2nd Week of Advent Year

Posted on December 6, 2019December 6, 2019 by Deacon Joe

Is 11:1-10; Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17; Rom 15:4-9; Mt 3:1-12

On that day is now this day! Who is this baby who “shall play by the cobra’s den…and the child lays his hand on the adder’s lair”? Where are justice and the fullness of peace forever? It is Jesus and in Jesus! He is the “root of Jesse” who fills the earth with knowledge of the Lord. It is our time now to “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths” in our hearts, our lives in relationship with Jesus our King. The path into his kingdom is repentance.

We live in a world full with a “brood of vipers” spreading injustice, turmoil, war, and division. Where do we choose for a lair? Our rest is in the Lord. This is the day when our neighbor is a bear or a lion we do not fear for the spirit of the Lord rests upon him who receives him that is Christ Jesus. Receive Jesus and fear not. The spirit comes with knowledge and understanding to take right action in good counsel and strength. Our strength is in the Lord to climb the “holy mountain”. This “holy mountain” is the kingdom of God given to us at baptism.

The holy mountain in baptism comes with the gift of the Holy Spirit. Our pilgrimage is to climb the mountain as we grow and mature in faith through this life. It comes with graces that are spiritual gifts in our “tool box” to meet the challenges up the mountain of life. At times we say “life happens” but does it really just happen or do we journey by choice along a path? We may even get lost and stumble, losing sight of our purpose in life. Then the guiding star appears again and we return to the path of righteousness and continue our journey.

He judges the poor with justice, are we not all among the “poor”? Our poverty comes in our suffering physical, emotional, and spiritual warfare. We are the militant church on earth and we have a battlefield each day we rise and offer it up to the Lord. Justice is for the Lord and it comes to those who “produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance.” Our battle focuses not on the evil doers even if the wolf comes to be our guest and it will come. It always does. It seeks to test our faithfulness to the truth. Shall we stand or shall we fold to the challenge? The Holy Spirit will direct what we are to say to the ruthless and the wicked as a “rod” to strike the heart of the deceiver.

Our battle focuses on producing good fruit. The band around our waist is the band of justice, do the next right thing trusting in the one who is with us. The next right action is the test of good fruit. We must be prepared for the test. Prayer is the beginning and the end of our preparation. Pray always with a conscious intention before the next important step in the path of justice. Pray in repentance for our sins before the next right reception of the bread and body of Christ in the Eucharist. Pray for the enemy calling for mercy and justice. Pray for perseverance while the test is in process that the struggle up the mountain continue and not turn back down in despair. Pray in thanksgiving for the battle is won through prayer.

The kingdom of heaven is at hand! That day the prophet Isaiah prepares us for is here. Where will we rest our heads tonight?

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Homily

Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Posted on November 23, 2019November 20, 2019 by Deacon Joe

2 Sam. 5:1-3; Ps. 122:1-5; 2 Col. 1:12-20; Lk. 23:35-43

“This is the King of the Jews”. The sign on the cross intended as a mockery was the fulfillment of the prophesy “the chosen one”. “He is the image of the invisible God.” How many representations of Jesus are made in picture, statue, woven yet regardless of the difference in image they give testimony to the one reality “the image of the invisible God” came in human condition into our history, the uncreated shares in the created humanity to be one with us.

“For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth”. This gives testimony to the Trinity, one God in three persons who “is before all things…and in him all things hold together.” All “things” exist by his will created for a purpose, a divine purpose. Are we living our divine purpose? This is where our joy lies.

“He is the beginning, the first born from the dead.” The God of the living for those living in Christ where death is but a rite of passage from our mortal bodies into the eternal state…but not all. Not everyone accepts the gift of life in Christ. Just as in times past some still believe there is no resurrection for the dead while others believe there is no hell and all inherit the kingdom. Free will means there is a choice. Just as scriptures speaks to the fallen angels from grace so is the fallen humanity by choice. Choose wisely!

His desire is “that in all things he himself might be preeminent.” Christ the King first in our lives. In his death and resurrection his kingship in the world “all the fullness was pleased to dwell.” Jesus dwells in us halleluiah! The King of Glory comes into our being to be one with us as he is in the Father and the Spirit. It is an invitation of transformation. Sometimes this is described as “less of me and more of Christ in me” as a giving up of our existence a “dying to self”. The God of the living is not asking for our death but to come and give us the fullness of life in him. Imagine if we allow him in every moment of life to transform us into being the greatest he created us to be “all the fullness” of life, love, and liberty is ours, free in Christ the King.

“It is through him to reconcile all things for him.” Our sins are forgiven through him as he promises the criminal “today you will be with me in Paradise”. Did he steal heaven or did Jesus snatch him out of the grasp of the devil because he turned to Jesus for mercy? Jesus saves! The wait for his kingdom has passed. Have we passed into the kingdom already present for us or is it passing us by as we reject the call to reconciliation? Jesus have mercy on us.

Jesus invites us into his love “making peace by the blood of his cross.” Many criticize the Church for keeping the image of Christ on the cross when he has resurrected. His presence on the cross is for the unrepentant sinner and today we have many in this world. He is the sacrifice on the altar to continue his suffering for our sins. When will we accept the fullness of his love and why the resistance to such an invitation?

I would call this a modern version of a parable. There were three men being offered a choice between a rock and a diamond. One was Jew, one Catholic, and one Protestant. Each man chooses the rock and rejects the perfect diamond. The Jewish man says he chooses the rock because of his sense of unworthiness. The Catholic man says he chooses the rock out of fear of responsibility for the diamond. The Protestant man says he chooses the rock to make it into its own diamond according to his image. Finally, a child playing passes by and grabs the diamond with no self-awareness, no fear, no intent but to enjoy its beauty. Grab the diamond, what are we waiting for?

The fullness of the diamond is in the Eucharist, body, blood, soul, and divinity. The kingdom is present and it comes into our bodies, soul, and spirit. Diamonds make laser cuts to root out the imperfect. The Eucharist is the diamond to receive this day and allow the fullness of Jesus to work in our being transforming us into his image, a diamond of holiness. All are invited to come and receive in this sacrament his love. The Church sets a process in Baptism and Reconciliation as our testimony of faith to give visible signs of our love of God. Receive and rejoice in Christ the King of Glory. Remember diamonds are forever!

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Homily

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on November 16, 2019November 15, 2019 by Deacon Joe

Mal. 3:19-20a; Ps. 98:5-9; 2 Thes. 3:7-12; Lk. 21:5-19

“Lo, the day is coming”, this day “The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.” Jesus speaks of a later date from a historical position since his time had not come to pass through his passion, death, and resurrection. The temple of Jerusalem “adorned with costly stones and votive offerings” was yet to be destroyed. The early church martyrdom when “they will seize and persecute you” was still to come. Finally, “awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky”. What greater awesome sight and sign than Jesus ascension into heaven? What about now?

The mystery of faith is seen in the passage “they will put some of you to death…but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.” Almost a contradiction in the eyes of humanity to be put to death without being destroyed speaks to the revelation of the resurrection. Just as in last week’s readings directed to the resurrection of the dead, it is a confirmation that God is a God of the living not of the dead. All the suffering of this world remains for us to battle but “by your perseverance you will secure your lives”. We persevere in our daily work of holiness. Bringing our faith into our day produces the holiness of our work and multiplies the fruit of our work so every day is a miracle of life for greater good.

Human history is filled from the beginning of time with the rise of one people against another be it in the family such as Cain and Abel or among Kingdoms or Nations with World Wars. Natural disasters can be traced to the “Flood”, Ice-Age, “earthquakes, famines, and plagues”. Now some speak to the end times with the destruction of the environment in another decade. They preach against having more children as a moral wrong to give new birth into the world. Jesus answers these voices, “see that you not be deceived. Do not follow them!”.

St. Paul’s warns against anyone who is “conducting themselves among you in a disorderly way”. He says “if anyone was unwilling to work, neither should that one eat.” Are we to be concerned with the environment? Pope Francis in his encyclical “Laudato Si” on the care to the common home makes the affirmative response. We have a responsibility to be prudent in our use of nature for our resources. Do we not cut down a tree to build a shelter, warm our bodies or cook a meal? The answer is we are created to have dominion over the earth not to worship nature. Care for the environment is prudent use of these resources.

We have gone through decades in the fight for life from conception to natural death. The new fight interconnected to the past is the care of the environment. The environment is a gift to humanity to be protected let it not become the new religion to replace the worship of nature for God. In a secular world that seeks to take God out of the common square nature easily steps in as the greatest good and humanity must be sacrificed to the new secular gods of earth, water, air, and fire. Again, “see that you not be deceived” by these voices. We follow Jesus, his Word, the teaching of the church and the gifts of the Holy Spirit to discern truth.

According to the catechism of the church, “earthly progress…is of vital concern to the kingdom of God, insofar as it can contribute to the better ordering of human society” (CCC 1049). Progress is right judgment in the use of our human resources for the greater good. If a tree is rotted and falls is it removed to prevent the dry bark from becoming fuel for a wild fire or it allowed to remain part of the natural habitat for nature to dispose. If it is near a neighborhood there may be one action and if in the middle of a forest another appropriate action. We are familiar with the expression, “don’t throw out the baby with the bath water”. Spiritually, don’t dispose of humanity to save the earth.

The earth belongs to God and we belong to God but the earth is a gift to humanity and we value the gift with love. Let us persevere in our work in an ordered view of nature and humanity. We work quietly for the kingdom of God and he produces the fruit of our labor when we allow him to work in us as instruments of his love.

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Homily

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on November 9, 2019November 8, 2019 by Deacon Joe

2 Mac. 7:1-2, 9-14; Ps. 17: 1, 5-6, 8, 15; 2 Thes. 2:16-3:5; Lk. 20:27-38

“…he is not God of the dead, but of the living”. The Sadducees denied the resurrection and today the world is full of deniers in the resurrection “for not all have faith” placing their trust in themselves for this time only. No faith in the resurrection is no hope for a future and without hope the darkness of despair covers the light of truth in the present. “If this is all there is” as some proclaim then the present is but an experience in search of a purpose. Where is the meaning of life beyond the emotions of the moment? It becomes a search for the “feel good” pleasure principle. Sacrifice and suffering for a greater good is meaningless. It is all about “me and now”.

Contrast the belief in denying the resurrection with the story of the seven brothers and their mother from Maccabees. The conviction of these boys in the resurrection shows great courage to accept the evil of their world for the greater good of life eternal. In the gospel today the Sadducees challenge the belief in the resurrection with their own story of seven brothers with one wife questioning whose wife will she be after death. Both stories profess a God of the living after mortal death. In each story there are seven brothers and one woman. The woman has a different role as mother or spouse. The seven brothers and the women in each story are a sign of salvation history.

In Catholic study there is more than the literal understanding of scripture there is also the spiritual sense. These include the historical context, language and prophetic meaning in what is called the “exegesis” the fullness of truth. The fact that there are seven brothers in both stories has its own significance. Seven is a sign of perfection thus the seven brothers who surrender their life for their faith is the perfection of love of God and a foretelling of the perfect sacrifice to come in Jesus Christ.

For the seven brothers it is “with the hope God gives of being raised up by him” and in Jesus that hope becomes fulfilled. The seven along with their mother are tortured “with whips and scourges” as Jesus is to suffer for our sin. There is also the proclamation of one brother, “It is my choice to die at the hands of men” and it is Jesus proclamation to lay down his life freely as he tells Pontius Pilate he has no power if not given by God himself. Then we have the mother of these brothers in the story. She is not only a silent witness but a participant in the suffering and death “for the laws of our ancestors”. In Jesus he also has his mother at his side as a witness to his passion and death suffering in body and soul until the day of her ascension. In her ascension she becomes our universal mother, mother of the Church, at our side in our sacrifice for her son.

In Luke’s story we have seven brothers and one woman given in marriage. Who is the bride of Christ? It is the Church united to our High Priest and to all the brothers of the priesthood in persona Christi. Each brother takes in marriage the woman as Christ gives his bride the Church to the priesthood to continue into perpetuity his bride to the world. Christ through the woman, that is the church gives birth to her sons in the priesthood to remain as signs of Christ to the world in sacrifice of themselves for Christ’s bride, the church.

These stories speak to the truth of Jesus in the resurrection already “to him all are alive”. The only question left is in what state of living. Is it before the glory of God, in purgatory, or in hell? In the glory of God “my joy will be full…I shall be content in your presence”. In purgatory we suffer our purification awaiting the glory to come longing for atonement especially through the prayers of the church. In hell “there will be no resurrection to life” only a continuous agony of pain. The great mercy of God is waiting. What is our response to him today? Lord “keep me as the apple of your eye.”

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Homily

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on November 2, 2019November 3, 2019 by Deacon Joe

Wis. 11:22-12:2; Ps. 145: 1-2, 8-11, 13-14; 2 Thes. 1:11-2:2; Lk. 19:1-10

Jesus our Great Soulmate! Who understands you so well that sometimes even as you speak, they seem to know your thoughts, understand your feelings, and care for you so much as to challenge you? We say “we connect” and there is a joy and peace at just being together. This is a soul mate and our Great Soulmate is Jesus Christ. He knows us and loves us so much he does not leave us alone but is working in us to be the best we were created to be, saints for heaven.

John 3: 16 is a favorite passage from the bible for most Christian believers. “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life”. You see it on everything from coffee cups to bill boards. It speaks to the heart of God and his love for us universally and individually. This love of God is directed to the cross, a living sacrifice for me and you. Our thoughts look at the world, the history of mankind, the generations of people who have lived and gone and then we look at ourselves in the midst of so many people and question “Does God know me, hello anybody up there paying attention?” If the universe is but a “grain from a balance or a drop of morning dew” then who is God that the Lord eternal knows me and loves me? This God is “the lover of souls” and we are souls created in his image that carries his “imperishable spirit”, God’s soul mate. I in him and he in me so I may believe and have eternal life.

St. Paul in Thessalonians forewarns us “do not be alarmed either by a ‘spirit’, or an oral statement, or by a letter from us to the effect that the day of the Lord is at hand.” What is the day of the Lord? It is the day in which we enter into eternal love in spirit and in truth. That is the day we die to ourselves and live in Christ. We do not have to wait for our mortal death, this day is today. Being made in his image the Lord is and has been working in us “little by little” warning us and reminding us of our sins. In his mercy he overlooks sins of the repentant soul and we exist because he wills it until the day when either we choose life in Christ or death apart from him.

Life in Christ means we respond to our “calling and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you and you in him.” This is how we will know we are Christian, by his love glorified in us. The good purpose he has called us into this life is being fulfilled and you know that you know it to be true because the soul finds its love, peace, joy and rest in living the good calling. Our response to his love is entering into the eternal now, the day is at hand now, and “Today salvation has come to this house.” Who is the descendent of Abraham? It is the believer who repents and atones for his sins.

In today’s gospel, Zacchaeus didn’t just repent he understood the source of his sin and made a commitment to atone for his sins. He immediately offered half of his possessions to the poor. He was a “chief tax collector and also a wealthy man” thus his sin and wealth is confessed in his own words, “if I have extorted anything from anyone, I shall repay it four times over.” What caused this sinner to make such a dramatic transformation? He was awakened to the spirit already given by God in his soul and in his own personal “fiat” came to believe in Jesus Christ.

If we consider the source of our sins in what manner of atonement would our actions be directed? Do we simply ask God for forgiveness and move on? Consider the seven capital sins and then look to the seven cardinal virtues as a means of seeking atonement. Each sin has an opposing virtue to counter the sin. If we have been greedy and made wealth our sin then seek charity, if prideful then seek humility, if prone to wrath then seek patience, chastity counters lust, temperance counters gluttony, if envious seek kindness and finally diligence overcomes the laziness of a sloth. Even though we cannot undo the past we can search for the virtue that overcomes our past sins as an act of atonement and by doing so we guard against this weakness and strengthen our spirit. This is what Zacchaeus did, inspired by the spirit he responded to his past sins with a promise of future virtue.

We live in a time where “sin” is minimized if not altogether denied. We cling on to our “rights” to be, do and justify all our actions. Even if the spirit within recognizes in itself the “problem” of imperfection it is justified as “I am me, get over it!” Where is the growth in spirit or union with the spirit of God? Hopefully it is not operating at a 2-year-old level driven by concupiscence, our human passions. Often “little by little” God is working in us for our conversion into a mature faith and sometimes we just get “knocked of our horse” as Paul was to realize our sin and respond to our true calling.

Our Great Soulmate came down from heaven to be our visible presence in this world and his calling is personal ready to awaken the power of the spirit within us. Not I but Christ in me, in you, in the believer. In Jesus Christ “we connect” to the eternal. This weekend as we remember all Souls Day let us remember the souls of loved ones who have entered into the glory of God and pray for those in purgatory being purified by the fire of love.

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Homily

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on October 26, 2019October 25, 2019 by Deacon Joe

Sir. 35:12-14, 16-18; Ps. 34: 2-3, 17-19, 23; 2 Tim. 4:6-8, 16-18; Lk. 18:9-14

“The Lord hears the cry of the poor”. We are justified by God’s mercy. The one who exalted himself in his own righteousness denies their sinfulness and thus by doing so denies God. God is truth and the tax collector recognized God’s truth as he “beat his breast and prayed ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.”

We live in dark times where the denial of absolute truth is common practice. One way to justify “our truth” is by faith in our conscience thinking. If our conscience says, “I see no harm (fill in the blank) with abortion, euthanasia, same sex marriage, unlimited gender identity, etc. because my conscience sees no harm after all who can deny a person’s individual rights?” Our conscience has determined our individual rights are ours alone, total entitlement without responsibility to “other”. God is other and we cannot say we belong to God without being responsible and accountable to the God who set limits on our rights and calls us to obedience.

Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created human beings in his own image…male and female he created them.” Today some want to identify as “they” with the freedom to change their identity tomorrow if their conscience determines this is who they “feel they are” and societal norms must approve their truth. Conscience is not a feeling. Conscience is an informed thought process supported by natural law, the gifts of the Holy Spirit and by God himself in the Word made flesh. It requires faith, reason and trust to achieve truth.

In the gospel today, the tax collector turns to God for mercy and trusted in him. The Pharisee trusted in himself, his conscience to be self-justified and in his pride “will be humbled”. In the 2^nd Letter to Timothy, Paul makes a bold statement based on both his humanity meaning his conscience and through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit when he says, “From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me; which the Lord, the just judge will award to me on that day…”. How is Paul so bold as to make this claim and sound like the Pharisee? The difference is the Pharisee is a minimalist doing what on the outside appears compliant to the law to be self-justified. Paul is a “libation” for Christ meaning he has made of himself an offering totally living for the glory of God.

If we ask ourselves where am I on the spectrum between the Pharisee on one end of minimalism and Paul on the other end as a “libation” in our daily worship, sacrifice, obedience, and love of God? In our honest conscience appraisal, we find ourselves somewhere between the two. Confirmation is a sacrament to propel us forward as warriors for Christ, to compete well and run the race of faith to the end being the best God created us to be not the least. Paul’s “departure is at hand” his days are numbered and his is looking back now and in faith proclaims God “will bring me safe to his heavenly kingdom.” Most of us look forward to a long life not so much back at our race or how well we have competed in our faith. If we did, we might be headed to confession beating our breast in prayer, “O God, be merciful to me a sinner.”

The Lord “knows no favorites…not unduly partial toward the weak yet he hears the cry of the oppressed.” As we look around at the world scene there are many oppressed who suffer in ways some have never experienced in this country from war, terrorism, extreme hunger, disease and genocide. Still even here we have the poor, homeless, unemployed, widow, orphan, and the sick. The Lord hears the cry of the “one who serves God willingly…his petitions reaches to heavens.” Not all the suffering serves God willingly. It is the prayer of the humbled who is exalted with no sense of entitlement. In the heart there is no claim “I deserve better”. It is the “prayer of the lowly…it does not rest till it reaches its goal…judges justly and affirms the right, and the Lord will not delay.”

Paul lived an informed conscience by the Holy Spirit. Looking back the race was finished and the hour had come to receive the crown of righteousness from the just judge. What will be our prayer at the last hour if we are blessed to recognize our hour has come? What is the perfect prayer Jesus gives us? The first thought might be the Lord’s Prayer he gave the disciples. Others may simply say all of Jesus prayers are perfect prayers. One prayer however stands out as Jesus recognizes his hour had come. It is called the “high priestly prayer” or “The Prayer of Jesus” in John 17:1-26. Paul’s prayer mirrors this high priestly prayer as a libation of surrender to God.

Reflect on just a few of these words from the heart of Jesus in this priestly prayer, “When Jesus had said this, he raised his eyes to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you…I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do. Now glorify me, Father, with you,…I have revealed your name to those who you gave me…Now they know that everything you gave me is from you…I pray for them…because they are yours and everything of mine is yours…But now I am coming to you…I pray…so that they may all be one, as you Father, are in me and I in you.” Could this be our prayer?

Today we receive the word and the body and blood of Jesus to be incarnated in us. In this we run our race to the end and persevere as an offering of ourselves not just in all we do but in who we are. It will rescue us “from the lion’s mouth”. Claim our crown in righteousness of love poured out for God.

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Homily

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on October 19, 2019October 16, 2019 by Deacon Joe

Ex. 17:8-13; Ps. 121: 1-8; 2 Tim. 3:14-4:2; Lk. 18:1-8

“Proclaim the Word; be persistent whether convenient or inconvenient.” This is football season and the gesture a referee makes to signal a score is two arms raised up. It is a sign of victory that even as fans we join in making to celebrate with the team. “As long as Moses kept his hands raised up, Israel had the better of the fight”. Moses arms grew tired and without the help of Aaron and Hur supporting his hands they may have lost the battle. We have our own individual battles of life to conquer.

We too can become tired and call on God, “Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” To hold us up in victory God provided us the Liturgy of the Word on one side and the Liturgy of the Eucharist on the other.

In the Liturgy of the Word we not only proclaim the word in our celebration of the Mass, but we digest it into our being and go forth to live it “whether it is convenient or inconvenient” to the world. Simply by proclaiming it in the smallest of gestures like making the sign of the cross it announces who we are before a word is said as a “safe space” around our being Catholic before others. It calls on our Lord God as our help to be present in our battle. It also calls on the Holy Spirit to inspire us in what we are to say whether to “reprimand or encourage all done through patience and teaching.”

The other hand in battle is supported by the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The Mass is our constant prayer around the world with Jesus being lifted up in the bread and wine by the hands of the priest. The Church prays day and night and we come to receive him to sustain our faith in battle. Jesus asks, “But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” Do we come to receive him in faith, hope, and love of his real presence?

From the outside gestures we all stand, kneel, and respond in union but as the word of God is proclaimed and we respond it “discerns our reflections and thoughts of heart.” It speaks to us and our state of faith. We all are in a different place in our journey of faith and our covenant of love with God. This too however is revealed to us as we respond to the proclamation of the word in our hearts and our “Amen” to his body and blood in the Eucharist.

This week I witnessed a commercial on television from a self-proclaimed atheist soliciting funds on behalf of an organization to promote separation from church and state. In concluding his promotion, he states he is not afraid of going to “hell”. His proclamation ironically acknowledges a state of being in a place contrary to the faith of an atheist. Beneath his denial of a God his created being speaks a truth of faith as a creature of God which by his own words brings judgment to himself. We should pray for all atheist and agnostics while there is still time. Meanwhile we prepare for our battle of faith with both hands held high for the victory is ours.

Do we believe what we profess with hearts raised up or do we sit on our hands in silence? God is waiting “to serve the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night and will not be slow to answer.” The justice of the Lord comes “speedily” and the adversary will be defeated.

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Homily The Deacon Joe

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on October 12, 2019October 14, 2019 by Deacon Joe

2Kgs. 5:14-17; Ps. 98: 1-4; 2 Tim. 2:8-13; Lk. 17:11-19

“Your faith has saved you”. In the gospel today ten lepers are healed but only one return to give thanks. Healing came to all ten but salvation came to only the leper who returns to give thanks to God. Leprosy was thought of as a punishment from God worthy for the sin of the person. Naaman also is washed clean of his leprosy but only after his obedience to plunge himself into the Jordan seven times. The Jordan is the river Jesus is baptized in, not for any sin of his but to sanctify the waters to bring us salvation by baptism. Baptism the first of seven sacraments we receive for our sanctification. The story of Naaman prefigures the baptism of the Lord and the coming to perfection the washing clean of our sins.

The story of Naaman is also a beautiful story of conversion. His cleansing from leprosy did not save him, this was the visible sign of invisible grace from God. Naaman returns to Elisha, the man of God to give thanks to the god of Elisha and vows “I will no longer offer holocaust or sacrifice to any other god except to the Lord”. He didn’t simply acknowledge the God of Israel, he called him “Lord”, a conversion of faith saved him. The sign of conversion is to persevere in our faith and die with him as our Lord and savior. Many saintly souls as the hour of death approaches experience a dryness of faith, a final test summed up in the words of Jesus on the cross, “My God, my God why have you forsaken me”. It is the final opportunity for the serpent of evil to strike at the soul before it can never approach it again. How are we to prepare ourselves for that hour by perseverance.

“In all circumstances give thanks for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” What is the meaning when we say “Alleluia”? It is a two-word translation of “Hallel” and “Jah” meaning “Praise the Lord”. We use Alleluia as an exultation of praise but it is also a command to praise the Lord. We are to give thanks and praise him always, in good times and in bad, sickness and health. “Hallel” in Hebrew means joyous praise in song. In fact, the more we sing the Mass the greater the praise of God. The Mass is a celebration of thanksgiving. The intent is that we boast in God our savior. The dialogue of the Mass is to be praiseworthy. The gospel is announced, “THE LORD BE WITH YOU” spoken boldly with the response “And also with you” just as boldly, not timidly or “ho hum” going through the motions.

It is not easy to constantly be joyous. I would propose that it is almost impossible if our attention is ego-centric. Joy is not an indulgence from having more of our pleasures met. Joy is a conscious awareness of the love and mercy of God present in our lives. Our joy then leads to gratitude, the attitude of being ready to accept the will of God in thanksgiving. In thanksgiving we are open to a spirit of praise. We have a choice, either to focus on the negative and be drawn into pity or on the blessings and be raised up in joyful praise. We teach our children to say “thank you” when they receive a gift. Who benefits more the gift giver or the child by saying “thank you”? The child gains more by learning to be grateful and thankful. We are the child of God. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever; thanksgiving changes us not him.

A contemporary philosopher, Tristan Garcia (The Life Intense A Modern Obsession) speaks of our current human condition as in search of greater intensity of life “that might justify our lives”. This is the opposite of the complacency of life. This thrill-seeking behavior is pervasive from energy drinks, drug use, and roller coaster rides not just in theme parks but in relationships for maximum intensification of pleasures, love, emotions, communication and consumption. It seeks an escape from the discipline of life, from perseverance desiring for the “maximizations of our entire being…an intoxication of our sensation.” We are in “search, not for transcendence, as those of other epochs and cultures were, but for intensification”, we want more indulgence.

Transcendence is to know, love and serve God. It is recognizing his presence in every moment and desiring to do his will at that moment. Saint Teresa of Calcutta said her desire was to be a pencil in God’s hand. Saint Therese the Little Flower found her purpose and missionary calling in “always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love” in other words do the next right thing with love for holiness. In those moments of weakness when our struggle of faith is tested, the road less traveled back to our faith is the path of thanksgiving. God desires our greatest good and he knows the desires of our heart so let us trust in his goodness at all times especially in moments of darkness with a spirit of thanksgiving.

One of the dangers in adopting a life in search of a greater intensity is the disappointment from any obsessive behavior, there is no fulfillment, no joy, only emptiness of the soul. The nirvana we created in our minds is an illusion waiting to fall apart. For our youth this leads to anxiety, depression, and suicide. This is in part why we see a rise in mental health issues among our youth and it is increasing in younger children. We go to restaurants and observe families sitting together and each child is so well behaved absorbed with their electronic device. We observe television and each 1.5 seconds the image changes even if it is only from a different camera angle. When is the last time we just sat and contemplated a still image, a work of art, nature? How about sitting and contemplating Jesus on the cross or in Holy Hour for adoration? Here lies our joy and our peace.

Do you feel alive or in a rut? The great experience of living does not come from the egocentricity of overstimulation. It is a transcendent love from God in the Trinity. Turn to the love of God and experience the joy and peace he offers us. In return come to the house of the Lord in praise and thanksgiving to receive his salvation. If today you hear his voice, give praise and thanksgiving. In the morning when we rise, give praise and thanksgiving for all the day may bring before we live it by faith that it may guide us to salvation. Our faith will save us.

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Homily

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on October 5, 2019October 6, 2019 by Deacon Joe

Hab. 1:2-3; 2:2-4; Ps. 95: 1-2, 6-9; 2 Tim. 1:6-8, 13-14; Lk. 17:5-10

The apostles say to Jesus, “increase our faith” and St. Paul says, “…stir into flame the gift of God…For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control”. The mystery of faith is this gift of God, Jesus himself active in our lives. When the apostles say “Increase our faith”, Jesus begins with “If you have the faith the size of a mustard seed you would say…and it would obey you”. He gives his parable as an example and concludes his answer with “When you have done all you have been commanded say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.” The power of faith in action is not waiting for Jesus to “show up” it is taking the next right step of faith and trusting him to part the waters of the Red Sea as we go forth. The warning of today carries over from last week “woe to the complacent” who do only what they are obliged to do.

First let us look at the dangers of complacency. It begins with the approach to faith called minimalism. I am a good person and I pray I don’t feel I have to go to church to be with God. This doesn’t even comply with doing what we are obliged to do. Even Jesus went to the synagogue as required by the Jewish law. Others may say I am a good Christian, I ready my bible, I pray, I go to church and give a donation…BUT I don’t believe in all that sacrament stuff…the real presence of God in the host, confession to a priest that is just a little too much. The sacraments were instituted by Jesus so if we don’t believe in them then we don’t believe in the one who gave them to us.

Secondly doing only what we are obliged to do is seen in the “good” Catholic who is very proud in compliance with all church law but their hearts are far from the real presence of God. They may quote scripture and Canon law but mercy and love are alien to their hearts. Today we are reminded “good enough in not good enough”, meeting God half-way is non-negotiable. God desires the best of us, the best he created us to be. Today that may not be much because we are limited by our weakness and our sins yet we had the courage to take the first step of faith and also seek God’s mercy and love. Be prepared to be surprised that what we feared in our weakness we were able to overcome by faith trusting Jesus whose power we are given.

Finally, looking at the power of faith the Lord says “the just one, because of his faith, shall live”. The just don’t have a spirit of “cowardice” but a “flame of power, and love and self-control”. I offer these “Seven Spiritual Tips to Holiness”.

Tip #1: Offer it up! Beginning with the morning rise offer “it” your day, work, challenges, joys or sorrows. God knows what you are going to face by divine providence so offer it up for his glory and your greater good.

Tip #2: Exercise it! “It” is the virtue needed to build spiritual muscle. Be prepared for God to provide you the opportunity to exercise it. I often prayed for the virtue of patience and found my patience tested so much I looked for another virtue to work on. Spiritual exercises like physical conditioning requires repetition to gain the power of spiritual muscle as warriors for Christ. Exercise it!

Tip #3: Abstain from it! This is self-control, to say “no” to self when we want to say “yes”. No, I won’t talk back to my parents; and parents “I won’t check my smart phone every moment I’m bored. Phones are as addictive to adults as to youth but it is one of many temptations we need to overcome. Pleasure is not the end game; we don’t live for pleasure we live for the greater good. Abstaining is a means of cleansing our souls, gaining purity, and opening ourselves up to God.

Tip #4: Confess it! No excuses needed. Acknowledge the wrong on your end regardless of any fault by the other. If we need an excuse there is underlying guilt. Confess it immediately in your conscience. Follow it up in the sacrament of confession the next opportunity. When we don’t confess it, we carry it with us as a thorn of venial sin or nail of mortal sin. Healing comes through confession.

Tip #5: Proclaim it! If you proclaim it you own it. What we believe is a gift of light, be the light with the power to proclaim it. From the head to the voice it feeds the heart for greater power and love and self-control. Mass is a participatory celebration and we are all called to proclaim it by lifting our voice in prayer and song. “If today you hear his voice” proclaim it and his love will pour into us.

Tip #6: Awaken it! “It” is the slumber of complacency that says “good enough”. “I am a good enough Catholic, parent, son or daughter”. God desires it all, your heart, love and might, no compromise. Jesus came and radicalized our practice of faith for a more perfect love. The norms of society then and now are self-centered, God is other. Awaken to the other present in our life.

Tip #7: Embrace it! “It” is the cross of love. Embrace the gift of life, all we are and all we are created to be in God’s image is life giving. We live this gift for a short time on earth compared to eternity. It is not easy to embrace our suffering. If we just fear it, we may never free ourselves from it. It too can be transformative in our faith for greater power, love and self-control to be set free from it. The miracle of faith is active love, rejoice and embrace it.

Maximillian Kolbe in prayer asked the Blessed Mother “what was to become of me, a Child of Faith. Then she came to me holding two crowns, one white, the other red. She asked me if I was willing to accept either of these crowns. The white one meant that I should persevere in purity, and the red that I should become a martyr. I said that I would accept them both.” Dying to oneself is the daily red robe of sacrifice and the “Seven Spiritual Tips to Holiness” is the daily washing of our white baptismal robes of purity. Let us embrace all that God offer us this day and go forth with the faith of a mustard seed.

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Homily The Deacon Joe

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on September 28, 2019September 27, 2019 by Deacon Joe

Am. 6:1a, 4-7; Ps. 146: 7-10; 1 Tim. 6:11-16; Lk. 16:19-31

“Lay hold of eternal life” and fight the good fight! Jesus became poor in the flesh yet remained rich in his divinity to pour out riches to those who “pursue righteousness…Compete well for the faith” says the Lord. We are born with a competitive drive in fact, we love a good fight to win just look at all the sports options to drive our competitive fire. Friday night lights in every community are ready for the intensity of the game, the rush and the thrill of victory. How well do we compete for our faith? “Blessed he who keeps faith forever, secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry” and finishes the marathon of life. May we be blessed to say “I have run the race and fought the good fight…it is finished”.

We are reminded “Woe to the complacent in Zion!” Complacency is more than taking our faith for granted. It is depriving it of nourishment so that when the test comes, we find ourselves surrendering without a fight. The first nourishment and line of defense is the sacraments of the church. These prepare us for the fight as the foundation of faith. Through the sacraments Jesus pours out his riches in grace to provide us the weapons of virtue, knowledge, and wisdom. This does not come to the complacent but to the those who seek through prayer, devotions, study, and fellowship.

How much time do we spend in fellowship as a community? Tis the season for church festivals uniting ourselves in support of our parish. Study of our faith is power to be good in apologetics defending the faith. We recently had Scott Hahn speak at our parish, a minor miracle given his international ministry and we were blessed to have a packed church. Devotions both private and as a community like coming to Mass the first Friday of every month fill us with grace. Prayer is God’s time we give to be open to the spiritual work God wants to do in us.

Complacency says “not now God”, see in the intensity of life there is always something that is demanding attention, time, priority. The intensity of the world becomes the normative way and it deprives us of our time to mature in faith and wisdom of God. We judge ourselves as not complacent because we adhere to the intensity of worldly demands yet the spiritual life is dormant. We carry the spiritual life of a child hoping for the best and fearing the worst.

We are called to “Lay hold of eternal life” that is our mission statement. We do this when “we give life to all things…with faith, love, patience, and gentleness”. The rich man did not give life to all things, beginning with Lazarus “who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table”. The self-indulgence of the rich man landed him in the “netherworld, where he was in torment.” There was no escape yet he begs for his five brothers to be warned. Abraham prophetically tells him “If they did not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.” So true for Jesus came suffered died and rose from the dead and the world continues addicted to the sin of self-indulgence, they will not repent.

To fight the good fight in the world the first battle to be won is internal. It is the one that draws us to the intensity of sins of self-indulgence. Like an addict we keep seeking the intensity of a new high or chasing the memory of a past experience because the current experience has created a vacuum. The vacuum can only be filled by Christ. The battle within cannot be won without the power from above, God’s mercy and love. To lay hold of eternal life in this world is the victory for Christ and he shows us the way. St. Augustine says, “Trust the past to God’s mercy, the present to God’s love and the future to God’s providence.”

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