Funeral Parlor Fans – 22nd Sunday OTA

We are having mass today, without electricity because of Hurricane Laura's visit to the State of Louisiana this week. We pray for our brother and sisters in Calcasieu Parish, Lake Charles and all the communities in the Hurricane’s. Even over 230 miles from where it came ashore, our community felt the storm.

Without electricity, it was hot at mass. Everybody was fanning themselves with the order of mass cards. It made remember funeral parlor fans. 

I grew up in a small country Church with no air conditioning. On Sundays in the summer, everyone used funeral parlor fans. It was just a piece of cardboard on a stick advertisement for the funeral home. The hotter it was, the faster the funeral parlor fans fluttered. If the sermon was too close to home, the faster the funeral parlor fans fluttered.

No matter how hot, the men wore suits and ties and the women had on their best. They came prepared to meet God and fought the heat with funeral parlor fans.

Now days, people look for reasons not to come to church. It’s too hot. The homilies are too long or boring. They have something else to do. They feel it's not really necessary to go to Mass or Church or Sunday Meetings because God knows my heart. (God does and is often disappointed). God wants us to be happy.

The problem is where people find happiness.

Be happy,but, find it in the right place; because one day, God is going to call us to account. People will ask themselves -Where were you at; When do you pray; When did you love God? 

When called to account for a life lived without God, many will blame God. They don’t find happiness in the things of this world, they blame God. Think about it, many blame God for everything.

They will be lamenting “You duped me, O LORD, and I let myself be duped…” I didn’t know that you wanted so much of me.

If people just knew and listened to the word of God, the words of Jesus.

“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny self, take up his cross, and follow me.  For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

God is good and loving and wants us to be happy. Denying yourself seems the very opposite of happiness, and the cross is an instrument of torture.

The route to the happiness God does want for us goes through the cross of Christ. Christ is The Way for us and we meet him at the cross for our true happiness in love and holiness in him.

Find our happiness in Christ and one day maybe, we won’t need funeral parlor fans anymore.

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

Upon this Rock - Homily Reflection 21st Sunday OTA

Watching the news over the past couple of weeks, I notice that the world seems to be going through the terrible twos.  

My youngest grandson is going through the terrible twos; and, he is good at it. I came home from a funeral yesterday to find him running down the street, hands in the air, and yelling screaming as two years old will do; and my poor wife running after him with a loving but frustrated look.

Most people never leave the terrible twos even those who try to live a Christian life. We strive to be Holy despite our shortcomings. Most of us have weaknesses and sins that tempt and plague us. It can be insecurity or disobedience or as my roommate in college called it “a wild hair.”

Despite this, those who live in the love of Christ know God is in us. We see the face of Christ in others. Each of us and all of us are the Church.

These are the truth of the Gospel today. The truth taught is the ecclesiology of the church and Christology of the Christ.

The truth of the Church comes what Peter said about Jesus. This truth is found in Jesus words to Peter:

“Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.”

The Church is because of who Jesus is.

Everything the Church has to say begins and ends with its God-given knowledge of Christ Jesus. It is the inexhaustible treasure of truth, which it holds in trust for the world.

The world doesn’t necessarily like the truth that Church reveals. The work of the great deceiver is that the Church is irrelevant. It falsely puts forward Jesus is a myth.

Because of sin, people will believe evil. They fight against the reality of the truth the Church presents to the world.

The reason people don’t like what the Church has to say is because they don’t understand who Jesus is. They don’t understand the Christology.

Jesus asked the disciples “Who do the people say that I am?”

The people who saw all the great things Jesus did tried to identify him with the realities they knew. The disciples told Jesus the people said John the Baptist, Elijah, or even Jeremiah.”

The Christology, the reality of Jesus requires a much greater leap in imagination and faith. Like that leap that Peter took, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

The reality of Christ requires great faith.

Believing the truth of the Church that comes from God, requires great faith

Jesus told Peter “upon this rock I will build my church”

Friends, we all know the story of Peter. Jesus did not call him a rock because of his steadfastness or reliability. The Passion exposed his tendency to falter. He ran away. He denied Jesus. He hid.

“Upon this rock” was the insight of faith God had communicated to Peter.

“Upon this rock” the Church will survive all attempts to destroy it.

“Upon this rock” the Church survived Judas. It survived all the shortcomings of Peter. It survived the doubts of Thomas. It survived the persecution of Paul. It survived the persecution of the Roman Empire. It has survived in all the places ancient and modern that has persecuted it, ban it, and martyr true people of faith.

