Taking a Stand Against FOCA

January 25th, 2009

 

January 25, 2009

Conversion of St. Paul

Acts 9: 1-22: 1 Cor 7: 29-31 ;Mk 16:15-18

Dc. Larry Brockman

As Pope John Paul II said: “Faith is strengthened when it is given to others!”.  This is the challenge left to us as we close out this special year that was dedicated to St. Paul- to pass our faith on, and so, to strengthen it in ourselves.   

Now, we just heard Paul’s conversion story.  Here was a man who hated Christians, and voraciously persecuted them.   Even as he headed towards Damascus and was struck down, he was on a Mission to destroy the Christians there.  But, Jesus turned Paul around, and Paul became the great evangelizer of the Gentiles.  This proves that if, if you listen to the voice of God in your life, you can be converted to do His will.  All of us get those calls-  the catalyst may be a wake-up call from God like Paul had, or in the inspiration of someone in our lives, a relative or caretaker, or the messages we hear from the Church at the Liturgies.  But all of us are called to evangelize, just like Paul.  The Gospel makes that very clear:  “Go into the whole World and proclaim the Gospel to all creatures”.   

There are two related messages in today’s scripture I’d like to pursue.  First, it is never too late to convert someone, no matter how hard hearted; no matter how stubborn.  You and I can do it.  You can, with God’s help convert the most stubborn of souls.  You do it by sticking up for our faith with conviction and consistency, and through prayer- fervent prayer, even in the face of what seems like insurmountable obstacles.  There are many examples.  Take St, Augustine for example.  Augustine was a sinner who was a womanizer.  But his mother St. Monica prayed constantly for his conversion.  He was converted, as was Paul, in a moment of enlightenment sparked by a child on the seashore.  And he went on to become a great Doctor of the Church, proving that nothing is impossible for God for those who believe.     

Second, everyone is called to evangelize, and because God isn’t just kidding about everyone’s call, it is God’s intent that everyone’s work will have an effect.  Jesus words in the Gospel are not just directed to the Apostles.  They are directed towards all of you.  The example set by the early Christians- the martyrs who died for their faith; and the great early Christians who showed their love, converted Western civilization to Christianity.  So, everyone can, and does have an effect.   

Now there’s a specific mission that our Bishops are calling us all to take on this weekend.  This mission is a great example of how these two messages can be applied with good effect.  As you may have already heard, the US Bishops are conducting a postcard campaign this weekend   To fight efforts to pass the Freedom of Choice Act, or FOCA.  This act, disguised as an effort to add to our freedoms, would actually hurt freedom by any reasonable measure.  Here is what FOCA would do:  FOCA would greatly extend the reaches of Roe v. Wade in both its legislative scope and its promotion of abortion rights.  FOCA would invalidate existing laws which protect a woman from unsafe abortion clinics and require that they be given adequate information about the risks of abortive surgery.  FOCA would require federal funds to pay for abortions- your taxpayer money.  FOCA, because it would be federal legislation, would force the states to allow “partial-birth” and other late-term abortions even if there were state laws against them.  FOCA would require states to offer abortions by non-physicians.  FOCA would bar laws that protect the right of conscientious objection to abortion by a medical provider.   FOCA would deny parents an opportunity to be involved or informed about their daughter’s decision to have an abortion, even when under age. 

The new Congress has many more pro-choice advocates than before.  And so, our Bishops are rightfully concerned that abortion advocates will push for FOCA.  Yet, polls continue to show that most Americans oppose abortion.  It is a national disgrace that 4,000 babies are aborted every day in this country,  Especially since only 5% of these have been shown to be the infamous “exceptions” that we hear so much fuss about.  Exceptions like rape and incest and the health of the mother are just an excuse for the other 95% of the abortions.  So we, the majority, need to stand up and be counted.   

In addition, President Obama has vowed, yes that is vowed, to sign FOCA if it passes Congress.  Mr. Obama has said publicly that it is beyond his pay grade to determine when life begins, and has opposed measures to safeguard surviving near full term fetuses plucked out of the womb by an abortionist.  President Obama has the worst pro-life voting record in the senate.   

So, I propose a twofold mission that is a direct application of the two messages in today’s scriptures.  First, we all need to stand up for what is right, and evangelize in deed.  That you can all do, and see the effects of your actions, by participating in the Bishops postcard campaign against FOCA.  I will tell you how in just a few moments.     

Second, we need to convert Mr. Obama to a right to life advocate!  Hard as that may seem, we can do it by our prayer, and dedication to the principles of life.  We can hope, and pray, that the example set by millions of Catholics in the postcard campaign, and the efforts of many of our Evangelical and other Christian brethren who oppose this bad law, will prevail, and that Mr. Obama will see, as we firmly believe, that Life begins at conception.  But let’s not forget the power of our collective prayer.  

 When we finish this communion service today,  I have postcards for you.  These postcards are already addressed to your two senators, Martinez and Nelson and your Congressman, Alan Grayson.  All of you who are registered voters can help.  Just take one of the post card card sets and pen.  Sign these cards in the three places designated, and add your contact information in three places- address and telephone number.  Then leave the cards with me.  I will add them to our Parish’s postcards.  Our parish goal is 3000 postcard sets, by the way.  Imagine, with thousands of parishes throughout the USA, what an impact that we can all have- millions of postcards testifying to our faith and our commitment to Pro-Life.  Indeed, “Faith is strengthened when it is given to others!”- your faith as well. 

