The Beginning of Advent

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Here is an article I wrote for the cover of this week’s bulletin.

Is It New Year’s Already?

Today we celebrate the beginning of a new year.  If you look at most calendars, you might think I have really lost it.  The calendars that hang on our walls are normally based on the secular calendar where the new year begins on January 1st, which is still 31 days away.

It is not the secular new year I am talking about.  Today begins a new year on our church calendar.  The most important day on our church calendar is Easter.  Christmas is number two.  Jesus’ birth marks a new beginning for God’s people.  Recognizing this new beginning in Christ, this is the time of year our Church chooses to celebrate the new year but not on Christmas. Instead the Church gives us the Season of Advent as a time of reflection on our readiness.

Think of it this way, looking at the secular calendar, we put New Year’s resolutions into effect on January 1st as a day of new beginning but before we come to January 1st we reflect on our lives and what need to improve.  For us as Catholics, Christmas is the time of new beginning but we use Advent as a time of getting ready.  We don’t have to look far to see Christmas decorations already starting to appear but for we need to celebrate Advent first.

We see many different beginnings.  It begins with our conception, followed by our Baptism neither of which is ever repeated.  Other beginnings, like the years that pass repeat.  Jesus offers us a new beginning in the Sacrament of Reconciliation to confess our sins and the slate is wiped cleaned.  This Saturday (December 6th), we will celebrate a Penance Service at one p.m.  Several of our children will be celebrating the Sacrament for the first time but we will have several of our area priests there so that we can offer the Sacrament to all.  If you can’t make it then, we offer the Sacrament each week on Saturday from 2:30 to 4:00 pm.

Maybe it has been some time since you have received the Sacrament and are unsure where to begin.  You can two videos about this Sacrament on my website at http://renewaloffaith.org/ls/reconciliation.htm.  If you need some help in reflecting about sins you can also find an “Examination of Conscience” on my website.

As you prepare for Christmas, don’t forget to spend some time preparing your soul.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

A People of Thanksgiving

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As a nation today we celebrate Thanksgiving Day but we shouldn’t be thankful just one day a year.  Our thanksgiving should be part of the attitude we live our whole life with.  Our presence in the world should reflect an attitude of gratitude.

As we celebrate this holiday, while it is a not feast day in the Catholic Church, the Church does offer readings with this holiday in mind.  Our readings today open with a passage from the Book of Sirach that speaks of giving praise to God.  We can ask ourselves why is it that we come to Mass.  Do we come to get something?  We do receive grace in hearing the Word of God and celebrating the Eucharist but coming together for Mass should find its center in praising God.  We praise God because God has blessed us in the past and because He will continue to bless us in the future.

Today’s Gospel is the story from Luke’s Gospel of the ten lepers who come to Jesus for healing.  Without first healing them, Jesus sends them to the priests.  Their willingness to go shows faith.  The only reason they would go to the priests is to be declared clean after they are healed but they weren’t healed yet.  They did as Jesus said and on the way they were healed.  One, realizing he had been healed glorified God and returned to Jesus to give thanks, recognizing Jesus as the source of his healing.  What happened to the other nine we do not know.  We can only assume they continued on their way to the priests.

Do we give thanks to God?  It’s easy to remember to ask God for help.  Do we remember to say thank you?  What are we thankful for?  For things?  How about spiritual gifts?  In today’s second reading Paul gives thanks to God for the Corinthian people and for the spiritual gifts God has given them.  Are we thankful for other people and for what God has given them?

When we live in recognition of God’s ongoing blessings in our lives, we live with an Attitude of Gratitude that helps us see things in a better way.  Just last March I got a hearing aid.  I could have said I am too young at 44 to need a hearing aid but I didn’t.  I’m just happy to be able to hear better.  I am thankful that God gave others the gift to develop hearing aids.  Could God just have healed my hearing? Yes, but this is the way He was chosen to help me and I am thankful.

What are you thankful for?

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

Christ the King – Homily, Year A

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Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Year A
Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17
1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28
Matthew 25:31-46
November 23, 2014

 

Today is the last Sunday of our liturgical year before we began a new year with Advent next week.  So, today we celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.

We identify Jesus as our king but we don’t call him “King Jesus”.  Our readings for this solemnity don’t use the word “king” much.  The word found more in today’s readings is “shepherd.”

When we use the word “shepherd” today to describe the role of a human person, generally we are referring to, specifically, our bishop, or more generically, our priests as leaders of our parishes.

In the days of Ezekiel, the role of king was often seen as shepherd of the community.  Many kings were failing in this role so God tells the people through the prophet Ezekiel that he himself will shepherd his people.  The “will” stands as a promise of what is to come.

The Lord God tells them what it means for him to shepherd them.  It starts with the basic idea of tending the sheep but the Lord goes forth to speak of rescuing and pasturing his sheep as He seeks out the lost, brings the stray back, and heals the sick.

As with so many prophecies, this prophecy finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus.  Jesus came as our shepherd to rescue us and lead us back to God.

Jesus himself speaks to us today of another role he performs as “king,” the role of judge.  It is for Jesus to separate the good and the bad.

At times we wonder, if Jesus really loves us, why would He really send anyone to Hell?  Can’t he just forgive everyone?

The presumption here would be that Jesus wants to send people to Hell.  He doesn’t.  Jesus wants us to be in Heaven.  That’s why He died for us on the Cross.  If we end up in Hell, it isn’t because Jesus wanted to put us there.  It’s because we live in a way that breaks our relationship with Jesus.  It’s not Jesus’ choice that puts us in Hell.  It’s the choice we make to sin.

Jesus goes out of His way to make Heaven possible for us.  He dies for us.  He teaches us.  Today he tells us about the criteria by which we will be judged so that we can choose what is good.

What is the criteria?  It’s how we treat other people in their own basic needs.  What do we do to help the hungry and thirsty; the stranger, the naked, the ill, and the imprisoned?

Are we even aware of their needs?  Do we make excuses like “if they would just get a job they would be ok?”  Or “they brought it on themselves?”

Some do, some are “victims of circumstances” that are beyond their control.  Some have made bad choices themselves.  Now they repent and want to change but sometimes society doesn’t let them change.  Do you?

How would society stop them from changing?  Think of the “alcoholic”, if they became sober after many years of drinking, would you even realized they changed or would you assume they still drink?

Returning to our theme for this solemnity of Jesus as our king, Jesus does not seek the power or prestige of a wealthy kingdom.  He sets an example of the king as one who serves the needs of His people.  A real king shows love for his people.  A king does this by caring for his people.

Jesus shows His limitless love on the Cross.  Recognizing Jesus as our king, we in turn are called to love God and our neighbor.  This is what Jesus teaches us.  We accept Jesus as our king by following what he teaches us.

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

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33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31
1 Thessalonians 5:1-6
Matthew 25:14-30
November 16, 2014

 

As the man was preparing to go away on a journey, he knew he had to leave someone in charge of his possessions.  He calls forth three of his servants to give them some of his wealth while he is away.  He gives “to each according to his ability” so he must know the servants.  Based on what he knows about them he gives them different amounts.

Then,“After a long time” he returns to settle the account with them.  Two have doubled what he gave them so he says to them “Well done, my good and faithful servant” and gives them more responsibility.

The third did nothing with what he was given.  In fact, he literally buried it in the ground.  He is punished for his failure to do good with what he has been given.

In the beginning, God gave humans dominion over all the earth.  Everything comes from God and belongs to God.  I need to stress God gives us “dominion”, not “ownership.”  What do we do with what God has given us?

Jesus came and taught us the Lord’s ways.  He gives us the gift of life with God.  Do we appreciate what we have been given?

The Holy Spirit gives various gifts and abilities.  Do we recognize the gifts?  Do we use them for ourselves or to help other people?  Do we use them for the building up of God’s Kingdom?

Just as the man returned one day to settle the accounts with his servants, Jesus will return to settle accounts with us for what we have been given.

When?

We don’t know for as Paul says “the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.”

As our church year draws to a close with the approach of Advent, our readings lead us to think about the Second Coming and our readiness.

So we might ask when the Second Coming will happen.  How much time do I have to get ready, can you give me the date and time?

That’s the wrong way of thinking about it.  We need to be ready but ‘being ready’ as Catholics should not be scheduled for a particular day.  If we truly want to follow Jesus we need to live as Jesus taught us every day.  When we do, we will be ready every day.

So ask yourself how well are you using what God has given you?  Do you use what you have solely for yourself or in ways that show your love for God and neighbor?

Sometimes people feel like they are insignificant and don’t offer much to the world.  That would be wrong.  God has given each of us gifts to help make our world better.  I serve God in direct ministry but we all can help make the world better.

Let’s think about some tasks that might be described as insignificant by some.  First, I think of custodial staff that clean building.  Where would we be if they didn’t clean?  Visibly we would have a mess but more importantly, if they don’t clean and do a good job, we end up with more germs and we all get sick.  People who clean are important.

What about people who “dig ditches?”  Without them, we would have no water or sewer.  Won’t that be a mess?

So, as we think about the gifts we have been given, it isn’t just about what we do but the attitude we do it with.

Does the way you use what you have given show an “attitude of gratitude?”

 

 

Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica – Homily

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The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica
Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12
1 Corinthians 3:9c-11, 16-17
John 2:13-22
November 9, 2014

 

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica.  There are not many days that take precedence over the normal Sunday readings.  Last week, All Souls’ Day was one and now this feast today.

Just like last week, this begs the question why is this feast so important.  A lot of people might wonder where the Lateran Basilica is.  Honestly, if I didn’t look it up a few years ago for this feast, I won’t know myself.

If one had to guess, one might guess the Lateran Basilica is in Rome.  After all, there are a lot of churches in Rome.  It is indeed in Rome.  So what makes this church so important?

I think a lot of people, if asked what church in Rome was most important, might say St. Peter’s Basilica.  The Lateran Basilica is actually the highest church in importance as it is the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome and hence, the Pope’s “home church.”

So the Lateran Basilica stands as an image of what it means to be a church.  Physically we can think of the physical building.  A church is not a marketplace or a money exchange.  The church is a place of worship and hence has an altar, a tabernacle, and an ambo, and images of our faith like our stained glass windows and statues.

Our church buildings are very important for our faith but they are not the “be all” of what it means to be a church.

In the first reading Ezekiel is describing the temple he sees.  What we need to understand is that he is not looking at a physical temple.  The temple had been destroyed.  Ezekiel is telling us about a vision God gave him of the temple to be.  Our reading today doesn’t include all the verses.  As the water flows out from the temple, the water spreads and grows.  It is life giving, living waters.

Ezekiel speaks of how wherever this water flows, every sort of creature thrives.  For us the living water comes it in the form of the Holy Spirit.  We also receive it in the sacramental life of the church.

God gives us the sacraments as a gift of experiencing his grace.  The sacraments are not the only way we experience God’s grace but the sacraments are designed to be visible moments of receiving God’s grace, the living water.

The way we most regularly receive the grace of the Sacraments is, of course, in the Eucharist, the Real Presence of Jesus continued in bread and wine.  For us as Catholics, the Communion we receive is not just a reminder of Jesus.  It is Jesus.  This is fundamental to our faith.

Moving beyond the sacraments, as Catholics it is also important to understand that God gives us Truth.  When I say “truth” I mean not just some facts here and there that can be debated.  I mean truth with a capital “T” set by God.  Relativism would say there is no universal “Truth”.  The way we live our lives is just a matter of opinion.  That’s not what our Catholic faith teaches.

As Catholics we should also understand that our faith is not just one part of our life that we experience on Sunday morning.  No, our Catholic faith is fundamental to our individual and communal identities.

Recognizing the Truth God offers us and the need to make our faith part of our identity, should lead us to realize that learning about our faith is not just for children.  We need to keep learning.  That’s why Pat leads the adult faith sessions he does.  That’s why I do the presentations I do like the series starting next month where I will lead into what the Creed what profess means for us.

I see these items as important but it isn’t just me.  Our Parish Pastoral Council has been specifically talking about these very ideas since March.  We were looking for ways to discern how we are doing as a parish.  We, with the grace of the Holy Spirit, developed eight “Guiding Principles.”  The items I’ve mentioned today in talking about what it means to be “church” are all in the Guiding Principles.

To help all of you learn about these “Guiding Principles” you will find an article in our next newsletter that we will be mailing out soon that discusses them.  I invite you to take some extra time to reflect on these principles and how you are doing on them.

As a parish, our Parish Pastoral Council will use the new “Guiding Principles” as a means of evaluating how we are doing.  We are also emailing them to all the committee chairs for the committees to review them and discuss how their ministries fit into these principles.

We are a Church, a church that believes in God’s Truth, the sacraments, especially the Real Presence in the Eucharist, and that we need to share this faith with others.  May God always guide us in living our faith in all we do.

 

 

The Call

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This week we celebrate National Vocations Awareness Week.  Here is something I wrote for our bulletin followed by some links to material I have previously written on my website.

The Call
This week we celebrate National Vocations Awareness Week.  During this week I invite you to think about what sisters, brothers, deacons, or priests have made a difference in your lives.  I also invite you to ask yourself if there is somebody you know that might make a good sister, brother, deacon, or priest.  If there is, tell them.

I stress “tell them” because it might be exactly the nudge they need.  It was for me.  Let me tell you about two consecutive days that were important in my discernment.

I was already having thoughts about becoming a priest but since I had only been back to church a little over a year, I discounted the thoughts. One Sunday, the pastor was away.   The priest filling in was in charge of the seminarians.  I thought about talking to him after Mass but he was busy with others so I left without talking to him.

The next day I went to work.  Upon arriving I found some correspondence on my desk that I read through and then took it to another person.  I said good morning to which that person responded, “Good morning, so what’s this I hear you are leaving to become a priest?” I was dumbfounded and stood there in silence till I finally said, “Who have you been talking to?”  He responded “No one, I just had a dream last night that you were leaving to become a priest.  I don’t normally pay attention to dreams but I think you should think about it.”  I just said “Ok” and went back to my desk.

As the day went on another coworker asked me if we could talk.  This was odd because our desks were next to each other and we frequently talked.  He then said I didn’t need to reply.  He just wanted to say he thought I should think about becoming a priest.  That’s the day I decided I needed to talk to a priest about this.

I’ll never forget these two days. Even now, fifteen years later, I have goosebumps thinking about it.  My point?  If those two people hadn’t said something to be who knows if I would have ever become a priest.  Again, I invite you to ask yourself if there is somebody you know that you think might make a good sister, brother, deacon, or priest.  If there is, tell them.

Now here are the other links:

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

All Souls’ Day – Homily

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All Souls’ Day
Wisdom 3:1-9
Romans 6:3-9
John 6:37-40
November 2, 2014
Yesterday morning we celebrated the Solemnity of All Saints, venerating those who have already passed into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Today we celebrate the Commemoration of the All the Faithful Departed, commonly known as All Souls’ Day.

Why celebrate All Souls’ Day?  What about our Catholic Faith are we recognizing today?

As people of our faith, we seek God and to know God fully in the Kingdom of Heaven.  God invites each and every person to enter into His Kingdom.  This does not mean everyone necessarily gets into Heaven.

Jesus says, “I will not reject anyone who comes to me.”  He also says “that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life.”  It is not enough to just know about Jesus.  We must come to him, we must believe in him.  Coming to Jesus, believing in Jesus, means living in accord with what he has taught us.

Not everyone does.  It takes effort and it takes time.  Paul writes, “For if we have grown into union with him… we shall also be united with him in the resurrection.”

When we do follow Jesus, earthly death is not a final end.  It is not an affliction to be avoided nor is it utter destruction.  When we believe in Jesus, earthly death is a transformative moment leading us to the heavenly kingdom for the souls of the just are in the hand of God.

This is our faith but still why “All Souls’ Day?”

We try to follow Jesus but the unfortunate reality is that we don’t always succeed.  We sin and that divides from God.  We need to be forgiven.  We receive God’s forgiveness in this world through confession and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Our sins are truly forgiven in the sacrament but the reality remains that our sins are part of who we are.  I think that is part of why it can be difficult to feel forgiven, we still remember what we did and how it affected other people.

Sin affects who we are and that needs to be addressed after our earthly death but before we can enter into Heaven.  That’s why we pray for our deceased family and friends.  That’s our theology of offering Mass intentions for the deceased.  While anniversaries and birthdays can be good days to offer Mass intentions, theologically it is not about the anniversary but praying for their time in Purgatory.

Yes, Purgatory still exists.  We don’t talk about it much but we haven’t gotten rid of it.

What is Purgatory?  Everyone who is in Purgatory has already received judgment.  If you make it to Purgatory, you will make it to Heaven but first we need some refinement of the effects of our sins.

Our prayers do not change people’s sins.  Rather, our prayers are to ease time in Purgatory and make it quick.  I say “ease” their time.  Does that mean Purgatory is painful or difficult?  Here let me first say we don’t really know exactly what Purgatory is like.  It is described in the writings of some of the saints as a cleansing fire.

Fire?  Isn’t Hell where we think of fire?  Purgatory and Hell use different images of fire.  In Hell, fire is painful and destructive.  Purgatory is a very different sense of fire, its goal to purge out the bad.

Think of the fire of Hell like a wildfire that is out of control and destroys everything in its path.  Think of the fire of Purgatory as a controlled burn to get rid of the bad undergrowth so the good may thrive.

Purgatory is all about getting rid of what is bad inside us.  God very much wants us to be in Heaven but to be in Heaven we need to be perfect and the reality is that we aren’t perfect.  We know this and God knows this.  That is why God has given us the gift of Purgatory.  Yes, I said gift.  It is a gift because God chooses to give it to us to make it possible for us to be in Heaven and without a doubt Heaven is a gift.

Recognizing the need for Purgatory, today on All Souls’ Day we can pray specifically for our own deceased family and friends but today especially we pray for all the souls in Purgatory, especially those that have no one to pray for them.

 

 

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

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30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
Exodus 22:20-26
1 Thessalonians 1:5c-10
Matthew 22:34-40
October 26, 2014

 

As Christians we generally think in terms of ten commandments.  God first offers these commandments in chapter 20 of the Book of Exodus.  The reality is that God did not stop with ten.  If we read beyond chapter 20 we can find what the Jews count as 613 commandments of which the ten we know are the most important.

Why so many commandments?  Sometimes we might feel like our parents or our bosses have too many rules.  Does God make too many rules?

If we look at the commandments, we should see that these commandments are good for us.  God doesn’t give us commandments for his benefit.  It’s for our own good.

For instance today we hear the instruction not to molest or oppress aliens.  Why?  God reminds they were once aliens in Egypt who resented the way they were treated so they should treat other aliens better.

God tells them not to wrong any widow or orphans.  They are the poor and the vulnerable.  They need help so hence the commandment to lead us to do good.

Hopefully we can see that the commandments lead us to do good.

Paul reminds the Thessalonians how they came to imitate him.  Some say imitation is a form of flattery but here the point is not to imitate Paul to offer him praise.

The reason to imitate Paul is simple.  Paul lives as Christ taught so by imitating Paul they are becoming more like Christ.

So the commandments help us to do what is good and become like Christ.  Still, there are so many.  Where to begin?

In Jesus’ time on Earth it was not an uncommon question to ask which commandment is the greatest.  With 613 commandments, where is one to start?

So a scholar puts the question to Jesus.  We would suppose the greatest would be from among the Ten Commandments but Jesus’ answer is not listed as such in the Ten.  Neither is what Jesus says is the second greatest part of the Ten.  Or are they?

First, they do come from scripture.  The commandment to love God is found in Deuteronomy 6:5 and the commandment to love our neighbor is found in Leviticus 19:18.

Second, these two commandments really summarize the Ten Commandments.  Ask yourself what it means to love God.

The first three of the Ten teach us about loving God; worship no other God, don’t take the Lord’s name in vain, keep the Sabbath.  The other seven teach about loving our neighbor; don’t steal, don’t kill, don’t covet another’s property.

God gives us commandments to guide our actions but if we truly want to be Christian, it is not simply our actions that are important.  Our actions are external and visible to the world but what do we act as we do?  Is it to make others happy?  Is it so we can get into Heaven?  Both of these can be admirable goals but should not be the internal reason for our actions.

What should motivate us on the inside?

It’s simple – love!

Well, it sounds simple but is it really that simple to love?  Honestly, people do things that hurt us.  The hurt makes it difficult to love.

And how are we to love someone we have never met?  How do we love everyone?

What first comes to mind when you hear the word “love”?  I suspect for many the first thing that comes to mind is the love for our spouse.  The rite of marriage speaks of the love of a couple for each other as a sign of God’s love for us.  A man and woman express their love for each other in a very particular way.

Certainly we do not love a stranger like one would love a spouse.

What about family?  We don’t get to pick our family but don’t we think about family differently than a stranger?

What about friends?  What does it mean to call someone our “friend”?  Here is a place we have really slipped.  A friend is not defined by who likes you on Facebook.  You can’t have several hundred friends.  Friends are people we confide in because they care about us.

Care….

We care about people we love.  God cares about us and we should care about God.  It comes in different ways but we can care about everyone.

Jesus tells us the greatest commandment is love God with all our heart, soul, and mind.  If we are to do this, it means making love part of everything we do.  That means loving all we encounter.

Love comes in different forms but when we love we find what we are created for.

 

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

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29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
Isaiah 45:1, 4-6
1 Thessalonians 1:1-5b
Matthew 22:15-21
October 19, 2014

 

Once again some of the Pharisees try to entrap Jesus.  This time come to him acting like they believe him, praising him as a truthful man who follows God’s way rather than human opinion.

They say this not because they believe it but only to trap him.  It’s a shame that they don’t realize the truth in their words.  Probably most of us have encountered someone who will say whatever they think we want to hear, just to get something for themselves.

Of course Jesus is not readily trapped.  He knows what they are up to.  Rather than retaliating against them or condemning them, Jesus, as he does often, turns their question into a teaching moment.

What is their question?  “Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?” They are sure they have him trapped with this one.  If he says no, the Roman supporters will come after him.  If he says yes, the nationalistic Jews will strike against him.

Jesus is no idiot.  His response is simple as he asks to see the coin.  They immediately show him one (indicating they use the Roman coins and thus probably pay the tax) and he asks whose image is on it.  Of course, it is Caesar’s and show Jesus tells them, “Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”

This might seem like a clear separation of church and state.  Jesus never says that.  The secular government has no right to tell the church what to do and the church does not dictate what the government does but we must always put God first and stand up what we believe.

We must pray for our government leaders.  We have an election coming up so we must pray for ourselves as we select candidates.  God can work through them.  We see this is the words the Lord offers through the prophet Isaiah.  Cyrus is a pagan king and founder of the Persian Empire.  As he comes to power the Israelites are under Babylonian rule.  Many of them are in Exile.  Expanding his empire, Cyrus defeats the Babylonians and allows the Israelites to return home.

Human thought would Cyrus the credit for the building of the Persian Empire and defeat of the Babylonians goes to Cyrus’ ability as a great king.  Cyrus himself might give some of the credit to the false god Marduk whom he worships.

Speaking as a prophet of the one true God, Isaiah tells us that the reason for Cyrus’ success is simple.  It’s not because of his own greatness or any false god.  Rather, even though Cyrus is a pagan, it is God who has given him these victories.

Why? “For the sake of Jacob my servant”.  God has not taken away Cyrus’ free will.  Cyrus remains free to do as he wishes yet he chooses to be open to doing what is right.

God can and does the same thing today.  Sometimes we have our doubts about our world and government leaders. There are people leading countries with motives of greed and power.  In our own country, we see government leaders who do not share our values.

What are we to do?

We pray and we stand up for what we believe in, for what God tells us is right.

How are we to endure?

With faith, love and hope.  Through the gift of faith given to us by God, knowing the love Jesus reveals to us on the Cross, and the hope we have because of that love, we endure.  We can face struggles.  We might feel like we face an impossible situation.  Under Babylonian rule, the Israelites wondered if there was any hope of freedom. Through faith they kept hope.

May we always endure through prayer our sufferings to live in the faith, hope, and love that is God’s gift to us.

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

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28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
Isaiah 25:6-10a
Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20
Matthew 22:1-14
October 12, 2014

 

Isaiah speaks of how God will provide “a feast of rich food and choice wines.”  This feast comes at the end of the ages and is celebrated as the great banquet in Heaven.

But first the Lord has work to do, to destroy the veil that veils all people, death.  The people in those days say death as a final end and that shaped the way they viewed the world.  As Lord, Jesus comes and shows us that earthly deathly is not the end.  He shows us eternal life and so lifts the veil of death.  Knowing there is something more after life as we know it ends in this world, changes the way we look at life.

Jesus speaks of a great wedding banquet.  The king’s son is getting married and the king is throwing a huge banquet.  Everyone has known this day was coming but now that it has arrived they are refusing the invitation.  The king repeats the invitation.  Still some ignore the invitation but others mistreat and even kill the servants who bring the invitation.  So the king invites strangers off the street.  One does not come dressed appropriately.  We might wonder how the king can expect the guest to come dressed appropriately.  The guest didn’t know he was going to be invited and had no time to prepare.

Of course, in telling this parable, Jesus is really speaking about being part of God’s kingdom.  Ever since the death of King David, the Israelites had been waiting for a new messiah king, a son of the line of David.

Jesus is the messiah that they have been waiting for.  What is the response of the Israelites?  Some ignore him, some mistreat him, and some kill him.  They have been waiting for centuries and that Jesus has finally come, they’re not interested.

It’s their choice.  With their refusal the invitation to be part of God’s heavenly banquet will be offered to the Gentiles, people who did not believe in the one true God.

Since it is a last minute invitation, one might see it as a come as you are party.  It isn’t.  We have to come dressed appropriately.  It seems today like a lot of people today just figure if they know about Jesus and God, they will get into Heaven.  Knowing about Jesus isn’t enough.

In John 14:1-6, which is probably the most often used gospel at funerals, Jesus tells us that he goes to prepare a place in his Father’s house.  Jesus says the only way in is to believe in him.

We just have to truly believe in Jesus.  It’s not enough to say we believe.  We need to live it.  We must prepare accordingly.

This still leaves us with the question about the man who did not come dressed appropriately.  There may be people who really don’t know about Jesus and they will be judged according.  They may not have known about Jesus but they still could choose to be good and caring people.

Of course, we are not perfect.  That’s why Jesus gives us the Sacrament of Reconciliation so we can confess our sins, repent, and be clothed in grace so that we can enter Heaven.

There are people who choose to live in ways that do not follow God’s ways.  This is their choice.

Jesus offers the gift of salvation to all.  Not everyone accepts the gift.  You know before we updated the translations for Mass, at the words of consecration of the wine into blood, the priest used to say that Jesus died for all.  Now we say “for many.”

This troubles some people but it reflects reality, not that salvation isn’t offered to everyone.  Jesus offers the invitation to the heavenly banquet to each and every person but not all accept it.  Many do but not all.

Salvation is a gift offered to all.  Some take it lightly, some take it very seriously.  We need to take it seriously.  This is eternity and the heavenly banquet that we are talking about here.

Today we celebrate the Eucharist as our earthly participation in the heavenly banquet.  We need to take it seriously.  What we receive at Communion is not just bread and wine.  It is the Body and Blood of Jesus.

How much do we take it for granted?

How much do we think about what it is we are receiving?

When we come forth to receive Communion we are saying that we believe it is the Body and Blood of Jesus that we are receiving.  We are saying we believe that Jesus is the Way and the Truth, and the Life.

We are saying we believe but do we act like we believe?