The church is built “upon this rock” of faith; “upon this rock” in each of us.

It was founded “upon this rock” Jesus found in Peter. It was the same Peter who love and sinned but held on to the Lord anyway.

Jesus told us that the gates of Hell cannot prevail against this kind of love.

I looked and before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. (Rev 7:9)

The Church is each one of us striving to be Holy despite our shortcomings. That is a deeply comforting thought.

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

Hope Belongs to Our Call - Reflection for 17th Sunday, OTA

It seems all that we see is bad news, violence, hatred, and bigotry. The news is full everything except hope.

Without hope, so many ask, “Where are you God?” Sadly it is the only way that many know how to pray.

All they ask is to see God.

This prayer from those who truly seek God, is pure. For earnest prayer, God tells us, “Ask something of me and I will give it to you.” But, most with only this prayer will have no idea what they are looking for, where to find it, or how to find it. 

Maybe they seek the same that Solomon asked; the wisdom of an understanding heart.

More people with the wisdom of an understanding heart can make the world a better place.

With all the unhappiness in the world, people are searching; but, most do not know where to find it or how to find it. They really don’t want to know God as God asks of us. Scripture tells us, to really know God you have to die to yourself.

That is not an easy thing; so, people tend not to look to have an understanding because it is not an easy thing. They look somewhere else. They cry out for an understanding heart to come to them.

So people shout, “Where are you God?” And, they do not recognize God’s answers. If the understanding heart  God sends does mimic their opinion, rhetoric, or world view they reject it.

God has given them the freedom to make that choice.

And there are those who say, “Where are you God?” as a mockery of God. They do not want an answer. And, in God’s greatness, he still answers their prayer by the freedom of their creation.

God answers each of our prayers through freedom. God created us with the freedom to know God or not. Each person has the freedom to pray or not. Each has the freedom to seek heaven or hell. Each has the freedom to love or not. Each of us has the freedom to accept the miracle of God’s healing or not.

Neither Governments nor humanity can chain the freedom given by our creator. Only we have the freedom to do that.

We can ask God to have the wisdom of an understanding heart by choosing to know God, pray, and seek heaven. These can allow us to forget our self imagined importance and grow closer to God. They open our hearts to love. It changes us. It makes us citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven exemplified by our lives here on earth.

That is a kingdom hidden within us. We find it coming to God in Jesus Christ with constant, earnest, living prayers.

It is not the easy way. It is a pearl of great price. It takes sacrificing the ego in this world to find the hidden treasure t there for us to find.

People pray “Where are you God?” because; giving up or self love to love others is trouble for the world. It is too great a price to relinquish the self-loving ego for the wisdom of an understanding heart of agape that comes from God.

Look at the world. There is hate, bigotry, racism, and injustice. It fills many hearts. Instead of the love we have for one another, these sins are the measures of humanity the world seeks out.

But, listen closely. Hear the voices of the ones blessed by God the Father to know the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven. They speak regularly with God in prayer and the understanding of his Word. They know and live a life of love, peace, hope and justice.

They speak of it. They share it. By dying to the self, they live for God, know the hope of his kingdom, and share it.

When all are pulled to judgement those who have found the great treasure will be the good catch.

Those who did not open themselves to the Heavenly Father's answer when they asked “Where are you God?” At that time, all will know.  

All will know.

We are called to his purpose. That call is to the freedom of the agape wisdom of an understanding heart. It is freedom to exemplify the kingdom of Heaven despite the sinfulness the world gives us. It is the freedom of hope no matter how much the world despairs.

Hope belongs to our call.

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

Amen.

The Parable about the Kingdom of Heaven - Reflection 16th Sunday OA

(Inspired by Bible Odyssey article by Jonathan T. Pennington)

Jesus tells us in parable that the Kingdom of Heaven may be likened to a landowner who sows his fields with good seed. His enemy comes and sows weeds in the fields. When asked what to do, the landowner says to leave them. The bad will be sorted from the good at harvest time.

The Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven is the unifying theme of the bible. The OT identifies God as the king over all the world and promising the coming of a great king. In the NT, Jesus teaches the kingdom is near and He is the heir to the king

Today, there are few kings and queens, most are only figureheads. In the few countries with a royal family having authority it’s based on inequity and oppression.  

