Passion Sunday Homily (Extraordinary Form)

Today we celebrate Passion Sunday which is the start of Passiontide. Through these weeks we are able to enter further into the mysteries of the Lord’s cross. 

As our Preface states, “Who did establish the salvation of mankind on the tree of the Cross: that whence death came, thence also life might arise against, and that he, who overcame by the tree, by the tree also might overcome.”

Through the grasp of sin we reject the Lord who lays down His life upon the cross in order that we may redeemed. In our Gospel we were instructed, “They took up stones therefore to cast at Him; but Jesus hid Himself, and went out of the temple.” We join with this crowd when we sin for we join with them as we turn away from the Lord.

This instance was not the time of His Passion and so the Lord passes away from them. In that moment He becomes veiled from their sight. So too when we look around the Church we see that all sacred images have been veiled. These images are taken from our sight until they are restored at Easter. So too through sin we push these images from our sight as we banish all that is good and holy from our midst.

Thankfully, with the Lord we are able to rejoice in His Cross and Resurrection. It is these which have set us free from all that holds us captive. Where Christ is found there is hope for there is nothing which is greater than Christ.

As we move further into these most sacred of days I invite you to make use of the sacrament of confession. On Tuesday we will have eight priests here who will assist with the sacrament of confession starting at 6pm. It is through confession that we enter sinful to encounter the mercy of God which means that we are able to walk away from the sacrament made clean. In other words sight has returned to our eyes that have been left blind by sin.

May these last days of the Lenten season be fruitful for all of you. May this time assist you in drawing close to the Lord and removing from your midst all that separates your sight from Him. Very soon we will rejoice again at the Good News of the Lord’s Resurrection which will bring hope to our midst. As we prepare for this most sacred of times let us begin to live for Christ in order that we may be sent forth to praise Him through our thoughts, words, and deeds.

5th Sunday of Lent Year A Homily

On this 5th Sunday of Lent we draw ever closer to Easter and the reality of the Lord’s Resurrection.

In our Gospel Christ restores life to Lazarus and proclaims, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.”

The resurrection of the body is not important for only Christ, but also for each of us. As we proclaim when we profess our faith through the Creed, “I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.”

Through the Resurrection we are able to confidently say that death does not have the last word. As Christians we do not live without hope for we have been given the joy of the resurrection. In this life we will continue to be touched by the reality of sin and death, but we not have to despair because we are able to look forward at what is to come.

The Resurrection is not only important some 2,000 years ago or in the far future. Each and every time that we gather on Sunday we join ourself to the resurrection. Here we come to proclaim this great victory that has been made over sin and death. We come to be nourished by Christ who serves as food for our journey.

In the Gospel of Saint John we are told, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live forever.” This verse perfectly proclaims that profession of life that we make through our belief in the Lord’s Resurrection. When we come to be nourished by Christ present among us we are given that strength to move forward day by day with God’s help.

As Saint Paul professed to the Galatians, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me.” Therefore, we must come to better live our life for Christ. That is precisely the purpose of this Lenten season. Through practices such as fasting, almsgiving, and prayer we are to more perfectly live for Christ.

Another way that we can live for Christ is to allow His mercy to enter into our life. Therefore return to the sacrament of confession and allow the Lord to be the one who heals you. On Tuesday we will have eight priests here who will assist us with the sacrament of confession. Use this and other opportunities to be reconciled with God for He is merciful and just.

As the Lord says in the Gospel of Saint Matthew, “Have no fear!” Our world is filled with anxiety, but Christ comes in order to bring us comfort. Are we willing to allow Him to enter more fully into our life to bring such comfort? Through the Lord’s Resurrection we have received our ultimate hope. Now let us be found willing to move towards and to embrace this great reality each day. 

4th Sunday of Lent Homily (Extraordinary Form)

In our Gospel we were told, “when they were filled, He said to His disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, lest they be lost. They gathered up therefore, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barely loaves, which remained over and above to them that had eaten.”

Later in this sixth chapter of Saint John’s Gospel we are given the Bread of Life Discourse. The Gospel of Saint John is the only gospel lacking the Eucharistic Narrative. Nevertheless, this gospel is very rich in it’s teaching of the Eucharist especially this sixth chapter. Here we are told, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”

These are strong words of assurance. We must remember that in the Book of Exodus the Israelites were led out of their slavery into the desert. It was here that they toiled about for 40 long years as they journeyed towards the promised land. They then began to grumble, much like us, against God that it would been better for them to return to their slavery for they were tired and hungry. God heard their cry and sent down bread from Heaven of which they would eat. This food served as nourishment on their journey towards the promised land.

We too toil about as we journey towards Everlasting Life. Following our baptism it can become easy to desire to look back, but we must continue to move forward towards God. Therefore, the Most Holy Eucharist becomes food for our journey. The Eucharist is not just mere food for the one whom we receive is truly God made Flesh. This is Jesus Christ who is present with us Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. As great as the bread that came that came down from Heaven was the bread that Christ gives is greater.

As this miracle of the feeding of the multitude was worked we notice that everyone had their fill. So too will we find our fulfillment through Christ. So often we attempt to find our fulfillment in other areas, but all of these things will always leaves empty and wanting more. Christ alone is the answer that we seek. Let us always go out in search for Him in order that we may be found willing to invite Him to enter under our roof.

During this Lenten season let us reflect upon those ways in which foster devotion to Christ in the Eucharist and those ways in which we fail to make such time for Him. Our parish has an adoration chapel and the Lord is inviting you and your family to spend time with Him. When we enter into this Church we are also in His Presence. Let us use this time not for useless banter, but as time to step away from the world and to dwell with Christ.

Let us allow this Heavenly Food, the Bread of Angels, to nourish our soul in order that we may run that race which leads towards Everlasting Life.

4th Sunday of Lent Year A Homily

The Easter Vigil is one of the most beautiful liturgies of the year. In this liturgy we encounter salvation history which culminates with the coming of the Messiah who dies upon the cross and was raised on the third day. This Mass starts in darkness for we call to mind the death of our Lord and the effects that sin have caused.

When we look to the Fall we see Adam and Eve who chose to rebel against God by eating of the forbidden fruit. From this reality we continue to feel the effects of original sin which can only be overcome through baptism. In the darkness of night a world which has been touched by sin and death comes to encounter a great hope. This hope is the Lord’s Resurrection, which is symbolized for us in the form of a flame. It is this flame that dispels the reality of sin and death from our midst.

Our Gospel presents us with the blind man who was given sight. His blindness is symbolic of the darkness that is brought on through sin. In His mercy the Lord restores this man’s sight. This is precisely what happens within us when we encounter the mercy of God as it is portrayed to us upon the cross. In His mercy that Lord looks upon those who have been touched by sin and desires that we may be made clean. That sight may be brought to that which is blind.

As we continue this Lenten journey we must long for sight. What are those ways in which we have lost sight of Christ through sin? How can we chose to leave sin behind in order that we may better be able to see. As Saint Paul instructs in his second Epistle to the Corinthians, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

It is our faith that is so often found lacking. We choose to not move towards the Lord. We choose to latch onto sin and not let go. We choose to place our trust in so many things which take place around us, but fail to do so with greater fervor when it pertains to the Lord. It is the virtue of faith which shakes us out of our slumber in order that we can move towards the Lord our God.

Let us long for this great light that shines forth through the reality of the Lord’s Resurrection. Let us continue to prepare for this encounter with Him. One way that we can do so is to return to the sacrament of Confession especially if we have been away from it for some time. Through a good confession we cleanse our soul and choose to live for the Lord with the assistance of God’s grace.

As we approach this most sacred time of Easter let us long for the light of Christ. It is this light alone which dispels darkness from our midst. Let us place our faith in this light and allow the Lord our God to touch all that has been touched by the darkness of sin and death in order that it may be restored to light.

3rd Sunday of Lent (Extraordinary Form)

The past Sunday we were instructed concerning the Lord’s Transfiguration which imparts the virtue of hope to us.

On this 3rd Sunday of Lent we heard from the Gospel of Saint Luke and were told, “Every kingdom divided against itself shall be brought to desolation.”

The devil desires that we be divided. In this world there is a lot of division. Sadly, even within the Church we see division. We can look to Germany and see scandals of faith as some make an attempt to make new dogma in their own image. There is division that claims us when it pertains to the Ancient Form of the Holy Mass and it’s future. There is division among people in the pews when it pertains to the most basic matters of faith.

Our Blessed Lord looked to Saint Peter and said, “And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

These same words must bring comfort to our heart. They must ground us in what is truly important. Despite the divisions that give rise around us comfort springs forth from these words. The comfort is that this is Christ’s Church and He is the one who is in charge. Despite scandals that are brought on even within the Church we must place our sight upon Christ and place our trust in Him.

On the 1st Sunday of Lent we were told of the Lord who went into the desert in order to fast and pray. While there He came to be tempted by the devil who attempted to bring division by twisting truth. Likewise, the devil wishes to divide us in our faith. Instead of giving into his lies we must hold fast “solid in our faith.”

As Saint Paul told us in our Epistle, “Be ye followers of God.” Whenever we are a follower of God we will choose to follow all that He commands of us. When the devil attempts to lead us astray we will remain firm in our faith. Likewise, when division is stirred up around us we will not lose the virtue of hope, but stay centered upon Christ and the Church that He has established for us.

In all things let us continue to educate ourself and our families on matters of faith. Let us not give into the pursuit of the devil who desires that we become divided and leave the Church behind. If we leave the Church behind we leave Christ behind and we want nothing to do with Him and the gift of God’s grace. Let us always remain firm in our practice of faith no matter what those voices around us may make us believe. These voices are not truth for truth is found in Christ alone.

3rd Sunday of Lent Year A Homily

The woman of Samaria comes to draw water from the well at noon. This is an odd time to come to draw water because this is the heat of the day. If she was truly coming to draw water she would of picked another hour. Instead she was coming here after something else. As we were told in our Gospel concerning her, she has had “five husbands, and the one (she had) now is not (hers).”

The Lord enters into this dialogue with her. The two move back and forth in their conversation. The Lord is leading her along a path which leads to an encounter with truth. He promises her what He can give for He is able to give, a water from which people will drink and never be thirsty again. She has lived her life entering into sin. Through her many relations she was lost and only the love and respect that the Lord would give to her would restore her to life.

At the end of this dialogue we are told that “the woman left her water jar and went into the town and said to the people, ‘Come and see a man who told me everything I have done.” She didn’t need her jar anymore because she had come into an encounter with truth. She had received everything that she needed from Him and was finally willing to drink what He desired to give unto her.

There are some Christians who live as such in name only. They have been claimed for Him in baptism, but live their life of faith far from Him. There is only one answer that we seek and that is Christ. We can never be truly happy unless we come to know and love Him in this life. This woman would of remained broken, but she came to believe and profess in truth itself. Likewise, we must be willing to receive all that He desires to give to us.

What is the well that we choose to hang around? Why do we go there? What are we attempting to escape from? Let us realize that the true well for which we seek is Christ and the outpouring of God’s grace. Those who drink of this water will not thirst and yet we would rather drink from other streams which will always leave us thirsty.

Lent leads us towards the waters of baptism which cleanse us and make us whole. We cannot forget the life that we were committed to there. Through these waters we were cleansed and from them we must continue to walk with the Lord our God day by day. In our encounter with Him let us be willing to leave the jar that we cling to in this life behind in order that we may profess Him as Lord by the way in which we choose to live and order our life on this earth.

2nd Sunday of Lent Homily

Hope is a virtue that we are all in need of.

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church hope is “the theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ’s promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit.”

Hope is found in the balance that exists between the cross and the resurrection. Some Christians live the life of the Resurrection which means that they have nothing to fall back on if they have any hardship. Other Christians only know the cross and have nothing to look towards. As people of faith we have both and through their meeting we have hope. Thus when life is difficult we have the hope of that life which is to come.

On this 2nd Sunday of Lent we are given this glimpse into hope through the transfiguration of the Lord. Very soon the apostles would be touched by the grasp of the cross. The cross without the resurrection would be a very depressing event. In this glimpse the Lord is transfigured before their sight which is to say that they were given a glimpse into His Resurrection as well as His Divinity.

It is not just coincidence that we are given this reading during Lent. This has been placed in this season in order to encourage us to continue to move forward by keeping our ultimate goal within our sight. So often in the midst of Lent, even at it’s start, we can grow tired with changing our ways in order that they may be more like Christ. Scripture tells us to not look back, but to move forward. This glimpse into Heavenly glory assists us in moving forward day by day towards the Lord.

This relates to all that we undertake in our daily life. We are constantly being thrust about in this spiritual battle. We are constantly being reminded of the limitations of our body especially as it begins to age. We are constantly being plagued by some type of hardship. None of these things are an end in themself. Instead we must look unto the Lord upon the cross and from it see a glimpse of His Heavenly glory for it is here that we encounter hope.

May this Lenten season be a time of hope for each of you. Continue to open your heart unto the Lord and be receptive of the gift of God’s grace. No matter the cross of this life hope always remains. Embrace the cross and from it’s grasp come to place your trust in the Lord. As you go about your practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving keep this ultimate goal firmly in your sight. Dare not to leave your old life behind and follow after the Lord our God. 

In all things come to have hope for hope in Christ is all that we need. As we are told from the Prophet Isaiah, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”