IT’S ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS

[1]In a settlement community the church was often established before any other institution. Though faith brought people together, social events were an important part of the church’s role, particularly in rural communities. Baptisms, weddings, and funerals were solemn occasions, but following the church service, the gathering of friends, family, and neighbors marked the event with food and conversation. The Church also provided important community services to the poor, ill, and needy.[2] It’s all about community identity and community relationships, with the Church at the center of the relationship.

The opening oracle of the Book of Haggai challenges the people of Jerusalem to delay no longer construction of a temple. Having just returned from the Babylonian exile, the peoples chief focus initially went to rebuilding their own homes. Yet, the community continued to struggle. The prophet tells them, if you want to see a change in your circumstances, first turn your attention to God, who is the source of all that is good. For what really matters is your witness to faith. Just as God delivered the people from oppression in Egypt, so now God continues to look after the welfare of the people.[3]

Which brings us to Yeshua Bar Yosef (Jesus) from the tiny nothing hamlet of Nazareth who is now being recognized as the long awaited promised one. The Christ, who asks, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” (Lk 9:18) and “Who do you say that I am?” (Lk 9:20)

Let’s reflect on the questions a bit differently. We believe Jesus is the Christ. We believe Him to be fully present: in the Eucharist, in the Word proclaimed, in the presiding priest, and in the people gathered. We know we are the Church! We are many parts, but one body in the one Spirit. Right!? We know we are called to be the visible body of Christ the servant in the world. Agreed?! So, the question becomes:

Who do the crowds say that we are? We’ve seen the news reports, the social media posts, and I’m sure we’ve all experienced “moments” when friends, acquaintances, or others discover we identify as Catholic, many times their disposition towards us changes, even become challenging. Which motivates me to ask the important question, who do you say that we are?

Our Catholic identity is rooted in relationships. Relationship by first and foremost with God, who is the source of all that is good. Not just by our attendance at Mass or our regular rote prayers, but by engaging him in the silence of heart felt prayer that cultivates an intimate knowledge of God and self. Relationship with each other as a family of faith. “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (Jn 13:35) For when the Church is divided, the community is divided, the nation is divided, the world is divided. And relationship with the rest of the people of God in our community especially the poor, ill, and needy. For the way we love them, may be the only way they’ll be drawn into a relationship with Jesus, the Christ, who desires to be in relationship with us.

---

[1] Scripture (NABRE), Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13; Matthew 9:9-13

[2] Ndstudies.org. Lesson 3: Building Communities; Topic 3: Churches; Section 3: The Church as Social Center

[3] Weekday HomilyHelps. Exegesis by Rev. Timothy P. Schehr and Homily Suggestion by Timothy J. Cronin.

HOSPITAL FOR SINNERS

[1]“The church is not a museum of saints, but a hospital for sinners.” I can’t remember the first time I heard this phrase, but over the years I’ve heard it used in numerous homilies, in RCIA meetings, I’ve used it too, in marriage preparation and diaconate formation sessions. Even Pope Francis has said something very much like it, so I feel quite confident in the assertion that this place is a hospital for sinners. That’s why I’m here!

Pope Francis said, in an interview with a Jesuit magazine, “I see clearly that the thing the Church needs most today is the ability to heal wounds and to warm the hearts of the faithful; it needs nearness, proximity. I see the Church as a field hospital after battle.”

What a beautiful image we could print on yard signs, put them on our front lawns,[2] and live this reality.

We know little about Matthew the man and apostle. Most information about him comes from today’s reading. We know that he was an outcast from the Jewish community who was known to pal around with other “sinners” in his line of work. He was considered to be “sick”. The cause of his illness is due to sin, especially greed. He placed self-interest and wealth before all else, and so, sick enough to merit a physician: Dr. Jesus, who made a house call.

In breaking bread with Matthew and other tax collectors, Jesus creates a huge scandal. Always popular among the social outcasts, Jesus was used to the ire of hyper-religious people because he preferred the company of sinners. Cultural norms and social status were of no concern to him. But the one sin Jesus had absolutely no patience for was self-righteousness.[3]

Our broken world needs a place to bring its spiritual injuries. We need an emergency room more than a courtroom. We want healing more than judgment. Pope Francis again says, “The confessional is not a torture chamber, but the place in which the Lord's mercy motivates us to do better.”

We, the Church, are a hospital for sinners. We are wounded healers inside, who are called to mission. A mission to invite other sinners to the table of plenty and introduce them to the Master Physician, who operates in this hospital for sinners.