In most societies, suspicion is usually on any leader who has great power.  

So to many, the notion of God as king over all of creation is abstract and spiritual ideas with little effect on modern life. That’s a weed the enemy has planted.

But the kingdom of Heaven is not abstract. It is not oppressive or irrelevant but is a promise of God’s liberating and life-giving reign from heaven to earth. God will not this by his anointed one who will be a conduit of God’s blessing, peace, and justice in the world.

That anointed one is tell us the parables in the Gospel today.

Through parables and teachings Jesus describes the kingdom as present already.  The kingdom is like a seed sown in people’s hearts; like a treasure found hidden in a field; or a pearl of great price.  

It is there for us to find, like the thief crucified next to Jesus who asked to be received into Jesus’ kingdom. Jesus responded that on that day he will enter into paradise.

And, when Jesus is asked when the kingdom of God will come - he states the kingdom is not something that can be directly observed because “the kingdom of God is among/within you.”

Friends, as followers of Jesus Christ, we are bring the kingdom of Heaven by caring for the poor and needy, offering forgiveness and reconciliation, and bringing life and light to all nations. We are to do this until the kingdom comes and there is no distinction or inequity between any persons. This is how the eternal kingdom of Heaven impacts lives today.

Jesus, also, indicates that the kingdom of Heaven is not yet present but will come when God finally sets right the world.  It will come with Jesus’ return from heaven to earth as the glorified Son of Man.

Jesus tells us that at that time those who have done the will of God will enter into the kingdom and eternal life. He will separate the good and the bad.

Jesus speaks of both of these realities because the reign of God may be described as both “already and not yet,” and “now with more to come.” And, not everyone can understand or accept his teachings about the kingdom

The difficulty of these teachings is why so many do not realize their truth in this modern world. There are some true believers, Christians who work to bring the kingdom of Heaven to earth. There are others who believe and they are the enemies of God.

The devil attacks the Kingdom that is in this world by attacking the Church, people of faith, and peace.

Now is the time for fight to realize and bring the kingdom of Heaven to earth. Fight with prayer for protection because the enemy will attack. Fight with peace because the enemy brings violence. Fight with a humble spirit against the arrogance of the world.

St Paul wrote that the Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness . . . because he intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will.

God’s kingdom is present now and forever because he rightly rules over his own creation. Be good, be holy, and preach the Gospel by the way you live your life and love one another, in prayer, peace, and humbleness of spirit. Amen.

Seeds Fall on Fertile Soil - reflection 13th Sunday OTA

I am self-quarantining today, someone in my immediate family was exposed to COVID 19; so, I may have been exposed. Speaking with Father, we decided I should self-quarantine. 

This possible exposure was revealed yesterday; the same day the governor of Louisiana mandated (with some exceptions) wearing masks in public places to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

With that mandate, people are grumbling and calling it an attack on freedom.

Interesting reaction – “know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even now…,” the words of St. Paul to the Romans and he continued.  “The sufferings of the present are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us.”

In these pains and sufferings, listen to Jesus' parable of the sower.  “… some seeds fell beside the path, and the birds came and devoured them.  Other seeds fell on rocky ground where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up; but when the sun rose, they were scorched and withered away. Some seeds fell among thorns, and were choked. But other seeds fell into good ground and produced grain.”

Jesus was speaking about his message. But, if you have a garden or potted plants, this is a familiar idea. For seeds to be bountiful, you want to plant them in good soil.

The devil understands the concept as well and has prepared this world for his seeds to be planted. He has prepared it since the beginning. When the opportunity arises, the devil sows his seed. The deceiver will disguise it as a good seed.

He sows everywhere - on the path, on rocky ground, in the thorns, and in fertile soil. The devil has sown his seed among the good and the bad. He throws it among believers and non-believers. It is planted to grow in the poor and oppressed, the rich and privileged, and those in the middle.  Because the devil has been preparing the world for so long, many are fertile soil.

Disguised as good seed, the devil brings his agenda.

The cry for social justice is not a bad seed. It is a seed of the Church. But evil can use the need for goodness to hide his seed. Look to see who is sowing the seed.

The equality and dignity of all people is good seed. It is the truth Jesus Christ preached. But the one who challenges God turns it to bring greater injustices by disregarding the equality and dignity of every human life: the unborn, the elderly, the disabled, and those different.

Evil can disguise the seed it sows as the purest of seed. Many do not understand this is happening.

