2nd Sunday After Easter Homily (Extraordinary Form)

Christ is revealed to us in our Gospel as being the Good Shepherd. This is so because Christ does not send us off on our own without any direction. We are not left to wonder about in the midst of the harm of sin and uncertainty, but instead we have been invited into the Sheepfold that is the One Holy Catholic Apostolic Church where we will find protection. Within the confines of the Church we will discover all that we will need to be sustained through the entirety of her teachings as well as the grace that is extended to us within each of the seven sacraments.

Our Epistle from 1st Peter reminded us that we "were as sheep going astray, but now you have been converted to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls." This is to say that there is indeed a finite truth which exists and thus it is extended to us through what is revealed by natural law as well as the teaching authority of the Church. If we follow this path we will not go astray nor will we find our souls consumed by the dangers that are present within this world.

We must ask ourself whose voice it is that we allow to guide us into the Sheepfold. If we follow the hireling we will get caught up in the many issues of this world at the cost of our faith. The hireling is weak and can easily be stirred up to the ever changing issues that are made manifest within this world. On the other hand, the Shepherd is strong and thus does not get caught up changing His doctrine for the sake of making people happy. Instead the Good Shepherd realizes that for the salvation of His flock He must speak and lead souls to encounter truth.

One issue of modern society is the growing reality of secularism which attempts to banish God from public place. Through secularism three goals are attempted to be accomplished: (1) Life can be improved through material means, (2) Science is the available Providence of man, and (3) That it is good to do good. This series of thought has lead us to a new religion which in the words of Benedict XVI leads us into "the Dictatorship of Relativism."

We don't have to look much farther then San Francisco to see this reality being made manifest. In the minds of some the teaching authority of a Shepherd of Souls has been limited simply to saying nice things and making everyone happy. Again this is not the path of the Good Shepherd, but instead it is the path of the hireling. Archbishop Cordileone is under attack because he represents the teaching of the Catholic Church and thus in return has gone against this culture of secularism. It is offensive to the secularist to say that there is a finite truth and thus religion is more then simply going through life doing as we please. May we remember to pray for Archbishop Cordileone and for all Shepherds of Souls that they will remain steadfast in the midst of all the trials that will come their way when they teach and defend the Catholic faith.

It was only a few days ago that Francis Cardinal George past from this life to the next. May we also remember to pray always for the repose of his soul. He remarked concerning the growing secularism in our country: "I expect to die in bed, my successor will die in prison and his successor will die a martyr in the public square. His successor will pick up the shards of a ruined society and slowly help rebuild civilization, as the church has done so often in human history."

Therefore my brothers as sisters in Christ may we allow the Church to form our hearts and souls in all matters of faith and morals. The Good Shepherd is not found in the voice that only wants us to hear whatever we want to hear. The Good Shepherd truly cares for the salvation of our souls and therefore what He asks of us may be most difficult. It may require us to rid ourself of a passing feeling, temptation, or deeply entrenched sin for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. May we pray for our Holy Father, for all priests, and for all bishops that they may always hold steadfast in being Shepherds of Souls who desire to lead people into the Sheepfold of the Heavenly Kingdom. Christ desires to lead each of us into the Sheepfold, so may we in return grow close to Him through the Sacraments of the Church and the grace and mercy that they make manifest in our life. May we also never rid the voice of God from our life

Divine Mercy Sunday Homily

Today we come to the conclusion of the Octave of Easter and we now celebrate what has become known as Divine Mercy Sunday. Starting this year with the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, which is celebrated on December 8th, we will begin to hear a lot about God's mercy. This is because our Holy Father, Francis, has decided to make this the start of what will be known as the "Year of Mercy." Francis stated concerning this upcoming year: "Wherever there are Christians, everyone should find an oasis of mercy."

Of course an oasis is an isolated area of vegetation that can be found in a desert which typically springs up around a body of water. Wherever Christ cannot be found we should easily be able to proclaim that life is not a possibility and thus we have been thrust into a desert. Through sin, we of course, cannot proclaim that we know Christ for who He is. Sin after all in the words of Saint Augustine is the lack of good that ought to be there. Despite this fact, Christ always remains and His love for us is abundant. Wherever Christ is present this oasis of mercy springs up and is able to sustain life abundantly. If we find that we are walking around lost in the vastness of the desert maybe brought about through our repeated sin, maybe through a lack faith brought about from a tragedy or other hardship, maybe just because we have fallen away from our faith through laziness, or whatever else it may be we must realize and proclaim that God's mercy is great.

We do not have to be content with wondering about lost inside of the desert because Christ is merciful and just and thus no matter what we have done He desires that we return to Him and in return trust in Him fully. I am sure that all of us here might know someone who has lost their hope and trust in Christ and also too in the Holy Catholic Church. Again, each of us must as Francis has said lead all people to the oasis of God's mercy. Without being with Christ our hearts will never be content because each of us has a longing to be with the truth. A separation from that which is true, when we know it to be so, is most difficult to bear, but does not have to be this way because Christ's mercy is great.

 

Our readings today are filled with this message of Christ's mercy. We know that Thomas doubted the news of the Resurrection, which we all should be able to state that we have done too.  All of us after all are sinful, all of us after all have doubted, all of us after all have been burdened with great weight as Thomas was. Despite all of the doubt, all of the fears, and all of the temptations that plague our souls we also join with Thomas who now looks upon the wounds of Christ who is Resurrected and is in returned healed. None of us would be healed nor would there be an oasis of mercy if everything ended at the cross, but instead we can be healed and there is an oasis of mercy because Christ has triumphed over the tomb. Thomas is able to discover this with His interaction with Christ and thus He was able to realize and be made one with the truth that sprang forth when water and blood flowed from Christ's side.

The image of Divine Mercy expresses all of this to us. In this image Christ has triumphed over the tomb because He still bears the marks of the Resurrection. From His side springs forth both water and blood. Water symbolic of the Sacrament of Baptism and thus the new life that was begun in us when original sin was washed away our soul and we were incorporated into Christ's Church. Blood which is symbolic of the Most Holy Eucharist which sustains our souls throughout life's journey. Whenever we worthily receive communion we allow ourself to be sustained from this oasis of God's mercy. Finally Christ has His hand raised as the priest does in giving absolution to the sinful in the Sacrament of Confession. If we are wondering about lost in the state sin and doubt we do not have to be content with remaining there, but instead we can intrust ourself to this most wondrous Sacrament of God's mercy. In the pope's word: "Jesus Christ is the face of mercy" therefore through the face of Christ may we come to faithfully proclaim the words at the bottom of the Divine Mercy image: "Jesus, I trust in You."

Divine Mercy Sunday Vigil Mass Homily

Today the Octave of Easter comes to its conclusion and we celebrate what has become known as Divine Mercy Sunday. Maybe our life is broken and needs to be restored back to its proper health; that is what God's mercy is for. Maybe we have been led astray from our relationship with God through the effects of serious sin; yet again, this is what God's mercy is for. God's mercy is not an excuse to live life as we want, but instead it is an invitation to leave all our fears and sin behind and to come and follow after Him.

In today's Gospel from John we know that Thomas was filled with fear and doubt, but who isn't? The news of the Resurrection was starting to spread and this news finally reached his ears, and yet, he was unable to believe without first seeing. Finally Christ came and through His wounds, sustained from the cross for our salvation, was able to calm the fear and doubt found in Thomas. From this encounter with Christ, Thomas was assured of the Divine Mercy of Christ. From this Gospel passage people often want to refer to Thomas as doubting Thomas, but more important then his doubting was his coming to accept and trust in the mercy that Jesus desired to bring into his life. His doubting was in His past, he had repented from it, and now he moved on to trust fully in Christ. All of us doubt, all of us are sinful, all of us at times lack perfect trust in Christ's mercy. Why do we act as if we are not in need of Christ's mercy? The issue is not our past, but our future.

Oscar Wilde states: "Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future." How true is this quote? To name a few: Peter denied Christ three times, Paul put Christians to death, Thomas doubted, Augustine indulged in sexual encounters outside of marriage, and this list goes on and on. Despite all of this each of them came to encounter the mercy of Christ and they in return moved away from their sinfulness. They realized that to encounter the mercy of Christ meant abandonment and moving forward instead remaining stuck. How have we remained stuck and have failed to move forward to accept Christ's mercy, which sometimes might not come easily? Holy Communion has been made available to all, but all do not accept to order their life to worthily receive such a gift. It would not be charity nor would it be merciful to allow all to come forward and receive our Lord, after all scripture does tell us: "whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord."

Therefore we cannot allow our serious sin to keep us away from Communion. Yes, we should not receive our Lord who is present in the Eucharist if we have committed a serious sin. To refrain from receiving communion is okay, but of course we should not become content with always coming up to receive a blessing. By the fact that we continue to come and attend the Mass and are unable to receive communion should create a longing in our heart to either (A) Return to the Sacrament of Confession or (B) Make haste to fix the situation that is keeping us from the Eucharist. We must remember that God is merciful and that the door to His mercy is always left open, but we must first do something with this invitation.

From the Acts of the Apostles we were told: "The community of believers was of one heart and. mind." It is through the Eucharist that we are able to show and proclaim that we are of "one heart and mind." May we not be content with being of many hearts and minds with the doubt the raises inside of us, but instead may we remember that God is merciful and in return allow ourself to be moved towards that mercy.

Glancing at the image of Divine Mercy we see the words: "Jesus I trust in You." These words are simple to say, but are most difficult to take to heart. In this midst of fear, doubt, and temptation towards sin we must take these words to heart. In taking these words to heart we glance at Christ and realize as Thomas did that He has triumphed over the tomb. Through our trust firmly placed in Christ we will and can discover the same joy that came over Thomas in our Gospel. From the water and blood that spring forth from His side we are reminded of our own baptism and precious gift of the Most Holy Eucharist. From His hand raised in a manner of blessing we are reminded of the Sacrament of Confession where we come to be absolved from all of our sin. May we truly come to proclaim with great faith this day and always "Jesus I trust in you." May we proclaim this trust through a complete outpouring of self and truly allow ourself to be sustained by the life that is given to us by the seven sacraments. 

Easter Sunday Homily

Now that the stone has been rolled away from the tomb we must ask ourself what it is that we expect to discover on the inside. Easter is about the Resurrection of the Lord and thus it is also about coming to discover new life. As Christians we cannot be content with the old ways of our life, but instead we must be willing to surrender all that we may truly go forth to love and serve the Lord. The Lenten season was about aiding us in our journey towards the tomb of our Lord and aiding us with what it would be that we would come to discover when the stone was rolled away. It was for this very reason that we set out to pray, to fast, and to give alms because through each of these actions we came to embrace conversion and thus too we can finally see Christ for who He truly is. After all of this work that we have accomplished in these forty days what we discover inside of the tomb should be no surprise for any of us because we have taken the time necessary to be prepared for what we will come to discover when the stone is rolled away.

What we come to discover inside of the tomb is a great hope that only Christ, who is God made man, can usher into the world. This shining light which glows brightly from the darkness of night brings hope to us that sin and death cannot win, but instead this light shines forth from the darkness of these many encounters to where only the mercy and new life which Christ alone can bring into the world may shine forth.

In each of the four Gospels what was expected to be found within the tomb was nothing more then death. In Mark's Gospel they come to anoint a dead body instead of coming to rejoice with Christ who was resurrected. In John's Gospel Mary of Magdala goes with haste to inform Peter and the beloved disciple that they have removed a dead body from the tomb. In Matthew's Gospel they are said to come in order to contemplate the tomb. Finally, in Luke's Gospel they are told the most striking words of all by the lips of two men: "Why are you seeking one who is alive, here among the dead?"

This question from these two men is worth our further reflection. So often we are content with our life and in return would never desire to let go of anything because we would rather have Christ conform to our needs. Of course if we desire Christ to conform to us we are left searching for Him among the dead instead of among the living. If we truly desire to discover Christ resurrected as we come to proclaim today we cannot continue to search for Him among the dead, but instead we can only do so by searching for Him among the living. We all needed the Lenten season because it helped us to put to death all that which needed to be so and in return has oriented our life towards finally being able to live. When we roll away the stone of the tomb what it that we desire to discover? Are we seeking one who is alive among the dead?

Therefore my brothers and sisters in Christ may we come to realize that Christ is the God of the living. He has come and has conquered over the weight of the cross because of the Resurrection. Every time our own life is forced to embrace the pains of the cross we cannot allow ourself to be found among the dead, but instead among the living. Coming to realize and embrace the very fact that Christ risen from the dead signals to each of us a great hope. This hope is that no matter how awful our life may seem to be, no matter the loss and pain that we must come to embrace, no matter the travesty taking place in the world such as what happened in Kenya, and no matter how deeply entrenched in our sin that we may be; that we come to discover Christ among the living not the dead. If we rolled away the stone and discovered Him among the dead we would never be able to encounter hope because this pain, loss, hardship, and sin is all that we would discover. But, instead we roll away the stone and we come to find Christ among the living which is to say that new hope always shines forth from each of the darkest moments in this world and within our own life.

Therefore today may we never regress to our past which leaves us trying to find Christ among the dead. May we also continue to search for Him among the living with every single burden that befalls us. Today we gather here to profess this reality and to proclaim with great faith that Christ has conquered over the grave and has risen again. This news is life changing and always brings forth hope from life's darkest moments. With this great discovery that we make this day may we not turn back to find Him among that which has been left for dead, but instead may we continue to allow our cries of "alleluia" to rise to the Heavens for He has truly risen.

Good Friday Homily

We do not participate within our Lord's Passion as passive people who are now disconnected from this moment in earth's history as if we were mere observers who now glance at this event as if we are disconnected from it by time and place. Instead, we each are very intimately connected to the Passion of the Lord. The Lord's Passion was not simply accomplished at one point in time some two thousand years ago, but instead it continues to penetrate into the very fabric of our life here on this earth. The Lord's Passion does not only effect those who were present that day at Golgotha, but instead the very effects of the cross are now felt throughout the whole earth.

We are very active participants in our Lord's offering of Himself upon the cross. Our participation in these events extend far beyond our simple participation in the Lord's Passion this night by the words that we spoke in participation of our Gospel. We of course can envision the pain that our Lord endured especially as those nails were driven into his hands and feet and the spear was thrust through His side creating for us what are known as the Five Wounds of Christ. Our participation extends into our Lord's Passion here because through our sin and lack of faith we have led to these wounds being thrust upon our Lord. It is through our indifference to the Divine Truth that Christ brought into the world that these nails were driven into His Hands and Feet and the spear was thrust into His Side.

Despite our sin and all of the indifference in our life that have led to God having to take on our human flesh and die upon the cross in the Second Person of the Holy Trinity we can now claim with good faith that we have been redeemed. Yet again we are not bystanders who look towards the cross separated from the distance of time and place, but instead we are truly ushered into the very life of the cross through the mercy that is extended to us from Christ's sacrifice. Prior to the cross the veil which hung in the temple separated humanity from having an intimate relationship with God, but now with Christ's death the veil in the temple has been torn in two and we now are able to enter into this intimate reality of God's profound love for each of us.

Tonight is most different for us because we do not come here for the celebration of Mass, but instead a service which calls to mind the reality of the cross. Nevertheless, the Mass and thus too the Holy Eucharist shows that we are not passive onlookers, but instead they serve as a reminder that Calvary has happened once and for all time and therefore time continues to stand still here and thus when the Mass is offered we are present with our Lord at the sacrifice that was offered upon the cross and has in return reached its culmination through Christ's Resurrection and Ascension into Heaven. People exclaim that Mass is long and boring! Why? But, because they see themselves as a passive onlooker who is separated from Calvary by time and place. Saint Josemaria Escriva instead exclaims: "The Mass is long, you say, and I add: Because your love is short." Indeed how could we ever exclaim that Mass is boring or long if we understand that we are participating fully in Christ's love as it was proclaimed from the cross. 

Fulton Sheen exclaims: "The greatest love story of all time is contained in a tiny white Host." Again whenever we behold and receive Christ who is present within the Eucharist, as we will do this night, we are not passively receiving and looking upon a symbol, but instead we behold the true love of God because the Eucharist is Christ's Body and Blood which shows the same intimate love that He expresses for us from the cross.

This night we will receive our Lord in Holy Communion and we will make a pilgrimage forward to reverence the Holy Cross from which our salvation was won. We are not passive onlookers who have been separated from this mystery by time and place. We have contributed to our Lord's wounds through our sin, we have received from these wounds and His death redemption from our sinful past, and we continue to journey to this great moment of love and are present at Calvary itself whenever the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is offered. May we not be content with being passive onlookers who allow the cross to remain at a distance, but instead may we journey forward to reverence the cross and realize that it is very much so a part of who we are in this day and age.