15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

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15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
Isaiah 55:10-11
Psalm 65:10, 11, 12-13, 14 (Luke 8:8)
Romans 8:18-23
Matthew 13:1-23

July 16, 2023

The crowds that came to Jesus were large.  They all had heard something about Jesus that drew them there.  Perhaps they heard of miracles He had done.  Others may have about his teaching.  They came because they were curious but were they serious about their faith?

Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables.  His disciples asked why.  He answers by quoting scripture, “they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.”  Those who are serious about what Jesus says will come to understand.  He will explain the parables to them.

Jesus explains the Parable of the Sower by comparing the seed & soil to our response to God’s Word.  Isaiah tells us that God’s Word is sent with a purpose, “Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do no return there till they have watered the earth, making them fertile and fruitful…so shall my word be…my word shall not return to me void…achieving the end for which I sent it.” 

God gives us his Word.  He plants his Word within us so that we might be transformed by it.  Do we allow ourselves to be transformed?  Or do we make ourselves like the path where the seed is thrown but cannot grow because the path is too hard?  Have we hardened our hearts such that we do not truly hear God’s Word?

Maybe we are like the rocky ground where the seed begins to grow but it doesn’t last because we don’t allow it to grow deep roots in us.  Here, our faith is just superficial.

Maybe we have a genuine desire to grow in faith but we allow the thorns of worldly things to take priority in our lives and our faith is choked off.  For instance, how important is coming to Sunday Mass to you?  Do you come every week?

Or are we like the rich soil, bearing fruit “a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.”

We often use this parable to reflect on how we are doing individually in living our faith.  Today I would like to take an opportunity to think about how we are doing as a community of faith.

If we look at how many people come to church, St. Mary’s is around 70% of the attendance before COVID.  St. Benedict’s is around 80%.  We blame COVID but it’s no secret that attendance has been declining for a long time.  Likewise, collections are down and we struggle to have enough volunteers.

It would seem that people have not allowed faith to form deep roots in them and/or their faith has been choked off by the thorns of the world.

Do not give up!  There is hope!  First, while collections are down, they are not down as much as attendance.  St. Mary’s collections are 83% of what they were before COVID while St. Benedict’s collections are actually up a little.  There might be fewer people coming but those who do come care.

While our two biggest donors to our diocesan CMA moved away, others have stepped up and we continue to meet our goals.  People do care.

Our Community Table has returned and the number of people coming to receive a meal has been increasing through the spring.  The faith of volunteers and supporters is bearing fruit.

In looking at how our parishes lead to our parishioners bearing fruit, it is not just within our parishes.  I think about our parishioners who volunteer for Habitat for Humanity to help provide a home for people.  This pleases God.  I also think about our parishioners who volunteer with Catholic Charities Mobile Food Truck.  They have responded to God’s Word and answer the call to love thy neighbor.

How does your faith shape your life? 

Are you a health care worker, motivated by faith to care for others?

Are you a police officer or firefighter, motivated by faith to protect other?

Are you a teacher, motivated by faith, to help the students become good people?

Whatever you do, how does your faith shape what you do?

I believe the faith of our parishioners is bearing fruit but it could do more.  What will it take to bear more fruit?

It starts with hearing God’s Word.  You hear God’s Word proclaimed in the readings at Mass but are you paying attention as the words are read?  Do you pay attention to what is said in the homily or do you tune out the preacher, assuming he is just saying the same old thing?

Do you make any effort to deepen your faith?  If you do pay attention to the readings and the homily, do you allow yourself to be changed by them?  Do you make any effort beyond Mass to read and understand the Bible?  Do you take advantage of other opportunities to learn about our faith?

If we want to bear fruit a hundred-fold, we need rich soil to root ourselves in.  It starts in God’s Word.  There is more.  Rich soil has good nutrients in it.  Where else can we go for food for our soul?

The Bread of Life is food for our souls.  It is the Eucharist.  It is Jesus that we receive.  Our reception of the Eucharist will bear incredible fruit if we understand what we are receiving.  If we think it is just a piece of bread we receive, it will not change us.  If we know in faith that it is Jesus we receive, we will become what we receive.

Then, we will live out our faith.  We will bear more fruit.  Our witness will draw others to the faith and we will have more people join us and they too will bear good fruit.

Limbo and the Baptism of Children

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Recently I wrote an article, “When to Call the Priest,” to help people understand the change of understanding from Extreme Unction/Last Rites to the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. Today I would like to offer some thoughts on the Baptism of children and the question of limbo.

For centuries, unfortunately, the common understanding was that babies who died without being baptized spent eternity in limbo. Limbo was not Heaven but neither was it the pains of Hell.

