THE SOLEMNITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST THE KING
November 23, 2008

I –The lost I will seek out, the strayed I will bring back, the injured I will bind up, the sick I will heal, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy, shepherding them rightly.

R – The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

II – For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life, but each one in porper order: Christ, the firstfruits; then all…who belong to him…then (after destroying every sovereignty, authority and power) he hands the kingdom to his God and Father…then he will reign until all enemies are under his feet…the last enemy to be destroyed to be death. Then, when everything is subjected to him, the Son himself will also be subjected to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all.

G –Whatever you did for one the least brothers of mine, you did for me…Come, blest of my Father. Whatever you did not do for one the least brothers of mine, you did not do for me…Depart from me to eternal punishment.

There is a verse from a popular African American Spiritual that says:
John tells us of a time when time will be no more
in the days when the trumpet shall blow.
We’ll meet over yonder in that heavenly place.
There we’ll see each other face to face.
Then the refrain:
I can almost see the lights of the city
shining down on me.
I can almost see the lights of the cit,y
forever Lord, I shall be free.

I encourage each and every one of you to remember the words of this spiritual when you enter into this church building from now and and see its newly appointed lighting system. It is true! The lights of the new and eternal Jerusalem to which we are all invited are meant to be foreshadowed to some degree in the worship spaces in which we gather – to keep us wanting to come back each week to see them – to have something to dwell upon and remember during the week when we are not here – to remind us of our goal. Use well this new dimension of our experience of God’s presence among us and our communion with one another as fellow pilgrims through life!

In the new configuration of the sanctuary there are three things to remember: Christ Has Died! Christ is Risen! Christ will come again! (These, you will notice, are the exact three elements of the Acclamation of the Memorial we proclaim and sing after the words of consecration.)

CHRIST HAS DIED! The central arch, the most prominent, containing the Altar of Sacrifice and the Crucifix has to do with the fact that Christ has come into the world to die for us – so that we can have the forgiveness of our sins and entrance into heaven. (It is fitting that the Mary statue is now in the sanctuary as it is she who gave birth to Jesus, and she who stood by him during his most horrible passion and death!) (It is fitting too that the Book of Gospels which announces the story of how it all happened is also there – for it is this very Word of God that became flesh in Mary).

CHRIST IS RISEN! The arch on the right has to do with the Risen Christ being very much present in the tabernacle. It is fortunate that there is a Risen Christ image to place there above the tabernacle. It really is an astounding fact that he is here with us – until the end of time – as spiritual food but also object of prayer and adoration!

CHRIST WILL COME AGAIN! The arch on the right has to do with an open invitation to the whole world to experience life in the Church while there is time to do so. It has to do with joining the Church through Baptism and Confirmation. It has to do with living the Catholic Christian faith that has to do with loving God first and then helping one another in self-sacrificial ways all the days of our lives – until Christ comes again to gather us all into the Kingdom of heaven – just as he promised that he would do!

With this three-part theme in mind for this sanctuary – let us truly proclaim and sing the acclamation of faith when it comes up in Mass each week with great enthusiasm and joy! For it is all about who we are and where we are going!

Now, to talk about the new crowning jewel of the sanctuary: the hand-carved in Czechoslovakia, wooden, St. Paul Series Crucifix! There is no greater symbol and sign in all of the world since that day on Calvary than the symbol and sign of the Cross! There is no greater image! It has a life all its own! By means of it the powers of the Evil One have been held back! By means of it Hope has dawned on the despairing! By means of it Peace has been restored! By means of it Reconciliation has been accomplished and man has once again become friends with God, adopted children and heirs of eternal life!

So long as we have breath in our bodies we ought never take our eyes off the Cross of Christ Jesus! For not only was suffering on it the necessary prerequisite for Resurrection of newness of life for Jesus – but it is also the same for us! Just as Jesus never took his eyes off his own cross throughout his entire life from the moment of his birth; so too we must not take our eyes off our own cross that he has assigned us! Just as he carried his cross, so too we must carry ours, so that we may enjoy the fruits of the reconciliation that he won for us all!

Our readings today for the Feast of Christ the King tell us that the purpose of the reconciliation of all of mankind was so that the way would be paved for the establishment of the One True Universal Kingdom that God the Father had in mind all along. The plan is spelled out very clearly in the second reading of St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. Christ would bring about and be the reconciliation that was absolutely needed for man to be in right relation to God; his reward would also be our reward if we believe in him and do what he told us to do; then, his reign would extend over all the temporary “presidents, kings, potentates” of the earth and he would subject them to himself; then he would offer all of them and us, including himself to God his father who would make him king of all creation forever – and then God would be all in all – which was the original plan in the first place! After taking the very long way around – we will finally have made it! It will be quite the day: that final one!

As the gospel passage tells us: as we have heard so many times: “if you say you love me (Jesus says this) but do not take care of the least of my brothers and sisters – then you have not really loved me – and you will have no place in my kingdom.” (This applies to the very least of the brothers and sisters wherever they may be found!) But if you did your best to care for me where I told you I would be: in the poor, the weak, the defenseless; in the sick, in the imprisoned, in the hungry, in the naked – you will be warmly welcomed into everlasting life – and you reward will be beyond anything you can possibly imagine now!

Lord Jesus, you are king of truth and life, holiness and grace, justice, love and peace! These are the hallmarks of your amazing kingdom! We want you to know this day that even above all of these things you are most of all KING AND CENTER of our Lives and our Hearts! We ask you to receive the crown that we bring forward during the offertory procession today as a symbol of our desire to live each day as if we truly believed in your Kingship and want to be among the sheep at your right hand on that day that is surely coming – and could arrive at any time!

THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
November 16, 2008

I –…a worthy wife…reaches out her hand to the poor, and extends her arms to the needy…she is a woman who fears the Lord and thus is to be praised.

R – Blessed are those who fear the Lord.

II – but you…are not in darkness, for that day to overtake you like a thief…for all of you are children of the light and children of the day….therefore do not sleep as the rest do, but say alert and sober…

G –For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

At last! this is the last “Green Sunday (Sunday of Ordinary Time)” until well into January. Which means that it is the last of the “Teaching Sundays” – where we expound on various aspects of the teachings of the Gospel to make them more clear and more easily understandable.

On this last teaching Sunday I have decided to divide the instruction into two parts: the first: a short homily now; the second, a very timely and important instruction about something that needs mentioning, which will take place just before the final blessing.

The homily: if we could sum up the entire Church “year of grace” (which will end next Sunday) – we could say that it has been an attempt to remind us of what we have been gifted with already by means of our Baptism (and Confirmation and the gift the of Eucharist).  I have spoken about this over and over again – and I will continue to do so over and over again – it is that important that we always remember that we are Baptized, Confirmed, Communicants! That’s what being Catholic means! This is meant to and ought to make all the difference in our lives – and in the lives of all around us whose lives ours touches! We are meant to be with Christ the Light of the World!

