CHOOSING LIFE

[1]Each Sunday as I go to Annunciation to serve, I stop at the grotto to briefly pray. This past Sunday, the first Sunday of Advent, when I looked at Mary my prayer was different. I sensed a strong desire to obtain the same intimate relationship she has with Jesus. This prayer has stayed with me as I continue to contemplate what a pregnant Mary experienced. How much more intimate can you get than to carry the Son of God within you! Mary chose this path, chose to believe, chose to trust, and chose to say “yes” to God’s plan.

In the Gospel of John, John the Baptist points Andrew and another disciple to Jesus. After a brief dialogue, Andrew is convinced Jesus is the Messiah, and he, in turn, finds his brother Simon (Peter) and brings him to Jesus (Jn 1:35-43). In Matthew, Simon (Peter) and Andrew have no preparation for being called. Jesus simply invites them to become his disciples. The comment, “I will make you fishers of men” implies that they will be actively engaged in Jesus’ mission and they will learn to be as effective in drawing people to the gospel as they were in landing fish. They too, developed an intimate relationship with Jesus that started with their “yes” to believe, to trust, and to follow Him.[2]

There’s been a consistent cry by some in the Church to lift the dispensation for Sunday Mass attendance. It’s as if some in the Church believe that by rule of law, fear of mortal sin, or just good ole fashion Catholic guilt can force people back into church for their own good.

I don’t think it works that way. I don’t think it ever worked that way. For years, even before COVID, people were choosing to leave the Church. The chief reason, the church had become irrelevant to their lives. It’s no different than the loss of an intimate spousal relationship. All too often the two, who once had a seemingly intimate relationship, just drift apart, the love that fueled the relationship is lost for a host of reasons.

The way to draw people to encourage the desire for an intimate relationship with Jesus, the Christ, and the only way others can make this choice, is if they see the Christ in us. Advent is a season of preparation, preparing ourselves, to welcome the Christ within, which manifests in our behaviors of hope, love, joy, and peace.

The way I see it. The desire I felt before Mary, the desire to have an intimate relationship with her Son can’t be forced, it must be chosen. We must choose to make a personal commitment to be united in a community of faith, choose to hear, receive, and put into practice the Word of God, and choose to take into our bodies, the very body and blood, soul and divinity of our Lord. Let us not stop there! Acknowledge, we are now to be the “fishers of men” we must be the ones actively engaged in Jesus’ mission. When others see our joy, rooted in this intimate relationship, as living tabernacles, when they can see the Christ in us, lived in our daily lives, it becomes contagious, this is what draws people to the desire to choose a life in Christ.  

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[1] Scripture (NABRE), Romans 10:9-18; Matthew 4:18-22.

[2] Weekday HomilyHelps, Exegesis by Dr. Barbara Leonhard, OSF.

LEFT OF BANG

[1]You walk into a restaurant and get an immediate sense that you should leave. You are about to step onto an elevator with a stranger, and something stops you. You interview a potential new employee who has the résumé to do the job, but something tells you not to offer the position. These scenarios all represent “left of bang”, the moments before something bad happens. But how many times do we talk ourselves out of leaving the restaurant, getting off the elevator, or getting over our silly “gut” feeling about someone?[2]

“Left of Bang” is a book written by Patrick Van Horne and Jason A. Riley who suggest “Left of bang” is where we want to be. To be “left of bang” means to situate ourselves and our awareness prior to the bang. “Bang” being the situation (i.e., for a military person it may an exploding bomb or the first shot of a fire fight, it may be an SUV crashing a parade route, contracting Covid, or the coming of the Lord of glory).

As we look to a new liturgical year. Our readings this week describe visions and prophecies about destroyed kingdoms and unsuccessful flight from persecution. They also speak of the need for fidelity, vigilance, prayer, and trust in the Spirit. These are the messages for the person who wants to situate themselves to the “left of bang.”

King Nebuchadnezzar’s promise to Daniel, in yesterday’s reading, is fulfilled after Daniel not only tells the king what his dream was but also what it meant. His kingdom and those that follow, each one swallowing up the one before, will be supplanted by a kingdom set up by God himself, one that will last forever. In the Gospel, Jesus warns his disciples about the end of Israel, the end of the temple in Jerusalem, and a coming time of suffering. These are “left of bang” warnings. This is not our world, and in its end, the bang will be our great beginning!

The signs to be recognized will not come all at once; perhaps each day, each event of the world and cosmos prepares us for our new beginning. Aptly, in light of yesterday’s call to fidelity, today’s Gospel acclamation calls us to “Remain faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life!” (Rv 2:10c)

For us who wish would remain “left of bang” we must be ever vigilant. We must listen intently and respond to God’s messages in scripture that cries out, “prepare the way of the Lord.” (Is 40:3; Mt 3:3; Mk 1:3; Lk 3:4) We must live out our Baptismal promises to love and serve the Lord, to evangelize in word and deed the Good News. We must take advantage of the opportunity to regularly avail ourselves to the Sacraments, especially the Sacrament of Reconciliation to keep our soul in a state of grace so we may exercise full and active participation in this perpetual Eucharistic feast heightens our awareness of God’s merciful love and situates us to the “left of bang.”

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[1] Scripture (NABRE), Wisdom 13:1-19; Luke 19:26-37.

[2] Audible.com, Publisher’s Summary for “Left of Bang” by Patrick Van Horne, Jason A. Riley

BELIEVE, TRUST, COOPERATE

[1]Today's Gospel tells us everything we need to know about Mary as the Mother of Divine Providence. The Church has given her this title because she, better than anyone else, is the perfect teacher of what “Providence” means in our daily lives. She teaches us to believe in the Providence of God, to trust in His Providence, and to cooperate with Divine Providence.

Mary teaches us to believe there is a Providence, by her example in seeing providential opportunities in whatever occurs in our lives. When Mary recognized they ran out of wine at the marriage feast, she might have said to herself, “Well, what do they expect? The people drank so much, now what will the family do?” But notice how Mary acted. She instinctively saw in the situation a providential act of God. She recognized what we are often slow to see, God's divinely ordained purpose in every person, every event, every joy, and in every pain.

What this means is, like Mary, we need to understand everything has a divinely intended purpose, and this purpose is to draw us closer to God. Viewed in this way we can see everyone and every situation that touches our lives is meant to be a grace from God. This includes our mistakes and the mistakes of others. God even uses the wrong we do to mysteriously lead us to Him, giving us the opportunity for humble repentance and patient acceptance when wronged by others.

Mary teaches us to always trust in God's goodness and wisdom, no matter how painful or hopeless a situation may seem. Humanly speaking, once the wine ran out there was nothing else to do except resign oneself to the obvious. But for Mary, she knows who her Son is, even before asking Him, she told the stewards, “Do whatever he tells you.” (Jn 2:5) Talk about trust! Mary had no doubt her Son would work the miracle. The pre-condition for the miracle was Mary's confidence in her Son answering her request. There are many things God asks us to do here and now and wants us to trust we won’t be deceived in what we hope for.

Finally, Mary teaches us beyond believing in Divine Providence and trusting in God’s loving care, we are to cooperate with the graces He frequently puts into our lives. These graces are the persons who touch our life, they’re events we experience, and they’re all too often the people and events we regularly take for granted.

Like Mary, we are to condition ourselves to see, that part of God's Providence is the effort we make to respond to every providential opportunity God puts into our lives.[2]

Let us close with a prayer: “Mother of Divine Providence, teach us to see God's loving will in everything. Teach us to trust, as you did, that the promises made to us will be fulfilled. Above all, Dear Mother, teach us never to resist any grace your Son sends us, no matter how costly our cooperation with His love may be.”

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[1] Scripture (NABRE), Isaiah 66:10-14; John 2:1-11.

[2] The Real Presence Association, Mother of Divine Providence by Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J. Copyright © 1998 Inter Mirifica.

TRYING TO FIT IN

[1]There’s often a gap between what we want to be and what we think the world things we should be. Psychologist William James said, “A man has as many social selves as there are distinct groups of persons about whose opinion he cares. He generally shows a different side of himself to each of these different groups.”

Many spend their lives trying to fit in. Always wanting to please people, to make our parents proud, and to receive the approval form everyone and anyone—family, friends, teachers, partners, pastors, and bosses. All to gain the emotional benefits of fitting in.

So, without even realizing it, we change ourselves, our desires, sometimes even our opinions to fit into whatever mold is required at the given moment. But if we’re constantly trying to prove our worth to people, it may be true we’ve already forgotten our value.[2]

Eleazer know who he was, the man’s very name identifies the source of his strength: Eli (my god) azar (helper): “My God is my helper.” His unwillingness to agree to the plan offered by some of his acquaintances (pretending to eat some of the unlawful ritual meal to save his life) demonstrates both his faithfulness to God and his religious concern for the youth of his community. For 90 years, Eleazar lived an honorable life of integrity and was highly respected by the youth of his day—until he refused to compromise to save his life. Then many young people reviled him as he fell from revered elder to a foolish old man.[3]

We have a similar situation when Jesus calls “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay ar your house.” (Lk 19:5) And the people begin to grumble, saying, “He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.” (Lk 19:7) Jesus wasn’t trying to fit in, he was fulfilling the mission of his Heavenly Father. “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.” (Lk 19:10)

This is the mission we were baptized into. To seek out the lost, the forsaken, those left out on the fringe of society and the Church. We are to live our Christian values in our everyday lives, that frankly, will often not make us the most popular people and even thought to be foolish.

The demand to fit in, the willingness to bend morality and faith is an ever-present temptation in our society. The pork society uses to tempt us is the pork of worrying what others will think of us if we done simply go along with the crowd, separating faith form daily life, surrendering the very core of who we know ourselves to be. But as Eleazar knew and Jesus models, some values are more important than life itself.

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[1] Scripture (NABRE), Wisdom 13:1-19; Luke 19:26-37.

[2] Tinybudda.com, “Stop Trying to Fit In and Start Embracing Your True Self” by Jess Stuart.

[3] Weekday HomilyHelps, Exegessi by Sr. Diane Bergant, CSA PhD, Homily Suggestion by Timothy J. Cronin.

VIGILANT FOR END TIMES

[1]It’s been a rough week for me. We recently buried three good men from different times in my life. Each who loved God, were family men, and dedicated to service to country and community. Shortly after the last funeral, I hosted a family Zoom session to discuss the to care of our aging parents. I’ve had to watch from afar as my siblings experience the many stages of stress knowing the end time is nearer as they care for mom and dad. All this has helped me put into perspective this weekend’s scripture readings as we come to the end of another liturgical year.

Today’s first reading reminds us what will happen on that day: you know the last day, the end of the world as we know it. When we hear these words, each of us must examine ourselves to see what they mean to us. They may fill us with fear, but they should also fill us with hope. As I converse with those who walk with the aging and the dying, there are a couple of dominant emotions. The first emotion is often fear. The caretakers want their loved one to survive, to cheat death, to recover, because they just can’t imagine themselves living without them and they’ll spare no expense to achieve this end. The other emotion is pure hope. Where the caretaker’s love, loves them through the aging process and when the end time is near they provide the assurance that everything will be alright. And there’s a great peace in that.

The Gospel tells us, “Of the day or hour, no one knows,” (Mk 13:32) when “heaven and earth will pass away.” (Mk 13:31) It reminds us while we won’t know when Christ will return, it also encourages us to be vigilant. Maybe it’s hard to envision the end, our Lord does describe some of its elements. He tells his disciples: after the tribulation there will be darkness (Mk 13:24). I believe we each will experience this, as individuals, as our earthly life comes to an end. Jesus not only encourages us to be vigilant but to persevere because in the tribulation, he will be close, right at our “gate.”

So, let us be vigilant in contemplating the end times, because a little healthy concern keeps us on our toes, but let’s also be full of hope because even though there’ll be these final battles, Jesus has already won the war.

Pope Benedict XVI made this point powerfully in his 2007 encyclical, Spe salvi, speaking of the great Christian virtue of hope. Pope Benedict calls the final judgment a “place of hope,” a “setting for learning and practicing hope.” Here's how he explains it: “From the earliest times, the prospect of the Judgement has influenced Christians in their daily living as a criterion by which to order their present life, as a summons to their conscience, and at the same time as hope in God's justice. Faith in Christ has never looked merely backwards or merely upwards, but always also forward to the hour of justice that the Lord repeatedly proclaimed. This looking ahead has given Christianity its importance for the present moment.” (Spe salvi, #41)

The fact that we know Jesus is coming again, to set all things right, makes a huge difference in how we look at ourselves and the world around us - if we let it.

In practical terms, what does living with this clear awareness of the end really mean? What does it mean to “be vigilant,” or, as today’s Psalm puts it, to “set the Lord ever before” (Ps 16:8) us so that we will not be “disturbed?”

First, it means making our personal relationship with God a true priority through daily prayer, ongoing study of His word, our faith, and frequent reception of the sacraments. This is what we can call keeping a healthy “God-life.”

Second, it means loving one another. Starting with self and our family. This love then splits into our relationships within the parish and into the community. If we still are not sure what this looks like, feels like? Look no further than the cross, the ultimate model of self-giving love. Allow yourself to enter fully into His passion, death and resurrection; trusting and hoping in the grace of this Eucharistic we are about to enter into. Jesus died not only for those of us who are here today, but for all of God’s children. This is the table of plenty!

Third, it means following Christ’s example in our daily lives. Jesus was honest, merciful, courageous, gentle, patient, forgiving, humble, pure, faithful… Every single day he gives us the opportunity and the choice to learn be to witnesses of his love and mercy, getting our souls ready for the great adventure of heaven.

As I remember my friends who passed, their love of God, family, and community and as I continue to walk with my family in loving our parents into their heavenly reward, I recall the prophet Daniel’s words, “the wise shall shine brightly…, and those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars in heaven.” Let’s promise to do our part to put this knowledge, of the end times as a “place of hope” to work by living a determined life of love and service to glorify the Lord by our lives.

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[1] New American Bible, Daniel 12:1-3; Hebrews 10:11-14, 18; Mark 13:24-32

UNITY

[1]I’m not sure you are familiar with the series of movies entitled, “The Mighty Ducks” (1992) or maybe our group might better relate to the “Bad News Bears” (1976). Both story lines start with an adult who was recruited, or sentenced to community service, to coach a bunch of misfit kids who were shunned by the more competitive teams, parents, and coaches. I had the pleasure of coaching this type of team while stationed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Don’t get me wrong, the players were good kids, from solid military families, but in Hawaii, sports were a ticket off the island and the players, parents, and especially coaches take winning very seriously. In this coaching experience I discovered the key to success for any team is “unity”. A unity born out of respect for the dignity of self and the other.

Josaphat, an Eastern Rite bishop, is held up as a martyr to church unity because he died trying to bring part of the Orthodox Church into union with Rome. In 1054, a schism took place that stemmed from the Roman Empire being divided into East and West, and so, as society goes so does the Church with the Eastern Church in Constantinople and the Western Church in Rome. Trouble between the two was brewing for centuries because of cultural, political, and theological differences. Millions of Orthodox Christians didn’t agree with any decision to return to communion with the Catholic Church and both sides tried to resolve this disagreement with words and with violence. Martyrs were made on both sides.

Josaphat was a voice of Christian peace in this dissent.[2] By synods, catechetical instruction, reform of the clergy, and personal example, Josaphat made ground in winning the greater part of the Orthodox to the reunion. Alas, despite all his work and respect garnered, the Orthodox separatists found fertile ground to set up their own rival bishops. It must have hurt Josaphat to see the people he had served so faithfully divided when the King of Poland declared Josaphat the only legitimate archbishop. His former diocese of Vitebsk turned completely against union with Rome. In 1623, Josaphat decided to return to Vitebsk (vē′tĭpsk) in an attempt to calm the troubles himself, completely aware of the danger but said, "If I am counted worthy of martyrdom, then I am not afraid to die."

As usual violence had the opposite affect from its intent. Regret and horror at how far the violence had gone and the loss of their archbishop swung public opinion to unity with the Catholic Church in Rome.

The essence of this story should be quite familiar to us, even if it’s the first time we’ve heard it. It is reflection of our society today. Our country is divided, virtually equally, whether you review political polls or elections, and as society goes so does the Church. The Church is equally divided, and many have fallen into the same trap of using violent words and actions, some have even weaponized the sacraments. You cannot legislate moral conduct this our contrary to the Gospel message of invitation into God’s love.

Our model for communicating our values is the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus. A model of self-giving love. The model we communicate at the Eucharistic feast is an invitation for a broken divided community and world. Jesus’ message is one of respectful dialog that invites all God’s children into unity; one body, one spirit, the one bread of life.

Hears the good news, the Mighty Ducks, the Bad News Bears, and the Pearl Harbor Rams all became champion teams. How because of the emphasis on respect for each other, the fruit of this respect is unity of effort and a respect for the dignity of their opponents, even when they weren’t treated with the same respect. For me, this is what is meant when the Church sends us forth from Mass with the charge, “Go in Peace, Glorifying the Lord by your Life.”

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[1] Scripture (NABRE), Wisdom 13:1-9; Luke 17:26-37.

[2] Catholic Online, St. Josaphat of Polotsk

BUILDING A SPIRITUAL HOUSE

[1]When we were living in Hawaii, my next-door neighbor came over one day and told me of a pile of discarded wood on the Air Force base. He said the wood looked good enough to be used for building material if I needed any. I drove over and checked it out. Sure enough, there was enough discarded wood that I was able to build a play house for our kids. The play house wasn’t much to look at, but it was sturdy and became a magnet for other neighborhood kids. I built the playhouse four feet off the ground next to a tree in the backyard; I even put a rope off one side for them to swing off. One day, I looked out to the backyard and counted ten kids on the playhouse, none of them were ours![2]

If you want to build a house that lasts, that attracts others, then you need to focus on the quality of the materials you use. Paul tells us, “You are God’s building.” (1 Cor 3:9) Peter also wrote in his first letter, that we are like “living stones… being built up as a spiritual house.” (1 Pt 2:5) While the great Lateran Basilica is the oldest public church in the west and ranks first among the four Major Basilicas of Rome, it is built of stone, mortar, and wood. Our “spiritual house” is being built with different materials – “living stones”.

Let’s use our imaginations, what if an earthquake reduced the Basilica to rubble? Would not the Church still exist, would its members still be sent to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with the entire human family?

What kind of building materials are we giving God to build with? If we give God attitude and disobedience, or dualistic behaviors, He wouldn’t have much quality to work with. If we give God a willing heart and enthusiasm to serve, the quality of the material is better. If we were to spend time in God’s Word, in prayer, and in allowing the Holy Spirit to transform our very being, then God would have the highest quality of material to use in building us into a “spiritual house” that draws others to know, love, and serve Him.

Each of us was baptized, not into some exclusive club, but into the living Body of Christ. Our responsibility to share the Good News always exceeds our rights as baptized Catholics. As we gather here today, in St. James Cathedral, the seat of the Bishop of Orlando, to reaffirm our Baptism, to be nourished by the Scriptures, and the Body and Blood of Jesus. It’s through us; others are drawn to and encounter the living Christ.

May today’s feast help us to realize that each one of us is a “living stone” of the Church, the “spiritual house”. To be the best quality of building material, for the Master Builder, we need to open our hearts more widely and live more fully in the life-giving waters of our Baptism that flows from the perched side of our risen Lord, the one foundation that we continue to build upon.

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[1] Scripture (NABRE), Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12; 1 Cor 3:9c-11, 16-17; John 2:13-22.

[2] Bethelvandalia.org, Building Materials for God, posted February 22, 2019.

MORNING MIRROR

[1]Have you ever noticed that your morning mirror never lies about what it sees? How it never judges the reflection? It just reflects back what it sees. It is we who judge the image. It is we who attempt to adjust the image according to our desire.

During facilitator training I learned the phrase that I was to “be in the group but not of the group.” Which meant while I am the facilitator of a group, my goal is to be a mirror of truth for those in the group. To give the group members an opportunity to see themselves unfiltered, to see their authentic self through others. The challenge is always to build trust through honest feedback while maintaining the dignity of each person.

Paul is writing to remind the people about what they already know, that God has called him to be an apostle to the gentiles. He is being a mirror to the community, so they can see the Christ in him and he proclaims the fruit this reflection is the conversion of the gentiles. We need to remember, for Paul to get to this position, he had to be knocked off his horse, blind for a time, and be formed by the very people he was persecuting. They were the mirror that allowed Paul to see and embrace Christ as well as his mission.

The steward in today’s Gospel attempted a more convenient route, envisioning a life of ease after he manipulated the debts owed to his master. The beneficiaries of the manipulation, however, would be very unlikely to put a great deal of trust in that steward as they’d be wondering when he might betray them. Someone who betrays one side in a conflict may enjoy a temporary reward, but the second set of masters is unlikely ever to fully trust the betrayer.[2] You see the mirror works both ways. For others to see themselves and for us to see our true selves.

The Gospel Acclamation tell us, “Whoever keeps the word of Christ, the love of God is truly perfected in him.” (1 Jn 2:5) As his disciples, we are told to “be in the world but not of the world.” Meaning to be a mirror for others in our everyday lives. How do we become the purist mirror for others? First, we must look into the morning mirror to take a full accounting of our stewardship. Yes, the stewardship of our physical resources, but also our human and spiritual gifts. Too often our pious words and actions, are facades, costumes, or masks we wear, in an attempt, to disguise or hide our brokenness. Looking deeply enough into a trusted mirror of another, we can discover, acknowledge, and make an informed decision to reconcile our own image. Thus, purifying the image, we reflect back to others.

As we prepare to enter into this mystery, to receive the very image we are called to be. The image of total self-giving, an image of compassion, love, and mercy. Let’s ask ourselves am I a morning mirror another person can look into that provides feedback, without judgment or manipulation, so they may see themselves as a beloved child of God, able to make an informed decision to reconcile themselves with what they see in the morning mirror?

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[1] Scripture (NABRE), Romans 7:18-25; Luke 12:54-59.

[2] Weekday HomilyHelps, Homily Suggestion by Pat McCloskey, OFM