In 2005-2006, the Internal Theological Commission researched the church’s understanding of limbo (see “The Hope of Salvation for Infants Who Die Without Being Baptised”. My reflection today will center on the introduction of this Vatican document. You can read the document yourself for a more detailed and complete understand). Their work was approved by the Holy Father in 2007. Their work did not change church teaching. Their conclusion was that it was never official church teaching that unbaptized babies who died spent eternity in limbo. It was a common understanding but not official church teaching.

Does this mean that Baptism is not necessary? No, rather as the Catechism of the Catholic Church, written in 1992 before this document from the International Theological Commission says in paragraph 1261, we entrust infants who die without Baptism to the mercy of God.

If there is no such thing as limbo and we can entrust infants who die without baptism to the mercy of God, one might find the baptism of children unnecessary. This would fit with those who say they want their children to be able to decide for themselves what they believe. While we can absolute faith in the mercy of God, we should not take it for granted.

There is distinction between an infant who dies at birth without the parents, who eagerly anticipated having their infant baptized, but did not have any opportunity to have their new child baptized and a infant who dies when there was an opportunity for the parents to have their infant baptized but don’t because they are atheists. In the former, I have absolutely no doubt that God will welcome that infant into Heaven. The parents had no opportunity but that lack of opportunity cannot stand in the way of God’s mercy. In the latter case, the parents made a choice. When we make a choice, there can be consequences to our choice. Does this mean that the second infant will not be welcomed into the Heaven? I leave that to the mercy of God. The parents may have chosen to be atheists but only God knows what was in that child’s heart. (See paragraph 28 of “The Hope of Salvation for Infants Who Die Without Being Baptised”)

When the child is older and has the opportunity to learn about God, their choices will effect where they will spend eternity. Until then, the mercy of God should not be doubted. A grandparent who laments that their young grandchild has not been baptized should and can trust in the mercy of God. The grandparent can pray for their grandchild, trusting in the mercy of God, while trying to be a good Christian witness to their grandchild.

Does this mean that Baptism is unnecessary?

No! As paragraph 1257 of the Catechism says, Jesus himself tells us to baptize all nations (see Matthew 28:19-20). Baptism is the gateway to the Sacraments. Baptism offers us the beginnings of grace. Once we have received Baptism, we can receive the other Sacraments. Each Sacrament is a reception of grace and an encounter with the Lord.

Thus, Baptism is not a token ceremony. In Baptism we are marked with an indelible mark as a child of God. The stain of original sin is removed. Yes, the Church still believes in original sin. In Baptism, we receive the Holy Spirit.

This gift of the Holy Spirit is no small matter. Evil is real. We need the Holy Spirit and God’s grace offered in the Sacraments if we are to enter Heaven. Baptism does not make Heaven a guarantee.

If a child is baptized and dies before reaching the age of reason, there can be no doubt of their salvation. Once we reach the age of reason, we become culpable for our actions. We should never take the mercy of God for granted. If we freely choose to live contrary to God’s way, we face Hell as the consequences of our actions. We must always strive to follow Jesus.

Will we?

At times we are weak and fail in the battle against temptation. Do not fear! God offers us forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. How many times can we be forgiven? As many times as we truly repent (see Matthew 18:21-22).

God wants each and every one of us to be in Heaven. As we read in John 3:16-17, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.“

However, God lets us make a choice. We can choose to follow him or not. Do not take this lightly! The battle against evil is real. Fr. Dwight Longenecker writes on this battle in his book, Immortal Combat: Confronting the Heart of Darkness (Manchester, NH: Sophia Institute Press. 2020). I encourage you to read the book for yourself. Until then, here are three articles I wrote after I read the book myself.

  1. “Does Evil Exist?”
  2. “The People of the Life”
  3. “Our Weapons Against Evil”

Do not be troubled. Jesus prepares a place in his Father’s House for us (John 14:1-2). Jesus makes salvation possible for all who believe in him as the way and the truth and the life (John 14:6).

If you have ever lost an unbaptized child to death, do not worry. God eagerly welcomed that child into his kingdom. As to your own salvation, if you have sinned, you too can be assured of a place in Heaven if you repent and confess your sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

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In the time of our first reading today the Israelites were under foreign rule. Israel had been a great nation but had been defeated by their enemies. They were saddened in this situation. Through the prophet Zechariah the Lord tells them, “Rejoice heartily…shout for joy.” What reason do they have to rejoice? Why should they “shout for joy“?

Because the Lord is promising them a new king who will come to them. He won’t be proud or arrogant. He will be meek. He won’t arrive on a warrior’s horse. He will arrive “riding on an ass.” He will “proclaim peace to the nations.” His kingdom will reach “to the ends of the earth.“

What saddens you? What labors and burdens do you face?

Knowing our labors and burdens, Jesus says to each of us, “Come to me.” Do we recognize the profound meaning of this? This is not a simple offer of earthly help. Jesus is inviting us to a deep relationship with him.

Do you come to Jesus with an open heart? “The wise and the learned” do not because they think they know everything. God reveals himself to us when we become like the little ones and open our hearts to him.

