Watch Your Tongue - Reflection - 8th Sunday OTC

Reading I: Sirach 27:4-7   Responsorial Psalm: 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-16   Reading II: 1 Corinthians 15:54-58    Gospel: Luke 6:39-45

May Jesus Christ be praised, forever and ever. Amen

Several years ago, I worked with a construction superintendent who was a huge body builder. Some would say he was scary. Truthfully that may have been why the company hired him.

Around his neck was large cross that hung outside his shirt. I asked about it. He said he wore it so people would know his faith. He confided in me that he was Catholic but went to a non-denominational church with his wife.

Later in the day, we visited one of his company’s construction sites. During that visit, it was hard to recognize the Christian. The words that came out of his mouth were vulgar and obscene. They were inconsistent with  who he told me he was.  “Praise no one before he speaks, for it is then that people are tested.”

When we started to another location, I said to him. “I would appreciate it if you would tone down your language when you speak to  people. It’s not respectful to whom you are speaking. It is not respectful to me and I cannot be associated with your words.”

He apologized.

I  asked him to look at himself on that construction site. “Is that how Jesus speaks to you? If Jesus asked for an account of your life, is that the words you would use with Jesus?”

Then, this - big, burly, scary - body builder started crying. “No” he said, “that is not Jesus."

Over the next couple of years, I worked with him several times. I never heard anything similar from his mouth again.

In him, I saw Jesus’ parable. “A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree is known by its fruit; people do not pick figs from thorn bushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles.”

All are called to bring others to Christ. The problem is we can only show them the truth of the healing and promise of Christ  in us. If we show the world crudeness, bitterness, hatred, and greed and say we are Christians, then we become the blind leading the blind. Bad things will happen.

To bring someone to Christ, we must first remove the beam from our own eye.

The message around us is “The world does not need God.” It seems to be the path many in the world has chosen.  Even though the world cries out for peace and justice it does not know the source of true peace and justice. 

Even Christians bring the same message if God is not foremost in their life. They forget to pray and begin to set a bad example of what it is to be a Christian. So rest of the world does not expect to see Christ in the words and actions of everyday people who call  themselves Christians. Instead, they see hypocrites. They see Christians not bearing good fruit. 

Parent, friend, husband, wife, brother, sister, or neighbor, what do those around you see? 

At one time, I would have never said anything to my friend about his language. Even though I have long professed a Christian, in the past my language was just as crude. Then by prayer and contemplation came a true realization of mercy, forgiveness, and salvation. By grace and  love, the teacher trained this disciple to be more like him.

That teacher has truly came into the heart of my friend. He changed jobs and became more involved in his Church. He leads the youth ministry program. “A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good…, for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.”

My beloved brothers and sisters, be firm, steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. Continue to pray, witness the gospel, and give to others goodness, respect, and love.

Wish good to your neighbor. Help others in kindness. Have love and respect for all people. Always give praise and thanksgiving to God through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Thanks be to God who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Be good, be holy, and preach the gospel by the way you live your life and love one another.  May Jesus Christ be praised, forever and ever, Amen.

My Singing Voice - Homily 6th Sunday OTC

Reading I: Jeremiah 17:5-8     Responsorial Psalm: 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6     Reading II: 1 Corinthians 15:12, 16-20     Gospel: Luke 6:17, 20-26

Praise be Jesus Christ forever and ever.

A couple of things in today’s scriptures that I noticed are the many blessings in our lives and the second is that God is with us when we don’t feel blessed.

Today is world marriage Sunday. For all those called to the vocation of marriage it is one of many blessings. I have been blessed for almost 37 years.

Another blessing is the liturgy of the mass. I am blessed to come to mass, humble myself before God, and pray in petition, supplication, praise, and thanksgiving. I am blessed to be able to share in Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist.

I am blessed and you are blessed. We can preach and witness the gospel of Christ, the resurrection of the dead, the promise of eternal life, and the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. That is our faith. If you do not believe these, St. Paul says your faith is in vain.

There are many in the world who do not know this blessing. Those may be people of other faith traditions. There may be people who feel they do not have enough time to  worship God.  Some may have something they feel is more important.

Then there is the poor. The ones who cannot worship because of persecution. Maybe their poverty is a lack of priest and clergy. They may be poor in health or physical condition and cannot make it to worship.

