Living in Ordinary Time - 2nd Sunday OTA

 

Praise be Jesus Christ forever and ever. Amen.

This is the 2^nd Sunday of Ordinary Time. Google “Ordinary Time,” it is defined as the part of the liturgical year outside the seasons of Advent-Christmas and Lent-Easter.   

That is kind of an “ordinary definition.”

The Church’s definition is more Christ centered: Ordinary Time is a time for growth and maturation in which the mystery of Christ is called to penetrate ever more deeply into history until all things are finally caught up in Christ. 

In our part of the country, the ordinary time between Christmas and Easter is King Cake and Mardi Gras season. That is not a bad thing. The king cake with the baby inside, reminds us always look to find Jesus. Mardi Gras celebrates goodness and blessings before Lenten penance for our unworthiness as wait the return of Christ.

It is in these times, we reflect God’s glory to all around us by what we say and what we do.

It is also a time people fall back to ordinary routines and everyday habits – good and bad. Back to their normal ways, which may be missing time to pray; missing time to praise and worship God; missing mass; and missing the sacraments.

St. John Paul II said - If faith is not fully incorporated into our culture then we do not fully accept it. Think about that for a second……, if faith is not fully part of our life, do we really have faith? Sadly, faith is no longer an ordinary part of culture.

The world accepts the dismissal of faith as the ordinary. A world that is waging a battle against Christian faith; making the hurt of sin as the accepted actuality of “everyday” life.People of faith are at risk of falling to this peril by the ordinary in the “everyday” world.  

This “everyday” becomes the ordinary. Friends take care and do not fall into this ordinary.

Jesus Christ came to the world so we would not worry on “everyday” life. (Mt 6:25) Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, takes away the sin of the world. (Jn 1)

We receive grace upon grace (Jn 1:16) that feeds our souls.  And, our baptism, the sacraments, and the Holy Spirit prepare us to fight against “everyday” ordinary life of this world.

It is a fight for our souls and the souls of the ones coming after us. (Jn 1) It will be easy for those who come after to reject faith they know nothing about.

You may ask, how do I fight against the everyday world? I cannot do this. There is nothing special about me.

Even John the Baptist said he was unworthy, but he was the voice that cried out in wilderness. He had the strength of this voice, because God called him.

Our strength is Jesus Christ the Son of God. Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony. (1 Jn 5:10)

Holy was John the Baptist. Holy was St. Paul. Holy are those who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Rm 10:13). In our holiness, the LORD calls each of us by name. Called to Christ Jesus by the will of God. (1 Cor 1:2)

Friends answer God’s calling, “Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.” Announce God’s justice. Put a song on your lips and God’s hymn in your heart. Because God the Father sent his Son into the world to change us.

We are God’s children now.(1 Jn 3:2) Adopted as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ. (Ep 1:5) God’s family living in this world.

Sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy. (1 Cor 1:2).  Each made glorious in the sight of the LORD. (Is 49:5)

God is our strength! God’s strength allows us to live by faith in the “everyday” ordinary. In living out faith,  we reflect God’s glory to all around us.  

It is up to us. Do not restrain your lips. (Ps 40:10)  All of God’s children, TESTIFY. Announce justice. Live a life of faith. Make it our culture. (Ps 40:10)

Merge the “everyday” with the mystery of Christ. Weave into the world an ordinary that is a culture of faith. Be the light that allows the mystery of Christ to penetrate deeply into the “everyday” ordinary of this world. (Is 49:6)

As believers and people of faith make the sacredness of prayer, praise, and worship a priority. Glorify and praise the Lord God as your normal. Our Ordinary Time is being the Lord’s witness in “everyday” ordinary until all things are finally caught up in Christ.

We reflect God’s glory to all around us by what we say and what we do.

Be good, be holy, and witness the good news of Jesus Christ by the way you live your life and love for one another. This is what our faith is all about!

Praise be Jesus Christ forever and ever. Amen

"It Must Have Got Some Spice In It" - Homily 21st Sunday OTC

Isaiah 66:18-21 Psalm 117:1, 2  Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13 Luke 13:22-30

Praise be to Jesus Christ, forever and ever.  Amen

Here is the message of the parable Jesus teaches in the gospel: “We will all be standing outside the locked door knocking and saying, “Lord open the door for us.” And he will say to you in reply “I do not know you.” 

Those are some harsh words. They cannot be meant for me. I am a believer and a Christian. I come to his table - I ate and drank - and listen to his teachings. Jesus is not talking to me in those words. He is probably not talking to any you.

