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Holding on to Easter Joy

Sunday, April 12th, 2015

2nd Sunday of Easter

Divine Mercy Sunday

Acts 4: 32-35; 1 John 5: 1-6; John 20: 19-31

Deacon Larry Brockman

Can you still feel the Joy of Easter, or has last Sunday’s joy passed you by?

 Possibly the parking lot after Mass last week wiped out your joy; or returning to work, or school, or your chores sobered you up, because as soon as you stepped out of this Church with all the fantastic joyous music and the bold and glorious proclamations of the Resurrection accounts, promising life everlasting for those who believe and follow the Gospel, the real world was waiting out there for you, wasn’t it?  And that world is full of non-believers, cynics, and people who are dedicated to just one thing in life- number 1, themselves, and self-gratification. They make a very powerful case for how foolish it is to believe in anything else, not to mention all the details that life here throws at us.

 And so now, just a week later, the promise of life everlasting last week seems so remote and vague in the face of the end of semester test; the PTA conference with little Johnny’s teacher;and the progress report on your work project that was due Friday  that you didn’t get to. What sounds really good is a good stiff drink; a great steak with all the accompaniments; and in fact, anything that is real and tangible- something that the world has to offer, just like all the folks of the world told you.   

 In fact, it may have taken all you could muster to come here again this week. Because time, time is of the essence.  After all, we have only one life to live, right?   

 Well, let me offer another perspective.  As some of you know, I visit a local hospital twice a week to help the Chaplain.  I see so many people there who are experiencing a giant wake up call.  They were in the fast lane of life, and then wham, all of a sudden they find out they have cancer; or old age has caught up with them and they can no longer be independent; or they have had a heart attack or stroke that has left them alarmingly weak; or because of diseases like diabetes, they are going to lose a leg or limb.  All of a sudden life becomes tremendously precious to them.  All of a sudden, they wonder if there is something more than life as we know it, because all of a sudden they realize that their quality of life here is greatly diminished, and in fact, they are going to die, some of them soon.   

 Why did all of you come here last week?  Because you knew that Easter was that one great time of the year in the Church calendar when you would hear about the ultimate promise that we all long for- life everlasting in happiness and joy, especially after we die; and all of us are going to die for sure.   

 Even though the world may have choked out that feeling of joy quickly for all of the reasons I mentioned and more, many of us are back this week, hoping the joy returns.  Well, we do have the same message for you- rejoice because Jesus Resurrection of the body from the dead and his promise that we will all experience a similar Resurrection from the dead,,is real; very real; and following Jesus guarantees us life everlasting.     

 Realistically, that promise is shrouded in the same doubt that Thomas experienced, isn’t it?  We find it hard to believe in the face of the real world we all experienced in this last week since Easter.  But in his genius, Jesus anticipated that doubt, and so, we have today’s Gospel story about Thomas.  So truly, “Blessed are those who have not seen and believe.” because the rest of us have nagging doubts.   

 We just spent the 40 days of Lent getting ready for the promise of the Resurrection.  That preparation was supposed to involve a self-examination of our lives, an examination that would reveal where we need to change, that is repent.   

 John says in our second reading, “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God”.  So first, we have to believe; believe that Jesus is the Christ, our savior, and that the Resurrection is real.  We have to believe it in order to believe that our everlasting life, which follows that of Jesus, is real.  We have to believe it despite all of our trials and tribulations in this world, despite all of that the cynics and non-believers say and do, and despite the more attractive things of this world that give immediate, although temporary gratification.     

 Then John goes on to say that we need to love God:  And what does that mean?  Well, John says it this way:  “The love of God is this, that we keep his commandments”.  Obedience,  that is what God is big on.  And so we are called today to the same conversion process, believing and repenting, that was the hallmark of Lent.  When we really believe and do God’s will we will experience an underlying joy and peace of mind because God comforts those who are on the right track.   

 But there is something really special about today because today, the Sunday after Easter, has been designated Divine Mercy Sunday.  You see, Our Lord recognized that many of us would still have our doubts; would still be influenced by the world and it’s cynics and pundits, and would need more than the promise on Easter.  Today, we are blessed with something more, and something really special.  Because no matter how far we have strayed; no matter what we have done in the past, Jesus is telling us that mercy triumphs over judgment.  Jesus is promising us the gift of everlasting life and happiness for all who believe, as long as we promise to seek his forgiveness and repent- that is change our lives- from this moment forward.  Jesus is promising all of us mercy no matter what we have done.   

So, Brothers and Sisters, now is the time.  Accept the Divine Mercy offered by Jesus.  Believe in your hearts in the Resurrection.  Seek forgiveness for sins of the past.  Promise to bring your life into accord with God’s commandments from this moment on.  And then experience the underlying joy that comes with knowing that you are forgiven everything, and will live forever in the kingdom of God. 

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We Are All Being Put to the Test

Sunday, March 1st, 2015

Second Sunday of Lent

Gn 22: 9a, 10-13, 15-18; Rom 8: 31b-34; Mk 9: 2-10

Deacon Larry Brockman

 

You know what?  We are all being put to the test.  Just like Abraham in the first reading, and just like Peter, James and John in the Gospel, your faith is being put to the test constantly.  And what better time than Lent for you to reflect on that test: how you are being tested in your faith and what can you do to pass God’s test for you.   

You know, the story in first reading is so familiar to us, that we may not appreciate the whole meaning.  Did you know, for example, that the land of Moriah to which Abraham brought Isaac, meant the hills above Jerusalem- the exact same place where Jesus was crucified?  And that a little math will resolve the fact that when Isaac was brought by Abraham to Moriah, he was virtually the same age as Jesus when he suffered and died on the Cross- in his early 30’s.  He wasn’t some young lad, virtually helpless against an older parent.   

