13th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Myth Busted)

Many, if not all of you, have probably heard of a show that has been airing on the Discovery channel for a number of years. It is called “Mythbusters” and the basic premise of the show is to take commonly held myths and urban legends and put them to the test. After these scientific tests, the myth is rated as busted, confirmed or plausible. In a similar way, the readings we just heard serve as a sort of “mythbusters” moment for us and so I would like to briefly touch on some of the beliefs the readings challenge.

Myth #1: Suffering, sickness, and even death are part of God’s will. We hear this all the time when someone we love is sick or has died and perhaps even when we have been ill. The truth is, sickness and death are a mystery, one we will never completely understand this side of heaven. In order to make sense of it, sometimes we pin it on God. But God never intended these things!

In the beginning, God created humans, starting with Adam and Eve, as a reflection of himself. He gave them dominion of all creation. In his incredible generosity and love, he even gave them free will, the ability to choose good or evil. In this, God actually limited his own power. Sadly, as we know, Adam and Eve sinned and literally threw creation out of sync with God. With their sin, death, sickness, suffering and every other maladies are now introduced into the world.

This is what sin does; it fosters chaos, upheaval, and conflict between people and between people and God. Every sin has this effect, whether it is large or small, according to the gravity of the offense. Think of the effects of the sins of notorious people like Hitler, Stalin, or Osama Bin Laden. Think of the millions of people who suffered because of their evil choices! Even more humbling and frightening, who is suffering because of our sins, who is affected by the immoral choices we have made?!

The truth is, God does not will our suffering, he does not will cancer, or heart attacks or little children getting sick and even dying. He does not desire natural disasters or terrible accidents or freak occurrences that injure and kill. He allows them them to happen, which, believe it or not, is even more painful for God than it is for us. 

So how do we reconcile the fact that God is all-good, all-powerful, all-loving, all-knowing and yet he still permits (which is not the same as willing or wanting) sickness, suffering, and death? Part of this is and always will be a mystery. However, the primary reason why God allows these terrible things in our world is because he respects our freedom. When God created us, he gave us the complete freedom to choose good or evil, life or death. The only way to eliminate the possibility of bad things is to take away that freedom, to make our choices for us. And while this might sound like a good idea at first, to take away human freedom is to also take away the possibility of love. God wants us to choose to love him and others freely. He is not interested in a forced love. Therefore, he accepts the risk that we might and often do, choose the opposite, which is to deliberately decide to not love God or others. This is what we call sin.

Every bad thing in our world, every suffering, sickness, disaster, or death has its origin in sin and is never part of God’s active will. The sin may not always be the product of an individual’s personal sin, but it is always due to the fact that nature has been wounded and set against God because of sin in general.

Myth #2: God takes our loved ones to be with him in heaven. 

This myth can be dismantled quickly if we remember the first reading. God did not create death nor was it part of his plan for us. Because of the sin of our first parents, which we call original sin, we have inherited the effects of their bad choice, just like we would have inherited the happy blessings if they had chosen correctly. The gospel today reminds us that our God is a God of healing and life. He restores the suffering woman who touches his cloak. He raises the little girl who had died. This is not a one-time thing but we see it over and over again in the gospels. God, in his wisdom, did not eliminate death from this world. Rather, he redeemed it. What used to be the end has now become the beginning of new and eternal life. This is wonderful mystery of God; when we, or someone we love, is suffering or dying let us remember that God is not willing or wanting these terrible things. However, he is so good and powerful that he can transform these tragedies into something worthwhile and meaningful. 

Myth #3: God lets children die because he needs another angel in heaven.

If this was true, God would be incredibly cruel and selfish. There are several issues here:

1. God can create anything he wants. If his angel inventory was running low, why would he snatch a beloved child from the world rather than just making a new angel from scratch?
2. More importantly, people do not become angels nor do angels become people. Ever. They are two different creatures. Angels are created persons with an intellect, will, and soul. They never have and never will have bodies. Human beings are created persons too with an intellect, will, soul, and body. When a person dies, their soul meets God and is judged according to their deeds. At the end of time, each person’s soul will be reunited with their body wherever the soul was sent, be that heaven or hell. For those in heaven, their bodies will be a source of dignity, joy, respect, and honor because their body was instrumental in helping live a life that was pleasing to God. The opposite will be true for those in hell, whose bodies will be an eternal source of shame and regret because they were used to offend God and man.

Related to the previous considerations, we know that God does not desire the death of children nor is it ever part of his plan. But, to make a world where no children would die would be to make a world of no freedom and ultimately, no love. We can be sure that God cares for every child who succumbs to injury, violence, or illness with the same tenderness and love that we see in the Gospel today. We believe he has created a place in heaven for every child to be free from any pain or worry for eternity and he wants them to be reunited forever with their loved ones in heaven.

It’s important that we challenge these and many other myths that exist about God. Otherwise, in our minds, he becomes cruel, arbitrary, inconsistent, distant, and untrustworthy. Our faith, the scriptures  remind us often that our God is a God of love, life, and healing. Let us remember this in times when we suffer sickness, persecution, loss, and death and know that he suffers with us. And may we believe that somehow, someway, he will redeem these moments of pain and make them something worthwhile.

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Father's Day)

Before I begin the homily today, I first want to wish all of the Fathers present a very happy and blessed Fathers’ Day. Please know of our gratitude for your faithful witness and willing self-sacrifice, which has been so formative growing up. After communion we will offer a special blessing for all of our fathers in appreciation.

What is it that makes a man? Is it determined by the car he drives, say, a big truck with tons of torque or a fast coupe with obscene amounts of horsepower ? Is it related to having a massive collection of tools on his workbench for every job and being able to fix anything? Is it decided by the grooming products he chooses? If so, it seems guys better choose Calvin Klein, Gillete, Armani, Axe, and Old Spice! Is it bestowed on males who make a lot of money, hold important jobs, or reach a certain rank? Does one have to reach a magical height, retain a certain amount of hair, wear certain clothes, or have larger than average muscles and lower than average body fat? I could go on and on, but you get the picture. 

In our culture, there are many different opinions on what makes a man. Some of these come from companies, trying to market their products by preying on fundamental male insecurities. Other views come from different cultural traditions and family customs. Still others come from religious sources, both progressive and traditional. 

It seems that all these ideas boil down to three basic theories or possibilities of what defines a man. They are as follows: 

1. A man is someone who is brutishly strong (emotionally, physically, mentally). To fit this description, the man is defined by being able to dominate, take what he wants, and keep others in line on account of fear and brute strength. The more macho, the more manly. In this view, men don’t cry, they don’t ask for directions (ever), they should avoid apologizing even when they know they are wrong, and they should run from feelings, pedicures, and skinny jeans like their life depends on it. This view could probably be described as somewhat traditional but on steroids.
2. A man is a helpless fool. He is like an overgrown infant, hardly able to tie his own shoes or contribute to his family. In fact, if it weren’t for his hyper-resourceful wife and perpetually-annoyed children, this man might not be able to survive. This view of manhood, often depicted in children’s shows and commercials, sees the man as a cosmic joke, emasculated, and burdensome. He is patiently tolerated by those who must care for him and deal with his countless mistakes and buffoonery. This is the complete opposite view from the first.
3. A man is simply a grown-up adolescent. He is forever stuck in his high school or college glory days of goofing off, hanging out with buddies, and trying to have a “good time.” This man lives for the weekend when he can escape work and responsibility. He dreams of expensive toys, man-caves, sports (real or fantasy), fishing, hunting, and trying to hide from a nagging spouse, who always finds something he does wrong. This view is a strange mutation of the first two.

These three ideas might seem outlandish and exaggerated. We may wonder who would take any of them seriously! But I would encourage you to look for these three caricatures of manhood the next time you see a commercial, watch a movie or show, or read a magazine. These false definitions are all around us!

There is, of course, one other ideal of what it means to be a man. It is open to every male, regardless of income, pedigree, or any other worldly measurement. This model produces true men in every respect but is ignored or rejected by many as foolish, outdated, and impossible. This ideal is embodied in the person of Christ, who, while remaining God, came among us as a man. Because God does nothing halfway, Jesus is literally the perfect man. By imitating his example and following his teaching, those with the XY chromosome do not have to search blindly for what it means to be a true man. There is actually an objective standard!

So, what qualities do we see reflected in Christ, most powerfully, Jesus on the Cross? We see a man who is strong, so strong in fact, that he carries the world’s sins on his back. He is powerful too. He can change water into wine, heal the sick, and raise the dead. However, he never uses his strength or power for his own selfish gain, rather he puts it completely at the service of God and neighbor. All of his works point back to God and help to alleviate the suffering of those who are sick, poor, ignored, and unwanted. Jesus is also decisive; he is not wishy-washy or weak. He is not afraid to teach or lead, always doing so by example. He does not take advantage of those who are vulnerable but protects. His tendency is to give rather than take. He is generous, merciful, compassionate, just, and honest. His actions are defined by calmness, kindness, warmth, and justice. He brings out the best in those around him, he empowers them with his patient guidance.

If this sounds too good to be true, too impossible for our men, well, it is….if we try and do it by ourselves. The virtues on display in the person of Christ, are available and attainable for every man who gives himself, both the good parts and the bad ones, over to God. Like clay in the hands of a most skilled sculptor, The Lord can and will make something magnificent out of our lives. Our world, our Church, and most importantly, our families need Christian gentleman as our dads, spouses, brothers, bosses, co-workers, priests, and friends. On this father’s day, let us lift up the men in this church, the men in our families, let us lift them up to God in prayer and support them in their call to be the face of Christ for us and for the world. Nothing could be better, nothing could be more manly!

11th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle B

In a family, each person adopts a role. Oftentimes, this role is not assigned or chosen but happens because of individual traits and personality. In my family, I grew into the role of fixer and problem-solver. As the eldest, this felt natural; my mom and dad trusted me with many things and I tried to help find creative solutions to all sorts of dilemmas. I liked to make things happen, come up with a plan, and see it carried out in an efficient, perfect way. I was always willing to give advice on finances to anyone who would listen, even when it was not asked for. I even tried my hand as match-maker for some of my siblings. Let’s just say its not my gift and thankfully they ignored all my suggestions! As I have grown older, I have tried to let go of this role. I have learned that it is often not my place to solve my family’s problems. I have come to realize that my parents and my siblings are capable people and they already have a savior whose name is not Kevin! They can make it through life without my non-stop advice!

My family has been good for me because they taught me that I should not try to control so many things. This is not to say that I don’t still struggle with my desire for control in my life and in the life of my family. I do, but they do a wonderful job of reminding me that God is God and I am not! They have also helped me learn patience. Patience to let them make their own mistakes and learn from them. Patience to watch them do something in a different way than I would. This patience is essential, both in a family and in the church so that others can have a safe environment to grow and develop. One of the essential characteristics of a vibrant Christian is patience. But even the best believers lose it sometimes. Certainly all of us, even the most mild-mannered, struggle to be patient in certain circumstances and with certain people. This is even more apparent in modern times, where we have grown used to things happening right away, as soon as we want them. One only has to think about how quick communications have become with instagram, snapchat, text messages, Skype, and the fact that most people now expect a response to their message right away. We can see the same impatience in the way we shop, the way we eat, and the way we drive.

Contrast this with Jesus’ description of the kingdom of God. He says, “it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and through it all the seed would sprout and grow.” To drive his point home, Jesus offers another image for the kingdom of God as he says, “It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade."

The ancient Hebrews would have understood the point of these parables instantly because they understood agriculture. Their lives depended on the crops they cultivated and the animals they raised.  Yet, they knew the wonder of growth belonged to the Lord. The people who heard Jesus tell the parable of the farmer's life also shared the wonder of the soil. The farmer worked hard during the day, but he couldn’t make the seed grow into a plant, nor the plant produce fruit. It is God and God alone who caused the growth. The people of Jesus’ time would have been acutely aware of how little control they had over their crops, and the weather, and what sort harvest they could expect. Whether they liked it or not, they had to be patient and trust that God would provide for their needs.

This is a necessary lesson for us as modern people. We have grown used to thinking that we are in control and we will master any situation with enough time and research. We have grown so impatient, believing that we must take charge and seize what we want. But how much mystery still remains in the world!? And how little we actually control!

The people of the ancient world were often a step ahead of us when it came to openness to the kingdom of God. They constantly came into contact with their helplessness and knew how much they depended on God for their basic, daily needs. The parables of the farmer and the mustard seed would have described a way of life that many experienced each and every day: It is God who plants the seed and God who makes it grow. We can cooperate with his grace but ultimately it is God who controls everything. We have to be patient, acknowledging that things happen in God’s time and according to his plan.

It is good for us to reflect on God’s patience with mankind and how patience is built into a true understanding of the kingdom of God. Imagine how easy it would have been for God to make us the way he wanted right away, to make us perfect instantly. Instead, God is patient with us, he gives us many opportunities to grow, and forgives our failures if we are truly sorry. Truly, God’s patience is one of the great gifts he shares with us and one we certainly don’t deserve. 

With the example of God’s patience in mind, we might look at our own approach to life’s setbacks and annoyances. Do we exercise patience when things fail to go our way? Or when God asks us to wait for what we want? Or when we have to absorb the impatience of others? Since God is so patient with us, we must learn to be patient with ourselves and others. The root of the word patience is “patio” which means “to suffer” and if we want to have patience in our day-to-day living, then we must also be willing to accept suffering in our lives. If we try to run from every suffering then we will be unable to be patient as well. 

So let us reflect today on the richness of God’s patience and how it is meant to be lived out in our own lives. Let us pray for this gift each and every day so that we might live the truth taught to us in the parables. May we embrace the opportunities that come our way to exercise patience, even if it means suffering, knowing that they come from God and are born out of a wisdom much greater than ours.

Corpus Christi, Cycle B

What would you do for love? This question has been asked by people of every age. Philosophers, theologians, artists, and poets are just a few of the groups that have wrestled with this topic. For our purposes, I want to borrow the wisdom of musicians, some new, some old, to find an answer of what people would do for love. If you ask Bruno Mars, he’d 'd catch a grenade for ya / throw his hand on a blade for ya / jump in front of a train for ya. Bryan Adams has a slightly different answer. He says when you love someone, you'll do anything / You’ll do all the crazy things that you can't explain / You'll shoot the moon, put out the sun / When you love someone, You'll deny the truth, believe a lie / There'll be times that you'll believe, that you can really fly. Prince takes it up a notch when he lets the world know that “I would—-Die for—— you. Not to be outdone, the Proclaimers boast that they would-walk-500-miles / And they would walk 500 more / To be the man who walked 1, 000 miles / To fall down at your door. But perhaps the most ambiguous of all is from our friend, Meatloaf, who croons that I would do anything for love / but I won't do that, no I won't do that.

Part of what makes these songs and many others so memorable, is that they describe a universal human desire; the desire to be loved. Every human person wants to be wanted, valued, and cherished.  The idea of someone loving us so much that they would catch a grenade for ya or walk 1,000 miles, or do anything for you; well, that’s incredible. Who wouldn’t want that?! It is one thing to sing about this sort of love but it’s another thing to make good on your promise. As far as I know, Bruno Mars has avoided trains, grenades, and blades, the Proclaimers haven’t walked 500 miles and 500 more to collapse at someone’s door, and Prince hasn’t died for anyone yet.

The feast we celebrate today, the solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, also known as Corpus Christi, acknowledges the fact that in the history of the world there has been one person who has embodied the total love described in these and countless other songs. This Sunday, our Church invites us to take a moment and remember the priceless gift we have in the Eucharist, which is the body and blood of Jesus Christ. The Eucharist is God’s ultimate sign of love: he gives himself, body and blood, soul and divinity, to his people for all time. He holds nothing back, he gives everything. To put it in the words of the songs I just mentioned, Jesus has hung on a cross for ya, wore of crown of thorns for ya, been stripped, beaten, and humiliated for ya. He has walked countless miles to spread the Good News and He offers to walk countless more with us on our life’s journey, if we invite him. He would, he has died for you, for me. Finally, he would do and has done anything and everything for love of us but he won’t make us love him back.   

Every time we walk into this church, anytime we step into a catholic church with the Eucharist present, each time we attend Mass and receive Holy Communion in a worthy manner, we share in the love of a lifetime. Hidden under the humble appearance of bread and wine, God loves us perfectly and personally. He doesn’t do it because he has to, he doesn’t do it because somehow we have earned it or deserved it. He loves us for who we are, out of the goodness of his infinitely perfect heart!

This kind of love might make people nervous. Honestly, sometimes, I find it a little overwhelming. What does God expect of me in return for this great gift of the Eucharist? How does he expect me to repay such kindness? The answer is simple and profound: God gives us himself completely in Holy Communion, every day if we want, and all he asks is that we go and share that love in the same generous manner we received it. 

Imagine the transformation that would take place in this parish, in our Church, in our families, and in our world if Catholics realized the love that was being given to them every time they went to Mass and received Holy Communion. What sort of incredible things will happen if we leave church today, thankful to the Lord for the love he gives us and looking for opportunities to share that love with others? 

You and I are so blessed to be loved completely by God, who has and who will continue to do anything for us so that we can be eternally happy. Take a moment today to thank him, to love him, and to honor him by going out and sharing that Eucharistic love, freely and generously. This is the song your heart needs to hear; this is the song that will change the world.