16th Sunday of OT Year A Homily

Pope Francis stated, “I see the Church as a field hospital after battle. It is useless to ask a seriously injured person if he has high cholesterol and about the level of his blood sugars! You have to heal his wounds. Then we can talk about everything else.”

A field hospital does not check someone’s moral credentials or worthiness at the door before treating their wounds. Instead it takes people as they are (broken, wounded, and complex). The Church on earth is not a museum of saints (a field of pure wheat), but is a sanctuary for the imperfect (a field where the wheat and the weeds are allowed to mingle).

The servants in the parable were so eager to judge and destroy, “Do you want us to go and pull them up?” It is easy to desire immediate order over having patience for the growth that must take place. To rush to judgement rushes to uproot the wheat possibly driving people away from God and the Church completely.

We must allow the weed and the wheat to grow together until the harvest arrives for there is always hope for conversion. If God had prematurely pulled up the weeds the Church would have lost Saul before he could convert to Saint Paul. Such a mindset would have deprived so many of the saints their reward and so too would have costed us to be cast off for we are all sinners in need of God’s mercy.

A weed can never change its identity becoming wheat. On the other hand, a human through the grace of God and personal repentance can become a saint. This would be the Greek word “metanoia” which means a “a change of mind” or “turning around.” This is a life altering spiritual conversion that is a total reorientation of one’s heart toward God.

The Church assists us in such conversion of heart. Through her care we receive the sacraments especially confession and the Eucharist. The Church provides the time, safety, and grace needed for sinners to repent and grow into the saints that God calls them to be.

This is not the trap of relativism for truth is absolute. The harvest is coming, the separation of the wheat and weeds will take place, and the weeds will be burned. Through the practice of charity and prudence may we walk with others in order that they may be healed. Also, we must be truthful with self and not be so prideful to think that we are not also sinners in need of such mercy.

This parable leaves us with hope that we do not have to stay on the path that we are on, but that we can instead move towards God. How can we move towards such a disposition of mind in order that we may be healed and not deprive others of the healing that they need? Let us not squander this time that has been set before us, but use it in order to choose the follow after Him and to achieve such conversion for ourself.

15th Sunday of OT Year A Homily

Our readings deal with the dynamic that is at play between Divine Grace and our human free will. Grace is a free gift that comes to us from God that we are unable to purchase, receive elsewhere, or give to another. Freewill is our ability to choose our awn actions which allows us to either accept or reject the gift of His love and grace.

From the Prophet Isaiah we are told how God’s Word is an unstoppable force of nature. Rain and snow come to the earth and they assist in the growth of life. God’s Word brings forth such life to all that it touches. God’s gift to us is grace and we are given such a gift freely even before we might think to ask for it.

In Matthew’s Gospel the seed remains the same to matter where it is scattered. It is the harvest which changes depending upon where it lands. The Prophet Isaiah has already guaranteed that God’s Word is powerful while Matthew’s Gospel points towards us as an individual and our ability to be found receptive of such a gift.

As Saint Augustine stated, “God created us without us, but he will not save us without us.” God’s grace is perfect and it lacks nothing, but God also respects our human dignity and so will not force His grace upon us if we refuse it. 

Each of us are called to embrace holiness in our everyday life which means that we must cooperate with such a gift that comes to us from God. Through such a pursuit we must remember that we have been called upon to be numbered among the saints. The saints are those who strove to love God above all things and died in sanctifying grace, they have now been judged as worthy of Heaven.

It is important that we remember that we do not have to generate holiness for ourself (this would be impossible). The seed being the Word, the Sacraments, and grace already has the power inside in order to make us a saint. Our job is not to manufacture its growth, but to allow such growth to take place inside of us by not impeding God and the gift of His grace.

No matter how we find the soil of our life there is always hope for us to properly prepare it in order that it may bear fruit. A path can always be broken up, rocks can always be dug out, and thorns can always be weeded. Thus spiritual disciplines like prayer, receiving the Eucharist, Confession, and acts of charity help to prepare the soil to bear such fruit.

A farmer would never scatter seed on a dirt path or a thorn bush for this would be a waste. It is God who scatters His grace everywhere without cost. The sower scatters this seed hoping that one day the soil will change in order that it may bear good fruit. Let us cooperate with God in order that our life may change in order that we too may come to bear good fruit by remaining open to the gift of His grace and allowing it to be found at work within us.

14th Sunday of OT Year A Homily

Jesus calls out to all of us who laboring and burdened, “come to me.” This invitation is made to those who find themselves exhausted from endless work. From a perspective of faith this is those who feel the heavy burden of their own sins, the struggles of daily life, and the limitations of our human nature.

A promise is made that through Him we will come to find our rest. From such a promise we are immediately told to “take my yoke upon you.” A yoke is a wooden beam used to join two animals together in order that they may pull a plow. We are not to pull this plow alone, but by taking His yoke and being joined unto Him.

It is He who is the stronger partner in this bond who does the heavy lifting while we walk alongside Him. The yoke of Christ is easy for it is tailored to the person and driven by love, which makes even difficult sacrifices feel as if they are light. From the Greek this word “easy” also means “well-fitting.”

In promising rest Jesus is not promising a permanent vacation from the difficulties of this life. We cannot forget the reality of the cross for through it we come to see transformed suffering which brings forth redemption. As we were reminded only last Sunday, “whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.”

By encountering such rest we come to encounter the peace that Christ alone can bring into our life. With our trust placed in Him we come to understand that we are not the master of own destiny. When we are able to surrender our need to fix everything on our own, we find deep, interior tranquility for we have found our rest in Christ. 

As Saint Augustine stated, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” Such a statement invites us to remember the Sabbath rest. Through discovering such rest we step out of the chaos of this world to remember that we are God’s children and are in need of cultivating such a relationship with Him.

The world in which we live is fast paced and thus we cannot even rest for one day. Let us be intentional about how we observe Sunday as a day of rest and not just as another day of the week to get caught up in all that burdens us. The burdens of this life will continue and we will never find rest from them if we refuse to be joined to Christ and find our rest in Him.

Let us turn that area of our life, where we have been attempted to plow own, to one that is yoked to Him. Through such a mentality we invite Christ to enter into that specific struggle, not that it may be removed, but in order that we may find peace. Let us heed this invitation to rest by giving not into despair and attempting to overcome it on our own, but yoked to Christ the Prince of Peace.

13th Sunday of OT Year A Homily

Baptism is an important sacrament of the Church. It is not just a ceremonial washing with water that is done in order to bring family and friends together to celebrate a life event. Baptism is most serious because it leaves a indelible mark upon the soul of the receiver which means that it permanently changes the soul’s relationship to God and can never be erased, even by sin and death. To be baptized means that we are incorporated into a relationship with Christ and His Church.

Saint Paul speaks to the seriousness of this sacrament by stating, “Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?” Therefore, when you were submerged in the waters of baptism, your old self bound to sin was buried in Christ’s tomb. When you rose forth from those life giving waters you emerged as a new creation infused with His divine life.

Despite receiving such a wondrous gift we must move forth from those waters conforming our life to Christ. It is easy for us to cease regress to a life old; that being a life on sin and a lack of care for the spiritual life. We not profess baptism to be the end of our walk of faith, but the beginning that moves us forward infused with the gift of God’s grace.

Just because we have received the sacrament of baptism does not mean that we will be judged as worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven. To be baptized is to put of faith into action and not squander the time that has been allotted to us. At the earthly life we ought to want to hear, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

In light of this we are told by Christ, “Whoever does not take up his cross…is not worthy of me.” This is a reminder of the importance of the active and daily outworking of our baptism. The cross becomes our “old self” that buried in baptism and tries to crawl back out. We have to put it to death in order that we may continue to place our trust in the Lord and choose to live for Him.

Taking up the cross means that we come to accept the daily sacrifices of this life. This is the friction that exists between choosing love over selfishness and the trails of this life. The cross and choosing to take it up is a recognition that your life is no longer your own for it is to be lived as a true disciple of the Lord.

It is true that the Church teaches that baptism is the necessary starting point for salvation for it washes away original sin and infuses the soul with sanctifying grace. This is not a one time guarantee of heaven for we are called to undergo the lifelong process of faith, obedience, and relationship with God. Baptism is the gate and not the finish line, so let us choose to strive daily to rise from these life giving waters to live for Christ.

12th Sunday of OT Year A Homily

The prophet Jeremiah tells us “terror on every side!” Such a statement might seem to be precisely what we are going through in the here and now. It makes known the effects of this broken world, the pain of rejection, and the anxiety of being surrounded by hostility. It can be difficult to carry on when we bear such weight and not give into despair.

But after Jeremiah cries out in such a way he eventually pivots to state, “But the Lord is with me, like a mighty champion.” Such a statement brings forth the virtue of hope as his gaze has been taken off of his persecutors and placed onto God’s character. We too need to place our trust in God instead of being led into despair of what is too difficult or impossible for us to accomplish.

In our life there can be a lot for us to fear for such terror is constantly being made known. Nevertheless, the Lord instructs, “Fear no one.” Such a statement was made to His disciples for He knew that the path before them would be much like the path that Jeremiah underwent. Despite such a reality He would remind them two times in this short passage, “Do not be afraid.”

These readings are making us reflect on where we place our ultimate security. If our goal is perfect earthly comfort and safety we will constantly live in fear. But if our goal is eternal life with the Father, we can run the race and persevere until the end. Christ has already conquered over death and thus we have nothing to fear for He has redeemed us.

The cost of such discipleship never comes easily. We can see this from the Greek word for witness, this word being where we get the English word martyr. The martyrs were so convinced of the truth of the Gospel that they were found willing to lay down their life in order to protect such truth.

Likewise, despite the “terror on every side” are we called upon to “fear no one.” Just like Jeremiah there will be those who will shout “denounce him,” but we cannot give into their cry. We must stand solid in our practice of faith and live the faith without compromise. If this be so we even if we never spill our blood for Christ like a martyr will persevere out of witness for Him.

We are called upon to live out all Catholic truths and not just the ones that we find to be convenient. We must stand up for the vulnerable, we must speak out against injustice, we must live out the moral teachings of the Church, we must come to Mass each Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation to give God proper laud, honor, and glory, and we must live out a relationship with Him and His Word through prayer.

Yes, the world wants us to think that such a task is impossible, is inconvenient, is not in line with the majority, but Christ reminds us that we have been set apart for we have been claimed by Him upon the cross. Never give into fear and never fall into despair for through Christ we find the strength to transform our earthly terrors into an unwavering witness of hope.

11th Sunday of OT Year A Homily

This past Friday the Church observed the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. In light of our nation’s 250th anniversary our bishops consecrated our nation to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Today we reconsecrate our parish to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in order that we may rekindle such faith in Him and His mercy which endures forever. It is His heart which has been moved with pity for us.

When we look at the image of the Sacred Heart we notice a heart which is encircled by a crown of thorns. This represents human sin, coldness, and active rejection to the gift that Christ has offered onto us. As Saint Paul explained in our Epistle that His love is poured out right into the middle of our mess and hostility, not after we’ve cleaned ourselves up.

Saint Paul mentions that we are “justified by his blood” and “reconciled to God through the death of his Son.” In the imagery of the Sacred Heart we see a distinct wound in the side of the heart. This is a reference to Saint John’s Gospel where the solider pierced Christ’s side and blood and water poured forth. This devotion emphasis the fact that His heart was literally broken open to pour out mercy upon a helpless world.

Despite what would seem to be helplessness we see great hope being proclaimed. As Saint Paul states, “how much ore, once reconciled, will we be saved by his life.” In the image of the Sacred Heart we see the flame that brings with it such hope as light is brought forth. We are sacred by His active, resurrected life, and He like this flame continues to pursue us into the here and now.

The consecration of our parish to the Sacred Heart means to consciously and deliberately place our entire community inside this furnace of divine love. Such a consecration calls us back to a spiritual realignment of what is important. We do not rely on our achievements, programs, or strength, but upon the overflowing mercy of Christ. We are asking that we may make our hearts like His.

This consecration must transcend the walls of this church and overflow into the domestic church, that being our homes. When we practice such devotion to the Sacred Heart especially through the Enthronement of one’s home to the Sacred Heart we are declaring that Jesus is the true head of our household. By setting apart a place of honor for His image transforms the home from anxiety to peace and from conflict to reconciliation.

It is precisely from the home and the parish that the renewal of our society takes place. Looking at the world we see fractures in the family, division throughout our nation, and unrest throughout the world. Such a glimpse can be daunting for us, the flame at the top of the Sacred Heart assures us that His mercy is actively pursuing the world. No matter how much culture wanders from Him  it is never beyond that reach of His Pierced Heart. If we are found willing to return to Him, His grace will ripple outward, and more will come to know of the fire of His love.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

Corpus Christi Homily

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. The Eucharist is not just a mere symbol of Christ, but is truly Christ present with us Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity under the appearances of bread and wine. To receive Him under our roof is to allow Him to be the one who nourishes us and leads us forth fortified by the gift of God’s grace.

The Israelites underwent a 40 year journey in the desert where the wondered toward the Promised Land. This journey would bring many twists and turns (they were hungry, thirsty, and lost); they would even think that they were better off in their slavery of old. Nevertheless, God heard their cry and poured down heavenly food which would nourish them along this journey.

We too find ourself on such a journey with the Promised Land of Heaven as our ultimate goal. Throughout the pilgrimage of this life we take many twists and turns; it is easy to desire to live the life of old instead of living for Christ Jesus. In the words of Saint Augustine, “Lord, grant me chastity and continence, but not yet.” As Jesus said in the Gospel of Saint Matthew, “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.”

The Eucharist is food for our journey. It sustains us as we travel through the spiritual wilderness of this world. We must flee the slavery of sin and head toward the true Promised Land of Heaven. If we allow our life to be centered upon Christ and His presence among us then we will be given the strength necessary to continue to move forward without looking back.

The manna in the desert could only temporarily fight off death for the Israelites. They ate it daily, they grew old, and they eventually died. If they hoarded it, it would rot for it belonged to this temporal world. The Eucharist grants eternal life for it heals the soul, strengthening the believer against mortal sin and allowing them to live for the Resurrection which is to come.

As we pray when we recite the Our Father, “give us this day our daily bread.” A better translation would be “super-substantial” or  “supernatural” bread which is to say that we are asking for the daily nourishment of the Eucharist for this gift goes far beyond the effects of physical food for this heavenly food also provides for the wellbeing of our soul.

It is so easy to get caught up in things which will never fill. It is most difficult to move ourselves away from unhealthy practices which we have allowed to become routine. Let us dare to look as Saint John the Baptist directs, “Behold the Lamb of God.” Indeed in the Eucharist we behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Let our be centered upon Him and thus may we come to repent of all sin and enter into communion with Him in order that we may allow Him to always remain the food for our journey which leads towards the Promised Land of Heaven.

You have given them Bread from heaven. Having all sweetness with it.

Trinity Sunday Homily

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. Such a celebration causes us to contemplate the deepest mystery of faith, the inner life of God. Through the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit we are able to see a perfect communion of love which is being made manifest for us and this world.

As we look ahead our nation will come to celebrate its 250th anniversary. Due to this we anticipate the upcoming consecration of our country to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. I invite you to begin the novena to the Sacred Heart this Wednesday leading up to its feast day on June 12th. Our parish will reconsecrate itself to the Sacred Heart the following weekend.

It is through the beating heart of Christ that we are able to see the mysterious love of the Triune God being made visible. We so often fail to enter into the depths of such love as we turn inward upon self overlooking the needs of others and twisting things entrusted to our care so that they no longer meet their God given purpose.

It is through the Trinity we are able to see the manifest love of God pouring forth without reservation. Through the Sacred Heart we are given a vivid image of this love being made manifest. This heart beats in order that we may turn back to God in order that we may be healed of all that burdens us.

Not only are we in need of such healing, but so is our country and world. We must turn back to God in order that we may come to achieve unity and healing as a nation. We must remember that Christ is King and thus He alone is able to bring us to discover our refuge in the midst of all turmoil. A political party cannot save for Christ who saves upon the wood of the cross.

From Exodus Moses would go to his knees as he pleaded for a “stiff-necked people.” Through our national consecration we acknowledge the need for the Lord to enter in to bring healing to a people that are so in need of His mercy. As Saint Paul would address the Corinthians, “mend your ways, encourage one another, agree with one another, live in peace.”

We do not experience the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit as something which is abstract. Rather, the Trinity is the outpouring of God’s mercy that is to be received. To participate in the life of the Trinity is to enter in through the door of Christ’s pierced side where we choose to conform our life after the virtues of humility, purity, and the sacrificial love that flows from His Most Sacred Heart.

May our encounter with the Trinity and thus the Sacred Heart of Jesus heal us and the world. Let us take to heart the upcoming consecration of our nation to His Most Sacred Heart. Through such faith and preparation we are prepared to enter into the love of the Trinity and to embrace such a love in the midst of a world touched by sin. 

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

Pentecost Homily

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Pentecost, which marks the birth of the Church through the outpouring of the gift of the Holy Spirit.

In the Book of Genesis, we are told of the Tower of Babel. Here, human pride rejected God’s design for humanity. At Babel, a unified human race, driven by arrogance, attempted to build a massive tower to reach into the heavens. This was a direct rejection of God’s command to scatter, multiply, and fill the earth. Because of this act of defiance, God intervened by confounding their single language into many, leaving them unable to communicate with one another.

At Pentecost, a profound reversal of Babel takes place. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us, “By this power of the Spirit, God's children can bear much fruit. He who has grafted us onto the true vine will make us bear 'the fruit of the Spirit’... The Church, through the scattering of nations, gathers them into the unity of God's family.”

Therefore, at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descends, and the Apostles begin to speak in different languages. The miracle lies in the fact that everyone is now able to hear the Gospel being proclaimed in their own tongue. Language is no longer a barrier of confusion, as it was at Babel, because the Holy Spirit allows us to hear and understand the truth that has been revealed.

The fire that descended upon the Upper Room did not come to destroy and isolate, but to purify and to heal. At Babel, there was a prideful desire to storm heaven through human power alone, while the Apostles waited in humble prayer for heaven to descend upon them. Through this divine encounter, we have been unified and are now empowered to confess together that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Today, we are invited to look inward at our own lives. Do we rely upon our own strength, leading us down the path of pride, anger, and division? Pentecost does not leave us isolated; instead, it invites us to enter into deep communion with God, the giver of all good gifts. In the Church, this communion is made manifest as people of every nation, race, and tongue stand together before the altar of sacrifice to give God glory and praise.

Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, we are given the grace necessary to live this calling out in the world. We can now scatter across this globe as true witnesses to Christ, multiplying His disciples through our love, and filling the entire earth with the radiant glory of His Gospel. We are not sent out alone; we are propelled forward by the gentle, powerful aid of the Holy Spirit.

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and kindle in them the fire of Your love. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created, and You shall renew the face of the earth.

Ascension Homily

Today we observe the External Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. In being taken up, it would seem that the Lord was giving His final goodbye to His apostles. In reality, by being taken up to Heaven, He is not giving a final goodbye nor making a departure, but is becoming more accessible to them—and thus to us.

As Saint Augustine stated, Christ “did not leave heaven when He came down to us, nor did He withdraw from us when He went up again into Heaven.” By ascending, He transitioned from being beside His followers to being among them in a universal way. If He had stayed on this earth, He could only be present in one place at a time; but now, He is universally present.

Through the Ascension, Christ is glorified and thus no longer bound by space and time. We especially see this in the Eucharist, where Christ is present with us—Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. In the tabernacle is truly God’s presence among us, physically and not merely symbolically. This is possible because He has been taken up to Heaven and has not left us abandoned.

Now, with our sight set upon Him, we are able to be led to where He has gone. He is the forerunner, which means that His goodbye is not final. Instead, He is simply the first to walk through the door, which He now holds open for everyone else. Will we place our trust in Him and allow Him to lead us into Paradise, or will we instead attempt (though it is impossible) to enter by another gate?

As we recite in the Nicene Creed, “He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.” This time between the Ascension and the Second Coming is not an absence, but a vigil. In ancient marriage customs, the groom would leave his bride to go to his father’s house to prepare a place. In going up, He prepares such a place for us—but will we be found watchful and awake?

We must remain in constant readiness, for “no one knows the day nor the hour.” A vigil requires a state of constant readiness so that we may be found prepared. Frequent confession and a daily examination of conscience assist us in being ready to meet the Lord at any moment—be it today, tomorrow, a week, a month, or years from now.

We are not just waiting for time to pass us by; we are entering into something that should be purgative. By remaining attentive to our spiritual lives, we grow in holiness each day as we continue to choose to follow Him. Living our lives as such a vigil allows us to take the Lord’s Ascension seriously, for through it the world has not been left empty, but expectant.

We must remain expectant, for this is not a "goodbye," but a "see you soon." Let us take this promise seriously and strive, with the assistance of God’s grace, toward where He has been taken up: the Kingdom of Heaven.