I would like to offer the one blessing I miss. Most of the time at mass, there is beautiful voices offering prayerful songs of praise and then there is my voice. God gives me so many blessings but he did not bless me with a singing voice. I have hope, by God’s grace, one day that will change.

There are so many blessings given and all are given by God’s grace. Jeremiah says, “Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is in the Lord.” The Psalmist sings  follow God’s word and be blessed.

These are beatitudes, a form of blessing given to encourage people to do good. Simple ways of saying have hope in God, follow his word, and you will be blessed.

Do good and do not be wicked. Do not follow sinners or keep company with the insolent but instead take delight in God’s ways. Do good by placing your trust and hope in the Lord.

Jesus takes on the beatitudes differently.

Coming down from the mountain, Jesus begins to teach his disciples. We know that almost all the words of scripture holds truth and we hear “raising his eyes toward his disciples he begins.” Jesus beatitudes come from a lowly perspective.

Blessed are those who are poor, hungry, weeping, hated, excluded, insulted, and denounced. They will be rewarded who suffer these shameful experiences. God will bless them if they put their trust in him.

The poor do not put their trust in human things so they turn to God. They cannot put hope in money they have none. They cannot put hope in possessions they are very few. They cannot put hope in all the good the world lavishes upon them; the rest of the world wants to put them out of sight.

Woe to you who puts your trust in money, possession, and the good will of others. It is trusting in human things. Jeremiah had hard words for these people.  “Cursed the one who trust in human things, seeks strength in the flesh, and has turned their hearts away from God.”

Jesus’ beatitudes are different. They come from a different place and are meant as comforting words to people who needed to hear his good news. And, even if  Jesus teaches from a different perspective, it is the same beatitude Jeremiah taught.

Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is in the Lord.

That is the principle of all the beatitudes. Blessed are you if you do not look for blessings that come from the world -  wealth, money, possessions, fame, reputation, or power.

Blessed are you if you are not be wicked. Blessed are you if you do not follow sinners or keep company with the disrespectful. Take delight in God’s ways. There you will know true riches and be satisfied. In Christ, you will laugh and leap for joy for the reward of those blessed by God is in heaven.

My friends that is where I will find my singing voice.

There are many blessings in our lives.  Jesus told us we are blessed because God is with us even when we do not feel blessed.

Be good, be holy, and preach the gospel by the way you live your life and love one another.  May Jesus Christ be praised, forever and ever.

Amen.

Help Me to be Good - Homily 2nd Sunday OTC

Praise be Jesus Christ forever and ever. Amen.

My youngest grandson has a devotion to Mary. Every Sunday after mass he runs to the prayer garden at St. Lawrence and stands at the foot of the  statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. And he says this prayer ‘God is great, God is good. Amen.’

Then he adds “Please help me be a good boy. Amen.

We pray that little prayer a lot at our house.

There was a wedding at Cana. Jesus’ mother was there and so were Jesus and his disciples. When the wine ran short, Mary went to Jesus with the problem. His answer to her, “how does your concern affect me, my hour has not yet come.”

That is an interesting question. We could pray about it for hours. But look at Mary’s response.

His mother just turned around and said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” And, they did. They filled six stone jars with water. Then, the waiters drew some out. The water had become the good wine.

In her response to Jesus, think of the Christmas song Mary, did you know that your baby boy Would one day walk on water? Mary, did you know that your baby boy Would save our sons and daughters?

All good mothers know their children; but, maybe Mary knew a little more. Remember all the things she was told and kept in her heart, by the Angels, by Elizabeth, by the shepherds and knelt and paid homage to the new king. She kept in her heart, the words of Simeon and the Prophetess Anna from the presentation at the temple.  All the things she was told and kept in her heart, Mary knew.

Jesus is the good wine for God is great. God is good. Amen.

And Mary has always brought our problems and needs to Jesus.

The headwaiter was speaking about more than just the wine in his cup when he said, “Everyone serves good wine first… but you have kept the good wine until now.”

In that time with no newspaper or internet or television, people would have shared this story about a new teacher they had hear about from Nazareth. They would share the story in the marketplaces and meeting places and homes. And as that story was shared from person to person, people may have compared Jesus to another great person – Moses who had turned the water of the Nile into blood.

