6th Sunday of OT Year C Homily

It is hard to believe that we are now roughly 70 days away from Easter which means that Lent is quickly approaching. The time for us to place our focus upon this season is now. If we prepare ourself now we will be ready once Lent finally gets here on the 1st Wednesday of March. We would thus be found vigilant to the point that the Lenten season would be fruitful for us.

Our Gospel puts this urgency into perspective through the giving of the Beatitudes. Through this list we are told how one will be blessed, but are also given the opposite. In other words we must apply ourself to a life of faith in order that we may obtain a relationship with God. This relationship also includes those around us who we must treat mercifully. If we cannot treat others as Christ would treat them we are found lacking.

Lent is one way in which we can challenge ourself to grow in such virtue. Throughout this season we take up the actions of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving in order that we may grow in those areas which are necessary in order that we may love God and neighbor. 

Such actions must be mindfully done through the direction of prayer instead of being mindless actions which bring forth no change within us. To give up something for the sake of giving up something changes us in no way with the coming of Easter. Through our prayer, fasting, and almsgiving we should be growing in our love for God and neighbor by overcoming those vices which run rampant in our life.

From Rule of Saint Benedict the monk is told, “During these days, therefore, let us increase somewhat the usual burden of our service, as by private prayers and abstinence in food and drink. Thus everyone of his own will may offer God ‘with joy of the Holy Spirit’ something above the measure required of him. From his body, that is, he may withhold some food, drink, sleeping, talking, and jesting; and with the joy of spiritual desire he may look forward to holy Easter.”

Therefore, may this quickly approaching season of Lent assist us in heading the call to follow after the Lord. Wherever something has gained mastery over us we ought to master it for the sake of the Kingdom to which we have been called. Through such freedom we are able to grow in our love for God and neighbor.

5th Sunday After Epiphany Homily

Every day we make the decision of what clothing we are going to wear. So too we must consciously choose to put on qualities which allow virtue to spring forth in our life. We must take on the clothing of a Christian such as that baptismal garment that we received at our baptism and keep it white as snow.

The many things that we choose to surround ourself with effects the way in which we encounter the world and our relationship with God. If we spend all our time chasing after the ways of the world we would of done nothing to pursue a relationship with God. Rather, we must put on Christ for He ought to be the one to whom our life is oriented.

Our Gospel presented us with the wheat and cockle. As it grows the cockle which is poison in nature looks as if it is wheat. It can only be separated at the time of the harvest. So too we must allow our own life to avoid those harmful distractions which lead astray from living out a life of faith.

Saint Paul’s list of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience must be fostered and allowed to be made manifest in our life. Most of all, we must grow in the virtue of love. Without such a virtue it becomes impossible to live out a life of faith because we are found too busy turning inwardly upon ourself.

Our modern day society has lowered this virtue of love to the point that it is found to be without deep meaning. Love can be seen upon the cross when the Lord offers His life without reservation in order that we may be redeemed. Love is that relationship that exists in the Most Holy Trinity which is most perfectly given asking for nothing in return of the other.

If we are to grow in the virtue of love we must come to know God and be willing to share what we receive with others. The love of God is found to be abundant and without end. Therefore, there is always something more for us to grow in if we are to love as God loves. This virtue must influence all of our relationships from one’s child, to one’s spouse, and to all those whom we encounter especially the most difficult.

In the words of Saint Philip Neri, “Prayer and communion are not to be made or desired for the sake of the devotion we feel in them, for that is seeking self, and not God; but we must be frequent in both the one and the other in order to become humble, obedient, gentle, and patient. When we see these virtues in a man, then we know that he has really gathered the fruit of prayer and of communion.”

Let us us depart from here with that fervent desire to grow in such virtue. If we see that vice has taken over our life it can only be moved out through the pursuit of virtue. Let us not be content with allowing the cockle to take over our life. Instead let us be willing to orient our sight unto God and to be found willing to move towards Him with the confidence of faith each day.

Presentation of the Lord Homily

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the temple.

We must remember that what was taking place was in the context of a Jewish ritual. Firstly, the mother was to be purified following giving birth to her child. Secondly, the firstborn was to be presented in the temple 40 days after his birth. This presentation serves as the consecration of one’s child onto God.

Despite Jewish ritual taking place we know that Christ is God Himself. We came to proclaim this reality through our celebration of Christmas. He is God who has made His dwelling place among us. It is He who is the “Light to all the nations” who shines brightly for all. From His eventual cross that brings forth our salvation will shine that great Light of His Resurrection for we have been redeemed.

This Light proceeds out into the whole world bringing hope to all that it touches. So too this Light must penetrate into the depths of our own heart. We must be consecrated to God by how we choose to live and order our life on this earth. So often we are found willing to abandon what has been handed onto us here for the sake of other pursuits.

Let us continue to commit ourself unto the Lord in such a profound manner in order that we may allow this great Light to shine forth to all the nations.

3rd Sunday of OT Year C Homily

It is easy to navigate this life as if we are left all alone to figure it out for our self. As people of faith we must remember that we are never alone. We remain united to Christ and all the angels and saints of Heaven. We are united together with one another as the Church here on earth who together orient our sight unto the Lord our God.

Saint Paul reminded of this unity that ought to be present in his 1st Epistle to the Corinthians. Here he remarked, “all the parts of the body, though many, are one body.” Through the reception of Holy Communion we profess this unity that is present in the Church for we remain united in Christ Jesus.Therefore, the faith that we profess transcends the here and now as it looks outward towards the life which will come.

As we profess in the Nicene Creed, “I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.” These  are known to us as the four marks of the Church. We are thus able to see that we remain united in our common belief. For us dissent on a matter of faith and morals would be to put ourself outside of this unity which is present in the Church.

As people here in Johnson City it can be so easy to forget that we are not just a single entity known as Saint Mary’s Church. Rather, we are a parish which is a part of the Diocese of Knoxville under our bishop, Mark Beckman, which is united to Rome under our Holy Father Pope Francis. When due to distance we have been placed so far away from Knoxville it is easy to forget this reality. 

Next weekend we will have the opportunity to assist with the annual bishop’s appeal. This appeal provides for the needs of the many ministries which make up the Diocese of Knoxville. I invite and encourage you to read the insert placed in your bulletin for this appeal.

Through this appeal we are able to provide for the education of our seminarians, priests, and deacons. Catholic education, young adult faith formation, and college campus ministries are strengthened. The needs of Catholic Charities are provided for in order that we may continue to provide for those who are in need. Medical care is provided for those are in need through the mobile medical clinic.

Let us choose to remain united to the Body that is the Church for here we will never be left alone. In the Eucharist we remain united unto Him as we are sent forth from here to look towards Christ and to live our encounter with Him each day with all those whom we meet. Let our life remain directed onto the Lord our God.

2nd Sunday of OT Year C Homily

Our gospel takes us to the Wedding Feast at Cana which as was pointed out occurred “on the third day.” Saint John chose to begin his gospel by stating “In the beginning.” All of this should take us back to creation and what was given concerning it in the Book of Genesis. This specific passage dwells with the fact that Mary is the New Eve and Jesus is the New Adam.

Jesus responds to His mother’s request, “O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” We also hear Him refer to His mother as “woman” later in the Gospel of Saint John at the time of the crucifixion. “When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son.’”

Calling one’s own mother “woman” rather than by her name may seem to be harsh in nature. That is not the case. Rather, our Lord is pointing towards Eve and is likening Mary to her as the New Eve. We would notice in the Book of Genesis that the woman never has a name until after the Fall. “The man gave his wife the name ‘Eve,’ because she was the mother of all the living.”

As we were told in the Book of Genesis following the Fall, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” This verse makes the first prophecy of the coming of the Messiah. He is the one who will free us from the Fall which brings forth sin and death.

As the Lord stated, “My hour has not yet come.” These words points towards the eventual coming of the Passion which would bring about our salvation. As He would later state in this Gospel, “I am troubled now. Yet what should I say? Father, save me from this hour? But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour.”

Through His working of this miracle of changing the water into wine He is beginning His public ministry. It is this public ministry which will begin His road which leads towards the cross and to that hour which would bring forth our salvation. 

As is revealed to our Blessed Mother in the Temple by Simeon, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted; and you yourself a sword will pierce, so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

Mary’s “yes” in this occasion of the Wedding Feast puts this revelation made known to her 30 years prior into motion. This miracle costed her a lot and yet she still said, “Do whatever he tells you.” So too we must remain open to the will of God no matter what it may demand of us. We must remain stedfast in our faith and not be swept away by the way of the world.

Through the Fall we see how sin and death entered into the world, but through Mary as the New Eve and Jesus as the New Adam we are able to see how we have been redeemed through the cross that sets us free from sin and death.

Most Holy Name of Jesus Homily

Merry Christmas! Today we observe the Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus.

As we were told of this Most Holy Name in our Epistle, “There is no other Name under heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved.”

As the angel instructed Saint Jospeh in his dream, “She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

The Most Holy Name of Jesus expresses his mission as the Saviour sent by the Father for the salvation of the world. His Name literally means “God saves.”

In veneration of this Most Holy Name we are told in Saint Paul’s words to the Philippians, “At the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under earth.”

Sadly, our society often fails to venerate such a Holy Name. The Name of Jesus and well as God is so easily taken in vain. We instead must go to this Name in true faith for through such devotion we will be given the grace that is necessary to endure.

As Christ states in the Gospel of Saint John, “If you ask the Father anything in my name he will give it to you.”

In the midst of all spiritual trials call upon this Name. From the snares of Satan call upon this Name in order to be delivered. No matter what lies in wait for us always let us always call upon the Most Holy Name of Jesus.

In the Book of Acts the apostles used the Name of Jesus in order to give strength to the lame and life to the dead. To think what waits for us if we foster such devotion to this Most Holy Name which saves.

The world in which we live is in need of such faith in the Saviour. Let us make room for Him to enter into our life in order that we may persevere in the journey that exists from this life to the life which is to come in Heaven.

As the Lord stated to Saint Paul in the Book of Acts, “Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and Israelites.”

Let us go in such fashion doing all things with the Most Holy Name of Jesus firmly upon our lips for it is this Name which saves.

Epiphany Homily

Merry Christmas! Today we observe the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord.

This word “epiphany” is a Greek word meaning “manifestation.” Therefore, what is being celebrated is Jesus’s manifestation to the whole world as Messiah, the Son of God, and the Saviour.

In the account of the magi coming to do homage to the Christ child we are given the image of a star. It was this star that they saw “at its rising” and “preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.”

The “star” is defined today differently then what it would be defined as to those who heard such words in our gospel. A star could be what we now call a star as well as anything that creates light in the sky such as the moon, planets, meteors, or comets.

This particular light which was seen by the magi was significant for it signaled to them a great joy. Through this star they were given the knowledge of the birth of “the newborn king of the Jews.”

Through such knowledge they traveled to see Herod in Jerusalem for they assumed that “the newborn king of the Jews” would be Herod’s own son. Instead they were sent elsewhere for the land to which they must travel was that of “Bethlehem of Judea.”

Some hold the theory that this star is Jupiter and Regulus staying within its setting for this would be seen as the rise and fall of a king and another who would take his throne. This light would of led them westward from Jerusalem, would of remained in front of them as they traveled, and would of been seen overhead once they arrived.

This child whom they came to do homage filled them with joy for He was not just any king, but the Messiah. This was God who has taken on our human flesh and made His dwelling place among us. This was the Saviour of the world who came in order that we be redeemed from our sinfulness.

The star lights the way to the perfect Light who is Christ. During this season of Christmas may we come to do Him homage with our life. Let us choose to live for Him for He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. To such a light we must make such a journey which leads us to being receptive of Him in all that we say and do.

O Star of Wonder, Star of Night, Star with Royal Beauty bright, Westward leading, Still proceeding, Guide us to Thy perfect Light.

Mary, Mother of God Homily

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Today we observe the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God which brings about the conclusion of the Octave of Christmas.

In our Gospel we were told that “Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” This is a great contrast to what we were told only a few days ago in the gospel for Christmas at night, “there was no room for them in the inn.”

With such a statement we are able to look inward upon those many ways in which we have failed to allow Christ to enter into the inn of our heart and dwell with us. In this world it so easy to allow something else to grab our attention thus pulling us away from Christ who ushers peace into our life.

We must be like Mary who remained firm in her love for her Son. During this season of Christmas we see how much unfolded concerning her due the importance of her Son as Word made Flesh. As we come to honor Mary as the Mother of God we proclaim that her Son is indeed God the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity.

Mary did not allow herself to grow distracted by all that was taking place around her. Instead she took these things to her heart and through pondering them came to put the picture together concerning her Son and her role in all of this. It was He who was revealed to her by the angel Gabriel to be the “Son of the Most High.” Her sight was elevated to this truth.

We too must come to ponder Him in our heart. It is so easy to move about our life without making time for the silence of prayer. It is so easy to enter into the world and forget that we are Christian and are called to live as such. It is so easy to lose sight of the importance of what is proclaimed through this season of Christmas.

Come to foster devotion to Mary for devotion to her never takes away from her Son, but leads us into closer relationship with Him. She did not know what lied ahead for her as we do not know. As was said of her in the Gospel of Saint Luke, “And you yourself a sword will pierce.” Despite this unsettling prophecy and the trials of the cross which lied ahead she continued to ponder her Son and dwell with Him. So too, no matter what lies ahead for us, let us come to place our trust in Christ the Prince of Peace.

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