Is God Into "Cancel-Culture"? (1st Sunday of Lent, Year B)

 To listen to this homily, click here.

Even though I try to avoid the news as much as possible, it’s not unusual for me to hear about someone saying, doing, or posting something that is judged to be offensive to contemporary standards of decency and sensitivity. Sometimes this transgression is dug up or discovered from long ago in someone’s past. In many cases, the so-called “sin” is indeed something that is, or was hurtful, tasteless, and morally wrong. But even more shocking than the individual’s offense is the increasingly brutal response and mandated punishment that is often accepted without question. It is a scorched earth policy where the offender is fired from their job, banned from social media platforms, condemned by political or moral leaders, terminated from business contracts and many other far-reaching punishments that may be life-long. These are the operating principles of what is commonly called the “cancel culture”, where a person or institution is essentially wiped out as a consequence of a sin, unpopular decision, or poor judgement. To be clear, many of the controversies and offenses that provoke the cancel culture response are undoubtedly wrong. But people failing, sinning, and making horrible decisions are nothing new. What is more troubling and shocking is the ferocity and self-righteousness that most often accompanies the advocates of cancel culture. This modern movement of condemnation leaves little, if any room for mercy, repentance, and reform. It often becomes mob rule, where misinformation reigns, context is ignored, and the loudest voice becomes accepted as truth. 

So what’s my point in bringing this up? It would seem from the first reading that God is the king of canceling. If we take the story of the flood at face value, what else can we call it? God is literally wiping the slate clean and starting over. But is the story really that simplistic? Does God rejoice in the death of the wicked and the destruction of the sinner. Actually, no, he does not!! God reminds us through the prophet Ezekiel that he “takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! Why should you die, house of Israel? God does not relish the destruction of anyone and gives sinful humans many chances to turn away from the destruction of evil. He wants us to receive mercy and begin again more than anything else in the world. But if we remain hard-headed and obstinate, he will respect our decision and move ahead with his plan of salvation. If we do not change our ways we will be left behind and wiped away. The choice is ours!

With that in mind let’s reconsider the full story of Noah and his well-known ark. After creating a world that was full of goodness and harmony, the wheels come off quickly after the sin of Adam and Eve. Evil multiplies and infects whole nations until the Book of Genesis tells us that God regretted creating man because every desire of his heart was evil. But Noah and his family were the exception to the rule. This small band of humans was still good and righteous. God knows he has to honor the justice he embodies; he has to cure the cancer of sin that is corrupting the human race. Like a stage 4 cancer patient, humanity is going to need a drastic intervention. The remedy will almost kill the patient but it is the only way to overcome the cancer. We see this sort of extreme treatment often in our beloved sick who heroically endure such pain and suffering for the goal of returning to health. 

God knows he has to wipe out the sin that has spread throughout humanity but he doesn’t take joy in it. He uses a mighty flood to bring about the literal and spiritual cleansing that needs to happen. But he takes his time; he drags his feet in the hopes that it will give an opportunity for more people to change their ways. To build the ark that God specifies, Noah needs 120 years!! And his neighbors see what he is doing; it’s no secret. God never tells Noah to keep others off the ark; the rest of humanity simply isn’t interested in joining him. Instead they continue on with their petty business and daily immorality until one day, it’s simply too late. God wasn’t trying to sneak around so only a few animals and his one favorite family could escape. He took his time, he remained patient for as long as he could but finally he could delay his justice no more. 

God doesn’t change. His love for the sinner never ends. When sin returned once again, God’s love moved him to send his only son as the new Noah, not to destroy the world and its sinful people, but to save them with a new ark, the Holy Church he founded. It is big enough for all peoples of every age but no one is forced to enter. We must acknowledge our sin in order to come onboard. We can choose to do other things, value other priorities, but eventually it will be too late. That is not what God wants. He does not delight in our sins or in condemning us. He will give us more chances than we deserve. However, if we reject his mercy long enough, it must give way to his justice.

Return again to cancel culture. If God does not cancel us in spite of our many sins, why do we treat each other this way? Does someone need to tell the Lord, “hey you are doing this all wrong”, “we know something you don’t”! Are some sins now beyond the mercy of Jesus to forgive? Are some people undeserving of a second chance? I hope not! We have to be willing to forgive as God has forgiven us. We have to be courageous enough to give people another chance, even when they have acted foolishly and wrongly because we ourselves have been gifted second and third chances by the Lord. 