In the gospel passage we read the parable of the talents: (gifts) given to each according to how much the Giver thought each was capable of using the gifts.
Some were given a large portion, others a medium portion, others a small portion. Portion size is irrelevant. What matters is what the receiver did with the gifts! Were they used creatively, skillfully, wisely, loving on behalf of other people’s welfare and good? This is all that God will be interested in on that day when Jesus will come like a thief in the night.

Those who can show that they used their gifts this way – empowered by the Holy Spirit who was given specifically to help them in this regard – will enter into the glory of the Kingdom of Heaven. Those who thought mostly or only of themselves – who used their gift for their own satisfaction, welfare, comfort and gain – will be cast out into the darkness forever. Thus: those who were given a lot will gain an enormous amount more in the happiness and beatitude of heaven! and those where given a small amount but who misused it* – will lose everything and end up in the nothingness of eternal separation for God and their brothers and sisters!

This, dear brothers and sisters, is not just a story: it is fact related in story-form so that we may come to know its truth, believe its content and let it make a difference in the choices we make every minute of our day! It’s not too late – until the last trumpet sounds. Then it will be too late!

Blessed are those who fear God! Can any one of us afford not to believe his words or to trust that he will do what he says he will do? He told us from the very beginning that holding him in awe and trusting his ways will merit us eternal life! Let’s take him for his word – let’s believe him!

Blessed are those who fear God! Amen! Amen! Amen!

THE DEDICATION OF THE LATERAN BASILICA IN ROME
November 9, 2008

I –I saw water flowing out from beneath the threshold of the temple toward the east…

R – The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High.

II – Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God swells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for the temple of God, which you are, is holy.

G –Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

We begin our homily today in Portland, Maine. There is a chair there that is the most important chair in all of Maine for Catholics. It is the chair that Bishop Malone sits in when he presides over liturgy. The Latin word for chair is “cathedra” – and so, it makes sense that the church building that houses the chair is called a “cathedral!” And so, we start our homily today at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland. It is a beautiful edifice – and makes an impressive presence in the Portland skyline that one sees driving down I295. Most likely many of you have been inside the cathedral and have seen “the chair.”

Now since not everyone can get to the Bishop’s Mass every Sunday as we ought to be doing – since he is the only one in the diocese authorized by the Church to preside here - “smaller cathedrals” or “churches” have been set up in various locations all across the diocese - and delegates from him have been sent out to preside in his place: these delegates being priests - of which I am one. (I, however, in this case am but a “delegate of the delegate” – as I am Fr. Steve’s representative because he can’t be here on Sunday.)  I too, in his place and the bishop’s place, preside from “a chair” in this “church.”

Now this same pattern happens all across all the countries of the world. And it in this way that the One Church exercises the same ministry, celebrates the same sacraments, listens to the same Scripture readings and is united in one  and the same purpose: to love and serve the Lord until he comes again!

Now where this all began, takes us across the ocean to Rome, Italy. When the Church was being developed and organized there in the early centuries, one cathedral was considered not only the duly designated cathedral for the Diocese of Rome (of which the pope is presiding bishop), but it was also considered the mother of all the other cathedrals (and even churches) in the world – and this is the Cathedral of St. John Lateran on Celian Hill in Rome. Now some churches have a special ranking because of their historic or spiritual significance – these are called “basilicas.”  Again we only have to go as far as Lewiston, Maine to see a real basilica (though a “minor” one, in the scheme of things): designated such because of its architectural majesty and the dedicated service of the Dominican Fathers who ministered there for over a hundred years.

Now, there are four major basilicas in the world and they are all in Rome. St. John Lateran – whose dedication feast we remember and celebrate today – is the first and oldest. It is a very historic place: five key ecumenical councils of the Church were held there throughout the centuries. The official title is the Patriarchal Basilica of the Most Holy Savior and also St. John the Baptist at the Lateran – as it stands on the site of an ancient palace belonging at one time to the Laterani family. (Others: St. Peter, St. Paul O.W., St. Mary Major).

The Emperor Constantine received the Lateran palace as part of his wife’s dowry and then donated it to the Church. Thereafter it was the official residence (patriarchum) of the popes until their departure for Avignon, France in 1309. It has undergone many renovations due to earthquakes, barbarian invasions and fires. It was only finally completed in the middle of the 17th century. This feast today commemorates the original dedication of the basilica by Pope Sylvester I on November 9, 324.
What makes this feast so important - that it is celebrated on any day of the week on which it falls – even Sunday – is the fact that this cathedral is a sign of devotion to, and unity with, the Chair of St. Peter ( the “rock” on whom the Church was founded by Jesus,) which is situated on the very back wall of another of the four major basilicas in Rome bearing his name - which as St. Ignatius of Antioch wrote: “presides over the whole assembly of charity.”

And so, the most important thing that any pope, bishop or priest can do from the chair (which technically is what I am doing when I am even standing here at the ambo) is to be an administrator of charity: which begins with the proclamation and explanation (The Readings, especially the Gospel & Homily) of the story of GOD’S TREMENDOUS LOVE FOR US THAT WAS MANIFESTED BY THE INCARNATION OF HIS SON – AND THE LOVE WHICH CAUSED JESUS TO GIVE HIS VERY LIFE FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS AND POSSIBLE ENTRY INTO ETERNAL LIFE – possible, but not yet a done deal – as we still have to cooperate in our own salvation until our very last breath!

The readings today remind us that what is always more important even than a church or basilica edifice or building: is the fact that the people in it, the “assembly of charity” who gather there to worship God, to be nourished and strengthened by him and sent forth to love and serve others in a self-sacrificial way – are the “real, living, breathing stones” which make up the “real spiritual temple of God!” This is so because the Spirit dwells in our hearts and enables us to do all these things!

May we be God’s temple this day! May we let the streams of the river of grace flow through us to others; may we honor our own bodies and selves as we honor the Body and Blood of Christ which we receive – which truly is the resurrected temple he talked about! And may we always be “God’s ‘assembly of charity’” willing to assist all in need- in season and out of season, when convenient and inconvenient: for it is the loving thing to do- and one day we will be judged on how we really tried to love one another!

COMMEMORATION OF ALL THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED
November 2, 2008

I –But the wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament. And those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever.

R – The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.

II – If, then we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him…death no longer has power over him.

G –I will not reject anyone who comes to me…[and] I will raise [him] on the last day.

We have wonderful readings today for this special celebration – that the whole church gets to participate in because it falls on a Sunday. It is the day that we remember all the faithful departed; the day we remember all who have gone before us “marked with the sign of faith (the cross of Christ)”; the day we remember our own mortality and the fact that in God’s great merciful plan and loving providence, we shall one day join them. It is a wonderful day!

A celebration like this – one which hits especially close to home for all of us – each of us – most likely - having known someone who has passed on before us – is an occasion to sharpen our focus on what really matters in life and what doesn’t.