How much more vivid do these two factors make the comparison between Isaac and Abraham versus  Jesus and God the Father.  Abraham was willing to sacrifice his only son because God challenged him, put him to the test, to show his loyalty.  And God intended that we draw the parallel- a son the same age; and a sacrifice to take place in the precise location of Calvary.  Yes, it is necessary to give up that which is the most precious to us in order to show our loyalty and faith in God.   

Why was it so important that Abraham pass this test?  Because faith means everything- ultimately without faith in God, we are reduced to nothing.  We have no firm ground, no basis; we don’t have the stamina and fortitude to survive the trials in this world; and we have no future beyond this life.  Real faith in God not only means knowledge of God, but a healthy fear of God; a humility that recognizes we are always subject to God, and not in control; and trust in the fact that God loves each one of us so much that he will always help us to be the best version of ourselves.  That’s why it is important for us to have faith, and faith that has been put to the test.   

Abraham passed his test; he believed God, even if it meant sacrificing his only son.  And as a reward, God gave him descendants as numerous as the stars from his one son Isaac.  God extended the promise to maintain Abraham’s legacy symbolically “forever” through his descendants.   

Similarly, the Apostles faith is being tested in the Gospel reading.  They had left everything to follow Jesus.  But they didn’t really know what that meant.  Jesus miracles and charisma and teaching authority were beyond question in their minds.  But when Jesus told them, following the 40 days in the desert that we heard about last week, that he was going to suffer much, die, and then be resurrected, well, that was too much for them; Jesus words to them had fallen on deaf ears.   

And so, Jesus took them on Mt. Tabor for an unforgettable encounter.  Right in front of their eyes, Jesus was transfigured, meaning that he became dazzling in brightness.  Clearly, this was a brightness that emanated from within him.  And there were Moses and Elijah as well in similar brilliance and reality- Moses representing the Law; and Elijah representing the prophets.   

Jesus had been accused by the Pharisees of violating the law and misrepresenting the prophets.  So, Moses and Elijah’s presence validated that Jesus was on the right track.  He was the fulfillment of the law and the prophecies.  Amazingly, the three Apostles recognized Moses and Elijah- their eyes were opened.  Then, God the Father spoke from the cloud: “This is my beloved Son”.  What an encounter!  If ever they had doubts about who Jesus was, this should have removed them.     

But even as they left the mountain, Jesus repeats the prophecy of his on suffering and death.  Indeed, the Faith the Apostles had was being called into test.  They had seen; but to really believe, they had to believe in all of it, trusting that even that which seemed unlikely or counterintuitive, was true.  They needed to have faith in Jesus 100 percent, and then act accordingly.   

Each year, we are brought into the season of Lent to prepare for the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  It is a good time for us to stop what we are doing for a while and reflect on our lives.  How are we being put to the test?  And do we really believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior?  Do we trust that no matter what the world throws at us, we still need to live the Gospel message, and trust God? 

So, what are some of the ways that we can establish that our faith is genuine as we reflect on our lives?  St. Paul tells us this morning that we should not be ashamed of our testimony to the Lord.  Today, that means we should stand tall for our Christian moral values-  values such as Respect for Life, concern for the Poor, the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman; and honesty in business to name a few.  Paul also tells us that God has:  “…Called us to a holy life, not according to our works but according to his own design and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus”.  First, we are called to a holy life.  Are we living holy lives?  And then, we are called, not according to our own works that is our own interpretation about what is right for us and how to do things, but rather through God’s will for us, His design.  That’s a whole lot to reflect on.  I am sure all of us are being tested, and we have this opportunity to strengthen our faith.   

I go to a local hospital twice a week to visit the Catholics there.  It’s probably accurate to say that many of them experience a sort of wake up call.  I see People who are losing a leg because of diabetes; or suddenly find themselves with cancer; or any of a number of other life threatening diseases.   I hear a lot of “Why me? And I see a lot of denial.”  Some of them are in panic because they know their lives are not in harmony with God.  Their faith is weak; and they are struggling with the consequences.     

Each of us has the opportunity right now to face the test of our faith, and not be caught by surprise.  So, examine your life; and then make whatever change you need to strengthen your faith now.  Make ready for the promise of the Resurrection!

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A Better Way to Live Life

Sunday, February 22nd, 2015

First Sunday of Lent

Gn 9: 8-15; 1 Peter 3: 18-22; Mk 1: 12-15

Deacon Larry Brockman

 

Did you know that Noah preached to the people of his time for 120 years before the flood?  For 120 years, Noah pleaded with the people to reform and turn to God.  And whether the 120 years is literal or not- the message is that God worked through Noah to bring people back to him for a long time.  But despite Noah’s patience and perseverance, only 8 people, his closest family members, believed and repented. 

Noah warned everyone the flood was coming as well, but that warning fell on deaf ears.  In fact, Noah was ridiculed and laughed at for building the ark.  So, virtually all the people of the time perished in the flood.  Ironically, those that were saved were saved by the same water that the others perished in!  Buoyed up by the ark, Noah and his family transcended the evil around them, and the devastation of the flood, to live.  And so, the covenant we hear about this morning was made with Noah and his descendants- those who listened to God.   

In the second reading, Peter refers to the flood waters as a prefiguring of Baptism, because the waters of the flood saved the few who were seeking God and his forgiveness.  Likewise, Peter says that Baptism “saves you now”, or immediately.  Indeed, when we were Baptized, all of our sins were washed away immediately. 

The same is true in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, which was instituted so that persons who sinned after their Baptism might receive immediate forgiveness.  All we have to do is confess our sins and repent, and those sins are washed away for good.   

Peter also talks about the dead who were imprisoned by virtue of the flood.  The dead were the multitude that didn’t listen to Noah.  Peter says that Christ went “in spirit” to preach to the dead in that prison.  There’s a lot of discussion by Scripture scholars about what Peter’s words mean here.  But the majority of Scripture scholars seem to interpret that many of those lost in the flood had a last minute conversion when the flood actually came.  Christ had spoken to these lost souls through Noah for 120 years, that’s what the preaching of Christ was.  And although these people did not listen till the flood came, they remembered, and had this last minute conversion.  Some scholars quote St. Augustine who described this as a “miraculous” conversion. 