One last thing. Our gospel shows us how Jesus prepares to minister to sinful humanity. He doesn’t rush to issue a statement of outrage or condemnation. He doesn’t gather an army of followers to take down his enemies and detractors. Instead, he withdraws for a time of deep and sustaining prayer. Jesus does nothing without praying first. No teaching, no healing, no preaching, and no challenging without first connecting with His Father. If that was what he needed as perfect God and Perfect Man, we would be fools to think we can witness to a sinful world without doing the same. 

May we be people of prayer who stand up to cancel culture, reminding ourselves and others that no one is beyond hope and forgiveness. Let us build a more compassionate society that actively seeks out the sinful and foolish to offer them the promise of God’s mercy and renewal. There is still plenty of room in the ark; let’s make sure people know about it!

What Is Your Perspective? (5th Sunday, Year B)

 To listen to this homily, click here.

There is a story told of three men who were pouring a mixture of water, sand, lime into a trough. A curious passer-by asked what they were doing. The first said, "I am making mortar." The second: "I am laying bricks." But the third replied, "I am building a cathedral." They were all doing the same thing, but each looked at it differently. And what a difference each person’s perspective made!

The difference in perspective can be seen in more than just work. It also affects how we view suffering, relationships, and our spiritual lives. Another example is seen when people people talk about how they support their parish. One person says, "All they do is ask for money." The second person replies, "Well, you have to pay the bills." But the third person says, "I am building the Body of Christ." The three are doing the same thing, but their attitude determines what is focussed on!

Today's Scripture readings reflect those differences in response to the trials and tribulations of life. Poor Job says that life is nothing but drudgery: When I lie down at night, I toss and turn and wonder when morning will come. But when I get up, I am tired and I ask how long until I can get back to bed!

Most of us can identify with Job during our darkest days. But St. Paul takes a different approach. Few worked as hard as he did or went through so many sufferings for the name of Jesus. Yet he says: "I do so willingly...I have been entrusted with a stewardship.”

Our Gospel presents a fascinating example of stewardship in the person of St. Peter's mother-in-law. She was in bed, sick, when her son-in-law brought unexpected guests. One of them, Jesus, went to her bedside, took her hand - and she sat up. The fever subsided and immediately, "she waited on them.”

Some think she would have preferred to stay in bed. However, that viewpoint says more about us that it does about that wonderful woman. For people in ancient times, hospitality was their top value and most precious gift. It was the glue that held their society together and the primary way of displaying one’s honor and virtue. For Peter's mother-in-law, hospitality was a sacred duty. But there is something more. The text says, "She waited on them." The word for "wait on them" is "diaconia" - the root of our word "deacon." Jesus had healed her. To serve him in return would be pure joy, a beautiful honor, not a burden or disgrace.

When I think of the happiest moments of my life, they are not the times when I was sitting around with tons of time on my hands. The most joy-filled times are the days when I fall into bed exhausted, when my calendar is full of doing priestly things, and serving others, bringing the presence of Jesus to those who are hungry, lonely, discouraged, confused, and seeking holiness. Being God’s servant to others brings the most meaning and happiness to my heart. That same deep satisfaction and contentment cannot be found in boundless free time, self-indulgence, increasing personal comfort, or amassing riches. You and I will always be happiest when we are living lives of intentional and joyful service rather than trying to get others to serve us.  

St. Paul illustrates this joy. With no fanfare, he says he is free… and few have greater inner freedom than Paul. Nevertheless, Paul says, I have become a slave to all. He knew that freedom is not doing whatever one feels like. Real freedom is the ability to serve; letting go and putting others first.

One of the greatest sources of scandal comes from people misusing their vocation of service to enrich or take care of themselves. How many children suffer because their parents choose to live selfish and self-indulgent lives? How deeply has our Church been wounded and dismissed because some priests and bishops put their own comfort and advancement in front of living their lives in complete service to their spiritual flock? How many people have lost confidence in political representatives because many have forsaken their role to be public servants, choosing instead to use their power and authority to benefit themselves.

The key to ensure that these and so many other professions provide inspiration, healing, happiness, and holiness is personal sacrifice. Most of us spend a lot of time and energy trying to avoid the "S" word because it is certainly not easy. However, as Christians, we cannot avoid sacrifice if we hope to be happy and live meaningful lives that will bless others. We cannot simply tolerate hardship and sacrifice; we have to embrace it. Jesus and St. Paul tell us that our time, our abilities, our financial resources, all of it, do not belong to us. They come from God – and he will require an accounting – a stewardship. For that reason, we do not give ourselves and what we have grudgingly because we are building the Body of Christ, we are building that cathedral!

To continue as effective and joyful apostles of Jesus we need both the vision which comes from prayer and the humble patience to accept routine work.