---

[1] Scripture (NABRE), Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13; Matthew 9:9-13

[2] National Catholic Reporter. “The church should be a hospital for sinners” by Fr. Peter Daly, Sep 24, 2013.

[3] Weekday HomilyHelps. Homily Suggestion by Timothy J. Cronin.

COME TO THE FATHER

[1]Crying serves several useful purposes for a baby. It allows them to communicate their needs when they’re hungry, uncomfortable, or in trouble. Crying shuts out sights, sounds, and other sensations too intense for them. Crying helps them release tension.

As parents, we become in tuned to our baby’s cry. I have to admit, I’m not very good at this. I spent too much time away on deployments, but watching my wife and even my daughter, as she raises our grandchildren, it’s amazing how they get to know their child’s crying patterns. There ability to identify their specific needs by the cry. They know when they’re hungry or uncomfortable; tired or just plain fussy. There are times when nothing seems to console them.[2] My father had the amazing ability to calm a crying grandchild. He was a big man that easily intimidates adults, but with children, he was often a gentle giant in his response to a child’s cry; receptive and engaging, with a compassionate heart. It’s as if he was an inviting father who became a place of rest, a place of peace for the children.

Now when adults cry, it’s similar but different. When adults cry, and I’m talking more than the traditional tears, the cry often has its roots in an unmet need or desire; some form of confusion or division; maybe a wound or hurt we’ve suffered. An adult’s cry can manifest itself in more than tears of sorrow.

James is very forthright in his letter to the early Christians, writing, “Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder.” (Jas 3:16) Disordered attractions to things, position, status. This is a place where we can become so self-absorbed, so locked into one way of seeing and being, that we often lose the ability to listen, to the point we can become detached and almost unwilling to hear the cry of those who may have a valid point or are in need around us.

The book of Wisdom warns us that the wicked simply cannot leave the just alone, they must test them. This testing will manifest in engagements between people and groups, but it will also come in the form of internal passions, envy, and conflict. The evil one wants to draw us into a narrow focus, to be divided, whether on something I want, a prominent position, or just to be always right on the currently debated topic/situation. He will use what is a good cause and twist it to the point we will not listen, we don’t want to hear other perspective, nor support another’s good cause.  

We hear this played out in today’s gospel. Jesus is sharing, for the second time, what he must endure at the hands of man. He’s taken the Twelve away from the crowds, where there will be no distractions, to speak plainly to them. “The Son of Man will be handed over to men, be killed, and in three days will rise from the dead.” (Mk 9:31) Mark tells us the twelve did not understand what Jesus was saying, and they were afraid to ask him. Why? Why couldn’t they, wouldn’t they listen to or hear Jesus’ message? Have you ever been in a grocery store having a conversation with your spouse, only to turn around and found out they weren’t there anymore? Jesus must have felt like this. The twelve were there physically but they were lost in their own dreams, their own desires and visions, their own envy as they argued who was the greatest among themselves.

Now we can take this engagement in two ways. In our own passion and compassion for Jesus, because we know the end of the story, we might think something like this: “I can’t believe it! Jesus is telling them he is going to die and they’re arguing about who’s the greatest.” Or we could recognize it is only natural and human to desire to be the greatest, to get lost in the fantasy. We could approach it like Jesus did by asking the question, “What were you arguing about on the way, [guys]?” (Mk 9:33) This type of question can leave the funny pit in the stomach feeling that causes us to reevaluate what is going on around us.

In bringing the child into their midst, Jesus is helping to refocus the apostles on the bigger picture. It’s not about them, their position, their desires, their goals of what the Kingdom will be like when Jesus mounts his throne. It’s about seeing the invisible people in their midst; it’s about hearing the cry of the poor among them; it’s about being in service to others and invite everyone to come to the Father.

James wanted the baptized of his early Christian community to battle their inner cravings and passions, which were tearing apart his community, and just come to the Father.

We need to come to the Father. Bring all our passions, desires, dreams, and wounds. All the things that may be dividing us, the things that frustrate us about the other and leave them with the Father.  Leave the hurts and wounds, give your passions and dreams to Him, Mother Mary and the humble St. Joseph. Let them refashion your passions for the greater good of God’s Kingdom.

Similar to my father’s ability to calm and bring peace to a crying grandchild, our Heavenly Father has a way with us. He understands our different cries, our different needs. He has a preferential ear toward the cry of the poor, the poor in resources and the poor in spirit. Once we can rest in our Father’s presence, once we can abandon our will to His will, we are able to rest in a peace and presence that allows us to hear the cry of the poor all around us. And like a parent, we will be able to discern the needs of other and respond with the same compassion, mercy, and love that invites all to come to the Father.

