The Beauty of Family (Feast of the Holy Family)

To listen to this homily, click here


Talk about the great joy of gathering for the holidays

-being from big family means lots of outrageous and hilarious stories; this year’s highlight was when the potatoes in the oven caught on fire. When my brother threw them out the side door, the leaves in the yard went up and we were out in the yard doing the Texas two-step to put out the flames.

-lots of catching up and getting opinions on just about everything; this year it was the future of hydrogen-powered cars and whether Tesla vehicles have crested or not.

-In the family there is comfort, security, acceptance, sharing, and love.

+Church has the highest regard for the family; calls it the domestic church and the building block of society.

-If you want to know how healthy a society is, look at the health of its families.

+It’s no secret that many of our families in this day and age are under attack:

-dangers include: divorce, redefinition of marriage, cohabitation, non-stop sports and other activity, and the promotion of selfishness among our young people which discourages any sense of obligation or obedience to parents and other authority figures.

-The family is under attack because the devil knows it is the most effective way to turn people away from God, if he can introduce fighting, anger, hatred, sadness, suffering, division, and dysfunction into our families, then he will have an easier time leading us astray.

+Because the family is so important, the Catholic Church tries to be present and supportive to our families at every stage of life. Notice how many Catholic hospitals are present and how many babies are welcomed into the world and into their families a catholic-run hospital. And how many of these same institutions care for our kids when they are sick and our elderly as they age. Our parishes educate and instill the christian virtues and values into our young from grade school through college. Each parish offers marriage prep for couples preparing for the holy sacrament of matrimony, and of course there are many other programs and groups within our Church that try to help and support families in every part and circumstance of life, whether they be joyful, mundane, or tragic.

-Our faith wants families to be healthy, happy, and secure. When our families are hurting, the Church is robbed of its vibrant spirit and its mission is compromised. 

+This is why we celebrate the great feast of the Holy family, just a few days after the incredible celebration of Christ’s birth. Just as Jesus became one of us, he also was born into a family like us. He had a mom and a dad, he grew up learning from them how to eat, drink, clean, study, pray and countless other things that you and I picked up from our families. 

This celebration of Jesus’ family is also a celebration of our own. A time when we can reflect on the perfect example of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, and apply the example of their lives to our own.

Pope Paul VI, in a beautiful reflection on the Holy Family, offers three main points that we can think about for ourselves:

1. Silence: Jesus time with his family was the majority of his life and also the most secret. 30 years of quiet learning, practicing, praying and loving; all preparing him for 3 years of public ministry. In the safety and quiet of the his family, he grew, learned and heard the voice of God. Would he be able to do the same today, in the typical american family where kids are being shuttled from one activity to another constantly? Where families rarely sit down to eat together, without a tv on or some other distraction? Parents, are you trying to do your best to protect your families from those dangers that attack the family? Is there time to be together and pray as a family? Are you watching out for the spiritual dangers that are often more subtle and dangerous? Vigilance and silence are possible and necessary for our families if we want them to be holy, nurturing places where each person is know and appreciated properly.

1. Family life: Even though there is little we know about the daily routine of the holy family, we know it would have been similar to ours in many ways. Imagine all the little lessons he learned from Mary as she prepared meals, cleaned the house, did the wash, mended clothes, and went shopping in the market. How constantly he was watching and soaking in everything that Joseph said and did as they worked together in the wood shop, and repaired the house, and helped out the neighbors. Everything he experienced in those 30 years of family life became part of his preaching and parables. What are the lessons that your children are learning from their family life? Is there an example of warmth and genuine care for them as they grow and develop? Is it clear that they are the number one priority, more so than careers, social lives, vacations, or personal comfort and possessions? Do they observe love, forgiveness, patience and mercy from their parents? Is your home a school of virtue and charity, a place where God is found and promoted? Children and young people, are you willing to become like Christ, humble and obedient to your parents? Are you grateful for the many sacrifices they make for you, many of them unknown and unappreciated? Do you realize that you owe them your respect and love, even when you disagree with them and they drive you crazy?

3.   Finally, The holy family teaches us about work, its value and the discipline it requires.

-Work makes us holy and keeps us occupied.

-it develops our talents and helps us to contribute to our families and society.

-Honest work makes us responsible stewards of what we have and helps us to appreciate what God gives us.

Work is part of God’s plan and any work, in the home, our studies, or our careers can all become a prayer and a proclamation of the good news.

Let us find inspiration in the hidden life of Christ to live a virtuous life, developing our personal gifts, and contributing to society with our work. May this feast of the Holy Family always remind us that we are not just members of a human family but also members of God’s family, brothers and sisters in Christ by virtue of our baptism.  My prayer for each of you in this Christmas season is that you experience the peace and joy of the Holy Family in your own households by imitating their example. May your homes be little Nazareths that make the world a better place and bring the light of Christ to a world so often afflicted by sin and darkness. 

A Father's Love (Christmas Day)

First, I want to wish all of you a holy and merry Christmas! To our visitors: Thank you for joining our community in prayer. For our parishioners: thank you for making St. Michael your spiritual family. 

As I was reflecting on this beautiful celebration, I wondered what we need to hear this particular Christmas. Some of you are pondering questions about the future, especially in the area of employment. Others may be struggling with loneliness or discouragement while dealing with illness or injury. Another common struggle seems to be family members who are estranged by past hurts and grudges. Most painfully, some of you are celebrating your first Christmas without a loved one. In these moments, we tend to question our own value and whether or not God cares about us. More than ever, we need to remember that our worth comes from God. It is who we are before God that matters, not how much we make, what we have accomplished or how fragile our family may be. He loves us for who we are, not for what we do. All good parents love their children for who they are, not for what they do. Our Heavenly Father's love for us is infinitely greater than the love of even the best of parents. 

He loves us with an unconditional love, a love beyond our comprehension. How can we understand that the Creator of the Universe loves us so much to send this own Son to become one of us? It did not matter what roadblocks we put up as a people or as individuals. His love penetrated the barriers created by our hostility. We have been given the Gift of His Presence in our world and in our lives. This is what we celebrate on Christmas. I would like to offer an analogy of God's love, using a situation that many families experience. 

The mother of a family could never be at peace with the fact that the third of her five grown children would be absent for Christmas as he was for all family events. The father had been more concerned with his wife's grief, than the constant ache he felt within himself. Their other four children had remained close to their parents. But child #3, Robert, was completely estranged from the family. No one knew why. All seemed well when he went off to college. It was difficult to see him because he was on the other coast, three thousand miles away, but they knew he was where he wanted to be and was doing well in school. Then the silence started. They didn't hear from him. When they called, he was all-business. 

When they asked what was wrong, he simply said he was too busy to keep in touch. Then he became hostile. He wouldn't even answer their calls. He was on a scholarship and worked for his other expenses; so he did not have to rely on home for financial support. He didn't need his parents, at least not in his self-absorbed mind. When it came time to graduate, he sent his entire family a letter merely stating, "I'm getting my degree this Spring. I'd rather you not come.” His brothers and sisters were furious with the way he was treating his family. They tried to talk to him, but they were dealt with in the same manner as Mom and Dad. Years went by. Now Robert was in his late twenties. That's when a social worker called his parents. 

Robert had dependency problems, heroin to be exact, and needed to be in a recovery program. He had no insurance or money for it. Mom and Dad researched and found the best program available, but that program would demand a lot of money and also the involvement of the immediate family. Mom and Dad could have easily picked a different program, but they wanted the best for their son, even if it demanded that they take a second mortgage out on their house, which they did. It was also clear to them that Robert needed them to be there with him, even if he refused to recognize this need. Mom left her job and moved out to the other coast. Dad visited regularly. Robert experienced how much his parents loved him. Their love was deeper than he ever imagined. All good parents would look for ways to do what Robert’s parents did. Perhaps some of the parents here have sacrificed themselves and their futures for a rebellious child. If anyone were to ask you, "Why would you make so many sacrifices for a child who rejected you?” you would respond, "Because he is our child. Our love is stronger than his rejection.” 

By analogy, this is why our Heavenly Father sent the Word to become one of us. As a people and as individuals we rejected God. We had become too proud to need Him, too busy to give Him a place in our lives and, sadly, as a result, too empty to have meaningful lives. We need to experience His Presence to return to His Love. We need to experience His sacrifice to return to His Life. That is why He became one of us. The Christmas miracle is infinitely more than a mere event that took place 2,000 years ago. Jesus comes today and every day seeking to enter our lives. He comes because God has a deep love for every single one of us. You are loved by God. I am loved by God. His love is infinitely more powerful than our rejection. His love is unconditional. You may think, "Father, you have no idea of the ways I've rejected God.” Why do we do that? Why do we think that our rejection of God is more powerful than His Love? Why would Robert or any child who rejects his parents think his rejection was more powerful than their love. Why would we think that our rejection of God is more powerful than the Almighty Lover. His love is stronger than our sins, infinitely stronger. He wants to enter our lives. He forgives us. We need to forgive ourselves. Christmas is the celebration of the Presence of God among us in a way that we can experience, as one of us. His name is Emmanuel, a name that means God is with His people. He is with us, right here, right now, forever. 

He is not a spiritual entity hidden in the great unknown. He has become a human being with whom we can establish a real relationship. Tonight is the opportunity to renew that relationship, especially if we have neglected it for a long time. May you experience the miracle of Christmas, which is the manifestation of God's Love for you. Believe in this love. Be transformed by this love. And resolve to never run from it again. May God bless you abundantly in this happy season!

Real Housewives of the Old Testament (Christmas Eve)

 First, I want to wish all of you a holy and merry Christmas! To our visitors: Thank you for joining our community in prayer. For our parishioners: thank you for making St. Michael your spiritual family.

In case you didn’t notice it, we just heard 47 names in the gospel; most of which you will never hear outside of the bible. To be honest, I wouldn’t give many of those names to my worst enemy.... or a goldfish. What we may have missed in these unusual names is the fact that four women were included. This doesn’t seem strange to us, but in the time it was written it would have grabbed people’s attention because it was not customary for Jews to include women in their records and genealogies. And these were not just four women! They were imperfect, wild, scrappy, and sometimes manipulative. I would call them the real housewives of the Old Testament!

FIRST WE HAVE … Tamar who was the daughter-in-law of Judah. She was a childless widow, who was given to her brother-in-law after her husband's death, according to Jewish law. By this marriage, her offspring would continue the family name and receive an inheritance. Unfortunately, Tamar's brother-in-law refused her as his wife and they did not have any children. He was punished by God and died. Afterwards, Judah (Tamar’s father-in-law) would not give Tamar to any of his other sons. So Tamar disguised herself and became pregnant with Judah’s child!  Through him, she became the mother of Perez! Though her methods were unconventional, she persevered in following the law.

SECOND WE HAVE … Rahab. Rahab was a woman of the night who lived in Jericho. Risking her own life, she hid the two spies of Joshua.  Because of this, Joshua spared her life when they conquered Jericho. She later became the wife of Salmon, and the mother of Boaz. Rahab's faith was praised in the Bible even though at one time she had lived an immoral and disordered life.

THIRD WE HAVE … Ruth.  She was a foreigner from the land of Moab and a widow of a Jew. Her mother-in-law, Naomi, also lived in Moab.  After both women lost their husbands, Ruth left her home and devoted herself to caring for her mother-in-law. While in Israel, Ruth was married to Boaz, one of Naomi's relatives. Despite the fact that she was not Jewish, Ruth became the mother of Obed, the grandfather of King David.

FOURTH WE HAVE … Bathsheba.  She was the wife of Uriah the Hittite, a captain in the army of King David. We all know the story of David and Bathsheba.  She was discovered by King David, who saw her and fell in love in her. She and David had an affair when URIAH was away, fighting for David’s army. When David discovered Bathsheba was with child, he tried to cover it up by summoning Uriah home from war, hoping that Uriah would have relations with his wife. Uriah came back to Jerusalem, but refused to stay with Bathsheba as long as his army was at war. As a result, David sent Uriah back into battle, with orders that Uriah should be sent to the front lines so that he would be killed in combat. After Uriah died, David took Bathsheba as his own wife. Bathsheba eventually became the mother of King Solomon.

These four women were not the kind of women you would expect to have such an impact on the kingdom of God. They were nowhere near perfect, and yet God, in His kindness and mercy, made them part of His perfect plan to bring forth the Savior of the world.”

I hope these stories touch the very core of your soul. Tamar's story is one of utter perseverance. Rahab's story reminds me to have faith. Ruth's story is a reminder of the power of love. Bathsheba's heart spurs us all to have more grace towards people.

What appeals to me in these stories of TAMAR, RAHAB, RUTH and BATHSHEBA is that each one of these women was flawed. They were not a typical choice to carry the lineage of Christ the King. They made mistakes. They were deceived by the world at certain points in their lives … and they also deceived.

But they also believed in GOD. They kept their faith. They knew deep within that God was supreme. They knew that God could restore them. They knew that He could redeem their past.

I find these stories encouraging for all of us.  I think these stories are relevant.  It’s very easy to “GET THEM”.  The characters are just like people who we might meet. In many ways, when we look at them, we are looking in the mirror.  

It’s easy to understand their despair ... their shame ... their perseverance ... their hope ... and their desire for redemption.  And I rejoice in God who saves, restores, and uses the unlikely for His greater purpose in this world. EVEN PEOPLE AS unlikely and sinful AS YOU AND ME! 

Matthew's genealogy of Jesus certainly reminds us that God does not always do things the way we do.  For this reason, there are some important lessons to be learned from Matthew's inclusion of the first four women.

a) Be very careful when you come to the conclusion that you have God "figured out" and know what God would do; you may be deceiving yourself.

b) God measures righteousness by different standards than do most of us; we need to place our faith in his standards and not our own.

c) God can make use of anyone to accomplish His purposes if that person places his or her faith in God in a dependent relationship.

d) Through His forgiveness, God often uses His power to value those we would reject.

To me, the greatest lesson of all is accepting this truth: God's ways are not our ways. No one ever understood God as completely and correctly as HIS SON, Jesus Christ.  No one ever modeled the physical behavior that God wants and honors as Jesus did. If we want to understand God and be a part of his plan to save, heal, and renew then we must stay close to Christ, whose birth we celebrate tonight/today. The best way to do this is by receiving the sacraments properly, coming to mass each week and making time for daily prayer. Through these things, we allow Jesus to teach us what it means to be sons and daughters of God.

May God bless you and your loved ones in this special season of grace. May you allow him to use your life to write the next chapter of salvation history so that you will be a blessing to many in the coming year.

Brown Paper Packages Tied up with String (4th Sunday of Advent, Cycle C)

One of the relaxing things I enjoy most is watching movies. On my days off, I am always on the lookout for a good film. Each Friday, I look forward to reading film critic Joe Morganstern’s reviews and recommendations for various movies foreign and domestic. As a result, I have seen many, many movies. But out of all the films I have seen, one of my favorites remains one that I first saw long ago and have enjoyed many times since. This movie is near and dear to many, probably to a number of you as well and it is titled, “The Sound of Music” with Christopher Plummer and Julie Andrews. It’s hard not to love this film’s winning combination of fun music, lovable characters, family values, and engaging plot-lines. At one point in this lovely movie, Julie Andrew’s character, Maria, sings about some of her favorite things. I won’t ruin the song forever by singing it for you, but one of them is "brown paper packages tied up with string." 

I couldn’t help but think of this image as the season of Advent begins to wind down and we look forward to celebrating Christmas in a few short days. My hunch is that most of the gifts that will be exchanged and found under trees will be wrapped in beautiful wrapping paper, full of shiny gold and silver patterns and holiday images. Some will have bows and ribbons and all will be beautiful to look at and impossible to resist opening. Very few will be brown paper packages tied up with string. And if we had a choice of which gift we would choose, based on appearances alone, most of us would prefer the one wrapped with beautiful paper and flowing ribbons. But is that a good thing?

In today’s readings, there is a certain preference for the one whom the world passes over. Take the first reading for example. In it, the prophet Micah encourages the little town of Bethlehem. Bethlehem was nothing in the eyes of the world. More than that, it was even insignificant in the eyes of the twelve tribes of Judah. It was a one-horse, or perhaps more accurately, a one-camel town. It was the hoosier-ville of biblical times, insignificant, unimportant, irrelevant. Not a place that you would brag about being from. But not for long! Micah shares some shocking news! God will make this little unimportant town, a place passed over by the world, the home of the messiah; here he will begin the salvation of the whole world. It will no longer be insignificant; now it will be known forever and always as a place honored and blessed by God. 

This underdog theme continues in the Gospel. Here we have two women who are experiencing unusual pregnancies. The first is that of Elizabeth. She has been barren her whole life and her marriage to Zechariah has produced no offspring. In biblical times, this was seen as a curse and even a punishment by God for some evil committed. She is no Heidi Klum! In the eyes of the world, her best days are behind her and her purpose is fading. She is not shiny, new, or flashy. But what does God do? He chooses Elizabeth to be mother of the last and greatest prophet to walk this earth. He entrusts to her the life of John the Baptist, who will prepare the way of the messiah. Yet another case of God choosing what the world has passed by and written off.

But this is not all, nor is Elizabeth’s pregnancy the most unheard of. She is visited by her cousin, Mary. Most bible scholars believe the mother of God was a young teenage girl around 15 or 16 when she had Jesus. This was common in a time when people’s life expectancy was a mere 30-40 years. In any case, Mary was a nobody. She was not a glamorous Kate Middleton whose every moment of pregnancy was covered by reporters and the masses. She was a poor girl who wouldn’t have been known by anyone but her friends and family. She was not a member of the royal family or the daughter of rich and powerful parents. This no-name maiden received the shocking news that she would become the Mother of God. And she would do this while still maintaining her virginity. Not exactly the way the world expected the savior to enter the world. And certainly not the person most would have chosen for this honor.

As we enter this fourth and final Sunday of Advent, we recognize that many of the gifts God presents to our world are, in the words of the “Sound of Music”,  brown paper packages tied up with string. They are not covered in bright flashy wrapping; they are not the first thing that catches our eye. So many times, the things endorsed by our culture as great or strong or important to success are little more than fancy coverings. When it comes to sharing his goodness with us, God is not interested in trying to compete with the flashy things of this world. He does not try to win our love with gimmicks or empty promises. 

What we learn from the readings today is that God often uses those things and people that the world dismisses as unimportant, irrelevant, and no longer useful. In Bethlehem, Elizabeth, and the Blessed Virgin Mary, we see three of God’s gifts in brown paper wrappings. Those divine sort of gifts are all around us but we often miss them, getting distracted by worldly presents that catch our eye and divert our attention. The lesson for us to keep in mind this Sunday is straightforward: do not discount what the world disregards. Do not discount the weak, the old, the unpopular, the unknown, or the simple. God may be working through them to bring his love and salvation into your life. Follow this advice and prepare to experience the wonders of God at work in the world this Christmas season. 

Rejoice! (3rd Sunday of Advent)

            Once again today, as happens so frequently during both Lent and Advent, St John the Baptist takes center stage. Often, in paintings and movies, John the Baptist is depicted as an ill-tempered, crazy, fire-and-brimstone preacher who scares people into repentance. There’s something wrong with that picture. First, such an idea fails to explain how he was able to attract such huge crowds and win over so many hearts. Second, it misses the main point of his message: that salvation is at hand! That message is exactly the opposite of a foreboding portrait of John as a gloom and doom prophet. In fact, when we truly understand and accept his notion of repentance, it becomes the source of a deeper joy than any other happiness we can experience in this life. That’s the whole point of today’s celebration.

             The Third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete Sunday, the Sunday of rejoicing. Now many of us priests don't necessarily rejoice at having to wear these rose vestments because people give us a lot of trouble. But clearly joy is the overriding theme of this week. That’s why today’s readings use the word twelve times. Jesus didn’t come to intimidate and oppress us; he came to save us. Salvation, friendship with God, the fullness of living in communion with our Creator and Redeemer, of being counted as members of his eternal Kingdom are all good things, not something to run from.

             This is the message of Christmas, the message we have been thinking about during these weeks of Advent. In today’s Second Reading, St Paul actually commands us to “rejoice in the Lord always.” And just in case we thought he was exaggerating, in the very next sentence he says, “I say it again, rejoice!” But we can only rejoice if our joy is based on something that goes deeper than the passing pleasures of this world. Our joy must be more than a full belly, a new car, wealth, health, or friend.

             True joy comes from knowing God as a friend, knowing him as one who cares for us and always wants what is best for us. This is the one thing in this life that never ends, and the one thing that no one can take away. This friendship with Our Lord is the source of a Christian’s joy, and is the gift Jesus brings us with his birth at Christmas.

             So how what are the differences between the joy of Christ and the joys of the world?

            First, it doesn't wear out. It comes from something that is always alive: our relationship with Christ. This is one of the reasons why the Christmas tree is an evergreen. In winter, the other trees are leafless and dormant. But the evergreen tree is still green and fragrant. It symbolizes hope amid winter’s lifeless, cold, and dark days. It is perfect reminder of Christ and his friendship with us.

             Second, Christ’s joy grows more intense as we advance in our journey of faith. This is why the vestments for today's Mass are rose-colored. They remind us of the color of the sky at the very brink of morning, when the sun is just beginning to come up. The horizon takes on a pale rose color that gradually gets redder and brighter as the sun rises. As Christmas draws near, we move from a somber violet to rose, finally celebrating Christ's birth with brilliant white or gold vestments.

             Lastly, the more we share this joy with others, the more we will experience it for ourselves. This, of course, is why we have the tradition of exchanging gifts on Christmas. Jesus says "It is more blessed to give than to receive." Haven't we experienced that profound feeling of joy and satisfaction, when we did something for another person, even if it was costly or difficult?

             But this profound joy we are reflecting on today, this profound happiness that comes from being a friend of God, is anything but automatic. For many people this season is a time of stress and anxiety. Every year we hear about outrageous stories of people fighting each other to get the hottest new gift for Christmas or going to extreme lengths to acquire a good deal on some electronic device. For many people, Advent is a time of distraction and as Christmas approaches, anxiety and unhappiness only increases.

             We can look at extreme examples of people's madness and content ourselves that we aren't as bad as others. But the spiritual life is not a comparison to others; Jesus does not reward us based on how we ranked against our neighbor. Rather, he rewards us based on how well we know, love, and serve him in this life. The best way to gauge whether or not we are doing this is to ask a simple question: how am I doing at imitating Christ?

             If someone were to follow us around with a video camera from the moment we left today’s Mass to the moment we arrive for next Sunday’s Mass, what kind of behavior would they record? Would our daily lives reflect a conscious effort to imitate our Lord’s honesty, integrity, purity, and sacrificial love? Would people see the repentant spirit encouraged by John the Baptist? Could they describe our actions as rooted in gospel joy or simply showing flashes of worldly happiness?

              There are still two weeks left in this Advent season. Let's use this remaining time to become better imitators of Jesus Christ.  Let's use this time to transform our lives so that we will look more like Christ at Christmas than we do today.  We can accomplish this by starting out each day in prayer, because without God’s help, we can do nothing. Also, we can make a true effort to treat our neighbors as we would like them to treat us – family members first, then friends, colleagues, teammates, and strangers.

            In this way we can be sources of that supernatural joy that comes from being friends of God. And we will have many opportunities to share this joy with those around us, especially those who have forgotten the true meaning of this advent season. Take to heart the spirit of Gaudete Sunday and may we, together with John the Baptist, St. Paul and Christians of all ages, "rejoice in the Lord always!"

FoMo (2nd Sunday of Advent)

Have you ever experienced a strong sense of anxiety because you are afraid you might be missing out on a great party or similar event? Have you ever had a nagging fear that maybe your friends are doing something without you? This feeling can put you in a terrible mood, it can lead you to check your phone compulsively for messages, and many people will get on social media to see what their friends are doing to make sure they didn’t miss something incredible. This experience, this feeling, has a name. Even though I think it sounds more like a cartoon character, it is no joke. The word is FoMo (F-O-M-O) and it is an acronym for the phrase “Fear of Missing Out.” FoMo is something that most, if not all of us, have felt at some time or another. It is something that teens and young people are especially familiar with because of the ways social media pervades modern life. And while the word “FoMo” might be something relatively recent, the feeling is as old as the human race. All of us hate to miss out on something good or interesting. That’s why people rubberneck on the highway after an accident. They don’t need to see it but wouldn’t it be terrible to drive past something that everyone might be talking about? That’s why people run out to scoop up great deals on things they don’t really need or can’t quite afford. It would be wrong to pass up such a bargain! Or, some of my friends are going to do something I don’t enjoy but I want to go anyway because I can’t stand the idea of them having fun without me. I could give more examples but you get the idea.

The reality is that people lose sleep over this stuff. FoMo keeps many people from enjoying the good things they actually have while they worry about something that may not even happen. Truthfully, most of things we fear missing out on, while they seem important at the time, really aren’t that significant. 

A good question for us to think about in this brief Advent season is this: Are we as worried about missing out on spiritual opportunities as we are about social ones? Are we paying as much attention to the invitation God is sending us to spend time with him as we are to the invites and evites from our friends and family? Are we equally anxious about missing out on the incredible deal to receive forgiveness of our sins as we are about something on Black Friday or Cyber Monday?

Honestly, probably not. Most of us, myself included, often have FoMo over the wrong things and as a result, we miss out on what is truly important and worthwhile. Fear of missing out on trivial things leads us to become neurotic and needy. It makes us paranoid and suspicious and makes it hard to enjoy the blessings we have.

By comparison, when we have a holy fear of missing out on the good things God wants to give us, we become more grateful and in tune with the gifts we have received. When we are on the lookout for God and his blessings in our daily lives, amazing things can happen. We can find goodness in situations where others only see hardship. We begin to see a silver lining in places of defeat, disappointment, or hurt. There is nothing negative that can’t be turned around or redeemed or blessed by God. 

Fear of missing out on the right things is the beginning of holiness. It’s what propelled the saints to make the most of their gifts, their lives and do their part to make the Church and the world a little bit better. 

Consider the spiritual opportunities you have right now. Did you know that we have multiple options to experience God’s complete forgiveness in the sacrament of confession? Or that we can receive the Eucharist any day of the week at daily Mass here or at any one of the many parishes nearby? Each of us has the chance to show God’s love to the people around us with a kind word of praise or affirmation, a mindful act of kindness, or a thoughtful prayer for someone who is hurting. These, and many more, are the occasions we have to love, forgive, and grow for our benefit and the good of others.  

Advent is an opportunity stop and think about what it is that gives us FoMo. What are we afraid of missing out on? Even if they aren’t the correct things, there is still time in this beautiful season to make things right, to prepare the way for the Lord when he arrives anew in our hearts this Christmas. May we fear missing out on the proper things, the most important things this advent season so we can grow in holiness and receive the abundant blessings God wants to share with us. 

Why We Observe Advent (1st Sunday of Advent)

Why do we have Advent? Does it really make anything different for us? Unless you are a liturgical nerd or a priest, you might wonder. Some explanations could be, “I don’t know, it always just comes along.” Or, “to prepare for Christmas.” But Christmas came long ago, and if Christ has already been born, what is this Advent- waiting about? Are we really going to forget about his birth?

In fact, one great reason for us to observe Advent each year, is our forgetfulness. we may not forget the historical event of Christ’s birth but our hearts get drowsy and lazy, tired out by the anxieties of daily life. Maybe we distract ourselves from troubles by over-working, or becoming depressed, or becoming fascinated with drink, or pleasure, or out-of-control emotions, or gambling, or email, or sports, or surfing the web, or how people view us. Whatever it is, the clear message of Advent is, “Settle down for a while.” Open the door a little bit and let God in.

There is a method to help us do this. Each week’s First Reading is the carrot: something positive, a promise of good. Then the Gospel hits us with a big stick to wake us up. Take the encouraging First Reading this Sunday. It reminds us of the promise God made to his people: righteousness and justice will come to the earth. There will be security. The day of the Lord will arrive, though long delayed. Peace in our day.

How rewarding it is to desire such a time. Is it too good to be true or just a pious thought? Read the First Reading and ask yourself those questions. Spend time with them. Pray to God for help. The Responsorial Psalm will aid you. It asks God to make known his ways to us, to guide and teach us. The Second Reading urges us to put God’s promise of peace into action, even if we are not sure what it means. Love others and be loved. 

Then there is the Gospel. It tries to wake us up, especially if the above has not helped. Signs in the sun, moon and stars, nations in dismay, the roaring of the sea and the waves, people dying of fright, and the Son of Man appearing in the clouds with power and great glory!

Terrifying.

Will such a shakeup happen literally like the gospel describes? We do not know. Maybe much worse is still to come, judging from the state of the world today. Do we live with fear of terrorists or ISIS, of proliferating nuclear weapons, of lone-wolf gunmen, spewing their rage against innocent people, of the world economy crashing, or the greed that fills so many hearts to overflowing—in our city, in our state, our world?

If we can say “You are right, I am afraid of these,” then we have a start on the reason we need Advent every year.

But maybe our hearts aren’t forgetful at all. Perhaps our issue is not being distracted so much as procrastination. How many people assume they can always turn things around tomorrow; their relationship with God can wait one more day? Haven’t we been hearing these gospel warnings for 2000 years now?! When he was a young priest, Pope Benedict warned people not become complacent. He told this story: 

A traveling circus in Denmark caught fire. To fetch help the manager sent his quickest runner, who happened to be the clown. The clown was already dressed in his uniform so when he told the townspeople about the fire, they began to laugh. No, he said, the fire is blazing and it could spread across the dry grass and threaten the village. "Please, bring buckets of water," he pleaded. The people applauded his performance and as he became frantic, they laughed till they cried. The fire did spread and it engulfed the village. It was too late. Both the circus and the village burned to the ground. 

At the beginning of Advent I feel a bit like that clown. But to tell you the truth, I feel even more like one of the townspeople. Like you I've heard the warnings before - they were false alarms. I'm eager to be amused, but not to take action. I often assume I can wait another day, at least until things settle down a bit. 

Advent reminds us that now is that time. Now is the time to open our hearts to conversion. Now is the time for reflection and change. Do it now so God can bless our world with better things. Christ has to be born anew. Yes, it worked the last time, but we forget so easily and become complacent. His birth must happen again, in our liturgy, in our lives, in our world, so that his sacrifice will not be in vain. This is why we have Advent each year. This is why we need Advent each year.

Viva Christo Rey! (Christ the King, Cycle B)

           On Monday, we will celebrate the life of a remarkable young man named Miguel Pro. Blessed Miguel was born in 1891 in the area of Guadalupe to a prosperous family. By all accounts he was the life of the party, often disposed to practical jokes, mischief, and dangerous stunts. He was a handsome young man, very intelligent and witty, and he enjoyed socializing with the senoritas as much as they liked spending time with him. As the eldest son in the family, he was in line to take over the profitable family business and live a comfortable life.

            But when he turned twenty, Blessed Miguel discovered that God was calling him to the priesthood. He gave up everything that he had, and he had many good things, and joined the Jesuit order. He had to study outside of his native Mexico because the country had become violently anti-catholic. He was finally ordained a priest in 1925, at the age of 34 and he returned to Mexico the following year. From this time on, Blessed Miguel Pro became something of a legend to both friends and enemies, because of his courage and cleverness.

            The persecution was in full-swing now, churches were closed, and the only priests that were alive were those who were in hiding. Blessed Miguel used all of his cleverness to disguise his identity in order to carry out his priestly ministry. He dressed up as a beggar at night to do baptisms, he would disguise himself as a police officer to visit Catholics in jail, and he would wear a perfect suit to visit wealthy neighborhoods, appearing as a salesman while begging for the poor.

            Eventually he was captured by the government and sentenced to death by firing squad. Unafraid, he knelt down, a crucifix in one hand and a rosary in the other and prayed for the men who were about to shoot him. He refused a blindfold and faced his executioners bravely. In his final moments on this earth, he stretched out his hands, imitating Christ on the cross and exclaimed "Viva Christo Rey" - which means "Long live Christ the King." His death energized the Cristeros movement, which eventually forced the Mexican government to stop persecuting the Catholic Church and her clergy and recognize the rights of the poor. This struggle was made into a movie recently, called For Greater Glory.

             The life and witness of Blessed Miguel Pro leads us directly to the feast we celebrate today, the feast of Christ the King. His last words of "long live Christ the King" were the climax of a life that loudly proclaimed that truth. Here was a man who was able to give up all that he had, including his very life, because his allegiance was first and foremost to Christ; not to himself or to anything here in this world. This feast day invites us to do the same in our own lives. It should make us ask questions about what is most important to us, what are our top priorities?

Do we allow Christ to be Lord of our lives and king of our hearts? Or do we allow a desire for earthly power, personal autonomy, and worldly comfort to take hold of us? Do we choose Christ’s version of power, with its mandate to serve others and sacrifice ourselves? Or do we seek the power of this world, which so often crushes and dominates?

At this time, we still enjoy religious liberty in our country. But anyone who reads the news and is aware of the social climate knows that even now in our country some of the core values of our faith are under attack. In many corners of our culture, it is not Christ who is king but rather cash, power, prestige, comfort, convenience, and unlimited personal freedom. Sadly, we see people who call themselves Catholic who embrace these things rather than Christ. The same can happen to you and me, if we are not careful, if we do not give Jesus pride of place in all that we think, do, and say.

            So how, practically speaking, do we make Christ the king of our lives? How can we be sure that we are not just paying lip-service to the King of kings and the Lord of lords? Asking a few simple questions can put us on the right track. Do I give Christ some quality time each and every day in silent prayer? Do I allow him to speak to me and do I listen to what he says? Or, do I simply assault him with requests, demands, and complaints? Do I worship him at Mass, at least once a week on Sundays or am I counting the minutes until I am out of church? Do I know who Jesus is, both through reflective prayer and through the Scriptures, in which he reveals himself? Is my life about pleasing me and taking care of myself or is it centered on pleasing God and taking care of others? Am I investing the best of who I am, the best of what I have into the things of this world or do I give the best of everything to the greater honor and glory of God?

            If we are honest with ourselves, each of us can do better in most, if not all, of these areas. Celebrating Christ as King means giving him pride of place in our daily lives and not just in the times we find ourselves here in church. Jesus has promised wonderful things to those who love him and follow him during their time on earth. But he does require us to listen to him and to be ruled by his word. This is demonstrated not by what we say but by how we live. Most, if not all of us, will never have to lose our lives in witness to Christ. All of us, however, must let our lives give witness to Jesus and his spiritual kingdom. Through the grace of God and the example of Blessed Miguel Pro, may our lives daily proclaim, "Long Live Christ the King!"

The End Times (33rd Sunday, Cycle B)

Throughout the ages, in every culture, people have been preoccupied with the end of the world. Just think about how many movies have been produced around that one theme of doom and gloom and the struggle of the human race to overcome the threat, whether that be from natural disaster or some alien invasion. Hollywood knows there is a lot of money to be made in offering movies about the endtimes as demonstrated by success of movies like: War of Worlds, Armageddon, The Day After, Battle Los Angeles, and Independence Day, to name a few. Certain cataclysmic events raise the fear and promote discussion about when the end is coming and what it will look like. People have found their fame making predictions about just how and when the apocalypse will happen. A few years ago, there was discussion about the Mayan prophecies for the year 2012. According to this pagan culture, December 21, 2012 would mark the end of the world as we know it and usher in a new era. The ancient Mayans are not the only ones to make such a claim. The French seer Nostradamus enjoys fame and intrigue, even today, some 500 years after he lived because of his predictions about disasters and the end of the world. When the Hale-Bopp comet appeared in 1997, members of the Heaven’s gate cult took it as a sure sign of the end times and followed it to disaster. How many of us remember when the year 2000 approached and many were feeling panicked about the supposed computer glitches that would usher in an apocalypse of mayhem and anarchy.  Despite all these predictions, even with the panic and anxiety that some of them have brought, well, the world still stands. But people will continue spend too much time thinking and worrying about when and how the apocalypse will come.

The readings we just heard have nothing to do with the Mayan Prophecies, monster astroids, or alien invaders. They speak about the end of time but with a particular emphasis: those who trust in the Lord, and who live His life to the best of their ability have nothing to fear. Daniel says that the archangel Michael is the guardian of God’s people. We usually address this archangel as St. Michael. Daniel calls him “God’s Prince” and says when the final days come, Michael will gather God’s people together including those who have died. The wise will shine brightly. In the Gospel reading Jesus says that on the last day, the angels will gather the elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky. By the way, Jesus also says, that no one knows when the last day will come, not the angels, not even the Son, only the Creator, the Father.

The basic message, despite this uncertainty, is, “Do not be afraid. Trust in God. He will care for you.” We need to do our best to get out of the fearful mindset and live as people of faith. God is infinitely stronger than the forces of the world. He loves us as his people. He loves us as individuals. He loves us more than we can fathom. If we try to be open to His Presence, He will take care of us even if we were to be alive on the last day. St. Augustine put it this way, “If we do not resist the first coming of the Lord, then we will have no reason to dread His second coming.” In other words, if we live the way He told us to live when He was here on earth, then we have no reason to fear when He comes again at the end of the world.

The church wants us to reflect on death and on the end of the world, not because of some morbid fascination but, ironically enough, to help us live our lives better. Reflecting on death helps us to live our lives to the fullest. If you have ever talked to someone who survived a serious accident or illness or who has had a near-death experience, you know how much they value life. The Catholic Church recognizes this truth and wants us to benefit from it as well. It is easy to go through life, day after day, month after month, year after year, and forget how precious life is and how valuable time can be. Stopping to think about the fact that it will end at some point helps us to see what a blessing our existence is and make sure we don’t take it for granted. 

Secondly, our annual reflection on death, dying, and the end of the world reminds us that this life doesn’t last forever. We can get pretty comfortable in this world and spiritually complacent as time marches on. These readings keep us on our toes and force us to consider some uncomfortable truths about our state of preparation for the life to come. For example, if I told you today your life would be over by the end of the weekend, would you be happy with how you lived your life? Would you feel satisfied with the state of your relationships with family and friends? Would you be content with how you had spent the time given to you? Would you be grateful and at peace? Or would you have serious regrets? About relationships, decisions and priorities? What is it that you would change or no longer consider important?

These reflections are not meant to paralyze us with fear or regret. It is not some scare tactic the Church uses to put us in our place. Rather, they are intended to bring us to a deeper faith and conversion in our relationship with the the Lord, who wants to remind us that he has prepared wonderful things for us in the life to come. In the final analysis, these readings about death, dying, and the end of the world should bring us peace because they remind us that God is in control. It is not necessary for us to fix everything happening in the world or even make sense of it all. We do our best to give ourselves completely to Him, knowing that he has already given Himself completely to us. As people united to the One who brings life through death, we trust our Savior will care for us in every struggle and circumstance, without exception. May we never forget the words of Daniel in our first reading: “the wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament, and those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever."  

Wisdom of Widows (32nd Sunday, cycle B)

I am, by nature, a cautious person. Maybe that is due to my place in the birth order; the oldest child is normally not a risk-taker. I like to have every scenario covered. I keep flashlights in my car and in the rectory. I have water filters in multiple locations in case of a natural disaster or zombie apocalypse. My car is a moving triage vehicle with a first-aid kit, jumper cables, air compressor, and tool set. This cautious approach can be helpful, except sometimes, I fall into it when I deal with God. There are moments when I am cautious with God and his invitations. I rely on my own wisdom and preparation, I consider the earthly odds rather than going “all in” with what God offers.

Today we meet two widows who do not treat the Lord with caution. Both are everyday, hard working women. Both are poor. Both put their trust in God. Both are rewarded for their faith. 

The first widow is from Zarephath, a coastal city on the Mediterranean, northwest of the Kingdom of Israel. Elijah traveled through this land during a famine. This woman was poor. When Elijah met up with her, she was putting her last scraps together for a final meal before she and her son would die. Imagine her as one of the 925 million starving people in the world today. Imagine her son as one of the 1.5 million children who die of starvation each year. Now a stranger goes up to this woman and asks for food in the name of the Lord. Hospitality to strangers was a law of God. Should the widow turn from God’s law or should she share the little she had? The woman put her total trust in God, and she received enough for her and her son to eat for a full year, when the famine ended. 

The second widow from the Gospel put two small coins into the Temple treasury. Jesus was people-watching, observing the people’s giving. There were big shows as some of the wealthy came forward letting everyone know about their great generosity. After all, the money from the wealthy had paid for most of the rebuilding of the Temple. What value did the widow’s small coins have next to their thousands? But Jesus knew how much she was really giving. It was far more than two small coins. Her donation, although it seemed insignificant, was tremendous because she gave all she had. Her donation was an act of putting her faith in God to care for her. 

What these two widows did is extremely difficult for us. I know there are many of you with great faith, but I also know that no matter how great our faith, it is extremely difficult to put our total trust in God. There is something within us all that looks for solutions to our problems outside of the realm of faith. Perhaps as rugged individualists, we think we can solve our own problems, conquer obstacles ourselves. Certainly, we are all tempted to believe that enough money applied in the right places can heal all ills. 

The great lie of our time is that money and things can solve our problems and provide safety. It is the job of advertisers to convince us that we can buy happiness, and they have done their job well. The truth is, among those who have been blessed with material success, the happiest are those who trust in God, not in their wealth. All you have to do is look at the many sad examples of rich and famous people who spend their lives and fortunes looking for happiness everywhere but in God.

The radical message of today's readings is that we must place our confidence in God rather than in our material possessions. This is difficult for us because it demands our practicing the forgotten virtue of humility. Humble people recognize where they stand before God. Humble people recognize their profound need for God. Humble people are certain that the presence of God in their life is fundamental to happiness. 

The two widows gave from their substance. They put their trust in God, shouting with their actions that his presence in their lives was infinitely more important than any single thing they owned, even more important than everything they owned. They give us the example of ideal Christians, humbly trusting in God and generously returning the blessings they received from him.. 

There are times that we are deeply disappointed in our world, our American society, and even our fellow Catholics. Gospel values are ignored, or, at least, not given their proper priority. Many ignore life issues, from conception to natural death, and only worry about other, lesser issues. From grade school through college, our children are immersed in the glorification of secular values along with the subtle and not so subtle mocking of all who believe in the spiritual. We turn to the Church, but sometimes we find priests and bishops who are more concerned about careers or comfort than caring for the flock. 

When we feel disappointed we need to put our trust in God. No where in scripture did He say that His followers would be in the majority. He never said that following him would make you wealthy, comfortable, or popular with everyone. But He did say that He would be with us every step of the way. Like the two widows, we need to give Him our all. We need to put our faith and our trust in Him, and we need to be assured that He sees us; He knows us, and He cares for us. This Divine Assistance stays with us always, no matter how rich or poor we are. 

I hope we can learn from the two widows in our readings, never being cautious with God. I pray we can support each other in generosity and faith so, like these holy women, we will always know what is truly important and share freely with God and others.