In Jesus we see the right balance. After he had spent his day helping those who were troubled, he rose before dawn and went off to a deserted place to pray. The sick, the hurting, and all those who need us will still be there tomorrow. We will never get all of our work done if we are living lives of service! But the opportunity to connect and be strengthened by God in prayer must not be put off or cancelled, even to do more good things. The source of true love and service comes from above and without it, we become like a spinning top. We might look impressive for a while, but we eventually fall down.

We recognize that each of us is called to do our part in helping others, building God’s kingdom, and growing in holiness. But it is impossible to create a world which is truly just, good and beautiful on our own. We need the love, patience, and wisdom which can only be learned through regular moments of quiet prayer. If that was something Jesus needed, why do we think we can live without it? 

Once Jesus prayed, he returned to the task of teaching, serving, healing, feeding, and loving. That is what we are called to do as well, each in the ways that are proper to our vocations. May we be joyful servants of God, always guided and strengthened by prayer!

What Fear Drives You? (4th Sunday, Year B)

To listen to this homily, click here.

The confrontation with fear is something that has haunted humanity from the earliest times. And while the tough and macho claim to be immune to it, fear never seems to be in short supply. Some medical experts estimate half of all symptoms have their origin in fear. The patient fears losing a job, being exposed to injury or illness, losing a loved one, betrayal or old age - and the dread manifests itself in medical symptoms such as shortness of breath, migraines, or chest pains. The doctor examines the patient and discovers no physical cause, yet the pain is real. The fear that causes such symptoms is called "anxiety" - an unfocused, free-floating fear that won't go away. This sort of fear and anxiety is harmful in every way. The human body and soul wasn’t made for it and if it isn’t confronted in a healthy way, it will eat us alive.

On the other hand, there are other types of fear that are good, holy, and productive. Fear is meant to protect us from serious threats that could harm us. Only a fool would jump into an enclosure with a wild animal like a bear or gorilla to prove their courage. Only for a noble reason should any person enter a situation where death is a real possibility. It is good and holy to fear offending God by sin. God instilled a healthy fear within us to keep us safe physically and spiritually. It should guide and protect but never rule us.

I will freely admit that I felt fear during my week in the Grand Canyon. Some of it centered around the physical challenge of descending and ascending such difficult terrain. Did I train enough and properly? Was I dressed warmly enough? Was I listening for falling rocks? These were good fears that kept me safe but didn’t keep me from enjoying the canyon. There were other fears I had to learn to let go of; things like what would I smell like after a week with no shower and wearing the same clothes. How would I handle not having phone service or being in touch with the parish? Should I worry about random rabid squirrels or the remote possibility of a rattlesnake out for a winter’s stroll? These were fearful thoughts that were better acknowledged and then left behind. The proper fears kept me safe during my hike while letting go of the others freed my mind and heart to embrace the wild beauty of God’s majesty. 

One last last observation about my recent wrestling match with fear. I felt most of it in the first two days when the canyon was unknown and perplexing to me. As we spent more time in it and our guide explained the hidden life everywhere around us, my fear gave way to wonder, awe, and love for the canyon. What was first seen as a monolithic, unforgiving maze of rock and desert revealed itself as a vibrant wonderland with so much to offer those who treat it with a healthy dose of respect and humility.

The same principles are at work in our readings in terms of how we relate with God and the world around us. Each of the scriptures deals with different expressions of fear. In the passage from Deuteronomy, Moses reminds the people of the Lord’s promise to raise up a prophet to serve as a mediator between the people and God. The people of Israel had asked for this arrangement after experiencing God’s majesty on Mount Horeb. God’s greatness was so terrifying that the people told Moses, “we are too afraid. Talk to God for us and we will do whatever he says.” God doesn’t want his children to live in fear so he agrees. God also knows that as his people come to know him better through the Law and the prophets, their fear will give way to love.

In the second reading, St. Paul says he would like us to be "free of anxiety." He is giving advice for single people considering marriage, but his wish applies to all Christians. Stop looking ahead and getting anxious about tomorrow, about what may or may not happen. Simply be present to God and each other as you are today. 

In the Gospel, Jesus encounters a man with an unclean spirit which cries out in fear when Jesus speaks. Even demons recognize the authority of Jesus. But they see his power as something to be feared rather than a gift that brings salvation. They are afraid because they realize Jesus has power over them and they will be defeated. Like cowards and sore losers, they make a great commotion until Jesus tells them to be quiet and leave the man, which happens immediately since Jesus’ authority and power is real. 

Recall the question the evil spirits ask Jesus. “Have you come to destroy us?” Evidently the unclean spirit had taken over most of the man's personality. These demons were so arrogant as to think if they were cast out, the man would be destroyed. But when the unclean spirits left him he was whole again. What first looked like destruction turned out to be liberation. The healing of God and the repentance he calls us to embrace might seem painful at first but it will always lead to healing, peace, and wholeness.

