The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

Posted on May 25, 2024May 25, 2024 by Deacon Joe

Dt. 4:32-34, 39-40; Ps. 33:4-6, 18-20, 22; Rom. 8:14-17; Mt. 28:16-20

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity is the mystery of God’s salvation in the history of the world revealed in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament, Moses asked his people, “Did anything so great ever happen before?” The people heard the voice of God the Father, they experienced the hand of God coming to save them as a nation among nations and how he tested them. Now they “must keep his statutes and commandments” that they may prosper. No nothing so great happened before Moses, but a greater thing has happened in the history of salvation with the incarnation of Jesus, God the Son coming to his people. Not only that but with his ascension into heaven came the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit to remain in us, who he calls his own.

Who can explain the mystery of one God in three persons? Early in church history this was the center of the debate trying to make sense of who was Jesus. How could he claim to be God and yet pray to the Father? In the same way he would say “The Father and I are one” (Jn. 10:30). In what is known as the prayer of Jesus, he prayed to the Father, “Now glorify me, Father, with you, with the glory that I had with you before the world began–that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us” (Jn. 17: 5, 21). Jesus always was before the world began and is for all eternity. The Catechism of the Catholic church teaches us that “God has left traces of his Trinitarian being in his work of creation” (CCC 237). The work of creation in which we can seek him is from within ourselves.

We can seek to know the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit from within, from our own nature though imperfect as it is. The nature of humanity is that it exists as body, soul, and spirit. The body is not the soul for the body dies and the soul remains alive. The body has a brain but the mind comes from the soul and yet body and soul are one for what affects the body affects the soul and what affects the soul affects the body. The body and soul however are not separate from God their creator who gives us the breath of life and who without his breath we would immediately die. His breath is the spirit of life that dwells within and yet it remains the spirit of God who is the life giver and still we are one person in a multitude of humanity.

The Catechism teaches us that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are consubstantially one God in three persons, one in being of the same substance in relation to each other CCC 251-254). Our calling is to bring our humanity, body and soul in unity with the Trinity, to be perfect as God is perfect. To the degree we remain a sinful people this cannot be, for the flesh and the will are weak. Our flesh and soul are in battle for we now have the Word given to us by God the Father, made flesh to be one with us in the Son and strengthened by the Spirit of truth and yet we resist. We carry our sins beginning with pride before us and turn away from God’s revelation to his people.

We do have hope, but our time is limited. When we see the visible sign from saints who remain incorruptible, we see how the soul overcame the flesh by the power of love. A soul that is perfected by God gives witness to his call to perfection. This is the prayer of Jesus that we may be one with the Trinity but also one within ourselves body, soul, and spirit. The battle is won when we turn to him with all our love and desire.

The day is coming when those who have responded to the call to perfection will be transformed and receive a resurrected imperishable body. Then we will see God as he is and come to know him in his glory. Let us prepare ourselves that we will be numbered among his own in his kingdom for all eternity. God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and we are called this day to be one in being with the Trinity.

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Homily

2nd Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy)

Posted on April 18, 2020April 17, 2020 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 The Deacon Joe

3rd Sunday of Lent

Posted on March 23, 2019March 21, 2019 by Deacon Joe

Ex 3: 1-8a, 13-15; Ps. 103: 1-4, 6-8, 11; 1 Cor. 10: 1-6, 10-12; Lk. 13: 1-9

Years ago I had the opportunity to visit a drug treatment program in a prison. As I sat in the treatment group and witnessed the process it was disturbing at first the means of confronting the prisoner with his addiction. The group was assigned to place one prisoner in the middle of the group and then they began one by one listing the faults of the individual, which we may refer to as his sins. They described how they observed the individual in denial of his problem, how he behaved in his attitude towards the problem and how they observed his limited commitment to recovery.

At the end of the verbal confrontation some might describe more as a verbal assault the counselor then directed the group to “build him back up”. They then each gave him their supportive views such as his ability to stick to the program, to want to reconcile with his family, to be supportive of other prison mates, etc. In today’s gospel we see some of the same process of confronting first our sins and then “building us back up” with a sign of hope in the parable of the fig tree.

Luke describes how Jesus confronts everyone’s need for repentance and we cannot draw distinction from each other’s sins. The Galileans whose sins included their sacrifices and suffered at the hands of Pilate we no greater sinners than all other Galileans or than all those present before him, “if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!” Then he reinforces the point with another example.

The people judged those who face suffering as sinners yet he reveals to them those who were killed in Siloam were no “more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem.” He is turning the mirror on his followers to acknowledge their sins and repent. In the context of their understanding of sin they believed in their righteousness as follower of the law. Jesus turns the tables on them to see their unrighteousness coming from the heart of their intentions. This is through the gift of becoming consciously aware of sin as defined by truth. The foundation of conversion was the convincing of sin. We should not think we stand “secure” but “take are not to fall” as history reveals many times over.

Bam! Bam! Wake up to the truth. “Conversion requires convincing of sin; it includes the interior judgment of conscience, and this being a proof of the action of the Spirit of truth in man’s inmost being” (CCC 1848) We are to pray for the Spirit of truth in our continued conversion into the image and likeness of Christ. Our culture seeks to deny absolute truth fostering instead relative truth in the “eye of the beholder”. If there is only relative truth then there is no sin and if there is no sin there is no need for repentance and without repentance “you will all perish as they did!” What is there left to say? Many stand secure in their judgment of self without the revelation of the Spirit of truth. “Take care not to fall.”

Jesus does not leave them broken but follows the Spirit of truth with the parable of the fig tree. The owner wants the fig tree cut down after three years of not producing any fruit. The gardener asks for forgiveness for the tree and to allow it another year to produce fruit before cutting it down. Jesus is our gardener who came to “cultivate the ground” of our hearts “and fertilize it” with a Spirit of truth. Jesus is the final hope for repentance and conversion and he came with some very strong arguments to convince his people. Jesus is the one to build us up into a righteous people, a holy nation. In the end it is our turn now to “bear fruit in the future” or be cut down for our sins.

“The Lord is kind and merciful.” God not only pardons all our sins but he “heals all your ills”. Then he does something even greater, he redeems us. What does this mean? He has won back our freedom and given us a crown in his kingdom. This is our “exodus” from sin and a return to the holy land “flowing with milk and honey”. Moses led the people of Israel out of their human exodus from slavery and Jesus comes to lead us out of our human exodus from the slavery of sin. The ground of our hearts is being cultivated and fertilized by Jesus and we are to produce “milk and honey” from our hearts of love. By our fruits we shall be known as true witnesses and followers to the Spirit of truth incarnate. We are now sent by “I AM”.

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Homily

Feast of St. Andrew, Apostle

Posted on November 30, 2018 by Deacon Joe

Rom. 10: 9-18; Ps. 19: 8-11; Mt. 4: 18-22

Faith comes from hearing the proclamation of the Word. The question is not are we called to proclaim the Word the question is how are we called to proclaim the Word? Today is the celebration of the Feast of St. Andrew, Apostle the first called by Jesus to follow him. St. Andrew was a follower of John the Baptist before Jesus called him. This reminds us of the first action of any follower is repentance as John the Baptist preached. Repentance comes with a conversion of the heart. Conversion of the heart comes from faith and faith from hearing the proclamation of the Word. Who is called to proclaim the Word?

The call to follow is for all of us. We are all called to proclaim our faith. The question that remains is how we are called to proclaim our faith. Little is known of St. Andrew in scripture and according to tradition, St. Andrew preached in Greece and was martyred on an X-shaped cross. The call to proclaim the Word in preaching is not a human gift but a divine grace guided by the Holy Spirit. St. Teresa of Calcutta wished to be a pencil in God’s hand for she proclaimed Word by service to the poorest of the poor. Preachers are called to be a tongue for truth in proclaiming the Word to bring souls to repentance and awaken the faith.

The call of all the faithful is to proclaim the Word by actions of love for God and neighbor. St. Francis of Assisi is known by tradition for saying “Preach always speak when necessary” though there is no written history of it. The statement is a testimony of his life mission to preach by acts of love. He overcame his struggle in accepting lepers who were seen as sinners and found the love to embrace them. If we are to be witnesses of God’s love it begins by loving the sinner and not the sin. The first step to love a sinner is to recognize the sin in our own lives as forgiven sinners. Do unto others what God has done for us, forgive. That is in the prayer he left us, “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Our first call begins with acceptance of God’s mercy and forgiveness.

My “day job” is heading a non-profit company that works in the field of addictions. The field of addictions has developed along evidence-based practices including medication assisted treatment to overcome the grip of substance misuse. The field has never abandoned the Twelve Step tradition of recovery. In the Twelve Step tradition there is a realization of our own powerlessness over the substance misuse and only a power greater than ourselves we call God can restore us to sanity thus we turn our will over to our God. In surrendering our will over to God we become the best proclaimers of our faith in our struggles of life. It becomes our testimony of love and our compassion for others is magnified by recognizing our own weakness and sinfulness.

We all have our story of struggle and the misuse of our own gift of life leading us to sin. We also have our story of redemption from God’s love and mercy. In those intimate struggles we can offer others the same hope of recovery in their struggles and the same call to turn their life over to God who has the power to give us a rebirth of wholeness and life of love. Proclaim the gospel of God’s love and grace will perfect us in the divine image of his Son Our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Homily

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on October 20, 2018October 19, 2018 by Deacon Joe

Is. 53: 10-11; Ps. 33: 4-5, 18-19, 20, 22; Heb. 4: 14-16; Mk 10: 35-45

“The Lord was pleased to crush him in infirmity.” Really God, it pleases you to crush someone when their down? With friends like that who needs enemies. Have you ever questioned God? Many a saint has because sometimes our understanding and our ways are not God’s ways. A saint questions not from doubt but from trust in the Lord, seeking, searching, hoping and surrendering to God’s will. In sanctity we have a personal relationship with Christ, and he answers us in unexpected ways. Our understanding is egocentric not other focused and at times outside of the context of the “big picture”, what God allows in his salvific plan.

Isiah is prophesizing the one coming who will be crushed for our sins, Jesus Christ in whom the Lord is pleased for giving his life as an offering so that the world might be saved. The will of the Lord is that we may all come to him and through him in the Son it is accomplished. We often refer to God as a God of mercy, love, justice and/or faithful. God said to Moses, “I AM” and he cannot deny himself. Adam and Eve ate of the fruit that represented disobedience and God did not deny himself with the two-edged sword of love and justice. When we eat the fruit of obedience we receive mercy, love, justice, and faithfulness to his promise. It is all ours because he is who is there for us. “For we do not have a high priest, who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way yet without sin.” It is up to us to “confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy” and every other gift of grace with “timely help”. He is our Glorified Christ “trustworthy” and “merciful”.

How do I a sinner approach God in confidence? It comes from holding onto our confession. As the body of Christ we the church, confess in the Confiteor “I confess to almighty God…” and in the Creed “I believe in one God…” We profess it together to receive from the one body and blood of Christ. We also confess other claims to God with faithfulness in our acclamations to him. “Jesus I trust in you.” “I claim in the name of Jesus, mercy, healing, victory, and all our supplications.” “Let thy will be done not my will.” “Come Holy Spirit strengthen me by your grace.” “I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:19). For Schoenstatt devotion, “Mother Thrice Admirable Queen and Victorious of Schoenstatt pray for us and bless our families”. There are so many powerful confessions we can hold onto. Which are yours?

The evil one wants us to confess fear, doubt, and self-righteousness. Do these sound familiar? “Oh! my God!” “I can’t believe it.” “It’s not right…” Focusing on our weakness instead of our strengths we lose confidence even in God. What about simply confessing gratitude? “Thank you Jesus. Thank you my Lord and my God.” God will not deny himself in our confessions.

There is one confession we generally do not like to claim. It is to please the Lord in our infirmity. We pray to have the cross removed. Jesus came to witness to the truth and show us the way as servant of God. The offering of our suffering can be joined to Jesus redemptive suffering and we can serve other souls in our families, this world, and souls in purgatory. Waste not a sacrifice! Let it not go by without making an offering of it and you will find grace for timely help. The earth is full of his kindness when we place our hope in him.

Have you ever had a child come up to you and say, “Mom, Dad, or grandma, grandpa I want to ask you something but I don’t want you to say no, please.” That is the way in today’s gospel James and John sound like, children desiring for one to be at Jesus right hand and the other at the left in his glory. In truth they are and so are we children of the most high. Just the question implies they know better but can’t help themselves. Jesus asks them, “Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” They said to him, “We can.” Careful what you ask for. The cup of salvation was the call to be the servant and “slave of all” and the baptism will be the giving of their life “as a ransom for many” in martyrdom. The calling is for leadership by service in imitation of Christ. Jesus makes known the way of the rulers among the Gentiles is through their authority but our authority is marked by humility in service. Jesus is fulfilling his mission on earth. We too have been called to fulfill our mission of service. Jesus pays the price for redeeming us from the slavery of sin.

Before you doubt and say, “I don’t think I can” consider that our grace has already been given to us through our baptism to say “yes”. Yes, I can be a lector, Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, sing in the choir, help with C.C.E. or have a rosary group that makes rosaries and prays the mysteries for the church. The opportunities are waiting. The opportunity to drink from the cup has come and will continue to come awaiting our response with love, divine, love, sacrificial love. It begins in the home the foundation of faith in practice. It goes forth into the world to witness to God’s “I Am” as servants of mercy, love, justice, and faithfulness. In baptism we also die to ourselves, death by 70 X 7 sacrifices in life. Love the sacrifice, waste not the opportunity to make it an offering. If it was easy it would not be called a sacrifice. When we approach it with love it becomes a powerful gift of grace and transformation.

God is present in our lives closer to us than we are to him. We all can receive our own private revelations in life. A few years ago I had one of those unexpected answers to prayer in a personal revelation. I was going through some health problems and in a moment of despair I cried out to God, “God what do you ask of me?” The response was quick and direct. As I was praying, I heard a voice of a man strong and with authority say, “I ask nothing of you.” My first response was fear and then a sense of rejection. For a few days I was troubled pondering both the power of the voice and the words spoken so clearly in my ear. Finally it came to me the awareness of naked truth. God does not need me, I need him. God is giving me the opportunity to serve him in sickness and in health, to make of myself an offering and if it is 1000 deaths or 1000 victories let it be all for his glory. “Jesus I trust in you”.

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The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

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The Deacon

2nd Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy)

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The Deacon

3rd Sunday of Lent

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The Deacon

Feast of St. Andrew, Apostle

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The Deacon

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

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The Deacon