Homily – February 28, 2009 – Saturday after Ash Wednesday

Our message for this day in Lent is short and to the point: Jesus came to call sinners! The other part of the short message is that we are all sinners. If anyone thinks that he is not a sinner then he is simply mistaken, and he has simply cut himself out of the benefits of the redemption won by Jesus. No one would really want to do this if they fully understood what was going on here.

The first reading today tells us two ways in which people sin – apparently they were sinning in the days of the Prophet Isaiah as well. But the reading is all about how God wants to bestow abundance and blessings on his people – once the sin is cleared away! This is the entire gospel message of Jesus. Repent, so your sins can be cleared away, so that you can receive the abundant blessings of the forgiveness of your sins and everlasting life in heaven! The passage from Isaiah reads:

Remove from your midst false accusation and malicious speech; stop lying about and to one another, stop all varieties of mean and hateful speech about one another, stop gossiping, stop tearing people down. If you do this, and in place of it if you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted, if you do what you can for others in need in your own day in age, in your own circumstances on a regular basis – then light shall rise for you in the darkness and the gloom shall become for you like midday: the Lord will guide you always and give you plenty when you need it; he will renew your strength and you will be like a watered garden, like a spring whose water never fails.

He also says that if you keep the Sabbath, the Lord's Day (Sunday for us, as Catholics), and not follow your own pursuits on that holy day, if you call that day a delight, and hold it as honorable – then you will find your delight in the Lord and he will raise you on high with joy and blessed assurance!

We must remember in this Holy Lenten Season that God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, but he takes great pleasure rather in his conversion, that he may live and be blessed with an abundance of the good things of life!

Jesus called Levi / Matthew, a tax collector – a sinner – and Matthew dropped everything immediately and followed Jesus. Let us do the same today! Let us follow Jesus into everlasting life!

Today, if you hear the voice of the Lord, harden not your hearts!

Homily – February 27, 2009 – Friday after Ash Wednesday

On this first Friday of Lent we orient ourselves to the task at hand for the Holy Season: seek good and not evil so that you may live, and the Lord will be with you. Accentuate the positive, then, to eliminate the negative. Do what is right and good to vanquish what is wrong and bad!

God, speaking through the Prophet Isaiah today, tells us to "fast – not by not-doing, but rather by doing." He does not want us to bow our heads like reeds and lie in sackcloth and ashes (while we are dealing uncharitably with others – for our own glorification and self-profit). What he wants is for us to "fast-by-doing" what is right and just: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless, clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own. Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed…then you shall call, and the Lord will answer, you shall cry for help, and he will say: "Here I am!"

This is a God-given spiritual dynamic of the spiritual life: purifying ourselves by concentrating our efforts on the needs of others – because we have been instructed by God to do so, and God himself has demonstrated how to do it through the life and death of his Son, Jesus.

The gospel passage today mentions "fasting" – but this kind of spiritual discipline, Jesus tells those who inquire – is not for his disciples at that particular time – because he is with them, he is their teacher, he is showing them how to seek the good and reject the evil – how to live for others – and give their lives for them! The "giving-up" kind of fasting implied in this passage does not apply to the disciples of Jesus at that time. But later, they would fast in the new way – when he is gone from them physically – and they are responsible for doing all that "fasting-by-giving-oneself-on-behalf-of-others" implies! You and I are invited, now, this day, this Lent, to learn how to do this kind of fasting!

Seek good and not evil so that you may live, and the Lord will be with you.

Today is you hear the voice of the Lord, harden not your hearts.

 

Homily – February 26, 2009 – Thursday after Ash Wednesday

On this first day of Lent after Ash Wednesday the Church restates in the readings very simply and matter-of-factly what the season is all about: the first reading from the Book of Deuteronomy restates first of all the crux of the "wounded decision-making ability" of mankind. While men and women always have had the freedom of choose the positive or the negative, since the day of the Fall they were more inclined to choose the negative rather than the positive – due to Satan's lure and subtle persuasion. Redemption means redemption from that powerful "tug-to-the-negative!" It means reestablishing the true freedom that allows a reasoned, faith-filled response.

The reading states it this way: God told Moses to tell the people: today I set before you life and prosperity, death and doom. You are free to choose either one. But if you follow my commandments, my suggestions on how to live a positive and well balanced life, then you will choose life and you will have prosperity. Reject death and doom, choose life: this is God's recommendation! He is hoping that we will do this so that he can fulfill the promises made to Abraham and his spiritual descendants (us): promises involving their eternal salvation!

But in an almost ironic kind of twist, the gospel passage tells us that the spiritually oriented disciple will choose what Jesus chose: suffering, rejection and even the cost of one's life: he will choose the cross: his own cross; and he will follow Jesus carrying his Cross, so that as Jesus found his new life by this means, so will those who follow Jesus this way. When you lose your life for Jesus' sake, then you will save it! This is different than just throwing away one's life: the real authentic, genuine spiritual motivation is always the acceptable qualification!

And so, on this day of Lent we are exhorted to repent, to turn from our own way of seeing and doing things and to acknowledge the arrival of the Kingdom in Jesus, with his way of seeing and doing things: which involves choosing death to oneself in order to choose life and prosperity that will last forever!

Today, if you hear the voice of the Lord, harden not your hearts!

Homily – February 25, 2009 – Ash Wednesday

Lent is upon us! It is a very special time of the Church year when we ready ourselves for the Holiest Week of the Year and the Holiest Celebrations of that week: Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday/Easter Sunday!

To get the very most out of these three days, the Church each year suggests three activities that are tried and proven to be most helpful and most beneficial in this regard. In and of themselves they are all very good and useful – but entered into during Lent, with greater willingness and intensity, combined - they can make us truly ripe for the spiritual blessings of the Holy Week!

The three activities are: Prayer; Fasting, and Almsgiving! Or another way of saying it: Communicating Directly with God; Self-Denial, and Self-Giving to those in Need. Let us look at these three briefly and determine why they are helpful especially during Lent.

Prayer / Communicating Directly With God – This concerns the meaning of what Jesus did beginning on Palm Sunday and ending with the empty tomb the following Sunday morning! Reading the stories about these things in the Bible, chatting silently with God in the recesses of your mind and heart (as you would to a real person – God is a real person), praying the rosary or Divine Mercy Chaplet daily, or just sitting quietly and listening for God to speak about these things directly to you – these are avenues of prayer for Lent. But so is public prayer – going to Mass every Sunday and during the week, if you can, (on Wednesdays here) or wherever you might be!

Fasting / Self-Denial - We know from the experience of our own lives that giving up something now in order to get something later makes one more appreciative of whatever it is that you are going to get later. For example, giving up that extra donut now will get you a smaller waistline later on. Denying oneself of certain things seems to make us appreciate them all the more when you get them back to some degree later on. But if we add the dimension of denying oneself "for the purpose of opening our spiritual senses more widely," "stretching our spiritual winesacks to newer limits" – we will thus to be able to receive more of a future spiritual good – and with a deeper understanding of what it all means. Such is our preparation for Holy Week and Easter. If we "open the senses of our mind and hearts," and "stretch them as wide as we can get them" – by simple acts of self-denial (with the purpose of having God filling us with joys and experiences later, in his due time) – then this Holy Week and Easter will be unlike any that have come before! It will be better by far! Fasting can be a simple act of "not doing" of "giving up" something – but it must be a non-action that is a noticeable interrupt to our normal patterns and comfort zones: skip the donuts altogether for Lent – while staying spiritually focused on Holy Week!