Posted in Westminster Tower | No Comments »

Which Society Do You Belong To?

January 3rd, 2009

  January 4, 2009

Epiphany

Is 60: 1-6; Eph 3: 2-3a, 5-6; Mt 2: 1-12

Dc. Larry Brockman

Rejoice! Today is your feast, because today the gentiles experienced salvation.  You are all members of the Kingdom of God.  Or are you?   Before you answer, consider this quote from St. Augustine:

 “What we see, then, is that two societies have issued from two kinds of love.   Worldly society has flowered from a selfish love which dared to despise even God; whereas the communion of saints is rooted in a love of God that is ready to trample on self.    In a word, this latter relies on the Lord; whereas the other boasts that it can get along by itself.   The city of man seeks the praise of men; whereas the height of glory for the other is to hear God in the witness of conscience [City of God XIV.28]”.   

So, perhaps a better question is this:  Which of the two societies do you belong to, the city of Man, or the City of God?  

The Gospel story today talks about the contrast between people in these two societies at the time of Christ’s birth.  The Magi dedicated time, effort, and their treasure to finding Christ and paying Him homage.  They were educated men, probably from ancient Babylon- scientists, who followed the signs, not knowing where they would take them, but determined to find the newborn King of the Jews.   When the going got rough, and they lost sight of the Star, they kept their cool, they kept their faith, and they kept sight of their goal.   They were humble men, not thinking of themselves.  So, they asked for help, and were sent to Bethlehem, only to discover the return of the star, validating their action.  When they saw the Christ Child, they paid him homage, and they left precious gifts.  These men then returned, anxious to share their joy with their own countrymen and decided not to report back to Herod.  The Magi were not Jews- they were Gentiles.  They fulfilled the promise and the prophesy in the First Reading, a promise that the salvation brought by Christ would be shared with all people.

Contrast the Magi with Herod and the leaders in Jerusalem.  When apprised of the Magi’s mission, Herod checked with the authorities to find out where the Messiah would be born.  He was told in Bethlehem, and passed that on.  But Herod was not happy with the idea of a new King.  He was trembling with fear.  Herod, and his cohorts, were in control.  They didn’t want a King; they didn’t want a Messiah.  They were capable of getting along themselves.  And so, Herod cunningly tried to get the Magi to help him.  He wanted the Magi to report back if they found the child so he could destroy his competition.  The proof of this is the slaughter of the Holy Innocents ordered by Herod.  Herod and the leaders were part of the worldly society, not the city of God.   

The contrast between these two- Herod and the Magi, is stark.  For us, the contrast is less so.  But, to answer the question- which society do we belong to, we need to probe a bit and be honest with ourselves.   

There are three areas where you might hold back on accepting Christ.  First, perhaps it’s your goals in life.    Maybe you are primarily thinking that great achievements will give meaning to your life.  They won’t – only Christ will.  The only achievement that will last is that of fulfilling his will, following his example and his teachings.  Feeling a need to achieve is good, but it can’t be something that consumes you.  So today, let’s lay those achievements, those gold medals you covet so much,  at the feet of the baby Jesus, just like the Magi offered the gift of gold.   

Maybe it’s the affections of your heart that are your diversion.   Maybe you still think that the perfect relationship will give meaning to your life- your spouse, friends, or a boss; or possibly it is things that make you comfortable or happy that are your diversion- a car, a TV, or clothes.  Relationships and things, in themselves, won’t bring you the joy of Christmas.  There is no such thing as the perfect relationship – at least, not without Christ, because all of us are imperfect, and so we need to bear with the imperfections of others.  In fact, Christ is the one who gives every relationship its lasting beauty and joy because of the loving example he set in relationships.  And perfect happiness is not found in having things.  So, strive to please him first, and then he will make your relationships pleasing beyond your wildest dreams, and you will be content with what gifts you have.  Today, let’s lay the affections of the heart at his feet,   just as the Magi offered our Lord the sweet smell of their frankincense.   

Lastly, maybe it’s your sufferings that are a diversion.  Maybe you are angry at God for the hurt you have experienced in life.  But if God has permitted it, it’s only because he knows he can transform you through that suffering.  All people, and especially Jesus, are subject to suffering.  Let’s stop rebelling against our King and loving Lord and lay our sufferings at his feet – just as the Magi offered him their myrrh, the spicy ointment used to embalm bodies for burial.   

Lastly, the Magi demonstrated an additional virtue that is a key in determining which society we belong to.  The Magi lived their faith and demonstrated it to others.  If you separate your faith from your Mission in the World, then you have not been truly born as a Christian.