Now, something greater had happened. Someone greater had turned water into wine at a wedding in Cana.

Some would remember the prophecy of Isaiah that told of a wedding, a covenant between God and his people in which the LORD God rejoices.  They would compare the wedding Isaiah promised to bring blessings and great joy to the people to this wedding at Cana.

Some would begin to believe that Jesus is the new covenant. He would bring blessings. It was Jesus who simply spoke and the water in these stone jars became wine. It was the best of wine at the wedding in Cana.

It was the best wine, think about the promise. Certainly, the good wine brings joy, abundance, blessing, and life that God promised. Some who heard the story would know something special had happened. Some would realize the good wine presented at that wedding was Jesus, the goodness of God brought to us.

That best would continue to bless. There would be miracles, healings, and casting out demons. He would feed the hungry, calm the seas, and walk on water. He would transform wine into his own blood. He would give the gift of salvation for all God’s adopted sons and daughters. Through him is the promise of eternal life. He would give of himself to make us good wine.

We are made good wine through the power of the Holy Spirit. Some will receive the gifts of wisdom, knowledge, and faith. Others receive the gifts of healing, mighty deeds, and prophesy. Still, some will receive the gifts of discernment of spirits, speaking in tongues, and interpretation.

These gifts are given to serve God and to live out his plan for us. A divine plan put in place before we were born that is part of His covenant. Our destiny is to bring God’s divine plan into the world. He gives us the gifts to fulfill that destiny. He gives us the good wine of Christ.

Do not be disappointed if you don’t have a gift of tongues or healing or mighty deeds. Your gift may be to recognize the good Jesus Christ and share it so others will know the greatness and goodness of God.

Your gift may a devotion to Mary, being an example to others, praying for others, and bringing the needs of many to Jesus’s mother so she can bring them to Jesus.

Maybe your gift is to glorify Jesus and believe. Maybe our gift is to listen to him, and He will help us to be good.

Be good, be Holy, and preach the Gospel by the way you live your life and love one another. That is your greatest gift.” Praise be Jesus Christ forever and ever. Amen.

A Family Plan - Homily Feast of the Holy Family

Praise be Jesus Christ forever and ever.   Merry Christmas.

Today, we celebrate the feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. A family of willing participants in God’s divine plan. The model  of a Holy Family all Christian families should strive to become.

In God’s divine plan for everything your family, my family, and the salvation of the world by forgiveness of sins was this Holy family. A family that loved and trusted one another. In their love was a family that knew peace, harmony and comfort.

It was a family that said “yes” to all that God asked of them. Mary said “yes.” Joseph said “yes.” Even Jesus said “yes,” to Father’s divine plan. In their “yes,” the Holy Family lived God’s divine plan.

The Holy Family, just like the rest of us, experienced problems now and them. That happens in today’s gospel.

The demands of love sometimes put us in a bind. Parents know this. As our children grow, we learn everyday how the demands of love continually unfold.

The modern family may look different from the Holy Family; but, by love all want the best for family. That is part of God’s plan.

Sadly, human love and family love can be focused on wrong things. Many thinks “best” are material things. Striving for material best, persons can lose sight of love from trust, peace, and harmony. This can lead a family lost from itself and from God's divine plan.

The best we should want for family is a loving relationship with God. The best is a relationship with God in Jesus Christ. The best is when a family knows who Jesus is, why He is, and why He is God. The best is for a family to know prayer, faith, and hope.

Wisdom of Sirach tells us with family “we store up riches; are made glad; and know comfort.” Those are intrinsic best for family.

As mentioned earlier, everyone experiences problems now and them This Holy Family that was the yes in God’s divine plan still faced troubles of this world.

The gospels of Matthew and Luke tell us about the birth of Jesus; but in today’s gospel it seems Mary and Joseph didn’t immediately see God in a missing little boy named Jesus.

They looked for him for three days. They looked like any parent would look, thinking like a little child. Looking in all the places a child would think wonderful in a place like Jerusalem.

They were worried parents. They probably thought the worst. They probably imagined horrible things. In the back of their mind, they knew God protected their little boy Jesus but he was still missing.

