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Homily

The Epiphany of the Lord

Posted on by Deacon Joe

The Epiphany of the Lord is the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi.  This is the mystery that St. Paul says was made known to him by revelation that the Gentiles are “coheirs, members of the same body” in the promise of Christ Jesus revealed in the gospel.  The Magi are not Israelites but Gentiles, the Greek work “magos” represent a priestly caste of possibly astrologers from the “East” perhaps Persia or Babylonia.  This fulfills a prophesy about a star and a scepter that is to rise from Israel spoken in the book of Numbers 24:17 by Balaam.  

The scepter is the sign of the Messiah for all nations, not just for Israel and “every nation on earth will adore you”.  The scepter is ornamented staff carried by rulers as a symbol of sovereignty.  The Lord is sovereign over the world.  This is the revelation that Jesus came to bring salvation for all that we may all be one and his reign will last forever. 

Still today we are a divided people.  There is racism, antisemitism, division among nations as to who is the greatest.  The greatest shall be the least, the poor, the hungry, the suffering.  There is a tradition to treat the Magi as “kings” but the bible does not call them kings.  The Magi more appropriately are learned or wise men.  In the same way we are called to be wise not simply in the ways of the world but in the ways of God that we may all be saved. 

Who then will be saved?  Salvation is through baptism and yet many have not received the gospel or been baptized.  Where does that leave perhaps the majority of people.  Baptism is through water but there are also a baptism of martyrdom and a baptism of desire.  Consider all the babies who have been aborted having never had the opportunity to be born and are martyrs for heaven.  There is also the baptism of desire meaning there are many to who the gospel was not revealed but they would have openly embraced it had someone evangelized them. 

We often think of people in third world countries who have never heard the gospel but even here among us there are so many who have grown with no religious teaching, agnostic at heart and yet with a heart of gold.  We are bound by God’s law but God is not bound and his judgements are righteous.   God is the one judge of the mind, heart and will of each of us. 

We make New Year’s resolutions as to how to improve ourselves but what are we doing to improve our relationship with God.  The Magi studied the stars but we are given the one guiding star of heaven, our Lord Jesus Christ and he gave us his Word to reflect on, his Church to sanctify us in the sacraments, and his spirit of truth that we may know the truth and set us free. 

The Magi brought the of gold symbolizing the kingship of Jesus our one true king.  Frankincense symbolized our high priest and his divinity as the incense is a sign of our prayers rising to heaven.   Myrrh was used in healing as a sign of purification and at death symbolizing the passion and sacrifice of Jesus.  Together they prophesy Jesus’s identity as king in the gold, God in the frankincense, and as Savior in the myrrh. 

By the time the Magi had arrived in Bethlehem Jesus, Mary and Joseph were now in a house no longer at the place of his birth.  Some time had passed but the guiding star led them to this place.  Some question if the “star” is more of a myth than a reality.  There is a documentary that tells how it is possible for a star to move in such as way that it creates a circular reflection appearing even brighter than it is as if it had come to a standstill position.  This miracle of the star for the Gentile magi was not faith in action but the work of the spirit and science coming together as an epiphany, a revelation to them and us of a greater truth, a savior is born and not only a savior, but God himself is with us. 

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Homily

Solemnity of Mary – Holy Mother of God

Posted on by Deacon Joe

Num. 6:22-27; Ps. 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8; Gal. 4:4-7; Lk.2:16-21

Mary, mother of Jesus, mother of God!  Many from other Christian denominations question how the Catholic church can call Mary the mother of God.  Mary is the creature and God the creator, Mary is born in time and God is eternal and yet this is what we say of Mary, mother of God.  Jesus tells us in John 14:9 “Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father” and in John 10:30 makes clear “I and the Father are One” that is in essence and in nature.  This makes Mary the Mother of God through the Son.  This does not mean Mary created the universe and yet she is honored as Queen of the Universe.  God has given Mary a special place of honor in the kingdom of God. 

