A few summers ago I traveled to Guatemala to begin to study Spanish. This country has many opportunities to get out of the city and to see some of the surrounding area. They have volcanoes, Mian ruins, beautiful lakes, and more within this country. A group of us decided that we wanted to travel up an active volcano and so we booked some tickets with a local travel agency. We ended up in central park that morning waiting for our bus to arrive. The tickets told us to be there 30 minutes early or 30 minutes late! We arrived a little over 30 minutes early and waited and waited. It was now 9am the time the bus was to leave and still nothing in site. We therefore waited some more. With each bus that passed by we thought that this might be us, but each time we came up empty handed. The bus was now 30 minutes late and still we decided to give it more time. After an hour passed we decided that it was never going to show up and decided that we needed to look for new options.
We have begun the season of Advent and each of us is called to be watchful and awake. We are awaiting the coming of Christ and therefore need to be watchful and awake. Thankfully we know that on December 25th the season of Advent will end and we will move into the Christmas season. The problem with knowing this fact is that we must do everything in our power to prepare our hearts and souls for this great event. We cannot just stand on the side of the road allowing the world to pass by while we wait, but each of us must get actively involved in the world around us.
Those in the reading from Isaiah were called to be awake because the Lord was returning soon. They were informed that the world was passing away like withered leaves and yet they were called to be fully ready to be molded by God the Father. May we remain awake also and realize the strengths and weaknesses that we have. Through this realization may we understand that no matter how sinful or holy that we may find ourselves that we still need to hand ourselves over to God and to allow Him to mold our lives. Last weekend I was in Indianapolis for the National Catholic Youth Conference and saw this played out in the lives of 23,000 people. On the final day of the conference I saw lines backed up as far as the eye could see to partake in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The lines got so huge they added more rooms and confessors and yet the lines would only grow. These teens were truly being watchful and awake and handed themselves over to God to be molded in holiness. During this season of Advent may we also be watchful and awake and partake of the Sacrament of Reconciliation to aid us in this same process.
If we can be inspired to use this great season of Advent to help us to remain watchful and awake we will be like the Christians who Saint Paul was addressing today in his First Letter to the Corinthians. We are told by him that God is faithful and by Him we have been called into fellowship with Jesus Christ His Son. Nothing in life can surpass this great union of love if we allow ourselves to grow more and more towards union with Christ. This world is truly passing and there is nothing besides union with Christ that can leave us filled. Black Friday is the perfect example of people who are in search of the BIG deal. People have studied the sales paper, know what their goal is, have arrived early, and are ready to pounce at the click of midnight. Yes they may get the item they desired, but there will always be something more that they will need. My brothers and sisters if we allow ourselves to enter into this season of Advent and remain watchful and awake we will draw closer to Christ. Our only desire in life will be to grow deeper and deeper towards Him and His dive love. May we use this season to study scripture, realize what virtue we need to grow in, and make a plan that can help us to accomplish this great task.
We have been created by God with the hope that we will remain watchful and awake. When we remain watchful and awake we are ever growing closer into union with God. Let us not waste this season of Advent, but may we partake of it fully. If we desire to enter into this union it will come if we are willing to work at it. We will not be left stranded awaiting some unforeseen object, but we will truly begin to be transformed more like Christ each and every day of our lives. If we sit by and decide that we want to sit back and relax the days will pass by and nothing will change within in us. Christmas will come and go as will our trees and decorations and we will remain the same stagnant person. Let us instead use this season of Advent to commit ourselves to growing more and more into union with Christ.
As my group waited on the side of the road we were harassed by many local travel agents. They promised us that our bus was never going to come and offered to take our group in their van. They had IDs on them showing that they were licensed with the country of Guatemala to give tours. When we realized that our bus was not going to arrive we gave in and allowed one of the travel guides to take us to the volcano. Despite failed plans with the bus we eventually reached our destination. May we also accept Christ's offer to stay "watchful and awake." May we use this season of Advent to aid us in reaching our destination of reaching closer union with Christ. May we accept any tools that the Church offers us to help us arrive at this destination. The Sacraments are here to help aid us in arriving here if we decide to partake of them. Today we will receive Christ in His Body and Blood and we will be given a glimpse into the Heavenly Kingdom that we have been promised. May we not waste this season of Advent, but may we use it to grow in grace, so that we may see the face of God and be saved.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Wednesday 34th Week OT Homily
Last Wednesday I was looking forward to Thanksgiving break. I knew that I had to first head to Indianapolis for NCYC and following that event that I would head home to be with my family. Therefore I wanted to get everything in order before making the trip. First I needed an oil change and then I decided it would be best to start the trip on a full tank of gas. Thus I pulled over turned off the engine and filled my car. The problem came when I attempted to turn my car back on and nothing happened.
We often try to get everything in working order, but despite our hard work everything starts to go crazy. I find it striking when this gospel passage says: "You are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you wisdom in speaking."
No matter how prepared we may think that we are we must think of these verses. We have all been given many blessings and trials, but we must always remain grounded in Christ. No matter how prepared that we feel that we may be we must remain grounded in Christ. Our reading from Daniel showed a people who failed to remain grounded in Christ. May we not get so prepared that we remove Christ from our lives, but may we instead give glory and eternal praise to him all the days of our lives.
We often try to get everything in working order, but despite our hard work everything starts to go crazy. I find it striking when this gospel passage says: "You are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you wisdom in speaking."
No matter how prepared we may think that we are we must think of these verses. We have all been given many blessings and trials, but we must always remain grounded in Christ. No matter how prepared that we feel that we may be we must remain grounded in Christ. Our reading from Daniel showed a people who failed to remain grounded in Christ. May we not get so prepared that we remove Christ from our lives, but may we instead give glory and eternal praise to him all the days of our lives.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
33rd Sunday OT Year A Homily
The Church is made up of people who share one common belief and yet we as people are so different. Differences exist in our working situation, educational background, family upbringing, health history, age, and yet we still sit here joined together through the faith. We have nurses, teachers, students, farmers, fast food workers, and more present today and yet we have joined together for the celebration of this Mass. We have babies, children, teens, adults, and yet we have joined here to worship our Lord. There are those who are highly interested and those who are tired and those who want to get out of here as soon as possible, but despite that we have come here receive Christ in His Body and Blood.
These same differences existed in the early Church. We see these same differences played out in today's Gospel reading. There were three servants and they were not treated equally. One received five talents, another only two, and the last one received a measly one. We can defiantly say that they were not treated equally. Despite not being treated equally they were called to do something greater with what they were given. They were called to take how much or little they were given and to risk it all out of love in order to make it into something greater.
Yes we can look into the actions of the world around us and see that the parable of the talents is played out daily. We have rich people in this world who have been caught up in their own riches and could care less about using what they have been given for the assistance of someone who is in need. We have farmers who work hard inside of their fields and when they see somebody who is hungry they believe that they have nothing to offer them. We have teachers who care only about the paycheck they will receive and do not realize the importance that their job plays in the handing on of education to the youth of out nation. Hospital workers as well have been have been given the opportunity to see life in it's many stages, and yet some still are unable to see the importance of life in the people who surround them. What have we been in trusted with? Are we doing something with this to make it greater or do we fall in the sin of the servant with one talent who decided that it would be best to do nothing with what was in trusted to him?
Young or old we must answer this question. We must realize that nobody here has been dealt the same hand from God. Each of our lives are so different and yet we are called to be present today inside of this Church to present ourselves to God. On the day of judgment I am sure that nobody here wants to end up as the servant with one talent. The question for us is how can we take advantage of our gifts and make them greater. How can we who are present today begin to allow risk in our lives like the first two servants who were awarded greatly?
I am sure that shock came to the minds of these servants when they received word that they were to appear before their master and present him with the knowledge of what they had done with what they had been given. I am sure that the first two servants were relieved with the way they were treated, but that final servant and his lack of risk and love had to of come as a shock. Let us not join in his shock as we live out our lives. These readings from today present us with the reality of the end of times.
The end of times are indeed drawing closer for each of us today. We as a Church are drawing closer to the end of the Church's liturgical year. Next Sunday we draw to the end of our current translation of the Roman Missal. No longer will we be able to gather and respond with the responses that have become so familiar for us. These readings were placed here today to remind us of the end that is ever approaching.
Thankfully with the end comes new life and new opportunity. Yes next week will be the end of the Church's liturgical year, but a new one will be brought to life. May we take advantage of this opportunity to enter into a new year especially as we enter into the season of Advent and prepare for the coming of Christmas. Yes the Mass that we have grown comfortable with will no longer be used at the start of Advent, but with it will come a new translation for us which will help inspire us to grow closer to the divine. May we fully embrace it and enter into it, so that these changes may help us to further come into contact with the divine. Yes our life here on earth will come to an end, but we are promised life everlasting. May we use this time given to us to take risks with what we have been given, so that we may give greater glory to God out of love.
May all of us who are present here today be willing to take risks for the good of humanity. May we be willing to take risks, so that we may better give service to our Lord out of love. It is out of love that we will always be able to draw back to the Father. The first reading from Proverbs showcases a woman who was a great wife and was filled with love. She loved her husband and he loved her back. She worked hard and was able to take from her surplus and give it to the poor and the needy. She truly understood the risk that she needed to take within her life. She was not concerned solely with her own needs, but out of love was able to see the whole of humanity. May this woman be a reminder for us of the importance of taking our talents and risking all out of love. It is only when we act out of love that we may enter into the light of God and escape the darkness that was mentioned in today's readings.