Nevertheless, those lost in the flood had to wait all that time- thousands of years from the flood till the coming of Jesus, till Christ redeemed them of their sin and released them from their prison. I don’t know about you, but this sounds very much like Purgatory to me and it sounds like a very, very sad condition.   

This reminds me very much of my experiences at a local hospital.  I go twice a week to help the Chaplain, where I visit the Catholics.  Many of the people I see have become estranged from the Church.  They either don’t attend Church, or they go to some other Church now.  Their faith is on the back burner while they live their lives.  Yet, when it comes to identifying what their religion is, they say they are Catholic.  Some of these people see their hospital stay as a wakeup call, and seek reconciliation with God through His is HChurch.  But many of them seem indifferent to God, and just want to get out of the hospital and resume business as usual.  There will always be time later to respond to God’s call and repent they think.  This sounds just like the folks caught in the flood.   

There is a different and better way for all of us- the way that Jesus shows us in this morning’s Gospel.  After his Baptism, Jesus went into the desert for 40 days and fasted and prayed and reflected on the meaning of life.  In the midst of great temptations by the devil, temptations to use the talents God gave him on his own terms; to wield power; and to satisfy himself,  Jesus rejected all that.
 Rather, Jesus emerged from the desert in harmony with God’s plan.  He was resolved to change his life to do God’s will for him and so, the simple Carpenter from Nazareth became a fiery preacher, a faith healer and messenger to announce the coming of the Kingdom of God.  His Gospel is his legacy; the crucifixion is the price he paid for doing God’s will; and the Resurrection and everlasting life were his reward.  Jesus showed us the way to do the same thing.   

We are challenged in these 40 days of Lent to make a change in our lives.  Lent is our desert time of the year, if we take the opportunity.  Let go of some of the clutter in your life, whatever it is that is holding you back from entering that desert.  Maybe it’s some of your TV time; some of your internet time; some of your shopping time.  But whatever it is that holds you back- cut some of it out.  That’s what you should fast from.   

And then, use that time to get with God.  Try the adoration chapel; or a quiet space in your home.  Pray for God’s help to identify and recognize your weaknesses and your sinfulness.   For example, reflect on whether you have a tendency toward any of the seven deadly sins-  Pride, Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Laziness, Anger, or Envy.  If you are honest with yourself, you will probably find something there that rings a bell.  And then resolve to do it, to change it.  Change is the key to success .  

There’s a saying used in 12 step addiction programs   That gives some insight into why change is necessary:  “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results”.  I think most of us are guilty of that.  We live our lives in a fixed pattern, and we’d like to change things, but we still keep going the same way.  And so, the results are no different.   

The people of Noah’s time did not change.  They never learned the lesson  They squandered more than a lifetime of God’s urging and patience.  Don’t repeat their mistake. 

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Speaking With Authority

Sunday, February 1st, 2015

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dt 18: 15-20; 1 Cor 7: 32-35; Mark 1: 21-28

Deacon Larry Brockman

 

There’s no lack of folks speaking on moral issues in our time.  We have all those televangelists out there; and all those folks on Christian radio filling the airways.  And there are spokespeople for all the denominations of Churches.  And then there are the secular moral advocates.  They say different things about important issues on faith and morals.  So, how do you know when God is speaking to you through these people?  Well, you should look for someone who speaks with “authority”.   

The dictionary defines authority as “power to exercise judgment, make decisions, or command that something be done”.  It was clear that God tells Moses that he will raise up prophets from among the Jews who will talk in God’s name.  Clearly, those prophets spoke with authority- God given authority because God granted them the power to speak in His name.  And during the course of Old Testament History, God did use His prophets to shepherd His people.  He warned them when they began to go astray; he told them what to look for in a Messiah; and he consoled them with hope when they were in exile.   

But along with the real prophets, there were many false prophets.  These prophets may have had power granted to them by their rulers or have assumed authority by virtue of their knowledge.  But their message was flawed, because the authority they claimed came from the wrong power, not the power of God.   

The people of the Old Testament frequently ignored, and even persecuted the real prophets because they prophesied things the people did not want to hear.  Unfortunately, God’s real message is often something we don’t want to hear.  So, we need to be in tune for what constitutes real authority, not what constitutes the most palatable message.   

In Jesus day, the Scribes and Pharisees supposedly spoke with authority.  Their authority was based on scripture- literal interpretation of Jewish law derived from the Jewish scriptures.  In today’s Gospel, we see Jesus speaking with authority.  Jesus, as God become man, had authority by virtue of the power of God.  When Jesus spoke, things happened- demons were driven out; and people were cured.  But more than that when Jesus spoke, the words had a ring of truth to them.  They had a quality that cut through the arguments of the Jewish leaders of the time.  Jesus words contradicted strict observance of the law because His authority was based on God’s will, and God’s will was that we act with a loving heart.   

Now Jesus delegated his authority to the Church on Holy Thursday when he commissioned the Apostles to go out and Baptize everyone and to celebrate the Eucharist, a sharing of His own body and Blood.   So, the Church shares real authority just like the Old Testament Prophets did.   

Nowadays, there are many self- proclaimed experts who compete with the Church.  Some are the televangelists and radio evangelists who speak for competing denominations.   And to be sure, many of them spread God’s word and do much good.  But they sometimes fall into the same trap as the Pharisees and Scribes of Jesus time by emphasizing the Bible alone.  That is because the real authority comes from God; not directly from man’s interpretation of the Bible.   

Others speak with secular authority; a sort of pluralistic authority that takes into account multiple faiths and cultures.  Today, these “authorities” are attempting to impose a new way of thinking about marriage, homosexuality, individual rights and a host of other issues involving faith and morals.   

What matters in the end, is whether or not they speak with real authority.  They don’t, because the only real authority on these issues is God and God speaks through His Church.    In the last several years, I have come to appreciate the Catholic Catechism more and more.  The Catechism is a document that speaks with authority.  The arguments cut through the secular mishmash of today, and provide clear guidance for moral issues that have been clouded up by the false prophets of today.  I urge all of you to consult the Catechism for the truth because the Church speaks with the authority of God.   

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Your Mission as a Christian Family

Sunday, December 28th, 2014

Feast of the Holy Family

Gen 15: 1-6; 21: 1-3; Col 3: 12-21; Luke 2: 22-40

Dc. Larry Brockman

 

Today is a really special day for our Parish because this is our Feast Day, the feast of Holy Family.  And our parish is named after the Holy Family for good reason, because the family is critical to the well-being of all of its members physically and spiritually; and the Holy family is God’s revelation to us of what family is all about.   

The first thing we should take notice of is that the Holy Family was not like the Norman Rockwell poster picture of the ideal American Family at all.  We know that Mary was a teen who had a child out of wedlock; that the child was born away from home in difficult circumstances and placed in a manger; and that the Holy Family fled for fear of the authorities after the birth, becoming refugees in a flight to Egypt, living in a tent in a foreign country for months.  We know that when Joseph brought his family back, he was a poor laborer, a simple carpenter, working in a remote area  of Israel; and that Jesus was lost in the temple at age 12, with his parents returning days later in panic to try to find him.  At some time in his life, Jesus became an orphan.  After that, He was responsible for his mother Mary as Jewish society dictated.  Yes, the Holy Family experienced a rocky road.   

In fact, what we have described would be described today as a blended, poor family with many hardships.  Why, then is the Holy Family so special?  Well, because of the values that the Holy Family lived while facing all those hardships. 

All of us are products of our environment to some extent. The Holy Family was no different.   Indeed, Jesus became a role model for all of us as he rose above all the difficulties in perfect harmony with His Father.   

How did this happen; how did Jesus manage to grow up in perfection despite the fact that the environment the Holy Family lived in was not the picture of a perfect family?  Basically, it happened because the Holy Family shows us how one can live a difficult life and still be loving and obedient and faithful to God’s will.   

We know that Mary was loving and obedient to God’s will.  Despite the very special role she knew she would play as the Mother of the Son of God, she was not haughty and self-absorbed.  Rather, Mary nurtured Jesus as mothers do, and was submissive to her husband Joseph.  We know little of Joseph from the Bible.  But we see that Joseph is a loving committed husband and parent, and that he was obedient to God’s will for him also.  Joseph put his family first; and at the same time, was the provider for his family.  And we know that Jesus loved and supported his parents; the bible tells us Jesus was obedient during his childhood “in all things”.   

You know, we were all made in the image and likeness of God.  But there’s more to it than that.  God has revealed to us that he is relationship.  Yes, the Trinity is a relationship between the three persons in one God.  God is not “all alone up there”; rather, He is a relationship- Father Son, and Spirit.   

So, not only were we made in his image and likeness as individuals; but we are made in his image and likeness in relationship too.  The primary relationship that mirrors God is called our family.  God the Father is the architect of all life.  He begot his only Son, who has been with him forever.  And the expression of the love; the energy and charisma of that relationship between the Father and Son, is the Holy Spirit.   

The family mirrors that special relationship of the Trinity- the Father is head of the family.  Fathers are joined together in a relationship of love with their spouses, and they “become one”.  The expression of the love between moms and dads is the children, who mirror the Holy Spirit.   

Now I mentioned love and obedience in the Holy Family.  Love implies a whole lot of things- self-sacrifice, mutual respect, forbearance, and presence for example.  Likewise, obedience implies a lot of things as well-  like belonging to a hierarchy, knowing one’s place, mutual cooperation, and respecting authority.  These are all values that we can learn from the experience of the Holy Family.  They are byproducts of the ultimate in relationship- the Trinity.  And this is God’s way of revealing His plan for the Kingdom of Heaven as well.   

I believe it is God’s intent that we build on the family by projecting the family structure and values forward.   First, the family relationship is perpetuated generation after generation through itself.  We dedicate our children in Baptism to live a life as Christians.   And they go off and do the same, spreading the faith and the Gospel along the way.  They do that by praying together and learning about role models in real life situations from their parents and family.  They learn from their parents about the prime of life; and they learn from their elders- especially grandparents- how fragile life is and that life in this world is not the end.  Finally, they learn from the saints, and from the Gospel, to love as Jesus loved.   

For all of this to happen, this basic cell of our society, the family needs support.  That is where the Church comes in.  Indeed, the Church is our “mother” collectively.  We are called to belong to that larger family, as well as the Diocese, and the whole Church.  And belonging means participating- as we worship weekly here at Mass, partaking of Communion with the mystical body of Christ, and participating in parish events and activities; just as we worship by prayer in our homes; and participate in family activities.   

Our families then become part of a very important mission.  In fact, it is that mission that gives meaning to our lives.  We are called to evangelize in word and deed by living the example of the Holy Family.  That example will speak loudly to all our brothers and sisters in the secular world.  This is how the whole Western World was converted to Christianity in the first millennia after Christ- through the example of the individual Christian families and the collective family, the Church.  Nowadays, our secular World is ready and ripe for another conversion because our society seems to be losing touch with the family values Jesus taught us.   

Today, each family here will receive a free book called “Mission of the Family” as you leave the Church.  I appeal to each of you to read this book; it is a quick read.  This book makes some of the same arguments I have just made, plus many more.   

At a time when the secular world is walking away from traditional family values, it is important that we Christians take a stand for God’s plan in the world.  The Holy Family taught us that family relationships mirror the Trinity, with primary values such as obedience, love, and Faith in God.  This is God’s plan for this world. 

Your mission, if you decide to accept it, is to spread that message by living as a Christian Family and supporting the Church’s effort to evangelize that model to the whole world.

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Rendering to God What is God’s

Sunday, October 19th, 2014

Twenty Ninth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Is 45: 1, 4-6; 1 Thes 1: 1-5b; Mt 22: 15-21

 Larry Brockman

 

Sounds good, doesn’t it.  “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God.” It just means we have to pay our taxes and obey the law of the land, right.  Or does it mean something more profound-  especially in today’s world; especially in this country?  

Let me give you an example of what concerns me.  I read in the news where the mayor of Houston has subpoenaed certain pastors demanding that they send her office copies of their sermons.  They want to determine whether Houston’s new non-discrimination ordinance has been violated.  This ordinance safeguards the “rights” of gays, lesbians, and persons with gender identity problems.  It seems that these pastors, some 400 of them, are against the ordinance, which, among other things grants men the right to use the ladies room.  Yes, you heard me right, it grants men the right to use the ladies room- because what matters is who you identify with- not how God made you.  Sounds a lot like the Pharisees in the Gospel!

By the way, over 50,000 signatures have been gathered opposing the ordinance for these and other reasons, but Houston’s Mayor and City Council have turned a blind eye.   

Now in case you haven’t heard, “gender identity” is becoming a big issue country wide.  And if you think it isn’t affecting us here; think again because the same kind of thing has already happened in our Orange County Public Schools.  Last year the Orange County School Board approved Gender Identity rights in writing- I heard them vote on it.  Kids can now choose whichever bathroom they want in our Public Schools.  It’s part of our School System’s directives to all the schools.  If you don’t believe me, check it out.   

Why do I bring this up?  Because it’s time for us to render unto God the things that are God’s.  It isn’t just about paying our taxes- it’s also about the other side of the coin, pardon the pun.  It’s about living our lives in a fundamentally Christian way; it’s about maintaining a society and a system of laws which are based on Christian values and principles; and it’s about having the freedom to stand up for those values in public.  It’s about majority rule; not minority rule for political correctness.  It’s time for all of us God-fearing Christian Americans to become more proactive in defending and protecting our faith, and rendering to God what is God’s.   

I am sure that all of you have heard those multiple reports in the press about groups lobbying to remove the Ten Commandments from public buildings in lots of places country-wide.  Do you suppose that our founding fathers, and their equivalents in all the states, listed the Ten Commandments on the walls of their courthouses because they wanted to establish a “state religion”?  Certainly not!  The Ten Commandments are held in such high regard because they are the basis for our entire system of laws.  We cannot and ought not separate our Judeo-Christian heritage from our Government.   

I like to think of it this way.  The Founding Fathers of this country represented numerous religious persuasions, many of which, including Catholics, Presbyterians, Quakers, Jews, and Methodists, had been persecuted for their beliefs in one way or another in the “old Country”.  They came to North America to get away from all of that.  And so, they collectively worked to establish a secular state; one in which they could live in peace according to their own Faith.  But they did it by using what they believed in common to formulate our government and laws.  The three branches of government may just be patterned after the Trinity; and our basic law draws from the foundation laid by the ten commandments.     

Our first reading describes Cyrus, the great Persian King, as the liberator of the Jews held captive in the great Israeli exile.  Isaiah says Cyrus was the anointed one; even though he did not know God as such.  That means he was a man chosen by God.  Indeed, Cyrus was a man who God moved through his heart to do the right thing.  And Cyrus responded to that prompting by God’s spirit- with a little help from Daniel.   

In the same way, God moved our Founding Fathers collectively, and what resulted was a system of government that has withstood the test of time.  It is a government that established secular laws and methods of government based on Judeo Christian values, values that recognize everyone’s rights to practice their own Faith.  And they guarantee life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all.   

Now this whole issue of balancing allegiance to Caesar and God becomes increasingly more important when one considers the latest threat to Christianity- namely, Radical Islam.  You see, the Islamist Radicals have every intention of going back in time.  They reject the whole American experiment with a secular state.  They want to establish a world-wide Theocracy based on Islam; that’s what a Caliphate state is intended to do.  Then they intend to force everyone, believers or not, to abide by Sharia Law.  Sharia Law is the literal “law” prescribed in their scriptures, the Koran, and associated writings.  Wherever Islamic radicals get a foothold- like Iran, Yemen, Somalia, and now ISIS- that’s what they do; and that’s what they advocate.   

We can no longer choose to be “tolerant” of radical ideas and methods like that.  Because being tolerant doesn’t render to God what is God’s.  What we need are people like Paul describes in his letter to the Thessalonians.  We need to become a people where “the gospel did not come to you in word alone, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit, and with much conviction.”  Most of us are in that category when we defend our heritage and our values by living our faith prayerfully.   

And so, let us say this one more time because the antiphon sums it all up:  “Give the Lord glory and honor”. 

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Fighting Evil in Today’s World

Sunday, September 7th, 2014

Twenty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Ez 33: 7-9; Rom 13: 8-10; Matt 18: 15-20

Dc. Larry Brockman

 

There’s certainly no lack of evil in today’s world, is there?   

While on a beach vacation, my wife’s bike was stolen from the rental property even though the place had a locked gate.  A few nights later, we watched an internet video of a lady dismantling a beach canopy.  Gone just a few minutes to get a cold drink, the owner walked up with his I-phone recording the scene and asked her what she was doing.  “Taking down my canopy” was her response.  This takes place in broad daylight, in full view of everyone on the beach.  The woman and her friend start cussing and threatening the owner, and even attacked him, knocking the i-phone out of his hand.  Everybody else just stood by and watched.   

And then there is society as a whole.  All you have to do is listen to the news for just one day, and you’ll get a belly full of it- pornographic photos of starlets stolen and posted on the internet; evidence of Government lies and cover-ups in multiple areas; scam schemes to defraud thousands of Home Depot Customers.  Yes, and all of that in just a few days.   

What can and should we do about such evil and the wicked?   

Our society has changed significantly over the last 100 years- and a lot of it is for the better.  But when it comes to holding people accountable for evil, I’m not so sure.  There was a time when we could all expect that our neighbors had roughly the same moral values that we did.  We were, after all, a Nation founded on Judeo-Christian Values.  But political correctness of today preaches “tolerance” of alternate traditions such as Moslems, Buddhists, American Indian Spirituality, and other religions.   And this also forces us to “tolerate” the values of people who claim to be Wickens, Atheists, and Devil Worshippers. 

And to make matters worse, modern society has embraced “Relativism”.  Relativists say evil is not absolute, but rather, relative to the situation.    But that is not what the Church Teaches.  Several times a year we hear the Gospel story about building houses on rock rather than sand.  The rock we are advised to build on is absolute- God’s law.  God’s law is not relative- it is absolute.  Things are either morally right or wrong; culpability may vary with circumstances, but not the rightness or wrongness of an action. 

Lastly, our affluent society seems perfectly content without God.  Church attendance in the US is under 50 %; in Europe it is 8 %.  Is there any wonder than that the youth of today don’t know right from wrong- who is there to teach them? 

This tolerance and relativism and apathy towards God has caused the loss of a common set of values.  And so we cannot be sure our neighbors see things as we do.  In fact, more than likely they do not.  That’s why there are people next to us on the beach who see nothing wrong with stealing beach canopies and bikes.     

The question for us this morning is this.  After listening to Ezekiel’s words in the first reading; and after hearing Jesus’ words in the Gospel, just what is our responsibility to our brothers and sisters with regard to calling attention and doing something about evil?  In a society where we are discouraged, even prohibited, from imposing our set of values so that we “tolerate” the diversity of other values, just what is our responsibility?  How do we apply what we hear in this Church on the outside.   

First, let me quote you something from paragraph 450 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church:  “From the beginning of Christian History, the assertion of Christ’s lordship over the world and over history has implicitly recognized that man should not submit his personal freedom in an absolute manner to any earthly power but only to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”.  So, that means that we have an obligation to obey God’s Law first, before we obey the Government.   

What we are hearing this morning is that if we see evil going on around us- evil caused by our human brothers and sisters- we have an obligation to call them on it.  We have an obligation to call them on it whether their actions are legal according to the Government or not; and we have an obligation to call them on it if it is going on around us but doesn’t affect us personally because evil is evil; and because, as Ezekiel clearly says, we will be held responsible for our brother’s actions if we do not warn them.  Yes, brothers and sisters, God may hold us accountable for the sins of others if we don’t make an attempt to correct them.   

Granted, our efforts to call out the wicked and their wickedness need to be done properly.  For individuals, that means that we go to them quietly first; and if that fails, then we go to them with one or two witnesses; and if that fails, we have the Church or the authorities take up the matter.   

But what about society as a whole?  What can we, and should we, do about eroding moral values in our society as a whole?  There are lots of areas where we see our values being eroded- basic honesty, respect for property, the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman, and respect for life are examples. 

St. Paul recommends love in our second reading because love does no evil.  But he expands on battling evil in Ephesians 7:11, when he says:   “Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil”.  Then he defines that armor: Truth, Righteousness, Faith, the Hope of Salvation, and the Word of God.   

But in order for these things to be armor, we have to put them into practice.  Father Rex has talked about being a disciple the last couple of weeks.  And that is what I am saying too- “Be a disciple of Christ”.  We have to proclaim the word, have faith and trust in God, hold to the truth no matter what, and live a righteous life.  That’s the way to defeat evil.  It’s called involvement; it’s called being a dynamic Catholic.  To be a dynamic Catholic you have to know your Faith; believe in what you know; and practice what you believe.  Sometimes that means speaking up; writing letters, calling someone out in public, and refusing to comply with an unjust law- it means all of those things and more.  

Imagine how things would change  If all 6,000 families in this parish were dynamic Catholics! 

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Taking a Pilgrimage to see Jesus

Sunday, August 3rd, 2014

18th Sunday Week in Ordinary Time

Is 55: 1-3; Rom 8: 35, 37-39; Mt 14: 13-21

Dc. Larry Brockman

 

Why don’t we take a little pilgrimage together today in our minds. Imagine that you are the boy with the 5 loaves and two fish in the Gospel story.  Together with your parents, you are going to see what this popular teacher, Jesus, has to say.  A huge crowd of over 15,000 people are there with you on the shores of the lake at the village.  Yes, 15,000, not just 5,000 because 5,000 was just the men.  And 15,000 would have been an immense number of people in that day and age, one third of the population of Jerusalem .  It fact, it was the largest crowd Jesus ever addressed in his three year career.   

Back to you, now- the kid with the food.  You were prepared for lunch; but most of the folks around you were not.  After all they thought they could always visit the market close by if they got hungry.  But now, the great crowd around you sees that Jesus is headed off in a boat with his disciples.  Somebody shouts out “He’s headed towards Bethsaida”.  And, in a frenzy, everyone moves out to try to beat Jesus there- about twice the distance by land than by boat.  Imagine how enthusiastic the crowd must have been to walk, even trot most of the way.  Nobody had time to stop and get food; and everybody was pretty well spent by the time they get there.  But they were in luck, because they beat the boat there.   

Moved with pity, Jesus proceeds to preach to the crowd.  In a sense He was moved to feed them what they came for-  His stories about the good news, the kingdom of God.  And Jesus heals many of them for good measure. 

As all this happens, time flies by, and now it is evening.  You are in a deserted place, hours from any market or restaurant.  Everyone is hungry; you hear the disciples and crowd talking about it.  And you realize you’ve got some food- five little buns and two dried up fish.  You go to the teacher’s disciples and offer to give up what you have so it can be shared with everyone else.  Suddenly, you are being told to take them directly to Jesus.  Jesus looks up to heaven, blesses the food, and asks the 15,000 people to recline.  Bible scholars tell us that the words in Greek were like a request to be seated at a formal banquet.  And so the 15,000 people recline in neat little circles, as at a banquet, in the lush green grass-  no panic, no skepticism, no resistance to the Lord’s orders.  And there is plenty of food for all 15,000 people!   

Let me make a couple of observations here.  First, this was the only miracle recorded in all four Gospels except for the Resurrection itself- the one and only.  So, it must have been considered significant and important.  Second, there are few if any books in antiquity that describe miracle workers and their deeds- so Jesus is unique.  And lastly 12 large whicker baskets of remnants are both literally and symbolically huge.  In first century Palestine, there was seldom enough food to totally satisfy 15,000 people at a time.  But in fact, after they have had their fill, there were 12 large whicker hampers full of food left!  Twelve symbolizes abundance; and so from five loaves and two fish, twelve baskets implies tremendous abundance.   

What a miracle, what an experience.  But what does it really all mean?  Is the message summed up in the magnitude of the miracle?   Was the message that Jesus was proven to be God  because only God is capable of such miracles?  Or was there a deeper message for us?   

Well, consider this:  Jesus was primarily concerned with feeding souls in this story.  All day long he had told them of the Kingdom of God and had urged them to repent.  He had told them that they could make a difference if they did that.  Jesus first reaction to the disciple’s message that the people were hungry is one of surprise.  He orders the disciples to feed them.  It’s as if he is saying “I have been feeding them the bread of life all day long; you can take care of their temporal needs.”   So, had his real message fallen on deaf ears?  Because after all of that teaching, the people were now concerned about food, they were not fired up over His message.   

Now if you truly played the role of the boy with the basket of food in this story, then you should recognize that you were loving and generous.  In the face of impossible odds, you offered what little you had without hesitation for the good of all.  The disciples in John’s Gospel accounts are sarcastic about it.  “There is a boy with 5 barley loaves and two fish, but what is that among so many”?  But the child, the boy, is an innocent, and offers his food unencumbered by those odds.  And from that source of food, an abundance flows.   How ironic that the young boy with the meager lunch would show them what could happen if they really listened to Jesus and lived his message of love.   

Our Isaiah reading, today, emphasizes the abundance of blessings available from God.  And so, perhaps this miracle is a message to all of us that no matter how small our contribution,  If we offer it to God with humility, sincerity, and good intentions, as the boy with the five loaves did, then God will respond to us with abundance.   

We are lacking much in today’s world.  There are terrible things going on in the Ukraine, Iraq, Syria, Israel, and Palestine.  We are still hampered by a sluggish economy at home; and we see moral decay all around us in the media.  This can all seem overwhelming to us.  And so we come here to Church each week hoping to hear something that will help, just like the 15,000 people on a deserted slope in Palestine did 2000 years ago.  Perhaps, just perhaps, we need to be like the boy that offered his food.  Rather than what you can get, what can you give.  Whatever it is that you have in means, talent, or time, figure out how to do your part.  Then offer something up sincerely and with humility.  Not just one or two of you.  But as Father Ennis says- “All of you”.  And then watch the abundance flow from God because God can make a difference.

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Don’t Worry, Be Happy

Sunday, July 6th, 2014

14th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Zech 9: 9-10; Romans 8: 9, 11-13; Mt 11: 25-30

Dc. Larry Brockman

 

“Don’t Worry, Be Happy”!  How many of you remember that late 80’s song by Bobby McFerrin.  Don’t Worry, Be Happy, I am not going to sing it for you! It has had 26 million views on You Tube, for those of you who are interested. 

The first time I heard that song, I reacted to it with cynicism.  How can we just let unsettling things happen all around us, and still go away not worrying and being happy?  The lyrics of the song, for example, speak of a man whose bed was stolen and whose landlord was evicting him.  And yet he sings: “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” over and over.   

But you know what, that is exactly what Jesus is asking us to do in today’s Gospel.  The Gospel can be summed up: Don’t worry, be happy as long as you trust in me, and live life accordingly.”   

Perhaps a little bit of background on the context of today’s Gospel, would help.  Jesus had just been rejected by the learned Pharisees of Jewish Society.  He had been talking about knowing God; experiencing God through His forgiveness and Love; and having a relationship with God.  The Pharisees had been talking about knowing about God and His rules, the law of Moses.  The Pharisees rejected Jesus teaching because he didn’t preach about the law; but rather about knowing God.  But the Pharisees didn’t really know God because they had not experienced Him.  They were trying to get to God by keeping all the rules.  They were seeking God with their heads not their hearts.  And so, they were missing experiences and relationships and communion with God.   

Jesus message was only heard by those who were seeking God with their hearts.  These were people who were not so hung up with the details of the law; rather they took the time to experience life and listen for God’s voice.  They were people who didn’t think so much about God as they felt for Him and His presence in their lives.  Children are like that; and that’s why Jesus said that we need the heart of a child to recognize Him.     

Now Zechariah predicts the coming of the Messiah in the first reading.  Notice that the savior is described as meek; and riding on an ass.  Royalty commonly travelled on an ass or a colt or the foal of an ass.  Zechariah describes his royal savior as meek.  In other words, the savior is humble.  And indeed, Jesus fulfilled this prophecy, riding into Jerusalem on the foal of an ass.  But Jesus was also meek and humble of heart, as he describes himself this morning.  Knowing that he was the Son of God, he nevertheless humbled himself by seeking and then doing God’s will for him.  Jesus had taken the time, had gone out into the desert, and had listened to God.  And so, when he returned, he took up his yoke, meaning the mission His Father had for him, and bore it with love.  Nothing else mattered in the clutter of his world.  It wasn’t an easy mission because it involved sacrifice and pain.  But it was easy in the sense that He always knew He was in harmony with the Father and His will.   

Jesus is advising us to do the same this morning.  Jesus says that all who are weary of heavy burdens should come to him, for he will give you rest; and that they should take on his yoke, because “For my yoke is easy, and my burden light”.  Jesus was referring to the onerous burden that the 565 + rules of the Mosaic Law, particularly as amplified and taught by the Pharisees, placed on the Jewish people.   

Now I ask you, is it any different today?  What a heavy burden society place on us today.  We work, we are taxed, we have mortgages, cars, boats, activities, social obligations, family obligations, sports, and on and on;  And most of it has to do with “doing the right thing by our families”.  On top of that, we try to observe all the rules and regulations of our Faith.  Our burdens are heavy.  But just like the Pharisees and those who accepted their burden, we don’t really get to know God in all of that.   

And So, Jesus words apply to us today as well.  First, we need to be meek and humble of heart.  That will eliminate a lot of the burdens.  We don’t have to compete with the Joneses.  We don’t have to match society’s expectations of the perfect family.  But, with true humility and meekness, we do need to hear God’s voice amongst all the thunder.  God’s voice begins with his Word and the scriptures; but it doesn’t end there.  Rather, God’s voice is where the scriptures lead us, and God’s voice tells us who we really are and what is really important. 

First and foremost, a relationship with Jesus is important and then, relationships with our loved ones.  Love itself is important.   

When Jesus says the yoke is easy, he means it is easy mentally more than anything else because if we are at peace with God and ourselves, then it will be easy to accept and we will be happy.  And when he says the burden will be light, he doesn’t necessarily mean literally.  Rather, He means light in the sense of whether it is bearable.  Even the heaviest of burdens are bearable if we are happy that they are the right thing for us to do.   

And so we come to understand that as Christians, we really can sing:  “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”. 

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We are All Saints Responding to the Call

Sunday, June 29th, 2014

Sts. Peter and Paul

Acts 12: 1-11; 2 Tim 4: 6-8, 17-18; Mt. 16: 13-19

Deacon Larry Brockman

Two saints,  today we hear about two saints who are the founding Fathers of the Church,  zealous and fearless in their efforts to evangelize all men, and spread the faith.  They were two very different people.  But both heard the call and responded.   

Take Peter; he was just an ordinary kind of guy.  He was not learned in his faith at all.  He was a fisherman by trade, who responded to the call despite his weaknesses and several setbacks.  He was awed by Jesus, and seemed to just have a sense of His divinity.  And yet, he still denied Him three times.  He was afraid to go out and spread the Gospel, because he sensed that the authorities would do the same to him that they did to Jesus.  Yet as the story today shows, he was miraculously rescued from that fate, and he went on to become a zealous evangelizer.

And then there is Paul, a Roman Citizen from a well to do family, and  a Pharisee well versed in his faith as a Jew.  He persecuted the Christians with zeal, and was responsible for putting many to death.  But then, something happened to him.  He was struck down by an angel and had visions of Jesus himself.  He received a personal revelation of the Gospel, as we heard today and went on to become the Apostle to the Gentiles.   

Both of these men were sinners, but they repented.  Both of these men heard the call and went on to do God’s will for them.  They looked forward, not backward at their failings and mistakes.  Both of these men are examples for all of us about what it means to live the life that God intends for us.   

Now I know what some of you are thinking.  “Sure, but it was easy for them.  After all, Jesus was there personally for them, or he sent an angel to give them awake up call, or to work miracles for them.  But it is not that way for me-  no angels, no personal relationship with Jesus, no miracles, no clear message on what He wants me to do.”  But that is wrong on all counts when you think about it.   

Over twenty years ago, in my previous life as an engineer, two of us were sent to San Francisco on business.  We were given a rental care that had an experimental navigation system in it.  Now these things are common today, but it was really novel then.  We marveled at the polite, pleasant sounding female voice that gave us our directions.  And then it struck us.  What would the voice say if we went astray- took a wrong turn?  What about multiple wrong turns?  And so, we tried it- we deliberately took some wrong turns.  And the lady politely and cheerfully told us what to do each time to get us back on course.  We were disappointed in a sense- expecting a more realistic:  “Why can’t you listen to directions, you idiot”.  But there was never any hint of that.  The machine was relentless in its program to always guide you on the right course.  The system never looked back, always forward.   

Well, it is the same way with God.  God is talking to each one of us daily, hourly, even by the moment; continuously prompting us to take the right course.  His voice may seem weaker than other voices in our world.  But he is always there.  And sometimes, His voice is very loud- almost like the things that happened to Peter and Paul.  Life changing events like a death, an illness, graduation, marriage, divorce, someone asking for help, a chance encounter with another- all of these things can give pause. All of these things can heighten our awareness of God’s little voice in our life, either because we ask for His help, or the event has such an impact on our lives that time almost stands still and we hear God’s voice and prompt.  Always, God is there to prompt us for the future, how to get back on course. 

And then there is the matter of miracles.  Notice that the Church was praying for Peter, the account in Acts tells us that.  So prayer can work wonders, even miracles.  But when you really think about the lives of people who respond to the call, life is full of miracles for them.  I am thinking of people like Mother Theresa; but I am also thinking of people closer to home.  Some of my brother deacons are good examples. God has touched their lives and has worked wonders for them they didn’t think was possible.  I think about all the things our Respect Life Ministry and our Men’s Club and Knights of Columbus have done over the years.  Each of the people who contribute to these efforts is responding to God’s will, and great things happen because of that.  Not least among the miracles is the Perpetual Adoration Chapel- and how it has helped define and sustain this parish.   

In a few moments, all of us will be able to receive Holy Communion.  Last week we pondered the meaning of the Eucharist on the feast of Corpus Christi.  It should be clear that each of us can have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  Because each of us has direct access to Jesus each and every time we receive Communion.  Know that he will be there waiting for you, and ready to prompt you in the right direction if you listen. 

So, we have no excuse.   We can have a personal relationship with Jesus; He is talking to us all the time; and if we listen to him, he will work miracles through us.   

Today, as with Peter and the disciples in the Gospel.  Jesus is asking each one of us if we know who he is.  Jesus is calling each one of us as he did Peter.  What is your answer? 

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