But, the truth of our everyday words and actions can put us outside that locked door. The LORD knows your work and your thoughts. He will say, ”I do not know you, depart from me you evil doers.”

As a deacon, I don't want anyone God has been given to my care to be outside that lock door.  My ministry is to help you find a friendship with God. For that reason I share this story.

My youngest grandson learned a new word. “Hate.” He does not know what it means. He says things like, I hate my dinosaur. I hate hot dogs. I hate my brother.

His mother tells him, “We do not hate, it is not nice.” He laughs and says it more. Finally, my daughter says, “Go talk to Poppy!”

So he crawls up in my lap, and curls in the crook of my arm. So loving and so trusting. I tell him I love him. I tell him his mommy, brother, nanny, and mammaw, and even his dog loves him. Does he like the love in my hugs and kisses when he sits in my lap?

U-huh, I love you.

I tell him, hate is the opposite of love so why does he say he hates,  “Do you know what hate means?” He just turned 4, he doesn’t.

God gives me this idea. I pulled this bottle of Tabasco Sauce from the back of the refrigerator. The cap had not been put on firmly, so the rim was nice and crusty. I put him in my lap and said, “Do you want to drink this?”

He says “No it’s nasty! It is spicy. It will burn and make my tummy ache.”

I said, Liam, that is like hate. You do not want to put hate in your mouth because it is nasty. You don't want it inside you because it burns the goodness away. It makes you hurt and broken. When hate is inside you it hurts you and it hurts others. Do you understand?

He said he did. Maybe, he proved it the next day.  On the way to school, he asked his mom for his favorite song “We don't talk about Bruno.” --- We hear that song a lot.

She was driving and could pull it up on the phone; but, he kept asking why. Finally in desperation, she says, “My phone is broken!”

In a 4-year old's logic, he says, “It must have got something spicy in it.”

That is how our life is - this world gets inside of us. The nasty old crusty bottle of worldliness burns up the goodness and we forget Jesus. We forget why we eat the bread of life and drink from the cup of salvation. 

We turn from love to hate.

The greatest commandment is love God with all we are and love our neighbor as ourselves. That is seen as less and less important. It is alive in people of all races, cultures, and viewpoints. The world does not want us to know that. It does not want us to love God, each other, and to forgive one another. 

The world wants us to hate.

People can bring that attitude to the Church even though they do not see it. They have stopped listening to the word of God. They sit at his table, but it is not important to them. They don't know God and they stand outside the door. To them, the LORD will say I do not know you.

Hate and the bigotry, prejudice, vitriol, disrespect, and violence hurt us and others. It causes us to be broken. The broken person is not new. Isaiah prophesied.

“People from all nations will come to see God’s glory, but if you are coming to God’s temple bring your offerings in clean vessels.”

Jesus teaches that to enter into God’s kingdom requires the discipline of knowing, following, and listening to God. He calls it a narrow gate.

St. Paul tells us God comes to us every day. God comes in times of trial, turmoil, and trouble. He communicates in times of joy and happiness. In these, we are to strengthen ourselves and make our paths straight.

Friends, God speaks to our hearts in different ways -- in creation, in everyday experience, in the things we love. 

A dialogue with God must go both ways. God talks to us; but do we hear his word? He knows us. He knows our thoughts. Do we know God’s voice and listen? 

Are we strong enough to talk to God with all that we are including fears, troubles, joy, and concerns. Can we get mad at God, laugh with God, mourn with God, rejoice with God?

God spoke to me and my grandson with a bottle of tabasco sauce. I took it in little bites and chewed it good and long to see God’s message. It is not necessary something that comes easily. 

To grow in this, I partake in spiritual direction. I have a spiritual director that helps me in my friendship with God.  It is a friendship I desire and God desires for me to have. My spiritual director is helping me grow in that relationship.  

Priests, deacons, religious brothers and sisters, all seek spiritual direction. If you are seeking to grow in your friendship with God and your dialogue with the mysterious other, spiritual direction may be for you. It may be what you need to open the door, to truly hear Jesus' words and teachings. To fully sit at the LORD’s table.

Lord open the door for us so that each of us may grow in your friendship. 

Remember, in this crusty world, it is important for us to be good, to be holy, and to preach the Gospel by the way you live your life and love one another. 

Praise be to Jesus Christ, forever and ever. Amen.

Which do you Choose? Hommily 18th Sunday OTC

Praise be Jesus Christ forever and ever. Amen

Did everyone get the message of our scripture readings today?  Greed is bad.  Greed is the excessive, reprehensive, inordinate, and a wanting desire for possessions– money, things, cars, houses, and food. With greed, this desire become more important than anything else does.

