Man's Best Friend - Christmas 2021

To listen to this homily, click here.

During my 13 years as a priest, I’ve been to a considerable number of dinner auctions. Inevitably, there is a puppy at the live auction and at least one person, usually more than one, offers to buy it for parish clergy. Maybe they think we are lonely over at the rectory or something like that. Without hesitation, no matter how cute the puppy is, I always turn down the kind offer. People are often surprised at my emphatic “no”. The immediately question is something like, “Don’t you like dogs?”. In fact, I do like dogs, especially other people’s dogs! We had some great canine companions growing up and lots of fond memories of our dogs who had wonderful lives of constant attention and affection as members of our large family.

But this symbiotic relationship between humans and dogs did not always exist. The dog's ancestors used to fear humans and hide from them, even attacking at times. At some point, a brave and brilliant person approached the wolves. Maybe he saw an abandoned wolf pup and took him in or sensed an openness within the canine creature. Whatever happened, that person somehow bridged the enormous distance between the two species and we began to see each other as companions rather than a threat. So much so that now dogs are considered man’s best friend!

Every Christmas, we celebrate the fact that Jesus did something similar but infinitely more remarkable for the human race. We used to fear God and hide from him; in some ways we still do, because of the guilt of our sins. But Jesus reached out to us in an extraordinary way. He became one of us in the little town of Bethlehem. He bridged the infinite gap between humanity and God, between creator and creature, because he loves us and couldn’t bear to see us wander and suffer any longer. That is what we celebrate on Christmas eve (day).

When we look at the Child in the manger, we are seeing something extraordinary. Astronomers tell us if we look into a powerful telescope, we are seeing events that already happened millions, maybe even billions, of years ago. When we look into the manger and reflect on the mystery of the Incarnation, we are seeing even further than that. Jesus existed before the dawn of time. When we see him, we are looking at God Himself.

The joy and awe of the Christmas mystery should lead us towards humility. You and I will never understand the mind of God anymore than a dog can understand the mind of a human. Even a seemingly simple thing, like drawing a picture or working on simple addition and subtraction, is beyond the dog’s understanding. Neither do we comprehend the enormity of what God is doing when he creates the universe and works out the mystery of our salvation. There is an awesome distance between us and God. That distance will always remain, but because of Jesus, we can enter God's presence. We can feel the peace of his acceptance and friendship.

I read a little-known story that illustrates God's acceptance of us, even with all our sins and limitations. The singer Johnny Cash shared how he spent the Christmas of 1974 with the famous evangelist Billy Graham. At one point, Graham said, "Let's call Richard Nixon and wish him a Merry Christmas." Johnny Cash wasn’t sure this was a good idea. I suppose that would be like us deciding to give the Cuomo brothers a call. The Christmas of ’74 was just a few months after Nixon left the White House in disgrace because of Watergate. The American people had placed the greatest trust in him, but he let them down by abusing his power and failing to rise above the fray of politics as the Commander in Chief. No one wanted to have anything to do with him. But in the end, that’s what they did! Cash admitted it was difficult to make holiday small talk with Nixon. Then he added, "Billy felt good he had talked to him. It didn't matter to Billy Graham what a man has done, it doesn't matter how rotten and low he has been."

God knows everything you and I have done. He's seen our best moments but also the many times we’ve given in to sin and selfishness, not just with our actions, but also in our most private thoughts and desires. He knows who we are, but just like that first man who reached out to wolves, he reached out to us dramatically on Christmas day. He is not afraid of our sins and weakness because his love is far stronger than any evil we can think, do, or say. 

Sometimes people say they are afraid to go to church on Christmas. It’s been a long time since they came to Mass or practiced their faith. They think the walls will fall down or lightening will strike. But these walls are sturdy and we have a fully grounded electrical system! The God of all peoples and the Creator of the universe is not interested in crushing or zapping any of us. He wants to save every person and invites you and me into his wonderful friendship. He could impress us with his power or overwhelm us with his majesty but instead he seeks to soften our hearts as a vulnerable, meek Child. He wants to bridge the gap between us and the Almighty in the most non-threatening way. In Jesus God wants to embrace us, no matter how low we’ve gone or how far we’ve run away.

So let us rejoice in the incredible love God has for us. A love that cannot be destroyed by any sin, illness or death. A love that will never leave us or fade away. Let us embrace this love in the baby Jesus, opening our sinful, hardened hearts to him. Lastly, having received this love ourselves, may we never forget to turn around and share it generously with others: our friends, our family, and yes, even those who are difficult for us to be around, even the marginalized and inconvenient, all those the world has given up on or rejected. Like that brave man who first reached out to the wolves, God has reached out to us. We no longer need to fear God, to hide from him. That is the message for today: No more fear and hiding. Come to Bethlehem. Come to the Manger. Come to the Child. 