The third recommendation of the Church is: Almsgiving / Self- Giving to those in Need. This act was highly prized in the early days of the Church. Jesus gave his all for us; giving in his name and after his example was therefore highly valued. This was not simply charity. It was divine charity, divine self-giving after the heart of Christ himself. Giving money for the immediate use of those who very much need it – under religious supervision – is called: almsgiving. It comes from the Hebrew concept of sharing what you have with others. This is over and above ordinary contributions and tithes. It is taking some of your surplus and sharing it with those who have a great deficit, and who actually have a right to it. You are in luck! In our own area there are those who have surplus and those who have a deficit. And so we have set up – right here at St. Ambrose – just this month – a brand new kind of almsgiving program called: Friends Helping Friends – Help Thy Neighbor. Monetary donations to this fund are used immediately and directly for any parishioner or family members who are in temporary need of food, fuel oil, clothing, medicine etc. This container will be a placed here every Sunday – and anyone wanting to contribute to the fund may place money in it – perhaps extra monies saved as a family during the weeks of the Lenten Season. Angela is in charge of collecting and distributing the funds as needed. Please feel free to contact her if you or someone in your immediate family is experiencing a need. The way to "pay back the fund" (pay it forward) is to put the cash back in the container (or give it to Angela or myself) – when you can see your way to do so! [Don't go without what you need because you were too embarrassed to ask! ASK! RECEIVE! PAY IT BACK, PAY IT FORWARD!]

Prayer / Fasting / Almsgiving – over the centuries, have proven to be positive, spiritually renewing activities that can truly prepare one to better appreciate Holy Week and Easter Sunday this year. All it takes is your willingness to PRAY, FAST, GIVE ALMS! In fact this is a gospel imperative! (G) Jesus tells us to do these three very things. But to do them not to be noticed or to show off, but to want to sincerely improve your spiritual life! In a moment you will receive ashes on your forehead with the invitation to "turn away from sin and to be faithful to the gospel" – this gospel – this message – this imperative!

"Do Lent" for your own spiritual welfare and good, and you will find yourself wanting to share what spiritual goods you find in Lent with everyone, everywhere!

We will now have the blessing and distribution of ashes!

Homily – February 24, 2009 – Seventh Week in Ordinary Time - Tuesday

Our first reading from the Book of Sirach is one of those classic comforting scriptures: the kind of verses that say so much in so little space. It speaks of those who come to serve the Lord: those who do so in religious life; but also, everyone who comes to be baptized and thus chooses to live a religious kind of life thereafter, as well: when you come to serve him: stand in justice and fear and prepare yourselves for trials. These three elements are a must for anyone who wants to be a true disciple! Be sincere of heart and steadfast, incline your ear and receive the word of understanding, undisturbed in time of adversity. Wait on God, with patience, cling to him, forsake him not; thus will you be wise in all your ways. What soaring and magnificent sentiments! Accept whatever befalls you; when sorrowful, be steadfast, and in crushing misfortune be patient; for in fire gold and silver are tested, and worthy people in the crucible of humiliation. Trust God and God will help you; trust in him, and he will direct your way; keep his fear and grow old therein.

We must fear the Lord – after all he is God – and we are creatures! Fear the Lord, wait for his mercy! Fear the Lord, trust him and your reward will not be lost. Fear him, hope for good things, for lasting joy and mercy. Fear him, love him and your hearts will be enlightened.

Study the generations past and understand: has anyone hoped in the Lord and been disappointed? Has anyone persevered in his commandments and been forsaken? has anyone called upon him and been rebuffed?

Compassionate and merciful is the Lord; he forgives sins, he saves in time of trouble and he is a protector to all who fear him rightly and seek him in truth!

The gospel passage today is really about how all this applies to Jesus himself (and us). Jesus, as a son of Adam (one of us), in all things except sin, stood always in justice and fear of God, his Father! Even though Jesus was himself God, he respected his Father ultimately and in a supremely healthy way "feared to say or do anything" that would separate him from God's love! Although this would not happen – the possibility of it happening would have to be there if Jesus was to be truly human as we are human!

Jesus then, kept his entire focus on God his Father so that when adversity came to him he was not forsaken – even the crushing misfortune of the Crucifixion. As gold and silver is tested in fire – so was Jesus in mental agony and physical pain and suffering. Yet, because Jesus trusted God his Father absolutely and completely – in due time – everything worked out splendidly. He was rewarded with newness of life at his resurrection (of which those in the gospel passage still had no idea as to what it was to be all about); and he accomplished by dying on the cross the forgiveness of our sins and a share for us in resurrected life!

When we commit our lives to the Lord, as Jesus did, he will help us, as he helped Jesus – and Jesus himself and their Holy Spirit will come to our aid as often as we need: all we need to do is to ask them to come!

Homily – February 23, 2009 – St. Polycarp

St. Polycarp was a very influential bishop and martyr of the early Church – the very early Church. He was the bishop of Smyrna, and a disciple of the apostles. He accompanied St. Ignatius of Antioch to Rome to confer with Pope Anicetus concerning the date of the celebration of Easter. It was decided then, way back, that for the Western Church Easter would be the first Sunday following the first full moon of Spring; the Eastern Church would follow the Julian calendar and celebrate Easter a few weeks after that.

The story of Polycarp's martyrdom is amazing. His is the first clear accounting of this graced and heroic act called martyrdom. Martyrdom is a gift from God – a highly sought after prize in the Church. Polycarp was chosen by God for this gift which would be carried out by burning at the stake in the amphitheater in Smyrna in the year 155.

From the Office of Readings for today from an accounting of eye witness of his own "diocese" relating Polycarp's martyrdom, it says: Looking up to heaven, (Bishop Polycarp) said: "Lord, almighty God, Father of your beloved and blessed Son Jesus Christ, through whom we have come to the knowledge of yourself, God of angels, of power, of all creation, of all the race of saints who live in your sight, I bless you for judging me worthy of this day, this hour, so that in the company of the martyrs I may share the cup of Christ your anointed one, and so rise again to eternal life in soul and body, immortal through the power of the Holy Spirit. May I be received among the martyrs in your presence today as a rich and pleasing sacrifice. God of truth, stranger to falsehood, you have prepared this and revealed it to me and now you have fulfilled your promise…Amen."

When he has said "Amen" and finished the prayer, the officials lit the pyre. But when a great flame burst out, those of us privileged to see it witnessed a strange and wonderful thing. Indeed, we have been spared in order to tell the story to others. Like a ship's sail swelling in the wind, the flame became as it were a dome encircling the martyr's body. Surrounded by the fire, his body was like bread that is baked, or gold and silver white-hot in a furnace, not like flesh that has been burnt. So sweet a fragrance came to us that it was like that of burning incense or some other costly and sweet-smelling perfume.

In the first reading today from the Book of Revelation we hear what was written to the Church of Smyrna – Polycarp's own Smyrna: Don't be afraid of anything you are going to suffer. Remain faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. As Polycarp remained faithful until the kind of death prepared for him by God, may we be remain faithful until the kind of death the same God has prepared for us! Then our death will be as a sweet fragrance of burning incense and costly perfume.

The gospel passage reminds us that Jesus experienced firsthand everything that he expects us to share in to some degree. As he was persecuted, so must we be so that we can share his life and glory with him in heaven forever!

Be true to your faith until death, and I will give you the crown of life!

Homily – February 22, 2009 – Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Season of Lent begins this coming Wednesday – Ash Wednesday. This Liturgical Year of Grace is moving right along! And in the light of the Advent and Christmas Season that we have just celebrated, and the Sundays in Ordinary Time that we will suspend for several weeks beginning today, with its practical applications of the coming to earth of Jesus – we will now enter into two seasons which highlight the main point, the main reason why Jesus came to us, from the right hand of the Father: to FORGIVE SIN and to CONQUER DEATH so that we might have everlasting life. Unless we are very clear about these two things then we have missed the whole point of the Incarnation: the Word of God becoming Flesh: God's Friendship Becoming Man: Jesus coming to earth at Christmas.

