Day of Judgment, Day of Wrath, Day of Mercy

Homily for the 1^st Sunday of Advent
29 November 2015

       We begin this new liturgical year this weekend with the same hope that we approach in every new venture or period of our lives. There are the many unanswered questions of what this year will bring, and how we will respond to the joys and challenges that will be placed before us.

       However, we need to be asking ourselves the following questions about our spiritual life:

Ø Have we allowed the Lord to work in us so that we have increased in love for one another and for all?

Ø Have our hearts become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life?

Ø Are we truly vigilant at all times for the coming of the Lord?

This blessed season of Advent that we now enter into isn’t just about putting up lights, baking cookies and wrapping presents. Rather, Advent – especially the first half of the season – is meant to prepare us for the terrible and wondrous Day of the Lord, when Christ will come again in glory and judge the living and the dead. Advent is a time of preparation, but not directly in the way our society views these “pre-Christmas” days. The season of Advent is that time in which we prepare our heart and soul for the coming of the Lord on that great day.

Upon reflecting on our readings for this week, the ancient poem of the Dies Irae kept popping into my head. That great reminder from the old Requiem Masses talks about this day that we to be preparing for – this day of judgment; this day of God’s wrath. Yes, in our Gospel, Jesus reiterates the importance for us to be prepared for His coming in glory, recognizing, Himself, that it is to be a terrible and wondrous day.

However, it is to be just more than a day and judgment and a day of wrath.

The Day of the Lord will also be a day of mercy.

If we take to heart the question posed earlier drawn from Saint Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians, and reflect upon it in the light of the Gospel, we come to realize that the only way we can increase and abound in love is to not allow our hearts become drowsy through carousing, drunkenness and being overwhelmed by the concerns of daily life. Our society, especially during this time of year, is constantly asking of us to help those who may not be able to help themselves as they would like. (In a way, this is signified by our Angel Tree.) Yet, while we DO provide for those who are need, we also allow the frustrations of the season to overwhelm our hearts, and the carousing and drunkenness of the season veils our ability to truly prepare for the Lord’s coming.

If we truly open our hearts to the movement of the Lord, then those moments of carousing, drunkenness and feeling anxious would be replaced by the anticipation of a joyful hope that the Lord would make His presence known, right here, right now. Casting aside all that veils the heart from ecstatically waiting for His return, we truly begin to recognize His presence with us: in Word, in Sacrament, and in others. And in recognizing that presence, we no longer dread that day of judgment, for we recognize that Christ’s coming again in glory will be the ultimate sign of God’s Divine Mercy.

The Lord desires for us to be with Him – not just in this life, but, ultimately, for eternity. It is this life He gives to us that we are to prepare – to be in advent – for His return. This is why our hearts must not become drowsy; this is why we are to remain vigilant. In our practice of increasing our love for one another and for all, we increase our practice and share of the mercy which God has bestowed and will continue to bestow upon us in this life. This day of judgment, this day of wrath which so many people may dread is truly to be anticipated by the Church, since it is, at its very base, the day of God’s mercy.

As we prepare to enter into the great Jubilee Year of Mercy next week, we are given the hope that on the Day of the Lord, we will experience the fullness of God’s mercy that we foretaste here on Earth. But, also in preparation for the Jubilee Year, in preparation for the terrible and wondrous Day of the Lord, our hearts cannot wane in the obligation that we are to be “Merciful Like the Father” – that if we hope to experience the fullness of God’s mercy, we, too, must show mercy. This is how we increase and abound in love for one another and for all; this is how our hearts remain vigilant, not becoming drowsy from all that life throws at us.

During these coming weeks, we ought not to become preoccupied in putting up the lights, baking the cookies and wrapping the presents. Our preoccupation needs to focus upon our desire to be children of the Father, disciples of Jesus and co-workers with the Holy Spirit. Our preoccupation in the spiritual life ought to move us to desire the ecstasy of experience God’s mercy and, in return, being merciful to others. Our preoccupation ought to be vigilance in anticipating the Day of the Lord, so that this day of judgment and day of wrath will truly be, for the one who waits for the Lord, a day of mercy.

And, so, my dear brothers and sisters, I ask you once again:

Ø Have we allowed the Lord to work in us so that we have increased in love for one another and for all?

Ø Have our hearts become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life?

Ø Are we truly vigilant at all times for the coming of the Lord?

May this season of Advent be for each of us a season of joyous anticipation for the coming of the Lord. May this season of Advent be for each of us an encounter with the Divine Mercy of God.

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Enjoy the journey . . .

The King and the Kingdom

Homily for the Solemnity of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
22 November 2015

Since the Ascension God’s plan has entered into its fulfillment. We are already at “the last hour.” . . . Christ’s kingdom already manifests its presence through the miraculous signs that attend it proclamation by the Church.

