Feast of Saint Thomas, Apostle
Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Thomas, the Apostle. Although St. Thomas is responsible for carrying the Gospel to India and other parts of the East, he is surely best known as 'doubting' Thomas. I have always found a bit unfair that his doubting the Resurrection of Jesus (until his own personal encounter with the Risen Lord) is the most significant fact we know about Thomas. Also, it has most often carried purely negative connotations about the apostle. After all, who among us does not experience doubt? I am deeply grateful for this passage in John's Gospel.
Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Instead of a customary homily, I am going to share three stories with you. I am basing these stories on today’s first reading, where the goodness shown by strangers bear great and unexpected fruit. In 2 Kings 4:8-16, an influential woman in Shunem showed kindness to the prophet Elisha, who returns the favor by blessing her and her husband with a child they always desired. The reading also shows that in the most mysterious ways, God is good all the time.
Here are my three stories:
Saturday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
Am I hospitable? Do I allow others to welcome me with hospitality? These were the questions that crossed my mind as I read today’s readings. I’m going to let my prayer and reflection rest on those questions.
Friday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
We live in an age of skepticism, a time where the very idea of God is a humorous to some of the so-called new atheists. For them, God is just funny idea made up by people. My students are also skeptical and often tell me that God appears to have done all sorts of miracles back then, but it's different now. God isn't really at work in today's world, they say. If God were acting, we'd see something different than we do.
Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles
Today we celebrate the feast of Saints Peter and Paul. These two men are so important to our tradition that their feast is ranked a “solemnity,” the highest designation that the Church has. While both men were instrumental in passing on the Christian faith and leaders of the early Church, they are an unlikely pair, different in many ways and known to have disagreed at one time. Peter is regarded as the first pope, the rock on whom the Church was founded. Paul is known as the Apostle to the Gentiles and the author of most of our New Testament.
Memorial of Saint Irenaeus, Bishop and Martyr
Birds of a feather flock together. Creatures that are alike tend to gather together to participate in similar behaviors. For instance, geese fly together when they are migrating or wolves run in packs when hunting. Although the reason for the wolves gathering together is for their survival, not everyone would see their hunting as a good and holy practice.
Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
It is said that familiarity breeds contempt. When a person knows someone very well, they can become so aware of their faults that they become scornful of them.
Monday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
I do not watch a lot of movies, but I love when I can find God even in the stories on the screen. Recently, I was able to view the current adaptation of “Beauty and the Beast.” It was both visually beautiful with wonderful settings and costumes and had lovely music and singing. When I was preparing to write this reflection, it struck me that much of this movie revolves around people making judgments of other people who are different from them: the townspeople judge Belle as “odd”, the Beast judges Belle as a common peasant, and Belle and most of the other people judge the Beast- as just that- a ferocious, dangerous beast. All of this judgment creates tension and even leads to violence. Jesus in today’s gospel reading recognizes the hazards of judging others, and He invites His disciples to step back and look inward to tend to our own faults first before even considering the faults of others. After careful reflection, He invites us to step forward with mercy and compassion when encountering others.
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Historically, you and I know how the action of one person can cause either immense harm or bring about immense good. Hitler single handedly could have prevented War War ll. He did the opposite. Over sixty million people died in that war. On the contrary, there are also people who single handedly brought much good in the world. St. Francis of Assisi, for example, single handedly reformed the Church. For more modern examples, I think of Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela. Their actions were redeeming actions. Perhaps in our families too there are people who either cause destruction or bring peace.
Paul is making a similar argument in today's second reading from the letter to the Romans, when he says, "Through one man sin entered the world, and through sin death, and thus death came to all men, in as much all sinned." Then he continues, "For if by the transgression of one many died, how much did the grace of God and the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christ overflow for the many." To put it simply, one man caused sin and destruction whereas another man, Jesus Christ brought redemption.
1. The Story of Salvation. Paul's purpose in writing the letter to the Romans was twofold. First, he wanted to convince his readers that salvation comes from faith in Jesus Christ. Second, he wanted to demonstrate how individual salvation can be accomplished - not by Law, but by faith. To convince his readers he must demonstrate what Christ gifted to the world - free grace! This grace is freely given to the world because of God's plan of salvation. And that is Paul main point - that even if one man caused sin, death, and destruction, God did not give up on us. From Abraham to the last person, God has offered humanity the possibility of salvation. This possibility is made available to us through the redeeming sacrifice of Jesus Christ. That is why he says earlier in the very same chapter, "But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us." As a practical implication, I am suggesting today, that apart from trying to grasp the immensity of God's saving work for us, that we stand in awe before the God who simply refuses to give us up for destruction. Sin caused destruction, but love brought redemption. One man brought death but one man brought the possibility of redemption. Without Jesus humanity would be a hopeless species. Thank you God. Just thank you for giving us Jesus!