Jesus told his disciples - they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand. That is a message for the world today.  People hear the message of evil and do not understand it for what it is.

“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For people’s heart have become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.”

All that the devil has put in this world will not be changed unless hearts are changed. The devil has prepared many hearts as a soil to grow his seed. Changing this requires a change of hearts found only by the opening of our hearts to Christ.

This reflection is not condemning the call for change; it is calling for true change through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Justice is not about the color of one's skin; it is about the color of the heart. Ending oppression and poverty is not about changing the economic system; it is about changing hearts.

Accepting the equality of persons and respect for each and every person’s life can never be forced in this world. True equality and respect of persons is found in the recognition that we are one people called to be children of God.

Before you plant any seed, look at the seed you are planting.

Whether a seed is good or bad has nothing to do with a certain phrase or wearing a mask. It has everything to do with what is in the fertile ground of our hearts and who made that heart ready to receive the seed.

Thus says the Lord: My word shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.

Be good, be holy, and preach the Gospel by the way you live your life and love one another. That is a seed to plant in this world. Amen.

Make a Place for Jesus - Reflection 13th Sunday OTA

This week as I was studying Sunday’s readings, my grandsons joined me. I explained to them to always make a place for Jesus in their hearts. When I sang Alleluia, my six year old joined in Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

My almost two year old grandson joined us at the top of his voice - Ali-ewe-yah, ali- ewe -yah, ali-ewe-yah.

Then I read Jesus’s words: because the little one is a disciple.

That is where my reflection comes from this week.

Elisha is a lot like Jesus. They came from the same area. They are both teachers. They both are prophets. They both are miracle workers.

A certain woman tells her husband. Elisha comes to be with us often, so let us prepare a place for him.

This woman was so receptive, hospitable, and full of kindness that Elisha felt there must be something I can do for her.

Elisha is a lot like Jesus, who is our teacher, prophet, and miracle worker. Prepare a place for him.

Many say they are born again. (Even Catholics)  Many identify as Christians. But, is He the most important thing in your life?

Many will say they live for him; and, many will tell you what it means to live for Christ Jesus.

Jesus puts it in rather blunt words.

“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.”

God doesn’t mean that exactly; or, does he?

Surely, Jesus doesn’t mean we are supposed to love him more than our parents, spouse, children, and grandchildren.

He does. Jesus says, “Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Those who try to live his words know one truth.

Love Jesus with all that you are and you will love others so much more. Love Jesus and he will live in our hearts. When Jesus lives in us, we will be able to see Christ in others. That takes a pure heart and if God is not first in your heart; the human heart may not truly be pure.

It is time for all of us to drop to your knees and make a place for Jesus in our hearts. Make hearts pure and ready for Jesus and He will make a place for us.

Jesus says we must come to him like children and this is with a pure heart. He said the pure of heart would see God.

Purity of heart is to will one thing in a constant and consistent path. That purity of heart should be given to Jesus, anything else divides the heart.

Look around at the many saying they seek justice and dignity; but, are their hearts pure for the one in whom is found true freedom, true justice, and true dignity. Sadly, most have no place in their hearts or agendas for Christ.

When politics is chosen over truth, purity of heart is almost always abandoned. There is no place for Jesus in the words and deeds of those who attack the Church. There is no place for Jesus in the hearts of politicians who say they are Christians and condemn Christian beliefs. There is no place for Jesus in the words and deeds of even religious leaders who do not speak truth because they are afraid to offend.

There is no place for Jesus in the hearts of many. Cardinal Ratzinger, before he became Pope Benedict, spoke of this when he said that the future church would be a lot smaller. He knew that many had not made a place for Jesus.

No matter who they are. No matter what label they wear – Christian, Catholic, Pastor, layperson, deacon, religious, Priest, or Bishop - if they put anything in their hearts above Christ, they cannot love as Christ asks us to love.

God will always seek that special place within us.

Remember, the story of Elisha and the Shunemite woman. They fed each other. The woman gave Elisha shelter and nourishment. She made a special place for him. Elisha fed the woman with spiritual food and a great reward.

When we make a place in our hearts for Jesus Christ, He feeds us a love that comes from God. Whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. That is a great reward.

Because the little one is a disciple, fall to your knees. Sing out with the pure heart of a child to make a place for Jesus. Ali-ewe-yah, ali-ewe-yah, ali-ewe-yah.

