asking for healing, hope, peace, and God’s mercy in the struggles they face; and every prayer is a petitions God’s will be done.

Many pray daily if not multiple times a day: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name. Thy Kingdom come; thy will be done….

Sometimes it takes a crisis to know God’s will.

The Syrian General Naaman was stricken with Leprosy. He was in the need of prayers seeking to be healed. A Jewish servant told him the LORD God of Israel’s prophet Elisha could heal him.

Naaman didn’t believe in the LORD God. He didn’t believe Elisha could heal him. He thought to jump into the Jordan River 7 times was ridiculous.  Are not the rivers of Damascus better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be cleansed?” He turned in anger and left.

Naaman must have been a decent man, a lot of people were praying for him. He had a change of heart. Using the prophet Elisha, God healed Naaman.

Naaman was a foreigner, not a believer in the LORD. He scoffed at what he was told to do. Yet, it was God’s will that he be healed. And, Naaman came to know the LORD God and glorified him.

The Gospel tells us the time Jesus healed the lepers. Jesus said go and show yourself to the priests.

Scripture says he healed 10, but only one returned. One did not go. He was a foreigner. Because he was a foreigner, probably a Samaritan, he couldn’t show himself to the priest. Yet, it was God’s will that the Leper was healed. The Leper returned to Jesus, fell at his feet, and glorified God.

These scriptures tell that God healed two foreigners, ones not of his chosen people. God healed those that the Israelites and Jewish people would not consider worthy to be healed. Yet, these foreigners came to know and love the LORD God.

It’s God’s way. It’s God’s will that all the nations know his saving power. That is why we pray: God’s will be done ….. We just need to realize the truth of God’s will.

God’s will is not that we are healed. God’s will is not that we sin no more. God’s will is not that we become wealthy or powerful or popular.

God’s will is far more achievable than any of those things. God’s will is that we know him. And, God‘s will is that we love him.

And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. (Mark 12:30)

People think there is more to it than that. They think keep praying, asking for things, and God becomes a secret weapon for what we think and need.

During the Civil War a minister said to Abraham Lincoln, “Mr. President, let us pray God is on our side”. Lincoln’s response was “No, let us pray that we are on God’s side.”

Our faith is not the tool to get God to do what we want but an invitation to open ourselves to God’s will.

It surprises many that God’s will is not about our wants.

Let not the wise boast of his wisdom, nor the strong boast of his strength, nor the rich man boast of his riches; But rather, let those who boast, boast of this, that they know me… (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

God’s will is not our wants.

When we pray, God’s will be done. We pray to know God and to love God in Jesus Christ. We are praying this not only for us but for all nations and peoples.  

Finally, St. Paul teaches that to know God and love God leads eternal life. If we have died with him we shall live with him; if we persevere, we shall reign with him.

And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. (John 17:3)

The prayer for God’s will be done is a prayer for salvation. Friends for each of you, God’s will be done.

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

Seeds- Scripture Reflection - 27th Sunday OTC

(Readings)

Each Sunday, before mass, the PSR teachers plant a little seed of faith in our children. Think about that and remember all those who touched us on our path of faith.

Someone planted a seed of faith in each of us who proclaims faith. Maybe, it was our parents. Maybe, faith grew from the witness of a catechism teacher or a friend or even when a complete stranger shared some act or example of their faith. Those acts of faith stirred a flame. Someone introduced us to the gift of God that is in us and to Jesus Christ.  Someone planted our seed of faith.

The PSR teachers and Children’s Liturgy minister are doing the same. As a community of parents, extended family, friends, and believers, each and every one of us should be encouraging and feeding the seeds of faith planted among us.

But, it can be hard to keep that flame burning.

The enemy is constantly trying to extinguish the flame. Look at the experience of our little church community the past few months. The flame is smothered by the experience of so many people in the world. And because of the work of the deceiver in the world, people blame God.

Look at the world and God does not intervene. Looking at the suffering, crisis, ruin, and strife all about us; people cry out, why Lord!!

Clearly, the news media revels in the ruin of society, moral corruption, and even humankind. All these make many, even persons of faith, hard of heart.

Many will cry out, God to take care of all that is wrong and bad. God fix all that is not in my favor. God solve all the problems in the world, especially, those problems that affect me. God, why don’t you do what we want? Change my own little world.

If God doesn’t do this, we get mad at God, at his church, and his people. We want God to do what we want.

That is why atheist point out that the God of most Christians is a magic invisible genie that grants our wishes. And, we want our wishes granted NOW!!!

And when it doesn’t happen like they want, hearts harden. People leave the Church. They give up on God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit. They give up on the community of believers that is their support. They leave the ones who stirred a flame of faith within them.

Like little kids on the playground, many take their ball and leave.

Because most that live in this world want to make God our servant and slave. People are mad at God our creator because he does not bow down to us.  It has always been that way. It is one of our shortcomings.

We are rash and without integrity. Scripture calls us hard hearted. The small seed of faith cannot flourish planted in a hardened heart.  You can’t stir a flame from a cold heart. 

There is hope in the crisis. That hope is in our hands or more appropriately in our hearts. It is the faith of those who truly believe.

Faith does not give us cowardliness to run from the challenges; but, it gives a spirit of courage, love and self-control in Christ Jesus. It gives strength for hardships through the richness of trust and help of the Holy Spirit.

True believers will fight the hardness that comes naturally to our hearts. Each of us had a mustard seed of faith planted deep inside of us when we were a child or an adult new believer. Some have faith that comes from being longtime friends of Jesus. If we as believers take that little seed of faith, wonders will be done.

Take it to the unrealized, tedious and underappreciated things the world ignores. As a people of faith, all we do in love of Christ is the right thing. As God’s adopted children, we honor, respect, and care for all our heavenly Fathers creations.

As true believer, what He commands of us gives the power to overcome all the hardships experienced in this world. We overcome all the lies of the deceiver by sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ by in our lives and in our actions. In these things God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit is there with us and in us and through us.

All we need is in us is a small seed of faith and the fertile loving heart of Jesus Christ.  The world is made better through us, by the unseen and ever present word of God.

God’s said through the prophet Habakkuk, “God’s vision has its time, presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint; if it delays, wait for it…”

In those words is the promise of the seed of faith planted in each believer. The seed of faith that moves mountains to change the world may be the one we gave to our children. Keep their faith and our faith growing in a fertile heart enriched by the love of Christ.

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