You Can Have My Room! (Christmas, 2023)

 To listen to this homily, click here.

First of all, I want to wish all of you a very merry Christmas! This is my 7th Christmas at Incarnate Word and I cherish this holiday as a time to see and pray with so many of you! I pray that this is your best Christmas yet and you each experience profound peace and joy within yourself and with your loved ones!

I heard a sweet story about an unscripted moment that happened at a grade-school Christmas play. We’ve all been in the audience for these festive performances which never fail to make us smile because of their unpredictable and precious nature. In this case, there was a second-grader named Wally who inadvertently stole the show. Wally was one of those big second-graders, having been held back a year before kindergarten and also having a late-summer birthday. This delayed entry into school was all for the better because Wally was never going to be an academic superstar; his gifts lie elsewhere. Wally was blessed with a big heart, endless optimism, helpful, with a ready smile, a natural defender of the underdog, and well-liked by his classmates. His parents encouraged him to audition for the annual Christmas play. Wally wanted to be a shepherd but he was given the role of the innkeeper. The director reasoned that Wally’s size would lend extra force to the innkeeper’s refusal of lodging to Joseph. During rehearsals, Wally was instructed to be firm with St. Joseph. When the play opened, no one was more caught up in the action than Wally. When Joseph knocked on the door of the inn, Wally was ready. He flung the door open and asked with a big scowl, “What do you want?” “We seek lodging,” Joseph replied. “Seek it somewhere else,” said Wally in a firm voice: “There’s no room in the inn.” “Please, good innkeeper,” Joseph pleaded, “this is my wife, Mary. She is about to have a baby and is very tired. She needs a place to rest.” There was a long pause as Wally looked down at Mary. A teacher whispered Wally’s next line: “No! Be gone!” Wally remained silent. Mary and Joseph turned and slowly began to move away. Seeing this, Wally’s true self got the better of him. Tears welled up in his eyes and he called out, “Don’t go! You can have my room.” 

This little story is light-hearted and sweet but it hints at something deeper within ourselves. Most of us in church know what it is like to be comfortable at home and to hear a knock on the front door or have the phone ring at the worse possible moment. When this happens, many of us contend with that dilemma: do I avoid answering or do I go the extra mile and engage with the person on the other end? Many times, for a whole host of reasons; we tell others there is no more room at the inn and we ask that person to go somewhere else.

But our homes and phones are not the only things we guard carefully. So too our hearts and our time. When we look across the horizon of salvation history, recorded in Sacred Scripture and secular history, we notice how often people, indeed entire cultures, closed the doors of their hearts to the message of love and peace God desired to share.  Again and again, God knocked on the doors of the human heart, first at the dawn of creation with Adam and Eve then through his prophets, angels, judges, and kings. And as many times as our God offered his incredible offer of divine forgiveness and peace, we responded by either ignoring his invitation or going back on our promise to be faithful. We replied, in no uncertain terms, there is no room at the inn, go somewhere else! But in his never-ending goodness, God never gave up on us! And that is what we celebrate today. That in the fulness of time, God would send his only-begotten Son, born of a virgin in a manger, amidst farm animals, visited by kings and shepherds. Here, in this little baby, was the Son of God, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, Wonder-Counselor, the Prince of Peace. He is the Word-Made-Flesh, who has come to earth to invite us to let him in so he might share his peace, mercy, and love.

Today Christ is seeking a place to stay, wondering if we will make room for him. Someone beautifully wrote, “Christ could be born a thousand times in Bethlehem – but all in vain until He is born in me.” Each of us knows, in some way, we have refused to open that door due to sin, fear, or selfishness. As we gather here to celebrate again the birth of Jesus, we should ask ourselves what it is that causes us to close the doors of our heart to the Christ-child. Is it a lack of faith that God will provide all that I need, even if it is not all I want? Is it because I have deep-rooted addiction to some sin I don’t want to give up? Do I resist the invitation to pray each day, filling that time instead with activity or mindless screen time? Am I so attached to an unhealthy relationship that I fear life without it? Am I unwilling to set aside my greed, lust, anger, bitterness, fear, or shame which barricades the door of my heart from welcoming the many gifts Jesus desires to share with me?  

Today Christ knocks on the door of every human heart not as a threatening judge, not as a fierce warrior, not as an impersonal god. He comes to us as a gentle and innocent baby, reflecting the infinite love and mercy of the God who never stops seeking to win our hearts. Make room to embrace the Incarnate Word and experience his freedom which liberates us from the slavery of sin. May Jesus always find a home in our hearts, minds, and homes! Today our savior is born, come let us adore him.

Testify to the Light (3rd Sunday of Advent, Year B)

 To listen to this homily, click here.

I can’t exactly tell you why, but I have always had a fascination with flashlights. Probably because every one in our house never worked! I also loved the variety. You can find lights powered by different batteries and bulbs, with or without the option to focus the beam. They could be heavy or lightweight, rechargeable or disposable, halogen or LED, massive or compact. Growing up, I would constantly ask for one for birthdays or Christmas, and always for extra batteries because I knew at least one sibling would try to steal my light and hid in a dark room flashing it on and off like a weirdo. One of my all-time favorites was the venerable Maglite which used to be a status symbol in the flashlight community. Made of aircraft-quality aluminum that was rugged and durable, you could find them ranging in size from the handy mini-mag which used two AA batteries to the Maglite white star, which used 6 D batteries and stretched nearly two feet long. I never did get that mega-maglite but it wasn’t for a lack of trying!

These days my enthusiasm for flashlights and other task lighting has not diminished, my affection is just more mature. I realize there is no single flashlight or work-light that can do everything so I must have all of them! I even brought a few of my go-to’s so you can see that I am serious. Headlamp (handsfree, attic, hiking), Solar lantern (recharged by the sun and ready for an emergency), two m18 work lights (one has a hook and an adjustable head while the other is magnetic and sticks to a vehicle or metal that you are welding!). The last and most used is a streamlight Strion which is small but mighty, rechargeable and 3 different brightness settings. I have one in the house and one in the truck and use it all the time!) It is so bright, that if you shine it in someone’s eyes in the dark, they will be blinded and disoriented for a few moments. Ask me how I know!

Perhaps you don’t share my passion for flashlights; that is regrettable but forgivable! However, all of us are drawn to light. We need it for so many aspects of daily life and we appreciate the safety and security it brings. Light is a good thing! I have yet to see advertising for a flashlight that says “our product produces the least amount of light and probably won’t have any power when you need it.” We all want light that is both bright and long-lasting. But no matter what man-made light we swear by, no matter how big the bulb or brightness rating, all of them pale in comparison to the sun. All of them are limited in the light they can provide.

The theme of light can be found everywhere in the Advent season. Isaiah tells us that the people that walked in darkness have seen a great light. Today, in the gospel, the theme of light comes to the forefront as we hear that “a man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light.

John was the greatest prophet that ever lived. He was the brightest light that would point to the messiah. He was the crown of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New. He inspired and captivated huge crowds and some of them even wondered if he might be the messiah or Elijah, back from the dead. But John’s brilliance, as good as he was, was dazzling in contrast to the darkness. His light, preparing the way of the Lord, was only bright in the absence of the One who was light from light, true God from true God. Compared to Christ, John paled, like any flashlight, which is so bright in the darkness but no match for the sunlight. 

The beautiful thing is that John knew this and embraced it. When asked by the crowds who he was, he made it clear that he was not the Christ, nor Elijah but simply “the voice of one crying out in the desert, 'make straight the way of the Lord.'" As a sign of his great humility, John said: “there is one coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie." John’s role as a prophet was simply to be a light leading others to Christ; his purpose was not to try and outshine Christ or to confuse people on where the true light can be found. How easy it could have been for him to take credit for what he was saying and doing, to promote himself and try to take the glory. 

This lesson of humility is really important for us as modern day people. It is far too easy to get caught up in being number one and competing with our rivals in business, school, social circles, and even church. So much energy can be spent on trying to outshine others that we forget that there is only one true light that gives meaning to our lives and peace to our souls.  

As followers of Christ, you and I are called to be lights in the midst of darkness. Like John the baptist, the Lord wants us to live lives of joy and courage, witnessing to him and preparing his way as he enters our world.  

On this third Sunday of Advent, the Church tells us to rejoice because the saving light of Christ’s birth is drawing near. If we have the attitude of John, it will be easy to rejoice because we know the victory has already been won, that sin and death have no more power over us, and that all the good we do is not because of us but through Jesus. There is a great freedom in living, loving, and thinking this way. It is no longer up to us to make everything work or chase away every darkness; the glory and the worry are God’s. So let us quietly and humbly prepare the way of the Lord, pointing others to the one true light, Jesus Christ.    

Clear a Highway (2nd Sunday, Year B)

 To listen to this homily, click here.

Coming home is the central theme of the Scripture readings for the Second Sunday of Advent. All three readings focus on the absolute necessity of getting ready for Christ’s return into our hearts and lives by true repentance, reparation, prayer and the renewal of our lives. I am especially struck by the first reading, from the prophet Isaiah, which describes the Babylonian exiles coming home to their native country, Judah, and their holy city, Jerusalem. Isaiah assures his people that the Lord will lead them in a grand procession to their homeland and take care of them as a shepherd cares for his sheep.

I love the command to prepare the way of the Lord. The prophet describes the task at hand; make a highway that is straight, fill in the valleys, knock down the mountains, don’t let anything stand in the way. 

It reminds me of a wonderful experience I had growing up when highway 370 was being built. Part of this new road happened to run through the woods immediately behind our house. As a result, we were able to watch the whole process from beginning to end. I am fairly certain we creeped out the workers because after school each day, we would go to the edge of the woods, climb high into the trees and watch them work several hundred feet away. But we sure did learn a lot about how a road is built!

First was the clearing of the trees and other vegetation. Once that was finished, surveyors came and staked out the general outline of the expressway. After that, the heavy machinery followed. Magnificent equipment that moved incredible amounts of earth so the new roadway could be flat, wide, and straight. Those road scrapers could haul 130,000 lbs of earth in every load and the large bulldozers that work alongside them pushed a blade that was 26’ wide by 9’  tall. For someone who loves power equipment, this stage was a dream come true! After this heavy earth moving was done, precise grading equipment followed, along with compactors, tons of gravel, rebar and concrete forms, and then long lines of mixer trucks, and workers who finished the concrete with the proper texture and slight angle so the water would drain. 

From start to finish, the project took a couple years and it made a lasting impression on me, watching everything that went into a road that most people would soon use at high speed with hardly a thought to all that went into it. I will always have admiration for the incredible range of equipment and technique that goes into construction, the combination of brute force and masterful skill. And the fact that it takes years of work and planning to produce a road that, once completed, could be covered in a matter of minutes, from start to finish.

But isn’t that is the whole point of preparing the way?! To transform something, someplace that currently is difficult or impossible to travel into a new creation that propels us to our destination. I like to think if Isaiah or John the Baptist saw how roads are built today, they would exclaim, “now that is what I am talking about!”

The dynamics at work in building infrastructure also apply to our spiritual lives. For most of us, there are mountains and valleys that stand between us and God’s grace. A path is possible but it must be cleared. The first step is to bulldoze the major obstacles so a new way can be plotted. The heavy lifting is not our worry; God’s grace provides the power to move whatever stands in the way. We simply have to cooperate with his gifts; accept the grace he offers through the sacraments, personal prayer, and the guidance of the Church. God’s love is capable of clearing a highway through years of sin, addiction, judgement, and self-hatred and he can do so in record time. Nothing can defeat him!

Once the large sins have been eradicated and cleared away, the finer work continues as we learn to live the virtues, look for ways to love and serve others, and choose to live our faith because we want to make God happy rather than worrying about being punished. Our faith and relationship with God becomes something we are proud of, a priority that receives the best of who we are and what we have, something we willing to share with others. It becomes part of who we are and we practice it with skill, dedication, and joy. 

This process take place over years but when we look back, if we embrace it, we see that God’s grace and love can now move faster and freer than when we first started. God has a highway straight to our mind, heart, and soul. 

But like any road, our relationship with God requires regular maintenance and care. Potholes must be patched, sections may need to be replaced, new lanes added for additional traffic! 

Advent is a time for careful examination and spiritual evaluation. How easily can God reach my heart right now? What is the state of my soul today? Is it a multi-lane expressway, clear as far as the eye can see? Or is it littered with debris, in need of repair? Most of us probably have some work to do; I know I sure do! In these short advent weeks and every day after, let us prepare the way of the Lord within our hearts, making clear a highway for him and his gifts to come rushing into our lives whenever he so wishes!

Whatever You Did to the Least, You Did to Me! (34th Sunday, Year A)

 To listen to this homily, click here.

One of my character flaws, one of many(!), that drives people crazy, is what they describe as “Schroeder Time”. In my version of chronology, a task that normally takes 15 minutes can be done in 5; a drive that always takes 20 minutes will be completed in 10. I often build my day and my commitments around this unrealistic schedule and usually end up running late and keeping people waiting. In my mind, my rationing of time makes perfect sense. The problem is, I don’t account for missing a light, getting behind someone driving below the speed limit, or any interruptions, disruptions, or diversions whatsoever. In other words, I assume everyone and everything will just move out of my way. This, of course, never happens! Daily life is full of surprises, detours, and interruptions and some of the most grace-filled moments are the ones we never planned on! 

While I make no defense of myself or my scheduling habits, I don’t think I am alone. This attitude seems to be pretty common among humans and it permeates many dimensions of our lives. How often we approach our day and our problems as if we were king or queen of the universe. As if all that matters was coming up with the perfect plan and carrying it out. 

Today’s feast reminds us of the actual truth: there is one king and only one king of the universe and that is Jesus. He rules over time and space, over all that ever was, is, and will be. There is no thing or person outside of his dominion and authority. But the kingdom of God is a little different than any other kingdom we’ve seen. It is hidden and subtle. It does not crush or dominate. It is full of surprise and irony. 

Our king likes to visit in disguise. He arrives in the appearance of the poor, the sick, the lowly, the annoying, and the sad. More often than not, he is shrouded in humility and subtlety; if you aren’t paying attention, he can walk right by without being noticed. That is the word of caution in today’s gospel. Both the righteous and the wicked seem surprised by their verdict; “When did we see you, Lord?” they exclaim and we can almost see them scratching their heads, trying to remember a moment when they encountered the Lord. “Whatever you did to one of these least ones, you did for me”, he replies. 

The famous Russian author, Leo Tolstoy, wrote a story called, “Martin the Cobbler.” It tells of a lonely shoemaker who is promised a visit by Jesus that very day. Throughout his work, he waited for his arrival. But the only ones that walked through the door were a man in need of shoes, a young mother in need of food and shelter, a child in need of kindness, all of whom he helps. Martin the cobbler ended the day thinking, “Perhaps tomorrow He will visit,” only to hear a voice reply, “I did come to you today, Martin; not once, but three times. – and you helped Me!” — Christ is a King who appears all around us as the poor, the sick, the crippled, the tortured, the marginalized. Many of these encounters are not life-changing moments but rather simple, thoughtful interactions of kindness, compassion, and respect.

This is a sobering reminder to you and me, a people that are often running around like chickens with our heads cut off. A people who often navigate our day and our lives through a screen without being present to the real humans around us. I know that I usually try to cram 28 hours of activity into most of my days and so I am not always accepting of the interruptions and surprises, the unscheduled visits and drop-ins where Jesus is hiding. Many times, when I pray, I carve out a little time that works for me and then I wait impatiently for God to do his thing, on my command and timeline. But this is not how the Kingdom of Heaven works! And this is not how the King of Kings usually visits! 

As we prepare to enter the season of Advent next week, the Church is giving us a reminder to slow down, to pick our head up, and be mindful of the little moments where God can be found. We are being encouraged to see the kingdom of God and its king for what they are and not how we want them to be. There is a bumper sticker many of us have seen which says, “God is my Co-pilot” . That is a good start but now the Church says, “If Christ the King is your Co-Pilot, it’s time to change seats. Let him lead the way!”

With that in mind, let’s make sure we value the seemingly insignificant interactions that will happen this week. Let’s allow ourselves to be interrupted and delayed without becoming too anxious or troubled. Be present to the people in front of you in the coming days, at the store, in your home, at work, and on the road. If Jesus is present in any of the people you are soon to encounter, will he be treated well or might he end up being ignored, dismissed, or worse? The key to entering into Christ’s kingdom depends most on these little moments and how we respond. Jesus will visit each of us many times in the week ahead. May we treat him well, starting always with the least among us!

Put a Ring On It (33rd Sunday, Year A)

To listen to this homily, click here.

One of the time-tested ways to pray with Scripture is called Lectio Divina, which simply means Divine reading in Latin. The heart of this method is to slowly read the bible passage and pay attention to whatever word stands out or which image comes to mind. Strangely enough, the idea that kept coming to my mind as I read the first reading from Proverbs was that it is sort of like the Old Testament equivalent of Beyonce’s famous song, “Single Ladies”, AKA “Put a ring on it”. In this pop hit which made her famous, Beyonce basically tells her former boyfriend, who is jealous that she is enjoying a night out on the town, that if he thought she was so great and wanted her all to himself, then he should have put a ring on her finger. In a tone both defiant and triumphant, Beyonce makes it clear that her ex should never have let her slip away. 

In a similar fashion, the author of Proverbs sings the praises of a worthy wife. She is one who can be trusted with her husband’s heart, she is worthy of admiration because she is skillful, kind, resourceful, and generous. Her value is beyond price and she is a blessing to the members of her household and strangers alike. Everything she does is full of purpose and brings joy to her husband. We can almost hear the writer saying, “don’t let someone like this get away! If you like her, put a ring on her finger and treat her right!!” Good advice for sure but how do we apply it to our relationship with God?

In the parable presented by Jesus, two servants are praised while one is condemned. What sets them apart? The two who are commended and rewarded take the master’s treasure, that which is most precious to him, and immediately do something worthwhile with it. They are not afraid to take a risk to increase the gift entrusted to them because they understand the master’s heart. He doesn’t even have to tell them what to do because they anticipate what will bring him joy. This is a relationship of love, respect, and trust. Their hearts and desires are one; much like the synergy of mind and heart seen between spouses that know, love, and serve each other. Because of these sacred qualities, blessings abound and both parties flourish in ways that seem almost too good to be true. 

God has entrusted incredible treasure to each and every one of us. He has given us material goods, spiritual gifts, and countless blessings which come directly from his loving heart. We are called to be like the worthy wife of the first reading, who respects and reverences the heart of her beloved. We are called to be resourceful, skillful, kind, generous, and loving with the gifts that surround us. Most importantly, we are called to interact with God from a place of love, trust, and gratitude, confident in his care and eager to do the things we know will please him. We should be constantly thinking of those things we know will bring joy to God’s heart and seeking ways to make them a reality. That is what a worthy wife does for her beloved and that is why she is a treasure to her husband and all in her household. Anyone who has ever been in love knows how diligently one strives to gladden the heart of their beloved with gifts, affirmations, signs of affection, and sweet surprises. Do we do the same for God who has already entrusted so much of his heart to us?!

The servant who incurs the wrath of his master is punished, not because he produced less but because he acted out of fear. Instead of loving the one who entrusted the talent to him, he buries that treasure and fails to take the initiative. He sees the master as a tyrant, a taskmaster, rather than a dear friend who has entrusted his greatest treasure to his care. Fear, not love, rules his heart. As St. John says in one of his letters to the early church, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” All three of the characters in the parable are given something incredible and meaningful; far beyond what they were owed or would be expected to receive. 

We should also take care to avoid entering into a relationship of spiritual fear and slavery with God. This can very easily begin when we start comparing ourselves to others and wondering why God gave them gifts we don’t see in ourselves. Whatever blessings and talents have been entrusted to us are far more than we deserve or earn. And each of us have more than enough to provide a handsome return on the investment God makes in us! So, assuming an attitude of gratitude already puts us on the path to loving God and honoring him by the way we use our blessings. Secondly, the talents we have received must make a return to the Lord and his kingdom. They are not entrusted to us only for ourselves but should be used in a manner that gladdens God’s heart and builds up his household. When we allow God to work through us, there is this incredible multiplication where there is more than enough for us, our families, and others. It’s an incredible thing and it looks different for every person but I see it over and over again, “For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”  

So, let’s make sure we take some time this week to reflect on our relationship with God. Are we honoring the sacred trust he puts in us by loving him in what we do and how we live? Are we seeking ways to bring gladness to his heart and make a return on the talents entrusted to us? May we never hesitate to love the one who sees so much in us and who is always worthy of all that we have and all that we are.

 

A Kingdom Way of Life (31st Sunday, Year A)

 To listen to this homily, click here.

Jesus’ contentious conversations with the scribes and Pharisees over the last few weeks reminds me of a parable about a lion who was very proud. He decided to take a walk one day to demonstrate his mastery over all the other creatures. He strutted through the wilderness until he came across a bear. “WHO IS THE KING OF THE animals, BEAR?”  “Why of course you are, mighty lion.”  He went on until he found the tiger. “WHO IS THE KING OF THE animals, TIGER?”  ‘Why you are, great lion.”  Next the lion found the elephant. “WHO IS THE KING OF THE animals, ELEPHANT?”  The elephant grabbed the lion with his trunk and spun him around a few times and slammed him to the ground. He then stepped on him a few times, picked him up again, dunked him in the water and finally threw him against a tree. The lion was seeing stars and took a minute to stand up. As he hobbled away, he said to the elephant, “LOOK, JUST BECAUSE YOU DON’T KNOW THE ANSWER, YOU DON’T HAVE TO GET SO UPSET!’” 

Of course, the lion was the one who wasn’t getting it. He was missing the truth, painfully demonstrated to him, just like many of the scribes and Pharisees to whom Jesus gives a spiritual smackdown in today’s Gospel.

Now, this spiritual pride and blindness was a not a new problem! Our first reading condemns the unfaithful and bad behavior of the Old Testament priests who had wandered away from God and become an insult to his holiness. Not only are they hurting themselves, they are misleading others and making it more difficult to walk in the Lord’s ways. 

Jesus was experiencing the same frustration. He had tried, over and over again to show the Scribes and Pharisees the error of their ways. He had worked miracles, offered parables, debated with them, and continually outsmarted their riddles. But still they hardened their hearts, refusing to humble themselves and learn their lesson. Because they refused every effort to turn back to God, Jesus knows he must try to save the people who look to them for guidance and inspiration. Otherwise, they will follow them to their own destruction. 

So what are the pharisees and scribes doing that is so horrible and provokes such a strong condemnation from Jesus? In a word, it is pride. They equated looking good with being good and were content to appear holy without actually being holy. They practiced their faith in a way that made them feel superior to the people they were called to lead. For them, leadership consisted of crushing those beneath them with laws and rules, intimidating with intellectual arguments, and demanding acknowledgement and praise whenever they went. Jesus’ public ministry and preaching demonstrates the exact opposite type of leadership and example. He sought only to lift up those around him. His miracles were always directed towards the good of others and he often tried to keep them private. In his words and his actions, Jesus teaches what true power, greatness, and love consist of: humble service done to please God and help others rather than self-serving hypocrisy which draws attention and praise to oneself. 

We would be wise to look inward as well. How much of the Pharisee mindset lives in us? How often do we seek recognition, demand respect with our credentials, or feel superior by what we have accomplished? How many of us define our worth and the value of others based on accolades, likes, or worldly acknowledgements which are here today and gone tomorrow. I have to share something embarrassing about that! When I was in HS, I was “accepted” into some sort of honor society. Good for me! But I wanted other people to know about my brilliance so I paid money to make sure my name was printed in some yearbook. I cannot even remember what year that was or where to find the listing. But at the time it made me feel elevated and superior. A small but very real example of the pharisee mindset alive and well in me! Are we willing to examine the ways we scheme, strive, and maneuver our way to praise, recognition, and admiration?

Hearing this sort of criticism is hard; realizing that we need to change our behavior or purify our motivations is unpleasant. Living in humble service to God and others is not usually our first choice. However, our Scriptures make it clear, such a way of life is what defines the Kingdom of God and its citizens. In order to enjoy true greatness and joy, the type that cannot be taken away, we must embrace the correction, the humility put forth by Jesus.

Doing so brings us to a place of peace and freedom. If we set our heart on pleasing God through humble service and heartfelt worship, we no longer fall hostage to comparing ourselves to others or finding value in our things, accomplishments, or status, all of which can be lost in an instant. If we set our hearts on pleasing God, obeying his word, letting him be our teacher, master, father, and friend, then the opinions of the world and and its false promises lose much of their power over us.

I think it must have been so difficult for Jesus to rebuke the scribes and pharisees in such a harsh way. He wanted them to be saved more than they wanted it for themselves. But as he saw them abuse the gifts, talents, and spiritual power that had been entrusted to them and lead others away from God, Jesus knew he had try and save those being harmed by their pride. Each of us is capable of the same arrogance, hypocrisy, and blindness. So let us give Jesus permission to teach us his values rather than binding ourselves to those of the world. Let us make sure a day never goes by without looking at a crucifix and reminding ourselves what true greatness and power look like. May we always seek to please God by humble service to him and the people around us. And may we know the peace that comes from putting others first and letting God exalt us in whatever way he sees fit!

Developing a Taste for God (28th Sunday, Year A)

 To listen to this homily, click here.

Today’s readings center around food and the connection between the hunger we feel in our bellies and the hunger we can and should have for heaven. Isaiah describes paradise as a banquet of “juicy, rich food and pure choice wine.” God, he says, will provide it “for all people”, which is a bit of a good news/bad news situation. Good news because everyone is invited to attend, bad news because even our enemies and the people we judge to be unworthy are also welcome at the same table. In other words, God wants the people who voted for Trump and the people who voted for Biden to be saved; the people who drink coke and the others drinking Pepsi are all invited to the same heavenly banquet! Now whether any of them actually attend is up to each individual, but our readings are clear: all are invited!

Such an image appeals to all of us in some way; especially if you are like me and love to eat! The idea of abundance, with massive tables of fine food and drink, something for every taste, and everyone coming together as family for a leisurely meal is the hallmark of a good time in any culture and every age. But our love for food and drink is something that must be cultivated and developed. Most of us start with a very narrow list of things we eat. Every parent has experienced this truth as they try to expand their child’s palate from chicken nuggets, pizza, and french fries. For those picky eaters, going to the finest Michelin-starred establishments, and the offer of Kobe Beef, hand-made sushi, or French patisserie would be nothing but torture.

I can relate to this when it comes to alcohol. I never developed a taste for liquor and when someone offers me fine scotch, bourbon, or whiskey, one sip makes me want to pour the whole thing down the drain, no matter how much it costs. Most of us have some food or drink we declare as our favorite and we also have a few we do not like, even after giving it a try. Fortunately there is great variety in the world of food and we are blessed to be able to pick and choose what we want. 

However, there is one taste which we all must acquire during our lifetime. If we do not, it will be a tragedy because this craving is the only one which ultimately matters. This flavor, this hunger, is the one we have for God and the things that lead to him. Like our earthy cravings for food and drink, the desire for God must be cultivated and expanded deliberately and thoughtfully. While something in us is naturally attracted to the Lord, we are easily distracted and often attached to what is easy and quick.

As Jesus offers this image of a happy banquet, open to all, he also introduces a somber detail. He understands our human nature and how often we reject the good things God offers. He knows that many people will ignore his invitation and refuse to enter the feast. The parable does not tell us exactly why some make that choice, although we hear their excuses which are pretty flimsy. We are left to wonder. Do they harbor some resentment against the king? Do they consider themselves superior to the other wedding guests? Do they feel they have more important things to do? Is it the food itself which does not appeal to them? We do not know. The horrible thing is that, by a series of decisions, they have built up a palate which cannot be satisfied by the Lord’s feast. His food does not sound appetizing to them. They have failed to form the one craving which matters – the taste for God.

Today’s parable invites us to reflect on the tastes we are developing. It matters little whether we have a preference for meat, vegetables, sweets, or any other food. But it will make a huge difference if we become attracted to sin and vice, the junk food of the soul. Things like revenge, hatred, greed, deceit, impurity, jealousy and the many other menu items that make us spiritually unhealthy and malnourished. At every moment and with each choice, we are either drawing nearer to God or pulling further away from him. We can look at our decisions this way: Is what I am thinking, doing, or saying helping me acquire a craving for God? Or is it making me want the very opposite of what God has prepared for me? 

Very often, our problem is not that our desires and hungers are too great for what God offers; instead, they are too small. We struggle to believe that God can satisfy so we fix our attention on lesser things which taste sweet but make our soul hurt. And if God, in his mercy, deprives us of these unhealthy things, or commands us to stay away from them, we accuse him of being unfair or unloving. But this is not true. He has prepared the richest possible banquet for us. And part of us knows what God offers is actually what we want. We must trust God and let go of the wretched stuff we keep grasping and consuming, thinking it will take away our hunger for happiness and meaning. God made us for himself and as St. Augustine famously said, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in God”!

The wonderful news in these readings is that very little is required of us compared to what we receive. God provides everything, even the wedding garment that each person should wear. Through baptism and the sacraments, through Scripture and Tradition, through the guidance of the church and abundance of his grace, God makes us worthy to be at his table and delight in what he offers. The one thing we have that he cannot make or take, is our “yes”. He waits for us to choose him; once we do, we will have more than we could ever want. 

So let us choose him. Today, tomorrow, and every day we find ourselves on this earth until we are ushered into the eternal feast which is being prepared for all those who love Him! 

Have No Anxiety! (27th Sunday, Year A)

 To listen to this homily, click here.

There were these great commercials in the 90’s; some of you weren’t born then but you can find them on Youtube. These ads highlighted the Tombstone frozen pizza brand and they presented different scenarios of someone about to meet their maker. Before they did, the bad guy asked them what they wanted on their tombstone and they answered, “pepperoni and cheese”. There is something sacred and special about last words, at least in the movies, where someone leaves a lasting impression or a killer one-liner, right before they depart this life, a sort of immortal mic-drop. While this is mostly Hollywood stuff, there have been some amazing last words throughout history. St. Lawrence roasted his persecutors as he was being cooked to death over a massive fire. “Turn me over, I’m done on this side” he said. Bob Hope, the great comedian, was asked by his wife in his final hours where he wanted to be buried. “Surprise me”, he replied. And W.C. Fields, a well-known actor and comedian who was also a bit of a party animal and a generally difficult person, was seen reading the bible not long before he died. When asked why he had the holy book in his hands, he quipped, “I’m looking for loopholes.”

If we were about to die, whom would we write or call, and what would we say? Most of us would contact our loved ones, use words that expressed our affection, along with guidance and encouragement for the rest of their earthly lives. The apostle Paul was in a similar situation when he wrote his letter to the Philippians. Paul was under house arrest in Rome, in chains and under armed guard. He was soon to go on trial for his faith and the death penalty was a real possibility. So, Paul chose to write to his loved ones, the Christians in Philippi, a church that Paul had founded. 

So what were Paul’s last words to the Philippians? What was the enduring thing he wished to leave them? St. Paul tells them (and us), “Have no anxiety at all.” We might smile at those words. When someone says not to worry, it can sound naive, unrealistic, or even dismissive. But, that is hardly the case with Paul. He faced trials few of us could conceive. A partial list includes an escape involving being lowered over the side of building in a basket, public whippings, shipwrecks, snake bites, imprisonment and bodily ailments. Yet in this letter, written toward the end of his life, he says, “Have no anxiety at all.”

In his admonition to stop worrying, St. Paul was echoing Jesus. At the Last Supper, knowing full well that the next morning would bring public humiliation and unspeakable tortures, Jesus told his disciples, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” We might ask how it is possible to obey such a command. All of us would like to be free from worries, but it seems impossible. We have financial problems, family difficulties, work deadlines, health concerns – not to mention worries about what is happening in our world: natural disasters, societal breakdown, wars, economic turmoil and intense division. When Paul says to have no anxieties, when Jesus tells us not to be troubled, it does not mean to ignore reality. What it means is that we take a different approach to our troubles.

Before we get to that, I want you to know that I am not speaking from some high and mighty place. I am a worrier. I worry about money. I worry about what people think about me. I worry about not doing my job well enough. I hear other people problems and I worry about them too! It bothers me that I can do so little to help. Slowly, over time though, I am beginning to see the wisdom of St. Paul’s words. More often than not, my anxiety does no good for me or others.

When I look at my worries, I see that the majority concern only two things and I have no control over either of them. Those two things are centered around an unchangeable past or an unknowable future. I often obsess about past faults and blunders, yet I can do nothing to change them; what’s done is done. The best I can do is to learn from them, repent of those things which were sinful and make restitution if possible. The same is true about tomorrow – the things which I worry about often do not come to pass or, when they do happen, they turn out completely different than what I feared. The only day I can control is today. This doesn’t mean we fail to make prudent plans. Careful preparation is part of today's duty. But once we make those plans, we put them in Jesus’ hands.

After telling his readers not to be anxious, Paul offers a better way. First, we are to be prayerful. God wants to help us handle our problems and concerns, if we let him. If we commit our worries to God in prayer he will give us inner peace, contentment and assurance. So let’s make sure we set aside time to pray every day. Find a few quiet minutes to offer God our anxieties and fears, to lift before him the troubles of others, and to thank him for all he has given us and promised us. No special words are required. We can say what we really feel. If we do this, God will calm our hearts and clear our minds. We will experience gratitude as we remember that he was faithful in the past and he will continue to be faithful in the present and future!

Secondly, Paul encourages us to turn our minds to whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, gracious, excellent, and worthy of praise. That is a pretty comprehensive list which covers everything good in the areas of belief, behavior and beauty:

• In the area of belief, it means learning and reflecting on everything true about God, about ourselves and about the world he has made. Are we listening to the voice of Paul and others in the Bible and our Catholic Tradition who teach us about the character of God, the nature of humanity and the work of Christ? Or do we get our version of reality from news, cynical politicians or corporations who stand to profit from our anxiety?
• In the area of behavior, do we seek to contemplate and imitate those individuals in Scripture and in society who exhibit godliness, kindness, generosity and all the other fruits of the Spirit? Above all, do we look to Christ as our role model and example for living?
• And in the area of beauty, do we appreciate and delight in all that God has made, giving thanks to him for all that is attractive and glorious in Creation? 

In all of this, we realize our thoughts really matter! If our thinking goes astray or is consumed with anxiety, our beliefs and our behavior soon follow. So let’s make sure we guard our hearts and minds, and take responsibility for what we and our families give our attention to.

To bring this full circle, none of us knows what our last words will be. We don’t know whether they will be witty, wise or memorable. But we do know Paul’s last words to the Philippians. Last words that should be of first importance for us. Last words written in the face of death that can guide us in life: Have no anxiety, be prayerful, and turn our minds to all that is good.