We cannot allow ourselves to enter into the darkness. These readings may seem to present God as an angry judge, but we cannot see God in this manner. God loves us as much as the woman from Proverbs loved her husband. His love is so great that we are freely allowed the choice to squander our talents or to do something with them. Those who are cast into "the outside darkness" have chosen to dwell there. They have no desire to turn towards the great love of God and thus desire to remain in the darkness. No matter where we find ourselves today may we desire to enter fully into the light.
Yes today's readings may seem to be dark and sad, but at the heart is love and new life. May we trust in this love and even at the moments when we fill like their is no hope may we trust in the love that is continually shown to us by God. May we trust in the beauty of the Sacraments of the Church to help form our hearts towards love. May we no matter what difference may lye between us be able to draw closer to God out of love. May we take our talents as great or small as they may be and risk them out of love to turn them into something more.
These same differences existed in the early Church. We see these same differences played out in today's Gospel reading. There were three servants and they were not treated equally. One received five talents, another only two, and the last one received a measly one. We can defiantly say that they were not treated equally. Despite not being treated equally they were called to do something greater with what they were given. They were called to take how much or little they were given and to risk it all out of love in order to make it into something greater.
Yes we can look into the actions of the world around us and see that the parable of the talents is played out daily. We have rich people in this world who have been caught up in their own riches and could care less about using what they have been given for the assistance of someone who is in need. We have farmers who work hard inside of their fields and when they see somebody who is hungry they believe that they have nothing to offer them. We have teachers who care only about the paycheck they will receive and do not realize the importance that their job plays in the handing on of education to the youth of out nation. Hospital workers as well have been have been given the opportunity to see life in it's many stages, and yet some still are unable to see the importance of life in the people who surround them. What have we been in trusted with? Are we doing something with this to make it greater or do we fall in the sin of the servant with one talent who decided that it would be best to do nothing with what was in trusted to him?
Young or old we must answer this question. We must realize that nobody here has been dealt the same hand from God. Each of our lives are so different and yet we are called to be present today inside of this Church to present ourselves to God. On the day of judgment I am sure that nobody here wants to end up as the servant with one talent. The question for us is how can we take advantage of our gifts and make them greater. How can we who are present today begin to allow risk in our lives like the first two servants who were awarded greatly?
I am sure that shock came to the minds of these servants when they received word that they were to appear before their master and present him with the knowledge of what they had done with what they had been given. I am sure that the first two servants were relieved with the way they were treated, but that final servant and his lack of risk and love had to of come as a shock. Let us not join in his shock as we live out our lives. These readings from today present us with the reality of the end of times.
The end of times are indeed drawing closer for each of us today. We as a Church are drawing closer to the end of the Church's liturgical year. Next Sunday we draw to the end of our current translation of the Roman Missal. No longer will we be able to gather and respond with the responses that have become so familiar for us. These readings were placed here today to remind us of the end that is ever approaching.
Thankfully with the end comes new life and new opportunity. Yes next week will be the end of the Church's liturgical year, but a new one will be brought to life. May we take advantage of this opportunity to enter into a new year especially as we enter into the season of Advent and prepare for the coming of Christmas. Yes the Mass that we have grown comfortable with will no longer be used at the start of Advent, but with it will come a new translation for us which will help inspire us to grow closer to the divine. May we fully embrace it and enter into it, so that these changes may help us to further come into contact with the divine. Yes our life here on earth will come to an end, but we are promised life everlasting. May we use this time given to us to take risks with what we have been given, so that we may give greater glory to God out of love.
May all of us who are present here today be willing to take risks for the good of humanity. May we be willing to take risks, so that we may better give service to our Lord out of love. It is out of love that we will always be able to draw back to the Father. The first reading from Proverbs showcases a woman who was a great wife and was filled with love. She loved her husband and he loved her back. She worked hard and was able to take from her surplus and give it to the poor and the needy. She truly understood the risk that she needed to take within her life. She was not concerned solely with her own needs, but out of love was able to see the whole of humanity. May this woman be a reminder for us of the importance of taking our talents and risking all out of love. It is only when we act out of love that we may enter into the light of God and escape the darkness that was mentioned in today's readings.
We cannot allow ourselves to enter into the darkness. These readings may seem to present God as an angry judge, but we cannot see God in this manner. God loves us as much as the woman from Proverbs loved her husband. His love is so great that we are freely allowed the choice to squander our talents or to do something with them. Those who are cast into "the outside darkness" have chosen to dwell there. They have no desire to turn towards the great love of God and thus desire to remain in the darkness. No matter where we find ourselves today may we desire to enter fully into the light.
Yes today's readings may seem to be dark and sad, but at the heart is love and new life. May we trust in this love and even at the moments when we fill like their is no hope may we trust in the love that is continually shown to us by God. May we trust in the beauty of the Sacraments of the Church to help form our hearts towards love. May we no matter what difference may lye between us be able to draw closer to God out of love. May we take our talents as great or small as they may be and risk them out of love to turn them into something more.
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