2. Acknowledging the Father. Today's gospel reading seems to be a collection of saying that perhaps Jesus did not necessarily say in the same order that Matthew has recorded them. However, if we read the sections before and after today's gospel, we understand that the context is persecution. Hence, the saying, "Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father." How do we understand this conditional statement? Does this mean that there is a limit to God's love that Paul just expressed in the letter to the Romans? That is not Matthew's point. His point is that a disciple should not be afraid of those who kill the body but rather those who kill the soul, because God has already saved us. Even the hairs of our head is counted. On the cross Jesus did not deny us. To deny the Father is to deny salvation. To deny the Father is to deny the very love that saves humanity. The practical implications of this point is simply this - that we can either deny the father or acknowledge the Father by our thoughts, words, and actions. When our actions are non-redeeming actions, then we deny the Father. On the other hand, when our actions are redeeming actions, then we acknowledge the Father. The more we acknowledge the Father, the more Jesus is able to redeem us!
3. Heroes or Villains? Let me return to the very beginning of my homily for my third point. We are aware of the consequences of the actions of people who have done much harm in the world and those who actions have been redeeming actions. The cross of Jesus Christ is at the same time a testimony the the destruction that human beings can cause and the redeeming love of Christ. It would be a good thing today to examine our own consciences. What actions of ours cause harm? Gossip, destructive rhetoric, lies, bearing false witness, hatreds? These things do no good to us, to others, and to the world. We must repent of these thing. However, we will also find within us truth, kindness, charity, goodness, peace, and compassion. These actions give the world hope. Each day, we have the choice to be like the one man who brought sin into the world or like the one man Jesus who redeemed the world. Our task is to make sure that we are becoming more and more like Jesus.
The Eucharist we are about to celebrate is a continuation of Christ's redeeming action in the world. As we participate in the redeeming action of Christ, may our lives to become like his. Amen.
- Fr. Satish Joseph
Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
Before reading today’s scripture I found myself presuming what was going to be the focus of my reflection. Those untold stories will remain just that because my attention was hijacked by a phrase that appears at the end of the Gospel. The last sentence reads, “The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.”
Solemnity of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
On one vacation, and went to mass at a parish that happens to be run by the Disciples of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. This is a Spanish order that focuses on the utter love God has for us, which we focus on in today's feast. Mass was great - but it was also, well, ordinary. And that's a good thing.
Thursday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
Have you ever been taught a lesson, only to have someone else come by a year or ten or twenty later and tell you the first lesson was incomplete or wrong? As human knowledge advances, this happens to us all. Sometimes, we later discover that the first lesson was actually the correct one, and that another motive was behind the dis-information we were fed. Something like that is happening with the Corinthians. Was Paul’s gospel incomplete? Was heresy being preached to them by false preachers trying to make a living by charging for the ‘word of God?’
A central question behind today’s readings is, ‘How do God and humanity talk to one another?’ Paul makes the point that God addresses us in a spirit of humility. So, God’s messengers don’t need an eloquent speech, and they don’t need to be paid to unlock the message. Like Paul, God’s messengers come in love. They demand nothing, and instead offer a free gift.
The same question is in today’s Gospel, as Jesus tells us how to talk to God. Our speech does not need to be fancy or eloquent. We don’t have to worry about saying the right things. We just need to remember who God is (our Father), look forward to God’s coming (thy Kingdom, thy will), and what we need (daily bread, forgiveness, help with forgiving others and avoiding more evil). It’s simple. It’s real. It is not formal. Praying as a community needs to be formal so that we can all participate, but praying as individuals to God is very simple.
In the same way, God speaks to us very simply. Our Father wants us to understand. He talks to us as parents communicate with young children; at their level. He leaves out the parts that we cannot yet understand. This is a sharp contrast to all the ‘other gospels’ of the world that are competing for our time and attention.
Will the gospel of politics save us? Of course not; it is complicated, full of anger (these days), and a lot of money seems to be involved. Will a newer car or a better house or more money or nicer clothes save us? The pleasure of all these things fades, and getting each of them is complicated and love-less. Will revenge against our enemies save us? No, forgiveness alone will free our hearts.
