What is Your Tune? (5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B)

A small town in New Mexico decided to have an auction to raise money for a community center.  The townsfolk looked through closets and drawers, investigated their attics and garages and finally managed to gather a rather impressive collection of trinkets, white elephants, bits and pieces of furniture and other slightly more valuable items. 

On the day of the auction things moved along pretty well, several thousand dollars had been raised by the time the last item was brought forward - an old violin covered with flecks of paint and coated with dust and grime.  It had obviously been in the back of someone's garage for years.

   "What am I to bid for it", asked the auctioneer, holding it out at arms length.  There was only silence.  "Come on," he persisted, "say something".  Finally someone yelled out, "fifty cents", and everyone laughed. Then, from the back, an old man, whom no one knew, came to the front and asked to see the violin.  He took it into his arms and began to play it. Its beautiful sound filled the room and touched everyone's heart. When he finished, he handed the violin back to the auctioneer and walked away. "What am I to bid", the auctioneer called out again. "$200! $300! $400!" and so the bids went on. Dusty, dirty, old, it was worth only fifty cents until it was played. Once it was put to use, it was worth hundreds of dollars. 

Keeping this story in mind, let’s look at our second reading from St. Paul to the Corinthians. St. Paul felt it was his duty to spread the gospel in every way possible to reach as many people as he could. Furthermore, St. Paul felt no need to pat himself on the back for doing this. Instead, Paul realized it was his responsibility to preach the gospels and said, “woe to me if I don’t!”   

At a time when traveling was difficult, dangerous, and incredibly time consuming, the apostle St. Paul travelled the world: Greece, Turkey, Italy, Spain, Samaria, Syria - he went to almost every place known to the "western" world of the time. In his travels Paul endured beatings, imprisonment, stoning, hunger, shipwreck, heat, misunderstanding, and abuse.

Everywhere Paul went he shared the good news of Jesus Christ:

- he shared it with his jailers while in prison,

- with the Roman governor while on trial for his life,

- with crowds at the market place and in the synagogues in numerous towns and cities,

- and with countless individuals in their homes.

And as he went from place to place presenting the gospel, it was necessary that he adapt his preaching so his message could be more easily heard and understood. He says that “To the weak I became weak, to win over the weak. I have become all things to all, to save at least some. All this I do for the sake of the gospel, so that I too may have a share in it.” And while we might say that Paul had a special calling to go forth and proclaim Jesus to the world, the essence of his calling is not special at all; in fact each of us sitting in church today is called to be an evangelist.

We, like St. Paul, are called to share the good news of Jesus Christ; to actually tell others about the Savior who has come to us, the Savior who has affected our lives, the God who has made us whole and who is even now changing us from sinfulness to holiness.

Unfortunately many, many Christians have no zeal what-so-ever for this task. Some think that it is rude or inappropriate to tell others about Christ, that faith is entirely personal and not to be discussed with others. There are also those who find it embarrassing to talk about their faith. Some avoid their calling by saying that they don’t want to confront others or make them uncomfortable. Many more say that they don’t know enough about their faith to share and yet do nothing at all to learn more about the one thing that can save their souls and the souls of others. Still others say nothing at all because faith just isn’t that important in their day to day living, it is not who they are or how they see world, it is more like an accessory. All of these are completely in contrast to St. Paul, who tried to be all things to all people so that at least some could be saved!

Paul’s faith was vibrant and strong. It was not set aside and forgotten about. His faith was like the violin that was played often and well, giving it incredible value and beauty. Is our faith like that of Paul’s? Does it permeate all areas of our life? Does our faith affect the way we live our life and treat the people in our lives. Or do we forget it; silence it and set it aside to collect layers and layers of dust? 

This is an urgent question for us today as we have listened the Archbishop’s response to a very troubling situation that is developing in our country. As you heard at the beginning of Mass, our president and the department of health and human services is requiring employers, regardless of their beliefs and values, to provide contraception and sterilization to their employees. This is an unprecedented attack on religious freedom and Catholic morals in this country. But as awful as this new policy is, (and it is truly evil), I think we have arrived here because far too many Catholics have failed to be zealous in sharing their faith and allowing it to inform the way they make decisions. For many of us, our faith has been like a little old violin, left in the corner of the garage or hidden in the basement, out of tune and unable to move those around us.

However, politics is not the only area where this lack of zeal shows itself. We need to ask ourselves how ready we are to live as St. Paul did, trying our best to be all things for all people so that at least some might be saved. For example, might we go forth from here, a little braver and more willing to defend our faith when people criticize the Church’s opposition to the president’s new mandate? Or will we remain silent? Or what about inviting a friend or co-worker to come to church with us some Sunday to see if our faith might fulfill something that might be lacking in their life? Can we call upon the zeal and courage of St. Paul by allowing our faith to drive everything that we do? Will we be secure enough in our relationship with God that we will not be afraid to publicly share our faith knowing that an obligation has imposed on us to share this wonderful gift with the world?

In the final analysis, we have all failed at times to do this, even us priests. The important thing is not so much to wallow in our past failings but to look forward to what we can do better in the future. You and I are called to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, perhaps in different ways and to different people, but to witness to him nonetheless. And if we do not, out of embarrassment, or fear, or laziness, well, St. Paul says, woe to us! For your sake, and the salvation of others please adopt the zeal and stewardship of St. Paul. Preach the gospel with your words and with your life, in season and out of season, strive to be all things to all people, so at least some might be saved. Do these things for the sake of the gospel and then trust that you too will enjoy a share of its saving power!

 

Fear the Lord! (4th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle B)

Every year, when we talk about the sacrament of confirmation, either in RCIA or to the eighth graders, we inevitably bring up the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps you adults in church still remember some of them, The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit are those special divine attributes that are offered to us as we become children of God, first in baptism and then, more completely, with our confirmation. Each of the seven gifts is unique and important, but one generates a great deal of interest and occasional confusion and concern. The gift that I am referring to is called “fear of the Lord” and it is characterized by a sense of reverence in relation to God and all things connected to him. Now this gift of the Holy Spirit, one of the hallmarks of God’s life within us, seems directly opposed to what we have been taught about God. Jesus loves us, right? God wants us to be happy with him in heaven, yes? He sent his Son to die for us, the same Son of God that we receive in the Eucharist as our spiritual food! How can we fear God? Isn’t he our friend?

Well, let’s take another look at today’s readings. In the first reading from Deuteronomy, Moses is talking to the people and he references an earlier incident, when the Chosen People first met God. This takes place in the 19^th chapter of Exodus and before the people can meet him, God tells them to fast for three days, to cleanse themselves and their clothes and to keep their distance from Mount Horeb, which was where he would appear. As a matter of fact, God told Moses that if any person or animal touched his holy mountain, they must be put to death immediately! After three days, when God descended upon the mountain, there was thunder and lightning, a loud blast of the horn, a dark cloud which surrounded the mountain, and the ground trembled. Not even Moses, the great prophet, could look at God’s face and live, so holy and awesome and perfect was the Lord. Understandably, the people were shaken by God’s power and majesty, so much so that they asked Moses to see if God would communicate with them in a slightly less intimidating way, through prophets who would relay his commands and message. In other words, the Chosen People were overcome by fear of the Lord after they had seen God’s majesty. 

Today’s first reading addresses the people’s request to have God speak to them in a different way. Moses announces to the people that God has chosen him as the prophet who will convey all  God wants them to hear.  The reading ends with two important warnings. The first warns of literal “hell to pay” if the people fail to listen to the words of the prophet. The second warns the prophet against speaking his own words or those of other gods, lest he face punishment. While the people may not directly encounter God’s presence like they did on Mount Horeb, they still need to fear the Lord and listen to what he tells them through the Law and the Prophet.

The fear of the Lord shows itself once again in the gospel, although in a different way that we might expect. Jesus goes to the synagogue to teach, and while he is instructing the people, he comes across a man with an unclean spirit. The demonic spirit within the man questions Jesus: “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?” The demon even acknowledges him as the Holy One of God, something many of the religious leaders wouldn’t do! Jesus tells the evil spirit to be quiet and to leave the man and this fearful spirit, which had tortured this man leaves immediately! Why? Jesus had the authority of God, the authority of his prophets. And as this miracle shows us, demons immediately recognized that authority and they responded to his command to depart from those that they afflicted - -  calling Jesus as they did so:"The Holy One of God".

Evil listened to Jesus,

Evil fled at the command of Jesus.

Even Evil feared God!

Who do we respond too? Who do we listen to? Who do we fear? Over and over again the scriptures say: The fear of God is the beginning of Wisdom. But the Fear of God is not very fashionable today. Many of us have come to believe that Hell is simply a metaphor, a scare tactic, a description of the pain & suffering we experience here & now, while others have convinced themselves that God's judgements are always good ones - good in the sense that God will not punish us for our sins or make us pay for our transgressions if we believe in him and in his son Jesus Christ.

Indeed, almost all of us have become so familiar with God's mercy, that we have forgotten the significance of that mercy, we have forgotten that God is to be feared and respected, we have forgotten that with God there is judgement, we have forgotten the demanding Holiness of our God, and as a result we have become foolish while thinking ourselves to be wise.

God's goodness is so tremendous, his Holiness so complete, that no evil can exist near it, Many of us listen to false prophets, we listen to those who tell us over and over again that God is not to be feared,              and that we can do this thing or that thing, and not worry about the consequences.

We listen to those who tell us with half truths and outright lies, that we do not need to obey every word of his Son, and that we do not need to believe in Him to be saved. We listen to those who tell us God does not judge his children, even though the Scriptures clearly reveal that God judges those he loves and punishes those whom he favors.

The truth about God is that he has authority and he has power. And further  - the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. The purpose of the fear of God is to keep us from sinning and it is a good thing!

We can and should be friends of Jesus, Jesus can and does dwell in all those who sincerely call upon his name, and his love, the love of God, is meant to set us free. But also remember that the love Jesus proclaimed is godly love; a love that casts out demons, a love that is willing to punish so that it might heal, a love that teaches so that it might bestow life and warn of death.

So let us embrace the fear of the Lord, knowing that it is the beginning of true wisdom. Let us take comfort in knowing that God has offered us this holy fear as one of his gifts, not to paralyze us but lead us to eternal life. Finally, let us thank God for his love, which is made all the more incredible and special due to his greatness and majesty, which is so far beyond us but is so generously offered to us, again and again. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his mercy endures forever.

Faith Has Consequences!! (3rd Sunday in Ordinary TIme, Cycle B)

I think one of the earliest lessons we learn as humans has to do with cause and effect. In other words, from a very young age, we come to realize that our thoughts, words, actions, and even our omissions all have consequences. For example, how long does it take a newborn baby to realize that if he or she keeps crying, there will normally be a response from mom or dad, whether that be food, attention, or something else. When children get a little older, they learn the nuances of this lesson. If you don’t listen to mom and dad, you get sent to your room or you get grounded, or you lose privileges. If you are nice and obedient, you stand a better chance of getting something when you ask for it. The older we get, the more weight our actions carry and they have more consequences, both good and bad. Even our ideas begin to have consequences! 

I remember having one of those lightbulb moments about all of this. I was about 9 years old and was really into playing darts at the time. I had a dartboard in the room and my parents were very reasonable, the main rule was that I could only throw darts at the dartboard and nothing else. At some point, I had seen this little story on the news where a guy was so good with darts that he could frame people’s head with them. Since I had younger brothers, I knew I had to master this skill. I managed to convince one of my brothers to let me frame his head with darts and after the first two throws, things were going perfectly. After the third throw, my brother was running around the room screaming with a dart in his head. Bad ideas, bad actions have bad consequences just like my good idea to bribe him with a quarter had the happy result that he never told my parents.

But as much as we understand and accept this truth about consequences in our day to day living, today I want us to consider another part of our lives where we might not make the same connection. When it comes to our spiritual relationship with God, to our life of prayer, does it have any real consequences? Are we truly people of holy ideas, holy actions? And do these good and godly things actually have an effect on how we live, the decisions we make, and the company we keep? 

The truth of the matter is this: Faith demands consequences. We cannot be people of faith if we do not speak out against immorality. We cannot claim to be people of faith, if our faith isn’t reflected in the lives we live and the choices we make. One way this faith might show itself is by refusing to allow our government to continue any immoral practice. In a particular way, this week, we American Catholics will remember the grim anniversary of Roe vs Wade, the decision of the Supreme Court to allow abortion. Many Americans  have elevated this court decision to the level of one of the articles found in the Bill of Rights. The fact is that the majority of Americans are against abortion. Those who march and protest throughout the country do so because they are people of faith and people who deeply love their country. They cannot sit back and allow lies and evil and death to continue.

            It is the same for every issue.  As Catholics we cannot allow our country to take advantage of the poor or the sick, to shore up its economy on the backs of poorer nations, or to promote our national interests with conflict or bloodshed. We cannot sit back and be non-committal to evil around us. Wherever and whenever we see evil, we must react against it. Faith demands consequences, it demands action. True faith cannot be complacent around sin and evil. 

The call of our Faith as Christians is urgent and immediate, just as the call to faith was urgent for the first disciples, for the people of Corinth, for the people of Ninevah. Faith must have consequences. Faith needs to be dynamic. Faith is bound to be counter-cultural. Faith changes the world. Faith is manifested in the integrity of men and women who live who they are.

You and I are called to be those people. People, whose lives are informed by their faith, defined by its character, and forever changed by saving action. It was faith that allowed the people of Nineveh to repent and be saved by the message of Jonah the prophet. Faith reminded the people of Corinth that St. Paul was right, this world is passing away and the eternal world is far more important and real. And Faith, enabled Peter and Andrew, James and John to leave behind their fishing nets and everything else they knew to come and follow Christ. True faith had true consequences in the lives of each of these people and even now, thousands of years later, we can see its effects and how it defined everything they did. 

May faith begin to have consequences in our life. May it be reflected in the friends we make, the words we say, the things we do, and the people we aspire to be. May we have the courage to be people of faith. 

Feast of the Epiphany, Cycle B

I’m not sure how many of you here in church this morning are Trekies? I myself am more of a Star Wars guy. But to those of you who are devoted fans of Captain Kirk, Spock, and the starship Enterprise, take heart because today the Church celebrates the original Star Trek, that took place some 1900 years before the popular tv series. I say this because we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany, that event where the three wise men go searching for the new-born Christ-Child relying only on the guidance of a star.

To begin with, there is little that the scriptures tell us about these men. We hear that the magi came from the east following a star and they brought with them gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Tradition tells us that there were three magi and that their names were Gaspar, Balthazar, and Melchior. It is supposed that they came from Persia and were members of a priestly class of people with some degree of wealth. Other than that, we really don't know anything else.

  So what is so important about this mysterious encounter between the Magi and the Christ-Child? What was so special about this visit that St. Matthew found it necessary to include it in his gospel?

Well, first of all, the word "epiphany" is significant. Epiphany is defined as "a moment of sudden revelation or insight." This meeting between the Magi was indeed just that. Here was a moment when Christ, the messiah for the Jewish people became the savior of all peoples. Here in this encounter between Jesus and these magi, Christ was manifested to the gentiles and showed God's intent to save not only his Chosen people but also the entire world. This broadening of salvation to the gentiles was a divine twist to the messianic expectations of Israel and is certainly good news to all of us. 

However, just as important and relevant for us today is the example of these magi in seeking and greeting the Christ-Child. How remarkable that they would spend weeks and even months pursuing a star into a foreign land! What faith these royal men must have had to follow the gentle light of a mysterious star to a humble house in Bethlehem! What patience to endure the long travel into the unknown and to continue undiscouraged, even on cloudy nights when the star was obscured! What open hearts these marvelous men must have had to be stirred by the interior promptings of God's grace and the exterior stimulus of the star!

And when they arrived at the house where Jesus, Mary and Joseph were resting, what was their reaction? The gospel tells us that they were overjoyed, and when they saw the child with his mother, they prostrated themselves and did him homage. As a final gesture of reverence and devotion, they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These gifts, each worth a great deal, are also symbolically rich. Gold was given in homage to a king; here the Magi acknowledge Christ as the Kings of Kings. Frankincense was burnt in offering to God and often represented prayers rising to the almighty. Not only did the Magi hail him as King, but they also acknowledged him as Lord. Their final gift was myrrh. Myrrh was a wonderful-smelling ointment that was used in the embalming of the dead. This final gift of the Magi foreshadowed the saving death of Christ, which would redeem the world from sin, and death. 

Now contrast this response of the Magi to the reaction of King Herod. The Magi were overjoyed at seeing the star leading them to Christ but Herod was deeply troubled. While the Magi were seeking this newborn king so that they could pay him homage, Herod was hoping to find the Christ-Child so that he could destroy him. Herod was threatened by the prospect of Christ the king because he wanted to be his own ruler. His god was his own will and he was ready to destroy anyone and anything that got in his way. Herod's was completely absorbed by the things of this world and his sole focus was trying to maintain his shaky dominion. In King Herod we see the ravages of sin in relation to Christmas. Sin does not seek Christ; it certainly does not rejoice in his coming. Sin offers nothing more than lip-service to the savior and oftentimes opposes him directly. 

As we rejoice during this Christmas season, we would do well to ponder this scene of the Epiphany in the gospel today. There is a little bit King Herod in each of us; .... we all have tendencies toward sin. It can be easy for us to become absorbed with the things of this world just as Herod was, especially around this time of the year. And if we are really honest with ourselves, we will see that many of our sins and shortcomings stem from a desire to be our own king, to do our own will. How often we are afraid to allow Christ to be King of our lives and we hesitate to offer him the treasures of our hearts! Such sinful tendencies cannot exist alongside the Christ-Child; whichever one we hold onto will destroy the other. 

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas, I am confident that each of us present here today truly wants Christ as the Lord and King of our lives. But we all know how difficult that can be. On this feast of the Epiphany, when we reflect on the example of the Magi, I invite you to imitate those faithful men. In this New Year, resolve to actively seek Christ just as they did when they followed the star to Bethlehem. Don't allow your spiritual life to be passive; search for Christ in the ordinary events of you daily life!! Secondly, when you encounter Jesus, whether it is in Church, in prayer, or the happenings of the day, make sure and offer him your homage. Don't forget that he is your King, your Lord, and your Savior! Finally, imitate the magi in opening your treasures and offering them to Christ. Whether it is your time, talent, or material resources, each of us have our own gold, frankincense, and myrrh to offer to Jesus through our thoughts, words, and actions.

If we actively seek Christ in our lives, we can be confident we will find him. He gives us the star of his grace in the sacraments and the teaching of the Church, which leads us to his love. And when we have found him, let us not hesitate to pay homage to him and enthrone him as King, Lord, and Savior. Our savior is born; come let us adore him!!