Many know this feeling. I know this feeling as I thought one of my daughters was lost once. She was 17 and worked at a coffee shop and often closed my herself.

When she wasn’t home at her regular time, I gave her 30 minutes and went looking. At the coffee shop, my daughter’s car was parked outside and inside was a man, with a gun, counting money.

I was a worried. I thought the worst, I imagined horrible things. And I pounded on the door to rescue my daughter from that man with a gun. By God’s grace, it was the owner, and he did not shoot and ask questions later about this man trying to knock his door down. He was as concerned as I was.

Her phone had no reception. Her best friend did not know anything. I was filled with anxiety. She showed up a couple of hours later and could not understand why I was worried.

When Mary and Joseph found Jesus, she said to him, “Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety. And he said to them, why were you looking for me? Did you not know I must be in my Father’s house?”

Pretty much the same answer my daughter gave me. She just wasn’t at church. She was riding 4 wheelers. She was mad that I didn’t trust her. She was a teenager.

St. Paul gives us a guide to living as a Holy Family in God’s divine plan “Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another….”

Bring Jesus to the center of your family. Want the best for them, a relationship with God. God’s divine plan for us is to be a Holy Family. All of us being one. A family of willing participants in God’s divine plan, a Holy Family that answers “yes” to God.

Friends may God’s love be evident in the trust, peace, harmony, and comfort that reign in our home and in the faith we profess.

Be Good, be holy, and preach the gospel by the way you live your life and love one another.  May Jesus Christ be praised forever and ever. Amen.

 

Living Kindness and Love - Reflection Third Sunday of Advent Year C

Praise be Jesus Christ, fore ever and ever

Today is Gaudete Sunday. The 3^rd Sunday of Advent and we light the rose candle. The rose-colored candle represents Joy.

Our reading today are all about Joy. The Prophet Zephaniah speaks God’s word: “Shout for joy, O daughter Zion!  Sing joyfully, O Israel!  Be glad and exult with all your heart….”

Paul writes to the Philippians “Brothers and sisters: Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again:  rejoice!”  Then he continues, “Your kindness should be known to all.”

Paul told them to know true joy “rejoice in the Lord.” Rejoice and “your kindness will be known to others.”

The world in the time of Paul and the world today does not lend itself to people being kind to one another.  Yet, the LORD God sent his prophets with a message of kindness and joy.

When the crowds, tax collectors, and soldiers asked John the Baptist what should we do, he answered them simply to be kind to others - "Share with the person who has none. Do not cheat others out of what is rightfully theirs. Do not falsely accuse and be happy with what you receive."

Because of the simple instruction of John the Baptist, people were joyful. It was his simple instructions on how to be kind to others that brought hope John the Baptist was the messiah.   "All were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ."

John says something better is coming  "I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals."

To paraphrase John in a simplier way, Hold on people, if my words bring you joy and hope wait for the one coming after me. The joy I bring is nothing compared to His. His work is of the Spirit of God. 

John was telling them the truth of the Psalmist words, “Cry out with joy and gladness for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.”

This Sunday, Gaudete Sunday cry out with joy and gladness. The Lord is near.

“What should we do?”

Let us learn from this example.  A couple of weeks ago during the children’s liturgy, the teacher asked each child what they wanted others to see in them. Each child gave a beautiful answer.

One little boy, the loudest, most restless, and the one surely everyone knows rom this description, had a very good answer. This child who finds his joy running between the pews and up/down the aisles looked at the teacher and answered, “I want them to see Jesus.”

He is three years old.

All of us older than that three year old should want that same thing. If others see Jesus in us and we see Jesus in others, the world will know joy and the peace of God that surpasses all understanding.

By the fact that we are  baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, our presence in this world is the presence of Christ to many. Just as he asked the prophets, God asks each of us to bring  the world kindness and joy.  

We are baptized to do this. Christ is near us. He is in us. By the power of the Holy Spirit, others will see Chist in us and we will see Christ in others. God is always near and realizing this is true joy. Living out kindness and love brings joy.

Be good, be holy and preach the gospel by your life bringing kindness and joy to others. Praise be Jesus Christ fore ever and ever. Amen.

