22nd Sunday of OT Year C Homily

Humility is an important virtue for our progress in the spiritual life. It is the foundation of the all the other virtues for without it we are unable to stay open to the effects of grace.

Pride is the opposite of humility. Pride puts a halt into the progress of our spiritual life and closes us off to the gift of grace. One of the ways in which pride manifests itself is through envy. It is the vice of envy which leads towards unhappiness. It was envy which led the angels to grow unhappy which led to their fall and it was envy which led Adam and Eve to be unhappy in the Garden which led to our fall. It is envy which seeks to destroy our relationship with God through the path of unhappiness which it leads us down.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: “Envy represents a form of sadness and therefore a refusal of charity; the baptized person should struggle against it by exercising good will. Envy often comes from pride; the baptized person should train himself to live in humility.”

From Book of Sirach we were instructed to “conduct our affairs with humility” and thus the more we humble ourself the more we “will find favor with God.” The Book of Hebrews points out that we have not approached a “gloomy darkness,” but have rather “approached Mount Zion and the city of the living God.” Jesus, Himself, who in our Gospel instructs that we must humble by not desiring to sit in places of honor in order that we may be seen. We do not need to be seen and congratulated in order to be happy, but rather we will discover happiness from the true love which is found in God and our service to all.

We are envious when we see another get attention or see the good that they have accomplished and thus grow sad that we are not the one who is receiving the attention which is given. The envious enjoy flattery, but at the same time they grow angry at ridicule. We must remember that we are not loved by God because something of that we have accomplished, but rather we are loved by God because we are real people who were created in His Image and His Likeness. Grace is something which is real, but we do not receive it as a reward for our glorious accomplishments. We can never progress in the spiritual life on our own behalf, but we do so through the assistance of grace which is a gift that we cannot give to ourself.

We must remember that God wants all of us to be happy. Not just some happiness which is passing by in the present moment, but happiness which is eternal and happiness which will never pass away. If we are to become happy we must begin to practice kindness. Kindness is the only way in which one who suffers from envy can counteract their sin. It is kindness which moves a person forward and encourages them to keep going.

For example a teacher sees a student who is struggling with their work and grows unhappy and begins to yell at them. This will eventually run the student off and cause them to lose hope. Rather, a teacher must use kindness in order to guide their student towards the desired result.

To counteract envy one must learn to use kindness. Instead of growing angry at the good which is accomplished by another they should practice gratefulness for their own gifts as well as the gifts of another. None of us have the same gifts and thus we should grow in our appreciation for this diversity.

May the Blessed Mother truly intercede for us that we may come to emulate her humility and thus grow in this most wondrous of virtues which leads the way towards all the other virtues and towards being receptive to the gift of grace.

21st Sunday of OT Year C Homily

Let us strive for Heaven always.

In our Gospel there were those who were caught off guard. They were found locked outside of the gate while in their heart they assumed that they should have the right to be let in. Instead of keeping up with their surroundings they allowed themselves to be carried away and thus they did not return in time to be let into the gate.

Let us strive for Heaven always. Let us not be kept off guard like them. May we realize that Heaven brings a great joy into our life in which nothing else can ever fill. 

St. Basil states: “For the soul wavers to and fro, at one time choosing virtue when it considers eternity, at another preferring pleasures when it looks to the present.” 

We cannot allow ourself to remain caught up in this present moment as if it is all that we are allotted. We are instead called to strive for Heaven always and thus everything in this present moment leads us towards eternity. Thus what we do now, in this present moment, cannot be disconnected from our desire for Heaven. Surely, we do not want to state: “We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets” only to hear back “I tell you, I do not know where you are from; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity!”

Stating “all you workers of iniquity” is to say “all you workers of immorality.” These are those who have been caught up in this present moment and have preferred vice over virtue. This is those who have allowed themselves to become so entrenched in their sin that they have cut themselves off from sanctifying grace. This is those who toil about lost without their sight directed towards God. If we are “workers of immorality” then we have entered into a sad state.

Our first reading was written to console those who were depressed over the sad state of Jerusalem. Isaiah instructed them concerning the future of Jerusalem and all of the glory that would come with it. From this state of sadness will spring forth a state of joy. Therefore, may we realize that from our sadness will spring forth joy. This joy springs forth from Heaven for it is the only thing which can fill our desires and longings. It is the only way to which we can orient ourself and not realize the emptiness which is present as we toil about.

Let us be willing to undergo this transformation in which Jerusalem would undergo. Let us be willing to take up the hardships which are pressed upon us. Our second reading from Hebrews reminds us of the need to undergo hardship for through the embracing of these trials we are directed towards our eternal prize which is our Father who is in Heaven. At the moment of trial and hardship it is easy to run, but instead we must embrace these moments in a true spirit of repentance in order that we may be purified.

Therefore may we always strive for Heaven. May we realize that there is no greater joy that we can pursue, but the joy of Heaven. May we find ways to cut off sin and begin to put God first in our life. Let us desire to pass through the narrow gate for its rewards are everlasting.

20th Sunday of OT Year C Homily

“I came to cast fire upon the earth.”

The use of this word “fire” is to remind us of the need of purification. Saint Ambrose states that Christ is “the Author of good will, who purifies the golden vessels of the Lord’s house, but burns away the straw and stubble.” Saint John Chrysostom points out that this fire has been poured out “for the consuming of sin, and the renewing of souls.”

There are three states to the Church. There is the Church Triumphant which is the Church who now reigns victorious in Heaven and thus intercedes for all of us. There is the Church Militant which is all of us here who should be striving to make it to Heaven to be counted as the Church Triumphant. Finally, there is the Church Suffering which is made up of the poor souls in Purgatory for whom we must now pray. These souls are destined for Heaven, but we must also remember to assist them through our prayers and sacrifices. In this manner they too can receive this purifying fire.

Saint Gregory the Great reminds that fire also comes to us in the form of the Holy Spirit. Through “the fiery breath of the Holy Spirit, the earthly mind has all its carnal desires burnt up, but inflamed with spiritual love, bewails the evil it has done; and so the earth is burnt, when the conscience accusing itself, the heart of the sinner is consumed in the sorrow of repentance.”

And so if we truly believe that we are destined for the Kingdom of Heaven we must be willing to participate in this fire now. We cannot run away from it, but we must be willing to participate in its purifying flame. The Book of Revelation states concerning Heaven that nothing unclean will enter into it. Truly, we must be wiling to purge away any uncleanliness that would make us unworthy of Heaven. This is the same uncleanliness for which the souls in Purgatory are now cleansed.

Therefore we must cast off from our midst that which leaves us dead to the words of the Gospel. We must accept the sufferings that are present in our state in life and come to embrace them as Christ came to embrace the cross. The cross is not pleasant, but it truly is a life rewarding reality. May we participate in the life of the sacraments and take up the attitude of sacrifice in order that we may purge away that which leaves blind to Christ and the grace in which He desires to shower down upon us.

Saint Josemaria Escriva prays: “O Jesus, strengthen our souls, open out the way for us, and, above all, intoxicate us with your Love. Make us into blazing fires to enkindle the earth with the heavenly fire you brought us.” Through embracing the cross and leaving the precepts of the Gospels we will begin to do precisely this. We will set the world on fire with the love of Christ. With the world set on fire more and more souls will be drawn to this amazing font of love which is Christ our Lord.

May we devote our life entirely to Christ and thus through our love and trust in Him may we draw other souls into this same relationship for which we strive. May fire be cast upon our life and from this flame may it spread to all the corners of this earth.

19th Sunday in OT Year C Homily

This Gospel has a sense of urgency to it. We are to remain alert and prepared for the enemy is always trying to trap us. From 1 Peter: “Be watchful for your opponent the devil is like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 

And so two metaphors are given at the start of this Gospel to make us see the need to stay alert and prepared. “Let your loins be girded and your lamps kept burning.” A Jew would tuck their flowing garment into a belt before they would go on a journey or do certain types of work. To do this is to be found alert and prepared for that which may give rise. For someone who is on guard or waiting for someone to arrive a lamp must be kept burning. With a burning lamp they were found alert and prepared for anything which may cross their path including the arrival of the one for whom they await.

Therefore, we too must stay alert and prepared. We know that the one for whom we await is the Christ. We await to receive Him through Sacred Scripture which reveals Him unto us. We await to receive Him in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar where He comes to nourish us under the presence of His Body and Blood. Even as we say when I chant “The mystery of faith,” “Until you come again.” This is to say that we joyfully await the time when Christ will come again at end of time.

Therefore, my dear brethren, may we realize the urgency of our Gospel message. We are not walking around this world without purpose or meaning, but instead we are to direct our sight towards the coming of Christ who continues to reveal Himself unto us. There are many distractions which give rise within our life which attempt to detract us from this reality. It is easy to lose sight of Christ and thus to allow ourself to wonder away from Him as we get lost living life without a purpose. Instead we must be found alert and prepared for the coming of Christ and thus the Church gives us everything that we need in order to make this a reality.

Christ established the gift which is the Church and thus the Church has the mission to save souls and to lead them towards Christ. To assist them in being found alert and prepared for the coming of the Christ. The Church assists us through the gifts of the sacraments. The seven sacraments are not seven suggestions made by a man made institution, but rather they are seven gifts which were established by Christ Himself. Gifts which impart grace upon the receiver. If we chase after passions, possessions, belongings, etc. we are kept off guard and thus need to reorient our life towards Christ and towards sanctifying grace, the grace which is necessary if we are to be found alert and prepared for Heaven.

Therefore go to confession and let what has been hurt by sin be healed through Christ’s saving mercy. Therefore come unto the altar of God without the state of serious sin upon your soul and receive the nourishment that Christ desires to pour out upon you. Therefore join together as a family to study scripture, the Catechism, and to pray in order that family life may foster this desire to be found alert and prepared. 

Let us heed scripture and thus gird our loins and light our lamps. In this manner, let us always be found alert and prepared for the coming of the Lord.