There’s a story about Alexander the great that makes this point.  One night during a campaign, he couldn’t sleep and left his tent to walk around the camp.   He came across a soldier asleep on guard duty – a serious offense.  The penalty for falling asleep on guard duty was often instant death.  The soldier began to wake up as Alexander the Great approached him.   Recognizing who was standing in front of him, the young man feared for his life.   “Do you know what the penalty is for falling asleep on guard duty?” Alexander the Great asked the soldier.  “Yes, sir,” the soldier responded in a quivering voice.  “Soldier, what’s your name?” demanded Alexander the Great.  “Alexander, sir.”  Alexander the Great repeated: “What is your name?”  “My name is Alexander, sir,” the soldier repeated.  A third time and more loudly Alexander the Great asked, “What is your name?”  A third time the soldier meekly said, “My name is Alexander, sir.”  Alexander the Great then looked the soldier straight in the eye.   “Soldier,” he said with intensity, “either change your name or change your conduct.”  Likewise, you will know you are a Christian by your conduct! 

Posted in Holy Family Sunday Homilies | No Comments »

Dealing With Disruptions

December 21st, 2008

December 21, 2008

Fourth Sunday of Advent

2 Sam 7: 1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Rom 16: 25-27; Luke1: 23-38

Dc. Larry Brockman

Bah, humbug.  It’s that time of year again.  Everything seems like a blur in these last days before Christmas, and all of your plans seem to get disrupted!  Sound familiar?  Well, it could be God’s plan is just that- to disrupt your life, and turn you another way. 

That’s what happened to Mary.  One moment she was a happy young girl, betrothed in Marriage, with her life, and I mean her life, open before her.  And in an instant, all that changed.  The angel of the Lord announced her calling to do God’s will.  What a shock.

Now there are some young women seated out there today, and the families of such young women, that I would like to ask some questions:  Just imagine how you would feel in Mary’s situation.  “Look, I know you were planning a wedding and a future, but God has other plans for you.  He wants you to drop everything, and bear God’s son.”  What would you say?  What would you do?  What would you think as parents?  How would you react to that as Mary’s brother or sister? 

And yet, that is what Advent is all about.  You see, all of you, at the coming of Jesus into the world at Christmas, are being called to drop things and follow God’s call, God’s will in your lives, whatever that is, just like Mary did.  Indeed the coming of the Savior meant that God was shaking up the World.  God was coming among his people to change things, to save us from our worldly ways, and to invite us to His Kingdom.  In just 4 days, he will come again amongst us, and His intent is to shake us up too.  So, let’s look at Mary’s call a little closer to see how God wants us to respond.   

Notice that the angel tells Mary she was chosen by God. That means she was not bearing God’s Son because of something she did or didn’t do.  She did not act to merit her call.  Rather, she was bearing Jesus because she was chosen.  That was what God wanted her to do with the talents and life He gave her.  God made each of you too, and chose you for something.  Second, unlike the annunciation of John the Baptist to Zechariah, who was skeptical, and challenged the angel-  Mary simply wanted to know how all of this could happen, and what she had to do.  That means Mary accepted the call in her heart, despite any conflicts she may have had in her mind.  You are called to listen with your hearts and respond, despite any conflicts you may have.  Mary ultimately declares “Your will be done”.  You are being called to do the same.   

How do you know you are being called, and to what are you being called?  If you are struggling with uncertainty with what to do with your life, this is the perfect time of the year to pray about it and let God answer your prayer.  Pick a time, go to some quiet place, like the Adoration Chapel or the room in the New Life Center we have set up, and ask God for His help.  You may not be struck by a bolt of lightning, and be visited by an angel, but God will nudge you in the right direction.  Follow that call to find peace.   

For most of you, already engaged in the mainstream of life, the problem is so much activity that you can’t hear any message from the Lord.  But God is calling you to make a change.  He is always calling you to something better.   Like a good coach, God is always trying to get folks to do something out of their comfort zone.  He does that because He wants you all to grow, and to shed some of your imperfections.  That means you may be disrupted, and asked to do something you feel uncomfortable with.  It may not be a dramatic change, but some change for the better.  This time of the year, when you are all busy, there are three ways your plans can be disrupted:  First, you may find someone who needs help right now when you are the busiest.  If so, don’t resist that call.  Take the time and do what’s right to help that person.  Second, it may dawn on you in the middle of all these Holiday Celebrations, that something popular and fashionable is against Church teachings, and can cause damage to you or others- There’s a message in that for you to be courageous, and go against the current.  Third, when you are tired, fed up, or angry, it is then that you are called to be more like Jesus- to go the extra little bit to be patient, keep cool, and hold your tongue.  None of these things are drastic; but all of them lead you a little bit more in the direction God has chosen for you.   

Now I know that sometimes it seems like when you respond to these disruptions, you think nothing really comes of it, but consider this story.  During WW II, a German speaking pastor in New England ministered to his German speaking US congregation in German.  At the pastor’s funeral, in the 50’s, the priest noticed a stranger.  It seems the Government had sent an agent to listen to the pastor’s sermons each week during the war,   Suspicious that the German pastor was sowing seeds of insurrection amongst his German speaking congregation.   But instead, the agent heard wonderful homilies each week, which motivated him to convert to Catholicism.  He couldn’t identify himself to the pastor- after all, he was acting under cover.  And so, the pastor never knew what impact he had on this person’s life.  Just the same, whenever you take the time to respond to a disruption by doing what’s right.  You never know who is watching, who is listening, and who may be moved by your actions. 