The Friendliest People - Homily Feast of Christ the King

 Daniel 7:13-14, Psalm: 93:1, 1-2, 5, Revelation 1:5-8, John 18:33b-37 

Praise be Jesus Christ, forever and ever. Praise be to Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

This is a wonderful day to celebrate our God and King Jesus Christ.

The LORD God says, I am the Alpha and Omega. He is the beginning and end of all things; the one who is, was, and will be. Remember nothing that God puts in your life is unimportant.

Reflecting back on this week and the things he put in my life, God was there.

Thursday night sitting alone at the Hibachi Super Buffet in Jonesboro AR, and I witnessed the friendliest people. The servers greeted each person with sincere happiness. It was a loving warm friendliness between all the servers and guests. It was genuine. It was the atmosphere. Greetings were full of smiles, handshakes, and many even shared hugs.   

The next morning, the same thing in the hotel lobby. The employees interacting with the guests. The guests smiling and happy, not only interacting with the employees but with the other guests as well.

When I went to my room to pray with my prayer journal, I wrote about the love and friendliness I witnessed.

Then at my appointment, I asked my contact a native of Toronto, Canada, how Jonesboro compared to Toronto. His answer it was friendliest placed he had ever lived. People are nice. They go out of their way to greet you. He said the friendliness was contagious.

I thought about how we see Christ in others and how they see Christ in us. How many will not realize God’s love until we share with them God’s love in us.

The Christ in us is contagious.

However, this is 2021. The world tells us, we do not need Jesus. We do not need Jesus as our King. We do not need Jesus as our leader and hero.

Sadly, in today’s world what is right and just in society often comes from the lies and deceit of the evil one. Many times the things put before us, can be cartoonish.

Some prefer the cartoon heroes (both real and make believe) because the great deceiver uses them to champion his lies. Christians sit, watch, and accept the actions of the enemy as the way it should be in the world.

Big business require employees to ask a person’s preferred pronouns so not to offend. Companies call it tolerance and respect; but it often it does not go both ways. Sharing Christian faith can be upsetting to non-Christians.

The devil changes much by deceit and little by little. The world becomes more secularized, agnostic, and atheistic.

Even the opinion of Christ changes. Christ has moved from King to buddy. Some do not ask Jesus to lead us but accompany us. Lives are not redeemed but socially adjusted.

Instead of preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and giving glory to God, too much of popular culture worships at the altar of I, me, or we and might have a little Jesus on the side.   

Both this feast day and the Gospel we share holds the essence and truth about being a follower of Christ. If we proclaim “Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe”, we battle the enemy’s lies in the world.

Jesus said, “Mine is not a kingdom that belongs to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be here fighting for me.”

Jesus’ words of hope were “Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

Those who listen come from all peoples, nations, and languages. His voice is the seed of the kingdom planted in us for it is the way, the truth, and the life.

Believers know the truth that His is a kingdom of God’s presence where justice, love, peace, and goodness exists for all people.

Christ is King and leader who loves so much he does accompany us in our life’s walk. His redeeming kingship saves us and that saving redemption adjusts our lives so we may know and live the truth of his kingdom. By his kingly sacrifice, we have become more than friends. We are his adopted brothers and sisters.

Jesus said that this Kingdom is not of this world. But, His kingdom can exists in us and through us. It is a Kingdom of respect, tolerance, and forgiveness that recognizes the dignity and beauty of all creation. It is hope and tr    uth. It is the seed in every Christian believer to grow the Kingdom of Our Lord Jesus Christ in this world.

For the world to know that kingdom, Christ must be the King that is reigns over our lives.

He must reign in our minds. He must reign in our wills. He must reign in our hearts. He must reign in our bodies. He must reign in our talents, gifts, and abilities. He must reign in our love of God and our love for one another.

Nothing that God puts in your life is unimportant. Think about how we see Christ in others and how they see Christ in us. The Christ in us is contagious when we plant the seed of the kingdom in others. He is the beginning and end of all things.

Friends be good, be holy, and preach the gospel by the way you live your life and love one another; and, His kingship will not be destroyed.

Praise be to Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the universe forever and ever. Amen.

Harsh Words – Reflection 33rd Sunday OTB

 Praise be Jesus Christ fore ever and ever.

Most know, I have three beautiful grandchildren. I love them all, but each is different. Each has their own personality. 