And so for the next weeks of Lent you will hear in the readings and in the homilies about SIN and DEATH; the FORGIVENESS of sin and the TRANSFORMATION of death into eternal life! This leading up to the events of Holy Week, but also, to a Communal Service of Penance (Confession) to be held in conjunction with St. Mary's Parish in Bath at St. Mary's on Sunday, March 29 at 6:30pm. Fr. Rice, myself, and the Marists Frs. Ed and Andy will be there to celebrate God's immediate and direct forgiveness of your sins with you! By then, I am in hopes that many of you will find the need to attend. Some of you may have never even been to such a service – they are quite soothing and powerful indeed! As part of the "Friends Helping Friends" Program here at St. Ambrose there will be "carpooling" available on that night from here to St. Mary's.

Today, then, let our first lesson on the Lenten theme of Forgiveness and Life be this: sin is what we think and what we say and what we do that we ought not to have thought or said or done (both of serious and less serious matter); it is also thoughts and words and deeds that we don't do; that we omit, that we writ- off as "does not apply to me," – again both of serious and less serious content. We sin by doing and by not-doing! And understood properly everyone sins, everyday! In the Book of Job we read: "even a virtuous man sins seven times a day!" Now this is not to be morbid – or overly analytical – or pessimistic – but I relate this simply to encourage you to have your "sin radar" up and running at all times: so you can steer yourself back on to the middle of the highway of spiritual health and life if you should veer to the left or the right! With practice it can become easier and easier to stay on track!

Now about sin:

Taken from the first reading today from the Prophet Isaiah: God is speaking: "It is I, I, who wipe out, for my own sake, your offenses, your sins I remember no more." God does not like it when the relationship of friendship that he established with us is broken by sin! He wants us to be his friend – so for his own sake he wipes out our offenses and our sins – so that we can begin again! He also does it for our sakes – so that we can be forgiven, so that we can be healed, that we can be truly divine friends of his again!

The "Alleluia" verse today reminds us that Jesus is the one whom the Lord (God the Father) sent to bring glad tiding to the poor, and to proclaim liberty to captives: those who were enslaved and captured by sin! This is great news!

The second reading today from the Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians assures us that the promise God made to Noah – and indeed all the promises he made to mankind are always in effect! They are always "Yes." God does not change his mind – he is not "Yes" one minute and "No" the next – he is always "Yes" – in fact Jesus is "God's YES made Flesh!" When we see and hear Jesus we see and hear God keeping his word, his promise to have mercy on us, to forgive us our sins and to bring us to everlasting life! This is very hopeful and very comforting to know! God / Jesus is always on our side – always doing everything they can to refresh, renew and restore us in Divine Friendship with them!

The gospel passage, of course is the classic story, of Jesus ability and power – his "Yes" which cures both disease and illness, and which also forgives sin! He told the paralytic to
rise and walk – for his sins were forgiven! Thereby Jesus displayed a double power – over the natural world and the supernatural world! And everyone who saw and heard this was astounded that he could not only heal physically, but also spiritually!

Jesus wants to be our "Yes" too – not only over our sins, but also over our diseases – and so on the 4^th Sunday of Lent (March 22) – "Rejoice Sunday," the first Sunday of Spring, we will have a healing service involving the anointing of the sick right here at Mass - with the "Oil of the Sick" blessed by the bishop! Keep this in mind so you can invite people to come and you can pray for an increase in faith – an increase of your "Yes" – so that those receiving that sacrament will get the full benefit of it. You will hear more about this at a later time. Those eligible to receive the sacrament are the elderly, the infirm, and those of any age suffering from any kind of illness of mind, body or spirit!

Lord, our God, heal us – for we have sinned against you – but we come before you with minds full of "YES" and hearts full of faith and love! Have mercy on us! Amen!

Homily – February 21, 2009 – St. Peter Damian

Saint Peter Damian was born at Ravenna in Italy in the year 1007. After completing his studies he became a priest and began to teach, but soon abandoned this and entered the hermitage of Fonte Avellana where, once elected prior, he promoted the religious life with such fervor that all of Italy was affected by his renewal. During calamitous times, he helped the Roman Pontiffs through his works and writings and by various missions on behalf of Church reform. He was created bishop and cardinal of Ostia by Pope Stephen IX. Peter Damian died in 1072, and soon afterward was venerated as a saint. He was later named Doctor of the Church.

While Peter Damian was concerned with the reform of the clergy he can be a model for us today who are concerned about the reform of the Church as a whole, and as it stands in direct opposition to a worldly spirit that threatens the souls of the same people who comprise both arenas. The people of the Church are the people who live in the world.

When the people of the Church, living in the world, stop listening to sound doctrine (I) and follow their own desires and insatiable curiosities – then they will be diverted to myths – myths that can threaten the eternal salvation of souls. Many people of the Church are willing to do these things, in spite of the threat to their eternal salvation.

Peter Damian would fulfill his ministry as evangelist and teacher – were he alive today! He would proclaim God's word and be persistent whether convenient or inconvenient. He would convince, reprimand and encourage through all patience and teaching. The teaching authority of the Church these days needs to do the same thing: convince, reprimand and encourage through all patience and charity! It is so easy for Catholics living in the world to be taken in by the glitter, the glamour and the false sense of propriety that the "spirit of the evil one" still sows. He is subtle. He is cunning! He is also very patient! But he has already been defeated. He just doesn't know it yet! And some are risking the farm buying into his illusory power.

May we this day (II) – remain truly connected as branches to the vine who is Jesus – so that we may resist temptation, keep our sights clear, and courageously bear fruit as loved and loving disciples! We can make the world different, by being the same Catholics who have been around for millennia!

Remain in my love, says the Lord; whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit.

Homily – February 20, 2009 – Sixth Week in Ordinary Time - Friday

We have two amazing readings for Mass today! The gospel speaks of voluntarily not only accepting but also seeking the custom made cross that awaits us in life! It is the only means to salvation. It cannot be avoided if we wish to end up where we truly want to be – safe at last one day in the Father's kingdom.

Part of the cross – that apparently from the first reading – has been around for a very long time – is the inability of men and women to communicate successfully with one another: the Babel-syndrome! And again apparently this is God's doing: he knew that when we all "spoke the same language and understood each other well" – we misused this communication gift and sought our own glory – we sought to make our own tower to heaven – thus bypassing a need for God, his help and his forgiveness.

Perhaps it would be a good starting point these days to understand that in this life there will always be a communications rift – and that this is part of the cross that we all must bear. But we must also understand that there are a great many who still want to set themselves up as gods, seeing themselves as the architects of their own salvation both materially and spiritually; and there are also those who know the difference, those who understand the conflict and bear it patiently as a cross – those like Jesus, who compassionately and loving deal with those who are clearly off-target and try to draw them back by simple, direct, positive and compelling presentation of truth: the truth that is Jesus: the truth of his Gospel, the truth of his Life, the truth of his Ways! And Jesus and he alone can empower any he wishes to understand clearly and concisely what it is that he is saying! Jesus is greater than the Babel-syndrome!

Jesus will reveal to us all of the very mysteries of God – as we carry our crosses daily – so that we can know that we are his friends: he came to redeem us so that we can truly be his Divine Friends once again – experiencing the depths of what that relationship means! The language of Friendship, the language of love, the language of salvation is clear: SELF-SACRIFICIAL GIVING – even to the point of death!

Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own!

Homily – February 19, 2009 – Sixth Week in Ordinary Time - Thursday

The first reading today continues the story of God, Noah and the covenant he established with him. This is a kind of "re-creation" story – similar to the creation story in the earlier part of Genesis. God tells Noah and his family to be fertile and multiply and fill the earth. The animals would fear them and they would be subject to them. They were to eat green plants and meat of animals having no lifeblood within them.