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

Be Watchful!

November 30th, 2008

 November 30, 2008

First Sunday of Advent

Is 63: 16b-17, 19b; 64: 2-7; 1 Cor 1: 3-9; Mark 13: 33-37

Dc. Larry Brockman

Be Watchful! Be Alert!  Advice straight from Jesus mouth in today’s Gospel.  Jesus is advising us to be alert about His presence in our lives and to reflect on it to be certain that we have it right with Him and our God in this blessed season of Advent as we prepare for the coming of the Savior on Christmas.   

Now for most people, this sounds like such a vague and indefinite warning- be watchful.  It stirs your heart momentarily while you hear the Gospel.  But before you can really think about what it means, the feeling leaves.  You will finish Mass, and whatever stirred your heart for that brief time will be gone, swept away by the busy events in the days and weeks before Christmas.  Unless- unless you consciously take the time, make the time to reflect on your life to watch out for God’s presence and will in your life so that you are prepared for the Lord’s coming at Christmas, and indeed, for the coming of the Lord at any time.  That, after all, is the meaning of Advent- a time of preparation for the coming of the Lord.   

Exactly what should you watch for?  Isaiah gives us a great clue on what you should watch for.  He says:  “Why do you let us wander, O Lord, from your ways, and harden our hearts so that we fear you not”.  This, it would seem, is the easy path of life- to wander away from God’s plan for you and take on your own agendas- agendas that concentrate on “me” rather than “us”; agendas that align our priorities with the things of the world.  This, in fact, is the lesson of so many of the Old Testament stories we hear, how the Israelites wandered from the law and the prophets in times of prosperity.  Oh, they might pay lip service to the rituals of Worship, but, as soon as the service was over, their agendas prevailed.  And if following the Lord’s law was inconvenient, it was ignored.  After all, they were prospering and didn’t think they needed the Lord.  But then, disaster would befall the Israelites, and they would turn to the Lord in adversity.  This was the pattern over some 2,000 years!  The lesson that Christians should take away from this is that we need to be constantly watchful for God’s will for us and make that the pattern in our lives. 

This is exactly what Jesus meant in the Gospel   Jesus says he gave his servants work to do.  You see, all of you are God’s servants, so God has given each of you work to do.  You need to watch for that constantly.  It means you need to recognize the God given talents you have, and act on them, not just for your own benefit, but for the benefit of all.  It means Moms and Dads who recognize the responsibility they have to instill faith in their children by the example they set for their children, and by taking on high moral standards; it means professionals who are dependable and efficient at their jobs while maintaining an eye on the general good; and students who are dedicated and diligent to their calling as students.  It means working together as a family and building each other up.   

Now for those of you who don’t think you have the time to reflect, or think that it can wait,  consider again these words in Jesus’ warning:  “May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping”  These are very sobering words.  You can let that nagging feeling you got to be watchful  pass over- as it certainly will when you walk out of the church and return to the busy world.  But if you do that, if you wait, you may get a wakeup call.  In which case, you may not have the time to act.  It might be a loved one suddenly killed in an auto accident, a terrible illness in your family- a stroke or Alzheimers, or even a quick turn of events in your own life- like a heart attack.  I know, I am recovering from such a wakeup call, an unexpected heart attack just a month ago.  Believe me, it really helped me focus on what is really important in my life.   All the projects and goals I had set for myself were gone- and the things that really mattered were family and relationships.  Such wakeup calls come like a thief in the night.  They affect you and those around you, and in these cases, there isn’t much of an opportunity to prepare, to be watchful- just regrets.  Don’t let that happen to you.  Listen to Jesus, when he says:  “What I say to you, I say to all, “Watch””. 

Posted in Holy Family Sunday Homilies | No Comments »

On Loving God

October 26th, 2008

 

October 26, 2008

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Ex 22: 20-26; 1 Thes 1: 5c-10; Mt 22: 34-40

Dc. Larry Brockman

How do you love God?  How do you love others?  Who are you being called to love?  Have you ever thought about these things, really thought about them?  Today’s readings challenge you to do just that.   

Jesus says today that the whole law and the prophets depend on just 2 commandments:  To love God and to love your neighbor.  Jesus talks about loving God with your whole heart, mind, and soul.  In other words you need to desire what God desires – this is the heart.  Then value and understand all things the way God does – this is the mind.  And finally actively live in accordance with those desires and that understanding, choosing what God would choose in your place – this is the soul.  That’s loving God- being in communion with what his desires and his will are for you.  And, you can be sure that God loves you back, because God is love.   

But Jesus doesn’t stop there.  Because you must love your neighbors as you love yourself treating them as you would want them to treat you, regardless of how you feel. 

Usually, we associate love with some pleasant feelings, intense and delightful emotions.  But the Greek word Jesus used for love means something much deeper.  It is the word “agape”, and it refers to the type of love that means desiring union with something that is good in itself.  If you love a person, it means you love spending time with them, getting to know them, and sharing the experiences of life with them.  Sometimes, that can be hard, because it means giving selflessly of yourself.  You see, there is simply no guarantee that your love will be returned.  This is Christian love: not a passing, self-indulgent emotion, but a courageous lifestyle that puts God first, others second, and self third. 

