Forty days have now passed since our celebration of Easter and thus now we gather to celebrate the Ascention of our Lord into Heaven.
As we proclaim in the Creed: "He ascended into Heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father."
For this period of forty days our savior had spent His time with His apostles in order to prepare them concerning the Kingdom of God and would also lay down the structure of the Church for them. Very soon the Holy Spirit would come down upon them and they would be sent forth to preach the Gospel, baptize others into the faith, and thus spread the message of the Kingdom of God to all the earth's corners.
But before they could do this He had to be taken into His Heavenly glory. He did not undergo a second death, but rather was taken up Body and Soul into Heaven. From the Gospel of Saint Luke we hear: "While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into Heaven."
From our Gospel accounts concerning the Resurrection we know that Christ still bore the wounds of His Sorrowful Passion. Thus when He blessed them His Hands would still bare the marks left behind from the nails that had pierced them. The Cross, the Ressurrection, and the Ascention into Heaven are all joined together because these events bring about the fulfillment our Lord's sacrifice. The very sacrifice that redeems us, sets us free, and thus too the Sacrifice in which we partake whenever we gather together for the Mass. At Mass we celebrate all of these mysteries.
At the Annunciation Christ humbled Himself in His descent to this earth for it was here that His divinity took on our humanity. Thus in the Ascention He was exalted for His humanity was taken into Heaven. Thus each of us are to find great consolation in this celebration. For with our Lord's Ascention we are taken up to Heaven with Him. Thus today we are reminded to glance upward with the apostles and to dwell upon this great event in the life of our Lord.
It is easy for us to get caught up in this life below, but the Ascention of our Lord elevates our mind to Heaven and thus the Everlasting life which awaits us there. Through the Ascention we are lifted in our humanity and shown that something greater awaits us. Thus as Christians, though difficult, we can rejoice with death. For death is not the end, but a continuation of our life.
Despite the difficulty of the cross that we must embrace we are to look upwards and realize that Christ has elevated our humanity to Heaven. He has now gone before us and we have thus been redeemed. The Ascention is not a goodbye, but rather serves as an assurance of Christ's continued presence among us.
Thus we set our sight upon Christ and allow Him to form us into His disciples in order that we may be sent into the world to spread the Good News and to thus to rejoice with Christ always
Sunday, May 28, 2017
Sunday, May 21, 2017
6th Sunday of Easter Year A Homily
We are all in search of truth if we know it or not. People pursue this reality in many ways such as sex, drugs, alcohol, money, possessions, food, entertainment, and this list goes on and on. No matter the pursuit we are after that which is true, but so often we get lost in our journey towards an encounter with truth.
It is Christ alone who brings truth into our life to its fullest degree. We must thus pursue a relationship with Christ and thus from this relationship must flow forth everything else.
In the Gospel of Saint John we are told that the Holy Spirit is known as an Advocate who will be with us always and that the Holy Spirit will be the Spirit of truth.
Thus we must be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit in our life for they move us towards this relationship with Christ. So often head into life's difficulties at a rush, but maybe we should take a step back and enter into the spirit of prayer before we make a hasty decision. Hastiness leads us away from this encounter with truth.
Let us not be hasty and fall into sin, but rather may we allow the Holy Spirit to set us free tnrough this encounter with truth. There are those who lose hope that God can be present in their life for they are a sinner, but we must always remember that God is merciful with us. From 1st Peter: "For Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous." Therefore Christ suffered upon the cross in order that we may be set free to encounter Him.
Thus with prayer and discernment we will be led towards this encounter with Him. We will be lead towards an encounter with Jesus Christ from which everything else in our life must flow. If we are lacking this relationship we will be lacking in the priorities of our life because we are lacking life's foundation. With this relationship built upon Christ we will moderate all of our actions after Him. With Christ we will no longer be lost chasing after truth which never fills us, but rather will encounter truth itself for what it is.
The Holy Spirit is a spirit of truth and thus the Spirit will never lead us nor the Church into the error of falsehood. The Holy Spirit leads us towards an encounter with the truth of Christ and guards us against the falsehood of sin. Despite all of this we so often forget about the Holy Spirit and the fruits and gifts that are laid upon us.
How would our deliberations and ongoings be different if we were open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and thus be open to these promptings to come into an encounter with truth?
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful. And kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And you will renew the face of the earth. Lord, by the light of the Holy Spirit you have taught the hearts of your faithful. In the same Spirit help us to relish what is right and always rejoice in your consolation. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
It is Christ alone who brings truth into our life to its fullest degree. We must thus pursue a relationship with Christ and thus from this relationship must flow forth everything else.
In the Gospel of Saint John we are told that the Holy Spirit is known as an Advocate who will be with us always and that the Holy Spirit will be the Spirit of truth.
Thus we must be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit in our life for they move us towards this relationship with Christ. So often head into life's difficulties at a rush, but maybe we should take a step back and enter into the spirit of prayer before we make a hasty decision. Hastiness leads us away from this encounter with truth.
Let us not be hasty and fall into sin, but rather may we allow the Holy Spirit to set us free tnrough this encounter with truth. There are those who lose hope that God can be present in their life for they are a sinner, but we must always remember that God is merciful with us. From 1st Peter: "For Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous." Therefore Christ suffered upon the cross in order that we may be set free to encounter Him.
Thus with prayer and discernment we will be led towards this encounter with Him. We will be lead towards an encounter with Jesus Christ from which everything else in our life must flow. If we are lacking this relationship we will be lacking in the priorities of our life because we are lacking life's foundation. With this relationship built upon Christ we will moderate all of our actions after Him. With Christ we will no longer be lost chasing after truth which never fills us, but rather will encounter truth itself for what it is.
The Holy Spirit is a spirit of truth and thus the Spirit will never lead us nor the Church into the error of falsehood. The Holy Spirit leads us towards an encounter with the truth of Christ and guards us against the falsehood of sin. Despite all of this we so often forget about the Holy Spirit and the fruits and gifts that are laid upon us.
How would our deliberations and ongoings be different if we were open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and thus be open to these promptings to come into an encounter with truth?
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful. And kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And you will renew the face of the earth. Lord, by the light of the Holy Spirit you have taught the hearts of your faithful. In the same Spirit help us to relish what is right and always rejoice in your consolation. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Sunday, May 14, 2017
5th Sunday of Easter Year A Homily
Today we have the joy of having the cornerstone of the new cathedral with us. This cathedral will be dedicated on March 3rd and is thus under a year away. This cornerstone was blessed by our Holy Father, Francis, and thus it serves as a reminder of our connection to Rome and thus that the Church is universal.
This cornerstone has been making its way around the diocese, but it is most interesting that we have it at our parish this weekend for in our readings we are told about the importance of the cornerstone. 1 Peter instructs us "Behold, I am laying a stone in Zion, a cornerstone, chosen and precious, and whoever believes in it shall not be put to shame."
In ancient times the cornerstone was the most important stone of the building. It was important because it was used as a reference point for the other stones which would be placed in reference to it. The builder would have to take great care with the cornerstone because it would determine the position, structure, and stability of the building.
Therefore, the cornerstone becomes a reference point for us. It becomes a symbol of Christ and thus reminds us that Christ must be the reference point for our life. Christ must become the center and we must allow ourself to use Him to become the reference of who we are as a human person.
1 Peter quoted concerning this cornerstone from the Book of Isaiah. In Isaiah chapter 28 we are given a glimpse of a people who have turned themselves away from God and His Word. They have allowed themself to enter into sin and thus have lost sight of God who should of been the focus of their life. Instead of living this life in defiance of God they were told that a cornerstone would be placed for them to follow.
Indeed this very cornerstone will be placed in the new Sacred Heart Cathedral. It serves as a reminder to each of us of Christ. Having this stone here with us reminds us of the Church which is universal. It reminds us that we are not a parish disconnected from the body which is the Church, but rather reminds us that we are connected to the Body which is the Church. The very Church which calls us to encounter Christ and to make Him the focal point of our life.
In the Gospel of Saint John Jesus states: "I am the way and the truth and the life." This statement reflects this cornerstone of 1 Peter. It reminds us that Christ is the path that we must follow in order to encounter true life. This path alone leads us to an encounter with true love, true happiness, and thus too true life.
If we loose sight of this cornerstone we will never come to an encounter with true life. May our families be modeled after this cornerstone which is Christ our Lord. May we be willing to place Christ as the reference point of our life and family. Christ and thus too the Church always calls to encounter this cornerstone which is "the way and the truth and the life." May we be willing to make this cornerstone the reference point of our life.
This cornerstone has been making its way around the diocese, but it is most interesting that we have it at our parish this weekend for in our readings we are told about the importance of the cornerstone. 1 Peter instructs us "Behold, I am laying a stone in Zion, a cornerstone, chosen and precious, and whoever believes in it shall not be put to shame."
In ancient times the cornerstone was the most important stone of the building. It was important because it was used as a reference point for the other stones which would be placed in reference to it. The builder would have to take great care with the cornerstone because it would determine the position, structure, and stability of the building.
Therefore, the cornerstone becomes a reference point for us. It becomes a symbol of Christ and thus reminds us that Christ must be the reference point for our life. Christ must become the center and we must allow ourself to use Him to become the reference of who we are as a human person.
1 Peter quoted concerning this cornerstone from the Book of Isaiah. In Isaiah chapter 28 we are given a glimpse of a people who have turned themselves away from God and His Word. They have allowed themself to enter into sin and thus have lost sight of God who should of been the focus of their life. Instead of living this life in defiance of God they were told that a cornerstone would be placed for them to follow.
Indeed this very cornerstone will be placed in the new Sacred Heart Cathedral. It serves as a reminder to each of us of Christ. Having this stone here with us reminds us of the Church which is universal. It reminds us that we are not a parish disconnected from the body which is the Church, but rather reminds us that we are connected to the Body which is the Church. The very Church which calls us to encounter Christ and to make Him the focal point of our life.
In the Gospel of Saint John Jesus states: "I am the way and the truth and the life." This statement reflects this cornerstone of 1 Peter. It reminds us that Christ is the path that we must follow in order to encounter true life. This path alone leads us to an encounter with true love, true happiness, and thus too true life.
If we loose sight of this cornerstone we will never come to an encounter with true life. May our families be modeled after this cornerstone which is Christ our Lord. May we be willing to place Christ as the reference point of our life and family. Christ and thus too the Church always calls to encounter this cornerstone which is "the way and the truth and the life." May we be willing to make this cornerstone the reference point of our life.
Sunday, May 7, 2017
4th Sunday of Easter Year A Homily
On May 13th we will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Fatima. It was in Fatima, Portegul that our Blessed Mother appeared to three shepherd children in order to give them a message of God's love and thus too a call to conversion.
Ultimately it was the message of Fatima that we need to return to Christ. Thus we can say that it was the message of Fatima that we need to be content with the gate which leads us into the sheepfold. For this gate is Christ and He desires that we enter through Him for there is no other way which is possible.
Our Gospel reminds us that there will be those who will attempt to enter into this sheepfold exempt from this gate, but to enter exempt from this gate is an impossibility. In one of the secrets of Fatima our Blessed Mother showed the children the reality of Hell. Quoting Sister Lucia: "We raised our eyes to our Lady who said with tenderness and sadness. "You saw hell, where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them God wishes to establish in the world the devotion to my Immaculate Heart. If they do what I will tell you, many souls will be saved, and there will be peace." Indeed hell is a possibility for those who reject this gate which is Christ our Lord.
Despite this our Blessed Mother promises that those who have devotion to the Immaculate Heart will be saved and that there will be peace. Yet now in this present moment we know that there is not peace within this world. Some claim that this lack of peace which was promised is due to the fact that Russia was never consecrated to Our Lady. After all, Our Lady did ask for Russia's consecration. Despite this claim popes have indeed consecrated Russia and the whole world to Our Lady. Sister Lucia herself claimed that this request was fulfilled. Therefore, why is there a lack of peace within this world?
Maybe the answer lies not from some outside source, but rather in our own heart. Thus the sins that we have thrust upon the Sacred Heart of Christ. Our Blessed Mother desired that we pray at least five decades of the rosary each day, wear the Brown Scapular, make sacrifices in our daily life, practice the devotion of attended Mass and making a confession on the first Saturday of the month.
Mary proclaimed: "In the end my Immaculate Heart will triumph." Indeed this is true, but do we do our part to bring peace to this world. If we take these five requests of Our Blessed Mother seriously our life will be transformed and thus too this world in which we live will be transformed to become a reflection of Christ and His love for us.
If we integrate these practices into our life and family will see transformation of this parish community because this transformation is brought about by hearts which have been transformed to becoming a reflection of the Gospel. Christ is the gate through which we must enter therefore let us attempt not to get into the sheepfold through a different way.
Devotion to Our Blessed Mother will assist us in coming to know her Son and thus entering through this gate. Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us.
Ultimately it was the message of Fatima that we need to return to Christ. Thus we can say that it was the message of Fatima that we need to be content with the gate which leads us into the sheepfold. For this gate is Christ and He desires that we enter through Him for there is no other way which is possible.
Our Gospel reminds us that there will be those who will attempt to enter into this sheepfold exempt from this gate, but to enter exempt from this gate is an impossibility. In one of the secrets of Fatima our Blessed Mother showed the children the reality of Hell. Quoting Sister Lucia: "We raised our eyes to our Lady who said with tenderness and sadness. "You saw hell, where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them God wishes to establish in the world the devotion to my Immaculate Heart. If they do what I will tell you, many souls will be saved, and there will be peace." Indeed hell is a possibility for those who reject this gate which is Christ our Lord.
Despite this our Blessed Mother promises that those who have devotion to the Immaculate Heart will be saved and that there will be peace. Yet now in this present moment we know that there is not peace within this world. Some claim that this lack of peace which was promised is due to the fact that Russia was never consecrated to Our Lady. After all, Our Lady did ask for Russia's consecration. Despite this claim popes have indeed consecrated Russia and the whole world to Our Lady. Sister Lucia herself claimed that this request was fulfilled. Therefore, why is there a lack of peace within this world?
Maybe the answer lies not from some outside source, but rather in our own heart. Thus the sins that we have thrust upon the Sacred Heart of Christ. Our Blessed Mother desired that we pray at least five decades of the rosary each day, wear the Brown Scapular, make sacrifices in our daily life, practice the devotion of attended Mass and making a confession on the first Saturday of the month.
Mary proclaimed: "In the end my Immaculate Heart will triumph." Indeed this is true, but do we do our part to bring peace to this world. If we take these five requests of Our Blessed Mother seriously our life will be transformed and thus too this world in which we live will be transformed to become a reflection of Christ and His love for us.
If we integrate these practices into our life and family will see transformation of this parish community because this transformation is brought about by hearts which have been transformed to becoming a reflection of the Gospel. Christ is the gate through which we must enter therefore let us attempt not to get into the sheepfold through a different way.
Devotion to Our Blessed Mother will assist us in coming to know her Son and thus entering through this gate. Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us.
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