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

-- 

Peace and Love,

Deacon Bill Goss

Faithful Father’s Day - A Homily for Father's Day (12th Sunday OTA)

Happy Father’s Day; I try to be a good father for two daughters that I love very much. I’m proud of the women and mothers they’ve become.

I try to be a good grandfather. One thing that hurts is seeing the sadness in my grandson longing for his father. His dad is not there. He makes promises he doesn’t keep. When I go out of town, my grandson gets upset. He has me call him in the morning and evening to reassure him “I coming back.”

Because of his experience, he has doubts and misplaced faith.

I’m trying to restore his faith. It involves a lot of praying and presence.

 

All of God’s people need faith. But it must be the right faith, not misplaced faith. Look around, humanity has become confused about where to put their faith because of sin.

Sin causes confusion. Sin obscures the truth. Sin kills hope.

Society is weakened as the world accepts sinfulness and the confusing message of sin. That confusion weakens the human heart and hides truth so even reason fails against the misplaced faith of sinfulness. As the world tells humanity to put its faith in the wrong place, it brings a hopeless struggle.

 

We hear the whispering of others. “The world cries out terror on every side! Denounce! Denounce those who believe!” Those were the prophets Jeremiah  word’s in a time of violence and sin. People had become confused by sinfulness and were challenging those with true faith.

That is the way with humanity; we lose our way and blame others. It’s been that way throughout history.

Today, much faith is only in the things of this world. It is a faith that glorifies arrogance, greed and excess, materialism, sex, idleness, and envy. It brings bitterness, resentment, and anger.

Sin puts our selfish needs in our path to God. Sin has misplaced our faith to faith in the sins of man. None can escape it because all have sinned.

In that sin of selfish ego that belittles others because of difference racism lies. In the sin of selfish ego peaceful protest turns to civil unrest as personal agendas stoke anger, violence, and greed..

All this sinful selfishness pollutes faith and our world. The world is polluted with so much misplaced faith that something extraordinary and outside of us is needed for a change. That change will only come when we have faith in something other than the things of man.

 

That is why Jesus’ words, “Fear no one,” for we are loved by God the Father.

With violence abounding, it’s a hard thing to fear no one, but, remember this; each one of us is a dwelling place for God and His love. Each and every one of us is an image of Christ.

It is the spirit of truth, the love from God we share with one another that makes us a people of true faith. Our faith in Him is greater than the misplaced faith in the world.

The sin of misplaced faith is not in all people. God the Father knows that, He knows everything, even the number of hairs on your head. He is with us all the time. He knows our faith. He knows our heart. He did not create us to be sad and lonely in this world.

God the Father is a good Father. The type of father every father should strive to be. The type of mother every mother should strive to be. The type of person everyone should strive to be.

Even with all the misplaced faith in this world, God has not forsaken us. By His grace and the gracious gift of Jesus Christ our faith is revived.

For us, it involves a lot of praying and presence. Have faith, Jesus promised that He is coming back.

In faith, pray and ask for God’s favor upon us, our neighbors, and the world.

Be good, be holy, and have the faith to live your faith. Amen.

Feast of Corpus Christi - A Reflection

Yesterday, I was grilling. I have a pellet grill; you set the temperature and watch the time. But, a two year old in the house gives you something to watch.

My grandson wants to do exactly as I do. I put a lawn chair near the grill. He put his between me and the grill. I had to tell him, No child, that’s hot.

I would adjust the temperature dial and would move to something else and he would go for that same control. I’d warn him, No child, that’s hot.

He would laugh; it was if I had challenged him to do what he was told not to do.

We start young: not listening and doing our own thing. It’s always been that way. God told Adam and Eve, don’t eat from that tree. Basically, God said, No child, that’s hot!

We know how that went. Here we are; Still not listening to God’s word! Not by bread alone does one live, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of the LORD.

The apostles warned us - don’t listen to the false prophets. Don’t listen to those who try to change the word of God. We are children reaching for the dangerous things. We find it a challenge.

One of the things the world challenges now is the real presence in the bread and wine, the body and blood of Christ on the Eucharistic table.

It’s not the prepackage communion kits that some Churches hand out. It’s bread and the wine consecrated on the altar of God by his priest, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The bread we break, the cup of blessing we bless; it is the body and blood of Christ.

But we seemed to have forgot that. We are stubborn children that just want to do what they want to do. They want to get close to “Hot”, what is evil and of the devil in this world.

It is so easy for the many to believe in the bad in the world. All Christians believe in the evil that is all around us. However, some who call themselves Christians want to make the evil into good. Think about all the things that God the father tells us No child, that’s hot! He got a list.

He also gave us a way to be better. He gave us Jesus, who gave all that he had for our salvation. He told us to follow him. If we don’t want to know that “Hot” in this world then follow him.

And he gave us food for that journey. 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 .

It is a statement that divides the Church. If we believe the Gospel, it is Jesus’ own words.

And just like so many of those who walk with Jesus when he was on this earth, many say surely he doesn’t mean that it is really his flesh and his blood.

But he did.

Many have taken the idea of a personal relationship with Jesus as one which they make up their own rules. It’s all about them. It’s not about Jesus. It’s not about the whole world. It’s not about the one loaf, the many that is the Church.

Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. 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.

Can you really have a personal relationship with Jesus, if you don’t believe what he says? Are you really a Christian if you believe it all about you? If you can’t believe in Christ’s presence in the bread that is his body and the wine that is his blood, where is your faith?

Jesus’ body and blood was given to us to nourish His church. Pray brothers and sisters that we may always walk strengthened by this food.

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

First Friday Mass Homily - Feast of St. Boniface, Bishop and Martyr

The Saints are our examples on how to emulate Christ. Aw we celebrate today the feast day of St. Boniface, Bishop and Martyr, remember his example. We need examples. 

The world is filled with the wrong examples, which is the work of the devil. In those examples, the great deceiver brings fear, misery, and distrust. People are scared, unhappy, and jealous of one another. People want power. People want what others have. People don’t want others to have what they have.

The devil puts all these things into a people’s heart; but, they can never have them. They want these things but never find them. The evil one won’t let them; so, in fear, misery, and distrust, people turn to violence.

Most  want to live in comfortable familiar little worlds, so what should we do?

Look at the example of St. Boniface. He was born to nobility, educated, a teacher, and lived a peaceful life in an English monastery. When he was about 35, he left that comfortable familiar life to become a missionary in pagan Frisia and he failed miserably.

The Pope moved him to mission work in Germany and France. There he was successful and he became a Bishop. Yet, at 80, he resigned to return to his failed mission at Frisia.

St. Boniface lived the teachings of Christ and Church respecting the dignity of every person. He left the nobility of secular life and he left the nobility of the Church to be a missionary to the poor, the outcasts, and those on the margins.

He left comfort and familiarity to see Christ in people that were different from him and to love them. As Christians, it is where we need to be. It is where the world needs to be.

The disrespect and disregard of a person’s dignity based on the color and shade of their skin (no matter what it is) is what society has termed racism. Intolerance towards those different than us is bigotry.

If these are in us we cannot say we followed Christ. If anyone is preaching or promoting anything other than tolerance and respect, they are not of Christ. If we preach anything but peace we are not of Christ.

Remember the world and contemplate St. Paul’s warning to Timothy: The wicked will go from bad to worse.  But Jesus is calling us to be saints - Christ is calling us to sit at his right hand.

Boniface went back to his failed missionary work. He went with respect for the dignity of those who chased him away. He did it by faith, patience, love, and endurance so to imitate the life of Christ. And, his reward was to experienced Christ’s suffering; was killed for preaching the Gospel.

All who live religiously in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. It is the way of the world today.

We see the unrest and violence in the world. Instead, look for the saints who live for Christ and not themselves. Look at those who respect the dignity of all people and work for peace. Look with the eyes or your heart. These are the ones striving for Christ’s right hand. 

The devil will always fight them.

Look with the Eyes of the Soul - Reflection Ascension Sunday

The Acts of the Apostles is written to Theophilus. No one knows who Theophilus was; but, there was a later Theophilus. He was the Bishop of Antioch (second century) and considered one of the early church’s great apologists.

He wrote this (paraphrased): 

If you say, "Show me your God," think about this:

If you look with the eyes of the body then you will perceive only earthly objects whether white or black, well-proportioned and symmetrical or dis-proportioned and awkward…

The appearance of God is ineffable and indescribable; and, cannot be seen by eyes of flesh. All have eyes; but in some eyes are blinded and they do not see the light of the sun.

But if you look with eyes of the soul that it is when we are able to behold God. God is seen by those who are enabled to see Him when the eyes of their soul are opened:

For in glory God is incomprehensible, in greatness unfathomable, in height inconceivable, in power incomparable, in wisdom unrivaled, in goodness inimitable, in kindness unutterable.