Now, there’s an interesting contrast between the first and the second reading that sheds light on real love.  Jesus was quoting the Old Testament, so, loving God and neighbor are basic to both the Old and New Covenants.  In the first reading, love of neighbor is demonstrated by following a set of rules.  Today, we hear about rules that call for treating foreigners, widows and orphans properly.  But, there are 631 rules in the Jewish Torah, some of them quite complex and detailed.  They were structured so that people would be able to do right in the eyes of the Lord.  It reminds me of secular Governments.  There’s a rule for everything, and when folks find a loophole, then a lower level set of more rules is passed.  And so, Government keeps plugging loopholes.  There’s something missing, isn’t there?  It’s called love.  You can’t legislate love; it has to be experienced; it has to be lived.   

Contrast the first reading with Paul’s message to the Thessalonians.  Paul gave his life to the mission he received from Jesus to preach to the Gentiles.  But that is not all.  Paul lived the theology he preached as well.  It was not a theology of “the law”.  All of Paul’s epistles talk about freedom from the law.  But rather, it was a theology of imitating Christ.  That’s what he means when he congratulates the Thessalonians, because they, too, gave up their former ways, and became imitators of Paul, just as Paul was an imitator of Christ.  Unlike Paul, they don’t go out and preach to the nations.  They live their lives in place, in Thessalonia, but now they live them as imitators of Christ- Christ who loved the Father, and loved his neighbor as himself.   

Now, there’s talk of the Thessalonians having to abandon idols.  That seems so remote from today’s times.  After all, we don’t have stone idols or gold idols, do we?  But wait- an idol can be anything that you become obsessed with.  Something that blinds you from loving God the way I mentioned earlier.  Sometimes jobs, football, shopping, and yes, even the responsibilities of life, can do that.  They are our idols.  And as for imitating Christ, wouldn’t it be simpler to just have a few rules, rather than be in tune with God’s will for us?  Deep down, in your heart, God speaks to you about his will for you.  There’s somebody He is especially calling you to love, maybe somebody in your family- perhaps an estranged spouse, an aging parent, a brother, or a wayward child.  But it may also be a neighbor- somebody who’s lonely, or sick, or in an institution, or even somebody in prison.  Whoever you are being called to love. do it now. 

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

Recognizing Your Blessings

October 7th, 2008

 

October 5, 2008

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Is 5: 1-7; Phil 4: 6-9; Mt 21: 33-43

Dc. Larry Brockman

Have you counted your blessings recently?  Have you even recognized your blessings recently?  Both the First Reading and the Gospel tell us that we have such Blessings.  How so?   

Well, consider that we, the people of God, are the vineyard that is talked about in the parables today, and that God represents the Landowner in both of them.  What does the parable say that God does?  He plants the vines on fertile ground, and He does all that can be done to nourish and encourage the vines to grow and bear fruit. 

Now I’m quite sure that God doesn’t make junk.  So, that means each of you is chosen by God to be capable in the way he intended.  Yes, each of you is a special vine hand selected by God to grow in the environment that God wants for you.  So that means each of you has been planted on fertile ground, and that you are truly blessed.  But do you recognize that for what it is?  And have you responded by bearing the fruit God is hoping for? 

It’s fair to say that most people are constantly searching for fulfillment in their lives.  So, if you are honest, your answer is that you have not borne all the fruit God hopes for.  And I think there are two reasons for that.  First, it’s hard to recognize the blessings you have been given when you are focused on the blessings that you would like to have instead of the ones you actually do have.  It’s like you’d rather be an apple tree than a grape vine.  And when you don’t grow apples, you get upset.  Yet, that’s looking for something that’s not intended for you.  If your time and energy are focused on your goals, not God’s goals, you are not recognizing your blessings.  For most people, the fact that you are where you are right now means that you are in the environment God intended for you.  So, the proper focus is on your family, your job, the situation around you, and the things that you naturally do well- right where you are.  Note also that God is persistent.  God will keep nourishing you along the way, hoping, and expecting the best; hoping you will bear fruit in the environment He has placed you in.   

Second, in order to bear really good fruit, you have to extend yourself.  Think of a vine that does not spread out roots.  It will languish and bear poor fruit; it may even falter and die.  In the gospel story, God keeps sending his servants to call into accountability the tenants who are tending the vineyard.  Three times these servants were sent.  Yet the tenants keep abusing God’s servants, and finally they killed the owner’s son, because these tenants refused to give the landlord his due.  It can be like that in our lives as well.  We can resist the messages that God keeps sending us on how to extend ourselves, and persist on pursuing our own agenda instead.  Then, when things happen in our lives that seem to be going against us, we build up resentment, resentment which can lead to the same offense the tenants committed- killing God’s son by abandoning Him and trying to take control over life for ourselves!  It can be the pursuit of your comforts (like a larger car or bigger TV); or your leisure time (like too much lunch time with the girls or too much football on TV); any one of a number of things.  But it is something where your focus is on yourself rather than on the mission God has in mind for you to extend yourself.  Then, when things don’t go your way, you build up resentment and slowly, kill God’s son rather than change the focus of your life to seek God’s will and bear more fruit.   

