Christmas Homily

Merry Christmas!

This time of the year is filled with many Christmas movies and songs. Many of these present the common theme of having a desire to receive a gift. Be it a Red Rider BB gun or your two front teeth. As Christians we have received a much greater gift than any of these or any other gift that our mind can fathom.

Today we do not get caught up in worldly allure, but instead come to proclaim a great truth. That we who have been touched by the darkness of sin and death have come to see a great light. It is this gift which brings calm over the whole world. 

If we look at the ways of the world we can see people like you and me who are in need of such a gift. There is violence that ravishes foreign lands, violence against the unborn, violence that attacks the family. There is always something more for us to be worried about when it pertains to what our future may hold; be it health, money, or work. We have been touched by the death of those who have gone before us into life eternal and must eventually face our own death which comes in the twinkling of an eye.

Thankfully, we proclaim a great gift this night. Towards this gift angels adore, shepherds give reverence, and kings give homage. O come let us adore Him for this gift is Christ the King. It is this child who is the Word made Flesh. This means that God’s love is so great that He took on our human flesh and dwelt among us. He is not just a human child, but is fully God and fully human. Not just one among many gifts, but THE gift.

Let us have a blessed Christmas season. Let us allow Christ to be the one whom we adore as we come to be present with Him in sacrament and word. Where there is fear, despair, and sin come to Him in order to give homage for He is the light that frees you from all that holds you captive. Let us give reverence to Him for no other gift can compare to this gift. O come let us adore Him for He is the gift that we truly seek.

4th Sunday of Advent Year A Homily

Today we celebrate this 4th Sunday in the season of Advent. When we join together next weekend we will celebrate the Nativity of the Lord.

Our journey towards Christmas really began on March 25th. It was on that day that the Church celebrated the Solemnity of the Annunciation. This was the day that Mary gave her “yes” to the angel Gabriel and conceived the Lord in her womb. Christ does not become God nor human at His birth for this has already taken place through the events of the Annunciation when God took on our human flesh. Let us always pray for the sanctity of human life for that child in the womb of it’s mother is human and is beloved by God.

As we are told throughout the course of Sacred Scripture, “the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.” This virgin is named Mary who conceived within her womb, Jesus. He is Emmanuel for this name literally means, “God with us.” God is truly with us for Christ is the second Person of the Most Holy Trinity. He is God who takes on our human flesh and dwells among us. Mary is very important in bringing about this reality for it has been revealed to us through Sacred Scripture.

Through this action Mary gives herself entirely to God and to each of us. She fully gave of herself unto God and assisted in fulfilling God’s plan for us. This plan was that we who have been touched by the reality of sin and death would come to be saved. The Lord dies upon the cross out of love for us in order that we may be redeemed. This is only possible through the coming of the Christ child. It was this child who was conceived within her womb.

We must come to foster devotion to her for this devotion always leads us towards her Son and towards a pursuit of virtue. During this last stretch of the Advent season we must set straight the path of our life to encounter her Son. Devotion to Mary leads us along this path which leads us towards Bethlehem and the birth of her Son. What must we continue to perfect within our life in order that we may be found more receptive of such a wondrous gift?

As we gather next Sunday and celebrate the Nativity of the Lord we should reflect upon this. On this most holy of nights the Lord will be born of this virgin. This child is the answer to all of our desires, but so often we fill the void of our heart with something else that can never fulfill us. Let our heart come to be filled by Christ. The heart of Mary was filled with love for her Son and so may she pray for us in order that we may be found prepared for our encounter with her Son.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

3rd Sunday of Advent Year C Homily

Through Christ great works come to take place, “the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.”

Throughout Advent we prepare ourself for our encounter with the coming of Christ. It is Christ who will come again, it is Christ who comes among us in the Most Holy Eucharist, and it is Christ who is born on Christmas.

When it pertains to the miracles of Christ there needed to be faith in the heart of the receiver. As we were told within the Gospel of Saint Matthew, “And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith.”

So too the Lord desires to work such mighty things in our life, but do we have the faith to allow Him to do so? We have been touched by sin and death and He has given us the path towards eternal life. Do we desire eternal life and thus reality of joining with Christ for all eternity?

It was Saint John the Baptist who serves as the precursor to Christ. He would lead people into the waters of baptism as a foreshadowing of that life giving baptism which was to come. Through our baptism we were claimed for Christ and a great work was accomplished within us.

It is through sin that our baptismal garment becomes stained. Thankfully we do not have to stay in this state, but we can come to the sacrament of Confession in order to be healed. Our parish will have seven priests with us on Tuesday to assist with confessions. Hopefully you and your family will come to partake in this opportunity to know the healing mercy of God.

The Lord has entrusted the Church with seven sacraments, so who are we to say that we know better and have no need of the sacrament of confession? Yes, God already knows our sins, but calls us towards His priests in order that we may be healed. As the Lord told His apostles, “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them and whose sins you retain are retained.” In confession we encounter Christ through the priest and it is Christ, not man, who absolves us of our sin.

What are we holding back from the mercy of God? Let us not hold onto our sin without His help, but make use of this sacrament in order that we may be healed. The Lord desires to work great things with our life, but we impede this from taking place. May the words of Saint Luke’s Gospel ring true for you for “there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Please return to the sacrament of confession and let the Lord heal you.

Immaculate Conception Homily

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. 

When we pray the Rosary we pray those words given to us by Saint Gabriel, “Hail Mary, full of grace.”

What does it mean for one to be found full of grace? Mary was found to be “full of grace” because she was filled with the presence of God. Seeing that she is most perfectly filled with God’s presence there is no room within her for sin. Each us have been touched by the reality of sin. Unlike us she is that most perfect creation of God which was preserved from the stain of sin for she would be the Mother of God.

This statement made by Gabriel is a reversal of roles. Throughout the Old Testament it was humans who would revere angels for they were closest to God and thus partake most fully of the divine light. Gabriel’s statement shows that even the angels come to revere Mary. She was found to be “full of grace” and thus it is right and just that we give her proper devotion.

When we think of sin we often think of those transgressions that one makes against God. Not only did Mary never consent to sin, but she was also conceived free of original sin. When an individual is baptized all sin including original sin is washed away. This was not necessary for Mary for she was that perfect creation who God had been set apart to be the mother of His Son.

This celebration is most important for us for the Immaculate Conception is the beginning of our salvation. Through it we get that mystery of faith which we will soon celebrate, the Nativity of the Lord. Mary remained open to the gift of God’s grace throughout her whole life. Likewise, we must open ourself up to this gift of His grace. We cannot turn inwardly upon self, but must be willing to remain open to God. This is preciously what Mary was willing to do.

May this celebration of Mary assist us in opening our heart to such graces. May she pray for us in order that we may realize that such a reality has been extended to us if only we would dare to place our trust in God and the gift of His grace. Truly Mary was “full of grace,” we forever profess this reality through this celebration of her Immaculate Conception.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

2nd Sunday of Advent Year A Homily

 The desert is a hot place. One would have to be pretty foolish to enter into one without an ample supply of water. As the heat of the day carries onward things only get hotter and if unprepared the chance for death rises. The body can only go so long without water and the conditions of the desert make this much worse.

Saint John the Baptist was a voice that called out from the desert. He was a voice which lead people towards conversion as he called them to make straight the path of their life for the one who would come. Ultimately he is leading individuals towards the body of water known as baptism. 

The baptism that he gives is of repentance, but he promises that the one to come will be mightier then he and will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. It is baptism that serves as the fundamental sacrament of the church. It is an important sacrament to receive because it cleanses one of all sin including original sin, claims one for Christ Jesus, and incorporates them into the life of His Church.

Baptism is not just a dunking into water, but is a change of how one is to live their life. Unseen to the eye are the graces which are at work through the sacrament not only at the moment of baptism, but everyday thereafter. It is for this reason that baptism leaves an indelible mark which is a mark which never passes away even with death.

Therefore, we are constantly called towards this life giving water and renewing within ourself all that was begun within them. For this reason Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of the Messiah. We must heed the words of Saint John the Baptist who instructs, “prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.”

As Saint Augustine stated, “If you say, ‘That is enough,’ you are lost. Always aspire to more, never stop walking, keep making progress. Do not remain in the same place, do not move backward, do not go astray.”

With this in mind let us further reflect on how we are called upon to prepare the way for the Lord. Where have we gone astray and how can we reorient ourself towards the path that was begun for us at our baptism? May this Advent season be fruitful in preparing us for our encounter with the coming of the Lord.

This coming of the Lord will come in the blinking of an eye. Let us not be found weary in our preparation, but realize the necessity to be found active in it. We need to be be prepared for our encounter with the Lord. We need to renew day by day that which was begun in us at our baptism. Let us be found attentively waiting for the Lord’s coming. 

Solemnity of Anniversary of Dedication of Church Homily

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Anniversary of the Dedication of our Parish Church. This church building was dedicated on December 2, 2000 and from that point forward the hallowed walls of this church have lifted up many souls in their devotion to God.

In order to enter into a church one must first enter through the doors. It was this doors that welcomed us in at our baptism and it will be these doors that greet us at our death. In all things let us come to this hallowed space in order to be protected from the storms of this world and be prepared for that journey towards Heaven. Herein we receive an abundance of God’s grace which strengthens us in order that we may be prepared for that moment that we enter back into the world that we will live as Christians ought.

Some wrongly think that the building of the church holds no importance in the life of the faithful, but that is not the case. At the heart of Jewish worship was the Temple and so too does the Church become the fulfillment of the Temple and what took place within. The church as a building is very important for it serves as a symbol of the Mystical Body of Christ to which we are members through our baptism.

As Saint John Paul II spoke concerning the importance of the building of the church, “The beauty and the harmony of churches, destined to render praise to God invite us human beings too, though limited and sinful, to convert ourselves to form a ‘cosmos,’ a well-ordered construction in close communion with Jesus, who is the true Holy of Holies.”

Therefore, let these hallowed walls continue to nurture us and destine us towards that ultimate goal of Heaven. Today following Mass I will enthrone our parish to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Through this act may we entrust our own life to His in order that we may live as His people. This is exactly what the church does for us. Let us live for Christ for from Him we receive all that we will ever need to live a good and holy life.

1st Sunday of Advent Year A Homily

Today we celebrate the 1st Sunday of Advent. 

The season of Advent is a time for waiting. Waiting is something that we often dread to do. Be it that line that you have been standing in for some time that never seems to move, that package that should of already arrived in the mail, or that food that you have ordered through Doordash which is running late. If only everything were as easy as pushing a button on a phone and getting what you desire at a moment’s notice.

As Saint Augustine stated concerning the agony of waiting, “If God seems slow in responding it is because He is preparing a better gift. He will not deny us. God withholds what you are not yet ready for. He wants you to have a lively desire for His greatest gifts. All of which is to say, pray always and do not lose heart.”

Therefore, waiting does not have to be something that we dread. As Christians we must rediscover the understanding that is the importance of suffering. Our waiting can become a form of suffering which leads us back to God and aids us in growing in the pursuit of virtue. Let us be willing to unite all of our sufferings to that of Christ. In the end we must come to realize that God is the one who is in control. Waiting is difficult, but it brings forth virtue.

During this season of Advent the one that we now wait for is Christ. We prepare and wait for He who will come again at the end of time, we prepare and wait for He is the one who comes among us in the Most Holy Eucharist, and we prepare and wait for He is the Word made Flesh who comes to dwell among us at Christmas.

Hopefully we will not be too hasty in our preparation for Christmas. Christmas does not arrive until December 25th and thus we are given a whole season in order to prepare for this coming. Week by week we will come to this church and see a new candle of the Advent Wreath lit that will remind us of the quickness of this coming. Let us be found willing to be found expectantly waiting for His coming.

As we were told in the Gospel of Saint Matthew, “So too, you must be prepared, for at an hour your do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” Indeed He will come, so let us be found joyfully waiting for Him. During this season of Advent the Lord calls us to make room for Him to enter in and to dwell with us. If we are to be found ready for such a reality what must we rid from our life in order to make more room for Christ?

Let us continue to welcome Him into our midst through our joyful waiting for His coming.

Last Sunday After Pentecost Homily

On this Last Sunday After Pentecost we further approach the end of the liturgical year and with it we consider our need to be found prepared. Next Sunday we will celebrate the 1st Sunday in Advent which further prepares us for the coming of Christ. He is the one who will come as Word Made Flesh on Christmas morning, He is the one who will come again at the end of time, and He is the one who comes among us in the Eucharist. Let us be prepared for this encounter with the coming of Christ.

Our Gospel instructs us concerning the certainty of that coming. At that point in time when He comes again there will be a trumpet blast and His elect will be gathered together. A little later in the Gospel of Saint Matthew we will hear, “watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” These words spring true because we ought to love God with our whole heart and mind and be found prepared for that unknown hour of His coming.

At the time of the Lord’s second coming there will be a time of judgment which is also a time for justice. With this in mind we must realize not only the mercy of God, but also the justice of God. From the cross we are able to see the depths of the Lord’s mercy for us. He gave His life upon the wood of the cross in order that we may be redeemed. The cross is a true expression of love that invites us in for through it we are able to live love itself.

As we approach the end of this liturgical year and draw ever closer to the Lord’s second coming let us open our heart onto the Lord. Let us realize that our life will end in the blinking of an eye. We must be found prepared for the Lord’s coming for His mercy will be just. This is something that we cannot continue to push off until an unknown hour for that hour will catch up with us. May the season of Advent be helpful in forming your heart to better be found receptive of this coming among us.

Today as we reopen our adoration chapel we are given the reminder to set our sight upon Him. There will be a Eucharistic Procession at 3:30pm where we will process to our adoration chapel which has been closed since the time of COVID. If you haven’t already done so I invite you to sign up for a time of adoration. You can do so by calling Tricia Klug, the parish office, or following Mass at the open house of the chapel.

There is no greater way to prepare ourself for the Lord’s coming than to draw close to Him in the Eucharist. Let us not pass by this opportunity to dwell with Him for everything that we do should point towards Him and not detract from Him.

As we finish this liturgical year let us be found prepared for the Lord’s coming among us.

23rd Sunday After Pentecost Homily

Our Gospel acknowledges the healing effects of faith when it pertains to this woman with the hemorrhage who reached out in order to grasp the hem of His garment.

The hem of this garment is important, but we dress differently then those did at the time of Jesus. If we were to touch the hem of a garment it would not hold much significance for us, but that is not the case with what is being taught in our Gospel. To reach out and touch the hem of a garment gives an image to our modern mind  that is different then what is actually taking place inside of the Gospel.

Jesus was a Jew and therefore He would dress like a Jew. The hem of the garment that she grabs onto holds great significance. This hem is known as the tzitzit which were the fringes tied onto the four corners of the garment worn. They would remind the wearer of the garment of the Law of which they were obliged to follow.

As is instructed in the Book of Numbers, “Speak to the Israelite people and instruct them to make for themselves fringes on the corners of their garments…Look at it and recall all the commandments of the Lord and observe them…Thus you shall be reminded to observe all My commandments and to be holy to your God.”

Therefore, this woman is grasping onto the Law which had condemned her. How was she condemned?

From the Book of Leviticus we are told, “When a woman has a discharge of blood for many days at at a time other than her monthly period or has a discharge that continues beyond her period, she will be unclean as long as she has the discharge.”

We are told this woman had this discharge of blood for a period of twelve years. This means that she was declared to be unclean by the Law for these twelve years. Nevertless, she reaches out in faith and touches the symbol of the Law that had condemned her. It was through her encounter with Christ that she came to be healed and thus made clean.

There are many ways in which we to reach out and touch Jesus in order that we may be healed. Sin continues to seep into our life, but through Christ we have liberated. It is He who heals us of all of our ills. In the sacrament of confession we have the opportunity to reach out and touch Him in order that we may be healed by His mercy. In Holy Communion we have the opportunity to invite Him to dwell under our roof. 

Let us come to place our faith in Him as this woman in our Gospel was able to do. In faith she came to Him and thus Him faith let us place our trust in Him always.

22nd Sunday After Pentecost Homily

The Lord responded to the Pharisees and to the Herodians, “Render to Caesar things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.” This response is given to the Herodians for they pay their taxes with a coin which carried upon it the name and image of Caesar. To the Pharisees He is pointing out that they bear upon themself the name and image of another.

The people of Israel would wear a a four cornered garment with a blue cord. It is the purpose of this cord to remind the wearer that they are “Holy to the Lord.” The people of Israel were set apart to be a chosen people who had been claimed by Him. They were not just living as a good examples to others because God desired that they would be His treasured possession.

Instead of remembering that they were the treasured possession of God they began to live for the world. The Lord’s response points the way back to the garment that they were wearing and what it reminded them of. The very fact that they were the treasured possession of God. We must also be reminded of this lesson. We are something more to God then the money and possessions that we have. We are called upon to be in the world, but not of the world. As the Book of Romans instructs, “Do not conform yourselves to this age.”

The Church does not teach us that we cannot have any interaction with the world. Instead as people of faith we are called upon to practice and perfect that virtue of temperance. It is temperance which provides balance in the use of all created things. When we practice the virtue of temperance we remember that we are called upon to give to God what is God’s in order that we may not be overcome with worldly attachment.

As people of faith we should strive for the “middle way.” We are called towards moderation in order that we will not let created goods damage our relationship to God and to others. When one constantly builds up the amassment of worldly luxuries they forget that they are called upon to be a treasured possession of God because they live for that luxury over relationship with Him.

How are we being called upon to better practice the virtue of temperance? Let us remember that we are a valued possession of God and thus allow our life on this earth to be a reflection of such. By entering into this relationship we are sent forth in a true spirit of charity where we care not only for the luxuries of this earth, but for God and love of one another as a reflection of this love.

Let us “Render to Caesar things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.”

All Souls Day Homily

Today we celebrate the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed also known to us as All Souls Day.

When it pertains to the souls in Purgatory, as well as indulgences, there is a lot of misconceptions. Neither of these counteract our time on this earth and what we do with the time that has been entrusted to us. Purgatory is not a second chance at Heaven nor are indulgences a way to earn one’s way into Heaven. When a person dies they are judged either to Heaven or Hell. Indulgences only befit those who have been judged as worthy of Heaven and Purgatory is only for those who have been judged as worthy of Heaven.

We must remember that Christ already paid for our debt with His Blood upon the cross. The gates to Paradise were opened by His suffering and death. The souls who died in God’s grace have been found worthy of Heaven. Those in Purgatory, for whom we now pray, must first sufficiently atone for the temporal consequences due to sin that remain after death.

Sacred Scripture tells us of gold that has been tested in fire. It is this gold which comes to be purified by taking imperfections out of it. The only way to get an imperfection out of gold is by passing it through fire. Likewise, Purgatory exists in order to remove these imperfections for the soul in order that the soul may be prepared for Heaven. As the Book of Revelation attests, “Nothing that is impure will enter it.”

Let us entrust ourself to praying for these souls in Purgatory. Throughout this month of November we have the opportunity to receive indulgences on their behalf. For example all that one needs to do is go to a cemetery a pray for the souls of the deceased as well as receiving Holy Communion, making a confession, and remembering to pray for the intention of the Holy Father. 

May all the angels and saints escort these souls to Heaven this day.

Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.

May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Rest In Peace. Amen.

All Saints Homily

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints.

All of us are called upon to strive to be saints and to live as such during our time on this earth. The saints have gone before us into life eternal and they have been found worthy of Heaven. Through their entry into Heaven they have entered into the Beatific Vision. They now pray for us in order that we may join with them for all eternity in their perfect worship of God.

The saints show us the many twists and turns that life takes and they always show us that victory is something which is possible. Each saint teaches us a different lesson, but each of them reaches the same reward. Some of them seemingly lived a life of sanctity from the start while others began to pursue God at a much later date. No matter the path that their life had taken the end result was the same in all cases. They lived a life of sanctity, they died in the state of grace, and they are now with God in Heaven.

The saints are not just some characters in a fiction book, but are are real people like you and me. They had their imperfections, but they lived for Christ. They show us that such a path towards sanctity is possible for us if we so desire it. In our modern society we so often are concerned what celebrities are doing. We are more attuned to the ongoing activities of athletes and tv stars then the lives of these holy people who have gone before us. The more that we concern ourself with their lives and take up devotion to them the more we will love God. Devotion to the saints does not end at the saint, but transcends towards God. It is this devotion and love for God which will lead us towards a life a sanctity to where we will be found worthy of Heaven.

Are we concerned with this call to be a saint? What is holding us back from reaching this calling that has been extended to us? Are we willing to cut away what might be holding us back from God or would we rather latch onto it at the peril of our own soul? Let us be sent forth from here to live as saints who desire to share Eternal Life with God for all eternity.

May all the angels and saints of Heaven, pray for us!

Christ the King Homily (Extraordinary Form)

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King. It is Christ who instructs us, “My Kingdom is not of this world.” So often we attempt to build up an earthly kingdom for ourself. It is this kingdom which will pass away with the passing of time. Christ assures us of something greater which we ought to apply ourself towards. We must desire that Christ the King reign in our midst not only at the end of time, but each and every moment of our life on this earth.

We are instructed at the end of Mass, “Go forth the Mass is ended.” We say “thanks be to God” not because the Mass is over, but because we have been sent forth to live what we have received in Word and in Sacrament. We have received Christ the King of Kings and Lord of Lords into our heart and thus we are to be sent into the world in order to bring Him with us into all of life’s moments.

Pope Pius XI established this feast in order that we may be reminded that Christ belongs at the very center of public life. There have been many voices that have sprung up throughout the world’s history which have attempted to silence Christ. Each and every one of these voices has failed to silence such a wondrous Name such as that of Christ Jesus. We cannot allow such a mentality to creep into our own life.

How we approach the world around us should be informed by Christ. If this is to be so then we need to make sure that we know Christ. We cannot be sent forth to spread the love of Christ if we fail to enter into this love that has been expressed to us from the throne of the cross. It was here that Christ shows His love for us as He came to lay down His life for us as an outpouring of love that has been extended to us and to the whole world.

One assumption that we cannot make is that everyone already knows Christ. There are some, even here in the south, who know nothing about Him. When we are sent forth from here we have an opportunity to bring Him to these individuals through our words and actions. There is nothing that we can do if we do it exempt from Christ and there is nothing that we cannot do if we do it in Christ’s Name.

We should not look upon the world and see a negative picture. It is true that sin and vice exist. Nevertheless, I look upon the world and know that no matter how bad things may look that Christ has triumphed. I know that He has entered into this world in order that we would be redeemed. I know that the Kingdom that He establishes is a Kingdom which will never pass away.

Let us be people of faith and hope who model their life as a reflection of this Kingdom. Through your interactions in life you are making this reality so. Our families must be based upon this loving God who has come to redeem us. Let us always make time for Him especially within our homes. Our home should be a place where we allow Christ the King to reign victorious.

Long live Christ the King!

31st Sunday of OT Year C Homily

Elevating the host at Mass the priest invites, “Behold the Lamb of God, behold Him who takes away the sins of the world.” To this we respond, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” At this intimate moment we have the opportunity to look upon the Lord as we prepare to receive Him in Holy Communion.

As we look upon the Lord there are always the distractions of life which get in our way and keep us from seeing Him clearly. As sin creeps into our life, so too does our ability to have clear vision of Him demminish. As we look upon the Lord and state these words at Mass we should realize our unworthiness as we prepare to receive God made Flesh into our life.

Our Gospel points out that Zaccheus was found to be short in stature and thus there was a lot which blocked his sight from being able to see the Lord. Instead of giving into despair when it pertained to what seemed to be impossible he climbed the sycamore tree. From this tree he lifted himself above these distractions and gave himself clear sight of the Lord.

As Zaccheus climbed this sycamore tree, so too should we desire to have clear vision of Jesus. We must join with him in climbing this tree in order that we may obtain such vision of the Lord. It was from these heights that the Lord called out to him, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.”

Our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. Whenever we allow Him to enter into our life through the reception of Holy Communion we allow Him to enter under the roof of this temple. He enters into this house as He did that of the house of Zaccheus and comes to dwell with us. This should be a very humbling thought for us to ponder and hold dear as we come to state those words at Mass as we prepare to receive Him in Holy Communion.

Like Zaccheus we must realize that we are found to be short in stature and thus need to climb the sycamore tree in order that we may come to see more clearly. It is from those heights that we will come to hear the call of the Lord that will change our life forever just as this call came to change the life of Zaccheus forever.

Where is the Lord calling us to be active in clearing out the distractions of life in order that we may come to see Him more clearly? What is it that we are holding onto that keeps us from climbing such heights in order that we may hear His voice call out to our ears? The Lord desires nothing more than that we look upon Him with an open heart for what we look upon when we see Him clearly is the fulfillment of all that we could ever desire in this life.

Let us open our heart up to this call and be willing to respond to that voice that calls out to us. Let us realize that we set our sight upon Him in Holy Communion and thus come to receive Him with true devotion and longing for He is the fulfillment of all that we desire in this life.

30th Sunday of OT Year C Homily

Two went to the temple area in order to pray. The Pharisee looked upon himself with great pride while the tax collector cried out in humility, “O God, be merciful to me a sinner.” It was the Pharisee who looked upon all the good that he had done and thought that something was owed to him while the tax collector simply beat his breast and prayed.

As Christian disciples we are called upon to give of ourself in a spirit of charity. The Pharisee could remark concerning all the good that he had done, but to what benefit? We know nothing of this tax collector except for the fact that he humbly came to God to accept His mercy into his life. The tax collector serves as an example of taking what we have been given and not allowing it to consume us like it did the Pharisee.

Next weekend will be our parish stewardship weekend. So often the term “stewardship” has a negative connotation in people’s minds. This is so because for some stewardship is only the giving of money and nothing more. Stewardship transcends the giving of money because stewardship is a way of life. Stewardship is to take the many gifts that have been entrusted to us and to do something with them as a Christian disciple.

Stewardship is the giving of one’s time, talent, and treasure for the benefit of the church and propagation of the Gospel message. Stewardship is not a list of things that we do in order to earn something because stewardship is our free gift that is given out of love. The Pharisee looked at all that he had done and expected certain treatment due to it, but this was not the case with the tax collector. He simply realized that he was a sinner who was in need of the mercy of God.

This week all registered members of our parish will receive a stewardship letter and form from the parish. I ask your family to pray upon your commitment to stewardship for this parish. This form will ask how you can financially give to the parish in the upcoming year, but also challenges you to become an active member of this parish who gives of their time and talent back to the parish. Please return it with you next Sunday and leave it in the collection which will be specially taken up concerning this commitment.

Our parish is blessed with so many who selflessly give back to this parish. All those who partake in liturgical ministry have taken up the challenge to live a life of stewardship. Those who participate in various parish committees take up a life of stewardship through their desire to assit in the life of this parish. People who selflessly prepare food for parish functions, people who work to keep our facilities in the best shape possible, and the list of people’s stewardship contributions go on and on.

Let us not sit back and remain uncommitted to a life of stewardship. Instead let us freely give of ourself from our time, talent, and treasure. We do this not to be exalted, but because we are true humble servants of the Lord who have taken up their call to be His disciple.

29th Sunday of OT Year C Homily

Today we observe the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time. This also serves as the feast day of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque. She prompted devotion to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in this modern age. This is important for us because on the evenings of November 13, 14, and 15 we will have a parish mission which will propagate the enthroning of one’s home to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Saint Mary Margaret Alacoque received many private revelations concerning the Sacred Heart starting in December of 1673. Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus would promote the reception of Holy Communion of the first Friday of each month, participating in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on Thursdays, and the celebration of the Feast of the Sacred Heart.

Pope Pius XI would remark of her in his encyclical letter “Miserentissimus Redemptor,” that Jesus “promised her that all those who rendered this honor to His Heart would be endowed with an abundance of graces.”

As she would state, “And He showed me that it was His great desire of being loved by men and withdrawing them from the path of ruin that made Him want to manifest His Heart to men, with all the treasures of love, of mercy, of grace, of sanctification and salvation which it contains, in order that those who desire to render Him and procure Him all the honor and love possible might themselves be abundantly enriched with those divine treasures of which His Heart is the source.”

It was from the Book of Psalms that we were instructed to “lift up (our) eyes toward the mountains.” Likewise, people came to elevate their sight towards Moses as he lifted up his arm with rod in hand. We too look up towards Calvary and there see our Lord as He lays down His life for us with arms outstretched. It is through prayer that we remain persistent in coming to know of His love for us despite the trial, temptation, and joy of our life.

It is Devotion to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus that allows us to look upon Him with love. Truly His heart pours forth out of love for us infinitely. So often our families are fragmented from this reality and our homes are not a place of prayer. Enthronement of one’s home to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus enkindles that relationship with Christ which ought to be present. As Saint Margaret Mary had stated, “I will bless every place in which an image of my Heart is exposed and honored.”

It is my invitation to you to participate in this parish mission which will take place in November. It will be a time of renewal for our families and parish community. The graces that the Lord desires to give are abundant if only we desire to prevail ourself to them. Let us elevate our sight towards Him and place our faith in Him.

Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, pray for us.

Most Sacred of Jesus, have mercy on us.

18th Sunday After Pentecost Homily

“The Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins.” 

It should be no shock that Lord has the power on earth to forgive sins. For from the first chapter of this Gospel we are told, “she will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Despite what was stated of Jesus from the start of the Gospel of Matthew to this Gospel passage there was never a time where Christ spoke of His ability to forgive sin. He would heal those who had fevers and cast out demons from those who were sick. Nevertheless, sin was never mentioned until this paralytic who was brought before Him.

The word for sin that is used here is literally translated as “to miss the mark.” Whenever we sin this is what we do. The mark has been set before us, but through sin we shoot all the way around it without hitting it. The mark of our life is God and entering into communion with Him. Sin is not to make a mistake or to break a rule, but is to fail to live up to our purpose. As the Baltimore Catechism attests to why God made us, “God made me to know him, to love him, and to serve him in this world and to be happy with him forever in the next.”

If this ultimate goal is to be made manifest within us than we must come to acknowledge Christ as our Lord and Savior. Those who were with Him were used to His healings, but up to this moment had not understood His ability to forgive sin. Some looked upon this situation and exclaimed that “He blasphemeth.” They did this because He went above and beyond what they had expected to take place.

When the Lord looked upon this man He saw his need to be healed not only bodily, but spiritually. Therefore, He forgave his sins. The man was then instructed to “arise, take up thy bed, and go into thy house.”

In such manner we are sinners who are in need of the infinite mercy of the Lord. He desires to look upon us in order that we may receive the forgiveness of sins. Whenever we have the opportunity to participate in the Sacrament of Confession we do this. We come before the Lord who breathed upon His apostles instructing, “Who’s sins you forgive are forgiven and who’s sins you retained are retained.”

Let each of us be willing to encounter the mercy of God day in and day out. May we be sent forth not to miss the mark, but reach our ultimate purpose. We can only do this if we allow the Lord to enter into our life in order that healing may be brought about. Let us never impede the mercy of God, but be found receptive of this healing mercy always.

External Solemnity of Our Lady of the Rosary Homily

Today we celebrate the External Solemnity of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

It was on October 7th, 1571 that a battle was won by Christian forces at Lepanto. Pope Pius V invoked the Blessed Mother with his rosary in hand and had asked the Christian faithful to do the same. It was the rosary which was attributed to this victory at Lepanto.

The Most Holy Rosary serves as a weapon against all spiritual enemies especially Satan who attempts to tempt us towards the plight of sin and death. Just as Mary crushed the head of the cursed serpent so too does the Most Holy Rosary crush his head as we hold it in our hand and pray our Aves.

The rosary serves as a way for us to mediate upon those principal events which exist in the history of salvation. Therefore, we have the opportunity to mediate upon the birth, death, and resurrection of our Blessed Lord. Through the rosary we enter not into repitious babbling, but into authentic prayer which brings us to our Lord through Mary.

At the heart of each prayer of the rosary is always the Lord. Jesus was the fruit of her womb and thus Jesus is at the heart of this prayer. As Saint John Paul II stated of it, “With the rosary, the Christian people sits at the school of Mary and is led to contemplate the beauty on the face of Christ and to experience the depths of his love.”

The world in which we live is in great need of experiencing the depths of Christ’s love. Through the praying and promotion of the rosary we make this reality known. The Battle of Lepanto came to be won through the rosary and so too many spiritual battles come to be conquered each day through its use.

As we come to celebrate this solemnity let us be concerned with the rosary. Let a day not pass by where we do not take it up in a spirit of prayer. The rosary should be that which joins the family together in prayer and centers their gaze upon Christ. Everything that we do on this earth should have its gaze centered upon Christ. With rosary in hand we place our gaze upon Him. Let us take it up in faith and promote it in the midst of this world which needs the presence of Christ in its midst.

Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us.

26th Sunday of OT Year C Homily

We are told that upon dying the rich man was taken to a place of torment. He then desired that a message be taken to his five brothers in order that they may be warned of what would await them in the life to come. To this Lazarus replied, “They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.”

In Luke’s Gospel we are told of Herod who had every opportunity to behold the Lord. He thus “was greatly perplexed because some were saying, ‘John has been raised from the dead’; others were saying, ‘Elijah has appeared’; still others ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.”

What is true in all these cases is that they were given every opportunity to open their heart to the truth, but they instead kept their heart hardened. According to Pope Francis “a heart becomes hardened (in) becoming closed inside oneself, making a world within oneself.”

The rich man did precisely this. He was caught up within himself and thus despite everything which was taking place around him was not moved to pity. He already came to experience the poverty of people like Lazarus, but he was not moved to pity. He had knowledge of the likes of Moses and the prophets, but he did not come to heed their word.

The rich man was much like Herod and all those who fail to love Christ and to be sent forth to serve Him in their thoughts, words, and deeds. Throughout history the prophets, Moses, Elijah, and John the Baptist have pointed the way towards the coming of Christ. It is He was comes not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. All truth points its way towards Christ. Let us be moved towards that truth.

The name Lazarus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name, Eleazar. This name means, “God has helped.” This man and those like him come to be saved by God because they have opened their heart to Him and His mercy. Lazarus represents all of us who have come to be helped by God. May we come to open our heart in such a manner thus coming to heed all those who have pointed the way towards the coming of Christ.

In such a manner may we be concerned with Heaven and set out sight upon it. As Saint John Chrysostom had preached, “do not neglect the time of our earthly life, given to us by God’s kindness, for this is the opportunity for our salvation.” The rich man squandered this time while Lazarus took advantage of it.

Let us come to heed this Gospel and to be sent forth from here in order to be concerned with our salvation and that of the whole world. Let us be willing to remove from our midst all that keeps us from carrying out such a reality. For in the end we are called upon to strive to be saints in the Heavenly Kingdom.

15th Sunday After Pentecost Homily

“Young man, I tell you, arise!”

These words should bring hope to each of our hearts. In some way or another all of us have been touched by some kind of death. We might know family members or friends who have now gone before us into life eternal. We have also been touched by the death of sin which has cast down humanity.

There are some who might reflect upon these words and wish that similar words could be spoken when it pertains to those who have now gone before us. Thankfully these words are spoken for all who have come to know death, they have been spoken for us, as well as they are spoken to those who have been touched by the death of sin.

As Saint Augustine comments, “Did not Jesus say to the young man: ‘Young man, I say to thee, Arise.’ Was not this young man restored to his mother? In the same way if he who has committed sin, awakened and treambling at the word of truth, rises again at the word of Christ, he is restored to life. Let him who sees himself lying in this death take means to rise again with speed.” 

As the Catechicsm of the Catholic Church instructs, “Those who die in God’s grace and friendship and are perfectly purified live forever with Christ.”

When Jesus died upon the cross He defeated death for all time and opened the gates to the Kingdom of Heaven which were closed through the original sin caused by Adam and Eve. Let us always latch onto this ultimate reality when we continue to mourn for those who have now gone before us into life eternal and strive for the same reality in how we come to live and order our life on this earth; as saints who are destined for the Kingdom of Heaven.

If we are to strive for such a hope we must realize the important gift that the Church plays for each of us. It is here that we encounter the gift of the sacraments which pour out upon us the gift of God’s grace. In baptism we were restored to life and once passing through these life giving waters we have come to be nourished by the Most Holy Eucharist. It is this gift which continuesly presents us with Christ who commanded this man to arise.

Let us be sent forth from here to place our trust in the healing words of Christ. No matter the struggle that we face He has laid down His life for us in order that we may be healed. Sin holds no power over Christ and His healing mercy let us prevail ourself to it. Let us come to full live in the midst of the Church and all that Christ has handed down to us.

In such manner Christ comes to command, “Young man, I tell you, arise!”

14th Sunday After Pentecost Homily

“You cannot serve God and mammon.”

Mammon is made in reference to money and possessions. We can take money and entrust it to something or we can place our trust in money to the point that we elevate it to being nothing less then another God. There is only one God who manifests Himself in three Divine Persons and thus money nor possessions can ever reach that level. In the end they will always fall way short of such a reality.

Money and possessions are not the problem. Our Gospel is not telling us to get rid of everything that we own in order to embrace a vow of poverty. What is the problem is that point in time when we elevate such things to the level of God. Money and possessions can only assure us of so much in this life. There will never come a point in time when one will have enough money or possessions in order to avoid something like death. Money and possessions have their limitations and can never become an end to themself.

In the Western world we are always being bombarded with images that tell us the opposite. This imagery does not come out and blatantly tell us that God is to be replaced by such objects, but the subtle message is there. There are many who live their life not to give thanks, honor, and praise to God, but to live this life building up a pursuit of worldly luxury. These individuals have replaced God with money and possessions.

Sunday is a day in which we are called upon to assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Nevertheless, there are those who do not make the time in order to be here. For them they have other worldly pursuits which seem to be more important. In the carrying out of such pursuits God becomes more and more pushed off to the side as the worldly is elevated to an equal if not something that is greater than God.

Prior to where our Gospel picks up the Lord tell us, “For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” This should serve as an examination of our own conscience. Where is our treasure? Hopefully all that we do is directed towards God. Hopefully nothing that we do takes the place of Him within this life.

Sin seeps into our life and it erodes this relationship with God which should exist. Through sin we elevate our worldly passions and push God away. Our Epistle documents a list of these realities and warns us, “You shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh: for the flesh lusts against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary one to another.” This is exactly what is taking place when we elevate our passions in a disordered and unhealthy way.

This day let us place our trust in the mercy of God. Let us desire to deserve Him alone by the way in which we come to live and order our life on this earth. Let us be free because our life is lived for God and His commands.

24th Sunday of OT Year C Homily

“When he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy.”The parable of the lost sheep and coin gives us a glimpse into God’s abundant mercy which is constantly being extended to each of us.

At the heart of each of these parables is an emphasis placed upon seeking out the sinner through diligence and love. The sheep wondered away and out of diligence and love the shepherd went out in search for it. The coin was lost, but out of diligence and love the woman went in search in order to find it.

The image of the sheep and their shepherd is an important image for us to comprehend. Throughout Sacred Scripture sheep are mentioned on many occasions. The sheep was the treasure of the shepherd and thus he would do everything necessary to protect his treasure. The sheep is in need of a protector or it will wonder off and get into trouble. The shepherd would act out of diligence and love to make sure that his sheep would receive this protection which would keep each of them safe.

The Lord also acts out of diligence and love when it pertains to us. He is constantly going out in search for that one who has wondered away in order that He can place him upon His shoulders and bring him back to the flock. Some beat themselves up over past sins that have already been confessed and fail to realize and trust in the love of the shepherd that has already brought them back into the unity of the flock. The Lord knows no bounds when it pertains to going out in search for us.

We must also act out of diligence and love when it pertains to others who have wondered away from the confines of the flock which is the Church. Instead of balancing prudence and charity we can take that route that cuts people off from the healing and reconciliation that ought to take place. As people of faith we cannot be concerned with a percentage of souls, but must be concerned that all souls be saved. That includes those who are most difficult for us to get along with as well as our family and friends. 

Let us further invite Christ the Good Shepherd to enter into our life in order that we may remain protected from all harm that may befall us. Where we have wondered away may we allow ourself to return to His mercy. May we look towards our brother and sister in Christ and always do what we can in order to bring them back to the safety of the flock. Out of diligence and love may we be sent forth from here to share the Gospel message with all those whom we encounter.

“Upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.” Let us be the instruments of this mercy by sharing in His diligence and love.

13th Sunday After Pentecost Homily

We encounter ten lepers in our Gospel who give us a glimpse into the life of faith. Firstly, they are willing to cry out. Next they are willing to walk. Finally only one of the ten returns in order to give thanks.

We are told that the lepers “stood afar off, and lifted up their voice saying: “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”

So often there are those who are led to believe that they have no way to be liberated from the reality of sin that holds them captive. There is this feeling within us that we are unworthy of what the Lord has done for us. The lepers were excluded from society due to their condition. Nevertheless, they were willing to cry out to the Lord in order that they would be healed. We too must have the faith that is nessessary to cry out to Him despite all that is taking place within our life. There is nothing that can separate us from the love of Christ if only we would place our trust in His healing mercy.

As the lepers “went they were made clean.”

It is here that they came to walk by faith for the leper had to go to the priest in order to be declared clean. This declaration of cleanliness could only be made if the plight of lepersy had passed from them. Those who were inflicted came to the Lord in faith and walked away from Him in faith as they came to approach the priest. We too must enter into their precession for from our encounter with the Lord we are always sent out in order to put our faith into action. In going out we must abandon that which we hold comfortable in order that we may place our trust in the Lord.

There was only one leper out of the ten who showed his humility and thus returned to the Lord “and he fell on his face before His feet, giving thanks.”

Saint Augustine accounts “The nine, swollen with pride, thought they would humiliate themselves by giving thanks, whereas by not doing so they are reproved and rejected from the unity which exists in the number ten, while the only one who returns to give thanks is praised by the Church.”

We like this one must return in order to give thanks. This is something that faith requires of us. We must give thanks for all that God has done for us. Upon the cross Christ laid down His life in order that we may be healed. There is no greater gift then this. In the church we continue to give thanks for all that God has done for us and to remember the gift that is the Eucharist. Spending time in prayer before our Lord is a way for us to give thanks.

Let us be sent forth from here in faith. Let us be willing to cry out in our need. Let us be willing to be sent out from Him in order to walk. Finally let us be willing to return in order to give thanks. This is truly a glimpse into the life of faith.