Catechism of the Catholic Church 670

       And, so, we have reached the end of another liturgical year. We once again find ourselves celebrating this great Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. This great feast is given to the Church to remind us of two things: 1. The Lord is King of all; and 2. We await the day that the Kingdom is fully established.

       For ninety years, since Pope Pius XI gave us this Feast in 1925, the Church Universal has been proclaiming that there is no kingdom or nation above that Eternal Kingdom in which Our Lord is the Supreme Ruler. Pope Pius XI presented to the world this celebration in the midst of a world that was caught in the wake of World War I – a time when nationalism was on the rise, and the grasp of relativism was tightening upon the hearts of mankind.

       Ninety years later, not much has changed, has it?

       In this age when nations are still trying to preserve and protect their sovereignty, when secularism continues to turn the hearts of men and women away from the Lord, this Solemnity continues to have a dire importance to the Christian life.

       Yet, it must be of paramount importance that we, as Church, proclaim the Kingship of Christ. As Daniel reminds us in our First Reading: “His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed.” In our Gospel, Jesus, Himself, testifies to Pontius Pilate that His Kingdom “does not belong to this world.” Therefore, my brothers and sisters, this everlasting dominion is prepared for those who acknowledge not only to the truth that Christ proclaimed, but, ultimately, for those who proclaim Truth, Himself – the Person of Jesus Christ.

       This is Who and what we proclaim this day. We cry out with every ounce of our being: “The Lord is King; He is robed in majesty.” And we acknowledge that we labor here on Earth so that the Kingdom may one day be fully established.

       If, then, the Kingdom is for those who proclaim the Truth of Christ the King, who are we to proclaim, invite and welcome into the Kingdom? The Catechism of the Catholic Church presents to us three realities:

       First: Jesus invites sinners to the table of the Kingdom. Each person in this church – and, indeed, the whole world – is a sinner! No matter how big or how small our sins may be, we are welcome to the table. This does not take away the effect that sin brings to the heart and soul, and does not nullify the necessity for us to avail ourselves to the Sacrament of Reconciliation! In fact, we remember that if we have a mortal sin on our soul, we are not to partake of the Sacrificial Meal that is placed before us! What this means, however, is that we need to recognize that, as sinners, we are in need of the rules, laws and guidance of Christ and His Church to live a proper life (cf. CCC 545).

       Second: The Kingdom belongs to the poor and lowly, which means those who have accepted it with humble hearts. The Kingdom of God is not meant for the proud and arrogant, the wise and the learned. Rather, it has been established for those who desire to be like Jesus – poor, lowly and humble. If one presumes that they’re going to Heaven because they’re “a good person” and does not mold their life after Jesus and proclaim the truth of the Gospel, then that one is a fool, for the truly wise person knows that to enter into the Kingdom, one must truly be poor in spirit, lowly in disposition and intent, and humble of heart – just like our King is (cf. CCC 544).

       Ultimately: Everyone is called to the Kingdom. Though while “everyone” is called, we need to accept the invitation. That is an important fact to remember. Yes, Jesus came for the forgiveness of sins and redemption of all humanity past, present and future. However, to truly be subjects of the King, we must be willing and able to recognize His authority. This is why we still proclaim: Extra ecclesiam nulla salus – “there is no salvation outside of the Church.” One must acknowledge Christ as the Way, the Truth and the Life to reap the full rewards of the Kingdom. Yes, Christ came for all. However, in our poverty, lowliness and humility, we proclaim a Truth that frustrates society because, especially in modern American society, we discern and act with our emotions, and not with the Heart and Mind of Omnipotent and Omniscient King. Nor do we wish to be subject to authority, especially an authority that is eternal and, for lack of a better word, invisible. Yes, the Kingdom is open to everyone, but we must become humble enough to accept this invitation (cf. CCC 543).

       Ninety years following Pope Pius XI’s gift to the Church in establishing this great Solemnity, we still find that the reasons this celebration was instituted still exist. It is all the more important that you and I continue to celebrate and proclaim Christ as our King, for we live in a world that is becoming more and more subjective and secular. This world, as flawed as it is, is here to prepare us to dwell in Christ’s everlasting dominion. Everyone, especially those sinners who are poor, lowly and humble, is called to the Kingdom. Our lives ought to proclaim the Kingdom of God present in our midst, the Kingdom of God waiting to be fully established by our participation, and our being subjects of Christ, our King. We proclaim that we do not simply subject ourselves to the rule and authority of Christ out of fear and damnation. Rather, we submit to the authority of Christ and His Church out of the love that we have for our King and His Bride. This is the miraculous sign we proclaim . . . This is the share in that dominion that we confess when we worthily consume the Eucharist.

       My brothers and sisters, the Lord IS King! He IS robed in majesty! We must allow our Christian lives to proclaim the coming Kingdom so that, as poor and lowly sinners, we may, with humble hearts, know and follow the Truth Who is Jesus Christ to the fullness of His dominion which is everlasting.

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Enjoy the journey . . .

The Widows' Example

Homily for the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

8 November 2015

Last week, we had the wonderful opportunity to celebrate the great Solemnity of All Saints, recalling our vocation modeled for us by countless men and women, who are known and unknown to us, to sanctify the world by being men and women of the Beatitudes. This week, we have the blessed opportunity through the examples of the widows in our First Reading and Gospel on how we are to truly live the Beatitudes in this world: We put our trust in God, and give all without counting the cost.

While I'm sure we have heard or said the phrases "Offer it up" and "Give it to God", it's only human nature to count the cost. We have a difficult time in just letting God do what He needs to; we have a hard time in allowing our trust in God to give us His peace. The widow of Zeraphath is a prime example of this as she protested to the message and request brought to her by Elijah. While she was looking out for the welfare of herself and her son, Elijah called her to be more faithful in her trust in the Lord.

The widow in our Gospel, on the other hand, seems to have that implicit trust in God, so much so that Jesus is able to recognize the giving of her everything to the praise and glory of God.

Sometimes we are like the widow of Zeraphath. Sometimes we are like the widow in the Temple.

One widow in the Tradition of the Church teaches us how to truly turn everything over to the Lord - Our Blessed Mother, Mary. During my time away from the parish in recovery, I had A LOT of free time on my hands. I had and took that opportunity to learn a little more about some the Marian apparitions that may be a little less known. One of these apparitions grabbed my attention - and, dare I say, also my heart. Our Lady's appearances in Kibeho, Rwanda, were an amazing series of visions, not only because they foretold of the genocide experienced in Rwanda in the mid-1990's, but - like all authentic Marian apparitions - the called us back from being obsessed with the things of this world to turning our hearts and live back to Jesus Christ.

Giving everything to the Lord - not just what we WANT to give over to Him - is essential in living out the Beatitudes. It is only in turning our entire life over to God that we can truly imitate Him, trust Him, and give Him praise. Our Lady's appearances to the visionaries of Kibeho do this by calling the Rwandan people back to that relationship lived in fidelity with her Son. The turning of our hearts back to the Lord, the giving of our livelihood from our spiritual poverty for the praise and glory of God, includes all that which turns our hearts away from the love of God and our neighbor. The messages of Our Lady of Kibeho urge us not to give the Lord only what we believe will please Him, but giving Him the entirety of our whole self. This is what the widow of the Temple models for us: That trust in God, and giving Him everything from our livelihood, ultimately releases any fear and doubt that we may have. Our practice of giving the widow's mite opens us up to letting go of all that binds us to this world, and allows us to be men and women of the Beatitudes.

It is important to keep this all in mind as we begin to close out this liturgical year. As we prepare to celebrate the great Solemnity of Our Lord, Jesus Christ the King, and as we prepare for the blessed season of Advent, it would be wise for us to keep the message of Mary, that Blessed Widow, in mind: The more that we keep in our hearts - jealousy, fear, anger, resentment, etc. - the less that we can give to the Lord in praise. The more that we offer the Lord from whatever is simply left over from the excess of blessings, the less that we can offer Him from the bottom of our coffers in our spiritual poverty.

Our participation in the widow's mite must be for us an invitation to a life lived through the Beatitudes. This abandonment of our fear and practice of trust in the Lord is the graced moment when we recognize how much the world controls us, how much we try to control the world, and the sacrifice coming from the coffers of our livelihood is that which should bring us closer to Christ. This is one of the messages that Our Lady gave to the visionaries of Kibeho: You are burdened in life with cares of every sort. Understand that difficulties are the daily bread of all who live on this earth. When they become too hard to cope with, know how to offer them to God. He really likes and expects from every Christian at least one sacrifice. The burdens and difficulties of this life - as well as its joys and ecstasies - need to become for us that which we offer as our mite, holding nothing back in our praise of God.

That is what the widows this weekend teach us:

          - The Widow of Zeraphath: Showing us the human condition;

          - The Widow of the Temple: Modeling for us how we ought to respond in faith; and

          - The Widow of Nazareth: Reminding us that we need to move beyond the limits of our human condition, and to trust in God so that we do everything for His glory and praise - including bearing our burdens and difficulties.

As a parish family, our trust in God and His plan for us will be tested over the next few months. Like the widows, we must respond in faith. We need to be able to offer everything back to the Lord, including any joy, fear or frustration we may be feeling. While there may be much confusion and doubt about the future, the response we give back in faith to learn Jesus, to love Jesus and to live Jesus is how we take that step in faith and open ourselves to the grace and movement of the Holy Spirit. Will it be uncomfortable? Yes. Will it be scary? You bet. But following the example of these faithful women, we allow that sacrifice to transform us, to sanctify us so that we may sanctify the world.

The sacrifice that we offer mow in the Eucharist is the first step in becoming more trusting of God as we lay over lives upon the Altar, giving to Him all that we are. The widows that we have encountered this weekend - of Zeraphath, of the Temple, and of Nazareth - remind us that it is in God alone that put our faith in, for us we truly want to be women and men of the Beatitudes, we can offer nothing better back to God than the totality of our very selves.

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Enjoy the journey . . . 

Sanctify the Ordinary

Homily for the Solemnity of All Saints
1 November 2015

       Yesterday, I had the wonderful opportunity to witness and officiate over the marriage of my sister and brother-in-law. During that homily, I reminded the couple of something that seems commonplace, but is a piece of Christian living that seems to be often overlooked. And this is something that we need to be more aware of, especially as we celebrate this feast of All Saints.

       We often hold the saints of the Church – or any person of historic significance – on pedestals, believing that we could never be as heroic – or holy – as they were. What we often forget is that the saints were ordinary men and women, just like we are, and they had to struggle and strive for holiness, too. The Christian life, as I reminded the newlyweds and all those gathered, is to find a way to sanctify the ordinary – we must be able to make holy all that is in our lives. As Edward Hays reminds us: The challenge of the saints of the Twenty-First Century is to begin again to comprehend the sacred in the ten thousand things of our world; to reverence what we have come to view as ordinary and devoid of spirit.

       The Beatitudes which we heard in our Gospel is the guide by which we sanctify the ordinary. As we allow ourselves to be poor in spirit, to mourn, to be meek, to hunger and thirst for righteousness, to be merciful, to be clean of heart, to be peacemakers, to be persecuted for the sake of righteousness, we begin to sanctify our lives so that we become more like Christ. As we live out the Beatitudes in our own lives, then we become more like those countless men and women who we honor today.

       Saint Francis of Assisi once said: Sanctify yourself and you will sanctify the world. To become a saint is to first recognize that as people of the Beatitudes, we are given the opportunity to become more like Christ, for the Beatitudes are a portrait of Christ, Himself. Jesus Christ came to the world to sanctify the world. He left us His teachings in the Scriptures and the Sacraments and other means of the Church to pursue the call to holiness. The more we sanctify ourselves, the more we become like Christ. The more we become like Christ, the more we can sanctify the world. The more that we sanctify the world, the more we can reverence those ten thousand things of the world that we have come to view as ordinary or devoid of spirit.

       Whether we are married or single, a member of a religious community or a priest or deacon, each person is called to holiness, to sanctity; each person is called to become more like Christ and called to be the living image of Christ. How do we begin? We learn Jesus, love Jesus and live Jesus. How do we live this image out? We become men and women of the Beatitudes. What do the Beatitudes call us to do? They call us to sanctify ourselves so that we may sanctify the world.

       In our celebration and reception of the Eucharist, this Living Reminder of the very Presence of Christ, Himself, we open ourselves to be transformed into His Beatitudinal likeness – we allow ourselves to be poor in spirit, to mourn, to be meek, to hunger and thirst for righteousness, to be merciful, to be clean of heart, to be peacemakers, to be persecuted for the sake of righteousness. Our celebration and reception of the Eucharist engages us to endeavor in the sanctification of our very selves and of the world. The Eucharist – which fueled the souls and lives of the saints – is that foretaste of the glory that the saints now share in, and should be, for us, the foretaste of the glory that we seek. However, it is our choice to be people of the Eucharist, people of the Beatitudes – and it is our choice whether or not to become saints.

       Let us recall the words of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux: You cannot be half a saint; you must be a whole saint or no saint at all. We are all called to be saints. We all have the vocation to pursue holiness. Yet we all have the obligation to transform and sanctify the ordinary things and events of our lives, so that the entirety of our lives and of the world reflects the glory of God. This is what the saints tried to do throughout the course of their lives on Earth.

       The saints were not perfect men and women who walked around with glowing halos around their heads and quoted Scripture constantly. Rather, these were people like you and me who are trying to live life to the best of our abilities. The only difference that we have with the saints is that they are laboring in Heaven while we are laboring here on Earth. Nevertheless, Christ calls us – as He has called many men and women throughout the ages – to struggle and strive to the best of our ability to live out the Beatitudes.

Yes, throughout our lives there will be times where we will be called to be poor in spirit, to mourn, to be meek, to hunger and thirst for righteousness, to be merciful, to be clean of heart, to be peacemakers, and to be persecuted for the sake of righteousness. But through all of that, we work on our ultimate vocation to sanctify those things and events in our lives that may seem ordinary but, through the grace of God, lead us to that which is eternally extraordinary.

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Enjoy the journey . . .