Spiritual Wake-up Call (16th Sunday, Year B)

 To listen to this homily, click here.

There are these nasty things out there called smelling salts which are often used in sports when a player comes off the field from a big hit and is a bit woozy. Smelling salts are also used when someone passes out to help them wake up. I’ve even seen people use them to focus and be fully alert. However and whenever they are applied, they aren’t pleasant. There will never be a smelling salts candle or air freshener but that’s kinda the point. They are meant to be used sparingly for serious reasons.

Our first reading today is a sort of spiritual smelling salt. On one hand it contains the strong and unpleasant condemnation of bad shepherds who have failed to care for God’s flock. There is a divine promise of punishment for those who abandon their role to guide and protect. God’s strong language gets our attention and snaps us out of the distracted daze that often grabs us when we hear His Word. Why is God so angry? Why do bad shepherds cause such a strong response? 

For most people, when they think of shepherds in the scriptures, they think of priests, bishops, and other spiritual leaders. And for good reason! Jesus often describes himself as a shepherd. Today's gospel describes his tender heart with this image as he looks about the crowds of people who have caught up with Jesus and the disciples as they were trying to rest and reflect. Even though he is tired and his apostles have not even had time to eat, Jesus is the good shepherd who puts the needs of the flock first. They want healing, preaching, and direction and he will not deny them what their souls need. Jesus is the opposite of the leaders in the first reading who put themselves and their needs first. Jesus teaching his disciples to be servant leaders, who lay down their lives in service to others. Over the past 20-25 years, we’ve seen the devastating effect of bad shepherds in our Church. Since the priest scandal, many people have left the flock, rejected the teachings of Jesus and looked for green pastures elsewhere. Their hearts have been broken and their souls repulsed by the very people who should have led them to the Lord. That's why Jeremiah uses such strong and threatening language in our first reading. Thanks be to God there are still so many good and holy shepherds called to lead God’s Church. God continues to keep his promise to raise up righteous and wise leaders in the wake of scandal and sadness.

But priests, bishops, and religious leaders are not the only shepherds called out by the challenge of the first reading. In the bible, the king and other political figures were also regarded as shepherds. Worldly leaders also have a responsibility to care for the people they are appointed to lead, not only focussing on the spiritual care of their constituents but making sure their basic human needs are meant and their human dignity protected. Political leadership in our country and in our time is in need of serious moral reform. In almost every poll, politicians are regarded some of the least admired and most mistrusted persons. The spiritual smelling salts of the first reading should serve as a wakeup call to all who serve in public leadership; God expects that power to be used in service of his flock!

It can be easy to jump on the bandwagon and condemn the examples of bad leadership we see in both Church and politics. God knows, there are plenty of examples to point to! But bad priests, bad politicians, and other bad shepherds don’t drop out of the sky. They grow up in families, they go to schools, they hang out with friends, and even go to church. 

Parents, you are some of the most important shepherds out there. Your flock is your family and you set the tone not just for your home but for our society. The catechism describes the family as the domestic church. If parents lead their children towards God, if they teach them to love what is good and run from what is sinful, if they model service and self-sacrifice, our society and our parishes are better because of it. So many of the qualities of good and holy leaders are instilled by a healthy and wholesome family life. 

It is so hard these days for parents to be good shepherds. There is no shortage of voices that call people away from what will make them truly happy with God in heaven. It is not easy to round up the family and come to Mass each and every Sunday. The world is forever encouraging parents to make other priorities and choose other values that seem more convenient or pleasant. Don’t underestimate the importance of your choices and the power of your example. Your grace-filled leadership in your homes is needed now, more than ever, for the good of our church and world!

Shepherding doesn’t stop with priests, politicians, or parents. Each of us have people who depend on us and are affected by our choices and behavior. Our teens and grade school students are shepherds too! You provide an example to your friends, your siblings, your classmates and so many others. Your kindness and support can get others through a low point in life. Your sticking up for someone can stop a bully in their tracks. Your speaking the truth can transform a heart and offer freedom to someone living a lie. The way you engage others online has the potential to magnify your voice; always use that power to do good! There is no minimum age for becoming an inspiration and example of virtue. Please do not forget that you are also called to be shepherds here and now in your own way. 

The list could go on for all of you who are grandparents, godparents, teachers, coaches, managers, executives, and leaders but you get the point. We all have people who rely on us, look up to us, and follow our lead. Our first reading reminds us that this is both an honor and a responsibility. It is an honor that God has given our actions and decisions such power. We have a responsibility to make sure our leadership points people back to God rather than being used for ourselves.

The best news of all is that we have a living example in Christ. He shows us how to be good shepherds. It always starts with service and putting others first. The life of a shepherd is not always easy but if lived well, it is always rewarding and life-giving. May we allow Jesus to lead us every day so we may, in turn, lead those who rely on us!

Friend, Lend Me Your Hands (15th Sunday, Year B)

 To listen to this homily, click here.

During the Korean War, a small village came under heavy artillery fire. When the smoke cleared, the pastor of the little parish sought the help of some American soldiers in restoring a statue of Christ that had fallen off its pedestal. Since the statue’s hands were gone, the soldiers planned to mold two new ones. The pastor, however, came up with a very meaningful suggestion: “Let’s leave the statue as it is and make a sign with these words, “Friend, lend me your hands.” 

This theme of God working through the hands, feet, voice, and lives of everyday people is reflected throughout our readings today.

First up, we encounter the prophet Amos. To the people he was sent to serve, he was a nobody. Those in power, those he was called to challenge didn’t want to listen to a word he said. But why? This biblical Amos was a normal, everyday working man. He was not an expert! He was an arborist; which means he ran a tree service, specializing in Sycamores and also did some shepherding on the side. He lived in the Southern Kingdom of Judah, next to the border of the Northern Kingdom. Like so many working men and women, Amos didn’t play games; he called it like he saw it. He was not a politician or kisser of backsides. So, when he was called by God to be a prophet, he stuck out like a sore thumb. There were many professional prophets in his time, people who would prophesy for a fee. Many of them were in the service of the corrupt king and instead of challenging him to follow God’s laws, they constantly said whatever they thought would make the king happy and keep the peace. Amos wasn't part of that crowd. His prophecies were tough, challenging and clear on the need for repentance and reform. Amaziah, the leader of the false prophets, told Amos to stop talking and leave, because he was making people feel bad. But Amos said he had no choice.  "The lion has roared, who will not fear? God has spoken, who can but prophesy?"  So this ordinary man became the voice of God's truth because he was willing to share God’s message even if it was unpopular. Amos was the perfect prophet for his time because he was not captive to the king, corrupted by politics or seeking earthly favors. He knew the truth when he saw it and was courageous enough to speak it.

 

            Fast forward to the gospel and the seemingly-terrible choices Jesus made in terms of personnel to go spread his gospel of freedom and repentance. Four were fishermen. One was a hated tax collector. One a political zealot. There was nothing expert or extraordinary about any of the twelve that Jesus sent out to preach, heal and expel demons. They were ordinary, mostly uneducated people, given instructions to conduct themselves like prophets, teachers, and healers. But because of their love for Jesus and his truth, the Word of God worked through them. They became his hands, his feet, his voice to a people that were lost, hurting, and wandering in darkness.

 

            God wishes to work through everyday people, including us. There is a saying that God does not call the qualified but qualifies the ones He calls. In fact, no matter how talented or trained we are, we cannot be spiritually productive without the gift of God’s grace. Jesus asks us if will lend him our hands and hearts and promises to qualify each and every one of us to bring the saving message to those we encounter. We do not need a theological degree or priestly ordination to be his messenger and disciple. We simply need a love for the truth and a heart open to the grace of the Holy Spirit. Similar to Amos and the apostles, some of the best representatives of God have been the people the world sees as unqualified and inadequate. 

Amos and the apostles serve as a reminder and an inspiration to all of us as followers of Christ. Most of us are not expert prophets, preachers, or healers by trade or training. If it were up to us, we would just go through life minding our own business and making ends meet. But as Christians, we have been given the challenge and privilege of proclaiming the truth and bringing Jesus to our time and our culture, no matter how foreign or unpopular that truth might be. Imagine the good that would follow if all Catholics stood up for the truth, completely and unapologetically. This is how Christ commissioned the Apostles in today's gospel and by our baptism, we have received the same mission.

  Sadly, there will always be people who reject the message. Maybe some of us were in that group at one time  We may have to move on and proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ to others, just as the disciples were told to move on when they were rejected. But don't stop praying for them. And be patient.  Joy, happiness and the Presence of the Lord are contagious. Sometimes, it takes time for God’s grace to soften hearts. Most importantly, don’t be silent! Many people will hear the message clearer when it comes from you rather than from a priest or some other professional ‘prophet’. Because of your work, friendships, and human connections, you will have opportunities to bring God’s truth to people and places I simply can’t. 

May we be like Amos and the apostles, proclaiming the truth of the Lord, in and out of season, whether it is popular or not. May we step up when God asks us, “Friend, lend me your hands” so that in this life, and more importantly, in the life to come, we may be truly and eternally blessed.

God's Truth, Messy Messengers (14th Sunday, Year B)

 To listen to this homily, click here.

One of the experiences I am grateful for in my priesthood, was being asked to serve on the Personnel Board for three years. The personnel board is an elected group of priests that meets monthly to advise the archbishop on clergy assignments. Each member is asked to reach out to the clergy of his ordination group and see how they are doing, what they need, and where their spiritual gifts are best used. Over and over again, I was edified, in both the group discussions and the one-on-one calls by the generosity, humility, and ability of my brother priests. A few had a gift for being difficult and requiring prayers for patience. But overall, I was amazed and filled with hope as I saw God’s grace working in my priestly co-workers.

I also noticed something less wonderful about myself. It wasn’t there all the time and it was subtle, like a little whisper that could grow into a subversive force if left unchecked. I realized how easy it was to allow first impressions, old memories, and second-hand information about specific priests influence my input. It took a lot of work to make sure I wasn’t pigeon-holing a guy I knew in seminary as if he was exactly the same person from 10 years ago. It was much easier to let a priest’s reputation, good or bad, determine a recommendation rather than getting to know that specific guy and listening to how God was working in his ministry and in his heart. People change, people grow, and everyone deserves a second look, to be evaluated on where they are right now, instead of just one impression years ago. I suppose what I learned is that I should not only avoid judging a book by it’s cover but also realize I might not even have the most current edition of the book!

This is not just relevant to priests and their assignments! We all have a tendency to be so bogged down with our own conceptions of what a good person, a true disciple, an ideal friend, loyal family member, or desirable spouse should be that we sometimes miss the Word of God working in others, imperfect though they may be. Sometimes we are challenged by others to be better and we want to erase from our minds any truth that they may have proclaimed by calling to mind their faults and less-than-shining moments. But truth is truth, whether it is proclaimed by a saint or a sinner.

In the first reading, Ezekiel is told that the people will not want to hear the Word of God which the Lord told him to proclaim. People will have misgivings about him. He was truly strange. He was unconventional. He shocked people with many of his prophetic actions. They laughed at him. He didn’t fit their image of what a prophet should be. But that did not lesson the fact that he proclaimed the Word of God. His words were true. Instead of looking at the man speaking, they should have listened to the words he spoke.

The same thing happened to Jesus in today’s Gospel. He was in Nazareth, the place where he grew up. The people who heard him preach were his neighbors. They knew him since he was small. They remember when he was a little boy learning day by day how to become a carpenter like St. Joseph. They recalled him playing with their children. They remember when he went through growth spurts. They remember when his voice changed and when he began to grow a beard. They were so bogged down in their knowledge of Jesus’ humanity, that they refused to listen to the Word of God that He proclaimed and that He was so much more than their minds could imagine. They could not fathom that God would work through Jesus or that he might be anything more than the carpenter’s son. Their lack of faith resulted in Jesus not being able to perform any mighty deeds among them.

We often make the same mistake. Some people seem too familiar to be vehicles of God’s truth. They may be our parents, teachers, friends, co-workers, or children. They might proclaim a reality that could change our lives, but we don’t want to hear it from them. “Who does he think he is? Who does she think she is?,” we complain. It is easy for us to be so mired in the humanity of the proclaimer that we refuse to listen to the proclamation which is actually a gift from God if we can get past the initial sting.

Even worse, we might be so overwhelmed with our own sinfulness that we refrain from proclaiming the Lord or standing up for the truth. So many Catholics view themselves in such a negative way that they feel unworthy to lead others in faith and morals. “Who am I to tell someone not to do this or that, when I know that I often do things far worse.” We need to realize that God has a long history of inviting imperfect people to work with him in proclaiming his Word. If he only asked the perfect to serve as followers, priests, parents, and teachers, no one would be able to spread the Good News.

Paul was told that Christ’s power is made perfect in his weakness. Paul realized it was God working through him AND his imperfections that brought so many people to the faith. Christ’s power also works through us. We really do not have the right to deny our responsibility to the Lord. We may think we are not good enough to talk about the Lord and be his messengers, but He makes us good enough through grace. We have to remember the positive effects of what we say come from the Lord, not from us.

Today’s Scriptures remind us to avoid the temptation to put others in a box; to write them off, or ignore the possibility that God may be speaking through them. The Word of God also encourages us that we can be his messengers and representatives, despite our past, present, and future struggles. We come before the Lord today and say with St. Peter, St. Paul and so many of the saints, “I am sinful, I cannot do your work” and Jesus says, “Yes you can. My power will work through you in ways greater than you can ever realize. My power is made perfect in your weakness.” With that in mind, let us move forward with compassion, openness, and courage, so Jesus can do mighty things in and through us!

Myth Busting the Mystery of Human Suffering (13th Sunday, Year B)

To listen to this homily, click here.

    Some of you might remember a show that aired on the Discovery channel for almost twenty years. It was 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 was rated as confirmed, plausible, or busted. In a similar way, the readings we just heard serve as a sort of “mythbusters” moment for some of the spiritual myths that are thrown around to try and make sense of human suffering.

Myth #1: Suffering, sickness, and death are part of God’s will. We hear this all the time when someone we love is sick, has died or 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 over all creation. In his incredible generosity and love, he even gave them free will, the ability to choose good or evil. By doing 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 offense, death, sickness, suffering and every other misfortune was introduced into the world.

This is what sin does; it fosters chaos, upheaval, and conflict between people and between us 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 personal, might be to ask, “who is affected by my sins?!"

So how do we reconcile the fact that God is all-good, all-powerful, all-loving, all-knowing and yet he still allows (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, to eliminate 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 choose the opposite, which is to decide to not love God or others.

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. This is not to say that suffering and death is the result 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 original sin of Adam and Eve, 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 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 happens over and over again in the gospels and throughout history. 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 the wonderful mystery of God; when we, or someone we love, is suffering or dying, 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 people 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 loved one rather than just making a new angel from scratch?
2. More importantly, people do not become angels nor do angels become people. They are two different creatures. Angels are created with an intellect, will, and soul. They never have and never will have bodies. Human beings are created 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.

It’s important we challenge the many myths that exist about God in our minds and in our world. Otherwise, he becomes cruel, arbitrary, distant, and untrustworthy. Our faith and the scriptures remind us 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, knowing He suffers with us. Let us be patient, knowing that our understanding and knowledge are limited and avoid the temptation to answer the mystery of suffering with a sound byte or simple explanation. The real answer is to pray for a greater faith and trust in the God who made us, saved us, and wishes to love us forever in heaven. May we never doubt that God, somehow, some way, will redeem our moments of pain and loss and make them worthwhile.