All of this begs the question for us as followers of Christ: what role does fear have in our lives? Are we aware of the ways unhealthy fear and anxiety dominates our thinking and influences our decision-making? Have we brought our fear to the Lord to be redeemed and healed or do we fight it on our own? Just as important, do we have a healthy fear of offending God through sin? Do we allow holy fear to bring us to greater love of God and other people? Or do we nurture a spirit of pride, walking into situations that could damage our body and soul? 

On the other hand, maybe we’ve become too cautious in our relationship with God. Perhaps we have become so afraid of him that he is unknown to us, he is nothing more than a divine entity: distant, mysterious, fearful, full of wrath. If we do not know God and learn about his love for us and for the world, he can appear as the Grand Canyon first did to me; impressive, maybe even beautiful, but ultimately harsh, deadly, and dry. The more we come to know God, the more we come to love him. There should always be a healthy fear of the fact that he is God and we are not. But that fear should grow into reverence and love, not dread and defiance. 

One of the most comforting things about our faith is the knowledge that evil and death have already been defeated by the passion and death of Christ. In the midst of fearful and terrifying situations, we find supernatural power and authority by praying in the name of Jesus, first for ourselves and then for others. By praying in His Son’s name, God can use any of us to bring liberation to those paralyzed by fear. At Mass today, we ask Jesus to protect us from anxiety - especially the fear that so easily turns into despair. And we give him permission to use our lives and words to help set others free so the world can be a holier and more peaceful place. 

What Water Do You Drink? (Baptism of Jesus, 2021)

 To listen to this homily, click here.

Today’s  feast of Jesus’ baptism is a spiritual trailhead with paths branching off in every direction. All of them are good and worth our time but we can only take one today. I would like to explore the trail that gives us a peek into the relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; the intimate and sacred moment when we hear the voice of the Father saying, “This is my Beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased; listen to him” These words grab our attention immediately because they come directly from the heart of God. In them, we see how God loves and what he sees as he looks on Jesus with complete and unconditional approval.

This love of the Father, this acceptance as the dearly beloved is not just an interesting historical happening. It is something every human person longs for. Once we address our physical needs like food, water. clothing, and shelter, we want something more. One of the things we naturally desire is the approval, acceptance, and respect of others. Children are eager for the approval of their parents and other authority figures. The elderly want a measure of respect for their past contributions and for what they presently have to offer. We all want to be accepted and valued as part of a community, whether that happens in family, friendship, or some other group. Even the one who says, “I don’t care what other people think,” usually has some person, or group of people, he wants to please and make proud.

Sometimes we feel that the desire for approval or praise is a sign of vanity or weakness. But that’s not necessarily true. God made us for community, to give ourselves to each other and to care and nourish one another spiritually, emotionally, and physically. The idea of rugged individualism, the notion that I can be completely self-sufficient is relatively new and completely opposed to how God made us. The desire for approval is very good and natural but because of original sin, it has been corrupted and can easily become disordered. Sometimes we fall into the trap of thinking “if only people would appreciate me or recognize the gifts I have, then I would be happy.” However, if the admiration of others automatically brought happiness, purpose, and worth to our lives, then the happiest people in the world would be celebrities, influencers, athletes, and anyone with fame. Hardly anyone on the planet gets more admiration and attention than they do, yet how many of them are deeply unhappy, unfulfilled, and insecure.

The problem with human admiration and acceptance is that it’s conditional. Those who have great popularity often feel that insecurity. They soon learn the hard way that everyone can love you today but tomorrow could care less or even hate your guts. If someone bases their value and goodness as a human on the praise and esteem of others, that person will soon be miserable and maybe much worse. This doesn’t mean praise and validation isn’t important or that we can’t give and receive it. But it should never be the foundation of our self-worth or the motivation which inspires us. 

For whatever reason, the last few books I’ve read had to do with famous shipwrecks and the survivors who lived to tell the story agains all odds. Even though these stories took place in different oceans, hundreds of years apart, one major thing was the same in all of them. In each case, the shipwrecked souls talked about the terrible irony of experiencing incredible thirst while being surrounded by water. It would literally drive some people insane and they would drink the salt water which only made them more thirsty and actually sucked any remaining moisture out of their bodies. Those that lived were able to wait for fresh, life-giving water that came from the skies when it rained. The amount of pure water was very small and scarce in comparison to the sea around them but it was enough to sustain their life. 