I pray that you and your family have a Holy Christmas. And may we all keep Christmas alive through our love of God and love for one another.

 

Don't Judge a Gift by its Wrapping! 4th Sunday of Advent (Year C)

 To listen to this homily, click here.

One of the Christmas traditions my parents started relatively recently for our family has quickly become one of our favorites. It is a white-elephant gift exchange where each adult in the family spends considerable time and energy but never more than $15-20 finding a terrible gift to give. Some of these treasures have been so wretched and aesthetically-offensive that they have stolen the hearts and minds of the entire family. We’ve even instituted a rule that these hall of fame gifts may never be thrown away or given to anyone outside the family. For example, one year, my dad received an incredible full-length denim robe that is simply indescribable. If Old Testament Joseph had been born in the American West, this would have been his enviable dreamcoat that drove his brothers insane. After all of us got over our jealousy and the desire to steal my Dad’s new robe, we all agreed to his one wish, that he be buried in it, whenever that day comes. 

The custom of a white elephant gift exchange is nothing new or novel. We just had one at our teacher party this week and our teens will enjoy theirs later tonight. But one thing I’ve learned from our family’s tradition is that you should never judge a gift by its appearance. More often than not, the most beautifully wrapped, perfectly presented boxes were the holiday version of fools gold; they looked great but there was nothing but disappointment inside. On the other hand, some of the gifts wrapped in a trash bag or simple brown paper that looks like it had been cut by someone’s teeth, those often were the most amazing.

I couldn’t help but think of this experience as the season of Advent begins to wind down and we look forward to celebrating Christmas in a few short days. My hunch is that most of the gifts that will be exchanged and found under trees will be wrapped in beautiful wrapping paper, full of shiny gold and silver patterns and holiday images. Some will have bows and ribbons and all will be beautiful to look at and impossible to resist opening. Very few will resemble the landmines which will soon find their way under the tree at my parents’ house. And if we had a choice of which gift we would choose, based on appearances alone, most of us would prefer the one wrapped with beautiful paper and flowing ribbons. But is that a good thing?

In today’s readings, there is a certain preference for the people and things the world passes over. Take the first reading for example. In it, the prophet Micah encourages the little town of Bethlehem. Bethlehem was nothing in the eyes of the world. More than that, it was even insignificant in the eyes of the twelve tribes of Judah. It was a one-horse, or perhaps more accurately, a one-camel town. It was the hoosier-ville of biblical times, insignificant, unimportant, irrelevant. Not a place that you would brag about being from. But not for long! Micah shares some shocking news! God will make this little unimportant town, a place passed over by the world, the home of the messiah; here he will begin the salvation of the whole world. It will no longer be insignificant; now it will be known forever and always as a place honored and blessed by God. 

This underdog theme continues in the Gospel. Here we have two women who are experiencing unusual pregnancies. The first is that of Elizabeth. She has been barren her whole life and her marriage to Zechariah has produced no offspring. In biblical times, this was seen as a curse and even a punishment by God for some evil committed. She is no supermodel or leading lady! In the eyes of the world, her best days are behind her and her purpose is fading. She is not shiny, new, or flashy. But what does God do? He chooses Elizabeth to be mother of the last and greatest prophet to walk this earth. He entrusts to her the life of John the Baptist, who will prepare the way of the messiah. Yet another case of God choosing what the world has passed by and written off.

But this is not all, nor is Elizabeth’s pregnancy the most unique. She is visited by her cousin, Mary. Most bible scholars believe the mother of God was a young teenage girl around 15 or 16 when she had Jesus. This was common in a time when people’s life expectancy was a mere 30-40 years. To the people her time, Mary was a nobody. She was not a glamorous celebrity whose every moment of pregnancy was covered by reporters and followed by the masses. She was not a member of the royal family or the daughter of rich and powerful parents. This no-name maiden received the shocking news that she would become the Mother of God. And she would do this while still maintaining her virginity. She could have been put to death for being pregnant during her time of engagement. Not exactly the way the world expected the savior to enter the world. And certainly not the person most would have chosen for this honor.

