Simple Wisdom (Epiphany 2023)

 To listen to this homily, click here.

Today, I want to look at the story of the three wise men and draw four points from it. Each of these points concern the wisdom of the wise men and their relationship with truth;  a wisdom available to us if we want it.

First, we discover in the story that the wise men sought for truth and wisdom. The magi knew that the star they followed was no ordinary star. Apparently they had been searching the heavens for years for signs of something unique and significant occurring in their world. They were open to wisdom and truth; they searched for it and desired it. They were not simply content to get along with what they already knew. So, when they saw a new star in the heavens, they sensed in their hearts it was a sign from God and an opportunity for growth.

The bible tells us over and over - if we seek, we will find, if we knock, the door shall be opened, if we ask, we will receive.  But how often do we actually seek for wisdom? For truth? For guidance?  

The wise men gained their wisdom because they were seekers - they were looking for new things, new insights, new signs. They were willing to change and deepen their understanding, even if it required something of them. And so can we.

Second, The Wise-men set forth in faith to find what the star pointed to. Faith involves the idea of venturing forth, of risking one's self in a new activity. The living God cannot be found by proxy or without effort. The magi had to travel from a foreign land in search of wisdom and truth. They did not know where the star would lead them, how long it would take, or what the end result would be. They only knew that it was important for them to follow wherever it led. It was a personal quest and the result was an opportunity to worship the one who would be king of kings and Lord of Lords..  

This may be the most important truth for us in the Epiphany story. A story of faith with Jesus has to be a personal story, a relationship, even, an adventure. It is not enough to know all kinds of facts about Jesus. We must encounter the wonder of God's grace for sinners and then make a personal decision to receive him into our heart as Lord. One must decide to follow him and then do so. No one else can do that for us. Faith is not inherited nor can it come from simply knowing what others have said about it.

Third, the wise men sought help from other people as they tried to find the king. We often try to live our lives without making demands on others. We try to be independent, to stand alone, and make it by ourselves. Sometimes this comes out of noble motives - we don’t want to burden people. Other times it comes out of fear: we are afraid of looking weak or foolish.  

When the magi arrived in Jerusalem it seems they lost sight of the star. They knew they were in the right area, but they were not in the right spot. Kind of like us sometimes when we go driving in a new place. We get into the right neighborhood but somehow can't quite locate the street or house we are looking for. We move in circles until we ask someone for help.

That is what the magi did.  The bible says they consulted with the people of Jerusalem. They asked where the new born king was and how they could find him so they could pay homage to him. Because they ask - they receive. Their question was answered by people who were familiar with the scriptures and prophecies concerning the birth of the Messiah. They take that answer and go with it and once again they saw the star going ahead of them: until it brought them to Jesus.

There are many people who can help us on our journey of faith if we are wise enough to ask them. The question is: are we willing to ask for help when we need it? 

Fourth, the wise men accepted what God lead them to and believed in it. In today’s feast, a big deal is often made of what they gave to the Christ-child.  But consider what they were given: They set forth looking for a king. After a long and hard journey they wound up at a simple home in Bethlehem in front of a carpenter and his wife and child. There are no costly treasures in the house, no purple robes, no gold rings, nothing in fact to show that they are in the presence of a great king. Only the star stood overhead to indicate something special was going on.

And they accepted this. Although the outward signs told them they were in the wrong place, they accepted that single sign, the sign of God they had been following for so long, and ignore the rest.

So many of us have a hard time accepting what God has given in the form he gives it. Because we are waiting for a gift from God, we look for great miracles, instant healing, trumpet calls, signs and wonders. We have this idea fixed in our minds that God does not, or should not, appear to us in the ordinary aspects of our life. We do not expect God to show up while we are at work in our office, or sitting in a classroom, cleaning the house, or taking care of the kids. We have a hard time considering that God's answers to our questions can be found in a 2000 year old book, or on the lips of the people we work with, or friends, or that a dream we had during a long and troubled night is, in fact, a message from God.

The wisdom of the wise men was and is simply this: they sought wisdom, they were willing to journey in faith to personally discover what God was doing, they did not hesitate to ask for help along the way and they accepted what they found, even though it was different than what they expected.

Simple things really, but wisdom normally is that way. Simple, but when used as the wise-men used it, it leads us to God. May God bless us all with this kind of wisdom today and always!