Most men have the eyes of their soul blinded by their sins and evil deeds.

The reason I share these words of the early apologist is today’s scriptures. For some reason, some do not follow the words of Jesus in today’s Gospel.

Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

Instead they only baptize in the name of Jesus. The reasoning, the apostles were not baptized this way. Nowhere does it say the apostles baptized this way.

It is claimed, the words of Jesus from the Gospel of Matthew were made up when priests and monks were hand writing the Bibles in the early church to match the sacrament.

Yet, Catholics and most Christian do baptize in the Trinitarian formula not just in the name of Jesus as found in the Acts of the Apostles.

First, it is what Jesus tells us. Teach them to observe all the things I have commanded you.

Second, it is a baptism just like Jesus’. When Jesus was baptized by John, the Trinity was present. “The Son is baptized, the Father speaks, and the Spirit descends.”

Even in the Acts of the Apostle when the Deacon Philip baptized the people of Samaria, Peter and John were sent there to pray and lay hands on them for they had only been baptized in the name of Jesus and not yet received the Holy Spirit.

And, Jesus promised his followers they would be baptized by the Holy Spirit. 

Those who say the early church baptized only in the name of Jesus seems to have forgotten that Act of the Apostles.

The Church baptizes in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit because is has always been led by the Holy Spirit to followed Jesus’ instructions. It is found even in the earliest Church manual, the Didache, written before the Bible. 

It is believed to have originated before most of the Gospels were written. The earliest portions issued by an Apostolic Council of the twelve headed by Peter and James at the Church in Jerusalem. These early instructions outlined a Trinitarian Baptism and the Eucharist.

There were also other Christian Churches other than the Roman Catholic Church. The Coptic Church states that their church began in 50 AD, when the Apostle Mark became the first Pope of Alexandria. They baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

The Thomas Christian of Kerala India (Malabar Christians) can trace their Church to the Apostle Thomas. These Christians ecclesiastically, liturgically, and linguistically represent one of the oldest Christian traditions in the world. They baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Yet, despite all these truths, many will look for God with eyes of flesh blinded by sin. If the eyes of your soul are open, as the angel said, then why are you standing there looking at the sky?

The Church looks with the eyes of the soul at Jesus’ words, follows his instructions, and believes his promise. Teach them to observe all that I have commanded you. And, behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.

In glory God is incomprehensible, in greatness unfathomable, in height inconceivable, in power incomparable, in wisdom unrivaled, in goodness inimitable, in kindness unutterable.

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

Social Distancing - Homily 6th Sunday of Easter

In the Acts of the Apostles is the story of Philip. This was not Philip the Apostle; this was Philip the Evangelist. This Philip was the Deacon.

In the first part of chapter 8 of Acts, we are reminded of the stoning of Stephen, the first martyr, and the severe persecution of the Church in Jerusalem. The Christians were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria. 

As the early Christians practiced social distancing, the apostles remained in Jerusalem.

This was at the time Saul was trying to destroy the church by entering house after house; dragging out men and women to put in prison.

Yet, even those escaping persecution shared the Gospel wherever they went. Philip went to city of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah.

When the people heard Philip, they paid attention to his words and signs. Unclean spirits were cast out and people were cured.

Philip introduced the people of Samaria to the way of Jesus. It was a way of living, loving, and relating to one another new to them. Philip baptized them in the name of Jesus. There was great joy in the City of Samaria.

Philip shared the way of Jesus, a relationship built through Christ Jesus to God.  

And, Jesus teaches there is one more person in this relationship.  “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth…”

When the apostles heard the good work done by Philip, they sent Peter and John to pray for them, because they had not yet received the Holy Spirit. Philip only baptized them in the name of the Lord Jesus. Peter and John laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.

This is about relationship. Philip teaching relationship in the way of Jesus: living, loving and relating to one another differently than the world teaches.  Jesus teaches us the relationship of the Holy Trinity. It is the most divine relationship of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. It is the most precise loving, living relationship there is.

God is relationship. The way of Jesus is living, loving and relating on earth as it is in Heaven, in God.

Think about relationships. The people we tend to love are not just the people who loved us, but people who loved what we love and care about what we care about. It makes love easy, natural, and life-giving.

One place to find this place in others is the common need most people have for hope. The result of hope is joy.

Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope and do it with gentleness and reverence.

This is the secret of sharing the Gospel. It is the way Philip spoke. Pursued and persecuted for his faith in Jesus Christ, Philip had hope and shared why he had hope. The people were filled with joy.

Here we sit, a few inside the Church, wearing mask, practicing social distancing, and sanitizing our hands. Some are outside in cars watching on Facebook coming for communion. Some are home watching and will share a spiritual communion.

We have one thing in common: hope. The reason for hope as believers is Christ in our hearts. Today, the world is looking for hope. To have a relationship with God, the Holy Trinity through Jesus Christ is the promise of hope. The result of hope is joy

Even as we practice social distancing don’t forget your relationship with God. Don’t forget the living and loving relationship we have with others.

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

A Heart that Savors God – Homily on the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima

Today is the feast day of Our Lady of Fatima. She is the patroness of our Parish, what a wonderful patroness she is.  

Our Lady appeared to three peasant children (Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco) on a hillside in Fatima, Portugal, and gave instructions.

They were not anything different from what the church teaches. None of her instructions contradicted the teachings of the word of God that came to us as Jesus Christ. The message she gave was for the times they lived in and times to come.

Mary instructed them to pray the Rosary to bring peace to the world and an end to war; pray for the conversion of Russia; and do penance. And that God wanted the world to have a devotion to Her Immaculate Heart.

The message of Fatima is important now as it was then. Pray the rosary, pray for peace, pray for the conversion of sinners, and do penance. And, have devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

On the 100^th anniversary of Fatima, P. Francis said ‘the children’s encounter with Our Lady was an experience of grace that inspired their love for Jesus. Mary led them to savor God as the most beautiful reality of human existence.”

That is the promise found in Jesus words, "Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it." Simple children heard the message and lived it. They lived lives of unwavering faith.

Great things can come from people of simple unwavering faith.

Today, in these trying times, listen to the words of Jesus and the message of Our Lady.

"Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it." Pray the rosary, pray for peace, pray for the conversion of sinners, and do penance. And have devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Don’t just listen the words, contemplate them, gnaw on them, consume them, make them part of us, and then act on them.

Pope Benedict wrote “The heart open to God, purified by contemplation of God, is stronger than anything that can come against us.”

(Friends) strong is the Immaculate Heart of Mary? She must be the example for our hearts open to God.

At Fatima, Our Lady declared “My Immaculate Heart will triumph!” In that have unwavering faith. The heart open to God is stronger than any disease or pestilence; pandemic or plague; violence or war.

Our Lady taught the children to pray. One prayer was this: My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love You! I ask pardon of You for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love You! Amen.

A heart that savors God is a most beautiful reality of human existence.

Be good, be holy, and pray for each other. Amen.

A While to be Silent - First Friday Homily - May 1, 1010

(Readings)

We live in unusual times and want explanations. Some things are accepted; some are not.   

Some things are ironic. Saul of Tarsus was set to the home of Judas on Straight street.  

Some things are hard to understand. The Corona Virus is spread by social contact. Prevention limits work, school, and gatherings (no public mass, no sharing of the Eucharist).

Solitary confinement is harsh medicine. It’s considered a severe punishment. It’s not a restful stillness, but of anxiousness and sorrow. Despite these rules of social distancing; in our area cases are increasing at rates higher than others. It seems people don’t believe what is said about the Covid 19 virus.

Yet, we ask why God is doing this. People want explanations. Is it punishment; a warning sign?

Maybe, it’s a time of lament; a time to ask “why;” perchance, a while to be silent, look at our lives, and to pray. Perhaps, it’s a time to be still and know God.

Possibly, it’s like the time the Lord gave Saul.

He was going down the wrong path believing it was God’s work. The Lord gave Saul a time of solitary confinement. In this time of quiet, Saul prayed and the Lord set him straight.

Ananias laying hands on him, said “Saul, my brother, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you has sent me that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately the scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. He got up and was baptized…”

Moving beyond self is the answer Jesus gives. Listen to His words.

“Unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. My Flesh is true food.  My Blood is true drink. Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood remains in me and I in him.”

People tend to believe in themselves and not the real presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist.

In this time of Solitary Confinement away from the real presence, the Lord has sent us to be healed.

Sadly, not all will be healed; but in this time of lament, Christ is opening the eyes of many.  

Amen