The Great War (2nd Sunday of OT, Year B)

To listen to this homily, click here.

On of the ironies in my life is that Netflix helps me to keep the weight off! Many days I don’t want to go to the gym but I bribe myself with watching an episode from a show while I am doing cardio.

I recently watched a doc by Ken Burns on WWII which was 12-15 hours long when you add up all the episodes. ( a lot of time on the treadmill!)

This documentary does a great job of chronicling the impact of the war on specific towns and individuals from the beginning of the conflict to the very end.

One thing that really struck me was the effect on the soldiers when they liberated the concentration camps on the way to defeating Germany. Some of the men interviewed still had trouble talking about what they experienced even though it was more than 60 years ago. 

I noticed their sense of righteous anger as they described going through the camps and seeing the extent of evil, the number of lives that had been taken, and the ways humans were stripped of all dignity. 

This anger was directed not only at the German army who ran the death camps but also at the civilians in the towns that surrounded them because they were either willfully ignorant of the atrocities happening next to them or they knew about it and chose to turn a blind eye.

The American soldiers knew this was wrong either way and in their outrage, they made the civilians care for the surviving prisoners and dig graves for so many who had been executed. I think in one of the interviews, a soldier mentioned that a German nun told the men that she had no idea such things were taking place and the soldier handed her shovel and said, 'even if that is true, you should have.'

In some ways, the allies expected this behavior out of enemy soldiers but to see the indifference and willful ignorance of German civilians FOR YEARS, as fellow humans, —— sometimes even their neighbors, friends, and co-workers, disappeared, never to be heard from again,—- was inexcusable for many of our troops.

I thought of this as we prepare to mark the 46th anniversary of legalized abortion in our country this Tuesday. What would those brave soldiers of the greatest generation think about us? How would they rate you and me, not only as Americans but also as Christians in terms of our efforts and concern to end the continual slaughter of unborn innocents that has gone on for more than 6 times as long and with 6 times as many casualties as the Holocaust? More importantly, what does God think of of our efforts? Is it on our hearts as we pray for and try to serve the men and women who think abortion is their only option? Is this scourge on our mind as we make decisions on what companies, political candidates, and public policies we will support? Do we intentionally pray and offer sacrifices for an end to offenses against human dignity and the taking of innocent lives? Or, have we gotten comfortable, like those civilians in WWII, with the modern day holocaust that takes place right next to where we live and work? Have we turned a blind eye and gone on with our business?

The good news is that the majority of Americans are pro-life, at least to some degree. Also, there are so many more resources available to men and women facing an unplanned pregnancy and to help them with every challenge they will face as a result of choosing life. Even for those who have chosen abortion, there are so many more ministries that exist now to help them experience the mercy and healing of God so their lives are not defined by shame and self-hatred. 

These are all good steps. But the evil still remains. Some difficult but necessary questions each of us should consider asking: how comfortable have I gotten, as a christian and as an American, with the fact that abortion is practiced in my country, state, and city? If it were some other egregious offense against innocent people, like a concentration camp, would I be acting the same way or would I be doing something different to make sure no more people could be harmed? Have I accepted this evil because it's been going on so long or given in to despair, thinking what can I do about? Lastly, am I willfully ignorant about this issue, choosing not to learn more about the many factors and policies that allow it to continue? 

We start by praying for a conversion of heart for all who are gripped by the culture of death. We ask for God’s love to transform them and set them free. We pray for ourselves that we have the courage and conviction to address this issue for what it really is: the taking of innocent lives. Finally, we ask God’s pardon for our own indifference, laziness, or willful ignorance which has kept us from fighting to put an end to abortion and all other offenses against human life.

Finding Nemo and the Father's Love (Baptism of the Lord 2019)

One of the fundamental plot lines for movies involves the painful journey of a child seeking to prove themselves to their parents and win their affection. Most sad and striking is the case of an adult child who still feels unworthy or unapproved by mom or dad. One movie that follows this theme is “Finding Nemo”, an animated Disney film about a Clownfish named Marlin and his young son, Nemo. Marlin is emotionally scarred from a barracuda attack that claimed his wife and most of their fish roe. Only he and little Nemo survived this incident and now, he is completely overprotective of Nemo. His hovering causes Nemo great embarrassment and compels him to try and prove himself to his dad. He wants his dad to believe that he is strong and capable. To prove that he does not need coddling, Nemo accepts a dare to swim out to a ship just past the reef drop off. He bravely swims into the open sea, which his father has taught him is dangerous, touches the boat and turns back in triumph. However, a scuba diver nets Nemo before he can reach safety. The rest of the movie tells the story of father and son trying to reunite with each other amidst danger and uncertainty and ends with both Nemo and his father triumphing over their fears and living in the joy of knowing the other’s love and admiration. 

This intimate acceptance of a father of his son takes place in the gospel today. Jesus goes to be baptized by John in the river Jordan. In this moment, the first public appearance we know about Christ as an adult, he is affirmed by his heavenly Father. Before he does any ministry, before he works miracles or preaches beautiful sermons, God approves him, loves him, and lets the world know that he is the beloved son. He does not have to prove himself or do something to earn the Father’s affection. He has had it from the moment he existed.

Can you believe that we become beloved sons and daughters of God with our baptism? That’s why the Church treats it so seriously and wants people to be baptized, even babies, as soon as possible.

But how do we often relate to God? Not as beloved children but frightened ones. Many times we behave as if we must earn his love, make him like us. We are afraid he might decide he doesn’t really love us any more. Or, we know in our heads that God loves us completely but that knowledge hasn’t made it down to our hearts yet. It doesn’t affect the way we live, the way we think, the way we love. BUT IT SHOULD!!!!

Perhaps this disconnect happens because we sometimes experience conditional love from people who approve of us mainly because we fill a need or make them happy. Sadly some of you have had this experience in your families or with friends. Perhaps some of us even treat people this way. We make others earn our approval or affection. Conditional love is something we humans inflict on each other, but it is something foreign to God. He is always all in! He has loved and cherished you from the second you began to exist.

You and I don’t deserve the Father’s Love; but he doesn’t care about that! In spite of our unworthiness, He gives it freely and unconditionally. There is nothing in the world we could ever do to deserve that divine approval; it has already been given. And yet, how sad that we usually interact with God as if it were up to us and our actions to make him like us. As if it were in our hands to do enough to persuade God to send a little love our way. No wonder we beat ourselves up so much when we sin and fail and realize our weaknesses!

Think about this:

What would look different in your life if you believed that God loved you unconditionally? How would it change your perspective? Would it make you more daring in living out your faith, knowing that you always had a loving God at your side? Imagine the freedom that would come with knowing in your bones that no matter what you did, successful or not, you can not lose the love and approval of God! How might it change the way you treated other people? Realizing that the One who is madly in love with you is also loving them in the same way? Would it add passion to our faith, our prayer, our daily lives?

I want you to know you are beloved sons and daughters, even if you don’t feel it or realize it yet. You are alive because God loves you, thinks of you and wants you here. Every moment of every day he is thinking of you specifically, he is smiling and crying and feeling everything you do, all with the perfection of the one is being and beauty and every other transcendent good thing.

How it must have felt for Christ as he came out of that water and heard the voice of his Father! If you have never heard that voice, I pray for you now, I want let you know that God is crying out those same words every day, all the time. He wants us to know of his mad love for us fickle and sinful children, that is why he sent his beloved son in the 1st place, to shatter our deafness and indifference.

Let’s listen, let’s believe, let’s receive this good news and then run out of here and share it with other people. amen.

Worship Like a Magi! (Epiphany, 2019)

To listen to this homily, click here.

The second Sunday after Christmas is always celebrated as the feast of the Epiphany. The word ‘Epiphany’ can be used to describe a manifestation of a divine being; it can also denote a sudden revelation or insight. Then there is the definition we use in today’s liturgy, which specifically describes Christ’s revelation of his birth to the gentiles through the Magi.

Who are the three kings, aka wise men? There is little the scriptures tell us about them. We hear 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 and their names were Caspar, Balthazar, and Melchior. It is supposed 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 much else.

  So why does St. Matthew include this mysterious encounter between the Magi and the Christ-Child in his gospel?

First would be 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. 

The behavior of the three kings gives us an opportunity to reflect on our own approach to worship.The wise men endured many hardships and a long journey into foreign lands to find the king who deserved their worship. They stopped at nothing to find him even though it would have been easy to throw in the towel. They persist and make sure they find the newborn king. Do we have this same tenacity and drive when it comes to worshipping God every week here at Mass? Do we make use of all the resources we have in order to make it to church for every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation? Are we persistent in giving God his due, even when there are difficulties like scheduling conflicts, vacations, minor ailments, and fatigue? Do we keep praying daily and growing in our faith, even when we get busy, tired, or feel like we aren’t getting anything out of it? Or are we quick to let ourselves off the hook, presuming that God will understand? The example of the three kings reminds us that worshipping Christ, especially here at Mass and in adoration, is something we should take very seriously.

There is also something to be learned in their reaction upon entering into the presence of Christ. These were kings, men with power and authority. But when they come close to Jesus, even though he is a little baby, they adore him, they lower themselves in awe and worship, they literally lay down and offer him the finest gifts that they had. What a beautiful and living faith! It makes me wonder what they would do if they entered this church today and had the opportunity to receive the Body and Blood of Jesus in the Eucharist. How awestruck they would be! What reverence they would teach us! 

With their example in mind, we ought to consider how we conduct ourselves in this church, where Jesus is resting in the tabernacle. Do we make it a point to genuflect thoughtfully when we enter and exit? Do we give him our full attention and arrive early enough to quiet our minds and hearts for worship? Or do we look around distractedly at everyone else in church? Or make it a time to chat with those around us with small talk or gossip? Or maybe break out the phone to check a text or respond to a message. 

Finally, we ought to consider the way we come to receive Holy Communion. Do we display the humility and reverence of the three kings? Do we recognize the greatness of God, hidden under the humble appearance of bread and wine? Do we make sure to fast from all food and drink, except water and medicine at least one hour before we receive holy communion? This fast includes chewing gum and breath mints as well, which have no place in church. Do we receive the host carefully, deliberately, and reverently? Or, are we sloppy with the Eucharist, treating it almost as an afterthought or habitual practice? Do we make sure that our hands are clean and no particles of the host remain on our hands after receiving Holy Communion?

The example of reverence and humility displayed by the three kings in the gospel serves as a reminder to us about how we ought to approach God in worship. They help us to grow in our love and appreciation of God. Let us not be afraid to express our love and affection for the Lord, especially here in church, by the ways we pray and dress and conduct ourselves. It is holy to allow the affection we have for Christ express itself in our external actions. May we never forget we have the privilege of being in the presence of Almighty God and act accordingly. Learn from the three Kings we celebrate today, who were also regarded as wise. And may our worship at Incarnate Word parish radiate love, reverence, respect and humility, today and always.