As we enter this fourth and final Sunday of Advent, we recognize that many of the gifts God presents to our world are easy to dismiss and ignore. They are not covered in bright flashy wrapping; they are not the first thing that catches our eye. So many times, the things endorsed by our culture as great or strong or important are little more than fancy coverings, a thin veil that is ripped away when God appears in his Glory! When it comes to sharing his goodness with us, God is not interested in trying to compete with the flashy things of this world. He does not try to win our love with gimmicks or empty promises. 

What we learn from the readings today is that God often uses those things and people that the world dismisses as unimportant, irrelevant, and no longer useful. In Bethlehem, Elizabeth, and the Blessed Virgin Mary, we see three of God’s gifts in easy-to-miss, easy-to-dismiss, wrappings. Even today, those divine gifts are all around us but we often look past them, getting distracted by worldly presents that catch our eye and divert our attention. The lesson for us this Sunday is straightforward: do not discount what the world disregards. Do not write someone off because of their appearance or their seeming irrelevance. Do not discount the weak, the old, the unpopular, the unborn, the unknown, or the simple. God may be working through them to bring his love and salvation into your life. Follow this advice and prepare to experience the wonders of God at work in the world this Christmas season. 

What Are the Road Conditions of Your Soul? (2nd Sunday of Advent, Year C)

 To listen to this homily, click here.

One of the charms of my last parish, St. Michael the Archangel, was that it was nestled in the middle of a neighborhood. Something interesting about that place was its small parking lot. Historically it wasn’t needed. There was a bus stop one block away. The metrolink station was only a .25 mile stroll. A good number of parishioners walked to Mass. That is increasingly rare these days. We drive everywhere all the time! I only put 12-15k miles a year on my vehicle but my dad notched 35k a year when he was doing outside sales. Those of you running your kids around from thing to thing are probably logging 20k miles a year. All of this is simply to make the point that driving is an important and constant part of our lives. A huge factor in whether our time behind the wheel is something that leads to holiness or adds to time in purgatory is the road we happen to be on. A good road makes the journey pleasant, efficient, and relatively stress free. The miles can fly by and we arrive at our destination happy and on time. A bad road can leave us tense, frustrated, and late, if we arrive at all. But good roads don’t come easy; they require tremendous effort, planning, cost, and frequent updating. Any shortcuts you take will haunt you later.

Think back to the old section of 64/40, from 270 into the city of St. Louis. It was a nightmare! Built in the mid-1930's, it had those dangerously short entrance and exit ramps, where drivers were fighting each other to get over before the road ran out. My least favorite section was entering or exiting the highway at Lindberg Blvd. The old 64/40 was a narrow highway by modern standards with only three lanes in each direction and was designed for speeds between 40 and 50 miles per hour. As Saint Louis spread from the city to the county and cars became more numerous, this historic little highway became extremely congested. Daily commuters could count on substantial delays each day at certain bottlenecks or accident-prone parts of the highway. However, because of the volume of traffic that used the roadway, and the dated design of the ramps and overpasses, there was little that could be done to improve safety and traffic flow.

After decades of frustration and head-scratching, accidents and bumper-to-bumper traffic, it was decided to shut down the stretch of highway running through the city and completely rebuild it. This seemed like an impossible task, because most of that traffic would have to be re-directed to secondary roads and other highways which were already crowded. But after two years of waiting and relatively little hassle, drivers were given a new highway which was safer, faster, wider, smoother, and straighter. 12 years later, many people have forgotten how bad the old highway was, we’ve certainly forgotten the two years of waiting and sacrificing as the road was being improved. Perhaps the only question asked when it was all over was, "why didn't we do this sooner?" 

Interestingly enough, the Missouri Department of Transportation opened the new and improved 64/40 on the 2nd Sunday of Advent back in 2009. They couldn’t have timed it better. The very real need that Saint Louis had for a new highway to connect her people is very similar to the need we each have for a spiritual highway connecting us to God and his saving love. Luke's gospel tells us that John the Baptist was wandering through the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance in preparation for the coming of Christ. He was echoing those beautiful words from the prophet Isaiah: "Prepare the way of the Lord,  make straight his paths.
 Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low.  The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth,  and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

John the Baptist, the last of the prophets and one of the first to follow Christ, calls on the people of every age to fill in the valleys, to lower the hills and mountains, to straighten the winding roads and smooth the rough patches not on our roads (although I hope we still do that too!) but in our hearts. In the spiritual life, it is our faith which is our spiritual highway. It is through our faith that God sends us the many graces and blessings which make it possible to follow him and gain eternal life. 

Much like old roadways, our faith can become outdated. Many of us have not learned much about our faith since grade school or high school. It is not a stretch to say that most of us have experienced a narrowing of our faith due to doubt or disagreement with some Church teachings. Is it possible that our faith has become weakened or even treacherous due to some habit of pride or sin that threatens to tear us apart? Perhaps there are some rough patches where our prayer life has been neglected. For the Christian, faith must be alive, always growing and learning; it can never be allowed to stand still or it is already beginning to crumble. Much like the roadways of our country, our faith must be constantly maintained, improved, and broadened so that we can handle the spiritual traffic that comes our way. God can only send as many graces as we are capable of receiving, the wider our highways of faith, the more blessings we are capable of handling.   

This season of Advent is a time given to us by the Church to improve and restructure our spiritual lives. We can look for ways in the next few weeks to turn the winding, bumpy roads of our faith into smooth highways capable of absorbing the many ups and downs of this busy season. 

How do we do this? The foundation for each of us must be a regular practice of prayer. Not just asking God to change a light or find a parking place but also prayers of praise and gratitude for the many wonderful ways he has blessed us. An essential component to our prayer must be some time in silence. We know from Scripture that silence is the preferred place where God speaks to those he loves. What else? Make this Advent season more about Christ and the gifts that can’t be bought. Finally, don’t waste the many opportunities that the Church gives us in this beautiful season to contemplate the great mystery that Christ was born as one of us, like us in all things, except sin. Make the most of the times you will be in church for Mass, giving thanks for the gift of the Eucharist and experiencing God’s cleansing mercy in confession.

You know, when they first announced the Highway 40 overhaul, a lot of people groaned and said it was going to be disaster. I was one of them. The amount of work was daunting and seemed to be nearly impossible but I was wrong. The same thing can happen to us with this busy season as we are pulled in so many different directions. Don’t be afraid of the spiritual overhaul God wants to work in you. Don’t allow yourself to be overwhelmed by the many ways you might fall short. Jesus will give you the grace to prepare the way of the Lord, to make straight his paths.  He will help you fill in those valleys and level those mountains.  Trust in him this Advent season and life’s winding roads shall be made straight, the rough ways made smooth, and you shall see the salvation of God.

He Shall Reign Forevermore (Christ the King, 2021)

To listen to this homily, click here.

The intrigue of kings and queens, the secrets of royal life, and the cutthroat politics which take place within the walls of the palace are something that has captivated people throughout history. How many of you enjoyed watching the series on Netflix, “The Crown”? I’ll admit I’ve not seen it yet but Fr. Schneier keeps telling me I need to! There is an enduring quality to stories of kings and queens, princes and princesses, whether they be real or fictional. Just a few examples: King Arthur, Queen Elizabeth, Henry VIII, Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, and King David and King Herod. In all these stories, real and imagined, one thing stays the same: there can only be one ruler, one king, one queen. Sharing the power might be a nice idea and begin with good intentions but it never works out. Sooner or later there is a struggle for the crown and people must make a choice about whom they will serve.

As Americans, we have been blessed to live in a democracy, where decisions are made by popular vote and no single person holds all the power. The checks and balances in our government hold leaders accountable and stop abuses before they get too far out of hand. Our country’s mode of government was formed in reaction to the tyranny of kings and queens. So we might wonder why we celebrate a feast where Christ is king, which seems so outdated and unrelated to our social experience.

While the monarchy is not a great political model because of human weakness, it is the best model to describe how things work in the spiritual reality that governs heaven and earth. Jesus IS King of the entire universe, whether we choose him or not. Jesus will rule over all things, places and people at the end of time, whether we chose to serve him or not. Morality and the authority of Jesus are not something we decide or vote on. He is Lord of all but he lets us choose to whom we give our allegiance. 

There can be only one king at the end of time and there is a massive battle going on even now to establish the everlasting kingdom. This battle started when satan and his angels rebelled against God before humanity was created. It reached a new level when Adam and Eve rejected God and chose sin. Back and forth it continued until the decisive moment when God became man and suffered and died for us on the cross. From that moment on, the battle was decided, the outcome assured, and the victory won for God and his faithful ones. Jesus WILL reign, forever more, forever more, as the song says. You and I happen to live in the final stage, when things are wrapping up. Human history is moving towards Jesus’ return once and for all, where he will judge heaven and earth and then give eternal glory and happiness to those who served him during their life while eternal shame and punishment will be given to those who served other lords during their earthly life.

As a general rule, I think we feel comfortable saying Jesus is king and lord of our lives. We wouldn’t be here in church if we didn’t agree with at least most of what he teaches and expects of us. But it is good for us to remember and examine our lives a little more closely, keeping in mind that Christ the King must rule over every aspect of our lives, every part of our mind, body, and soul. We cannot serve other masters and still be his, as much as we would like to believe this is possible. So how can we evaluate our loyalty in a way that’s honest, open, and yet not driven by guilt, shame, or self-hatred? The key is to remember that Jesus loved us and died for us before we ever existed. He made the choice to give everything for us even if we would reject him in the future. His love is unconditional and the only reason he doesn’t want us to serve other kings is because he knows it will lead to our destruction and unhappiness. 

With that being said, is Jesus truly king of all aspects of my life? Is he Lord of my mind? do I use my mental gifts, whatever they may be, to learn more about him and his Word? Am I expanding my knowledge of my faith, no matter how young or old I am? Do I use my capacity to think in a way that helps others and glorifies God? Am I developing my intellect as a well-rounded human being and making the most of my time as a student? Or does something else rule my mind? Am I mentally lazy, just vegging out in front of a screen? Or more consumed with increasing knowledge of things that are less important or not important at all? Such as worldly gossip, obsession with sports, fashion, technology, news, or trivial facts that simply won’t matter at the end of my life? If there are areas of my mind that are off-limits to Jesus, where he is not allowed in, then he is not yet my King.

What about our bodies? They are temples of the Holy Spirit and made in the image of God. At the end of time, they will be raised up and reunited with our souls, either in heaven or in hell, depending on the life we lived. Do we show our loyalty to Christ the King by the way we dress, the way we eat and drink, by respecting our body and the body of others? Do we reverence the gift of our sexuality as a treasure entrusted to us by God, as something to be protected and honored rather than exploited, redefined, or used for selfish pleasure? For our young married couples, are you open to the gift of life and generous in responding to God’s invitation to be co-creators with him? Or are there parts of us that are ruled by addiction, excess, self-indulgence, and lust? If there are areas of my body that are off-limits to Jesus, then he is not yet my King.

Last of all, what about our hearts, which guide our relationships and the things and people we choose to love? Is Jesus allowed into the way we love other people? Do we have concern for others, especially the poor, the sick, the unborn, the hurting, the ignored, and inconvenient? Do we keep the good things of life, like money, possessions, and careers in their proper place; never allowing them to become idols or getting them at the expense of other people’s well-being? Do we see each person that is part of our life, as another Christ to be loved, respected, and cared for. Do each of our relationships help us and the other person grow closer to God? Or, at the very least, do they avoid putting anyone in a situation of temptation or choosing between us and God? To put it most simply, would we be comfortable having Jesus alongside us as we interacted with each of our friends, family members, co-workers, and strangers? Or would he see us as impatient, unkind, manipulative, selfish, angry, or cruel? If there are any relationships or parts of my heart that are off-limits to Jesus, then he is not yet my King.

As I was reflecting and writing this homily, I realized how much I need to work on. I have a divided heart in many ways and, at times, I like to keep Jesus out of parts of my mind, body, and relationships. It is difficult to give him free reign because I think I can do better or I just want things my way. But that is ultimately self-sabotage. Jesus is no ordinary King. He is not even simply a good or great king. He is the King of Kings, savior and shepherd, our Lord and lover who will never misuse his power and authority in any way. He is a servant leader who uses his power and might for our good and happiness. He wants is to be invited into every aspect of our existence so he can give us eternal life, true love, and everlasting happiness. He is not content to be one king among many. Our time here on earth is short and now is the time to choose which king we will serve for all eternity. Let’s ask God for the grace and faith to open every part of our lives to Christ the King because he will be victorious and reign forever more! 

 

 

What Sort of Roadtrip Are You On? (33rd Sunday, Year B)

 To listen to this homily, click here.

This past week I watched a movie I had often heard about but never seen. I had no idea what to expect other than a few hints about an iconic scene or two. Some folks had compared my sisters’ driving habits to the film so I suppose I should have known there would be mayhem, but much of it caught me off-guard. The movie was Thelma and Louise; perhaps you’ve seen it or at least know the story? In case you haven’t, let me just give a general overview; two women, longtime friends, decide to go on a fishing trip in the mountains. It’s just supposed to be a brief escape from the ordinary and, in some ways, unpleasant realities of their lives. Well, things quickly go off the rails for Thelma and Louise and an innocent getaway becomes a crime spree, running from the law, and ultimately leads to tragedy. How something so good became something so bad was the worst combination of wrongs committed by and against Thelma and Louise. In the end, the viewer knows what they did could have been prevented and wasn’t right but you also feel sorry for them and understand how they got into the whole mess.

So, what is my point! A connection came to mind about this crazy movie and the foreboding message from Daniel in the first reading; a prophecy of tribulation and distress, a time of testing that will bring out either the best or the worst in every person. Daniel says that God’s people will be raised up, “some shall live forever, others shall be an everlasting horror and disgrace.” How do we know which one we shall be? How does a person’s life become so good or so bad? Is it nature or nurture? Jesus tells us that, at a time only God knows, his angels will gather his elect from every corner of creation. How do we become part of the elect, the happy group that lives with God forever in heaven? Is it luck? Is there some secret? Or is it already decided who will enter paradise, making our choices meaningless and our destiny a done deal? Do our actions and the way we live our lives move the needle on where we spend eternity? 

Some theologians were discussing this problem of predestination vs free will. The argument got heated and they split into two groups: one side said God had already determined our salvation and the other that we must each make a choice. One man, however, couldn’t make up his mind which group he belonged to.

Finally he decided to join the predestination group. But when he tried to sit down with them, they asked him, "Who sent you here?” "Nobody sent me," he replied. "I came of my own free will.” "Free will!" they shouted. "You don't belong with us. You belong with the other group.” So he meekly walked across the room and asked the others if he could join them. "When did you decide to join us?" they asked him. "Actually," he said, "I didn't decide. I was sent here.” Of course the free will people were horrified. "Sent here! You can't join us unless you choose to by your own free will.”

Well, you can see the dilemma. But it’s not an either or situation. As Catholics we believe in both divine election and human choice. The Catechism teaches that "no one can earn the initial grace of forgiveness and justification”, "the initiative belongs to God." At the same time the Catechism teaches that the grace of Christ does not take away human freedom. In fact, his grace makes genuine freedom possible. 

We can be confident that, because of baptism, we are part of the elect. Still, you and I must make a choice. Everything depends upon it. It is humbling and sometimes horrifying, to realize that so much depends upon our decisions. Years ago, Princess Anne of England visited the Smithsonian Museum. As part of her tour, Neil Armstrong showed her a space suit used during the moon landing. She touched the material and then asked if there was danger of a rip. Armstrong replied, "The difference between life and death is about a hundredth inch of rubber." Small things can have enormous importance. So it is with the choices you and I make each day. They might appear small, but they are not trivial: they involve the difference between the life and death of our soul. Every moral choice molds a person's character, their inmost being. Not only that, the choices we make might even affect the life and eternity of someone else! This is both a great opportunity and responsibility! We really do decide whether we will "shine brightly" or become an "everlasting horror." 

At any moment you and I can turn toward God… or turn away from him. That possibility will not last forever. Jesus warns us there will come a final day, a final moment. At the moment of death we will either humbly face God or arrogantly turn away from him forever. The choice is stark but it is already happening based on our priorities and lifestyle.

Let’s wrap things up by returning to Thelma and Louise. Their adventure, their short getaway, which started so full of joy and potential is an analogy for our time here on earth. Every human life is a journey, a brief moment in the context of eternity. Whether that journey leads back to God or off the edge of a cliff is up to us. Each of us has the incredible ability to become a source of great light or darkness, depending on the choices we make and the influences that form us through our friendships and family life. Our God is so merciful that we can come back to him anytime, no matter what we have done or how big a mess we’ve made. There is no need to run from Him or leave a trail of destruction in our wake. His love and healing is so powerful that he can even make us whole after others sin against us and do terrible things that change the course of our lives. Jesus wishes to help us every step of the way. He gives us his word and his grace through the sacraments. He will never stop chasing us to bring us safely into his care. 

Make sure and spend some time thinking about where your earthly journey is currently heading, especially if it ended today. Now is the time to turn to God and let him lead us. May our lives, our choices, and our relationships embody the words of Daniel in our first reading: “the wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament, and those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever."  

 

With Power Comes the Command to Serve (29th Sunday, Year B)

 To listen to this homily, click here.

One of the best parts of my week is when I get to go over and talk to our students, either in the day school or PSR. No matter how rough my day has been or how much I have on my mind, their curiosity and innocence reminds me why I love being a priest. Recently, I spoke with some of our younger students. They had a number of questions for me to answer, one of which was, “how does a person become a deacon, a priest, a bishop, and even the pope”? After explaining the process of formation, education, and evaluation, one of the students exclaimed that he would like to be pope. I had to laugh, because I remember thinking very same thing when I was little. On one hand, it seems like the best job in the world. You get to fly around the world, people go nuts whenever you visit, you get the lots of Italian food, and you even get to ride in the Pope-Mobile. Over the last 100 years, our church has been blessed with incredible men, many of them Saints, who have served as our Popes. Their example has reminded us that with great power comes an even greater responsibility to serve others with humility and generosity.

This is the lesson Jesus must teach his followers in today's Gospel. Jesus has become incredibly popular at this point of his ministry, working miracles, attracting huge crowds, and some are even trying to make him king. James and John can sense the authority and power Jesus has and they want some of it for themselves. James and John ask Jesus for places of honor, one at his right and one at his left. But they want it for the wrong reasons. They want this power so they can be in charge and enjoy the worldly benefits of prestige and rank. Jesus patiently reminds them that his followers must use any power and authority they receive as leverage to serve others. This is, naturally, the opposite of what the world believes.

Leadership, of course, is essential. Power is necessary. Power makes decisions and gets things done. But, to quote Lord Acton, “all power eventually corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely”, unless it is grounded in the teachings of Jesus Christ. And leaders, remember, include us, not just the high and mighty CEOs, but us: parents, principles, managers, teachers, board members, policemen, scoutmasters, pastors, doctors —- anyone who has charge of or leads the lives of others. In the Christian life all such leaders, including you and me, are servants who are there “not to be served but to serve and to give their lives as a ransom for many.” That radical teaching - and it is outrageously radical if you think about it - is a deep spirituality to live by, a necessary and humble interior balance a Christian must embrace. The more power I have, the more respect I must show, the more service I must render, the more aware of others I must be.

You and I are called to be servant-leaders of whatever power or authority has been given to us. What are some practical ways we can know if we are imitating Christ’s example? First, servant leaders pay attention to the rank-and-file people around them. No person, no matter what their education, influence, or occupation, is dismissed or looked down on. How about us? How do we treat the people who work the cash register, prepare our meal, repair our homes and vehicles, or pick up the trash? Are we kind, polite, and aware of them as people? Do we remember their name, learn about their lives and families, or sincerely ask how they are doing? When they answer, do we listen? Secondly, servant leaders learn to think communally, not selfishly. What goes into our decision-making? Is it only about profit, sales, career, getting ahead, or looking better than others? Are there considerations as to the long-range impact on the family, the community, or the environment? Finally, servant leaders strive for that humility which enables them to ask if they're part of the problem. They are not afraid to be accountable to others and accept constructive criticism, knowing that they are far from perfect. Are we someone who can be challenged and corrected or are we unapproachable? I think this is the most difficult of the three to adopt and embrace. Very rarely does correction come from someone who is blameless or flawless in the way they offer criticism. And sometimes 90% of what they are saying doesn’t apply. But with an open heart, we can grow from the 10% that does. We should never forget that without challenging feedback, any one of us can become a tyrant. 

Let’s return to James and John who want the privilege, power, and position without the cross; they want his leadership without serving others. It must've been totally embarrassing when, at the end of the day, there were two lowly thieves, one at Jesus’ right and one at His left as he prepared to enter his heavenly kingdom. Not quite what they first imagined, but it made Jesus’ point.

We might wonder: did James and John and the others eventually get the message? Did they get to drink from the same chalice Jesus drank? I think so. About 12 years after Jesus's death, James was the first apostle to suffer martyrdom. Tradition adds that Andrew was tied to a cross, Bartholomew was skinned alive, Peter was crucified upside down in Rome, the other James was thrown from the Temple roof, Thomas was run through with a lance in the East Indies, Jude was pierced with arrows, Philip was hanged; only John escaped a gruesome death. Interestingly enough, he was the only apostle present during the crucifixion.  

We probably won’t have to go so far as martyrdom, but we do have to recognize that the gospel message clearly state that worldly power and position are on the other side of servant leadership: followers of Jesus do not sit and wait to be served. They stand in solidarity with the world's most famous foot-washer and they serve everyone regardless of social status. And they do so with clear intentions of God’s love and joy because that is where true greatness is found!

God Still Believes in Marriage (27th Sunday, Year B)

 To listen to this homily, click here.

Today we have a challenging Gospel as Jesus declares unequivocally the life-long permanence of marriage and reminds us that it is not a human invention but actually part of God’s plan from the very beginning. He does it with language that leaves no wiggle room for nuance or exceptions. "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her." These words upset Jesus' hearers then and they upset people today.

Before reflecting on Jesus' teaching on marriage, I would like take a step back and consider their context. This forceful teaching flows from what Jesus has been telling us in recent weeks: First, Jesus announced his own suffering, death and resurrection, then told us that each follower must take up his own cross and follow him. Peter tried to dissuade Jesus and Jesus said, "Get behind me, Satan." The other apostles also misunderstood Jesus. They started arguing about who is greatest. Jesus responded by placing a child in front of them and told them they must become like little children.

No child can claim independence. They always rely on someone else, usually their parents or someone who represents them. For that reason we have a commandment that says, "Honor your father and mother." For a young person the first person they should seek to love, honor, and obey should be their parents. Marriage, however, changes that. Jesus quotes the book of Genesis: "God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”

When someone marries, their spouse now takes first place. Not everyone seems to get this! There’s the story of the newly-married guy whose wife prepared a special meal for him. "It's OK," he said, "but my mom makes it better!" That guy hasn't left his mother. Of course we must always honor our mom and dad, but when someone marries, they no longer belongs to their parents. They belong to their spouse. This is what it means when the bible says, “The two become "one flesh.”

The two can become one flesh precisely because God made us male and female. As Pope St. John Paul observed, our bodies have a language. The very shape of our bodies as men and women speaks of self-giving and receptivity. Becoming one flesh is so real and powerful that God gave it the awesome ability to create new life.

In marriage the man and woman belong completely to each other. Not like pieces of property but as free and total gifts. Living this truth is difficult. There is a joke about the woman who went to the priest and said, "Father, I want to be a humble wife, but it is hard...because he is always wrong and I am always right.” Don’t we all have this thought sometime, even if we don’t say it out loud?!

Today’s readings remind us what we were made for from the first moment of creation; we were meant to give ourselves freely to another person in humble love and service. For the majority of people in this church, that gift of self will be lived out in marriage. For a few, as a priest or religious, this gift will be given directly to God as a sign of his kingdom, where there will be no more marriage because we will be perfectly united to God. But for all of us, regardless of our individual vocation, the reality remains the same; we must give ourselves to another if we wish to be truly happy and fulfilled. 

    For Adam and Eve, before Original Sin, this was easy and joyful. For us, affected by sin and weakness, it is difficult. We like to hold on to our freedom and preferences while trying to impose our wishes on others. We tend to be suspicious, cynical, and wonder if we are being used or taken advantage of. But that is not what God intended. God wants us to be in community. He wants men and women to be partners, equal in dignity even as they offer different capabilities and gifts. Whether we are married or not, we can begin to restore the world to what God intended by promoting mutual respect, loving service, and generosity between men and women. The irony of our faith is that we become full of grace, joy, and peace by pouring ourselves out in service to others rather than holding back and putting ourselves first. We become strong by humbling ourselves and depending on God and each other like little children. And we find life by taking up our cross and following after Jesus.  

  Just imagine for a minute what a different world it would be if instead of God saying, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a suitable partner for him,” God would have said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make an iPhone for him” or, “I will give him a TV” We might smile at the absurdity of the idea, but maybe that world is closer than we think. Are we becoming more like Adam before the creation of Eve and “alone” because we have the constant preoccupation and noise of things like smartphones, tv, and technology distracting us from communion with each other? How much has technology and entertainment interfered with the relationship people have with their spouse and children? Or, taken to the extreme, has a smartphone, social media, or sports superseded the importance of being truly present to our spouse and loved ones? If you think I’m exaggerating, go to a restaurant and watch people beholden to their phones, even as they ignore the person before them! 

Many people say that traditional marriage is finished. That young people prefer to live together and when they do marry, those marriages seem so fragile. And, along with all that, a growing number redefine marriage so that it has it does not require being male and female, but any two adults who have a strong, mutual attraction.

Should we just raise the white flag, admit defeat and focus our energy somewhere else? That is tempting, but we need to look at Jesus' example. Marriage was in pretty bad shape in his time. As we heard, Moses allowed a man to simply write a note to dismiss his wife because the people had become so hardened. And in the Roman Empire, while Jesus lived, marriage was in decline. So much so that Caesar Augustus tried to strengthen traditional marriage by offering incentives to those that stayed married, but with little effect. People preferred their individual freedoms and saw commitment as a threat to pursuing pleasure. If this sounds similar to our own time, it’s because this is not a new problem!

But Jesus does not give in to discouragement. He knows the human heart and how noble it can be when it cooperates with his grace. He sees beyond our immediate troubles and weakness and goes back to the very beginning, before we were wounded by sin. If God does not give up on us or on marriage, neither should we. We are indeed presented with a difficult and challenging teaching. It requires courage and humility, but is worth any sacrifice. It is what we were made for and it is what will lead us back to the original happiness and harmony God intended for the world.