Easter Vigil Homily

It is at the Easter Vigil that adults enter into the life giving waters of baptism. From these baptismal waters we received the forgiveness of sins, we were incorporated into the life of the Church, and we were brought into relationship with Christ. Today we have two, already baptized, who now wish to be received into the life of the Church and thus they will be confirmed and be nourished at the altar of sacrifice for the first time by Christ’s Body and Blood.

Later in this liturgy all of us will have the opportunity to renew our baptismal promises. This is important because none of us have perfectly lived up to what was begun in us at our baptism. Yet, despite our sinfulness, Christ dies upon the cross for us and rises on the third day. Yes, we have reached the culmination of salvation history with Christ and thus we are continually called into relationship with Him.

These readings which unfolded in the liturgy of the word remind us of this history of salvation. We are shown how God created us out of love, we are told about a covenant entered into with Abraham, and we are told about the Israelites exodus from Egypt. Yet, despite all of these good things we continuously turned away from God and His love for us. Thankfully God’s love continues to endure to the point where He takes on our human flesh, surrenders Himself upon the cross out of love for us, and raises on the third day.

What we celebrate on this night is the reminder of this love which God has for us. We begun this liturgy in darkness, but from this darkness came forth the light of a flame. Sin and death are realities that we must face, but this liturgy serves as a reminder that despite these realities Christ’s light always shines brightly. The darkness cannot overcome the brightness of this flame and thus too sin and death cannot overcome the brightness of Christ.

In our Gospel we are told that Mary Magdalene brought spices to the tomb in order to anoint Christ. She expected to find Him dead and yet from her sorrow soon came joy. She instead encounters an angel who says: “Do not be amazed: For Jesus of Nazareth has been raised.” With our encounter with Christ on this night may we too come to encounter this same transformation of mind that Mary Magdalene underwent. 

As we come to rejoice during this Easter season (as Mary Magdalene, the disciples, and other followers of Christ would soon come to rejoice) may we keep in mind these many lessons which are taught to us on this night. May we always remember that to be baptized is the start of a daily journey to stay close to Christ. May we always remember that sin must be banished from our life because it destroys our relationship with Christ. May we always remember that from the crosses that we are forced to bear in this life that something greater will come through the penetrating light of our Lord’s resurrection.

Let us rejoice this day for: Christ has Risen. He has risen indeed, alleluia.

Good Friday Homily

The liturgy of Good Friday is most powerful. Through it we come to encounter the cross of our Blessed Lord who on this days bows His head and breaths His last. In this liturgy we have the opportunity to come forward and venerate this instrument of death and our salvation. Some do this kneeling at the cross, some coming forward to kiss these blessed wounds of our Lord, and others offering a simple touch to this wood of our salvation.

A few weeks ago Pope Francis remarked in a homily: “The image of Jesus crucified reveals the mystery of the death of the Son of God as the supreme act of love, the source of life and salvation for humanity of all times. In his wounds we have been healed.” He also stated concerning it: “Today’s Gospel invites us to turn our gaze to the crucifix, which is not an ornamental object or clothing accessory- sometimes abused!- but a religious sign to be contemplated and understood.”

I just returned from a trip to Italy where I got to visit many churches and holy places of our faith. Two saints that stick out from this trip are Saint Pio and Saint Francis. Both of these saints were given the stigmata and both of these saints had devotion to the crucifix. In the city of San Giovanni Rotondo and in the city of Assisi are churches which house the crucifix from which these blessed saints prayed.

I bring this up because like these saints we should develop devotion to the cross. Does your family have a crucifix placed in every room? If not, why not? Do you take time out of your day to glance at the cross of our Blessed Lord and meditate upon His Passion? Do you take the many crosses of your daily life and join them unto the cross of our Blessed Lord? Pope Francis’ remarks are important for us to consider for so many wear the cross around their neck or use it as a decoration, but never allow it to become an instrument of prayer and devotion.

One relic that I came across while on my pilgrimage was that of a simple crucifix, small in size, which Padre Pio kept by his bed. This crucifix he held and showered with kisses. For him this simple cross was a true mark of devotion. As we come to contemplate our Lord’s Passion on this day may we come to grow in our devotion of the cross from which we have been healed. It was from the cross that Christ took our sinfulness upon Himself as He became the sacrificial offering which would be offered “once and for all.” 

On this Good Friday may we grow in our devotion to the cross. Not just on this day, but always allowing our mind and heart to be centered upon it as we come to contemplate these sacred mysteries and join ourself here especially at life’s most difficult moments.

We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.

Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.

Holy Thursday Homily

This evening we come to commemorate the Lord’s Supper. On this evening we remember the great gifts which Christ extended unto the church, the priesthood and the Eucharist. These two sacraments are inseparable. We cannot have the Eucharist if we do not have priests. Thus may we pray for our priests, may parents come to foster the beauty of this vocation to their children, may children remain open through the discernment of prayer to God’s call, and finally may we as a community of faith pray that more will come to serve in the abundant harvest of the Lord.

