On Loving God

May 10th, 2012

Thursday of 5th Week of Easter

Acts 15: 7-21; John 15: 9-11

By Deacon Larry Brockman

 

“Remain in my Love”.  That is Jesus’ advice to us.  And how do we do that- by keeping Jesus’ commandments to us: loving God first, and our neighbor as ourselves.  After all, that was his primary commandment. 

  

But Jesus also told the Apostles that whatever they bound on earth would be bound in heaven.  And so Jesus gave the authority to the Church to define right and wrong a little more explicitly.   We are bound to listen to what Holy Mother the Church has to say about faith and morals.  So “remaining in my love” is simple in concept, but yet, difficult in practice.  Or is it that we make it more difficult than it is?

   

When we were very young our parents were everything to us.  We wanted their love more than anything else.  And especially with our Mom’s, we were recipients of unconditional love.  We soon learned that such love was most lavishly displayed when we did what our parents commanded us to do, or didn’t do what they wanted us not to do, as the case might dictate.  At first, we didn’t question their authority or their commandments.  Whatever they said was what we would do.  But then, as we grew older, we began to question.  Some of us even dared to know better than our parents!  And like all good parents, they let us go.  And so, there came a time when we found ourselves out on our own, replicating the same cycle of parent and child, soon to be idolized by our own children.  And when they idolized us, we often reflected on how brilliant our own parents really were after all.

   

Isn’t that similar to how our relationship goes with Jesus?  When we first learn about God, we don’t question his commandments.  But the more we learn; the more we begin to question.  And there comes a time in our relationship with God, after we learn to think for ourselves, that we even dare to second guess what God has revealed as his law through Holy Mother the Church.  Sometimes I hear that sentiment quite explicitly.  “Well, I know what the Church teaches, but I don’t believe that”  Really. 

  

You see, there is a difference.  Because unlike the relationship we have with our children, we do not ever achieve parity with God.  God remains so far above us that we cannot appreciate the depth of the separation.  True, He is an intimate God who sent His only son among us.  But, His ways are not our ways, and we don’t understand why things are the way they are.  That’s why He left the Apostles and the Church for us; to teach us the truth so that we could believe.  And by believing, we mean accepting on faith what the Church teaches.

   

For all those who believe and keep His commandments; for all those who remain in Jesus love, the reward is clear.  Our joy will be complete.  It is that simple.   

Tags: , ,
Posted in Holy Family Weekday Homilies | No Comments »

Becoming All That We Can Be

April 29th, 2012

4th Sunday of Easter

Acts 4: 8-12; 1John 3: 1-2; John 10: 11-18

By Deacon Larry Brockman

 

We are children of God now!  Isn’t that exciting!  Children of God, wow.  But what exactly does that mean?  

  

Well, let’s look at our relationship with God for a moment.  God gives us life- and in fact, unless God wills that we breathe, we would perish.  And He has given us our talents and personalities, and the opportunities and significant incidences that we have experienced in our lives.  These have not been random or self-made. Rather, they have been gifts from God-  gifts that have been given out of the infinite goodness of God in love.  But do we appreciate these gifts?  Have we thanked God for all these gifts- our spouses, our children, our families, our careers, our vacations, our hobbies; our talents; our leisure, our life-  all of the things that we have liked about life?  They are truly gifts from God.  But have we thanked God for them?

Now some of you may be thinking:  “Yes, but if God loves me so much, why would he give me something and then take it away”?  Indeed, many of God’s gifts have not lasted- our children grow up and leave us; our spouses die and leave us in loneliness; our vacations last such a short time; our health fails, either mentally or physically or both; and  even our talents and interests fade with the passage of time.

   

And yet, most of the gifts we give our children don’t always last either.  For example, often we give our children things, and then take them away later.  Why do we do that?  Because it’s for their own good.  A baby needs a pacifier- but there comes a time…  A child needs training wheels on his bike- but there comes a time…  And a child lives at home, but there comes a time…  There are many things we did for our children out of love and things we gave them but then took them away later.  But, we did all that out of love.  And yet, our children didn’t always see these things done out of love.  And so often times, as parents we have not been appreciated for what we have done for our children out of love.  That’s one of the reasons that I asked if you have thanked God.  Because just as we would like to be thanked by our children, God wants to be appreciated and thanked for what He has done for us.  Unfortunately, just as our children balk over some of our actions, we bulk at some of God’s actions in our lives.   

