Epiphany (January 8, 2023)

Have you ever thought what could possibly have possessed very wise men to leave their homes and undertake a long, hard desert journey?

What was so special about this new “king of the Jews”? Everyone knew that Israel was under Roman occupation. Any Jewish king would be a mere puppet of the emperor. Why would news of a powerless king in a faraway land be so attractive? Perhaps the Holy Spirit was moving them, touching a sense of longing and hope and compelling them to investigate. These wise men, astrologers and interpreters of dreams clearly believed that they were being led to someone extraordinary.

What must have happened when they arrived where Joseph, Mary and the child were staying? Did they simply present their gifts and then hurry back to the East? I would imagine they stayed for a little while asking Joseph and Mary lots of questions, trying to find out what all these signs were about.

And Mary and Joseph had plenty of extraordinary happenings to tell them about – angels visiting, dreams, Scriptures foretelling their arrival. Even their gifts had been foretold. These men must have been thrilled to know that the longing in their hearts could be fulfilled in this little child! Mary and Joseph evangelized these wise men from the East.

Every one of us longs for a sense of meaning and purpose. All around us people are starving for answers, and the Holy Spirit may want to direct them to us, just as he directed the wise men to Mary and Joseph and the child. Like Joseph and Mary, all we have to do is share with them the ways that God has moved in us, the ways that God has shown us divine love. The Holy Spirit will take care of the rest.

As we begin a new year and celebrate the coming of the wise men to the home of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, let us reflect on the gifts we have received from our loving God - gifts far more valuable than gold, frankincense and myrrh. Then we will be well prepared for whoever may show up at our door this year.

Baptism of the Lord (January 9, 2023)

Today we complete the Church’s celebration of the unbelievable good news that God has fulfilled his promise to be Emmanuel - God with his people.

As we hear Matthew recount the baptism of Jesus, heaven and earth are joined together as the Spirit descends on Jesus and we hear the Father’s voice announce Jesus’ true identity: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

To help us understand the full meaning of the Father’s words, we have also heard the words of the prophet Isaiah. Jesus is the fulfillment of his prophecy. Jesus is the Servant, the Chosen One, on whom the Father’s favor rests. The Spirit of the Lord is upon him, and he will bring forth God’s justice to all the world.

The wonder of this revelation is that he will bring about this justice with meekness and gentleness, especially toward the downtrodden. Jesus will announce this good news of peace as he goes about going good and healing sinners. He will be light to the blind and freedom for those locked away in darkness. Anyone who reveres God and is willing to live as Jesus teaches can share in God’s gift of peace.

That’s the message we have received and the challenge we are offered by our baptism. Because Jesus wants us to share his very life, the Spirit of God has descended on us and dwells in us, and the Father speaks the same wonderful words to us that he spoke to Jesus: “You are my beloved son or daughter, with whom I am well pleased.”

Our Father has grasped us by the hand and he wants us to be the living signs of his continuing care for all his people, especially the downtrodden. We are to work each day for the victory of justice with great gentleness. In our own way, we are to bring light to anyone who is living in darkness.

Our Father wants to remind us at the beginning of each day: “You are my beloved son or daughter, with whom I am well pleased.” If we take the time to listen to his words each morning, they offer us direction for our day. As we listen, we can ask ourselves: how will I live today as the beloved son or daughter of God? How will I make it evident today that I am thankful that God is pleased with me?

God’s loving word to us has to be an uplifting start to our day! Let us take the time to listen.

Mary, Mother of God (January 1, 2023)

Today the Church celebrates Mary, the Mother of the Word made flesh.

In greeting Mary, the Mother of God, we are reminded that she is also our Mother, the Mother of all of us who form the Body of Christ.

As we just heard, the shepherds hurried to find Jesus with Mary and Joseph. Mary and the shepherds encourage us to join them in making known the message we have heard this Christmas: Jesus is God’s gift of peace; he shares with us the love of our heavenly Father.

