Life is not Fair!! (25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A)

How many of you in church this morning happen to be the oldest child in your family? Go ahead and raise your hand, so I can see how many sympathizers I have! As a matter of fact, those of you who are higher up in the birth order might also agree with me. I believe, as a general rule, and I am being completely biased here, that the oldest child has life a little bit harder than the youngest. Why? Well, our parents were experiencing parenthood for the first time and they wanted to do everything just right. Prior to our arrival, many of them read books and listened to experts explain about how to dialogue with baby, how to prepare him or her for a bright future from the instant of birth, and what procedures to put in place so that this bundle of joy could be healthy, wealthy, and wise. The truth is, most of our parents learned on the fly and we essentially served as very talkative and often irritating guinea pigs. By the time, our younger siblings came along, they had things somewhat figured out, important things like “don’t sweat the small stuff” and “they will be fine.”  

I still watch in disbelief at the liberties of my younger siblings. Did you know that you can get your driving permit before the age of 17? I can’t imagine having Facebook in grade-school? Or my own room! Or cable TV in the house! Only in my dreams would I have asked about staying out with friends past midnight! Having a cell phone to begin high school wasn’t even an option! These things, which would have been grounds for capital punishment in my youth are now tolerated and even approved by my parents! One of the first reactions that comes to my mind often as the oldest is: “That’s not fair! I had to work a lot harder and wait longer for those same privileges!”

But you don’t have to be high in the birth order to feel that life isn’t fair. We humans have a pretty good sense of that. We see good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good people. We see some people labour for hours for a morsel of bread, and others make hundreds of thousands of dollars with a simple phone call. We see some who are physically fit and look after themselves die suddenly and others who abuse their health and still live to a ripe old age. We could go on and on with examples, but the simple truth is: “Life is often unfair.”

At first glance, the gospel appears to be one more example of this truth. Jesus describes the kingdom of God with a parable, a story where a landowner hires workers to toil in his vineyard. Some he hires early in the morning, others, around noon, and even a group at the end of the day. To all of them he promises to pay them what is just. At the end of the day, when all of the workers are lined up to receive compensation, the master starts with the last to arrive. He gives them a full day’s wage for their hour’s work. When the laborers, who toiled the entire day are paid the same amount, they grumble in disappointment. 

I don’t know about you, but I tend to sympathize with the guys who put in a whole day’s work. Something about the whole thing just doesn’t sit right. How can a person who worked an hour receive the same amount as one who worked the whole day? And this is what the kingdom of heaven is supposed to be like?  

But if we take a moment to shed our indignation and outrage, if we humbly reflect on the final words words of the master, then we see that this parable is not about fairness at all. No, it is all about generosity! The same Divine generosity that moved Christ to eat with tax collectors, and hang around with prostitutes and known criminals, and heal people on the Sabbath day, and tell sinners that they were forgiven simply because they had faith in him, simply because they repented and trusted him. If we choose to see life only in terms of fair or unfair, if we view God’s generous love and forgiveness as something to be earned, we will quickly be upset at how merciful He is and how freely He shares his life with the sinful and imperfect. It won’t be long before this mindset makes us blind to our own need for God’s grace and how imperfect we ourselves truly are. This is the attitude that led the Scribes and Pharisees to reject Christ. This is the attitude that blinded them to their own need for salvation. This is the attitude that prevented them from receiving the many good things Jesus desired to give them.

As we reflect on this parable today, this story which teaches us so much about the kingdom of God and how He loves us, we should thank God that he doesn’t deal with us according to what we believe is fair and unfair. No, even though we have a God who is infinitely fair and just, he doesn’t deal with us simply in those terms. If he did, we would not be forgiven, we would not have the sacraments, we would not be capable of eternal life. Thankfully, we have a God who always treats us with overwhelming generosity and mercy. All of us, even the best of us, has received immeasurably more than we earned from God, the master of the vineyard. 

So let us thank God, right here and right now in this Eucharist, for his extravagant generosity. Let us show him our gratitude for the countless ways he enriches our lives, even though we have done nothing to deserve such kindness. Let us be joyful when we see God pouring his love and blessing on others rather than focusing on whether or not it is fair or deserved. We are all his children and we all need his love; we all need his forgiveness. And praise God, that is what we receive when we turn to God, when we receive Christ into our lives and do the work that he has set before us to do.

My friends - we don't earn God's love; we respond to it. God loves you.  End of story. God loves you. Beginning of brand new story. May we live that new story.  May we come to God in gratitude for what he has done for us, and in thanksgiving for what he does for everyone who turns to him.  

Glory be to God

Today we celebrate the life and preaching of an exceptional man, St. John Chrysostom. Born in 344 in Antioch and educated by some of the best masters, both spiritual and academic, learned how to explain the Scriptures in a profound yet practical way. Due to his eloquent homilies and skillful rhetoric, he was nicknamed "Chrysostom" which means Golden-mouthed. He was made the patriarch of Constantinople and dedicated himself to preaching, reforming the clergy, and caring for the poor. Because of his outspoken style, this saint made enemies, especially among the powerful ruling elite, who felt threatened by his call to conversion. Exiled three times, he died far from home due the rough conditions of his exile and his advanced age. His last words, even in the midst of great injustice and suffering were: "Glory be to God in all things." St. John Chrysostom is an outstanding example of someone dedicated to the truth of the Jesus Christ, not for personal gain or vindication, but because of his love for his people and desire to lead others closer to Christ. On his feast, we might ask ourselves if we share his dedication to proclaiming the truth and if we are courageous enough to suffer for it.

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A (10th Anniversary of 9/11)

This weekend our nation commemorates the tenth anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks on our country. September 11, 2001 truly was a horrific day that changed the life of each and every one of us. And as I reflect back on the events that transpired on that awful September morning I am struck that even though ten years have passed, those memories and emotions are still so strong, so vivid within me. Do you remember how surreal that whole day was? Do you remember the sense of helplessness and disbelief as you witnessed the catastrophic events unfolding? You can probably recall exactly where you were when you heard the news. I'm certain you remember the sense of anger, shock, and sadness as you watched the Twin Towers fall. I'm sure you, like me, felt numb, angry and helpless as you recall the first images of the Manhattan skyline without the Twin Towers.

Yes, I remember that day as though it was yesterday. The weather was beautiful the morning of September 11 2001. I was a sophomore at St. Louis University and I was headed to my philosophy class when I heard our nation had been attacked. As the news of the attacks spread across campus I was struck by the reactions of the faculty and students. You could see the horror on everyone's face and the disbelief in their eyes as people realized what was happening. We were all painfully aware of the human suffering and carnage that was unfolding right before our eyes. That day, September 11, we all witnessed a terrible and senseless loss of innocent human life. 

  If there was one good thing that happened in the days and weeks that followed September 11th, it was an increased appreciation for the beauty of human life and the realization that life was indeed fragile. There was a palpable sense of solidarity among Americans; even strangers treated each other more kindly. I also remember the resolve of our nation to reach out to the people of New York and to all of those who had lost loved ones in the attacks. Some people lined up to donate blood while others donated money or their time to help with recovery and cleanup. In the face of great evil, the people of our country rose to the occasion and resolved that this senseless massacre of 2976 innocent human lives would never happen again.

As we gather here this weekend, I am sad to say that innocent life is still under attack in our country. On this day (weekend), which has been dedicated to the memory of those victims of the terrorists’ attacks in New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington D.C., the Church calls us to unite in prayer for peace in our country and for all our brothers and sisters whose lives and dignity are compromised by violence. But what are some of these offenses against the dignity of human life? If you open a newspaper or turn on the TV, you will see many of them. There are growing numbers of people who are suffering and dying because of war, power-hungry rulers, and insufficient food. Others are oppressed by torture, unjust imprisonment, and unnecessary death sentences. Still others are crushed by poverty, violence in their neighborhoods and families, and the lack of proper healthcare. Some of these things are experienced by men, women, and children right here in our country, right here in our own city.

 However, there is another attack on innocent human life which is even more serious than the atrocities I have mentioned and only serves to perpetuate the cycle of violence that afflicts so many in our world today. This moral issue is the single most important problem of our time and yet there are many who would rather not talk about it. I am speaking of the taking of innocent human lives through the intrinsically immoral actions of abortion, destruction of human embryos for research, and euthanasia. These issues trump all other moral issues because they involve the fundamental right from which all of our other rights flow, and that is the right to life itself.

 In a particular way, on this anniversary of 9/11, we should reflect on the scourge of abortion in our country. Never in the history of the world has such a sustained attack on innocent human life been tolerated, much less legally sanctioned. Since its legalization in 1973, abortion has claimed the lives of nearly 50 million children in our country alone! 50 million children! Around 1.3 million abortions are carried out each year in our country alone! That works out to 3300 babies every day, or about one child every 28 seconds. In the time it takes to deliver this homily some 20 babies will die. Frankly, these numbers take my breath away. 50 million is over four times the number of victims murdered in the Nazi Holocaust. These children could have filled six cities, each the size of New York. One third of my generation has disappeared because of abortion. In our country the death toll of Sept. 11 has been repeated each and every day for 38 years!

 Far too many innocent lives have been taken in the past 38 years by abortion. And untold numbers of our brothers and sisters have been lost by destructive embryonic stem cell research as well as euthanasia. And while this pro-life message is often unwelcome, unpopular, and difficult, we, as members of Christ’s faithful cannot fail to be a voice for those who have no voice of their own. We cannot hope for peace and justice in our country without first tackling one of the greatest injustices in human history! 

 But I don’t stand here preaching to you without hope. Our greatest hope is in the inexhaustible mercy of God. Despite the fact that our country has allowed the destruction of so much innocent life, I am certain that deep down America still values the gift of life.  This was proven in our nation’s response to the September 11^th attacks. Deep down we still believe that life is truly precious, life is beautiful, life is the fundamental right of every person and the very foundation of our country. But we must do more to protect those who cannot protect themselves. We must work to ensure that every person has the right to live regardless of whether or not their life is convenient, expected, wanted, or productive. And we must allow this pro-life mentality to transform the way we think, the way we vote, the way we live out our faith.

 Finally, let me make it clear; these offenses against human life in our country make victims of the living as well. If any of you have been involved in an abortion and are hurting please know that you can find healing, peace, and forgiveness from Christ in his Church, especially through the sacrament of reconciliation. It is important for each of us to remember that there is no sin, no offense too great for God’s mercy. There are ministries in our Church like Project Rachael and Project Joseph to help men and women who have been hurt by their decision to choose abortion as a solution to an unwanted, unplanned pregnancy.  

 As we come here to this Eucharist, let us renew our efforts on behalf of life. Are we doing enough? Are we willing to be a witness to life? Are we ready to challenge the institutions and opinions that support the ongoing slaughter of the innocent? May we honor the victims of 9/11 in the best possible way by building up a culture that respects and protects life in every stage, from conception until death.    

22nd Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

I have to ask you all a random question: Do you remember those optical illusions called “magic eye?” They were all the rage about 15 years ago. They could be found in reception rooms of the doctor’s office, on people’s coffee tables, and in the case of one of my relatives, framed and hung on the walls of their house. At first glance they didn’t look like much; just a collage of colors and patterns that appeared to be really busy wallpaper. But if you stared long enough, a hidden image or scene would ‘magically’ appear. Now, I have to confess, I wasn’t very good at the magic eye thing. I wanted to be but I found it really difficult to adapt the method of seeing the image that was hidden. In order to discover the hidden image, you were advised to bring the picture close to your face and stare at the middle of the page. Even though you were looking right at the paper a few inches in front of your nose, you weren’t supposed to focus on any given point or look too intensely at the image. Slowly you would move the picture back from your face and then the hidden picture would supposedly come to life, right before your eyes. I generally got impatient as I heard my siblings, one by one, exclaim, “I see it” and “that’s cool” while all I saw was a jumbled mess of colors and patterns. 

But every once and a while it would work. And the image would pop off the page in all its glory and I couldn’t help but see what used to be hidden and incomprehensible. It made all of the crossed eyes and frustration well worth it.

Now believe it or not, I mention the whole magic eye thing because it was the first image that came to my mind when I read the gospel we just heard. At first glance the words of Christ might appear to us as ridiculous, ludicrous, and hard to believe! What does he mean that “"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

How do we save our lives by losing them? How do we lose our lives by trying to save them? Even St. Peter is troubled by the words of Christ. He takes him aside and gently chides the savior. The first pope wants there to be another way for Christ and for those that will follow after him. Even this great saint struggles to see the picture that is hidden beneath these very difficult words!

This is indeed a spiritual magical eye! At first glance the words of today’s gospel appear as nonsense, as nothing more than a bold statement by Christ himself. If we look at what Christ is saying, with the eyes of the world, we will never see the wisdom behind them. But with the eyes of faith a beautiful picture emerges. With God’s grace, we begin to see life where the world sees death, joy where society only finds misery, hope and salvation where others despair and run away. 

I think if most of us are honest, we are suspicious of what Christ is saying as well. We live in a culture that spends enormous amounts of time caring for the body and trying to prolong life. Just walk down the aisles of Walgreens to see the many ways that we try to medicate ourselves to avoid the cross and any physical suffering. Now I am not saying that we shouldn’t take care of ourselves or stay away from medicine. But all of us have that tendency to run from the cross, to avoid every ache and pain, and to view suffering as worthless and without purpose. 

Jesus invites us today to look at things a little differently. He wants us to see what he sees. He wants to live like he does, to love as he loves. In return, he promises to save our lives. Maybe not by adding years to this life or taking away every setback or suffering, but certainly by giving us eternal life when it really counts, in the world to come. To receive this eternal gift, we have to be willing to accept suffering. Actually, not just accepting it but even embracing it. We have to be ready to witness to Christ and carry the cross that he gives us. For some of you, that will be in the form of financial struggles and worries. For others, it will be a person, a relationship, perhaps even a spouse or child who drives you to your knees. Still others will find their cross in caring for a loved one or battling illnesses of their own. 

If you embrace your God-given cross, if you agree to carry it with love and obedience behind the one who carried his cross to Calvary, well, he will open your eyes. He will enable you to see the magnificent reward, the everlasting life that he has prepared for those who let go of their plans, of their own desire for control, their own idea of the good life, and are willing to come and follow him. Countless men and women have done so before us and they have found the fulness of love, life and joy in the midst of what the rest of the world might simply see as misery. Christ invites you and me today to take up our cross, to save our life by losing it to him. Will you follow? 

First Foray into the Digital World

Greetings Friends, Parishioners, and Fellow Pilgrims,

For some time now I have been thinking about starting a blog to share my homilies and reflections here at the parish. Some priests are much more tech-savvy and efficient with their time. Others have found ways to record their homilies and publish podcasts. You won't find anything fancy like that here. What I hope to share with you are the fruits of my daily prayer and ministry as well as my weekly homilies. If they are helpful, praise God, and let us pray for one another!

Fr. Kevin Schroeder