You and I are thirsty for approval, to be valued in a way the world simply cannot give. Worldly praise, esteem, and acceptance are all around us. It is so tempting to drink it deeply. If we do, it only makes us more thirsty. The more we go to this world for acceptance and approval, the more spiritually dehydrated we become. But true life-giving water does exist. There is someone who loves and values us despite our darkest moments and most glaring weaknesses. Remember the voice of the Father from the Gospel,“This is my Beloved Son with whom I am well pleased.” By joining ourselves to Jesus, we gain the approval which counts and gives life. God loves us in the same way he loves his Son: completely, unconditionally, and forever. The approval of others is good, but it can never give an acceptance which will last. We have that approval right now by virtue of our baptism. You and I don’t earn the Father’s Love nor have we done anything to deserve it. In spite of our unworthiness, He gives it freely and unconditionally.

Think about this:

What sort of spiritual H2O are you drinking right now? Does it come from God or from the world? What would look different in your life if you believed God loved you unconditionally? How would it change your perspective? Would it make you more daring in living out your faith, knowing that you always had a loving God at your side? Imagine the freedom that would come with knowing that no matter what you did, successful or not, you could not lose the love and approval of God! How might it change the way you treated other people? Realizing the One who is madly in love with you is also loving them in the same way? Would it add passion to our faith, our prayer, our daily lives?

How good it must have felt for Christ as he came out of the water and heard the voice of his Father! If you have never heard that voice, I pray for you now, to know that God is crying out those same words every day, all the time. You are alive because God loves you, thinks of you and wants you here. Every moment of every day he is thinking of you specifically, he looks on you with love, he is smiling and crying and feeling everything you do. He wants us to know of his love for us fickle and sinful children, that is why he sent his beloved son in the first place, to shatter our deafness and indifference.

When you find your faith tested, perhaps by sickness or financial problems, by struggles in your family, or even  abandonment by the people who should be there for you, remember you belong to God. When you are tempted to drink the world’s water of popularity and acceptance, remember it will not satisfy you or bring you life. We belong to God and he can never stop loving us. Because of Jesus we hear the Father's voice, “You are my beloved son, my beloved daughter. With you I am well pleased.” Shocking, undeserved, but ultimately and always true! Let us drink deeply of this saving water and then bring others to it as well!

Do We Really Want the Truth? (Epiphany 2021)

To listen to this homily, click here. 

There are many interesting things about the three wise men to contemplate today. Where they came from, what they believed, the gifts they brought, how long they journeyed, and so much more. Perhaps most helpful for us to consider is the simple question “why”? Why did these men come seeking the Christ-child from a far-away land? And when they found him, why did they adore him?

 

           The Magi were searching for someone or something. They didn’t know exactly what it was but they knew one thing for certain: they wanted the truth no matter where it would take them, no matter what it would cost them. This quest for the truth was more than a desire, it was a way of life. It formed the way they looked at the world. This openness to the truth explains why they noticed a star rising in a position they had never seen before. They believed some god somewhere was trying to announce something through that star. So they continued their quest for the truth by following the star. They grew in faith as they traveled. When they first arrived in Jerusalem, they looked for a political figure, King Herod, hoping he would point them in the right direction. (It seems odd that supposedly wise men would go to a politician looking for truth!) But the worldly power wasn’t looking for truth; Herod was only concerned with holding onto his power, even if it meant destroying the truth.  When they arrived at the house where Mary, Joseph, and Jesus were staying, they fell down in worship.  They were the first gentiles to have an experience of the Messiah.  Their hunger for truth was satisfied, the journey to God was complete.  They were sincere in the search for what is true and not afraid of the sacrifices necessary to find it. This love of the truth is what made them wise men.

 

            The scholars in the Temple who devoted their lives to the Sacred Word and traditions of the Jewish people were not so wise.  They knew that the Messiah was coming because it was written in Scripture.  They even knew he was coming to Bethlehem. But the political timing for the Messiah just wasn’t right; the Truth was inconvenient to their hopes, plans, and dreams. The temple scholars were interested in the truth but only so far as it didn’t interfere with how they wanted live their life and faith. They were motivated first and foremost by the events in the world instead of the search for God.  As a result, they missed entering into the presence of the Messiah.

 

            The solemnity of the Epiphany celebrates Jesus manifesting himself to those whose faith leads them to him, to those who wish to see him because they love the truth more than anything else. The wise men did not know God but they found Him because their hearts were open to correction, teaching, and sacrifice. The Jewish scholars had the gift of God’s Word but they were not searching for him, and so they missed his presence on earth. They would end up fighting the truth rather than living in its light.