As we begin a new year, our Mother Mary offers us a way to keep alive the peace and love we have been given in Jesus. As Luke told us, Mary kept all the things she experienced in her heart and reflected on them in prayer. She invites us to do the same.

The more we remain aware of the presence of God during the day, the more we will be able to see that all that happens each day is part of God’s loving plan for our holiness and salvation. God is with us, giving us the strength we need for whatever we have to do.

May 2023 be a year in which each of us grows in wisdom and knowledge. Like our Mother Mary, may the gift of God’s loving peace take root in our hearts so that we can bring God’s peace to others.

Holy Family (December 30, 2022)

What was it like to live with Jesus as he “grew in size and strength, filled with wisdom and grace?” We don’t know much about how the Holy Family lived, and yet the Church encourages us to live as they did. It would be easy to say, “I’m not able to be Jesus, or Mary, or Joseph.” The truth is: we are able to be like Jesus. We are baptized and we share the life of Jesus by grace. If we remember each day who we are by our baptism and ask God for the grace we need for the day and accept it, then we can live like the Holy Family.

Today’s scripture readings can help us to understand what that will mean. In today’s second reading, St. Paul offers us a model for good family relationships. Because God has chosen us and loved us, we are called to live in His love. God’s love in us will take many forms in our living together:

• living what St. Francis de Sales calls the “little virtues” gives a flavor to how we live with one another; showing heartfelt mercy, kindness, humility and meekness never grows old-fashioned.

• at other times, when our own idiosyncrasies, or those of others, show themselves, patience can lead us to “bear with one another lovingly.”

• even with the best of intentions, we can offend others or others can offend us. Remembering that the Lord has forgiven us often can help us to forgive one another from the heart.

Paul encourage us to wear love as an encompassing garment that perfects all the other virtues we try to practice. When we have learned to accept Jesus’ gift of peace in our own hearts, then we will want to share that peace with each other in any way we can. Thankfulness will lead us to live peacefully. Everything we say and do can be marked by our thankfulness. In this way, Jesus comes alive in us and through us He can touch everyone we live with.

All of us have lived long enough to know the personal effort it takes each day to let Jesus live in us. That’s why it’s important for us to come and be fed often at Eucharist and rededicate ourselves to living Jesus each day.

May our celebration of the Holy Family today be a gentle reminder that we too grow each day. We can grow is wisdom, knowledge and grace, as Jesus did. May our conscious efforts to grow today fill us with wisdom and grace. May we bring the love and peace of Jesus to all we meet, especially at home.

Midnight Mass: Christmas (December 24/25, 2022)

We have just heard the most important message we can ever hear. In the familiar story of the birth of Jesus, our God is telling us how much he loves us. It’s easy to get caught up in the scene we heard Luke paint for us. We wonder: God’s own Son has chosen to come among us as a tiny infant. We see his Mother binding him up in swaddling clothes and putting him in an animal-feeding trough.

There isn’t any room for the family in the traveler’s lodge. We are awed when an angel appears to the shepherds to tell them that the long-awaited Messiah-Savior has come. And we share their amazement when they hear that they will find him in a manger. We may even hear the angel chorus praising God: “Glory to God in high heaven.” We long to share the peace given to those on whom God’s favor rests.

Today’s reading from St. Paul brings us back to earth a little as he reminds us that there’s a purpose for this appearance of God’s grace - our salvation. This infant has come to sacrifice himself for us, to redeem us from unholy things, and cleanse a people who will be eager to do what is right. That’s you and me!

We have accepted the offer of God’s saving grace. Now we must allow ourselves to follow the lead of grace. That means rejecting godless ways and worldly desires, and living balanced, just and holy lives. In this way, we can confidently await our blessed hope - the coming again of our Savior to complete the kingdom.

Just as surely as Jesus came among us as an infant in a manger, he will come again with the fullness of salvation. We have nothing to fear. Jesus comes this night with tidings of great joy to be shared by all of us.

We have so much love to celebrate. As we make our way to the manger tonight (today), let us hold our heart in our hands as a gift for the Word made flesh. Jesus will take it and fill it with the fullness of his love and peace. Then he will return it to us as his gift, and ask us to share his gift of love and peace with everyone around us - within our families and among our relatives and friends. That sharing is the best gift we can give each other this Christmas.

Christmas Day (December 25, 2022)

The prologue of St. John’s Gospel which we just heard is quite a change from the familiar story of Jesus’ birth told by St. Luke, yet it is filled with its own beauty. As John tells it, “The Word became flesh, and made his dwelling among us.” He tells us that everything that has been created has been given life through the eternal Son of God, the Word. And now the Word chooses to become physically present in his creation so that he can show us the great love God has for us. God wants us to be his children and share his life - that’s why Jesus came!

There’s sadness in the story - when Jesus comes, some do not accept him. There is also joy! Those who do accept him are given “a share in his fullness, love following upon love.” We are able to “see his glory, the glory of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.”

As Oblates, the mystery of the incarnation has a special meaning. The Savior wants to become incarnate in each one of us. Jesus wants to live in us so that he can continue his mission – bringing his saving love and compassion to each person whose lives we touch. He comes to us in Eucharist each day to continue his transforming work in us, "giving us a share in his fullness, love following upon love."

We have good reason to shout with joy and break into song. The Savior has come to dwell in us.

As we make our way to the manger today, let us hold our heart in our hands as a gift for the Word made flesh. He will take it and fill it with the fullness of his love. Then he will return it to us as his gift and ask us to share his gift of love with everyone around us.

May the Lord bless our efforts today, and every day!

Fourth Sunday of Advent (December 18, 2022)

Isn't it sad that Ahaz refused to accept Isaiah’s invitation to ask God for a sign that he would fulfill his promise to save Jerusalem from an advancing enemy? But God's love for his people will not be thwarted by a fearful leader. Isaiah gives Ahaz a sign anyway: “The virgin will bear a son and name him Emmanuel.”

Centuries later, Matthew is inspired to recognize the unexpected depth of meaning in Isaiah's prophecy. An angel appears in Joseph's dream and encourages him not to be afraid to take his pregnant wife Mary into his home. Her child has been conceived through the Holy Spirit. And Joseph is to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. Jesus will truly be Emmanuel, God is with us.

Now all is ready for our celebrating the coming of our God among us in Jesus.

Our Advent longing and waiting takes on a heightened expectancy. The feast of Christmas is near.

But our Salesian/Oblate spirituality tells us that there is more for us. “God is with us” is why we live the way we do each day. God has loved us so deeply that he wants us to be living witnesses of his presence and love. Letting Jesus live in us as Emmanuel each day becomes our way of holiness and allows us to share his love with one another and with all we meet.

May our Advent expectancy lead us to be vibrant messengers of the truth: “God is with us” saving his people!

Come, Lord, and do not delay!

Third Sunday of Advent (December 11, 2022)

We have just heard Jesus tell John that he is the One whom God is sending to save his people. The evidence can be seen in the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy: the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk, the mute speak. The Israelites of old came back to Jerusalem singing after their exile; so too will those who are entering the kingdom now find joy and gladness when the kingdom is completed when Jesus comes again.

You and I have entered the kingdom through our baptism. We now share the expected joy of Jesus’ coming again to complete the kingdom.

But that time has not come yet; the kingdom is not complete. We have work to do to prepare for that day. St. James reminds us that there will be hardships in our working for the kingdom. He encourages us to be patient, keep our hearts firm. We heard him offer the example of the farmer who is patient, knowing that he must wait for the early and late rains – working and waiting for the seed to sprout.

We need to stay focused on our mission as we work. James reminds us that waiting could lead us to become unfocused and start complaining and grumbling. He tells us that this is a sure sign that we are not preparing for his coming. We can let petty quarrels and little inconveniences sidetrack us from working together patiently. We can forget that we are to bring Jesus’ compassionate mercy to one another as we strive to work together patiently to further the kingdom.

During these final days of Advent preparing, let us resolve to claim back our awareness of the presence of Jesus among us and continue to work patiently for his kingdom. Let us pray that Jesus may work through us during these days so that the blind may see, the deaf hear, the lame walk, and the mute speak. This can happen if you and I are open to letting Jesus work in us and through us. Jesus wants us to experience more deeply the joy and gladness he brings to all who work toward his coming again in glory.

Second Sunday of Advent (December 4, 2022)

We have just heard Isaiah announce to us that God will raise up a Messiah from the remnants of Jesse’s clan. The Spirit of God will give him all the gifts he needs to accomplish his mission. Justice and faithfulness will characterize his way of living. His concern will be for what is in peoples’ hearts, not for what they say or do. He will stand as a signal for all to see and follow.

John the Baptist enters history to prepare the way for the Messiah. We hear his familiar cry: “Reform your lives! The kingdom of God is at hand.” John’s baptism was to be a sign of life-long willingness to reform - to change whatever is needed in order to be open to the many ways the Lord will come.

John’s anger at the Pharisees who approached him to be baptized gives us reason to look into our own hearts. What evidence do we give each day that we are trying to repent - to change? We can’t afford to tell ourselves: I’ve been a faithful member of a faith community. I’ve spent years in ministry. That’s sign enough. Is it? The important question is: Am I open to changing any aspect of my life that may still get in the way of Jesus’ living in me more fully?

St. Paul offers us a place to look - the way we live in community. He tells us: “Welcome one another just as Christ has welcomed you for the glory of God.” We know how Christ has welcomed us with all our imperfections, and he has called us his brothers and sisters. Paul tells us that, when we are open to welcoming one another in that way, the God of steadfastness and encouragement will help us to live in harmony with one another, so that together we may glorify God our Father with one voice.

The Baptist reminds us that “every tree that is not fruitful will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” The fruitfulness of our lives depends on our continuing willingness to change attitudes and behaviors that do not reflect fully the love of God.

As we continue our Advent preparation, may each of us be open to the grace of continual repentance so that the Lord can come and live in us more fully.

God be praised!

First Sunday of Advent (November 27, 2022)

Today we begin the new Church year and the season of Advent - a time of devout and joyful expectation.

During these four weeks, we will prepare ourselves to celebrate the remembrance of Jesus’ first coming among us - when the Word took on human flesh in order to reconcile us to our Father. This remembrance will help us direct our minds and hearts as we await Jesus’ coming again as King, Judge and Savior.

This morning, the prophet Isaiah helps connect us to the longing of God’s people, Israel, who are in exile. Their prayer is a plea for God’s mercy, asking him to come again, as he had done in days gone by, and redeem his people with a display of his power and majesty. It’s easy for us to join the Israelites as they confess their sins and plead for salvation. Like them, we can acknowledge God as our Father; and, in great humility, open ourselves to be clay in the hands of the divine potter. In this way, we can become more and more the “work of his hands.”

Paul encourages us to focus our attention on the favor that God has bestowed on us in Christ Jesus. We have been called to fellowship Jesus, and he will strengthen us to the end.

The constant call of Advent is heard in today’s Gospel. If we are really aware of the favor of grace that God has given us in Jesus, then we want to “be constantly on the watch.” We need to “stay awake!” for Jesus is coming again at a time no one knows. And when he comes, we want to be found living faithfully the way that he has taught us and graced us to live.

Our longing for his coming is best shown in our willingness to be fresh clay in the hands of God, asking him to mold us more and more in the image of Jesus during this Advent season. Then we can say with devout and joyful expectation each day: “Come, Lord Jesus, come!”

May God be praised!

Christ the King (November 20, 2022)

In his letter to the Colossians, St. Paul reminds us that we have been made worthy to come into the kingdom of Jesus through his death on the cross and his rising to new life.