The Lord’s supper was a participation in the Passover meal. Through the Passover one enters into the events of the Israelites who were led out of their slavery. When we gather together for the celebration of the Mass we come to enter into the events of our Lord’s Passion. This is not a mere representation, but is to enter into that point when Christ offered Himself upon the cross.

At the Passover meal there is to be a lamb which is to be found perfect and without blemish; not even a bone of its body is to be broken. This lamb is to be sacrificed, but even that is not enough for it must also be consumed if the sacrifice is to be found complete. In the Mass we proclaim “Lamb of God” for the one whom we address is Christ who becomes this sacrificial lamb for us. 

Today we hear from Saint John’s Gospel which interestingly enough is the only of the four evangelists to not include the account of the Last Supper. Not only that, but in this account Christ dies before the Passover meal is even celebrated. Saint John does this on purpose because in doing so he is showing us that Christ is the Passover Lamb. It is according to this Gospel account that Christ’s crucifixion takes place at the same time that the lamb is to be sacrificed.

Not only was there to be eating at this meal, but there would also to be drinking. Throughout the course of the Passover meal four cups of wine are to be consumed. One of these cups is the chalice in which Christ takes into His holy and venerable hands saying: “Take this all of you and drink from it for this is the chalice of my blood. Do this in remembrance of me.” The fourth cup is not offered at this table, but rather it is offered from the altar of the cross. It was here at the conclusion of Christ’s earthly life that He utters the words: “I thirst.” A sponge is then soaked into wine, which He rejected before, and after consuming this final cup He expired.

Therefore let us understand how important the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is for us. This is not just some meal which is offered among many, but rather to assist at the Mass is to enter into these events of our Lord’s passion. He is the Sacrificial Lamb who is offered in order that we may be set free from the burden of sin and death.

In the Mass we encounter Christ as the Israelites continue to encounter God’s covenant with them through the Passover meal. What is offered here is most special and thus we should never come empty handed, but rather bring with us our prayers and petitions to offer to the priest as he joins them to Christ’s perfect offering of self upon the wood of the cross. 

Today may we come to encounter the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world and allow Him to enter into our life through the gift of the Eucharist in order that we may be sent forth from here to be better disciples of the Lord.

5th Sunday in Lent Year B Homily

This Sunday marks what is traditionally referred to as Passion Sunday. On this Sunday it remains an option to veil all statues and crucifixes. Through the veiling of these holy objects we have the sense of sight restricted. These holy objects are veiled as reminder of our separation from Heaven which is brought about through death and sin. Thankfully Christ comes to triumph upon the wood of the cross and thus in due time we will be brought back into Heavenly glory.

This pilgrimage has brought us to so many holy sites throughout Europe. Throughout its course we have encountered so many holy men and women who we now refer to as saints. Today we have the opportunity to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass close to the crypt of Saint Francis of Assisi. We know Him to be a holy man for he striped away all that kept him from Christ.

May we realize that this encounter with the saints also serves as an invitation for us to strive for holiness in our everyday life. None of us are called by God to strive for anything less, but how often do we consider the universal call for holiness as an invitation which is made to us? Woman, man, child, single, married, consecrated religious, priest; it doesn’t matter for all of us are called to pursue holiness within our everyday life.

Yes, we have glanced at the saints throughout our time in Italy, but through them we must see the invitation and possibility to join them in Heaven. As Christ says in our Gospel: “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” This hour is the hour of His death which as we enter into Passiontide we begin to encounter first hand. May we come to embrace the cross in these days which lie ahead and through it come to embrace holiness in our everyday life by stripping away our sinfulness and allowing Christ to illuminate our life.

4th Sunday of Lent Year B Homily

In the Gospel of Saint John Jesus makes reference to the bronze serpent which Moses lifted up within the desert to bring healing.

The context behind this bronze serpent is that the Israelites were freed from their slavery under the Egyptians, they then passed through the Red Sea, and from here they entered into their forty year sojourn towards the promised land. Forty years was a long period of time to travel about lost and thus they began to complain about how hungry, tired, and thirsty that they were. They even went as far as to say that it would even be better if they returned to their slavery in Egypt. The context of what Christ is referring to is the rebellion of which the Israelites showed to God.

To punish this rebellion God allowed snakes to bite some of the Israelites who would then go onto to die. Finally, to spare them from this plague God says unto Moses: “Make a seraph and mount it on a pole and everyone who has been bitten will look at it and recover.”

This relation between what Christ says and what takes place within the Old Testament is the fact that the snake is a symbol of death. It is a foreshadowing that Christ will die upon the cross and from here it will be forever exalted and thus those who have been bit by the curse of sin will be freed from its grasp. As Moses lifted up the bronze serpent and those who looked upon it were healed, so to does Christ lift Himself up upon the wood of the cross in order that those who glance upon it may be healed of their burden.

We are so much like the Israelites. We have passed through the Red Sea which is the Sacrament of Baptism. From the life giving waters of this Sacrament we were set free from sin and incorporated into the life of Christ and His Church. From the waters of baptism we head into the sojourn of our everyday life. Our destination is that of the promised land of Heaven and yet we grumble and complain and allow ourself to turn away from God through sin. Some would rather return to their old way of life rather then continuing this journey towards Heaven because this journey can prove to be most difficult at times.

We are plagued by the snake of sin. This is the same tempter which came to Adam and Eve and led them into its grasp. Thankfully Christ surrenders Himself upon the cross and through this sacrificial offering we are set free. Let us always remember the cross of our Blessed Lord. In the midst of hardship may we look upon it in order that we may stay faithful to Christ.

In conclusion I close with this prayer before a crucifix which all of you can learn and pray before the cross. Let us listen to these words as we glance upon the cross of our Blessed Lord: “Look down upon me, good and gentle Jesus while before Your face I humbly kneel and, with burning soul, pray and beseech You to fix deep in my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope, and charity; true contrition for my sins, and a firm purpose of amendment. While I contemplate, with great love and tender pity, Your five most precious wounds, pondering over them within me and calling to mind the words which David, Your prophet, said to You, my Jesus: "They have pierced My hands and My feet, they have numbered all My bones." Amen

3rd Sunday of Lent Homily (Extraordinary Form)

On this third Sunday of Lent we draw closer to the season of Easter. At the Easter Vigil adults will enter into the life giving waters of baptism. Thus the Easter season is a reminder to each of us of own baptism. How we were thrust into the baptismal waters on three occasions and rose forth from them like Christ who died, was placed into the tomb for a period of three days, and then rose forth from death.

This Gospel reflects the reality of Christ’s authority over the devil. In baptism the soul of the receiver was freed from the devil’s grasp. Despite this the devil continues to chase after us and desires nothing more then us to turn away from our relationship with God which was begun in us at our baptism.

Our Gospel speaks about division and how that division will cause “house upon house” to fall. Indeed if we invite the devil to enter into our life and give into his temptations we shall fall. So many invite temptation into their life and then it begins to control them causing them to continually indulge. This is to allow “house upon house” to fall for here we seem to be crushed upon Satan’s grasp.

Our Epistle reminds us of our need to follow after life by following God and coming to reject that death that comes to us through sin. This Epistle speaks of armor which has been taken away leaving him without defense. Truly we should want nothing to spoil what begun in us at our baptism. We must place this armor upon ourself as we go forth into the world to proclaim Christ unto all.

Armor was given to us in baptism and confirmation. Armor is given to us when we worthily receive our Blessed Lord in Holy Communion. Armor is given to us when we prevail ourself to Christ’s infinite mercy found in the sacrament of Confession. Armor is given to us when we lift up our heart and soul in prayer. Armor is given to us when we fast and give alms. This armor is God’s grace which is poured out upon us, but how sad is it to see so many who walk about this life without giving no though to such a gift.

May we thus turn our attention towards the gift of God’s grace and always be found receptive of it. We cannot allow our home to fall under Satan’s grasp, but rather we must built up a firm foundation which is willing to be dedicated unto the Lord.

3rd Sunday of Lent Year B Homily

The Temple was destroyed by the Romans in the year 70 and it was never rebuilt. This Temple does not need to be rebuilt for we know Christ to be the fulfillment of everything in which the Temple pointed towards. In Christ’s own words: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” He was not speaking about the Temple as the building, but rather He was making an illusion to His own death and eventual Resurrection. The fact that He through this sacrificial action becomes the fulfillment of the Temple.

In our Gospel Christ casts out those in the Temple area who are abusing its God given purpose thus causing the Temple to not function as it ought. This “temple area” that we are being told about is referring to what was known as the Court of the Gentiles. This court represents Israel’s mission to the whole world. This section of the temple allowed God-fearing Gentiles to make prayers to the One True God even thought they were not converts to Judaism.

As time went forth the Court of Gentiles became filled with vendors who would offer animals for sacrifice and money changers who would convert people’s money. Unfortunately these vendors and money changers were often corrupt. They were not concerned about assisting others to come to worship God, but rather they were concerned with them-self and forgot about the true purpose of the Temple.

Christ also got upset as we can see from His quotation of the prophet Jeremiah as He is cleansing the Temple area: “Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, “We are safe”—safe to do all these detestable things? Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the Lord.”

From this we can see that Christ was also concerned with empty religion. People would enter into the sacrifice in the Temple and yet they would allow their hearts to be far from Him in what they are doing and offering. The Temple had ceased to meet its purpose for it was no longer a place of encounter with God. In time it would replaced by the Messiah.

For each of us we must allow ourself to become cleansed in order that the prayer that we offer is found acceptable in the presence of the Lord. We cannot just mindlessly come here and assume as if we are being good Christians. Rather, what we encounter here must be extended into every moment of our life. Lent is a time of purification, so that the prayer that we offer may be found acceptable and true in the Lord’s presence. 

What blemishes do we carry upon our soul which need to be forgiven in the Sacrament of Confession? What shortcomings do we need to work upon? Truly the Lord calls us into His presence may we be found ready for such an invitation.