CATHOLIC

In an article written by Fr. Ron Rolheiser, O.M.I., entitled, “Honoring an Abundant and Prodigal God,” he writes, “There’s a disturbing trend within our churches today. Simply put, we are seeing the embrace of our churches become less-and-less inclusive. More and more, our churches are demanding a purity and exclusivity not demanded by Jesus in Gospels.

What does it mean to be inclusive? We can begin with the word “Catholic”: The opposite of being “Catholic” is not being “Protestant.” The opposite of being “Catholic” is being narrow, exclusive, and overly selective in our embrace. The opposite of “Catholic” is to define our faith-family too narrowly.”

“Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord,” (Acts 9:1) goes to the high priest seeking a letter giving him permission to bring those practicing the Way back to Jerusalem in chains. Saul is respected as a staunch defender of the Jewish faith and the Law. So, he’s on a mission to silence those who would vary from its proper practice, to follow, what appears to be, a deviant practice drawing good Jews away from the God of their fathers. Let us not forget, Gentiles, Samaritans and other such groups weren’t included in the Jewish faith-family at this time either.

Paul’s Damascus encounter with Jesus has clearly opened his perspective. it changed him from persecutor to promoter of the Way. His epiphany was marked by encounter, darkness, an intervention by a Christian disciple, and his decision to be baptized: all elements common in the discernment of would-be converts and catechumens.

Today’s Gospel reading further develops Jesus’ insistence that he is the real Bread come down from heaven. John is underscoring the contrast between bread (lower case “b”) and Bread (capital “B”). The crowd wants bread to feed the body; Jesus offers himself as Bread to feed the soul. Eating his flesh and drinking his blood imply that one accepts Jesus as the nourishment of their life. Bread, flesh and blood: these equal Jesus, these equal life, for “Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood remains in me and I in him.” (Jn 6:56) which comes with the charge to be like Jesus.

“Catholic” means wide, universal. It means incarnating the embrace of an abundant and prodigal God whose sun (or “Son”) shines on all indiscriminately, the bad as well as the good. God’s heart is wide, abundant, prodigal, and universally embracing, a heart that takes care to pray for those “other sheep who are not of this fold.” (Jn 10:16)

To be “Catholic” is to imitate that.

FULLY ALIVE!

“The glory of God is the person fully alive.” ~ St. Ireneus of Antioch

As we continue to celebrate the Resurrection. It can be likened to a watershed of human history, because through the Resurrection humans are gifted with a new dimension of life through the sending of the Holy Spirit. Jesus, reminds us of this dimension in his farewell discourse at the last Supper, assuring his disciples it was better for them that he goes, for unless he departs, the Holy Spirit would not come, and only through the presence of the Holy Spirit are we humans “fully alive.”

Even amidst his persecution, Stephen was “fully alive.”  Filled with the Spirit, Stephen is blunt, straightforward, and outspoken in his indictment of the religious leaders. “Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute?” Then looking up to heaven tells them that “the Son of Man (whom they put to death) is standing at the right hand of God.” 

Luke tells us, almost as an aside, that during the stoning, the witnesses put their clothes at the feet of a young man called Saul, who looked on with approval. We can surmise it must have been this experience which sowed the seeds of Paul’s future Christian faith. As he saw Stephen dying with such dignity and grace, he must have been deeply moved and disturbed. “The blood of martyrs is the seed of faith.”

What we celebrate during the Easter Season is the rebirth of human nature through the sending of the Holy Spirit. Paul, after his conversion, refers to this new life as a “new creation”. So, during this season, we would do well to attend to the signs of this new life in us. The signs of this new presence are scattered throughout the New Testament and the world around us.

John gives us the first sign in today’s gospel: belief in Jesus: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” The “I AM” strongly identifies Jesus with God and is the first of seven “I AM…” statements that appear in John’s gospel which speak of Jesus’ identity, fully alive.

“The glory of God is the person fully alive!” As we participate in sharing the bread of life, we can become fully alive when we soak ourselves in the life of Jesus, we penetrate deeply into “the Word” in scripture, and assimilate His Way into our own lives. Those who are fully alive are in close relationship with Jesus – here and now.

Are you a person fully alive?

TURN AROUND AND FACE THE SON

[1]Benjamin Franklin told the story of a man, who in buying an ax from a local blacksmith, desired to have the whole of its surface polished as bright as the edge. The smithy consented to grind the ax bright for him if he would turn the wheel of the sharpening stone. The buyer, agreeing, turned the stone while the smith pressed the broad face of the ax hard and heavily upon the stone. This made turning the stone very fatiguing and the buyer stopped, every now and then, to check on how the work progressed. Finally, exhausted, the buyer said, “I’ll take the ax without further grinding.”

"No," exclaimed the blacksmith, "turn more, turn more; we’ll have it bright by-and-by; as it is only speckled."

"Yes," replied the worn buyer, "But, I think I like the speckled ax best."

All the buyer needs to do is keep turning, a little longer, to achieve his initial desire. Jesus reminds the frightened and confused apostles with every visit how it “is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead, [so] that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem.” (Lk 24-48)

In the first reading, Peter is not shy about speaking this truth.  He doesn’t water it down with careful words, telling the people explicitly, “The author of life you put to death” by denying Jesus and choosing a murderer to be released. Yet, “I know … you acted out of ignorance.” So, here’s the way back to God. “Repent, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away.” (Acts 3:19) However, only those who own their part in the killing will dare to turn their faces to God in repentance.

Rev. Gerry O’Mahoney, SJ used to illustrate the idea of repentance in this way. Imagine you are walking down a road with the sun on your face. The sun symbolizes God and our desire to be close to God.  Sooner or later, we get distracted and turn a little. This happens again, and again, until we reach a point where we discover we are looking at our shadow on the ground in front of us. Which means we are now headed in the opposite direction of the sun. The point, all we need to do to reorient ourselves, to repent (return to the right path), is to turn around and once again face the sun.

It’s embarrassingly simple. All we need to do is turn around. Not accepting a speckled ax, but owning our part, and turning around to face the Son. This is the good news infusing all the readings today. The sun is always shining. God is always present.[2]

In our lives, we have choices each day. John says, “My children, I am writing this to you so that you may not commit sin.” (1 Jn 2:1) Not to sin would be the best path, but sooner or later, in our human weaknesses we will be distracted and turn away.

Benjamin Franklin reflecting further on the buyers’ willingness to accept a speckled ax says, this may be the case with many people; who having found the difficulty of obtaining the good or the challenge of breaking habits in other points of vice and virtue, have given up the struggle, refusing to continue turning, and concluding a speckled ax is best.

Perhaps the greatest challenge in our journey of faith is to own our part of our own brokenness.  Instead, we often point to other people or situations as the cause. It is profoundly difficult to own our part, because we find ourselves so hard to love when we face into the deep complexity of ourselves.

Whenever we struggle with sin— that so often are the same old speckles—we can turn back, we must turn back and live the commandments![3] Otherwise, those claiming to know Jesus and not keeping His commandments, John bluntly calls, “a liar, and the truth is not in them”. (1 Jn 2:4)

It’s because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, “if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father. He is expiation for our sins, and not only our sins but those of the whole world.” (1 Jn 2:1-2) Everyone has access, all it takes is to turn around and face the Son. This is how the world will “be sure that we are in Him,” the risen Lord. By our obedience and desire to live and witness to Christ’s victory through our daily choices. By the witness of our love, mercy, and compassion toward all God’s children, and should we get distracted, stray, backslide, fall, or just get turned around, we confidently turn around and face the Son

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[1] New American Bible Revised.  Acts 4:8-12; 1 John 3:1-2; John 10:11-18

[2] A Stranger and You Welcomed Me Edited by Deacon Jim Knipper. Story by Deacon Greg Kendra © by contributors.

[3] The Word on the Street, by John W. Martins © 2017.

WHY DO I HAVE GO TO MASS?

Why do I have to go to Mass? I know it is an odd question to lead off with, as I am addressing the 7:00 a.m. daily Mass faithful. But we’ve heard the mantras from so many others who don’t attend Mass regularly. "Mass is boring." "I don't get anything out of Mass." "Why can't I just pray alone?" Now there is a new mantra, “Live-streamed Mass is working great for our family, it’s a pandemic blessing.” These are common feelings, especially among young people, but also among many adults as well. How should we respond?

The great Bishop Fulton Sheen, when conducting a retreat for teenagers, once gave a talk on the meaning of the Mass. He said, "If you don't get anything out of Mass, it's because you don't bring the right expectations to it."

In the Gospel reading we hear Jesus and his disciples going up on a mountain, then realizing “a large crowd was coming to him … about 5,000 in number.” Why did they follow Jesus? As the story goes, it was the miracles. But the multiplication of loaves and fish, recounted in all four Gospels, is more, it has important eucharistic overtones. Yes, Jesus was concerned about people’s physical hunger, and he wants us to look beyond their stomachs, as this event is a sign foreshadowing Jesus’ feeding them and us with bread from heaven.

Why do we have to go to Mass every week? I think the best perspective is not so much why we have to go but rather how fortunate we are to be able to go weekly, even daily, with the ever-increasing priest shortages. When we truly understand what the Mass is, in faith, we’ll never want to miss! “For if this endeavor … this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. But if it comes from God, [no one] will be able to destroy [it, nor us]; they may even find themselves fighting against God.” (Acts 5:38-39)

When we approach the Mass with a deep faith and understanding of the great mystery we encounter, we are left with a longing and desire for more. When we receive Holy Communion, in faith, with an open heart, we enter into communion with the risen Jesus. He truly enters in, gives us Himself, as our sustenance for life and transforms the hardships and struggles of life into joys. The Mass, this bread from heaven, the body and blood of our risen Lord, has an unlimited amount of power to change us and draw us closer to God, to help us become all that God intends us to be. In the Mass we are made one with Christ so that we can say with St. Paul, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Gal 2:20)

During the pandemic many found themselves fasting from and starving for the Bread of Life because the churches were closed, and some are still now fearful of infection. May we learn from this difficult experience to be ever grateful for the food of this Eucharistic table, may we never neglect the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, and may we never forget those who are unable to regularly receive, because of health or shortage of priest, the bread that sustains us for all eternity.

THE PARISH CULTURE

Every parish has a culture, no matter how big or how small. Our culture is who we are and how we do things. Some might call it the character of our parish community.

• Some parishes have a culture of excellence, a preciseness to liturgy done right.
• Some parishes have a culture of evangelism, where they’re constantly getting out into their communities, sharing the Good News with others.
• Some parishes have a missionary culture, constantly sending missionaries to the uttermost parts of the earth.
• A common parish culture I hear around the diocese is that of a welcoming culture, where people feel a heartfelt welcome when they enter the church. They love spending time with other parishioners and feel like one big family.
• Many parishes have a culture of service. They’re always outside the walls of the church, getting the smell of the sheep upon them by engaging in direct service to the needy and collaborating with other community service agencies.

In Acts, we hear an emphasis on the early church’s culture of harmony, as the believers were “of one heart and mind” and a culture of generosity and care for one another as “they [held] everything in common.” (Acts 4:32) The gifts “were distributed to each according to need” (Acts 4:35) so that “there was no needy person among them.” (Acts 4:34) Which was a solid foundation for the apostle’s culture of evangelization as “with great power they bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord.” (Acts 4:33) A parish’s culture can be seen by those looking in or seeking connection.

What is the culture of this parish? The parish mission statement is a good guidepost: “St. James Cathedral is focused on guiding people of all backgrounds into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It is our hope that you will find our parish a place of welcome and hospitality, as well as a spiritual home for you and your family.” This is a statement that expresses a larger vision, a vision of invitation, fellowship, and belonging. How ministries are categorized, on the webpage, also gives the seeker a clue to the parish’s culture: “worship, learning, witness, & service.”

Like Nicodemus’ struggle to understand Jesus’ teaching on things from above and being born of the Spirit, as people begin returning to church and parish life. So, the question of “What is our parish culture?” shifts to “How will the people recognize the culture of this parish?”

It will be by the parish parishioners being and intentionally living the professed culture. We must be a witness to our personal relationship with the risen Christ; we must invite, welcome, and display full and active participation in worship and learning; and our generosity and care for each other and those most in need must go beyond the parish walls. Words in print or spoken are more fully expressed when we actively live the parish’s culture.

UNDERCOVER BOSS 3

In the TV series Undercover Boss, bosses of chain businesses go undercover to their own stores in various locations and engage in various jobs around the store to interact with the employees. Depending on the employee's impression, it will prove to the boss how important the job is to them. Sometimes an employee thinks they recognize the boss and they go off to the side and begin discussing their suspicions with other employees. Yet they would not dare to ask them, “Who are you?” (Jn 21:12)

Tuesday, we heard that Mary Magdalene was the first person to experience the risen Jesus. At first, she thinks Jesus is the gardener, until He tenderly calls her by name. The second story, the risen Lord appears in the upper room, although the doors were locked, and the disciples were hiding, thinking they are seeing a ghost. Until Jesus offers them peace. Today’s Gospel, the third appearance story, unfolds around Peter and some other disciples embarking on a fishing expedition. Once Jesus is gone, they return to business as usual. Our frustrated apostolic fishermen worked long and unsuccessfully through the night. As daybreak arrives, they see a figure on the shore. Something about this person’s dialog and command touches the Beloved Disciple, and he recognizes this person as the Lord.

Our Lord meets his disciples right where they are: frustrated, hungry, wet, and needing direction. He refreshes their spirits and their bodies with his eucharistic dawn on the beach. He waits on them with compassionate care. He models for us how we likewise are to serve one another, aware of the needs of all.

Yet, there is another aspect of the scriptures today. Peter finds almost superhuman strength, first, to haul in, by himself, the significant catch onto shore. The same catch that the other disciples, together, could not pull in. (Jn 21:6-11) Then, in our reading from Acts, Peter and John, who have healed a disabled person at the temple, results in a good bit of conversation, as the Sadducees ask, “By what power or by what name have you done this?” (Acts 4:7) Peter, once again, rises to the occasion and with courage presents an apologia (a defense of their action) for healing in the name of Jesus Christ. He directly refutes claims that anyone other than Jesus Christ mediates salvation. “He is the stone rejected, by you, … which has become the cornerstone” (Acts 4:11) for all salvation. He is the savior of the whole human race.

As we approach this morning meal, will we be as slow to recognize the Risen Lord, will we have the courage to present our apologia beyond these walls? We need to consider the other ways the risen Lord appears to us throughout our daily life? Will we recognize our Undercover Boss in the disguise of the ordinary people we encounter today? How will we respond to this encounter of the risen Lord

DO YOU RECOGNIZE ME?

In the TV series Undercover Boss, bosses of chain businesses go undercover to their own stores in various locations and engage in various jobs around the store to interact with the employees. Depending on the employee's impression, it will prove to the boss how important the job is to them. In the end the unsuspecting employees are called in and the boss reveals their identity by asking, “Do you recognize me?” then shares the experience of their time together. The employee’s response is often tearful gratitude as the boss shares lessons learned and gives new opportunities.

In the Gospel of John, Mary Magdalene is the first person to discover the empty tomb of Jesus and experience of the risen Jesus. What follows is a “recognition story,” describing the stages in which Mary comes to recognize who Jesus really is. At first, she thinks Jesus is the gardener. He tenderly calls her by name, in her native Aramaic tongue, the name she was called only by those most intimate with her, Miryam. Leading to the second stage: with encouragement from the risen Jesus, she responds, Rabbouni meaning “my beloved teacher” a recognition of her old teacher.

Naturally, Mary reaches out to Jesus, but she is told not to touch. Msgr. Charles Pope describes the exchange this way: “Don’t go on clinging to what, in me, is familiar to you. Step back, take a good look, and go and tell.” Christ wants to be more than physically present to her. He tells her, “go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” (Jn 20:17) Mary finally comes to recognized the risen Lord, then runs to announce this good news to the disciples.

These recognition stories were told to encourage believers not to become discouraged if they cannot fully comprehend the reality of Jesus’ resurrection when they first encounter it. It is a mystery that unfolds in stages. For Mary, she had to let go of her past understanding of Jesus (Rabbouni) before she can grasp the deeper meaning of who he really is, her Lord and her God.

Because of Easter, the Lord’s relationship with Mary has changed and deepened, as with each of us, as He reveals His identity as our Lord and our God. As we approach this mystery, Christ, our undercover boss, under the form of bread and wine asks, “Do you recognize me?” As Mother Teresa puts it, “He makes Himself the hungry one, the naked one, the homeless one, the one in prison, the lonely one, the unwanted one…”  It’s been said, “If we can’t recognize Him in these people, we won’t be able to recognize Him here, in the bread and wine, transformed into His body and blood.”

As the risen Christ reveals himself to us in our daily lives, how will we respond?