---

[1] New American Bible, Wisdom 2:12, 17-20; James 3:16-4:3; Mark 9:30-37

[2] Healthychildren.org “Responding to Your Baby’s Cries” posted 4/21/2021.

SPIRITUAL BUDGET

[1]Just as people budget their finances to make ends meet, we might also consider a different kind of budget. Besides what we amass in this physical world, we have the capital of a certain number of breaths to use in our lifetime. We may know how to budget our finances, but do we ever reflect on how we might budget the principal of our life’s breaths, given to us as a gift from God? In other words, how are we spending our time?

Speaking to a friend the other day we both had the same thought and feeling. The world seems to be in hyper-drive. To the point we feel we are spinning our wheels haphazardly to accomplish tasks, almost wastefully getting into reoccurring debates over principles we really have no control over.[2] We want to invest our time and talents into a meaningful life purpose, but seem unable to balance the checkbook. Once we reflect on how we are using our breaths, we can then determine how to better budget the time we’ve been given to include a spiritual budget.

We have twenty-four hours in the day to budget toward our life’s purpose. Just as we budget our finances for the necessities of life, so to do our breaths go toward activities relevant to our physical survival. We must budget time to care for our body; time for work, school or college. If we have a family, we need to budget time to care of them. Most want to be contributing members of the community, to be in service to others. Beyond this, we are left with time we can spend any way we like. This is the area we can create our spiritual budget.

As we are on the spiritual path, we must set goals of self-knowledge and God-realization. This involves spending time in meditation and prayer with scripture and spiritual reading, whereby we invert our attention to focus on the Divine. Just as we need to spend time toward developing technical skills, meditation and prayer, also, takes practice. Creating a daily habit helps to achieve success. By concentrating our attention on the God within, we can learn to connect daily with the divine source of wisdom.

While attending to our responsibilities of taking care of our body and mind, let’s budget for the care of our soul. When planning our spiritual budget, allocate time daily for meditation and prayer, not as an afterthought, but first, like your mortgage payment or something as important as a regular date night with your spouse. Just as we want a balanced financial budget, we also want a balanced budget of our time, so we can develop the physical, mental, and spiritual facets of our life. By making meditation and prayer a priority in our spiritual budget, we will be making the best use of our life’s breaths, and achieve spiritual gains to enrich all aspects of our life.

---

[1] Scripture (NABRE), 1 Timothy 4:12-28; Luke 7:36-50

[2] SPEAKINGTREE.IN, “Making a Spiritual Budget” by Sant Rajinder Sign Ji Maharaj

RAISED UP

[1]The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish a lifelong partnership between themselves, derives its force and strength from creation, but for the Christian faithful it is also raised up to a higher dignity, since it is numbered among the Sacraments of the new covenant.[2] Three critical questions are asked during marriage preparation, in the presence of the community, and the church’s minister that reflects and highlights today’s Feast of the Exultation of the Cross. The questions are:

1.   Are you entering into Marriage without coercion, freely, and wholeheartedly?

2.   Are you prepared, to love and honor each other for as long as you both shall live?

3.   Are you prepared to accept children (being open to life and a partner with God in his creative power)?

Barely on their journey from Egypt, the Israelites murmur against Moses about their thirst their hunger, and this pattern of murmuring recurs throughout the trek. In other words, their commitment to God and his covenant regularly flounders. The episode in Numbers marks yet another occasion. Their murmuring brings divine punishment. A divine characteristic for sinning is punishment, but also extending a path to mercy and reconciliation. So, God instructs Moses, to raise up a bronze serpent on a pole so that all who are bitten can look upon it, will live.

Jesus, who came down from heaven, “emptied himself, humbled himself, became obedient to death, even death [by being raised up] on a cross. Because of this God greatly exalted him” (Phil 2:7-9) Christ’s saving act is grounded in God’s love, it is characterized by his free consent, his choice made without coercion; it is because of his love, he gave himself completely, with a promise to be with us for as long as we live; and it is by his being raised up on the tree, that we who believe in him may gaze upon him to find the path to eternal life.

Raised up on cross, Jesus enters into his exaltation. Having done the Father’s will throughout his life, he has modeled the vows we use in the Sacrament of matrimony. Christ in John’s Gospel sums up his work with, “It is finished” (Jn 19:30). On the cross, Jesus has consummated his covenantal promises and bond to his bride the Church.

Today’s feast celebrates the cross’s ironies and it invites all of us to rededicate ourselves to its mission. Jesus’ saving work may be complete, now the mission of the Church begins. We are the Church and when we are bitten by doubt, temptation, and sin, we need to look no farther than the Savior raised up on the cross, and we will live.