Mariah Carey, Figgy Pudding, and Jesus (Christmas 2022)

To listen to this homily, click here.

First of all, on behalf of the priests, deacons and parish staff of Incarnate Word, let me wish each of you a very blessed and merry Christmas. It seems like every year, the need grows for the hope and joy provided by Our Savior’s Birth. I hope these holy days warm our hearts and homes in a new and wonderful way!

A couple weeks ago, there was a cheeky article in the Wall Street Journal detailing the harrowing plight of retail workers throughout North America during this busy holiday season. In this piece, employees of many different businesses shared their trauma of having to listen to the same Christmas tunes over and over again during their shifts. Some of them described their preferred coping mechanisms, looking for rooms and closets without speakers to take a break from the repeating playlists. Others blacklisted particular songs with sentiments that would certainly place them on Santa’s naughty list! Nearly everyone referenced “All I want for Christmas is you” by Mariah Carey as public enemy number 1. Ms. Carey seemed to embrace this villain’s role whole-heartedly by commanding her followers on social media to blare her song, beginning November 1st, ensuring that everyone would be sick of it long before the Savior’s birth. It appears some people really do love to watch the world burn…

But even if Mariah Carey’s ear worm doesn’t bother you, we all have a Christmas song or two we’ve heard a million times, which gets under our skin or seems to make no sense. These are often the songs we still sing along to but substitute our own lyrics.

For me, the Christmas song I simply don’t get is, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”. Supposedly, the second verse says, “oh bring us some figgy pudding, oh bring us some figgy pudding, oh bring us some figgy pudding, and bring it right here.” This is pure nonsense. First of all, what in the world is figgy pudding? Have any of you had it recently…or ever? I have not and I don’t think it exists. I believe the proper words to the song, the ones I always sing when I hear this tune are, “Oh bring us some freakin pudding, Oh bring us some freakin pudding, Oh bring us some freakin pudding, and bring it right now.” If you listen to the entire song, this makes complete sense and fits the spirit of words which are downright aggressive and threatening. In fact, the next verse raises the belligerence-factor big-time as they taunt the hearer, “we won’t go until we get some, we won’t go until we get some, we won’t go until we get some, So bring it right here.” This is definitely the attitude of someone who would say, give me some freakin pudding”!

Understandably, you might be wondering what this rant has to do with our celebration of the Baby Jesus. Just like some of these Christmas songs, if we don’t know what the words are or what they mean, we cannot make sense of why we sing them. In the same way, for many people, even for many Christians, the “what” and the “why” of Christmas is not entirely clear. For many good-hearted souls, the celebration of Jesus’ birth is a time to gather with friends and family, relax, exchange gifts, and enjoy fine food and drink, which are all good things. But they are not the reason we celebrate. Why does this matter? If we do not understand the “what” of Christmas, then we will not understand why it is so important and why it should bring us so much joy.

Ever since the beginning of time, ever since the first humans Adam and Eve sinned against God in the Garden of Eden, the human race had been alienated from God through original sin. Each generation that followed, suffered the wounds and sadness that evil and death brought. Humanity had incurred a debt it could not repay and heaven was closed to all. But God promised to rescue us. Despite humanity’s tendency, over and over again, to turn our back on the Creator, our loving God would not give up on us. He slowly laid the foundation for our salvation, by revealing himself through his Chosen People, delivering them from slavery in Egypt, establishing an everlasting covenant, and helping them to grow in wisdom, holiness, and love with the help of the Law and Prophets. 

But these things could only go so far. When the time was right, God proved his love beyond a shadow of a doubt by sending his Only Son to become one of us. Incredibly, he humbled himself by becoming truly human while remaining fully divine. He wanted to be like us in all things except sin, so he could serve as our ransom from sin and death. Jesus is the key that re-opened heaven, the lamb who takes away the sin of the world, the price that was paid to cancel the debt of human sin and wickedness. We see little hints of this in the Scriptures’ description of the nativity. For example, Jesus was placed in a manger, which was used to feed the animals. It was a sign that he would soon feed us with his own body and blood in the Eucharist. Also, he was wrapped in swaddling clothes, which was a foreshadowing of how he would be wrapped in burial clothes after his saving sacrifice on the cross. Even as a tiny, helpless, innocent baby, Jesus begins his mission of salvation. He is the only person who was born to die, who lived so that he could lay down his life!

This is the “what” of the Christmas mystery and it is the reason why we celebrate it so extravagantly every year since. Without the humble birth of our savior, without his life on earth, and his sacrifice on the cross that would follow, we would still be dwelling in darkness, captive to our sins and the power of death. We would still be crushed by a debt we could not repay; a force we could not defeat and heaven would be out of our reach. If we understand this, how can we keep from singing and celebrating?!

Today, let renew our spirit of thanksgiving to God for his love for us and for our world. God needs nothing from us and yet he gives us everything, including himself. As we celebrate Christmas this year, may we marvel at what we have received and why it is such a big deal. Then, perhaps, it will make a little more sense why we sing all of these Christmas songs, even the annoying ones, and why we must share tidings of gladness and joy!

Let God of Complaints, Focus on Jesus! (3rd Sunday of Advent, Year A)

 To listen to this homily, click here.

There are things every Catholic seems to share in common; one that comes to mind is the notorious “Catholic Guilt”. Others might be the fear of strict nuns in grade school or a crusty priest yelling in the confessional. Many more share the memory of playing CYC sports against rival parishes, attending lenten fish fries, or judging someone by which parish or high school they went to. But doesn’t every Catholic know the line given by a parent, teacher, or other elder in response to our complaining with the advice to “Offer it up”!!

As much as we hated hearing that phrase, which was most often translated into parent-speak as “stop complaining”, it seems to have come directly from both the Old and the New Testaments. In fact, one of the sins the Bible singles out for condemnation is grumbling against God and against each other. This might surprise us, especially today, when complaining is such a part of life, where everything is reviewed and judged. In fact, many people consider criticism to be a virtue, "how will things get better if I do not point out what is wrong?" There may be some truth in that, but we have to face the fact that the Scriptures are quite harsh against grumblers.

It was grumbling that brought God's wrath on the people of the Old Testament when they were in the desert. Humans have a terrible tendency to glorify the past, forgetting the bad and exaggerating the good. The Israelites did this when they longed for their old life in Egypt. They forgot that they were slaves there, literally worked to death, and only remembered the rich foods they tasted from time to time. They complained to Moses, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in this wilderness?...we hate this worthless food." This attitude is familiar to us as well; at some point we have done the same thing, looking past our blessings and focusing on what is not perfect or according to our preference.

It is common enough to complain, but it doesn’t take long before it becomes destructive. That is why James warns us today, "Do not grumble against one another, my brothers, lest you be condemned." In other words, the standard used for our personal judgment will be the same measure we used for those around us. How easy it is to complain about others and condemn their faults and failures while making excuses for ourselves and wanting to receive the benefit of the doubt!.

We waste a lot of time and energy complaining. Usually our criticizing does no good. In most cases, our joy is not taken but given away. And our complaints almost always involve a negative judgment on someone else or even a whole group of people. How rarely do we bother to speak with the person who is irritating us?! Instead we tell everyone except the person who could help solve the problem. No wonder St. James is so adamant that we refrain from doing it!

There is something all of us can do to reduce complaining. and bitterness. One of the main causes is envy. I see someone who has something I want and I become jealous. But instead of focusing on the person who has more, I could think about the person who has less. The truth is, the poorest person in the United States is richer than about 90% of the world’s population. And I would venture to say that most of us are nowhere near the poorest person in our country. No matter what difficulties and problems you and I may have, there is someone worse off, who might need our help, and who would love to have our problems. 

Very few people have had it as bad as the man in today's Gospel. King Herod had arrested John the Baptist and thrown him into jail. In those days, prisons were nothing like today. They had no tv’s or reading libraries. Prisoners did not get an hour to exercise in fresh air. They didn't have human rights advocates to defend them. On the contrary, the guards did all they could to treat prisoners cruelly and to make their lives as miserable as possible.

But John didn’t focus his attention on those abuses. When his followers bribed the guards to get a message to him, all John wanted to know was this: "Is Jesus the one to come?" John must have experienced a tremendous joy when he heard the answer:

"The blind regain their sight,
the lame walk,
lepers are cleansed,
the deaf hear,
the dead are raised.”

And most important of all: "the poor have the good news proclaimed to them."

Imagine how beautiful our lives would be if we could learn from John's example. No matter what our present suffering, no matter what trial we are going through, no matter what disappointment has come upon us, or who afflicts us, we found cause for joy. There is nothing to stop us from replacing complaining with rejoicing, from offering it up in a truly holy and happy way; St. John shows us how. He focused on Jesus. He saw everything in relation to him.

This is especially important in our families. Parents have to do their best to protect their children from negativity. You know this better than I, how negativity saturates so much of our world, how it is woven into social media and how young people measure themselves. It can sneak into our conversations and humor, how we talk with and about one another. We also have to protect our children from negativity regarding the Mass. We can start complaining about the music or the homily or even fellow parishioners. In the process we miss the incredible gift Jesus wants to give us: His Word, His own Body and Blood. It is like sitting down to a meal where everything has been prepared and provided for us, and yet we choose to focus on what isn’t perfect or to our liking. We get distracted by the minor stuff and miss what really matters.

Like John the Baptist we need to focus on Jesus. The hardships of prison, everything else that was wrong, he brushed it away to remain focused on what was most true; Jesus was the savior of the world and would not be defeated by sin, death, or darkness. John shows us how we can replace negativity with joy; how we can offer it up, knowing that something far better is just around the corner. Today we lit the third candle of our Advent. It has a rose color that signifies rejoicing. Our deliverance is very near. May we be among the poor who rejoice at this good news and reflect it to others.

Fearing the Lord Can Be a Delight! (2nd Sunday of Advent, Year A)

To listen to this homily, click here.

As the holidays approach, it’s hard not to think about the experience of giving and receiving gifts. When I was a child, it was all about quantity and receiving gifts from others! My joy was based on whether or not I got as many things as the people around me. The same applied for giving; more gifts equaled better job! With time and maturity, that has changed; so much so, that sometimes when family and friends ask what I want, I can honestly say I don’t need anything at all! And now, I experience more happiness in finding that perfect gift for someone else. It feels so good when you know you hit the nail on the head and you see the person’s face as they open your gift. As I think about the most profound gifts I’ve received, they share one thing in common. It’s not how much they cost or how enviable they were at the time; what made these gifts so special is that they were personal and thoughtful. They became part of my identity and shaped who I became. Such gifts include the chalices and vestments I use at Mass, many of the tools I use to create furniture, and the patient, generous introduction I was given to learning by good movies and books, and experiences of life-renewing hobbies like hiking. So many gifts which have shaped and formed who I am and how I see the world!!

Today’s first reading from Isaiah lists what we Catholics call the gifts of the Holy Spirit; divine treasures that God shares with us, not because he has to, but because he wants to. These spiritual gifts become part of who we are as his children, if we use them. Strangely enough, the most prominent gift listed is not generally considered the crowd favorite. The prophet says it is the fear of the Lord that will bring delight to God’s anointed. Even more so than wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, and knowledge. But what is the fear of the Lord? Haven’t most of us been conditioned from an early age to approach God with confidence and joy? Is fearing the Lord some old-school theology where we see God as a terrifying, brutal, angry deity who will strike us down if we make one false move? Not at all! The holy gift of fearing the Lord is not based in terror or dread.

The fear of the Lord which is healthy, holy, and delightful combines the qualities of love and respect. It is “loving respect” and “respectful love.” To fear someone in this sense is to love them and respect them at the same time. We might see this more clearly if we look at it in the negative: where there is no respect, there is no love. This dynamic applies to all human relationships. Where there is no respect inside a marriage, there will be a lack of love as well. Where there is no respect in a family, there will be a shortage of love too. This can be especially helpful to our young people who are dating and entering serious relationships. No matter what someone says, no matter how smooth or romantic they are, if they do not respect you, they will not love you properly. Love and respect always go hand in hand.

So how does this apply to our relationship with God? Well, when I have a proper fear of the Lord, I choose to obey God and walk in his ways because I love him and want to please him. The fear of the Lord is an intentional and ongoing attitude that causes me to choose, again and again, to obey God even when it might be easier to do something else. I make that choice because I love God and want to please him. The fear of the Lord is not cringing fear or terror, which is respect without love. And it is not irreverent casualness, which is love without respect.

This principle is clearest in my mind when I think of my parents. Though they could be strict at times, I never doubted that they loved me. At the same time, I never forgot they were my parents and I was their son. I would have died before I called them by their first names and probably would have died if I had called them my “old man” or “old lady”. Whatever their faults, I wouldn’t talk about them here. Like most kids, I wanted to be like my parents and to please them. I looked up to them. I wanted to hear them say, “Son, I’m proud of you” and I consider myself blessed to know that they are. I love my parents and have never been ashamed to call them mom and dad, even now as a grown man.

Seen in that light, the fear of the Lord is not in conflict with love. It’s what real love is all about. A healthy sense of fear can be a positive motivation for doing right. It moves us not simply to behave for God but to be our best out of love for him. We approach God with a healthy dose of respect, knowing that although he needs nothing, he chooses to love us unconditionally and give us everything. Fear is reserved only for the things that would separate us from him, dread for our sins that hurt the heart of God who loves us without limit. This sort of loving respect is the basis of our relationship with God. When I choose to fear the Lord, I am choosing out of respect and love to do the things that please him. All that I do in my life comes back to this principle. The fear of the Lord is thus the most positive attitude you can have toward God and that is why it is the most delightful of all his gifts. 

In this advent season, let us be bold and ask God to give us every spiritual gift. Most especially though, let us ask to delight in the fear of the Lord, to love him and respect him so much, that we would never wander from him and only bring joy to his heart!

 

Let the Silence Wake You (1st Sunday of Advent, Year A)

To listen to this homily, click here.

Until the early 1980’s, the city of Pittsburgh had numerous steel mills which hammered out the city’s signature product day and night. The people near them got so used to the constant pounding that they slept through it. In fact, it lulled them to sleep. But one night an accident shut down one of the major mills. The pounding noise of production and business stopped. Guess what happened when there was nothing but silence? Everyone woke up!

Something like that needs to happen in our lives. We are surround by such noise and distraction that we have become like sleepwalkers, always in motion but not fully aware and alert. Such a state can be very dangerous! A recent estimate indicated the average American is exposed to anywhere from 6-10 thousand ads a day. Most prominent are the never-ending ads online and on social media; the scores of pop-ups and junk emails that are customized to our browsing history and previous purchases. There are still numerous ads and invitations on billboards and in print, on the sides of packages and even on clothing, in magazines and newspapers. The more passive and sleepy we are, the greater the ad’s impact. A couch potato or web surfer has little sales resistance to the impulse buy. 

As we begin Advent, Jesus is telling us to wake up. In today’s Gospel he invites people to get ready for the Second Coming. However, he does not warn them first about grave sins against the commandments, but rather about being too busy. He reminds them how, before the Flood, those that perished “were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage up to the day that Noah entered the ark." Those are normal, necessary, even praiseworthy activities - but they lulled people to sleep, a fatal sleep that rendered them unprepared when the flood came.

For most Americans December is the busiest month of the year. That busy-ness creates a dread which advertisers exploit. How often are we tempted to buy this one thing to give us more time, make our lives easier, or bring the calm and peace we desire? Why not go ahead and indulge, treat yourself, and then you will be happy?! So many products and services compete for our attention and money in a relentless cycle that is exhausting.

Surrounded as we are by soul-numbing noise and distraction and busyness, there is only one thing which can pull us back to life - the same thing which woke up the people of Pittsburgh: silence. Genuine silence can profoundly turn our life around and it was a key player in one of the  most pivotal moments of my life.

One of the most common things people ask me is how I received the call to become a priest. I can sum it up in one word: silence. I went on a weekend retreat with some high school friends during my freshman year. It was actually the final evening of the retreat and we were watching a movie together before driving back to St. Louis the next morning. During that movie, I felt something stirring inside, telling me to go to the chapel, to sit with God alone for a few moments. In that chapel, surrounded in silence by the presence of God, I heard his voice in my heart simply saying, “feed my sheep” and to do so as a priest. In the silence that call could be heard loud and clear. It was not something I heard with my ears but knew without a doubt in my heart. I have had my good days and bad days, my lazy days and crazy days, but I have always known this is what God wants me to do with my life. For me it began in a moment of profound silence and I go back to that encounter often for encouragement and comfort. Silence provided the space for God speak to me one-on-one, with nothing and no-one else between us.

 

Another man received his calling while alone, this time in a garden rather than a chapel. He was attracted to God, but always held back. For example, he famously prayed, “Lord, give me chastity, but not yet” because he enjoyed his sins so much, even as he knew, deep down, he was made for much more than passing pleasures. Then, in a moment of silence, Augustine heard a voice which said, Tolle et legge (take and read). At first he thought it was a child calling out in the garden and tried to tried to remember what children’s game had those words, take and read. But when he realized he was completely alone, he opened the Bible and fell on the verse we heard in today's second reading: "Not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual excess and lust, not in quarreling and jealousy. Rather, put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.”

When he read those words he made a complete turnaround. Without reserve he dedicated his life to God, by following his law and explaining it to others. He became one of the most influential teachers the Church has ever known. St. Augustine continues to inspire many to this day and he enjoys eternal happiness with God in heaven. The catalyst for his greatness and his conversion began with the gift of God’s grace, which finally broke through his resistance, in silence. 

This Advent we recognize our time is short, that the moment to wake up has arrived. Now is the time to seek out a place of true silence to rouse our sleepy hearts and hear what God has been trying to say. Do not be afraid to enter the silence and to sit there for awhile, as awkward as it may feel. God has a personal message for you, an invitation, a word of hope, healing, and encouragement. May we give highest priority to making time and space for this sacred silence, knowing that it will lead to our highest happiness and reveal our role in God’s saving plan for the world! 

Jesus Reigns Over All (Christ the King, Year C)

 To listen to this homily, click here.

We humans tend to mark the beginning and end of things with special celebrations or ceremonies. Whether it is the birth of a child, graduation from high school, the start of a new year or one’s anniversary, these moments are observed with various rituals to acknowledge their significance. The same is true as we conclude one liturgical church year and prepare to enter another with advent. The final Sunday of the liturgical calendar marks the completion of another year by honoring Christ the King. This feast is relatively new in the life of the Church, founded in 1925 by Pope Pius XI for a very practical reason. At the time, a dictator named Mussolini seized control of Italy and a young man named Adolph Hitler was gathering support for the Nazi Party. Across the world, the economy was beginning to fail and peace was faltering only a few years after the devastating First World War had stolen the futures of millions of people. These were dark times and many were wondering if God was present or if evil had finally conquered the world. The suffering that touched the lives of so many also threatened to destroy their faith and trust in God. So Pius XI founded the feast of Christ the King to remind Christians that Jesus was in charge of the world and history, not evil people and their destructive plans. 

But it’s not just massive, globe-changing evils and events that shake the faith of God’s people. No matter who we are, we prefer a certain degree of stability and certainty, a measure of comfort and tradition. Change and loss can cause a personal crisis, especially when it affects areas of our life that give us strength and purpose. One of the most insidious and clever tactics satan wields against humanity is twisting loss, grief, and profound change to suggest that maybe God is not going to win after all. It sounds ridiculous to say, but doubt often circulates in my heart as I look at the world, our culture and even the Church, and wonder, can this be saved? How can this continue? Why does God allow this to happen?! The devil can also trick us into the other extreme, of making an idol out the way we’ve always done things. In this scenario, we avoid change at all costs, to the detriment of spiritual growth or renewal because we prefer comfort and consistency instead of the challenge and messiness that comes with the life of the Holy Spirit. 

In response to these timeless questions, our wise Church gives us a surprising gospel. We do not hear about the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday but instead the passage of Jesus hanging on the cross. At first, this gospel doesn’t seem to fit or help! Isn’t the cross a sign of Jesus’ defeat? Doesn’t it show the weakness and humiliation of our Lord and King? Shouldn’t Jesus be full of might and control instead of dying alongside two criminals?

But this is no mistake. The Church gives us this gospel to show the wisdom of God, which is infinitely wiser than human understanding. Divine wisdom which is often shocking and surprising, disruptive and uncomfortable. This gospel shows us true power and real kingship; how God can take the worst of what humanity can do and redeem it. A terrible thief becomes a saint; a broken and disgraced Jesus rises from the dead in glory. Old ways of seeing and believing are transformed and enhanced.

Here in St. Louis, we are undergoing a significant change in our local church that is sure to bring sadness, loss, disruption, and change. Which is not to say that such changes are unjustified or unnecessary. The numbers don’t lie: what we’ve been doing is no longer working. We are losing 5000 people every year—if you divide that across the archdiocese, that’s about 60 people from Incarnate Word each year, or 15-20 families. Gone from the Church. In the past, our approach was to make sure we had as many parishes as possible, if we built a church, people would fill it. But that’s no longer the case. Many people rightly ask, how does closing parishes encourage evangelization. But we could also ask, “how has keeping them open been working out for us? If an unchanging number of parishes is the key to evangelizing, then why are we losing 5000 people per year with them open? We might think of this as a spiritual Dunkirk; a time to retreat, regroup, and then re-engage.

It’s understandable to struggle with the decisions that are coming from this process; many may feel anger, experience doubt, or even the temptation to abandon the faith. The feelings themselves are perfectly normal but how we respond to them determines whether this change brings resurrection and life or fear and separation. Yes, it might mean more people here in Church on a Sunday. Yes, it might mean a more crowded parking lot, Yes, some folks might have to drive further to go to Mass. But if THOSE things are going to prevent us from practicing the faith, perhaps the bigger problem is not with this process but our faith? If we’re willing to plan ahead or endure inconvenience to go to a ballgame or shopping, but not to Mass—that’s something to work on.

I don’t say these things from a place of judgement or indifference. Whatever changes happen will require many sacrifices from the clergy too. I am anxious about what new models for parishes might look like, that I might be asked to leave you, and whether I have the competence and ability to be an effective pastor in a new framework. But I keep reminding God that he called me to be a priest at this time, so he must help me do what must be done. I also remember that I have questioned God’s plan many times before and he always seems to figure things out; if I am willing to let him lead!

Each of us has to make that same choice for ourselves. Will I trust God, knowing that he is Lord and cannot be defeated by any evil, human weakness, or challenge we face? Do I believe, that no matter how bleak things look, in the church or in society, that it is no problem for God? Do I realize, that God is not asking me to fix everything or right every wrong but he is calling me to live my faith fully and love the people around me in the same way he does? Am I willing to let God disrupt the way things have always been to infuse new life into what may have become routine and stagnant?

Ultimately, I am not asking you to love All Things New or pretend you have no questions or concerns. But here are three things I would ask you to hold onto as we move through this process.

1. Assume the best in others, especially our leaders. Give the Archbishop and his team the benefit of the doubt. (Story of care-giver in cottleville) The archbishop did not wake up one day and say, “how can I anger 400k Catholics for no good reason.” I believe the Archbishop is being a good shepherd, leading us through something difficult, towards something better that leads to renewal and growth in the long-term. 
2. Remember that what we choose to look for, we will see. If we look for the flaws and everything wrong with ATN and our spiritual leaders, that is what we will see. If we ask for God’s help to see the good and the opportunities, that is what we will find. It seems a little simplistic but it is true. So resolve to look for God’s hand in this process and do not foster a critical spirit!
3. Finally, we must never forget that the only one who can lose our faith is us. No one can steal it away, no matter how disappointed or frustrated we might feel about this process. Our parishes and schools are special; some of life’s most sacred moments happen in them and they become like people to us. But we shouldn’t forget that parishes and schools are a means to an end—not the end itself. When they no longer effectively evangelize and foster discipleship, then we need to give them up, for the sake of the larger mission. Each of us must make sure to take an active role in practicing and growing our faith and sharing it with others. We must avoid the trap of becoming consumer Christians, wanting the church to cater to us and give us what we want with little or no sacrifice. You and I are being invited to take ownership of our faith in a new way that will look different than it has for the last several generations. This is scary but also exciting, challenging but empowering. So long as we continue to believe and embrace what is essential to our faith, namely prayer and the sacraments, God will always provide what we need and there will always be reason to hope.

May we never forget the victory of Christ the King and may God bless his Church in St. Louis as we seek follow where he leads us towards new life and growth in our faith!

Love and Work=Happiness (33rd Week, Year C)

 To listen to this homily, click here.

Just in case you wanted to know, I did not win the giant powerball jackpot this week. If I did, I would be somewhere warm right now! It’s always funny to see how people get worked up with the massive drawings and how different news sites offer articles on what to do if you win. But what tends to be the number one thing people say they will do, if they hold the winning ticket? Almost everyone fantasizes about some scenario where they would quit their job, often in some dramatic or vindictive way. There is something deep within human nature that judges work to be one of the obstacles to personal happiness. If money is no longer needed or is in plentiful supply, is there any reason to work?!

In fact, the Thessalonians from today’s second reading had this very argument. Not because they had won the lottery or found some big pot of gold. The reason many of them had quit their jobs and stopped working is that they were waiting for Jesus to come back and initiate the end of the world. Their reasoning was simple and confident; Jesus seemed to say that he would be back soon so why bother with earning money and needless toil in the meantime. None of that would mean anything in heaven and just seemed like wasted time and effort!

St. Paul hears about it and goes nuts, for a couple of reasons. First of all, there is a practical problem. While these unemployed Christians were loitering around, waiting for some sort of rapture, they still needed to eat. So they were asking their friends, family, and neighbors for food. This was becoming a burden to the many hard-working Christians who decided to keep honoring their responsibilities until the mysterious moment that the Lord came back. Secondly, these leisurely believers had nothing else to do while they waited so they were becoming busy bodies, armchair quarterbacks, putting their noses in everyone’s business and stirring up trouble. There is a reason for the saying, idle hands and idle minds are the devil’s workshop. These folks were doing more harm than good and their assumption that Jesus’ return was just around the corner wasn’t helping them or anyone else. In fact it was was causing spiritual, economic, and relational harm to the whole community because they had ceased being contributing members of society.

St. Paul reminds them that when he came to preach the gospel to their city, he did not rely on them for anything. In fact, he earned his own keep as a tentmaker so he could buy his own food. He mentions that some of this work was drudgery, in other words, he didn’t do it because he loved it or because it was his passion but he did it because it was the right thing to do and it allowed him to be in the midst of the people he served rather than living some sort of entitled and exalted existence. His work, as ordinary and practical as it was, played a part in loving God and serving the people around him. It made him relatable and credible to the people he preached to.

Which gives us an opportunity to reflect on the view we have of our own work. Sigmund Freud, who had some truly strange and unchristian views, was once asked what he thought was needed for people to be happy. His response was simple: love and work. In fact, this is absolutely true, for every person, especially for everyone who follows Christ, these two things are necessary: healthy, loving relationships and meaningful work. Even before Adam and Eve turned away from God in the Garden of Eden, God wanted them to work. In the garden, their labor would reflect God’s own productivity and creativity and was the way they exercised their stewardship over creation. It was only after sin entered the world that work became difficult, unpleasant, and unfulfilling. But it was always part of his plan.

Work still has tremendous value for each of us. It is the primary way we exercise the gifts and talents we have received from God. Any honest occupation is the main way that we provide for our families and those who are less fortunate. Work makes it possible for us to support the charitable endeavors of our church and to make the world around us a little better than we found it. It is the typical channel where we live out our faith and provide a good example for others. Our work gives witness to the truth of the gospel and the gift of God’s grace; it can be done for the Glory of God and the good of others. It is important to note that work is not the same as a job; not all work is compensated with money or material things. Some of the most critical types are repaid by love alone, as we think about the countless and often-hidden contributions of parents, mentors, and other care-givers. Finally, work gives meaning to our lives and keeps us out of trouble. We are called to spend our days doing things with purpose and building up the kingdom of God. 

Does this mean that we should never rest or take a vacation? No! Is St. Paul and the Church encouraging us to be work-a-holics and never sit still? No! A little rest and relaxation are good and holy things. But if we find ourselves trying to avoid as much work as possible or dreaming of a life of leisure, we should know that such an existence will inevitably lead to restlessness, dissatisfaction, and temptations of every kind.

Today let us apply St. Paul’s words to ourselves and consider how we view our work. For a child, that might be our chores around the house. If we are a student, our work will be our studies. If we are a spouse and parent, that will be fulfilled by preparing meals, caring for the home, encouraging our family, and carrying out our profession with integrity, if we are older or retired, our work will be taking advantage of opportunities to help our family, volunteer, and offer prayer. Holy and meaningful work is anything that occupies our time and engages our energy, talents, and thoughts. May we imitate St. Paul, using our work as a way to serve others, give glory to God, and prepare for that day when Jesus returns in all his glory!