Immaculate Conception Homily

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

With Marian feasts I usually stress that everything points the way towards her Son, Jesus. It is for this reason that when we pray the “Hail Mary” that Jesus remains at the heart of this prayer. It is He who “is the fruit of thy womb.”

The Immaculate Conception is a doctrine of the Church that has been defined as dogma since 1854. This was only 171 years ago, but this does not mean that this teaching has not been held prior to this date. From the earliest of centuries Christians would honor her as being free from personal sin.

Saint Justin Martyr and Saint Irenaeus in the 2nd century would come to refer to Mary as being the new Eve. This acknowledges the fact that Eve was created without sin upon her soul and yet through the Fall such sin entered into the world. Mary, on the other hand, brought forth the Saviour of the World who has freed us from all sin.

In the 3rd century Saint Gregory the Wonderworker would refer to her as being the New Ark of the Covenant. This title acknowledges the fact that the one who dwelled within her womb was God Himself. This title also points towards the ark which was made of gold for the one whom it contained was God.

Both these titles sum up what is being celebrated through the Immaculate Conception of Mary. She is the Godbearer who would bring forth the second Person of the Most Holy Trinity. Therefore like Eve she was without sin and like the Ark of the Covenant was a pure vessel for God.

None of these traits were enacted by Mary through her own merit. Rather, it was God who worked on her behalf and thus the angel Gabriel was able to proclaim at the Annunciation, “Hail, full of grace.” She has truly been filled with such grace to its fullest degree for God has worked on her behalf.

Let us continue to foster such devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Through such devotion we are always being led into a deeper relationship with her Son, Jesus. She never leads us away from Him for she always leads us towards the virtuous life. By coming to pursue such a life we make room for the Lord to enter in and to make His dwelling place among us.

Saint Mary, pray for us.

2nd Sunday of Advent Year A Homily

The prophet Isaiah gives us a vision of hope, “A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse.” This image of a stump relays something which has been left finished, cut down, and left beyond repair. Nevertheless, despite such certainty renewal is able to take place in this stump as well as in each of us.

From this stump will a shoot sprout and with it life will be brought forth. This reality is made so through the coming of the Savior. He comes without spectacle and brings forth life to all that He touches. As we continue this Advent journey we must be found willing to look inwardly upon self and to see our disordered habits, our broken relationships, and our spiritual dryness and to allow God to bring forth new life within us.

Saint John the Baptist makes this his message as he cries out, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Through such repentance we are willing to move towards God and to realign our life towards the one who is to come. We can only act in such a manner if we are found willing to be honest in those areas in our life where we resist God and to be found willing to move back towards Him. 

As we are told in Saint Matthew’s Gospel that we will, “produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance.” In such manner good fruit is brought forth despite the certainty of what seems to be finished, cut down, and left beyond repair. Through Christ this sprout will spring forth and life will once again come to triumph in it’s place.

It is this image from Isaiah that is the basis for the Jesse Tree. Through the Jesse Tree the linage of Christ springs forth from the stump of Jesse. The world has been prepared for the coming of the Messiah through the lineage of people such as Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, the prophets, and finally Mary and Jesus.

Let our sight be forever set towards such a coming. Through the virtue of hope we can and must prepare for such a coming. He will be found at work within us (even if we feel finished, cut down, and left beyond repair)  if we are willing to come to Him without reservation. During this season of Advent let us come to Him in such a manner and thus allow the Lord to prune all that must be pruned in order that we may be sent forth from His midst in order to bear good fruit.

Dedication of the Church Homily

Today we gather in order to celebrate the Solemnity of the Dedication of our Church.

From 1st Kings we were told, “even the highest heaven cannot contain You- how much less this house which I have built.” Therefore, the stones which make up this church represent that this is a holy place which has been consecrated to God where God continues to dwell among His people. We see this in the sacramental life of the Church especially through the Most Holy Eucharist. Through entering into such a life we are sent forth to put what we have received into action.

It is Saint Paul who reminds that we are “God’s building” and “the temple of the Holy Spirit.” Through such a proclamation we are reminded that through this celebration that God desires that we be sanctified in His sight. As the consecrated people of God we must continue to be the living stones which build up the Body of Christ. This means that we are to be sent forth from here to live out a life of faith that transforms all that it touches.

This evening we come to celebrate this parish community and it’s rich history here in Johnson City. In the past many have contributed to the wellbeing of this community by putting their faith into action for the spread of the gospel. As we move into the future we do so proclaiming Christ by the way in which we choose to live and order our life on this earth and thus from these walls flows faith to all that it touches.

1st Sunday of Advent Year A Homily

Today we observe the 1st Sunday of Advent, where we prepare the way for the ardent light which springs forth due to the coming of the Messiah.

From the prophet Isaiah we are told, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.” As Jesus Himself says in the Gospel of Saint John, “I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.” We must now stand firm in our practice of faith and proclaim, “Let us walk in the light of the Lord!”

The light of Christ proclaims a great hope to all of us. Through the Messiah’s birth humanity has been rescued from the darkness of sin and death. Through this birth we have been given a way towards the reality of eternal life. This light provides direction in the midst of all that we come to endure in this life.

From the Book of Romans we were told, “Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.” Such a thought causes us to look inwardly and to realize that this light is much stronger than the darkness. The more that we allow ourselves to reflect upon such a light, the more we will be able to overcome sin, fear, and despair.

During this time of year we especially long for the coming of such light because of how early it grows dark. We must realize that such gloominess will be overcome through the rising of the sun. Eventually the day will grow longer and so too in our life we must look to the Lord so that all that ails us may be overcome.

The sacrament of confession assists us in allowing the light of Christ to penetrate into the midst of the darkness of sin. This is the perfect way to begin this season of preparation. On Thursday we will hold our Advent Penance Service, where eight priests will assist in hearing confessions. Take advantage of this or one of our other confession opportunities.

From the Gospel of Saint Matthew we are told of the need to be prepared for the coming of the Son of Man for we know not the time nor the hour. We can only prepare for such an encounter if we are willing to step out of the darkness and enter into the light. If we allow ourselves to remain in such darkness, we will be caught off guard at the Lord’s coming.

May this Advent season continue to assist us in preparing the way for the Lord’s coming. Let us be willing to welcome this light into every corner of our life. He has come in order to dispel the darkness, so that we may walk with renewed hope towards the One who saves.

Christ the King Year C Homily

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. This solemnity serves as the culmination of our liturgical year and sums up the fact that Christ is the Chosen one, He is the Messiah, and He is the King of the Jews.

There were voices which mocked His kingship saying, “He saved others, let him save himself.” They were unable to see that He had come to save us and not Himself. Through the throne that is the cross we have been redeemed for He has been lifted up upon it.

From this gift that we have received we must choose to allow the Lord to penetrate into our life. The good thief understood this as he cried out, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Likewise, we must turn our sight towards Him and make such a profession of faith.

At this Mass there are those among us who will make a Profession of Faith and be received fully into the life of the Church through confirmation and the Eucharist. As they profess the fulness of faith we must also come to live out what we profess in thought, word, and deed.

It was upon the cross that His blood was spilled for us and through the spilling of His blood we have been made a part of His kingdom. From the Book of Revelation, “To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father, to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.”

Let us come to understand that we have been given a share in His kingship through our baptism. Through our baptism we were incorporated into Christ in order to share in His role as priest, prophet, and king. We exercise Christ’s kingship by governing our life and relationships towards the service of God. In doing so we lead others to God’s Kingdom and do not get caught up in the allure of worldly power.

Such a reality can only be lived in so far as we are willing to live the Gospel without compromise. So many see no need to commit their self to such a state. They might attend church on Sunday, but choose to not live what they have received in the midst of the world. The gospel isn’t a message of suggestions, but is a way of life that cannot be silenced.

It was for this reason that Pope Pius XI established this feast in 1925. He did so in order that the rising secularism, atheism, and communism following World War I would be opposed. In this day and age we must continue to combat such realities for they run rampant in our world. As Christians we must oppose such realities and set our sight towards Christ, in order that we may continue to build up His Kingdom on this earth by living out the gospel, and thus the faith without compromise.

Long live Christ the King!