The Walk - Homily Palm Sunday

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

The Gospel tells us of

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Amen.

To See - A Reflection for the 4th Sunday of Lent

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I am not blind. Yet, if today I became blind, how would I take it? How would any of us react if suddenly we were cut off from something so familiar and natural?

Many would feel they were suddenly all alone, suddenly despondent, and suddenly isolated from the familiar. Many have been blinded by the isolation and quarantine this pandemic requires of us. Especially when it is happening during lent, the time of preparation for Easter. 

We are told about a little about this isolation in the Gospel today. Jesus and his disciple came upon a man blind from birth, the disciples ask Jesus who has sinned that he was born blind? 

Jesus said, neither he nor his parent have sinned, it is so the works of the LORD can be made visible through him. Friends, think about those words.

In this time of fear and anxiety this illness has brought to so many - Politicians are pointing fingers. Countries are pointing fingers. You have sinned. You have sinned. You have sinned. As Christina believers, we know that God, the Father who sent the Son, Christ Jesus, is not vengeful; but, He is looking to us to make the works of the LORD visible in the world.

In the past few days, I have seen stories of priest carrying a monstrance bearing the Blessed Sacrament about in their community, praying for the safety and protection of their community and all the people:   In Louisiana, New York, and all across our country and countries across the world. In the past few weeks, I see priests posting masses on Facebook and YouTube. I see reports from all across the world of priests and religious putting themselves in peril ministering to the sick and dying.

I see the works of the LORD in the Doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals caring for the sick. They need the protective equipment and they need prayer. Many armed themselves with prayer and ask for our prayers. I see the works of the LORD in the ministries in our community, sharing Christ’s love in little ways that are so necessary.

I see because of Jesus’ words, “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

Jesus spat on the ground, made some clay, and smeared it on the blind man’s eyes. He told him to go and wash in the fountain of Siloam (which means Sent). Today, Jesus sends us into the world to bring the light of Christ to those who are having difficulty seeing. Just as Samuel anointed David as God’s chosen one to lead the people of Israel, we have been anointed by baptism. That baptism washed away the blindness. By our baptism we are sent.

In this time of darkness, we have the light of Christ. We are sent with that light in us..

The man born blind said to the Pharisee “he opened my eyes. And they threw him out.” The truly blind were those who would not see the truth about Jesus. It is true even today. During this many will cry LORD, LORD. But, after, the world is still going to throw us out. For some, eyes will be opened. Eyes will be opened by our faith, our prayers, our little acts of love, and sharing which is the works of the LORD made visible in the world..

I am not blind. But, if today I became blind I still have the light of the world.

Wash your hands, pray, and ask for forgiveness. Make an act of spiritual communion. Share the light of Christ.

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

A Little More & They Will Stone Me - Reflection 3rd Sunday of Lent

A Little More & They Will Stone Me

Lord why did you call me to this ministry. As a Deacon I am to bring the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to the world. I am to be a servant to those in need, bringing God’s love. It seems sharing that love is getting harder. Agape is love by doing and giving self to the other. But today, agape is hard to share.

Today, one of the things making it harder is the COVID-19 virus. The Bishop of our Diocese canceled all masses and many other things.  Today, something I said in love, explanation, and response to the concerns and confusions caused by this decision; triggered someone to attack with ugliness and vitriol.

It came from the confusion and challenges this COVID-19 is presenting to our worshipping community.

But it is not a new enemy. There was confusion and challenges within the Israelites causing them to grumble against Moses. And, Moses cried out to the LORD, “What shall I do with this people? A little more and they will stone me!”

If you are bewildered by mass cancelations and other actions by the Church, remember these things about the decision.

First, this decision was made to slow the spread of the virus.

Our healthcare system needs time to ramp up. Our president has reached out to private industry to work and to help protect the people. In their response they are developing faster, speedier, and more trust worthy testing. Also, a new testing protocol is being developed and put in place to allow more people to be tested.

