3rd Sunday After Epiphany

The centurion exclaimed, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my servant shall be healed.”

During the Holy Mass we exclaim on three occasions, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”

This statement should cause us to reflect upon the One who we are about to receive. At that moment we glance at Christ, present with us in the Most Holy Eucharist, and proclaim our unworthiness that has been brought about by sin.

Despite his unworthiness, the centurion cried out to the Lord in faith. He was not rebuked by him for his unworthiness for the Lord acknowledged his faith. Therefore, the Lord exclaimed unto him, “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith…You may go; as you have believed, let it be done for you.”

The centurion was a government official. He thus had a lot of power and authority and yet he still subjected himself to Christ. He acknowledged that he was a broken man who was in in need of the Lord’s presence. He opened the depths of his heart in order that he would come into this healing encounter with he Lord.

So too each of us have been broken down by the weight of sin. Original sin has creeped into the world due to the Fall and we thus continue to feel its effect. Nevertheless, we must realize our dependence upon the Lord and be willing to invite Him to enter into our own life in order that we may be healed.

The centurion could of rejected the Lord, but instead cried out to Him in faith. Likewise, we can reject the Lord if we so wish. Hopefully we will allow nothing to separate us from the love of Christ. Wealth and our passions can never heal us for we will find that healing in Christ alone if we so wish to prevail ourself onto Him.

When we make an Examination of Conscience we call to mind our sinfulness in order that we may turn toward the Lord in order that we may be healed. Sin is an offense against God, but God is merciful to those who prevail themself to Him. Let us be willing to turn toward Him in faith in order that we may be healed.

As we come to exclaim this threefold profession of faith let us be found attentive to the one whom we are called to receive. Let us not rush past this moment, but always be found prepared for our encounter with Christ. No matter what the world tells us there is nothing which is greater than this encounter. The centurion came to discover this and so let us join with him in inviting the Lord to enter under our roof.

3rd Sunday of OT Year A Homily

Light becomes the central theme to our readings. Light is something that we long for especially when it is deprived of our senses for a good period of time. I personally have a longing for light when the evenings grow dark at an early hour. Thankfully, since December 21st days have gradually started to lengthen.

The birth of Saint John the Baptist is celebrated on June 24th. This day is close to the summer solstice which is that time where days begin to shorten. Daylight shortens until Christmas when once again days begin to lengthen. As Saint John the Baptist stated, “He must increase, while I must decrease.”

Saint John the Baptist spent his life pointing towards another who would come. This other was the Messiah who is Christ our Lord. He called people to repentance in order that they may be found prepared for this most important of days. Through taking up this call they prepared themselves to behold this great light which would dispel the sadness of sin and death.

As the Lord came to state in the Gospel of Saint John, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” We must continue to attune our heart and soul towards this great light. As the Book of Isaiah has stated, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwell in the land of gloom a light has shone.” 

We must continue to attune our heart and soul towards this great light. In the midst of darkness there is always hope for Christ the light is in our midst. He has already laid down His life for us out of love upon the wood of the cross. Through His life giving action each of us have come to be redemeed. 

Day by day we must choose to allow this light to enter into our life and illuminate us. Continue to live for the Lord by dispelling sin from your midst. It is sin that creeps in and attempts to block this light from springing forth. Partipate in the sacrament of Confession in order that this light may come to be lived.

In all things let us glorify God by our life and allow Him to be that light that dispels the darkness of sin and death from our midst. Indeed the Lord is our light and our salvation, let us place our trust in Him. With our trust place in Him this great light will always shine forth no matter what takes place around us.

2nd Sunday of OT Year A Homily

Bishop Stika has asked that each Mass offered this Sunday throughout the Diocese of Knoxville use the prayers for the dead for a pope for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI who entered into eternal life on December 31st.

This gives us the ability to reflect upon the certainty of death and the need to pray for those who have gone before us. So often we forget about the souls of the faithful departed for whom we should pray. Let us realize that those in Purgatory need our prayers for in this state they are being purified in order that they may be made clean for the Kingdom of Heaven.

As those left upon earth we must strive to be servants of the Lord. In the Book of Isaiah we are told, “The Lord said to me: You are my servant.” Saint John the Baptist realized this servitude for he pointed out that “a man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.” The one to whom he refers is Christ who is the Messiah.

Therefore, we are called to be servants of the Lord in all things. It is easy to turn inward upon self and desire to serve self. We see this through a culture which is always wanting more and where we always want to be the one who is in charge. To be a servant requires that we be found humble of heart for through servitude we realize our dependence upon another.

It was on April 19, 2005 that Benedict’s papacy began. He was a well regarded theologian if not the greatest theologian of our our modern era. He was a man who was called upon to sit upon the Chair of Saint Peter and through all humility he never desired this call. Nevertheless, he took the papacy upon himself as a humble servant of the Lord.

Through his many works we can see how he called all people into an encounter with truth. The truth that he desired that all would encounter throughout the whole world was that of Christ. The motto that he took for his papacy was, “Cooperators of the truth.” May we be cooperators of the truth by opening our heart unto the Lord and living for Him.

Let us always be found to be servants of the Lord. Servants who are willing to live for Him and the truth that He brings unto the world. Let us always cooperate with this truth in order that all may come to know of Christ and His mercy.

Let us continue to pray for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI that all the angels and saints may escort him to Heaven this day.

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

May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Rest in Peace. Amen.

Holy Family Homily

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Jospeh.

It is important for us to remember the family for the family is central to our society. God took on our human flesh and He dwelt among us. In doing so He chose to enter into a family on this earth. There is no escaping the importance of a family, no matter how much our society might try to redefine, if not eliminate the family from its midst.

Within the Holy Family we discover a love for God which is perfect. Mary and Jospeh were well versed in their faith and knowledge of Scripture. They turned to God in prayer and placed their trust in His will for them no matter how difficult that would be. 

If we think of the modern family the notion of God so often gets pushed off to the side. In the midst of the busyness of everyday life we can never forget God. It is important that families pray together, study the faith together, and attend Holy Mass together. Sadly, the domestic church (the church at home) is something that is missing from many homes.

Within the Holy Family the love between man and woman was found to be perfect. Jospeh respected his bride and he would do anything to protect her. Mary respected her husband and she would do him no harm. Their home was filled with the virtue of love not a so called “love” that has so many restrictions attached to it. Their love is an extension of the love that they had for God. So often our homes might contain a concept of love, but do we truly love as love is meant to be?

When times get difficult, the opportunity for true love begins to form. This is so because in the midst of sacrifice we can let go of what is not important and begin to love freely. Our homes are so often filled with so many distractions caused by our self absorption that causes each member of the family to go off by their self and do their own thing. There is no concept of sacrifice because it is something that is found to be irksome.

The Holy Family lived a life of sacrifice for they lived a life of love. Mary humbly sacrificed everything to God through her yes. Joseph went in haste in order to sacrifice in order that his family would be protected. They would also make sure to offer the sacrifice that was expected of them by the Law. Are willing to allow our family to sacrifice in such a way or would we rather our family be built upon the ways of the world.

May Mary and Jospeh pray for us that all families may be found to be holy and in love with Christ.

Epiphany Homily

Merry Christmas!

Today we celebrate the Transferred Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord.

The Epiphany stirs up imagery of three kings following the light of a star in order to bring gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the Christ child.

This is true, but the more important theme of this solemnity lies in the name “Epiphany” which comes from the Greek word meaning “manifestation.” Therefore, the Epiphany is the manifestation of God on earth.

The magi came not to see a child, but to see God. They looked upon a child, but this child was God the Son. God was revealing His presence to these magi at the time of the Epiphany.

It would be great if we could look upon God as they looked upon Him. Thankfully, as those within the Church we are able to look upon Him as they did. Each and every time that we behold the Eucharist we behold Christ who is present with us.

The magi went out of there way to be with this child. In the same manner Christ desires that we come in order that we may be present with Him. The world in which we live is a busy place, but we cannot fool ourself into thinking that we are too busy for God. There are many who have done this by pushing prayer off to the side or make assisting at Mass as necessary when it is only deemed as being convenient.

Yes, the Law instructs us to assist at Mass each and every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation. Hopefully, we develop a relationship with the Lord to the point that we don’t come because of an obligation, but because of a fervent desire to enter into relationship with Him.

The magi were changed by their encounter with Christ. So too we should be transformed when we come to encounter the Lord. Let us encounter the Lord with joy this day for He who we behold in the Most Holy Eucharist is the answer that our hear seeks. It was said in the Gospel of Saint John: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”

Let this celebration of the Epiphany open our heart to fervent Eucharist devotion for God is truly present with us in the Most Holy Eucharist.

Mary, Mother of God Homily

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God which brings about the conclusion of the Octave of Christmas.

As we begin this new year many concern themselves with many resolutions: exercise, lose weight, learn a new hobby, etc. As we start this new year the Church puts us face to face with Mary. She spends her life contemplating her Son and living her life for Him. We too should seek her intercession in order that we may spend this year making Christ her Son more manifest in our life for He is God made Flesh.

One title that the Church has given to Mary is the “Theotokos” which is Greek for “God-bearer.” This title accurately points the way towards her Son’s Divinity. He was not just fully human, but also fully divine.

We see this title first used in the third century in what should be a familiar prayer (if you do not know it, I would recommend that you learn it and pray it), the Memorare: “We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God: despite not our petitions in our necessitates, but deliver us from all evil, O glorious and blessed Virgin.”

It was at the Council of Ephesus in 431 that the title “Mother of God” was affirmed. This is not to say that Mary is the mother of God the Father or God the Holy Spirit or the Most Holy Trinity. She is the mother of Jesus who is the second Person of the Most Holy Trinity. She does not give birth to His humanity alone, but also His Divinity. This is so because these two realities cannot be separated from one another.

As Elizabeth exclaimed at the Visitation, “And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? Truly through Mary we come in order to encounter the Lord. Devotion to her always leads its way back towards her Son. She keeps nothing for herself because she is always pouring forth everything to her child.

Let us continue to invoke the intercession of Mary, the Mother of God. As she came to give birth to the Savior of the World may He be brought to birth within the depths of our own soul. For Him we should live in true humility and obedience. Mary was found humble and obedient to all that God asked of her. Let us follow in her path in order that we too may be found prepared for eternal salvation.

Mary, Mother of God, pray for us!