No one here won the $1.28 Billion dollar Megamillion lottery jackpot. There is a chance for a “lotto greed” with that much money and people were lined up out the door when I got my tickets.

One ticket sold in Illinois won. That is a lot of money, if you took that amount of money in $100 bills and laid it end to end, it would be well over 1200 miles. In $100 bills, it would weigh over 28K lbs. That is a lot of money. 

Since no one here won that money, I really do not have to speak about greed because none of us is rich enough to be greedy.

If that is what you think,– Vanity of vanities! All things are vanities. Qoheleth (ko--hay-leth) this – if all you do is work so you will have more. If you are up all night worrying about your job or how you’ll have more – it is vanity of vantities - “you can’t take it with you so what is the point?”

Consider the choice between two newspaper articles from an unknown date in the future that tell your life story.

One outlines a world famous, super successful, and extremely wealthy person. In life you focused on success and wealth to ignor everything else (ignored your family, friends, and God) to become this self-made person. It told of a life full of all the wealth and excess success in the world brought about. It told people were jealous and envious, which made you guard everything, even yourself, what if this article was your obituary.

One outlines how loved you are and the good you have done. You lifted up the poor and lived a lifetime ministering to the hungry, sick, homeless, and imprisoned. Yet, you had no earthly wealth or things – money, possessions or fame- only a life lived among people you loved and who loved you. People knew your smile, generosity, love, and devotion to God. You shared everything and yourself with others, what if this article was your obituary.

Which do you choose?

Greed is not just about money and wealth.  Greed is desires that harden your heart to the Christ in you and the Christ is all.

Paul describes this to the Colossians. Each of us is given the choice of what is of the earth and important to this world. Those things are immorality, impure passions, evil desire, and greed. All are idolatry. These things become god of the world.

Or, we can seek the better. Choose what is above instead of what is on Earth.  Choose a life hidden with Christ in God. Choose to be renewed. Become a new person in the image of God our creator. When see Christ is in us, we see Christ in all.

Paul asks, “Which do you choose?”

Your probably thinking, Deacon I am not rich or greedy. I have no excessive, reprehensive, desires for anything, especially none of the things Paul lists. I just want a little bit more.

Be careful, God’s commandment is not to covet (desire) what we do not have. Someone wanted just a little bit more and said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to share his inheritance with me.”  

Jesus response knew that person’s heart.  Jesus could have said your right, bring your stingy scoundrel of a brother here to take him to account.

Knowing the heart of the person who spoke to him, Jesus said –“Take care to guard against all greed for though one may be rich, your life does not consists of possessions.”

Greed causes us to put a wrong value on temporary things. It treats the temporary things of this earthly life as if it will endure on earth forever. The temporary things become all we hope and believe in.

Greed treats eternal things as if they are not real and will never happen. That may be why scripture does warn that the greedy will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Jesus warns; Do not make earthly things, the most important thing in our life.

Jesus does not say being successful and having nice things is wrong.  He does not condemn a nice house, a nice life style, or things we have in our life.

He gives us this parable of the rich man’s bountiful harvest. He hoarded all his wealth, greedily keeping all the good things for himself.

Jesus said to those who listened, “you are going to have to make an account for all this things you have been given.” Who do they belong to, you or God.

Jesus asks this question - Build riches on earth or build treasures in heaven? Which will you choose?

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

Praise be Jesus Christ forever and ever. Amen.

Who God intended us to Be - Homily Feast of the Ascension Sunday

 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/052922-ascension.cfm 

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord. Praise be Jesus Christ – forever and ever!

A couple of weeks ago as I was leaving the ballpark someone asked me “Deacon what are you doing here?”  I answered, “Enjoying my grandbabies playing ball.”

She laughed, “I can’t wait to hear about it in your homily.”  For sure, I thought about that as I prayed over the scriptures.

They are not babies anymore. They are growing up from babies to toddlers to children; soon they will teenagers and young adults.  

The transition from baby to toddler, toddler to child, child to teen are liminal moments. We never stop growing - always in transition of who we will be. All of us on the threshold of what God intends them to be.

The reason I know the phrase “liminal moment” is  scripture scholars define the Ascension a liminal moment, a time between times, leaving one place and being on the threshold of another - a time of transition.

That moment written about in today’s scripture at the end of the Gospel of Luke and the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles. The time between the ministry of Jesus and the works of the apostles began at that moment, the ascension. The liminal moment is the transition of the disciples who followed Jesus to become his Church.

In Luke, Jesus reminds his disciples of the promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit, which will cloth them with power from on high. He blesses them and tells them to go back to the city and get ready for it.

Then Jesus ascended into heaven.

His Church did what Jesus asked, “Empowered by the Holy Spirit, they went and preach the Gospel “the Good News” to all of creation.” The greatness of the power of God moves us to what we are intended to be.

Today, many are stuck in a liminal moment. Stuck between where they have been and where they are going. Even some baptized Christians have not open themselves to the power of God, the Holy Spirit.

Maybe, it is apathy on their part. Maybe, it is the failure of others to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Maybe, it is the indifference of society as a whole.

This are all symptoms of hearts that have become dull in hope, love, joy and so much more. A dull heart can lose faith. It is a reason many despair. It is the cause of many fears. It is a reason many are unhappy in this life.

This heart becomes apathetic because this world dulls the heart. The dulled apathetic hearts testify to the tragedies and injustice around us.

However, hope is in the power of God.  It enlightens the eyes of our heart. The promise of God kindles in us faith, love, joy, peace, and hope. The fruits of the Holy Spirit clothe us with the power of light.

God’s power that raised Christ from the dead and seated Christ in a place of honor in heaven; God’s power made all things and holds all creation in existence.

The world will continue as it is until a change comes. A change promised by Jesus. He blessed us with the power to bring change. That is the power the world needs.

God’s power to bring us from that liminal moment between what is and was to what He intends us to be.

Friends: May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a Spirit of wisdom and revelation in knowledge of him.

May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened to know the hope that belongs to his call,   the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, and the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe….

May you be blessed to be who God intended you to be. 

Be good, be holy and go out in the world with joy praising God. May Jesus Christ be praised forever and ever.  Amen.

He is Risen Indeed - Homily 3rd Sunday of Easter

 Jesus Christ is risen, Alleluia  

A friend, an elder in the Lutheran Church, sent me this Easter Greeting the first thing Easter Morning. The response I texted back, “He is risen indeed. Alleluia, Alleluia.”

This is a traditional Easter greetings among Christians, but, I wonder if these are the words the disciples shared after Jesus appeared to them the first time?  I’m not sure because I don’t think they were sure.

The disciple were behind closed doors when Jesus appeared to them. Thomas put his hand in Jesus side and fingers in the nail marks. The disciples felt the breath of Jesus upon their face when He breathed upon them. And they were still not sure.

All that was going through their minds, did we not see Jesus crucified? Was this Jesus or a ghost that passed through the walls? They were not sure what they had seen.

Simon Peter has the answer, “I’m going  fishing.” The other disciples say, “We’re coming with you.” They go fish all night and catch nothing.

When the dawn comes. Jesus is standing on the shore looking towards them. They could see Jesus well enough; the boat was only about 100 yards from shore. However, the disciples did not realize it was Jesus.

Jesus speaks; calls them children. “Cast the net over the right side of the boat” and they did. “The number of fish in their net was so great; they were not able to pull it in.”  The disciples may have thought, it seems this happened before. They remembered the  time Jesus said that he would make them fishers of men.  And, John realized, “It’s the Lord.” Then, Peter excitedly jumps out of the boat to get to Jesus.

On shore, Jesus has the Eucharist ready for them. Even though no fish had been brought to shore, fish were cooking. Bread was ready to be broken and shared. Jesus tells the disciples; bring what you have.

There is a whole lot of meaning in that short sequence. Time does not allow us today to explore all that is there.

The point I believe this gospel make is He is risen indeed. 

A second point is Jesus asked the disciples to do some things. Share the Gospel. Baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Build my Church. Share the Eucharist.  Jesus called them to a new life.

Like children they had a hard time doing as told. They hid.  Even after Jesus breathed upon them the Holy Spirit, they ran to the isolation of a boat in the middle of the Sea of Tiberius.

Maybe they forgot Jesus could walk on water.

They wanted the comfort and familiarity of their old life because the disciples were scared. They were scared for the mission Jesus had given. They were scared for their lives and the persecution to come. They were scared of things they had seen, experienced, and would experience.

Was the Jesus they saw a ghost? Was the Jesus that came to them a hallucination or was Jesus really raised from the dead and alive? None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?”

A question to be asked by many answered by this Gospel account.  Was Jesus dead - the dead do not eat? Was Jesus a ghost - ghost do not eat?  Did the disciples hallucinate – hallucinations do not serve you fish and bread to eat?

Jesus is a living, breathing, tangible person standing before them.  Jesus body, blood, soul, and divinity invites the disciples to breakfast. Only the living needs to eat.

That meal is the Eucharist.. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life.  The disciples truly realize Jesus Christ resurrected to life. They are able to tell everyone the resurrection was not myth or story.  Jesus is alive and eats breakfast.

He is risen indeed.  This truth is the enormity of Jesus’ promise. It is in the enormity of all He asks of us. It is truth for long time disciples, followers of Jesus, new believers, and those who want to believe.

In Jesus Christ, life goes on. We eat breakfast. We visit with our friends. We live our lives doing the things we enjoy. Called in our everyday lives to something greater.

Jesus told the disciples to share the Good News. Baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Build His Church. Share the Eucharist. Come to a new life.  Instead, they were scared. They ran and hid.

Loving them, Jesus came with a simple meal to give them strength.

Just like the disciples, we are to share the Gospel. Baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Build up His Church. Share the Eucharist.  We are called to a new Christian life and we can often run away and hide.

Loving us, Jesus comes to us in a simple meal to give us strength to do the things he asks.  It gives us strength to face all the scary issues of our individual lives in this scary world.  

“Blessed are those who have not seen and believed.”

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

He is risen, indeed.  Alleluia - Alleluia 

"How Big are They in There?" - Homily 3rd Sunday of Lend "C"

Reading I: Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15   Responsorial Psalm:103:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8, 11  Reading II: 1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12  Gospel: Luke 13:1-9

Praise be Jesus Christ forever and ever. Amen

At Friday's fish fry, I was asked if my homily was ready. No, it wasn't, in fact I was studying the scripture as I ate fish. But, God would send me the message he wanted. As most of you know, God sends me messages through the eyes of a child.

Walking to my truck with my grandson, I explained to him about good choices and listening. "Liam, Poppy can't keep coming to school because you do not listen to your teachers." 

He answered, I don't know how to listen. So I told him, "Use your ears to hear what people say. Use your head to understand what they say. Use your heart to know the right thing to do."

Then he says “that’s because Jesus lives in your heart.” Then he asks “Does God live in there too?.”  

I said "yes, God and Jesus are both in your heart." 

Then he asks, “Well how big are they in there?”

God spoke to my heart, go with it.  

Moses sees fire flaming out of a bush; and, though on fire, was not consumed. Moses decided – I must go and look at this remarkable sight.

Moses asks God “‘What’s your name?” God replied, “I am who am.” If any one asks who sent you tell them “I am that I am.”  God tells Moses - I will be what I will be. I will create what I create. I am being itself. I am the alpha and omega. I am eternal.

God is the flaming fire of goodness that does not consume us but makes us more. God is in creation all around us. God is in each of us. We are his creation.

God tells Moses this is how big “I am.”

There is Christ, the spiritual rock that sustains us. He was with the Israelites as they came out of Egypt. He is with us now. We all drink from the same spiritual rock.

Jesus comes to search for our fruitfulness. The fruits of faith, love, joy, and hope we share with others. Many times, he finds none. We let bad things, suffering, and fear stand between the God and us.  It keeps us from listening to the one we need to hear.

Jesus came to rescue us from that fear and suffering. He knew fear and suffering more than most of us will know. From that, He preached hope, peace, forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life realized in the heavenly kingdom to come. 

Then He left to his disciples the responsibility to cultivate the ground. He gave them the gospel and instructions on how to make it fertile. 

We have Christ in us. Christ is in others. That is how great the love of  Christ is. 

In Christ's love, love we are to be fruitful.

And yet, St. Paul warns many proclaim and profess this; yet, God is not pleased with most of them. Many think they are secure in what they believe; but, they grumble or desire evil things. To all those, take care.

Bad things are going to happen in this world. We are afraid of those bad things. We are afraid of the suffering that happens. To avoid bad things and suffering, people make bad choices failing to listen for what they need to hear with their ears, their heads, and their hearts. 

But, a 3 yo would probably not understand any of these things. So, I answered him like a grandfather not a deacon.

God and Jesus both live in you. When you breathe air you do not get bigger right then; but, you need air to grow and become a big boy. God made the air. God made our food. God made us. God is in all that makes you grow to become a big boy. God is even in the choices you make because Jesus lives in the goodness and love we have. He helps you make the right choices.

He answered, “Ooo-kay, I going to ride my scooter now."

This is the 3^rd Sunday of lent – Scrutiny Sunday. Friends, today do an examine. Look at the choices we make. Use our ears, heads, and hearts to listen to the goodness and love of Christ that is in all of us.  

Most will fail to listen to Jesus speaking to them from the goodness and love in their hearts. Never fail to follow him. When we fail to follow the Jesus in us, we crucify him again and again.

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.