Homily for the week of April 24, 2011

Easter Vigil and Sunday 2011

Acts 10:34a, 37-43

Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23

Col 3:1-4 or 1 Cor 5:6b-8

Lk 24: 13-35

Destructive earthquakes have been part of our world in the past year. As the people of Japan, New Zealand and Haiti slowly rebuild their lives after suffering the devastating effects of earthquakes, most of you may have missed the mention of an earthquake in the Bible reading I just finished. St. Matthew says And behold, there was a great earthquake. The early morning daybreak is shattered with “a great earthquake” echoing the description of the aftermath of the death of Jesus. Just after Jesus utters his final words and breathes his last, Matthew says, The earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many .

While the earthquakes of our day cause massive loss of life by entombing people in the rubble of collapsed buildings, the earthquakes in the Gospel have the opposite effect: they split open tombs and raise to new life those held in the grip of death. They signal tectonic shifts made possible for humankind through God’s action in Christ.

Foremost is the shift away from paralyzing fear to an empowering joy. The angel’s first words to the women are, “Do not be afraid!” . The centurion and those keeping watch over the crucified Jesus were terrified at the earthquake and what took place after his death, as were the guards at the tomb, who “were shaken with fear” so that they “became like dead men.”

Not so Jesus’ disciples. The angel directs them away from seeking Jesus the crucified so that they can experience him as risen. God’s messenger invites them to come and see the place where he lay but then directs them to go out quickly. They are not to stay in the place of death. They are not to build a monument to the martyr Jesus and glorify his death but rather to announce and live the new life that bursts forth from the empty grave.

The words DO NOT BE AFRAID are the same words that an angel told Joseph some 33 years before when Joseph was also confused when he found out his wife Mary was pregnant and wondered as to who might be the father.

Before His death Jesus did not lay out a clear path for our future or the future of the Catholic Church. The women did not know how the story of Easter was going to turn out as we do some 2011 years later. But the words DO NOT BE AFRAID gave them hope and comfort. The words inspired them to remain faithful to their faith and hopes about Jesus. It also encouraged them to move ahead with their own lives and to help spread the good news about Jesus. They told the male disciples to go to Galilee.

Harboring some fear, they follow the angel’s instructions and let joy overtake them. Then Jesus himself appears to them and reiterates his oft-repeated invitation to his disciples to let go the death-grip of fear. They can move from fear to joy, when they come to know that Jesus never abandons his earthquaked people and that he is able to transform even the most brutal effects of violence. It is not only in this one definitive act of raising the crucified Christ that God’s life-giving power is exercised, but in every act of forgiveness and in every move toward reconciliation enacted by Jesus’ disciples.

Easter is not only about what happened to Jesus but, to a great degree, it is about what happens to us as we live lives that are transformed by his rising. St. Paul speaks about Christians being so united with Christ that when he dies, we die with him. And when he is raised, so we too. We not only await final transformation but, every time we stand with the crucified peoples of our day, as did Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, the Risen One is alive in us as we break the hold of death-dealing powers even now.

On this Easter day Jesus offers us the same message of hope and comfort. He says to us DO NOT BE AFRAID. The problems in our personal lives, our church, our country and our world will not be solved overnight and disappear. Because of them, we, like the women at the tomb may well remain confused and discouraged. But the promise of Easter is that in the end life triumphs over death, good conquers evil, and hope overcomes despair. The message of the Risen Jesus this Easter, as on the first Easter, is one of hope and comfort. As the risen Jesus said to the women on their way to the tomb, so he says to us: DO NOT BE AFRAID. Let us rejoice as once again we say and sing alleluia after 40 days of silence.

Homily for the week of April 17, 2011

Palm Sunday 2011

Isaiah 50:4-7

Psalm 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24

Philippians 2:6-11

Matthew 14--27:66 or 27:11-54

Remembering is a word and thought that comes to us when we think about the life and death of a member of our family Today we remember another death. This person died violently, suddenly, but not senselessly. It is the death of Jesus Christ. To those who do not know or believe in Jesus, there is no respect since Jesus died as a criminal. But for believers, his death is at the heart of who we are as Catholics. He chose to die to make up for all of us. We just participated in a Bible reading of His last supper, his trial and then his death by crucifixion.

Each gospel reading in the past weekends heightens the dramatic tension of a story whose climax we have known since childhood. In most of these readings we had the feeling that sooner or later someone would plan to get rid of Jesus. The people he was talking to found no place in their heart for him. They throw stones at him. He escape by going across the Jordon river, the same place where he was Baptised as a young man. Jesus was accused of making himself greater than Abraham and the prophets. Indeed, he proclaimed himself to be God’s son.

Today and Good Friday are the only two times in the whole year when we participate in the bible readings. St. Matthew traces the way in which Christ fulfils the prophecies of the Old Testament. His gospel alone mentions Judas' death. Jesus' silence before Pilate and his burial in the tomb of the wealthy Joseph are fulfilment of words of Isaiah.

Pilate's question: WHAT IS TRUTH? reflects the distressing perplexity of a person who no longer knows who he is. Why did Pilate or Judas or some of the crowd behave the way they did? Why do we behave the way that we do? Basically, Pilate and his associates were afraid of Jesus. Fear can make us do a lot of things we should not do. Being afraid often controls our decisions. And fear can led to anger.

As we take a close look at today's Gospel we find that Every personality in it is influenced by fear in one form or another. Some fears are easily recognizable because they are the same ones that paralyze us at times.

Take a look at the characters.

Judas, fearing that he may be in the wrong ball game, betrays Christ only to experience a deep despair.

The disciples enjoy the final meal but are afraid of loss of status, and so begin jockeying for places at the front. Later, they have to face their fear of lasting commitment as they run away from suffering.

Pilate was afraid of losing power and prestige.

The established religious leaders were afraid of their positions being taken over by Jesus. this newcomer.

The crowds and the soldiers were afraid of going against public opinion. Many people were afraid of Jesus. They all tried to beat him into submission. They tried to destroy him so that their values and their way of life were no longer challenged.

As we go through Holy Week this year we need not fear because Jesus has taken away all fear for those who go to him. And if our faith in Jesus has not been strong enough for it to convince us of the love of Jesus, then Holy Week can also be a time for our own spiritual healing. Often we have sung a Catholic hymn BE NOT AFRAID. Be not afraid. I go before you always. Come follow me, and I will give you rest.

Palm branches are a reminder of Holy Week and the end of Lent. The palm branches that you will bring home with you serve as a symbol of life, hope and victory. This tradition goes back to the very early years of the Catholic Church. In the early afternoon Christians of Jerusalem would gather on the Mount of Olives for a rather lengthy reading of the Bible which lasted for hours!. As evening came they would process into Jerusalem carrying palm or olive branches. Christians began to believe that the blessed palm branches had great power. Like the crucifix that you display in your home, and ashes on Ash Wednesday, palm branches in your home says to visitors that you believe and you follow Jesus Christ.

Homily for the week of April 10, 2011

The Fifth Sunday in Lent, 2011

Ezekiel 37:12-14

Psalm 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8

Romans 8:8-11

John 11:1-45 or 11:3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45

During the past two weeks we have been reflecting on the image of water, of blindness, of light and of darkness. Specifically, we have considered water as it is used in Baptism. In past weeks we heard of the conversion of the woman who came to get water from the well where Jesus was, and of the blind man for whom Jesus gave back his sight through clay and a little water. And today we heard of the return to life of Lazarus who was dead.

Whether you have been a Catholic for many years or you are a young person Resurrection is a word and belief loaded with lots of questions. In the next two weeks we will hear a lot about Resurrection. Easter is about the Resurrection of Jesus who had been nailed to a cross. Baptism is about the Resurrection. If Jesus had not risen from his death there would be no St. James Church, no Catholic Churches, in fact no Christian Churches and religions. That Jesus died but also rose from his death is the basis of our Catholic faith. Our three readings today in one way or other describe resurrection.

The Resurrection of Jesus teaches us that death is not the end of life. Rather, death is the doorway into a new and eternal life. The life that we now live is not all there is, as some people claim. The pains and troubles of this life can be endured because we believe that something better is to come. If we believe that Jesus was raised after his death, then that motivates us to also believe the other things Jesus taught us. Our Christian faith stands or falls with the truth that Jesus rose from his death. Otherwise, Jesus would be a failed religious leader. He would be purely human. But it is also most important for us to believe that the Risen body of Jesus at Easter is not a resuscitated corpse but a completely new way of living for him. In the very same way our entry into heaven when we die will also be a completely new way of living for us.

For thousands of years people have imagined what this life after death would be like. The Bible does not give us detailed descriptions about this life, but it has hundreds of references to it. Over the centuries there has been no lack of books written by those who have claimed to have been there and come back. But a study of the Bible which is God’s word will give us all we need.

But the belief in Resurrection did not begin with Jesus. In the life of Jewish persons before Jesus, Resurrection grew into a picture of a new life and hope while the Jewish people were living in exile. Ezekiel tells us the story of Dry Bones in a field bleached by the sun. It is a picture of utter hopelessness. In whatever direction the Jews walked, lifeless bones filled the valleys. The Jews in Babylon had been dead in their faith. When they had left God they had nothing to hold on to. But Ezekiel sees his people’s dry bones coming to life again with flesh restored upon them. They will now see God with new eyes. These dry bones came back to life after God breathed on them. The people that seemed to be dead will come to life again.

The Gospel gives us the story of Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha who had died. We are told that Lazarus was bound from head to toe when he was taken out of the tomb. Jesus tells his sisters Martha and Mary: UNTIE HIM AND LET HIM GO. They untied Lazarus and he was given life again. What Jesus does for Lazarus, God will do for Jesus at Easter.

But the message of Jesus is not just for Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha. It is also important for us. In the middle of the account, Jesus declares: I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE. WHOEVER BELIEVES IN ME, EVEN IF HE DIES, WILL LIVE, AND EVERYONE WHO LIVES AND BELIEVES IN ME WILL NEVER DIE. Most of us may regard eternal life as something which begins only when we die. But for those who believe in Jesus eternal life has already begun. Who we are now is what we shall be forever. For us, as for Jesus, physical death is not a defeat. Rather, it is another step on our way to fulness in God.

Jesus spent quite a lot of time in Bethany with Mary, Martha and Lazarus. These were people who loved him. And people whom he loved. Undoubtedly, this helped Jesus to carry out the mission that God had given him. What is so striking about this miracle of raising Lazarus from death, is that it was right after this that the Sanhedrin made their decision to kill Jesus.

Getting life from the dry bones, and the restoring of life to Lazarus can in one sense be called conversion. For many conversion can mean changing from one religion to another. But in a more personal way it also means changing from one way of life to another.

Most persons who are honest with themselves will admit that at some time in their life they have gone through at least one conversion experience. They have finally gotten loose from the things that tied them up. They returned to God after being away from God and Jesus for years, or even for a short time. People who have gone through this experience mention that they often feel some inner sickness and even death in the process. They want more, and usually want to be closer to Jesus by practicing their religious faith again.

But all of us need conversion experiences in our life. That is one of the main purposes of Lent. We need to return to the Lord part of our faith that has become weak or taken for granted. These could be spiritual and personal inconsistencies between what we say we believe and how we act.

In a sense we are all visitors on this earth. We all need to have friends, people with whom we can be at home. Over the past weekends, and through our prayers, and the spiritual reading that has been available to you, we too have been invited to conversion. It is a time for our “sick souls” to be raised up. In sharing this Mass we are nourished for this conversion. And so again we gather to break and share Jesus, the Bread of Life. This week let each us appreciate our life. Let us give comfort to someone who is sick. And especially, let us help someone who may feel that they have lost their faith in God and in Jesus.

Homily for the week of April 3, 2011

Third Sunday of Lent, March 27, 2011

It is said that the next major wars will be fought over water, not oil. There are growing concerns over the increasing demand for fresh, clean water as the supply is decreasing. Today’s challenges about ensuring access to safe water for every human being is one entry point to reflection on today’s Gospel can be compared to Jesus' invitation to all persons to thirst for living water that is eternally replenished. And Jesus describes himself as this living water.

Dying of thirst is a terrible thought. To die of thirst is excruciatingly painful. Just mere dehydration can cause horrible headaches, dizziness, delirium, and can lead to problems such as kidney stones and even kidney failure. God’s people certainly would have gotten into a panic, especially if livestock and people were dying. Today’s Gospel points out that other types of thirst can cause damage as well, most especially spiritual thirst.

The Gospel opens with a tired and thirsty Jesus asking a woman of Samaria for a drink of water at Jacob's well. This surprised the woman for several reasons. In the first place, it was unlikely that a man would ask a woman for anything and even more unbelievable that Jesus, a Jew, would ask something of a Samaritan, a great enemy of the Jewish people. The Samaritan woman came to the well, perhaps for a second time that day, to draw water. Most women would come to the well early in the morning, not at the hottest part of the day. The timing of her visit is a clear sign that she is an outcast within the Samaritan community. We learn in her conversation with Jesus that she is an outcast because of her “many husbands."

She and Jesus got into a conversation. This conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman is among the most lengthy and most theological found in all the Bible. The most startling aspect of the conversation is that it happens at all. Jesus, an observant Jew of that time, was expected to avoid conversation with women in public. The woman herself alludes to this fact: “How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?”

Yet Jesus not only converses with the woman, he also asks to share her drinking vessel, an action that makes him unclean according to Jewish law. Jesus explained to her that her thirst would return if she drank water from the well; but if she drank the water Jesus offered her, she would never thirst again. At first she longed for the convenience of not having to draw water from the well every day. She soon understood that Jesus was offering something to quell the thirst. After Jesus told her many things about herself, she came to believe that he was the Son of God and called others to him.

Step by step Jesus and the woman reveal themselves more deeply to each other. They speak of some of their deepest thirsts: for worship, salvation and the search for truth. They listen intently and allow their perceptions of the other to shift. The focus of the dialogue is not on her marital history, nor is she said to be a sinner. Jesus does not tell her to go and sin no more.

The woman’s understanding of Jesus progresses from the simple observation that he is a Jew to pondering whether he is greater than Jacob. Finally, she arrives at the conclusion that Jesus is the Messiah, which she shares with her townspeople in question form, so that they too can enter into the process of discovery that will culminate in faith.

This encounter illustrates a process by which two persons who are very different can be transformed into friendship. They had to let go of their ingrained stereotypes of the other, and they had to stop avoiding each other. They had to be willing to stay in the conversation for a good deal of time and not give up when they stumbled over their differences. They had to be willing to take time with each other.

The high point of the conversation is when Jesus reveals himself to her as the Messiah. After the conversation, the Samaritan woman becomes a disciple. Even though she is an outcast and not a Jew, she returns to her town to lead others to Jesus and to wonder whether she has found the Messiah. The Samaritan townspeople return with her to meet Jesus for themselves, and many are said to come to believe in him.

The significance of the encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman has many levels. The first is personal: The woman is herself converted to believe and accept Jesus as Messiah because he speaks with her even though he knows her to be a sinner. The second is social: Having come to know Jesus as the Messiah, the Samaritan woman becomes his teacher to her own people.

Jesus offers us living water just as he did the woman at the well. It is the water of salvation so when we stumble, we know that Jesus refreshes us with forgiveness. This is helpful to remember on days when we are disappointed by our anger, impatience, and discouragement. Take this opportunity to reflect upon the importance of Baptism with your family. If you have photos or other mementos of your family's Baptisms, bring them out and take some time to recall the day of Baptism and its importance to you and your family. Jesus' meeting with the woman at the well is like Baptism. Jesus knows the woman's sin and forgives her. The woman comes to know Jesus as the Messiah. The woman invites others to meet Jesus. Pray a prayer of blessing for each member of the family that God will help each one live the promises of his or her Baptism.