Then he tells them something that has import for us today: for your own lifeblood, too, I shall demand an accounting; from every animal I will demand it, and from one man in regard to his fellow man I will demand an accounting for human life. If anyone sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has man been made. This spiritual law of God applies just as much in our own day as it did back in the days of Noah!

It would seem then that any form of homicide and murder is an abomination in the sight of God – and all of those involved in the abomination shall be accountable to God! This applies to all kinds of "killing" among people; this applies in a special way to the killing and premeditated murder by abortion of defenseless unborn children who reside in their mother's wombs. Any who have anything directly or indirectly to do with the continuance and availability of this heinous act will be liable to judgment before the throne of God on Judgment Day: this God promised in the first reading at Mass today!

To end on a positive note: the end of the passage tells us that there really can be a happy and productive relationship between God and his people! The new covenant of friendship is now placed within their hearts – and externally there is the sign of the rainbow to reassure all that God will be faithful to his promises – even should we not live up to our end of the deal! But we ought to be spending our days trying to live up to our end – trying to make decisions that support life, and love and caring! We have the power within us to stand on the right side now – we have the power of redemption within us since the day of our baptism – we have the power to say YES to life always!

The gospel passage shows us how Jesus is trying to prepare his disciples for the events of his suffering and death – as the price for our redemption, our salvation, our reconciliation to God the Father and the source of the power we need to live out our baptism and our YES to life. Though Peter calls him the "Christ" in the passage – Peter also immediately tries to talk him out of such suffering: his thinking was that it does not seem right that the Christ should have to suffer: why would God have to suffer? Peter obviously missed the whole point of the mission of Jesus at this time. But one day he would understand: after the Resurrection and the coming of the Spirit of power at Pentecost!

May we this day pray that God allow us to think more as he does, rather than as unredeemed human beings. There is so much depth and beauty to see from the bird's eye view of faith and hope!

From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth; he looks down and has pity, he hears our prayers, he adjusts our vision, he gives us strength to carry on!

Homily – February 18, 2009 – Sixth Week in Ordinary Time - Wednesday

Today we have a very timely and uplifting message: HOPE! The first reading from the Book of Genesis: the story of the ending of the flood and the new beginning for mankind – gives the clear message that there will always be the reality of hope no matter what evil things might stand in opposition to God and his will and ways. This passage makes it clear that God understands perfectly that "the desires of man's heart are evil from the start" (as a result of what happened that day in the Garden not so long before this) so he will never again "strike down all living beings" as he had done. Life will go one with "seedtime and harvest," "cold and heat," "summer and winter," "day and night." These will not cease and when you see these things – along with the rainbow - they can always be for you a sign of hope!

The gospel passage also gives us a message of hope. With the exercise of faith, spiritual blindness can be healed – faith itself can be increased – marvelous things can be accomplished. The reason that the man in the passage could not see things clearly immediately was not the Jesus made a mistake at first; no, it was because the faith of the man needed to be strengthened by practice and thus become effective through a "double-dose."

This means that we must "double-dose" our prayers of petition and praise sometimes in order for what we asked to be accomplished. Sometimes it takes not just faith to get the desired results; but strong faith.

Even if you have no one to pray for in particular – as was related in the first reading, there are still many people you can be praying for: for "the desires of man's heart are evil from the start!" This means that unless everyone constantly does his / her part to "reverse the curse" of evil – it would seem that the evil would be victorious by means of its subtle and cunning nature. We, with our faith – even our "double-doses" of faith - can pray for the conversion of mind and heart of those who are spiritually blind and subjects (even unbeknownst to them) of the evil one – especially those who hold responsibility over us in positions of authority!

May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of all hearts, that we may all come to know what is the HOPE that belongs to his call: the call he makes to all – men, and women and children everywhere!

Homily – February 17, 2009 – Seven Founders of the Order of Servites

Today we have the feast of the Seven Founders of the Servite Order – or Order of Friar Servants of Mary (O.S.M.). In the year 1233, seven well-to-do men of Florence, Italy, in response to the moral laxity of the time decided to gather in a house outside of Florence where they practiced a life of solitude, prayer and penance. Soon they were besieged with visitors and so they withdrew to the wilderness, where they built a simple church and hermitage. Visitors found them there as well. Some wanted to join them. At first they refused but under pressure from the bishop of Florence they began accepting some new members. They followed a basic rule of St. Augustine, with some Dominican influence. In time, they moderated their extremely austere lifestyle and became friars rather than monks, living in town rather than in monasteries. Sometimes it is better to mingle with those you are praying conversion for. They were canonized in 1887.

In every age in the Church God raises up men and women – outstanding in holiness, gifted in preaching and teaching and willing to go counter-cultural to the secular climate of the day! It was true in the 13^th century, it is true today!

The first reading gives us the true foundation of any work done for God: it comes from the action and working of the Holy Spirit – within individuals, and within groups of individuals. And it is by the inspiration and power of this Spirit that moral laxity can be counter pressured. Those especially dear to the Lord are those who give up everything in order to be able to become instruments of truth, justice, peace and love! You don't have to belong to a religious community to give yourself entirely to the Lord and his work – you just have to be willing to be used by him!

In the current time of great moral laxity and pervasive godlessness God needs willing co-workers to bring about a new culture of life and beauty and goodness and truth and justice. You and I can help – if we simply give him a nod – if we simply give him our lives to use as he would!

What do you say?

Taste and see the goodness of the Lord – as he comes to you – fills you – energizes you and sends you on your way on his behalf!

Homily – February 16, 2009 – Sixth Week in Ordinary Time - Monday

Jesus is frustrated with the Pharisees not because they are asking for a sign but because they fail to recognize the fact that he is the one true, grand, powerful and long-awaited sign himself! He keeps shaking his head in amazement at the thickness of their minds and hearts!

But the question for us is: are we any more informed than the Pharisees? Can we see signs of God's loving presence among us, especially in Jesus, and especially in his sacramental gifts to us, and special among those the greatest sign of all: the sign of his Eucharistic Presence. It takes FAITH to see all these spiritual realities for what they are. Obviously the Pharisees did not have faith; how strong is our faith today! Perhaps we can pray that God will allow it to become stronger – now - so that we don't miss even one sign of his tender loving care for us and others!

The story of Cain and Abel can be likened to the rejection of a sign as well! Brothers are meant to be signs to one another of their parents' love which created them in the first place. Eve said: I have produced a man with the help of the Lord. There is something mysterious and wonderful about each and every human creation! We are all signs of God's superabundant love – especially blood brothers and sisters!

Even when Cain rejected his brother's friendship in an act of jealousy – God did not demand his life – he would not allow him to 'be killed on sight." He actually gave him a "life-sentence" of thinking about what he had done – while having to work even harder than ever for what little produce he could forage from the land! There is justice! He was even given another brother to love – Seth!

Yes, we are our brother's keeper! We are here to help each other out along the way – and it would help if we were not jealous but rather joyful about the success of our brothers and sisters. We each have something to do that only we can do – when we do that well – no matter how much it compares in quantity or size with the works of others – then we are doing what is pleasing in God's sight and meritorious of everlasting life!

Offer to God a sacrifice of praise…and rejoice in the good fortune of your neighbor – then you will recognize God's gifts that surround us like never before!

Homily – February 15, 2009 – Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Commemorating World Marriage Day

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! All you married couples. Thank you, from God the Father; thank you, from God the Son; thank you, from God the Holy Spirit in whose name you began your marriage, however long ago, some of you right here in this very church building!

Thank you for reflecting and mirroring the Love that is God the Father; thank you for reflecting and mirroring the grace and mercy that comes from God the Son; thank you for reflecting and mirroring the life of communion of the Holy Spirit.