Today, let’s approach God as simply as we can. Our father is very close and already knows what we need. Let’s allow the Spirit of Love us shape us this day, to form us according to the pure gospel of Jesus. Amen.
-Chris Nieport
Memorial of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, Religious
God loves a cheerful giver. It is a common expression that comes from today’s first reading. What does it mean to be cheerful giver? For that matter, what does it even mean to be a giver? In trying to answer this question, I reflected on the different ways I give of myself. After naming a few things, the categories of time, talent, and treasure floated to the surface of my mind. From stewardship, I turned to the question of cheerful giving.
Tuesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
The text from Matthew for today acknowledges something that human beings do all the time. We make sense of ourselves and others by creating pairs of opposing terms (or binary oppositions), with one part of the pair good and the other part bad. In today’s text, the binaries include “neighbors” and “enemies,” “the evil” and “the good,” “the righteous and the unrighteous.” Then we assign categories of people to these binaries. One ethnicity is “neighbor,” while another is the “enemy.” One religion is “righteous,” while another is “unrighteous.” One political affiliation is “good,” while another is “evil.” In this way, we create order. We know who our friends and foes are.
Monday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
If I call myself a Christian and really take it to heart, I should feel I am living in a foreign land. If I truly live out the precepts of Jesus, I should live a life shunned by many people. As well, if I call myself a Christian and am liked by everyone I meet, there is probably something wrong. Most days, my life is a mixture of trying to live the Gospel and trying to fit in. The back and forth, push and pull, and tension of living with contradiction is, and always will be part of being Christian.
Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ
On Mothers Day, when I preached a homily about mothers, a few fathers nudged their spouses and said, "Let's see what he says on Fathers Day." Of course, fathers, I do have a homily for you as well. After all without our fathers we wouldn't exist. There is a complication though. Today also happens to be the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. Perhaps, the connection between the two feasts can be found in God the father who loves, provides for us, nurtures us, and redeems us in and through the body and blood of Jesus.
Saturday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
What drives us? Do we want to be known for our great contributions? Do we wish to acquire wealth and goods? Does it bring us satisfaction to see people following our lead? Maybe, we are driven by a competitive desire to be or do better than others. Are we driven by the desire for pleasure and good feelings? Maybe I nailed your answer and maybe I didn’t. I asked the questions though because of the driving force that Paul offers us in the first reading. He writes, “The love of Christ impels us.” Can we reconcile these words to our lives?
Friday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
Historically, people have often thought that having a disability or an illness meant that you were a sinner, or that some sort of evil had touched you. So, in some ages, the hearing loss I have would have been a sign that both my parents and I were sinful people – they, because they had a disabled child, and me because I couldn’t hear or speak quite normally. Even in today’s world, I think that we sometimes have that kind of attitude. For example, obesity is often seen evidence that a person lacks personal strength to eat the right kinds of foods, perceived as their personal shortcoming. This is the case even though we know there are some other causes for obesity and weight gain, including hormonal imbalances and side effects of certain medications. But beyond that, I know that I sometimes allow my disabilities to be a reason why I “can’t” do something. Disability is limiting and it can be hard to get the nerve (or energy) to do something (for me, that would be public speaking or going to a concert with my husband) because it’s easier not to fight to hear or move or see.
Thursday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
We all know that anger can kill relationships and seriously wound people, including the person holding the anger. It is a human emotion that can be very destructive. In today’s gospel passage (Matthew 5: 20-26), we read that Jesus is instructing his disciples about anger. They know the command/law “you shall not kill” and now Jesus adds to that, “But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment….” He goes deeper into the heart where anger lies. Jesus wants more from his disciples than simply obeying laws and commands. He is challenging us to transform our hearts, our very lives.
Wednesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
In seminary a contrast that often seemed to be drawn was between what the Church law teaches and “the spirit of Vatican II.” It was pointed out that when people did not like the Church teachings from prior to the council, they put in place a new teaching which was attributed to the “spirit of Vatican II.” In some cases this “spirit” was a green light to ideas that went beyond the teachings of the Council. The debates between those in each camp has continued ever since the close of the Council. As we have moved away from the council there has been a greater balance in properly understanding the teachings of Vatican II and implementing the spirit of them. We might describe this as a pendulum that has moved between one and the other.