 

          This feast causes us to ask ourselves about our own attitudes towards the truth. Are we really searching for God? Do we really want to find him? Do we love the Truth so much that we are willing to sacrifice anything to follow where it leads us? Or, when some teaching of our faith challenges us, do we choose to rationalize why it is no longer relevant or applicable to our lives? Do we give in to the temptation to conform the truth to our lives and when that is not possible, reject it or ignore it? These are important questions, because finding God always demands change in our lives. Changes which are good but not always easy. St. Augustine, in his Confessions, shared that before his conversion he practiced every kind of immorality. He did not want to convert to Christianity because he was afraid he might take it too seriously. He knew it would end up forcing him to change his ways, and he did not want to do that. He is famous for his half-hearted prayer, “Lord, give me purity but not yet.”

 

            Every experience of God demands a change in our lives. It’s impossible to encounter the Living God, who is perfect love, truth, and Goodness and not be affected. If we are indifferent to God then we are not motivated by Truth. If we try to change God’s Law or his Will so that we can continue doing things our way, then we are not motivated by the truth. Rather, we are driven by comfort, control, fear, and worldliness. The worlds we create for ourselves are small, fragile, and ultimately doomed to fail. Only God’s truth, His Son, can endure forever. So we need to conform our lives according to His plan for us. That is the way to lasting joy, peace, and well-being. If we are not willing to come closer to Christ, then Christmas is just a week full of empty sentiment.

 

         In some ways, you and I have it easy! We don’t have to go searching for the truth, wondering where it will appear. We know and believe that Jesus is the fulness of Truth, the Word of the Father sent to save us. And he gave us the Catholic Church, protected by the Holy Spirit, to guide us always in what is true, especially in matters of faith and morals. Our main task is to grow in our knowledge and love of the truth. We have to be on guard against the many voices, both within ourselves and in the world, which seek to disfigure and manipulate what is true and good. We need the example and courage of the Wise men to keep us always focused and open to God’s truth, no matter where it takes us or what sacrifices it demands. Let us not be like King Herod who was wiling to destroy the truth when it challenged his power or the temple scholars who ignored it when it was inconvenient.

 

  “The wise still seek him,” some Christmas cards say. It is not degrees, age, accomplishments, or experience that ultimately give wisdom. This gift is given to the one who loves the truth unconditionally. If we really want the Lord in our lives, we must continue the journey towards His truth daily, without exception or excuses. May God help us hunger for what is true, as he did the three Wise Men. And like them, when we encounter the truth, may we submit in humble adoration. Then joy, peace, and blessings will ours. 

Imperfect Families Can be Holy Families! (Holy Family, 2020)

To listen to this homily, click here.

It’s difficult not to be sentimental this time of year, even for a crusty German like me! This season of celebration and being together as family contains so many happy memories for me growing up. The frenzy of excitement as we cleaned and decorated our little house in Hazelwood so we could host my mom’s family on Christmas Eve. The impatient praying at Midnight Mass, which actually started at midnight, at St. Agatha’s parish in South St. Louis, anticipating the many gifts that would appear under the tree a few hours later. The waking up at the crack of dawn to stare at the mountain of gifts Santa had brought. The lazy days between Christmas and New Year’s Day where we could play games for hours, enjoy having dad home from work, eat the leftovers from special Christmas feasts, and put our new gifts through their paces. What wonderful times those were! What simple pleasures! But what made these memories most special was not the gifts, the food, or the time of relaxing. What made the memories an everlasting joy were the people, my family. Despite our expected arguing, bickering, and occasional grudges, my family has and continues to be, a place of joy, strength, refuge, accountability, and faith. I hope you can say something similar as you think of your own families who loved and formed you!

The human family is not simply an evolutionary construct or a gathering of convenience; it's part of God’s plan. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that the family is the “domestic Church.” Long before we went to Catholic school or PSR, or knew what was happening at Mass, we were being taught in our families how to love, how to share, how to forgive and pray. God, in his wisdom, knows that the safety, acceptance, and calm of the family is the most natural place for humans to learn how to love Him and others. That is why the family will always be sacred to God’s Church and why Church will never stop fighting to protect families from sin, evil, abuse, and redefinition.

It might surprise you to know this feast is relatively new in the history of our faith. It was not formally declared and celebrated until 1921. Of course, there was always a Holy family but the need to call people to return to family life was not so urgent until recently. For all its limitations and hardships, rural, agricultural life had a way of keeping families together, if for no other reason than the shared struggle for survival. With the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, with its many promises of improvements and innovations also came the beginning of the breakup of the family. Families moved to cities, or at least some members did. Often there were different shifts in different factories for children and parents. Long hours away from each other, day after day, year after year. Within several generations, the Church saw where this was headed and instituted a yearly reflection on what God calls each family to be. 

We need this reminder now more than ever. Family life today is difficult. Has any one here not seen loved ones affected by divorce, the scourge of alcohol and narcotics, the breakdown of discipline, or profound hurts that produce grudges lasting decades?

We should pay attention to St Paul's letter to the Colossians which contains timeless advice. Apparently word had reached Paul that Christian families in that city were falling apart. And so he notes the qualities that must be present in any Christian home. "Bear with one another. Forgive one another... Over all these put on love...Christ's peace must reign in your hearts...Be thankful...Wives, cherish your husbands...Husbands, love your wives...Children, obey your parents in everything.”

What a home it would be to find all the qualities Paul mentions! It really would be a holy family! Oftentimes when we hear these things we let our cynicism win and think, “my family could never do all that.” But our Church is an everlasting optimist! She hopes for the best! With God all things are possible! That was the message last week and it is still true a week later, even with our families! How can our families grow holier if we don’t even try? We may never be the holiest family but with God’s grace we can certainly be a holy family! 

Some of you may be saying, “Get your head out of the clouds, Padre! How can we relate to the Holy Family? Joseph was a celibate. Mary a virgin. Jesus the Son of God. They had it easy!” But we do Mary, Joseph, and Jesus a disservice if we fantasize their lives. Take the Christmas stable for example. We picture it as something rustic and charming. However, stables are constructed for livestock, not families. That Christmas stable was crawling with dangerous vermin and foul odors. There were no pampers, heat, or fresh water. Imagine the cold drafts. Mary and Joseph had to be sick with worry for the Infant's health. Where would the next meal for the Baby come from? Soon there would be a murderous king hunting them and the need to flee to another country. Consider, too, the teen years of Jesus. Most teens believe they know everything. Can you imagine raising one who did?! Each family has their own unique challenges to face. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph faced theirs together with faith; how do we approach ours?

We celebrate not the feast of the Perfect Family but the feast of the Holy Family. God knows, each of us comes from very imperfect families and we all contribute our fair share to the dysfunction and neurotic tendencies that are found in every home. The good news is that God loves working with imperfect people! He can make you and your loved ones holy in the course of daily family life. But we have to give him opportunities to make it happen. In our time the main dangers to family life are a lack of silence, stillness, and being present to each other. Modern life and technology constantly try to isolate us from each other and keep us running around so there is no time to truly listen even to those we live with. And let’s not forget, we are not simply waging battle against human weakness or a hostile culture. The devil hates the things God loves; families are at the top of his list to divide, distract, and destroy. But we should never be afraid or lose hope because God will always protect us if we entrust our family to him. And God most often gives us grace in ordinary moments of life. Ask yourself these questions to get the conversation started with God on how to be a holy family:

1. when was the last time I gave my family my undivided attention and was completely present to them without the tv, phone, internet, or any other distraction pulling at me? Is there regular moments they know I am focused on them regardless of the other demands on my time?
2. Do I make time each day to try to communicate meaningfully with the people in my home? Do I know what is on their heart or do I mostly engage in small talk? Do I listen as much as I speak? Am I willing to share my heart, including my thoughts, feelings, and desires or do I simply convey information?
3. How often do I pray with my family, before meals, at the end of the day, even over the phone before ending a conversation with a family member who might be living out of town?
4. Am I doing my part to make my family a domestic church? Do I act in a way that fosters a community of respect, love, warmth, compassion, forgiveness, strength, holiness, peace, service, and gratitude? Or is it all about me?

These are some of the basic things we can do in our families to create a holy environment in our homes. Holiness then fosters happiness and healthiness which we all want. May God bless our families today and heal any hurts that keep us from loving as we should. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, please help us!

 

God Gets 💯 (Christmas, 2020)

 To listen to this homily, click here.

This year I feel like the college student who was unprepared for his final exam. Seeing the test in front of him, his mind went blank. Since it was right before Christmas break, he wrote on his paper: “Only God knows the answers to these questions. Merry Christmas!” When the college professor graded the test, he added this note: “God gets a hundred. You get a zero. Happy New Year!” I hope my homily does better than that, but whatever happens, give God a hundred. Despite everything we’ve endured in this strange and difficult year, God has been good to us. Christmas is proof that He never stops giving!

A number of years ago, a group of pastors came up with a creative Christmas gift. They collected $10,000 and used it to pay outstanding tickets. They set up a table outside the City Hall of their town and told people to bring their unpaid tickets. Believe it or not, it was a college student who had the biggest number – 84 - which the pastors covered. A woman brought in fourteen tickets and timidly asked one of the pastors if they could pay half. He responded, “No, we are going to pay them all, in full – because God’s grace is amazing.”

Now, why am I telling you this story? It’s not so you will bring me your unpaid tickets. I am not one of those nice pastors! Still, it is a modern-day parable about God’s grace; undeserved, free, extravagantly generous and liberating. I think a lot about God’s generous mercy this time of year when I am hearing confessions. How people come in nervous, ashamed, burdened and sad. Yet they leave refreshed, free, and hopeful! How beautiful is God’s love and forgiveness! The same is true when I stop and think about my life and ministry as a priest with you. How generous God has been in my life! How many undeserved blessings I have been given in the form of treats, beautiful cards with heartfelt encouragement, monetary gifts and so many meaningful friendships. All while doing work that fulfills me and brings meaning to my life. It’s so much more than I deserve! I hope as you reflect on your life and on this year, despite the obvious hardships and setbacks, you feel something similar.

This humble gratitude for the most profound gifts is at the heart of what we celebrate on Christmas. God became man to reveal to us the depths of his love. It is his perfect and saving gift to the human race: undeserved, perfect, and free!

Let me tell you about a man who received a beautiful gift from God, a man who then wound up sharing it with the entire world. His beginnings were unpromising, to say the least. His father abandoned him before he was born, and his mother barely made ends meet by knitting sweaters, caps and socks. As a young man, he discerned a call to the priesthood, entered the seminary and became a priest in Salzburg, Austria in 1815. The bishop assigned Fr. Mohr to a mountain parish. One quiet evening the young priest sat down and composed a brief poem. He kept the verses to himself for two years. Then, shortly before Christmas, he showed it to a friend named Franz Guber. Franz provided a melody. We all know it well. Its opening words are: Silent Night! Holy Night!

At the Midnight Mass in 1818, Fr. Mohr’s small parish heard the hymn for the first time. The congregation loved it and each Christmas they looked forward to singing the carol which their pastor had composed. About fifteen years later, some traveling troubadours heard the hymn at a Christmas Mass. They picked it up and performed it at a concert in Leipzig. It spread quickly and was sung for the first time in America in 1839. 

Soon it was translated into English, Spanish and many other languages. Fr. Mohr’s poem became the most popular Christmas hymn of all time.

Fr. Mohr lived another thirty years after writing his poem. In spite of the hymn’s popularity, the composer died penniless. He had spent his earnings as a parish priest to care for the elderly. Fr. Mohr was buried in the cemetery of the parish where he had served as pastor for ten years.

If you consider the number of times Silent Night has been printed and recorded, the royalties would amount to millions, perhaps billions, of dollars. Yet, for his poem, Joseph Mohr gained neither money nor fame. It was not until after his death that the world even recognized its author. Fr. Mohr had received his poem as gift – it had come to him in an evening of quiet inspiration. What he received, he gave as a gift, first to his parishioners, then to children and adults throughout the world.

The story of the hymn “Silent Night” is appropriate for Christmas. The true greatness of Jesus was not understood from the beginning. He came among us with a modesty that did not reveal the immensity of his gift. Even 2000 years later, many people still do not know or accept the treasure he wishes to share so generously. 

Before we can appreciate the gift of the Christ Child, we might ask ourselves what any gift means. It is a great joy to receive a present and an ever greater joy to be able to give one. It takes a certain childlike wonder and simple gratitude to really get the point. Behind every meaningful gift, is the expression of love and sacrifice. 

Think of everything we have received from the hand of God, starting with the gift of life. Life is the greatest gift of all. None of us created our own self or thought up our own existence. Everything we enjoy depends on the initial gift of life. Yet there is something even greater God wants to give. That is what we celebrate tonight. That God was not content to simply brings us into existence, he also desired to save us from sin and darkness and help us return to him. He wanted to lead as one of us and so accepted our human flesh with all its limitations and humiliations. This is truest form of love and sacrifice! The God of everything becomes nothing to love and save us! 

In his wisdom, God has put his image within us. We experience life as Jesus did, a combination of longings and limitations, desiring to give, be known, and love. We each have an inner self we wish to reveal completely to someone who can understand and embrace us. That perfect someone does exist and we celebrate his birth today. Jesus is his name and He is the supreme gift of the Father, the fulfillment of desire in every human heart.

 

Think back to Fr. Mohr. A young man, who never knew his own father, experienced the love and warmth of Almighty God. Through Divine Grace, he expressed that gift in a poem now sung around the world. What are the gifts we have received from God this year? Have we acknowledged them and given thanks? Have we done our best to imitate the Christ-Child and become a gift to others? God is good! God never stops giving! Come let us adore Him!!