---

[1] Scripture (NABRE), Numbers 21:4b-9; Phil 2:6-11; John 3:13-17

[2] The Order of Celebrating Matrimony

BLIND SPOTS

[1]Bishop Octavio Cisneros of the Diocese of Brooklyn wrote, “To be an icon of Jesus the Servant, you must begin with your heart.  In other words, if you are to be an icon of anything, you must look at yourself first and examine what you see, what others see, and what you yourself know you should look like in the light of the Gospel and God’s gift of grace.” All too often we fail to see ourselves as others see us, and we simply call this phenomenon our blind spots.

Paul is recalling how he “was once a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man.” (1Tm 1:13) In his judgement, his understanding of “The Law” was right and those of “The Way” he judged to be a threat. We know how God got his attention, to reveal Paul’s blind spot, and how he was mercifully treated, as he “acted out of ignorance,” by the abundant grace of Our Lord.

Jesus’ parable uses three analogies to explain why a fellow sinner ought not judge.

     A sinner who judges another sinner:

1. is like a blind person trying to guide another blind person; the consequence is they will not be able to avoid falling into a pit.
2. is like someone who is ignorant of a subject, yet tries to teach it to someone else. Unfortunately, neither will become the wise.
3. resembles someone with a wooden beam in their own eye, yet tries to remove a splinter from someone else’s eye. With our own vision greatly impaired, will we not risk damaging the other person, in our blindness and ignorance.

Jesus wants us to recognize what blind spots can do to our spiritual vision. The worst kind of spiritual blindness is a judgmental spirit. Judging others reinforces prejudice, discrimination, and division. Jesus knows that judging others leads us to elevate good concepts, rules, and standards (even religion) above any consideration for human needs and circumstances.[2] All to often we just don’t know what we don’t know about the others life and circumstances.

“Unless we learn to face our own shadows, we will continue to see them in others, because the world outside us is only a reflection of the world inside us.” ~Unknown When we decide who is prejudiced or being unjust, we need to take an honest look at our own behavior and open our hearts in compassion and understanding.

Jesus prayed to his Father, in the Gospel of John, “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth.” (Jn 17:15, 17) May our prayer, at this Mass, be, that we may be healed of our own blind spots, so we are able to freely help others to see with the eyes of Christ.

---

[1] Scripture (NABRE), Colossians 2:6-15; Luke 6:12-19

[2] Weekday HomilyHelps Exegesis by Dr. Terrance Callan and Homily Suggestion by Jeanne Hunt.

CHANNEL OF GOD’S LOVE

[1]We can see every human birth as a call for new hope in the world. The love of a man and a woman has joined with God in His creative work. The loving parents have shown hope in a world filled with travail. The new child has the potential to be a channel of God’s love and peace to the world.

This is all true in a magnificent way in Mary. The text from Romans reminds us that God guides every age of salvation history. The long genealogy we have just heard lists Joseph’s male ancestors. Yet let’s not overlook the mention of the five women included in the genealogy (Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, the wife of Uriah, & Mary). Each woman tells a story of God’s loving hands refining the lineage of Jesus.[2]

Nine months ago, we celebrated the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. St. Anna and Joachim though infertile, pray for a child. They receive the promise of a child who will advance God’s plan of salvation for the world. Such a story, like many biblical counterparts, stresses the special presence of God in Mary’s life from the beginning.[3]

Mary was consecrated to the God, by her parents, and God blessed Mary with this event in anticipation of her as the pure vessel to bear the Messiah, at the proper time. So, on March 25, the Church celebrates her Annunciation. When the Angel Gabriel announces the good news of God’s plan and Mary said, yes.

Nine months after the Feast of the Annunciation, we celebrate the Nativity of Jesus. But let us remember, just a few weeks after the Annunciation was the Visitation. When Mary goes in haste to the hill country to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who has also experienced a miraculous conception, and Mary is present for the birth of St. John the Baptist. This prenatal journey challenges us to revere the sacred stories of conception and birth.

Therefore, if Jesus is the perfect expression of God’s love, Mary is the foreshadowing of that love. And, if Jesus has brought the fullness of salvation, Mary is its dawning.

Birthday celebrations bring happiness to the celebrant as well as to family and friends. Next to the birth of Jesus, Mary’s birth offers the greatest possible happiness to the world. Each time we celebrate her birth, we can confidently hope for an increase of peace in our hearts and the opportunity ourselves to be a channel of God’s love in the world.

Our special prayer on this day is to have respect for all life in all its stages. May Mary who gave us life through her son, inspire us to respect life as an amazing gift from God.

---

[1] Scripture (NABRE), Colossians 2:6-15; Luke 6:12-19

[2] Weekday HomilyHelps. Homily Suggestion by Jeanne Hunt.

[3] Franciscanmedia.org, Saint of the Day / Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

CHOSEN

[1]The NFL season starts Thursday! For many their weekend routine will be rooted in the life of college football, professional football, fantasy football, they don’t care just give them some football! The teams are in the midst of finalizing their rosters, who will be chosen and who will be chosen to be starters. Being chosen means a lot. For professional sports it means a career; for college and high school athletes, a dream and an opportunity; for elementary gym students their very dignity.

Jesus goes to the mountain to pray through the night. On coming down he calls his disciples to himself and choses twelve. The twelve he will teach, mentor, and do his best to reveal who He is, and to know His Father’s will for all His children. Everyone on the plain knows what Jesus can do, that’s why they desire to simply touch him. But the twelve chosen men will learn what it means to be His disciple, and the true cost of discipleship.

How does it feel to be chosen? At some point in our lives, we’ve been chosen. Whether it was a pick-up kickball game, a college, a job, a beloved person who chose us to be their spouse, or maybe even chosen for an award. How did you respond?

Our Gospel acclamation says, “I chose you from the world, that you may go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.” (Jn 15:16) Being chosen to the life of a Christian disciple brings with it certain responsibilities. St. Paul is telling the Colossians, “As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him, rooted in him and built upon him and established in the faith as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” (Col 2:6) Christ is everything.

Our tradition in the Church puts great significance on being chosen or being “called” by name. From our Baptism to our funeral, our name is proclaimed with love. Prophesying the promises of redemption the prophet Isaiah says, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine.” (Is 43:1)

Each chosen apostle brought his unique gifts and personality to the call, reacted differently to being chosen. Just like us, there’s always a chance to say yes or no. Each of us here today is a distinctive gift to our parish, our school, employer, community and our family. Being chosen means taking seriously the decision to walk as Jesus’ disciples, and to witness to His power in our lives. Some are asked to live quiet lives of service while others are called to leadership and, as time passes, so may our calling shift as we continue to grow in the knowledge and wisdom of Christ and as our physical abilities diminish increase or diminish with age.

Yet all of us must show the faithful commitment to Christ who has chosen us by name.

---

[1] Scripture (NABRE), Colossians 2:6-15; Luke 6:12-19

AUTHORITY

[1]Social psychologist Stanley Milgram once investigated the human tendency to obey authority. Subjects of the experiment were instructed to give electrical shocks to individuals who gave incorrect test answers, allegedly to determine if they learned better when punished. Surprisingly, a substantial majority of the participants continued to obey the researcher’s commands to continue with the shocks (that were actually not real) even when they realized they might be doing severe harm to the other person. The authority of the researcher overrode their own objections.

What gives authority its power? In today’s Gospel Jesus commands unclean spirits with authority, and Paul, formally known as Saul, the persecutor to the early church. Which means there is hope for all of us. But his teaching to the Thessalonians carries the same authority. What gives them such authority? When we look at the Latin roots of the word “authority” signify “originator” or “author.” Thus, we can see both Jesus and Paul have authority because their teachings are grounded in their knowledge of God, who is the “originator” and “author” of all life.[2]

We link authority to credibility: This person, in authority, knows what they’re talking about; they are someone in a position of authority, so we can obey them without fear of error. Most of us, were raised to obey authority figures. Although, at times, we feel the urge to resist or to question legitimate authority, sometimes even the most obedient people are led astray. This is why we must “stay alert and sober.” (1 Thes 5:6) Even when we have doubts about God’s authority, it is acceptable to bring these doubts to Him.

“What is there about [Jesus’] word?” (Lk 4:36) He is the Word! His words have authority, because He proves himself to be trustworthy again and again. Here in this Eucharistic mystery. This place, this live event, where our trusting and faithful, Amen, nourishes us to reenter the world to “encourage one another and build one another up” (1 Thes 5:11) “For God did not destine us for wrath, but to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ…” (1 Thes 5:9)

This is our charge: especially for those of us in positions of authority, to ground our words and actions in the knowledge of God. To enter into this mystery, simply reflecting on the power and love of the Lord’s self-giving act, where we can be reassured that this is an authority in whom we can trust.

---

[1] Scripture (NABRE), Ruth 1:1, 3-6, 14b-16, 22; Matthew 22:34-40

[2] Weekday HomilyHelps. Homily Suggestion by Cecilia Felix.