My youngest grandson is a rambunctious 3 year old. There are times, maybe twice or more a week or a day, the daycare calls for someone to come and have a discussion with him about his behavior.

After the second visit, the discussions become a little harsher. When you love someone, a little tough live maybe needed to put them on the right path for their behavior. Put it this way, the 3 year old gets a lot of guided tours to that right path.

Those times are hard on me. Each of my grandchildren are unique and I love them just as they are more than anything.

On that note, what do you think about the scripture readings this morning? I you ask me to describe them in one work – “Yikes!” or even “Scary!”

With those “scary” words, take these comforting thoughts. God loves you more than anything.

But…, I am a sinner.

God still love you more than anything.

But…, I am a little different than other people.

You are God’s creation. You were created for him to love and to love him. God loves us in our difference more than anyone else.

God loves us in our quirks. He loves us in our differences. God loves us even when we sin. Because God loves us, do not be afraid of Jesus’ words.

It is our sin we should fear. Sin hurts us. Sin is the rejection of God’s love for us. Sin is when we fail to love God.

That is even more “scary” than Jesus’ words: The sun will become dark and the moon will no longer shine. The stars will fall and the powers of the sky will be shaken.

Times of greatest sin is when many see these scary things Jesus warned us about. Jesus tell us to not be afraid. Because, Jesus will come again. All things will be made new. All who live holy lives will live forever.

Scripture proclaims, “You shall be Holy for I am Holy.” And, “You are God’s temple and God’s spirit dwells in you. For God’s temple is holy and you are that temple.”

God sent Jesus as an example of how we are to be Holy. He sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in us so that we should be Holy.

To live a Holy life we should take these simple words from today’s Psalm used in the Children’s liturgy. “You Lord are all I want! You are my choice and keep me safe. I will always look to you as you stand beside me and protect me from fear. With all my heart I can safely rest.”

Being Holy is a loving God. Being Holy is not rejecting God’s love. Being Holy is following Jesus words, his instructions, and following in his footsteps.

Many look at the world and see what Jesus describes in today’s Gospel. It is easy to see violence, hate, injustice, and attacks on the dignity of peoples. There is much confusion as men, women, and leaders of the world think they can be God by opinion and legal rulings. Many times, the result is not Holy.

Sometimes a loving Father has to speak to his children with harsher words; but, He still loves each of them more than anything.

We are shown a path of life in Jesus words, instructions, and way. It is a path that will not change. His words will not pass away. Everyone who listens to him will shine bright in wisdom.

Do not be afraid. Only God the Father knows the timing of his will. It is all in the Father’s hands.

Be good, be holy and go to preach Jesus’ words by the way you live your life and love one another.

Praise be Jesus Christ, for ever and ever. Amen.

A Widow’s Trust Homily - 32nd Sunday Ordinary Time

Praise be Jesus Christ, forever and ever.

It is said that a preacher will often preach to themselves. It is true today.

This past week there was a graveside service, a baptism, preparation for All Souls mass on Tuesday, reports on mass attendance for the Diocese, perpetual adoration on Thursday, and the First Friday mass with adoration on Friday. Today is altar server training, PSR, mass, and this afternoon at 3 is blessing of the graves. I had to prepare two homilies and find time for my spiritual direction studies.

People will ask how do you have time for all the things you have to do? The truth is I don’t.

I missed a Holy Day of Obligation, the Feast of All Saints, because I took care of my mother and had work obligations. Because of other things, I missed my holy hour a couple of days this week. Sometimes, I think I rush my prayers.

In these, I see my failures at being holy and giving myself totally to God.

It is because of my riches. My riches are a beautiful and loving family. I have a job. I have a home. I have two wonderful church families - St. Lawrence and Our Lady of Fatima. Sometimes the obligations I have to these keep me from giving all to God. 

I see myself in the scripture readings today, in so many ways, as one of the poor widows or the scribe or those that give from their abundance.

The most obvious point of the readings is the two stories about people who have nothing. Two widows that have no money, little to their name; but, they have faith.

In the first reading, the prophet Elijah meets a poor woman and asks her for a cup of water; and, as she was going to retrieve it he adds, could you also make me a small piece of bread.

When the woman protest, Elijah tells her she will not run out of flour and oil until the famine is over.