We thank you, and we look to you as a reliable and faithful sign of hope for us all in these difficult times that we find ourselves in as a nation among nations. Most everyone has felt and is feeling pressures in all aspects of life like never before – but we thank you, dear married couples, for your example and for your willingness to be like stars shining in a dark night!

But some of you are looking at me and saying: "Who us?" "How can we be those things for you?" "It sounds so very difficult!"

Actually, it's very simple:

(as you have probably already learned and can tell us through your own experience): SURRENDER TO GOD AND HIS WILL AND HE WILL DO EVERYTHING FOR YOU! [This is the real "compromise" that we hear so often about in marriage: compromise is not either side just "giving up" or "giving in" but it is BOTH SIDES "giving themselves, individually and as a couple , to God: his will and his way:" and then, solutions for any problem just seem to magically appear! – it's not really magic though: it is the workings of grace!]

Yes, the very real power of the Holy Spirit that is constantly available in any sacramental marriage enables the surrendering to God, and the happy outcome of rather difficult situations!

The readings today – at first glance – seem to have little to do with marriage: they are about lepers and leprosy! But, on closer inspection – they may have something to do with marriage after all! They may have something to do with the "uninvited guest" that shows up at every wedding, and stays well into any couple's marriage and family life; the guest that brings disease of sorts to the beauty, dignity and integrity of married life.

This can happen internally in marriages and family life; or it can come from the outside as a general intrusion on married and family life as an institution, as a whole! There will always be tests of the freedom, totality, fidelity and fruitfulness that are of the essence of married life: God and you, if you stop to think about it, really would not want it to be any other way: married people have to consciously and generously give themselves to marriage again and again every day: say "I do" again and again every day– and thus earn their way to heaven. But in our day there is also a very large threat from the outside to the very stability and integrity of the institution of marriage and family life itself: the aggressive notion that the laws of God, the laws of marriage, the laws of family life can be arbitrarily modified, changed and rewritten because "God must have gotten it wrong!" God does not get things wrong, but we can!

The good news – the gospel Good News – is that Jesus has the power to cure leprosy. He has the power to heal parts of a marriage that may have become infected with it; he has the preventative power to stop misguided notions of marriage from ever taking hold, taking root! But he can't do it without you: without your faith and belief that he can do it; without your active prayer for it to happen; without your active participation in a healthy marriage; without your active stance against those who oppose the original family concept!

The second reading today tells us to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus thus giving glory to God the Father! If all you do in your married and family life is run through this simple filter: then your family life, your life in your parish, your life in society and your life in your country – will be that much stronger and that much more protected from uninvited guests – until we are all safe in the heavenly wedding feast of the Lamb to which we are all invited! And there, if you don't have your wedding garment on you won't get in! Yes, our goal, as church: as bride of Christ, is to be married one day to the Groom – the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world! The Cross reminds us of the price he paid to marry us! What takes place on the altar is a very real sign of that heavenly banquet! and our response of gratitude, of love and of service to our fellow men and women – beginning with our spouses and our own families - will reach its fullness one day in the Kingdom!

Yes, thank you, married couples, for being willing to be a sign of all of these mysterious things that are here now and are yet to come…

Homily – February 14, 2009 – Sts. Cyril and Methodius

We are celebrating today the feast of the great Slavic saints Cyril and his real life brother Methodius. They were born in Thessalonica and educated in Constantinople. Cyril then accompanied his brother Methodius to Moravia to preach the faith. They both prepared Slavic liturgical texts in what would become known as the Cyrillic alphabet. Both were summoned to Rome, where Cyril died on February 14, 869, which Methodius was consecrated bishop and sent to Pannonia where he tirelessly preached the Gospel. Though suffering much from detractors, he received assistance from the Roman Pontiffs. Methodius died on April 6, 885 in Velehrad, Czechoslovakia.

Cyril and Methodius were to the Slavic people exactly what Paul was like to the Gentiles at large: a bright light shining for them in the darkness of their lives! All three offered the Light of Christ himself to those who so desperately needed it! Faithful to their missions – these workers of the Lord did much to make the kingdom of God grow on earth as a preparation for its fulfillment one day in heaven!

The gospel passage tells of good advice that Jesus gives all of his helpers: travel as lightly as possible, keep your mind and your heart on the goal (me), and offer "peace" (my peace, not yours) wherever you go! Preach the arrival of the kingdom, cure the sick and eat what they put before you! This was it – for the true priest and bishop!

May we pray today that bishops and priests be faithful to their simple calling to be heralds of the kingdom – nothing more and nothing less! And may the people they bring their message to receive them well – and feed them well for a job well done! The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings!

Homily – February 13, 2009 – Fifth Week in Ordinary Time - Friday

Jesus can literally make the deaf to hear and the mute to speak. But even moreso he can offer healing to those who have consciously turned a deaf ear to God speaking, and he can open the mouths of those who use their voices to criticize others and tear people down and allow them to speak not only well of others but speak the praises of God as well! The praises of God spoken by anyone are only as authentic and genuine as the words of encouragement they use in dealing with other people!

The first reading from Genesis tells of the dastardly deed itself: the great act of disobedience that changed everything forever, for everyone – who made it a sport now to tear down and disregard the dignity of other people: the eating of the very real apple! What is so sad about this story is the trickery of the devil that our first parents fell for. They were so gullible. Adam and Eve were already "like gods" – they were created in God's image and likeness! They were persons of great dignity filled with the glory of God himself. And, in God's original plan – while always preserving their right to choose good from evil – because he gave them free-will – he did not want to burden them with a great amount of "homework" of keeping track of knowledge of good and evil. Their main job in life was therefore to respond freely, totally, faithfully and fruitfully to his love for them: this and nothing more!

So, he gave them boundaries and said, "Don't cross this boundary. Don't eat these apples! or you will die!" He meant "die spiritually and physically" – but the devil twisted this around and took out the "spiritual" part. "You shall not die," said the devil to them. So they took and ate the apple: they did not die, physically yet, but soon they would; however they did die spiritually. The result was they lost their confidence in God and each other – they realized they were naked and they tried to hide from each other and God.

All of their descendants were born into the world with this "spiritual death" – with the millions of ways in which it manifests itself - clutching their souls! And it was only Christ Jesus (Son of God and Son of Adam/Man) whose own voluntary death on a Cross who would be able to reconcile the situation and give us once again the freedom of the children of God – the freedom of the redeemed sons and daughters of Adam!

It is really quite wonderful: this spiritual healing Jesus manifested and foreshadowed in many ways in his public ministry – especially as we see how easily he heals a deaf mute in the gospel passage!

Many today are still spiritually deaf-mutes! If we are among them – even after our baptism – may we this day cry out to the Lord for a renewal of our healing and give him our pledge that we will do all we can to keep our ears and our mouths open to in all things proclaim the glory of God and his willingness to help all his people of good will!

Open our hearts, O Lord, to listen to the words of your Son.

Homily – February 12, 2009 – Fifth Week in Ordinary Time - Thursday

The first reading today is one of the most profound in all of Scripture – and is therefore the subject of much misinterpretation and misunderstanding. Unless one uses the filter of faith and the eyeglasses of "church-view" then it seems just a fantastic story – but with no real depth or meaning!

What amazes me is that just yesterday I had written a short theological piece on this very topic – the Spirit always gives me what I need when I need it! I suppose then the message of it is in part meant for you.

Now, follow me through this explanation – stay with me on this one: Scripturally we read that "God created man" – we read this today. God created "man," God created "Adam" – "Adam" means "man." But then it goes on to say that he created them "male" and "female." This "them" then still apparently refers to "the man" – the one "Adam." The complementarity of the sexes then, "maleness" and "femaleness" is but a manifestation of the single reality of being human: being "man," being "Adam," – in the theological usage of the term.

This is an enormously important concept and point of departure! For, in order to redeem both "males and female" Jesus would have to become both of us. Since he could not be born both male and female he was born simply "man" a composite of maleness and femaleness in the theological sense, and male in the biological sense. In this way females have equal status with males as far as redemption goes. Jesus identified with women not by being born a male, but by being born "man" in the theological sense. Thus we say in the creed: for us men and for our salvation he became incarnate of the Virgin Mary. The "men" is the theological umbrella term for the "male/female composite!" And which is it easier to say: "male/female composites" or simply "men!"

Thus we must be very careful in our rush for gender equality within the Church not to "throw out the theology with the bathwater!" Some things, of course, are subject to revision like the inclusiveness of women in certain ways – such as addressing scriptural letters to "brothers and sisters" and the like. But it is not a good idea – and it is tampering with thousands of years of theological revelation, development and underpinning to change the theological meaning of terms in prayers and proclamations of the church!

When we come inside the doors of our churches we must expect to see and hear things differently – or else why would we even come in here. It is here that we hear "ordinary" words used in "extraordinary" ways. Therefore, the words: "man" and "men" mean something different in here! May we always be willing to hear them and interpret them, in here, as prescribed by the church! So much richness, depth and comprehension is missing if we do not!

Even the words of the story about Jesus testing the woman's faith in the gospel passage today: by calling her a dog – is readily and easily understandable in the context of this church building. These words mean that Jesus is proclaiming that his gift of redemption is first for the Jewish people, but that they are also available for any who have faith – even the Gentiles. Thank God this is so: we are Gentiles: we are the dogs! In this context I would gladly be a puppy sleeping nightly at the feet of Jesus!

Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls!

Homily – February 11, 2009 – Our Lady of Lourdes

One of the first recollections I have of a Catholic motion picture was the 1943 classic "The Song of Bernadette." Though it was made five years before I was born – it certainly reflected the state of the Church at the time; and the impact of the appearance of our Blessed Mother at Lourdes to Bernadette Soubrious on the hearts of the faithful everywhere. This movie was an important supplement to the Catholic education I was receiving during those early years of my life. My reaction was that all of this was absolutely believable – and indeed a matter of faith! The line at the end of the movie is a spiritual classic: For those without faith no explanation is possible (for the occurrences at Lourdes); for those with faith, no explanation is necessary!

This is exactly how we each this day are invited to live our lives – right here and now – with faith, with hope, with absolute trust in God. In this way: the things of faith and the Church need no explanation; and the things of the world are much more transparent and able to be seen for what they are – sometimes helpful, sometimes specious. For those in the world, however, there will always then be a chasm that only faith can cross! No explanation is possible in a lot of areas even of common sense, and natural ethics. But this does not mean that those of faith: the faith of the Church: cannot illumine the way for those in the world by word and by example.

Bernadette did not give up proclaiming and doing what Mary asked her to do! For if it was Mary's will, then it was also God's will – she would not want anything else or less for us. So we must not give up! Jesus turned water into wine at the request of his mother; he can also do many amazing things at her request for us also! We then need to listen to him and to her!

I received a note yesterday from someone who recently heard that Mary has requested us to do something: "Fall in love with eternity!" The overflowing river of peace of the first reading today – that God wants to saturate all of us with – lies in eternity – it is part of the great eternal reward for a life on earth well lived! May we achieve that peace, by falling in love with eternity – and keeping its reality in the front of our consciousness – so that it can be our hope as we await the time of its arrival – especially in the darkness of the days that seem to surround us at this particular time!

Mary said to the servants: Do whatever he tells you! May we do today, Mary, whatever Jesus tells us – and strengthened by the food of the Eucharist may we be able to make a difference in the world in which we find ourselves!

Homily – February 10, 2009 – St. Scholastica

The story of the meeting St. Scholastica and St. Benedict, in a location away from her convent and his monastery, for spiritual discussion is quite a famous meeting. They, of course were real life brother and sister, as well as brother and sister in the "school of St. Benedict." They met therefore in a small room near Monte Cassino – the very first Benedictine Monastery – because according to the rule – women were not allowed in the monastery.

The story goes that when after a moderate amount of time was spent together, Benedict announced that he would have to be getting back to the monastery, Scholastica begged him to stay for further discussion. When he replied negatively she bowed her head and prayed. Suddenly a violent thunderstorm arose and Benedict was unable to leave; they spent the night, then, discussing the joys of heaven! Three days later Scholastica died, and in his cell, Benedict is said to have seen her soul rise to heaven in the form of a dove!

What is a very important lesson for us today from all this is that "spiritual discussions" are needed more than ever! and at least one of them, if not more of them, ought to be very specifically: "The Joys of Heaven!"

I just received a note from someone today relating that the Blessed Mother has recently revealed a message which said: "Fall in love with eternity!" – and how can we fall in love with it, unless we learn more about it, and discuss it!

As Benedict and Scholastica knew, and as we come to know through "Catholic Education," earth with its trials and tribulations (and some small happinesses) truly is only our temporary home and that heaven and its never-ending experience of deep and real joy and contentment is not only a dream – but it is a reality waiting for us! Yes, the joys of heaven are meant for us too – and it would do us all a lot of good "to talk it up" about them as much as we can.

We can learn a great deal about these joys from many who are experiencing them now – beginning at the feet of Jesus – just as Mary did in the gospel passage. Perhaps Jesus was telling Mary about the "joys of the heavenly kingdom" right in the gospel passage today. But, Mary, the Mother of God, who lives now with Jesus in that kingdom, and all of the saints, even our relatives who have gone before us can also influence our thoughts, through prayer and discussion, and tell us that these joys are real, they are worth the effort in learning about them, and they will be beyond our wildest imaginings once we finally experience them like they do!

The joys of heaven are really the joys of love! Not even death itself can tamper with them. If we set a seal of love on our heart – then flames or floods will not be able to sweep love away, sweep joy away, sweep our place in heaven away! This God has promised! and thus shall it be!

St. Benedict, St. Scholastica pray for us today! Help us to "fall in love with eternity!"

Homily – February 10, 2009 – St. Scholastica

The story of the meeting St. Scholastica and St. Benedict, in a location away from her convent and his monastery, for spiritual discussion is quite a famous meeting. They, of course were real life brother and sister, as well as brother and sister in the "school of St. Benedict." They met therefore in a small room near Monte Cassino – the very first Benedictine Monastery – because according to the rule – women were not allowed in the monastery.

The story goes that when after a moderate amount of time was spent together, Benedict announced that he would have to be getting back to the monastery, Scholastica begged him to stay for further discussion. When he replied negatively she bowed her head and prayed. Suddenly a violent thunderstorm arose and Benedict was unable to leave; they spent the night, then, discussing the joys of heaven! Three days later Scholastica died, and in his cell, Benedict is said to have seen her soul rise to heaven in the form of a dove!

What is a very important lesson for us today from all this is that "spiritual discussions" are needed more than ever! and at least one of them, if not more of them, ought to be very specifically: "The Joys of Heaven!"

I just received a note from someone today relating that the Blessed Mother has recently revealed a message which said: "Fall in love with eternity!" – and how can we fall in love with it, unless we learn more about it, and discuss it!

As Benedict and Scholastica knew, and as we come to know through "Catholic Education," earth with its trials and tribulations (and some small happinesses) truly is only our temporary home and that heaven and its never-ending experience of deep and real joy and contentment is not only a dream – but it is a reality waiting for us! Yes, the joys of heaven are meant for us too – and it would do us all a lot of good "to talk it up" about them as much as we can.