Those who are most qualified for a greater depth of eternal happiness are the ones who loved the most – who thought of themselves second – who as much as possible tried to look out for the needs of other people, as many as possible – who treated all others with great dignity and respect - who trusted in God’s strength and resources to do these things through them, rather than their own willfulness. These are the wise ones who shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament (as it says in reading I today).

The reading goes on: the ones who lead many to justice – because they took the time to learn about God’s justice – and applied it whenever and wherever it was necessary in their life styles and current situations – will be like the stars forever.

It is because of our baptism that we are most eligible and empowered to learn about and do what is truly good, right and just. It simply comes with baptism! It comes with incorporation into Christ Jesus! It comes with being cleansed from the debilitating negative-life-filter which is sin that is forgiven by Baptism (and the Sacrament of Penance after Baptism). It comes with being equipped with real and powerful gifts of the Spirit at Confirmation to live a truly useful life that will merit eternal reward. It comes with this and every Eucharistic celebration which rekindles the fires of God’s love in us – purifies our perspectives once again – and sends us on our way to love and serve God in others – refreshed and renewed.

Those will not be rejected by God – at the end of their lives – who chose him – and his will and way – and his truth, and goodness and justice. Those will be accepted by God and raised up on the last day who believed in Jesus and who tried to live a life of discipleship which was meant to make a positive, life-affirming difference in their own lives and the lives of others!

And so today, as we remember our family members and friends (especially those represented by these lit candles) and all the faithful departed, who – being still very much alive by means of their souls are now further along the process of full incorporation into Christ than we are – we pray for the success of their full incorporation – and we ask them to pray for us that we may come to know and do what is right and good and just, in a way that pleases God – so that one day we may join them – and together with them be escorted to our eternal place of blessedness and happiness and reward!

The Lord is our shepherd!  And if we let him – he will provide all we need to make it through life’s rough way to the shores of the stream of everlasting rest!

May we let him provide what he will, and may we use what he provides– this day – and every day! Perhaps this is what our relatives and friends now gone before us would say to us if they could come back for even a brief moment from where they are. Perhaps they would o so lovingly, gently, yet persuasively encourage us: “Yes! Let him! Let Jesus be your shepherd! He really is the Way, the Truth and the Life! Listen to him! Do what he says!

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When you go to the polls on Tuesday – first pray – pray for wisdom, and it will be given you; then remember to keep it all in perspective, and know that your vote can be like a “star of justice” that shines in the dark night of these troublesome times! 

Remember, too that God is with you in that booth – and to really keep it in perspective: imagine it to be Judgment Day as well as Election Day - and that God is praying for you that you make your voting decisions based on what he has tried to teach you throughout your whole life!

THIRTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
October 26, 2008

I –I will hear the cry of the orphan and the widow….I will hear the cry of the one who has no cloak to cover himself at sunset…

R – I love you, Lord, my strength.

II – …you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God and to await his Son from heaven…

G –You shall love the Lord, your God…you shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Last week’s gospel was about “giving Caesar what belongs to Caesar, but giving first and foremost to God what belongs to God.” It was not so much an either or question, but one of primacy and priority. What is most important is rendering God all glory, praise and thanks! Constantly, and for everything! In the right ordering of society (which is the realm of “Caesar”) God expects us to use our intelligence to move always towards the good and the truthful and the just. Natural intelligence and reasoning power can help us along these lines – but what can help even more is available supernatural help!

The Primary Truth, Good and Justice is God himself! And so to allow us deeper insight into keeping our priorities straight – he gives us supernatural aids: 1)the Word of Scripture that we read at this and every Mass; 2)the homily which is a practical application of the readings; 3)the possibility of offering ourselves and all of creation to him by the prayers of this Mass over the bread (which represents all these things) that is brought up in the Offertory Procession; 4)and to have them transformed into real spiritual food (the very Body and Blood of Jesus) to help us live balanced  and abundantly rich spiritual lives.  It is in the Eucharistic Celebration that Jesus himself unites us to his Passion and Death, so that we can also be sharers in the newness of resurrected life – and by the gift of the Spirit, to always know better what to do when we need to know it and do it!

The motivation behind all of this is the LOVE OF GOD! The LOVE that God has for us; the LOVE that he expects us to have for him and one another in return! The readings today speak of such love!

In the gospel passage when asked about the “greatest commandment” – Jesus recites the age old Jewish prescription: “You shall love God – with all you’ve got! AND you shall love your neighbor as you love yourself.” These TWO he tells them forms ONE commandment.

What Jesus is doing here is telling us outright that WHEN WE LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR AND OURSELVES WHOM WE CAN SEE – we are at the exact same time loving Him whom we cannot see with our human eyes! And this is very pleasing to God.

The converse is also true: WHEN WE DO NOT LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR NOR OUR SELVES to the extent that we are empowered to, then we cannot possibly be loving God. And God is not pleased – at all. This means that even if you pray all day and go to church every Sunday – IF YOU DO NOT REALLY CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE SITTING BESIDE YOU or the people living next door to you or down the street – or across town, or across the country or across the world - St. John – who is an expert par excellence on the love of God – says – to the extent that you don’t do these things: you are a liar!  Pretty strong words!

And so: giving God what is his due: glory, honor, praise, thanks and LOVE always comes first!! And then, everything else just seems to fall into place. We know much more easily how to get along with one another; we know much more easily how to interact with one another peacefully on the family level, social level, as members of society, as members of the world; we know much more easily how to discern and choose the good, the true and the just – and how to go after it; we know much more easily how to decide how to “render to Caesar what is his due” in the business of formal government: the bottom line here beings always: that is best which promotes the greatest good and gives the most freedom to put God first and his precepts, his laws and his commandments.

GOD is meant to be our strength, our rock of refuge, our shield, the horn of our salvation, our stronghold! Not Caesar! “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, but give to God what belongs to God!” Let us keep our eyes fixed on him and pray that he always be our primary ruler and guide – and we will always be on the right, good, true and just path – and we will end up where we ought to be! HIS KINGDOM – where JESUS will reign as KING forever!

TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
October 19, 2008

I –I am the Lord and there is no other, there is no God besides me.

R – Give the Lord glory and honor.

II – …unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and labor of love and endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ…

G –Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God who belongs to God.

Jesus didn’t get much into politics: he did not come as a politician, a social reformer, a world-class economist or trade-specialist. He did not come as an earthly king or regent of any sort. He came as Savior. He came as Healer. He came as Reconciler! He came as King of All Creation (not just any one part of it! – since He made it all in the first place!)

And so, in the gospel passage today, Jesus says in responding to a question about taxation: give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God. If there is a question involved here: it would be one of priority. Which is more important: The giving to Caesar or the giving to God?
Without a moment’s hesitation our answer as Catholic Christians ought to be: “giving to God what is his due is most important!”

And what is God’s due: CONSTANT HONOR, GLORY, PRAISE AND THANKS – FOR EVERYTHING! If God did not “speak” his “Word” and “create” everything: then nothing would exists! That we do exist – and all creation around us - is a sign of God’s favor, his love, his care, his providence. Since we are NOTHING without him – he deserves ALL thanks, and praise and glory and honor FIRST and FOREMOST! This is not difficult to understand!

Then, as we use the intelligence he gives us to order ourselves into harmonious living situations and conditions with one another – both in small and large groupings called: villages, towns, cities, countries; while we try to achieve peace and balance among ourselves – who are truly brothers and sisters – of the one Creating and Sustaining God and Father; we are to render to those in legitimate government offices what is their due – according to legitimate need and lawful requests – and according to our own rightly formed consciences – after we primarily render to God what is his due: which is what we are doing here and now in this Mass: giving him worship, praise, glory, honor and thanks – and telling him that he can count on us to be his hands and feet and heart and voices as we go from here to love others with his own love!

When we keep our priorities straight and our perspective clear – then we better know how to interact both as members of the Church and members of the country in which we live, and the world in which it finds itself!

When we do this: we, with Jesus, who is Light of the World, become like lights shining in the world so that not only we ourselves, but all others, might see the way – which will lead ultimately to the One Kingdom of Heaven, where there will be One King: Jesus – and all will be all in him – and peace, and joy will reign forever!

Sing to the Lord a new song: all you lands;
For great is the Lord and highly to be praised;
The Lord is King;
he governs the peoples with equity!

TWENTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
October 12, 2008

I –On this mountain the Lord of hosts will provide for all people a feast of rich good and choice wine, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.

R – I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

II – My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father, glory forever and ever.

G –The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests.

This is the harvest celebration time of the year. “Octoberfests” are happening in many places in our country and throughout the world. The Jewish people celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths at this Fall time of the year. It reminds the people of how they were freed from slavery in Egypt by the Exodus and how they lived in the desert for forty years in portable tents – while God provided for their needs!

The first reading today tells of the mountain of the Lord of hosts that would one day provide for all peoples a great feast of rich food and choice wines – not just the people of Israel – but everyone would be invited. This, of course, referred to the mountain of the Lord’s bounty in the Eucharist which emanates from the Last Supper and the Mount of Calvary – and the celebration of the Mass that we are attending right now! It is here we have the richest of food and the choicest of wines – the very Body and Blood of Jesus to be our nourishment in our wandering in the desert of earthly life while we aim at the goal of life in the heavenly Jerusalem – where the banqueting and feasting on the very presence and life of God himself will last forever!

St. Paul in the second reading today, too, mentions how God would supply the needs to the Phillippians in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus – referring again to the celebration of Eucharist and the feasting on the Bread of Life and the Cup of Eternal Salvation!

The gospel passage also restates the whole scene yet once again! It is a parable regarding the heavenly banquet – but those who were invited didn’t want to come for a variety of reasons – and so the banquet hall was filled with anyone and everyone who could be found on the streets! This at first glance seems like a good thing! Maybe there’s a chance for anyone, anywhere! BUT – the story goes on that at least one man who had been escorted into the banquet was not wearing a wedding garment! It appears that there was a very strict “dress code” for banquets in those days: and this man did not measure up – and so he was not only kicked out – but he was tied up and thrown outside into the darkness where he wailed and ground his teeth! The moral of the story is that the “dress-code” is very important – and the wedding garment is necessary if we are to attend the royal wedding banquet of the Lamb of God in heaven.

Now – what exactly IS this wedding garment!
For us it is both real and symbolic!

On the day that we are baptized – all of us – and the two who will be baptized in just a few minutes – receive our white baptismal garment – the wedding garment of the parable! It is symbolic of the life of Christ into which we are incorporated by the baptism – a life of virtue and goodness that we are to carry as unspotted as we possibly can throughout our lives, so that when we arrive at the heavenly banquet it will be clean and white and pleasing in the sight of God who will welcome us into the Great Hall for the feasting!

What can stain that garment is less serious personal sin; what can remove it altogether is serious mortal sin! But, thanks to the Sacrament of Reconciliation it can be restored to us again– white as snow!

Therefore, on this day of celebrating baptism, in the season of Tabernacles and Octoberfests, let us all recall our own baptism and our own progress toward salvation! And let us ask God for forgiveness at this Mass for less serious sins (that can be forgiven now) and think about making an appointment to see a priest about the forgiveness of more serious sins - so that if we are chosen at random – and when we least expect – to display our wedding garment to the Judge of all – we will be ready!

And now we move on to the incorporation of two new members into the Body of Christ! They will now be eligible to one day feast on the rich food and the choice wine of the Eucharist – and partake in all of the spiritual benefits of life in the Catholic Church as true adopted children of the Father, true brother and sister of Jesus and all of us – forgiven of all their sins, and gifted with God-given powers of Faith and Hope and Charity – so to live a life of intimate union with God and service to and with all of us - both now and forever!

We rejoice today and we are glad that God the Father has graciously willed all of this to be so! Amen!

TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – RESPECT LIFE SUNDAY
October 5, 2008

I –The vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the people of Judah are his cherished plant’ he looked for judgment, but see, bloodshed! for justice, but hard, the outcry.

R – The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.

II – [Think about what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, gracious, excellent, worthy of praise.]

G –…the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruits.

IF we took St. Paul’s words to heart, in the second reading (to the Phillippians) today: and we spend more time rather than less thinking about what is really true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, gracious, excellent and worthy of praise - then the peace of God which surpasses all understanding would guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus in ever increasing measure – and we would know better how to deal with all life’s challenges and sometimes difficult choices.

In both the first and third readings (the third being the Gospel Passage) it is clear that God has entrusted us with the care of a vineyard – the vineyard of our own personal and family affairs as we move toward eternal life – the vineyard of the Church’s affairs as it is the pre-eminent aid in our journey – the vineyard of the world around us in which we as members of the Church are to make an impact as we help effect the transformation and redemption of everyone, everywhere!

It is true that there are many “out there” who wish to impede our task, our mission, our work. “The world” with its self-absorbed spirit of selfishness is pulling us one way; the Church is offering us a counterweight - if we choose to use it! The Church can help us to keep focused: to keep thinking about what is really true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, gracious, excellent and worthy of praise - so that the peace of God which surpasses all understanding can now and always stand guard over our hearts and minds through the teaching and spiritual presence and food that comes from Christ Jesus!

This teaching and spiritual presence and food is what rightly forms our consciences as Catholic Christians. If we view everything in our lives through the filter of a rightly formed conscience – which we obtain most fully through homilies, catechesis, the reception of the sacraments (especially Eucharist and Penance), and the give and take of Spirit-guided discussions and discernment processes of the Catholic Church– then even the most important issues - such as the right to life; the dignity of all human persons from conception - throughout each and every moment of life - to natural death, the right to work, the right to a just wage, the right to dissent, the right to exercise free-will according to God’s own will and way (which we have been talking about for the last couple of weeks)  – (all of these issues) can be approached and dealt with in a calm and peaceable way – with a peace that even surpasses all human understanding.

If we fix our eyes on Jesus (and especially him crucified, as St. Paul tells us over and over again) – we will know what to do and have the power to do it!

I have chosen you, from the world, says the Lord, to go and bear fruit that will remain.

We recommit ourselves to you, today, Lord Jesus, to be open to the task at hand of conducting our lives in a way that pleases you, and brings dignity to others and to ourselves – and that will merit us your praise and blessing when you return one day to settle up accounts in the vineyard you have leased out to us!

TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
September 28, 2008

I –Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair?

R – Remember your mercies, O Lord.

II – Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory… Have the same attitude that is also in Christ Jesus.

G – “Amen I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.

Last Sunday’s readings very clearly pointed out to us that GOD’S WILL AND WAY OF DOING THINGS are VERY DIFFERENT FROM OUR OWN! Thank him! Thanks be to God! If we, as fallen human creatures, were responsible for orchestrating our own redemption – with all of its ramifications, regulations and rules – the project would most likely not have gotten done. And today – no one would be saved from anything – and we would not be here – we would have nothing to celebrate!

But one of us, one like us – in all things – but sin – had the power and the authority and the love necessary to put himself on the line so that the vicious cycle of selfishness could be broken: that was JESUS who HUMBLED HIMSELF – totally emptying himself of his divinity – taking on our human nature – so that he COULD NOT ONLY SHOW US THE WAY, SHOW US HOW TO USE OUR MINDS AND OUR HEARTS – BUT ACTUALLY BE THE WAY – to forgiveness of our sins – and life after death in a heaven we can just barely imagine!

The words from St. Paul’s letter to the Phillippians regarding this are magnificent: “he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross!”

So, last week was GOD’S WILL AND WAY ARE BEST; this week: JESUS IS THE PERFECT MODEL OF LIVING OUT THAT WILL AND WAY- who invites us all to the same perfection, to the same holiness, to the same fullness of life that he now has.

Now he understands that so long as we are on the journey to our heavenly homeland that we will not do things perfectly – do what we perceive is God’s will and way - from our own human perspective; but he did tell us that we can do things VERY PERFECTLY IF WE DO THEM FOR LOVE OF GOD THE FATHER – asking the help of the Holy Spirit – and then being willing to put that help into action when it comes. This is perfection as God sees it!

From the first reading today we see that God’s Will and Way – the bottom line of all of this – is that we simply live good and virtuous lives – so that we might not die and be counted among the lost forever. Even though redemption has been accomplished – and it is available to us – we can only connect with it IF WE LEAD VIRTUOUS LIVES!: Lives filled with a desire to love God with all our hearts and to love others as we love ourselves. Those who choose the opposite path – will get the opposite verdict on Judgment Day!

The choice is yours; the choice is mine – we must wisely use the gift of free-will that God has given us and decide where we will “make the bed that we will sleep in” forever! Will it be among the virtuous; or with the evil doers?

Your ways, O Lord, make known to us; show us your paths, guide us in your truth and teach us, for you are God our Savior!

TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
September 21, 2008

I –For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.

R – The Lord is near to all who call upon him.

II – I long to depart this life and be with Christ, for that is far better. Yet that I remain in the flesh is more necessary for your benefit. Only, conduct yourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ.

G – Are you envious because I am generous? Thus, the last shall be first, and the first will be last.

The Joy of Full Surrender is a revised translation in modern English of the 18th century spiritual masterpiece The Abandonment to Divine Providence by Jean-Pierre de Caussade, S.J. who died in 1751. In it de Caussade outlines a clear cut way to experience the richness of holiness: fully surrender to God’s will – and agree to see things his way! After all, he is God and cannot possibly will or permit anything that is not absolutely best for u s- in the long run! If we could try this method out –

If we could also use the gift of faith most fully that God gives us at our Baptism in order to be able to relate to him on his level – to see things his way –

If we could use the tremendous gifts that the Holy Spirit gives us in Confirmation – Divine Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge – to see clearly God’s will – God’s way –

And if we could appreciate the gift of the Eucharist to a greater degree and know how blessed we are to have all of the spiritual parts of us fed each time we receive Holy Communion – so that we can love better and serve better and thus more clearly experience and see the reality of God and his will in our lives -

-then the readings for Mass today would make perfect sense! Of course! God’s will and way are not only best but they are completely different from our own – if our own are not completely transformed by the amazing gifts that he freely offers us as outlined above!

It is those “of the world,” who live according to the limited and always unfulfilling dictates of their own perspectives that have difficulty in understanding how it is better to be away from the body (dead, but alive in Christ Jesus), than to be in the body alive, yet still on journey to completion in him! We want to possess and be possessed completely by Jesus – and that can only take place after we leave this body and await our resurrection and the arrival of our new spiritual body! This is absurdity to those attached to their bodies, and their pleasures and their never-quite-satisfying pursuits!

The worldly really have difficulty with today’s gospel passage. How is it justified that a person who works only an hour gets the same daily wage as someone who has worked all day long? There is reason for a lawsuit here, for sure!

These two categories of worldly folks seem incapable of understanding some deeper realities that will affect them nevertheless. On resurrection day – all will come to realize that fullness of life in Christ is better than life on pilgrimage back to him. And, thanks be to God – the last – the ones of our own era in salvation history –US - who came to faith, and belief and life in Jesus, later than everyone else, through life in his Church, will indeed get the same benefit of God’s mercy, redemption, love and an invitation to the Eternal Nuptial Banquet of the Lamb as those who first believed: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the rest. Yes, thanks be to God, His will and way are definitely different and greater than ours ever could hope to be. Yet, how many are still willing to GO IT THEIR OWN WAY!?

In the end, THE CHOICE IS OURS – GO THE COURSE OF LIFE OUR OWN WAY – OR GOD’S. (If we deviate even slightly from his, then it is ours!) BUT IF WE EARNESTLY TRY to find out more and more about his will and his way – and allow ourselves to be guided by the Church, and nourished and strengthened by her sacraments – and we KEEP OUR EYES FIXED ON THE DEATH OF JESUS ON THE CROSS and HIS GLORIOUS RESURRECTION – then we shall end up in the right place at the right time – and begin an amazing new life in the new heaven and the new earth – where we shall always see everything quite clearly – without having to work at it anymore at all!

Great is the Lord and highly to be praised;
his greatness is unsearchable.

THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS
September 14, 2008

I –….Moses…made a bronze serpent and mounted it on a pole, and whenever anyone who had been bitten by a serpent looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.

R – Do not forget the works of the Lord!

II – …he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

G – God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that he who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.

Volumes have been and no doubt could still be written until the end of time about the exact nature of the value of the CROSS OF CHRIST! And teachings and homilies and lessons could also go on until that grand and glorious day we are all waiting for – the fulfillment of everything that happened as a result of JESUS DYING ON THAT CROSS. Today, hopefully, we can summarize it in a “bite size” of a few hundred words and about 5 minutes.

