Last Sunday After Epiphany Homily

Today we celebrate the last Sunday of the liturgical year. When we gather together next Sunday we will celebrate the 1st Sunday of Advent and will embark on a new liturgical year. Through the season of Advent we prepare for Christ’s coming. He comes among us at Christmas as the Word made Flesh born of the Blessed Virgin Mary, He comes among us in the Most Holy Eucharist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and He will come again at the end of time.

Our Gospel presents us with the urgency that is this end of time. If we were to continue reading just one verse we would be told, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the son, but the Father only.” There are those who attempt to reveal this time based upon their understanding of prophecy, but time and time they are proven to be wrong.

These proclamations of the end of time are not important for us to get caught up in. What is important is that we understand that there will come a day when Christ will come again and at that unknown hour judgement will take place. It is possible that this coming will take place in our lifetime, but if it does or doesn’t the fact remains that there will come a time when we will die and in return we will be judged by God the Father.

During this moment of accounting we should desire to be numbered among His elect. It is the elect who have died in the state of grace. Through their death they were found worthy of the Heavenly Kingdom because they lived their life for Christ and rejected the death that comes from sin. Sadly there are Christians who are so in name only because they live a life which is contrary to Christ and His Church and see nothing wrong with it.

We must be stirred out of our slumber and placed into motion to be found active in our practice of faith. Christ established a Church on earth and through it He has extended the sacraments into our life. The sacraments are outwards signs instituted by Christ which bestow grace. Therefore, we need all of the sacraments and not just those that we agree with. 

The sacrament of confession is important because through it we are absolved of our sins and made clean for Christ. If we have gone many years without this sacrament there is need to return to it. We cannot just say I will wait until I sin no more, I will wait until I am ready to live for Christ, or I will wait because there is no urgency in my going. As a reminder our Advent penance service will be this Thursday at 6pm and there will be seven priests present assisting with confessions.

Our Gospel shows us that there is such urgency in our life. Our urgency is that we must remain prepared for our death and judgement. We must pray for the grace of final perseverance which is to say in the words of the Gospel of Saint Matthew, “He that shall persevere unto the end, he shall be saved.” Let us remain on guard for the Lord for we know not the time nor the hour that we will be called home to Him.

Resumed 6th Sunday After Epiphany Homily

The woman mentioned in this parable mixes in leaven which allows the bread to give rise. It is this leaven which transforms the dough into becoming something more. If the dough is not allowed to sit the yeast will not be able to work and thus it will not give rise. Through the use of time the bread begins to take shape as the leaven completes its task.

Just like the leaven of our gospel we must invite God into our life and be willing to participate with the gift of His grace. Through such an openness we allow God to do His transforming work within us. This transforming work takes us where we are and leads us along the path of God’s divine plan which He has for each of us.

So often we do not like to wait in order to see results. In our modern day world we receive whatever we want in an instant. So too in the spiritual life do we want such quick results to take place. Despite our ability to see such a reality taking place or not we need to realize that God is constantly at work in our life and thus we cannot lose the virtue of hope.

Through the virtue of hope we realize that despite the cross, that is present in our life, something greater always comes. It may not come in a day, a week, a month, a year, but it will come through Everlasting Life. We see such a hope through the empty tomb as the Lord has conquered death upon the cross.

Therefore we must realize the need to be patient. Through patience we realize that God is at work in our life. We must continue to open our heart wide to be found receptive to the gift of His grace for through this gift we are kneaded over and over in order that we may live good and holy lives which are lived in response to the Gospel.

How must we allow the Lord to transform us this day? What are we holding back from Him because we do not want to let go of it? The Lord desires to enter into our life to bring about such transformation, but do we want anything to do with this? We must allow Jesus to enter into our life through prayer, through the scriptures, and through the sacraments for through these avenues we come to be transformed by the gift of God’s grace.

As the leaven is mixed with dough it gives rise. As we allow God’s grace to enter into our life we are sent forth to live entirely for Him in thought, word, and deed. May this transformation take place within us instead of us avoiding such a reality. We must learn to be content with realizing that God is the one who is in control of our life. May we allow ourself to remain open to the gift of His grace and allow His grace to be the leaven that it mixed into our life in order that we may live good and hoy lives.

33rd Sunday of OT Year A Homily

God has entrusted each of us with a lot. We are to take these many gifts that have been entrusted to our care and do something with it. We cannot squander such a gift because to do so would mean that we are idle in our practice of faith. We must remember that God pours out grace to where we can live good and holy lives. We must participate with such a gift for to do so is to walk humbly with God.

In our Gospel the master stated, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” So too when we are called home to God should such words be said of us. This servitude is more then a job that we work Monday through Friday. This servitude is a way of life that we should foster each day of the week and the year. It is easy to get caught up in what we do and fail to see the one who we are called to serve.

To be a faithful servant means that we are to be found humble of heart. If we look at Sacred Scripture we will see the humble who received the gift of faith and did something with it. Mary humbly accepted the gift of Christ at the Annunciation and remained a servant of this gift that had been entrusted to her care. Likewise, we can look to the saints of the Church who humbly accepted Christ into their life and chose to live for Him above all things.

It is easy to get caught up in big things and overlook the small. Nevertheless, in our Gospel we were told, “Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities.” Therefore we must pay great attention to the faith that we profess. To be faithful in the big and the small is to say that we humbly accept and put into action all that has been handed down to us.

We must continue to set our sight upon our master who is God the Father. He has created each of us as an outpouring of His love. We should desire to foster a relationship with Him that transcends mere words. Our whole life must be a response to this outpouring of love. Thus our thoughts, our words, and our deeds become reflective of Him. Through our life of faith we strive not for the here and now, but for God’s Kingdom which will come.

Let us be good and faithful servants in all that we do. Through such fidelity we come to share in the master’s joy. It is this joy which is greater then all temptations and worldly satisfactions. It is this joy that is reflective of true treasure for it never passes away and always leaves us left fulfilled. Let us keep our sight upon God and be humble servants in all that we say and do. We will thus be told, “Well done, my good and faithful servant."

Resumed 5th Sunday After Epiphany Homily

We are quickly coming to the conclusion of the liturgical year and will then begin a new liturgical year starting with the 1st Sunday of Advent. With this reality set before us we begin to place our focus upon the end of time. There will come a day when Christ will come again. Until then we must heed the words of Sacred Scripture for we know not the time nor the hour. No matter how much we attempt to escape it’s grasp death will catch up with each of us. Therefore, we must place our attention upon the four last things which are death, judgement, Heaven, and hell.

In our Gospel we are given this image into this reality. Here we were given the image of a man who sowed good seed in his field. The enemy then comes and mixes in this other seed that looks identical to wheat. The problem is that once it grows it is too late to pull up because it would take with it the wheat. For this reason the cockle must remain in the field until the harvest comes when it is bound up and burned.

This is what takes place within our life. We have been created in the image and the likeness of God. Through our baptism we were given the gift of faith in order that we may do something with it and not squander it. As we go about this life we must stay on guard against the wicked one in order that we may always do that which is good and holy. The devil wants to entwine himself into our life and lead us astray through the assaults of his lies, but we must remain vigilant in our practice of faith.

Through such vigilance we will make sure that this cockle does not enter into our life and cause us great confusion. The faith which we practice is always oriented towards truth, but such cockle attempts to confuse us and lead us away from such truth. There will come a time when the harvest will come and we will face judgement. In our Gospel such a reality took place as the cockle was collected into bundles and burned.

Likewise, we cannot confuse ourselves to think that judgement is not a reality. There is not one of us who will not die and be judged either to Heaven or hell. Despite this judgement we must realize that the faith has given us everything that we need in order to live out good and holy lives. The gift of God’s grace is more powerful then anything that the father of lies can throw at us. Through the sacraments we are given such grace and through our study of Sacred Scripture we come know Christ whom we are called to enter into relationship with.

This day let us remain the wheat that has not been infected with this foreign seed. When our time on this earth comes to its end may we be found ready to be called home to God where we will dwell with Him forever. There is a lot of fleeting temptations that attempt to make us lose sight of this goal, but through our persistence with God’s grace we will run that race which leads us towards Everlasting Life. Let us seek the Kingdom of God above all things.

32nd Sunday of OT Year A Homily

We are quickly coming to the conclusion of the liturgical year which comes to its end at the end of November with the celebration of the Solemnity of Christ the King. With this reality set before us we begin to place our focus upon the end of time. There will come a day when Christ will come again. Until then we must heed the words of Sacred Scripture for we know not the time nor the hour. No matter how much we attempt to escape it’s grasp death will catch up with each of us. Therefore, we must place our attention upon the four last things which are death, judgement, Heaven, and hell.

In our Gospel we are given this image into such a reality. We encounter ten women, but only five of them were found prepared for the arrival of the bridegroom. We were instructed that he was delayed which caused issue with the five who were unprepared. Of the ten we are told that they each became drowsy and fell asleep. Upon waking five ran out of oil which means that they missed their encounter with the bridegroom for whom they had laid in wait.

Saint Augustine identifies this drowsiness and sleep as their death. This fits in perfectly with what is taking place around this passage in chapters 24 and 25 of Saint Matthew’s Gospel. These chapters concern themselves with the last things which include the final judgement. It is of this final judgement that we are instructed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “Each man receives his eternal retribution in his immortal soul at the very moment of his death.”

To Saint Augustine the oil of these lamps is associated with one’s good works. They are unable to give their oil to another for the other has not performed what the faith had called them to. These five who ran out of oil squandered the time that was set before them while the other five were found prepared. Through their preparation they were ready to encounter the bridegroom. They made full use of the gift that God had bestowed upon them through the gift of faith.

We too are like these women. There will come that day that we will grow drowsy and fall asleep. At this unknown hour we will be judged. In our life we have been given the gift of faith through our baptism, but we must now live it. To be baptized decades ago does not mean that we have nothing to do when it pertains to faith. From the waters we were sent forth to live as a new creation which has been claimed for Christ Jesus. Do we live in such a way or do we only live for this world?

Thankfully, we still have time to store up the oil that is necessary to encounter the bridegroom. We will have time to store up this oil until we have been called home to God through death. Until this moment comes our lamps must shine brightly. As we are told in the Gospel of Saint Matthew, “Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” Likewise, in all that we do our life must be found reflective of our Father who is in Heaven. As we move towards the end of this liturgical year, enter into Advent, and prepare ourself for the coming of Christ let us further reflect on what we must do if we are to be found prepared for the coming of the bridegroom.

23rd Sunday After Pentecost Homily

The cross is a central image of our Christian faith. The cross calls us to remember that we have been forgiven of our sins through Christ’s sacrificial action. By entering into the cross we come to be saved. As we are told in the Gospel of Saint Matthew, “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.” As the Book of Galatians tells us, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

In today’s Epistle we are warned against those who live the opposite of the cross and thus in Saint Paul’s words become “enemies of the cross of Christ.” It is these individuals who want nothing to do with the cross. Sacred Scripture tell us to “take up the cross and follow me.” These individuals want to live out a faith in name only without embracing everything that goes with the faith that we profess.

Within the Church we find people who profess the Catholic faith with their lips, but they allow their life to be kept away from conversion. Christ and His Church are not what is important in forming their consciences to truth because they would rather do as they wish. In Such a manner they take on a cafeteria mentality where they are able to pick and choose what they will believe. In such a fashion they separate themselves from the Church in order to form a church that is made in their own image.

Where we are tempted to enter into such a reality we must stand firm in the faith that we profess with our lips. Enemies of the cross can give rise not only to thought, but through practice. The faith holds us to a moral standard that we cannot compromise due to the assaults of the enemy. Even if nobody sees us committing such an action does not give us credence to do so for we must continue to align ourself to the cross and the conversion that is calls us to encounter.

In order to “take up the cross” we must enter into a relationship with the Lord. In taking up the cross we join ourself to Him who has already bore and triumphed over the weight of the wood. Therefore, in so far as we are willing to enter into relationship with Him we are not left alone to go through the various temptations of this life alone.

This past week we celebrated the Solemnity of All Saints which serves as a celebration of all the saints known and unknown who are in Heaven. As our Epistle also reminded us, “Our conversation is in heaven, from whence also we looked for the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ.” May we continue to look for Him in all that we do that we too may strive for this Heavenly Kingdom just like all of the saints.

The saints were not enemies of the cross, but came to embrace it in order that they may truly live. Likewise, let us come to embrace the cross and the salvation that has been won therein. 

We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. 

Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

All Souls Day Homily

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

One liturgy of the Church which is very important is the Funeral Mass. As time has passed by there are many who sadly forgo having any type of funeral liturgy offered be it during Mass or outside of Mass. This day serves as a type of funeral where we are reminded of the need to pray for the souls of the faithful departed who have now gone before us into eternal life. At the heart of the funeral liturgy is this understanding of the need to pray for the souls who have gone before us. Sadly, some have instead interrupted these rites to guarantee entry into Heaven no matter how sinful one chose to live their life.

When we speak of the souls in Purgatory we are not referring to a second chance at Heaven. There is only one opportunity that we get and thus we should do something with the time that has been allotted to us. Purgatory is for purification which must take place for according to the Book of Revelation nothing which is unclean will enter Heaven. Through our prayers we assist these holy souls in their preparation for Heaven and we mold ourselves into being true disciples of the Lord who live their life for Christ.

Let us continue to assist these souls by our prayers in order that all the angels and saints may escort them into Paradise 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.

There are three states which make up the Church: (1) Tomorrow we remember the Church Suffering which is made up of those souls in Purgatory who are need of our prayers, (2) Today we remember the Church Triumphant which is to say all those known and unknown by name who have been welcomed into Heavenly glory, and (3) The Church militant which is each of us here on earth who must strive for Heavenly glory.

We profess in the Apostles’ Creed, “I believe in…the communion of saints.” This statement is made in reference to the saints in Heaven, those in Purgatory, and those here on earth. It is together that we make up the body of Christ. Through this reality we receive the prayers of the saints, we assist those in Purgatory with our prayers, and we journey towards the Kingdom of Heaven by keeping our sight placed upon God.

As is stated in the Book of Hebrews, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us.” The saints are now in Heaven for they have won this race, the souls in Purgatory have been judged as worthy of Heaven for they have run this race, and we too must run this race that is now set before us like those saints who have now gone before us into Everlasting Life.

The prayers of the saints are important for each of us here on earth who strive to live good and holy lives. Sadly, there are some who see no importance in the prayers of the saints. They quote 1st Timothy, “There is one God, and one mediator of God and man, the man Christ Jesus.” This verse does not limit our ability to pray for one another nor does it limit the ability of the saints to pray for us. There is one mediator and that is Christ Jesus. All of these prayers are being offered onto Him

From Saint James we are told, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful.” What is true of the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the saints is that they have entered into the Beatific Vision. This means that they are now in Heaven with God. None of us are yet in Heaven and so the saints hear our prayers and bring them before God. They are close to Him because of the life that they lived on this earth.

Let us continue to strive for Heaven that we may be numbered among these holy men and women of God who we now venerate. They show us that this path is one which is possible if only we are found willing to open our heart to God and His mercy. Let us each strive to be saints for we have been called to pursue the Kingdom of God above all things.

May all the saints of Heaven, pray for us.