St. Paul said this to the Philippians:  “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think of these things.”    Well, this is how you can extend yourself:  By doing something that builds the values Paul is talking about above where our society has fallen down.  That means getting involved in something outside of your own life that contributes to these values.  It doesn’t have to be a major commitment, but what is important is a start.  Today for example, we are signing up people to get involved in our Right to Life Activity.  Consider getting involved in that.  Start by joining the Right to Life sidewalk chain outside the Church from 1:30 to 2:30 this afternoon.  Also, in a couple of short weeks, we elect our Government.  Get to know where the candidates stand.  Make sure the candidates meet Paul’s criteria on the issues- important issues like right to life, education, and health care.  And get involved by helping the candidate that fosters these values.  Then there are opportunities to help with a new Hospital Visitation Ministry, or with St. Vincent de Paul, or other social service ministries in the parish.    

Now I know some of you may be thinking that you can’t find a connection between the feeling of restlessness or resentment you might have over your misfortunes and the positive effects of the two recommendations I have just made, to be satisfied with the blessings God has given you, and then go one step further by getting involved in something selfless outside your daily comfort zone.  But listen to this from the second reading from Paul:  “Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, then the God of peace will be with you”.  That’s what we are all looking for- the Peace of God that surpasses all understanding, and that is the connection. 

Posted in Holy Family Sunday Homilies | No Comments »

On Hypocrisy

September 18th, 2008

September 28, 2008

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Ez 18: 25-28; Phil 2: 1-11; Mt 21: 28-32

Dc. Larry Brockman

Imagine.  Just imagine how furious the Chief Priests and Elders were after Jesus tells this parable.  You see, these were the people who were the spiritual leaders of the Jews.  They were looked up to as examples for the people to follow.  They were equivalent to the Pope and his Magisterium.  They interpreted the scriptures and they taught the people.  Everyone respected them.  And yet, Jesus calls them hypocrites right in front of everyone and proceeds to complement the perceived sinners of the time because Jesus says they, the sinners, listened and saw the truth, yet the Chief Priests and Elders did not see the truth.     

Why- why didn’t the Chief Priests and Elders see the real thing when it was there for them and yet the sinners did see it?  I can think of a number of reasons: Self righteousness, complacency, and pride stand out. 

When you are part of the establishment, and have “made it”; then you might have a tendency to project that you have the answers- not just a few, but all of them.  That’s self righteousness.  When you have undergone a trial, triumphed, and managed to regain control, regain stability in your life; then you can become complacent.  And when you look around at others, and perceive that you’re on the right track, but think everyone else is messed up except you; then you are proud.  These are all part of what it must have been like to be a Chief Priest or Elder.  Anything that would shake this stability, that would crack their solid foundation, their comfort as esteemed leaders, well, that would be too hard to swallow.  It would be just so much more convenient not to listen, and to remain complacent, and to be proud of your current good fortune.  In other words, you could miss the truth because you weren’t really interested in anything that disturbs your own truth.   

The sinners, on the other hand, were like people with a terrible tooth ache.  They were hurting; and in need of relief from that hurt.  So, when they heard the real truth, it was like the nerve was struck with a pick.  That truth was covered with sincerity and conviction.  That’s what people said about Jesus teachings.  And so, many of these sinners were eager to respond.  It was a matter of frame of mind.  The sinners, not the establishment, had the right frame of mind.   

Now of course, this parable is somewhat of an exaggeration.  Not all the Chief Priests and Elders were bad;and certainly, not all the sinners were good.  But the exaggeration makes an important point for us.  Namely this: just when you think you’ve been through life’s trials and have everything under control; just when you think you’ve passed through the rapids on the river and made it to the other side, think again.  In fact, that could be a great time to really listen for the truth, because it is then, when you are comfortable, that you are not in the right frame of mind to listen for the truth.  It is then that you could become a hypocrite. 

But today’s Old Testament reading gives some important insight about God’s system of justice.  You see, God’s system of Justice is always looking forward.  What is important is that we do his will always- not just yesterday, but today, and every day.  In the words of the great Yogi Berra, “It ain’t over till it’s over”.  And as long as all of us are alive, it ain’t over.   

What can you do to assure that you don’t become a hypocrite like the Chief Priests and Elders?  You can strive to have the right frame of mind always.  You can strive to always be sincere from this day forward.  First, be sincere in your relationship with God.  Don’t try to impress God or put on a show for him.  Simply open your hearts to him, like little children, and he will be there for you with the truth.  Second, in your relationship with yourself.  Never lie about the reasons you do things, making false excuses or immaturely passing the buck.  Take responsibility for your own actions, good and bad,   As Christ said, the truth will set us free.  Third, be sensitive in your words to others.  It is so easy to distort the truth when you talk.  We like to flatter people, or make them admire us, and so we say things that aren’t really true.  We don’t have an obligation to tell everything to everyone, but we always have an obligation to be truthful in what we choose to say.   