We can learn a great deal about these joys from many who are experiencing them now – beginning at the feet of Jesus – just as Mary did in the gospel passage. Perhaps Jesus was telling Mary about the "joys of the heavenly kingdom" right in the gospel passage today. But, Mary, the Mother of God, who lives now with Jesus in that kingdom, and all of the saints, even our relatives who have gone before us can also influence our thoughts, through prayer and discussion, and tell us that these joys are real, they are worth the effort in learning about them, and they will be beyond our wildest imaginings once we finally experience them like they do!

The joys of heaven are really the joys of love! Not even death itself can tamper with them. If we set a seal of love on our heart – then flames or floods will not be able to sweep love away, sweep joy away, sweep our place in heaven away! This God has promised! and thus shall it be!

St. Benedict, St. Scholastica pray for us today!

Homily - February 9, 2009 - Fifth Week In ordinary Time - Monday

It became very evident very early on that amazing healing power came forth from Jesus. It was unlike the other “faith-healers” of his day – it came from a different source, it came from a different love – it came directly from his person and that of his Father and the Holy Spirit. It was powerful and effective indeed.

That exact same power to heal is available today – and the same prerequisites are in place. Those who want to be healed need to “go to Jesus” – they need to reach out to him, in faith – they need to trust in his power to heal – and it will be granted to them: sometimes almost immediately, at other times, much more gradually; but always, in a way and time that is best for the one to be healed – whether it is for themselves or for someone for whom they are praying!

May we “go to Jesus” today with faith and trust – and believe that he can heal within us (and in those for whom we pray) that which needs healing so that we can be stellar instruments in his hands and the hands of his Father for the well-being of ourselves and of others – all others. He made us all to be his Friends, and Friends of one another. May we be that Communion of Friends this day – especially after receiving the Holy Bread of Friendship at this Mass.

Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom and cured every disease among the people.

Homily – February 8, 2009 – Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Last week we talked about "prophecy" and how God would always provide someone to speak directly, truthfully and honestly on his behalf – for the complete and total welfare – but most especially – the spiritual welfare of his own beloved People, his own beloved Friends.

Today, St. Paul tells the Corinthians that, in a sense, he has been called to continue and extend the Prophecy of Jesus, the One, True, Full and Last Prophet. In this context, "God's speaking through a man" is called "preaching the Gospel." Paul tells them that preaching is an obligation imposed on him (directly by Jesus – when he made him an Apostle and sent him to the Gentiles), and there is nothing about the preaching that is a matter of boasting for him. He takes credit for nothing. He is not doing it for money. He has been entrusted with a stewardship – God's precious gift of Truth-to-Tell! And woe to me if I do not preach as God intends!: these are Paul's words.

I, as an ordained priest, feel exactly as Paul does. Preaching is a primary duty imposed upon me by ordination itself. And woe to me if I do not preach as God intends. Now, God the Father apparently intends for you to hear TRUTH from me; that is why he sent Jesus, who sent Paul and the other Apostles who eventually sent Bishop Malone, who sent me to you! And if I carefully and prayerfully prepare my homilies – then you are hearing not my words, but rather TRUTH! I carefully and prayerfully prepare my homilies…

The TRUTH in today's gospel passage is that Jesus has power over demons: he can cast them out and help keep them out! In the world today there are many who are victims of these insidious varmints who crawl into the minds and hearts of innocent people and divert them from what they would otherwise know TRUTH and Goodness and Rightness to be! In the passage, Jesus went all over the region very easily and successfully driving out demons! Peace, calm, wholeness, balance – and right judgment, is restored for the healed people and they know that it is God who did the healing: through Jesus!

Demons lurk today! And Jesus still has power to drive them away, and to help keep them away - if he is asked; and if the askers are willing to show their gratitude by helping him carry the blessing and the healing to others!

The Freedom of Choice Act which President Obama promises to sign – take it from me – one who has been ordained to stand here and tell you TRUTH – is a demonic piece of legislation. It has everything to do with the "culture of death" and nothing at all to do with a sane, nurturing "culture of life!"

It is hard to fathom that some or even great numbers could be "pro-death!" What seems more likely is that great numbers are "pro-choice" – "God gave me free-will – I ought to be able to choose to do anything at all that I want to do!" This is true – BUT, the one who gave the free-will also gave a written manual on how to use it: it is called the Stone Tablets of the Ten Commandments. And one of them says: Thou shall not kill! To further help us use our free-will he also wrote another version of the law deep within our hearts: do unto others as you would have them do unto you! And fear me, as you love me, for I wrote all the laws – and I am your final Judge and Jury!

"Freedom to do whatever you like" is not freedom at all! Freedom to do what your "objectively informed mind" and your "deeply loved heart" tells you to do will lead you to "for-life-choices" every single time. St. Augustine put it this way: If you let yourself be loved by God totally and completely; and love him back with all you got; and you fear him because he will determine where you spend eternity – then you will always be free to do whatever you want: because it will always upbuild, nurture and be helpful to your neighbor, whoever they may be! This is the "freedom of the children of God" made possible for all once again by the Death and Resurrection of Jesus on the Cross. This is deep, true, lasting, objective and undebatable TRUTH!

I, and Bishop Malone, along with all of the Bishops of our country ask all of you to freely choose to make your voice heard to those who represent you in public office – and tell them that freedom is not freedom if it takes away anyone's freedom – especially the voice and freedom of an unborn child! Freedom is not freedom if it threatens to take away the rights of others to have affordable sectarian Catholic health care. Freedom is not freedom if it promotes a free-for-all mentality of "equality for death!" There is no equality for death!

Freedom is God's precious gift: FOR LIFE! always! and forever! world without end! Amen! TRUE FREEDOM ALWAYS CHOOSES LIFE!

Something that just happened on Friday in Florida makes explicitly clear what the signing of FOCA would actually encourage and condone and make perfectly legal: a teenage woman who sought an abortion in October, decided to give birth, but her physician falsified her medical records, then assigned a late term-abortion to unlicensed personnel who killed the baby immediately after it was born alive: while the mother watched! He has lost his license to practice medicine and is being charged with murder. Does any part of this scene have anything at all to do with freedom and life and responsibility and God? This is not reality TV, this is reality – and something can be done about it!

On the Judgment Day that is surely coming: Jesus – the one on the Cross – will ask each one of us directly: did you use your precious gift of free-will to do all you could for other people – to truly care for all their needs – most especially the tiniest and the smallest and the most defenseless of them all: my most favored and beloved brothers and sisters waiting in their mother's wombs for a chance to make a difference in the world? Such potential they had, such gifts they had, such an opportunity we have to do something about it NOW! Join me, if you choose to, in signing a postcard FOR LIFE! NOW!

Homily – February 7, 2009 – Fourth Week in Ordinary Time - Saturday

Jesus continues in his work among the people; his Apostles do their work as his helpers and Jesus encourages them now to come away with him for a while to rest in a deserted place. It is in the peace and quiet of a deserted, yet holy place that both Jesus and his Apostles could be refreshed and renewed in order to resume their work among God's vast throng of spiritually needy people: the sheep of God's flock! It is in the peace and quiet of a deserted yet holy oratory – wherever it may be - that we can be likewise refreshed and renewed to resume God's work as he assigns it to us among the people he places in our day! We must seek out that oratory for a few minutes, at least, each day!

The first reading today reminds us that all work actually comes from God the Father – who already has in mind how everything works together – and how everything is all supposed to work out! If we but ask his will and then trust that he will provide what is good, right and proper for us to do his will, this day, then he will provide exactly what we need to accomplish it! He will be pleased and he will get the glory – which is the whole purpose for all we do!

My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me! (They follow me into everlasting life!) Doing God's will today let us inch our way that much closer to our eternal dwelling place!

Hoy – February 6, 2009 – Fourth Week in Ordinary Time – Friday

It is comforting to know that among the things that are the same always is: Jesus Christ. The first reading from the Letter to the Hebrews tells us: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday; today, and forever." This is said in the context of a measure for living – Christian people ought always to live as though the Jesus of history was their very real and reliable companion: because he is. And so we must love continually, be hospitable, mindful of prisoners and the ill-treated as if we were imprisoned or ill-treated because we too "are in the body" – we too share their humanity.

Let married life be honored as it is given by God who authored it; let your life be free from love of money.
Be content with what you have. And do not worry: "I will never forsake you or abandon you." If you live this way – you will feel and experience the reality of the presence of Christ who does live now, forever; and who is the same always!

The gospel passage tells us of one who believed in Jesus, who was willing to live for Jesus and to die for him – his cousin, John the Baptist. In the martyrdom of St. John the Baptist we see the power and the presence of Christ and of his Spirit shining through human weakness in bearing witness to the realities of God and the glory of God the Father! We thank John for believing that he would enjoy a blessed tomorrow with his Lord, after enduring the trials of the day! The same can be true of us!

Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart, and yield a harvest through perseverance.

Homily – February 4, 2009 – Fourth Week in Ordinary Time - Wednesday

It would seem that everyone would want to identify with the gospel passage today, but not so much the first reading. The first reading talks of a disciplined approach to living out one's faith. Not many like the word "discipline." But without the discipline, without the training, without the correction, without the guidance not much real progress would ever be made. The Lord disciplines those he loves because he has work for them to do – that is not easy – but which is very doable – because he himself will help with the work!

The gospel passage tells about some of the work – some of the work that Jesus did – of preaching, teaching and curing the sick. But he seemed to have least success with those in his own hometown, those who knew him best from his youth! Jesus relates how difficult it is to do the real work of faith with people who cannot see beyond their own prejudices. This is where we can identify. Sometimes we too feel like our work is accepted by others, but not by those closest to us!

This ought not deter us from the disciple of doing the work! For we are answerable only to God for whether or not we did what we were assigned!

Lord, give us strength and courage in our day – no matter who ends up in our path! We have something positive to share with everyone: if only a smile and a friendly nod!

My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me!

Homily – February 3, 2009 – St. Blaise

St. Blaise was a 4^th century bishop, born in Armenia, who was martyred in the persecution of Licinius. Not much is known about his life, but there is one legend that tells of him saving the life of a boy with a fish bone caught in his throat. The boy's mother brought Blaise food and candles while he was imprisoned for his faith: thus we combine all this to have the custom of blessing throats with candles on the feast of St. Blaise: using the prayer: "Through the intercession of St. Blaise, Bishop of Martyr, may the Lord deliver you from all aliments of the throat and from every other evil."

Today's readings are well balanced: they speak both of boasting of affliction as well as laying hands on the sick and healing them! The exact extent and nature of any discomfort, disease, illness or affliction in our lives is really based on God's will. And we know that God either directly wills, or indirectly allows certain ills to befall us – both so that good can come from it.

One good is that we trust in his mercy, we cry out for his healing, and he grants it – sometimes pretty close to the way and time that we might want him to; another good is that the ill will be allowed to continue so that our trust in God may continue, uninterrupted, so that we may have a direct sharing in the Passion of Christ, so that we can have an even greater, more intense than other peoples', share one day in the life of resurrection that awaits us all!

God is steadfast in his love for us – and he will take care of us – he has promised and he will do it – all we need to do today is to trust, trust, TRUST in him and HIS WAYS!

Homily – February 2, 2009 – The Presentation of the Lord

On this Feast of the Purification of Mary and the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple we have a brief resummarization of the Christmas story. Jesus – the one foretold by all the prophets – did indeed come to this earth. He came as Son of God and Son of Mary in order to ransom us (from our sins) and open the gates of eternal life for us! He came to be the Great Light by which all in the world could see the validity and rightness of their actions: so that there would be no more sin – and there could be harmony and balance in life!

The first reading speaks of the future coming of the Messiah – who would one day "come to the temple" – the King of Glory! The second reading tells why he came – to identify with us completely in all things but sin – so that any experience in life that we have, especially of pain and suffering – and even sin – can be transformed into healing and forgiveness. The gospel passage relates the actual arrival at the Temple in Jerusalem – for the first time – of the great King of Kings – the Lord, God and Savior – who was but a tiny baby held in the arms of his holy mother and escorted by his faithful and entirely devoted foster-father! And it was Simeon who received him – who blessed God – and thanked God for letting his eyes behold this very Light who would make all the difference to all the nations! God kept his promise to Simeon – the Messiah would keep his promise to shine for us!

God promised us that Jesus could be our Light as well! The only catch is that we have to welcome the Light, and be willing to see what it reveals – and then do what we see needs to be done!

May we this day, once again, thank God, the almighty and loving Father – for providing for our spiritual needs so that one day we can live with him forever – with all of our brothers and sisters in his one great family of love!

Homily – February 1, 2009 – Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Last week we heard about the Prophet Jonah standing up in front of the people of Nineveh and telling them that they ought to reform their lives – because God was not pleased with the way they were handling them! These people listened to Jonah and God did not punish them – as he had every right to do. What parent would not punish a child in some way for directly disobeying fair and reasonable rules?

Today we hear again about prophecy! Prophecy, as we use it in church does not mean "fortunetelling" or "foretelling the future" – it means rather "speaking under the inspiration of God." After Moses delivered the Ten Commandments to the people of Israel (Reading I) - that he got from God on Mt. Sinai - the people still needed God to speak to them as directly as he possibly could - so that they could listen to him and obey him the best they could.

And so God promised Moses and the people that they would always have "prophets" (speakers who spoke what he wanted them to say) when they needed them to steer them the right direction – if they freely chose to listen! He would appoint several for them in the future (Jonah would be one of them, Jeremiah, Isaiah and many others) but the greatest and last of all would be Jesus Himself who would be God's very words made into a human being – he would be the fulfillment of Prophecy!

This is what Jesus is: "God's-words-in-human form" – even having a human voice – so that He (God the Father) could be heard speaking! Yes, God the Father always wants to make sure we stay on the path that will one day lead us back home to him!

The gospel passage tells us today of the power of Jesus' presence and his words! The people of Capernaum were astounded by the way he taught (used words) with authority – and not as their teachers and scribes who did not speak out of truth and experience as Jesus could. And the unclean spirits lurking in people were also aware of his power and presence and they were caused to speak out – thus proclaiming their lack of power when he was near! He easily told them to be quiet and to come out of a man (III) – and they did, but not very quietly!

Yes, Jesus was becoming known as one who had something to offer that no one else ever had! False prophets are more concerned about their own version of truth, their own life-style, their own way of doing everything. But Jesus had
real Truth, a different kind of Life-style and the
knowledge of how "to get people to there from here" – (to heaven from this temporary valley of tears).

St. Paul always has a difficult time dealing with the Corinthians – they are such a contrary bunch! Today (II) he has to remind them to keep focused on Jesus – whether their vocation is to be a husband or a wife, or a single person – keep your eyes and ears fixed on Jesus' speaking and loving you as your best of all possible Friend – and then do what he moves you to do for others! (Now Paul does say in the reading that since married life is so hectic, it is a bit more difficult to stay Jesus-focused – but he believes that is most assuredly possible – especially if the couple remembers that God is already a part of their sacramental marriage – the Holy Spirit is always there for them).

And so – for you - this day – if you hear his voice, harden not your hearts! Let it have an effect on you! Let it change you into what God has in mind for you to be!
And then do what he has in mind for you to do! And if you get the chance tell someone you know (who might not already know it) that Jesus really can make a difference in life – he can be like a light shining in a dark place; being his friend can be like moving from a land where everything seems dead – to a place where everything is alive and friendly and peaceful!

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts!