Bishop Bill Wack, CSC podcast: Recent Episodes
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Homilies and talks from Bishop Bill Wack, CSC. (Homilies before Aug. 22, 2017 are from "Fr. Bill Wack, CSC"!)
"Jesus could not perform any mighty deed there; he was amazed at their lack of faith." In this we learn that God needs our faith! God will not force us to do anything - even to receive His grace, forgiveness, love, and gift of eternal life. We have to open ourselves up to God and knock, seek, and ask. Not only does God need our faith to do mighty deeds, God actually listens to our petitions and lets Himself be moved by our prayers. Let us turn to the Lord in prayer again and again so that His will may be done in us, and in our world as well.
Today we celebrate what is commonly known as "Trinity Sunday". It is, in effect, God's feast day. While we have come to know many things about God, thanks to His self-revelation in time, we ought not to get tripped up in trying to define God. Rather, we have come to know God as Love Itself. Love creates, unites, restores, gathers, redeems, etc. We -- God's creation and the Church of God -- are caught up in that Love. As St. John wrote in his First Letter: "See what love the Father has bestowed on us, in letting us be called children of God. Yet so indeed we are."
Come, Lord Jesus! This is the cry of all Christians, as we wait in joyful hope for his Second Coming. If we can imagine God responding, we may hear in our hearts, "I am coming. Are you ready?" While we call upon God and ask for certain things like forgiveness, redemption, and peace in our time, we must also do our part in being sorry for our sins and opening ourselves up to the good things God wants to give us.
Jesus gives us the parable of the foreman who hired workers at different times of the day. Some were hired in the morning, some at noon, and some right before quitting time. Yet they were all paid the same amount. As the Prophet Isaiah proclaimed, "God's ways are not our ways". The last shall be first, and the first shall be last. As God is merciful to us, we should be merciful and loving toward all people.
The Gospel for today contains a very simple parable by Jesus. A man had two sons, and he asked them to go into the field. One said, "Yes sir", but didn't go. The other said "No", but changed his mind and went. Which did his father's will? The latter. In the same way, God continually offers us the invitation to follow him. No matter what we have done or how many times we have sinned in the past, God offers us life, eternal life. It's as simple as what we read in Deuteronomy: "Behold I set before you life and death. Choose life."
Many people gathered in a field close to a former mission in Tallahassee to celebrate the close of the diocesan phase of the Cause for Beatification of Servants of God Antonio Inija and Companions, Martyrs of La Florida. In this homily, I give thanks to God for the martyrs and saints who have gone before us, and I speak briefly about the Martyrs of La Florida, as well as the process that has brought us to this point.
"Come to the feast!" Today Jesus gives us the parable of the king who throws a banquet for his son. Clearly, it is Jesus' way of teaching us that all of us are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb -- i.e., heaven. All we need to do is accept that invitation (and show that we have done so in the way we live).
Note: In this homily I was incorrect in speaking about when St. Augustine was ordained a bishop. It was four years after he was ordained a priest.
Today's readings are directed mainly at the religious leaders of the day. The prophet Malachi directs his criticism toward those priests who have forgotten the covenant of the Lord, and Jesus addresses those Pharisees and Scribes who are more interested in building themselves up than they are ministering to the sheep entrusted to them. St. Paul gives us a perfect example of what it means to live and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Jesus reveals himself as "The Gate" for the sheep. We think of him as the Shepherd, but in this part of the 10th chapter of John's Gospel, Jesus declares that he is the means of salvation. Elsewhere he teaches that he is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is the gate that protects us, and he is the gate that leads us to forgiveness and everlasting life. Let us go with confidence to Jesus, the Gate to eternal life.
In the course of the Easter Season, we see what happened in the earliest days of the Church: At first our main focus is on the Resurrection of Christ. As the disciples realized, however, we need to move from awe and wonder to doing what Jesus said to do. He told his followers, "When I go to my Father and your Father, you will do the things that I have done." The Holy Spirit incorporates us into the Body of Christ. We become sharers in the priesthood of Christ, and as such we are to carry the Good News to the ends of the earth.
At this Mass (in which we celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation for several young people), we witness the outpouring of the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands and the prayer of the bishop. Jesus Christ imparted the Holy Spirit to the Apostles, and it is through their successors that we receive the same Holy Spirit today.
The Ascension is not something that we celebrate in isolation. Rather, it is part of the Paschal Mystery of Jesus Christ. It is all connected: Jesus' Incarnation, his Passion and death, his Resurrection from the dead, his Ascension in glory, and Pentecost. So today's solemnity gives us an opportunity to reflect on what it is that we believe when we confess that we have been redeemed in Christ Jesus. Let us worship and adore our God, even as we hearken to his words to, "Go; teach all nations..."
There is a lot of joy and energy surrounding the Resurrection accounts. In the first few days and weeks of Easter, we hear another story about what happened on that morning or later on in the day when Jesus rose from the dead. Do we have that same joy today? Jesus Christ is Risen! Alleluia! This is the Good News that changes everything. Because of the Resurrection, we have forgiveness for our sins, we have been redeemed, and we have the promise of eternal life with God in heaven. May we proclaim the Resurrection with joy and great faith today.
Today's Gospel reading concerning "Doubting Thomas" gives us an opportunity to reflect on how we look at something that seems "too good to be true". Yes, we tend to be cynical and pessimistic, especially with all of the problems and difficulties we experience. However, we should not carry those attitudes over to our hope for the future. We should rather set our hearts on the greatest good (God, the Kingdom of Heaven), and everything else will fall into place. As Christians, we are bold enough to expect things like beauty, goodness, perfection, heaven.
In all three of the readings for today's liturgy, we receive a command to do something as a perpetual institution or action. God commands Moses and the Israelites to celebrate the Passover every year in commemoration of the Exodus. Jesus washes the feet of his disciples in the Gospel and tells them to wash each other's feet. St. Paul tells the Corinthians that he is handing on to them what he himself received from the Lord: the celebration of the Body and Blood of Christ. Then he says, "As often as you eat this Bread and drink this Cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again." Whereas the first two actions (Passover and the Washing of Feet) are actions that we replicate year after year, the Mass is much more than that. Through the power of the liturgy, Christ and his salvific action becomes truly present to us. God thirsts for our faith; the liturgy is God's way of satiating that divine thirst.
Today we gather to celebrate the Eucharist with almost all of the priests of the diocese, along with many deacons, religious, and lay faithful. Within the Mass the priests will renew their priestly promises, and we will bless the holy oils that will be used throughout the liturgical year. All of this should move us to reflect on the overwhelming generosity of God. As God is generous to us, so should we be generous to one another.
With today's liturgy we enter into Holy Week. This blessed week gives us the special opportunity to walk with Jesus the Way of the Cross, and to follow him in prayer through death to the Resurrection. As we do this, however, we ought to remember two things: First, we should not simply treat the events of Christ's Passion, death and Resurrection as "things of the past". In the liturgy these events -- which definitely occurred within time -- are made present to us TODAY. Secondly, we should not think of ourselves as "spectators" this week, as though we were simply watching Jesus do what he did for our salvation. We should rather see ourselves in the person of Christ. How can I be more obedient, humble, merciful, generous, and loving as Jesus?
