10th Sunday After Pentecost Homily

The pharisee and the publican are a stark contrast from one another. On one hand we have the pharisee who was filled with a spirit of pride and on the other hand we have the publican who was filled with a spirit of humility. The pharisee was concerned with self while the publican centered his life upon the Lord with a spirit of faith and thus he came to say, “O God, be merciful to me a sinner.”

I believe these two individuals can give us a lesson in the necessity of faith and works. There are those who would wrongly claim of the Catholic Church that she professes that in order to be saved one must do good works. Then one dies they are able to show the list of their good works unto God and for them they will be found worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven. Of course this is not a true representation of our Catholic faith and its understanding upon this matter.

Of the pharisee we were told that he prayed as following: “O God, I give Thee thanks that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers; as also is the publican. I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I possess.” Through his prayer we see his accomplishments and works. Nevertheless, the Catholic Church does not teach that we do works in order to give a list unto God in order to receive something in return. Instead we are sent forth to do good works as a response to our faith. From the Epistle of Saint James we are told: “justified by works and not by faith alone.” Even in the Gospels are Blessed Lord states that He does not know those who failed to cloth, feed, or give drink to those who were in need. If we hear the Gospel message we must be sent forth to respond to it by our life.

The prayer of the pharisee was not found acceptable for this prayer was not given in a spirit of humility. The pharisee was transfixed upon all the right and good things that he was doing and failed to humble himself in God’s presence. On the other hand, the publican was able to be humble. He did not hide behind accomplishments, but realized that he was a sinner who was in need of God’s mercy.

For each of us it is my fervent hope that we are sent forth from here to perform works as a response to our Christian faith not as a means to show God our worthiness of Heaven. Let us never be like the pharisee who embraced a spirit of pride and failed to see the need of God’s mercy and forgiveness. The publican shows us the correct path for the publican was humble of heart. He did not rely upon achievements in order to be saved, but upon the mercy of God. He understood as we should understand, “O God, be merciful to me a sinner.”

19th Sunday of OT Year A Homily

The fourth watch of the night is referenced in our Gospel and so we were told: “During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them walking on the sea.” The fourth watch comes from the Roman dividing of the night into four parts. Each watch constitutes a period of three hours and the four of them stretch from 6pm-6am. The fourth watch is the period of time lasting between 3am and 6am and it represents the most important of the watches for it leads the way to the conclusion of night, the coming of dawn, and thus the sun which brings forth light which illuminate the darkness.

The fourth watch represents a period of waiting and anticipation. We have passed through three other watches and have yet to arrive at the ultimate destination of dawn. During this stretch of time we know that all is pitch black and after awhile we may even start to question if there is the hope to bring forth light. Through the experience of time we know that this hope springs forth from the darkness of night no matter how dark and long this period of time may seem to be.

In our Gospel we know that there was a great storm which beat about the boat containing the apostles. It would of been possible for Christ to come in any of the watches of the night, but he chose to come during this fourth and final watch. It was during this stretch of time that the apostles’ faith was been tested. After awhile it may even of seemed as if there was no hope in store for them to have this stormed calmed.

Nevertheless, “during the fourth watch of the night, He came toward them walking on the sea.” We are told concerning them that that “they were terrified,” but our Lord instructed them from the midst of His compassion and mercy: “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Later our Lord would question Saint Peter: “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

The fourth watch of the night should be something that is familiar to each of us. On rare occasions I find myself waking up in the middle of the night looking at my phone to see that it is only 3am. The night still draws on and sometimes it can seem as if it is an eternity that lies before me. So to in this world in which we live there are many who find themself in this fourth watch of the night. I think of the poor souls in Beirut who recently experienced an explosion. In a matter of time so many lives have been changed forever. I think of those throughout the world who anticipate life returning to normal from the effects of COVID-19. At times it seems as if that time will never come.

We must be people of faith. We must come to place our trust in the merciful hands of the Lord. “During the fourth watch of the night” He will come towards us to usher in the dawn which brings forth light to illuminate the darkness. We should remember the period of mourning that was felt as our Lord was crucified upon the cross, but be filled with hope at the Good News of His Resurrection which brings forth a great light. Despite all that we endure in this life may we remember all of this with the spirit of faith and hope placed in the Lord. Despite all that we endure in this fourth watch of the night He consoles us and says “take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.

St. Mary Men’s Evening of Recollection Sermon IX: Humility

Before our shutdown in March I spoke about the importance of virtue. It was then my hope to break down each of the virtues over a series of months, but our campus ended up getting shutdown for COVID-19. I now wish to resume that conversation beginning with the virtue of humility.

Pride ,the opposite of humility, is known to us as being the root of all sin. Is Dante’s Inferno the prideful have a millstone hung around their neck. The millstone causes them to look downward as they study the world’s great lessons in humility. One of these lessons is that of the Annunciation when our Blessed Mother gave her “yes” to the angel of the Lord. In giving her “yes” she did not cry out in a spirit of pride, but instead lowered herself in God’s presence and said: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord be it done unto me according to your word.”

Saint Josemaria Escriva states of humility: “Don’t wish to be like the gilded weather-cock on top of a great building: however much it shines, and however high it stands, it adds nothing to the solidity of the building. Rather be like an old stone block hidden in the foundations, underground, where no one can see you: because of you the house will not fall.”

This is a true lesson in humility because we do not have to be seen nor recognized for what we do. Saint Therese of Lisieux instructs us in the Little Way where one can do little ordinary things in a spirit of prayer. These little ordinary things may never go noticed, but that is okay because that is not the reason why we do them. There will come points in our life where others will receive the recognition that we think that we deserve. Hopefully, we will allow ourself to take this lesson in humility to heart and not fight it in order that we may be recognized.

As Saint Josemaria Escriva states: “The more I am exalted, Jesus, the more I want you to humble me in my heart, showing me what I have been, and what I will be if you leave me.” This statement should make us realize our dependence upon God. So often we go throughout the day as if we are at life’s center and thus push the Lord off to the side. Today we celebrate the Memorial of Saint John Vianney. People were drawn to him not because of his own merit, but because of God who he was close to. The same goes for all the saints. We too receive this same invitation to allow the Lord to dwell in our midst and to be at the center of our life.

Through pride we push the Lord off. It is said that Saint John XXIII would end his day saying: “Well Lord, it’s your Church, you take care of it; I’m going to sleep.” These words are truly humble because they put everything into perspective. We too must come to this realization and allow ourself to be humbled in the Lord’s midst. Just because we pray does not mean that the path we must walk will be easy. We must learn to know and accept our limitations thus allowing the Lord to humble our heart with our realization of the help of others. 

May we always come to practice the virtue of humility. May we especially come to humble ourself in the Lord’s presence by frequenting the sacrament of confession. It is here that we come a sinner into the Lord’s presence in order that we may be healed. From Luke’s Gospel we join with the tax collector who “stood at a distance. He would not even look up to Heaven, but beat his breast and said, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

Bulletin Article: August 2

Please pray for the faculty, staff, and students of our parish school as they return for a new school. This have been difficult times for all that have required a lot of adaptations from us, but the diocese has given good direction in reopening out school. May this be a fruitful school year for all.

I ask that each of you continue to be vigilant with Bishop Stika’s mandates. Please remember that you are to have your face mask on before you open any doors to your vehicle and are to keep it on until you return to your vehicle with all doors shut. While attending Mass do not greet others or gather with others outside of your household. Once Mass is over do not linger on our campus, but go straight to your car and immediately depart from our campus.

While in the church remember that you can only sit with those who live in your household. If a relative or friend lives in a different household they must sit in a different area. When coming up for communion remember to keep a distance of six feet, use the hand sanitizer station, and at the request of Bishop Stika receive communion in the hand.

As COVID-19 cases become more prevalent in our area I remind you that if you have been in close contact with anyone with COVID-19 you need a negative test result and a period of 14 days must pass before you can return to our campus. In you are feeling ill do not enter our campus. Remember that at this time there is not an obligation for us to assist at Mass on each Sunday and Holy Day or Obligation.

In Christ,

Fr. Dustin Collins 

9th Sunday After Pentecost Homily

“My house is a house of prayer.”

This is a wonderful thought, but is it practical for our modern ears to hear? There is so much chatter that fills these sacred walls before and after Mass. This chatter fills not only seconds, but minutes which at times can transcend into hours.

Again it was Christ who said: “My house is a house of prayer.”

Outside of the walls of this church I know that it is a fact to say that every inch of our life is filled with noise. That is what should be liberating about entering into this sacred space. Whenever we enter in we leave the world behind in order to come into an encounter with the divine. To think of the great gift that we encounter here for we encounter Christ our Lord present with us in the Eucharist. To think that the light of the sanctuary lamp signals to us the presence of Christ who is currently in our midst not in symbol, but in all actuality.

Christ calms our fears and instructs us from the midst of the noise of this world: “My house is a house of prayer.”

How many souls would be won for the Lord if we in return could trust in these words? If I were a visitor to this parish I would be blown away not by the noise that fills it, but by silence because silence is the direct opposite of what I encounter in my daily life. Silence would force me to reflect that something special is taking place in this sacred space. When I attended college seminary I am pretty sure that you could hear a pin drop in the basilica for this was a place of prayer. Out of the noise of everyday life I would go to the basilica to pray and be with the Lord. This was a retreat from everyday life.

Again, “My house is a house of prayer.”

As Cardinal Sarah properly pointed out in his book “The Power of Silence: Against the Dictatorship of Noise:” “How I would love it if pastors and the faithful would enter joyfully into this silence that is full of sacred reverence and love for the ineffable God. How I would love it if churches were houses in which the great silence prevails that announces and reveals the adored presence of God.”

Therefore, my brothers and sisters in Christ may this sacred space remain always a house of prayer that welcomes us in and centers our mind, heart, and soul upon Christ our Lord who dwells in this sacred space. From the encounter with this silence we will come to encounter God for “my house is a house of prayer.”