Today is a day in which we honor Mary for having said “yes” to the Lord, accepting the will of the Father to carry out her divine purpose in bringing the Son of God into the world.  She is called “full of grace” for she carries the divine light without sin. In doing so she becomes also the mother of the Church and our mother as children of God. Mary’s role is intercessor for her people since the beginning when we see at the wedding of Cana telling the servants, “Do whatever he tells you” (Jn. 2:5).    

You may have heard the church is trying to avoid confusion by not referring to Mary as co-redemptrix because Jesus is the one redeemer of our sins.  If you hear this title being used the intent is not to elevate Mary to be equal to Jesus but to see her in support and still being a part not only of redemption history but in her intercessory role for us, not equal in a co-equal role, not greater as the Mother of God, but as the handmaid of the Lord.  Correct language is vital to good theology but also clear interpretation of language.

Mary is the blessed one who the Lord keeps from sin from the day of her birth through her earthly life.  His face shines upon Mary that she may reflect his light and his peace.  Mary’s apparitions always come with a bright light from heaven.  She also reflects her humility and peace bring us her message of hope.  She is and was a servant of God in both her earthly state and in her divine state.  The Church honors her today fulfilling the cry of Elizabeth when Mary came to visit her “Most blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb”.  As a mother she too brings us Jesus her son to change the heart of his people. 

The blessing of God is what we seek not only as followers but as children of God.  When we make the sign of the cross, when we take holy water upon our forehead, when we are being blessed by the priest, we seek the blessing to keep us from sin, to keep us on the Lord’s path, to grow in the ways of the Lord.  The blessing of God is what gives us the hunger for God to call out to him as our Father, “Abba, Father”.  The Lord shines his face upon us when we come to give thanks at the altar and to receive him in the Eucharist. 

As Mary gives birth to Jesus in the incarnation, we as children of God are called to spiritually give birth to Jesus in our hearts.  We are to be the temple of the Lord that we may say “as I live the Lord lives in me”.  If the Lord lives in me, what am I doing with my life to nurture the spirit of God within that we too may give life to others?  Mary gives birth to the incarnation of Jesus and we are to give life to the incarnation of Jesus in our own being.  She is the model of surrender to Jesus we are to follow.  In this way we may live in his image responding to the Father’s will. 

This is a new year many will make a new year’s resolution.  The type of resolution we make is generally how to improve something about ourselves, the better ways to take care of our mind or body. What we also discover is any resolution requires active intent to work at it.  It is the “how to” plan to get there.  If it was an easy process, it would not need special attention.  We desire it but we don’t desire to work at it, to overcome how trying an effort it involves.   The best results require our best effort. 

What is Jesus’ resolution and prayer for us each and every day?  Jesus’ prayer is that we may all be one.  Jesus is calling us to improve our relationship with him, within our family, and with our neighbor.  For Jesus it is all about relationship, the Trinity, his coming as human and divine, his calling his people to be united as a church, as a family and with our neighbors.  Jesus is in relationship with the Father and the Holy Spirit.  Jesus is calling us to improve our relationships that we may all be one.    

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Homily

Feast of the Holy Family – Jesus, Mary Joseph

Posted on by Deacon Joe

Sir. 3:2-6, 12-14; Ps. 128:1-5; Col. 3:12-21; Mt.2:13-15, 19-23

“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph” is in itself a prayer to the Holy Family for our family.  The Holy Family is an image of the unity of the Trinity in heaven.  Just as we pray in the name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit as one to hear our prayer we can also call upon the Holy Family to come to our families in that same spirit of love, obedience, and healing.  Do our families need healing?  The holidays often reveal how separated, broken, or in need of healing is the family.  The holidays call us to put aside the issues we have avoided, to reach out in an act of love, and to bring the spirit of peace and good will in reconciliation.  Jesus, Mary and Joseph teach us to walk in his ways. 

Let us begin with Joseph who is spoken about but never speaks himself in the scriptures.  Do we have holy dreams or are our dreams a battle that is carried over from our day into the night dream.  The angel comes to Joseph because he is the chosen one who is a righteous man, a man with fear of the Lord who lives his faith through his hard work and prayer.  Prayer opens Joseph up to receive the message of the angel and respond with obedience.  Men are taught to work hard, provide for the family, but do we know how to pray, how to lead our family in prayer?  Prayer should direct our workday to walk in the way of the Lord. 

Mary is the handmaid of the Lord called to be the Mother of God the Son.  She too is God’s chosen one, a gentle woman at heart but filled with the strength to a bear the Son of God and allow Joseph to lead her by trusting that God will lead Joseph in the right path.  Women do you trust God with leading your husbands or have you taken over that role because mother knows best.  The bond of perfect is not who is in control but whose love rises above the conflict to give witness that his chosen ones allow God to be in control. 

Jesus, the incarnation born of a woman, human and divine is the great witness to true humility in obedience to the Father.  Jesus always found time to be alone in prayer to the Father and to accept the will of the Father.  The true God was obedient to his human parents even as he was their God, what humility.  We give a lot of attention to teach our children to be proud, to believe in themselves with words like “anyone can grow up to be President”.  How much attention to we give to teach them true humility and the obedience to truth.  The source of freedom does not come from pride but from humility to place everything in right order.  There is a God and we are not “it”. 

The authority given to parents is not for control of their children but as their first teachers.  Teach them in the way they are to grow, and they will not depart from it.  If we only command their obedience, then as soon as they are free to leave, we will see them depart and send us a season’s greeting card with maybe a picture if they have time.  Jesus, Mary and Joseph were attentive to each other’s needs.  Jesus listened to his mother when they ran out of wine at the wedding feast and did a miracle for her.  When we pray to Mary and Joseph, they can also intercede for us with Jesus to answer that prayer we need in our lives. 

God calls us to be a holy family and gave us the witness of Jesus, Joseph and Mary to follow.  The family is the domestic church at home.  This means that prayer should also be a key element of our family tradition.  As Father Patrick Payten, the Irish born priest in America who lived until 1992 said, “The family that prays together stays together.”  He was also known as the “rosary priest” for his promotion of the rosary prayer.  Jesus, Mary and Joseph, pray for us. 

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Homily

Fourth Sunday of Advent – Let Him enter!

Posted on by Deacon Joe

Is. 7:10-14; Ps. 24:1-6; Rom. 1:1-7; Mt.1:18-24

Let Him enter!  He is the Lord, the king of glory.  Advent is his coming, his desire to enter into our hearts and to remain within us.  This prophesy by Isaiah foretold of the incarnation of the Lord “the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son”, the son of God and the son of humanity.     Emmanuel, the name that means “God with us” is his coming, let him enter. 

Jesus brings us his kingship and stands at the door knocking.  The Posadas reenact that night when Joseph and Mary are seeking a place to stay but they are turned away from the Inn.  It is a reminder of how often Jesus may be knocking at the door of our hearts and is turned away because we lack faith, we are set in our ways, or we fail to see Him in others.  Let him enter this day to deliver a blessing. 

The gospel of Mathew lays down the sequence of events to confirm first the virginity of Mary “before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit”.  In the same way we bring a child to the waters of baptism to be reborn by the gift of the Holy Spirit to let Him enter into our soul and remain with us.  This Jesus, this incarnation is transformative to be bone of our bones and flesh of our flesh.  There is one thing however that prevents him from acting in our lives and that is our free will.  We have to call upon him, invite him to act within our soul and be our light. 

Then there is the issue of Joseph who has been “out of the loop” so to speak.  Joseph is a man of God, a “righteous man” and he does not want to create a scandal that could have Mary stoned to death so he will “divorce her quietly”.  A godly man desires what is good and right and God sends his angel to reveal to him a truth and what he is to do.  How is Joseph to believe this dream that is beyond human reality?  She is pregnant through the Holy Spirit Joseph, “Oh, ok got it!”  Incarnation, right!  Not so easy to believe even to this day for many.  The power of the angel who spoke to Joseph must have shaken him up in his boots or sandals.  It was the fear of the Lord that brings about the “obedience of faith”. 

Today the fear of the Lord seems to be lost.  We become our own gods and make God to be in our own image instead of allowing him to make of us into his image.    Is it any wonder why prayers seem unanswered if in the sanctuary of our soul he remains up on the “shelf” and we want to dust him off just to remind us that he is still there.  Joseph responded with fear of the Lord, “Joseph, son of David”; “yes lord, I believe”.  Do we believe?

We believe in Jesus, God with us in the incarnation, the Son of God.  We believe in the power of the Holy Spirit.  What is the sign that we believe?  It is the “obedience of faith”.  The one who is obedient to the faith is a believer.  The deceiver is the evil one who wants to convince us to just say “I believe” and live your own life.  To say “yes, Lord” is to know God comes calling us to obedience, to act in faith, to let him enter into our soul to do his work in us. 

Having visited the Holy Land and knelt at the site where Jesus was born you feel like you have entered into a cave, small, cold and dark.  It is like being in the womb of the world waiting for darkness to pass and the light to arrive.  Jesus comes to bring light into the darkness of our soul, free us from our sin, and give us a new birth in himself. 

The Lord tells Ahaz to ask for a sign?  There are those moments in life when we need a sign from God and we pray that he will reveal to us an answer.  The answer is delivered in a manger this Christmas.  Look to the infant Jesus who comes with all the answers and the one answer we need to hear.  This is the gift of himself to us and in him is our answer.   

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Homily

Third Sunday of Advent – The Lord’s messenger

Posted on by Deacon Joe

Is. 35:1-6a, 10; Ps. 146:6-10; Jam. 5:7-10; Mt.11:2-11

The Lord’s messenger sent to prepare the way of the Lord was John the Baptist.  Jesus confirms that what Isaiah proclaimed was fulfilled in John and someone greater now is before them, “the one who is to come”.  The “coming of the Lord is at hand” meaning the answer we seek, the “good news” we need, the end to our suffering it is all before us that at the appropriate time we will receive him who is our answer.  Thus, St. James tells us to “be patient…do not complain” in God’s time the greater good will always return as a blessing to us. 

Jesus has come and yet sadly the world continues to look for another who they can follow.  They seek the “other” in the world of politics, a political hero, or in science in a miracle worker, or in technology with Artificial Intelligence.  They may even seek the “other” within themselves trying to reinvent someone different that what God created of them.  God however always sends us someone to prepare the way for his coming to prepare our hearts to receive him, the Lord’s messenger is among us. 

The Lord’s messenger comes in many ways from the stranger who walks up to us asking for help, to the child who questions “why”, to the person we made vows to in marriage “till death do us part”.  The Lord’s messengers serve the Lord’s purpose to test us, to have us examine our own conscience, to direct our way to the Lord whether they or we are aware of it or not.  Yes, we may be acting on our own volition but God can be using us for his greater purpose when we are open to do his will.  We may be that messenger God wants to fulfill a greater purpose that just living our lives. 

I wonder how often we fail to recognize the Lord’s messenger and delay receiving the answer we seek to our prayer.  Instead of following along the “way of the Lord” we create our own path in the desert of our pain and suffering and delay the promise land to come into our life.  St. James says “be patient” but patience is a virtue we don’t enjoy.  It requires trust in God, trust in others, and faith. 

We must have faith in what purpose God has in our lives, in our circumstances, in our blessings and in our struggles.  Patience to wait and see how the process works out in God’s hands.  Does this mean we do nothing but wait?  Not at all!  The Holy Spirit will come to guide us giving us the spirit of truth, wisdom, understanding and right judgment.  The Spirit comes to confirm in our minds and hearts God’s direction in our lives and this gives us peace because we see God has now come and is in our life.  Praise be to God!

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me” and we rejoice in the Lord.  The Lord desires us to be the messenger of glad tidings to others, an instrument in God’s hands to be part of the solution to a world that continues to look in the wrong direction for the answer.  The world seeks another to crown as their savior but the true savior comes in a cradle this Christmas to remind us his coming started over 2000 years ago and now his coming is waiting on us to receive him, the one true God. 

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Homily

Second Sunday of Advent – Prepare the way

Posted on by Deacon Joe

Is. 11:1-10; Ps. 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17; Rom. 15:4-9; Mt.3:1-12

Prepare the way of the Lord!  Jesus is the way!  Jesus is the shoot foreseen by Isaiah coming with a spirit filled with wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, knowledge and fear of the Lord.  He is the just judge who sees not only the action but the heart of intent what lies within a person.  He guards the faithful even as we dwell among the lions and the serpents of the world, no harm will come upon us.  The Lord is faithful to the faithful who remain in him but too often we wander off in our own direction and risk the consequence of the darkness of this world. 

Why do bad things happen to good people is often asked.  Good people also forget who they are called to love and to serve.  Good people live their free will picking and choosing what commandments they abide by, what virtues they care more for and which they don’t believe in.  Good people will love some and reject others.  God people will accept part of the authority of the church and its teaching yet easily reject what is inconvenient or considered burdensome.  Each time we turn away from God’s commands we step into the deep pit of destruction. 

St. Paul in his letter to the Romans is reminding us that we are to be in harmony with one voice.  One voice stands united in the same faith, living by the same teaching, “welcoming one another” in Christ, one church, one truth, one God.  Anything else is from the evil one.  This is how we prepare the way of the Lord.  This is the greatest testimony we can give.  How are we preparing the way of the Lord in our lives this Advent.  John the Baptist gives us a simple formula to follow.  It begins with an act that produces “good fruit” with the intent that it serves the will of God.  Very simple and direct, whatever we do, do it as an act of love for God and it will give life to the soul and also purify it.  The Lord who sees all will always respond with his love and grace. 

John the Baptist reminded the Pharisees that they were not justified by the law when they claim “We have Abraham as our father”.  Jesus is coming in search of hearts filled with love of God, love of neighbor, love for his church, love for the kingdom within that he desires to build and prepare for heaven.  Advent is a time to prepare the way for his greater coming into our lives, by one act of love at a time. 

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Homily

First Sunday of Advent – Armor of light

Posted on by Deacon Joe

Is. 2:1-5; Ps. 122:1-9; Rom. 13:11-14; Mt.24:37-44

Christ the king is the armor of light as we end one liturgical year and begin a new season of Advent. In Jesus Christ we wear a shield of justice and love.  This is how to begin our day, our season of Advent, the new liturgical year with Jesus as the armor to shield us from every evil, every temptation and lead us from darkness to light.  Jesus separates the light from the darkness that lies in the heart and mind of a soul who waits for his coming.  Advent is the season of anticipation even as we end one liturgical year with the celebration of Christ the King we begin a new year with anticipation of his continued coming into our lives, more of Jesus. 

Advent is in anticipation of the Incarnation of Jesus, his body, blood, soul, and divinity not just in the world but to welcome him as “bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh”.  The birth of Jesus in us began with our baptism that there be more of Jesus and less of us, more of the light of truth and less of the lies of the world. 

The kingdom we anticipate is already growing from within our soul and Advent is a realization that if Christ is with us and in us who can be against us.  The highest mountain of the Lord for us to climb is from within to govern our mind with the truth of God, to align our emotions with the love of God, and to turn our will to the will of God. Let the birth of Jesus in us become the man and woman God created us to be in him. 

The darkness of the world comes with the temptation of immediate gratification, the pleasure principle.  The pleasure of the moment without concern for the consequence to come.  St. John Vianney is quoted to say, “It is definite that only a few chosen ones do not go to Purgatory and the sufferings there that one must endure exceed our imagination.”  Let that sink in for a while.  Why would he believe this?  The soul, that is the mind, emotions and will are weak and we focus our energy not on spiritual growth but on material growth.  When we focus on self we take God for granted. 

Many years ago, while I was in college a young Catholic girl said to me that she knew she was sinning by having intimacy with her boyfriend but as long as she went to confession before she died, she would go to heaven.  This is taking the mercy of God for granted.  She forgot that nothing imperfect can enter heaven and Purgatory is where we go to be purified of our imperfections.  The lie we live by is to say to ourselves “I’m good” meaning I’m good in my eyes but have we even considered how we look in the eyes of God. 

To “stay awake” is to make an examination of conscience preferably before we act that afterwards.  What is my motive?  What is the greater good?  What would Jesus do?  When were growing up we are taught to ask ourselves “what is mom or dad going to say?”  We also have a heavenly mother and father and they have eyes everywhere.  Our salvation has come so are we going to let it pass us by?  Every day someone dies, taken from this world and we remain to fight another day against the force of evil.  Our hour is also coming and we are reminded to be prepared by being at peace with others, with ourselves by living in the peace of God. 

After I retired from my professional career, I had more time to offer the church.  I started to get so many calls to do funerals that I called myself the deacon of the dead.  One of the stories I share in funerals is of a picture of a child pointing her finger out towards the viewer with the caption on top that reads “don’t worry about dying your going to live forever”.  On the bottom of the picture it reads “worry about location, location, location”.  Where are we going to live forever?  We are created for eternity and Advent is our reminder to live with the end in mind. 

Why do we begin the season of Advent with a reminder of the end time?  Advent is considered a time to prepare for the coming of the birth of Jesus, Christmas time, party time, gift giving, carols and new beginnings.  The coming of Jesus is to bring an end to the world as we know it, a sinful world and a new beginning of salvation history.  We are to put on the armor of light and have nothing to fear.   Just remember, “Ain’t no party like a Catholic party cause a Catholic party don’t end” (chorus), it reaches to heaven and all eternity. 

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Homily

The Solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Posted on by Deacon Joe

2 Sam. 5:1-3; Ps. 122:1-5; Col. 1:12-20; Lk.23:35-43

Christ the King is “the chosen one” the anointed as the King and his kingdom has no end.  King David was anointed king of Israel for this is how one becomes king by being anointed.  The people anointed David as their king but Jesus is anointed by God himself, “the image of the invisible God”.  To be “Christos” means to be “the anointed one”, Jesus is the anointed one as king of the universe.  This signifies a kingdom not of this world but of all creation “in heaven and on earth”.  Blessed are the souls who seek the kingdom prepared from the beginning of time, let us enter and rejoice. 

This marks the end of the liturgical year in the Catholic Church as a reminder of the end of time when the fullness of the kingdom of Jesus is to come.  The Solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ was instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1925 with the end of the first World War and the rise of atheism and secularism among nations.  It was a sign and a warning that the separation of “church and state” can only bring greater evil to society.  A nation with no God is a nation divided among itself with no unity to bring peace.  It gives rise to earthly kings who seek their own power and enslave its people. 

That movement to isolate the church within its walls has only grown with the rise of a secular god, the god of self.  To be one’s own god is to objectify not only every other person, but even one’s own body as the object of pleasure to serve oneself.  Lost is the image of the person in the image of a God who we serve.  We are created for a God given purpose and apart from that purpose we roam in the desert of life in search of something greater than ourselves.  A soul separate from God is among the living dead, in existence without lasting purpose.  All earthly treasures come to an end and then what?  Look to the cross to see the answer. 

If today we celebrate Christ the King, why is the gospel returning to the final hours of Jesus on the cross?  As one of the criminals reviles Jesus calling him to save himself and save him, he is the image of society that has no place for God in its circle and structures.  It treats the pain of suffering as a condemnation.  The other criminal however speaks with a heart of repentance and with a fear of God pleading for mercy when Jesus enters into his kingdom.  He is the repentant sinner who deserves death but receives absolution. 

The crucifixion was reserved for the death of a slave.  The inscription “This is the King of the Jews” is to mark Jesus as the king of the slave people.  Jesus’ slavery and death mark the end of death and the beginning of his reign as the king of freedom.  It is the freedom to be a slave to God, a slave to the love of God, a slave to the will of God and to a God given purpose.  This is why so many turn away from God because it carries the mark of the cross, the slave who dies for another.  Few stand ready to die for another so who will enter the kingdom of God?  Jesus gives us our hope when he answers to the criminal “today you will be with me in Paradise”. 

“Paradise” is not heaven.  Paradise represents the hope of eternal salvation recalling that when Jesus died, he descended to the dead where those in Paradise were waiting for the Christ to come.  This paradise is in part the final purgatory for nothing unclean can enter heaven.  The criminal was forgiven for his sins upon his confession on the cross but his soul still carried the marks of his sins. 

Paradise is the cleansing of or baptismal robes, the washing of the feet, the final penance for lack of love.  Jesus does not ascend to heaven until fifty days later with the coming of the Holy Spirit.  A quote from St. John Vianney says, “It is definite that only a few chosen ones do not go to Purgatory and the sufferings there that one must endure exceed our imagination.”  In Purgatory mercy and justice meet to heal and to purify the soul.  Christ the King, the chosen one has marked the baptized to be among his chosen ones but he waits for our response to his call.  Let us not delay before our time comes to face our Lord. 

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Homily

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time – Son of Justice

Posted on by Deacon Joe

The “sun of justice” has come in the person of the Son of justice to rule the earth.  This Son with blazing heat brings us the healing fire of purification for justice and mercy are both the same act of love.  It is his redemptive love of sacrifice on the cross that calls out for justice against the sins of the world.  As Jesus says to the people, “All that you see here—the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down” and so it came to pass as history gives testimony. 

The same is true for our times and all time that we live in a world where kingdoms rise and kingdoms fall.  Nations fight against nations while natural disasters destroy what once stood as a work of human hands leaving only a memory of the past.  Jesus is preparing his people for the suffering that is to come from a world that lives for itself and not for him.  He is preparing us to fear not but to persevere and we will secure our eternal life.  Our call in this life is to give testimony of our faith regardless and despite what hardships and suffering come our way. 

Many will question God asking, where is the Son of justice when suffering surrounds, us and the innocent who are persecuted by so much evil.  God is always present in the suffering.  He brings us his redemption through our suffering but he also offers the sinner his mercy.  In the sin of humanity, the Son of justice is suffering the pain of the cross to offer us sinners his mercy and forgiveness that we may be redeemed by a conversion of heart. 

St. Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians speaks to those living in a “disorderly way”.  These were the ones who expected the end to come in their lifetime and so were living off the hard work of others no longer contributing to the goods and services needed for the community.  St. Paul puts it plainly “if anyone is unwilling to work, neither should that one eat.”  This is a warning against an attitude of entitlement from the work of others recalling the parable of the one who buried his “talent” and had nothing to show the Master when he returned.  We are all called to work for the kingdom of God and it begins by offering our daily work that brings food to the table as our sacrifice to serve others. 

Since the time of Jesus there have been voices that call out “the end is near” but Jesus reminds us “See that you not be deceived”.  For God time is in the present so that for us we are to live with the end in mind not in fear but in joyful anticipation of the glorified state of the one true kingdom of God.  To be set free from the bonds of sin, of disease, of corruption, of suffering and of death is our joyful hope for the end to come. 

For now, we live in the near end, almost there but not yet.  We are there when we come to receive the mercy and love of God in the sacraments, we are there when we open our hearts to love as God loves, we are there when there is nothing to fear for God is with us.   The end is always near, closer than we may realize.  The nearer we come to Jesus the more prepared and secure our life is for heaven’s gate.

In the recent past we have seen fires destroy a hardware store, a restaurant, a lumber store and all three had been in our communities for generations.  Only the memory of the service they gave to our community remains for us reflect on.  With the end have come new structures and new hope but like Lazarus who was raised from the dead but still had to die again what belongs to the earth returns to the earth.  We live with the end in mind and it is the end of our suffering for the glory of God and the promise of the Son of justice in his resurrection. 

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Homily

Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome

Posted on by Deacon Joe

Ez. 47:1-2, 8-9, 12; Ps. 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9; 1 Cor. 3:9c-11, 16-17; Jn.2:13-22

“You are the temple of God” when you receive him not only in spirit and truth but as body, blood, soul, and divinity in the Eucharist.  Jesus is the temple who rose from the dead in three days validated by the empty tomb, by the witnesses who he appeared to after his death, by the breaking of the bread as he shared a meal with his disciples, and by his ascension into heaven.  The story does not end with his resurrection but continues with the coming of the Holy Spirit to transform us into the temple of God.  A temple not made of stone but of flesh and blood.  Then why are we celebrating a church made of stone today? 

The Feast of the dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome represents the “mother church” of all Catholic Churches going back to 324 A.D. with its historical significance as the home of the popes for many years.  Today it is the official cathedral of the Pope as the Bishop of Rome.  It is the physical presence of a temple that Jesus defends in the gospel today with his “Zeal” for the house of God.  Today Jesus remains in the tabernacle in the Eucharist and we not only guard his presence but we come to worship and honor him with our prayers, devotion, liturgy and music.  This is a holy place and our actions should reflect our awareness of God with us in his temple. 

Jesus also desires to remain with us and the water that flows from the temple is holy that we may be made holy by the waters of baptism.  From the sanctuary comes the rivers of living water that bear fruit and the medicine for healing of our body and soul.  Grace flows from God through his temple.  Anyone who claims they don’t need to come to church to receive God is denying God his command.  Jesus instituted his church as the channel of his graces by us receiving the sacraments he instituted as he gave his disciples authority to do.   Without the institution of the church, we make of ourselves a church of one with no past, no followers, and no future.  This was not the vision of Jesus for his people. 

The celebration of the Lateran Basilica in Rome is a reminder of the link from the Israelites as the people of God to the Christians who Jesus opened the gates of heaven to receive.  It symbolizes the authority of the church from St. Peter to Pope Leo XIV.  There is no other church that can claim this connection given by Christ to his church.  All other churches have risen since by opposition to the Catholic church without apostolic authority. 

Jesus prayer to God was that we may all be “one”, one faith, one body and it can only come through one institution.   That one institution is the Catholic Church.  This is God’s plan of salvation that we may all be one body in Christ but human pride has entered the church and brought division such that instead of unity there is a plethora of independent churches each with its own version of salvation.  Can they all be right?  Common sense and the word of God does not support the practice of to each his own church. 

In God’s mercy he is patient and waiting for the hearts of many to turn back that we may all be one, united in faith, hope and love.  Nothing demonstrates with work of the devil than to see Christians of many denominations express a hatred to other denominations.  This is not the work of God but of the evil one.  While we stand firm in our Catholic faith we also call upon other denominations as our separated brothers and sisters in Christ.  Pride leads many to be the prodigal sons and daughters of the church but the love of a father is faithful ready to accept his children back.  The Lateran Basilica in Rome stands as a reminder of the roots of our faith, the call to come home to the one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. 

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