With this liturgy we being the season of Lent. The readings today are a call to action -- not so much to become even busier in our daily lives, rather to do what we need to do in order to focus more and more on God. Through our acts of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, may we learn to turn away from sin and turn toward the Lord and his Gospel.
Jesus is tempted by the devil. The Scripture readings today have much to teach us - specifically, about resisting temptation. Whereas Eve and Adam gave in to the wiles of the Ancient Foe, Jesus stood up to the devil and said "No." But he did more than that. In his responses to the temptations, Jesus said "Yes" more and more emphatically to the Father and to His will. This is the key for us: not only do we need to have the courage and strength to say "No" to sin and temptation, we must strive for perfection by saying "Yes" to all that God wants for us. "...Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."
In the Transfiguration, God reveals the glory of His Son for the disciples and for us all. Not only does this help us to "see" who Jesus really is, it strengthens us during times of trial and difficulty. What we see in the glory of Jesus Christ will be ours one day if we follow him. May the words spoken in the Gospel today be directed to each one of us: "This is my beloved son/daughter, in whom I am well pleased."
In the long Gospel reading from the fourth chapter of John, we hear of the encounter that Jesus has with the (Samaritan) Woman at the Well. In the course of this amazing conversation, Jesus reveals himself more and more to the woman. She moves quickly from complete ignorance of Jesus to the point where she goes and says to her neighbors, "Could this be the Messiah?" This woman is a model for all of us. At first we don't know Jesus or anything about him. As we grow in our faith we come to know him as Lord and Savior. In worship and prayer we deepen our relationship with him. Through the Eucharist we have communion with him. At the end of each Mass we are told to "Go, and announce the Gospel of the Lord"!
(Pardon the introductory words to the congregation present in the church that morning)
In giving us the Beatitudes, Jesus is expounding on the Law and bringing it to perfection. Whereas the Law of Moses (i.e., the Ten Commandments) help us to live at peace with God and one another here on earth, the Beatitudes point us to the Kingdom of Heaven. We must remember that we were made for communion with God (in heaven). Even though this has been revealed to creation from the beginning, we humans tend to fall again and again into error by excluding God and focusing only on ourselves and our desires. This has brought only division, disaster, and death over the millennia. Would that we would embrace our faith and believe in the words that Jesus speaks in the Gospel: "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven."
Today's first reading and gospel reading refer to "the regions of Naphtali and Zebulon", places where people have "walked in darkness", but will one day see a great light. We may not know about the significance of these regions (or the tribes for which they are named), but it is important for us to grasp a little history here. Jesus begins his public ministry in this region. He is thus revealed as the fulfillment of the ancient prophecy and truly is, the Light of the World. As one who has come to enlighten all of creation, Jesus then calls some of his disciples by name. Today he calls each of us by name, to know him and to follow him.
It is in following Jesus -- and being in communion with him -- that empowers us to turn away from sin and embrace the Father's eternal love for us. The way out of sin requires more than simply gritting our teeth and trying to overcome it; the way out comes only through Jesus Christ. Come, Follow me.
Today we celebrate Epiphany - a feast within the Christmas season. While we traditionally focus on the event of the Visit of the Magi (today's Gospel) on Epiphany, really everything that Jesus did and said was an epiphany, a manifestation of the glory and presence of God. We ought to strive to be like the Magi who welcomed the Lord with great wonder and joy. And then, afterwards, we should share that joy and wonder with the whole world.
Bishop Bill's homily from the Memorial Mass for Pope Benedict XVI.
Come to me, all who are weary, says the Lord, and I will give you rest.
The promises and prophecies of old are fulfilled in the birth of Jesus Christ: God is with us. Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to San Juan Diego 500 years ago with the same message: Do not be afraid, God is with you. Our Lady desired that a church be built on the hill so that people could come from far and wide to know and to celebrate God's love, God's mercy, and God's presence among us.
Even though the rest of the world has moved on from Christmas, we remember that we are still within the Christmas season. One of the great feasts of Christmas is the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. This gives us an opportunity to learn from Mary, who draws all people closer to her Son. Even though the Blessed Virgin speaks a couple of times in the Gospels, she is most known for her contemplation of the mysteries surrounding the birth, passion, death, and resurrection of her Son Jesus Christ. She LISTENED and put everything in her heart. We would do well to do the same -- this Christmas season and throughout the year. Let us reflect on the mystery of the Incarnation and the salvation won for us by the Son of God and the Son of Mary. Listen.
What does Christmas mean? Do we take the time to reflect on the miracle and mystery of the Incarnation? Imagine: God "stepped into" creation so that humanity could share in God's divinity. We will never be able to understand it completely, but it should move our hearts to be grateful and to worship and give thanks to God all of the time -- especially today. The Incarnation is such an awesome mystery, we must share this Good News with everyone we encounter.
In the Gospel today we hear Jesus say, "You cannot be my disciple unless you hate your father and mother, spouse and children..." The word "hate" is disturbing, especially when used by Jesus. Of course, while he is not telling us literally to hate someone (least of all our parents), he is intentially provocative. He wants us to love God above all things, even above our parents, our children, and our own life. Following Jesus is not something we do in a moment of great grace or even for a short amount of time; it is the work of a lifetime. "Come, follow me", says the Lord.
In the Gospel today, a follower of Jesus asks him, "Will only a few be saved?" Jesus answers not with a "yes" or "no", but with this admonition: "Strive to enter the narrow way". He said that many will try to enter but they will not be able to. Perhaps after hearing this we may ask(along with the disciples in Jesus' day), "Then who can be saved?" Salvation is not our doing; it is the work of God. Through the Passion, death, and Resurrection of Jesus, God gives all people the offer of salvation. We cannot work our way or strongarm our way or buy our way into heaven. No, we must allow God to save us. How? Through our faith in His Son Jesus Christ, and through humbling ourselves. In order to go through the narrow way, we have to make ourselves small. If we humble ourselves and spend ourselves for God and others, we will be glorified in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. We are invited to approach God directly with our intentions as Abraham did in the first reading today. Jesus tells us to be bold in our prayer - and to be persistent. We ought not be selfish, however, asking for the things that we want. Rather, our prayer should be that of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane: "Not my will, Father, but your will be done."
Today's Scripture readings all challenge us to do away with greed and to put on Jesus Christ. In the Gospel we have the story of the rich landowner who only thinks of himself. In the end, he enjoys a bountiful harvest for himself, but he risks losing his very soul. Jesus tells us that it will be the same for us, if we do not store up our treasure in heaven.
Seek first the Kingdom of God, and everything will be given to you besides.
The cross - or better, the crucifix - draws us to the heart of Jesus Christ. We cannot help but look in awe and adoration at the one who is crucified for our sake. Jesus himself said, "When I am lifted up, I will draw all people to myself" (Jn 12:32). We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
As we begin our most sacred liturgy of the Triduum, we focus especially on the gift of the Eucharist, as well as the mandate to serve our brothers and sisters. In this - and every - liturgy, we are not simply re-enacting events from long ago; we participate in mystery in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
In this liturgy we ask God to bless the Holy Oils that will be used throughout the liturgical year. With these oils -- especially the Sacred Chrism -- God's children will be anointed to "bring glad tidings to the lowly" in the name of Jesus Christ. Anointing is not a symbolic action; it actually brings about what it celebrates. What an awesome gift from the Father!
"Blessed are you..."; "Cursed is the one...".
The readings and the Psalm today confront us with a choice. Will we be among those who are blessed, putting our hope in the Lord, or will we focus instead on ourselves alone and be cursed? The prophet Jeremiah paints a picture of what it looks like to trust in the Lord: The one who has faith is like a tree planted near water. Even in times of drought and danger, they are not distressed; for their roots run deep. May God help us to strengthen our trust and our faith in Him.
The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord fits well within the Christmas season. This mystery in helps us to see how we are incorporated into the Body of Christ. Through our baptism - and participation in the Church - we are united with the Lord, who is one with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Today's Gospel treats two important questions: First, since John the Baptist baptized Jesus, is he more important than Jesus? Secondly, why was it even necessary for Jesus to be baptized, since he never sinned? May God renew the grace of baptism in each one of us!
Today the Gospel reading presents us with the mystery of the Visitation. Mary and Elizabeth, pregnant with the Son of God and John the Baptist, delight in the wonders that God is doing. They are models for us today, for our God is still with us. May we rejoice in exultation and proclaim the Good News everywhere: Our God is in our midst!
Today we begin the holy season of Advent. Advent means "Coming", and in this holy season we get ready to celebrate the First Coming of Christ (i.e., the Incarnation, at Christmas), and we anticipate the Second Coming of Christ at the end of time. In addition to that, however, we cannot forget that Jesus Christ is with us TODAY, and at every moment of our lives, through the Scriptures, the Church, and especially in the Sacraments. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, tomorrow, and always.
Today's solemnity has us extolling Jesus Christ as King of the Universe. It's an exalted title, to be sure! It does more than tell us who God is; it also speaks to our dignity. If the Lord is King, then you and I are sons and daughters of the King. We are God's beloved children now! Let us strive always to live up to this high calling.
In the Gospel for today, Jesus encounters a man who is blind. Jesus asks him directly, "What do you want me to do for you?" Imagine - a blank check from God! The man asks 'to see', and that is granted him. In reality, we have been asked that same question by God. At our baptism, the minister asked us (or our parents or godparents), "What do you ask for?" They replied, "Baptism". Although we didn't know it at the time, we were asking God for the ability 'to see' with the eyes of faith. Thus in baptism we were enlightened by Christ, and set on a path that leads to eternal life in Jesus Christ.
In the first reading today, God tells Solomon: "Ask for whatever you wish and I will give it to you." What did he ask for? The gift of wisdom. God was pleased with that request - and pleased that he did not ask for gold or silver or power. We ought to ask for the same gift from God. Wisdom does not refer to being smart; it is a gift given to us to help us to know and do God's will in all things.
God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone." Humanity was made for communion - with God and with one another. We truly are "bone of our bone, flesh of our flesh". The answer to the division that we are experiencing, as well as our feelings of alienation and loneliness, is in finding and cultivating community. In order to have peace we must remember why we were created and what God wants for us all.
Jesus offers a corrective to his disciples (and to us) regarding his true purpose and nature. Whereas his contemporaries were hoping for a Messiah who would dominate their enemies and establish a kingdom of power here on earth, Jesus teaches that he came to lay down his life for the salvation of the world.
Perhaps we, too, have this false understanding of who the Lord is? Many times we pray that God would "come down here" and fix everything. However, that is not why Jesus came to earth, and that is not what he is about right now. Rather, in all things God calls us to faithfulness. Thy will be done!
Today's readings teach us about the Law of God. Whereas we today may look at the law as being something negative, holding us back, God's Law gives us true freedom, freedom to know and serve our God. This is the "goal" of the Law - to lead us to God. The second reading from the Letter of St. James teaches: "Religion that is pure and undefiled is this: care for widows and orphans, and keeping oneself unstained by the world."
Just as Jesus raised the little girl to life in today's Gospel reading, he calls each of us to new life at every moment of our lives. From the first reading, the Book of Wisdom: "God did not create death, nor does He delight in the destruction of the living". Even though we experience sin, sickness, and death in this world, God wants us to LIVE, and through His Son He extends to us all an invitation to live eternally.
In the Gospel today, the disciples - in the boat with Jesus - are terrified in the face of a violent storm. Jesus says to them, "Why are you terrified? Where is your faith?" He could say the same thing to all of us today (and in every age), because we tend to become frightened when difficulties come our way. God is with us, however, and so we shall not fear. Like the disciples, we are in this boat together, with Jesus Christ himself at our side.
What was it that thrust the Apostles out of the upper room where they were hiding in fear? How did they get from abandoning Jesus when he was arrested to proclaiming his Gospel boldly and fearlessly? It was, of course, the Holy Spirit that moved them outward. Through baptism and confirmation, we have received the same Spirit, and ours is the same mission.
The cross of Christ, which we venerate especially today, is how God refashioned creation into the image and likeness of His Son - who was perfectly obedient and humble. Ever since sin came into the world, God has been at work and His plan has unfolded over time. The Sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the altar of the cross brought forgiveness to all, as well as the promise of eternal life.
Holy Thursday Mass begins the great liturgy, the Sacred Triduum, which continues on Good Friday and concludes with the Easter Vigil. In today's liturgy we contemplate three mysteries: 1) The institution of the Eucharist; 2) The institution of the priesthood (both the ministerial priesthood and the common priesthood); and 3) The command of Our Lord to love one another.
We do all of this "in memory of Jesus." When we "remember" Jesus and his words and actions in the Mass, we celebrate his real, true, and substantial presence in Word and Sacrament.
Today's Gospel gives us one of the most well-known of all verses: John 3:16. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son...". To know the Son is to have eternal life. How do we know him? By being born again through water and the Holy Spirit. Lent is a privileged time for us to renew the grace that is given to us in baptism, so that we can stand with our brothers and sisters who will be baptized at Easter and boldly make our profession of faith.
"A leper approached Jesus, fell down on his knees, and said, 'Lord, if you will it, you can heal me.'"
This man is the model disciple. Even though we do not have leprosy (thanks be to God), we are all sinners, and thus are all "unclean". May we approach the Lord, give him glory, and believe that he has the power to forgive us and to make us clean again.
Today's Feast of the Baptism of the Lord is part of what we call the Epiphany; a manifestation of Our Lord to the whole world. Jesus Christ, true God from true God, did not need to be baptized for the forgiveness of sin; rather he was baptized in order to give us the Sacrament of Baptism, that we may be united to him. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and he has established the sacraments in the Catholic Church as the means for us to know, serve, and follow him.
Today's feast of the Holy Family, situated within the season of Christmas, helps us to understand and appreciate the mystery of the Incarnation. We have much to learn from the Holy Family -- namely: 1) That we, too, should practice our faith daily, for this is pleasing to God; and 2) That our faith compels us to serve, teach, forgive, comfort, and share the love of God with the world.
At Christmas we celebrate the mystery of the Incarnation. We profess what we can scarcely understand: God became flesh for our sake, so that we could become like God one day. God's Presence abides with us always, especially in the Holy Eucharist. At every Mass God is present to us in the Word and in the Eucharist -- not symbolically but really and truly present. We are called to take that Presence to a weary world.
"Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother? 7 times?" Jesus answer's St. Peter's question in such a way as to do at least two things: First, he shows us that God's love and mercy are infinite; there is no limit to the times that God will forgive those who approach Him with sorrow and contrition. Secondly, Jesus is once again teaching us that we should strive to be like God in this way - to forgive our brother or sister "seven times seventy times" -- in other words, without limit. Thus we will heed the command as found throughout the Bible: "Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy."
"God's ways are not our ways." To that we say, "Thanks be to God!" The parable of the landowner and the hired hands may go against our understanding of 'fairness' or 'justice', but it shows God's abundance and His desire for each one of us. Even though God's ways are not our ways, our ways should be more and more like God's way.
It is clear in all of the Gospels that Jesus intends that his disciples do what he did. In fact, he summed this up well during the Last Supper, after washing his disciples' feet: "What I have done was give you an example; as I have done, so you must also do." This entails not only the ministry of service, it includes the passing on of the Truth that has been handed on to us through St. Peter and his successors.
Imagine if God were to give you a blank check. "As me for anything and I will give it to you."
What would you ask for? What is your request of God?
Today's Gospel gives us a couple of parables, with the focus on the first, the story of the wheat and the weeds. Jesus explains what we already knew: God is the sower, the weeds are sown by the devil, and we are all called to be wheat (i.e., to bear good fruit). Whereas we, like the workers in Jesus' story, want God to come down here and pull up all the weeds, we must recognize that God delays because He is so merciful. God wants all to be converted and live.
Do we receive love from God because we deserve it or because we do good things? No, it is the other way around: We are compelled to do good things because we are loved by God. Even though the readings today seem to indicate that certain things are done in order to experience the love of God, we know that "God so loved the world..." and thus we pray that we may accept that love (and mercy, and forgiveness, and salvation). We show that we have accepted in in the way we love one another.
"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest." Our Lord came to call us to an intimate relationship with the Father through him and in the Holy Spirit. He came not to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him. We would do well to accept that invitation to come to him again and again. Then, having learned from him, we can be his presence, his love, his mercy to others.
Today's Gospel gives us the story of "Doubting Thomas". It's easy for us to identify with Thomas, because I think it's safe to say that we all have questions and even doubts from time to time. But have we considered what the other disciples were going through (in light of Thomas' doubts)? Perhaps that could give us an insight into how many of us are feeling during this time of 'social distancing' and quarantine. Above all, may we receive with joy the give of the Resurrected Christ: "Peace be with you."
The Gospel for today is from John, chapter 11: the raising of Lazarus. This miracle of Jesus teaches us a great deal about God's power, the compassion of Jesus, and what God wants for each of us (i.e., eternal life). Personally, I find Jesus' words to the disciples to be very comforting: "This illness is not to end in death." No matter what we experience here on earth, we MUST remember that 'this will not end in (eternal) death'. We know how this ends: This ends in glory!
"Something strange is happening today...". That line, taken from an ancient homily on Holy Saturday, speaks well to what we are experiencing in out world today. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, our life has changed for the moment. On top of everything else, the suspension of Masses with a congregation brings with it a great deal of sadness, anxiety, and even anger. Through it all, however, God is with us. Jesus Christ comes to us in the midst of our pain and suffering, and he calls us to follow him. He is the Light of the World, and he will lead us out of darkness into his own wonderful light.
The readings on the First Sunday of Lent every year include the temptations of Jesus in the desert by the devil. This year it is proclaimed after the story of the fall of humankind in the Garden of Eden. We can learn both how NOT to respond to the devil's attacks in the reading from Genesis; as well as how TO respond to temptation and sin by imitating the responses and actions of Jesus. May we not only say "NO" to the devil; may we strive constantly to say "YES" to God.
God calls us to holiness -- even, perfection. The Law was given to us through Moses with the invitation: "Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy." This refrain is woven throughout the Book of Leviticus, teaching us that the reason God gives us the Law is so that we may be holy. Jesus, the perfect Moses, fulfills the Law and points us to something greater: "Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
Epiphany is the manifestation of the Light -- that is, Jesus Christ (Light from Light, True God from True God). As St. John writes in the Prologue to his Gospel: "The light has come into the world, and the darkness cannot overcome it."
Why was Jesus baptized? If the Sacrament of Baptism frees us from sin -- original sin and anything after that -- they why did Jesus submit to the "baptism of John"? Whereas baptism cleanses us and incorporates us into the Body of Christ, Jesus' baptism sanctified the water and and made the font a means of our sanctification. This is the Father's plan for us, and God is 'well pleased' to give us this gift.
(I got to preside and preach at Mass at my family's church today, since I am visiting them in Indiana this week).
The Feast of the Holy Family is well-situated within the Octave of Christmas, since it helps us to grasp a little more the awesome mystery of the Incarnation. At the same time, this feast reminds us of the dignity of our families and the family of the church and the world. May our families be "little churches"; places of prayer, service, and love above all.
"...And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." This is the Good News that is ours today on Christmas. The prophet Isaiah pointed us to this day -- although he could only dream of what that might look like. Like the shepherds and the first to witness the birth of the Lord, we must go out into the world to proclaim this Good News. Yes, we do this through our words; we do it more effectively through our actions. Now we are all called to be Christ for others.
(The volume on this recording is a little high. I think I was just so excited at the nearness of Christmas!)
The Advent season comes to a climax as we get ready to celebrate the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. It is God's will to be with us -- not just temporarily or symbolically; but eternally and truly. In light of this, may we have the gift of reverence and awe, with the faith of a child. God became human, so that we humans could become (like) God.
"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say 'Rejoice'! The Lord is near." These words, from St. Paul's letter to the Philippians, set the tone for this day. We are invited to rejoice in hope as we contemplate both the Lord's coming at the end of time, as well as his very presence among us even now. Even in the midst of sorrow and trials of all kinds, we should rejoice. The Lord is near.
En esta fiesta de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, celebramos el hecho que Dios está con nosotros. Dios envió a su Hijo Jesucristo a encontrarnos y a salvarnos por su muerte y la resurreccion. Y ahora, depués de la acensión, está con nosotros todavía, por su santa iglesia. Cuando María aparacío a San Juan Diego en 1531, ella le dijo que Dios nos ama y Él quiere que todo el mundo lo conozcan. La Madre de Dios dio a Juan Diego y a todos nosotros su imagen como una prueba que Dios está con nosotros. Ojalá que, después de celebrar nuestra fe en la santa misa, podamos llevar al mundo la presencia de Dios en maneras reales y efectivas.
Today especially we honor Jesus Christ as the King of the Universe. What does that mean? The readings for Mass today help us to understand this. St. Paul, in his letter to the Colossians, describes Jesus as the pre-existent One, in whom the fullness dwells. Thus he is truly Lord of heaven and earth. In the first reading we hear about King David, who was taken from among his people and made their ruler, their shepherd. Jesus Christ, the Son of David, is the perfect shepherd and king. Finally, in the Gospel we read from the end of the Passion account. On the cross Jesus assures the good thief, "This day you will be with me in Paradise." The King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Pre-existent One, cares about each and every individual soul. This is Christ the King!
Today's (Gospel) parable of the Unjust Judge -- or Persistent Widow -- has much to teach us. For the most part, it teaches us about prayer. We must be persistent in prayer (as was the widow) in order to come to know God and God's will for us. While some people think that we are able to wear God down with our prayers, we are really hoping to wear ourselves down. That is to say, the more we pray -- whether in thanksgiving, petition, praise, or contemplation -- the more we come to recognize God's perfect will, and the more we will want to be in communion with that will.
In both the first reading and the Gospel, we hear stories of miraculous healing. Elisha the prophet and Jesus Christ cleanse lepers of their disease through word and action. Two of those who were healed -- Naaman in the first reading and the Samaritan in the Gospel -- return to give thanks to God. It is clear that all of us, who have been cleansed and healed over and over, are to do the same. May we return to the Lord in prayer, worship, and thanksgiving, for all the good things that God has done for us.
"Those who humble themselves will be exalted." Today's readings clearly call us to humility. Sirach -- a wise teacher in the Old Testament -- tells us that the more highly we think of ourselves, the more we should humble ourselves. Jesus not only tells us to be humble; he gave examples on how to practice humility, and then he showed us what humility and love look like: he laid down his life for us on the cross.
The Eucharist (Mass) is a perpetual memorial of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. At every Mass, he humbles himself yet again by giving us his Real Presence under the species of bread and wine.
Recently we have heard discouraging results of a survey of Catholics on the Eucharist: the majority of the respondents said that the Eucharist is just a symbol. No! In the Eucharist God gives us the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of His only-begotten Son. Jesus condescends to become present in the host and wine for our sake. Once again, he shows us what humility looks like. May we receive him the the Eucharist with great joy Sunday after Sunday, so that we will be in communion with him on earth, and exalted forever in heaven.
(All-school Mass at Pensacola Catholic High. In the homily I pointed to a banner in the gym that highlights some saints and has the words "The Love of God Makes us do Great Things" over it.)
Do Catholics worship Mary? Of course not. Worship and adoration belong to God alone. When we honor Mary and the saints we do what they did: we glorify God. Mary said herself, "My soul magnifies the Lord; my spirit exalts in God my savior!" Since she was so devoted to her Son Jesus Christ on earth, she is forever united to him in heaven. May it be so with us.
What is the Assumption of Mary, and why is it important to us today? Because of Mary's perfect openness and obedience to God here on earth, she was taken up, body and soul, in the heaven at the end of her life. Our Holy Father Francis said that every "Yes" to God is a step toward heaven. Mary's whole life was a "Yes" to God; thus she reigns with Him in eternal life. May it be so with us.
The readings for today's Mass are very challenging. We hear what happened to Jeremiah when he spoke the truth in his day, and Jesus tells us, "Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth. Rather, I have come to bring division..." Whereas when someone wants to convince us to buy something or to join them in some endeavor, they only tell us the positive things that we can obtain; Jesus puts it to us plainly: "Take up your cross, follow me, and you will live." Being a Christian means experiencing hardship, persecutions, divisions in our families (and even in our church), and perhaps even martyrdom. We are able to carry our cross today because we are promised eternal life with Christ in heaven. As the sacred author in the Letter to the Hebrews puts it, "Keep your eyes on Jesus Christ..."
Today's Gospel reading gives us the beloved story of The Good Samaritan. Jesus tells this story as an answer to the scholar's question, "And who is my neighbor?" However, Jesus turns the question around and asks the man, "Which of these was neighbor to the man who was beaten?" The crux of the matter, then, is not that we should try to figure out which person is our neighbor (and which ones are not); rather we should put all of our attention into trying to BE neighbor to everyone.
(Sorry about the misquote in the homily! I said, "Isaiah 55", when it really should be "Matthew 5". Mea culpa.)
Today's readings -- and the presidential prayers for the Mass -- tell us that we should rejoice. Isaiah's imagery is a bit shocking as he refers to Jerusalem (the New Jerusalem) as a Mother who delights in her children and plays with them on her lap. In the Gospel, even as the disciples are reporting to Jesus about their progress following their first missionary activity, Jesus says to them, "Rejoice rather because your names are written in heaven." In the midst of all of that, St. Paul writes to the Galatians that he will boast of nothing except the cross of Christ. It is only by embracing our crosses that we are assured the glory of the Resurrection.
"My sheep know me and I know them." "There is no snatching them from my hand." Today as we celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday, we reflect on what it means to be united with our shepherd, Jesus Christ. Hearing these words in the midst of the Easter Season reminds us that the goal of our lives is -- in the words of the Opening Prayer from today's Mass -- "to follow where our brave shepherd has gone." As the Lord has ascended to heaven, we pray that we may be fully united with him in eternal life one day.
Today we hear about another Resurrection appearance to the disciples. Like the other accounts, this one is not flashy, not dramatic at all. Jesus appears to the disciples in very ordinary ways -- in today's case on the shore, eating breakfast with an incredulous group of disciples.
In the same way, we experience the Risen Lord today in regular, ordinary ways. Through prayer, adoration, the celebration of the Eucharist and other sacraments, a quiet moment shared with a loved one, the experience of forgiving someone or being forgiven, etc., our God comes to us and shares His Presence with us. May we, like the first disciples, recognize His Divine Presence among us and proclaim the Good News to all the world.
The Lord is Risen! We have died with the Lord and have been raised with him. Let us live as people bound for glory.
We have listened to the proclamation of several readings from the Old Testament, as well as the New Testament Epistle and the climactic reading of the Lord's Resurrection in the Gospel. In light of this Good News, may we live always as people of the Resurrection, people of hope and joy.
Why do we venerate the cross of Christ? only because we know that this is not the end. No, we believe that everything -- especially the death of Jesus Christ on the cross -- ends in glory. Knowing how all of this ends gives us the ability to 'celebrate' the death of Christ for our salvation.
Today more than ever, we must keep our eyes fixed on Christ. As we walk with him the Way of the Cross and then celebrate his Resurrection, we must remember that he is always with us. Even when things look bad for us we have to remember: This ends in glory for those who follow the Lord.
As we begin the great liturgy of the Paschal Mystery, we hear a lot of detailed instructions from our God. God commands the Israelites to celebrate the Passover meal in a very specific way. St. Paul teaches us what was handed on to him -- namely, how Jesus Christ celebrated the Last Supper and commanded us to "do this in memory" of him. In the Gospel, St. John relates what happened during that meal, when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and said to them, "What I have done for you, you must do for one another." We would all do well to hearken to the words of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who spoke before Jesus' first miracle at the Wedding at Cana: "Do whatever he tells you."
At this liturgy we ask God to bless the oil that will be used to anoint our brothers and sisters throughout the year. God uses something so ordinary and commonplace -- the fruit of the olive tree -- to do something extraordinary today. In the same way, God takes our ordinary lives and makes them extraordinary. Finally, today we celebrate and honor the priests who serve us; men whom God has set apart to celebrate the sacraments and preach the Word to the assembly. We thank God for the ordinary, commonplace things that are used to help us to experience God's presence and ministry among us.
The Gospel today gives us the account of the adulterous woman and Jesus. Whereas some of the religious leaders were using the woman to test Jesus, Jesus used her to show us God's mercy. Why is this Gospel passage given to us late in Lent? One reason might be that it points us toward the redemption that is ours in Jesus' passion and death. In his encounter with the woman who sinned, Jesus 'suspends her sentence'. He tells her that she is free to go. But who will atone for her sin? Jesus Christ. Next week we will focus especially on the cross of Christ, praising and thanking God for gift of redemption and atonement.
The Gospel for the 4th Sunday of Lent this year gives us the parable of the Prodigal Son. This story, coupled with the words of St. Paul from the second reading: "For our sake God made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him" (2 Cor 5:21), teach us God's plan for creation. God wishes that everyone be saved through His son Jesus Christ. Like the father in the parable, God rushes to meet us and heal us and forgive us when we have sinned or wandered away. He comes to us in Jesus Christ and in the Holy Spirit, and we receive His gift of salvation through the Church, the Body of Christ.
In the middle of the season of Lent, the Scriptures for this Sunday remind us that we must turn away from sin and be converted. What we began on Ash Wednesday now takes an even more serious turn as we are confronted with the final judgement and our conscience. The disciples ask Jesus (in effect): "Why do bad things happen (to good people)?" Jesus does not answer the question directly; rather he asks us to ask ourselves, "Will I be ready to meet the Lord when my time comes?" St. Paul tells the Corinthians, "Therefore, whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall." This is the acceptable time -- a privileged time -- to turn back to the Lord.
We were created for eternal Beatitude -- that is, eternal life with God. After spelling out the Beatitudes in the Gospel passage from last week, Jesus tells us how we are to live so as to receive this gift from the Father. In short, we must become more and more like Christ. Specifically, we are called to forgive like Christ, love like Christ, and serve like Christ. Today Jesus calls us to a radical kind of forgiveness: "Love not only your friends; love your enemies as well."
In the Gospel passage today we hear about Jesus' rejection in the synagogue at Nazareth. We may tend to think that it was easy for him to face the anger and consternation of his kinfolk and neighbors, but as a human being I am certain that it affected Jesus. Any of us who have faced slander or gossip or bullying (in person or online) know how hard it is to stand up to such injustices. Jesus was able to endure these and many insults that were hurled at him because he KNEW that he is the Father's beloved Son. I believe that Jesus replayed those words that were spoken at his baptism again and again all his life -- especially in the midst of danger and difficulty. The same is true for us: whether we heard it audibly or not, God spoke to us at our baptism: "You are my beloved child; in you I am well pleased." May these be the words that we hear the loudest -- and not the voices of violence and division around us.
Midnight Christmas Mass has its own unique characteristics and "feel". Of course, we rejoice tonight at the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. And the "theme" of every Mass is the death and resurrection of Christ. At the same time, this is a vigil, and thus we gather tonight at this hour of darkness to wait together. We join our ancestors who waited in the darkness, and we join our brothers and sisters today as we wait in joyful hope for Christ's triumphant return. On this night we would do well to reflect on the words of the hymn, "O Holy Night", especially the lines: "Long lay the world in sin and error pining, 'til He appeared and the soul felt its worth". Our life makes complete sense in light of the Incarnation. As we wait, we rejoice tonight!
Even though we are just days away from celebrating Christmas, we still find ourselves in the beautiful season of Advent -- a time of waiting and preparing for the Lord. The scene of the Visitation of Mary and Elizabeth in the Gospel is one of great joy and wonder, and we would do well to contemplate and imitate the faith and exuberance of these holy women. In the second reading -- from the Letter to the Hebrews -- we are reminded why the Incarnation was necessary. God took flesh and was born of Mary so that he could offer a perfect sacrifice in obedience, which would bring salvation to the world. This eternal gift begins for us at Christmas, the feast we look forward to celebrating very soon.
During Advent we prepare to receive our Lord. God comes to us not "once upon a time", or "in a galaxy far, far away", but in a specific moment in history and in a specific place. St. Luke places his coming within historical events sot that we may know that Jesus Christ really and truly came in the flesh. Imagine: God loves us so much that He opened the heavens and came down to live among us! We celebrate his true and abiding presence even today, in every Mass. God is with us.
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. We proclaim and believe that God, in His goodness and love, preserved Mary from all stain of sin from the moment of her conception -- thus preparing her to be a worthy vessel for God's Son. In this liturgy we adore our God and thank God for the redemption of the world, wrought by the death and resurrection of His Son. May we, like Mary, strive for holiness and purity, so that we also may constantly say "Yes" to our God.
Today's Gospel gives us the very familiar story of "The Rich Young Man". Especially for those present at this Mass who were about to be confirmed, the young man gives a good example -- and then teaches us what else we must do. First, he runs up to Jesus, does him homage, and asks, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" Undoubtedly, Jesus approved of this question and the desire of the young man to enter eternal life. All of us should be able to express that same desire: What must I do in order to be saved? Jesus answers by saying that keeping God's Commandments is the first step, but it cannot end there. We must continue to follow the Lord by taking up our cross daily. While the young man went away sad, I pray that we may take up that challenge and follow Jesus courageously every day of our lives.
In the Gospel Jesus asks his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" After listening to their responses, Jesus looks at them and asks, "Who do YOU say that I am?" This is THE question that we all must answer. It's not enough to say that we know about the Lord; we hope to be able to answer wholeheartedly that we know the Lord.
In today's readings we hear Moses and Jesus calling the people to fidelity. God gives us the Law in order to lead us to Himself. Whereas we may think that laws exist to hamper our freedom, God's law does just the opposite. Through the Law God gives us the freedom to choose the good. By loving God with all our mind, heart, and soul, and by loving our neighbor as ourselves, we imitate our Lord and thus grow in holiness. This is a message that the people in Moses' day and in Jesus' day needed to hear; a message that we need to hear and follow today. May we recommit ourselves to being faithful to God and to His commandments today and always.
There is a very common -- and extremely relevant -- theme in the readings today. Both Joshua and Jesus ask their contemporaries to make a decision. "Who will you serve?" "Will you leave me, too?" Even (and especially) amidst trials and difficulties of all kinds, we pray for the grace to answer as our ancestors did: "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!" And from St. Peter: "Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of everlasting life."
We are making our way through the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John, sometimes referred to as the "Bread of Life Discourse." Today Jesus hears the people around him "murmuring" about him and his teaching. This recalls the attitude that our ancestors had toward Moses and the teachings that he revealed to them from God. 'Murmuring' in the Bible goes beyond incredulity -- the people weren't simply in awe of what he was saying; it shows that they doubted and disagreed with what was being taught. Jesus's answer to them is that it is God the Father who draws them and teaches them the Truth, if only the people will allow it.
The Eucharist is the Living Bread come down from heaven. It is Jesus' flesh, for the life of the world.
Today's Gospel comes from John 6, the chapter which give us Christ's teaching on the Bread of Life. Following the story of the multiplication of the loaves and fish, Jesus expounds on the True Bread that comes down from heaven -- the Eucharist -- and explains how we should hunger and thirst for it about all things. We believe without a doubt that the Eucharist truly is the Real Presence; the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ. Through the Eucharist we have communion with the Father, and thus we can come to enjoy eternal life.
Today in all of the readings and in the Psalm as well, the image of a "shepherd" is clearly evident. Whether that be in the reading from Jeremiah, where God speaks through the prophet and says, "Woe to you, shepherds who mislead my people..."; or in the Gospel from Mark, where Jesus laments the fact that the people are like, "sheep without a shepherd"; the message for all of us is obvious: God is calling us to be good shepherds of His people - people in great need, people in our own families, people around us every day. We rejoice that we have such a Good Shepherd watching over us constantly, but we also pray that we imitate Our Lord every day, being compassionate and caring toward our brothers and sisters.
Today's Gospel stories of the resuscitation of the little girl and the healing of the woman with a hemorrhage teach us about what God wants for us: wholeness, health, life. The sacred author of the Book of Wisdom puts it plainly: "God did not create death". In his words and actions, Jesus shows us that God created us in His image and likeness, and therefore wants us to be well and to be with Him forever in heaven. As we thank God for this great gift, may we direct our efforts to promoting life and healing in our world.
Normally, we celebrate a saint's feast day on the day when they died. This is true for almost all saints' feast days. But there are three exceptions: The birth of Jesus Christ, the birth of Mary, and the birth of St. John the Baptist. John's birth shows us once again that God's will is being carried out in time. We must thank God and praise Him for His loving plan of redemption for humanity. At the same time, we should strive to emulate St. John the Baptist, who pointed the way to Christ and announced his presence when at last he came. The question of John's contemporaries -- "What will this child be?" is a question for all of us today: "What will I be [for Christ]?"
In his teaching about the Reign of God, Jesus uses two very helpful parables. He likens the Reign of God to a mustard seed, something so very small that can grow into a very large shrub. We, too, though small can do great things because God is with us. The other parable is of a farmer who sows seed in his field and then waits for the harvest. Even though he tends the field and waters it, how it grows is a mystery. So it is with the Reign of God. It is already sown among us on earth, and it is developing according to God's plan. We must trust in God's will always, while cooperating with God as co-workers: tending, feeding, and expanding the Reign of God.
Hoy en el evangelio, Jesus nos enseña del reino de Dios. Él usa el ejemplo de una semilla de mostaza: es algo bien pequeño, pero una vez sembrado en la tierra llega a ser una gran planta. Los pajarillos y los otros animales disfruten su sombra. Iqualmente nosotros -- aunque seamos pequeños -- podemos hacer cosas grandes, porque el Espiritu Santo vive dentro de nosotros. Con Dios, todo es posible.
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus says, "A Kingdom divided against itself cannot stand". He could very well be speaking about creation after the fall. In Genesis we hear how sin entered the world, and we see the effects of our parents' disobedience: separation, division, discord. The Good News is that God sent His Son into the world to bring us unity -- with God, with each other, and with all of creation. May all of us strive to maintain that bond of peace and unity that is ours through the gift of God's Holy Spirit.
(This is a short homily because after I gave it a priest translated it in Vietnamese for the congregation. Also, 17 young people were confirmed during this liturgy)
Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ. The Eucharist is God's gift to humanity, and it brings us into communion with God. God wants us to be one with Him, and this is possible through our union with Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit. How to have union with Jesus? By eating his Body and drinking his Blood. That is why the Eucharist is Viaticum: food for the way. May we return to this Living Food again and again so that we have life within us -- and eternal life at the end of the age.
(Starts with applause for Confirmation candidates.) (Bilingual homily).
We know a little about the mystery of God - as a Trinity of Persons -- because God has willed it thus. God has been revealing Himself to His creation over time, and with the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh, we now know that God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We are caught up in the love that is God, and thus we are to amplify that love in the world.
The Ascension of the Lord is only part of the mystery of what some call the "Christ event": the Incarnation, life, suffering, death, Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus Christ. We separate these aspects of our salvation and celebrate them at various times in the liturgical year so that we can reflect on them individually.
In this homily, I describe the Ascension as it might have gone from the perspective of the Angels in heaven. It's a little light-hearted, but it may help us to reflect more deeply on what it is we are celebrating. Where Christ has gone, we hope to follow.
In the First Letter of John, we hear, "It is not that we have loved God, rather God loves us"; and in the Gospel of John: "It is not you who have chosen me; I chose you...". God takes the initiative in everything. Before we were even born, God loved us through and through (Psalm 139).
Our love for God, therefore, is a response to His love for us. Everything we do -- practicing our Faith, praying, serving others, etc. -- is an attempt to be like God in our actions and words.
Love one another, because God loves you.
(Short homily, as I cut out the part where I addressed the Confirmation candidates in the beginning.)
I am the vine; you are the branches, says the Lord. The operative word in the Gospel today is "remain". Jesus tells us that we must remain in him as he remains in us. We know that he remains in us because the Holy Spirit of God has been given to us. We show that we remain in God by the way we live our life -- dedicated to loving our brothers and sisters, and serving God in the Church.
The readings all speak about repentance and forgiveness. But isn't that one of the things on which we focus during the season of Lent? Yes, but it is also a main part of our celebration of Easter, for forgiveness is bestowed upon us by God through the death and Resurrection of Jesus. As we hear in the words of Consecration at Mass (over the chalice): "This is the cup of my Blood, which will be shed for you and for many, for the forgiveness of sins." Let us seek forgiveness from God through our contrition, and let us share the Good News of repentance with all people.
Did Thomas really doubt what his fellow Apostles told him about Jesus' Resurrection? Should he be known only by that one question that he had? We should be grateful to Thomas, because we are actually a lot like him (with our questions and doubts today). We should remember Thomas as one of the greatest disciples and apostles, having defended and preached the Faith fearlessly, and having giving his life for the Gospel as a martyr.
In this brief homily, I talk about the lessons learned from St. John's account of the Passion of Jesus, as well as from the 1st reading, from the Prophet Isaiah. Again, this is more than just "looking back" at what happened to someone 2000 years ago; the Passion and death of Jesus Christ is our salvation from sin and death. As we honor and remember the events which led to Jesus' death on the cross, may we also do what he did -- serve our brothers and sisters in this world, even to the point of laying down our lives for others.
Today we commemorate three things: The institution of the Eucharist, the institution of the priesthood, and the commandment to serve one another. This beautiful liturgy is the beginning of the great Paschal Triduum.
Even though we are considering events that occurred thousands of years ago (the Passover and the Last Supper), we believe that even now -- through the sacred liturgy -- God is liberating us from sin, feeding us with the Body and Blood of His Son, and renewing the promise of eternal life for us. This is the power of the Eucharist: as we commemorate that which God gave us so long ago, we make it present in every age as we heed Christ's commandment: "Do this in memory of me."
In this great celebration of the Eucharist today, we ask God to bless and consecrate the holy oils that are used in our diocese throughout the year. As well we honor and pray for our priests, who will renew their priestly promises. More than anything, we recall that we like Christ are 'anointed' by God to proclaim the Good News. "Christ" means "anointed", and as Christians we follow the anointed one and do what he did. The name for this Mass (Chrism) comes from the word "Christ". May God bless the oil that we will use, and the people who use them and are anointed with them. All of us: bishops, priests, deacons, religious, and laypeople are anointed to be like Christ in the world today.
(This homily is a shorter one than normal, because of the reading of the Passion that preceded it.)
Palm Sunday is our entrance into Holy Week, and as such the readings, prayers, and songs serve as a "prelude" or a summary to what we will celebrate in detail this week. As we celebrate the Institution of the Eucharist, the passion and death of Jesus, and the Resurrection, we do so not as spectators or historians; we are faithful followers of Jesus Christ. As we read in the 2nd Letter to Timothy, "If we die with him, we will live with him" (2 Tim 2:11).
Five words to carry us through Holy Week -- and the rest of our lives: We know how this ends.
(Three young women received the Sacrament of Confirmation at this Mass.)
The words of God through His prophet Jeremiah are striking: "Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord...". God has promised a new covenant with His people; one that is eternal and will be for all people of all time. Jesus made this covenant with us in his blood, shed on the cross for our salvation. We remember this covenant at every celebration of the Eucharist, and thus God renews that covenant with us constantly. At this point in Lent we can also say, "Behold, the days are coming..." as we prepare to celebrate our holiest days.
(I think I have the audio figured out now, so this sounds much better!)
This homily was given right before celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation for several folks at St. Thomas More Parish (Pensacola). Thus, I was speaking in a more colloquial way as I wanted to reach the young people directly. The Holy Spirit is God's gift to the Church, and it gives us the means and the ability to preach the Good News just as the Apostles did after Pentecost. What is the Good News? We find it in today's Gospel, especially John 3:16. "God so loved the world that He sent His only Son, that whoever believes in Him may not die but may have eternal life."
Today's readings give us the great story of the Sacrifice of Abraham and the mystery of the Transfiguration of the Lord. Both point to the sacrifice (or, in the case of Abraham, the intention to sacrifice) an only son. Whereas God stopped Abraham from offering up his son, God did not halt the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ, and that brought about the salvation of the world. How are we to respond? What can we sacrifice to the Lord in order to demonstrate our faith? May we live in such a way that God will say to us (as He said to Abraham): "Now I know that you are devoted to me, ... you will be blessed forever."
(The audio on this one is poorer than the others -- sorry!)
Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent, and as such it serves as a way for us to "get back on track" with God and our faith. Lent offers us all the opportunity to pull back a little from our attention to ourselves and our passions, and to focus more on God and our neighbor. The three practices of Lent -- Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving -- can serve to prepare us well to celebrate the Paschal Mystery of Christ.
As we celebrate the wedding anniversaries (especially the 5th, 10th, 25th, 50th, 60th and beyond) of our brothers and sisters, we have an opportunity to reflect on the vocation of marriage. Marriage in the Catholic Church is a sacrament; a sign of Christ's presence in the world. Just as Jesus laid down his life for us so that we may have eternal life, so a husband lays down his life for his wife, and a wife for her husband. Dying to oneself is not depressing or something to be avoided at all costs. Rather, it is the 'greatest love'; the way to eternal life with God.
Today's readings speak to the trials and difficulties that we experience every day. Often it seems that we can say with Job that our life doesn't appear to have any meaning. Jesus came to be like us in all things, however, and even though he took on our trials and infirmities, he never gave up hope. In fact, he came to bring hope to the world which "groans and struggles through time". The hope that we have in Christ Jesus is stored up for us in heaven. Knowing that God the Father is pleased to give us this gift makes us want to dedicate our lives to building up the Kingdom of God here on earth.
As we celebrate the Mass of the Holy Spirit with and for our brothers and sisters in the various branches of our state government, we pray for God's guidance in all things. Particularly, we ask for the gift of "Fear of the Lord", so that we may revere and adore God while remembering that we are called to do His will. Only when we 'get out of the way' and let God work through us with God be glorified in us and in our world as well.
The Gospel story of the healing of the paralytic teaches us the importance of interceding for others. Just as the friends of the paralytic brought him to Jesus so that he might be healed, so we bring our petitions and the needs of others to the Lord. This weekend we pray especially for the respect of all life -- from natural conception to a natural death. We will march, we will pray, and we will speak out. Today's Gospel reminds us, however, that before we do any of that we must ask God to hear our prayers. May God's will be done, and may Life, in all of its beautiful stages, be protected, defended, and celebrated.
We all know the story of the visit of the Magi, and it has many levels of meaning for us as Christians today. Isaiah's prophecy (which we hear in the first reading) reminds us to raise our eyes, for our redemption is at hand. The prophet speaks of the restoration of Jerusalem, and the promise that all nations shall stream toward it with their wealth and faith. This prophecy, perhaps directed at the time to the return from the Babylonian Exile, is yet to be fulfilled completely. We still await the day when all nations will seek and find the light of faith; when peace will truly reign in our hearts and in our world.
The last verse of today's Gospel gives us practically all the information we need on the early life of Jesus:
"[T]hey returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him" (Lk 2:39-40).
It is fitting that the Feast of the Holy Family be situated in the season of Christmas, for it underscores and reinforces our belief in the mystery of the Incarnation. As well it teaches us about the dignity of every family, including ours.
Jesus Christ is born for us this day! He shall be Emmanuel, a name which means, "God is with us". On this holy night all of creation celebrates the closeness of our God. There is no greater gift to give or receive than the very presence of Jesus Christ. Let us receive him with joy and then share the Good News with all we meet. God is with us. God is always with us.
Today we celebrate the Third Sunday of Advent, also called, "Gaudete Sunday". Gaudete is a Latin word that is translated, "rejoice". Why do we rejoice on this day, specifically, and what kind of rejoicing is in order? Today's homily takes on that question and reminds us to rejoice in light of our salvation that is to come.
Clearly, the message from Scriptures for all of us today comes from the words of Isaiah and St. John the Baptist: "Prepare the way of the Lord!" We all need to do this - literally - by making space in our hearts, homes, families, and our world for the Lord Jesus Christ. This begins with our repentance. We must first clear out sin and anything contrary to the Gospel in our own hearts, and they we must help others around us do the same. Come, Lord Jesus!