The Most Important Issue (29th Sunday - Pro Life)

 To listen to this homily, click here.

The struggle you and I are experiencing as we try to be both good citizens and loyal friends of God is nothing new. In fact the enemies of Jesus try to use this situation to get him in hot water with the Roman authorities, religious leaders or both. But Jesus proposes a better way! He teaches them to ‘Learn what you owe worldly power and authority and give earthly powers the appropriate respect and obedience. On the other hand, know what is owed to God and give Him the things that belong to Him alone.” It’s hard to imagine a more relevant teaching right now; “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, give to God what belongs to God.” The faithful Christian must constantly discern whether he or she is giving God and lawful civil authority their proper due. As Catholics, we must never forget that we first and foremost, citizens of heaven, That is where we are meant to spend eternity. Therefore all decisions and loyalties ought to be made with that allegiance to God and His law as our utmost priority. 

There are many serious issues facing us in the upcoming election: matters of human life and dignity, healthcare, immigration, environmental stewardship, economic policy, and education, to name some of the most apparent. There are no shortage of voices claiming to have the truth and proper priorities for us to follow as we prepare to cast our vote. There is an abundance of extreme speech from every direction, warning about the dire consequences should “so-and-so” win the election. Bitter division has festered in our families, between friends, and even in faith communities over the upcoming election. This is sad but it should not be surprising. This election is not just a contest between two political parties or ideologies. There are higher powers working behind the scenes. The devil, the prince of lies, the thief of souls, and spreader of division, never misses an opportunity to sow hatred and misery. He is working in the background of what is going on in our country right now. He cannot defeat God but he will never stop trying. He is like defeated bully lashing out, trying to inflict as much pain as possible in the time that remains before Jesus returns. 

The issues we face as a country are far bigger than political problems. Most of them spring from spiritual roots. This means they cannot be solved by human means alone. Politics can be part of the solution but we need God’s power and grace if we hope to see meaningful, lasting improvement. We need to consult God in addressing the challenges of today and follow his moral code.

It’s not possible for me to cover all the issues facing us as voters in one homily. That’s why Fr. Schneier and I made a couple videos to provide guidance in applying our Catholic principles to the issues at hand. Those can be found on the parish website and if you haven’t had a chance to see them, please set aside a little time to do so.

I have a responsibility as your priest to do everything I can to help you get to heaven and warn you of the spiritual dangers that threaten us as God’s people. Not all of the issues we face are equal. All deserve our prayerful consideration. But some are more pressing than others. Of all the issues we need to confront, the most serious are those dealing with the taking of innocent human life. 

In our country, the most urgent issue is the practice of legalized abortion which denies the most basic and fundamental human right to more than 800,000 unborn children every year. Our bishops, in their document on voting and faithful citizenship, call abortion the “our preeminent priority because it directly attacks life itself, because it takes place within the sanctuary of the family, and because of the number of lives destroyed. There is nothing more important because all of our other rights rely on the ability to be born. Abortion is not a political issue. It is a moral issue dealing with human rights that has become political. We need to understand this so we are not tempted to abdicate our responsibility to practice our faith in the process of being good citizens of our country. We cannot be silent about the subject of abortion!

I think it’s also important to remember that behind every issue is a person. Sometimes we forget this as we engage in the political process and hear the various arguments for or against a party’s position. We get so caught up in trying to “win” people to our point of view that we forget real lives are at stake. A number of years ago I was sitting in my office as an associate pastor. The phone rang and it was a distressed young woman. She said, “I am sitting in the parking lot of PP because I am pregnant and cannot afford another baby. I don’t want do this but I don’t know what to do.” “I will help you, just please leave there and come to my office.” I said, as calmly as I could. I had no idea what to do exactly but thankfully the woman came to the parish and I promised to get her the help she needed, from diapers to healthcare to vocational counseling. What amazed me in the months and years after that call, is how God sent so many incredible people to help this woman and her child. I did not have all the answers; in fact, my main role was to connect her with organizations and individuals who knew how to help her. Over time, more than 2 dozen groups and people of good will provided assistance to help ensure that unborn child could be born and also to provide a viable future for her mother. I am happy to say that this young mom is now happily married, has a home, and meaningful employment that helps provide for her growing family. Some of the people that provided assistance to her in her moment of need are still in contact with her to support and encourage her. A few have become friends. I never saw any proof of the argument that Catholics are pro-birth but don’t help once the child is born. I saw exactly the opposite from every person involved and this has been my experience with the entire pro-life movement.

I was privileged to be this child’s godfather. That little baby isn’t so little anymore. She is a feisty, funny, young lady who is doing great in school. I can’t imagine our world without her. What a loss it would be!

Sadly, until the laws of our country change, 800,000 children in similar situations as my goddaughter will be sacrificed in name of freedom and choice. More than 60 million have already paid the price for our moral indifference and cowardice. There is a real price that is paid when we fail to live out our faith in the voting booth and are afraid to call abortion for what it really is: murder, genocide, or as Pope Francis describes it, “like hiring a hitman.” 

 But I don’t stand here preaching to you without hope. Our greatest hope is in the inexhaustible mercy of God. Despite the fact that our country has allowed the destruction of so much innocent life, I am certain that deep down America still values the gift of life.  There is still so much goodness in our country and so many still try to find that balance of giving to God what belongs to God and to Caesar what belongs to caesar.. Deep down we still believe that life is truly precious, life is beautiful, life is the fundamental right of every person and the very foundation of our country. But we must do more to protect those who cannot protect themselves. We must work to ensure that every person has the right to live regardless of whether or not their life is convenient, expected, wanted, or productive. And we must allow this mentality to transform the way we think, the way we vote, the way we live out our faith.

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

 As we come here to this Eucharist, let us renew our efforts on behalf of life. We have a responsibility to end the scourge of abortion. All humans deserve the right to be born and we should be the first ones to jump in and help those moms and dads who are struggling to say yes to life. May each of us build up a culture that respects and protects life in every stage, from conception until death by the way we vote, pray, and live out our faith! Hail Mary…

Come to the Feast (28th Sunday, Year A)

To listen to this homily, click here.

In our Old Testament reading, Isaiah prophesies a heavenly wedding feast with "juicy, rich food and pure, choice wine." To appreciate the allure of this vision we have to remember that they did not have supermarkets with a variety of fresh meat and luxurious foods. Instead, for a special occasion, they would slaughter an animal and everything would have to be consumed or go to waste. There was very little ability to preserve food and most people lived meal to meal and could only eat whatever was in season in their local area. As for wine, it was consumed in limited quantities and usually diluted with water to make it last longer. The ancient world was one big lesson in “you get what you get and don’t throw a fit.” They would have been amazed at the overwhelming variety of food you and I have access to in this country. They would marvel at the fact that we can have summer food during the winter season and freeze cooked meals for months. They would also be scandalized by the fact that Americans waste 30-40% of all food that is sold in our country. For us, rich food and fine wine is an expectation, a birthright, a normal day in the life of a first world country. But this is new development in the history of the world. More than 2 billion people go hungry every day, even now! In order to appreciate the banquet language of our first reading and gospel, we need to put ourselves in the shoes of those who do not have food security, both in the ancient world and in our times. 

  To be invited to a wedding feast meant a break from hunger and the drudgery of daily duties. The wedding of a king's son would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience with several days of delicious food, abundant wine and general merrymaking. The prized invitation would come in two stages: first, a general announcement. Then, when everything was ready, they would tell people to drop everything, put on their best clothes and come. No one in their right mind would think of declining the king’s invitation. Even if you didn’t know the bride and groom, you would want to be at the big event to see and be seen. Even if you didn’t care for the king, you would respect his power and authority and do anything to avoid offending him. Even if you didn’t know the other guests or felt out of place, you would have to be insane to pass up free food and drink. Even more so the food and drink that would be offered to guests of the king. A wise and prudent person would do everything possible to be at the wedding feast.

Shockingly, foolishly some of the invited guests turn down the summons. Why? Well, Jesus says they go "one to his farm and another to his business”. They have other priorities; other responsibilities which seem more important to them. A farm and a business are good things, but these characters made them their ultimate concern, even more important than pleasing their king and joining the community in celebrating this happy moment. What matters most to them are the things of this world. In our time we might identify this way of thinking as secularism or materialism. In this worldview, the most important things to be valued are the things that can be measured, like wealth, productivity, health, and power. In this way of living, I put my desires before my obligations. It is, spiritually speaking, a very dangerous way to exist.

You don’t have to be a theologian to see that both the feast in the vision of Isaiah and the feast in Jesus’ parable are pointing to eternal life in heaven. Both images are using the basic elements of food, drink, and fellowship, things we can all appreciate and relate with, to give us a sense of what God wants to provide forever for those that accept his invitation. But we don’t have to wait until the next life to enjoy the meal God wants to serve us! Where do we find the finest spiritual food, drink and fellowship here on earth? In the Mass, at the Eucharist! The Mass is our link to the wedding feast that has been prepared from the beginning of time. Coming to Mass, worshiping at the Eucharist, joining in community each Sunday here at this altar is how we accept invitation of the King. 

Sadly, many people have rejected the King’s offer to join in his feast. As a nation and as a world, we are becoming more secular and materialistic. Fewer and fewer people practice their faith, go to church, or acknowledge their obligation to know, love and serve God! For many, the most important things are health, wealth, power, pleasure and productivity; all things that can be measured. They are good things, in their proper place, but they are not the best thing and can never become our ultimate goal. The rejection of God’s invitation, the refusal to eat with him at his table, surrounded by his friends, has an effect on us as individuals and as a society. It makes us spiritually starving and dehydrated. 

As we have become more secularized and obsessed with worldly things, we have fallen into more depression, anxiety, and addiction. The most vulnerable are our young people. The Center for Disease Control reported that in the month of June, 25% of young people, age 18-24, considered taking their own life. The study considered that the Covid-19 lockdown increased isolation, stress and substance abuse. The book of Genesis says that it is not good for man to be alone. Even living in a land of abundance does not satisfy the deeper hunger we all experience. We need each other and we need God.

To find God, like the people in today's Gospel, we have to accept his invitation. This is not easy. It is difficult to drop what we are doing and give God his due. Much of what our Church teaches is seen as foolishness in the eyes of the world. But we are in good company!  When Jesus first proclaimed the mystery of the Eucharist, "many disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him" (John 6:66) We have special challenges today. Nearly 70% of Catholics no longer believe the Eucharist the Body and Blood of Jesus. Nearly that same number only come to Mass once or twice a year, if at all! Faith is seen by many in our society as old-fashioned and irrelevant and the Church is nothing more than another imperfect human institution.”

As we hear in today's Gospel, Jesus invites the "bad and good alike". I don't know about you, but I am relieved to know that. I recognize that the Church is composed of sinful human beings. I am a prime example of such imperfection! St. Paul describes us as clay jars that contain an incalculable treasure. The treasure we hold is nothing more and nothing less than Jesus in the Eucharist. The Eucharist is our first taste of the banquet God wants to share with us forever. Everyone is invited but no one is forced to go.

Don't turn down the invitation. I know there are many things that compete for your time, attention, and energy. So many of them are good things. But nothing is better or more important than the opportunity to be fed by God and supported by his community of faith. What ultimately matters is how we respond to Jesus' invitation: "Everything is ready. Come to the feast." 

The Grapes of Wrath (27th Sunday of OT)

To listen to this homily, click here.

This weekend is all about vineyards in the Word of God; in fact, the last three weeks have mentioned vineyards in some way, shape or form to teach us about God. Regardless of whether or not you like wine or prefer beer, the Scriptures pack a punch on many levels.

The first perspective we might consider is historical. When Jesus tells his story about the vineyard, he is speaking directly to the People of God. The vineyard represents the Chosen People and God is the landowner. Jesus stresses all the good things God has done to get the vineyard established and prepared; not only did he plant the vines in the covenants he made with Israel, he also protected it through many miracles and the kings, judges and leaders he sent to Israel.  All the hard work has been done by God. He asks his people to take care of the relationship he has built with them and harvest the produce which is represented in the the Incarnation. (Despite his generosity, God can’t seem to get his share of the vintage.) When God sends the prophets to remind his people of the loyalty and praise they owe him, they beat, kill, and chase away his messengers. Anticipating his own death, Jesus says the landowner finally sends his son, hoping it will be enough to set the the vineyard in order. However, the tenants are so hardened they even kill the son, thinking this will allow them to keep the vineyard for themselves. Incredibly, when Jesus asks how the landowner should treat his rebellious tenants, his audience, the same people who will soon call for Jesus to be crucified, reply that the evildoers of the story should be put to a wretched death and their share be given to someone else. As things turn out, the Chosen People, lose their exclusive claim to God’s vineyard and he opens it up to new tenants, anyone who believes in his resurrected Son, Jesus Christ.

The second perspective of these parables is spiritual. In this view, God is still the landowner but now the vineyard is the Church, the new Israel. Once again, God has done all the hard work of preparing the Church to bear tremendous fruit. He has founded it through the sacrifice of his Son on the cross, watered it with the grace of the sacraments, protected it throughout the centuries with the Gift of the Holy Spirit and the leadership of the apostles represented in the teaching of the magisterium. Finally, he has constantly provided saintly men and women to keep the vineyard healthy and remind the tenants to give him his due of sacrifice, glory, and worship throughout the ages. The open question that remains when we consider the parable in this light would be, “Are we doing our part to make sure the Catholic Church is bearing good fruit for the Lord? As Catholics, are we making a holy impact on society? Are we helping to ensure that God gets what is his from the universe he created? Most especially love, respect, and adoration? Do we share freely of our gifts with the Church as a sign of appreciation for what God has done for us? Judging by the level of hatred, division, and violence in our world right now, perhaps we in the Church have been thinking too much about our own share rather than God’s!

The third and most challenging perspective is to look at the parable of the vineyard as personal. Each one of us is God’s vineyard and he has invested tremendously in every person. He created us with his own hands in our mother’s womb, gave us an eternal soul that reflected himself, made sure we are protected by a guardian angel, and bestowed a personality and talents that were unique to each and every person. After doing all this, he gave us free will and let us be born into the world to enjoy his goodness and the gifts he gave so freely. Throughout the life of every person, God sends messengers and caretakers to watch over us: teachers, priests, parents, friends, and neighbors, to make sure our vineyard doesn’t get destroyed. Once again, God is the one who does the hard work and then, instead of being a control freak, he steps back to let the vineyard have a chance to grow and bear fruit. All he asks in return is that our lives be fruitful and some of those blessing be offered back to him.

What does this mean on a personal level?  Have we in fact produced the good fruit of justice, mercy, and love? Do we at times forget that we are only tenants of our lives, bodies, and souls? Do we instead imagine ourselves as owners and do as we please? This grasping for ownership instead of stewardship is at the heart of every single sin we commit as individuals and society. Do we tend to store up more of earth’s fruit than we could possibly use while others die of starvation, neglect, and need? Do we act with violence against our fellow human beings with anger, gossip, judgement, racism, unforgiveness, moral indifference, or impurity, failing to see each person as a child of God? 

Today’s Scriptures are crystal clear; God is a generous and benevolent Lord; he gives us more than we could ever hope for or deserve. But he expects to receive his portion of the harvest. And when his tenants try to keep his share for themselves, when they ignore his messengers and mistreat his Son, there are real consequences. This truth applies to you and me too. We ought to reflect on what we owe God in every area of our lives; to ignore this question or put it off for another day is to put ourself in danger of God’s righteous wrath. Is God receiving his share from me as a faithful Catholic? Do I support the Church and her works of charity and mercy? Do I practice my faith completely or do I pick and choose what teachings I will follow? Do I conform my life to God’s Truth or do I try to conform God’s Truth to my life? Does God receive his share from me first or do I give whatever is leftover of my time, talent, and treasure? The same principles of giving God his due apply in other areas of our life also. Are we acknowledging and glorifying God as good citizens, diligent professionals, dedicated students, patient parents, respectful spouses, considerate friends and loving family members? If, in any of these areas of our life, we are trying to be our own masters instead of humble stewards, now is the time to make amends and start giving God his due.  

God will not never stop being generous. But we can be cast out of the vineyard and lose everything if we don’t repent of our greed and sinfulness. God will give it to someone more worthy. Think of God first in all things, acknowledge what you owe him, and be extravagant in thanking him. You will not regret it.