Most people would considered Elijah’s request crazy, cruel, or both. This poor woman had only a little flour and oil, enough for one last meal for her son and her self. But this widow, because she had nothing was free from worldly riches. She can easily trust this prophet of God and gives from all that she has. Her only gamble is trusting God, and God does not fail. God recognizes her gift.

The Gospel shares a similar story. There is an extremely poor widow. She has almost nothing. Because of her poverty, she is free enough to give from all that she has. Her only gamble is trusting in God and God does not fail. Jesus recognized her gift.  

These widows’ actions came from their faith and love and trust of God. They gave as they felt they must, sacrificing some or all that they needed. 

But, look also at the other persons Jesus identifies in the gospel. Jesus contrasted the poor widow to the scribe and others who flaunted themselves and paraded around in their importance.

Their worldly importance had become their keeper. They were not free to have a trusting faith in God’s mercy and salvation. The trust and faith they have was not in God but other things. The were not free to give from all they had because their faith and trust was in their appearance, position, and their wealth.

In these readings, the widows, the scribes, and the affluent people are not given names. We can put ourselves in their place. I can see myself in each one of them.

As I shared my week earlier, I can easily see myself as the scribe that Jesus speaks about. Worried about my ties to this world, my job, what people think of me, and making other people happy by what I do.

At the same time, I can see myself as one of the widows. Trusting God and giving to God from the gifts he has given me. Always afraid that what little time I have will run out and I will not be able to do what I need to do.

I can put my own name on the people of these two stories. Can you see yourself or others in those people?

In this world, prudence requires us to take the proper actions and precautions to care for our family and loved ones. That is riches God has given me. Like the widow, what little I have I should give it to God with a trusting faith. What I give from all I have is the hand full of flour and little bit of oil. God always give me more to share. 

These are the things that makes us holy. It is not the activities but the total trust and faith we have in God. It is a trusting faith that comes from freedom. Giving all from what little we have. Ultimately it is God who cares and looks over us.

That is the truth the widows shared in their simple ways. Each had a trusting faith in God. 

It is by the trusting faith we have in God that we are saved.

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

Praise be Jesus Christ fore ever and ever. Amen.

 

The Peanut Butter all over the Room - 31st Sunday OTB

 Praise Be Jesus Christ forever and ever.

Have you ever asked a question knowing the answer, trying to catch someone saying something wrong? I did it when my children were young.

They were not good at telling a fib. "Did one of you get into the jar of peanut butter?

No, they would answer and had good reasons in the eyes of a child why peanut butter was all over the room.

As the years passed, I learn to read their body language, expressions, and especially their eyes. The eyes can be the mirrors to the soul. It was a good skill to have as they became teenagers.

Although not to same end, the Jewish temple leaders, Pharisees, and scribes were always trying to trick Jesus. Using human truths and laws in a dishonest way to achieve what they wanted.  

What they wanted was to discredit Jesus and they tried to do it all the time.

Once they asked him “Is it right for a man to divorce his wife?” Another time they questioned him “Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

Jesus’ answers was to the point. You hypocrites! Why are you trying to trap me?"

Those probably knew the truth about Jesus. Surely they saw the miracles all over the places he went. They recognized in his body language, expression, and words that he spoke with authority. Surely, they could not have looked into His eyes (the eyes of God) and treated Jesus the way the treated him.

But, they were trying to trap him with human law. They were using worldly truth to achieve what they wanted.

Friends most of the time, when we sin we are doing the same thing.  We justify our sin by worldly things.  Many look at human terms, laws, and opinions and ignore God’s truth.

Sin is a terrible thing. However, people think it is no big deal most of the times. It is a small thing. God forgives. The sinner will get over it. Others will get over it.  With that, the sinner abandons God and reason. .

People are trying to trick God, look around, how is that going? 

Human law changes. Politicians and lawmakers will not remain in office. They will not live forever. However, Jesus remains forever. God’s truth remains forever.

The one the world is trying to trick by human law and reason knows our thoughts. The world can never trick God or trap Jesus; even though humanity as tried since the beginning of hiistory.

That is why today’s gospel is a little different. The question of “What is the greatest commandment?” might have been asked to trap Jesus.