During the French Revolution, a particularly harsh man, the Marquis de Condorset, tried to escape justice and the Guillotine by posing as a peasant in disguise as he worked his way to the French border.  Near the border, he looked for all the world like a peasant as he entered an Inn.  But, in front of a throng of impoverished peasants, he ordered a 12 egg omelet at that Inn, and so, gave himself away.  Life is like that.  Hypocrisy gives itself away. 

Posted in Westminster Tower | No Comments »

Carrying Your Cross

August 29th, 2008

  August 31, 2008

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jer 20: 7-9; Rom 12: 1-2; Mt 16: 21-27

Dc. Larry Brockman

Believe it!  “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up their cross, and follow me”.  Whoever- that’s you and I, not just Jesus and his disciples some 2000 years ago, but you and I, right here and now. 

For most people, the name of the game is to avoid the cross.  People will go out of their way to avoid pain, confrontation, suffering, and taking a stand that makes them unpopular.  Possibly because they don’t recognize that it is their cross. 

Jeremiah is a good example of a person who recognized his cross.  His cross was to bear witness to the Word of God- to be a prophet.  But he didn’t want to do it, because his prophecy was not popular.   It frightened and threatened the establishment.  And so, he had to shout it out, over the protests of his people.  Jeremiah knew he would be abused if he spoke up.  But, Jeremiah could feel the urging of the Lord.  It was a strong urge, one that kept haunting him.  And so, he embraced his cross, and spoke up anyway.  We find out later that he was thrown into a cistern- a well, and abandoned to die.  So, suffer he did before he was finally rescued by the king.   

Now I know that all of you want to follow Jesus.  But what exactly can you and I do about your crosses?  Well, first, recognize your cross.  Then, embrace it, don’t run away from it.  Clearly, the word “cross” here is a symbol.  It doesn’t mean being dragged up a hillside and hung on a physical cross.  It does mean many other things, among which are:  Following God’s will for you, not your own desires; or being satisfied with the life you’ve been give, and not being bitter that you don’t have another kind of life.   

If your cross is something the Lord is calling you to do- like Jeremiah was called to be a prophet, don’t keep putting it aside and avoiding it.  We have Paul’s advice from the second reading:  “Do not conform yourselves to this age, but be transformed by renewal of your mind”.  Yes, when you become committed to Jesus, and you sincerely want to follow after him, he will renew your mind, through His Spirit, and you will be given the gifts of the Spirit- things like strength, and understanding- to help you through whatever you are being called to do.  But you have to recognize that you are being called, and not run away from it. 

Perhaps, you have been called to speak up about a wrong, or to come to the aid of someone in need, or follow a nudge to a different vocation.  Whatever that call is, it is that voice in you that, try as you may, you can’t ignore, just as Jeremiah couldn’t ignore it.   

Another cross you might be called to embrace is forbearance.  I think this is a cross most of us have at one or more times during our lives, because it includes sickness, disability, demands from our loved ones, mental suffering- anything that stops us cold.  Stops us cold from our agenda, and forces us to submit, or to forbear the challenges of life.  These crosses are made more difficult when others tell us we can avoid them,  The voices of others take many forms- like you did something wrong to cause this; or you can take the easy way out; or it’s not your responsibility.  But sometimes, these crosses are just the way it is.  They are the life dealt to us.  The great St. Augustine said something very insightful:  “There is more courage in a man who faces rather than flees the storms of life, and who holds cheap the opinions of men”.  Courage is what the Spirit gives us to face these crosses in our lives- courage to forbear these kinds of crosses. 

Finally, our perspective on life can play a big role in how well we look at crosses.  If your perspective is that life can always be managed to produce happiness, then these crosses cause bitterness and disappointment.  But uninterrupted joy is reserved for Heaven.  The road to heaven is paved with crosses, just as it was for Jesus.  In the words of St. Margaret Mary:  “Nothing unites us so closely to the Sacred Heart of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, as the cross, which is the most precious pledge of His love”. 

Posted in Westminster Tower | No Comments »

Responding to the Call

August 17th, 2008

  August 17, 2008

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Is 56: 1, 6-7; Rom 11: 13-15, 29-32; Mt 15: 21-28

Dc. Larry Brockman

There’s great news for all of you in today’s scripture!  God wants all of you to be saved.   

First, Isaiah says:  “For my salvation is about to come, my justice is about to be revealed”.  Then, St. Paul echoes this same theme when he says:  “For the gifts of the call are irrevocable.”  The call is the call to be a member of the Kingdom of God; the gift is everlasting life.  Yes, all of you are called to that gift.  And finally, Jesus says in the gospel that the Canaanite women is saved by her faith.  This was a real departure- Jesus is travelling outside Palestine- the only time he ever did that.  The area was populated by Canaanites- traditional enemies of the Jews  So, as a Jew practicing Jewish tradition, Jesus was just affirming the belief that only the chosen Israeli people could be saved when he says: “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel”. 

But, the Canaanite woman was excepted because of her true faith and the active response to that faith she displayed- by her persistence.  This exception applies to all of us.    So these readings bring to mind two important things about salvation.  First, that God has called everybody to be saved and to experience eternal happiness.  And second, that our response to that call is important.   

