Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
The last time these reading were read in church, my third practical implication generated a lot of good conversation. So I want to begin my homily with some of these questions that I raised then. If you had the opportunity to decide what heaven would be like, what would you do? Who will make it into your heaven? Would only Catholics make it to your heaven? If you have a child or a brother or a sister or parents who is not Catholic would they make it? Would a just and upright Hindu, Buddhist, Jew or Muslim make it? Will an addict Catholic make it? Will a Catholic murderer who has since repented and is on death row make it? Will a Catholic illegal immigrant working hard to pay for his mother’s cancer treatment back at home make it? Will your pet make it? Will your pet make it over non-believer?
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
One of the greatest stories of martyrdom in the early church is the story of St. Perpetua. She was merely 22 years old when she became a Christian. Consequently, she was incarcerated for her faith and put into prison along with her nursing baby. While in prison, she got the chance to write her testimony. In it she talks about her father’s visit to the prison. For his sake and for the sake of the baby he pleaded with her to renounce Christ. She writes, “…my father liked to vex me with his words and continually strove to hurt my faith because of his love: Father, said I, Do you see (for example) this vessel lying, a pitcher or whatsoever it may be? And he said, I see it. And I said to him, Can it be called by any other name than that which it is? And he answered, No. So can I call myself nought other than that which I am, a Christian.” On March 7, 203, Perpetua was attained martyrdom when she was thrown to the beasts and killed.
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Most of you know about my trip home last month to take care of my father. You also know that the doctors advised him against any intervention because his heart was too diseased. Being so far away from home makes it a little difficult for both my parents and I. When I returned from India, I made it a point to make a conscious surrender of this situation to God. But I underestimated my anxiety and the other night it played out in a dream. I dreamt that my mother and I were at the hospital and on the way to the doctor’s chamber my dad collapsed and died. I woke up with tears rolling down my cheeks and thanked God that this was just a nightmare. So I sat down again, and made another conscious surrender of the situation to God. I know that God has it all worked out but sometimes as a human person I struggle to live life from God’s perspective.
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
New research suggests that “evolution does not favor selfish people.” It is hard to believe that scholars do research about these things but yesterday, BBC reported in its headline news that “selfish traits were not favored by evolution.” This challenges a previous theory which suggested it was preferable to put yourself first for survival. This earlier research used a model of the prisoner's dilemma game. Two suspects who are interrogated in separate prison cells have to decide whether or not to inform on each other. Each prisoner was offered a deal for freedom if they inform on the other (defection), putting their opponent in jail for six months. If they kept silent (cooperation), they would both get a prison sentence of three months. Obviously, putting themselves first, they informed on each other. But the new research says that what was missing in the old research was communication between the two prisoners. On the contrary, when prisoners talked to each other, the new research suggests, the prisoners did not tell on each other but rather both agree to take on the punishment and remain silent. Research suggests that this behavior of cooperation is typical in the rest of nature (not with regard to the prison situation but that species cooperate even if it means taking a less desirable position). Researchers say that evolution works in favor on cooperation because otherwise nature would head into extinction.
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
I am certain you have heard about the child who when she first prayed the “Our Father,” said “Our Father who art in heaven, how do you know my name?” Or, the child who prayed, “Our Father in heaven, ‘Howard’ be thy name!” Or, the child that said, “Lead us not into ‘Penn Station.’” Or even the woman who cried out, “Deliver us from e-mail.”
But humor aside, on Thursday I was with two year old Reagan who has been diagnosed with a malignant tumor in her brain. Her parents, her family, friends and I gathered around her to pray for her healing. Like Abraham in today’s first reading, we put everything we had into our prayer. There was not one tearless prayer that we offered.
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Last week I was invited to Notre Dame University and then again to the University of Dayton to talk to educators, school superintends and administrators about diversity. One of my starting points was the post 9/11 America. That tragedy has forever changed us. A nation, in which most of us in one way or another are immigrants, was compelled to become suspicious and fearful of those who are unlike us. To add to this, the economic crisis also made us look at immigration as a problem. We want skilled and cheap labor but we do not know what to do with the people who make that labor force. We want cheap commodities but do not what to do with China or India or The Philippines. In other words, because of these crises, diversity is not seen by everyone as a value. And then the many school shootings and the killing of Trayvon Martin makes us suspicious of our own people. Race, culture, economics have become very complicated realities for us. Many people are becoming uncomfortable and even afraid of diversity.
Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Last week the George Zimmerman trial reached its climax. This morning I saw on the news that George Zimmerman was acquitted of the killing of Trayvon Martin. The case is closed and George Zimmerman is a free man. However, there is hardly a sense of triumph in the media or anywhere for that matter. The reason perhaps is obvious. A life has been lost. Trayvon Martin is dead. Death in any circumstance is a tragedy. And Trayvon Martin is not alone. Each day thousands of men, woman and children become victims of violence and war. And then we come to church and hear the parable of the Good Samaritan. There is almost a sense of relief in the way the story ends. Goodness wins!
Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
I was watching news about the recovery in the housing sector yesterday. And a phrase that I love kept being repeated again and again. They said, the mortgage rates will rise and if you are thinking about buying or refinancing its time to stop “sitting on the fence.”
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time
I have an invitation to speak this summer at the national conference of the National Catholic Education Association. The topic that was given to me was: New Evangelization and Adolescents. I am guessing that they want me to talk about making the ‘good news’ of Jesus relevant to high school adolescents. As I prepare for this talk the theme that is emerging is that there is difference between ‘religion for religion’s sake’ and ‘discipleship.’ There is a difference between ‘teaching religion’ to our youth and somehow ‘allowing Jesus to capture the imagination of our young people.’
Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today’s readings have two very poignant stories to reflect upon. Who does not know the story of David’s lust for Bathsheba, his conceited strategy to possess her, the prophet Nathan’s prophecy to convict him of his crime and David’s repentance? It is a classical biblical story of sin and reconciliation. And then we have the famed story of the woman at the feet of Jesus. The setting for this story is very important. The setting is the house of a Pharisee who has his own sense of sin and righteousness. Jesus overturns his ideas of sin and reconciliation. We have, then, two biblical classics to reflect upon.
Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today’s readings tell some rather unbelievable stories – unbelievable not because God cannot accomplish great things but because stories such as the ones we have today is not a part of our normal experience. Both in the first reading and the gospel reading are two stunningly similar stories of young men being raised to life. How often have we seen that? This is hard to believe.
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
As we celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi the meaning of this feast most probably is a no-brainer for us. As believers we have the Eucharist at the very core of our Catholic life. We strongly believe that Christ intended that we have his real presence in bread and wine; that for this reason at the Last Supper Jess took the bread and wine and gave it to his disciples and said that it was his body and blood; and that by doing this in memory of Jesus, he becomes present to us in a real and concrete way. But what we consider undoubtedly to be integral part of our faith has also always been the topic of intense controversy. As early as Paul’s times (today’s second reading), there were misconceptions about the Eucharist. A few decades later John in his gospel would dedicate an entire chapter (Chapter 6: bread of life discourse) to remove doubts about the real presence of Christ in bread and wine.
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
When one sees devastation like we have seen in Moore, Oklahoma, it can be very difficult to sit before God without feeling frustrated and terribly sad. It is often very hard to reconcile the greatness of God with the utter misery and pain caused by natural disasters. “Why could God not have stopped such destruction?” that is often our question. Sometimes it is not uncommon for people to get angry with God. In our minds, only God is more powerful than the power of nature. It does not make sense that a compassionate, loving and good God does not positively intervene to stop utter devastation.
Pentecost Sunday
On this the Feast of Pentecost, if there is a fact that today’s readings are suggesting, it is this: that Christianity is dependent upon the presence of the Holy Spirit. In today’s second reading from the letter to the Corinthians Paul says, “No one can say, “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit.” (1 Cor 12:3b). In today’s gospel passage, Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit on the apostles and gives them the authority both to forgive or retain sins. (Jn 20:20). In other words, forgiveness of sin is impossible without the power of the Holy Spirit. There are other instances of absolute reliance on the Holy Spirit for Christian living. In Romans 8:26 Paul would say, “…for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings.” Paul is suggesting that the very desire to pray is itself a work of the Holy Spirit. It is possible, then, that the our desire to be in church for worship today is the work of the Holy Spirit. In the New Testament the very first stirrings of what would finally become Christianity, originated with the power of the Spirit in the womb of a virgin. We can compile a long list of other instances in the Bible where the role of the Holy Spirit is crucial to a life of faith.
Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord
(Fr. Satish is on visiting home in India. This homily was preached three years ago on the Feast of the Ascension)On some tired nights I go to Caribou Cafe and sip a latte. Of late, I have noticed that the glass windows at caribou Cafe have writings on them. The company has discovered a neat way to advertise – it has put rather noble sayings along with statements that promote their products on these glass windows. Last week, I picked up this paper napkin. It says, ‘Life is too short: for grudges, fake anything, putting profits before people, over-roasted coffee, waiting for a change to happen, crabby people and wifi you have to pay for!’ On the walls there are other suggestions – ‘Adopt an animal; donate blood’. This is a very clever advertising strategy. If a company puts moral statements along with its advertising, people are inclined to have a positive image of the company. But I think that something even deeper is happening on these glass windows and napkins. Either intentionally or unintentionally, the company is also proposing a particular world-view. It is a world without grudges, dishonesty, and unethical business; it is a world where people are good to animals and stay away from bad people. There is only one problem with this world view as I see it – you don’t need God in this world view. Spirituality, in this world-view, has nothing to do with the divine. Rather, God who created the world, has no place in the Caribou world. In fact, there is whole generation of people out there – people disenchanted with the church, those that dislike religious restrictions, young people disillusioned with the establishment – who find this world-view very attractive and liberating.
Sixth Sunday of Easter
Just before Easter we saw the election of a new Pope. I watched it with much interest and nervousness. The election was not simply about who would be the next Pope. It was also about how the cardinals think as the successors of the apostles. It was also about the future direction the church would take. And then, lo and behold, for the first time in the history of the Papacy came a pope from Latin America. He took the name Francis and his first messages seem to indicate a commitment for the poor and a desire for internal reform of the church. Benedict XVI, we know from his writings, was clearly enamored with the person of Christ. He expressed it in a stunningly intellectual manner. Francis’ emphasis is clearly more pastoral. Pope Francis created a flutter when on Holy Thursday he celebrated mass in a juvenile facility and washed the feet of the inmates two of whom were woman and non-Catholic. The entire Catholic and secular world was stunned. What should the world make of his very public action? I begin the homily by talking about the papal elections because today’s readings talk about the early church, apostolic succession and the advocate, the Holy Spirit who helps the church.
Fifth Sunday of Easter
In my homily last week I offered a reflection on the death and devastation at the Boston Marathon. In one of the points in my homily I said, “… that we respond to this gruesome event in the way Christ teaches us to. It means that I do not allow my anger to turn into hate. It means that my desire for justice does not turn into revenge. It means that we do not find relief in triumphalism but rather administer justice with humility. It means that I do not become prejudiced, bigoted and xenophobic. It means that I still believe in love.” However, in the past week the media also exposed us to those who were injured in the terrorist attacks. The stories of those who lost their limbs in amputations are truly gut-wrenching. Among them is 32 year old dancer Adrianne Haslet. Her left foot and part of the leg had to be amputated. She is not letting this hold her back. She is soon to make an appearance on Dancing With The Stars. I tried to imagine what it would mean for me to lose a limb. And then I began to feel the struggle inside me. Yes, I still believe in what I preached last week, but I am also struggling to remain positive, to still believe in love, to refrain from resentment and destructive emotions.
Fourth Sunday of Easter
The events related to the gruesome bomb blasts at the Boston Marathon have just wound up. But the horror, the painful memories and the grief of those that were killed and injured will remain etched in the minds of the people of this nation for a very long time. No motive can justify the killing and harming of innocent people. To know that one of the three people killed in the bomb blasts was eight year old Martin Richard, and then to see him with a poster that said ‘No more hurting people. Peace,” is truly heart wrenching. Little Martin had come to see his mother finish the marathon. There is no appropriate way to describe the tragedy of this event. Over the past few months our nation has seen more blood, more sadness and more tears than we ever want to see.
Third Sunday of Easter
Here is to all you Justin Bieber fans. The last I checked, he has more than 51 million likes on his facebook page and close to a million friends as well. How it is possible to have some many ‘likes’ and ‘friends’ on Facebook? Well we now know that there are companies, who for about five dollars, can find you hundreds of Facebook friends. And Justin Bieber has done just that. I cannot wrap my mind around why someone so talented and popular would do that… but I guess these days you are not known by the kind of friends you have but how many friends you have. And thanks to social media we can have as many friends as we want.
Second Sunday of Easter
Think about this for a moment. Just before Jesus finally breathed his last what if his nails came loose, his wounds were healed and a triumphant Jesus stood in the midst of all his oppressors and crucifiers? God could still claim that Christ endured suffering for us up until the very end and Christ’s suffering could have still atonement for sin. Or, what if Christ, after his resurrection, first appeared to Pilate, then to Herod, then to the chief priests and the elders and then to all the Roman soldiers? I think that world history would have been written very differently if that were the case. Why did Jesus only appear to his disciples and few friends after his resurrection?