8th Sunday After Pentecost Homily

Today we were presented with the parable of the unjust steward. This steward came to the understanding that he would soon be released from his position. With the end in sight he acted in order to provide for his future. He did this by striking deals with his master’s debtors in order that they would come to remember his generosity towards them.

With this he is also remembered for his shrewdness. Shrewdness is foresight and so a shrewd person grasps a critical situation with resolution and foresight. Through the understanding that his time as steward was quickly coming to an end he was able to act with such shrewdness. Through such shrewdness he came to be praised by his master.

We too ought to have such foresight when it comes to our salvation. No matter how healthy or not that we may be at this moment there will come a point in time when we will be called home to God. Will we be prepared for such an encounter or will we instead allow ourself to squander the time that has been set before us?

The Pharisees are constantly being called out because they lack love for God in their heart. Do we have such love for God in our heart or do we instead allow the possessions and pleasures of this life to control us? What is our treasure? We cannot live for both God and mammon for if we did we would put something over our relationship with God.

Let us come to realize that we are called to orient everything unto God. Our possessions and the pleasures of this life should not grow disordered in nature for in doing so we have allowed something other then God to become a priority. If this is all that we are then we do not have the shrewdness to look towards that life which is to come because we are too caught up living for this world.

With the shrewdness of this steward we should look towards the Kingdom of Heaven. We should see that it is the pearl of great price which we are called to obtain. We can only obtain such if we don’t continue to push off such preparation to an hour which may never come. Death will indeed catch up with us, but if we live for God it will have no sting.

If we are to look towards such a reality let us make the sacrament of confession a priority. Let us begin to find ways to make time for God in prayer. Let us allow God to become the priority of our life to which no temporal good can equal. Through acts of charity let us build up the Kingdom of God here on earth for this is a kingdom which will never pass away.

Truly let us be so shrewd when it comes to our salvation. Not squandering this time, but allowing ourself to live entirely for God now. To live for Him is to place our trust in the joys of eternal life.

7th Sunday After Pentecost Homily

Following Holy Communion the Missionaries of Charity recite the following prayer which was written by Saint John Henry Newman, “Dear Jesus, help me to spread Your fragrance wherever I go. Flood my soul with Your spirit and life. Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly, that my life may only be a radiance of Yours. Shine through me, and be so in me that every soul I come in contact with may feel Your presence in my soul.”

Jean-Baptiste Chautard stated, “God, in His goodness, reveals Himself, in a certain manner, through His saints, and even through fervent souls. In this way, the supernatural filters through and becomes visible to the faithful, who are thus able to apprehend something of the mystery of God.”

From our gospel we were told, “By their fruits you shall know them.” This is true when it pertains to all of the saints. Their life was lived not to give exultation to themselves, but to God. Their actions, even those unseen by the human eye, where oriented towards the Lord. Their relationship with Him transcended the right words and actions when others were looking and became an authentic relationship from which they rested their whole life.

This proclamation should not only be true for those who have gone before us into life eternal. It should also hold true for each of us. All of us are called upon to be saints. This calling is not something which is impossible, if only we are found willing to participate with God’s grace, and make this reality so.

As Jean-Baptiste Chautard stated, “The best way to get men to listen to you is to hold out to them the secret of carrying the Cross, which is the lot of every mortal, with joy. This secret lies in the Eucharist and in the hope of heaven.”

Therefore, if we are to allow our fruit to be authentic we must stay close to the Lord and remain humble of heart. In such a manner we will allow our life to not be about ourself, but about radiating that presence of God to all that we encounter. Through such a disposition of the interior life we can radiate the theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity.

From such a disposition we allow ourself to produce good fruit for the fruit that we produce is representative of Christ who is the foundation of our life. Let us be willing to be sent forth to radiate His presence with true joy.

As Saint Faustina had prayed, “Let You divinity radiate through me, O You who dwell in my soul.”

17th Sunday of OT Year C Homily

The disciples came to the Lord with the fervent request, “Lord, teach us to pray.” We should also have the fervent desire to grow in our life of prayer. So often we only pray when we find it convenient or when we are in need of something.

Saint Therese of Lisieux said “for me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven; it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.”

Prayer is a relationship with God. There are many things that we choose to make a priority in our life (be it the gym, a television show, or some type of hobby). Prayer ought to also be a priority that we are never willing to sacrifice no matter how busy or tired that we may be.

We can understand that we are in need of oxygen if we are to survive. Not only should we be concerned with our bodily wellbeing, but also our spiritual wellbeing. In such manner prayer acts as the oxygen that fuels our body for all that we will face in this life.

In the Church we have liturgical prayers such as the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the Liturgy of Hours. These prayers join us to the universal Church as we join together in one body in prayer with those gathered throughout the whole world.

We also have a multitude of devotions such as the rosary, stations of the cross, or divine mercy chaplet to name a few. These devotions are not babble because through them we fervently pray to God and connect ourself unto Him.

Prayer is not limited to liturgical prayers and devotions. Not only should we take these up, but too we should enter into the silence of prayer. In a such a manner we join with God and enter into something which is so great that we will always have something further to grow in.

Through our prayer we should enter into adoration before God, have contrition for our sins, have thanksgiving for all that has been given to us, and have supplication where we turn to God and ask Him for our needs and petitions for ourself and for the whole world.

Prayer is important as an individual, but so too it is especially important for the family. The family is the domestic church and so prayer ought to be a central part of the family life. If you have yet to do so enthrone your home to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and as one turn your sight towards Christ.

Our Gospel goes on to speak pertaining to the door that will be opened when one knocks. This is precisely that happens with our prayer. This is not to be confused that prayer is magic where we get what we want whenever we make a wish. Prayer is a personal relationship with God that assists us in being moved towards His will whatever it may be in our life.

“Lord, teach us to pray.”

6th Sunday After Pentecost Homily

The sacraments are important, but they are not magic as some might incorrectly think or treat them as. This goes for all of them including baptism, confession, and the Most Holy Eucharist.

When one has water poured over their head while the Trinitarian formula is stated does not mean that an individual will be saved forever. Through baptism we are incorporated into the life of the Church and are brought into relationship with Christ. Baptism is important for the Christian for it leaves an indelible mark upon the receiver, but we must also live a life of faith.

Saint Paul makes it clear in his Epistle, “All we who are baptized in Christ Jesus are baptized in His death.” Thus as Christians we cannot live a life under the crux that we have been baptized and thus have nothing that we have to live for now. 

The life that we choose to live should be chosen in accordance with the faith that we have entered into through our baptism. As Christians we cannot just sit idly by and live as those who are consumed with the ways of this world. Rather, we must live as one who has entered into the death of Christ thus being liberated from sin and death.

The sacrament of confession would forgive nothing if we do not first posses a contrite heart. In other words we don’t go to confession in order that we may continue to live a life of sin, but in order that we may be forgiven of that sin we have freely chosen to enter into.

Our gospel makes illusion to the Eucharist which serves as the Heavenly food that fills us both bodily and more importantly spiritually. In order to approach Christ present with us in the Eucharist we must be living in that proper state where we can receive Him.

The Baltimore Catechism defines a sacrament as “an outward sign instituted by Christ that bestows grace.” Grace is a gift which comes to us from God. Grace is not limited to the sacraments alone for these are only one way in which we receive the gift of grace.

Despite the sacraments not being magic what we are being given is all that we will ever need in order to live good and holy lives. Grace goes unseen by our eyes, but is still at work within us. Let us choose to cooperate with such grace ordering our life towards Christ and what was begun for us at that moment when we entered into those life giving waters of baptism.

16th Sunday of OT Year C Homily

Martha was found to be anxious and worried about many things. Despite the best of her intentions she had forgot that Christ was present in her home and could calm the storms that had given rise in her life.

We too find ourselves to be anxious and worried about many things. When something is out of our control we are especially anxious and worried. This is the case with health, with battling temptations, with wars and violence that take place throughout the world.

Despite our anxiety and worry it is important that we realize that what we are going through is a common human experience and is not a sin in itself. The sin comes out of the actions that we choose to do when it pertains to such anxiety and worry.

Some might use various vices to combat such anxiety in order to bring about a false sense of calm. We can never discover our true longing in such a manner for we can only find our fulfillment through Christ.

As Saint Paul stated to the Philippians, “Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” In other words we are called upon to orient our sight to God despite these difficulties.

As the Lord stated unto Martha, “Mary has chosen the better part.” This statement points towards the fact that she has already come to understand the importance of the Messiah and thus she placed her trust in Him in order that all anxiety and worry may be calmed.

We must be found willing to do likewise. As a human emotion such anxiety and worry will continue to come upon us. Despite this reality we are in full control when it pertains to what we do with such anxiety and worry.

In the words of 1st Peter, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” This is to remind that God is the answer to which our heart longs.

Therefore, let us be found willing to be present with Him in prayer especially at those moments where we are found to be most anxious and afraid. Let us learn to find our rest in Him instead of endlessly getting caught up in the anxieties of life.

As the Lord stated to His apostles, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” Let the Lord be the source of our peace.

4th Sunday After Pentecost Homily

The labors of this life can be prove to be most difficult. No matter how much we toil about it may seem as if there is no fruit and hope in sight. As Simon had exclaimed to the Lord, “Master, we have labored all the night, and have taken nothing.”

So too we might feel as if we have labored all the night and have taken nothing. This can be brought about due to health, the tiredness that comes with the day, the stresses that beat down upon us, and all the temptations of the flesh that continue to give rise.

These are truly sufferings which are real. Saint Paul understood this same sentiment by stating, “The sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to come.” Here we are directed to look outward towards that life which is to come in order that we may find joy.

With such faith and hope Simon stated to the Lord, “But at Thy word I will let down the net.” It would of been easy to remain in the effects of the past and how it seemed to be going into the future, but instead they looked to the Lord in hope and came to place their faith in Him.

We must also place our faith in the Lord in such a manner. No matter what we have endured in the past, are enduring in this present moment, or will endure in the future there is no burden which is too great if we are willing to place our trust in the Lord and His healing words.

With this the Lord states to us, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” This is not an empty promise, but involves all of us no matter if we are burdened physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually.

These words don’t promise healing of body and mind in an instant if at all. These words do imply an inner peace and tranquility in the midst of every cross that we have been called to bear in this life. There is truly nothing that is too great for us to endure if we place our trust in the Lord.

As Christians we are called upon to look outward towards that life which is to come in the Kingdom of Heaven. Through the balance that exists between the cross and resurrection we are able to see the hope that springs forth from every plight.

Let us place our trust in Him and thus in Him come to find our rest in the midst of all that goes around us in this life. The Lord is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and so let follow wherever His voices calls us to go.

Saints Peter and Paul Homily

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles.

This solemnity is always observed on the 29th day of June which means that we do not always get to celebrate it on a Sunday. This celebration is so important that is trumps the Sunday in Ordinary Time in order to be celebrated throughout the whole world.

The liturgical color of the day is red which symbolizes that blood of the martyrs. The martyrs were so convinced of the importance of the Gospel that they were willing to lay down their lives in defense of it. Saint Peter and Paul are both martyrs who laid down their life in similar fashion. Saint Peter upside down upon the cross and Saint Paul beheaded.

In this day and age those of here in the United States do not have to fear the death of a martyr. Nevertheless, the faith that has been handed onto us from Christ is most important. We do not always live our life as if it were. We are thus so willing to compromise our life of faith for worldly pursuits which end up putting our eternal salvation in jeopardy.

It might be easy to use the excuse that we are not yet holy enough and there will be time for such pursuits later in life. No, there is time now and the grace that God pours forth is sufficient for us who place our trust in Him. Saints Peter and Paul were not perfect and yet they were still chosen for such a task. Saint Peter would deny Christ on three occasions and Paul then known as Saul would put Christians to death and yet God had called them both and they had embraced His call.

So too does God call each of us by name, but we are so often closed off to this voice because we do not make time for prayer. Prayer is important because it places us in the presence of God and opens the way to His will which is being made manifest for us. Let us dare to make such time a priority in our life in order that we may come to be strengthen like Saints Peter and Paul.

Saints Peter and Paul were sent into the world to spread the faith. This was difficult especially when it came to martyrdom and yet they endured. So too is there nothing which will prove to be too great for us. We can and must endure to the end. Let us choose to order our life after Christ, giving no room for the excuse of sin, that we may be sent forth from His midst to bring the message of the Gospel into the world by how we choose to order our life on this earth.

Saints Peter and Paul, pray for us.

Corpus Christi Homily

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ also known to us as Corpus Christi.

The Eucharist is central to our belief because the Eucharist is not just a representation of Christ, but is the very presence of Christ made manifest among us under the appearances of bread and wine. Through the words of consecration the bread and wine truly becomes the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ.

Such a statement should make us consider how we react when it pertains to the Eucharist. To be in the presence of the Eucharist is to be in the presence of Christ. To receive the Eucharist is to receive Christ. There ought to be attentionality when it pertains to us and our relationship to Christ and His presence made manifest among us.

If I were to drop a consecrated host or even a particle of it to the ground there are some who would not flinch and care. If I were to drop a baby that I was holding there all of a sudden would be a lot of concern at what has transpired and rightfully so. We must have such concern when it pertains to the Eucharist and our reception of it. What we are receiving is truly most serious.

Saint Paul instructs of such seriousness by stating “Whoever, therefore, eats the breads or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself.”

Therefore, if it has been a long time since your last confession make use of this sacrament of the Father’s mercy for it goes hand in hand with our reception of Holy Communion. As the Catechism states, “Communion with the Body and Blood of Christ increases the communicants union with the Lord, forgives his venial sins, and preserves him from grave sins.”

What we receive strengthens us in the midst of our daily life as we are sent into the abundant harvest of the Lord. To think of the great gift that we receive when we receive Holy Communion. At this moment we have allowed the Lord to enter in under our roof. What an intimate statement that is more important then a celebrity, a sporting event, or a television show. This is Jesus who has communed with us!

At the Last Supper we should notice that it was Judas who was the first to leave. Why are we sometimes in such a hurry to leave Mass after the reception of Holy Communion that we fail to make time for a prayer of thanksgiving and fail to receive the blessing of Christ which sends us forth from the midst of this place? I agree that it might be convenient to beat the rush out of here, but I promise that making time for Christ is much greater.

As Gandhi stated, “I would like to believe what you Catholics believe about Jesus in the Eucharist. But I am unable to do so, because I don’t think you Catholics really believe what you say you believe; because if I really believed that my Lord and my God were truly present in the tabernacle as you say He is, I would crawl on my belly to church every day and worship Him.”

Trinity Sunday Homily

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity.

The Trinity is central to our Christian belief. It is the proclamation of one God in three persons. It is a mystery which is difficult for the mind to grasp and thus has often been explained through the use of various analogies which always fall short and more often then not fall into some type of heresy.

Nevertheless, the Trinity is a proclamation of love. There is a lot that we “love” be it a sport’s team, a type of food, a television program, or an individual. In English we are lacking of a proper expression of love. When I speak of the love that exists within the Trinity I am speaking of a love which is much deeper then what one has for the Volunteers or pizza.

In other languages we have different words which negate the type of love that is being mentioned. In Latin the greatest form of love is “caritas.” It is from this word “caritas” that we get the word charity. Such a love is mutual, perfect, and flowing over. This type of love gives entirely of itself and asks for nothing in return.

The Trinity is the greatest expression of such a love. Through the three Persons that make up the Trinity we have a love which is perfect, mutual, and flowing over. The Father’s love for the Son is so great a love that from it is begotten another, the Holy Spirit. These three Persons of the one Godhead have existed for all time and remain important for us in this day and age.

Marriages should strive to be modeled after such an outpouring of love. Through marriage one is entering into something much deeper then a love that can be thrown away when it no longer seems important. Through marriage the couple strive to enter into this love of the Trinity growing in such love day by day through the gift of God’s grace.

The Most Holy Trinity assists us no matter where we may be because the Trinity is the hallmark of how we ought to live as a community. We must strive to enter into such a manifest outpouring of love and share what we receive with others. It is impossible for us to give from that which we do not yet possess and so we must be willing to enter into the love of the Trinity.

Let the Most Holy Trinity of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit be the guide upon which we build our faith and grow in our commitment to true love which is given entirely of self asking for nothing in return. It is the lack of such love present in our world that we see the many issues that surround us. The love of the Trinity becomes the beacon to which we must place our sight.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirt, as it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be world without end. Amen.

Pentecost Homily

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Pentecost.

Pentecost is celebrated each year 50 days after the celebration of Easter. It was here that the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles as they were gathered together in prayer. Through this interaction with the Holy Spirit they were empowered in being sent forth throughout the world to spread the message of the Gospel.

This celebration of Pentecost brings to fulfillment that which was instituted by God in the Old Testament through Moses. Therefore, 50 days following the observance of Passover Jews would observe the Feast of Weeks. Seeing that this falls on the fiftieth day this celebration is known as Pentecost in Greek.

Pentecost was a time of joy and celebration for those of the Jewish faith. What was being celebrated was the giving of the of the Law to Israel through the use of Moses. During this time of prayer they would gather the first fruits of the harvest in order that they may be offered unto God.

Christ becomes this first fruit for us as for the Jew this first fruit was what was offered at the Passover. It is He who died upon the cross and through His glorious Resurrection we have been set free. From 1st Corinthians we are told, “But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.”

Through our celebration of Pentecost we are reminded that we have received a wondrous gift in the form of the Holy Spirit. We must do something with the gifts that have been extended to us by God. What has taken place is not the completion of the harvest because we must first remain good and faithful servants of the Lord.

The celebration of Pentecost was a glorious day, but the apostles could not stay locked up inside of a room. They instead received such a wondrous gift which brought them out into the world to bring forth the faith to all of its corners. This task would not always come easily as can be seen especially in the reality of the martyrs who shed their blood out of love for Christ.

Through the receiving of such a gift we are to be reminded that the Holy Spirit is our advocate and there nothing that impossible for us for the the Lord has laid down His life upon the cross, Has risen on the third day, and now the Holy Spirit has gone down upon us like a strong driving wind.

May this celebration of Pentecost be fruitful for us in stirring us out of our slumber and into the abundant harvest of the Lord. Send forth your Spirit O Lord and you shall renew the face of the earth.