First, consider that God wants everybody to be saved.  That means he wants you- all of you out there.  He also wants the guy that cut you off on the way into the parking lot; the difficult boss you work for; the bully at the school you attend; the neighborhood gossip; the atheist you see on the talk show; and even those weird looking people you’d rather not associate with.  He wants everybody.   

I have two short stories that demonstrate this point.  The first has to do with a recently canonized saint.  In 2006, the pope canonized St. Raphael Guizar, a Bishop from Mexico.  St. Raphael prayed constantly that his bitter enemy would be saved.  In fact, he was quoted as praying that he would give his right eye if God would give his saving grace to this hard-hearted sinner.  Thirty years after his death, Raphael’s body was exhumed so that they could move it to a new burial place.  They were amazed to find his body still fully intact- just as soft and pliable, and as unspoiled as the day he was buried- except- except for his right eye, which was totally decomposed.   

The second story involves St. Theresa of Lisieux.  St. Theresa prayed incessantly that a notorious murderer would experience a change of heart, and repent of his sins.  Despite her daily prayers, the villain refused a priest repeatedly while awaiting execution.  But, just before his execution, as he lay before the executioner’s sword, he asked for a crucifix, which he kissed, and then proceeded to ask for forgiveness.   

Yes, God wants all of you to be saved.  That’s why Jesus died for us- all of us.  We are all sinners; but no matter what we’ve done, we are all called to the Kingdom of God.  It is not up to you and I to judge our peers;   The justice of which Isaiah speaks is God’s justice, not ours.  So, hard as it is to believe, God wants all to be saved, even those obnoxious, and seemingly despicable people in the world that nobody likes.  In fact, as the two stories show, God wants us to pray for our enemies, because by our sacrifices and prayers, we help to convert even the hardest of hearts, and win over sinners for God’s Kingdom.   

Sometimes, though, we become pre-occupied with judging and condemning others when our focus should be on the second important factor- our response to the call.  The Canaanite woman demonstrates some very important qualities that we should all exhibit in response to God’s call to us:  Love, Humility, Faith and Persistence. 

Now it’s important to understand just how much of an outsider the Canaanite woman was.  She was not a Jew; she belonged to a group that had been bitter enemies of the Jews.  In fact, she is not even described as a God-Fearer.  God-Fearers were a gentile people who, despite the fact that they were not Jewish by lineage, followed the God of Israel as their own.  No, this lady simply heard Jesus, and came to believe that he was the Messiah.  There is no question of her love, for her actions on behalf of her daughter spoke clearly.  She was willing to risk public humiliation, and rejection by her own Canaanite people by following after Jesus persistently.  Her willingness to forget herself in deference to her daughter demonstrates real love.  Second, she was filled with real faith.  She addresses Jesus as Lord, the term used to describe God himself by the Jews.  And she prostrated herself before Jesus as is to give homage to Him.  Yes, she believed that this was God that she was appealing to.  Jesus sensed the genuine faith, and complemented her.  Lastly, she was humble.  Though persistent, she was low key, and respectful.  Her responses to the comment about the dogs eating the scraps from the table clearly show her humility. 

So let us put aside your judgment of others, and concentrate on your response to the call to the Kingdom of God.  Practice the virtues- Love, Faith, and Humility.  And above all- be persistent. 

Posted in Holy Family Sunday Homilies | No Comments »

Being Filled with the Holy Spirit

August 15th, 2008

  August 15, 2008

Assumption

Rev 11: 19a; 12, 1-6a, 10ab; 1 Cor 15: 20-27; Luke1: 39-56

Dc. Larry Brockman

Filled with the Holy Spirit!  Today’s gospel speaks of two women filled with the Holy Spirit-  Mary and Elizabeth.  What does that mean?  Does it just mean an exuberance of spirit, an enthusiastic spirit?  For surely, Elizabeth and Mary seemed exuberant over their meeting. 

No, there is much more to being filled with the Holy Spirit than exuberance as both women demonstrate in the gospel.  Clearly, both women are filled with Wisdom, that special feeling of knowledge and focus that only the Spirit of God can provide.  That’s why Elizabeth could recognize Mary as the mother of her Lord; that’s why Mary could foresee her role in salvation history as she proclaims the wonderful words of the Magnificat, because both of these women were filled with the Holy Spirit. 

That’s what the Holy Spirit can do for you, too.  When you are filled with God’s Spirit, you will be filled with a spirit of knowing, of discernment; of energy, and of focus.  It’s the thing that really gives meaning to your life, to actually be moved by the will of God for you. 

Now even though you may be filled with the Spirit, and you will feel joy, you will also face a battle, just like the battle described in Revelation this morning.  Because the thing the devil abhors the most is when God’s people are filled with the Spirit, and moved to do God’s will.  Surely, you will be tested, and could be swept away- a third of the stars.  But hold firm; because the reward is everlasting happiness.  Paul describes that reward- the resurrection from the dead for all of us and a life forever free from all enemies and evil. 

When we celebrate the feast of the Assumption, we are celebrating what the future holds for us.  Mary was the first of humanity to experience the kingdom of Heaven, body and soul intact.  For the rest of us who fight the good fight, it is our hope and our calling. 

Posted in Holy Family Weekday Homilies | No Comments »

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »