Dragons Can Be Defeated! (26th Sunday, Year B)

To listen to this homily, click here.

One of the best moments before bedtime in any childhood was the reward of hearing a story or two before drifting off to sleep. Whether that was a personal anecdote from mom or dad’s younger days, a story from the Bible, or a favorite tale from a children’s book, it’s hard to think of anything that fed the imagination more than these special moments. In addition to their entertainment value, these stories had a point, a lesson, something to reveal about the world that enabled the youngster to sleep in peace, knowing they were safe and had something to dream about until tomorrow. The Scriptures this weekend have all the elements we associate with these foundational stories: in the first reading, a mysterious, supernatural power is given to the Elders who helped Moses; even those who were away from the group received it remotely; proving that God’s gifts and power are not limited by time and space. The second reading from James is a warning for those who have trusted in the wrong things and done evil to gain what they have; a day of reckoning is coming! And finally we have the gospel with references to spiritual battle with demons, eternal fire, and the need to endure any sacrifice to win final victory. It’s tempting, when Jesus speaks this way, to believe He is just exaggerating for effect, that he doesn’t really mean what he’s saying. But I think there is more to Jesus’ words than that. He wants his words to make an impression on us, just like those bedtime stories did when we first heard them. 

Last week, Jesus invited us to become like children. So, it’s no accident that he also teaches us like children: with stories. With parables. With strong images of sacrifice, demons, and battles between the forces of good and evil. Children’s fairytales are the same! In both there is a clear line between right and wrong, even though it might be difficult to know at first where the characters stand. There is also a need for decisive, courageous action. And all of this is built on the notion that choosing the good will be rewarded while choosing evil will lead to ruin. 

The reason why fairy tales get passed on generation after generation is that they acknowledge something even kids know to be true: evil is present in our world. And they present a starting point for how to defeat it. GK Chesterton, a 20^th century British author, pointed out the real purpose of these stories. “Fairytales do not tell children dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children that dragons can be defeated.”

So what is the point of this reflection on fairytales? It is to remind us that we too live in the midst of a battle between good and evil. No matter how old we are, the lessons we first learned through these stories apply to our life and our world right now. But the fight is easy to ignore because it is primarily spiritual, not physical. As St. Paul put it, “our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with principalities, with powers, with the rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens.”

The Second Person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ, became man and entered human history in order to show us the same thing. That while there are dragons here and now, while they do prowl about the world, seeking the ruin of souls, they can be defeated and destroyed. It is Christ, who tells us, “I tell you this so that you may have peace in me: In the world you will find trouble, but take courage. I have conquered the world.” It is Christ who allowed the forces of evil in this world to unleash their fury upon him in his passion and death, only to rise victorious on the third day. Christ has shown us in reality what fairy tales have only whispered in myth: Good triumphs over evil. God defeats Satan. Jesus rises victorious over sin and death. 

For Christians, the Scriptures give us what fairy tales cannot. They provide the secret to defeating evil in all its forms in every circumstance. They show us our role in the battle and how we are to act in times that can be confusing, overwhelming, and sometimes, seemingly hopeless. 

So what is the destructive dragon of our time? What is the instrument of evil that must be fought and defeated? In a few short weeks, voters in Missouri will be asked to change the state constitution through Amendment 3. This proposal masquerades as keeping the government out of anything that pertains to so-called “reproductive freedom”. To the casual reader, the amendment seems to simply let people make their own decisions about deeply personal matters. What it actually does is create a lawless bubble around anything that could be classified as reproductive freedom. This amendment contains the legal framework to eliminate parental notification and consent for minors around anything that could be labelled reproductive freedom. It would shield negligent healthcare professionals from malpractice for any actions while treating “reproductive health”. It would also open the door for abortions funded by tax dollars and carried out at any stage of pregnancy, for any reason, even when the unborn child can feel pain. In subsections 3 and 6 of this amendment, buried in language about anti-discrimination, gender transition procedures are equated to pregnancy care and could not be blocked even by a minor’s parent or guardian. 

The passage of amendment 3 will allow evil to thrive. It is a poison apple offered to women who are afraid and desperate. It will hurt women and children the most and this is who Satan always targets in his battle with God. You and I have a role to play in this battle. We are not just spectators, powerless to do anything. In fact, we must not sit on the sidelines or be non-committal. To fail to vote ‘no’ on amendment 3 is to be complicit in what it brings about. There is no moral justification for a Christian to vote ‘yes’ on Amendment 3 and most people oppose the effects it will unleash once the amendment is explained.

So what is our role as Catholics and followers of Christ? I know you are good people who want to fight evil and help others. So the obvious thing, for those of us old enough to vote, is to vote no on amendment 3. But that’s not all. Sometimes we can be tempted to think the victory is up to us, that we can do enough to defeat evil ourselves, if we just do the right things. But Jesus is the one who wins the victory, not us. And we will not be victorious primarily through arguments, pamphlets, or ads. These are good but they are not enough. First, we must pray for the defeat of this amendment and all things that contribute to the culture of death. We should pray for the conversion of hearts; first our own and then also all those who see Amendment 3 as a good thing. We should pray for all men and women who find themselves in desperate circumstances and feel alone. For those who think abortion is their only way out. We must also pray for every person who has been wounded by these lies and the culture of death. We should ask God to show them his mercy and offer ourselves as ambassadors of his healing love. Finally, we should be fasting and making sacrifices that good triumphs over evil. This practice of offering something up is ancient and effective and no sacrifice you offer is insignificant because God magnifies it with his grace. 

More than anything, we cannot be silent or indifferent about this evil. It is either ‘yes’ or ‘no’. We each have a part to play in the battle between good and evil. In baptism we were enlisted in God’s army and given a role in the story of salvation. Our witness, our vote, our prayers, no matter how small or simple, will let the world know that there are dragons out there and they can be defeated. We place ourselves and our cause under the protection of Mary, who herself battled the evil one, as together we say, “Hail Mary…”

 

Comfort or Conversion? (25th Sunday of OT, Year B)

Have you ever gone out of your way to do a good deed from someone, only to have it blow up in your face? Has there been a time when you did something that was good, right, difficult --- yet found that you were being criticized for your kindness or your intentions were questioned? When this does happen, we find ourselves asking a very basic question: Why are some people so cruel? Why are some so willing to assume the worst in others rather than presuming the good? Sadly, these are questions even young children ask. One of the most difficult experiences of raising a child is helping the youngster cope with classmates or teammates who are mean and cruel. This type of behavior exists in every stage of life. The basic plot of many novels and movies revolves around people who are downright mean and cruel. We would like to think that it is those “other people” who embody this dark side of human nature. But if we are reflective, we realize it doesn’t take much for us to cross the line and begin to treat people badly. 

Today’s first reading from the Book of Wisdom presents mean, cruel people. They plot against the just man. They want to destroy him. The reasons for their hatred are petty and immature. They are jealous of his goodness. They find his witness to God offensive. Worst of all, he has earned what they themselves desperately want but do not deserve: the respect of others.  Instead of humbly imitating the Just One and reforming their lives, they put their energy and resources into destroying the one who challenges them and makes them uncomfortable. 

The passage from Wisdom not only acknowledges this aspect of human nature; it is also prophetic. Even though these verses were written hundreds of years before Christ, they describe the attitude of those who put Jesus to death.  The Temple priests, the Sadducees and Pharisees attacked Jesus because He questioned their arrogance, their hypocrisy and his just lifestyle was offensive to them. They hated it when Jesus told them that they were not true to the law. Instead of changing themselves, they decided: Jesus had to die. Comfort took precedence over conversion.

This cruel situation often exists in our families, our nation, and even in our Church. A member of the family who is intent on living the faith might be mocked or hated by those who secretly wishes their faith was at the same level. In our society, the media often mocks those who are seeking to live properly. Our culture glories in pointing out the mistakes of just people. Instead of joining them in virtue, it would rather tear them down and show that good people are no different than immoral people or, if they are, it is only that they are judgmental, mean and absolutely no fun! Sadly, something similar happens in the Church. This shouldn’t surprise us because the Church is made of human beings. There are people within parishes, including clergy, who are ready to attack those whose virtue is perceived by others as greater than theirs, or whose lives make them uncomfortable. Comfort often takes precedence over conversion. 

It would be easy to stop here; to end the homily after reflecting on all those other people who can be cruel, unkind, and petty. But that would be incomplete. we must also look at ourselves and  examine the ways we fall into those same sins. In some way, we all feel threatened by the presence of the Just One in our midst. Sometimes that presence is the voice of a close friend or family member, challenging us to a more excellent way of acting or thinking. Other times it is the teaching of the Church which challenges us to stop thinking as the world does and start looking at things as Christ would. It can even be the correction of legitimate authority that offends our pride and causes us to attack whatever threatens our way of life.  

We all have areas of our lives we prefer to keep just the way they are. There are parts of our hearts and souls we prefer that God just leave alone. We want to be our own masters. And if anyone comes along to challenge us, even if it be the Just One of God, well, we will take that person out. Perhaps by attacking their reputation. Maybe by pointing out their faults. Or questioning their motives. Or mocking their old-fashioned values and rigid morals.

The truth is: not a single one of us has all of the answers! No one here in church has it all figured out or all together. And if our first reaction to correction is to go on the attack and try to lash out at the one who dares question us, well then we are the ones who have a problem. When we respond this way we close ourselves off and risk silencing the Just Ones God sends us in the form of friends, family, clergy, co-workers, classmates, and even random strangers.

Jesus was crucified because a lot of people heard the gospel but didn’t want to change or be challenged. They chose to fight to be comfortable in their sinfulness and this caused them to be cruel, to the point of killing the innocent Son of God. Will we make the same mistake? Will we accept Jesus’ challenge to be excellent, to suffer with him, to be corrected and converted and separated from our selfishness so that we can be his Just Ones to a troubled world? If we say yes to being challenged, if we say yes to being corrected and occasionally uncomfortable for the sake of the gospel, then we will forever sing the confident words of the psalmist: “Behold, God is my helper; the Lord sustains my life.” 

Custom Healing (23rd Sunday, Year, B)

One of the greatest blessings of my priesthood has been the experience of being around people who possess gifts I don’t have. So often, I am put into situations where my ministry relies on others using their talents and charisms for the good of others. This dynamic used to bother me when I was first ordained, probably because of my insecurity and a sense of inadequacy. I wanted to be all things to all people and when I wasn’t, I felt I was letting them down. But over time, I’ve realized that none of us are called to be a one-stop shop for the needs of others, no matter how talented or well-intentioned we are. God gave each of us gifts for the good of others to be shared and used collaboratively. As I have accepted this version of reality, I have found joy in seeing the gifts of others at work. Here are some examples:

When I ride with the police, I marvel at how these men and women can absorb the fear and chaos around them while maintaining a sense of calm and critical thinking to provide safety and de-escalate the situation. It is a thing of beauty to watch moms and dads practice the art of parenting, naturally ministering to each of their children in creative ways that acknowledge the individual character every child is. I am edified by doctors and nurses who genuinely love and care for their patients who are also my parishioners. As I visit and anoint patients, I notice the little things these healers do to comfort the sick, the fearful, and the hurting. Their compassion, not only towards the patient, but also their loved ones in the room is inspiring and amazing to watch. I see another set of gifts at work in those who teach in our school and PSR. So often they make connections between a subject that is hard to understand and a student who is struggling to make sense of it. They pay attention to little things like making sure they encourage the student as they figure things out, constantly adjusting the ratio of challenging a child vs affirming them, knowing what each student needs as an individual and teaching to their personality and background. In all of these cases, what really stands out is how these helpers treat each person as a unique individual rather than just a problem to be dealt with. As I observe gifted practitioners around me, I learn so much and try to incorporate some of their wisdom and grace into my own ministry. More than anything, I end up being grateful that God has shared so much richness and diversity in the experience of being human and loving others in his Name.

If this is true with imperfect humans, it’s even more incredible to see Jesus being an amazing healer in the miracle described by St. Mark in the gospel; a man who was deaf and impaired in speech once again can hear and speak. Today’s healing is different than many Jesus does with a simple word or gesture. At first glance, the way Jesus performs the miracle seems undignified or even silly.

Why this show, which looks embarrassing for Jesus? Like a kindergarten teacher who kneels down so she can be at the level of her small student, Jesus helps the man understand and participate in every step of his own healing! First, Jesus lets the deaf man know he is seeking spiritual closeness with him; the Lord communicates this by placing his fingers into the deaf man’s ears and his saliva into the deaf man’s mouth. By this graphic, hands-on method, Jesus invites the deaf man to accept Jesus into his person—literally. Then, he looks up to heaven to show the deaf man the source of Jesus’ power. It doesn’t come from some magic in Jesus’ fingers or spittle. It comes from God, whose power is incarnate in Jesus. Even the groaning of Jesus makes sense if we think of it in this way. The deaf man sees Jesus open his mouth to make the inarticulate sound of groaning. This deaf man doesn’t speak, but even those unable to talk can groan. In groaning, Jesus joins the deaf man in solidarity.

Last of all, the the deaf man sees Jesus speaking an articulate word to him, to the man who cannot hear. In doing this, Jesus is inviting the deaf man to trust him, to choose to accept the miracle—to choose to hear the saving and healing word that Jesus speaks to him. 

In this beautiful story, Jesus humbles himself to share the limitations of the deaf man. He changes his method to help the person in front of him who is different than the many others he has healed. By treating this man as a unique individual, the love of the Lord heals the deaf man’s soul as well as his ears. Might this be one of the reasons St. James tells us to make no distinction between rich or poor in our churches but rather see each and every person as a unique and equally precious creation, resisting the temptation to classify others into groups and categories?

Jesus does the same for each of us. We are not problems to be solved or broken machines to be fixed; we are persons made in God’s image and likeness. While his teaching and message remain constant, Christ will reach out to every person in the way that most respects their individual needs and circumstances. His healing will always be administered in the perfect manner for us at that time. God loves all of us in a way that is unique; it never has and never will be repeated. Rejoice in that love. Celebrate the fact that we are the beneficiaries of Jesus perfect love and goodness in every part of our life. Then humbly reflect on the particular gifts and special charisms God has shared with you. Develop them, refine them, and share them with others. Celebrate and encourage others in their gifts; do not be jealous or dismissive. None of us has everything people need but all of us have been given something to share. May we receive the Lord’s personal love in our lives and then humbly share that love through our own gifts with the people placed in our care.

Are You a Rotten Potato? (22nd Sunday, year B)

Between 1845 and 1852, the Great Potato Famine ravaged Ireland and was responsible for the deaths of some 1 million people, which was more than 10% of the population of the Emerald Isle. At the time, the potato was an affordable, reliable foundation of every working family’s diet. What was especially cruel about this potato blight was that it left the vegetable looking unscathed on the outside. The affected potatoes appeared large, firm, and hearty. But when cut open, they were rotten, hollow, and rancid from the center to within a half-inch of its outer skin. What had looked promising as a meal couldn’t even produce a mouthful of nourishment. The potatoes rotted from the inside out and provided false hope until the moment the inside was revealed. 

The very same thing happens to us as humans whenever we allow hypocrisy to take root within us. This disease that rots us from the inside out, already has a head start in every person because of original sin. It is only through reliance on God’s grace, frequent reception of the sacraments, daily prayer and constant vigilance that it is kept away.  

For this reason, we are warned explicitly in today’s Scriptures: Don’t be a hypocrite! In other words, make sure what you believe and how you act line up. Don’t say one thing and do another. There is something universally reviling about hypocrites. We can't stand it when we learn that models of morality have been leading secret, immoral lives. We are upset when those whom we respect are revealed to be indecent frauds. Sadly we have seen this principle in action over and over again in our civil and religious leaders.

We agree with the Lord in his attack on the hypocrites. But then Jesus turns the focus of his teaching towards us. He doesn’t just lead us in a round of mob justice to condemn all those bad people in the world; Jesus forces each of us to ask, "Am I a hypocrite? What thoughts, words, and actions are coming out of me? What is my heart producing?" We need to be concerned with fighting against any evil that might be lurking inside us. We can easily see the wrong in others, but if we are to avoid being hypocrites ourselves, we need to control our thoughts. We need to protect ourselves against those things which turn something wrong into “it’s ok if I do it!”. We need to be wholesome. We need to be pure of heart. We need to be gentle, strong, and merciful. 

Because the human reaction to hypocrisy is so visceral, it is possible that when we see it in ourselves, when we are the hypocrites, we give in to self-hatred. But God doesn’t want us hating ourselves. We must replace self-hatred with His Divine Love. We belong to God. He is among us and, through the grace of our baptism, He is within us. His gift of grace will help us win the battle for our souls. And this is the great irony: the thing God can’t stand the most (hypocrisy) seems at first glance, very similar to the thing He loves above all else! God loves sinners so much he didn’t even spare His Son to save them. So what is the difference between a hypocrite and a sinner? One key thing. The sinner avoids becoming a hypocrite by honest reflection on his or her life. The difference is that the sinner says, “God, I am sorry. I have done wrong. I need your help. I don’t want to hurt you or anyone else anymore. I want to do good things but I am weak. I understand the sins of others because I have my own weaknesses and failures.” 

One last observation. Just because the hypocritical Pharisees misused the commandments to harden their hearts doesn’t mean God threw away the Law! Jesus does not dismiss the commandments or the notion of sin; he condemns using it to afflict, judge, or hurt others. Jesus exposes the Pharisees for honoring God with lip-service while their hearts are far from him. But the problem is with them, not the moral code. The commandments and teachings of right and wrong come from God and cannot change or be dismissed, even when its teachers lead horrible lives. Perhaps the saddest result of hypocrisy in Christians is that it makes it easier for others to dismiss the saving truths which bring life. That is the ultimate scandal of hypocrisy: the splendor of Divine truth, found in God’s laws and commandments is obscured by human pride and weakness. 

Today it would be good for each of us to pray for the grace to humbly and honestly reflect on our life and actions. Where might we be rotten potatoes?! Is what comes out of us in the form of thoughts, words, and actions consistent with what we profess and believe as followers of Christ? Is there anything we are doing or not doing that could lead someone to doubt the truth of Jesus Christ? Are we willing to look first at our own sins and weaknesses rather than brushing over them to point out the faults of others? Do we think, consciously or not, that we are better than others, which is a sure sign we need God’s help to root out hypocrisy in ourselves. 

    The Good News is that God’s love is steadfast! He will never stop loving sinners who confess their need for Him and he is not afraid of any spiritual rot that is within us! So let’s be set free from any pride or self-righteousness that might afflict us. Let’s openly admit to God that we are weak and sinful and in need of His care. Make use of the sacrament of confession which he gave us as a way of returning to him and receiving his gifts of healing and strength. Pray for all who wander in darkness and for anyone who may have been hurt by our sins and hypocrisy. In time, with God’s grace, we can become the person described by the psalmist, ‘who does justice and who will live in the presence of the Lord’! 

Who Do You Obey? (21st Sunday, Year B)

 To listen to this homily, click here.

Being the oldest of many children provided me with the opportunity to do a lot of (free) baby-sitting. When my parents took a rare night off or mom had to run to the store in the middle of the day or take someone to the doctor, these were all times I would be drafted to hold down the fort and make sure everyone did what they were supposed to until one or both of the parental units returned to resume control. Now, I’m not going to pretend I was always a benevolent sitter. I, like many oldest siblings, would sometimes turn to threats, martial, and scorched-earth policies in the hopes of maintaining order. Sometimes this came from a place of laziness or arrogance. Other times, it was in the interest of self-preservation. A horde of younger siblings can sense weakness and self-doubt like a shark senses blood in the water. If you don’t immediately maintain order and control, they will band together and turn the house into a modern-day French revolution. If that happens, the parents might return to nothing more than your bleached bones and full anarchy. 

As a young person, that was my first real practice of authority. And it taught me a lesson we’ve all learned one way or the other: we humans struggle with authority! I can’t count how many times I would tell a sibling to do some task required by mom and dad but was told: “you’re not the boss of me! Have you ever noticed how quickly a young child learns how to say the word “no”? And it’s not just children either. How many of us like to be told what to do? Ever since Adam and Eve, we haven’t been great at obedience. Sin has placed a resistance within us to authority, even when that authority is legitimate and in our best interests. We all want to be our own master in some way, shape, or form. But no matter how strong, successful, powerful, or independent we are, we all serve someone, something. 

The readings today challenge the fantasy of total autonomy and force us to acknowledge who or what we serve. Joshua gathers the tribes of Israel and recounts the saving work of God throughout history. It wasn’t always clear how the Lord would save his people, it certainly wasn’t always easy, popular, or without sacrifice. But in the end, those who served the God of Moses and Abraham were vindicated and rewarded. Joshua called on the people to make their decision once again and to make it freely and deliberately. He didn’t ask whether or not they wanted to serve a god; the question is what god they will decide to serve. Joshua’s statement of faith and obedience is beautiful, so beautiful that it is often displayed in the homes of many families, thousands of years later. He says, “As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." Encouraged by his humility and conviction, the people of Israel promised to serve the Lord with renewed faith and trust.

This theme of obedience and service is also at work in our second reading from St. Paul to the Ephesians. Most priests avoid this reading like the plague because the phrase, “Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord” always stirs up angry looks and sore ribs among married couples. But this reading never was meant to aggravate the power struggle introduced by sin between men and women, husbands and wives. This reading is meant to change the argument completely from who has the power, who is charge to whom will you serve? St. Paul tells the Ephesians, and us, that marriage is meant to be a sign of the relationship which exists between Christ and his bride, the Church. Just as Jesus came, not to be served but to serve. Just as Jesus told God the Father during his agony in the Garden that he wanted “not his own will but his Father's to be done.” So too with married couples. You are supposed to enter into marriage in order to serve your spouse...and not the other way around. Both husband and wife are called to lay down their lives, their wills, even personal ambition in order to promote the happiness and holiness of their spouse. It is never about who is right, who has the power, or who has the final say. This is a very lofty view of married life but it is the ideal Christians strive for.

Finally, we have the gospel. Jesus has just finished his teaching on the Bread of Life, which is his own Body and Blood. It is a difficult teaching, so difficult and challenging, that many of Christ’s followers leave him that day and never return. They were willing to follow him until that point but then it became too much, too difficult. Notice what Jesus doesn’t do! He does not go back to the huge group leaving him and say, “sorry guys for what I said, I didn’t really mean it!” He doesn’t try and water down his teaching or make it easier to stomach. He simply turns to the apostles and says, "Do you also want to leave?" St. Peter speaks on behalf of all twelve when he wisely answers, "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God." Even though it is difficult, the apostles decided to serve Christ and obey his teaching, Even though many others walked away, they stayed and served and God took care of them.

We for our part, need to ask ourselves: who it is we serve. Maybe especially so for us who are cradle Catholics and had our faith handed to us as small children.  Do we intentionally serve the Lord? Even when his teachings are difficult? Even when we don’t quite understand? Even when his teachings are unpopular? Or judged by the “wise” of the world to be irrelevant or outdated? Do we serve the Lord AND see obedience to the Catholic Church as part of following him?

Or do we serve ourselves? Our own egos, our own ambitions, our own comfort zones, our own laziness, our own selfishness? Do we serve God or do we serve the opinions and approval of others?

Whether we like it or not, we all must serve someone or something. And that choice must be made over and over again; not just once. Every day we wake up, we are given the opportunity to choose: will we serve God or someone, something else. May we decide wisely like Joshua and the Apostles, “that as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”