As Catholics we have many outward practices which profess the faith that we believe. Each of these outward actions should draw us closer to the mystery of God and His great love for us.
We can take the Sacrifice of the Mass as an example of this. As we prepared for the Gospel to be proclaimed we all stood up because we were getting ready to hear to very words of Christ. Before the Gospel was proclaimed we all signed ourselves with the cross three times. Once over our forehead, then over our lips, and finally over our heart. By doing this we express our desire to have the Gospel to effect our lives fully, so that all that we do may make it manifest. Another example of outward practice which happens at the Mass is when we say "I Confess" and get to the part where we say "through my fault." when we get here we are asked to strike our breastplate as we confess that we have sinned against God.
There is nothing wrong with these outward practices, but we must also evaluate what us going on inside of us. We must allow these outward practices to take place in our hearts and souls drawing us ever closer to God the Father. We should not just rush into these actions and follow the crowd around us, but we should take the time to evaluate our inner disposition.
In a matter of moments we will receive Christ in His Body and Blood and through doing this we ask for the grace to take hold in our hearts that will transform all our outer practices to take effect within the deepest part of our hearts.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
Car Accident Kills Priest & Seminarian
The Diocese of Tulsa and many Catholics around the world are sad to hear of the passing of a priest and a seminarian from a car accident that happened in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Father Jorge Gomez was a newly ordained priest who was just ordained last month the seminarian was in his third year of studies at Saint Meinrad seminary. I ask for your prayers for both of these men.
For more information on these men check out the Diocese of Tulsa website by clicking here.
For more information on these men check out the Diocese of Tulsa website by clicking here.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
20th Sun OT Year A Homily
I thank you for welcoming me into your parish these past three months. I will always have fond memories of my first assignment as a member of the clergy. I assure you of my continued prayers as I leave this parish and return to the seminary for my final year. I ask you to keep me in your prayers as I leave here and continue my preparation for the priesthood.
Today's Gospel gives us the perfect example of how we should pray. The Caanite woman is the perfect example of how we should tackle prayer with perseverance.
Last summer I worked as a chaplain at the University of Tennessee Medical Center. This job helped me to see the chain of different emotions that might appear in one's life. The joy of a new born child and the sorrow of the death of a loved one all are found within the walls of this place. I encountered one family there who were given the news that their loved one was going to die. It that situation it is hard to know what to say, but you must be present with them. I offered to pray, but the daughter wanted nothing to do with it. She had already turned to prayer and it got her no results. She was stuck in a state of hopelessness.
I am sure this Caanite woman also felt a bit of hopelessness when she came to Christ to offer her prayer for her daughter to Him. Christ heard the request and offered no response to her. This models our life of prayer because when we pray we hardly ever get the instant result that we desire. Despite it seeming like our prayers are not being answered we must continue to preserve in prayer and trust that the Heavely Father hears the prayers that we have to offer.
This woman did not lose hope, but called out all the more. She even turned towards the apostles and cried out to them. Again she was not given an answer, but this did not slow her down. Our Catholic faith holds great importance on the intercession of the saints. We trust that we can call out to them and ask them to give us strength. Just this past week we celebrated the lives of Saint Dominic on Monday, Saint Lawerence the deacon on Wednesday, and Saint Clare on Thursday. We asked them to hear our prayers and present them to God most high.
Despite receiving no answer this woman continued to humbly trust in Christ. She understood that God was the greatest of all beings. She understood that her prayer was important, but it also had to fit into the will of God. This is presented to us each time that we pray the "Our Father" when we get to the part where we say "thy will be done." When we pray we must trust in the will of the Father. Prayer is not an act of magic where you cast the perfect spell and get the results that you want to appear before you. Instead we must humbly come before the Father and join our prayers with Him allowing "thy will to be done." Our culture is obsessed with instant gratification, but we cannot allow the attitude to enter into our prayer lives. The Internet has helped to feed this attitude because we nolonger need to wait long enough to go to the store. With a click of the mouse we can instantly download a book in a matter of minutes. With prayer we must invest more time and persevere with it at all times.
Like the Caanite woman we must humbly come to the Father. At this Mass we will receive not mere bread and wine, but will receive the Body and Blood of Christ. Here our prayers come together and are joined as the are offered up to all the angels and the saints of Heaven. This is most beautifully shown to us when we chant "Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of power and might." With the upcoming English translatioof the Roman Missal we will begin to say "Holy, Holy, Holy Lord god of hosts." These hosts that we speak here are the angels who dwell over the altar of sacrifice and take our prayers and hand them over to the Father.
May we humbly presvere in prayer now and always. Allowing ourselves to trust fully the will of th Father. Being happy with the mere scraps which come from the table because even that will be enough to fill us if it comes from the Father. May we forever be given the grace necessary to continue to humbly persevere in prayer.
Today's Gospel gives us the perfect example of how we should pray. The Caanite woman is the perfect example of how we should tackle prayer with perseverance.
Last summer I worked as a chaplain at the University of Tennessee Medical Center. This job helped me to see the chain of different emotions that might appear in one's life. The joy of a new born child and the sorrow of the death of a loved one all are found within the walls of this place. I encountered one family there who were given the news that their loved one was going to die. It that situation it is hard to know what to say, but you must be present with them. I offered to pray, but the daughter wanted nothing to do with it. She had already turned to prayer and it got her no results. She was stuck in a state of hopelessness.
I am sure this Caanite woman also felt a bit of hopelessness when she came to Christ to offer her prayer for her daughter to Him. Christ heard the request and offered no response to her. This models our life of prayer because when we pray we hardly ever get the instant result that we desire. Despite it seeming like our prayers are not being answered we must continue to preserve in prayer and trust that the Heavely Father hears the prayers that we have to offer.
This woman did not lose hope, but called out all the more. She even turned towards the apostles and cried out to them. Again she was not given an answer, but this did not slow her down. Our Catholic faith holds great importance on the intercession of the saints. We trust that we can call out to them and ask them to give us strength. Just this past week we celebrated the lives of Saint Dominic on Monday, Saint Lawerence the deacon on Wednesday, and Saint Clare on Thursday. We asked them to hear our prayers and present them to God most high.
Despite receiving no answer this woman continued to humbly trust in Christ. She understood that God was the greatest of all beings. She understood that her prayer was important, but it also had to fit into the will of God. This is presented to us each time that we pray the "Our Father" when we get to the part where we say "thy will be done." When we pray we must trust in the will of the Father. Prayer is not an act of magic where you cast the perfect spell and get the results that you want to appear before you. Instead we must humbly come before the Father and join our prayers with Him allowing "thy will to be done." Our culture is obsessed with instant gratification, but we cannot allow the attitude to enter into our prayer lives. The Internet has helped to feed this attitude because we nolonger need to wait long enough to go to the store. With a click of the mouse we can instantly download a book in a matter of minutes. With prayer we must invest more time and persevere with it at all times.
Like the Caanite woman we must humbly come to the Father. At this Mass we will receive not mere bread and wine, but will receive the Body and Blood of Christ. Here our prayers come together and are joined as the are offered up to all the angels and the saints of Heaven. This is most beautifully shown to us when we chant "Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of power and might." With the upcoming English translatioof the Roman Missal we will begin to say "Holy, Holy, Holy Lord god of hosts." These hosts that we speak here are the angels who dwell over the altar of sacrifice and take our prayers and hand them over to the Father.
May we humbly presvere in prayer now and always. Allowing ourselves to trust fully the will of th Father. Being happy with the mere scraps which come from the table because even that will be enough to fill us if it comes from the Father. May we forever be given the grace necessary to continue to humbly persevere in prayer.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Homily on Memorial of St. Clare
It was only a few days ago when I was visiting an elderly woman of this parish. She told me of her desire to attend Mass, but due to her age she was unable to get out and do so. She mentioned how she just figured out that her cable had EWTN and how she could at least watch Mass daily on television. Saint Clare is the patron of television because when she was sick and unable to attend Mass daily she could hear and see the Mass celebrated from the wall of her room. This of course was well before the invention of the television.
Today's Gospel presents us with the message of compassion. Each of us has received so much, but it can be easy to forget that. Our lives should be centered upon Christ so much that we should never forget to treat others with the compassion that they deserve. If our actions tear apart our relation with Christ we need to reform them, so that our outward actions may reflect our spiritual life. Saint Clare had compassion when she began the order that would become known as the Poor Clares. The rule of this order would respect the spiritual life and would help each other to treat all as Christ.
From the Eucharist we receive we are given the strength to have compassion for our neighbor. We cannot receive Christ and not have concern for those who we will encounter. Saint Clare had great devotion to the Eucharist and is often depicted holding a pyx or a monstrance. This comes from an encounter with Frederick II and his army attacking the gates of the convent when she came out holding onto the Eucharist in deep prayer. "deliver not to beasts, O Lord, the souls of those who confess to thee."This caused the armies to flee showing to us today that Christ in the Eucharist gives great strength to our souls. The devil will never be able to prevail against us and we will have the grace needed to not hoard the gifts given to us, but instead be wiling to share them with the world.
Today's Gospel presents us with the message of compassion. Each of us has received so much, but it can be easy to forget that. Our lives should be centered upon Christ so much that we should never forget to treat others with the compassion that they deserve. If our actions tear apart our relation with Christ we need to reform them, so that our outward actions may reflect our spiritual life. Saint Clare had compassion when she began the order that would become known as the Poor Clares. The rule of this order would respect the spiritual life and would help each other to treat all as Christ.
From the Eucharist we receive we are given the strength to have compassion for our neighbor. We cannot receive Christ and not have concern for those who we will encounter. Saint Clare had great devotion to the Eucharist and is often depicted holding a pyx or a monstrance. This comes from an encounter with Frederick II and his army attacking the gates of the convent when she came out holding onto the Eucharist in deep prayer. "deliver not to beasts, O Lord, the souls of those who confess to thee."This caused the armies to flee showing to us today that Christ in the Eucharist gives great strength to our souls. The devil will never be able to prevail against us and we will have the grace needed to not hoard the gifts given to us, but instead be wiling to share them with the world.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Tuesday 21st Week of OT Year I Homily
Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross was born to Jewish parents, but would later abandon her faith in God to believe in nothing. Through her studies in philosophy and her understanding of the works of Saint Teresa of Avila she was drawn towards the Catholic faith. She would soon be baptized and returned to God as a humble child kneeling before him to be brought closer into union with God. Due to her Jewish decent she was captured and brought to die in a Nazi concentration camp.
Saint Teresa had to endure many trials for our Lord which ended in her own martyrdom. In our day and age we face many trials which interrupt our spiritual lives? Be it not finding time to pray as we ought, temptation, fear of future possibilities. No matter what lies in wait we must accept these trials by being brave and steadfast. Through being brave and steadfast may we finally see that the Lord marches with each of us. When we struggle to act upon these two gifts may we draw upon the grace given to us in the Eucharist so that we may be able to endure all spiritual struggles for the sake the kingdom.
We come to Mass daily to receive our Lord in the Eucharist, but each time that we receive Christ we should come prepared to receive a gift so great as this. We will soon humbly kneel before the altar of sacrifice as we prepare to receive such a gift. No matter what struggle or joy we bring here today we join together to receive this wonderful gift which will bring strength and nourishment to our souls, so that our spiritual life may be forever strengthened.
Saint Teresa had to endure many trials for our Lord which ended in her own martyrdom. In our day and age we face many trials which interrupt our spiritual lives? Be it not finding time to pray as we ought, temptation, fear of future possibilities. No matter what lies in wait we must accept these trials by being brave and steadfast. Through being brave and steadfast may we finally see that the Lord marches with each of us. When we struggle to act upon these two gifts may we draw upon the grace given to us in the Eucharist so that we may be able to endure all spiritual struggles for the sake the kingdom.
We come to Mass daily to receive our Lord in the Eucharist, but each time that we receive Christ we should come prepared to receive a gift so great as this. We will soon humbly kneel before the altar of sacrifice as we prepare to receive such a gift. No matter what struggle or joy we bring here today we join together to receive this wonderful gift which will bring strength and nourishment to our souls, so that our spiritual life may be forever strengthened.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Memorial of St. John Vianney Homily
Do we always trust Christ fully or do we instead rebuke Him? Many times we have rebuked the Savior of the World through sin and despite all of this Christ freely died upon the cross to bring salvation to each of us. No matter how many times that we sin against God we cannot lose sight of the cross for it is here that we are able to find our joy among darkness. Crosses present themselves daily in our lives and yet we must embrace them instead of giving in or complaining about them. Through our trust in the cross we can draw ourselves closer to the Sacrament of Reconciliation if it is needed within our lives.
Today we remember the memorial of a great confessor in Saint John Vianney. He was known for his faithfulness to our Crucified Lord. He never took his eyes off from the reality of the cross and thus was moved to become a great confessor and preacher. In the summertime he would spend at least 16 hours in the confessional which I imagine to have taken a great feat due to how hot the confessionals here at Saint John Neumann get only after being inside for 5 minutes to put on my vestments! For these hours inside people would remain lined up to come and lay their sinfulness before the reality of the cross.
Vianney is also know for the mortification that he lived during his life. I am sure that these different practices were not easy, but well worth it for him because they would draw him closer to the reality of the cross. In our lives we often have to endure many little crosses, but how better would they be if we accept them and offer them up to Our Lord in prayer?
Today may each of us draw closer into the reality of the cross and never forget the great gift that was freely given upon it. No matter where we find ourselves today we must embrace the crosses in our life instead of rebuking them. If we find ourselves lost and astray it is here that we can find our way back home. May we always trust in the cross!
Today we remember the memorial of a great confessor in Saint John Vianney. He was known for his faithfulness to our Crucified Lord. He never took his eyes off from the reality of the cross and thus was moved to become a great confessor and preacher. In the summertime he would spend at least 16 hours in the confessional which I imagine to have taken a great feat due to how hot the confessionals here at Saint John Neumann get only after being inside for 5 minutes to put on my vestments! For these hours inside people would remain lined up to come and lay their sinfulness before the reality of the cross.
Vianney is also know for the mortification that he lived during his life. I am sure that these different practices were not easy, but well worth it for him because they would draw him closer to the reality of the cross. In our lives we often have to endure many little crosses, but how better would they be if we accept them and offer them up to Our Lord in prayer?
Today may each of us draw closer into the reality of the cross and never forget the great gift that was freely given upon it. No matter where we find ourselves today we must embrace the crosses in our life instead of rebuking them. If we find ourselves lost and astray it is here that we can find our way back home. May we always trust in the cross!
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