Some of the worst moments in our lives are when our ability to speak for ourselves has been taken away. It can be hard to endure this useless banter against us and our good names. Not being able to speak up against those who have a problem with us and our deeds. Zechariah's use of voice was taken away from him. He was unable to speak up against those who questioned his child being named John. "Why would Elizabeth want her child to be named John. Has she gone mad because nobody in her family has been named thus. This family will be the laughing stock of this town for such a name." Zechariah heard these remarks and he was unable to cry out in defense of his wife. It had to be difficult to sick back and endure what was going on around him.
These people then approached Zechariah to question him for this name. He could tell what they wanted of him, but he knew what he had to endure for God. Unable to speak up in his defense he grabbed a tablet and simple wrote: "John is his name!" Finally Zechariah's voice returned, but instead of lashing out to these people he proclaimed words which blessed God. In this silent moment's of pain he was defenseless against his arbitrators, but this allowed him the time to spend in silence with God.
Let us fear not in serving our Lord. Let us fear not when we are attacked for the service that we give. Fearing not if we are able to speak up in order to save our name. Let us understand that these horrible moments give way to spending time with God in prayer. Through prayer we will fearlessly be led forward to prepare the way for the Lord. We will be like John the Baptist who was born in order to prepare the way for the coming of Christ. He did not always have it easy, but this was his mission. Let us fear not those who question our deeds unjustly, but only place our trust in the Eucharist that we will soon receive for it will lead us in our mission of preparing the way of the Lord to the world around us.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Saints John Fisher and Thomas More Homily
Saints John Fisher and Thomas More like many saints of the Church are remembered for the good fruit that they have bore to the world. Both of these men wanted to live up to the truth of the Church even if it brought them death for it. King Henry desired that both of these men would abandon the authority of the pope and recognize him as the new head of the Church. Both of these holy men knew that people would come into the world that would want to rip the Church apart from the inside. Instead of trusting in mere men they realized the importance of trusting in the wisdom of the Church. This attitude led to them to being beheaded, but like the beheading of Saint John the Baptist this would lead many faithful people to be inspired to live out the life of the Church.
These men will forever be known for fearing nothing over the importance of the Church. This was the good fruit that they bore to the world that can still be felt today. We must ask ourselves what good fruit we want to be remembered for once we have left this world. There are many false prophets out there who want to led us astray, but we can not allow them to take ahold of us by transforming our fruit into something that is rotten and no good for society.
It can be hard to stand up against society, but this is something that we must do if we are to be called Christian. By the fact that we have received Christ inside of the Eucharist will give us the strength to encounter these situations and help to keep our fruit fresh and pure. Worthily receiving Christ in the Eucharist will help us in any battles with false prophets that we run into once we depart from this place. May we fear not when we bring Christ into every place of the world! Because we know that the Eucharist is driving us forward and is helping us to bear good fruit within our daily lives.
These men will forever be known for fearing nothing over the importance of the Church. This was the good fruit that they bore to the world that can still be felt today. We must ask ourselves what good fruit we want to be remembered for once we have left this world. There are many false prophets out there who want to led us astray, but we can not allow them to take ahold of us by transforming our fruit into something that is rotten and no good for society.
It can be hard to stand up against society, but this is something that we must do if we are to be called Christian. By the fact that we have received Christ inside of the Eucharist will give us the strength to encounter these situations and help to keep our fruit fresh and pure. Worthily receiving Christ in the Eucharist will help us in any battles with false prophets that we run into once we depart from this place. May we fear not when we bring Christ into every place of the world! Because we know that the Eucharist is driving us forward and is helping us to bear good fruit within our daily lives.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Trinity Sunday Year A Homily
Today we gather together to celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity which is the perfect challenge for us to love in a charitable way.
I am reminded of a experience that I had while I was a senior in college seminary. Our class spent the weekend to go into the streets of Kansas City, Missouri to work with a local organization which brought food and clothes to the homeless of the city. I was most touched that night while we were under a bridge and speaking with a man who owned much of nothing. It was a cold winter night and he was in need of a blanket. He realized that we only had one blanket in our possession. After finding this out he decided that he could make it until next time. He said he owned one blanket and it would be best to keep it and give it to somebody who needs it more then he. That was an AWESOME response to hear because it would of been so easy to think of himself and fail to see the other people inside of the city that needed more then he.
This was a true glimpse into charitable love which lacked an abusive mentality, but realized the humanity of another person in the world. This man was acting out in mercy and graciousness towards his fellow brother and sister in Christ like the Trinity works within our lives.
At times we are a stiff necked people who have a misconception of love. We allow our "love" to cloud our relationship with God and with each other. It is normal to see a newly engaged couple that is filled with love for each other. To them this love can never be challenged, but as the wedding relationship takes shape the couple starts to truly learn the meaning of love. The media would want us to think that love circles around feelings. When love only revolves around feelings it becomes abusive. We begin to see another person as an object which can help us to become happy. In this abusive struggle we start to fail to see the person in their humanity. It is an everyday struggle for us to work with others be they family, friends, or people who do know. It is a challenge to always respect them through their humanity. When the check out at the grocery store is going slow it is easy to grow impatient and thus fail to see the humanity that dwells in the worker. Following a hard day's work it can be a struggle to be patient with the family. It can be hard to wake up day by day beside the same person with nothing in life ever changing.
The Trinity, on the other hand, is a perfect glimpse into love. There can be no abuse found inside of this relationship because it always respects each of the three persons. The Father completely pours out love to the Son. The Son receives this love and does not squander it, but gives it to the Holy Spirit. The Spirit then returns all of this love to the Father and this pattern continues for all of eternity. God desired that this love would flow into humanity and that we would take part within it. God saw the horror of man touched with sin and sent His Son into the world, so that we may be set free from that horror. We can indeed say that God is love from the very beginning of time and that this God is merciful and gracious. From the start the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit where sharing with each other in this relationship of love. Never would we be able to say that any of these three persons grew tired or began to take advantage of the other for their own pleasure. This relationship is completely given through charitable love.
May we allow ourselves to enter fully in this relationship of the Trinity. May we see how much our lives can be enhanced if we strive to model our relationships after the love that is found inside of the Trinity. Inside of this way of life we can begin to see all of humanity as created inside the image of God. When we begin to see humanity in this manner we will be able to take our relationships to new heights. We can see that we are important because we are loved by the Trinity. We can see that the stranger that we have never met is important because they are loved by the Trinity. Our homes can be transformed because we will be able to see God that dwells with in each other and stop using them to meet our own need for pleasure. When we can join with the Trinity in this manner we will be able to feel the "God of love and peace with us always" and we will be able to share in the mercy and graciousness that is poured out to each of us. May we model Moses from the first reading who wanted the Lord to come along with his company and guide them. May the Lord indeed walk along in our company and help us to be inspired to live out the love the Trinity in all areas of life that we may encounter.
The world is indeed filled with many examples of how love has been misused, but the world is also filled with examples of love being used in it's correct form. The example of the homeless man and his concern for another proved that this happens in our daily life. The person who received that blanket probably never realized the sacrifice that was placed into what they received.
Today we are blessd to celebrate this day of charitable love on Father's Day. We owe the fathers in our life a thank you for the charitable love that they have shown us and continue to show us. May all fathers present along with all the faithful gathered here today continue to grow in charitable love, so that we can grow closer to the love that is shared inside of the Trinity.
I am reminded of a experience that I had while I was a senior in college seminary. Our class spent the weekend to go into the streets of Kansas City, Missouri to work with a local organization which brought food and clothes to the homeless of the city. I was most touched that night while we were under a bridge and speaking with a man who owned much of nothing. It was a cold winter night and he was in need of a blanket. He realized that we only had one blanket in our possession. After finding this out he decided that he could make it until next time. He said he owned one blanket and it would be best to keep it and give it to somebody who needs it more then he. That was an AWESOME response to hear because it would of been so easy to think of himself and fail to see the other people inside of the city that needed more then he.
This was a true glimpse into charitable love which lacked an abusive mentality, but realized the humanity of another person in the world. This man was acting out in mercy and graciousness towards his fellow brother and sister in Christ like the Trinity works within our lives.
At times we are a stiff necked people who have a misconception of love. We allow our "love" to cloud our relationship with God and with each other. It is normal to see a newly engaged couple that is filled with love for each other. To them this love can never be challenged, but as the wedding relationship takes shape the couple starts to truly learn the meaning of love. The media would want us to think that love circles around feelings. When love only revolves around feelings it becomes abusive. We begin to see another person as an object which can help us to become happy. In this abusive struggle we start to fail to see the person in their humanity. It is an everyday struggle for us to work with others be they family, friends, or people who do know. It is a challenge to always respect them through their humanity. When the check out at the grocery store is going slow it is easy to grow impatient and thus fail to see the humanity that dwells in the worker. Following a hard day's work it can be a struggle to be patient with the family. It can be hard to wake up day by day beside the same person with nothing in life ever changing.
The Trinity, on the other hand, is a perfect glimpse into love. There can be no abuse found inside of this relationship because it always respects each of the three persons. The Father completely pours out love to the Son. The Son receives this love and does not squander it, but gives it to the Holy Spirit. The Spirit then returns all of this love to the Father and this pattern continues for all of eternity. God desired that this love would flow into humanity and that we would take part within it. God saw the horror of man touched with sin and sent His Son into the world, so that we may be set free from that horror. We can indeed say that God is love from the very beginning of time and that this God is merciful and gracious. From the start the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit where sharing with each other in this relationship of love. Never would we be able to say that any of these three persons grew tired or began to take advantage of the other for their own pleasure. This relationship is completely given through charitable love.
May we allow ourselves to enter fully in this relationship of the Trinity. May we see how much our lives can be enhanced if we strive to model our relationships after the love that is found inside of the Trinity. Inside of this way of life we can begin to see all of humanity as created inside the image of God. When we begin to see humanity in this manner we will be able to take our relationships to new heights. We can see that we are important because we are loved by the Trinity. We can see that the stranger that we have never met is important because they are loved by the Trinity. Our homes can be transformed because we will be able to see God that dwells with in each other and stop using them to meet our own need for pleasure. When we can join with the Trinity in this manner we will be able to feel the "God of love and peace with us always" and we will be able to share in the mercy and graciousness that is poured out to each of us. May we model Moses from the first reading who wanted the Lord to come along with his company and guide them. May the Lord indeed walk along in our company and help us to be inspired to live out the love the Trinity in all areas of life that we may encounter.
The world is indeed filled with many examples of how love has been misused, but the world is also filled with examples of love being used in it's correct form. The example of the homeless man and his concern for another proved that this happens in our daily life. The person who received that blanket probably never realized the sacrifice that was placed into what they received.
Today we are blessd to celebrate this day of charitable love on Father's Day. We owe the fathers in our life a thank you for the charitable love that they have shown us and continue to show us. May all fathers present along with all the faithful gathered here today continue to grow in charitable love, so that we can grow closer to the love that is shared inside of the Trinity.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Thursday 11th Week OT Year I Homily
How does it feel when we have to lower ourselves to somebody else? It can be tough to realize that somebody else out there might have more talent then we do.
Humility is at the heart of today's readings. Paul was humble when he addressed the Corinthians because he pointed out weaknesses which were present in his ministry. Then in the Gospel we were taught humility through the use of the Our Father.
In this prayer we quickly humble ourselves by referring to God as Our Father. We are acknowledging here that God is our creator and we therefore should give God the respect that He deserves. When we kneel before Him in prayer we are showing our lowliness.
Despite how great the prayers we hold are we proclaim: "Thy will be done." Even something as important as moving into the rectory must wait until the time is right! Everything must be done through the will of God. We cry out in this prayer that we have sinned and come to the realization that we must forgive those who have sinned against us.
It is with humility that we should come to Mass. Who are we that Christ will come to us in the form of bread and wine? How can we dare to receive this Sacrament when you take into account the sins of our past? Humbly we are able to join into this great mystery and draw closer to God. If we lack humility it would be impossible for us to ever draw closer to God.
Let us reflect upon our lives and how we can be challenged to grow in humility, so that we may better be able to go into the world to serve Our Lord.
Humility is at the heart of today's readings. Paul was humble when he addressed the Corinthians because he pointed out weaknesses which were present in his ministry. Then in the Gospel we were taught humility through the use of the Our Father.
In this prayer we quickly humble ourselves by referring to God as Our Father. We are acknowledging here that God is our creator and we therefore should give God the respect that He deserves. When we kneel before Him in prayer we are showing our lowliness.
Despite how great the prayers we hold are we proclaim: "Thy will be done." Even something as important as moving into the rectory must wait until the time is right! Everything must be done through the will of God. We cry out in this prayer that we have sinned and come to the realization that we must forgive those who have sinned against us.
It is with humility that we should come to Mass. Who are we that Christ will come to us in the form of bread and wine? How can we dare to receive this Sacrament when you take into account the sins of our past? Humbly we are able to join into this great mystery and draw closer to God. If we lack humility it would be impossible for us to ever draw closer to God.
Let us reflect upon our lives and how we can be challenged to grow in humility, so that we may better be able to go into the world to serve Our Lord.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Tuesday 11th Week OT Year I Homily
Through our faith we must watch over our brothers and sisters in Christ with love and charity. We cannot allow ourselves to makes up excuses of why we are unable to do this.
Growing up I was heavily involved with the Boy Scouts of America and the motto was to "Do a good turn daily." One of my fellow scouts was asked what good turn he had done in the past month. He told them that he helped an old lady cross the street. This excuse did not fool anyone and he was challenged to actually do something.
As Christians we must go into the world looking for ways that we can do a good turn. One good deed would be a good start, but we MUST work constantly at giving service to those who are in need. Offering up everything that we do for the greater glory of God. We cannot deceive ourselves with excuses that we have done enough because there is always another opportunity out there that might present itself to us. Even if it is seemingly as small as saying a prayer for someone who is in need.
Here at this Mass bread and wine will be offered to God and will become the Body and Blood of Christ. It is here that we can show our care for others and join our prayers in this sacrificial offering. It is from this Sacrament that we will receive that we will get our strength to give TOTAL service to God as we depart from this quiet space of prayer and enter back into the busy world that surrounds us.
Growing up I was heavily involved with the Boy Scouts of America and the motto was to "Do a good turn daily." One of my fellow scouts was asked what good turn he had done in the past month. He told them that he helped an old lady cross the street. This excuse did not fool anyone and he was challenged to actually do something.
As Christians we must go into the world looking for ways that we can do a good turn. One good deed would be a good start, but we MUST work constantly at giving service to those who are in need. Offering up everything that we do for the greater glory of God. We cannot deceive ourselves with excuses that we have done enough because there is always another opportunity out there that might present itself to us. Even if it is seemingly as small as saying a prayer for someone who is in need.
Here at this Mass bread and wine will be offered to God and will become the Body and Blood of Christ. It is here that we can show our care for others and join our prayers in this sacrificial offering. It is from this Sacrament that we will receive that we will get our strength to give TOTAL service to God as we depart from this quiet space of prayer and enter back into the busy world that surrounds us.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Diaconate Ordination
Thank you for the prayers on the day of my ordination. Here are a few pictures from the Ordination Mass.
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