Jesus’ answer: The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

That answer open the eyes of the scribe. He saw the truth of who Jesus was in the answer the scribe already knew. The scribe listened to Jesus and looked into his eyes and saw God. The scribe acknowledges the truth in Jesus’ words.

Jesus saw the scribe understood.

Our sin is the peanut butter all over the room. We can never make up a situation where God’s answer and truth is to blame. If we deny it or justify it, sin is sin. Realize, it is of the world. Give to Caesar what is Caesars.

Live by the greatest commandments so that never will the situation arise when we think we can trick Jesus to justify our sin. Everyday, imagine yourself looking into the loving eyes of Jesus and merciful eyes of God.

Living that greatest commandment is to know truth. Knowing truth, never will you question Jesus again.

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

Praise be Jesus Christ forever and ever. Amen.

I Know That Young Man - Homily 28th Sunday OTB

 Praise be Jesus Christ fore ever and ever. Amen

I joined the PSR classes this morning and heard the teacher asked the class, “what are the rules that God has given us to live by?” She continued, “Does anyone know the answer?”

The class just looks at her. I'm standing behind holding up 10 fingers. Then, she holds up both hands with all her fingers outstretched “The 10…”

One little boy shouts out, “The 10 fingers!!”

Not exactly right, but maybe a good answer - think about it.

God loves us so much he wants to hold us in his loving hands. Those 10 commandments are like the 10 fingers that hold us close to him. The truths of how we are to love him and love each other.

Today’s Psalm proclaims “May the gracious care of the LORD our God be ours; prosper the work of our hands for us! Prosper the work of our hands!

In the gospel today, a young man asks Jesus, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

Jesus answers him “You know the commandments….”

The young man assures Jesus that he had observed since he was a child.

Jesus loved him, but said, “You are lacking one thing. Go, sell what you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me."

At that statement the young man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

It is the same place many fail; myself included.

I recently completed the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. One thing the retreatant must do is recognize their poverty. A poverty found in the times failed in life by their sins. Times separated from the riches of a relationship with our heavenly Father.

The way to recall and reflect these times is prayer. “I prayed and prudence was given me; I pleaded and the spirit of wisdom came to me.”

It was a hard to pray about all the times I hurt God. One friend said after he started this exercise, he wanted to run and hide from God because of his sins and the hurt he had brought to God and others. Truth is “Nothing is concealed from him; everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.”

As I reflected, one thing coming upon my heart seemed trivial; but, as I contemplated, it became profound.

In high school, all the football players had a secret spirit booster. These boosters put up signs and spirit posters. They gave treats on game day. My senior year, a sophomore made me cookies every week.

She was a sweet girl but not a good cookie maker.

The day came when our secrete spirit booster was revealed. I was a senior, a football player; but, I had no idea how to interact with girls. When I meet her, my awkward response was – “you can’t make very good cookies.”

I was that young many who came to Jesus. His failure was he couldn’t let go of his possessions. All his stuff was more important to him than eternal life, a relationship with Jesus, and God.

Jesus telling him “give all that you have to the poor and come follow me” was Jesus telling him – “love God with all that you are and love your neighbor.” The pride of the young man for all his earthly possessions would not let him do it.

Pride is the source of most sin. Pride has us put our things before God. It is putting loving our things before loving our neighbor. In my pride I told someone who spent many nights making cookies for me - you don’t make very good cookies. I didn’t treat her the way God wanted me to treat her. I think back about how my pride hurt her.  

As I reflected on it, I saw that same pride in all my sins.

Every one of us, if we look at our sin, will see our failures are the same as that one who approached Jesus. It may not be monetary wealth, but it is something we see as riches. They are the things we put before God and loving others.

"Then who can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "For human beings it is impossible, but not for God.  All things are possible for God."

By the greatness of God, his mercy, and his sacrifice - our sins we are forgiven.

I recently read: “Faith without religion is like breathing without air.”

So remember, come to mass and pray every day to draw closer to God. Recognize, we are sinners. Partake of the sacrament of reconciliation. Come to Jesus in Eucharist to have eternal life.

Friends, come and follow Jesus. Be good, be holy, and preach the Gospel by the way you live your life and love one another.

Praise be Jesus Christ for ever and ever. Amen.