We can choose to live in the flesh or the Spirit. If we choose to live in the flesh, meaning we focus on earthly things, then we will face our labors and burdens without help from God. If we choose to live in the Spirit, we hand our labors and burdens over to God. Then Jesus will give us rest. If we choose to live in the flesh, we will die in the flesh. If we choose to live in the Spirit, we will find rest in eternal life.

To help us Jesus places a yoke on us.

What? A yoke? Isn’t that what is used on farm animals to pull the plow? How does that give us rest?

Yes, a yoke is placed on the animals to pull the plow. Do you realize that a yoke actually makes it easier for the animal to do its work? When two or more animals are in the yoke together, it makes it easier for them to work together.

So, what is the yoke that the Lord places on us? It is the commandments and all that Jesus teaches us. How does this help us? Doesn’t this just add to our burden? It’s hard to keep the commandments.

We seek Jesus as the way and the truth and the life. The commandments are tools to help us in this. The commandments guide in how to live. Keeping the commandments makes for a good society. We cut ourselves off from the life that Jesus offers us if we kill, steal, or give into physical sexual desires.

Jesus says, “No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.“

Many people saw Jesus only as another prophet. Some came to know him as the Messiah. The Father knew who Jesus truly is, the Son of God. The people would come to know Jesus as the Son of God only in his Crucifixion and Resurrection.

Jesus knows the Father because He has seen the Father in Heaven. Jesus chooses to reveal the Father to us. When we accept the yoke that the Lord has given us, in God’s grace, we come to know the life that Jesus offers.

Only then do we say from the depths of our hearts, “I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.“

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

Two Good Decisions

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Last week the United States Supreme Court issued decisions on two cases involving religious freedom. The first case was 303 Creative vs. Elenis (see Kevin J. Jones, “Supreme Court sides with web designer opposed to same-sex marriage” Catholic News Agency. June 30, 2023 online at https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254692/supreme-court-state-laws-can-can-t).

In this case, Lorie, Smith, a web designer had filed suit to ensure that she was not be forced to design websites for weddings of same-sex couples. She was not acting out of hate towards same-sex couples. In fact, “Smith told CNA in December 2022: “I serve everyone, including those who identify as LGBT. I love to custom create and will work with anyone — there are simply some messages I can’t create regardless of who asks me.” She said her case is about freedom of speech for all artists” (Jones, “Supreme Court sides”). She filed this suit because designing websites celebrating same-sex marriages would violate her religious beliefs. The word “celebrating” is key here. In other projects, the work she did with the LGBT customers was unrelated to LGBT or faith issues. However, creating websites for their marriages would strike at a core issue of her faith.

Thus, the issue in this case was religious freedom, not the legality of the same-sex marriages (that was decided several years ago by the Supreme Court). I am grateful to see a Supreme Court decision that recognizes the religious freedom of those who hold to traditional values.

Today is July 4th when we celebrate our nation’s independence. Freedom is an important concept in our country. Freedom must be a right for all, not just those who agree with the “popular side.” The right for a same-sex couple to have a website for their wedding was not infringed upon in anyway in this court decision. They can have someone else design the website. This case just said the plaintiff could not be forced to create the website against her own beliefs.

Smith did not call for hate. Our Catholic faith says we must not inflict violence on others because we disagree with them. That would be a sin. Smith simply wants to be able to openly live what she believes.

For those who might be confused by Smith’s willingness to work with LGBT customers on some projects but not for their weddings, perhaps the following distinctions will help. Say a person owns a restaurant. Anyone is welcome to come in as a paying customer and enjoy a good meal. It does not matter if they are a same-sex couple or a heterosexual couple or just good friends. The point is to provide a meal, not provide any position. However, if a place hosted a dinner event organized by others promoting one side of any particular issue, people would probably assume the host supported the issue. Thus, the host should not be forced to host the event. This is not hate speech. In this case, Smith did not call from hatred towards same-sex couples. She simply doesn’t want to be forced to promote their belief in same-sex marriage.

As to forcing her to create the websites, think of it this way. If a person wants to build a house they designed, they would probably hire a contractor to do the work. Say they design a non-traditional house. They may contact a contractor whose passion is for tradition. The contractor declines the work because it is not of interest to him. Does anyone think the contractor should be forced to build that home? I would suggest the contractor would not be a good choice if the house has elements unfamiliar to them. Turning back to the same-sex marriage websites, why would a same-sex couple want someone who disagrees with their lifestyle to design a website celebrating their lifestyle? Why would they expect her to do a good job? What she does is art. The artist must believe in their work to produce good art.

The second United States Supreme Court decision this past week that I would like to write about is Groft v. DeJoy issued on Thursday (Peter Pinedo, “U.S. bishops praise Supreme Court’s unanimous Groff v. DeJoy religious freedom decision.” Catholic News Agency. June 29, 2023. Available online at https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254707/us-bishops-praise-supreme-court-unanimous-groff-v-dejoy-religious-freedom-decision).