The only word that can truly be associated with the CROSS OF CHRIST is “GLORY!” “The Cross of Christ” is the “Glorious Cross of Christ!” Yes, an instrument of death – the very worst kind of capital punishment that the Roman Empire could conceive of – this instrument of death is the only one in human history to be also an instrument of LIFE! By freely and willingly and lovingly choosing to die on that Cross, Jesus transformed DEATH INTO LIFE – for himself and for all of us! By the same act he transformed all of the forces of DARKNESS INTO LIGHT – the brilliant shining light of a New Day! By the same act he transformed everything about HATRED AND ANGER AND RESENTMENT INTO LOVE – for those who want to participate in it and benefit from it! NOW WE HAVE A CHOICE – where before Good Friday – we were all doomed to death, darkness and hatred as enemies of God forever!

How could the cross therefore be anything but GLORIOUS!

St. Paul understood this perfectly! In the second reading today he says that Jesus humbled himself in an unprecedented way in order to become obedient to the point of death! EVEN DEATH ON A CROSS! Paul knew the incredible stigma that came from being sentenced to crucifixion – only the lowest of the low were nailed to a cross after being whipped and scourged like an animal! He therefore goes on to say that because of this, the Person and the Name of Jesus is exalted into and above the heavens – and that the instrument of death has taken on a whole new meaning forever! THE GLORIOUS CROSS OF CHRIST – is now our JOY, our HOPE and our PEACE! – because he has freely given us a share in its merits!

Because of it, we each now have the chance to get to heaven!

In the first reading today we read how Moses raised up a seraph snake mounted on a pole so that the people who had been bitten by a seraph snake could be healed – and they were. This quite obviously prophesied when Jesus would be raised up on a cross (as one who adopted the human form of the children of Adam who had been seduced by a snake) – and that by his death on the cross – the power of the snake would be mortally wounded – and that when we look upon him who is Crucified – we would find real solace and healing and hope! – no matter what our pain, our suffering, our distress might be!

It is very important for Catholics to remember first and foremost of all the significance of the DEATH OF JESUS ON THE CROSS. If that did not happen, then, there would be NO REASON FOR JOY AT ALL, NO REASON FOR HOPE AT ALL – NO POSSIBILITY OF PEACE at all – for anyone, ever! The symbol of the Crucified Christ is enormously important in a Catholic church. When we look up at it, when we look upon it, when we look into it, when we pray to Jesus whose image is on it – let us each and every one SEE THE GLORY OF GOD, SEE THE GLORY OF CHRIST JESUS, SEE THE GLORIOUS SPIRITUAL LIFE AND GRACE OF THE CHURCH flowing from the wounded side of the dead Jesus on the Cross!

(So often you will see a dying Jesus on the Cross – for example the one that is in front of the altar right here - but this just does not deliver the same conclusive message as it would if he were dead). Until that moment of death, there still was a chance that he could have backed out of the whole project – and his Father would have rescued him if he asked him to. But he didn’t, he went through with it! HE LOVES US SO!

Perhaps this week we can think about what might be needed here at St. Ambrose so that we could always gather here “in the shadow of the GLORIOUS CROSS OF CHRIST CRUCIFIED” – our source of JOY, and HOPE and PEACE!

TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
September 7, 2008

I –If…you do not speak out to dissuade the wicked from his way, the wick shall die for his guilt but I will hold you responsible for his death.

R – If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

II – Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

G – If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone…[and proceed until it is] taken to the church. If he refuses to listen to the church then treat him like a tax collector….If two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

It is our second reading today which summarizes the ideas brought forth by all the readings: owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

If we spend our time and our energies on really and truly loving one another with the very love of Christ Jesus (who demonstrated quite clearly how it ought to be done): then an amazing reality takes root in us: the reality of the presence of God in a powerful way.

If God IS love (which is a dynamic activity between persons), then, when we love (when we establish that kind of activity of looking out for the welfare of others first) we experience the reality of the presence and power of God himself! We can certainly sense it – and it is remarkable!

Now loving is sometimes easy, and sometimes it is not so easy! It is easy to love those who are already lovable, and fun and easy to be with. Making sacrifices for these kinds of people is not a problem! But what about those who seem UNlovable, who are no fun at all, who are very difficult to be with for any number of reasons? Making sacrifices for these people, and loving them as Jesus himself does sometimes seems like a real problem!

But again, if we remember that in the reading to the Romans St. Paul says: owe nothing to ANYone, except to LOVE ONE ANOTHER – for the one who loves another fulfills the law – then it ought not really matter who that other person is! For, God LOVES US ALL THE SAME! And if he loves us all the same, then we are all lovable and capable of loving one another – although some, it does seem, do their best to make the process difficult both for themselves and for those who are trying to love them, including God!

In the first reading from the Prophet Ezekiel and in the gospel passage both – we have the clear cut desire of God for us to at least try to point out to errant brothers and sisters what seems obviously inconsistent with the laws of God, and the good order set forth by the Church – those things that are not compatible with loving as the sublime spiritual activity that it is!

Yes, we are the “keeper of our brothers and sisters” to a point – to the point of holding a mirror up in front of them (at times, when it is necessary) so they can see their own actions – and hopefully make a prudent decision to alter and change their behavior. When we do this, using all charity, we can help other persons to form and use their consciences correctly! The readings tell us that we have a CHRISTIAN OBLIGATION to do this – for if we don’t, then we are just as guilty as they are of their transgressions and will be held accountable!

(Now this does not mean that we have to stand of street corners, preaching; or go on a crusade against immorality – but it does mean, in the ordinary course of our daily lives, if the opportunity presents itself to help a fellow human being see things more clearly and truthfully, then we have the obligation to offer them what we know of God and his ways (ways that are objective and true) ways that works for us, in particular!)

But, since the person has the freedom of will and choice to decide not to take heed of our suggestions and counsel, once we have presented our observations – then it is up to them to act on them – and we are free from responsibility for them – except for the responsibility to keep praying for them and loving them in as many ways that would still apply!

Jesus tells us in the gospel passage: where two or three are gathered in his name he is there – and their prayer – asked for in faith, and guided by the Holy Spirit – will be answered for the welfare of all others – and for themselves!

And so, if today we hear his voice, let us not harden our hearts; if today we hear his voice: let us LOVE – AS WE ARE BEING LOVED, RIGHT NOW, this very minute!

TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
August 31, 2008

I –You duped me, O Lord, and I let myself be duped…all the day I am man object of laughter; everyone mocks me…I say to myself, I will not mention him, I will speak in his name no more…but then it become like fire burning in my heart…I grow weary holding it in, I cannot endure it!

R – My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

II – Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.

G – Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it!

One thing that is clear from the readings today is that the will of God the Father was never meant to be easy – for any one of his people – all throughout salvation history – including Jeremiah in the first reading today, including Jesus in the gospel passage – and including all of the disciples and followers of Jesus including us! This is so as a result of the Original Sin, which brought with it the necessity of work and effort; pain and suffering. But the will of God is meant to be doable, achievable and even quite satisfying as the LABOR OF LOVE that it is also meant to be! And this idea of laboring fits right in with our national celebration of Labor Day this weekend.

The primary work that all of us need to be concerned about FIRST, however, is that which contributes to our eternal salvation. Jesus tells us in the gospel passage: what profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit the life of his soul?

Other, secondary work is, of course, vital and necessary for us in order to provide for the welfare of our selves, our families, and the economic stability of our country and world. But the priority needs to be kept that this is truly secondary to the primary spiritual work of determining where we will spend eternity!

Jeremiah – the prophet of the first reading – was but a teenager – who was selected by God to be his spokesman to the errant people of Israel. He did not like the job, as we heard in the reading!  Not at all! People were mocking him and laughing at him and playing him for a fool – the very last thing that a teenager of any age and era needs. But when he tried to stop speaking out – stop doing what God would have him do – he said that the words became like a burning fire in his chest – and he had to let them out!

Sometimes it is like that for us – we get ridiculed for doing good things and speaking the truth, speaking about God – but when we plan on stopping – we find that we cannot keep it in because we know that deep down inside God wants us to be his representative – and so we speak!

In the gospel passage Peter tries to trip Jesus up and derail him from doing what God, his Father, wanted him to do – to suffer and die for our salvation! But Jesus quite bluntly tells Peter where to go – “Get behind me, Satan!” This is reminiscent of Satan tempting Jesus three times in the desert – to likewise take his sights off the cross and place them elsewhere - at the beginning of his public ministry. Jesus told Satan to be gone then too! Jesus had eyes, ears, mind, heart and will only for his Father’s desires, wishes and will!

Jesus then tells Peter and everyone else that not only will he be accepting that cross and going through with all it involved – but that we would have to embrace our own crosses and do the same if we want to share the glory of the resurrection that lay at the end of his cross! It is available to us ONLY if we carry our crosses, die to ourselves, and lovingly offer our lives to our heavenly Father. There IS NO OTHER WAY!

This seems like a tall order: but St. Paul from his letter to the Romans today tells us how to begin: be transformed by the renewal of your minds – so you can know the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect!

Our minds – especially in this day in age – in this country – in this world – can be far from seeing things as they truly are: crosses are to be avoided (the world shouts at us), pleasure to all extremes are to be sought after; the high, the mighty, the powerful and the rich are to be envied. But St. Paul says: CLING TO THE CHURCH – READ THE SCRIPTURES – LISTEN TO HOMILIES – READ THE MANY GREAT SPIRITUAL AUTHORS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH – PRAY TO THE HOLY SPRIIT- RECEIVE THE EUCHARISTAND BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWAL OF YOUR MINDS – then everything else will fall into place!

The distorted vision of the world around us will dissolve away – what is good and clean and beautiful and pleasing to God will become abundantly clear and desirable to us– he will be first in our lives – and our crosses that we must still carry will become very light – because Jesus will be carrying most of the load: he does that for those who trust in him rather than in themselves!

It all comes down to this: our souls are really thirsting for one thing: and that is God! May we never satisfy that thirst with anything other than what God himself provides for us to quench and satisfy our thirsts – beginning with the words we are hearing right now, and the very Body and Blood of Christ which we will receive at this and every Mass!

TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
August 24, 2008

I –Thus says the Lord…I will summon my servant Eliakim, son of Hilkiah…I will place the key of the Hose of David on Eliakim’s shoulder; when he opens, no one shall shut; when he shuts, no one shall open.

R – Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your hands.

II – …from [God] and through him and for him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

G – You are Peter and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

One idea from the second reading today (on this particular teaching Sunday) summarizes what ought to be the stance of all of creation – but especially human beings (the highest form of creation) – and more especially among us human beings who have been baptized into the death and resurrection of Jesus – is the idea that: all things are from God, all things are through God and all things are for God! TO HIM BE GLORY FOREVER!

It is that simple! TO GOD BE ALL GLORY! Everything is from him and his amazing love; it was fashioned and created through him and his amazing plan, and it was created for him – for his benefit, for his pleasure, for his happiness – but not that he needed any one of them, or that his happiness and pleasure and benefit were not fully complete otherwise! Actually he created all the things around us – for us! JUST FOR US! while he certainly enjoys them too – a beautiful sunset, a flower, the majestic mountains, the deep blue sea!

But out of all of the things that he created – people capable of loving – are his delight! He made us from love so that we could share love with him – and with one another! This is the purpose of life! This is the purpose of human life! And though we messed things up at the beginning and rejected his love in the Garden of Eden– he provided a way – by the death and resurrection of his own Son, Jesus - to repair the damage – so that we could experience JOY, and see his GLORY and share in it forever!

And so, from our responsorial refrain we see that God did not forsake the work of his hands, because his love is eternal – and his promise to share it with us forever is reliable!

Now, to lead us through life, through human living – as we exist in between the first and second comings of Jesus – this loving God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit – gave us the Church to be a never-failing guide that we can hang onto as we would a rock in a stormy sea! We will never drown so long as we hang onto the rock – so long as we hang on to the Church – so long as we allow it to be for us what it is meant to be: a reliable sustainer, a faithful friend, an experienced ship’s captain in the sometimes perilous sea of life!

We read today in the gospel passage how Jesus promised that the gates of the netherworld would not prevail against the Church – and that Peter and his successors would hold the keys to the very kingdom of God. This means that by power of the Holy Spirit himself – working through Peter and his successors; and the other apostles and their successors – the binding and loosing power given would ensure that the Church would have spiritually everything it needs to care for its members – come what may, in the oftentimes stormy sea of life. The Church was given the right and the duty and the obligation to set policy – in the appropriate Spirit-guided way – and to enforce it – so that we would be safe, nourished, protected and guided in all truth!

Again, if we remember that our chief goal in life is to GIVE GLORY TO GOD – then, the Church – inspired and empowered by the Holy Spirit, who is God – can be counted on to show us exactly how to do that – and how to live spiritually enriched and helpful lives each and every day!

Perhaps our resolution today could be to open ourselves more fully, and trustingly and lovingly to the total reality of the Church – as Head joined to Members; as Clergy serving the needs of the Laity; as men, women, children all having but one goal and function: BY THE WAY WE LIVE,
TO GIVE GOD ALL GLORY!

TWENTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
August 17, 2008

I –The foreigners…and all who keep the Sabbath free from profanation and hold to my covenant…I will bring to my holy mountain and make joyful in my house of prayer!

R – O God, let all the nations praise you!

II – Just as you once disobeyed God but have now received mercy because of [the Jews] disobedience, so they have now disobeyed in order that, by virtue of the mercy shown to you, they too many now receive mercy.

G – O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish!

In our second reading today from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans, Paul proclaims: “the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable!” And they are for “both Jews and Gentiles!” It had already been established at this point that St. Peter would be the Apostle to the Jewish people – in order to convince them that the long-awaited Messiah had indeed come: and that it was Jesus who was murdered by them and the Romans, and indeed all mankind by reason of inclusion in the family of Adam.

St. Paul was chosen by Jesus to take the gospel message to everyone else: to the Gentiles – telling them, that it had been God’s desire all along to include them in the plan of salvation. God delivered all to disobedience, that he might have mercy upon all: by the obedience of his Son, Jesus – who was obedient even unto death on the Cross, for us!

The beautiful imagery of the first reading reiterates this universal call to all people to gather on the holy mountain of the Lord [as they would in a house of worship]. Not only those who were allowed on the mountain – the people of Israel could now go there – but foreigners as well – so long as they kept the Sabbath and held to the covenant. This would be a time of rejoicing and feasting and prayer on that mountain. Sacrifice to God would be acceptable to him; and just as on that holy mountain, the house of God anywhere, would be a house [a mountain] of prayer for all people!

We are standing right now in such a place – this is a house and a mountain of prayer – and ALL are invited to come in and be with us and to investigate the possibility of learning about the “New Covenant,” the “New Commandment,” and the “New Lamb of God” – JESUS CHRIST! as he manifests himself fully in the Catholic Church.

In the gospel passage today Jesus tests a woman’s faith in order to point out to her (and to all of us) what is important for those who gather here in this place: and that is FAITH. Even those who might feel themselves to be outcasts, like the woman that Jesus goes so far in his testing of her to call a “dog,” - if they have FAITH IN JESUS (even the smallest amount) and believe in his power to MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LIVES – they can ask for his help, and he will help them!

Would that Jesus could say of us: Child of God – what great faith you have!
                                                                                             
It is not as difficult as one might think! God the Father freely gives the gift of faith to those who ask! All we need to do is to foster it and nurture it, once we possess it! Let us ask for an increase, or a birth, of faith: NOW!

O God, let all the nations praise you!

NINETEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
August 10, 2008

I –After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound. When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave.

R – Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.

II – For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh.

G –O you of little faith, why did you doubt?

The great, grand, glorious, mighty and majestic God is BEST accessed when there is SILENCE - so that when he comes in the sound of a tiny whisper he can be heard in such a great contrast! GOD IS SO GREAT – THAT HE CAN BECOME SO TINY – and apparently weak! Jesus, crying in the night, in a manger in Bethlehem is another example of GOD IN HIS GREATNESS becoming small and apparently weak to PROVE HIS GREATNESS!

When we are still enough and attentive enough we can experience the presence of God. And then we can do even some extraordinary things. We can help people in ways we never thought possible. We can even, if the Lord bids us, “walk on water” – so long as our faith is strong, and our eyes stay FIXED ON HIM!

St. Paul is so concerned about the churches lack of stillness, lack of quietness, lack of focus on Jesus that he even says – because he wants so much for them to get the message – to share the same experience with God as he himself does – that he would even cut himself off from Christ if it meant that they would become more attached to Christ. This is pure, unselfish, self-sacrificial love! – the very kind of love Jesus himself had for us!

Today, let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus – let us keep an aura of silence around us, no matter what is going on in our lives, and let us even “walk on water” – let us do good and wonderful things as instruments of Jesus – who wants so much for all the world to experience his presence, to give him their trust, so that he can lead us all HOME TO EVERLASTING LIFE!

Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation!

EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
August 3, 2008

I –All you who are thirsty, come to the water! You who have no money, come, receive grain and eat; come without paying and without cost…Come to me heedfully, listen, that you may have life.

R – The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.

II – What will separate us from the love of Christ?

G – They all ate and were satisfied [with the multiplied loaves and fishes], and they picked up the fragments left over – twelve wicker baskets full. Those who are were about five thousand men, not counting women and children.

The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs!
If we all could fully understand and believe this one sentence – our lives could become very different – they could become all that they are meant to become!

God the Father KNOWS WHAT WE NEED!
He made us! He planned for us – each one of us - to make a very specific and certain contribution to the world in which he has placed us! He has every intention in seeing that we are provided with absolutely everything we need to do this, his will, his bidding – all the days of our lives!

However, since the days of Adam, Eve and the apple WE THINK THAT WE KNOW BETTER THAN GOD THE FATHER WHAT WE NEED! We thus have essentially taken God’s Fatherhood away from him, preferring instead to be our own Father, to provide for ourselves what we think we need – oftentimes grasping and groveling - day in and day out- in an all but futile attempt just to survive – to make any sense out of our lives!

It doesn’t have to be this way! This is why GOD THE FATHER SENT JESUS, HIS SON, OUR BROTHER, TO US - TO HELP US COME TO OUR SENSES – to see that the PROVID-ENCE of GOD THE FATHER is the very best way to go! In his life on earth, Jesus demonstrated what a successful human life could be like – a life filled with TRUST IN GOD! ACCEPTANCE OF THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD! and the living out of certain and necessary spiritual principles. This life is not all sunshine and roses, but it is not all dungeons and dragons either! Jesus shows us that our SPIRITUAL LIVES are the most important part of us – and everything that we can do to perfect this aspect of us is worth every ounce and moment of our effort!

And so, he (and his Father,) wants to FEED OUR SPIRITUAL LIVES with SPIRITUAL REALITIES that we need in order to LIVE SPIRITUALLY PLEASING AND ACCEPTABLE LIVES in the sight of God! That is why he provided the very BREAD OF SPIRITUAL LIFE: THE BODY AND BLOOD OF HIS SON JESUS to be our spiritual nourishment, our spiritual energy, our spiritual motivation to live and love and Jesus taught, demonstrated and then commanded!

The multiplication of the loaves and the fishes in the gospel passage relates the overabundance of SPIRITUAL GRACES AND HELPS that come to us each time we receive Jesus in the Most Holy Eucharist! IT IS AMAZING FOOD – that can make our lives so much more tolerable, livable and even joyful! It really and truly can do this!

The first reading today from the Prophet Isaiah makes very clear that there is absolutely “no charge” for coming to the source of spiritual nourishment! What we receive is priceless anyway! There is not enough money to pay for it! The water and the grain that is available for anyone to partake of, is THE VERY WORD OF GOD, and bread of ETERNAL LIFE! If we come to LISTEN to the word of God – to heedfully hear it and resolve to incorporate it into our lives, strengthened by the bread and wine that is really and truly spiritually transformed by the words of Christ and the action of the Holy Spirit at this and every Mass – then we will have all we need to STOP GRABBING AND GRASPING and keep our hands off our own will – our own way – and TRUST GOD ABSOLUTELY TO TAKE CARE OF US IN THE FATHERLY WAY THAT HE SO VERY MUCH DESIRES TO DO!

You are our “Abba,” Father; you are our “Daddy” – you will feed us and take care of ALL OF OUR NEEDS – THIS - WE - BELIEVE!

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts!