Homily for the Week of July 29, 2012

SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (B), 2012 Readings: 2 Kgs 4:42–44; Ps 145:10–18; Eph 4:1–6; Jn 6:1–15 The Church has three cycles of Bible readings, A, B, and C, and each new cycle begins on the First Sunday of Advent, or usually the first week in December. This year we are in Cycle B, which features the Gospel according to Mark. However, there are occasional changes. This weekend and for the next three weekends we will depart from Mark and turned our attention to the Gospel of John. Last Sunday we read from Mark's Gospel about Jesus and the Apostles trying to get off to a quiet place, but they were followed by the crowds. Jesus noticed that they were very hungry and tired. If we had kept reading, this weekend we would have read from Mark's version of the feeding of 5000 people with just a few loaves of bread and a few fish. But St. John also has a version of this event. The Church is asking us to use St. John's version of this event. What is different? Why John's and not Mark's? The difference is need. In St. John's story today there is no stated need to feed the large crowd! The story doesn't even say the people were hungry! Jesus just chooses to feed them. It is also important to note that in John's version this miracle takes place in the context of the Jewish Feast of Unleavened Bread and Pentecost. It is also important to notice that the boy had 5 loaves of barley bread. The fact that was barley is important. Barley had been grown for food and beer and whiskey for about 17000 years in Palestine and Iraq. Barley can also be harvested before wheat. Jews each year always gave the best of the barley harvest call the ''first fruits'' of the barley harvest, as an offering to God. Barley also reminded the Jews of an important event in their lives. The first remembered was when the Jews had to leave so fast they had to make their bread from barley as the wheat was not yet ready. The second remembered event was the first harvest in the Promised Land when they made bread undefiled by anything, including yeast. This feast and Passover celebrated both what had occurred -- so that no one would forget what God had already done -- and it celebrated something God would still do. It is also important for us to understand that the people following Jesus were not following because of their faith. They were following Jesus ''because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick.'' They knew that Jesus could heal and perform miracles. This crowd was looking for more healings and more miracles for family or friends or just for themselves. They were not concerned with Jesus' message. Those of you who use computers have undoubtedly search for information on the Internet for a particular subject or topic. As sometimes happens in your search, you find some information on a related topic of which you were not aware. Years ago such happened, maybe not as quickly, when you went to a library and used a card catalogue to find a book on a particular subject. The people who came to see Jesus today were searching for one thing and something far more interesting popped up. Of all the things that they wanted from a Saviour, they got none of what they wanted, but they got exactly what they needed. They were not hungry, or at least not hungry for what Jesus had to offer, but they had a certain hunger within them that needed feeding. John said that Jesus took the loaves and ''gave thanks.'' The word John uses for thanks is ''eucharisteo,'' our word ''Eucharist.'' John is teaching us about the Eucharist, which is the Bread of Life. And this is precisely why you and I are here today. We are here because we are hungry. When I am hungry for food, where do I go? I go where I can find food: the refrigerator, the grocery store, the restaurant, the cafeteria. When I am hungry for spiritual bread, where do I go? I go to Mass to receive communion. Throughout the Mass we are preparing for Eucharist. Jesus takes our faults and our gifts. He then makes it possible to receive again our lives as gifts, and our gifts as forms of “bread” as food for others. So often there are things we want so badly that we miss what we have and worse, we miss what God really desires to give us. These crowds never asked to be fed, but they were. They did not get miraculous cures, but they did get healing. While we should always ask for what we want, we should allow God to give us what we need. Today we have a special remembrance of persons who live in Northern Alaska in the Diocese of Fairbanks. I had planned to invite Sister Ann Hogan, a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph to be with us to talk about the spiritual needs of Catholics in that area. She spent 20 years there as a missionary. A few weeks ago she had to have an emergency heart operation in Syracuse. The Diocese of Fairbanks stretches from the Canadian border to Russia to the Arctic Ocean. It has 14,500 Catholics, out of a general population of 161, 000, many of whom are Athabascan Indians andEskimos. Many peoples from many cultures, and live in a land of extremes, spread over several hundred thousand square miles. It is a Missionary diocese which means it relies on the kindness of benefactors from around the world for the support of the majority of our parishes and programs. About 130 years ago men and women of the Society of Jesus came to live among these persons to teach them about Jesus. They built small churches. Today there are 20 active priests working in the diocese, roughly one priest for every 20,000 square miles. Many of the parishes and missions see a priest every other month. Celebrations of the Word with Holy Communion replaces Sunday Mass when a priest is unavailable. Only a small number of parishes are able to support themselves financially. Nome is the farthest North city. While Nome is a city it has only 3500 persons on the Yukon River. Their newspaper is called the Nome Nugget as a sign that many came to that region in the early nineteenth century, not only to fish for salmon but also to pan for gold. Only a small number of parishes are able to support themselves financially. Some give by going to the Missions Some go by giving to the Missions Without both there are no Missions

Homily for the Week of July 8, 2012

14th Sunday, 2012 First Reading: Ezekiel 2:2–5 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 123:1–2, 2, 3–4 Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 12:7–10 Gospel: Mark 6:1–6 As we move through life many of us have used the phrase “if only” or something like it. When we use it we usually are complaining. It becomes like background music or a theme song for the worried, the complainer, the dissatisfied with life. If only I were younger, I’d have more energy. If only I were older, I could relax and retire. If only I had more time, I’d be able to do so much. If only others were more cooperative…. If only I had a better job, a better boss, nicer coworkers...If only they could see things my way.. If only I didn’t have arthritis… This was the problem with Ezekiel, the author of our first reading. He had been asked by God to tell people about God and about praying and worshipping God. But he complained. If only God would choose someone else...if only people would listen… if only they would believe God sent me to teach them. In the Gospel of Mark it may surprise you that Jesus was also complaining. Jesus comes to Nazareth, his home town, where he thought the people knew him since he had grown up with them. His family, friends and neighbors thought they knew him. In their mind he was just an ordinary laborer turned preacher. He did not have an extensive formal education in Jerusalem. Maybe a few were impressed, but most couldn’t believe he was anyone special, inspite of the stories that were being told about him. The more they got to know Jesus, the more they were confused about him. Because we know a person well does not prevent us from making wrong judgments about that person. In today’s reading we find that “he was not able to perform any mighty deed there.... He was amazed at their lack of faith.” For whatever reason the people of Nazareth rejected Jesus. Mark tells us that because of their lack of acceptance, Jesus was rendered powerless. We can imagine Jesus saying to himself: If only you could see and believe the gift that God has given you in me. But Jesus was able to accept the struggles and continued because he was doing what he believed God wanted him to do. Instead of only complaining Jesus was able to find and rely on God, and because of this, Jesus found the strength he needed to continue to do good. Our second reading today is written by St. Paul. He, too, complains. He says he was burdened by what he calls a “thorn in the flesh. We do not know what this thorn was, but we know it was troubling enough for him to pray to get rid of it. He prayed but God did not remove. He did not get angry with God. In his struggle Paul learned to lean more heavily on God and God’s goodness. He began to regard his thorn as an opportunity for greater love of God. He even learned to brag about his weakness because he saw it as a means in which God would be closer to God. The powerlessness of Jesus and Ezekiel and Paul is not saying anything about what God can and cannot do. In so many ways it may also be our story. We have to be careful not to tell ourselves that we know who Jesus is. We may know some things about Jesus. Surprisingly, the people whom I have met who are convinced that they know all they need to know about Jesus and their religion are those who know the least. Our challenge today is to examine how we might be blocking the voice of God in our lives. Statistics tell us frequently that more and more persons are taking their religion less seriously. We’ve heard the saying, “Familiarity breeds contempt.” Unfortunately our familiarity with our religion may be childlike and childish. We may at times take God for granted. Like a child we may have learned to make excuses to God for ourselves. Are we so familiar with God that we no longer take into account what He says to us through the Bible? Do we prefer that God leave us alone until we knock on his door? Have we reduced the idea of Church as an odd looking building where people sit in strange seats behind one another and mumble a few words now and then? Do we do to Jesus what the people in his native place did to Him? Do we find ways to make the voice of Jesus seem irrelevant to our lives and therefore let us feel less guilty? Do we just want Jesus to make us feel good but no longer want His message? And that is why we are have some time out of this weekend to come to church, to pray and to receive Holy Communion. We are here because we believe that the Jesus of the little town of Nazareth can do for us what he did for his own town. Today and this week as you make the sign of the Cross, remind yourself that Jesus is blessing you and healing the part of you that needs healing just as he did at Nazareth. On your part do all you can to promote the work of Jesus, sharing His love, opening yourself to the power of Jesus. And with Jesus renew your faith that God created all of us are equal.

Homily for the Week of July 1, 2012

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 2012 Wis 1:13-15;2:23-24 • 2 Cor 8:7,9,13-15 • Mk 5:21-43 In 1959 a play called The Miracle Worker, was first performed at the Playhouse Theatre in New York City. It was the story of Helen Keller, a young girl who became deaf and mute soon after her birth because of a sickness and Annie Sullivan, a 20 year old teacher. It was the story of Annie's struggle to teach Helen language by bringing her to a well, giving her water, and spelling the letters W A T E R on Helen’s hand. The Miracle Worker is now a popular movie. Jesus is also the most famous of all miracle workers. For the next many weeks we will be reading selections from the Gospel of St. Mark, the Gospel of Miracles. We will hear many stories on how people came to Jesus with all kinds of emotional, physical and spiritual sicknesses -- many of them similar to the reasons why we today come to Jesus. In today’s reading Mark gives us the story of two women who were in a medical crisis -- a woman whose sickness prevented her from being part of her family, and a young girl of 12 who apparently was considered dead. Jesus touches them and restores both of them back to health. We give the name miracle to both of these events. But talking about miracles to 21st century Americans is not easy unless we clarify what we mean by miracle. Most people you talk to today will laugh at you if you bring up the topic of miracles. A miracle is an unexplainable phenomenon outside the normal range of human experience. It is supernatural. It defies scientific explanation. In the Bible miracles are always related to the teaching and authority of Jesus over human nature. Jesus uses miracles to teach us that he has the power to heal and to forgive. It is not a question of magic or some unexplainable trick. Jesus is not a magician. Unfortunately, most people today think of miracles as the power of God in human affairs that answer some of our needs. Quite often people might pray for miracles by bargaining with God. We tell God we will do something special if God will do this for us. The request might concern the cure for a disease, the protection of a loved one, finding a job, or winning the lottery. In any case, the desire is for a divine effect far beyond the normal in our lives and in our way. Notice in our Bible stories today. There was no bargaining. Jairus, the little girls father, didn’t go to Jesus and tell Jesus he would do a certain thing if Jesus cured his daughter. Jairus merely believed that Jesus could do it. A woman who has been sick all her life comes to Jesus and asks to be healed. She had gone to the best doctors, had gotten all kinds of advice about her illness, but she never got better. In fact, she got worse. And sadly, many believed that her illness was a punishment for her sins. But she has heard that Jesus can cure. The sick woman believed that if she could come close enough to Jesus to touch his clothes she would be healed. And she does. Jesus says to her: your faith has saved you, go in peace and be healed of your disease. In both cases the miracle followed an act of faith in Jesus. As you listen to the words of Jesus here in this church Sunday after Sunday after Sunday there can be great comfort and hope. Whenever we hear that Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead and quieted the storms, we come to realize that the way things are is not the way things will always be. God's desire for us and the world is not chaos and fear but wholeness and peace. Miracles in life rarely come in the same way as they do on the pages of the Bible. Sometimes I have heard people ask why miracles don’t seem to happen today as they once did in Jesus’ day. My response is that perhaps we are simply asking for the wrong kind of miracle. It is not that miracles have stopped. On the contrary, miracles happen every day. There are unexplainable cures, cancers that go into mysterious remission, wayward children who finally find a sure path to follow, or marriages wounded by human failure that finally are put back together. But often, when we pray for a miracle, we are asking for an answer to our prayers in a particular fashion and in our time frame. We are not being truly filled with faith that God can effect a miracle for us. The greatest miracles I have witness over my 53 years as a priest is the miracle of forgiveness in the sacrament of confession. But why is this miracle so rarely asked for today? Often we too can be afraid or ashamed of going to Jesus for help. Maybe we may be afraid that we are not good enough. Or afraid that God will turn us away. So often we substitute faith in things or people rather than in Jesus -- things like burning candles in front of statues, or TV preachers who yell at us telling us how bad we are. Or paying money to fortune tellers or tarot cards to uncover our past or clarifying our future. All we need to do is to open your Bible each day to the Gospel reading for the day, read a sentence or two, then spend 15 minutes to talk to Jesus what that sentence means to you. In so doing you are opening your heart and soul to yourself and Jesus. Faith is trust in God even when the evidence or reasons seem to contradict what we would expect. Our life is made worthwhile, not so much by what we have or even what we have accomplished but by our faith. Maybe we ought to look upon Jesus as the person on the other end of that 911 line. He is ready to comfort us, give us direction when our life seems filled with violence -- our own violence. He wants us to stay on the line till we give him the whole story. God loves us without conditions. All we need do is to open the door to him. None of us is really worthy of miracles in our lives, yet God wills that we be well and blessed. Thus miracles can and do happen today, as they did in Jesus’ day. If you need proof all you need to do is to travel to Montreal and visit St. Joseph’s Oratory and Brother Andre. Miracles are stories of God’s power and ability to enter our world in ways beyond our comprehension..Those of us who have done that have found out that Jesus can do not only the unexpected but even the impossible. Jesus said that everything is possible to one who has faith. But to one who has no faith, no explanation is sufficient.

Homily for the Week of July 22, 2012

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time B 2012 Jer 23:1-6; Ps 23:1-6; Eph 2:13-18; Mark 6: 30-34 In 1877 Patrick McDonald came from Ireland as a baby and settled in Manchester, New Hampshire. He married his wife Margarete, also Irish born. They and their two sons moved to California where Patrick and his sons started a restaurant 75 years ago which he named McDonalds. Years later the brothers met a milkshake machine salesman by the name of Ray Kroc with whom they partnered to form McDonald’s. The success of this fast food chain is due to its clever advertising. A while back McDonalds used as its theme the jingle: YOU DESERVE A BREAK TODAY. Barry Manilow sang the words of this advertisement encouraging people to take a break. Actually, McDonald might well have borrowed from the message of Jesus of today's third reading. Jesus tells us that we need a break today and so get up and get away. Jesus says to us: COME BY YOURSELVES TO AN OUT-OF-THE WAY PLACE A REST A WHILE. Few scenes in the bible are more moving, more touching than today's reading from St. Mark's gospel. Jesus and his apostles are exhausted. They need to take some time off to catch their breathe. They tried to get away from the crowd to find some rest. They could not even find time to eat since the people kept coming and going in such great numbers. So they went off in a boat to a deserted place. They tried to get away from it all. Although the crowds did not have any modern day cell phones or GPS equipment they still found Jesus and his friends as they walked about the Lake of Galilee under the blazing Palestinian sun. They were motivated by the miracles of Jesus. They were looking for help and guidance. Who were they? They were the poor; the broken hearted, the downtrodden from all walks of life. They were human beings whose hearts were restless. They were looking for something more than they had. They were hungry for a leader who would make sense to them, for someone who could feed the deep hunger of their souls. They were looking for someone who cares about them, and one who can protect them. So eager are they to find Jesus. Jesus tells each one of us that we need a break today -- and not just today but every day. The kind of break that Jesus approves is to get away from all business as usual and to go off into solitude where you can spend some time with God. From time to time each one of us need to get away from our routine in order to think things through, in order to allow God to speak to our hearts, in order to pray. Taking a break in order to listen to God does not mean that you have to travel far. It can be anyplace around your home or place you live where you have found time for prayer and reflection in the past. For most Catholics it can be what you have chosen to do today -- to take time with you family or by yourself to join others here in Church. If we don't we then become like sheep without a shepherd spoken of in our First Reading. All too often we forget about the need for being alone. We are constantly bombarded by TV, radio, stereo systems, people. With the increase of social communication it seems that many persons can’t go a just a few minutes without texting someone -- even while driving or in conversations with family or friends. After a while we cannot hear anything because we are overburdened. All of these social means of communication like Facebook may desensitize us. The conclusion is that people are not real. Jesus recommended moments of solitude so that God could speak to us. In solitude God is able to be heard because there is nothing else blocking the communication. One of the forceful messages of the McDonald’s You deserve a break today was that the break was to stop for a few minutes to chat and laugh and communicate with someone while you were both having a hamburger. One of the duties which was given to us on our Baptism was to be a leader like Jesus. Being a leader does not depend on our age, or our education. Whether we know it or not, all of us are leaders. We can lead others to make the most of themselves, or lead others to destroy themselves. And how well we lead others depends on how well we take control of ourselves. We make a difference in the life others if we have made a difference in our own life. We make a difference when others see us as happy persons. We cannot be happy if others are not. Joy has to be shared. Go and tell other people about your joy at finding the precious treasure, which is Jesus himself. So often religion and Christianity is depicted as a way of life that stifles our freedom and goes against our desires for happiness and joy. But this is far from the truth. Christians are men and women who are truly happy because they know that they are not alone. They know that God is always holding them in his hands. It is up to us to show the world that faith brings happiness and a joy, which is true, full and enduring. If the way Christians live at times appears dull and boring, you should be the first to show the joyful and happy side of faith. Don't ever be afraid to let Jesus lead you and teach you. Let each of us put ourselves as close to Jesus as is possible and we hope that something rubs off. We live and how we live in Jesus is revealed in our smallest actions and most public gestures. You are here in this church today because Jesus does make a difference in your life. First of all, be sure you realize that you do make a difference. And this week be tell someone that they have made a difference in our life. COME BY OURSELVES IN SOME OUT OF THE WAY PLACE AND REST A WHILE.

Homily for the Week of July 15, 2012

Fifteenth Sunday B, 2012 First Reading: Amos 7:12–15 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 85:9–10, 11–12, 13–14 Second Reading: Ephesians 1:3–14 [3–10] Gospel: Mark 6:7–13 If we would fast forward our calendars 2 or 3 thousand years our Bible readings would be describing those of us who are in church today. Amos, the man of our first reading, was not part of the religious establishment. He was a shepherd and a fruit grower. Yet, God spoke through him telling people that they needed to do more about their religion. God sent him. But it was not something he decided to do on his own. Our Gospel reading tells us how Jesus personally chose six pairs of persons who had been working on all kinds of jobs: some were fisherman, others were carpenters, others were unemployed. None of them had any college degrees or even formal education. None of them knew Jesus; none of them believed in Jesus. They are to take nothing upon which they can rely, but only their trust in Jesus’ word. They became the first missionaries. That is, a person sent out to do God's work. persons to help him tell the good news. Jesus offers no bonuses to those he chooses. After doing interviews Jesus chooses twelve persons to represent him. Try to imagine Jesus sitting at a table talking to his 12 chosen workers. He calls their names two by two; they step up to receive their destinations and directions. To each person he hands a walking stick. We must understand that before they met Jesus these twelve men all had money and quite a lot of possessions. Jesus gives them very specific instructions about what they are to pack—nothing! He insists that they take nothing with them except the walking stick and sandals on their feet, They are to take no supply of food, no bag of extra clothes, no briefcases full of notes, no computer, no cash or credit cards. They are to go completely empty-handed. For food, shelter, and clothing they are to depend on the hospitality of others. They needed only two things: minimal supplies -- the clothes on their back and a little oil to anoint the sick. Jesus was choosing his followers and his workers. Being chosen is one of our most common experiences.. Some of you may have been chosen to win a prize in a contest. Others may have been picked to play on a high school or summer sports team, or be a member of a card group. Today I had the joy of witnessing my niece choose her husband in marriage. In marriage, a man and a women choose each other for better or for worse until death parts them. One day years ago a bishop chose me to be a priest. Once they were picked they were given job descriptions. Jesus asks them to do a very simple job. They are to invite all persons they meet to repent, which means to make a 180 degree turn in their lives. Jesus tells us that they will be like sheep among wolves. At times their families may disown them. Jesus tells them that at times they will meet with opposition and be laughed at. At times they will be seen as a threat to others. Many will not believe a word of what they tell them. But they are not to argue with these persons. This mat be frightening, but add to this the fact that they might not have all of the convincing arguments to defend themselves. Jesus encourages them not to worry. But merely go on to another place. God had been choosing persons to speak for him for thousands of years. As I already mention in our First Reading we are told the story of how God chose Amos to be a prophet, the conscience of the people. But Amos wasn't trained; he never went to school; he had no education; he was never taught how to speak. But God chose Amos to change jobs to do God's work. On the day of our Baptism you and I were chosen by God. We were chosen to be holy and blameless. On that day we became an adopted child of God. We were given a lighted candle and told to keep it burning brightly as a reminder that we are followers of Christ. We were dressed in white as a sign of our dignity. The priest touched our baby ears and mouth saying: May the Lord soon touch your ears to receive his word, and your mouth to proclaim his faith. As persons chosen by God we are reminded to look at ourselves to see if we need a change in direction in our lives; if we need to return to God and put God at the CENTER of our lives. Today we are called to do exactly the same -- to travel light, not to be attached to the things of this world. Jesus calls us to trust in Him and not rely on the false securities of material possessions, success, popularity, and money. He sends us out into a world that seems to have forgotten God or that has rejected God. He calls us to bring people back to a knowledge and a love of God. Rather than to complain about the situations, we are invited to help heal the sick and comfort the dying, the depressed, the lonely and the unloved. Jesus tells us to expect to be rejected, or at least not to be accepted by everyone. Some of your closes friends and associates may even wonder why you practice your religion. Jesus tells us to expect it and when it comes, we should just keep on walking. At Baptism each of us were chosen by God. What has happened in your life since that day? Where has God been? Have you found yourself packing and unpacking? In what way have you been an example to others? Today thank God for something that you very much like about yourself; today ask God to help you with something which bothers you.