In this case, a part-time postal worker, Gerald Groff had been forced to work on Sunday against his religious beliefs. This decision by the Supreme Court did not say that an employer can never force an employee to work on their sabbath. What it did do is raise the bar for when they can force them to work. I think this is especially important for a job at a post office. Post offices in the United States are not open on Sunday. So, in taking a job there, Groff had reason to believe he would not be forced to work on a Sunday. If he were to take a job at a retail store that is open on Sunday, he might reasonably expect to have to work some Sundays but not at a post office. The Supreme Court decision says that the post office did not have sufficient reason to force the employee to work. I will add my own comment here. A hospital needs people to work on a Sunday for the good of the patients. The post office does not. Delivery companies do not traditionally work on Sunday. I don’t see a need to change that.

Here, I encourage you to think about how what you do on a Sunday might result in someone else not being able to attend church. For example, after attending Mass on Sunday, you go to buy your groceries. That means someone has to be working. In today’s age when most people do not go to church, there are probably plenty of store employees willing to work on Sunday but what if someone who does want to go to church is forced to work? Do you need to do your shopping on Sunday morning? I don’t have a definitive answer to this situation. I’ve already mentioned that many people don’t go to church anyway (we pray for them). There are also people of religions that celebrate their Sabbath on a day other than Sunday. Should they be forced to work on their Sabbath? It is not an easy topic. I offer it as something for you to think about.

As I conclude, I am grateful to see two Supreme Court decisions that support the religious freedom of believers. Yet, we must always remember that we need to strive to help lead people’s hearts to the Lord. A future Supreme Court decision could overturn these decisions. There are already members of Congress looking to change the Supreme Court because they think these decisions were wrong.

So, we ask the Lord to guide our ministries to help us lead people to the Truth that Jesus has taught us. We pray the Lord lead to find new ways to dialogue with others to present God’s Truth to them.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

13th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

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Elisha spent much time travelling to deliver God’s message as his prophet. Today, we hear of the woman who urged him to dine at her house. She knew that Elisha was “a holy man of God.” She was already “a woman of influence.” So, she probably isn’t just trying to look important by having Elisha stay at her house.

In today’s gospel, Jesus says, “Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s rewards, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward.“

Jesus did not speak this words until a few centuries after the woman in the first reading passed from this world. So, she never heard Jesus says these words yet she lived them.

She was not called to be a full-time prophet like Elisha but she was called to be a disciple, a person who lives their faith and helps share God’s message. In providing lodging for Elisha, she is supporting his ministry.

What is God calling you to do yourself? How might God be calling you to support the ministry of others?

The hospitality the woman offered to Elisha did not go unnoticed. Elisha asked, “Can something be done for her?” His servant tells him that she has no son. As a prophet, Elisha tells her that she will have a son within a year. This news would have been received with great joy for having children was seen as a blessing (as it should be).

The woman received a great reward for her hospitality to Elisha. Yet, we are not told that she did it to get a reward. She did it because it was a good thing.

What motivates you to do good?

As children of God, we should do good for its own sake.

I would imagine that most people reading this are baptized. What does your baptism mean to you? For those of us baptized as infants, we do not remember our baptism but that does not mean it didn’t have an impact on us.

As Catholics, we understand that baptism changes us. It is not just symbolic mark of the faith we already have as believers in Jesus. As Paul writes, when we are “baptized into Christ Jesus,” we “were baptized into death.” On the Cross, Jesus died for our sins. In Baptism, our sins are forgiven as we are baptized into his death. We receive the “newness of life” as children of God. We are to die to sin and the things of this world to live for God in Christ Jesus.

Knowing this, we should love God with all our heart, mind, and soul. God wants us to love others but our greatest love should always be for him. As Jesus says, if we love others more than him, we are not worthy of him.

Likewise, Jesus tells us that we must take up our cross and follow after him or we are not worthy of him. I don’t know about you but I would rather not have any crosses to bear. It would be nice if being a priest was as easy as some people think. Yet, I ask God for the grace to accept any cross given to me that can lead to him being glorified by others. Jesus faced persecution. Why should I expect any different? Jesus took up his Cross to save me. Why should I expect any different for me? It is not easy. We have hard decisions to make. I pray that every decision I make is in accord with God’s will.

It is in letting go of our earthly lives that we come to know true life, life with God for eternity.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

When to Call the Priest

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Jesus Christ instituted seven Sacraments as channels of God offering his grace to us (see my series, Sacraments: Channels of God’s Grace for our Catholic understanding of the Sacraments). These are divided into three categories, initiation, healing, and service.

There are two Sacraments of Healing (see part 4 in my series on the Sacraments). When we speak of healing, Jesus offers us healing for our souls. This is most evident in the Sacrament of Reconciliation that is for the healing of our souls from sin. It is also an important part of the healing offered in the second Sacrament of Healing, the anointing of the sick.

Today, I would like to offer some understanding of when it is time to ask a priest to anoint someone. For centuries, the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick was known as “Last Rites” or “Extreme Unction.” It was known as Last Rites because it was only offered when one was at the point of death, hence the “last” thing offered to the person before dying. In “Extreme Unction,” “unction” refers to anointing and “extreme” refers to the fact that it was offered only to the dying.

However, as the early practices of the church were studied in the time leading up to the Second Vatican Council (yes, the changes of the Second Vatican Council did not come from nowhere. There was already much study of the practices of the early church occurring before the convening of the Second Vatican Council), it became known that the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick had originally been not just for the dying but anyone who is seriously ill. We can find the root for this in the Bible in James 5:13-15, “ Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone in good spirits? He should sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint [him] with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven.”

Then, why was the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick only offered to the dying for centuries? In the early church, forgiveness of sins was received in Baptism. So, some people began waiting until late in life to be baptized to try to make sure they had overcome their sins. Since one must be baptized to receive any of the Sacraments besides Baptism, this meant anyone who had delayed their Baptism, could not receive the Anointing of the Sick. Over time, the Church developed its understanding to include the Sacrament of Reconciliation and that one could be forgiven as many times as one asked with a contrite heart for forgiveness (see Matthew 18:21-22). Unfortunately, by then, the practice had already become that the Anointing of the Sick was understood as only for the dying.

With the recovered understanding of the Anointing of the Sick being for anyone with a serious illness, the name changed from Last Rites/Extreme Unction to the Anointing of the Sick. The anointing can be offered to anyone who faces a serious illness that could be life-threatening.

In the anointing, oil that is made from olives and being blessed by the bishop at the Chrism Mass during Holy Week is used. In physical terms, the oil symbolizes healing. A secular parallel (but not the same thing) can be seen in how we might rub ointment on an injury. The ointment can help bring physical healing. The anointing with the oil in the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick brings us spiritual healing. Physical illness can spiritually affect us. This Sacrament offers us spiritual healing.

So, one can ask for the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick when they realize they are fighting a serious illness, meaning an illness that can lead to death. A person can receive this Sacrament as many times as they face serious illness. If they face a particular serious illness over a significant period of time, as it worsens, they can be anointed again.

While the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is no longer seen as only for those who are dying, when one is near death, whether they have already received the Anointing of the Sick or not, they can ask to be anointed and to receive the prayers for the dying. Central to these prayers is the Apostolic Pardon. The Apostolic Pardon is an indulgence for the remission of sins. Accompanying the pardon, the priest offers additional prayers, commending the person who is dying to the Lord.

One may wonder how close a person must be to death to request the prayers for the dying. Some people continue to think that the person must be expected to die within a day or two. Certainly, if one is that close to death, a priest should be requested for the Sacrament. However, one does not have to be that close to death. If you are told the person has two weeks to live, the priest should be contacted as soon as possible. This helps make sure a priest will be able to come. It also makes it more likely that the dying person will be able to actively participate in the Sacrament. If one waits to the day of death, the person may not be alert and awake. If they are awake and alert, they can participate in prayers like the Lord’s Prayer. It also means they have the opportunity to confess their sins and that they have the opportunity to receive Communion (when Communion is offered to a dying person, it is known as viaticum and a special prayer is used).

Viaticum is not required for one to be welcomed into Heaven but it is offered as “food for the journey” to eternal life. As to having the opportunity to confess one’s sins, you should remember that to receive any Sacrament, one needs to be in a “state of grace,” free from mortal sin. So, even if one is not expected to die soon, when one asks to be anointed, they should ask themselves if they need to go to confession. If the answer is yes, they should do so before being anointed.

If the person is unresponsive because of their health, then the church says we offer absolution assuming the person has a contrite heart and would confess their sins if they are able. If they get better, they would be expected to confess their sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. If they again get worse, they can receive the prayers for the dying again when appropriate.

Besides the active participation of the person who is dying, calling before death is expected immediately also offers the opportunity to schedule the priest’s visit when family can be there. The anointing and the prayers for the dying offer grace to the person who is dying. However, it can be a powerful spiritual moment for anyone present to think about eternal life.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

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12th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
Jeremiah 20:10-13
Psalm 69:8-10, 14, 17, 33-35 (14c)
Romans 5:12-15
Matthew 10:26-33
June 25, 2023

Jeremiah faced danger.  He heard “the whisperings of many” who sought to “denounce him.”  Why did they want to denounce him?  Because he was pointing out their sins.  He was telling them that they needed to change but they didn’t want to.

Who was denouncing Jeremiah?  Those who used to be his friends.  It’s bad enough when strangers denounce us for our faith but worse when it is our friends who are supposed to have the same faith.

Jeremiah lamented this but he knew the Lord was with him.  He knew that as long as he followed the Lord, his persecutors would eventually stumble.  The Lord triumphs over all.

Is there someone who denounces you for your faith?  Stand up for our faith but then leave it to the Lord.  Do not seek vengeance yourself.  Hand it over to God.

Jeremiah was not the only one to face such struggles.  The psalmist today speaks of the insults they faced, how they became an outcast to their brothers and a stranger to their children because of their faith.  We do not desire division but we need to hold fast to the faith that God has given us.

Many people have been martyred over the centuries for their faith in Jesus Christ.  Even today people are still being martyred.

What does Christ say to this? 

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.”

Why are people martyred?  Why do some countries restrict or prohibit the practice of Christianity?  Because they want to silence the voice of Christ.  Why?  If they are so sure they are right, what difference does it make what we say?  They must be concerned we could be right.

Knowing of coming persecution, Jesus said, “Fear no one.”  Do not be afraid to speak up.  Before you speak, ask the Lord what He wants you to say.  Then share his message with others.

Jesus continued, “Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known…what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.”

Initially God’s message was made known to few.  After Jesus rose from the dead, He sent the disciples out to all nations.  Over the course of centuries, the faith was no longer a secret known to just a few.  It was proclaimed to the whole world, revealed to all.  Christianity became the foundation of western civilization. 

Now, many have abandoned the foundation.  Others hold to some faith but God is not first in their lives.  They listen more to worldly voices than God’s.

Is Jesus your foundation?

What does Jesus want you to offer to the world?

Note that I said “offer.”  We are not to force faith on the world but we are to share it with the world.

The world does not want us to reveal Christ to others.  They want us to keep our faith a secret.  Some even kill those who speak about Jesus.

Are you afraid to speak up for Jesus?

We are not to be afraid of those who can kill our bodies.  Jesus says, “rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body.”

Christ wants us to offer the faith to the world.  Then, they must choose for themselves.  If they don’t want to follow Jesus, you don’t have to force them.  Speak the truth and then leave it in God’s hands.

I leave you with two questions:

First, do you choose to follow God’s truth or the worldly voices that have rejected what Jesus taught?

Second, where do you want to spend eternity?

The Impact of Relativism

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In attempt to understand gender ideology, in recent months I have been reading various materials related to the topic. I find it a topic difficult to understand. For me, part of the problem is that acceptance of gender ideology is dependent on relativism. Those of you who are regular readers of my blog know that neither I nor the Catholic Church accepts relativism.

Regular readers of this blog also know that in the past I have written about the importance of following the news to know what is going on in the world. The problem is that we can get angry at the views expressed by others in the news. They have different opinions. I have found lately that my reaction to some of the news has changed from anger to disappointment. Why? I think it is rooted in the relativism that I see in the general beliefs of others. Relativism makes dialogue difficult.

I think relativism is also a significant part of what drives the increasing division in politics. Last week I received a poll from my congressman asking, “Do you support the leftist ban on gas stoves?” I include this here not to discuss whether or not gas stoves should be banned. Rather, it is the inclusion of the word “leftist” that bothers me. We are a divided people. Blaming the leftists, or any group that one does not agree with us in this way, adds nothing to the conversation. It only adds to the division.

What does relativism have to do with any of this?

Relativism says that all truth is relative. There is no universal truth. One is free to develop one’s own truth. I see this as a significant part of the polarization we experience because everyone thinks they are right because relativism says they get to decide the truth for themselves. They find sources on the internet that agree with them to proof they are right and ignore the sources that disagree. Then, they think everyone should agree with them.

I think gender ideology is dependent on relativism because for one to decide their “gender” is not the same as the biological sex they are born with is dependent on their own subjective thought. It ignores the objective truth of the physical body (our bodies say something about who we are). They are another gender because they say so. There is the relativism in it.

While relativism says there is no truth, our Catholic faith is rooted in truth.

Here is how I see relativism. If they are right about relativism, that there is no universal truth, then they can’t be right. Why? Because relativism says there is no truth. However, if relativism is right in saying there is no one truth, then there is a truth. Hence, relativism is wrong. Someone may want to respond by describing it as the “exception that proves the rule.” Sometimes it seems like every rule out there has an exception, hence the saying “the exception that proves the rule.” Here, it is not just an exception to the rule. The “exception” directly contradicts the rule.

I think some people embrace relativism because they see no way to resolve the various ideologies that exist today. They can’t all be right, can they? Relativism embraces that. Relativism seems to fit the “reality” of some many different views. I think others embrace relativism in their search for freedom. They think that everyone should have the freedom to choose to live their own faith.

Our Catholic faith teaches that God gives us free will. Yes, we have freedom to choose. However, it does not teach that people should choose to do whatever they want. In a homily delivered in Camden Park in 1995, St. Pope John Paul II said, “Every generation of Americans needs to know that freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought” (7).

What determines what we ought to do? Truth.

Where do we find this truth? God. Jesus himself said, “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31b-32). Jesus says, “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). Jesus does not say He offers one version of truth. He says, “I am…the truth. The truth does not bind us down. It points to who we are created to be.

In the Lord’s Prayer that Jesus taught us, we do not pray that our own will be done. We pray that “thy will be done.” It is God’s will that we seek.

As we profess in the Nicene Creed, we pray ” I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic church.” As “one”, we seek unity in God’s truth. As “catholic,” meaning “universal,” we seek the common truth from God that comes to us through the apostles but is God’s own truth.

Justice Anthony Kennedy’s wrote in Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992) that “at the heart of liberty is the right to define one’s own concept of existence, of meaning, of the universe, and of the mystery of human life.” I disagree. We cannot determine our own “meaning.” Meaning is something that transcends any one person. We each have to find our place in God’s plan but meaning…that is something greater than any single one of us. We are not capable of understanding everything to define our own meaning. In the Book of Job we hear how Job struggled with the bad things that happened to him. He sought to understand it all. However, in the end he realized that he is not capable of understanding it all. Instead, he trusts in God who does know all.

In 2019, I did a presentation, Where Do We Go Truth? In that presentation, I talked about the various worldly places we seek truth. However, in the end there is one place to find the real truth,…in God.

When Peter and the others were arrested and told to stop talking about Jesus, Peter replied, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). Why should we trust God rather than man? Because Jesus died for us on the Cross. “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). We can trust Jesus.

This is not the first time I have written about relativism (I hope I don’t sound like a “broken record”) and I am sure it won’t be the last time. As I try to learn about gender ideology and to understand the polarization we see in the world, my heart was moved this week to specifically write about the impact of relativism. I hope this article helps you better understand the impacts and, even more importantly, I hope this is what the Holy Spirit wanted me to write this week. As to repeating what I have said before, so be it.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

We Are His People

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God did not simply free the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and walk away. Rather, He chose to establish a covenant with them (see today’s first reading). In doing so, He formed a relationship with them. It was not a legal relationship established through a legal contract. It was covenant. The difference? A covenant is based on love.

To form this covenant, after parting the Red Sea for them, God led them to the “desert of Sinai” where they “pitched camp.” From there, “Moses went up the mountain to God.” There God gave Moses instructions on what to do.

God gave Moses a message for the people. It began, “You have seen for yourselves how I treated the Egyptians and how I bore you on eagle wings.” He shows them how He treats those who follow him differently.

What do they need to do to follow him? God continues, “Therefore, if you hearken to my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my special possession, dearer to me than all other people.”

The Israelite’s part in the covenant to to keep the covenant. With the covenant comes commandments. The commandments are not for God’s own good. They are not simply to show our obedience. They are a way of life that is good for us (see my presentation, Are They Rules or a Way of Life?).

God’s part in the covenant is to love and care for us as his “special possession.” Psalm 100 reminds us of the covenant. In our response we say, “We are his people: the sheep of his flock.” We are not in charge. God is. People are forgetting this today. People do what they want and then ask God why things didn’t go the way they wanted. It is God who made us, “his we are.”

While we forget God and his commandments, He does not forget us. Paul writes, “Christ, while we were still helpless, yet died at the appointed time for the ungodly…But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” We may fall into sin but God continues to love us. Last Friday we celebrated the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Jesus shows his absolute love for us as the blood and water flowed from his side on the Cross.

God’s heart was moved with pity for the Israelites when they cried out for help from slavery in Egypt. “At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd.” Jesus came to be the good shepherd. We are the sheep of his flock.

The Israelites had leaders in the scribes and Pharisees but many of those leaders fell short of what God asked of them. We need to pray for those who lead our church, that they serve as shepherds in accord with God’s will.

We are to pray to ask God to send more laborers “for his harvest.” As you pray for this, ask God what He is calling you to do. The work of God’s people is not just for the clergy, religious, and parish staffs. It is for all God’s people to share in the mission as God’s people.

Do you think you are not worthy? Neither were the Twelve Apostles. Peter would deny knowing Jesus when He was arrested. Does that sound like a good disciple? At least Peter stayed around when the other disciples scattered. Along with Peter, his brother Andrew, and James and John were fishermen, hardly the profession one would pick to lead the new church. Then there’s Thomas who would doubt that the other disciples saw Jesus risen. Tax collectors were seen as crooks but Jesus called Matthew who had been a tax collector to be one of the Twelve. They did not feel worthy to be Jesus’ disciples. On their own, they were not worthy. Jesus made them worthy. Jesus makes you worthy to do what He calls us to.

Some people might want to ask, “what’s in it for me?” First, let me say it isn’t all you. It isn’t all about me. God does not care for us so that He can gain something. He does it because He loves us.

Pray about how God has blessed you. Ask God to help you understand all the ways He has helped you. This should serve as motivation to help others know God.

As to what you get from it, forgot about that. “Without cost you have received, without cost you are to give.“

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

The Importance of Hell

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You might be surprised by the title of this article, “The Importance of Hell.” Is Hell important? It is important for us to know that Hell exist and that people can actually end up there. Now, while our Catholic Church recognizes all those who are canonized as saints to be in Heaven, our Church does not prescribe that anyone is in Hell, we leave that to God, but clearly it is a real possibility.

This shouldn’t surprise you. What might surprise you is that my inspiration to write about Hell comes from The Old Evangelization: How to Spread the Faith Like Jesus Did by Eric Sammons (El Cajon, CA: Catholic Answers Press. 2017). (I’ve already written two articles from this book, “Discipleship Necessitates Evangelization.” and “More From “The Old Evangelization.”) What does Hell have to do with evangelization?

Sammons writes that polls show that about 70% of Americans believe that Hell exists but only a much smaller percentage believe that anyone actually ends up there (98). Now, it should be our desire that no one ends up in Hell. It is clearly God’s desire for no one to end up in Hell. That’s why our Father sent Jesus to die for us on the Cross. Sammons continues by writing that even those who believe that people do end up in Hell, they think discussion of Hell has no place in our evangelization efforts. They say people doesn’t respond to “hellfire and brimstone” and “we should follow God not because we fear punishment, but because we love him” (98).

Yes, it is true that people today don’t respond to the threats of Hell as they should. However, we should also note that “they don’t respond to promises of heaven for everyone. Otherwise our parishes would be full today” (Sammons, 99).

Why is it necessary for us to talk about Hell? Sammons writes, “Yet proclaiming the existence of hell – and the possibility that we could go there for eternity – is essential to preaching the “good news.” Why? Because if there is nothing bad to avoid, then there in need to seriously the good news” (99). Many people today seem to think that if you know Jesus, He will forgive your sins. Jesus does want to forgive us but we shouldn’t take that for granted. It does not mean we are free to sin without fear of punishment. Jesus will always forgive us when we come to him with a contrite heart. I’m just worried that people don’t really have a contrite heart when they take God’s forgiveness for granted.

Sammons shows that Jesus wants us to know that Hell is a real possibility by pointed to three gospel passages where Jesus speaks of judgment and fire. The first passage is Matthew 25:31-46 where Jesus tells us that we will be judged based on whether or not we have offered corporal works of mercy for others. In John 15:6, Jesus speaks of those who don’t follow him being thrown into the fire. The third passage, which also speaks of fire, is Luke 3:16-17) (Sammons, 100-101).

Hell should not be the first thing we bring up when evangelizing others (Sammons, 101) but we need to see our efforts to share the faith as a “pitched battle for souls” (Sammons 101-102).

In chapter 7, Sammons discusses those who are in invalid marriages. We must help people understand what marriage is and when a marriage is not recognized by the church but we must do so with love rather than judgment. It is the salvation of souls that we seek. The same is true of other sinful behavior. Sammons speaks of a friend of his who is homosexual. Sammons has made it clear to this friend that he does not approve of his lifestyle (115). He speaks the truth. He offers compassion. Both are essential. Without “truth”, without “compassion,” there can be no real evangelization.

Our goal in evangelization is to make disciples (Sammons, 123). Offering truth is essential. Sammons writes, “After all, why would someone make the sacrifice of getting up early on Sunday and spending an hour sitting in a pew to hear a message they could hear 24/7 from the mainstream media?” (123). Sadly, I think there are some who don’t want to hear a message that challenges their sins. They want someone to tell them they are doing good and they don’t have to do anything different. Fortunately, there are people who come to church because they are looking for something more than what the world offers. They understand that both they and the world need to change. I know I am not perfect. How about you?

When it comes to making disciples, Sammons point to the same passage I speak of when discussing our mission, Matthew 28:19-20 (Sammons, 123-124). To make disciples is to invite people to “make a radical commitment that will change their lives dramatically” (124). To do so, we must speak authentically from our own lives. Sammons offers the example of a couple whose ministry to guide people to natural family planning. They do not sugarcoat it. They admit it was not easy to start but then speak of the grace it has brought them (125-127).

We must remember for ourselves and share with others that “what Catholicism teaches is far deeper, far more meaningful, and for more joyful that what the world does” (Sammons, 127).

This concludes my reflection on Sammons’ book, The Old Evangelization: How to Spread the Faith Like Jesus Did by Eric Sammons (El Cajon, CA: Catholic Answers Press. 2017). If you are serious about sharing the faith, I encourage you to read the whole book for yourself.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff