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Homily The Deacon Joe

Ascension of the Lord

Posted on by Deacon Joe

Acts 1:1-11; Ps. 47:2-3,6-9; Eph. 1:17-23; Mat.28:16-20

“I am with you always, until the end of the age” is our hope and salvation as Jesus visibly ascends only to remain as the invisible God with us.  The disciples went to the mountain of Galilee and “when they saw him, they worshiped but the doubted.”  What a contradiction to see, worship what you see and doubt what you see reminds us only in Christ can we do all things through him who strengthens us. 

In the midst of uncertainty as the disciples found themselves even in seeing the resurrected Jesus, they doubted his real presence.  In the midst of uncertainty how often do we doubt the presence of God and promise that Jesus is with us?  In receiving the body, blood, soul and divinity of Christ in the Eucharist how many remain in doubt to his real presence even after seeing Eucharistic miracles where the host turn into flesh and drips blood?  The power of faith to believe is the coming together of our will to the will of the Father to give life in the spirit of truth. 

Jesus provided “many proofs” he is alive yet they doubted.  The human spirit desires what only the Holy Spirit brings to the soul, the voice of God.  God enlightens the soul to truth out of the darkness of doubt through the waters of baptism; it confirms us in faith to the divine will to witness against the passion of idolatry; it feeds the hunger for love out of his own body and blood in the breaking of the bread; it brings conviction of sin to be cleansed in confession against condemnation of the law; it fosters unity in one body with the Trinity and fellowship of humanity against division of relativity; it raises sacrifice for a greater good against indulgence of narcissism; it brings peace and joy where there is fear and confusion; it is God with us  and who can be against? 

God sees the depth of the heart’s prayer as worship with doubt or worship in faith.  Jesus asks Martha, “Do you believe this?”.  He was referring to himself as “the resurrection and the life”.  Martha responds “Yes, Lord.  I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God…”  First, Martha came to believe indicating faith is a journey and each of us are on that path with its’ own share of joys and sufferings that bring us to this revelation.  Second, Martha arrived at a point of faith that allowed Jesus to perform the miracle of faith in raising Lazarus. 

The Spirit is present and active but where are the believers who have arrived without doubting in this power of God present in us and with us?  We remain as the people of God in the desert looking beyond for the promise land wandering, waiting, hoping, yet doubting.  Jesus is with us yet we must arrive in our faith as he walks beside us while our hearts are burning, wandering and wondering.  Believe and receive the promise waiting to be revealed. 

There was a radio talk show in which the person interviewed came to believe and converted from atheist to Catholic.  The one statement that had a profound impact in her conversion was when they heard “what if you just believed for 30 days what do you have to lose”.  She decided to act in faith what she was discerning and see what would happen knowing that if nothing happened the worst thing in the end she would “eat some crow” for her foolishness.  The encounter with God was not delayed as after only a few days there was a new profound faith giving birth in her soul that was left with no doubt.  Let us come to believe and set doubt aside so God can enter into our faith and make greater miracles of us, through us, and for us. 

For forty days Jesus appears to the disciples after the resurrection and before his ascension to bring conviction and instruction as to the kingdom of God.  They were to “wait for the promise of the Father…in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit”.  This promise is given to us who wait upon the Lord in faith already believing and “shout to God with cries of gladness”.  Thank you Lord for receiving me who receives you this day present to manifest power and glory in this humble servant for this I know your promise is everlasting. 

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Homily

6th Sunday of Easter

Posted on by Deacon Joe

Acts 8:5-8, 14-17; Ps. 66:1-7, 16, 20; 1Peter 3:15-18; Jn. 14:15-21

Faith and works unite love and justice into the one body of Christ.  It is the works of the will that reveal faith as the visible sign of invisible grace given to us who seek and ask.  This is the testimony of Philip in today’s reading (Acts) who proclaim Christ to the people of Samaria with visible power in the miracles he performed.  How do we demonstrate the power of Christ in our daily lives? 

1st Peter in his letter calls us to testify to God’s power in us when we “suffer for doing good, if that be the will of God.”  The “if” reminds us not all suffering is the will of God when evil remains in this world.  The will of God comes in suffering from keeping his commandments.  These works of our will call upon the “Spirit of truth” to be our Advocate when we respond with “gentleness and reverence, keeping our conscience clear”.  This is our challenge to call upon the Advocate in our struggle faced with adversity. 

How easy it is to fall into a battle of wills with those we love most.  The impulse is to return “fire with fire” sometimes aggressively getting loud and demanding or sometimes very passive aggressive with rejection through silence and denial of our love.  The human “battlefield” is what the disciples of Jesus hoped for yet Christ followed the righteous path for the sake of the unrighteous”.  Our human battlefield begins within for the sake off a greater good. 

Let not the peace of Christ be disturbed by what comes from without but from within for the evil one is always baiting our souls to fall again into temptation.  What is from without is “dis-ease” meaning a lack of ease about what we cannot control and what wants to control us.  Our power is to reject all dis-ease as from the evil one and claiming the peace of Christ he offered his disciples at his at his appearance after the resurrection when his first words were “Peace be with you”.  Let our hearts not be troubled by pandemics that rise and fall taking innocent lives for even if this suffering comes into our lives the promise of the resurrection is waiting to rescue us.  

In listening to a Catholic radio program, the guest was giving his conversion story from Protestant to Catholic.  He concluded his story recalling how his father a Baptist “died” from a heart attack but was brought back to life in the ambulance.  Later that year he asked his Father what his death experience was like.  His father said it was not what he expected.  To his surprise instead of seeing heaven he went to this “intermediary” place where he had to give account of his life.  As Catholics we identify this intermediary place as purgatory and also the Church suffering.  It suffers as it waits for justice and heaven.  We fail to speak more on purgatory as is needed in our call to repentance while we battle in our time as the Church militant.  This is our battlefield for justice in heaven and earth. 

The battlefield is fought and won within our souls with the help of the Advocate bringing us the spirit of truth.  Our battle is a sacrificial offering of our day living in the Spirit of truth called to pick up our cross and follow the spirit in faith to victory.  Jesus is waiting to claim victory for us when we unite our will to his we become one body in Christ with the power of the unseen God. 

In the human existence we often confuse love as forgiveness with an avoidance of consequence.  Love and justice in God are both present and justice is his.  A child says “I’m sorry” and expects the parent to not impose justice.  Children don’t understand the value of justice and if it is not fair justice may even lose faith in love.  As children of God we often come to expect forgiveness without justice but justice belongs to God and it comes with love.  Dante described purgatory as the place we go to wash our baptismal robes.  The “place” is a process of cleansing of sin that remains as we leave our mortal bodies and claim our promise of heaven.  It is not a denial of God’s love but a perfection of our love to receive his glory as an unblemished tabernacle of our souls.  It is the unity of love and justice as one.  Faith unites to love as works unites to justice for faith without works is a call to death eternal.  We are a people of the resurrection in faith and works for the greater good. 

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Homily

5th Sunday of Easter

Posted on by Deacon Joe

Acts 6:1-7; Ps. 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19; 1Peter 2:4-9; Jn. 14:1-12

The church is born in the one priesthood of Jesus Christ!  Ecclesiology is the study of the nature of the “church” and traditionally Pentecost celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Jesus after his Ascension as the birth of the church.  Recently I heard the argument for the Last Supper as the birth of the church when Jesus by the breaking of the bread and giving of the wine instructs his disciples thereby instituting the priesthood of the church.  Thus, the church is the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist which we become when we receive the Eucharist at Mass.  The unity in the one body the church comes to its’ fullness in the Eucharist.  We could say the descent of the Holy Spirit is the “Confirmation” of the church. 

In our times it is often repeated “the church is the people” who share in the one priesthood by baptism.  This focus on the people is meaningful to the extent the source and summit of the church remains in the Eucharist and is not lost.  Unfortunately, too many people identify as Christian without unity to the Eucharist becoming “churches” of their own body.  The people are called to “follow” in the body of Christ which they receive in the Eucharist and in the sacramental life of the church.  Can there be church without the Eucharist?  If history is a sign then we see the multiplication of “churches” into isolated cells when people separate from the Eucharist only to rise and fall. 

Easter season is a renewal of the Church as we celebrate its formation in the early church.  Today’s first reading in Acts is the birth of the diaconate into the church.  “Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom…They presented these men to the apostles who prayed and laid hands on them”. The origins for the call to the diaconate was to serve the needs of the people.  In being “reputable”, they were trusted with the resources of the church and not prone to scandal.  In being filled with the Spirit and wisdom they served as a channel of grace to minister to the needs of the people as the hands of the church.  Deacons called apart out from the people but not to the priesthood become the bridge living “in the world but not of the world” uniting church and people as a visible Christ.  The diaconate is to be Jesus as a voice for our times in our homes, work places, and in the community. 

Jesus is our cornerstone present in the Eucharist.  In the gospel he reminds Philip, “The words I speak to you I do not speak on my own.  The Father who dwells in me is doing his works.”  Today Jesus who dwells in us in the Eucharist is doing the works of the Father “and will do greater ones than these because I am going to the Father.”  These are the works of salvation through evangelization as the church fulfills its mission of adding to the house of the Lord many more dwelling places prepared for us.  This is our Easter hope and victory as we wait to gather together after this pandemic crisis is won. 

“Come to him, a living stone…built into a spiritual house…to offer spiritual sacrifices”.  This pandemic is our invitation to offer spiritual sacrifices for the recovery of this nation and the world.  It is also a time for renewal of the “church” into a spiritual vessel of faith, hope and love, and prayer is the sacrifice needed.  Prayer Matters!!  As the nation celebrates the National Day of Prayer bringing people of all faiths we join in prayer for healing, the end of the virus, a return to a healthy work environment, and an opening of our houses of worship. 

A spiritual house recognizes we are all created equal but not equally gifted for the same purpose.  Each is called by name for a given purpose in the house of the Lord yet all serve the same greater good.  As the early church quickly grew in number it realized the need for a house of God united in order of service just as all parts of the human body all come together to create a functioning human.  The homeostasis of the human body is in care for its physical, psychological and spiritual needs and as such the body of the church must be cared for also. 

The living stone is the Eucharist inviting us to a transformation of our body into his body and our souls into his spiritual vessel each called by name to our place of order within God’s house.  Let us enter into it in body, soul, and spirit and our transformation will transform our world into a house of worship with many rooms to serve each purpose in the mystery of faith.

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Homily

4th Sunday of Easter

Posted on by Deacon Joe

Acts 2:14a, 36-41; Ps. 23:1-3a, 3b-6; 1Peter 2:20b-25; Jn. 10:1-10

The Good Shepherd has called us by name to “Save yourself from this corrupt generation…which does not enter the sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber.”  When Peter stood up and proclaimed to his generation “this Jesus whom you crucified…they were cut to the heart”.  Salvation come through repentance and baptism but first the word of God must cut to the heart and reveal our sin before us.  Sin is the thief and robber that climbs into our lives unsuspectingly to steal our hearts with temptation until we become “normalized” by a corrupt generation. 

The sin of each generation is a thief and robber in search of souls for a self-indulgence trying to feed on the pleasure principle, “if it feels good then indulge” until it becomes toxic but by then the heart is compromised and it stands at the gate holding us in bondage to “steal, slaughter and destroy”.  The thief lays the “feel good bag of goodies” to savor but it is our response that is the sin we possess.  Fault always is personal to be rejected with virtue.  Corruption came from the beginning, the genesis of sin after creation by free will and it remains “mia culpa” by our choice.  “For you have gone astray as sheep” but now we hear the voice of truth to lead us back. 

Truth leads to wisdom of a greater understanding beyond ourselves.  It is not about “me” it is about salvation for “us”.  Easter is this gift of salvation in Jesus giving of himself for us in his passion, death and resurrection that all may be saved through the “good shepherd”.  Jesus proclaims “I know my sheep, and mine know me.”  How does Jesus recognize his “sheep” and how do we recognize our Lord?  We are recognized in being “patient when you suffer for doing what is good, this is a grace before God”.  Jesus is the example we should follow that he may see himself in us.  In this Jesus recognizes his own who are responding to evil with good.  How then do we know Jesus?  Jesus revelation comes in the voice of truth that cuts to our hearts “and the sheep follow him”.  The voice of the shepherd burns in the hearts of his sheep, it cannot be denied. 

“The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want”.  The people of Israel sought freedom he gave them salvation.  They sought a king for this earth and he gave them a kingdom in heaven.  They wanted someone to rule over them and he gave them a shepherd to follow.  They wanted to conquer other people and he gave them the power to conquer their own corruption.  What do we “want” from the Lord?  We seek freedom from disease and pandemics he gives us salvation from sin.  We want to preserve our kingdoms we have built and he promises one in heaven.  We want leaders for nations to rule and he gives us himself calling us to follow his example.  We want to conquer in this world all our enemies and we are given the power to conquer the enemy of the world and victory over death.  Jesus is the promise of life more abundantly. 

The abundant life in Jesus Christ is the good news!  In him is our courage to “walk in the dark valley, I fear no evil”.  The corruption of each generation remains in a kingdom not our own but the Lord has called us by name and if “today you hear his voice harden not your hearts” salvation is at your doorstep.  Our heads are anointed with oil of salvation at baptism and we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit to keep our hearts burning for truth, goodness, beauty and unity in one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Open the doors of our hearts to “dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come”.  Today we pray for the doors to the church to be opened and a return to the banquet of the Lord in the Eucharist until we enter the heavenly banquet closer to us than we recognize in the mystery of faith. The call of the Good Shepherd is “follow me”.

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Homily

3rd Sunday of Easter a resurrection of faith

Posted on by Deacon Joe

Acts 2:14, 22-23; Ps. 16:1-2, 5, 7-11; 1Peter 1:17-21; Lk. 24:13-35

A house divided cannot stand so in times of crisis, pandemic or otherwise the first crisis is of faith to stand the test of faith amid the fears.  This Sunday’s readings reveal the disciples’ crisis of faith at the death of Jesus and the continuation of Jesus’ formation of church in his real presence, “the breaking of bread”. 

Three areas of “church” division among Christianity are addressed in our reading summarized as “sola scriptura”, church “authority”, and salvation by “faith alone”.  Jesus opens the scriptures to us but it is in the breaking of the bread that he is made known to us something to consider.  On the road to Emmaus the eyes of the two disciples were prevented from recognizing him.  They first had to hear the word and have it “burn” in their hearts to believe in the risen one before their eyes are opened to recognize him the breaking of the bread. 

“Sola Scriptura” meaning the “Bible alone” is a main source of division in the Christian “home”.  Today many Christian denominations follow “Sola Scriptura” as the only infallible source of authority for Christians.  The “breaking of the bread” is seen as the revelation of the word of God to open the eyes of the disciples instead of his real presence.  Jesus revelation to the disciples on the road to Emmaus came first as a revelation of scripture and then as he breaks the bread to his real presence before them to remain with them body, blood, soul and divinity in the bread.  Today in the Catholic church we celebrate both in the Mass with its two parts called the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.  This journey of faith on the Road to Emmaus is our journey of faith “on the first day of the week”, resurrection Sunday.  It is the confirmation of the “Last Supper” to be continued in Tradition.  The Eucharist is the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ’s revelation to this very day. 

Church “authority” closely follows in a “house divided among itself” for Christianity.  “Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed: ‘You…indeed all of you…Let this be known to you, and listen to my words.’ Peter is given the keys to the kingdom by Jesus after Peter denied him during the Passion.  The primacy of Peter is the “authority” to follow in Jesus’ self-sacrifice as a “Holy Father”.  The word without the authority of the church to bring unity is a house divided among itself.  Left to our own authority we divide into our “denominations” as we identify with and we open the scriptures to our “truth”.  The disciples on the road to Emmaus knew the scriptures as faithful Jews but it is the person of Jesus who “interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures”.  This gift of interpretation is passed on to his disciples to build the Kingdom of God in one holy, catholic, and apostolic church.  Today it is the “Chair of Peter” passed on to each Pope to carry forth into generations to come. 

Salvation by “faith alone” is the third major pillar of division among the Christian “house” filled with rooms called denominations.  Peter proclaims, “If you invoke as Father him who judges impartially according to each one’s works…as of a spotless unblemished lamb”.  Powerful authority to declare not by “faith alone” does the Father judge impartially but “according to each one’s works”.  Faith is the seed of salvation and works the fruit of salvation.  The seed without works dies but the works produced by the seed are the works of God through us, not our own.  The principle argument made against “works” is the conception that they are “our works” to merit heaven as if there is a scale that tips the works in our favor earning our justification.  Far from it for to be Christian is to surrender ourselves to the works of God as instruments of his grace working in us for the salvation of souls.  It is God’s grace, his gift of love, mercy, faith, and hope to be witnesses and bring forth the good news.  These are the works of God that bring salvation who the Father judges how we fulfilled them. 

Finally, the goal of the Christian is to come before the Lord as a “spotless unblemished lamb” that is without sin.  Who then will be saved?  This past week we recall the Lord’s promise of mercy to the whole world in Divine Mercy Sunday.  In confession and the breaking of the bread we receive atonement for our sins when we come to Jesus.  This is our redemptive gift but we must respond or carry our sin with us into the fire of purification, our purgatory in this life or in the next.  Let our eyes be opened to his revelation from the foundation of the Church.  The pandemic of death is not a virus but a house divided among itself in a crisis of faith.  I believe in one God and in One Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. 

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Homily

2nd Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy)

Posted on by Deacon Joe

Acts 2:42-47; Ps. 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24; 1Peter 1:3-9; Jn. 20:19-31

Alleluia!  Alleluia!  He is risen. Jesus chose the more perfect way of sanctification for the world to follow, the way of the cross to the resurrection of the dead to reveal his Divine Mercy.  The all-powerful God through his Son offers us the path to holiness by way of the cross to our victory over death.  It is to live our passion with all its joys, sorrows, love and mercy in charity for a greater good.  It is to prepare for death living with the end in mind, a final judgment to separate the good from the bad in our humanity.  Finally, it is to be purified to receive the light of eternal glory in the resurrection. 

Believe and receive the gift of faith or live in doubt.  St. Thomas is alive and well in the world of unbelieving.  It is a world looking to be self-reliant in all things until faced with a crisis beyond control having to return to faith in others, in the power of unity and in the love and mercy of God.  “Blessed dare those who have not seen and have believed.” 

Today is recognized as “Mercy Sunday” instituted as such by (Saint) Pope John Paul II after the Canonization of Faustina Kowalska.  In her diary, Faustina writes of the promises of Jesus to those whose “Devotion of Divine Mercy” includes confession and receipt of Holy Communion.  The promise of forgiveness of sins and heaven in the sacraments.  Appropriately this day marks the gift of “confession” to the disciples after he breathes on them and proclaims, “Receive the Holy Spirit.  Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”  This sacramental gift is to the priesthood through Jesus resurrection to his disciples. 

Confession is the visible sign of the invisible grace of God’s mercy.  Just like many of Jesus’ healings were manifested through visible acts united to the act of faith to confirm the gift.  In fact Jesus sign of his forgiveness of sins came with the act of healing because the body and soul are one to rise again in holiness.  The act of faith is to believe in the gift and the visible act is to confess to his servant Priest who receive this grace to be in the person of Christ in the sacrament. 

Confession is made to God in our humanity in unity with the church.  Why would he give the disciples this gift if we can simply “go to Jesus” in the secrecy of our hearts?  This public act of confession requires humility the foundation of holiness.  It calls us to set aside our pride and admit our sins in an act of contrition.  The Lord loves a humble heart.  In this sacrament we hear the words of absolution spoken by the priest sent from God fulfilling his promise “whose sins you forgive are forgiven”.  Then there is the final act of obedience as the priest says “for your penance…”.  This is our gift back to God in thanksgiving for his love and mercy. 

In this sacrament of confession, we are reminded God works through our humanity to lift us up to his divinity.  This is why he chose to enter our humanity as an infant and carry the cross of our sins offering up his humanity as a sacrifice of love and mercy sanctifying us in his blood.  An all-powerful God in all the possible means to manifest himself came to more perfect way of the cross to be our sacrifice.  Alleluia!  Alleluia! 

What about us and our sacrifices of life, do they have meaning and purpose?  In times of crisis we search for meaning and for God.  The opportunity of redemption is a sacrifice.  Today a pandemic has brought about many a sacrifice around the world with suffering and death.  The world believes that “a crisis should not be wasted”.  It looks for the opportunity to exploit a crisis for its own good.  In the passion of Jesus his disciples fled in fear and Peter denied Jesus three times.  In the resurrection Jesus now breathes on them the power of the Holy Spirit to fear not but rise and testify to the truth.  This is our gift in baptism and we too are called in times of crisis to waste not this opportunity to witness to our faith, stand for the truth, and offer our sacrifices for as a greater good. 

The way of the cross for humanity is our call to unity with the cross of Jesus for our redemption and that of the whole world.  It is a call to be a servant of Jesus Christ in this hardship and bring the good news of salvation by our act of faith, hope, and charity.  This is our day of redemption, this is our call to action, this is our way of the cross.  This is the more perfect way to his divinity.  Alleluia!  Alleluia! He is risen.

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Homily

Paschal Triduum

Posted on by Deacon Joe

Paschal Triduum – Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday

Gospels:  Jn 13: 1-15(Holy Thursday); Jn 18:1-19:42 (Good Friday); Mat 28: 1-10 (Easter Vigil); Jn 20:1-9 (Easter Sunday)

The Paschal Triduum once referred to as “the still days” returns once again to this message of being still in the celebration from sunset Holy Thursday through Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday.  During this time the bells of the church are silenced reminding us to silence our hearts in this solemn time of Jesus Passion, Death, and Resurrection.  The question for us is how will we respond in this call to an interior solitude? 

The Church recognizes signs of holiness, visible signs of invisible grace.  It does so in the sacraments we celebrate with each sacrament having a visible sign beginning with baptism having the sign of water.  The invisible grace is the coming of the Holy Spirit to reside in us and us in him.  In the world today exist three visible signs of Christ representing his presence in the Paschal mystery of his passion, death, and resurrection.  These signs remind us of a crucified man who underwent excruciating pain, died, and appears to be coming back to life.  In fact, the word “excruciating” comes from “crucifixion”.  What are these signs? 

The visible signs of the Paschal mystery are three cloths where science has recognized as inexplainable by natural means and remain a mystery.  What is not a mystery is what science reveals about the man crucified.  The first signs is a cloth called “Sudarium” (latin for sweat-cloth) identified as Veronica’s veil and in Italian called the “Telo Di Oviedo” representing the location it is in.  In the Via Dolorosa we recall Veronica wipes the face of Jesus and his blood and sweat leave an imprint on the cloth.  This Sudarium is simply one mystery cloth until it is joined to the other two. 

The second cloth is perhaps the most recognized in the world because it has been studied by scientist over the years.  This visible sign is the Shroud of Turin, so called because of the location where it is kept.  This cloth bears a negative image of a man whose body is scourged, face beaten and a crown of thorns placed on his head.  The negative image of this man shows holes in his hands and feet indicating he was crucified.  When a negative of the negative is made then a positive “picture” appears of this naked man crucified.  The cloth is the traditional Jewish burial cloth able to wrap along his back and front area showing the scourging on his back, the wound on his side, the nails in hands and feet, the imprint of thorns on his head.  Pope John Paul II now Saint John Paul II called the shroud “a mirror of the Gospel” something to be still and contemplate. 

The third cloth is the covering over the face of a crucified man called the “Volto Santo Di Manopello” again because of the location where it is found but also known as the “Face of Jesus”.  Having visited during a pilgrimage the site of Manopello the “Visitation Pilgrimage” group was privileged to be there on the day it was being exposed and processed through the community.  This happens only twice a year.  We were also given a presentation by a Franciscan Father who demonstrated the significance of each of the cloths together.  Having each cloth overlap each other they produce a perfect fit revealing they belong to the same crucified man.  The significance of the cloths also reveals by their pollen content that they represent the area of Jerusalem as their original location.  More significant about this cloth is that science indicates areas of the face that are dead tissue and areas that are living tissue while the eyes are pinpoint as if just coming into the light.  What does this mean? 

The meaning of all three cloths beyond the significance that they belong to the same crucified man is the deeper mystery of these cloths, it is the Paschal mystery.  Veronica’s veil is the cloth representing the passion of Jesus scourging; the burial cloth represents Jesus’ death in the tomb; and the “Face of Jesus” cloth represents the moment of the resurrection. This is the Paschal Triduum, this is our faith. 

What we make of these “signs” is for our personal reflection.  What we make of our faith has everlasting impact.  These “signs” are left for us to contemplate our faith, what we believe and how we practice what we believe.  Faith and reason remain in the heart of the soul to discern but the fact is these cloths remain to tell a remarkable story of a man brutally tortured, crucified, buried, and coming to life.

In time science will continue to study these three cloths and reveal much more of the crucified man but the truth is already revealed to us in the person of Jesus Christ.  The sign we are given is faith through the Holy Spirit, in the sacraments of the church at the altar in memorial of the sacrifice we offer this Paschal Triduum and the sacrifice he gave for us.  This man we call Jesus of Nazareth, the second Person of the Trinity, the Son of Man, our redeemer.  This we believe, this we celebrate and this is our Easter!  Be still and know that the great “I Am” is God with us.  Be still and come to the deeper life of faith, hope and love.  Happy Easter!  Happy Resurrection Day! Alleluia! Alleluia!

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Homily

Palm Sunday

Posted on by Deacon Joe

Is. 50:4-7; Ps. 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24; Phil. 2:6-11; Mt. 26:14—27:66”

“Field of Blood” set aside for foreigners “for it is the price of blood”, the blood of Jesus given for us “foreigners” passing through this land on our pilgrimage to heaven.  It is set aside as the “potter’s field” for the poor, the suffering, the rejected by this world.  The Field of Blood today is the empty graves claimed in victory by the blood of Jesus. 

Who among us can wash our hands and say, “I am innocent of this man’s blood”?  For all have sinned and share in the blood of Jesus.  We are called to “be perfect” thus our imperfection is “sin”.  In the agony of the cross, Jesus cries out “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  Jesus fully human lives with us in our agony when we unite ourselves to him, we are not alone.  Now is the time to cry out, now is the hour of need to overcome this coronavirus pandemic around the world and in our community. 

Jesus gives up his spirit and the tombs of the righteous are opened.  In baptism we have died in Christ, now is the time to open the tomb of our hearts hardened by sin, blind in the darkness of this world and all its temptations.  The “earthquake” of our time is this pandemic and the Son of God is calling us to himself.  The world seeks to secure the tomb of our lives by “fixing a seal” to any voice that speaks of God, sin, and/or repentance. “The Lord God has given me a well-trained tongue…Morning after morning he opens my ear that I may hear” so are we listening, are we sharing the word made flesh? The word made flesh is Jesus, and in our flesh, we carry him forth.   The world stands guard against anyone who wants to open the tomb of death through conversion of the world.  The world wants to return to the past and claim victory for itself in overcoming this pandemic.  God’s call is not a return to the past but to a return to him. 

Today we are asked to be Joseph of Arimathea and care for the body of Jesus with our own riches.  In charity to others we take Jesus body and wrap him in love and lay him down in our hearts to remain always with us.  Today we are given this Lent to sit as “Mary Magdalene and the other Mary” and contemplate the tomb of Jesus death, his suffering, and his presence in our lives.  He has always been with us yet have we been with him?  This is our call to grow in holiness being present to him not in fear but in love. 

It is easy to be among each other without being present to the other.  God comes to us in the other and asks “Do you love me?”  Love him being present to him in prayer, in fellowship in our domestic church as home, and in reaching out to the other in need.  Today is the day of atonement. “Who is this?  This is Jesus…he was in the form of God…and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” our salvation.   Anyone of us may face the “the point of death” at any time.  This pandemic is a daily reminder we must remain obedient to the Father. Today is the day of salvation. 

The good news is we know how this story ends.  It ends in victory in Christ Jesus, in the resurrection of the dead, and in eternal life.  “Fear not” for the Passover of death by this virus will come and claim the body of some but the soul has claimed freedom in Christ and it cannot be taken away.  We are marked by the sign of his blood and today we recall his passion, death, and resurrection.  “O death where is your sting!”  Remain in him, keep the faith, and stay on our pilgrimage to the new Jerusalem.  God is good and deserving of all our love, thus we are good made in his image we have the gift of love.  Love richly, love generously, love always! 

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Homily

5th Sunday of Lent

Posted on by Deacon Joe

Ez. 37:12-14; Ps. 130:1-8; Jn. 11:1-45

“I will open your graves…I will put my spirit in you that you may love…”  In the mercy and fullness of redemption “whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.  Do you believe this?”  O death where is your sting!   The sting of the serpent is lost in the power of the resurrection for the just.  Who are the just?  The just believe in him, receive the spirit, live in the spirit and are righteous.  Faith is the first act of salvation to believe by our free will we humble ourselves to the mystery of faith.  “Living” our faith is the fruit of believing. 

Lazarus is raised from the dead “so that you may believe” in the power of Jesus, in the resurrection and in the “glory of God”.   Lazarus however remains in the flesh subject to a mortal death.  Jesus resurrection is the victory over death itself.  Only the foolish see death as an end but our hope is in immortality.  You shall know the just by their love for God is love and our love unites us to God in immortality.  Jesus provides us a window into the immortality to come in four visible signs. 

The first sign of immortality is an “impassability” in which there is no more death, suffering and disease.  The mortality of this body is all that perishes but the soul and spirit are alive for eternity.  “He is not the God of the dead but of the living” (Mt. 22:32).  The power of this impassability is seen in the transfiguration as Jesus in transfigured by the light of heaven seen next to Moses and Elijah.  Moses and Elijah are the visible sign of life after a mortal death of the body. 

The second sign of immortality is “sotility” meaning a freedom from the material world.  The visible sign is Jesus appearance to the disciples through the doors after his resurrection.  Physically present he asks his disciple Thomas to touch his wounds and believe.  Even before his resurrection he already demonstrated his divinity and walked on water towards his disciples.  This is also seen in documented cases where souls are permitted to appear after the death of the body to holy souls and ask for prayers, masses, and penance to end their purgatory. 

The third sign of immortality is “agility” to move through space at the speed of thought for the soul obeys the will.  The visible sign is Jesus appearance on the road to Emmaus, on the shores of the sea, and in the room where the disciples were.  This was his freedom to be present wherever his will desired.  The souls of the just receive this gift to be present to God and to us most especially at the celebration of the Mass.  The Mass opens the gates of heaven for the sacrificial offering we celebrate for our salvation and the redemption of souls. 

The fourth sign of immortality is “clarity” meaning free from imperfections by being in the light of love, mercy, truth and the beatific vision.  The only death is the death to lies.  The visible sign we share of this clarity is the Word of God as he gave to the disciples and becomes our reality when we believe and follow the word made flesh, Jesus Christ.  The reality of the word is made present when we believe, receive the Spirit and become the temple of the Lord.  We are called to be the visible sign of immortality.  Do you believe this? 

O death where is your sting!  We can think of death as coming to destroy life but it is Christ who comes to save us from evil, sin, sickness and darkness.  We can think of death as an ending to a life as we know it and this is a reality, for we cannot reenter this existence again; let us also think of the new beginning into the immortal promises of God, the beatific vision of love itself.  We can think of death as losing a part of ourselves when a loved one passes on left with the memories and treasures in our hearts; let us also think of gaining an intercessor for us whose love remains at our side as a worker for Christ in heaven.  We can think of saying “goodbye” with tears in our eyes as the last breath of our loved one nears or we approach our final breath; let us also think of the reunion in heaven welcoming the souls of the just into the light of love and immortality.  We can think of a “going away”; let us also reflect on the welcoming home into heaven.  Finally, we can think of death whispering “you must go now”; let us listen to the voice of God calling us “Child of mine, arise!” 

This is our Easter we celebrate each year, each time mortal death arrives, each time a soul is saved in baptism we are a recreation into immortality.  In fact, our own mortal body passes through a death throughout our years of life as our cells die away and new cells are created so that every five years we live in a new body.  Have we not left behind the child for the adolescent, the adolescent for the young adult, the young adult for the middle-aged person, and finally arrived at the elderly stage?  The gift of the spirit also takes our soul through a journey of faith when we die to the old attachments to sin and are recreated into the image of our creator in greater holiness. 

We are called to perfection and we cannot live out our perfection in isolation.  It is in unity and fellowship with the church we come into immortality.  We do not save ourselves, Jesus saves!  Jesus saves by following him, his word, and his church.  This Lenten season is as time to conversion while mortal death surrounds us in this COVID-19 pandemic.  We are being called to repentance and conversion as children of the faith.  The world does not recognize him but the faithful recognize him and our trust is in Jesus.  Let us continue to pray, fast, and be charitable.  It is to the degree of charity that we gain our perfection for immortality.  What we do now matters!  We are called to holiness, an unconditional love, sacrificial love, and purposeful living in love.  Do you believe this?  Believe and be saved!

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Homily

4th Sunday of Lent

Posted on by Deacon Joe

1 Sam. 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a; Ps. 23:1-6; Eph. 5:8-14; Jn. 9:1-41

“Do you believe in the Son of Man?”  This is the central question Jesus is asking of us today.  Laetare Sunday brings back a sense of celebration for our Lenten journey.  It is a time to reflect halfway through Lent on our spiritual journey, how our eyes are open to the presence of God removing our blindness to the work of the Holy Spirit, our awakening to sin, and our call to conversion.  It is a time to say, “I do believe, Lord.”  Do we believe God is present in the current COVID-19 pandemic preparing us for a greater conversion as a family of faith, a country and the world?  Church history tells us that during the greatest crisis is when some of the greatest miracles have happened including all the apparitions of our Blessed Mary. 

The gospel is rich in meaning beginning with the first question asked of Jesus, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”   This shatters the central belief of sin of the time, bad things happen to sinners and good things to good people.  We know that to be true in our own lives when we see the innocent suffer and the guilty live in prosperity.  The response however is more profound for us, “it was so the works of God may be made visible through him.”  We all sin and we all have an opportunity to look into our lives and allow God to do his works through us in good times and in bad.  Every situation is an opportunity to receive the blessing of God and be a sign of light in the darkness of the world.  Yes, this COVID-19 is an opportunity for the works of God to be made visible through him when we turn to him “seek and you will find”.

Jesus “spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on his (blind man) eyes”.  We are created out of the dust and water of the earth and Jesus actions is to be a sign of our new recreation in him after the fall of Adam and Eve.  He sends him to go wash in the Pool of Siloam “which means Sent”.  The Pool of Siloam is fed by the Gihon river considered to be the waters coming from the Garden of Eden.  These waters were used for bathing to remove the sins of the people during Jesus time just as Mary was required to bathe after her time of delivery.  In his obedience to Jesus he gains his sight.  Today we are sent to the sacrament of confession to be washed clean of our sins.  God seeks to remove our blindness to sin during this time of Lent and crisis and return to the light of truth. 

The people who knew him see the miracle and yet do not accept that it is the same man.  The evidence is before them but their blindness comes from believing only in themselves.  The man answers “I am”.  His “I am” can only be seen in scripture when Moses asks God “who do I say sent me” and God responds to tell them “I Am” sent you.  This is the moment of truth.  The man no longer blind uses the same words as God’s name to express his identity.  He is now a new creation in God as we are in baptism and the reason to celebrate not only Laetare Sunday but every day of life.  Lent is our recreation in God’s image more perfect by our love and following his commandments.  “I am born again in spirit and in truth”. 

The man born blind now gives testimony to his new creation in his response to the Pharisees.  First the Pharisees are quick to judge based on their own practices of the Law. They judge now within the parameters of the Law saying, “This man is not from God, because he does not keep the sabbath”.  Again, the blindness to deny what is in front of them and trust in themselves.  The man with new sight gives testimony not only to his physical miracle but to his spiritual rebirth in answering the Pharisee “This is what is so amazing, that you do not know where he is from…that God does not listen to sinners…it is unheard of that anyone ever opened the eyes of a person born blind…If this man were not from God, he would not be able to do anything.”  He is now the “teacher” of the Pharisees who remain blind before the miracle before them.  We can see the COVID-19 pandemic as simply another freak act of nature or something greater in our conversion. 

Jesus finds the man and asks him to confirm his faith with the question, “Do you believe in the Son of Man”.  The man answers “I do believe, Lord.”  The man then worshiped him.  Lent is meant to awaken us not only to our sin but to our need to worship in spirit and in truth.  Coming to church as an act of obedience to the Law is similar to the conviction of the Pharisees.  We miss the miracle before us.  We look only to what we accept and remain blind.  Our sin remains for lack of faith.  Jesus comes “into this world for judgment” to remove our blindness and return us to a holy place, sanctified by his blood.  How may we remove our blindness and receive the gift of sight?  The church is open to the sacrament of penance and now is the acceptable time to go to confession and be washed clean of sin so our eyes may be opened to his presence.  Let us go forth, sent to live in the light of Jesus Christ with eyes open to the revelation of truth in every circumstance, no matter how small or pandemic.  Jesus, Joseph and Mary pray for us.

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