Our country is a country of richness and greatness. But our political system has problems. The same bill that would give billions of dollars to help fight this battle was stifled when biased legislators hid funding for abortions in the bill.  They took a bill seeking to save lives and used it to disguise funding to end far more lives.

In other countries the virus spread rampant because of lack of controls. In this country locations the virus has hit hard in places that ignored controls that were in place. Controls were ignored because many felt the virus could not happen here.

The decision was made to slow the spread of the virus.

Second, the decision was made to protect the vulnerable.

Our churches are graying. Our attendance is elderly. Our priests are older and many are sick. In many communities of faith, the parishioners and minsters are the most vulnerable.  The most vulnerable are the elderly and those with compromised immune systems (the cancer patient, the diabetic, etc). These people seek the comfort of the church. Those that love these vulnerable ones come to pray for the ones they love.

The ones who would carry the virus into the church community are those who do not know they have been exposed.

We pray to God for protection; but, God has given man the wisdom to protect the vulnerable from things such as this with medicines, devices, and also with wise decisions.

This decision was made to protect the vulnerable.

Third, this decision is hard for a Bishop to make. It is hard for the faithful. It was a necessary decision. It is a decision even the Pope had to make.

This is lent, the time we are reminded of the crosses we must bear. We are asked to make sacrifices. This is one of the greatest sacrifices a faithful Catholic can be asked to make. As Catholics in a great and free country we know we will once again be able to return to the Eucharist. Yet there are many in the world who never know the Eucharistic table.

Bishop Malone says it best. “May this separation renew in us a deep and profound hunger for the Lord whose body, blood, soul and divinity draw us even closer to Him who we adore.”

What shall we do?

First is God’s command - Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.

Set aside a daily holy hour. Read scriptures, pray the rosary, pray for your church, community, family, and all suffering from the impact of this virus. Then be still and contemplate the scripture, prayers, and open your heart to what Jesus wants of you.

Be a spiritual leader in your family. Pray with your spouse, siblings, and children. Read the bible together. You can go to the USCCB website and down load the daily readings. http://www.usccb.org Set apart a special time to pray the rosary with family and children. Say morning prayers, evening prayers, and bless your meals.  Like washing our hands, this something we have always been told to do, but don’t do well.

Watch mass over live Facebook feeds from the Diocese, your local church, or view the mass on EWTN.  This is the Facebook live feed to the Diocese of Shreveport’s Cathedral of St. John Berchmans. Sunday mass is at 9:00 am and daily mass at 7:00 am.  https://sjbcathedral.org/cathedral/webcast 

Most of all do not lose hope. Phone a friend when you need someone to pray with you.  Send a message to your Priest or Deacon; tell them you are praying for them and if you need a visit and prayer, if possible they will come.

Lord why did you call me to the ministry of Deacon.  Then I read what the gospel says, “Many more became to believe in Him because of his words.”

In this time of need, be good, be holy and preach the gospel of His words by the way you live and love one another. Amen.

If You Choose - Homily 6th Sunday OTA

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I may hurt some feelings today. My feelings were hurt when I read the gospel and thought of how guilty I am of sin. It was sin I chose to commit by what I have done or I have failed to do.

Some will be mad because they are Christians but they choose how they live by their personal standards of what is a sin.

It may hurt your feelings to know everyone is a sinner. A sinner is giving this homily.

My niece and her husband go to a large non-denominational church. It has free form preaching. The worship music is closer to pop music than traditional sacred music. People will go there just to be seen. 

My niece sees someone unrepentant at Church and gives them the “stink” eye. Her husband says, don't do that, you're at Church.

Yes, we are all sinners, sometimes even at Church.

A while back, I read about a person who had returned to the Catholic Church after attending one of these non-denominational churches. At the non-dom church he attended a men’s group discussing adultery. But the problem was in that group each man chose his definition of the sin of adultery.

One said to look at another woman with lust was adultery. 

One justified adultery through OT scripture pointing to the patriarchs with multiple wives and concubines. He was loyal to his wife and his mistress; he was not sinful. 

Another felt that since he had been baptized and born again, he could commit adultery because he was forgiven.

Our hero tried to be heard but was not. He spoke to the group leader. He went to the pastor and asked it to stop these error filled teachings; but, the pastor said the Church had no confirmed doctrine on adultery.

If you choose not to follow God’s commandments and fail to hear God’s Word there is no doctrine. So, a lot of Churches fail to teach what is sin.

Then, I look at myself. I preach we are to love one another and to preach the gospel by the way we live our lives. I preach to be good and to be holy. Things good Catholic Christians should strive for in their life. But, sometimes preaching the gospel requires us to point out sin.

Our Lord God Creator gave us a list of sinful things. Ten Commandments that are God’s guide to how we are to live our lives.  If you choose you can keep the commandments, they will save you; if you trust in God, you shall live. Trusting God is to love God with all your heart.

Today, Churches teach all kinds of things. They even break the commandments that are given for God alone: I am the Lord God, take no strange gods before me Do not take the Lord's name in vain. Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.

They do this by recognizing abortion, transgenderism, and gay marriage. They tweak truth, right, and justice to reveal a puppet god they control. Churches and ministers have made money, wealth, and possessions more important than anything else.

That is sin.

I heard the story this week of a elderly person in a nursing home who received a letter from a Church that said they were going to dismiss her membership because she was not keeping her pledge tithes.

That is sin.

Some Churches recognized gay marriage and allows it for their pastors.

That is sin.

Most say, we will never sin that way and then everyday, we forget the rest of the commandments. The world says it is normal. Our laws make it legal. The world says it is wrong to identify sin as sin.

Jesus goes on to say, Whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.

Remember, we preach the Gospel by the way we live our lives. The way we live our lives is that which is truly in our hearts. We cannot hide our true selves. For the Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God.

Friends, the Church is for sinners. It is our spiritual hospital. It is the place we come to realize what is wrong with us and to remedy that through a deeper loving relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and with each other. 

Jesus tells us to love one another, even the sinner; but, Jesus tells the sinner to go and sin no more.

And when we fail to admonish sin, we allow it to creep into our world and even into our faith. We justify it by Jesus’s love. But, changing God’s truth is not from God. Jesus said I did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. None of these commandments will pass away.  

Church should not be about changing Jesus’ words to suit the strange gods in this world today. The modern world frowns on religion. The world frowns on being told they are sinners by other sinners.

As we draw closer to Lent, realize how far our sins have allowed us to fall away from that relationship with Christ. Look at our lives over the past week or month or years see how many times we have forgotten God the Father by ignoring the commandments.  As we realize we have not always been good and holy, repent, go to confession, and do penance.

Maybe I hurt your feelings. Mine was hurt when I realized how guilty I was of sin. Sin I chose to commit by what I had done and what I had failed to do.

Do not be afraid to say something when sin creeps into our world and into our faith. Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,' and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ 

That is what it means to be good, and to be holy, and preaching the gospel by the way you live your life and love one another.

G.O.A.T. - Reflection 5th Sunday OTA

Readings There is a prevalent phrase, especially around sports that has worked its way into our language. G.O.A.T. - the greatest of all time. People like to use that term when referring to specific persons or groups. People look up to the G.O.A.T. Being from Louisiana, there is one person we consider the G.O.A.T. - the greatest of all time quarterback (Drew Brees). There is one football team we consider the G.O.A.T. - the greatest of all time. college team (LSU). If we look around us, on a personal level we might look for those who are the G.O.A.T. in certain skills. If you are getting on a plane, you want your pilot to be the G.O.A.T. - the greatest of all time.. If you are sick, you want a doctor who is the G.O.A.T. - the greatest of all time. If you have legal issues, you want a lawyer to be the G.O.A.T. it is a bonus when the person we consider the GOAT is a Christian, Then we know that the one they look to is truly the greatest of all time - Jesus Christ. For they know that Christ Jesus is not a shepherd of goats or G.O.A.T.s. He was a shepherd to lost sheep. The thing a true Christian (who is considered a G.O.A.T. in worldly things) desires is to be a sheep in heavenly things. Even the greatest of all time can realize they are lost sheep. The true believer knows Jesus will separate the sheep from the goats. What does it take for us to strive to be great sheep? Scripture gives us some direction. Share yo ur bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless; clothe the naked when you see them, and do not turn your back on your own. Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, Jesus told us we are all called to be the salt and the light. “But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” You are the light of the world. “A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand,” Salt and light have something in common. Not in an obvious way (we taste salt, and we see light); but each of them allows us to experience the goodness of something else. Nobody eats just salt for dinner. We put salt on the food we prepare. We put it on the meat, the vegetables, and in our bread. If you watch great chefs cook they will even put it in deserts. The salt is there to enhance the taste. We need salt, but the food is our dinner. Light is like this, too. We turn on a light not to look at the light, but to look at other things that reflect the light. It is difficult to see beauty without light. Christians are to be the light that shines in such a way that others can see the LORD. Christians are to be the salt that enhances the presence of Christ in the world. As Christians, we should strive to be salt and light; instead of goats, we must be sheep. Many times, those striving to be the G.O.A.T. tends to lose the ability for anything other than self. To be centered on oneself is to become salt that loses its taste or a light put under a basket. Some that are the G.O.A.T. focuses only on being that. They study, practice, and work hard focused only to be the one everyone sees them as the greatest. Look at St Paul. He would have been considered the G.O.A.T. at persecuting the Church during his early life. But, the risen Lord Christ Jesus, the Good Shepherd, turned him to a sheep. And, possibly one of the greatest of all time. He changed. And Paul the sheep said this, “I resolved to know nothing…, except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling, and my message and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of Spirit and power In human wisdom alone we can never be the salt and light the world needs. Our faith and the wisdom needed rests on the power of God instead of complicated arguments. And that calls for us to be sheep instead of goats. Be good, be holy, and preach the gospel by the way you live your life and love one another. Amen.

All That You Have - Presentation of the LORD

This week, I went from Shreveport to New Orleans. Tuesday, I was in Shreveport for Bishop Francis I. Malone’s Episcopal Ordination. So many people were there to show him their love. There were many priests and deacons from the Diocese of Arkansas, family, and friends who came to support this wonderful man.

He thanked his family. He thanked the family of faith that he was leaving.

There were, also, many people, Priest, Deacons, and members of the religious communities of the Diocese of Shreveport that came to welcome him to his new community, family, and home. Everyone came to show him love.

He said, “To my new family, I am here for you. I give my life to you. I will die for you.”

On this Sunday, as we celebrate and remember the Presentation of the LORD Jesus Christ, the Church reminds us spiritually, the presentation of the Lord was Christ Jesus coming to meet his believing people.

Jesus who said to all those who beleive: I am here for you. I give my life to you. I will die for you.

As we give thanks on this feast day and give thanks for our new Bishop, consider the readings. The first reading from the prophet Malachi. “There will come to the temple the LORD whom you seek”

Although, I am not the comparing Bishop Malone to our Lord and Savior, he is the vicar of Christ here in our Diocese. He is the leader of the Church in North Louisiana. He is responsible for all the souls in our Diocese, Catholic, non-catholic, christian and everyone else.

And, his words to us, “I am here for you.”

In the second reading, St. Paul’s letter to the Hebrews, are these words: He had to become like his brothers and sisters in every way.

The word of God became man. He was born as a child to Mary. He was raised by his earthly parents as a normal child. He was like us in every way. Although, the angels appear to Mary and Joseph to tell both that this child Jesus was something special, a chosen one. They still humbly presented him at the temple, with a meager poor family’s offering of two pigeons or doves.

Jesus came humbly into the community of his human family with his presentation at the temple. A presentation before a family of believers and the LORD most high.

And our new Bishop came to our diocese in the same humble way. A monsignor, a priest from the Church Parish of Christ the King in Arkansas. At the solemn vespers on Monday night, he knocked on the door of the Cathedral to be let in, a stranger asking for an invitation to be part of our family.

On Tuesday, Monsignor Francis I. Malone came before the community of believers in the Diocese of Shreveport and presented himself before the community of believers and the LORD most high as the new Bishop of Shreveport. He came fully into his new family and community with these words, “You are my family. I am here for you.”

And from the gospel of Luke is Simeon’s words: “Master, my eyes have seen your salvation.”

Simeon blessed them and prophesied the agony to come to this family. “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted  —and you yourself a sword will pierce— so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

Jesus is the LORD’s salvation. His life was for the forgiveness of our sins. The Lord Jesus Christ gave his life, his humanity for our humanity. I am here for you. I give my life to you. I will die for you.

And Bishop Malone’s words:  “To my new family, I am here for you. I give my life to you. I will die for you.”

As I finished my week up in New Orleans. I walked out of the hotel to my truck and noticed a young couple unloading their car. They had been transferred to the area for work and were in for a short stay at the hotel.  The young man said, our whole life is in the trunk of this car.

I wished the young couple good luck in the new job and new community. I told them I hoped they found a place to live soon, made plenty of new friends, and enjoyed the area.

As I drove home, I thought of what I should have told this young couple - the thoughts of my heart.

Stuff is not what you are. Stuff is not their whole life. You have so much more. You have each other. You have who you are.

Give all that you have to each other. Give all that you have to God.

Go to the nearest Church. Knock on the door. Present yourself before the community and the LORD as children of God. Make a new community of family, brothers and sisters, in your new home. That makes a place home. Give all that you have.

That is what Christ Jesus did. Bishop Malone looks to emulate Christ.

Friends, take the opportunity to invite those around you to come and be part of our family.

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

There Might be a Party - Reflection 3rd Sunday

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/012620.cfm

Does everyone know the Simpsons on T.V., Homer the Dad, Marge the mom, and Bart one of their children? In that television show, when Homer and Bart convert to Catholicism, Marge imagines herself in Heaven. St. Peter directs her to a quiet, reverent and austere Protestant heaven.

Then, she notices Homer and Bart in Catholic Heaven. In Catholic Heaven, people are dancing, kissing, drinking wine and beer, and even a fight breaks out. Homer and Bart are enjoying themselves. 

Marge was sad. She wanted to be with her family so she goes to St. Peter and asks to speak to Jesus. St. Peter says, sorry Jesus is hosting the party in Catholic heaven. 

I tell that story to contrast with this one. I went to a church one time and the preacher said I wasn’t going to heaven. I hope he is wrong.

The preacher said Catholics, Baptist, and all who say they are Christians would never know heaven, unless they joined his Church. It had the secret to heaven

That’s not the kingdom of heaven Jesus was preaching about.  “Repent, the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”  

Despite what the Simpsons portrays, heaven is not divided up, “Don’t let there be  divisions among you; be united in the same mind and for the same purpose.”

I went to a Church and the preacher said I wasn’t going to heaven.

The kingdom of heaven Jesus proclaimed was for those who heard his message and followed him.

The first to follow him was Simon Peter. You may have heard of him.

Walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea. He said, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him.

Jesus called Simon Peter to be one of his first disciples. Jesus built his church on him. Jesus gave him the keys to heaven.

But, Simon Peter wasn't perfect. He was stubborn. He was hot tempered. He was scared. He was a sinner. He denied Jesus, three times. Despite all these faults, Jesus never said he wasn't going to heaven.

Then, there was Paul. Another person of who you may have heard. Paul grew the church. He guided the Church. He was the apostle to the gentiles. He wrote most of the books of the New Testament.

But, Paul wasn't perfect. He persecuted Christ. He tried to destroy the Church. He was pompous. He was an elitist. He was a sinner. Jesus never said he wasn't going to heaven.

But many Christians just listen to the preachers. The church is divided today because instead of following Christ, christian fall into the rivalries of man. Over the centuries there have been many men and many rivalries.

Even today, the body of Christ is saying, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.” The names have only changed.  

I went to a Church and the preacher said I wasn’t going to heaven.

Friends, is Christ divided? There is only one holy catholic church. That is catholic spelled with a small “c” to include all believers.

That was the Church started by Peter, guided by Paul, and shepherded by the early church fathers. But, some where, at some time, and in some church, a preacher said to someone your not going to heaven.

Instead of preaching the gospel, a preacher preached flawed human wisdom. Someone preached that error with human eloquence to empty the cross of Christ of its meaning. Human error and arrogance empties the cross of the one who calls to us, follow me. 

This week was the national walk for life in Washington DC. Today is our local one. All that truly preach the gospel of Jesus Christ will be united, walking together.

But there are churches that do not respect the unborn. For many, the life of an unborn child is nothing more than a choice. 

A choice is hamburger or pizza. A choice can be abundant blessings and joy or despair and darkness. A choice is Christ or not Christ, Christ or anti-christ; and, most Churches are looking for a big bad boogie man.

The anti-Christ is the one who twists Word of God into their own words. The anti-christ is the man or the woman who chooses not to follow him. 

I went to a Church and the preacher said I wasn’t going to heaven. Jesus Christ proves him wrong by calling us to follow him. He is with us. He is our salvation.

And there will be a party of abundant blessings and joy.

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

Amen.

Bumps & Bruises - Homily 2nd Sunday OTA

Readings

My wife and I went to daughters last night. As we drove up no one was home, but she pulled in immediately behind us. My daughter said, I knew it was daddy, I could tell by the way his head leans.

Some people may notice my head leans to the right.

It’s from football. Forty-five years ago with no high tech training equipment players would just line up, fire off the ball, and give the opposing player a shot to the head. Sometimes you did it a half speed. Step up and the other guy would give you a forearm shot to the head and then you would return the favor.

It was the same thing in college; only they hit you harder.

Then add a couple bad wrecks and my head now leans to the right when I’m relaxed. By the grace of God, I was never really injured. I still have all my wits about me; but according to my daughter, my heads not on straight.

Our community of St. Lawrence has been beat up a little over the past couple of months. We’ve lost priests. We’ve lost our vigil mass. Our church has experienced bumps and bruises to our ministry.

So, let us start with this prayer:  Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

That prayer is from the Psalm 40. The Psalm goes on to say: I have waited, waited for the LORD, and he stooped toward me and heard my cry.

Can you hear Jesus praying that prayer? Abba, Father, Here I am, I come to do your will not mine.

That must be our prayer as well, to do God the Fathers will here on earth in Christ Jesus’ name.

The prophet Isaiah writes that the LORD declares: You are my servant, through whom I show my glory.

But the missal omits the next verse. “I have used all my strength, and it has all been for nothing. My judgment is with the Lord and my work is with my God.”

Jesus must have prayed this in the Garden the night before his crucifixion

As Christian’s believers we have said that prayer, maybe not in so many words. We know that prayer when we share the gospel with others or feed the hungry, visit the sick, cloth the naked, and try to live like Christ in this world. And the world does not want to hear us. Even those we help may not hear us.

In all the opposition of Christ work, we may think our ministry is a failure. People look at Christians doing Christ work; do they see the glory of God in us?

Do you think the people passing by Christ on the cross saw the glory of God in him then!  No, they mock him and spit on him and cursed him.

Was this the same man that John the Baptist saw coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”

Yes!!

Yet at his death, Jesus’ life work was a few and disciples (men and women) who denied him, and then ran and hid.  Christ was to bring salvation to the world and on that day, it looked like failure.

“I have labored in vain. I have used all my strength, and it has all been for nothing.” But all that is Christian faith and the Church came after the death of the Messiah.

St Paul’s words of greeting to believers: You who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy, with all those everywhere who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

All those everywhere who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours. Grace to you.

Grace is enough.

The apostles and first Christians were just a handful of people. But now, there are Christians in every part of the earth. In many places, their faith is outlawed. They are persecuted and many times martyred for faith and belief in Christ.

Do you think they cry out - I have labored in vain. I have used all my strength, and it has all been for nothing. No, they pray this: Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

They share the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ even in death.

Here at St. Lawrence, all that has taken place in the last six months has made it hard to all our ministries staffed. The St. Vincent de Paul has stopped their meals program. Parents do not to bring their children to PSR. It is hard to get altar servers.

Friends do not be afraid, start with this prayer: Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will. The LORD will hear us.

Pray for our church, our ministry, and our lives in Christ; we succeed through God’s strength, in God’s sight, and in God’s time. “My judgment is with the Lord and my work is with my God.”

We are all called to Christ. He called me and my heads not even on straight.

Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

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

Leave the Light On - Reflection Feast of the Epiphany

The light in our guest bedroom was not working. It just stopped. I tested and found the switch was bad, so I decided I needed to replaced the wall switch, but, not immediately.

I finally did it yesterday. The light still did not come on.

Thinking what it could possibly be, I came to the conclusion that as I was crawling around in the attic, I must have knock something loose. I decided to finish my repairs later that night.

I didn’t. 

I got up early this morning, walked to that room and flipped the switch and the light still did not come on. 

Maybe it fixed itself during the night.

Before I climbed into the attic, I thought I would check the wiring in the fixture itself. I walked over to the fixture, took off the cover, and immediately saw the problem. I put in a light bulb. 

It hard to let a light shine if you don't have a source of light.

Today scripture begins with the prophet’s cry to Jerusalem, “Rise up and let your light shine.”  It was a cry to a people and to the city that was in a downtrodden and desperate state. 

It was not just a cry to overcome the economic and social woes that had been forced upon a people and city over the ages. It was more importantly a cry to rise up and shine in the light of God’s glory.

The prophet promises all nations will witness the light of the LORD’s glory that comes forth from the salvation of Israel. The light that Jerusalem provides to the world is God’s redemption and in that redemption people of all the world will be able walk in God’s glory.

That prophecy is repeated In the Psalms in the cry for God’s justice to include all the world and all the nations within it. The psalm proclaims the Kings will bring tribute to the LORD and God and his glory will be manifest to all nations.

That is what epiphany celebrates.

Science tells us there was something special in the sky at that time. The magi saw it. They knew it meant something specials. They saw this light in the sky as a manifestation of the glory of God. And they followed it and came to the child they found under the star.

The scripture does not give us their names or their number but only the gifts - frankincense, gold, and myrrh.

Tradition tells us who they are:

Gaspar has brown hair and wears a green cloak and a gold crown with green jewels. He is the King of Sheba. Gaspar brings Frankincense to Jesus. Frankincense represents Jesus’ divinity.

Melchior, who has long white hair and a white beard, wears a gold cloak and Is the King of Arabia. Melchior is said to have brought gold to Jesus. Gold is the sign of Jesus Christ’s kingship.

Balthazar is the King of Tarse and Egypt and is man of color. He has black and wears a purple cloak. Balthazar brings Myrrh.  The myrrh foretold his suffering.

The magi represents the rest of the world that is not Israel. The rest of the world made of anonymous people that comes from obscurity and returns to obscurity. In a simple way testifying to the light of Christ and the glory of God.

Even then those who recognized Jesus as something more than just a man were persecuted. They paid him homage and praised him as king; because of that they were warned not to return to Herrod, and left by another route.

Just like the magi, the light of Christ is revealed to us. People of every race come voluntarily to Jesus. We are brought to the light of Christ through the apostles, through the scripture, through traditions, and by the Church.

We cannot let the light that is the Glory of God shine in the world unless we have the source of that light.  We are to share that light of love in us through the gospel of Christ Jesus with the world.

Rise and let the light of Christ shine in you. Be good, be holy and preach the gospel by the way you live your love one another. Amen.