Jesus is the center of God’s plan of creation: “All were created through him, and for him. He is before all else that is.” Jesus is the “image of the invisible God,” an obvious reference to Adam’s creation in God’s image. Jesus, then, is the ideal human being; he shows us our real potential as human beings because of God’s great love.

Jesus is also the agent of redemption, the new creation. As he was the firstborn of all creatures, Jesus is also the firstborn from the dead. As all things were created in him, so he reconciles everything in his person. Today we acclaim him head of the Church and ruler of the universe.

The gospel reading reminds us that Jesus is King, and his throne is the cross. His kingship is one of love and sacrifice, not power and dominion.

While we join the Church in acclaiming Jesus as King, the Gospel reminds us that Jesus’ reign is ultimately exercised in the mind and heart of each believer. Like the thief on the cross, each of us must recognize Jesus in faith. Like him, our prayer at the moment of death can be: “Jesus, remember me when you enter upon your reign.” And Jesus, our redeemer and Lord, will respond with loving compassion: “This day you will be with me in paradise.”

But we have work to do now for the building up of Jesus’ kingdom. His kingdom is one of justice and peace for every person. Every person, regardless of race or creed or economic status, possesses dignity as an image of God. Everyone has a right and a responsibility to contribute his or her talents in the making of human society.

As faithful disciples of Jesus, you and I are asked to treat everyone with reverence and help them to recognize and respect their own dignity as an image of God. We can also make efforts to help transform our society to be more just and less violent.

May Jesus be King for us – the center of our hearts. May he transform us more completely in his image, so that we are better able to see his image in one another and in everyone we meet.

Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time (November 13, 2022)

As we approach the end of the Church year, the Scripture readings begin to call our attention to the end-times.

They remind us that Jesus came among us to inaugurate the kingdom of God. Through the sacrifice he offered on the cross, our sins have been forgiven and we have been reconciled with our Father. We have been given a share in Jesus’ new life and that makes us children of the kingdom of God who are journeying home to our Father’s house.

This Eucharist allows us to share in the one sacrifice of Jesus, to open ourselves once again to the grace of salvation, to reconcile ourselves more deeply with our Father and with one another, and to be nourished with the bread of life for our continuing journey home.

The word and sacrament we share here today can help us to keep our minds and hearts focused on Jesus and his words to us. That focus will enable us to avoid the agitation and anxiety many people around us experience as we hear talk of the end times. We hear many claims about special revelations concerning the end of the world. The apocalyptic message of the Scriptures has always raised these kinds of claims. They disturb many good people. Jesus tells us very clearly today: “By patient endurance you will save your lives.”

How should we deal with these times? First, it’s a time to be thankful. God’s plan of salvation is moving closer to its completion, as it does each day. It’s also a time for us to rededicate ourselves to living out our faith commitment more fully each day: praying for deeper faith in God’s continuing love for us and reflecting that love in the way we live with each other.

There’s really no reason for us to be afraid or become anxious about endings. We believe that the grace of salvation given to us in baptism, strengthened in us by confirmation, and nourished in us by Eucharist is leading us home to be with our Father. While death is an ending to our earthly existence, we already possess the gift of eternal life by God’s grace. Our only real end is to be with our God forever.

So let us take heart and patiently resolve to live each day with faith. Let us love our God with our whole being and love one another as Jesus has loved us. Our patient endurance will lead us to salvation. In this way, our journey home will be a safe and sure one.

Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time (November 6, 2022)

Today Jesus reminds us that there is life after death - a resurrected life that will transform our whole existence.

Belief in life after death affects the way we live here and now - as we heard recounted for us in today’s first reading from the Old Testament. Anyone who is baptized has been given a share in the very life of God, a life that does not end. When we choose to live by that grace, we choose to live and love as Jesus did.

Jesus is the model for graced human living, because he is both God and human. That is the gift we now share. He shows us how to live our new life in a way that gives witness to our dignity - a dignity that has been given to us by the merciful grace of God.

In today’s second reading, St. Paul summarizes how a believer lives - a believer’s life is a life ruled by God’s love and the constancy shown by Jesus. Jesus knew that his Father loved him. He returned this love by doing his Father’s will.

That is how we are urged to live - trusting in God’s love for us and making every effort to understand our Father’s will for us today and then choosing to do his will to the best of our ability. Living this way each day with the strength of God’s grace is how we can respond to the gift of God’s life within us. It also prepares us for the fullness of life promised us when we die.

St. Paul’s prayer can be our prayer: Lord Jesus, you have shown us our Father’s love for us. Console our hearts each day and strengthen them for every good work and word. May the life you share with us make us fully human and bring us to the fullness of life you have promised in heaven.

Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time (October 30, 2022)

Today’s reading from the Book of Wisdom is a profound poem that invites us to meditate on the nature of our God.

The poet is attracted to the seeming opposites he finds in God:

-  How can the Lord of all creation be so affectionately aware of the most insignificant part of creation?

-  How can God’s transcendence be so compatible with intimate mercy?

-  How can an all-powerful God urge sinners to return to God so patiently?

We heard Saint Paul encourage us to remember that the same loving God is bringing to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith in us. We have nothing to fear, even when we think of the coming of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. We are to be calm and hopeful in our vigilance, spending ourselves in loving and humble service to one another.

The story of Zacchaeus dramatizes the wonder of God’s love and mercy. The crowd is shocked when Jesus calls out to Zaccheus, “Come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.” Why would God’s favor be shown to a tax collector, an enemy of the people? We were told that Zacchaeus welcomed Jesus with joy and vowed to live justly.

We heard Jesus announce his reason for coming into the world, “I have come to seek and to save what was lost.” In the person of Jesus, the God spoken of so eloquently in the Book of Wisdom is present among his creation that he loves.

In Jesus, salvation has come to the house of Zaccheus. The same mercy of God has come to our house. Our God shows us our sins so that we can abandon them and accept Jesus as Savior. As Saint Francis de Sales reminds us, “Our sins are the throne of God’s mercy.” Think about what he is saying. God has chosen to meet us with His love in the most unlikely place: in our sins.

The Scriptures today are inviting us to reflect on the gracious mercy of our God made visible in Jesus. Jesus desires to stay in our sinful house today so that we can experience salvation.

May we welcome him with joy and allow Jesus to transform us ever more into children of our loving and merciful God.

Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time (October 30, 2022)

Today’s reading from the Book of Wisdom is a profound poem that invites us to meditate on the nature of our God.

The poet is attracted to the seeming opposites he finds in God:

• How can the Lord of all creation be so affectionately aware of the most insignificant part of creation?
• How can God’s transcendence be so compatible with intimate mercy?
• How can an all-powerful God urge sinners to return to God so patiently?

We heard St. Paul encourage us to remember that the same loving God is bringing to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith in us. We have nothing to fear, even when we think of the coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ. We are to be calm and hopeful in our vigilance, spending ourselves in loving and humble service to one another.

The story of Zacchaeus dramatizes the wonder of God’s love and mercy. The crowd is shocked when Jesus calls out to Zaccheus: “Come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.” Why would God’s favor be shown to a tax collector, an enemy of the people? We were told that Zacchaeus welcomed Jesus with joy and vowed to live justly.

We heard Jesus announce his reason for coming into the world: “I have come to seek and to save what was lost.” In the person of Jesus, the God spoken of so eloquently in the Book of Wisdom is present among his creation that he loves.

In Jesus, salvation has come to the house of Zaccheus. The same mercy of God has come to our house. Our God shows us our sins so that we can abandon them and accept Jesus as Savior. As St. Francis de Sales reminds us: “Our sins are the throne of God’s mercy.” Think about what he is saying. God has chosen to meet us with his love in the most unlikely place: in our sins.

The Scriptures today are inviting us to reflect on the gracious mercy of our God made visible in Jesus. Jesus desires to stay in our sinful house today so that we can experience salvation.

May we welcome him with joy and allow Jesus to transform us ever more into children of our loving and merciful God.

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (October 23, 202)

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (October 23, 202)

Today’s Gospel parable reminds us that we are justified only by the grace of God. God’s gift of grace can take root in us only when we have the humility to acknowledge our need because of our sins.

The Pharisee is a very good person. He has obeyed all the laws of God. His efforts have even gone beyond the law; he fasts twice a week and pays tithes on his whole income. There is much about him that we might admire. But Jesus wants us to focus on his attitude. The man sees himself as better than the rest of people. He’s proud of his goodness.

The tax collector approaches God at a distance. He is very aware of his sinfulness, his need for God’s mercy. We’re told that his humble prayer pierces the clouds and reaches the heart of God. God does not delay in responding. The tax collector went home justified – at peace with God who reads the heart.

Honesty and humility are very basic foundations for developing a deeper relationship with God. No matter how good we strive to be in our daily living, our eternal salvation is always a gift of God’s saving grace and mercy. When it comes to pleasing God, we must learn never to become self-sufficient. We cannot earn salvation no matter how much good we do. We can only accept saving grace with great humility and respond thankfully by doing the good we are able to do each day..

Let us willingly acknowledge our need for God’s mercy each day. We can be confident that God will hear our humble prayer. Our merciful God will always lift us up and send us home justified.

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (October 23, 2022)

Today’s Gospel parable reminds us that we are justified only by the grace of God. God’s gift of grace can take root in us only when we have the humility to acknowledge our need because of our sins.

The Pharisee is a very good person. He has obeyed all the laws of God. His efforts have even gone beyond the law; he fasts twice a week and pays tithes on his whole income. There is much about him that we might admire. But Jesus wants us to focus on his attitude. The man sees himself as better than the rest of people. He’s proud of his goodness.

The tax collector approaches God at a distance. He is very aware of his sinfulness, his need for God’s mercy. We’re told that his humble prayer pierces the clouds and reaches the heart of God. God does not delay in responding. The tax collector went home justified – at peace with God who reads the heart.

Honesty and humility are very basic foundations for developing a deeper relationship with God. No matter how good we strive to be in our daily living, our eternal salvation is always a gift of God’s saving grace and mercy. When it comes to pleasing God, we must learn never to become self-sufficient. We cannot earn salvation no matter how much good we do. We can only accept saving grace with great humility and respond thankfully by doing the good we are able to do each day..

Let us willingly acknowledge our need for God’s mercy each day. We can be confident that God will hear our humble prayer. Our merciful God will always lift us up and send us home justified.

Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time (October 16, 2022)

Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time (October 16, 2022)

You and I are the Church because of our baptism.

As our Holy Father has reminded us, we have a baptismal responsibility to participate in the worldwide missionary task of the Church. Half the people of the world have yet to hear of Jesus’ message of salvation. We have not been called to pack up and preach the Word in foreign lands. But we can participate in the missionary task.

We can pray daily for our brothers and sisters who have chosen to minister the Word around the world. Their task is often difficult; we can pray that they do not lose heart as they minister. We can also offer them financial assistance in their task. Many of the people they serve earn less than a dollar a day. These are our brothers and sisters in need - and we can help them.

The Scriptures today speak of perseverance - perseverance in the task of preaching the Word and perseverance in praying.

The image of Moses interceding for God’s people offers us some instruction about our community prayer. As Moses became weak and weary, Aaron and Hur held up his hands. Sometimes we come to community prayer weak and weary. The voices of our sisters help us to persevere in praying.

Listening to God’s word each day inspires us as we continue our baptismal commission to live and preach the Good News.

And what about our prayers of intercession? Do we believe that God cares enough to listen to us? Do we believe that God answers our prayers, even if it’s not always the answer we’re expecting? Or do we tend to lose heart after praying a few times?

Jesus’ question to his disciples in today’s Gospel is a question put to us: When I return, will I find you faithful, persevering? Or will I find that you have abandoned your trust in my love?

How we choose to live each day is the only answer we can give. May we pray each day for those who preach the Gospel throughout the world. And may we persevere each day, trusting in God’s love for us, and not losing heart.

Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time (October 9, 2022)

Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time (October 9, 2022)

The healing of the ten lepers is unique to Luke’s Gospel.

Lepers were outcasts of society because of their disease. These ten must have heard about Jesus because they risk approaching him and asking for a cure. Jesus tells them to go and show themselves to the priests so they could be certified as healthy. Then they could return to their families and friends. We’re told that on the way they were cured.

 Imagine how happy they must have been. They were outcasts no longer. Only one of them goes back to Jesus to thank him. Jesus’ words are filled with sadness:  “Were not all ten made whole? Where are the other nine?” But he turns his attention to the one who has returned to give thanks. He reminds him that faith has been his salvation. “Go your way” and nourish your newfound gift of faith.

 Many times, we can be like the lepers in the Gospel. We ask for healing or strength or grace. Often, we’re very aware that God has given us what we need at the time. Luke is asking us: what do you do when you have received your gift? Are you thankful? Do you nourish your newfound gift? Or do you keep returning and asking, never taking the time to be thankful?

 Often our thankfulness is shown by the way we nourish the gifts we have already received. We can nourish our gifts through faithful prayer, through Scripture reading, through accepting patiently all that God sends us each day. We can also nourish our gifts by reaching out to others who are suffering and offering them the comfort of our presence and care.

 It’s interesting that Jesus didn’t take back the healing he had given to the other nine. God’s faithfulness doesn’t change. Saint Paul’s hymn in today’s second reading reminds us of this truth: “If we have died with Jesus, we shall also live with him; if we hold out to the end, we shall also reign with him. But if we deny him, he will deny us; if we are unfaithful, we will still remain faithful, for he cannot deny himself.”

 Let us be thankful; our God is always faithful in caring for us.

Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (October 2, 2022)

Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (October 2, 2022)

Today’s Scripture readings ask us to look a little deeper into our faith. We just heard the disciples ask Jesus to increase their faith. He tells them that even a little faith has great power, because faith is ultimately a gift of God.

As Paul reminds Timothy, God has given us the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit who dwells in us makes us strong, loving and wise. Our response to the Spirit’s presence within us is to stir that gift into a flame for living.

Jesus’ parable in today’s Gospel reminds us that living out our faith commitment is our response to God’s gift.  God has gifted us beyond anything we could expect. No matter how long and how well we serve the Lord, we do not earn our way to heaven. All we can do is be grateful and show our gratitude by faithful service.

But faith demands trust. If we believe all that Jesus has told us about our God, then we must learn to trust that God’s love for us is never-ending. God loves us even in our sinfulness and he sent Jesus among us as a sign of his love for us. Jesus died and rose so that you and I can share his new life, the life of God (grace). That sharing is a gift we are freely given because God loves us. We can do nothing to earn it. All we can do is be thankful and love in return.

Trusting in God’s love means that we must learn to see everything that happens to us as part of God’s plan for our salvation. Everything that happens in life ultimately is meant to bring us to eternal union with God, even the hardships of daily striving to live as Jesus taught us. That’s the message God delivers through the prophet Habakkuk. Nothing that we encounter in this life can alter God’s final purpose for us. The prophet encourages us to be patient; God’s love for us will become clear. The person who trusts in God and lives by faith will have life to the full.

May we have the faith and trust needed to see the events of each day as coming from God’s hand. They are leading us toward eternal union with him. God’s Spirit is always with us; we have nothing to fear. Let us stir into flame each day the gift God has given us. Let us be thankful and trust in his providence for us.