You see, it’s all about love, the love that God has for us.  That’s why he gives us our gifts- because He loves us.  And yes, this also means that he knows when to take our gifts away from us.

 

Now the parallel I drew between God’s love for us and our love for our children is not always accurate.  Sometimes our parents did not always act out of love and as parents, we have not always act out of love either.  Because, we are not perfect; we are all sinners.  But I use this parallel between ourselves as parents and God to make a point.  Namely, that many of the things God does do out of love are not always understood.  Just as many of the things we did for our children out of love were not understood either.

   

The Good Shepherd analogy helps us to understand what is unique about our relationship with God.  Jesus is suggesting that we need to be like the sheep- we need to trust in him always; trust is the answer.  We must first of all recognize the true shepherd, and then we must follow him, and ignore the influence of others.  We need to appreciate the goodness of God, and His love for us, just as the sheep recognize the concern and love that the Shepherd has for them.  Sheep follow blindly out of trust for their shepherd, and that’s what we need to do- follow Jesus blindly.  In other words, like sheep, we need to love God like it is second nature to us.  Why? Because Jesus has proven His love for us:  He died for us, and there is no greater proof of loyalty than that.

   

In our second reading, St. John goes on to talk about what we will be in the future.  Now, we are children of God.  But in the future, after we trust in God and follow Him, we shall be something more than sons of God.  We will be “like him, for we shall see Him as He is.”  Like our children, we will grow up.  And when we are mature, we will be adults in the sight of God. 

Tags: , ,
Posted in Holy Family Sunday Homilies | No Comments »

Following After Philip

April 26th, 2012

Thursday of 3rd Week of Easter

Acts 8: 26-40; John 6: 44-51

By Deacon Larry Brockman

 

How are you folks doing with your Easter Duty?  What is my Easter Duty, you say?

   

Well, during Easter we celebrate the fact that Jesus forever changed the world.  When Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to His apostles, He fulfilled an ancient covenant to “save” us.  And that’s what our joy is supposed to be all about.  We are celebrating an “aha” experience like none other.  We have been saved. And those who repent and believe have been guaranteed eternal life.  And so we say Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!  And Amen, because, Jesus the Christ rose from the dead, and proved that he was in a resurrected state with a resurrected body to witnesses.  Our Gospel readings the last several Sundays have been all about that.  You have been witnesses to all of that!  And you should be feeling the Easter joy- Amen and Alleluia! 

  

Now, are we going to just bask in this good news of Easter for the 50 days of Easter,   And then move on to the long hot summer, or what? 

  

If you recall Jesus parting words to His disciples on Easter, He tells us that he wants us to spread the good news of the Gospel.  You and I are the modern day disciples, and because we have been witnesses to Jesus’ words, our Easter duty is also to evangelize, to spread the word, the Good News to all by being witnesses of all Jesus said and did.

   

Now Jesus tells us in the Gospel today that the only way to God the Father is through Him.  And so, God is revealing to us gradually how we are to act on our Easter Joy.  First, we have to recognize and really believe in the Resurrection and eternal life.   Second, we have to understand we are being called upon to spread that Good news- to evangelize.  And finally, we need to listen to God calling us and act on it.   Because unless we listen, and let God’s word and spirit live in our hearts, we cannot get to the Father.   And the way God knows you are listening is if you act on God’s inspiration within you by evangelizing.  

 

Philip’s story is a great lesson for all of us on what evangelizing is all about.  First and foremost, Philip believed.  He was there to put his finger in the holes in Jesus hands and side and feet; and he was there to see Jesus eat a piece of baked fish.  And so, Philip believed.  Philip demonstrated his belief in his zeal and enthusiasm. 

Second, Philip took to heart the mission to evangelize.  That’s why he was on that chariot.  And lastly, Philip recognized the call- he heard the Eunuch’s appeal, and he spoke up!  Yes- he spoke up on behalf of Jesus- he didn’t hold it in. 

  

Because we have heard the Good News of the Gospel, we have chosen to believe.  We shouldn’t be just casual believers, but enthusiastic believers.  So, do we show our Easter joy like Philip did?  Because, that joy can be infectious to those who don’t believe.  And are we listening to God as we pray, listening to that small still voice inside of us?  That little voice can give us little urgings to do something, or even just to say something when the situation arises, something that helps us to spread the good news.

   

We don’t necessarily know why God has placed us at a specific place at a specific time.  But God knows.  And any place and any time can be the right place and the right time for us to evangelize from God’s perspective.  Yes, we are called to share our joy as Christians continuously, to spread the Good News, the Gospel; to evangelize in word and deed.  All of us have an Easter Duty.

Tags:
Posted in Holy Family Weekday Homilies | No Comments »

Your Easter Duty

April 25th, 2012

Westminster Towers Ecumenical Service

Based on Reading 1, Thursday of 3rd Week of Easter

Acts 8: 26-40

By Deacon Larry Brockman

 

How are you folks doing with your Easter Duty?  Well?  I see some blank looks out there.  What is my Easter Duty, you say?  

 

Well first, let me put things into perspective.  We are in the middle of celebrating Easter, and the Easter season lasts 50 days.  During Easter we celebrate the fact that Jesus forever changed things in our world.  Up until the Easter event, we were all just waiting, waiting for the Messiah to come and save us from our sins and to show us the way to Eternal Life in the Kingdom of God with God.  But when Jesus actually rose from the dead and appeared to His apostles, He fulfilled that promise.  And that’s what our joy is supposed to be all about.  We are celebrating an “aha” experience like none other.  We have been saved and those who repent and believe have been guaranteed eternal life.  And so we say Alleluia, Alleluia,   (Holding hand to the ear) Alleluia! 

Yes, Jesus the Christ rose from the dead, and proved that he was in a resurrected state with a resurrected body.  He proved that to his disciples on Easter, and our Gospel readings the last several Sundays have been all about that.  You have been witnesses to all of that!  So, are you feeling the Easter joy- Amen and Alleluia! 

  

So, are we supposed to just bask in this good news of our Easter joy for the 50 days,and then move on to the long hot summer, or what? 

 

Well, actually, if you recall Jesus parting words to His disciples in the Easter Gospel, He tells us what he expects of us.  He expects us to spread the good news- the Gospel.  That’s what the word Gospel means, you know.  We are expected to spread that Good News of our Salvation and to baptize all nations in the name of then Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit!  You and I are the modern day disciples, and we have been witnesses to Jesus’ words as well.  And so, simply stated, our Easter duty is also to evangelize, to spread the word, the Good News to all by being witnesses of all Jesus saw and did. 

  

Now, the scripture we just read tells one person’s story about how he evangelized.  It is Philip’s story; and it is a great lesson for all of us on what evangelizing is all about.  First and foremost, Philip believed.  Of course, he actually saw the risen Christ- he was there.  He was there to put his finger in the holes in Jesus hands and side and feet, to see Jesus eat a piece of baked fish,  and he listened as Jesus talked to the disciples about what the scriptures meant and how He had fulfilled their meaning.  He was there during Jesus’ three year mission of teaching as well.  And so, Philip believed and was well informed on what Jesus had said.

   

We have heard Jesus words as well, and we should all be believers- not just casual believers, but enthusiastic believers.  We have been saved; this Jesus stuff is real!  The Messiah did come and still lives.  We are going to see the Kingdom!  And so, we all need to be well informed, because that’s part of what it means to be a Christian.  We have got to know what it is that we are supposed to believe so that we can teach others.  We do that by the style of life we live, and by teaching others about Jesus at the right time.

   

Next, Philip heard Jesus direction to the disciples to spread the Good news to the ends of the earth by being witnesses to all Jesus said and did, and by baptizing all people.  But Philip didn’t just hear that direction, he lived it.  Indeed, Philip was so excited about his experience of Easter that he was in tune for what God had in mind for him.  And so, he recognized the angel sent by the Lord, the angel that sent him down the road from Jerusalem to Gaza on the Mediterranean Coast.  Yes, Philip heard his call to action and moved out.  He didn’t wait for all the details asking God questions like  “Which chariot, and what day and time”,   Or “exactly what am I to do in Gaza?”  No, rather, Philip was open to God moving him little by little.

   

All of us have been called to action to evangelize as well.  We do that by the behavior we exhibit.  Do we show our Easter joy?  Because, it can be infectious to those who don’t believe.  And are we listening to God as we pray, listening to that small still voice inside of us?  That little voice can give us little urgings to do something, or even just to say something when the situation arises, something that helps us to spread the good news. 

  

And so then what happens to Philip?  Well, God gives Philip the opportunity to evangelize.  God had placed this Ethiopian Eunuch in the Chariot with Philip.  The Eunuch was an official of the court of the Queen of Ethiopia, a far distant land in East Central Africa.  And by chance, the Eunuch was what we call a Jewish sympathizer, meaning he was not a Jew, but followed the Jewish scriptures.  This man was reading about Isaiah’s prophesy of the Messiah, and he was confused; he didn’t understand.  And so, Philip explained it all to him, about how Jesus was the Messiah and that all that was predicted in Isaiah had happened.  The Eunuch responded- he wanted to be baptized.  So Philip stopped the Chariot, and the Eunuch was baptized right then and there; and that started the Church in Ethiopia.  Traces of the Church can still be found there today despite historical events over the centuries, not the least of which was the spread of Islam beginning in the 7th century.  And so, Philip’s evangelization of the Eunuch  led to a significant spread of Christianity- the actions of just one person.  

 

Now this part of the story tells us a lot about our own duty to evangelize.  We don’t necessarily know why God has placed us at a specific place at a specific time.  But God knows.  And any place and any time can be the right place and the right time from God’s perspective.  This can be the right place and time for you and I to evangelize.  We, too, all will be given opportunities to influence others. 

  

As I look out at all of you today, I am reminded that you live in a large community here.  Where are all the others today?  Some that are not here, of course, have deep faith; but what about those who have drifted off from their faith, perhaps bitter over the experiences of life.  You folks live right along side of them.  It is never too late for them to see your Christian Easter joy over the fact that you are saved.  And it is never too late for you to share your joy and the message of Jesus when the time is right.  Is God calling you to do that? 

  

But Guess what?  Philip’s story was not over after the Eunuch was baptized.  As important and as significant as Philip’s actions were in the lives of the Ethiopians, the story did not end there.  Rather, we see that Philip, after baptizing the Eunuch, was caught up by the spirit, and after reaching Gaza, goes up the coast “Proclaiming the good news” in all the towns up to Caesarea.  

 

Likewise, our story does not end the first time we connect.  Our story goes on and on, as long as life is left in us.  Yes, we are called to share our joy as Christians continuously, even as we approach a ripe old age.  How exciting is that! 

That reminds me of a story about a person in my life.  I will call him Johnny and he is a member of my parish, Holy Family.  Right now Johnny is 87.  He was raised Catholic by one parent, andt his other parent was Jewish.  But he really took to his Christian Faith.  Johnny had a long career with a major company.and raised a family with his wife.  After Johnny retired, he became very active in the Church.  Despite multiple illnesses and surgeries, Johnny has not let that slow him down.  He uses a cane now, but still leads bible studies and participates in St. Vincent de Paul ministry to the poor. He always has a smile and a cheerful attitude.  Johnny’s wife has Alzheimer’s Disease now, and Johnny struggles to care for her in his own home.  His family is concerned about his health.  Johnny is concerned about his loved one.

 

Why do I bring Johnny up?  Because Johnny evangelizes his Christian faith by what he does.  He doesn’t have to talk about his faith, because everybody can see it in action.  But, the fact is, he loves to talk about it too- and he does that all the time. 

All of us have an Easter Duty-  to spread the Good News, the Gospel; to evangelize in word and deed.  There are a lot of potential Johnny’s right here-  people who can live their faith with grace and fervor and be a beacon to others that Jesus is risen and has brought us all everlasting life in heaven. 

Tags: , ,
Posted in Westminster Tower | No Comments »

The Wisdom of God

April 19th, 2012

Thursday of 2nd Week of Easter

Acts 5: 27-33; John 3: 31-36

By Deacon Larry Brockman

Most of us are easily duped, duped by the wisdom of the world.  It is, after all, the wisdom of the establishment.  It is provable by logic; backed up by science and studies; and is usually directed towards making us feel better.  The wisdom of the world captures our minds.   

The wisdom of God, on the other hand is fleeting.  It requires faith, defies logic, and often causes us discomfort.  The wisdom of God is aimed at capturing our hearts.  And so, it is so much easier to accept the wisdom of the world than it is to accept the Wisdom of God.   

Such was the lot of the Pharisees and the Sanhedrin in Jesus’ time.  Jesus’ message was one that moved people’s hearts, not their minds. 

The Pharisees and the Sanhedrin couldn’t understand that.  Jesus and his disciples broke all the rules, rules that paid lip service to the intent of the law but on the surface, they seemed to capture the intent of the Jewish tradition.  And so, people could just follow the letter of the law.  They didn’t have to think about what God’s will was for them; they could feel good knowing they were just following the rules.  Their efforts were directed at playing it safe and being comfortable by doing their own thing.  Their efforts were not directed at making a difference by loving.

   

On the other hand, Jesus preached repentance and accepting God’s greatest commandment, to love our neighbor as we love ourselves; to forgive transgressions and love our enemies; and to go out and be proactive by drawing others to God.  And that was hard; it was challenging. And the Sanhedrin was tired of being told they didn’t have it right.  And so they wanted to get rid of Jesus; to silence the prophetic voice that there was more to God’s plan than just following some rules. 

  

Our Gospel tells us that we must listen to and believe the teaching of Jesus if we are to have eternal life.  That means we need to embrace the wisdom of God.  It’s a matter of the heart.  The Holy Spirit gives us that wisdom- it is a free gift.  All you have to do is ask for it.

   

So, do that, ask for the gift of the wisdom of God at the beginning of each day, especially when you are challenged, when the going gets tough?  Do you make time to pray for and ask for God’s wisdom before you get going each day? 

 

Fill your heart, and not your mind with the real inspiration you need to get through life’s trials-  The wisdom of God. 

Tags:
Posted in Holy Family Weekday Homilies | No Comments »

Witnesses for Christ

April 12th, 2012

Thursday of Octave of Easter

Acts 3: 11-26; Luke 24: 35-48

By Deacon Larry Brockman

 

You and I are being called to be witnesses, not just bystanders to Easter joy.

   

You see, we are in the middle of our Easter celebration, and during that celebration, we should be coming to a fantastic realization.  Because just like the disciples did in that upper room, you and I are hearing about what Jesus said and did straight from the horse’s mouth.  The words in the Gospel and Acts tell us all about it, about how all the things that Jesus said and did fulfilled the Old Testament covenant of the coming of the Messiah; and about how Jesus was resurrected from the dead, and appeared to his disciples.  You should be really excited and joyful. 

  

Let’s look at it this way.  Just close your eyes now and imagine that you were there.  You are hiding in fear in an upper room.  And all of a sudden you see it.  Jesus the Christ has risen! He is risen indeed, and He is standing before you and talking and answering questions, and even eating a piece of fish.  He was dead- you saw that; but now, He is very much alive.   And it is then that you realize it:  That God loved you so much that he actually sent His son to suffer and die for you; and that God’s son actually rose from the dead just the way he predicted!  That has never happened before- and it is proof that Jesus is the son of the almighty God!  Wow! Can you imagine your joy- because fear of death would be gone.

   

Each year we celebrate our own personal realization of the Easter mystery.  We can’t just say “ho hum” as we celebrate, and go on with life.  Rather, we are being called to be a witness of the truth of Christianity just like the disciples.  That is the point of the Gospel- it is our Easter duty to evangelize and be witnesses.

 

And why not?  Easter brings us great joy, because we have come to believe that Jesus has guaranteed all of us who believe everlasting life in the Kingdom of God!  So, out of love of God, we need to share that good news with everyone else.  But just how do we become witnesses for Christ?  What should we actually do? 

  

Well, what did the disciples do?  First, we see these men, huddled in the upper room out of fear that they would be persecuted next.  But after the Easter event all of that changed.  They defied the authorities and told everyone about Jesus.  And then his disciples even worked miracles in Jesus name.  These disciples were living out what it means to be witnesses for Christ.  They were preaching the Gospel by their deeds, by their enthusiasm, and by their love for one another.  They were telling the truth about their faith.  They were not afraid; they wanted everyone else to share in their joy.

   

That’s what you and I are being called to do, and it is exciting, because we live in a time when the truth of the Easter mystery is being hidden and suppressed in our culture.  We have the chance to change all that by standing up for our faith; by telling the truth; by being witnesses for Christ. 

Tags:
Posted in Holy Family Weekday Homilies | No Comments »

What Legacy Will We Leave?

March 15th, 2012

Thursday of 4th Week in Lent

Jer 7: 23-28; Lk 11: 14-23

by  Deacon Larry Brockman

Yesterday, I was browsing through the book store.  A quote from Plato caught my eye, and it went something like this:  “Let me control the music that the people listen to, and it won’t matter who makes the laws.”  I thought to myself- “How true that is”.  And then this morning we have the wisdom of God brought to us from Jeremiah:  “Yet they have not obeyed me nor paid heed; they have stiffened their necks and done worse than their fathers.”  As I see the music and pop culture of our current generation unfold, it is tempting to say, “Amen!” to this statement. 

 

But then, who is to blame?  Is it the current generation?  Or is it our generations, who gave birth to and raised the current generation?    During Lent, we have a responsibility to not only reflect on our personal sins, but also on our collective sins-  our sins as a people, the evils that we perpetuate collectively as a society.  They include sins of commission and sins of omission.  And it seems to me, that we are just as guilty of listening, but not hearing or acting on the Word of God, as any generation of God’s people, especially when it comes to our collective responsibility.  Because our pop culture and music are a reflection of the environment that we leave in our wake.  And what is the environment that we are leaving behind? 

  

Now, the Gospel says that the person that Jesus healed from the demon spoke for the first time.  Some of the people were convinced that Jesus was from God.  Other folks who witnessed this miracle had the gall to either accuse Jesus of casting out demons by the devil or ask Jesus to work some miracle as a sign that he was from God.  Can you imagine that- they actually saw a miracle, but they wanted more proof or they sloughed the miracle off as from the devil.  Jesus was right- even those who believed in God were a house divided against itself.

   

You know, we kind of do the same thing as the people of God.  God’s Word comes to us in many ways:  It comes to us through the Scriptures; it comes to us through the Church’s teaching authority; and it comes to us in our inspirations as we pray.  And yet, much of the time we are not giving it our full attention.  We want more proof that the teaching is inspired and we don’t pay attention to what we are called to do in response to the Word of God.  And so, we put our urgings to do something on the back burner, especially if they have to do with something that must be done collectively to make a change. We rationalize that we can’t do anything as individuals.

We have all heard about the current attack on our religious freedom being perpetrated by the implementation of the new Health Care Act.  Make no mistake- the absence of the religious exception clause for religious based organizations is an attack on the religious liberty of all Americans, not just the Catholics.  It is not the Church hierarchy’s problem either; it is our problem because we collectively are the Church.  So, the attack is on us.  And whatever we do or fail to do will be the legacy we leave behind.  But sadly, we are not fully on board.  We are a house divided against itself.

   

In the Gospel Jesus makes it clear that  “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”  So, if this generation of American Catholics does not act to correct this problem, the Lord is likely to say to us, as He did to the Israelis:  “This is the nation which does not listen to the voice of the LORD, its God, or take correction”.   

Tags: , ,
Posted in Holy Family Weekday Homilies | No Comments »

Don’t Get Complacent

March 8th, 2012

Thursday of 3rd Week in Lent

Jer 17: 5-10; Lk 16: 19-31

Don’t get too comfortable in this world.  Because when you do, you tend to get complacent.  And complacency is the ally of the devil.  When you are complacent, you don’t think about God;it’s as if you are your own master; you are in control; you are self-sufficient; your heart, as Jeremiah says ..”turns away from the Lord”.   

Take the rich man in the Gospel story.  He was certainly complacent in his lifetime.  He was comfortable, dressing in fine clothes and dining on the best foods.  All his earthly needs and desires were met.  He doesn’t seem to even have taken notice of the suffering going on around him.  It’s a surprise that he even knew who Lazarus was.  It wasn’t so much that he was a mean miserly man; but more that he was oblivious to suffering.  He lived in the comfort of his own world, unconcerned about others.  You can bet that he had friends- lots of them.  Because, as a rich man, he was the source for, the benefactor of, others.  Such a person does as the Jeremiah’s reading suggests:  He …“Trusts in human beings and seeks his strength in flesh”.  Why? Because that is where he has found his fulfillment. 

  

Perhaps that’s why there is such an emphasis on two things during Lent:  First, self-mortification, like fasting and almsgiving; and second, prayer- getting in contact with God. 

First, we need to feel uncomfortable to shake us out of our complacency so that we get in tune with some realities about life as a human.  One reality is that a comfortable life is not what it’s all about. But also, we must realize that we are not at all in control, and in fact, we shouldn’t be in control.  And so, when we fast and abstain from something, that helps us to understand that life’s finer things are just an illusion of happiness.  They are passing, and we will pass away from this life as well.  So, there is something more to plan for and look forward to than this life.  As a result, we really can’t be in control- God controls whether we are going to be happy forever after- not us. 

  

And so, the self-mortification can help motivate us to pray.  To pray that God will help us to unlock the key to our everlasting happiness.  Just like Jesus, we need to seek and find the Lord’s will for us.  Because  as Jeremiah says:  “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is in the Lord”.

Tags:
Posted in Holy Family Weekday Homilies | No Comments »

Praying Sincerely

March 1st, 2012

Thursday of 2nd Week in Lent

Esth C 12, 14-16, 23-25; Mt 7: 7-12

 

Can you imagine?  Just imagine prostrating yourself on the ground from morning till evening and praying over and over again.  That’s what Esther did, and for a good reason.  She was in mortal anguish because the enemies of her exiled Israeli people had gotten the King to issue a decree to wipe out, exterminate, eliminate, all of her people. 

Now the King was Esther’s husband.  So if anyone could do something, it would fall to her.  But she knew that, above all, the King was a man of his word, and would have to keep his decree.  Thus, the prayer.   

So, just how does Esther’s experience relate to the advice Jesus gives in the Gospel.  Jesus says- “Ask and it will be given to you”.  Ah, yes, all we have to do is ask.  How does Esther ask in her prayer?  There is no question of her Faith as the Book of Esther attests; there is no question of her legitimate concern- the future of the Israeli nation was at stake; and there is no question of her sincerity- her prayer was earnest and from the heart.    Now notice that she doesn’t pray for direct intervention from God.  Rather, she prays that the Lord would work through her words to achieve her end, the saving of her people.   Fortunately, her prayer was answered, and if you read the book of Esther, you will see how clever her solution was-  or should I say, how clever God’s inspired words were.   

Don’t we sometimes find ourselves feeling like Esther- frustrated, in panic, and in mortal anguish, as the roadblocks of life are thrown at us?  We are being tested; and the Lord is looking for our response.  We would do well to pattern our response after Esther’s.  First, she had a relationship with the Lord.   She was righteous and loved the Lord before this trial.  That’s why prayer came to mind- not as a last ditch effort, but because her Lord was always important to her.  In other words, she was a woman of great Faith.  Second, she prayed with sincerity and piety.  That comes out loud and clear in the reading.  Third, she prayed for something that was good in the eyes of the Lord, to save her people.  That can be hard on us, because what we want is not always what God might deem best for us.  And yet, Jesus says that God will not give us a snake when we ask for a fish.  So, whatever the answer to our prayer is- be it “yes” or “no”, we need to be open that it is God’s will for us.  Next, she prayed that God would give her the words for her to move forward.  And that is important- because we need to be involved in the solution.  We need to let God work through us, so that God is walking with us through the thick and thin of it.  And lastly, she was persistent.  She kept after God all day and into the evening.   

When you pray in the face of tragedy, remember the example of Esther.  Because God loves you, and always does the best for you when you pray sincerely.  And your prayer, like Esther’s, will be answered. 

Tags:
Posted in Holy Family Weekday Homilies | No Comments »

Making 40 days Count

February 26th, 2012

First Sunday in Lent

Gen 9: 8-15; 1 Pet 3: 18-22; Mark 1: 12-15

 

You have absolutely no excuse, because God has given you 40 days.  Yes, you have 40 days- and that’s a long time- to prepare for Easter and the Resurrected Christ.   

Why do you need to prepare, you might ask?  Because just like the man Jesus, your human nature is seeking the real meaning of your life and what God’s will is for you.  It’s called the process of conversion, and conversion is an ongoing activity, a continual need.  Yes, you and I all need to be converted from our normal, everyday way of life, which is based on our needs, our goals, and our desires; to a life that is primarily centered on God’s will for us.   

Many of you remember Fr. Larry Richard’s recent Mission with us.  Well, that was his basic message to us too- we have got to have Jesus so ingrained in our being that everything we say and do is part of God’s plan for us.   

And so, just like Jesus, you too need to get away from it all, and enter into the wilderness so that you can listen to God and find out what God’s will is for you.  And if you seek after that, then just like Jesus, the Spirit will drive you to a time and place and a means where you can commune with God.  But just like Jesus, you will be tempted along the way by the devil, who is hell bent on having you do anything except commune with God.  You won’t have the time; you will have other commitments; you will be distracted; and you will have interruptions; and there will be plenty of other reasons to avoid a truly Lenten renewal.  But the fact is, 40 days is a long time, and ultimately you will not have any excuse.   

“Lent”, as St. John of the Cross proclaimed, “is a time when men and women collaborate with God in creating something divine”.  That’s how sacred and special these 40 days are.  Because if you live according to God’s true plan for you then you will be doing something really sacred; you will be led to sacrifice something of yourself, whether it be your agenda. your selfishness, or your comfort, for the purpose that God intends for you, whatever that is.  And that is a piece of the divine plan; it is God in action.   

Now it doesn’t need to take all 40 days to commune with God because God can hit you over the head with His truth in just a moment.  But, you do have to give God your undivided attention to hear what He wants from you.  And unfortunately, for most of us, that can take some time.  Why? Because of the influence of the devil- those temptations, those distractions, and those interruptions that occur when even the best intentioned of us are seeking the Lord.  They will keep you from hearing the Lord.  So, you need to be persistent, and stick to your guns.   

Secondly, you need to be in the right frame of mind, a frame of mind that gives you the time and the energy to listen to God..  And that’s why the Church recommends Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving- so that you can be in the right frame of mind.  I want to share some thoughts with you now on these three- prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.    Let’s talk about fasting first.

Why fast?  Well first of all, fasting isn’t really effective if it is just giving something up that meets the letter, but not the spirit, of fasting.  Classically, we all fast from food or drink.  And if you are really dedicated, you might fast from something you really like, such as beer or chocolate.  Ugh!  But according to St. Leo the Great, fasting needs to be a form of great hearted abstinence- abstinence with a goal, abstinence that transcends our wants, but rather, gets to the heart of our sinfulness.  For example, you could fast from idle chatter and gossip.  Or you could fast from addictive watching of sports on TV.  Certainly you can see how this type of fasting gets you closer to the right frame of mind to talk to God.   

Second, let’s talk about almsgiving.  Almsgiving is not just dropping a few extra bucks in the basket, or taking a load of your excess to St. Vincent de Paul.  Almsgiving needs to be from your heart.  St Augustine says that almsgiving means:  “Expelling from the heart that which is more difficult on us to keep than to give away.”  Now at first, that doesn’t seem to make sense.  But when you really think about it, it makes perfect sense.  Augustine means that almsgiving should include those things that bind us up, keep us occupied, and so, they make it more difficult for us to do God’s will than if we gave them away.  That’s why some classic saints like St. Anthony of the Desert and St. Francis of Assisi, gave away their wealth, so they would not be distracted by that wealth in living God’s will.  And so, what is it that you have that has value that you need to give away so that you are not distracted from God’s plan?   

Lastly, let’s talk about prayer; because that’s how we communicate with God.  And it is not just any form of prayer.  Rather, we need to have an authentic union with God through prayer that is selfless.  What does that mean?  Well, a lot of our prayer is asking for something from God.  But selfless prayer is different- it is opening our hearts and minds to what God wants to say to us, not what we want to say to Him.  It is the kind of prayer where we hear God’s tiny whisper that answers our heart’s pain, the things that trouble us, that we feel guilty over, or that we don’t know what to do about.  It is that tiny urge that moves us in a direction we might not like, but if we are honest, that God is pointing us towards when we hear Him. 

Yes, these are the three tools that we need to get in the right frame of mind for a Lenten conversion.     

You know, it seems like just yesterday when we were all sitting around the Christmas tree celebrating the joy of Christmas.  But in reality, 40 or so days have passed since Christmas.  And you know what, 40 days from now we will be celebrating Easter.  You have a choice.  Those 40 days can pass by like a flash as you go through the blur of everyday life.  Or they can be 40 days that change your life.  The choice is yours.  How will you use those 40 days?

Tags: , ,
Posted in Holy Family Sunday Homilies, Westminster Tower | No Comments »

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »