Homily for the week of May 29, 2011

The Sixth Sunday in Easter, 2011

Acts 8:5-8, 14-17

Psalm 66:

1 Peter 3:15-18

John 14:15-21

One of the consequences of the terrible tornados that have devastated many of our mid west communities and cities this past week is the number of children who will be orphans because of the death of their parents. They will join the millions of orphans world-wide who have lost parents because of deaths due to natural disasters, violence or disease.

Frequently we read throughout the Bible reminders to take care of orphans. This is the example which Jesus uses today in the passage which I just read which is known as Jesus’ good-bye to his close friends. Today Jesus tells us that he will not leave them or us orphans. Infant mortality was exceedingly high in the time of Jesus, with 60 percent of children dying by age 16. Most startling is that most children, perhaps more than 70 percent, would have lost one or both parents before they reached 13 year of age.

Jesus often used orphans as a symbol for the weakest and most vulnerable in society. Orphans had no protections either in law or in society. If an orphan was lucky, relatives would take the child into their own homes but only as a slave. In the Roman world, it was not uncommon for orphans to be left in the desert to die simply because the family could not afford to care for them.

When Jesus announced to His friends at a supper with them that he was going to leave them, they felt very much alone. Try to imagine someone whom you deeply cared about, and had dedicated your life to being with. And this person leaves you, not because of disagreements but because this person had done all that he was born to do.

Jesus told them he would soon die, but he went beyond His announcement of death. Jesus made a promise. I will be with you always, and he meant it. Now, they all believed that he would die. But then he says he will be with them always. What did he mean? They had never known anyone who had died who would still be with them.

The disciples did not understand what Jesus said until 50 days later on the feast of Pentecost. On that day the followers of Jesus would no longer be orphans, they would no longer be alone because the Holy Spirit would be with them.

We Catholics rarely talked about or refer to the Holy Spirit, or what was at one time called the Holy Ghost. Yet it is very much part of our spiritual life. Whenever we make the sign of the cross, we make it in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. In the ritual of Baptism there are several mentions of the person’s being baptized with “water and the Holy Spirit”. We have one sacrament called Confirmation which is when a person is confirmed in the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is also with us right now. The Holy Spirit is like our own consciousness. And the Holy Spirit can be another for holiness. At times we think of holy people as strange who do not live the ordinary life of the rest of us. Holiness is what the Holy Spirit produces in each of us if we allow God to be part of our life.

All the actions that we are encouraged to do as Catholics such as reading the Bible, going to church, receiving the sacraments, prayers and our personal devotions are all geared to making the Holy Spirit stronger and more alive in us. Any time we do a good deed, whatever it might be, we do it because of the small voice inside of us that tells us it is OK and it is good to do this. That voice is the Holy Spirit speaking to us.

The Holy Spirit will not leave us orphans. The “Spirit” is promised so that all who believe will know who they are, because Christ is in them and that is the blessing of Baptism. All good things around us and within us come from heaven above. Sad are those who do not know and accept their truth and spend their lives in the darkness of desperate searching. The “Spirit” is sent to remain with us so that we might do the same and remain In Christ and remain ourselves gratefully.

Jesus' promise that He will not leave us orphans is also a sign that we are loved by God. It is a love that defies full understanding. And our response to Jesus is that we will try to obey what he has asked us to do because we also love him. Obedience is faithfulness. Jesus' statement, ''If you love me, you will keep my commandments,'' is not a command. Jesus is saying that He will recognize those who have responded to His love by their obedience.

Just as Jesus will always be with us regardless of what we do, he also wants us to love and be a caring spirit to all both friend and stranger. If until now the Holy Spirit hasn’t had much meaning in your life, begin today to realize that everything good and caring that you do. every act of love for others, is the result of this Holy Spirit. If you let the Spirit of God lead you, you no longer be an orphan but will be a child of God.

Homily for the week of May 22, 2011

The Fifth Sunday in Easter, 2011

Acts 6:1-7

Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19

1 Peter 2:4-9

John 14:1-12

With the exception of Native Americans all of us are descendants of ancestors born in a foreign country. Most of you know that St. James Church began over 150 years ago and was built by Irish immigrants who came to Cadyville to avoid starvation. In Ireland, in the 1800s, many husbands and fathers decided that to help their families they had to travel to America to find work. The wife and children would often stay in Ireland. Often before leaving Ireland the family held a wake, the type of party that is held the night before a funeral, to say goodbye to someone they believed they might never see again. When in the United States these husbands and fathers got a job. They live on cheap boarding houses, spent very little money and each month would sent some money back to their wife and family in Ireland. While here they also took advantage of our schools to earn a trade or get a degree.

And finally, after saving enough money the wife and children would come. I remember a man telling me the story of his great grandfather who did this. He had saved enough money to buy a home. When his wife arrived at the new home with running water, gas lights a bathroom and inside heating, which they did not have in Ireland, he asked his wife: Isn't this worth the wait? His wife replied: You were worth the wait.

Like this Irish man Jesus is about to leave his close friends. Leaving those we know and love makes us lonely or even hopeless. And it is especially difficult if we do not know when we will see them again, or ever see them. Thomas, one of those friends of Jesus, wants to go with Jesus, but he does not know the way. Jesus did not leave a road map. He does not know the way. Jesus has been preparing the disciples for His departure. Jesus has been packing for quite a while, but his close friends never seemed to notice it. What would they do once Jesus is gone?

Our First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles is the story of the early church struggling to survive. Jesus did not leave any instructions what to do when he was gone other than to pray and and join together at Mass to hear his message and receive communion.

One of their more serious problems was language. Some of the Christians were Catholics who spoke Greek and new Catholics who spoke Hebrew. What language should they us at prayer and at Mass? Jesus left no plan. It was up to the 11 apostles to develop a plan and to form a church. They decided to use Greek.

Another problem was the division of labor. The Apostles were being asked to preach and lead the prayers. They were also asked to take care of widows and orphans. Whether they wanted it or not, they became administrators and Pastors. They had to count and distribute the money, take care of the church buildings and property. As with any family there were occasional disagreements. It appears that the Greek Jews who were needy were not getting as much spiritual attention as the Hebrew Jews. There was inequality of distribution.

Each of the Apostles was a Bishop. They had no helpers. They said: IT IS NOT RIGHT THAT WE SHOULD NEGLECT THE WORD OF GOD TO SERVE AT TABLE. So they selected seven men of good standing from the group among whom were Stephen, Philip and Nicholas. Their ministry will be to continue to do the “deeds” of Jesus, the “works” which are the manifestation of the Holy Spirit. They prayed over them and ordained them deacons. That was the beginning of the Permanent Diaconate in the Catholic Church. These men were asked to help parishioners who were in need, and to assist the Bishop at Mass by reading from the Bible and preaching.

During the first 200 years of the Catholic church there were no persons known as priests, yet there were men who did what I as a priest do today. There were only Bishops and Deacons. Priests came later in order to take over some of the duties of the Bishop. That is why that to this very day a priest is assigned by the Bishop to represent him in the parishes of the Diocese.

You and I would have never been here today, or been baptized or made our First Communion, or be a spiritual person unless someone had taught us. For most of us that teaching began with our parents. They served us. Later we may have had Catholic school teachers or religious education teachers to help our parents with our religious education. In the Catholic Church these are called ministries. The motivation for any form of ministry is a desire to serve others base on the teachings of Jesus that we are called to serve, not to be served. This gift we all receive at Baptism. At our Baptism we promised that we would help one another to come to Jesus. Each one of us does this when we offer support to others by our daily works and acts of kindness and encouragement, by our generous giving of our time, of our talents and of our finances. Jesus said today: I am the way, the truth and the life. Each of you are the way, the truth and the life when you help others come to Jesus.

Homily for the week of May 15, 2011

The Fourth Sunday in Easter, 2011

Acts 2:14a, 36-41 Psalm 23: 13a, 3b4, 5, 6 1 Peter 2:20b-25 John 10:1-10

Some years ago there was a television quiz show called “Let’s Make a Deal,” in which contestants were given an opportunity to exchange a small prize for a chance at a grand prize. Suspense built as they were asked to choose: door number one, door number two or door number three. Two doors concealed “zonk,” or gag prizes. Behind the third door was something very desirable, like a trip, a car or large amounts of cash. Every once in a while someone would get lucky and choose correctly.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks of himself as the door that leads to the most desirable of gifts. Unlike the quiz show designers, who for their own gain might deliberately try to confuse the location of the grand prize, Jesus shows himself openly to be the gateway and declares his desire for all to choose this door.

At the beginning of today’s Gospel selection, Jesus speaks about himself as the shepherd of the sheep who enters the sheepfold properly, through the gate. He contrasts himself to the thief or the robber who scrambles into the sheepfold some other way and who will have no success in getting the sheep to follow him out. He is a stranger, and the sheep will run away from him; they do not recognize his voice. Jesus elaborates further the image of himself as the Good Shepherd. But he also calls himself the gate for the sheep.

The image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd is one that is used frequently, especially when associated with funerals. But most likely the only shepherd that any of you have seen are persons dressed up as shepherds in Christmas plays. One of the oldest paintings of Jesus represents Jesus as carrying an injured, straying sheep gently on his shoulders back to the sheepfold. This is an image of Jesus which has always appealed to Christians. There is something innocent about a sheep, and at the same time a lot of foolishness! But with Christ as our shepherd and the "good shepherd" who is sincerely interested in the true welfare of each of us we have reason to rejoice.

Shepherds carried two items with them. One of these was a rod and the other a staff. The Good Shepherd Psalm which we just prayed refers to the staff of the shepherd. The rod was usually quite long and had a hook at one end so that the shepherd could pull the sheep pack into the flock. The staff usually hung from the shepherds belt. It was a short wooden club with a lump of wood at the end. The shepherd used this to defend himself and the sheep against thieves. At times the shepherd might have the help of a sheep dog, but that was not very common when Jesus was living.

Most towns and villages in Palestine had a common place where shepherds would bring their sheep for the night. This was call the sheepfold. These were open air enclosures walled in by stones on top of which was a barrier of briars or thorn bushes. The gate was small. Only one sheep could go though the gate at a time. Once the flock was inside there was no heavy door or gate. A paid gate keeper or shepherds would take turns at night so that no one would come to steal the sheep, or no animals would come to kill the sheep. They would stand at the gate, or at times even lie down across the opening.

An important aspect of this image is that the gate swings in two directions. Not only do Jesus’ followers come into the sheepfold through him, but they are also led out by him. All who are led in by him find in the embrace of the believing community a place of rest, a space where wounds can be healed and where all can be nourished by the word and at the table. But whoever enters is also led out to find a place to do good deeds. Jesus is the gate that opens in and out.

Later in the Gospel, the image of the open gate takes another form. Unlike the sheep who always have a shepherd, if we leave the gate without Jesus we risk being hurt by those who try to enter another way.

There are many among us today who foolishly think they need no shepherd. They think they know all the facts of life. They are in total ignorance of the most basic fact of all- what is our purpose in life? They try to ease their consciences by immersing themselves deeper and deeper in the affairs and the passing pleasures of this temporary life.

Following in the footprints of Jesus is not always hard. At times following Him is very easy, especially when all is going well. When things do turn difficult, perhaps we really should learn to pray to the Good Shepherd. He will carry us if necessary.

If Jesus were here today in 2011, he would not use the image of the shepherd and the sheep. What image would Jesus use today to illustrate his love and caring? Might he speak of a mother and father, of a teacher, a fireman or rescue squad volunteer, a nurse or doctor, a young person helping out at home, or with the shut ins? Last week Bishop LaValley was here to bring the Sacrament of Confirmation to 23 of our young persons. To prepare themselves for Confirmation each of them did at least 25 hours of helping others. In one way or another they wrote about their experience saying that they never really knew that helping someone could give gifts in return. Through this experience they felt better about themselves and formed a closer relationship with God. Fortunately, we have many today who are willing to do so. In fact all of us, at one time or another have responsibility for others.

Homily for the week of May 8, 2011

The Third Sunday in Easter, 2011

Acts 2:14, 22-33

Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11

1 Peter 1:17-21

Luke 24:13-35

When the history of the 20th century is written it will mention the marvellous discoveries in medicine, in technology and communications, and in space exploration. It will mention the progress in eliminating or reducing illiteracy, poverty and discrimination, It will also mention wars such as the First and Second World Wars, the Korean and Vietnam Wars. It will mention the brutal repression and killing of thousands by strong willed dictators in the Sudan and in China. And the legalized killing of the unborn in this country.

I mention this today because of our Bible readings. After the death of Jesus the followers of Jesus became refugees in their country. At times they were not accepted by their own families. Yes, Jesus had died that they might be saved, but it seemed that it would have been a lot better if he had stayed alive. After, Jesus was not admired by most of his neighbors, and if you decided to follow Jesus, you too would be despised by most persons.

This week's gospel is the story of two downhearted, discouraged followers of Jesus on the road to Emmaus. A mysterious stranger joins them. They begin a conversation with a man they took to be a complete stranger. They could not hide the fact they were downcast, and they were quick to explain to the stranger the reason for their gloom. Jesus, in whom they believed, had been crucified they said, but we had hoped, they said, that he was the one to redeem Israel. They felt that the death of Jesus had left them high and dry -- stranded, confused, and at a loss.After listening carefully to their story, the stranger tells them that they are slow to "believe all that the prophets have announced." He then explains the Bible to them.

The two men are delighted with the stranger's teaching. But they do not realize that the stranger is Jesus until he takes bread, blesses it, breaks it, and gives it to them. At Mass I as a priest will do this very same thing today right in front of you. At Mass we too meet Jesus along the road of our lives, and Jesus gives himself to us through these very actions.

Soon after this meeting of Jesus on the road to Emmaus the followers of Jesus did the same as we are doing here. Our Gospel reading gives a description of the early practice of the Catholic Mass and what we do at every Mass. There was the reading of Bible and the teachings of Jesus followed by discussion and interpretation. After that, everyone would go to the table for the blessing and “the breaking of bread,” a common reference to the Eucharist. In these very ordinary rituals, Christ was made visible, and His real presence was noted.

Have you ever wondered would you recognize Jesus if he came among us today? Remember we have no photos of Jesus and all of the art work which shows Jesus one way or another is based on the imagination of the artist. But Jesus is present among every day in the people we meet, when we gather to pray, and at Mass in the Eucharist. For example, on this Mother’s Day we at St. James honor 6 young boys and girls who for the first time will receive Holy Communion, and 23 teenagers who will confirm their Catholic faith in the Sacrament of Confirmation with Bishop LaValley.

Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, we also come to know Jesus in the uninvited stranger, in the refugee from war torn countries, in the little baby who was born with severe disabilities; in the 96 year old women who lives alone. But most importantly, we come to know Jesus more intimately in our hearts. Coming to know Jesus in the depths of our hearts takes time. Time to let go, settle down. Time to listen to that familiar voice that speaks to us in silence.

On this second Sunday in May we also honor mothers. In the United States this custom is relatively a recent development, only in existence since 1908. The tradition of honoring mothers, however, is a revival of a practice that dates back to the Early Christians who celebrated a festival in honor of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of Christ. They adorned the churches with flowers, jewels, rich metals, and expensive gifts.

For most of us it is our Mother who introduced us to Jesus when we were a young child. When we gather as a family to share a meal together on this Mother’s Day perhaps we should also find the time to pray together in gratitude for the gift of life and love. It is also a time when we can listen to one another. Our own stories may not sound very different from the two discouraged disciples on the road to Emmaus: we too may be disappointed; we too may have a past that makes little sense to us. But we are invited to tell our stories and to listen to one another.

Regardless of the roads we travel or the places they take us, we will meet Jesus along the way. He comes to us in different ways and we may not always be able to recognize him. He may come as a stranger on the road, or a newcomer to our road or school or work. He may come as an act of love from someone we know. We may see him in a time of great anxiety, or he may simply be there smiling to us through the face of a crocus or dandelion or flower, or in the the sound of a song or the glow of a sunset. Or in the Holy Communion which will be offered to us today. May we be ever watchful for his presence. In fact, He is among us here and now.

Homily for the week of May 1, 2011

Second Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy: 2011

Acts 2:42-47 · 1 Pt 1:3-9 · Jn 20:19-31

Every year on the Second Sunday of Easter we hear the story of Jesus appearing to the apostles "on that first day of the week" and breathing the Holy Spirit. In doing this Jesus gave the permission to priests to forgive all sins by way of Confession for those who ask. Jesus also showed them that, although he had died on Good Friday, he was now alive.

An ancient way of determining when a person had died was to hold a mirror under the person’s nostrils to detect any trace of moist air indicating that there was still some breath of life. Before modern methods of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, a person who had stopped breathing was simply allowed to slip away. In today’s Gospel, the risen Jesus breathes new life into the believing community. He removes from them the fear that choked them their leader had died on a cross.

The frightened disciples are gathered behind locked doors. In the aftermath of Jesus’ execution, their fear is understandable—will they be next ones to die?

The first reading for today is from the Acts of the Apostles. It gives us a snap shot of the early Catholic Church. There were no church buildings or churches as we know them today. Catholics would meet to pray with all the Jews in the Temple area, but after they would gather in each other's home for Mass. Soon after Jesus died St. Paul gave instructions as how we are to offer Mass. In the year 150 St. Justin described in detail the Mass as we have it now. During most of the Mass the priest and people would stand and then sit while there were readings from the Bible. After some reflection on what Jesus expected of his followers, they would participate in the ''breaking of bread,'' and received Holy Communion. One of the problems which they had was how to get forgiven or healed from any sins they might have committed.

The First Letter of Peter, part of which we read today. answers that question and tells us about God's mercy. Catholics have a long history of minding other people's business when that business involves showing mercy. Jesus made it very clear that our faith and religion must be translated into good works. Our Faith without good works is dead. The Catholic Church separates our actions of mercy into corporal and spiritual works of mercy. There are 7 corporal works of mercy among which are: feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the imprisoned, bury the dead, and 7 spiritual works of mercy. Without knowing each of you have brought mercy to others when you support our Food Shelf or food pantries, helped with Habitat for Humanity, send or message or phone call to a sick person. You practice spiritual works of mercy whenever you participate at Mass, offer words of encouragement, let go of grudges.

Peter reminds us that mercy is the virtue that gives hope. God had mercy on us. God's mercy was made real and present in Jesus Christ. With the death and resurrection of Jesus, hope once again was born into the world.

We are celebrating these Easter weeks the rising of Jesus and the rising of the apostles to the mission of Jesus. Divine Mercy is not what we get when we go to court with lawyers and judges. Pope John Paul II gave us an example of Divine Mercy and forgiveness when he went to the prison and forgave the man who wanted to shoot him to death. This he did because he too as a human being had very often asked the Lord of Mercy for forgiveness.

Many persons have lost the sense of forgiveness because they have loss the sense of sin. And because of this we have loss the joy of justice and compassion. If we believe that everything we do is OK, then we do not need forgiveness, and we never receive mercy.

This mercy of the Lord is available to everyone of us when we ask forgiveness through the sacrament of Confession. Many persons have lost the sense of forgiveness because they have loss the sense of sin. If we believe that everything we do is OK, then we do not need forgiveness. Very often this all starts with how we have formed our conscience as young persons. Our conscience is an inside voice that tells us that this is good or this is bad; we should do this or avoid that. It requires us to be honest with ourselves before God. The best guide for us to know good from bad is the ten commandments.

You and I have not witnessed Jesus in the flesh in the upper room, but we do experience him in the Eucharist. To that experience of the Jesus we say with Thomas MY LORD AND MY GOD. We are invited not to put our finger and hand into his wounds, but to take Jesus into our very hearts. Then we can profess our faith in him more powerfully and announce the Good News of his resurrection to the world. And we also be known for our gift of mercy.